The
SCENE 1
HALLWAY to BUSINESS ROOM
Secretary: (business-like, stressed, messy hair) Mr. Andrews – you have a meeting at six with the chancellor but someone from the newspaper just called in and wanted to do an interview with you at the same time.
Andrews: (business-like) Tell the chancellor I’ll meet with him tomorrow. (They enter the room) Good Afternoon, members of the student body.
Everybody: Good afternoon.
Andrews: With the
expansion of the campus, we are simply running out of space. We’ve run out of unused areas and are
considering alternatives. One of our
options is the removal the old water tower by the
Frank: Thank god!! That piece of crap is useless!!
Shirley: (shakes her head) Frank.
General business laughter from the group.
Shirley: But seriously, we’ve been promising the students the new sports center for 2 years now. The people who voted on it should see it before they leave.
Bob: (different voice) There’s no practical use for the tower, we already have a new pump filtration center.
Jeremy: Uh, what about the residents who want to make it a historical landmark?
Frank: Landmark for crappy water!
Awkward silence and they all look at him.
Frank: I’m up for making it history!
Bob: Well, before we tell the chancellor, shouldn’t we go down and have a look before we make a final decision.
Andrews: Well how bout it? Field trip everybody?
SCENE 2: ASUCD AT WATER TOWER
The business-like students all line up in a row looking at the Tower. Andrews, at the end of the row, goes in front to talk.
Andrews: What do ya think guys? Historical landmark?
Everyone: (quick response) No.
As they walk away the Tower behind them, turns its torso.
SCENE 3: JENNY AND GRANDPA
Jenny is leading. Grandpa is following.
Jenny: Hello!!... Hello!!!(ahead)(back at grandpa) This way grandpa.
Grandpa: Honey – we were worried sick about you!! Is this where you’ve been for the last hour?
Jenny: No grandpa – I was over there. Come here! I want to show you something.
Grandpa: First you were with us and then you were suddenly gone! Everybody at the potluck was looking for you! Your mom almost called the police!! Never wander off, ever again.
Jenny: Yeah, but this is cool! (to a far off distance) HELLO!! I BROUGHT MY GRANDPA!!!
Grandpa: You’ve been with a person?! Jenny, we’ve told you that you can’t talk to strangers!
Jenny: This is different. Right THERE! (points ahead)
Grandpa: (they stop, grandpa is still huffing from the walk over) Where? Jenny – is this where you’ve been?
Jenny: (frustrated) YES GRANDPA! Now look! (Jenny walks a little further up so that Grandpa can see her) (She strikes a pose, then concentrates, then bends her torso sideways)
Grandpa: What are you doing?
Jenny: Shhhh! Watch!
Grandpa: (Watches curiously)
Jenny’s concentration looks ten-fold now, she bends again, but nothing happens. Jenny gives a little squeak of disappointment.
Grandpa: What’s wrong?
Jenny: It worked just a little bit ago!
Grandpa: Honey, we have got to go – your mom’s meeting us soon!
Jenny: I’m serious – I’m not lying! (she is very disappointed and believes Grandpa thinks she’s lying)
Grandpa: I’m sure you weren’t – but we have to go.
Jenny: I’m not lying (pout)
Grandpa: What was it you were trying to do?
Jenny: Hmpphhh! Never mind! Obviously YOU don’t care!
Grandpa: Does it have to do with the water tower?
Jenny: Yeah.
Grandpa: What about it.
Jenny: It’s alive.
Grandpa: Really?! Maybe you should tell that to the people who want to tear it down?
Jenny: What? (Sudden seriousness)
Grandpa, they can’t do that! Here look!!! (Jenny goes over to try again)
Grandpa: There are things you can do to help it from being torn down.
Jenny: (after another failed attempt) Really?
Grandpa: I promise! But we have to leave now - I’ll tell you on the way home – you’re mom’s waiting.
Jenny: Fine – let’s go. (they start to head out) But we really need to stop the people from tearing it down – that would be a big mistake! (Jenny looks back – bends her torso one last time as she’s walking away)
The tower bends in the same direction.
Jenny is ecstatic.
