The lottery short story

Fade in

INT . THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE - MORNING 26th

MR.HUTCHISON while waiting in line for the daily news paper hears a murmur
throughout the office. When he gets to the front of the line, on the front page he is
reminded that the lottery is tomorrow.
MR.HUTCISON
I wonder who will be the unlucky one this year.

EXT. THE TOWN SQUARE - MORNING JUNE 27

The people of this small town started to gather in the square between the post office
and the bank. First the children assemble off to the side of the square. BOBBY MARTIN
is already stuffing his pockets with stones; the other boys are following him by
example. BOBBY and the boy selecting the smoothest and roundest stones. After a few
minutes they had a great pile of stones in the corner of the square.

BOBBY
Let's gard our rocks so that no one steals them

The men of the town start to gather around the square. They stood together away from
the kids talking, laughing and being very secretive. The women of the town walked up
shortly after their men folk. Women wearing faded house dresses and standing near in
their own group exchanging gossip while waiting for the lottery to begin. Finally
joining their husbands and children. MR.SUMMERS who conducted the lottery arrived
at the square carrying the black wooden box which has been used for ever even before
the oldest man in town was born. MR.SUMMERS waved to the townspeople.

MR.SUMMERS
Little late today folks sorry about the wait

The POSTMAN and MR.GRAVES flowed him and the black box and carried a wooden
stool to the center of the square.
 MR.SUMMERS
Some of you fellows want to give me a hand

There was a hesitation before two men, MR.MARTIN and his son BAXTER came
forward to hold the box steady while MR.SUMMERS mixed up the papers inside it.

INT . MR.SUMMERS HOME- LATE EVENING FLASHBACK FROM YESTERDAY

MR. SUMMERS and MR. GRAVES make up the slips of paper after they do a town and
household count so they have the numbers. Then putting the slips of paper in the box
the MR.SUMMERS locked it up in a safe.

MR.SUMMERS
We got to make sure we make a slip of paper for each household.

EXT. walking from their homes -MID MORNING

MR.SUMMERS started to assemble the villagers,as MRS.HUTCHINSON came hurriedly

along the path. Then slid into place in the back of the crowd.

MRS.HUTCHINSON
Clean forgot what day it was, It completely slipped my mind

Said to MRS. DELACROIX who stood next to her and laughed softly.

MRS.HUTCHINSON
Though my old man was outback stacking wood. Then I noticed
the kids were gone, and then I remembered that it was the 27th of
June.

MRS.HUTCHINSON found her family standing near the front, as she pushed through
the crowd.

VOICE OF THE CROWD

Here comes your MRS., HUTCHINSON and Bill, she made it after
all.

MRS.HUTCHINSON reached for her husband.

 MR.SUMMERS
Thought we were going to have to get on without you, TESSIE

TESSIE
Wouldn't have me leave my dishes in a sink now would you, Joe?

Laughter among the people.

MR.SUMMERS
CLYDE DUNBAR that's who were missing

After looking at his list

MR.GRAVES
That's right he broke his leg

MR.SUMMERS
Who’s drawing for him?

MRS.DUBAR
Me I guess?

MR.SUMMERS
Wifes draw for their husbands,don't you have a grown boy to do it for you?

MRS.DUNBAR
HORACE not but sixteen yet.
Guess I gotta fill in for the old man this year.

MR.SUMMERS
Right.

MR.SUMMERS made a note on the list he was holding.

MR.SUMMERS
WATSON boy drawing this year?

MR.WATSON / JACK
I’m drawing for my mother and me.

As he blinked his eyes nervously and ducked his head.

 VOICES OF THE CROWD
Good fellow, JACK…
Glad to see your mother got a man to do it.

MR.SUMMERS
Well….
Guess that everyone.
OLD MAN WARNER make it ?

OLD MAN WARNER

Here!

MR.SUMMERS nodded his head.

EXT. TOWN SQUARE.MID MORNING

Everyone went quiet.

MR. SUMMERS
Already?
Now I’ll read the heads of the families first
The men will come up and take a paper out of the box
Keep the paper folded in your hand without looking until everyone
has had a turn.
Everyone clear?

Then MR. SUMMERS raised one hand high.

MR. SUMMERS

Adams!

MR. ADAMS walked up.

MR. SUMMERS
Hi Steve.
MR. ADAMS
Hi Joe.
They grinned at each other, then MR. ADAMS reached into the black box and pulled
out a folded paper.
Then he went to the back of the crowd to join his family
MR. SUMMERS
Allen, Anderson….. Bentnam

He went rapidly through the names.

