Final Script

 Golden Tickets

15min

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

In the darkness, an alarm clock beeps and is promptly turned off. Frog turns on the light, sits up in bed, and opens the window. The window gets stuck after opening just a small crack. Frog reaches into the darkness and takes out an exceptionally long cotton swab. Frog swirls the swab in his mouth, then extends it out the window. Sounds of a stick breaking and files being flipped through can be heard from outside.

The window is closed, and Frog touches his mouth before heading to the bathroom to wash up.

In the bathroom, Frog brushes his teeth while making a phone call to his mother.

PHONE:
Hello, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Sorry, the number you call...

Frog has no reaction. He puts down the phone and sits at his workbench. The workbench is homemade, cluttered with various tools and a large cardboard box filled with assorted materials. Frog cuts two pieces of green fabric and places them on the workbench, intending to arrange them with a collection of oddly shaped frog toys. However, the workbench is already full.

Frog realizes that besides his bed, there is no more space to place these little toys. He sits in his chair, looking at the crowded room, then glances down at the newly made frog toy in his hands. He gently strokes the toy's head, then places it on the bed and covers it with a blanket.

The light goes off.

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

In the darkness, an alarm clock beeps and is promptly turned off. Frog turns on the light, sits up in bed, and opens the window. He reaches outside; it's eerily quiet with no sound. Frog peers through the small crack of the window into the darkness outside. The alarm clock is nearly at ten. After waiting for a while, he decides to stick to his usual routine and get up.

Frog carefully navigates through a pile of small toys and heads to the bathroom to wash up. He calls his mother again, but this time, there isn't even a dial tone.

PHONE:
Beep...

Frog sits down at his workbench, only to find it now holds just tools and completed toys; all the materials for making toys are gone. He stands up and reaches his entire arm into the large box where he keeps his materials. The box makes an empty, hollow sound.

Inside the box, there is only a radio.

RADIO:
(News jingle) ..On the 32nd day of the 13th month, 2022, at 11:00 AM Beijing time... the lives of the people have returned to normal, and social development is steadily progressing...

Frog runs up the stairs and opens the iron door to the basement.

EXT. BASEMENT ENTRANCE - DAY

Frog opens the door, and sunlight streams in through the semi-basement window, illuminating his face. He takes a step forward, and the beam of light splits him in half.

There is a sound of plastic scraping under Frog's foot. He looks down and picks up the object, discovering it is a photograph. In the photo, a pale, thin boy stands under a wall covered in climbing ivy, his black hair obscuring his eyes.

The radio continues to emit distorted sounds, echoing behind Frog.

RADIO:
Today's weather is partly cloudy, turning sunny with a north wind of 2 to 3 levels, the highest temperature... suitable for travel. Now, for a quick news update... to celebrate... the golden ticket will make your wish come true...

Frog's cotton swab stops a passing delivery scooter, which has several package boxes loaded on it.

DELIVERY PERSON:
Are you the resident? Please sign here.

The delivery person hands Frog a package and rides off.

 

EXT. RESIDENTIAL AREA SIDEWALK - DAY

Frog, carrying several plastic toy frogs, creeps along the wall. He trips over his own feet and falls onto the sidewalk.

The fallen Frog blocks the path of an oncoming scooter, which honks its horn. Frog scrambles to move out of the way, and the scooter drives past, its driver flipping Frog off.

Frog sits on the ground and pulls a golden ticket from his belly, looking around cautiously before examining it closely. At this moment, someone approaches him.

GIRL:
Hey, Froggie, how much are you selling your toys for?

Frog is engrossed in studying the ticket and doesn't respond.

GIRL:
Hey, how much for one?

Frog feels a tap on his shoulder and jumps, hastily hiding the ticket. The person who tapped him is a boy. Frog nervously scoots back, and the girl also steps back warily.

GIRL:
Fine, if you're not selling, whatever. I didn't do anything to you, don't try to scam me.

The girl raises her hands slightly, one of which is holding a phone displaying a navigation screen on Gaode Maps. Frog stares at the phone for a moment, then suddenly leaps up from the ground and rushes toward it.

EXT. STREET CORNER - DAY

Frog stands at the corner, eyeing the storefronts on the street. Each store has a different price list displayed at the entrance. Frog holds a piece of tattered cardboard with "Selling Kids" scrawled on it.

Two passersby sit on small stools at the opposite corner, whispering while holding sunflower seeds and peanuts.

PERSON A:
What's the point of selling for money?

PERSON B:
Getting a phone for navigation? How long will that take?

PERSON A:
Who knows. Might as well just rob someone. Coward.

PERSON B:
Life doesn't have to be so miserable, don't you think?

Upon hearing Person A speak, Person B looks up to respond but realizes Person A is no longer on the stool.

PERSON B:
Huh? ...Hey, where'd you go?

Someone passes by and slaps a map on Frog's face, with a route marked on it. Frog looks around, then gets up and starts following the map.

He walks through various places—streets, parks, fields, hospitals—until he reaches a film studio. The man who delivered a package to him earlier passes by, now dressed differently.

DELIVERY PERSON:
Resident? What are you doing here now? Well, I'm off work, got some other things to do.

Frog watches the delivery person leave and then pushes open the door.

INT. FILM STUDIO - DAY

Frog barges in, and inside, the director is holding a script and directing people to set up equipment. Everyone turns to look at Frog when they hear the noise.

PRODUCER:
I told you the audience wouldn't like it.

The director stops what he's doing as the producer keeps chattering.

PRODUCER:
The progress bar is here, what do we do now?

The director throws the script down and raises his hands above his head.

DIRECTOR:
I'm sorry.

The director leaves, followed by a few people who chase after him, passing by Frog.

Frog walks toward the camera. On the monitor, Frog slowly removes his headgear, revealing a pale face identical to the one in the photo.

The lights in the dark studio continue to shine, dust dancing in the beams. Frog takes a few steps back, gradually revealing his full appearance.

Frog tries to speak.

FROG:
Hello.

He fails to produce any sound, his voice unused for so long.

FROG:
Hello...

He licks his lips and clears his throat forcefully. Taking a deep breath, he raises a hand to greet the reflection in the mirror.

FROG:
You, hello.

The unattended camera flashes a red light, still standing in the beam of light, with a set of costume neatly placed beside it.

RADIO:
And now for a quick news update: To celebrate this joyous occasion, Huaying Studio has launched a Wish Experience Project. Golden tickets have been distributed throughout the city by dedicated couriers. Our station will be tracking all volunteers participating in the event in real-time. Holders of the golden tickets, we are here to fulfill your wishes…Finally, looking forward to the viewing of all audiences...

 

Frog has already vanished from the room.

 

Reference film：

perfect days --- Wim Wenders --- circular narration

It's such a beautiful days --- Don Hertzfeldt --- muti-screen

Reference theory：

The medium is the extension of man --- Herbert Marshall McLuhan