No title yet!A Screenplay by Lorna A 15 minute short screenplay that needs urgent reviewing. The basis is - Low budget, 15 minutes maximum, a character must go through a change and it must hold some form of moral message. HELP! INT.SCHOOL CORRIDOR
RYAN WILLIAMS and HARRISON FORD walk down an empty school
corridor in unison. They wear heavy black backpacks. In one
hand Ryan holds a small kitchen knife. In the other, what
appears to be a shotgun. Harrison is holding two guns, and
there is a knife in his pocket. Their expressions are
vacant.
HARRISON
(V.O)
Dear Mum. I guess as my last ever
note, I should hype up my words and
tap into the section of my brain
that is a literal genius. Well if
that’s what you want, it’s not what
you’re getting. Blame Mrs Cherry.
She never was a good English
teacher. First of all, I don’t want
you or anyone else to spend time
blaming anything or anyone else but
me for what I’ve done. I wish I
could say I was sorry... If It
makes you feel any better, I died
happy. Doing something I wanted to
do. Don’t blame my XBOX or bullies
or horror films. Just blame me. I
don’t have a clear reason either.
Maybe fame, punishment or
something. I really don’t know. I
just want this. Please get over
this and get on with your life. I
hope people don’t give you too much
s**t, but people are dicks so no
doubt they will. The truth is mum,
we can call ourselves human as much
as we like, but we are not humane.
There is so much bad, so much evil.
There is just no humanity left.
3 DAYS EARLIER
THE SHOOTING
Harrison and Ryan are walking down an empty, urban street.
Graffiti crafts itself into mouldy damp bricks. Grey clouds
push themselves together, hiding the distant sun. Harrison
opens the zip of Ryans backpack.
HARRISON
It’s going to be big. Like
seriously big.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
He pulls out a bunch of papers and hands them to Ryan.
HARRISON
Go over the plans. Make sure we’re
all set up and stuff.
RYAN
Okay.
Ryan takes the papers.
SCHOOL ROOM
Harrison sits up the front of the class. His bold black
glasses reflect the light that shines through the mundane
window. A kid behind him, MICHAEL JOHN throws a piece of
paper at the back of his head. Michael is tall with slick
blond hair and blue eyes. His face is tanned.
Sniggering fills the class. Harrison doesn’t respond. He
stares vacantly at the whiteboard that is smudged in red and
green writing. The classroom goes quiet. Harrison puts his
head down. His dusty brown hair covers his dark brown eyes.
MICHAEL
Oh f**k, is he angry? You never can
tell behind all that acne.
JOANNA MARLEY sits up in her seat.
JOANNA
Shut up.
MICHAEL
Ohhhh, Harrisons girlfriends
getting angry!
Harrison shoots Joanna a look of apology. Sympathy fills her
eyes.
Michael chucks another piece of paper. And then he leans
forward and scruffs up Harrisons hair.
MICHAEL
Just playing with you, bender!
The class starts laughing again.
3.
BEDROOM
Ryan is lying on his unmade bed with his headphones in his
ears. Paper is scattered across his floor. Unfinished
drawings. He is drawing in an A4 sketch pad. His bedroom
door knocks and Harrison enters, making Ryan jump. Ryan
quickly sits up and takes off his headphones.
RYAN
(shocked)
S**t!
Harrison laughs.
HARRISON
(laughing)
Sorry. Your mum let me in.
RYAN
Can’t you knock?
HARRISON
(Whining)
I did!
Harrison walks over to Ryans computer and begins playing a
PC game. Ryans short brown hair is messy. He is wearing a
white T-shirt and stained green tracksuit bottoms.
COMPUTER
Entering level 9. Mission: Protect
all civilians.
Harrison begins to kill civilians. His mission tab begins to
get smaller and smaller as he fails. Ryan jumps up and
smashes Harrisons hand away from the computer.
RYAN
(Furiously)
What the hell man! You’re not meant
to kill the civilians! Do you know
how long its taken me to get to
level 9!
Harrison looks disappointed as he stays seated, studying
Ryan’s reaction.
HARRISON
You care don’t you?
RYAN
No, man this is different. This is
a game.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
HARRISON
That makes it worst! The people you
are protecting aren’t even real!
Ryan shoots Harrison a look of annoyance.
RYAN
I just worked really hard on this.
Don’t f**k it up for me, please.
INT.CAFETERIA.DAY
Ryan and Harrison are occupying a large table to themselves.
They have pieces of paper flung over the table, and they
scribble notes.
RYAN
So if you come in through the front
HARRISON
We both go through the front. We
don’t split up until 10 minutes
into the carnage. When the
corridors begin to empty, and
people are bleeding out everywhere,
we’ll meet back up and finish it
all.
