D.-
This is the final-ish introduction. If you could, get pricing on the titles--can we afford the zoom-through? I really appreciate you handling the budget issues while J is off. I'm putting together the chromakey branch models and the foreground practicals for the Elsinore matte, afternoons this week. I'll get you part 2 of the climactic scene. As of this draft, it compromises ALL outdoor scenes except the funeral--the rest is studio. I love you. Good luck with your dad.
-TH 2/17/06
{...}
FADE IN:
INT. ELSINORE CASTLE BANQUET HALL - NIGHT
HORATIO, 21, slouches miserably on the King's throne. A gun
dangles limply from his right hand. Bodies are scattered
around him.
MONTAGE - MYSTERIOUS CARNAGE, GRIEF-STRICKEN HORATIO, ETC
FORTINBRAS (V.O.)
What is this sight?
HORATIO
What is it ye would see?
If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
FORTINBRAS (V.O.)
The sight is dismal.
HORATIO
Let me speak to the yet unknowing
world of how these things came
about: so shall you hear of
carnal, bloody and unnatural acts,
of accidental judgments, casual
slaughters, of deaths put on by
cunning and forced cause...and, in
this upshot, purposes mistook
fall'n on the inventors' reads.
(to CAMERA)
...All this can I truly deliver.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Wide shot of a river or creek deep within Elsinore Forest.
Distant rustling.
ZOMBIE KING'S POV -
- as he lurches unseen through the forests of Elsinore. He
begins to run faster.
QUICK CUT:
LAERTES, 26, sits in a clearing with his back to the camera,
muttering to himself. He is totally obscured by shadow.
There is a flash of colored light, then a bright green flame.
OVERHEAD - LAERTES' CLEARING
The green flame spills out into a neat circle, of which
Laertes is the center. The flame illuminates a series of
totems and inscriptions in the earth around him. Abruptly,
the sound of moaning fills the air.
EXTREME CLOSE UP - HANDS PLUNGE UP THROUGH EARTH
The earth ruptures. Laertes cackles.
QUICK CUT:
Trees rustle as the man crashes through them, obscuring any
real view of his face.
ZOMBIE KING'S POV - FASTER
STEADICAM - FOLLOWS ZOMBIE SHAKILY AT A DEAD RUN AS
The man lets out a barely audible groan, which turns to a
mournful cry as he trips on a root and falls flat on his
face. He lays silent.
CUT TO:
The bodies, no longer moaning, are now on their feet. They
turn to face their master. Laertes begins to laugh again.
CLOSE UP - LAERTES LAUGHS IN SILHOUETTE
Laertes' laugh turns nervous as the ressurected corpses
begin, slowly, to approach him. He stumbles backwards,
trips over the hem of his cloak, and falls. He crawls,
struggles to his feet, and runs out of shot, screaming.
EXTREME CLOSE UP - ZOMBIE'S SHOE
We see the man's tattered but once-fine boots at a low
angle. He hoists himself bluntly to his feet. We pan up
slowly as he stumbles off into the night. The pan continues
steadily until it hits low-hanging canopy.
FADE TO:
INT. STUDIO - NIGHT
Canopy brushes past in the moonlight.
FADE TO:
LOW ANGLE ON - MODEL AND MATTE - ELSINORE FOREST W/ FALSE CANOPY
The pan ends over Elsinore Forest, bathing in the moonlight.
The castle and surrounding lands emerge in the distance.
In large, stately letters, the main title fades in:
"HAMLET"
Then, after a wry few seconds' pause,
"ZOMBIE"
fades in above it.
{...}
D.-
J is seeing the doctor again today, something about getting the results in person. She says it's fine. I'll call you as SOON as I hear more. Attached is the scene as promised two days ago. Good to hear about the titles; thank god for underemployed film school dropouts. The branches are done, and I'm grabbing more glue today to finish off the Elsinore model set. Costumes and gun rental are taken care of it--we can just pick the pistols and rifles up on the day and return them when we're done. I love your friends. EE called back with a confirm on Polonius, so that's our lead cast, well, cast. Assuming J's okay we can pick up the camera on the 4th and start shooting in Tigard.
I was so sorry to hear about your dad. Please don't take it too hard...he'll figure his issues out eventually. In the meantime, I'd say you've earned some fun when you get home ;) I love you, so much.... Please, please, please drive safe on the way home. Weatherboy says rain.
-TH 2/19/06
{...}
EXT. ELSINORE FOREST - BARRICADE - NIGHT
MATTE of fog over Elsinore Forest. WIDE on the gang as they
pull together a barricade in the woods. Hamlet keeps watch
and checks their weapons. There is a faint sound of moaning
in the distance, but it's getting slowly louder and more
insistent.
HAMLET
Still too far off to shoot, and
they're slow movers. Rosencrantz?
Guildenstern? How are we doing?
GUILDENSTERN
We're fine.
ROSENCRANTZ
We're screwed.
Hamlet trudges behind the barrier and slumps to a sitting
position. Nobody's watching, but it doesn't seem important
for now.
HAMLET
God, what a day. To be or un-be,
that is the question. Whether
‘tis nobler for the brain to
suffer the hungry gnawing of these
damn zombie courtiers...
EXTREME CLOSE UP on a hand plunging up through the earth.
Claudius' spell is spreading.
HAMLET
Or to take the arms off a sea of
undead, and by opposing end them.
To die, to sleep; to die,
perchance to rise...well, there’s
the goddamn rub! For in that
walking death...what dreams of
brains may come?
Horatio looks perturbed. Cut to the newly risen zombie
staggering towards the barrier, apparently unnoticed, as
Hamlet continues to monologue.
HAMLET
For who would bear the whips and
scorns of life...
HORATIO (tensely)
Hey, I'll bear them....
There are nods of agreement.
HAMLET
But for the dread of something
after death, the undiscovered
country, from whose bourn these
travelers have returned?
CLOSE UP on Hamlet's contemplative face. PAN up to ZOMBIE
YORICK, who takes a hopeful bite at Hamlet’s head. Hamlet
ducks out of the way, grips Yorick by the chin, and shoves
his gun against the rotting forehead. There are shocked
gasps as the group stands and turns to watch.
HAMLET (suddenly energized)
Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him
well, Horatio!
Hamlet's gun barks, and Yorick's head fountains blood.
Yorick collapses behind the barrier, twitching.
HERO SHOT/ZOMBIE POV - FOURSOME ASSEMBLED BEHIND BARRIER
HORATIO
Here they come.
A small army of zombies advances through the trees.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern raise their swords, Hamlet and
Horatio their guns.
GUILDENSTERN
My lord...wait. Save your
ammunition. We’ll hold them off.
ROSENCRANTZ
What? No we won't!
GUILDENSTERN
We can buy you time. You have
worthier targets than these.
HAMLET
If you're prepared....
ROSENCRANTZ
No!
GUILDENSTERN
Yes.
Hamlet places his hands on their shoulders, with deep
respect.
HAMLET
My most excellent good friends.
Guildenstern raises his sword, and a reluctant Rosencrantz
follows suit. They charge into the fray. Hamlet and Horatio
watch in growing horror.
HAMLET
They are bit!
HORATIO (with unironic horror)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
are...undead!
Hamlet and Horatio look at each other for a moment. Then,
they hoist their guns and begin to stride into the fray,
picking off the remaining zombies as they go.
{...}