"SHARP!" An OSHA PSA Spec Script

 Kicking off my inaugural 13 Days of Halloween here at the Alexander Green Sampler is a spec script I wrote for practice.  It's for a hypothetical Occupation Safety and Health Administration public service announcement about the consequences of working in a hostile kitchen. Enjoy!

 

"SHARP!"

By Alexander Green

INT. THE DISH PIT IN THE BACK OF A RESTAURANT

A large, burly man is cleaning sharp knives. A large OSHA safety poster is noticeably hanging behind him. A fresh batch of dirty, unsorted plates and other miscellaneous dishes are dropped off in front of him. The man grunts, his face contorts with barely controlled rage.

INT. DISH PIT - CLOSE UP

The man quickly unfolds a brown paper take out bag, and jabs two holes in it with his fingers. He puts it over his head. His eyes stare intently through the finger punched holes. He is now, The Bag Man!

INT. DISH PIT

There is a large red light switch on the wall opposite the dish pit. Around the corner of the wall a pair of servers, a young man and a young woman, are walking out of the dish pit towards the server aisle. The Bag Man quickly flicks the lights off. The young woman gasps.

INT. BUSY RESTAURANT - NIGHT

The restaurant is cloaked in darkness. The customers look confused. The staff look concerned.

INT. SERVER AISLE

                                        YOUNG WOMAN

                                         What happened to the lights?

Ominous music begins to play.

                                        YOUNG MAN

                                         Beats me. But light's out, means peace out. Later.

INT. DISH PIT

The young man leaves the young woman behind on his way out of the server aisle. He's heading towards the rear exit... just past the dish pit! The Bag Man is waiting for him with a big knife at the ready. As the young man approaches dish, the Bag Man brings his knife up to slash.

                                        BAG MAN

                                         Sharp!

Hearing the loud verbal warning that a sharp object is incoming, the young man steps back abruptly. The big knife slices through empty air.

                                        YOUNG MAN 

                                        Woah! Thanks for the heads up.

The young man easily side steps Bag Man and walks past him to the rear exit.

                                        YOUNG MAN 

                                        Nice bag.

Bag Man sighs.

INT. SERVER AISLE

The Bag Man is sneaking up on the young woman. She has her back to the server aisle and is facing the dark restaurant. Bag Man brings his knife up in stabbing position.

                                        BAG MAN

                                         Behind!

INT. RESTAURANT HALLWAY

The young woman yelps and instinctively moves out of the way of the server aisle entrance. Bag Man's knife slices through where she used to be. She turns around to see Bag Man standing with his knife.

                                        YOUNG WOMAN 

                                        Thank god you said something. I'm getting out of here before someone more                                             careless comes by.

She turns around heads through the dark front of house on her way to the front entrance. Bag Man lets out a frustrated grunt before heading back into the server aisle.

INT. DISH PIT

Back in the dish pit Bag Man stalks towards where the dish pit and kitchen meet. Coming around the corner is a cook with several dirty pans in his hands. Hearing him coming Bag Man waits in ambush around the corner of the dish pit, knife at the ready. As the cook is about to round the corner...

                                        BAG MAN

                                         Corner!

The cook heeds the warning and steps to the side, dodging the knife.

                                        COOK 

                                        You almost got me there, man. Thanks for the warning. Everyone should be so                                         careful with all the sharp tools we use.

The cook walks on by Bag Man into the dish pit. Bag Man slumps his shoulders and looks down in defeat. Behind him is that same OSHA safety guidelines poster from the beginning.

                                        VOICE OVER

                                         Remember to follow proper safety guidelines in your workplace. It may just                                             Save a Life. Whether you want it to or not.

END.