A group of boys walk into the near empty cafeteria and begin
teasing the boys. Harrison grabs up all the papers and
protects them with his elbows.
MICHAEL
If you two want to be alone, can
you do it somewhere private?
HARRISON
Shut up Michael.
MICHAEL
So you’re not gay?
HARRISON
No I’m not.
MICHAEL
Can anyone back you up on that?
HARRISON
Sure, ask your girlfriend.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
Michael charges at Harrison, knocking him to the floor. The
papers go flying and Ryan scurries to pick them up. The
dinner lady, MARGE WINTERS walks over to the boys.
MARGE
You’re the one that seems to love
physical contact with Harrison,
aren’t you Michael? You can’t leave
the poor boy alone!
Michaels friends begin laughing. Marge smiles.
MARGE
Now get out of my Cafe, before the
whole school thinks you have a
girly crush on our Harrison.
Michael kisses his teeth, annoyed. He shoots Ryan a warning
look. Ryan stops rustling the papers for one moment. Michael
looks at Harrison, who is still on the floor. He leaves with
his friends. Marge rushes to Harrisons side.
MARGE
What on earth do you think your
playing at, winding him up? Silly
boy!
Harrison brushes Marge off of him as she helps him to his
feet.
HARRISON
Just leave it Marge.
MARGE
No Harrison. Your little old dinner
lady wont always be here to protect
you, you know!
Ryan stands, clutching the papers.
MARGE
(curiously)
What’s all that?
Ryan begins to stutter. Harrison jumps in.
HARRISON
A surprise.
Marge rubs Harrisons shoulder and tucking the chairs back
neatly. Ryan runs out of the cafeteria.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.
HARRISON
Thank you.
Harrison kisses Marge on the cheek. She looks shocked.
MARGE
What was that for?
HARRISON
Just... Thank you.
EXT.FIELDS.EVENING
Ryan runs, his headphones in his ears. Sweat beads fall down
his face, his red cheeks burn crimson. The moon is full and
the air is warm. Ryan closes his eyes but continues to run.
His arms swing swiftly to and fro as he chucks his body
further into the fields, into the night.
INT.HARRISONS ROOM.EVENING
Harrison is looking out of his bedroom window. The muffled
sound of shouting parents fills his dark bedroom. He closes
his eyes and breathes in deeply. He opens his eyes and picks
up a bunch of papers on his desk. He pulls them into his
chest and attempts a smile.
INT.CLASSROOM.DAY
Ryan is sitting by the window, looking out. His gaze is
fixed on the younger children running around in the outside
play area. His teacher, MRS CHERRY, tries to get his
attention.
MRS CHERRY
Well Ryan?
Ryan snaps out of his gaze and looks at Mrs Cherry, a
confused look fills his face. She sighs impatiently.
MRS CHERRY
Well do you think that the play was
trying to teach us our
responsibility as human beings?
RYAN
What play?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
MRS CHERRY
(shouting)
Seriously Ryan! An Inspector Calls!
RYAN
Oh. No.
MRS CHERRY
No? Then what is it about?
RYAN
It’s about human stupidity. Human
neglect.
MRS CHERRY
No, it is not.
RYAN
I thought you said every answer was
opinion based, and no answer was
wrong?
Mrs Cherry looks stunned.
MRS CHERRY
Yes well that’s because I didn’t
expect anybody to suggest such
ridiculous, out of context ideas!
Harrison, who is sitting at the front of the class, shoots
Ryan a warning look.
MICHEAL
(Mumbling)
Freak.
RYAN
It’s about the destruction that
humans cause, even when they don’t
mean to they do it. Wherever they
go, whatever they do. And they do
it all together and when they do it
all together it makes somebody do
something in retaliation, to try
and gain order or justification.
MRS CHERRY
Are you trying to suggest that Eva
Smith is some sort of heroic
vigilante who’s only reason for
committing a suicidal act is to
punish the wrong doers?
Ryan stays silent.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.
MRS CHERRY
You are being ridiculous. In future
keep those ideas to yourself.
Michael laughs.
MRS CHERRY
Enough Michael!
Michael stops immediately.
MRS CHERRY
Moving on...
INT.RYANS BEDROOM.EVENING
Harrison and Ryan are hovering over the computer screen
looking at a map of their school.
RYAN
15 minutes isn’t long enough. I
need enough time to go to Mrs
Cherrys classroom before we meet
back at the cafeteria.
Harrison laughs.
RYAN
It’s not funny. You saw how she
spoke to me today.
HARRISON
Yeah and that’s exactly why we’re
doing this!
RYAN
You said this wasn’t about revenge
or anything like that.
Ryans Mother, JANE WILLIAMS, knocks and enters the room.
Ryan slams the power button on his computer with his index
finger.
RYAN
Mum! Can you not wait till I say
it’s okay to come in!
