Solve – Interactivity Design & Screenplay Sample
Intro
Solve: An Interactive Mystery is an interactive TV show-video game hybrid app for the iOS. Because of the constraints of live-action footage, it was my job as Narrative Designer to write & design unique ways for the player to interact with the video content while satisfying story needs with forward momentum in mind. Some tools I had at my disposal included: branching logic-based choices, jigsaw puzzles, hidden object games, swipe-to-reveal, and simple tap-on-objects.
Episode 38 “Cronkite” – Sample Script
The following script below is a sample of both my writing work for Solve: An Interactive Mystery along with my own interactive narrative designs. This sequence remains unproduced.
INT. MAINTENANCE TUNNEL – CONTINUOUS
DANI is breathing hard, making her way through the same MAINTENENCE TUNNEL that NORA and ZOE used to escape in EP #028. She makes her way deeper into the tunnel and pulls out a HANDCUFF KEY from her pocket and looks at her WRIST, still cuffed.
I5[LOOP-ITEM] The keyhole of the handcuff around Dani’s wrist
DANI inserts the KEY into the KEYHOLE and frees herself. She pockets the HANDCUFFS and KEY and makes her way deeper into the TUNNEL where she comes upon a GREEN PIPE. There’s writing on the PIPE, but it’s covered in DUST.
I6[LOOP-ITEM] Dust-covered pipe with an obscured sticker
[DUSTING GAME-PLATE] The warning sticker covered by dust & clean without dust
DANI wipes the DUST off and reveals the writing that reads: “TOXIC GAS UNDER PRESSURE – DO NOT BREATHE!”.
DANI
Oh. Great.
As DANI makes her way through the TUNNELS she starts seeing writing on the walls. Arrows, Dates, Times. The writing becomes more and more specific. (See Fig. 38-A for Reference) DANI comes to a larger piece of writing, scrawls into the wall, obscured by a PIPE.
I7[LOOP-ITEM] Scratches in the wall
[START CALLBACKS]
INT. MAINTENENCE TUNNELS – KISS ZOE CALLBACK
DANI peeks around the PIPE and can now read.
“NORA + ZØE”
There is A HEART around the writing. DANI runs her fingers over the SLASH in the “Ø”
INT. MAINTENENCE TUNNELS – HUG ZOE CALLBACK
DANI peeks around the PIPE and can now read.
“NORA + ZØE”
There is NO HEART around the writing. DANI runs her fingers over the SLASH in the “Ø”
INT. MAINTENENCE TUNNELS – SEGUE
DANI
Zoe.
DANI moves down the TUNNEL with intention, and comes upon another GRATE.
I8[LOOP-ITEM] The second grate
DANI stoops down and peeks through the GRATE into a very large, old room. Medical cabinets line the walls and a single LARGE TELEVISION is mounted on the corner, but in the center… a large CHAIR. The TELEVISION is playing a video of ART CRONKITE.
CRONKITE
This is how I breathe. This is how I breathe.
I9[LOOP-ITEM] The screws holding the GRATE on the wall
DANI uses the thin metal edge on her HANDCUFFS to unscrew the GRATE. She pops herself through and climbs out.
INT. NORA ROOM – CONTINUOUS
DANI enters the room and is facing the back of the CHAIR. It’s identical to the one on the SCHEMATICS in EP #037. It also kind of looks like the CHAIR found in CAPTAIN FISCHER’s house in EP #033, but this CHAIR seems better maintained and sleeker than the previous one.
I10[LOOP-ITEM] The back of the chair
DANI circles around the chair revealing: NORA BROOKS sitting unconscious in the CHAIR, restrained by METAL CLAMPS around her arms and LEATHER STRAPS around her BODY.
DANI
Nora…
DANI goes to NORA’s side and tries to wake up her friend.
DANI (CONT’D)
Nora! Nora wake up! It’s me! It’s Dani!
DANI looks around and notices a bunch of BUTTONS on a nearby CONTROL PANEL.
I11[LOOP-ITEM] Control panel covered in buttons and toggles
She frantically tries 3 or 4 BUTTONS and TOGGLES, each doing a random function: whirrs and noises, lights glowing, but at the fifth BUTTON, the video becomes choppy and glitchy, playing different parts of different videos.
CRONKITE
(repeated)
This–this–this is how I breathe–breathe–say hello. This–this is how I blink–…
DANI ignores this and continues to press random BUTTONS. One of the BUTTONS works, lifting the METAL clamps across NORA’s arms.
DANI
Oh thank god.
DANI turns her attention to the LEATHER STRAPS holding NORA in place.
I12[LOOP-ITEM] The straps holding down Nora
DANI starts fiddling with the STRAPS that are holding NORA in place. DANI hears the sounds of RUNNING down the hall.
DANI
C’mon…c’mon…
MAX busts open the DOOR. His GUN is focused on DANI.
MAX
Don’t move.
But then MAX notices NORA.
MAX
…Nora? Oh my god, NORA!
MAX rushes over to NORA’s side and pushes DANI out of the way in the process.
MAX
Move! Oh my god, what did you do to her?!
I13[LOOP-DLG] Max angry vs Dani in shock
[START BRANCHING]
INT. NORA ROOM – DEFEND YOURSELF BRANCH
DANI
I didn’t do anything! I found her like this!
INT. NORA ROOM – GET ANGRY BRANCH
DANI
Don’t be stupid. I didn’t do this to her, obviously they did!
INT. NORA ROOM – SEGUE
The video chatters again.
CRONKITE
Breathe–Hello–This is how I–Hello–Just breathe–
MAX and DANI get the final restraint off. DANI notices an IV still attached to NORA’s arm.
MAX
What are they giving her?!
I14[LOOP-ITEM] The IV in Nora’s arm.
DANI pulls out the IV and turns her attention to NORA.
I15[LOOP-ITEM] Unconscious Nora
CTA: Wake her
DANI moves to wake NORA, when NORA’s hand shoots out, and grabs DANI by the neck. NORA’s eyes suddenly open.
NORA
Don’t touch me.