NYC Midnight Short Screenplay Competition 2009

The following post is my entry for round #1 of the NYC Midnight Short Screenplay Competition 2009. Let me know what you think.

Moved On

INT. ADOPTION AGENCY BEDROOM - DAY

An old, worn skateboard sits propped against a wall. It is covered in dust and hasn’t been used in a long time.

The surrounding room resembles that of a dorm with bunk beds stacked in one corner, sheets and blankets hanging off in an unkempt fashion. The floor and desks are barren except for the odd, well loved, toy here or there.

INT. ADOPTION AGENCY HALLWAY - DAY

The long hallway has a plethora of doors. Moving past the open doors towards the office, similar bedrooms are seen. Some contain almost nothing, others contain children of different ages engaged in imaginary play.

INT. ADOPTION AGENCY OFFICE - DAY

A cluttered desk sits in the middle of the room with a window facing out into the front yard. Papers are lying on the floor and the office chair is facing out as if someone left in a hurry.

A plaque hanging on the wall reads: “Crested Butte Adoption Community, Best in the Butte award for excellence in public service - 2004. The telephone receiver is dangling on the floor. A busy signal can be heard. The door is slightly ajar.

EXT. ADOPTION AGENCY STREET - DAY

A sky-blue Toyota Camry is hastily parked half in the road, half on the sidewalk. Its windshield is completely shattered. The driver side door is open and the engine is still running.

A red fire truck is parked adjacent to the car, blocking the road. An ambulance is parked behind the truck, doors open and gurney missing. JESSE is lying dead behind the truck.

Two adults, STEVE and RACHAEL are standing in front of the adoption agency. Rachael is in her thirties and is conservatively dressed in business casual clothing. Steve is also in his thirties and is wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Rachael is crying and Steve is holding her.

STEVE

(inquisitively)

What were you thinking Rach?! Where were you?

RACHAEL

(in between sobs)

It’s... all... my... fault... I... should... have... been... out... here... with... Jesse...

STEVE

Why weren’t you out here? You know Jesse shouldn’t have been skateboarding out here alone! How could you leave a child unattended in the street?

RACHAEL

What?

(pulling away from Steve)

I was answering the phone because you were obviously not in the office. And Jesse was hardly a child... she was twelve for fucks sake!

Rachael is standing away from Steve, shouting at him and waving her hands in the air. Her eyes are full of tears.

STEVE

Youngest twelve year old I’ve ever seen.

RACHAEL

You know how independent she was. She might as well been an adult. She wouldn’t listen to anything I said! Why weren’t you in the office!?

STEVE

Don’t you dare try and pin this on me! I was in the bathroom. I... I just cannot BELIEVE you left that poor girl out here alone...

RACHAEL

I didn’t fucking think...

BILLY comes running out of the agency screaming and crying. He is 6 years old and wearing faded hand-me-down clothes. AL stops at the door behind him and watches Billy run to Rachael. Al is also 6 and is dressed in clothes too big for him.

Rachael tries to hide her tears as she bends down and scoops the child lovingly into her arms.

RACHAEL (CONT’D)

(soothingly)

Billy honey. You’re not supposed to be out here. What’s wrong?

(whispering to Steve)

I didn’t fucking think she’d just skate out across the road....

BILLY

Al pushed me down.

AL

(shouting from the door)

Billy bit me when I wouldn’t share my Batman with him.

STEVE

Al! Get over here right now!

The boy reluctantly leaves the house, visibly scared of Steve and his wrath. He walks over towards them.

STEVE (CONT’D)

Now, Billy...

RACHAEL

Billy, did you bite Steve?

STEVE

Rachael, do you really think this is the time?

(nodding to the scene)

Or place?

BILLY

No... but he wouldn’t share his Batman with me.

STEVE

Goddamit kids!

RACHAEL

Steve!

(to Al)

What did I tell you about sharing? And even if Billy did bite you, you DO NOT retaliate.

AL

(noticing the skateboard)

Where’s Jesse?

Billy begins to look around. A broken skateboard is lying in the street. Next to it is a solitary shoe.

BILLY

There’s her skateboard! And it’s broken... she is going to be so mad. She doesn’t leave her skateboard anywhere Miss Rachael...

(calling out)

Jesse!

Rachael begins to silently cry again. Steve’s tough demeanor begins to weaken. She silently mouths to him.

RACHAEL

I can’t tell them.

STEVE

Kids, Jesse’s been in an...

RACHAEL

Jesse has moved on...

BILLY

(Excitedly)

You mean someone came and got her?!

AL

She has new parents? She always said that she’d get new parents first.

Billy begins to struggle until Rachael sets him down.

RACHAEL

That’s not exactly what happened...

The boys stop listening and begin to talk to each other.

BILLY

Al, you think it was because she was so good at skateboarding?

AL

They must have seen her and she was so good they picked her. And they took her to get a new skateboard.

STEVE

(to Rachael)

Look, I’m not blaming you for what happened. I should have been in the office. I’m just shocked...

He steps in and begins to comfort Rachael.

RACHAEL

It’s been years since anyone’s been adopted here. What are we going to do?

STEVE

She’d been so sick lately...

BILLY

(to Al)

There’s a skateboard in Shane’s room! Let’s go start practicing and we can get new homes too!

AL

Yeah! I get to go first!

They both run off towards the house with Al in the lead.

BILLY

No! It was my idea... Hey! Wait up.

RACHAEL

(to Jesse)

Oh sweetie... How could I have let this happen to you. I know I’m not supposed to get attached... you tender fragile thing.

STEVE

Rach, I hate to say this but, maybe it was for the best. You know, things haven’t been great here.

INT. ADOPTION AGENCY BEDROOM - DAY

There are two boys and a girl playing in a room when Al and Billy burst in.

AL

You guys, Jesse got adolpted She was so good at skateboarding she got a new parents! We’re going to go practice!

FADE TO BLACK.