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One Day (Draft 1) written by Jordan Steeds 07889 402583 jordan.steeds21@gmail.com
ACT 1 *whole story takes place over one day* EXT. FOREST - SCENE 1 - OPENING - *17 DAYS INTO THE POWERCUT* Drone shot establishing a deserted, dying forest. Smoke plumes in the distance accompanied by the subtle atmospheric sound of silence. JAMES (voice over) I don't remember exactly when it happened. Nobody could've seen it coming. It all went to shit so fast. Title page booms onto the screen - One Day written in a worn out, distressed font EXT. 9:00AM CAMP - SCENE 2 - WHAT HAPPENED A small camp overlooking the rich forest landscape, an organised mess with a small burnt out fire pit. A scruffy haired teenage boy, about 18 years of age wakes up and unzips the front of a small, messy and worn out tent. He sits in silence at the opening of his tent, listening to the birds and taking in the view. JAMES (voice over) First the lights went out. Shops and factories were forced to shut down. Then the nuclear plants went into meltdown. With the generators out of fuel, the world kinda just fell to its knees. Then came the one thing nobody was prepared for... the internet went down. Everyone lost their shit. Society had finally degraded into total chaos. Some formed small communities to survive together, whilst others took to the streets to loot. Cuts to James hiking through the forest, looking for resources. I ran to the forest. I wanted to be alone. (MORE)
2. JAMES (CONT’D) It's weird to think that it literally took a worldwide catastrophe to bring people together in real life. I'm happy this happened. EXT. DEMOLISHED DEPARTMENT STORE - SCENE 3 - THE GUITAR James emerges out of the long grass to the large concrete base of an old demolished department store, littered with rubble and glass. He walks across the urban plane to a large pile of rubble and spots a guitar in the grass. He picks up the guitar and brushes off the dirt before examining it carefully. EXT. FOREST CLEARING - SCENE 4 - MUSIC Sat on a log in a clearing, backpack by his side and guitar in his lap. James looks at his guitar as if it was the one last thing he really cared about. Silence surrounds him, accompanied only by the occasional bird chirping. JAMES (voice over) Music is the one thing I have left. The one thing that understands me. I would just listen to it for hours. Feeling every beat. Understanding every lyric. He plays a note, pauses and plays the same note again. JAMES (CONT’D) (voice over) I've always wanted to be good at playing the guitar. I never had the motivation for it though. He reaches into his backpack to pull out a well used notebook, opens to the next clean page and writes down the note. He continues to play notes and write music with great care. JAMES (CONT’D) (voice over) I think it was just the thought of what everyone else thought of me. But I guess it's different now they've all fucked off. I don't have much left to care about. EXT. FOREST - SCENE 5 - WALKING BACK TO CAMP
3. LONG SHOT, EMPTY ROAD IN CENTRE OF SCREEN GOING INTO THE DISTANCE, JAMES IN CENTRE FRAME WALKING TOWARDS CAMERA 100+ METRES AWAY JAMES (voice over) I sometimes wonder what everyone else is up to. Where they've ended up or if they've even managed to survive this shitstorm. And I wonder if anyone's noticed i've disappeared. Nobody would be looking for me though, I was pretty much invisible to everyone before. EXT. FOREST - SCENE 6 - EMILY James is sat on the top of a hill, leaning back on a tree, bag by his feet, waiting for the sunset. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before he's interrupted by the sound of a branch snapping. He opens his eyes, alert and scanning the area but he doesn't see anything. He continues to sit by the tree, more alert than before. Thinking he was just hearing things, he ignores the sound. He takes a deep breath in and slowly breathes out. Another branch snaps, closer this time, James quickly turns around to see a girl. JAMES (Yelled in panic as he scrambles to his feet) Woah shit! EMILY (panics at his reaction and takes cover by a tree, realising she's scared him, she tries to be reassuring) Fuck! I'm Sorry JAMES What the fuck! Who are you? EMILY (concerned) I'm so sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I'm Emily (she peers out from behind the tree) JAMES (heart racing, pauses and looks her in the eye) I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting...
