"THE CELLAR"

A short screenplay

by

Steven JC Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT © STEVEN JC JOHNSON 2012.

 

THIS SCREENPLAY MAY NOT BE USED

OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS

WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR

 

 

FADE IN:

1. int. cellar - day

We see a dusty, dim cellar. Light comes from a single window at ground level. The camera moves slowly. We see a table, dusty and rickety, a chest of drawers, equally dilapidated, and a single, wooden chair.

From outside, we hear SCREAMING and the sounds of panicked masses RUNNING. Something blocks the light for a moment and we hear a thundering RUMBLE which shakes the camera.

Suddenly, the cellar door is flung open and two men dive inside. One of them slams the door and gasps for air, leaning against the door. We will find out they are PETE and MAX.

edd

What’s going on out there?

Pete has collapsed onto the old chair, his head buried in his hands.

pete

I don’t know. It’s... I don’t know.

Max looks around, gauging the room. He sees the chest of drawers.

max

Give us a hand with this, mate.

Pete helps Max push the drawers in front of the door. We watch, as though through somebody else’s eyes. They sink to the floor, both covered with dust and grime.

Max

(holding out his hand)

Max.

Pete smiles and takes the hand, shaking it firmly.

Pete

Pete. Pete Townsend. Yeah, I know. Not that one.

We hear more TERRIBLE SOUNDS from outside and the room rumbles again.

 

max

I don’t get it. I... I was just going to the shop for the paper and, suddenly, all hell breaks loose.

We see a FLASH-CUT of Max running away from something. The camera shakes violently, so we cannot see what is happening.

Pete

(nodding tiredly)

Yeah. Same here. Our lass sent me out for milk and then these things appear out of bloody thin air and I’m running like a bastard.

We see a FLASH-CUT of Pete gawping at something in the distance and then terror on his face and then he runs out of frame as a DEEP RUMBLE is heard.

max

I hope Nicola and the kids are okay. (he shakes his head) We were supposed to be going out today. A trip to the zoo, you know? I said, I’ll just get the paper. And then...

He raises his hands to the universe.

pete

We have to get out of here and get home.

Max nods, but holds Pete’s arm as his new friend rises. He points to the window as we hear more ANARCHY outside. The cellar RUMBLES again, as though something massive walks by.

max

If we go out there now, we won’t stand a chance.

Pete nods glumly and sinks back down. Both men stare into the unseeable distance as we

dissolve to

 

 

2. int. cellar - night

A low wattage bulb illuminates the room with dark, deep shadows.

Pete paces back and forth. Max watches him from the chair. There are still the sounds of CHAOS outside.

max

Do you really think we should have that light on?

pete

(ignoring Max’s question)

We’ve been down here for fuckin’ hours, man!

Max crosses to the window and tries to peer outside, but they are too dirty and the high angle makes seeing anything impossible.

max

I think it’s moving on.

pete

Then we can leave!

Max thinks and then sighs.

max

I think... yeah... let’s get the hell out of here.

They both head for the door, when suddenly, it RATTLES furiously and we hear GROWLING and SNARLING beyond.

max

Fuck me!

They back away and the NOISES subside.

pete

They got us trapped in here. They’ve been out there the whole fucking time!

max

Why? Why would they just keep us in here? Why don’t they just smash the door in and come get us?

pete

I don’t fuckin’ know, do I? Unless...

He looks around the room, into the impenetrable, shadowy recesses of the cellar. Something stirs, unseen, yet perceptible.

pete

(squinting into the darkness)

Hello? Is somebody back there?

He turns to Max.

pete (cont’d)

You got a lighter or something, mate?

Max fishes into his jeans pocket and pulls out a cheap, plastic cigarette lighter. He tosses it to Pete, smiling thinly.

max

Believe it or not, I quit yesterday.

Pete flicks on the lighter and edges towards the darkest corner of the cellar.

pete

Hello?

max

Pete, mate. I don’t think anything’s there. We’ve been down here for hours. We’d have known if there was anybody else down here with us.

Pete flicks off the lighter and turns back to Max.

pete

Yeah. But I was sure I...

Suddenly, something unseen pulls him back into the shadows. We hear SRCEAMING and SNARLING. There is a terrible CRUNCHING and sound of flesh TEARING.

max

PETE!

As Max watches, blood spreads into the pool of light from the ceiling bulb. Max backs to the door and the SCREECHING and GROWLING from beyond starts again.

We CUT to the P.O.V. of Pete’s assailant. It emerges from the shadows and we approach Max, who stares at us with terror in his eyes.

Then we rush forward. Max screams and we

CUT TO BLACK.

 

the end

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT © STEVEN JC JOHNSON 2012.

 

THIS SCREENPLAY MAY NOT BE USED

OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS

WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR

 

Back to SHort Screenplays

MERCURY RAPIDS HOME