Over on the Unproduced Scripts page there are seventeen original scripts for your reading pleasure.

What is the Writers’ Tournament?

A free, short script writing challenge open to all members of the discussion board wherein one writes short scripts – 5 pages or so – in a short period of time.

How do I participate?

The Writers’ Tournament is open to all Discussion Board members. If you are a discussion board member, register for the Writers’ Tournament here.

If you are not a Discussion Board member, request membership by contacting us.

This is a *free challenge*. There are no prizes.

– Don

THE LOST CAMP (14-page short horror screenplay) by Connor Etter

Three boys at a sleep-away Summer camp discover an abandoned, Old West town that is home to dark spirits intent on vengeance.

Summer camp is a great way for kids of all ages to get away from Mom and Dad for a few months while embracing nature, enjoying new life experiences, meeting new friends and embarking on adventures that they’ll fondly remember for years to come…

Unless they’re in a horror movie. If you’re familiar with the genre, you probably know that summer camps get a pretty bad rap in horror films – Thanks a lot, Jason. Unfortunately for the three adventurous teens in Connor Etter’s immensely fun supernatural slasher, The Lost Camp, they don’t know that they’re in one.

The story opens with Jack, the thirty-something year-old camp counselor, taking a group snapshot of all the kids on the last day of camp. This photo does come back later in the script in a very cool way that will make you think of The Shining. Meanwhile, the only campers not smiling for the photo are Christian, Luke and Dustin – our story’s heroes.

With everyone asleep, Christian (17) and best bud, Luke (15) decide to sneak out with the McLovin of the trio, Dustin (14) tagging along. Clearly the nerdy one in the group, Dustin isn’t quite as thrilled to sneak out and wander about in the woods. But peer pressure’s a bitch when you’re the youngest member of the squad.

Christian leads the way through the dark woods until they stumble upon an old, abandoned town straight out of the Old West. As they explore the ghost town, they find what appears to be a “Wanted” sign – a sepia-toned photo of a grizzled, bearded outlaw on it.

Nerd that he is, Dustin immediately recognizes the photo, laying out the mythology of this tale’s potential Bogie Man character.

Nobody knows whatever came of Ruck Jones, Dustin explains. Some people say he just vanished off the face of the Earth, without a trace. But, according to Dustin, nobody really knows.

Not the least bit spooked by the story, Christian and Luke continue to explore – until they see someone lurking in the near distance. Sensing danger, the kids make a bail for it and head back to their bunks.

It’s not until the next day that Christian realizes that he left his precious curb chain back at the ghost town – his late mother, who was killed in a car crash, gave it to him as a child. Much like Butch in Pulp Fiction, Christian has no choice but to head back to the spooky, old abandoned town to retrieve his beloved curb chain. Though Luke and Dustin don’t think it’s a great idea, Christian has a way of persuading them to come with him.

Weaving in familiar horror tropes and funny dialogue, what happens next is a pretty unique twist on the supernatural slasher. Obviously, I won’t completely give away the ending, but the conclusion will have you scratching your head… in the most awesome way possible.

I had high expectations going into this one, learning that the script got some love from the competition circuit – Inroads Fellowship (Finalist) [2019]; New York International (Finalist) [2020]; Los Angeles International (Finalist) [2018].

And I’m pleased to say that I wasn’t disappointed.

BUDGET: Low to medium. There are a good amount of non-speaking roles/extras, maybe about a dozen. Two locations, a camp ground and the abandoned Old West town – securing the location for the latter may depend on the geographical location of the filmmakers.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Connor Etter graduated from Southern Connecticut State University where he studied Communications and concentrated on video production. He was a founding member of the SCSU Digital Production Club, which was designed for students who wanted to make short films and write scripts for future projects. After graduating, Connor managed to land on set-gigs for television shows, along with his own independent projects. With a unique writing style and distinctive voice, Connor often portrays human emotion through his characters, giving them personalities and traits that readers can identify with. Connor can be reached at connoretter1 (a) gmail.

