A Strange Game

A sinister man plays a broken game, but he may regret that when a mysterious stranger comes to play.

EXT. DARK ALLEYWAY. NIGHT TIME.

Rain wedges down into a long and narrow alleyway. At the end

of it, beyond the grime and darkness, is a small table. In a

chair behind the table sits a sleazy man named AMUSE.

CLOSE UP: AMUSE’S HAND

A small red chip twirls in AMUSE’s hand. Two more lay evenly

spaced upon the table. The chips are a part of the man’s

trade: running games. He looks out on his mostly private

area of play, looking for another "player".

WIDE: ALLEYWAY

From the street-lit end of the alleyway, a MOTHER and a

child walk by. The child stops, and catches a glimpse of the

man’s simplistic alleyway fair. AMUSE knows it is time to

strike. He fixes his posture, and puts on a grin that

twitches in anticipation.

AMUSE

(projecting)

Step right up! Try the game of

luck! Win, and receive a prize

you’ve never seen before in your

life, young lad!

The child begins walking down the alleyway. AMUSE directs

him to his end with his hands.

AMUSE

(sinisterly)

That’s right kid, co’mon and try

your luck; you look like a real

winner.

AMUSE slowly pulls a knife from his pocket, but keeps it

hidden from the child’s view. The child is hesitant, looking

back for his mother, but she is no longer present near the

lit end of the alleyway. He starts walking faster, grinning

with desire.

AMUSE

Sit right here to try the game!

AMUSE points to the chair on the opposite side of the table.

The child is nearly there, but his mother appears at the lit

end of the alleyway.

MOTHER

(calling out)

Honey, come on! No games on the

street!

CONTINUED: 2.

The child begins to turn around. He keeps eye contact with

AMUSE for as long as possible, but eventually only his back

bids him farewell. The child reunites with his mother, and

they both are soon out of sight, leaving AMUSE alone in his

landfill of amusement once more.

AMUSE

(sighs)

Another figure appears at the lit end of the alleyway. This

figure walks towards AMUSE’s end. The man of games grows

excited again, once more ready to lure in a player.

AMUSE

(projecting)

Step right up! You look like a wise

man. Try the game and win a prize

beyond desires!

The figure is now in clearer view. He is wearing a black

jacket with a hood that covers his head. He is wearing a

pair of gray jeans as well.

HOODED FIGURE

A prize beyond desires, eh? Care to

entice me further?

AMUSE realizes he has found his man, and continues to lure

him in.

AMUSE

I will simply say this: I grew up

with every type of game you can

think of! Not only did they amuse

me, but they were quite literally

"a muse" to me. If you take up a

bet in this simple game, I may

reveal a prize for besting my

craft.

The HOODED FIGURE sits down and gestures his hand to AMUSE.

HOODED FIGURE

Start it up, mister-

AMUSE

The name’s Amuse, and amusement is

what I shall provide you with!

AMUSE places the chip in his hand on the table, and lines it

up with the other two. He then hovers his hands over them,

as if to "enchant" them.

CONTINUED: 3.

AMUSE

Here are three chips. They’re all

chaps, you see. However, one of

them is not what they seem. Simply

put, are you the kind of man who

can identify the impostor?

The HOODED FIGURE stares at the chips, then raises his sight

to meet AMUSE’s face.

HOODED FIGURE

I believe I am.

AMUSE simply grins.

AMUSE

Well then, a choice must be made.

Choose, my friend!

The HOODED FIGURE studies the chips momentarily. He picks

one of them up, flips it around in his hand, then sets it

back down. His eyes re-meet AMUSE’s.

HOODED FIGURE

I’m ready.

AMUSE

Well then, which one is the

impostor?

HOODED FIGURE

I’ve studied these chips for a

decent amount of time, looking for

a quality that doesn’t match the

other. You see, in order to find an

impostor, one has to find the

cracks in which the true qualities

dwell; where they seep through.

AMUSE’s smile slowly begins to fade.

