Now what?

What now?

I finished my movie script, now I need a new project because without one I feel aimless.

So what do I want to do?

Well, not another movie script. Not right away anyway. It turns out that writing a movie is a MAMMOTH  sized project. It was very, very hard and it took me the better part of a year to get it finished. I need to find something simpler to create with a quicker turnaround time.

So what's that?

I have no idea...

I am thinking.

TREATMENT - I AM NOT A WEIRDO - A thriller by Thomas Holler

I AM NOT A WEIRDO

A thriller by Thomas Holler

That moment in a relationship where the one you love starts to show signs of violent dementia.

Synopsis:

Douglas and Abigail are a young couple starting their life together, Douglas has agreed to move into Abigail's beautiful, ancestral home in the country. Helping them move on their happy day are Douglas' best friend Grant, Abby's favorite co-worker Bryce and her father Richard who's never liked Douglas. Douglas is big and sarcastic and not afraid to speak his mind, Abby is cute and quirky. All things considered, they're a great match. For the first few weeks things couldn't be better but then one morning Abigail finds a note on the counter, it's a collection of violent ramblings, it scares her. Over the coming days she finds other creepy things that make her question Douglas but in his typical Douglas way he convinces Abby there are logical explanations for everything. Both of them badly want this relationship to work, they decide not to dwell on these little mysteries anymore. To ease her tension Douglas takes his woman for a romantic dinner on the pier and they fall in love all over again.

The next morning it all comes to an end. Waking up alone, Douglas heads out to the hall to find Abigail standing outside of her guestroom with a horrified expression on her face. She's screaming at him, accusing him of doing something disgusting. He has no idea what she's talking about. When Douglas sees what's inside the guestroom his face goes white. Demented writing covers the walls. Abigail's dolls which once decorated the room have been mutilated and twisted into violent sexual positions. It's dark. Abigail is scared of Douglas, Douglas thinks Abigail lost her mind. They fight, Abigail throws him out.

Douglas races to Grant's house, with his help they plan on trying to convince her to see a doctor. They never get the chance, as soon as they turn onto the lonely road leading to her house their car is hit from behind and spun out. When they awake they're met with Richard's shotgun and an ultimatum. Leave or be killed. Douglas leaves, but not without a fight. The next morning Douglas is arrested when he attempts to get to Abby, he's told that during the night someone tried to kill her in her sleep and he's the main suspect. Without evidence, he's eventually released. Broken and at the end of his rope Douglas still can't seem to let Abby go, in a effort to watch over her he takes to stalking her. Meanwhile Abigail is trying to get over Douglas with the help of her father and Bryce, they're the only ones who make her feel safe with her psycho ex-boyfriend on the loose.

One night while he's watching her house Douglas sees a mysterious figure sneaking in through Abigail's side window. Douglas follows the figure inside the house and chases it away but is caught by Abby and arrested on the spot. Douglas, now sure that Abby isn't crazy; turns his suspicions towards Bryce, who's been getting cozy with Abigail. Douglas soon confronts Bryce, accusing him of destroying everything he had and taking Abby from him. Bryce responds by pulling a gun on Douglas and telling him to stay away from Abigail. Later that night Douglas finds Bryce bleeding to death from a stab wound on Abigail's porch. Douglas races Bryce to the hospital and saves his life, there Bryce tells him that there's someone inside the house.

In the final act Douglas races back to Abigail's house to warn her about the stranger in the basement but as soon as Abby sees Douglas she slams the door and locks herself inside with the attacker. Meanwhile Douglas tries frantically to break down the door until he's spotted by Richard and his shotgun who thinks he's there to kill Abigail. Douglas has to battle his way through Richard to save Abigail who's also fighting for her life inside the house against a rabid, basement dwelling psychopath.

If you'd like to read my script then email me at apescripts@gmail.com

I FINISHED MY MOVIE SCRIPT

Man, I haven't done this in a while. Feels weird, I kind of forget the layout...anyway, back to blogging.

The short explanation for why I haven't posted in so long is that after I converted everything I'd written so far in to a script program, I found that I couldn't copy and paste my work here without all these formatting errors and that was annoying so I decided not to bother.