Read: THE LOST CAMP (14-page short horror screenplay)

Discuss this script on the Discussion Board

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

Find more scripts available for production.

About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

I’LL BE SEEING YOU
(five page short drama)

A man vows to bring his wife home from a nursing home in the midst of a deadly pandemic.

After reading Gary Howell’s script, I’ll Be Seeing You I was instantly reminded of this unforgettable line from a very well known and loved film…

I am nothing special… There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived. I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me this has always been enough. — Duke/Noah Calhoun – The Notebook (2004)

The same beautiful sentiment shines through Gary Howell’s I’ll Be Seeing You, an unforgettable tale of love in the time of lock-down.

We open on a grizzled Henry, recently separated from his one true love, Annie.

At first glance we don’t know the reason for the couple’s separation but then we quickly discover Annie is gravely ill and in a nursing home.

One thing’s for sure though. Henry’s devotion to Annie is dogged. He’s certainly not going to let something like a virus come between him and the woman he loves.

His shoulders droop and he shuffles back to the car. He contemplates driving away, but then gets out and opens the trunk.

So, what’s Henry going to do?

First lock-down and now locked out from the love of his life?

What I will tell you is that this is a beautiful timeless love story. With its clever narrative running parallel to Henry serenading Annie with: I’ll Be Seeing You (a song made famous by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, and the indomitable Jimmie Durante) writer Gary Howell knows exactly how to pull at an audience’s heartstrings, combining the perfect blend of sentimentality with realism in a tear-jerker that will stay with you long after reading.

Following in the tradition of such classics as: The Notebook, An Affair To Remember, Up, and The Fault In Our Stars, and for anyone who has ever fallen deeply in love, I’ll Be Seeing You tells a tale of the indefatigable power of enduring love.

Filmmakers: You’re going to swoon over this one. Just don’t let it be the one that got away.

I’ll Be Seeing You tied for First Place, Writer’s Choice, Simply Scripts May, 2020 challenge – The Journal Of the Plague Year – stories real and imagined/inspired by the current pandemic.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Gary Howell is an attorney by trade, but a writer at heart. He has written several shorts, three of which have been produced, Country Road 12 that stars Dee Wallace (“E.T.”, “Poltergeist”), “Skip,” and “Study Date,” and was executive producer on another short film, “Clean Slate.” He has also co-written with Rick Hansberry a dramedy, “According to Plan”, that was optioned with Josh Monkarsh of Traffic City Productions, and is in development. He has had a manager reach out regarding representation after a drama pilot, “Bounty,” has performed well in several competitions.

Gary enjoys writing both comedy and drama, and leans towards indie-themed pieces that are character driven. He enjoys reviewing scripts and providing advice and constructive criticism to other writers, and would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with any producers/directors looking to work with him on any type of project. Gary can be reached at: GaryMHowell (a) gmail.

Read I’LL BE SEEING YOU (five page short drama in pdf format)

Discuss this on the discussion board.

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

Find more scripts available for production.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER: L.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 currently works as a freelance web-content editor and lives with her husband (also a screenwriter) in Sydney, Australia.

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM (6 page short script) by ANTHONY RUSSO

A man encounters turns of fate during an excursion into a virus-ravaged world.

Not sure if you’ve seen the news, but there’s this COVID pandemic thing going on right now. Many of us, including myself, have been under lockdown for the past three months or so. And for those not under mandated lockdown or curfew, I’m sure we’ve all practiced some pretty strict social distancing and self-quarantining during that time.

All joking aside, I’m sure you’re all pretty tired of being locked indoors for the most part. I bet we’re all just chomping at the bit for some sort of normalcy. I, myself, can’t wait to live my life again and enjoy the small things that I took for granted. For instance, the first thing I’m going to do when businesses open back up is enjoy a nice scoop of ice cream – several scoops, in fact. In a huge, dunce-cap sized waffle cone. Yes, I hear the ice cream trucks outside, playing “The Entertainer” tune that come around my neighborhood often. But I want REAL ice cream. I’m talking like some Cold Stone Creamery. Or even a Baskin Robbins. I want that gourmet s**t.

