Writers from all corners of the scribosphere have been responding to Red Right Hand’s thrown gauntlet. The challenge? Post a single page from one of your screenplays.

I’m here to announce that I have finally caved to peer pressure. For your reading pleasure, here is the first page from the Invader Zim spec I wrote a few months ago, entitled ‘Even Scarier Monkey‘. Given that it got me my current job, I’m quite proud of it.

(It also forms a nice simian theme in combination with the previous post. Because we all know monkeys are cool. Although not as cool as pirates. Also, I apologise for the awful formatting. I couldn’t get John August’s style sheets to work in Blogsome.)

INT. ZIM’S LAB - NIGHT

We’re in ZIM’S underground lab below his house. Zim has a welding helmet on - he’s using a blowtorch to weld something inside GIR’S head.

He’s done. He turns the torch off, flips the helmet faceplate back and closes the lid of Gir’s head.

ZIM
Finally, the installation is complete! Do you know what this means, Gir?

GIR
Ummmm… No.

ZIM
With your new Mezmero-Chip, you will be able to mesmerise my enemies! My filthy enemies… And once they are mesmerised, I shall be able to -

GIR
You mean like this?

Gir’s eyes light up and become twin spirals - the classic ‘hypno’ effect.

Zim stares into Gir’s eyes, transfixed. He stands rigid in place, drooling a little. Gir’s eyes turn back to normal. He stares at Zim, then loses interest and wanders off.

CUT TO:

INT. ZIM’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Gir walks into the living room. He’s holding a little chocolate popsicle. He plops down on the couch and flicks on the TV.
It’s the Scary Monkey Show - the whole show consists of a scary-looking monkey glaring at the camera. Gir licks at his popsicle and eagerly watches the screen.

On-screen, someone offers the SCARY MONKEY a banana. The monkey growls at the hand, knocks it away.

MONKEY HANDLER (O.S.)
Come on, now. Who wants a nice banana?

SCARY MONKEY
Raaargh! No banana! Me want freedom!

The Scary Monkey roars and leaps towards the camera. Someone screams.

The image goes to static, then a little hand-drawn error card pops up on screen. It says ‘THE SCARY MONKEY HAS ESCAPED. PLEASE STAND BY.’ It has a little smiley face and a picture of a camera crew running away from a snarling monkey.

Gir grins.

GIR
I love this show.

Wasn’t that fun?