This is the final shooting script for "Shocking," our entry in the 2008 National Film Challenge. We had 3 days to create a 4-7 minute film with the following elements:
* Horror or Comedy
* A character named Stuart Gordon, a financial advisor
* A helmet
* The line "Enough Already!"
The script was written in about 90 minutes, based on a story by the whole crew. Enjoy!
FADE IN:
CREDITS OVER:
DARREN GORDON (8, challenged) sits at his desk, installing
electrical wires in a bike helmet. GRANDMA stands behind
him and pats his head.
END CREDITS
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Darren sits in the office of his father, STEWART GORDON
(40ish). Darren draws the murder scene. Stewart talks to
CARL PRESCOTT, a young client.
STEWART
Don't worry, Mr. Prescott.
CARL
How can you say "Don't worry?" I've
been working 5 years for that
retirement nest egg, and now it's gone!
STEWART
This is just a market correction.
You have nothing to worry about.
Your retirement isn't going anywhere.
CARL
That's because it's already gone.
STEWART
Trust me, Carl. It'll be okay.
Frustrated, Carl storms out.
STEWART (CONT'D)
(muttering)
You're so fucked.
He sees Darren and puts a smile on his face.
STEWART (CONT'D)
You ready to go, sport? Remember
you're gonna go play with Ricky
today. And then your Grandpa's
gonna pick you up.
Darren doesn't acknowledge him.
STEWART (CONT'D)
Okay, let's go. Wanna hold my hand?
2.
Darren still doesn't look at him.
Stewart gives up, then walks out. Darren follows him.
INT. RICKY'S HOUSE - RICKY'S BEDROOM - DAY
Darren plays by himself in a room with RICKY (6). Ricky's
mom, LUCILLE, stands at the door, watching with a little
pity. She shakes her head and walks away.
Grandma enters.
GRANDMA
Darren. It's time.
Darren gets up. Ricky keeps playing, doesn't see Grandma.
INT. RICKY'S HOUSE - BATHROOM - SAME
Darren enters the bathroom, finds Lucille on the toilet.
LUCILLE
Darren! You scared me. I'm using
the bathroom. Could you come back
later?
DARREN
Grandma says I'm supposed to play
with you.
LUCILLE
Darren, get out!
Darren nods, hands her his helmet. She considers it.
LUCILLE (CONT'D)
Okay. I'll play for a minute, but
then you need to give me some
privacy, okay?
Darren nods. She puts the helmet on. He pulls the remote
and presses a button.
INT. RICKY'S HOUSE - RICKY'S BEDROOM - SAME
Ricky sees the lights flicker, hears Lucille SCREAM.
EXT. RICKY'S HOUSE - BATHROOM - SAME
Darren stands over Lucille's crumpled, smoking body.
Grandma enters
3.
GRANDMA
Darren! You know you can't do this
to people you know.
DARREN
But you told me to!
RICKY (O.S.)
Who are you talking to?
GRANDMA
Don't worry. I'll clean this up.
You go play.
DARREN
Okay. I love you, Grandma.
GRANDMA
I love you too, baby.
INT. RICKY'S HOUSE - RICKY'S BEDROOM - SAME
Darren stands over Ricky, who's still playing. Suddenly
Darren swings his helmet down, BLUDGEONING Ricky's head. He
hits him twice more, then puts the helmet on Ricky.
INT. GORDON HOUSE - NIGHT
Darren, Stewart, SALLY and GRANDPA eat dinner.
SALLY
So how'd it go today?
STEWART
Oh, you know. Same ol'.
SALLY
That bad, huh?
STEWART
I wish there was something more I
could do for them, but this market
is killing me. I just can't figure
out how to save them.
Grandma stands in the doorway. She shakes her head and
moves off.
Grandpa gets up, walks to the pantry.
GRANDPA
Hey, Stewart, where'd you say those
prunes were?
4.
STEWART
Top shelf.
GRANDPA
Thanks, kiddo.
Grandpa opens the pantry, looks up to the top. He doesn't
see that Ricky lays dead at the bottom.
EXT. FLOODWAY - DAY
Darren and Grandma walk along the floodway.
DARREN
I don't understand. Why won't
anyone play with me?
GRANDMA
You'll make them play with you.
Just like I taught you.
DARREN
Why?
GRANDMA
People are just like that. Now
it's important to only play with
people you don't know.
DARREN
Why?
GRANDMA
Because I'm your grandmother, and
I'm always right. Stop asking
questions.
They see HOMELESS HARRIET going through a pile of trash.
GRANDMA (CONT'D)
Now go play with her.
Darren shrugs and walks over to her.
HOMELESS HARRIET
What do you want?!
DARREN
I want to play.
HOMELESS HARRIET
Can't you see I'm busy?
5.
DARREN
Why are you digging through trash?
HOMELESS HARRIET
Because I lost everything in the
stock market, okay?
DARREN
What's the stock market?
HOMELESS HARRIET
Leave me alone, kid.
Darren walks over and pushes her over.
HOMELESS HARRIET (CONT'D)
Hey!
DARREN
I want to play.
Harriet finally gets scared and moves off. Darren follows
her. She starts panicking and running. He runs after her.
Finally break into the first scene:
HOMELESS HARRIET
Why are you following me?
DARREN
I just want to play.
HOMELESS HARRIET
Really? That's it?
Darren nods.
HOMELESS HARRIET
Well, okay. What do you want to play?
DARREN
Here.
Darren takes off his helmet and gives it to her. He
triggers the remote control. She convulses and dies.
Grandma walks up and pats him on the head.
INT. GORDON HOUSE - NIGHT
The family and Grandma watches TV. Stewart works on his
laptop. Grandpa snoozes
6.
STEWART
I can't believe I did this to these
people.
SALLY
They'll be alright... You'll be
alright too.
STEWART
Yeah.
Sally rubs her belly.
SALLY
Stewart, there's something we need
to talk about.
STEWART
(absent)
What's that, dear?
She looks at Darren.
SALLY
Not here.
Stewart looks at Darren, nods. They walk upstairs.
GRANDMA
Darren, you know that father of
yours is no good. I never trusted
him. And his clients shouldn't
have either.
DARREN
I know, Grandma.
Grandpa, drowsy, wakes up.
GRANDPA
Wha? Grandma? Yeah, I miss her too.
He drifts back to sleep.
GRANDMA
Come on.
She gets up and walks THROUGH the couch. Darren follows.
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Stewart sits at his computer, sweating.
7.
STEWART
No... no, no!
Grandma sits next to Darren.
GRANDMA
You know your mother's pregnant.
DARREN
What does that mean?
STEWART
What? Darren, I'm sorry. I don't
have time to explain this.
GRANDMA
It means you're going to get a
little brother or sister. You'll
have someone who can help you play
with all these people.
DARREN
Okay.
GRANDMA
Now go play with your daddy... one
last time.
DARREN
Okay.
He walks over.
GRANDMA
(clearing her throat)
Aren't you forgetting something?
She nods toward the helmet.
Darren nods, walks over, picks up the helmet, then walks
back to Stewart.
DARREN
Daddy, I love you.
STEWART
I love you too, Darren.
DARREN
I want to play.
STEWART
Darren, sweetheart, I really don't
have time.
8.
DARREN
I want to play.
STEWART
Later.
DARREN
I want to play.
STEWART
Enough already!
Darren hands him the helmet. Stewart looks at it, grudgingly
takes it from him.
FADE OUT.
CUT TO:
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FADE OUT.