Entries - Valentine's Day contest 2014

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  • Entries - Valentine's Day contest 2014

    We have 10 entries, thanks to everyone who joined in, sorry some of ya couldn't make it.

    Froggie
    The Date
    Paint It Black
    Theme Wedding
    Summer Loving
    Dinner With Ralphie
    The Boy In The Woods
    Love The One You're With
    Love Hurts
    A Box of Valentines

    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.

    Once you pick your 1st, 2nd and 3rd top choices, PM or email these to me at dpaterson57 at gmail.com. I'd 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.

    How about aiming for having voting completed by Friday 21st.

    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.

    You don't have to be a DDPro member to vote, feel free to join in, you can choose to be named or remain anonymous, no worries. In order to post comments after results are announced, you'll have to sign up, though.

    HAVE FUN.

    Added: for posterity, the discussion thread is here, and the results thread is here.
    Last edited by dpaterso; 02-22-2014, 01:49 AM.

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

    "FROGGIE"

    Code:
                                                     FADE IN:
    
    EXT. POND - DAY
    
    Sound of frogs ribbiting. A lone frog, FROGGIE, squats on a
    rock by the water. A tiny gold crown is perched jauntily on
    his head.
    
    A YOUNG WOMAN approaches. She glances around, seeing no one.
    
                        YOUNG WOMAN
              Hey, froggie froggie.
    
    She gazes at him, thinking. Then she kneels down and picks
    him up. The ribbiting transforms into...
    
    
    INT. APARTMENT - KITCHEN/DINING AREA - NIGHT
    
    ...the sizzling of steaks in a fry pan, tended by the Young
    Woman. She looks behind her.
    
                        YOUNG WOMAN
              You probably like yours rare.
    
    Froggie sits placidly on a stool beside a candlelit table for
    two, with elegant place settings and heart-shaped placemats.
    
    The Young Woman carries the pan over and slides the steaks
    onto the plates. She sets the pan down and eyes Froggie. She
    lifts him and raises him to face level.
    
                        YOUNG WOMAN
              One rule. No tongue.
    
    She squeezes her eyes shut as she quickly kisses his mouth.
    She shudders, lowering him back on the stool. She stares at
    him. He's still a frog.
    
    LATER
    
    Her meal is eaten. She throws Froggie's steak into the
    garbage, then glances back at him. Still a frog. She sighs.
    
    
    INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
    
    Sleep eludes the Young Woman in bed. A floor board creaks.
    
    A handsome PRINCE steps before her, naked save for his now
    man-sized crown. She gasps. He removes the crown, slips under
    the sheets and draws her into his arms. Her face lights up.
    
    
    INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY
    
    The Young Woman, alone in bed, wakens and looks around.
    
                        YOUNG WOMAN
              Prince...? Froggie...?
    
    She discovers a single lily on the pillow beside her.
    
    
    INT. APARTMENT - BATHROOM - DAY
    
    The Young Woman stares at the mirror.
    
    IN HER THOUGHTS
    
    -- The Prince kisses her with lots of tongue.
    
    -- Froggie flicks his tongue and catches a fly.
    
    BACK TO SCENE
    
    She makes a face and chugs mouthwash, swishing and spitting.
    
    But her expression brightens as her gaze shifts to the lily,
    resting on the counter. She raises it to her nose.
    
    
    EXT. POND - DAY
    
    Froggie, resplendent in his crown, sunbathes on the rock.
    
                        PRINCE (V.O.)
              I tried Beauty and the Beast first.
              Didn't work so well. Froggie's a
              chick magnet. Just look at him.
    
    The Prince hides behind a tree, holding his crown, a lily,
    and a small empty cage.
    
                        PRINCE (V.O.)
              Don't judge me. I do it once a
              year. When every act of lunacy is
              justified in the name of romance.
    
    He smiles as YOUNG WOMAN #2 approaches Froggie.
    
                        YOUNG WOMAN #2
              Hey little froggie froggie.
    
                                                      FADE OUT.

    Comment


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

      "The Date"

      Code:
      EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY
      
      TREVOR, a boyish looking man with Down's syndrome, steps out
      of the passenger side of a sedan. His father, GARY, hops out
      of the driver's side.
      
      BEEP BEEP, the car locks as Trevor trods along with heavy
      feet, his father slowly walks besides him.
      
      Trevor's breath lingers in the air as he struggles to speak.
      
                          TREVOR
                Thanks for the lift, father.
      
      He turns his head slightly and eyes his dad.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                I know exactly what I want to get
                her.
      
      
      INT. STORE - LATER
      
      They enter the store and Gary stops, almost routinely, right
      by the nearest check-out line.
      
                          TREVOR
                Wait here, father. I'll be right
                back.
      
      Gary smiles and nods for Trevor to go on.
      
      Trevor slowly and carefully walks over to his left, where
      there is a wide variety of Valentine's Day gifts.
      
      He pauses in front of the chocolates.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                    (to self)
                No... she can't eat chocolate.
      
      He turns and looks back at his dad, fearful for a second that
      his dad might disappear.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                    (to self)
                Don't leave, father. I'll be right
                back.
      
      Trevor slowly walks over to the assortment of flower
      bouquets.
      
      A particular bouquet catches his eye. The bouquet is huge,
      with purple being the dominant color.
      
      Trevor picks it up and gazes as it for a few moments. He
      turns to the elderly FLOWER LADY behind the counter.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                Excuse me, miss?
      
      She looks up, and smiles.
      
                          FLOWER LADY
                Yes, my dear?
      
                          TREVOR
                How much for these beautiful
                flowers?
      
                          FLOWER LADY
                There should be a tag right on the
                side, honey.
      
      Trevor looks for a tag. After a bit of a struggle, he gives
      up, and carries them to the front.
      
                          TREVOR
                My eyes aren't what they used to
                be!
      
      She CHUCKLES.
      
                          FLOWER LADY
                You're telling me!
      
      He hands her the flowers and she instantly spots the price
      tag.
      
                          FLOWER LADY (CONT'D)
                Twenty-three dollars, sweetie.
      
      Trevor looks back in the direction of his father. His father
      nods, letting Trevor know that he's still there.
      
      Trevor carefully takes out his wallet. He places it on the
      counter and takes out all of his cash.
      
      One by one he counts his bills.
      
                          TREVOR
                One... Two... Three...
      
      
      INT. STORE - MOMENTS LATER
      
                           TREVOR
                Fourteen... Fifteen...
                    (beat)
                 Fifteen dollars.
      
      He ponders for a second.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                How much was it again?
      
      
      INT. CAR - DAY
      
      Gary is driving back home. Trevor sits in the passenger seat,
      grinning from ear to ear.
      
                          TREVOR
                These are beautiful, father.
      
                          GARY
                Yes they are, Trevor. That was very
                nice of the flower lady to give
                them to you for free.
      
      Trevor nods.
      
                          GARY (CONT'D)
                She must know they're for someone
                special.
      
      Trevor smiles.
      
                          TREVOR
                Father?
                          GARY
                Yes?
      
                          TREVOR
                How'd she know my name?
      
      Gary just smiles.
      
      
      EXT. HOUSE - DAY
      
      As Gary unlocks the front door, Trevor is walking up the
      stairs, very cautiously. He grips the railing tightly as he
      goes.
      
      Finally, he reaches the porch and turns to his dad.
      
                          TREVOR
                I'll be right in, father. I'm going
                to pick out the best flowers.
      
      Gary smiles and enters the house, leaving Trevor alone.
      
      Trevor holds the bouquet up towards the sky, eyeing it
      carefully.
      
      One by one he picks out seven flowers. He drops the rest of
      the bouquet on the ground.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                These are perfect.
      
      
      INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
      
      Trevor enters the scene, his father stands by the sink.
      
                          TREVOR
                Father, I need a vase to put these
                in.
      
                          GARY
                How about the one you used last
                year?
      
                          TREVOR
                Excellent idea, father.
      
      Trevor stands there, waiting.
      
                          GARY
                You know where it is.
      
      Trevor nods and walks over towards a cabinet. He opens the
      cabinet door and grabs a glass vase.
      
                          GARY (CONT'D)
                There you go.
      
      Trevor walks over to the sink and fills the vase half-way
      with water.
      
                          TREVOR
                Half-way full, just like you taught
                me, father.
      
      Trevor carefully places the vase in the center of the kitchen
      table. He adjusts it a few times, until it's perfect.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                May I have some time to set-up
                before my date arrives?
      
      Gary looks at the clock.
      
                          GARY
                Alright, but be quick; your date
                should be here any minute.
      
      Trevor smiles.
      
                          GARY (CONT'D)
                I'll be in the living room if you
                need anything.
      
      
      INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - LATER
      
      At opposite ends of the table sit two perfectly set place-
      mats, complete with plates, napkins, and silverware. The vase
      sits in the middle of the table.
      
      Trevor walks over to the table, holding a candle.
      
                          TREVOR
                Vanilla. Her favorite.
      
      He puts it down next to the flowers.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                Father?
      
      From the living room...
      
                          GARY (O.S.)
                Yes?
      
                          TREVOR
                I need you to light my candle. My
                date is arriving shortly.
      
      
      INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - LATER
      
      The lights are dim, the candle is glowing, and there is a
      hearty-looking meal on both of the plates. Trevor sits at one
      end of the table.
      
      KATHY, a hazy-looking figure of a woman in her 50's, appears
      in the doorway. Trevor smiles and then turns towards the
      clock to check the time.
      
                          TREVOR
                Six o'clock. You're right on time,
                as usual.
      
      Kathy walks over and takes a seat across from Trevor.
      
                          TREVOR (CONT'D)
                You look gorgeous tonight.
      
      Kathy smiles.
      
                          KATHY
                You were always such a gentleman,
                Trevor. You take after your father.
      
      He smiles. She leans towards the flowers and smells them.
      
                          KATHY (CONT'D)
                These smell fantastic, Trevor! Did
                you pick them out all by yourself?
      
                          TREVOR
                I always do. And there's seven this
                year.
      
                          KATHY
                I noticed. I can't believe it's
                already been that long.
      
      He looks a bit sad.
      
                          TREVOR
                Do you still think of me, mother?
      
                          KATHY
                All the time, Trevor.
      
      Gary appears in the door-way behind Trevor. He watches, and
      listens, as Trevor eats alone. Trevor does not notice.
      
                          TREVOR
                Do you still think of father?
      
                             KATHY
                Every day.
      
      A tear streams down Gary's cheek as he listens to his son's
      questions go unanswered.
      
                          TREVOR
                When are you going to come home?
      
                           KATHY
                 One day we'll be together again,
                 honey.
      
      He notices her plate has been untouched.
      
                           TREVOR
                 Do you not like your dinner,
                 mother? You barely touched it.
      
                           KATHY
                 I have no appetite.
      
      Trevor leans in, whispering.
      
                           TREVOR
                 Who can blame you... father's
                 cooking is awful.
      
