"Following" Screenplay

  

FOLLOWING

By Sam Dawson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPEN ON-

EXT. ROAD. NIGHT.

 

Long shot of Crystal Palace Tower at night. Not very visible but the red lights flashing on it at night create an ominous atmosphere. 

 

 

CUT TO - EXT. BUS STOP. NIGHT

Dark and quiet. Ambient sound of cars on the road can be heard in the distance. Static long shot of our character sat at the bus stop from the other side of the road. Dimly lit from above. Another, dark clothed figure walks into the frame and leans on the other side of the bus stop. Figure is tall, carries a backpack over one shoulder, and is wearing all black.

CUT TO – EXT. BUS STOP. NIGHT

Mid-shot side profile of our character sat down at the bus stop. She glances to her right at the person leaning on the bus stop. He is out of focus in the background.

CUT TO – EXT. BUS STOP. NIGHT

Long shot from the other side of the road and the bus comes into frame, stopping in front of the bus stop.

Beat.

Bus pulls away from the stop and both our character and the suspicious man are gone.

 

CUT TO - INT. BUS. NIGHT

 

Over the shoulder tracking shot following our character as she walks to a standing position in the middle of the bus. The bus is empty. Dimly lit.

 

CUT TO – INT. BUS. NIGHT

 

Close-up of our character from behind as they turn their head to their right watching the suspicious man from the bus stop scan his ticket.

 

CUT TO – INT. BUS. NIGHT.

 

POV shot from our characters perspective of the suspicious man as he walks down the bus. He quickly makes eye contact with the camera before it cuts.

 

 

 

 

CUT TO – INT. BUS. NIGHT.

 

Front on close-up of our character as they stare past the camera looking worried and afraid as the man walks past in the background, out of focus.

 

CUT TO – INT. BUS. NIGHT.

 

POV handheld shot from our characters perspective watching the suspicious man walk through the bus and go and sit in the back left hand corner of the bus.

 

CUT TO – INT. BUS. NIGHT.

 

Side profile close-up of our character as she looks around the bus. We can visibly see the fear and worry on her face. The man can be seen out of focus in the background.

 

CUT TO – INT. BUS. NIGHT. 

 

Close-up of our character. Camera slowly dollies in towards her face as soft strings steadily build. As her face fills the frame she jumps as the BUS ANNOUNCEMENT says.

 

 

BUS ANNOUNCEMENT

 

This bus terminates here. Please take all your belongings with you.

 

 

CUT TO – INT. BUS. NIGHT.

 

Extreme close-up of sign inside bus that reads Final Stop and the time (late at night).

 

CUT TO – INT. BUS. NIGHT.

 

Mid-shot of our character from behind, framed by the opening bus doors.

 

CUT TO – EXT. BUS STOP. NIGHT.

 

Long shot from the other side of the road. Bus begins in frame and then exits to the right. We see our character walking down the road to the right and the suspicious man following her behind. Both exit the frame before cut.

 

 

 

CUT TO – EXT. STREET. NIGHT.

 

Medium close-up tracking shot of our character as she walks down a dimly lit street. She appears more relaxed, she puts her headphones in. The ambient sounds become more muffled. A low string track comes in. The music from her headphones can be softly heard.

 

CUT TO – EXT. CAR PARK. NIGHT.

 

Long shot of our character walking through an empty car park. The car park is softly lit by overhead lights. The camera is positioned behind her as she walks.

 

CUT TO – EXT. CAR PARK. NIGHT.

 

Handheld tracking shot of our character walking through the car park following her from behind. As she walks camera pans left to show 2 girls sat on a ledge laughing and chatting. They are obviously slightly intoxicated and seem to have left a party or club. They glance up at our character and smile.

 

CUT TO – EXT. CAR PARK. NIGHT.

 

Mid full shot of our character from the perspective of the girls. The camera tracks our character, panning left as she walks. Our character is looking at the girls, smiling with her mouth closed.

 

CUT TO – EXT. CAR PARK. NIGHT.

 

POV shot of the girls from our characters perspective. They are smiling up at her but then look to their right, out of frame and their expressions quickly become cold and worried. They grab their small purses and leave in a hurried manner.

 

CUT TO – EXT. CAR PARK. NIGHT.

 

Tracking close-up of our character as they continue to walk. Her expression has become more confused and worried. She turns her head further to look behind her.

 

CUT TO – EXT. CAR PARK. NIGHT.

 

Handheld POV shot from our character’s perspective looking back into the parking lot. The dark figure from the bus stop is in the centre of the frame walking towards our character.

 

 

 

CUT TO – EXT. CAR PARK. NIGHT.

 

Close-up of our character as she spins her head back around to face the camera. A look of shock and fear appear on her face. She then walks quickly out of the front of the frame.

 

CUT TO – EXT. PARK. NIGHT.

 

Long shot of our character walking through a dark section of the park. Shot taken from behind trees. Camera pans to track her as she walks. 

 

CUT TO – EXT. PARK. NIGHT.

 

Another long shot of our character walking through a dark section of the park. Shot taken from behind some bushes. Gives the impression she is being watched. 

 

CUT TO – EXT. PARK EXIT. NIGHT. 

 

Static mid shot of our character as she reaches the park exit. She is out of breath, and she seems worried. She looks around for somewhere to go. Her eyes dart around and then stop on something.

 

CUT TO – EXT. MAIN ROAD. NIGHT.

 

Long shot of a main road filled with bars and shops. Sounds of people laughing and glasses clinking, and music can be heard.

 

CUT TO – EXT. PARK EXIT. NIGHT.

 

Long shot from through the park fence shows our character crossing the road hurriedly and heading towards the main road.

 

CUT TO – EXT. MAIN ROAD. NIGHT.

 

Tracking full shot following our character quickly walking down the road. Camera dollies backwards as she dodges past object and people. She regularly glances over her shoulder to see if the man is still there.

 

CUT TO – EXT. MAIN ROAD. NIGHT. 

 

Handheld tracking shot of the figure walking down the same road as our character.

 

CUT TO – EXT. MAIN ROAD. NIGHT.

 

Tracking shot following our character as she now begins to run down the road. She pushes stuff out of her way and looks back more frequently. 

CUT TO – EXT. MAIN ROAD. NIGHT.

 

Cut to long shot from the other side of the road of the figure stopped, waving. The figure shouts out

 

FIGURE

 

Hey! Hey! I’m over here!

 

CUT TO – EXT. MAIN ROAD. NIGHT.

 

Mid shot of our character from behind as she stops running and turns around to face the figure.

 

CUT TO – EXT. MAIN ROAD. NIGHT.

 

POV shot from our character’s perspective as the figure embraces a friend who walks out of a bar on the road. The soft mumblings of the 2 characters can be heard.

 

CUT TO – EXT. ALLEY. NIGHT.

 

Close-up of our characters feet as she walks into an alley and slumps against a wall. She is out of breath and leans her head back against the wall breathing sighs of relief. 

 

Beat.

 

She hears a noise and turns her head right, towards camera.

 

 

CUT TO – EXT. ALLEY. NIGHT.

 

POV shot from our character’s perspective of the alley. It is empty and still.

 

CUT TO – EXT. ALLEY. NIGHT.

 

Close-up of our character slumped against the wall again. She tilts her head back and exhales deeply. A black gloved hand covers her mouth, and she squeals as she is begun to be pulled out of frame.

 

CUT TO BLACK

 

CREDITS

 

THE END.