Don't Overthink It

By

Sam Sinclair
 1.

ACT I
_____

Scene 1
_______

INT. Day - A Shop

Lights up on stage, We see Tom and Lewis sat on

two tills next to each other, with two shoppers
looking around.

Tik tok tik tok

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Time is always moving forward, your wasting today you just

know it, and yesterday, why did you waste yesterday
watching YouTube videos. Why did you make that joke on the
group chat, it wasn’t funny. Oh and when you met the new
person working here, when you said hi I hope you didn’t
seem awkward or or weird just you you…

SHOPPER 1
Hello, you there?

TOM
Oh yeah sorry, do you want a receipt?

SHOPPER 1
I shouldn't really, I heard it’s made from BPA, the
same stuff in female hormones apparently...

Shopper 1 drowns on about the problems with

receipt while this happens we hear Tom's inner
thoughts again.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Just smile and seem interested, no not too
interested, that’s creepy! There just about right…

TOM
Ah cool, well here’s your receipt if you want it.

Shopper one pics it up using a tissue.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Lord give me strength. Come on, only 2 hours left. Oh
no you didn’t text our girlfriend today. Is that
rude? I bet she thinks your a right rude bastard, oh
and the fridge, did you leave the fridge open, oh my
god I think you did you know, our housemate are gonna
be like Tom left the fridge open again, this is why

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 2.

we should kick him out. We're gonna be homeless ain’t

we. Oh god no home no fridge…

Tik tok sound gets louder. Then suddenly stops.

TOM
Can I put some shop music on?

LEWIS
Yeah sure man.

Generic shop music starts playing.

Pause

LEWIS
Hey man, you know tomorrow is the last day of the
year. Can’t believe how quick it’s gone.

TOM
Oh yeah it has.

TOM INNER THOUGHTS

More like painfully slow and boring

LEWIS
I’ve done so many of my New Year's resolutions too,
how about you man?

TOM
I’m not sure to be honest.

LEWIS
Come on you must of made one!

TOM
Uh maybe. Maybe to stop overthinking as much and live
a little more.

LEWIS
And have you done that?

TOM
Yes

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Absolutely not, oh god the fridge!

LEWIS
You sure?

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 3.

TOM
Maybe

LEWIS
Maybe not good enough man, tomorrow the last day of
2021, tomorrow your chance to do it, make it a day to
remember.

TOM
Yeah your right

SHOPPER 2
You done chatting.

TOM
Oh sorry madam.

Scans items.

TOM
Do you have a loyalty card.

SHOPPER 2
Oh no, my husband does though.

TOM
Ah good, do you have it with you?

SHOPPER 2
No…my husbands dead.

Generic music stops

TOM
I’m sorry to hear that.

Long pause
'Stay-in alive' comes on…then Lewis comes back

LEWIS
It's an oldie, but it’s a classic!

SHOPPER 2
I wish my Derik stayed alive!

TOM
Lewis turn it off!

Song gets louder.

BLACK OUT. LIGHTS ON IN TOM'S BEDROOM SCENE. SONG FADES

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 4.

OUT WITH LIGHTS UP.

Scene 2
_______

INT. evening - Tom's Bedroom

____________________________

We see tom on his bed looking stressed on his

bed. Tom's inner thought is sat next to him.

Long Pause

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Well that was embarrassing.

Tom ignores him

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Do you recon many people saw you, I bet you there was
at least a few people in that shop that went to your
old school...I bet they filmed it. I can see it now
retail worker makes fun of old widows...

TOM
Shut up.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

(Shocked) Sorry

TOM
I said SHUT UP! Just for 2 second Shut it!

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Ok

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Thank you!

Pause

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Ok 2 seconds is up! Oh I bet your housemate wasn't
happy with you leaving the fridge open!

Tom inner thought turns Tom's head. We then see

Tom's housemate appear stage right.

HOUSEMATE
THE FUCKING FRIDGE, IT'S WIDE OPEN! IT'S SO COLD! TOM
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US! NO WONDER THE ELECTRIC
BILL IS SO HIGH. FUCK YOU TOM!

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 5.

Housemate freezes in shouting pose.

