Title: Text Message Examples
Credit: From
Author: scriptopus.com/how-to-write-text-messages-in-a-screenplay

INT. MAYA'S FLAT - KITCHEN - DAY

Maya's phone lights up on the table. A text from Leo: "abuela has told the hairdresser".

It lights up again: "and the fishmonger". And again: "and father tomas".

Maya buries the phone in the fruit bowl, under the bananas. It buzzes in there twice more.

INT. MAYA'S FLAT - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Dark, except for the phone lighting Maya's face.

LEO (TEXT)
u up

MAYA (TEXT)
No.

LEO (TEXT)
abuela wants to know if the final ten get a prize

MAYA (TEXT)
They get read by a producer.

LEO (TEXT)
she says is that a prize

Maya lays the phone on her chest and looks at the ceiling for a long time.

MAYA (TEXT)
Tell her yes.

INT. MAYA'S FLAT - KITCHEN - MORNING

One new email sits at the top of Maya's inbox. She makes a cup of tea before she opens it.

.INSERT - MAYA'S LAPTOP

An email from Submissions. Subject: Your entry, MIDNIGHT, PACIFIC TIME.

"Dear Maya, we are delighted to tell you that your script is one of ten finalists, chosen from 4,112 entries."

.BACK TO SCENE

She reads it again. Then she reads it out loud to the kettle, so that someone else has heard it.

INT. MAYA'S FLAT - KITCHEN - NIGHT

Maya starts a text to Mr. Brennan.

!ON HER PHONE: "Thank you for reading it. I know you said page one was weak, but"

She deletes "but". Then "weak". Then everything after the first sentence.

!ON HER PHONE: "Thank you for reading it."

Her thumb hovers over Send. She adds "It meant a lot." and sends it before she can think again.

Under her message, the dots that mean he is typing. They stop. They start again.

!ON HER PHONE: "Page one is fine now. Go to bed."