Entries - Valentine's Day '19 contest

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  • Entries - Valentine's Day '19 contest

    Here are the 5 entries for the 2019 Valentine's Day contest:

    Martin Is Nice
    Midnight Caller
    First Time
    Fallin'
    The Waiting Game

    PM or email me your top 3 picks, preferably in the format:

    1st - title1
    2nd - title2
    3rd - title3

    If you happen to take notes as you read, these can be posted once results are announced.

    If you don't like the code boxes, which preserve formatting, then try selecting Thread Tools > Show Printable Version instead.

    For posterity's sake, the discussion thread is here and the results thread is here.
    Last edited by dpaterso; 02-16-2019, 01:30 PM.

  • #2
    Re: Entries - Valentine's Day '19 contest

    Code:
    [b]MARTIN IS NICE[/b]
    
    
    QUICK ESTABLSHING SHOTS - THE NORTH WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO
    
    Chicago in springtime is magic. Ask anyone that's lived
    there. BUILDINGS, BIRDS, and PEOPLE wake up from the winter.
    
    We're giving the CITY the hero treatment Woody Allen gave
    Manhattan back when he was known for making movies.
    
    Springtime in Paris can eat a dick. Chicago is the best.
    
                        OLD POLISH MAN (O.S.)
              -- no car. No house. I'm not
              putting them on the form.
    
                        ELIZA (O.S.)
              You drove here. In a car. You have
              an address. That's a house. Why
              aren't we listing them?
    
                        OLD POLISH MAN (O.S.)
              I sign my car to my brother. I sign
              my house to my wife. This is no
              problem. We leave them off the
              bankruptcy form.
    
    
    INT. BRIGHT SIDE BANKRUPTCY - ELIZA'S OFFICE - DAY
    
    TEXT ON SCREEN: Bright Side Bankruptcy. Chicago
    
    ELIZA WILBANKS (45) listens to THE OLD POLISH MAN. She's
    behind a MODERN DESK. An active listener. A touch rigid.
    
    Eliza is ahead of everyone. All the time. Her EYES tell us
    she's thinking waaaaaaaaay too fast.
    
                        OLD POLISH MAN
              This way I keep my car because it's
              my brother's. This way I keep my
              house because it's my wife's.
    
                        ELIZA
              You think the court's gonna let you
              say you don't own anything right
              before filing bankruptcy?
    
                        OLD POLISH MAN
              I won't own it. Do you not
              understand my plan?
    
                        ELIZA
                  (yikes. What a dick)
              I understand. But thank you for
              talking down to me. I needed that.
    
                        OLD POLISH MAN
              I've got a great mind for strategy.
    
                        ELIZA
              One little hiccup. What you just
              pitched is fraud. Not only that but
              it's really stupid fraud. Painfully
              stupid. The bankruptcy courts have
              been running for hundreds of years
              and people waaaay smarter than you
              have tried to scam the system in
              ways that are literally hundreds of
              times more sophisticated than you
              can fathom. If you have a great
              mind for strategy. Start using it!
    
                        OLD POLISH MAN
              That was very long and unkind. So
              that's a "no?"
    
                        ELIZA
              That's a "no" and if you try to do
              anything illegal again I'm dropping
              you and turning your "great mind"
              and your "stupid ass" in.
    
    Eliza grabs his bundle of PAPERS and -- SLAM -- throws them
    into the TRASH CAN. A fake SMILE. Eliza is cold as ice.
    
                        ELIZA
              Shall we start again?
    
                        OLD POLISH MAN
              You should shred those. I don't
              want anyone stealing my identity.
    
                        ELIZA
              No one wants your identity, Mr.
              Kowalski. I mean -- you don't want
              your identity!
    
    
    INT. BRIGHT SIDE BANKRUPTCY - BREAK ROOM - DAY
    
    A BIRTHDAY CAKE -- Happy Birthday Eliza.
    
                        OFFICE CREW
              Happy birthday to you. Happy
              birthday to you. Happy birthday
              dear Eliiiiiiiiii-za.
    
    OFFICE SINGING. From EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE.
    
    Eliza tries to SMILE but it looks like pain. It is pain. Not
    acute pain but the slow burn of corporate hell.
    
    
    INT. BRIGHT SIDE BANKRUPTCY - BREAK ROOM - LATER
    
    NANCY (30s) a conservative gal who is too sincere for her own
    good, pours CHAMPAGNE for Eliza. Into a RED PLASTIC CUP.
    
    Nancy is a bumpkin. And she can't hide it. It's a sad, little
    office party but hey -- it's booze.
    
                        NANCY
              Is it weird being forty five? It
              seems so advanced --
    
                        ELIZA
              -- it's not weird and don't say
              "advanced." Take it easy, I'm not
              drinking too much. I have so much
              work to do after this --
    
                        NANCY
              -- come on! Don't work tonight. You
              should drink so much you do that
              hilarious "panic" thing!
    
                        ELIZA
              It's not panic. I just -- sometimes
              accidentally take an honest look at
              my life when I drink too much.
    
                        NANCY
              Yeah. Never do that. Why don't you
              call Martin? Martin is nice.
    
                        ELIZA
              He's very nice -- just. He started
              microbrewing in his garage.
    
                        NANCY
              Oh no.
    
                        ELIZA
              I'm ready to date but I am not
              ready to pretend like I'm
              interested in microbrewing.
    
                         NANCY
              You're not -- like -- having a
              really quiet meltdown where you act
              normal and then walk into traffic
              and everyone's like -- "She seemed
              so happy!"
    
                        ELIZA
              I'm fine. I'm keeping it together.
    
    TITLE CARD: Eliza Not Keeping it Together
    
    - OFFICE: Eliza sits on the edge of her DESK. Alone. She
    pours another GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE for herself.
    
    She looks around. The coast is clear. She downs it and pours
    ANOTHER. A GRIMACE. S***. That one burned.
    
