Read the Script, then answer the questions in the instruction sheet.
THE CURSED RING
Written by Deema Al Muraikhi
INT.VIVIANS ROOM – NIGHT
The camera goes through the doorway. A light moonlight is pouring from the window, and Vivian’s bed is on the right corner near the window. There is a night lamp next to the bed that illuminates her face. Vivian lies in bed and sleeps. The camera zooms in on her.
EXT. DARK SMOG FOREST – NIGHT [DREAM]
Light smoke clears to reveal the forest. Vivian stands by a tall oak tree, on which sits an old owl with glowing eyes.
OWL
Your family has moved to a strange house. It hides the secrets of time. The estate of Prince Rubeus stood on the site of your home several centuries ago. The young guy delighted the royal family with his love of life and handsome appearance, but they did not know what was hidden behind the angelic appearance.
VIVIAN
[whispering]
What could be hidden behind it?
OWL
He was an absolute monster. From early childhood, he mocked small animals, and as a teenager, servants disappeared from home every few months, and no one knew where they had gone.
VIVIAN
Why do you tell these scary things? It was so long ago, and it doesn’t bother me at all.
OWL
You’re wrong. Some things do not lose their value even after centuries. One day the prince went hunting and disappeared. He was never found. But to this day, there is a legend about his treasure chest, which is hidden in the forest under this wide tree.
VIVIAN
The one you are sitting on now?
OWL
Yes, and you can find this treasure in the forest near your house. Go by yourself and don’t tell anyone about it.
BACK TO SCENE – INT. VIVIAN’S ROOM – MORNING
Vivian wakes up, sits on the edge of the bed, and reflects, talking to herself aloud.
VIVIAN
What did I dream about? Can’t it be true at all? What treasures are there, what a prince, and even a talking owl? So strange.
Suddenly, she notices an owl on the tree opposite the window and which startles her. But it was just an illusion.
Her mother enters her room wearing an apron and calls for breakfast.
MOTHER
I won’t repeat it again. You should have breakfast. Why does the whole family have to wait for you at the breakfast table every morning?
INT. KITCHEN
Mother walks in, followed by Vivian.
VIVIAN
Goodmorning, everyone.
FATHER, BROTHER
[Sluggish, sleepy] Morning.
VIVIAN
I’ll grab toast with jam and take a walk near the house, okay?
MOTHER
Just don’t go far and don’t go into the woods. It is dangerous there both day and night.
BROTHER
Theres also ghosts.
VIVIAN
I don’t believe in childhood fairy tales, unlike you.
EXT. FOREST PATH, CLOUDY MORNING
Despite all the warnings, Vivian went to the forest.
She walks slowly and fearfully over the dry ground. The sound of leaves rustling and branches breaking under her boots can be heard. Vivian sees the tree from her dream and cautiously approaches it.
VIVIAN
So where is this treasure? Just what I thought, just some stupid fiction. There’s nothing here and nothing about this place is dangerous.
She picks up a branch from the ground and tries to scrape off the leaves at the foot of the tree.
At the tree’s base, she sees a barely noticeable cross, which is carved with a knife. Vivian starts digging with her bare hands. At a short distance from the ground, she stumbles upon something hard and, continuing to explore, unearths a carved box.
Vivian cleans the dirt off the box, opens it. She finds in it a lot of jewelry, gold, precious stones. She takes in her hands a massive ring decorated with a huge ruby and tries it on her ring finger. A piece of the metal scratches her as she slides it on, and the blood trickles down her finger. Vivian loses consciousness.
BLACK SCREEN – Sounds of rustling leaves and howling wind can be heard.
SUBJECTIVE CAMERA: Vivian opens her eyes, looks around. She notices that it is already dark outside. He sees the box, takes it with her, and runs scared home. She still has a ruby ring on her finger.
INT. VIVIAN’S HOUSE – NIGHT
The camera slowly passes the panorama of the apartment. At that moment, Vivian is standing near the front door, and her movements are slowed down. She looks around and shouts in surprise [soundlessly].
VIVIAN
Mom, Dad, are you here?
Vivian walks through the rooms and sees that all things are in their places, but neither her parents nor brother are anywhere. The only difference is the dimmer lighting in the house and a lot of dust as if no one had been in the house for several years.
INT. VIVIAN ROOM
She puts the box on the bed. Then she runs her finger over the dust on her bedside table, confused. She notices cobwebs around her everyday belongings.
VIVIAN
[tearfully] What’s going on here?
Through the silence of the house, she hears a noise in the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN
Vivian runs down the stairs from the second floor and sees a silhouette of a man in the kitchen. He was sitting in her chair at the dining table, dust particles flew around, and the lamp blinked as if there were power outages in the house.
VIVIAN
[cries]
Who are you? What are you doing here? I’ll call the police now!
She touches his shoulder. He turns around. Vivian sees the pale bluish face of a young stranger, sunken cheeks, and whitish lips. The girl tries to run away, but he grabs her left wrist and does not let go. She tries to escape, calls for help, but the house seems to absorb all sounds.
He holds her hand up, staring at the ring on her finger. Shows his hand, a ring with a ruby, same as hers.
PRINCE RUBEUS
Don’t you recognize me? My faithful owl should have told you everything about me. I’m Prince Rubeus.
Vivian, you are destined for me. We are in a better world now. Now we are bound forever.
Break down the structure of the given script using the following questions. Here is the structural breakdown:
- Set up your ordinary Tell us everything we need to know to understand your protagonist and what they’re trying to achieve.
- What is the inciting incident? What happens in your script that gives your character the opportunity [or forces them] into action?
- Describe your rising action. What is your protagonist’s first plan of action? What obstacles do they face? How do they overcome these obstacles? Remember, your character must try more than one way of achieving their goal. Be sure to include each action up until your
- What is your midpoint? What happens that changes the circumstances for your character? This is usually where your character realizes their
- What is the culmination of your story? Now that your character knows their Truth, they must make one final decision/action that will lead them to the
- What’s the climax of your story? This is This is your highest point of conflict. Keep in mind this is the true and final test to see whether your character has changed. It doesn’t have to overly dramatic, but it also can’t be underwhelming. It must test your character’s flaw for the last time.
- What’s the resolution? How does it end?
