Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secure by Anthony Cawood

A man discovers his fears could be a blessing when a night cab ride goes horribly wrong.

For many metropolitan workers, their daily commute is damned from the moment they walk out the door.

Overcrowded buses and delayed subway trains are daily demons one can’t escape. Mundane monsters which delight in tormenting travelers – making their day Hell from the start.

But getting a comfortable taxi ride isn’t all that bad – right?

Not if you’re Gareth, the protagonist in Anthony Cawood’s “Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured.” Upper-middle class and entitled, Gareth’s arrogant – in some ways. But it just takes a small red light to extinguish all that confidence in a puff of smoke.

You see, Gareth suffers from Cleithrophobia – the fear of being locked in. And when his cab starts rolling, the doors lock. A red light indicates the doors are secured, and Gareth’s phobia kicks in – fast.

Cruising along dark streets, Gareth’s cab starts and stops at every traffic light, lengthening the trip and causing yet more concern. And Gareth’s anxieties certainly aren’t helped by unexpected hazards – like idiots who try to reach into the moving car. Or stand clueless in the road.

There’s something not quite right about these “idiots”. Maybe they’re all drunk and celebrating. Or perhaps it’s something more. A danger that’ll make Gareth feel relieved that he’s locked in.

Unless things get even worse…

Budget: Moderate. Just rent a cab for the day. And a few extras as well….!

About the writer: Anthony Cawood is an award-winning and produced screenwriter. He has sold/optioned four feature screenplays, and sold/optioned over forty short scripts, many of which have been filmed. Outside of his extensive screenwriting career, Anthony is also a published short story writer, interviewer and movie reviewer. Links to his films and details of his scripts can be found at www.anthonycawood.co.uk.

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This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

About the reviewer: Hamish Porter is a writer who, if he was granted one wish, would ask for the skill of being able to write dialogue like Tarantino. Or maybe the ability to teleport. Nah, that’s nothing compared to the former. A lover of philosophy, he’s working on several shorts and a sporting comedy that can only be described as “quintessentially British”. If you want to contact him, he can be emailed: hamishdonaldp (a) gmail. If you’d like to contact him and be subjected to incoherent ramblings, follow him on Twitter @HamishP95.

Requiem by Sylvia Dahlby

A mentally-impaired teen mourns the death of a murdered classmate.

Churches hold a unique role in society: setting the final scene for births and deaths. Those attending such events experience a wild range of emotions – from ebullience to dark distress.

For the characters in Requiem, it’s sadly the blackest of nights. 14 year-old Rose lies motionless in her casket at church. Though now (presumably) at peace, Rose is the victim of a murderous assailant; not yet identified – much less caught. Her only companion in these last hours: developmentally delayed teen boy Elvin, his world rocked by the loss of his closest friend.

When others enter the vestibule, Elvin bolts away.

It’s his mother and the local Father, conversing nervously amongst themselves. About how Elvin’s been reported missing. In fact, he’s disappeared without a trace!

Not long after Elvin’s mother leaves, Rose’s father arrives. A grieving parent on the verge, Peter asks the Father to hear his confession. But when he collapses in the booth – a different voice filters through the screen.

Elvin’s there. Hiding. Ready to admit to certain “sins”:

            ELVIN
     (stuttering)
I did-didn’t me-mean to kill her.

Rose’s father storms out, intent on wreaking his revenge. But can a boy as troubled as Elvin tell the truth – or is he just saying what others want to hear?

Read the story to find out. Offering high drama on a low budget, Requiem is the “holy grail of scripts”: a tale of grief, redemption and revenge. One that – unlike Elvin (and perhaps others) – has absolutely nothing to hide!

Budget: Low. Just some high quality actors (and a church) is all.

About the Writer: I’m a one time advertising copywriter who has fallen in love with screenwriting. I’ve written a handful of features, one has been produced as a Role Playing Game (RPG) and made its debut at CarnageCon. I enjoy writing short scripts since it’s a fun exercise for sharpening my skills; so far one of my shorts has been produced as a student film project, and I welcome the opportunity to have more of my work produced via participation on SimplyScripts. Sylvia can be reached at sylviedahl (a) AOL.

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This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

About the reviewer: Hamish Porter is a writer who, if he was granted one wish, would ask for the skill of being able to write dialogue like Tarantino. Or maybe the ability to teleport. Nah, that’s nothing compared to the former. A lover of philosophy, he’s working on several shorts and a sporting comedy that can only be described as “quintessentially British”. If you want to contact him, he can be emailed: hamishdonaldp (a) gmail. If you’d like to contact him and be subjected to incoherent ramblings, follow him on Twitter @HamishP95.

The same young crew that did Deja Vu has come out with a new film: Cypher.

Cypher, a new mobile ARG, tasks players with finding clues that lead them to specially marked bags. The winner of the game is promised a grand prize. 6 weeks into the game, things begin to go south as some players take the game too seriously.

Yardwork by Marnie Mitchell-Lister

Sometimes, you just can’t take the nagging anymore…

No-one likes doing yardwork.

If someone claims to enjoy it, they’re most likely lying. It’s dull, tedious, and stressful. In other words, it’s no fun.

But then there’s Yardwork – a one-page script by Marnie Mitchell-Lister. A fun, fascinating read, Yard’s as short and brutal as they come.

The premise: a woman’s been gruesomely done-in by her husband. What’s the murder weapon, you ask? A weed-wacker, apparently.

But Sargeant Russo and Officer Jennings are on the case. If anyone’s going to “dig up” the truth, it’s them.

