"Lightning Before Death" script

A Lightning Before Death

Script.

By Joel Pickard and Joe Sandford 

And Xav Sinden. 

Cast:

MR X – Tats Nyazika

Bar Maid – Skye Radford

Matt – Cameron 

Libby – Charlie O’Brien 

Alex – Ali Henderson 

Opening sequence – Train track – Dusk – ‘Ecstasy of Gold.’

Blackout, we hear a shovel sound dragging across the ground. We fade up to ‘MR X’ dragging a shovel behind him. He’s on a train track; he has an eerie, but vacant look on his face, although inside he is determined. 

We cut to the group walking through a field, they look frightened but ready. 

Mr X spots the group in a field adjacent to him,

He exits the train track and starts walking across the field. 

They are now walking towards each other in a field, MR X walking considerably slower than the group. 

Once they get close enough they eventually come to a stop. 

The title appears in-between the two bodies. 

Scene 1 – Pub – Lunch – ‘Why so serious?’

A deafening sound is cut short by a pint of beer being put down on the table; we cut to a shot of the group chatting around a table.

Matt 

(Excitedly) FUCK.

Libby  

Holy shit, that was close man. 

(Alex leans back in his chair sighing in relief)

I can’t believe we actually did it!

Alex 

(Stressed) Can we all agree never to do that again?

Matt 

Sure 

Alex 

(Panicking) Is it safe? Where is it?

Matt

(Reassuringly) It’s in the bag don’t worry. 

Libby 

What are we doing now? 

Alex 

(Nervous) Did anyone see us? 

Matt

(Looks at Alex) No, We’re fine. (Looks at Libby) just laying low for a bit I guess. 

Alex  

What about that guy though?

Matt

(Confused) What guy? 

Bar Maid puts two beers down, one for Libby, one for Matt, and an orange juice for Alex.

Cheers. 

Alex 

The guy with that shovel. 

Libby

He wasn’t part of it he was just there. 

Alex

He looked pretty weird though

Matt 

Calm down its fine.

Libby 

How much do you think we’ll get for it? 

(We hear/see a door opening in the distance, out of focus, the group carries on talking) 

Matt 

No idea but it better be worth it 

Alex 

It will, I’ve done the research. 

Matt

I’d hardly call looking it up on Wiki leaks ‘research’. 

Alex 

‘Wiki leaks’ is a very reliable source of information. 

Matt

So this entire operation is resting upon Alex reading half of its bloody wiki leaks page and then getting distracted by hot girls looking for some fun in his area. 

(The man is close to the table; he’s dragging a shovel behind him. He sits down. All is silent.) 

Mr X  

Have you ever heard the story of jack and the beanstalk? 

(The group is silent, they recognise the man) 

Well? have you? It’s a pretty simple question. 

Alex 

Well uh.. 

Mr X

(Interrupting) Now I know I have, but I don’t like it very much, I have my own version that I think I like better. 

(He’s smiling uncontrollably)

So the story starts with this little scamp

(He takes the orange juice from Alex, drinks the whole glass and put it back on the coaster.) 

Jack. 

(The trio start looking at each other in fear.) 

Now, you see, Jack doesn’t have much regard for other peoples things, decides that he should trade his poor mothers cow for some pesky beans. Fast-forward a little and we have this giant beanstalk, which this little scamp (anger) decides to use to steal from the big scary giant. He does this for some time until, now this is where my story changes a little bit, the giant catches him, he tries to escape down the beanstalk but the giant can easily reach down and grab him before its too late. The giant decides to kill the boy,

(He grabs a pencil from the waitress’ ear. Holds it between his hands) 

So he places him between his two hands,

(Snaps the pencil)

 And he breaks him. 

(Matt looks nervous, but starts to get frustrated.)

Matt 

Come on lets go guys 

(They all get up abruptly and walk out, as they do ‘Mr X’ starts chanting) 

MR X

FEE FI FO FUM. 

(MR X, turns around, gets up and walks over to the bar)

Bar Maid 

What was all that about? 

(MR X, stares at the girl, he looks back down into an empty glass on the bar.) 

Were you with them? Cos I’m probably going to need someone to pay for that. 

(He stares at her demonically)

I think one of them comes in here often so I can… 

(A phone rings, they both look at each other, and suspense builds. She breaks the stare to answer the phone. He throws a 50-pound note on to the bar. He gets up and walks off.) 

Ok thanks? 

(Fade to black) 

Scene 2 - Running away - Street - ‘Can’t stop instrumental, red hot chilli peppers’  

(Music begins as we hear footsteps of running; we then cut to Libby’s face whilst running. All three people are running away as fast as possible, they are panicking but determined. They run into a barn.)

Scene 3 - In the barn  - music unknown

Libby 

Shit, shit what are we gonna do. 

Alex 

We’re screwed, oh god. 

Matt 

You know what, fuck this I’m done, we can’t just keep running away from this guy forever.

Libby

Well what do you suppose we do? he’s a psycho.

Matt

I see a whole group of my friends, here in defiance of massacre. We have come to live as free men, and free men we are.

Libby 

And women.

Matt

What will we do without freedom? Will you fight? Fight and you will die, run and you will live at least awhile. Would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies,

that they may take our lives…

Alex 

Are you quoting brave heart? 

Matt

So? Shut up. BUT THEY WILL NEVER

Alex

It’s not even that relevant. 

Matt

Oh my god let me do this, Where was I? Urgh lets just go. 

(They begin to kit up with whatever armour/weapons they have in the barn or in their rucksacks.) 

Scene 4 - final scene - ‘Ecstasy of Gold’ - field.

Back at the field, the group is staring down at ‘MR X’. They look at one another as they prepare for a fight. ‘MR X’ smiles, it turns into a light chuckle. We see him move forward. 

And then we fade the fuck out.