I had another very cinematic dream last week. Here's a screenplay version of my dream. I woke up remembering only images, a vague sense of the plot, and the title, so I've made up the dialogue and most of the names, with the exception of "David Allen", which I remember from the dream.
(Just so you know, this is not one of my wacky dreams. It's a very conventional story, but that in itself is what made it stand out, in my mind.)
"BELFAST"
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM
DAVID ALLEN'S POV
FADE IN
DAVID ALLEN is waking up. Still a bit drugged, his vision
is hazy as he barely makes out the image of his friend
STEVE, standing beside the hospital bed. STEVE is in his
mid-30s. He is wearing a plaid shirt, and he looks a bit
disheveled.
STEVE
How are you feeling, David?
DAVID
Mrmph?
STEVE
Say.. Do you remember what happened to put you
here?
DAVID
Mm... urf....
David's vision fades in and out. As his head droops,
he sees his tube-covered body.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN
Some time has passed.
DAVID wakes up again, this time for good. STEVE is still
there, but he's now wearing a leather jacket.
STEVE
You okay, David?
OVER STEVE'S SHOULDER, we see DAVID. He is also in his
mid-30s. He is in a hospital gown, but he has fewer tubes
attached to his body than before.
DAVID
Yeah, I think so.
STEVE
How much do you remember? About what happened to you?
DAVID
Not much. I was in a car accident...?
STEVE
Do you remember the last thing you saw before the
accident?
DAVID
The last thing I remember was getting into my
car. Why, is there something important I forgot?
The camera is behind STEVE, and, as it PANS DOWN STEVE's
back...
STEVE
No no, it's alright. Get some rest now, buddy.
The camera STOPS at waist-level; we see STEVE tuck
a gun away, back under his belt.
STEVE (V.O.)
Everything's fine.
CUT TO BLACK
INT. DINING ROOM
We're in a rustic, wooden house. The dining room is large
and dimly lit. STEVE is having dinner with CONOR DONOVAN
and his wife KATHLEEN. They are both in their 50s, and
slightly heavy-set. CONOR is a red-head, with a full beard.
CONOR
...and he says to him, "But it's only a frog!"
CONOR guffaws at his own joke, while STEVE politely chuckles.
KATHLEEN shakes her head.
STEVE
Well, I'll get going now. I'm glad David has
such fine folks to help him recover.
STEVE stands up, and he drops his napkin. As he bends down
to pick it up, CONOR and KATHLEEN see his STEVE's gun,
stuffed behind him, under his belt.
CONOR
Why do you have that?! Why did you bring that thing
into my house?!
STEVE panics.
STEVE
I don't want to hurt anyone! I swear! They're making
me do it!
KATHLEEN
Do what? We're all friends here, Steve. If you're in
any kind of trouble...
STEVE
[*Distraught*] They're gonna hurt my family. They said
I have to find out if he remembers what he saw, and if
does, I have to shoot him. Oh Christ.. but everything
will be okay! As long as he doesn't remember,
everything will be okay!
CONOR
Remember what? You're not making any sense.
STEVE
I better get going...
STEVE rushes outside, and the DONOVANS follow him out.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE DONOVANS' HOME
CONOR
Steve!
The MAID runs out and tugs on CONOR's arm.
MAID
Mr. Donovan, everything will be okay. David will be
cared for.
As the MAID leaves back into the house, STEVE pauses and
looks back. He grimaces. He then runs past THE DONOVANS,
racing back into the house after the maid. THE DONOVANS
are shocked into inaction for a moment before they give
chase as well.
We follow THE DONOVANS as they run through their house and
out the back, just in time to see STEVE run into THE
NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. (It's a large mansion made of stone
bricks.) They hear a LOUD BANG.
THE DONOVANS are terrified. They stop running. They
stare at the neighbor's dining room windows, lit by a bright
orange light, and they see STEVE's silhouette running across
the room.
KATHLEEN
Oh no! He's done it!
CONOR
No... No...
THE DONOVANS run into the house. They find STEVE on the
telephone.
STEVE
Yes, he's collapsed! I'm not sure if he's breathing!
What do I do?! [*Looking up at THE DONOVANS*] I didn't
touch him! He just collapsed! I think his condition's
taken a turn for the worse!
CONOR runs over to DAVID and cradles him in his arms.
CONOR
He is still breathing.
STEVE
Oh, thank God. [*Closes his eyes*] Oh, please, Lord,
let him pull through...
WIDE SHOT, as everyone prays for DAVID's survival