I FINISHED MY MOVIE SCRIPT

Man, I haven't done this in a while. Feels weird, I kind of forget the layout...anyway, back to blogging.

The short explanation for why I haven't posted in so long is that after I converted everything I'd written so far in to a script program, I found that I couldn't copy and paste my work here without all these formatting errors and that was annoying so I decided not to bother.

I kept writing though. I will say this, writing a movie is very hard. If you're someone out there who has decided to write their first script then expect to struggle. Expect to feel like a bum. Writing isn't typing, writing is sitting on your couch staring at a wall and listening to music until an idea hits you. It feels unproductive and all your instincts will tell you to quit and stop wasting your time.

It's not fun, its work. If you're still driven to see your idea through then just keep at it. Remember that even if you're just writing a paragraph everyday then you're slowing getting it finished. Just keep coming back to it, make it a habit, hold yourself accountable. Grind it out and you WILL finish, and when you do it feels pretty cool.

So my script is finished.

Now what?

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: The big confrontation.

I am still at it, writing my first movie script which I collect HERE.

Here's today's entry. We're pushing towards the big finale, from here things will be moving at a really quick pace. I have a hell of an ending coming.

EXT - DOUGLAS' HOUSE

Bryce pulls into a the driveway of a small, one level house in a dingy part of town. Bryce sits for a second collecting his thoughts, he pulls the gun out of his waistband and looks hard at it. Bryce has a moment of clarity and decides to put the gun away into his glove compartment. Bryce steps out of car door, heads to the back door of his u-haul and opens it. He starts pulling Douglas' things out of the truck and putting them on the font lawn, hoping to just leave Douglas his things and without confrontation. That's wishful thinking, Douglas comes bursting out of the front door.

DOUGLAS

HEY! 

Bryce doesn't answer him, he keeps pulling Douglas' things out of the truck.

DOUGLAS

You want to tell me what that the fuck you're doing?

BRYCE

Douglas, I am just giving you your things back.

DOUGLAS

Why are YOU giving me my things back?

BRYCE

Would you rather have Abby's dad do this?

DOUGLAS

Where's Abby?

BRYCE

Douglas...I don't want to get into this.

DOUGLAS

 Stay away from her.

BRYCE

Are you kidding me?

DOUGLAS

It's funny how this worked out isn't it? I am out of the picture and no less than a month later you move right in.

Bryce doesn't answer him, he stares a hole through Douglas.

DOUGLAS

I know it was you Bryce.

BRYCE

What?

DOUGLAS

I know it was you. The note. The dolls. I know it was you. How did you do it? Did you have a key all along? Did Abby give you a house key?

Douglas' teeth grit, his hands ball into a fist. Bryce takes notice, he glances towards the truck, gauging how much distance is between him and the glove compartment. 

DOUGLAS

When I caught you in that house...what were you doing there? Why did you come back? 

Douglas is getting more and more animated.

DOUGLAS

Abby turned you away, I was there. I saw you leave! I saw her send you away.

BRYCE

You were watching us?

DOUGLAS

What were you doing sneaking back into her house? What were you going to do to her?

Bryce sees how angry Douglas is getting, he starts to back his way towards the truck. Douglas follows him.

BRYCE

I wasn't IN her house. I went home that night. YOU were the one who snuck into her house.

DOUGLAS

Yeah I did, after I saw someone climb through her window.

BRYCE

Oh yeah? You saw that while you were stalking us?

DOUGLAS

YES!

BRYCE

You really are sick.

DOUGLAS

I am getting real tired of hearing that.

Bryce backs right up to his truck and reaches for the door.

DOUGLAS

You're running away?

BRYCE

No.

Bryce dashes into his car, Douglas follows him. Douglas grabs a hold of Bryce and forcibly pulls him out of the car.

DOUGLAS

We're not done talking!

Bryce responds with gun pointed right at Douglas, Douglas takes a step back.