    - OFFICE STAIR WELL: Eliza sits on a STEP with her SHOES off.
    She has her PHONE out and texts MARTIN. Hammered.
    
    ELIZA: It's my bday.
    
    MARTIN: why didn't u tell me?
    
    MARTIN: dinner plans?
    
    ELIZA: tons of work. I shouldn't
    
    
    EXT. CHICAGO STREET - NIGHT
    
    But she did. Eliza walks arm-in-arm with --
    
    MARTIN (40s) a normal, semi-schlubby dude who is aging into
    his looks -- so freaking unfair. The unspoken male privilege.
    
    Martin looks like he brews his own beer. They are eating ICE
    CREAM CONES.
    
                        MARTIN
              -- I've never had frozen custard.
              It's great!
    
                        ELIZA
              My parents used to take me there to
              get frozen custard when I was
              growing up.
    
                        MARTIN
              That's sweet.
    
                        ELIZA
              Sorry I drunk texted you. Thank you
              for humoring me.
    
                        MARTIN
              I wasn't gonna let you spend your b-
              day alone, Eliza.
    
                        ELIZA
              You should start a service.
    
                        MARTIN
              Taking drunk women out on their
              lonely birthdays?
    
                        ELIZA
              Lonely women are a growth market.
    
                        MARTIN
              Ain't that the truth.
    
    He puts his ARM around her. Should he go for it?
    
                        MARTIN
              So -- you know... you shouldn't
              spend your birthday alone. That's --
              psychologists wrote papers on that.
    
                        ELIZA
              Is that true?
    
                        MARTIN
              If they didn't -- they should.
              Let's go to your place.
    
    Eliza FROWNS.
    
                        ELIZA
              Nah. Let's get an Uber to your
              house. I'll pay.
    
                        MARTIN
              My house is a wreck -- and it's
              far. Are you hiding me from your
              friends? Ashamed of me?
    
                        ELIZA
              It's not that.
    
                        MARTIN
              You're around here. It's so much
              easier and it'll convince me you're
              not living a double life as a sexy
              Russian spy.
    
                        ELIZA
              Three things. You have to hear
              three things before we do this.
    
                           MARTIN
              OK. Shoot.
    
                        ELIZA
              One. I'm not technically divorced
              yet so this has to be casual. If I
              sleep with you do you promise you
              won't get clingy?
    
                        MARTIN
              There's a seventy percent chance I
              won't get clingy. Give or take.
    
                        ELIZA
              I'll take those odds. Two, if you
              stay the night and we spoon -- I
              get to be the big spoon.
    
                        MARTIN
              Why?
    
                        ELIZA
              Power dynamics.
    
                        MARTIN
              Fine.
    
                        ELIZA
              So I'm only sleeping with you
              because it's my birthday and you
              seem like you'd be grateful.
    
                        MARTIN
              I'll take it. So... what's the
              third thing?
    
    Eliza rubs her TEMPLES.
    
                        ELIZA
              I sort of -- I'm just gonna say it.
              I live in a co-living space.
    
                        MARTIN
              What the hell's a co-living space?
    
    
    INT. THE LOFT - DAY
    
    Eliza brings Martin in to the Loft. It's like a tech-bros
    vision board came alive. So "optimized" it dips into cold.
    
    Bright "collaboration space." Bright LETTERING on the WALLS.
    Professionally cleaned. A little sad.
    
                        MARTIN
              -- ohhhhhhhhh my goodness.
    
                        ELIZA
              I know. It's temporary. It's close
              to my train stop.
    
    Martin goes over and grabs a BEAN BAG CHAIR.
    
                        MARTIN
              This looks like Mark Zuckerberg
              dropped a bunch of acid and
              accidentally designed a home.
    
    
    INT. THE LOFT - ELIZA'S ROOM - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
    
    Eliza spoons Martin in her monk-like room. Very functional.
    Very zen. She rolls over.
    
    Martin rolls over and grabs her. HE'S THE BIG SPOON She rolls
    Martin back over. She's the big spoon.
    
                        ELIZA
              No one respects the little spoon.
    
                        MARTIN
              Wait. Does that mean you don't
              respect me?
    
    
    INT. THE LOFT - ELIZA'S ROOM - MORNING
    
    Martin comes into the room with his BOXERS on. Eliza's
    sitting on the side of the BED. Checking her PHONE.
    
    She's hung over. Wrecked.
    
                        MARTIN
              I don't want to alarm you but
              there's lots of people in their 20s
              out there. Like -- an uncomfortable
              number of youths.
    
                        ELIZA
              They're harmless.
    
                        MARTIN
              Are they? I think they smelled my
              fear. So... why are you doing this?
              Living in a house full of children?
    
                        ELIZA
              I don't -- it was something I did
              to keep one foot in front of the
              other when my husband left and it
              just -- it just kept going.
    
    
    INT. THE LOFT - COMMUNAL SPACE - DAY
    
    Eliza sits with her COFFEE. She looks at her PHONE at
    PICTURES OF MARTIN. He's brewing BEER in his GARAGE.
    
    She smiles -- maybe it's not that bad.
    
                                                  FADE TO BLACK

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Entries - Valentine's Day '19 contest

      Code:
      [b]MIDNIGHT CALLER[/b]
      
      FADE IN:
      
      EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE - NIGHT
      
      In a quiet street. Upstairs, a darkened bedroom window 
      lies open, the curtain moving gently. 
      
      
      INT. IZZY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
      
      IZZY, a teen beauty, lies in bed asleep.
      
      No wait she's not asleep, she fidgets, she rolls over, she 
      lifts her head up and punches her pillows into better shape.
      
      She freezes as if she's heard something odd -- she looks 
      over her shoulder -- her eyes WIDEN in shock.
      
      Sitting at the bottom of her bed, watching her, is WILLY, 
      a teen boy. Willy smiles charmingly and gives her a little 
      "hello" wave.
      
