Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

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  • Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

    Here be the 17 (!) entries for the fun DD Xmas 2013 short script contest:

    1. Santa's Little Helpers
    2. ELFIS!
    3. Matter of Belief
    4. The Other Pole
    5. Godfather Christmas
    6. Christmas Chaos
    7. The Gift
    8. Wild Turkey Christmas
    9. The Naughty List
    10. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
    11. Christmas Captive
    12. A Torture Porn Christmas
    13. The Christmas Mantle
    14. SANTAS vs ALIENS
    15. Twas the night before Christmas
    16. Christmas at Tiffannys
    17. Snow Harder

    The usual blurb, stolen from a previous contest:

    Even when using PDFs as a useful lowest common denominator, there's still quite a variance in formatting, which I've tried to catch and correct. If you read your own entry and spot any errors, PM me and I'll correct ASAP.

    As suggested elsewhere, consider making notes as you read each entry, maybe award star ratings for character, dialogue, setting, etc. Treat every entry as the winner -- until you read something better that pushes it further down your pick-list.

    It's not gonna be easy, but once you pick your 1st, 2nd and 3rd top choices, PM or email these to me at dpaterson57 at gmail.com. I'd really appreciate receiving them in the format,

    1st - title
    2nd - title
    3rd - title

    Please don't vote for your own entry. If this were allowed, everyone would do it, so what's the point? It just clouds the voting.

    If you don't like reading inside the scrollbox windows, try selecting Thread Tools > Show Printable Version.

    Once votes are counted and winners announced, the results thread will be open for comments and discussion. Posting comments before the results are counted might influence voting, so I'd appreciate if you could hold off till then.

    For posterity, the discussion thread preceding this thread is here. And the results thread is here.
    Last edited by dpaterso; 01-25-2014, 02:50 AM.

  • #2
    Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

    Santa's Little Helpers

    Code:
    FADE IN:                                         (PRESENT DAY)
    
    EXT. ARCTIC CIRCLE - AFTERNOON
    
    Vast expanse of snow-covered ice, blinding sunshine piercing
    the blue sky. A low buzz loudens as a small plane enters our
    view.
    
    
    INT. BUSH PLANE - AFTERNOON
    
    JIMMY SMITH, late twenties, pilots his small plane over the
    ice. No room to spare and too much duct tape wraps the
    control yoke, but Jimmy is in a good mood. Stuck to the
    instrument panel is a photo of a woman and child.
    
                         JIMMY SMITH
               I told you I'd be home in time.
               And what papa says is what papa
               does.
    
    He pulls the photo off the dash, kisses it and mashes it back
    down.
    
                         JIMMY SMITH (CONT'D)
               In person myself on site right
               there when my baby opens her stuff.
    
    Jimmy peers ahead and sees a swirl of snow.
    
                         JIMMY SMITH (CONT'D)
               What the heck?
    
    A white out engulfs the plane.  Zero visibility.
    
                         JIMMY SMITH (CONT'D)
               Stay calm, buddy. Follow your
               instruments.
    
    The compass spins.  COUGH from the engine.
    
                         JIMMY SMITH (CONT'D)
               No.
    
    The engine SPUTTERS dead. Gliding blind.
    
                         JIMMY SMITH (CONT'D)
               Can't see a thing.
    
    The plane breaks free of the white out as it skims over a
    ridge of ice.
    
                         JIMMY SMITH (CONT'D)
               Going down hard.
    
    The plane SLAMS into the ground, slides to a stop. In the
    distance Jimmy sees a complex of buildings.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH (CONT'D)
              That's not on the map.
    
    
    EXT. BUILDING COMPLEX - AFTERNOON
    
    Jimmy approaches what might be taken for a small school, but
    one difference: Christmas lights adorn each building. Jimmy
    heads to a door.
    
                         SENTRY CHIMP
                  (O.S.)
              Hold it right there, fella!
    
    Jimmy turns to see a chimp sporting an infantry helmet and
    fanny pack. He carries a stick as if it were a rifle. Jimmy
    steps toward Sentry Chimp, who points stick at Jimmy and
    mimics automatic fire with lips.
    
                        SENTRY CHIMP (CONT'D)
              Blblblblblblblb. Move again and I
              won't be aiming at your feet, bub.
    
    A nearby Christmas light POPS and goes dead.
    
                        SENTRY CHIMP (CONT'D)
              Darn!
    
    Sentry Chimp drops stick and bowlegs over to the dead light,
    pulls a loose bulb from his fanny pack. Sentry Chimp
    attempts to pull the dead bulb out of the light string.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH
              You're supposed to unscrew it.
    
                        SENTRY CHIMP
              I knew that, buster.
    
    Sentry Chimp unscrews bulb and contemplates socket. He
    sticks finger into socket. Thrown back as sparks fly.
    
                        SENTRY CHIMP (CONT'D)
              Yow!
    
    Jimmy helps Sentry Chimp up.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH
              You need to be more careful.
              Electricity's not something to m...
    
    Jimmy and Sentry Chimp stare at each other.
    
                           JIMMY SMITH (CONT'D)
              Mess with.
    
    Sentry Chimp grabs Jimmy's arm.
    
                        SENTRY CHIMP
              You're coming with me.
    
    They walk to the door.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH
              You forgot your rifle.
    
                           SENTRY CHIMP
              Right.
    
    Sentry Chimp retrieves stick, returns to door. KNOCKS.  The
    door is opened by SAINT NICK, an elderly obese man with
    white beard and spectacles. Sentry Chimp salutes.
    
                        SENTRY CHIMP (CONT'D)
              Intruder detained and delivered.
    
                           SAINT NICK
              Good job. I thought I heard
              gunfire.
    
    Saint Nick winks at Jimmy and pulls him inside.
    
    
    INT. SAINT NICK'S HOME - AFTERNOON
    
    Large living area, fireplace burns.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              Welcome, young man. Warm yourself
              by the fire. I'm Nick.
    
    Saint Nick holds out hand.  They shake.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH
              I'm Jimmy Smith. My plane--
    
                           SAINT NICK
              --We know. Saw it on the radar.
    
    Saint Nick calls to other room.
    
                          SAINT NICK (CONT'D)
              MAMA!    We've got company.
    
    Mama enters the room.  Matronly, pleasant.  Apron.
    
                        SAINT NICK (CONT'D)
              Mama, this is Jimmy.
    
    Mama hugs Jimmy.
    
                        MAMA
              So good to see you.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH
              Was that a monkey outside?
    
                        SAINT NICK
              Oh, no, they're apes.  A little
              sensitive about that.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH
              Just surprised to see them.
    
    Saint Nick puts his arm around Jimmy's shoulders.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              We had to replace the elves.
    
                        MAMA
              They were a little too--
    
    Mama wiggles her hips. Saint Nick lets Jimmy loose, looks at
    Mama.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              How's that again?
    
    Mama pokes Saint Nick.
    
                         SAINT NICK (CONT'D)
              I stood behind my workers because I
              sure didn't want them standing
              behind me.
    
                        MAMA
              I remember the time--
    
                        SAINT NICK
              --Let me show you the workshop.
    
    Saint Nick, Mama and Jimmy walk over to massive steel door.
    Saint Nick slides open peek hole, looks out, opens door.
    
    
    INT. SANTA'S WORKSHOP - AFTERNOON
    
    Saint Nick, Mama and Jimmy stand on a platform looking over
    toy construction. Steps lead from platform to floor below.
    
    Apes wearing green vests and red hats busy at work.  FOREMAN
    APE with hardhat in charge.
    
                        FOREMAN APE
              Come on you guys. A bunch of
              sloths could get more done!
    
                         APE IN BACK OF ROOM
              Yeah?  Your mother was a marmoset!
    
    APE WORKER #1 sneaks behind APE WORKER #2 and flicks his ear.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              We do have some bugs to work out.
              Come back inside so we can visit.
    
    
    INT. SAINT NICK'S HOME - EVENING
    
    Saint Nick, Mama and Jimmy finish up a big meal.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH
              I can tell you I didn't expect--
    
    BANGING on steel door.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              What could that be?
    
    Saint Nick looks through peek hole, opens door. Foreman Ape
    at attention, cockeyed hard hat, left hand behind body.
    
                        FOREMAN APE
              Sir! I need to report that the
              workers broke into the banana wine.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              That's for Christmas Eve, when your
              work is done.
    
                         MAMA
              Oh, my!
    
                        SAINT NICK
              What happens when apes get pie-
              eyed?
    
                        FOREMAN APE
              Well, Cappie, I can let you know
              right shortly.
    
    Foreman Ape brings left hand from behind body, holds wine
    bottle, takes swig.
    
                          SAINT NICK
              Right.
    
    Saint Nick closes door.
    
                        SAINT NICK (CONT'D)
              This is not good. Mama, you better
              pack what you can real quick.
    
    Mama hurries away.  CHANTING from workshop.
    
                          SAINT NICK (CONT'D)
              Now what?
    
    Saint Nick checks peek hole, eases door open. He and Jimmy
    slip into workshop.
    
    
    INT. SANTA'S WORKSHOP - EVENING
    
    Saint Nick and Jimmy stand on the platform overlooking toy
    production. Apes swing from ceiling, bang tools on tables,
    chant.
    
                        APEWORKERS
              BANANA WINE! ALL THE TIME!
              BANANAS HAVE APPEAL! BANANA WINE!
              TASTES REAL FINE! BANANAS EVERY
              MEAL!
    
    A drunk Foreman Ape spies Saint Nick and Jimmy, points from
    below.
    
                        FOREMAN APE
              There he is! The joker who won't
              give us our `nanas!
    
    Apes rush the platform steps.  Saint Nick and Jimmy retreat
    through steel door.
    
    
    INT. SAINT NICK'S HOME - EVENING
    
    Saint Nick closes steel door, checks lock.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              This should hold for a few minutes.
              That'll give us time to hitch up
              the reindeer.
    
                        JIMMY SMITH
              You're kidding me.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              Come on Mama! Time to go!
    
    
    EXT. BESIDE SAINT NICK'S REINDEER BARN - EVENING
    
    Saint Nick pulls tarp off reindeer sleigh. He helps Mama
    onboard, hands her luggage. Saint Nick turns to Jimmy.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              If you've got a parachute grab it
              then help me with the reindeer.
    
    
    INT. INSIDE SAINT NICK'S REINDEER BARN - EVENING
    
    Jimmy joins Saint Nick in the reindeer barn. Each reindeer
    is in its own stall, breath visible in the cold.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              Let them out. They know where to
              go.
    
    Jimmy and Saint Nick open the stalls.
    
    
    EXT. BESIDE SAINT NICK'S REINDEER BARN - EVENING
    
    The reindeer line up in place, with a smaller reindeer in
    front. Saint Nick and Jimmy hitch them to sleigh lines. A
    loud CRASH comes from Saint Nick's home. The front door
    BURSTS opens and drunken apes spill out onto the snow.
    
                        FOREMAN APE
              Hey, Mr. Christmas! We're coming
              to get you!
    
    Saint Nick unhooks one reindeer.
    
                        SAINT NICK
              Get in the sleigh, Jimmy. Donder,
              we need your help, old friend.
    
    Donder faces apes. One ape SCREAMS, charges. Donder uses
    antlers to throw the ape out of sight.
    
                        FOREMAN APE
              Hold on a minute, fellow apes.
    
    Saint Nick hitches Donder, climbs into sleigh. He pushes
    button and control panel swings up. Escape is made.
    
    
    EXT. ONBOARD SAINT NICK'S SLEIGH - NIGHT
    
                         JIMMY SMITH
               Pretty nifty.
    
                         SAINT NICK
               I upgraded last year.  Type your
               address in, Jimmy.
    
    Above the world all is quiet. Light flashes on panel.
    
                         SAINT NICK (CONT'D)
               This is where you get off.
               Parachute ready?
    
                         JIMMY SMITH
               Parachute ready. But what about
               your workshop? I can't--
    
                         SAINT NICK
               --Don't worry, Jimmy. I've got
               friends. Those apes won't be
               bumbling around much longer. Time
               to go, Jimmy. Jump!
    
    Jimmy jumps. He floats into a quiet neighborhood.
    
    
    EXT. JIMMY'S NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
    
    Jimmy removes parachute, runs to front door of home and BANGS
    on door. JIMMY'S WIFE and JIMMY'S DAUGHTER answer.
    
                          JIMMY'S DAUGHTER
               Daddy!
    
                         JIMMY'S WIFE
               You did make it back!
    
    Jimmy picks up daughter, hugs her. Sets daughter down and
    hugs wife. Daughter runs off, comes back with toy.
    
                          JIMMY'S DAUGHTER
               Daddy!   Look what grandma got me!
    
    A stuffed ape with green vest and red hat.
    
                         JIMMY SMITH
               Real nice, honey.
    
    Ape doll winks at Jimmy.
    
    FADE OUT

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

      ELFIS!

      Code:
      FADE IN
      
      Flying over snow and ice. Beyond a small rise - a bay of
      crystal blue waters lap at the base of a massive glacier.
      On the near shore, a stage is lit and a crowd waits...
      
      
      EXT. HARBOR AMPITHEATER STAGE - DUSK
      
      The MC is a hipster elf - pointed ears, green porkpie
      hat. Behind him a neon sign flashes "North Pole Idol"
      
                              MC
                And now - ladies and gentlemen,
                The one... The only...
      
      The crowd is Santa's ELVES dressed for the beach. POLAR
      BEARS. REINDEER. MRS CLAUS under an umbrella.
      
      SNAP ZOOM to the top of the glacier. A lone silhouette
      atop it. There's a tremendous CRACK from the ice. Snow
      and ice shoot up like fireworks.
      
                              MC
                ELFIS!!!
      
      Sunglasses, a jet-black pompadour high above pointed
      ears. A green and red jumpsuit open at his chest. Female
      elves swoon. Guys roll their eyes.
      
      The glacier CRACKS and calves beneath his feet. The ice
      wall crashes to the sea. Spray and snow obscure his fall.
      
      The crowd gasps. A surf guitar riff picks up as the ice
      creates a huge wave. Then - there he is - surfing the
      wave to the stage on a sliver of ice. His lip curled.
      
      He jumps, somersaults through the air, catches a thrown
      microphone and lands dramatically. Behind him the ice
      wall now has the word "ELFIS" carved in giant block
      letters that sparkle in the sun like rhinestones.
      
                              ELFIS
                How y'all doing?
      
      It's a rich, southern baritone from the slight, small
      elf. SEALS clap. A pod of WHALES in the bay behind him
      spout like the Bellagio fountains and Elfis sings -
      
                              ELFIS
                I'll have a Blue Christmas without
                you...
      
      At the edge of the crowd, two elves - GUS and ARNIE lean
      against a tiki bar. They are in ski caps, Hawaiian shirts
      with snowflakes, shorts and flip-flops. In the snow.
      
                              GUS
                He's on today. The guy is good.
      
                              ARNIE
                Yeah, he's got talent. But so
                what? He's just an elf.
      
      Gus stops in mid-sip, his tropical drink with a candy
      cane sticking out.
      
                               GUS
                Just an elf?
      
                              ARNIE
                Sure. Monday he'll be right back
                on the line with us. Like always.
      
      In the crowd FEMALE ELVES are going nuts. Two conspire.
      PAULINE, short blonde hair, nods to EARLENE who blushes.
      
      On stage Elfis is singing when the ski cap comes flying
      onstage. He picks it up, a touch embarrassed and then
      swings it over his head. Bareheaded Earlene faints.
      
      The song ends and Elfis bows. SANTA makes his way to the
      mic, wearing a red untucked shirt, shorts and flip-flops.
      A straw hat back on his head. The crowd chants.
      
                              CROWD
                SAN-TA, SAN-TA, SAN-TA...
      
      The jolly old elf quiets the crowd.   Nods to Elfis.
      
                              SANTA
                Ho, Ho Ho... Thank you, Thank you -
                Elfis - great job as always. You
                do know how to bring down the ice.
      
      Polite laughs.
      
                              SANTA
                Our final numbers are in and we
                had a great year this year.
                Outstanding job everybody!
      
      He applauds the crowd and they respond the same way.
      
                              SANTA
                Enjoy tonight, Monday we ramp up
                production for this year and it'll
                be our biggest one ever!
      
      
      INT. SANTA'S WORKSHOP FACTORY FLOOR - DAY
      
      SUPER - MONTHS LATER
      
      Pauline is troubled. She looks at her iPad. Makes a note,
      walks to Elfis. He's on a SEWING MACHINE making doll
      dresses. Above him the TOTE BOARD shows DEC 17th Goal:
      1020, Production: 1022
      
                              ELFIS
                Pauline? What's wrong?
      
      He checks the board.
      
                              PAULINE
                As your supervisor I'm very happy.
                As your manager and President of
                your Fan Club, I'm troubled.
      
      She hands him the tablet.
      
                              PAULINE (CONT'D)
                I just got this email.
      
      Elfis reads, his face brightens. It's the greatest thing
      he's ever read.
      
                              ELFIS
                They want me to play a Christmas
                party? At Graceland!?! This is the
                best thing ever!
      
                              PAULINE
                Yeah, a benefit for sick kids.
      
                              ELFIS
                That's wonderful. And terrible at
                the same time.
      
                              PAULINE
                It's the big break you've been
                working for.
      
                              ELFIS
                It's incredible! It's fantastic!
      
      He wraps his arms around her, picks her up and they twirl
      around.
      
                              PAULINE
                It's amazing. It's terrific!
                It's... a week before Christmas.
      
      He stops. Sets her down. Reality sets in.
      
                              ELFIS
                ... and nobody gets off the week
                before Christmas.
      
                               PAULINE
                Nobody.
      
      Their eyes meet. She's as devastated as he is. At the
      machines nearby, Gus and Arnie are packing dolls with the
      dresses Elfis has been sewing.
      
                              ARNIE
                Like I said - He's just an elf.
                This is what we do.
      
      
      INT. SANTA'S WORKSHOP - DAY
      
      Pauline is on a phone near Elfis' darkened sewing area.
      
                              PAULINE
                Do you think it's the flu?
      
      INTERCUT - Elfis is at the airport. On the tarmac beyond
      a private plane waits. Behind the plane, eight reindeer
      and a sleigh are doing touch and go landings.
      
                              ELFIS
                It's probably just a 24-hour
                thing. I'm sure I'll be better
                tomorrow.
      
                              PAULINE
                Everyone will just have to pitch
                in and make it up. Get well.
      
                              ELFIS
                I'll try. (Then raspy) I mean,
                I'll try.
      
      He hangs up and looks at the phone. Then walks to the
      plane with his guitar case in hand.
      
      
      EXT. GRACELAND - NIGHT
      
      A limo turns through the gates at Graceland. Elfis
      watches awestruck from the back seat. He's in heaven.
      
      
      INT. GRACELAND CONCERT HALL - NIGHT
      
      Elfis is onstage. From his POV we see hundreds of kids,
      moms and dads. Some kids are in wheelchairs, some bald.
      Some with IV stands. They watch him intently.
      
                              ELFIS
                ... I'll be home for Christmas, If
                only in my dreams.
      
      There's not a dry eye in the place. Everybody applauds.
      
                              ELFIS
                Thankyou, Thankyou very much.
      
      Elfis takes a bow and then comes off stage. He has a huge
      smile. It's packed backstage.
      
                              WOMAN
                You were great! They loved you.
      
                              ELFIS
                Did you see their faces? They were
                so happy! This is the greatest
                night of my life.
      
      He tucks his guitar into the case, turns and runs smack
      into Santa with his load of toys for the kids.
      
                              ELFIS
                Mr. Claus!
      
                              SANTA
                Elfis? What are you doing here? I
                thought you were sick? You called
                in...
      
                              ELFIS
                I ... uh ... I mean...
      
      Realization.
      
                              SANTA (CONT'D)
                You lied? Oh, Elfis. Oh my. You
                know what this means.
      
      Elfis is mortified.
      
                              ELFIS
                Sir, really. Not the...
      
      Santa's disappointment shows...
      
                              SANTA
                The Naughty List. I'm afraid so.
      
      Elfis grasps his chest.
      
                              MAN
                The Naughty List is real?
      
                              SANTA
                You think I brought you socks all
                those years because you'd been
                good? See me in my office
                tomorrow, Elfis.
      
      Totally dejected.
      
                                ELFIS
                Yes sir...
      
      Santa shakes his head, then straightens his jacket and
      cap, picks up his pack and heads on stage, waving.
      
                              SANTA
                Ho! Ho ! Ho! Merry Christmas!
      
      
      INT. LIMO - MEMPHIS - NIGHT
      
                              ELFIS
                This is the worst night of my
                life.
      
                              WOMAN
                But you were helping our kids
      
                              ELFIS
                And I lied to do it. That doesn't
                make it any better.
      
      
      INT. SANTA'S WORKSHOP FACTORY FLOOR - DAY
      
      Elfis walks slowly, dejectedly to his sewing machine. His
      shirt now has a large black "N" on it. Arnie and Gus look
      angry as he walks back by. Pauline looks disappointed.
      
      He takes his seat and begins to sew. The tote board reads
      Dec 23rd Goal: 5200 Production: 37.
      
      Elfis sews. And sews and sews. The whistle blows and
      still he sews. The tote board clicks over 1273, 1274,
      1275... He sews. Around him the lights go out. 3206,
      3207, 3208...
      
      
      THE NEXT MORNING -
      
      Elfis is asleep at his sewing machine. The area is piled
      high with wrapped gifts. Pauline walks in checking her
      tablet. The tote board reads Dec 24th Goal: 5200
      Production: 5214. She shakes him awake.
      
                              PAULINE
                You worked all night?
      
                              ELFIS
                I owed you guys that.
      
                              PAULINE
                Today's Christmas eve. We weren't
                going to make it. You did it.
      
      She hugs him.
      
                              PAULINE
                Thank you.
      
      The elves file in, marveling at the piles of presents.
      
                              INTERCOM
                Elfis, report to the office.
      
      
      INT. SANTA'S OFFICE - DAY
      
      It's not a large office. A couple of side chairs. A photo
      of Mrs Claus on the credenza behind.
      
                              SANTA
                Have a seat. Cookie? Warm milk?
      
                              ELFIS
                No thank you, sir.
      
                              SANTA
                I saw this morning's production
                report. You worked all night?
      
                              ELFIS
                Yes sir. It was the least I could
                do. I let the team down.
      
                              SANTA
                Just getting your job done doesn't
                make up for lying, but I received
                some nice messages thanking me for
                arranging for you to sing.
      
                              ELFIS
                I'm glad they enjoyed the show. It
                really was fun.
      
                              SANTA
                You made a lot of sick kids very
                happy, Elfis. It was a very nice
                thing to do.
      
      Elfis nods. Then the realization hits. With a Sparkle the
      large black N on Elfis' shirt becomes a golden script N.
      
                              SANTA
                Welcome back to the Nice list.
      
                              ELFIS
                Oh, thank you sir!
      
                              SANTA
                Which means you and Pauline will
                need to talk about this -
      
      He hands over his iPad, pointing to an email.
      
      
      EXT. LAS VEGAS STRIP - NIGHT
      
      Lights blaze. Flying past fountains and animated neon.
      The giant marquee reads NEW YEAR'S LIVE! ONSTAGE! ELFIS!
      
      Through the doors and into the Concert Hall where Elfis
      vaults onstage. Pyrotechnics blow, lasers blast and the
      giant ELFIS letters behind him flash and glimmer.
      
      The music under is an instrumental open of Viva Las Vegas
      
                              ELFIS
                How ya'll doing?
      
      He takes up the chorus as it comes through
      
                              ELFIS
                Viva Las Vegas! Viva Las Vegas!
      
      As he sings out the second verse we see Pauline backstage
      in a sparkling white gown and matching ski cap. Earlene
      is dressed to the nines as well.
      
      Out in the crowd, Arnie and Gus sit at a table.
      
                              ARNIE
                OK, maybe he's not just an elf.
      
                                                        FADE OUT

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

        A Matter of Belief

        Code:
        EXT. ROOF TOPS - NIGHT
        
        Santa's sleigh settles gently on the snow clad roof, nestling
        between the chimney and the satellite dish.
        
        For a man of large stature Santa moves with surprising speed
        and agility. He consults a list peering over bifocal
        spectacles, frowns and swaps several items from Santa's sack
        to a smaller more chimney practical sack.
        
        He hops off the sleigh and gives each reindeer a slice of
        apple and a pat with a gentle smile.
        
        Reaching the chimney he rolls his shoulders and neck, like an
        athlete warming up. All of his focus is on the chimney and
        the tendril of smoke drifting skywards.
        
        Several times he tenses as the smoke dies away, then he
        surges toward...
        
        -- POP!
        
        
        INT. THE MILLER'S SITTING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
        
        -- POP!
        
        He's there. He doesn't come out of the fire place, but he
        doesn't not either. It's not teleportation and its not
        shrinking to fit through a soot clogged flue, but maybe its a
        little of both.
        
        A strange expression crosses his face, confusion tempered by
        surprise, a wince of pain. He rolls his head and his neck
        CLICKS. He belches and his face eases back to smiling
        joviality.
        
                            SANTA
                  Ohhh that burns! Didn't use to
                  happen. Damn burping!
        
        He walks to the Christmas tree and inspects it. It's a small
        bent lop-sided pine, clad in cheap Chinese trinkets. They've
        been dumped on, as much to counterbalance the twisted stem as
        anything.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  Xmas tree, check, decorations,
                  check, milk and cookies, woefully
                  absent.
        
        He sighs. He unscrolls his list. He pulls the top off a
        magic marker with his teeth and annotates the list.
        
                             SANTA (CONT'D)
                      (speaking past the marker
                       lid between his teeth)
                  Expectations not met. Millers, two
                  parent family, father working, two
                  children... one really thought...
                  they might... have... made an
                  effort.
                      (beat)
                  The effort!
        
        He slumps. His face sags bags form under his eyes, his
        shoulders narrow and his waist widens. Even his beard looks
        a little manky, like the shaggy flea bitten hide of a back
        alley dog. The glimmering white dusting of snow on his hat
        and coat suddenly melts and drips to the floor like dirty
        water. His uniform, the RED becomes red, then off red, maybe
        brownish, desaturated, rumpled
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  No one really believes anymore.
        
        Seconds pass while he's lost in introspection.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  Ahhhhhh f*** it.
        
        His eyes widen.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  Sh*t?
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  Motherf***er. A$$hole.
        
        He looks profoundly shocked.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  I don't think that's good. That is
                  definitely against the f***ing
                  rules.
        
        He purses his lips and silently reaches a decision.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  C... K... Cu.... Oh thank God!
                  There's still something left...
        
        He eases his bulk into an armchair and stares morosely at the
        (really, really crap) tree as though its the cause.
        
        He stretches out a leg and with a booted toe he nudges one of
        the poorly wrapped parcels already under the tree. At the
        touch of his boot the gaudy cardboard box of some foldable
        transformable plastic toy erupts though the tacky Xmas wrap.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  Ahhh sh*t, is China the new Santa?
                  Really? Honestly? Cos that's just
                  sh*t.
        
        There's a sliding skittering noise and a series of thumps.
        
        Startled Santa scrambles from the chair (well as fast as an
        old tired maybe terminally defeated icon can scramble) and he
        peeks through the frost scarred window.
        
        
        EXT. SANTA'S POV - CONTINUOUS
        
        The sleigh has slipped off the roof dragging the harnessed
        reindeer with it into a mass of shattered antlers and snapped
        reindeer legs. Only Rudolph is unharmed but never have you
        seen such a distressed frantic reindeer...
        
        
        INT. THE MILLER'S SITTING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
        
        What remains of the jolly fat dude is dumbstruck. He sobs.
        
        He staggers backwards, his big black boots somehow too big
        for him, and somehow reaches the liquor cabinet. His gaze
        falls on a bottle of bourbon.
        
                            SANTA
                  That'll f***ing do the trick...
        
        He opens the foil, opens the lid and drinks it like water...
        and burps. He drops the empty bottle.
        
        He stares into the middle distance for a few second,
        carefully raises a finger, and delivers it straight to his
        nose. About as sober as a fat, red clad dude can get.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  ...and not a f***ing thing. Wasn't
                  freely given... So... piss on it!
        
        A solitary tear squeezes out of his left eye and trickles
        down his sagging dry face. It looses cohesion around his
        nose, and dries there on a flake of dry skin.
        
        He returns to the easy chair. He slumps into it, like a
        crazy half inflated water filled sex doll. Over several
        seconds he deflates still further.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  I don't feel so grand...
        
        The words are mumbled, his jaw is loosing its shape.  A tooth
        falls on his lap.
        
                                SANTA (CONT'D)
                  Ahh Shid!
        
        He goes to get out of the easy chair, rolls out and sprawls
        on the floor. Carefully he pull his naughty/nice list out.
        
        A gnarled finger traces down the list.
        
                            SANTA (CONT'D)
                  Anthony Miller, six years...
                  you'll do. You'll have to.
        
        That, that was Santa moves towards the stairs. He's like a
        drunk, holding himself up, his knees have lost all rigidity.
        
        He hoists himself up the stairs, moving slower and slower.
        Wheezing breath by asthmatic breathe. The stairs CREAK.
        
        
        INT. FIRST FLOOR - CONTINUOUS
        
        The boys room has his name on the door. ANTHONY MILLER'S
        ROOM, ADMITTANCE FOR PIRATES AND NINJAS ONLY
        
        Santa smiles, a sad lop-sided, stroke-like grimace from the
        once jolly fat man.
        
        He steps forwards and a floor board creaks  It's LOUD!
        
                            ANTONY (O.S.)
                  Is someone there?
        
        Santa reaches for the door knob but over balances. He slumps
        into the drywall. It's like 200 pounds of jello impacting at
        five miles an hour. No real impact but this creak is truly
        catastrophic. The whole wall GROANS.
        
        Santa looks shocked.
        
                                ANTONY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                  Mom?   Dad?
        
        Again Santa tries opening the door. His fingers finds
        purchase briefly. There are CLICKS and NOISES as the lever
        turns and the mechanism works but fails to release.
        
                             ANTONY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                   Go away. You can't come it. My
                   door's locked.
        
        Santa smiles. There's something unhealthy in it now.
        
        -- POP!
        
        
        INT. CLOSET - MOMENTS LATER
        
        -- POP!   He's there.
        
        He pushes aside clothing on hangers. The hangers make a
        SCREEEEEEEE noise as they slide.
        
                                ANTONY
                   Arrghhhhh!
        
        Santa stands on a toy, something bendable, plastic,
        changeable and franchisable. It SNAPS and SHATTERS under his
        boot!
        
        In his bedroom Anthony whimpers pathetically.
        
                             ANTONY (CONT'D)
                   There's a monster in my closet.
        
        Santa grins manically.
        
        He's changed. The jolly fat man has elongated. The fat is
        stripping away under his skin. It writhes under his flesh
        like worms. It spills out of his mouth, running down fifty
        razor sharp piranha teeth and dripping to the closet floor in
        sluggish oily droplets.
        
        He's changed. Fat Santa is no more. He's elongated, cruelly
        stretched. Limbs, torso, fingers, finger nails. He longer
        fits in the closet. Whenever he moves he pushes something,
        new NOISES happen.
        
        He's changed. Santa's costume is no more. The red is multi-
        hued brown, like dried and drying blood. It clings to him
        like a fifty year old filthy carpet, matted and threadbare.
        
                                NEW SANTA
                   Ant-s-ony?
        
        Scarcely audible, the warm of a snake hiss.
        
        But Anthony has the ears of a hawk, he whimpers. Then
        screams. A `monster in my closet' scream!
        
        
        INT. BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
        
        Mr and Mrs Miller wake at their son's scream.
        
                                MICHELLE MILLER
                  Anthony?
        
        Anthony screams again from his room   A wild undulating pain
        filled bellow.
        
        Both leap out of bed They spill into...
        
        
        INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
        
        Mr Miller first, Mrs Miller second by a short nose  They
        crash into the wall and slam into Anthony's door.
        
        
        INT. ANTHONY'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
        
        The parents thunder into the room.
        
        The bed appears empty!     The covers are back.
        
                                MICHELLE MILLER
                  Anthony!
        
        She rips the bed covers right off    No boy!
        
                                HANK MILLER
                  Ant!   Ant!
        
        Mister Miller runs to the window.  It's closed and locked.
        
        He stares at his wife.
        
        There's a WHIMPER.
        
        Under the bed. Both parents dive for the floor.
        
        
        INT. UNDER BED - CONTINUOUS
        
        Anthony huddles under the bed, his back hard against the
        wall. Tears trickle down his face.
        
                            HANK MILLER
                  Wassup little dude?
        
                             ANTONY
                  MONSTER!   MONSTER IN MY CLOSET!
        
        Hank smiles.
        
                            HANK MILLER
                  It's okay dude. We're here now.
        
                            ANTONY
                  MONSTER DADDY!
        
        But he crawls slowly out.
        
                            HANK MILLER
                  In your closet you say buddy?
        
                              ANTONY
                  No Daddy!
        
        The boy scoots in front of his father, clutching his shins.
        
        Hank picks his son up and holds him under one arm and ruffles
        his hair with his other hand.
        
                            HANK MILLER
                  Time for sleepz I think mister.
        
                            ANTONY
                  There's a Monster. A big skinny
                  long one, with teeff and claws.
        
                            MICHELLE MILLER
                  Common Anty, time for sleep.
        
                              ANTONY
                  MONSTER!
        
        He extracts an arm and points at the closet.
        
        Mr Miller sighs and places his son on the floor.
        
                            HANK MILLER
                  Shall I open the closet and beat up
                  the monster Ant?
        
