Embedded Files
The Beast's Shadow
TV film script By C.J.Platt
Copyright Colin James Platt 2014
Characters
MARY WILSON:
DAVE JOYCE: (THE BEAST)
JOHN WILSON: (SON)
GERALD CLAYMORE: (COWARD)
STRANGER:
CYCLIST:
JENNIFER JAMESON: (FRIEND)
Background:
Mary Wilson makes an error of judgment when walking home alone with troubling consequences.
SCENE 1: SETTING: LOCAL WOOD AT NIGHT.
MARY WILSON:
Why did I come this way? All I had to do was cut through the field at Johnson’s corner. Now look at me. Wet through and injured. Stupid me! I should have had more sense than take the long way round at this time of night. It was now ten thirty and dark. My ankle hurts so much after I went over on it. I can’t understand why that string was tied to the trees. It was as if someone was trying to trip me up. I can’t go back and I can’t go forward! I would make a phone call if I could find it. Stupid me! I’m getting so forgetful lately. I know someone will eventually come this way but whom? What if it is a bad person! The local paper said that there had been a series of break-ins recently. I’m getting paranoid! No self-respecting burglar would be in the wilds tonight; they would be casing houses.
John will know there is something wrong when he gets home, also he would be alerted when he tries to contact me by phone. All I have to do is wait, but for how long?
What was that! My God, it sounded like a wolf! Surely it is only a dog. OK, I have to get myself together.
BEAST: (Hiding behind a tree wearing a wolf mask)
Maaaary… Maaaary!
MARY:
My God! Who was that?
BEAST:
They call me the Beast.
MARY:
What in hell do you want, Dave?
BEAST:
It isn’t Dave. It’s the Beast.
MARY:
I know very well who it is, and if you keep this stupid pretense up, I will report you to the sheriff again. So stop annoying people.
BEAST:
I knew it was you who reported me. All I did was a small Halloween trick and you had to report me.
MARY:
Now listen hear, Dave. I am tired and hungry, so either go away or help me get back home.
BEAST:
I will help you, Maaary. I will help you to die!
MARY:
Have you gone completely mad this time? Did the stay in the Institution not help you at all?
BEAST:
That’s another thing. You completely screwed me up suggesting that place simply because your father was the former administrator. You bitch!
MARY:
Now listen hear, David Joyce. If you think you can intimidate me you have picked the wrong person.
BEAST:
I’m going to cut you into little bits. How do you like that?
MARY:
You’re going to do nothing of the kind. I’ll tell you what you are going to do. You are going to take that stupid mask off and go for help. I can see you behind that tree. You little shit!
BEAST:
That does it. I’m going to enjoy making you suffer, Maaary.
MARY:
If you try to come near me, I will break your arm, I’ve been learning Karate.
BEAST:
I didn’t know that. What grade are you?
MARY:
I’m a red-belt.
BEAST:
That’s nothing to brag about.
MARY:
Oh really! What would you know, you’re only 130 pounds wet through!
BEAST:
I have a hunters knife here, Maaary. It can cut tin sheet!
MARY:
Yes, I heard you nearly cut your index finger off the other week, you stupid freak.
BEAST:
That was an accident!
MARY: (See’s a cyclist coming)
Thank God you came along. Can you help me? There is a man over there with a mask on.
CYCLIST: (Looking around nervously)
What? Are you sure?
MARY:
Yes, he ran into that thicket over there. Can you help me get back to town?
CYCLIST: (Starting to panic)
Err, I don’t know. Maybe it would be better if I went for help?
MARY:
No, don’t leave me! He says he will kill me!
CYCLIST: (No reply and peddling away very fast)
MARY:
You bloody bastard! May God have mercy on you?
BEAST:
May God have mercy on you, Maaary.
MARY:
If you call me Maaary once more, I’ll shove that knife up your backside!
BEAST:
Why don’t you admit it, you’re scared shitless. I know you don’t have your phone. Why don’t you ask me how? Maaary.
MARY:
You little creep. Did you steal my phone?
BEAST:
Yes, I broke in your house last night. I also had a shit in your wardrobe! Ha, Ha.
