THE BOOK CLUB

Written by

Charlie Molerio
INT. B-ROLL - LIBRARY - AFTERNOON

BEGIN TITLES

Library bookshelves are everywhere. People are seen reading

the synopses of books. Classical music is playing softly.

FADE IN:

“The Book Club”

FADE IN:

“Books are the carriers of civilization - Barbara W. Tuchman”

END TITLES

FADE TO:

INT. LIBRARY - STUDY ROOM - SAME TIME

We see: CHARLIE (16, long hair, pimple faced), KAYLA (17,

blonde, pretty, wearing a Star Of David and Hanukkah socks),
BRAYDEN (17, Curly hair, Bearded, Pretty cool popular seeming
guy), and GABY (17, Short straight hair, pretty, hippie
aesthetic), all sitting around the table waiting for the
meeting to begin, then:

CHARLIE
Hey guys! Welcome to the first
official meeting of our brand new
bookclub! The only thing on today’s
agenda is deciding what will be our
club’s first book.

BRAYDEN
Wait so Charlie, why’d you like
start this book club thing, anyway?

CHARLIE
(increasingly passionate)
Very good question. Glad you asked
it... Well, I guess it because I’ve
always felt that books were the
first Movies. Novellas the first
youtube videos. And Short Stories
the first TikTok's, if you will.
(MORE)
 2.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)
See I want us to truly experience
the FIRST form of entertainment. I
also like classical music a lot and
the smell of old mahogany desks.

Long pause. Gaby and Brayden share subtle WTF looks. Kayla
notices and tries to be nice:

KAYLA
Well, I think that’s beautiful
Charlie. It’s important to be in
touch with um,... stuff you like.

CHARLIE
Thank you Kayla, I knew you would
understand it.

BRAYDEN
What the hell does that mean?

CHARLIE
Aaaand moving on, does anyone have
suggestions for our first book?

Everyone’s hands shoot into the air.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)
You don’t have to raise your hands.
We’re not in school, guys. Although
I will be giving you homework. To
make sure you’re paying attention.

GABY
Um. OK? Well, I guess I’ll go first
if everyone’s okay with that?

BRAYDEN/KAYLA
Yea, go ahead./Totally cool.

GABY
Okay so i’ve been hearing about
this book and it seems really
interesting. Its a an Art Book-

BRAYDEN
Ugh, BOOOORING.

Charlie shakes his head at Brayden, disappointed.

GABY
(snaps)
JUST GIVE IT A CHANCE, BRAYDEN! I’m
so sick of your freaking crap!
(then cheery)
(MORE)
 3.

GABY (CONT'D)
So it’s an Art Book and it really
delves into Color Theory.

CHARLIE
Color Theory. I like that.
Sounds... snobby.

GABY
There is this whole section where
it talks about how the same color
could be shown to like 50 different
people, and they could ALL see
different versions of the color. It
even applies to bland colors like
black, or white, or gray.

CHARLIE
Intriguing and fascinating yet
simplistic. What’s the book called?

We see the back of Gaby’s head while everyone else is looking

at her. She reaches into her backpack and grabs the book and
slides it on the table to Charlie.

GABY
It’s called-

CHARLIE
Fifty Shades Of Grey?

GABY
Yea!

CHARLIE
Are you joking?

GABY
Why would I be?

CHARLIE
50 Shades of Gray is the most
notorious Smut novel of all time.
This has NOTHING to do with colors
or or or or Art or anything. How
did you even come up with that??

Charlie puts his head on his hands and starts massaging his
temples, then she answers:

GABY
OKAY. Fine! I just grabbed the
first book in my mom’s nightstand.
(MORE)
 4.

GABY (CONT'D)
I even brought her weird purple
bullet shaped bookmark. Here let me
show u.

BRAYDEN
Bullet Shaped Bookmark?

CHARLIE
What do you me- NO NO DON’T SHOW
US. PLEASE.

