The White Mask
BY: Mary Erik Louise Martin
Scene 1
Waterfront park-Night
Louise is kneeling down beside the Phantom and handing him his mask.
The Phantom turns his head and puts the mask on.
Then the Phantom turns his head towards the camera with the white mask on.
The Phantom swings his cape as he is standing over Louise and then smoke appears.
Scene 2
Narrator
Let* go back, back to when the world became a dungeon to a little boy. A boy who* only sin was his face. It was 1831 when Erik was given to us with a half ugly face. His mother covered up his darkness with a white mask. (At this point the Narrator is wearing the Phantom* mask.) A boy who only wanted beauty; however, his soul was damaged by the world who forgot him. Later he became a legend for showing people that they are not alone in despair and can be loved.
Scene 3
Heritage house-day
Cut to
Erik is age 12. He is sitting on a brown sofa looking out the window with deep sadness. He sees the children and wishes that he could join them. Erik is skinny with a white mask on covering half of his face. His mother walks down the stairs that is 5'9, pretty with dark brown curly hair and green eyes. She looks as though she* thirty-five. The mother startles before she reaches the last step that is close to the living room and stairs at Erik. She is terrified. Erik looks beside him and notices his mother.
Over the shoulder shot.
Erik
Momma, why can* I play outside? Why do they always act mean to me? (Dejected)
Mother
Erik, how many times do I need to explain to you how it is? They are just afraid of the unknown and they don* understand. They are frightened. (Genuine)
Erik
You are to momma, frighten. Why momma, why are you frightened? (Furious)
Mother
Erik that is enough! No more questions go upstairs and stay there! (Aggravated)
Erik gets up from the sofa and runs up stairs crying. His mother is still on the staircase, but hangs on to the wall as Erik passes her.
Cut out
Scene 4
Heritage house-night
Fade in
Erik is on the bed crying. He rolls off the bed, but stands on the floor, magically. Erik starts to look through his things and makes a mess.
Erik
Where are the mirrors? Where are they?
The camera looks out the window and sees the dark sky. The camera goes back to Erik
Erik looks behind the bookshelves. He notices a mirror there. Erik startles.
Erik
I don’t care what momma says. I need to know, I need to understand.
Erik looks in the mirror and than takes his mask off slowly.
Erik drops his mask.
Erik
Momma! Momma! (Petrified)
The camera is where his mother is walking up the stairs in medium shot.
The mother runs into the room and notices what Erik has done. She stays close to the door.
Mother
Erik how dare you disobey me! Put your mask on this instant!
Erik puts his mask back on and looks at his mother as though he has just seen monsters under his bed.
Erik
This is what you’re afraid of? What’s behind my mask, this horrible face! Why do I look like that? Momma, is this a dream?
Mom
Erik, how dare you disobey me!
Erik
Mom, I needed to know. I needed to know why you are scared, why you won’t hug me or you won’t comfort me. Momma, please give me a hug. Have I ever asked you for anything in my life? (Not good enough)
Mother
Bad boys don’t get hugs! You disobeyed me! Stay here and never disobey me again!
The mother gets the mirror from the floor and walks out of the room.
Erik is in shock and frighten.
Erik
My mother hates me! I need to leave here, so she can be free. (Sorrow)
Erik is pondering around the room.
Erik tip toes down the stairs and looks at the sofa to see his mom sleep. (Erik’s POV)
Erik slowly opens the door and runs out the door crying.
Cut out
Scene 5
Waterfront park-dawn
Erik arrives to the park out of breath. Erik looks around and smiles.
Erik
This is where I’ll live. No one could find me here. (Reassured)
Erik starts to build a small cabin. The music of darkness smiles at the cabin as it is finished.
Erik
I am finally at the point of no return. I am finally where I belong.
A girl named Rachel Kind walks around the park. She is crying. Erik notices her, after he is praising himself for a job well done. Erik follows her behind the tress as she is singing like an angel. Rachel notices his shadow.
Rachel
Hello, is anyone there? I am lost.
Erik
I am too. (Whispers)
Erik is fond by her that he forgets who he is. He walks towards Rachel. Rachel looks at him in curiosity.
Rachel
Why are you wearing a mask?
Erik than suddenly remembers who he is.
Erik
Do you want my help or not? If you do, than don’t ask me any questions!
Rachel nods.
Erik
It’s too late to try and find where you live,
So you can come and stay in my cabin for now.
Rachel follows him into his cabin. He gives her a bowl of soup and covers a warm black blanket over her shoulders. Erik walks over to the piano. Erik sits on the bench and starts to play.
Rachel
Who are you?
She irritates Erik.
Erik
Who sent you here? Why are you here? Do you really want to see who I am? (Angry)
Rachel puts down her bowl of soup and walks over to the piano. She puts her hand on Erik’s shoulder and than slowly takes of Erik’s mask.
Erik
This is what you wanted to see? How could you do this to me? You are like everyone else who is only nice, so they can find the truth behind the mask, behind the mask. They want to know to hurt me, to tease me and everything else in between. This is my fate and I hate being used! It’s not fair to look like this, could you imagine what my life has been like? I will burn in hell on earth because I am the devil’s child when all I want is beauty and Heaven. But I have been denied all because of this face! Nothing else could be worse than this. How dare you remind me? Curse you! Curse you!
Rachel gives back the mask. She runs out screaming and runs into the water to drown herself. People notice her and ignore what happened; they just think she went mad. No one says anything or has any reaction. Erik has seen everything and cries in desire as he runs through the woods, as he knows no one could ever love him. He is alone.
