Steal This Script

Since I have obviously been extremely remiss in posting here, mostly because I've largely been occupied writing for a newspaper (The Elkhart Truth in Elkhart, IN), I've decided that instead of my thoughts -- which I don't think are that interesting at the moment -- that I would post a script.
At one time, I was very involved with the short film scene in Los Angeles, including working on 24 Hour and 48 Hour Film Festival pieces, and I would on occasion write short scripts. As it happens, a number of them ended up not being made for a variety of reasons. For the one that's posted, the issue was coming up with a little girl for one of the main parts. No one ever seemed to know anyone with a daughter that would be a fit.
Instead of languishing on my hard drive, I figure that posting it here at least gives it some semblance of life...no matter how small.
It's entitled, simply, "Bedtime."


INT. HENDERSON LIVING ROOM - EVENING

JOHN HENDERSON, a normal looking guy in his early 30's, is
sitting on his couch watching television in his slightly
cluttered, non-descript living room.

On the floor, his daughter, JANIE, 5, plays quietly. She
partially obstructs John's view of the television. He tries
to angle his head to see around her.

APRIL HENDERSON, John's wife and also in her early 30's,
enters from the kitchen and picks up some stray dishes.
She's dressed in comfortable clothes and has her hair up, but
the house-maker look suits her.

April walks behind the couch and leans down, her mouth close
to John's ear.

APRIL
I was thinking that maybe...after
Janie goes to bed...that we could
have a little...fun.

April lingers a moment, letting her warm breath have it's
full effect on John's ear. John's eyes widen. He looks back
at her. She smiles.

JOHN
Um, Janie, honey...isn't it your
bedtime?

JANIE
(still playing)
I want to finish watching this show.

JOHN
You're not even watching the
television...and this is a Lakers
game!

JANIE
I'm watching it.

APRIL
You can watch for fifteen more
minutes, but then it's bedtime.

JANIE
OK, Mommy.

April smiles at John. She licks her lips seductively, and
disappears back into the kitchen.

John looks at his watch and squirms. He watches Janie,
blissfully playing and ignoring the television.


2.


JOHN
All right, Janie, time's up! Let get
you ready for bed.

John hops up from the couch. Janie keeps playing.

JANIE
Time's not up.

JOHN
Yes, it is. Let's go.

JANIE
Mommy!

John glances at the open doorway to the kitchen. He drops on
the floor, coming face to face with his daughter.

JOHN
OK, listen, Janie...Daddy's very
tired, so I'll make you a deal. I'll
give you five dollars if you go to
bed right now.

JANIE
Twenty.

JOHN
Twenty? Where do you get this stuff?
Stupid preschool. What do you need
twenty dollars for? I already buy
you everything. Five is plenty.

Janie stares impassively at him. John reaches for his wallet.

JOHN
(continuing)
Fine. But, get going.

JANIE
OK.

Janie leaves her toys and bounces off. John's face slowly
breaks into a smile.

JOHN
(calling into the
kitchen)
Um, honey, Janie was feeling tired,
so she's up getting ready for bed.

April appears in the doorway. She snaps off a pair of rubber
cleaning gloves.

3.


APRIL
Well, I suppose I should go up and
start getting ready for bed, too.

JOHN
Oh, you betcha!

John runs off after his daughter.

INT. JANIE'S BEDROOM -- A FEW MINUTES LATER

Janie enters, quickly followed by John. She's freshly
scrubbed and in a nightgown. John pulls down the covers of
the bed for her to get in.

JANIE
Aren't you going to read me a story?

John glances at his watch. He takes a look at the bookshelf
full of slender picture books.

JOHN
OK, but just one. Pick which one you
want.

Janie goes to the bookshelf. Her hand follows along the row
of picture book and comes to rest on a book ten times as
thick. She pulls it off and holds it up to John.

JANIE
I want this one.

John looks in horror at the size of the book.

JOHN
No. Janie, come on. Pick a regular
book. How about Dr. Seuss?

JANIE
I want this one.

JOHN
No.

JANIE
Mom-

JOHN
Fine. Fine. Get in bed.

Janie hops in bed and climbs under the covers. John pulls up
a chair and opens the book. He takes a deep breath.

