And the mug goes to…

3.5 Santuario by Anonima - An immigrant family seeks out a priest known for providing sanctuary (santuario). 10 pages  Short, Drama (Kathy Cranford)

Closely followed by…

3.2  Kip and Whip’s Awesome Dimensional Ctrl/Shift by Bill S, Preston ESQ - Two frugal teens, on the verge of becoming a social stigma, are approached by a traveling tech-support agent that will change their lives forever.  Short, Sci Fi (R5E)

3  Blind as a Bat by Brother Grimm - They say love is blind. So does everyone else in the room.  Short, Comedy (Mark Moore)

2.9  The Turkey Takeover by Freda Gobbler - Inspired by actual events: When the actual CBS TV Boston Nightly News story focuses on rampaging Wild Turkeys that take over the small town of Woburn, one local man takes a stand that divides the community, even the country. 10 pages  Short, Comedy (Lew Sherwood)

And the rest, in no particular order…

Don't Look by A Person, Place, Or Thing - A family's thanksgiving dinner is interrupted when they're visited by a godly being. 7 pages  Short, Horror (Sean Elwood)

The Giving by Call Me Alfred - A father and his daughter share Thanksgiving with several guests. Some invited. Some not.  Short, Horror (Paul Knauer)

Daddy's Apology by Have "no" Mercy - A father meets his daughter for the very first time and he has a lot to make amends for. 7 pages  Short, Drama (Colin S.)

A Very Different Thanksgiving by Me (not 'me') - They have Thanksgiving in some suprising places.  Short, Drama (Anthony Cawood)

Heedless by Can't say, it's OWC - A man's Thanksgiving night is disturbed when an unexpected visitor arrives seeking some answers.  Short, Drama (Yuvraj Rajwanshi)

Thanks to everyone who entered, and all those who read and didn’t enter — you guys are all awesome!

Congrats Kathy, and all who entered, and Don and Steve for keeping us writing!

If it wasn't for the OWC's I'm not sure I would get my chops in.  'Twas a fun challenge. Which reminds me... 'twas the night before Christmas challenge coming up soon? err... I'll wait and see, lol. Thanksgiving is over so get out the x-mas tree and have a cup o' cheer, till then... :)

Well done Kathy!

And all for entering

Nice job, Kathy!

...and to all the other top finishers. (R53, Mark and Lew)

Fun challenge. I got a script out of it that, with some polishing, I think I'll like having in my portfolio. That's always a win.

Oh my gosh!  I am so stunned and excited!  I am also humbled that so many liked my little Thanksgiving tale. I had actually been working on this story as a feature length piece, but then decided, with a little tweaking, it might fit the requirements for this challenge. One tweak was the character, Abuelita. She was not part of my original storyline, but now that I’ve met her I know it absolutely must include her. I have no one to thank for that insight but this group.  A little serendipity also happened along the way.  There is a producer seeking shorts set along the Mexico/USA border, so I will be submitting this to him for consideration. Again, all thanks for that opportunity goes to this group. I’ll let you know how it turns out. One last bit of disturbing insight I’ve gained about myself - apparently I need to be given a theme and a deadline in order to set me in gear to write. As long as I have those two things, I’m good. LOL. Must work on my self-motivation!  Again, thank you so much for your kind comments and constructive ideas. (((Hugs))) to each of you!

Congratulations Kathy!

Whoohoo, Kathy!

Congratulations. You are now (well, soon to be) the holder of the treasured SS mug, and with it comes much responsibility.

Some take years to achieve this status and you did it in the space of what, a few months?
Watch your back now, and tread carefully. Many covet the mug.

Just kidding.
Or, am I?

Nah, your responsibility now is to take a photo of that mug in some ingenious or comical or inventive way.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-Chat/m-1320532982/s-60/

Or pop it in your avatar.

Congrats also to Rick, Mark, and Lew!

P.S. Special shout out to Yuvraj for Heedless.

Quoted from kcranford One last bit of disturbing insight I’ve gained about myself - apparently I need to be given a theme and a deadline in order to set me in gear to write. As long as I have those two things, I’m good.

Welcome to the club. It's crowded. I believe it's a prerequisite to calling yourself a screenwriter.

Congrats again on the win!

Quoted from LC Whoohoo, Kathy! Congratulations. You are now (well, soon to be) the holder of the treasured SS mug, and with it comes much responsibility. Some take years to achieve this status and you did it in the space of what, a few months? Watch your back now, and tread carefully. Many covet the mug. Just kidding. Or, am I? Nah, your responsibility now is to take a photo of that mug in some ingenious or comical or inventive way. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-Chat/m-1320532982/s-60/ Or pop it in your avatar. Congrats also to Rick, Mark, and Lew! P.S. Special shout out to Yuvraj for Heedless.

Thank you so much!  I actually joined in September, so I’m calling this a classic case of beginner’s luck. And I thought you were just kidding about the mug - until I got the email from Don. What a great prize - I’m so excited to receive it and show it off!  

Well done, Kathy !!! That was my favorite script!!

Congrats to Rick too !!

3rd!!! Lol For a Friday night special written in 4 hours, I'll take it ;D

Kudos to the readers that realized Vampires(Vincent Price) need to be invited in ;D

This was fun as it had been a long time since I wrote anything. It doesn't help when Steve Clark pesters me for an entry. ;D

Great job on everyone entering and those who didn't enter but still took the time to review.

