The Mighty HDC Battle Royale III

[~Michelle~]

Well crap! that's All...
Err ah Thanks! lol I guess should have made better notes when I was jotting down the challenge ugg.... Oh well... you all get's what you gots! lol

And Endo, yup thats me, that pic was taken 8 years ago at my wedding!

[_____V_____]

HDC BATTLE ROYALE III FINAL ROUND - THE VERDICTS


The first reply, came from Finalist Michelle.

"Select a horror book of your choice which hasn't been adapted to film yet, as the basis of your untitled film project.
Outline a script for it.
Make casting choices, select appropriate locations and a director for your film.
Select soundtracks and a music composer.
Select an appropriate budget for your film, and give it a suitable name."

Book: The Unloved by John Saul

Casting Choices:
Margurite: Cate Blanchett
Helena: Susan Sarandon
Julie: Dakota Fanning
Jeff: Kodi Smit-McPhee
Kerry: Justin Bieber
The rest of the cast are all nobody’s

Location: Isle of Palms, South Carolina

Director: John Carpenter

Soundtrack: Black #1- Type O Negative, Summer Breeze – Type O Negative,

Music Composer: John Carpenter

Budget: 25 million

Name: the UNLOVED….

[Dream sequence]
Open into a dark bedroom, a man is jarred awake by someone walking into the room and turning on the light.
We see an angry elderly lady moving towards the bed hands hiding behind her back. The man on the bed begins to cower…

Elderly Lady:
(Screams at the man) “GET OUT OF HERE!! YOU DON’T BELONG HERE, GET OUT!!!!!”

Man:
(In a whispering voice) “Please, please love me……”

We see the elderly lady raise an axe high above her head, then the beginning of the axes descent aimed towards the mans head. The axe is shown embedding itself into the elderly lady’s skull. The man is now holding the axe and pulls it out and hacks into her again…..Then starts screaming….

Man:
Screams……………!!!

[Cut to present]

Open to a dark bedroom, we see a man screaming in his sleep, his wife flips on the bedside lamp to wake him.

Man:
Screaming in his sleep…


Wife:
(sleepily) “Wake up Kevin!” {Gently shakes Kevin.} “For God’s sake wake up, your having a nightmare.”

Kevin:
(Shaky voice) “Oh Anne, Anne…” {looks around the bedroom}
(Relief audible in his voice) “It was only a nightmare, she’s not here…she’s not trying to kill me….and I didn’t kill her..”

Anne:
(Confused) “What? Of course not Kev, you had a nightmare, Who, who are you so shaken over?”

Kevin:
(Dryly) “My Mother.”

[Fade to black]

Open panning the bedroom we see the Elderly Lady laying in bed and we come to see a homecare nurse dozing in a corner chair.

Elderly Lady:
(Angrily shouts at the nurse) “Wake up! You good for nothing, servant!”

Nurse:
(Calmly) “Now, Now Miss Helena, I wasn’t sleeping, and I’m NOT a servant. Now what is it you need?”

Helena:
(Grabs a glass of water from the nightstand and throws it in the nurses face) “How DARE you speak to me in that tone!! Don’t you ever speak to me like that again! Now where is he? Where is my son? Where is Kevin?”

Nurse:
(Shocked stammers) “I..I d-don’t kn-know.”

Another Lady rushes worriedly into the room..

Lady:
“Mother, MOTHER! What’s wrong?”

Helena:
(Screeches) “KEVIN!!! Where is he? I want him here now! I’m dying and I want my son!!” Helena falls back against her bed exhausted looking weak.

Nurse:
(looks at Helena then at the Lady) “Quick, a glass of water!”

The Lady rushes out of the room while the nurse gets Helena’s medication ready, we see the Lady rush back in and the nurse and Lady administer some pills to Helena. Helena falls back asleep, as the two women leave the bedroom into the hallway.

Lady:
(Worriedly) “Is it true? Is she dying?”

Nurse:
(Calmly) “She could have just now, she needs to stay calm.” (Thinks for a moment then) “I’m sorry but I think it would be best if I leave, Miss Helena needs to be kept calm and I’m really not helping that.”

Lady:
“Well I’m sorry to see you go, and don’t worry I’ll look after Mother, and of course Ruby is here to help as well.”



We see the women walk down the stairs and the Lady lets the Nurse out and begin thinking to herself. Camera pans behind the Lady to look down the main hallway we see an elderly housekeeper poke her head out of a doorway…

Housekeeper:
“What’s wrong Miss Marguerite? Is something the matter with Miss Helena?”

Margurite:
(Startled) “Oh Ruby, There is, mother is asking, well demanding is a better word for Kevin! She says she’s dying and that she wants to see Kevin before she dies.”

Ruby:
(Shocked) “Kevin??.... She hasn’t spoken his name in over 20 years…She wants him here?”

Margurite:
“Yes, Ruby I know. None of us have talked to him for years, I wonder if he’ll come? Perhaps I should call him now.”

Ruby:
“Now that’s nonsense Miss Margurite, of course he’ll come. Kevin is a Devereaux. And don’t worry about calling him, he already knows ‘bout Miss Helena, you just watch and see I bet he calls in the morning.

Ruby turns and walks back the way she came and disappears back into the doorway…Margurite seems lost in thought for a moment then sighs and heads back up the stairs…

[Fade to black]



Open in a kitchen with the morning sun coming thought the window, camera pans the kitchen to rest on the dining table where we see Kevin sitting drinking a coffee. Camera pans to entrance of kitchen, we see a teenage girl come through…

Kevin:
(Surprised) “Mark the calendar, Julie’s out of bed before 7am!!”

Julie:
(groans) “Awh Dad… Look who’s talking!! (laughs) Why are you up so early? I had a nightmare and couldn’t get back to sleep.”



Kevin:
“Looks like we have the same problem, I’m up from a nightmare too.” However seeing as we are both up we could whip up a wicked breakfast for your mom and brother?”

Both go towards the cooking area and start getting food ready…..

Julie:
“So dad why didn’t you ever open up your own restaurant, your so good!! Your better than anyone else!”

Kevin:
“Simple, a restaurant is the fastest way to go broke!”

Julie:
(jokingly) “Well maybe grandma will die and leave you lots of money..”

Kevin:
(Shocked and Angry) “Julie!!! That is not a nice thing to say!”

Julie:
(apologetic) “Awh Dad, I was only joking…”

Kevin:
(Angrily) “Not Funny. Never Never joke about something like that.”

Julie:
(crying now) “I don’t know why your making such a big deal, you hate her. You’ve told us how many times how mean she is and how horrible she is to aunt Margurite.”

Julie runs out of the room crying, Kevin realizes he’s been to hard on her….

Kevin:
“Julie, Julie wait….”

We see Kevin shake his head sadly, he looks over to the clock then picks up the phone, we see him talk on the phone a few shanks and nods of the head later Kevin puts the phone down and heads upstairs to the bedroom.(camera follows) Kevin sits on the edge of the bed and gently wakes Anne.

Kevin:
“Anne…Anne honey wake up please.”

Anne:
“What is it Kevin?”

Kevin:
“We have to go, something’s happened and I have to go back home….”

