EXT. UNDER THE TRAIN TRESTLE - NIGHT.
PETER open's his eyes, it is dark. Scared, he immediately
gets up and runs.
INT. CARNEY LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
PETER opens the screen door and walks into the living room.
MILDRED is all the way in the bag (drunk) smoking a
cigarette.
PETER STANDING IN FRONT OF THE COFFEE TABLE
Peter does not look at his mother.
MILDRED CARNEY
Where have you been?
PETER
I ran away.
MILDRED CARNEY
Yeah.... We figured that.... We saw
your window open.
MILDRED CARNEY (CONT'D)
If I were you, I'd go back to where
ever you came from.... Cause, your
dad and Mr. Charty are out looking
for you... And when they find
you... Ohhh you're gonna get it.
PETER turns and runs out the screen door.
CARNEY FAMILY HOUSE FRONT PORCH.
PETER reaches the last step when two Cadilacs pull up in
front of the house. Gene in his and MR. Charty in the other.
GENE AND MR. CHARTY jump out of their cars.
PETER turns and runs back up the steps.
GENE CARNEY
Hey, Hey, Hey... You... Wait right
there.
Peter darts into the house.
INSIDE THE HOUSE, LIVING ROOM
PETER hide in the closet under the stairs.
INSIDE THE CLOSET
Various clothes hang and other closet items on the floor.
PETER scoots his way back deep into the recesses.
GENE ENTERS THE HOUSE WITH MR CHARTY.
CARNEY HOUSE LIVING ROOM
MILDRED motions to the closet.
GENE opens the closet door and grabs at Peter unsuccessfully.
Gene is too big and Peter is too deep into the angular under
stairway closet.
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
Get out here.
GENE swats at Peter.
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
Get out here now...
GENE stops grouping.
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
... Do you have any idea of how we
have worried. Mr. Charty and I
have been everywhere looking for
you.
GENE gets down on his knees and looks Peter in the eyes.
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
Now "P"... Come out now.
PETER starts out of the closet.
GENE grabs him by the arm and pulls him the rest of the way.
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
Oh my son.... What were you
thinking?
Mr. Charty looks at barely coherent Mildred swaying on the
couch.
MR. CHARTY
Peter, I will personally kick your
butt if you ever scare us like that
again. Your father has given me
permission. You're not allowed to
run away young man.
MILDRED CARNEY (THROUGH HER
CIGARETTE),
(Slurring her words), You should
take something away.
GENE looks at his wife.
He puts his hand on PETER's back.
GENE CARNEY
Let's go son.... We're gonna go get
something to eat with Mr Charty.
The Three of them exit through the front door.
The screen slams.
MILDRED flicks her ash in the ash try, exhales a big puff
smoke and takes a sip of her drink.
INT. GENE'S CADILAC, FRONT OF CARNEY HOUSE - NIGHT
GENE Starts the car. Mr. Charty sits in front and Peter is
in the back seat.
PETER opens his door and quickly jumps out.
GENE CARNEY
Pete..?
PETER
Just a second dad... I forgot
something.
PETER runs across the front lawn and up the porch steps.
PETER STANDING IN FRONT MILDRED
The coffee table sits between Peter and his mother.
MILDRED CARNEY
What do you want?
PETER lifts his face and their eyes meet.
PETER
I wish you were dead.
PETER turns and walks out the front door. The screen door
slams.
CUT TO:
EXT. FRONT OF CARNEY FAMILY HOUSE - NIGHT
GENE, PETER and MR. CHARTY arrive, exit the Gene's Cadilac
and walk to their respective houses.
GENE and PETER walk up the front steps and onto the porch.
MR. CHARTY
Your a good boy Peter.
PETER
Good night Mr. Charty.
PETER and his father walk house.
INSIDE, LIVING ROOM
MILDRED is laying on the couch. A large bloody gash is on
her forehead. She is passed out. They wake her.
GENE CARNEY
Mildred, Mildred..... Your
bleeding.... What happened?
Mildred stirs, opens her eyes halfway.
MILDRED CARNEY (SLURING)
I think I... I Slipped... In the
kitchen.
MILDRED touches her forehead.
