The Burning Box
I always seem to have some weird intro to my scripts, but I promise that this one is (kinda) short. This script is not intended to be remotely realistic. The reason I chose these characters was to push the theme of "why we deal with all the crap that comes with being in society"; I needed a character on the fringes of society who chose to enter into its guts and see it in a fresh light. This certainly has some comedic elements, but I hope they are taken in the right way because I'm not trying to be demeaning, in fact if I'm demeaning anyone it's the fully functioning members of society.
BACK ALLEY- NIGHT
We see a drunken man stumbling though an alley in a large town. The drunk finds himself behind a building, and sees a large cardboard box. Laughing, he pours a great deal of alcohol on the box and lights it aflame, urinating on it as the flames grow. The drunk then begins to shuffle away but then stops and decides to sleep, right then and there.
Enter WILL, a twenty-something year old homeless man in a ratty jacket and jeans.
WILL
(upon seeing the now smoldering box)
NO! Oh my God my box!
Will sees the drunk lying only feet away, and nudges the man repeatedly with his foot
WILL
Hey! You! Asshole!
DRUNK
What? Whosaidthat?
WILL
You burned down my box! I lived in there! Everything I owned was in there! Now I have nothing!
DRUNK
What? No I don’t want your cookies…
The drunk’s speech turns to babble, and he quickly returns to sleep.
WILL
Hey! HEY! I had some fantastic red blankets in there that were irreplaceable! I can’t believe you…you ASSHOLE!
Will marches away furiously
INT SULLY’S APARTMENT
We hear a knock on the door. SULLY, a twenty-something year old with gelled hair and a polo, opens the door with a beer in his hand and sees Will standing in the hallway.
SULLY
Will, you were just here like twenty minutes ago. What’s up?
WILL
Some drunk asshole burned down my box.
SULLY
He burned down your box? Dude what about those amazing red blankets?
WILL
Sully, they’re gone. The blankets are gone. All burned up.
(pause)
I can’t believe it! They were such nice blankets!
SULLY
The blankets dude! The blankets! It’s a travesty.
The two pause in solemn silence, nodding in agreement.
SULLY
Well listen, if you need to crash here for a few days, be my guest. The couch is all yours.
WILL
Hey, thanks a lot.
SULLY
Yeah don’t worry about it. You want a beer?
WILL
No I’m good.
SULLY
Alright, well I’m going to drink a little more and then call it a night.
Sully beckons Will inside before wandering to his bedroom and closing the door behind him.
Will lies down on the couch, shifting into the fetal position before falling asleep.
SULLY’S APARTMENT-MORNING
Will wakes to the sound of sizzling bacon. He stretches and looks over the couch to see Sully cooking bacon and eggs with oven mitts on. Sully hands him a plate, and the two of them eat on the couch watching morning television.
SULLY
So I think you should go see a lawyer about this.
WILL
Really?
SULLY
Yeah dude, you need to see a lawyer.
WILL
Alright, what should I do then?
SULLY
You don’t need to do anything, because I already called one.
WILL
You already called a lawyer?
SULLY
Yup. You’re going to see him tomorrow.
WILL
Wow…thanks.
SULLY
I got you back, bro. So listen, I’m going to be at work until like five. You gonna be good?
WILL
Yeah I’ll be fine.
Will plays old video games, twisting and turning as he mindlessly navigates through the digital worlds. He breaks for lunch, consisting of a sandwich, before turning to a daytime TV soap opera. He momentarily scoffs before he becomes completely sucked into the show.
SULLY’S APARTMENT-15 MINUTES LATER
WILL
Don’t pick the dick, don’t pick the dick…
The female character on the show is about to choose between two men. Will is visibly anxious as to what will happen next.
WILL
Oh come on! Really? You picked HIM? What are you thinking? I thought you knew better- Kate taught you street smarts, and this is what you do with them? Pshhhh
SULLY’S APARTMENT- 5 HOURS LATER
Will is in the midst of avidly watching a Spanish soap opera when he hears Sully at the door, and quickly changes the channel. Sully walks in, grabs a beer, and collapses next to Will.
WILL
So how’s things?
SULLY
Things are alright. I don’t know, not a lot to say.
WILL
Alright, alright. What do you want to do?
SULLY
Well I was thinking, you want to get some better looking clothes for tomorrow?
WILL
I mean I don’t have any money, man, and I’d feel really weird using your money.