                            WILLY
                Please don't be frightened, I'm 
                not going to harm you.
      
      Izzy struggles to remember who this is.
      
                            IZZY
                Willy? How did you get in here?
      
      Izzy glances at the window, air moves the curtains.
      
                            IZZY
                You climbed in my goddamn window?
      
                            WILLY
                You left it open.
      
                            IZZY
                I left it open for fresh air, not 
                so some creep could climb inside.
      
                            WILLY
                I'm not a creep, a creep would 
                have molested you while you slept.
      
                            IZZY
                Jesus, what the hell do you want?
      
                            WILLY
                I just wanted to talk to you, find 
                out what you were like. I watched 
                you in school today. I thought you 
                were very beautiful. You smelled 
                nice, too.
      
                            IZZY
                Gee, thanks, that makes your 
                creeping into my bedroom okay. 
      
      Willy produces a cake from behind his back.
      
                            WILLY
                I brought cake.
      
                            IZZY
                What makes you think I want to eat 
                cake at two in the morning? Are 
                you nuts?
      
      Izzy considers the cake, though. It's a good-looking 
      chocolate cake with shiny icing.
      
      Willy holds up a can of whipped cream.
      
                            WILLY
                I brought cream, and plastic forks 
                and paper plates, too.
      
      Izzy frowns as she thinks about this.
      
                                                        CUT TO:
      
      Izzy sits up in bed, eating cake.
      
                            IZZY
                This is good.
      
      She notices Willy isn't eating.
      
                            WILLY
                Cake isn't my thing any more. 
      
                            IZZY
                That's because you're a goddamn 
                vampire.
      
                            WILLY
                H-how did you know?
      
                            IZZY
                I thought vampires couldn't enter 
                someone's house unless they were 
                invited?
      
                            WILLY
                Leaving a window or a door open, 
                that's technically an invitation.
      
                            IZZY
                It is goddamn not an invitation.
      
                            WILLY
                Do you know, it's been centuries 
                since those rules were imposed 
                upon us, without consultation I 
                might add. Their power has faded 
                somewhat over the years. They're 
                completely obsolete now.
      
                            IZZY
                Who told you this?
      
                            WILLY
                Someone who knows a lot. 
      
                            IZZY
                Huh. So why the cake, not that it 
                isn't delish.
      
                            WILLY
                Well I thought, you know, it would 
                be a nice way to say hello. I didn't 
                want to scare you.
      
                            IZZY
                I thought vampires were all about 
                scaring people.
      
                            WILLY
                Maybe some are, I'm not one of 
                them, not yet anyway.
      
                            IZZY
                Is it like an older vampire thing?
                     (old man voice)
                Get off my coffin, you damn kids!
      
                            WILLY
                Ha ha, something like that, maybe, 
                I don't know, I'm new to this.
      
                            IZZY
                How did it happen? Were you like, 
                walking through the park alone and 
                someone jumped you from behind, 
                raaawrr!
      
      Izzy makes "air claws" as she growls the animal noise.
      
                            WILLY
                It wasn't like that at all. I was 
                waiting for pizza delivery. I 
                answered the doorbell and he was 
                standing there.
      
                            IZZY
                He?
      
                            WILLY
                My master. He was tall and he was 
                handsome and his eyes seemed to 
                glow, and I was completely in his 
                thrall.
      
                            IZZY
                He brought the pizza?
      
                            WILLY
                No, he wasn't the delivery guy. 
      
                            IZZY
                What kind did you order?
      
                            WILLY
                Uh, Hawaiian.
      
                            IZZY
                So you opened the door and it's 
                your man with glowing eyes. What 
                happened then?
      
                            WILLY
                I invited him in and--
      
                            IZZY
                What happened to obsolete rules?
      
                            WILLY
                I was just being polite, I said, 
                "Hello, won't you come in?" as 
                people often do.
      
                            IZZY
                Sorry, go on.
      
                            WILLY
                And he came inside and he told me 
                to close my eyes and tilt my head 
                to the side, which I did, and then 
                there was this lovely sharp pain, 
                and then bliss.
      
      Izzy takes another bite of cake and talks while chewing. 
      
                            IZZY
                How weird is that?
      
                            WILLY
                I know, right? And yet it was the 
                most natural thing to me.
      
                            IZZY
                Cool. 
      
                            WILLY
                I think I went to sleep. When I 
                woke up everything felt really 
                different. I could see so clearly, 
                move so fast. I felt so strong. 
                And I could float, too.
      
                            IZZY
                Float? You mean like, fly?
      
                            WILLY
                I guess so, though don't ask me 
                for a demonstration, I'm not very 
                good at it yet, I keep bumping 
                into things. It took me five minutes 
                just to reach your window.
      
      THUMPING AND CRASHING NOISES FROM THROUGH THE WALL.
      
      Concerned, Izzy throws her blankets back to get out of bed 
      but Willy makes calming gestures, stopping her.
      
                            WILLY
                No, it's okay, it's fine.
      
                            IZZY
                That's my mom's room, what's going 
                on, Willy?
      
                            WILLY
                You don't need to worry, she'll 
                calm down in a moment, trust me.
      
                            IZZY
                Trust you, you crept into my room 
                while I slept, and you're a vampire, 
                how can I trust you?
      
                            WILLY
                Your mom just panicked, that's 
                all.
      
      The noise has stopped, all is calm again. 
      
                            WILLY
                See, she's not struggling any more. 
                My master has made her his thrall.
      
                            IZZY
                Your master is biting my mom?
      
                            WILLY
                Well that's possible, yes, he very 
                probably is, but you have to 
                understand what vampirism is.
      
                            IZZY
                Educate me.
      
                            WILLY
                You called me undead, but you know, 
                it's not really like that. We're 
                not just reanimated corpses. We 
                don't just die, we ascend.
      
