This is the first draft of my film Button Basher.

1. Button Basher
by
Gabriel Kelly
gabeskelly@gmail.com

2. Created using Celtx
INT. KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM - DAY
A young MAN, in a white shirt and black trousers, lies asleep
on a sofa in the bleak room. In the room is a clock, a hob, a
second sofa, two fridges, a microwave, lots of cupboards, a
table and a poster of a button that reads "Push Yourself". A
black tie rests over the back of the sofa and a pair of black
shoes lie on the floor next to it.
The clock reads 5:00 and chimes a dissonant alarm that wakes
the man. He sits up and puts on the tie and shoes, before
walking over to the fridges. He flicks his gaze between them
decisively, then opens the left one. Inside is a triangle cut
sandwich, that's wrapped in cling film. The man smiles as he
picks up the sandwich. He then looks in the veg drawer, where
there is a banana. His expression turns to guilty contempt
before he closes the fridge.
He walks over to the table and sits on the stool next to it.
As he places the sandwich carefully to one side, he stares at
the clock and clears his throat. The clock strikes "5:05",
and with a satisfying ding, a red button appears in front of
the man, in the centre of the table. Without hesitation, the
man hits it, causing it to disappear. After a few seconds,
the button dings and appears again in the same spot,
disappearing as the man presses it. This continues and the
man begins enjoying himself more each time the button
vanishes.
With one attempt, he tries to press the button lightly with
his index finger, which bends from the button's resistance.
He pauses to think for just a second, before bashing it down
with a fist. He lets out a small closed mouth chuckle and
carries on button bashing.
INT. KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM - DAY (LATER)
The clock reads 5:58. Looking a bit less energetic, the man
barely looks at the button to hit it each time. It then
appears slightly to the right of its regular position,
causing the man slap the table. Mildly confused, he corrects
his aim, hits the button and then holds his hand above the
new spot. Another ding sounds and he slaps down, but again
the button's further along the table. The man puts his hand
to his chin in thought and watches the table. The button
continues appearing, each time further from its last position
and the man continues bashing it. Though looking puzzled, the
man still looks pleased with each press. Eventually, the
button appears on the underside of the table. The man frowns
and scans around for a second before looking under. He seems
extra pleased as he presses the button this time.

3. 2.
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The clock strikes 6, making its discordant ring. The button
stops appearing and the man grins as he reaches for his
sandwich and tucks in.
INT. KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM - DAY
The clock turns to 5:05. Sounding the familiar ding, the
button appears back in the centre of the table. The man,
having woken from the ding, grabs his tie, gets up off the
sofa and lunges hastily towards the fridges. He opens the
fridge on the right, while shuffling his shoes on. Inside is
a cling film wrapped baguette sandwich that the man snatches,
before he runs over to the stool. He almost falls over. After
tightening his tie, he hurriedly takes his seat and hits the
button. He breathes a sigh of relief as he places baguette to
one side.
The button continues appearing and the man continues bashing.
He eventually begins getting creative with his presses:
forehand, backhand, coconut crack, behind the back, under the
leg, snake style etc. He tries headbutting it, but
immediately regrets slamming his forehead onto the hard
surface. As he rubs his forehead, a door creaks. The man
looks at the paned door in the corner for the first time in a
worried astonishment. It slowly closes from being ajar. He
goes to get up, but before standing the button appears again.
He immediately turns back to slap it, dropping any sign of
having seen the door.
With each button press the man gets more and more into his
stride, eventually going to karate chop the button but it
isn't there. The man looks up to the ceiling, where the
button is poised directly above its usual spot. He rolls his
eyes as he gets up. He stands up on his stool and reaches for
the button but is a few inches away from being able to press
it, so he gets back down. He looks around before grabbing his
sandwich and getting back onto the stool. Only just managing
to press the button with the baguette, he has to regain his
balance as the button vanishes from the ceiling.
As he slowly gets down, the ding sounds again. The man turns
around, revealing the button on top of an electric hob.
Without thought, he hits the button, causing a hob ring to
light up. The man narrows his eyes thoughtfully. The button
then reappears, on a now red hot hob. The man crosses his
arms and sneers, before he turns off the hob and blows the
surface lightly and proudly. He presses the button, but as it
vanishes and he touches the surface, the remaining heat burns
his hand with a sizzle. The man recoils in pain, blowing his
charred finger tips. Recovering, the man frowns with
annoyance. The button appears back on the table. Looking

