#Afonso – Episode 3: Open up your eyes!

SHORT STORY

Afonso has always been a guy of fast and fleeting passions, some of them intense, but others just too easy to forget about. Still, his friends, Miguel and Duarte, are part of his conscience, constantly reminding him of the blunders he made. In one of those casual Sunday afternoon gatherings in a park close to home, his friends didn’t miss the opportunity for a sharper intervention:

<< While you’re unsure about what you feel like doing or while you delude yourself with this uncertainty, Afonso, knowing that you want everything after all; they’re not so worried about it as you think they are, or as much as you want it to be true. While you can’t tell her that you no longer want her, she’s the one leaving you because she does not want a piece of you, not a half, nor a third or a quarter, and so she simply turns around and goes away. Because there is no love today until you know how to want or ask for it, or even have it, because now you do not know how to change these impulsiveness of having her lying down on your bed by a smile on the waterfront.

And it was easy for her to sail that ship to somewhere else, not looking back, when you left her waiting for you at any random pier. You just couldn’t decide which of the smiles you wanted and, while trying to have them all, you smothered a few wishes she had. So, it was her; with her kindness and simple way of not calling in one’s chits, she was then the one telling you she didn’t need you after all, whispering on your ear that she does not need you and that loving is not so hard and that it has no best before date (it can last a lifetime or even a week, but we never care upfront). So she went away, walking on the waterfront, walking towards someone who could offer her calm again (“and serenity, love”, she told you).

“Because there is no love today” they told you you; but you didn’t believe it. Damn, love needs to be a simple thing, unselfish, volatile and of intense touch. Why complicate it? “Damn it,” Afonso, they told you, “because there is no more love today”. >>

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

EXT. DAY – PARK

Afonso, Miguel and Duarte are walking in the park, talking. They arrive at a picnic table, where they sit around. Afonso lays down on the table, looking up to the sky.

MIGUEL

While you’re unsure about what you feel like doing or while you delude yourself with this uncertainty, because after all you want everything; they do not care as much as you think…

DUARTE

… Not even as much as you want it to be true.

AFONSO

Com’on guys, don’t say that… Whoever hears you will just think I’m a bastard.

MIGUEL

And what are you sometimes?

While you can not tell them that you no longer want them all the time, it is they who do not want you in half, a third or a quarter, and then they simply turn around and go away.

DUARTE

Because there is no love today until you know how to want or ask for it, or even have it, because now you do not know how to change this impulsiveness of having her, lying down on your bed, by a smile on the waterfront.

AFONSO

What about Margarida? It was love…

CUT TO A CLOSE-UP OF MARGARIDA’S FACE

EXT. DAY – WATERFRONT AREA

Margarida is sitting on a bench and impatiently looks at the clock/phone, waiting for Afonso, who has not arrived yet. She gives up and starts walking toward the horizon, not looking back, moving away.

MIGUEL (V.O.)

(As we see Margarida moving away)

Like it was with Sara a few months ago?

(Laughing)

Well, it may still be love, yes… but you know it was damn easy for her to move on without looking back, especially after those days when you left her waiting for you. You always do the same.

FADE-OUT FOR PAST DINNERS’ SCENES

INT. NIGHT – BAR

There is a Mashup of various scenes, full of smiles of girls who have already been with Afonso (reuse scenes from episode 1 “Who is he?“).

CUT FOR A CLOSE-UP OF MIGUEL

EXT. DAY – PARK

Miguel continues the intervention, while they all think about some past scenes.

MIGUEL

As you couldn’t decide which of the smiles you wanted, you just tried to have them all…

(Laughing)

…and so you smothered a few wishes she had.

CUT TO AFONSO AND MARGARIDA’S CLOSE-UP

INT. DAY – MARGARIDA’S HOME (HALL)

Margarida talks to Afonso, like a farewell kind of talk.

MIGUEL (V.O.)

No wonder she told you she does not need you. In her simple way, like not calling one’s chit.

Margarida is close to Afonso’s ear so she can whisper a few words to him, nodding but smiling.

MARGARIDA

Loving is not hard, not it has best before date, it can last a lifetime or as long as a week.

DUARTE (V.O.)

And so she went, moving to whom would offer her calm again and…

MARGARIDA

(Whispering on Afonso’s ear)

Serenity (warmth?), Love.

CUT TO THE PARK, WITH A CLOSE-UP OF FRIENDS

EXT. DAY – PARK

Miguel and Duarte continue talking to Afonso.

MIGUEL

“Because there is no more love today” she told you, but you didn’t believe it.

DUARTE

Maybe there is, but, damn, love is simple, or it should be. It’s unselfish, for no apparent reason.

AFONSO

But it’s volatile and gets so intense just by touching…

MIGUEL

Why complicate it? Damn it, Afonso, we told you so, “as there is no more love today”.

THE END

 

Translated from the Portuguese original post: Episódio 3 – Abre os olhos!