Bad Dreams (4 pages (Short, Horror) by Sean Elwood

A girl home alone receives a phone call from a friend who recounts a nightmare.

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House Divided (Short, Drama) 5 pages by Paul Knauer

A couple reaps the consequences of a long held disagreement.

Most of us have held onto a grudge longer than we should, clutching it stubbornly when it might be easier to forgive and forget. But few have gone to the same lengths as the characters in Paul Knauer’s excellent script, HOUSE DIVIDED.

The story follows Richard and Lizzy, an elderly couple living with a quirky setup. Like bickering siblings forced to share a room, they’ve split their entire house down the middle—right down to the very last detail.

INT. SMALL HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – DAY
Two of everything. TVs. Recliners. Side tables.

As we follow Richard through his daily routine, we can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity and sheer dedication to this divided lifestyle. But make no mistake—this script isn’t all laughs.
When Richard finds Lizzy collapsed on the bedroom floor, he realizes she’s not on his side of the line.

            LIZZY
Maybe call for help?

You’ll find yourself rooting—no, practically yelling! —for him to break through the invisible walls that they’ve maintained for so long. At first, Richard seems heartless for not immediately rushing to her side, but as the scene unfolds, it becomes clear that his reluctance is rooted in deep love and an abiding commitment to his wife. His adherence to her wishes and the boundaries they set together adds layers of tenderness to this seemingly absurd situation.

The simplicity of the setup allows the deeper themes of love, regret, and connection to shine through with heartbreaking elegance. If you want to know what happens to Richard, Lizzy, and their divided house, I strongly urge you to read Paul’s masterful script. You won’t regret it.

And that final shot? Genius! It perfectly encapsulates the emptiness that remains when we cling too hard to our divisions—both hilarious and deeply moving. With only two actors, minimal dialogue, and a single location, this is a filmmaker’s dream. You’ll just need a bit of imagination for that unforgettable final shot.

About the writer: Paul Knauer’s main focus is thrillers and slightly absurdist comedy with heart, but he believes becoming a better writer requires pushing personal boundaries, so you’ll notice a thorough mix of genres in his portfolio. Much of his work has universal appeal, evidenced by successful productions in the UK, UAE, and US–and options in Australia, Russia, India, Canada, and Thailand. He recently optioned his first feature.

Read: House Divided (short drama) 5 pages in pdf format

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About the reviewer: Matthew Taylor just loves telling stories, usually in the thriller and sci-fi genres, most likely involving dark themes, unique characters and almost always ending in tragedy. Some of them are even produced!

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

Theme: Urban Legend.

The Challenge: Write a 2-6 page script that surrounds an urban legend. One of two options: Create an original one, or put your own spin on an existing one. 2 to 5 characters.

The script does not have to be strictly horror. Horror-comedy, horror-thriller, horror-drama, etc., are acceptable. Please put the name of the Urban Legend on the title page.

And here is the result: The Scripts of the SimplyScripts 2024 Halloween One Week Challenge.

Scripts were written in a week and anonymously submitted. The Writers’ Choice has been revealed.

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PC: PHC ;D

Never work with animals or children
– W.C. Fields

Challenge accepted
– P.H. Cook

Talk about it on the discussion board.

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

And, brace yourself for the Halloween One Week Challenge! Sharpen your pencils and get writing! Your 6 page or less script is due Friday, October 25th at Midnight (est).

– Don

Thanks Barksid for the heads up on this.

Inside Out (pdf) by Meg LeFauve & Dave Holstein from Walt Disney Studios – A sequel that features Riley entering puberty and experiencing brand new, more complex emotions as a result. As Riley tries to adapt to her teenage years, her old emotions try to adapt to the possibility of being replaced.

IMDb

Still sorting out from server migration. But in the meantime, there are twelve original scripts on the Unproduced Scripts page for your reading pleasure.

– Don

Bear with.

Over on the Unproduced Scripts page are twenty-one original scripts for your reading pleasure. And scripts from the week before are here and the Writers’ names for OWC are revealed (and Writers’ Choice).

– Don