Lesson 4

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Horror Plot

What I learned doing this assignment is… certain beats and specific components must be included in the plot of a horror script. In order to avoid plot holes and other potential problems, it’s important to build and layer the different tracks of the story.

Act 1

Open:

Two young adults take shelter from a tornado. One utters their last words and is sucked up and away into the frenzy. The other is left behind – she opens a piece of paper with the same words typed on it – she screams.

Introductions:

A Day Later – the town in the aftermath of the tornado. Most of the town is decimated. Work crews clear debris. Gabe, a journalist was given this assignment because this is where he grew up. He hasn’t been back since he got an important position for a major news network over 10 years ago. He arrives to get the story. He meets up with Aaron who is the local historian and walks Gabe through the town, explaining where things were and what’s going on to help rebuild.

As they walk along, they come to a single home left standing – they talk to Mama Lee, the homeowner. Ella, a curious teen, happens along on her bike – she’s interested in Gabe and his high position at the news outlet. She wants to be a news broadcaster.

Tunney arrives. He’s a storm chaser and wants to document the aftermath.

Cassie, a paranormal blogger, also arrives. She’s especially interested in the old church – because she’s received stories of a strange typewriter that predicts people’s last words. She came to follow up on a lead she lost contact with last week when the storm hit.

With Cassie is Isa, a paranormal expert. They are friends. She is an old flame of Gabe. It’s an awkward reunion.

As they all mill about the wreckage of the small downtown the workers manage to uncover the basement of the collapsed church. They find a survivor – barely alive.

Warning:

They all race to her aid and call for help. They are about to go further into the debris, wondering if there are more people. She tries to stop them, she’s conflicted – but finally utters her own last words “don’t go in there, it’s a trap. You’ll all be killed. There’s no escape.” Then she dies. A piece of paper drops from her hand – typed on it are the exact words she just spoke. They are all confused.

Denial:

They all, in one way or another, shrug off the warning and the typewritten paper. Cassie hangs on to it. Isa is alarmed. They all push further into the basement to see more – some to look for survivors – others out of curiosity.

Safety taken away:

The opening that the workers removed collapses and they are trapped inside. They can communicate with the workers and know they will get them out – but they must wait for another piece of special equipment to arrive. They decide to go through the basement to see if they can find another way out. (Aaron, knowledgeable of the structure, knows about a secret tunnel). They follow Aaron… but his tunnel has collapsed – it’s a dead end.

Encounter with the Monster:

They enter an office where a typewriter sits. Tunney is the first to mess with it. It types his last words. Aaron is intrigued – he too – gets his last words. He mocks it and repeats the words out loud with no recourse. They are all trapped in the room and can’t get out. One by one – they all get words from the typewriter.

Act 2

Isolated/Trapped/Abducted:

The room frees them, and they are no longer trapped. They go to the initial opening – and find that the workers are there, and they can get out of the basement. Everyone goes their separate ways… some are a little more fearful and apprehensive than others.

One of us killed:

Tunney is killed in some sort of adventure-seeking endeavor. Everyone goes to his funeral. His last words are revealed. Everyone is stunned.

Midpoint: It seems that the Typewriter is a formidable foe – its prophesies are coming true. Everyone is now frightened. Who will be next?

Full pursuit by the killer:

One by one, each character utters their last word and then dies.

Terrorized:

Gabe, Isa, and Mama Lee are the only ones left. They try to figure out the connection and the mystery behind the typewriter. Finally, they realize the sin that connects them all – that each of them has lied to the detriment of another in order to promote themselves or gain money. Mama Lee refuses to admit her guilt and she, too, utters her last words and perishes.

The thrilling escape from death:

Gabe and Isa go after the typewriter to destroy it. Both must come clean on their lies…

Gabe admits his cowardice – that he hates his job, that he’s afraid to try to be anything else. The words on his paper disappear.

Death returns to take one more:

but Isa holds back. She utters her last words.

Resolution:

Gabe destroys the typewriter, but it reappears as an app (or something similar).