Joel's Short Story and Script

OK. I need your help ! ! !

I have always wanted to write, and I think writing Screenplays for Movies would be so much hard work and yet so rewarding.


I am going to post a Short Story, a Poem, and a Mini-Script I wrote, on one condition :

1. You must read all three(3) pieces.
2. You really think about the works, and how you would make each one better (ie.-More or bigger explosions, funny dialogue, more Love, etc...).
3. You must give feedback in the form of a Comment. It doesn't have to be feedback for each one, just your favourite, or all 3...your choice(Each Blog Post offers a Comment section at the end of each article).

Are you ready...cause here we go...

SHORT STORY

The Dirtiest Little Mascot

Growing up in Carnduff, Saskatchewan as a teenager was hard. And that much harder after the whole town thinks you shot the baseball team's mascot...on purpose, I mean.

Honestly, who chooses a Gopher for a team mascot??? I mean Gophers live in the dirt, sleep in the dirt, eat off the dirt, and yes, bath in the dirt. Are you trying to tell the world you have the dirtiest sports team?

Regardless, I was out with my BB Gun and hear some chirping. Not like a whimsical songbird, but more like a squeeze toy being repeatedly jumped on. I move towards the incessant noise and see a Gopher standing up in a cage. I think to myself, "Self, how convenient. This Gopher went and got itself stuck in a cage. Could there be an easier target?"

Back then, we got $0.25 per Gopher tail, and 25 cents could buy a lot of candy.

So I move closer to take a look, and ironically, I trip in...you guessed it...a Gopher hole. As I fell, I grabbed for the nearest thing to me...the trigger of my BB Gun. Ping went the gun, and down I went, like a sack of potatoes. In retrospect, it was not the wisest choice to grab the trigger, because after I get up and dust off the dirt, I turned to face the whole baseball team, who had been in the dugout having a team meeting. Who knew 9 year olds could be so mean?

My shins still hurt. Needless to say, I haven't really liked living in Regina. Seeing that Man-Gopher at every Football game gives me the willies...I think he's waiting for the right time to get revenge for Carnduff's dirtiest little mascot...

Copyright ©2006 Mikeal Joel Patrick Sopp

POEM

Love Poem

Thy Hair, thy lips,

Thy beauteous face,

And all thy studied female grace,

Have won for thee a far off place,

Within this broken breast.

Copyright ©2006 Mikeal Joel Patrick Sopp

MINI-SCRIPT

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A SIX YEAR OLD

FADE IN:
EXT. OPEN WHEAT FIELD

The wind whips the wheat back and forth, like waves on an ocean. BRAIDEN (6 yr old boy) and MEGAN (5 yr old girl), stand amongst the stalks, looking intently at the horizon.

MEGAN

What's the matter, Braiden?

BRAIDEN

I don't know, something feels wrong.

Megan twists her feet into the dirt.

MEGAN

How long do we have to stay here?

BRAIDEN

It's almost time.

MEGAN

But I am tired of waiting.

Braiden raises his eyes to the sky, and notices three figures flying towards them.

BRAIDEN

Okay Megan, what did I tell you?

MEGAN

I don't know. I can't remember.

Braiden shakes his head.

BRAIDEN

Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut and I promise I’ll protect you.

MEGAN

Why don't you tell me what you're waiting for?

BRAIDEN

You're about to find out.

The three figures fly from the horizon, and land lightly on the ground. DAKOTA(55 yr old Warlord), CREE(37 yr old General) and MARCO (26 yr old Mercenary) line up like a firing squad.

DAKOTA

Well, we finally meet, Braiden. It's been a while since I first heard of you. I thought we would have crossed paths before now.

BRAIDEN

Trust me. The pleasure is all yours.

Megan brushes a wisp of hair from her eyes, to view the other two.

CREE

Are you sure he's the one they talk about?

MARCO

He’s definitely the brat.

DAKOTA

He doesn’t look like much to me. I guess we better get this started. Come guys. The Boss is waiting for us…

Dakota closes his eyes, his brows knit with concentration. Cree and Marco adopt the same posture, and a low hum reverberates from them.

MEGAN

Braiden?

BRAIDEN

Concentrate, Megan; hold your ground.

A glow emits from the slits in Dakota’s eyelids, and the air shimmers with power.

Cree’s hair rises from his head and whips around on an invisible wind current, as he opens his mouth.

Marco slowly raises one fist as he brings forth a feral growl from deep inside.

DAKOTA

NOW! FINISH IT!

All three summon the forces built up inside of them; a blast leaves Dakota’s eyes, Cree’s mouth and Marco's palm, simultaneously.

Braiden leans forward into the light, which engulfs Megan and himself.


DAKOTA

Enough!

The power subsides and a billow of dust rushes in to fill the void left by the blasts.

As the orbs in Dakota’s skull dim, a reflection forms in his eyes.

Braiden is, incredibly, still standing exactly where he was before.

Braiden pulls himself up straight, wipes the dust from his face, and looks behind himself. Megan is now lying fifty feet away.

BRAIDEN

Megan, are you ok?

She doesn't move.

CREE

I'm afraid she can't answer you, Braiden.

MARCO

No more talk! Let me kill him.

DAKOTA

Don't underestimate him, you fool.

Braiden is still looking at the now completely still form of his friend, and a look of unadulterated anger ripples across his face and pure fury flashes in his eyes.

BRAIDEN

(incoherently mutters something)

CREE

What did he say?

BRAIDEN

I said, I'm tired of fighting.

Braiden faces the three figures. Dakota recognizes the look in Braiden's eyes.

MARCO

Good, me too, so let's just put this behind us, and let me kill you.

DAKOTA

NO, LOOK OUT!

The warning comes too late, as Braiden lets loose with a blast, which can be seen for miles, and power is registered by the swaying of the hillsides.

There is a complete whiteout, for a full three seconds.

The roar lessens to a screaming symphony, as the shock wave rebounds off the hills.

As the chaos clears and the dust settles, three skeletons are left standing, staring blankly ahead like mannequins in a store window.

Braiden runs to Megan's side to check on her. He tenderly wipes the blood from a cut on her cheek, as he pulls her closer.

BRAIDEN

Megan? Are you ok? Megan, answer me…


Megan is still.


BRAIDEN

I am so sorry, Megan…I promised you that I’d protect you…

Megan’s eyes flutter open; she places her hand on Braiden’s cheek and looks into the eyes of her hero.

MEGAN

I never had any doubts.


FADE TO BLACK

Copyright ©2006 Mikeal Joel Patrick Sopp

Well, what did you think of them??? Well don't just sit there staring blankly at the screen...tell me in the Comments Section at the bottom of the Posting.

Thanks again for your time, and for reading my material...I look forward to your feedback!

Until Next Time I Remain,

Joel Sopp