                            ANTONY
                  Nooooooooo!
        
                            HANK MILLER
                  It's okay Mister. Daddy's tougher
                  than any monster.
        
        Anthony pulls a skeptical face. Hank is a little taken
        aback.
        
        He puts his son down, puts a finger to his lips, then creeps
        towards the closet.
        
        Anthony shakes his head slowly.
        
        Slowly, Hank grasps the handle.
        
        -- POP!
        
                            HANK MILLER (CONT'D)
                  See, nothing there.
        
        
        EXT. ROOF TOPS - CONTINUOUS
        
        -- POP!
        
        That, that was Santa, clings precariously to the roof. While
        the jolly fat man was no advertisement for roof climbing this
        is even less so.
        
        It licks its lips. Gleaming beady black eyes inspect a
        taloned hand. Experimentally its flexes its fingers.
        
                            NEW SANTA
                  This?   Seriously boy, this is what
                  you believe in?
        
        Awkwardly it levers it's self upwards and catches sight of
        its praying mantis like shadow cast by a street light. It
        groans.
        
                            NEW SANTA (CONT'D)
                  A year? A whole year of this! You
                  should have believed...
                  Arrggghhhhhhhhhhh! I should... I
                  should.... I should go right back
                  there and show what this really...
        
        - POP!
        
        
        INT. CLOSET - MOMENTS LATER
        
        -POP!
        
        In the darkness, between the coat and the jacket, standing on
        broken plastic toys, something grins.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

          The Other Pole

          Code:
          FADE IN:
          
          EXT. NORTH POLE. NIGHT
          
          Through haze and snowfall. GRAPHIC: The North Pole
          
          SANTA'S WORKSHOP
          
          Closer. Inbound. Seeing through the window, ELVES hard at
          work, about 800 green spandex-clad midgets.
          
          Bells jingle, Christmas tunes, it's so sugary and wholesome.
          Building IPhones and PS3 stations, soldering irons, circuit
          boards...
          
          INT. ELF WORKSHOP - CONTINUOUS
          
          Float inside, paintings of Santa on the wall, funky Christmas
          music, and then bloodthirsty BLACKCLAD ELF NINJAS bust in.
          
          Throwing stars, arrows, javelins, heads flying, limbs hacked
          off with swords, a blood splattered massacre.
          
          Lights flicker sickly. Door opens and a fat muthaf***a in an
          all black Santa costume stands in silhouette. Flicks
          lighter. Flame on cigar illuminates his beard--
          
          EVIL SANTA
          
          Ninja changes the tunage to some hardcore gangsta rap.
          
                                 NINJA
                         South si-ide!
          
          The Ninjas strut around gangsta style, gathering the goodies
          in sacks. Evil Santa nods knowingly.
          
                                 EVIL SANTA
                         Torch this sh*t.
          
          Elf Ninjas douse the workshop with gasoline.
          
          EXT. WORKSHOP - NIGHT
          
          Ninjas pile goodies into sleds, pulled by DRAGONS.
          
          Evil Santa turns away, flicks lighter and tosses it back over
          his shoulder into the doorway. Large blast as the workshop
          burns to a crisp.
          
          Evil Santa's posse escapes into the night sky.
          
                                 EVIL SANTA
                         Ho ho that, a$$hole!
          
          Ninja Elf chatter and laughter...
          
          EXT. THICK CLOUDS. DAY
          
                                 (VO)
                         Blitzen? You tired, buddy?
                                                                         3
          
          SANTA'S SLED
          
          Flying through the misty soup.
          
                                  SANTA
                          Home, boy. Come on, you can do
                          it.
          
          REINDEER look old and tired.  MRS. CLAUS sits beside him.
          
                                  SANTA
                          Honey, you have put on a few
                          pounds.
          
          WHACK!   Quick smack to the chops.
          
          EXT. SMOLDERING WORKSHOP - DAY
          
          Santa sees the smoke.
          
                                    SANTA
                          Huh!    No! The Russian mob?
          
                                  MRS. CLAUS
                          More like your piece of sh*t no
                          good loser brother, Nick.
          
                                   SANTA
                          Dick?
          
          Santa inspects the debris, dead Elf. Mrs. Claus retrieves a
          big shotgun from the sled, loads it up.
          
                                 MRS. CLAUS
                         I've had it with his sh*t!
          
                                 SANTA CLAUS
                         Baby, baby, calm down.
          
                                 MRS. CLAUS
                         Don't tell me to calm down!  You
                         pu$$y!
          
                                 SANTA CLAUS
                         But we can't--
          
                                 MRS. CLAUS
                         Sh*t just got real, Nick.  I
                         ain't f*ckin' around!
          
          Mrs. C. puts on her sunglasses and jumps back in the sled,
          wielding the shotgun.
          
                                 MRS. CLAUS
                         You comin' or not?
          
                                 SANTA
                         Yes, yes, yes dear.
          
          Santa scurries over and in. The sled rockets off.
          
          EXT. NOVOROSSIYSK. DOCK. NIGHT
          
          Among the stacks of containers with Cyrillic words. Evil
          Santa's posse flies down with the booty. Limousines arrive,
          black SUVs.
          
          Russian BOSSES emerge with metal cases, PROSTITUTES, machine
          gun wielding BODY GUARDS.
          
          Evil Santa comes forward from the dragon-pulled black sleds,
          with his Ninja crew.
          
                                  EVIL SANTA
                         Yuri?   You got something for me?
          
                                 RUSSIAN MOB BOSS
                         It's always a pleasure to see
                         you my friend.
          
                                 EVIL SANTA
                         Cut the friend sh*t, you naughty
                         motherf***er.
          
          Mob Boss loses his smile, snaps his fingers. Henchmen push
          the Prostitutes forward. Elf Ninja eyes, scared whores.
          
                                 RUSSIAN MOB BOSS
                         This is all the toys?
          
                                 EVIL SANTA
                         For now. Try being good next
                         year.
          
                                 RUSSIAN MOB BOSS
                         Well you know, it's difficult
                         for me, in my positio--
          
                                 EVIL SANTA
                         Tell it to your shrink or your
                         whores. Give it.
          
          Mob Boss presents the metal case.
          
          SKY - SIMULTANEOUS
          
          Mrs. C. spots them below.
          
                                  MRS. CLAUS
                          Take the reins, and don't f***
                          this up, Nick.
          
                                  SANTA CLAUS
                          Before we do anything rash,
                          honey, I just think we should
                          talk--
          
          BAM!   Punch across the chops.
          
                                  SANTA CLAUS
                          Yes dear.
          
          Mrs. C. bends over down into the back of the sled, struggles
          with something heavy...
          
          INTERCUTTING BELOW
          
          In the SUV a Russian operative panics. Little radar display
          and bleeps... The Russians look around, up in the sky, panic
          spreads forward.
          
                                  EVIL SANTA
                          What's with your d*ckheads,
                          Yuri? Seem a little jumpy.
          
                                    RUSSIAN MOB BOSS
                            I, I don't know.
                                 (turns to CAPO,
                                 in Russian)
                            Find out quickly.
          
          Capo runs back. Everyone looks around.
          
          Suddenly -- Evil Santa's sled is bombed from above, massive
          fireball. Boss and Evil Santa thrown to the ground. Dead Elf
          Ninjas peppered across the black deck.
          
                                    MRS. CLAUS (O.S.)
                            How you like that, Dick!?
          
          Santa's Sled buzzes the devastated scene, skims the flames.
          Mrs. Claus fires shotgun BLAST after BLAST, takes out mobsters
          and little Ninjas with savage glee.
          
                                    MRS. CLAUS
                            You f***ed with the wrong pole!
          
          As the sled rockets off--
          
                                    SANTA CLAUS
                            She's a little high strung,
                            Richard, not at all like my
                            first wiiiife...
          
          Evil Santa, face down on the concrete, rises like a volcano.
          
                                       EVIL SANTA
                            Bitch!!!
          
          EXT. SANTA'S SLED * CONTINUING
          
          Mrs. C. takes off into the clouds. Far below a series of
          explosions devastates the port.
          
          Santa watches the glow with melancholy.
          
                                 SANTA CLAUS
                         Well I guess this year's toast.
                         I'm going to have to write it
                         off.
          
                                 MRS. CLAUS
                         That's all right.
          
          She turns to him with a love potion in her eyes, glitter
          dancing in the air.
          
                                 SANTA CLAUS
                         But--
          
                                 MRS. CLAUS
                         Shhh. I know we can find
                         something better to do this
                         year.
          
                                 SANTA CLAUS
                         But the I-Google 17 line--
          
                                 MRS. CLAUS
                         Shut up and kiss me, buffoon!
          
          They make out with tongue as they glide away, pulled by
          appalled, overworked, decrepit, mangy reindeer.
          
          EXT. PORT * NIGHT
          
          Burned and blown to hell, everyone dead except for Evil Santa.
          Fire flickers behind his dark girth. He lifts the charred
          head of a dragon, drops it.
          
          Takes out his lighter, lights another stogie.
          
                                 EVIL SANTA
                         Think this is over, Nicky?
          
          Spits the end of the cigar out.
          
          Extreme close, extreme evil--
          
                                 EVIL SANTA
                         I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.
          
          END.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

            Godfather Christmas

            Code:
            FADE IN:
            
            ANIMATION:
            
            EXT. HOLLYWOOD MANSION - DAWN - ESTABLISHING
            
            Crickets CHIRP and haunting, mournful MUSIC plays.
            
            INT. MANSION BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
            
            SHINY BLACK BOOTS next to an antique chair.
            
            Draped over the chair are RED TROUSERS and a RED COAT with
            WHITE TRIM.
            
            And a FLOPPY RED HAT with a WHITE POM-POM.  And a BIG BLACK
            BELT.
            
            Asleep in an antique bed is a large Man. Facing
            away. Snowy white hair. Balding on top.
            
            The Man stirs.  Rolls over.  It's SANTA.
            
            He slowly wakes.  Increasingly PUZZLED.
            
            He pulls his HAND from under the sheets.  It's covered in
            BLOOD.
            
            He pulls the sheets up.
            
            BLOOD EVERYWHERE.
            
            Distressed, he pulls the sheets all the way off.  Exposing,
            
            RUDOLPH'S
            
            SEVERED
            
            HEAD.
            
            The EYES bulge.  The TONGUE hangs out.  The NOSE is CUT OFF.
            
                                     SANTA
                         ARRGGHHHHHHHHHHH!
            
            INT. MALL - DAY
            
            SHOPPERS doing their thing.
            
                                      SANTA (O.S.)
                         ARRGGHH!!   ARRGGHH!!
            
            ALL HEADS turn to --
            
            INT. SANTA'S MALL WORKSHOP - CONTINUOUS
            
            Santa, in FULL UNIFORM, in his big workshop chair.
            
            He looks around.  Disoriented.  Flustered.
            
                                       SANTA
                      Argh?    Argh?
            
            He looks down at --
            
            Two Elves, SONNY and TOM.
            
            Sonny shakes his head.
            
                                     SONNY
                      Bad dream.  Bad dream.
            
                                  SANTA
                          (relieved)
                      Oh, ah ...?
            
                                       TOM
                      Ho-ho-ho.
            
                                       SANTA
                      Right.
            
            Santa turns to the waiting NERVOUS KIDS and NERVOUS PARENTS.
            
                                  SANTA (CONT'D)
                      Err ...
                          (full jolly voice)
                      HO! HO! HO!
            
            EVERYBODY relaxes a little.
            
                                       SANTA (CONT'D)
                      Okay.  Good.  Who's first?
            
            It's JIMMY, aged 7.  His MUM holds his shoulders.
            
                                  SANTA (CONT'D)
                      Come on up, young man.
            
            The Mum releases Jimmy and gives him a little shove.
            
            He approaches and Santa lifts him up onto his lap.
            
                                  SANTA (CONT'D)
                      And what's your name?
            
                                       JIMMY
                      J-jimmy.
            
                                  SANTA
                      Okay J-jimmy. What can I do for you?
            
                                  JIMMY
                      Some boys. They stole my bike.
                      And they jumped on it. And broke
                      it. And they let the air out and-
            
                                  SANTA
                      Is that the bike I gave you last
                      year?
            
                                     JIMMY
                      Ah-ha.
            
                                  SANTA
                      And did ever you thank me?
            
            Jimmy hangs his head.
            
                                     JIMMY
                      Uh-uh.
            
            Santa sounds like he's got cotton wool stuffed in his cheeks.
            
                                  SANTA
                      Did you ever offer me your friendship?
            
                                     JIMMY
                      Uh-uh.
            
                                  SANTA
                          (a little scary)
                      And now you come to me for justice?
            
                                     JIMMY
                      Huh?
            
                                  SANTA
                      Is it justice that I kill these boys
                      for you?
            
                                     JIMMY
                      No!    What?   I just want a new bike.
            
            Santa JOLTS back to normal(?).
            
                                  SANTA
                      Oh. Ha-ha. Ho-ho. A new bike.
                      Right. Ah ... That's all? Just ...
                      A new bike?
            
                                     JIMMY
                      Ah-ha.
            
                                    SANTA
                            (subtle hint)
                        I might do this ... for a friend.
            
                                    JIMMY
                            (thinks; idea)
                        Will you be my friend ...
                        Godfather Christmas?
            
            Santa smiles.  Looks down at the Elves.
            
                                      SANTA
                        Tom.  A new bike for my new friend.
            
            Tom nods.
            
                                       JIMMY
                        Oh, goody!
            
                                    SANTA
                        And Sonny. Put those boys on ...
                        The Naughty List.
            
            Sonny smiles.  Nods.
            
            CLOSE ON SONNY'S EYES
            
            EXT. REMOTE ROADSIDE - DAY (FLASHBACK)
            
            A car is parked on the shoulder of the road.
            
            A MAN is in the front seat.
            
            An ELF, rises up in the back seat.
            
                                    ELF (V.O.)
                        You're on The Naughty List.
            
            BANG!   The Man FLOPS forward.
            
            BANG! BANG!
            
            END FLASHBACK - BACK TO SCENE
            
            Santa lowers Jimmy to the floor.  Jimmy runs to his Mum.
            
                                     SANTA
                            (hushed)
                        Little prick still didn't thank me.
            
                                    SONNY
                        What can you do, huh?
            
                                    SANTA
                            (big voice)
                        Okay! Who's next?
            
            A LITTLE GIRL, 5, skips JOYFULLY to Santa.
            
                                                                DISSOLVE TO:
            
            INT. FRUIT MART - DAY
            
            Santa, MUTTERING, points to ORANGES.  The GROCER puts some
            in a PAPER BAG.
            
            Waiting across from the store, next to a COIN-OPERATED KIDDY-
            CAR, is another Elf, FREDO.
            
            Two SUSPICIOUS BOYS, 14, walk BRISKLY up to the store.
            
            They grab TOMATOES and hurl them at Santa.
            
            Santa RUNS from the store, SLIPS on a SQUISHED TOMATO and
            CRASHES into the kiddy-car.
            
            SPLATTERED in tomato juice, he falls --
            
            Slowly --
            
            Painfully dramatically --
            
            To the floor.
            
            Fredo grabs a ROLLING TOMATO.  Fumbles.  Drops it.
            
            The Assassins flee.
            
            Fredo squats beside Santa and BAWLS his eyes out.
            
            INT. DRY CLEANERS - DAY
            
            The CLEANER examines Santa's TOMATO-STAINED SUIT.  He
            exaggerates the 'doesn't-look-good' look.
            
            INT. ELVES' HUT - DAY
            
            Sonny, Tom and a few OTHER ELVES sit around.
            
                                    SONNY
                        Tom. You're Consigliere. What
                        happens if we lose the old man?
            
                                    TOM
                        Then we lose the mall contract.  The
                        Easter Bunny will take over
                        everything.
            
            A young Elf enters.  This is MIKEY.
            
                                  MIKEY
                      You gonna kill those guys.
            
                                  SONNY
                      Stay out of it, Mikey.
            
            INT. FIRST AID STATION - DAY
            
            Santa, in his LONG-JOHNS, holds an ICE-PACK to his knee.
            
            Mikey comes in.  Looks around.
            
                                  MIKEY
                      Where's the Mall Cops?
            
                                    SANTA
                      Gone.
            
                                    MIKEY
                      Come on.  We gotta get you outta
                      here.
            
            Mikey leads the way. Santa LIMPS after him.  Still holding
            the ice-pack to his knee.
            
            INT. SECURITY ROOM - DAY
            
            Mikey, alone, faces off with a gruff, big-mouthed MALL COP.
            
                                   MIKEY
                      What happened to the cops guarding
                      the old man?
            
                                  MALL COP
                      I pulled 'em off. Now scram,
                      you little punk.
            
            The Mall Cop SLAPS Mikey's face.  HARD.
            
            INT. ELVES' HUT - DAY
            
            Mikey, his JAW SWOLLEN, joins the other Elves.
            
                                  TOM
                      The Mall Cop who broke Mikey's jaw
                      is on the Bunny's payroll.
            
