Step 1: TEXT

John Steinbeck weaves magnetic beauty, family, fire, and feats of extraordinary strength throughout his tale The Pastures of Heaven. The story arc of my project One Elephant Dreams of Heavenly Pasture draws from all twelve chapters of The Pastures of Heaven.

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Step 2: SCREENPLAY

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"ONE ELEPHANT DREAMS OF HEAVENLY PASTURE"

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by

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Elizabeth Kelly

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based on

"The Pastures of Heaven" by

John Steinbeck

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INT. CAGE - NIGHT

ZOO is an African Elephant skeleton, her bones RATTLE as she

shifts positions and falls back asleep. AFRICA is her

imaginary soul mate. She pictures him in her likeness, they

are both skeletons, but he is bigger and full of life.

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AFRICA emerges from the fog. So happy to see his familiar

colossal skeleton, ZOO jumps to her feet. Africa greets her.

AFRICA

This concrete is hard on the feet.

ZOO

Tell me about it. It's either wet

or wicked hot, and it's always

abrasive.

AFRICA

What are those?

ZOO

Buckets.

AFRICA

And those?

ZOO

Jars. The less stuff I eat from

buckets, the more things from jars

they give me.

AFRICA

And what is that?

ZOO

That's a slice of something.

AFRICA

Something you like?

ZOO

It's all right, better than that

chunk over there.

Africa tastes everything from the shelves and buckets, none

of it is good enough for the love of his life.

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INT. CAGE - DAWN

Africa tests the strength of the bars.

AFRICA

These bars look tough. Lucky you,

no worries about predators.

ZOO

Lucky me.

Africa gets the shock of his life.

AFRICA

Ouch. What do they call that

dangerous thing?

ZOO

An obstacle. It has another name

too.

AFRICA

What?

ZOO

Electricity.

Africa redirects Zoo's attention before he makes his move.

AFRICA

Check this out.

Africa bows, the electricity goes out and the bars disappear.

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EXT. ZOO - DAWN

Zoo faces the breeze, and then she sees Africa's injury.

ZOO

What happened to your ivory?

AFRICA

Long story.

Zoo moves closer and offers help with wound care.

ZOO

I know where they keep all the

bandage stuff and antibiotics.

AFRICA

We have to hustle, and these wounds

will not slow us down. Did I ever

show you my other side?

Africa turns, his bones have survived so many attacks.

ZOO

When's all that damage from?

AFRICA

A while back, when I was young.

Zoo inspects herself.

ZOO

My skeleton is in fine form.

AFRICA

It sure is.

ZOO

No flesh wounds.

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EXT. TRAIL - SUNRISE

Africa leads the way through the tricky brush. Zoo is

energized.

ZOO

Flying Unicorns and Pegasus' and

you know, whatever.

AFRICA

What in the world are you talking

about?

ZOO

I didn't mean to say that out loud.

AFRICA

We are making good time.

ZOO

It's so alive and fresh. Where

are we headed?

AFRICA

You will see.

Zoo stops and paws at the soft earth.

AFRICA (CONT'D)

Now what are you up to?

ZOO

Burying my issues. I'll catch up in a

sec.

AFRICA

Take your time.

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EXT. PASTURE - MORNING

Zoo and Africa reach the edge of the pasture. Zoo doesn't

think she's allowed to go any farther.

AFRICA

It has been a long time since

elephants grazed here. Follow me.

Safe with Africa in charge, Zoo skips to catch up with him.

ZOO

Who owns all this? The weeds are

out of control.

AFRICA

Where did you learn to skip?

ZOO

I had a weird job.

Africa adore's Zoo's unique way of speaking, he seeks more

knowledge.

AFRICA

When?

ZOO

A while back. I was pretty good.

Zoo remembers one of her best circus moments.

ZOO (CONT'D)

I knew a lot of tricks, and a fast

learner, but not what they needed.

AFRICA

You look worried.

ZOO

It's so dry, what if there's a

fire?

AFRICA

It's morning and there is no wind.

And a little rain last night. Danger

from fire is low.

Zoo takes a deep breath.

AFRICA (CONT'D)

Smell all that good air? Nothing to

worry about here.

Revitalized, Zoo replaces worry with curiosity. She hears a

SNEEZE, from their distance, red suspenders is all she can

see of the FARMER'S work clothes.

ZOO

Who's that guy over there?

AFRICA

An enthusiastic farmer.

ZOO

Let's go smell what he's growing.

AFRICA

He prefers when we leave him be.

Zoo and Africa graze side by side.

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EXT. PASTURE - DAY

The tall grass waves in a gust of wind.

ZOO

Is there a Gift Shop around here?

AFRICA

What's a Gift Shop? Wait, let me

guess. It's like a General Store?

Zoo's mouth is overstuffed with the sweet pasture.

ZOO

Sort of.

AFRICA

There used to be one.

Zoo takes a break from grazing to survey the landscape.

ZOO

What happened to it?

AFRICA

Do not take this the wrong way, but

it burned down. Just tell me what

you need, I'm on it.

ZOO

A water bottle.

Africa guides Zoo to a creek. Zoo is in awe of all the places

Africa knows, and he is an excellent teacher.

ZOO (CONT'D)

This is the best thing I've ever

tasted. How'd you know how to find

water?

AFRICA

Practice.

ZOO

I'd like to live here. It's the

most beautiful place I've ever

seen.

AFRICA

Things do not turn out so well for

those who stay. This land prefers

visits.

ZOO

What's beyond the valley? Let's

have a look?

AFRICA

Another day. This pasture is

fantastic.

Zoo basks in the crystalline sunlight.

ZOO

It sure is.

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INT. CAGE - MORNING

A human WHISTLES. The massive cage door CLANKS across the

metal tracks. Zoo eases to her sore feet and lumbers to the

concrete yard. The light is too bright, she closes her eyes.

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EXT. CONCRETE YARD - MORNING

ZOO

Stay for breakfast?

The human CLAPS three times.

AFRICA

Another morning.

Disappointed, Zoo tries a new approach.

ZOO

My handler reads to us with his

unlit pipe.

AFRICA

It does sound nice.

ZOO

Please, stay with me? Don't go. You

get used to it. It's not that bad.

AFRICA

I know, but I am out of here.

Zoo's loney heart takes a hit. Shoulder to shoulder, Africa

offers comfort.

AFRICA (CONT'D)

Sometimes saying something out loud

is not the way to go. I'm sorry.

Zoo lightens the mood.

ZOO

Like Pegasus' sound ridiculous when

you make them plural.

Africa and Zoo LAUGH.

AFRICA

I love when you laugh. When I

return I'll introduce you to some

family, and we'll show you how we

do breakfast.

ZOO

That sounds like heaven.

The thing in the world Zoo wants the most turns to leave. She

is brave and calls to Africa.

ZOO (CONT'D)

Keep it loyal.

AFRICA

Always.

Zoo pictures squares of green orchard and squares of yellow

grain and squares of violet earth. How quiet and easy a

family could live on a little place. She doesn't take her

food and refuses the things from jars. Instead, she dreams of

heavenly pasture.

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END

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Step 3: LOGLINE

An African Elephant skeleton named ZOO dreams of

life outside her cage.

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elk@mindspring.com

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Other Skillshare Projects:

"Bob Dylan Does Business: And Makes a Classic Mistake"

http://www.skillshare.com/classes/business/Run-Your-Own-Business-Lessons-from-Biggie/802854165/projects/20463?reply[saved]=1

Elizabeth Kelly

BEAST AND BONES

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