A Woman Scorned (pdf format) by Marnie Mitchell

A detective investigating a serial killer prostitute finds his fidelity tempted… again.

Murder mysteries have evolved over the years. They’re darker. More violent. Yet certain constants persevere. Whether one’s tastes run to Murder on the Orient Express or Se7en, nothing beats a twisty plot…

…but colorful characters come damned close.   Sure, the question “Whodunnit” will always rein supreme. But “Whydunnit’s” the icing on the cake. The better murder yarns ask both questions. And the best ones answer them.

A Woman Scorned does all that – in a wonderfully gritty fashion.

The script opens on protagonist Dan – a worn out, veteran police detective desperate for transfer from Vice Squad. He and rookie partner John have been called in to assist on a homicide. The victim: a man strapped to the blood stained bed, suffocated with duct tape. Short a left ring finger and wedding band. The digit’s been chopped off with shears. Clearly, this is one hooker with an axe to grind against married men. Fortunately for the cops, she left a clue: a few strands of long black hair.

Following the evidence, Dan journeys to the seedy side of town to interrogate possible suspects. Along the way, he runs into Rebecca – a raven haired prostitute he has history with. History that almost destroyed his marriage. Like an addict weaned from the needle, Dan’s clearly not over Rebecca or his philandering ways. Will Dan crack the case before he drowns in old bad habits – and before other victims die?

Smoothly written, A Woman Scorned features complex characters and a nifty mystery. Custom made for a director of modern noir.

Page Count: 9

Budget: Low to medium. Four main cast members and extras. There are three main locations, including a hotel/motel room, police vehicle; and minor blood effects.

About the Writer: An award winning writer AND photographer, Marnie Mitchell’s website is available at BrainFluffs.com. Marnie’s had 5 shorts produced (so far) and placed Semi-final with her features in BlueCat. Marnie can be contacted via her website.

About the reviewer: Zach Jansen is an award-winning and produced screenwriter from Saint Paul, Minnesota.  He enjoys spending time with his kids, anything movies, and sitting at his desk pounding out his next script.  If for some reason you want to learn more about him – which of course you DO! – you can check out his IMDb page or quasi-frequently updated blog. He can be reached at Zach.Jansen (a) mail.com

Read A Woman Scorned (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.

“Left in the Dark”

A traumatic incident from his past clouds a father’s time with his daughter.

Write an original story, breathe life into unique characters, add some color, and — voilá — a compelling story. Writers have it so easy!

If only it were really that simple… Injecting emotion and heart into characters and the story may be a writer’s toughest challenge.

The heart of “Left in the Dark” manifests itself in four-year-old Brianna, “cute is an understatement,” who convinces her father, Zach, to join her tea party. Unbeknownst to Brianna, the tea party’s dark location — a tent of strategically-arranged beach towels in her closet — resurrects in Zach a distressful childhood experience. While he struggles with on-setting panic, a sympathetic Brianna realizes she has the perfect panacea.

The sweet father-daughter relationship in LITD will tug at your heart. For this loving father, his adoring daughter is just the right prescription… As it will be for any director looking for a solid character piece with soul.

So, act quickly. You won’t want to miss out on any of the “ahhh” moments! And neither will your audience!

About the writer: Rick Hansberry has written/produced several short films, including the SAG Foundation award-winning “Branches.” His first feature is set to be released in the summer of 2014. Trailer available here . He teaches screenwriting seminars and workshops in the Central Pennsylvania area and is presently available for hire for new story ideas, rewrites and adaptations. He can be reached at djrickhansberry – AT – msn, (cell phone 717-682-8618) and IMDB credits available here.

Page Count: 5

Budget: Low. A house interior, and a small cast. Secure a tea set, BYOBT (bring-your-own-beach-towels), and don’t forget to invite Jasmine and Ariel!

About the guest reviewer for “Left in the Dark”: California uber reader/reviewer KP Mackie is working hard on another animated feature. KP’s work is available for viewing at moviepoet.com!

READ THIS SCRIPT HERE – AND DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT!

FOR YET MORE SCRIPTS AVAILABLE FOR PRODUCTION:

PLEASE SEARCH SIMPLYSCRIPTS.COM

OR THE BLOG VERSION OF STS HERE.

All screenplays are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. The screenplays may not be used without the expressed written permission of the author.

Forget-Me-Not

“A troubled inner city youth liberates a forgotten community garden, unlocking a magic that reconnects his neighbors with their lost loved ones.”