      Gary smirks from the doorway.
      
                           TREVOR (CONT'D)
                 At least he's trying.
      
      Kathy starts to fade.
      
                           TREVOR (CONT'D)
                 Don't go...
      
                           KATHY
                 I have to go,
      
      She's even more faint.
      
                           TREVOR
                 I'm not done talking with you.
                           KATHY
                 Say hi to your father for me?
                 Please?
      
      He nods.
      
      Just as she's almost completely faded, Trevor says more
      thing.
      
                           TREVOR
                 Unlike these flowers, mother...
      
      She flickers.
      
                           TREVOR (CONT'D)
                 My love for you will never die...
      
      She's gone. He places his hand on his chest.
      
                            TREVOR (CONT'D)
                 Not even when my heart stops
                 beating...
      
      Trevor BANGS his head against the table, and lays there,
      motionless. Gary rushes over.
      
                           GARY
                 Trevor!
      
      Nothing.
      
                           GARY (CONT'D)
                 Trevor!
      
      He grabs Trevor by the arm.
      
                           GARY (CONT'D)
                 Are you o--
      
      Trevor shoots up and looks around... disappointed.
      
                           TREVOR
                 Am I still here?
      
      His dad lets Trevor's arm go.
      
                           GARY
                 You scared me, Trevor!
      
      Trevor gets up and slowly trods away.
      
                           TREVOR
                 Mother says hi.
      
      He exits the kitchen.
      
                           TREVOR (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                 And she thinks your cooking sucks!

      Comment


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

        "Paint It Black"

        Code:
        FADE IN:
        
        INT. RESTAURANT BOOTH - NIGHT
        
        TRENT, 22, dressed casual but smart, sits at the table
        alone.  He's alert with anticipation, looks at his watch.
        
        A bell DINGS.
        
                               WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
                   Two minutes, go!
        
        A GOTH GIRL sits down opposite Trent, who's kinda surprised.
        She's wearing more make-up than Marilyn Manson. His eyes
        roam her piercings, her tattoos, her black-clad body.
        
        He offers his hand, she ignores it.
        
                               TRENT
                   Hiiii I'm Trent.
        
                               GOTH GIRL
                   What do you do, Trent?
        
                               TRENT
                   I'm a web designer.
        
                               GOTH GIRL
                   Well, that kills it for me. Let's
                   not waste any more of each other's
                   time.
        
        She picks up a bread stick and quarter-turns away, nibbling
        the stick while glancing at neighboring table booths, where
        couples are talking animatedly to each other, dudes on the
        inside, ladies on the outside.
        
                               TRENT
                   You asked me what I did, what am I
                   supposed to say, I'm an astronaut,
                   I'm a whale rider, I dance for the
                   Russian ballet?
        
                               GOTH GIRL
                   Do you have a tutu?
        
                               TRENT
                   Yeah but it's pink, we would clash.
        
                               GOTH GIRL
                   When you say you ride whales...?
        
                               TRENT
                   I break them in, for Seaworld.
                   For God's sake, you can't just put
                   wild whales into pools, they'll
                   smash the place up. Give me three
                   days, I'll have them eating fish
                   out of my hand, guaranteed.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Have you been into space?
        
                              TRENT
                  Not since college, that was one
                  freaky night, I still have no idea
                  how I ended up handcuffed to the
                  Principal's bed, but my grades
                  that year were straight A's.
        
        Okay, she decides that he amuses her, but only slightly.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  What kind of web sites do you
                  design?
        
                              TRENT
                  I do subliminal advertising.
        
        Goth Girl raises a pierced eyebrow, whut?
        
                              TRENT (CONT'D)
                  There's this government department,
                  I'm not really supposed to talk
                  about it...
        
        He leans forward, lowers his voice.
        
                              TRENT (CONT'D)
                  They tell me who they want you to
                  vote for, and I arrange for it to
                  happen. You're looking at kitten
                  gifs, and bam, Smiling Friendly
                  Politician is in your head, you
                  see him every time you blink. The
                  other guy they don't want to win,
                  God what is he doing with that
                  donkey, he disgusts me.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Do you like manipulating people to
                  do your bidding?
        
        Trent sits back, losing his sense of fun.
        
                              TRENT
                  The last website I designed sold
                  Italian shoes. They don't use child
                  labor, I checked up on them.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  What's the most outrageous thing
                  you've ever done in your life?
        
                              TRENT
                  I wore my sister's underwear when
                  I was twelve. Actually I was
                  sixteen. Okay I was twenty. I just
                  wanted to know how it felt against
                  my skin. Pretty nice, actually.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Did you ever tell her?
        
                              TRENT
                  God no, she would have smacked me
                  up and down the hallway.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  You like getting beaten up by girls?
        
                              TRENT
                  No. Yes. I'm not sure.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  And you're looking for that special
                  someone who shares your fantasies?
        
                              TRENT
                  I think we're all looking for that
                  special someone. Look around, that's
                  why everyone you see came here
                  tonight. Desperation has driven us
                  all to endure the pitiful shame of
                  speed dating.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  You ever dated someone you met on
                  the internet?
        
                              TRENT
                  So many questions, so little time,
                  when do I get to ask about you?
        
                                GOTH GIRL
                  So tell me.
        
                              TRENT
                  All right, I tried it, a couple of
                  times, or more, it didn't work out.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  What happened, weren't they perfect
                  enough for you?
        
                              TRENT
                  Nah, nobody's perfect. You have a
                  third nipple or extra toes, I'm
                  not going to judge. They just didn't
                  find me funny, I guess.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Sense of humor. That's what everyone
                  rates number one, above appearance,
                  career, financial wealth.
        
                              TRENT
                  Whoa, speak for yourself. If you
                  have a Maserati Gran Turismo waiting
                  outside, I am totally into you.
        
        The bell DINGS.
        
                              WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
                  Time's up. Say your goodbyes!
                  Ladies, move to the next table to
                  your right, please.
        
        At the other tables, everyone says goodbye, great talking
        to ya, and shake hands. Smiles and chuckles. The ladies
        rise up and move to their right...
        
        PRETTY BLONDE GIRL in a stunning dress looks down curiously
        at Goth Girl, who hasn't moved.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Skip this one and take the next
                  table, will you?
        
                              PRETTY BLONDE GIRL
                  I don't think that's how it's
                  supposed to work?
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  I like the bread sticks here.
        
        Pretty Blonde Girl shrugs and passes by and sits at the
        next table, shakes hands with the dude who's waiting there.
        They glance over at Trent and Goth Girl and smile, hey it
        gives them a conversation icebreaker, it's all good.
        
        The bell DINGS again.
        
                              WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
                  Two minutes, go!
        
                              TRENT
                  Should I be flattered?
        
        Goth Girl eats another bread stick.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  You really don't remember me, do
                  you?
        
                              TRENT
                  Remember you from...?
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  I was a year behind you at school.
        
        Trent pretend-buries his head in his hands.
        
                              TRENT
                  Oh God. What did I do?
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Nothing too heinous.
        
                              TRENT
                  Sorry, you're not dinging any bells.
                  No pun intended.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  I was shorter and my boobs were
                  smaller. You didn't notice me.
        
                              TRENT
                  For what it's worth, I'm apologize.
                  I was a very studious boy. I always
                  had my nose in books.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  You studied Abby Waters for years.
                  Lusted after her, in point of fact.
        
                              TRENT
                  Man. There's a blast from the past.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Did you ever get it on with her?
        
                              TRENT
                  As if. Abby went out with older
                  guys. I tried to ask her out once.
                  I remember standing in front of
                  her, in the hallway, trying to get
                  the words out. They just wouldn't
                  come. Stage fright. I think I peed
                  myself.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  What did she say?
        
                              TRENT
                  Get out my f***ing way.
        
        They both laugh.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  That sounds like Abby.
        
                              TRENT
                  You knew her?
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  I still do, she's my big sister.
        
                              TRENT
                  You have got to be kidding me.
        
        Trent has to think hard.
        
                              TRENT (CONT'D)
                  Melanie Waters?
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  One and the same.
        
        Goth Girl offers her hand, Trent shakes it.
        
                              TRENT
                  It's nice to see you again, Melanie.
                  I'm sorry for not recognizing you.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  I clocked you as soon as I walked
                  in. You've not really changed much.
                  More worn around the edges, maybe.
                  Tired looking. Bags under the eyes.
        
                              TRENT
                  Thank you very much.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Any time. I don't even know what
                  made me come here. It was a stupid
                  idea. I suppose I just wanted to
                  see how guys would react.
        
                              TRENT
                  I would think they'd react, like,
                  wow, thank you God for this... I
                  mean, you look... you look really--
        
        Trent buries his head in his hands again, for reals.
        
                              TRENT (CONT'D)
                  Oh God, shut up.
        
        Goth Girl nibbles on a bread stick, amused, as Trent
        struggles with his embarrassment.
        
                              TRENT (CONT'D)
                  I'm sorry, I am a total a$$.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  It's okay. A lot of guys get off
                  on the Goth look.
        
                              TRENT
                  Sure, but I've got an advantage.
        
        Goth Girl tilts her head, hmm?
        
                              TRENT (CONT'D)
                  I know what you look like without
                  the make-up.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Maybe you're thinking about Abby.
        
                              TRENT
                  I'm pretty sure I'm not.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Are you trying to tell me you
                  noticed me at school? I think we
                  both know that might be a little
                  white lie.
        
                              TRENT
                  I remember you and your pals dragged
                  Marty Spalding into the girls'
                  toilets and pulled off his pants.
                  He got suspended for a week for
                  that, like it was his fault.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  For the record, he touched my butt
                  without my permission.
        
                              TRENT
                  And you superglued the staff room
                  door shut, they were trapped in
                  there for hours. We got grilled by
                  the cops, but nobody ratted you
                  out. Everyone in school thought
                  you were the coolest.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  So you were paying attention.
        
                              TRENT
                  Yeah, no, I'm not saying anything
                  till my lawyer gets here.
        
        The bell DINGS. Trent looks at his watch.
        
                              TRENT (CONT'D)
                  Gotta be kidding--
        
                              WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
                  Time's up. Say your goodbyes!
                  Ladies, move to the next table to
                  your right, please.
        
        Goth Girl gets up.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Nice seeing you again.
        
        She moves to the table to the right.
        
        A PRETTY REDHEAD sits down opposite Trent.
        
        The bell DINGS again.
        
                              WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
                  Two minutes, go!
        
                              PRETTY REDHEAD
                  Hiiii, I'm Shevaun.
        
        Trent is a little dazed, still focused on Goth Girl, who
        ignores him and talks to the dude at her new table.
        
                              TRENT
                  Hi, I'm Trent. How are you?
        
        They shake hands.
        
        
        EXT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
        
        Giggling couples exit together and head off into the night,
        successful matches, hey it happens sometimes.
        
