A Good Death Screenplay

A Good Death

Written by Brian Revor ’24

Small buildings are squeezed together. Mud streets separate the houses with sticks and rocks dotted throughout. Peasants lay in the street. Some people are piled in a home.

Sounds of fighting are in the distance. Smoke is seen rising in the air a few blocks away. A young man, HOFFER, in rags wakes up and looks up at the smoke. A concerned expression is shown on his face.

Raiders rush around the slums, burning everything around them. Dead bodies are seen along the sides of buildings and in the middle of the roads. Some raiders are riding horses and cutting anyone they see. Arrows are raining from the sky from farther beyond.

Hoffer sees the raiders ravaging the slums and starts to run, but is shot in the leg by a stray arrow. He falls onto his face and turns around just as a sword descends into his head.

INT. OFFICE - PURGATORY

Hoffer is standing in a short hallway. Behind him are black and gold gates and in front is a round, dark office. Along the sides of the walls are paintings with gold frames depicting angelic like figures descending over the earth. There are tables with different objects including: a ship in a bottle, a skull with candles in the eyes, a chess board with half the pieces on it, a cuckoo clock, and a apple with a bite in it. Towards the back end of the room there is a big mahogany desk with a massive cushioned chair behind it. Papers are cluttered all over the desk, chair, and the floor. DEATH is standing with his back to Hoffer as he leans his hands on the desk seemingly troubled.

Death is wearing dark blue pinstripe pants and a vest.

Underneath is a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair is messy.

Hoffer wanders into the office, clearly confused as to where he is. Death hears him and turns around. He has a simple mustache and his face is tired and overworked.

DEATH (exhausted)

Welcome mortal.

Death straightens up and fixes his vest and shirt. He then gestures to Hoffer with open hands.

DEATH (CONT’D)

Welcome to my humble abode. I am Death. You have just passed away from the mortal world and are now in my office (though many consider it to be Purgatory).

HOFFER

Death? I’m dead?

DEATH

Correct. Now normally I would go through the process of sending you to the next life but I’m sick of all the paperwork.

Death gestures towards the scattered papers around the room.

DEATH (CONT’D)

And so I am going to have you do something a little different.

HOFFER

Oh... well, I wasn’t expecting to die, but... so far this place seems better then my life before and hopefully the afterlife is too. If this ‘different’ way is faster then I will do it.

Death tilts his head up and narrows his eyes.

DEATH

(mumbles to himself)

Of course he hated life, just my luck (to HOFFER)

I’m afraid it is quite the opposite actually.

HOFFER

(concerned)

What do you mean?

DEATH

Well, see I have been overworked with the sheer amount of premature deaths due to humans killing other humans.

HOFFER

Ah yes, I witnessed the destruction of the slums I called home and all the peasants within it.

DEATH

Exactly! And so I thought, ‘why not let the next death live a fulfilling life and have a fulfilling death. ’

HOFFER

That would be very generous for that person.

Death gives him a blank stare, slightly annoyed.

DEATH

You are the next person! I am sending you back to the living world and you will have a fulfilling death.

Hoffer gives Death a scared, concerned look.

HOFFER (scared)

I do not want to go back. My life was horrible, I was in the slums and had nothing to my name. There is nothing for me to go back to.

DEATH

Oh don’t worry about that my little mortal. You have all of eternity to have a good death.

Death then flicks his hands and Hoffer is shot backwards towards the black and gold gates in the hallway. The gates open up and Hoffer disappears into a darkness.

Death starts cheering as he throws stacks of paperwork around and he punches the air. Then he calms down and rests his back onto his desk

DEATH (CONT’D) (quietly)

Finally, someone will have a good death.

EXT. SLUMS - DAY

Hoffer finds himself laying on the floor where he died. Dead bodies cover the ground around him. All the buildings are destroyed or burning. He stands up and starts wandering in an aimless direction.

EXT. CITY GATES - DAY

Massive walls surround a stone city. A hill rises in the center of the city with a towering castle observing all below. The entrance is blocked by massive steel gates with knights guarding it. Four guards are up on the wall of the gates, bows and arrows in their hands. On the ground four more guards stand, spears in their hands ready for any attack. They are clad in silver armor with a blue cloth, bearing the symbol of king, over top.

Hoffer slowly walks toward the gates, with the slums seen behind him. As he moves closer the guards cross their spears.

GUARD 1 Halt! Who goes there.

HOFFER

I am a simple peasant. The slums have been attacked. Everyone is dead. I seek asylum.

GUARD 2 (surprise)

A survivor! The order said to leave no one left. Kill him!

The four guards charge at Hoffer with their spears pointed. Arrows fire from atop the gate, striking Hoffer in the legs. He falls to the ground and turns towards the guards

HOFFER (anxious)

Not again! This world is too cruel!

Hoffer’s stomach is pierced by the spears.

INT. OFFICE - PURGATORY

Hoffer stands panting and looks into the room. Death is sitting in his chair, in the middle of taking a bite out of an apple. He stares at Hoffer in surprise and spits out the apple

DEATH (surprised and confused)

You’re back already! I just sat down!

HOFFER Spears.

DEATH

Why!?

HOFFER

I told you, my life is horrible. Please I beg you let me pass on.

Irritated, Death stands up and struts around the desk. Walking back and forth in a line. Deep in thought.

Suddenly, Death slams his hands onto the desk and leans towards Hoffer.

DEATH

Well... this is certainly a surprise. But I refuse to give up, I’m sending you back.

HOFFER (panicked) Wait! Do not send-

Hoffer is cut off as he is flung back through the gates and into the darkness.