BRYCE

You're crazy and you're dangerous and you're going to leave Abby alone. I swear to god I'll kill you.

DOUGLAS

Shoot.

BRYCE

Take your shit, never come back. If you do I'll be there waiting to put a bullet in you. I won't let you hurt her.

DOUGLAS

Hurt her? All I've ever done is protect her. I've taken it on the CHIN for that girl. I've been arrested, shot at, beat up and arrested again all because some psycho wouldn't leave us alone. You know what the worst part is? I didn't believe her. I thought she was making it all up. She wasn't was she?

BRYCE

No. She wasn't.

DOUGLAS

You're going to have to kill me.

Bryce is genuinely temped to do it, instead he backs up to his truck. Never lowering his gun. He makes it to his truck and gets in.

DOUGLAS

You ruined my life. This won't ever be over.

Bryce doesn't respond, he pulls out of the driveway and speeds off. Douglas' things spill out of his truck as he leaves.

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: The build to the end.

You know what? We're well past the halfway point of my thriller and it's time to start putting the pieces in place for my big ending. I mean that too, my ending is big. From this point onward the story is going to pick up a frenetic pace as my characters stumble their way towards a conclusion that wraps this whole mystery up in a tight, action packed little bow.

Once again, I collect everything as I go and post it all HERE

I still haven't written out a synopsis I am in love with but imagine if you were to wake up one morning and your terrified girlfriend was accusing you of doing something completely f**king psycho. That happened to Douglas.

I admit this is who I was picturing as I wrote this scene.

INT - JAIL

Douglas is being led through a hallway by a couple of officers to a small room with a table. Sitting at the table is his public defender. Douglas takes a seat across from him and the two are left alone. 

LAWYER

Hello Douglas, my name is Alister Cross. I'll be defending you.

Douglas doesn't answer.

LAWYER

I've been looking over your case, I think we'll be able to get you out of here. A man's ex-fiance accuses him of torturing...dolls and then locks him out of the house they shared. According to the police report she made claims of violence but you were never charged?

DOUGLAS

I didn't do it.

LAWYER

Good. The police apparently didn't think so either because I don't see any charges laid. That's very good. Now we just have to convince the judge that you were only in her house to get your things back so you could move on and finally forget about the crazy bitch.

Douglas shoots him a look.

LAWYER

Hey, looks like that aren't going to help you get out of there. We need to convince this judge that you want nothing to do with this girl, when he tells you he's placing a restraining order between the two of you; you thank him.

DOUGLAS

There was someone else in that house. I want them to find him, keep Abby safe. 

LAWYER

She's safe and you staying behind bars isn't keeping her any safer. 

Is it?

DOUGLAS

No.

LAWYER

Well then. You made up that intruder story that because you were scared, you got caught and were worried about getting in trouble so you made something up. The mysterious stranger excuse, oldest one in the book.

DOUGLAS

And then I chased after someone I just made up?

LAWYER

No, you ran because you knew she was going to call her dad and his shotgun.

DOUGLAS

They won't believe me.

LAWYER

Are you kidding me? No one believes you now. If you go in there and tell that judge that you only broke into your ex's house to chase out some dark, faceless figure then all you'll do is convince him you need to be kept out of the public and put into a looney bin. I ask you, is that what you want?

DOUGLAS

...I was just there to get my stuff...

LAWYER

Exactly. I think we can get time served plus probation, plus obviously you'd have to agree to never be within a hundred feet of her ever again. 

DOUGLAS

Just her?

LAWYER

And her father probably, but we'll consider that a blessing.

DOUGLAS

Get me out of here.

LAWYER

I'd like you to make a statement. You were alone in that house with Abigail, you saw no one else. Judges are like mothers, they give points for honesty.

DOUGLAS

Honesty?

LAWYER

...Is Abigail safer with you behind bars?

DOUGLAS

No.

LAWYER

Well then.

The lawyer slides a pen and paper across the table to Douglas, urging him to write his statement.