SULLY
Dude, you need to look better for tomorrow, and it won’t cost me a lot to make you look presentable.
WILL
I guess. What are you thinking?
DEPARTMENT STORE-EVENING
Sully is holding up two different polo shirts for Will to choose from.
SULLY
Alright, those jeans are nifty. You need a nice shirt though, and these are nice. Just pick one dude.
WILL
(pointing at a simple long-sleeve T shirt)
What about like that? That looks nice too.
SULLY
Ah, Will, you’re killing me. I mean if that’s what you want, we’ll get it.
WILL
Yeah I’m going with this then.
SULLY’S APARTMENT- NIGHT
Will sleeps in his new shirt and jeans on the couch.
SULLY’S APARTMENT- NEXT MORNING
SULLY
Dude! Dude get up!
WILL
(groggily)
What?
SULLY
Dude you’ve got to be over at the law office in like 10 minutes! Get up! It’s like a 20 minute walk from here, halfway up Brentwood Ave.
Will jumps off the couch and shoves his feet into his shoes.
WILL
Halfway up Brentwood you said?
SULLY
Yeah, you’ll see it on your left. It’s Shearer and Shearer.
WILL
Shearer and Shearer, alright thanks.
Will begins to head out the door.
SULLY
Hey!
(hands Will a piece of toast)
Toast.
WILL
Thanks Sully.
SIDEWALK
Will sprints down the street towards his destination. He progressively slows as he makes his way over, and by the time he arrives he is gasping for breath. After composing himself, he enters the reception room and approaches the secretary.
RECEPTION ROOM
WILL
Hi I’m here for my appointment with Mr. Shearer.
SECRETARY
Alright, Mr.…Will Vickman? He’ll be with you in a moment.
WILL
Thank you.
Will sits in a chair and grabs a magazine. He sees the secretary glance over at him several times with interest, and is at a loss over what to do. He waits only very briefly.
SECRETARY
Mr. Shearer will see you now.
WILL
Thank you.
LAW OFFICE
Will enters timidly, peeking around the door to see a large, middle aged Mr. Shearer.
SHEARER
Hi there! Will Vickman is it?
WILL
Yes Mr. Shearer, it’s nice to meet you.
SHEARER
Call me Dave. It’s nice to meet you too. Now what can I do for you?
WILL
…Well, I’d like to sue a man for arson.
SHEARER
Arson? Why haven’t you gone to the police? Didn’t you file a police report after the fire broke out?
WILL
Well, this is a little different
(pause)
I’m homeless.
SHEARER
Well your house just burned down, I would think that-
WILL
No, you don’t understand, I have been homeless for a while now. The asshole burned down my box with everything in it.
Shearer starts laughing hysterically, and twists in his seat uncontrollably.
SHEARER
Teddy put you up to this didn’t he? Oh my God that Teddy’s something.
WILL
…I’m going to go now.
SHEARER
No! Wait, wait, wait, I’m going to call him up! You’ve got to stay!
But Will walks away and closes the door behind him slowly.
SECRETARY
Hey, so it didn’t go well?
WILL
No, I’d say it didn’t go too well.
SECRETARY
Well hey, I’m not one to normally do this, but I’m going to give you my number. Don’t think it’s out of pity, because it’s not. I just think you're hot.
The secretary places a folded piece of paper in his hand.
WILL
Oh! Wow…thank you. Listen, I’m sorry, I’m in a hurry, I’ve got to go.
SECRETARY
Alright. Call me though!
WILL
(walking through the door)
I will!
SHEARER (OS)
Teddy! Teddy you sonofabitch! That was hysterical! Amazing!
(pause)
What do you mean ‘what are you talking about’?
SIDEWALK
Will walks out the door and leans against the wall next to it. His jaw open, he stands in shock.
SULLY
What the hell happened to you?
WILL
What? Nothing. I don’t have a case, the guy said.
SULLY
That’s crap. Well what do you want to do? You want to go hunt for a new box?
WILL
(holding onto the piece of paper in his pocket)
No, you know what? I’m gonna look for a job. I could still get a job, don’t you think?
SULLY
You serious? I mean yeah, I’ll look around for you. You’re not picky, right?
WILL
Really? What do you think? No. Not at all.
SULLY
Alright good. …You’re really serious?
WILL
Yeah, yes, I am.