4.


JOHN
(continuing)
Call me Ishmael. Some years ago -
never mind how long precisely...

MONTAGE

a) John breathlessly reads aloud from Moby Dick.

b) In a separate bedroom, April lets her hair down and slips
into a white negligee.

c) Jamie stares, enthralled by the story. John reads faster.

d) April, in a skimpier black negligee, studies herself in
the mirror.

e) John continues to read. Janie continues to stare.

f) April strides to the mirror in a leather teddy, thigh high
boots and a cat o' nines. She nods her approval.

INT. JANIE'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

JOHN
On the second day, a sail drew
nearer, and picked me up at last. It
was the devious-cruising Rachel, that
in her retracing search after her
missing children, only found another
orphan. The end.

John closes the book, winded.

JANIE
Read it again.

JOHN
What? You've got to be kidding...no way.
Go to sleep.

JANIE
Read it again!

JOHN
Go to sleep!

JANIE
Mom-

JOHN
OK, fine! But, I want your eyes
closed this time.

5.


Janie lays back and closes her eyes. John takes another deep
breath.

JOHN
(continuing; reading
double-time)
Call me Ishmael. Some years ago -
never mind how long precisely...

INT. JOHN AND APRIL'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

April waits in the bedroom, casually playing with the whip.
Candles are lit. Some body oils and toys rest on the
nightstand.

INT. JANIE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

John reads softer, his eyes cheating off the page to see
Janie.

JOHN
Akin to the adventure of Perseus and
Andromeda - indeed, by some supposed
to be indirectly derived from it...

John stays quiet. Janie doesn't move. He starts to close
the book.

JANIE
I'm not asleep.

JOHN
(reading quickly
again)
Is that famous story of St. George
and the Dragon; which dragon I
maintain to have been a whale...

MONTAGE

a) April sits on the bed, reading a magazine.

b) John sweats. He's reading as fast as he can. Janie has
her eyes closed but is obviously not asleep.

c) April is lying on the bed, watching television. She looks
at the clock.

d) John is beet red. His lips are moving as quickly as
possible. Janie rests with her arms behind her head, eyes
closed but not asleep.

e) April picks up a vibrator from the nightstand. She
considers it, but finally puts in back in the drawer.
6.


f) John looks bad. Janie stays awake.

g) April brushes her teeth, out of the S&M outfit and in a T-
shirt.

INT. JANIE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

JOHN
(completely out of
breath)
Search...after...her...missing...
children...only...found...another...
orphan. The...end.

John shuts the book and slumps in the chair.

JANIE
Thank you, Daddy.

JOHN
You're...welcome. Goodnight...
sweetheart.

He gets up, wobbly, and gives her a kiss on the forehead.

JANIE
Daddy?

JOHN
Yes?

JANIE
Can I have some water?

JOHN
If I say no, are you going to call
your mother?

Janie nods. John sighs and runs out of the room.

INT. KITCHEN - A MINUTE LATER

John slides into the kitchen and grabs a child’s cup with a
lid. He throws open the refrigerator door and grabs a big
bottle of water. He struggles to get the lid of the cup,
but can't. Finally, he throws it away. He races out of the
kitchen with the full bottle of water.

INT. JOHN AND APRIL'S BEDROOM - ANOTHE MINUTE

April lies on the bed. She yawns and reaches for the lamp on
the nightstand.


7.


INT. JANIE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

John rushes into the room. He thrusts the water at Janie and
quickly kisses her one more time.

JOHN
Here you go, sweetie. Mommy and
Daddy love you very much. Sweet
dreams.

John makes a beeline back out of the bedroom. Janie stares
at the 1.5 liter bottle of water.

INT. JOHN AND APRIL'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

April's hand continues its journey towards the lamp.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

John races down the hall, gasping and holding his side.

INT. JOHN AND APRIL'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

April's fingers are on the light switch. The door bursts
open. John stands in the doorway, holding on. He tries to
catch his breath. April watches him, concerned.

APRIL
John?

JOHN
Get...ready...for...some...lovin'...

John gathers himself. He takes a step and collapses face
first on the floor.

APRIL
John!

FADE OUT: