THE BLUE BUTTERFLY EFFECT - WRITING SAMPLE

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INT. THE RESTAURANT – DAY

Lydia and Marilyn sit over lunch in a continental restaurant.  They talk over dinner.

LYDIA

So what made you paint them?

MARILYN

(Putting down her fork) ah!  That.  They called to me from far, far away those blue morphos did.  I wondered about them why the odd coloration the patterns of the bulls eye the whole paper thin wings flying like something familiar.

LYDIA

What was it?

MARILYN

Parachutes! 

LYDIA

Parachutes?!

MARILYN

Yes Lydia parachutes.  If you look at a parachute it is built has sections just like blue morpho the plain ones without heavy black edge on the wings they are mimicking the parachute.

LYDIA

Why in god’s name would they do such a thing?

MARILYN

Once a man landed in a field in the tropical rain forest.  He came down in a parachute and landed heavy his boots crushing caterpillars. Dead. They were flattened. Squished.

LYDIA

(Giggling) yeah they must have been.

MARILYN

So any way, it’s a magnetic survival imprint to wear the cause of death I suspect.

LYDIA

Brilliant!

MARILYN

Yeah you see they see blue sky and a man crushing them landing from some odd chute that gently falls around them as they die. They spin wings that look like it the chute.

LYDIA

Yeah I see what you mean.

MARILYN  

You know what else I found?

She pushes her plate away having finished dinner.

LYDIA

What?

MARILYN

Well if you look at the wings of a blue morpho underneath the brilliant blue there’s these odd bulls eye’s. If you take a magnifying glass you will find something shocking.

LYDIA

What?!

MARILYN

Now if you don’t believe me because it is to incredible be a friend and look yourself later.

LYDIA

You mean instead of being the asshole who argue like you’re some sort of flake right?

 MARILYN

Ha, ha yeah something like that. 

LYDIA

Of course I’ll look.  So what is it?

MARILYN

Lady it’s a silver bullet shard with red blood spray in that bulls eye in a pattern of hawk downed.

LYDIA

My god!

MARILYN

Yeah so not only do we have the parachute crushing bugs they get a light review of dead falcons hitting the ground shot down.  Heavy stuff.  The official big bird downed now to a butterfly that is very heavy stuff.

LYDIA

No kidding.  I have to look now I’m totally obsessed to see it.

MARILYN

So they got downed and witnessed other birds downed, men falling from the sky I mean everything’s coming out of the sky, falling, crushing these caterpillars; the sky’s dangerous!   It’s falling!

LYDIA

Hilarious, yet remarkable isn’t it?

MARILYN

Now it flies glides brilliant sky blue approaching dawn some of them with all those warrior markings of metamorphosis for metamorphosis is about warriors who didn’t sit around postulating in an ivory tower safe from a cock roach offending them.  They lived.  They are the true alchemists in the making and part of the what I call the blue butterfly effect on this planet.  They make things happen from not violence but tenacity.

LYDIA

Yes.  What do they war?

MARILYN

The blind making decisions for them.

LYDIA

Brilliant!

MARILYN

You see (pointing at her eye) in our inner camera we do our best to capture it all but something watching the rest of the spirit world recording down here, even in the tiny butterfly, takes an actual picture of life occurring, the magnetic drive to solve the puzzle of a death or shock. So if we miss one millimeter of a picture our brains take these little creatures are there to show us the story in a far away jungle.

LYDIA

(Lydia begins to cry in her hands) Ah god!

MARILYN

Yeah it’s been us too I know. Shot down so many times hanging on then we’re well and up again. And if you know what you are, you see the cells knitting, the vitality coming back like a miracle. Then we look around and have recorded incident upon incident and are like the blue morpho having lived it. So we’re not the same ever again. (Taking her time deeply mesmerized with the visual she’s describing) if your hand fell by a tree as you passed out and leaves were all around you when you wake up and come to you grab a hold of a leaf on the tree and memorize it, the miracle that you are alive and can see it, hold it again.

LYDIA

Yeah that’s what it is.

MARILYN

So we have tremendous value not worthlessness because we recorded all life around us and lived like we came here from way out there where we began as all that is as stars as all of it turning to be sentient life recording. We are the god recording mechanism in biological form; gods from way out there.

LYDIA

So where are we going?

MARILYN

Lydia I cannot stress this enough.  You must cherish your value above all else, to know the answer. Then it will arrive.

LYDIA

Alright.

MARILYN

The paintings are safe.  My daughter has them in her apartment.

LYDIA

How many are there?

MARILYN

So far ten.

LYDIA

So why all the mystery?

MARILYN

Well when the fighting raged on in the skies over ideology again I sat and did not realize I had bled out three liters of blood as compressed ether leaving my body. My brain was freeze dried.  I completed a stunning morpho painting takes 8 to 10 hours to do one.

LYDIA

Ten hours.  Jeez.

 MARILYN

Yeah. Any way it shone in the light like the academy awards stage or something.  Magical.  I had bled out from ET attacks on me so I stood up shaky and cold and looked around.  I went upstairs into the sunlight began firing brightly again my brain and nerves and came to.  So they were all painted under huge adversity of horror on me and each one is like the sequence of cells dividing to live, to revive myself from attacks and they are complete. So it’s me, it’s us who lived, who who awakened and fought, to stay alive every day, during the wars in the skies.

