Daily Bread

Author's Note: A few months ago, my brother had an idea for a short film, and asked me to write a script. This, I did. Whether he'll actually make it ot not, I don't know, but I thought I'd share it anyway.

Also, the Skyrim veterans amongst you are probably the best equipped to understand what the hell we were thinking.

“Daily Bread”

Screenplay by
Matt Appleby

Story by
Ant Appleby

1. INT. HOUSE, GROUND FLOOR. DAY.

A typical 20-something's idea of a living room. A sofa, a coffee table and a TV on a stand. A rug and a few posters, but no other decorations of note. It's untidy, but not exactly messy.

There's a man sat on the sofa. He's a typical 20-something, unremarkable in just about every way that matters. He's playing a video game, a first-person RPG of some kind. He looks very absorbed. This is THE UNKNOWN CHAMPION.

The camera gradually shifts into first-person, from the Unknown Champion's viewpoint. As it does so, three bars appear on the bottom of the screen, coloured blue, red and green. The green bar is nearly empty, and flashes twice.

The following text appears briefly on the screen:

                   MISC: Consume sandwich to restore stamina.

The Unknown Champion pauses the game, puts down the controller and stands up. He walks through an open door into a narrow galley kitchen, which is as unremarkable as the rest of the house.

At the far end of the kitchen is a fridge. The Unknown Champion opens it a fraction. The screen pauses, and a black box appears. Written inside it is the following:

                   FRIDGE:

                   Milk
                   Beer (2)
                   Mayonnaise

We then get this text over the top:

                   MISC: Consume sandwich to restore stamina (failed).

And then, in a larger font:

                   QUEST: DAILY BREAD

                   Purchase sandwich from store.

The black screen disappears, then the Unknown Champion closes the fridge. He walks through the kitchen and living room, and then into a short hallway.

There's a white arrow hanging over the front door. He opens it a fraction, and the screen goes black for a few seconds.

Cut to:


2. EXT. STREET. DAY.

The Unknown Champion is stood outside his house, facing the street. It's a standard Victorian-era terraced row, with a main road at the far end. He starts walking in that direction.

He turns onto the main road, and finds himself by a line of shops. At least half are Indian or Asian takeaways. In the distance is a cornershop, with a tiny white arrow hanging in front of it.

A few metres down the road is a bus stop. Four people are waiting there, the only one note being BENJI, an elderly Rasta. He turns to face the Unknown Champion as he passes.

                             BENJI
                   Can you help an old man, stranger?

The Unknown Champion steps over to him. As he gets closer, a label appears over the man:

                   BENJI
                   TALK

The label flashes for a moment, then disappears.

                             BENJI
                   Thank you, friend. Ah, but the fates
                   have been laughing at me today. I've
                   finally won big at the dog races, and
                   it's all for naught. The bookies have
                   barred me from their premises after a
                   ...yes, a misunderstanding. It's very
                   embarassing. I'd rather not get into
                   it. If you cash in my betting slip on
                   my behalf, I can give you a cut of
                   the gold. You interested?

As Benji talks, the following text appears near the bottom of the screen:

                   Of course I'll help.
                   I've got better things to do.

The top response flashes, then both lines disappear.

                             BENJI
                   Thank you, good sir. Here's the slip.

We then get this text:

                   MISC: Cash in betting slip.

And on the top-left of the screen, in much smaller font:

                   Betting Slip added

The Unknown Champion continues walking towards the cornershop, reaching his destination after only a few moments. The automatic doors open a fraction, then the screen goes black for a moment.

Cut to:


3. INT. CORNERSHOP. DAY.

A typical small Cornershop. There's a few people browsing the shelves, but overall it's not that busy. The till is manned by a bored-looking Indian woman, GITA, who has a white arrow pointing over her head.

The Unknown Champion walks over to Gita, this label appearing as he does so:

                   GITA
                   TALK

The label flashes, then disappears.

                             GITA
                   How can I help?

The following text appears near the bottom of the screen:

                   What do you have for sale?
                   I don't need anything for now.

