INT. JAMES' BEDROOM - NIGHT
James lies in bed, as he watches an interview from a LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW on his phone.
TANNER (V.O) - So tell me --
Edith knocks and enters. James pauses the video.
EDITH - Knock, knock. Just wanted to say goodnight.
JAMES - Goodnight.
EDITH - How was school?
JAMES - Mom, guess what? An agent is gonna come see the show on Friday.
EDITH - Really? That's wonderful.
Edith rushes over and hugs James.
EDITH (CONT'D) - I'm so proud of you.
JAMES - Thanks.
EDITH - Know what? How about I bake you my secrete chocolate surprise? We need to celebrate.
JAMES - Yeah, that be great.
EDITH - Sounds like a plan, my little star.
Edith leaves and James resumes the video.
INSERT - JAMES' PHONE SCREEN
A typical Late Night Talk Show. A host (TANNER MINCKS) sits behind a desk, and a celebrity (JOSHUA ROW) sits on a chair.
TANNER - When would you say you had your big break? At what moment did you realize, "This is it", I'm a professional actor now.
Joshua laughs and props himself up.
JOSHUA - It's funny actually. I was trying for years to get reactions, and nothing was working.
(and)
Then I remember one day, I was scheduled to sign a lease back home -- I finally gave up on acting. But that same morning, I got a random call from a producer who I'd met years before, during one of my first auditions when I got to LA.
TANNER - That's insane! What are the odds?
JOSHUA - Right?! He said he always loved my look but was waiting for the perfect role for myself... And the rest is history.
TANNER - And what role was that? Can you say?
JOSHUA - Get this. It was for Late Night Havoc, when I played J.D.
TANNER - Wow! Had he called you even a week later, you would've been back home and never gotten the chance to be here today.
JOSHUA - I know. LA has this weird thing about it... It's like right when you're ready to put it behind you, it finds a way to keep you around for just a little longer.
Tanner stands and shakes Joshua's hand.
TANNER - Well we're all glad you got that call.
(to camera)
Joshua Rowe everybody!
The AUDIENCE claps and cheers.
YOU ARE READING
LA Monster (Screenplay)
General FictionAfter visiting Los Angeles for just four days, I knew I had seen enough to write -- what I believe -- is an eerily accurate depiction of what this place means to a lot of people. LA Monster is a screenplay about an aspiring actor that moves to Los...
