Halloween 2012 contest entries

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  • Halloween 2012 contest entries

    Thanks to all who could participate in this year's fun Halloween short script contest!

    The titles are:

    Strange Girl
    Horror House
    Sky Blue Tuxedo
    SOUVENIR
    DuHamel's Last Case
    Iris Lumpkin
    Hallowalien
    Delivery
    Maskerade
    The Phantom Divorce Attorney
    Halloweenie
    The Haunted Outhouse
    NIGHT OF THE PUMPKINS
    HALLOWEEN IN ENCINO
    Siren

    Yep, 15 entries. Be very afraid! (And we hope you will be.)

    Participants are encouraged to check their own entries for any laundering and reformatting errors. I'm only human! These can be quickly edited, just PM me.

    The hard part is choosing your 1st, 2nd and 3rd favorites. Halloween's the theme, but a good horror tale maybe doesn't need blatant Halloween trappings. Read 'em all and pick the ones that appealed to you most. You might find it helps to scribble some notes while reading the entries, or even score them with your personal "star" ratings for character, dialogue, setting, whatever you look for in a script.

    PM your 1st, 2nd and 3rd picks to me by close of next Wed 7th, please. And please don't vote for your own entry.

    Note that cuss words are bleeped out with **** on this board. That's the board owner's choice and we accept this. However for sake of clarity I've tried to make it clear which cuss word has been used, e.g. a** so readers don't have to guess.

    Oooh one more thing, someone mentioned the text is a little small... I didn't notice this 'cause I used Ctrl-plus (in Windows) to zoom in a couple of steps, making the text bigger and more readable. Added: also try Thread Tools > Show Printable Version

    Update: results posted, see here!
    Last edited by dpaterso; 01-05-2014, 02:45 PM.

  • #2
    Re: Halloween entries

    Code:
    STRANGE GIRL
    
    FADE IN:
    
    EXT. SMALL HOUSE IN THE RURAL MIDWEST - DAY
    
    Autumn cloaks a decaying once-white house on a yellowed,
    dying lot.
    
    A soccer goal with a rotting next, an empty dog kennel, and a
    sandbox full of matted dirt show signs of ambitions
    unfulfilled.
    
                                                      CUT TO:
    
    INT. SMALL HOUSE IN THE RURAL MIDWEST - DAY
    
    Mountains of future plans line the walls in the form of
    mounds of unmade crafts, unread books, and toys to be fixed.
    
    IN THE HALLWAY
    
    JANE (10), a plainly pretty girl with long hair and glasses
    that frame dark circles under her eyes, wears a nondescript,
    shapeless T-shirt. She grabs her bookbag and heads for the
    back door.
    
                         MOTHER (O.S.)
               Did you brush your teeth?
    
    Jane GROANS, drops her bookbag on the kitchen floor, and
    drags her feet towards the bathroom.
    
    IN THE BATHROOM
    
    Jane looks at her reflection. She grimaces to expose her
    teeth, and then brushes.
    
    IN THE KITCHEN
    
    Jane, backpack slung on her shoulder, reaches for the door.
    
                         MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
               Did you brush your hair?
    
                         JANE
               Man!
    
                         MOTHER (O.S.)
               Don't you sass me! Brush!
    
    Jane plops the backpack on the floor and HUFFS away.
    
    IN THE BATHROOM
    
    Jane looks in the mirror to notice her tangled mess of hair.
    
    In her mind, voices of SCHOOL CHILDREN taunt:
    
                        SCHOOLCHILDREN (V.O.)
                  (filtered)
              Witchy hair! Witchy hair! Creepy
              Jane has old witchy hair!
    
    Reluctantly, she brushes her hair.
    
                                                      CUT TO:
    
    
    EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY
    
    CHILDREN and TEACHERS bustle into a small brick building.
                                                      CUT TO:
    
    
    INT. HALLWAY - DAY
    
    Halloween decorations line the hallway.
    
    Wearing her backpack, Jane slowly walks towards her
    classroom.
    
    MEAN BOY (10) stands with CRUEL BOY (10). They wait for Jane
    to pass them before they rush to her.
    
    Mean Boy stands in front of Jane while Cruel Boy stands
    behind her. While Mean Boy speaks, Cruel Boy slips an "I'M A
    UGLY WITCH" sign on Jane's backpack.
    
                        MEAN BOY
              Hey, Jane. I heard your mom's a
              witch. Does that mean you eat bat
              wings and cobwebs for breakfast?
    
    Jane angrily stares at Mean Boy.
    
                        JANE
              If I am a witch, you'd better be
              careful! It's Halloween when my
              powers are strongest. I just might
              turn you into a toad.
    
    She starts to walk away before turning back and adding:
    
                        JANE (CONT'D)
              A bigger toad than you already are.
    
    She walks into her classroom.
    
    Mean Boy and Cruel Boy "high five" one another and LAUGH.
    
    IN THE CLASSROOM
    
    Students write at their desks.
    
    Jane, seated in the center of the room - her backpack on the
    back of her chair, licks her pencil and concentrates on an
    essay.
    
    The TEACHER (45), bored with her job and her looks, reads the
    trashy romance novel hidden the center of her text book.
    
    PRINCIPAL (62), desperately holding onto the few hairs left
    on his head, enters, WHISPERS into teacher's ear, and exits.
    
    Teacher CLEARS her throat and stands.
    
                        TEACHER
              Excuse me, class; I need to step
              away for a moment. Please, continue
              your essays. I'll be back soon.
    
    Teacher exits.
    
    Jane continues to write. She hears boys taunting:
    
                        BOYS (O.S.)
              Witchy! Oh, witchy poo! Are you
              going to spend Halloween plucking
              your hairy moles?
    
    She looks over her shoulder and hears GIGGLES.
    
    From their seats, Mean Boy and Cruel Boy TEASE and CHUCKLE.
    
    Jane turns her head quickly in their direction; her eyes burn
    into the boys.
    
    The Boys LAUGH loudly.
    
                        JANE
              You want to know if I'm a witch?
    
    Jane turns towards the desk of the PRETTY GIRL (10), next to
    her. She opens her eyes a glares wildly at a pen on the
    girl's desk.
    
    The pen begins to quiver.
    
    The boys stop laughing and stare, their mouths agape.
    
    The pen starts to dance in circles.
    
    Students watch in amazement.
    
    Jane turns her glance from the pen to Cruel Boy and Mean Boy.
    
    The Boys' eyes grow wide as they start to shake.
    
    Teacher returns to the room and sees something is amiss.
    
                        TEACHER
              What's going on here?
    
    Students turn quickly and pretend to work on their essays.
    Teacher narrows her eyes before giving up and taking her
    seat.
    
    Jane lifts her eyes up from her essay and smiles devilishly.
    
    IN THE HALLWAY
    
    Students file in and out of classrooms.
    
    Pretty Girl waits around the corner. Jane starts to walk past
    her. Pretty Girl reaches out and stops Jane. She holds out
    her hand.
    
    Jane stares at the empty palm turned towards her. She nods
    and places a $5 bill in the hand.
    
                        PRETTY GIRL
              Pleasure doing business with you.
    
    Jane walks down the hallway. Students cower and WHISPER as
    she passes. Jane smiles with satisfaction and confidence.
    
                                                       FADE TO:
    
    
    INT. SMALL HOUSE IN THE RURAL MIDWEST - DAY
    
    In the kitchen, Jane walks through the door and tosses her
    backpack on a chair.
    
                        MOTHER (O.S.)
              Hang up your backpack!
    
    Jane SIGHS and obeys.
    
                        MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
              Put the chicken in the oven! Mama's
              hungry!
    
    Jane opens the freezer, takes out a box of Banquet CHICKEN,
    pours the contents onto a cookie sheet, slaps it in the oven,
    and turns on the heat.
    
                         MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
               Don't forget the tots!
    
    Jane again opens the freezer, grabs a bag of tater tots and
    empties them onto another cookie sheet.
    
                         MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
               Hurry up in there! I need you to
               come and sand my corns before the
               trick or treaters come!
    
    Jane's mouth twists in anger. She stares at the tots on the
    pan.
    
    Nothing.
    
    She gathers all of the energy in her body and stares at the
    tots, her pupils dilate.
    
    On the cookie sheet, the tots quiver, and then dance.
    Suddenly, the entire pan overturns, throwing it and the tots
    to the floor.
    
                         MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
               What happened?! What are you doing
               in there, you clumsy oaf?!
    
    Jane's head snaps in the direction of Mother's voice.
    
                         MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
               Better get that cleaned up! Don't
               you make me get up and go in there!
    
    Jane cocks her head and stares towards the direction of
    Mother's voice. Her pupils dilate as she focusses all of her
    energy.
    
    A rumbling NOISE (O.S.)
    
                         MOTHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
               What the? Oh, my God! Jane! Jane!
               Come quick!
    
    The (O.S.) noise becomes a DIN. Mother SCREAMS (O.S.) Her
    scream crescendos before it fades and stops.
    
    Silence.
    
    Calmly, Jane cleans the tots from the floor and throws them
    in the garbage as:
    
    Jane takes a bag of fries from the freezer and spread them on
    a new cookie sheet before popping them in the oven.
    
    She takes her backpack off of the hook on the back of the
    door and tosses it on the ground. It falls open, revealing a
    BOOK with evil symbols on it.
    
    She takes the book, kisses it, stuffs it back inside, and
    zips the pack.
    
    LATER IN THE LIVING ROOM
    
    Jane sits in front of the TV in a La-Z-Boy. In front of her
    is parked a TV tray with a plate of fries and chicken. She
    happily munches as purple LIGHT from the TV dances on her
    face.
    
    Jane GIGGLES along with the TV canned LAUGHTER as she takes a
    hearty bite of chicken.
    
    Next to her, in a matching La-Z-Boy, MAMA (45), sadly
    overweight, unkempt, and dressed in a tacky soiled Mumu, sits
    with her mouth freakishly wide open, her tongue slightly
    askew out of her mouth, and her eyes bulging.
    
    Jane LAUGHS at her TV show as she crunches on her chicken.
    
                                               FADE TO BLACK.
    [end]

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Halloween entries

      Code:
      HORROR HOUSE
      
      FADE IN
      
      EXT. FREEWAY SHOULDER - NIGHT
      
      A Sheriff's cruiser, jacked in the air with a flat tire. A
      DEPUTY's hat next to his dazed body. A tire tool nearby. He
      clutches a smoking pistol. 18-wheelers roar past.
      
      Across the median grass, an orange-jumpsuited figure staggers
      towards a darkened parking lot, crowded with cars. This is
      HAINES, 35, limping, bleeding. A line of people wait to enter
      the dark building. Haines veers toward the building's rear.
      
      
      EXT. HORROR HOUSE - BACK DOOR - NIGHT
      
      The back door opens and two shapely women step out of the
      glare of an overhead light, backs to camera. STREETWALKERS in
      miniskirts and torn fishnets. Bare shoulders. They light
      cigarettes.
      
      HAINES POV moves towards the two women. His hand reaches for
      a shoulder and spins the nearest one around.
      
      She's hideous. A zombie with brains oozing from the horrific
      gash in her forehead. Haines recoils, grabs the doorknob and
      flings himself through the doorway and into the darkness.
      
                           STREETWALKER
                Dude - you're late. Benji's gonna
                be pissed.
      
      The sign on the closing door reads "HORROR HOUSE - Employees
      Only."
      
      
      EXT. HORROR HOUSE - ENTRANCE - NIGHT
      
      Two couples leave the ticket booth. DUSTIN, 20, tall, geeky,
      hands a ticket to SAVANNAH 19, girl-next-door cute.
      
                          DUSTIN
                30 bucks? Really?
      
                          SAVANNAH
                Told you it'd be scary.
      
                          DUSTIN
                I bet we're bigger than most of the
                zombies.
      
      JOSH, 17, stocky, short, pays for BAILEY's ticket She's 16
      with braces.
      
                          JOSH
                What do you think is first? Surgery
                Gone Wrong, or the hockey mask guy
                with the chainsaw?
      
                          DUSTIN
                It's a State Law. They have to have
                the hockey mask guy.
      
                          BAILEY
                Last year they had a girl in a
                bathtub full of blood. It was
                overflowing. That was cool.
      
                          SAVANNAH
                Yeah, her throat was cut --
      
                          DUSTIN
                And somehow she had eighty five
                gallons of blood in her body.
      
      
      INT. HORROR HOUSE - NIGHT
      
      They enter a flat black room with a pulsing strobe light. The
      doorway out is bordered with yellow paint that glows under a
      blacklight. The strobe stops. Blackness.
      
      The strobe fires again and a headless figure stands near the
      door, startling the group. BORIS, 15, in black robes, cradles
      his head in a fake arm. He is not a good actor.
      
                          BORIS
                Welcome. I am Boris. Your guide. I
                am cursed to roam these halls until
                my death is avenged. Stay close -
                try not to lose your way. Or your
                head. Bwhahhahaha.
      
      He steps through the doorway and the four shuffle behind. As
      they do, a panel moves and the group is separated. Boris,
      Dustin and Savannah enter a dimly lit room. A parlor.
      
      Two chairs face a vintage console TV, the screen snowy with
      static. A DISMEMBERED ARM twitches on the floor.
      
                          BORIS (CONT'D)
                We seem to be missing someone.
      
      INSIDE THE CLOSET, pairs of tiny red eyes blink in the dark.
      Josh and Bailey are close together. The walls of the closet
      are mummified skeletons with spiders crawling all over them.
      Spiders dangle from the ceiling.
      
                          BAILEY
                This is cool.
      
      The door swings open to the parlor. Boris motions them in.
      
                           BORIS
                Join us.
      
      They step out. Quickly. Boris closes the door and steps away.
      There's a THUMP from within the closet.
      
      The door flies open and a WILD-EYED MAN in a wig and ragged
      clothes leaps out. A hangman's noose around his neck, the
      rope appears to have broken. He darts to and fro then bolts
      from the room.
      
                          BORIS (CONT'D)
                Uncle Benson - always hanging
                around.
      
      The four share an eye roll.
      
      Another door SLAMS open and a ONE-ARMED MAN in a dark suit
      runs into the room laughing maniacally. He holds an oversized
      TV remote. His shoulder bleeds for the arm on the floor.
      
      A WOMAN races in after him, slinging a large cleaver. She
      swipes at him as the two dodge between the chairs. The man
      tosses the remote to Dustin and bolts from the room.
      
      The woman looks to Dustin and hoists the cleaver.
      
                          BORIS (CONT'D)
                Mother - They're guests...
      
      He takes the remote and hands it to the woman, she runs after
      the man.
      
                          BORIS (CONT'D)
                They've been like that ever since
                the Palin girl made "Dancing with
                the Stars."
      
      
      EXT. THE SHOULDER OF INTERSTATE 20 - NIGHT
      
      The deputy struggles to his feet. Woozy. A blood trail leads
      towards the haunted house. He keys his shoulder mic, steadies
      himself against the cruiser
      
                          DEPUTY
                Haines is loose. Central. Unit Six.
                Repeat. Haines is loose.
                Exit four seventeen. Horror House.
                Send backup.
      
      His hand goes to his head. He turns. There's a gash on his
      skull. The entire side of his face is covered in blood. He
      looks to the Glock in his other hand, then heads for Horror
      House. A bloody handprint remains on trunklid.
      
                          DEPUTY (CONT'D)
                Central. I think he's wounded.
      
      
      INT. HORROR HOUSE - NIGHT
      
      COUNTING MONEY at a salvaged desk is a balding man, BENJI,
      35. He wears a mic and headset. Against one wall, a table is
      piled with props. Arms, spiders, cleavers, knives and a large
      chainsaw.
      
      A dusty closed-circuit TV monitor shows six different rooms
      of the house. On screen, Boris's group leaves the parlor.
      
      Haines stumbles through the door. A stain of blood spreads
      across his jumpsuit. Benji, counting cash, doesn't look up.
      
                          BENJI
                If you make me lose count, I swear
                I will kick your ass...
      
      Haines looks from the cash to the chainsaw. Another felony
      appears in his eyes. Benji finally looks up.
      
                          BENJI (CONT'D)
                We're not doing the convict this
                year.
      
      Haines grabs the chainsaw and squares off to Benji.
      
                          BENJI (CONT'D)
                    (Still distracted)
                I mean, it's an OK look, but you
                need more realistic blood to really
                pull it off.
      
      Haines yanks the starter cord. The engine doesn't catch. He
      tries again. And again. And again. And again... Benji stands
      and puts the money in a metal box.
      
                          BENJI (CONT'D)
                Hell-lo. It's broke. That's why
                it's in here. Look, are you --
      
      Haines dumps the chainsaw on the table and grabs a giant
      knife. He leaps for Benji, slashing him across the torso.
      
                          BENJI (CONT'D)
                What the hell?
      
      The knife is rubber.
      