SCENE 4: THE CONFLICT
NEWSREEL
SCENE 4A: NEWSROOM
News Anchor: Hi – you’re watching KAGTV and I’m Kate Williams with the latest. (a picture of the tower appears in the corner) President Andrews has announced the deconstruction of the Old Water Tower to replace it with the long awaited sports center. A CONTROVERSY arose between the students and city residents who both stood in front of the tower to support or protest the decision.
SCENE 4B
(Protestor stands with a sign at hand)
Protestor: This tower has been here since the town was built! And now, they just want to tear it down?
Student: We’ve been promised the sports center for a long time! I gave my vote to the people in office and they’re just doing what they promised. I think it’s great and give my full support.
SCENE 4C
News Anchor: (SCENE 4C; SHOT1 pic of Andrews e, at a podium into cameras) In appreciation for their understanding (his lips move with her commentary), president Andrews met with the local residents at the city hall, presenting them with a miniature replica of the tower in memory of its service to the community (he unveils a large covered box and we cut to shot of one guy sitting alone in an empty room with a picket sign at his feet) . Still, residents continue to protest. To add to the tension, students have been caught degrading the water tower at night. Offenders used toilet paper and spray paint, and one student was even arrested for using the Water Tower as target practice for her BB guns. The Police were appalled by these actions and warn that these illegal activities will be dealt with accordingly.
SCENE 4D
Protestor: It’s a form of disrespect! That’s what these young people lack – a RESPECTFUL attitude!
SCENE 4E
News Anchor: Looks like the end of an era. The tower demolition will begin starting next week. I’m Kate Williams and this has been Evenings at 5 with KAGTV
SCENE 5: THE TOWER AT SUNSET
Fade in.
The Water tower stands tall in the sunset. Faint sounds of its metal moaning.
Fade out.
TITLE: One week later.
SCENE 6: THE ESCAPE
CU of a piece of trash. From behind we see Tommy, a 20 year old skater, back up as if preparing for a kick – he runs up and kicks it smoothly like a soccer ball. It goes flying into the fence protecting the water tower. Signs say “no entry!”. Jake throws a rock, there is a ‘clink’ sound of it hitting the tower. He throws another one, ‘clink’.
Tommy searches through his backpack, taking out spray paint.
Jake: Can you believe this mess?
Tommy: Whatever… this’ll be a trash heap by tomorrow afternoon.
Jake: True… You hear that? (to the tower) YOU’RE GOIN DOWN!!! (*throws a rock* *clink*)
Tommy: (Gets up, hands Jake a spray can) What the… (looking over to the fence) Aww man! (Fred is peeing on the fence) Fred!! Keep it in will you!?
Fred: (Starts walking back - drunk as a fother mucker) I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to piss there.
Tommy: Man I don’t care where you piss, just tell me so I don’t look! (*throws a rock at Fred*)
Jake: Why do you have to hang out with us?
Fred curls a bit to avoid the rock. He walks up to the other two.
Fred: I feel sick.
Jake: Hey Fred, I’ll give you $50 if you can hit the logo! Here try (he hands him a stone)
(Fred winds to throw but finds his balance is off center and he falls backward before even throwing)
Jake and Tommy laugh, enjoying the misery of their loser friend.
Fred: Shuttup guys! …(tries to get up but can’t) Shuttup!
Jake and Tommy turn around and each hurl a rock at the Tower. ‘Clink’ ‘Clink’
Fred: (to himself, getting angry) Shuttup!! (on the second “shuttup” he bangs his fist into the ground and the ground rumbles for a long time.)
After it stops, Fred gazes at his fist, while the other two are at a loss for words.
Tommy: Was that just an earthquake?
Fred: (Fred looks at his fist in amazement, pounds his fist again into the ground) (it happens again – a large shake, this time with metal sounds, in the background the tower falls dust)
The drunk Fred is very excited about this new discovery, but the other two seem to walk off toward the water tower.
Tommy: It came from the water tower.
Jake: Are they tearing it down today? Where are the people?
They walk right up to the tower. It makes a noise (creeking).
Jake: It’s definitely the tower.
