short stories about the end of the world pilotdraft3

7/31/2019 Short Stories About the End of the World Pilotdraft3

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Short Stories About the End of the World Pilot

By

Austin Davis


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FADE IN:

EXT. CHARLES PARENTS HOUSE - DAY

CHARLES packs an old station wagon full of his belongings.

He is in his twenties. Skinny, but attractive.

An old mattress wrapped in plastic is tied to the roof ofthe car.

Has DAD hands him a box. Charles puts it in the back of thecar and shuts the trunk.

CHARLESI think thats it.

MOM has tears in her eyes.

MOMYoure sure you have a place to

stay?

CHARLESYeah. A friend of mine rents out

his basement.

MOMAnd you trust him? He said you can

live there?

CHARLESYes.

MOMIm just worried.

CHARLESI know, me too.

Charles hugs his parents.

He gets in the drivers seat of the car.

DADCall us along the way.


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MOMStop when youre tired.

CHARLESI will.

MOMAnd at motels not rest stops.

Nothing, but whores and rapists.

Charles looks at his Mom.

CHARLESJesus. Really?

DADYoull be fine.

Dad looks at mom.

Charles starts the car and pulls away.

Dad puts his arm around Mom.

EXT. MOTEL - NIGHT

Charles pulls up and slowly drives down the line of aroadside motel.

Prostitutes stand in the doorways. Their customers walk up

and into their rooms.

They motion to Charles for him to come in.

CHARLESWow.

A skinny PIMP walks up to Charles car.

PIMPCan I help you?

CHARLESOh sorry I was uh... Lookin for a

room.

PIMPAs you can see were all booked up.


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CHARLESYeah. Is there another motel?

PIMPAnother motel?

CHARLESYeah?

PIMPNo this is it.

CHARLESMaybe Ill find a truck stop.

PIMPNo. Look we got some top shelf ass

over here.

CHARLESReally its okay.

PIMPAint none of that in the bag knock

off shit.

CHARLESThanks, but Ill have to pass.

Pimp grabs Charles by the shoulder.

PIMPWhoa whoa dont waste my time now.

Charles speeds away.

EXT. FREEWAY - NIGHT - MINUTES LATER

Charles pulls over to the side of the dark freeway and turnsthe car off.

He leans his seat back a few inches and lays his head back.

He goes to sleep.


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INT. CHARLES CAR - DAY - NEXT MORNING

Charles drives down the Busy I-10 into Santa Monica.

He Smiles as he looks around the city.

The Radio is on.

RADIO HOST (O.S)Iran supposedly has the ability to

make nuclear weapons... I dont

know if I believe them.

Charles turns the radio off.

EXT. DOUGS HOUSE - DAY

Charles parks in front.

He gets out of his car, walks up, and knocks on the door.

No answer.

He knocks again.

The doors opens.

DOUG stands on the other side.

He is skinny with long hair and a beard.

DOUGCharles!

CHARLESHey, Doug.

DOUGCome on in

Charles walks in.

Doug looks around outside before he shuts the door.


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INT. DOUGS HOUSE - SAME

Doug hands Charles a beer.

DOUGHow was the drive?

CHARLESLong.

Charles drinks his beer.

DOUGI remember when I drove out a few

years ago.

CHARLESHow do you afford this place?

DOUGOh... My parents pay most of the

rent.

CHARLESMost?

DOUGAll.

CHARLES

But I pay you? For the basement?

DOUGYeah. Im giving you a deal. No

free rides in the real world

Charles shakes his head.

CHARLESWhatever you say, Doug.

DOUGNo problem, man.

Doug goes into the kitchen.

Charles rolls his eyes and stands up.


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CHARLESI think I better unpack. Get some

sleep.

Doug walks in.

DOUGYeah, man. Let me show ya where

youll be stayin

Doug takes a puff of a cigarette and sets it in an ash tray.

EXT. DOUGS HOUSE - SAME

Doug and Charles walk around back of the house.

Charles carries a bag on his shoulder and a single box.

They come to a door.

DOUGThis is you.

CHARLESSeems like a lot of room in the

house.

DOUG

No. Youll want your own space.

Charles nods.

Doug opens the door and they walk downstairs.

INT. CHARLES APARTMENT - SAME

They walk into the living room.

Light wells barely light the apartment.

Doug pulls on a string from the ceiling and turns on alight.

Charles drops his box on the floor.

CHARLESIt has carpet.


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DOUGYeah just put that in. For you.

CHARLESThanks.

Doug points to a door.

DOUGBedrooms in there.

CHARLESOkay.

Doug points to the floor with both hands.

