Lesson 12

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Level 3 Horror Emotion Scene

What I learned: Act 3 is where anguish, panic, horror, and hysteria reach their peak. Anguish is experienced when a character witnesses the death of someone they care for. Panic sets in when they know they ‘might be next.’ This is accompanied by Horror which can be a drawn-out and suspenseful situation. Finally, there is hysteria which puts them in a situation that’s completely out of their control, extending their horror and helplessness.

EXT. ABANDONED STREET – NIGHT

Gabe and Isa walk hand in hand, navigating debris. They come upon some broken glass.

Isa – I can’t walk across that.

Gabe looks at her thin ballet flats.

Isa – let’s go back, around the other block.

Gabe – Come on.

He offers Isa a piggyback ride. She laughs and accepts.

As they round the corner, they hear SHATTERED GLASS. A Jewelry Store is looted. They pause, in shock and watch the flickering light and shadows of the scavengers. An ARMED MAN, burley with wild eyes, stands by the door. He doesn’t see them.

Gabe quietly backs up.

Isa spots a flashy necklace on the sidewalk in front of them. She slides off Gabe’s back and goes for it.

Gabe: Wait!

As she grabs it, the armed looter turns and sees her.

LOOTER:

What are you doing?

ISA:

Just a little souvenir.

The Looter brandishes his GUN. He looks around.

LOOTER:

You a cop?

ISA:

Yeah, right. I’m an officer of the law.

The looter shoots Isa. She collapses, a stunned expression on her face, clutching the necklace. Gabe, shocked, cradles Isa in his arms. The looter runs into the store.

Gabe calls 911. He looks helplessly at Isa.

Gabe: Isa, I’m so sorry. I thought… We need an ambulance, right away.

Isa: I didn’t think… it’s not your fault… It’s mine.

Gabe: Stay with me.

LOOTER (O.C.)

Guys – we gotta go!

Looter runs out and trains his gun on Gabe.

LOOTER:

You got any last words?

Gabe:

I do, but I’m not going to say them now.

The looter looks at him confused. His accomplices rush out of the store and run away. He puts his gun away and takes off after them.

Gabe shakes Isa.

Gabe: Isa… Isa!

He checks her pulse. She’s gone.

He hears a METALIC CLICKING. He winces and looks about.

Gable gently places Isa on the ground and, in a daze, stumbles backward. Gabe, runs away from the scene, leaving Isa behind.

EXT – DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET – NIGHT

Gabe takes slow, careful steps, and passes garbage bins. The shadows contort, elongate, and follow him. A plastic bag rustles and chases him. Unnerved, he quickens his pace.

He passes a deserted playground where a lone swing sways and CREEKS, its rhythmic motion catches Gabe’s eye. He laughs nervously.

The sound of METALIC CLICKING.

He reaches his truck, opens the passenger side door, and retrieves duct tape. He wraps the tape around his mouth and head – taping his mouth shut. He grabs the grenade from the glove compartment.

Breathing heavily through his nose, he moves quickly toward the decimated church.

Above him, broken power lines swing. They spark and make the METALIC CLICKING noise. He dodges them, a spark hits him. His shirt ignites. He rolls on the ground to put out the fire.

He steps carefully but with increased speed over the debris-covered sidewalks. Shattered glass crunches beneath his feet. He looks down at his feet. The glass has penetrated his shoes and his feet bleed.

He reaches the church and makes his way around a standing wall, moving towards the basement entrance. The wall collapses behind him, barely missing his head. The lower half of his body is buried in debris. He manages to pull himself free.

He claws his way over the bricks and other debris.

Gabe:

Keep it together. Tear it apart. Keep it together.

Tears stream down his face, as he reaches the opening to the church basement. He pulls the pin on the grenade and tosses it down the stairway.

He rolls away and cowers as the grenade detonates and the structure caves in.

The cave-in cascades and pulls Gabe towards the hole. He grabs hold of the fallen tree trunk and struggles to keep himself from going into the hole. The tree trunk gets pulled in. With great difficulty, he manages to scramble away without going under.

He crawls to the churchyard and leans on a headstone.

The rumbling stops and all is quiet.