I'm taking a class called Story Theory which is an introduction to script writing class. It's been interesting to know the process of writing a script from beginning to end. It's a long and tedious process but fascinating nonetheless. I have included the first few pages of my final assignment. I couldn't figure out how to upload file from Final Draft so I had to copy and paste it which is why it looks the way it does. Who knows, maybe in the future I'll finish the script...
Synopses: In this thriller, a widow who has become distant and isolated after her husbands death, realizes she must fight to live again after she learns her boyfriend is not who he seems to be.
EXT. DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON DC - MORNING
START OF WORK DAY
We see crowds of people talking on their phones and walking to work. The camera pans through the busy streets as it lands on a federal building.
INT. FEDERAL BUILDING - MORNING
We see people gathered in the huge lobby of the building. Looking down from the high ceiling, the people look like busy ants moving about in their daily routine. We start following a young blond woman as she makes her way around the hallways. She enters an office.
SUSAN HILLS
Hi mom.
BRENDA MASON
Looks up from the computer.
Good morning sweetie. How are you today?
SUSAN HILLS
(walking around the office)
Oh, you know, the usual. Struggled to get out of bed this morning.
BRENDA MASON
Have you thought about what I told you?
SUSAN HILLS
Mom, I don’t think seeing a therapist is going to help. I’m not going to talk to a stranger about my personal life.
BRENDA MASON
Isolating yourself is not doing you any good. I know you still think about Michael but you have to move on.
SUSAN HILLS
I have. I’ve met someone recently, here at work actually. His name is Richard and he’s quite handsome.
BRENDA MASON
OH. It’s not like you to not tell me.
SUSAN HILLS
Fidgets with an ornament from the book shelf.
It’s not like I neglected to tell you. I just met him last week.
BRENDA MASON
Well, do tell....
SUSAN HILLS (V.O.)
(flashback to a week prior)
We see Susan walking the hallway on her way to lunch when a guy bumps into her.
I was going about my day and as I was going to lunch, this guy bumps into me, spilling my coffee. He apologized and introduced himself, Robert Clark. He insists on making it up to me by buying me lunch. Of course I accepted as I never pass up a free meal.
BRENDA HILLS
Looks up from her computer on occasion while Susan talks.
That was nice of him. Where is he from?
SUSAN HILLS
Not sure, he didn’t specify, just that he worked at some field office and recently moved to DC.
Robert Clark
(flashback)
Robert and Susan talk while they have their lunch.
Have you worked here long?
SUSAN HILLS
Around ten years. And yourself?
ROBERT CLARK
I started working at the field office 15 years ago, at a desk job. Real boring stuff.
AS ROBERT TELLS HIS START AT THE FIELD OFFICE, WE SEE A FLASHBACK OF ROBERT FOLLOWING SOMEONE THROUGH THE CROWD.
ROBERT CLARK (V.O.)
I’d get into the office real early as there was always mountains of paperwork to file.
(flashback)
THE MAN REALIZES HE’S BEING FOLLOWED AND STARTS PUSHING THROUGH THE CROWD. ROBERT FOLLOWS CLOSELY AND AFTER A SEVERAL BLOCK CHASE, THEY END UP AT A TRAIN STATION.
ROBERT CLARK (V.O.)
I’d have to sit through these long meetings all the while trying to stay awake.
(flashback)
THE MAN LOOKS AROUND AND DOESN’T SEE ROBERT. HE THINKS HE LOST HIM. HE HEARS THE TRAIN APPROACH AND GETS ON IT AS SOON AS HE CAN. AS PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR SEATS, THE MAN IS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE IF HE IS STILL BEING FOLLOWED. DISTARCTED, HE DOESN’T SEE ROBERT SEAT NEXT TO HIM.
ROBERT CLARK (V.O.)
I got tired of it and worked my way up. And here I am, a field agent.
(flashback)
THE TRAIN STOPS AT THE NEXT STATION AND PEOPLE START TO DEPART AND BOARD THE TRAIN. WE SEE THE MAN SEATING BY HIMSELF AS A LADY SEATS NEXT TO HIM. AT FIRST SHE THINKS HE’S SLEEPING ONLY TO REALIZE HE’S DEAD AND SCREAMS.
