Effetto Brillantina The Brilliantine Effect

FADE IN:

EXT. STREET. DAY

A tourist spot in the Old Town district. Neat, little medieval buildings, squeezed tight on both sides of a cobblestone-paved, narrow street. The strong wind brings a whirlpool of red, yellow, and brown leaves from the park nearby. Against the grey sky, the golden-orange treetops of horse-chestnut and maple-tree visible behind the red tile roofs. The autumn leaves land on centuries-polished cobbles, right under the feet of passers-by. The sound of footsteps on fallen leaves echoes between the facades. On one them, above a tapered front vitrine, hangs a squeaking, rusty metal sign 'Happy Head & Co.'

INT. SIMONE'S BARBERSHOP, EUROPE. DAY

Through the front window, rays of daylight poorly illuminate the tiny, one-chair barbershop. On the side wall, a floor-to-ceiling mirror reflects the narrow street. To the frame of the mirror, many handwritten postcards attached. In front of the mirror – a small table with scissors, brushes and other barber-hairdresser equipment. The barber sink in the far corner of the shop, and some hairstyle and hair care product posters on the wall. One of the posters titled 'The Magic Brilliantine Effect' depicts a round brilliantine box.

The shop's owner – a middle-aged, bald man of a very mediocre appearance – SIMONE, with a small brush, swipes the antique barber chair, upholstered with a red leather. Simone is wearing a 'Kittel', a white cotton robe and a black beret. A scissor-shaped yellow gold pendant decorates his neck hair. Small diamond mounted, where the scissors' nail is supposed to be.

As the Simone sweeps, the pendant dangles from side to side. From the surface of the chair, the cut hair curls fall down onto the black & white 'checkmate' floor tiles. A retro radio on the wall plays a jazz music. An entrance door slowly opens, as the door-bell rings.

On the threshold stands an all overgrown, 'HOMELESS' type man with a beard, wearing a dark coat. A grey hat partly covers his long hair. A Man takes off his hat and keeps it in his hands. Through an open door, dry leaves fly onto the barbershop's floor and mix with the hair. Man makes a step backward.

SIMONE
– It's windy today. You better close the door.

HOMELESS
– Sorry, I'm leaving.

SIMONE
From the inside.

Homeless man steps inside and closes the door.

HOMELESS
– Are you…

He pulls out a flyer from his coat pocket.

HOMELESS (CONT'D)
(reads from the flyer)
– …Simone?

SIMONE
– Barber, hairdresser, stylist, philosopher, psychotherapist, hypnotizer, and massage therapist – all in one person. Simone is at your service. Welcome to the 'Happy Head & Co.'
 
HOMELESS
(presents the flyer to Simone)
– Huh? I got a coupon for a free trim, but… Someone gave it to me.

SIMONE
– Perfect timing. I just arrived.

Homeless man looks around himself.

HOMELESS
– Strangely, I never saw this place before. Compact and cozy.

SIMONE
– Probably you weren't looking for a haircut? Before.

HOMELESS
– You are right. I was not. But now I got an important meeting to attend and I was thinking…

SIMONE
– Thinking alone won't take you anywhere. Let's do the magic!

HOMELESS
– Magic? I was thinking of something more classical…

SIMONE
– One can not argue against classics! Lose your coat, so we can get started.

Homeless man takes off his coat and puts it on a tall coat rack near the door.
Simone stands with a hairdressing cape in his hand and gestures 'take a seat.'

CUT TO:

A couple walks down the street. They stop in front of Simone's barbershop and kiss passionately. A young woman, KARINA, has a long brown hair and brown eyes. Her boyfriend's face is not visible. A small red leaf of a maple tree, caught in Karina's hair.

Behind the couple, visible, through the barbershop's front window, Simone is making the last touches to the Homeless man's hairstyle. The beard is shaved off, and the hair is cut in a classic manner with short back and sides. Homeless is looking at himself into the mirror and smiling, while Simone, from a small round box, is applying a brilliantine to his client's hair.
Karina turns her head a looks at the barbershop's vitrine decorated with little, round brilliantine boxes.

EXT. HOTEL ENTRANCE. MORNING

A taxi pulls in front of the hotel entrance. Karina, wearing jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers, steps out of the taxi. Her hair is collected in a tangled bun. The Doorman opens the door and greets her, as Karina enters.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY. MORNING

Spacious lobby with velvet lounge beds and a flower bouquet arrangements. The centerpiece – a ceiling chandelier illuminates a standing couple. The BRIDE and the GROOM pose for the PHOTOGRAPHER. Karina walks by with a suitcase trolley.

