Timothy Cakebread is an actor, filmmaker and writer from Natick, Massachusetts. In 2018 he starred in the independent feature film What We Don’t Say, which is now available on Amazon Prime and Google Play. A graduate of the two-year acting program at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute, he went on to live and work as an actor in Los Angeles and Vancouver for several years before moving back to New York City to finish his degree in Psychology and Media Studies at The New School. Seeing Up is his first original feature film screenplay; he completed the first draft in 2019, while living in Vancouver. Seeing Up is a dramatic feature film script loosely based on a true story from 2009. The film follows the path of Daniel, an intelligent but arrogant employee of the animation firm Pixar, who is sent on a mission to deliver a copy of the film Up to a dying girl whose last wish is to see the film. Although Tim primarily works in drama, his ingenuous sense of humor comes out easily in his acting and within his dialogue as a writer. More of his work and updates can be found on his Instagram @timothycakebread.

—Zane Michael, project editor, with Leon Freeman, Jr., co-editor

Seeing Up

Written By
Timothy Cakebread

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As read by. . .

Timothy Cakebread as DAN

Francesca Posla as JEN

Elisa Prado as MOLLY

Kristin Manna as STEPHANIE

Zane Michael as BARTENDER/MAN

Sally Anne Hall reading Stage Directions /Doctor

Disclaimer: This script is available in professional format, however we at 12th Street have decided to alter the script for accessibility.

Click above to begin audio

Fade In: INT. CLASSY RESTAURANT – NIGHT
SUPERIMPOSE: Los Angeles, 2008

We fade into a bar. Fairly quiet. Only a few patrons remain as we are towards the end of the evening. The place will be closing soon. It is a nice, classy establishment. Clean. White countertops and tabletops are all about. Fancy. Cozy. A MAN in his thirties sits quietly at the counter. His back to us. He is wearing a nice suit with a white shirt. His jacket is off, hanging on the back of his chair. He has a scotch in front of him. In front of the seat to the right, next to him is a half-full martini glass.

The seat is empty. He stares off into space for a moment. He seems to be reflecting. Suddenly, O.S., footsteps approach his seat. Heels. She’s coming back. The man, who we will know as DANIEL STRONG, turns and looks at her as she approaches. It is JEN. His date. Absolutely beautiful. Her hair and dress are relatively simple. She is not a wealthy person, but golly. Stunning. And a smile that would light up the darkest cave. Daniel turns to see his date take her seat. He can’t help but smile at the sight of her. After a beat.

JEN
(smiling) What?

DANIEL
Just glad you didn’t go running out on me.

JEN
Not yet at least.

DANIEL
How’s the martini?

JEN
(trying not to laugh) It’s fine thanks… So you never answered my question from before.

DANIEL
Which one?

JEN
I didn’t ask you that many.

DANIEL
Which one? My job?

JEN
Yeah. Why do you like your job so much?

DANIEL
Pixar?

JEN
Yeah. It must be exciting to be at a place like that.

DANIEL
A place like what?

JEN
I mean, one of the most admired companies in entertainment.

DANIEL
It can be.

JEN
Not always?

DANIEL
It’s good. Money’s good. It’s fun.

JEN
It’s just you don’t strike me as the type of guy who would work for that kind of company.

DANIEL
No?

JEN
Maybe on Wall Street or, really any other kind of high level corporation, but you just don’t strike me as a guy who would work for Pixar.

DANIEL
(half joking) I’m just so sensitive.

JEN
Oh yeah. I’m sure that’s what it is.

Daniel takes another sip of his drink. This date has gone fairly well so far, but it’s still a first date. Plenty of energy has gone into fighting off awkwardness from both parties.

DANIEL
I’ve always been involved in film. Producing and now more on the marketing side of everything. I was at a marketing firm for six years before it went under.

JEN
And you made the leap to Pixar just in time?

DANIEL
Yeah but Mark had been at Pixar for a few years by then and they had a job opening at the right time. I had signed the contract at Pixar just a few days before they told me that they were closing shop at the marketing place.

JEN
Sounds like Mark kind of saved you.

DANIEL
Maybe. Don’t remind him of that though.

JEN
Sure. Something to hold against you. Collateral.

Daniel smiles at this. A beat.

DANIEL
He’s a good guy.