      Haines looks to the knife in disbelief. Benji reaches into
      the money box and produces a small revolver. Haines' eyes go
      wide. He leaps back through the door.
      
                             BENJI (CONT'D)
                Bastard!
      
      Benji fires. The bullets miss Haines but slam into the
      breaker panel on the wall. Sparks. The lights go out.
      
                          BENJI (CONT'D)
                Oh, terrific.
      
      IN THE KITCHEN pots burble on the stove, dry ice smoke
      rolling from beneath the lids. An agonized face and hands
      scratch at the window inside the oven door. Machine-made fog
      is knee deep. THREE FIGURES slump at the table. One is a GUY
      WITH A KNIFE IN HIS BACK.
      
      A GUY'S HEAD rests on the platter on the table
      
                          BORIS
                It seems we are late. Mother always
                likes to have guests for dinner.
                She says --
      
      The lights go out.
      
                          BORIS (CONT'D)
                She says... Hey, that's not
                supposed to --
      
      Battery powered emergency lights flicker on.
      
                          THE HEAD ON THE TABLE
                Great. The power went out.
      
      The guy with the knife in his back sits up.
      
                          GUY STABBED IN BACK
                Oh man, I thought they fixed this.
      
                          DUSTIN
                Happen often?
      
                           THE HEAD ON THE TABLE
                First time this year. Last year it
                happened a lot. They were supposed
                to fix it.
      
      One of the Streetwalker Zombies walks through.
      
                          STREETWALKER
                If you can please make your way to
                an Emergency Exit. We've had an
                electrical problem. We need to
                clear the house.
      
      
      EXT. HORROR HOUSE ENTRANCE - NIGHT
      
      The crowd in line screams in delight as the lights go out and
      the bloodied deputy appears at the ticket booth.
      
                          DEPUTY
                I need you to get these people out
                of here.
      
                          BOOTH WORKER
                Who the hell are you?
      
                          DEPUTY
                Sheriff's Department. We've had an
                escape. These people need to clear
                out! Now!
      
                           BOOTH WORKER
                Wow. Benji is really on his game
                this year.
      
                          DEPUTY
                Benji? Who the hell is Ben --
      
      The emergency lights flicker on. The crowd cheers.
      
      The door opens. Benji leads as the cast members file out.
      Zombies, people missing limbs, covered with blood or
      spiderwebs mixed with guests in street clothes.
      
                          DEPUTY (CONT'D)
                You in charge?
      
                          BENJI
                Yeah, what's up?
      
                          DEPUTY
                We've had an escape. I need you to
                clear the house.
      
                          BENJI
                Workin' on it. We've lost power.
                The PA system is out.
      
      
      INT. HORROR HOUSE - NIGHT
      
      INSIDE Boris leads them through an empty dining room.
      
                          BORIS
                There's an exit this way.
      
                          SAVANNAH
                Wow, this looks really cheesy with
                the lights on.
      
                          BORIS
                Yeah, the dark helps us --
      
      Haines storms into the room. He roughly shoves Boris out of
      the way and grabs Bailey.
      
                          DUSTIN
                Hey, watch it.
      
                          JOSH
                A**hole - the show's over.
      
      Haines is frantic. He pulls Bailey to him - his arm closing
      around her throat.
      
      
      EXT. HORROR HOUSE - NIGHT
      
      AT THE ENTRANCE Benji explains.
      
                          BENJI
                This happened a lot last year. The
                staff will clear the house. We
                practice it.
      
      The Streetwalker appears.
      
                          STREETWALKER
                We're missing Tommy and his group.
      
      Benji turns to the group of Zombies and Guests.
      
                          BENJI
                Any one see Tommy? Any one in
                Boris's group?
      
      
      INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - NIGHT
      
      Boris stands up, his prosthetics slumping.
      
                          BORIS
                Hey, you don't work here.
      
      Bailey's eyes go wide. She looks to Haines. He is deadly
      serious.
      
      She stomps down on his instep and snaps her head back. His
      nose CRACKS. She then spins inside his grasp, elbowing him in
      the ribs and shoving him towards Dustin.
      
      Dustin takes a martial arts stance and delivers three quick
      blows to Haines face and body. Haines stumbles towards Josh,
      his arms flailing. Josh grabs a wrist and pivots into a hip
      throw. Haines goes flying, crashing through --
      
      
      EXT. HORROR HOUSE - NIGHT
      
      THE FRONT DOOR explodes out as bleeding and battered, Haines
      flops unconscious at the feet of the Deputy. There's a
      dramatic pause and the crowd erupts in applause.
      
      Benji takes it in. He gestures to the deputy's head.
      
                          BENJI
                That looks pretty good. Did you do
                that yourself?
      
      
      EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT
      
      Red and blue strobes light the sky as the four kids walk
      through the parking lot.
      
                          SAVANNAH
                Well, that was lame. At least it's
                still early. Wanna hit Dr. Plasma's
                Hospital of Horror?
      
                          JOSH
                Or Demonville, downtown, maybe?
                It's open till one...
      
                          DUSTIN
                Sure. We have to put gas in the van
                though. Otherwise Dad'll be ticked.
      
      They pull away in a white van. The side panel reads: "Rising
      Sun School of Jujitsu and Mixed Martial Arts."
      
                                                       FADE OUT
      [end]

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Halloween entries

        Code:
        SKY BLUE TUXEDO
        
        FADE IN:
        
        INT. HOUSE - DEN - NIGHT
        
        WADE, a man in his late 40'S, sits at a barstool, leaning
        against a counter in his den/rec room. In addition to the bar,
        there is a pool table, and some man-cave-themed décor; a vintage
        guitar, a neon sign shaped like a girl, Harley wall clock, etc.
        
        He is intent on his new iPhone, which is in a custom monogrammed
        silver case.
        
        A KNOCK at the door calls his attention away.
        
        LEWIS, another man in his late 40's, comes in.
        
                                LEWIS
                      Hey, Wade. How ya been?
        
                                WADE
                      Just checking out my new iPhone.
                      Have a look.
        
                                LEWIS
                      Gadgets have never been my thing.
        
        Lewis comes to the other side of the bar.
        
                                WADE
                      It does everything. I don't even
                      have a land line anymore.
        
                                LEWIS
                      Really, no land line? You think
                      that's going to make a difference?
        
        Both men suddenly look ashen.
        
                                WADE
                      Probably not. Should we get started?
        
        Lewis reaches down under the bar and pulls up a new bottle of
        Scotch. He sets it on the bar, brings up a couple of glasses,
        and opens up the bottle. He pours each of them a double.
        
                                LEWIS
                      Might as well.
        
                                WADE
                      Happy Halloween, my friend.
        
        They CLINK their glasses and down their shots. Both men look
        grim. This isn't fun. Wade grabs the bottle and pours each of
        them another round.
        
                                WADE
                      Ready for another?
        
        Lewis nods, and each of them knocks back another shot.   They sit
        in silence, neither looking at the other.
        
                                LEWIS
                      Why do we do it, Wade? I
                      mean, I know why we do it.
                      But don't you just want it
                      to be over?
        
                                WADE
                      I've wanted it to be over ever
                      since it happened.   Why?
        
                                LEWIS
                      What would happen if we gave him
                      what he wanted?
        
        Wade looks over at his friend. He's considering it. He pours
        himself another drink, and knocks it back. You can tell it
        burns going down, that it takes willpower for him to drink it.
        
                                WADE
                      What the hell, let's do it.   We've
                      tried everything else.
        
        Both men stare at the phone sitting on the bar.
        
        RIPPLE DISSOLVE
        
        
        EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - FRAT HOUSE - DAY
        
        SUPER:   HALLOWEEN, 1982
        
        The sun is going down.
        
        Wade and Lewis, 19 years old and with big hair, come out of a
        house LAUGHING. They are trailed by an 18 year old, a real
        nerd: EUGENE. Eugene is a tall, skinny, gangly kid with a weak
        chin, thick glasses, and acne.
        
        All three are dressed in formal wear, for some kind of party.
        But where Lewis and Wade are dressed in more typical dark
        formalwear, Eugene is wearing an outdated sky-blue velvet tux.
        
                                   EUGENE
                         Hey, guys, wait up!   I want
                         to go with you!
        
                                   LEWIS
                         What do you say, should we let
                         pizza-face ride along?
        
                                   WADE
                         Oh, all right. But when we pick
                         our dates up, you ride in the back.
                         Got it, Spazzo?
        
                                   EUGENE
                         Yeah, okay.
        
        They pile into a mid 70's Plymouth Fury wagon with fake wood on
        the side, and drive off.
        
        
        EXT. HIGHWAY THROUGH THE WOODS - NIGHT
        
        The Plymouth wagon speeds along the road at an unsafe clip,
        wandering in and out of its lane.
        
        
        INT. STATION WAGON - NIGHT
        
        Wade is behind the wheel. He and Lewis pass a bottle of liquor
        between them. Lewis is also smoking a cigarette. Both seem
        convinced they are cool badasses.
        
        Eugene sits in the back, looking sick and scared.
        
                                 EUGENE
                       Come on guys, slow down.
                       I'm going to be carsick.
        
        Lewis and Wade laugh.   Then Wade turns around.
        
                                 WADE
                       If you hurl in my car I'm gonna
                       punch your damn lights out!
        
                                 EUGENE
                       Just slow down, okay?
        
        Wade looks over at Lewis and both of them get an evil smile.
        Wade stomps his foot to the floor.
        
        The speedometer needle climbs upward.     Eigthy, eighty five,
        ninety . . . ninety five . . .
        
        
        EXT.   ROAD - NIGHT
        
        The wagon barrels along the road.      An animal darts from the
        undergrowth.
        
        
        INT. WAGON - NIGHT
        
        Wade sees the animal, and sharply cuts his steering wheel to the
        right and stomps the brakes.
        
        
        EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
        
        The car, all four wheels locked and SKIDDING, plows off the
        road. The front wheel digs into the dirt, and the car beings to
        roll over, shedding parts and glass. It keeps rolling.
        
        
        EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
        
        The car rolls down an embankment and into the trees.   It
        finally comes to rest on its roof.   An eerie SILENCE descends.
        
        First Lewis, and then Wade, crawl out of the wreckage.   Both are
        dazed and somewhat bloodied.
        
                                   WADE
                      Holy sh*t!    You okay?
        
                                LEWIS
                      I don't know. I think so.
        
        Wade, still not completely steady on his feet, looks over next
        to the car. He sees a gangly hand in a sky-blue velvet sleeve.
        He tries to pull it, but then he realizes that Eugene is not in
        the car; he is under it.
        
        
        EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
        
        Wade and Lewis climb up the embankment to the road. There is no
        one anywhere, but there is a faint glow in the distance.
        
                                WADE
                      What is that?
        
                                LEWIS
                      That's that old gas station.
                      Come on, let's go.
        
                                WADE
                      What about Eugene?
        
                                LEWIS
                      Eugene's gone, man.
        
        They walk unsteadily up the road towards the lights.
        
        
        EXT. WOODS - CAR WRECK - NIGHT
        
        Eugene's hand moves; it strains, tries to grab something.
        
        
        EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
        
        Wade and Lewis are quite a ways down the road.     They hear a
        faint voice, very far away.
        
                                   EUGENE
                      Guys?     Wait up guys. . .
        
        They stop and turn around.    They can see a long way, but there
        is no one there.
        
        
        INT. REC ROOM - NIGHT
        
        Present-day Wade and Lewis are halfway into the bottle now,
        still staring silently at the phone.
        
        Suddenly, it RINGS.     (Not actual ringing.   The ringtone goes
        off. Whatever.)
        
                                LEWIS
                      Is it him?
        
        Wade nods, and pushes the button for the speaker.     There is no
        voice, just a FAINT, DRY WHEEZING.
        
                                   WADE
                      Eugene?     That you, buddy?
        
        More FAINT WHEEZING.
        
                                LEWIS
                      Sit tight, buddy.     We're coming
                      for you.
        
        
        EXT. ABANDONED GAS STATION - NIGHT
        
        The gas station is a dilapidated wreck and there is no one
        around. The only light is from a phone booth.
        
        The handset dangles from the cord, swinging in the breeze.
        A new truck pulls up, and stops.   Wade and Lewis get out.
        
                                WADE
                      Eugene?
        
                                LEWIS
                      Where are you, buddy?
        
        They hear a RATTLING sound, like a trashcan being knocked over.
        
        It seems to have come from around the corner of the station.
        Both men go to investigate.
        
        
        EXT. FOREST - DAY
        
        A TEENAGER rides a mountain bike on a forest trail. He stops
        when he comes upon a wrecked car, an old station wagon on its
        roof. Weeds are growing all around it, even up through it.
        
        He stops, and goes to the car to investigate. He gets on his
        hands and knees and looks in the shattered window.
        
                                TEENAGER
                      Whoah!
        
        
        EXT. FOREST - CAR WRECK - DAY
        
        A SHERRIFF, a DEPUTY, and the bike teenager stand around the car
        wreck spectating, while a TOW-TRUCK OPERATOR attaches a winch
        hook to the car.
        
        The hook and cable stretch across the top of the wreck, and are
        attached to the tow truck, parked ten yards below the wreck on a
        dirt road through the woods.
        
        Cable attached, the tow truck driver goes back to turn on the
        winch at the deputy's signal.
        
        The winch HUMS, the cable tightens, and the weeds and tendrils
        holding the car down SNAP and POP.
        
        Finally, with a WHUMP, the car is on its wheels.
        
        The Sheriff goes up to the wreck, and shines his light inside.
        
        Inside, he sees three corpses, or rather, skeletons; they have
        obviously been dead for years.
        
        The one in the back is wearing a sky-blue tuxedo, its 100%
        polyester fabric immune to decay and still strangely bright.
        
        The Sheriff then notices something shiny in the hand of one of
        the carcasses up front. He reaches inside and grabs it.
        
        It is a new iPhone in a monogrammed silver case.
        
        FADE OUT.
        
        [end]
        Last edited by dpaterso; 11-01-2012, 04:25 AM.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Halloween entries

          Code:
          SOUVENIR
          
          FADE IN:
          
          EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
          
          LOIS, a frumpy woman in her late 30s, walks along next to MIKE, a
          burly guy in his 40s. He is considerably taller than she, and he has
          his arm protectively over her shoulder.
          
                                     MIKE
                          Thanks for the evening, Lois.
          
          They stop and she gives him a friendly kiss.    Nothing too steamy.
          
                                     MIKE
                          My apartment is right here.
                          You want to come up for a cup
                          of coffee or tea or something?
          
          
          INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
          
          The apartment is fairly neat. Plain furniture, no art on the wall.
          Pictures of Mike with a college-age son on a bookshelf, Mike as a
          young man graduating from the police academy, with a brother in a
          canoe, posing with a donut in front of a squad car, etc.
          
                                     MIKE
                          It ain't much, but it suits me.
          
                                     LOIS
                          It's nicer than my place.
          
          
          INT. KITCHEN - night
          
          Mike follows Lois into the kitchen, removes her jacket for her, and
          sits her at the kitchen table. It's neat, but not ornate at all.
          He puts his gun and badge on the counter and turns the heat on under
          the kettle.
          
                                       MIKE
                          Coffee?    Tea?
          
                                     LOIS
                          Tea, please.
          
          An old gray one-eyed CAT wanders into the kitchen and MEWS.
          
                                     LOIS
                          Well, hello. You know Mike, I
                          didn't picture you as a cat person.
          
                                     MIKE
                          I'm not. Not really.   Whiskers
                          there is a souvenir.
          
          Mike makes two cups of tea in plain white coffee mugs, putting them on
          the table and then taking a seat himself. The cat parks itself on the
          floor and curls up in a ball.
          
                                      LOIS
                          Souvenir?
          
                                     MIKE
                          From the Kevin Colden case.
          
                                     LOIS
                          Kevin Colden? He was that
                          crazy med student who cut up
                          all those women, right?
          
          
          INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
          
          Detective Mike and two UNIFORMED OFFICERS lead KEVIN COLDEN into the
          station in handcuffs. Colden is six and a half feet tall, three
          hundred pounds, bald, and has the strangest expression on his face,
          like a lost little boy.
          
                                     MIKE (V. O.)
                          That's him. I've dealt with
                          some real characters in my years
                          on the force, but never anyone
                          like him.
          
          
          INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
          
          Colden sits, handcuffed to his chair, BLUBBERING like a baby. Mike is
          on the other side, just shaking his head. Colden's LAWYER edges away
          from him, looking utterly horrified.
          
                                     MIKE (V. O.)
                          When he started spilling his
                          guts about what he had done,
                          it made me want to . . . I
                          don't know. Puke? Kill him?
                          Kill myself? Just the worst
                          stuff I ever heard.
          
          
          INT. MIKE'S APARTMENT
          
                                       LOIS
                          Oh my God.
          
                                     MIKE
                          There was no trial. Just
                          straight to the foam rubber
                          suite at Hotel Whackjob.
          
                                     LOIS
                          But what about the cat?
          
          
          EXT. RUN-DOWN HOUSE IN A CRAPPY NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
          
          The house is surrounded by crime-scene tape. Police cars and vans are
          parked on the lawn. CRIME-SCENE TECHS carry box after box of evidence
          out of the house.
          
                                     MIKE (V. O.)
                          I'm getting to that. So we
                          go over to his house and we
                          find bits and pieces of sixty-
                          eight different people.
          
                                     LOIS (V. O.)
                          He killed that many people?
          
                                     MIKE (V. O.)
                          He didn't kill all of them.
                          Apparently he'd been sneaking
                          cadavers and pieces of cadavers
                          from the med school into his house
                          for months.
          
          
          INT. COLDEN'S HOUSE - DAY
          
          The place is a disgusting, trash-filled nightmare. Garbage is piled
          up to the bottom of the windows. Flies BUZZ in the air.
          
          A half-dozen CSI techs pick pieces of trash off the top of the pile,
          examine them, and decide whether to file them in blue evidence tubs or
          black plastic trash bags.   Detective Mike walks through, trying not
          to get in their way as they work. All are wearing surgical masks.
          
                                     MIKE (V. O.)
                          Took us three weeks to get that
                          dump cleaned out, and the deeper
                          we dug, the worse it smelled.
          
          
          INT. MIKE'S APARTMENT
          
                                     MIKE
                          We kept asking him, `Why'd you do it?'
                          And he kept saying the same thing.
                          `My cat told me to.'
          
                                     LOIS
                          The cat told him to.
          
                                     MIKE
                          That's what he said.
          
          
          INT. COLDEN'S HOUSE - DAY
          
          The house is empty now. Nothing but bare walls and carpet, all
          covered with disturbing brown stains.
          
          Detective Mike stands in the middle of the floor, looking around.
          
                                     MIKE (V. 0.)
                          We were in and out of that house
                          for three weeks, and never saw a
                          cat. Figured he was hallucinating.
                          Then, just before the bulldozers
                          are going to level the place, I'm
                          standing in the middle of the
                          living room and I start hearing
                          this meowing sound. I turn around
                          and there he is.
          
          A very lean, dirty, scabby, sick-looking cat comes out of the hallway
          and rubs up against Mike's leg, MEOWING pitifully. It's got one eye
          and one crusted-over eye socket.
          
          
          INT. MIKE'S APARTMENT
          
                                     MIKE
                          I felt sorry for it and took
                          it home. I mean, God knows what
                          he did to the poor thing. I
                          figured I couldn't help any of
                          his other victims, but at least
                          I can help the cat.
          
                                     LOIS
                          That was sweet.
          
          Mike shrugs.
          
          Lois finishes her tea and stands up.
          
                                     LOIS
                          Well, Mike, thanks for the tea
                          and the show. But I've got to
                          get to work early.
          
                                     MIKE
                          Can I call you a cab?
          
                                     LOIS
                          No thanks. I'll take the subway.
                          Don't worry, I've got my pepper
                          spray. I can take care of myself.
          
          
          Lois puts on her jacket and goes to leave. Before she does, she turns
          around and kisses him again. For real this time.
          
                                     LOIS
                          Call me tomorrow, okay?
          
                                     MIKE
                          Okay.
          
          He shows her out the door, and waves to her as she leaves. Then he
          comes back inside, and plops down on the couch. The cat wanders into
          the living room, and Mike reaches down to scratch its head.
          
                                     MIKE
                          So, that was Lois.     What did
                          you think of her?
          
                                     CAT
                          I didn't like her at all.
          
          FADE OUT.
          
          [end]

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Halloween entries

            Code:
            DuHAMEL'S LAST CASE
            
            FADE IN:
            
            INT. HOTEL LOBBY - SKI RESORT - SWITZERLAND - NIGHT
            
            SUPER:   OCTOBER 31, 1926
            
            The hands on the hotel lobby clock stand at 2 minutes to
            midnight.
            
            Sitting in chairs are a group of hotel guests: DIETER HOFFMAN,
            a large contemptuous German with a monacle, BIEDERMEYER, a
            Jewish physician with a bushy beard; MR. AND MRS. HENDERSON,
            English newlyweds; and STOCAZ, a swarthy, sneering man with a
            scar on his face.
            
            Behind them are TWO STALWART SWISS POLICE OFFICERS.
            
                                      HOFFMAN
                            What is the meaning of this?
                            Why are we not being allowed
                            to leave?
            
                                      POLICEMAN # 1
                            It won't be much longer, sir.
                            Sebastian DuHamel has asked us
                            to keep you hear until he arrives.
            
                                      MR. HENDERSON
                            Sebastian DuHamel?
            
                                      MRS. HENDERSON
                            The world-famous detective?
            
                                      STOCAZ
                            Preposterous. He is not coming.
            
                                      POLICEMAN # 2
                            Oh, he'll be here all right.
                            Depend on it.
            
            A door BANGS open, and a WIND briefly howls. The door SLAMS
            closed. And then SEBASTIAN DuHAMEL sweeps in, accompanied by TWO
            MORE POLICE OFFICERS.
            
            DuHamel is a dapper little man, nattily attired in a dove-gray
            suit and a long black coat. The only off note, from a sartorial
            perspective, is the flamboyant scarlet cravat around his neck.
            
            As soon as he comes in, the color drains from Stocaz's face.
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           Good evening. I know you are
                           not pleased to see me, Mr.
                           Stocaz, but I will settle my
                           business with you later.
            
                                      HOFFMAN
                           DuHamel!   What is the meaning of this!
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           I think you know why I am here, Herr
                           Hoffman! After all, is it not your
                           own brother who died, leaving you as
                           the sole heir of your mother's fortune?
            
                                     HOFFMAN
                           What are you accusing me of?
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           Did you not find it strange to find
                           your brother - a man with one leg -
                           at the bottom of a ski jump with a
                           broken neck and no skis?
            
                                     HOFFMAN
                           I did not break my brother's neck!
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           No, but you did intend to poison him
                           with morphine you purchased from . . .
                           Dr. Biedermeyer!
            
                                     BIEDERMEYER
                           What!?
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           You knew that Heinrich Hoffman was
                           allergic to morphine and that the
                           tiniest dose would kill him! But
                           you also knew that if he died in
                           that way, the crime would be traced
                           back to you! So you substituted
                           a harmless quinine preparation!
            
            Hoffman stares daggers at Biedermeyer.
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           What Dieter Hoffman didn't know was that
                           you had made a separate arrangement with
                           Heinrich, so that Dieter would drink
                           the morphine! Then, while he was
                           unconscious, you and Heinrich would carry
                           Dieter down and put him in the hotel meat
                           locker until he froze to death, and after,
                           you two would silently drop his frozen
                           corpse into the lake at night and wait
                           for it to be discovered the next morning!
            
            Dieter Hoffman looks at his aperitif and goes pale.
            
                                     MR. HENDERSON
                           But who killed Heinrich Hoffman?
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           I'm afraid you will not be so
                           pleased to find out, Mr. Henderson.
                           The real killer was -
            
                                     MRS. HENDERSON
                           Stop it, stop it! All right, I'll
                           admit it. I killed Heinrich Hoffman!
                           Heinrich and I loved each other!
                           We planned to run away to Tasmania
                           together, but when he chickened out,
                           I kicked him in his one good leg and
                           pushed him down the ski jump!
            
                                     MR. HENDERSON
                           Bunny, how could you!?
            
                                     MRS. HENDERSON
                           Drop the façade, Lawrence. I
                           know you only married me for my
                           money. I also know that I secretly
                           disgust you because I'm a woman.
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           This has gone on long enough.
                           Officers, arrest Mrs. Henderson,
                           Herr Hoffman, Dr. Neidermeyer,
                           and Mr. Stocaz.
            
                                     POLICEMAN # 3
                           Mr. Stocaz?
            
                                     POLICEMAN # 4
                           What has he done?
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           You will find the evidence of Mr.
                           Stocaz's crimes in the boot of
                           his automobile. He drives a dark
                           green Lancia sedan, and it is
                           parked behind the hotel even as we
                           speak. Mr. Stocaz, do you object
                           to these policemen having a look
                           in the boot of your car?
            
                                     STOCAZ
                           No I don't. Go ahead and look all
                           you like! Tell me, DuHamel, what
                           do you think they will find?
            
                                     DuHAMEL
                           I prefer in this case to let the
                           evidence speak for itself. Now if
                           you will excuse me, I must go.
            
            DuHamel sweeps grandiosely out of the room.
            
                                     POLICEMAN # 2
                           All right, you heard him.   Off you
                           all go to the station.
            
            Policemen lead Mrs. Henderson, Hoffman, and Dr. Biedermeyer out
            of the lobby. Mr. Henderson accompanies his wife.
            
                                     POLICEMAN # 1
                           Not so fast, you. Come with me.
            
                                     STOCAZ
                           Gladly.
            
            
            INT. HOTEL - NIGHT
            
            Stocaz and the policeman head through the kitchen towards the
            back door.
            
                                     POLICEMAN #1
                           So, how about that DuHamel, eh?
                           Never been on a case he couldn't
                           solve. Never been late. Never
                           been wrong. And he never, ever
                           gives up. Not him, no sir! I tell
                           you, you weren't too smart to try
                           to match wits with the likes of him!
            
                                      STOCAZ
                            I think you will find that even the
                            eminent Sebastian DuHamel is capable
                            of slipping up from time to time.
            
            
            EXT.   HOTEL - NIGHT
            
            A bright moon overhead and the snow all around makes the dead of
            night as bright as twilight. The policeman and Stocaz walk
            across to a large dark Lancia sedan.
            
            The trunk of this car is a literal trunk, a large lidded box on
            a platform, strapped down to the car with leather belts.
            
                                      POLICEMAN
                            Well, open it up. Let's have
                            a look.
            
            Stocaz smiles arrogantly at him. He unbuckles the straps,
            unlocks the latch, and lifts the hasp.
            
            In the trunk is the body of Sebastian DuHamel. His arms and
            legs are bound tightly behind him, and his mouth tightly gagged.
            His cold, lifeless eyes stare at nothing. His white cravat is
            stained with blood; his throat sliced ear to ear.
            
            Stocaz looks at the policeman.   The policeman looks at Stocaz.
            
            
            FADE OUT.
            
            [end]

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Halloween entries

              Code:
              IRIS LUMPKIN
              
              
              OVER BLACK
              
              TITLE CARD:     IRIS LUMPKIN
              
              SUPER: A long time ago... but not far away
              
              The SCRAPE of a shovel blade slicing through soil.    GRUNTING,
              HEAVY BREATHING.
              
              
              FADE IN:
              
              EXT. FIELD - NIGHT
              
              A GRIMY HAND snatches a ragged, one-eyed TEDDY BEAR sprawled
              next to a freshly dug grave.
              
              
              EXT. BARN - NIGHT
              
              A shovel rests against the wall near the barn door.
              
              Flickering lantern light glows through a cobweb-covered
              window.
              
              A HOWLING WIND rattles the barn door against its moorings,
              then...
              
              BOOM!    A GUNSHOT BLAST explodes from inside.
              
                                                                CUT TO BLACK:
              
              The sound of SCHOOL CHILDREN chanting a nursery rhyme in
              sing-song fashion.
              
                                       SCHOOL CHILDREN (V.O.)
                           Iris Lumpkin never hurt a soul...
                           'til her mean ole daddy...
                           Put her in a hole...
              
              
              EXT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND - DAY
              
              SUPER:   Present Day
              
              A group of CHILDREN in Halloween costumes surround a YOUNG
              "COWGIRL" jumping rope to the cadence of the nursery rhyme.
              
              Fourth grade teacher, DORIS WICKENS (70), dressed as Florence
              Nightingale, joins the Cowgirl jumping rope.
              
                                       CHILDREN
                           Iris Lumpkin wants to come and play...
                           How many candies will keep her away?
              
              
              INT. SCHOOL PRINCIPLE'S OFFICE
              
              MARY RUTGEN (35), ex-nun, turned teacher from hell, peers
              out an open window facing the playground, scowls.
              
                                    MARY RUTGEN
                        Do you hear that?
              
                                    SCHOOL CHILDREN (O.S.)
                        One... two... three... four... five...
              
              MRS. PAYNE (55), the prudish school Principle, locks the
              office door, opens a filing cabinet, pulls out a pint of
              apple schnapps.
              
              Principle Payne hands Mary Rutgen a glass of spiked cider,
              peers out the window.
                                    MRS. PAYNE
                        I'm afraid we're stuck with her
                        until...
              
              Mary Rutgen smiles, raises her glass.
              
                                    MARY RUTGEN
                        May the good Lord find a way.
              
                                    MRS. PAYNE
                        Amen!
              
              They toast and down their drinks.
              
              
              EXT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND - DAY
              
              Doris Wickens cups her hands around her mouth, shouts.
              
                                    DORIS WICKENS
                        Okay, everyone, back to the classroom.
                        It's time for our Halloween party.
              
              CHEERS.
              
              The children sprint toward the school.
              
              In a remote corner of the playground, BEATRICE BALES (10)
              stands on a swing with her back to us, her long unkempt auburn
              hair wafting in the breeze.
              
                                    DORIS WICKENS (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                        Beatrice?
              
              Beatrice continues to swing, studying a grasshopper crawling
              along her outstretched arm.
              
              Doris circles, sees
              
              Beatrice's freckled face with a DEEP PURPLE BRUISE around
              her swollen eye.
              
                                    DORIS WICKENS (CONT'D)
                        Come on, sweetie. We don't want to
                        miss the party.
              
              Beatrice gently feeds the grasshopper a blade of grass.
              
                                    BEATRICE
                        Can I keep her, Miss Wickens?     She's
                        lost and very cold.
              
              Doris Wickens smiles, extends her hand.
              
                                    DORIS WICKENS
                        Let's find her a nice home inside.
              
              
              INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
              
              Paper jack-o-lanterns, black cats hang from the ceiling.
              
              The room buzzes with miniature princesses, zombies and
              superheroes gorging on cupcakes and cider.
              
              Beatrice's stares through a glass jar holding the grasshopper,
              her face distorted by the curved glass.
              
                                    GIRL'S VOICE (O.S.)
                        So, Beatrice, what are you supposed
                        to be?
              
              A mini CINDERELLA (10) with a rhinestone tiara and a pink
              sequined gown taunts Beatrice.
              
              A pint-sized ROCK GODDESS (9) with fake eyelashes and bare
              mid-riff chimes in.
              
                                     ROCK GODDESS
                        I know.   You're a hobo, right?
              
              The snarky prisses snicker and walk away.
              
                                    DORIS WICKENS (O.S.)
                        Okay, everyone. Get your secret boo
                        bags and take a seat at the Center
                        Circle. No peeking!
              
              The children dash to a carpet in the middle of the room,
              each clutching a sealed brown paper sack.
              
              GIGGLES as Beatrice shuffles toward her seated classmates,
              head bowed, empty-handed.
              
              Doris Wickens produces a brown paper bag tied with an orange
              ribbon, whispers to Beatrice.
              
                                       DORIS WICKENS (CONT'D)
                        Here you go.
              
              Beatrice takes the bag and joins her classmates on the carpet.
              
                                    DORIS WICKENS (CONT'D)
                        Remember, your Halloween story must
                        be about whatever's in your bag.
                        We'll read our stories tomorrow after--
              
                                    ROCK GODDESS (O.S.)
                        Excuse me Miss Wickens.
              
                                    DORIS WICKENS
                        Yes, Brittany, what is it?
              
              Brittany (Rock Goddess) points to the back of the room.
              
              A PIRATE BOY (10) pulls the grasshopper from the jar, dangles
              it over an aquarium filled with hungry goldfish.
              
                                       BEATRICE (O.S.)
                        No!   Stop!
              
              Beatrice springs from the carpet, dashes toward the aquarium.
              
              The GRASSHOPPER tumbles from the boy's fingers.
              
              A look of horror spreads across Beatrice's face as
              
              The insect hits the water, twitches, then... SLURP -
              disappears down the gullet of a large goldfish.
              
              Beatrice freezes, then runs from the classroom, still
              clutching the brown paper bag.
              
              
              EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY
              
              Tears streaking down her cheeks, Beatrice strolls past a
              rusted cemetery gate wrapped in dead vines.
              
              
              EXT. BEATRICE'S HOUSE - DAY
              
              Beatrice tiptoes up to the back door, peers inside. She
              presses her ear against the window, then slowly turns the
              handle.
              
              The door suddenly flings open.    Beatrice gasps, jumps back.
              
              Beatrice's STEPFATHER (38), a drunken, unshaven slob, blocks
              the doorway.
              
                                    STEPFATHER
                        What the hell you doing home?
              
                                    BEATRICE
                        Where's mommy?
              
                                    STEPFATHER
                        How the hell should I know.
              
