My Life As A Screenwriter: Nov 1, 2007

FADE IN



INT. BUNGALOW - NIGHT

HEAVY POUNDING on the front door as a flashing red light pulsates through the picture window. TODD walks naked to the window and peeks out the shade.


TODD
Do screenwriters take a day off from screenwriting during holidays or do they adhere to their daily rituals regardless of family commitments, assigned deadlines, whether there's a cold one in the fridge and a game on or... possible legal ramifications and threat of incarceration?


The BANGING continues, mixed with an anxious nonstop DOORBELL. Todd steps over an overturned plastic pumpkin filled with candy and peers out the door's peephole.


POV - PEEPHOLE

Two uniformed POLICE OFFICERS stand outside the door. One holds a Taser, the other a set of handcuffs.


TODD (O.S.)
I try to write "something" every day, even on holidays or vacation. Sometimes it is just revising the last page I wrote or jotting down a future scene idea in proper format -- Halloween being no exception.


The telephone RINGS and drags Todd's attention away from the door.


ANSWERING MACHINE (V.O.)
I'm writing. I have no time for you.

A BEEP and then --


LISA (V.O.)
Honey? I just got a call from the county sheriff's office. They said you were handing out candy wearing the Lord Godiva costume again? I thought you were preparing an entry for The Rouge Wave's Halloween Scene Contest? Call me.


TODD
I did do one, silly, but my entry this time didn't make the final cut. If anyone wants to vote on the three that did, feel free to click on over to her great writing tips site using the link posted after my losing contribution. I think it is great practice doing spontaneous scenes like this. Sometimes I just write out scenes and dump them into a giant Scenes folder, not having any current use for them, but just wanted to get them out of my head and on to solid matter.


POLICE (O.S.)
(filtered from a megaphone outside)
Mister Gordon, this is the police. Please unlock the door and come outside with your hands above your head... and for God's sake, put some pants on.


Todd unlocks the door and flings it open.

The two cops on the step SCREAM and hide their eyes.


TODD
(grins)
Halloween is all about surprises I say. Anyway, the following one page scene was my entry for her latest contest and I rather liked it myself and I'd hate for it to go to waste. Congrats on the three competitors and good luck.


Todd exits the house to the sound of MASS HYSTERIA: screams, door slams, a man's wolf whistle, scattered applause, a bleating goat, Taser crackles...


FADE To BLACK



*NOTE: The scene had to contain the words perinwinkle, paradox and pumpkin.



FADE IN



INT. AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

A YOUNG GIRL wearing a witch costume bows to APPLAUSE, hops on her broomstick and pretend flies offstage as --



REVEREND MADISON confers with three JUDGES sitting at stage front, then moves to a podium.

REVEREND MADISON
That was Suzy Cromwell, our last contestant in the best witch category. Now if you would put your hands together for our final entry in the best dressed pumpkin competition. Annie Stillman...

LOUD APPLAUSE -- then sudden silence.

ANNIE STILLMAN exits the wings stage left wearing a bulky, round costume or periwinkle blue. She waddles to stage center like some sort of bloated gourd, bows and struts as if she was in a fashion show.

AT THE JUDGES TABLE
The three judges exchange worried looks.

JUDGE #1
Okay, now we have a paradox. Bev Stillman is our biggest financial contributor. We just can't disqualify her for having the worst pumpkin costume in the history of the church and risk offending her.

JUDGE#2
We did guarantee Bev her daughter would go home with a ribbon.

The Judges watch Annie attempt graceful ballet steps. SNICKERS and EMBARRASSED COUGHS echo from the audience.

JUDGE#3
What about Best Purple Squash?

Judge #1 and Judge #2 grin.

THE END

Here is the link to the voting page: Rouge Wave.