“The Knight and clichés that mean its time to embrace destiny!” Script

Written by: Jeremy Sears

FIRST DRAFT:
29/11/07
SECOND DRAFT:

Tales of the Knight in Plastic Armor
“The Knight and clichés that mean its time to embrace destiny!”
(Show #1)





Script Terms
Ext – Exterior – Setting outside
Int – Interior – Setting inside
POV – Point of view – from characters perspective
CLOSE ON – Focusing on a body part(s)/object(s)
WIDEN ON – Zoomed out on a person/people/object(s)
VO – Voice over
OS – Off screen
OV – Over View
UV – Under View
SV – Side view
FV – Front View
SFX – sound effect

ACT ONE

OPEN ON

Ext. Lion Gate Orphanage – day

WIDEN ON an old looking orphanage while a couple cars and trucks drive across the road in front of it.

Int. Lion Gate Orphanage – entertainment room

CLOSE ON Knight slouching back in a beanbag chair with his cheek perched on his left palm while he holds the DVD player remote out and a pushes a button on it repeatedly.

Knight
Come ooooooon....

CLOSE ON the Play button on the remote while Knight keeps pushing down on it.

CLOSE ON the front of the TV while it shows a still cartoon image of a knight fighting a big typical dragon.

POV – behind Knight – looking ahead at the TV on the other side of the room.

Aw…

CLOSE ON Knight pouting his lips out while he lowers the remote.

This is like the fifth time that DVD froze before I can see the ending!

(SV) a little orphan girl in tattered clothing tugs on Knight’s plastic shoulder armor.

Orphan girl
Um…Mr. Knight…can I watch TV now…?

Knight turns to the girl quickly and leans his face right up against hers comically.

Knight
NUUUUUUUUUU…

Knight sits up boastfully and points at himself.

NOT until I’m done watching MY movie!

CLOSE ON the still frame on the TV screen.

Orphan girl
But it’s been like that for three hours…

CLOSE ON Knight and the orphan girl, knight swings his right hand up, pointing upward.

Knight
No matter! We just got to be patient I say! Patient!

Knight looks down and puts his hand against his chest.

(overly melodramatic)
Like I have for so many years…

He swings his arms out dramatically, look up at the ceiling (OS), all the while the girl just watches him awkwardly.

OH WHY WON’T ANYONE ADOPT ME??

WIDEN ON the door that leads into another room that’s left opened a crack.

Orphanage Owner (OS)
(other side of the door)
Because you’re a lazy 23-year-old bum who was kicked out of your parents’ house when you turned 21 and have been living here ever since!

ZOOM OUT a bit as Knight leans his face in and stares at the door.

Knight
And do you know WHY they kicked me out?

Orphanage Owner (OS)
(other side of the door)
Because you got blonde hair that goes down to your knees and you refuse to take off that plastic knight costume that’s two sizes too small!

CLOSE ON Knight as he flaps his arms at the door and then looks away with his arms folded.

Knight
Psssha! This legendary armor was calling out my name!

WIDEN ON the door to the other room.

Orphanage Owner (OS)
You found it half opened at a dollar store and paid 75 cents for it!

CLOSE ON Knight as he points up at the ceiling (OS) with his right hand and then lowers his hand to point at the TV (OS).

Knight
Bah! The point is, that DVD player is broken and my copy of Sleeping Pretty is trapped within it! We need you to fix it again!

CLOSE ON Knight’s comically stern face.

Orphanage owner (OS)
Fix it yourself or get a job and buy the orphanage a new one! …You lazy bum.

WIDEN ON Knight looking over at the door (OS) while the little girl is still right beside him, watching everything awkwardly.

Knight
Well fine then!

Knight looks down at the little girl.

Jeesh! That guy who runs this orphanage is such a grouch huh?

Orphan girl
Uh…?

Knight stands up before she can even give an actual response.

CLOSE ON Knight as he rolls up his non-existing sleeves.

Knight
Humph, alrighty then.

CLOSE ON the DVD player perched on top of the old TV.