MILDRED CARNEY (CONT'D)
I think I hit my head.
CARNEY KITCHEN
GENE CARNEY walks into the kitchen and inspects the kitchen
table. Blood is on one corner of the table and the floor
below.
LIVING ROOM
PETER stares at his mother's forehead.
GENE enters living room.
GENE CARNEY
Get up...
Mildred does not respond.
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
I said get up... Get your things...
We're going to the hospital.
MILDRED CARNEY
No... I'm not going.... I am fine.
MILDRED opens her eyes for a moment and then closes them.
MILDRED CARNEY (CONT'D)
I am not going anywhere.
GENE CARNEY
You are not fine.
MILDRED CARNEY (SCREAMING)
I'm not going anywhere and that's
final!
CUT TO:
INT. PETER'S BEDROOM. MORNING
Peter's bedroom when he was 11 has a mother's influence. No
posters, and no animal trophies. A very clean plain room
with blue lined wall paper, empty top of dresser, night
stands and two twin beds.
PETER IN HIS BED
PETER opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling. He swings
the blankets off of him and stands, discovers his mother
sleeping in the twin bed next to his.
Mildred's head wound has a small bandage.
MILDRED'S FACE
Mildred is extremely pale with blue lips.
PETER touches her cheek with and immediately withdraws his
hand.
PETER'S TORSO
PETE (SCREAMS)
Dad... Daaad!
PETER breathes like he is having an asthma attack.
FADE TO BLACK:
Friday, January 25, 2013
More Johnny Lightning Sample
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Johnny Lightning Screenplay Sample
OPENING IMAGE
THE CLACK OF A PROJECTOR STARTS.
BLACK AND WHITE SUPER 8 MM HOME MOVIE BEGINS
Cheering parents yell encouragements to their boys.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD GRASS FIELD - DAY
The year is 1964 Peter Carney, 11, is dressed in Youth
football gear running down the chalked field during a game.
The image shakes as it focuses on Peter wearing number 00.
GENE CARNEY, Peter's father is yelling.
GENE CARNEY(V.O.)(FILMING)
Let's go double O ... Run Peter,
Run.
Music plays introduction instrumental to James Bond.
FILM STRIPS GROWS TO FULL SCREEN
Peter, still running, he is on defense. He is shorter but
huskier than the rest of the boys. The opposing team is
running the ball right at Peter. Brian Studnicky,(STUDS),
number 20, is the ball carrier.
SERIES OF CUTS:
PARENTS ON THE SIDELINE YELLING
BARRY STUDNICKY'S FACE
Barry Studnicky, Stud's father, dressed in a police chief
uniform, yells for his son.
BARRY STUDNICKY
Run Studs... Go, Go, Run, Yeah.
BACK ON THE FIELD
STUDS cuts toward Big Kid and PETER goes to tackle.
BIG Kid, a enormously large, fat kid with big silver braces,
who's face oozes from his face mask is standing a few feet
from Peter.
GENE STANDING ON THE SIDELINE FILMING
GENE CARNEY
Let's Go "P".
SIDELINE, PARENTS TAKE NOTICE OF GENE
BACK ON THE FIELD
BIG KID, comes up on Peter's blind side.
BIG KID'S FAT OOZING BRACED FACE GROWLING
STUDS RUNNING, CUTTING
ON THE FIELD
PETER runs into Big Kid who cracks Peter out of the play.
GENE CARNEY
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
Oh...(wincing)
BACK ON THE FILED
PETER flies and lands helmet first. The parents momentarily
hush, then continue to cheer.
Music fades.
STUDS runs by untouched.
GENE CARNEY
GENE Takes the 8 mm camera from his eye leaving a ring.
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
... That one's gonna smart.
OLD PETE (V.O.)(JERSEY ACCENT)
I liked football, but I didn't like
playing. My dad always supported
me but he wouldn't let me quit.
PETER FACE DOWN ON THE FIELD
GENE ON THE SIDELINE
GENE CARNEY
Get up Carney... Come on Peter...
You're hungry... Make your move.
BACK ON THE FIELD
PETER, dazed, lifts his head out of a divot. With a tuft of
grass stuck in his face mask.
