SCRIPT COMPETITION

Julie Gray of "Just Effing Entertain Me" has another one-page script competition on her site. The three words that had to be used were -- Aztec, eggnog, and felicity (that was a fun google search, NOT!)

The story had to have a beginning, middle and end. Here's my entry.

"AZTEC ATHEIST" by Brian Burke

FADE IN:

INT. THIRD GRADE ART CLASS - DAY

Where you spent younger years -- round stools, tables. Senior substitute teacher, MR. MUDGE, holds court.

MR. MUDGE
...something out of clay, for Christmas, or Kwanzaa, or what.

No Kwanzaa projects here, looks pretty much W.A.S.P. -- except for JADE. She sports a goth look, black nails. Jade's hand shoots up, eager look in her eye, a smile.

JADE
What if you're an Aetheist?

Mr. Mudge loses color, clears his throat, fakes a smile.

MR. MUDGE
Umm-- then make a gift of no religious significance, okay?

She nods, satisfied with the P.C. answer.

DISSOLVE TO:

Jade forms the rim of a clay cup, indents a repeat pattern with a pen. Mr. Mudge gazes over her shoulder.

MR. MUDGE
Why that's a cup for your eggnog!

JADE
Nope, a gift for one of my dads.

MR. MUDGE
Dads?

JADE
Yep, he likes sangria.

MR. MUDGE
Oh. It looks very... Spanish!

JADE
Aztec. Pre-Columbian felicity.

MR. MUDGE
Aztec?? Ohhh, yes, the Aztec!!

Mr. Mudge sneaks to a shelf of encyclopedias. He spies the "A" book, peeks back to Jade. She quickly looks down, as if she didn't notice. Mudge snatches the book.

FADE OUT