Tattoo is a short script I wrote that has won numerous awards, including the DeadCenter Film Festival (First Place, table read), the Hollywood Screenplay Contest (Grand Prize Winner), Omaha Film Festival (First Place), the Phoenix Film Fest (First Place), and more. It was made into a short film staring John Beasley in 2015.
FADE IN:
EXT. LAWN – DAY
An old woman, OLIVIA CALDERON, and an old man, SEYMOUR CALDERON, sit side by side in lawn chairs on a patch of grass. She knits, while he pours a small amount of coffee from a thermos onto the ground, then fills a cup with it.
SEYMOUR
So, I’m thinking of getting one of them tattoos.
Olivia just stares at him. Seymour finishes pouring the coffee, sets the thermos on the ground next to him, and looks at Olivia.
SEYMOUR
Olivia, I said I’m thinking of getting one of…
OLIVIA
(interrupting)
I heard what the hell you said. Did you take your meds today?
Seymour fishes in his pocket for a prescription bottle and fumbles with the cap.
SEYMOUR
Yes I took my meds. Which has nothing to do with wanting to get a tattoo.
Seymour pops a pill in his mouth and washes it down with coffee.
OLIVIA
Then you’ve got the damn senility.
SEYMOUR
I don’t have the…
OLIVIA
(interrupting)
Damn senility? I wouldn’t bet on that. What in the world would possess you to get a damn tattoo?
SEYMOUR
It’s not like I’m going to be limiting myself socially or career-wise at this point. Or like I’m going to be damaging the packaging.
OLIVIA
What kind of tattoo?
SEYMOUR
I don’t know. Something simple, not too ostentatious.
OLIVIA
I think you should get “Silly Fool” tattooed to your ass.
SEYMOUR
Olivia… I swear, it’s the nipple-piercing argument all over again.
OLIVIA
And I was right then, too.
SEYMOUR
Edith says…
OLIVIA
Oooo… I think I’m starting to see the light here.
SEYMOUR
Olivia…
OLIVIA
“Edith says”, eh? You’re doing this for that old slut?
SEYMOUR
Edith is not that old.
OLIVIA
You should get a picture of that little poodle of hers tattooed on your ankle.
SEYMOUR
You think…
OLIVIA
Right next to where the little bastard bit you that one time.
SEYMOUR
You think the ankle is a good place for it?
OLIVIA
I think Edith’s ankle is a good place for it.
SEYMOUR
Well, that’s not a good idea. You know how her ankles get when she’s been sitting.
Seymour drains the cup and screws it back onto the top of the thermos.
OLIVIA
You know, Seymour, you can pick up all kinds of diseases and such from dirty needles.
SEYMOUR
It’s a tattoo. It’s not like I’m shooting up the smack.
OLIVIA
The smack?
SEYMOUR
What? It was on The Love Boat.
OLIVIA
Well, maybe not shooting it up yet, but you know how you get.
SEYMOUR
Tattoo’s aren’t a gateway drug.
OLIVIA
One nipple, you wanted. Then you wanted to do an ear. Then the other ear. Then you were seriously thinking of piercing your…
SEYMOUR
It was a phase.
OLIVIA
When you’re twelve it’s a phase. When you’re 80 it’s dementia or an “adjust your medication level” cry for help.
SEYMOUR
Well, I wouldn’t get a dog tattoo anyway.
OLIVIA
Where would you even go to get a damn tattoo? This town isn’t exactly crawling with biker bars, Seymour.
SEYMOUR
There’s a new tattoo parlor down by the HoJo’s. “I Ink, Therefore…”
OLIVIA
Classy.
SEYMOUR
They have specials on Saturdays. Half Price Tatturday. I figure with that and my senior discount… I may even be able to drag a few people from the Center with me.
OLIVIA
“I Ink…” may end up paying you.
SEYMOUR
Exactly. Sweet, sweet commission.
OLIVIA
Group rate. You could all get “DNR” tattooed on your chests.
SEYMOUR
You get so mean when you knit.
Olivia sets the knitting down in her lap. She stares at the knitting, sighs.
OLIVIA
It does get damn tedious.
She looks at Seymour.
OLIVIA
I will support you in whatever you want to do. I still think you’re an old fool, though.
Seymour starts to pull up his sleeve.
SEYMOUR
I knew you would. I got it done last Half Price Tatturday.
OLIVIA
A damn tattoo… let me see it.
SEYMOUR
$13 with the senior discount. I couldn’t get anyone else to go, although I almost convinced Edith…
OLIVIA
She usually just needs $3 for convincing. Show me.
Seymour finishes rolling up his sleeve and rotates his arm so she can see the tattoo — “Olivia” inked in a heart — on his arm.
Olivia has tears in her eyes.
SEYMOUR
(rolling down his sleeve)
I knew you’d like it. I almost got it in a tramp stamp, but…
Seymour looks over at the chair, which is empty.
SEYMOUR
(to himself)
… that seemed a bit ostentatious.
Seymour gathers up the thermos and chairs, then looks at towards the ground in front of where the chairs had sat.
SEYMOUR
See you tomorrow.
Seymour walks away from a tombstone, which reads “Olivia Calderon 1935-2013”.
FADE OUT.
