Tuesday, May 6, 2014

"Borrowed Time" Short Film Script Treatment




a short story by Nathan McConnell Soon to be a 3D animated short film.
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(The vibe I'm going for the entire time is an inescapable nightmare for the hero who goes from terrified to unstoppably angry several times as the energy he borrows from his lifeline courses into him.)
The heroes name is Farrell which is Gaelic for "brave"

    On a now calm and quiet street he kneels behind a parked car clutching his chest with his left hand, trying to catch his breath and steady his heartbeat. (He sits on the ground with his back to the middle of a car like a runner taking a break covered in sweat and his head against the vehicle to mislead the audience)

A deep voice yells out "Where are you!?" (The heroes eyes shoot open in fear as he turns his attention from recovering to the unseen enemy. He turns his head toward the car in fear as if he can see through the vehicle and isn't sure where the enemy is.)

as a small 2 door car hits the ground just a few feet behind the car he is kneeling by. (Camera angle changes to show the hero watch the thrown vehicle fly in slow motion over the car he is kneeling by and slamming into the ground buckling under it's own weight landing on it's front end then tipping onto it's back as he scurries closer to the vehicle to avoid the crash.)

He closes his eyes and starts breathing slowly and deeply…"not yet…come on" he thinks, as he reaches inside himself to find the strength to continue the fight.

(Somehow showing him draw energy from his future lifespan.)

     As he hears his attacker drawing near he feels the rain come down again. He knows with the sound the water brings to his skin he will certainly be found. (The hero looks up at the sky again to watch the droplets fall. Possible close-up and camera riding down with the droplets one of which lands on his cheek alerting the enemy.) (Camera finally shows the enemy as he turns his head sharply 90 degrees after hearing the droplet on the heroes skin) 

Knowing that he is no longer hidden forces the kneeling hero to act. (Show the hero stealing energy from his future) Before his enemy realizes his presence he stands from behind the car (action one) and with a swift motion he turns toward his enemy (action two), and flips the car on its side in the air. (action three) He then leaps up and toward the car and kicks it as hard as he can toward the unstoppable adversary. (runs at the car as it moves slowly into the air and kicks it with both feet leaning on his left side in the air landing on his feet facing away)

The car hits with great force as the assailant looks up from his bleeding hand. (The enemies point of view looking at his hand covered in blood) A lightning bolt crawls across the sky like a mother looking for a child, (Lightning crawls across the sky in slow motion) only to be followed by the deep roar of a father's call. (which brings things back to normal speed)

As the thunder hits the car is returned to our hero with the same speed that it left. (the enemy isn't shown hitting the car back but the sound of the thunder is the return) (the car is barreling in the air toward him)(Camera view behind the hero) He thinks to himself "No time…" as a look of fear is replaced by anger. (Camera shows his face) (Show the hero stealing energy from his future) He leaps toward the car and hops over the middle at the last second trying to gain the element of surprise (He hops up and over kicking the car back to the ground and launching off of it in profile view) only to find his enemy came with the now demolished vehicle. (He sees monster running at him as he himself hits the ground. View from behind Hero)

 With the sound and rumble of a full force thunder strike they meet causing a bubble of energy, dust, and sound. (side view as they run at each other and their fists slam together and a shockwave grows and envelops them) Moments later the bubble shatters like a bomb in a glass casing causing and even louder explosion (second internal shockwave grows and meets the first) and throwing both adversaries into buildings across from each other. (show one at a time hitting buildings across from each other) The hero's "tomb" collapses on him, as the monstrous foe stands from his. (Show the hero stealing energy from his future)

 A giant flash across the street from the enemy reminds him that he has not yet won. The building pieces now no more than dust in the rain, pour onto the enemy as a bleeding hero stands with pants ripped and shirt vaporized. (The enemy stands shocked and takes a step back before recovering his composure and snarling) He stands across his enemy with as much power as his torn body could hold, his eyes glowing with rage, (Head somewhat down with arms at his side showing his energy)

when across the radio he hears his name (Farrell) from a terrified woman and then the words he was waiting to hear…(keeping the same face he looks down and over at the radio) "Were safe! We made it! Get out of there! please! Please Go!" (view of the radio in the rubble) His enemy looks up at him from the radio, and with a ghostly look of shock on his face he speaks…"you…you're insane…you knew all along and you still…" 

 Before he could finish, (Show the hero stealing energy from his future) the hero drew even more strength in and appeared in front of his enemy with one final blow destroying the chest and heart of the once proud monster (side shot showing the heroes hand pierce the enemies chest). As he falls to the ground, our hero steps back several steps. (Show from behind heroes shoulder, camera panning to show the enemy kneeling and clutching his chest in agony cursing the hero )

He looks at the radio and smiles (tired eyed smiles knowing he had used the last of his timeline)…he looks at his battered left palm to feel the rain one last time (The heroes point of view watching the blood be cleaned off his bruised hand by the rain) ..."ok…" he says…."Now…" (camera angle from the ground looking up at him as he looks down and closes his eyes smiling) He then collapses to the ground as every ounce of energy leaves his lifeless body. (sky view looking down and raising  into the sky)

(ending music with record scratches and credits) 

(Hoping to get this artist to allow this song.)
(Emergency siren starts over music.) (music stops and vinyl scratching continues)
(After credit sequence) (the sirens continue)
(Show the enemies hand move, and grasp the rubble on the ground) (He looks up from the ground enraged) "You stupid human! (deep breath) "you...!" (the enemy looks around to find no one as the wind blows. He looks confused and in pain and notices up in the sky a flicker)
(He squints to try and look closer only to see a missile change direction toward the center of the town where he is) "no!" (he slams his fist on the ground and yells out with rage in his voice as the missile hits) (Just outside of town camera view showing it hit and the camera shatters,  and end of broadcast signal noise sounds.)