I have had dreams for a while now to be a famous screenwriter and director when I grow up, so I recently learned how to format scripts and studied yt videos on how to make the best script possible. this is my very first script i ever wrote and its for a corny little tv show i based off of squid games. this wont go anywhere, plus its a rough draft and the rough draft isn't even done. You can critique and im fine if your harsh but this is my first time writing a screenplay and its a rough draft and im not taking to seriously. lmk your thoughts.
P.S. the format looks ass because fanspo formats shit weird. it looks much better on microsoft word
EPISODE 1:
INT. Lions Den (Dark Room) - Night
The show opens with two men seen sitting at a oak table. The table is round and has a dimly lit candle in the center of the table. The candle is the only light in this room. The men sit on oak chairs, one man (right side) has a gun in his hand. The camera shows a sideview of the table.
CALVIN/THE WARDEN
(he wears a black jumpsuit with a black mask resembling a human face, he has nothing in his hands and sits very straight and neatly)
Hello sir, I uh, had a proposal for you.
THE LION
(he wears a black suit and a mask resembling a lion. The mask is black with gold details, but one part of it is splattered with blood. He holds a pistol in his right hand)
What is it Calvin. Make it quick - I have places to be.
CALVIN/THE WARDEN
(he clears his throat)
Well so you see, people have always loved, well, death. In movies, shows, books and game people love death. So why not bring a show about death to island.
THE LION
Are you suggesting we film some stupid TV show to please our citizens of the island? Are you crazy? God I should’ve never trusted you Calvin.
CALVIN/THE WARDEN
I’m not done yet sir. You see, what if it was more than a game show. What if it was real. What if we pleased the island with a game show of people fighting to the death... for money.
THE CAMERA SHOWS A CLOSE UP OF THE LIONS MASK AND THEN THE CANDLE BLOWS OUT, TRANSITIONING TO INTRODUCTION SCENE
CUT TO: INTRO CREDITS
INT. Prison Cells – Morning
EACH CELL IS MADE OF NICE IRON. TWO GUARDS STAND OUTSIDE EACH CELL, ARMED WITH GUNS AND WEARING THE SAME APPAREL AS CALVIN DID IN SCENE 1. THE CAMERA DOESNT SHOW INSIDE OF THE CELLS, ONLY THE CELLS THEMSELVES AND THE GUARDS OUTSIDE.
A LOUD SOUND ECHOES THROUGH THIS “PRISON” AS A BELL RINGS OVER AN INTERCOM. IT IS LIKE A MIDDLE SCHOOL BELL SOUND. THE BELL WAKES UP THE PEOPLE IN THE CELLS, WHICH THE CAMERA SHOWS YOU ARE NORMAL LOOKING PEOPLE WAKING UP FROM THE BELL NOISE.
WOMAN OVER THE INTERCOM
Hello Participants! Please get up within ten minutes and stand in front of the cell door to be escorted to the White Room. Any talking or commotion is strictly prohibited and will be silenced immediately, resulting in possible death or injury. You may be confused about you surroundings but please obey all orders by me or any of the people with guns. Thank you and enjoy your stay!
THE CAMERA SHOWS MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DISBELIEF. SOME ARE ON THE BRINK OF TEARS, SOME JUST LOOK CONFUSED OR STUNNED. AFTER A BRIEF MOMENT, THE CAMERA CUTS TO ALL PRISON DOORS SLIDING OPEN AND EACH GUARD HELPS ESCORT THE PRISONER WHOS CELL THEY STOOD OUTSIDE OF TO THE WHITE ROOM.
SOME PUT UP A FIGHT BUT BEFORE LONG THE GUARDS SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN AND CONTINUE ADVANCING TO THE WHITE ROOM.
CUT TO: SCENE 3
Int. THE WHITE ROOM – MORNING
WITH THE SAME MUSIC PLAYING, THIS SCENE SHOWS THE GUARDS ESCORTING PEOPLE INSIDE A COMPLETELY WHITE ROOM. EACH GUARD BRINGS THEIR PRISONER TO A SPOT ON THE FLOOR, WHERE THEY ARE INSTRUCTED TO STAND.
