Mock Sides: Original Scripts for Workshop Actors HANDS IN PRAYER. Written by. David Dalton & Chad Schnackel

Transcription

1 HANDS IN PRAYER Written by David Dalton & Chad Schnackel Pages: 3+ Characters: Charles, 50+ Lela, early 20's Synopsis: Lela uncovers repressed childhood memories, which leads her to confront Charles Princeton, the man she believes killed her mother when she was young. PERMISSION FOR USE Educational Use: YOU HAVE PERMISSION to use this script for acting classes & workshops, general auditions, audition workshops, school entry auditions, school scholarship auditions, personal practice, and school related competitions where no monetary awards or prizes are given. Film or Video Productions: YOU HAVE PERMISSION to film or videotape a performance of this script for the purpose of demonstration (demo reel or show reel) as long as the writer's names appear in the film/video credits in the finished production. Expansion/Development/Film Festivals: YOU MUST OBTAIN expressed written permission from the MockSides administrators (writers David Dalton & Chad Schnackel) to expand or develop this script into a short film, feature, or any sort of episodic series for commercial use or for entries into film festivals and competitions where a monetary award or prize is offered, in which case, monetary compensation may be required by the writers. NOTE: Most film festival organizations and their sponsors may not even allow a produced video/film of this script to be entered, since there may already be produced versions of this script by others, making it an "unoriginal film". We recommend you commission the writers of this script to create original content for your use only.

2 EXT. PARKING GARAGE - NIGHT Lela stands behind a pillar as we see a car pull into a space. She is nervous, but watches with anticipation. PRINCETON gets out of the driver side of the car and begins walking. Lela comes out from behind the pillar and stands before Charles with an intense stare. Yes? Is there something I can do for you, miss? You don t recognize me, do you? You do look a little familiar. Do you remember Anna Johanson? Anna...yes, she worked for me a long time ago. What s this about? She was my mother. Oh, yes. You must be...lela. I heard she met an untimely death. (angrily) Untimely? Yeah, she was way too young to die. I m sorry for your loss. Is there something I can do for you? Some thing you want... Leal pulls out a gun from her purse and points it at Charles. I want you to tell me why you killed her! Whoa! I don t know what you re talking about. I had nothing to...

3 Don t lie to me! I know you did it. I know all about you. Lela moves closer to Charles. Lela, relax. Your mother and I used to date, that s all. The last I saw her was when we broke it off...and that was months before she...she was... Murdered? You cut her throat. (beat) I remember that night. I couldn t for a long time. But I remember now. I remembered the blood. I was hiding under the sink, and I could see her face as she hit the floor. The blood just poured out of her. I m sorry Lela. That must have been a horrible thing to see. That s not all I remember seeing. You need to relax. You re confused. You got things jumbled up in your mind. I want you to get on your knees...now! Lela. You re making a mistake. On your knees, now! Charles slowly complies. Look, you got this all wrong. Put your hands together in prayer.

4 What? Put your hands together...like you re praying. Charles does it. Lela walks around to his backside and puts the gun to his head. Say her name. Lela, please... Say it! Anna. Say it again! Anna Again and again. (he begins to cry) Anna. Anna. Anna. Lela cocks the gun hammer. Why? Why did you kill her? She threatened to go to the F.B.I. I had to make it look like a random killing. I didn t know you were there. (pleading) Please you don t have to do this. Lela pulls the trigger, but the gun s empty. She backs off and lowers her gun. Lela begins to walk away. We hear sirens as police approach. She stops and turns back toward Charles.

5 I found that file my mother had hidden. I gave it to the Feds. They re on their way, now. She disappears as several black sedans drive up with sirens blaring. Federal agents pour out of the car and see Charles sitting with his hands together, they assume he has already surrendered. DISSOLVE TO: END