The Lightkeeper

He’s a fairly old man (around 70) who’s been working at the lighthouse for many years. Although he has lived in the area for a long time, his face remains unknown to the rest of the community as he spends all of his time by himself inside the lighthouse. 

Shell shock is one possible explanation for the lightkeepers unusual personality. He’s an ex navy officer who served in the 1st world war. After his retirement he wished to live in solice and so took up the position as the lighthouse keeper. Scattered around his live- in lighthouse are memento’s of his past; including dust covered pictures of family members, old navy buddies and his old sweetheart. His prized possession however lives amongst his old navy medals. It sticks out from his collection of medals as it is the only one that still shines. It's a medal he received for winning a crossword competition many years ago. It may well be another explanation for his obsession with the things.

Over the years he has done a good job as lighthouse keeper. There is not an awful lot required of him, although it it is a job that requires long hours (in his case it’s constant) and there have been no major incidents known to have happened whilst he has been on watch.

Every day, along with his groceries,several of the days papers are delivered - which he reads from front to back before completing the puzzles inside, his favourite of which being the crossword.

He always finishes his crosswords, as he reads a lot and so as a result he is very intelligent - however his good knowledge and book smarts are compensated for by his sheltered lifestyle, which has left him detached from the real world.

He doesn’t have any real ‘people friends’... but thats not to say he’s unhappy. His puzzles are his passion and his favoured company. His ideal evening would be to sit in his lighthouse enjoying a good crossword to the soothing beat of his other companion, the spinning light. He likes to top the evening off with a comforting glass of irish cream and a slice of cake. Nothing gives him more joy than when he completes all of his crosswords for the day, at which point if he does he’ll knock off for a nap.

He’s a bit of a hoarder too and keeps all of his completed crosswords under and around his desk. From time to time he looks through them as though they are cherished memories.

script draft 3

THE LIGHTKEEPERS CROSSWORD

(draft 3)

by Adam Hackers

EXT. LIGHTHOUSE - NIGHT

It’s a dark, slightly misty but overall peaceful evening. A Lighthouse stands by itself on top of a cliff edge. Music can be heard (it’s source is inside the lighthouse)

INT. LIGHTHOUSE - NIGHT

Inside is a lone lighthouse keeper. He is sitting in the top room of the lighthouse, in front of the light itself. In the room there is also a bed, some shelves and a few other bits and pieces, it looks quite homely. The keeper sits at a desk writing down answers to a crossword. He writes them quite rhythmically as the light intermittently covers him. His radio (where the introduction music came from) is still playing.

The lightkeeper becomes stuck on a question and begins to tap his pencil off the desk in frustration. As the light spins, illuminating him on four separate passes we can see his frustration developing. This frustration is further developed as the radio begins to crackle. Soon it starts to annoy him and so he switches it off. However this causes the fuse to blow and the light goes out. 

As soon as the light blows the weather steadily worsens. A flash of lightning followed by thunder and the light patter of rain on metal.

The Lightkeeper lights a flickering candle lantern. He glances to the window and leans back confused by the sudden change in weather and noise level.

Camera cuts to looking up at the lightkeeper. He gets up and disappears off screen. We hear the lighting of a match and faint flickering light enters the scene and the lighthouse keeper follows

He looks to his crossword, its not quite as easy to read without the larger, more powerful light. He lowers his face close towards the crossword and squints with the lantern close in his hand.

EXT. LIGHTHOUSE

***Possible Edit

Cut to outside shot of lighthouse, camera follows the spiral of the staircase down the lighthouse, the viewer can see the light coming from each window as he makes his way down the stairs.***

The Lightkeeper opens the front door of his lighthouse with great difficulty and takes a couple of difficult steps out of the door, when he lets go it swings violently shut.

INT. CONVENIENCE SHOP

A door swings open and the Lightkeeper stumbles through, before forcing it shut.

1. LIGHTKEEPER

“hmmph” (relieved sigh)

He gathers himself together before heading towards the shop counter. The Lightkeeper points from behind the counter. 

We are now introduced to a new character, the shopkeeper. Seeing the lightkeeper, he pauses. He looks astonished that this ragged old lightkeeper has made his way through the storm just to get to the shop. 

The lightkeeper points again, this time with more urgency. 

2. Lightkeeper

“hmmm!”

The shopkeeper follows his hand and picks up a lightbulb from the shelf.

The Lightkeeper shakes his head and raises his hand in disapproval.

3. LIGHTKEEPER

“no no.”

His other hand remains pointing at the same spot and he nods his head forward as if to urge the shopkeeper to have a closer look at the shelf.

(Camera now in P.O.V on shelf) The shopkeepers hands brush aside several small, unidentifiable boxes (containing light bulbs) and raises his eyebrows in astonishment.

INT. LIGHTHOUSE

The Lightkeeper is once again indoors and has his arms wrapped around a huge box. He Sets it down on the table.

Next we see that the item in the box is a large bulb, which he proceeds to attach, though the sheer size of the thing makes it quite a challenge. (We can still hear a chaotic racket from outside.).

He soon gets the light up and running again, stands back and places his hands on his waist, with a look of satisfaction.

Behind him we see what has been going on in the darkness; We see a boat being pulled under by some monstrous tentacles! This will happen in stages as the light spins around, illuminating it as it passes.

We go back to the lighthouse keeper, who has been watching all of this. To begin with he appears to be in shock. However after a few passes of the light his face starts to turn from shocked to a more satisfied, but at the same time curious look. He then turns to his desk and picks up a book. He flicks through the pages until he finds the right one. He runs his finger down a page looks back and forth between the book and the goings on outside. The expression on his face is now a look of joy. Slowly, as if thinking whilst speaking, he lets out the word

1. Lightkeeper

“Calamari.”

He closes the book and sets it on his desk beside the crossword. It is revealed that the book is a seafood cooking book.

We now see the question, which is - “popular Mediterranean seafood dish”, before the Lightkeeper eagerly fills in the answer.

END.

early character development

early lighthouse concepts

script (draft 1)

The Lightkeepers Crossword

EXT. LIGHTHOUSE - NIGHT

It’s a dark, slightly misty but overall peaceful evening. A Lighthouse stands by itself on top of a misty cliff edge.

INT. LIGHTHOUSE - NIGHT

Inside is a lone lighthouse keeper. He is sitting in the top room of the lighthouse, in front of the light itself. In the room there is also a bed, some shelves and a few other bits and pieces, it looks quite homely. The keeper sits at a desk writing down answers to a crossword. He writes them quite rhythmically as the light intermittently covers him.

The lightkeeper becomes stuck on a question and begins to tap his pencil off the desk in frustration. As the light spins, illuminating him on four separate passes we can see his frustration developing. After it becomes evident that he’s not going to solve this question anytime soon, the light suddenly goes out. 

EXT. LIGHTHOUSE - NIGHT

As soon as the light blows we hear the weather from outside, its absolute havoc - a collection of loud winds, boat horns and crashing waves.

INT. LIGHTHOUSE - NIGHT

The Lightkeeper lights a flickering candle lantern and presses his face to the window, trying to see outside. He then looks to his crossword, its not quite as easy to read without the larger, more powerful light. His attention is now directed towards the bulb that has gone out and then back to his desk (slowly, as if thinking something through). He then clenches his fists and glares at the bulb once more (determined), before making his way towards the ladder and down the circular stairs.

The Lightkeeper opens the front door of his lighthouse and takes a couple of difficult steps out of the door, before closing the door with great difficulty. He turns, takes a deep breath and begins to walk, battling against the wind.

INT. CONVENIENCE SHOP

A door swings open and the Lightkeeper stumbles through, before forcing it shut. He sighs (it’s been a tough journey) and heads toward the shop counter. The Lightkeeper points from behind the counter. 

We are now introduced to a new character, the shopkeeper. He looks astonished that this ragged old lightkeeper has made his way through the storm just to get to the shop.

The lightkeeper points again, this time with more urgency.

1. LIGHTKEEPER

“hmm!”

The shopkeeper follows his hand and picks up a lightbulb from the shelf.

The Lightkeeper shakes his head and raises his hand in disapproval.

1. LIGHTKEEPER

“mm eh”

His other hand remains pointing at the same spot and he nods his head forward as if to urge the shopkeeper to have a closer look at the shelf.

The shopkeeper then pushes several lightbulbs aside, revealing behind a much larger, dustier lightbulb. The shopkeeper is bewildered, he’s never noticed these before!

As the shop keeper continues to look at the lightbulb, we can see the Lightkeeper in the background waiting at the counter. He reaches into a pocket and scatters some coins across the table. The shopkeeper begins to turn around.

We see the Box On the counter (C.U). The Lightkeepers arms wrap around it and hoist it awkwardly from the counter. We then see the lightkeeper heading towards the door.

INT. LIGHTHOUSE

The Lightkeeper is now inside, attaching the bulb with difficulty (We can still hear a chaotic racket from outside.).

He soon gets the light up and running again, stands back and places his hands on his waist, with a look of satisfaction.

Behind him we see what has been going on in the darkness; We see a boat being pulled under by some monstrous tentacles! This will happen in stages as the light spins around, illuminating it as it passes.

We go back to the lighthouse keeper, who has been watching all of this. To begin with he appears to be in shock. However after a few passes of the light his face starts to turn from shocked to a more satisfied, but at the same time curious look. He then turns to his desk and picks up a book. He flicks through the pages until he finds the right one. He runs his finger down a page looks back and forth between the book and the goings on outside. The expression on his face is now a look of joy. It is revealed that the book is an encyclopaedia of sea monsters

The Lightkeeper now writes down the name of the creature outside, it is the crossword answer he was struggling with!

END.

story (2nd Draft)

It's a dark evening in our coastal setting and the only thing that can be seen is the old lighthouse that stands by itself on top of a cliff edge. It’s quite misty outside but at this point the weather remains fairly peaceful.

Inside is a lone lighthouse keeper. Though he spends his time unaccompanied, he is quite content to sit solving crossword after crossword, although he completes them in only a quarter of the time he should, due to intermittent lighting.

