John August held a scene writing contest on this blog and I thought it was the perfect thing to get me back into writing so I entered. I didn’t win but, that wasn’t the out come I was hoping for. I wanted to just complete something that had a deadline.
For the contest you had to write a scene using three things: A Fork, A Photo and a Phobia. Easy right? Well I didn’t want to use the clichéd phobias, so I picked two, one being common and the other no so common. This by no means was a polished effort. I just wanted to get it done so I could enter. Now, on to bigger contests. Maybe I can finish a whole screenplay now. Anyway, here is the scene I entered. You can head over to John’s blog to see the other entries (110 in all).
FADE IN:
INT. PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL – RECREATION ROOM – DAY
BREE CAIN, early 30’s, sits at a checkers table playing against an empty seat. Her hair is in bad need of a “What Not To Wear” makeover. Her hospital gown drapes off one shoulder exposing her collarbone and has a permanently stained and faded. Her nails are bitten down a little too far but despite all this, she’s still attractive.
In the background an elderly man runs past her with both hands on a walker, with only the wheels touching the ground, clearly not needing it.
Orderlies and gaurds attend the patients, trying to get them to stop or start doing someting they have no interest in.
A HAND reaches from behind Bree and moves one of her checker pieces, jumping three black checkers -
MAN’S VOICE (O.S.)
King me.
The Man, DET. GERRITSEN, early 40’s, sits in the empty seat.
Bree looks up at him, then back at the board. She kings him.
DET. GERRITSEN
It’s nice to see you’ve assimilated yourself to the craziness of this.
BREE
It’s contagious, I think you should leave before you catch it.
DET. GERRITSEN
You don’t have to be here, you know.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a photograph placing it on the checker board, disrupting the game.
DET. GERRITSEN (CONT’D)
Now, let’s stop with the fake psycho racket. You’re only here for protection, you don’t have to act as if. Tell me everything you know about this photograph so I can move on with my case and you can return to your normal life.
Bree picks up the photograph, stares.
Det. Gerritsen reached across the table and grabs the photograph out of her hand, slamming it back down on the table. Checkers fly everywhere.
DET. GERRITSEN (CONT’D)
You’ve seen it enough times, you know what it is, now tell me!
Heads turn looking at the commotion, two guards step closer heading towards their direction but stop before reaching.
All the patients in the room erupt in laughter/yells. The orderlies and guards try to calm the room.
BREE
You know what I miss the most?
DET. GERRITSEN
I don’t give a shit. Tell me what the photo means.
BREE
The normal things. Like eating with a sterling silver fork and not the plastic shit they give you here. a shape knife, my own clothes...
DET. GERRITSEN
You can have all that, just cooperate. You being in this nut factory does nothing for either of us. I hate coming here as much as you hate being here.
BREE
I don’t mind it, it’s better than the alternative.
DET. GERRITSEN
How could you not? I think we’ve done a great job of protecting you up until this point. Why don’t you trust me?
BREE
It’s not that I don’t trust you. I have a huge case of Ballistophobia which doesn’t help my Necrophobia.
Det. Gerritsen blanks. Clueless.
BREE (CONT’D)
My fear of bullets and death. Look officer...
DET. GERRITSEN
Detective.
BREE
...I’m not going to tell you while I know the man who gave you that is alive. I’d rather stay here.
DET. GERRITSEN
Fine.
Det. Gerritsen stands up
DET. GERRITSEN (CONT’D)
Guards!
Three guards run over, grab Bree from her chair and slam her on the ground.
DET. GERRITSEN (CONT’D)
You want to stay here? Then you will get treated like the kooks.
One of the guards pulls a needle out, while the other two try to hold Bree still. She struggle as much as she can, but it’s hopeless.
BREE
What the hell are you doing? What is that?
The guard sticks the needle in her hard as she violently tries to stop them.
Her movement starts to slow. She losing what little power she has until she’s still and we
FADE TO BLACK.