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Post Day 10 Assignment Here
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5 Replies
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Lee’s Inciting Incident
What I learned doing this assignment is…is that I did better today, but still not good enough. Still too much going back, making changes, but I was better with not stopping to think so much. I remind myself more, and try to straighten out my self-talk.
Outline – Inciting Incident
BEGINNING – Milly and Justin go to school. Millie comes home. Dad’s not there.
MIDDLE – Milly does homework, fixes dinner, watches TV, peers outside several times, makes phone calls. Dad doesn’t respond.
END – It’s midnight. Dad hasn’t come home.
Reaction to Inciting Incident
BEGINNING – Milly calls the lab, gets an answering machine. She calls the police. Not much help. She whispers a plea outside into the night for someone to help. She falls asleep on the couch.
An old woman in a prison cell wakes up, as if she’s heard something.
MIDDLE – Milly wakes up when Justin bangs on the door next morning. Someone calls from the lab. Marcus never showed up at work the day before.
END – Justin ditches school, stays with Milly, etc.
INT./EXT. JUSTIN’S TRUCK – DAY
It’s a pretty old beater. Milly hops in. There’s Justin (15-16), long and lanky, red hair, freckles. A happy face.
MILLY
To school, slave.
JUSTIN
Watch it, your mud-jestry.
EXT. SCHOOL. – DAY
Old adobe-style buildings. There’s two large ones.
Justin parks the beater in a dirt parking lot. He and Milly get out.
JUSTIN
Same time as yesterday?
Milly nods. They fist-bump, head out. Milly goes to one building (signed “Grades K-8”), Justin to the other (“High School”).
BRIEF MONTAGE – Milly and Justin at school (fill in later)
EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT – DAY
Milly and Justin meet at the beater, take off.
EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER
Justin let’s Milly off, rumbles off as she goes into…
INT. MILLY’S HOUSE
Milly does dishes, then homework, goes jogging, occasionally taking long, almost flying leaps.
LATER…
She takes a shower, cleans up, messes around on her phone. She checks her watch.
LATER…
She puts frozen pot pies into the oven, chops fresh veggies. She checks her watch again, makes a phone call on it.
MILLY
Hey Dad, you’re late. You’re never late. This is not allowed. Consequences will result. Cold pot pie…wilted veggies. Seriously, call me. What’s up?
EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER
Milly checks looks around. The sun’s nearly down behind the mountains.
She goes out into the road, looks both ways.
INT. MILLY’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Milly eats her pot pie as a sit-com plays on TV. She pays no attention to it.
She makes another phone call, hangs up when the message machine answers.
LATER…
Milly reads in the living room, a single light on. She wipes a tear away, tries to focus.
LATER…
Milly checks her phone. It’s midnight. She calls…
MILLY
(through sobs)
Please Daddy, come home. I miss you.
She lays back…
INT. MILLY’S HOUSE – DAY
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP! Loud knocks on the door.
Milly leaps up from the recliner, stumbles, falls. She picks herself up, staggers to the door, opens it.
It’s Justin.
JUSTIN
Dang, Mills, it’s time to–
Milly throws her arms around him, bursts into tears. She gasps out barely intelligible words.
MILLY
He didn’t come home. He never came home.
JUSTIN
Whoa-whoa! Easy there. Take it easy there. What–what–what’s wrong?
MILLY
(still sobs)
He never came home, Justin. He always comes home. I don’t know where he is. I’m so afraid. I’m so afraid.
Justin gently peels Milly off of him, looks her in the eye, wipes tears away.
JUSTIN
There, there you go. Who didn’t come home?
MILLY
(perturbed)
Who do you think? Who else the hell lives here?
JUSTIN
Your dad? Your dad didn’t come home?
Milly tearfully nods.
JUSTIN
Well, why not? Where did he go?
Milly’s face twists angrily.
MILLY
How am I supposed to know? You think if I knew I’d be all–crying like this?
JUSTIN
I don’t know! You just said he didn’t come home. I thought maybe he–
MILLY
He left for work in that car from the lab that was out front when we left, and he never came back. He didn’t answer his phone. He didn’t call.
JUSTIN
Well maybe he had to stay over or the car broke down or–
MILLY
(furiously)
My dad always comes home, Justin!
Justin steps inside, moves Milly along with him to the kitchen table. They sit. Milly calms down some.
