An alcoholic veteran angers territorial locals when he drags his estranged son on a camping trip into the Appalachians.
GINSENG is a feature-length drama/thriller/horror screenplay by Josh Barkey. In 2015, it was a finalist in the Nashville Film Festival screenwriting competition.
Click THIS LINK to view a GINSENG promotional package, which includes character breakdowns and a synopsis of the story.
NOTE: The following excerpt contains harsh language.
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Click THIS LINK to view a GINSENG promotional package, which includes character breakdowns and a synopsis of the story.
NOTE: The following excerpt contains harsh language.
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FADE IN
EXT. THE SUBURBS - DAY
RICK GALLO (40s, a bit pudgy) kneels on his trim lawn, clipping at a shrub with a tiny pair of GARDEN PRUNERS.
Rick pauses to listen to a SINGING bird. He smiles.
A GRUNT.
Rick looks back.
A fat little PUG squats on the grass, shitting.
Next door, Rick’s ALPHA-MALE NEIGHBOR (40s) sips a Budweiser, deliberately ignoring as his Pug shits on Rick’s lawn.
Rick starts to speak... then goes back to his clipping.
The Pug SNUFFLES as it wipes its ass - rubbing it in.
INT. TRAILER HOME - DAY
JERRY GALLO (60s) hunches at a cheap table in a trailer home that’s as run-down as he is.
He snuffs once and wipes at his nose. Crying?
Sweat beads on Jerry’s grizzled face, glowing in what little light makes it through the grubby, curtainless windows.
He eyes the dollar-store wall clock.
4:01
On the table is a rotary TELEPHONE and an outdated, FORTY-FIVE CALIBER PISTOL.
Jerry picks up the Forty-five and turns toward the bare wall, where, a bird cage hangs from a hook on the ceiling.
In the cage is a bright-blue PARAKEET.
Jerry aims the Forty-five at the parakeet and...
INT. RICK’S HOUSE - DAY
SLAM!
Rick cringes at the sound of his fresh-slammed front door.
A WOMAN'S VOICE calls out from in the house.
VOICE (O.S.)
Rick!
RICK
Sorry.
VOICE (O.S.)
That you, Rick?
RICK
Yes! I said I was sorry!
Rick slumps into the
KITCHEN
where his Bangladeshi-American wife SADIA (30s, pregnant) cooks at the stove. He kisses her on the cheek.
Yes! I said I was sorry!
Rick slumps into the
KITCHEN
where his Bangladeshi-American wife SADIA (30s, pregnant) cooks at the stove. He kisses her on the cheek.
SADIA
It's after four.
It's after four.
RICK
I know.
I know.
SADIA
You said you'd call him by four.
You said you'd call him by four.
Rick reaches for the pot Sadia’s stirring.
She whacks his finger away.
SADIA
Just call him. One way or another.
Just call him. One way or another.
RICK
Hmmm.
Hmmm.
Sadia turns, revealing her pregnant belly, and points at him with her wooden spoon. Do it.
A beat...
Rick grabs the cordless HOUSE PHONE and sulks into the
DINING ROOM
He sits at the table, sets the phone on top of it, and FLICKS the antenna -- spinning it.
INT. TRAILER HOME - DAY
Jerry still points that Forty-five at the bird-in-a-cage. His hand shakes. Sweat’s really pouring, now.
He lowers the gun.
He glances back at the wall clock: 4:16.
At his phone.
Then...
Fuck you, Jerry.
Jerry once again lifts the pistol. He aims at the bird (which, for all we know, is named “Jerry”).
His finger tightens.
He’s really gonna do it...
RING!!
Jerry drops the gun on the table and snatches up the phone.
END OF SAMPLE
Thanks for your interest!