I kept writing though. I will say this, writing a movie is very hard. If you're someone out there who has decided to write their first script then expect to struggle. Expect to feel like a bum. Writing isn't typing, writing is sitting on your couch staring at a wall and listening to music until an idea hits you. It feels unproductive and all your instincts will tell you to quit and stop wasting your time.

It's not fun, its work. If you're still driven to see your idea through then just keep at it. Remember that even if you're just writing a paragraph everyday then you're slowing getting it finished. Just keep coming back to it, make it a habit, hold yourself accountable. Grind it out and you WILL finish, and when you do it feels pretty cool.

So my script is finished.

Now what?

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: Yeah, some scenes are bound to be a little boring.

I am not even going to bother doing a write up for this one, nothing happens in this scene, it's a transitional scene that doesn't really do much of anything. Blah. These can't be avoided.

Here's the full script that I am working on.

And now tonight's boring scene...

EXT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - FRONT PORCH
 
Abigail is sitting outside on her patio furniture, nervously awaiting Bryce's return. Beside her is her father Richard, neither is speaking. Both are sitting silently, waiting, contemplating. The sound of a car coming up the lonely road leading to her house catches both of their attention. Abigail see's Bryce's truck come into sight, she gets up and walks to the driveway to meet him. Concern is registered on her face.

Bryce pulls into the driveway, he takes a second to collect himself for Abby's sake and exits the vehicle.
 

ABIGAIL
Hey. How did it go? Was he home?

BRYCE
No. Thank god.
 

ABIGAIL
Oh...
 

BRYCE
I left him his things. It's done.
 

ABIGAIL
Ok. That's that, I guess.
 

BRYCE
That's that Abby. I promise.
 

ABIGAIL
Well, lets celebrate! I been in baking mode all morning just to take my mind of things. How does wine and cake sound? Or pie. Or cupcakes. I went a little overboard.
 

BRYCE
Wine sounds about right.

ABIGAIL
I'll set the table.
Thanks again Bryce, you've been amazing.

Bryce smiles back at her, the two hug and Abby heads back inside her house. Richard is sitting on the porch watching. Bryce walks over to him.
 

RICHARD
He wasn't home?
 

BRYCE
No. Lucky.

RICHARD
I guess you didn't need that gun.

 
Bryce doesn't really answer, he just nods off the question and moves to follow Abby into the house before Richard's next question stops him in his tracks.
 

RICHARD
Can I have it back? The gun?
 

BRYCE
I was thinking maybe I should hang onto it.
 

This time Richard doesn't respond. He looks at Bryce quizzically.

BRYCE
Just incase.

Richard nods, giving his approval. Bryce heads into the house. Richard is left on the porch, he sips on his coffee and looks out at the area around the house with watchful the eye of a watchdog.

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: The big confrontation.

I am still at it, writing my first movie script which I collect HERE.

Here's today's entry. We're pushing towards the big finale, from here things will be moving at a really quick pace. I have a hell of an ending coming.

EXT - DOUGLAS' HOUSE

Bryce pulls into a the driveway of a small, one level house in a dingy part of town. Bryce sits for a second collecting his thoughts, he pulls the gun out of his waistband and looks hard at it. Bryce has a moment of clarity and decides to put the gun away into his glove compartment. Bryce steps out of car door, heads to the back door of his u-haul and opens it. He starts pulling Douglas' things out of the truck and putting them on the font lawn, hoping to just leave Douglas his things and without confrontation. That's wishful thinking, Douglas comes bursting out of the front door.

DOUGLAS

HEY! 

Bryce doesn't answer him, he keeps pulling Douglas' things out of the truck.

DOUGLAS

You want to tell me what that the fuck you're doing?

BRYCE

Douglas, I am just giving you your things back.

DOUGLAS

Why are YOU giving me my things back?

BRYCE

Would you rather have Abby's dad do this?

DOUGLAS

Where's Abby?

BRYCE

Douglas...I don't want to get into this.

DOUGLAS

 Stay away from her.

BRYCE

Are you kidding me?

DOUGLAS

It's funny how this worked out isn't it? I am out of the picture and no less than a month later you move right in.

Bryce doesn't answer him, he stares a hole through Douglas.

DOUGLAS

I know it was you Bryce.