SUSAN HILLS
Oh geez, that does sound like a boring job. Glad you joined us here.
ROBERT CLARK
Yeah, me too. More interesting people here. Maybe you’d like to go to dinner next Friday?
SUSAN HILLS
I don’t do much these days...but I can make an exception for you.
BACK IN THE PRESENT WITH SUSAN IN HER MOM’S OFFICE.
BRENDA MASON
He seems nice. Hope you have a good time on the date.
SUSAN HILLS
Oh mom, please stop. (smirks)
EXT. ROBERT’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON
WE SEE ROBERT BACK AT HIS HOUSE LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. IT’S A BIG FOUR BEDROOM HOUSE FROM THE 60’S WITH A LONG DRIVEWAY AND GATES. HE GOES TO HIS OFFICE AND SITS AT HIS DESK.
INT. ROBERT’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON
Richard powers up his computer. Logs in to what looks like a high security website. We see him navigate through the website and opens up an email. He picks up the phone and makes a call.
ROBERT CLARK
I’m in. I’ll get back to you when I have more information.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
Flash forward a week. Susan is having lunch with Mark Summers(early 50’s). He’s been there for her since her father left when she was a child and is like a father figure.
MARK SUMMERS
So, how did it go?
SUSAN HILLS
Not too bad. He’s quite the charmer. He wants to go on a second date. I just don’t know if I can handle a relationship now.
MARK SUMMERS
Oh come on. Give the poor guy a chance. He’s obviously into you.
SUSAN HILLS
I don’t know. I’m just busy with work.
MARK SUMMERS
Susan, I’ve known you since you were little. You have never been one to shy away from people. Since Michael died, you’ve gone on dates but always found an excuse to not to pursue a relationship.
SUSAN HILLS
That’s not true. They were legitimate reasons.
MARK SUMMERS
Look, what’s the worst that can happen, that it doesn’t work out? It’s not going to kill you.
Sighs.
SUSAN HILLS
Alright, alright. I’ll go.
MARK SUMMERS
At a girl!
FADE OUT.
INT. RICHARDS SISTER’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON
FADE IN:
RICHARD IS WITH HIS SISTER, PATRICIA(40), IN THE LIVING ROOM. THEY SIT DOWN TO HAVE DINNER.
PATRICIA EMERSON
How has work been?
ROBERT CLARK
Oh, it’s alright. Nothing exciting yet. But I did meet this girl.
PATRICIA EMERSON
Oh you did? Anyone special?
ROBERT CLARK
I do hope so. Took her on a date and things do look promising. Promising indeed.
PATRICIA EMERSON
I’m surprised. You bury yourself in your work that you haven’t made time for a relationship in a long while.
ROBERT CLARK
Well, she’s special. It’s like I have been looking for someone like her and boom, I find her.
PATRICIA EMERSON
I hope it works out Robert.
FADE TO:
INT. FEDERAL BUILDING - MORNING
Robert is walking down a busy hallway. Brenda is busy working on her computer with paperwork strewn about her desk. The fire alarm goes off and Brenda looks away from her computer. She hears a pre-recorded message to evacuate the building. She quickly gathers some papers and puts them in her briefcase that she takes with her.
Susan is making her way down the hallway to the nearest stairwell. Robert is walking with his close co-worker, Frank(40’s).
FRANK
Isn’t this something. In my twenty years working here, the fire alarm has never gone off.
ROBERT CLARK
Yup. I hope it’s not something serious. I was in a middle of a project.
FRANK
Don’t worry, it’ll be just fine.
EXT. FEDERAL BUILDING - MID-MORNING.
ROBERT CLARK
Hey Frank, we’ve become good buddies the last couple of months. What can you tell me about Susan Hills?
FRANK
Oh, Susan, sweet girl. She’s been working here for about ten years. Her mother works here too, for far longer than I have. Shame what happened to her husband. She’s never been quite the same.
ROBERT CLARK
What happened?
FRANK
He was out on the field for an assignment. Got hit by a train. Poor fellow, must have tripped. Susan didn’t take the news well. She became withdrawn and isolated.
