I Robot
It’s Man Vs. Roomba when Octogenarian Roy receives a surprise present from his daughter
The ever widening dangers and potentials of technology. A common theme in both literature and film, the topic spans the gamut of genres. SF/Horror: Hal in 2001. Short Circuit (Comedy). Even Romance – Spike Jonze’s acclaimed SF film Her.
And cantankerous old people? No script writer can go wrong with that! Geezers aways make for colorful characters. Betty White in Lake Placid. The entire cast of Cocoon…
Put those two factors into a short. Add a touch of dark humor, and the result is guaranteed to be memorable.
As iRobot opens, so does old man Roy’s door. Cranky and frail, he harasses the poor teen Postman relentlessly. He asks the kid a million questions. Insists on getting I.D. Eventually, Roy pulls the package from his hands. Slams the door in the kid’s face.
Back in his kitchen, Roy opens the box: it’s a surprise present from daughter Wendy. A fully automated Roomba style vaccuum cleaner; designed to help around the house. Though perpetually unimpressed, Roy turns the device on. He sets it down and gives it a spin.
…but the new-fangled gizmo does more than spin. It whirrs and clicks. And starts to clean. Mesmorized, Roy watches the bot “do its thing.” After conducting an initial patrol across the floor, the robot circles back – and slams into Roy’s ankle. Before you can yell “that tears it!” the war is on. A cat and mouse game ensues between Roy and his mechnanical nemesis. It may not be a Terminator, but this is one Roomba that’s ready to rock and roll. And not necessarily in a good way…
Easy to shoot, iRobot can be played several ways. Horror. Or tongue in cheek satire. But turn it on and give it your spin. It’s a fun tale of Man vs. Machine, with a lighthearted combination of genres.
About Anthony: I’m an award winning screenwriter from the UK with over 15 scripts produced, optioned and/or purchased. Outside of my screenwriting career, I’m also a published short story writer and movie reviewer. Links to my films and details of my scripts can be found at www.anthonycawood.co.uk.
Pages: 10
Budget: Very low budget. Three actors and a roomba’s all you need.
Read iRobot
Find more scripts available for production
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
5 Comments so far
1.
KP Mackie
December 22nd, 2014 at 8:57 pm
What a gem!
The description is amazing. It’s so important to grab a reader’s attention with clever words that paint colorful pictures. The mental pictures of Roy versus iRobot made me smile. 😀
2.
KP Mackie
December 22nd, 2014 at 9:01 pm
What a gem!
The description is amazing. The clever writing provides colorful mental pictures. Roy versus iRobot made me smile. 😀
(I submitted my comments, but for some reason the original didn’t post.)
3.
Anthony Cawood
December 23rd, 2014 at 6:35 pm
Thanks for the doubly kind words KP 😉
Anthony
4.
KP Mackie
April 15th, 2016 at 4:17 pm
It’s still a terrific story…
Someone smart will pick it up. 🙂
5.
Anthony Cawood
April 15th, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Hope so KP… I’m in the middle of writing the sequel!