WIDEN between the TV and Knight standing on top of the beanbag couch. Knight boldly points at the DVD player.

You’re on vile DVD player!

CLOSE ON Knight as he boldly raises his fists, pointing at himself and going into a dramatic and clichéd 90s anime style introduction stance.

For I am brave! I am bold! Stuff those things in a bottle and shake till next Tuesday and what’ll burst out is I!

ZOOM OUT (UV) on Knight thrusting his right arm high into sky while the background is full of racing bolts of flashing colors.

THE LEGENDARY KNIGHT!!!

The background FADES to normal and Knight points at himself, scratching his cheek.

…I’mmm still working on a better title for myself.

POV – Knight – PAN across the TV and the DVD player on top of it.

CLOSE ON and PAN across Knight’s boldly glaring eyes.

HMMMMM…

WIDEN ON Knight charging towards the TV (OS).

CHAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGE!!!!

POV – behind the TV – Knight makes a ridiculous leap towards the TV and body slams the DVD player.

POV – orphan girl – Knight knocks over the TV and franticly flails his arms around, swinging wires everywhere.

Oo! Ah! Hey! Ya!! Take this! And some of these!!! Oh come on DVD player! Gimmie you’re best shot!

Ext. Lion Gate Orphanage – day

WIDEN ON the orphanage as it suddenly combusts into flames that results in a mini mushroom cloud styled explosion that comically blows apart the orphanage.

FADE TO:

WIDEN ON a pile of wreckage as Knight pops out quickly, completely covered in suet. Knight just sits there shocked, blinking a couple times.

Huh, self-sacrifice…did NOT see that coming. Touché DVD player, such a rivalry shall not be forgotten.

Knight rubs his chin and ponders.

Hmm…maybe this is a sign…

PAN left to a CLOSE UP of the orphanage owners’ speechless face.

POV – Knight – the owner just stands in the middle of the wreckage speechless and looking up at the sky,

Orphanage owner
29 years…all gone…

CLOSEON Knight as he ponders.

Knight
It does make sense…a knight abandoned by his family? Forced to live at an orphanage where no one likes him or wants to adopt him? And the orphanage – his home, being burned down my faulty electronics?!

Knight slams his right fist into his left palm as though he’s made an earth-shattering discovery.

…Yes, it’s a sign!

WIDEN ON Knight getting up with his hands on his hips.

A sign that its time for me to embrace my destiny and become a knight that’ll go down in history as the best the world has even seen!!

ZOOM OUT as the orphanage owner leans in and glares at Knight, his eyebrow twitching comically.

Orphanage owner
(angry)
We’re nearly a decade into the second millennium! What they heck do we need knights for in this day and age?!

CLOSE ON Knight’s face as his jaw drops with great shock.

Knight
Le gasp!

POV – Knight – in the middle of the road and staring right back at Knight is…a small cartoonie miniature light brown horse.

CLOSE ON Knight’s stunned face, he shakes his head, sending all the suet flying and blinks a couple times.

Can it be…?

CLOSE ON the miniature horse as it tilts its head and blinks adorably (at the screen).

(OS)
Yes, it is!

WIDEN ON (SV) the Orphanage Owner as Knight comically skips past him in a hurry towards Horse (OS).

Oh it is! I can’t believe it! My might steed as appeared before me!

The Orphanage Owner’s head jolts forward, just watching Knight (OS) with his eye twitching in disbelief and annoyed anger at what’s going on.

CLOSE ON (OV) Knight skipping along burning and smoking orphanage wreckage like he’s going through a field of flowers with a humongous smile and joy filled eyes.

This is incredible! I still believe it! But there it is! Only a dozen more steps…

CLOSE ON Knight’s feet as he stops, crouches over and then jumps forward into the air.

And one giant…

CLOSE ON Knight as he sends himself flying through the air towards Horse (OS).

LEEEEEAAAAAP!!!

POV – behind Horse – Knight goes FLYING towards Horse with his arms spread. The dramatic (and maybe romantic) fateful encounter is cut short however when a big truck with a long trailer RUNS OVER Horse (the truck and trailer driving by take up the entire screen).