[Fade out]

Open to the family in the car. Kevin is driving with Anne in the passenger seat, Julie and a young boy are in the back seat.

Young boy:
(Whiny voice) “Mom, Are we there yet??”

Julie:
(rolls eyes) “Gees, Jeff, Are you blind? Does it look like we’re there yet?”

Anne:
“Enough you two!! Julie there is no need to be rude to your brother. And Jeff, no we are not there yet. We still have about 10 minutes to go.”

Jeff:
“How come we’ve never come here before?”

Julie:
(dryly) “Because dad hates grandma..”

Anne:
(Quickly looks at Kevin then at the kids) “That’s not it. It’s just that it is a very far from Connecticut, and we haven’t had the time.”

We see a road sign pass that reads ‘Devereaux 10 miles’

Jeff:
(Amazed) “Holy Cow Dad!! The whole town is named after you!!”

Kevin:
(Chuckles) “It’s not named after me, but after my family, and it’s not much of a town. You’ll see that in a minute.”

We see the car pull over at the top of a hill and everyone gets out. As we look down the hill we see what looks to be almost a ghost town, old run down shops with nothing more than what looks like a bunch of shacks for housing.

Anne:
“Oh my god Kevin, what happened to this town? If it were not for the car’s I’d say the town was deserted.”

Jeff:
(disappointed) “That’s it??”

Julie:
‘Which one is your house dad?”

Kevin:
(sighs) “Well, from what I’ve been told it used to be a nice town, before my father’s time most likely, before the land for the cotton plantations wore out. And if you would all look out to that island over there, (points) that is Sea Oaks, that’s where I grew up.”

The camera pans to the left and focuses on a small island with a run down looking massive house in the center of it.

Julie:
(wide eyed) “It’s a mansion!!”



Kevin:
“ It’s not a mansion just a overly large house, that looks like it’s about to fall down any minute…”

Jeff:
“WOW!!! Grandma owns a WHOLE island?? All of it??

Kevin:
(Chuckles) “Yup! All of it and don’t you dare say you have nothing to do once we get there!!” (chuckles again and ruffles Jeff’s hair)

We see the family get back into the car and the car begins to move toward the town.

[Fade out]

Open in a ballroom, we see Marguerite and 5 teenage girls all in ballet gear wrapping up a lesson.

Marguerite:
“That will be all for today girls, and I must apologize to all of you for my behavior today you see my brother is coming and I haven’t seen him for a very long time, so I have been quite distracted today. I promise I will make it up to all of you next class.”

We hear a buzzer sound and Marguerite starts slowly towards the door. We see the girls walk with her down 3 flights of stairs to the main entrance.

(Contd.)

[X¤MurderDoll¤X]

(jokingly) give her the 10,000 dollars
(angrily) you better declare her the winner V or else...
(apologetically) I'm sorry, I just meant... well I'm voting for her

[_____V_____]

Girl #1:
“Does you’re brother have any children?”

Marguerite:
(smiles) “Well Jenny, he has a girl about your age and a boy that’s about 8 now. I bet you were hoping for a boy your age weren’t you?”

Jenny:
(blushes but says nothing)


Marguerite:
(chuckles) “Don’t try to fool me, I remember being your age, and even then there weren’t many boys around here.”


Jenny:
“I bet you could have had any boy you wanted Miss Marguerite!”

Marguerite:
“I won’t say I couldn’t, however after my hip went from the accident so did the boys. It’s funny what a limp can do to a person.”

Jenny:
(gasps)

Marguerite:
(laughs) “Well its not so bad, if I hadn’t had the accident, I wouldn’t be hear teaching all of you girls!”

Jenny:
“Well Miss Marguerite, I should go, thank you, and I’ll see you next time.

We see Jenny and the other 4 girls all wave and walk off down the highway. Marguerite closes the door and turns back towards the stairs… Camera cuts to Helena’s bedroom, Where we see Helena sitting in bed and Ruby, gathering a lunch tray, when Marguerite enters the room.
Helena:
(angrily shouts at Marguerite) “Where is he? Where is Kevin I want him.”

Ruby:
“Now Miss Helena, I’ve already told you, Mr. Kevin will get here when he gets here.”


We see Helena’s face turn red from anger, she looks as though she’s about to yell at Ruby when we hear a car horn sound. Helena quickly tries to get out of bed…

Helena:
“Quick help me get out of this bed, Marguerite my black dress quickly now. Kevin has finally come home, and everything is how it should be. ”

Ruby:
“Kevin is not home for good Miss Helena, he is only here for a visit, now don’t you go forgettin’ that.”

Helena:
“Watch your tongue Ruby, Kevin is home and I want him to stay and he will stay here!”

We see Ruby& Marguerite exchange confused looks then Ruby helps a frail looking Helena out of the bed and get her seated at the vanity, as Marguerite rushes into the closet for the black dress and helps Helena into it. Helena starts to style her hair & make-up…By time she is done trying to turn herself into a young women again she is an absolute fright.

Helena:
“How do I look?”

Marguerite:
(gasps)

Ruby:
“You look fine, Miss Helena.”

Helena:
“Good, then I’m ready to go downstairs.”

Ruby:
(shocked)“Downstairs!! Miss Helena I don’t think…”

Helena:
(cuts Ruby off) “I didn’t ask what you think. I told you I’m ready to go downstairs, to greet my son.”

We see Ruby and Marguerite help Helena out of the room and get her settled into an old chair lift at the top of the stairway.


[cut to the front drive]

We see Kevin and family pull up in front of the massive house, and get out of the car everyone but Kevin looking at the house with a mix of awh and disgust.

Kevin:
“So this is it, may as well see how it looks on the inside.”

Kevin leads his family to the front door, Opens it wide and walks in, we hear the chairlift coming down the stairs which makes everyone stop and stare at the stairway…and watch the slow descent of Helena coming into full view before stopping at the bottom of the stairs.

Helena:
(Looks over Anne) “So you’re the women who married my son? Well there’s nothing that can change that now. (looks over the children) The girl is a Devereaux, as for the boy…”

Anne:
(speaks up) “His name is Jeff and he is as much a Devereaux as Julie is.

[Fade out]

We see the Julie and Jeff walking along a path out behind the house chatting along when they come across a boy about Jeffs age walking towards them on the pathway.

Boy:
“Who are you guys?”

Jeff:
“I’m Jeff Devereaux, that my sister Julie, Who are you?”

Toby:
“I’m Toby Martin, Don’t tell that I was here k?, I don’t want to get in trouble.”

Jeff:
“Who would be mad at you for being here?”

Toby:
“Miss Helena…She doesn’t like anyone to be here, but the island has the best beach around here, so sometime I sneak out here to go swimming and stuff.”

Marguerite:
(from behind the children) “Toby you shouldn’t sneak around like that, so how about next time you come out, you march right up to the door and if Jeff invites you, you can stay.”

Toby:
“Really Miss Marguerite, do you mean it?”

Marguerite:
“Of course, now off with you for today, Jeff will be here tomorrow.”

Toby:
“Ok, I’ll come by tomorrow Jeff!!” (Toby runs off past the house and across the causeway.)