BRYCE

What?

DOUGLAS

I know it was you. The note. The dolls. I know it was you. How did you do it? Did you have a key all along? Did Abby give you a house key?

Douglas' teeth grit, his hands ball into a fist. Bryce takes notice, he glances towards the truck, gauging how much distance is between him and the glove compartment. 

DOUGLAS

When I caught you in that house...what were you doing there? Why did you come back? 

Douglas is getting more and more animated.

DOUGLAS

Abby turned you away, I was there. I saw you leave! I saw her send you away.

BRYCE

You were watching us?

DOUGLAS

What were you doing sneaking back into her house? What were you going to do to her?

Bryce sees how angry Douglas is getting, he starts to back his way towards the truck. Douglas follows him.

BRYCE

I wasn't IN her house. I went home that night. YOU were the one who snuck into her house.

DOUGLAS

Yeah I did, after I saw someone climb through her window.

BRYCE

Oh yeah? You saw that while you were stalking us?

DOUGLAS

YES!

BRYCE

You really are sick.

DOUGLAS

I am getting real tired of hearing that.

Bryce backs right up to his truck and reaches for the door.

DOUGLAS

You're running away?

BRYCE

No.

Bryce dashes into his car, Douglas follows him. Douglas grabs a hold of Bryce and forcibly pulls him out of the car.

DOUGLAS

We're not done talking!

Bryce responds with gun pointed right at Douglas, Douglas takes a step back.

BRYCE

You're crazy and you're dangerous and you're going to leave Abby alone. I swear to god I'll kill you.

DOUGLAS

Shoot.

BRYCE

Take your shit, never come back. If you do I'll be there waiting to put a bullet in you. I won't let you hurt her.

DOUGLAS

Hurt her? All I've ever done is protect her. I've taken it on the CHIN for that girl. I've been arrested, shot at, beat up and arrested again all because some psycho wouldn't leave us alone. You know what the worst part is? I didn't believe her. I thought she was making it all up. She wasn't was she?

BRYCE

No. She wasn't.

DOUGLAS

You're going to have to kill me.

Bryce is genuinely temped to do it, instead he backs up to his truck. Never lowering his gun. He makes it to his truck and gets in.

DOUGLAS

You ruined my life. This won't ever be over.

Bryce doesn't respond, he pulls out of the driveway and speeds off. Douglas' things spill out of his truck as he leaves.

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: Gun face.

Ok, tomorrow's project is to write a solid two or three sentence synopsis for this thriller I am writing so I can actually sell you on clicking HERE and getting all caught up to today's post (below).

Or don't. To be honest I don't expect you to. As long as I keep posting I'll eventually have finished my first movie script though. It's pretty dope too.

Not at all sorry that I googled 'gun face'.

INT - ABIGAIL'S KITCHEN.

Richard is sitting at Abigail's table, he's staring contemplatively into his coffee mug. 

RICHARD

I wish I'd killed him.

ABIGAIL

Don't say that.

Abigail is sitting with her father, Bryce is leaning against a wall with coffee in hand.

RICHARD

I wish it wasn't so damn dark that night, I couldn't see him. 

ABIGAIL

Thank god. You'd still be in jail if you hit him. 

RICHARD

I would have gone to jail for the rest of my life just to know that piece of shit wasn't going to be out there anymore.

ABIGAIL

Don't say that! He's not worth it.

RICHARD

That judge made me sick. Letting him lie like that.

I should go find him.

ABIGAIL

No! He just got out of jail and there's a restraining order against him now. He can't come here.

RICHARD

You think that sick bastard cares about a restraining order?

Richard looks up at Bryce.

RICHARD

I am coming with you.

ABIGAIL

You can't!

RICHARD

To hell with that.

BRYCE

I am with Abby, you two can't be anywhere near each other.

ABIGAIL

Dad, just stay away. You're not going back to jail because of him!

BRYCE

I have his things all packed, I won't be there long.

ABIGAIL

What if he won't come to the door?

BRYCE

Then I'll leave his stuff on his front lawn.

RICHARD

You're taking a gun.

BRYCE

No. Thank you.

RICHARD

If you don't want me coming with you then you're taking a gun. 