LAWYER

You were alone. You just wanted to get your things back.

DOUGLAS

(reluctantly)

I was alone.

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: Remind people that this is a thriller.

Back with another page to add to THIS thriller I am writing. Lets go.

INT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Bryce and Abigail are on the couch, the light of the television is the only thing illuminating the room. Abigail is curled up in the corner of the couch hugging a cushion. It's a bright night outside, the light coming in from the windows casts long shadows throughout the room. Bryce and Abby sit stoically, both staring at the tv. Half focused on what they're watching and half lost in thought. Their shadows stretch along the length of the room and up to the ceiling. Unmoving. 

Their shadows are joined by a third shadow. It moves into frame and stops, it's placed near the window. Somewhere in the blackness something is there, staring at the couple watching TV in the dark. Neither Bryce nor Abby notice. The shadow lingers for a few moments then disappears as it blends back into the blackness of the room.

Abigail yawns.

ABIGAIL

Yawwwwwwwww...my god.

BRYCE

You should go to bed. 

ABIGAIL

Good idea. Where are you going to sleep?

BRYCE

Right here.

ABIGAIL

 I have an extra bedroom.

BRYCE

I am good here.

ABIGAIL

(smiles)

It helps, you being here.

BRYCE

This was fun.

ABIGAIL

(yawns again)

 I know, I waaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Excuse me.

BRYCE

Go to bed. Get some sleep. You need it.

ABIGAIL

Thank you. Goodnight.

BRYCE

Goodnight Abby.

Abigail hugs Bryce and then goes to a linen closet and hands him a pillow and a blanket, she heads upstairs. Bryce pulls the cover over himself and closes his eyes.

INT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Bryce is asleep on the couch. In the dark room behind him someone is watching him. Someone is standing behind the couch looking down on him, cloaked in darkness. 

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: All dialogue...blah blah blah.

Douglas and Abigail are in love. Then one morning Douglas finds Abigail standing in the hallway, trembling and terrified. She's standing beside a room. She thinks he did something. Something only a psycho would do.

That's the idea behind the script I am writing, it's my first. I post as I go. Down there is today's entry, all the rest can be found right HERE.

Cont'd...

The officer sees himself out, leaving Abigail and Bryce alone. Abigail is staring into dead space, in thought. Bryce lets her have her silence.

ABIGAIL

I want a gun.

BRYCE

What?

ABIGAIL

I need a gun.

BRYCE

Abby. He's in jail.

ABIGAIL

He won't always be.

BRYCE

He has a restraining order against him now. He can't come anywhere near you.

ABIGAIL

 He's crazy! He doesn't care. Bryce I am not moving, so he's always going to know where I live.

BRYCE

Maybe we should just move you back to your fathers. Just for a bit.

ABIGAIL

Fucking asshole.

BRYCE

Sorry?

ABIGAIL

Douglas. Not pressing charges against my dad, I know what he's doing. He's manipulating me. He's trying to get me to trust him. Piece of shit.

BRYCE

Abby?

ABIGAIL

What?

BRYCE

That night, when Douglas was in your house. What do you think he wanted?

ABIGAIL

Honestly? I think he wanted to kill me.

BRYCE

I don't get why he told you to call the police.

ABIGAIL

Because I scared him. I saw him before he could get me.

BRYCE

Did he look scared?

ABIGAIL

Yeah. I caught his ass and he knew it. So he made up some bullshit story and ran.

BRYCE

If he came here to hurt you then why not hurt you? When you started screaming, why run? Why not attack?

ABIGAIL

What the hell are you saying? 

BRYCE

I am just thinking.

ABIGAIL

What? Someone else was here and poor Douglas was just trying to save me from the dark figure?

BRYCE

No. No! This isn't a movie. Real life doesn't have twists like that. Your ex-fiance actually IS just one of those sick stalkers you read about, that's why this is happening. That's the only reason this is happening.