INT. HOTEL RECEPTION. MORNING

Karina stops at the counter. The RECEPTIONIST smiles at Karina.

RECEPTIONIST
– Ciao! Buongiorno!

KARINA
– Good morning!

RECEPTIONIST
– Welcome to hotel 'Palazzo', miss…

Karina handles her passport over the receptionist's desk.

RECEPTIONIST (CONT'D)
(opens the passport)
– Miss Simon!

KARINA
– I have a reservation.

Receptionist types on a keyboard and looks at a computer screen.

RECEPTIONIST
– You have a honeymoon suite. Congratulations!

KARINA
– Actually… Um… Can I downgrade?

RECEPTIONIST
– Let me check…

Karina looks at the posing Bride and Groom.

RECEPTIONIST (CONT'D)
– I have just a perfect room for you.

KARINA
– Oh… Thank you!

RECEPTIONIST
(gives Karina a room key)
– Don't worry about anything. The third floor right.

Karina takes the room key and heads to the elevators.

RECEPTIONIST (CONT'D)
– Let me know if you need anything.

Karina stands near the elevator. Presses the button. The elevator doors open with a 'ding'.

INT. HOTEL ELEVATOR. MORNING

Karina stands inside the elevator and looks at her pale image in the elevator mirror. Takes out the pin and lets her hair down. It's tangled and discolored. Karina sighs.

INT. HOTEL RECEPTION. MORNING

Karina stands at the empty countertop. Karina presses the desk-bell button. Surprised, receptionist erects from behind the counter.

RECEPTIONIST
(smiles)
– Yes, miss Simon? Is…

KARINA
– Oh… The room is fine. Actually, I didn't look. Is there is a hair salon nearby?

RECEPTIONIST
– Of course… Very close. Take right at the entrance, don't cross the street. Third shop. Right after the coffee shop. Go there tomorrow.

KARINA
– But I want it now.

RECEPTIONIST
– Tomorrow at ten in the morning. On Mondays – closed. Barbers do not work today. Holiday.

KARINA
– Do you have scissors?

RECEPTIONIST
– Huh?

KARINA
(makes scissors with her fingers)
– Scissors. For a haircut.

RECEPTIONIST
– Oh… I'm not giving you my scissors.

KARINA
– Why?

RECEPTIONIST
– I did give my scissors once to a guest. I'm not doing it again.

KARINA
– Ok. Are the shops open? I will buy scissors.

RECEPTIONIST
– Shops are open! Take left and walk till the next corner. A big store.

KARINA
– Ciao.

Karina quickly walks toward the hotel exit.

RECEPTIONIST
– Ciao, miss Simon!

EXT. STREET, HOTEL ENTRANCE. MORNING

Karina exits the hotel and walks down the street.

EXT. STREET. MORNING

Karina walks down the street. She is looking at the shop front windows, as she walks by. At the corner, she crosses the street and enters a big store.

INT. STORE. MORNING

Karina wonders through the isles of the store. Finds knives. Then Karina sees scissors. She chooses the pair in a medium size.

INT. STORE COUNTER. MORNING.

Karina pays for the scissors at the counter and hurries to the exit.

EXT. STREET. MORNING.

Karina walks back to the hotel the same path she walked before. She stops near the chalkboard triangle on the sidewalk. A handwritten, haircut price list on the chalkboard. She looks up and sees a sign 'Happy Head & Co.' Karina looks around the street. Looks on other buildings. Then again at the sign and at the front window of the barbershop. A pile of small, round boxes of brilliantine erected in the tapered front window.
Karina pushes the handle in shape of a letter 'S.'

INT. SIMONE'S BARBERSHOP, ROME. DAY

Inside Simone's barbershop, the time feels different. It is a leap back in a time machine. The interior of the barbershop is vintage and equipment – antique. An old, green industrial lamp on the cord. Simone is sweeping the barber chair. Hair leftovers on the black & white 'checkmate' floor tiles. Door-bell rings. Karina enters the barbershop.

KARINA
– Ciao. Good morning.

Simone stops sweeping and straightens-up.

SIMONE
– Good morning! I welcome you, my friend.

KARINA
– Today is Monday. Aren't you closed?

SIMONE
– Not, if someone needs a haircut. You do need a haircut, don't you?

Simone looks at the scissors in her hand.

KARINA
– Oh… I was in despair… Do you make a women's haircuts as well?

SIMONE
– Please, make yourself comfortable in this very magic chair!
(puts a hand on chest)
– Simone is at your service.

As Karina sits down, the chair makes a 'cling' sound.

SIMONE
– It was a client-meter.

