Script Test

I made a script based on a detective story with a murder that took place. I made the story up as I went along. The idea was to get the basic structure of scripts. The pacing was efficient as it goes from one scene to another in one page.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY – MORNING

Silhouettes of buildings are shown. Clouds are moving across the New York City orange sky. Daylight is appearing through the ground level. There is a man named NIGEL walking down the street dressed in a raincoat and a fedora, smoking a cigarette in his right hand and has his left hand in his pocket. He strolls down the street, taking a puff of the cigar as he goes along. NIGEL stops outside a supermarket shop marked with “Do not cross police line” tape. The coroner named BILL is waiting for NIGEL outside.

NIGEL

Nigel Gallowson. Badge number 527. Homicide squad.

BILL

About time. Follow me, detective.

INT. SUPERMARKET - MORNING

BILL leads NIGEL into the building. NIGEL tosses his half smoked cigar to the floor before entering. The corpse of a man is shown. The skull has been crushed. Blood is everywhere. Other members of the NYPD survey the room and a crime scene photographer overlooks the body with a camera.

BILL

The stiff is a 35 year old, Caucasian male. The victim was apparently the manager in this establishment. Looks like victim was beaten pretty badly. Blunt force trauma suggests haemorrhage could be the cause of death. The murder weapon has yet to be recovered though.

NIGEL

Time of death?

BILL

By the temperature, I’d say after midnight. I’ll have more details after I’ve completed the autopsy.

NIGEL

Any witnesses?

BILL

Negative. Closing hours are 11 PM and only the manager stays behind after midnight.

NIGEL

Did anybody know the victim?

BILL

That’s a nix. He was a loner and quite a scrooge if I may add. Anyone he has crossed paths with could be a suspect.

NIGEL

(Sighs in disbelief)

This is going to be one tough case…