By Amber Bacote, Virginia State University
Photo 92655474 © Carol Bell | Dreamstime.com
1. FADE IN: OVERLAY OF WHITE TEXT THAT READS:
“This is a documentary about the Historic Byrd Theatre, located in Richmond, VA.”
Text is displayed over footage of Carytown, VA and the outside of the Byrd Theatre.
FADE OUT TEXT:
2. FADE IN: OVERLAY OF WHITE TEXT THAT READS:
“The participants in this documentary are real people, not actors.”
FADE OUT TEXT:
SCENE 1. EXT. BYRD THEATRE - DAY
SOFIA (20s) stands in front of the theater as a camera crew sets up in front of her. The camera shifts and moves as the camera crew sets up their shot. Behind Sofia, two Byrd employees scale a latter to adjust the marquee.
CAMERA MAN (O.C.)
Whenever you’re ready.
Sofia adjusts her hair and smoothes out her shirt.
SOFIA
Here?
Before the camera man can answer a letter falls from the marquee and falls on top of Sofia’s head. Sofia yells in pain and rubs the top of her head and begins to yell at the employee on the latter. Sofia’s talking head starts here.
SCENE 2. INT. BYRD THEATRE OFFICE
SOFIA TALKING HEAD - INT. - DAY
SOFIA
I’ve been working at the historical
Byrd Theatre for about a year now.
We’ve got a bunch of creatives
working here, this place attracts a
lot of...artists.
Another coworker, WARREN (late 20s) enters the office then awkwardly closes door once he realizes it’s being occupied. He speaks through the crack of the office door.
WARREN
Sorry. Lila says you need to come
back down.
CAMERA MAN (O.C.)
Are you not the manager?
SOFIA
(embarrassed)
No, I’m-It’s not...no, I’m not.
SCENE 3. INT. BYRD THEATRE BALCONY
WARREN TALKING HEAD - INT. - DAY
WARREN
Yeah, I’ve been here the longest of
the group. Everyone here’s just
really free spirited and funny,
it’s cool to be around. All of my
band members work here.
CUT TO:
Warren and his band member LUKA (Late 20s) mimic playing different instruments for the camera.
CAMERA MAN (V.O.)
What’s it like working with them?
WARREN (V.O.)
I mean, it’s cool. We also live
together so I see them, like, all
the time. It’s cool but sometimes
it’s like ugh! Ya know? Yeah, no
it’s cool.
CUT TO:
SCENE 3 - INT. BYRD THEATRE OFFICE
Many of the employees walk around as they get ready to open the doors for tonight’s screening. Lila’s talking head starts here.
LILA TALKING HEAD - INT. - DAY
LILA
I’m the shift manager, not the
general manager. That’s something
else entirely.
CAMERA MAN (O.C.)
So what are your responsibilities?
LILA
Uh, mostly just reports, the
marquee and managing day to day
issues.
CAMERA MAN (O.C.)
Day to day?
LILA
(exasperated)
Yeah, man. That could mean just
about anything. Our general manager
comes in now and then but he kinda
just complains and smokes outside.
CUT TO:
EXT. BYRD THEATRE ENTRANCE - NIGHT
SIMON (40) can be seen slouching in the corner of the building, pacing and smoking a cigarette.
CUT TO:
CLOSE UP OF SIMON TAKING A FINAL DRAG OF HIS CIGARETTE AS HE REALIZES HE’S BEING FILMED. CAMERA IS QUICKLY TITLED DOWN.
SCENE 4 - INT. BYRD THEATRE - EVENING
Sofia and EDDIE (20s) stand behind the concessions stand, waiting, with their hands perched on the plexiglass. Inside the concession stand is plethora of different kinds of candy and drinks--alcoholic drinks included.
SOFIA
This is where all the magic
happens!
EDDIE
The magic?
SOFIA
(disgruntled)
Shut. Up.
Eddie throws his hands up in defeat and walks away. ZOOM IN to Sofia awkwardly posing as if the camera is capturing her picture.
1. The text “6:30 P.M. OPEN DOORS” overlays Lila unlocking the door and letting waiting customers in. A group of twenty to thirty people enter the theater.
The large brass theater doors open and people begin to file in and find a seat. A MALE CUSTOMER (60s) and his wife, FEMALE CUSTOMER (60s) stand to be interviewed for the camera.
MALE CUSTOMER
We’ve been coming here for decades
now.
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Mhm, since before tickets cost so
much!
CAMERA MAN
And how much are the tickets now?
FEMALE CUSTOMER
Six dollars! I mean, can you
believe this economy?
1. FADE IN: OVERLAY OF WHITE TEXT THAT READS:
“Bill Golding - Resident Organist for 30 years.”