EXT. CITY GATES - NIGHT

Hoffer wakes up back where he died. The city is now lit up with lights as nightlife begins. He stands up and drifts away from the gates.

MONTAGE

Hoffer roams across the land. He is stabbed in the back by a hooded figure on a dirt road. On a mountain trail he is shoved off by a hand and tumbles to his death. Death’s office appears again with a bewildered Death.

Hoffer boards a boat and plays with a little girl, but is then thrown off by angered adults and drowns in the ocean.

He finds himself in a forest, building settlements and smiling at colonists. He is then seen running through the forest, terrified when suddenly he is shot with an arrow from the shadows. Hoffer is laying on the ground as angry colonists (the ones he was with) place rocks on him until he is crushed to death.

Death appears again, angered and sending Hoffer back. He slumps into his chair with his hand covering his forehead.

Hoffer finds himself in an angry mob in a city, with British soldiers pointing guns at them. He is shot. He befriends a fishermen, but he learns he is a pirate and drowns. He is now in a massive city, motor vehicles have just been created. Hoffer is hit by a one of the vehicles as he was on a bicycle.

Death waves Hoffer away again barely even looking at him, dismayed.

Hoffer is in trenches as explosions surround him and he watches as soldiers near him die. He holds a body as he cries until a mortar hits him as well. A grim building is shown with a line of prisoners walking into it. The clothes and equipment have improved from the previous war. Hoffer looks up at shower heads as he dies to gas.

Death has his chair turned around, a single hand waves Hoffer away.

Futuristic buildings are all around with bright neon lights and flying cars. Hoffer is running on a roof, caring a small child, as gangsters chase him. A laser hits his leg, throwing him off balance, sending him and the child off the roof. The sky is raining explosions, the ground is covered in craters, mushroom clouds dot the horizon.

Death and Hoffer reside in the office.

Hoffer is sitting on a stool next to a table, messing with chess board pieces. His face solemn. Death is sitting in his big chair, tossing a half eaten apple in his hand.

DEATH (defeated)

Well... I didn’t expect the apocalypse so soon.

HOFFER

Are you not one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

DEATH

Oh that, that’s just something a human made up. But either way, it wasn’t supposed to happen until at least a thousand years from now.

HOFFER

Oh... Then does that mean there might be some survivors?

DEATH (pondering)

Possibly. (mocking)

But what does it matter to you? You want to die don’t you?

Hoffer puts down the chess pieces and turns to Death. He looks around, thinking to himself until he stops and looks at Death

HOFFER

Originally, yes. But after witnessing so many time periods and the tragedy that exists, I feel... well I feel bad.

DEATH (laughing)

Hahahaha, you ‘feel bad’? That’s golden. I’ve given up on humanity. Those fools ended themselves before I did. And I’m DEATH!

HOFFER (stern)

Send me back.

DEATH (surprised)

What? You want to go back? Well sure, but if you go back now you will have a swift return.

HOFFER (determined)

I will survive no matter want!

DEATH

No you literally will die again, the air is not breathable. Wait like a couple of hours (two years).

HOFFER

Oh... well in the mean time. Chess?

Hoffer and Death quietly play a game of chess.

The cuckoo clock reaches the second hour and rings loudly. A raven jumping in and out of the clock over and over screaming ‘ caw’ . Death immediately waves his hands and Hoffer disappears into darkness.

EXT. DESOLATE WASTELAND - DAY

The horizon is flat with no hills, mountains, or buildings anywhere. Craters dot the landscape. Hoffer solemnly looks around, and then sets off to find survivors

Hoffer continues to wander until he sees a cave in the side of one of the craters. Making his descent he sees signs of life around the area. The ground was leveled out and a man-made trail lead to the top of the crater. As he got closer he heard sounds of people. Excited he starts running towards the cave.

EXT. CRATER CAVE - SUNSET

Hoffer sprints to the entrance and slides to a stop. He looks inside and sees a group of people. An old man and woman, four middle aged adults, a younger couple, and multiple kids running around. They all stop and stare at him as he is panting.

HOFFER

(panting and excited)

Hey (pant) hello (pant) I can’t believe (pant) I found people!

OLD MAN (surprised)

Another person! We thought we were the last ones!

INT. CRATER CAVE - NIGHT

Hoffer is surrounded by all the children and is brought farther into the cave. He sits around a rock that they use as a table and has a long conversation with them, using his hands to describe all sorts of things from before the apocalypse. Everyone’s faces is amazed.

MONTAGE

Hoffer helps the survivors build tools and houses, grow a farm, and play games. He sits on a rock outside as all the children sit around him listening, his face is older. Hoffer now has a beard and overlooking a small village. White hair and a longer beard covers his face as everyone stands and sits around him singing a song and having a celebration. It is raining and the community is gather solemnly around a hole. A name reads above the hole: Hoffer

INT. OFFICE - PURGATORY

Death is sitting at his desk, holding an apple core in his hand. He looks up at Hoffer who is standing there, smiling.

DEATH

Well, well, well, look who finally had a good death. You proved me wrong ‘old man’ .

HOFFER (laughing)

Hahaha, and how did this ‘old man’ prove you wrong?

DEATH (smiles)

By having a good death.

HOFFER

Ah, well... you did force me to.

DEATH

I am... well I’m not sorry per se, but don’t worry. I won’t do that to any human again... maybe. It was nice to have a buddy...

HOFFER (smiles)

I’m glad I was a good buddy. But will you let me experience the afterlife now?

DEATH

Of course!

Death moves his chair to the side. Behind it is a fireplace. Death gestures to Hoffer to step in. Hoffer stands in the fire, disappearing into the flames, smiling.