When you think about it, every story at its heart is drama. By their very nature, they require a dramatic force to keep their audience’s attention: characters struggle – clash against others, providing conflict. Ebb and flow. Back and forth. There’s a rhythm to telling a riveting tale – no matter the supposed “genre.”

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist/author Anna Quindlen once wrote “Every story has already been told.” If so – how do you make YOUR drama unique? One method is to swirl additional genres into the mix. Do it right, and you’ll have a winning recipe on your hands!

And that’s the appeal of Steven Dexheimer’s inner-city story, Forget-Me-Not. On the surface, it’s a drama about troubled 16-year old Michael who lives in the tenements. His four friends aren’t exactly a gang, but peer pressure’s a powerful force on the street. Michael wants to fit in, but he’s got an interest far outside their sphere; he’s been spotted in the neighborhood community garden with Mrs. Friedman, an elderly lady who’s as far away from “ghetto” as one can be (at least outside of Ikea).

When Mrs. Friedman falls ill, paramedics load her into an ambulance. A nosy neighbor recognizes Michael as a frequent visitor to the garden, and starts asking him questions. In front of his friends.

Michael visits Mrs. Friedman in the hospital. She asks him a favor; care for the garden while she’s away. A good kid, Michael does what he can… but falls afoul of his old gang, who take a dim view of Michael’s new “hobby.” As the garden grows, so does the animosity – forcing Michael to choose between new allegiances and old, in a world where very few good things grow….

What makes Forget Me Not a stand-out script? Let’s pluck those petals and count the ways:

Friendship (and a touch of lost romance): Mrs. Friedman’s love for her dear departed “Stanley” (symbolized by the blue flowers she nutures in the garden), and the bond that forms between her and the teen.

Crime: A gritty inner city setting – depicting “thug life” and its very real consequences.

Fantasy: Though “rooted” in reality, something magical happens in the community garden. Affecting far more than the flowers…

Poignantly written, Forget Me Not weaves these themes together seamlessly – creating a fresh story of hope, community and friendship. If you’re a director looking for a story with substance, then F-M-N should be directly in your line of sight. Visually compelling with dramatic impact. You’d better act now – before this one’s off the market…!

About the writer:Steven was a finalist in the coWrite competition, an innovative community-sourced screenplay developed in association with respected production company Benderspink (A History of Violence, The Butterfly Effect). He also took 1st Place honors in the March 2009 MoviePoet short script competition.

Steven is a member of Writer’s Boot Camp, was a finalist in the 2008 The Movie Deal screenplay competition and has twice been a finalist in the NYC Midnight Screenwriting Competition (2007 & 2008). He holds a Bachelors degree in Theater and an Associate degree in Film/Video Production. More of Steven’s work may be found at his website: www.StevenDexheimer.com (email: Steven “AT” 8mdFilms.com)

Pages: 14 pages

Budget: Moderate, but not pricey. And definitely worth the investment. An establishing shot may be enough to set up the inner city neighborhood, hospital, and high school. An actual or imitation hospital room, classroom and bedroom shouldn’t take much of a bite from the budget. Almost an ensemble piece, there are several main characters – all likely coveted roles – plus some extras to act as neighbors. But get yourself a good garden. Because it’s a star of this show, as well.

About the reviewer for Forget-Me-Not:California uber reader/reviewer KP Mackie is working hard on her animated feature. KP’s work is available at moviepoet.com!

READ THE SCRIPT HERE – AND DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT!!

FOR YET MORE SCRIPTS AVAILABLE FOR PRODUCTION:

PLEASE SEARCH SIMPLYSCRIPTS.COM 

OR THE BLOG VERSION OF STS HERE.

All screenplays are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. The screenplays may not be used without the expressed written permission of the author.

Wow, it seems like only yesterday.

Wait a minute… it practically was!

September 7th, to be exact. That’s the day in history that STS showcased CJ Walley’s Black SUV.

Which has now been optioned to NYC based Kareem Gladden of GT Visionz. We’ve SEEN GT Visionz webpage. And we’re excited, to say the least!

So, as that trend continues, you better snap up CJ’s other work before it’s gone. Namely:

Dixie Gash Bandits – When they stop to fix their get-a-way vehicle, two runaway sisters must tackle both love at first sight and the bounty hunters hot on their tail.

Lone Star Runner Hunnies – Fleeing a drug deal gone wrong, four girls held up in a lonely Texas diner face the dilemma of capture vs saving a mortally wounded friend.

Stone Cold Sober – When a man confronts a woman that’s tailing him, he learns she’s his future daughter, who knows about an awful crime he’s yet to commit.