JEN
He’s your friend.

A beat.

DANIEL
As far as Pixar goes do you have a favorite?

JEN
Toy Story.

DANIEL
Of course. Classic.

JEN
You?

DANIEL
Um, Monsters Inc. was good.

JEN
Oh yeah.

A beat. Daniel stares off again. He’s avoiding a lot of eye contact with Jen.

JEN (CONT’D)
Are you OK?

DANIEL
Sorry what?

JEN
You just seem tense, I don’t know.

DANIEL
Yeah. Just, long day is all.

JEN
Kid movies are exhausting.

Daniel smiles again and looks down at his drink. A beat.

JEN (CONT’D)
Are you sure you’re OK?

DANIEL
I’m fine.

JEN
Are you sure?

DANIEL
(looking at her) No.

JEN
Are you sick?

DANIEL
No.

JEN
Do you want to go home?

DANIEL
No.

JEN
I’m sorry. If there’s something wrong…

DANIEL
This was unfair.

JEN
What do you mean?

DANIEL
I mean…Mark told me you were pretty but Jesus. That’s just not fair. I never get nervous on dates and now all of a sudden I get completely flabbergasted at every step of the evening every time we make eye contact.

JEN
Well, thank you.

DANIEL
No… Don’t say thank you. Don’t just be polite. I’ve been completely smitten by you from the moment you walked through the door. Since I laid eyes on you. I hate Mark for not preparing me for this. It’s like he set me up with the perfect woman and all I want to do is punch him for it.

JEN
Daniel.

DANIEL
Sorry, that was really inappropriate.

Jen blushes.

DANIEL (CONT’D)
I never get lost for words. You can ask any of my friends. In fact I usually say the wrong thing at the wrong time in almost every single situation possible. I eat emotionally. I complain. A lot.I make good money but I make a lot of bad decisions with it. I bought a VCR not that long ago.

I like pretty much any kind of movie, other than Pixar movies. Speed has been my all time favorite movie since I was ten. I can quote almost all of The Devil Wears Prada and I don’t know why. I like pro wrestling. Too much. I tell people that I donate to charity more than I actually do. I signed up to volunteer at a soup kitchen a couple months ago and never showed up. I wanted to donate blood last weekend but I realized I can’t because I took mushrooms at a party two weeks ago. I try to be a good person, but I get in my own way a lot of the time. I’m very pessimistic. . . That’s why I like working at Pixar. I complain about everyone that works there but they are the nicest, most caring people I’ve ever met.

And I’m telling you this because you asked me about my job, and it just made me really insecure about the way this night panned out and I really hope you had a good time and I feel like I’ll just suddenly forgive myself and all my shortcomings and go on with my life and keep complaining and buying VCRs at a whole new higher and euphoric level if were to just make me shut up and let me kiss you right now.

Jen is speechless. Suddenly the bartender approaches and drops the bill off.

FANCY BARTENDER
Whenever you’re ready.

Another beat.

JEN
I have a VCR too.

DANIEL
Cassette tapes are really cheap nowadays.

She sits for a moment, looking at him. And finally. He leans in and softly kisses her.

CUT TO:
Title card: Seeing up INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM – DAY Time stamp: One year later.

We look in on a quiet waiting room of a hospital. A handful of patients and families line the seats as hospital personnel pass through with their duties. A woman in her early 40’s sits quietly towards the middle of the room. This is MOLLY. The mother of MANDY. She sits with another woman in her 40’s, STEPHANIE, Molly’s sister. Molly holds a blanket which has the likeness of Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story sewn into it as she sits and waits for a few beats. She has clearly been through the ringer with the hospital. But she has found her calm. This is one tough, beautiful woman. Supermom. In the other aisle of chairs in the waiting room is a MAN, 40’s, sleeves of tattoos all the way down both arms. Like an extra in Sons of Anarchy. He sits next to another man, probably his BROTHER, dressed and tatted up similarly. After a beat, the man finally speaks.

MAN
What are you in for?

MOLLY
Excuse me?

MAN
What are you in for?

MOLLY
I’m sorry. . . What am I in for?

MAN
Yeah.

MOLLY
Like prison?

MAN
You know, as soon as I said it that way, I could tell it was a dumb way to say it.

Molly chuckles. This takes her aback for a moment. That chuckle meant something.

