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Lesson 11
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16 Replies
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Frances Williams Level 2 Horror Emotions Scene
What I Learned doing this Assignment is how to write a scene using Fear, Suspense and Dread.
Fear – John forms a search party at Base camp, they hunt through the dark looking for Jake. They go hunting out of concern for their missing colleague.
Suspense – After hearing noises coming from inside the Forrest, the team decide to check it out, they follow the moaning sounds worried that something awful has happened to their friend.
Dread – Blake yells out, The Monster has him, they have him down in the hole, we must do something to save him, or else he will die. With dread we no longer speculate, they are forced to step up to a horrifying situation.
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Tony J Scott
Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene.
I learned that there may be fear, dread and suspense in parts of the story where you don’t expect. In a few of my act 2 scenes there are some obvious level 2 horror emotions but i wanted to dig deeper and find a level 2 emotion where I thought there wasn’t.
INT. MONSTER BASEMENT-DAY/NIGHT
The Monster basement is a dungeon surrounding an interior room that closely resembles a white pristine hygienically clean surgery room. The walls are positioned in a half-moon shape. There are seven chairs to begin with. One chair is removed at the end of each complete two phase torture cycle.
CUT TO:
INT. MONSTER BASEMENT-DAY/NIGHT
The typical two phase torture cycle has been interrupted from it’s normal routine. The Monster Assistant KIMWAKAZZI, has not distributed the correct LSD dosage to the speaker as well as two other group members. Two of them DERRICK and MALCOLM are fully awake but MICHELLE, the speaker is only partially aware.
The MONSTER and Kimwakazzi are unaware of the mishap until it’s time to bring the whole group back. This is the first instance where anyone from the group has proof that this is not part of the aftercare cancer treatment. The two continue to play possum. The Monster checks to make sure each group member is still unconscious. He checks Wanda, Michelle, who is too out of it to notice, Nikki. They witness Kimwakazzi molesting Nikki’s body while she is unconscious. The Monster attacks Kimwakazzi for his behavior. The Monster slowly approaches Derrick. He bends over Derricks chair to see if he will flinch. Derrick is holding his own. Malcolm is praying he’s not next. The Monster gets as close to Derrick’s face as possible but no response.
The clock buzzes and the remainder of the group return from the FUNERAL PARLOR to the Monster basement. The Monster and Kimwakazzi clear the room just in time.
WANDA, takes a headcount but notices that Michelle, instead of being asleep is somewhat conscious.
WANDA
Michelle, you’re awake?
MICHELLE
Yes, but I think I’m the speaker.
Derrick and Malcolm speak at the same time, yes you’re definitely the speaker this time.
WANDA
I don’t get it, why are you still awake. Maybe this is part of the treatment and the others were released.
MICHELLE
I don’t know?
Malcolm begins to speak but Derrick shushes him.
NIKKI notices her clothes are rumpled on her body.
NIKKI
Hey, um, why is my skirt hiked up over my hips. What’s going on you guys? This is the second time it’s happened.
Again, Malcolm begins to speak and again Derrick shushes him.
WANDA
Wait a minute, you two know what’s up! Fess up!
MALCOLM
We were a wake the whole time! And for some reason the drug didn’t work on us.
NIKKI
Us, who is us. Tell me why do I feel like I’ve been… been.
MALCOLM
Because you have been… been… I don’t know how to tell you guys but we are no longer in the aftercare treatment program.
Malcolm tells them the whole story.
MALCOLM
And if you don’t believe me ask Derrick. We both watched the whole thing.
NIKKI
Derrick is this true? Was I sexually assaulted.
MICHELLE
Derrick, Just tell us what you know. Or are you part of this?
WANDA
What is your major malfunction? I know you, your type, looking out for number one, hell you didn’t even want to tell us your name. So what gives?
DERRICK
Okay! Yes! We saw it all. Yes the monster, the ugly one, I think he’s the assistant, was all over you. But the way he was checking you out, it’s like he really has feelings for you. I know, it’s fucking sick but…
MALCOLM
Hey, I think he’s right. He’s almost over protective or something, except for the sexing part. He was genuinely heartbroken when the Monster attacked him about you.
DERRICK
He fucking cowered like a scolded puppy.
Wanda’s strategic brain goes to work.
WANDA
Woe… That’s a weakness. I think we can use that.
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Sunil Pappu’s Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
“What I learned doing this assignment is…how to use level 2 emotions of fear, suspense and dread, in the second act as the horror is about to begin.”
ACT 2 SCENE: SARAH’S BATHTUB ENCOUNTER WITH THE DETECTOR
FEAR: Sarah is in the bathtub, suddenly the water goes cold and she knows that a detector is close by
SUSPENSE: Sarah waits holding her breath to remain underwater…
DREAD: she can hear the ragged breath… she fights to remain underwater when an enormous eye swivels around confused… then drifts away…
INT. BATHROOM – DAY
Sarah checks the water… the tub is full and the steam fills the room. She undresses and slips into the tub with only her blindfold on…
She washes herself humming a tune and opens her eyes once her face is fully submerged in the water…
Suddenly the steam evaporates and condenses on the glass wall… a faint clicking sound…
The water goes cold… And freezes with the top of the tub forming ice crystals. Sarah is underwater holding her breath… She is running out…
A ragged breath is felt over her shoulders…
She remains still… finds her daughter’s scuba pipe near her feet…
She pulls out the pipe, slowly pushes it through the top, and breathes through the other end in her mouth…
An enormous eye swivels… it seems confused… slowly drifts away…
The bathtub water unfreezes and Sarah pulls her head out and finds her blindfold lying on the floor… puts it back on…
She collapses on the tub and breathes normally again…
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Lesson 11: Level 2 Horror Emotions
Subject Line:(Huey J. Williams) Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
What I Learned:
Its fun and not so difficult to create Horror Stories, the step by step
method that ScreenwritingU teaches makes everything understandable,
educational, and straightforward. The one step at a time method.