Marguerite, Julie and Jeff all start to head towards the house.

Julie:
“Aunt Marguerite, Why won’t grandmother let anyone use the beach?”

Marguerite:
“Because that’s the way Mother is, but it won’t be that way much longer.”

Jeff:
“Why not?”
Marguerite:
“Because Mother dying, then things will change.”

Julie:
“Don’t you care if your mother dies?”

Marguerite:
“Yes Julie, I care, I care very much.”

[Fade out]

Open to the dining room, we see Kevin, Anne, Julie, Jeff and Marguerite sitting around the table eating dinner, we hear a buzzer go off, and Marguerite gets up and leaves the table, a few minutes later she returns to her meal, once again we hear the buzzer go off again and once again Marguerite leaves the table…

Anne:
(to Kevin) “Aren’t you going to say anything dear? You’re mother treats her like a servant. And she must be in pain with her leg like that.”

Kevin:
“It’s not my place to say anything, and besides she’s the one letting mother treat her that way.”

Julie:
“Dad what happened to Aunt Marguerite to cause her to limp that way?”

Kevin:
“It was an accident when I was little, about Jeff’s age. Your aunt had tripped and fallen down the stairs, I don’t remember why but, it was a long time ago and when she recovered she’s walked with that limp since then.” (Kevin smiles at Julie) “She was going to be a dancer you know, and from what I remember she was pretty good too, almost as good as you!” (winks at Julie)

We hear a scream come from upstairs in Helena’s room, then see Kevin and Anne race from the table up to the room to find Marguerite sprawled on the floor with Helena sitting on the bed looking angrily at Marguerite and a cane in her hand.

Kevin:
“What happened here?”

Marguerite:
“Mother said her food was cold.”

Kevin:
(to Marguerite) “What that’s nonsence, you brought it up before we even started.” (looks to Helena, then to the untouched plate of food)(to Helena with anger and disgust) “You didn’t even touch it! You waited until it got cold then called her up here and HIT her with a CANE!”

Helena:
“You watch what you say, you don’t know a thing. You don’t know Marguerite like I do.”

Kevin:
“Oh give it up Mother.” (looks to Marguerite) Come on Marguerite, Ruby can reheat her meal or I can, go finish your dinner.”

Helena:
“Stop. I want her to do it (points at Marguerite) If she wants to spend her life acting like a servant who are you to stop her?”

We see Marguerite struggle to stand up then gather’s her mothers plate and heads out of the room. Kevin and Anne are in shock both shake their heads at what they just witnessed and also leave the room. The camera focuses on Helena who is sitting in her bed with a smug look on her face.

[fade to black]

Open to the ballroom, we see Marguerite getting music ready and her 5 students stretching, Julie enters the room as Marguerite looks up.


Marguerite:
“Girl’s this is my niece Julie, Julie these are my girls, Jenny, Mary-Beth, Tammy-Jo, Allison, and Charlene.(points at each girl) Now Julie how long have you been dancing?”

Julie:
“Seriously dancing for 3 years but I’ve been taking lessons since I was 6”

Marguerite:
(surprised) “So for 9 years then, well in that case you have a solo?”

Julie:
(ponders for a moment then asks) “Do you have the music for ‘West Side Story’?”

Marguerite:
“I do.” (looks through the music and gets it ready in the player) “Let’s see what you can do.”

We hear the music begin and see Julie start to dance, (camera pans over Marguerite and 4 of the girls who are smiling as they watch Julie dance then focuses on Mary-Beth who is looking very angry.)

[Fade to black]

Open to Helena’s bedroom. We see Helena sleeping then is startled awake from a noise in the hall, we see her struggle to get out of bed.

[cut to main floor hallway]

We see Anne reach for a set of keys hanging from a hook then head back up the dark staircase, down a long hallway and come to a doorway she trys the keys until she finds the right one to open the door. We see Anne reach for the light switch and the room fills with light. The room is filled with a destroyed nursery. The camera comes to rest on Helena who is standing in the middle of the room.

Anne:
(shocked and saddened) “I..I don’t understand.”

Helena:
(angrily) “No one asked you to understand, and no one asked you to come to my house.”

Anne:
(still shocked and looking around the room) “But why? Why is it locked?”

Helena:
(shouts) “To keep people like you OUT!”

Helena’s eyes go wide then she crumples to the floor. Anne screams then runs out of the room.

Anne:
“Kevin, Kevin come quick it’s your mother!!”

We see Kevin run into the room followed by Anne, and Marguerite. Kevin kneels at his mothers head trying to make out what she is saying.

Helena:
(croaking whisper) “Kevin… watch…watch out for…. Marguerite…” Helena leans her head back and is gone


Marguerite:
(sobs) “Mama…mama….Noooooo mama, you can’t leave me…..”

[Fade to black]

(contd.)

[_____V_____]

Open to an office setting, we see Kevin and Anne sitting side by side, Marguerite sitting on another chair and a lawyer sitting behind a desk with a briefcase open. All looking shocked and disgruntled.


Anne:
“That is ridiculous, she couldn’t have left everything to Kevin. What about Marguerite! That’s just not fair or right!!”

Marguerite:
“It’s alright, Anne. I guess I should have known that was coming, everything is always left to the oldest male in the family.”

Kevin:
“It’s ok Marguerite, you can have it all. In a few days we are going back to Connecticut anyway and you can do what you want with the place, sell it or keep it. I don’t care, I don’t want it.”

Lawyer:
“Not so fast Kevin, Helena’s had a stipulation put into her will, and I can’t find a way around it. In fact when I told her I didn’t agree with it she had another lawyer do it up, and its binding in every way.”

Kevin:
“What’s the stipulation?”

Lawyer:
“It states that you must live here at Sea Oaks, if you do not live on the property then the entire estate ALL of it goes to fortress. Which means if you do not stay Marguerite can’t stay here either.”

Anne:
“What!! She would put her own daughter out on the street?? That’s nuts! There has to be a way around it.”

Lawyer:
“I’m afraid it is binding, Helena was smart to because she has also stipulated that Kevin must live here for 10 years after that he can do what he wishes with it, but if he leaves before the 10 years are up he looses it all.”

[Fade out]

Open to a bedroom, we see Kevin and Anne sitting on either side of the bed, neither looking very happy.

Anne:
“I just don’t know Kevin, I don’t think I can live here.”

Kevin:
“I know Anne but like the lawyer said there is no way around the terms of the will, and just think I could finally open up our own little bed & breakfast, the kids seem to like it here, and there’s also Marguerite to think of.”

Anne:
“I know all of that Kev, but I don’t know what I want and I need to think about it, just just let me think ok.”

Kevin:
“Why don’t you go for a drive to clear your mind?”

Anne:
“I think your right I think that’s just what I need is to just get off this island for a bit then I’ll be fine.”

We see Anne head to the foyer grab a set of car keys and head out the front door into the rain. We see Anne climb into a car and notice that the storm is really picking up outside and the rains are coming down harder than just a moment before. We follow the care to the end of the causeway where Anne stops the car for a moment to watch, The storm seems to have lightened up a bit. Anne starts out across the causeway, about midway we see a huge wave come up over the cause way and smash into the car. We see the lights on the car dim out then come back on just in time for another wave to hit the car, the lights on the car go out. A third wave comes and takes the car and Anne along with it off the other end of the road into deep waters.

