Fabrini (pdf format) by Henry Christner

An old hotel elevator operator in Washington, D.C., discovers an alignment of past and present.

Tom Hanks races to the top of the Empire State Building for a fated rendezvous with Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle —

Keanu Reeves descends to rescue hostages from the evil Dennis Hopper in Speed —

Gene Wilder propels his pure imagination to even greater heights in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory —

Will Ferrell acts out the ultimate push-button fantasy in Elf —

Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, and Josh Hutcherson react differently to Jena Malone’s striptease in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

And in 2010’s Devil… well, never mind.

What do all these movie scenes have in common? An elevator! Ever contemplated inserting an elevator scene into your screenplay? If you haven’t… perhaps you should. It’s a detail so vital to the Die Hard franchise that elevator scenes were included in all five movies. Yippee-ki-yay! As Bruce Willis might say…

And in the short script Fabrini, an elevator proves the perfect stage. The protagonist: 74-year-old Joe Fabrini; longtime elevator operator at the Doyle Hotel in D.C. A man at peace with his place in life, Joe’s almost a part of the hotel himself. Attired in a “burgundy whipcord suit and gendarme cap,” Fabrini is a fixture of a bygone era – eagerly regaling riders with stories of famous people who have stayed at the hotel. Though he clearly relishes the spotlight, he’s also quick to point out, “I see a lot of things. But I see nothing.”

When the story opens, Fabrini has the rapt attention of a couple as he describes a brief encounter with Jackie Kennedy. As the couple exits, Joe’s in midstory of yet another tale… regarding old-time screen actress Ida Lupino. Fabrini takes the interruption in stride, welcoming aboard two new riders: the elegant 66-year-old Miss Carlson and her son, Paul. Miss Carlson visited the Doyle once before. A long, long time ago.

Fabrini immediately engages the two in repartee – it turns out Miss Carlson likes Lupino too! Fabrini and Carlson share fond memories of the Doyle Hotel’s ballroom, that “wonderfully romantic place in the old days.” Which is when young Paul reveals, “It’s the reason we’re here.” The question is – what exactly does that mean?

A vivid story-within-a-story, Fabrini is a touching tale filled with sweetness and nostalgia. For a smart and sensitive director, this ride is well worth taking…

Pages: 7

Budget: Minimal. A handful of characters. Dress Joe Fabrini appropriately to add flair. Getting permission to commandeer an elevator should be easy. Plus, do yourself a favor — Google “Ida Lupino.” 🙂

About the Writer: Henry Christner, a former teacher and newspaperman, is a relative newcomer to screenwriting. He is the author of one feature, “Let Me Die in My Footsteps,” and three shorts — “Conversion,” “Hagridden,” and “Fabrini.” He can be reached at Hdchristner (a) yahoo!

Read Fabrini (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.

Fox Searchlight is next out the gate with:

Birth of a Nation – June 15, 2015 Yellow draft shooting script by Nate Parker (story by Nate Parker & Jean McGianni Celestin) – hosted by: Fox Searchlight Pictures – in pdf format

Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom. W

Information courtesy of imdb.com

Jackie – Undated, unspecified draft script by Noah Oppenheim – hosted by: Fox Searchlight Pictures – in pdf format

JACKIE is a searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. JACKIE places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband’s assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a psychological portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband’s legacy and the world of “Camelot” that they created and loved so well.

Information courtesy of imdb.com

Check out more Scripts Studios are Posting for 2016 – 2017 Script Award Consideration

Scooter (pdf format) by Libby Chambers

In the Suburbs of Sydney in the 70s, an adolescent girl longs for a scooter…or at least she thinks she does.

Remember when you were 12? We all do – no matter how long ago it was. No responsibilities and no worries. The realities of life left to the adults. Looking back, that childhood naïveté and innocence was pretty close to bliss. Even if we didn’t know it, at the time.

Indulging in a bit of nostalgia is comforting. And therein lies the appeal of Scooter. It’s the 1970s. The setting? Sydney, Australia – a sunny day. 12 year old Lizzie lounges outside with older sister, Nina. They’re watching a group of exuberant 14 year old boys race scooters down a hill. And Lizzie’s getting jealous.

“The boys fly down the hill at breakneck speed, whooping as they go.” Lizzie’s positively “transfixed.” Christmas is coming soon, and Lizzie wonders if Mum and Dad might buy her a scooter of her own. In bed that night, she shares those thoughts with Nina. But Nina discourages her, telling Liz she overheard their parents discussing Dad’s job. Asking for a scooter “isn’t a good idea.” Money’s kind of tight right now.