                                  MIKEY
                          (wired jaw)
                      Set up a meeting.  Me, the Cop and
                      the Bunny.
            
            INT. FOOD COURT - DAY
            
            The Mall Cop and THE EASTER BUNNY are eating at a table.
            
            Mikey walks up to them.  ONE HAND behind his back.
            
            He leaps onto the table, brandishing --
            
            -- A HAND OF BANANAS.
            
            In unison, the Mall Cop and the Bunny GASP.
            
            Mikey RIPS one banana off.  STUFFS it down the Bunny's throat.
            
            RIPS another off. STUFFS it down the Mall Cop's throat.
            
            Then STUFFS another one into the gaping chasm.
            
            Mikey drops the rest of the bananas, hops off the table and
            skips away.
            
            The Mall Cop and the Bunny CHOKE.
            
            SPINNING NEWSPAPER
            
            Headline reads: MALL COP LINKED WITH CANDY RACKETS
            
            EXT. SKY - ARCTIC TWILIGHT
            
            A FLYING SLEIGH, pulled by REINDEER, reduces in altitude.
            
            EXT. SANTA'S MAIN WORKSHOP - ARCTIC TWILIGHT
            
            TITLE: North Pole
            
            Santa, his suit now CLEAN, limps into the well-lit workshop.
            
            INT. WORKSHOP - CONTINUOUS
            
            Hundreds of ELVES jump up and down.  CHANTING.
            
                                  ELVES
                      Santa! Santa! Santa!
                          (big finish; star jump)
                      SANTA!
                                  SANTA
                          (applause)
                      Very good. Okay, where's Mikey?
            
                                  SONNY
                      It was Mikey who choked the Bunny.
            
                                   SANTA
                      Beats spanking the monkey, huh?  So,
                      where is he?
            
                                  TOM
                      Where no-one can find him.
            
            EXT. ANTARCTICA - DAY
            
            TITLE: Antarctica
            
            PENGUINS EVERYWHERE.
            
            They part.
            
            Mikey, dressed in BLACK AND WHITE thermals, emerges, HAND in
            WING with a PRETTY PENGUIN.
            
            They WADDLE across the ice.
            
            OTHER PENGUINS follow at a discreet distance.
            
                                                            SLOW FADE OUT:
            
            End Part 1a
            Last edited by dpaterso; 12-25-2013, 03:41 AM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

              Christmas Chaos

              Code:
              EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD, PHOENIX, AZ - DAY
              
              It's the type that has a vigilant HOA.
              
              Each well-kept house is lit for the season - clear lights,
              all in row, just blinking to life in the dusky afternoon.
              
              Except one.
              
              
              EXT. BOB AND BETTY'S HOUSE - DAY
              
              A ladder BANGS against the roof. A male voice curses. The
              ladder vibrates, a man's balding head slowly rises into
              frame.
              
              This is BOB (40s, still trim enough to tuck his polo shirt
              into his khakis). Bob has a length of Christmas lights
              looped over his shoulder and a sour expression on his face.
              
              On the ground below his wife, BETTY (also 40s, also trim,
              but her expression is skeptical).
              
                                    BETTY
                        It's Christmas Eve. Why bother?
              
                                    BOB
                        Everybody complained that I didn't
                        put up the lights, I'll put up the
                        goddam lights.
              
                                    BETTY
                        You're being ridiculous.
              
              A large DOG barrels around the corner of the house, pursued
              by a BOY on a BICYCLE.
              
              The dog runs under the ladder, the boy on the bike runs
              into the ladder, sending it crashing to the ground.
              
                                    BOB (O.S.)
                        AUUUUGH!
              
              
              INT. CAR - DAY
              
              Betty drives.
              
              Bob - cut, bloody, wrapped in Christmas lights and with
              leaves stuck in his hair and clothes - sits in the
              passenger seat.
              
                                    BOB
                        I don't need to go to the hospital,
                        Ellen.
              
                                    BETTY
                        Ellen's your sister. I'm your wife.
              
                                    BOB
                        Maybe I should go to the hospital.
              
              
              INT. ELLEN AND STAN'S HOUSE - NIGHT
              
              A massive Christmas tree, lavishly decorated in gold and
              white ornaments, dominates the room. The tip pushes against
              the ceiling and curves back down, the bay window behind it
              is barely visible.
              
              STAN (40s, wearing a turtleneck un-ironically) stands before
              the tree and frowns. His wife, ELLEN (30s) comes up behind
              him. Ellen disdains turtlenecks and garish Christmas trees.
              
                                      ELLEN
                        That was Betty, she says they have
                        to cancel... What's wrong?
              
                                       STAN
                        The star.
              
                                       ELLEN
                        It fell off.
              
                                    STAN
                        Well why didn't you put it back
                        on?
              
                                    ELLEN
                        It's too hard to get up there.
                        Besides it was marking up the
                        ceiling.
              
                                    STAN
                        You can't have a tree without a
                        star.
              
                                    ELLEN
                        You can have a behemoth tree in a
                        little tiny room. You always get a
                        tree that's too big. Everyone thinks
                        you're overcompensating. It's
                        embarrassing.
              
                                    STAN
                        Where is my star?
              
              Ellen walks away without bothering to answer.
              
              Stan pouts, goes looking for the star itself.
              
              The tree stands alone.
              
                                    MOMENTS LATER
                        Stan returns, sleeves rolled up.
                        He carries a large, sparkly gold
                        star in one hand and drags a dining
                        room chair behind him with the
                        other.
              
              He pulls the chair up to the tree, stands on it, stretches
              his arm up, up, up... nope.
              
              He pulls back, assesses the situation.
              
              He reaches into the tree itself, takes firm hold of the
              trunk and tries to bend the top of the tree towards him.
              Still no luck.
              
              He takes a deep breath. Jumps.
              
              
              EXT. ELLEN AND STAN'S HOUSE - DAY
              
              Ellen stands in the yard. Behind her, the tree hangs halfway
              out the broken bay window.
              
              Two PARAMEDICS push a gurney - bearing a bloody Stan -
              down the walkway toward a waiting ambulance.
              
              As they load Stan into the ambulance, Ellen walks up. She
              looks down at Stan - his face and chest are dotted with
              shards of glass.
              
                                    ELLEN
                        I'll meet you at the hospital after
                        I call Ted and Marjorie.
              
              
              INT. BEDROOM - TED AND MARJORIE'S HOUSE '96 NIGHT
              
              MARJORIE, a statuesque brunette in her 40s, checks her
              reflection in the full length mirror on the wall and finds
              it more than satisfactory. She gives herself a little smile.
              
              The smile fades when she spots her husband TED's reflection
              behind her. He's not dressed.
              
              In fact, he's BUTT NAKED , but for a Santa hat. He stands
              with both hands behind his back and he's clearly in a good
              mood.
              
              Marjorie turns around.
              
                                    MARJORIE
                        We don't have time. We're late
                        already.
              
              Ted pulls a sprig of greenery from behind his back and
              dangles it over his crotch.
              
                                    TED
                        Come on, honey. Somebody's under
                        the mistletoe.
              
              The phone RINGS. Marjorie crosses the bedroom to answer
              it.
              
                                    MARJORIE
                        That's not mistletoe by the way,
                        that's poison ivy.
              
              Ted drops the greenery and dashes across the bedroom into
              the bathroom.
              
              A mighty CRASH is heard, followed by Ted's HOWLS OF PAIN.
              
              
              INT. TRIAGE, EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT
              
              Ted, his face bruised and bloodied, sits on an examination
              table, grimacing as a young DOCTOR examines his crooked
              nose.
              
                                      MARJORIE
                        ...and then he slipped and fell,
                        right into the bathtub faucet.
              
                                    DOCTOR
                        It's definitely broken.
              
              The doctor bends down, fixes Ted with a stern look.
              
                                    DOCTOR
                        Didn't you ever learn "leaves of
                        three, let it be"?
              
              
              INT. WAITING AREA, EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT
              
              Marjorie, Ellen, and Betty sit side by side by side in
              hard plastic chairs. The waiting room is every bit as grim
              as you'd imagine: drab paint, institutional tile and a
              collection of ancient magazines
              
                                      MARJORIE
                        This sucks.
              
                                    ELLEN
                        It's no way to spend Christmas,
                        that's for sure.
              
              The three women sigh. Betty slumps forward, rests her chin
              on her hand. She sees a pair of biker BOOTS walk across
              the floor, looks up, sees that the boots are attached to a
              BIKER heading out the door with his arm in a sling.
              
              SHE SITS UP. SHE HAS AN IDEA...
              
              
              INT. BIKER BAR - NIGHT
              
              A CROWD hoots and cheers as a BARTENDER runs a lighter
              over three shot glasses filled with amber liquid.
              
              The chanting becomes coherent now '96 a rhythmic "Drink,
              Drink, Drink."
              
              Betty, Ellen and Marjorie, each holding a straw, emerge
              from the crowd. The bartender slides them each a shot and
              the women drink as the crowd cheers and applauds.
              Last edited by dpaterso; 12-26-2013, 04:15 AM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

                The Gift

                Code:
                EXT. ALIEN PLAIN - DAY
                
                We pan across the landscape - think African savannah but
                with a purple sky. A large, green sun is setting. Trippy.
                
                Our hero, a three-legged toad-man named VINNIE, scans the
                horizon with his four eyes.
                
                A SATCHEL falls out of the sky and lands right next to him.
                Vinnie picks it up and looks inside - just a few handfuls of
                grey dust.
                
                His eyes narrow in confusion.
                
                Vinnie drops the bag - it's worthless - and starts to waddle
                off but quickly rethinks and comes back for it. Vinnie picks
                up the satchel and waddles off into the sunset.
                
                INT. CASTLE - DAY
                
                A fifteen-years-older Vinnie works behind a luxurious desk
                in a magnificent office.
                
                                                             CUT TO:
                
                The satchel lies time worn and dust covered in a Kane-esque
                pile of miscellanea.
                
                EXT. CASTLE - DAY
                
                The castle is now ruined. A five-years-older Vinnie looks at
                it longingly, left with just a heavy looking TRUNK and...
                the satchel.
                
                INT. HILLSIDE CAVE - NIGHT
                
                Vinnie paints on the wall by firelight. The trunk - unpacked
                - and satchel are with him. This is his home.
                
                INT./EXT. HILLSIDE CAVE - MORNING
                
                Vinnie sits at the mouth of the cave with the satchel beside
                him and watches the sunrise while playing with the satchel's
                grey dust in his hand.
                
                INT./EXT. HILLSIDE CAVE - NIGHT
                
                Vinnie is sleeps at the back of the cave; the satchel is
                still lying at the mouth. A gust of wind blows the dust out
                of the satchel. As the dust mixes with the air, a DOORWAY to
                another world is opened. We can't see very far through the
                doorway but it looks like some kind of heaven. Another gust
                of wind comes and blows the doorway out of the air.
                
                Vinnie grunts in his sleep.
                
                END

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

                  A Wild Turkey Christmas

                  Code:
                  EXT. NORTH POLE - NIGHT
                  
                  Dark. A single string of Christmas lights illuminates the
                  few buildings.
                  
                  They are: Santa's quaint little cottage, Santa's Workshop,
                  the Elf Dormitory, and the Reindeer Stables.
                  
                                        SANTA (V.O.)
                            I never minded taking care of the
                            reindeer. All they ask is a little
                            bit of food, water, and shelter. In
                            return, they work their ass off.
                            What great little critters.
                  
                  
                  INT. REINDEER STABLES - NIGHT
                  
                  SANTA stands in one stall, shoveling reindeer sh*t out the
                  stall window. He works hard, without a break.
                  
                  His cell phone rings.  He pulls it from his pocket.
                  
                                         SANTA
                            Hello?   Yes dear. I'll be right in.
                  
                  He puts down his shovel and leaves the stall.
                  
                  
                  INT. SANTA'S COTTAGE - NIGHT
                  
                  Santa enters and walks to
                  
                  THE BEDROOM
                  
                  MRS. CLAUS (60, 400 pounds) lies in a hospital bed.
                  
                                           MRS. CLAUS
                            Hello dear.   I need the bedpan again.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            Of course dear.
                  
                  Santa brings a bedpan about two feet square and slides it
                  under Mrs. Claus. She grimaces.
                  
                                           MRS. CLAUS
                            Uhhhhhhhhhh!
                  
                  She moves a little and Santa removes the bedpan and its
                  steaming contents. He carries it away.
                  
                  
                  EXT. NORTH POLE - NIGHT
                  
                  Santa pitches the bedpan's contents into the darkness and
                  cleans it in a snowbank. He puts the bedpan outside his
                  cottage and walks to his workshop.
                  
                  
                  INT. WORKSHOP - NIGHT
                  
                  None of the ELVES are working. They lean back on their
                  stools, their arms folded. The HEAD ELF smirks.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            What's going on?
                  
                                        HEAD ELF
                            It's a sitdown strike, you fat f***.
                            You either double our pay or there's
                            gonna be a sh*tload of unhappy
                            children Christmas morning.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            I can't double your pay. Donations
                            have been slow this year.
                  
                                        HEAD ELF
                            Well then, that's just tough sh*t.
                  
                  He folds his arms and smirks.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            If that's the way you want it.
                  
                  He walks out to a chorus of jeering Elves.
                  
                  
                  EXT. NORTH POLE - NIGHT
                  
                  As Santa walks back to the stables, his cell phone rings.
                  
                                         SANTA
                            Hello?   Dinner? Yes, of course dear.
                  
                  He changes direction and walks to his cottage.
                  
                  
                  INT. SANTA'S COTTAGE - NIGHT
                  
                  THE KITCHEN
                  
                  Santa prepares his wife's dinner on an immense tray table.
                  Traditional Christmas fare- a whole motherf***ing turkey
                  with all the trimmings.
                  
                  He carries it to
                  
                  THE BEDROOM
                  
                                        MRS. CLAUS
                            Oh, thank you dear. That looks so
                            good.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            Dig in, dear. You deserve it.
                  
                  Mrs. Claus chows down on the unfortunate bird.
                  
                  
                  INT. REINDEER STABLES - NIGHT
                  
                  All the sh*t shoveled, Santa looks over his work.   He glances
                  at the reindeer.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            See you tomorrow, guys.
                  
                  
                  INT. WORKSHOP - NIGHT
                  
                  SANTA'S OFFICE
                  
                  Santa sits at his desk. He opens a drawer and removes a
                  bottle of Wild Turkey and a glass. He fills the glass and
                  sips. Then drinks.
                  
                  He replaces the bottle in the drawer and opens another drawer.
                  A Colt single action revolver awaits.
                  
                  He picks up the Colt and walks out the door.
                  
                  
                  INT. ELVES' DORMITORY - NIGHT
                  
                  Rows and rows of bunk beds, all full of sleeping elves.
                  Santa creeps past them until he comes to a door marked "HEAD
                  ELF."
                  
                  HEAD ELF'S ROOM
                  
                  The head elf sleeps soundly, but not for long. He wakes to
                  the sound of Santa's Colt revolver being cocked.
                  
                  Head Elf's eyes widen as Santa pushes the gun in his face.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            I don't know why I ever fooled with
                            Elves in the first place. I should
                            have hired Mexicans or Chinamen.
                            They'll work their ass off and never
                            complain.
                  
                                        HEAD ELF
                            Now Santa, don't be rash.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            Shut the f*** up, you little prick.
                            For two cents I'd shoot the lot of
                            you and just order the toys on the
                            web.
                  
                                        HEAD ELF
                            You know you really don't need to--
                  
                                        SANTA
                            Shut the f*** up!
                  
                  Santa shoves the gun into Head Elf's mouth.
                  
                                        HEAD ELF
                            Gurgle, gurgle, gleep--
                  
                                        SANTA
                            But I'm a nice guy. I'm gonna give
                            you another chance. You're gonna
                            get all the toys put together, on
                            time and under budget. And I'll let
                            you live.
                  
                  He pulls the gun barrel from Head Elf's mouth.
                  
                                        HEAD ELF
                            Yes, of course Santa.
                  
                  Santa eases the Colt's hammer down and turns away.
                  
                  
                  EXT. NORTH POLE - DAY
                  
                  Santa walks from his cottage to his workshop, a steaming cup
                  of coffee in his hand.
                  
                  
                  INT. WORKSHOP - DAY
                  
                  As Santa enters he sees his Elves working hard making toys.
                  The Head Elf works hardest of all.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            Morning boys.
                  
                                        ELVES IN CHORUS
                            Morning Santa.
                  
                  A contented smile on his face, he walks to
                  
                  SANTA'S OFFICE
                  
                  HE sits at his desk and drinks his coffee, turns on his
                  computer, reads the day's news. He frowns.
                  
                  He finishes his coffee and opens a desk drawer and removes a
                  bottle of Wild Turkey. He fills his cup.
                  
                  He drinks his whiskey and web-surfs until he falls asleep.
                  
