The Ordeal of Mark: Short Film Script

Posted by Spanner on Sunday, February 27, 2011 in Fiction, Portfolio | 0 comments

The Ordeal of Mark

An adaptation of my award-winning short story. The script below has lost its formatting  (thanks WordPress), but should give you the idea.

Logline:

“On an ominous lake one cold and sordid morning, two apprentice nuns must face each other in the greatest challenge of their ordination. The most gruelling and harrowing tradition of St. Harriet’s Parish of the Literal Translation awaits them, and only one can return to the shore as a fully fledged sister of Christ after completing The Ordeal of Mark.”

Script:

FADE IN

01. EXT. SHORE OF THE LAKE – DAWN
A misty, expansive lake above a rocky pebble shoreline. There’s an old rowing boat rocking on the pebbles.
A wooden post is sticking vertically out of the shore (like an old telegraph pole). It’s cut off after three feet, and there’s a shiny shoe with a bright white ankle sock stood on it. The foot is quivering slightly, trying to retain its balance while on one leg.
A girl (ALICE – 18) is standing on the post on one leg. She’s wearing a novice’s uniform, and contemplating the lake. She draws in a long breath and her arms rise to the side into a crane stance (like in the Karate Kid).
Silhouetted against the rising sun, she attempts Daniel-san’s one legged crane technique kick. Her shoe flies off and she falls from the post.

FADE TO BLACK

CAPTION
The Ordeal of Mark

02. INT. THE CHAPEL – DAY
Alice is cleaning the church organ. Sat in the front pew is an old nun (JADE – 70) reading a catalogue called HOT VESTMENTS with a look of disdain on her face.
JADE’S POV
The catalogue is stylish, with pictures of models wearing trendy new takes on nun’s clothing (mini skirts, fur lined wimples, leather tunics, etc.).
BACK TO SCENE
SISTER JADE
I don’t know what the church is coming to.
ALICE
Sister?
SISTER JADE
Well, look at these. Traditions are fast disappearing. Ever since Sister Wendy got her own show, all nuns want is fame and fortune.
ALICE
Not all of us, Sister.
JADE
No Alice. Not all of us.
Alice is using a long stoker to clean the inside of a large organ pipe. Something’s jammed in there. Alice removes the stoker and presses a key on the organ. A strangled, wheezing sound comes from the pipe.
With a deep “thunk”, something shoots out of the pipe and a deafening, well-tuned note fills the chapel.
A few seconds later, a dead crow drops from the roof.

03. EXT. GROUNDS OF THE PARISH – DAY
Jade and Alice are walking through the grounds. Alice has her stoker, and a Tescos carrier bag full of dead birds.
SISTER JADE
Alice, Sister Agnes has sponsored Gwyneth for the last apprenticeship here at the parish. Had you heard?
ALICE
(choking back tears)
No sister. Gwyneth is devoted. She’ll make a wonderful nun. I’ll miss it here, if you don’t mind me saying. I’d hoped to become a teacher at the parish, too.
SISTER JADE
Well, don’t pack your bags just yet. I’ve put you forward as well.
Alice looks shocked and confused as they come to a bench. There’s a TRAMP sitting on it. Jade takes the carrier bag from Alice, hands it to the tramp and blesses him. After she’s drawn the sign of the cross, both she and the tramp click their fingers in unison.
Jade and Alice continue while the tramp rummages in the carrier bag.
ALICE
But, if there’s only one place left…
SISTER JADE
It’ll be decided by Ordeal.
ALICE
But sister…
SISTER JADE
Be calm, Alice. The Ordeal of Mark is one of St Harriet’s most sacred traditions. We must uphold the traditions, mustn’t we?
ALICE
Well… yes Sister, but… Yes. We must.
SISTER JADE
Preparations have already begun. You should prepare, too.
Jade walks away. Alice slows to a worried meander. From off screen, we hear Jade shout.
SISTER JADE
(off screen)
Think fast!
A dead crow (thrown by Jade) hits Alice in the side of the head. Alice barely reacts at all.
TO SISTER JADE
SISTER JADE
Better work on those reflexes!
BACK TO SCENE
Alice is stood limp – despondent and perplexed. The tramp sidles up to her, keeping low. He points to the dead crow that just hit her in the side of the head.
TRAMP
Are you using that?

04. INT. NOVICE DORMITORIES – DAY
Alice is pushing the parish’s DVD cart around the dorm rooms (like a prison librarian does) when GWYNETH (18) zooms up to her (she’s wearing Heelies).
GWYNETH
I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but that apprenticeship’s mine. I’m headed for Vestment Designs at St Gregory’s when I qualify from here!
ALICE
Why do you want to leave here?
GWYNETH
What? Harriet was insane. This ritual proves it! Not you, or some mental old missionary, is getting in my way. OK?
Gwyneth pushes past and wheels off down the corridor.

05. INT. THE LINEN TABERNACLE – NIGHT
A small room inside the parish. Lit by deep yellow candlelight it looks like a miniaturised chapel, only the Alter is replaced by an ironing board covered with an ornate cloth. Sister Jade and SISTER AGNES (45) are knelt in front of the IRONING ALTER hand sewing some white fabric. Their sewing actions are in complete unison.

