Script

Walking Sleep

by 

Nathan, Emily & Lauren

INTERIOR. HOUSE - NIGHTTIME

Michael sits in his room reading a book with the TV on in the background.

Michael’s Father walks into his room.

FATHER

 “Michael you need to stop reading that stuff, it can’t be any good for you just before bed.”

MICHAEL

“Yeah, yeah…”

FATHER

 “Get some sleep now, its getting late.”

MICHAEL

“Ok, goodnight Dad.”

FATHER

 “Goodnight.”

(cut to black)

Michael is fast asleep. The book falls out of his hand onto his bedroom floor. We see a close-up of his feet as he begins to sleep walk.

Michael walks downstairs into the kitchen, bumping into a glass causing it to fall and smash making a very loud noise, waking Michael’s Father up. 

FATHER

“Michael, what the hell is going on?!”

MICHAEL

“Dad, I have no idea!” 

FATHER

“You must have been sleepwalking again, are you ok?”

MICHAEL

“Yeah I’m fine.”

FATHER

“Come on, get back up to bed.”

INTERIOR. HOUSE - DAYTIME 

The next morning they discuss what happened during the night and the Father tells Michael that he'll lock his door tonight to stop him wandering around. 

FATHER

“That’s the third time this month you’ve been up in the night sleepwalking.”

MICHAEL

“I can’t control it Dad.”

FATHER

“I know Michael, but I don’t want you to end up hurting yourself. I think I will lock your door tonight to stop you wandering around.”

Michael stares into his cereal bowl and takes a couple of mouthfuls.

Michael doesn't feel well enough to go to school but his Father is unsympathetic and tells him to go to school and that he'll be fine.

MICHAEL

“I really don’t feel well, do I have to go into school today?”

FATHER

“No, you’re just fine. Now come on get ready, otherwise you’ll be late.”

EXTERIOR TO INTERIOR. HOUSE - EARLY EVENING

That evening, we see the Father downstairs watching football when Michael comes in from school.

MICHAEL

(shouts) “I’m home.”

FATHER

“Did everything go ok at school then?”

MICHAEL

“It was alright.”

The Father continues to watch the football as Michael runs upstairs into his room to read the book again. 

Clock transitions from pm to am.

INTERIOR. HOUSE - MIDDLE OF NIGHT

Michael begins to bang his head on his bedroom door (in time with clock)?

The Father hears the banging and rushes to Michaels room to unlock the door. Blood is on the door and Michaels head.

INTERIOR. HOUSE - DAYTIME

The next day the father allows Michael to stay off school and leaves him playing video games when he goes to work.

Michael holds icepack on his head.

FATHER

“Right Michael I’m off to work now.”

MICHAEL

“I’m sorry Dad.”

FATHER

“Don’t be, you can’t help it. You deserve a day off, but keep that icepack on your head.”

Father leaves for work and Michael pauses video game and continues to read his book which was hidden under the sofa. 

INTERIOR. HOUSE - NIGHTTIME

That night, Michael ties himself to his bed in an attempt to prevent himself sleepwalking again. Later, we see that he has broken free from the ropes that were tied around his feet.

Michael begins to walk outside and stands on the pavement staring into the road. The Father goes into his room to check on Michael and notices ripped pages all over his room. He then sees him out of the window. Michael turns his head towards the window where his Father is looking at him. Michaels face is expressionless as he is still in a sleep/possessed state.

Car headlights appear in the distance, as they get closer Michael steps into the road. Just as he is about to be hit, his father dives into the road and saves him. Michael wakes up and has no idea what has just happened.

FATHER

(hugging Michael) “We’re going to put an end to this.”

(cut to daylight sky & sparks from the fire)

EXTERIOR. GARDEN - DAYTIME

The Father and Michael are distraught, and decide to burn the book the following day. Michael walks out with the book and all the pages in hand, then passes it to his Father. 

FATHER

“This will put an end to it. You’ll be fine now Michael.”

The Father throws the book and its pages into the fire to let it burn. 

INTERIOR. HOUSE - NIGHTTIME

The Father says goodnight to Michael.

FATHER

“Goodnight, see you in the morning.” 

Michael lays peacefully in bed with an empty table to the side, but his eyes suddenly open at an ECU and he looks to the side to see the book back beside him.