Pencilmation.com Script submissions
FLY SOUP
We open on Pencilmate seated at a restaurant table, excitedly waiting for his order. He beams with delight as a fancy waiter enters the frame and places a covered dish on the table. With a flourish he lifts the lid to reveal a steaming bowl of soup, and glides out of sight.
Pencilmate leans over the bowl and dreamily breathes in thin lines of steam, licking his chops with anticipation. As he hungrily ties his napkin around his neck like a bib, a buzzing noise is heard that stops him in his tracks. His eyes dart about trying to find the source, and eventually spots a fly that circles gracefully in front of Pencilmate’s face and suddenly stops mid-air at eye level.
Cut to a close-up of the fly where it carefully snaps on a bathing cap, lowers a pair of goggles, and drops straight into the bowl of soup with a tiny plop.
Pencilmate is shocked and angry and haughtily snaps his fingers to call over the waiter. The waiter glides into the frame as the offended Pencilmate indignantly points to the bowl. As both lean in to look, we cut to a close up of the soup where the fly suddenly breaks the surface, spitting out a fountain of soup and swimming playfully around the bowl.
The waiter bows apologetically to Pencilmate and holds up a finger, promising to make it right before disappearing from the frame. Pencilmate sits frowning with crossed arms and glares at the fly buzzing around in his bowl. We cut again to the ecstatic fly, who suddenly brightens with an idea and with fingers in his mouth wolf whistles loudly.
We cut back to Pencilmate, where a great buzzing begins and a huge cloud of flies enters the scene. The swarm buzzes and undulates above the bowl for a bit, and then winds up and dives into the bowl with a series of rapid-fire plops and splashes.
Pencilmate is disgusted and outraged, and raises his hand to call the waiter once again. But his mood shifts to surprise when the sound of an orchestra tuning their instruments begins. He leans in curiously to look in the bowl to find the source of the sound.
Cut to the soup, where a small fly orchestra is perched on the far edge of the bowl. The fly conductor taps his baton and raises his arms, and the swell of old-timey Hollywood orchestra music begins to play as we pull back to the rest of the bowl. All along the lip of the bowl are smiling flies dressed with pink and blue sparkly caps and suits, lined up in a graceful pose. As the music builds with angelic harp-like sounds the flies dive one by one, cascading into the soup like an old Hollywood Esther Williams movie.
We cut to the soup where the flies begin a synchronized swimming routine, to the delight of Pencilmate. The orchestra plays as flies lay on their backs, feet touching the head of another, forming colored concentric rings around the bowl that rotate in opposite directions. The inner rings dive under the surface and reform into groups of 4 flies with wings out, making small rotating flower patterns. Near the center of the bowl a dozen flies float in a circle on their backs, making kaleidoscopic patterns with their arms and feet. And in the center of the bowl the original fly gracefully spins and dips like a ballerina on burbling fountains of soup.
We cut to Pencilmate at his table, completely captivated by this amazing spectacle and watching with intense delight. But from this view we no longer hear the music and the bowl looks to be infested with a mass of buzzing black dots.
The waiter glides into the frame with a new bowl of soup, and reaches for the bowl on the table. But the grinning Pencilmate slaps his hand away, not wanting to disturb the performance that apparently only he can see. Without turning away from the show, he grabs the new bowl of soup from the waiter and happily spoons it into his mouth while gazing intently at the jumping and buzzing flies. The waiter is confused at first, but the customer is always right, so he shrugs and walks off.
Once the waiter is out of sight the music fades back in, and as it plays out with its final crescendo the scene closes with an old fashioned circular iris wipe, holding on the bowl for a beat, before closing to black.
END
We open on Pencilmate seated at a restaurant table, excitedly waiting for his order. He beams with delight as a fancy waiter enters the frame and places a covered dish on the table. With a flourish he lifts the lid to reveal a steaming bowl of soup, and glides out of sight.
Pencilmate leans over the bowl and dreamily breathes in thin lines of steam, licking his chops with anticipation. As he hungrily ties his napkin around his neck like a bib, a buzzing noise is heard that stops him in his tracks. His eyes dart about trying to find the source, and eventually spots a fly that circles gracefully in front of Pencilmate’s face and suddenly stops mid-air at eye level.
