Day 8 Assignments

[Christina Parker]

Christina Parker Pump Up Your Beat Sheet

What I learned about pumping up your beat sheet was there are always ways to increase meaning, entertainment value, emotion, danger etc even when the scene is working.

3 scenes I changed

ACT 1 Scene 6 Connor’s mother takes out a meager day’s takings from the till.

This scene needs more impact and emotion, which will lead us to understand why Connor wants to sell the box later in the episode.

Updated Scene 6 Elizabeth, notices a rip in her sleeve, she looks at an overdue rent bill as she takes out the meager takings from the till.

ACT 2 Scene 2 Steve watches TV drinks alone. Jak walks in they have an argument about her dress code.

This scene needs more punch and emotional setup visually.

Updated Scene 2 Steve watches a blank TV screen as he drinks alone. Jak walks in, they have an argument about her dress code. He gets up stumbles as he goes toward her but turns back.

ACT 2 Scene 5 Elizabeth turns on the shower it pours out blood.

This scene needed more shock value.

Updated Scene 5 Elizabeth disrobes turns on the shower but is turned away. We see the base of the shower is red. She is about to enter when she screams at the blood coming out of the head.

Even though these scenes haven’t changed much the changes have brought greater impact which brings more meaning to the scene.

New Beat Sheet

ACT ONE

1. (E7) EXT. EGYPT 1893 – DUSK

An archaeologist and his servant find an ancient box. They are going to America to sell it for a great price.

2. (E7) EXT. TOWN STREET Present Day – DAY

Tub & Gazza are two bumbling but menacing criminals, new in the town of Creede.

3. (E7) INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

We meet Connor, 14, his friend Danny. Connor is a rebel who doesn’t like Jak, the goth girl.

4. (E7) EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS – DAY

Connor has an 8yro brother Eli. Connor doesn’t want his brother hanging around him. Baxter, another of Connor’s friends is a smart nerd who gets bullied by Kade.

5. (E6) INT. GIFT SHOP – DAY

Connor steals an item for his mum’s birthday, he is seen by the local pastor and crop duster, Steve. Steve questions his own faith. Danny, Connor’s friend is a Christian.

6. (E7) INT. SHOP: CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT – LATER…

A woman, Elizabeth, notices a rip in her sleeve, she looks at an overdue rent bill as she takes out the meager takings from the till.

7. (E7) INT. PETERS HOUSE – CONT…

The woman is Elizabeth, Connor’s mum. She reprimands Connor for not bringing Eli home as he has asthma. Connor has an attitude when he sees Eli has made a potholder for his mom’s birthday. Connor accidentally drops it and it breaks. Eli is upset.

8. (E9) EXT. and then INT. MINE – CONT…

Connor meets up with Baxter and Danny at the abandoned mine. They go inside while exploring a rock slide has Connor stumbling into a vertical shaft. He finds an ancient box buried down a tunnel and the boys make their way out. The box opens to reveal ten figurines. Connor gives a frog figurine to Baxter and the Nile god figurine to Danny. As they leave the water they spilled previously has turned to blood.

ACT TWO

1. (E6) INT. TRAIN 1893 – DAY

The servant warns his master, the archaeologist, that the box will only bring death. The archaeologist rebukes him.

2. (E8) INT. STEVE’S LOUNGE Present – NIGHT

Steve watches a blank TV screen as he drinks alone. Jak walks in, they have an argument about her dress code. He gets up stumbles as he goes toward her but turns back.

3. (E9) INT. CONNORS ROOM – NIGHT

Planes adorn the room Eli plays with one of the figurines from the box while outside the room Connor and his mum argue about chores. Eli drops the figurine under Connor’s bed.

Baxter calls Connor to tell him he has found information on the box. It represented the ten plagues of Egypt and there was a warning on the box. He relates that the Nile God was the god of water.

While in the kitchen Elizabeth turns on the faucet blood fills the glass.

Elizabeth interrupts Baxter to tell Connor not to drink the water. Connor wants to know if Elizabeth had a lot of money would she move to the city.

4. (E8) INT. 1893 BEDROOM CREEDE – DAY

The servant secretly takes the box from his master’s room and hides it. The archaeologist shoots his servant.

5. (E8) INT. PETERS BATHROOM – CONT…

Elizabeth disrobes turns on the shower but is turned away. We see the base of the shower is red. She is about to enter when she screams at the blood coming out of the head.

6. (E5) PETERS KITCHEN – LATER

Elizabeth on the phone: The water board finds that the contamination in the water is blood but hides it from the public.

Connor and Eli watch the TV report on the town trying to cope with the strange red water. Show rivers of blood and the town trying to cope with the situation. Need to change it so Connor is pushing his Mom to go to town. Because he’s grounded for a day.

7. (E6) EXT. TOWN– LATER

Elizabeth takes the boys to get some bottled water from the town hall that has been shipped in but as they are handed out the water in the bottles turns red.

8. (E6) INT. ANTIQUE DEALERS – LATER

Tub & Gazza try to sell stolen goods. This scene is part of scene 14.

9. (E6) EXT. STREET – CONT…

A fire hydrant bursts gushing blood. Lawns sprinklers spout red blood. Vending water machines are now red. No coffee signs due to bad water.

10. (E7) INT ANTIQUE DEALERS – LATER

Connor finds out the box could be worth a fortune if he can get the other three figurines. Tub and Gazza overhear and want it.

11. (E8) INT CONNORS ROOM – LATER

Connor tries to find the missing figurine (that’s under the bed) Tub & Gazza plan to steal the box when they all go to bed. But they bungle the burglary and run away empty-handed.

12. (E5) INT. PETERS BATHROOM – MORNING

The water is clear again. Need to make this bigger

ACT THREE

1. (E7) INT. BAXTERS HOUSE – CONT…

The frog plague starts in Baxter’s room because he has the frog god figurine. The water turned to blood because of Danny’s figurine. The kid’s show initiative in getting rid of the frogs but they multiple outside Baxters house. Danny says it’s because opening the box has resulted in bringing back the ten plagues of Egypt. All Connor wants are the figurines. Danny gives him his but Baxter’s dog runs off with his.

2. (E7) EXT. PARK – CONT…

Jak has no friends, she manipulates herself into the boy’s group with the frog figurine and dog. Tub & Gazza are following. Everyone but Connor is convinced that putting the box back in the mine will stop the plagues. Connor lies to his friends about doing it. Instead, he is going to sell it.

3. (E8) INT. ANTIQUE DEALERS – LATER

Gazza, posing as the dealer, tricks the box from Connor.

ACT FOUR

1. (E8) EXT. STREET – CONT…

Connor gives chase to get the box back. The frog plague in the town gets worse and traffic is backed up. Connor gets in the back of Tub & Gazza’s van without them noticing. Cars are smashing.

2. (E8) EXT. FREDRICKS HOUSE – LATER

Gazza makes calls to fence the box. Through the window, Connor sees that Gazza is the sinister of the two criminals. Gazza puts a gun on the table.

3. (E9) INT. FREDRICKS HOUSE – CONT…

Connor goes inside but his phone rings, the ring tone alerts the crooks.

Baxter, Danny & Jak ring Connor. It rings out.

Hiding from the crooks, Connor opens a trap door and falls into the cellar unconscious. Tub & Gazza don’t have a clue. <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Gazza goes back to the trap door about to open it but turns back.