THE PITCH:
A Group of High School Graduates celebrate, before leaving for college
with a camping trip in the woods, that they will never forget.
TITLE: “THE THINGAMAJIG”
GENRE: HORROR
FADE IN:
EXT. BLACK FOREST – NIGHT
A forest near a lake illuminated by a full moon, the sounds of desperate
HISSING, and INJURED WOLF GROWL, QUICK THUMPING HITTING THE GROUND, slithers
threw the bush in hot pursuit of a EIGHT POINT BUCK.(Suspense/Dread for Deer)
The Buck SHRIEKS in pain when something in the bushes rips off it’s feet and
begins devouring it, bones CRUNCHING SOUNDS.
CLOSE ON – Just the monster’s mouth chewing is seen, as it takes big bites of
dear meat.(Suspense/Intrigue)
The forest goes silent.
CLOSE ON – SCREECH OWL SHRIEKS, as he watches from a tree.
INT. MOTORHOME – NIGHT
ALDEN drives the motorhome, SHAD his dog liying at his side CORY rides shotgun,
GRAM, ASHLEY, CATE, and ZOEY sit together at the table, all close friends
throughout High School.
Alden pulls up and stops at a sign that reads: “Black Forest Keep Out”
ALDEN
Keep out, my Dad and I have spent many hunting
seasons here, we’ve captured some of the bigest
bucks in the region, perfect dear hunting.
ASHLEY
Ok, lets go home, I don’t feel like getting shot
with rock salt. Do you remember what happend when
we raided that cherry orchard last sumer.
CORY
It’s probably a prank, pay it no mind, we’re here
lets go camping.
CATE
Cory, every since we’ve been together you always say
that prank bit, and you’re never right.
GRAM
Lets go for it, what do we have to loose, all they
can do is kick us out, if they find us.
ZOEY
Cate, I agree, I don’t like going to stange places
uninvited, especially in the woods. Its no telling
what we may find, or run into, there could be GHOSTS,
MONSTERS, maybe even a MAD KILLER.(Apprehension/Anxiety)
Everyone in the motorhome starts LAUGHING.
ALDEN
Cate you need to chill out, I think you watch to much TV.
Then it’s settled!
They continue to the camp sight by the lake.
EXT. CAMPSITE BY THE LAKE – NIGHT
Under a full moon, Ashley, Alden, and Shad pitch their tent and climb in.
Cate and Cory pitch their ten and climb in.
Zoey and Gram pitch their tent and climb in.
In the bushes hiding the monster watches, not making a sound.
Gram decides to go for a jog threw the woods, his nightly routine.
Gram retuns to camp and notices the motorhome is smoking.
GRAM
Hay guys the motorhome is smoking!
The Group jumps into action rushes into the motorhome putting out the
electrical fire.
ASHLEY
Now we’re trapped out in the middle of nowhere,
what’s next, someone gets lost, or maybe killed.(Apprehension/Anxiety)
ALDEN
Ashley, don’t be such a baby. Nothing like that
will happen, Shad and I will protect you.
They put the electrical fire out, return to their tents, all is
quiet.
CORY
I’ll fix the electrical problem in the morning.
Suddenly, there is a LOAD HISSIN followed by a SICK WOLF HOWL!(Surprise/Fear/Suspense)
Everybody jumps out of bed.
EVERYBODY
What was that! What the hell was that!
Shad begins BARKING and GROWELING, then he runs out the tent in hot pursuit
into the woods after the monster.
Alden grabs his rifle and follows shad and tries to catch up into the woods.
Everyone in the camp, Ashley, Cory, Cate, Zoey, except for Gram are gathered
together in terror huging each other.(Fear/Suspense/Dread)
Alden returns with only Shad’s Tags and some of his fur.
Alden hugs Ashley almost in tears.
ALDEN
Shad is gone, he die protecting us, all I found was his
tages, and fur, his fur was scattered all over the ground.
GRAM
Shad was an excellent hunter, I bet he went out fighting.
ALDEN
There’s more, while I gathered Shads things, I fealt like
I was being watched by something hiding in the
bushes. I couldn’t see it but it was there
watching me. I kept my rifle ready as I left.(Apprehension/Anxiety/Fear/Dread)
The Group hugs each other tighter as Alden told the story of what he saw.
GRAM
Alden, how many extra guns did you bring?
ALDEN
The hand gun on me, my rifle, there is a hand
gun and rifle in the motorhome.
GRAM
I think we should leave the tents set up, but
everyone sleep in the motorhome tonight.
ALDEN
I agree.
INT. MOTORHOME – NIGHT
The Group make their way into the motorhome and bed down for the night.
Zoey tries to make a call home on her cell phone, no signal.(Surprise)
ZOEY
There’s no signal out here, I can’t make a call,
now we’re really screwed. Gram, if anything happens
to me, I’ll, I’ll, you better protect me.
