Background & Script Samples

— Background — The story is informed by on Demian’s seven seasons as a camp counselor, and many years of daydare and teaching work. For kids, summer camps can be either a cherished memory, or their worst nightmare. For those who enjoyed them, the highlights are a chance to be surrounded by nature, no school homework, and friendships that last the rest of their lives. Because most summer camps emphasize sports and physical prowess, those of artistic, intellectual, or of a day-dreamy bent, can be left out, demeaned, or bullied. The fictional camp detailed in this story maintains an environment that is regimented and occasional brutal to children because it is patterned, in part, after military boot camp. Some kids manage to survive with new skills. But it is a hit-or-miss endeavor, often depending on the counselors’ level of skill with children. The tough approach is mitigated, to a degree, by the elements of songs, skits, and storytelling, which are a huge part of most camps. During the 60s, when this story takes place, most counselors had little or no training in childcare, and were grossly underpaid. The pressure to “be a man” interfered with the normal tendency of all human beings to cry when physically or mentally hurt, as well as to treat others with respect and compassion. During an interview for a job at a well-run camp, I was asked by the director if I liked children. I was stunned. Why would someone want to work at a camp if they did not like children? I learned at a different, poorly-run camp just how critical that question really can be.

INT. CABIN #5 - DAYBREAK

Streams of bright morning light poke into the
room.

The cots are lined up. Trunks and a several
duffel bags sit at the foot of the beds.

Bed covers are pulled over heads. The only hint
of who lies under the covers are the personal
items, which sit atop the cubbies placed between
the beds.

A sunbeam beam strikes a mid-1960s super-hero
comic book and eyeglasses on one cubbie. Another
cubbie has a baseball cap.

Zeke, 19, has a copy of the play "The Glass
Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams on his cubbie.

METALLIC SPEAKERS BLARE REVEILLE FROM
A SCRATCHY RECORD OF A BUGLE PLAYING.

Every cabin has a speaker system mounted over
its main door.

Larry, 19, muscled, very hairy with a low
forehead, rubs his perpetual 5 o'clock shadow.

Dennis Smolinski, 18, snakes his skinny arm out
for his glasses, then grabs the microphone of his
Wollensack tape recorder, and "broadcasts" via
the tape recorder speaker.

                         DENNIS
                  (Broadcasts)
             Welcome esteemed guests to our
             humble Camp Howell's Crest
             bungalows and recreational spa.
             Up and at 'em. Rise and shine. I,
             your intrepid bunk leader, will
             be with you throughout the day.
             When you go for swim period, you
             will be seeing more of our very
             own, effervescent Uncle Larry ...

Larry glares at Dennis.

                         LARRY
             Smolinski, shut up.

                         DENNIS
             ... who heads the waterfront
             detail. Not only that, but you
             will see more of the ever bright-
             eyed Uncle Zeke when you venture
             into the Crafts Shed. Com'on you
             scum, roll call a-waits, and a
             day of fun and games. Fun and
             games! Time to favor the world
             with your happy faces. Get up,
             rise and shine. Rise and shine.

                         ZEKE
                  (To self)
             I'll rise.
                  (Beat)
             But I won't shine.

INT. CABIN #5 - DAY

Campers take off their jackets and sweatshirts.

Ken, 11, always wears a yarmulke, held in place
by a bobby pin.

Hank, 12, bunks next to Ken, and wears a
crucifix on a neck chain.

Greg, 11, redhead, carries comic books
everywhere.

Dennis, lies in bed, barking into his microphone.

                         DENNIS
                  (Broadcasts)
             Attention Camp Howell's Crest
             campers.

                         ROBERT
                  (Whispers)
             That's Camp Bowel's Rest.

Nearest bunkmates look back in shock and
amusement.

                         DENNIS
                  (Broadcasts)
             The sun is in the sky, the dew is
             on the grass, and there, just
             across the lake, stands Howell
             Mountain.

                         ROBERT
                  (Whispers)
             Maybe she only sits ... on the
             potty.

                         DENNIS
                  (Broadcasts)
             Don't believe me? Just wake up
             Uncle Larry who has fallen back
             to sleep.

Larry lies under the bed covers.

                         LARRY
                  (Muffled)
             Shut up Smolinski.

                         DENNIS
                  (Broadcasts)
             Make sure your beds are made, and
             do not have any sand. Our revered,
             assistant camp director, Uncle
             Mickey, will commence inspection
             at 0h-800 hours, and points are
             taken off for sand in the bunks.

Frank has a small portable radio, which he turns
on, trying to find a station that plays pop
music.

FRANK'S RADIO ONLY GETS STATIC.

                         FRANK
             How come there's no music?

                         ZEKE
             We're too far from the city
             stations to pick up a signal.

                         DENNIS
                  (Broadcasts)
             After breakfast, we have volley
             ball and then a swim. So, get a
             move on. Don't forget to hit the
             KYBO before we leave.

                         KEN
                  (Whispers to Hank)
             What's a KYBO?