Cut out
Scene 6
Room in Heritage house-day
Fade in
Erik enters a White room that is plane with nothing in it. He is extremely nervous and scared as he looks around. (Over the shoulder shot)
A man in his late 50’s who has dark brown hair and gray eyes walks towards Erik.
Erik
Where am I? Am I dead? (Confused)
Cody
Do not be afraid. My name is Cody and I am your messenger from the boss
Erik
The Boss?
Cody
Yes, I can’t tell you anything about him because that is not why you are here
Erik
Why am I here, is this heaven?
Cody
All that I can tell you is that you are dead, but only partially. You have been chosen to be a guardian angel and protect those who believe in you and need you on earth. I know you haven’t had a good life Erik, but that was his plan. You see you have saved many lives. Come with me and I will show you. (Sincere)
Fade out
Scene 7
Waterfront Park-daytime
A young man in his early 20’s walked around the park. Erik and Cody appear as no one can see them. It was now the year 1990. Joseph Alexander was a tall, white man who was built with short blond hair and blue eyes.
Joseph walks up to a cabin and knocks on the door. A short cubby man opens the door. He has gray hair and glasses with hazel eyes. Markus Peak looks at Joseph as he opens the door. He is wearing a Park Ranger uniform with his nametag.
Joseph
Good day, Sir. I was told to come here and talk to you. I am a journalist for the Paris newspaper, Unknown mysteries solved. Better known as U.M. I am here looking for a man named Erik who lived here a long time ago and to find out why Rachel Kind went mad. There has to be more behind the reports, they just say it’s a man with a white mask that was in her dreams because they couldn’t find him. Some of his journals were said to be here, but no one looked at them. They thought it wasn’t real. May I see them kind sir? They said if they are real that you would have them all.
Markus Peak
Come in Joseph and you may look around. Erik lived here in this cabin and all his life possessions including his journals are here. If you want to learn about him, you will find it all out here. The mysteries will unfold, but may I ask you why you would want to learn about The Phantom who may not even be real?
Joseph walks in and sits down on the black old sofa beside Markus.
Joseph
Well my dear friend, do you know anything about U.M?
Markus
Not much just that you go on wild goose hunts trying to find out the truth behind the tales. (Finds objectionable)
Joseph
Yes, that is half right. However, I am the founder of U.M.
Markus
Really, Why?
Joseph
Well I was a happy young boy who loved my parents unconditionally. However one night took away everything. In one night our family went to sleep, it was thundering outside and I was scared. I knew something bad was going to happen, but a deep voice had comforted me to go to sleep. During my sleep, my house went on flames. I was the only one who was saved for a man in a white mask saved me. His voice was the same as the one who had comforted me that night and he was going to try to save my family, but he had to vanish since the fire team arrived. The fire team failed to relieve my parents from the flames. I didn’t even know who this mystery man was. Although he saved me, my face was badly scared.
They reported the incident as arson and never solved the crime. (Let down)
Markus
Oh I am so sorry. Who was that masked man who saved you?
Joseph
I don’t know. That is why I am here, to find out. I was able to receive surgery on those scars, but it still damaged my life. My soul never recovered from the incident. That is why I made U.M, so I could dedicate my life to find him. He seams as though he was there for me and that I need to return the favor. I owe him my life.
Markus
Do you think Erik could be the man who saved your life?
Joseph
I believe so. He lived with a mask like the one who saved me was wearing. I found an article on him when Miss Rachel went mad and it was too much of a coincident to let go of that story. I just knew I had to look into it, I knew it was him. All I needed was prove to and to learn more about him, so I can give back to him what he did for me.
Markus walks over to a drawer and takes out five big journals. They were all the same size as a bible. Markus brings them over to Joseph and puts them on his lap.
Markus
You may stay here until you find what you need to know. You are the first person other than me to look at these journals, so I may warn you they are long. There is coffee on the stove, but I am off to bed now. Good night and I’ll see you in the morning probley. His journals are long and interesting.
Once Erik has written, he goes into every little detail.
Markus starts to walk up the staircase.
Joseph
Thank you and have a good night, dear friend.
Scene 8
Back to white room.
Cody
You see Erik, the way you saved Joseph years ago, you can save others just the same way. As Joseph will unfold the truth, your story will save many lives, as you will show them they are not alone. Your job is to watch over those who need you and to protect them from harm. The people on earth cannot see you or you will not be able to guard them anymore. The only way to for pass that rule is if someone falls in love with you. The boss will always be with you and all you need to do is talk to him when you need him. You are dead, but now you are alive because so many people believe and love you. I believe you will take the offer, sir? (Question)
Erik
Yes, I would love that job more than anything. It would give my life a reason. I thought Joseph would hate me because I couldn’t save his parents? I noticed the Joseph and helped him go to sleep for a few nights by my voice. One night that I visited him, I knew the house would burn and saved him because I didn’t want to live anymore. I am a coward to end my own life, but if I could end mine by saving someone else’s that it wouldn’t have been a life for nothing.
Did I die after saving him?
Cody
Yes you did, but you helped him neither less. You are a kind sir and I hope the rewards will be more than you wish
Erik
Yes sir. I have lived my life alone and had no idea that others will look upon my story and that it will help them. I will watch over them and protect them for this cruel and forgetful world. Thank you. (Reassured)
Cody
Thank you and good luck!!!
Fade out
Scene 9
Waterfront Park-night
Narrator walks though the cabin as Joseph sits on the coach reading. Joseph is frozen.
Narrator
There is much to know, Joseph spends a week to find out all that his heart desires. He finds the masked man to be his hero, but it is too much for one to bear, lucky he has a dear friend who the masked man brought together.
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