                            IZZY
                Your soul goes to Heaven?
      
                            WILLY
                It's more like, we're given flair. 
                We become shinier than we were.
      
      Willy leans forward, lowers his voice.
      
                            WILLY
                You could have flair too, if you 
                want.
      
                            IZZY
                Is there a trial version?
      
                            WILLY
                What?
      
                            IZZY
                You know, like Amazon Prime, if I 
                decide I don't want to be a vampire, 
                can I cancel my subscription after 
                30 days and go back to being human 
                again?
      
                            WILLY
                It doesn't work like that, no.
      
                            IZZY
                Okay, then count me out. Thanks 
                for the cake and all, but it's 
                time for you to go.
      
                            WILLY
                Well okay, I tried the nice 
                approach, I guess I'm going to 
                have to be more insistent.
      
                            IZZY
                Have you even done this before?
      
                            WILLY
                Look into my eyes.
      
                            IZZY
                Are you a virgin vampire? Am I 
                your first victim? Oh my God.
      
                            WILLY
                Just, will you cooperate with me a 
                little here, why can't you just go 
                along with it?
      
                            IZZY
                I don't know, maybe because you're 
                the worst vampire ever?
      
      Willy bares his fangs and looks nasty for the first time.
      
                            IZZY
                Hey, that's more like it, now we're 
                talking. 
      
      A KNOCK on the bedroom door. 
      
                            WILLY
                Come in!
      
                            IZZY
                Hey this is my room, you know, I 
                do the inviting.
      
      The door creaks open wide enough for a creepy face to push 
      in, it's a man with a very pale face and long stringy hair. 
      His eyes have rolled to reveal the whites.
      
                            WILLY
                Master, I am here. I am about to 
                make this girl one of us. I just 
                need another couple of minutes!
      
      The head comes further into the room.
      
      Willy's happy smile becomes surprise and then horror.
      
      The head is not attached to a body. The severed neck drips 
      blood. A hand is holding the head up by its hair.
      
      IZZY'S MOM pushes the door wide. An older version of her 
      daughter wearing a nightdress, her hair in curlers.
      
                            IZZY
                Hey Mom.
      
                            MOM 
                Everything okay, sweetie?
      
                            IZZY
                Sure.
      
      Willy stands, stares at the dripping head.
      
                            WILLY
                What have you done to my master?
      
      Mom holds up the head and looks at it, frowning.
      
                            MOM
                What, this creep?
      
      She tosses it to Willy, who catches it and WAILS.
      
      Izzy reaches under her bed, brings out a baseball bat and 
      hits Willy so hard he flips backward out of the window. 
      
      Izzy and Mom go to the window and look down.
      
      INSERT Willy lying on the lawn, groaning. 
      
                            MOM
                He's still moving.
      
                            IZZY
                I just gave him a love tap to calm 
                him down. You okay?
      
                            MOM
                I'm fine. Son of a bitch bit me.
      
      Izzy inspects Mom's neck.
      
                            IZZY
                You're good, hardly a scratch.
      
      Mom taps the dead vampire's head with her slipper. 
      
                            MOM
                He really picked the wrong house, 
                didn't he? Must have been an out 
                of towner. Didn't know who he was 
                dealing with.
      
      Mom indicates outside.
      
                            MOM
                Want me to take care of him? I'm 
                awake now.
      
                            IZZY
                It's okay, you go back to bed, 
                I'll handle it. Oh, you want some 
                cake?
      
                            MOM
                Dear God, he brought you cake?
      
                            IZZY
                A new level of vampire cunning. 
                Sweet dreams.
      
      Izzy climbs out the window and jumps.
      
      Mom picks up the head by its hair and leaves the bedroom.
      
      FADE OUT

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Entries - Valentine's Day '19 contest

        Code:
        [b]FIRST TIME[/b]
        
        INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY
        
        JOHN YODEL, late 80s, half smile, sits down as a YOUNG
        DOCTOR, manila folder in hand, enters, walks slowly to his
        desk and sits.
        
        The DOCTOR doesn't quite make eye contact with John. Instead
        he sighs, opens the folder and stares down at its contents,
        pretending to read.
        
                           JOHN
                     (grimacing)
                 How long do I have?
        
        The Doctor finally looks up from the folder.
        
                           DOCTOR
                 This is not easy.
        
                            JOHN
                      (smiling)
                 It's okay, young man, just spit it
                 out.
        
                           DOCTOR
                 Well ... the truth is, you shouldn't
                 be alive now.
        
        John laughs.
        
                           JOHN
                 I haven't had time to die. Moving
                 out of the old homestead, getting us
                 settled in closer to Steph so when
                 it happens Ella won't have to worry
                 about all that -
        
                           DOCTOR
                 - You knew?
        
                           JOHN
                 Well sure, son, I'm not an idiot.
                 Those kind of pains don't come out
                 of nowhere.
        
                           DOCTOR
                 You might have told me.
        
        John's laugh is interrupted by a short fit of coughing. He
        smiles, but his eyes are watery and his voice is weak and
        raspy when he speaks.
        
                           JOHN
                 It's your job, young man. You've got
                 to learn how to do this in your line
                 of work.
        
                           DOCTOR
                 It's my first time.
        
                           JOHN
                 I know. I figured you needed the
                 practice ... Do me a favor, Doc,
                 don't tell anyone, especially not
                 Ella.
        
        
        INT. SMALL LIVING ROOM - DAY
        
        John and a gray haired and petite ELLA, sit close together on
        the couch. A PHOTO ALBUM in their laps.
        
        They hold hands.
        
                           ELLA
                 This is nice. We haven't done it
                 since ...
        
        She pauses.
        
                           JOHN
                 ... Since Steph's youngest got
                 married.
        
                           ELLA
                 Yes. How do you remember?
        
                           JOHN
                 It's a preoccupation of mine. I
                 remember everything about you and
                 the kids.
        
