"CANDLE"
A Short Film
INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY
The fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting a sterile glow over rows of neatly stacked products. A man, JACK, mid-30s, with a slightly worried look, navigates through the aisles. His eyes are fixed on a piece of paper in his hand - a shopping list with "Candle for Wife's Birthday" circled.
JACK (muttering to himself)
"Just a candle. How hard can it be?"
He turns into the candle aisle. The shelves are lined with candles of all sizes and scents, but what catches his eye are the digital price tags flickering above each item.
JACK (to himself, hopeful)
"Let's make this quick."
He spots two candles side by side. One is labeled "Lavender Dream" and the other "Ocean Breeze." The prices are reasonable, but Jack, being frugal, reaches for the cheaper "Lavender Dream."
As he picks it up, the digital price tag blinks and the number jumps up, surpassing the price of "Ocean Breeze." Jack's eyebrows furrow in confusion.
JACK (confused)
"What the...?"
He puts "Lavender Dream" back and picks up "Ocean Breeze." The same thing happens; the price tag for "Ocean Breeze" now shows a higher number, exceeding "Lavender Dream."
Jack's confusion turns to mild panic. He checks his wallet, counting the bills. Not enough. He removes some "Men's shampoo" from his cart.
JACK (to himself, resigned)
"At least the house'll smell nice."
He goes to pickup the "Ocean Breeze" - it's even higher again.
JACK (to himself, increasingly anxious)
"What the... This can't be right."
His eyes dart around, landing on a small TV mounted on the wall at the end of the aisle. The screen is ablaze with breaking news:
TV NEWS ANCHOR - Max Keiser Type - (screaming)
"INFLATION IS SKYROCKETING! PANIC! PANIC!"
The screen shows a bizarre, animated figure labeled "The Inflation God" laughing maniacally, candles shooting out of its mouth like fireworks.
Jack looks back at the candles. Their prices are now doubling and tripling every second right before his eyes. His face pales.
JACK (desperate)
"What's happening..."
He looks directly at the camera, his expression a mix of disbelief and resignation. The camera zooms into his eyes, reflecting the flickering price tags and the chaotic TV screen.
CUT TO BLACK
END TITLE: "CANDLE"
FADE OUT
––
If you're in LA and want to help make this happen, reach out.
CypherpunkCinema / Cypherpunk Cinema
npub1sr…2xazs
2024-09-03 22:02:27
Author Public Key
npub1sr0m2evyzp4wj53u8v8y67nv92hletqr885txfswsu52qvjcnruql2xazsPublished at
2024-09-03 22:02:27Event JSON
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"created_at": 1725400947,
"kind": 1,
"tags": [],
"content": "\"CANDLE\"\nA Short Film\n\nINT. SUPERMARKET - DAY\n\nThe fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting a sterile glow over rows of neatly stacked products. A man, JACK, mid-30s, with a slightly worried look, navigates through the aisles. His eyes are fixed on a piece of paper in his hand - a shopping list with \"Candle for Wife's Birthday\" circled.\n\nJACK (muttering to himself)\n\"Just a candle. How hard can it be?\"\n\nHe turns into the candle aisle. The shelves are lined with candles of all sizes and scents, but what catches his eye are the digital price tags flickering above each item.\n\nJACK (to himself, hopeful)\n\"Let's make this quick.\"\n\nHe spots two candles side by side. One is labeled \"Lavender Dream\" and the other \"Ocean Breeze.\" The prices are reasonable, but Jack, being frugal, reaches for the cheaper \"Lavender Dream.\"\n\nAs he picks it up, the digital price tag blinks and the number jumps up, surpassing the price of \"Ocean Breeze.\" Jack's eyebrows furrow in confusion.\n\nJACK (confused)\n\"What the...?\"\n\nHe puts \"Lavender Dream\" back and picks up \"Ocean Breeze.\" The same thing happens; the price tag for \"Ocean Breeze\" now shows a higher number, exceeding \"Lavender Dream.\"\n\nJack's confusion turns to mild panic. He checks his wallet, counting the bills. Not enough. He removes some \"Men's shampoo\" from his cart.\n\nJACK (to himself, resigned)\n\"At least the house'll smell nice.\"\n\nHe goes to pickup the \"Ocean Breeze\" - it's even higher again. \n\nJACK (to himself, increasingly anxious)\n\"What the... This can't be right.\"\n\nHis eyes dart around, landing on a small TV mounted on the wall at the end of the aisle. The screen is ablaze with breaking news:\n\nTV NEWS ANCHOR - Max Keiser Type - (screaming)\n\"INFLATION IS SKYROCKETING! PANIC! PANIC!\"\n\nThe screen shows a bizarre, animated figure labeled \"The Inflation God\" laughing maniacally, candles shooting out of its mouth like fireworks.\n\nJack looks back at the candles. Their prices are now doubling and tripling every second right before his eyes. His face pales.\n\nJACK (desperate)\n\"What's happening...\"\n\nHe looks directly at the camera, his expression a mix of disbelief and resignation. The camera zooms into his eyes, reflecting the flickering price tags and the chaotic TV screen.\n\nCUT TO BLACK\nEND TITLE: \"CANDLE\"\n\nFADE OUT\n\n––\n\nIf you're in LA and want to help make this happen, reach out.",
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}