06. INT. CHAPEL – NIGHT
Alice is stood between two lecterns, with a large ornate bible on each one. Her eyes are flitting between them furiously – she’s tightly focused. Her lips are twitching involuntarily as she reads from both bibles at once. Her hand jumps up from her side and clicks a stop watch.

07. EXT. COURTYARD – DAY
Gwyneth is practicing kung fu. She’s making short, powerful strikes, moving in a straight line. She snorts thorough her nose with each jab.

08. INT. THE LINEN TABERNACLE – NIGHT
Sister Agnes pulls the final thread through a clean white pillow case. There’s ornate embroidery all around one corner of the case, and the words:
I SHALL SMITE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED. MARK 14:27

09. INT. GYM – DAY
Alice is doing sit-ups (in full costume) – struggling. A nun is kneeling on her feet and holding a bible open, which Alice breathlessly reads from while exercising.
ALICE
(breathlessly)
A violent man… allureth his neighbour… and leadeth him… unto… a path that is not good.

10. INT. GWYNETH’S ROOM – NIGHT
There’s a strobing light against Gwyneth’s emotionless face as she speed reads from a computer screen. There’s biblical research material papering the walls and desk.

11. INT. THE LINEN TABERNACLE – NIGHT
Sister Jade is stood behind the ironing Alter with a pillow case laid on it. In her right hand is an electric iron. Sister Agnes is stood to the side with a Holy water sprinkler, throwing water on the pillow case. After she’s splashed it twice, Jade irons the pillow in a “cross” pattern; top to bottom, left to right. Steam rises from the Holy water as she does.

12. EXT. THE SHORE OF THE LAKE – DAY
Alice touches the surface of the lake – a look of revulsion on her face as her fingers break the surface.
Her fingers are fully submerged, and her arm is shivering. There’s a knock of wood on pebbles as the old rowing boat tips to the other side. Alice jumps at the noise, yanking her hand from the water and splashing her pristine tunic.
ALICE
Oh Christ!
She immediately stops and crosses herself. Before she finishes, she notices her hand (that was in the water) is mucky, and she just touched it on her wimple, leaving a mark on it. She closes her eyes.
ALICE
(under her breath)
Fuck.
A tall nun (SISTER ANASTASIA – 58) appears behind Alice.
SISTER ANASTASIA
God is with you, Alice. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
ALICE
Oh! Erm… I love the Book of Job, Sister. It’s my favourite.
SISTER ANASTASIA
It helped me get through the Ordeal.
Alice looks surprised to hear Anastasia also went through the Ordeal, and her look of fear lifts a little. They smile at each other ever so slightly.
Gwyneth strides past, throws a pillow into the bow of the boat and climbs in.
Jade appears behind Alice, and hands her a pillow. Alice’s nervousness returns as she looks at it.

13. EXT. ON THE LAKE IN THE NUN’S BOAT – DAY
Jade and Agnes are in their own rowing boat, following Alice, Anastasia and Gwyneth out into the lake. Agnes is rowing, while Jade is in the stern watching the novices. Their tone is jovial – familiar and conversational.
SISTER AGNES
I knew you’d be rooting for the underdog.
SISTER JADE
Depends on your point of view.
SISTER AGNES
(sighs a deep, knowing sigh)
If it were up to you, the Parish’d be full of lost causes.
SISTER JADE
And no bad thing! St Harriet’s is becoming nothing but a stepping stone for high rolling clergy.
SISTER AGNES
I like Alice too, but it’s madness to contend with passion like Gwyneth’s. St. Gregory’s has got an eye on her, you know.
SISTER JADE
Passion! Huh! Passion’s for superficial people who get excited about their own naivety. Don’t mistake it for dedication. Take it from someone who’s been coming out on this lake for 50 years.

14. EXT. ON THE LAKE IN THE NOVICE’S BOAT – DAY
Although Gwyneth looks calm and confident, Alice’s severe apprehension makes for an awkward silence, even for nuns. Anastasia attempts to break the silence.
SISTER ANASTASIA
Have you prepared yourselves for the Ordeal?
GWYNETH
(irritated, but with conviction)
In mind and body, Sister
Anastasia focuses on Alice.
ALICE
Erm. Y… in body… erm, I mean, in mind and body, Sister. Yes. Sorry.
The nun’s boat comes alongside and the two boats glance very gently into each other. The small knock of wood on wood makes Alice almost jump out of her wimple. She looks sheepish to have displayed her nervousness so openly and looks down at her shoes. Panic grips her face when she sees her clean white pillow case is touching the pool of murky water in the bottom of the boat.
She pulls her pillow from the water and feverishly begins to wring it out. Her face turns even more ashen when she’s finished, and sees how crumpled and creased the damp pillow case has become. She lays the pillow across her lap and frantically tries to straighten out the material against her leg. It’s futile, and she gives up.
With the pillow laid across Alice’s lap, we see what Jade has embroidered on the (now crumpled) case:
DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THOSE WHO ATTACK THE BODY, FOR AFTER THAT THEY CAN DO NO MORE. LUKE 12:4

15. EXT. THE CENTRE OF THE LAKE – DAY
Both boats are at the centre of the lake. Anastasia stands up, causing the boat to rock and Alice to grab the sides in panic. Alice’s sudden movement almost tips Anastasia out as she steps over into the nun’s boat. Thanks to Alice, Anastasia’s exit is very inelegant.
GWYNETH
(under her breath – only Alice hears her)
This is ridiculous.
Alice’s brow furrows in concern at Gwyneth’s words.