DOUGOr this could be your bedroom, and

that your living room.

Charles nods.

DOUGThats whats cool about this. Its

whatever you want.

CHARLESHow about I live upstairs and you

down here?

Doug laughs.

DOUGRiiiight. Well... There isnt a

full kitchen, but a kitchenette.

CHARLESKitchenette?

DOUG.Yeah... Not a full Kitchen. Like

half. With a hotplate.

CHARLESOkay. Im gonna finish unpacking.

Doug hands him the keys.


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DOUGShes all yours.

CHARLESThanks.

Doug walks out.

Charles looks around the room.

CHARLESJesus.

INT. AGENCY - DAY

Charles walks up to a reception desk. He wears a cheap suit.

A young receptionist sits behind the desk.

RECEPTIONISTCan I help you?

CHARLESI have a meeting at two with Mark

Gittes.

RECEPTIONISTYour name?

CHARLES

Charles Thompson.

RECEPTIONISTI have a C.S Thompson.

CHARLESThats what he calls me.

RECEPTIONISTYou can have seat hell be right

out.

CHARLESThank you.

Charles sits in the waiting area.


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INT. MARK GITTES OFFICE - MINUTES LATER

MARK is in his forties. He wears a nice suit.

His office is full of manuscripts in piles.

MARKHave a seat Charles.

Charles sits down across from Mark.

MARKHow was the drive?

CHARLESLong.

MARKGood. Worth it though.

CHARLESI hope so.

MARKSo you know I like your writing.

Your short stories you sent me are

fantastic.

CHARLESThank you.

MARKYou touch on issues, social, and

political that we as a country need

to engage in discourse on.

CHARLESUh huh. You know I have a lot to

say. I guess I just write it

better.

MARKLike a lot of writers. Im not

creative. I have no idea how to

take something that bothers me and


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wrap a narrative around it.

Charles nods.

MARKHave you thought about what your

subject for your first novel will

be?

CHARLESIve given it some thought.

MARKStick with what you know. Expand

upon the idea and characters you

have here in these short stories.

CHARLESYeah.

MARKYou know this isnt screenwriting

or an essay anymore. This is real

writing.

CHARLES

I think Im up for it.

MARKGood.

Mark holds out a check.

MARKThis is for your expenses for the

next few months. Dont do a damn

thing, but write and eat.

Charles takes the check. Its for $10,000

CHARLESOkay.


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MARKYou can drink too. I know you

writers drink.

Charles laughs.

MARKHave a place to live?

CHARLESYeah. A friends basement.

MARKWell... At least you have

something.

CHARLESYeah.

MARKAlright C.S Thompson.

Mark stands up and walks around the desk.

Charles stands up.

They shake hands.

MARKGet to work. Send me pages. Call me

if you need me.

CHARLESThanks I will.

MARKGood.

Mark directs him towards the door.

Charles awkwardly straightens his chair and walks out.

INT. CHARLES APARTMENT - EVENING

Charles turns the light on in his dark apartment. He opensup a lap top on his desk and sits down.

He looks at his screen.

He turns on the television next to his desk.


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He types on his lap top.

MONTAGE:

Charles prints off some pages and edits them by hand.

He throws some ramen noodles into some boiling water.

He watches CNN discuss Obama and the election.

He prints off more pages.

He marks off whole pages with a black ink pen.

He wakes up in the middle of the night and writes.

He pours a glass of of whiskey and drinks it.

A pizza is delivered.

Charles puts a big binder clip on a thick manuscript andputs it in a bag.

INT. MARK GITTES OFFICE - DAY

Mark drops Charles manuscript on his desk.

MARKThis is good.

Charles smiles.

MARKIt is really good. Its really came

a long way since earlier drafts.

CHARLESThank you.

MARKNo problem, Charles.

CHARLESSo what now?

MARKIm going to get this published.

Charles nods.


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MARKYou have anymore of that money?

CHARLESYeah.

MARKGo spend the rest. Go celebrate.

Charles smiles.

CHARLESOkay.

MARKI mean it. Go party well talk in a

few days.

Charles stands up and they shake hands.

CHARLESThanks, Mark.

Mark nods.

Charles leaves.

INT. DOUGS HOUSE - LATER

Doug sits on his couch and watches t.v.

There is a KNOCK on the door.

He stands up and slowly walks to the door and opens it.

Charles stands on the other side of the door.

DOUGHey, stranger.

CHARLESWhat are you doing tonight?

INT. DIVE BAR - NIGHT

Doug and Charles sit and have a beer at a small bar withpool tables.

The bar is close to empty.