                  
                  INT. SANTA'S OFFICE - LATER
                  
                  Santa wakes to a ringing cell phone.  He picks it up.
                  
                                           SANTA
                            Yes dear.   Of course dear.
                  
                  
                  EXT. NORTH POLE - DAY
                  
                  Santa walks to his cottage.
                  
                  
                  INT. SANTA'S COTTAGE - DAY
                  
                  THE BEDROOM
                  
                  Santa slides a bedpan under his wife and waits while she
                  does her business.
                  
                                        MRS. CLAUS
                            Uhhhhhh, aaaaaaaaaaah! Finished,
                            dear.
                  
                  Santa removes the steaming tray, overflowing with Claus-sh*t.
                  Some slides off the tray, onto the floor, onto the bed.
                  
                                        SANTA
                            You've really outdone yourself this
                            time, dear.
                  
                                        MRS. CLAUS
                            Clean me up please. I'm afraid I
                            made quite a mess.
                  
                                           SANTA
                            Yes, dear.
                  
                                        MRS. CLAUS
                            And then bring me another turkey.
                            I've worked up quite an appetite.
                  
                  Santa stares at the steaming tray in his hands.
                  
                                           SANTA
                               Aaaaaaaaaaaah!
                  
                  He dumps the tray on his wife.
                  
                                            MRS. CLAUS
                               Santa!   Stop!
                  
                  Santa whacks her with the tray.
                  
                                           SANTA
                               You dirty bitch!
                  
                  He slams the tray on her head, again and again.
                  
                                            MRS. CLAUS
                               Stop it!   You're hurting me!
                  
                                             SANTA
                               Die bitch!    Die.
                  
                  Santa doesn't stop until his wife lies dead and bloody.
                  
                  He drops the tray and walks to
                  
                  THE TROPHY ROOM
                  
                  A room filled with the heads of dead animals. He grabs his
                  M-1 Garand rifle and straps on several bandoleers of
                  ammunition. He locks and loads.
                  
                  He walks to
                  
                  THE GARAGE
                  
                  He gives his 57 Chevy a goodbye pat and walks to the trash
                  can.
                  
                  He removes several empty whiskey bottles and fills them with
                  gasoline and attaches cloth fuses. He packs the molotov
                  cocktails in his toy-bag.
                  
                  
                  INT. REINDEER STABLES - DAY
                  
                  Santa looks at his reindeer with tears in his eyes.
                  
                                             SANTA
                               Sorry guys.  I have to do it.
                  
                  BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!   Eight shots,
                  eight reindeer. All dead.
                  
                  
                  EXT. NORTH POLE - DAY
                  
                  Elves stream out of the workshop to see what's going on.
                  
                  Santa opens fire.  He shoots the Head Elf and as many others
                  as he can.
                  
                  He opens his toy-bag and removes the molotov cocktails.  He
                  flicks his Bic lighter and lights the fuses.
                  
                  He throws the molotovs at every building in sight- the
                  stables, his cottage, his workshop and the elves' dormitory.
                  
                  As everything burns he pulls off one boot. He places his
                  M1's barrel in his mouth and pulls the trigger with his toe.
                  BOOM!
                  
                  SUPER: IF YOU THINK YOU'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF SH*T THIS
                  CHRISTMAS, JUST BE GLAD YOU'RE NOT SANTA CLAUS.
                  
                  THE END

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

                    The Naughty List

                    Code:
                    FADE IN
                    
                    INT. OFFICE - DAY
                    
                    JO-ANN, 30's and striking, sits behind a desk. She stares
                    into the computer screen.
                    
                    The wall next to her is adorned with awards. The other half
                    of the room contains a large white board. It's covered by
                    Post-it-notes and hand writing.
                    
                    SUSIE and BRAD enter the office. Jo-Ann doesn't look up.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              I hope you are hear to tell me
                              you've finished the article.
                    
                    Susie and Brad look at each other. He nods at Susie. She
                    shakes her head back at him. They make big eyes at each
                    other.
                    
                                          JO-ANN
                              Well?
                    
                    Susie clears her throat. Brad takes a half-step back. Susie
                    looks back at him. She motions for him to come back.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              You have something to say Sally?
                    
                    Susie turns around. Jo-Ann's glare burns a hole in Susie's
                    courage.
                    
                                        SUSIE
                              It's Susie, actually.
                    
                    Jo-Ann continues to stare.
                    
                                        SUSIE
                              I, we, were hoping to cut out at
                              lunch today. You know for the
                              holiday.
                    
                    Jo-Ann's stare becomes harder.
                    
                                        SUSIE
                              The only plane I can catch leaves
                              at 1 so I was hoping...
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              To leave before your work is done.
                    
                    Susie wipes her hands together. She quickly looks back at
                    Brad. He stands with his head down. She looks back at
                    Jo-Ann.
                    
                                        SUSIE
                              It's Christmas Eve. I always spend
                              Christmas with my family.
                    
                    Jo-Ann looks at Brad.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Feel the same way Brad?
                    
                    He mutters something incoherent, then shakes his head no.
                    Susie's jaw drops.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Okay Sally, you can leave.
                    
                    Susie stares wide-eyed.  She smiles. Brad looks confused.
                    
                                        SUSIE
                              Thank you. I'll finish the project
                              as soon as I get back.
                    
                    Jo-Ann stares into the computer.
                    
                                         JO-ANN
                              No need.
                    
                    Susie confused, looks at Brad then Jo-Ann.
                    
                                         SUSIE
                              Wha..
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              You're fired. Get out.
                    
                    Susie stands shaking.  She looks back at an awe struck
                    Brad. He shrugs.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Still here? I said get out!
                    
                    A tear rolls down Susie's cheek. She bolts out of the
                    room. Brad watches her go. He turns around to see Jo-Ann
                    staring back at him.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Is there something you wanted?
                    
                    Brad shakes his head no.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Good because now you'll be working
                              alone. I expect this done and on
                              my desk first thing in the morning.
                    
                    Brad looks defeated.
                    
                                        BRAD
                              It's going to take me all night.
                    
                    Jo-Ann cocks her head.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Awww. Are you going to miss your
                              Homo party?
                    
                    Brad looks shocked.
                    
                                        BRAD
                              I don't think you are allowed to
                              say...
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Get busy or I'll fire your ass too.
                    
                    Brad quickly exits.
                    
                    The clock on the wall spins from 9 to 12.
                    
                    Jo-Ann's desk phone buzzes.  She pushes the button.
                    
                                           JO-ANN
                              What?
                    
                                        SECRETARY
                              Congressman Mark Smith is here to
                              see you.
                    
                    Jo-Ann sports a devilish grin.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Tell him I'm busy.
                    
                    Jo-Ann sits back in her chair and looks at the door.  She
                    puts her feet up on the desk and leans back.
                    
                    A frantic man enters the room. MARK, 40's, looks like he
                    just walked off the cover of GQ.
                    
                                        MARK
                              What the hell is wrong with you?
                    
                    Jo-Ann's smile turns to a fake look of concern.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              What do you mean Mark?
                    
                    He shuts the door and quickly walks to the desk.
                    
                                        MARK
                              My wife knows about us.
                    
                    Jo-Ann gives him a shocked look.  She stands.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              How on Earth could she know?
                    
                    Mark is now pissed.
                    
                                        MARK
                              Don't play with me Jo-Ann.  You
                              told her!
                    
                    Jo-Ann puts her hand on her chest.  She tilts her head and
                    lets her jaw drop.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Mark how could you accuse me?  I'm
                              hurt.
                    
                    Mark, irate, knocks an award from her desk.
                    
                                        MARK
                              You don't have any feelings you
                              bitch! Why did you do this?
                    
                    Jo-Ann turns back to her cold, hard self. She steps up to
                    Mark. She puts her finger in his chest.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              We had a deal you crooked
                              son-of-a-bitch.
                    
                    Mark slaps it away.
                    
                                        MARK
                              I'm a Congressman. I can't be
                              bought.
                    
                    Jo-Ann smiles.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              You complete the deal or the
                              stations will be airing a video I
                              like to call jingle bells.
                    
                    Mark is terror stricken. He stares at Jo-Ann.  She blows
                    him a kiss. He storms out. Jo-Ann laughs.
                    
                    The hands on the clock spin to 6.
                    
                    
                    INT. LAUNDROMAT - NIGHT
                    
                    MR. CHANG, 30's, stands behind the counter, defiant.
                    
                                           MR. CHANG
                              We closed.
                    
                    Jo-Ann throws a dress at him.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              You little bastard I need this
                              cleaned.
                    
                    Mr. Chang shakes his head no. Jo-Ann steps to the counter.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              If you don't do this I'll have your
                              slant-eyed ass shipped back where
                              you came from.
                    
                    Mr. Chang leans toward here.
                    
                                        MR. CHANG
                              New Jersey?
                    
                    Jo-Ann, furious, storms out.
                    
                    
                    EXT. CITY - NIGHT
                    
                    Jo-Ann turns back to the Laundromat door. She gives it the
                    finger. She walks away, still giving it the finger. She
                    walks into the Salvation Army worker.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Why don't you watch where you're
                              going.
                    
                    He looks her up and down. He turns away and rings his
                    bell. Jo-Ann snatches the bell and hurls it into
                    traffic. She kicks the collection bucket over and propels
                    away.
                    
                    
                    INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
                    
                    Jo-Ann lounges on a high back sofa. An unlit Christmas tree
                    stands in the corner. A ragged stocking hangs from the
                    mantal of the fireplace. A cozy fire is the only light.
                    
                    Jo-Ann drinks wine and looks out the Penthouse window. A
                    bright blue light catches her attention. She stands. She
                    slowly makes her way to the window.
                    
                    She watches as a bright blue mist goes from rooftop to
                    rooftop.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              I'll be damned.
                    
                    Suddenly the mist flies past her window and up to the roof.
                    
                    The fire dies completely. Jo-Ann turns to the fireplace.
                    
                    The mist comes out of the fireplace, circles the tree, then
                    hovers around her stocking.
                    
                    The stocking bulges. The mist goes up the chimney.
                    
                                        JO-ANN
                              Those better be diamonds you fat
                              f***.
                    
                    She walks to the mantal. The stocking stretches then falls
                    to the floor. Coal spills out.
                    
                    Jo-Ann hurls her wine glass into the fireplace. She turns
                    to walk away. The fire snaps and crackles back to life. It
                    grows bigger.
                    
                    Jo-Ann turns around. Two horns poke from the fire. Slowly
                    a figure emerges. Jo-Ann is paralyzed with fear. The
                    figure walks to her, it's hooves clicking on the hardwood
                    floor.
                    
                    The creature's long human face is wrinkled. It strokes it's
                    long black beard. His forked tongue flicks.
                    
                                         JO-ANN
                              Who?   What?
                    
                    The creature smiles.
                    
                                        KRAMPUS
                              The name is Krampus, Fräulein.
                    
                    He unslings a large basket from his back. He picks her up
                    and folds her in half. Krampus places her in the
                    basket. It shrinks around her.
                    
                                        KRAMPUS
                              Saint Nicholas takes care of those
                              on the Nice list.
                    
                    He heaves the basket upon his back.
                    
                                        KRAMPUS
                              The Naughty list is left to me.
                    
                    He twirls around and walks into the fire.
                    
                    END

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

                      Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

                      Code:
                      EXT. CITY SUBURB - NIGHT
                      
                      The old Christmas classic, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,"
                      serenades us, as we fly over a snow-capped, sleepy suburb.
                      
                      COLORFUL LIGHTS glimmer through a day old snowfall. The
                      landscape teems with bright, festive homes.
                      
                      We fly to the edge of this town, closing in on a lone
                      disruption in this otherwise stock-still suburbia: an old,
                      rusted JALOPY. It ambles down a neighborhood street.
                      
                      
                      INT. JALOPY - SAME
                      
                      The index finger of a white, gloved hand, taps a weathered
                      steering wheel:
                      
                      He's making a list,
                      He's checking it twice,
                      He's gonna find out if you're naughty or nice,
                      Santa Claus is coming to town...
                      
                      
                      EXT. CITY SUBURB - JALOPY - SAME
                      
                      Red brake lights glow; the car stops alongside a curb.
                      
                      
                      INT. JALOPY - SAME
                      
                      He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake,
                      he knows when you've been bad or good, so be good for--
                      
                      CLICK. The glove kills the ignition; the car goes dead. An
                      eerie silence, broken by the HOWL of a passing gust of wind.
                      
                      In the front seat: a uniformed SANTA CLAUS.
                      
                      His middle-aged, piercing blue eyes fix on a distant object.
                      Presumably a home across the street. He WHISTLES:
                      
                      Santa Claus is coming to town...
                      
                      
                      INT. HOUSE AT THE END OF THE BLOCK - BASEMENT - NIGHT
                      
                      A NITE LIGHT glimmers from afar, like a small flame in a vast
                      cave. We approach this beacon. Slowly, a small shape comes
                      into focus: a young BOY (8).
                      
                      Closer now, we see his face, dirty. His eyes, despondent. His
                      will, broken. Tear streaked cheeks: his mind is still intact.
                      
                      CREEEEAAAAAKKK!! The door to the basement cracks open. A
                      sliver of moonlight intrudes.
                      
                      The boy SNAPS to attention, scurries away from the light.
                      Studies the door from the confines of the darkness. He
                      waits... And waits... And waits...
                      
                      Nothing. "Hmmm... That's strange." The boy approaches the
                      staircase, moonlight bathing his face in a silver glow. A
                      sandwich would do him good.
                      
                      He climbs the wooden steps, one after the other, cringing as
                      the timber CREAKS beneath him.
                      
                      He reaches the top, peers through the crack, eyes combing his
                      surroundings: no sign of activity. He tiptoes into the --
                      
                      
                      LIVING ROOM
                      
                      And inhales the smoky darkness. A barred, prison window, the
                      only source for moonlight.
                      
                      He stumbles around his unfamiliar surroundings, in haste,
                      searching the walls for something of importance --
                      
                      MISSING A SHADOWY FIGURE LOOMING IN THE CORNER
                      
                      He spots his prize --
                      
                      THE FRONT DOOR. His eyes BULGE with anxiousness. Bare-feet
                      move quickly, but quietly; covering ground at rapid speed.
                      
                      He arrives at the door, finds an industrial sized PADLOCK
                      affixed; it has a KEY in its rear! As he goes for the key, a
                      WHISPER slices through the air, like a scalpel through
                      adipose tissue...
                      
                                          MAN'S WHISPER (O.C.)
                                Hey, buddy boy...
                      
                      Goosebumps. The kid tenses, spins around in terror. A TALL
                      MAN, cloaked in shadow, creeps over to the door...
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                You trying to leave me?
                      
                      The kid spins back around, feverishly works the padlock, but
                      the key is of no use. He pulls at the lock, pounds on the
                      door, sinks to the ground in tears.
                      
                      The man speaks softly...
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (CONT'D)
                                "Hope." That's my Christmas gift
                                for you.
                      
                      BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The boy beats on the door...
                      
                                          BOY
                                HELP! PLEASE, SOMEBODY!
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                They can't hear you out there.
                      
                                            BOY
                                Lemme go!
                      
                      The man bears down on the kid, like an Oak Tree to a
                      squirrel...
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                Was that a request? Or an order?
                      
                      The boy, unsure of the proper response.
                      
                                          BOY
                                Please, mister. I just wanna go
                                home.
                      
                      The man mulls the request; cold, dark eyes scrutinizing the
                      boy. The devil tugs at the corners of his mouth. He smiles...
                      
                                            THE TALL MAN
                                Sure.
                      
                      And reaches out a hand. The young one hesitates...
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (CONT'D)
                                Something wrong...?
                      
                                          BOY
                                I can go, right? I can go home?
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                Yes. You're going home.
                      
                      His hand remains extended. The boy doesn't bite.
                      
                                            THE TALL MAN (CONT'D)
                                Well?
                      
                      Begrudgingly, he takes the man's hand. They escape into murky
                      shadows.
                      
                                          BOY (O.S.)
                                Where are we going?
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (O.S.)
                                Put this on.
                      
                                                                   FADE TO BLACK.
                      
                      
                      BLACK SCREEN
                      
                      Sounds of the great outdoors: the wind's HOWL, the CRUNCHING
                      of snow.
                      
                                             BOY (O.S.)
                                It's cold.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (O.S.)
                                Keep quiet. Remember your
                                instructions.
                      
                                          BOY (O.S.)
                                How far is the car?
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (O.S.)
                                Say another word, buddy boy...
                      
                      He doesn't. The ill-defined journey is uneasy. Howling wind.
                      Crunching snow. The sound of distant WIND CHIMES.
                      
                                             THE TALL MAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                                Stop.
                      
                      CREEEAAKKK! Rusted hinges; likely a door.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                                "Then Pharaoh commanded to all his
                                people...
                      
