Thank you for looking at this piece! I will give a warning that there is some violent content, so if you are sensitive to that you may not want to read it.
This is my first attempt at Screenwriting. The formatting is usually a lot different, but I had to work within the blog’s settings. I had a lot of fun writing it and maybe I will do another in the future, who knows.
For now, I would like to share this with you.
*** TRIGGER WARNING: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ***
FADE IN:
INT. HARRY’S KITCHEN – NIGHT
HARRY (40’S), bloodshot eyes surrounded by long lashes, shaggy black greasy hair, sagging skin. He is dressed in a yellowing tank top and grease is stained on his jeans that hang from his body.
He is sitting on a wobbly chair, head resting inside his hands. His hands are shaking and every now and then he will shake his head as if to say no.
The kitchen table, covered in kicks and holes, holds a gun, a half empty bottle of Jack Daniels that sits next to an empty glass, a cigarette burns in an cheap black ashtray, and a dust covered picture frame lays face down next to the gun.
In the background dishes can be seen piled high in the sink while the faucet drips noisily into a cup, the counters are covered in food, and trash is everywhere.
The walls are a dingy yellow. The wall behind Harry holds a clock that loudly clicks out the seconds, a dust covered “The Family that Eats Together, Stays Together” sign hangs on the wall behind Harry and a corded phone.
Harry reaches for the picture frame and turns it slowly in his shaking hands.
Tear drops fall down Harry’s face and drip onto the glass on the picture frame.
The picture inside the frame is of a happy family; a much younger Harry, a beautiful blonde haired female, and a small blonde haired, green eyed toddler in Harry’s arms.
He reaches out for the Jack Daniels.
Shaking he pours some into the glass. Some splashes onto the table.
The liquid sloshes around in his glass as he drinks all that he poured. Some of the Jack pours out the sides of his mouth.
2.
He looks at the picture again.
He throws the glass across the room.
Glass is heard BREAKING.
He then slams the picture frame down on the table.
Glass is heard CRACKING.
INT. BOSSES OFFICE. ONE WEEK AGO – AFTERNOON
Harry is slouched down in a worn down arm chair, staring at his feet.
The room has one dim light hanging from the ceiling, the deep brown walls hold awards for years of exemplary performance at LOGAN’S CARPET WAREHOUSE. The shades are drawn on a single window that faces the warehouse floor.
Harry’s boss TONY(50s), a rotund man toting the company logo on his green shirt, is sitting in his big office chair facing Harry, a scowl on his fat face.
TONY
Harry, I have tried to be understanding to your circumstance…but, I have a business to run Harry.
Harry shifts uncomfortably in the chair.
TONY (CONT’D)
You created a hazardous work environment today, it wasn’t just your ass on the line!
Tony shifts papers around on his desk and then points at Harry.
TONY (CONT’D)
You cannot be drinking on the job. You need help man and I hope you get it. But we have to let you go.
Harry stands up, stumbling, head hanging low.
3.
HARRY
I ge..it Tony. I’m sorry…
He rocks back on his feet, then looses his balance and falls forward on to the desk.
HARRY (CONT’D)
I…sorry bout today.
Tony sighs.
TONY
I’ve called you a cab, Harry. I’ve got the stuff from your locker here, along with you check. I’ll take you around back so no one see’s you.
Harry nods and stumbles after Tony through the hallway at the back of the warehouse.
INT. OUTSIDE OF WAREHOUSE, CURBSIDE – AFTERNOON
A cab is waiting at the side of the warehouse building.
A couple of workers dressed in company overalls and protective glasses on the tops of their head are on a smoke break, look over, pull their jackets tight.
They toss down their cigarettes.
Then walk back in shaking their heads.
Tony puts the box of Harry’s belongings in the back of the cab.
Then steady’s Harry into it as he continues to sway.
TONY
Get yourself some help man.
He shuts the door on Harry who just nods his head and continues to stare at his feet.
INT. HARRY’S KITCHEN – EVENING
Harry picks up the gun.
He tests the weight of it then places it against his head.
His hand begins to shake.
4.
He starts sobbing.
He then reaches for the picture frame.
He turns it over and looks through the shattered glass at his younger self, smiling next to a beautiful blonde woman and a baby girl is in his arms.
A phone RINGS.
Harry jumps up, almost dropping the picture frame.
The phone RINGS.
Harry turns toward it, placing his hand on the chair to steady himself and just stares at it.
The phone RINGS.
He knocks the chair over.
Then stumbles to the phone.
He snatches it from it’s resting place. Catching it before it goes to voicemail.
He slowly puts it to his ear as the gun hangs from his other hand at his side.
EMILY
(muffled and sobbing)
Daddy?…It’s me, Emily. I’m in trouble and I need your help. It…It’s Zack. He’s hurt me..he’s been hurting me.
EMILY (CONT’D)
Daddy? I don’t know what to do, I…I think he’s going to kill me?
Harry looks at the photo on the table and puts the gun in the back of his pants.
HARRY
I’m on my way.
Harry hangs up the phone and heads for the door.
5.
EXT. DRIVEWAY COVERED IN SNOW – EVENING
Harry huddles himself up to protect from the cold as he scrapes just enough ice from the windows to see.
INT. HARRY’S TRUCK-CONTINUOUS
Then he gets into the old and rusty truck. The windows fog up as he turns the heat up in the truck, he tries to wipe the window down, however, it only works for a moment.
Frustrated, he stares at the old photo.
He taps his hand on the steering wheel as rock screams from the radio.