MARY:
You complete bastard!
BEAST:
I’m going to cut off you’re nipples first, Maaary.
MARY: (Notices a man approaching on foot)
Thank God you came along, Gerald. Will you help me please?
GERALD CLAYMORE: (COWARD)
What’s wrong, Mary?
MARY:
Dave Joyce is over there with a wolf mask on. He says he will kill me!
GERALD:
What? I thought he was in the mad-house.
Beast:
Now I’m going to have to kill you both! Oh shit, bloody-hell!
MARY:
What’s wrong?
BEAST:
I just cut myself.
MARY:
You bloody idiot!
GERALD:
I just shit myself.
MARY:
God help us.
SCENE 2: David Joyce (The Beast) is hiding behind a tree with a wolf mask on)
BEAST:
I stabbed myself in the leg!
MARY:
You idiot, do you want me to have a look?
BEAST:
No, stay back both of you, especially you, Gerald, you shitty bastard.
GERALD:
I couldn’t help shitting myself. You’re the one threatening us with a bloody knife.
MARY:
OK. This has gone far enough! David Joyce, you can stop right now and give yourself up to the police, or you can bleed to death. Which is it to be?
BEAST:
I don’t care anymore. When I kill you both, I will go on the rampage and make a bloody reputation for myself that will never be forgotten.
MARY:
You’ve already done that with streaking across the catholic girl’s school playing field, two years ago!
BEAST:
I just wanted to make a point that I wouldn’t be pushed around, and that I had the balls.
GERALD:
Oh, you had the balls all right, but it was the other bit you were short of.
BEAST:
That does it, you will be tortured for that!
MARY:
David, please try to understand that you are sick in the head. How did you manage to convince the authorities to let you out of the asylum early?
BEAST:
It wasn’t early, I did my time.
MARY:
Really?
BEAST:
Do you know something, the people in there didn’t even acknowledge me? Do you know why? Because I can make myself invisible!
GERALD:
Come to think of it, I never really noticed you, till now.
BEAST:
Well I can notice you. You shitty arsed bastard.
MARY:
Gerald can you please go and clean yourself up?
BEAST:
No, he stays as he is. He is a shitty arse in life and he will be one in death.
GERALD:
You unfeeling bastard.
BEAST:
And who is to blame for that?
MARY:
Well, I suppose you are, if you can make yourself invisible?
BEAST:
I can’t help it, I want to be noticed, but with my gift of invisibility I don’t realize that sometimes I am invisible. Do you know, I haven’t told anyone this before but I am thinking of changing my name from the Beast to the Shadow!
MARY:
David, honey, please give it up, I am tired and hungry and my son will be coming along shortly.
BEAST:
He is another who will be slaughtered. I can’t forget how he humiliated me in the school library.
MARY:
You were walking about in the nude. What was he supposed to do?
BEAST:
He wrapped duct tape around my genitals. I couldn’t piss right for days! All he had to do was realize I was invisible.
GERALD: (Beginning to laugh)
BEAST:
Right, that does it, you smelly bastard.
MARY:
David, please take the wolf mask off and come out. You look like werewolf gone wrong.
BEAST:
I’ll show you all when I turn into the shadow. I will be able to go anywhere and do anything.
Has anyone got a handkerchief, I’m still bleeding?
MARY:
I can hear a car coming! Thank God. (Station wagon pulls up)
MARY:
Can you help us, we are trying to get away from a madman?
STRANGER:
What, Where?
MARY:
He’s over there behind the tree, with a wolf mask on.
BEAST: (Jumps into the truck and grabs a twelve bore pump action shotgun)
OK, now I have something that will help me in my crusade to be noticed.
STRANGER:
Who the hell are you?
BEAST:
I’m known as the beast, but I will soon be the shadow.
STRANGER:
Who the hell is this nutcase?
MARY:
Please don’t provoke him, he has a gun.
STRANGER:
Listen here, bird-brain, if you don’t put my gun back I will beat you over the head with it.
BEAST:
I am the beast, and I will blow you away.