[Cut to ballroom]

We see Marguerite putting out candles, Julie and the other 5 girls are stretching, when the power goes out. The girls all give a little scream then they all including Marguerite head out of the room and downstairs.

Mary-Beth:
(to the other girls) “I don’t know why we even come anymore, all we do is sit around and watch Julie dance. It USED to be fun.”

Jenny:
“Come on Mary-Beth, its just because Julie is way better than the rest of us and she’s a really good dancer!”

Mary-Beth:
(angrily)“I don’t have to stand here and listen to this, I’m going home!”

Marguerite:
“Mary-Beth, honey you can’t go home, not in this storm, it will pass soon enough alright.” (Marguerite puts her hand on Mary-Beth’s shoulder, Mary-Beth shakes her off)

Mary-Beth:
“You can’t tell me what to do! I’m going home and I’m leaving now!! And I’m not coming back to your stupid dance class either, its not fun anymore!”

We see Mary-Beth pull on her shoes in a rush and struggle into her jacket as she pulls the front door open and runs out into the storm and disappears down the driveway.

Marguerite:
(to the girls) “You girls stay here, I have to go and try to talk her into coming back, the storm is getting worse, she won’t be able to cross the causeway soon.”

The girls all nod to Marguerite, we see Marguerite pull on a rain jacket and boots and limp out after Mary-Beth into the storm.

[cut to Mary-Beth]

We see Mary-Beth crying and sitting by the causeway looking across trying to determine weather it is safe to cross, she hears her name on the wind and backs into some nearby bushes. Mary-beth looks up just in time for us to see a large
rock smash down into her skull.

[cut to living room]

We see the girls sitting in the living room chatting amongst themselves when Kevin walked into the room…

Kevin:
(to Julie and the girls) “Julie where is your Aunt Marguerite and Mary-Beth?”

Julie:
“Aunt Marguerite went to look for Mary-Beth.”

Kevin:
“What do you mean went to look for Mary-Beth?”

Jenny:
“Mary-Beth was upset Mr. Devereaux, because Julie’s a better dancer than the rest of us. She said she was going home and ran out into the storm. Miss Marguerite went to try and find her to bring her back.”

Kevin:
“In this?? She left in this weather?? Julie, you girls stay here, I’m going to get them both and bring them back, once this storm lets up I’ll take the rest of you home.”

The girls all nod a Kevin but say nothing, we see Kevin get ready and head out in the storm as well.

Julie:
(to Jenny) “ Do you think he’ll find them?”

Jenny:
“I think so, but I don’t know about Mary-Beth, she’s really stubborn and if she doesn’t want to be found I don’t think they will find her.”

We hear a rapping on the window, All the girls jump and scream, then we hear a voice coming through…

Marguerite:
“Julie…Julie honey it’s me Aunt Marguerite, open the door I forgot my keys.”

We see Julie run to the door and let her aunt in. Marguerite is soaked to the bone.

Julie:
“Where is dad?”

Marguerite:
“What do you mean? Isn’t he here?”

Julie:
(shakes her head) “No he isn’t, he just left to look for you and Mary-Beth, didn’t you see him?”

Marguerite:
“No I didn’t, I couldn’t find Mary-Beth either before everything got too dark, so I came back here.”

Kevin walks through the door, soaked as well.

Kevin:
“Marguerite, did you find Mary-Beth?”

Marguerite:
“No, everything got too dark so I came back. Maybe she made it across the causeway before it got too bad. When the phone’s come back on we will have to call her mother.”

[Fade to black]

Open to a sunny morning, Kevin is sitting in the kitchen looking worried, he keeps picking up the phone to hear nothing. We hear a knock on the front door and watch Kevin go to answer it. Kevin opens the door to a grim looking police officer.

Kevin:
“Good morning Will, How can I help you today?”

Will:
(sadly) “It’s Anne, Kevin… There’s no easy way to tell you this but….well….her body…it washed up on the shore this morning. We found the car too. It looks like she was coming across the causeway and got washed off. She had almost made it out and the seatbelt got caught around her ankle. Damn things were meant to save lives not take them…

Kevin staggers and drops into a chair by the door, buries his face in his hands and is overcome with grief.

[Fade to Black]

On the screen we see printed ‘2 weeks later’.

Open to a tree house in backyard. We see Jeff and Toby sitting in a tree house sipping coke out of cans and eating cookies…

Toby:
“What do you think happened to Mary-Beth? She still hasn’t shown up at home.”

Jeff:
(wide-eyed) “I think grandmother killed her! I’ve seen her ghost out back in the night and Ruby says that when she comes back it means somebody died!”

Marguerite:
(angrily from below) “Jeff!! Don’t say things like that. You come down here right now. You should be ashamed of yourself, you should never talk that way.”

Jeff and Toby Scramble out of the treehouse…

Marguerite:
(to Toby) “I think you should go home now Toby.”

Toby:
(scared) “Y-yes Miss Marguerite.”

Toby takes off around the house..


Jeff:
(sobbing) “You can’t talk to me that way, Your not my Mother!!”

We see Jeff run into the house and Marguerite is looking as though she has been slapped, she shakes her head and sighs..

Marguerite:
“I’ve never understood little boys, and I never will….”

[Cut to beach]

We see Julie laying on the sand, beside her is a teenage boy, Jenny is also there.

Julie:
“So my dad is thinking he’s going to turn the house into a small hotel, well more of a bed and breakfast really. But I think it will do some good for the town. He plans to have a golf course put in on the island and really fix it up.”

Jenny:
“But who would come here?”

Julie:
“Everyone! Come on look at this beach we have the best beach around! Come on Kerry lets go for a swim!”

Julie gets up and heads into the water, Kerry and Jenny follow. Julie feels something bump against her leg.

Julie:
“AHH….Something just bumped into me.”

Kerry:
“It’s probably a sea turtle, next time it bumps you grab it and pull it out of the water.”

Julie:
(cautiously) “O.K”

We see a dark shape bump into Julie’s leg again under the water, Julie reaches her hands into the water grabs on to the thing and pulls up. We see Mary-Beth’s bashed bloated head surface and Julie’s fingers are tangled in Mary-Beth’s hair. Julie and Jenny start screaming while Kerry tried to get Mary-Beth off of Julie. Jenny scrambles out of the water.

Kerry:
(yelling) “Julie, Julie…just let go! I’ll get her off just give me a sec.”

[_____V_____]

Jenny:
(screaming) “Oh my god!! It’s Mary-Beth (points) it’s Mary-Beth…She’s dead oh gawd she’s dead!!!”

Julie:
(screaming) “Get it off…get it off get it off get it off…”

Kerry gets Julie untangled from Mary-Beth then looks over to Jenny while pulling Julie out of the water.

Kerry:
(shouts) “Jenny, get a grip! Get to the house and get help NOW!!!”