GRAM
As long as you’re with me love, I’m your
Superman, you know that.
Gram, and Alden armed decides to share watch duty for the night.
The monster is watching the motorhome in the bushes.
The monster enters the camp, ransacking the tents, then goes to
the motorhome and peeps threw the bathroom window.
Zoey is in the bathroom bushing he teeth, when she spot the monster’s
big eyees enlarged face staring at her, she SCREAMS and runs out of
the bathroom.(Shock/Hysteria/Fear)
ZOEY
There’s a monster out there, he’s peeping in
the bathroom window!
Zoey, Ashley, Cate begin SCREAMING as LOAD as they can!(Fear/Dread/Hysteria)
The monster jumps up and downon the motorhome HISSING, HOWLING LIKE AN
INJURED WOLF, shaking things up.
THE MONSTER
FEED ME! FEED ME! over and over.
Alden, Gram, Cory, go into action each armed, they make their way out of the
motorhome they get their first look at the monster, and begin shooting.(Shock/Fear/Dread)
They make multiple hits, but it doesn’t kill it, as it runs away into the
darkness.(Surprise)
Alden, Gram, Cory are sweating, knees kocking, wide eyeed and they can’t believe
what they just saw.
GRAM
What the hell was that!
ALDEN
The Girls are hysterical, but they must know what we are
dealing with. We have to come up with a way to kill this
THINGAMAJIG, what ever it is.
CORY
It looked hungry, its either us or it, the
Thingamajig, that’s a good name for it.
That’s what it looks like a Thingamajig.
We’ve learned something about it tonight,
bullets won’t kill it, mybe fire will.
Alden, Gram, Cory head back into the motorhome, they have some explaining to do
with the girls.
ALDEN
I wish I had a better way to tell you this,
but we’re being hunted, by something we have
named the Thingamajig. We promise you, we’ill
protect you, we have a plan.
Later that evening the Thingamajig strikes again this time Cate, Zoey, and Ashley all
get a look at it, as it raids the tents looking for food or one of them.(Dread,Hysteria,Fear)
Ashley, Cate, Zoey become hysterical, crying, sweating, Zoey soil herselves.(Fear)
Alden, Gram, Cory attack the Thingamajig off with fire, (molotov cocktails).
In the battle Gram get to close to the Thingamajig, it grabs him and takes him away
into the forest.(Dread)
Alden and Cory follow Gram and the Thingamajig to it’s hideout.
The Thingamajig is half way done making a meal of Gram.
EXT. THINGAMAJIG’S HIDEOUT – NIGHT
The Thingamajig hideout, a near hole in the ground.
Alden and Cory arrive and begin bombing the Thingamajig with molotov cocktails setting
refuge a blase.(Dread/Fear)
The Thingamjig falls to the ground HOWLING as it burns.
The Thingamajig rise and runs towards Alden, and Cory, they fire several shots, hitting
it then it falls and dies.
Alden and Cory take a close look of what’s left of Gram’s burned and half eaten body, they
bury Gram’s body before makeing their way back to the motorhome.(Dread)
EXT./INT. MOTORHOME – NIGHT
Ashley, Cate, Zoey stand at the motorhome happy to see Alden, and Cory, but Zoey begins
crying.(Fear/Apprehension/Anxiety/Dread)
ZOEY
Where is Gram! Where is Gram!
CORY
He didn’t make it. The Thingamajig killed him,
we were fighting and the Thingamajig grabed and
ran off, we tried to save him, he died trying
to help kill the monster, we buried what was left
of him. He was a very brave young man, and a true
friend. The Thingamajig is dead.
Zoey burst into more tears, Ashley and Cate comfort her.(Dread/Fear/Apprehension/Anxiety)
ALDEN
Grab your things, we’re leaving, we’ll hike
to the nearest main road, hitch-hike back to
town for help.
ZOEY
Poor Gram, I miss him already.
ASHLEY
We all miss him, he and Shad gave their lives so
that we could excape being killed by that Thingamajig.
CATE
I hope there are no more of those monsters around.
CORY
You never know the way the world is changing, global
warming could be causing these things.
CATE
Cory, can we talk about something else, or maybe not
at all.
Together with Ashley, Cate, Zoey, Alden and Cory hike their way out to the main road,
where they catch a ride back to town for help.(Fear/Apprehension/Anxiety)
EXT. BLACK FOREST – NIGHT
What appears as a falling star lights the sky, then lands near the lake.(Surprise)
CLOSE ON – A Thingamajig sureys the forest, grimaceing look on his face, looks at
the moon, HISSES and INJURED WOLF HOWLS into the night…
FADE OUT
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Budinscak Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
Level 2 Horror Emotions
Day 11
What I learned doing this assignment is…
o The differences between Act 1 and Act 2 emotions.
o The differences between fear, suspense and dread.
o How to keep the audience on the edge of their seat through Act 2.
INT – MINE DATA CENTER – NIGHT
A large conference room lined with special optics equipment – night vision, infrared, motion sensors, video cameras – hosts a meeting between the Commander, his men and the onsite management team.
The SOM (Site Operations Manager) walks to a control and flips a switch. The shade concealing a large window opens to reveal people and animals held in glass-walled prisons.
POP – the power goes out, all systems shut down.
SOM: Don’t worry, the generators will kick on in fifteen seconds.
Backup lights brighten the dark room. Computers whirr and buzz as they come back online.