That's a great script Kathy, congrats!
And congrats to all who entered. There were quite some entries there this time. Nice job, guys!

Quoted from irish eyes This was fun as it had been a long time since I wrote anything. It doesn't help when Steve Clark pesters me for an entry. ;D

A simple thank you would suffice.

Edit: ;D

A little smiley face because Mark thinks I’m being a little bitch!  ;D ;D ;D

Quoted from Gum Which reminds me... 'twas the night before Christmas challenge coming up soon?

Hmm. Don’t know yet. Maybe a little over kill? Anyone can do it really but, that said, if a crazy good idea strikes…

Congratulations, Kathy! I voted for your story as the best, and indeed it was!

Also, hats off to Rick and Mark! Well done.

In fact, congrats to everyone who submitted a story, all were fun to read while spending days of eating Thanksgiving leftovers!

Best wishes to all for the coming holidays!

My bad, couldn't read and review the scripts, even though I participated. Apologies for that.

Big ups to Kathy!! Congrats on winning!!

Bravo to all other writers as well who took part! And also to the writers who didn't participate but reviewed nonetheless (unlike me).

Quoted from LC P.S. Special shout out to Yuvraj for Heedless.

Thanks, Libby. Sometimes the thought of - no one's gonna like what I wrote - crosses my mind. But writers like you prove me wrong. Thank you once again.

Quoted from kcranford I thought you were just kidding about the mug - until I got the email from Don.

Oh, no. The mug is very, very real. It's ALL about the mug.

In fact, it won't be long until you're a mug zombie like the rest of us. "MUST have mug."

Quoted from PKCardinal Oh, no. The mug is very, very real. It's ALL about the mug. In fact, it won't be long until you're a mug zombie like the rest of us. "MUST have mug."

Seriously. I’ve been here about ten years with no mug. Cranford comes in and — BOOM! Mug.

Mugs are addictive...

Quoted from SAC Seriously. I’ve been here about ten years with no mug. Cranford comes in and — BOOM! Mug.

Well, now I see what y’all do when I’m at work and not around to defend myself LOL. Seriously though, no one is more shocked than me and I’m going to treasure that mug. It might be my “Elf on a Shelf” this year. I’ll move it from room to room just so it can “find” it all over every day.  :)

Again, seriously, thank you all so very much and many congrats to everyone who placed, entered or just took the time to read our work and give valued advice. It is much appreciated. You have no idea.

Again, SimplyScripts proves that screenwriting is...A Mug's Game.

Congratulations to Kathy and all those who entered. It looks like you had a lot of fun with this challenge.

Quoted from MarkRenshaw Congratulations to Kathy and all those who entered. It looks like you had a lot of fun with this challenge.

Thank you so much, Mark!  

To Don and everyone:  My mug came today!  Snapped a quick pic with a background of some of my Christmas decor for my new avatar!  I'm so excited to receive this and want to thank you all again for your support and camaraderie.  Happy Holidays everyone - looking forward to the next challenge!

Kathy

The OWC is not a contest.  

It's a challenge.  

There are no winners, per se.

You 'win' by writing a script and hitting the submit (now called the 'win') button.  As soon as you hit the 'win' button, you've won.  

Sometimes there is a writers' choice. And sometimes the Writers' Choice person receives a crappy mug, designed so horribly, one could not make it look worse if one tried.    

- Don

Quoted from Don The OWC is not a contest.   It's a challenge.   There are no winners, per se. You 'win' by writing a script and hitting the submit (now called the 'win') button.  As soon as you hit the 'win' button, you've won.   Sometimes there is a writers' choice. And sometimes the Writers' Choice person receives a crappy mug, designed so horribly, one could not make it look worse if one tried.     - Don

Keep fighting the good fight. But, that mug... it has powers. I don't know what they are or where they come from... perhaps you infuse each mug with the soul of a writer past... I don't know.

But, the mug definitely has power.

That said, on a serious note... I think only one of the shorts that I've had produced actually "won" writer's choice and lead to the acquisition of a mug. I've now written over 50 shorts, almost every one of them for an OWC. I'm not sure I'd have written a single one of them without the OWCs. So, your challenges work for me, for sure. And, I'm eternally grateful. Seriously. Mug or no mug.

Quoted from kcranford Thank you so much, Mark!   To Don and everyone:  My mug came today!  Snapped a quick pic with a background of some of my Christmas decor for my new avatar!  I'm so excited to receive this and want to thank you all again for your support and camaraderie.  Happy Holidays everyone - looking forward to the next challenge! Kathy

Hallmark Christmas romance flick with a magical mug? Seems plausible.

Quoted from Don The OWC is not a contest.   It's a challenge.   There are no winners, per se. You 'win' by writing a script and hitting the submit (now called the 'win') button.  As soon as you hit the 'win' button, you've won.   Sometimes there is a writers' choice. And sometimes the Writers' Choice person receives a crappy mug, designed so horribly, one could not make it look worse if one tried.     - Don

Your explanation kinda sounds like the whole “and the Oscar goes to” deal way back when.

Quoted from SAC Hallmark Christmas romance flick with a magical mug? Seems plausible.

Yes!!  Endless possibilities in my mind for that!  I especially liked the idea that “maybe every mug is infused with the spirit of a writer that has passed”. I’m hoping I got Nora Ephron! I’m thinking it would be like “I Dream of Jeannie”, I would rub the mug and out of the mist would pop Nora with the most amazing ideas ever.  :)