San Diego Impala Cholas – All they wanted to do was sell a gun. But things don’t always go as planned.

So Cal Gun Girls – After buying drugs and debating the commercialization of cannabis in California, two female gang members stumble straight into a robber who’s killed their beloved dealer.

About the writer, C.J. Walley: I began writing in 2012 and I’m pleased to say it’s been very exciting so far. I have been fortunate enough to have a short produced by a director in London and Amazon Studios have spotlighted one of my features as a notable project. My scripts place within the top 10% of various major screenwriting competitions and, as I continue to write new specs, I am remotely collaborating with a producers, directors, and actors in LA, NYC, New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington DC, Zurich, Amsterdam, Sydney, and Dallas while occasionally blogging for Stage 32. If you’re an aspiring filmmaker, then I’d love to join forces with you whatever the scale, do not hesitate to reach out and drop me a line. (CJ “AT” CJwalley DOT COM; http://www.cjwalley.com

Confession

A conflicted man struggles with truth and consequences.

There are certain requirements of screenwriting. Create interesting, empathetic characters. Give them a dilemma they have to escape. Tell your tale in chronological order…

Actually, ever since Pulp Fiction, that last rule has sort of fallen by the wayside. Sometimes, starting with the point that everything explodes is the absolute best thing to do with a story. Then work backward – leaving your viewers dying to know how your characters got there.

Confession is a solid example of a script that does just that – while keeping the interest and urgency of intact.

True to its title, Confession opens with protagonist Jake in a confessional booth, about to speak to a priest. Dressed in a torn sports coat, Jake’s nervous and bloody. Stricken with a sudden change of heart, Jake flees before unburdening his sins… to himself (or the audience.) What follows next are the steps that brought Jake to his knees – literally. The crime, the sin. The small life decisions that ultimately add up to consquences greater than its sum.

Make no mistake. There’s action in this script. But at its heart, Confessions is a character study… one that an indie director could sink their teeth into; no matter which direction this story’s told.

About the writer: Rick Hansberry has written/produced several short films, including the SAG Foundation award-winning “Branches.” His first feature is set to be released in the summer of 2014. Trailer available here .  He teaches screenwriting seminars and workshops in the Central Pennsylvania area and is presently available for hire for new story ideas, rewrites and adaptations. He can be reached at djrickhansberry – AT – msn, (cell phone 717-682-8618) and IMDB credits available here.

Pages: 6

Budget: Relatively low. A handful of sets (including, of course, a confessional booth.) There is one action scene that requires a bit of stunt work. But nothing budgetarily crazy.

READ THE SCRIPT HERE – AND DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT!!

FOR YET MORE SCRIPTS AVAILABLE FOR PRODUCTION:

PLEASE SEARCH SIMPLYSCRIPTS.COM

All screenplays are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. The screenplays may not be used without the expressed written permission of the author.

Lavender’s Blue

“A young thief finds compassion in the unlikely source of his arresting officer.”

Never underestimate the power of an effective film title. It’s the attention-getter. Titles can be quite literal (for instance Godzilla, The King’s Speech, or My Best Friend’s Wedding.) Or you may need to watch the movie to figure it out the reference: ala Enough Said, Jacob’s Ladder, and The Shawshank Redemption. Depending on who’s in control on movie night, sometimes the title is all an audience member knows going in. But – whichever direction you choose – the title needs to be relevant and stand out!

In Lavender’s Blue, the meaning of the title is subtle – emerging slowly as the drama enfolds. As the script opens, world-weary veteran Inspector Foster and young Sergeant Watts interrogate a sullen teen accused of stealing… of all things, a lavender scented gift pack of toiletries.

After a few grueling rounds of good cop/bad cop – and one rather sneaky maneuver on Foster’s part – they figure out the boy’s name: 17 year old Chris Turner. More digging uncovers the surprising reason for Chris’ theft. Foster and Watts find themselves faced with a decision: throw the book at the unlucky perp. Or take pity on the kid – bringing him (and his stolen loot) on an unexpected side trip…

An award winning tale, Lavender’s Blue is subtly written with multiple layers; perfect for any director looking to produce an emotionally complex drama that’ll stay with their audience long after credits roll.

About the writer: Boasting an MA in Scriptwriting for Film, Theatre, TV & Radio, MJ is an award winning writer, with shorts optioned and produced in countries as diverse as Croatia and Norway. Residing in sunny England, she is currently hard at work developing a series with the BBC Writersroom – as well as working on a number of features (including one low-budget horror and a fantasy adventure script.) Her website is available here: redcatwriter.wordpress.com/. MJ herself can be reached via mjhermanny – AT – gmail!