We see a screaming sobbing Jenny running up the path to the house (camera pans to the house) We see Marguerite come out as quickly as possible…Jenny run’s to Marguerite and clings to her, Kevin hears the commotion and comes running out the back door as Marguerite is trying to calm the hysterical girl.

Kevin:
“Marguerite, What’s going on? Where’s Julie?”

Marguerite:
“I don’t know I don’t know, I just got out here and Jenny is crying…I I… Jenny, focus now. Where is Julie?”

Jenny:
(between sobs and pointing towards the beach) “Julie….Kerry…Beach….Mary-Beth…”

Kevin:
(exchanges a look with Marguerite) “You stay here, get her inside and call an ambulance and her mom. I’ll go down to the beach.”

We see Marguerite nod at Kevin and Kevin turn and run down to the beach…

[cut to beach]

We see Julie crumpled on the shore and Kerry trying to comfort her when Kevin arrives. Julie looks up and tries to run to her dad but stumbles and falls into his arms.

Julie:
(sobbing) “Daddy..”

Kevin:
(looks at Kerry) “What happened? What’s going on here?”

Kerry:
“I’m sorry Mr. Devereaux, it’s my fault I thought it was a sea turtle bumping into Julie and told her to pull it out of the water…..(breaks down sobbing) but it wasn’t…it was Mary-Beth.”

Kevin:
“Oh dear god. Let’s get you kids back up to the house there is an ambulance on the way they can check you all over then…”

[fade to black]

Open morning sunshine is coming through Julie’s bedroom window, she sits up to see Kerry drive up the driveway we see her hop out of bed and rush to the closest.

[cut to front veranda]

We see Marguerite sitting on the veranda with a drink in her hand, watching as Kerry drives up to the front of the house, she does not look pleased.

Kerry:
“Good Morning Miss Marguerite, is Julie home?”

Marguerite:
(angrily) “Why have you come here Kerry? Julie is in no shape to go out with you.”

Julie appears from behind her aunt overhearing the last bit..

Julie:
“Hi Kerry!” (looks towards her aunt) “Aunt Marguerite I’m fine, the doctor said it was shock.”

Marguerite:
“If your fine then what about dance? There is a class this afternoon you know.”

Julie:
(As she climbs into the car) “It’s too hot to dance today, and besides I’m still supposed to take it easy, no strenuous activities.”

Kerry:
(climbing into the car call back) “I’ll have her home early Miss Marguerite.”

Marguerite shakes her head and turns to walk back in the house.

[cut to basement]

We see Kevin and Jeff in the basement Kevin is inspecting the floor support and Jeff is inspecting what dad is doing…

Jeff:
“Why can’t we just go home dad. I hate it here.”

Kevin:
“I thought you liked it here?”

Jeff:
“I did like it here, well before mom died.”

Kevin:
“I miss your mom to sport. Why don’t you like it here?”

Jeff:
“It’s no fun now that mom’s gone, and Aunt Marguerite hates me.”

Kevin:
“Jeff. Your Aunt loves you very much you shouldn’t think that.”

Jeff:
“That’s not true, she hates me! She tries to act like my mom, and she’s mean to me when your not around. I bet she killed Mary-Beth and I bet she killed mom too!!”

Kevin is shocked by this outburst and reaches back and slaps Jeff..


Jeff:
“I don’t care what you think, I know she hates me and she probably wants to kill me too she’s crazy!”

Jeff takes another step back and trips backwards lands on the corner of a board, we see Kevin rush over to see if he is alright all anger forgotten, we then see blood gushing out of Jeff’s wound. Kevin grabs Jeff and run’s up the stairs with him. At the top of the stairs we see Ruby with a curious look on her face…

Kevin:
(to Ruby) “I..I hit him and he fell and ….”

Ruby:
“Enough how get him to a doctor, go!”

We see Kevin run down the hallway and out the front door with Jeff in his arms…

[cut to Julie and Kerry still in the car]

Kerry:
(looks over at Julie) “What did I do? Why does she all of the sudden hate me so much?”

Julie:
“I don’t know Kerry, she’s just been getting weirder and weirder since Grandmother died. And I guess it doesn’t help that I told her it was to hot to dance!”

[fade to black]

Open in the ballroom, 3 of the girls are there as well as Marguerite, the girls are all sitting on the floor, fanning themselves, to try to escape the heat.

Marguerite:
“Girls where is Charlene?”

Jenny:
“Sorry Miss Marguerite, Charlene said that she wouldn’t ever be able to come to the island again after what happened to Mary-Beth, they were best friends you know.”

Marguerite:
“That’s too bad, I wish she would have come.”

Allison:
“I don’t think any of us should have come today, it is far too hot to dance today.”

Marguerite:
“Hot?? The stage lights are hot. Half of dance is endurance and if you can’t manage that you’ll never be a dancer.”

Tammy-Jo:
“I don’t want to be a dancer, all I ever wanted was to have a little fun.”

Marguerite:
“Fun? Ballroom dancing is fun! Ballet is not fun, it is an art. That needs to be perfected. Do you think it was fun for me at your age dancing? No it was NOT! My legs and feet hurt, and my ankles were swollen. But I never complained that it was too HOT or not FUN! NEVER!! That’s what it takes to be a dancer!”

Tammy-Jo:
“Well I don’t want to be a dancer, and I’m leaving.”

Allison:
“We only came because our friends were here and it was fun, but it’s not anymore. Look what happened to Mary-Beth and Charlene won’t even come anymore. I’m leaving to.

All 3 girls start edging towards the door of the ballroom…

Marguerite:
“You can’t leave…you can’t…”

We see the 3 girls reach the bottom of the stairs Allison and Tammy-Jo walk out the front door Jenny hang’s back a moment.

Jenny:
“I’ll catch up with you guys later, I have to go apologize to Miss Marguerite.”

We see Tammy-Jo and Allison wave bye to Jenny, then Jenny turns and heads back up the stairs. Jenny walks into the ballroom and Marguerite is dancing, or more trying to dance with a limp when she see’s Jenny walk in.


Marguerite:
(strangely) “Jenny dear, come dance with me.”

Jenny:
“I’m sorry Miss Marguerite, I shouldn’t have acted like that. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, I didn’t mean to.”

Marguerite:
(stranger still)“Hush now Jenny, it’s all right. Now come dance with me…”

Jenny:
(backing away) “I really can’t stay Miss Marguerite…I have to go now.”

Jenny turns away to head back down the stairs, she hears an uneven step behind her and feels hands on her back, then falls down the 3 flights of stairs ahead of her…the last thing we hear is the snap of Jenny’s neck.

[Fade to black]

We see Julie getting out of the car and walk into the house, she walks up to the ballroom to see Marguerite trying to dance. Marguerite see’s Julie walk in and stops dancing.

Julie:
“Hi, Aunt Marguerite, I’m sorry for walking out like that I shouldn’t have just taken off.”

Marguerite:
(Helena’s voice) “It’s alright Julie, you’re here now. Let’s dance! First Position.”

Julie:
“But Aunt Marguerite, I don’t have my dance shoes on.”

Marguerite:
“Oh oh my, well we can’t have that. Maybe we will dance a little later then.”

Marguerite turns and limps from the room. Julie scratches her head and heads down to the kitchen..

