For Annabelle

By Daniel Slack

A Backpacker goes from store to store where he engages in conversations with clerks before killing them and robbing their money, all in search of a something very specific.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Slack
• Release date: Jun 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310263392

Daniel Slack

I'm Daniel Slack, author of The DSU (Daniel Slack Universe). This is a collection of stories written in the form of screenplays - movies. These stories are all encompassed in science fiction, but incorporate a multitude of genres such as romance, horror, action, adventure, crime, drama, war and western. What brings this universe together is both spatial and thematic. Whilst the stories are connected, they are all individuals - at times, they may even seem like non-sequiturs. So, it is not likely you will be seeing many reoccurring plot-lines or characters. However, all of these stories interweave and support each other as to build a universe of my design, one that if you want to explore further, you'll have to investigate yourself.

Book preview

Introduction

This is apart of The DSU. A network of stories that support, expand and deepen each other across a complex and expanding universe.

So, to explore further...

Join the DSU

Titles include:

1. Inaffection: The Absence

2. Virtue's Ploy

Contacts:

@DanielSlackDSU

[e-mail]

facebook.com/DanielSlack

Before we start...

This is a story told in the rough form of a screenplay - a movie.

This format works best with lower font sizes, especially on smaller devices.

If you've never read a screenplay, you'll need to know the following:

EXT - Exterior. Found in scene headers to indicate we are outside.

INT - Interior. Also found in scene headers, but to indicate we are inside.

(O.S) - Off screen. Found next to character names.

(V.O) - Voice over. Also found next to character names.

(CONT'D) - Continued. Used to indicate continued speech next to character names.

SUPER: - Superimpose. To indicate text is seen over images.

The rest should be self-explanatory.

Enjoy...

With thanks to

Hamsa

Chapters:

1. Desert

2. Store

3. Supermarket

4. Restaurant

FADE IN:

EXT. DESERT - DAY

A blistering hot day. A small figure wanders in this arid and endless wasteland. Yellow and blue, that's all there is to see. Sand, sun and sky. Nothing else.

This figure is the BACKPACKER. He is the Backpacker because he wears a backpack. There is not much more to say about him as of yet.

Thirty-something, a bit scruffy, but otherwise unremarkable.

His bag clunks as he walks. There are metal objects within his bag that move about against softer material.

In the man's pocket, not his waistband for some reason, is a revolver. It sticks out of his side looking uncomfortable. He doesn't seem to notice it though.

The man walks with his chin up. He's sure of himself and where he is going.

All around him is desert, nothing else, just blue and yellow.

INT. STORE - DAY

A general store that looks over a hundred years old, stocked with all your modern everyday items.

Everything about the store is a contradiction to what's in it. It's as if the guy who owns the corner store near your house watched too many westerns, liked the look of things, yet, still wanted to sell cans of Coke and Snickers bars and extortionate prices.

Out of the window is nothing but sand and sky.

At the till is a fed up and bored CASHIER, late forties.

Backpacker enters, he surveys the store then casually walks up to the till.

BACKPACKER

Hey, how you doing?

CASHIER

All right. What can I get you?

BACKPACKER

I don't know. What you got behind there?

Taps the counter.

CASHIER

What? Under here?

BACKPACKER

Yeah, why not?

CASHIER

My lunch.

BACKPACKER

I'm guessing that's not for sale.

Cashier shrugs, exhaling a polite laugh.

CASHIER

You want some smokes?

BACKPACKER

No, no, no, thanks. Erm... some water?

CASHIER

Yeah, that's back there, in the fridge.

Backpacker goes to the fridge to get a bottle.

CASHIER

So, you a hitchhiker, or camping, or... what?

BACKPACKER

What do you mean?

Backpacker brings the bottle back to the till.

CASHIER

The bag. Where you off to?

BACKPACKER

Nowhere specific, at least I don't think I am.

CASHIER

That's one forty-nine. You coming from somewhere then?

Backpacker digs some coins out of his pocket, in doing so, lifting up his shirt and revealing his gun.

Cashier grows very anxious.

BACKPACKER

Again, nowhere specific. You ask a lot of questions.

Cashier forces a smile. Backpacker looks at the coins in his hands.

BACKPACKER

How much was it again?

Cashier tries to talk, but can only manage a stutter.

Backpacker looks down at his gun.

BACKPACKER

Ohh! I'm sorry, I really am.

Backpacker takes the gun out of his pocket and places it on the till.

BACKPACKER

This isn't a hold up.

Cashier doesn't want to believe him.

BACKPACKER

Hey, trust me, man. This was my father's gun, well, my father-in-law's. Annabelle's father.

Backpacker smiles, thinking the situation is explained.

CASHIER

It was one forty-nine.

BACKPACKER

(handing him the money)

I'm sorry, he