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CHARLESI thought my celebration would be a

little bigger than this.

DOUG

Whats wrong with this?

CHARLESI didnt want to go to church, man.

DOUGIts a peaceful place to drink.

Whatyu mean?

Charles points to an old homeless man at the end of the bar.

CHARLES

Look at this guy.

DOUGWhat about him?

CHARLESHes got a foot in the grave. Might

as well be attending his funeral.

DOUGHey thats not nice.

CHARLESI want to party. Ive done jack

shit for months.

DOUGYeah, man, but.

CHARLESIm buying.

DOUGAlright.

EXT. NIGH CLUB - LATER

Charles and Doug walk up the front of a night club in nicercloths.


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CHARLESDid we really have to change?

DOUGYeah they aint gonna let you

inside wearing your dads suit.

CHARLESIt wasnt...

DOUGOkay your grandpas suit.

CHARLESRight.

DOUGAlright here we are.

They show their I.Ds at the door.

BOUNCERTwenty.

CHARLESWow.

Charles takes out a twenty dollar bill.

BOUNCERA piece.

CHARLESOh shit.

Charles takes out another twenty dollar bill and hands themto the bouncer.

Doug and Charles walk

INSIDE

DOUG

I promise it will be worth it.

CHARLESI hope so.

There are beautiful woman everywhere.

A big dance floor is in the middle with a bar off to theside.


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A balcony overlooks the entire night club.

DOUGThis is your life now, man.

CHARLESYou think?

DOUGYes... Lets get a drink.

They make their way through the crowd up to the bar.

Doug gets the bartenders attention.

DOUGBottle of patron and two shot

glasses.

CHARLESHoly shit are we gonna drink that

much.

DOUGI am what are you having?

CHARLESWhat?

DOUGIm kidding. Look at these people.

We have some catchin up to do.

Look at these woman. They need

shots too.

Charles looks around.

CHARLESI see.

DOUGYeah you see.

The bartender sets down the bottle and two shot glasses.

DOUGSome limes?

Doug opens the bottle and pours two shots.


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The bartender sets a small plat of limes in front of them.

DOUGAre you ready?

Charles nods.

They each take a shot of patron and lime.

They do a few more shots.

Doug asks the bartender.

DOUGHold this for us.

Bartender sets it below the bar.

Doug and Charles head towards the dance floor.

INT. CHARLES APARTMENT - LATER

Charles door flies open. He and SOPHIA come inside.

She is sharp eyed with wavy brunette hair.

He shuts the door as they kiss and undress.

The move into the

BEDROOM

Charles falls onto the bed.

She climbs on top of him. They kiss.

There is an earthquake. The lights flicker.

CHARLESWhats that?

SOPHIAEarthquake?

CHARLESMy first one!

They kiss again.


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INT. CHARLES APARTMENT - NEXT MORNING

Charles lays face down on the bed. Sophia lays beside him.

She wakes up. She smells the air.

She gets up slowly and puts her cloths on.

She pushes on the apartment door to open it, but it hitssomething.

It wakes up Charles. He puts some pants on.

He walks up to Sophia.

CHARLESHey... Leavin?

Charles smells the air.

SOPHIAI cant get it open.

Charles tries to push on the door. It still wont open.

CHARLESWhat the hell?

There is a loud BANG on the ceiling above them.

CHARLESDougs up.

Charles grabs a broom and bangs on the ceiling with it.

Sophia looks at him.

CHARLESI dont know.

He bangs on the ceiling again.

A big piece of the ceiling and charred wood flooring cavesinto the basement.

Charles and Sophia fall out of the way.

Some pieces are on fire.

Charles gets up he is covered in drywall dust andinsulation.

He helps Sophia up.


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CHARLESAre you okay?

SOPHIAYeah.

CHARLES

My god.

Charles can see the sky through the basement.

SOPHIAWhat happened?

CHARLESMust have been a fire. Can

earthquakes do that?

SOPHIA

I guess.

CHARLESCome on.

They climb up into the house.

Most of the house is gone. There is still smoke everywhere.

CHARLESI dont see Doug anywhere.

The house shifts.

Charles and Sophia look at eachother.

CHARLESShit.

Charles grabs her hand and they run towards the door.

The house collapses as they get outside.

They fall onto the ground. Dust and dirt cloud around them.

Charles stands up and looks all around him and into thedistance.

Sophia stand sup and looks too.

SOPHIAOh my god.

Camera cranes up above Charles and Sophia.


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Every house is burned down and collapsed.

All of Los Angeles has been bombed.

FADE OUT:

short stories about the end of the world pilotdraft3

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