Fiction/Challenge/Screenplay
Worth The Risk
Scene One from the film's screenplay
Today’s challenge from Nancy Oglesby at the Challenged is to write a scene for a play. Include dialogue and stage directions.
This is not exactly a play per se, but it is a scene from a screenplay based on one of my novels that we began filming back in 2020; then CoVid came along, and we never got to finish. I love filming, but believe me, it’s hard work. We were on a limited budget, less than $300 per shooting day. I was the screenwriter, producer, director, casting agent, and all other hats except for camera work, which was my husband’s role in the film. I loved the cast we had, and I had worked with them before when we were filming for Assumptions, another series based on the book of the same name.
I wrote the screenplay using Final Draft, which I can’t copy and paste here because it won’t keep the format. But if you want to dabble in writing a script, then try Chatgpt. It has several free and paid options.
This is the first scene of Worth the Risk.
FADE IN:
EXT. LAKE SIDE — EVENING
CHELSEY, AMBER, HARLIE, BRADLEY and FRIENDS dress in formal wear, drink out of champagne glasses. It’s an elite party.
EXT, ALLEY — EVENING A totally different scene. MARCUS, RICKY, JORDAN, GABBIE, SELENA, FRIENDS hang, drink straight from the bottle.
SUPERSCRIPT
WORTH THE RISK
Bell RINGS.
EXT. SCHOOL — DAY
STUDENTS mill around, expensive cars and trucks fill parking spaces. A brand new Porsche pulls into parking space.
Black ankle, studded boots exit.
Travel upwards to show tight jeans and a fitted black T-shirt.
Door shuts,
car alarm set,
BEEP.
CHELSEY walks to the sidewalk.
AMBER (O.S.) Chelsey.
Chelsey looks up, small wave. Smiles at OTHER STUDENTS as she passes.
AMBER strolls up the sidewalk, her focus is on the compact mirror in hand. BUMPS into YOUNGER BOY digging through backpack as he walks. She SHRIEKS and SNARLS at the boy.
AMBER (CONT’D) Oh. My. God.
Backs away as if he’s diseased.
AMBER (CONT’D) Watch where you’re going.
Boy looks traumatized, scampers away.
Amber straightens out her mini-skirt, walks over to Chelsey.
HARLIE catches up.
Chelsey nods to the younger boy.
CHELSEY You know that was clearly your fault.
The boy still digs around his backpack, pulls out package of cookies. Looks content.
Amber rolls her eyes.
AMBER Yeah, well he could’ve moved over. (brushes her skirt off) I probably have cookie crumbs or something all over me now.
Chelsey ignores Amber’s ignorance.
CHELSEY (to Harlie) After this year, we leave the kingdom to you.
Harlie fake pouts
HARLIE Oh yay, fun. Leaving me with fake bitches
SNOB GIRLS walk past
HARLIE (CONT’D) And them.
ROWDY OUTSIDERS walk. Their attire shows they don’t belong. They joke around with one another.
GABBIE and SELENA sneer at Chelsey, Amber and Harlie, pure dislike. Talk amongst each other.
MARCUS, RICKY, JORDAN follow behind the girls, pay no attention to anyone outside their group.
The outsiders walk past Chelsey’s group. Gabbie makes eye contact with Chelsey.
GABBIE Pinche puta.
Selena snickers. The guys walk past without a second glance.
AMBER What did she say?
Chelsey’s eyes follow the group.
CHELSEY They said they loved your outfit.
Amber gets a big smile.
AMBER Really.
Waves to Gabbie and Selena.
The girls look at Amber as if she just went butt-ass crazy, then turn and follow the boys.
Chelsey leads her group behind the outsiders, watching and listening closely. Harlie steps closer to Chelsey, whispers in her ear.
HARLIE You know you just lied to her.
CHELSEY I’m not telling princess what they said.
BRADLEY and TWO FRIENDS catch up with Chelsey’s group. Bradley slings his arm around Chelsey’s shoulders, she shrugs him off.
BRADLEY New car again for first day of school, Chels.
CHELSEY Really!
She spins around, looks at the Porsche in it’s spot.
CHELSEY (CONT’D) I didn’t even notice.
Spins back around, keeps walking.
Bradley’s humored by Chelsey’s answer.
BRADLEY Yeah, right. Your panties got wet as soon as you saw the big red bow wrapped tightly around it.
Chelsey rolls her eyes, pace picks up a beat.
AMBER (hits Brad) Ew, like gross, Brad. Is that all you ever think about?
Bradley clutches his chest.
BRADLEY What? That I think about Chelsey’s moist, hot, so ready for me pus…
Amber’s hand reaches over Bradley’s mouth.
AMBER Don’t say it.
She removes her hand from his mouth, shakes her finger at him.
AMBER (CONT’D) I hate hearing that word. It’s like so… nasty.
Bradley gets a big smirk, he knows how to irritate the girls.
BRADLEY Pussy, pussy, pussy.
The group walks closer to the ADMINISTRATION STAFF.
Bradley leans closer to Amber’s ear.
BRADLEY (CONT’D) Pussy.
Amber smacks him on the stomach, which earns her a glare from the teachers. Bradley looks offended, has the demeanor of a perfect student. The group says their ‘Hello’s’ to the teachers, walk into the school.
Let’s roll the red carpet for these Medium writers that you want to check out. Y’all know the drill, tell me if you don’t or do want to be tagged.
Harry Hogg — Jessica Morgan — CJ Coop — Ludiane de Brocéliande — Randy Pulley — Denée King — John Hansen — Stephen Dalton — Jason Edmunds — Karen Hoffman — Nancy S Rust — HABEEBAH OYEDOKUN — Karen Schwartz — Robin MS — Leslie Flemons — Amy Potter — Jerry Dwyer — Pooja Vishwanathan 🦋 — Jonny Masters — Jennifer Morrison — Eko B — Miriam Connolly — Sтepн Tнoмpѕoɴ — The Ink Rat — Goldie Trojan — Misha Seeks — Lynn L. Alexander — Adrienne Beaumont