JUSTIN
Okay, okay. I get it. He didn’t come home and that’s really weird. Did you call anyone else, like the sheriff, or the lab, or–
MILLY
No. I thought about it, but the lab’s number is secret, and the cops wouldn’t do anything. He hadn’t been gone long enough.
Suddenly, Milly’s phone chimes in her cute ring tone (name it sometime). The caller ID says simply “The Lab.” Milly answers.
LAB CALLER
Hello. Is this Milly?
MILLY
Yes.
Milly then rattles off five different answers to clues to identify herself. After that…
LAB CALLER
Are you aware of your father Marcus’s whereabouts?
MILLY
No, aren’t you?
LAB CALLER
He didn’t come on the bus yesterday.
MILLY
He got a call that the bus was broken down. Another car got him. I saw him leave.
LAB CALLER
Did the caller follow protocols.
MILLY
Yeah. I heard him–it was all the same questions.
LAB CALLER
There appears to be a problem. Your father never came to work yesterday, and access to both his and your numbers were blocked.
MILLY
He never came home either.
Silence, then…
LAB CALLER
I see. We will be working on this from our end. If you wish to contact local authorities, you may, but keep in mind that they will know nothing about anything having to do with your father’s job, where he works or anything else.
MILLY
So will you be–
The line’s dead. Lab Caller’s clicked off. Milly and Justin sit back, silent. Finally…
MILLY
Justin, what do we do now?
JUSTIN
Well, I guess first we should call school and tell them we’re sick.
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Emmanuel’s Inciting Incident
What I learned doing this assignment is the inciting incident is the single item that sets the protagonist on a journey to confront a battle with the antagonist. It seems in some scripts and concepts; the inciting incident is created by the antagonist and in some, it’s the result of an incident and the antagonist reacts.
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30 Day Script Lesson 10: Kimbal Thompson’s Opening Scenes 09.16.21
What I learned doing this assignment is how quickly scenes can develop and the need to concentrate on moving quickly. .
ASSIGNMENT
1. Empowerment
2. 1. Go to your Beat Sheet and find the opening scene and a second lead character introduction. Create a simple outline those scenes for those two scenes.
2. Write your Opening scene that introduces a lead character; either your Protagonist or Antagonist.
3. Write the scene that introduces the other lead character.
EAGLE STALLION
Act 1:
EXT. TRUCK LEAVING PRISON – NIGHT
A fifty-ish man is wedged between the frame rails beneath the Opala truck exiting the Hawaii Federal Detention Center where he has been an inmate since it’s construction in (date).
MAN
(to himself)
No traffic, first stoplight and I’m outa here, they won’t even miss me until tomorrow.
INT. KAI’S DINING ROOM – DAY
At the Breakfast table Kai and his parents are discussing his potential advancement to Eagle Scout
KAI’S DAD
(casually over breakfast)
What are you thinking about for your Eagle project son?
KAI
I’m not.
KAI’S MOM
Why?
KAI
You both are more into Scouting than I am at this point, I’m more interested in looking forward to getting my drivers license.
KAI’S DAD
Not until you finish your Eagle.
KAI’S MOM
I’ll support that.
KAI
That sucks! But I really have been thinking about it. You have any ideas?
KAI’S DAD
Do you remember Uncle Jim? He was a good friend that you met when you were in diapers. Remember the photo at least?
KAI
Wasn’t he the architect that jumped off the cliff?
KAI’S DAD
Yes, and survived. That was just before your picture with him. He was a talented architect and also designed a steel sculpture for Kalaheo High School, that may be in need of restoration. We should go look.
KAI
That sounds like a lot of work.
KAI’S DAD
Your project is not just supposed to be easy. Besides, it would truly be a good deed.
KAI
No good deed goes unpunished!
MIDDLE: Kai and his dad go see the weathered 2+ story high steel sculpture of a paper airplane stuck into a planter in the courtyard of Kalaheo High School. Kai chooses that as his project although schemes to have the restoration put out to bid for the actual restoration work.
END: School insists he also restore the life-size bronze horse sculpture in which Kai must perform the actual restoration work. Kai accepts.
EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD – DAY
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Kai, we like your idea to restore the Airplane sculpture, but also have something else.
KAI
That’s great, Mahalo. That’s the else?
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
The School team is the Mustangs and we have a horse in need of restoration.
KAI
What kind of mustang?
