This is my first time trying a script. I am planning on having friends here on my campus film this eventually and make it into a short film or something. It's (so far) about a misanthropic college student who feels no meaning for his life, and goes through every day wondering what he's living for. It's supposed to be a pretentious, thinking-man's kind of script. We'll see how this pans out. Any critiquing is much appreciated, and there will be donations of points, of course.
Fade in:
Int. Dorm Room – Night. Pan around the room slowly.
Travis (Voice Over): It’s hard to concentrate when you feel like you’re running on empty. When you feel like you’ve got no energy left to get through the day, left alone the week.
Travis is sitting at his desk, staring intensely at the laptop screen.
Travis (Voice Over): I feel like I haven’t slept in days. Maybe three. I have no way of knowing for sure. I’ve pretty much given up on any hope of sleep. Much like the sinking ship that I can call reality, these days are shaping into a colorless timeline of nothing.
[/i]Int. Bathroom – Night. Travis is brushing his teeth vigorously, scrubbing hard.
Travis (Voice Over): There doesn’t seem to be a reason for getting up, going to class. Trying to tune our minds to a system of concepts bred for us, our children, and our children’s grandchildren. There’s no rational explanation for why we simply urge and goad each generation after us to follow the same path, do the same thing, and never understand fully why we started such a system in the first place.
[i]Travis puts the toothbrush down, rinses and gargles, spits the water into the sink, and leans forward on his elbows, head bowed. Eyes narrowed.
Travis (Voice Over): We’re all a herd of animals being marched along for fattening, only fit for the table at dinnertime. I fear we’ve lost touch with all that ever was, and always will be. It won’t be long now, before something gives way and shatters entirely. I fear that it will be me that pays for it all in the ending.
Ext. Parking Lot – Day. Tracking shot on Travis as he walks, staring down at the ground.
Mark runs up besides Travis and slaps him on the shoulder, grinning. Travis looks startled and annoyed.
Travis: What?
Mark (Speaking rapidly): Hey man, yeah, did you get the notes for last time? Any chance I can borrow them?
Travis (Half mutters quickly while walking faster): No, no way. Just get them from someone else; I don’t have them.
Following shot of Travis from behind as he keeps walking, leaving Mark standing still. Travis continues through the parking lot, cracking his neck.
[/i]Fade out.
[i]Int. Class Room – Day. A teacher is speaking, his words clear and loud. Travis sits in the back of a classroom, arms folded, looking bored.
Professor (Offscreen): SO, first we had Anaximander, and he came up with the notion of the indeterminate boundless. This form is constantly in motion…
Travis’ eyes start to shut. He tries to fend off sleep, but is failing. The Professor’s words are slowing down, almost incomprehensible. Travis blinks a few times, trying to make sense of the words, but they sound foreign.
Travis (Voice Over): Ever had that time when you feel like there’s no difference between reality and the dream?
Professor’s words speed back up to normal.
Professor (Offscreen): The eternal line between friend and foe fades, and yet, we sit back…
Travis looks confused.
Travis (Voice Over): What the-? Where did that come from? That has nothing to do with this class.
Camera pans to a student sitting next to Travis. Travis watches him as the student takes notes viciously, eyes glancing up at the Professor, and then back down at his work, completely devoted.
Travis (Whispers): What’s he talking about, man?
Student: What?
Travis: What’s he talking about? None of it makes any sense.
Student opens his mouth to answer, but Professor cuts him off.
Professor (Offscreen): Gentlemen in the back, if you’re going to keep talking, then I’m going to ask you to leave. Please refrain from disrupting class, thank you.
Travis rolls his eyes and leans back in his chair, arms folded once again. His eyes start to close again, and he fights to stay awake as the Professor’s rambling continues.
Professor (Offscreen, calmly): Nobody is safe anymore, ladies and gentlemen. We live in an age of fear, and there’s nothing keeping us from sinking into the void.
Travis’ eyes shut tightly, and he falls asleep.
Fade out.
