Chore - an animated short (Screenplay)

    While exploring career options in my 20s, I took a Screenwriting class at San Francisco State University, Fall Semester of 1989. Recently, while rummaging through some old files, I discovered a typed screenplay I wrote entitled “‘Chore’ – An Animated Short based on a short story," dated 8 NOV 1989. The short story has yet to be found – if there ever was one. I also received an "A" in the class. Whether believable or not, I actually had envisioned 3-dimensional animation similar to Pixar. Please enjoy this early piece of work.

~

Chore – an animated short

Legend

INT: Interior

POV: Point of view

EXT: Exterior

VO: Voice over

ZI: Zoom in

CU: Close up

ZO: Zoom out

1.      INT. BEDROOM. SHORT ZOOM TO BUNK BED. PAN AROUND ROOM. Various pennants and posters. Paraphernalia consisting of: STAR WARS, E.T., Sherlock Holmes and Batman. Bookshelves: C.S. Lewis, Frank Herbert, H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. Clothes on floor and draped on bunk-bed. CU to pocket pinball machine on dresser.

MATCH CUT TO:

2.      INT. OVERHEAD. Boy jumps from top bunk to floor – rummages for clothes. Discover 501s, Tie-die T-shirt, and jacket. Stuffs jacket pockets with baseball cards, gum, keys, Swiss Army knife, and other junk. As he leaves the bedroom room, CU behind his head.

3.      POV INT. peaks around kitchen corner, no one in sight. Moves to front door.

a.       EXT. Runs outside to beautiful sunny day; slams door by accident.

4.      EXT.  Doorway view. Boy runs across the street.

5.      INT. Door opens – POV female VO.

(calling)

Timothy!

            Timothy stops in his tracks and slowly turns.

                                                MOM

            What about your chores? I want the lawn mowed, the garbage taken out…

Muffle Mom’s voice and ZI to Timothy who has a horror look on his face.

Continue muffled chore list until…

                                                MOM

            …and I’ve asked you to do these things all summer!

                                                TIMOTHY (CU)

                                    (whining, yelling across street)

But Mom, this is the last Saturday of the Summer, can’t I –

                                                MOM

                                    (CU of feet tapping)

No! Now get your butt in here now!

6.      EXT CONT’D Timothy stands in shock. Blurred frame. Montague of a lawn-mower coming after him – brooms and mops pushing him to do his work – the dishwasher speaking to him in a deep voice – the washer and dryer are laughing and dancing – his room looking as if a hurricane is going on (things flying in the air), a G.I. Joe stops mid-flight and orders him to clean his room. The fence rocking and the chimney puffing with smoke – a tree next to the house acts as an arm, it grabs the chimney and puffs it like a cigar, the house becomes a “foreman” type character and bellows.

7.      TIMOTHY POV of house.

HOUSE

(deeply)

            Now get to work!

DISSOLVE TO:

8.      EXT. TIMOTHY washing dad’s white Jeep. Mom standing in garage doorway glaring at Timothy.

MOM

                                    (beginning to walk back into house)

            If you’d only started at the beginning of the summer –

                                                TIMOTHY

                                    (slight tongue and cheek)

            Yeah – I know –

9.      Aerial View ZO, neighborhood (a court) of houses snickering with each other as other boys in the neighborhood are outside washing their dads’ car.

MATCH CUT TO:

10.  The Earth (with female persona) satellites orbiting.

EARTH

                                         (authoritatively)

            And you drink your milk!

                                               (laughs)