        Trent exits alone. He shrugs on his jacket. Sighs.
        
        The people and traffic clear, and he looks across the
        street.
        
        Goth Girl leans against her gleaming black car, it's not a
        Maserati but it's got style, like its owner.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  What happened? I thought Shevaun
                  looked your type.
        
                              TRENT
                  Something knocked me off my game.
                  I'll do better next time.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Yep. Give you a ride home?
        
                              TRENT
                  It's not far, I can walk from here--
        
        No, wait. He thinks for a moment. What is he saying?
        
                              TRENT (CONT'D)
                  That would be great.
        
        They climb in.
        
        
        INT. GOTH GIRL'S CAR - NIGHT
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  You look nervous. You're not scared?
        
                              TRENT
                  I just don't want to be dragged
                  into the toilets and, superglued.
        
                              GOTH GIRL
                  Don't worry about that.
        
        She starts the engine, and smiles.
        
                              GOTH GIRL (CONT'D)
                  You have my permission.
        
        
        EXT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
        
        They drive off into the night.
        
        FADE OUT

        Comment


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

          "Theme Wedding"

          Code:
          FADE IN:
          
          EXT. LAS VEGAS STRIP - DAY
          
          A young couple, GENE and MIRA, walk down the strip. They
          are dressed in STAR TREK STARFLEET UNIFORMS. They do not
          stand out as most of the people in town are also wearing
          Starfleet Uniforms.
          
                                    GENE
                        Unbelievable.
                              (beat)
                        Look at all of them.
          
                                    MIRA
                        Well, this is what we were
                        planning, sweetie.
          
          Gene waves his hand, indicating the Trekkies that have
          flooded into Vegas.
          
                                    GENE
                        But they're everywhere.
          
                                    MIRA
                        You have to admit you're
                        glad we made it down here.
          
          Gene slumps his shoulders.   Of course, she's right.
          
          Mira produces a GPS device from her hand-bag. After
          consulting the device, she points towards the Excalibur
          Hotel.
          
                                    MIRA
                        There it is. Let's see what
                        they have.
          
          INT. EXCALIBUR - DAY
          
          Mira exits a dressing room wearing a flowing queen's gown.
          She is radiant.
          
          Gene exits wearing a Court Jester's outfit.
          
                                    GENE
                        I think I got the wrong one.
          
          Mira gently laughs.
          
                                    MIRA
                        Well, you said you'd always
                        make me laugh.
          
          Gene gives a half-hearted smirk then goes back into the
          dressing room.
          
          Mira looks at herself in the mirror and twirls. With a
          smile and a sigh, she goes back into the dressing room.
          
                                                             CUT TO:
          
          Mira exits the dressing room. She wears a simple maiden's
          outfit but she still radiates beauty.
          
          Gene steps out wearing a friar's outfit.
          
                                    GENE
                        I should have been more specific.
                              (beat)
                        Let's try a different place.
          
          Gene turns and goes back into the dressing room.
          
          INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - DAY.
          
          Mira steps out of the dressing room dressed as Cleopatra.
          
          Gene exits the Men's dressing room wearing a Roman slave
          smock.
          
          Mira gives the outfit a questioning look.
          
                                    GENE
                        They said all the Caesar costumes
                        were out for cleaning.
          
          Mira smiles as she goes back into the dressing room.
          
          INT. THE PARISIAN - DAY
          
          Mira steps out in a French Victorian era gown.
          
          Gene exits his dressing room dressed as a mime.
          
          Mira giggles.
          
          Gene mimes holding his hands up, "wait". He mimes pulling
          down on a rope, struggling with the weight. Finally, he
          mimes a giant weight SMASHING him into the ground.
          
          Mira laughs at his performance and gives him a kiss.   Gene
          slumps his shoulders and goes back to his room.
          
          INT. TREASURE ISLAND CASINO - DAY
          
          Mira is resplendent in a Pirate queen outfit. She is
          holding her hand over her mouth stifling a laugh as she
          anticipates Gene's costume.
          
          She is not disappointed.
          
          Gene exits wearing the outfit of a lowly cabin boy.
          
                                      GENE
                                (doing his best pirate)
                          Arrrrggggghhh.
          
          Mira takes his hand.
          
                                      MIRA
                          You'll always be my first mate.
          
                                      GENE
                          Oh har de Arrrrrrhhhh har.
          
          Mira affectionately slaps Gene's butt as he goes back to
          the dressing room.
          
          SERIES OF SHOTS
          
           - Mira exits a dressing room dressed as an elegant circus
             performer. Gene exits as a clown.
           - Mira exits as a fancy Western dance hall girl. Gene
             exits as a stable boy.
           - Mira exits as a 20's flapper. Gene exits as a newsboy.
          
          END OF SERIES
          
          INT. CASINO - DAY
          
          Mira and Gene exit opposite dressing rooms simultaneously.
          They are wearing their original Starfleet uniforms again.
          
                                    MIRA
                        I don't mean to rush you, Honey,
                        but we're running out of time.
          
                                    GENE
                        I know. I'm sorry. I guess
                        these outfits will have to work.
          
          Suddenly, Gene picks his head up.
          
                                    GENE (CONT'D)
                        I've got it.
          
          Gene grabs Mira's hand and they run out of the casino.
          
          EXT. NEW YORK, NEW YORK CASINO - DAY
          
          Gene gestures to the New York façade.
          
                                    GENE
                        Ta Da!
          
          Mira leans over and kisses Gene.
          
                                    MIRA
                        You're a genius.
          
          Gene gestures to his uniform.
          
                                    GENE
                        Well, I am an engineering officer.
          
          Mira gives him a look indicating it shouldn't go to his
          head.
          
          They take each other's hand and enter the casino.
          
          INT. NEW YORK, NEW YORK CASINO - DAY
          
          Mira exits the dressing room in a fancy but modest, white
          wedding dress.
          
          Gene steps out wearing a subdued tuxedo.  He stares at his
          partner.
          
                                     GENE
                         You look so beautiful.
          
                                     MIRA
                         You clean up nicely yourself.
          
                                     GENE
                         This is perfect. Think we can
                         find an official?
          
          Mira smiles.
          
                                     MIRA
                         It is Vegas.
          
          INT. CHAPEL - DAY
          
          A "PRIEST" sits behind a desk. Behind him is the gaudiest
          collection of wedding memorabilia you can imagine. Velvet
          portraits, photo coffee cups, the works.
          
                                     PRIEST
                         Now, you two understand that
                         this is all legally binding?
          
          Gene and Mira nod.  The priest gestures to the pile of crap
          behind him.
          
                                     PRIEST (CONT'D)
                         And you're sure I can't interest
                         you in some fine merchandise to
                         commemorate the occasion?
          
          Gene and Mira shake their heads.
          
                                     PRIEST (CONT'D)
                         Very well. Do you have your
                         fifty dollars?
          
                                     GENE
                         Yes, sir.
          
          Gene hands the priest a few bills from a small stack.  The
          priest looks at the money.
          
                                    PRIEST
                        I do believe that this is German
                        currency, son.
          
          Gene takes the bills back. He fans out the stack of bills
          and holds them towards Mira. After some debate, the couple
          selects more bills and hands them to the priest.
          
                                    GENE
                        Is this correct?
          
          The priest pockets the bills.
          
                                    PRIEST
                        That's fine.
                              (beat)
                        Now, do you have your witnesses?
          
          Gene and Mira looks at each other then back to the priest.
          
                                       MIRA
                        Witnesses?
          
                                    PRIEST
                        You have to have two witnesses
                        to sign your license. Can you
                        call someone?
          
                                     GENE
                        No.   No one else could make it down.
          
                                    PRIEST
                        It doesn't have to be someone
                        you know. Perhaps you could step
                        out and find someone willing to
                        stand in for you.
          
          The priest points outside.
          
                                    PRIEST (CONT'D)
                        Convention hall is just across
                        the street. Always lots of
                        people over there.
          
          
          INT. CONVENTION HALL - DAY
          
          Gene and Mira enter the hall, still in wedding dress and
          tuxedo. Everywhere they look, they see Starfleet uniforms.
          
                                    GENE
                        Are you kidding me?
          
                                    MIRA
                        I've got an idea.
          
          Mira flags down a couple wearing uniforms and speaks to
          them.
          
          INT. CHAPEL - DAY
          
          The wedding ceremony comes to an end. Behind Gene, a MAN
          IN UNIFORM stands in. A WOMAN IN UNIFORM stands behind
          Mira, holding a bouquet.
          
                                    PRIEST
                        You may kiss the bride.
          
                                       GENE
                        Finally.
          
          Gene takes Mira in his arms and kisses her passionately.
          
          A photographer steps up behind the wedding party and gets
          their attention. The two couples turn and a picture is
          taken.
          
                                    GENE
                              (to Couple in Uniform)
                        We can't thank you enough.
          
          Mira nods and smiles.
          
          Gene reaches out and touches the "communicator badge" on
          the man's uniform. The badge BEEPS.
          
                                    GENE
                        Two to beam up. Offset by
                        one meter.
          
          Gene and Mira shimmer and fade out, disappearing
          completely.
          
          The couple in uniform and the priest stare at the blank
          space a moment.
          
          Finally, the woman in uniform reaches up and touches her
          new badge. It BEEPS.
          
                                    WOMAN IN UNIFORM
                        You know, no one is going to
                        believe this.
          
          The man touches his badge and it BEEPS.
          
                                    MAN IN UNIFORM
                        Whatever. We gotta go if we're
                        going to make it to the Shatner
                        panel.
          
          They exit the chapel.
          
                                                          FADE OUT.
          
                                    THE END

          Comment


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

            "Summer Loving"

            Code:
            INT. OPEN BOARDWALK STAND - DAY
            
            LJ (19) is young and sorta shy, hair grown long to meet the
            rock aesthetic expectations of 1985. Seaside Park stand is
            open to the air on three sides, beach behind.
            
                                   LJ (V.O.)
                           In 1985 I worked on the
                           boardwalk all summer printing
                           these kitchy t-shirts, and
                           living alone at my parents'
                           summer house across the bay.
            
            LJ photographs TWO KIDS with an old video cam. Dot matrix
            printer kicks out an image, and he presses it onto a t-shirt
            for GRANNY.
            
            LJ eats a slice of pizza alone, sipping soda.
            Two BEAUTIES strut by in bikinis with a handsome JOCK and
            never look over. LJ watches them go.
            
            It's quiet, daytime stretch, quite boring.
            
            A sweet 18 year old girl named APRIL meanders nearby, her
            Pink Floyd t-shirt tied up and showing midriff. She wears a
            delicate white sunhat and sunglasses, and she scopes around
            the other stands inquisitively. New to the scene.
            
                                   LJ (V.O.)
                           I hadn't talked to many girls,
                           as I had an issue with it,
                           reaching out first.
            
            April takes a detailed look at the t-shirts and calendars on
            display. LJ watches silently, as she seems to be taking her
            time, which is odd for a young maiden by herself.
            