Eventually the lighthouse keeper hits a tricky question and becomes rather stuck. Before this point we hear a rhythmic scribbling going on as he writes down the answers in time with the light. Now however the pattern is broken and the scribbling is replaced by the occasional tapping of his pencil on the table. After the light illuminates him a couple more times (his face appearing more confused/ frustrated each time) it eventually comes to an end. The bulb blows and the light goes off but still continues to spin. He is now left in darkness.

We now start to hear the weather outside changing, the winds suddenly pickup and we hear a collection of boat horns and crashing noises to go along with the loud winds.

At this point the keeper lights a gas/ or candle lantern, however its not quite as bright as his former source of light. He presses his face to the window, trying to see outside, however cannot. He then looks to his crossword, it’s not quite bright enough for that either. His attention now focuses toward the big light bulb (slowly) and then back towards his desk (worringly) - he fixates on his beloved crossword for a couple of seconds, before looking back up toward the light, glaring at it with a look of determination.

Next he makes his way down the circular stairs and out of the door, where outside there is a tremendous storm. We see him taking a couple of difficult steps, battleing against the wind.

He then struggles through another door before pushing against the wind to close it. He is now inside a little convenience store.

He walks towards a shop counter and points. The shopkeeper reaches for a lightbulb, however the lighthouse man waves his hand as if to say "no". So the shopkeepers pointing hand begins to move around, being directed by the mumbling of the lighthouse man. Eventually he makes a noise signifying what he wants. Again he targets lightbulbs, however this time the shopkeeper pushes several of them aside before revealing, to his own apparent surprise, an unusually large bulb at the back of the shelf. After paying the shopkeeper the lighthouse man hugs both arms around the bulb, hoists it off the counter and makes his way back to the exit.

When we see him back inside the lighthouse he is attaching the bulb with difficulty (we can still hear a chaotic racket from outside).

Once he finally gets the light up and running again we are given a quick glimpse of what has been going on outside in the darkness. We see a large ship being pulled beneath the surface by what appears to be some kind of sea monster. ( could just be the end of a tentacle)

We go back to the lighthouse keeper, who has been watching all of this too. He appears still for a moment, like he’s in shock. However after a few seconds of taking it all in his face begins to turn from shocked to a more satisfied, but at the same time curious look. His head turns to his desk, where he reaches for a book. He then flicks through several pages until he finds the right one. He runs his finger down a page and begins to look back and forth between the goings on outside and his book. He now has a delighted look on his face and we now see that the book is an encyclopedia of sea monsters.

The film ends with the now joyous keeper going back to his crossword and filling in the final answer, which is “Kraken” ( or some form of sea monster). He leans back in his chair and and lets out a sigh of relief.

some reference pics (Kinnaird Head Lighthouse)

Story (1st draft)

It's a dark stormy evening in our coastal setting and the only thing that can be seen is the old lighthouse that stands by itself on top of a cliff edge.

Inside is a lone lighthouse keeper. Though he spends his time unaccompanied, he is quite content to sit solving crossword after crossword, although he completes them in only a quarter of the time he should, due to intermittent lighting.

Eventually the lighthouse keeper hits a tricky question and becomes rather stuck. Before this point we hear a rhythmic scribbling going on as he writes down the answers in time with the light. Now however the pattern is broken and the scribbling is replaced by the occasional tapping of his pencil on the table. After the light illuminates him a couple more times (his face appearing more confused/ frustrated each time) it eventually comes to an end. Or at least the bulb blows, the light goes off but still continues to spin.

So now the exterior of the lighthouse is in darkness and the interior isn't far from it (there could be candle or torch inside. An exit sign maybe illuminates the place a bit.) the lighthouse keeper moves his face closer to the window, trying to see out. At this point we also hear a collection of boat horns, but do not see them as they are left in darkness. After having a look out of the window he then looks toward the big light bulb (slowly) and then back towards desk (worringly) - he fixates on his beloved crossword for a couple of seconds, before looking back up toward light and clicking his fingers (as if to say "right, lets do this!").

Next he makes his way down the circular stairs and out of the door, where outside there is a tremendous storm. We see him taking a couple of difficult steps, struggling against the wind. 

He then struggles through another door before pushing against the wind to close it. He is now inside a little convenience store.

He walks towards a shop counter and points. The shopkeeper reaches for a lightbulb, however the lighthouse man waves his hand as if to say "no". So the shopkeepers pointing hand begins to move around, being directed by the mumbling of =the lighthouse man. Eventually he makes a noise signifying what he wants. Again he targets lightbulbs, however this time the shopkeeper pushes several of them aside before revealing, to his own apparen=t surprise, an unusually large bulb at the back of the shelf. After paying the shopkeeper the lighthouse man hugs both arms around the bulb, hoists it off the counter and makes his way back to the exit.

When we see him back inside the lighthouse he is attaching the bulb with difficulty (we can still hear horns from water).

Once attached he looks out of the window to a mess of several wrecked boats. To begin with he looks shocked, however his shock turns to joy as the answer to his remaining crossword question is revealed in a mashup of two colliding/ sinking ships.

Film ends with content look on lighthouse keepers face. He bends down and scribbles in the answer. Time for the next one!