Synopsis: A short film that proves that people of power and influence can often be found in the most unlikely of places…

Production Year: 1998
Type: Fiction Short
Role(s): Producer, Director, Writer, Editor, Cinematography

 

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Production Updates

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December 5, 1998 – Shooting Script

My first short film, “The Johnfather,” commenced production this evening.  It was shot and edited entirely in-camera.  Note that there were some logistical issues since the bathroom that we were using was in demand due to Luther College having a performance of its annual “Juletide” concert this evening.

Here is the shooting script.

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The Johnfather

Shooting Draft (November, 1998)

FADE IN:

INT. COLLEGE DORM BATHROOM

A lone figure sits motionless in a men’s room stall.  JOHN is doing his
business.

The door of the bathroom swings open and in comes LOU the janitor.  Lou
is a leftover from the sixties, burnt out and hunched over.

LOU
Hey man, you still in here?
(beat)
John, What are you always doin’ in that stall?

JOHN
I’m doing what feels good Lou.  This is where I
get my business done.

LOU
Maybe its time you moved shop out my bathroom.
I gotta mop this place up, big inspection by
the president in the morning.

Lou pulls out a bottle of cleaning fluid and grips it two-handed while
he blasts at the floor.  He jumps back with each blast, as though the
bottle is generating strong recoil.

LOU (CONT’D)
Boom!  Boom!

Lou then pulls out a toothbrush.  He gets on his hands and knees and
starts to scrub.

INT. BATHROOM – LATER

The bathroom door opens and a student comes in to do his business at
one of the urinals.  After a quick job, the student turn and walks out.

Lou stands up and begins shaking his toothbrush toward the door in
rage.

LOU
Did you just see that!

JOHN
All I’m seeing right now is some poor girl’s
phone number scribbled on the door.

LOU
That punk came in here and left without washing
his hands.

JOHN
Sounds like the end of society to me Lou.

LOU
Damn right.  Right now he’s probably flapping
his hands all over the walls.  I just cleaned
the hallway and he’s gonna have crawling over
them.

Lou bends down and continues cleaning the floor.

INT. BATHROOM -LATER

A TALL MAN walks into the bathroom and begins to do his business at the
urinal.  A moment later a SHORT DRUNK staggers to the urinal next to
the tall man.

The Tall Man glances down in the direction of the Short Drunk who is
having a hard time controlling his aim.

SHORT DRUNK
What’re you lookin’ at?

TALL MAN
Somebody who needs a little more practice on
his aim.

SHORT DRUNK
Oh, you think so huh?

The Short Drunk begins to turn and piss on the foot of the Tall Man.

SHORT DRUNK (CONT’D)
How’s this for practice?

The Tall Man turns and grabs hold of the shirt of the Short Man,
pushing his back.

TALL MAN
You’re going to die little man.

JOHN
Stop!

John’s voice echoes through the bathroom.  Everyone turns toward his
stall.

JOHN (CONT’D)
Let the fool go.  He knows not what he does.

TALL MAN
What are you talking about?  My shoes are
ruined and I’m gonna beat the piss out of them
with his head.

JOHN
I don’t want any trouble in my bathroom.
Here’s what you do.  You go back to your room
and you have him wash those shoes for you.
Make sure he gets every last drop out and he’s
going to smile while he’s doing it.

TALL MAN
Why in the hell would he do that?

JOHN
He’s going to do it because I tell him to.  A
long time ago I helped Mickey out with a
problem that he had.  Isn’t that right.

The small drunk looks over at the stall.

MICKEY
Yeah, man.  I’ll do it.

As Mickey is led out the door, the tall man looks back at the stall.

TALL MAN
Hey, what are you buddy?  Some kind of
godfather.

JOHN
No.

The CAMERA zooms in tight on the stall.

JOHN (CONT’D)
I’m the Johnfather.

The CAMERA pulls back and as the door shuts, Lou looks up at it.

LOU
Those punks just left without washing their
hands didn’t they?

JOHN
Calm down Lou.

Lou rushes over to the door and yells out.

LOU
Hey punk! Get back here and wash you hands.

TALL MAN (V.O.)
Wash your own damn hands you hippie

Lou steps back and begins to shake his toothbrush.

LOU
I hope you and your filth rot in hell.

INT. BATHROOM -LATER

The bathroom quiet with only the sound of Lou scrubbing on the floor.

Suddenly the door flies wide open, hitting the wall with a loud crash.
In runs a tall man with wild red hair, JED is so hysterical that he is
about to explode.

JED
Omigosh, Omigosh.  John I need you help.  It’s
so bad.  It’s so bad.

JOHN
What is it this time Jed.

JED
It’s my girlfriend John, she’s pregnant man!
What the hell am I going to do!

Jed stands in silence shaking.

Lou stands up from his scrubbing and walks over to Jed.  He puts his
hands on Jed’s shoulders and calmly looks him in the eyes.

LOU
Now just calm down son.  Everything’s going to
be okay.

JED
What the hell are you talking about?  My life
is over.

LOU
Listen kid.  The same thing happened to me when
I was your age and look at where I am now.

Jed turns and looks at the camera, his eyes are near tears.

LOU (CONT’D)
I was nervous about becoming a father too.

JED
But I’m not the guy who got her pregnant, my
best friend did.

JOHN
I don’t want any crying in my bathroom.  Here’s
what I’m going to do.

JED
Are you going to kill him for me John?

JOHN
No and don’t interrupt me.  I’m going to
arrange for them both to get transferred to
another school.  Somewhere where we won’t hear
from either one of them again.

Jed moves over to the stall and throws himself against it.

JED
Thank-you John.  I knew that I could count on
you.

JOHN
There is one thing however.

Jed begins to back away in fear.

JED
What’s that?

JOHN
Some day I may need you to do a favor for me.
That day may never come, but if it does, you
will not question my call for your help.

JED
Whatever it is, you can count on me.  God bless
you John.

Jed turns and solemnly walks out of the bathroom.

LOU
Another life is set back on course.

JOHN
The world is full of lives that are off course.
(beat)
But eventually they all go to the bathroom.