BEN - 24, a student who is trying to be mo
re financially self sufficient.
BEN'S MOM
ATM MACHINE
EXT. A SIDEWALK - DAY
BEN walks with purpose down a busy sidewalk. He receives a phone call, he removes his phone from his pocket and checks it. It's BEN'S MOM calling.
BEN
Again?
BEN ignores the call shoves the phone into his back pocket. He continues to walk down the sidewalk until he gets to the end of the street and he turns the corner down an empty street. He continues until he comes across an old ATM machine. The machine looks like it could have been a prototype to what modern ATM machines are today. The body is dirty and the numbers have been used so much that you can hardly see them on the keypad. The screen is dimly lit and feels as if the machine is using all of it's energy to keep it on.
ATM MACHINE
Please insert card.
BEN inserts his card and the machine beeps at him.
ATM MACHINE
Card Declined.
BEN
Seriously?
ATM MACHINE
PLEASE INSERT CARD.
BEN continues to insert his card and the machine continues to yell at him. Finally the machine accepts BEN'S card chimes like he had just unlocked a treasure chest in an old video game.
BEN
Thank, God.
BEN'S MOM calls his phone again. BEN ignores the call.
ATM MACHINE
Check Your Balance?
BEN
Yes.
ATM MACHINE
$2.38
BEN
Great. Just, great.
ATM
Please Remove Card.
Please Remove Card.
Please Remove Card.
BEN
Alright, alright. I hear you.
BEN'S MOM calls again. BEN answers.
BEN (on the phone and annoyed)
Hi, mom. Yes I got your other calls. Well - I was busy so I didn't get a chance to- no. Yes. Okay yes, dad has already told me you wanted me to submit my application into your office. Yes. I know it's a good paying job. My degree isn't going to be wasted if I don't- fine. And I thank you and dad every day for it. No I don't need any money. Or food. I'm good, I promise. Okay, I have to go, I have to go. Bye. Yep, love you too.
BEN hangs up his phone and lets out a frustrated grunt and rubs his temples. BEN closes his eyes tightly and then opens them. He sees that the ATM MACHINE now has a digital smiley face on it.
ATM MACHINE
Why didn't you ask her for money?
BEN
Because I don't need it.
ATM MACHINE
I just saw your account balance.
BEN Yeah well I have more saved up at my house so I'll be fine.
ATM MACHINE
Oh, great. A piggy bank. I'm sure that will do you well when you retire.
BEN
At least it's my money. No one else can claim it.
ATM MACHINE
Except the Government. What does it matter who it belongs to? If someone is offering help, why not just take it?
BEN
It just does.
ATM MACHINE
So you're willing to live an uncomfortable life just because you refuse to take a few dollars from friends and family?
BEN
It's more than that.
ATM MACHINE
But you could just accept the help.
BEN
And then what? Be stuck with the burden of paying them back? I'm tired of feeling in debt to people's "kindness". No one want's to help, they want you to owe them. Quid pro quo, tit for tat, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. You add money into the mix and you have a tab you can't pay.
BEN'S MOM calls again.
THE END.
felt this in my core.