16. EXT. CENTRE OF THE LAKE – DAY
Anastasia has made it into the other boat. She regains her poise, straightens her wimple and stands between the other two nuns. Sister Anastasia clasps her hands together and bows her head in prayer. The other nuns and two novices remain seated, but do likewise.
SISTER ANASTASIA
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the stern of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him: Master, carest thou not that we perish? And Jesus arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Amen.
EVERYONE ELSE
Amen.
NOVICE’S BOAT
Although we see Alice’s lips move, she’s barely audible.
BACK TO SCENE
Sister Anastasia holds her prayer stance a little longer than everyone else. She addresses the novices and her tone is as formal as when she read from the Book of Mark.
SISTER ANASTASIA
The words of the Gospel of Mark are sacred to St Harriet’s Parish of the Literal Translation. Those who wish to join us and give their lives to the Lord’s service must prove themselves worthy by Ordeal.
ALICE & GWYNETH
(together)
We are ready, Sister Anastasia.
(again, Alice is barely audible)
SISTER ANASTASIA
Then begin. God be with you both.
Anastasia sits down.

17. EXT. THE NOVICE’S BOAT – DAY
Gwyneth stands up in the boat with ease. Alice is a lot less sure on her feet, struggling to take her eyes off the water. Eventually, she meets Gwyneth’s gaze. They stand facing each other for a long beat (we’re unable to see them holding their pillows at their sides).
Determination crosses Gwyneth’s face and she hits Alice hard with her pillow. A girly pillow fight breaks out.

18. EXT. THE CENTRE OF THE LAKE – DAY
We can see both boats, and the two novices trade a flurry of blows (highlighting the ridiculousness of this whole thing). In the background we can see the three nuns watching the pillow fight as if it’s perfectly normal.

19. EXT. THE NOVICE’S BOAT – DAY
Gwyneth gains ground, leaving Alice clinging to the side of the boat trying not to fall over. Although the case is still wrapped around her fist, the pillow is touching the bottom of the boat soaking up the water.
Gwyneth mumbles to herself through gritted teeth as she berates Alice’s wimple with her pillow.
GWYNETH
Re-God-damn-diculous stupid Harriet making me get wet and look stupid bloody retard Mark ridiculous…
Hearing Gwyneth insulting St. Harriet, Alice’s face hardens. She squeezes the pillow case wrapped around her fingers, water oozing through her clenched fist.
A trail of dark water arcs across the boat like flying blood, following the trajectory of Alice’s pillow. The blow lands – hard – and Gwyneth falls into the bow of the boat, losing her pillow overboard.

20. EXT. THE NUN’S BOAT – DAY
The three nuns jolt with excitement (like spectators at a boxing match when one a fighter hits the canvas). They immediately attempt to recapture their composure.

21. EXT. THE NOVICE’S BOAT – DAY
Alice is breathless and amazed. Victorious, she relaxes her pillow. A smile begins to spread across her face.
NUN’S BOAT
Anastasia begins to stand up, then stops half way – surprised – as Gwyneth makes a sudden move.
BACK TO SCENE
Gwyneth’s grabs her pillow from the water and launches it at Alice, who’s still looking at Jade – not paying attention. A tidal wave erupts from the lake with the ferocity of Gwyneth’s attack. Alice moves with blinding speed, leaning backward. The heavy, sodden pillow misses by a hair’s breadth. The ferocity of Gwyneth’s attack carries her overboard into the shallow lake.

22. EXT. THE NUN’S BOAT – DAY
Sister Jade half jumps up and involuntarily pulls an upturned fist quickly into her side in an excited, “winning” gesture.
SISTER JADE
(shouting)
Boo-yah!
Sister Anastasia frowns and is about to repeat Jade’s exclamation, then stops herself as she realises it doesn’t mean anything. Jade looks mildly embarrassed and sits down. Agnes has her hands on her head in disbelief.
Anastasia continues her stern, reprimanding gaze. Jade crosses herself, then adds a fifth movement to the sequence in the shape of a shoulder shrug, as if to say “What?”, as a teenager might.

23. EXT. THE CENTRE OF THE LAKE – DAY
Alice stands confident, tall and calm in the rocking boat as she looks out over the lake.
Gwyneth is up to her waist in the water, desperately trying to catch her wimple as it floats away. She’s no hope of catching it, and dejectedly gives up.
Floating on the evening air, Alice hears the words Sister Anastasia spoke just a few moments ago.
SISTER ANASTASIA
(a faint, echoic voiceover)
And he said unto the sea: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
In the distance, out across the shadowy lake, we hear a duck quack.
FADE OUT.