LYDIA

(Lydia wipes a tear) so who’s buying?

MARILYN

Who’s buying?  Interesting question.  It will be those who found nothing else as important as their own realization of ultimate worth. And not someone else’s approval, only their own. Who’s buying?  Interesting question.  It will be those who found nothing else as important as their own realization of ultimate worth. And not someone else’s approval, only their own. 

LYDIA

Well you said it them it is very profound what you said actually.  I mean makes everyone who isn’t that seem like a total bug crawling away.

MARILYN

Yes I suppose.  I mean I don’t mean to sound like I’m dishing everyone in general however I’m at this point, where I’m really ready for people with integrity to swarm in to my life in vast masses.

LYDIA

(Sipping her coffee) masses?  Really?

MARILYN

Yeah really.  Oh I have to go.  I have an appointment.

LYDIA

Alright.  Well good to see you.

MARILYN

Yeah you too.

She gets up grabs her coat and leaves the café.

DEVIL'S TRIANGLE - SAMPLE OF FEATURE FILM SCREENPLAY

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INT. THE GALLEY – DAY

Jade is preparing burger patties from the beef in the container. She lays them out for later on a metal platter. Levi walks in and greets her.

LEVI

Need help?

JADE

Yeah you can chop the onions if you like.

LEVI

Oh thanks, thanks very much.

He takes the onions and begins to chop them beside her he begins to wipe his eyes from tears.  She grins at him.

JADE

Here let me help you.

She moves the chopped onions away from him as he takes another one.

Barbecue sauce is…

LEVI

In there.

She gets it and prepares it in a bowl.

JADE

Pretty calm waters.

LEVI

Yeah it’s good this time of year.  Here. All done. Anything else?

JADE

(Taking the last onion chopped) yeah tomatoes same.

He looks at her and smirks she hands him tomatoes. She grabs a lettuce head for herself to cut and gets cheese slices out as well.

CUT TO:

INT. THE OCEAN – DAY

The crew is floating by monuments of huge pyramids sitting on the ocean floor over 700 meters under the water. Maggie is filming the ruins.

MAGGIE

This is incredible! Look at these!

They film the area of columns standing and pyramids.

LAWRENCE

I’m trying to see if there is any way in to any of them.

DEREK

Only there maybe look!

Lawrence looks at one of the pyramids which has some stone missing and there is a hole that may be large enough to enter through.

LAWRENCE

Alright that could be it let me take a shot we’ll measure back on the boat for the next dive.

CUT TO:

INT. THE BOAT – NIGHT

The crew eats dinner and talk about the expedition as the sun sets to night.

MARCUS

Good burgers Jade.

JADE

Thanks. Levi helped me.  So what happened?

MAGGIE

Well it was strange we were engaged by someone on our way down did you guys see anything a big light shining on the water?

LEVI

No nothing.

JADE

Nope nothing was eerily quiet actually no other boats very calm ocean.  Then I went to rest in the cabin and cook. Was totally quiet.  You Levi?

LEVI

Nothing like I said.

MAGGIE

Alright was really weird this big light shone on to us then went away and we finished the dive. I’ve got footage on the big camera we’ll show you guys later.

LAWRENCE

Pyramids are down there big ones. Stepped pyramids nothing glass or crystalline stone pyramids.  So much for the Atlantis myth of crystalline cities in this area.

JADE

Really?

LAWRENCE

Look there are transparent pyramids that have been seen under the waters of other areas Bahamas for example huge ones clear substance that glowed faintly. Now prior to this time our local time apparently these were seen here in these waters as well. If they are missing then they are likely extra terrestrial of origin and left.

MAGGIE

Yeah maybe that light.   If it was not a ship then maybe a space craft.

MARCUS

Well the Atlantis myth speaks of mermen who come from the water and have a crystal underwater city of Atlantis.

LAWRENCE

It’s bull shit Marcus bull.  If you look at the artifacts found in the ruins of old cities they are stone and like those found above ground. If there were any modern structures down there they likely would be extra terrestrial scout ships studying the ruins.

MAGGIE

Yeah that must be it Lawrence! 

MARCUS

Look guys about those ships I’ve seen them dive under water they go straight in ten years ago with my parents we took a cruise on the Panama Canal. I was standing on the deck and these ships same kind swooped down and flew into the ocean and were gone!

LAWRENCE

Yes well that makes sense as to who our mermen are.  Those in the craft likely.  Divers from another star system.

MARCUS

Or another galaxy.

MAGGIE

Well maybe they want us to know something.

MARCUS

Like what?

MAGGIE

Well how the heck do I know?  I’m not an ET.

LAWRENCE

Well there is this theory about vortexes from crystal pyramids messing with ships and air planes these elaborate theories. I’m not convinced and now that we found out what is there it isn’t it is it?  The source of the trouble is it?

MAGGIE

Well that trouble began a long time ago.  So something happened here back then likely around the time of World War II.