Just imagine all the clues: gory violence. Dark humor. And the most morbid of twists. Even if you’re no fan of the great outdoors, it’s safe to say filming Yardwork would be summer fun.

So put down the Strimmer and pick up a winner. And “grow” your next film project today!

Pages: One. Yes – one!

Budget: Minimal.

About the Writer: Marnie Mitchell-Lister has creative A.D.D. Some of her writing can be read here: BrainFluffs.com. Some of her photography can be seen here: marnzart.wordpress.com.

Read Yardwork (one page in pdf format)

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This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

About the reviewer: Hamish Porter is a writer who, if he was granted one wish, would ask for the skill of being able to write dialogue like Tarantino. Or maybe the ability to teleport. Nah, that’s nothing compared to the former. A lover of philosophy, he’s working on several shorts and a sporting comedy that can only be described as “quintessentially British”. If you want to contact him, he can be emailed: hamishdonaldp (a) gmail. If you’d like to contact him and be subjected to incoherent ramblings, follow him on Twitter @HamishP95.

Over on the Original Scripts page are twenty four original scripts for your reading pleasure.

– Don

Avoidance (10 pages in pdf format) by James Barron

A socially awkward man goes to epic lengths to avoid having a conversation

Someone is following you. You hear the pitter patter of footsteps directly behind you. What to do? Quickly, you move into a crowd. Did you lose them? Nope, they’re still on your tail. The panic begins to set in. Is it a serial killer? A monster? Worse… it’s an annoying girl you used to know in high school!

This is the situation that Drew and his best friend Pat face in Avoidance, a great bro-comedy written by talented scribe James Barron. But they’re not being chased by just any girl, as Drew says:

            DREW
She’s hunting us. She’s the Predator.

            PAT
Stop saying she’s the Predator!

She may not be the Predator, but there’s seemingly no escape. After Drew spies Lidia, the somebody that he used to know (musical reference for ya), he freaks out and drags Pat along for the ride. Everywhere they try to hide (restaurant, crowd, alleyway), Lidia magically follows. What does she want? Has she seen them? Will Drew be forced to have an actual conversation with her? (gasp!)

Laugh out loud dialogue with a great ending punch, this one is perfect for a director looking to make a humorous Hangover-esque short about something we’ve all experienced: the attempt to avoid an uncomfortable (or boring, as the case may be) rendezvous.

Budget: Medium – only two actors with dialogue, but you need a Lidia to follow them, so three actors total. Several locations (restaurant, alleyway, streets) and several crowd scenes. A cunning director with an eye on the budget could probably make this on the cheap, but, as written, it may take a little cash to tell this story right.

About the writer: James loves to write comedy and action along with the occasional horror short. You can reach him at jbarron021 (a) gmail.

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This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the reviewer: Mitch Smith is an award winning screenwriter who offers notes, script editing and phone consultations. Follow him on twitter @MitchScripts, or email him at Mitch.SmithScripts (a) gmail.

The Living by Chris Marsh

Filmed as Sila by Codestar Productions

After losing his job, Ray busies himself investigating his neighbor’s suicide. As the mystery deepens, he befriends the dead man’s widow but his own identity slips away in the process.

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Grace by Jane Therese

When a young singer is mugged, her bravery inspires the teen who robbed her.

A beautiful singing voice is a true gift. It’s not something that can be taught or learned, but with proper training it can be perfected. And if the owner of this incredible gift is brave and confident enough to share it, our ears and souls are blessed.

Sixteen-year-old, Grace, has been given this gift, and she shares it with anyone who has ears. Her voice echoes off the walls of the subway station, momentarily tuning out the sound of screeching metal, turning the grungy surroundings into a concert hall. Her audience is captivated, showing their appreciation by tossing money into her tip bucket. But not everyone is focused on her voice, and in a flash… her money is stolen by a troubled teen, Spike.

Grace is aptly named, as she holds herself that way, despite her many struggles. She washes her clothes at the laundromat, bathes in a gas station bathroom sink, eats left over food from the diner where she works… because Grace is homeless. But her struggles don’t end there, and neither does her run-in with Spike.

Most people are drawn to Grace’s amazing voice, but there is something else that draws Spike toward her. He follows her. Watches her. His rough exterior softens. Grace touches Spike’s soul in a completely different way.

GRACE is a beautiful portrayal of strength, bravery and survival.

Production: Low to moderate. Several locations are involved, including a subway, a diner and a stage, but all can be constructed with a little creativity. The most challenging aspect is to find someone to play Grace.

About the Writer: Jane Therese is an award winning screenwriter and photojournalist living in Bucks County, Pa. Jane moved to the East Coast from Orange County, California in 1976 and fell in love with it’s stimulating richness. Jane’s passion for writing and photojournalism, compelled her to delve deep in her ‘backyard’ for her storytelling. Her features include, The Celery Fields, House of the White Bee, La Llorna, A Day in the Life of Jaime; Breaking the Silence of Autism, to name just a few. Jane continues to spend time dedicated to her craft, continuing to tell stories, shedding light on the human experience and their transformations. Jane can be contacted at: janetheresephoto (a) yahoo

Read Grace (12 pages in pdf format)

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This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

About the Reviewer: Marnie Mitchell-Lister has creative A.D.D. Some of her writing can be read here: BrainFluffs.com. Some of her photography can be seen here: marnzart.wordpress.com

Over on the Unproduced Scripts page are seventeen original scripts for your reading pleasure.

And Round 3 of the Writers’ Tournament one page scripts have been posted. There are twenty one one page scripts.

– Don