Pages: 5

Budget: Relatively low. Settings include an interrogation room and a “hospital” type setting. For your four main characters, make sure to get actors with a strong and nuanced emotional range. Because this script deserves to be done properly!

About the reviewer for Lavender’s Blue:California uber reader/reviewer KP Mackie is working hard on her animated feature. KP’s work is available at moviepoet.com!

READ THE SCRIPT HERE – AND DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT!!

FOR YET MORE SCRIPTS AVAILABLE FOR PRODUCTION:

PLEASE SEARCH SIMPLYSCRIPTS.COM 

OR THE BLOG VERSION OF STS HERE.

All screenplays are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. The screenplays may not be used without the expressed written permission of the author.

The Object Of My Infection
Warning: Adult Content
A CDC research scientist uses the only tools available to her to end an abusive relationship.

Richard Gere played one of the most menacing, hated police characters of all time in 1990’s “Internal Affairs.” With immense help from writer Henry Bean and director Mike Figgis, Gere crafted one of those rare performances where you actually sweat and squirm in your seat while you watch his slimy Dennis Peck lather in deceit, corruption and murder.

Writer David Lambertson has created a similar character in “The Object Of My Infection” with suspended police captain Drew Sanders, a foul creature with police badge tattoos on each bicep who “looks as though he belongs in a Deep South trailer park.”

Drew’s wife Emma is his opposite; a lab technician/scientist at the Center for Disease Control. From page one, the stage is brilliantly set with good (white coat and all) versus evil (a law man we surmise has twisted the law).

There’s no line Drew won’t cross or snort including infidelity, which he blames his wife for.

EMMA
She was here today? In our bed?

Drew doesn’t take his eyes off the television.

DREW
I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about?

EMMA
I can smell her! I can smell what you did!

Drew takes a long sip of beer.

DREW
(far too casual)
Well, maybe if you weren’t so catatonic in the sack, I wouldn’t
have to be chasing stray pussy.
(beat)
It’s like fucking a corpse with you.

Emma screams at her coked-up husband to leave, throws house keys at him, nicks his cheek – and pays an all-too-painful price. His brutality includes several backhands to Emma’s face before dragging her to the bedroom for their first-ever sodomy session.

Bruised and permanently battered, Emma’s determined to end the vicious cycle despite Drew’s day-after promises to stop using and abusing.

Dangling at the end of her frayed rope, Emma eventually brings home a special treat from work for “Dear Hubby” – in the form of a white powder he thinks is cocaine. Naked on their bed, the only thing she wears is a bump across her stomach and Drew can’t resist, the last in a long line of his mistakes.

There’s no mistaking the quality of storytelling in “The Object Of My Infection,” which would have minimal budget. The biggest hurdle may be finding a location to mimic the CDC.

And finding a brave enough actor to take on Emma’s role.

Pages: 12

Budget: Moderate – except for a lab scene, the other locations are simple… with only two main characters (that better have great emotional range.)

About the reviewer: Zack Zupke is a writer in Los Angeles. Zack was a latch-key kid (insert “awww” here) whose best friend was a 19-inch color television (horrific, he knows). His early education (1st grade on) included watching countless hours of shows like “M*A*S*H,” “Star Trek” and “The Odd Couple” and movies like “The Godfather,” “Rocky” and “Annie Hall.” Flash forward to present day and his short “The Confession” was recently produced by Trident Technical College in Charleston, SC. He’s currently working on a futuristic hitman thriller with a partner and refining a dramedy pilot perfect for the likes of FX. You can reach Zack at zzupke “at” yahoo.

About the writer, Dave Lambertson: I took up writing rather late in life having already been retired before I put pen to paper (okay – finger to computer key) for the first time. My favorite genres to read and write are dramedies and romantic comedies.

In addition to this short, I have written four features; “The Last Statesman” (a 2015 PAGE finalist and a Nicholl’s and BlueCat quarterfinalist), “The Beginning of The End and The End” (a PAGE Semi-Finalist). Taking Stock (a drama) and a new comedy – “Screw You Tube”. Want to learn more? Reach Dave at dlambertson “AT” hotmail! And check out his website for even for goodies HERE! (http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts).

READ THE SCRIPT HERE – AND DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT!!

FOR YET MORE SCRIPTS AVAILABLE FOR PRODUCTION:

PLEASE SEARCH SIMPLYSCRIPTS.COM 

OR THE BLOG VERSION OF STS HERE.