MRS. DELACROIX
Seems like there is no time at all between these lotteries anymore.
MRS.GRAVES
Seems like we got through with the last one only last week.
Time sure goes fast.
MR. SUMMERS
Clark. . . . Delacroix.
MRS. DELACROIX
There goes my old man.

She held her breath while her husband went forward.

MRS.GRAVES

Dunbar.

Mrs. Dunbar went steadily to the box

VOICE OF THE CROWD

Go on, Janey,” and another said, “There she goes.”

MRS.GRAVES
“We’re next,”

She watched while Mr. Graves came around from the side of the box, greeted Mr.
Summers gravely, and selected a slip of paper from the box. By now, all through the
crowd there were men holding the small folded papers in their large hands, turning
them over and over nervously. Mrs. Dunbar and her two sons stood together, Mrs.
Dunbar holding the slip of paper.

MR. SUMMERS
“Harburt. . . . Hutchinson.”

MR.HUTCHINSON
“Get up there, Bill,
The people near her laughed.
MR. SUMMERS
“Jones.”

MR.ADAMS
They do say that over in the north village they’re talking of giving up the
lottery.”
Old Man Warner snorted.
OLD MAN WARNER
Pack of crazy fools, Listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them.
Next thing you know, they’ll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody works
any more, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about ‘Lottery in June, corn will
be heavy soon.’ First thing you know, we’d all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns.
There’s always been a lottery,” he added petulantly. “Bad enough to see young Joe
Summers up there joking with everybody.”

MR.ADAMS
“Some places have already quit lotteries.

OLD MAN WARNER

Nothing but trouble in that

MRS.DUBAR
I wish they’d hurry
DUBAR SON
They’re almost through.
MRS.DUBAR
You get ready to run and tell Dad.

Mr. Summers called his own name and then stepped forward precisely and selected a
slip from the box.
MR. SUMMERS
MR.WARNER!
OLD MAN WARNERSeventy-seventh year I been in
the lottery
said as he went through the crowd
MR. SUMMERS
“Watson.”
The tall boy came awkwardly through the crowd
VOICE OF THE CROWD
“Don’t be nervous, Jack,” and Mr. Summers said, “Take your time, son.”

There was a long pause.

Mr. Summers, holding his slip of paper in the air
MR. SUMMERS
“All right, fellows.”

Then all the slips of paper were opened.

VOICE OF THE CROWD
Who is it? Who’s got it? Is it the Dunbars? Is it the Watsons? Then
the voices began to say, “It’s Hutchinson. It’s Bill,” “Bill
Hutchinson’s got it.”

MRS.DUBAR
Go tell your father.
MRS.HUTCHINSON
“You didn’t give him enough time to take any paper he wanted. I
saw you. It wasn’t fair!”

MRS. DELACROIX
“Be a good sport, Tessie

MRS.GRAVES
“All of us took the same chance.”

MR.HUTCHINSON
“Shut up, Tessie
MR. SUMMERS
Well, everyone that was done pretty fast, and now we’ve got to be
hurrying a little more to get done in time.

He consulted his next list.

MR. SUMMERS
“Bill”.
“you draw for the Hutchinson family. You got any other
households in the Hutchinsons?”

MR.HUTCHINSON
 There’s Don and Eva, Make them take their chance!”

MR. SUMMERS
Daughters draw with their husbands’ families, Tessie. You know
that as well as anyone else.
MRS.HUTCHINSON/Tessie
It wasn’t fair
MR.HUTCHINSON
I guess not, Joe
“My daughter draws with her husband’s family, that’s only fair.
And I’ve got no other family except the kids.”

MR. SUMMERS
Then, as far as drawing for families is concerned, it’s you and as
far as drawing for households is concerned, that’s you, too. Right?

MR.HUTCHINSON
Right.
MR. SUMMERS
How many kids, Bill?

MR.HUTCHINSON
“There’s Bill, Jr., and Nancy, and little Dave. And Tessie and me.”

MR. SUMMERS
All right, then HARRY you got their tickets back?

Mr. Graves nodded and held up the slips of paper.

MR. SUMMERS
Put them in the box, then take Bill’s and put it in.”

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EXT.OVER BY THE STONE PILES. LATE MORNING

Tessie was stoned to death, she won the lottery.