All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
Great writing in this, I really liked the opening. The note was a good icebreaker to get things started.
The story relied more on its message than characters, which is okay, but in the context of a thriller it needed more setup to deliver on Sergei's character. It's hard to buy into his thirst for power when we've only seen him in a submissive role. You might be able to get his motives across without the setup. Just a suggestion -
You handled his wife's reaction quite well, but when she started turning against him, I thought to myself - it would be a good time to show us what makes Sergei tick. Why not use the same tactics he used on Vincent's son to free him from this situation? I say him because if Sergei did it for his family, the selfless act (if you call it that) wouldn't justify the end.
Overall, great writing with a promising story. The asides never came across bitter or self aware.
Good story. Very dark in tone, I find this one of those stories a writer feels he needs to tell. No glossing over things, beating around the bush. Unapologetic.
But I wonder what was Sergei (married, right?) doing on the Internet in the first place, on a suicide prevention website, bullying people. Seems like it would make more sense if Sergei was a teenager. You hear about most of these kinds of things happening with younger people. Was there a rationale behind your choice?
Spoilers...
Blindfolding the kid was a good touch. As if there wasn't enough tension already. But I kinda knew either Sergei or Vincent was gonna get it in that room. Offing the kid would've just been so morbid. But still, it could have went anywhere. But the way you took it makes sense and works well. Good job, mate.
Hey Dustin, glad to see another short of yours up.
I think this would be a great short thriller on the screen. I was pretty sure with whose death this was going to end at about half of the short and figured that the scenario/ending would be a pretty repetitive twist, but that extra ending scene was a pleasant surprise and made it a whole lot deeper than an usual similar revenge short. Everything in between captured my attention throughout well. Good dialogue, good tension, good message. I liked it.
As reading the exchange between hostage and prisoners I thought to myself what a great idea to have the hostage taker commit suicide in front of the prisoners to leave them with a lifetime of agony. And then there it was, you did it!
I think subliminally I arrived there because your hostage taker was not brutal enough. Not mean enough. I personally would have ended it at the reveal.Anyways, gj on the wrirting.
Hi Dustin, I'm reading your script right now. I will post things as I see them.
Wow, that was really good. It was exciting and well thought out. I was at the edge of my seat. Well done.
I just wish one thing, I wish we knew more of the conversation he had with the suicidal kid, what made him say well done, you win. The Well Done seems very interesting and we didn't get to know that.
I'm interested in reading animation, horror, sci fy, suspense, fantasy, and anything that is good. I enjoy writing the same. Looking to team with anyone!
I really enjoyed this one. I'm drawn to darker material and this was indeed dark. I thought the characters, particularly their arcs, were very strong and well thought out, especially Sergei's arc.
The writing was good overall, though two things caught my eye (and I'm just nitpicking):
Page 1, opening paragraph --
On the bed, eyes red from hours of crying, SERGEI GORELEV (25), writes a letter.
Could have been worded differently, read a bit off to me --
On the bed --
SERGEI GORELEV (25), eyes red from hours of crying, writes a letter.
Don't necessarily have to say On the bed with a double-dash then start a new paragraph. Maybe --
SERGEI GORELEV (25) sits at the edge of his bed, eyes red from hours of crying, and writes a letter.
The other thing that caught my eye was an aside on page 3:
Sergei looks at Michaela, ’Hey, it’s me, your lover, the man you’ve known for ten years’.
I don't mind asides much, but this seemed a bit long-winded. And though it provides the reader with information (I suppose they've been together for 10 years), it doesn't provide the viewing audience with any information because they never see this and they never learn that they've been together for that exact amount of time. We get that they're husband and wife. Just a simple:
Sergei looks at Michaela, desperation in his eyes -- "Honey, it's me". Or something like that. Again, I'm nitpicking.
Everything else was very strong. Just one suggestion, though. I'd begin the story with a VO so that the VO later doesn't seem like it's coming out of nowhere.
It may be considered redundant, but I feel that it would play strong on screen if you accompanied the letter with a V.O., as he was writing.
Also, is this V.O. a continuation of the letter from the beginning? If so, who exactly is he leaving the letter for? It kind of just sounds like he's providing the audience with information, how everything went down after Vincent killed himself in front of him.
The story relied more on its message than characters, which is okay, but in the context of a thriller it needed more setup to deliver on Sergei's character. It's hard to buy into his thirst for power when we've only seen him in a submissive role. You might be able to get his motives across without the setup. Just a suggestion -
You handled his wife's reaction quite well, but when she started turning against him, I thought to myself - it would be a good time to show us what makes Sergei tick. Why not use the same tactics he used on Vincent's son to free him from this situation? I say him because if Sergei did it for his family, the selfless act (if you call it that) wouldn't justify the end.
Overall, great writing with a promising story. The asides never came across bitter or self aware.
Johnny
Hi mate... yes, I think there is a perfect moment to show his bad side. I just have to tread carefully... because people's attitudes change depending on the environment. A guy that bullies everyone in one place could move to another place and be bullied themselves. People have many faces. In a submissive situation, with your family at threat, you're not going to want to antagonise. I'll think about it.
Good story. Very dark in tone, I find this one of those stories a writer feels he needs to tell. No glossing over things, beating around the bush. Unapologetic.
But I wonder what was Sergei (married, right?) doing on the Internet in the first place, on a suicide prevention website, bullying people. Seems like it would make more sense if Sergei was a teenager. You hear about most of these kinds of things happening with younger people. Was there a rationale behind your choice?