                      EXT. HOUSE AT THE END OF THE BLOCK - BACKYARD - NIGHT
                      
                      We approach the tall man from behind. Beyond him, the boy
                      stands with a POTATO SACK over his head. Two feet in front of
                      him, a large HOLE in the ground: a cellar.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (O.C.)
                                ...every son that is born to the
                                Hebrews you shall cast into the
                                Nile...
                      
                      We whip around the potato sack, revealing the object in the
                      man's tightly gripped hand: a SHOVEL. The man rears back...
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (CONT'D)
                                but you shall let every daughter
                                live..."
                      
                      WHACK! The back of the boy's skull meets shovel. He tumbles
                      down cellar stairs.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (CONT'D)
                                Exodus. One twenty-two.
                      
                      CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! Rapid steps, barreling
                      through snow. The man spins around, just in time to s--
                      
                      BAM!
                      
                                                                   SMASH TO BLACK.
                      
                      
                      BLACK SCREEN
                      
                      Much quieter now. Indoors. Suddenly --
                      
                      A sharp GASP, followed by COUGHING, MOANING, the sounds of a
                      body shifting and stirring...
                      
                                           THE TALL MAN (O.S.)
                                Hello?
                      
                      A deep voice...
                      
                                          MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
                                Nice of you to join us.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (O.S.)
                                Hello...? What is this? Hello?
                      
                                          MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
                                "Many false prophets will appear
                                and deceive many people."
                                          THE TALL MAN (O.S.)
                                Let me out of this!
                      
                      A rush of light --
                      
                      
                      INT. HOUSE AT THE END OF THE BLOCK - CELLAR - NIGHT
                      
                      TALL MAN'S POV
                      
                      Fuzzy, double vision comes into focus: Santa Claus stares
                      back at us, piercing blue eyes.
                      
                      BACK TO SCENE
                      
                      A dim light shines on the tall man, lying supine, body
                      strapped to a wooden table. He takes in his situation, the
                      stranger...
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                Are you familiar with Matthew,
                                twenty-four eleven?
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                Who are you?
                      
                      Santa fetches a MACHETE hanging nearby...
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN (CONT'D)
                                Wait! Just, wait. Okay? Talk to me.
                      
                      Their voices, pristine, like the inside of a recording
                      studio.
                      
                      Santa observes his surroundings: the walls, cluttered with
                      various newspaper clippings, other tortuous tools. He looks
                      to the cellar stairs, to the boy's prone body.
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                I commend you on this retreat.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                You're the boy's father, yes?
                      
                      Santa approaches the man.
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                I serve The Almighty... Who do you
                                serve?
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                I- I serve the same.
                      
                      WHACK! Santa detaches a foot from the man's body. Blood
                      spurts, a rhythmic expulsion. SCREAMS of pain, horror.
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                YOU, SIR, ARE A FALSE PROPHET!
                      
                      At the staircase, the boy stirs, but remains prone. He's
                      alive. Santa speaks calmly over agonizing screams...
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS (CONT'D)
                                Took awhile to find you. Which, as
                                you can imagine, has greatly
                                interfered with my work.
                                    (continued screaming)
                                Stop that. Now.
                      
                      He doesn't. Santa lowers the machete to his other foot...
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS (CONT'D)
                                I said, "stop. that."
                      
                      The man grits his teeth, anguish seeping through guttural
                      groans. Tears running down his ears. Santa removes the threat
                      of the machete...
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS (CONT'D)
                                Thank you. Now, as a man of G--
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                What do you want?
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                Isn't it painfully obvious...?
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                Why?
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                I'd just as soon ask you the same.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                I don't understand.
                      
                      Santa retrieves a newspaper clipping from the wall. Reads...
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                "Infant Found In Microwave."
                                    (scans the page)
                                Corroborating evidence suggests the
                                "Salt Lake Prophet" may again be
                                behind this latest monstrosity.
                      
                      Santa looks to the man with contempt, crumbles the paper.
                      
                                           SANTA CLAUS (CONT'D)
                                A baby in the microwave?
                                    (beat)
                                Why attribute infanticide to my
                                moniker? To my righteous cause?
                      
                                           THE TALL MAN
                                Oh, so that's who's hiding behind
                                the Santa suit.
                                    (beat)
                                You ask me "why?" I ask, "why not?"
                      
                      A moment between the two, dipped in a vat of tension. Then --
                      
                      Santa grins through his white, blood-speckled beard. He
                      approaches the man, machete dragging in his wake...
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                Exodus, twenty thirteen?
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                And what of it, you hypocrite?!
                                You're no better than I!
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                I sacrifice in the name of the
                                Father. You kill to serve the demon
                                within.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                Justify it however you want. You
                                murder the innocent too.
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                Well, rest assured, my next kill
                                won't be an innocent.
                      
                      Santa raises the machete over the man's neck.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                I was wrong about you and I. We are
                                very different.
                      
                                             SANTA CLAUS
                                Of course.
                      
                                          THE TALL MAN
                                We're different, because at least I
                                know I'm crazy...
                      
                      SANTA BRINGS THE MACHETE DOWN LIKE THE BLADE OF A GUILLOTINE
                      
                      CLANG! Separates the man's neck from his shoulders.
                      
                                             BOY (O.C.)
                                Santa?
                      
                      The voice hits Santa like a Mack Truck. He turns to the
                      source; the boy lies prone, face turned towards him. Santa
                      conceals the machete behind his back.
                      
                                          BOY (CONT'D)
                                Santa... You came.
                      
                      Santa's face, deadpan. His eyes, emotionless.
                      
                                          BOY (CONT'D)
                                Can you help me? My back. It- It
                                hurts. I can't move.
                      
                      Santa mulls the request; eyes remain cold. Finally, he nods.
                      
                                          SANTA CLAUS
                                Let's get you home.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

                        Christmas Captive

                        Code:
                        INT. ADVERTISING AGENCY OFFICE - NIGHT
                        
                        JANICE DELPINO (50'S), pinstriped, ball-busting CEO of Delpino
                        Promotions, paces the sprawling glass-walled room.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  Get in here, Higgins!
                        
                        Executive Assistant, SIMON HIGGINS (30's) scampers into the
                        office, straightens his bowtie.
                        
                                              SIMON HIGGINS
                                  Yes, Ms Delpino?
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  We just lost our headliner. Claims
                                  he has pneumonia. Blitzer's backing
                                  out of the project unless we can
                                  find another a-lister.
                        
                        She SLAMS a file folder on a stainless steel desk that could
                        double as an autopsy table.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO (CONT'D)
                                  Make it happen.
                        
                                              SIMON HIGGINS
                                  But, Ms Delpino, it's Christmas Eve.
                                  I can't--
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  I got three million in ad revenue,
                                  riding on this project, Higgins. If
                                  it tanks, so does your job.
                        
                        She dons a full length leopard fur coat.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO (CONT'D)
                                  I want a signed contract on my desk
                                  by tomorrow morning.
                        
                                              SIMON HIGGINS
                                  Where are your going?
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  I'm gonna catch Blitzer at the airport
                                  before the sonofabitch leaves town.
                        
                        EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
                        
                        A HOWLING SNOWSTORM peppers a MERCEDES as it speeds over the
                        slick pavement.
                        
                        INT. MERCEDES - NIGHT
                        
                        Delpino white-knuckles the steering wheel, while squinting
                        through an ice-caked windshield. She shouts into a Bluetooth
                        mic.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  Don't hand me that Christmas Eve
                                  bullsh*t, Herb. You're Jewish.
                                      (beat)
                                  Fine. I hope you choke on your Chow
                                  Mein.
                        
                        She suddenly slams on the brakes.
                        
                        EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
                        
                        FLASHING EMERGENCY LIGHTS strobe against an overturned tractor
                        trailer blocking both lanes of the snow-covered highway.
                        
                        INT. MERCEDES - NIGHT
                        
                        Delpino rolls down the window.   A STATE TROOPER leans inside.
                        
                                              STATE TROOPER
                                  You shouldn't be out here.
                        
                                               JANICE DELPINO
                                  It's an emergency. I need to get to
                                  the airport.
                        
                                              STATE TROOPER
                                  County roads are closed. You'll
                                  have to get back on the interstate,
                                  then north on sixty-five.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  I don't have that kind of time.
                        
                                              STATE TROOPER
                                  Sorry, ma'am, but the surface roads
                                  are off limits.
                        
                        Delpino raises the window, then guns the car in reverse.
                        
                        INT. MERCEDES - LATER
                        
                        Delpino glances at the GPS screen on the dash, then yanks
                        the wheel hard left.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  Screw you, trooper boy.
                        
                        EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
                        
                        The Mercedes fishtails, then turns onto a narrow county road.
                        
                        EXT. COUNTY ROAD - MOMENTS LATER
                        
                        Delpino's MERCEDES buried in a snowy roadside ditch.
                        
                        Delpino shivers in a knee-deep snowdrift, shouting into her
                        phone.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  What?! I could freeze to death by
                                  then. Now you listen to me, Footmah
                                      (beat)
                                  Whatever! If you don't get someone
                                  out here in ten minutes, I'll have
                                  you scooping camel sh*t at the city
                                  zoo for the rest of your miserable
                                  life.
                                      (beat)
                                  Hello?
                        
                        She shoves the phone in her pocket.
                        
                                                 JANICE DELPINO (CONT'D)
                                  A$$hole!
                        
                        She shields her eyes from the stinging snowstorm.
                        
                        In the distance, a FAINT GLOW appears through the whiteout.
                        
                        EXT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
                        
                        A bare light bulb burns above the dilapidated homestead's
                        porch.
                        
                        Covered in a glaze of ice and snow, Janice Delpino climbs
                        the CREAKY porch stairs.
                        
                        VIOLIN MUSIC seeps through the weatherworn clapboards.
                        
                        Delpino bangs on the faded door.
                        
                        The MUSIC stops.
                        
                        A YOUNG GIRL (10) peeks from a second floor window.
                        
                                                 OLD MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
                                  Who is it?
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  I've been in an accident. Can you
                                  let me in?
                        
                        INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
                        
                        Delpino steps inside, blows on her frozen hands.
                        
                                                 JANICE DELPINO
                                  Thank you.     The tow truck should be
                                  here soon.
                        
                        A fat, OLD MAN with a long white beard flowing from a deeply-
                        lined face, deadbolts the door.
                        
                                              OLD MAN
                                  Gonna be awhile, I reckon.
                        
                        He hobbles to a threadbare couch.
                        
                        The Young Girl tiptoes into the room, barefoot, dirty, tangled
                        hair cascading over a patchwork dress. She clutches a VIOLIN
                        and BOW.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                      (to Young Girl)
                                  Was that you playing?
                        
                        The girl glances at the Old Man, then scampers away.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO (CONT'D)
                                      (to Old Man)
                                  She's very talented. Is she your
                                  granddaughter?
                        
                        Old Man shakes his head.
                        
                                              OLD MAN
                                  Nah, she and her mother came 'round
                                  about this same time last year. On
                                  their way to an audition in the city,
                                  if memory serves.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  Where's her mother?
                        
                                              OLD MAN
                                  Gettin' mighty hungry. Care to fix
                                  us some supper while you wait?
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  Uh, I don't cook.
                        
                                              OLD MAN
                                  Well, you'd be surprised what you
                                  can do, once you put your mind to
                                  it.
                        
                        He reaches under a couch cushion, pulls out a handgun, sets
                        it in his lap.
                        
                        Janice Delpino backs toward the locked door, slips a hand
                        into her coat pocket.
                        
                                              JANICE DELPINO
                                  I should get going.
                        
                        INT. BARN - NIGHT
                        
                        Traveling down a dark corridor, we turn into a filthy horse
                        stall to find
                        
                        Janice Delpino, gagged and bound to a roof rafter, struggling
                        to break free. Her eyes widen when she sees
                        
                        YOUNG GIRL standing in the stall opening.
                        
                        EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
                        
                        A tractor engine REVS.
                        
                        A heavy chain hitched to the Mercedes bumper SNAPS taught,
                        pulls the car out of the ditch.
                        
                        INT. BARN - NIGHT
                        
                        Old Man limps toward the horse stall, pauses to unhook a
                        coiled leather whip from a wooden post, then calls out.
                        
                                              OLD MAN
                                  Found some of you spoiled city women
                                  turn out okay with a little breakin'
                                  in.
                        
                        VIOLIN MUSIC echoes through the barn.
                        
                        Old Man pauses, then lumbers to the
                        
                        HORSE STALL
                        
                        Young Girl plays her violin.   Delpino's gone.
                        
                                              OLD MAN (CONT'D)
                                  I thought I told you to stay inside.
                                  Where's--
                        
                        THWACK!
                        
                        A shovel blade smacks against the back of the Old Man's head,
                        knocking him to his knees. THWACK! A second blow splatters
                        his TEETH and BLOOD against the wall.
                        
                        Janice Delpino tosses the shovel, retrieves her car keys and
                        phone from the unconscious man's pocket, then grabs Young
                        Girl by the arm.
                        
                        EXT. BARN - NIGHT
                        
                        Janice Delpino peels away a snow-covered tarp covering the
                        Mercedes, then helps Young Girl into the backseat.
                        
                        INT. MERCEDES - NIGHT
                        
                        Delpino jumps into the driver's seat, only to discover
                        
                        A TANGLE of wires where the steering wheel was once attached.
                        
                        She pounds on the dashboard.
                        
                                                    JANICE DELPINO
                                   Sh*t!  Sh*t!  Sh*t!
                        
                        EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
                        
                        A set of headlights appears behind Delpino and the little
                        girl as they escape through deep snow.
                        
                        The RUMBLE of the tractor engine grows louder.
                        
                        HEADLIGHT BEAMS wash over Delpino and Young Girl as they
                        reach the highway intersection.
                        
                        BANG.
                        
                        Delpino grabs her leg, hobbles for a few feet, then collapses
                        on the road shoulder.
                        
                        Old Man, face bashed and bloodied, right eye swollen shut,
                        climbs off the tractor.
                        
                        Young Girl runs away, disappears into the woods along the
                        edge of the road.
                        
                        Old Man stands over the fallen Delpino, aims the pistol at
                        her.
                        
                                               OLD MAN
                                   Shoulda known you to be more trouble
                                   than you're worth.
                        
                        VRROOOM.
                        
                        Old Man whips around.
                        
                        The Young Girl steers the tractor toward a deep gully on the
                        far side of the intersection, then hops off.
                        
                        Old Man releases Delpino, shouts.
                        
                                                 OLD MAN (CONT'D)
                                     You little bitch!
                        
                        He hobbles into the intersection in pursuit of the runaway
                        tractor.
                        
                        METAL SCRAPING against pavement.    HONK, HONK.
                        
                        Old Man spins, his mouth agape.
                        
                        THWUMP. The giant blade of a speeding SNOWPLOW slams into
                        the Old Man, catapulting his broken body high into the air.
                        
                        SUPER: CHRISTMAS DAY
                        
                        EXT. CONCERT HALL - NIGHT
                        
                        A taxi screeches to a stop in front of the columned portico.
                        
                        Dressed in a tuxedo, Simon Higgins, jumps out of the taxi,
                        and yanks a wheelchair out of the trunk.
                        
                        INT. CONCERT HALL AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
                        
                        A beaming African-American WOMAN (40) wearing a red pantsuit
                        and Santa hat steps onto the stage.
                        
                                                 WOMAN
                                         (through PA system)
                                     Merry Christmas everyone. I'm Paula
                                     Westcott, Director of Lake County
                                     Family Services. Thank you all so
                                     much for your generous support of
                                     our Christmas concert to benefit
                                     foster families.
                        
                        LOBBY
                        
                        Janice Delpino, right leg heavily bandaged, rides in the
                        wheelchair pushed by Higgins.
                        
                                                 SIMON HIGGINS
                                     Does this mean I get my job back?
                        
                                                 JANICE DELPINO
                                     Only if we get to our seats on time.
                                     Step on it, grandpa!
                        
                        Higgins breaks into a jog.
                        
                        AUDITORIUM
                        
                                               PAULA WESTCOTT (V.O.)
                                   Now, please join me in welcoming the
                                   Lake County Symphony Orchestra, along
                                   with very special guest Stephanie
                                   Rudolph.
                        
                        APPLAUSE from the packed audience of FOSTER FAMILIES, AGENCY
                        EMPLOYEES and black-tie DIGNITARIES.
                        
                        The houselights dim and the stage curtain rises.
                        
                        Delpino and Higgins sneak past an USHER and scramble to their
                        seats.
                        
                        STAGE
                        
                        The CONDUCTOR waves his baton, and the ORCHESTRA belts out
                        the dramatic opening bars of Brahms Violin Concerto in D
                        Major.
                        
                        The MUSIC crescendos, then softens.
                        
                        Rising from her first violin position in a green velvet dress,
                        Stephanie Rudolph (known to us as Young Girl) draws the bow
                        across her violin strings.
                        
                        A beautiful, mournful MELODY rings through the hall.
                        
                        In the audience, Janice Delpino's wipes away tears streaming
                        down her cheeks.
                        