                                    BEATRICE
                        We were supposed to go trick or
                        treating.
              
                                      STEPFATHER
                        That right?
              
              He grabs Beatrice's arm, yanks her inside.
              
              
              INT. KITCHEN - DAY
              
              Dirty dishes and food encrusted pots piled high in the sink.
              
              The Stepfather tosses a beer can onto a mound of empties
              scattered on the filthy linoleum floor.
              
                                    STEPFATHER
                        Place's a goddamn mess.    Clean it
                        up.
              
              
              INT. KITCHEN - LATER
              
              Soaking and exhausted, Beatrice wrings out a filthy mop into
              the sink.
              
              
              INT. BEATRICE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
              
              A dingy room brightened by cutout photos of butterflies taped
              to the walls.
              
              In a nightgown, Beatrice sits crosslegged on a sagging bed,
              the brown bag resting in her lap. She unties the orange
              bow. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
              
                                      STEPFATHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                        I'm hungry.    Open the goddamn door.
              
              Beatrice stashes the bag between the mattress.
              
                                    BEATRICE
                        Mommy says I'm not your maid.
              
              CRACK. The door flies off its hinges.     The enraged Stepfather
              storms into the room.
              
                                    STEPFATHER
                        Well, your whoring mom ain't here.
              
              SMACK. He backhands Beatrice across the face, sends her
              flying against the wall.
              
                                    STEPFATHER (CONT'D)
                        What'd I tell you 'bout sassing back?
              
              
              INT. BEATRICE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
              
              Beatrice's hand slips from under the bedcovers, searches
              between the mattress.
              
              UNDER BEDCOVERS
              
              Beatrice aims a flashlight at the crumpled paper bag, reaches
              inside.
              
              
              INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
              
              The Stepfather surrounded in empty beer cans, passed out on
              the couch, snoring.
              
              The front door slowly CREAKS closed.
              
              
              EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT
              
              Beatrice kneels at the base of a grave, a ONE-EYED TEDDY
              BEAR cradled in her arms.
              
              A LIGHTING FLASH illuminates eroded letters carved into a
              sunken gravestone: "Iris Lumpkin. 1903 - 1911."
              
              A deafening CRACK of THUNDER.
              
                                                                   CUT TO:
              
              EXT. BACKYARD POND - NIGHT
              
              Candy wrappers floating on the water's surface.
              
              PIRATE BOY and a FRIEND (10) in zombie makeup dangle their
              feet over the edge of a dock, gorging on Halloween candy.
              
                                    FRIEND
                        Did you see the look on her face?
                            (mocking high pitched
                             voice)
                        Noooo, not my pet cricket!
              
                                       PIRATE BOY
                        Grasshopper.
              
                                      FRIEND
                        Whatever.
              
              The Friend checks a text on his cell phone.
              
                                      FRIEND (CONT'D)
                        My mom.    I gotta go.
              
              He jumps up, snatches a candy bar from Pirate Boy's bag.
              
                                      FRIEND (CONT'D)
                        Later.
              
              MOMENTS LATER
              
              Pirate Boy stands at the end of the dock, peeing in the water.
              CREAKY FOOTSTEPS.
              
                                    PIRATE BOY
                        Dude, stay away from my candy.
              
              He zips up, turns.
              
                                    PIRATE BOY (CONT'D)
                        What... what are you doing here?
              
              
              EXT. BACKYARD POND - NIGHT
              
              EMERGENCY LIGHTS flash off the pond surface.
              
              Neighbors crowd behind yellow barricade tape, straining to
              get a view.
              
              A POLICE DETECTIVE (50) brushes past PARAMEDICS gathered at
              the water's edge. He squats and picks up a piece of wriggling
              RED CANDY.
              
                                    PARAMEDIC (O.S.)
                        Swedish fish.
              
              The Paramedic points a flashlight at the ground.
              
                                    PARAMEDIC (CONT'D)
                        Had at least a couple dozen stuffed
                        down his throat. Probably aspirated
                        then drowned.
              
              The Detective unzips a body bag, exposing PIRATE BOY'S pale
              lifeless face.
              
              
              INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY
              
              The Detective waits for a stooped, arthritic BUILDING MANAGER
              (80) to unlock the door to Apartment 217.
              
                                     BUILDING MANAGER
                         I got a little worried when Iris
                         didn't join me for tea last night.
              
                                        DETECTIVE
                         Doris.
              
                                        BUILDING MANAGER
                         Huh?
              
              He points to his hearing aid.
              
                                        BUILDING MANAGER (CONT'D)
                         Speak up.
              
                                      DETECTIVE
                             (louder)
                         You mean, Doris.
              
                                        BUILDING MANAGER
                         No sir.
              
              They step into the apartment.
              
                                     BUILDING MANAGER (CONT'D)
                         Been cashing Miss Iris's checks for
                         nearly--
              
              
              INT. APARTMENT - DAY
              
              A barren room.
              
              The Manager scratches his head.
              
                                     BUILDING MANAGER (O.S.)
                         I'll be damned.
              
              The Detective walks to an open window, peers out.
              
              
              INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
              
              SUPER:   364 DAYS LATER
              
              A BOY (7) lying in bed, sedated, his face battered, arm in a
              cast.
              
              A NURSE checks the boy's IV, shakes her head.
              
                                     NURSE
                         What kind of monster does this to
                         his kid?
              
              An elderly HOSPITAL DOCENT pushes a cart to the foot of the
              bed, her face hidden in shadow. She ties a "Get Well" balloon
              to the rail.
              
                                    HOSPITAL DOCENT
                        Let's pray it never happens again.
              
              A friendly, familiar voice...
              
              DORIS WICKENS leans over the railing, reaches into her apron
              and nestles the ONE-EYED TEDDY BEAR under the boy's arm.
              
                                    DORIS WICKENS
                        Happy Halloween, sweetie.
              
                                                                 FADE OUT:
              
              [end]

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Halloween entries

                Code:
                HALLOWALIEN
                
                FADE IN:
                
                EXT. SPACE - FIELD OF STARS
                
                One breaks from them and heads towards Earth. A green orb
                ship that descends on a dark America, zeros in on the bright
                mass of lights that is Los Angeles and turns inland to --
                
                
                EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
                
                An ok neighborhood. Modest older houses. A small town feel.
                The ship lands behind the razor wire fence of --
                
                A TOWING YARD
                
                A rottweiler BARKS and runs through rows of wrecked cars
                until he finds the ship. A small seamless egg shape standing
                on end, not much taller than the dog. A large oval opening
                appears.
                
                The dog GROWLS. Something inside MIMICS THE GROWL back. The
                dog WHINES and again is answered by a similar WHINE. The dog
                SNAPS at the whine and in a SNAP!--a dark green/red tongue
                lashes out, snatches the dog up, and yanks him into the ship.
                
                Moments later, an ALIEN MONSTER (235) stands in the doorway
                and casts a long shadow out over the busted up cars. It steps
                out. It's green, disgusting, and somehow bigger than the
                ship, though the same shape. It waddles on two little legs
                and has two lengthy thin arms that dangle at its sides.
                
                
                EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
                
                KIDS in Halloween costumes are out trick or treating. One of
                them walks past, dressed in a costume identical to the Alien
                Monster. This is JOHNNY (11). He walks up to --
                
                
                BILLY'S HOUSE
                
                A small house that's seen better days, and even then, the
                days weren't all that great. Two small, sad pumpkins sit on
                the porch, barely lit. Johnny KNOCKS. BILLY (11) opens the
                door. A skinny kid dressed in his normal everyday clothes.
                
                                       BILLY'S MOM (O.S.)
                           Don't let them take too much, Billy!
                
                                       BILLY
                           Don't worry, it's just Johnny!
                
                                       JOHNNY
                           Still no costume, huh?
                
                                       BILLY
                           Nope. Mom's broke as ever.
                
                                      JOHNNY
                          Shoulda let me make you one. Mine
                          didn't turn out so bad.
                
                Johnny models his outfit, then takes the top off like he
                were a Matryoshka doll, but with a normal kid inside.
                
                                      BILLY
                          Yeah, you actually did good.
                
                                      JOHNNY
                          Hot in here, though. So I guess you're
                          not coming, huh?
                
                                      BILLY
                          I wish. Can you bring us back some
                          candy though? We're almost out.
                
                                      JOHNNY
                          Sure thing, Billy. Be back in a few.
                
                                      BILLY
                          Thanks, Johnny.
                
                Johnny puts the top back on and waddles off. Billy watches
                him go, depressed.
                
                
                EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
                
                Johnny walks down the street. Three mean kids head towards
                him: DEVIL KID, GHOST KID, and SPIDER-MAN KID. All about 11.
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Hey look! It's Johnny.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          Your mom make you that costume, or
                          did she just puke all over you?
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Yeah, Johnny, since when does an
                          alien look like a ball of puke?
                
                                      JOHNNY
                          Shut up, guys.
                
                When Johnny passes them, Devil Kid pushes him and sends him
                sprawling across a yard. They LAUGH.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          Look how he rolled across that yard,
                          like a fat little roly poly!
                
                                      SPIDER-MAN KID
                          A roly Johnny!
                
                                      JOHNNY
                          Ha ha, make fun of the fat kid, so
                          funny.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          We can do more than that!
                
                Ghost Kid starts for him, but Devil Kid holds him back.
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Come on, we got bigger fish to fry.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          See ya later, puke ball.
                
                They walk away down the sidewalk. Johnny gets back up.
                
                
                EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - ELSEWHERE - NIGHT
                
                The Alien Monster eagerly stares at all the freaky creatures
                walking around. It's like a kid in a candy store, salivating
                over all the options. It twiddles its finger like appendages
                as it watches FOUR HALLOWEENERS (6-15) head up to --
                
                ZOMBIE MAN'S HOUSE
                
                and knock on the door. ZOMBIE MAN (30) opens it, wearing a
                well done scary ass zombie outfit. The Alien looks on with
                starving eyes and starts drooling all over.
                
                                      FOUR HALLLOWEENERS
                          Trick or treat!
                
                                      ZOMBIE MAN
                          Oooh! Nice outfits, man.
                
                Zombie Man offers a bowl of candy, which the kids take from.
                He closes the door and they walk away, stuffing their faces
                with the candy as they pass the Alien Monster.
                
                                      KID HALLOWEENER
                          Mmm, delicious.
                
                The alien hurries to the door and KNOCKS excitedly. Moments
                later, Zombie Man opens it.
                
                                      ALIEN MONSTER
                          Treat!
                
                                      ZOMBIE MAN
                          Whoa! That's one unique outfit.
                              (extends bowl)
                          Here you go, lil alien dude.
                
                The alien reaches in, pulls out a package of Reese's Pieces,
                and shoves them into its mouth. Disgusting! It SPITS them
                out and looks back up at Zombie Man.
                
                                       ALIEN MONSTER
                          Treeeeeat!
                
                                      ZOMBIE MAN
                          Not a fan of Reese's Pieces, huh?
                              (looks into bowl)
                          Got plenty of other stuff here.
                
                The alien shakes its head and points at Zombie Man.
                
                                       ZOMBIE MAN (CONT'D)
                          Huh?
                
                The alien's mouth opens up to a size larger than itself and
                CHOMP!--swallows Zombie Man whole. Well, not entirely. A
                zombie leg dangles out at the shin bones, real blood mixing
                with fake blood. It breaks off and THUDS to the floor.
                
                
                EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
                
                The three mean kids head up to --
                
                BILLY'S HOUSE
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                              (chuckles)
                          This's Billy's house.
                
                                      SPIDER-MAN KID
                          Awe, can't we skip this one? He's
                          not gonna have nothin'.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          This one's all about the trick.
                
                He LAUGHS MISCHIEVOUSLY as they reach the front door. Devil
                Kid KNOCKS. Billy opens it, holding a bowl of candy.
                
                                      THE THREE MEAN KIDS
                          Trick or treat!
                
                Billy tries to shut the door, but Ghost Kid's foot stops it.
                
                                      BILLY
                          Get lost, jerks.
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Nice outfit, Billy. What're you,
                          again? A sad sack of sh*t puke?
                
                                      SPIDER-MAN KID
                          Sh*t puke Billy!
                
                                      BILLY
                          What'dya want from me?
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          All your candy, or we're gonna piss
                          all over your house.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          Not that anyone'd notice.
                
                                      BILLY
                          Come on, leave me alone.
                
                Devil Kid snatches the bowl of candy from Billy, empties it
                into his bag, and throws the bowl across the yard.
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Thanks.
                
                                      BILLY
                          A**hole!
                
                He STOMPS on Ghost Kid's foot and SLAMS the door shut. Ghost
                Kid hops up and down in pain.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          That little bitch. Gimmie the eggs.
                
                                      SPIDER-MAN KID
                          Eggs for what? It's not Easter.
                
                Ghost Kid punches Spider-Man Kid in the stomach, doubling
                him over. He LAUGHS, feels better about himself, and leads
                them away from the house.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          Jeez, your such an idiot Spidey.
                              (to Devil Kid)
                          After this, let's head over to the
                          zombie house. They got the best stuff.
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Yeah, but first...
                
                Devil Kid pulls out some eggs and hands them out. They chuck
                them at Billy's house, then LAUGH and run off down the street
                when Billy's Mom hurries to the door.
                
                
                EXT. ZOMBIE MAN'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                
                The three mean kids walk away from it to --
                
                THE SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD
                
                                      SPIDER-MAN KID
                          I can't believe no one was there.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          Lights were on, too. Bet they were
                          there, the jerks.
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Yeah, but look at this sweet zombie
                          leg I snagged. Feels so real.
                
                He holds up Zombie Man's severed leg. Ghost Kid smiles and
                nods ahead to the Alien Monster walking down the street.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          Hey look, it's puke ball. Hey puke
                          ball! Over here!
                
                They hurry towards the alien, thinking it's Johnny. Devil
                Kid holds up the zombie leg and shakes it like a dog bone.
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Here, boy! Come get it, boy!
                
                The Alien Monster nods at them like an excited puppy.
                
                                      ALIEN MONSTER
                          Treeeat.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          Quick, gimme an egg.
                
                                      DEVIL KID
                          Yeah, this'll be great.
                
                As an egg is exchanged. The Alien Monster drools profusely
                as it looks over their costumes. This is no fake drool and
                Spider-Man Kid starts freakin' out.
                
                                      SPIDER-MAN KID
                          Uh, I don't think that's Johnny.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          What is it, then? A real alien? Shut
                          up, Spidey, you're such an idiot.
                
                The Alien closes in on Ghost Kid.
                
                                      ALIEN MONSTER
                          Mmmm, delicious.
                
                                      GHOST KID
                          See? It's definitely him, always
                          hungry. Here you go Johnny, eat this!
                
                Ghost Kid throws the egg. The Alien opens its mouth and
                gobbles it up, revealing rows of endless sharp teeth to match
                its endless stomach.
                
                                       GHOST KID (CONT'D)
                          Holy sh*t.
                
                                       ALIEN MONSTER
                          Holy sh*t.
                
                They back up. The alien shoots its tongue out, snatches Ghost
                Kid up, and yanks him back into its mouth.
                
                                       DEVIL KID
                          Jeezus!
                
                Devil and Spidey turn and run as fast as they can SCREAMING
                down the street. The Alien waddles after, opens its mouth
                again, and out flies its tongue for a second helping...
                
                
                EXT. BILLY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                
                The Alien Monster stands on the sidewalk, then goes up to
                the door. Half cleaned splattered eggs drip down it. The
                Alien Monster KNOCKS and Billy opens it, still costumeless.
                
                                       ALIEN MONSTER
                          Treeee....
                
                                      BILLY
                          Hey, Johnny. You're just in time,
                          bowl's empty.
                
                                       ALIEN MONSTER
                          ...eee....
                
                All life drains from the alien the moment it sees Billy, the
                disgusting hairless ape he is. This is the grossest, ugliest,
                scariest thing it's ever seen in the entire f**king universe.
                
                                      BILLY
                          Well? Where you hiding it all?
                
                                       ALIEN MONSTER
                          Uh...
                
                Billy steps out and pokes around at what he thinks is a
                costume. The alien squirms at his touch. It quickly pushes
                Billy's hand away, then wipes its hand off as if it were a
                little girl who'd just gotten boy cooties.
                
                                      ALIEN MONSTER (CONT'D)
                          Trick, trick, trick, trick trick!
                
                                      BILLY
                          Stop messin', Johnny. And why're you
                          so sticky? Here, let me help you
                          outta this thing.
                
                Billy sticks his hands into the alien's side and yanks,
                lifting it up several times, but the suit doesn't budge.
                
                                      ALIEN MONSTER
                          Jeezus!
                
                The alien pushes him off, turns, and runs/waddles away. It
                trips on the sidewalk, gets back up, and dashes down the
                street SCREAMING like the two mean kids.
                
                                      BILLY
                          What the hell, Johnny?
                