The truck honks its loud horn and drives away (going OS) to REVEAL…

CLOSE ON (FV) Knight’s stun, and hilarious looking horrified face.

Uuhuhuh…uh-uh.

WIDEN ON (FV) Knight sitting on his knees in the middle of the road in front of the chibi miniature horse’s flattened corpse. After a brief pause of pure shock, Knight looks down at Horse’s body.

My…my mighty steed…

Knight picks up Horse’s tire-track engraved corpse and hugs it tightly against his plastic torso armor, crying out waterfall styled cartoon tears.

Ohhhh why world why?! Why rip a horse apart from it’s knight so soon after embracing their destinies?!

WIDEN behind Knight as he bows his head against Horse’s shoulder and weeps.

Oh why oh why oh why? (Weep) (Weep) (Weep)…why…?

Knight looks up to the sky exactly like the Orphanage Owner just was.

WHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYY?

An exact duplicate of Horse walks up beside Knight and tilts it’s head.

Horse
Nayu?

Knight’s head quickly turns to his right as he looks down at the other Horse with surprise.

Knight
Huh?!

POV – behind second Horse – Knight h at the dead Horse in his arms and the one standing right beside him.

Uh?

Knight looks between them a second time.

Um?

And third time.

Er?

And fourth time.

Ah?

And AGAIN a firth time but also raises his left eyebrow.

Eh?

WIDEN behind Knight as he turns to directly face the second Horse. Knight chucks away the first Horse’s body (going OS).

All right then!

Knight swings his arms out and overdramatically embraces the new Horse.

HORSEY!!!!

Knight rocks side-to-side with Horse, cuddling him with abundant excitement.

Ohhhhhhh horsey…I love you so muchhhhhhh, yes I do! -Ahem!

He covers his mouth and lets out a fake cough. Knight quickly gets “serious” and mounts himself onto the small horse’s back; the surprise load of weight causes Horse to grunt.

Horse
Nayu!!

Because of Horse’s small stature, Knights’ knees are barely above the ground with his legs just crouched back like he’s riding a motorcycle. Knight puts a hand on his hip and boldly points the other forward.

Now onward my mighty steed onward! To where ever adventure and bounty await us!

Horse
Nah, Nah…

Horse slowly begins to walk down the middle of the road while a car drives past them in the background.

ZOOM OUT behind the Orphanage Owner’s left shoulder while he watches Knight ride away on the miniature horse.

WIDEN ON (FV) the speechless orphanage owner, more speechless then ever while a few other orphan kids pop their heads out of the smoldering wreckage.

Orphanage Owner
…Oh, THANK YOU GOD! He’s finally gone!

The Orphanage Owner stomps the ground.

And good riddance!!

He sighs and turns around to face all the wreckage, rubbing the back of his head, causing all his (burnt) hair falls out.

I’m glad I got that insurance package last month…

Ext. downtown – day

CLOSE ON (SV) Knight riding very slowly down the road on Horse with a lot of loud honking in the background.

Knight
Mush Horse, Mush! Adventure awaits us!

Horse
Nayu, nayu…

Knight
…Aw jeez, it’s hard to concentrate on the amazing adventures ahead of us when there’s so much noise behind us!

Knight looks over his shoulder.

POV – in front of Horse – Knight looks over at the MASSIVE row of vehicles driving behind him, honking violently and forced to drive at a snail’s pace. Knight raises his fist and shakes it at all the angry drives.

Will you people be a tone it down? Me and my horse are TRYING to find a quest that’ll fulfill our destiny!!!

CLOSE ON (SV) Horse continuing to walk at the same speed while Knight is looking back and shaking his fist.

Angry Driver (OS)
How about you find a job you bum!!

Knight suddenly gets hit in the forehead by Angry Driver’s side view mirror.

Knight
DOI!

He falls forward, landing on Horse’s head and going unconscious.