ABIGAIL

I need a gun.

BRYCE

We'll talk to your father when he gets out. If you still want one, he has lots. 

Abigail give him a half smile.

BRYCE

I am sorry Abby.

ABIGAIL

Wht? It's not your fault.

Con't...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: The aftermath of all that stuff that happened.

Still writing my first movie script. It's a thriller.

You can check it out HERE.

INT - LIVING ROOM

Bryce is in Abby's home. He's walking from the kitchen to the living room carrying a steaming cup of tea. Inside the living room Abigail is sitting with the police. The lead officer is that same one who interrogated Conrad earlier. Bryce hands Abigail the tea.

COP

We have him on criminal trespassing, but these waters are bit murky given your former living situation.

ABIGAIL

No they're not, I told him I didn't ever want to see him again.

COP

You still have his things.

ABIGAIL

What?

COP

Why do you still have his things?

ABIGAIL

I don't want them.

COP

You see why a jury might be sympathetic to someone breaking into a house to get his own things back.

ABIGAIL

HE ATTACKED ME!!

COP

We weren't able to prove that. We weren't able to lay a single charge in that case, in a court of law that means it didn't happen.

BRYCE

And what about this other thing that he's saying? That he saw someone?

COP

You mean this mysterious figure that he conveniently can't give a description of because it was too dark? I wouldn't lose sleep over that. Frankly it's not the first time we heard that one from someone. 

BRYCE

So where is he?

COP

Right now he's behind bars until he sees a judge but unless we have something that can keep him there then he's probably going to get away with a fine and some probation. Are you sure you didn't notice anything last night as you were leaving?

BRYCE

I didn't see anything.

COP

Miss...maybe it would be better if you stayed with someone for a while. 

BRYCE

I am staying with her.

ABIGAIL

When are you letting my father go?

COP

 Actually Douglas refuses to press charges against your father. He'll be out later today.

The room falls quiet.

 COP

Well, we'll be leaving. This time we'd like you to file an official restraining order against Douglas, and if I were you I'd think about finding someplace else to live. He's...

ABIGAIL

No.

COP

Keep an eye on her.

BRYCE

I will.

COP

We'll be in touch.

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: HALFWAY POINT!!! Lets do something F'd up.

HALFWAY POINT! What? This thing is real. I am actually going to finish this thing someday, I really am.

I am writing my first movie, posting each new page as I go.

Synopsis:

Douglas and Abby have just started a happy life. Abby loves Douglas, Douglas adores Abby. One day there's a break. A psychotic break. Abby finds a room full of her favorite dolls, all torn apart and molested. Disturbed writing scrawled all over the walls. Douglas won't admit to it, he says Abby is very sick. Abby says Douglas is very sick. She wants him gone, he wants her back.

 I collect it all HERE

Today's page:

INT - THE COFFEE SHOP 

Douglas, unshaven and wearing a baseball cap pulled down to his large aviator sunglasses sits watching the world on the other side of the coffee shop window. It's late in the day, people are leaving. Abby exits the building across the street with Bryce, Douglas's jaw tenses. Douglas puts his coffee down and moves out of frame. Outside Abby and Bryce are about to cross the street towards the coffee shop. 

The door chimes announce their entrance into the small coffee shop, the gleeful pair walks straight up to the counter. Behind them Douglas's seat is empty. They place a quick order and leave together. Douglas comes back into frame, now with his coat on. He throws down some change from his pocket to cover his bill and leaves.

INT - DOUGLAS' TRUCK

Douglas is sitting inside an old black truck, watching from a distance as Abby and Bryce load groceries into the car.

INT - ABIGAIL'S KITCHEN

Abigail and Bryce are eating the last of what looks like an incredible meal, Bryce starts to clean up.

ABIGAIL

I feel like I should help you with that.

BRYCE

You don't look like you'd be much help.

ABIGAIL

Food coma. Please tell me there's not desert.