COMMANDER: What the hell are you doing?
SOM: Holding prisoners, sir. I told you earlier, someone or something in that room is an alien.
COMMANDER: Now I understand why I’m here.
ECHO: Commander, over here.
Echo points to the wall of optic equipment. None of the specialized equipment reflects any activity.
COMMANDER: What am I supposed to see? Doesn’t look like anything’s going on.
ECHO: That’s what I thought, but check out video camera #8.
A large, translucent figure looks in the camera before looking away. No other camera, sensor, motion device, nothing shows signs of anything.
They look back to camera #8, the mist-like figure glides down a hall.
COMMANDER: Echo, go see what the fuck that is. And take Fido with you.
Echo smirks as he hooks a leash to the robotic dog. He checks his weapon before heading out the door. The door is locked behind him.
Everyone flocks to the screen wall, sitting in silence as the seconds tick by. They’re surprised by a burst of gunfire, then quiet, another burst and a primal scream. The Commander yells into a special phone.
COMMANDER: Echo! Echo! Talk to me.
BRAVO: Commander, over here.
The lens to camera #8 has new flecks of blood scattered across it. On the floor in the background, only the bottom half of Echo’s body. The Commander turns to two of his soldiers.
COMMANDER: Bravo, Delta, load up. Tell me what’s going on out there.
The men nod while checking their equipment – the specialized weapons.
COMMANDER: And gentlemen, be careful.
The men grunt before heading out the door. The door is locked behind them.
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Bill Curley Level 2 Horror Emotions Learned: This lesson is a great guide to elevating and articulating my script. The key to all our projects:
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Bill Curley Level 2 Horror Emotions Learned: I know can see how and why horror must be a rising crescendo, a pattern of ever increasing angst. EXT- Construction Site- Day Three Lakes, WI. Police Chief AL Verbel, 57, stocky exits a police car. He questions Nortwoods Development owner Jack Banister, 53, pudgy and his site Forman Jim Sebieski,31, toned regarding a missing employee. Verbel Jim, can you tell me just exactly what went down here? Banister Yes, Chief. Tim Workman, one of our surveyors went out to our site 24 hours ago. We are plotting our site for high end homes. Verbal The Bog? Banister Yes. This includes the old growth forest that survived the lumber barons. It survived. Rumor has it lumberjacks were murdered when they tried to log out the site. Workman went to a place called ” The Overlook “. Verbel Go on. Senieski Tim went to this Overlook site. He called me. Said something was stalking him. Verbel What? Was he being followed. Sebieski Yes. He was certain of it. Verbel What happened next? Sebieski He gazed into the woods. Saw a monster sized porcupine. Verbal Monster sized? Sebieski Absolutely. He was sized up. The beast then charged him. He was screaming via walkie talkie. Hysterical. Verbal And? Sebieski Said he had giant quils shot into his body. Verbal Jesus, Mary and Joseph. All three men become anxious. Fear creeps. Verbel. I want to see this Overlook. Banister It,s close. 12 minute walk. Verbel. Let s go. I want to investigate this site. All begin a trek.Sebieski This way. 10 min later. They arrive. Gets ugly fast. Banister. Jesus Christ. There s blood everywhere. Verbel studies. Verbel This is a crime scene. Sebieski heaves. Collapses . Oh,God. No! Banister, Verbal rush over. Banister Christ, it,s Workman Verbal Or what,s left of him. Verbal What the hell..these quils are stuck in his torso. Sebieski What was that? Movement in the Woods. It gets louder. Banister There,s something out there. Verbal pulls out his Glock. It,s right in front of us. Banister I don,t like this. Verbel That,s a big 10 4. The rustling increases. Sebieski What the fuck ws that? Verbal What did you see? AL, it was fucking huge. Waddling. Sebieski Time for stage left! Suddenly it appears. A monster porcupine lager than a male bear. It charges all three men. Verbel Got the fuck out of here. Verbel empties his Glock. It only stuns the aggressive beast.
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Brian King’s Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
What I learned… read the lesson, then read it again, and then one more time… outline, then give it a go. I had so much fun with this first attempt at writing a scene with Fear, Suspense, and Dread. What I wrote lacks context but… well, you know… it will be clear when I fill in the before and after of the scenes.
INT. TESS’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Gigi reverently removes an Ouija board from a tattered box, along with the planchette, a small, flat device with a pointed rounded edge.
TESS
Don’t mess around with that.
GIGI
What’s the worst that could happen?
SKATER PUNK
You’ve got to see it, Tess.
TESS
I’ve explored every room here.
SKATER PUNK
I saw something move.
TESS
Like what?
SKATER PUNK
A head on a gurney.
GIGI
A head-What?
TESS
That’s what happens after death. It’s a chemical thing. Postmortem, you know.
SKATER PUNK
It turned and looked into my eyes. The dude was naked.
GIGI
Max was fucking it.
SKATER PUNK
No way. Really?
GIGI
Let’s ask Ouija.
She places the tips of her finger on the planchette, Skater Punk puts his fingers next to hers. alongside hers.
GIGI
Stop it.
SKATER PUNK
What now?
GIGI
Ouija, “Did Skater Punk see a corpse move?”
Nothing–silence fills the room–then–the planchette spells out–
“Yes.”
TESS
Max is moving it. Knock it off.
SKATER PUNK
No, I swear I didn’t.
GIGI
Prove it.