                Billy shrugs, flicks the goo off his hands, and goes inside.
                
                
                EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
                
                Johnny waddles down the street. The Alien Monster flies around
                the corner and runs into him. Johnny's candy bag drops.
                
                                      JOHNNY
                          Hey!
                
                They stare at each other, frozen. Recognition sinks into the
                both of them at what they're seeing. Two peas in a pod.
                
                                      JOHNNY (CONT'D)
                          Hey, that's? How'd you? What?
                
                The Alien SPEAKS frantically in some creepy inhuman language
                while gesturing back at Billy's house, warning him, then
                hurries away. Johnny watches it go, stunned.
                
                                      JOHNNY (CONT'D)
                          What the?
                
                He picks up his bag of candy and stumbles onward to --
                
                BILLY'S HOUSE
                
                As he walks up to the front door, in the distant sky behind
                him the alien orb ship rises up and shoots off into space
                and we --
                
                                                                   FADE OUT.
                
                                          THE END
                [end]

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Halloween entries

                  Code:
                  DELIVERY
                  
                  EXT. HALLOWEEN DECORATED HOUSE - SUBURBIA - NIGHT
                  
                  A row of TRICK OR TREATERS excitedly leave the porch of an
                  average American home -- A sh*tty RED HONDA CIVIC sputters
                  into the driveway just as the children pass.
                  
                  An ILLUMINATED SIGN on the car identifies it as a vehicle for
                  pizza delivery.
                  
                  DAN, late 20's and slightly pot marked, steps out of the
                  vehicle with a cardboard pizza box that steams in the frigid
                  air.
                  
                  
                  THE PORCH
                  
                  A morbid and elaborately decorated porch boasts TWO DUMMIES
                  holding KNIVES -- RED CORN SYRUP splattered everywhere to
                  emulate blood...
                  
                  Dan wears a fake grin as he approaches the door -- rings the
                  DOORBELL.
                  
                  One of the dummies SCREAMS TO LIFE and grabs Dan by the arm,
                  causing Dan to YELP and DROP THE PIZZA.
                  
                  The man disguised as the dummy CHUCKLES.
                  
                  The front door opens revealing a WOMAN with a bowl of candy.
                  
                                        WOMAN WITH CANDY
                              I didn't hear trick or treat.
                  
                  She looks at Dan, who is visibly embarrassed.
                  
                                        DUMMY MAN
                              He certainly got tricked.
                  
                                        DAN
                                  (disguising anger with
                                   hospitality)
                              Guess so.
                  
                                        WOMAN WITH CANDY
                              Oh it's the pizza guy!
                                  (turns back into house)
                              Pizza's here guys!
                  
                  Her eyes turn back to Dan and then to the floor where the
                  pizza box lies, her grin fades.
                  
                  Dan suppresses a smile.
                  
                  
                  INT. HONDA CIVIC - ON THE ROAD - NIGHT
                  
                  Dan takes a generous swig from a FLASK full of booze,
                  recoiling at the after taste.
                  
                                      DAN
                            Damn.
                  
                  He looks up finding the familiar silhouette of a cop car in
                  his rear view mirror and silently panics.
                  
                  A beat. The cop car switches lanes and passes him. Relief.
                  
                  
                  EXT. JIMBO'S JUMBO PIZZAS - NIGHT
                  
                  As Dan exits his car, his severely underweight manager NICK
                  (30's), walks out of the pizzeria to greet him.
                  
                                      DAN
                            Never been tipped in candy before.
                  
                                      NICK
                            Just got a call. You dropped the
                            damn pizza for Hammond Avenue?
                  
                                      DAN
                            Guy jumped out of nowhere at me
                            with a knife. A knife Nick!
                  
                                      NICK
                            It's Halloween Dan. What do you
                            expect?
                  
                                      DAN
                            I didn't expect to be working
                            tonight, that's for damn sure.
                  
                                      NICK
                            Spare me. No time to dick around,
                            one of the cooks forgot about an
                            order from twenty minutes ago and
                            we got to get it out to Fairview
                            pronto.
                  
                                      DAN
                            Nope, I'm off in five.
                  
                                      NICK
                            Nope, you're here till eleven.
                  
                                      DAN
                            The hell I am.
                  
                                      NICK
                            If you want to keep your job you
                            are.
                  
                                      DAN
                            Dude this is bullsh*t. I wasn't
                            even scheduled tonight Nick. I have
                            plans.
                  
                                      NICK
                            We're still short a driver. Sorry
                            kid. Fairview. Ten minutes. Go.
                  
                  
                  INT. HONDA CIVIC - ON THE ROAD - NIGHT
                  
                  Resigned, Dan takes yet another drink from his flask-o-booze
                  as he drives.
                  
                                      DAN
                                (mumbling)
                            Stupid bastard. I should just quit.
                            Eat this damn pizza myself.
                  
                  
                  EXT. OLDER DECREPIT HOUSE - FAIRVIEW - NIGHT
                  
                  The Honda pulls up to the house which seems to be completely
                  void of life. Dan checks the address. It's correct.
                  
                  He heads to the front door, which is slightly ajar.
                  
                                      DAN
                            Hello? Pizza. Pizza's here. Anyone
                            home?
                  
                  He cautiously peaks his head in the doorway...
                  
                  If there was ever a general consensus on what an abandoned
                  dilapidated house is, then this is it. It's apparent no one
                  has lived here for over a decade. Maybe more.
                  
                                      DAN (CONT'D)
                            Damn prank call.
                  
                  Dan starts back for the car.
                  
                  A WOMAN'S SCREAM from inside the house permeates the eerie
                  peace of the night. Dan rushes in.
                  
                  
                  INT. OLDER DECREPIT HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
                  
                  Dan darts in, looking around the living room finding no sign
                  of anyone until a GLINT OF LIGHT hits his eye -- Light coming
                  from the end of a long hallway.
                  
                                      DAN
                            Heard a scream. Is everyone okay?
                            Anyone?
                  
                  
                  IN THE HALL
                  
                  Dan cautiously approaches the source of the light -- a door
                  at the end of the hall -- He opens the door...
                  
                  
                  IN THE LIT ROOM
                  
                  ...a WOMAN is severely bleeding all over the floor, quietly
                  panting and moaning. Deep gashes penetrate her body.
                  
                  TWO BEARDED MEN dressed in leather stand over her with
                  HUNTING KNIVES covered in DARK COAGULATED BLOOD.
                  
                  Dan drops the pizza box in horror and catches the gaze of the
                  two men.
                  
                                      DAN (CONT'D)
                            Oh f**k this.
                  
                  Dan bolts for the exit. The two men follow right behind.
                  
                  
                  EXT. OLDER DECREPIT HOUSE - SAME
                  
                  Dan sprints to the car, jumps in and without even closing the
                  door PEELS OUT down the road at 70 miles and hour!
                  
                  
                  INT. HONDA CIVIC - ON THE ROAD - SAME
                  
                  Dan recklessly careens between cars as he tries to close his
                  car door.
                  
                                      DAN
                            Oh my god. Oh my god.
                  
                  Finally he gets the door closed -- looks back up at the road
                  in front of him.
                  
                  A LITTLE GIRL dressed up as a princess stands in the middle
                  of the road, a deer in headlights.
                  
                  DAN SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. Too late!
                  
                  A SICKENING THUD! -- The princess lies on the hood of Dan's
                  car crying in agony. A CROWD gathers around the car.
                  
                                                                  DISSOLVE TO:
                  
                  
                  INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
                  
                  Dan sits at a table clearly shaken up, eyes red from crying.
                  Before Dan sits a DETECTIVE.
                  
                                      DETECTIVE
                            And that was after you heard the
                            scream?
                  
                                      DAN
                            I went in the house after I heard
                            the scream.
                                (off look)
                            Why aren't you guys over there
                            trying to arrest those guys?
                                (somber)
                            That poor woman.
                  
                                      DETECTIVE
                            We do have police over there,
                            they've been searching and they
                            haven't found one damn thing that
                            supports anything you've told us,
                            except that a call was made from
                            that house to your work and you hit
                            an innocent little girl... while
                            drinking and driving.
                  
                                      DAN
                            But the little girl is alive! That
                            woman is probably dead now!
                  
                                      DETECTIVE
                            It looks like you're the only
                            person that's been in that house
                            besides the occasional homeless
                            guy.
                  
                                      DAN
                            What about the blood?! There's
                            blood over there! All over the damn
                            place!
                  
                                      DETECTIVE
                            Kid, there is no blood. The only
                            thing that we've found over there
                            is a box of sh*tty pizza. No one
                            has had residency at that place
                            since some bikers gang raped a
                            woman and killed her...
                                (off Dan's look)
                            ...but that was forty something
                            years ago, back in the sixties.
                  
                  The detective turns to a UNIFORMED COP standing in the corner
                  of the room and nods. As the detective rises from the table
                  the cop moves over to Dan.
                  
                                      COP
                            At this time you are being charged
                            with driving under the influence of
                            alcohol and supplying false
                            information to a police--
                  
                                       DAN
                                 (interrupting)
                            I saw it. I know what I f**king
                            saw!
                  
                                       COP
                            You may be charged with other
                            offenses as the investigation
                            concludes.
                  
                                      DAN
                            No. No. No. That's bullsh*t.
                  
                  The cop places handcuffs back on Dan and escorts him out of
                  the interrogation room.
                  
                                      DAN (CONT'D)
                            I know what happened. I know what I
                            saw!
                  
                                                                  DISSOLVE TO:
                  
                  
                  INT. OLDER DECREPIT HOUSE - ROOM AT THE END OF THE HALLWAY - NIGHT
                  
                  A FEMALE INVESTIGATOR snaps on a pair of RUBBER GLOVES and
                  bends down with a SMALL FLASHLIGHT in her teeth. The light
                  illuminates the pizza box which the investigator opens.
                  
                  TWO SLICES of pizza are missing. She closes the box and
                  places it in a large evidence bag.
                  
                                                                    FADE OUT.
                  [end]
                  Last edited by dpaterso; 11-01-2012, 08:35 AM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Halloween entries

                    Code:
                    MASKERADE
                    
                    FADE IN:
                    
                    EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF APARTMENT BLOCK - NIGHT
                    
                    Four delinquents wearing plastic Halloween masks (pushed
                    back on their heads) stare up at the building.
                    
                    WOLFMAN swigs from a beer bottle, he's the leader of this
                    pack, who are much too old for trick-or-treating. SNOW
                    WHITE is his bitch. DRACULA is his sniveling follower.
                    FAIRY PRINCESS (wearing tiny gossamer wings) is big and
                    dangerous and likes to hurt people.
                    
                                           DRACULA
                               You sure this guy lives alone?
                    
                                           WOLFMAN
                               Yeah I'm sure.
                    
                                            DRACULA
                               I dunno...
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               Let's fcuking do it.
                    
                    The 4 step forward together, full of piss and menace.
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY, STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    MMMMMM. An electrically powered wheelchair rolls past.
                    It stops at the front door.
                    
                    The wheelchair's weakling occupant sits slumped with his
                    head to one side, like Stephen Hawking. His name is also
                    STEPHEN but he's not into science. He's into women.
                    
                    And a woman's GIGGLING comes from the other side of the
                    door. Stephen's eyes, huge behind his thick-lensed glasses,
                    burn with desire.
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    Fairy Princess is doing the giggling.
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               I'm gonna piss myself, I don't
                               find a toilet.
                    
                                           DRACULA
                               People are gonna hear us, shut up!
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               Who's going to call the cops on
                               Halloween, d!ckhead?
                    
                                           WOLFMAN
                               Everybody cool it. Shhh.
                    
                    Wolfman peers through the spy-hole, into the apartment.
                    
                    FISH EYE LENS POV - looking into Stephen's apartment
                    hallway, which is empty, no sign of Stephen.
                    
                                           WOLFMAN
                               Get ready. Soon as we're in, you
                               grab money, watches, jewels,
                               anything that looks like it might
                               be worth something.
                    
                                           SNOW WHITE
                               Freddy never pays us enough.
                    
                                           WOLFMAN
                               We bring him quality, he'll pay.
                               Good sh!t only, you got that?
                    
                    Nods.   Wolfman pokes the doorbell button.    DING DONG!
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY, STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    DING DONG! echoes down the hallway.
                    
                    CLOSE UP of Stephen's electric wheelchair control arm,
                    with buttons and switches. Stephen's shaking hand thumbs
                    a switch.
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    CLICK goes the lock, and the door swings inward, opened by
                    an invisible hand.
                    
                    Wolfman steps back and looks at the others, unsure.
                    
                                           SNOW WHITE
                               Spooky.
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               Fcuk are you waiting for?
                    
                    Fairy Princess marches into Stephen's apartment hallway.
                    
                    Wolfman, Snow White and Dracula lower their masks over
                    their faces and follow her inside.
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY, STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    Fairy Princess checks the doors to left and right.
                    
                                          FAIRY PRINCESS
                              Oh thank God.
                    
                    She goes off camera, into a toilet. Seconds later, the
                    sound of high-pressure PEEING. Dracula stares, mesmerized.
                    Snow White slaps his head, he has to fix his mask.
                    
                    Wolfman advances cautiously down the apartment hallway.
                    
                                           SNOW WHITE
                                  (shouts)
                              Trick or treat!
                    
                                           WOLFMAN
                              Jesus...
                    
                                           SNOW WHITE
                              What?   It's Halloween.
                    
                    The toilet flushes, Fairy Princess exits, fixing her skirts.
                    
                                          SNOW WHITE
                              Next time, close the door. The
                              Count nearly had his d!ck out.
                    
                                          FAIRY PRINCESS
                              I'll cut it off. I need food.
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                              We're not here to eat!
                    
                    MMMMMM. The electric motor sound makes them stare at the
                    far end of the hallway.
                    
                    Stephen in his wheelchair stares back at them, head tilted
                    to one side.
                    
                    The four intruders look at each other.   Is it really gonna
                    be this easy?
                    
                    Dracula slowly pushes the front door shut, with a menacing
                    sense of trapping Stephen in his own apartment. CLICK.
                    
                    
                    INT. LIVING ROOM, STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    Stephen's POV, the wheelchair control stick has been jammed
                    so the wheelchair spins around and around on the spot like
                    a nauseating fairground ride.
                    
                    Snow White laughs and claps at Stephen's sick expression.
                    Fairy Princess stuffs her face with corn chips from a giant
                    bag, spilling some from her mouth as she laughs too.
                    
                    The wheelchair stops. Stephen gasps with relief. Snow
                    White and Fairy Princess boo and throw corn chips at him.
                    
                    Wolfman carries electronic goods, iPad, iPlayer, laptop,
                    cables, and dumps them on the couch with a big plasma TV.
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                              Glad to see we're all on the job!
                    
                    Dracula holds up bourbon and vodka bottles.
                    
                                          DRACULA
                              Looky what I found!
                    
                    Wolfman snatches the bourbon bottle.
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                              Mine!
                    
                    Snow White grabs the vodka bottle, she and Fairy Princess
                    take turns swigging it neat, like the ladies they are.
                    
                                          DRACULA
                              You gotta wonder about this guy.
                              How can he live alone? I mean
                              look at him. Someone's gotta feed
                              him. Empty his piss bag.
                    
                    Wolfman crouches down beside Stephen.
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                              When are they due back?
                    
                    Stephen makes croaking sounds as his mouth struggles to
                    form words.
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                              What are you, some kind of frog?
                    
                                          FAIRY PRINCESS
                              Croak for us, frog!
                    
                                          SNOW WHITE
                              Maybe he needs a computer to talk.
                    
                                          DRACULA
                              Hey yeah, I saw this guy on TV.
                                  (robotic voice)
                              Give. Me. More. Drugs. Man.
                    
                    Wolfman slaps Stephen hard, rocking him and his wheelchair.
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                              When are they due, frog?
                    
                    Stephen doesn't answer.   Wolfman raises his hand again--
                    
                                          FAIRY PRINCESS
                              Lemme talk to him.
                    
                    Fairy Princess leans in close to Stephen, giving him a
                    view of Boob Valley.
                    
                    Stephen's eyes widen, he shakes uncontrollably.
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               You live with your family?
                    
                    Stephen shakes his head, a twitchy movement.
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               That's a no. But someone looks
                               after you, yeah?
                    
                                           DRACULA
                               Like a mechanic. Checks your oil.
                               Wipes your windscreen.
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               Someone looks after you?
                    
                    Stephen nods his head, a superhuman effort.
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               Are they coming by tonight?
                    
                    Stephen shakes his head, his eyes on her boobs.
                    
                    Dracula laughs and points--
                    
                                           DRACULA
                               The little sh!t's got a hard-on
                               like a baseball bat!
                    
                    BAM!  Fairy Princess punches Stephen, rocking him.
                    
                                           FAIRY PRINCESS
                               You disgust me.
                    
                                           WOLFMAN
                               Whoa, you go, girl!
                    
