Context: The following script was created for Dramatic Writing class with Mrs. Shiver. The assignment asked that students create an argument during dinner.
Genre= Psychological Thriller
Character Trope= Mad Scientist
Character name/Description= Mark Stein, a scientist and researcher in the Verdanian Military. His only desire is to use his research to help win the war for his country and gain more funding from the government. He is very arrogant and believes his genius makes him superior to everyone around him, this arrogance also makes him impatient and quick-tempered with those he sees as “inferior”. In this scene he is wearing a white dress shirt and a black tie.
INT. DINING ROOM- EVENING
Jenny sits down at the dinner table with her plate, Mark is already eating and reading the newspaper.
JENNY
So how was your day?
Mark takes a sip of his drink, giving no response to Jenny
JENNY
How do you like the potatoes? I tried a new recipe today from Evelyn’s cookbook.
Mark flips a page in the newspaper, giving no acknowledgment to Jenny.
JENNY
Mark? Honey. Are you listening? Mark!
MARK
What!
JENNY
I said do you like the potatoes.
MARK
They’re too salty, you’d think you’d be able some better potatoes with how much time you spend around here doing nothing.
JENNY
Oh, well… I’m sorry
Mark looks back down at the paper
JENNY
I actually wasn’t doing nothing all day just so you know. I went on a walk with Rachel, we talked about the new factory being built in the city, and the new supermarket opening down the street. It seems like there’s something new opening up everywhere! Rachel’s also really worried about Scotty, she hasn’t gotten a letter from him in weeks. Do you know if Captain Pole has been letting the boys write recently?
Mark flips another page in the paper and takes a sip of his drink.
JENNY
Ya’ know… I’m also worried about—
Mark
Don’t! Don’t say his name.
JENNY
I was just… right… sorry.
Mark looks back down at the paper.
JENNY
So, I was cleaning today and uh… I was vacuuming and I went into your office to see—
MARK
You what?
JENNY
I went in your office because I was—
Mark slams his drink down on the table, Jenny’s wine spills and she jumps in her seat.
MARK
What did you touch?
JENNY
I uh- well I—
MARK
Jenny! Did you touch…Or see… Anything?
There’s a moment of silence as Mark stares at Jenny while she swallows and tries to speak.
JENNY
I- I saw your research papers on the—
MARK
Dang it, Jenny! I told you not to go in there! What about that did you not understand? You just can’t do anything right, can you?!
JENNY
Mark I… I’m sorry I just was curious and I-
MARK
You what Jenny?! What did you see?!
JENNY
I watched a video on the computer. It was… in your lab.
Mark exhales deeply, trying to calm himself.
MARK
How about you tell me what was on that video?
JENNY
Mark it was… what was it, Mark? It looked like a man, but it was. Mark, it looked like a monste—
Mark slams his fist on the table and stands up, startling Jenny again.
MARK
It’s not a monster, Jenny! Scotty has been the results of my work for the past 4 months! Don’t you dare call him a monster because you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!
JENNY
Did you say… Scotty? What do you mean? That thing didn’t loo—
MARK
Jenny! If I have to tell you one more time. What you saw was not a thing. It’s a work of art. It’s Scotty Jenny. You wanna know something? Scotty and all of Charlie Company were killed.
Jenny inhales sharply and covers her mouth.
MARK
They died Jenny. The battle of Salem Hill wasn’t a battle it was a slaughter. When I found Scotty he was nothing but a head attached to half a torso.
JENNY
What the hell are you saying Mark? Captain Pole said that we won Salem Hill?
MARK
We lie Jenny. We lie so that you all can stay dumb and compliant. When I found Scotty a brought back to the lab and I brought him back to life! I created life Jenny! He took his first breath again as a better version of what he was before! Do you know how incredible that is? Why don’t you go tell Heather that her son is as strong as ten men now! And that he can kill those mongrels across the sea with his bare hands!
JENNY
Mark you can’t just do that! You can’t play God like that! Scotty should’ve died in peace! Not been turned into whatever the hell I saw in that video!
Mark throws a plate towards Jenny. She ducks and it shatters on the floor behind her.
MARK
Don’t talk about him like that! Scotty is the perfect being now! You can’t comprehend how long and hard I’ve been trying to create something like this!
Marks starts walking towards Jenny, Jenny falls out of her chair and scrambles on the ground.
MARK
People like Scotty are what’s going to win the war for us! My people Jenny!
Jenny is crying on the ground below Mark. Mark picks her up and wraps his arms around her.
JENNY
Wha- what are you doing? Get off of me you psycho! You can’t just expect me to love you after what you’ve done!
Jenny struggles but calms down as Mark talks.
MARK
Jenny, it’ll be ok. Just trust me. I’m glad you found out about my work. Really, I am. I just need you to be a little open minded. You can do that can’t you?
JENNY
I… Mark I don’t know. I don’t think I—
Mark wraps his arms tighter around Jenny’s neck and covers her mouth. She struggles and eventually suffocates to death. Mark drops her body on the floor.
MARK
It didn’t have to be this way. You did this! You forced my hand because you couldn’t see how beautiful my work is! Now look at you. Maybe you can be like Scotty.