TESS
Move, dude.
He does, she sits next to Gigi and places her fingers on the planchette.
TESS
Ouija, is Skater Punk planchette around the board?
No response.
GIGI
Forget it.
TESS
“Ouija, did Skater Punk see a corpse move?”
The planchette spells the letters–
–“P-R-A-Y.”
EXT. MORTUARY – NIGHT
Skater Punk dismounts his skateboard and heads toward the front door, then grabbed and dragged into the darkness.
INT. TESS’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Gigi scrolls through a series of text messages on her phone.
GIGI
Nothing.
TESS
Father will be home soon.
GIGI
Let’s go. We don’t need him.
INT. CORRIDOR – MORTUARY – NIGHT
Gigi illuminates their path with her phone flashlight.
GIGI
I’ve heard stories about this place.
TESS
What kind of stories?
GIGI
You know, like the one Skater Punk shared.
TESS
If I get caught–
GIGI
–If we get caught.
She tests the doorknob at the end of the hall.
GIGI
Damn, it’s locked.
TESS
How did Skater Punk get in?
GIGI
He climbed through a window.
TESS
Forget that. I’m not going outside.
Gigi
Still? When are you going to get over that?
Tess
I know where Father keeps the key. Wait here.
GIGI
No way.
SAME – LATER
A sliver of light spears from under a door as Tess inserts a key and turns the lock–Gigi startles her from behind.
GIGI
Boo.
Tess jumps, and Gigi chuckles.
TESS
That’s it. I’m out.
GIGI
Come on. Suck it up. ‘m sorry.
A motor WHIRS to life, causing Gigi to jump.
GIGI
(gasps)
What’s that?
TESS
It’s the refrigeration system.
GIGI
Refrigeration?
TESS
To keep the bodies cold.
Tess pushes the door open and fumbles for the light switch.
EMBALMING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Fluorescent lights reveal an embalming machine, sinks, cabinets, and storage, sterile, you could eat off the floor.
GIGI
That doesn’t sound like a refrigerator.
She listens intently.
TESS
That’s the embalming machine.
GIGI
Look.
She points to a shroud-covered body on a gurney–
–Curious, approaches an embalming table.
GIGI
Where are you going?
TESS
I want to see who it is.
She lifts the shroud from the corpse-freezes.
GIGI
Who is it? Who is it?
Tess stumbles backward–
Gigi peers at the corpse that’s hooked to an embalming machine, recoils, and bumps into—
–Max
Tess
Oh, my God, it’s–
FATHER (O.S.)
–Somebody you know… ?
He steps out of the shadows; a chill runs down Tess’s spine.
**
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Jackson’s Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
How to incorporate emotions into a horror scene
INT—SCHOOL/EMPTY CLASSROOM—DAY
The lockdown is still in effect, students only vaguely clued in about what is going on. On top of this, a student has disappeared. (Fear)
As they enter they hear someone screaming that they are trapped with a monster. MR. SAPIENTIA slowly walks up to investigate; they see someone who appears to be the missing student EMILY WILLIAMS. They begin freeing them first untying their arm bonds, but they gruesomely kill him, to siphon his energy.
Later:
INT—SCHOOL/EMPTY CLASSROOM—DAY
ASHER, 16, MATT CHRISTOPHER, 15, EMILY, and OSCAR, a curious 14 year old, all run to the room that they found EMILY in. They know a killer is lurking somewhere. (Fear) They rummage through closets searching for anything that might reveal anything about this killer. EMILY calls OSCAR back to show him something, OSCAR approaches cautiously.(Suspense) MATT rummages through a closet, and finds a burned, drained, body, but still clear enough to tell it is EMILY’s(Dread). They try to call OSCAR, but when he walks out he was holding the real one’s corpse. MATT and ASHER flee to the LIBRARY.
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Barbara Fix’s Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
I learned to play with fear, suspense and dread and try to evoke a response from reader/audience.
INT. SEYMOUR SANITARIUM – ELEVATOR – DAY
Sandy PUSHES THE BUTTON. It starts up going at least a floor.
Then it LURCHES to a stop. Then starts, then stops again. Five seconds pass…nothing. Sandy HITS the button. Nothing. Sandy is concerned.
SANDY: Oh no, oh no! Damn, not this.
She claws at the door. To her surprise, it actually opens a crack. Encouraged she pries at it more. It keeps opening until its wide enough for her to squeeze through.
They are halfway between floors. She jumps up and throws the upper half of her body onto the floor, then tries to wiggle the rest of her body through by pulling herself along the floor with her arms. Its a tight squeeze and she doesn’t get far when suddenly the elevator starts up again.
Sandy panics and tries to wiggle through as fast as possible. But it isn’t easy. Its getting close to looking like she is going to get squashed into the frame of the elevator. Sandy looks petrified
SANDY (CONT’D)
Oh my god, please, please stop!
Suddenly it stops again…with inches to spare. She can’t believe it and quickly takes advantage of the moment and pushes herself the rest of the way, tumbling several feet down out onto the floor.
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DEB STENARD’S Level 2 HORROR EMOTION Scene
What I learned in doing this scene is:
it is getting easier and easier to write the scene with all this roadmap that we are learning.I am very excited to keep going forward
ACT 2 EXT. BACKWOODS – DAY
Gloria grabs the two girls by the hand and starts to drag them back to the resort.
Carl:
Where the hell do you think you’re going?
