The Word Monster Part 1
A York University President's Prize Winning Script.
So, as I mentioned, I'm a screenwriting major. This, predictably, has required me to write a few scripts. I've decided to post some of my favourites as they're a shorter read than, oh, say the graphic novel I'm posting. Though as an in-joke, I do reference it in the script.
This script I consider one of the best I've ever written. "The Word Monster" was the first script I wrote where I was allowed to go wild. There were no rules beyond the obvious "don't write anything that's bad and offensive" and the limit of 15 pages. I'd had the idea of a girl who had written a monster made of words kicking around for a long while, ever since I saw Disney's Coco and wondered why all the animated children's films about being artistic are about musicians.
That's a rule I write by. If something disappoints you, write the version of it you wanted.
So when we were given almost unlimited freedom to write, that's the idea I ran with. It was a bit of gamble for me as everything I had produced for school so far had been aimed at adults and this was basically going to be a Pixar short. But at that time, I found out that's the kind of thing I wanted to write more than anything (which is a whole other story I might tell someday). This was my first chance to write that.
Luckily for me, my professor is pretty great and gave me a really good grade. I feel like not everyone in my artsy film department would have been cool with someone trying to pursue mass-market animation. Snobs.
But not only was it an academic success, but this script also won a pretty prominent writing prize at my university this last year. They even gave me money for it. So I'm a bit extra proud of it.
Anyways, here's the first part for you to enjoy, in all it's sweet but short glory.
The Word Monster
INT. JOEL’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
JOEL (11) heaves a pile of paper onto his desk and sits
down. The room is filled with boxes, half unpacked. He
writes the words "A story by Joel" at the top.He takes a
deep breath and begins writing, saying the words as he
writes them down with a look of great concentration.
JOEL
This is the story of a... dragon...
who...
Joel puts down his pencil and stares at the paper for a
moment. He crumples it up and begins to write again.
JOEL
This is the story of... a pirate-
Joel is now writing on a new paper with the words "This is
the story of" written down on it. A couple of crumpled
pieces of paper sit on the desk.
JOEL
-a princess from space.
Joel writes on a new paper with the words "This is the story
of". There are now 4 pieces of crumpled paper.
JOEL
-two villains, a robot, and a brain
in a jar.
Joel writes on a new paper with the words "This is the
storyof". There are now 7 pieces of crumpled paper.
JOEL
-the greatest discovery ever made
in the entire universe.
Joel groans and lets his head fall down onto a blank paper
among the 13 crumpled papers now on his desk. He looks up at
a flyer taped onto the wall in front of his desk.
INSERT FLYER:
It is an advertisement for a creative writing contest for
kids held by the local library. The winner gets to read
their story at a public ceremony. Joel sits up, takes
another deep breath, and starts to write. JOEL
This is the story of... a monster.
Outside of Joel’s bedroom window, the house next door can be
seen. It is tall, a bit dilapidated, and cast in shadow from
the towering trees surrounding it. Suddenly, a huge
monstrous shadow darts across the roof.
Joel notices it from the corner of his eye and looks over.He
gets up, walks to his window, and peers out, eyes wide.
Nothing happens.
He turns back to his desk, crumples up his paper, sighs, and
leaves the room.
EXT. JOEL’S HOUSE - DAY
Joel stands at the edge of the front lawn of his house
checking the mailbox. A "For Sale" sign with a large "Sold"
sticker plastered over it stands on the lawn.
KID 1 (O.S.)
You’re either brave or stupid.
Joel spins around to find three kids his age on bikes
stopped just behind him.
JOEL
What?
KID 1
Ha, I guess you’re stupid. You’d
have to be to move in next to her.
The kid points to the house next door.
JOEL
Why? Who lives there?
KID 1
Agatha.
KID 2
She hasn’t left the house in years.
They say that one day, she went
crazy and killed her parents.
KID 3
Sometimes, in the middle of the
night, you can still hear them
screaming. Kid 2 screams. Joel jumps at the sound.
KID 1
Why do you think the people that
used to live here moved away?
The kids take off on their bikes, laughing as they go.
KID 1
I guess we won’t see you later!
Joel looks next door at the window across from his. It’s
cracked open and the curtains waver in the breeze.
INT. JOEL’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
As Joel walks past his desk, his paper with "This is the
story of a monster." written on it catches his eye and he
stops. He picks it up and looks to the house next door.
He grabs a pair of binoculars from a box, drags his chair
over to the window, sits, and watches the roof through the
binoculars.
Nothing is there.
Time passes and Joel falls asleep.
INT. JOEL’S BEDROOM - DAY
A loud crash suddenly awakens Joel. He looks around
frantically, grabs his binoculars, and looks at the house.
In the backyard by a couple of knocked over trash cans, the
same monstrous shadow darts into an open backdoor. Joel
scrambles out of the room.
EXT. AGATHA’S HOUSE - DAY
Joel knocks on the front door, rapidly and nonstop. He looks
towards the backyard. Suddenly the door swings open and
reveals AGATHA (11) standing there with a scowl on her face.
AGATHA
What do you want?
JOEL
You need to get out! I know it
sounds crazy, but I just saw a
monster go into your house!
Agatha doesn’t react.
AGATHA
Yeah, I know.
JOEL
What?
AGATHA
I said I know. It’s mine.
THE MONSTER moves from the shadows to in behind Agatha. He’s
about 6ft tall and made literally of words and sentences,
the black print making up his monstrous form. Joel looks up
at him and unconsciously takes a few steps back.
JOEL
W-what...
AGATHA
I’m Agatha. I’m a writer. I wrote
him.
JOEL
Cool.
Joel’s attention snaps back to Agatha.
JOEL (CONT’D)
Did you say you were a writer?
AGATHA
Yes, not that you know would
anything about writing.
JOEL
Actually, I’m writing a story for
a contest.
Agatha crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow.
AGATHA
Really?
JOEL
Yeah, but... I don’t have any good
ideas.
AGATHA
Writing isn’t for amateurs.
JOEL
But if you’re a writer, maybe you
can help me. We could write a story
together! AGATHA
And why would I do that?
JOEL
The winner gets to read their story
at a ceremony at the library and
...I know what the other kids say
about you.
Agatha looks away from him.
JOEL (CONT’D)
But if you won then maybe people
wouldn’t believe them.
Agatha only glares at him and balls up her fists.
JOEL
...Well, I’ll see you later I
guess.
Joel turns and starts to walk away. Agatha calls after him.
AGATHA
Fine. Tomorrow. And we’re writing
it my way.
Joel turns back, smiling, and offers her a handshake.
JOEL
I’m Joel, by the way.
She slams the door on him.
Comments
Post a Comment