BRYCE

I am not planning on needing one Richard.

RICHARD

No one does. 

Bryce nods the comment off and puts his cup in the sink. 

BRYCE

I think I am going to head out.

ABIGAIL

Now? It's 9 am.

BRYCE

 Yeah, and hopefully he'll still be sleeping. 

EXT - DRIVEWAY - BRYCES U-HAUL

Abigail hands Bryce the last of Douglas' things. The finality of it brings a tear to her eye, Bryce notices but says nothing. Before Bryce can get into the truck Richard corners him and shoves a gun into Bryce's hands. Bryce takes the gun and tucks it in his waistband. He gives Richard a knowing nod.

BRYCE

Abby, this will be behind us soon.

She puts on a smile, Bryce shuts the door and drives off with the last of Douglas packed in his truck.

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: The build to the end.

You know what? We're well past the halfway point of my thriller and it's time to start putting the pieces in place for my big ending. I mean that too, my ending is big. From this point onward the story is going to pick up a frenetic pace as my characters stumble their way towards a conclusion that wraps this whole mystery up in a tight, action packed little bow.

Once again, I collect everything as I go and post it all HERE

I still haven't written out a synopsis I am in love with but imagine if you were to wake up one morning and your terrified girlfriend was accusing you of doing something completely f**king psycho. That happened to Douglas.

I admit this is who I was picturing as I wrote this scene.

INT - JAIL

Douglas is being led through a hallway by a couple of officers to a small room with a table. Sitting at the table is his public defender. Douglas takes a seat across from him and the two are left alone. 

LAWYER

Hello Douglas, my name is Alister Cross. I'll be defending you.

Douglas doesn't answer.

LAWYER

I've been looking over your case, I think we'll be able to get you out of here. A man's ex-fiance accuses him of torturing...dolls and then locks him out of the house they shared. According to the police report she made claims of violence but you were never charged?

DOUGLAS

I didn't do it.

LAWYER

Good. The police apparently didn't think so either because I don't see any charges laid. That's very good. Now we just have to convince the judge that you were only in her house to get your things back so you could move on and finally forget about the crazy bitch.

Douglas shoots him a look.

LAWYER

Hey, looks like that aren't going to help you get out of there. We need to convince this judge that you want nothing to do with this girl, when he tells you he's placing a restraining order between the two of you; you thank him.

DOUGLAS

There was someone else in that house. I want them to find him, keep Abby safe. 

LAWYER

She's safe and you staying behind bars isn't keeping her any safer. 

Is it?

DOUGLAS

No.

LAWYER

Well then. You made up that intruder story that because you were scared, you got caught and were worried about getting in trouble so you made something up. The mysterious stranger excuse, oldest one in the book.

DOUGLAS

And then I chased after someone I just made up?

LAWYER

No, you ran because you knew she was going to call her dad and his shotgun.

DOUGLAS

They won't believe me.

LAWYER

Are you kidding me? No one believes you now. If you go in there and tell that judge that you only broke into your ex's house to chase out some dark, faceless figure then all you'll do is convince him you need to be kept out of the public and put into a looney bin. I ask you, is that what you want?

DOUGLAS

...I was just there to get my stuff...

LAWYER

Exactly. I think we can get time served plus probation, plus obviously you'd have to agree to never be within a hundred feet of her ever again. 

DOUGLAS

Just her?

LAWYER

And her father probably, but we'll consider that a blessing.

DOUGLAS

Get me out of here.

LAWYER

I'd like you to make a statement. You were alone in that house with Abigail, you saw no one else. Judges are like mothers, they give points for honesty.

DOUGLAS

Honesty?

LAWYER

...Is Abigail safer with you behind bars?

DOUGLAS

No.

LAWYER

Well then.

The lawyer slides a pen and paper across the table to Douglas, urging him to write his statement.

LAWYER

You were alone. You just wanted to get your things back.

DOUGLAS

(reluctantly)

I was alone.

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: Remind people that this is a thriller.

Back with another page to add to THIS thriller I am writing. Lets go.

