Sledgehammer Writing Contest

Chris has become a familiar face at Indigo events lately, particularly our weekly Sit Down, Shut Up, and Write event and our monthly happy hours. It’s great to see him at Mini Sledgehammer now too, especially winning!

***

Prompts:
Character: Church choirs back up baritone
Setting: behind a screen door
Prop: Black Bat
Phrase: “That can’t be real”

***

Young and Discovering

by Chris Smith

FADE IN:

INT. DAY- NIGHT

Charlie is sitting at his computer watching a video with
his friend Alex hunched over him watching in awe.

ALEX

I don’t know how you find this kind of
stuff. Not that I really want to know.

CHARLIE

Trust me it’s a mystery to me too. But
that’s the internet for you. Just a few
clicks can lead you down a very…
interesting path.

The two teenage boys continue to watch the images on the
screen that seem to flash by them.

ALEX

How is that even possible. Like where did
she put it!

CHARLIE

I know, right! It just straight up
disappeared into her.

Beat.

CHARLIE CONT.

Every thought of doing something like
that?

Alex looks at him confused.

ALEX

I mean it looks interesting. These women
sure have a lot of skill to be doing this
all the time, I mean…

Something on the screen catches his eye.

ALEX CONT.

Holy shit! Look at her with that bat. That
black one really knows how to work it!
That can’t be real!

CHARLIE

I know! She is definitely the best on of
the group. But again. Would you do this in
like real life?

Charlie looks Alex right into his eyes with a smirk on his
face. Alex stares nervously back at him.

ALEX

I…I don’t know. I mean it seems pretty
cool to try out with someone, but I… I
can’t. Like I’ve finally made it to a
prime position in the church: backup to
the backup baritone in the choir. I don’t
really want to lose it because of…

Alex gets distracted by the blurred images that continue to
whirl around on the screen in front of them.

Charlie continues to stare more at Alex than at the screen
with a mix of interest and wonder.

CHARLIE

You know, I could help you out with it. At
least the first time.

Alex finally tears his eyes from the computer to look at
Charlie confused.

ALEX

Like you, know how do anything that these
women are doing?

CHARLIE

Well not exactly, but I’ve been watching
it for years, so I’ve learned a lot.

ALEX

I just don’t think it’s something for me.
I mean it looks fun and stuff, just… I
don’t think I’m that talented.

CHARLIE

See that’s the thing, you are talented
enough to do it. You need to stop living
your life behind a screen door just
watching and step outside for once. At
least that’s what the main one always
says.

They stare intensely at each other for a moment.

ALEX

Okay, okay fine. Only if you are there to
help me out.

CHARLIE

Sure, whatever you want.

They stare at each other for a moment before returning to
the screen.

ALEX

What’s the main one’s name again?

Charlie laughs a little.

CHARLIE

RuPaul.

The boys continue to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race in awe of the
performances of the queens.

FADE OUT:

THE END

©2017 Chris Smith

***

I’m an aspiring filmmaker and writer from South Florida. I enjoy crafting stories about the weird yet interesting mundane parts of life, whether it is visually or on the page. When not writing, I can be found taking photos around town or binging on TV show and movies.

Filed under: Mini Sledgehammers | Tagged: 36 minutes, Chris Smith, Mini Sledgehammer, screenwriting, writing contest, young and discovering |