9d (edited) • Work in Progress
Story script for a rom com short: lost in translation
I feel like I have made it a bit longer but I kept refining it and got to this stage…what do you guys think? Is it too long to be made in AI?
TITLE: “Lost in Translation”
INT. TAXI – DAY
Rome passes by the window.
MILKYAS
Che panorama incredibile!
(What an incredible view!)
TAXI DRIVER
Roma è sempre bella.
(Rome is always beautiful.)
MILKYAS
Certo… la conosco molto bene.
(Of course… I know it very well.)
He secretly checks Google Maps.
INT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Milkyas notices the Girl sitting alone. He practices quietly.
MILKYAS
Sei così bella… posso sedermi qui…
(You are so beautiful… may I sit here…)
He approaches.
MILKYAS
Sei così bella… posso sedermi qui?
(You are so beautiful… may I sit here?)
GIRL
Sì, accomodati.
(Yes, have a seat.)
He sits.
PRETENDING TO BE LOCALS
MILKYAS
Vieni spesso qui?
(Do you come here often?)
GIRL
Oh sì, certo. È quasi il mio posto abituale.
(Oh yes, of course. It’s almost my regular place.)
She subtly hides the “Welcome to Rome” card.
MILKYAS
Anch’io. Vengo qui da anni.
(Me too. I’ve been coming here for years.)
GIRL
In che zona vivi?
(What area do you live in?)
MILKYAS
Vicino al Colosseo.
(Near the Colosseum.)
GIRL
Che coincidenza! Anch’io!
(What a coincidence! Me too!)
Awkward smiles; tension underlies their “expert” façade.
BATHROOM GAG #1 (HER)
MILKYAS
Che lavoro fai?
(What do you do?)
GIRL
Io… sono…
(She hesitates, smiles nervously)
GIRL
Scusami un momento.
(Excuse me a moment.)
She leaves the table.
Moments later, she returns, quietly muttering Italian phrases she “remembered.”
GIRL
Sono una graphic designer… lavoro da remoto…
(I’m a graphic designer… I work remotely…)
MILKYAS
Impressionante.
(Impressive.)
BATHROOM GAG #2 (HIM)
GIRL
E tu?
(And you?)
MILKYAS
Io… ehm… arrivo subito.
(I’ll be right back.)
He leaves the table.
Moments later, he returns, muttering his Italian lines.
MILKYAS
Ho un’azienda… sono nato e cresciuto qui…
(I have a company… I was born and raised here…)
GIRL
Wow. Allora sei proprio romano.
(Wow. So you’re truly Roman.)
MILKYAS
Molto romano.
(Very Roman.)
WAITER ARRIVES
WAITER
Cosa desiderate ordinare?
(What would you like to order?)
Milkyas scans the menu quickly and randomly picks a complicated dish, confidently unaware of what it truly is.
MILKYAS
Prendo… la “Diavola Calabrese Extra Speciale.”
(I’ll take the “Diavola Calabrese Extra Speciale.”)
The waiter raises an eyebrow.
WAITER
È molto piccante.
(It is very spicy.)
Milkyas nods confidently, hiding uncertainty.
MILKYAS
Sì, sì. Perfetto.
(Yes, yes. Perfect.)
GIRL
Io prendo una lasagna e acqua naturale.
(I’ll take lasagna and still water.)
WAITER
Benissimo.
(Very good.)
He leaves. Milkyas gulps.
FOOD ARRIVES
The Girl receives her normal lasagna.
Milkyas receives the fiery red dish; steam rises dramatically.
MILKYAS
(whispering)
Perché è così rosso…
(Why is it so red…)
GIRL
Sembra buono!
(It looks good!)
He takes a confident bite. Beat.
Suddenly — eyes widen, face turns red, ears practically steaming.
MILKYAS
Acqua…
(Water…)
MILKYAS
Acqua… per favore…
(Water… please…)
The spice hits full force.
MILKYAS
WATER! Water! I need water! Hey! Waiter! WATER!!
The restaurant goes silent.
GIRL
Tutto bene?
(Everything okay?)
MILKYAS
It’s lava! Why is it lava?!
ENGLISH REVEAL
GIRL
…You speak English?
Milkyas freezes.
MILKYAS
…Yes.
Beat.
GIRL bursts out laughing.
GIRL
I’ve been pretending I live here for years!
MILKYAS
ME TOO!
GIRL
I moved here three days ago!
MILKYAS
I arrived yesterday!
They laugh uncontrollably.
WAITER arrives with water, confused.
WAITER
Non capisco niente…
(I don’t understand anything…)
MILKYAS
So… how about your phone number?
GIRL
Sure.
2
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Story script for a rom com short: lost in translation
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