Some years ago I taught a high school film class. Wrote this screenplay fragment as an exercise.

Sometimes I think I’m funny.

FADE IN:

EXT. MEADOW AT THE EDGE OF THE FOREST – DAY

Vivacious and pretty thirteen year old RED skips into scene holding basket and whistling a happy tune. She stops at the edge of the dark wood.

RED

My, that is sure one big dark wood! I wish

Grandma would lease that condo near the

amusement park instead of livin’ all the way

out here in the boonies!

Red wraps her crimson cloak around her as she penetrates into the shadows. She whistles Darryl Hannah’s tune from Kill Bill and laughs to herself as THE WOLF, unseen by her, sneaks a quick look at her from behind a large tree.

CUT TO:

The Wolf leans against the tree, breathing heavily, licks his lips.

THE WOLF

Oh my, this could turn out to be such an

interesting day!

INTERCUTTING

Red and The Wolf moving through the forest, each growing in excitement, but for very different reasons. Music swells.

CUT TO:

THE TROLL chews on an unidentifiable animal part and grumbles to himself. He looks up and sees Red approaching in the distance, hastily hides the animal part and steps out from under his mossy stone bridge.

THE TROLL

Red my darling! Haven’t seen ya in ages!

RED

On my way to the old lady’s, thought I’d

swing by for some gossip and a chew.

THE TROLL

(scratching his buttocks)

Girlfriend, you better get eyes in the back

of your well-featured head. There’s been

some feral activity of late. I know you like

wild things, but I don’t want you end up in

some predator’s mealbag.

RED

(shows teeth – angrily)

Cut the you’re-my-dad crap and throw down,

I’m famished.

THE TROLL

All right Miss Independence Day, but why not

cut through The Mulberry Meadow on the way

to Grandma’s house?

THE WOLF’S POV – THE TROLL AND RED

The Troll and Red’s dialogue continues under VOICE OVER of The Wolf.

THE WOLF (V.O.)

Thank you thank you thank you!! Mulberry

Meadow, I’m on my way, madness mayhem

and messy business quickly to ensue.

BACK TO SCENE

THE TROLL

You are sure gettin’ bossy in your old age.

Watch out somebody doesn’t take you down

a peg!

We see in the background The Wolf slinking away licking his lips in anticipation.

RED

Hey stink bug; you know I can handle myself.

(a beat)

What are you lookin’ at?

THE TROLL

Nothin’, just thought I smelled something

vaguely dangerous. Must have been you.

Red smacks The Troll with her basket.

SHOT LIST

#1       LONG SHOT. EXT. Meadow at the edge of the forest – day. RED Enters scene from left, approaches woods.

#2       CU Red:   “My that is . . .”

#3       FULL SHOT from back, Red wraps cloak, enters woods.

#4       TRACKING FULL SHOT Red, whistling, change focus to THE WOLF in distance.

#5-6-7            VARIOUS ANGLES, CU Red in woods.

#8-9-10 VARIOUS ANGLES, CU Wolf following.

#11     LONG SHOT REAR VIEW Wolf and Red in frame, moving.

#12     MID SHOT Wolf at tree: “ Oh my. . .”

#13     CU THE TROLL eating, looking up, startled.

#14     LONG SHOT Troll scrambles out from under his stone bridge.

#15     The Troll’s POV: Red approaching.

#16     OVER TROLL’S SHOULDER, Red arriving, Troll: “Red, my darling . . . “

#17     TWO SHOT COVER Red and Troll, dialogue.

#18     LONG SHOT – WOLF’S POV, Troll and Red, dialogue.

#19     CU Red, dialogue.

#20     CU Troll, dialogue.

#21     ECU – POV Troll: Red, “Cut the . . .”

#22     HIGH ANGLE TWO SHOT, Troll: “All right . . .” through “. . . take you down a peg.”

#23     OVER TROLL’S SHOULDER, Red: “Hey stink bug . . .”, Wolf in distance.

#24     OVER RED’S SHOULDER, REACTION SHOT TROLL. Red: “What are you lookin’ at?”

#25     TWO SHOT. Troll: “Nothin’, I thought I smelled . . .” Red smacks Troll.