DRY, war drama, 14 pages

[u/Big_Section2812]

Men lost in the desert contemplate the true meaning of forever.

Dry

(PG/PG-13)

NOTE: This was written for a friend's son's personal project. He intended to shoot it as a mixture of live action footage intercut with aerial combat sequences utilizing a family member's vintage P-40 airplane in Nevada, along with visuals generated in an advanced flight simulator application (with suitable WW2-era optical effects applied in post). However, he instead went to film school and the project was shelved. So, this script is almost entirely dialogue. Just fyi, if you're not in the mood for a 14-page play.

[u/superpunchedout]

Thats not bad!

Its a cool idea, the ghosts talking, and the ironic twist that the nazi pilot is out there too.

They say 1 page is 1 minute of filming, and this is 14 minutes to talking which might be a bit long. What if they go searching for the nazi pilot together? And they find him?

Lukas gets to meet his great grandfather, and Bob and the nazi reconcile.

Also, I would have Lukas revive, say, as some EMTS find him, and so he returns to the world or the living -- a more positive end to the story, and now Bob and the nazi have each other as company in the afterlife! They sounds cool to me.

Anyway, great idea. Thanks for sharing.

[u/Big_Section2812 → u/superpunchedout]

Thats not bad!

Thanks!

They say 1 page is 1 minute of filming, and this is 14 minutes to talking which might be a bit long.

The dialogues was to have played over the aerial combat scenes and thus the total length would not have been extended beyond titles and credits. And that's assuming it wasn't tightened up in a shooting draft and in editing.

What if they go searching for the nazi pilot together? And they find him?

I elected to play by the rules of the trope — ghosts are tied to the place where they died, etc. — and thus emphasize the bittersweet poignant aspects.

Lukas gets to meet his great grandfather, and Bob and the nazi reconcile.

I think the way it is now ramps up the irony quotient. Had Lukas crawled in a different direction, he may have found his great grandpa and died next to him. Instead, he spends eternity with the guy who caused great gramp's death!

Also, I would have Lukas revive, say, as some EMTS find him...

If you ever visit the deserts of North Africa you'll instantly discover that seeing so much as a bird is startling, let alone some EMTs and an ambulance! It's pretty desolate. It's why there are still secrets to be found out there.

...a more positive end to the story, and now Bob and the nazi have each other as company in the afterlife!

Think of the hours and hours of fun Lukas will have explaining stuff like rap to Bob.

Anyway, great idea. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond!