#Afonso – Episode 1: Who is he?

SHORT STORY

Afonso, such a hyper-modern and hyper-consumer guy, always leaves his home in a hurry (as usual!), with his tablet and Time Out, to quickly get back to his rented apartment to get the unbelievably forgotten iPhone, that always rests on top of the beloved Monocle. He then gets out again, this time not lead by rush but instead by an half-electronic half-indie soundtrack, and walks to the subway, bound for Chiado or Avenida. When asked if his choice is somewhat incoherent, Afonso says that he likes blending new and old stuff, some cutting-edge technology and the touch and texture of vintage and retro, chatting on a terrace with great panoramic views of the city and the craziness of summer festivals or concerts. He’ll soon be 30, states his citizen’s card and a 2nd electronic passport, full of stamps from scattered countries and cities; but so often people look at him as if he was a kid, completely addicted to gadgets, technological innovations, and social media updates. He is a gourmet kind of guy: he takes photos and checks-in everywhere because that’s cool, without having to justify or tell us reasons for it; and, if needed, he can also turn off all his gadgets, while enjoying a glass of great wine, in front of some girly smiley face. He’s avant-garde, a bon vivant in Portugal, but passionate about finding a Pastel de Nata* in Amsterdam or a Pessoa’s book in London. Afonso can tell he’s a lot of different things, when he talks to the ladies, sitting in any trendy bar for endless hours, just to then remember and relive those long summer days in the 90s, when he used to sit on the sidewalk and exchange stickers. What a fox these days, exchanging passions…

* Pastel de Nata: Traditional Portuguese custard tart.

* Pessoa: referring to Fernando Pessoa, a Portuguese worldwide known writer.

Translated from PT original post

 

Note: Amateur production, without budget nor commercial purposes, made with family and friends’ support. English subtitles soon to come! – Click here if video thumbnail does not load

SCREENPLAY

Based on the short story but with some nice add-ons!

INT. HOME – HALL – NIGHT

We see Afonso’s house. Afonso, undressed, closes the door and starts walking back to his bedroom.

INT. HOME – BEDROOM – NIGHT

Afonso enters his bedroom and falls down onto his bed like a rock, immediately falling asleep.

INT. HOME – BEDROOM – DAY

It’s late. The sunlight strikes as the curtains are half open. Afonso wakes up and gets ready (last hair touches, putting a modern brand watch and a trendy shirt in front of the mirror).

SOMEONE (V.O.)

(He starts tying his converse shoes)

Meet Afonso… A hypermodern guy that does not know what a careless appearance is.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

(Uncertain of how many buttons he should leave unbuttoned)

Kind of consumerist; some say even eclectic.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

I guess you got it already!

INT. HOME – HOME/ELEVATOR HALL – DAY

SOMEONE (V.O.)

Regardless of being hungover, he’s such a birdbrain! There’s not a day he does not have to get back to his rented apartment…

INT. HOME – LIVING ROOM – DAY

SOMEONE (V.O.)

Either because he forgot his wallet or because he left his high-end tablet on top of his adored Monocle; as usual.

EXT. GARDEN NEAR THE METRO – DAY

Afonso is now sitting on a bench, reading his book out loud, reciting a book passage about love and life. He constantly switches his attention from the book to the tablet and back to the book.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

(While walking towards next scene location)

I know people that just call him incoherent. Though he’s like a thunderbolt discarding such thing.

EXT. METRO ENTRANCE – DAY

Afonso is walking towards the metro, still listening to his music, half electronic, half indie/alternative.

AFONSO

(While playing with his tablet and something vintage, he looks around and describes that contrast).

I love mixing new and old stuff, some cutting-edge technology and the touch and texture of vintage and retro.

Why should enjoy only one of it if we can have both?

EXT. TERRACE WITH PANORAMIC VIEW – DAY

AFONSO (V.O.)

I must say that losing the chance to have a drink while enjoying this awesome view is like someone is stealing my whole life!

EXT. SUMMER STREET FESTIVAL – DAY

AFONSO (V.O)

Although, if I’d have to choose between my dear city views or these lovely friends of mine, please let me surf my summer wave, floating with summer festivals and concerts.

INT. HOME OPEN SPACE (KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Afonso listens to his friends singing a birthday song. He then blows his birthday cake candles (stating 29).

SOMEONE (V.O.)

The big 30 is close. At least, it’s what we get from his distant look, his identity card and a second electronic passport full of stamps from scattered countries and cities. His head, however, must have stopped when he was 20.