SULLY
Alright. There’s a seafood shack we’re gonna hit then- I’m gonna call them right now, give me a sec.
Sully wanders off on his cell phone, leaving Will alone. Still leaning against the wall, he pulls out the piece of paper with the secretary’s number on it and smiles.
BACK ALLEY- NIGHT
We see a drunken man stumbling though an alley in a large town. The drunk finds himself behind a building, and sees a large cardboard box. Laughing, he pours a great deal of alcohol on the box and lights it aflame, urinating on it as the flames grow. The drunk then begins to shuffle away but then stops and decides to sleep, right then and there.
Enter WILL, a twenty-something year old homeless man in a ratty jacket and jeans.
WILL
(upon seeing the now smoldering box)
NO! Oh my God my box!
Will sees the drunk lying only feet away, and nudges the man repeatedly with his foot
WILL
Hey! You! Asshole!
DRUNK
What? Whosaidthat?
WILL
You burned down my box! I lived in there! Everything I owned was in there! Now I have nothing!
DRUNK
What? No I don’t want your cookies…
The drunk’s speech turns to babble, and he quickly returns to sleep.
WILL
Hey! HEY! I had some fantastic red blankets in there that were irreplaceable! I can’t believe you…you ASSHOLE!
Will marches away furiously
INT SULLY’S APARTMENT
We hear a knock on the door. SULLY, a twenty-something year old with gelled hair and a polo, opens the door with a beer in his hand and sees Will standing in the hallway.
SULLY
Will, you were just here like twenty minutes ago. What’s up?
WILL
Some drunk asshole burned down my box.
SULLY
He burned down your box? Dude what about those amazing red blankets?
WILL
Sully, they’re gone. The blankets are gone. All burned up.
(pause)
I can’t believe it! They were such nice blankets!
SULLY
The blankets dude! The blankets! It’s a travesty.
The two pause in solemn silence, nodding in agreement.
SULLY
Well listen, if you need to crash here for a few days, be my guest. The couch is all yours.
WILL
Hey, thanks a lot.
SULLY
Yeah don’t worry about it. You want a beer?
WILL
No I’m good.
SULLY
Alright, well I’m going to drink a little more and then call it a night.
Sully beckons Will inside before wandering to his bedroom and closing the door behind him.
Will lies down on the couch, shifting into the fetal position before falling asleep.
SULLY’S APARTMENT-MORNING
Will wakes to the sound of sizzling bacon. He stretches and looks over the couch to see Sully cooking bacon and eggs with oven mitts on. Sully hands him a plate, and the two of them eat on the couch watching morning television.
SULLY
So I think you should go see a lawyer about this.
WILL
Really?
SULLY
Yeah dude, you need to see a lawyer.
WILL
Alright, what should I do then?
SULLY
You don’t need to do anything, because I already called one.
WILL
You already called a lawyer?
SULLY
Yup. You’re going to see him tomorrow.
WILL
Wow…thanks.
SULLY
I got you back, bro. So listen, I’m going to be at work until like five. You gonna be good?
WILL
Yeah I’ll be fine.
Will plays old video games, twisting and turning as he mindlessly navigates through the digital worlds. He breaks for lunch, consisting of a sandwich, before turning to a daytime TV soap opera. He momentarily scoffs before he becomes completely sucked into the show.
SULLY’S APARTMENT-15 MINUTES LATER
WILL
Don’t pick the dick, don’t pick the dick…
The female character on the show is about to choose between two men. Will is visibly anxious as to what will happen next.
WILL
Oh come on! Really? You picked HIM? What are you thinking? I thought you knew better- Kate taught you street smarts, and this is what you do with them? Pshhhh
SULLY’S APARTMENT- 5 HOURS LATER
Will is in the midst of avidly watching a Spanish soap opera when he hears Sully at the door, and quickly changes the channel. Sully walks in, grabs a beer, and collapses next to Will.
WILL
So how’s things?
SULLY
Things are alright. I don’t know, not a lot to say.
WILL
Alright, alright. What do you want to do?
SULLY
Well I was thinking, you want to get some better looking clothes for tomorrow?
WILL
I mean I don’t have any money, man, and I’d feel really weird using your money.
SULLY
Dude, you need to look better for tomorrow, and it won’t cost me a lot to make you look presentable.
WILL
I guess. What are you thinking?
DEPARTMENT STORE-EVENING
Sully is holding up two different polo shirts for Will to choose from.