Gaby reaches into her bag and pulls out a purple AR-15 Bullet
bookmark, then:

GABY
See?

KAYLA
Oh thank god.

GABY
Isn’t that a weird bookmark?

BRAYDEN
Your mom’s weird.

CHARLIE
Brayden! We don’t say things like
that even if they’re true. Now.
Someone. Else. Go. Please.

Gaby shrugs and puts her book and bookmark away.

Charlie looks around for who to go next, until landing on

Kayla:

KAYLA
I guess I could go.

CHARLIE
Yes, please! Save us from this
debacle, Kayla. Now, what’s your
book about?

KAYLA
Okay so it’s this insanely
motivational story about this
frustrated painter. Who didn’t get
accepted into this like prestigious
art school, BUT he didn’t let that
stop him.

CHARLIE
Oh, I like that. Inspirational.
 5.

KAYLA
Exactly! He’s also like an
incredibly powerful talker. He
could move people, like really move
people, like a Ghandi type almost.

BRAYDEN
Who? Kidding. I know that dude.

KAYLA
But then he got framed for this
riot kinda thing and he was
sentenced to prison.

GABY
Ooh, this does sound good. I’m
actually intrigued. And I’m rarely
intrigued by anything but musicals.

Then for no reason Gaby breaks out into some sort of musical
riff (ala Maya Rudolf) to show her vocal range. Class listens
then moves on like Gaby does this all the time. Not annoyed,
at all, it’s just what she does. They’re non plussed.

KAYLA
During his time in prison he like
came up with this logo, for his
company type thing.

GABY
So a marketing genius, too! I wish
I could date this guy!

KAYLA
He’s dead. But before that, he
would touch many people’s lives!
AND FOR KICKERS: IT’S A TRUE STORY!

Charlie wipes a tear from his cheek.

CHARLIE
Bravo, Kayla! Bravo! That... is
what this book club is all about.
That sounds... sublime.

BRAYDEN
Holy shit, that’s like an actually
beautiful story. No cap.

GABY
Wow, Brayden never says anything
nice.
 6.

BRAYDEN
It’s true. I’m moved. Bet.

CHARLIE
I don’t know about you guys, BUT I
think we found our first book!!!

Everyone cheers. Kayla beams. So proud of herself.

GABY
Do you have the book on you? I
really want to get a copy of it.

KAYLA
Yea! Here.

She hands it to Gaby, and Charlie grabs it from Gaby’s hands.

CHARLIE
Kayla. We are not... reading this
book.

Brayden and Gaby see the books cover, then:

GABY
OH HELL NO. WE ARE NOT READING
THAT! WHAT THE HELL KAYLA!

BRAYDEN
Are you joking Kayla? This is a
crazy joke. Kinda funny gotta
admit, BUT THIS IS A MIND BOGGLING
JOKE, RIGHT KAYLA?

KAYLA
Woah calm down, no need to be such
a book nazi, am I right?

Long pause. Everyone looks at Kayla blinking.

KAYLA (CONT’D)
What’s your problem with the book?
I thought we all agreed it was a
beautiful story.

CHARLIE
IT’S MEIN KAMPF. BY ADOLF HITLER,
KAYLA. YOU’RE JEWISH. WHAT DO YOU
MEAN “WHAT’S OUR PROBLEM WITH IT?”

We see Kayla stand up and drop the book, her Star Of David
and Hanukkah clothes are seen in frame.
 7.

KAYLA
IT’S BY HITLER? I JUST READ THE
SPARK NOTES. WHAT THE FUCK. Ew,
gross! I hate Hitler!

GABY
For a moment there, I thought you
were an Anti-Semite, Kayla?

KAYLA
No? I literally am a Semite.

Brayden starts laughing hysterically.

BRAYDEN
This whole book club is a freaking
slow motion train wreck! Love it!

CHARLIE
BRAYDEN, GO PLEASE!

