Blocked
Story Idea
A teenage boy risks losing his life after spending a whole day playing a game on his smartphone.
Premise
The story aims at educating the youth on the drawbacks associated with too much use of technology. The story focuses on smartphone addiction amongst teenagers around the world. The story shows that we all need someone to save us from ourselves.
Logline
When the challenges of the game, The Ultimate Experience, gets risky with each increasing level, Cole must decide whether to stop the game and reveal his friends to the authority or continue the game and risk the death of many young teenagers.
Synopsis
A game, started by Cole and his friends, becomes exceedingly risky with increasing levels, and it is Cole’s responsibility to stop it before the lives of many teenagers, including his younger sister, are lost.
The passion for technology has Cole and his two friends, Mark and Tim, start a game called The Ultimate Experience. The purpose of the game is to give the players an experience of their life through simple challenges within five stages. The challenges become a little harder as the player proceeds to the next level. Cole, Tim, and Mark have control over the challenges which they create as players tackle the previous challenges. The game has teenagers glued to their phones even when peeing and eating. The parents at Elysburg are concerned about this new addictive game. As a result of the parent’s concern, the headteacher has declared the playing of the game illegal.
As the excitement of playing the game secretly rises, Cole discovers that he is losing control over the challenges that his friends set in the game. Tim and Mark are making the challenges riskier as the level advances, which is contrary to what they had agreed. The third and fourth challenges encourage the participants to carry out illegal activities to tackle it. Cole conflicts whether to report the matter to the authority or not. Cole finds out that the final challenge requires the participant to jump in front of a moving car. Immediately after the discovery, Cole finds her younger sister playing the game and proceeding to the final stage. In an attempt to save the sister, Cole informs his parents, who inform the authority stopping the game indefinitely.
Treatment
It is on an early morning; the White families are getting ready for the day. The Whites have two children who study at Elysburg Junior and Senior High School. Cole is a senior at Elysburg Junior, and Senior high school spends most of his time on his smartphone. Cole believes that it is impossible to survive in a world without phones and the internet. In Cole’s world, a smartphone is like a god who can make everything possible in a world filled with evil and annoying people. People have various kinds of addictions, to Cole, his addiction was his phone since anywhere you found Cole’s phone, there, and you would find Cole. Amy is Cole’s young sister, who is a junior at Elysburg Junior and Senior High School. The mother is preparing breakfast for the family; the father is scanning the stock exchange page in the newspaper. Cole descends the stairs on his phone while Amy is putting on her makeup while on the phone, checking her Instagram page.
Tim, Mark, and Cole meet in the café at the corner of town with their phones. “What is your brilliant idea, Tim?” Cole asks. “We should develop a game which will give the users the experience of their lives. The game will include challenges within five stages where the tasks will become hard after every successful stage. We will have control over the challenges set up in the game. ” Tim says. “Well, that is a brilliant idea. How do we set it up? ” Mark asks.
“You have to stop this; it is crazy. You cannot proceed with challenges.” Cole says. “Why would we stop? Everyone at school worships us. The game is a complete success everyone at school is playing,” Mark says. “But you want people to steal from their parents. You two are insane. I do not want to be part of this. I am out.” Cole says. “Wait until we get to the final stage. It will be a truly ‘Ultimate Experience.”
Amy screams from her room, and Cole storms in, “What is going on?” Cole asks Amy. “I won the fourth level, am the first person to complete the stage. Wait until I tell my friends, they will be so jealous.” Cole suddenly becomes dangerous, “What game are you playing, Amy?” “The Ultimate Experience, the one the headteacher declared illegal. Everyone is playing it.” Amy says. “Give me your phone,” Cole says. “No,” Amy says. Cole and Amy struggle for the phone, and eventually, Cole breaks it into pieces. Amy runs to the sitting room while crying and screaming at Cole for breaking the phone.
“Am sorry, mum and dad, I should have told you. I thought I could handle it. They are my friends. It started as a simple game.” Cole says. “You could not handle it. Your sister almost died.” Mr. White says. “Am sorry, dad. I promise from now onwards I will do better,” Cole apologizes.
The Step Outline
Scene 1: THE WHITE’S FAMILY SITTING ROOM
Cole and Amy (teenagers) are having their breakfast while scrolling their phones. Mrs. White is brewing coffee while Mr. White is scrolling the stock exchange page in the newspaper.
Scene 2: THE WHITE’S FAMILY COMPOUND
Mr. and Mrs. White board their vehicles and head towards town while Cole and Amy use Cole’s car to drive to school.
Step 3: ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PARKING AREA.