KARINA
– A client meter?

SIMONE
– Yes. A counter. My chair counts clients.

KARINA
So what is my number?

SIMONE
– Let's see…

Simone bends down and pulls a small ticket size paper from behind the chair's back and handles it to Karina.

SIMONE (CONT'D)
– Here, miss, is your lucky number.

KARINA
– Two, five, seven. I like it. Funny. That's my hotel room!

SIMONE
– You see! I hope you will like your new haircut as well.

KARINA
– It won't look worse than it is already.

Karina looks at her reflection in the mirror. Simone takes a big hairdressing cape from the drawer. Karina looks around inspecting the hair product posters. A big poster titled 'La Magia Effetto Brillantina' on the wall.

SIMONE
– Sometimes all you need is a little magic touch. So what do you have in mind about your new haircut?

KARINA
– Nothing particular. Just wanna take out the image I have in my mind right now. Something, I look in the mirror and I see a different me. So feel free to improvise.

SIMONE
– Let's see what I can do. First. Some water will wash your worries away.

Karina sits in the corner at the barber sink. Simone shampoos her hair. Water runs through Karina's hair.. Simone is washing her hair with a small hose. Her eyes are closed.

KARINA
– You know. This place looks somehow familiar.

SIMONE
– Does it?

KARINA
– Dunno… Maybe it's the vintage style…

SIMONE
(drying Karina's hair with a towel)
– So… Now we can get back to The Throne.

KARINA
– The throne?

SIMONE
– Yes. This is how I call my barber chair. The Throne.

KARINA
(sitting down in the chair)
– Why doesn't it cling now? What happened to your client-meter?

SIMONE
– Oh, the chair already knows all its clients. He recognized you. But I still don't know your name.

Simone is inspecting Karina's hair for dryness.

KARINA
– Karina.

SIMONE
– I'm happy you chose my services, Karina.

KARINA
– You are funny.

SIMONE
– Funny is the new serious.

Simone takes a big hairbrush from the table.

KARINA
– Tell me some funny story.

SIMONE
– Better you tell me a funny story.

KARINA
– Okay. I was supposed to get married to my first love, but he married another woman without even telling me. And the best part is – he used all the reservations I made. Except for the hotel, which was made in my name. Isn't that funny?

SIMONE
– Totally. That's a hell of a funny story.

KARINA
– So I did took a flight and came to the hotel. Just wanted to get far away from that place. And away from bad memories.

SIMONE
– You came to the right place.

Simone combs Karina's hair.

KARINA
– Now you tell a funny story. What are all these cards?

SIMONE
– Oh, these are thank you cards from my happy clients.

KARINA
– Who is this one from? The one with the Big Ben?

SIMONE
– This one? Let me see… This one is from Mark.

KARINA
– Who is Mark?

Simone takes scissors.

SIMONE
– Mark came to my shop the last day of his trip to London.

KARINA
– But we are in Rome, Italy.

SIMONE
– I'm traveling, you know…

KARINA
– So what happened with Mark?

SIMONE
– Oh, right. Mark came

KARINA
– To your shop the last day of his trip to London!

SIMONE
– Right! He was saving money for a trip to London. A whole year. Later, walking around London and enjoying the last day – Mark come to cut his hair to remind himself of London. Fortunately, he came to my shop!

Simone takes a cut from Karina's hair.

KARINA
– So was we wrote? In the card?

SIMONE
(reads from the postcard)
– 'Simone, the haircut you made was mega cool. I was happy. In the store across the street, I found a matching jersey t-shirt. When I came back home, I decided to add to the image of a 'tough' guy and I went to a gym to add some bumps to my body. And for the first time in my life – a girl fell in love with me. And I fell in love with her!

Simone cuts Karina's hair, while he talks. Karina's hair is falling on the floor.
Simone takes a hair roll and puts in Karina's hair. Then he puts some more.

SIMONE (CONT'D)
– Then I was so busy with work and girl, I began to make better use of my time and got much more productive. I got promoted at work, plus – a rise to my salary. We started saving for the wedding right away! And on top of that – I received a letter from my boss what the office is relocating to London! During the honeymoon, I wanted to introduce you to my wife but discovered a bookstore in the place of your barbershop. And guess what? The owner has never heard of you, nor any barbershop! So I wrote you a card as you suggested. To: 'Poste Restante'. Simone at 'Happy Head & Co.'

Simone puts the scissors down and takes the hair dryer and dryers Karina's hair. Karina is talking, but it is inaudible, because of the noise the hair dryer makes.

SIMONE
– What were you saying?

KARINA
– Nothing.

