Silence
By Austin Bean
February 9th, 2014
An attractive woman in her 20’s is sitting on a
subway car. She has earphones in, and is not
paying attention to the world. We see her move and
shake as the train barrels down the track toward
its next station. It hits the breaks and she leans
forwards. After the train stops, a man steps into
the car.
The man sits down next to the woman. Both react as
the train takes off from the station. The man’s
cell phone falls out of his hands and in front of
the woman. She leans forward to grab it, and hands
it back to the man. When she hands it back, she
notices the attractiveness of the man. She smiles.
WOMAN
Here you go.
MAN
(timid, sounding out the word)
...thanks...
WOMAN
You’re welcome.
She returns to her iPod, but turns back as her
curiosity increases.
WOMAN
Ya know, I think I’ve seen you ride this train before?
Am I right?
The man nods. He then begins to sign "Do you know
sign language?" She looks confused... not knowing
what to say. He repeats.
WOMAN
(she looks confused)
Um... are you deaf?
The man nods his head yes.
WOMAN
Oh... um... I wish I knew sign language... Do you
understand what I am saying?
The man points to his lips.
WOMAN
Can you read lips?
The man excitedly nods his head yes.
WOMAN
Okay good.
There is an awkward silence. Both sit and and
stare out into the distance.
Finally, the man starts to speak, but is confused
on how to communicate.
WOMAN
Yes? What were you going to say? I can guess...
The man starts to play charades.
WOMAN
(guessing from Man’s actions)
Okay. Five words. First word.
The man make a question mark.
WOMAN
Hmmm.... Question? Question mark? Who? (the man gets
excited) Who? What? When? (the man motions for her to
go back.) What?
The man nobs. Then, he makes an R in the sky.
WOMAN
R? (he nods) Okay... What R...
The man points at the woman.
WOMAN
Me? No... you? You! What R you...
The man starts to do a motion... but is stumped.
WOMAN
Um... wait! I have an idea...
The woman pulls out a small notebook and a piece
of paper, and hands it to the man. The man writes
down a few words... before handing it back to the
woman.
The woman reads the notebook aloud.
WOMAN
"What are you doing tonight? Would you like to get some
dinner with me?"
The woman looks up and gives the sign language
sign for "yes."
The man smiles, and then signs something back in
return.
WOMAN
What does that mean?
MAN
(timidly sounding out words)
You are pretty.
The woman blushes.
WOMAN
Wow. How... how do I say thank you in sign language?
The man teaches her. She tries it, yet messes up
one part of the saying. He grabs her hands and
fixes her mistake. They both smile.
Lights fade on the subway car.
subway car. She has earphones in, and is not
paying attention to the world. We see her move and
shake as the train barrels down the track toward
its next station. It hits the breaks and she leans
forwards. After the train stops, a man steps into
the car.
The man sits down next to the woman. Both react as
the train takes off from the station. The man’s
cell phone falls out of his hands and in front of
the woman. She leans forward to grab it, and hands
it back to the man. When she hands it back, she
notices the attractiveness of the man. She smiles.
WOMAN
Here you go.
MAN
(timid, sounding out the word)
...thanks...
WOMAN
You’re welcome.
She returns to her iPod, but turns back as her
curiosity increases.
WOMAN
Ya know, I think I’ve seen you ride this train before?
Am I right?
The man nods. He then begins to sign "Do you know
sign language?" She looks confused... not knowing
what to say. He repeats.
WOMAN
(she looks confused)
Um... are you deaf?
The man nods his head yes.
WOMAN
Oh... um... I wish I knew sign language... Do you
understand what I am saying?
The man points to his lips.
WOMAN
Can you read lips?
The man excitedly nods his head yes.
WOMAN
Okay good.
There is an awkward silence. Both sit and and
stare out into the distance.
Finally, the man starts to speak, but is confused
on how to communicate.
WOMAN
Yes? What were you going to say? I can guess...
The man starts to play charades.
WOMAN
(guessing from Man’s actions)
Okay. Five words. First word.
The man make a question mark.
WOMAN
Hmmm.... Question? Question mark? Who? (the man gets
excited) Who? What? When? (the man motions for her to
go back.) What?
The man nobs. Then, he makes an R in the sky.
WOMAN
R? (he nods) Okay... What R...
The man points at the woman.
WOMAN
Me? No... you? You! What R you...
The man starts to do a motion... but is stumped.
WOMAN
Um... wait! I have an idea...
The woman pulls out a small notebook and a piece
of paper, and hands it to the man. The man writes
down a few words... before handing it back to the
woman.
The woman reads the notebook aloud.
WOMAN
"What are you doing tonight? Would you like to get some
dinner with me?"
The woman looks up and gives the sign language
sign for "yes."
The man smiles, and then signs something back in
return.
WOMAN
What does that mean?
MAN
(timidly sounding out words)
You are pretty.
The woman blushes.
WOMAN
Wow. How... how do I say thank you in sign language?
The man teaches her. She tries it, yet messes up
one part of the saying. He grabs her hands and
fixes her mistake. They both smile.
Lights fade on the subway car.