Tommy: Does this mean I bought the paint for nothing?
Suddenly the beams break from the legs – and begin to fall. We have our shot of the tower from below and it breaking away.
Fred is still on the ground, still hasn’t realized any of this and is still looking at his hand in amazement.
Fred: Guys! Guys!!! (ecstatic)
He turns around to find Tommy and Jake freaking out and running off as fast as they can. We see the view that Fred has (Fred in the foreground) of the tower running after them as he realizes what is happening. They run out into the parking lot and we see they are being chased by huge legs. One gets stomped in his tracks and then the other.
Track in to Fred.
SCENE 7: TODD AND CINDY - SILO
EXT. DAY – In front of the silo.
Todd is waiting for the bus stop, sitting on the concrete ledge and chatting with Cindy.
Cindy: So how was that party last night? (Todd’s phone begins to ring in the background)
Todd: Oh man, it was crazy (He pulls it out of his pocket. He looks at her.) Sorry. (She gestures so that we get the idea that there’s no problem. He presses a cell phone button) Hey Fred what’s up? I can’t understand you, you’re mumbling. What? … the water tower – what about it? Have you been drinking? (The sound of the water tower gets closer and louder) I can’t hear you! There doing some kind of construction around here. What’s coming toward the Silo?
As Todd continues to listen to Fred, we start to see people scurry out of the silo doors in the background. Todd is still listening on the phone but now with Cindy in focus. She turns around to see the source of the sounds. She can’t believe her eyes She hits Todd to tell him to turn around, and as he does, he stands and puts down his phone with his mouth wide open in awe. Cut to a wide shot of them in the frame but we pan up to the roof of the silo and see the tower’s head is seen bobbing behind.
Both Cindy and Todd slowly walk backward in disbelief. Cindy clenches Todd, almost as if hiding.
Todd: What is that?
SCENE 8:
GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA
On the side of Chem 194 (this scene would be cool, but might not effective if there are no shadows)
Steven has earphones on. He is putting up a big paper sign on the side of Chem 194. It says “FREE SCREENING OF “GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA” TONIGHT!! He is done putting it up. A shake occurs, and the thing falls down. He turns around, takes off his sunglasses. He follows the huge beast by turning his head. A shadow passes over him, he takes off his sunglasses. The shadow of the tower crosses over him as it passes by.
SCENE 9:
Chem 194 bike circle
Mildred is standing completely still, stupefied by the approaching tower. Nobody in this area yet knows of the tower’s violence yet. A photography student is taking picture of nearby still life. He removes his eye from his camera and suddenly sees the tower. Excited, he gets in the middle of the road to take a good picture and suddenly panics as the tower foot comes down and making the tower’s intentions known. Mildred lets out a deafening shriek of terror, setting a disaster tone for the scene. People are running, screaming, and scattering about at this time. Some cyclists enter the circle and their path is blocked by a leg, they all turn around and leave the circle in the wrong direction. A few people run out from the area near the tower and over the bike circle. We see them all get smashed by the tower in quick movements, one by one. Cut to a wide angle shot of the tower crouched over with its feet where the people used to be. This is the first full-body reveal of the tower in all its glory. It creaks as if to howl a victory cry towards the camera. Cut to: The water tower is in the same position, but we are father down the road and we see Shirley from the side, hiding behind a tree.
Shirley: (panicking and shaking) Get Andrews, we have a major problem!
SCENE 10: LIBRARY PHOTO
OP (ANDREWS)
Andrews is at a photo op reading to kids.
Andrews: …and let me tell you about that lamb!!
Reporter: Picture!!
Andrews grabs the kid next to him and smiles for the camera.
A guy with black sun glasses whispers into his ear
Andrews: What? Are you serious?
The guy whispers into his ear.
SCENE 11: THE PLAN (CONFERENCE ROOM)
INTERIOR: The conference room.
Andrews: (Seriously concerned) We need to come up with a plan fast! It’s heading towards the quad. This is a publicity nightmare.
Jeremy: The
protestors will have a field day.
Shirley walks in quietly in the background with her hair in a mess and sits as Bob is talking.