Gloria:
Away from here, where the hell do you think we’re going?
Carl:
I’m not going to let that diseased putz push mearound. We’re going to fight!
Gloria:
With what?
She drags the unprotesting girls with her towards the resort.
Carl:
Better to have them out of the way. We can takecare of this douchenoggin ourselves.
Louis:
But Gloria said we’d be safer in the resort.That guy is sick with rabies, he’s unstoppable!
Carl:
Listen, I don’t care if that old gasbag wants togo hidey-hidey with the girls. We’re the MEN here and we’re going to take careof that diseased dickass ourselves!
Carl strides off towards the fence, Louis scurries behind.
Louis:
Maybe we shoudl try to call the authorities or someone.
Carl:
How? Tie two cans together with string andthrow them over the fence? The cell tower is DOWN, you half-wit. You’re not even a half-wit. You’re some kind of metric wit.
Louis:
Maybe we can try to get out through the woodsto get help.
Carl:
There. Is. A. Fence. EVERYWHERE. That’s why I built it like this. So no one could get it who couldn’t afford it! Are we going to leave the girls here? That’s a cowardly thing to do. Besides, there might be more of those stick traps.
Louis looks fearfully around, afraid to move in any direction.
Louis:
Maybe we can lock ourselves in a room until help comes.
Carl:
Who knows when that might be, Bieber? I’m a man and you’re something approximating a man, so what we have to do it fight. Like men.
Carl picks up a stick from the ground and swishes it around like some preppy ninja. Something flies off the sticks and lands on Louis’sf ace. He scrapes it off and looks at it.
Louis:
(Quietly) Oh my God.
Carl is still flailing around.
Carl:
What?
Louis:
This is brains. This is someone’s brains!
Screaming, he flings it at Carl and hits his mouth. Carl immediately spits it out and gags.
Carl:
WHAT THE FUCKING HELL, LOUIS!! It went in mymouth!
Louis:
That guy is a zombie, eating people’s brains! He’s insanely strong, he’s sick with some weird disease and he can kick BOTH our asses!
He throws a pathetic punch at Carl, missing him competely. Collapses on the ground, crying.
Carl: Wow, Louis. You just tried to punch your boss. Maybe you do have some ‘nads after all. Ok, so this guy is strong, but he’s human. He can die.
Louis:
How are we going to kill him?
Carl picks up the stick again and then throws it down after seeing more goo on it.
Carl:
WE GET WEAPONS, of course, you zero!
Louis:
Where do we find weapons in a luxury resort?(under his breath) Fuckwad.
Carl hits him with a “dong” on the head.
Carl:
Ever hear of a kitchen? Pots and pans. Fire extinguishers. KNIVES. Big, sharp, you’re dead knives. Get moving.
Carl pushes Louis and they start off towards the buildings.
int. Kitchen – day
The main lights are out and only the red, blinking emergency lights are working in the kitchen. There are dark corners and closed doors and odd sounds. There are giant walk-ins, probably filled with food. There is af ryolater next to a giant 8 burner stove. Metal prep tables. The two men look for things to use against rabid Abaddon.
Carl:
Where are the knives?
Louis
:How should I know?
Carl smacks Louis.
Carl:
Don’t get bitchy with me, little girl. I can still fire you.
Louis:Go ahead.c
Carl:
What?
Louis:
Go head. Fire me. I do everything you ask, you treat me like shit, you drag me to this death trap, we have no idea where this maniac is and I do not want to die!
Louis starts to head for a door across the room.
Carl:
Where are you going?
Louis:
I’m going to try to find Gloria and the girls. She knows what she’s doing.
Louis reaches out for the door handle.
Carl:
What’s behind that door?
Louis:
A way out!
He starts to pull the handle.
Carl:
Are you sure? Maybe it’s the boogeyman.
Louis freezes.
Carl:
There are two doors. Either way could be a way out. Which one did we come in?
Louis(crying) I don’t remember.
Carl:
Where are you going to find Gloria?
Louis:
I don’t know. I just want to leave. I don’tl ike it in here. It scares me.
Carl:
Crybaby scared of the dark. Crybaby.
Louis:
Stop.
Carl:
Crybaby Louis.
Louis:
Stop!
Carl:
Calling for his mommy crybaby.
Louis:
DON’T CALL ME THAT!
He whirls around, yanks open a drawer, sticks in hin his hand and pulls out a knife. Louis:
Don’t call me anything but Louis!
Louis is facing Carl and doesn’t notice the one of the door start to open.
Carl:
Louis…
Louis:
That’s right. Louis. Call me LOUIS!
Carl:
(whispering) Louis.
The door fully opens and Abaddon is standing in the doorway.
Louis:
SAY IT LOUDER- LOUIS!
Carl:
(Screaming) LOUIS!!!
Abaddon lumbers into the room and crushes Louis from behind,l ocking his arms to his sides.l
Louis:
MR. ADDREMAN, HELP!
Carl:
LOUIS, THROW ME THE KNIFE! I’LL STAB HIM. THROW IT!
Louis throws the knife as well as he can, while struggling the hulking Abaddon. The knife skitters across the floor where Carl can reach it.
Louis:
Mr. Adderman, help! I can’t breathe!
Carl reaches the knife and picks it up. He works his way around the room, out of the reach of Abaddon and the struggling Louis, until he is at the door.
