Whimsy Castle

WHIMSY CASTLE

An original screenplay by Slim Randles

7308 Painted Pony Tr. NW

Albuquerque, NM 87120 USA

(505) 306-6009

homecountry8@gmail.com

EXT. DAYTIME SUBURBS SPRING

We follow a car as it hauls a rented moving trailer, winding its way through middle-class neighborhoods. We hear a man and woman singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” and they’re down to about 40 bottles of beer.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR (P.O.V. THROUGH WINDSHIELD)

The driver, Jack Slattery, is singing. So is his new bride, Holly, and they manage to give each other adoring looks between “bottles of beer.” Jack always seems to be about to laugh and Holly is blond and trim. Both are in their late 30s. Jack is tall and spare.

CUT TO:

INT. BACK SEAT

In the back seat, dressed in black, with his naturally sandy hair dyed an unnatural death black, wearing heavy chains and other death accoutrements, wearing earphones tuned to death music, is Holly’s 12-year-old son, Tobias Williams. He would be considered a handsome boy except for the constant sour look on his face. He cups his hands over the earphones, trying to fight back the intrusion of happiness, and rolls his eyes at the antics of the adults.

Finally, he lifts one ‘phone from one ear.

TOBY

When will we get there?

CUT TO:

INT. FRONT SEAT GLANCING TOWARD THE BACK

HOLLY

Won’t be much longer, Hon.

JACK

Let’s see now ... 40 bottles now, well, I think we’ll be there by 37 bottles.

HOLLY

Not if we stop singing to explain things.

JACK

Right! So ... you think we should skip a bottle since we took time out?

HOLLY

It seems like it was only a one- bottle time out.

JACK

But that was before we began figuring out how many bottles we missed by figuring out how many bottles we missed.

HOLLY

So where do you think we are, bottlewise, right now?

C.U. JACK

JACK (WITH A BIG GRIN) I think we’re here!

CUT TO:

EXT. FROM STREET

We’re behind the car and trailer as they pull to the curb in front of the house. We see the “Just Married” banner on the back of the trailer.

CUT TO:

EXT. FROM FRONT PORCH

The people get out. Jack has a big smile as he opens the door for Holly, then for Toby. He gives a formal bow to them from the waist.

JACK (CONT’D)

Welcome to your new home!

CUT TO:

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM

Jack and Holly are bustling around with boxes, and Toby just sits on the couch, obviously not involved in the unpacking.

Jack tosses him the occasional glance, but gets no response. Finally, Toby stands up.

CUT TO:

C.U. TOBY

TOBY

Look ... where do you want me?

CUT TO:

MED. C.U. JACK

Jack walks over and opens a door.

JACK

This is your room right here, Toby me lad!

CUT TO:

C.U. TOBY

Toby gives Jack a disgusted look.

TOBY

My name is Tobias ... and I’m not your lad.

CUT TO:

MED. C.U. TOBY FROM BEHIND

Toby walks into his room and closes the door.

CUT TO:

JACK AND HOLLY HOLDING BOXES

We see Jack look at Holly and shrug. She smiles patiently at him.

FADE TO:

EXT. CAR AND TRAILER - DAY

It’s later and we see that all three of them are unloading the trailer. We follow Toby as he finds his own boxes and brings them in.

CUT TO:

INT. TOBY’S ROOM

Toby unpacks a special box and takes out a folded American flag in a glass frame, and a photo of a young man in uniform. This was his father. He hangs them, shrinelike, near his bed.

C.U. TOBY’S FACE AS HE STARES AT THE PHOTO.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DAY - MILITARY CEMETERY (SOFT FOCUS FOR MEMORY?)

A funeral is going on. We see mourners by a grave and hear mumbled words of comfort, but we can’t make out the words, as this is a memory and disturbing dream music plays over it.

There is a melange of firing rifle salutes, playing taps and folding the flag. And we see Holly, crying quietly and dressed in black.

Then we hear mumbled words as a soldier presents the folded flag to Holly. She smiles and nods, then looks down and hands the flag to a small boy, dressed in a suit. This was Toby as a four-year-old boy.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. TOBY’S ROOM

C.U. TOBY

There are tears in Toby’s eyes as he looks first at the flag and then at the photo of the young soldier. He turns to look at his own reflection in the mirror, and then back at his father’s picture to see if there’s a resemblance.

CUT TO:

MED. C.U.

We see Toby from behind as he opens the door to his room and starts out into the house, and we look over his shoulder and see Jack and Holly in the kitchen, laughing and kissing.

CUT TO:

C.U. ON TOBY’S FACE

He looks disgusted at what he sees, and turns back to his room, slamming the door.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

Holly (wearing different clothes than the day before) pours coffee. It’s the next morning. She’s cooking breakfast on the stove while Jack and Toby eat.

HOLLY (TO TOBY)

How’s your room working out, Hon?

CUT TO:

C.U. TOBY

TOBY

It’s okay, I guess.

CUT TO:

MED. C.U. JACK AND HOLLY AT TABLE

JACK

Hey ... today you sail uncharted seas, Tobias Williams. New town, new school, new friends. A fresh, clean start.

(MORE)

JACK (CONT'D)

Your whole entire reputation starts right now. Right ... NOW. Man, what an opportunity!

CUT TO:

C.U. TOBY

TOBY (FACETIOUSLY)

Whoopee

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT

We watch Toby from behind as he heads out the door to catch the bus. Jack stands, with his coffee, and looks sad as he watches Toby walk out in the front yard. Holly puts her arms around him from behind.

HOLLY

Give him time, Sweetheart.

Jack nods.

JACK

He sure doesn’t seem to have much fun.

CUT TO:

EXT. VIEW DOWN STREET

A car screeches around the corner and zooms down their street.

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT - KITCHEN

Jack looks out the window at it and shakes his head.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DAY - SCHOOL GROUNDS, BASEBALL DIAMOND

MED. C.U. TOBY ON BENCH

Toby watches quietly as the other kids play.

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT

Two of the boys are talking.

KID ONE Who’s up?

KID TWO

It’s the weird kid’s turn.

They turn and look at Toby.

KID ONE

Hey Williams ... you’re up.

Toby takes a bat and goes up to the plate, tentatively. He is awkward, and strikes out. There are moans from his teammates. Toby goes back and sits on the bench.

CUT TO:

C.U. ON BAT

Toby is tapping the bat on the ground and looking dejected, and then the bat goes out of focus ...

DISSOLVE TO:

WIDE SHOT - MAJOR LEAGUE BALL PARK FULL OF FANS

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT

Toby, wearing a Dodger uniform, walks confidently out of the dugout with his bat. He stands for a minute to knock the dirt out of his cleats, and we hear the crowd roaring for their hero.

The manager walks over to Toby and we can see it’s Toby’s dead father.

CUT TO:

MED. C.U. TOBY AND DAD

DAD (PUTTING A HAND ON TOBY’S

SHOULDER)

We need this one, Son.

TOBY

You got it, Dad.

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT TOBY AT BAT

Toby hits the first pitch with a mighty crack and leisurely starts toward first base while the catcher looks on in awe.

CUT TO:

LONG SHOT - STANDS IN RIGHT FIELD

Fans grab for the home-run ball and the crowd cheers.

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT TOBY

Toby rounds third base and heads home, waving casually to the crowd as he crosses the plate.

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT - DAD AND OTHER PLAYER AS THEY WATCH

DAD

I taught him everything he knows. He’s just like I used to be.

OTHER PLAYER

You know, he might even be better than you used to be.

DAD (SMILING) You’re right ... and I’m in the Hall of Fame!

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. - DAY- SCHOOL BASEBALL DIAMOND

C.U. TOBY’S FACE

Toby smiles with his secret success, then stands and we see him walking away from the baseball diamond.

FADE TO:

EXT. BANK PARKING LOT.

WIDE SHOT

Toby and Jack get out of the car and walk toward the bank.

CUT TO:

INT. BANK - STANDING IN LINE

JACK (WHISPERING TO TOBY) Hey, Toby. Wanna have some fun?

(first 10 pages are above in PDF)