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A Gentle Bullet In Your Head - short film script

A surreal psychological drama about the mindscape of a bullied, suicidal teenager who eats meat but is deeply affected by cruelty to animals, and who wants to redeem herself by shepherding sheep – but, in the end, cannot escape her subconscious desire.

EXCERPT

EXT. FOREST ROAD/INT. TAXI - NIGHT
A squatty taxi driver with a freakishly jovial face scratches his balls as Anna gets into the car.

TAXI DRIVER
Hiya

ANNA
Towards Windermere.
I’ll tell you where to stop.

Anna turns her head away, clutching her backpack.

TAXI DRIVER
What’s a young girl like you doing
out and about in the middle of the night?

ANNA
That’s none of your business, mate.

TAXI DRIVER
Oh, no questions, boss?
Sorry. I’ll be as silent as a lamb.

ANNA
A lamb?

TAXI DRIVER
Yeah, a lamb. Why? Do you have a
problem with lambs?

ANNA
Silent as a lamb's a film.

TAXI DRIVER
Yeah, I thought so.

ANNA
Silent as the dead. Or quiet as a lamb.

TAXI DRIVER
Keep your hair on, little girl. I were a farmer,
bred sheep for a livin'. Got fed up with 'em,
mardy fuckin' animals.
Sent them to slaughter, all at once...

ANNA
(to herself)
Moron.

TAXI DRIVER (CONT'D)
...Even a crow could kill 'em. Fuckin' stupid animals.
Trip over summat, and they die if you're not around.
If they fall on their backs they get stuck and suffocate.

ANNA
Pull over.

TAXI DRIVER
What?

ANNA
Pull over, now!

TAXI DRIVER
Why? Here? In the woods? It’s fuckin' dark out there.
There’s nobbut ‘ere but woods and trees.

ANNA
I can’t stand this.

TAXI DRIVER
Can’t stand what?

ANNA
Sheep are helpless, you twat.
You should have protected them
not send them to slaughter.

Anna draws a knife on the taxi driver.