Grey Water: A Screenplay

By Ricki Garibaldi

Grey Water is a glimpse into the unnerving and painful experience that a homeless teen must endure. His daily life provides an insight into the impoverished survival patterns that are a necessity to maintain the slightest strain of sanity. The screenplay provides an in depth perspective to the paranoia of isolation, struggling to accept one's truth, & the physical abuse that occurs at random.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667819532

Book preview

EXT. INTERSECTION - MORNING

ATLAS walks along the road, his entire body shaking. His breath turns to vapor as he shuffles on his hoodie.

In a bush of reeds alongside an abandoned building he uncovers a blue tarp. He unfurls the tarp to reveal an old garbage bag and then a Home Depot bucket with a change of clothes inside.

The first article of clothing that is taken out of the bucket is a pair of white socks that are now stained brown all around the ankles, the bottoms have holes in them.

Following, he takes a black Sac High uniform shirt, the collar of the shirt is ripped with the top button missing, ink stains all around the middle to the bottom half of the shirt.

The last item that is taken from the bucket is a pair of boxers, a plaid pattern consisting of the colors, red, blue, & green, which are dried perfectly.

His only pants are the khakis that he is wearing as of now. Reaching into the broken big pocket of his backpack, he grabs a rope.

Pulling this rope out he places his change of clothes in that big pocket. Takes the rope and wraps his backpack tightly tying it off with a knot.

Placing the bucket with the bag and all alongside the building again dragging the tarp back over the top.

Atlas walks out to the vacant street while pulling out a pair of headphones and an iPod classic scratched to shit in the color double silver.

The battery reads 24 percent, he plugs the headphones in and scrolls all the way to the J category. His face is calm, taking a long breath before he places the headphones in his ears.

J Dilla’s Don’t Cry begins to play, a smirk creeps across his face as he drops down to a knee tying his sneakers, which are worn to complete and utter shit.

Atlas pops up and begins walking down the street.

EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAY TIME

ATLAS arrives at the back of the convenience store where the public restrooms are located.

He waits for the restroom to become available, then catches the door as it opens, locking himself in.

He takes a long while staring at himself.

MUSIC CUE: Peaceful synths start playing

His face & body shiver in uncontrollable mannerisms.

As he shakes his head with disgust, tears start streaming down.

His face appears hot to the touch with freckles like little embers. In full tears as he goes through his shower routine.

ATLAS begins to lay down an assortment of toilet seat covers and paper towels on the floor in front of the repugnant sink.

From his backpack, he grabs hold of a medium-sized plastic cup & a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste.

Then proceeds to strip entirely down to nude, grabbing pairs of paper towels and getting them damp, wiping them all across his body, following he squirts the hand soap in his right hand, lathering to wipe all across his body.

Proceeding to fill the cup with water, pouring it all atop his head.

Taking his toothbrush, Atlas squeezes out what little bit of toothpaste he can.

Brushes for a few seconds then takes a harsh spit into the sink.  When he looks back up to the mirror the crying has ceased and now disgruntled anger is the focal point of intensely projected emotion. 

As Atlas is going through his morning routine, a line of men form on the other side of the door.

MAN 1 is pounding on the door.

BANG BANG BANG!

Almost everything goes mute except for the sound of Atlas’ teeth chattering together.

MAN 1

(Angered)

Hurry the fuck up for God’s sake I needa get in there!

This is reinforced with a barrage of other voices saying similar things.

Atlas struggles to get dressed. Rapidly throwing his items back into his bag.

Slips, smacking his entire body against the wet linoleum bathroom floor. He looks up to the door taking another deep painful breath.

SHIFTS TO:

ATLAS unlocks the door only to be greeted with a line of several men all shouting nasty comments.

MAN 1

(Rude)

Out the way.

He pushes past Atlas causing him to spin out in an awkward manner abruptly bumping into the next two men that are waiting in line.

BOOM.

a punch knocks the air completely out of Atlas dropping him to the floor.

MAN 2

(Hateful/Whisper)

Lil prick.

A kick smashes right into Atlas’ ribs.

He lies sprawled out on the floor with the right side of his face pressed against the concrete.

A loogie is spat on his left cheek, right before another kick shoots into his back.

The pain rings within his body, yet he doesn’t cry out, teeth gritting with rage, biting his lips with such force.

The two men turn their backs to him, partially turning to look over their shoulders at him.

MAN 2

(Disgust, Hateful, Stern)

This smelly fuck here, good for nothin’ waste of space. I cannot these strung-out punks, hangin’ around our neighborhoods. You’re not welcomed here!

The man next to him chuckles a little bit, he takes another look back, Atlas staring him dead in the eyes.

MAN 3

(Disrespectful)

Go on boy, get.

Atlas turns to the floor again feeling crushed, the sounds of his head throbbing transform into a sharp ringing from his right ear.

The ringing is interrupted by a couple of