BRYCE

There's desert. 

ABIGAIL

Damn you.

Bryce brings the plates with him back to the kitchen and returns carrying two big, frosting covered cupcakes.

BRYCE

Now you're in trouble.

ABIGAIL

How did you know I love chocolate?

BRYCE

You're a girl.

Abby joyfully bites into her cupcake. It's perfect. She needs a moment.

ABIGAIL

Yes.

BRYCE

Aaaaaaaaand I found something else back there but I need to run it by you first.

ABIGAIL

What?

Bryce hold up a bottle of wine.

ABIGAIL

Oh. Did you want a glass.

BRYCE

Well...that sort of depends on whether or not I am driving home tonight?

ABIGAIL

Ahhhhhhhh...

BRYCE

Yeah...Obviously I'd stay on the couch. I thought maybe it would be fun to share the bottle and make it a late one tonight.

ABIGAIL

That would be fun, it's just...

BRYCE

I am putting the bottle down. It's ok Abby, I get it.

ABIGAIL

Space is just a thing for me right now.

BRYCE

Alone time. I get it. It's ok. 

ABIGAIL

Sorry.

BRYCE

Don't be.

INT - DOUGLAS' CAR

Parked between trees, tucked away in the shadows Douglas' beat up black truck is almost invisible. He's nervously shaking his leg, attention never leaving the view he has of Abby's house. Finally he sees movement, the front door opens. He sits witness to Abigail and Bryce hugging and saying their goodbyes. Bryce heads to his car and starts it up. Douglas breathes an intense sigh of relief.

DOUGLAS

Phewwwwwwww.

Fuck.

Thank you.

Bryce heads off down the road, Douglas waits. After a minute Douglas says one more thank you and starts to drive away. Just as he's making his turn he takes one last look back at the house in the rear view mirror. Something catches his eye. His brakes slam and the truck comes to a stop.

In the rear view mirror Douglas sees something heading towards the house. He sees a figure rushing towards Abby's side window. It's so dark Douglas has trouble following it, he can hardly make out what it's doing. What is it doing? Did it just go in the window? Did something just go inside the house?

Douglas gets out and looks around. He can't see the figure, he's starting to panic. He moves closer, aware of the dangers that come with his being spotted. The window is open, it looks like something pushed it open and crawled through. Douglas can't believe this, he staggers forward, his stagger becomes a full stride rushing towards Abigail's side window. He sees a hand print on the ledge.

He listens, he hears Abigail singing upstairs. She's alone. He enters through the window.

INT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE

Inside the house it's quiet, Douglas skulks quietly. He's trying to avoid Abigail, he knows how dangerous this is. He can't be seen. He ducks down and surveys the lower floor while Abigail listens to the radio upstairs.  He hears a creak in the hallway, he very carefully investigates. It's so dark, he can't tell if there's someone there or not. He feels it. Someone's there, someone's staring back at him. 

Something catches his eye, movement from the top of the stairs. He sees Abigail, shes staring back at him. Her face white. She screams.

ABIGAIL

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Douglas motions to Abigail to calm herself, out of the corner of his eye he sees movement in the hallway again. He turns his attention away from Abigail back to the darkness in the front hallway. From out of that darkness a figure stands up, and runs out the front door. Douglas jumps back, startled by what he just saw. He turns back to Abby.

DOUGLAS

Abby! Call the police!

Douglas dashes out the front door after the mystery figure.

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: Focus on the girl.

My name's Thomas. I am writing my first movie. I post everything as I go and collect it all HERE. Or look around a little, I've written shows, shorts, and articles all up in this blog before tackling this movie script business.

Douglas and Abby were madly in love. Douglas had just moved into her beautiful family home in the country, they were happy. Until one day she accused him of mutilating and violating her dolls and writing psychotic messages all over the walls. Douglas is pretty sure he didn't do that. Abby seems absolutely sure that he did. 