                        THE END.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

                          A Torture Porn Christmas

                          Code:
                          DARKNESS
                          
                          A burlap sack is slowly lifted across our POV to reveal a
                          soft focused, dimly lit
                          
                          LIVING ROOM
                          
                          The cozy room slowly comes into focus to reveal the reds and
                          greens of Christmas decorations lit up by tiny twinkling
                          white lights.
                          
                          Among the stocking holders and snowmen figurines, a red
                          POINSETTIA sits in a plastic pot on the mantle.
                          
                          Just below, in the unlit brick fireplace, a YULE LOG leans
                          against the wall.
                          
                          A young, yet raspy male voice softly speaks...
                          
                                                   DOUGLAS
                                     Where am I?
                          
                          CLOSE-UP
                          
                          Of a a MAN's gloved hands grasping four long screws with
                          loops on the end.
                          
                          We get even closer as the screws enter a Christmas tree stand
                          and sink into the soft bark.
                          
                          The hands tighten the screws one by one.  They dig deeper
                          and deeper.
                          
                          Douglas breathlessly pleads in agony with each twist.
                          
                                                 DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                     Aaggh...why are you doing this?
                          
                          CLOSE-UP
                          
                          Of a tangle of Christmas lights hitting the floor.
                          
                          The man removes his gloves and frustratingly starts to unravel
                          the cords.
                          
                          LIVING ROOM
                          
                          From Douglas the Christmas Tree's perspective, the man's
                          hands wrap strands of Christmas lights around and around.
                          
                                                   DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                     No.  Stop.  I'll do anything.  Please.
                          
                          The man can't hear his pleas as he raises the green dial
                          that controls the lights.
                          
                          The man flicks on the twinkling lights.  They dance peacefully
                          in red, greens, and blues.
                          
                                                  DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                    No.  They burn. Turn them off.
                          
                          The man turns the dial and the light synchronization increases
                          in speed.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                    What are you doing?
                          
                          The man smiles eerily and turns the dial from "pleasant" to
                          "seizure inducing."
                          
                          Douglas' GRUNT sounds as if he's about to lose consciousness,
                          but he's a tree, so...
                          
                                                MAN
                                    You'd have to have something wrong
                                    with you to enjoy that.
                          
                          The man turns the dial back to a slow twinkle and leaves the
                          room with a box marked "OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS DECO"
                          
                          Nothing stirs in the room.
                          
                          Douglas begins to WHIMPER.
                          
                          He hears the fatherly voice of...
                          
                                                  YULE
                                    Hey, buddy.  Buddy.
                          
                          Douglas catches his breath.
                          
                                                  DOUGLAS
                                    Yeah?
                          
                                                YULE
                                    What's your name?
                          
                                                  DOUGLAS
                                    Douglas.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    I'm Yule. I know your in a bad spot
                                    here and trying to figure it all
                                    out, but you're not alone. It's
                                    going to be okay.
                          
                                                  DOUGLAS
                                    Who?    Where are you?
                          
                                                YULE
                                    I'm the big ol' tree by the fireplace.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    All I see is a big log.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    Sometimes I forget. I am nothing
                                    more than a log now, but before that
                                    guy got a hold of me, I was five
                                    times the size of you. Should've
                                    fell on him when I had the chance.
                          
                          A know-it-all voice from the mantle interrupts...
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Yeah, right, as if you had the ability
                                    to do that. We're flora. You know
                                    we're powerless to stop a monster
                                    like him.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    You know I'm getting really tired of
                                    your negative attitude all the time.
                                    In case you hadn't noticed, we are
                                    all in a really tough spot here.
                                    Maybe a little optimism every now
                                    and again could make a big difference.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Everyone has to die sometime. No
                                    amount of optimism can stop the
                                    inevitable.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    Stick a plant food spike in it, will
                                    ya? Can't you see this guy's in
                                    pain? How you holding up, buddy?
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    These lights burn and they're heavy.
                                    The screws in my trunk are going all
                                    the way through my bark and I'm so
                                    thirsty.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    That monster could've at least put
                                    some water in your bowl.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    What for? To prolong the agony? I
                                    say at this point it's hurry up and
                                    get it over with.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    I miss my family. We made such a
                                    fine line. I really hope my kids
                                    aren't suffering like this.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    They might be okay if they're just
                                    sprouting a couple of weak limbs...but
                                    even then, they could always be picked
                                    ironically, you know, Charlie Brown
                                    style...
                          
                                                YULE
                                    Shut up, plant. He doesn't need to
                                    think about all that right now.
                          
                          A weak female voice speaks out from above the door frame...
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    You guys are jerks.
                          
                                                   DOUGLAS
                                    What's that?     Who said that?
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    You're a jerk.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    A new guy shows up and it's all 'oh,
                                    dear. Oh, my.' Well, I'm nearly
                                    dried to nothing and no one's said a
                                    word to me.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    I didn't even know you were there.
                                    I'm so sorry.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    I knew you were there.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    Then why didn't you say anything?
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Because she's nothing more than a
                                    parasite.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    Every living thing's a parasite.
                          
                                                 POINSETTIA
                                    Sounds like you won't be one for
                                    much longer.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    Geeze, show some compassion.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    No, he's right. I haven't got much
                                    longer. I'm afraid none of us do.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    Don't talk like that. We're going
                                    to get out of here. All of us.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    Do you even realize what those sick
                                    people do under me while I'm wasting
                                    away to nothing? It's depraved.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    What do they do?
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    They make out under his rotting
                                    carcass.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    At least people can pronounce my
                                    name correctly.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Whatever, Missile Toe.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    Make fun all you want, but you're
                                    all in for a worse fate than me.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    What do you mean?
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    Why do you think Yule is by that big
                                    fireplace? And you, you get a front
                                    row seat to witnessing those happy
                                    monsters give each other gifts as
                                    you wither away just like me. If
                                    you're lucky, when it's all over,
                                    you'll end up like Yule and in some
                                    fire pit. That's if you're lucky.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Doesn't sound so bad for me.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    Your future is the saddest of all.
                                    See, you're a living plant. You
                                    still have your roots in soil, but
                                    do you think these monsters care?
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    They haven't been monsters to me.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    Haven't they? When did they last
                                    water you?
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Well...They will. I'm sure they
                                    will once my leaves start...
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    You're as good as dead just like the
                                    rest of us. They might even toss
                                    you out while you're still growing.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    That will never happen to me.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    You're so stupid. Don't you know
                                    you don't even have anything to do
                                    with Christmas? You're just a
                                    fabrication of some entrepreneur.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    I must mean something, or why would
                                    I be here?
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    Uh, duh, your leaves are red. You
                                    think they need any more reason to
                                    kill you?
                          
                                                 YULE
                                    Calm down.  We got to stick together.
                          
                                                MISTLETOE
                                    Not me. My days of instigating sexual
                                    harassment are over.
                          
                          The sprig of dried plant falls in SLOW MOTION. Some of the
                          leaves shatter when it hits the hardwood floor.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Those were some strange last words.
                          
                                                YULE
                                    We've got to keep it together. We'll
                                    get out of this. You have to believe.
                          
                          The Man enters the room, picks up Yule and heaves him into
                          the fireplace.
                          
                                                 DOUGLAS
                                    Yule!
                          
                          A flame engulfs Yule and the Man leaves the room.
                          
                          Yule's screams of anguish sound a lot like crackling and
                          hissing firewood.
                          
                                                 DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                    Oh my God!   Oh my God! Oh my God!
                          
                          The Man comes back with an armload of presents that he places
                          under Douglas and then goes back to get more.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                    Everything Mistletoe said is true.
                                    They're going to celebrate while
                                    we're dying. I can't to end up in a
                                    fire pit.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    She was right. I feel horrible for
                                    Yule. He's burning pretty good down
                                    there, right?
                          
                                                 DOUGLAS
                                    What?
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Is Yule burning? I can't see down
                                    there.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    Um, yeah, it's terrible.
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    I figured it was. Alright.  Let's
                                    not let him die in vain.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    What can we do?
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    We're going to do what Yule said and
                                    get out of here.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    But...but how?
                          
                                                POINSETTIA
                                    Leave it to me.
                          
                          Poinsettia sits motionless for some time.
                          
                          Suddenly, the faintest twitch of one of his leaves.  Then
                          even more fluttering.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS
                                    You're moving! You're doing it!
                          
                          Poinsettia begins to slowly rock in its pot.
                          
                          Then he falls forward and smashes into the fireplace bricks
                          below sending leaves and dirt flying everywhere.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                    No!
                          
                          The Man enters with more presents for the tree.
                          
                          He picks up the Poinsettia.  It's damaged beyond repair.  He
                          tosses it into a trash can.
                          
                          As he leaves the room, he crushes what's left of Mistletoe.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                    If this is how it has to be.
                          
                          A strand of lights falls off of one of the branches.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                    If this is to be my fate.
                          
                          A Christmas light bulb falls to ground and shatters.
                          
                                                DOUGLAS (CONT'D)
                                    Then I go out on my terms.
                          
                          Another bulb crashes to the ground.
                          
                          After a moment, a puff of smoke, then a small flame.
                          
                          Soon, Douglas is engulfed with flames. The fire spreads to
                          the presents under the tree before catching the walls ablaze.
                          
                          Smoke detectors SCREAM.
                          
                          The Man runs in with a fire extinguisher, but it's not enough.
                          
                          He flees the home.
                          
                          EXT. SMOLDERING HOME - MORNING
                          
                          Smoke billows up from what's left of the house.
                          
                                                                                FADE OUT:

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

                            The Christmas Mantle

                            Code:
                            FADE IN:
                            
                            
                            INT. COLLEGE APT -- NIGHT=
                            
                            A Christmas Mantle decorated with care-- holly, wreath in the
                            middle, three stockings (labelled "Adam", "Billy", and
                            "Chris") hanging from holiday-themed holders.
                            
                                                 CHRIS (O.S.)
                                       We'll just put you up here too, I'm
                                       sure the guys won't mind.
                            
                            CHRIS, (19, Handsome, MIT sweater) enters the frame and adds
                            a fourth holder-- a snow man.
                            
                            Over on the couch, JENNIFER (18, perky) finishes putting her
                            name on a stocking in glue paint.
                            
                            She gets up and approaches Chris at the hearth.
                            
                            As she hangs the stocking he pulls her into an embrace,
                            gently kissing her lips.
                            
                                                 CHRIS (CONT'D)
                                       It'll probably wind up full of
                                       coal.
                            
                                                 JENNIFER
                                       Why's that?
                            
                                                 CHRIS
                                       You're definitely on the naughty
                                       list.
                            
                            As he goes for another kiss, she rolls her eyes and pulls
                            back.
                            
                                                 CHRIS (CONT'D)
                                       I got you something.
                            
                            He releases her and goes over to the fully appointed
                            Christmas tree. Picks up a meticulously wrapped and ribboned
                            gift.
                            
                                                 CHRIS (CONT'D)
                                       I know it's a little early...
                            
                            She smiles at him, stunned, and accepts the gift.
                            
                                                 JENNIFER
                                       It's too pretty to open.
                            
                                                CHRIS
                                      Oh, there's nothing inside. That's
                                      the gift.
                            
                            She playfully hits him with the gift, then sits on the couch
                            to carefully unwrap it.
                            
                            Chris takes a seat next to her, watching her face, confident.
                            
                            She opens the box and pulls out, face stunned.
                            
                                                JENNIFER
                                      It's perfect. How did you even
                                      know?
                            
                            Chris shrugs, smiling.
                            
                                                CHRIS
                                      It's just a gift of mine, pun
                                      intended.
                            
                                                JENNIFER
                                      Well, I've got something special
                                      for you too.
                            
                            She stands up, smiles wickedly.
                            
                                                JENNIFER (CONT'D)
                                      But you'll have to come with me to
                                      your room to unwrap it...
                            
                            Chris stands up, game on, but is interrupted by the RING of
                            his phone.
                            
                                                CHRIS
                                      Hold that thought.
                            
                            He answers the phone.
                            
                                                CHRIS (ON PHONE) (CONT'D)
                                      Mom? Can I call you back?
                            
                            Listening, his face drops.
                            
                                                CHRIS (ON PHONE)   (CONT'D)
                                      What?
                            
                            He collapses onto the couch, staring blankly up at the
                            ceiling.
                            
                                                CHRIS (ON PHONE) (CONT'D)
                                      Is someone on their way to get me?
                                      I'll see you soon. I love you.
                            
                            He lets the phone slip from his hand, lost in his own world.
                            
                                                   JENNIFER
                                         What is it?
                            
                                                   CHRIS
                                         My dad died.
                            
                            
                            INT. GARAGE -- TWILIGHT
                            
                            A dark garage, workbench and wall adorned with tools of the
                            craft. High windows frosted with snow, with Christmas lights
                            bleeding through from outside.
                            
                            In the middle of the room, Santa's sleigh.
                            
                            With a grinding noise, the garage's door opens. Flurries of
                            snow drift in, followed by a series of somber looking elves,
                            carrying a substantial burden between them--
                            
                            SANTA, dead, on a stretcher.
                            
                            With some effort, they place Santa's body in the sled.
                            Arrange his position to some dignity.
                            
                            The elves stand in a circle around the sled, a silent
                            reverie.
                            
                            Then they pick the sled up and carry it out into the snow.
                            
                            
                            EXT. NORTH POLE SQUARE -- CONTINUOUS
                            
                            The literal North Pole stands in the middle of Santa's
                            village, a large manor house in the background.
                            
                            From the side, the elves carry in Santa on his sleigh.
                            
                            TIME-LAPSE
                            
                            MUSIC CUE: "I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS"
                            
                            A procession of elves, people, reindeer, all moving past the
                            sleigh, paying respect. After passing they form a milling
                            crowd in the background.
                            
                            At the end of the line, Chris supports MRS. CLAUS (fifties,
                            looks like she bakes a mean apple pie).
                            
                            Seeing her husband, Mrs. Claus bursts into tears and buries
                            her face in her son's chest.
                            
                            He pats her awkwardly, eyes dry, pointedly avoiding looking
                            at his father's body.
                            
                            As they move away, the elves and people organize facing
                            Santa's sleigh, with Chris and Mrs. Claus at the front.
                            
                            A wizened old elf, DOC, comes forward. Stands next to the
                            sleigh and gives an impassioned eulogy to the crowd.
                            
                            Chris stares into the ground, while Mrs. Claus breaks from
                            her sobs and pays attention resolutely, squeezing Chris's
                            hand.
                            
                            As Doc finishes his sermon, he motions Chris to come forward.
                            
                            Chris, broken from his stupor, shakes his head `no.'
                            
                            Doc nods his head empathetically and turns to the sleigh.
                            
                            He knocks on it with his tiny fist, and it floats up.
                            
                            It floats higher, and we follow it as it drifts up into the
                            night sky, smaller and smaller until its just another star in
                            the sky, slightly brighter than the rest.
                            
                            Back down to the already dispersing crowd.
                            
                            END TIME LAPSE
                            
                            Doc approaches Chris and Mrs. Claus.
                            
                                                DOC
                                      I'm so sorry for your loss.
                            
                            Mrs. Claus hugs him.
                            
                                                MRS. CLAUS
                                      Thank you Doc. It was a beautiful
                                      ceremony.
                            
                                                DOC
                                      If I could just borrow Chris for a
                                      moment.
                            
                                                   MRS. CLAUSE
                                      Of course.
                            
                            Doc, despite his small size, very deftly directs Chris to
                            walk with him.
                            
                                                DOC
                                      I know this is a tough time for
                                      you. And I'm here for you whatever
                                      you need.
                            
                            Chris is silent, his face betraying nothing.
                            
                                                DOC (CONT'D)
                                      This may not be the best time, but
                                      there are things we need to take
                                      care of. We're talking ten days til
                                      zero hour and a new Santa. You've
                                      got responsibilities. People are
                                      counting on you.
                            
                            Chris stops walking. Looks down at Doc.
                            
                                                CHRIS
                                      I didn't ask for this.
                            
                                                DOC
                                          (hands up)
                                      I know. I know. There's not much,
                                      almost everything is taken care of.
                                      That new tracking system you
                                      programmed has really helped us out
                                      a lot. We can get down to details
                                      tomorrow. I'm just...
                                          (re: Christmas Village)
                                      We're just counting on you.
                            
                            As he finishes, Doc holds out an ORNATE KEY.
                            
                            Chris refuses it and walks quickly away, towards the entrance
                            of the manor house.
                            
                            Doc starts to go after him, but catches sight of Mrs. Claus
                            holding up a hand- `Don't.'
                            
                            The door slams as Chris goes into the house.
                            
                            
                            INT. SANTA'S HOUSE -- HALLWAY
                            
                            The walls are filled with annual photo records of every
                            Christmas-- Santa and key elves standing in front of the
                            sleight at the north pole.
                            
                            Chris walks slowly down a long hallway, trailing his hand
                            along the wall as he takes in hundreds of years of Christmas.
                            