Ext. downtown – electronics store – day

CLOSE ON (OV) Knight laying unconscious at the edge of a sidewalk, Horse comes up and licks his cheek, causing him to groan and flail his arms around like a child.

(unconscious talk)
Nuuu…stop fiend, I’m not one of those lollipops with the chewy stuff in the center…

Knight groans, turning his face to the left and sniffs Horse’s nose. Knight begins to smile.

(unconscious talk)
Mmmm, Granola bars

CLOSE ON Horse tilting his head as he raises an eyebrow.

Horse
Nah?

CLOSE ON (OV) Knight’s face as Horse kicks the side of his head.

Knight
BOOF!

WIDEN ON (FV) Knight as he quickly sits up at the edge of the sidewalk, looking back-and-forth.

Ah! I’m up! I’m up! Where am I? What time is it?

Horse walks beside Knight and looks up at him.

Horse
Nayu nah, nayu – nayu nayu nah~

POV – Knight – Horse looks up at Knight (the screen) while he “talks”.

Nayu Nah Nah, nayu, nah nayu, Nah nah, nayu nayu.

WIDEN ON (FV) Knight looking down at Horse, he blinks once and tilts his head with his hands on his knees.

Knight
…Come again?

Horse slaps his hoof over his face.

CLOSE ON Knight looking ahead and raising an eyebrow as the stuff he’s hearing coming from behind him.

Reporter (OS)
In business today, things are only looking worse for Princess Dye,

Knight
Huh?!

POV – behind Knight – he looks over his shoulder quickly at the direction of the reporter’s voice (facing the screen).

A princess is in trouble?!

POV – Knight – the electronics store display window has a bunch of TVs turned onto the same news station.

Reporter
A recently failed marketing plan has sent Princess Dye’s stocks plumping, with bankruptcy looming just around the corner.

(SV) Knight gasps loudly and runs right up against the window display of the electronics store. He slides his face off the window and looks back at Horse (OS).

Knight
Oh no! Did you hear that my mighty stead? This Princess’s stocks are plummeting!

Knight turns to face the screen and looks down, rubbing his chin.

Now I don’t know what kind of stocks their talking about…but that doesn’t matter!

WIDEN ON Knight as he heroically points his left hand at the awning right over his head. A man in a suit stops in the background and looks over awkwardly at Knight.

I’M COMING PRINCESS!!!

Knight jolts light lightning down the sidewalk, shoving past anyone in his path. Horse quietly walks up to the window display of TVs and looks up at them.

Horse
Nayu?

POV – above Horse’s head – the news report turns to show a commercial of Princess Dye shampoo, conditioner and hair dye.

Commercial narrator
Princess Dye shampoo, condition and hair dye. When you’re hair needs that, royal touch.

(SV) Horse stares blankly at the TV and blinks a couple times.

CLOSE ON (FV UV) Knight speeding down the sidewalk while looking back and forth at everything he’s passing.

Knight
(panting)
Princess Dye? Where are you?

Int. bookstore/library

CLOSE ON (SV) a women standing in front of a bookstand and reading the boom in her hand. Knight randomly opens the door and pops his head in.

Princess Dye?

The woman quickly snaps her head right, glare at Knight.

Woman
Shh!

Int. convenient store

WIDEN ON an employee leaning over the top of a latter as he attempts to carefully place the final watermelon on the top of a watermelon pyramid display. Knight randomly opens the door and pops his head in.

Knight
Princess Dye?!

The employee is caught off guard and the watermelon slips from his hands.

Employee
Uher-ah!

The watermelon tumbles against the others, causing the entire display fall over, tripping the latter and sending the helpless employee falling comically back first against one of the watermelons on the ground.

OW!

Knight quickly leaves the store, leaving the employee hissing in pain and rubbing his back while he rolls side to side on the floor.

OHHHHh…Ah…oh why didn’t I do this with the square watermelons?!

Ext. downtown.

WIDEN ON (SV) Knight stumbling down the sidewalk tiredly.