Act 2:
INT. STORAGE BUILDING – DAY
BEGINNING: The Principal takes Kai to a storage building behind the school and show him a full-size musty crusted meal sculpture of a horse.
MIDDLE: New plan: Kai decides to bring in expertise in restoring large bronze exterior sculptures.
END: Plan in action: Utilizing instructions from experts, Kai discovers patch in horse. Turning Point: Kai’s curiosity leads him to discover why there is a patch, uncovers patch to find a package inside with a valuable cache.
• Act 3:
EXT. TRUCK LEAVING PRISON – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Rory Ragsdale is wedged between the frame rails beneath the Opala truck exiting the Hawaii Federal Detention Center where he has been an inmate since it’s construction in (date).
MIDDLE• Rethink everything: Rory escapes prison, goes to find the horse and finds it missing
END: Rory Background and escape thru
PH Devise way for Rory background:
From New Jersey, rough childhood, moved with divorced parent to Hawaii while in lower grade, picked on in school, doesn’t like Hawaiian kids, hates scouts. despite being in trouble, enlisted in Air Force at 18, in Guam, court marshalled for what he thought was performing a good deed.. Arrested in Hawaii for major crime and incarcerated. Careful to not give much information on source of cache that he has hidden to insure his future once out of prison.
EXT. SCHOOL STOREROOM – NIGHT
• Finding the horse missing, he learns of Kai’s project, finds the repaired patch, and goes after Kai
INT. KAI AT HOME ON HIS COMMPUTER
• Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: Kai traces the source of the cache, goes after Kai.
Act 4:
BEGINNING: Rory chases and catches Kai demanding where he has taken the package.
EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT
KAI
Who are you and what are you talking about?
MIDDLE: Kai is interrupted and gracefully escapes. Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Rory captures Kai; Kai tricks and severely injures Rory, stealing his car and drives.
END: to the statue dedication ceremony turning in Rory and solving a long unsolved Hawaiian mystery.
INT. KALAHEO HIGH SCHOOL AUDITIRIUM – DAY
The entire Kalaheo High School body is assembled in the courtyard including on second story walkways facing the courtyard. Kai is introduced among full applause and hundreds of paper airplanes flown toward the sculptures.
KAI
Kai explains the source of the cache and dedicates it’s return.
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What I learned. Having a beginning, middle and end to scenes and sequences really helps with structure and logic.
Inciting Incident:
Beginning: Sandy and revolutionaries invade Fran’s neighborhood and tell her to get in truck
Middle: Fran tries to dissuade Sandy, saying she’s black, after all, but turns out she lives in the wrong zip code .
End: Fran is separated from her daughter and son-in-law and they’re all taken away from their homes.
INT. COURTHOUSE – DAY
Fran pleads with a JUDGE, 30’s.
FRAN
I didn’t realize what was happening, Judge.
JUDGE
Ignorance is no defense.
FRAN
It should be. There’s so much of it when it comes to crime. We need education, not punishment.
JUDGE
What do you plead?
FRAN
I plead with you to think. Look, Taco Bell is a capitalist corporate bloodsucker, right? They exploit workers, expropriate Latinix culture, cause climate change.
JUDGE
Climate change?
FRAN
Methane. From beans. You know.
JUDGE
Oh.
FRAN
Screw the corporations.
JUDGE
Didn’t you work for a corporation, in human relations, as a therapist?
FRAN
Well, yes. But these corporations are evil.
JUDGE
Taco Bell is more evil than Wells Fargo?
FRAN
They’re all evil.
JUDGE
Yeah. I guess you’re right. Case dismissed, based on good intentions.
Sandy and his cadre of revolutionaries, now quadrupled in size — all the new recruits are under fifteen — enter the courthouse.
SANDY
(yelling)
Fuck the judiciary.
FRAN
Where did you get all those kids?
SANDY
They’re comrades. Move-in sent out the word on social media and they showed up. Just like we planned.
One of the teenagers shoots the Judge. They all cheer.
FRAN
Oh my god. She shot the judge.
SANDY
This is now the People’s Republic of California. We’re in charge. You’re free, Fran.
FRAN
I was free. He dismissed my case.
SANDY
Now you’re really free.
Sandy and his army retreat, destroying the courthouse as they go.
SANDY
The PRC rules!
FRAN
Maybe I should’ve reported him when he told me about killing that kitten.
