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The Shocking Horror 00:06:59
Logline: A challenged child, guided by his grandmother’s ghost, electrocutes people using his bike helmet. Director: Chris Giovingo Writer: Joshua A. Cohen Producer: Joshua A. Cohen
Produced for the National Film Challenge, 2008.
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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.
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In Production:
Completed:
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