HOLLYWOODSCRIPT.COM MONTHLY CONTEST WINNER (COVERAGE)

Date: October 25, 2007

Title: "I'm a Lefty"

Author: Eric Sturniolo

Submitted to: Hollywoodscript.com

Format: SP

Pages: 92

Time: Present

Locale: New York area

Genre: Drama

LOGLINE: Ben Roth was born a lefty. But abandoned by his prostitute mother, he
is forced to become a righty by his superstitious grandmother. Never knowing
much about his parents, and not understanding why he's not allowed to properly
use his left hand, he translates this "handicap" into a sense of
self-worthlessness which is then deepened by a hatred for his absent parents. At
21, his problems come to a head. His internal conflict ruins his relationship
with the girl of his dreams, and threatens to spoil his promising athletic
career. As things spiral out of control, he must come to terms with who he is
really is.

QUICK COMMENT-This script is terrifically compelling and moving. It brought
tears to my eyes and engaged me fully. I'd LOVE to see and EXPERIENCE this film.

Concept: Excellent

Characterization: Excellent

Dialogue: Excellent

Story Line: Excellent

Setting/Prod. Values: Very good

Freshness of Story: Excellent

SYNOPSIS:
" I'm a lefty, and my mom is a whore" the voice of BEN ROTH tells us as we watch
a hooker and an Englishman have sex behind a dumpster. The condom breaks; Ben
is conceived.

His mother abandons Ben to his superstitious grandma, YVETTE, a nice woman but
one who believes in the superstition that lefties have demon elements living
inside of them. She forces Ben into being a righty.

At age 10, ROBSON, Ben's long lost father, tracks them down. Revealing his
identity to Yvette only, he buys them a new apartment and acts as the father Ben
never had. But Yvette and Robson decide not to tell Ben until "the time is
right." That time never arrives. At their new apartment, an upset Ben wonders
why he can't use his left hand, and why his parents abandoned him, somehow
equating the two.

Later that night, Ben lies awake in his bed, staring at his hand and an old
faded photo of his mother, LACEY. A scary visit by a mystical DEMON, who
implores Ben to join him as a lefty, causes Ben to quickly cover his left hand
with a black winter glove.

Now 21, Ben is a star right-handed pitcher for his college baseball team, but
has an issue with control. He's trying to get a minor league contract, but the
scouts need to see better command of this aspect of his pitching before stepping
up. And Ben has one more chance to impress the scouts, at the upcoming
conference championship game.

He still wears the black glove.

While working in Robson's cafe, Ben explains how much of a father figure Robson
has become. But he still has no idea who Robson really is. Later, Robson
introduces Ben to a beautiful young English girl, JESSICA. Ben is instantly
attracted to her but intimidated as well, but with some help from Robson, they
soon hit it off.

While relaxing one day in his room, an apparition of sorts mystically appears
who claims to be Ben's TWIN. Annoyed TWIN explains that he was supposed to be
(among other things) the right handed pitcher, but Ben enveloped him in the
womb. Now Twin is stuck watching Ben's life, and he isn't happy about it. Twin
implores Ben to be himself, and live as what he really is, a lefty.

TWIN
It's bad enough that I have
to live inside you and watch
your stupid life. At least
make it your life.

Deeply affected, Ben seeks the advice of his offbeat buddy JEREMY, who is
working as a dolphin trainer at the NY Aquarium. Jeremy spends hours there,
practicing for an exhibition. Ben gives him shit for it, kidding him that he
has a dolphin for a girlfriend instead of a real one.

That night, Ben and Jessica go out to dinner, smoke a joint on the Brooklyn
Promenade, and spend the night together at Ben's apartment. Jessica asks him
about the glove, wondering if it's "some team unity thing" but Ben dodges the
question. Later, Jessica convinces Ben to take the glove off before they have
sex. But while Jessica is really into it, Ben can only stare at his bare left
hand. Meanwhile, Jeremy spends the night with his dolphins, serenading them in
the moonlight.

Later in Ben's bedroom, Jeremy plucks at his guitar while Ben researches the
lefty-Devil connection. Jeremy concludes "You are damned man, what can I say."

Soon, Jeremy's loneliness spurs him into action; he wants to end his cold streak
by getting a prostitute. Ben is obviously against the idea, but Jeremy is
persistent. Ben finally gives in and agrees to drive Jeremy. On their way out,
Ben glances at the old photo of his mother.

Waiting for Jeremy outside a seedy motel, Ben takes an interest in a group of
prostitutes standing nearby, loudly recapping their nights. He freezes when he
hears one named Lacey. Listening closer, Ben realizes who she is. He calls out
" Mom," but can only manage a whisper. Dead silence. Everyone stares at him.
Ben and Lacey lock eyes.