        Ella is not convinced.
        
                           ELLA
                 EVERY thing?
        
        John smiles and nods.
        
                           JOHN
                 Everything.
        
                           ELLA
                 The first time we met?
        
                           JOHN
                 Sure. Down by Stater's Creek. You
                 were with that prissy Priscilla
                 girl. I was 11, you were 10. I gave
                 you that toad I had caught and,
                 after you were holding it, I told
                 you it would give you warts -
        
                           ELLA
                 - And I dropped it and you got mad.
        
        JOHN I wasn't really mad. Just teasing. I thought you were
        the cutest thing I had ever seen. I was already in love for
        the first and last time.
        
                           ELLA
                 You're just saying that.
        
                           JOHN
                 Oh no. See this picture?
        
        He points to a picture of him as a teenager holding a large
        fish.
        
                           ELLA
                 Your "record" trout?
        
                           JOHN
                 I couldn't care less about that
                 fish.
        
                           ELLA
                 Then why did you paste it in our
                 family album?
        
                           JOHN
                 Don't you recognize that spot?
        
                           ELLA
                 No.
        
                           JOHN
                 That's Stater Creek, where you
                 dropped the toad.
        
        Ella squints at the picture.
        
                           ELLA
                 Are you sure?
        
                            JOHN
                 Like I said, I don't forget anything
                 about you.
        
                           ELLA
                 Our first kiss?
        
                           JOHN
                 Down on Main and 10th, when we were
                 in the crowd celebrating V-Day.
                 That's why I kept this newspaper
                 clipping, it's a picture of the
                 crowd but we were already gone ...
                 and the first time Steph kicked in
                 your belly, that's why there's this
                 Yellow Page ad for Dr. Sinclair ...
                 and ...
        
        
        INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
        
        John is in a hospital bed, hooked up to multiple tubes. His
        breaths are shallow. Ella hovers over him, watery eyes,
        grasping his hand. She's angry.
        
                           ELLA
                 Why didn't you tell me?
        
                           JOHN
                 I didn't want you to worry. I wanted
                 us to be happy in the time we had
                 left.
        
                           ELLA
                 How can I be happy? You betrayed me.
                 You lied to me.
        
        The machine hooked to John's arm squawks.
        
        He winces.
        
                           JOHN
                 I have always loved you, Ella.
        
                           ELLA
                 I love you. But ... you lied to me.
        
                           JOHN
                 My first - my only - time.
        
        John is nearly gone.
        
                           ELLA
                 John.
        
        No response.
        
                           ELLA
                 JOHN!
        
        John's eyes flutter open. He whispers.
        
                           JOHN
                 Sorry, Ella ... I did ... what I
                 thought was best ...
        
        He trails off.
        
                           ELLA
                 I know ... Thank you, but ...
        
                           JOHN
                 Still mad?
        
                           ELLA
                 No.
        
                           JOHN
                     (eyes closed, half smiling)
                 Your ... first time ... too.
        
        The machine squawks and this time it doesn't stop.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Entries - Valentine's Day '19 contest

          Code:
          [b]FALLIN'[/b]
          
          
          FADE IN:
          
          EXT. SNOW COVERED FIELD - DAY
          
          SUPER: "AUSTRALIA, 2025 AD - ALTERNATE TIME LINE"
          
          Six SOLDIERS, more or less lined up, shiver in the knee-high
          snow and hold muskets. It's a barren plain, not a tree in
          sight, not far off a fortress, cold and bleak.
          
          CIVILIANS stand beside the Soldiers, three MEN on the right,
          four WOMEN on the left. All are bundled in thick, dull coats,
          except for ...
          
          SILVIA HERNANDEZ, mid-twenties, her head uncovered - she
          wears a light sweater and seems immune to the chill.
          
          CAPTAIN HARWOOD, fifties, in a curled, cliched mustache
          stands in front of his firing squad, sternly addressing ...
          
          DANNY MURPHY, mid-twenties, large, strong, unconcerned, maybe
          even bored, who eventually chooses to notice the Captain.
          
                                     DANNY
                        Sorry - you was sayin'?
          
          Captain Harwood actually snorts and turns beet red.
          
                                     CAPTAIN HARWOOD
                        That you have been sentenced to
                        death, sir.
          
                                     DANNY
                        Well, why didn't you just say
                        that then?
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Because he's a pompous windbag.
          
          The other Women scatter, surprised by her presence. Silvia
          smiles at Danny. Captain Harwood gapes at her like he sees a
          snake, his eyes popping out, just a little.
          
          For his part, Danny is mesmerized by the woman. He can't help
          but stare at her smoldering, brown eyes and her beautiful
          smile, so out of place in this grim land.
          
          In the meantime the Captain, having recovered, is back to
          business. He has formed the Soldiers in a straighter line.
          
                                     CAPTAIN HARWOOD
                        Ready.
          
          The firing squad tightens their grips on the muskets and
          stand a little stiffer.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Danny!
          
                                     CAPTAIN HARWOOD
                        Aim.
          
          And they aim.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        DANNY!
          
          He is not aware of anything but her.
          
                                     CAPTAIN HARWOOD
                        Fire!
          
                                     SILVIA
                        DANNY, DOWN!
          
          Just in time, time Danny comes to his senses. The Soldiers
          fire, Danny falls backwards, the balls of lead fly over him.
          
          When he hits the snow, he vanishes.
          
          The crowd is open-mouthed, gawping and tripping over each
          other. The Captain is the first to recover and turns his
          wrath toward Silvia.
          
                                     CAPTAIN HARWOOD
                        Young lady - you will give me an
                        explanation.
          
          She smirks at him and rolls her eyes.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        No, I won't.
          
          Hands balled into fists, he rushes at her. She falls
          backwards, hits the snow and vanishes.
          