Here's today's page:

EXT - ABBY'S DAD'S HOUSE

Abby's car pulls into a small driveway outside of a modest one floor house. Inside the car she collects her things, before reaching for the door handle Abby stops herself and pulls down the overhead mirror. She see's her scar, it's looking more pronounced than before. The makeup has worn off a little. She starts to touch it up with some powder she takes from her bag.

HONK!

The sound of a carhorn behind her startles Abby, powder is flung into the air. Filling her lungs. She starts to choke and quickly exits the car.

BRYCE

Abby!

Bryce emerges from the truck behind Abby's and runs to her. 

BRYCE

Are you ok?

ABIGAIL

Yeah, pffffffffffttt...

That horn just made me jump and I got makeup in my mouth.

BRYCE

My fault. I am sorry.

ABIGAIL

It's ok.

Abigail hugs him.

ABIGAIL

Thank you so much for coming.

BRYCE

Of course Abby but...I don't think you should be doing this.

ABIGAIL

I knowww. My dad keep's saying that.

BRYCE

Your dad might be right.

ABIGAIL

My dad hasn't slept since I've been staying here. He stays up all night, everytime a car's headlights pass by he has to look out the window. If I want things to go back to normal then things have to go back to normal.

BRYCE
Yeah but...

ABIGAIL
I haven't heard from him in weeks, and we changed the locks. 

BRYCE
I don't like it.

ABIGAIL
I need to go home. 

Bryce can see that she means it. 

Off camera a door swings open. The pair turns to see Abigail's father Richard. He has a concerned look in his face.

INT - RICHARDS HOUSE

Inside Richard's small home boxes are everywhere, they're being filled by Abigail and Bryce. Richard isn't helping, he's actively trying to get her to stay.

RICHARD

One more week!

ABIGAIL

Will one more week actually make me any safer?

RICHARD

Yes! 

ABIGAIL

Ok. I get it, I am scared to go back too but I have to. I haven't been alone in weeks. I need to be by myself, I need to be somewhere where I can just cry and process everything that happened. I need to go home.

Richard relents.

RICHARD

I am going to be checking on you, keeping an eye out for anything. I'll drive past every couple hours,

ABIGAIL

You don't need to do that.

RICHARD

It's happening.

BRYCE

Abby?

Abigail turns her attention back to Bryce.

BRYCE

I think we're good here, I think we can get this in one trip.

Abby gives her father one last reassuring look before picking up her box and heading out the door.

On the drive up the men keep suspicious eyes on every car that passes.

INT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE

Inside the house Abby waits with the boxes in the front hallway, Richard and Bryce are going through the house. They look under every bed and inside every closet. Bryce rushes back up from the basement holding his nose.

ABIGAIL

Told you.

Bryce takes a second to catch his breath.

BRYCE

I didn't see anything down there. Shelves, a cot, Christmas decorations, lots of garbage.

Richard emerges from one of the rooms and comes down the stairs.

RICHARD

I think we should do one more sweep, you check all the rooms I checked and I'll check yours.

ABIGAIL

You both looked everywhere. I saw you look underneath the dresser. He's not a hamster; dad.

RICHARD

Just for tonight maybe I should stay on the couch.

ABIGAIL

I love you dad. No.

RICHARD

Then let him.

BRYCE

I don't mind.

ABIGAIL

Thank you. But no. Please.

Bryce and Richard share a concerned but defeated look. Eventually both giving Abigail a strong hug and well wishes before departing. Abigail closes the door, alone in the house for the first time since the attack.

INT - ABIGAIL'S BEDROOM

Abigail settles into her bed, it's dark and very quiet. She's visibly nervous.

She hears a car approach, the sound startles her and she jumps out of bed and heads to the window. She's shaking. 

As the car pulls around the dark corner she feels relief when she recognizes that it belongs to Richard. Her dad's doing just what he said, he's keeping watch. She heads back to bed and forces her eyes closed. 

Darkness.

...CONT'D