He thanks his friends and then argues with his most recent date/special friend about their relationship future (improvised text).

Having decided to end the relationship, she lefts and he joins his friends that are playing PlayStation.

INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

Afonso gets his food and immediately starts taking pictures of it.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

All right, he’s a gourmet, one of those with no hassle tastings… And he likes the world to know that. He says that our eyes eat too!

INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

Afonso is on the couch, with a friend, playing PS, but with the tablet on, leaning on his leg.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

But so often people think of him as a kid, completely addicted to gadgets, technological innovations and sharing everything with the world …..

AFONSO

(While sharing a photo he just took and laughing)

I have to share this one! I’m the undefeatable master!

Afonso’s friends look at him a bit annoyed while Afonso is over the moon. They continue chatting and Afonso makes some jokes about his friend and later about some girls he’s looking online (improvised text).

INT. HOME OPEN SPACE (KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM) – NIGHT

Afonso is pouring some wine. His friend is on the sofa. She has a gorgeous smile, although not showing it as she was still annoyed because they had broken up.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

(While Afonso pours the wine and walks to the living room)

Make no mistake thinking that he doesn’t apologize to girls. He for sure knows when to put the word on hold, say sorry and enjoy an excellent wine in front of such a flawless smile.

Afonso says sorry to her and she accepts it (improvised text). They make a toast in the end.

EXT. PASTEIS DE BELÉM ENTRANCE – DAY

Afonso arrives to Belém and walks in the park towards Pastéis de Belém. He then leaves the bakery with a box of pastry in his end and his book on his other hand. He walks smiling, happy.

EXT. BELÉM GARDEN (LISBON) – DAY

Afonso arrives at the garden to then sit on the floor.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

Everyone knows he’s avant-garde, such a bon vivant… But look how happy he looks which such simple things.

Afonso is sitting on the grass, with his book, and gets a bite out of his custard tart. He takes his time tasting it and then he speaks to the camera/audience.

AFONSO

A Pastel de Belém and a Pessoa’s book, here, in London or even in the other side of the world… And then people say we can’t simply be happy this way!

INT. BAR – NIGHT

Now, we see different scenes in which Afonso is with different girls in the same bar, on different nights. First, we see a brunette girl with curly hair, of similar age as Afonso. She looks very independent and having a good time. They are bot sitting on some chairs around a table, near the bar.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

Afonso sure talks a lot about him and his endless alter egos, either to them or even alone to himself, by the bar; who cares.

Why should he bother to reinvent such an art, if these rehearsed moves always work so well, in his usual lair?

As soon as the image goes back again to Afonso and switches back to the girl, we then we see a straight-hair blondie, somewhat shy but still enjoying and talkative, but younger, in the same place of the previous girl.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

It’s kind of a funny game, at least for Afonso, who never gets tired of this sort of familiar mystery that stubbornly hypnotizes and sends him to a parallel universe… such as they were getting into a bubble, in which they spend all night long chatting, as if there was nobody around them.

Then Afonso gets up to get some drinks at the bar and someone walks in front of him, hiding him away from the camera. When this person leaves, we get to see Afonso with a third girl already. they’re having drinks over the counter.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

Don’t be deceived however if you think he’s sly.

Whether his friends or other acquaintances are there or not, he’s the typical player who doesn’t mind to show up with his new prey in front of the ones he used to have before.

As predictable, there are nights that don’t mean anything. Those nights are just a way not to spend time alone at home. Actually, it really depends on the chosen girl, who can even be handpicked sometimes.

Afonso is now alone, leaning on the bar counter, looking dreamy.

EXT. STREET SIDEWALK  – DAY

9-year-old Afonso is sitting on the sidewalk, right next to childhood female friend. They are chewing Gorila bubble gums and exchanging some stickers (the ones that come with the gum). They laugh a lot, like they would roll over the floor laughing.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

(While laughing)

But then there are also some events that get him back to his sweet memories of long summer days, in which he used to sit down on the sidewalk near his home exchanging stickers.

INT. BAR – NIGHT

We now see the first girl that was with Afonso in the bar scenes and then they leave the bar together.

EXT. SIDEWALK (IN FRONT THE BAR & CAR) – NIGHT

They get closer to the car (a red convertible one), a bit tipsy. Afonso opens the door so the girl can enter and sit down. Then he gets inside too. They then smile and kiss inside the car. Afono turns the engine on so we listen the engine power and smiles, looking satisfied.

SOMEONE (V.O.)

(While they kiss each other)

What a  fox these days, exchanging passions…

THE END