Ben is a teenager who dreams of becoming a magician. He tries magic tricks at home but fails to make anything happen. His parents receive an email from his school saying he is not doing homework or paying attention in class. At dinner, his parents confront him about his schoolwork and take away his magic supplies until he passes his A-levels exams. As a final trick, Ben makes his parents disappear under his cloak, seemingly succeeding at magic for the first time.

1. Abracadabra
By: By:
Delilah Walker-Coleman
original screenplay

2. INT. BEDROOM. DAY
Ben, a teenager stands in the middle of the room. He is
wearing a big black cloak with a top hat. Holding a wand to
the light, he waves it delicately
BEN
Abracadabra!
The lamp dangles without effect
BEN
Abracadabra!
The lamp still remains motionless
BEN
Shit!
INT.LIVING ROOM.EVENING
The six o clock news is playing.
There is a woman and a man sitting on the sofa. The woman’s
hair is up, she is wearing a cardigan, a trousers. The man
is wearing a button shirt, an undone tie, and trousers. He
is holding a beer, and takes a sip. They are sitting
somewhat far apart.
Ben comes in, holding a deck of cards.
BEN
Hey, dad, pick a card, any card.
His dad sighs.
THE DAD
Not now, Ben.
BEN
Please, it won’t take long!
The dad looks at his wife, annoyed. She rolls her eyes and
shrugs.
BEN
Pick a card, any card.
The dad hesitates, then picks a card out of the deck.
Ben shuffles the deck and looks at it.
(CONTINUED)

3. CONTINUED: 2.
BEN
Well, you took the card, jack of
diamonds, didn’t you?
We see the card, the dad took. It is the kind of spades.
THE DAD
Nope. Its the kind of spades.
BEN
What? How? Wait, let me try again.
His mum and dad both sigh.
INT.COMPUTER ROOM.DAY
The dad is sitting at the desk, on the computer. He is
reading an email, that states: ’Dear Mr. and Mrs. Jones, we
are just informing you that your son, Ben, has not been
doing his homework and has not been paying attention in his
classes. We advice you to encourage that he makes a big
change, with his school work.’
The dad sighs.
INT. BEDROOM. EVENING
INTRO HIS HERO
INT.BEDROOM. NIGHT
dreams a magical dream
INT.BEDROOM.MORNING
gets carried away
INT.KITCHEN.DAY
Ben’s mum is in the kitchen, stirring a pot.
Ben enters.
BEN
Hey, mum, what you doing?
(CONTINUED)

4. CONTINUED: 3.
THE MUM
Just preparing dinner.
BEN
You gonna put some salt in that?
THE MUM
Yep.
Ben points his wand to her.
BEN
Abracadabra!
THE MUM
What are you doing, now?
BEN
Look in your pocket. I think you’ll
find the salt in there.
She reaches in both her pockets.
THE MUM
There’s no salt in either of my
pockets, darling.
BEN
What? But I think I did it right!
She opens a drawer, and brings out the salt.
THE MUM
It was just in here, like always.
Ben sighs.
INT.DINING ROOM.DAY
BEN
I’m home!
THE MUM
Come in here, please!
Ben comes in to the room. He puts his bag down. He puts his
hat and cloak on. He picks up his wand.
THE DAD
Ben, now isn’t the time for this
crap. We need to talk to you.
(CONTINUED)

5. CONTINUED: 4.
BEN
About what?
THE DAD
I got an email from your school.
You’ve not been doing homework, or
paying attention in class!
BEN
I’m not interested in a-levels. I
just wanna be a magician!
THE MUM
For gods sake, Ben, you have to be
realistic!
THE DAD
Even if you were good at this
magician crap, you would still need
to pass your a-levels! And, your
not even good at it! Sorry son, but
your the worst fucking magician
I’ve ever seen! This has gone on
for long enough. We’re taking away
all of your magician stuff, and
your not getting any of it back
until you pass your a-levels!
BEN
Mum!
THE MUM
I’m sorry darling, but your dad’s
right.
BEN
Can I at least do one final trick
before you take it away? Please!
His mum and dad look at each other. His mum shrugs.
THE DAD
Alright. One. Then, all of it is
gone.
BEN
Okay.
Ben points his wand at his mum and dad. He holds his cloak
and puts it in front of them.
(CONTINUED)

6. CONTINUED: 5.
BEN
Abracadabra!
That part of the cloak goes back down. His parents have
disappeared.
BEN
Finally!
Ben smiles and skips away.