BRAYDEN
Okay Okay so: In the tranquil town
of Harmony Grove, a young soul
seeks solace in an enigmatic bond
with his beagle. As the sun sets on
tumultuous days, their unspoken
dialogue unfolds in a shared
haven—a simple doghouse nestled
among blossoming trees. Through
soulful gazes and whimsical
gestures, his dog imparts timeless
wisdom, transcending language
constraints. Exploring the
simplicity and beauty concealed
within life's tapestry. Amid
laughter and playful misadventures,
a profound connection blossoms,
revealing a timeless novel of
friendship, resilience, and the
healing power of unconditional
love, all wrapped in the endearing
friendship between a boy and his
pet dog.

We see Charlie, Gaby, and Kayla all shocked. How could

Brayden come up with something so beautiful?

CHARLIE
That, that, was, I have no words.
(he tries...)
No, I still have no words.
 8.

KAYLA
Jesus, dude.

GABY
I love it.

CHARLIE
Yes, Brayden. I underestimated you.
And your dedication to this austere
group. I see now that--

Just then, Brayden pulls out a single, three panel “Peanuts”

comic strip. Charlie’s face drops from a happy smile to a
blank stare, masking his hidden rage he tries to control:

CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Brayden. Is that a Peanuts comic
strip that you cut out of the
fucking newspaper? Where did you
even get a newspaper, you
troglodyte?

BRAYDEN
I found it under a sleeping hobo.
Kidding. My dad gets the paper.
Anyway. I thought we could read it
as a club or something.

CHARLIE
Do you guys not understand what a
book club is? DO YOU NOT
UNDERSTAND? Why do I even try?

Charlie stands up and starts yelling.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)
THIS IS NOT COMIC STRIP CLUB, OR OR
OR A PORN CLUB, OR ANTISEMITIC
HITLER CLUB. THIS. THIS IS A BOOK
CLUB. THIS IS A BOOK CLUB. WHERE WE
READ NORMAL BOOKS.

Charlie sits back down and sinks into his chair.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)
You are ruining my book club. I
just wanted to experience brilliant
literature for fun and you guys are
ruining it.

KAYLA
I’m sorry, Charlie. We’re all
sorry.
 9.

GABY
We know how much time you put into
this.

BRAYDEN
Yeah dude, our bad. Um do you have
an idea you wanna share, Charlie?

Long beat.

CHARLIE
I mean yeaahh. But you guys
probably wouldn’t like it.

GABY/BRAYDEN/KAYLA
Sure we would! What is it? Yeah!

CHARLIE
Well, I saw this and thought about
you guys. Because we have such a
blast, together.

GABY
Awww, that’s sweet.

CHARLIE
Thanks. It’s called “How to Make a
Pipe Bomb.” Any takers?

KAYLA
THAT’S PERFECT!

GABY
Fun! I LOVE IT!!

BRAYDEN
I’VE ACTUALLY BEEN STRUGGLING SO
HARD TO MAKE MY PIPE BOMBS
RECENTLY.

GABY/KAYLA
Me too. Same.

CHARLIE
Oh my god! Seriously. What are you
guys using for shrapnel?

BRAYDEN
Usually nails to be honest.

KAYLA
Thats a little basic no? Never
wanna switch it up and go for I
don’t know, broken glass?
 10.

GABY
I think this is gonna be one
productive and explosive summer.
This group is the bomb!

BRAYDEN
Okay Guys! Can we get a Bin Laden
on 3 before we leave?

GABY
3...2...1

GROUP IN UNISON
BIN LADEN!!!

The whole group laughs and yammers about bombs then:

LIBRARY EMPLOYEE
What’s all the ruckus about in
here?

The 4 friends turn to each other and start laughing. Normal

and cheesy at first like they’re on a sitcom, but eventually
it escalates to some crazed Eric Andre level that scares the
crap out of the library dude, and he runs away.

FADE OUT.

CREDIT ROLL