Monday Syndrome

Written By

Eda Aydin, Christine Joung and Lora Jung

BLACK SCREEN

Voice of ANDREW screaming and being noisy.

FADE IN

INT. SARAH'S HOUSE - MORNING

Andrew is still screaming in the background.

SARAH shows frustration from the noise. She buries her head under the pillow. She groans. She looks messy.

SARAH(With her guys closed)

Shut up Andrew!

Sarah is still in bed. SARAH'S MOM walks in Sarah’s room with a digital clock in her hand.

SARAH’S MOM (While putting the clock on the wall)

Sarah, why did you let Andrew mess with your clock? You know he easily breaks things.

SARAH(still with her eyes closed, almost mumbling)

I don’t know. Whatever…

Sarah forces open one eye and looks at the clock on the wall. The camera zooms into the clock, and it says MONDAY.

SARAHOh my god… It’s Monday? Ugh…

Sarah is in front of the mirror in her bathroom. She is trying to curl her hair with a hair curler. She does it stubbornly.

We can see that Sarah is annoyed from her facial expression. She suddenly yelps in pain because she got burnt from the curler. She pulls out the curler from her hair. She looks in the mirror. We can see that she failed at curling her hair the way she wanted. The section of hair is bent the other way. Sarah puts down the curler and sighs, looking in the mirror.

SARAH’S MOM(Only voice)

Sarah, you’re running late!

SARAHOh, crap!

Sarah roughly ties up her hair and rushes out of her bathroom. She opens the house door, heads out and starts running.

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

While she's running, she suddenly drops her phone. Sarah picks up the phone carefully with a worried look. The screen is broken.

SARAHDamn it!

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL BUS - CONTINUOUS

Sarah is looking out the window on the school bus. She’s peacefully listening to music with earphones. Suddenly, there is sound of a kid on the bus somewhere throwing up. Since Sarah has her earphones on, she doesn’t hear. However, about 3-5 seconds later, she starts sniffing with a frown.

SARAHPlease don’t tell me someone puked…

FRIEND NEXT TO SARAHSomeone puked.

SARAHUghhhhhh...

Sarah turns her head towards the window again while holding her nose.

CUT TO:

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL - CONTINUOUS

The school bus arrives at school. People come out one by one including Sarah.

As she walks to school, JAMIE calls out her name from behind. Jamie runs to catch up with Sarah. Sarah scans Jamie, and this is shot from Sarah’s point of view. Jamie’s perfectly curled hair, perfect makeup and perfect outfit is noticed, which are contrary to Sarah’s.

SARAHYou look really nice today.

JAMIE(Flashing a smile)

Thanks.

Two girls start walking towards the school while talking.

SARAHWait, what subjects do I have today?

JAMIEFirst period we have math. together, then you have econ while I have…” (Sounds fade out as they get closer to the school.)

They enter the building.

CUT TO:

INT. IN FRONT OF THE LOCKERS - CONTINUOUS

Sarah goes in front of her locker while Jamie stands on the right to wait for her. Sarah and Jamie's phone rings from a text message at the same time. They check their messages.

Jamie starts getting excited and turns toward Sarah while Sarah's face is clearly gloomy.

JAMIEOh my god, Sarah! I got it! I got the main role for the play!

SARAH(Trying to smile)

(MORE)

Congrats! You'll be perfect for SARAH (CONT'D)

Anne...

JAMIEThank you! What'd you get?

SARAH(Hesitantly)

Um... I got tree 1...

JAMIE(Trying to sound as nice as possible)

Well, you'll do a good job! I mean you're like really good at not moving for a long time! And you're quite too!!!

Sarah rolls her eyes, opens her locker and stuff her textbooks in the locker angrily. The locker door is right in between Sarah and Jamie's face. Sarah slams the locker shut.

INT. CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON

Sarah takes out a pencil from her pencil case.

MATH TEACHER(Only voice)

We will start our pop quiz now. Please clear your desks.

Sarah looks confused while solving the first problem of her math quiz. She bites her nails and frowns. We can see that she is struggling.

Sarah hands in her test paper to the teacher when the class is over. The teacher stares at her answer sheet, which is almost empty, and looks confused.

MATH TEACHER(Looking confused and concerned at the same time)

Sarah, did you not review or are you feeling sick or... I mean this is not like you...

SARAHSorry, Mr. Wotherspoon... I’m having a really bad day today. I just can’t think properly.

MATH TEACHERWell cheer up! At least we have the weekend coming soon.

Sarah looks confused for a moment but soon nods, not thinking much of it. Jamie comes to her. She walks out of the classroom with Jamie.

SARAH(To Jamie)

Hey, how was the test?

JAMIEI think it was pretty easy, wasn’t it?

SARAHNot really, I got stuck on so many questions...