Cut to a close-up of the fly where it carefully snaps on a bathing cap, lowers a pair of goggles, and drops straight into the bowl of soup with a tiny plop.
Pencilmate is shocked and angry and haughtily snaps his fingers to call over the waiter. The waiter glides into the frame as the offended Pencilmate indignantly points to the bowl. As both lean in to look, we cut to a close up of the soup where the fly suddenly breaks the surface, spitting out a fountain of soup and swimming playfully around the bowl.
The waiter bows apologetically to Pencilmate and holds up a finger, promising to make it right before disappearing from the frame. Pencilmate sits frowning with crossed arms and glares at the fly buzzing around in his bowl. We cut again to the ecstatic fly, who suddenly brightens with an idea and with fingers in his mouth wolf whistles loudly.
We cut back to Pencilmate, where a great buzzing begins and a huge cloud of flies enters the scene. The swarm buzzes and undulates above the bowl for a bit, and then winds up and dives into the bowl with a series of rapid-fire plops and splashes.
Pencilmate is disgusted and outraged, and raises his hand to call the waiter once again. But his mood shifts to surprise when the sound of an orchestra tuning their instruments begins. He leans in curiously to look in the bowl to find the source of the sound.
Cut to the soup, where a small fly orchestra is perched on the far edge of the bowl. The fly conductor taps his baton and raises his arms, and the swell of old-timey Hollywood orchestra music begins to play as we pull back to the rest of the bowl. All along the lip of the bowl are smiling flies dressed with pink and blue sparkly caps and suits, lined up in a graceful pose. As the music builds with angelic harp-like sounds the flies dive one by one, cascading into the soup like an old Hollywood Esther Williams movie.
We cut to the soup where the flies begin a synchronized swimming routine, to the delight of Pencilmate. The orchestra plays as flies lay on their backs, feet touching the head of another, forming colored concentric rings around the bowl that rotate in opposite directions. The inner rings dive under the surface and reform into groups of 4 flies with wings out, making small rotating flower patterns. Near the center of the bowl a dozen flies float in a circle on their backs, making kaleidoscopic patterns with their arms and feet. And in the center of the bowl the original fly gracefully spins and dips like a ballerina on burbling fountains of soup.
We cut to Pencilmate at his table, completely captivated by this amazing spectacle and watching with intense delight. But from this view we no longer hear the music and the bowl looks to be infested with a mass of buzzing black dots.
The waiter glides into the frame with a new bowl of soup, and reaches for the bowl on the table. But the grinning Pencilmate slaps his hand away, not wanting to disturb the performance that apparently only he can see. Without turning away from the show, he grabs the new bowl of soup from the waiter and happily spoons it into his mouth while gazing intently at the jumping and buzzing flies. The waiter is confused at first, but the customer is always right, so he shrugs and walks off.
Once the waiter is out of sight the music fades back in, and as it plays out with its final crescendo the scene closes with an old fashioned circular iris wipe, holding on the bowl for a beat, before closing to black.
END
GOING DOWN
We open on Pencilmate standing in front of an elevator, waiting patiently and sipping a cup of coffee. Soon a soft “ding” is heard and the doors slide open. Already inside are Granny, Pencilmiss and Mini-Pencilmate, with Big Guy and Tall Guy behind them. Pencilmiss is looking at her phone, Mini-Pencilmate casually licks a lollypop and the rest of the group stand calmly and quietly, facing forward without making eye contact. Pencilmate steps in and nods cordially to the group as he turns to face front as the doors slide shut.
We cut to the inside of the elevator, where the group continues to stand idly and stare at nothing while bland elevator music plays. A display on the back wall shows an “up” arrow rolling steadily as the elevator climbs upward. Suddenly a loud mechanical CLUNK is heard and the elevator jerks and comes to a stop. The passengers look slightly startled and Pencilmate and Pencilmiss share a suspicious glance as a metallic shriek pierces the air, followed by a loud SNAP. The walls suddenly vibrate and rumble as the arrow on the display spins and points down, rolling quickly and turning into a blur. The elevator is falling!
A roar like a jet fighter plummeting to earth is heard as the group goes into instant panic. Pencilmiss and Pencilmate hug each other in terror while screaming their lungs out. Granny appears behind Pencilmiss and grabs her by the shoulders, tosses her roughly off screen and takes her place, hugging a still screaming Pencilmate. She leans in lasciviously and reaches around to grab his butt.
