Beneath the Surface
Feature-length psychological thriller screenplay exploring family secrets and inherited trauma. Quarterfinalist in the Austin Film Festival.
Script Excerpt
FADE IN: INT. LAKEHOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Rain streaks down floor-to-ceiling windows. MARGARET PRICE (62), silver-haired but sharp-eyed, sits alone in an armchair, a glass of whiskey untouched beside her. The front door OPENS. Footsteps on hardwood. ELEANOR (32), Margaret's daughter, enters. She's soaked, carrying a worn leather bag. ELEANOR You called. I came. What's so urgent it couldn't wait until morning? MARGARET (not turning) Some things fester in daylight. Eleanor stops. Studies her mother's profile. ELEANOR That's cryptic, even for you. Margaret finally turns. Her eyes are red-rimmed but dry. MARGARET Your father left something for you. In his will. Something I've kept hidden for thirty years. She gestures to a lockbox on the coffee table. MARGARET (CONT'D) I think you should sit down. FADE TO BLACK.
About This Project
“Beneath the Surface” is a psychological thriller that follows a detective investigating a series of disappearances in a small coastal town. As she digs deeper into the case, she uncovers family secrets that mirror her own past, forcing her to confront the trauma she’s been running from.
The screenplay was developed over 18 months with multiple revisions, incorporating feedback from industry professionals and fellow writers. It explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the ways we inherit the mistakes of our ancestors.
The script was selected as a quarterfinalist in the Austin Film Festival’s screenplay competition, a testament to its strong character development and compelling plot structure. The project represents Emily’s growth as a screenwriter, combining technical skill with emotional depth.
Emily writes dialogue that actors love to speak. Every line serves the story.
Prof. Diana Reyes
Screenwriting Instructor
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