[cut to kitchen]

We see Ruby at the sink peeling potatoes for dinner, she see’s Julie walk in and stops peeling, dries her hands on a towel then turns towards Julie.

Ruby:
“What’s the matter, you look upset?”

Julie:
“Ruby, is there something wrong with Aunt Marguerite?”

Ruby:
“Now why would you ask that?”

Julie:
“Well she was acting very strangely just now and I could have sworn that it was Grandmother’s voice that I was hearing when she was talking.”

Ruby:
“Maybe Miss Marguerite is still just upset from her mother, then your mother and Mary-Beth all dying right in a row. Don’t you worry about it though I’ll talk to her about it.” (thinks a minute) “Maybe you should go find your brother he’s got a few stitches to show off!!”

Julie:
“Oh my god! What happened?”

Ruby:
“Go ask him, he’ll tell you what happened, but if you want the truth you should ask for father, I think they are in the livingroom now.”

Ruby turns back to the potatoes and Julie heads off to the living room to find her dad and brother…

Julie:
“Hey Jeff, What happened to your head?”

Kevin:
“Woah woah woah, before he grinds me to the bone, how about the 3 of us head out for ice cream?”

Julie & Jeff:
(At the same time) “Yeah!”

We see Kevin, Julie and Jeff all get ready and leave out the front door. Ruby comes out from the kitchen and watches them drive off, she sighs then turns to walk up the stairs with a tray of food for Marguerite… Marguerite watches Ruby walk into the room with an odd expression on her face.

Marguerite:
“What are you doing here?”

Ruby:
“I thought you might be hungry so I brought you a tray of food.”

Marguerite:
“Where is Julie? Why didn’t she bring my tray?”

Ruby:
“She’s out with her father.”

Marguerite:
“She didn’t ask me if she could..”

[_____V_____]

Ruby:
(Cuts Marguerite off) “She’s not your daughter, why would she ask you? And what are you doing, dressing up like your mother? Your not trying to be her are you? Your not Miss Helena, You’re you a nice lady. You have something to eat now and you’ll be fine.”

Marguerite:
(Slaps Ruby hard across the face and hisses) “You mind your manners Ruby! How dare you talk to me like that!!”

Ruby:
“Don’t you hit me! I’ve been taking care of you all your life and I’m going to keep on doin so. Your not you’re mother and Julie ain’t your daughter. And if you think your going to do to her what your mother did to her you’ve got another think comin’ because I won’t let that happen, you hear me?”

Marguerite says nothing but hurls a bottle of perfume towards Ruby.

Ruby:
“I told you not to do that! You want to be locked up again miss Marguerite? That what you want? I’ll do it!”

Marguerite:
“Stop! Just stop, I’m fine really truly I’m fine, just leave me alone.”

Ruby:
“You’re not fine Miss Marguerite, Your dressing up like your mama used to and playing like you’re her. Your not fine. You’re going into one of your bad times again Miss Marguerite.”

Marguerite:
(sobs) “I’m not”

Ruby:
“It’s alright, you just let it out, it’s not good for you to keep things all bottled up.”

Marguerite:
(shouts) “Leave me alone! There is nothing wrong with me except you, you look at me like I’m crazy but I’m not!!”

Ruby:
“You clam down now, or I’ll have to talk to Kevin when he gets home and explain what’s going on with you. He’ll take those kids and leave!”

Marguerite:
“He..he won’t believe you.”

Ruby:
“You’d better bet he will! Maybe not 20 years ago but times have changed and he will now! I’ll show him the room where your mother locked you up to.”

Marguerite:
(in a child like voice)“No! Please don’t tell him, I’ll be good. Why do they always go away? Mother, Mary-Beth…even Anne wanted to go away.”

Ruby:
“You killed them didn’t you? You killed Anne and you killed Mary-Beth.”

Marguerite:
(child like voice)“They were going to leave me, I had to do something, I couldn’t just let them leave.”

Ruby:
“I’ll call the doctor, he’ll come and take care of you”
We see Ruby turn to leave the room, Marguerite lunges at Ruby, we hear the sharp crack of Ruby’s ankle from the way Marguerite lands on her. Ruby crumples to the floor and Marguerite jumps on her grabbing Ruby’s hair and smashing her face over and over again into the floor. Marguerite rocks back and forth repeatedly smashing Ruby’s face until Ruby lays still. Marguerite then ties Ruby to the chairlift with her belt and takes her down to the main level of the house. We see Marguerite dragging Ruby to the top of the basement stairs she gives Ruby a push to send her tumbling into the darkness below. A light turns on [camera pans the basement and rests on a small hidden door at the back end. Marguerite opens the door and pushes Ruby in just as the door is closing we hear Ruby…

Ruby:
“No, please no…..”

We see the door close…

Marguerite:
“It’s going to be alright now, I have my home and I have my daughter to take care of me…no one will ever leave me again.”

[fade to black]

Open to Jeff and Julie sitting at the breakfast table eating cereal. Kevin walks in and pours himself some coffee..

Jeff:
“Where’s Ruby? How come were not having bacon and eggs?”

Kevin:
“Ruby had some family problems and has had to go away for a while. That is why we are eating cold cereal without complaining.”

Jeff:
“I hate this stuff. I bet Ruby’s dead.”

Kevin:
“Why on earth would you say that?”

Jeff:
“That’s why grandmother’s ghost came back last night, Ruby said whenever anyone dies here the ghost comes back.”


Kevin:
“Well if that’s what Ruby’s been putting into your head maybe she shouldn’t come back! Anyway I’ll be in the library if anyone needs me”

We see Kevin head out of the kitchen…

Jeff:
(to Julie) “You know what I bet?”

Julie:
“What?

Jeff:
“I bet Aunt Marguerite killed Ruby and buried her on the island somewhere!”

Julie:
“Jeff!!!”

Marguerite:
“What a horrible thing to say Jeffery.”

Jeff whips around and gasps as he see’s his aunt standing there.

Marguerite:
“If I ever here you say such a thing again Jeffery I’ll have no choice but to…”

We see Jeff run out the back door….

Julie:
“He didn’t mean it Aunt Marguerite, really he didn’t”

Marguerite:
“I’m sure he didn’t but I don’t understand young boys, maybe mother was right, ‘ They’re more trouble than they are worth’.”

[Fade to black]


We see Jeff walking with Toby down the main street of Devereaux, talking back and forth…

Toby:
“Well I know one way to find out if it’s family problems with Ruby, Let’s go see Emmaline. She’ll know where Ruby is.”

Jeff:
“Who’s Emmaline?”

Toby:
“Ruby’s sister, she just lives on the other side of town, come on lets go!”

We see the boy’s take off down the road, they come to a stop in front of a house that looks more like a little shack than anything else.

Toby:
“Hey Emmaline, you home?”

Emmaline:
“Who’s there?”

Toby:
“It’s me Emmaline, Its Toby!”

Emmaline:
“Don’t you go getting into any trouble out here now you hear, I might be old but I ain’t dead yet.” (looks over at Jeff) “Who are you? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

Jeff:
(stammers) “Je-Jeff….Jeff Devereaux”

Emmaline:
“What business you have out at old Emmaline’s?”