ROBERT CLARK
What was his assignment?
FRANK
Not exactly sure but I do know he was following some leads on this big case he was working on.
ROBERT CLARK
I see....
(nods)
FADE TO:
SUSAN ARRIVES AT THE PRE-PLANNED MEETING SPACE OUTSIDE. SHE PULLS OUT HER PHONE AND CALLS HER MOTHER. PHONE RINGS BUT NO ANSWER. SHE LOOKS AROUND NERVOUSLY AS SHE MAKES HER WAY THROUGH THE CROWD.
INT. SUSAN’S LIVING ROOM - AFTERNOON
SUSAN IS PACING BACK AND FORTH WAITING TO HEAR FROM HER MOTHER. THE PHONE RINGS...
SUSAN HILLS
Mom?
OFFICER
May I speak to Susan Hills please?
SUSAN HILLS
Yes, speaking...
OFFICER
Ms. Hills, I’m sorry to inform you, your mother Brenda didn’t make it out of the building alive.
(Officer’s voice becomes distant)
Firefighters found her in a back stairwell. It appears she fell down a flight of steps and hit her head. We won’t know more until the medical examiner announces the results.
SUSAN DROPS HER PHONE AND FALLS ON HER KNEES. SHE’S SOBBING IN DISBELIEF.
FADE OUT.
EXT. CEMENTARY - NOON
SUSAN IS SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALONG WITH MARK.
MARK SUMMERS
I’m sorry about Brenda. She was a remarkable woman.
SUSAN HILLS
She was my world. She was always there for me. Now what am I supposed to do?
MARK SUMMERS
I’ve known your mom for a very long time and she wouldn’t want you to mourn her. Instead she would want you to make her proud.
Susan lays her head on mark’s shoulder as she cries.
FADE TO:
INT. SUSAN’S OFFICE - MORNING
Phone rings.
SUSAN HILLS
Susan Hills speaking.
MEDICAL EXAMINER
Hello Ms. Hills. This is the Washington medical examiner and I’m just calling about what I found out from your mom’s autopsy.
SUSAN HILLS
Oh yes, what did you find out?
MEDICAL EXAMINER
I found some scrapes and abrasions consistent with a fall. She also had a medium sized gash on the back of her head. It could have come from the fall but I can’t be certain. For now, I’m writing her cause of death as undetermined.
SUSAN HILLS
What else could have caused it?
MEDICAL EXAMINER
Without further testing, I can’t say for sure.
SUSAN HILLS
Please let me know if you find out anything else. Thank you.
FADE TO:
INT. BRENDA’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON
Susan walks around her mom’s old Victorian house, admiring her art collection and old objects she had collected on her travels. She makes her way into her work den and starts rummaging through the desk drawers.
SUSAN HILLS
Oh, what’s this?
Pulls out Brenda’s notebook.
BRENDA MASON (V.O.)
I was working this big case with Michael. We were trying to track down someone with ties to foreign governments and dark money. Michael was following a lead when he died. I always found the timing of his death suspicious so I’ve been doing some investigating on my free time. I found a possible witness by the name of Edward Collins. He’s a hard guy to find but I think I narrowed down his whereabouts. I’m going to see If I can find him in a couple days. He must know some information...
SUSAN HILLS (V.O.)
What was my mom and Michael working on?
FADE OUT.
INT. ROBERT’S OFFICE - MID-DAY
WE SEE ROBERT SITTING AT HIS DESK FROM ACCROSS THE ROOM, FACE BURIED IN HIS COMPUTER MONITOR. CAMERA PANS BEHIND HIM AND WE SEE HE IS WATCHING CCTV, FOLLOWING SUSAN THROUGH THE HALLWAYS AS SHE PASSES BY EACH CAMERA. HE EVENTUALLY TURNS OFF HIS COMPUTER AND HEADS BY FRANK’S OFFICE.
ROBERT CLARK
(peaks in Frank’s door)
Hey Frank, I’m off to lunch. Want anything?
FRANK
No, I’m good. The wifey packed me some lunch.
ROBERT CLARK
Alright, I’ll catch you later.