Animated Life

Animated Life Script

Life Animated

(Converted from Script to Doc. Inspired from a true documentary)

EXT. BACKYARD - DAY

We see DAD, ROGER STEWART, straight out of a 90's family commercial, horsing around with his two Sons, SIMON, his oldest, and COLTON, his youngest.

It's a bright day with pristine grass, a few trees, a wooden fence, and a clean backyard fit for a playful, family wrestle.

Dad spins Simon around as COLTON dangles from his adjacent arm. Big smiles, lots of laughs.

Cheers from the children stir MOM, JANET STEWART, a woman with short brown hair, who reclines back and watches with the same joy.

The toddlers continue playing with their Dad as Simon kicks the ball and Dad goes to retrieve the ball, but Colton stops following.

Dad teases Simon with the ball, shifting it around before noticing Colton staring off into space. Frozen. Blank.

Dad stands up straight, grasping Simon close to his side and calling out to Colton.

DAD

Colton?

Mom's expression turns as the commotion abruptly halts. Is something wrong?

Colton's unresponsive, staring away from his father.

MOM

Colton!

Nothingness.

This hasn't happened before.

INT. AUTISM SPECIALIST OFFICE - DAY

Dad and Mom sit still in an office that desperately yearns to be a fun place, but remains gloomy as a hospital room.

Colorful, Autistic posters line the walls. One reads: PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.

SPECIALIST (O.S)

Now, it's common for Autistic children to have obsessions.

INT. AUTISM CENTER TEST ROOM - DAY

Colton sits in another room, holding his Sebastian puppet as a person stands with a clipboard to take notes. He stares fixated at a screen playing a popular Disney movie.

Dad intently peers through a small window on the door, worried and deep in thought.

Mom quickly, lovingly, tugs him away into the SPECIALIST's office.

SPECIALIST (O.S)

We strongly discourage parents from letting their children indulge in these behaviors.

INT. AUTISM SPECIALIST OFFICE - DAY

The SPECIALIST, an African American woman with long, thick, wavy hair lowers her large glasses down from skimming over Colton's paperwork. The file has Dad and Mom's names printed neatly by his smiling face. The photo of Colton is young, like the time he was playing out in the backyard.

SPECIALIST

I'm afraid sitting Colton down by the Television is a poor way to occupy his mind. My advice would be to keep him away from it.

Dad shifts his attention back to the door.

INT. HOME - DAY

Colton has placed himself down directly in front of the black screen of the T.V.

Dad walks by, and a few moments later, Mom walks by. Then Simon stops to look at Colton and turns on the T.V.

Dad peruses through the newspaper and heads off to grab a cup off the counter of the kitchen when he hears the T.V turn on.