Writing Sample: The Gathering

Howl-O-Scream - SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Diego

Script for The Gathering v5:

The Underground comes to life in the hour prior to Howl-O-Scream. The pulsing music of the DJ draws the guests to the gathering area where they are able to dance and drink at the AmBarlance while they wait for the night to begin. As the crowd grows, so does the energy and the anticipation for the night’s events.

Suddenly, without warning, the music cuts out. The silence that follows is broken by the bellowing sound of a Viking war horn blown across the park, with a VO summoning all the undead from the underworld.

VO

As night descends, we sound the call
To summon demons one and all
Any soul who hears this sound
Come gather at the Underground
The stage is set, nowhere to run
Your night of terror has begun!

At this summoning, the Ring Master awakens and takes center stage.

<Creepy Circus Music Underscore>

RINGMASTER

Welcome my blood pumping puppets to our little circus of terror. I just know you’re going to love it… to death! Your death that is. <He laughs maniacally> No, but seriously... You’re all gonna die.

RINGMASTER

Allow me to set the scene of your imminent demise. It’s what I like to call our demented three-ring circus of catastrophe. Catchy, right?

RINGMASTER

In ring number one, you’ll find our Nightmare Experiment! A simple medical study, gone horribly wrong. Our doctors are all specialist… in driving you to the brink of insanity! They only ever give one prescription…Terror!

As he says this, a terrifying scream fills the air, completely unexpected by the crowd and creating a Startle Scare for all who are in close proximity, as a deranged medical patient rushes out of the crowd and along the front of the stage.

RINGMASTER

Medical Institutions not your thing? Too claustrophobic? Prefer the great outdoors instead? Oh, we have you covered there. In ring two of our twisted menagerie, you’ll find the putrid, murky waters of the Death Water Bayou. I strongly suggest you avoid the bayou witches. Although I’m sure they would love to include you in their sadistic rituals. Trust me, the experience is to die for.

RINGMASTER

Oh, and our third offering, our center ring, so to speak… you’re gonna be so fired up about this one. Simon’s Slaughterhouse. A terrifying maze of meat-hooks, butcher blades, and screeching buzzsaws. <stops, sniffs the air> Smells like Simon is grilling something good tonight. What do you think it is?

<gets responses from audience until someone guesses correctly>

RINGMASTER

That’s right! IT’S PEOPLE! <He laughs maniacally>

RINGMASTER

You know, Simon loves to play games. It usually goes something like this…Simon Says “There’s only one way out.” Simon says “Find it if you can!”

As the Ring Master speaks, hordes of monsters, creatures, and undead have begun to emerge from the four different entrances and gather silently along the rear of the crowd.

RINGMASTER

Now, I look out at all of your trusting, smiling faces, and I know you are thinking, “The scariest thing about this guy are his terrible jokes. We’re perfectly safe here.” And you’re right. I’m not that scary.

RINGMASTER

But you’re also wrong. ‘Cause I brought friends.

<Music Change – Splatz Entrance Music>

Splatz the Clown enters, leading a small pack of killer clowns or other bizarre characters, scaring people as they make their way through the crowd. Splatz takes the stage. The minions remain at street level.

RINGMASTER

Get ready to face your worst nightmares. Starting now, no place will be safe for you. There is nowhere you can hide. Killer clowns, bloody butchers, undead creatures. You better watch your back.

RINGMASTER

Show ‘em what I mean Splatz.

<Music Change – Dramatic, Intense build up, as if something horrific is about to happen – a complete juxtaposition to the cheesy clown antics that Splatz actually performs>

Splatz raises his bloody knife, but finds it is connected to a colorful handkerchief. He pulls it and it connects to another, which turns into a series of colorful hankies tied end to end…they quickly turn into faded and bloodied hanky’s. It is impossibly and uncomfortably long. One panel is covered in Cheetos, he gets excited, eats one and continues, more tied panels….at the end is a pair of tighty whities, worn, torn and and stained. He reacts big, then laughs! The Ring Master hits him in the chest with the Viking horn (we hear a bulb horn SFX and Splatz reacts big)

<Music Change Dramatic, Scary underscoring, building tension during the following>

RINGMASTER

Enough of this! It’s time to choose. Who will be the first to scream? Who among you will join our demented family, live amongst the creeps and freaks, the ghouls and ghosts and the damned? Will you?

[The Ring Master and Splatz scan the crowd – the others join in tight formation all scanning the crowd with them, licking their lips, picking their prey (it is a Pippin moment). Their eyes follow as the RM’s long crooked finger extends out and slowly scans from right to left, ready to single out the next victim…..he pauses a moment on someone, the horde collectively, as one, lean forward, drooling, snarling…his finger quickly moves to another, like a flock of birds the horde, in perfect syncopated movement respond, lean and snarl there too, his finger moves again and the horde reacts the same….just as it feels like they may pounce on the latest subject of their attention…he stops them!]

RING MASTER

Perhaps you heard the call earlier, summoning all of the undead? They certainly heard it. They’ve been slowly gathering ever since. I’ve simply been distracting you, waiting for them to arrive. Well, guess what. They’re here! <he gestures to Splatz>

[Splatz blows the horn.]

There is a defining roar of chainsaws, screams, cries and shrieks as the terrifying Horde charges into the crowd.

[Cue Marylyn Manson’s Beautiful people, Chainsaws, screams]

The plaza of the Underground is suddenly filled with dozens of the terrifying creatures and hordes that have been gathering. Nightmare creatures of every kind flood in amongst the crowd, coming at them from every direction, scaring along the way.

The driving guitar reverberates as the monstrous hordes disperse and make their way into the night…. The Ring Master, laughing, calls out to the stunned crowd.

RINGMASTER

As My friend Simon says….Go, little piggies, go!