STRANGER:
I would like to see you try. There’s no ammo in it.
BEAST: (Trying to cock the weapon)
To hell with it.
STRANGER:
What the hell is that smell?
MARY:
Gerald over there had an accident.
STRANGER : (Looking at Gerald with contempt)
GERALD:
I couldn’t help it, blame that bastard over there, he tried to kill us.
STRANGER:
He doesn’t look like he could kill a mouse to me.
MARY:
Let’s all calm down. We can now get back to town in the truck.
BEAST: (Sticks his knife into the tires of the truck)
STRANGER:
You bloody little arse wipe!
BEAST:
Now try to get away. You are all doomed, Ha. (Dave steps back onto a snake which bites him)
Bloody bastards, I’ve been bitten!
STRANGER:
Serves you right, you little shit bag.
GERALD:
I’ve just crapped my pants again!
MARY:
God help us!
To be continued.
The story so far:
The Beast has been bitten by a snake and also accidentally stabbed himself.
SCENE 3:
BEAST:
Bloody hell, I’m dying!
MARY:
Where‘s the snake, Is it dead?
Stranger:
It serves him right, the little bastard.
Gerald:
Can I go to clean myself up, Mr. Wolf-man?
BEAST: (sitting on a log)
You can go to hell, for all I care.
MARY:
David, you may be in danger. That snake could be dangerous?
BEAST:
It will be OK. Don’t forget, I have the ability to make myself invisible, so the poison won’t hurt me.
STRANGER:
Is this lunatic, for real?
MARY:
He is sick. Please have some charity?
STRANGER:
If I had some ammo, I would blow his legs off, the crazy bastard.
GERALD:
I feel unwell.
STRANGER:
You look unwell, why don’t you go and sit down in the river, you shitty arse.
MARY: (to stranger)
Are you drunk?
STRANGER:
So what?
MARY:
You are in charge of a vehicle, that’s what?
STRANGER:
You talk to me of laws, when we have a raving psychopath in our midst?
BEAST: (Creeps up behind and stabs the stranger in the backside)
STRANGER:
Argh! You bastard, I’ll kill you.
BEAST:
Stand back, or I’ll stab you again!
MARY:
My God, is it bad?
STRANGER:
He stabbed me in the arse-hole! I’m going to shove that mask down his throat.
BEAST:
You’ll have to find me first, because as from this moment, I am the-Shadow.
STRANGER:
You dumb bastard, I ‘m going to break your neck!
MARY:
Calm down, and let me look at your bottom.
STRANGER:
I’m maimed for life. Let me at the little shit, I’ll kill him.
BEAST: (Runs off into the wood)
I’ll be back, you are all doomed.
MARY:
We can now get back to town in the truck, will it drive without tires?
STRANGER: (Feeling his scrotum)
My truck will be ruined when we get to town. I was going to buy some equipment for my farm.
Now look at me! I have been mutilated by that psychopath out there. Where’s my wallet?
That bloody bastard has stolen my wallet.
MARY:
Are you sure, we don’t want to jump to conclusions.
STRANGER:
I’ll jump on his head never mind anything else.
GERALD:
Has everyone forgotten about me? I am really starting to seize up!
STRANGER: (Looking around)
Who the hell is bothered about you? Why don’t you go and jump off a cliff you smelly bastard.
Where’s my gun? That bastard has also stolen my shotgun!
MARY:
Well at least he won’t hurt anyone with it. There is no ammo right?
BEAST:
Now I have you all at my mercy. The stranger is wounded, Mary is unable to walk and Gerald is stuck fast in his own shit. I am going to enjoy making you all pay for the hurt and humiliation you have shown me. Don’t forget, I am now the Shadow, and can endure anything.
(They hear an explosion in the nearby thicket)
BEAST:
Can anyone help me, I just shot myself!
MARY:
What a complete fool.
GERALD:
I’m beginning to feel ill.
To be continued.
Story so far:
The Beast has stabbed and shot himself accidentally, and has also been bitten by a snake.
SCENE 4:
Beast:
I think I shot my thumb off!
MARY:
You poor tortured soul.
