A Nice Little Disaster, the Screenplay...

Okay, I managed to get the script off the zip disc so I thought I would dump a few scenes here and there up on TundraTalk. Just so you have something to read, a lost art I might add (reading), and laugh at. So since I wrote this about six years ago, and read it again for the first time just on Wednesday, I will tell you that I would change a few things if I had a choice. Overall I likes it, it is a good read. Laughed a bit. There are a few plot holes and some questionable characters but overall an okay story. Some of the stories in this script are stories that Tony told me actually happened. See if you can figure out which stories. The whole ex girlfriend thing is all made up and Tony having a dog names Raul is also fiction. Don Schmith, of the WOI Scmiths, has a dog named Opie that is true. I hope you all enjoy this...

Oh wait, as you read this some of you will see some familiar names. I tried to work everyones names into this one. Some from here in Edmonton and the others from the states. I also as you read will notice that I have seen a lot of action films and I like to make all my characters smart asses. Lots of quotes from Star Wars also. A few inside jokes are in there also. I have tried to keep the screenplay format for you so it is easier to read. I have included just two scenes from act one. More will come later.

A Nice Little Disaster Act One...

FADE IN:

EXT. CALDONIA NORTH DAKOTA -- EARLY EVENING
Several people are working frantically to sandbag a dike to save their neighborhood. The neighborhood is situated on the RED RIVER in North Dakota. The RED RIVER has swelled recently due to a large winter run off. STEVE, DAVE AND CHESTER SCHOENROCK are brothers. Dave being the oldest and Chester the youngest of the brothers. The Schoenrock brothers are thin, rugged, hard working individuals. FRED, a Farmer and their neighbor, is helping.

Another farmer drives up in his pickup swiftly.

FARMER
You guys better get outta here. The dike is about to give.

STEVE
This is just like that movie.

DAVE
Which one?

STEVE
You know the one with that Christian Slater. The one about the bank robbery during a flood.

CHESTER
That movie sucked.

STEVE

Yeah.

Steve gives Chester a high five.

STEVE
Could you imagine if the river just came like a wall at us?

DAVE
Screw that, this dike will hold. No wall of water, no tight shots of you running in slow mo, no saving the girl, and definitely no Christian Slater.

CHESTER
He's a nimrod anyway. Remember Kuffs? That movie sucked too.

FRED
Hey Siskel, Ebert. You guys need to do less yapping and more bagging.

Steve looks over his shoulder and gives Fred the finger. As he does this his attention is drawn to the horizon.

STEVE
Holy shit! Here comes Christian Slater. Let's get the hell out of here.

Steve and his brothers run and jump into their jacked up 1982 Blazer along with the neighbor whose house they were trying to save. They speed off in the rising waters.

DAVE
Hurry up, hurry up! That water is moving fast.

Steve drives frantically through the small town. They spot a resident, MRS. KUSS, trying to flag them down. She is a short old gray haired woman who lives alone.

CHESTER
Hey, Steve. Check it out. We better stop and get Mrs. Kuss.

They pull up and Steve swings the back end of the truck up to the deck which is almost under water.

STEVE
Hurry up. Grab your socks and lets go. This river is rising faster than I can drive this heap.

MRS. KUSS
I'm moving as fast as these old legs will go. Do you think I have time to get my Hummels?

DAVE
Get in the truck or we're all floating.

She looks at the height of the truck.

MRS. KUSS
Do you have a ladder so I can get in?

STEVE
Everybody is a comedian.

CHESTER
Holy shit, look at that!

Chester points out the back of the truck toward a building floating toward them.

CHESTER
Isn't that Mr. Weiser's shed?

DAVE
Yeah, and that's his house right behind it! Head for high ground NOW!

FADE OUT:

EXT. LAKE ASHTABULA -- SUNDOWN
TONY MUTZENBERGER is sitting on his porch overlooking the lake with the sunset going down over the horizon. Tony is about 28. He is a medium build with brown hair. It is unusually cold for April. He is drinking a Corona, Dwight Yoakam is on the radio, and Raoul, his pride Beagle, is by his side. All around his ranch home there are many pictures of Tony, a National Guard Lieutenant, with the General accepting awards. There are also pictures of Tony with big game animals that he has hunted. Most of the pictures are of Tony with his dog or his friend Mike. There is a large picture of Tony and Mike at a hockey game. They are both wearing Sioux hockey sweaters. The phone rings. Tony grabs his cell phone from his belt.

TONY
You are interrupting my sunset.

CAPTAIN RICH PATRICK
I'm sorry that I bothered you Lieutenant during such a momentous occasion.

Tony jumps to attention as if the Captain were there.

TONY
Sorry sir.

CAPTAIN RICH PATRICK
That's okay. At ease.

TONY
What can I do for you sir?

CAPTAIN RICH PATRICK
We have a situation in Great Forks. We need someone to come in and coordinate troops, media, and civilians.

TONY
Is it the Red?

CAPTAIN RICH PATRICK
Yes.

CAPTAIN RICH PATRICK
I don't know all the specifics but if the dikes don't hold this could be big. Wrath of God type shit. The National Guard needs someone we can depend on and the General requested..er..How can I put this? Insisted on you.

TONY
I'm honored.

CAPTAIN RICH PATRICK
No. You you are on your way.

TONY
Right.

CAPTAIN RICH PATRICK
Thank you Lieutenant. I will see you in Great Forks by 0500.

TONY
Thank you sir.

Tony hangs up phone, looks at the sunset.

TONY
Just another sunset ruined by technology.

Talking to Raoul

TONY
What do you say about Great Forks Raoul? I hear it is beautiful this time of year. Yeah right, if it was beautiful I wouldn't be "requested". I only get "requested" to disasters. Wrath of God type shit. Great.

Tony finishes his Corona and he and Raoul leave the deck and go inside to pack.

FADE OUT: