Short screenplays can be fun to write. They don’t take much time because you can decide how much you want to show, or how deeply you want to dive into each character’s attributes, traits, and attitudes.
There’s no need for an in-depth plot, so you can make it as comical, fanciful, or impossible as you like.
Short subjects can be as lengthy or brief as you feel is necessary. The “screenplay” below would be less than a minute of entertainment if made into an actual “movie”.
By the way, archery can be a fun sport, but how much more fun would it be if you got dressed up for the occasion?
EXT.—DAY—FIELD
A tree with an arrow already in it gets struck by another arrow. Across the open space of a forest clearing, a man in blue rags LAUGHS. In his hand is a wooden bow. Next to him, a man in yellowish-brown rags holds a metal bow. As this one speaks, his hands are animated, the metal bow in his hand is throttled up and down with every word.
SPIDER
You can’t possibly hit the target behind a tree.
FREEMAN
On a day like this? Of course I can.
Freeman looks in the sky like he saw a loved one up there. The WIND RUSHES, blowing his shoulder-length hair about his head. His dirty blue rags FLAP in the wind.
SPIDER
Show me.
Freeman nods, looks to the tree with its two arrows. He looks up to the sky again, slowly nocks an arrow, then draws his bowstring steadily back. He licks his lips, blinks twice, and lets the arrow fly up into the sky. The arrow flies high and takes a windblown arc down sidelong to disappear behind the tree. A THUNK and a muffled OOF follow.
SPIDER
Beyond amazing. Now let me show you how I
hit the target rather than the tree…this time.
Freeman bends at the waist with an extended hand, to show Spider deference. Spider rests an arrow at the ready and holds it with the same finger holding the bow’s grip. He scans the field, crouches slightly, then takes off at a run. Despite his speed, he is remarkably silent.
FREEMAN
So quiet.
Spider reaches a point near the arrow tree, leaps laterally, and launches his arrow. His arrow disappears behind the same tree. There is an exclamation of PAIN from behind the tree and a comical character emerges. A set of knight’s armor, apparently stuffed with straw and a human, comes waddling out to the open field. Two arrows are in the straw.
MAN IN ARMOR
Here the competition ends! Both have struck home
in the target, so now the target must strike out—
for home!
FREEMAN
Get back behind that tree or I’ll shoot you
where there is no straw.
The gauntleted hands of the man in the suit of armor immediately go to cover his behind. He keeps his hands there as he waddles quickly back to his position of hiding.
Xenosthesia.com 