Astwood Project - Script 1

So here's my first script, its a bit rough but any comments are most welcome. 

Setting: An abandoned and post apocalyptic urban environment, a.k.a. most likely my house/block at say 4 or 5 am in the morning. Specifically, the film will take place mostly in a dim basement with a group of the last person (seemingly) left in the city.

So I bit of reworking. I picture myself: dirty, unshaven and citing biblical passages (Revelations if you will) as I lock myself in the basement of my urban home. The film will be my descent into madness over the course of a week, maybe two as my world becomes increasingly claustrophobic and isolated. I picture running out of food and (more importantly) water as my character slowly disintegrates on camera. The film will consists of a number of short (he wants to save battery life) video diary entries used to document the end times. Each entry consists of a brief introduction with a date and time and situation report followed by personal thoughts and some verses.

Script (ROUGH)

Day 1: Excited, plenty of food (2 weeks worth?). 4:45pm Open to man [John Easton] in backyard framed by trees and holding camera.

Just wanted to get a bit of the outside before, you know, it all goes to shit (laugh).

John turns the camera around to reveal his point of view. Walk down the stairs leading into the basement, back door open and walk through but then closed locking out sunlight and beginning isolation.

Just have to lock this… Incase (laugh).

Cell phone rings from other room. Quick pan of the basement room. John walks over to phone ringing on the desk. Sarah  is calling. John picks up the phone and  lingers on a shot of the phone before speaking. Heavy sigh. Phone changes to reveal missed call.

            She should have stayed.

John turns off the phone and places it into his pocket. Begins to walk around basement.

I don’t know what the hell everyone left for, I’ve got plenty of food [zoom on food] and water [zoom on water] and of course most important this [picks up bible].

John runs his thumb along the spine of the bible. He then proceeds to go over to set the camera down and sit in the chair facing the camera. He looks into the camera and begins to smile.

Who needs military protection when I have this? See that’s what I don’t get. Its all in here, if you’re faithful you have nothing to worry about right? That’s why I stayed, why the fuck should I leave my home, my home. I’ve got nothing to worry about. I’m as a good as saved.

John looks around silently. General quietness in the basement, the Armageddon has yet to begin. John picks up food begins to open the wrapper and shuts off the camera.

Day 4: 10:30pm Open to TV static, followed by a camera turn framing John’s face.  Electricity is still on. The water is still running (dripping in background?) and John begins to explain that not much has changed.

The TV went off about an hour ago, I was sick of watching the same stupid reports over and over again anyway. I figured I’d make my own reports, about what really matters [smiles]. I’m out of doughnuts, but I still have like all my chips and McDonalds [scoffs]. You know I remember seeing that movie about that guy who only ate McDonalds for like a year and he was explaining how that stuff never rots. And so I got like a weeks supply of hamburgers down here. Pretty smart right?

Fire engine in the background, John looks annoyed.

That’s the third one in the last hour, how am I supposed to sleep with all that siren shit!? Fuck it.

John turns off the camera.

Day 5:  12:36am Scene opens to John sitting in his chair look around seemingly trying to find something with his eyes.

What the hell is that sound? Can you hear that? [laugh] Great now I’m fucking  talking to an inanimate object. I’ve been down here too long, I’m fucking losing it.

Cue rustling and bumping sound in the background. John looks frightened, then angry. John doesn’t say anything, just picks up the knife that we could not see that was laying in front of the camera so that the light shines into the lens. The camera is then turned off. Camera turns back on, 12:40am.

            Fucking rats.

John slumps back in chair visibly relieved and reaches over to shut off camera.

Day 6: 9:42pm Open to complete darkness, begins with whirling sound of wind up flash light, from now on every scene is filmed by flashlight and begins with winding up of the light.

So obviously the electricity went out, about 10 minutes ago. I only have three charged batteries for the camera so I’m going to try to conserve it better. I just wanted to document shit as it comes, so when this is over I’ll get to be on TV or whatever. Be fucking famous because I had the balls to stay behind and record what really happened. Show them that I’m not crazy. I’ll show Sarah that I really was destined for this, to stay and bear witness; that I’m important.

John looks forward painfully, avoiding looking directly into the lens.

She should have stayed. It would have been okay, I could have kept her safe. God means for me to be here, he wouldn’t let any harm come to us. [sigh] Whatever, fuck it, I’m going to sleep.

Day 9: 11:33pm Open to whirling of flashlight which is drowned out by air raid siren in the distance, perhaps sounds of planes overhead.

            What the fuck is that?

Man walks out of the room, Camera in one hand, flashlight in the other, to backyard door. When he gets to the door he places the camera on the ground and undoes the lock. He sneaks out to investigate, pauses at staircase leading to the garden .John is breathing heavily as he begins to slowly climb the stairs. Cue machine gun fire close and directed in his general direction. John stumbles backward and runs inside slamming door, bolting it  shut. John collapses with his back to the door.

            Oh shit… Oh shit… Oh shit… Fucking shooting at me. Shit, fuck…

John begins to sob and then turns off the camera

Day 13: 10:01pm. Open to whirling of flashlight and then John’s face lit by flashlight. Ambient battle sounds hang in the air.

After the other night, the fighting has been almost constant. I can’t sleep, I can’t read and I can’t even go fucking outside to get any more fucking food. All I can do is fucking sit inside and twiddle my fucking thumbs hoping they don’t find me. I’m sick of this shit and I’m fucking hungry. 

John slouches back into his chair and shuts off the camera.

Day 16: 9:00pm: Open to whirling of flashlight and then John’s face lit by flashlight. Ambient battle sounds have intensified.

            The water shut off… I miss Sarah.

John shuts off the camera.

Day 17: 10:00pm Open to whirling of flashlight and then John’s ragged and beared face lit by flashlight. Ambient battle sounds have once again intensified. John is sitting his chair the bible open  seemingly reading it. He then rips out a page and begins to chew on it.

And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. [chuckles]. No one can say that God doesn’t have a sense of humor. Shouldn’t be too much longer, I can feel it, he’ll come for me soon and it’ll all be alright.

John smirks and looks into camera before turning it off.

Day 19: 7:00am the scene begins with John holding the camera in his hands weakly as he films his face. Birds are chirping in the background and some natural day light shines in through the door.

I’m so tired but I have to stay awake. Jesus said he’s coming today, I have to be awake for him. He’s going to take me with him, just like he promised. See I told you Sarah, you don’t have anything to worry about. Its all okay, I’m fine and its all going to be okay. I’m just going to take a short nap and they’ll we’ll all meet up later. It’ll all be okay…

John collapses into the chair and his hands fall back so that the camera lands on his lap facing up filming his head slumped to the side and a view over his left shoulder. This static shot continues without John moving for about 30 seconds. Cue the sound of the door creaking open and radio static and inaudible radio chatter. A gloved hand enters the shot to check John’s pulse at his neck before picking up the camera and revealing a vaguely military looking figure in a dark black coat and gasmask. Camera is shut off.