Perth Words… exploring possibilities.

Another short script (2 minute) from my shelves, originally written for an entry into ‘Tropfest” in 2009.  NOTE:  The standard script format is altered to allow for easier reading on screens. 

SC 1: INT. LOUNGE – NIGHT

DANIEL is sprawled on the couch watching motor racing on TV with the SOUND FULL BLAST.  Beer cans and pizza boxes litter the coffee table.

His mate MAL strolls in and shouts above the noise.

MAL : What’s happening?

DANIEL signals hello without taking his eyes off the screen,  reaches over to grab a beer from the six-pack.  Hands it to MAL, without looking.

MAL now sprawls on the couch and fixes his eyes on the screen.

The two mates sit engrossed in the motor racing and the deafening sound of engines.

Suddenly DANIEL sits up.

DANIEL : Fuck this!

DANIEL reaches over the arm of the chair next to him and picks up two WII game consoles.

DANIEL looks over at MAL with a challenge in his eye as he hands one WII console over to MAL and grabs the remote controls to switch the program over.

The noise starts again, DANIEL and MAL ‘drive’ the game cars around the screen race track with the sound up FULL.

They continue to play the game but less enthusiastically.

MAL : Fuck this!

MAL stands up and chucks his WII console down onto the couch.

MAL takes his keys out of his pocket and holds them in front of DANIEL’S face, challenging him.

DANIEL : Fuck yeah!

DANIEL throws down his console and grabs another set of keys, waving them at MAL.

MAL and DANIEL race out the door.

SC 2: EXT. DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

At the front door, as they exit, DANIEL grabs MAL to stop him running to his car.

DANIEL makes MAL stand behind an invisible line and wait for ‘Go’.

MAL : Yer woos!

DANIEL : It’s gotta be fair.

DANIEL holds up his keys and indicates for MAL to do the same but before they can race to their cars, he notices he has the wrong keys and turns to run back inside the house.

MAL : Who’s the woos now?

DANIEL runs back outside with a different set of keys and stands on the imaginary line.

DANIEL : OK – now!

DANIEL and MAL race to their cars and DANIEL signals to stop MAL before he can jump in and take off.

DANIEL is getting impatient.

MAL : Wait – we gotta line the cars up equal.

SC 3: EXT. CARS ON ROAD – NIGHT

DANIEL waits while MAL drives his car into ‘poll’ position in the street and DANIEL drives his car up next to the other.

MAL and DANIEL both get out of their cars and leave the engines running to walk back to the imaginary starting line.

DANIEL : Now I’ll dice ya!

Moments later they both run and jump into their cars and with their tires burning on the road, tear off down the street to disappear in a cloud of rubber.

SC 4: EXT. CLOUDS – MOMENTS LATER.

The two friends stand in stunned silence staring up the road as the smoke clears.

FADE to WHITE.

“DICE”  A very short film  By  Frances Macaulay Forde © 2009

#SCRIPT:Dice  #Screenwriting  #FrancesMacaulayForde #ShortFilmScript

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‘It’s a Prairie Tale’ – NETG, 1993.

Performance

Dank, dusty, sweat-smells in the soft blue light.

Rope, sandbags, tape-marks glow.

Scene-stays, props on table in regimental order.

Act 1,2,3.

Black on white ‘Silence for Performance’.

Soft sneakers pressed gently in front of each other.

Movements slow – considered care.

Audience clapping.

Murmur as Curtains Close

Act 1.

Audrey rushes off-stage, clattering

– chattering to her waiting beau,

loudly declaring her excitement

at first performance.

Two fingers to mouth for silence ignored.

Quick, frustrated grab in the once-again dim light.

Hand wraps around wooden grip of silence

sign banged impatiently against thigh.

Hushed stumble down to dressing dungeons.

Annoyed – door locked – can’t knock – too loud.

Scratch a little – reign in – wait with rebuke ready.

Click (unlock) creak open. Not welcome.

Insist. Force sign through crack ‘Quiet’.

Race back upstairs, heart pumping

– missed the Curtain Open Act 2.

Act 3. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.  Heels approach uncaring,

echoing through wooden stairs and stage floor.  Audrey!

Mouth opens, frustration bites hard and I scream “QUIET!”

Shattering the cast onstage into obedience.

Even the audience waits in breath-held awe

for the next development.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2001

#POEM:Performance  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #NewEndeavourTheatreGroup   #1stTimeOnStage  #Backstage

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