Theme: Estranged Relationship.

Challenge: Depict a harsh, realistic, and emotionally stirring estranged relationship between the characters. NO GORE. NO EXTREME VIOLENCE.

Genre: Open. If comedy (of any sub-genre), it has to be sarcastic which highlights the tension.

Script length: Write 1-5 pages of properly formatted script.

Characters: Two main characters (between spouses [please go beyond this one], friends, siblings, colleagues, etc.)

Criteria: You HAVE to include a THIRD VARIABLE which can be a PERSON OR an OBJECT. The third variable can be the cause of the whole situation or the solver of it - it is entirely up to you. But it must be a VITAL part of the story.

Here's the BOMBSHELL --> The THIRD VARIABLE will be present for only ONE PAGE of the entire script.

One-page disclaimer: If you introduce the third variable on any page of your script, it has to be done and completed on that page only. NEVER to be SEEN again. So it's better if you introduce the third variable at the beginning of the page.

Of course, you can mention the third variable in your dialogs.

Locations: As many as you need. (Although, budget-wise you should aim for a single location)

Time: 96 hours.

THE USUAL:

This isn't a contest - it's a challenge. There are no official prizes.

You can revise your script as many times as you wish up until the deadline.

Do not put your real name(s) on your script; this is an anonymous challenge. However, please use your real name(s) when submitting your script.

After the challenge closes you can either have your script removed or resubmit your script with your name on it.

(Don's rule)
Participants must read and comment/review in the discussion board at least 10 other scripts submitted or your work will be removed (no harm, no foul. I understand that live gets in the way.)

Please put ©2021 on your title page.

Any questions about the challenge, post them here.

There will be a review page emailed to you for you to score the scripts you read. Please only give scores to scripts that you have read.

Please do not rate scripts in your review.

Ooh, early bird Yuvraj!  

Reading through...

P.S. If I have any questions I'll post later. Getting dinner at the mo'.
P.P.S. Ha! I was on the money with Marriage Story.

Quoted from LC Ooh, early bird Yuvraj!   Reading through... P.S. If I have any questions I'll post later. Getting dinner at the mo'.

Sure.

Can we get the countdown changed please... had a panic then as I thought it said I had 4 hours left to get a script in!

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Can we get the countdown changed please... had a panic then as I thought it said I had 4 hours left to get a script in!

That's all on Don.

Quoted from Zack

No gore and no extreme violence makes Zack a sad boy

Ah, that explains the sad face.

It doesn't mean that the 'harsh, realistic, and emotionally stirring estranged relationship' can't be about what to do with the severed head in the freezer between two inbred siblings.

Damn. There goes THAT idea.

Quoted from Matthew Taylor No gore and no extreme violence makes Zack a sad boy

It really, really does.

Quoted from JEStaats Ah, that explains the sad face. It doesn't mean that the 'harsh, realistic, and emotionally stirring estranged relationship' can't be about what to do with the severed head in the freezer between two inbred siblings. Damn. There goes THAT idea.

Ha! I think you might have just given me an idea! lol  

Quoted from Matthew Taylor No gore and no extreme violence makes Zack a sad boy

I was thinking the same.

Quoted from Zack Ha! I think you might have just given me an idea! lol

Finally, you're gonna hit it!

Wouldn't severed body parts and/dead bodies still count as gore/extreme violence?

Quoted from Zack Wouldn't severed body parts and/dead bodies still count as gore/extreme violence?

They will.  

Think Zack think.    

Reasonable violence is acceptable but not something that goes above the limits and results in the stacks of dead bodies.

What if it is off-screen, like in the freezer example?

Quoted from JEStaats What if it is off-screen, like in the freezer example?

It will be fine as long as it is pivotal to the story. I want this to focus more on the relationship and the emotions.

I am opposed to the on-screen bloodshed and all the graphical details that follow.

But John - please be deliberate with this.  

Gotcha - I'm still thinking PG-13