| General Fiction posted July 23, 2023 |
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It pays to learn to read and write.
The Secretary
by Aiona
Write A Screenplay Contest Winner
INT. FOYER - NIGHT
An ominous DOORBELL chimes. A BUTLER's FEET are seen approaching the mahogany double doors.
ELIZABETH (V.O.)
Let me guess. It's my new secretary?
A door creaks open to reveal a be-spectacled man WILLIAM (20s, black male), dressed in a late-1890s Victorian-era business suit and carrying a briefcase.
ELIZABETH (V.O.)
You can leave, after you see him in.
I won't need you until morning.
INT. PARLOR - NIGHT
In an elegant Victorian-era parlor, William sits primly in an armchair. His briefcase perched on his lap.
ELIZABETH
You might be wondering why I
called you here tonight.
Across from him is ELIZABETH BATHORY (30s, female) who is very-unladylike sprawled across a loveseat in a Victorian-era sleeping gown.
WILLIAM
To transcribe your letters?
Elizabeth laughs. Then she motions to a credenza littered with liquor bottles.
ELIZABETH
Be a dear and pour me a glass, will you?
WILLIAM
Whiskey, straight. Right?
William stands up and goes to the credenza to comply. He sets his briefcase next to the bottles. Elizabeth's eyes narrow as she eyes his handsomely profiled backside.
ELIZABETH
Make yourself one too, if you like.
William pours a glass of whiskey. Then he opens his briefcase and takes out a VIAL OF LIQUID which he surreptitiously pours into Elizabeth's glass.
WILLIAM
I'd rather not.
ELIZABETH
Oh no! You aren't one of
those teetotalers, are you?
William turns around with the finished glass of "whiskey" and smiles.
WILLIAM
I prefer sangria.
ELIZABETH
Is that what fashionable fellows
drink these days?
William holds the glass out to her.
WILLIAM
No, just me, I'm afraid.
Elizabeth reaches to take the glass. William pulls it away from her.
WILLIAM
I'm going to warn you, drinking this
could be hazardous to your health.
Elizabeth snatches the glass from him.
ELIZABETH
That's what they all say. But I know
it's just to keep us from having fun.
She drinks the whole glass in one gulp! Then hands it back to William with a grin.
William sits back down at his armchair and pulls a ledger from his briefcase. He starts writing in it.
CLOSE-UP: William writing in mysterious shorthand script.
ELIZABETH
So you know that new-fangled shorthand, right?
WILLIAM
Yes, ma'am. It's the wave of the future.
ELIZABETH
Well, I'll have you know,
I learned it too.
William pauses and looks up from his writing.
WILLIAM
That's unusual. A woman?
Learning shorthand?
ELIZABETH
And I read your ledger this morning,
during your interview.
William's eyes narrow worriedly.
WILLIAM
You did?
ELIZABETH
So I know, you planned
to drug me tonight.
CLOSE-UP: William's shorthand-script subtitled reads "I have slipped the drug into her drink at 9 hours 34 minutes post-meridian."
ELIZABETH
However, I'll have you know,
your drug has no ill effects on me.
William's worried face changes to a smile.
WILLIAM
And why is that?
ELIZABETH
Because I swallowed the anti-dote,
shortly before my butler led you
into the parlor.
Elizabeth holds up a second vial. She tips it upside down, to show it's empty.
William stands up and goes over to stand next to Elizabeth, who is looking sleepy.
WILLIAM
I'm glad you did your research, m'lady.
ELIZABETH
You are?
WILLIAM
Yes, and so did I. I knew
you had learned shorthand.
ELIZABETH
You did?
WILLIAM
And that you studied chemistry
at the University in Paris.
ELIZABETH
But how?
WILLIAM
There aren't many women who have
been to University like you.
Easy to find out what you learned.
ELIZABETH
So why am I... so... sleepy?
WILLIAM
Because I read YOUR ledger.
FLASHBACK: William perusing Elizabeth's desk, where something is written in German. Subtitles read: "Anti-dote to sleep-inducing drugs."
WILLIAM
And I gave you something
to neutralize your anti-dote.
William produces a third vial, and tips it over to show it's empty too.
ELIZABETH
Oh no.
POV: Elizabeth's view of William goes wonky and fuzzy.
WILLIAM
I'll take my drink of sangria now.
William attacks Elizabeth's neck. SCREAMS are heard.
FADE-TO:
INT. FOYER - NIGHT
William steps out of the doorway. He tips his hat to the camera.
WILLIAM
Thanks for the night-cap, madam.
INT. FOYER - NIGHT
An ominous DOORBELL chimes. A BUTLER's FEET are seen approaching the mahogany double doors.
ELIZABETH (V.O.)
Let me guess. It's my new secretary?
A door creaks open to reveal a be-spectacled man WILLIAM (20s, black male), dressed in a late-1890s Victorian-era business suit and carrying a briefcase.
ELIZABETH (V.O.)
You can leave, after you see him in.
I won't need you until morning.
INT. PARLOR - NIGHT
In an elegant Victorian-era parlor, William sits primly in an armchair. His briefcase perched on his lap.
ELIZABETH
You might be wondering why I
called you here tonight.
Across from him is ELIZABETH BATHORY (30s, female) who is very-unladylike sprawled across a loveseat in a Victorian-era sleeping gown.
WILLIAM
To transcribe your letters?
Elizabeth laughs. Then she motions to a credenza littered with liquor bottles.
ELIZABETH
Be a dear and pour me a glass, will you?
WILLIAM
Whiskey, straight. Right?
William stands up and goes to the credenza to comply. He sets his briefcase next to the bottles. Elizabeth's eyes narrow as she eyes his handsomely profiled backside.
ELIZABETH
Make yourself one too, if you like.
William pours a glass of whiskey. Then he opens his briefcase and takes out a VIAL OF LIQUID which he surreptitiously pours into Elizabeth's glass.
WILLIAM
I'd rather not.
ELIZABETH
Oh no! You aren't one of
those teetotalers, are you?
William turns around with the finished glass of "whiskey" and smiles.
WILLIAM
I prefer sangria.
ELIZABETH
Is that what fashionable fellows
drink these days?
William holds the glass out to her.
WILLIAM
No, just me, I'm afraid.
Elizabeth reaches to take the glass. William pulls it away from her.
WILLIAM
I'm going to warn you, drinking this
could be hazardous to your health.
Elizabeth snatches the glass from him.
ELIZABETH
That's what they all say. But I know
it's just to keep us from having fun.
She drinks the whole glass in one gulp! Then hands it back to William with a grin.
William sits back down at his armchair and pulls a ledger from his briefcase. He starts writing in it.
CLOSE-UP: William writing in mysterious shorthand script.
ELIZABETH
So you know that new-fangled shorthand, right?
WILLIAM
Yes, ma'am. It's the wave of the future.
ELIZABETH
Well, I'll have you know,
I learned it too.
William pauses and looks up from his writing.
WILLIAM
That's unusual. A woman?
Learning shorthand?
ELIZABETH
And I read your ledger this morning,
during your interview.
William's eyes narrow worriedly.
WILLIAM
You did?
ELIZABETH
So I know, you planned
to drug me tonight.
CLOSE-UP: William's shorthand-script subtitled reads "I have slipped the drug into her drink at 9 hours 34 minutes post-meridian."
ELIZABETH
However, I'll have you know,
your drug has no ill effects on me.
William's worried face changes to a smile.
WILLIAM
And why is that?
ELIZABETH
Because I swallowed the anti-dote,
shortly before my butler led you
into the parlor.
Elizabeth holds up a second vial. She tips it upside down, to show it's empty.
William stands up and goes over to stand next to Elizabeth, who is looking sleepy.
WILLIAM
I'm glad you did your research, m'lady.
ELIZABETH
You are?
WILLIAM
Yes, and so did I. I knew
you had learned shorthand.
ELIZABETH
You did?
WILLIAM
And that you studied chemistry
at the University in Paris.
ELIZABETH
But how?
WILLIAM
There aren't many women who have
been to University like you.
Easy to find out what you learned.
ELIZABETH
So why am I... so... sleepy?
WILLIAM
Because I read YOUR ledger.
FLASHBACK: William perusing Elizabeth's desk, where something is written in German. Subtitles read: "Anti-dote to sleep-inducing drugs."
WILLIAM
And I gave you something
to neutralize your anti-dote.
William produces a third vial, and tips it over to show it's empty too.
ELIZABETH
Oh no.
POV: Elizabeth's view of William goes wonky and fuzzy.
WILLIAM
I'll take my drink of sangria now.
William attacks Elizabeth's neck. SCREAMS are heard.
FADE-TO:
INT. FOYER - NIGHT
William steps out of the doorway. He tips his hat to the camera.
WILLIAM
Thanks for the night-cap, madam.
Write A Screenplay Contest Winner |
Thank you to meg119 for letting FanStory authors use this lovely image "A Fountain Pen Nib" with their writing.
This script was written to be shot low-budget.
1. Two locations: FOYER, PARLOR
2. Shot at night, interior location, so that daylight-causing shadow-changes are not an issue.
3. Two actors. (Butler's feet can be anyone. Even one of the other two actors.)
4. Minimal props. No special effects.
The only budget concerns are really 1) the actors and writers strike 2) period costuming (but that was the specific request of the actor).
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. This script was written to be shot low-budget.
1. Two locations: FOYER, PARLOR
2. Shot at night, interior location, so that daylight-causing shadow-changes are not an issue.
3. Two actors. (Butler's feet can be anyone. Even one of the other two actors.)
4. Minimal props. No special effects.
The only budget concerns are really 1) the actors and writers strike 2) period costuming (but that was the specific request of the actor).
Artwork by meg119 at FanArtReview.com
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