Soul Survivor Part 2: “The Totem Pole”
(Video Shooting Script)
FADE IN:
Opening montage sequence from “Soul Survivor” Show – quick clips of each cast member intercut with nature footage, accompanied by theme song.
We see clips from the previous week’s Tribal Council, as cast members complain and gripe, and then ultimately vote Vanessa off.
JEFF (voiceover)
Last week on … “Soul Survivor”: Our castaways struggle to get along, crumbling under the stress of island life.
Show clips of them arguing and complaining from previous week’s drama.
JEFF (voiceover)
At tribal council, Vanessa is voted off… the crucial swing vote coming from…herself.
Show clip of Vanessa at the voting booth, admitting she can’t take it anymore – can’t betray her faith to take part in all the lies, cheating, and backstabbing it takes to win the game. Jeff: “Vanessa, the tribe has spoken. Take your torch and get out of here.”
JEFF (voiceover)
This week our competitors have to learn to work together to win a much-needed reward. Do they have what it takes?
Music swells dramatically. Dissolve to:
EXT. WILDERNESS.
Jeff walks up a hill into view. The castaways are gathered around a stake in the ground. Five boxes are scattered nearby.
JEFF
Okay, guys. Gather ‘round. Today we have an interesting reward challenge planned.
MITCHELL
Are we gonna win some food?! I could really go for a Snickers bar, a bag of Doritos and a Mountain Dew!
JULIE
I’d settle for a cracker. We’ve been starving ever since Loreen ate the rest of the rice while we were asleep.
LOREEN
I’m telling you for the last time — it wasn’t me who ate the rice! It was a wild boar!
The group starts arguing. Ad lib insults and cat fighting.
JEFF
Settle down, settle down. Actually, this challenge is designed to test your cooperation skills. If you successfully complete the challenge as a team, you’ll each be given a chance to phone a loved one back home and talk to them for 10 minutes.
Quick overlapping dialogue as actors jockey for attention.
JULIE
That’s a stupid reward. I want crackers! CRACKERS!
MITCHELL
I need to call my bookie. I’ve got a hundred dollar hunch that the Giants are gonna beat the 49ers.
OTIS
And I need to call my buddies back in the platoon—
LOREEN
Buddies, ha! An old crab like you..? If you’ve got buddies, I’ve got three eyes.
OTIS
Listen here, Loreen. I have a policy against punching ladies. (pause) But you ain’t no lady…!
He lunges at her, fists drawn. Other survivors hold him back.
JEFF (continuing)
Okay. The game works this way. You have to construct a totem pole, made of five boxes. It’s a simple game, but you must cooperate to achieve your goal.
MITCHELL
Sounds easy enough.
JEFF
But here’s the trick. You have to complete the totem pole in less than 60 seconds. I have my stopwatch set. Survivors ready…? (pause)
He raises his arm dramatically.
JEFF
GO!!!
The survivors run over and grab the boxes. They start scrambling around, bumping into each other. There’s dust flying, squabbling starts. Ad lib more arguing and bratty behavior.
LOREEN
No, no, you idiot! That’s the box for the top. Put it down.
MITCHELL
Who made you the boss? This one goes on first….
Otis and Julie are playing tug of war with one of the boxes.
OTIS
Move out of the way! I had it first –
JULIE
Drop the box, you old coot! It’s mine…!
More scuffling and squabbling. A cutaway shows Jeff, who’s in a lounge chair, sipping a drink. He looks at his stopwatch for a moment.
JEFF
You’d better hurry. You only have 10 seconds.
Loreen pushes Otis down and grabs the box from Julie.
LOREEN
Quick! Just get them on the pole! Hurry!!!
Loreen leaps toward the pole and puts a random box on the pole. Mitchell lunges forward, drops a box on the pole; Otis and Julie land on the pile. The group fights to grab the last boxes, hastily plops them on the pole, with no rhyme or reason.
JEFF
Five, four, three, two … one. Time’s up! So, how did we do?
Surveying the boxes. They’re all jumbled.
JEFF
Not too well. Oh, that’s disappointing. I guess a little cooperation is too much to ask of you guys. No phone calls for this group. I guess you’ll be heading back to camp. Get some sleep and try to find some food. You’ve still got seven days of survival left until we crown the million dollar winner.
FADE TO BLACK.