4. 3.
Created using Celtx
rather angry, the man smacks the button hard. The man then
fiercely bashes the button for the next five or so times it
appears.
After this outburst, he looks at his hand, now not only burnt
but bruised. He whimpers. The button then appears again, this
time on the lever of a tap behind the table. The man slowly
approaches the tap, raising an eyebrow. The man quickly hits
the button with his fingers, which turns the tap on. The man
is startled as water gushes from it. He pauses, looks at his
hand, then to the water. Putting his hand under the stream,
he lets out a relieved exhale and his frown fades.
The button appears with another ding. The man lifts his eyes
to the heavens with pessimistic anticipation before turning
around. It's is next to the clock which is seconds away from
striking 6:00. The man's face lightens and he rushes over and
hits the button. The clock sounds it's monotonous tone and
the man immediately launches at his sandwich and digs in with
a contented grin.
INT. KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM - DAY
The man sits up on the sofa, looking pleased with himself.
The clock rings; it's 5:00. The man finishes tightening his
tie and getting his shoes on, then stands up. Looking at the
two fridges, he seems to agree with himself before opening
the one on the left. He pulls out a thick triangle cut,
double decker, doorstop egg mayonnaise sandwich and releases
a toothy grin. He walks to his stool, brushes the seat with
his hand and sits. He places the sandwich very carefully to
one side.
The clock shows 5:05. The button rings, but it sounds
muffled. The man looks mildly concerned as he scans the room
just turning his head. The button cannot be seen.
SERIES OF SHOTS - THE MAN SEARCHING
A) He looks up at the spot on the ceiling, where it appeared
previously, but it's not there.
B) He looks under the table, but there's no button.
C) He looks in the sink; it's empty
D) The man searches the cupboards, pulling out unbranded food
boxes and tins.
E) He peers into the microwave looking worried.

5. 4.
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F) He looks deep into the bin - there's just rubbish.
G) He lifts the poster to look, but nothing.
He scans the fridges from top to bottom but there is only a
slight mark where the sandwiches appear. In one of them the
man looks down to the veg draw and his face brightens as he
sees a red circle through the misty plastic. He opens the
draw in which is a singular tomato and his excited smile is
shut down by this revelation. He closes the fridge slowly,
staring at the blankness of the door as it shuts.
He jolts to attention and looks to the clock. It's 5:40. The
man sits onto the sofa and puts his head in his hands. He
slowly lowers his arm and as he touches the sofa, he brings
his head up to look at it. Quickly, he then scrambles to look
down the sides of the sofa cushions and pushes his hand down
every possible nook around the seat of the sofas. Nothing.
The man returns to sit with his head in hands, this time
letting out a quiet sob. The floor under the sofa is revealed
and beneath where the man sits, the button rings out again
but quietly and lights up slightly.
The man's face turns to surprise as he slowly gets down to
look under the sofa. When he sees the button, his expression
turns to annoyance. As he pushes the sofa from over the
button, he gets more worked up and as the button is revealed
he looks at it angrily. In a fluster of rage he stamps on the
button with his foot but his anger fades immediately and is
replaced by guilt. The man slowly lifts his foot, and looks
regretfully at where the button was. The button dings again.
As the man turns to the table, his sorrowful look morphs into
an appalled grimace. The button is on his sandwich. The man
walks over. He tries moving the sandwich from under the
button, but it is firmly attached. He tries picking up just
the button, but the sandwich follows. He tries shaking the
button off, but it doesn't budge.
With the sandwich in one hand, the man tries pushing the
button lightly with his index finger, but the force is not
enough. He lets out a small cry then places the sandwich
slowly down on the table. He covers his eyes with one hand
and raises the other above the button. After a long
hesitation, the man smacks down onto the button and his
beautiful sandwich, which sends all of the slushy egg mayo
right out of it's bread casing and some onto the table,
through the plastic wrap. The button disappears as normal and
the man looks at his eggs covered palm in disdain.

6. 5.
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The clock strikes 6 and lets out its discordant groan but the
man reacts with a sharp and aggressive look towards it. He
grabs it and hurls it onto the floor, causing it to let out a
last dying chime that grinds to a crackle and stops.
The man breathes heavily for a second before scrunching up
his face nearly crying. After a few seconds the button
appears again in the centre of the table, but this time
making a lifeless click on appearance. The man looks at it
stunned. He slowly lifts his hand to press it but stops. He
looks at the smashed clock. For the second time, the mans
lifts his eyes to the door. He lowers his arm and walks
towards the door. The man slowly reaches for the handle and
walks through.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
The man steps into a long empty hallway with doors either
side and one at the far end. Next to the furthest door is a
another paned door. Out of the glass shines a metallic blue
light. The man walks slowly down the hall, looking at each
door as he passes. The man leads with his ear and squints his
eyes listening for sounds. He stops at the paned door and
looks through the window before he slowly pushes it open.
INT. KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM 2 - DAY
The man peers into what looks to be an identical
kitchen/living room. There is a clock, a hob, two sofas, two
fridges, a microwave, lots of cupboards, a table and a
poster. A slightly older PERSON sits at the table. He wears a
shirt and tie with black trousers and shoes. The person
suddenly looks up at the man, looking bewildered. After a
short pause, the person goes to speak, but is interrupted
when a red button appears in front of him, on the table. The
person quickly turns back to the table and hits the button,
letting out a pleased laugh as he does. The man stares at the
person as they continue to bash the button as if the man
wasn't there. After a while the man slowly steps back out of
the room.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
The man allows the paned door to slowly close before he lets
out a held breath. He turns to the single door at the end of
the hallway and tries the handle. It's locked. The man looks
down to the side of the door. There is a button on a bracket
that reads "PUSH TO EXIT". The man stares at the button for a
second. He steps back and looks at the centre of the door.
CUT TO BLACK.

7. 6.
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THE END
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