Cole, Tim, and Mark walk from their cars towards the classrooms happily talking to each other. Other students can be seen walking to their respective classes.
Step 4: ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PARKING AREA
Mark, Tim, and Cole can be seen walking to their respective vehicles. Amy walks towards Cole’s vehicle and can be seen conversing with Tim and blushing. All four of them in their cars leave the school compound.
Step 5: GOOD MORNING CAFÉ
Tim, Mark, and Cole are sitting at the corner of the café with Tim taking while the two seem to be keenly listening.
Step 6: GOOD MORNING CAFÉ
Tim, Mark, and Cole are busy on their phones, trying to build The Ultimate Experience game.
Step 7: Elysburg Junior and Senior High School Girls’ Wash Rooms.
Three girls are joyously talking about the new game while applying lipstick.
Step 8: THE WHITE’S FAMILY SITTING ROOM
Mr. and Mrs. White is talking about the new game, which has students addicted to their smartphones. Mrs. White tells Mr. White about the concern of the parents and their complaint to the headteacher.
Step 9: ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL COMPOUND.
It is during the lunch break, in a serene environment, some students are eating while most of them are on their phones playing, The Ultimate Experience game. On the intercom, the headteacher bans the playing of the game within the school compound.
Step 10: ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOY’S WASHROOMS
Four boys are talking about the new game and how they secretly play it. The two look happy talking about the game.
Step 11: GOOD MORNING CAFÉ
Cole is angry about the new challenges in the app, which results in a conflict with his friends. After five minutes, Cole storms out of the Café, looking very angry.
Step 12: THE WHITE’S FAMILY, COLE’S BEDROOM.
Cole, who has been scrolling his phone, stands up abruptly, with a shocked expression. A scream from Amy’s bedroom wakes Cole from his bed and storms out.
Step 13: THE WHITE’S FAMILY, AMY’S BEDROOM
Amy, who has been on her phone, looks happy as she dances around the room. Cole storms in the room, and the two converse. Cole and Amy struggle for a phone, which later breaks into two pieces. Amy storms out of the room, crying, followed by an angry Cole.
Step 14: THE WHITE’S FAMILY, SITTING ROOM
Mr. and Mrs. White both look up the stairs to see a crying Amy and an angry Cole. Amy and Cole talk at once with Mr. and Mrs. White trying to get what the two are saying. Everyone looks at Cole, and they both sit down.
The Script
THE WHITE’S FAMILY SITTING ROOM
Mr. White is reading the stock exchange page of the newspaper. Mrs. White is breaking eggs to prepare scrambled eggs for the family. The analog clock on the wall reads 25 minutes past six in the morning.
Mrs. White
Cole! Amy! You will be late for school again. You did not spend the whole night on your phones. Did you?
Cole lazily walks down the stairs with his shirt untucked and a loose tie around his neck. Amy follows Cole while applying some lip gloss on her lips. The two are both on the phone with Cole’s phone having a black back cover and that of Amy having a pink back cover. They both sit down while Mrs. White places a plate of scrambled eggs before them. After the family finishes having their breakfast, they both leave for their daily activities.
(A door opens and closes)
THE WHITE FAMILY’S COMPOUND
Amy boards Cole’s blue car while Mr. and Mrs. White uses the black family car.
Mr. and Mrs. Cole
Bye Kids.
Cole and Amy.
Bye, Dad and Mum.
(Vehicles screeching)
ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PARKING AREA.
Mark, Tim, and Cole walk across the parking area as well as other students towards the classes. Mark is a tall, light guy with ginger hair, which is currently in a short style. Tim is a tall, dark, and well-toned guy while Cole is a tall, light guy with dark hair. The three friends are good looking and are the center of attention as they attract many young girls.
Tim and Mark
(Happily)
Hey buddy
Cole
Hey Buddies
Tim
I have an idea that will blow your minds. We should meet after school
(The bell rings signaling the beginning of the lessons)
ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PARKING AREA
The bell rings, signaling the end of the classes, and students can be seen streaming out of school. Tim, Mark, and Cole walk towards the parking area with their backpacks on their shoulders. Mark, Tim, and Cole walk towards their respective cars. Amy is leaning against Cole’s car while scrolling her phone. Amy has a crush on Tim and does not hide it.
Cole
I will drop my sister home. Then we can meet at our usual spot for that idea you got, Tim.
Mark
You spoil your sister too much, Cole; she should be taking the bus like other juniors.
Cole (Beaming)
If I do not take her home, I will lose this fancy ride.