Carl:
Sorry Louis. The whole company depends on me. I can’t let all those people lose their jobs just to save you.
He runs out the door, slamming it shut behind him. Abaddon carries the struggling Louis over to the stove area.l
Louis:
Please let me go! I didn’t do anything! Mr. Adderman is the one you want! He built the fence.
Abaddon is drooling, his eyes roll back into his head. His gestures are spasmodic and jerky. He looks sideways at the hot oil in the fryolater.
Abaddon:
Name.
Louis(
Crying) My name is Louis.
Abaddon tips the limp Louis head down into the hot oil. It bubbles up, spitting and steaming as Louis’ flesh is burnt. Adabbon drops the limp body of Louis on the floor.
Abaddon:
Don’t cry, Louis.
-
Joyce’s Horror Emotion Scene
WIL: The plot is becoming easier to manage.
Picture: Blaine, a teenager, jumping for a basket.
GREG
There you go, buddy. One more jump like that and Lawtry Falls, national champs. but you messed up.
On the wall opposite a piece of wall slips off.
Greg turns, but he, doesn’t investigate.
GREG
All right, already, I didn’t give you the finger. It’s the pits. But it’s all your own fault, Buddy. You let us down, the whole town. They cut you down to size. You deserve everything they got against you.
Jon watches him from the peephole..
Greg: opens the next locker and finds another annual.
Picture: one of Blaine’s arms is missing and red streaks come from the shoulder.
Greg hesitates at the next locker, grabs it and jerks it open to a third picture.
Picture: both of Blaine’s arms are gone.
Greg slams the door shut. With his back to the locker he turns a page.
Picture: The action shot has been altered. Both legs and arms are missing from Blaine’s body.
Greg scrams out of there.
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Subject line (Marissa’s) Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
I’m not sure why this didn’t post. Put this up a few days ago.
What I learned: Always changing.
FEAR: Levi searches through the dark house to locate the cries of his missing daughter, Jo. Her voice is getting closer and closers are he approaches the attic. He creeps up the attic stairs.
SUSPENSE: The attic is stacked up to the ceiling with boxes of clothes, pictures, and books. He makes way but the crying has stopped. He looks around and realizes he’s lost. The boxes shield his pathway and the darkness blind his view. He feels his way around. A chill runs through his body. He yells “JO!”. “JO!” Levi scrambles. Then “Daddy!” Levi jumps. “Jo!” Where are you baby? Can you see?”
DREAD: “Daddy, help me!” Levi begins to push through the boxes searching for an opening. “Jo, come toward my voice. (Sotto) there’s so much shit.” Jo, come toward my voice” Silence. “Jo?” Levi attacks a box searching for a flashlight, something to help with the visibility. Nothing. He searches for string near the ceiling. He touches upon a line and pulls. As lights flicker on he catches Jo, staring at him only inches away. He looks beyond and black eyes glare back.
-
Chuck Czech’s Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
I learned the subtle differences of emotions within a horror movie. Another fun assignment.
Here’s an Act 2 scene where the two main characters are looking for clues to a missing girl and learn that the World Between is more complex and dangerous than they imagined.
INT. ROADHOUSE – NIGHT
Kay and Becca survey the Thursday night crowd — a sea of pool players and dart throwers. Young, horny people having a good time.
BECCA (speaking above the music): All these extroverts in one place — it’s what I have nightmares about.
KAY: You don’t have to do this.
Becca gives her a determined look, then disappears into a restroom. Kay pushes into the crowd, conspicuously the oldest person in the room.
ON BECCA – THE WORLD BETWEEN
Becca emerges from the restroom and observes the altered landscape. In this realm, the room is a web of shadows and the music is a MUFFLED ROAR. The PATRONS are deathly pale and their eyes are covered by a black paste-like substance.
KAY (O.S. – over the radio, crackling): You see anything?
BECCA: It’s exactly how I imagined the inside of a bar.
Becca sees burn marks everywhere — across the floor, up the walls, even scattered on the ceiling. Decades of sinful activity.
BECCA: It’s like the inside of an oven.
Becca pads to the dance floor and watches ghoulish dancers writhe about. Then she freezes — she spots a GRAY FIGURE across the dance floor standing stock still. Gathering courage, she moves in the Figure’s direction.
KAY (O.S. – radio): Becca, you there? What’s going on?
Becca loses sight of the Figure — it seems to have disappeared. She looks around and spots the Figure in another part of the dance floor. She moves in that direction — but loses sight of it again.
KAY (O.S. – radio): Talk to me — I don’t know how to get you out of there.
Becca squeezes off the dance floor, now looking nervous. She again spots the Figure, this time in a corner, its back to her, facing a couple female patrons.
As Becca prowls closer, details emerge. The figure is slim, emaciated. Its bald head and naked back are covered by rough, leathery skin. Then abruptly, its head turns causing Becca to jump back — it has no face, no eyes or nose, just a sucker-like mouth. The Figure fades from Becca’s view.
She scans the room and sees MULTIPLE GRAY FIGURES appearing and disappearing among the patrons. They lean close to people’s faces as if sucking a bit of their breath.
BECCA: I’m not alone. There are… things here. You can’t see ’em. They’re ugly… and they seem to be sucking the life out of people.
KAY (O.S. – radio): Come back, Becca. Get out of there!
Becca’s eyes drift to the floor and she spots the same monstrous footprints she saw at the second crime scene.
BECCA: I think I found something…
Becca forces herself to follow the footprints.
