Jack Of Arts

After the trio finished their meal, Tayaw asked for Jouny's first draft of her script and started reading; the entirety of the story, "September 9th" finally revealed to him.

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Steven, depressed and afraid that he will forever be stuck in the same day and be his personal hell, had to find purpose in living it. He decided to use this opportunity to change to be a better man. He signed up for music lessons, language lessons, and even went to therapy. He tried to learn as much as he can, but in the end, it became tedious, found it pointless and he lost his purpose, just like everything he did before.

He looked for people in danger to try to save them. He prevented a person in jumping off a building to their death. He saved a child from being run over by a car. He saved a person from getting mugged. He tried to save everyone, only to find them under the same life-threatening situation the next time he wakes up. He felt his actions in the end, were useless.

One day, he decided to just stay in bed, and lie all day. He tried to remember what his life was like before the loop, and could not help but miss his ex-girlfriend, Diwaya who he spent 5 years of his life with. They had a pleasant farewell, but Steven knows that both of them still have lingering feelings for each other.

Steven then, every time his day resets, would find Diwaya and tell her of his situation, convince her by predicting everything that would happen, and ask her what to do. This became Steven's purpose every day. Even though Diwaya would forget every time, talking to her made Steven feel alive especially because her answers would differ each time he lets her know.

This purpose not only rekindled Steven's feelings for Diwaya, but realized that he has loved her very much, all along. Steven then, every day would confess his love for Diwaya. Sometimes Diwaya would walk away, but most of the time it would result to them getting back together.

One day, Steven finally can't handle the repetitiveness of the days with Diwaya. He would express his love, confess his situation, and spend the night together with Diwaya, only to not find her next to him when he wakes up in the morning. It helped him at first, but because it became more and more hurtful, he finally let her go.

Knowing that he loves Diwaya, and Diwaya feels the same, is enough for Steven to know that he did not live his life desolate and he made a difference to at least one person. So in one cycle, one last night together, Steven brought Diwaya home. For the entire night, they talked about what could have been and what the two of them should have done to stay in love.

When Diwaya fell into slumber, Steven watched her sleep one last time. Steven decided that after this cycle, he would not look for Diwaya ever again, even if he has to walk his days alone, forever. Steven laid down the bed facing Diwaya until he fell asleep.

The next morning, Steven opened his eyes to see the sun shining through his window, just like countless times before. This time, however, his bed felt warm. He looked beside him and found Diwaya, snuggled up to him. ]] (This is the summary of the movie, obviously)

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It only took Tayaw, with his enhanced brain, to finish reading the 120-page script in 15 minutes.

After reading the last page of the manuscript, Tayaw could not help but sigh deeply. It's serious, it's darkly funny, and it's moving. It is a good story, and he can already see the movie scenes in his head. This is only the first draft but Tayaw could not wait to immerse himself more in the script by talking to Jouny about her feelings and inspirations while she was writing the script.

Even though it does not compare to the movies he got from the roulette, this script is the best story he found in his world that does not follow the norm. Tayaw figured he can also contribute with changing parts of the story so it contains a deeper message.

"Ms. Jouny. How come your script was never picked up?" Tayaw asked. Jouny smiled bitterly and can't explain. "Movie studios found her script boring. They also were not sure if it would sell. Some said that it's very expensive to film." Ongki explained on Jouny's behalf before holding Jouny's hand. "But I know my wife's work is great. I just don't know why they don't see that." Ongki said, gritting his teeth.

Tayaw figured that from Jouny's struggle to answer and Ongki's anger, the script must have been refused a lot of times. "May I know when you finished your manuscript?" Tayaw asked Jouny. "July of 2004" Jouny said. The script has been refused for almost eight years now. Tayaw could only imagine what it feels like.

"What about other scripts? Do you have more?" Tayaw asked again. "I sold five rom-coms, but only two of them were actually made into a movie." Jouny said, shaking her head. Tayaw nodded at this. In his previous life, he heard that just like songs, many screenplays are indeed bought but many of them actually end up in file cabinets.

"Anyways. I have decided to buy your script. I promise you, I will make it a modern classic." Tayaw said. He was comfortable making that promise because he's confident that as long as there's a good script, he can make a good film. The skills he also received from the giant roulette are after all, much more advanced than the filmmaking techniques in his world.