JANE
Ryan, what on earth has got into
you lately?
Harrison looks sympathetic towards Jane. Ryan sighs.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
RYAN
Sorry. What is it?
Jane looks suspiciously over at Ryans desk and then hands
Ryan the phone.
JANE
It’s some girl asking to speak to
you and Harrison.
RYAN
(shocked)
A girl?
Jane leaves the room.
EXT.LANDING.EVENING
Jane is holding onto the banister. She looks worried. She
listens outside of Ryans door for a second, and then walks
away, defeated.
INT.RYANS BEDROOM.EVENING
Ryan chucks the phone at Harrison, confused. Harrison
panicks and chucks it back. All the way through they are
whispering, trying to pass the caller on to one another.
Harrison eventually puts the phone to his ear.
HARRISON
Hello?
JOANNE
About time!
HARRISON
Who is this?
JOANNE
It’s Joanne.
Harrison looks confused.
HARRISON
(abruptly)
Joanne? What do you want?
Ryan punches Harrison in the arm and Harrison immediately
realises his mistake.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.
HARRISON
S**t, sorry. Not what do you want
in a nasty way, but like, what do
you -
Ryan punches Harrison in the arm again. Harrison winces.
HARRISON
F**k, I don’t know! Why are you
calling? How can I help you?
JOANNE
(laughing)
I was just calling to see if maybe
you and Ryan wanted to work on our
English assignment together? Unless
you guys already have a group
sorted.
Harrison pauses. Ryan bangs his arm again, for the third
time.
RYAN
What’s wrong with you? We don’t
have a group sorted!
Harrison hangs up the phone.
HARRISON
We don’t need a group though do we?
And neither does Joanne.
RYAN
What does that mean? She’s been
nothing but nice to both of us!
HARRISON
Like that makes any difference
whatsoever!
RYAN
Are you crazy?
HARRISON
This was never about revenge and
that means we don’t show favoritism
to anybody.
Harrison throws his body into the air furiously. He grabs
Ryans shoulders and starts shaking him. He speaks loudly
through gritted teeth. His eyes grow larger with every word.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.
HARRISON
Don’t you do this to me! We had a
plan. We said that no matter what
we would stick to the plan!
Ryan tenses up. Fear fills his eyes along with tears as he
grabs Harrisons shoulders in retaliation.
RYAN
And what if the plan goes wrong?
What if the plan is flawed?
HARRISON
We will fix it. You can’t back out.
Not now. You can’t leave me to do
this on my own. Have you even
written your note yet?
Ryan releases his grip.
HARRISON
You haven’t have you?
RYAN
No. I haven’t.
HARRISON
Let me know now. Are you in or out
because I’m doing this with or
without you.
Ryan pauses.
RYAN
(calmly)
If it’s not about revenge then what
is it about?
Harrison sits down, confused by the question that he can’t
answer.
INT.CAFETERIA.DAY
Ryan sits alone at a small table by the large window. The
skies outside are dull, and raindrops fall gently down the
window. Ryan stares as Michael walks into the cafe. His low
tracksuit pants show his black boxers. Ryans attention
shoots over to Joanne who is standing next to Michael. Ryan
looks saddened, and turns to look out of the window. Joanne
doesn’t notice him.
BACK TO PRESENT:
12.
INT.SCHOOL CORRIDOR.DAY
Ryan and Harrison continue to walk, side by side. There is
no sign of destruction. Everything seems normal. Grey
lockers packed together on either wall close Harrison and
Ryan in. Harrison stops. Ryan turns to him. The boys are
silent for a few moments.
HARRISON
I can’t.
RYAN
You can.
HARRISON
We could walk out now and no one
would ever have to know.
RYAN
I know your f*****g with me now.
HARRISON
No.
RYAN
(Spitting)
This was your idea!
Ryan starts walking closer to Harrison, bringing his gun up.
Joanna and Michael walk out of a classroom. Both of them
freeze. Michael bursts into laughter.
MICHAEL
Oh god! The benders are role
playing!
Michael reaches for his phone. Ryan swings his arm round and
points his gun at Michael. Harrison swings his gum round and
points it at Ryan. Joannas expression is solemn. Michael
puts his arms in the air.
MICHAEL
If this is a joke it isn’t funny.
You know I’m only messing with you
don’t you?
HARRISON
(V.O)
But when it comes down to it. Maybe
there is humanity. Maybe I am
sorry.
Harrison pulls the trigger.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.
BLACKOUT.
THE END.
© 2013 LornaAuthor's Note
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LornaLondon, East, United KingdomAboutI'm Lorna, I'm enthusiatic, and I have a huge passion for writing! Usually, motivation keeps me from finishing projects, I'm a student, soon to be studying scriptwriting and journalism, And that's all.. more..Writing
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