Behind the counter stands an grumpy older man, BILL (70). As the resident organ player he arrives fifteen minutes before the show and leaves after he plays the organ for fifteen minutes. He stands in the corner of the theater and often mumbles to himself.
Sofia and Eddie stand behind the counter serving people popcorn, candy, and drinks. Sofia’s talking head starts here.
SOFIA TALKING HEAD - INT. - NIGHT
SOFIA
Most people usually get a large
popcorn and soda, the usual. After
making popcorn so often, it becomes
an innate skill.
(whispers)
SOFIA (CONT’D)
Out of everyone, I think I make the
best popcorn.
Behind Sofia, Eddie adds an excessive amount of extra butter to a large popcorn bag with a squeeze bottle and hands it to a suspicious customer.
SCENE 5 - INT. BYRD THEATRE - NIGHT
Sofia, Warren, Eddie, Luka, and Lila sit behind the counter aimlessly as movie plays inside the theater.
WARREN
(to camera)
There’s not much to do while the
movie plays, it’s the most boring
part of the night.
EDDIE
Want to play UNO?
Everyone eagerly agrees to play and the crowd around the counter of the concessions stand as Eddie deals out cards.
CUT TO:
INT. BYRD THEATRE - NIGHT
UNO cards cover the floor and counter and Sofia, Lila, and Eddie are arguing over the game. Warren and Luka sit on the staircase, watching.
LILA
You have to draw 18 cards!
EDDIE
That’s bullshit! You can’t stack a
plus two on top of a plus four!
There’s already four plus four
cards on the deck!
SOFIA
(hysterically laughing)
You just can’t accept that you
might lose!
EDDIE
No, I can’t accept that this is
cheating! You guys just want to see
me lose!
Their argument progressively gets louder until customers come out to watch the group argue. A group of regular customers have began to place bets on who they think will win the next round. Warren and Luka collect small change from customers and keep track of everyone’s bet. After a long round, Lila is victorious and there’s a diverse reaction of disappointment and glee from the staircase. Camera holds on Eddie looking upset and Sofia laughs so hard she falls to the floor.
CUT TO:
SCENE 6 - INT. BYRD THEATRE - NIGHT
All of the customers have left and the Byrd employees have begun to sweep inside the theater. On screen displays the credits of the movie that was screened tonight. The employees are illuminated by the giant white text on the screen as the employees clean.
EDDIE
(to camera)
Sometimes we find some really cool
stuff after cleaning. Like this.
He picks up the weed pen and takes a pull.
Sofia unwraps a vacuum cleaner and begins to drag the vacuum up and down the theater’s aisles.
Warren and Luka stand outside and smoke a cigarette each. Lila is upstairs, locking the office door for the night.
LILA (V.O.)
It’s nice when the movie is short,
it means we can leave and still
enjoy the rest of our night.
Inside the theater, lights switch off one by one. Doors close and brooms are put away in the closet. Each employee gathers their things and waits at the front door as Lila turns off all of the lights in the lobby and sets the alarm.
SCENE 7 - EXT. BYRD THEATRE - NIGHT
Lila, Sofia, Eddie, Warren, and Luka stand outside the theater doors and wait in awkward silence for a minute.
WARREN
(pause)
All right, have a good night, guys.
Luka waves goodbye and begins to walk away in the same direction as Warren. Sofia, Eddie, and Lila now stand together.
LILA
Want to grab a drink at Deli?
Sofia and Eddie shrug in agreement.
CUT TO:
SCENE 8 - INT. NEW YORK DELI BAR AND RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Lila, Eddie, and Sofia sit at a table, a few beers in. It’s trivia night and both Sofia and Eddie both eagerly try to answer each question as quickly as possible. Lila’s talking head starts over this.
LILA TALKING HEAD - INT. - NIGHT
LILA
Most of us are close here, some
more than others. But we all get
along.
CAMERA MAN (O.C.)
Does anyone get along better than
others?
Camera FOCUSES to see Eddie smiling at Sofia as she pays keen attention to the front for the next trivia question, oblivious to anything around her.
REFOCUS:
LILA
I guess you’ll just have to stay
around to see.
ROLL CREDITS.
TAG
SCENE 9 - INT. BYRD THEATRE - NIGHT
An OLDER MAN (60s) exits the family bathroom of the theatre and wanders confused in the dark.
OLDER MAN
Hello? Hello--I think I’ve been
left behind! Hello!
FADE TO BLACK.
END.
About the Author
Amber Bacote, Virginia State University
Amber Bacote is a graduating English major at Virginia State University. Her interests include film, pop culture, literature, and fashion. Her least favorite question is “What’s your favorite move?” because, how could you expect her to pick just one? After she graduates, she plans to pursue a career in film production and screenwriting. She recommends everyone watch a foreign film or two, in their free time.