The first draft

At the end of my last post, having chosen Celtx as my screenwriting tool, I talked about sitting down to write the script for my animated short. However, I didn't know all that much about how to format a screenplay, so I watched this quick introductory video first to pick up some of the basics.

Then, this is what I wrote:

FADE IN

INT. ROCKET SHIP - NIGHT

We see a short static shot of the night sky. Nothing is
moving. Everything is perfectly still.

            VOICE
      Space.

The camera slowly pulls back to reveal that we are looking
through the main window of a rocket. A futuristic interface
showing a countdown in progress is projected onto the window
pane. Two astronauts are strapped into their seats. The VOICE
belongs to the ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT.

            ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT
      It's something I've always wanted.

The interface now draws our attention to an old photo. It
depicts a large family standing in front of a house. It seems
way to small to fit them all. A small boy stands a little to
the side, looking glum.

            ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT (CONT'D)
      Growing up, it was in short supply.

Another picture is shown. The family, 15 years older now,
waves a tearful goodbye to an unfazed looking young man in
uniform. Clearly this is the small boy from before.

            ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT (CONT'D)
      So I got away. I joined the Navy.

Yet another picture: the young man is happily looking out
over the sea on the deck of a destroyer at dawn.

            ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT (CONT'D)
      It felt great at first. Like a breath
      of fresh air.

The last picture gets replaced by a second one, taken from
the same angle. Here, the deck of the destroyer has become
crowded by about a hundred shouting men in uniform. The young
man's expression has turned sour.

            ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT (CONT'D)
      But soon, that feeling faded and I
      left. Again. This time to join the
      space program.

The ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT now presses a button to hide all
pictures and turns to his companion.

            ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT (CONT'D)
      Now I know that you and I are very
      different people.
      You are one of those chatty types.
      Always going on and on about the two
      of us being pioneers. About our great
      adventure. About our friendship.

A voice crackles over the radio.

         MISSION CONTROL
      All systems go. We are T minus 10, 9,
      8...

The ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT is briefly distracted, and pushes a
button in response. MISSION CONTROL continues the countdown
as our ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT continues.

         ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT
      Problem is... I didn't come here to be
      your friend. I came here to enjoy this
      space...

         MISSION CONTROL
      ...3, 2, 1.

We now see the front side of both astronauts for the first
time, revealing a large screwdriver sticking out of the chest
of the astronaut on the right.

         ASTRONAUT ON THE LEFT
      alone.

FADE OUT