          
          FALLING:
          
          In his imagination he falls backward down a tunnel, with his
          eyes slammed shut. Yet somehow he focuses on his destination.
          
          Usually.
          
          Now all he sees is her face, those eyes and that smile. He
          forces himself to concentrate on the Rocky Mountains.
          
          Too late.
          
          Far too fast he falls through Montana's big sky. An elk jumps
          as he falls through the ground, beside it.
          
          Again, he sees her face - but finally forces himself to
          concentrate on a forest, no people, friendly animals, and ...
          
          Something touches his hand - he opens his eyes, then screams
          at the searing brightness that blinds him.
          
          Eyes shut again, he forces himself to concentrate on the
          forest, the fall slows and eventually he thumps hard, onto
          the ground.
          
          
          EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
          
          SUPER: "WESTERN CANADA, 1014 AD - ALTERNATE TIME LINE"
          
          He remains on his back and groans, unable to see the
          brilliant stars in the sky above him or the night animals
          checking him out. Eventually he falls asleep.
          
          MORNING:
          
          In his dream something slobbers on his forehead and licks his
          eyelids, over and over again, and then he hears a gentle
          voice, calling his name.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Danny.
          
          He tries to open his eyes and nearly panics when he realizes
          something damp is covering them.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Shhh ... you have a fever.
          
          Her soothing voice calms him.
          
          Then riles him up a moment later.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        What kind of idiot opens his
                        eyes, when he's flying?
          
                                     DANNY
                        Who are you then? Somethin' done
                        touched my hand.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Oh. I'm very sorry.
          
          She helps him rise and leads him to a tree. He sits against
          it and relaxes.
          
                                      SILVIA
                        I'm Silvia. I should have
                        realized. We hold hands when we
                        fly together.
          
                                      DANNY
                        I didn't have no idea there was
                        any others. Flyin', don't you
                        mean fallin'?
          
                                     SILVIA
                        You say tomato, I say tomahto.
          
                                     DANNY
                        What?
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Different timeline, I guess.
          
                                     DANNY
                        How many others?
          
                                     SILVIA
                        A few hundred. We try to find
                        Stringers, like you, and bring
                        them back to our home
          
          She opens a small pack and they make a meal out of something
          square and tasteless looking.
          
                                     DANNY
                        I think I saw you before,
          
                                     SILVIA
                        You've probably seen me a dozen
                        times before -* Danny, you're a
                        hard man to catch.
          
          She grimaces, slaps her forehead, blushes a little.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        I mean, you're unpredictable,
                        hard to track down. A lot of
                        Stringers are.
          
          They sit quietly for awhile. Birds start chirping, there's
          some bugs buzzing, red squirrels gather pine cones.
          Somewhere, not far away is the sound of running water.
          
                                     DANNY
                        I've been comin' here since I was
                        eight, when I lost mom and dad.
                        If I get beat up, this is where I
                        come to heal. It's my home.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        I'm sorry about your parents.
                        This is a beautiful place.
          
          That pleases him.
          
                                     DANNY
                        So far there ain't been nothin'
                        more feisty than a curious deer.
          
          They're quiet for awhile, but she can see he's troubled.
          
                                     DANNY
                        Silvia, am I blind for good, do
                        you think?
          
          She takes his hand in hers.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        No, Danny, the vision normally
                        comes back in a week or so.
          
                                     DANNY
                        Well, good enough, now we can
                        catch us some fish, or do you eat
                        them awful crackers full time?
          
          
          SEVEN DAYS LATER:
          
          Silvia holds his hand and carefully guides him on a deer
          path, around rocks and fallen logs.
          
          He starts laughing and can't stop.
          
                                     DANNY
                        You told me about that rock and
                        that log there, every day, now.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        I didn't want you to trip.
          
                                     DANNY
                        I know, I ain't laughing at you.
                        It's just ... I know these paths
                        like the back of my own hand. I
                        can run 'em at night, no problem.
          
          She pulls her hand from his.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Why didn't you tell me this?
          
                                     DANNY
                        Because I like holdin' your hand
                        and I like seein' you smile.
          
                                        SILVIA
                        Seeing?
          
                                     DANNY
                        I ain't been a gentleman. I'm a
                        right fast healer ... I could
                        see, again, four days ago.
          
                                        SILVIA
                        Danny Murphy!
          
          She turns her back on him, but doesn't walk away.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Anything else you need to tell
                        me?
          
                                     DANNY
                        No I don't. But I already feel
                        lower than a woodlouse on a
                        rotten log. I sure am sorry.
          
          She faces him again and tries a stern look, with moderate
          success.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        You could just ask to hold my
                        hand.
          
                                     DANNY
                        That's the thing I should have
                        done.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        So ... ask.
          
                                     DANNY
                        I see ... you mean ... Silvia,
                        could I-
          
          She kisses him.
          
                                     DANNY
                        -*hold your-*
          
          She kisses him again.
          
                                     DANNY
                        -hand?
          
          One more time. This time he kisses her back.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Yes, Danny, you may hold my hand.
          
          
          NIGHT:
          
          Embers from a small camp fire, glow in the sill, warm night.
          On one side Silvia sleeps, on the other Danny wakes and
          stands up.
          
          He moves twenty feet away and falls backwards.
          
          
          FALLING:
          
          He lands, softly, on dusty ground on a sunny morning.
          
          SUPER: "LIMA PERU 1935 AD"
          
          He dusts himself off and heads for the shops.
          
          
          EXT. FOREST - MORNING
          
          SUPER: "WESTERN CANADA, 1014 AD - ALTERNATE TIME LINE"
          
          Silvia watches Danny float down the last fifty feet and make
          a soft landing. He's holding a large, cloth sack on his
          chest.
          
          She looks down at him, then helps him up.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        Been shopping, I see.
          
                                     DANNY
                        I'm right tired of fish.
          
