Library e-Book : 978-1-5384-7314-6
Trade e-Book : 978-1-5384-7315-3
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November 17, 2009
Dear Carl:
Here is “The Late Shift” for the proposed Fangoria series.
I’m very pleased with the way this came out. It departs considerably from the original, but I think it is actually an improvement – less contrived and more coherent. I’m surprised that it is also much more a black comedy, albeit a very dark one. It may be the best radio script I’ve ever written. Of course it’s hard to be objective, since it’s based on my own short story, but that’s the way it seems to me.
This series should be able to handle stories a bit more extreme and unconventional than TZ, and “The Late Shift” is an example. I hope you find it as powerful, thought-provoking and entertaining as I do.
Yes, the cast is huge – almost 40 voices. But surely some of the actors can do double-duty. Jim, our protagonist, is the most important. He doesn’t neccesarily have to be an actor is his 20s. He should be self-assured and grounded rather than geeky (Edward Norton rather than Walter Denton). The tone is serious and realistic, not over-the-top, trying-to-be-scary like a horror movie. Treat it as a straight drama with real people, where occasional absurdities occur in any typical day – if we happen to notice them.
My greatest interest in writing this story was to discover what the dead might have to say when they are alone with each other. It turns out that they are tired and lost and in search of peace. They are neither comical nor menacing. They are people like you and me who want to rest now that their work is done. The problem is, the system wants to continue exploiting them even beyond death. It’s a grim proposition but the logical extension of our society. As science fiction, it’s purpose is to raise questions, not answer them. It asks us to consider what might happen “if this goes on.” A cautionary tale, in other words, using imagination and metaphor.
Best of luck with this. I think it can be a real winner.
Sincerely,
Dennis
P.S. I’d like to record the part of the Narrator. This could happen in every show – using the author’s voice a few Limes in each script. What do you think? I’ve also provided a signature opening that might work for the entire series.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
ANNOUNCER
NARRATOR
– (the author)
*JIM MACKLIN
– quietly intelligent, sober, serious-minded but unpretentious. Strong when he needs to be. Mid-to-late 20s
WHITEY
– Jim’s friend. Born American Indian, quite assimilated. Mid-to-late 20s
DRIVER #1
– of a van that transports the dead. Tough and experienced. Latino, 30s-40s
DRIVER #2
– his trainee. Latino, 20s-30s
MANAGER
– of a Stop ’N Start Convenience Mart. Latino, 30s-40s
DIRECTOR
– of the 2nd unit for a TV series. 40s-50s
GROUNDSKEEPER
– at Dry Lawn Cemetery. 40s-50s
OFFICER
– LAPD. Male.
CLERK (JUANO)
– at the Stop ’N Start (dead).
BREATHLESS MAN
– a customer at the Stop ’N Start.
WOMAN #1
– another customer.
WOMAN #2
– another customer, older.
WOMAN #3
– commuter at a bus stop.
NURSE #1
– on the phone.
NURSE #2
– in Whitey’s hospital room.
NURSE #3
– on the phone.
RADIO DJ
– smooth and reassuring, for late-night listeners.
DOCTOR
– at the hospital (male).
VOICES
– several of the recently-deceased. Tired, weak and sad rather than scary. Male and female, all ages.
ATTENDANT
– at a self-serve gas station. A bit geeky but alive. 20s
GAS STATION GIRL
– one of the voices (dead). 20s
FAST-FOOD GUY
– at El Polio Muerto (alive). 20s
CHICKY-BOY
– one of the voices (dead). 20s-30s
CREW #1
– at the film shoot.
CREW #2
– "
CREW #3
– "
CREW #4
– "
BUS DRIVER
PEDESTRIAN #1
– male
PEDESTRIAN #2
– male
911 OPERATOR
– female
POLICE OPERATOR
– male
P.A. VOICE
– at the hospital (female).
OPERATOR
SOUND
SIGNATURE OPENING:
A BEATING HEART. . . RAPID BREATHING. . . RUNNING FEET. . . A DOOR SLAMMING SHUT. THE DOOR LOCKS AND A CHAIN FUMBLES INTO PLACE. THE HEARTBEAT AND BREATHING SLOW. . . UNTIL A GRANDFATHER CLOCK CHIMES LOUDLY. A GASP. THE HEARTBEAT SPEEDS UP AGAIN – DROWNING OUT ALL OTHER SOUNDS.
MUSIC
THEME.
ANNOUNCER
You can run but you can’t hide. It’s far too late for that. Welcome to the darkside, where the night never ends. . . as Fangoria presents. . . Dreadtime Stories!
MUSIC
FADE DOWN.
SOUND
INTERIOR CAR – MOVING.
NARRATOR
They were driving back from a midnight screening of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” the special director’s out, when one of them saw the sign. It glowed through the mist above the empty street. . .
WHITEY
Hey.
JIM
What.
WHITEY
There’s the Stop ’N Start Market. Open twenty-four hours.
JIM
The munchies, huh?
WHITEY
Well. . . got anything at your place?
JIM
Not much.
WHITEY
Maybe we should pick up some stuff.
JIM
Sounds like a plan.
SOUND
THE CAR SLOWS TO A STOP.
FADE THRU TO:
INT. – CONVENIENCE MART.
MUZAK IN THE B.G. (CONTINUING).
AN AUTOMATIC GLASS DOOR SLIDES OPEN.
AN ELECTRONIC BELL DINGS AS THEY ENTER.
CLERK
(flat, without affect) Sorry. . .
WOMAN #1
No, no, can’t you hear? I don’t want that one.
CLERK
(muttering) Sorry. . .
WOMAN #1
Where’s the regular man? He knows what I drink.
CLERK
Please. . .
WOMAN #1
Behind you, on the shelf. The half-pint. What are you, blind?
CLERK
Sorry. . .
SOUND
A TINY ELECTRONIC BLIP AS THE CLERK SLIDES A BOTTLE OVER THE UPC CODE SENSOR IN THE COUNTERTOP. THE CASH REGISTER RINGS UP A
SOUND (cont’d)
SALE AND THE AUTOMATIC DRAWER SLIDES OPEN. PAPER CRINKLES AS HE BAGS THE BOTTLE.
WOMAN
I don’t need a bag. Just give it to me. Or I’ll take my business elsewhere!
CLERK
. . . Thank you.
SOUND
THE DOOR OPENS AND THE WOMAN EXITS.
WHITEY
(low) Did you catch that action?
JIM
(amused) Last call for alcohol.
WHITEY
No – the guy workin’ the counter. Where’d they dig him up?
JIM
It’s the late shift. What do you expect? Get some Jiffy Pop. I’ll grab a couple of beers. They won’t sell it after two a.m.
WHITEY
You think he knows what time it is?
JIM
And some Ho-Hos or something. Meet you up front.
SOUND
FOLLOWING JIM AS HE WALKS TO THE BACK OF THE STORE AND OPENS THE COLD CASE. GENERIC BACKGROUND MUSIC STILL PLAYING. HE CLOSES THE COLD CASE AND RETURNS TO THE FRONT. NOW THE BELL DINGS