WOMAN OVER INTERCOM
Please listen to your guards as they instruct you to your spot. The Warden will be with you shortly. Thank you!
AFTER THE LAST PRISONER IS BROUGHT IN AND PUT ON HIS SPOT, THE CAMERA SHOWS THE WALL WHERE EVERYONE IS FACING. THE WALL SLOWLY SLIDES OPEN, REVEALING A WHITE STAGE, STANDING ON THE STAGE IS A MAN (THE WARDEN) STANDING THERE. HE WEARS A SUIT WITH A ROSE ON THE POCKET AND WEARS HIS USUAL BLACK MASK.
THE WARDEN
(LOOKING UP TO FACE EVERYONE)
Welcome everybody to the inaugural Lion Games! I’m sure you have some questions. Why am I here? Who are you, and where am I? And yes, all those will be answered in just a mere moment, but I just wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart, for joining this game.
(LAUGHS)
I really do mean it, I mean after all, now the island that I so proudly risked my life for time and time again gets to see some true action! Well, anyways, where was I?
Ah! Yes, so you see, currently you are in what I like to call hell. Your trapped in this tiny little prison and will play games and fight monsters and all that. But, there is a catch. The last person standing here will be given 5 million dollars!
THE CAMERA SHOWS THE PARTICIPANTS IN DISBELIEF.
THE WARDEN
But wait, there's more. As a child, I was an orphan. When I was 12, the Lion, our leader on this island, brought me onto this island to train to become a cub. The cubs are citizens hired to kill important government people across the world and help defend the island. Look around at all these guards. All of them have killed an important person in their lifetime.
THE CAMERA SHOWS THE PARTICIPANTS LOOKING AT THESE GUARDS BRIEFLY
THE WARDEN
I wanted to be the best cub, and eventually be the inheritor of the Lion Mask, the ultimate prize on this island. So to do so, I had to prove my worth to the Lion, I had to prove my worth to the island, and I would prove my worth by making a gameshow so compelling no one could take their eyes off of it. Genius right!
THE WARDEN LAUGHS A CRUEL LAUGH AS THE CAMERA CUTS TO SCENE 4.
CUT TO: SCENE 4
INT. SMALL CABIN - MORNING
A MAN SITS ON A SOFA, A GLASS OF TEA IN HIS HANDS. HIS EYES ARE WIDE AS HE WATCHES HIS TV. THE CAMERA SHOWS THAT THE TV IS THE LIVE BROADCAST OF THE LION GAMES. THE WARDEN IS CURRENTLY TALKING.
MAN
(shakes head)
This is sick Martha! it's crazy to see how all the young cubs believe they have so much power over everyone to just throw innocent people into a goddamn gameshow! It's sickening!
MARTHA, AN OLDER WOMAN, COMES ONTO THE SCREEN. SHE SMILES AS SHE SITS DOWN ON THE SOFA WITH A GLASS OF TEA IN HER HAND AS WELL.
MARTHA
We can turn it off Glen, but I genuinely think it will give us a change from all the other stuff this island broadcasts. I really do.
GLEN
Do you not understand honey? These people did nothing to deserve this!
MARTHA
(SIPS TEA)
You don’t know that baby.
GLEN SHAKES HIS HEAD AS MARTHA RUBS HIS BACK. THE CAMERA FLIPS BACK TO THE TV, WHERE IT ZOOMS IN, CREATING A PERFECT TRANSITION FOR SCENE 5.
CUT TO: SCENE 5
INT. THE WHITE ROOM – MORNING
THE WARDEN IS PACING THE STAGE STILL TALKING.
THE WARDEN
Enough about my goals, why are you here? Why out of 9 billion people on earth did I pick you? It’s simple really. All y'all have a bounty on your head. Thats how I got the 5 million dollars prize money. 1 out of 35 people will walk out with money that was used to kill 34 other people.
SUDDENLY A WOMAN, SHE HAS A GREY BOB CUT AND WEARS RED GLASSES. SHE, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WEARS A WHITE JUMP SUIT. SHE STEPS OUT OF HER SPOT AND POINTS AT THE WARDEN
THE WOMAN (SHARON)
You can't do this! We did nothing to you! I will fight for my rights and my freedom and people like... you can’t take it away!
