“Psychopath”
A Screenplay by Matthew Sparkes and Rosie Thomson
1. INT. HALLWAY TO AUDITION ROOM. DAY. 1.
ROSIE (23) a petite brunette is approaches the
audition room; the hallway is dark with a blue hue
giving a sense of gloom. She walks to the foreboding
door, as she pushes it open it creaks.
INT. AUDITION ROOM. DAY.
The sound is followed by the door slamming shut on
itself. ROSIE walks to the centre of the shadowed
studio room. The lights are chiaroscuro and highly
contrasted. As Rosie turns to look at the figure ALI
(30) Pakistani broad Gangster/ hit man behind the desk
at the front of the room, a spot light is shone in her
face. Rosie steps back blinking from the blinding
light. The room is silent for a second.
Ali remains in the shadows and Rosie is central to the
frame in the style of an audition tape. A red light
starts flashing.
ALI:
(Questions)
Rosie Thomson I take it yes?
ROSIE:
(Nervously)
Yeah
ALI:
(Instructs)
Can you move the chair to the centre of
the stage please?
Rosie fetches the chair, for a brief moment, she isn't
seen, we see her from behind shortly after with the
chair. She walks to the stage and places the chair off
centre.
ROSIE:
(Quietly)
OK
ALI:
(Sarcastically)
I did say centre
ROSIE:
(Apprehensively)
Sorry
ALI:
(Instructs)
Take a seat please
Rosie does as she's told, she looks behind briefly to
locate the chair and she smiles and sits formally. Ali
walks towards Rosie.
ALI:
(Instructs, muffled)
Okay, just relax
ROSIE:
(Innocently)
Ok
As Rosie is sitting, she fiddles with her fingers on
her knee. Ali walks towards Rosie.
ALI:
(Sly)
Just relax Rosie. This is all part of your
audition. Try your best to keep act as if
this is a real kid napping scene.
Rosie is trying to avoid looking at him in order to
keep her concentration. Ali moves behind her, out of
her sight and is silhouetted against the light. Rosie
is gagged with force and she reacts by shaking her
head and arms in panic trying to remove the gag. It is
obvious she is acting, she tries to remain reserved to
an extent, but it's as though she's connected to her
chair.
Ali restrains Rosie’s arms with thick green hessian
rope; it's very traditional and reminiscent of the
horror or noir genre. Rosie’s facial expressions
become more intense with fear; her eyes are stressed
open as she tilts her head back. She begins to rock
the chair frantically. It is now clear the reactions
are real. Rosie’s shoulders begin to thrust forward,
back and forth. Ali Quickly installs a bag over
Rosie’s head. She is hesitant for a moment before
trying to scream under her gag. The sound is muffled
and deep.
ROSIE:
(Extremely prolonged muffled)
No no
The room is filled with darkness and none of the
characters are visible. But suddenly after this pause
of inactivity; it is silent and Rosie’s bagged head
becomes full frontal with a fade in, it is obvious her
head is tilted backward, a shadowed hand is applying
force to her neck and ROSIE emits a slight whimper.
The hand slowly moves to Rosie’s chin. Ali places his
hand on Rosie's shoulder as she struggles.
ALI :
(A fake reassurance)
Relax Rosie.
As Ali holds Rosie’s shoulder down to stop her moving
and struggling, he swings back a hammer which is then
brought down onto Rosie. Rosie is dimly lit by a red
accent light* which follows her silhouette sharply.
FADE TO:
3. EXT. ALLEYWAY. DAY.
A fade in to a gloomy alleyway, the rain is heavy and
street lights reflect in the mirrored pavement. Rosie
is watching and looking around her frantically, her
vision is distorted from the rain and her injury.
Footsteps are heard from the character (Ali) carrying
Rosie through the alleyway. Rosie is looking up to the
top of the buildings with blinding lights shining like
a surrealist’s moon, further distorting her vision.
Graffiti, industrial waste bins and litter are
scattered across the ground. The wind is frivolous,
whipping the ground carrying rain and litter, whilst
splashing in the puddles. Rosie's vision fades in and
out of darkness.
FADE TO:
4. Ext. CAR PARK AND CAR. NIGHT.
A Nissan Skyline looms out from the shadows; the red
lights are almost luminescent. Once reaching a point a
quarter from the curb, its tires spin and screech as
it skids around the corner in a zigzagging fashion.
