Scene 1:
INT. OFFICE BUILDING - LOBBY - DAY
The sound of elevator doors opening. TOM steps out, dressed sharply, walking with confidence. He approaches the front desk where ALICE, the receptionist, is on the phone.
RECEPTIONIST (Alice)
(on the phone)
Yes? We have an opening at 2 o’clock for a showing in the Lower East Side of Manhattan...
She notices TOM and smiles warmly.
RECEPTIONIST (Alice)
First day?
TOM
(smiling coolly)
Yes, such a pleasure to meet you, is it, Alice?
RECEPTIONIST (Alice)
Yes, indeed!
She extends her hand to shake, but TOM hesitates, looking down at it. He then decides to avoid it completely.
TOM
I just peed... And I’m not a handshaker after a good pee. You know, hygiene!
He says it confidently, without hesitation. ALICE pauses, trying to process what just happened. After a beat, she just nods, an awkward smile creeping on her face.
ALICE watches him as he walks away, her expression slowly shifting to one of slight confusion and concern.
VOICEOVER (TOM)
(in his head, with a mix of self-affirmation and confusion)
Nailed it.
Scene 2:
INT. OFFICE HALLWAY - DAY
TOM walks through the office, making his way to his desk. A co-worker, GREG, walks toward him. They bump into each other, a little more awkwardly than they should have.
GREG
Oh my apologies, really! Didn’t mean to startle you. (charismaticaly offers his hand) I'm Greg!
TOM
(voiceover)
Yeah, he seems nice, but you can never be too sure...
GREG extends his hand for a handshake. TOM, not wanting to repeat his earlier mistake, slaps GREG’s hand instead, offering a weird, exaggerated smirk.
TOM
(Pats on his back)
GREG looks at him, completely confused, unsure of what just happened. He pauses for a beat before awkwardly laughing.
GREG
(nervously)
Uh... okay... sure. I bet you're still getting accommodated to the office, so anything you need just let me know!
Scene 3:
INT. RECEPTION DESK - DAY
ALICE and GREG stand by the front desk, discussing the strange incident.
GREG
(gasping in shock)
He did the exact same thing to me...
RECEPTIONIST (ALICE)
We need a plan.
GREG
(raising an eyebrow, grinning)
A plan? Or is this just your latest office crush at work, Alice? (teasing)
You’ve got a thing for every guy in this building, don’t you?
ALICE
(laughs nervously, trying to deflect)
What? No! I— (quickly)
It’s not like that. I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on with him.
GREG
(mock serious)
Oh, right, of course. It's all about Tom... this week. What happens next week? Are we swooning over Bob from accounting? (grinning mischievously)
You should really get a Frequent Flyer card for your office crushes.
ALICE
(flirtatiously trying to laugh at herself with him but quickly shifting to seriousness)
You're Impossible, Greg... (leans in, lowering her voice like she's about to spill gossip)
I’m just saying, we’ve had new people come in before, and they’ve always shaken hands and fit right in without any issues. But Tom? He’s the first one to refuse a handshake... unlike every other guy who’s ever walked through that door. (pauses, realizing what she said, then suddenly snapping to a more defensive tone)
I mean, uh... NOT that I have a thing for every guy, okay? I just— you know what I mean! Right?
GREG
(smirking, raising an eyebrow)
Oh, I know exactly what you mean, Alice.
ALICE
(awkwardly laughing and trying to cover it up)
Focus, Greg! We need a plan for Tom, okay?
GREG
(smirking, leaning back in his chair)
At this point, it’s a matter of principle, right?
ALICE
(grinning, sounding like she’s gossiping with a friend)
Oh, totally.
ALICE
Dialogue
Alright, Phase One: The “Super Secret Handshake” Setup. (she leans in, whispering conspiratorially)
We make it seem like handshakes are this big, exclusive thing. We gather the whole team, and we act like it’s some mystical office tradition. Like, it’s a rite of passage, you know? We’ll get all dramatic about it, like, “Oh, Tom, you’ve gotta shake hands to really be part of the family.” He won’t be able to resist!
GREG
(with a calculating smirk)
Yeah, because who wouldn’t want to be part of the family? Sounds like a trap. If he’s even a little paranoid, we’ve got him.
ALICE
(giggling like she’s imagining it)
Oh, it’s perfect! He won’t be able to get out of it. It’ll be like, everyone is doing it—like, “Oh, you don’t want to be the odd one out, Tom, do you?” (teasingly)
Trust me, Greg, it’ll work.
GREG
(raising an eyebrow, still calculating)
What if it doesn’t? What if he’s some kind of... rebel who refuses to be sucked into the whole “team handshake” thing?
ALICE
(leaning in closer, all gossip and playful energy)
Oh, I’ve thought of that, honey. That’s when we bring in Phase Two: The Casual Coffee/Pen Move. (she gestures dramatically, as if she’s revealing a top-secret plan)
So, we wait until we’re holding something like coffee, a pen, or—oh, I don’t know—a binder, something totally innocent. Then, when we walk by him, we “accidentally” lean in and offer our hand. Like it’s no big deal. Like we’re just casually handing him a coffee, no pressure at all. (staring off into the distance) He won’t be able to resist the subtle nudge to shake our hand. (looks awkwardly back at Greg)
GREG
(laughing like he’s already won, eyes narrowing)
Nice. So we make it so casual, he feels like a jerk if he doesn’t shake our hands. That’ll get him for sure. He’ll be too embarrassed to not do it.
ALICE
(snapping her fingers, excited)
Exactly! He won’t even see it coming.
GREG
(leaning in, with a dark grin)
And then, when that doesn’t work, we escalate to
ALICE
Phase Three: The “Accidental” Handshake Escalation.
ALICE (CONT'D)
(clapping her hands together, delighted by the idea)
Ooooh, yeah. We start getting sneaky. Like, when we’re handing him something, or maybe in a meeting, we’ll find ways to make it impossible to avoid shaking hands. Like we’re offering him a stapler, or handing over papers... and just accidentally brush his hand. It’ll get to the point where he’s backed into a corner. The only thing he can do is shake our hand!
ALICE
(laughing, now totally immersed in her plan)
It’s foolproof, and tomorrow, it's ON.
INT. OFFICE BUILDING - LOBBY
Shot of the phone ringing at the office, Sherrie (Receptionist) picks it up.
ALICE
Hi, yes how may I help you? (nods to Greg)
GREG
(holding the coffee, nervously smiling)
Tom, I—uh, made you some coffee. Thought you could use it.
TOM
(smiling, appreciative)
Thanks, man! Appreciate it. Just put it on the counter for me, yeah?
GREG
(impulsive, grabbing Tom’s hand without thinking)
Sure, but hey, let's just—uh, let’s do the handshake thing! Everyone’s doing it around here, y'know?
TOM
(startled, pulling back a little)
Oh, uh, I don’t really— (Before Tom can finish, Greg doesn’t let go and, suddenly, there’s a loud click sound as a fake hand pops out of Tom’s socket, it just doesn’t quite belong.)