                            CHRIS'S POV
                            
                            Between the photos marked 1989 and 1990, the man in the Santa
                            suit changes from an old man (Chris's grandfather) to a
                            younger, jolly version of the Santa who just passed away.
                            
                            The pictures for `91 and `92 are similar to 90', but in `93
                            he's holding a baby.
                            
                            Through the years to 2012, we watch the baby, Chris, grow up
                            at his father's side, from cheery boy, to sullen teenager, to
                            young man.
                            
                            Chris stares at the picture of himself in 2012, standing with
                            his arm around his father.
                            
                            Looks back down the long hallway, at all the photos on the
                            wall. Forward at the empty slots yet to be filled.
                            
                            Sighs.
                            
                            
                            INT. SANTA'S HOUSE -- OFFICE
                            
                            A well-furnished room. On the wall on wooden holders are two
                            large scrolls, labeled `Naughty' and `Nice'. Fads toys from
                            the last twenty years fill the shelves-- Furbies, Beanie
                            Babies, Gameboys. A large nutcracker dominates one corner.
                            
                            Chris sits at a large oak desk, staring into the fire burning
                            in the fire place.
                            
                            A KNOCK at the door. Chris doesn't stir. Mrs. Claus opens the
                            door, shutting it gently behind her.
                            
                                                MRS. CLAUS
                                      Hey sweetie.
                            
                            She comes over and places her hands on his shoulders.
                            
                            They stare into the fire together. Melancholy.
                            
                                                CHRIS
                                      I always knew it was coming. I just
                                      thought I had more time.
                            
                                                MRS. CLAUS
                                      I know it's tough. That there's a
                                      lot that you wanted to do out
                                      there. But choice is a luxury. This
                                      is something bigger. Everything
                                      that's out there, all those things
                                      you enjoyed in the real world,
                                      they're because people were able to
                                      see something beyond themselves.
                            
                                                CHRIS
                                      I'm not even done with school. What
                                      about my friends? What about
                                      Jennifer?
                            
                                                MRS. CLAUS
                                      They're still there. You'll be able
                                      to give them something special
                                      every year.
                            
                                                CHRIS
                                      What if I'm no good? I was never
                                      the jolly type. I'm lactose
                                      intolerant!
                            
                                                MRS. CLAUS
                                      I know you'll be great.
                                          (re: scrolls)
                                      These will probably be replaced
                                      with iPads. The sleigh will
                                      probably look more like a
                                      rocketship than a sled. You'll find
                                      a way to make it work. I know you
                                      will.
                            
                            The two of them laugh, in spite of themselves.
                            
                            Mrs. Claus pulls out the key from before. Holds it out to
                            Chris.
                            
                            He contemplates it for a moment and then grabs it.
                            
                                                MRS. CLAUSE
                                      I know you'll make him proud.
                            
                                                                         FADE TO BLACK.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Entries - Xmas 2013 short script challenge

                              Santas vs. ALIENS!

                              Code:
                              Fade in on WINTER SKIES over Seattle as...
                              
                              EXT. A C-130 MILITARY TRANSPORT AT 10,000 FEET
                              
                              Roars into view.
                              
                              The aircraft is mocked up in BLACK.  Special Operations bird.
                              Ultra secret.
                              
                              When suddenly the plane performs a corkscrew maneuver, a
                              move designed to throw off enemy action.
                              
                              It rights itself and just ahead...
                              
                              We see the halo-glow of a large city.
                              
                              INT. C-130 MILITARY TRANSPORT - REAR
                              
                              Two rows of soldiers, four-men-in-all. Chewing gum. Checking
                              weapons. Securing webbing. Or just looking aimlessly into
                              the red gloom. One other thing, these guys appear to be
                              dressed up in...
                              
                              Santa Claus outfits.
                              
                              EXT. SKIES OVER SEATTLE - SAME
                              
                              The plane suddenly lurches away from its current vector,
                              leaving Seattle behind and we're on course for something
                              new. The only light for miles, it could be a landing pad on
                              the moon, thousands of small lights.
                              
                              EXT. C-130 - ANOTHER ANGLE
                              
                              The bird circling, showing us the underside of its wings.
                              
                              EXT. ON THE GROUND
                              
                              Watching the arc of the military bird from the ground.
                              
                              We then pan down to see...
                              
                              A large SHOPPING MALL.
                              
                              EXT. THE MALL - FRONT ELEVATION
                              
                              A f***ing mess greets us. Abandoned shopping trolleys.
                              Many turned over. Their electrical items including fluffy
                              toys spewed over the asphalt. Smashed up Widescreen TVs.
                              
                              EXT. SKIES OVER SEATTLE
                              
                              A balletic flow of PARACHUTISTS leaving the aircraft.
                              
                              As we sweep up into the sky we meet one SOLDIER'S FACE and
                              disappear through his sky-diver mask...
                              
                              FLASHBACK OPENS ON:
                              
                              Super:
                              
                                           Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska
                              
                              A cold shack that serves for a Briefing Room.  Over the door-
                              "Counter-Alien-Incursion-Command".
                              
                                                     GENERAL WALKER
                                         The war has moved from the open corn
                                         fields of postcard 1950s America
                                         into the crazy and confused suburbs
                                         of the 21st Century. We can no longer
                                         rely on the fire season for cover...
                                         or tornadoes.
                              
                              Silence.
                                                     GENERAL WALKER (CONT'D)
                                         We may even have to tell the truth!
                              
                                                     ROOKIE "SPECIAL OPS" SOLDIER
                                         What do these aliens look like sir?
                              
                                                     GENERAL WALKER
                                         They're shape-shifters, they could
                                         appear as anything. They could even
                                         assume the shape of a pinball
                                         machine.
                              
                              FLASHBACK OVER.
                              
                              EXT. SKIES OVER SEATTLE -   AS BEFORE
                              
                              Dusk over the Pacific North West.
                              
                              Out of the fading light drift four parachutists, landing at
                              the...
                              
                              EXT. REAR OF THE MALL - LOADING AREA B
                              
                              And as they hit the deck, they bundle chutes up, stuffing
                              them into garbage bins, and scatter. We're inside a 50 yard
                              square depot area, known to the mission as the cube.
                              
                              RANDOLF, mission leader, 30, watches like a hawk.  Large
                              trash containers line up against one wall.
                              
                              Each soldier wears a radio collar mic.  Speaking softly into
                              his:
                              
                                                    RANDOLF
                                        We're in the cube. Over.
                              
                                                    C-130 OPERATOR
                                        Extraction at location Whiskey- Delta.
                                        09.30hrs. Over.
                              
                              SILENCE and WIND and the DOG TURD in the middle of the cube.
                              HUMMING of MACHINERY somewhere close.
                              
                              Rest of the squad in position, covering those corners.  Beyond -
                              open ground, car parking for thousands of yards.
                              
                              Weapons unpacked, M-16s, Grenade-Launcher, Chain Gun hanging
                              off the big Texan.
                              
                              TYLER, 32, New Yawker, runs back in to Randolf, who is in
                              the middle of the cube waving directions.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Sir, we got nothing. There isn't
                                        any sign of any civvies either.
                                        Nothing so much as wet dick out there.
                              
                              Tyler turns to watch O'Riley, and Tex, both on point,
                              positioned each side of the opening to the cube.
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                        No civvies so we don't even need
                                        these chicken sh*t outfits now sir,
                                        huh?
                              
                                                    RANDOLF
                                        Four Santas scheduled for the
                                        graveyard shift were told to stay at
                                        home tonight so that we could walk
                                        in without so much as a rat taking
                                        notice.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Well, it seems like there's not even
                                        a mouse stirring let alone any rats
                                        sir.
                              
                                                    RANDOLF
                                        Stay frosty soldier. We've got bookoo
                                        aliens in the wire for sure.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        I'm frosty sir... it's f***ing
                                        freezing.
                              
                                                    RANDOLF
                                        Move on up Tyler... we'll enter the
                                        mall.
                              
                              O'Riley, 28, Out on point waves them in behind.
                              
                              Randolf waves Tex over. All four now in single file break
                              out of the cube and tip-toe along under the shadow of the
                              mall wall.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        Cold enough to freeze-off a reindeer's
                                        d*ck, huh Tyler.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        To pussies like you maybe.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        When the action starts Tyler, don't
                                        ask me for that blowjob just to calm
                                        you down.
                              
                              Tyler goes back to watching the eerie scene out front.
                              O'Riley, Tex and Randolf, who keeps looking back over his
                              shoulder, bunch up at the edge of the mall's wide glass
                              entrance.
                              
                                                    RANDOLF
                                        Okay.. Tyler... take us in.
                              
                              Tyler hears and moves quickly around the corner with O'Riley
                              curled up and compact behind, and BAM...
                              
                              EXT. THE MALL -
                              
                              Tyler and O'Riley enter and immediately break right, forming
                              up behind a BIG BURGERS stand. Tyler reaches up and dips
                              his finger. Licks.
                              
                                                      TYLER
                                        Still warm.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        It ain't your girlfriend's pu$$y.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        It ain't my ass crack either.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                            (over mic)
                                        Clear, sir, come on in and break
                                        left, that's left.
                              
                              Response as CRACKLE in mic. Tex and Randolf burst in and
                              after a 20 yard sprint hunker down behind a shopping trolley
                              out in front of a neon sign that reads BIG TOYZ WORLD.
                              
                              They look over to see, as "Team A" now, Tyler, his head
                              peaking from behind the burger stand, and O'Riley, spread
                              out on the shopping mall floor behind his scope just in front
                              of the JC Pennydropper storefront.
                              
                              Randolf waves an angry hand.  The signal to break-out and
                              push forward.
                              
                              Back with Tyler... O'Riley.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        How come we always get to go first.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        Because we're the ass holes.
                              
                              They shuffle forwards.
                              
                              ANOTHER ANGLE
                              
                              We see two Santa Claus characters inching towards us when
                              they suddenly break sideways crashing to the floor. Tyler
                              behind a large stuffed donkey. O'Riley positioned under a
                              bubble gum dispenser.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        You see something?
                              
                              O'Riley wide-eyed.
                              
                                                       O'RILEY
                                        Not sure.
                              
                                                       TYLER
                                        Huh.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        They're here.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Bullshit, they cleared out hours
                                        ago.
                              
                              Mall in front ominously quiet. Winking lights of a Christmas
                              tree. Empty and lonely shop frontages. An empty coffee
                              shop. An artificial fountain. A six ft tall plaster Easter
                              Bunny. A kiosk for cigarettes. A large plastic dinosaur
                              statue. Tinsel draped across the ceiling of a lamp shade
                              store.
                              
                              O'Riley's eyes trace out each of these features.
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                        Time to call up the squad.  We've
                                        missed it.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        We've not missed anything.  They're
                                        here I tell you!
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Why are we still wearing these chicken
                                        sh*t outfits?
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        You missed the briefing?
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        No.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        Then you'll remember that there were
                                        supposed to be shoppers here. We
                                        were just supposed to walk in, like
                                        the annual mall Santa crew who were
                                        told to stand down today, lucky
                                        bastards, and take up positions around
                                        the mall like them and wait. We had
                                        to get in somehow, civilians get
                                        spooked when they see soldiers.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        I guess we didn't need those red
                                        sacks to get the weapons in. Left
                                        mine with the chutes. Sure looks
                                        like there's been some looting here
                                        tough.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        Something ain't right, I tell you.
                              
                              O'Riley scans the mall again, the same picture: dinosaur,
                              Cigarette Kiosk, Easter Bunny, Lamp Store and...
                              
                              His eyes switch back, he's watching one item, eyes wide...
                              
                                                    O'RILEY (CONT'D)
                                        Tyler.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        I'm right here.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        Take your safety off.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        There ain't nothing here.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        Do it and keep you eyes on me.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Okay, I'm ready to rock, now who do
                                        we shoot?
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        See anything that don't fit.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Like what, that...
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        Easter Bunny.
                              
                              Both soldiers focus on the Easter Bunny.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY (CONT'D)
                                        It's Christmas, what the f*** is the
                                        Easter Bunny doing in here?
                              
                              A long silence. HUMMING of the MALL POWER. O'Riley and
                              Tyler watch the plastic Easter Bunny. Smile fixed, sinister
                              looking, situated in entrance to a SCENTED CANDLE SHOP.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        F***ing creepy-looking bastard ain't
                                        he?
                              
                              Suddenly it moves... out of the arm shoots a BLAST of red
                              light, a plasma-beam comes scorching across the mall floor
                              and explodes... As it shifts to the ceiling bringing down a
                              lighting track and dust over the soldiers who are already
                              rolling and firing...
                              
                              Screaming into his mic...
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                        Contact, we got f***ing aliens in
                                        the wire. They're the Easter Bunny,
                                        the f***ing Easter Bunny, do you
                                        read, if you see any Easter bunnies,
                                        shoot those f***ers!
                              
                                                    MIC
                                        Confirm Tyler, confirm targets.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Shoot any f***ing bunnies, Easter-
                                        f***ing-bunnies.
                              
                              Plasma beams whipping all around the mall, hitting everything
                              but Tyler and O'Riley who barrel into a SPORTING GOODS STORE.
                              Back down the mall, out of view the sound of other fire.
                              Team B making contact.
                              
                              The sound is DEAFENING, as lighting tracks and glass and
                              stuffed toys and bubble gums spills all over the mall floors.
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                        New targets! 2nd floor, there's
                                        even more of the bastards!
                              
                              Easter bunnies lined up and ZAPPING away with plasma beams.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                            (screaming)
                                        Light 'em up!
                              
                              O'Riley dives to the ground, skimming the slick floor as he
                              opens up with his M-16.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Get back here you crazy Irishman!
                              
                              O'Riley is going crazy, he slaps in another magazine.
                              Shattering the glass behind the bunnies. McDonald's, a Korean
                              Self-Service counter, Chinese Takeaway, reduced to glass and
                              bullet holes.
                              
                                                    O'RILEY
                                        Come on man, let's get up there,
                                        let's get some!
                              
                              O'Riley gets to his feet and immediately catches a plasma
                              ray between the eyes, he slumps to his feet, his head fizzing
                              and falls forward onto his face.
                              
                                                     TYLER
                                        O'Riley!  F***!
                              
                              Tyler backs into the store, out of the incoming beams.
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                            (over mic)
                                        O'Riley is down!
                              
                              We hear the CHAIN GUN begin to crank up, back down the mall.
                              B-Team in-the-sh*t.
                              
                                                    RANDOLF
                                            (over mic, crackle)
                                        We're catching hell back here. We're
                                        going to be overrun. Pull out, get
                                        out Tyler... Code Z. Code f***ing Z!
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Randolf, Capt?
                              
                              Static.
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                        F*** it, here goes.
                              
                              The chain gun falls silent.
                              
                              Tyler breaks from his shop-bunker, slipping on the glass.
                              The beams begin to whip around him, an Easter Bunny has
                              appeared on his level, it's the original one from the shop,
                              Tyler empties a full magazine at it.
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                        DIE YOU F***ER!!!
                              
                              The bunny stumbles forwards... CRASHES to the ground. Begins
                              to glow, green, pulsates, turns to goo, dissipates into acid.
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                        Whoa, yeah man, whoooooooooa!
                              
                              Tyler sprints in to a DISCOUNT SHOES and slips in behind a
                              counter. Checks his ammunition. Out. Feels for a fresh
                              magazine. Nothing, all used up.
                              
                              He leans back against the counter, breathing deeply.  Reaches
                              up to the collar mic.
                              
                                                    TYLER (CONT'D)
                                        Command One, Ape-Sh*t requesting an
                                        Alpha-Delta priority mission.
                              
                                                    C-130 OPERATOR
                                        Confirm Ape-Sh*t, is the team clear.
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Negative...
                                            (pause)
                                        It's just me.
                              
                              Beat.
                              
                                                     C-130 OPERATOR
                                        Ape-Sh*t.  What's your mission?
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Calling in a f***ing Code Z...
                              
                              Beat.
                              
                                                    C-130 OPERATOR
                                        Code Z. Confirm location Ape-Sh*t?
                              
                                                    TYLER
                                        Snug as a bug at extraction point,
                                        overlooking the target. Over.
                              
                                                    C-130 OPERATOR
                                        Hunker down little brother.
                              
                              Tyler sits back, all around him Christmas decorations.  He
                              stares up and sees the face of an elf grinning at him.  After
                              a pause he smiles back.
                              
                              From somewhere outside, a ROAR is building on the air...
                              
                              EXT. POV FROM THE HILL OPPOSITE THE MALL - SAME
                              
                              As two F-15s SCREAM low over the mall, releasing two napalm
                              canisters apiece.
                              
                              INT. MALL - BACK WITH TYLER
                              
                              Moving in on his eyes which reflect back an expanding ball
                              of orange flame.
                              
                              INT. MALL ENTRANCE - MOMENTS LATER
                              
                              Easter bunnies roaming like robots, turning into melting goo
                              amidst the fire...
                              
                                                                                FADE OUT.

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