A script is an essential tool for any filmmaker/production company in that it provides clarification and guidance to, not only the actors performing in the piece, but also to the production staff such as cameramen and lighting crews as although they will not be performing dialogue or 'in role' so to speak- they will still be performing aspects of the film production all be it different ones to 'performers.' They will still require guidance as to how best to perform their role. A script acts as a basis- or foundation- from which the crew and actors can stimulate and springboard developments from an original, guiding source. This is why a script is so fundementally important as it acts as a guiding light to keep all team and crew members on track and not become deviated too much from the original story and ideas discussed at an earlier pre production stage.
Old Habits Die Hard script
(Tracking establishing shot of the main character, Toby Scott, commentary over the top as audio track)
(Cut to master shot of sharp fencing, symbolic.)
(Homeless people crouching in litter and rubbish, long shot with a slight pan)
(Long shot that develops into a two shot, showing two main characters)
(Conversation between the two men begins)
[Dialogue]
Creegan: You’re back for more then? (Gruffly) I haven’t seen you in bloody ages.
Toby: Not exactly Creegan
Creegan: You complaining Toby, or… something else?
Toby: No, not really far from it. I love the hits man, but only when they last. I’ve had to make a choice mate….
Creegan: (Suspiciously) What choice? This better not be heading where I think it is, or you know what will happen. (Reaches into pocket threateningly)
Toby: No... I mean the hits mate. They get fewer and fewer every time. (Maddening slightly) I need this, I crave it. But, I’ve come to a bit of ‘rough luck’ shall we say.
Creegan: What ‘rough luck’ is this? A bribe to hand me in to the pigs?! You got another thing coming mate!
(Two shot, slight pan, argument begins.)
Toby: If you think I’d hand you into that lot I could’ve done it. The offer was open for me...
Creegan: ... And you went and fucking took it. And they say I’m a lowlife!!
(Creegan pushes Toby against the wall.)
Toby: ...but I refused the offer despite the money. The wealth of friendship is worth far more than any amount of money …even in our world.
Creegan: Don’t you lecture me on your petty bullshit. Your words are filth; and so are you!! You’re scum; Scott! Scum that’s about to be wiped off the face of the Earth!
Toby: And I thought you couldn’t sink any lower, I guess I was wrong.
(Zooms in to over the shoulder shot)
(Toby breaks free, enters chase)
(Toby runs out of tunnel, Creegan follows later after being punched)
(Match on action shot of Creegan getting phone out and dialling a number into his phone)
(Shot reverse shot of Creegan talking onto his phone)
(Close up of Toby’s legs as he runs down the street. Long/mid shot of Toby running down the street, commentary audio under the action)
Toby: When you’ve been in the ‘game’ as long as I have you begin to realise when shit is going down. If you fail to notice it quick enough you could be fighting for your life. That’s what the drugs do; turn a simple bit of fun into roulette between life and death; a numbers game, luck of the draw as some might say.
Show wide shot of different trees. Cutting and splicing in-between them to show a sense of mystery and foreshadowing. Cut to: shot of forest floor, focussing on mud and dirt on the track. Use low angle shot to show. Audio: rustling of leaves.
Cut to: tracking shot of running feet. First, show the leading pair of feet and then those of the pursuer.
Cut to wide shot showing curve in forest track, shoot the shot from here, now showing the two characters running towards the camera and track them round the bend, kicking up dirt to show urgency and speed of the characters. Have camera follow the characters in handheld steadicam shot to show a sense of chaos and urgency.
Pursuer grabs his target by the scruff of the neck, throwing him to floor.
Pursuer should be shown as the antagonist of the opening, dark apparel and scars to show this. Pursuer is a violent criminal.
Pursuer/Dealer/ Antagonist; Creegan Donohue.
Protagonist; Toby Scott
Creegan turning over Scott on the ground, POV Shot.
Creegan: You’re finished Scott, you’ve changed the balance forever. Now I’m gonna kill you, for all the fucking misery you’ve caused me
Cut to: webcam shot of main character, focussing his webcam and re-adjusting the lens.
Right, ok (Clears throat) Yeah what you just saw, I mean before I
(indicates himself with a wave of the hand)
came in, was the day, the day, (pauses, zoning out slightly) my life changed and not….
(Pause, considering his word choice) not in a good way. We’re all born different, yeah ok I get that- we all make different choices in our lives, good or bad, proud or regretted; I know I’ve certainly made some choices in my life that I’ve lived to regret even to this day.
We just gotta face every new day as it comes, even if that day is the darkest day we may ever face. That day, my world changed forever, I… I… killed a man not out of hatred or greed. Just defiance. Defying and standing up to his oppression. He was making a living off other people’s addiction. He had to be stopped. I don’t defend what I did; I just hope it’s easier for people to understand.
(Fade to black; end credits roll)
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