4. EMILY I know, it's okay, I didn't see you sat there JAMES (Still shocked, trying to read her intentions) What are you doing out here? Are you with anyone? EMILY (Hesitant) No. I'm alone. What are you doing out here? JAMES (slightly more relaxed, but not wanting to reveal too much) I was just, waiting for the sunset EMILY Alone? JAMES Yeah. What are you doing out here? Emily is hesitant to reply, she is hiding something she doesn't want to reveal. She tries to think of something to say but comes close to breaking down. JAMES (CONT’D) (Noticing something is wrong) Are you okay? EMILY I ran away okay. I don't know what's going on, that power cut changed people and honestly i'm just really fucking scared JAMES Shit really? You sure you're okay EMILY (slowly getting herself together but changing the subject) I'm fine, i'm alright now. What's your name? JAMES (More relaxed now) Oh i'm James, nice to meet you (Smiles)
5. EMILY (Smiles back) Are you really just out here watching the sunset? JAMES (Awkwardly nodding his head) I come out here most evenings EMILY (looking into the sunset) It's beautiful. Do you mind if I join you? JAMES (surprised) I mean yeah go for it EMILY You're not gonna kill me are you? JAMES (sits back down by the tree) Dunno about that, you'll have to wait and see Emily laughs and goes to sit next to James by the tree JAMES (CONT’D) It's amazing isn't it. This is one of my favorite places in the whole forest EMILY (sat shoulder to shoulder with James, staring at the view) How long have you been out here for? JAMES Since it happened I think, I ran away too. Maybe a couple hours after everyone went apeshit and started looting, how long has it been now anyways? EMILY (shocked and surprised) Holy shit! That's crazy. It's gotta be at least 2 weeks now surely? JAMES (also mildly surprised) Damn, I have no idea. I gave up counting after a couple days. (MORE)
6. JAMES (CONT’D) No point thinking about the future if there isn't gonna be one (chuckles to himself) EMILY Wait so where have you been staying? Like at night and stuff JAMES Oh I have a camp not too far from here, half a mile maybe EMILY (trying to hide her excitement) A camp? Like with food and water and stuff? JAMES Yeahh it's not much, like a tent, couple blankets and fire. Do you want some water though, I have some here? EMILY Oh my god really? Can I actually? Thank you so much He unzips his rucksack and hands her the bottle of water. She drinks it quickly, spilling some as she does so. EMILY (CONT’D) (relieved & gasping for air) Thank you. I haven't drank anything in like 2 days JAMES How come? Where were you before? I've got loads more back in my tent if you need? EMILY (hesitating to answer, she thinks of a cover story) I was at home. Once the water ran out we had no way of getting more. How have you survived out here for so long? JAMES It's a simple life out here, there's a cafe a couple miles that way which still has some supplies left. I guess I just work better on my own. (points in direction of the cafe)
7. They continue to watch the sunset as it falls behind the trees. JAMES (CONT’D) Do you have anywhere to stay tonight? EMILY I haven't really thought about that to be honest, no I don't JAMES Do you want me to take you to that cafe? You'll be able to crash there for a while. (awkwardly) Or I mean, if you really want to, you can come back to my camp with me? EMILY (her eyes light up) Could I do that please? Go back with you. I don't do well in the dark on my own (laughs) JAMES (pleasantly surprised) Sure! We should go soon though, before it gets too cold EXT. CAMP - SCENE 10 - FATE JAMES (pausing as he figures out what he's trying to say) I used to write down my music, but like, I realised nobody will actually ever see it, and it's not that I don't want people to hear my music, it's just... (pauses) EMILY What... (wanting to hear more) JAMES Nothing we do matters, we all just die in the end. EMILY (laughs) That's deep
8. JAMES Yeah but it's true, we all just fucking die (chuckles) Whether I write down this music or not, i'm still gonna die. EMILY Yeah I get you, whatever you do your fate is pretty much decided JAMES Do you believe in fate then? EMILY Dunno, I feel like shit happens for a reason.... *Write more here* EMILY (CONT’D) Can I hear your music then? JAMES Nahhhh I don't know i've never played to an audience before (gives a shy awkward smile) EMILY (showing interest) Oh c'mon please, just one song JAMES Nahh sorry I can't EMILY Why? JAMES I burnt all the sheets EMILY (irritated) Oh for fucks sake James JAMES Nobody was gonna read them anyways EMILY (shaking head in disbelief) Wow (she picks up the guitar and plays a few warm up notes, James watches with curiosity) (MORE)
9. EMILY (CONT’D) Last night I dreamt we did our laundry together And we were singing the same song While we folded our clothes As I recall you looked like a total doofus Which is pretty accurate (looks at James with an innocent smile and tries to hand him the guitar) JAMES (in awe) That was beautiful. Where did you learn that? EMILY (suddenly shy again) Ahh I used to kinda play around a bit when I was younger, never got any good though JAMES No that was amazing I've never heard anything like that before EMILY (fumbling her fingers, looks up and smiles) Thanks, your turn (tries to hand him the guitar again) JAMES (embarrassed) No no no no no I can't compete with that
