The Road Screenplay: The Lamp and Breaking the Hasp

I wrote this out in word and so the formatting is slightly FUBAR (SFUBAR) here.

I am going to focus on the scene where the father makes a lamp from the bottle and oil / gasoline, up until the point where he breaks / is breaking the hasp of the trap door (136-137).  ALSO, replete with bungling attempts at screenplay form modified from the most authoritative looking previous post.

INT: SHED

CLOSE SHOT. FATHER and SON are huddled close together, as the father attempts to make the lamp.

CUT btwn SUBJECTS FACES.  The SON watches the process intently.  The FATHER pauses before striking the flint by the dish and looks at the SON.

FATHER

(softly)

This may flare up.

CLOSE UP OF FACE.   SON nods earnestly.  Camera switches to the FATHER’s face with the dish in the foreground.  The sparks ignite the gas with a small fireball, the FATHER pulls back slightly before grabbing the bottle, lighting the wick and extinguishing the dish.

MEDIUM SHOT OF PAIR.  The FATHER holds out the smoking bottle at arm’s length.

FATHER

Here, take it.

Son

(Hesitating, fearful)

What are we going to do?

CLOSE UP OF SON.  SON takes the bottle, he is trembling slightly.

CLOSE UP OF PAIR.  FATHER leans in, steadying the SON’s hand.

FATHER

Hold your hand in front of the flame, don’t let it go out.

The FATHER stands up, taking the pistol from his belt.  The SON is still shaking.

FATHER

(reassuring)

This door looks like the other door.  But it’s not.

CLOSE UP OF FATHER. The FATHER places his free hand on the SON’s shoulder, looking the SON directly in the eyes.

FATHER

I know you’re scared.  That’s okay.

CLOSE UP OF SON. The SON is shaking less, his eyes are wet, and his breathing is slightly fast. But he appears resigned, and a little reassured.

CLOSE UP OF FATHER. The FATHER’s hand is still on the SON’s shoulder.

FATHER

(determined)

I think there may be things in there and we have to take a look.  There’s no place else to go. [Leans in further.]  This is it.  I want you to help me.  If you don’t want to hold the lamp you’ll have to take the pistol.

SON

I’ll hold the lamp.

FATHER

(encouraging)

Okay.  This is what the good guys do. They keep trying. They don’t give up.

SON

(reassured, his eyes are mostly dry and he has stopped shaking)

Okay.

EXT:  YARD.

CAMERA FOLLOWS THE PAIR, CAMERA MOVING BACKWARDS TOWARD THE TRAP DOOR, STOPS WITH THE DOOR IN FOREGROUND AND PAIR BEHIND IT.  CAMERA SETTLES NEAR GROUND LEVEL, ANGLED SLIGHTLY UP AT FATHER AND SON. The FATHER places the pistol back in his belt, and grabs the spade as the SON huddles behind him.

UPWARD FACING SHOT FROM “PERSPECTIVE” OF TRAP DOOR. The FATHER is exhausted.  Framed against the gray sky he pulls up the blade of the shovel and drives it down on the hasp.  The impact shakes the camera.