The top response flashes, then both lines disappear.

                             GITA
                   Take a look...

The screen pauses, and a large black box appears. Within it is a long list of items, with their price in Gold next to them. Halfway down the list is 'Ham & Cheese Sandwich', at 4 Gold. Below the list is the Unknown Champion's current Gold total: only 2.

The black box disappears.

                             GITA
                   Maybe next time, then.

The Unknown Champion leaves the cornershop, the screen going black for a few seconds as he does so.

Cut to:


4. EXT. STREET. DAY.

The Unknown Champion walks a few metres down the street. The screen pauses, then another large black box appears. Inside it is the following:

                   CURRENT QUESTS

                   DAILY BREAD
                   Purchase sandwich from store.

                   MISC: Cash in betting slip.

The top quest has a white arrow next to it. This arrow moves to the bottom quest, then the box disappears.

Another arrow appears by a store further down the row. The Unknown Champion walks closer to find that it is a bookmakers. He goes inside.

Cut to:


5. INT. BOOKMAKERS. DAY.

A typical low-grade bookmakers, shady both metaphorically and literally. The business is empty save for a man at the counter, KEITH, who is balding and wearing a blue shirt.

As the Unknown Champion walks over, a label appears:

                   KEITH
                   TALK

The label flashes, then disappears.

                             KEITH
                   What do you need?

The following text appears at the bottom of the screen:

                   I'm here to cash in this slip.

The response flashes, then disappears.

                             KEITH
                   Let's have look at that...
                             (beat)
                   Wait...this is one of Benji's slips!
                   I told that moron I'm not having any
                   more to do with him!

A response appears:

                   So you won't help me?

                             KEITH
                             (beat)
                   Now I didn't say that...
                             (beat)
                   There's a watch in the pawnbrokers
                   that's caught my eye. I've already
                   given Sal the money, but I can't
                   leave here to pick it up. If you
                   do it for me, I'll cash in this
                   slip. What do you say?

Two responses appear:

                   You've got a deal.
                   I don't have time for this.

The top response flashes.

                             KEITH
                   Great! The money will be here
                   when you get back.

We then get this text:

                   MISC: Pick up Keith's watch.

The Unknown Champion leaves the bookmakers.

Cut to:


6. EXT. STREET. DAY.

The screen pauses, and the quests directory appears. In it is the following:

                   CURRENT QUESTS

                   DAILY BREAD
                   Purchase sandwich from store.

                   MISC: Cash in betting slip.
                   MISC: Pick up Keith's watch.

The bottom quest is selected, then the box disappears. A white arrow appears by a store across the road, a pawnbrokers. The Unknown Champion walks over and goes inside.

Cut to:


7. INT. PAWNBROKERS. DAY.

The pawnbrokers is a small shop, but light and clean. There are a number of waist-high glass display cases, containing a wide variety of items. The one nearest the door has a silver watch, which is surrounded by a pale yellow glow.

There's a man at the counter, SAL, who looks exactly the same as Keith, only wearing a green shirt instead of a blue one. The Unknown Champion approaches and initiates a conversation.

                             SAL
                   What do you need?

A response appears:

                   Keith sent me. I'm here to pick up
                   his watch.

                             SAL
                   It ain't his watch. He still owes me
                   sixty Gold.

A response appears:

                   He told me he'd paid for it.

                             SAL
                   Then the prick lied to you.
                             (beat)
                   Go and tell him that his next errand
                   boy better have my money.

We get a new message:

                   MISC: Convince Keith to pay his debt.
                   Or
                   Steal the watch.

Two new arrows appear, one pointing at the door, the other at the display case. The Unknown Champion walks over to the case, then crouches in front of it. An animation of a closing eye briefly appears on screen, along with the word 'Hidden'.

The Unknown Champion looks at the lock on the front of the case, and we see this text:

                   DISPLAY CASE
                   PICK LOCK

The screen pauses, and a picture of a lock appears. The tumbler is of a very primitive design, and looks nothing like the one on the case. A screwdriver and a hairpin are gently slid inside, and then twirled around for a few seconds, the hairpin noticably shaking in the process. Eventually, there is a click of the lock opening.

