Witch one?

Not long ago I wrote a screenplay for a short film competition. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. It's very difficult for me to write short stories, short screenplays, short anything. I love developing characters, scenes and the whole story over a course of a novel or a full length film. But grabbing people's attention and creating beginning, conflict, resolution and end in a five-minute screenplay is not easy.
I definitely won't be doing that for a living, but I believe you should try anything, otherwise how do you know it's not for you or the vise versa? So, here it is. Hope you enjoy it.

Witch One?

INT. – IN CAR – SUMMER MIDDAY – NOW

CHRISTOPHER HILDERBRAD (35) drives a brand new black BMW on an empty straight country road. He turns his head towards LARISSA BAILEY (27) who’s sitting on the passenger seat next to him and puts his hand on her bare knee. Both smile. None of them says anything. CHRISTOPHER turns his attention back to the road. It’s a warm summer day and both are wearing casual clothes – he is wearing khaki shorts and a white linen short-sleeved shirt, she is wearing a green dress.  They are listening to the radio but the reception gets bad and CHRISTOPHER changes the station.

              CHRISTOPHER

When the reception gets bad it’s a true sign we are in the middle of nowhere. But that’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? To get away from all the craziness for a while…

He looks at LARISSA and smiles. She smiles back and nods.

              LARISSA

          I thought we needed that, didn’t you?

              CHRISTOPHER

I’m used to it by now. But I guess you are right. Goodbye luxury hotel in the Caribbean, hello secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere.

They both smile.

CHRISTOPHER continues to fiddle with the radio and finally finds a station with clear reception and the presenters’ voices (male and female) fill the car. They jokingly discuss an article in a magazine that is about how to recognize a modern day witch. LARISSA shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

             

MALE PRESENTER

So listen to this, the first sign of how to recognize a modern day witch is if animals, especially dogs, love them. Even more, if a dog is really dangerous it will certainly calm down in the presence of a witch and wouldn’t leave their side.

INT. – IN A HUGE HALLWAY – DAY – FLASHBACK

CHRISTOPHER remembers how his vicious dog started barking at LARISSA the first time he brought her back in his house but all it took for her to calm him down was look at him and pat him behind the ears. The dog lay beside her and never left her side.

INT. – IN CAR – SUMMER MIDDAY – NOW

CHRISTOPHER snaps out of his memory, turns towards LARISSA and gives her a smile. LARISSA returns the smile but turns her head away quickly.

              FEMALE PRESENTER

So, to continue this foolish list, the second sign of a modern day witch is if they make ordinary people feel unwell – like give them headaches and weariness. And if a witch is very powerful she can make you feel unwell even from afar.

Radio presenters’ voices are left in the background. CHRSTOPHER glances at a bottle of headache pills. He looks towards LARISSA but this time doesn’t smile. LARISSA doesn’t return his stare and continues to look out the side window.

     MALE PRESENTER

The third sign, and Becks I’ll need you to take of your shirt for that one…

              FEMALE PRESENTER

          No way in hell.

              MALE PRESENTER

Do you want to prove you are not a witch or not? Anyway, the third sign is if they have a diabolical mark somewhere on their body, usually the chest area. It can be something like a dark spot or a mole of something like that and is often mistaken for a birthmark.

INT. – IN BED – MORNING – FLASHBACK

CHRISTOPHER remembers how once he and LARISSA were lying in bed, naked, covered with a white sheet. LARISSA’S chest is exposed and CHRISTOPHER is playfully circling a big but faint scar just under her left breast.

              CHRISTOPHER

          How did you get that, babe?

              LARISSA

          Oh, it’s just a birthmark.

LARISSA starts kissing him and the subject is forgotten.

INT. – IN CAR – SUMMER MIDDAY – NOW

              LARISSA

Can we change the station, babe? This witchcraft stuff is really annoying.

              CHRISTOPHER

Is it? I enjoy it. And anyway, we can’t get a clear reception on any other station here.

     LARISSA

Let’s play a CD then.

    

CHRISTOPHER

I forgot to take any.

     FEMALE PRESENTER

The next sign is if they float in water.

EXT. – IN SEA – DAY – FLASHBACK

CHRISTOPHER and LARISSA are swimming in the sea but she gets tired.

              LARISSA

You go on, babe, I’ll just catch my breath for a second.

CHRISTOPHER continue swimming for a while but when he turns around to go back he sees LARISSA lying on her back and simply floating without making any movement with her legs or arms.

INT. – IN CAR – SUMMER MIDDAY – NOW

CHRISTOPHER is visibly tense, LARISSA frantically rummaging through her handbag looking for something.

              FEMALE PRESENTER

And the last sign of a modern day witch is if they can’t say a prayer without stumbling through the words. The more powerful ones can’t even pronounce the words. And that’s the end of it, at last…

Presenters’ voices are left in the background.

INT. – DINING ROOM – EVENING – FLASHBACK

CHRISTOPHER, LARISSA and ten other people are sitting around a huge dining table covered with food and drinks. Everybody is holding hands and an older man at the top of the table is saying a prayer. LARISSA starts coughing, excuses herself from the table and goes to the bathroom shutting the door firmly behind her.

INT. – IN CAR – SUMMER MIDDAY – NOW

CHRISTOPHER’s forehead is covered in sweat drops despite the temperature in the car being maintained at 18 degrees by the climate control. LARISSA has found a lipstick in her handbag and is putting it on using the shade’s mirror.

              MALE PRESENTER

With this next song we’d like to congratulate one of the wealthiest bachelors in the country on his recent marriage to a stunning woman who must be something much more than just beautiful to make him settle down at last and in just two months after they met! Not that I like gossip but I heard he didn’t even make her sign a prenup… Anyway, this song is for CHRISTOPHER HILDERBRAND and LARISSA BAILEY wishing them a long and happy life together. 

CHRISTOPHER looks at LARISSA horrified. LARISSA has just finished putting her lipstick on and smiles without looking at CHRISTOPHER. He suddenly screams and grabs his head in his hands in pain. The car drives off the road and straight into a tree.

EXT. – OUTSIDE CRASHED CAR – SUMMER MIDDAY - NOW

The passenger door opens. LARISSA gets out without a scratch on her, looks at CHRISTOPHER who is dead behind the wheel, covered in blood. She slams the door closed and starts walking away from the car, smiling. On the car bonnet there is a “Just Married” sign.