'Hell Is Around the Corner,' - Final draft script

FADE IN ON

EXTREME CLOSE UP of a pair of BLOODY BLACK HANDS.

(NOTE: The atmosphere here should most likely be surreal and dreamlike).

CUT TO

A PAIR OF FEET IN SHINING BLACK LEATHER BOOTS walks away and OUT of FRAME.

HOLD on vacant shot of STREET for a moment or two, then SLOWLY PAN to the RIGHT to reveal a pair of LIMP LEGS (more than likely a person's body) lying on the ground.

In MID PAN we CUT TO the film's TITLE CARD.

A FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT brings us to

THE INTERIOR OF A YOUNG BOY'S (DAMMY'S) BEDROOM.

He is in bed, on the phone, with his friend, who is not heard.

(NOTE: During his conversation of his friend, we get brief shots of items around his rooms to connote a sense of naivety and youthfulness, such as a Willy Wonka DVD, a stack of comic books, and a tall pile of school books).

DAMMY
(into phone)
Yo, man, what's up, you alright? What's the plan for today?
(beat)
I don't even know, man.
(beat)
We could hit up Westfields if you like. I think they've got sales on?
(beat)
Yeah, alright, then. I'll see you in a bit.

We are then presented with BRIEF SHOTS of Dammy getting ready and putting on ARTICLES OF CLOTHING (i.e., baseball cap, coat, shoes, etc).

CUT TO

ESTABLISHING SHOT of Dammy's HOUSE.

Dammy is seen exiting his house and beginning his walk.

CUT TO

A TRACKING CLOSE UP shot of Dammy's face as we hear his INTERIOR MONOLOGUE:

DAMMY
(voice-over)
Bloody hell, what a great day! Gonna get my Vans...oh yeah! Saw a top in H&M, need to get that, too. Only £25 pounds, I think. Absolute bargain!
(beat)
Bit grey, this weather, isn't it? I hope it doesn't rain. Days like these really bring out the worst in people.

CUT TO

OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT of Dammy.

In the distance, we see another young man (Steven), a man who is taller and a bit more stocky, wearing a long black jakcet and a pair of leather gloves. He is walking in a paranoid, frenzied shuffle.

CUT TO

TWO SHOT of both Dammy and Steven BUMPING in to one another.

(NOTE: This shot is presented to us in slow motion to add emphasis to the action).

CUT TO

EXTREME CLOSE UP of Steven's WALLET dropping out of his pocket. It FLIPS OPEN and we are given a brief, teasing look into the inside of it. We see what appears to be bloody fingerprints all over the cards and the inside leather money slip.

(NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS TO BE SHOT AS WRITTEN - Dammy is positioned to the LEFT of FRAME. He is shown PICKING UP the wallet. On the RIGHT of Dammy, in the background, is Steven, watching him looking at the wallet.

CUT TO

CLOSE UP of a Dammy's face as he sees, in horror and confusion, the bloody sight.

DAMMY
(interior monologue)

What is this? Blood? Is this blood?

Steven slowly approaches Dammy, appearing more and more in focus.

Steven extends his hand and SLAMS it down on Dammy's shoulder.

Dammy suddenly jerks around in FEAR AND PANIC:

STEVEN
(coldly)
That's my wallet you've got there.

CUT TO

TIGHT TWO SHOT as

Both look down at the wallet, then stare up at each other. Dammy looks at Steven for a moment.

CUT TO

DAMMY'S POINT OF VIEW

He sees a dab of red blood in amongst the vast sea of black leather.

Dammy and Steven stare up at each other, Dammy fearfully. Steven looks at him seriously.

DAMMY
(unsure, trying to contain his panic)
Oh, sorry, sorry! Here!
(shoving the wallet into his hand)
Take it! It's yours! I found it on the floor!

Once Dammy gives back the wallet, they trade ONE FINAL GLANCE, before Dammy turns and exits.

CAMERA STAYS POSITIONED BESIDE STEVEN. He watches Dammy walk away into the distance.

CUT TO

A CLOSE UP TRACKING SHOT of Dammy's face.

DAMMY
(interior monologue)
He was bloody strange! The way he looked at me, it was like he wanted to kill me! Argh, he gives me the creeps!
(beat)
...And that blood! That blood! What was with that blood?
(beat)
Nah, forget it. Out of sight, out of mind. Just put it out of mind.

CUT TO

"THE TRAIL OF DEATH."

On the approach to his friend's house, Dammy notices the following:

A) A DEAD PLANT.

B) THE FRONT PAGE OF A NEWSPAPER DETAILING MANY DEATHS/A VERY FAMOUS HISTORICAL DEATH.

C) A DEAD ANIMAL.

These shots are complemented with CLOSE UPS of Dammy staring at them in bewilderment.

CUT TO

Dammy turns the corner and begins to walk down a long, secluded alleyway/side street. The atmosphere here is very dark and chilling. There is hardly a sound, except for Dammy’s worried breathing and the quiet hubbub from the main street.

DAMMY
(interior monologue)
Just a couple more minutes. You’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Just calm down.

As he walks down the alley, he sees, in the distance, a man, dressed in a black coat, walking at a slow, casual pace. As Dammy gets nearer and nearer, he/we begin to consider whether it is Steven, the man from the previous scene:

Dammy’s eyes light up with panic:

DAMMY
(interior monologue)
Is that him? Is that HIM?! Oh, my God!
(beat)
No no no no no it’s not possible it’s not possibly it’s not him!

From Dammy’s P.O.V., we get closer and closer to the figure in the distance until there is absolutely no denying that it is him.

DAMMY
(interior monologue)
Oh my god oh my god what does he want what does he want???

Dammy and Steven meet in the middle of the road. Dammy, scared out of his wits, says, stuttering:

DAMMY
La-listen, I-I, uh, I don’t want any...

Steven slow pulls something from out of his pocket – a pair of keys. He holds them forward, offering them to Dammy.

STEVEN
(in a slow, deliberate fashion)
You dropped your keys, mate.
(putting them in his hand)
There you go. Always believed in being the Good Samaritan, me.

Dammy breathes an immense sigh of relief.

DAMMY
Phew! Thank God!
(beat, laughs)
You know, for a second there, you really frightened me...

STEVEN
It’s alright, mate. No harm done.
They both look at each other.

DAMMY
(putting his hand on his shoulder)
Thank you...!

From Dammy’s P.O.V., we see Steven quickly glance at his hand on his shoulder, then slowly look up at him, squarely in the face.

He smiles, very faintly, before QUICKLY BRANDISHING A HAMMER AND SMASHING DAMMY OVER THE HEAD WITH IT!

CUT TO BLACK!

THE END