PARTICIPANTS CHEER IN AGREEMENT AS THE GUARDS TRY AND PUT SHARON BACK IN HER PLACE.
THE WARDEN
Sorry to do this to you Sharon, but I guess we can use you as an example.
SHARON CONTINUES FIGHTING WITH THE GUARDS AS THE WARDEN PULLS A GUN OUT OF HIS POCKET. THE CAMERA SHOWS SHARON FIGHTING GUARDS AS PEOPLE ERUPT IN AGREEMENT. GUNSHOT FIRES. SHARON QUICKLY WHIPS AROUND JUST TO GET HIT IN THE FOREHEAD. SHE SLUMPS TO THE GROUND.
THE WARDEN
Guards, bring her to the fire pit.
THE GUARDS DRAG SHARONS DEAD BODY OUT OF THE ROOM.
THE WARDEN
(puts gun in pocket)
Well, anyways...
THE CAMERA SHOWS STUNNED PARTICPANTS, ALSO SHOWING A FEW DIFFERENT REACTIONS. CRYING, CONFIDENCE AND SUPRISE.
CUT TO: SCENE 6
INT.THE LIONS DEN – Morning
A SHOT IS SEEN OF THE LION SITTING ON A SOFA WATCHING THE GAMES ON TV. ITS A QUICK SHOT BUT IT ADDS TENSION TO THESE GAMES.
INT. THE WHITE ROOM – Morning
THE WARDEN TRYS TO GET EVERYONES ATTENTION FROM THE COMMOTION. AFTER EVERYONE LOOKS BACK AT HIM, HE TALKS AGAIN.
THE WARDEN
THE WARDEN LAUGHS. THE LAUGH ECHOES UNTIL THE SCREEN FADES INTO BLACK
FADE TO: SCENE 8
INT. CAFETERIA – MORNING
THE CAMERA SHOWS CARL DIGIOVANI WALKING THE CAFETERIA, SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING. HE HAS SHORT GRAY HAIR, WEARS THE STEREOTYPICAL WHITE JUMP SUIT AND IS SHORT AND PALE.
HE NERVOUSLY SPOTS A BIG BALD MAN WITH A BURLY BEARD IN THE CORNER. HE APPROACHES HIM AND TALKS TO THE MAN, WHO IS SILENTLY GOBBLING DOWN AN OMELET.
CARL
Hello sir, the name’s Carl DiGiovanni, and I have a quick question for ya.
ALBERT LOOKS UP FROM HIS PLATE.
ALBERT
Albert, what’s your question?
CARL SMILES NERVOUSLY. AND PLAYS WITH HIS FINGERS OUT OF NERVES
CARL
I would like to ask if you would like to join my, wellm aliance. It’s currently empty, but I’m looking to expand.
ALBERT LOOKS UP AT CARL AS CARL SMILES AN AWKWARD SMILE.
FADE TO: BLACK
INT. CAFETERIA, GIRLS TABLE – DAY
SIX GIRLS, KARMA, ANNIE, CHARLOTTE, TINA, GLORIA AND KINAKO SIT AT A TABLE. 3 ON EACH SIDE. EVERYONE SEEMS KIND OF NERVOUS, KINAKO HAS TEARS RUNNING DOWN HER CHEEK, STILL SHOOK BY THE KILLING OF SHARON AND THE THOUGHT OF THE GAME. THE LIGHTBULB ABOVE THEM FLICKERS SLIGHTLY.
TINA
(SHORT OLIVE COLORED SKIN, BROWN HAIR, MODEL BODY AND BEAUTIFUL FACE)
Ladies, I know your overwhelmed and nervous but got this. I’ll introduce myself and we can go in a circle. Ok?
EVERYONE NODS, TINA SMILES CONFIDENTLY BEFORE CONTINUING.
TINA
My name is Tina, and I am from California. Before I was here, I was working on acting for a movie. Next.
TINA GESTURES TO KARMA AND GIVES HER A POLITE SMILE.
FADE TO: SCENE 10