Pause

TOM INNER THOUGHT

See.

TOM
No your wrong.

Housemate unfreezes, this time he's a lot

calmer. He opens the fridge.

HOUSEMATE
Oh why's the fridge open

Closes fridge.

HOUSEMATE
Sorted...

TOM
(boastfully) See!

Housemate walks off stage right eating some

sweets. tom inner thought and tom watch him.

HOUSEMATE
Ha ha ha ha stayin alive stayin alive, ha ha ha
stayyyyin aliiiveeee ivvveeee ahhhhh.

Pause

TOM
Can we agree never to think of that again.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Noted...Oh what about your girlfriend Susan. You
haven't spoken to her in ages, she'll break up with
you soon if you keep ignoring her.

TOM
I'm not ignoring her, she knows I have a lot of my
mind.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Your very welcome.

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 6.

TOM
And besides she loves me, I I love her, we will be
ok.

Susan appears on stage from stage left, while

tom inner thought turns tom's head towards her.

SUSAN
Love you?! That's the first time you made me laugh
all year.

Susan freezes.

TOM
(towards inner thought) Your wrong, just...just leave
me alone ok even if its just for tomorrow please let
me have a day of peace.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Deal.

TOM
(shocked) What.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

I'll leave you too it tomorrow, if you think you
don't need me. But first do me a favor.

TOM
Yeah anything.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Call Susan!

TOM
Ok...

Tom rings Susan, we hear Susan Ring tone, she

picks up.

SUSAN
Tom, hey, how have you been.

TOM
Yeah I'm been good thanks, how...how about you?

SUSAN
Ah good thanks,...is there something your not telling
me, I feel like we hardly talk anymore.

Tom's inner thought looks at Tom.

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 7.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Go on...

TOM

'Therapy' by Johnathon Larson backing track

starts playing.
Well...I feel bad, that you feel bad

About me feeling bad, about you feeling bad

About what I said, about what you said

About me not being able to share a feelingggggg.

Tom inner thought goes to Susan whispers some

think in her ear, she smirks.

SUSAN
If I thought that what you thought

Was that I hadn't thought about sharing my thoughts

Then my reaction to your reaction, to my reaction

Would have been more revealinggggg.

TOM
I was afraid that you'd be afraid

If I told you that I was afraid of intimacy

If you don't have a problem with my problem

Maybe the problem's simply co-dependencyyy.

SUSAN
Yes, I know, that now you know

That I didn't know, that you didn't know

That when I said, "No," I meant, "Yes, I know"

And that now I know that you knew, that I knew you
adored meeee.

TOM
I was wrong to...

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 8.

SUSAN
Say you were wrong to...

TOM
Say I was wrong about...

SUSAN
You being wrong...

TOM
When you rang to say that

SUSAN
The ring was the wrong thing to bring

TOM
If I meant what I said

When I said, "Rings bored me"

TOM & SUSAN

I'm not mad that you got mad when I got mad

When you said I should go drop dead.

TOM
If I were you and I'd done what I'd done

I'd do what you did

When I gave you the ring

Having said what I said.

TOM (SUSAN)
I feel bad, that you feel bad (I feel badly)

About me feeling bad, about you feeling bad (About

you)

About what I said, about what you said (Feeling badly

about me)

About me not being able to share a feeling (Feeling

badly about you)

I thought (If I thought that what you thought)

You thought (Was that I hadn't thought about sharing

my thoughts)

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 9.

I reacted shallowly (Then my reaction to your

reaction, to my reaction)

When I reacted to you (Would have been more

revealing)

I'm not mad, you got mad (I'm not mad that you got
mad that I got mad)

Go drop dead (When you said I should go drop dead)

If I were you and I'd done what I'd done (If I were
you)

I'd do what you did when I gave you the ring (But I'm
not you)

Having said what I said (Said what I said)

TOM
But now it's out in the open

SUSAN
Now it's off our chest

TOM & SUSAN

Now it's 4 a.m.

And we have jobs to go to tomorrow

Tom angrily looks at Tom inner thought.

It's too late to

TOM
Wank

TOM & SUSAN

So let's just get some rest.

END OF SONG.