                    Snow White steps up and shoves her t!ts in Stephen's face.
                    
                                           SNOW WHITE
                               Is this what you want, huh?
                    
                    Stephen is squashed and suffocating but yeah, oh yeah,
                    this is what he wants.
                    
                    Snow White draws back and punches Stephen hard, his glasses
                    go flying.
                    
                                           SNOW WHITE
                               Freak!
                    
                    Snow White and Fairy Princess glance at other, coming to
                    an instant understanding. They tear into Stephen with
                    their fists, giving him a beating he won't forget, if he
                    survives.
                    
                    From Stephen's POV it's a bizarre shaky montage of smiling
                    plastic masks and crazy eyes, frantic movement, fists coming
                    in at him from all angles, rocking his vision.
                    
                                          DRACULA
                              Jesus! You're gonna kill him!
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                              Let 'em have their fun.
                    
                    Snow White and Fairy Princess beat Stephen a while longer.
                    Then they step back, breathing hard and tired.
                    
                    Stephen lies slumped in his wheelchair, eyes closed, face
                    puffed and bruised, bleeding from nose and lips.
                    
                    Wolfman pulls Snow White close.   They kiss, mask to mask.
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                              Good job, babe.
                    
                                          FAIRY PRINCESS
                              Let's get outta this dump.
                    
                    Fairy Princess exits to the hallway, Wolfman and Snow White
                    follow, cuddling each other and laughing.
                    
                                          WOLFMAN
                                  (to Dracula)
                              Bring the sh!t.
                    
                    Dracula stares at the electronic items and the big TV on
                    the couch. He stuffs the smaller items into his pockets
                    and inside his jacket, and lugs the TV into the hallway.
                    
                                          DRACULA
                              Why is it always me?
                    
                    Stephen's still slumped in his wheelchair, unmoving, bloody.
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY, STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    Fairy Princess pulls on the front door handle, door won't
                    move, it's locked.
                    
                                          FAIRY PRINCESS
                              Anyone see a key?
                    
                                          SNOW WHITE
                              I don't even see a keyhole.
                    
                    Wolfman looks back, sees Dracula exit the living room with
                    the TV. The living room door swings shut behind Dracula!
                    
                                             WOLFMAN
                                 Hey, hey, who shut the door!
                    
                    Dracula tries to open the living room door. Can't, it's
                    locked too. He puts down the TV and shoulder-slams the
                    door. Ow! He kicks it instead. And again. Nothing.
                    
                    Fairy Princess looks round as the bathroom door slams shut.
                    
                    Snow White looks round as the other doors along the hallway
                    slam shut. Unseen electric motors. CLICK CLICK CLICK.
                    
                                             WOLFMAN
                                 'Sgoing on, man?!
                    
                    They try various doors, all locked, they're trapped here.
                    
                                             WOLFMAN
                                 It's that frog in the wheelchair.
                                 He's gotta be doing this!
                    
                    Snow White stares up at a security camera on the ceiling.
                    Her reflection in the lens. A red LED winks on and off.
                    
                                             SNOW WHITE
                                 He's watching us.
                    
                    Wolfman pushes her aside and snarls at the camera.
                    
                                             WOLFMAN
                                 Let us out of here, freak!
                    
                    No answer.    Wolfman pounds and kicks the front door.
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    A muffled THUMP THUMP THUMP.
                    
                    CLOSE UP of Stephen's wheelchair control arm, a pop-up LCD
                    screen shows the security camera POV of the gang.
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY, STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    Everyone looks up as a robotic voice booms from a speaker.
                    
                                             ROBOTIC VOICE (V.O.)
                                 Show. Me. Your. Breasts. And. I.
                                 Will. Consider. Letting. You. Go.
                    
                    Snow White and Fairy Princess exchange looks.
                    
                                             FAIRY PRINCESS
                               Fuuuuuuuuuu
                    
                    They expose their boobs for the security camera.
                    
                                           SNOW WHITE
                               Happy now, freak?
                    
                    
                    INT. LIVING ROOM, STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    Stephen's bloody face twists into a happy smile.
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY, STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                                           ROBOTIC VOICE (V.O.)
                               Now. You. Will. Punch. Each. Other.
                    
                    Snow White and Fairy Princess look at each other.
                    
                                           SNOW WHITE
                               Screw you, I'm not gonna--
                    
                    BAM!  Fairy Princess lands a haymaker.
                    
                                             ROBOTIC VOICE (V.O.)
                               Now. You.
                    
                    --meaning Wolfman, reflected in the security camera lens.
                    
                                           ROBOTIC VOICE (V.O.)
                               Will. Go. Down. On. Him.
                    
                    --meaning Dracula, reflected in the security camera lens.
                    
                                             FAIRY PRINCESS
                               Fuuuuuuuuuu
                    
                    
                    INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE STEPHEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
                    
                    A muffled THUMP THUMP THUMP.  And Wolfman's faint voice:
                    
                                             WOLFMAN
                               Let us out! Let us out! Please!
                    
                    FADE OUT
                    
                    [end]
                    Last edited by dpaterso; 11-02-2012, 12:07 AM.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Halloween entries

                      Code:
                      THE PHANTOM DIVORCE ATTORNEY
                      
                      FADE IN:
                      
                      EXT. MANSION - VERANDA - NIGHT
                      
                      ELLIOT BUCHANAN, an enviably tall and handsome man in his forties,
                      stands to one side of an expansive deck attached to a palatial home,
                      drinking hundred-dollar Scotch from fine crystal. PARTY GUESTS, rich
                      SOB's like he is, mill around and CHAT.
                      
                      SELENA, a curvaceous and elegant schemer in her late 20's, slithers
                      seductively up to him and starts to play with his bow tie.
                      
                                                 SELENA
                                      All by yourself, Elliot?
                      
                      Elliot is oddly blank. He has what the mental health professionals
                      would describe as flat affect. There is a detached apathy about him.
                      
                                                 SELENA
                                      What's on your mind? And what
                                      can I do to make you forget it?
                      
                      She nuzzles him and traces his ear with her perfectly manicured
                      finger. Then she dips her finger in his scotch, sucks it, and makes
                      big horny eyes at him. He does not react at all. Realizing she is
                      making no headway, she disengages.
                      
                                                 SELENA
                                      Well, you know where to find me.
                      
                      She retreats back into the house.   GARETH TEMPLETON, another man in
                      his forties, walks up to him.
                      
                                                 GARETH
                                      Elliot? What the hell is up with
                                      you? You're rich, handsome, single, you
                                      own your own firm, and you have the
                                      hottest piece of ass on the eastern
                                      seaboard climbing on you like you're
                                      a set of monkey bars. And you just
                                      stand there like a freakin' mannequin.
                                      What happened to you? It's like
                                      you're not yourself.
                      
                                                    ELLIOT
                                         I'm not. I lost something in
                                         the divorce.
                      
                                                    GARETH
                                         Lost? Excuse me? Aren't you the guy
                                         who got caught on video with drugs,
                                         call girls, and a senator's daughter, who
                                         was seventeen, by the way, and still
                                         walked away with everything of yours
                                         and half of what your wife owned?
                      
                                                    ELLIOT
                                         It wasn't money I lost.
                      
                                                     GARETH
                                         Karen.   You still have feelings for her.
                      
                                                    ELLIOT
                                         No, that's not it. I spent ten of the best
                                         and worst years of my life with her.
                                         I loved her with all my soul, and then
                                         I hated her just as much. You'd think I
                                         would feel something, but I don't. Do you
                                         understand, Gareth? I don't feel anything.
                      
                                                    GARETH
                                         Hmm. Well, I guess I don't understand.
                                         But I need to ask you a favor. I need
                                         the name of your lawyer. Who was that guy?
                      
                      Elliot wakes up.    He looks at Gareth, somewhat alarmed.
                      
                                                    ELLIOT
                                         Are you and Helen having trouble?
                                         Whatever it is, you have to get past
                                         it. Trust me on this.
                      
                                                    GARETH
                                         Fat chance of that. Not only has she
                                         been screwing the pool boy in my bed,
                                         she's been tipping off my competitors.
                                         I just got aced out of a fifty million
                                         dollar contract because of that bitch.
                                         I want out.
                      
                                                    ELLIOT
                                         Well, I'll set you up, but I promise
                                         you'll regret it.
                      
                      Elliot hands Gareth a card. The card reads "Joseph Cadwallader,
                      Attorney At Law. Int. Highway 76 and Rt. 182. 11:33 pm. "
                      
                                                    GARETH
                                         What the hell is this?   I don't
                                         get it.
                      
                                                    ELLIOT
                                         Just go to that intersection at
                                         that time. You'll meet him there.
                      
                                                    GARETH
                                         No phone number? How is he going
                                         to know I want to talk to him?
                      
                                                    ELLIOT
                                         He already knows. Bring a copy of
                                         your prenuptial agreement.
                      
                      
                      EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - INTERSECTION - NIGHT
                      
                      A BMW 6-series pulls up and stops. Gareth gets out, and looks around.
                      Grain fields to one side, woods to the other, stretching out for
                      miles; no one is around. A lonely moon hangs in a cloudless sky.
                      
                                                     GARETH
                                         Hello!   Anybody here?
                      
                      A dog BARKS, seemingly miles away. Wind WHOOSHES through the tree
                      tops. Gareth pulls his coat around him against a sudden chill. There
                      is no one around but him, and he is annoyed. He gets back in his car.
                      
                      
                      INT. CAR - NIGHT
                      
                                                    CADWALLADER
                                         Hello.
                      
                      JOSEPH CADWALLADER, a dumpy man with sleepy eyes and a hilariously bad
                      comb-over, is sitting in the passenger seat.
                      
                                                  GARETH
                                      YAAA!   Where did you come from?
                      
                                                 CADWALLADER
                                      I understand you need a divorce
                                      attorney.
                      
                                                  GARETH
                                      Yes I do.
                      
                                                 CADWALLADER
                                      Show me the prenup. We'll see what
                                      we can do.
                      
                      Gareth hands him a document from his coat pocket.  Cadwallader scans
                      it, and nods.
                      
                                                 CADWALLADER
                                      This will be no problem at all.
                      
                                                 GARETH
                                      So what's your fee?
                      
                                                 CADWALLADER
                                      I'll take 150% of what you would
                                      pay her if you abide by the agreement.
                      
                                                 GARETH
                                      150 percent!? Are you on crack?
                      
                                                 CADWALLADER
                                      If that isn't acceptable, there's
                                      another alternative. You won't have
                                      to pay a dime.
                      
                      He hands Gareth a document for him to look over.  Gareth scans it, and
                      looks skeptically at Cadwallader.
                      
                                                   GARETH
                                        So do I have to sign in blood?
                      
                                                   CADWALLADER
                                        Ha! Blood. That's funny. No blood.
                                        Ink will work just fine. Do you
                                        need some time to think it over?
                      
                      Gareth looks at the contract, and then at Cadwallader. He considers
                      for a moment, and then takes a pen out of his jacket pocket.
                      
                      He straightens the document on the steering wheel, and signs on the
                      dotted line. He looks over at Cadwallader to hand him the contract.
                      
                                                     GARETH
                                        Here you -
                      
                      Cadwallader is gone.   Gareth folds the document up, puts it in his
                      pocket behind the prenuptial agreement, and starts up the car.
                      
                      
                      INT. COURTHOUSE - DAY
                      
                      The door to the courtroom burts open, and HELEN TEMPLETON storms out.
                      An icy beauty in her late 30's, she quickly hides her eyes behind a
                      large pair of sunglasses. She is trailed by WALLACE, her gaunt, gray
                      lawyer.
                      
                                                   WALLACE
                                        Helen, wait! We can appeal!
                      
                                                   HELEN
                                        Go to Hell! You're fired!
                      
                      And she's gone.
                      
                      Gareth and Cadwallader emerge from the courtroom. Gareth looks smug,
                      victorious, happy. Cadwallader has the same dumpy sad smile and bad
                      comb-over he had earlier. Cadwallader is holding a briefcase.
                      
                      Wallace stops, and walks up to Cadwallader.
                      
                                                   WALLACE
                                        Congratulations, counselor.
                      
                      Wallace shakes Cadwallader's hand and stares at him, an odd
                      combination of grudging admiration and resentment on his face. He
                      turns to go, and then stops. Then he turns back to Cadwallader.
                      
                      Cadwallader fishes in his pocket for a business card. He hands it to
                      Wallace. Wallace looks at it, pockets it, and then leaves.
                      
                                                 GARETH
                                      I've got to hand it to you.
                                      You're the best I've ever seen.
                      
                      They head to the elevator.   The door opens, and they step in alone.
                      
                      
                      INT. COURTHOUSE - ELEVATOR - DAY
                      
                                                 CADWALLADER
                                      Well, just one more matter to attend
                                      to. My fee.
                      
                                                 GARETH
                                      Wait, you want it now?
                      
                      Cadwallader says nothing, but reaches a hand towards Gareth's chest.
                      
                      His hand passes through the jacket, tie, shirt, and into the center of
                      Gareth's chest. Garteth is paralyzed, unable to resist.
                      
                      Cadwallader grabs hold of something and pulls it out. It is a
                      phantom, a flat, luminous thing roughly the shape of a man; it has
                      Garteth's face on it. It emits an unholy SCREAM.
                      
                      Cadwallader folds it in half, and then again, and then again, and then
                      again, until it is the size of a folded letter. He tucks it into an
                      envelope. Then he opens his briefcase, and puts the kraft paper
                      envelope in the briefcase, among dozens of identical envelopes.
                      
                      The door opens, and Cadwallader and Gareth step out.   Elliot is
                      waiting in the lobby.
                      
                                                 CADWALLADER
                                      It's been a pleasure doing business
                                      with you.
                      
                      He shakes Gareth's hand and walks away.
                      
                      Gareth stands there, a blank expression on his face.   He looks over at
                      Elliot, who has a similar blank expression.
                      
                                                 GARETH
                                      Elliot?
                      
                                                 ELLIOT
                                      Yes?
                      
                                                 GARETH
                                      You were right, Elliot.
                      
                      FADE OUT.
                      
                      [end]

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Halloween entries

                        Code:
                        HALLOWEENIE
                        
                        
                        EXT. SUBURBIA --   DUSK
                        
                        The last red rays of sun shine through autumn leaves. One
                        dry, brown leaf breaks free, drifting gracefully towards the
                        ground and landing on--
                        
                                               PHIL
                                  F**k!
                        
                        Phil half-says, half-sprays the expletive-- he was sipping
                        his beer before being assaulted by the leaf.
                        
                        A MILFY WITCH with a little too much cleavage showing ushers
                        away a Ninja Turtle and a Cinderella, but not before throwing
                        Phil a dirty look.
                        
                                               PHIL (CONT'D)
                                  Sorry.
                        
                                               DAVE
                                  Nice one.
                        
                        DAVE (early 40s, like Phil) is pretty f***ing smug.
                        
                                            PHIL
                                      (wiping his chin)
                                  This is why I'm an evergreen man.
                        
                        Phil and Dave turn their attention to the little boy PIRATE
                        and tiny DORA the Explorer walking back from the nearest
                        house.
                        
                                            DAVE
                                  What'd Miss Travers give you this
                                  year? More carrot sticks?
                        
                                               DORA
                                  Toofbrush.
                        
                        She holds it out, adorable.
                        
                                            DAVE
                                      (to Phil)
                                  Ready to head back?
                        
                        Phil nods his assent. On cue, the kids lead the way towards
                        the corner as Dave and Phil continue to drink their beers.
                        
                                            DAVE (CONT'D)
                                  I think it's time to take ol'
                                  Travers and this whole cul-de-sac
                                  off the rotation.
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Maybe add in Plainview Ave?
                        
                                            DAVE
                                  With the pedophile?
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Alleged pedophile.
                        
                                            DAVE
                                  Don't give me that lawyer bullshit.
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Innocent until proven guilty, my
                                  friend. It's the foundation of
                                  America. So until he goes after
                                  little whore-a the explorer there,
                                  we cut him some slack.
                        
                        They laugh and tilt back their beers, getting the last drops.
                        
                                             DAVE
                                  He's probably more likely to
                                  plunder your little guy's booty.
                                      (beat)
                                  Jack his Captain Sparrow.
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Give him a stranger's tide.
                        
                                             DAVE
                                  Too far.
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Black something something pearl
                                  necklace?
                        
                        Dave just shakes his head. A CRY from Dora.
                        
                                            DORA
                                  He's stealing my candy!
                        
                                            PIRATE
                                  I'm plundering!
                        
                        Dave dumps his empty can into Dora's candy bag and picks her
                        up.
                        
                                            DAVE
                                  It's alright. Daddy'll let you take
                                  the rest of the candy when we get
                                  home.
                                      (to Phil)
                                  See you sunday for the game?
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Yeah, and tell ol' thomas the skank
                                  engine I said hi.
                        
