Scarlett Shadow: The Alley Dog Thief

This screenplay was written during a field trip today to 826 Valencia where the kids participated in a writing workshop. As they developed their screenplay, it was illustrated by Mani, a talented storyboard artist. You'll find the story ends at a key point - each student then wrote their own version of the ending. We'd like to thank Mani for his great artwork and direction, as well as all the other volunteers at 826.

Scarlett Shadow: The Alley Dog Thief
by Form 4 & 5 Students of Delphi Academy
at 826 Valencia, San Francisco

Scene 1: THE ALLEY

[JAMES THE VAMPIRE LIVES IN ALASKA IN THE WINTER WHEN THE DAYS ARE SHORT TO AVOID SUNLIGHT. DURING THE SUMMER, HE MOVES TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

SCARLETT ALSO LIVES IN ALASKA. SHE IS A NINJA.]

[SHOT OF A DOG RUNNING DOWN A DARK ALLEY. PERSON IN DARK CLOTHING IS PROWLING THERE. DOG PRESSES ITS NOSE AGAINST THE FIGURE'S CALF. THE NINJA PULLS BACK HER CLOAK: IT'S SCARLETT.]

SCARLETT:
Hey, Buddy! What are you doing here little fellow? Are you sneaking around hunting vampires like I am? I love being a vampire bounty hunter. (SHE PETS THE DOG THOUGHTFULLY)

JAMES:
(TELEPATHICALLY)

(O.O.V. - meaning, "out of vision" and indicating a voiceover ) Come back, Sparky. I hate it when we fight.

[SHOT OF JAMES CONCENTRATING. FADES TO DOG BEING CUDDLED BY SCARLETT. JAMES'S EYES FLY OPEN.]

(O.O.V.) No, don't leave me for her.

[JAMES FLIES TO SCARLETT AND SPARKY]

JAMES:
Give me back my dog!

SCARLETT:
What do you mean? I just found it in the alley.

[JAMES USES VAMPIRE SPEED TO TRY TO SNATCH THE DOG AWAY, BUT SCARLETT IS ALSO QUICK AND MANAGES TO STEP IN FRONT OF THE DOG. JAMES STANDS UP AND SCARLETT PICKS UP THE DOG.]

JAMES:
It's my dog. He ran away from me.

SCARLETT:
(HAUGHTILY) Well, if he ran away from you then I don't think it likes you. It should just come and live with me. (NUZZLES THE DOG LOVINGLY)

[JAMES TRIES TO TAKE THE DOG FROM HER ARMS BUT SHE KICKS HIM IN THE KNEE AND STARTS TO RUN. SHE EXPECTS JAMES TO FOLLOW AND PUT UP A FIGHT, BUT THE SUN STARTS TO COME OUT AND HE FLEES.]


Scene 2: JAMES'S MANSION

[SCARLETT HAS BROUGHT SPARKY AND FOLLOWED JAMES, CURIOUS ABOUT WHY HE RAN AWAY SO QUICKLY. SHE'S SURPRISED TO FIND HE LIVES IN A MANSION UNDERGROUND THAT HE ACCESSES THROUGH A COFFIN-SHAPED ELEVATOR IN THE GRAVEYARD.

SCARLETT FOLLOWS LATER IN THE SAME ELEVATOR.]

SCARLETT:
Okay Buddy, you've been here before. Show me the way. (SHE SETS DOWN THE DOG AND FOLLOWS IT, BUT THE FLOOR SQUEAKS)

JAMES:
(BOOMING VOICE) Who's there? You've entered my house uninvited and you will learn to regret it.

[JAMES APPEARS BEFORE SCARLETT AND THE DOG, THAT STARTS RUNNING CIRCLES AROUND JAMES AND SCARLETT AND WHINES.]

JAMES:
(BEARING TEETH) It's you! Did you come to return my dog to me?

SCARLETT:
(NOTICING THE FANGS ON JAMES) You - you're a vampire? Oh, no.

...