INT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Bryce and Abigail are on the couch, the light of the television is the only thing illuminating the room. Abigail is curled up in the corner of the couch hugging a cushion. It's a bright night outside, the light coming in from the windows casts long shadows throughout the room. Bryce and Abby sit stoically, both staring at the tv. Half focused on what they're watching and half lost in thought. Their shadows stretch along the length of the room and up to the ceiling. Unmoving. 

Their shadows are joined by a third shadow. It moves into frame and stops, it's placed near the window. Somewhere in the blackness something is there, staring at the couple watching TV in the dark. Neither Bryce nor Abby notice. The shadow lingers for a few moments then disappears as it blends back into the blackness of the room.

Abigail yawns.

ABIGAIL

Yawwwwwwwww...my god.

BRYCE

You should go to bed. 

ABIGAIL

Good idea. Where are you going to sleep?

BRYCE

Right here.

ABIGAIL

 I have an extra bedroom.

BRYCE

I am good here.

ABIGAIL

(smiles)

It helps, you being here.

BRYCE

This was fun.

ABIGAIL

(yawns again)

 I know, I waaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Excuse me.

BRYCE

Go to bed. Get some sleep. You need it.

ABIGAIL

Thank you. Goodnight.

BRYCE

Goodnight Abby.

Abigail hugs Bryce and then goes to a linen closet and hands him a pillow and a blanket, she heads upstairs. Bryce pulls the cover over himself and closes his eyes.

INT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Bryce is asleep on the couch. In the dark room behind him someone is watching him. Someone is standing behind the couch looking down on him, cloaked in darkness. 

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: All dialogue...blah blah blah.

Douglas and Abigail are in love. Then one morning Douglas finds Abigail standing in the hallway, trembling and terrified. She's standing beside a room. She thinks he did something. Something only a psycho would do.

That's the idea behind the script I am writing, it's my first. I post as I go. Down there is today's entry, all the rest can be found right HERE.

Cont'd...

The officer sees himself out, leaving Abigail and Bryce alone. Abigail is staring into dead space, in thought. Bryce lets her have her silence.

ABIGAIL

I want a gun.

BRYCE

What?

ABIGAIL

I need a gun.

BRYCE

Abby. He's in jail.

ABIGAIL

He won't always be.

BRYCE

He has a restraining order against him now. He can't come anywhere near you.

ABIGAIL

 He's crazy! He doesn't care. Bryce I am not moving, so he's always going to know where I live.

BRYCE

Maybe we should just move you back to your fathers. Just for a bit.

ABIGAIL

Fucking asshole.

BRYCE

Sorry?

ABIGAIL

Douglas. Not pressing charges against my dad, I know what he's doing. He's manipulating me. He's trying to get me to trust him. Piece of shit.

BRYCE

Abby?

ABIGAIL

What?

BRYCE

That night, when Douglas was in your house. What do you think he wanted?

ABIGAIL

Honestly? I think he wanted to kill me.

BRYCE

I don't get why he told you to call the police.

ABIGAIL

Because I scared him. I saw him before he could get me.

BRYCE

Did he look scared?

ABIGAIL

Yeah. I caught his ass and he knew it. So he made up some bullshit story and ran.

BRYCE

If he came here to hurt you then why not hurt you? When you started screaming, why run? Why not attack?

ABIGAIL

What the hell are you saying? 

BRYCE

I am just thinking.

ABIGAIL

What? Someone else was here and poor Douglas was just trying to save me from the dark figure?

BRYCE

No. No! This isn't a movie. Real life doesn't have twists like that. Your ex-fiance actually IS just one of those sick stalkers you read about, that's why this is happening. That's the only reason this is happening.

ABIGAIL

I need a gun.

BRYCE

We'll talk to your father when he gets out. If you still want one, he has lots. 

Abigail give him a half smile.

BRYCE

I am sorry Abby.

ABIGAIL

Wht? It's not your fault.

Con't...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE: The aftermath of all that stuff that happened.

Still writing my first movie script. It's a thriller.

You can check it out HERE.

INT - LIVING ROOM

Bryce is in Abby's home. He's walking from the kitchen to the living room carrying a steaming cup of tea. Inside the living room Abigail is sitting with the police. The lead officer is that same one who interrogated Conrad earlier. Bryce hands Abigail the tea.

COP

We have him on criminal trespassing, but these waters are bit murky given your former living situation.