Knight
(tired)
…At this rate I’m never going to find Princess Dye in time…Oh…this sucks…

Horse smoothly walks up from behind Knight and stays alongside him, looking up at Knight as he looks down at him.

Hey my mighty stead…sorry I ran ahead of you like that.

Horse
Nayu Nayu.

CLOSE ON (FV) Knight while he keeps walking and looking at Horse (OS).

Knight
Yeah…

Knight looks down at himself and puts his fists up against his chest.

But I was just SO excited that I had finally found a quest you know? I couldn’t help but dash off to find and save that Princess Dye.

He looks over at Horse again (OS).

No offence to your speed or anything, I was just in such a hurry.

(OV) Knight stops as Horse does and looking up at him as he tries to communicate with Knight again.

Horse
Nayu, nah, nayu nayu!

Knight
Huh?

POV – Knight – Horse pulls out a bottle of Princess Dye hair shampoo from out of nowhere and points at it with his right hoof.

Horse
Nayu, nah, NAYU NAYU!

POV – Horse – Knight blinks obliviously and tilts his head.

Knight
Eh? Where’d that come from?

CLOSE ON the label on the bottle of Princess Dye hair shampoo while Horse taps on the bottle with his hoof repeatedly.

Horse
NAYU, NAH, NAYU NAYU!!!

WIDEN between Knight and Horse.

Knight
Huh?

Knight bends down and points at the label on the bottle.

What’s that say?

Horse drops the bottle and slaps his right hoof over his face.

Horse
Nayu nah…

Knight
Aw, I know good buddy….

CLOSE ON (FV) Knight standing up and turning around (to face the screen), looking disheartened with defeat.

Things can’t get much worse then they are now…

CLOSE ON a thumbtack on the ground in front of Knight’s feet, with the sharp end pointing upward as a sparkle of light glimmers off the tip. Knight walks forward and his right foot lands on top of the thumbtack, it pieces through his cheap plastic knight’s boots and stabs his toe.

CLOSE ON Knight’s eyes as they suddenly widen, his left eye violently twitching.

EEE!!!!…Gr-gr…

ZOOM OUT (UV) as Knight screams out in pain with foot raised while he holds onto it with both hands.

YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAOOOOOWWW!!!!

CLOSE ON Knight’s face as he holds his head back in pain, gritting his teeth.

GRRRRRRRRR!!!! OH FFFF~

Suddenly the head of a mallard duck pops in front of the screen overtop of Knight.

Censor Duck
~QUACK!

Censor Duck PANS away and Knight looks down in jaw-dropped shock.

Knight
Huh?!

WIDEN ON (SV) Knight (standing on his left leg and holding the right) and Horse looking at the mallard duck standing in front of them.

POV – Knight – Duck just looks over at Horse (OS).

Narrator (VO)
Who IS this mysterious duck that just saved the editors the time of censoring out Knight’s vulgarity?

POV – Censor Duck – Horse stares blankly at (the screen) Censor Duck and blinks a couple times.

(VO)
Will Horse find a way to tell Knight that Princess Dye is just a line of women’s hair care products?

WIDEN ON Censor Duck, Knight and Horse as they all one by one look at the screen.

(VO)
And will the Knight ever catch onto these obvious signs and decide to get a job?

Knight frowns and raises an eyebrow.

Knight
Heeeeey I got a question!

POV – above and behind Knight – REVEAL the brick wall Knight; Horse and Censor Duck are staring at in confusion.

Where the heck is that creepy voice coming from?!

Narrator (VO)
Answer to these questions and maybe some cheesecake in~

Knight turns around and looks upward at the screen again, pointing at it now.

Knight
Hey! Now it’s coming from over here!

CUT TO: the title screen with “To be continued!” in the right hand corner.

Narrator (VO)
The next amazing installment of THE TALES OF THE KNIGHT IN PLASTIC ARMOR!!!!!!!

Knight (OS)
You know…I hate cliffhangers like these!

Narrator (VO)
It’s only one of a few! I promise!

Knight (OS)
A few? Aw…

TO BE CONTINUED