                                   LJ
                           Hi there.
            
                                     APRIL
                           Hello.
            
                                   LJ
                           You down for the week?
            
                                    APRIL
                           Yeah. With my parents and my
                           brother.
            
                                    LJ
                           Ah. How's it going so far?
            
                                   APRIL
                           It's okay.
            
                                   LJ
                           You don't really want your
                           picture on something?
            
                                   APRIL
                           Oh, my gramms loves this kind
                           of stuff. Me and Justin.
            
                                     LJ
                           Justin?
            
                                   APRIL
                           My little brother.
            
            NIGHT
            
            April in the bright lights, seated beside JUSTIN, as LJ
            zooms in and gets the shot framed on a tv monitor. April's
            PARENTS watch at the counter. Father has a mustache, stocky.
            
                                   LJ
                           That's good, right there.
                           Turn a little bit toward each
                           other.
            
            He presses capture repeatedly as they move, determined to
            get this one just right.
            
                                   LJ
                           Relax. Just a little smile.
                           Got it.
            
            LJ kills the bright lights. Matrix printer spits out a
            page. LJ looks back over his shoulder, and April chats with
            her parents.
            
                                   MOM
                           The calendar, we think.
            
                                   LJ
                           This one?
            
            He holds up a 1986 felt calendar...
            
            JUMP
            
            Parents walk away with a plastic bag, but April hangs back.
            LJ's moment to make it or break it.
            
                                   LJ
                           Hey? April right?
            
                                      APRIL
                           Yeah.
            
                                    LJ
                           Are you doing anything later
                           tonight?
            
                                      APRIL
                           No.     Just walking around.
            
                                   LJ
                           I get out of here at 10.    Do
                           you want to hang out?
            
                                   APRIL
                           Sure.
            
                                   LJ (V.O.)
                           I couldn't believe my luck.
                           This hadn't happened before.
            
            April smiles demurely as she strolls off to catch up with
            her family. LJ stands alone in the stand, in another world.
            
            
            EXT. ROOFTOP MINI GOLF - NIGHT
            
            April hits a golf ball which jumps the track and sails off
            across the course to a fence. She laughs.
            
                                   APRIL
                           No!
            
                                   LJ
                           I'll get it, I'll get it.
            
            LJ hunts for the wayward ball, returns.
            
            The two look out over the ocean atop the roof. April wears
            jeans and denim jacket.
            
                                   LJ
                           You have a bandana as a belt.
            
                                   APRIL
                           Yeah, that's how I know my
                           stomach's okay, so I don't put
                           on any weight.
            
                                   LJ
                           Ohh. Wow, I didn't know it
                           would fit.
            
                                   APRIL
                           So like do you want to go
                           swimming in the ocean
                           tomorrow? That's what we're
                           doing.
            
                                     LJ
                           Yeah.    Everyone?   Sure.
            
            
            EXT. OCEAN - DAY
            
            Out in the surf. April and LJ bobbing, waiting for waves to
            body surf, moving closer to one another.
            
                                     APRIL
                           Hey?
            
                                     LJ
                           Yeah?
            
            She wraps her arms around him, face to face. She kisses
            him. Very salty kisses in the surf. LJ nervous.
            
                                   LJ
                           Can they see us here?
            
            April shakes her head. Beneath the water, she wraps her
            legs around his waist and hangs on.
            
                                   LJ
                           So your dad's a cop?
            
                                     APRIL
                           Yep.
            
            She kisses him again.
            
                                   LJ (V.O.)
                           I was so blown away by April,
                           and she was the most open,
                           intimate person I'd ever
                           known.
            
            BEACH
            
            LJ and April stroll past her Parents sitting on towels.
            
                                   APRIL
                           Hey we're gonna get some
                           lunch.
            
                                    FATHER
                           Okay.   We'll be here.
            
            Father seems casual, and the two march to the boardwalk.
            
                                   APRIL
                           Oh yeah, he's totally cool.
            
                                   LJ
                           I just don't want to do
                           anything to--
            
                                   APRIL
                           Don't worry about it.
            
            BOARDWALK
            
            Ascend the ramp and turn. Then April's
            fingers meet LJ's. Hand in hand...
            
            
            INT. LJ'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
            
            LJ and April tear into each other like feral rabbits.
            Flopping down to the bed, they undress in a hail of kisses.
            
                                   LJ (V.O.)
                           Friday night. April was
                           leaving the next morning to
                           return to her small city in
                           central Pennsylvania. I didn't
                           even have a condom.
            
            LJ penetrates April, and her legs wrap around tightly.
            Pumping wildly, in real time...
            
                                   LJ (V.O.)
                           I couldn't believe it, and I
                           couldn't help myself. In
                           under two minutes I had
                           ejaculated inside of April.
            
            LJ's face, pretending to pump away without a hitch. April
            notices nothing, writhing, her eyes closed.
            
                                   LJ (V.O.)
                           The most crucial moment of my
                           sexual life, I wasn't about to
                           be that guy.
            
            They flip, April on top. Savage kisses. They go and go.
            
                                    LJ (V.O.)
                           At first I could hardly feel
                           myself, a numbness not
                           entirely unpleasant. I had no
                           idea it was possible to keep
                           going...
            
            Sweaty, exhausted, April finally slows and stops.
            They flop side by side on the bed.
            
                                   APRIL
                           Well, we tried.
            
                                   LJ
                           Uhm. I came already, a while
                           ago, but I didn't want to
                           disappoint you.
            
            She huffs amusedly. They gaze at one another.
            
            
            EXT. LJ'S HOUSE - NIGHT
            
            Misty eyed, April opens her arms, and she hugs LJ for a long
            interlude, swaying back and forth. A final kiss.
            
                                      LJ
                           Bye.
            
                                      APRIL
                           Bye.
            
            April returns to her family car and starts the engine.
            
                                   LJ (V.O.)
                           I never saw April again, as
                           she lived in a different state
                           and a different life. But I
                           could never forget our week
                           together, when it seemed like
                           there was magic in the world.
            
            LJ watches as April backs out and slowly drives off. The
            night quiets. Fade out.
            
            END.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Entries - Valentine's Day contest

              "Dinner With Ralphie"

              Code:
              FADE IN:                                        (PRESENT DAY)
              
              INT. BASEMENT - EVENING
              
              RALPHIE, late twenties, sprawls across a garage-sale couch,
              flicking the remote towards an ancient television. His other
              hand presses a beer can to his eye. Ralphie could use a
              haircut and clean shirt.
              
              A collection of pizza boxes leans in a wobbly stack against
              an overflowing garbage can. A tired washer and dryer, boxes
              of crap and an old bicycle join to crowd the grimy space.
              
              Stairs lead to an upper floor.
              
                                    BRUCE
                             (O.S.)
                         How's the eye?
              
                                      RALPHIE
                         I'll live.
              
              Ralphie pulls the can away from his eye, pops the top and
              takes a long swig. We SEE the beginnings of a shiner.
              
                                    BRUCE
                             (O.S.)
                         So what's the next get rich quick
                         scheme?
              
                                   RALPHIE
                         I didn't know her new boyfriend
                         would be there.
              
                                    BRUCE
                             (O.S.)
                         You are such a loser.
              
                                   RALPHIE
                         I don't see you making any effort.
              
              Ralphie guzzles his beer, scrunches the can and chunks it
              onto the floor. BELCH.
              
                                    BRUCE
                             (O.S.)
                         We're gonna live in this basement
                         forever.
              
                                   RALPHIE
                         I've been thinking.
              
                                   BRUCE
                            (O.S.)
                        I hope it's better than delivering
                        dead roses for pissed-off people.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Gonna make us a lot of money.
              
                                   BRUCE
                            (O.S.)
                        You're a legend in your own mind.
              
              We HEAR a voice from the top of the stairs.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        Ralphie! Dinner's almost ready.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Not hungry.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        I fixed your favorite. Special
                        dinner for a special night.
              
                                   RALPHIE
                        Okay.   Be up in a minute.
              
                                   BRUCE
                            (O.S.)
                        Isn't that nice. Mommie fixed her
                        little boy something special.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        You're not helping.   You're
                        supposed to help.
              
                                   BRUCE
                            (O.S.)
                        Tell you what. Just for you, I'll
                        make her stop talking about him
                        tonight.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        You're full of it. Don't you
                        remember what tonight is? Dumbass.
              
              
              INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING
              
              Ralphie fidgets as he sits alone at the dining room table.
              Set for three, the centerpiece holds a single faded rose.
              Cheap table and chairs but an effort was made.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        Ready in a minute. Ralphie, I
                        thought I heard you talking to
                        yourself. Were you talking to
                        yourself?
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        What difference does it make to
                        you?
              
                                     MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        What?
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Sorry. Messed up.    Mom, why the
                        three plates?
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        Ralphie, every Valentine's Day your
                        father brought me roses. Every
                        year. Your father was--
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        --I don't want to hear it.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        He was the sweetest man.
              
              Ralphie stands, yells.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Mom, you said you were going to
                        stop doing this! I've heard that
                        stupid story a million times.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        I'll never forget.
              
              Ralphie sits, puts his hands over his ears.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        I am going to lose my mind.
              
              Ralphie leans back, sighs. He wipes his nose with his hand.
              
                                  RALPHIE (CONT'D)
                        Go ahead, mom.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        Oh well. I know how I carry on
                        sometimes.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        You're fine.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        I thought how nice it would be to
                        have us all together again. Like
                        it used to be.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Mom, it's just you and me. We
                        don't need three plates.
              
                                  MOM
                            (O.S)
                        Your dad was such a man. He taught
                        you--
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        --No, he didn't teach me. He never
                        picked me up at school. He never
                        gave me advice. We never talked
                        about girls. He never taught me
                        how to throw a football.
              
                                  MOM
                            (O.S)
                        I knew when he put his arms around
                        me that nothing in this world could
                        hurt me.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Mom, will you stop? I'm tired of
                        hearing about him. He wasn't there
                        for me. He wasn't there when I
                        needed him.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        I'll never stop talking about him.
                        Not until he walks back through
                        that door.
              
              Ralphie stands in anger, picks up a plate. He's ready to do
              damage.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Shut up! He's not coming back.
                        Maybe if he had told me to stay in
                        school, maybe if he made me get a
                        job. Didn't happen.
              
                                  MOM
                            (O.S)
                        Those were the days.   I was so
                        happy.
              
              Ralphie is enraged.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Stop talking! He stepped in front
                        of a bus. I was in the third
                        grade. Stupid dad. Why was he so
                        stupid?
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        Living with him was like being in
                        paradise.
              
              Ralphie lifts the plate over his head but is interrupted by a
              KNOCK on the front door. Ralphie hesitates, gently returns
              the plate to the table. He shuffles to the door and looks
              through the peephole. He pulls the door open.
              
