E. Salvador Chapman » the skeleton in my closet

want to be a part of E. Salvador’s creative team? check out his patreon.

Script Type: 2 Act – Full Length

24% complete

Synopsis:

James Eagle Strike is a troubled young man who has returned to his childhood home to solve the mystery of why his father who abandoned his family 10 years earlier. James pieces together what happens through multiple perspectives of the same event. Does his understanding lead to forgiveness or does it lead to more questions?

Setting:

A trailer park in New Hampshire
The inside the Night Owl trailer
A Hill overlooking the trailer park

Themes:

Reclaiming Personal Identity
Bigotry and Racism
Discovering One’s Purpose
The Power (and Pitfalls) of Family

Cast of Characters: 3 Females, 5 Males, 1 Any Gender

James Eagle Strike – 28-years-old – Native American – James left home when he was 18 after being tired of feeling out of place. James returns after 10 years searching for answers about his father who left the family when James was 8. During his time away he has improved as a martial artist, something his father instilled in him when he was young. James is searching for his identity.

Jenny Night Owl – 24-years-old – Native American – Jenny is James’ sister. She is four years younger than James and has few memories of her father. She stayed living with her mother, Lydia, after James left home. She has a fascination with movies because her father left her his video tape collection. Jenny is in a relationship with Victor.

Lydia Night Owl – 50 – 55 years-old – Native American – Lydia is James Eagle Strike’s mother. She has lived in the trailer park most of her life and has never felt the need to leave. Her husband David left under mysterious circumstances 20 years earlier. She lives with her daughter Jenny who reads letters to her that James has written over the past decade because Lydia refuses to put a phone in the trailer.

Victor Thomas – 27-years-old – African American – Victor is James’ childhood friend. Victor looked up to James because he was a year younger. Victor went to college and got a degree in finance but loves the trailer park community and continues to live there. He has been dating Jenny for a while and wantst o marry her but doesn’t know when to pop the question. He knows a little about what happened to James’ father.

David Night Owl – 30-years-old – Native American – David is James and Jenny’s father and Lydia’s husband. He left his family under mysterious circumstances 20 years ago. He is the voice that James hears in his head and wants James to find his way in the world. David has not aged since he left home.

Mama Ix – 70+ year-old – Native American – Mama Ix is an old Aztec woman who has been living in the Trailer Parks longer than anyone remembers. She has always been old. She is the secret keeper of the trailer park and likes to know everything that is happening. She is acerbic and incredibly strong, even within her old age.

Skeleton – Any Age – Native American – This skeleton is a ghost spirit of warriors past. He protects the sacred land surrounding the trailer park. He appears every 20 years in hopes of finding someone worthy of taking over the mantle of protector.

Young Victor – 7-years-old – Native American – A younger version of Victor who witnessed part of what happened to David.

Young James – 8-years-old – Native American – A younger version of James who was friends with Victor.

Inspiration:

This is an adaptation of a Shoshone story called Skeleton Ghost found in the book Shoshone Tales, series of stories collected by Anne M. Smith.

Excerpt:

Act 1, Scene 2: INT. NIGHTOWL HOME 
Lights up on the stage. The interior of the house shows a living room, dinning room and kitchenette.  The furniture is old and worn. The whole place feels lived in for a long time. A family portrait hangs on the wall showing LYDIA, DAVID, and a young JAMES and JENNY.

The door to the exterior is stage left. A hallway is located to the right. Bedrooms are down the hallway.
JAMES opens the door and enters the trailer.
JAMES

Mom?

JAMES looks around to see if anyone is at home. He walks into the home and wanders around the house looking at knick-knacks and pictures.
JAMES

Hello?

After a pause JENNY peeks her head from out of the corner of the hallway. She sees JAMES and sneaks behind the sofa. JAMES doesn’t see her. He is lost in thought and wondering if he should be there.
JAMES

Is anyone home?

JAMES crosses the living room space and has his back turned away from the sofa. JENNY sneaks through the room, runs and jumps on JAMES’ back.
JENNY
(like Cato from “The Pink Panther”)
I have you now, Clouseau!
JAMES

Get off me you psycho.

JENNY playfully bangs her hands on JAMES shoulders.
JENNY

I. Have. Never. Stabbed. Anyone. In. The. Shower.

JAMES grabs JENNY’s hands and flips her over his back. JENNY bounces up into a “Black Widow” pose. She effortlessly sweeps JAMES’ legs. It catches JAMES off guard as he falls down. JENNY jumps on top of him and pins him to the ground.
page 7
JENNY

For a big, tough stunt guy you fell like a sack of potatoes. 

JAMES playfully struggles on the ground and makes lazy attempts to get out of the pin.
JAMES

You’re nuts! What do you think you’re doing?

JENNY lets JAMES get up off the ground. JENNY moves around JAMES and puts a strangle hold around his neck. JAMES stumbles to the ground, partially struggling, partially having fun.
JENNY

Your Kung Fu is weak?
JAMES
(struggling)
The force is strong with this one.
JENNY

Star Wars?
(breaking the hold)
You’re out of practice if you’re quoting me Star Wars? I thought you were in the movie business.

JENNY gets off of JAMES and holds out her hand to help him up. JAMES gets up off the floor and straightens his clothes. JENNY rushes in close to JAMES and gives him a big hug. JAMES hugs JENNY back. They take a moment.
JAMES

I’ve missed you, Little Dove.
JENNY

No one’s called me that for a long time.
(after a beat, pushing away and wiping away a tear)
Who’s fault is that? If you would have stuck around …
JAMES
(smiling)
New Hampshire don’t really have a need for stunt men.
page 8