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Time of Death (SHORT FILM)
by Matt (skittlesandmm@hotmail.com)

Rated: PG-13   Genre: Drama   User Review: ***
This is a rough draft of a film I am hoping the scripting community can help me through this writers block. The story is about a guy who has visions that depict his own death. Instead of trying to avoid it, he decides to deal with the ghosts of his past. While visiting his parents for the last time, he runs into his childhood sweetheart. As the visions become more and more clear, and closer and closer to actually happening, his relationship with his childhood sweetheart becomes more and more sincere, which could possibly change his mind about escaping death.


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



TIME OF DEATH (SHORT FILM)

FADE IN:

INT. SURGERY ROOM - NIGHT
                                                            
The scene begins with the camera focusing on a heart monitor
that is steadily beeping. Then fades to black.
                                                            
                       VOICE (V.O.)
Everyone stop what your doing.
Will somebody please call it.
                                                            
                       ALEX
Sometimes life challenges you to
keep going.
                                                            
                       VOICE
Time of death
                                                            
                       ALEX
What happens if you decide to
just...stop?
                                                            
                       VOICE
8:32
                                                            
The camera fades back in on the heart monitor which shows
the title of the film "Time of Death".
                                                            
                                         FADE OUT.
                                                            
 
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
                                                            
A Time Lapsed Sunrise begins the next scene. Music is
playing as the day wakes. Cars start to leave for work and
credits are overlapping the scene. The camera jumps to a man
getting out of bed, putting his clothes on and getting in
his car. Suddenly the man has a vision.

**VISION**
The same man is crying and swallowing excessive amounts of
pills. He becomes hysterical and falls to the ground, he
closes his eyes and stops breathing. You hear the sound of
heart monitor RINGING again.

BLACK OUT.

The scene returns from the vision with the same man
breathing heavier then before, although he doesn't lose him
composure completely.
                                                            

2.

                       ALEX (V.O.)
      (Thinking to
       himself)
What just happened?
                                                            
He starts the car, and as he looks back in the rear view
mirror, he sees himself lying there unconscious.
                                                            
                       ALEX
      (CONT'D)
STOP IT!!
                                                            
The image blinks and the camera jumps back to Alex putting
the car in gear, and leaves the driveway.
                                                            
                                         FADE TO BLACK.
                                                            
 
EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY
                                                            
MUSIC is playing and the camera fades into a flashback of
Alex and a girl when they were younger. They are both
hanging upside down on the monkey bars, staring at one
another.
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
Hey Alex?
                                                            
                       YOUNG ALEX
Yea, Bree?
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
Have you ever wondered how you'll
die?
                                                            
                       YOUNG ALEX
      (Laughs)
What are you talking about?
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
You know..like a car wreck, a
fire, or stabbed to death-
                                                            
                       YOUNG ALEX
      (Laughter stops)
That's really disturbing, why
would you think that, or even
wonder-
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
I think holding that much control
over your life would be...
                                                            

3.

                       YOUNG ALEX
Amazing?
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
      (Pause)
Liberating
                                                            
The scene ends with the two just staring at one another.
                                                            
                                         FADE OUT.
                                                            
 
EXT. OUTSIDE CLASSROOM - DAY
                                                            
The camera unblurs and Alex is sitting at his desk in class
looking at a picture of his family that was slipped between
pages of his textbook. The bell RINGS and Alex refocuses
himself, shoves the book in his backpack and gets up. Camera
cuts to Alex walking out of the building where Jake, Alex's
best friend approachers him.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Alex, my man!
                                                            
                       ALEX
      (Recognizing who
       it is, and
       smiling)
Jake the snake-
                                                            
                       JAKE
Aww you know I'm only called that
because of that one girl..don't
believe her..I am no player!! (he
smirks)
                                                            
                       ALEX
Haha, sure. What are you ding here
anyways?
                                                            
                       JAKE
I try to after mid-terms actually
attend classes.
                                                            
                       ALEX
Oh, really? Why Mr. Bigshot even
bother an F is still an F, right?
                                                            
                       JAKE
Aww come on man, give me a little
credit! I did pass that one class,
remember?
                                                            

4.

                       ALEX
Bowling is hardly a class, Jakey
boy.
                                                            
                       JAKE
Hey hitting all 10 of those pins,
is very difficult!
                                                            
Jake is motioning as if he's "air bowling" he is interupted
by Alex's blank stare.
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (CONT'D)
Alex..whoa..man are you ok?
                                                            
The camera becomes blurry as the scene jumps to another
vision.
                                                            
 
INT. ALEX'S HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
Alex is walking through the door hysterical, his eyes are
blank, and there is blood on his shirt. Alex's mom notices
Alex an motions to her husband to get up and help.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Oh my god! Alex what happened to
you?
                                                            
Alex is unresponsive and continues walking towards the
stairs.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET (V.O.)
George get up! Alex is hurt!!
                                                            
                       GEORGE (V.O.)
Alex, answer your mother, and what
the hell happened?!
                                                            
Alex continues to ignore his mother and step dad. He wipes
his tears away and continues walking towards the upstairs
bathroom. The door slams as he locks himself in.
                                                            
                                         FADE OUT.
                                                            
 
INT. STUDENT CAFE - DAY
                                                            
Jake and Alex are sitting down at a cafe table, discussing
what had happened earlier that day.
                                                            

5.

                       ALEX
I've been having these weird day
dreams...
                                                            
                       JAKE
      (Confused)
Day dreams?
                                                            
                       ALEX
More like visions, and what's
really weird-
                                                            
                       JAKE
Let me guess, there of you dieing.
                                                            
Jake looks down while he continues to laugh at this
successful joke. He looks up and notices Alex is not
laughing.
                                                            
                       ALEX
By overdosing on pills.
                                                            
Jake is now serious, and looks at Alex with sincerity.
                                                            
                       ALEX
      (CONT'D)
All I know is that there is blood
all over my shirt, and I'm crying
about something...
                                                            
                                         FADE OUT.
                                                            
 
EXT. OUTSIDE HOUSE, NEAR SIDEWALK, - NIGHT
                                                            
CHILDHOOD FLASHBACK
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
Your not leaving me are you?
                                                            
                       YOUNG ALEX
      (Holding his arm)
Not yet.
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
I thought social services was
going to let you live with your
grandparents?
                                                            

6.

                       YOUNG ALEX
They said because my grandparents
are to old, that I must go live
with my aunt until my mom gets out
of the hospital.
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
But doesn't your aunt live like
thousands of miles away from here?
                                                            
                       YOUNG ALEX
      (He notices Bree
       crying)
Yes...but if this keeps me and my
mom safe and out of his way, then
I should go...right?
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
      (Hestitating)
Yea...I guess so.
                                                            
Bree hides her face as she wipes away her tears. She rubs
her eyes and turns back around to Alex, who is looking at
the sky.
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
      (CONT'D)
Alex?
                                                            
                       YOUNG ALEX
      (Sits up)
Yea, Bree?
                                                            
                       YOUNG BREE
Can I go with you?
                                                            
Alex just looks at her
                                                            
                                         FADE TO BLACK
                                                            
 
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
                                                            
Alex is sitting at a table looking through books on
premonitions. While he is flipping through one book, his
cell phone begins to RING. Alex answers the phone
                                                            
                       ALEX
Hello?
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Alex, is that you sweetie?
                                                            

7.

                       ALEX
Yes, mom its me.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Talk up honey, I can't hear you.
                                                            
                       ALEX
I'm in the library mom, I can't
talk to loud.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Listen Alex, I won't keep you
but...
                                                            
Her voice becomes nervous and worrisome.
                                                            
                       ALEX
Mom..what's wrong?
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
      (She Hesitates)
Alex...
                                                            
                       ALEX
Mom, just tell me! Whatever it is
I can handle it.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
      (She hesitates
       again)
Well honey,
                                                            
                       ALEX
      (He becomes
       irritated)
MOM! Just tell me
                                                            
Alex is almost yelling at this point, and is hushed by other
students in the library.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
It's your dad.
                                                            
Alex's face transitions from irritated to anger.
                                                            
                       ALEX
I don't care, we have been over
this before, anything regarding
him I could care less about.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
His condition has worsened...he
doesn't have a lot of time left.
He has requested to see you before
            (MORE)

8.

                       BRIDGET (cont'd)
he-
                                                            
                       ALEX
Mom, I don't have time for this,
I'll call you after my classes.
                                                            
                       BRIDGET
Alex! Wait-
                                                            
Alex hangs up and has a painful look on his face, he puts
his head on his forehead, as another vision begins.
                                                            
                                         FADE TO BLACK
                                                            
 
EXT. OUTSIDE HOUSE - NIGHT
                                                            
VISION
                                                            
A GUNSHOT is heard. Alex gets out of the car and stops in
front of his house. He looks in the window and sees him mom
and stepdad. His shirt is covered in blood and his face is
wet from his tears. He approaches the door and proceeds to
walk in slowly.
                                                            


FADE OUT.


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From Josh A. Echevarria Date 4/7/2008 ***
Really interesting concept. I liked it. It just seems a little rushed. There should be a little more time in between the visions. When you're writing it feels like the intervals between the reality and his visions seem alot longer but they are actually very close to each other and need alot more distance between the 2. Add some more to the "reality" area so everything doesn't seemed so rushed. If I was having visions of my death that many times a day with minimal intervals I would probably kill myself. Besides that i enjoyed it. Keep working and don't give up on it.

From Corinne Date 11/3/2007 **1/2
It's okay so far but I wouldn't jump into the visions so quickly into the movie. Have a couple pages before the first vision. Show the audience who Alex is. Maybe he should go to a psyciotrist(I know I spelled that wrong). If I had visions of myself dying, I know I would. This can be a great film. keep up the good work.


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