ABIGAIL

No they're not, I told him I didn't ever want to see him again.

COP

You still have his things.

ABIGAIL

What?

COP

Why do you still have his things?

ABIGAIL

I don't want them.

COP

You see why a jury might be sympathetic to someone breaking into a house to get his own things back.

ABIGAIL

HE ATTACKED ME!!

COP

We weren't able to prove that. We weren't able to lay a single charge in that case, in a court of law that means it didn't happen.

BRYCE

And what about this other thing that he's saying? That he saw someone?

COP

You mean this mysterious figure that he conveniently can't give a description of because it was too dark? I wouldn't lose sleep over that. Frankly it's not the first time we heard that one from someone. 

BRYCE

So where is he?

COP

Right now he's behind bars until he sees a judge but unless we have something that can keep him there then he's probably going to get away with a fine and some probation. Are you sure you didn't notice anything last night as you were leaving?

BRYCE

I didn't see anything.

COP

Miss...maybe it would be better if you stayed with someone for a while. 

BRYCE

I am staying with her.

ABIGAIL

When are you letting my father go?

COP

 Actually Douglas refuses to press charges against your father. He'll be out later today.

The room falls quiet.

 COP

Well, we'll be leaving. This time we'd like you to file an official restraining order against Douglas, and if I were you I'd think about finding someplace else to live. He's...

ABIGAIL

No.

COP

Keep an eye on her.

BRYCE

I will.

COP

We'll be in touch.

Cont'd...

TOM WRITES HIS FIRST MOVIE AND HE'S PAST THE HALFWAY POINT.

As of this entry I am officially more than halfway finished my first script.

Douglas and Abby have just started a happy life. Abby loves Douglas, Douglas adores Abby. One day there's a break. A psychotic break. Abby finds a room full of her favorite dolls, all torn apart and molested. Disturbed writing scrawled all over the walls. Douglas won't admit to it, he says Abby is very sick. Abby says Douglas is very sick. She wants him gone, he wants her back.

You can catch up on the whole story by clicking HERE.

EXT - ABIGAIL'S HOUSE


Douglas chases the figure out the front door, in the background he can still hear Abigail screaming. Outside of Abigail's house is almost pitch black, once you're away from the houselights there's little illumination. Surrounding her house is a thick wooded area, Douglas sees the figure race into the forest. He follows it into the darkness, he looses is as it whips through the trees and becomes invisible in the night. Douglas stops his pursuit. 

Douglas collects himself and then heads back towards Abby's house, he hesitates for a second. Tempted to make a break for it, he realizes the only way to clear his name is to face the police and explain his side of the story. He's compelled to tell them about Abby's stalker. Douglas starts towards the house. 

Gunshot. The tree beside Douglas's head explodes. Douglas hits the ground on instinct, when he gets up he sees Richard taking aim at him with his shotgun. 

DOUGLAS

Richard! Put that gun down. I am coming out. 

Richard fires again, this time leaving no doubt that he's aiming to hit Douglas.

DOUGLAS

Richard!!!!

RICHARD

I told you I'd kill you if I ever saw you again.

He levels his gun at Douglas, its staring him dead in the eye. Douglas doesn't call Richard's bluff, he runs into the trees. Another blast from behind him sends him to the dirt. Douglas can hear sirens. The lights of the police cars threaten to give away Douglas's position. 

POLICE

Put down your weapon!

Richards gun is still locked on Douglas's hiding place, he doesn't lower it when ordered. 

POLICE

Put the gun down NOW!

Richards reluctantly legs go of his shotgun, never once taking his eyes off Douglas. Not until the police tackle him to the ground. Officers approach the edge of the forest, their flashlight piecing though the blackness. Douglas hides against the stump of a tree.

POLICE

Is anyone there? Come out!

Douglas is conflicted, his primal instinct is to run but he thinks about Abby. He need to tell someone that she's being stalked. Someone is doing all this to her, to them.

POLICE

Last chance. Come out!

DOUGLAS

Ok...I am coming out. 

The police train their guns on Douglas as he emerges from the dark forest, he's brought down and handcuffed. On the porch a tearful Abigail watches the police take him and her father away.

CONT'D...