But what if things get worse? What if that day never comes? Sure, that’s a very pessimistic scenario to consider… but who would’ve expected any of this to happen? You never know…

In Anthony Russo’s COVID-themed May – One Week Challenge entry, “I Scream, You Scream”, that’s exactly the kind of world we live in.

Set not too far into the future, the world has been ravaged by the effects of the COVID crisis; Businesses have been decimated, families have been destroyed and the world we once knew has become a post-apocalyptic ghost town, essentially.

We follow an unnamed survivor’s journey through his everyday routine that he was forced to adapt to as he drives through the barren streets wearing a Tyvek suit with a backpack respirator. We get a little context through an old news taping, revealing just how bad things have gotten via voice-over during this unnamed survivor’s journey as he gathers food and necessities…

Not only have people become infected with the COVID virus… but so has the plant life. Yes, you read that correctly – the God damn TREES have become affected by the virus!

A very grim glimpse into the future, indeed. Tis a very lonely existence for our unnamed protagonist, who has somehow found a way to adapt to this way of life – the sole purpose of his existence now is to survive.

But is surviving the same as living?

He reaches an existential epiphany after he happens upon an abandoned ice cream shop. And he makes a decision based on two choices– to “live” or to continue surviving.

Very well written, Anthony Russo’s entry almost feels like a stream of consciousness in its poetic execution. Though dark, “I Scream, You Scream” isn’t all gloom and doom. Yes, the journey is grim. But its cathartic, bitter “sweet” finale is very satisfying.

BUDGET: Low. With some creativity. It would be easy to shoot exterior shots of junkyards and abandoned houses to give that post-apocalyptic feel.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Anthony J. Russo is an aspiring screenwriter who graduated Summa Cum Laude from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a degree in Liberal and Professional Studies and minors in Philosophy and Political Science. His feature-length screenplay JOHN LENNON’S HEAVEN, available for production, explores religion, physics and philosophy in a way never before attempted on screen. His feature project GRAND AVENUE, culled from Anthony’s experiences growing up in the town of Maspeth, Queens, a blue-collar town known for its mob influence, is making the rounds in Hollywood. Anthony has also written several short scripts and has freelanced for Generocity, a Philadelphia based philanthropic organization which highlights charitable endeavors in the region. Anthony can be reached at ajrscreenworks (a) verizon.net.

Read: I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM (6 page short, drama, sci-fi script)

Discuss this script on the Discussion Board

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

Find more scripts available for production.

About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Before The End Of The World
(6 page, short, rom com)

written by David Gonzalez

Two best friends discover they are in love minutes before the world ends.

This script was a submission in the January, 2019 One Week Challenge wherein writers are challenged to write a short script in one week on a particular theme. In this case, the theme was: Love/Romance, the Genre: Rom-com and the Challenge: Roses, chocolate and something red must be in the script. They should not be mere props in the background, but play some part, even if small.

Read this and other scripts of the challenge.

Discuss this script and film on the Discussion Board

COME ALONG, HARRY HIGGINS
(20-page short sci-fi, historical, western, crime script) By Kevin Machate

Successful safe cracker Harry Higgins decides to hang up his drill for good when he meets the woman of his dreams, only to be tailed by the constable that put him away once already.

While looking through scripts, I came upon one based on O. Henry’s short story, A Retrieved Reformation… but with a sci-fi twist! So, I just HAD to give it a read. And, boy, I did not come away from this disappointed…

In what seems like a traditional period piece, we’re taken to the year 1899, where convicted bank robber (and the story’s protagonist), Harry Higgins is serving a four-year sentence at Missouri State Penitentiary. Ten months into his sentence, while making shoes in the prison’s workshop, he’s called to the warden’s office, where he’s told that he’s just been pardoned by the governor.