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Avinash Kapurala’s Level 2 Horror Emotion
What I learned doing this assignment is: I need to flesh out my scenes a lot more! My outline is quite basic at the moment.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
Fear – Emma is afraid when she gets a text ‘help’ from her husband Paul in the middle of the night, when he was supposed to be sleeping next to her.
Suspense – She searches the whole cabin, except the basement. She slowly goes in to the basement. There’s no one in the basement, but as she begins to leave, she gets another call from Paul’s phone, which is disconnected when she answers. The call is again followed by a text: under the rug.
Dread – Under the rug is a trapdoor. She goes down the trapdoor and into a tunnel. She begins walking and reaches a junction. While she hesitates, she gets another text: follow the way the finger points. She looks around, confused and her eyes fall on the ground. A severed finger is pointing the way at one of the paths. She’s scared out of her mind, but has no choice. She starts walking forward, crying.
Emma is asleep. Her phone starts ringing. She wakes up, startled. She sees her husband’s name on Caller ID. Confused, she looks next to her in the bed. Paul isn’t there. She answers the phone. The call disconnects. The phone dings with a text: Help.
She gets out of bed, panic-stricken and throwing a robe on, searches the house. There is no sign of Paul. Everyone else is asleep in their rooms.
She hesitates before the basement door and then descends into the basement. There’s no one there. She gets another text from Paul: rug.
She raises the rug and sees a trapdoor under it. She descends into a tunnel and begins walking. Soon reaches a junction. There’s something on the ground at the entrance to one path. It’s a severed finger, pointing the way. The finger has Paul’s wedding ring on it.
Emma vomits and collapses with shock.
-
Brian G. Walsh’s Level 2 Horror Emotion Scene
What I learned doing this assignment is building fear, suspense and dread creates an atmosphere of anticipation.
INT. MINE TUNNEL – NIGHT
Holding a gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other, Oak Harris pushes Lucas Cooper ahead of him. Lucas wipes blood from his forehead. He stops, turns to Oak.
LUCAS
Please, man. You’ve got to listen
to me!
OAK
Keep your nightmares to yourself.
The Mine Office is just ahead. Dark and dirty, the door is closed.
LUCAS
We’ve got to find the corpse. The
corpse is the only thing keeping
those demons from escaping.
Oak pushes Lucas. They start walking.
OAK
I don’t know what that even means.
(beat)
You and Raleigh and all that shit about
demons. You really think anyone believes
that bullshit?
Lucas shakes his head, shrugs his shoulders. Oak will never believe him.
OAK
When I find that sick murdering bastard
friend of yours I’m gonna put him out of
his misery.
(beat)
You make the mistake of trying to help
him now and they’ll be singing hymns
for both you crazy motherfuckers.
DEMON VOICES
(whispers)
Come unto me and render aid and I shall
reward you with the riches of this greedy
material world.
Oak and Lucas stop. They look around.
No one is there.
LUCAS
He’s free! Bartholomew Keene is free.
The office door SWINGS open.
Oak and Lucas both flinch, go into a crouch.
Oak aims his gun at the office.
OAK
(softly)
Get out of the way!
Lucas moves to one side.
OAK
Come out of there! This is the
police.
A figure steps into the doorway and stops. It is shrouded in darkness but small points of light are visible on its head in the area of the eyes, nose, mouth and ears.
LUCAS
Oh my God. No!
OAK
I’m Deputy Oak Harris of the Mohawk
Sheriff’s Office. I order you to come out
of there right now!
The figure walks slowly out of the office, waddling from side-to-side like a penguin.
Oak turns his flashlight beam to high and focuses it on the figure to fully illuminate
EXORCIST-PRIEST BARTHOLOMEW KEENE. The corpse is well-preserved, but there is a soft glow emanating from the eyes, nose, mouth and ears. When this corpse speaks, a collection of demon voices speaks through it.
DEMON VOICES
(whispers)
Come to me, Deputy Oak Harris.
Oak’s jaw drops. He stares at Keene, unable to comprehend how so many voices come out of him.
LUCAS
We’ve got to get out of here!
Keene cocks his head towards Lucas. He points at him.
DEMON VOICES
(whispers)
We know your voice. The voice that
helped the one who prevented us from
being free.
OAK HARRIS
I don’t know who the hell you are or
what you’re doing down here, but I’m
looking for an escaped fugitive by the
name of Raleigh Douglass.
Keene rears back on his haunches and SCREAMS in a collection of more than a dozen voices.
Harris stumbles back, unsure of himself.
DEMON VOICES
(whispers)
We want Raleigh Douglass!
Lucas runs away, in full retreat.
Keene slowly walks towards him, waddling back and forth, groaning from the internal fighting of the demons inside the corpse.
Oak raises the gun, aims it, his hand shaky.
OAK
Stop!
The Demon Voices laugh softly.
OAK
Last chance.
DEMON VOICES
(whispers)
Shoot! Shoot, Deputy Oak Harris.
Shoot now because we are going
to kill you.
Oak realizes Lucas is gone. He backpedals.
OAK
(shouts)
Lucas Cooper! Where are you?
Keene keeps coming. Oak keeps retreating.
Keene stops, rears back.
Oak turns to run.
Keene LAUNCHES himself forward, FLYING twenty feet in the air.
Oak jumps out of the way just in time –
Keene slams into the ground.
Oak runs for his life.
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