              OFFICER O'MALLEY and OFFICER SCHWARTZ stand outside. All
              business, tired of the same garbage every night.
              
                                  OFFICER O'MALLEY
                        Got a complaint about yelling. You
                        alone?
              
              Ralphie nods.
              
                                  OFFICER O'MALLEY (CONT'D)
                        You know the drill.
                            (to Officer Schwartz)
                        Back in a minute.
              
              Officer O'Malley walks past Ralphie.
              
                                  OFFICER SCHWARTZ
                        You keeping it together, kid?
              
                                    RALPHIE
                        Yeah.
              
              Officer Schwartz pats Ralphie's back. Officer O'Malley
              returns.
              
                                  OFFICER O'MALLEY
                        Nothing. You know, most of the
                        yelling we deal with ain't fricking
                        people yelling at themselves.
              
                                  OFFICER SCHWARTZ
                        Give the kid a break.
              
              Ralphie stares at his feet.
              
              
              INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING
              
              Ralphie plays with a fork at the dining room table.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        Who was that?
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Nobody.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        I thought I heard somebody.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        You're hearing things that aren't
                        there, mom.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        Come help me carry.
              
              KNOCK on the front door.
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        Must be retard at the door day.
              
                                   MOM
                            (O.S.)
                        Was that a knock?
              
                                  RALPHIE
                        I'll get it.
              
              Ralphie forces himself up, slogs to the door.   He looks
              through the peephole, steps back.
              
                                  RALPHIE (CONT'D)
                        Mom?
              
                                    MOM
                             (O.S.)
                         Yes, honey?
              
                                   RALPHIE
                         It's for you.
              
              FADE OUT
              Last edited by dpaterso; 02-21-2014, 10:05 PM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Entries - Valentine's Day contest

                "The Boy In The Woods"

                Code:
                FADE IN:
                
                EXT. FOREST - TRAIL - DAY
                
                SUPERIMPOSE: Ukraine, The Eastern Front, 1941 - The Other
                Holocaust
                
                Birch trees soar into the bleak sky. A cold rain trickles
                down. Autumn leaves carpet a muddy woodland path.
                
                A line of sobbing, meagerly-dressed JEWS, clutching young
                children are being lead into the woods by German PARAMILITARY
                (Einsatzgruppen SS).
                
                The distinct POPS from a firing squad echo in the distance.
                The Jews collectively WEEP at the ominous sound.
                
                A Jewish man, 40s, can't mentally bring himself to step any
                further. He stops, trembling. He's SMACKED in the back by a
                GERMAN SOLDIER with the butt of his MP 40, ordering him to
                move it:
                
                                     GERMAN SOLDIER
                           Gehl! Bewegen!
                
                A blonde WOMAN, 30s, stops and kneels down to her three
                little girls, ages 10, 8 and 7. The 7-year-old is ANNA, brown
                pigtails, clutching a cheap, patched-up rag doll.
                
                                     WOMAN
                           Listen to me. Run as fast as you
                           can. Do not look back.
                
                The girls do not wish to go. They cling to their mother's
                dress, hugging her, CRYING hysterically. She commands them:
                
                                     WOMAN (CONT'D)
                           Go!
                
                The girls scurry off into the woods. An SS spots the getaway:
                
                                     GERMAN SOLDIER 2
                           Hult!
                
                He hurries over and aims his machine gun at the fleeing
                children. The mom leaps at him, SCREAMING, pushing away the
                MP 40. He SMACKS her in the face with the barrel. He re-aims.
                
                EXT. FOREST - DAY
                
                Anna, WAILING, face awash in tears, runs for her life, 'lil
                feet barely able to keep above the dense leaves and roots.
                Suddenly --
                
                A branch EXPLODES just left of her head. More rounds SMACK
                into fallen trunks. Some SKIP off the wet dirt.
                
                She continues her terrified trot, rag doll flopping at each
                stride. Sticks and branches lash at her arms and legs.
                
                The sound of HOLLERING German troops and BARKING hounds draws
                closer. Exhausted, her cries give way to panting. She
                plummets to the wet leaves, unable to breath. Suddenly --
                
                A SMALL HAND reaches out from under a mossy log. It DRAGS her
                beneath the fallen tree.
                
                UNDER LOG
                
                Anna's mouth is clasped from behind by the tiny hand. Her
                brown eyes widen in terror. An unseen BOY's voice speaks:
                
                                      BOY
                            Be absolutely quiet.
                
                A nervous beat. The barks grow louder. Now RIGHT ON TOP OF
                THEM. Through a crack, the soldiers and hounds RACE by in a
                blur of boots and paws. The commotion dies down.
                
                UNDER LOG - LATER
                
                It's darker. The tiny hand still covers Anna's mouth. Her
                eyes grow weary. She gently pries off the hand, crawls out.
                
                EXT. FOREST - SUNSET
                
                Anna rises, brushing off the dirt from her drab dress. She
                watches in anticipation as a blond boy, YURI, 9, ragged
                clothes, emerges from under the log. Before she can speak--
                
                                      YURI
                            Quick! We have to get to the creek
                            before nightfall. The patrols will
                            be out.
                
                He snags her hand and the two dash off into the woods.
                
                EXT. CREEK - NIGHT
                
                Twigs SNAP beneath the two children's feet. The sound of
                TRICKLING WATER draws nearer. A creek is revealed. Yuri
                kneels down, scooping up the water in his cupped hands. He
                drinks up. He makes another cup, scoops more.
                
                                      YURI
                            Here. Drink.
                
                Anna sips from his hands. She begins to shiver. Yuri takes
                off one of his rags and wraps it around her. He expertly
                begins to craft a bed out of dry leaves. Anna looks baffled.
                
                                      ANNA
                            Who are you?
                
                                    YURI
                          Yuri. And you?
                
                                       ANNA
                          Anna.
                
                Anna looks spooked by the dark woods.
                
                                    ANNA (CONT'D)
                          I should go. I need to find my
                          mommy and sisters. They might need
                          me--
                
                Yuri firmly grabs her by the shoulders, speaking with a
                candor beyond his years:
                
                                    YURI
                          Your mother and sisters are dead!
                
                A faucet is turned on. Tears stream from Anna's lil' brown
                eyes. She clutches her rag doll, using it to wipe away the
                tears.
                
                Yuri looks guilty. A beat. He gets back to work. A
                hopelessness comes over Anna. She stands paralyzed. Each puff
                of breath now visible in the frigid air.
                
                                    YURI (CONT'D)
                          You're freezing. Come on.
                
                He grabs her hand and gently pulls her into the leafy bed. He
                slips a wooden framework of leaves over, covering them.
                
                INT. LEAF SHELTER - NIGHT
                
                A beam of moonlight shines through, revealing Anna's face.
                She looks dejected, lost in space. Yuri's still awake.
                
                                    ANNA
                          Where are you from?
                
                                    YURI
                          Obariv. My father and I escaped
                          before the death squads arrived.
                          I've been out here six days.
                
                                    ANNA
                          Where is your father?
                
                                    YURI
                          He had a fever. I couldn't... He
                          didn't make it.
                
                                    ANNA
                          I'm sorry.
                
                                    YURI
                          ... Sleep. The hike to Kiev is far.
                          We'll be safe there.
                
                There's a tortured look in Yuri's eyes. The snuggled up duo
                gently close their lids.
                
                EXT. FOREST - DAY
                
                The two pick berries from a tree. Majority red, some black.
                Anna tastes a red one -- bitter. She still stuffs a handful
                in her mouth. Yuri browses the berries like a seasoned pro.
                
                                    ANNA
                          How do you know so much about the
                          forest?
                
                                    YURI
                          My father was the best woodsman
                          Obariv ever had. He taught me to do
                          every--... He taught me a lot.
                
                Anna plucks a black berry. Right before it enters her mouth:
                
                                       YURI (CONT'D)
                          No! Don't!
                
                                       ANNA
                          Poisonous?
                
                                    YURI
                          No. They taste awful.
                
                Anna giggles. Yuri smiles. He proceeds to pluck a beetle off
                the ground, popping it in his mouth. Anna's face: Ewww.
                
                EXT. FOREST - HILLSIDE - DAY
                
                Anna and Yuri make their way down a steep hill. Yuri slips.
                Anna catches him. Yuri's eyes say thank you. Anna smiles.
                They walk down a small trail. A folded up piece of paper
                slips out from Yuri's jacket. Anna picks it up.
                
                                    ANNA
                          What's this?
                
                She unfolds the crinkly book page: a stunning golden wheat
                field is revealed, like something out of a van Gogh painting.
                
                                    YURI
                          It's Oklahoma. In America. The
                          wheat fields go on forever. It's
                          like heaven.
                
                                    ANNA
                          It's beautiful.
                
                                    YURI
                          I've dreamed about it for years.
                          There's no war. Nice neighbors.
                          I'll live there one day.
                
                                    ANNA
                          Can I come?
                
                                    YURI
                          Nope. Only me.
                
                Anna frowns. Yuri laughs.
                
                                    YURI (CONT'D)
                          Of course you can come!
                
                Anna smiles. She stops him in his tracks and gives him a peck
                on the lips. Yuri is stunned, wide-eyed. A beat. He kisses
                her back. They both giggle.
                
                INT. LEAF SHELTER - NIGHT
                
                The two snuggle up, warm smiles etched on their faces.
                
                EXT. FOREST - TRAIL #2 - DAY
                
                The two children, hand in hand, proceed down a dirt path.
                Yuri holds a hiking stick. Suddenly, a SNEEZE from Anna. Yuri
                spins around. His face: sheer dread. Anna wipes her nose with
                her dress.
                
                                    YURI
                          Are you sick? Do you have a fever?
                
                He puts a hand on her forehead, panicked.
                
                                    ANNA
                          No, I'm fine. It must've been the
                          willows. I have allergies... What's
                          wrong?
                
                Yuri loses it. He buries his face in his hands and plummets
                to the ground, erupting into tears.
                
                                    YURI
                          His fever was so high. He was
                          freezing. But I couldn't make a
                          fire. He taught me how, but I
                          couldn't do it!
                
                Anna parks down next to him, consoling him with a tender arm.
                
                                    ANNA
                          A fire wouldn't have saved him. He
                          needed medicine. A warm bed. It
                          wasn't your fault.
                
                Yuri looks unconvinced. Anna firmly grabs him by the
                shoulders, looking deep inside him.
                
                                     ANNA (CONT'D)
                           You have me now.
                
                The tears subside. Yuri calms. He gently clears away the hair
                from her warm brown eyes.
                
                                     YURI
                           You're so beautiful. Like a
                           princess... Cuter than Cinderella.
                
                Anna smiles. She pops up, grabbing his hand, perky.
                
                                     ANNA
                           And you're my prince. Come on. Tell
                           me more about the house we'll live
                           in in Oklahoma.
                
                EXT. FOREST - HILLSIDE #2 - DAY
                
                Anna and Yuri hold hands, all smiles. They climb up a hill.
                