EXT. FRAN’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Trucks, filled with revolutionaries, pour into the neighborhood. Floodlights scan the perimeter. Residents appear at their windows.
Sandy, bullhorn in hand, yells to the residents.
SANDY
Leave your homes quickly. Take one bag, leave everything else behind.
Revolutionaries shoot open the front door of Fran’s neighbor, grab a couple and push them outside, in their pajamas. They load them onto trucks.
The man resists and a revolutionary shoots him. The wife collapses.
Fran stares her front door, shocked.
FRAN
What are you doing, Sandy?
SANDY
It’s happening. Just like I told you. American Mao.
FRAN
Meow? Was that the kitten story?
SANDY
American Mao. The Cultural Revolution. Come on.
Sandy nudges her with his machine gun.
FRAN
But I’m black.
SANDY
Wrong zip code.
FRAN
Zip code?
SANDY
You live in a white supremacist zip code. Everyone has to go.
FRAN
Go where?
SANDY
Get your things and get in the truck, Fran. And shut up.
She grabs her mother-in-law’s silver, set aside in an emergency bag. And shoves her cat into a cat cage. It meows.
FRAN
American meow.
Ruth and Jimmy stumble out, still drunk. Jimmy gestures with his gun. Revolutionaries shoot at his feet and he drops the gun. Ruth throws up on Sandy.
RUTH
Oh sorry. Wow. This party looks bigger than mine.
FRAN
Get a bag, Ruthie. They’re taking us away. It’s the revolution.
RUTH
Cool.
Sandy points to a different truck for Ruth and Jimmy.
FRAN
Let them come with me, Sandy. Please.
SANDY
Families are no longer allowed. They are against policy.
RUTH
That’s fine with me.
FRAN
But. She’s my child.
Fran is forced into one truck; Ruth and Jimmy another. Ruth giggles, thinking this is fun and games.
Revolutionaries shoot other neighbors who resist.
Reaction:
Beginning: Fran spies her friend Maggie in the departing truck.
Middle: They console themselves that this is like Swedish socialism and it will be temporary.
End: Farm workers overtake their homes and they realize it’s probably permanent.
INT. TRUCK – NIGHT
Fran spies Maggie at the back of the truck. They huddle together and hold one another.
MAGGIE
I didn’t think they’d do this.
FRAN
They said it was socialism. Like in Sweden. And they have such nice design there, you know.
MAGGIE
This doesn’t look like Sweden. They’re taking our homes.
FRAN
They’ll give them back, I’m sure.
They look out the window. Other trucks arrive with scores of bedraggled Farm Workers. They jump from their trucks and rush to enter the vacated homes. Ecstatic they yell to Fran and Maggie and others in the trucks.
FARM WORKER
Gracias, gracias. Hey, do you have Netflix?
Maggie bites her lip.
FRAN
This looks like the Chinese version, not the Swedish one.
MAGGIE
It’s an exchange.
FRAN
Yeah, but for what?
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Ed’s inciting Incident.
What I learned doing this assignment is the importance and structure of having the emotional scene after the inciting incident scene. This scene gives more meaning and relevance of the incident. I learned it’s more than an event , it’s he drama which it creates and character taking the new path/journey.
INCITING INCIDENT SCENE
INT. PELZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – DAY
BEGINNING – Frank Pelznikel and his accountant George argue over the fact the business might not make it. Henry crashes his drone into the window
MIDDLE – Henry called to the office. While there a sheriff and lawyer arrive shutting down the business for lack of payment
END – Henry promises in a post all orders will be delivered by Christmas or they are free. Frank loses his temper with Henry.
INT. PELZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – DAY
A drone zips around the fulfillment center. POV drone, employees ducking out of the way.
INT. PELZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – OFFICES – DAY
Christmas tree in the corner. A collection a vintage Santa Claus figures on the desk. FRANK PELZNIKEL, 50’s , President of Pelznikel Toys and , GEORGE , 40’s accountant, at the garland adorned window overlooking the center.
FRANK
Are we going to make it George?
GEORGE
It doesn’t look good. Creditors are taking legal action.
FRANK
At least our employees will get their bonuses.
GEORGE
About that.
Frank spins, agitation growing.
FRANK
You said we’d cover them. I passed out the checks.
GEORGE
Nothing is leaving this building unless we pay the trucking companies.
Frank picks up a present from under the tree. He tears off the wrapping paper and rips the empty box open.
