App-A.qxd 9/27/04 6:01 PM Page 256 APPENDIX B SHORT SCREENPLAYS The following five short screenplays present a cross section of student work at New York University. All the scripts have been produced and exhibited. Four of the scripts were written in the undergraduate program and one in the graduate program. One is the product of a collaboration. We chose these scripts for their quality and diversity in subject matter and approach. These five screenplays offer a great range of subjects. In Another Story, Lisa Wood Shapiro offers a parable that is abstract and speaks to issues of mem- ory and tolerance. Karyn Kusama in Sleeping Beauties also offers a parable, this time about memory and awakening sexuality. Christian Taylor, in his script The Lady in Waiting, explores stereotypes and lost opportunities. Susan Emerling, in her script The Wounding, explores the issue of sexual abuse in the life of a young girl. All four of these films deal seriously with the lives of the women who are their major characters. Finally, Anais Granofsky and Michael Swanhaus, in Dead Letters Don’t Die, write about loss and the capacity of love to help renew life. All of these screenplays are serious, but none could have succeeded on that alone. Charisma and creative solutions to characterization, to providing catalytic action, and to bringing about resolution are hallmarks of each of these screenplays. They offer models of the short film script and can provide the reader with appropriate examples of the format used in scriptwriting. App-B.qxd 9/27/04 6:02 PM Page 257 App-B.qxd 9/27/04 6:02 PM Page 258 Short Screenplays 259 ANOTHER STORY by Lisa Wood Shapiro FADE IN: 1. EXT. THE BACKYARD OF A COUNTRY COTTAGE—DAY THROUGH THE LIGHT WE SEE THE FRAME OF BRANCHES A SMALL COTTAGE WITH A LARGE PICTURE WINDOW. WE CAN SEE TWO LITTLE GIRLS PERCHED IN THE LOWER CORNER OF THE WINDOW. ANNA I hate rain. MERYL I really really really hate rain. ANNA (whispering, after a long pause) I hate rain . . . 2. INT. LIVING ROOM OF COTTAGE—DAY The rain is creating a HYPNOTIC RHYTHM on the roof. Two little girls are sitting on a cushion-padded bench with their elbows on the window sill. The taller girl is about seven years old with long blond hair; her name is ANNA. The short girl is just a year younger with long flowing golden hair; her name is MERYL. Through the doorway into the small kitchen is NIVY. She is a handsome woman in her late sixties/early seventies. She is stylishly dressed, with intricate silver earrings. WE CAN HEAR THE CRACKLE OF THE FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE. The fireplace casts a warm glow over the living room, which is oak paneled with an Oriental rug tossed on its hardwood floor. Nivy is making hot chocolate. MERYL (carefully computing her words) I hate school . . . (pause) (CONT.) App-B.qxd 9/27/04 6:02 PM Page 259 MERYL (CONT.) I hate liver, (giggling) I hate bedtime . . . Anna throws Meryl a hard look. ANNA I hate bees . . . I hate spelling . . . I hate liver. MERYL (interrupting) I already said liver. ANNA (emphatic) I can say it too. MERYL You always do that, Anna. Always! Anna looks hurt as she watches Meryl. Meryl just stares out the window. ANNA (slightly mumbles) All I said was liver. Nivy pours the boiling water into the mugs. ANNA Meryl . . . oh Meryl . . . Meryl doesn’t look over. ANNA (excited) I hate that girl Yuki with the funny eyes . . . Meryl look . . . who am I? Meryl finally looks over. Anna has pulled her eyes into a very distorted look. She pulls them into slants. Meryl laughs. 260 Writing the Short Film App-B.qxd 9/27/04 6:02 PM Page 260 MERYL Yeah . . . Meryl is giggling out of control. Meryl makes her eyes like Anna’s. They are delighted at themselves. Nivy stares at the two girls. She would like to scold them, but thinks of a strategy more sophisticated than scolding. She begins the business of preparing the tray of hot chocolate. ANNA (changing her eyes with her fingers) No! They’re like this! They both giggle. Nivy enters the living room with the tray of hot chocolate. She places the tray on the coffee table. NIVY (with a slight Czech accent) Anna, Meryl. Hot chocolates are ready. Anna saunters over. Meryl stays over by the windowsill. NIVY Meryl why don’t you join us. I want to tell a story. MERYL Is there a princess in the story? NIVY (carefully) No . . . there isn’t a princess, but there is a girl named Meryl. Meryl slowly walks over and sits down on the floor in front of Nivy and Anna. Nivy opens a tin and sprinkles some mini marshmallows into each cup. Both girls take the mug closest to them. Nivy takes a sip. NIVY (settling herself on the couch) Once upon a time there were two young sisters . . . Short Screenplays 261 App-B.qxd 9/27/04 6:02 PM Page 261 WE SLOWLY MOVE IN ON ANNA’S FACE. ANNA (interrupting) Like us? NIVY Yes, like you two. NIVY Their names were Meryl and Anna . . . DISSOLVE: 3. EXT. MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS—DAY NIVY They lived in olden times in a land far, far away where the hills kissed the clouds and it was always almost spring, there lived a King. 4. EXT. CASTLE BY THE WATER—DAY NIVY (V.O.) But he was a devious king, full of evil intentions. 5. EXT. WATERFALL In the distance, women are seen washing clothes in the water. NIVY (V.O.) One day he banished them deep into the Great Woods to face their own fate. 6. EXT. PATH IN THE FOREST—DAY NIVY (V.O.) And do you know the days turned into years and those subjects learned to live with nature. They prospered and lived in peace. 262 Writing the Short Film App-B.qxd 9/27/04 6:02 PM Page 262 . each of these screenplays. They offer models of the short film script and can provide the reader with appropriate examples of the format used in scriptwriting COTTAGE—DAY The rain is creating a HYPNOTIC RHYTHM on the roof. Two little girls are sitting on a cushion-padded bench with their elbows on the window sill. The