Submissions and Screenplays

I’ve been sitting in the Starbucks on Geenfield and the 60 for about two and a half hours, working solely on “Goodbye, Marla”. After all this work and editing, I nearly got a case of cold feet. My nervousness almost kept me from submitting the story to a few online magazines that are currently accepting submissions. But, I talked myself back into it, and three copies of “Marla” have traveled the vast expanse of the internet to find the inboxes of three magazine Editors!

So, if you follow College Lit Mags (I know, I don’t either) you will hopefully see my story in The Gila River Review, The Blue Guitar Magazine, and The Porter Gulch Review in the coming year!

Now, down to business! It is Original Work time! A small preface before I let you get at the screenplay. This story is my first foray into the world of Fantasy, and takes place in a world entirely of my creation. None of that is evident in the small scene I’ll be posting here, but it will help you with the town names and character names. I do intend to novelize these characters, and have the entire plot outlined in my mind. It’s just that, with my other novel taking precedence, Jordinn’s story has fallen by the wayside.

Also, remember that screenplay format is ridiculous and not really designed to be a pleasurable read. Also, WordPress doesn’t want to play nice, so forgive the awkward formatting here.

Anyway, enough chit chat on my part- Enjoy!

EXT. DIRT PATH LEADING INTO A SMALL VILLAGE- DAY

JORDINN, a tall man, thin and scruffy, wanders into

town. All the windows and doors on the thatched huts

are closed. There are no people save for one man

standing in the middle of the street. Tall, bald, and

menacing, the man carries a flail.

JORDINN notices movement in the dilapidated houses. The

people are watching. JORDINN raises his hands in peace.

JORDINN

I mean no your village no harm.

He looks around the town.

 JORDINN (CONT’D)

I am a traveler from the City

seeking to aid the nation’s ailing

villages.

The villagers start murmuring at once.

BALD MAN

The City sent you?

JORDINN

No. The City is too foolish to see

its borders and its people are

crumbling.

JORDINN pauses, looking at a woman and her child

peeking through a window.

JORDINN (CONT’D)

Or it is too arrogant to care.

Villagers open their doors, stepping onto their

porches. Most nod in agreement with JORDINN’s words.

Except the BALD MAN.

BALD MAN

We have heard news of villages

being pillaged.

He glares at JORDINN, teeth bared.

JORDINN

You expect me to attack your entire

village single-handedly?

JORDINN smiled.

JORDINN (CONT’D)

I’m good, but not THAT good, my

friend.

BALD MAN

And if you’re a scout?

JORDINN

We can stand all night in the street

if you’d like, but I promise you, no

bandits follow me.

OLD MAN (OC)

ULNAAR!

An OLD MAN with a pronounced limp steps out onto the street, addressing the

BALD MAN.

OLD MAN (CONT’D)

This lad seems honest enough.

He turns to JORDINN, smiling.

OLD MAN (CONT’D

What’s your name boy?

JORDINN

Jordinn.

JORDINN eases his hands back to his sides turning

to the OLD MAN.

OLD MAN

I am MATHIAS, this brute is ULNAAR.

MATHIAS smiled, welcoming JORDINN to the town.

MATHIAS

Let’s have a drink!

JORDINN follows MATHIAS, as ULNAAR falls in behind him,

still glaring.

INT. TAVERN- DAY

The three men sit at a round table, as MATHIAS orders

drinks. ULNAAR continues to look unhappy.

MATHIAS

You said you’re helping the

villages?

JORDINN

I’ve spent the last five years

traveling Courdelon, helping in

any way I can.

JORDINN sips his pint of ale. MATHIAS has a foam

mustache from his gulp of ale, while ULNAAR has yet to

drink.

MATHIAS

What villages have seen your help?

JORDINN

Many. Falroth, Irmire, and

Erlebrook were the most recent

towns I visited.

ULNAAR jumps up, spilling his tankard.

ULNAAR

Erlebrook was hit two days ago, and

Irmire the last full moon!

JORDINN

What?

JORDINN looks at each man in turn, confused.

JORDINN (CONT’D)

I stayed over an entire Cycle in

Erlebrook tending their crops. I only left

a fortnight ago!

ULNAAR turns to MATHIAS.

ULNAAR

This man brings trouble! Two of the towns he

“helped” have been ravaged!

JORDINN

Ravaged? Were there any survivors?

MATHIAS

Two women with their children, and

several orphans they found along the

way.

MATHIAS frowns into his tankard. JORDINN holds his head

in his hands for a moment, before rummaging through his

pack. He withdraws a withered yellow parchment and

unrolls it on the table.

In shaky letters town names are written, and cities

drawn. It is JORDINN’s personal map of the nation.

The men spend a half hour discussing what villages were

hit when. JORDINN marks the trail of the pillagers.

JORDINN

They’re going to hit Draden next.

ULNAAR

That’s only a day’s ride from here!

JORDINN looks at ULNAAR, then back at MATHIAS.

JORDINN

Will your men ride with me to

evacuate Draden?

MATHIAS laughs.

MATHIAS

Men? What men? This is a small

village of farmers. We have more

livestock than we do men!

ULNAAR

I will ride with you.

JORDINN turns to ULNAAR, shocked.

JORDINN

All right. Gather as many men as

you can, and your best horses. We

leave immediately.

MATHIAS sat, flabbergasted, as ULNAAR and JORDINN left

to prepare for their rescue of Draden.