FRANK
See this.This is what I’ve given my employee. Nothing!
GEORGE
It’s not hopeless , Frank.
INT. PLEZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – FLOOR – DAY
The drone hovers outside the office window. Henry watches on his monitor as Frank and George shout and argue.
INT. PLEZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – OFFICES – DAY
The drone crashes into the window breaking it up. Frank picks up a phone.
FRANK
Please get Henry off the floor…Yes, bring him up here.
He slams down the phone.
FRANK (Cont’d)
Does anyone else know?
GEORGE
Not yet.
FRANK
Show me the hope.
INT. PLEZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – FLOOR – DAY
Darryl escorts Henry into the offices. Darryl hands overt the broken drone to Henry.
DARRYL
Maybe if you ask Santa for a new one
HENRY
I don’t believe in Santa anymore. I’m twelve!
DARRYL
Uh-Huh. Merry Christmas, my man.
HENRY
Merry Christmas, bro.
INT. PLEZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – OFFICES – DAY
Muffled, raised voices from outside the door. Henry walks right in interrupting Frank and George.
FRANK
You’re supposed to knock.
Henry, surprised Frank’s rare anger.
HENRY
Sorry.
FRANK
Sit.
George and Frank huddle behind the monitor on Frank’s desk. They speak in hushed voices.
GEORGE
If we sell off the remaining stores.
FRANK
Carol won’t be happy.
GEORGE
It will buy us time.
Henry feebly attempts to put the broken drone back together.
FRANK
We need more than time.
GEORGE
We got in too late. The debt on this building.
SARAH, Frank’s assistant burst into the room followed by JIM, a Sheriff, old friend of Frank’s, the other is sharp dressed LAWYER, the smirky kind that enjoys making life difficult for others.
ASSISTANT
I’m sorry Mr. Pelznikel.I tried to stop them.
FRANK
It’s alright, Sarah. Jim, you’re a little early for the hot chocolate and
Cookies.
Before Jim, can speak, the Lawyer takes charge.
LAWYER
Mr. Pelznikel. I’m Jessica Tate-Kay , I represent your creditors.
She thrust a legal document from her brief in Frank’s face. Frank takes it and hands it over to George.
HENRY
What’s going on dad?
JESSICA
Wha’t going on is we are shutting down Pelznikel Toys for lack of payment (add other legal jargon here)
GEORGE
I wouldn’t do that.
JESSICA
Why not?
GEORGE
If we’re shut down, we can’t make sales. If we don’t sell, our vendors don’t get paid.
JESSICA
They haven’t been paid in months. Everyday Pelznikel Toys is open the more losses mount.
I am here to take over this business and liquidate it’s assets. Whatever isn’t covered Mr. Pelznikel is liable for. Shut it down, now!
HENRY
You can’t do that. It’s Christmas.
What about the kids waiting for their toys?
Jessica relishes situations like this. She casually walks across the office to Henry.
JESSICA
You can tell all your five hundred and four followers…
HENRY
…Five hundred and three
JESSICA
I’m five hundred and four. Yes, Henry, I’m following you – closely.
You’re father will assure you the non-disclosure section of the cease and
Desist paragraph seven , section nine is quite blunt.
FRANK
Leave him alone. He’s just a kid.
HENRY
I’m an influencer.
Jessica leans in. Menacingly.
JESSICA
You are a Pelznikel. You’r culpable .
Henry’s anger grows. He snaps away on the laptop keys.
Jim steps in.
JIM
That’s enough. Frank, I’m sorry. This is your last day. Close of
Business today shut it down. My boys will be back to padlock it.
Jessica looks down on the broken drone.
JESSICA
Pity. My son ordered this same drone from Pelznikel.
It will break my heart to tell him he’s not getting it.
HENRY
He’ll get it. I promise. All our toys will be delivered
By Christmas.
Henry swings around the laptop. Jessica leans in.
SUPER LAPTOP
@HenryPLovesToys. Pelznikel toys delivered by Christmas , or they are free! #Freetoys, #MerryChristmas, #Believe.
PINGS, DINGS, AND RINGS the post goes viral. Shares and likes blossom across the screen until it’s full.
BACK TO HENRY
Jessica pulls out her phone from the brief. She taps away. Puts the phone away.
JESSICA
Good luck with that. Merry Christmas.
Jim escorts Jessica out the door.
