"TBD / Chinatown" Movie Scene Sample #1

I had been asked to submit a writing sample for a potential gig adapting a book to screenplay. It was about a man's true life redemption story, and they offered two scenes for me to choose from - each had specific character beats or events, although the first scene was a bit more specific detailing the sequence of events.

As the subject interested me, I wrote samples for both scenes. Here is the first one, the open of the movie - Enjoy!


FADE IN EXT. CHINATOWN COLUMBUS PARK PAVILION - DAY

 

It’s a bright and bustling early September, with the change in season causing people of all shapes and sizes to sport a mix of fashions from shorts and tank tops to light jackets and corduroy.

Dragon Wei, an ambitious young man in his late 20s/early 30s, weaves his bicycle through a cluster of pedestrians as he makes his way from Bayard St. to a pay phone nestled between clusters of people huddled on either side of the building.


SUPER: 1983

 

He rolls his bike up to the payphone set into the wall. He doesn’t actually nudge anybody as he moves into the space, but he gets close enough that they shuffle to either side, making room for him to lean in from his perch on the bike and snatch the phone off the receiver.

Still holding the phone, he flips the receiver toggle really quickly. He listens. Tries again, giving the GAMBLERS huddled around the makeshift table behind him a glance. He listens again - success!

 

DRAGON

Hello? Operator? Operator? Hello! Yes, please, this phone - I put my money in and it didn’t let me call! That was my last quarter! I need to call and the phone won’t let me! What? Yes Ma’am - yes Operator! I don’t have coins, it took all my coins! Yes, please Operator, thank you, thank you Operator - the phone number is...


As he continues his call, the FORTUNE TELLER on the other side shakes a worn and faded bamboo cup with sticks as she mumble/sings her request.

Dragon ignores her, taking in his surroundings - the pedestrians walking along Bayard St. A Cadillac catches his eye before the call connects.

 

DRAGON (CONT’D)

Hello? Kate? Yes, it’s me! How are you? Good! I’m doing good, making my rounds.

 

A stick falls from the cup and almost in unison, the ladies huddled around the table lean in.

The Fortune Teller picks up the stick, reading in with some confusion. The ladies lean back in unison, equally confused.

 

DRAGON (CONT’D)

Right, 6 o’clock! I’ll be there!

 

He hangs up, BANGING the phone into the receiver so loudly it makes the Fortune Teller jump with a start. She looks to Dragon and stands up from her table, arm reaching towards him.

He notices her, but deliberately tries to ignore her, shifting his bike to pedal away. She calls to him as she approaches, wielding the fortune stick.

 

FORTUNE TELLER

(In Mandarin)

You! Listen! Listen to what I have to say! Listen!

 

DRAGON

I don’t have coins for you!

 

He moves to leave, but she stands before him, holding the handlebar with one hand and the stick in the other. She waves it in front of him.

 

FORTUNE TELLER

Listen! You must remember to flow like the water in the streams! You fight the current–

 

DRAGON

Okay, grandmother, flow, okay –

 

He maneuvers his bike from her grip and back to the sidewalk.

 

FORTUNE TELLER

Yes! The currents will carry you if you let them!

 

DRAGON

Okay, grandmother –

 

FORTUNE TELLER

I see it in you! You fight currents you cannot see! You must learn –

 

Dragon is already pedaling away. He looks back one last time:

 

DRAGON

Okay, next time I go swimming –

 

BAM!

Right as he enters the crosswalk for Mulberry off of Bayard, a CAR SWERVES AND BRAKES, just missing a pedestrian, but causing Dragon to crash broadside into the Chevy Nova.

As the DRIVER gets out and comes around, Dragon rights himself and tries to wipe the smudge of rubber from his tire off the back quarter panel.


©Brad Havens, January 2026


 

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