HOODED FIGURE

(continued)

Now, noticing these qualities would

mean knowing how the impostor is

different, understanding their

specific characteristics. I look

down at these chips, and all I see

are three identical chips; there’s

nothing more or less complex to

decipher here. So, then I look

beyond the chips, beyond the table,

and see where you and I sit.

CONTINUED: 4.

AMUSE begins to feel threatened, he begins reaching for his

knife.

HOODED FIGURE

(continued)

You’re a man of games, and I

believe that. However, there is one

important thing about games that

I’m quite sure you’re aware of.

AMUSE attempts to keep a friendly posture.

AMUSE

What would that be?

HOODED FIGURE

Games have boundaries; rules. So,

the question is, what are your

boundaries of play?

AMUSE tightens the grip on his knife.

HOODED FIGURE

(continued)

A betting game without betting

money taken prior? This isn’t a

game; I know who the impostor is.

AMUSE readies his knife.

AMUSE

(in growing anger)

I believe you’ve earned a prize!

AMUSE lunges across the table at the HOODED FIGURE, who has

already slipped under the table. With AMUSE on top, the

HOODED FIGURE flips the table over, trapping AMUSE under it.

The HOODED FIGURE walks towards the top end of AMUSE’s body

and kicks him on the head, knocking him unconcious.

EXT. DARK ALLEYWAY. LATER.

AMUSE awakens. He realizes he has been tied to the table,

and propped up against the back wall of the alleyway. The

HOODED FIGURE meets him face to face. A gun rests in his

left hand.

HOODED FIGURE

Your posture tensed up on the side

holding this.

The HOODED FIGURE holds up the knife, then tosses it behind

him.

CONTINUED: 5.

HOODED FIGURE

Now, let’s play my game.

The HOODED FIGURE takes out three shells from his pocket,

and holds them out for AMUSE to see.

HOODED FIGURE

One is just an empty shell; a

blank. The other two, well-

The HOODED FIGURE holds them up to AMUSE’s face.

HOODED FIGURE

(continued)

I want you to choose one of them.

AMUSE stares at them, then back at the HOODED FIGURE.

AMUSE

(anxiously)

No, I won’t.

HOODED FIGURE

If you don’t, I’ll pick for you.

AMUSE

The left one!

The HOODED FIGURE loads the shell in to his gun. He takes a

few steps back, points it at one of AMUSE’s arms, and pulls

the trigger. It pierces through his arm.

AMUSE

(screams in pain)

HOODED FIGURE

Tough luck.

The HOODED FIGURE holds out his hand once more, now

containing only two shells.

HOODED FIGURE

Now, make another choice.

AMUSE shakes his head, still in a great amount of pain.

HOODED FIGURE

(continued)

Look on the bright side, your

chances of survival have improved.

It’s a fifty-fifty draw.

AMUSE looks down, unable to look at the shells.

CONTINUED: 6.

AMUSE

(crying)

The right one!

The HOODED FIGURE loads the shell and once more takes a few

steps back. He aims his gun at the unhurt arm, and pulls the

trigger. This shell pierces that arm as well.

AMUSE

(in pain)

My arms!

The HOODED FIGURE holds up the final shell between his thumb

and pointing finger.

HOODED FIGURE

Now, a smart kid might say that

this is the blank.

The HOODED FIGURE loads the shell in to his gun, and aims it

at AMUSE’s head.

HOODED FIGURE

(continued)

But, what are my boundaries? Would

I play your kind of games, my own,

or is it all in the same?

AMUSE

(panicking)

No, don't!

The HOODED FIGURE pulls the trigger, a shot rings throughout

the area. AMUSE flinches momentarily, but realizes he is

still alive. The HOODED FIGURE backs away toward the lit end

of the alleyway.

HOODED FIGURE

Let that fading sound keep you

company in the darkness.

The HOODED FIGURE exits the alleyway. AMUSE is alone, tied

up without the use of his arms.

AMUSE

(crying)

THE END

Reviews

[Kent Smotherman]

This seems more like a short story than a screenplay. I think the short story format would be better suited as well, allowing you more depth than what is provided here. I good screenplay should speak to universal themes, but I have to say this one just baffles me as to its point.