Inspiration

In my Directing and Scriptwriting class we were assigned to write a brief monologue on a person suddenly finding inspiration. I chose to write mine about a young painter in France, who is looking for inspiration to help him paint. Everyday people are required to find inspiration. Hidden in many different forms, inspiration is around us every day. The only task is being able to discover where the inspiration is located and what it can be used for. This script is a perfect example of the search of inspiration.



*Struggling artist is walking around France*
*Passing by extremely beautiful monuments, staring in amazement*
*Slumming his backpack around and dragging his feet*
* Bumps into another pedestrian and all his art tools fall out of his backpack onto the ground, the other pedestrian continues walking*
*Picks up tools as he speaks*

Teenage Boy: Ughhh! This is so ridiculous. I come all the way to France and people aren’t even civil to me. I can barely understand what they are saying, and they sure as hell can’t understand me. How am I supposed to make a living here when cant even find anyone to paint for.
*Something in the distance catches his eye, he slowly moves towards it*
That cant be…. Edgar Degas…
*He stares at the painting hanging in the window*
I wonder how he found his inspiration to paint. If only my inspiration would just come to me. I guess I am too much of a foreigner to be able to paint something so simplistic. If only there was some sort of sign to guide me on my artistic path.
*The boy sits on the curb and watches the traffic pass, a big truck passes by and then right behind it, he finds his inspiration*
*A young girl with a travelers backpack stands on the other side of the street looking just as confused as he is*
*The boy runs up to her*
Excuse me mam, my name is John Elgant, Im an American painter and I came to Paris in search of inspiration and I believe that you are it. I was wondering if you could help me by allowing me to paint you standing in this foreign city?

Girl: Yes I would love that!
*She reaches into her backpack and pulls out a paintbrush of her own*