Tom drops exhausted on his bed.

Susan unaware of that whole confrontation as it

was tom's thoughts fighting with himself.

SUSAN
Hello, Tom? You still there...I love you.

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 10.

Tom snores.

SUSAN
Bye.

Susan walks off stage left.

BLACK OUT.

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 11.

ACT II
______

LIGHTS UP.

Scene 1
_______

INT. Morning - Tom's bedroom.

_____________________________

Tom wakes up. He looks around, he see's that his

inner overthinking self is no where to be seen.

TOM
I'm free.

Tom goes to put on his work uniform. His phone

rings, it's his mum. Mum emerges from stage
right.

MUM
Tom, you there?

TOM
Hey Mum, how have you been.

MUM
Not bad thank you, you know the usual your Dad
driving me mad again, like just choose the bloody
tiles for the bathroom already its not that
hard!...Anyway, got much planned for the last day of
the year.

TOM
Yeah loads, I think today is gonna be great.

MUM
Ah good darling, remember what I always say.

TOM
Yes Mum I know.

MUM
Are you gonna be hit by a bus today?

TOM
No

MUM
And will a plane fall on your head?

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 12.

TOM
Well no.

MUM
Then today is what you make it, make a good one.

TOM
I will Mum, I promise.

MUM
Fantastic.

We hear Tom's Dad off stage.

DAD
I like the green Tiles, but not sure if blue will be
better.

MUM
Oh Steven just pick green and call it a day already!
Sorry flower, got to go, speak to you soon, bye.

TOM
Bye Mum.

DAD
But I'm not sure if green is right yet.

MUM
Well bloody pick one that is right.

Mum walks off stage right.

With Tom uniform on he Sykes himself up and

walks off stage left.

BLACK OUT

Scene 2
_______

Int. Day - Shop.

________________

YELLOW LIGHTING LIGHTS UP THE STAGE.

'Sunshine lollipops' by Lesley Gore starts

playing. All the people in the first shop scene
are back. Tom strides in.

TOM
Morning Lewis, old buddy, old pal!

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 13.

LEWIS
(Confused) Uhh, morning mate. Your lively for an 8am
start.

TOM
Yeah, I don't know I just have a really good feeling
today gonna be a great day!

LEWIS
Ahh good, I didn't really mention it as it's not
normally your thing but I'm hosting a new years party
tonight, wanna come?

TOM
Yeah sure sounds great.

LEWIS
Cool.

SHOPPER 1
Excuse me you never guess what I found out about
receipts today.

TOM
No I don't wanna hear it, here's your BPA riddled
receipt, have a lovely day.

Shopper 1 takes it with a tissue and walks off

confused and offended.

SHOPPER 2
Excuse me young man, can you help me get this pack of
tissues, my Husband used to buy...

TOM
Tissues but he's dead yada yada yada we get the
picture, here you go!

SHOPPER 2
Oh I say!

We hear a bell ring

TOM
That shift went quick. See you later Lewis.

LEWIS
Yeah see, ya.

Tom strides on the spot while throwing off his

uniform jacket off stage right. Susan emerges

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 14.

stage left. Tom's picks up phone.

SET CHANGED TO BAR.

TOM
Oh hi Susan.

SUSAN
Hey, I was ringing to see if you wanted to meet up at
6 for a drink at that new bar in town.

TOM
Sounds great Susan, I'll see you there Susan. Bye
Susan

Tom puts his phone down.

TOM
(looks at audience and points at his phone)...Susan.

Tom walks to the bar.

TOM
Can I have an amaretto and coke please?

BARMAN 1
Do you mean Disaronno?

TOM
...Yeahh

BARMAN 1
One Disaronno and coke coming up.

Barman hands tom his drink.

'Sunshine Lollipop' by Lesley Gore stops

playing. Tom starts to down his drink in pitch
silence.

BARMAN 1
That'll seven, fifty please.

TOM
(shocked) Ok

Tom inner thought comes on stage left and taps

Tom on the shoulder.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

(Mimicking) Hey old buddy old pay.

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 15.

Tom ignores him and goes to pay for the drink.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

How much?! You only brought thirty quid for tonight!