LAWRENCE

I mean it must have been a big deal to cause all that trouble some strange field must have formed from some occurrence.

DEREK

Some bombing you mean some sort of accident?

LEVI

Yeah what could it have been?

MAGGIE

Something big. Any way I was also thinking about our conversation earlier.

MARCUS

What Maggie?

MAGGIE

Black market artifacts. Who are the collectors?  Does that tweak your curiosity?

LAWRENCE

Yeah it sure does.  I only met one in my life in New York City. Five artifacts he had worth twenty million dollars.

Maggie caught on her iced tea.

MAGGIE

Twenty million?  I’ll bet there are hundreds of millions worth out there!

MARCUS

Dessert?

LEVI

Coconut cream pie frozen.  Should be thawed by now.

MARCUS

I’ll pass.

He pushes his chair away from the table and gets up.

I’m going to retire for now for a snooze.  I’ll see you guys later.

QUEEN ALEXANDRA OF DENMARK - SAMPLE OF FEATURE FILM

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EXT. MARLBOROUGH CASTLE THE GARDEN – DAY

Edward and Alexandra walk through the garden together. A little dog follows them.

EDWARD

Oh someone is stopping by from the church today.  They wanted to thank you for the donation you made with the ladies. They’re dropping off a present.

ALEX

Really?!  I wonder what it is!

EDWARD

I’ve no idea!

EDWARD

But you are happy in England?

ALEX

Yes!  I feel so cosmopolitan so sophisticated here everything modern! Yet I understand the littler lands you know?  It is still of importance in the dealing with them these cherished people!

EDWARD

Exactly so my dear!  How I feel as well.  It is a great privilege to live in England! We are a great nation. We must travel again when we can!

ALEX

Yes definitely!

EDWARD

Come on let’s go in.

They head back to the house.

CUT TO:

INT. THE LIVING ROOM MARLBOROUGH HOUSE – DAY

Alex sits in the living room waiting to receive the church people.  The butler brings them in a young man with two older women. They arrive and stand before her and Edward standing beside her seated on the sofa. She is dressed in a semiformal pleasant afternoon silk gown to receive them.  The young man steps forward to speak.

JOHN

If I may your highness I’m a local carvers apprentice this gift I carved for you.

One of the women takes the cloth off a huge crucifix and presents it to her.

Please your highness let it hang above you as you sleep dreaming of all the lands you helped with the money for the church our charity with you.

ALEX

Ah well quite an idea you have young man!  The statue it’s….quite…large!

JOHN

(Kneeling at her feet and grabbing her hand).  Please do this for us my lady!  I carved it for you myself as a royal gift to you! You will bless the lands then every morning for all the poor to have sustenance!

ALEX

Alright then young man.  She strokes his hair and face smiles at him. So you need some afternoon tea then all of you?

WOMAN

Yes my lady that would be fine!

ALEX

Alright then take them to the small dining room for guests and serve them some tea and goodies please.  I will check on you shortly.

The butler nods and the three visitors are led to tea.

CUT TO:

INT. ALEX’S BED CHAMBER – DAY

Alex is standing watching as Edward and the butler are standing on the bed attempting to hang the crucifix they struggle and finally hang it then the butler falls into Edwards arms and they collapse onto the bed.

BUTLER

Dear me! So sorry sir!

EDWARD

Certainly not what I had in mind at all my chap!

They quickly climb off the bed as Alex howls laughing.

ALEX

Are you alright then?  Not sure if that made a favorable impression on the Christ hanging there however perhaps some toddies in the smoking room would straighten us all out. Do bring us drinks please there!

BUTLER

Right away my lady!

EDWARD

Sure not!

They head out of the room and put out the lights.

CUT TO:

Maria Edward and Alexandra are sitting in the smoking room having aperitifs with fine tobacco. They are giggling over the crucifix incident.

EDWARD

So they want her to sleep with it to get more money from us!

ALEX

Yes well after all these vices the church would frown upon smoking drinking there is no end in sight to charity money I’m sure! For we shall be red in the face over the guilt of it the sin!

EDWARD

(Embracing her). I will ravish you further for more glorious sin later!

They kiss.

ALEX

Your room.  The crucifix may alter my mood a bit. However you have a date with me from that kiss.

MARIA

Well I will retire for the evening.

ALEX

Alright Maria see you in the morning.

She leaves them.

EDWARD

I will put some music on for you from my travels it is very exotic jazz with a bit of the jungle my favorite.

He reaches for the record and puts it on the gramophone. Lilting jazz music plays with drums and sultry sounding instrumental arrangement. They listen and kiss over the music.

ALEX

Edward you’re like a giant python in the wild all over me in the bush somewhere under the moonlight.  Let’s go to your room.

FADE TO:

INT. EDWARD’S BED CHAMBER – NIGHT

Alexandra and Edward are removing clothing. He tries to remove her corset laces he finally takes a letter opener on the bedside table and cuts through the laces.

ALEX

Edward!  Another one gone.

He throws off the forest and laughs looking at her they go under the covers and begin to tear off their pants and make love.  She turns down the lamp beside her darkening the room.  They giggle and make love under the covers.