FADE TO:
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
PETER sits at a desk in his 6th grade class. 6TH GRADE TEACHER
hands a clean piece of paper to each student.
6TH GRADE TEACHER
I want you all to write your full
name in the top right corner of the
paper before we begin.
PETER writes his name.
OLD PETE (V.O.)
I hated my name growing up. It is
so important to have a good name.
Peter just wasn't cool like Bobby
or Billy.
TOP OF PETER'S PAPER
PETER writes: Peter J. Carney, then crosses through it. Then
he writes, John Peter Carney, then crosses through that one.
Then he writes Jonathan P. Carney and crosses through it a
third time.
Finally he writes: Carney, Johnny P.
DICK raises his hand.
6TH GRADE TEACHER
Yes Dick?
THE CLASS
Class chuckles.
CUT TO:
INT. 6TH GRADE CLASS, AFTER SCHOOL - DAY
GENE stands before Peter's teacher with Peter by his side.
6TH GRADE TEACHER looks perturbed and hands Peter's paper with the
various names written along the top to Gene. GENE reads the
names to himself then looks at Peter.
GENE CARNEY (TO TEACHER)
Well... He's not a bad boy...
He puts his arm about his son's head and shoulders and pulls
him close.
GENE CARNEY(CONT'D)
..He might be a little confused...
But, Essentially, those are his
names.
GENE and PETER turn and walk out. As they are walking
through the doorway, PETER turns to the teacher and gives her
"That Smile"
CUT BACK:
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD GRASS FIELD - DAY
The whistle blows.
PETER marches toward his father.
The sounds of the game and sideline parents fade as Peter
approaches his Dad.
PETER AND GENE ON THE SIDELINE
GENE, reaches out and crabs Peter by the face mask. Their
eyes meet.
PETER'S FACE THOUGH HIS DIRTY FACE MASK
GENE CARNEY
"Johnny P" Get back out there and
show em "Johnny P"...
PETER looks up at his father with eyes that say I'm done.
PETER AND GENE
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
Listen Peter... Carneys don't
quit..... You don't stop until the
whistle blows... You got it!
PETER nods affirmative.
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
You'll quit when the game is over.
And "WE" never let our team mates
down.
GENE turns his son around and kicks him in the rear.
GENE AND THE SIDELINE
GENE CARNEY (CONT'D)
(Yelling) Keep your eyes open.
PETER runs back onto the field.
OLD PETE (V.O.)
He would say that I needed to do
other things in my life besides
school work to make me more
rounded.
PETER LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER THROUGH FACE MASK
BACK ON THE FIELD
PETER, Looking behind, runs into his team mate number 55,
BOANNA.
BOANNA laughs and pulls the grass out of Peter's face mask.
PETER points at Big Kid.
GENE CARNEY (YELLING)
Let's Go... For God's sake, use
your head.
OLD PETE (V.O.)
And so... I kept playing.
James Bond music starts to play again.
Another play and PETER rushes the pass but cannot get around
BIG KID.
The ball is thrown.
BIG KID STOPS TO WATCH THE BALL'S FLIGHT
THE FIELD
BOANNA gets on his hands and knees behind Big Kid. PETER
gets a running start and sticks his head into Big Kid's chest
and his fist up under Big Kid's face mask sending him over
the back of BOANNA.
REFEREE BLOWING THE WHISTLE
THE FIELD
PETER and BOANNA get up quickly and together turn their backs
to Big Kid and walk away.
BIG KID gets to his feet with arms flailing in protest trying
to retaliate against Pete and Boanna.
The unaware REFEREE steps in and scolds only BIG KID, then
signals for Big Kid to be ejected.
Music fades
GENE SHAKING HIS HEAD
OLD PETE (V.O.)
I played until.... One day...
THE SIDELINE
BARRY STUDNICKY walks by Gene and slaps him on the back.
BARRY STUDNICKY
I guess they say if they're not
cheating, they're not trying.
GENE watches his son on the field.
OLD PETE(V.O.)
That's when my father finally
supported my decision to quit and
let me do other things....
BOANNA and PETER bump helmets.
OLD PETE (V.O.)
Oh by the way, this is a true life
story.... Well, almost true.
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