Is it somewhat interesting? I dug it up last night, looking at old stuff I had written. Should I finish it, does it have potential?? Give me your opinion.


Script started on- July 3, 2003

Chessmaster- William Phillip(Will)
Best Friend- Rob Figliozzi
Other Friend- Rachel Richards
Promoter- James Farris
William’s Father- Richard Phillip

Scene- Pre-Title
Int. Will’s Room
Will is in bed asleep
Cut to Dream Sequence

Dream Sequence
Will’s father is playing chess
Promoter James is seen in the crowd
Young Will(6-7 years old) is seen in crowd looking intently on the match
Father wins the match
Cut to Will, cheering his Dad
The crowd goes wild
Father looks at Will
Promoter looks at Will’s father and his father looks at him
Will’s father picks up his son and walks out of the building
They start walking to their car
James appears out of the shadows

James
Nice win Rick.

Rick
Thanks.

James
(Walking toward them)
What do you say we make a deal? I’m willing to make an offer you can’t refuse.

Rick
I’m sorry, I’ve already told you. I don’t want an agent, or a promoter.

James
You’re making a big mistake Rick, we could be very rich men.

Rick
(Gets his son in the car and closes the door)
(Starts to open his door and get in the car)
Jim, you know that’s not what I want.
(Shuts his door, and starts the car)

James
(Stepping away as the car starts to move out)

Will wakes up startled from dream.
Cut to opening credits


Beginning Credits
Montage
Various shots of Will winning big chess games
Promoter James is at some of the matches
Newspaper articles and TV News stories about Will
Making sure the audience recognizes he is a Grandmaster
The biggest wealthiest Grandmaster

Scene 1
Int. Will's house
He is playing chess with a good friend (Rob)

Will
I never thought you could keep up with me on a chessboard like this.

Rob
(smiling)
Looks can be deceiving. Your father taught me how to play, and I taught you. Isn’t the teacher always better than the student?

Will
I suppose.

They play for awhile. We see shots of their hands moving the pieces.

Will
(Moves his queen to a square, and as he places it on the table)
I guess the student is the master after all. Checkmate!

Rob
(Clutches his chest, just as Will says checkmate, and his head slumps down)

Will
(First thinks it’s a joke and chuckles)
Rob, stop messing around.
(Rob limply falls out of chair)
ROB!

Will jumps up and bends over Rob.
We zoom out from Will bending over Rob. We hear sirens start blaring, and we fade into next scene.

Scene 2
Ext. Will's house

We see an ambulance and firetruck parked in front of the house

Int. Will’s house
Cut to CU on Rob as they lay a sheet over his lifeless body
Cut to Will CU

Will
(Staring blankly at the body)


Paramedic
There was nothing you could have done.

Will
(Still looking at Rob)
Yes there was!

Paramedic
Sir, I think you should get some rest.

Will's friend Rachel walks into the scene.
Sees Will and walks over quickly.
Paramedic steps away from Will.

Rachel
Are you all right? I came as soon as I heard.

Will
It's all my fault Rachel.
(Finally turns from Rob and looks at her with pain in his eyes)
It's all my fault.

Rachel
(In disbelief)
What do you mean?

Will
It was me!

Rachel
(Puts hand on Will’s cheek)
It’s ok. You didn't do anything, he had a heart attack. You couldn't have prevented it.

Will
NO, no. I could have, I didn't have to play. He didn't really want to. I forced him to!

Rachel
Will, you need some rest.
(Hugs Will)

Will
(While still hugging, but looking intense)
I will never play that game again.
(Breaks from her and walks away)

Cut to black!



Scene-3
Int. Will’s Bedroom
Dream Sequence
Will is again seen asleep
We see Will’s father sitting in a chair at his house
Young Will is playing with Lincoln logs by the fireplace
A knock is heard at the door

Will
I’ll get it Dad.

Rick
Ok.

Will
(Walks to front door)
(Opens door)
(Promoter James is standing there)
It’s for you.

Rick
(Gets up from chair and walks to the door)
(He sees James)
What brings you here?

James
I’ve come to talk with you about something.