At a diner along with Jeremy, Ben confronts his mother. But she ignores his
questions, more interested in her free hamburger than in him. He eventually
gets fed up, and walks out. Lacey and Jeremy sit in an awkward silence before
Jeremy asks "So how much did you say anal was again?"

At Robson's place, he reveals to Jessica that he is Ben's father. Jessica is
shocked, and asks Robson if she can tell Ben. But before he can answer, they're
interrupted by Robson's cell phone ringing. Something has happened to Ben's
mother.

At Lacey's funeral, Jessica, staring at Robson, hugs Ben, and can't help but
whisper the truth to him. Ben stares at Robson in shock. Ben and Robson then
have a talk at the diner. Ben feels happy to finally find out the truth, but
also cheated.

BEN
You've done so much for
Grandma and me. But we
had such a great
relationship, a great
friendship... And it was all
a lie.

A few days later, Jeremy throws a house party, attended by Ben and Jessica.
While Jeremy unsuccessfully tries to hit on girls, Ben and Jessica talk about
his past and his left hand. She is loving and supportive, and gently tries to
coax him into removing the glove.

JESSICA
If you took it off right now,
what do you think will happen?

BEN
I'm not sure.

She leans in to kiss him, but Ben is again off in his own world, staring at his
left hand. She realizes how troubled he really is. But that's all forgotten
soon as Jeremy convinces them to take acid. While first doubting its potency,
they soon find themselves laying out in Central Park, looking at the moon and
the trees. Ben hears a whisper in the breeze, and wanders off to follow the
voice. He's followed by a mysterious dark figure. Now in a dark, sinister
forest, Ben sees the small red eyes of the childhood demon peering out behind a
tree. Ben runs away; Demon follows. They climb up a small boulder, which
somehow transforms into a towering mountain as they climb. At the summit, they
fight. Demon (for his own dark reasons) wants Ben to be a lefty, as it is the
Devil's hand, and lunges at Ben, ultimately removing the glove. Finally, Ben
punches Demon with his bare left hand, knocking him off the mountain.

Ben's acid trip then takes him to a pond, where GRETA, one of Jeremy's dolphins,
mysteriously surfaces. He jumps in the water and swims below with her. There
he experiences the past...watching Lacey's never before realized efforts to
leave her life of drugs and prostitution for her unborn baby. He's shocked. He
somehow finds himself inside Lacey's womb, bunched up with Twin, as they
experience Lacey's trials from the inside.

In the morning, Ben wakes up to bad news: Jessica is going back to England. Her
domineering, overprotective mother wants her home, and Jessica has realized that
Ben's issues with his past will prevent them from having a meaningful
relationship. He gets upset and tells her to stand up to her mother. Jessica
blows her top, telling Ben to look at his left hand and then see who really
needs to grow up.

JESSICA
You take that stupid glove
off your hand, and then
maybe I'll stand up to
my mom, how about that?

She storms out. It's over.

The Conference Championship. Ben is pitching a shutout as he gets ready to
start the top of the 9th inning. Coach gives a motivational speech, telling his
players to "just go out and be yourselves." Ben contemplates the last line, as
he thinks about Jessica and Robson. He stares at his left hand, but then snaps
out of it and runs on the field. Later in the inning, an exhausted Ben has two
runners on with two outs. He's wild again, throwing two bad pitches before
hitting the batter and loading the bases. Jeremy, the catcher, runs out to give
Ben a pep talk, but Ben says his arm is dead... "I have nothing left."

Ben sees Robson in the stands, proudly smiling at Ben. With his teammates, the
crowd, and the opposing team all yelling, Ben stands alone in the middle, in his
own quiet world, staring at his hand. Suddenly, he runs into the dugout and
approaches a lefty teammate. Ben takes his lefties mitt and runs back onto the
field. The moment of truth has arrived, as Ben risks everything to save
himself.

COMMENTS: This script is terrifically compelling and moving. It brought tears to
my eyes and engaged me fully. There are many, many scenes and sequences that are
wonderfully original. It offers deft insightful characterizations, artful
dialogue and a story that keeps you intrigued and rooting for the protagonist.
Wes Anderson in flavor, with a Phantom of the Opera type subtext, it appeals to
the fractured and ever so human side of us all and shows how much we need to be
brave and do what needs to be done in facing and overcoming ourselves. I'm so
glad I got to work with this material and with this promising young artist. I'd
LOVE to see and EXPERIENCE this film.

RECOMMENDED!!!


TO CONTACT WRITER DIRECTLY:
eric.sturniolo@gmail.com

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