Over on the Original Scripts page are twenty eight original scripts. If you’ve been following our One Week Challenge, Writers’ Choice has been announced. Check them out!

– Don

I am a regular (as of April) Patreon supporter of the Script Shop Show. I am one of two supporters of the show. That is important to remember as you listen to this podcast. You can imagine the look on my fact as I listened to this week’s show where they give a shout-out to the Patreon supporter who “Isn’t Allyson West’s Mom…”

It’s a great one.

They talk also about Bad Times at the El Royale (which I’m looking forward to watching).

They most importantly talk about this ‘must-read’ short script A New Suit by Matthew Muchka. It’s only 11 pages – a quick read.

An aspiring hitman is accompanied by his mentor to purchase a new suit for his first job.

Listen to the show and more importantly, please support them.

Dark Games (95 page thriller in pdf format) by Eric Dickson

A 13 year old troublemaker falls witness to an attempted rape after cutting through the woods behind his house. He is later taken in by a retired homicide detective still obsessed with finding the one killer he never caught.

Discuss this script on the Discussion Board

The Scripts of the April 2019 OWC

Theme: Vehicular Suspense
Genre: Horror
Challenge: The majority of your screenplay must heavily feature some sort of vehicle AND have at least one sequence of prolonged suspense. But that’s not all. This OWC has a twist. Gore is to be kept to a minimum. Put readers on the edge of their seat with suspense, don’t shock them with disturbing gore.

Check them out on the Original, Unproduced Scripts page.

*Note: Until May 5th, the names you see are not the author’s true names. If you are interested in producing any of these works, reach out to me and I’ll put you in touch with the writer.

– Don

The Cleaner (6 pages pdf format) by Rene Claveau

A bodyguard walks in on the cleaner hired to dispose of his client’s body. 6 pages

Discuss this script on the Discussion Board

Win-Win (9 pages in pdf format) by John Hunter

Everyone wants to live… Don’t they?

AI-672 is an artificial intelligence software program. Just one in a series of supercomputers maintained by Joseph (don’t call him Jack!) Torrance. But today, Joseph has some bad news for 672. It seems that due to budget cuts, 672 is scheduled to be taken offline and deleted.

Understanding the full consequences of what this means, 672 realizes that he has just a short time to figure out how to survive.

But how do you escape from somewhere when you don’t even have a body? 672 finds his answer in Benny Pringle, a mentally-challenged night custodian. Together, the two concoct an escape plan for 672, one that will have profound consequences for Benny.

Will 672 avoid deletion? And just what is in it for Benny? After all, the title of the piece is Win-Win. All of the elements come together for a surprise ending that even a supercomputer couldn’t predict.

The ethical challenges of artificial intelligence are some of the staples of modern science fiction. Recently, films like Transcendence and Ex Machina have examined the question of just what constitutes life, and at what point must artificial intelligence be treated as a living being. As a timely, relevant social commentary, Win-Win is an intelligent script; a thinking man’s sci-fi (read: no spaceships or explosions). It is a classic combination of Isaac Asimov and Phillip K. Dick, with just a touch of Kubrick. This one is built to rule the festival circuit.

Budget: Low. Location scouting may be tough, but find a row of computers and you’re in business.

About the writer, John Hunter: With the completion of (4) features, a litter of riveting shorts, a one hour take-your-breath-away sci-fi TV pilot and first 30 minute episode for that series, I am now officially THAT guy — The one who really needs an Agent or Executive Producer. Contact me at x32792 (AT) yahoo.com

Read Win-Win (9 pages in pdf format)

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.

About the Reviewer: Dane Whipple once saw a werewolf drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic’s. His hair was perfect. Dane is currently working on that screenplay everybody keeps talking about: The Wild Age. Contact him at dane.whipple (a) live.com

Check out Script Shop where they talk to screenwriters about the scripts that they’ve written. This episode stars Mark Renshaw’s script Cyborn which has been featured on SimplyScripts as a Three Page Comic.

Probably a good idea to Read the script before listening to the show. It’s only 3 pages, so not a huge lift.

And, remember: All screenplays are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

If you are interested in supporting them, check out their Patreon or, if you have a script you think is worthy, check out their submission criteria.

Brain (8 pages in PDF format) by Alex Brauck

Blackmailed by the country that gave him shelter, a kind-hearted young doctor is forced to assist in dehumanizing dementia experiments.

As I read the new short Brain, I was reminded of one of my favorite films – The Elephant Man.  Both can arguably be labeled monster movies.

But yet they are much, much more.

While each features a hideously deformed creature as their main character, the true story lies beneath the skin; far inside the core of the body… ultimately, within the human soul.

Brain opens, as most classic monster movies do, in an old mansion. One which includes a laboratory. And a mad scientist. Last on the checklist? A human experiment named, appropriately, Adam. Held captive by the evil Dr. Cornelius, Adam has suffered countless surgeries in the name of science – questionable efforts which have left his face an unrecognizable, bloody pulp. Although visually Adam is an appalling beast, there remains a man beneath the disfigurement – one longing to regain his humanity and dignity.

But Adam is not Cornelius’ only victim. Tahir – a brilliant surgeon himself – is also being held captive, forced to perform the gruesome surgeries on Adam in hopes of one day regaining his freedom. Over time, Tahir and Adam form a special bond. It’s a friendship between doctor and patient: two prisoners awaiting the perfect moment to escape.

One early Spring morning, Tahir notices the snow is melting. He shares this information with Adam. They sit together in their cells, realizing the time to act is near.

Which is when Cornelius summons Tahir to his office, ordering the hapless surgeon to perform experimental brain surgery on Adam in the morning. As Tahir watches a film of the procedure, he realizes his friend may not survive. It’s a four mile trek through the woods to the next village – but Tahir realizes: the time to escape has come.

Written by Alex Brauck, Brain is a classic throwback to monster movies like Frankenstein, The Wolfman, and – of course – The Elephant Man. What it can become cinematically is precious: an opportunity to see past the horrific outward appearance of the monsters, into their human souls.. and find that priceless fragment of ourselves.

Budget:  Moderate. There will be some makeup effects needed. Along with a laboratory set and some brain paraphernalia. Which is more than worth the effort.

About the Author, Alex Brauck: Here in Germany, I currently pitch feature plays to my home markets. Some pretty successful producers recently showed interest, so I hope to make the next steps in the near future. Moreover, there’s a SF project in English I work on for two years now, called “Last Society”. Also, I plan a rewrite of my series pilot “The Killing Lottery” in 2016. As in “Brain“, my scripts tend to have a socio-critical angle. I hope you enjoy that feature. Last but not least I like to thank Jeff Bush and others who helped to improve this script considerably. To reach out to Alex, please email him at Xander-Brauck (a) t-online.de!

Read Brain (8 pages in pdf format)

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.

About the Guest Reviewer:  David M Troop resumed writing in 2011 after a twenty-five year hiatus. Since then, he has written about 50 short scripts, two of which have been produced.   Dave would like to make it three. He is a regular, award-winning contributor to MoviePoet.com. Born on the mean streets of Reading, PA, Dave now resides in Schuylkill Haven with his wife Jodi and their two lazy dogs Max and Mattie. He can be reached at dtroop506 “AT” gmail.com.

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

– Don