                                     YURI
                           The farms are huge! So many horses--
                
                The two freeze in horror at the sight of BODIES, three,
                spaced 30 feet apart, sprawled in the valley below -- single
                bullet wounds to the back. Yuri grabs Anna and the two
                quickly duck behind the hill. Yuri's face: grave worry.
                
                GERMAN SNIPER
                
                In an oak tree, high up. A 98K rifle is aimed ahead. An unlit
                cigarette dangles from the mouth of an eye-patched German.
                
                CHILDREN
                
                                     YURI (CONT'D)
                           ... It's a sniper.
                
                                     ANNA
                           Can we go around?
                
                                     YURI
                           No. He could be anywhere... We'll
                           split up. Run in a zigzag. OK?
                
                Panic overwhelms Anna. A beat. She calms down, nods. Yuri
                silently counts: 3... 2... 1... They BOLT over the hill.
                
                THROUGH SNIPER SCOPE
                
                Cross-hairs zero in on Yuri as he snakes through the trees.
                POP. A round BLOWS a hole though a birch. The bolt COCKS.
                
                Another POP. Near miss. The scope steadies and... POP. A
                round TEARS through Yuri's ankle just as he disappears over
                the hill.
                
                Cross-hairs now on Anna. She zigs. POP. The round WHIZZES by
                her. She Zags. Another POP. It SKIPS off the dirt at her
                feet. The scope steadies on Anna's chest and... POP. It
                STRIKES an oak tree just as she vanishes over the hill.
                
                GERMAN SNIPER
                
                The sniper pulls his one good eye away from the scope. He
                calmly grinds the cigarette with his teeth.
                
                CHILDREN
                
                Anna catches up to Yuri -- hobbling, grimacing. He sits down
                on a stone. Anna wraps a rag tight around the bloody wound.
                She lifts him up and leads him away, acting like a crutch.
                
                EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
                
                Yuri sits by a log, shivering from the cold, feverish. Anna
                futilely tries to cover him up with leaves. She unties the
                rag and looks at the wound -- gangrene. She tears up.
                
                                     ANNA
                           Oh my God. We need to get to a
                           doctor.
                
                                     YURI
                               (gravely ill)
                           It's too late. Here. Take this.
                
                He passes her the folded up photo.
                
                                     YURI (CONT'D)
                           On the back. An address. My uncle
                           in Kiev. He'll take care of you.
                
                                     ANNA
                               (bawling)
                           I can't do this without you.
                
                                     YURI
                           Yes you can. The bridge to Kiev is
                           around the bend. Please... Promise
                           me you'll live. Have a family.
                           Children of your own... Promise.
                
                Anna nods, pouty, face awash in tears. Suddenly, Yuri slips
                away. Anna plants one last kiss on his lips and pulls back.
                
                She opens up the crinkly photo. The wheat fields appear even
                more stunning this time. Her lil' brown eyes swell with
                defiance. A new resolve comes over her.
                
                EXT. RIVER - BRIDGE - DAY
                
                KAAA-BOOM! A mortar explodes by the roadside. Seared concrete
                grains sprinkle down. The bridge is fortified by Russian
                troops with sandbags. Machine gun fire ZIPS left and right.
                
                Anna slowly approaches the war zone. Now just 30 m from the
                bridge. She clutches Yuri's photo. She musters up the
                courage... dashes off. She runs onto the bridge, bullets
                WHIZZING by. She zigzags, just like Yuri taught her.
                
                One of the Russian soldiers bravely runs out onto the bridge,
                scooping her up, but POW! -- is struck down by a single rifle
                shot. Anna tumbles to the ground. She gets up, keeps zagging.
                
                THROUGH SNIPER SCOPE
                
                More rounds kick up concrete at Anna's feet. She's just about
                to disappear behind an MG nest. The cross-hairs concentrate
                one last time and... POP. It's absorbed by a sandbag just as
                Anna exits range.
                
                GERMAN SNIPER
                
                High up another oak. The disgruntled German pulls his one eye
                away from the scope. The cig in his mouth SNAPS in two.
                
                EXT. OKLAHOMA - FARM - SUNSET
                
                A quaint farmhouse. Movers haul furniture from a box truck.
                
                A black '58 Chevy Impala pulls into the driveway. The driver
                side door FLIES open. A boy & girl, hardly 7, race out in
                excitement. The male driver, 30s, exits. The passenger side
                door opens. Out steps a ravishing brown-eyed BRUNETTE, 30.
                The couple marvel at the two story house, arm and arm. They
                kiss. Her eyes are slowly drawn to the yard.
                
                EXT. WHEAT FIELDS - SUNSET
                
                The woman strolls amidst the waist-high stocks, gently
                stroking the kernels with her fingers.
                
                She stops, staring out unto the golden fields, reflecting.
                She looks down to a crinkly piece of paper and unfolds it --
                Yuri's photo. A GUST. She tosses it up into the air. It's
                captured by the wind, ferrying it deep into the fields.
                
                She warmly smiles, looking on as the setting sun slips
                beneath the divine landscape.
                
                                    ANNA
                          We're finally here, Yuri.
                
                                                                    FADE OUT
                Last edited by dpaterso; 02-21-2014, 10:28 PM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Entries - Valentine's Day contest

                  "Love The One You're With"

                  Code:
                  INT. DINER, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA
                  
                  It's seen better days, but it's clean and tidy. Aging, but
                  still proud. A couple CUSTOMERS sit at booths, listening to --
                  
                  JACK BUNHILL (60s), British expatriate, a bit worn around the
                  edges, but still comfortable in his own skin, like the place
                  here he owns. He's currently playing an acoustic guitar --
                  
                  Accompanied by MAGGIE WITHERS on an upright bass. She's 50s,
                  all-American, sensible clothes and a warm, friendly face with
                  no makeup (not that she needs it).
                  
                  They finish "GREENSLEEVES" to a smattering of applause. They
                  smile at their regular customers and put away their
                  instruments. Jack straps on an apron and takes a position
                  behind the counter as Maggie comes over to grab her waitress
                  order pad. She leans over the counter towards him.
                  
                                      MAGGIE
                            That was lovely. Kiss me.
                  
                  Jack spares a look around the room.
                  
                                      JACK
                                (a trace of Cockney)
                            They're watching.
                  
                                      MAGGIE
                            So what!?!?
                  
                  He concentrates on breaking an egg, ignoring her look.
                  
                                      JACK
                            Later, I promise.
                  
                  The front door opens to REGINALD DWIGHT - black business
                  suit, uptight gait, carrying a packet. He makes for Jack.
                  
                  A black limo can be seen through the front window.
                  
                                      REGINALD
                                (very proper British)
                            Jack Bunhill?
                  
                  At Jack's nod, Reginald hands him the packet.
                  
                                      REGINALD (CONT'D)
                            Her Majesty requests your presence.
                  
                  With that, he turns and leaves.
                  
                  Jack, perplexed, opens the packet. Reading, it looks like
                  he's getting bad news.
                  
                                      JACK
                            I put it behind me forty years ago.
                            Never missed it. With good reason.
                  
                  He's joined by Maggie, who is looking across the counter,
                  reading upside down.
                  
                                      MAGGIE
                            They want a "Jack-O-Lanterns"
                            reunion for a Valentine Benefit???
                  
                                      JACK
                            Apparently, she was a fan.
                                (grimacing)
                            The question is, is she worth it?
                  
                  EXT. HEATHROW AIRPORT, ENGLAND - DAYS LATER
                  
                  Jack's plane hits the runway. Bumpy landing. Not a good omen.
                  
                  
                  INT. SOUND MACHINE STUDIOS
                  
                  Jack and Maggie enter. The room is big and it's crowded with
                  music/entertainment types milling around for the pre-concert
                  party. No business suits here. Just whatever is hip or edgy.
                  Lots of NOISE and MUSIC.
                  
                  MICK JAGGER walks by. Does a double take as he moves past --
                  
                                      MICK
                            Jack! Long time, mate!
                  
                  Across the room. LAURA VANDERBILT (60s - but you wouldn't
                  know it) turns. She's slim, trim, and made up To-Die-For...
                  
                  That is, if you're into the industrial gothic rock opera
                  queen scene. Which, apparently, she is right now. Her hair is
                  dyed jet black, her fingernails are black, and her lipstick
                  is some sort of shade of red/black. She's got a killer figure
                  - as displayed by her, natch, black leather outfit.
                  
                  The face is flawless. Literally, it's flawless. Some cosmetic
                  surgeon is probably buying a palatial estate on the Riviera
                  with the work he's done here. As if on cue, the speakers
                  begin playing Roxette's "She's Got the Look."
                  
                  Not to mention attitude. She's a bunch of street signs rolled
                  up into one, especially DANGEROUS CURVES AHEAD or SLIPPERY
                  WHEN WET. Oh, and ROCKSLIDE AREA - PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
                  
                  Laura quickly comes over. Taking in the whole picture, Jack
                  is obviously not surprised by what he sees.
                  
                                      JACK
                            Morticia. How wonderful to see you.
                            And how are Gomez and Uncle Fester?
                  
                  She takes the verbal jab in stride, deflecting it like the
                  greeting of a long lost lover. She throws her arms around
                  him. Running her fingers up through his hair, she grabs a
                  handful on each side and shakes his head back and forth. It's
                  not really rough, but it still looks painful.
                  
                                      LAURA
                            Jack. Always the kidder. I have so
                            missed your sense of humor.
                  
                  She kisses him, right on the mouth. Before he can react, she
                  pirouettes neatly, wrapping an arm around Jack's waist.
                  
                                      LAURA (CONT'D)
                            Introduce me!
                  
                  Red in the face, Jack reaches over and grabs Maggie by the
                  arm, pulling her over.
                  
                                      JACK
                            This is my, uh, friend, Maggie.
                  
                  Laura gives Maggie a totally insincere minx cat smile.
                  
                                      LAURA
                            So nice to meet a friend of Jack's.
                  
                  She squeezes Jack and wriggles a little closer. He manages to
                  disentangle himself when Laura spots STING nearby.
                  
                                      LAURA (CONT'D)
                            I have a very tight schedule today.
                            My car will take you to my home.
                  
                  
                  EXT - LAURA'S ESTATE - LATER
                  
                  A car pulls in past the extensive gardens. The house is huge.
                  It should be in Castle and Garden magazine.
                  
                  
                  INT. LAURA'S LIVING ROOM - LATER
                  
                  The expansive room is filled with expensive antiques and
                  furniture. Jack and Maggie sit alone, holding hands,
                  conversing in low tones.A BUTLER walks in and approaches
                  Jack, who quickly unclasps hands.
                  
                                      BUTLER
                            If you will follow me, sir.
                  
                                      JACK
                            But what about my, uh - Maggie?
                  
                                      BUTLER
                                (to Maggie)
                            Make yourself comfortable, Miss.
                  
