Fourth Draft of Screenplay

From our last screenplay, we have made some quite large changes. Our teacher suggested that there was too much going on within the opening sequence, and that there was perhaps an overload of characters. As a result, we have decided to edit the screenplay, making it the same story, but changing the opening sequence. Originally, we had three characters within the opening sequence, Louis, Barry and Bonnie, the latter being because our focus group felt we needed a main character who was female, however, we have made the decision to remove Bonnie from the opening sequence, though not the main story, and re-write the opening sequence so that all focus is on Barry and Louis finding themselves in a park and taped to a tree. We felt this may be a better start to the movie, as it is just as effective, if not more so, yet simpler to do and watch. Here is the new re-written screenplay:

THE LEAP YEAR

SETTING: HOUSE

Company logo comes in with Macho Man playing in the background. 10-15 seconds of party montage. Sped up and slowed down moments. Shots of BARRY and LOUIS drinking a lot. Film title comes on screen and then goes off and reveals the next scene.

SETTING: PARK

(Extreme close up of LOUIS' phone on the grass ringing.

Macho Man changes from the background music to his ring tone. Extreme close up of LOUIS' hand twitching. Mid shot and flat angle of LOUIS stretching as he wakes up. Close up of LOUIS looking startled in a tree and then proceeds to fall out of the tree on the phone.)

(A caption appears listing his occupation – arsehole, Relationship status – Just done his best friend's sister, Interest’s – Drinking, having hangovers every weekend and the Village people)

LOUIS

(Groans) Shiiit

(LOUIS proceeds to roll over on to his back he also rolls off of his phone. Close up of the phone, it is now no longer ringing it is also cracked. He looks over at his phone and picks it up. Extreme close up of LOUIS pressing buttons to answer the phone)

LOUIS

Hello... Hello? Awh crap they hung up.

(LOUIS starts to get up and stumbles around. He then see's a beer bottle on the floor. Flash back to the previous night showing LOUIS and BARRY drinking. Close up of LOUIS looking around at the ground and spots party poppers and party blowers. Another flashback of BARRY popping the party popper in LOUIS' face. Slow motion shot of the party popper. Return to the present time with LOUIS rubbing his face as he remembers the incident. LOUIS see's a mask on the floor. Flashback showing LOUIS pinging BARRY'S mask so it hits him in the face. Return to present day where LOUIS grins. He then see's the cello tape and realizes that BARRY is missing.)

LOUIS

BARRY!

(360 degrees panning shot around LOUIS looking for BARRY. Reaction shot of LOUIS' face looking shocked)

LOUIS

OH sweet Jesus

(Panning shot from BARRY'S feet upwards so that we realise he is taped to a tree. A caption appears listing BARRY'S occupation – Works in a nursery, relationship status – his right hand, Interests – Colour by numbers, sandwich making and scaring young children. LOUIS proceeds to run round the tree looking for the end of the tape. Camera follows LOIUS as he goes around the tree.)

LOUIS

Where's the end, Where's the end, Where's the God damn end?! Why do you always lose the end?!

(Begins to tug at the tape. Which wakes BARRY up, We see a close up of his face. BARRY see's LOUIS.)

BARRY

Couldn't make us a cuppa could you?

LOUIS

I could. PAUSE. You are taped to a tree.

(BARRY looks down and see's he is taped to a tree.)

BARRY

Hmmmmm so I am, couldn't make us a cuppa could you?

LOUIS

You have no hands free and I have no teabags.

BARRY

tut tut excuses excuses. On a different note why am I taped to a tree?

(Close up of LOUIS' face trying to concentrate, he then has a flashback. LOUIS is running around the tree taping BARRY to the tree whilst he laughs at him doing it. Return to the present.)

LOUIS

Nope.... sorry I don't know mate. Don't be alarmed but I just remembered BARRY that you're claustrophobic.

BARRY
Oh shit, find the end of the tape, find the end of the tape, why can you never find the end of the god damn tape?!

LOUIS

Amen brother

BARRY

Wait, I think I've found it.

LOUIS

Well point to it then...

(BARRY's Phone goes off in Barry's front pocket playing they're red hot by the Red Hot Chili Peppers)

BARRY

WAIT WAIT LOUIS the phone get to the phone.

LOUIS

The phone? Oh the phone!

(BARRY starts to struggle/wiggle to try to loosen the tape and get to the phone, as LOUIS finds an opening in the tape and dives into his pocket)

LOUIS

(Muffled) Hey I've found the end too.

(LOUIS then pulls his hand out of BARRY'S pocket and holding the phone.)

LOUIS

Ahhh it's BONNIE.

(LOUIS hangs up the phone)

BARRY

We could of used her help. Do you have a problem with my sister?

LOUIS

No why would I. Are you insinuating that I've slept with your sister. Whats wrong with you. AHHH go away.

(Close up of BARRY's confused face)