The picture is replaced by a black box. It contains a short list of items, each in red writing, and their value in gold pieces. Near the bottom is 'Silver Watch', worth 78 Gold.

The label flashes, then the black box disappears. This text appears on the top-left of the screen, in a small font:

                   Silver Watch added

We get a new message:

                   MISC: Give Keith the watch.

The Unknown Champion stands up and leaves the shop.

Cut to:


8. EXT. STREET. DAY.

A white arrow points back towards the bookmakers. The Unknown Champion crosses the road and enters.


Cut to:


9. INT. BOOKMAKERS. DAY.

The Unknown Champion walks over to Keith and initiates a conversation.

                             KEITH
                   What do you need?

A response:

                   I have your watch.

                             KEITH
                   Excellent work! You've saved me a lot
                   of trouble, I tell you!

We get this text on the top-left of the screen, in a small font:

                   Silver watch removed

And then this text:

                   MISC: Give Keith the watch (complete).

                             KEITH
                   Well, I said I'd cash in that slip if
                   you helped me, and I'm a man of my
                   word. Hand it over, then.

We then get this message:

                   Betting slip removed

                             KEITH
                   Yeah, it's a winner alright. Benji
                   had to get one eventually. Here's
                   your payout.

A new message:

                   104 Gold added

                             KEITH
                   If I were you, I'd keep the Gold for
                   myself. That reprobate is just going
                   to blow it on more races.

Another message:

                   MISC: Return to Benji.

The Unknown Champion leaves the shop.

Cut to:


10. EXT. STREET. DAY.

A white arrow points back towards the bus stop. The Unknown Champion heads over to find Benji is still there. He initiates a conversation.

                             BENJI
                   Hey, friend. Have you claimed our
                   loot yet?

Two responses:

                   Yes. Here's your Gold.
                   (Lie) Keith says it wasn't worth
                   anything. I'm sorry.

There's a suspiciously long pause, then the top response flashes.

                             BENJI
                   Ha ha! You're a good man, friend!
                   Don't let anyone say otherwise!
                             (beat)
                   And you can keep your cut, as promised.

A new message:

                   84 Gold removed.

And another:

                   MISC: Return to Benji (complete).

The Unknown Champion steps away a few paces. The screen pauses, and another black box appears. It contains an inventory, though the only items are the shirt, trousers and shoes he is currently wearing. At the bottom is his Gold total, now up to 22.

The inventory is replaced by the quest directory, which contains the following:

                   CURRENT QUESTS

                   DAILY BREAD
                   Purchase sandwich from store.

This sole quest is selected, then the directory disappears. There is now a white arrow pointing back to the cornershop. The Unknown Champion goes inside.

Cut to:


11. INT. CORNERSHOP. DAY.

The Unknown Champion walks over to Gita and initiates a conversation.

                             GITA
                   How can I help?

Two responses:

                   What do you have for sale?
                   I don't need anything for now.

The top response flashes.

                             GITA
                   Take a look...

Gita's inventory is brought up again. It's the same as before, including the Ham & Cheese Sandwich. That item flashes, then the inventory disappears. We get this message:

                   4 Gold removed
                   Ham & Cheese Sandwich added

And then this one:

                   Consume the sandwich

                             GITA
                   Come back soon, I hope.

The Unknown Champion leaves the store.

Cut to:


12. EXT. STREET. DAY.

The Unknown Champion takes a few steps down the pavement. He brings up his inventory, which now has a Ham & Cheese Sandwich and Gold total of 18. The Sandwich flashes and disappears, and is followed by this message:

                   Ham & Cheese Sandwich removed

The inventory disappears. The stamina bar is filled over a few seconds. There is another message:

                   QUEST COMPLETED: DAILY BREAD

At the bottom of the screen, a grey box appears with a ping. Inside is the following:

                   Achievement: Om Nom Nom (10pts)
                   Completed quest “Daily Bread”

Fade to black.

Cut to END CREDITS.