                  Without waiting for Jack, the butler turns and leaves. Jack
                  has no choice but to follow.
                  
                  
                  INT. SITTING ROOM
                  
                  Jack is ushered in. Laura's here, waiting for him, blond
                  haired now, the goth makeup completely gone. She's all
                  cleaned and washed up - AND in a very expensive, filmy robe.
                  She's seated on a settee - the only seat in the room . A tea
                  set is on a coffee table, hot tea steaming in the cups.
                  
                                      JACK
                            What happened to the real you?
                  
                  This earns him a sarcastic smile in return from Laura.
                  
                                      LAURA
                            That was business. My cosmetics
                            company is launching a new line for
                            teens. Goth is an untapped market.
                  
                  She pats the cushion next to her on the settee. Since there
                  are no other chairs, he doesn't have any choice. He sits
                  down, but as far to the other side as possible.
                  
                                      LAURA (CONT'D)
                            I'm sorry about at the studio. I
                            was just afraid and acting out. I
                            thought you might still be mad at
                            me - after the things I said to you
                            back when you broke up the group.
                  
                                      JACK
                            What? Oh, well. Ancient history,
                            you know.
                  
                  She brushes a lock of hair back from her face.
                  
                                      LAURA
                            Well, not ancient. And it's not
                            like I've not done well for myself.
                  
                  She scootches over next to him. Hip touching hip. She looks
                  at him earnestly. Practically batting her eyes.
                  
                                      LAURA (CONT'D)
                            But I really did miss you. Did you
                            miss me? All these years?
                  
                                      JACK
                            Well, uh. You know...
                  
                  She leans really near.
                  
                                      LAURA
                            I know. I'm sure there were lots
                            other women over the years.
                  
                                      JACK
                            Well, you know. Just, uh...
                  
                  She leans closer. Lips soooo close. He's hypnotized - the
                  mouse and the snake. She KISSES him. REALLY kisses him.
                  
                  For a moment, he fights it. Another moment, he leans into it.
                  Then he stiffens, breaks. Gasping for air, sanity, anything.
                  
                  He makes a fast grab for his tea cup. As he pulls it in, she
                  leans in quickly towards him again. Her arm and his tea cup
                  collide. Hot tea goes flying. She screams. He yelps.
                  
                  She's pulling the front of her flimsy robe away from her
                  chest, trying to keep the hot tea off her skin. Jack is
                  momentarily distracted by this, but the hot tea burning his
                  own skin quickly gets his attention back.
                  
                                      JACK (CONT'D)
                            Hot! Hot! Hot! I need to go change.
                  
                                      LAURA
                            You can use my room.
                  
                  But he's already bolted out the door.
                  
                  
                  INT. LIVING ROOM
                  
                  Jack returns (in a new shirt). He joins Maggie on the couch.
                  She eyes the shirt, but doesn't say anything.
                  
                                      MAGGIE
                            What was that about?
                  
                                      JACK
                                (evasive)
                            A lot of years have passed since
                            the band was together. Laura, uh,
                            wanted to talk about old times.
                            Emphasis on old.
                  
                                      MAGGIE
                            You're really not old, you know.
                  
                                      JACK
                            Oh? Don't you think so?
                  
                                      MAGGIE
                            Victor Hugo said, "The wise man
                            does not grow old, but ripens".
                  
                                      JACK
                            That would make me an over-ripe
                            pumpkin, it would seem.
                                (checking his watch)
                            Speaking of time. Gotta go.
                  
                  INT. GUEST BEDROOM - LATER
                  
                  Maggie's sitting on the bed. Looking miserable as there's a
                  KNOCK. The butler sticks his head in the door.
                  
                                      BUTLER
                            The car has already taken the
                            others to the concert site.
                  
                  He takes in the look on her face - enters the room.
                  
                                      BUTLER (CONT'D)
                            Begging your pardon, Miss. But I
                            only work here. I don't have to
                            agree with Laura. Will you allow me
                            to assist you in getting ready?
                  
                  EXT. CONCERT SITE - EVENING
                  
                  A giant field, full of people facing an enormous stage with a
                  banner "ROYAL VALENTINE CELEBRATION".
                  
                  
                  INT. DRESSING ROOM
                  
                  Jack is putting on his Jack-O-Lantern costume - black with
                  shiny vines climbing up the sides.
                  
                  Maggie makes an entrance - No joke. An entrance. All you can
                  say is WOW.
                  
                  Apparently, the butler knows folks. The makeup is so artfully
                  applied that you don't even realize she's wearing it, but she
                  glows. The dress is Saint-Hill & Von Basedow. Her hair is a
                  sculpted masterpiece. She's stunning. Pure and simple.
                  
                  The butler's behind Maggie, checking out the reaction.
                  
                  Jack's jaw drops. He finally finds his voice.
                  
                                      JACK
                            "She was a phantom of delight."
                  
                  Maggie dimples.
                  
                                      MAGGIE
                            Wordsworth? For me? How thoughtful.
                  
                                      JACK
                            I cannot, for the life of me,
                            remember the next line.
                  
                                      MAGGIE
                            Make it up to me when we get home.
                            Maybe I can borrow the dress.
                  
                  That causes him to smile. He rlaxes. Finally. For the first
                  time since they got here. And with a look between them, it
                  shows that he realizes he's really in love with this woman.
                  
                  Jack spots a ROADIE passing by the door. He grabs him, then
                  grabs a piece of paper and a pencil off a table. He's talking
                  (mostly to himself) while scribbling.
                  
                                      JACK (CONT'D)
                            There used to be a little novelty
                            shop on Haymarket down at West End.
                  
                  He hands the roadie the slip of paper. Taps the list.
                  
                                      JACK (CONT'D)
                            Find the phone number and get me a
                            delivery service. FAST.
                  
                  
                  EXT. STAGE - NIGHT
                  
                  The crowd mills about as ROADIES finish changing out gear on
                  the stage following the latest set. The EMCEE comes out.
                  
                                      EMCEE
                            Tonight, a reunion of one of the
                            most artistically influential bands
                            to come out of England during the
                            sixties. The Jack-O-Lanterns!
                  
                  The lights go out. SCREAMS AND WHISTLES rise in volume. Most
                  of the crowd has no idea who they are, but hey, it's a
                  monster of a concert, so whoever it is has gotta be good.
                  
                  The stage and spotlights go on.
                  
                  The Jack-O-Lanterns! In full Jack-O-Lantern regalia! Jack at
                  the mike, Fender Strat in hand, face painted like (of course)
                  a Jack-O-Lantern. The rest of the group also in makeup and at
                  their posts. Laura at keyboards, BASSIST, DRUMMER...
                  
                  A DRUM BACKBEAT. The KEYBOARD BUILDS. A thumping BASSLINE...
                  
                  The Jack-O-Lanterns fly into their song - "LIGHT ME UP".
                  
                  It's a great number. The crowd's in it. The TECHS/MUSICIANS
                  on the sidelines are digging it. Everyone is having a fest.
                  
                  Jack glances over to Laura.
                  
                  She's practically panting. Soaking it in. Pure hedonism.
                  
                  Three. Two. One. And a crescendo for the end. People in the
                  crowd are jumping and waving amidst all the screaming!
                  
                  Laura leaves her spot and practically skips to the front of
                  the stage. Waving and blowing kisses to the crowd. She takes
                  a look at Jack. Gives him a silent "Ha!", followed by a look
                  of contempt: "Why would you ever want to give this up?" She
                  takes a deep bow, drawing it out.
                  
                  As she does so, Jack turns his back to the crowd. He puts
                  down his Strat. Stops, looks up for a moment. Thinking,
                  reminiscing, deciding? And then...
                  
                  He drops his pants. There, for all of world-wide television
                  to see, is an enormous pair of white boxer shorts, covered
                  with large pink hearts.
                  
                  He fiddles with something at the waistband.
                  
                  The emcee is furiously waving at the techs to cut the lights.
                  
                  They find the switches, and as they do...
                  
                  The hearts on Jack's shorts light up in flashing red, made
                  more brilliant in the dark. The crowd goes even wilder.
                  
                  Jack sidles over to the drumkit and reaches behind it -
                  pulling out a larger poster just as someone hits a spotlight.
                  
                  CLOSE ON POSTER
                  
                  "JACK LOVES MAGGIE" - The "O" is done in the shape of a
                  pumpkin...

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Entries - Valentine's Day contest

                    "Love Hurts"

                    Code:
                    INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
                    
                    A sliver of light shines from the open door of the adjacent
                    bathroom, providing just enough illumination for us to see
                    the dresser and on it, a vase of roses, an open box of
                    chocolates (heart-shaped, of course), a fancy gilded card.
                    
                    A few feet from the dresser is the bed - padded headboard,
                    thick comforter. Under the comforter are two bodies,
                    breathing heavily but not moving. BOB (40s) is top, his wife
                    BETTY (also 40s) is bottom.
                    
                    Just what they are doing under the covers isn't clear, but
                    whatever it is, it's not going well.
                    
                                        BOB
                              Are you sure we're doing this
                              right? Is it supposed to hurt?
                    
                                        BETTY
                              I told you to stretch before we
                              started, Bob.
                    
                                        BOB
                              Maybe it's you.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              I beg your pardon?
                    
                                        BOB
                              You switched from the first part to
                              the second part too fast.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              Kindly remove your hand from my ass
                              when you are criticizing my sexual
                              performance.
                    
                                        BOB
                              I'm not criticizing. I'm - making a
                              note for future reference.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              If you say another word about me,
                              there won't be anything to
                              reference in your future.
                    
                    Silence for a beat. More heavy breathing. The impatient kind.
                    
                                        BOB
                              It's been ten minutes. I think it's
                              time to put this one in the fail
                              column.
                    
                    Betty snakes an arm out from under the covers.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              I can reach my phone. Maybe if I
                              call Andrea, she and Paul can talk
                              us through it.
                    
                                        BOB
                              NO.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              I really ought to have asked for
                              schematics or proof of concept
                              materials. She could have made this
                              whole thing up.
                    
                                        BOB
                              If you'd told me this was their
                              thing I never would have tried it
                              in the first place.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              He's a doctor.
                    
                                        BOB
                              He's a dillweed. And he's only a
                              podiatrist.
                    
                    The RUSTLE of covers, the box spring CREAKS.
                    
                                        BOB
                              Ah- ah-ha! Cramp! Cramp! Left
                              thigh! It hurts, oh god it hurts!
                              Don't move!
                    
                                        BETTY
                              How can I help you if I don't move?
                    
                                        BOB
                              The moving isn't helping. The
                              moving is making it worse.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              Should I call nine one one?
                    
                                        BOB
                              Only if you can reach my gun so I
                              can shoot myself before they get
                              here.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              I think you're being overdramatic.
                    
                                        BOB
                              The guys at the office would never
                              let me live this down.
                    
                                         BETTY
                              You're with your wife, not
                              livestock.
                    
