309 (A Screenplay)
- Nathaniel Shrake
- Feb 24
- 18 min read
Updated: Feb 28
Chapter 1: Knight of Pentacles
( Studying / No sleep / stress )
1 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[Fade in from black]
[White noise is all that is heard]
[No Sound recorded]
Exterior, facing 309 house at night. The porch light is on. As the camera begins approaching the house, a dull red light begins growing from the wooden room. As the camera approaches the front door, the porch light turns off and the door slowly and mysteriously opens by itself. The camera confidently proceeds into the house, examining the room in a counterclockwise manner, eventually revealing the door closing by itself. The camera continues moving counterclockwise, completing a full circle, and now into the dark kitchen, where the red light is seen glowing from the hallway to Chris’s room. . The camera pauses, then turns around and toward Adam’s bedroom. As it enters the room, Adam is shown to be staring at a computer screen while typing away at a word document in the dark. The camera approaches slowly behind him. When very close, a whisper is heard vaguely over the static
Voice: Adam [added in post]
2 - Tripod 18-55mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
The camera watches from 90 degrees to his right. On the desk is a cup of coffee, 3 textbooks, a notebook, pen, and open laptop. Adam abruptly and fearfully looks around the room but does not appear to see anything. He then slowly and hesitantly turns back to the computer. Adam resumes typing.
3 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Day
[Quick cut]
[Sound recorded]
[Sound of birds chirping added in post]
Daytime. Camera is in the exact same position and Adam remains in the same spot typing vigorously away., but it is now morning and the window is open. The desk has even more disheveled with textbooks, empty beer bottles, and two stacked plates with crumbs on them. There are papers strewn about. Adam is wearing the same clothes, and looks exhausted. After roughly 5 seconds, Adam stops typing, hits one last enter button, then leans back and sighs in exhaustion.
4 - Floating 18 - 55mm Day
[Quick Cut]
[Sound recorded]
Daytime. Adam sits at the kitchen table, staring straight ahead with a thousand yard stare. On the table rests a plate bearing a single piece of toast. There is also a mug of steaming coffee besides a french press, and a closed textbook. The bright morning light floods into the room. The camera begins by watching Adam upside down from the perspective of the living room. The camera slowly rotates upright. Once upright, the camera continues rotating around the table in a clockwise manner. When the camera is horizontal, Jude can be seen entering the room. Jude is dressed for work, and is carrying an apple in one hand and his shoes in the other.
Jude: Morning!
Adam turns to smile and offer a labored greeting.
Adam: Hey Jude.
Jude: Don't make it bad.
Jude leans against the wall, pausing to take a bite of his apple while examining Adam.
Jude: YOU sir, look terrible. When’s the paper due?
Adam: Friday. I’ll be in the trenches until then.
Jude begins walking toward the couch.
5 - Tripod 40mm Day
[Quick Cut]
[Sound recorded]
The camera watches from the perspective of the window. The focus of the shot is on Jude as he eventually sits on the couch, putting on his shoes. Adam is in the shot, but severely out of focus.
Jude: Sleep goes a long way dude.
Adam: So does a 4.0.
Jude: …...Do they even see that shit? Like when you’re getting a job, do they even look at your GPA?
Adam: Jobs typically don't, but masters programs do….
Jude: Just don’t trade your soul for a piece of paper is all I’m saying.
The camera remains in its position but shifts focus to Adam’s face as he smiles genuinely.
Adam: I won't.
Focus remains on Adam as Jude stands up and begins walking toward the door.
Jude: I’m off to work. Have a good day Adam.
Adam: You too
Jude pauses in the doorway, then leaves as the camera’s focus remains on Adam. Adam stares straight ahead, for a moment, then pulls a pair of wireless headphones out of his pocket, places them in his ears and pulls out his phone to select a song. [Music begins to play] Adam puts the phone down, cracks open a nearby textbook and begins to read.
[Slow fade into next shot]
6 - Tripod 40mm Day
[Music continues from previous shot]
[No sound recorded]
[Slow fade in]
Daytime. The camera faces the living room window perpendicular to the wall and the full expanse of the couch is in view. Adam is seen typing away at his laptop in various positions across the couch. As Adam disappears from one shot, another shot of him in another position fades in. 4 positions in total, while the camera position does not change.
7 - Floating 40mm Sunset
[Music continues from previous shot]
[No sound recorded]
[Fade transition]
Sunset. Outside. The camera is moving left across the white bricks of the house. The camera continues along until the back patio reveals itself, showing Adam reading a textbook intently on the outside patio couch. He still has the earphones in. The camera continues on its path, until Adam is out of sight.
