Leftovers

Leftovers' is an original comedy with an environmental slant. Harry and Lucy meet in a cafe for their first date, where Harry finds himself distracted by the appetising remains left on the next table. Their time together becomes gradually more awkward and chaotic after Harry admits to his temptation, though a chemistry between the two grows evident as they spar over questions of social norms and food waste/ethics.

  • Sam Rankin
    Writer
  • Gemma Brown
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short Script
  • Number of Pages:
    13
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Writer Biography - Sam Rankin

Sam Rankin is a composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Yorkshire, UK. His writing experience is diverse and peculiar, ranging from published short stories and poems while at school, to commercial presentation scripts for an international music retailer, extending even to dense legal essays (his dissertation on intellectual property law was described by the examiner as ‘a pleasure to read’, a feat previously thought to be impossible).

As a songwriter his lyrical approach is thoughtful and poetic, often with a literary flavour. His debut short film Leftovers is a romantic comedy of manners inspired by his own inner conflict: at once a polite, goodnatured young man and an embarrassing greedy pig, Sam has a clear artistic voice laden with care, humour and musicality.

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Writer Statement

Leftovers was born out of an argument I’d had with myself many times: would it be wrong to eat a stranger’s food once they have abandoned it? If so, why? Are my reservations chiefly hygienic or social?

Perhaps thankfully, I have never been brave enough to explore this idea past the point of no return. It occurred to me though that a first date would be a funny arena in which to do so, and the idea for a low-cost, low-maintenance comedy short film presented itself. Harry & Lucy’s conversation came quickly and easily, and I was delighted to find their spark surviving against all odds; after all, doesn’t authentic connection only happen once the small talk ends and we gradually allow our own strangenesses to be seen?

Influences on the script, discernible to the reader or not, likely include the argumentative spirit of Curb Your Enthusiasm, the awkwardness of Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong’s Peep Show, and the lightness of PG Wodehouse’s romantic comedies (such as Something Fresh or Leave it to Psmith). Leftovers was a joy to write, and I hope that will come across on the page and the screen.