SULLY
Alright, those jeans are nifty. You need a nice shirt though, and these are nice. Just pick one dude.
WILL
(pointing at a simple long-sleeve T shirt)
What about like that? That looks nice too.
SULLY
Ah, Will, you’re killing me. I mean if that’s what you want, we’ll get it.
WILL
Yeah I’m going with this then.
SULLY’S APARTMENT- NIGHT
Will sleeps in his new shirt and jeans on the couch.
SULLY’S APARTMENT- NEXT MORNING
SULLY
Dude! Dude get up!
WILL
(groggily)
What?
SULLY
Dude you’ve got to be over at the law office in like 10 minutes! Get up! It’s like a 20 minute walk from here, halfway up Brentwood Ave.
Will jumps off the couch and shoves his feet into his shoes.
WILL
Halfway up Brentwood you said?
SULLY
Yeah, you’ll see it on your left. It’s Shearer and Shearer.
WILL
Shearer and Shearer, alright thanks.
Will begins to head out the door.
SULLY
Hey!
(hands Will a piece of toast)
Toast.
WILL
Thanks Sully.
SIDEWALK
Will sprints down the street towards his destination. He progressively slows as he makes his way over, and by the time he arrives he is gasping for breath. After composing himself, he enters the reception room and approaches the secretary.
RECEPTION ROOM
WILL
Hi I’m here for my appointment with Mr. Shearer.
SECRETARY
Alright, Mr.…Will Vickman? He’ll be with you in a moment.
WILL
Thank you.
Will sits in a chair and grabs a magazine. He sees the secretary glance over at him several times with interest, and is at a loss over what to do. He waits only very briefly.
SECRETARY
Mr. Shearer will see you now.
WILL
Thank you.
LAW OFFICE
Will enters timidly, peeking around the door to see a large, middle aged Mr. Shearer.
SHEARER
Hi there! Will Vickman is it?
WILL
Yes Mr. Shearer, it’s nice to meet you.
SHEARER
Call me Dave. It’s nice to meet you too. Now what can I do for you?
WILL
…Well, I’d like to sue a man for arson.
SHEARER
Arson? Why haven’t you gone to the police? Didn’t you file a police report after the fire broke out?
WILL
Well, this is a little different
(pause)
I’m homeless.
SHEARER
Well your house just burned down, I would think that-
WILL
No, you don’t understand, I have been homeless for a while now. The asshole burned down my box with everything in it.
Shearer starts laughing hysterically, and twists in his seat uncontrollably.
SHEARER
Teddy put you up to this didn’t he? Oh my God that Teddy’s something.
WILL
…I’m going to go now.
SHEARER
No! Wait, wait, wait, I’m going to call him up! You’ve got to stay!
But Will walks away and closes the door behind him slowly.
SECRETARY
Hey, so it didn’t go well?
WILL
No, I’d say it didn’t go too well.
SECRETARY
Well hey, I’m not one to normally do this, but I’m going to give you my number. Don’t think it’s out of pity, because it’s not. I just think you're hot.
The secretary places a folded piece of paper in his hand.
WILL
Oh! Wow…thank you. Listen, I’m sorry, I’m in a hurry, I’ve got to go.
SECRETARY
Alright. Call me though!
WILL
(walking through the door)
I will!
SHEARER (OS)
Teddy! Teddy you sonofabitch! That was hysterical! Amazing!
(pause)
What do you mean ‘what are you talking about’?
SIDEWALK
Will walks out the door and leans against the wall next to it. His jaw open, he stands in shock.
SULLY
What the hell happened to you?
WILL
What? Nothing. I don’t have a case, the guy said.
SULLY
That’s crap. Well what do you want to do? You want to go hunt for a new box?
WILL
(holding onto the piece of paper in his pocket)
No, you know what? I’m gonna look for a job. I could still get a job, don’t you think?
SULLY
You serious? I mean yeah, I’ll look around for you. You’re not picky, right?
WILL
Really? What do you think? No. Not at all.
SULLY
Alright good. …You’re really serious?
WILL
Yeah, yes, I am.
SULLY
Alright. There’s a seafood shack we’re gonna hit then- I’m gonna call them right now, give me a sec.
Sully wanders off on his cell phone, leaving Will alone. Still leaning against the wall, he pulls out the piece of paper with the secretary’s number on it and smiles.