8 - Tripod 40mm Night
[Music continues from previous shot]
[No sound recorded]
[Fade transtion]
Interior/Evening. Camera watches from behind the laptop, as Adam stares deeply into it as he types. The American flag envelopes the background behind him.
9 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[Music continues from previous shot]
[No sound recorded]
[Fade transition]
Interior /Evening
Adam reads his textbook at the dinner table, while Jude makes dinner with his girlfriend in the background.They laugh and flirt while Adam looks exhausted and alone. It is a timelapse shot from the perspective of the phone booth.
[Slow fade to black]
Chapter 2: Seven of Cups
( Paranormal Activity & Dream Sequence)
10 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[Music continues from previous shot]
[No sound recorded]
[Quick cut]
Night. Camera watches Adam typing from outside the large bedroom window. He still has his headphones in. Camera slowly zooms in on Adams face until the frame is completely consumed by it. Suddenly, the music stops and is replaced by an all encompassing white noise. Adam looks up in shock, removes his headphones, and appears even more shocked as the white noise persists.
11 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[White noise continues from previous shot]
[No sound recorded]
[Quick cut]
Camera is in the room behind Adam, facing him as he turns around, bewildered by the circumstances. Camera walks backward, as Adam curiously and slowly walks out of the room. As he exits the room, a pale face can be subtly seen in the bottom right corner of the window behind him. He walks slowly into the living room, looking terrified and confused. As he walks into the living room, a dark cloaked figure glides into his bedroom behind him, coming from the direction of Krystle’s room.. He does not notice, as he is facing away from the hallway. He walks over to the back door, turns on the porch light and peers out the window. The cameras watches now from the perspective of the couch,
12 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[White noise continues from previous shot]
[No sound recorded]
[Quick cut]
Camera is deep in the backyard, zoomed in and fixed on Adam peering out through the window. It slowly zooms back, revealing the robed figure standing in the bedroom-door window.
13 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
Watching from behind Adam, the white noise suddenly ceases, and the same song that was playing in his headphones is now blasting at full volume on the TV in the living room. Shocked, Adam turns and runs to turn off the TV. Looking disturbed and confused. Adam rubs his eyes and walks back toward the bedroom. In this scene, the camera starts behind Adam, then moves to the entrance of the kitchen and follows behind Adam to the living room, then moves to the perspective of the hallway entrance. The scene ends as Adam moves past the camera toward his room while the camera stays looking in the direction of the front door.
14 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
The camera watches from the American Flag’s perspective as Adam walks back into the room and sits down at the desk.. He opens up a drawer, and pulls out a flask, and takes a long pull of whiskey.
15 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[No sound recorded]
[Sound of crickets added in post]
[Quick cut]
The camera watches from outside his window, watching Adam finish his swig and replace the flask. The camera slowly zooms out, while still staying trained on him.
16 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[No sound recorded]
[Sound of crickets added in post]
[Quick cut]
The camera watches from deep in the backyard, zoomed all the way out, watching both illuminated windows for an uneasy 5 seconds.
[Creepy music rises louder and louder, then a sudden cut when the shot cuts]
17 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Day
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
Daytime. Adam sits at the kitchen table reading a textbook. The camera watches from the perspective of the living room, directly facing the window. A cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal are on the table as well as his laptop and a couple of textbooks. Adam is in the right side of the frame, facing the left. As he reads, Adam begins to nod off, catching himself a couple times.
18 - Tripod 40mm Day
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
Camera perspective is roughly that of the world map, fixed in it’s perspective, it focuses its gaze past Adam and into the kitchen. Adam finally gives into his exhaustion as his head drops into the pages and he sleeps. Slowly, the camera begins growing out of focus. A white noise begins to rise and the shot slowly fades to dark.. [white noise added in post]
19 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[White noise continues]
[No Sound Recorded]
[Fade from dark]
Adam slowly emerges from the dark bedroom and into the living room, of which there is an ominous red glow and fog. He is barefoot. He walks slowly toward the kitchen with a plain look upon his face. The camera walks backward and watches him walk out of the hallway, then follows behind his shoulder as he enters the kitchen. When he turns and looks into the dark kitchen, he stops, as does the camera behind his shoulder. At the end of the kitchen stands a dark figure.
