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Comanche Kid by Gerlinde Kenkel - Short, Western - The sole survivor of a massacre by Texas Rangers, committed against a Comanche tribe, is found by a traveling merchant of German origin who nurses the badly injured boy back to health. Years later, the Comanche is faced with the choice of treading the path of revenge or forgiveness. 25 pages - pdf format
At most 66 people read the script, but none of them had an opinion on it. So I wonder if the topic or/and script were too bad to be worthy of an answer?
It's possible if you believe in it. – The Mad Hatter, from Alice in Wonderland
Take out your scene numbers Remove your draft number. Remove your character list.
You need a transition where your scene skips from Wilhelm to the Comanche village.
Stay in present tense language:
It doesn’t take long... Should read: 'it won't be long...
The mirror is fogged up, The mirror fogs up
The light of the campfire falls on Isa-Tai’s face, which is sitting away from the campfire. He wakes up. (you could delete 'which is sitting away from the campfire)
Likewise this is not needed: He wants to kill him. We can already guess this through the action.
These white men will pay for that! These white men will pay for this. Or: the white men will pay.
In all the chaos and dead people stand ISA-TAI (12) Use a word like carnage. Amongst the chaos and carnage, ISA-TAI (12), ...
But he doesn’t pull a face of pain. Show us what actually is, not isn't. He has a brave face, or he appears stoic.
A campfire with a pot of hot coffee on it is burning Do you mean: brewing?
A bullet was stuck in your stomach. Wasn't it his shoulder? Maybe use a word like 'lodged in his stomach'.
If If you need help, Typo double-word.
We have been robbed He is talking about something that is on the past so: We had been robbed
FREDERICKSBURG/BEFORE SCHOOL No need for 'before' in your header
Klara comes home from school, a boy on her hands, both of whom look at her angrily. Both are about twelve years old That sentence needs rewriting and end with a period.
Well, you prowler? Prowler? I suspect you mean he snuck in unannounced, without word he was coming but it sounds awkward. Surprise visit might suffice.
KLARA The "Ma’am”, let it be, my name is Klara. Suggestion: No need for formalities. You can call me Klara, or: Klara is just fine.
KLARA What is the boy up with? What is up with the boy?
Comanche Kid is saddled a horse when Wilhelm enters the stable and walks towards the Comanche. Has saddled a horse... 'and walks toward' is really not needed imho. Rewrite this sentence.
SHORTLY LATER Just write LATER.
David hits his head. What do you mean by this? I think you mean he feigns hitting himself in the head, and has a sudden realisation?
EXT. FREDERICKSBURG/MAIN STREET - LATER Use a hyphen not forward slash for your headers.
Be careful you don't appear to be repetitious/sermonising with your big spiels. By all means include them, but the repetition of it from both Wilhelm and Klara's POV takes away the impact imho.
There is no beating in my saloon! Do you mean fighting or brawling?
The two Texas Rangers grab the Comanche and lift it up. Lift him up? Or: lift him off his feet.
Klara washes the dishes, David and Wilhelm dry off. Dry them.
Bill’s hate was Bill's hatred was...
PRESENT DAY p21 You need a BACK TO SCENE here, and a little description before your dialogue.
The words Wilhelm come to his mind. Suggest: Wilhelm's words echo in his mind. OR: Wilhelm's words come back to haunt him.
I would be able to use some help in the store I could use some help in the store
This (below) is a bit abrupt. The horses are not even saddled up. I'd add a bit of a segue to make it clearer.
WILHELM (to Klara) So, until next time, sister heart! KLARA Next time, don’t wait another eight years.
Enjoy it, guys The use of the word: 'guys' doesn't sit well in the style of the language of the time imho.
Your final blurb (Super) does need tweaking just a bit.
Overall this was lovely to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story. Great job evoking this time in history and it was really nice to read a Western - they are rare, but I've read a few goodies on SS, especially in OWCs.
First of all, I would like to thank you for the answer and the helpful tips. Yes, it's a pity that there is so little going on here at the moment. But maybe most of them are busy with their projects. But now to my terrible screenplay "Comanche Kid": Originally, I wrote the script in German, but it was very clear about the scenes of violence (attack by the Texas Rangers and the Apaches). The German version was also 20 pages longer, as the English version contained some scenes that were missing in the English version. Then, as far as the dialogues are concerned, I had adapted the German version very closely to the language of the time (1800-1850) in order to be as realistic as possible. This has been lost in the English version. I found it important to mention the historical context (why the Germans kept the treaty), as it is important for the actions of the (German) merchant.
It's possible if you believe in it. – The Mad Hatter, from Alice in Wonderland