Preliminary Task - Script

Dei Ira: The Wrath of God

By Gemma Clear

FADE IN

SCENE 1 – INT. Bedroom - Day

There is a man, MICHAEL, alone in a small, dark bedroom. He is sitting on the edge of his bed, clutching a chain of rosary beads. There is little decoration adorning the paint chipped walls, except for the Irish tricolour hung upon the wall behind him.

MICHAEL

Bless me father for what I am about to do may the Lord be truly forgiving

MICHAEL blesses himself

MICHAEL (CONT’D)

In the name of the father son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

MICHAEL looks deep in thought as he bows his head into silent prayer.

 

SCENE 2 – INT. Bedroom – Day

MICHAEL is sat at his desk, hunched over a scrap of paper as he writes his suicide note.

MICHAEL(V.O.)

By the time you read this [beat] I’ll already be dead. I know that what I am doing is wrong, but I just don’t feel as though I can carry on living like this.

SCENE 3 – EXT. Street – Day

MICHAEL is walking down the street looking wearily around him. He seems nervous and looks slightly wan.

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

I want to be free from my sins and to live in eternal glory, to die fighting for what I believe in.

SCENE 4 – INT. Bedroom – Day

MICHAEL is still sat at his desk, writing furiously

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

To whoever is reading this, I doubt you’ll understand my reasons, but I know that I was born to be solider, to fight for my country and our rights.

SCENE 5 – INT. Bus – Day

MICHAEL is sat on the bus, we notice that he has a backpack with him, he is sat alone.

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

If we are going to win this war against the oppressors of society then there are going to be

SCENE 6 – INT. Bedroom – Day
MICHAEL is still sat at his desk, his writing pace has slowed as he appears to have found what he is trying to say.

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

Casualties along the way and I pray that God may forgive me for what I am about to do for I do it in His name.

SCENE 7 – EXT. Street – Day

MICHAEL is walking down the street but he is looking less worried and is walking slightly quicker than before

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

I want to be part of the new generation, a new era for Ireland.

SCENE 8 – INT. Bedroom – Day
MICHAEL is still sat at his desk, he is smiling a knowing smile and is looking proudly down at the paper as he writes.

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

I am going to die today for my people and my country and I will be a hero.

SCENE 9 – EXT. Street – Day

MICHAEL has stopped walking and is placing his backpack down carefully [Location currently unknown]

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

So I am proud to say that I was part of the Irish Republican Army.

SCENE 10 – INT. Bedroom – Day
MICHAEL finishes writing his suicide note and smiles as he looks proudly down at the paper.

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

I think this day is going to be a very Good Friday.

SCENE 11 – EXT. Street – Day

MICHAEL leaves his backpack and begins walking towards camera. As his speech continues all the noises around him become louder, a ticking noise starts and becomes louder, MICHAEL’s heart beat can be heard.

MICHAEL (CONT’D)(V.O.)

[as he is speaking the pace of his speech continues to speed up]

Ár n-Athair atá ar neamh,
Go naofar d'ainim,
Go dtaga do ríocht,
Go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh.
Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu,
agus maith dúinn ár bhfiacha
mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin
Ach ná lig sinn i gcathú,
ach saor sinn ó olc,

[beat]
Amen.

CUT TO BLACK

Thriller Character Theory

Due to the film only lasting for 90 seconds and my character, Michael, is the only character in the film the only theory that really applies would be Goffman's character theory in which Michael is the protagonist as he is the most important character in the film (as he is the only character this is fairly self-explanatory). Although the protagonist is often seen as the good guy this is not necessarily so as with my film the Michael starts off as being a bit weird but not really a threat, to a clear villain with mental instability.
In Michael's mind he would fit in with Propp's character theory and he would identify himself as the hero who is on a mission to save the world and is brave and courageous as he is willing to sacrifice himself in the process.

Research - Thriller Character Creation part B

There do not appear to be many characters that share the views of the character that I have created, Michael, or perhaps I just haven't found the ones that do. I think this is because Michael is a suicide bomber and in general the bomber is the very minor character who sets off the explosion which is then dealt with by the police forces and that's the main plot line.

There are, however, a pair of characters in the BBC One drama, Ashes to Ashes, who share similarities between themselves and Michael.

George Bonds

He's a young man in his late teens or early twenties, as is Michael, who hero worships his Father in a similar way I imagine Michael to feel about his brothers. 

At the end of the episode, George carries out a suicide bombing to try to make a statement against society, which is what Michael is trying to do, although they have very different aims for what they hope will be achieved from their attacks.

I believe that George carries out the attack because he wants to make his Father proud of him, he feels a need to prove himself, which I think is mirrored in my character except Michael want to prove himself to God rather than his family.

David Bonds

He was the original planter of the bombs, although he did not intend on carrying out a suicide bombing. He held strong political view points and acts on these views in an extreme manner. Michael clearly has both strong political as well as religious views as he is trying to unite Ireland in the name of the Father.

Neither Character seems to be as mentally unstable as Michael although they are clearly not of sound mind as they to are planting bombs to serve their needs without too much care as to who is harmed in the process.