          
          EVENING:
          
          The remains of a meal, including actual dishes surrounds the
          camp fire. A small music player, with a tiny, tinny speaker,
          quietly plays a soft song.
          
          Silvia, in a new dress and Danny in fresh clothes dance
          slowly, holding each other close. She leans in and whispers
          in his ear.
          
                                      SILVIA
                        I love you.
          
          He stiffens, stands up ram-rod straight, walks to the camp
          fire and rifles through the cloth sack.
          
          She watches, confused, but before she can react, he rushes
          back and drops on one knee.
          
                                     DANNY
                        I love you too, Silvia Hernandez.
                        I'd be right happy if you'd honor
                        me and be my wife.
          
                                     SILVIA
                        We just met a week ago.
          
                                     DANNY
                        I met you over maybe a thousand
                        years ago, then all over time,
                        all around the world, just
                        thinkin' I was dreamin' until-*
          
                                      SILVIA
                        -Yes. Yes, I'll be your wife,
                        Danny Murphy.
          
          She allows him put a ring on her finger.
          
          He stands up. They embrace and kiss.
          
                                      FADE OUT:

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Entries - Valentine's Day '19 contest

            Code:
            [b]THE WAITING GAME[/b]
            
            
            INT. CAR - DAY (DRIVING)
            
            Windshield wipers clatter.
            
            Light snow hits the windshield and then gone. The radio plays
            in the background.
            
            VINCENT, (30's) drives. He's dressed in a puffy winter
            jacket, hat and gloves. It's cold.
            
                                VINCENT
                      Beauty day.
            
            ANDREA, (30's) looks at him with bloodshot eyes. She's also
            dressed in a puffy jacket, hat and gloves. Andrea stares out
            her window.
            
            
            EXT. SMALL CITY - CONTINUOUS
            
            They drive past a winter wonderland. Snow lines the road.
            People walk like robots as they try not to fall on the ice.
            
            
            INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS
            
            Andrea continues to stare out the window. Her frozen breath
            hits the roof. So does she.
            
                                 ANDREA
                      This piece of s*** car, no heat.
                      The only f'ing thing that works is
                      the radio.
            
            Andrea cranks the radio.
            
                                ANDREA (CONT'D)
                      And I hate this f'ing song. Sucks
                      s***.
            
                                VINCENT
                      Calm down. You're starting to foam.
                      The doctor told you to relax.
            
            The snow falls faster on the windshield.
            
                                ANNOUNCER (ON RADIO)
                      Get bread. Get milk. Get eggs. Make
                      sure you have enough beer. We have
                      a blizzard coming.
            
                                VINCENT
                      We got milk and eggs.
            
                                ANNOUNCER (ON RADIO)
                      Don't forget the beer.
            
            They drive in silence. The snow and blowing snow gets
            intense.
            
            
            EXT. TOWNHOUSE - LATER
            
            The car pulls into the driveway of a row of townhouses.
            Vincent helps Andrea out, grabs a suitcase from the backseat
            and they waddle to the front door.
            
            
            INT. TOWNHOUSE/LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
            
            Vincent and Andrea burst through the front door. Snow
            scatters. Vincent gets his jacket off first.
            
                                VINCENT
                      I'll make tea. You get comfortable.
            
            Andrea spins to get hers off. She breathes deeply. Finally
            it's off. She turns around, she must be nine and a half
            months pregnant. She's ready to pop.
            
            Vincent returns with two cups of tea, puts one on the coffee
            table near Andrea.
            
                                   ANDREA
                      Thanks. You scared?
            
                                VINCENT
                      Nah, I love snow storms.
            
            
            INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
            
            Vincent and Andrea lie in bed wide awake. The WIND is rocking
            and rolling. Sounds like the windows might blow in.
            
            
            INT. KITCHEN/DINING ROOM - DAY
            
            Vincent in a puffy bathrobe slowly walks into the kitchen and
            makes coffee.
            
            He moves to the patio door curtains and rips them open.
            
                                VINCENT
                      Jesus.
            
            The snow almost goes to the top of the glass. Vincent stands
            on his tippy-toes to try and see. He gives up and closes the
            curtains.
            
            
            INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
            
            Vincent goes to the front window and opens the curtains.
            Andrea comes down the stairs.
            
                                ANDREA
                      Why is the patio curtain closed?
            
                                VINCENT
                      I didn't get to it yet.
            
                                ANDREA
                      Liar.
            
                                VINCENT
                      I have to go out and shovel. How
                      you feeling?
            
            Andrea just looks at him rubs her belly and slides into the
            lazy boy.
            
                                ANDREA
                      Oh yeah, feeling fine.
            
            
            EXT./INT TOWNHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
            
            Vincent is bundled up, he opens the front door. A wall of
            white comes in. Andrea chuckles. She watches him out the
            window as he disappears into the white abyss.
            
                                ANDREA
                          (To her belly)
                      You just stay tight a little longer
                      little buddy.
            
            Andrea looks out the window again. Vincent is now visible and
            it looks like he's shoveling above his head. Then he's gone.
            
            
            INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
            
            Vincent and Andrea are having dinner. The wind still howls,
            the patio doors shake.
            
            The lights flicker. Andrea gasps and holds her belly.
            
                                VINCENT
                      I better go back out and make sure
                      we can get out... if we have to.
            
            Vincent gets up, touches Andrea on the shoulder and is gone.
            
            
            INT. BEDROOM - LATER
            
            Vincent snores on his side. Andrea shakes him.
            
                                   ANDREA
                      It's time!
            
            Vincent is barely awake.
            
                                VINCENT
                      Ok. I'll go shovel.
            
            Andrea shakes him harder. He falls on the floor.
            
                                ANDREA
                          (Breathing heavy)
                      Get me to the hospital. Now.
            
                                VINCENT
                          (Panicked)
                      Ok. Ok. Ok. Go call delivery and
                      give them a heads up. I'll get
                      everything up here.
            
