“Check, Please”
A short film written by Melody McClellan
Mallory and Max have been friends forever. And sometimes more than friends. As their lives change, how will they navigate the intricacies of their relationship? This deeply relatable story is satisfying to watch play out. Especially when it's happening to someone else.
Inclusion Statement
As a woman and a feminist, it is incredibly important to me to give opportunities to people who are typically underrepresented. My cast and crew are made up of many diverse people, including people of color, first generation Americans, and folks from the LGBTQIA+ community.
About the Project
Most of us know the confusion of unrequited love. "I like them, but do they like me?" It's a normal part of almost every teenager's life. But what happens when that same chemistry and tension continue into adulthood?
Mallory and Max have been friends since they were kids. In the confusing midst of adolescence, these two had a meaningful bond. But feelings deepen as they move into adulthood, and the relationship becomes harder to navigate. "Check, Please" is the story of what happens when two people connect, disconnect, and reconnect.
Mallory and Max connect at three different points in their lives.
After school one day, the two meet up for milkshakes and discuss their prom plans. Mallory only has eyes for Max; Max wants to ask Mallory, but he's too cool to admit it. Being teenagers, they have no idea how to talk to each other about what they want. But their friendship is deep enough to make it through the awkwardness.
Six years later, they've had some ups and downs. They're both struggling to settle into adulthood and find their own paths. They've recently taken their relationship to the next level, and Mallory is excited but the possibilities. But when they meet up for drinks, Max has some big news that could change everything.
Seven years after that, we see the pair once more. They've grown up and are living their lives across the country from each other. Max is well respected in his career, and Mallory is quite the globetrotter. Have their feelings for each other changed? And how will they navigate their relationship as adults?
When I was 12 years old, I had a crush on a boy. I wrote him a love letter, and he turned me down. And then he liked me, but he never told me. It went back and forth like this for years. We never officially dated; sometimes we were more involved, but we always remained friends. We're still friends. We stayed friends on social media, but reconnected more deeply a couple of years ago. As I thought back through our lives, I remembered the revolving door of affection and turmoil that we put each other through over the years, and to process my feelings, I started writing a scene. That scene turned into three scenes, all loosely based on this relationship, and I strung them together into the screenplay for "Check, Please." No, the story is not exactly what happened (or continues to happen) in my real life, but it is representative of how people find their way into your heart and never leave.
Melody is the writer of "Check, Please" as well as one of the lead actors. She has appeared onstage all around Charlotte, North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina. She runs a social media management company, plays the banjo and ukulele, and lives in SouthEnd Charlotte with her husband Wes and their two dogs, Stitch and Marie.
Denver is a singer-songwriter-performer originally from Illinois who spent some time in Nashville and now makes his home in the Charlotte suburb of Gastonia. He was recently nominated for Best Newcomer by the Metrolina Theater Association for the 2018-19 season, and he also just released an all-original 4-song EP with his newly formed Denver Crites Band. Look for "Volume One" on all major streaming platforms!
Denver and Melody met while playing Elvis Presley and his fictionalized girlfriend Dyanne in Little Theater of Gastonia's production of "Million Dollar Quartet." They hit it off instantly, and Melody knew he was the right man for this job. These two have easy chemistry and can seemingly read each others' minds while performing. It's a little spooky, but so fun to watch.
- What does the title mean? When you see the film, watch how the check is handled at each of Mallory and Max's meetings.
- Mallory's last name is Mahoney. Melody is a huge Frasier fan, and she started writing the first parts of "Check, Please" shortly after the passing of John Mahoney, the actor who played Frasier's father, Martin Crane. Giving Mallory the last name Mahoney is Melody's small tribute.
- The script contains a subtle "Arrested Development" reference. If you're a fan of the Bluth family, see if you can spot it.
-All of the music in "Check, Please" is written and performed by local singer-songwriters, some of which actually appear in the film. Melody is lucky to have several of those in her life, and is excited to show them off.
The only way to get this movie made is by receiving the funds required for production. And the only way we can make that happen is by getting the word out to as many people as possible. Even the smallest donation helps us on our path, but even if you can't donate, you can spread the word by sharing this page on your own social media and encouraging your friends and family to get involved.
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