THE DATING GAME

Written by
Aria Daryadel
Thirst Three Pages
/u/ohburst
CREDITS ROLL WHILE JIMMY EAT WORLDS 23 PLAYS BEHIND HOME
MOVIES...
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Grainy quality, dated at the bottom 1986.
MARKS MOTHER (30s) and AMANDAS MOTHER (30s) hold their
infants in their arms as they sit at a kitchen table. Theyre
young mothers with tacky, adorable 80s hair. Baggy shirts
and jeans.
MARKS FATHER (O.S.)
(behind the camera)
What do we have going on, today?
Marks mother smiles down at her child, so completely in
love.
MARKS MOTHER
Were celebrating Mark and Amandas
first birthdays today.
MARKS GRANDMA (60s) enters and takes a seat.
MARKS GRANDMA
They were born on the same day?
MARKS MOTHER
(Not taking her eyes off
her son)
Theyre five days apart.
MARK (V.O.)
I met the girl of my dreams when I
was five days old.
MARKS MOTHER
(to Amandas mom)
Five days or six?
AMANDAS MOTHER
Six.
MARK (V.O.)
Six days old...
Marks grandma reaches her hand out with a playful, looney
expression. Mark GIGGLES, causing Marks grandma to SQUEAL.
MARKS GRANDMA
God can take me any time. I just
needed to meet this little boy.
EXT. PUBLIC PARK - DAY
Grainy quality, dated at the bottom 1991.
A clear blue sky with no clouds in sight. Children cover a
large public playground like ants on dropped bread crumbs.
TODDLER MARK and TODDLER AMANDA are sitting on a red bench
that overlooks everything.
Mark pays attention to a large sandbox while he picks his
nose. Amandas focus is on the camera. In this moment shes a
movie star.
MARKS MOTHER (O.S.)
Why arent you guys playing?
AMANDA
Were resting.
MARKS MOTHER (O.S.)
Mark, honey look at the camera.
He doesnt. Amanda taps his shoulder while she sucks on her
shirt collar. He breaks his stare and turns to her. She
kisses him.
MARK (V.O.)
She was my first kiss.
He wipes his mouth, traumatized and stares up at his mother
like he wants her to save him.
MARKS MOTHER (O.S.)
(laughing)
Why did you do that, Amanda?
AMANDA
Cause I love him.
MARK (V.O.)
She was my first everything.
Amanda grabs his wiping hand.
AMANDA
Youre not sposed to wipe it off.
He looks at her like shes bat shit crazy.
2.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Grainy quality, dated at the bottom 1995.
A Christmas tree stands in the corner of a living room
covered in shreds of wrapping paper and unopened toys.
YOUNG MARK and YOUNG AMANDA are on the floor in front of
scattered puzzle pieces.
Amanda examines the pieces carefully while Mark HUFFS with
his arms crossed.
MARKS FATHER (O.S.)
Why arent you helping, bud?
He flails his arms, annoyed.
MARK
She wont let me!
AMANDA
Hes not even trying. Hes just
sticking pieces together that dont
even match up.
MARKS FATHER (O.S.)
(laughing)
You guys arent gonna break up, are
you?
MARK
Shes not my girlfriend!
AMANDA
(like its fact)
Yes I am.
Amanda pushes a pile of unsorted puzzle pieces over to him.
AMANDA (CONTD)
Turn each one over so that the
picture part shows.
He complies, but its as if hes not sure why.
MARK (V.O.)
She definitely made the first move
but Id later argue I fell in love
first. When it comes down to it, I
think thats whats most important.
3.