The Words of Emily Logan

By Menelaos Gkikas

During their teenage years at high school, Joel and Emily fall in love.
But the two young people’s relationship will be tested, as they’re driven to different paths by following their educational and artistic pursuits.
At the age of thirty two, Joel and his family will be tested at all possible levels. His father is at the hospital, Joel is unemployed and family relationships are at risk.
At Christmas parties with mutual friends, Joel and Emily find each other again. Caught up in a stream of memories and words, Emily is caring, interested, helpful, understanding and loving towards Joel. In the end, it is proved that destiny has a way of catching up with the man and changing his way of thinking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Menelaos Gkikas
• Release date: Sep 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9786180013986

Book preview

The Words of

Emily Logan

A love story of hope and ambition in the midst of tumultuous days in their lives, written in a movie format!

Menelaos Gkikas

ISBN: 978-618-00-1398-6

Copyright © 2019. by Menelaos Gkikas

All rights reserved.

Self-published in Greece.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, and recording or otherwise – without the prior written permission of the author, except for brief passages quoted by a reviewer in a newspaper or magazine. To perform any of the above is an infringement of copyright law.

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Screenplay Clarifications

Movies happen faster than life.

INT: interior

EXT: exterior

CUT: the scene is cut, the camera changes its focus, we only cut on ACTION.

Scenes begin with action and not dialogue.

In movies, we write exclusively what we hear or see (AudioVisual).

Information, explanation, unnecessary description are not allowed.

Character names are only all caps the first time they’re introduced.

When a character is first introduced, his/her age is written next to him/her, especially for protagonists.

Scene titles proceed from the wider to the subset.

Success relies on continuously surpassing ourselves.

EXT. NY SCHOOL - SOUTHSIDE - DAY

Students speak during a break from class.

The place is noisy. Some of them sit on the grass. Others walk and talk.

CLASSMATE, speaks with JOEL, 16, enthusiastically.

CLASSMATE

How's it been, my friend?

JOEL

Very well, how are you?

CLASSMATE

Just fine... Kinda dazzled by homework. We're getting piles of stuff.

JOEL

You'll be fine, I know it!

CLASSMATE

Do you know Emily? She's an amazing girl.

JOEL

Who is she?

CLASSMATE

She's the girl walking on the other side, over there. Very talented; students queue to watch her rehearsals; it will be a pro play! You should get to know her.

JOEL

She looks gorgeous! I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Joel walks to the next tree to get his bike. He jumps on his bike and rides away to...

NORTHSIDE

... and rides towards EMILY, 16. He steps down his bike to talk to her.

Emily glances at Joel.

They start walking.

JOEL (CONT'D)

Hello.

EMILY

Hello. What's your name?

JOEL

Joel. Yours?

EMILY

Emily. Nice to meet you!

JOEL

My classmate has told me about you and your school performance. He admires you! He says all of the students come to the rehearsals to see you!

EMILY

It's an amazing opportunity. You should come too and watch us.

JOEL

I'll definitely be there. I would love to see you play! Now if you’ll excuse me, I'm in a hurry, I have to catch the bus.

EMILY

See ya!

Joel jumps on his bike to get to the streets.

INT. SCHOOL - HALL - DAY

The school hall is crowded. Emily and Joel talk next to the lockers. Emily holds books. Joel looks enthusiastically at Emily.

EMILY (PUZZLING LOOK)

So, what do you have in mind, Joel?

JOEL

If only we could play together! I would die for some theatrical moments with you...

EMILY

And if I may ask, how did you come to this conclusion?

JOEL (IMPULSIVE)

Right now, I just love the culture of next Emma Watson, Kristen Stewart, Susan and Lucy from Narnia. Could it be you?

Emily looks flattered, she smiles.

EMILY (PUZZLING LOOK)

Still, would it be all about me? In other words, Joel, I would be the golden girl, for whom though...?

Joel extends his hand over the locker and casts a loving and caring glance on Emily. Their faces approach one another.

JOEL

For me!

INT. SCHOOL - REHEARSAL ROOM - NEXT DAY

Actors finish a dance number.

Applaud. Joel watches from the back of the room. He smiles. Joel walks over to Emily next to the stage.

JOEL

You were great! You should study drama!

EMILY

Thank you! I'll keep that in mind.

JOEL

You looked wonderful up there! I would like us to talk. Should we arrange a coffee meeting?

EMILY

Definitely. How about tomorrow, at midday?

JOEL

Alright!

EMILY

At the coffee shop next to the school?

JOEL

Definitely. Bye, Emily.

EMILY

Bye.

INT. SCHOOL - HALL - DAY

The sound of the bell ringing. Students exit.

The hall gets crowded.

At this moment, Joel gets his books from the locker and walks towards the street.

EXT. SCHOOL - DAY

Joel walks towards the coffee shop.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Joel sits at a table. He gets a magazine from the next table. He starts reading it.

The clients are served at the counter. Joel gets up and heads over there.

Emily enters.

EMILY

I hope you haven’t been waiting for too long.

JOEL

No, it's fine.

Joel and Emily stand next to the counter for several seconds.

JOEL

I would like coffee and a cheesecake. Double cappuccino.

CLERK, MALE, smiles at Joel and starts pushing the buttons at the cash register.

CLERK

Yes, sir. Absolutely! What about you, miss?

EMILY

Hot chocolate, please.

CLERK

You can walk back to your table, folks, and your orders will be delivered as soon as possible. Thanks!

Joel & Emily walk back and sit.

JOEL

Emily Logan, a rising star! It is my honor to have coffee and talk with you.

EMILY

My, my! To what do I owe this honor?

JOEL

Wanted to get to know the woman behind the amazing talent. How's life with you, my dear?

EMILY

Books, theater and daydreaming! Our play is almost done. We’re making plans for the premiere and student tickets. Can I count on you?

JOEL

Absolutely! I would love to see you play.

EMILY

We work with a team of very talented student actors. It's about a Broadway class of freshmen that got the chance to show their work. The work is strict, but Laurin, our mentor, has everything under control. Do you know her?

JOEL

She's been my coach as well... Not nearly as beautiful as you!

Emily stares at Joel with a soft smile. The WAITRESS brings their orders.

WAITRESS

There you go: coffee, cheesecake and chocolate.

She puts the cups and the plate on the table.

EMILY

Thanks.