Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Script for Hot Dog Wizard (8/30)


Script for “Hotdog Wizard”

Elevator Line: A wizard who can only create hotdogs with his powers has an identity crisis in an arms race with a competing wizard.

Theme: We are all good at something, even if that something is small in comparison to others.


Ext. View of Central Park, New York City. It’s early, sun just rising. It’s autumn.

Cut to a sidewalk in the park. We see a small, old, pudgy man with a moustache and glasses pushing along a silver cart. After a short while he seems satisfied with a spot, and stops. He puts the brakes on, opens the umbrella, fixes it up, sets up a small stool behind the cart. He pulls out a small, cone-shaped hat, dusts it off, and ritualistically places it atop his balding head. He opens a small wooden sign in the front of his cart, which reads “The AMAZING Hotdog Wizard.” He steps on the stool behind the cart and folds his hands, waiting for customers.

We see people beginning to walk into the park. Most just walk by, but eventually a young man glances at the sign and is at first confused, then intrigued. He walks up to the HDW (HotDog Wizard) and places some money on the cart’s counter. The HDW nods, and, opening a drawer on his cart, pulls out a flower with flourish. By this point, a small crowd has gathered around the cart. Holding the flower up, the HDW wiggles his fingers and, poof, there is a puff of smoke. Once it clears up, we see the flower has been replaced by hotdog. There is clapping, and the man takes a bite out of his hotdog. It’s delicious. The HDW takes a small bow. People begin to clamor around the stand, waving money at the HDW. A montage ensues, where the HDW turns all manner of objects into hotdogs.

All of sudden there is a large puff of smoke to the right, interrupting the HDW, blowing his hat askew. Everyone glances to where the smoke came from, and there is a tall, handsome man, standing next to an elaborate stand, cloaked. He whips off his coat with a flourish, revealing bright clothes underneath. He snaps his fingers and the cloak disappears in a puff. The crowd claps, he bows, and then snaps his fingers again, creating a neon sign above the stand flashing “THE WHATEVER-YOU-WANT WIZARD!”

We then see the same man from before cautiously walk up to the WYWW, and give him some money. The WYWW smirks, claps his hands, and a golden wristwatch appears. The man’s eyes widen and he grabs the watch greedily as the crowd ooos and ahhs. Then, visibly, the crowd as a clump moves over from the HDW stand to the WYWW, waving money. The HDW reaches forward in vain, trying to stop the group, but it’s to no avail.

What then follows is a montage of the WYWW making various objects for people. There will be three cuts to the HDW, during this time, with each time flanked by 1 or 2 instances of the WYWW creating something for the various patrons. The first cut will show the HDW with a new, hastily made sign saying “50% off.” Second will be the same sign saying 99% off, with the “50%” painted over. The final cut will be initiated when the WYWW creates a bunch of hotdogs for the whole crowd to cheers. The HDW is shocked, then dejected, then depressed. He slumps over, and slowly takes off his hat. He steps off of his stool, forgotten by the crowd.

We then cut to the WYWW’s crowd, where a small boy, who looks like a bad kid, with a black skull shirt, pushes to the front of the crowd and thrusts money up to the WYWW, who takes it and then looks at the kid expectantly. The kid holds up a piece of paper; we don’t see it’s contents. The WYWW strokes his chin, nods, and, smirking, claps his hands.

We cut back to a bird’s eye view of the park. There’s a large poof, and there is a giant T-Rex standing over the park, blinking stupidly.

Back to the crowd. There is a beat, and then everybody is screaming, all except the WYWW and the boy (who looks jubilant).  The WYWW laughs and goes to snap his fingers to get rid of the T-Rex. However, before he can, the T-Rex steps on the WYWW, removing him from the equation. The dinosaur roars.

Pandemonium ensues. Seemingly oblivious, the HDW is closing his umbrella, with his back turned from his stand. Suddenly, the T-Rex stomps on the stand, breaking it into a million pieces, causing the HDW to jump. He looks at the stand, then adjusts his glasses and looks at the T-Rex. Another roar. The HDW’s brow furrows, he slams his hat back on his hat, rolls up his sleeves, and with a determined look, wiggles his fingers at the T-Rex, who turns into a giant hotdog. The gigantic hotdog slams to the ground in the field behind the HDW, causing the earth to shake. There is a beat, and the frazzled people begin cheering. They rush the HDW and begin throwing him into air. He’s at first surprised, then pure joy crosses his face as he realizes that he’s done something good for these people. Fade to black.

Cut to an unspecified time in the future. The HDW has rebuilt his stand (which looks slightly ramshackle). There is a long line coming from his stand. At the front of the line is the WYWW, with an arm in his sling and covered in bandages. There is a new sign: “Come eat a part of the world’s largest hotdog!” The HDW hands over a plate to the WYWW, who, smiling, takes it. The HDW smiles back, looking quietly happy.

Credits

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