TOM
(Whispers) I thought you were leaving me until
midnight?

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Oh I am I just wanted to see how you were doing, real
nice by the way what you said to those customers.

TOM
(whispers) Ok I admit...

Barman looks at Tom talking to himself, Tom

smiles back like nothing has happened then turns
back to inner thought.

TOM
(Talks quieter) I admit I was a little to honest
there, but except from that it's been great without
you, so go away.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

And should really go to lewis's party, you'll just
ruin the vibe.

TOM
Leave me alone.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

Ok, whatever you say big shot, see you at midnight.

Tom inner thought walks off stage right saying.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

(sarcastically) How original!

We hear the clock tiking. Tom starts looking at

his watch and looking around. After a few
moments he decides to listen to music and puts
in his headphones. 'No scrubs' starts playing
quietly. Tom acting as if he's listening to rap
music.

After a few moments pass he stops leaning on the

bar. Another barman comes on from stage left.

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BARMAN 2
Hey, the boss said we need to move the bar forward.

BARMAN 1
Ah ok you get this end, and I'll get this one.

They both move the bar half a metre forward.

BARMAN 2
Thank god this bar is moveable.

BARMAN 1
I know right!

Both barmen walk off stage left.

After a few moments Susan comes on from stage

right, she looks around not able to see Tom.

'no scrubs' stops playing while Tom takes out

headphones, then noticing Susan he waves at her.

TOM
Susan. Susan, hey right here.

Susan walks over and they both hug each-other.

SUSAN
Hey!

TOM
What drink would you like?

SUSAN
Whatever your getting.

Tom smiles and puts two fingers up while looking

at Susan.

TOM
Hey, could I have 2 Disaronnos and cokes please.

Tom thinking he's cool goes to lean on the bar

again but with the bar now being forward he
falls straight through.

SUSAN
You ok?!

Tom hand appears grabbing on to the top of the

bar. Barman 1 walks in from stage left cleaning

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 17.

a glass.

Barman 1 notices Tom.

BARMAN 1
Excuse me sir, what are you doing.

We see Tom's hand feel around the bar until he

picks up a bottle of Amaretto. Then Tom gets up
with the bottle in his hand.

TOM
You do have Amaretto!

BARMAN 1
Please can you leave.

TOM
(Embarrassed) ...Yep.

Susan laughing historically at Tom. Tom smiles

while both are walking off stage right.

SUSAN
Much prefer walks to bars anyway.

Susan pecks Tom on the cheek. Tom smiles, they

hold hands walking off stage right.

BLACK OUT

YELLOW LIGHT LIGHTS UP THE STAGE

Scene 3
_______

INT. evening - Lewis's house

____________________________

Lewis and a few other party goers are mingling

with a drink in hand. Tom and Susan enter stage
right.Tom and Susan bother try and find a coat
hanger but end up dropping there coats on the
floor. Tom then taps Lewis on the shoulder.

LEWIS
Oh heyyy, your here, I didn't think you were coming.

TOM
Hey, wait I told you I was going this morning.

LEWIS
Cool...

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 18.

TOM
Well anyway, you know Susan.

SUSAN
Heyy.

LEWIS
Hi, yeah of course...

Awkward Pause

LEWIS
I got to go mingle some more you know as being the
host, see you later guys.

Lewis goes back to the group of people on stage

left. Then we different pop songs we see a
montage of Tom getting more and more drunk,
dancing, generally having a great time. While
Lewis is looking more and more annoyed with
Tom's presence as the night goes on. Then when
the montage finish we hear everyone countdown to
midnight.

EVERYONE
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy Ne...

Tom accidentally spills his drink all over

Lewis. Everyone in shock freezes as 'tom inner
thought' walks in from mid stage, walks stage
right then clicks his fingers making everyone
unfreeze.

LEWIS
For fuck sake Tom!

TOM
I'm sorry...

LEWIS
No Tom! Can you! Can you just leave already, no one
actaully wants you here!

Everyone doesn't know what to say, Tom turns

around to inner thought.

TOM INNER THOUGHT

That wasn't me.

Tom turns back to look at everyone and then

leaves stage right with his head down.

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