John Bath

For a final project I had to write a portion of a script in film noir style. We shot all of our material today, but due to time constraints I had to out about half of what I wrote. I’ll probably post the video when it’s done, but this is the original script:

Int. Diner - Day

Two police officers, DANIELS and STONE, are seen seated and talking.

DANIELS

(Narrating)

It was a day like any other; relatively uneventful. I’d just gotten through the first half of the day and was taking my lunch break at the local diner I’d eaten at every day of my ten years on the force. The only difference was the man sitting across from me, my third rookie in six months. It wasn’t that any of them got killed or anything, just that none of ‘em seemed to stick. (pause) God, what was this guys name again? Olson? Nguyen? No.. he does’t look Vietnamese.. Definitely something with a hard “K” sound. Wait, wait.. STONE, thats it. Right there on his badge, get it together Daniels…

STONE

Daniels?

DANIELS

(Seemingly losing his train of thought)

Hmm? What?

STONE

I just asked what you thought of the weather.

DANIELS

Oh..

(Looks out window)

Just a whole lotta grey..

(narrating)

Actually, it’s probably just because I never pay attention to them.

STONE

I hear it’s supposed to get better out. (Pauses) So anyway, my kid is starting pre-school next wee-

(DANIELS looks to the other side of the room to see a DAME)

(Narrating, and cutting off STONE)

DANIELS

Just then I saw her on the other side of the diner. I’d never seen a dame like her. She had legs like a simile, her hair was a metaphor, and her smile was.. well, kind of an ad hominem to be honest.. But she had the kind of look about her you think only exists in the movies, the kind that says: “I’m important to the story here, you should talk to me”

Suddenly, a transmission comes through on the POLICE RADIO

RADIO

Disturbance reported at 56 Dermott Drive

STONE

That’s just up the road a ways, you wanna check it out?

DANIELS

Might as well,

(Stands up while gulping down the last of his coffee)

I’ll drive.

(DANIELS looks over at the DAME and narrates)

Heh, next time…

DANIELS and STONE exit.
Int. Car - Day

STONE

This is the place.

(Craning his neck to get a good look at the house)

Strange, it looks so quiet.

DANIELS

(eyeing the house with suspicion)

Let’s go.

Ext. Car/House

DANIELS and STONE exit the car and approach the door of the house, weapons drawn.

DANIELS

(narrating)

He was right about that, it was quiet. But it was that kind of silence that gives you a feeling in your gut that something aint right. That trouble is out lookin’ for you. And as we walked up to that door I could tell right away that whatever it was on the other side was no laughing matter.

STONE

(Knocking loudly on the door)

Police! Open up, or we’re coming in!

The door opens.