— Script Sample II — INT. INFIRMARY - DAY While the infirmary is shaped like the other cabins, it is painted white, inside and out. The beds have double mattresses. Cubbies between the beds have Teddy Bears or toys. Jorge, 6, sits submissively on the edge of a bed. Rudy, 18, his counselor, stands nearby listening. JANE Sweetheart, when did you first have a tummy ache? JORGE After breakfast. JANE What did you have for breakfast? JORGE Cereal, milk - hmm - some banana. RUDY He got a good appetite. JANE Jorge, do you have any food allergies? JORGE What's that? JANE Sometimes a food can make your tummy hurt, or give you a rash. RUDY That ain't the problem. He got no belly ache. He is F - A - C - K - I - N - G. Jane takes a deep breath, and puts her back to Rudy. JANE (To Jorge) What activity were you going to do after breakfast? Jorge looks at his feet. JORGE Baseball. JANE Do you like baseball? Jorge shakes head "no." JORGE Mmm, mmm. RUDY All boys like baseball. Jane still does not look at Rudy. JANE Since when? (Beat) Jorge, is there a reason you don't like baseball? JORGE I keep missing the ball. (Quietly) They make fun of me. JANE That must feel bad, when they make fun of you. Would you like them to stop? Jorge nods "yes." Jane turns to Rudy. JANE (Cont.) Rudy, you heard the prescription? RUDY What? I don't get it. JANE You are to get the others to lay off. Have a private word with anyone who does any bullying. RUDY Huh, okay, but I don't think it'll do much good. From a nearby shelf, she takes a sugar pill from a jar clearly marked "Placebo," and gives one to Jorge. JANE Jorge, sweetie, here is a tummy pill. It works best when you walk around a little. See if the ache goes away by the time you get to the baseball game. (To Rudy) If not, you do not have to play. JORGE Okay. Jorge chews the candy and skips out with Rudy in tow. Marvin, 15, runs in holding and fretting over his bleeding left hand forefinger. MARVIN Oh, man, it stings and keeps bleeding. JANE Hi, what's your name? MARVIN Marvin. She brings him to the sink. When washed in running water, a clear "V" shaped cut is visible on the side of his finger. JANE Ah, ha! You were working in the Crafts Shed. MARVIN How'd you know? JANE Elementary, my dear Marvin, elementary. INT. CRAFTS SHED - DAY The open and airy Arts and Crafts Shed has three long tables with benches. One corner of the shed is devoted to the mosaic tiles. Another corner has linoleum woodblock printing. A third corner has pre-made ceramic ashtrays, plates and frogs, as well as glazes and a kiln. The fourth corner has shelves of paint, paper, and assorted supplies. Paintings and drawings are hung by clothespins from a clothesline along one wall. Zeke runs the shop, assisted by Robin and Danny. Robin, 18, thin and tall, handles ceramics. Danny, 18, fat with thick glasses, handles mosaics. The 15-16 year-olds campers are in attendance. The crafts counselors interact with kids. Tad and Gordon do not join in any craft activity and look bored. Rabbit works on a linoleum block. Tom works on glazing a pre-made, frog clay mold. Alfred, 15, and Sherman work on mosaic projects. Zeke looks over the shoulder of Rabbit, who nervously, rapidly bounces his left leg on the ball of his foot. ZEKE Use the holding jig, Rabbit, not your fingers. Those cutters are sharp. Marvin walks in and shows off his bandaged finger. ZEKE (Cont.) Just ask Marvin. RABBIT Okay, Uncle Z. Rabbit goes to work on his linoleum block. Tom, frozen by indecision, holds his frog mold before multiple jars of liquid glazing compound. His inhaler barely sticks out of his pocket. TOM (To Robin) Robin, what color glaze do you think I should use? ROBIN Well, real frogs come in a huge variety of colors, with all kinds of markings and such. What part of the world does your frog come from? TOM I dunno, don't they make these molds in Boston? ROBIN No, I mean, do you want to color this like the frogs that live in the Amazon, or from Vermont? TOM It's just clay. Right? ROBIN Okay, it's true, it's not a real frog. So you could push the glazes even further, with absolutely insane colors, or even pictures. You could color the frog bright orange with purple spots. Or, you could color the frog red, white, and blue with lettering on the side that spelled "Stop the War." TOM How about green with white eyes? Robin sighs in resignation. Gordon disparagingly frowns at one camper's mosaic project. GORDON What's that supposed to be? DANNY Its not supposed to be anything. Gordon, it's an abstract. GORDON Well, ya know, Danny, I thought it looked a lot like a dead cockroach. TAD Or maybe skunk roadkill. ZEKE We're here to encourage their creativity, not make them suffer for your lack of imagination. Tad and Gordon start to say something. Gordon sits down. Tad defiantly crosses his arms. Alfred messes up Sherman's mosaic project. The tiles scatter all over the table and floor. DANNY Hey! Hands off! The only artwork you can wreck is your own. Both boys rolls their eyes in exasperation. DANNY (Cont. To another camper) Good job. The color scheme looks great. Sherman then messes up Alfred's project. Alfred grabs a cutting tool and threatens Sherman. ALFRED Back off, scum bag. Sherman grabs the nearest metal tool. SHERMAN Want another hole to get your shit out? The rest of the boys immediately take sides and start shoving. It gets rowdy. EVERYONE IS YELLING. SHARP STATIC EMANATES FROM THE SPEAKER SYSTEM. MICKEY (VO) What's going on in there? You, in the Craft Shed. I'm watching you. Stop it right now. INT. DIRECTOR'S OFFICE - DAY Mickey has his face four inches from a large microphone that stands on his desk. He faces a console with numerous switches and a six-inch speaker. MICKEY (Cont.) Who's in charge? Speak up. ZEKE (VO) Ah, just a small territorial dispute. It's all settled now. MICKEY See that it doesn't happen again. INT. CRAFTS SHED - DAY No one moves. Alfred and Sherman lie pinned down by virtue of all the counselors and other campers being completely entwined in the scuffle. Tom holds his inhaler device at his mouth. ZEKE It won't. Tom presses the inhaler, and inhales the medicine into his lungs.