Opening Scene From Screenplay, "Hunt of the Sea Wolves"
I'm including the opening scene from my screenplay, Hunt of the Sea Wolves, so you can compare it to Chapter One of the novel. Two entirely different writing disciplines. I don't know if I did either well enough, since the script is not produced and the book has not sold--yet.
FADE IN:
EXT. CARGO SHIP — NIGHT
Super: Strait of Malacca
A pitched battle is underway aboard a small cargo ship sailing near an island off the coast of Indonesia. The ship is on fire from end to end.
A determined, ragged-looking Asian gang of killers armed with old weapons, ranging from shotguns to lever-action rifles, and even a Thompson submachine gun, pull back while firing at Marine special forces.
Some of the Marines are already on the ship firing at the Gang, while others fast rope down from a hovering helicopter with India markings.
A Man with a shotgun shoots at one of the Marines coming down a rope, hitting him. The Marine falls hard to the deck. The Man staggers as an arrow hits him in his chest.
A Marine with a high-tech crossbow shoots another Gang Member in the back as he flees up a ladder.
The Guy with the Thompson fires up at the helo.
PLUNK! PLUNK! PLUNK!
Holes stitch along the side of the helo. It banks hard left a flies away.A tall, lanky Marine (CAPTAIN ANUMITA ROY FAJPAYEE) leads the way through the flames, firing his automatic weapon, killing two men. He and three others sprint up the ladder to the next deck.
CUT TO:
INT. PASSAGEWAY — MOMENTS LATER
A Marine kicks in a wooden door. He steps through…
CUT TO:
INT. MESS DECKS — CONTINUOUS
A crazed-looking Man with an ancient, rusted saber swings at the young Marine. Captain Vajpayee shoves the Marine aside and shoots the Man twice in the heart and once between the eyes.
Another Marine (SERGEANT BHUPAD ALI) steps in behind the Captain and they see two more Gang Members standing over the ship’s Crew who are laying face down on the deck.
Before the Marines can react, one of the Gangsters with a shotgun turns it on the hostages. He shoots one point blank in the back. The other Gangster is just about to do the same when a bullet takes off part of his head.
The other Gangster looks at his Friend in surprise, then glances at a porthole to his right. There is a neat bullet hole in it.
HIS P.O.V.
Through the porthole. In the distance is a Marine sniper (CORPORAL ABDUL-BARRI SINGH). The Gangster starts to cry out when another bullet shatters the porthole and hits him through the mouth.
CUT TO:
EXT. CARGO SHIP — CONTINUOUS
Corporal Singh chambers another round and looks satisfied with his work.
CUT TO:
EXT. STRAIT OF MALACCA — DAY
A BBC news helicopter hovers near the smoldering cargo ship. A Cameraman leans out of the open door, taping the scene as the Crew is being taken off the ship to waiting police boats.
BBC ANCHOR
Indian anti-terrorist special forces were able to art the efforts of a reputed Aceh rebel cell that has been terrorizing shipping lanes in the area, stealing entire cargos, killing the crews or setting them adrift.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TELEVISION STUDIO — CONTINUOUS
The BBC logo appears in the right hand corner of a television set. The BBC Anchor continues to read the story:
ANGLE ON BBC ANCHOR
BBC ANCHOR
The International Maritime Organization reports that there has been a steady rise in maritime piracy worldwide, but particularly in Southeast Asia.
ANGLE ON TELEVISION
as a pre-recorded sound bite comes on. A stately British official is on screen. He is identified as: SIR THOMAS BURKENSHIRE.
BURKENSHIRE
Last year, attacks rose 60 percent. We estimate losses in cargo and ships to be over sixteen billion. More than 300 ships were taken last year alone. For the most part, the culprits are local thugs and gangs, but ever since the attack on the World Trade Center in the U.S., all governments have stepped up their efforts to stop possible terrorist threat attacks by employing the use of ships, particularly those that are hauling potentially dangerous cargos, such as liquid natural gas container ships. Regrettably, little has been accomplish to prevent such an event from happening. Modern piracy as a terrorist weapon has been neglected too long and it will come back to haunt every civilized nation.
FADE IN:
EXT. CARGO SHIP — NIGHT
Super: Strait of Malacca
A pitched battle is underway aboard a small cargo ship sailing near an island off the coast of Indonesia. The ship is on fire from end to end.
A determined, ragged-looking Asian gang of killers armed with old weapons, ranging from shotguns to lever-action rifles, and even a Thompson submachine gun, pull back while firing at Marine special forces.
Some of the Marines are already on the ship firing at the Gang, while others fast rope down from a hovering helicopter with India markings.
A Man with a shotgun shoots at one of the Marines coming down a rope, hitting him. The Marine falls hard to the deck. The Man staggers as an arrow hits him in his chest.
A Marine with a high-tech crossbow shoots another Gang Member in the back as he flees up a ladder.
The Guy with the Thompson fires up at the helo.
PLUNK! PLUNK! PLUNK!
Holes stitch along the side of the helo. It banks hard left a flies away.A tall, lanky Marine (CAPTAIN ANUMITA ROY FAJPAYEE) leads the way through the flames, firing his automatic weapon, killing two men. He and three others sprint up the ladder to the next deck.
CUT TO:
INT. PASSAGEWAY — MOMENTS LATER
A Marine kicks in a wooden door. He steps through…
CUT TO:
INT. MESS DECKS — CONTINUOUS
A crazed-looking Man with an ancient, rusted saber swings at the young Marine. Captain Vajpayee shoves the Marine aside and shoots the Man twice in the heart and once between the eyes.
The Man drops.
Another Marine (SERGEANT BHUPAD ALI) steps in behind the Captain and they see two more Gang Members standing over the ship’s Crew who are laying face down on the deck.
Before the Marines can react, one of the Gangsters with a shotgun turns it on the hostages. He shoots one point blank in the back. The other Gangster is just about to do the same when a bullet takes off part of his head.
The other Gangster looks at his Friend in surprise, then glances at a porthole to his right. There is a neat bullet hole in it.
HIS P.O.V.
Through the porthole. In the distance is a Marine sniper (CORPORAL ABDUL-BARRI SINGH). The Gangster starts to cry out when another bullet shatters the porthole and hits him through the mouth.
CUT TO:
EXT. CARGO SHIP — CONTINUOUS
Corporal Singh chambers another round and looks satisfied with his work.
CUT TO:
EXT. STRAIT OF MALACCA — DAY
A BBC news helicopter hovers near the smoldering cargo ship. A Cameraman leans out of the open door, taping the scene as the Crew is being taken off the ship to waiting police boats.
BBC ANCHOR
Indian anti-terrorist special forces were able to art the efforts of a reputed Aceh rebel cell that has been terrorizing shipping lanes in the area, stealing entire cargos, killing the crews or setting them adrift.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TELEVISION STUDIO — CONTINUOUS
The BBC logo appears in the right hand corner of a television set. The BBC Anchor continues to read the story:
ANGLE ON BBC ANCHOR
BBC ANCHOR
The International Maritime Organization reports that there has been a steady rise in maritime piracy worldwide, but particularly in Southeast Asia.
ANGLE ON TELEVISION
as a pre-recorded sound bite comes on. A stately British official is on screen. He is identified as: SIR THOMAS BURKENSHIRE.
BURKENSHIRE
Last year, attacks rose 60 percent. We estimate losses in cargo and ships to be over sixteen billion. More than 300 ships were taken last year alone. For the most part, the culprits are local thugs and gangs, but ever since the attack on the World Trade Center in the U.S., all governments have stepped up their efforts to stop possible terrorist threat attacks by employing the use of ships, particularly those that are hauling potentially dangerous cargos, such as liquid natural gas container ships. Regrettably, little has been accomplish to prevent such an event from happening. Modern piracy as a terrorist weapon has been neglected too long and it will come back to haunt every civilized nation.
posted by John Chadwell | 4:42 PM
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