STRANGER:
I’m coming to get my gun.
BEAST:
I am now the Shadow so you won’t be able to find me.
STRANGER:
I can see you behind that rock, you stupid idiot.
BEAST/ SHADOW:
That’s not me. That is the Beast, I am somewhere else!
MARY:
I think he is starting to hallucinate.
GERALD:
I wish he would die, then I could get home to have a bath.
MARY:
Please, Gerald, have some compassion, all you have done is crap your pants.
GERALD:
I don’t care; he tried to kill us all.
STRANGER:
If you could both create a diversion, I could sneak up on him and slit his throat!
MARY:
He is ill, can’t you see that?
STRANGER:
He is a raving lunatic! He stabbed me in the arsehole, and took my wallet and my shotgun.
GERALD:
If I had my way, I would bury him in shit.
STRANGER:
And you should know, eh?
MARY:
Let us all calm down. (A car approaches)
Thank God, it’s my friend, Jennifer.
JENNIFER:
What are you doing out here, at this time?
MARY: (Pointing to a section of wood)
We are trying to get away from David Joyce, he is somewhere in that wooded area.
JENNIFER:
Really, I thought he was in the loony-bin.
STRANGER:
He will be in his grave, when I get hold of him.
JENNIFER:
Why? What did he do?
GERALD:
He made me crap myself!
STRANGER:
Who the hell’s bothered about you! I have been stabbed in my arse.
MARY:
And I have a twisted ankle. We have to get away from here before he comes back. Have you got a phone?
JENNIFER:
No, I forgot it.
(“The Shadow” alias “The Beast” has crept up behind the car and has stabbed the tires.)
JENNIFER:
Hurry and get in. What’s that noise?
STRANGER:
That bloody little bastard, has stabbed your tires.
JENNIFER:
What? I only just bought them!
SHADOW/ BEAST: (jumps out from behind a tree and is stood behind Jennifer’s car.)
Finally I have you all in my sights; you will all suffer a slow and painful death.
Mary:
My God, has he got more ammo?
STRANGER:
No, he’s bluffing! I checked the gun before, but I must have missed the one round that he shot himself with.
GERALD:
I’m starting to feel unwell in my stomach again!
STRANGER:
Bloody-hell, no, this is a nightmare! Look here, you raving nut-case, either get it over with or give up!
But whatever you do, kill him first. (Pointing to Gerald)
GERALD:
You uncaring bastard, I’m glad he stabbed you in the arse.
MARY:
Please let us all calm down.
JENNIFER: (Starting to panic)
I don’t know what to do. I feel unwell.
SHADOW/ BEAST: (Laughing)
At last, my time of recognition has come.
JENNIFER: (Tries to put the car into gear but she has put it into reverse and accelerates over the Beast/Shadow breaking both his legs.)
STRANGER:
Jump out and I will run over his head.
MARY:
Please help him, he is injured.
BEAST/SHADOW:
I feel hurt but I can’t understand why?
JENNIFER:
My God, is he OK?
MARY:
I think so but you never know with accidents like this.
THE BEAST/SHADOW: (Lying face up with the wolf mask still on.)
You will all pay for this when I get up.
STRANGER:
Don’t risk it, run over him again.
MARY: (Looking up the road.)
I see my son’s car coming, thank God!
JOHN WISON: (Looking confused.)
Where have you been, I’ve been phoning you but all I got was heavy breathing and wolf sounds!
STRANGER: (Pointing to the Beast/Shadow.)
Blame this bastard.
JOHN WILSON:
Is that Dave Joyce?
BEAST/SHADOW:
You just ran over my hand you careless shit. But fortunately I don’t feel pain now.
JOHN WILSON:
Is he for real?
MARY:
I feel sorry for him he’s been through so much. Phone the emergency services John.
GERALD:
What’s that noise?
STRANGER:
I thought it was you.
MARY:
He just stabbed your tire, John!
JOHN WILSON:
The freak! I’m phoning the police.
THE BEAST/SHADOW:
You are all doomed.
STRANGER:
Take that bloody knife off him, someone.
The End.
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?
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