All screenplays are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. The screenplays may not be used without the expressed written permission of the author.

Jessica’s Window
What secrets lie in the attic?

From a dusty and barren attic, thirteen-year-old Jessica Campell watches as her father packs their belongings into a U-Haul van. Tears stream down her face.

Her father, Mark Campell, is obviously no stranger to heartache himself. The dark circles under his eyes reveal he has spent many a night awake, nursing a hidden pain.

As Mark and his wife Laura make final preparations to depart, Jessica pounds relentlessly on the attic window, calling desperately to her parents. But no matter how hard she pounds or loud she cries, her parents can’t or won’t listen. Slowly, they drive away.

But despite being imprisoned, Jessica soon discovers she’s not alone. In the shadows of the attic, she’s met by eleven-year-old Sarah Meyers, a waif of a girl who assures Jessica things will get better. The two of them – she claims – will be good friends. But Sarah’s words are less than reassuring. As police cars and a news crew gather outside, Jessica’s concerns continue to grow.

What could have made Jessica’s parents leave her behind? Soon after the two meet, an eerie presence starts to stir… Just what is happening? Are these children even alone?

A surreal emotion-driven supernatural narrative in the vein of The Others and The Lovely Bones, Jessica’s Window is a suspenseful, masterfully-written drama. The script manages to land an array of emotional punches, each one landing harder than the first. All of which culminates in a surprise final twist that will leave audiences speechless.

Audiences and critics will be hooked from the get-go. It’s exactly the kind of impassioned, poignant, character-driven drama that reaps gold on the festival circuit.

So directors – act fast. This one won’t be gathering dust in the attic for long.

Pages: 5

Budget: Medium. Suburban setting, police cars, and a news crew.

About the Reviewer: Dane Whipple something, something Danger Zone. He is currently working on that screenplay everybody keeps talking about: The Wild Age. Contact him at dane.whipple (AT) live.com

About the writer, Marnie Mitchell Lister: An award winning writer AND photographer, Marnie Mitchell Lister’s website is available at brainfluffs.com. Marnie’s had multiple shorts produced and placed Semi-final with her features in BlueCat.

READ THE SCRIPT HERE – AND DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT!!

FOR YET MORE SCRIPTS AVAILABLE FOR PRODUCTION:

PLEASE SEARCH SIMPLYSCRIPTS.COM 

OR THE BLOG VERSION OF STS HERE.

All screenplays are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. The screenplays may not be used without the expressed written permission of the author.

It’s A…

Life Goes On – Even When the World’s Reached Its End

Man, the apocalypse is rough. For the X-Men – and everyone.

Especially if you’re pregnant. Never getting to see your child run, play, live… that’s hard news to swallow with little notice. Let alone fully accept.

This is the exact dilemma Anne and Sarah face in Anthony Cawood’s wrenching drama, It’s A…

Anne’s pregnant and about to pop. Sarah’s expecting too – though not so far along.

The news breaks while they’re in a hospital: the meteor is on its way, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. Needless to say, Sarah and Anne find themselves powerless. And alone.
What do they say? What do they do?

How to accept that everything’s ending… demolishing their cherished plans…

Whiling away the time, Anne asks Sarah questions about the future they both know won’t come.

Things like: Did you want your baby to be a boy? A girl? A dancer? A singer? At first, Sarah is reluctant to answer. She never thought about the gender – she just wanted her child to be healthy. A dream that’s now turned into a nightmare.

Refusing to lay down and die, Anne promises Sarah they can find out the sex of the baby together – one last moment of joy before the end.

A rare contained apocalypse story, It’s A... is brimming with emotions; perfect for two up-and-coming actresses and a director looking to show what talent and drama they have inside.

Remember, the world doesn’t have to end with a whimper. Maybe just a lie.

Pages: 4

Budget: Low. Two actresses, one setting and few props. You might need some old news footage, but a clever director could stage that him/herself.

About the reviewer: Mitch Smith is an award winning screenwriter whose website http://mitchsmithscripts.wix.com/scripts offers notes, script editing and phone consultations. You can also reach him at Mitch.SmithScripts “AT” gmail and follow Mitch at twitter.com/MitchScripts.

About the writer: I’m an award winning screenwriter from the UK with over 15 scripts produced, optioned and/or purchased. Outside of my screenwriting career, I’m also a published short story writer and movie reviewer. Links to my films and details of my scripts can be found at www.anthonycawood.co.uk.

Read READ THE SCRIPT HERE – AND DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT!!

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.