Inspiration pdf format by Richard Russell
An Air Force pilot hunts down the person who sent her a Christmas greeting many years before.
A soldier’s mail is precious. There’s notes from friends always good for a laugh. Letters from family making you ache for home. Messages from a lover, hidden from prying eyes.
But for Lori Wells, a young air force pilot, no such mail arrived.
Only a card from a young student (Billy) she’s never met, thanking her for her service. And a kid’s cherubic smile beaming out from a photograph. A testament to a families love. A sense of belonging Lori can’t shake and can’t bring herself to throw away.
So, she carries the good luck charm with her through an entire career. Now Lori’s on her way to finally meet her seraph in the flesh.
Only problem is, grown Billy’s not quite the same happy boy. There are no loving parents. And Lori can’t shake a feeling of ineluctable dread. As the lies and doubts pile up, she’ll have to confront a brutal truth before it’s too late.
If you’re looking for inspired drama, be sure to check out this tale of shattered perceptions and false idols by the talented Richard Russell.
Production: One adult male and female role along with a few extras. A house, a backyard, and a couple other interior locations.
About the writer: Richard Russell A writer should never pen his own bio. What seems important to a writer will no doubt bore most readers. Yet, writers do create their own bios, to the chagrin of everyone. My bio must be short and to the point as I have few literary successes to boast of. It seems I have been writing all my life, and indeed, if pages of print equal success, then I am as successful as anyone. Pages alone, though, doesn’t connote fame or success, just pages. I live in North Carolina, and I write whenever and however I can. The mere act of writing produces a joy that I find in no other endeavor. Whether or not my writing becomes known to many means little to me. Oh, I would love to be a household name, but that is not my goal. My goal is to write stories that compel the reader to finish. My goal is to create tales that will not let me quit them in mid-sentence. I am a dreamer and a procrastinator, and those traits are not ingredients for success. I also suffer from reverse paranoia. I think people are plotting to make me happy.
About the reviewer: James Barron is a former law student turned screenwriter who loves to write comedy along with the occasional horror/thriller. Contact James at jbarron021 (a) gmail.
Read Inspiration (11 page short drama 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.
2 Comments so far
1.
Old Pal
March 25th, 2017 at 12:20 am
That was great. Good pace.
I like the jump through time in the beginning, I was on page three and it already felt like so much had happened.
The conversation after Lori’s “discovery” was great too, nice use of subtext. The actors will have fun with that scene. And I felt the suspense ratcheting up as well.
Nice job, well written and entertaining and the characters felt real.
2.
Mike Cashman
May 27th, 2020 at 10:26 am
“Inspiration” was very well written and truly kept my attention. From Lori’s years in the Air Force, which I am a 30 year career U.S. Veteran myself, I enjoyed reading of her career through the years. She had a colorful career and was inspired by an 8 year old boy whom she has never met.
Billy seemed a little out there upon Lori’s meeting with him. Of course, she is skeptical of Billy and really knows nothing about him. Lori went into this visit completely blind by her own instincts that Billy was just an innocent child whom happened to have written a caring letter at a time in Lori’s career that motivated her and gave her “hope”. You truly never really know someone until it is too late. Billy hacked up his parents. Most likely killed them in the mini-van and that’s why it was parked and hidden in the barn.
Though Billy plays innocent, he truly is a murderer and the reality struck Lori when she saw the Sheriff hand-cuff Billy explaining his families deaths. Lori’s hopes and beliefs of Billy are all taken away in a matter of seconds. She held on to innocents from an 8 year old child, only to see the reality of who Billy really is. Was Billy actually trying to shoot and kill Lori with the “Civil War Rifle”? No one will know.
I really liked the script and I like how it ended. This truly was entertaining and enjoyable to read.