20 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[White noise continues]
[No Sound Recorded]
[quick cut]
Night. From the perspective of the hallway to Chris’ room, the camera can see Adam standing at the entrance of the kitchen, and the figure close to the right. Adam shows no expression on his face and a red glow radiates from behind him. Slowly, a cabinet above the dishwasher opens on its own. After a moment, a glass comes falling out of the cabinet, shattering onto the floor.
21 - Floating 50mm Night
[White noise continues]
[No Sound Recorded]
[quick cut]
From behind Adam, the camera follows him as he slowly begins walking into the kitchen. The figure is no longer present at the end of the dark kitchen. He remains walking as if in a trance state and the camera continues looking over his shoulder. When Adam is halfway through the kitchen, the light from the hallway switches on.
22 - Floating 50mm Night
[White noise continues]
[No Sound Recorded]
[quick cut]
The camera walks backward with a closeup of Adam’s face as he walks forward through the kitchen. No longer than 2 seconds.
23 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[White noise continues]
[No Sound Recorded]
[quick cut]
From the perspective of the cat food looking into the hallway, the camera watches Adam walk into frame. The hallway light is on, and at the end of the hallway is Jude, covered in facepaint and standing alone in his dark room. The camera is not high off the ground, vividly showing the bloody footprints being placed by the barefoot Adam as he slowly walks down the hallway. As soon as he passes the entrance to the bathroom, the hallway door slams shut. [Insert door slam audio in post]
24 - Tripod 40mm Day
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick Cut]
Adam violently wakes from his dream, rapidly looks behind him into the kitchen, then turns back. The camera watches from the perspective of the world map, with Adam in the right half of the frame, and the kitchen out of focus in the left half of the frame. As Adam breathes heavily, placing his head in his hands, the same cabinet from his dream slowly opens behind him in the kitchen. Camera focus now rests on the open cabinet. Still facing away from the kitchen, Adam pulls out his phone and makes a phone call. His head returns to his hands and he is out of focus.
Adam: Hey man...……..You wanna come over and watch a movie, or something? No I’m fine I just...I’ve been so wrapped up in this paper.. I feel like I’m losing my fucking mind…...yea……..No I, I totally understand……..Tell her I said hi, okay? Alright. See ya….
Adam hangs up, and his head slides face down onto the table. The camera has not moved, and neither has the open cabinet.
[Slowly fades to black]
Chapter 3: Four of Swords
(Semester ends / no phenomenon)
25 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Day
[No sound Recorded]
[Sounds of birds chirping added in post]
Morning. Perspective shot of the front of the house. A man on a bike rides past on the sidewalk.
26 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Day
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Adam types at his computer as the camera watches from the perspective of 90 degrees to his right. He finishes typing, pulls his hands together and intently reads what he has written. After a moment, he smiles.
27 - Floating 40mm Day
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Quick zoomed-in shot of the laptop being slammed shut
28 - - Floating 40mm Day
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Quick shot of textbooks being thrown in the trash
29 - Floating 40mm Day
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Quick zoomed-in shot of a beer being cracked open.
30 - Floating 18 - 55mm Sunset
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Later Afternoon/Evening. Outside. Camera looks through the back door for a short pause before Jude appears at the door from the kitchen with a beer in hand. He examines the backyard, then looks in the direction of the dart board. He then turns and walks back into the kitchen. The camera does not move. After a short pause, Jude reappears, with 2 beers now, and opens the door. He walks outside and begins walking toward the dart board. The camera pulls back and moves horizontally with Jude as he walks across the patio, always facing perpendicular to the house. Jude walks to the end of the patio where Adam is playing darts. A crushed beer can is on the table.
Jude: There he is! How’d the paper come out?
Jude hands Adam a beer.
31 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Sunset
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
The camera watches from the perspective of the wall looking down the patio. Adam takes the beer and smiles.
He takes a swig, and places the beer down on the coffee table. Adam sits down on the couch.
Adam: To be honest, I don’t know much lately..These last few days have been...strange…. This is going to sound weird but...
32 - Floating 50mm Sunset
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Close up of Jude’s face.
Adam continued: ...do you believe in ghosts?
His face goes from casually smiling to a blank face. Long pause...
Jude: ….. In his later years, my grandfather saw ghosts. [low ominous music begins to rise] He would go on and on about phantoms that lived in the air vents and on the roof. And when I would visit, his preferred occupation was staring off into the darkest corner of the room while muttering sweet nothings to whatever it was he saw there…but therein lies the true question…
Jude looks directly at the camera before it cuts away.
33 - Floating 50mm Sunset
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Close up of Adam’s face.