He reaches up and finishes wiping the frost from the windows with his sleeve.
INT. HARRY’S TRUCK – LATER
Harry races down the highway a cigarette hangs from his lips as smoke moves through the cracked window.
He takes a drag from the cigarette and blows it out the window.
INT. MIDDLE CLASS KITCHEN. TWENTY YEARS AGO – MIDDAY
Harry (32), walks through a fuzzy haze. Everything is in slow motion.
He sees Emily, it’s her sixteenth birthday. She is wearing her favorite pink dress, her caramel hair is flowing in curls and she has just a touch of makeup that adds to the glow of her face and allows her bright green eyes to shine.
He slowly wobbles into the room, she is beaming as the candles are being lit on her cake by.
Friends and family are gathered around, three young girls in pretty flower dresses are leaning towards Emily and he can make out the shape of his mother-in-law, her slender frame bent over and frail, wrinkled hands.
However, he cannot see the faces through the fog, only Emily’s. The sounds of people talking fades in and out.
He stumbles and he see her smile fade.
EMILY
Oh, Daddy.
6.
INT. HARRY’S TRUCK- EVENING
Harry trembles as the tears pour down his face.
He looks in the rear view mirror, shame crosses his face.
He quickly looks away.
INT. MIDDLE CLASS KITCHEN. – EVENING
Harry and ROSE (29) his wife, are standing in the archway between the kitchen and the front door.
Balloons from the party earlier in the day hang in the corner next to a buffet table with half eaten cake.
ROSE
Har — are you even listening?
Rose paces.
Harry holds onto the wall to keep himself steady, head hanging low.
ROSE (CONT’D)
I just can’t keep doing this — WE can’t keep doing this. You are an embarrassment —
HARRY
Loo — Rose, I said I’m sor — ry. I’ll get hel
ROSE
Help!? You’ll get help? Like the last time? No Harry, we are done. Emily does not need to hurt by your any longer. I want you out — Now. I —
Harry and Rose both turn at the sound of the stairs creaking.
Emily is standing in the middle of the staircase, tears pouring from her face.
ROSE (CONT’D)
Emily, honey — head back up to your room, I’ll be there in —
Emily fly’s back up the stairs.
7.
A door is heard SLAMMING.
ROSE (CONT’D)
You! You are the cause for that! We don’t nee —
HARRY
I’ll go away Rose.
Stumbling he heads for the door.
HARRY (CONT’D)
I won’t hur — I won’t hurt you or Em, again.
INT. HARRY’S TRUCK – LATER
Harry enters the city. The buildings tower over head.
Lights shine from windows and street lights.
INT. HARRY’S TRUCK. – LATER
Harry parks.
Rolls down his window.
Then takes another drag of of his cigarette.
Slowly, he blows it out, creating a billowing cloud of smoke.
EXT. ACROSS THE STREET OF A SUBURBAN HOME – EVENING
He looks out across the street at a small home with a light shining through the big front window.
Screaming and crashing can be heard coming from the house.
INT. HARRY’S TRUCK – EVENING
Harry pulls the gun from behind his back.
Places it on the passenger’s seat.
Reaches down below his passenger seat.
Then pulls out a FLASK.
8.
He picks the gun back up.
Unscrewing the flask with the gun in his hand.
He begins to tilt it to his mouth.
But before he can take a drink shots are heard from inside.
Harry throw the flask to the ground.
EXT. STREET AND FRONT OF SUBURBAN HOME – EVENING
Harry races to door.
EXT. FRONT PORCH OF A SUBURBAN HOME – EVENING
Harry turns the knob on the front door.
The door opens.
He quietly steps inside.
INT. EMILY’S HOUSE
Emily is heard SOBBING in the background.
ZACK (OS)
Did — did you think you would get away with it?
Harry moves along a hallway that leads to an open living room.
Carefully, he peaks his head around the corner with the gun at chest level.
He sees ZACK pacing the floor.
Emily is lying on the floor.
He then sees a small pool of blood coming from under her legs.
ZACK
I — I saw you look! Look at me when I’m talking to you! I saw you look at that man.
9.
Zack turns.
ZACK (CONT’D)
You belong to me Emily, alive…or dead!
Emily SCREAMS.
Zack points the gun at Emily’s head.
EMILY
Please, Zack, please — I promise– I’m sorry…
SHOTS are fired.
Blood pours from the small hole in the center of Zack’s head.
He looks over towards Harry.
He moves his hand towards his head.
Then he falls to the ground.
INT. EMILY’S LIVING ROOM
Harry rushes toward Emily.
Falling to his knees.
He checks her body.
He finds blood pouring from her right thigh.
He reaches for his cell phone dialing.
HARRY
Hello? Yes, my daughter has been shot, send someone fast. Please, she is bleeding from her leg. The address is 506 Sycamore Lane. Hurry!
He hangs up.
Emily stares up at him from the floor.
10.
EMILY
Daddy? Daddy — you came. Dad, are you really here?”
Harry reaches out to touch her.
Then pulls his hand back quickly.
HARRY
Yeah, it’s me. I — I had to come Em. I couldn’t let you down again.
EXT. CURBSIDE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE – EVENING
Emily is on a stretcher.
Harry is standing back away from the ambulance.
Lights are flashing in the background giving a red glow to his face.
A slight smile crosses his face.
FADE OUT:
***Disclaimer*** This is a work in progress and as such is likely to change before reaching the finished product. Thank you for your understanding.
Jenn J Brewer Writes 