SUPER LAP TAP
Reply from @JesicaTate-KayLawyer I shut down Pelznikel #BankruptPelznikel, #HenryLies, #Henrysepicfailure, #NoPelznikelToysNoChristmas. #Merry Christmas.
BACK TO HENRY
FRANK
That was foolish Henry!
You can’t make promises you can’t keep.
Your word is everything. It’s the only thing you have.
Go make yourself useful. We have real work to do.
Henry runs out, holding back the disappointment and the tears.
HENRY REACTS EMOTIONALLY TO THE INCIDENT
BEGINNING Henry enters a quiet shopping mall. Halcyon days long gone.
MIDDLE Henry and Carol, is mom offers motherly advice.
END – Henry talks with Santa text to enter the North Pole contest
INT. SHOPPING MALL – DAY
Henry, dejected, mopes along the festooned Christmas decorations. Piped in holiday jingles ring out over the shopping quietness for this time of year. A family with two children pass by. They stare at Henry. Is it his imagination they hate him now?
Second hand stores, mixed along shuttered store fronts. In the middle of the decline, a Pelznikel Toy store. Despite the lack of shoppers looks inviting. A toy train circles a Christmas village. Animated reindeer and Santa Claus. Christmas sale signs everywhere.
INT. PELZNIKEL TOY STORE – DAY
CAROL PELZNIKEL, 40’s, Christmas personified, – behind the register.
No words needed. Henry into the safe embrace of his mother.
HENRY
I wanted to help.
CAROL
I know sweetheart.
HENRY
I’m in big trouble, aren’t I?
CAROL
No Henry. Your dad and I would never let that happen.
HENRY
Dad’s in trouble.
CAROL
We’ll figure it out. Things are never as bad as they seem.
At the front of the store , Sheriff Jim and a deputy take up a position. Carol acknowledges them.
JIM
Let’s get a cup of coffee.
The two walk off.
HENRY
Can you help me keep my promise?
CAROL
Henry you made an honest mistake. Sometimes our emotional get the best of us.
HENRY
It’s not a mistake. I meant every word. I have over three thousand followers now. They’re on my side.
CAROL
Do me a favor. Promise me no more posts. Please.
HENRY
But dad gave me this job. He trusted me. I have to show him I can do it.
CAROL
There’s other jobs.
Henry pulls away.
HENRY
Not any more! We’re finished and it’s all my fault!
Henry runs out of the store leaving Carol beyond worried about him.
INT. SHOPPING MALL – SANTA CLAUSE PLAZA – DAY
MALL SANTA CLAUS naps on his throne. The young photographer fiddles on the smart phone.
Behind Santa is a glittery fake snow covered North Pole Castle facade. Stanchions lead no one to a double arched door. “ENTER” sign above it.
Henry running past Santa. He gets a little too close. Santa stretches his boot trips up Henry. He tumble down. The photographer briefly looks up from the phone, unfazed.
MALL SANTA
My bad. You okay, Henry?
Henry shakes it off. Santa offers him a hand up. Henry takes it.
HENRY
How do you know my name?
Santa pulls his cell phone half way out from his pocket. Henry understands now. Santa returns it.
SANTA
I know a little about over promising too.
HENRY
How do you do it? Kids ask you for impossible things.
MALL SANTA
You can’t do it alone. True everyone knows me. Millions even like me.
However few actually believe in me. It comes down to we all have to believe in ourselves.
If I didn’t , well there be no Christmas, would there? It’s up to me to make it happen.
Henry looks around the the depressing setting.
HENRY
Who are you talking about?
SANTA
What would you like for Christmas, Henry?
HENRY
I made a big mistake. I don’t suppose there’s a present for that?
Mall Santa scratches his beard contemplating such a profound request. RATTLING of the store front gates across the mall. Henry and Santa watch as Sheriff Jim and Deputy close up and padlock Pelznikel Toys. Carol bundled up and off in tears.
MALL SANTA
Redemption. Too big for a stocking. I’ll see what my elves can do.
HENRY
Sound like the standard answer.
MALL SANTA
Here,
Santa takes a card out from his pocket.
SUPER CARD
Text and win a free trip to the North Pole.
BACK TO SANTA
Henry takes the card and reads it. The tacky North Pole Castle looms behind him.
MALL SANTA
It’s a five dollar value.
HENRY
Great. Thank, Bro.
The photographer blows a gum bubble which bursts. Mall Santa winks at Henry.
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