Short Film "The Project" - Final Cut

New Script

The following text appears on-screen, slowly fading in:

 

IN 2012, A POLICE MURDER INVESTIGATION LED TO THE DISOVERY OF THE FOLLOWING FOOTAGE.

 

NONE OF THE FOOTAGE HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED OR ENHANCED

 

The text flickers away, akin to an old videotape pause.

 

INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV

 

A dark room. Empty, except from a boring wooden chair. SCREAMING is heard from off-camera, but the camera remains static. One, then two, then three bodies fall in front of the camera, BLOODY and GRUESOME.

 

The camera rattles slightly, as someone turns it off.

 

INT IN. CLASSROOM #1 – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

 

Josh, a young student, is sat down in a classroom, a girl, Paige, who sits opposite him.

 

JOSH (O.S.)

You guys got any ideas?

 

One student, a young girl, PAIGE, turns to the camera.

 

PAIGE

Oh, I’m doing a soap opera trailer. Gonna have loads of bitchiness in it. What about you?

 

JOSH (O.S.)

No ideas. None!

 

Paige walks towards the camera and Josh hands it to him.

 

PAIGE (O.S.)

Surely you have some ideas, Josh? I mean, you’ve already got a lot of footage on here. The memory card is almost full.

 

JOSH

Weird, I haven’t recorded anything. It’s probably some footage from last year. Idiots forgot to delete their footage.

 

PAIGE (O.S.)

Wanna look at laugh at them?

 

JOSH

Sure.

 

Josh stands up, and walks behind the camera.

 

INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV

 

A young student sits on a wooden chair. TAPE sealing their mouth, gagging them.

 

A mysterious hooded figure approaches, pulling out a GUN. The student’s eyes widen with fear. The gun fires. They are dead.

 

INT IN. CLASSROOM #1 – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

 

The camera, tilted at a slight angle, points towards a group of empty chairs and table.

 

PAIGE (O.S.)

(Choking and laughing in disbelief)

Oh, my God!

 

JOSH (O.S.)

Ha-ha, you nicked the camera last night. You’re pulling my leg!

 

PAIGE (O.S.)

No, honestly. That’s a proper bloody murder. Look at the time it was recorded.

 

JOSH (O.S.)

Two months ago. We only got the cameras Monday.

 

PAIGE (O.S.)

Well, who recorded the footage?

 

JOSH (O.S.)

I don’t know. I’m asking…

 

INT. OFFICE #2 – MORNING – CAMERA POV

 

Josh walks towards a JOHN, who is sat down, typing up administration stuff on a computer.

 

JOSH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

John?

 

The teacher turns around, smiling and cheery, looking up at the camera.

 

JOHN

Yes?

 

JOSH (O.S.)

(Anxious)

John, seriously. Just look at this.

 

The teacher stands up, and walks behind the camera.

 

INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV

 

Another victim, similar age to the first, and gagged. The murderer pulls out his gun, and fires.

 

INT. OFFICE #2 – MORNING – CAMERA POV

 

The teacher walks back into the camera shot, smiling.

 

JOHN

Very good, Josh. Looks very realistic. Have you recorded the rest of your footage?

 

JOSH (O.S.)

John! It’s not faked! That’s real! Somebody last year, recorded it!

 

JOHN

Stop telling tales, Josh. Get on with your work.

 

JOSH (O.S.)

Nobody bloody believes me. I’ll find proof!

 

Josh turns around, bringing the camera to face the door as he walks out.

 

Josh sighs, and turns off the camera.

 

INT IN. BEDROOM – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

 

Tufts of hair fall onto a carpeted floor. The camera points up towards a mirror. Josh looks into the mirror, with much shorter hair. He smiles, holding a pair of hair clippers in his hand.

 

INT IN. CORRIDOR – EVENING – CAMERA POV

 

Josh sits in a corridor. Paige records him. He sighs, tired and frustrated.

 

JOSH

Two murders in less than two weeks. Then I find another one. Strange thing is, this one has happened since I’ve got the camera.

 

PAIGE

So you’re saying someone’s... what... still killing them now? Today?

 

JOSH

Yup. Guess I’m going to be doing some crazy documentary now.

 

PAIGE

Yeah, suppose so.

 

JOSH

I’m sorry. This is just crazy. Crazier than my new hairdo.

 

Paige laughs. Josh stands up.

 

JOSH

Tell you what; can you look through the footage? Find any more deaths, tell me?

 

PAIGE

Sure. You going?

 

JOSH

Yeah. Damn Sociology essay needs finishing. “Time stops for no man.”

 

PAIGE

Suppose so. Bye.

 

JOSH

Bye.

 

Josh walks off.

 

PAIGE

Happy anniversary, then.

 

INT IN. CORRIDOR – MORNING – CAMERA POV

 

Josh walks quickly down the corridor, shaking the camera wildly.

 

JOSH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Seriously. That bloody teacher has to believe me now.

 

Josh approaches the door, opens it, and walks towards the teacher.

 

JOSH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Where the hell is everyone, sir?

 

JOHN

A bug. The ‘flu. It’s going around.

 

JOSH (O.S.)

Whatever.

 

JOHN

Oi. Less of your lip.

 

JOSH (O.S.)

Okay. But don’t blame me when everyone in college ends up dead.

 

Josh storms out of the classroom, slamming the door.

 

INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV

 

Paige sits in the chair, gagged and unconscious. She suddenly wakes up, and looks around. She starts to scream, but her voice is blocked by the tape.

 

MURDERER

Hello, Paige.

 

Paige looks around, then sees the murderer.

 

MURDERER (CONT’D)

So: You and Josh, eh? A blonde chick like you hanging out with a nerd like him? What a world.

 

The murderer strokes the barrel of the gun against Paige, who winces away.

 

MURDERER (CONT’D)

Held up to the premise, though. Stupid blonde, but lots of fun… Never found me out though.

 

The murderer pulls his hood down: It’s Josh!

 

JOSH (CONT’D)

Some boyfriend I am. But then, I never had any idea what to do for my coursework. A student investigates his own murders. Phew!

 

Josh shoots Paige.