JAMIEAwww well, I bet you still did good. Cheer up. At least we have volleyball today!!!

SARAH(Shaking her head)

Well, I’m having a terrible day. I have a bad feeling about it.

They walk together down the hallway.

JUMP CUT TO:

INT. CAFETERIA - AFTERNOON

Sarah is in lunch line waiting for food. Couple feet in front of her, there is a group of guys talking about her without noticing that she is listening.

GUY 1(Laughing)

Guys, doesn’t Sarah look like a serial killer today?

GUY 2(Putting an exaggerated frown on his face)

I know right? this is literally what her face was like all day. No actually, all week.

All guys burst out laughing. Sarah glares at them from behind, but doesn’t say anything.

When it’s her turn to receive the food, she grabs a plate and walks towards the table. She sits down and starts eating but the food falls on the bottom of her white shirt. Sarah sighs.

CUT TO:

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Sarah is washing her clothes in the sink. She then goes in one of the stalls to pee. After peeing, she realizes that there is no toilet paper left.

SARAHAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

CUT TO:

INT. GYM - AFTER SCHOOL

The COACH blows a whistle, starting a volleyball game. Sarah and Jamie are in opposite teams. Every time the ball comes at Sarah, she misses it or gets hurt by the ball hitting her.

The coach blows a whistle again, ending the game. Jamie's team cheers since they won the game while Sarah’s teammates quietly split. Sarah drops down on the floor, sweaty, looking depressed.

Girls gather around the coach before he dismisses them.

COACHGirls, great job today. But, remember. Volleyball is all about your mind. When you think negatively, you won't be able to accomplish anything. Keep this in mind. Ok, you're all dismissed. And Sarah, come here for a sec, I need to talk to you.

Sarah walks up to the coach with a slightly worried expression.

COACH(With a firm voice)

Sarah. I’m sorry, but if you keep (MORE)

disappointing me like this, I have COACH (CONT'D)

no choice but to take you out of the team. Please practice.

SARAH(Looking shocked)

But... But!

COACH(Interrupting)

No buts. Practice.

Sarah presses her lips together, looks away and walks away from the coach.

CUT TO:

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE GYM - CONTINUOUS

Sarah comes out of the locker room. Jamie is waiting outside. They walk towards the buses together while having a conversation.

JAMIEHey, what was that about? Why did the coach say to you?

SARAH(Looking depressed)

She basically told me I suck.

JAMIEYou don’t suck, that was a bit harsh. You just need some practice that’s all. If you want, we can practice on Saturday!

SARAHSure!

JAMIEOkay, I’ll call you tonight then. See you!

SARAHSee ya!

They split and Sarah gets on the bus.

CUT TO:

INT. SARAH'S ROOM - LATER

Sarah is on her bed. She looks back at all events that happened today. The digital clock keeps ticking. Sarah sighs and buries her head in between her knees. We can see that depressed.

Someone knocks on her door.

SARAH(Looking at the door)

Who is it?

SARAH’S MOM(Opening the door and peeping in)

Honey, It’s a call from Jamie.

Sarah walks to her mom and gets the phone and walks back to her bed.

SARAHHello?

JAMIE(Only voice)

Hey, why aren't you answering your cellphone?

SARAHOh, I broke it this morning... Anyways, what's up?

JAMIE(Only voice)

I just called to ask when you want to meet tomorrow. Maybe at noon?

SARAH(Frowning)

What do you mean tomorrow noon? We have school...

JAMIE(After a pause)

Wait what are you talking about? Tomorrow's Saturday.

SARAHWhat? No, it's Monday. So I was having such a horrible day, remember? And I even checked the calendar this morn...

Sarah looks at the clock, which shows FRIDAY this time.

Sarah suddenly remembers the morning when her mom said, “Sarah, why was Andrew playing with your clock? You know he easily breaks things”, which she was too sleepy to pay attention to. She also remembers when Mr. Wotherspoon said, “Well, cheer up! At least we have the weekend coming soon.”

Then, she remembers the boys in the cafeteria saying that she looked like a serial killer all week. She has a grin on while she’s still on the phone. We can see that things make sense to her now.

JAMIE(Interrupting)

Haha. Of course you did. Anyways, Sarah! I’m gonna go to bed now, I guess I'll see you around at 9 AM tomorrow?

SARAHAlright, sounds good! Good night, Jamie!

She hangs up happily and someone knocks the door again.

SARAH’S MOMOh, by the way Sarah, I fixed your clock. It was set on Monday. It probably didn't matter to you anyways but...

SARAH(Laughing out loud)

It didn't matter AT ALL mom. Thanks!

Mom closes the door.

SARAH(Whispers to herself with a smile, sarcastically)

It didn't matter at all.

BLACKS OUT

Title is shown: MONDAY SYNDROME