Amy (Biting her nails)
Hey Tim
Tim (Winking)
Hey Amy, you look gorgeous today.
Amy (Blushing)
Thank you, Tim.
Mark (Sarcastically)
Hello to you too, Amy, am standing right in front of you, you know?
Amy (Smiling)
Sorry, Mark, I had not seen you
Mark
Yea you only see Tim
Cole
Okay, everyone, get in the car, Amy, and let us go.
Amy
I was hoping I could ride with Tim. There is a dress I want to pick on a store along Tim’s way.
Tim
Sure, Princess, I will take you wherever you want.
Cole (Puts on a serious face)
No! I will take you to the store. Get in the car Amy
Amy (Opens the car door angrily)
You are such a sucker
(Tim and Mark chuckles)
Cole (Whispering to Tim and walks to his car)
You have to stop encouraging her.
(Car Tires Screeching)
GOOD MORNING CAFÉ
Tim, Mark, and Cole walk into the café, filled with a few customers, and take up a corner at the end of the café. Both of them have their smartphones, which they are regularly checking.
Cole
What is your significant discovery, Tim?
Tim
We should create a game application with challenges that will be solved within five stages. The trials will get hard as one advances to the next stage.
Mark (Amazed)
Well, that is a brilliant idea. So how do we do this?
Tim
We will have the power to control the challenges in the game since we will be the developers.
Cole
When do we start developing the game?
Tim
We can meet here tomorrow after school. If that okay with everyone.
Mark
It is okay with me.
Cole
Same here.
(The light decreases, and sun rays can be seen indicating a new day)
GOOD MORNING CAFÉ
Tim, Mark, and Cole sit at the usual spot with their mobile phones.
Tim (While scrolling at his phone and laptop)
We should call the game The Ultimate Experience.
ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ WASHROOMS
Three girls in the washrooms talk about the new game, which has all the high school kids hooked. One of them is applying lipstick on her lips while the others are washing their hands.
Girl 1
Have you heard about the new game, it is the best game I have ever played.
Girl 2
You too? Are you on the level?
Girl 1
Am in the second level
Girl 3
I cannot wait for the third level challenge.
THE WHITE’S FAMILY SITTING ROOM
Mr. White is watching the news while Mrs. White is preparing dinner. They are both discussing The Ultimate Experience game.
Mrs. White
Have you heard about the new game which has the children glued to their phones? Mrs. Walter, the PTA chairperson, says that they raised concerns with the headteacher who promised to ban the game.
Mr. White
Kids nowadays are addicted to their phones. During our time, we wrote letters; there were no smartphones. I support the ban on smartphones, Cole and Amy are always on those things. They have no time with us; the government should ban smartphones for students.
ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL COMPOUND.
It is during the lunch break at school. While some of the students are talking, most of them are on their phones, playing the most recent game, The Ultimate Experience. On Intercom, the voice of the headteacher can be heard.
The Head Teacher
Good Afternoon students, following complaints by most parents, I have banned the playing of the game, The Ultimate Experience, while on the school compound.
(Students shouts)
(The shouting decreases and finally stops)
ELYSBURG JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOY’S WASHROOMS
A group of four boys is using washrooms while discussing the new game.
Boy 1
I am almost in the fourth stage.
Boy 2
I play it secretly in my room because my mom hits that game.
(The taps closing)
GOOD MORNING CAFÉ
Tim, Mark, and Cole sit together at their usual corner.
Cole (Angrily)
You should stop the game. It is getting risky with the new challenges you are setting.
Mark
Buddy, it is getting exciting. People worship us. Everyone is playing the game at school.
Cole
Am Out
(Storms out Angrily)
Cole’s Bedroom
Cole
What?
(Hears someone scream and storms out)
Amy’s Bedroom
Cole
Why are you screaming?
Amy
I did it. I made it to the final stage.
Cole
What are you talking about?
Amy
The Ultimate Experience. I have completed level four, am heading for the final stage.
Cole (angry)
Amy give me that phone. You cannot play that game. It is dangerous.
(Amy and Cole struggle on the floor for the phone. Cole gets the phone and breaks it into two pieces. Amy storms out of the room crying followed by an angry Cole)
THE WHITE’S FAMILY SITTING ROOM
(Cole explains everything about the game to his parents even the fact that the final stage involved jumping in front of a moving car)
Cole
I am sorry, Dad and Mum. I am sorry, Amy. I will be a better son and a better brother.
NOTES
The story educates young people om the problems that can arise as a result of phone addiction. The paper summarises the title, logline, the testament, and the script of the story. Following the steps assists in coming up with a story that can develop into an educative story.