Short Film Script - Second Draft

Shot opens with a black/blank screen with narration from the villain (Lance) over the top

                                                                        (Prologue)

Lance: (Cold, emotionless) who decides humanities survival? Who plays the God in our lives?  I worship every breath, every tear, and drop of blood that beats within wasted souls. I decide who lives and dies. It’s(loud, angry) my (momentary pause) choice! I’ll make sure you welcome the silence and yet wish it never came.  

                                                                    (End of Prologue)

An abrupt flash of light bridges the two scenes. It’s a dark screen; a close upshot to the inside of a bag. The sounds of heavy breathing and frantic scrabbling are heard over the top.

Rhys: (Heavy breathing) what?
(Whispers) Kathy? Lucy?

Lucy: (Sobbing) you have two minutes to decide. Follow the human flaw and choose. Think carefully for one of them must die (Breath hitch) don’t dare to defy me; I designed every detail. You have two minutes to decide. Enjoy my game Mr Miller. Good luck! (Crying)

Rhys: Kathy? Lucy? Are you alright? Are you hurt?

Lucy: (Highly emotional) Oh god! I can’t (Sob)

Kathy:  (Sarcastic) Of course! Having the time of my life!

Rhys: (Angry, weary) Now is not the time Kathy! (Confident, assured, masking fear)  You’ll be fine. I promise! Both of you!

Lucy: (Whisper) Please, Help me!

Rhys: (Assured tone) Kathy, move gradually to the right.... Don’t put any tension on the chord

Lucy: (Screams as the noose pulls tighter around her neck)

Rhys: (Angry, confidence slipping) STOP, Just Stop! (Directed at Kathy) I’m sorry! I’m so sorry (whispers to them both)

 Kathy: (pause, before continuing quietly) Rhys, I’m nothing to you! Always a disappointment, always kept as the dark secret. It’s painless isn’t it; like choosing between heaven and hell.

Lucy: Please no! That’s not right (Whispers to self) (Pause)  

(Directed at Rhys) Promise me you’ll make sure Ben and Amy are cared for. Help them deal with this. Help them get over me (Voice steady, though still crying)

Rhys: (Serious tone) I’m meant to protect both of you. I can’t.... (Looks at both of them, eyes not focusing)
(Turns to Kathy) I always taught you it was wrong to make promises that you can’t keep

Kathy: (Voice calm) Promises are there to be broken. Mother taught me that.

Lucy: (realisation. Anger) What! No! Rhys you can’t do this. This isn’t what we agreed! This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.

Kathy: (Calmly, Confidently) don’t resent him. His biggest fault is he cares too deeply. He couldn’t live knowing he’d orphaned two children. He’s too generous for that.

Lucy: (Yells angrily) Shit!

Rhys: (sadly) I love you, Kath.

Kathy: (First time with emotion) I know.

(Dialogue stops. Reaction shots of Rhys and the decision he has had to make. Final shot a close up of Rhys’ eye as he blinks. Sound of the trap door opening on the black screen)

                                                                       (Epilogue)

Lance: (Simultaneously, Gleeful full of pleasure) and then everything stopped counting

Rhys: (Simultaneously, cold and emotionless) and then everything stopped counting

                                                                  (End of Epilogue)