Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Childhood Fears

(7 Page Script, Genre: Horror/Humor)

"Childhood Fears"

PAGE ONE (3 panels)

Panel 1. It is the proverbial dark and stormy night, and there is a gothic castle at the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. Despite the heavy rain, the castle is illuminated by a passing thunderbolt. We are in vaguely medieval times, and the castle is in a state of disrepair, though that might not be apparent yet. The whole scene looks like something out of a classic horror movie, or at least like something out of a Scooby-Doo episode. Whichever.

1 CAPTION (DEKAR): "There you are!"

Panel 2. Inside the castle now. DEKAR stands at the bottom of a curved staircase, gesturing a hand to PAUL, who is descending the staircase toward him. Dekar is wearing a white trench coat, with lightweight armor underneath it, and he has a sword at his side. Paul wears the same armor with the same sword, but he wears no coat. Dekar is late-20s in age, handsome and looking pretty rugged all around. Paul is a little older, a little goofier, and much chunkier. Paul doesn’t so much walk down the stairs as he does bumble down the stairs. They are both holding lanterns; otherwise, windows are the only light source. In general, the décor of the castle is opulent, but everything is so covered in dust and webs that it does not feel very regal anymore. We won’t be in this particular room very long, so stick whatever you like in it.

2 DEKAR: I turn around for one second and you’d vanished.

3 PAUL: Oh, and I suppose you thought the vampire had gotten me?

Panel 3. Dekar looks away and puts his hand on his triceps, which is the closest he can get to crossing his arms while he holds the lantern. Paul winks with a smirk as he closes in on Dekar.

4 DEKAR: With your asthma, vampires are the least of your worries.

5 PAUL: Come on. You don’t need to put on a brave face for me.

6 PAUL (connected): These walls have eyes and ears, Dekar. And they see right through you.

 

PAGE TWO (5 panels)

Panel 1. Dekar has a slight, dismissive grin as he approaches a long, claustrophobic hallway. Paul follows.

1 DEKAR: Spare me your theatrics, Paul.

2 DEKAR (connected): Every dozen years, a hysterical farmer comes forward claiming to have seen the legendary vampire of the castle--

Panel 2. Set the angle at the opposite end of this long hallway that they are now both in. Paul’s lantern casts Dekar’s extremely long shadow across the walls and/or floor.

3 DEKAR: --and every time, they send in a couple soldiers like us to go chasing shadows.

Panel 3. Paul’s plump face gets plumper as he smiles in earnest.

4 PAUL: And what of it? Reverence to tradition is a fine thing.

Panel 4. Dekar lowers his head and hunches his shoulders, momentarily displaying vulnerability.

5 DEKAR: Not when all it does is scare people.

Panel 5. Paul stands still with surprise as Dekar continues walking ahead.

6 PAUL: Fear is the healthiest emotion, Dekar.

7 PAUL (connected): You would do well to heed it.