SHEER STRINGS

Written by

Ahmad Marouf

All Rights Reserved. 2021.

info@amaroufmedia.com
Cell: 416-897-8333
FADE IN

EXT. DOWNTOWN TORONTO - FRONT STREET - AFTERNOON

We follow LAURA, a smart and sensitive woman in her late

twenties. She walks towards Union subway station at the end
of the workday. She hears the music of a stringed
instrument. As she looks around she sees a MUSICIAN whose
face is covered by a PAPER BAG. Laura slows down. She is
drawn to the exotic music and the musician's bizarre
appearance. She crosses the street, walks closer to him.
Laura stares at his covered face and follows the movement of
his fingers. A new feeling hits her, a fervent feeling. A
few people stand looking at the Musician with curious and
quizzical expressions. Laura steps away slowly.

INT. LAURA'S HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT

Laura prepares salad. She wears blue shorts and a tight T-

shirt. Andrew, Laura's boyfriend, enters wearing black
shorts and a white undershirt. He is a muscled, handsome go-
getter man in his mid-thirties. Andrew kisses Laura on the
neck from behind. She moves smoothly to grab the olive oil
bottle.

LAURA
(smiles)
Hay, Andrew...let's eat first love!

ANDREW
(sensually)
You're soooo hot BABE, in these
blue shorts.

Laura mixes the salad in the bowl and turns to face Andrew.
She looks into his eyes for a while.

ANDREW
(curious)
What's going on in your mind? Say
it, Laura!

LAURA
(bites her lower lip)
Have you ever covered your face in
public?

ANDREW
(surprised)
What do you mean?
 2.

LAURA
(stutters)
You know...people staring at you
while you're hiding your face.

ANDREW
(thinking)
Like being completely naked with a
covered head?

LAURA
(excited)
Wow! That's rebellious! I can't
picture you doing it.

Andrew laughs loud. Laura holds a fork full of salad closer

to his mouth. He chews the salad. Then they kiss
passionately.

INT. LAURA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

The alarm clock on the bedside table shows 11:43. Andrew is

sleeping deeply. Laura is awake, she stares at the ceiling
with an intense expression. She gets out of bed slowly and
exits the room quietly.

INT. LAURA'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Laura searches on her laptop for "STRINGED INSTRUMENTS". She

browses the images looking for the Musician's instrument
without being able to find it. Thinking for a while, she
adds "ORIENTAL" in the search field and VOILA!

LAURA
(reads loud)
OUD...OO...UU..DD

Laura does a video search for "OUD MUSIC", she clicks on the
first video and listens with a big smile on her face.

THE BASEMENT - LATER

Laura looks excited while rummaging through the boxes.

Finally, she finds what she is searching for; an old JOURNAL
full of papers with her handwriting. She sits on the floor,
flipping through the papers. Her face shines as she stares
at a yellowed paper. She reads with a clear voice, sounding
like a new person.

LAURA
(expressive)
In the dead hours of the night,
Wind blows over the world,
Takes away all the words.
(MORE)
 3.

LAURA (CONT'D)
Let me listen to your voice,
Let it hovers over,
The cities of noise.

Laura gets emotional, a forgotten part of her heart has been

awakened.

EXT. DOWNTOWN TORONTO - AFTERNOON

A series of shots of DIVERSE TYPES of people standing around

the Oud Player with the paper bag. They are interested in
his strange music, probably more interested in seeing his
face. We follow the movement of his fingers and notice a
BIRD TATTOO on his right hand. The CAMERA comes closer to
him. We can see the radiant expression of his eyes through
the bag's two holes.

POV of the Oud Player. He stares at the people around him.

They look curious more than genuinely interested. Suddenly,
he sees Laura coming. She stares at him with a charming
smile on her face. She looks at his moving fingers and
notices the Bird Tattoo. He startles when their eyes lock
for two seconds. Laura's smile gets wider.

We see Laura stand facing the Oud Player. The music gets
louder and more energetic.

INT. MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT - DAY

Sami is a shy, intellectual, Arabic man in his mid-thirties.

You would remember his warm smile for a long time. He
prepares Falafel sandwiches in the corner of the restaurant.
Sami's expressions and body language make it easy to see
that he feels alienated. He looks uncertain and hesitant
while he speaks with the 40-year-old CUSTOMER.

SAMI
(stutters)
11 dollars, fifth cents Sir.

THE CUSTOMER
(kindly)
Did you say 11 dollars, fifty
cents?

Sami presses different keys on the touch screen.

SAMI
(smiles)
Exactly...exactly SIR!

The Customer holds the credit card.

 4.

THE CUSTOMER
It's a Master Card.

The Customer looks at the machine screen but it's not

showing the payment information. Sami presses more keys
looking back and forth between the Customer and the CASH
REGISTER SCREEN.

SAMI
(confused)
Sorry about this SIR...I'm sorry.

Sami turns back and shouts to his coworker Anas.

SAMI (CONT'D)
(embarrassed)
Anas...Anas! Just one minute
please.

The Customer watches Sami impatiently and gets frustrated.

Two other Customers are waiting to be served, they become
upset.

INT. LAURA'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON

Laura works on a complicated chart on her computer,

analyzing DATA. She grabs a granola bar from the drawer and
bites into it.

EXT. DOWNTOWN TORONTO - AFTERNOON

Laura hurries to the intersection where the Oud Player

stands but she doesn't find him. She looks around, walking
back and forth until she realizes that he isn't there. Laura
looks disappointed.

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT - NIGHT

We watch Sami through the window. He's MOPPING the floor,

turning his back to the window. He looks ashamed, avoiding
the looks of the passers. Anas and another co-worker are
organizing the kitchen and storing the food.

INT. LAURA'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Laura lies on the couch, drinking a beer. The Oud music

plays. Laura stares at the white papers in front of her. She
holds a pen and starts drawing straight lines. Then she
writes: "STRINGS". Her eyes shine with passion. She is about
to write something down, but she is interrupted by Andrew.
He enters, wearing jeans and a sleeveless tee. He moves his
eyes between Laura and the papers.
 5.

ANDREW
What're you doing Laura?

LAURA
(cold)
relaxing... I guess.

ANDREW (CONT'D)
(laughs)
I don't think that this music helps
relaxation!

LAURA
(shrugs)
I like it.

He steps closer to her, looking at the papers. Laura hides

the papers from him.

ANDREW
(wondering)
What're you writing smart IT girl?

Laura laughs, she reacts playfully.

LAURA
(laughs)
I'm coding a program to transform
you into a dreamer.

Andrew sits on the couch, he starts kissing Laura.

ANDREW
(sensually)
I'm always dreaming of you Babe!

They engage in a foreplay. They kiss deep.

INT. SAMI'S BASEMENT - NIGHT

The door opens to reveal Sami's SILHOUETTE. He enters slowly

and turns the light on. Sami throws his BACKPACK on the
floor and takes off his jacket.

INT. SAMI'S BASEMENT - BATH ROOM - NIGHT

Sami takes a shower. He emerges from the bathroom a FRESH

MAN.

INT. LAURA'S HOME - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Laura sits in front of the mirror, combing her wet hair

after the shower. She stares at herself. She turns her head
aside. Andrew lies on the bed, focusing on his phone.
 6.

The light reflects from his muscled body. Laure watches him
for a few seconds. He doesn't pay attention to her. She
continues combing her hair.

EXT. THE SKY - NIGHT

A long shot of the sky.

EXT. SAMI'S BASEMENT SURROUNDING - NIGHT

Establishing shots of Sami's basement surrounding. A long

shot of the basement's outside door. The Oud music is heard
clearly.

SAMI'S NEIGHBOURHOOD

The camera CRANES UP out of Sami's neighborhood, ending with

an AERIAL SHOT of the extended area. The music dims.

EXT. LAURA'S HOUSE SURROUNDINGS - NIGHT

We zoom towards the surrounding area of Laura's house, all

the way up to her bedroom window. The Oud Music is still
heard, very quietly.

INT. LAURA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Laura hears the low Oud Music while sleeping. She smiles.
Andrew is barely in frame beside her.

EXT. LAURA'S HOUSE SURROUNDINGS - NIGHT

The outside door opens slowly. Laura walks outside wearing a

JACKET over her sleeping clothes. She walks slowly following
the Oud Music as she is ENCHANTED.