            Vincent takes off running. This is the moment he's practiced
            for. He throws clothes on the bed, he throws clothes on the
            floor, he throws clothes on his body.
            
            He finally grabs the suitcase and heads downstairs.
            
            
            INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
            
            Vincent throws on his jacket and hat.
            
                                ANDREA (O.S.)
                      They are coming very fast... I
                      don't know, I don't know.
            
            
            INT. KITCHEN/DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
            
            Vincent grabs the phone out of Andrea's hand.
            
                                ANDREA
                      She won't stop asking me questions.
            
                                VINCENT
                          (Into phone)
                      What's going on?
            
                                WOMAN (V.O.)
                      I'm just trying to make sure
            
            Vincent cuts her off.
            
                                VINCENT
                      We are coming now. Be ready.
            
                                WOMAN (V.O.)
                      Don't forget to register.
            
            Vincent slams the phone down.
            
                                  VINCENT
                      Let's go.
            
            
            EXT. TOWNHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
            
            The front door bursts open. Vincent leads the way, Andrea
            follows closely. They walk a narrow path carved in the snow.
            The snow is at eye level.
            
            Vincent helps Andrea in, throws the suitcase in the back. The
            engine roars and they are off. The CLOCK says 12:17.
            
            
            INT./EXT. CAR - MOMENTS LATER
            
            The car fish tails up the road. The road is now one lane.
            Andrea stares out the window. She takes long deep breaths.
            
                                ANDREA
                      There's f'ing snow everywhere. We
                      aren't gonna make it. I feel it
                      coming.
            
                                VINCENT
                      Breathe, breathe. Slow it down.
                      We're only ten minutes away.
            
            The car comes to a red light, Vincent looks both ways and
            continues on. Snow flies over the windshield.
            
            They pass some cars and a truck abandoned in the snow. All
            the smaller side roads are filled with snow, unplowed.
            
            The road gets narrower. Vincent blows through another red
            light. They are the only car crazy enough to be on the road.
            Vincent turns right and stops the car.
            
                                VINCENT (CONT'D)
                      The wind tunnel.
            
            Vincent revs the engine and takes off towards a rotary. The
            snow gets higher on both sides. Four feet, five feet. The car
            bangs off one side.
            
            Andrea breathes deeper and louder.
            
            They enter the rotary. It's six feet high. They get through
            to the other side. The snow is now eight feet high. The small
            car barely fits on the narrow road.
            
            Vincent looks at the top of the eight foot walls. Snow blows
            over the edges. Pieces break off and land all over the car.
            The car drives over chunks of ice.
            
                                ANDREA
                      Vincent... Vincent.
            
            Vincent is silent. Focused on the road. Knuckles on the
            steering wheel are white.
            
            The snow walls reduce, the road is wider.
            
                                VINCENT
                      Piece of cake.
            
            They go up a hill and turn right. This road is completely
            plowed. Four lanes wide. The moon is out and shines brightly
            on the road. It is sheer ice.
            
            Vincent drives on, slower.
            
                                VINCENT (CONT'D)
                      Only one minute. Better take this
                      one slow.
            
                                ANDREA
                      Hurrrryyyyy.
            
            A JEEP on the outside and an SUV on the inside fly by. In an
            instance they both spin out of control and crash into a snow
            bank.
            
            Vincent checks his mirrors.
            
                                VINCENT
                      They're ok. Choo-choo.
            
            
            EXT. HOSPITAL - MOMENTS LATER
            
            Vincent and Andrea pull up in front of the main entrance.
            
                                VINCENT
                      We made it. I can't believe it.
            
            Vincent gets out. He has a spring in his step.
            
                                VINCENT (CONT'D)
                      How about that piece of s***?
            
            A security guard comes out and walks to them.
            
                                SECURITY GUARD
                      You can't park there.
            
            Vincent looks around. The visitors parking lot is almost
            empty. No cars coming or going.
            
                                VINCENT
                      Get a wheelchair, my wife's having
                      a baby.
            
            The security guard does as told. Vincent helps Andrea out of
            the car and into the wheelchair.
            
            
            INT. HOSPITAL/ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS
            
            They enter the hospital. The security guard chases them.
            
                                SECURITY GUARD
                      Don't forget to register.
            
            Vincent sprints down a long empty hall.
            
            
            INT. LABOR AND DELIVERY - CONTINUOUS
            
            The door is locked. Andrea pushes and pushes the buzzer until
            a nurse opens the door.
            
                                NURSE
                      Did you register?
            
                                VINCENT
                      Help my wife.
            
            It's like a ghost town. They walk into a check up room.
            The nurse helps Andrea stand. She touches her stomach.
            
                                NURSE
                      Breathe. Breathe. Tell me when
                      you're having a contraction.
            
                                  ANDREA
                      Now. Now.
            
                                 NURSE
                      No you're not. I'm touching and
                      it's soft.
            
            The nurse helps Andrea into a hospital gown and checks under
            it. Her eyes widen.
            
                                NURSE (CONT'D)
                      We have to move you to the delivery
                      room. I mean now.
            
            They move fast.
            
                                ANDREA
                      Still think I'm not having
                      contractions?
            
            
            INT. DELIVERY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
            
            It's frantic. Noise and screams. Vincent holds Andrea's hand
            and stares into her eyes.
            
            A final push and a baby cries. A nurse puts the baby on
            Andrea's shoulder. Vincent hugs them and wipes tears.
            
                                DELIVERY NURSE
                      It's a boy.
            
            Vincent looks at the clock on the wall. It's 1:17.
            
            
            EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY
            
            A tired looking Vincent exits the hospital. The parking lot
            is still almost empty as crews work to remove snow.
            
            
            INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS
            
            Vincent sits in the car. Smiles and goes to start the car.
            Nothing, it's dead.
            
                                                             FADE OUT.

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