Jude continued: ...do these ghosts exist in the air vents and rooftops above us, or do they only exist in the corners of our minds? To me, that makes them real either way…
34 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Sunset
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
[ominous music abruptly cuts off]
Camera watches from the perspective of the wall, looking down the patio.
Adam: You know, I was actually hoping for like a…..like a no….
Both start laughing.
35 - Floating 18 - 55mm Sunset
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Camera is from behind Jude. Adam chugs his beer, puts it down, stands up and throws all three darts at once while Jude drinks his beer.
..
36 - Tripod 40mm Sunset
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
The camera is fixed on the dart board, and it takes up the entire frame. All three darts hit the dart board .
37 - Tripod 40mm Sunset
[Sound recorded]
[quick cut]
Watching from the perspective of the wall, looking down the patio. Adam begins walking past Jude, toward the back door.
Adam: I’m going to The Rebel Lounge. Post Hoc is playing
Jude: Eh, I’m not a fan.
Adam: Suit yourself! I’ll be back late.
Jude stares at the wall with a blank expression while Adam continues walking toward the door. Shot grows out of focus after an uncomfortable pause of Jude staring at the wall.
[Slow fade to black]
Chapter 4: Ten of Swords
(Cult Discovery & Climax)
38 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Slow fade in]
Night. From the perspective of the passenger seat. The top of the Z3 is down. The camera looks directly at Adam driving through the phoenix streets. The sound of the wind is prevalent and the radio is off. After about 15 seconds of driving, the vehicle slowly comes to a stop, and the rebel lounge comes into view behind Adam. The focus shifts temporarily to the building, and then back to Adam who glances over at it. Slowly, a white noise starts to rise, and Adam looks down as if in pain. After a second the noise passes, and Adam looks forward. He puts the vehicle back into gear and pulls away. He looks terrified and anxious. The camera remains in place as Adam continues to drive. After a few moments, he reaches down and turns on the radio. [Radio leads into song added in post]
39 - Floating 18 - 55mm & 50mm Night
[No Sound Recorded]
[Slow Fade]
Night.. Sequence of shots outside the front window as the vehicle drives. It will be looking up, primarily watching lights and signs go by. There will be multiple cuts of distinctively different areas. The transitions will be slow fades, bleeding together. This is an opportunity for creative liberties to be taken. Shots returning to Adam make an appearance as well, mixed into the compilation.
40 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Slow Fade]
Night. Camera watches Adam again from the passenger seat. The vehicle comes to a slow stop outside of the house [right when the song ends] by the palm trees, facing west on the south side of the street. Adam turns the key and takes a deep breath and closes his eyes.
41 - Floating 40mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
The camera looks directly at Adam’s face, as it is directly in front of him now. He looks to his 10 oclock, and scrunches his brow in confusion.
42 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
From the perspective of the vehicle, a red light begins glowing from Chris’s bedroom. The porch light is off. The camera slowly zooms in on the window.
[Sound of the car door closing]
43 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
The camera watches his confused face up close for a long pause, then pulls back to reveal Adam silently jumping out of the convertible. Adam begins quietly walking up to the house. The camera walks backward and can see his whole body quietly navigating his approach, being careful to avoid the noisy rocks, all the way up to near the window.
44 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[No Sound Recorded, carried over from previous shot]
[Quick cut]
The camera shows Adam’s perspective as he walks up toward the glowing window and past it, as if looking at a car accident as one drives by on the freeway.
45 - Floating 40mm Night
[No Sound Recorded, carried over from previous shot]
[Quick cut]
Expression shot of Adam looking at the window as he walks by. Camera angle is from the window’s perspective.
46 - Tripod 40mm Night
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut] [White noise slowly starts rising]
The camera looks across the face of the door from the left. Adam approaches the door cautiously from right of the frame. He quietly inserts his key into the door, taking care not to make any noise as he does, and pushes the door open.
47 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[No Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
[White noise is all that is heard]
Walking backward from a few feet into the house, the camera watches the front door open and Adam enters the house and begins to walk in. He moves carefully, observing everything as if it’s brand new. He looks scared. He moves slowly through the living room in the same pattern as the perspective of the opening shot, turning counterclockwise in the living room and eventually toward the kitchen. The camera rotates to be behind his shoulder, just as it was in his dream. He stops at the entrance of the kitchen, and over his shoulder a slight red glow from the hallway bleeds into the kitchen. [Insert sound of shattering glass in reverse] The light hanging from the ceiling is spinning in a wide arching circle, but it is not on. After a pause, Adam begins walking into the kitchen.