Jeff:
“We’re looking for Ruby. Aunt Marguerite says she had family problems but I didn’t believe her.”

Emmaline:
“Ruby ain’t got no other family but me, and she ain’t here. Well you’d better come in. I’ll tell you all ‘bout Marguerite.

We see the boys go into the shack and Emmaline serves them some tea…

Jeff:
(looks at Toby) “See I told you Aunt Marguerite was lying, I bet she did kill Ruby.”

Emmaline:
“I knew something like this would happen, I told her to watch out for that Miss Marguerite. Ruby said she was all better now.”

Jeff:
“B-better? What was wrong with her?”

Emmaline:
“Close as I know your aunty was crazier than a loon. It was the accident that did it.”

Jeff:
“You mean the accident that broke her hip?”

Emmaline:
“That’s not the half of it, your aunty was pregnant when she fell, she lost the baby to, that’s what drove her crazy it weren’t her hip at all. They kept her locked up for a long time after that. But no one was ever told bout it cept’ for me.’

Jeff:
“Locked up? Where?”

Marguerite:
“There’s a little room down in the basement, she was locked up there for months and months. After she was let out she never spoke of it and because so sweet that you couldn’t melt butter in her mouth…”


After a few more minutes we see the boys leave and head back up the street, Jeff sees Kevin walking into a store and runs up to him they all go into the coffee shop together…

Jeff:
“Dad…dad!”


Kevin:
“What? Why are you so upset??”

Jeff:
“I’m telling you dad, we talked to Ruby’s sister Emmaline and she says Aunt Marguerite is crazy, she thinks Ruby is dead too and that Aunt Marguerite killed her.”

Kevin:
“How about we all go to the house and ask your aunt about this?”

Jeff:
(shakes his head) “Toby won’t come out to our house he’s scared of Aunt Marguerite and I am too.”

Kevin:
“Ok then how about I go talk to your aunt and you stay at Toby’s for a while but come home for supper and it will all be worked out by then ok?”

Jeff:
“O.K.”

We see Toby and Jeff walk off down the street, then Kevin gets into his truck and heads back to the island..

[cut to the Island house]

We see Kevin pull up the driveway and climb out of the truck. Marguerite is sitting on the veranda enjoying the afternoon..

Kevin:
“How are you feeling?”

Marguerite:
“Fine, actually! I suppose I should count my blessings though!”

Kevin:
“I wish more people would do that instead of making up stories…”

Marguerite:
“What’s going on Kevin, what are you talking about stories?”

We see a replay of the coffee shop while Kevin explains to Marguerite what Jeff is thinking.

Marguerite:
“How could Emmaline say such things, and to Jeff especially!”

Kevin:
“But then where is Ruby? If she’s not with Emmaline where would she be?”

Margurite:
“I’m sure I don’t know”

We see Kevin get up from the poarch swing and head into the house to the basement steps…Then down into the basement, Marguerite follows him…Kevin stops infront of the small door at the back.

Marguerite:
“What are you doing Kevin? Where are you going?”


Kevin:
“This door won’t open, where is the key? Get me the key Marguerite.”

We see Marguerite head back up the stairs and a moment later returns with the keys…Kevin takes them and opens the door to find the bodies of, Jenny and Ruby rotting away. Kevin gag’s from the smell as he’s gagging Marguerite brings the knife she had been hiding down on his back pushes him in the room and closes the door….

[fade to black]

[_____V_____]

Open to the dinner table where we see Julie, Jeff and Marguerite eating dinner..

Jeff:
“Where is dad?”

Marguerite:
“He had to run back to town for something, he should be back soon.”

[fade out]

We see Jeff in the ruined nursery with Julie..

Jeff:
“She wants to kill me Julie, I talked to Ruby’s sister and she thinks she killed her too….”

Julie:
“Maybe if we do what she wants she won’t do anything to us.”

Jeff:
“I’m going to try to get out and get help.”

They both look out the window in time to see Kerry’s car coming up the driveway, Both of them start banging on the window, Kerry gets out of the car and walks up to the front of the house. Jeff finally grabs a chair to smash the window..

Jeff:
“I can make it down, I’ll go get help then come back ok”

Julie:
“Hurry and don’t get caught.”

We see Jeff jump down and land in some leaves…He looks back up at Julie and smiles..

[cut to front entrance]

We see Kerry bang on the front door. Marguerite answers the door with a knife in hand. Before Kerry gets even a chance to turn and run, the knife come down in a stabbing motion over and over until Kerry falls to the ground…We see Marguerite pull Kerry and tie him to the chairlift slowly it goes up the stairs she unloads him in the ballroom…We watch as this scene is repeated again and again with Kevin, Jenny and Ruby as well..Finally when they are all in the right area we see Marguerite go to stand at the nursery door.

Marguerite:
“Julie, it’s time. Your guests await.”

Julie:
“What guests?

Marguerite:
“It’s time to dance my dear.”

We see Marguerite lead Julie up to the ballroom and Julie starts to cry as she see’s all of the faces of those she loved, Julie starts to dance, eventually the police walk in the go to get Marguerite who has started dancing as well.


* * *



From Michelle

Sorry there is a bit more but this was all I could get typed up. The rest is just the end on how they take her away…

This is what the honorable Judges had to say in their verdicts...

Judge NEVERENDING - "The assignment was to OUTLINE the script- not write the bloody thing! Still, I have to give you some points for going to all that effort.
On the other hand, the script turned in is not feature film length. What was submitted would last about 40 minutes- even with the addition of the missing last scene. It seems more suited to be an episode of a horror anthology series than a feature film. Points deducted.
The story itself seems rather mundane and I'm not sure Carpenter would be interested. Additionally, the story itself seems rather old-fashioned and not very "Carpenterish." Points deducted.
Soundtrack- Carpenter generally writes his own soundtracks. A few points deducted.
Casting you list all cast members, including a fairly minor character- Renny, yet you fail to cast the pivotal role of the father. Points deducted.
Finally, MAJOR points deducted for casting Justin Bieber. Seriously. He's not even old enough to play the role assigned.
FINAL SCORE: 25."


Judge DOC FAUSTUS - "Astounded by the sheer volume. Took me awhile to get through. Deserves a lot of commendation. Not that wild about the source material, but it turned out great.
8/10."


Judge RETURN - "Despite the fact that a great deal of work was obviously put into this, that may have been its undoing. Perhaps if it was simply an outline of the script (as per the challenge instructions), it may have been more interesting.
As it stands, I see a rather predictable story utterly lacking tension. There is some great imagery - I particularly liked Anne's discovery of the nursery - but everything seems to move far too quickly.
Effort is appreciated, but fact of the matter is that nothing here held my interest.
3/10. No reward, moderate punishment."


Judge AUSTIN - "Michelle - 6/10."


Judge ZERO - "Michelle - 9 - all out effort. script is a bit stilted but a heck of an effort and worth 9 points."

So Michelle, you have scored an above-par score for your effort. You have also been SHOT ONCE Spreadshot style by the Judge Return's Hand Cannon.