                        He turns and takes a knee to talk to the pirate as Dave
                        departs.
                        
                                            PHIL (CONT'D)
                                  Alright, champ. You can't be taking
                                  other people's candy. Okay?
                        
                                            PIRATE
                                  But they give her more!
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Yeah, well get used to it. You
                                  respect other people's things.
                                  Okay?
                        
                                             PIRATE
                                  ...
                        
                                             PHIL
                                  Okay?!
                        
                                             PIRATE
                                  I know.
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Good. We can double dip up Echo
                                  Lane on the way back-- the Hardy's
                                  are doing king-sized candies.
                        
                        Phil secrets a Snickers out of the kid's bag as he comes up.
                        
                        
                        EXT. ECHO LANE -- A LITTLE LATER
                        
                        It's finally dark.
                        
                        Phil munches on a King-Sized Butterfinger as he and the
                        Pirate size up CREEPY OLD-STYLE HOUSE.
                        
                                            PIRATE
                                  I don't wanna.
                        
                        A jack-o'-lantern on the porch looks particularly menacing--
                        a carving knife is stuck through its temple.
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  Well, that's too bad because you're
                                  gonna. You're the one who wanted
                                  more candy.
                        
                                             PIRATE
                                   I'm scared.
                        
                                             PHIL
                                       (softening)
                                   I'll go up with you.
                        
                        Pirate hesitates and then, Phil in tow, slowly makes his way
                        up towards the porch. He stops at the steps. Looking back to
                        Phil--
                        
                                              PHIL (CONT'D)
                                   Come on.
                        
                        The little pirate drags his feet up the steps.
                        
                        The jack-o'-latern looms over him-- even more scary up close.
                        
                        No doorbell. The little pirate goes to knock, hesitates,
                        looking back at Phil again.
                        
                                             PIRATE
                                   I don't need any more candy.
                        
                        Phil reaches out and grabs the metal knocker.
                        
                        KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! The sound seems to reverberate back from
                        the house. Empty.
                        
                        They stand for a long beat, the little pirate quivering.
                        
                        Nothing.
                        
                        They turn back, making their way down the porch steps--
                        
                        CRASH!
                        
                        Two bodies come hurtling out of the window to their right.
                        
                        A supremely sexy teenage ANGEL, real-feather wings and all,
                        is locked in a life or death struggle with Skeletor on the
                        lawn.
                        
                        After a brief battle over the wicked butcher knife between
                        them, Skeletor manages to pin her to the ground.
                        
                        He tries to grab the lost knife out of the grass, but it's
                        out of reach.
                        
                        Phil directs the little pirate away towards the sidewalk.
                        
                                             PHIL
                                   Get out of here.
                        
                        The little pirate takes off as fast as his little legs let
                        him.
                        
                        Phil DASHES towards the duo, gaining momentum--
                        
                        TACKLES Skeletor off the angel.
                        
                        As Phil and Skeletor struggle, the angel rushes up the porch
                        and into the house, flinging the door wide open.
                        
                        Skeletor nails Phil in the NUTS. Ouch!
                        
                        With Phil down, Skeletor picks up the knife and beelines for
                        the house.
                        
                        Phil gives chase. Pauses at the door. He looks off, down the
                        street, sees the back of the little pirate still running...
                        
                        And eyes the KNIFE in the jack-o'-lantern.
                        
                        
                        INT. SPOOKY HOUSE -- SAME
                        
                        Skeletor chases the angel up the creaky wooden stairs.
                        
                        He swipes at her ankles with his free hand, tripping her as
                        she gets to the top of the stairs, tumbling her into a wall.
                        
                        Skeletor looms over her, knife ready.
                        
                                            SKELETOR
                                  It's finally over.
                        
                        Skeletor staggers--
                        
                        The CARVING KNIFE is in his back.
                        
                        He turns to face Phil, swinging the butcher's knife wildly.
                        
                        Phil takes a deep GASH across the belly, then--
                        
                        HURTLES the Skeletor down the stairs.
                        
                        CRUNCH! CRUNCH! Skeletor's neck and arm break as he tumbles
                        down the stairs, coming to a rest with real bone poking out
                        from his costume.
                        
                        Phil turns to the Angel.
                        
                                            PHIL
                                  You're safe now.
                        
                        More blood is pouring out of his gut. He leans down against
                        the wall. The angel gets up and gingerly walks down the
                        stairs.
                        
                        Phil breathes heavy, and his head begins to list as he tries
                        to use his hands to staunch the bleeding.
                        
                        Down the hall, he sees SUPERMAN's body, with stab wounds in
                        the chest--
                        
                        A fistful of feathers clutched in its dead hands.
                        
                        Realizing--
                        
                        He gazes down the stairs at the angel.
                        
                        She's coming up the stairs with the knife.
                        
                        He forces a smile with effort. Gesturing down the stairs--
                        
                                            PHIL (CONT'D)
                                  Skele-whore.
                        
                        She raises the knife. He looks her in the eye.
                        
                                            PHIL (CONT'D)
                                  Bang angel. Bangel. Best I can do.
                        
                        The knife comes down.
                        
                        [end]

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Halloween entries

                          Code:
                          THE HAUNTED OUTHOUSE
                          
                          FADE IN:
                          
                          EXT. MUNROE LANE - HALLOWEEN NIGHT
                          
                          The full moon illuminates the two straight rows of tract
                          houses on opposite sides of the paved road. Colorful leaves
                          continue to fall from small trees in front yards. Pumpkins
                          and Halloween decorations invite children to front doors.
                          
                          SHERIFF WOODY, DARTH VADER, HARRY POTTER, MAD MAX and cowgirl
                          JESSIE, (boys of 10 to 12 years, and a girl, half as old, in
                          costume), scamper away from one of the doors, near the end
                          of the lane, to assemble in the road to inspect their loot.
                          
                          Harry Potter flicks on his magic wand to provide a light.
                          
                                                 HARRY POTTER
                                         (squinting through
                                          his eyeglasses)
                                     What was it this time?
                          
                                                 DARTH VADER
                                         (dipping his light
                                          saber into his bag)
                                     Not more boxes of raisins, I hope.
                          
                                                 SHERIFF WOODY
                                     Another box of skittles. I told ya
                                     that the pickin's would be good, if
                                     we started early and went outside of
                                     our neighborhood, after dark.
                          
                          The Sheriff shakes his bag half full of loot.
                          
                                                 MAD MAX
                                     I'm ready to quit, now.
                          
                                                 SHERIFF WOODY
                                     We've got time to do another street.
                          
                                                 JESSIE
                                         (tugs on Woody's sleeve)
                                     I need to pee, real soon.
                          
                                                 MAD MAX
                                     I said there'd be trouble if you
                                     brought your sister along with us.
                          
                          Darth Vader and Harry Potter wave their weapons towards Jessie
                          using imaginary powers that fizzle against any little girl.
                          
                                                 HARRY POTTER / DARTH VADER
                                         (in unison)
                                     Trouble, trouble, nothing but trouble--
                          
                                                SHERIFF WOODY
                                    Shut up.
                                        (quietly to Jessie)
                                    Why didn't ya say something at that
                                    last house? They'd have let ya use
                                    their bathroom.
                          
                          Jessie shrugs her shoulders and avoids eye contact.
                          
                                                JESSIE
                                    I wasn't thinking about it, just
                                    then.
                          
                                                 SHERIFF WOODY
                                    How soon?   We could go back and ask.
                          
                                                 JESSIE
                                    NO.
                                        (beat)
                                    But if we go home, now...?
                          
                                                SHERIFF WOODY
                                    We'll do this one last house, then
                                    we'll head home. Okay, partner?
                          
                                                JESSIE
                                        (cheerfully)
                                    Sure as shootin', okay.
                          
                          
                          EXT. THE FRONT OF THE MUNROE HOUSE - NIGHT
                          
                          With its Victorian facade, the house faces down the lane and
                          stands apart from the tract houses, with its veranda and a
                          driveway alongside that goes into the backyard to a garage.
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Mad Max and Jessie
                          approach the house with apprehension. A pair of toothsome
                          Jack-o'-Lantern's guard the front door, with a sign directing,
                          in large letters: "Go To The Back Door".
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Mad Max and Jessie
                          walk around the side of the house, with trepidation.
                          
                          
                          EXT. THE BACK OF THE MUNROE HOUSE - NIGHT
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Mad Max and Jessie
                          see a back porch, with a Jack-o'-Lantern, the remains of an
                          emptied garden, and, to the rear of the garden, an outhouse.
                          
                                                MAD MAX
                                    Do you see what I see?
                          
                          Harry Potter and Darth Vader struggle to see it through
                          eyeglasses and a helmet's visor.
                          
                                                SHERIFF WOODY
                                    Hey, Jessie, look, an outhouse.
                                    Just like at camp.
                          
                                                JESSIE
                                    It'll be dark in there.
                          
                          Harry Potter and Darth Vader proffer their illuminated wand
                          and light saber to Jessie.
                          
                                                MAD MAX
                                    If you gotta go, girl, that's it.
                          
                          From the steps to the dark porch, a man clears his throat.
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Mad Max and Jessie
                          turn their attention to a young man dressed in a frock coat,
                          with a top hat, cane, and mustache, calling himself HUGHIE.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    Hello, I'm Hughie.       And, you are...?
                          
                                                SHERIFF WOODY
                                    I'm Sheriff Woody.
                          
                                                   MAD MAX
                                    I'm Mad Max.
                          
                                                HARRY POTTER
                                    I'm Harry Potter.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                        (to Darth Vader)
                                    Don't I know you, milord?
                          
                                                DARTH VADER
                                    I don't think so, unless you are
                                    also from the dark side.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                        (to Jessie)
                                    And, are you the tritagonist?
                          
                                                JESSIE
                                    I'm Jessie, from Toy Story.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    I don't think I've seen you before.
                                        (looking at the boys)
                                    You're not from this neighborhood,
                                    are you?
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Mad Max and Jessie
                          shake their heads to indicate a "no".
                          
                                                HUGHIE (CONT'D)
                                    Getting lots of candy from strangers,
                                    I bet. Not such a bad idea, but,
                                    I'd warn you kids not to go near
                                    that outhouse. It's haunted.
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, and Mad Max scoff
                          at Hughie's warning, but don't laugh. Hughie sees Jessie's
                          youthful anxiety and offers her some personal hospitality.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (CONT'D)
                                        (to Jessie)
                                    Do you like kisses? Little girls
                                    like kisses. Chocolate kisses?
                          
                          Jessie nods "yes", and Hughie takes a handful from a bowl of
                          the back steps and drops them into her bag. Sheriff Woody,
                          Darth Vader, Harry Potter, and Mad Max open up their bags
                          for some of these treats.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (CONT'D)
                                    Sorry, no kisses for guys. All I've
                                    got left are some boxes of raisins--
                          
                          Darth Vader breathes a loud moan and swings about to slash a
                          rebel to death with his light saber.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (CONT'D)
                                    Or, maybe, you'd like a marshmallow.
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Harry Potter, and Mad Max accept the boxes of
                          raisins, and, with grudging reluctance, so does Darth Vader.
                          
                                                SHERIFF WOODY
                                    Can my sister use your bathroom?
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    It's not my house. I'm just here,
                                    tonight, for a friend, to give out
                                    treats to any kids who dare to come
                                    around here. Not many of 'em do.
                          
                                                  SHERIFF WOODY
                                    Why's that?
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    'Cause of old Theresa Munroe. She'll
                                    be locked into her bedroom, upstairs,
                                    next to the bathroom, but even I
                                    wouldn't go near those stairs.
                                        (looking to Jessie)
                                    Best thing is to go home, now.
                          
                                                MAD MAX
                                    Couldn't she use the outhouse?
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    You don't believe me, do you?
                          
                                                SHERIFF WOODY
                                    We don't believe in spooks.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    Well, go ahead and use it, then,
                                    but, before you do, watch this.
                          
                          Hughie reaches into his bag, takes a marshmallow, pitches it
                          over the garden, and hits the door of the outhouse with it.
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, and Mad Max snigger,
                          for a short while; and, Jessie unwraps and gobbles up a
                          chocolate kiss. Then, the white marshmallow disappears,
                          pulled away under the closed door of the outhouse.
                          
                                                JESSIE
                                        (to Hughie)
                                    How'd you do that?
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    I didn't. There's a spook, there.
                                    No one's claimed to see any ghost.
                                    It's just a creepy mystery, every
                                    Halloween. That's why I'm in the
                                    backyard, instead of the front porch,
                                    in case anyone comes investigating.
                          
                                                SHERIFF WOODY
                                    Yer spoofing us.
                          
                          Hughie takes another marshmallow and pitches it against the
                          door of the outhouse. The second marshmallow disappears,
                          pulled away under the closed door of the outhouse.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    When I was a kid, I didn't believe
                                    in spooks, until my grandpa, who
                                    lives next door, showed me this trick.
                          
                          Hughie takes another marshmallow and pitches it against the
                          door of the outhouse. The third marshmallow disappears,
                          pulled away under the closed door of the outhouse.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (CONT'D)
                                    It's not about ghosts, zombies,
                                    vampires, or--
                                        (pointing heavenward)
                                    --a full moon. The proof is upstairs,
                                    behind THAT window.
                          
                          Hughie points up to a second-floor bedroom window, where a
                          light glows behind a shade and curtains.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (CONT'D)
                                    I don't know why they'd keep a light
                                    on in that room, 'cause Theresa's
                                    blind as a bat. No eyes, and her
                                    nose was chewed off.
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Harry Potter, Mad Max and Jessie grimace;
                          and, a deep sigh breathes out from Darth Vader's helmet.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (CONT'D)
                                    According to my grandpa, and what
                                    I've heard, just rumors, only rumors,
                                    toward the end of the Second World
                                    War, Doc Munroe and his wife were
                                    going to a party on Halloween.
                          
                          
                          EXT. MUNROE LANE - 1944 - AFTERNOON
                          
                          The Munroe house faces down a gravel lane, between two meadows
                          that stretch from the distant street to its veranda.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (V.O.)
                                    Bill was the Lion, and Theresa was
                                    Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz. Bill's
                                    friends were dressed up as the Wizard,
                                    the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow.
                          
                          The Tin Man, the Wizard, the Scarecrow, and the Lion, with
                          Dorothy holding onto his paw, (boys and a girl, the same
                          ages as the visitors, in costume), exit the veranda of the
                          house and head down the lane towards the road.
                          
                          
                          EXT. THE FRONT OF THE MUNROE HOUSE - 1944 - EVENING
                          
                          The Tin Man, the Wizard, the Scarecrow, and the Lion, return
                          the veranda. Dorothy heads around the back of the house.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (V.O.)
                                    When they had finished with their
                                    own neighbors, the boys planned to
                                    go to other parts of town, in the
                                    dark, to get more candy.
                          
                          
                          INT. FRONT HALL, MUNROE HOUSE - EVENING
                          
                          The Lion takes a couple of flashlights from the closet, tests
                          the light upon the walls, and exits out the front door,
                          
                                                HUGHIE (V.O.)
                                    What Bill didn't know was that his
                                    friends didn't want Theresa tagging
                                    along to slow them down. While he
                                    was getting some flashlights, they
                                    locked the door on the outhouse,
                                    while Theresa was inside.
                          
                          
                          EXT. THE FRONT OF THE MUNROE HOUSE - 1944 - EVENING
                          
                          The Lion joins the Tin Man, the Wizard, and Scarecrow, on
                          the veranda, hesitates while they tell him something (MOS),
                          and rush off toward the lane, without Dorothy.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (V.O.)
                                    They told Bill that Theresa was
                                    complaining about so much walking
                                    and was going to go to bed, after
                                    going to the outhouse.
                          
                          
                          INT. OUTHOUSE - EVENING
                          
                          Dorothy pushes against the door, which doesn't budge. She
                          kicks at it. It shakes, and won't open. On the floor, she
                          stamps at the bottom of the door and knocks away a small
                          opening, too small for her to get her head through.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (V.O.)
                                    If it was any other night, Theresa
                                    would have been safe, in there, but
                                    it was Halloween. And, after she
                                    couldn't force her way out, she
                                    started eating her candy.
                          
                          
                          EXT. MUNROE LANE - 1944 - NIGHT
                          
                          The Lion runs furiously down the gravel lane, (in a
                          Hitchcockian reverse tracking shot), with the Tin Man, the
                          Wizard, and the Scarecrow left behind on the street.
                          
                                                HUGHIE (V.O.)
                                    Bill said that he heard Theresa's
                                    screams all the way from the street.
                          
                          
                          EXT. THE BACK OF THE MUNROE HOUSE - NIGHT
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Mad Max and Jessie
                          listen, dumbfounded, and follow Hughie's pointing finger to
                          the outhouse.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    Four or five large raccoons smelled
                                    the candy and crawled through the
                                    hole that Theresa had made to get to
                                    it. We know that she killed two of
                                    'em, but the others attacked her
                                    with a vengeance, ripping into her
                                    with their teeth and claws. She was
                                    a bloody mess, no eyes, nose gone,
                                    fingers and lips torn to shreds,
                                    insane with pain--
                          
                          Darth Vader drops his light saber. Sheriff Woody, Harry
                          Potter, Mad Max and Jessie gasp from the fright of it.
                          
                                                 DARTH VADER
                                    Sorry.
                          
                          Hughie points up to that second-floor bedroom window.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    Doc Munroe saved her, having operated
                                    on soldiers with horrendous injuries
                                    from that war. After that, Theresa
                                    was kept locked in her bedroom, only
                                    leaving it to use the bathroom,
                                    upstairs--
                          
                                                JESSIE
                                    Spooks, or no spooks, I have to pee
                                    now.
                          
                          Before Sheriff Woody can stop her, Jessie grabs Harry Potter's
                          lighted wand, runs to the outhouse and yanks its door open.
                          She screams in terror.
                          
                          INSIDE THE OUTHOUSE
                          
                          A large raccoon rises up on its hund legs, its front paws
                          outstretched, and its mouth opens to show its teeth, with a
                          fierce shriek.
                          
                          OUTSIDE THE OUTHOUSE
                          
                          Jessie spins around and runs at full speed.
                          
                          THE SECOND-FLOOR BEDROOM WINDOW
                          
                          Glass rattles; wood creaks and groans. A head emerges from
                          the opened window, and, though the head is atop a woman's
                          Victorian dress, where eyes and nose would be expected, only
                          blackness in the head's shadow.
                          
                          IN THE BACKYARD
                          
                          Sheriff Woody, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, and Mad Max
                          disappear around the corner of the house, following Jessie.
                          
                          Hughie walks over to the outhouse, offers a marshmallow to
                          the raccoon, which takes and eats it. He does not look around
                          to see THERESA, (who has the voice of a young woman).
                          
                                                THERESA (O.S.)
                                    What's going on down there?
                          
                          Hughie picks up the raccoon and calms it with gentle petting.
                          
                                                HUGHIE
                                    Just some wild kids. Probably never
                                    saw a tame raccoon, like old Hector.
                                    Got carried away with the excitement.
                          
                          [continued]

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Halloween entries

                            Code:
                            THE HAUNTED OUTHOUSE continued
                            
                                                  THERESA (O.S.)
                                      Did you give them some candy?
                            
                                                  HUGHIE
                                      Every last piece. I even offered
                                      them some marshmallows, but, since
                                      they didn't want 'em, I gave them to
                                      Hector. You like marshmallows, don't
                                      you, old fellow?
                            
                            Hughie looks up to smile at Theresa.
                            
                                                  THERESA
                                      You bounder, what are you up to?
                            
                            Hector sniffs at the candy smells from Hughie.
                            
                                                   HUGHIE
                                      Hector says that you're wearing far
                                      too much eye shadow and makeup for
                                      under your mask. It's almost
                                      frightening.
                            
                                                  THERESA
                                      He should talk.
                            
                            Hughie holds Hector up to his ear and pretends to listen to
                            something the raccoon says to him.
                            
                                                  HUGHIE
                                      What's that? Yes, I'll tell her.
                                          (to Theresa)
                                      He also wants to remind you that
                                      it's a long drive to the costume
                                      party, dear. A very long drive, so,
                                      before you leave, don't forget to
                                      powder you nose.
                            
                            The second-floor bedroom window slams down shut and rattles.
                            
                                                                               FADE OUT:
                            
                                                      THE END
                            
                            [end]

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Halloween entries

                              Code:
                              NIGHT OF THE PUMPKINS
                              
                              
                              OPEN WIDE:
                              
                              On a GREAT PLAIN beneath a steadily rising plume of smoke...
                              
                              HUNGRY GULLS sail on thermals before performing suicidal
                              dives into a deep sea of trash...
                              
                              TVs, burst garbage sacks, broken dolls and dreams...
                              
                              SUPER:
                              
                                               The Day After, Halloween...
                              
                              Slowly pulling back to reveal THOUSANDS OF DISCARDED PUMPKINS.
                              
                              A putrid honeycomb stretching away to the dump's jagged
                              horizon...
                              
                              The steady GROANING of a lone GARBAGE TRUCK doing its
                              business.
                              
                              As the trucks burnished pumps flex in the blue dawn light
                              dozens more pumpkins tumble out... burnt-out eyes, smashed-
                              in heads, evil-smiles...
                              
                              
                              EXT. OTHER SIDE OF THE DUMP - SAME
                              
                              HAUNTING YELLOW LAMPS flare at us...
                              
                              Pulling back we realize they belong to an old WHITE VAN...
                              
                              The rear doors, already FLUNG OPEN, reveal...
                              
                              a MOUNTAIN OF PUMPKINS.
                              
                              An oafish MAN in an ORANGE PEAK CAP works quickly... tossing
                              even more pumpkins into the van. A few burst on impact,
                              others implode, cracked faces smeared over with yellow ooze.
                              
                                                                                      CUT TO:
                              
                              SUPER:
                              
                                           One Year Later, Halloween Morning...
                              
                              A SMALL FRAIL HUMAN HAND held up in our face.   Fingers at
                              right-angles, measuring distance, angles...
                              
                              The hand suddenly draws back to reveal BILLY.   A scruffy 18-
                              er who continually yanks up his pants...
                              
                              Over his shoulder, JOSH. A furtive-looking kid, wearing an
                              oversized yellow Hawaiian shirt on narrow shoulders, about
                              the same age as Billy and very impatient... the camera shakes
                              a little...
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        So why don't you just photograph it
                                        from over there?
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        This is fine, really Josh, just be
                                        cool, okay?
                              
                              Josh goes back to wearing out a patch of soil.
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        We'd better be getting back huh!
                              
                              Billy turns and shrugs.
                              
                              He sets out after Josh but remembering something suddenly
                              darts back... he picks up an OBJECT, about the size of a
                              head, but bundled up in white sheets.
                              
                              They both jump into Josh's FLAME ORANGE PICK-UP, the front
                              grill now a BLAZE OF LIGHTS, and accelerate off...
                              
                              Leaving an EMPTY and VAST FIELD behind.
                              
                              
                              EXT. LOCAL TOWN - THE SAME
                              
                              The sign says: "Welcome to Sloomberville, Illinois, Population
                              3065".
                              
                              Small and orderly rows of LITTLE SHOPS with painted signs
                              follow on both sides of the drag.
                              
                              Josh's wagon skids onto the main street already slicked down
                              by early morning rain.
                              
                              
                              INT. JOSH'S WAGON - CONTINUOUS
                              
                              Billy pretending to snap photographs.
                              
                              He annoys MR MCGREGOR who is busy setting up his BILLBOARD
                              on the sidewalk. We notice some of the scrawl "...your
                              traditional Scottish family butcher".
                              
                              Seeing Billy aping him, he irritatedly waves his meat cleaver
                              in the air.
                              
                              Josh laughs as he negotiates a tight turn taking the pick-up
                              down a trash-infested side street...
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        God this whole place is like a living
                                        vision of hell.
                              
                              The surprise WHOOP of a police siren. Flashing REDS and
                              BLUES in Josh's cracked rear-view mirror.
                              
                                                      JOSH (CONT'D)
                                        S**t!    Your old man on duty?
                              
                                                      BILLY
                                        Nope.    So that'll be Deputy Wallace.
                              
                                                      JOSH
                                        Oh boy!
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        You don't get on?
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        It goes way back.
                              
                                                      BILLY
                                        How far?
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        About the time I set fire to his
                                        pants in school.
                              
                              Josh's pick-up slides in alongside a row of OVERFLOWING TRASH
                              CANS.
                              
                              
                              INT. JOSH'S WAGON - CONTINUOUS
                              
                              Josh watches Deputy Wallace in his side-mirror, hat
                              immaculately in place, Wallace ambles up like he's got all
                              day.
                              
                                                    WALLACE
                                        Hi Billy.
                                            (looking across him)
                                        Guessed it was you Josh Logan. Seems
                                        you have several unpaid parking
                                        tickets?
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        Ah yeah, er, I was gettin' aroun' to
                                        payin' those D.W.
                              
                                                      WALLACE
                                        Ah-ha.
                              
                              Wallace scribbles out a new ticket.
                              
                                                    WALLACE (CONT'D)
                                            (upbeat, smiling)
                                        Well. I'm giving you another. Pay
                                        this by tomorrow and maybe we'll not
                                        impound
                                            (pause)
                                        ... this.
                              
                              Wallace hands Josh the ticket over a departing shoulder.
                              
                              
                              INT. JOSH'S FLAME ORANGE WAGON - MAIN DRAG - LATE MORNING
                              
                              Cruising whilst listening to Josh's radio, Springsteen's
                              "Born in the USA" BLASTING OUT.
                              
                              Billy toys with a cigarette, sniffing the end, when suddenly
                              a WHITE VAN careens out in front of them... TYRES SCREAM
                              LIKE BANSHEES.
                              
                              Moments later and the white van gently pulls away... briefly,
                              we see a BIG WHITE FACE under an ORANGE PEAK CAP passively
                              staring out...
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        Talk about sleep-driving.
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        Either of us know that particular
                                        a**hole?
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        Troy Hopper! Recently made his
                                        fortune selling thousands of cans of
                                        "Weird Juice", it's pretty much a
                                        major brand in five states now, he
                                        actually patented it, that's why
                                        it's called Weird-
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                            (shouting)
                                        Juice. I get it Billy!
                              
                              Josh musically tapping the steering wheel.
                              
                                                    JOSH (CONT'D)
                                            (teasin')
                                        Now tell me it's got a little bit of
                                        this and a lot of-
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        -crushed pumpkin juice!
                              
                              Turning to Billy.
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        You're shittin' me?
                              
                              Billy wipes his nose.
                              
                                                   BILLY
                                        Nope. Nobody knows how he stayed
                                        afloat. Guy was totally broke.
                              
                                                     JOSH
                                        Totally? So how come he's still
                                        driving around posing as a legit
                                        a**hole man?
                              
                                                     BILLY
                                        He wizards up some cash from who-
                                        knows-where.
                              
                              Billy tosses his cigarette.
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        Anyhow, you still cool for later?
                              
                                                     BILLY
                                        Later?
                              
                                                     JOSH
                                        Halloween!
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        Thought I'd maybe just photograph
                                        the moon. It's supposed to be a
                                        crystal clear sky tonight.
                              
                              Billy finds another cigarette.
                              
                                                    BILLY (CONT'D)
                                        This rain is passing anyhow.
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        Haven't you got enough moon-shots
                                        and pumpkin-field-shots? What's
                                        with this weird obsession you've
                                        gotten up?
                              
                              Billy stares out at the leaves thrown up by the wind.   His
                              street seems very empty and quiet.
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        I never know why I photograph things,
                                        I just do.
                              
                              Josh pulls over.
                              
                              
                              EXT. OUTSIDE BILLY'S HOUSE -
                              
                              Billy climbs out.
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                            (smiling, eerily)
                                        Remember, tonight dude.   To-night.
                              
                              Billy smiles back and turns towards his parent's condo.   A
                              layer cake with a slice of white roofing.
                              
                              As he continues to walk a few leaves blow across the driveway,
                              the air is very damp and cold. Billy halts and watches his
                              own breath for a moment...
                              
                              After he slips inside we pan up onto an ominous fall sun,
                              muted oranges wink at us through the FLUTTERING LEAVES of a
                              large Illinois bur oak tree.
                              
                              
                              INT. BILLY'S BEDROOM - EARLY AFTERNOON
                              
                              Billy lying flat out on his bed.
                              
                              Playing with his favorite catcher's mit, taking it off,
                              putting it back on, throwing the ball up into the air above
                              his head. Watching it slowly fall.
                              
                              He looks out at the dimming sun. It seems to know he's there,
                              beckoning him from between the rocking branches.
                              
                              Perturbed by this Billy readjusts the blind and turns to the
                              RADIO on his bedside table, slowly he tunes into a LOCAL
                              STATION. A hick song is already playing as we...
                              
                                                                       SLOWLY DISSOLVE INTO:
                              
                                                     RADIO
                                            ( nervous; insincere
                                             throughout...)
                                        ... sorry folks, we interrupt these
                                        good ole tunes with breakin' news
                                        that widespread civil disorder has
                                        broken out in four states... early
                                        reports suggest fires and civil
                                        disobedience in Illinois, Indiana,
                                        Ohio, Pennsylvania and California
                                        ... bizarrely, these incidents are
                                        described as
                                            ( heavy pause, coughin')
                                        being very close to where large
                                        pumpkin crops are farmed...
                                            (pause...)
                                        law enforcement advises that locals
                                        remain indoors...
                              
                              Billy sits up.   Clears his his eyes.
                              
                              He gazes at his wall chart. PHOTOGRAPHS of the local
                              landscape abound... early shots show fields of RIPE PUMPKINS
                              and a few pictures of the MOON in various lunar phases.
                              
                              The distant SOUND OF A FIRE TRUCK... its solemn WAIL falling
                              and rising violently punctuated by a MUFFLED EXPLOSION...
                              
                              Billy snaps upright this time.   His CELL RINGS LOUDLY.
                              
                                                    BILLY (Cell phone)
                                        Josh!
                              
                                                                                    CUT TO:
                              
                              
                              EXT. BILLY'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
                              
                              Billy trots down his driveway.   He doesn't seem himself. He
                              pauses, rocking slightly.
                              
                              Up and down the street we can HEAR THE SCREAMS.
                              
                              Over the top of a few low-slung condos a gathering pall of
                              black smoke gently rises.
                              
                              Josh's FLAME ORANGE WAGON appears, volleying round the corner,
                              an orange ghost careening over wet asphalt.
                              
                              We momentarily catch "JL's Fencing & Groundworks" emblazoned
                              over the door as it glides in...
                              
                              Billy hovers at the edge of the curb like a mute-zombie.   A
                              door swings open.
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                            (furious)
                                        For Chrissake Billy!
                              
                              
                              INT. JOSH'S WAGON - MOMENTS LATER
                              
                              Josh peering through the windshield, up into the hazy sky,
                              everywhere.
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        Did you see the TV!
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        I-
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        It's going down everywhere... like
                                        everywhere... there's...
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                            (comin' around)
                                        Stop spitting all over me Josh...
                                        ease up okay-
                              
                                                    BILLY (CONT'D)
                                        There's these... s**t... IT'S ONE
                                        OF THEM... LOOK!!!
                              
                              Something unbelievable. A MAN from the waist up with a
                              PUMPKIN where his head must have once been.
                              
                              The figure, unsteady on its feet, holds out a rusty MEAT
                              CLEAVER... he points towards...
                              
                                                    BILLY (CONT'D)
                                        Me!
                              
                              Billy quickly crossing himself.
                              
                              A finger intrudes over the camera lens... the focus sharply
                              adjusts ZOOMING in on the figure...
                              
                              We briefly jump to BLACK before focussing back on Josh...
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        We have to get through it... somehow?
                              
                              Suddenly, a ROAD BLOCK LOOMS out of the fall mist, Josh clocks
                              it just in time and swerves...
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                            (quietly; to himself)
                                        ... it's just like they want to keep
                                        us all in!
                              
                              Josh's flame pick-up lurches violently...
                              
                              
                              INT. ONTO A SIDE ROAD - MOMENTS LATER
                              
                              A sudden 'jumping image' of a barrier made entirely of
                              PUMPKINS and STRAW diminishing in the rear view mirror.
                              
                              
                              INT. JOSH'S WAGON - SAME
                              
                              Josh SCREAMS FRUSTRATION, driving on grass he bumbles across
                              into a muddy farm track kicking up stones and dust...
                              
                                                    BILLY
                                        Where the heck are you going?     There's
                                        nothing out here - BEE-JEEZ!
                              
                              Josh's pov: a SCARECROW out in the middle of the barren
                              pumpkin fields is staring directly at them. Josh shakes his
                              head in disbelief...
                              
                                                    BILLY (CONT'D)
                                        It's just a scarecrow! Where does
                                        this road take us Josh? We're cool.
                                        C'mon!
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                        We're there...
                                            (unraveling...)
                                        WE'RE THERE!!!
                              
                              
                              EXT. OLD CROOKED CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER
                              
                              Josh's wagon ROARS UP.
                              
                              Josh leaps from the pick-up and sprints up to the churches
                              MASSIVE OAK DOORS. Slightly agape, he peeps inside, hands on
                              knees, exhausted, the cool dampness of the dark interior
                              spilling out about him...
                              
                                                    JOSH
                                            (shouting back...)
                                        Check out the bed of the truck, we've
                                        got to get all that gear inside before
                                        dark...
                              
                                                                                   CUT TO:
                              
                              [continued]
                              Last edited by dpaterso; 11-01-2012, 01:36 PM.

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