Yes, I wanted him to have a young family and I think you'd be surprised at the age of some trolls on the internet.
Quoted Text
Spoilers...
Blindfolding the kid was a good touch. As if there wasn't enough tension already. But I kinda knew either Sergei or Vincent was gonna get it in that room. Offing the kid would've just been so morbid. But still, it could have went anywhere. But the way you took it makes sense and works well. Good job, mate.
Steve
Yeah, I wanted to hint at somebody getting it... but who? Cheers for the read and review, mate.
Another great short Dustin, dark and gritty, felt real.
There was one thing that took me out of it a little... Sergei Gorelev... I immeadiately thought we were in Russia, but then the other character names didn't necessarily seem consistent with that... not sure if him being Russian matters?
Comments can prove deadly. Read with a jaundiced eye.
First, you've done a good job, but comments should help make it better. Here we go.
Opening. I am no expert on suicide notes, but I don't know why he needs to tell his name. They will find his body, and the landlord knows his name, so the introduction is for the audience and necessary? I would buy a note addressed to miahaela or Darius or even 'to whom it may concern'. This is a nit. It's me.
You do a great job of juxtapositioning Vincent and Sergei. We think Vincent is the antagonist when he's really the protagonist. Wonderful. But take a look at the attributes of your combatants. You make Sergei weak and Vincent strong. For drama, reverse the power. The protagonist is the weaker. How? Think of Sergei as a psychopath? When confronted what does he do? It's in the playbook. Deny, deny deny. He was never online. The userid isn't his. Make Vincent break down every issue. Vincent grows. Sergei shrinks. Give Vincent a worthy foe.
Of course, if you make Sergei stronger, then his suicide becomes more problematic.
Vincent's suicide is well done, complete with blindfolding the boy. Good job. I'm not sure I buy michaela's response. She doesn't know he's a psychopath ?
Overall, this is good work if you can make things harder for you protagonist, you'll have a nice reversal. The audience will wonder how they got fooled.
Comments can prove deadly. Read with a jaundiced eye.
First, you've done a good job, but comments should help make it better. Here we go.
Opening. I am no expert on suicide notes, but I don't know why he needs to tell his name. They will find his body, and the landlord knows his name, so the introduction is for the audience and necessary? I would buy a note addressed to miahaela or Darius or even 'to whom it may concern'. This is a nit. It's me.
You do a great job of juxtapositioning Vincent and Sergei. We think Vincent is the antagonist when he's really the protagonist. Wonderful. But take a look at the attributes of your combatants. You make Sergei weak and Vincent strong. For drama, reverse the power. The protagonist is the weaker. How? Think of Sergei as a psychopath? When confronted what does he do? It's in the playbook. Deny, deny deny. He was never online. The userid isn't his. Make Vincent break down every issue. Vincent grows. Sergei shrinks. Give Vincent a worthy foe.
Of course, if you make Sergei stronger, then his suicide becomes more problematic.
Vincent's suicide is well done, complete with blindfolding the boy. Good job. I'm not sure I buy michaela's response. She doesn't know he's a psychopath ?
Overall, this is good work if you can make things harder for you protagonist, you'll have a nice reversal. The audience will wonder how they got fooled.
Best Richard
This is some great advice. I do think it's better if Vincent breaks down all of the avoidance that Sergei would have.
You had said how could the wife not know he's a psychopath? I can tell you from experience that the family members are the last to know. The guy always has a reason for being away to do his dastardly deeds. I've seen it happen 3 times in Buffalo alone, and the wife was shellshocked all 3 times. And I've seen it online a few times too.
Once the shoe falls, the wife realizes all the times he was gone, but, until then, they are clueless. Heck, even pedophile people find ways to hide it from the family until caught.
I'm interested in reading animation, horror, sci fy, suspense, fantasy, and anything that is good. I enjoy writing the same. Looking to team with anyone!
Hey Dustin, glad to see another short of yours up.
I think this would be a great short thriller on the screen. I was pretty sure with whose death this was going to end at about half of the short and figured that the scenario/ending would be a pretty repetitive twist, but that extra ending scene was a pleasant surprise and made it a whole lot deeper than an usual similar revenge short. Everything in between captured my attention throughout well. Good dialogue, good tension, good message. I liked it.
Yeah, I was a little worried about the repetition of the two suicides. In the original draft, both shot themselves in the head. The repetitiveness made me switch the final suicide up for a hanging.
As reading the exchange between hostage and prisoners I thought to myself what a great idea to have the hostage taker commit suicide in front of the prisoners to leave them with a lifetime of agony. And then there it was, you did it!
I think subliminally I arrived there because your hostage taker was not brutal enough. Not mean enough. I personally would have ended it at the reveal.Anyways, gj on the wrirting.
Tony
I considered leaving it at the reveal, but it wasn't obvious what Sergei would do, or, if he would even care, so I added the final scene. Thanks for the read and review mate.
This one is a popular short. There are three parties interested in making it.
Can't wait to see the outcome of what someone can do with an intense scene such as this. I envision just a facial close up of a messed up dude, perhaps with blood splatter. The look could tell it all that he couldn't live with himself.
I'm interested in reading animation, horror, sci fy, suspense, fantasy, and anything that is good. I enjoy writing the same. Looking to team with anyone!