48 - Floating 50mm Night
[No Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
[White noise is all that is heard]
The camera is directly in front of Adam’s face, walking backward as he walks. Behind him and out of focus, a dark figure glides into the entrance of the kitchen. Adam does not turn around.
49 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Night
[No Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
[White noise is all that is heard]
From the perspective of the cat food, Adam can be seen slowly walking into the hallway. The camera perspective is low to the ground, only waist down. Chris’s door is ajar, with red light bleeding out of it. Adam’s feet arrive just outside the door. The camera quickly rises to look over Adam’s shoulder as he pushes the door open to reveal Jude kneeling in a dark cult robe, with face paint, surrounded by plenty of candles, ritual items, and a pentagram in front of him. Jude is looking down, muttering. Suddenly, the white noise stops, and all that is heard is the whispered muttering of Jude.
50 - Floating 50mm Night
[No Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
[muttering is all that is heard]
The camera is directly in front of Adam’s face, and shows his face bathed in red light. He is looking intently at the scene before him in absolute horror]
51 - Floating 50mm Night
[Quick cut]
Camera watches from Adam’s perspective, and is slightly shaking. It is a trained and up close shot of Jude who suddenly stops muttering, slowly looks up, and lets out a terrible scream.
52 - Floating 18 - 55mm Night
[No Sound Recorded
[Quick cut]
[Rushed/dramatic music to be added in post, as well as heavy breathing, screams, and scene accents]
The camera watches Adam from the perspective of the Jude as he takes a step back in horror. He turns and tries to open the hallway door to the outside, but a figure in dark robes is standing just outside the door staring in. The camera follows closely behind him. Adam recoils in horror and runs into the kitchen. As he runs through the kitchen, looking behind him as he runs, multiple cabinets fly open as he runs through the kitchen. There are now candles laid out across the house, and red lights radiate everywhere. He goes to the back door, but a robed figure is standing just outside the door. Adam turns and runs to the front door, but another robed figure is standing just before the door and begins roaring at Adam [added in post] and begins gliding forward toward him. Adam quickly runs to the bedroom. There are candles and red lights throughout the room as well. The camera follows closely behind him, watching over his shoulder. As he enters the room, he tries for the back door, but a figure is seen just outside the door. The camera now slides toward the main window in the room, still trained on Adam. Adam turns to return to the living room, but the robed figure from the living room is now gliding into the room. The camera then turns to watch Adam scream and enter the closet where he slams the door closed. The camera slowly approaches the closed door until the darkness of its close proximity closes out the shot.
53 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Day
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
Day. The screen is completely black and Adam’s heavy breathing is all that is heard. After about 15 seconds, Adam slowly opens the door, and sunlight bleeds into the closet. The camera watches from the perspective of the back wall of the closet. Adam slowly opens the door at first, but eventually opens it all the way.
54 - Tripod 18 - 55mm Day
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
Day. From the perspective of the bed facing directly at the closet, perpendicular to the wall, Adam is seen emerging from the closet, horrified and confused. He slowly climbs out and begins walking toward the living room, exiting the frame of the fixed shot.
55 - Floating 18 - 55mm Day
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
Day. The camera watches from the perspective of the couch as Adam cautiously emerges from the bedroom and into the living room. He stops at the entrance of the living room and looks around, still horrified. The sound of Jude’s voice then interjects:
Jude: Morning!
The camera turns to see Jude leaning against the wall by the entrance of the kitchen. He’s holding an apple. The camera then turns back to Adam.
Adam: ….Jude? (horrified)
The camera then moves back to Jude.
Jude: Don’t make it bad!
He smiles and takes a bite from his apple as he begins walking toward the front door. As Jude passes by Adam he points at him, not stopping:
Jude: YOU sir look terrible.. When’s the paper due??
The camera then pans back to Adam standing in the same spot. The camera now watches from the perspective of the kitchen table. Adam stands in place, frozen in fear as he watches Jude. The camera then pans back to see where Jude was standing but nobody is there. [actor is hiding behind the couch].
56 - Floating 50mm Day
[Sound Recorded]
[Quick cut]
The camera is trained on Adam, close up, and still standing there horrified. The entrance to his bedroom is seen behind him. In the room stands a dark figure out of focus. The figure begins approaching, still out of focus. As it does, Adam’s face slowly begins shifting from horror to lunacy. Slowly, he begins laughing hysterically. The figure continues approaching. Adam continues laughing, escalating in volume. The figure is now right behind Adam, still out of focus. Adam continues laughing. White noise begins to rise, overtaking the sound of his laughter.
[Quick cut to black]
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