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.