Script: First Draft

Taking into account that our group is prepared for the final stages of the process towards the final Thriller shoot, Katie insisted on the fact that we should take a quicker path than the rest of the students in our class and start developing further details such as a list of props and costumes, obtaining them, visiting the possible locations and mainly working on a rough script to be used as a guidance, alongside with a storyboard. 

In order to make everyone in the group participate in the creation of the script, I decided that we should create a Google Document so we could all alter and develop each other's approach. We had some difficulty with getting started as we have never written a professional script, but after learning that having one is a valuable option rather than a requirement, we managed to unwind and start working. Mike was very helpful as this stage. He came up to us and gave us a practical, quick outline of the characteristics of a script. Following his guidance, I started working on it properly, including details like the time of the day in which the scene occurs, the lines of the characters and the action that take place meanwhile.

For the past two weeks, I have been working on the script for our thriller sequence because, as our scene is going to be very coreography-based, it is quite recommendable for everyone inside and outside of the team to know what they are doing in each moment: how they move, where, what they say, the gestures and sounds they make. Emma and Ellis have helped me with my English, especially idioms and expressions. This is the first draft:

INT. Backpacker’s hostel room. Wooden cupboard, light parquet flooring, two big backpacks and a small one. Dark colours. Brown rug. Trunk. ELLA’s mountain shoes in one side of the bed, under. Old chair against the wall. Night.

ELLA crosses the room from the right hand side and lies in bed. DAVID is sitting on the chair, getting rid of his shoes.

DAVID

I don’t think I’ll be able to do tomorrow’s hike with the state of my feet…

Untying the shoelaces (cont’n)

ELLA

Oh come on, today’s was far easier than we expected. And definitely worth it.

DAVID

I don’t know… Have you seen my clean socks?

ELLA

For God’s sake, stop fiddling with the clothes and come here. We have plenty of time to organise later on!

DAVID

Folds his wet socks and puts them inside the bag. He jumps into the bed and starts tickling ELLA.

The bed creaks. Sounds of knocks and slams in the distance.

ELLA

I told you to come lie, not attack me! It’s gonna be a long night on the floor if you carry on like this…

(while laughing)

DAVID

The bed is only the lesser to two evils, and with your wriggling the margin between the two is shrinking. And considering how many times you woke up last night…

ELLA

That was because it’s cold. I’m probably getting ill or something.

(pause) Shots. Furniture moving (very subtle)

Do you want to go and get more blankets? They will have loads and I am pretty sure we are the only ones here...

DAVID

Oh yes, these Siberians are known for their warm nature.(ironically, with a grin)

(He stands up and plays with ELLA’s hair,kiss. cont’n)

Anyway, anything for you. I’ll give it a try.

DAVID leaves. ELLA sighs in bed and then some seconds of silence follow, with screams and shots which are coming closer. ELLA moves nervously in bed.

ELLA

What the hell is that?

(whispering, talking to herself)

DAVID walks in, in panic. Pleonastic shots.

ELLA

What the hell are those noises?

DAVID

You need to hide, quick!

Screams become more insistent.

ELLA

But why? What’s going on?

They tussle in bed. DAVID practically forces her to get down.

DAVID

There’s no time! Ella, just hide somewhere!

ELLA looks around, shaking. The noises outside are getting closer and closer. The danger is next door now.

DAVID

Come on, get under! Everything will be alright if you hide well, trust me.

(Terrified). DAVID grabs her and urges her to get under the bed. Her face shows extreme concern. The gunshots get louder and then stop for a few seconds. Steps come in front of the door. Someone kicks in while DAVID rushes inside of the cupboard. ELLA’s heavy breathing is heard next to the camera.

EXTREMIST 1 and EXTREMIST 2 enter the room while the cupboard’s door is still closing. They are wearing black gears and carrying guns. They exchange a few words in Russian and laugh wholeheartedly. They point at the cupboard and they slowly open it.

EXTREMIST 1

Peekaboo!

EXTREMIST 2 grabs DAVID from the t-shirt and gets him out. They beat him aggressively until he is on his knees, they taunt him and continue to hit him. They keep making jokes in Russian.

EXTREMIST 1 caresses DAVID’s cheeks and then slaps him.

EXTREMIST 2 laughs loudly. He jabs him and shoves the barrel of the gun in his mouth.

EXTREMIST 2

How does that taste?

EXTREMIST 1 mumbles something in Russian and makes EXTREMIST 2 withdraw the gun. They start to walk out and we see how DAVID is trembling. He looks anxiously at them. DAVID exhales and looks in ELLA’S direction, relieved. They start opening the door and then they suddenly close it. EXTREMIST 1 pulls him by the hair and shoots him in the mouth. They are still joking while DAVID falls to the floor. He dies in front of ELLA, looking at her (and the camera) directly. ELLA gasps and the EXTREMISTS suddenly stop talking. EXTREMIST 1 says something slowly. They approach the bed. Their shoes are in the centre of the frame. The sheets which were partly hanging get lifted.

THE END