Your score -

Judge Neverending - 05/10 (He gave 25 which I presume is out of 50 which translates to that)
Judge Doc Faustus - 08/10
Judge Return - 03/10 (Spreadshot shot)
Judge Austin - 06/10
Judge Zero - 09/10

----------------------------

TOTAL - 31/50

----------------------------


That equates to 62 BONUS Health Packs for you Michelle, out of which 10 are used up immediately to heal up the injury caused by Judge Return's punishment.

You gain 52 HPs, alongwith a RAILGUN WITH 50 BULLETS to use in the subsequent Zone outing.





Let's move on to Roshiq's verdicts...

[_____V_____]

HDC BATTLE ROYALE III FINAL ROUND - THE VERDICTS


The second reply, came from Finalist Roshiq.

"Select a horror book of your choice which hasn't been adapted to film yet, as the basis of your untitled film project.
Outline a script for it.
Make casting choices, select appropriate locations and a director for your film.
Select soundtracks and a music composer.
Select an appropriate budget for your film, and give it a suitable name."

Originally Posted by roshiq

THE LIST OF SEVEN

Though initially an occult murder mystery, the story brings in conspiracy theory, vendetta, horror, history, and mysticism as it progress in Mark Frost's 1993 novel The List of Seven.
In the opening sequence, the film will start with the seance scenes where two people eventually murdered and Doyle is saved by "Professor Sacker" aka Jack Sparks for the 1st time.
After a monologue from Doyle then the opening title shots will appear focusing through the illustration of Jack's headquarters.
Just after that we'll find Doyle & Claude Leboux, (a friend and Scotland Yard Inspector) are investigating the house where the seance took place but it has been redecorated.
Then more or less it'll follow the way story in the novel progressed, like Doyle gets a note from Helena Petrovna Blavatsky inviting him to a speech in Cambridge.
He goes to Cambridge, unsuccessfully tries to track down Sacker, and then Doyle attends Blavatsky's talk, and speaks with her afterwards. She warns him of dark spirits and after a meal he is attacked and is rescued by "Professor Sacker" for a second time who turns to be then Jack Sparks, Special Agent to the Crown. They head to Topping to the estate of one of the attendees at the seance, but find that it has become a madhouse. They find a clue to go to a publishing house called Rathbourne & Sons in London. On the journey back to London, Jack reveals that his brother Alexander may be the mastermind behind all their troubles. Here we'll have some major flashbacks of the Sparks brothers; about how Jack discovered that he had an older brother Alexander whom he had never heard of or met before 5. After two years of pestering his parents they finally agreed to allow Jack to met Alexander at his boarding school, but only under close supervision. And literary it''l show how Jack began to find the evilness or cruelty that Alexander done all through his life.
Jack thinks the attacks on Doyle are prompted by a manuscript (entitled "The Dark Brotherhood") that Doyle submitted to Rathbourne & Sons. When they get to the publishing house they find a list of the board of directors - the titular “List of Seven.” A secret trapdoor leads them via an aqueduct to a storage room in the British Museum, which has had many statues stolen from it.

The next day they journey to Whitby to trace an acting troupe that may have been involved in staging the seance, there they meet Bram Stoker and an actress named Eileen, the last survivor of the doomed acting troupe. Stoker tells them that strange sights have been seen at the abandoned nunnery north of the town. They investigate, and witness an occult ceremony using the corpse of Sparks' father. Alexander Sparks confronts Doyle, Eileen & Stoker and invites them to dinner, where they meet the rest of the Seven. Their plan is to take control of Prince Edward, Duke of Clarence, third in line to the throne, and use him to enslave the world by putting a demon in his future child. The four (Doyle, Eileen, Jack & Stoker) fight with the Seven and with the help of a regiment of Royal Marines and Household Cavalry, they defeat the Seven. In this film version the character Bram Stoker will play more larger part than in compare to the novel where he only helps them with valued info.
Jack disappears to continue the hunt for Alexander who has gotten away, while Doyle is granted an audience with Queen Victoria, who offers her thanks for his help. Doyle later learns that Jack and Alexander fought and fell over the Reichenbach Falls, with neither surviving, Doyle decides to commemorate Jack by creating a character in the image of his friend - Sherlock Holmes.

Director: James McTeigue [V for vendetta]

Screenplay: Mark Forst
Producer & screenplay: Guillermo del Toro
In an interview with RottenTomatoes he told...
"We developed a great, crazy adaptation of the novel List of Seven with Mark Frost!"

Characters & Cast:
AC Doyle by Jeremy Renner
Jack Sparks by Michael Fassbender
Alexander Sparks/Maximilian Graves by Jackie Earle Haley
Claude Leboux by Rupert Evans
Bram Stoker by Ewan McGregor
Eileen Temple by Sienna Miller
Larry by Dominic Monaghan
Barry by Ray Park
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky by Olivia Williams
Sir Nigel Gull by Alan Rickman
Lady Caroline Nicholson by Kim Cattrall
Professor Arminius Vamberg by Hugo Weaving
Bishop Caius Pillphrock by Jonathan Pryce
John Chandros by Billy Crudup
General Drummond by Ron Perlman
Music Composer:
Trevor Jones

Estimated Budget:
$ 20 million.

This is what the honorable Judges had to say in their verdicts...

Judge NEVERENDING - "A well chosen project. Stories with a historical element are popular these days- National Treasure, Sherlock Holmes, The Da Vinci Code, etc.
The Director is well suited to the story. The inclusion of well known figures such as Conan Doyle, Blavatsky, Stoker, etc. would spark interest. Too bad Crowley couldn't make an appearance. Good choice of an experienced composer of many horror films.
All in all, an interesting project. I would want to see this film.
FINAL SCORE: 45."


Judge DOC FAUSTUS - "I can't help but compare what Michelle did with her time with what he did with his. I am not wowed by this, although I would like to read Mark Frost's work. Too little. Too late.
6/10."


Judge RETURN - "Not being familiar with the chosen book, I found aspects of the outline hard to follow. Nothing about the project really excited me, until I read the cast and crew - wonderful assortment of talent.
If I were a producer, I wouldn't be likely to risk money on this production - however as an audience member, it sounds intriguing enough that I'd give it a look on DVD.
5/10. No punishment, no reward."


Judge AUSTIN - "Roshiq - 7/10."


Judge ZERO - "Roshiq - 8 - good synopsis of novel but not really fully clear how exciting this film would be. i think as a pitch/outline i'd like more of the pow emphasis."


So Roshiq, you have scored a pretty decent score for your effort.

Your score -

Judge Neverending - 09/10 (He gave 45 which I assume is out of 50)
Judge Doc Faustus - 06/10
Judge Return - 05/10
Judge Austin - 07/10
Judge Zero - 08/10

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TOTAL - 35/50

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That equates to 70 BONUS Health Packs for you Roshiq! Well done!

You have also WON this Final Challenge Round over Michelle, so you pick up the most badass weapon of Battle Royale - THE B F G!!!





Let's now see what the very unique FINAL Hunting Zone OUTING will be like...

[X¤MurderDoll¤X]

point deductions for casting?

boooooooooo neverending can't even score right, I demand a recount.