We follow her steps, the music becomes clearer. Laura stops

in front of a house, opening her eyes slowly.

INT. LAURA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Andrew tosses in bed. He opens his eyes slowly as he feels

Laura's absence. A low wind sound coming from downstairs
gives him the feeling that something unusual is going on.

EXT. IN FRONT OF A STRANGER'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Laura steps towards the front yard. Andrew emerges from the
darkness wearing a dressing gown. He puts his hands on
Laura's shoulders.

ANDREW
(whispers)
Laura, where are you going Babe?
 7.

LAURA
(annoyed)
Stop Andrew, don't spoil my musical
dream, you ruin everything...just
go.

ANDREW
(upset, whispering)
For the fuck's sake, let's go back
to our warm home...our warm bed.

Suddenly a BRIGHT LIGHT is turned on, the front door opens

revealing a MAN in his fifties wearing pyjamas.

THE MAN
(kindly)
How can I help you guys?

The man looks at his cell phone.

THE MAN (CONT'D)

(pointedly)
...At this late hour.

Laura opens her eyes wide in surprise. She is standing

outside facing a stranger and the music is not heard
anymore.

LAURA
(surprised)
So... you are the Oud Player?

THE MAN
(completely confused)
Excuse me?

LAURA
(imitates playing Oud)
The OUD...O..U..D

THE MAN
(like he talks to a crazy
person)
I beg your pardon...I never heard
of it, Miss!

ANDREW
(scoffing, to Laura)
Is it the instrument that makes
that strange music?

Laura looks tired and disappointed. She turns back, walking

towards her house. Andrew follows her. He's embarrassed.
 8.

The Man turns off the light and steps inside, closing the
door behind him.

INT. LAURA'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON

Laura works on a complicated chart on her computer. She is

bored. The office is SILENT. she looks at the other three
CO-WORKERS sitting behind their computers. They are close to
her age, nerdy: two males and one female. Laura goes to say
something to the GUY sitting close to her, but he puts on
his HEADPHONES before she says a word. Laura watches him for
a while, then she continues working on her computer.

EXT. LAURA'S HOUSE - BACKYARD - NIGHT

Laura paces back and forth. Two big SPEAKERS are sitting on
a chair, connected to her phone. The Oud music plays loud.

EXT. LAURA'S NEIGHBOURHOOD - NIGHT

We follow Sami. The Oud music gets louder as he walks closer

to Laura's house. He looks surprised and confused.

EXT. LAURA'S HOUSE SURROUNDING - NIGHT

Sami steps closer to the backyard, he hides behind a tree,

looking at Laura, she is still pacing back and forth. He
recognizes her as she faces him. He smiles with a surprised
expression in his eyes. He looks at her with love.

EXT. LAURA'S HOUSE - BACKYARD - NIGHT

Laura stops walking. She feels Sami's presence. She looks

around, her heart is racing. The second she looks towards
the tree where Sami stands, Andrew storms outside.

ANDREW
(irritated)
Babe, can you turn the music down?
I've had enough of it!

LAURA
(offended)
I like this music and I want it to
be loud!

ANDREW
(on the edge)
Something has changed since you
started listening to this music,
Laura!
 9.

LAURA
(scoffing)
Maybe, I got transformed into a
dreamer!

He rushes towards the two speakers, he grabs Laura's phone,

kicking the chair with his foot.

ANDREW
(shouts in rage)
Are we cursed with this fucking
music...or what?

The Oud music stops. Laura gets mad and tries to get her
phone back from Andrew.

LAURA
(shouts in anger)
You're such a jerk! How dare you!?

FADE TO BLACK.

EXT. DOWNTOWN TORONTO - AFTERNOON

A series of shots of the rush hour hustle-bustle. Andrew

holds a FLOWER BOUQUET. He heads to Laura's workplace. He
hears the Oud music. The music gets louder as he walks down
the street. Andrew looks to the other side of the street and
sees the Oud Player covering his face. He frowns and turns
to cross the street.

ANDREW
(to himself, with scorn)
Here's the fucking mysterious
musician.

EXT. DOWNTOWN TORONTO - AFTERNOON

POV of the Oud Player, he stares at the people standing

around him, some of them are enjoying the music, the others
are just curious. Suddenly, Andrew comes towards him
quickly.