The couple, feeling the resolve in Tayaw's voice, could not help but be fired up as well. "Even though I'm hesitant because of how young you are, you are the only person who believed in my script, Mr. Dagem." Jouny said, now smiling brightly. "Please, call me Tayaw." Tayaw is glad to see Jouny appear brighter now.

When he saw the Jouny in the bus station, he could not help but notice how pale and depressed she looked.

"Thank you Tayaw for believing in my wife's work." Ongki also said, raising his hand towards Tayaw across the table for a hand shake. "It's not belief, Mr. Yawen. It's a certainty." Tayaw said returning the handshake.

"By the way, Mrs. Yawen. How much were you paid the most in your scripts?" Tayaw asked, wanting to base how much he would pay for this script of 'September Ninth". The couple was taken aback at the question. Jouny after thinking, finally answered.

"I was paid 220,000 BGC for one script. That was most I got, including the re-drafts or re-writes." Jouny said. Tayaw nodded. In Teungeb's Writers Guild, screenwriters get paid a minimum of 75,000 BGC for scripts, if they are not asked for re-drafts. For Jouny to sell a script for 220,000 BGC for the full treatment of two more re-drafts is pretty good.

Tayaw made a quick estimation. If her best script sold for 220,000, her other script that made it earned her at least 100,000 BGC, and three shelved scripts that sold 75,000 each, then Jouny in her career, earned 545,000 BGC. Even though she's an unknown screenwriter, she at least is not a starving one.

What she earned however does not concern Tayaw. What concerns him is that such a screenwriter that managed to write a good screenplay like 'September Ninth' has suffered the frustrations and dismissals she did not deserve.

"Mrs. Yawen, do you write screenplays full-time?" Tayaw asked. "No. I make a living doing jobs for the writers' guild in polishing other writers' scripts." Jouny replied. "But. She tries to write her own scripts as much as she can on her spare time." Ongki added.

"Aside from the five you sold previously, do you still have other scripts that you weren't able to sell?" Tayaw asked, hoping to unearth another story like 'September Ninth'.

"Yes. But they're not good. They are scripts that I wrote following the marketable formula." Jouny said. This disappointed Tayaw. The 'marketable formula' refers to the common rom-com and sports movies stories.

"Alright. Are you writing anything else that is just as 'different' as 'September Ninth'?" Tayaw asked again. "Unfortunately, no. This is my best work, and I don't know when I'll get a good idea that is just as novel as this." Jouny said. Tayaw nodded at this, just like writing music, it's difficult to write a good one.

"Alright." Tayaw said as he pulled out a folder from and passed it to Jouny. "I'll take your script for 350,000 BGC on this first draft. In case I require for more drafts, I'll be paying you more." Tayaw summarized the agreement he proposes.

Jouny and Ongki read through the short proposal and looked at each other. They could not believe how generous Tayaw is being. "This.. Are you sure?" Jouny asked, finding it's too good to be true. "It's a lot." Ongki also said.

"Look. You've waited for 8 years, right? I know it's worth it." Tayaw said, assuring his sincerity. "If you want, I can book a hotel room for you two, hell, go home to Clambu even. Take your time to make a decision." Tayaw said. Even if what Tayaw said is needless for such a great offer, he knew that buying the script hastily will only make the couple suspicious.

"I'll sign it." Jouny finally said.

-

A few days later, after all the legal stuff was done regarding the screenplay, Tayaw finally owns 'September Ninth's rights. In addition to purchasing the script, he also offered Jouny a 2.5% residual (royalty) to whatever the Tayaw earns from the movie, after deducting the cut of the film distributor.

"Hello, Tayaw. I just received your deposit. Thank you very much. If you need help in making your movie, please contact me, I might be able to help." Jouny said from the other side of the line. "I'll inform you once I begin production." Tayaw replied and hung up.

The reason why Tayaw offered Jouny higher than average royalty is that he does not see the reason to hire Jouny again in refining the script. With his film making skills, he can polish the script as he goes.

Tayaw then went to a stationery store to pick up a lot of stationery. He will need a lot of pieces of papers and pencils for storyboarding.