For all you (aspiring) writers of books and screenplays my best wishes for a great new year.
By tradition in screenplay format.
(Sorry for the bad screenplay format online. If you want to read it in correct format please download or read it by clicking here).)

FADE IN:

SUPER: ANOTHER NEW YEAR, AS EVER.

EXT. OFFICE BUILDING – SUNSET

At sundown the streets glow form the last rainfall though
it’s dry now and the last beams of sunlight lit the large
office building red.

EXT. FLOOR (OFFICE BUILDING) – SUNSET

On the penthouse floor we zoom in on a balcony with
overhanging Rooftop. Two luxury, empty reclining seats
separated by a small table stand in front of the large open
doors that show an office desk where two people turn and walk
towards the balcony.

INT. BALCONY (FLOOR OFFICE BUILDING) – SUNSET

YOU, (looking confident as ever in your prime years and on
the peak of your game, and ME, still in my early fifty’s and
as ever working on my big brake) walk onto the balcony and
talk indistinctly. In one hand we have a glass of scotch and
in the other a big burning cigar (unless you’re a woman in
which case the Scotch is a Dirty Martini and the cigar is —
well, I guess you can make that one up for yourself. We look
at the sun sinking below the horizon.

YOU
Why would you say that?

ME
It’s simple, when you look at all
the past years when we brought the
forest to our living rooms, meet
family members we haven’t seen for
years and stuff ourselves with
greasy food, laugh and reminisce
about the good old time, promising
each other to see more of each
other and go home and forget about
the whole thing for the next twelve
months.

YOU
Wow, could you be any more cynical?
If I knew you were going to be such
a bitch about it I would have left
you at that bar with the
transvestite Santa under the
Mistletoe last year instead of
taking your sorry excuse for a
writer home with me and take you
in.

ME
I’m just saying. What’s the point
in doing the same thing over and
over again and expecting a
different outcome?
(pauses, thinks, looks
ahead and sighs)
Don’t they call that insanity?

YOU
Isn’t that what a writer is all
about, being a little insane?

ME
Are you calling me insane?
(short pause)
Again?
(puts a small smile on his
face)

YOU
No I don’t.
(pauses as they both stare
in front)
I think you’re just fine, for a
writer. And don’t let anyone tell
you otherwise. It’s just that —
well — you’re a writer. What do
you expect? You have al the trades
great writers have. You’re
eccentric, have little to non
physical friends, you’re hard to
talk to, especially when you’re
writing and you haven’t seen your
family since — let me guess —
last years holidays? So in a way I
guess the holiday season is
invented for writers to make up for
their past 11 months flaws.

ME
(in a tired voice, with a
sigh and a closed smile)
I am old.

YOU
You’re not old you just look old
and probably feel old.
(tiny smile)
But seriously. You don’t look old
but you behave old. You’re
complaining like an 80 year old
who’s life is about to end looking
back and seeing yourself as a
failure.

ME
What if I am?

YOU
Am what?

ME
Disappointed that I didn’t get what
I wanted out of life.

YOU
Listen, you’re 53 years old, have a
job most people would kill for and
more money then you could spend, —
(I quickly turn my head,
look at you with a
naughty smile on your
face, you react quickly)
— sensible. You have your health,
though you could be a little, uh,
how should I say this —
(small pause)
— more in shape, and there are
even some people who actually like
– well – possibly even love you.
What more could one possibly want
out of life?

ME
(clearly thinking, while
nibbling my cigar)
I published my first novel last
month.

YOU
So?

ME
Well. It could do better.

YOU
It could probably be better.

ME
(Cynical)
Thank you. That’s just what I
needed.

YOU
Well maybe you do. Maybe you need
someone who from time to time shows
you that man in the mirror, kicks
you in the butt and shows you the
way back to the meaning of things.
The question is whether your
success lies in your book sales or
the accomplishment of writing it in
the first place.

ME
Holiday blues, writers blues I
guess. It’s good to have a friend
around.

YOU
You have more friends then you
think. If you only knew how many of
them read this message. I think you
should be glad they are interested
in you and I think you need to show
interest in them throughout the
year.

ME
(broad smile)
You’re probably right. Indeed I
should be.
(Inhale deep and pause a
short while)
New years resolution?
(you nod)

YOU
To the both of us?

ME
To the both of us — and all our
other friends out there. I hope to
see and here from you throughout
the year, be with me while I’m on a
writing spree writing my next book
and support me when I blocked. Oh
and for those who still want to know where to buy
the book please click here

YOU/ME
(simultaneously while
raising our glasses)
Happy Holidays

ME
And don’t forget: “Writers are
desperate people and when they stop
being desperate they stop being
writers.” Here’s to you all.

EXT. BALCONY (FLOOR OFFICE BUILDING) – NIGHT

ZOOM OUT OF THE BALCONY.

FADE OUT.