Screen Play Sample
(Font: 12 Courier)
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FADE IN: (The transition used at the beginning of a screenplay, fading in from black.)
EXT. CITY PARK – DAY (Slugline: EXT or INT. indicating the location – time of day)
A bustling park in the middle of the city. Children play on the playground, joggers pass by, and a street musician strums a guitar on a bench. (ACTION LINE: Describes what the character is doing or what is happening in the scene.)
JANE(Character)
(Sighs)(Parenthetical direction indicating how the line should be delivered.)
Another day, another dollar. I’m so tired, didn’t get any sleep last night. Neighbors kept me awake. (Dialogue)
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK – NEAR POND – DAY
A group of ducks quack loudly as they waddle towards the water. A little girl, EMMA (6), feeds them bread crumbs, laughing gleefully.
EMMA’S MOTHER (O.S.)
Emma, stay close to the pond!
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK BENCH – DAY
Jane glances over at Emma, a wistful look in her eyes. She takes another bite of her sandwich.
JANE
(Whispers)
So carefree…
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK – NEAR POND – DAY
Emma spots Jane watching her and runs over excitedly, holding out a handful of bread crumbs.
EMMA
Hi! Want to feed the ducks with me?
JANE
(Surprised)
Oh, I… I haven’t done that in years.
EMMA
Come on, it’s fun!
Jane hesitates, then smiles and stands up, brushing crumbs off her skirt.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK – POND – DAY
Jane and Emma stand side by side, tossing bread crumbs to the ducks. Jane laughs as the ducks quack loudly, fighting for the crumbs.
JANE
(Laughing)
I forgot how much I love this.
EMMA
Me too! My mommy says it’s the little things that make us happy.
JANE
(Smiling)
Your mommy is very wise.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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Descriptions of Parts:
- FADE IN: The transition used at the beginning of a screenplay, fading in from black.
- EXT. CITY PARK – DAY: Scene heading (slugline) indicating the location (exterior city park) and time of day (daytime).
- ACTION LINE: Describes what the character is doing or what is happening in the scene.
- PAN TO: Camera direction indicating a panning shot.
- EXT. PARK BENCH – DAY: A specific location within the park.
- (Sighs): Parenthetical direction indicating how the line should be delivered.
- CUT TO: A transition indicating a cut to a new scene or shot.
- EXT. PARK – NEAR POND – DAY: Another specific location within the park, near the pond.
- (O.S.): Off-screen, indicating that the character’s voice is heard but they are not seen.
- (Whispers): Parenthetical direction indicating how the line should be delivered.
- CUT TO: Another transition.
- EXT. PARK BENCH – DAY: Returning to Jane’s location on the bench.
- (Surprised): Parenthetical direction indicating how the line should be delivered.
- CUT TO: Another transition.
- EXT. PARK – POND – DAY: At the pond, where the ducks are
- (Laughing): Parenthetical direction indicating how the line should be delivered.
- FADE OUT: Transition indicating the scene or act is ending.