Real Dreams- A script for a specul short film.
INT. MITCHELL’S HOME, BEDROOM. DAY
A man is lying down. His head is bandaged, and he seems
unconscious. A woman is with him, his mother. She is
sleeping on a chair beside him, middle-aged and she looks
disheveled. Mitchell wakes up groggy. He calls out to her
and she wakes up, and grabs his hand.
MITCHELL:
Mom?
MOM:
Mitchell? Thank God you are
all right! I’ve been worried
sick!
Mitchell tries to get up but Mom pushes him gently back on
the bed.
MITCHELL:
(weakly)
What happened? My head is killing
me.
MOM:
You were in an accident. You hit
your head pretty bad. You should
rest.
MITCHELL:
An accident? I can’t remember
anything.
The doctor walks in.
DOCTOR:
That would be traumatic amnesia as
a result of your fall. You took a
pretty big hit to the head there.
MOM:
But would he be fine, Doctor?
DOCTOR:
Nothing a few months of bedrest
won’t fix. They may come at once,
or might resurface gradually. He’ll
be fine.
His mother is obviously relieved.
2.
EXT. OUTSIDE MITCHELL’S HOME. EVENING.
Mitchell and his mom are taking a walk outside. It is a
quiet neighbourhood, suburban. He’s in a slingshot and his
head is still bandaged. They see a ragged looking man at the
curb who appears to be homeless. He is staring at Mitchell.
HOMELESS MAN:
You’re still dreaming, kid.
MITCHELL:
(looking confused)
What did you say?
MOM:
Said something, honey?
He takes a look the homeless man again. He smiles
creepily,bringing his left index finger to his lips,
indicating silence.
MITCHELL:
Nothing, Mum. Nothing at all.
INT. BLUE CHEVROLET. EVENING
Mother drives. Mitchell stays in front where she can monitor
him.
MOM:
You’re finally on your way home.
Betty can’t wait to see you again!
MITCHELL:
(looking confused)
I was at home minutes ago! What
happened?! And who’s Betty?
MOM:
Betty is your best friend since
high school. And I just brought you
in from the hospital. Are you sure
that you’re okay?
MITCHELL:
But that’s Daniel. You’ve known
Daniel almost my entire life.
MOM:
Daniel? Who’s Daniel?
Mitchell looks like he’s about to have a fit but then his
Mom steps in.
3.
MOM:
Honey, you hit your head pretty
bad. Why don’t you rest a bit?
Mitchell groans. He is too tired to respond so he settles
himself in to sleep. Before he does, he checks the time. It
is 6:00PM.
INT. MITCHELL’S HOME, BEDROOM. EVENING
He’s back home again. This time, the homeless dude is the
doctor.
MITCHELL:
(to himself)
I’m definitely dreaming this time.
Be cool, this is just a dream.
HOMELESS MAN:
That was a bad accident you had
there kid. Gotta run some tests to
see if you remember anything.
The doctor gets a few sheets of paper.
MITCHELL:
Uhm...okay?
HOMELESS MAN:
Your mom filled up these just in
case you had any trouble
remembering. She said you had
an...issue? We’re going to go
through the questions now. We’ll
start with your name.
MITCHELL:
That would be Mitchell.
HOMELESS MAN:
That was easy. Now how old are you?
MITCHELL:
20?
HOMELESS MAN:
Nope. You’re sixteen.
MITCHELL:
That’s some crazy shit. I’m twenty
years old!
4.
HOMELESS MAN:
Calm down now. Best friend?
MITCHELL:
Betty. Not Daniel, Betty.
HOMELESS MAN:
This is worse than I thought. Sorry
bud but we gotta fix you up for
surgery.
MITCHELL:
(still shouting)
I don’t need surgery!
He is restrained. The doctor brings out surgical tools. No
anesthesia.
HOMELESS MAN:
Hold still now.
He moves to make an incision on Mitchell’s forehead.
MITCHELL:
(sobbing)
Please. Please. I don’t need
surgery. Please!
INT. MITCHELL’S HOME BEDROOM. EVENING
Mitchell is still at home, his head unhurt. He is awake, but
his mom does not know that. She is still talking to the
doctor.
MOM:
Are you sure he’ll be all right?
It’s been nine months in the
asylum.
DOCTOR:
He’ll be fine. I performed the
surgery to make sure. He has no
memory of it.
Mitchell coughs. His mom runs to him.
MOM:
Mitchell! Thank God you’re okay.
We’ve been worried sick since the
accident.
5.
MITCHELL:
(smiling creepily)
I’m fine now, Ma. I’m fine
Mitchell holds a knife behind his back.