Now a free man, the confident and charming Harry Higgins heads back to meet up with his old friend Davey, a bartender at the inn where Harry was originally arrested for his crime. But before he gets there, he finds a unique and possibly other-worldly way of communicating when arriving at the train station…

Harry walks toward the train station and sees a large crow land on a telegraph pole. He smiles and tips his hat.

Hmm. I know crows are supposed to be smart. And who knows? Maybe Harry’s some kind of bird whisperer or something. Of course, we find out that isn’t quite the case when Harry arrives at the bar. Upon meeting with Dave, both their eyes glow green – suggesting that these guys aren’t of this world. The crow is in fact a communication device that allows them to converse using face-time – a technology that isn’t even explored until The Jetsons hit television sets.

After enjoying several seltzer-with-milks (gross), Harry heads to his room where he retrieves a hidden briefcase containing some sort of futuristic device that allows him to easily break into bank vaults and make away with piles of money.

As Harry bounces around from town to town, knocking off bank after bank, he decides to retire from bank-robbing and settle down in the quaint town of Elmore, Kansas. He starts a shoe-making shop and eventually finds love, marrying Anna Sharp who, ironically, is the daughter of a local bank mogul. But despite going straight, the string of bank robberies preceding his change of lifestyle has caught the attention of Jack Wolfe, the pesky police constable who initially put Harry behind bars.

Hot on Harry’s trail, Wolfe eventually tracks him down in Elmore, finding out that he’s living under the alias Robert D. Thompson.

Wolfe finally has his man in his sights at the local bank where Harry’s father-in-law presents to the public his new vault – a vault deemed to be “impenetrable”, opening automatically only at certain times of the day.

Unfortunately, as the presentation continues, a little girl finds herself trapped in the vault while goofing off with a friend. And with the vault not scheduled to reopen anytime soon, the little girl’s life is at stake. If only there was someone with the kind of technology to break into this “impenetrable” vault…

A unique story with a sci-fi twist and excellent characters with impressive arcs, “Come Along, Harry Higgins” is a story that NEEDS to be on the big screen.

BUDGET: This one isn’t exactly low budget (a costume designer would be necessary), but there are numerous shortcuts the filmmakers could make to keep the budget sensible. Regardless, this story is worth every penny.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Although he began his film career as an actor, Kevin quickly moved into producing and eventually directing and writing. Kevin’s films and screenplays have won numerous awards worldwide with his two most recent films having been screened in various cities in the US, Europe, South America, Oceania, and Asia. He has directed six short films and his credits as a producer have exceeded 50 at the time of this writing. His recent works include three short series starring Golden Globe and Tony Award winner Barry Bostwick and Saturn Award Winner Doug Jones, along with a series of short musical and educational videos (With puppets!) starring Ed Helms. Kevin can be reached at: kmachate (a) gmail.

Read: COME ALONG, HARRY HIGGINS (20-page short sci-fi, historical, western, crime script)

Discuss this script on the Discussion Board

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

Find more scripts available for production.

About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Over on the Unproduced Scripts page are twenty one original scripts for our reading pleasure.

Also, discover “Who Wrote What” from the June, 2020 One Week Challenge.

– Don

“Fright Filter” is now available for pre-order for $2.99! (This is only for the eBook edition; paperback version coming very soon.) Stay shook, kiddos!*

This comes from the minds of Sean Elwood and Chris Shamburger

It’s a chilling middle grade chapter book series in the tradition of Gosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

It’s called – Twisted Books to Leave You Shook

The scares begin with Fright Filter. Twelve-year-old Nicole loves playing with the face filters on her phone. When she discovers an app update with a new selection of monster filters, she can’t wait to try it out. But the monster filters prove to be a little too real, and now Nicole may have changed her face in real life…forever.

Then stay shook with another tale of body horror, It Started with an Itch, a terrifying bonus story by Sean Elwood (another SimplyScripts regular).

*SimplyScripts is an Amazon affiliate and gets a small percentage of each order. This does not cut into the amount the content creator gets.