Bob: This whole thing is just illogical. How can we stop something illogical with logic. (Frank begins to roll his eyes) This is ridiculous!
Random guy who’s never spoken before (Fook): Maybe we should leave it to the authorities.
Nobody pays attention
Frank: I say we lure it with Bob.
Andrews: This is no time to joke around Frank.
CU on Shirley.
Shirley: (Sweaty and out of breath) Actually…
SCENE 12: THE TRIP
EXT: A street on the side of the quad.
We see Bob alone in the street with the camera looking down at him. Track out to see him standing behind a rope. He is being used as bait.
Bob: (flustered) Frank if the tower doesn’t kill you I will. (Pause) Wouldn’t it make more sense if we all lured it down this road?
Andrews: In the case where this doesn’t work out, somebody still has to be around to think of something else. (Frank is nodding his head)
Bob: What?!!
Shirley: Don’t worry, this thing is big and dumb. Just a little trip will send it straight to the ground. You were in track Bob, this thing won’t touch you.
Jeremy: Here it comes!
We hear the footsteps come closer and some screams are silenced with stomps. Everyone but Bob takes cover. The Tower is walking his way. As it gets closer, Bob gets nervous. When it is finally near him, he gathers up the courage and begins to taunt it. It steps over the rope and in mid-taunting Bob goes splat. It turns its head to the assembly members. They scatter.
and Shirley, and Jeremy are smashed immediately as they run away.
SCENE 13A: SPECIAL REPORT
Newscast:
Special Report
Anchor: Disaster strikes
SCENE 13B:
We see video footage of it in the quad a running amuck.
SCENE 13C
Anchor:
SCENE 14: JENNY AND THE TOWER AND THE EXPLOSION
EXT: Memorial Union flagpole area
Jenny is sitting a table with her grandpa, with a sign reading “Save the tower”. She is collecting petitions to stop the destruction of the tower.
Jenny: Hello, could you sign this petition to save the water tower – it’s not too late.
Grandpa: We still have a couple of days…
Someone signs the petition and leaves. Jenny is flipping through the pages of signatures and hears the stomping. She looks up as the tower enters her view. Andrews is screaming and running away. The Tower is chasing him. . Grandpa grabs Jenny and pulls her closer to the building under an awning to protect her.
Jenny: (screams) NOOOO!!!
It stops moving just as it is about to kill Andrews. It realizes Jenny’s presence. It puts its foot down, and Andrews (surprised and out of breath) scurries away. It holds on Jenny a bit, contemplating its actions. Jenny breaks away from her Grandfather’s hands.
Grandfather: Jenny, come back!
Jenny ignores her Grandfather and walks solemnly up to the large tower. The tower follows her with its head, it is calming down. Jenny reaches the underbelly of the monster.
Jenny: I can’t save you any more.
Without another word, she turns back and walks away. The tower follows her back, and gives a moan.
Jenny: (looks back one last time, looks at the giant pathetic beast)
Turns back. She walks back to her Grandfather. We hear the helicopters in the background increasing in volume. Her eyes are fixed on the tower as it steps back into its original position, prepared for the consequences. A first missile is fired at the tower followed by a quick second. The barrel the tower explodes and smoke and fire emit. Jenny turns to her grandpa and buries her face in his shirt. Andrew’s reaction.
SCENE
15A: ANDREW’S SPEECH
Andrew’s Speech:
Andrews: A tragedy hit our campus last week. Our hearts go out to the families and friends who have suffered the great loss. Last night a vigil was held, attended by both residents and students who settled their differences and unified to overcome this great sorrow. In memory of our loved ones a monument is being built in the old tower lot. Thank you, and God bless.
---------------------------------
SCENE
15B: AFTER THE SPEECH
KAGTV Camera Guy: aaaaand CUT! That’s a rap folks – tomorrow at 5 as usual (continues to talk to his people)
The Secretary comes up to Andrews as he takes off his coat and prepares to leave.
Secretary: President Andrews – students still want to know where you’re going to build the new sports center.
Andrews: (contemplates) Ummmm. How ‘bout that old windmill field?
Cut to CREDITS!