                                        BOB
                              You never did understand law
                              enforcement. Ahh- aha. Oh this
                              hurts.
                    
                    Betty points to the mirror atop the dresser. Flips the covers
                    up so that the reflection of their bodies are visible to
                    them. (But not to us, because this is PG-13).
                    
                                           BETTY
                              Look!
                    
                    Bob cranes his neck as best he can.
                    
                                        BOB
                              Hang on... great, now I have a
                              shoulder cramp, too. Oh hey. Look
                              at us. We are HOT.
                    
                                        BETTY
                              Not THAT. See where my leg is?
                    
                                        BOB
                              Oh yeah... if I move it over
                              here...
                    
                    The covers rise and fall as Betty's leg swings around.
                    There's a pause, then a creak, more covers shifting, then a
                    rhythmic THUMPING begins.
                    
                    The bed posts shake, the comforter slips off the mattress,
                    puddles on the floor.
                    
                                        BETTY (O.S.)
                              Oh that's better. That is... that
                              is much, much better.
                    
                                         BOB (O.S.)
                              Better than anything a podiatrist
                              could have thought up that's for
                              damn sure.
                    
                    The thumping grows faster, louder, accompanied by grunting
                    and moaning from Betty and Bob.
                    
                    The bed posts shake.
                    
                    A mighty CRACK!
                    
                    The bed collapses, Betty YELPS in shock, Bob cries out too,
                    but for an entirely different reason.
                    
                    Silence.
                    
                    More silence.
                    
                    Really agonizing silence. No noise, no movement, are they
                    dead?
                    
                                         BETTY (O.S)
                               I can't believe you finished
                               anyway.
                    
                                         BOB (O.S.)
                               How was I supposed to stop?
                    
                                         BETTY
                               I could have died. You would have
                               been ejaculating into a corpse.
                    
                                         BOB
                               You'd have still been warm, it
                               wouldn't count.
                    
                    Sheets rustle. Something scrapes against the nightstand, we
                    hear the familar beep, bop, boop of a cell phone dialing.
                    
                                         BETTY (O.S.)
                               Who are you calling?
                    
                                         BOB (O.S.)
                               Nine one one. I need to document
                               this. I broke the bed - hell, I
                               nearly broke you.
                    
                    SMACK!
                    
                    Bob calls out in pain, the cell phone flies across the room.
                    
                                                                FADE OUT.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Entries - Valentine's Day contest

                      "A Box Of Valentines"

                      Code:
                      FADE IN:
                      
                      EXT. DUPLEX APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
                      
                      Petite RACHEL DREW (22) wearing heels with a little black
                      dress covered by an oversized faded sweater, carries a large
                      paper bag from an upscale department store.
                      
                      She approaches an empty bench and sits.
                      
                      She pops in the ear buds of a portable music player and
                      admires passersby. They don't bother to notice her.
                      
                      Rachel digs into the bag and produces a pair of ski goggles,
                      duct tape, and a pair of scissors.
                      
                      She cuts two small strips of duct tape and covers the
                      anti-fog air holes on the sides of the goggles.
                      
                      She shoves the goggles into the pocket of her sweater.
                      
                      A couple passes, immersed in conversation. Rachel observes,
                      expressionless.
                      
                      She digs into the bag further and pulls out a box of plastic
                      sandwich bags, a new flexible dust mask with an elastic
                      strap, and a bottle of vinegar.
                      
                      She soaks the mask in vinegar and stuffs it in a sandwich
                      bag. Rachel seals the bag, then places it in another pocket.
                      
                      She shifts her attention to the window of a nearby
                      apartment. The TV is on.
                      
                      MOMENTS LATER
                      
                      Dusk. Rachel, paper bag in hand, knocks on the door of the
                      apartment.
                      
                      SCOTT FRIEDMAN (23) answers. He wears a smooth veneer
                      punctuated with soft, friendly eyes. He's happy to see her.
                      
                                           SCOTT
                                 Hey, honey. Right on time.
                      
                      
                      INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
                      
                      Rachel smiles, enters the bachelor pad's living room. Trendy
                      but a little messy.
                      
                                            RACHEL
                                 You always say that. Have I ever
                                 been late?
                      
                                           SCOTT
                                 Happy Valentine's Day.
                      
                      Scott leans in and pecks her lips.
                      
                                           SCOTT
                                 I have a surprise for you.
                      
                      Scott heads for the kitchen.
                      
                      Rachel removes her sweater and hangs it by the door. She
                      places the bag near the sofa.
                      
                      BATHROOM
                      
                      Rachel stares at the floor. It's spotless.
                      
                      She picks up a hair, probably Scott's. She brushes it off
                      her fingers into the garbage.
                      
                      She looks in the shower, even cleaner than the floor.
                      A smudge on the shower glass catches her attention.
                      
                      MOMENTS LATER
                      
                      Hot water runs at the sink, creating a light mist of steam.
                      A handprint emerges on the shower glass. Rachel measures the
                      size with her hand. It's too small to be hers.
                      
                      She flushes the toilet.
                      
                      LIVING ROOM
                      
                      Rachel finds Scott waiting on the sofa, near the bag. A
                      bottle of champagne with two full glasses sit on the table.
                      The TV is off.
                      
                                           SCOTT
                                 Wow. You look amazing.
                      
                                           RACHEL
                                 Thanks.
                      
                                           SCOTT
                                 Thought I lost you.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                Sorry.
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                What's in the bag?
                      
                      Scott grins. He digs in Rachel's bag and lifts a box wrapped
                      in blood red paper tied up with a white ribbon.
                      
                      Scott raises the box, shakes it.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                Careful, it's fragile.
                      
                      Rachel grabs the box. Sets it on the table.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                It's a surprise. You have to wait
                                'til after dinner for this one.
                      
                      Scott nods. He gets up and offers Rachel a necklace case
                      sealed with a ribbon and bow.
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                Somethin' special.
                      
                      Rachel looks into his eyes and accepts. She opens the case
                      and pulls out a vintage gemstone silver choker necklace.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                It's beautiful.
                      
                      Scott takes the necklace and attaches it around her neck.
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                I also made reservations at that
                                Japanese steakhouse you like.
                      
                      Scott hands her a glass. Rachel steps near.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                You're very sweet. I knew there was
                                a good reason I've been dating you
                                so long.
                      
                                           SCOTT
                                Took you a year to figure that out?
                                I knew I was in trouble the moment
                                I saw you.
                      
                      Rachel caresses his cheek. She separates with a seductive
                      smile.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                To trouble, then...
                      
                      She raises her glass.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                ... and love, and everything in
                                between.
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                Cheers.
                      
                      The glasses CHINK together. They sip. Rachel leans forward
                      and kisses Scott, then steps back. Scott raises his
                      champagne glass, takes another sip.
                      
                      Rachel sits.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                So did you hear about Samantha
                                Wells?
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                No, who's that?
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                She's a transfer into my
                                department.
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                What about her?
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                She got hit by a bus today, on
                                Vine. She was running late for lab.
                                I guess she thought the driver saw
                                her...
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                I hope she's okay.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                A group of us just came from the
                                hospital. She's pretty banged u--
                      
                      Scott's posture straightens.
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                But she's okay?
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                Yeah, she just seemed bummed. Her
                                parents can't get in 'til Tuesday
                                and she doesn't really know anyone
                                around here. I don't know what's
                                worse, feeling broken or alone.
                      
                      Scott nods. They both sip from their champagne glasses.
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                Enough depressing stuff on our
                                special night. I need to run
                                upstairs and then we'll go, okay?
                      
                      Rachel smiles. Scott kisses her and bolts up the stairs.
                      
                      Rachel waits. A little tense. She gets up and peers
                      upstairs. Scott's bedroom door is closed. She grabs her
                      sweater from the wall hook near the front door.
                      
                      She looks to the wrapped box as she slides the sweater on.
                      She places both champagne glasses, the necklace case, and
                      the bow and ribbon in the department store paper bag.
                      
                      The RING of a phone resonates from the box. Rachel grabs her
                      scissors from the bag and punches multiple holes through the
                      top of it.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                Scott, are you on the phone?
                      
                      Rachel reaches into her sweater pocket and pulls out the ski
                      goggles and plastic baggy with the vinegar-soaked mask.
                      
                                          SCOTT (O.S.)
                                Yeah, my mom called. I just wanted
                                to leave her a message.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                Okay, but we should go.
                      
                      Smoke streams from the box. Soon, it billows.
                      
                      Scott rushes down the stairs, INTO THE SMOKE.
                      
                      Confusion. Scott hyperventilates, which just increases the
                      fumes entering his lungs.
                      
                      He finds Rachel wearing the ski goggles and dust mask, which
                      covers her mouth and nose.
                      
                      Terror. He coughs, more and more violently.
                      
                                          SCOTT
                                What's... happening?
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                That box was loaded with chemicals.
                                Everything was just fine, though,
                                until you activated them by calling
                                that slut's cell phone. I told you
                                it was fragile.
                      
                      Smoke wafts through the heavy air. Scott doubles over,
                      coughs up some blood. Eyes red and watery.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                Enjoy your Valentine's Day, Scott.
                                I'm afraid we're not gonna have
                                another. And if it makes you feel
                                any better, Samantha didn't get hit
                                by a bus. She's perfectly fine...
                      
                      Scott tries to say something, but he hacks instead. One last
                      gasp and he collapses.
                      
                                          RACHEL
                                ... for now. I gotta go give her
                                cell phone back.
                      
                      Rachel drops the box in the paper bag and scoops up the
                      champagne bottle. She exits via the front door.
                      
                      
                      EXT. DUPLEX APARTMENT - NIGHT
                      
                      Rachel removes the goggles and the dust mask. She takes a
                      deep breath, coughs. She unclips the choker necklace, rubs
                      her neck and clears her throat.
                      
                      She takes a large gulp of the champagne and pours the
                      remainder in a bush. She places the bottle in the bag, then
                      stuffs the goggles, mask, and choker on top on it.
                      
                      Rachel, bag in hand, fades into the darkness.
                      
                      INT. DUPLEX APARTMENT - NIGHT
                      
                      Living room. Hall. Not a trace of smoke anywhere. A BUZZ
                      rings out. A short pause, then another BUZZ.
                      
                      Scott lies in a heap at the base of the stairs. On the floor
                      next to him, his cell phone. He stares at its display
                      through weary slits. BUZZ. It reads: "Mom".
                      
                      He raises his hand and probes toward the phone. He slides it
                      towards him... until his hand drops heavy on the screen.
                      Unconscious, a trickle of blood rolls from the corner of
                      Scott's mouth.
                      
                                          MOM (V.O.)
                                     (through phone)
                                Happy Valentine's Day... Hello,
                                Scott? You there? ... Scott?
                      
                                                                        FADE OUT.
                      Last edited by dpaterso; 02-15-2014, 08:23 AM.

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