The Crow: Demo Script

Act 1, Scene 1

INT. WAILING BRACH FOREST
[Screen is currently black. However, it looks like as if Michael is slowly opening his eyes]

Michael:

(groans) What... happened that day before? Ah... I remember now. I wish I could... relive that day just so I could avoid that murder...

[Flashback begins. Michael and Josh are walking slowly into an open part of the forest. Josh is warming up to play tag while Michael is sitting on a felled tree.]

Michael:

Y'know, I could Name 500 better places to play tag than over here.

Josh:

Oh Michael Schmidt, we're 14. I think we should be safe alone. Now run quickly before I finish counting to 5.

Michael:

I told you that I'm afraid of the dark multiple times. And why didn't you call me Mike, Josh Felix?

[Josh dodges Mike's second question]

Josh:

That's plain stupid, dude. Why would someone be afraid of dark places? You get to explore things, and getting scared shitless is-

Michael:

(a mix of sort of mad and sad)

Well, dark places are just... scary. But you never understand every time I tell you.

Michael (inner thoughts): I won't tell him about that one day.

[Josh notices that he looks both mad and sad, but ignores his feelings]

Josh:

C'mon, just one 15 minute game of tag.

Michael: Fine... but only one.

Josh: OK. 1, 2, 3-

[The two happily play tag together, swirling and weaving around trees and zig-zagging through flat, soft, grassy terrain]

Josh:

What did I tell ya?

Michael:

I will admit, that was pretty fun.

Josh:

So, are dark places still not fun to explore?

Michael: Not everyone is as brave as you.

Josh: sighs

[Michael notices a broken crow egg. It had fallen due To a negligent mama bird and its yolk is currently being picked on by maggots. Michael ignores mentioning it for decency reasons.]

Josh:

Wanna go on a walk before we head home? I wanna explore this forest a bit more

Michael:

Sure, but we better get home before it gets fully dark.

[They stand up and walk slowly through the dark-blanketed forest. Michael watches his step while taking in the sights, while Josh purely experiences whatever he decides to stare at. There is weak silence by their curiosity of the scenery around them until Michael shyly breaks it.]

Michael:

Josh, I've always wanted to ask... How come you're never scared of anything?

Josh:

...

[Josh thinks for a moment then gives up.]

Josh:

I don't know. I guess I've always been like this.

[Some more seconds pass until Josh notices a murder of crows.]

Josh:

Woah, look at those crows. It's odd that they're here during the winter.

Michael:

Y'know that not all crows migrate in the winter.

[Josh, probably too bored or dumb to handle the knowledge being thrown at him, regains his former silence. Michael looks down and realizes he's on a dirt path but does not think to mention it. When he raises his head back up, he feels something land on his head. Before he can investigate it, he gains a headache, and his surroundings get trippy and weird. He can make out Josh, who then witnesses' him fall with a crash. He immediately follows suit, but falls lighter than Josh.]