MAN (CONT’D)
Sorry, I just thought since it’s been just the few of us here for the last few hours… I didn’t mean to impose.

MOLLY
No. It’s OK. My daughter’s in surgery. Cancer.

DANIEL
Sort of. Probably bad.

JEN
Come on. I’m sure it’s not bad.

DANIEL
I’ve never had to come in for a last second meeting like this before.

JEN
Maybe it’s a big bonus.

DANIEL
Your optimism is refreshing as always.

JEN
I have my own reasons. Maybe if you get a big bonus you’ll finally buy another car.

DANIEL
I hate driving.

JEN
It’s LA, you need a car.

DANIEL
Why do I need a car if I have you?

JEN
Very funny.

DANIEL
Driving’s dangerous.

JEN
You ride in a car every day anyway. At least when you drive you’re in control.

DANIEL
I like it when you’re in control.

JEN
Playing limo driver every day?

DANIEL
I always say thank you.

JEN
I know…

DANIEL
Sorry, I know we need another car. I’ve just been lazy with it. I admit it.

JEN
Well from everything you say things are going great, this could be a good thing. Seriously.

DANIEL
I honestly have no idea what this meeting is about.

JEN
(playfully) So shrouded in mystery. Dun-dun-dun.

DANIEL
Yeah, great, joke about my looming unemployment.

JEN
(laughs) You’re so dramatic.

DANIEL
Of course I am, I’m in the entertainment industry.

JEN
You’re excuse for everything.

The traffic starts to move faster. They’re almost to Daniel’s office. Daniel stares out the window. He lets out a deep breath.

JEN (CONT’D)
You OK? I’m sure everything is fine. Is Mark going to be there?

DANIEL
Yeah he should be. I just, I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m feeling these days anymore.

JEN
What? Just with work.

DANIEL
Yeah, I mean. It’s… I don’t know.

JEN
No tell me.

DANIEL
I’ve been there for a while now, and I mean, they’re always evolving and these new brilliant people keep coming in the mix. I’m not saying I’m inferior or anything, it’s just I think maybe it’s run its course.

JEN
What like you want to quit?

DANIEL
I don’t know.

JEN
You want to start your own company?

DANIEL
Neither of us wants that.

Jen smiles at this.

DANIEL (CONT’D)
I’m tired is all. People think we take our time with everything since these movies take so long to make but it’s just one crazy… scenario after another. It’s exhausting.

JEN
I hear you. Well maybe we can plan for some time off soon.

DANIEL
I was going to say that tonight actually.

JEN
Yeah? That would be perfect. You can get away for a bit.

DANIEL
Road trip!

JEN
Yeah!

DANIEL
I’ll drive! So long as I still have a job, definitely. We’ll figure it out.

JEN
Yeah… Just not Vegas

DANIEL
What?

JEN
We’re not going to Vegas for a long time.

DANIEL
Why?

JEN
Really? You want to go there?

DANIEL
That roulette wheel was rigged. I know it.

JEN
Oh stop it.

EXT. HOSPITAL PARKING GARAGE – DAY

Molly slowly shuts the door the car trunk. The last of Mandy’s belongings are in there. Mandy sits in the passenger’s seat, she’s barely awake. Stephanie’s car is next to Mandy’s in the lot.

MOLLY
That’s the last of it.

STEPHANIE
I can meet you back at the house.

MOLLY
Sure.

Molly looks at her daughter in the car. Mandy lets out a deep breath. This girl is a fighter, no question. A beat.

STEPHANIE
I love you.

MOLLY
I love you too.

They hug.

STEPHANIE
You know, maybe you should take the scenic route. I can go back to the house. Get some dinner. Clean up a little. I’ll make sure everything looks nice for when she gets home.

MOLLY
I’d like that. Thank you.

STEPHANIE
Drive by that lake you always used to go to. Lots of nice memories there. For all of us.

MOLLY
That’s a good idea.

STEPHANIE
Take your time.

Molly goes to the driver’s side door. She opens it and stops for a moment. She turns back to Stephanie who is on her way to her car.

MOLLY
Hey Stephanie.

STEPHANIE
Yes?

MOLLY
You’re the best sister anyone could ask for. Thank you.

STEPHANIE
(smiles) I know.

Stephanie gets in her car.