Simone takes out the rolls of Karina's hair.

SIMONE
– So you can drop me a line or two when you get back home. I will be happy.

KARINA
– I will take your card for the address.

SIMONE
– If you lose the card, the address is as you already know 'Poste Restante. Simone at 'Happy Head & Co.'

Simone arranges and brushes Karina's hair.

KARINA
– I will remember that!

SIMONE
– Sure you will. It will be a happy memory.

KARINA
– How do you know that?

Simone holds a brilliantine box in this head?

SIMONE
– Have you heard of The Brilliantine Effect?

KARINA
– When the hair gets silky smooth and shiny? The one from the poster?

SIMONE
– Not just hair only. Then it puts only happy thoughts in your head. My personal patent!

KARINA
– How that's possible?

SIMONE
– Oh, you will see yourself.

KARINA
– I don't mind.

Simone applies the brilliantine from the box to Karina's hair.

SIMONE
– It will work until the next wash.

KARINA
– That's all? Not very long…

SIMONE
– Enough to make you happy once and for all.

KARINA
– You are funny. Nobody can be happy forever.

SIMONE
– But at least you can try it out. Voila!

Karina looks at her new image at the image and smiles. Simone takes of the hairdresser cape.

KARINA
– Sure. This is a blast!

SIMONE
– You look bella, Karina.

KARINA
– Thank you!

Karina puts the banknote note on the table.

SIMONE
– You are welcome! Happy, you came by, Karina! Ciao!

Karina takes Simone's card from the shelf near the door.

EXT. STREET. EVENING

Karina exits the barbershop and looks around. She is smiling. Suddenly sky turns grey. Big raindrops start falling. Down the street, a young MAN is walking with a large, black umbrella. When 'UMBRELLA' MAN walks by the barbershop, he sees Karina and covers her, and Karina's new haircut.

'UMBRELLA' MAN
– May I? I'm worried about your new haircut.
Karina comes closer to Men. Rain starts pouring.

KARINA
– Such a lucky day. Thank you!
Karina smiles. She and the 'Umbrella' Man walks up the street. They are laughing.

EXT. STREET. MORNING

Karina walks down the street toward Simone's barbershop. The 'Happy Head & Co.' sign is gone. Instead of the barbershop, there is a small bookstore. Karina looks around the street confused. She pushes the door handle in shape of a letter 'S.'

INT. BOOKSTORE. MORNING

Karina enters a small bookstore. The owner is dressed in a vest and a shirt. It is the same Homeless man, whom Simone gave a haircut in the beginning.

KARINA
– Hi… Em… Is this a bookshop?

EX-HOMELESS
– Good morning! Don't this look like a bookshop?

KARINA
– Sure. But I was looking for the barbershop.

EX-HOMELESS
– I know nothing about the barbershop. But. We have some books about hairstyles. Wanna take a look?

Ex-Homeless gestures at the book pile in the entrance of the store. Karina takes the first book from the top of the pile. Reads the title 'Happy Head Hairstyles by Simone The Barber.'

KARINA
– Okay then… I will take this book.

EX-HOMELESS
– Excellent choice, Karina.

KARINA
– How do you know my name?

Ex-Homeless smiles.

INT. HOTEL ROOM. MORNING

In a hotel uniform dressed, a young maid enters the hotel room. Her name tag reads 'JOLANDA'. Maid cleans the mirror and dusts the shelf beneath it. Then Jolanda takes off the bed sheets. Cell phone beeps. Maid reads the message from Boss: 'My office now.'

Jolanda sits on the unmade bed and starts crying. Then she stands up and walks toward the door. Jolanda stops near the mirror looks at her red face. Then she surprised looks at the shelf.

On the shelf beneath the mirror is a business card. Jolanda reads the card. Detail: Letterpress business card: Simone. Hairstyle at 'Happy Head & Co.' Jolanda looks at her reflection in the mirror and takes off the name tag.

EXT. BEACH PROMENADE. MORNING.

Keeping hands, Karina and an 'Umbrella' Man, dressed for the beach, walk down the promenade. They pass a souvenir shop. A rack with the local landscape, beach view postcards on the sidewalk. Karina looks at the postcards.

KARINA
– Wait a second.

Karina chooses a postcard with palms, beach, and sunset, and enters the souvenir shop.

INT. SOUVENIR SHOP. MORNING.

Inside a small souvenir shop and OWNER sleeps behind the counter. He wakes up and smiles at Karina. In sign language asks the Owner to give her a pen. Karina writes an address on the card. 'Poste Restante' Simone at 'Happy Head & Co.'

FADE OUT.

The End.