And with those simple words, Lizzie’s dreams are dashed to the floor.

Remember Christmas when you were a kid? Waiting with bated breath to see what morning would bring… and if it would be as magical as you hoped for? Lizzie’s about to go through that turmoil, too. But will she get what she really, truly wants?

A sweet sentimental script, Scooter is reminiscent of many classics. Stand By Me, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Moonrise Kingdom. Like those eternal standards, Scooter brings to mind that long-lost time – when life was simple, and the biggest concern on every child’s mind was yearning for that special present.

Are you a director or producer looking for Christmas to come early? Scooter would make a terrific gift!

Pages: 11

Budget: Low. Two girls, a few rambunctious teenage boys, and a hill. Simple interior shots in a house. Add BYOS (Bring Your Own Scooters) and some Christmas decor for a fun trip down memory lane!

About the Writer: Libby Chambers has been writing all her life – especially in her head, and on scraps of paper. It’s only in the last few years she began to get serious about screen-writing. Prior to this she worked in the Features Department for ABC TV as a Program Assistant, and trained as a FAD. She has also worked professionally as a freelance web-content editor and proofreader. She is thrilled her first ever entry (Simpatico) into a Screenplay Comp – The LA Comedy Festival ‘Short’ screenplay division took out Top 3 Finalist and hopes the high placing will be a continuing trend. 🙂 Libby would love to see her words come to life on screen. She lives with her husband (also a screenwriter) in Sydney, Australia, and describes him as being both a good and a bad influence on her writing. You can contact Libby at libbych “AT” hotmail

About the Reviewer: California über reader/reviewer KP Mackie is still working hard on her animated feature.

Read Scooter (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.

Night Sweat (4 page thriller/suspense script in pdf format) by Justin Swartz

Filmed as Night Sweats. Produced by Dena McKinnon and Directed by Dena McKinnon and Jatinder Bhan

A young woman has nightmares about her own murder and must learn how to prevent it on a hot summer night.

Discuss this script on the Discussion Board

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

Don

Two more scripts for your consideration – Elle and Sing

Sony Classics brings us:

Elle – Undated, unspecified draft script by David Birke (Based on the novel “Oh…” by Philippe Djian)

and Universal Pictures brings us:

Sing – Undated, unspecified draft script by Garth Jennings

Check them all out on the Scripts Studios are Posting for Award Consideration page

Fruitcake (pdf format) by Steven Clark

Through the years, a boy has trouble accepting the truth about his family…

Remember when you were young and couldn’t wait to grow up? Every explanation for “no” was accompanied by, “Wait until you’re older.” Bet you felt that day would never come…

But – eventually it does. And, for most of us, not a second too soon. Grownup privileges? You bet. But, with the good stuff comes awareness. And that crucial concept: maturity.

In Steven Clark’s drama Fruitcake, young Doug Merill isn’t old enough to truly understand the reasons for his parents’ divorce. Looking back, he remembers tons of arguing and “icy stares.” Sure, his father Peter wasn’t the world’s most hands-on dad. And his mother Judy – a proficient baker – cried a lot. All the time, in fact.

But as time passes, Doug adjusts. Judy becomes the primary parent, and Peter takes Doug on weekends. Driving up to the front of the house, Peter honks the car horn and Doug rushes out to meet him; carrying a box of Judy’s fruitcake. Until one fateful day…

Conflict between a son and his father – it’s a familiar tale, for which growing up’s the only cure. There’s a joke that getting older’s a bitch – until you consider the alternative. Fortunately – for Doug at least – time and age provides clarity…

A sad, poignant tale, Fruitcake has a sweet ending nonetheless. Easy locations. Interesting characters. And universal appeal. Which makes the decision to choose this script a piece of cake. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist!)

Pages: 14

Budget: Low. A handful of talented actors plus extras will enjoy inhabiting these characters. One tantalizing baked good required. 🙂

About the writer: Based in upstate, NY, Steven Clark is the writer of over 30 short scripts, several of which are under option, in pre-production, or have already been made into films. On A Clear Night, a family Christmas feature aimed at a Hallmark Channel-type audience, is currently in the works. Steven can be reached at Steamroller138 (a) gmail.

About the Reviewer: California über reader/reviewer KP Mackie is working hard on her animated feature.

Read Fruitcake (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.

It’s been a slow week here at SimplyScripts. Only ten original scripts posted over on the Original Scripts page.

– Don

The Curfew by Richard Stephen Bell

    filmed by Dena McKinnon and Pia Cook

A curfew has been violated and a suburban mom and dad wait up late to deal with it.