Lesson 14

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Scary-As-Hell Scene

What I learned… to create a scary scene, start with a horror map that includes a horror situation, the emotion you want to start and end with, and then place an arc of emotions in between those two bookends. Finally, attach a physical representation to each emotion. Add in scares and releases and you will have one scary as hell scene!

INT. BASEMENT – NIGHT

A STORM rages. SARAH, 21, huddles beneath the staircase gripping two pieces of paper. JAKE, 21, stands on the first step and does calf raises.

A single fluorescent light allows them to see each other between the stair slats.

SARAH

Jake, if we can’t destroy it, then what’s to become of us? All of us?

JAKE

Seriously, Sarah? No way it’s real.

SARAH

Yeah.

The wind HOWLS.

Jake does a variety of exercise stretches using the stairway. Sarah opens the paper in her hand.

SARAH

What if it’s not a prank, Jake? What if…?

The SOUND of the WIND increases.

JAKE

Relax, Sarah. The sun’ll come out tomorrow!

Sarah gazes at the typewritten words. The lights go out. The only light is the battery-operated EXIT sign above the stairwell.

The SOUND of a LOUD ROARING TRAIN.

SARAH

Jake! I’m scared! Jake!

JAKE

Aww. Don’t be a-scared. Daddy’s here.

Jake reaches his hand through the slat to Sarah. She half-smiles and reaches for him.

The door at the top of the stairs bursts open with a torrent of rain.

JAKE

Hold on.

SARAH

No, Jake. Don’t go up there. Don’t go.

Jake laughs and runs up the stairs. He trips halfway up but keeps going.

JAKE

Calm down, Sarah! It’s just a tornado, not a monster!

Sarah gets to her feet and looks to the top of the stairs.

SARAH

Jake, please. I’m begging you. Come back. Please come back.

He reaches the top of the stairs and pushes on the door.

JAKE

None of this is real.

A forceful gust sweeps Jake off his feet, pulling him out through the opening and he is sucked into the raging tornado.

SARAH

Jake!

Sarah opens the paper and reads the typed words “None of this is real.”

She screams.

The wind and rain rush down the staircase and saturate Sarah. She’s frozen, screaming in terror. Debris from the tornado descends upon her. Dirt, twigs, branches, bricks, glass, and pieces of metal bury her at the foot of the stairs.

END