Simpatico (21 pages in pdf format) by Libby Chambers

Two know-it-all friends believing themselves to be the authorities on love, sex, dating, and finding ‘the one’ recount the events of a one night stand.

Tennis can be a difficult endeavor. Strength, endurance and determination are required to even mildly succeed. Footwork, hand-eye coordination and cunning strategy take no backseat. Factor in the dimension of doubles play and the complexities double equally. The court expands. Communication is paramount and the volleys require cat-like reflexes during the exhilarating, ping-pong-on-steroids shootouts.

Like tennis, Libby Chambers’ “Simpatico” challenges the senses, hitting point after relationship point. A classic Australian Open match on paper, its characters crush poignant forehand observations and trade clever backhand quips, making the script worthy of center court applause.

The story begins with “INT. HOTEL – BEER GARDEN.” This script had me at “INT.” When the dialogue is served and the love story unfolds, it feels like you’re sitting next to the characters, sharing a glass of wine with Melissa (a buxom, outspoken brunette) and Ann (short, round and modest). Melissa confides to Ann: “I felt something really real between us, you know?”

“What, his penis?” Ann returns. Game on.

It’s also “on” across the garden as we chug a pint with 30-somethings Bob and Chad, who tells-all about his previous night’s date, “If you’d asked me at the start of the night, I’d have said dust off that penguin suit, fella”,” but it was a rather awkward finale.”

And – speaking of awkward: Chad and Melissa are dishing gossip about each other, with no clue they’re sitting just a handful of seats away.

            Chad
She was a bit too full on, you
know. Gave off this vibe.

            Melissa
I really think this guy might
be the one.

And so it goes, from opposite ends of the hotel. Back and forth they lob insights and serve momentum, revealing Bob and Ann – who have not met – may actually be perfect for one another. But, will they ever discover they’re at the same beer garden? Will true love miss its chance by sheer meters?

Chad and Melissa do eventually spot each other and the story escalates in fine fashion:

“Do you suppose she followed me?”

“Do you suppose he’s stalking me?”

“Oh shit, is she headed this way? I’m off for a leak.”

“This is where I play it super cool and slip off to the lady’s room.”

Chad and Melissa sneak to their respective hiding holes without noticing the other’s doing likewise. Bob and Ann do the same, both headed for the bar…

As for “Simpatico”, it’s surely headed for production and a round of success. Game, set, and match – comic relationship fun at its best.

Budget: Location cost is pint-sized – any non-fancy hotel or pub will do.

A Top Three Finalist in the LA Comedy Festival Screenplay Contest

About the writer: Libby Chambers has been writing all her life – especially in her head, and on scraps of paper. It’s only in the last few years she began to get serious about screen-writing. Prior to this she worked in the Features Department for ABC TV as a Program Assistant, and trained as a FAD. She has also worked professionally as a freelance web-content editor and proofreader. She is thrilled her first ever entry into a Screenplay Comp – The LA Comedy Festival ‘Short’ screenplay division took out Top 3 Finalist and hopes the high placing will be a continuing trend. 🙂 Libby would love to see her words come to life on screen – and has another screenplay coming soon – a family friendly coming of age Drama – ‘Scooter’. She lives with her husband (also a screenwriter) in Sydney, Australia, and describes him as being both a good and a bad influence on her writing. You can contact Libby at libbych “AT” hotmail

About the reviewer: An LA based writer, Zach Zupke can be contacted via email at zzupke “AT” yahoo

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This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.