Rick
What is it?

James
C’mon let’s go somewhere more quiet.

Rick
Ok, let me get my hat.
(Turns to Will)
Son, tell your mother I’ll be out for a bit.

Will
Ok, Dad.

Rick
(Grabs hat and walks out door)


Scene 4
Int. Will's house
The next morning
Will is eating breakfast
He hears a knock on the door
He get's up to answer it
Cut to front door (same camera angle as dream sequence)

Will
(Opens Door)
(He sees James standing there)
What are you doing here?

James
I'm sorry about what happened to Rob. I know you were close, since…. Well….

Will
What do you want from me!

James
I just want to help you. I can get you a 2.5 million dollar match. Ivan Cheleski has wanted to match you for over 3 years. He deserves a shot at the title.

Will
(Looking intent and angry)
I’ll say it only so many times. I will never play again!
(Slams the door)
(He plops into his chair, lays his head back and closes his eyes)
(A few seconds pass, and we hear another knock at the door)
(Will gets up and answers it)
(Will thinking it is James is still angry)
(He is pleasantly suprised to see Rachel at the door)

Rachel
I just saw James Farris leave, what did he want?

Will
(Closing door)
He wanted me to match Ivan Cheleski. I told him absolutely not.


Rachel
(Speaks softly and stands close)
I know you’re upset about Rob, but you can’t just give up on chess, it’s your whole life.

Will
I'm afraid Rachel, what if I kill someone else?

Rachel
(puzzled)
What?

WIll
I mean that Rob died because I beat him. He was old. I should’ve… It was my fault! Don't you understand! Why is everyone trying to get me to play chess!?

Rachel
Will, listen to me, you're in shock, and very hurt. But, he didn't die because of you. It would've happened regardless.

Will
(Places his head in his hands)
No, No, No. You’re wrong!

Scene 5
Int. Will’s Bedroom
Dream Sequence
We pan fireplace, show Lincoln logs
Young Will is asleep in bed
He hears the phone ring
We see Will get up from his bed and walk toward his bedroom door
His Mom picks up the phone
She talks very briefly

Mom
I see. It was an accident? Ok, ok, yes, I understand.
(Dazed)
Thank you.
(Starts getting emotional/crying)

Mom
Yes, thank you. Goodbye.

She starts crying loudly when she hangs up
Will gets out of bed and walks to his Mom

Will
Mom, what is it?



Mom
(Saying over the crying)
It’s your father, he’s…he’s….
(Cries uncontrollably)

Will
What’s wrong with Dad?

Mom
Your father had an accident. He’s dead.

Will
WHAT! NO!
(Starts crying)

Scene 6
Int. Will’s House
Next Morning
Kitchen
Will walks into room, where Rachel is reading the paper

Will
How’d you get in here?

Rachel
(Sarcastically)
I walked in.

Will
(Sits down at the table)
Rachel, I’ve been having these dreams, about my father. About the night of his death.

Rachel
You’ve never told me about your father.

Will
I don’t want to remember it.


Notes:
Promoter was the one who killed Will's father.
Will goes crazy about his friend dying.
Will starts running away from the haggling promoter.
Rachel tries to help Will, but is eventually killed by the promoter.
Will kills promoter, and is sent to prison.
Final scene of the film is of Will in a cell playing chess with himself.

this script is awesome

I thought it was overall pretty good. However, there is some stuff that I thought was pretty generic and just some plain confusion.

1.I'll make you an offer you cant refuse???? I think that's been done.
2.How did the promoter kill him? He had a heart attack.
3.What? Will goes crazy because of his DAD right? Not his friend?
4. Will is killed by the promoter, but then Will kills the promoter? He's already dead!
5. The dreams are reaaaally linear, like it came right out of the ending of Dallas(or was that Dynasty?)
6. There is also too many WHAT?!?!?! NO!!!!!! Kinda things.

Ok that's my rant. But overall good story.

Vantango Films

"your father. he's dead"
"what?! NO!"
end scene.

his father just died and all he has to say to express how he feels is "what" and "no".

I liked the end scene. Thats all though.