the script

Rock Paper Scissors

By James Kelly

SCENE 1

CRUNCH!
PAPER celebrates over a pile of rocks.
He flips up and around, floats like air.
He hears a metallic sound.
He runs.

SCISSORS charges after him.
Faster, closer.
Finally, Scissors catches up.
A moment of fear from Paper.
A moment of anticipation from Scissors.

Scissors slices Paper to shreds.

Scissors celebrates over the pile of confetti.
Slices through the air.
The ground shakes. He runs.

ROCK shakes out of the ground.
Rumbles closer.
Finally, Rock catches up.
A moment of fear from Scissors.
A moment of anticipation from Rock.

Rock crunches Scissors to a twisted mess.

Rock celebrates over the pile of scrap metal.
Rumbles around.
The wind picks up.
Rock runs.

Paper swoops down.
Floats closer.
Finally, Paper catches up.
A moment of fear for Rock.
A moment of anticipation from Paper.

Paper squeezes Rock into a pile of rubble.

And we start again.
This time we pull out and speed up.
They’re in an infinite loop.
Chasing in circles.
By the end, it’s just, crunch, slice, smash, crunch, slice, smash.

SCENE 2

Scissors runs after Paper.
Gets closer.
It starts to rain.

WATER wells up from a puddle.

Scissors is about to get Paper when Water splashes over him.
Scissors tries to slice up Water, but it has no effect.
Scissors rusts in place.

Water recedes.
Relieved, Paper runs on.

SCENE 3

Paper floats after Rock.
It rains again.

Water rolls after Paper.

Paper’s about to get Rock when Water splashes over him.
Paper tries to crush Water, but Water just squishes out.
Paper dissolves into the Water.

Water recedes.
Rock runs on.

SCENE 4

Rock rumbles after Scissors.
It starts to rain.

Water wells up.

Water splashes over Rock.
Rock tries to smash Water, but it doesn’t work.
Rock sinks into the depths.

Water recedes.
Scissors runs on.

SCENE 5

Paper chases Rock chases Scissors chases Paper.
It rains.
Water wells up and gets them all.

SCENE 6

Rock, Paper and Scissors each run by.
They’re in their infinite loop again.

It starts to rain.

This time, they stop.
All three resisting the temptation to run away from their superior and go after their subordinate.

They get close enough to touch.
Rock sparks his hands together and even though he’s frightened of Paper, he doesn’t run.
Instead, he lights Paper on fire.
Once lit, he lets Paper float up onto his shoulders.

Scissors comes up to Rock.
He’s scared of him, but resists the urge to run and climbs up next to Paper.

Paper’s scared of Scissors, but he holds out a hand and Scissors puts one arm into Paper’s fire.
He turns red hot.

Water comes after them.

But now they can fight.
Rock maneuvers below with Paper and Scissors on his shoulders.
Scissors slices through Water and the cuts hiss.

The water rises higher.
Now Rock is submerged.
Paper’s starting to dissolve.
Scissors is starting to rust.

But just before they’re totally covered, Water dies with a tiny splash.

The Water recedes.

Paper and Scissors climb down from Rock.
A moment of anticipation.

And then they’re off, running in their infinite loop.

A tiny spot of flame floats off of Paper and lands in the center of the circle. It almost flickers out, but then it grows.

As Rock, Paper and Scissors chase each other, FIRE rises up in the middle of the circle.

All three see him and bolt.

THE END