We see Andrew extends his hands towards the Oud player's

head, he tries to take off the paper bag. The flowers fly in
the air.

ANDREW
(shouts aggressively)
Hey you... what are you hiding
under this fucking Paper Bag?

CUT TO BLACK.
 10.

The sound of the music DIES. We hear the people's

overlapping shouts and chatter.

EXT. DOWNTOWN TORONTO - ALLEY - AFTERNOON

The Oud Player runs fast. Nobody follows him but he looks
panicked as if somebody is chasing him. He arrives at an
ALLEY and hides behind a large GARBAGE CAN. Hidden from
view, we can hear him whimpering. He breathes heavily as he
takes off the paper bag. Turning his back to the CAMERA, we
are unable to see his face.

EXT. LAURA'S HOUSE SURROUNDINGS - NIGHT

A long establishing shot of the house. All the lights are

turned off. SILENCE.

EXT. THE PARK - MORNING - DREAM

A sunny day. The Oud Player with the Covered Face is

standing surrounded by a crowd of people of all ages. They
enjoy the MELODY. Laura rides a BICYCLE wearing a flowery
short dress. Her hair is braided. She looks younger and
happier. She cycles through the crowd. As she gets closer to
the Oud Player, she jumps off the bicycle and tries to take
the Paper Bag off his head.

LAURA
(shouts)
I wrote a nice poem for you!

The Oud Player holds her right hand, the music stops. A
WHITE FLASH spreads slowly to cover everything while we hear
Laura breathing heavily.

INT. LAURA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Laura wakes up from the dream, she is still breathing

heavily. She looks at Andrew, he is sleeping deeply, she
sits up in the bed.

EXT. DOWNTOWN TORONTO - MORNING

A series of shots of people heading to their workplaces.

Laura heads to the OFFICE, walking slowly. Suddenly she
stops walking in the middle of the sidewalk. She gets her
PHONE out from her handbag and calls her MANAGER.

LAURA(ON THE PHONE)

(formal)
Good morning Dave...sorry about the
short notice, but I don't feel
well... yes, right...ok thanks...
see you tomorrow, bye now!
 11.

A series of shots of Laura getting out from an INDIE COFFEE

SHOP. She holds a cup of coffee and a muffin. She walks down
different streets and lanes.

LAURA (V.O)
(expressive)
Where are you?
Where are you?
I'm looking for you,
In all eyes.
I'm drawing your face,
On the sky.
Let me listen to your voice.
Let it hover,
Over the cities of noise.

Laura stares at the passersby. Her phone rings. The caller

is Andrew. She ignores the call.

EXT. IN FRONT OF THE MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT - NOON

We watch the movement inside the restaurant through the

window. Many people pass by. An Arabic song with Oud Music
is heard coming from inside. Laura passes by the restaurant.
The familiar music draws her attention and she stops,
looking through the window.

INT. MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT - DAY

POV of Anas. He finishes processing a payment. Laura enters

hesitantly, she smiles nervously. The other customer is
waiting to get his order.

ANAS
(big smile)
Good Morning!

POV of Laura, She sees Anas behind the counter. Sami stands
in the corner with his back turned. He prepares two Falafel
sandwiches.

LAURA
(not sure)
Hi, I'm curious to know more about
your menu. I know Shish Taouk but
what about...

As Laura starts speaking Sami turns around and gives the

sandwiches to the other customer. Sami faces Laura, he
stares at her and starts trembling. He recognizes her
immediately. Laura stares at his face, trying to remember
where she saw this man before. The EYE CONTACT hits Laura
with the same fervent feeling that shocked her when she
listened to the Oud music for the first time.
 12.

Sami and Laura are DISCONNECTED from the world around them.
Sami's face gets covered slowly with the Paper Bag while the
Oud music rises loud and clear. Laura recognizes the Oud
Player's eyes and expression. She looks at Sami's hands and
sees the bird tattoo on the back of his right hand. Laura
smiles, delighted.

LAURA
(stutters, emotional)
YOU...it's you...the Oud Player!

Sami nods and the Paper Bag disappears. He smiles with

tearful eyes.

SAMI
(quavering voice)
It's me.

FADE TO BLACK.

THE END