Cut to Mini-Pencilmate, who is frightened and crying. They are falling so fast he lifts off the ground and starts to float! He suddenly notices and stops crying, thinking it’s pretty cool that he’s weightless, and does a couple somersaults in the air.
Cut to Big Guy, arms up and running in a tight circle as he screams like a little girl. Each time Big Guy turns around he smashes into Tall Guy, who is getting continually pummeled and walloped into the side of the elevator.
Cut to the full group, where everyone is screaming and in full panic mode. Pencilmiss chokes Pencilmate while Granny humps him from behind. Pencilmate flails his arms, pulling hair and spilling coffee. Big guy’s fists are everywhere, bopping Tall Guy in the face and Pencilmate on the head. And Mini-Pencilmate floats and bounces through the air like a beach ball.
Suddenly the sound changes from a plane going down to loud screeching tires as the elevator shudders and vibrates. The group freezes in place, still clutching and strangling each other, and look around in surprise as the display slows and stops on the ground floor, followed by a soft “ding”. The group, still frozen in combat stances, share quick glances and embarrassing smiles. Mini-Pencilmate, still floating, plops gently to the floor.
Cut to the hallway, where the elevator doors slide open to reveal the group, all back in their normal bored elevator positions, looking at their phones, drinking coffee and staring ahead. They each exit the elevator as if nothing unusual had happened, nodding and waving cordially as they walk down the hall and off screen.
END
We open on Pencilmate standing in front of an elevator, waiting patiently and sipping a cup of coffee. Soon a soft “ding” is heard and the doors slide open. Already inside are Granny, Pencilmiss and Mini-Pencilmate, with Big Guy and Tall Guy behind them. Pencilmiss is looking at her phone, Mini-Pencilmate casually licks a lollypop and the rest of the group stand calmly and quietly, facing forward without making eye contact. Pencilmate steps in and nods cordially to the group as he turns to face front as the doors slide shut.
We cut to the inside of the elevator, where the group continues to stand idly and stare at nothing while bland elevator music plays. A display on the back wall shows an “up” arrow rolling steadily as the elevator climbs upward. Suddenly a loud mechanical CLUNK is heard and the elevator jerks and comes to a stop. The passengers look slightly startled and Pencilmate and Pencilmiss share a suspicious glance as a metallic shriek pierces the air, followed by a loud SNAP. The walls suddenly vibrate and rumble as the arrow on the display spins and points down, rolling quickly and turning into a blur. The elevator is falling!
A roar like a jet fighter plummeting to earth is heard as the group goes into instant panic. Pencilmiss and Pencilmate hug each other in terror while screaming their lungs out. Granny appears behind Pencilmiss and grabs her by the shoulders, tosses her roughly off screen and takes her place, hugging a still screaming Pencilmate. She leans in lasciviously and reaches around to grab his butt.
Cut to Mini-Pencilmate, who is frightened and crying. They are falling so fast he lifts off the ground and starts to float! He suddenly notices and stops crying, thinking it’s pretty cool that he’s weightless, and does a couple somersaults in the air.
Cut to Big Guy, arms up and running in a tight circle as he screams like a little girl. Each time Big Guy turns around he smashes into Tall Guy, who is getting continually pummeled and walloped into the side of the elevator.
Cut to the full group, where everyone is screaming and in full panic mode. Pencilmiss chokes Pencilmate while Granny humps him from behind. Pencilmate flails his arms, pulling hair and spilling coffee. Big guy’s fists are everywhere, bopping Tall Guy in the face and Pencilmate on the head. And Mini-Pencilmate floats and bounces through the air like a beach ball.
Suddenly the sound changes from a plane going down to loud screeching tires as the elevator shudders and vibrates. The group freezes in place, still clutching and strangling each other, and look around in surprise as the display slows and stops on the ground floor, followed by a soft “ding”. The group, still frozen in combat stances, share quick glances and embarrassing smiles. Mini-Pencilmate, still floating, plops gently to the floor.
Cut to the hallway, where the elevator doors slide open to reveal the group, all back in their normal bored elevator positions, looking at their phones, drinking coffee and staring ahead. They each exit the elevator as if nothing unusual had happened, nodding and waving cordially as they walk down the hall and off screen.
END