The Gist:

You have a weird addiction. Weird to anyone but you, of course, but this itch demands to be scratched whenever it rears it’s ugly head. Any time, any place.

With that in mind…

You’ve just relocated to a new city. Change of scenery is good, you think. New town, new job, new friends and surroundings. You’ve even gone on a couple dates with a co-worker and things seem to be going swell.

Until…

One day at work, you discover something that wasn’t meant for yours, or anyones, eyes. A carefully laid out plan of extremely wicked and gruesome proportions. Dates and times. It’s crazy. It’s extraordinarily evil. And it was left behind by the person you’ve been dating.

So…

Armed with this knowledge, you feel compelled to stop it. You must. But how? And what about that strange little addiction you have, hmm?

Clock is ticking…

After relocating to a new city, a person with a strange addiction feels compelled to act when he/she discovers a sinister plot left behind by the co-worker they’ve been dating.

Genre is open.

Write a properly formatted script of up to 10 pages. Does not include title page.

Please put © 2023 on title page.

Do not use your real name. This is an anonymous challenge, and there are no official prizes.

Scripts are due Friday, July 14 at midnight to SimplyScripts.com/owc

**** Remember, you will be voting on these so be sure to read as many of the scripts as you can! Those who don’t enter, yet still read, can request a voting ballot from either me or Don. ****

Interesting!

Wow! How'd you come up with this one?

Quoted from LC Wow! How'd you come up with this one?

Last minute.

Quoted Text Write a properly formatted script of up to 10 pages. Does not include title page.

I swear I read that as "Write a poorly formatted script..."

  

Quoted from steven8 I swear I read that as "Write a poorly formatted script..."

You must have read a few of my entries.

Can "addictions" be "compulsions"?

• Hand washing
  
• Counting things
  
• Laying things in a certain order
  

Stuff like that?

Quoted from Nomad Can "addictions" be "compulsions"? Hand washing Counting things Laying things in a certain order Stuff like that?

Absolutely.

Quoted from steven8 I swear I read that as "Write a poorly formatted script..."

I got all excited when I read this, Steven. I thought, Finally! A genre I excel at!  

Quoted from kcranford I got all excited when I read this, Steven. I thought, Finally! A genre I excel at!

That’s all good. I used to identify as “poorly formatted.” Some say I still do.

Oh nice. I can't participate but will read at least some.
Good luck to all!

The entire story is in my head, start to finish, and I love it.  I've written five lines, and I hate it.

This is going to take some serious stepping back and thinking about things.

Quoted from steven8 The entire story is in my head, start to finish, and I love it.  I've written five lines, and I hate it. This is going to take some serious stepping back and thinking about things.

Keep going, Steve. Get crazy with it!

Quoted from khamanna Oh nice. I can't participate but will read at least some. Good luck to all!

Thanks, KhM. Can always count on you!

Quoted from SAC Keep going, Steve. Get crazy with it!

I'm chugging along!

Got it done.  I'm knackered.  Going to sleep now and I'll double check I'm happy with it tomorrow night.

Night all!

Quoted from steven8 Got it done.  I'm knackered.  Going to sleep now and I'll double check I'm happy with it tomorrow night.

WOW! That was quick! It'll be real interesting to see what you've come up with.

Can we have a countdown please, the ticking clock always helps!

Yea, man, double wow. Kudos

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Can we have a countdown please, the ticking clock always helps!

I’ll shoot the Don an email

Now this is definitely a challenge!

Quoted from kbyrdleroy2 Now this is definitely a challenge!

Hey, thanks! And welcome to SS. Hope you get a script in. Any questions feel free to ask.

Quoted from steven8 I swear I read that as "Write a poorly formatted script..."

via GIPHY

Steve (or should I say SAC) - you gave us the entire story. How will people come up with a story? You mean give your characters different names?

Ok, entirely kidding here.

not!

no kidding.

Nice challenge

Quoted from khamanna Steve (or should I say SAC) - you gave us the entire story. How will people come up with a story? You mean give your characters different names? Ok, entirely kidding here. not! no kidding. Nice challenge

I don’t know. Steven8 apparently banged one out in 24 hrs!

I may give this one a shot, if I can muster something up. Uniquely structured & dare I say, challenging.

Quoted from Robert Timsah I may give this one a shot, if I can muster something up. Uniquely structured & dare I say, challenging.

Thanks, Robert. I try. And you should give it a shot. Haven’t seen anything from you in a while.

Quoted from khamanna Steve (or should I say SAC) - you gave us the entire story. How will people come up with a story? You mean give your characters different names?

I've dibs on the name Steven. Dang, I just gave it away....

A bunch of ideas so far but no words...

That is a fantastic and creative idea for a OWC. I'm on several deadlines and I only just spotted this so I'm going to have to pass, but I do find it intriguing.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood A bunch of ideas so far but no words...

They’ll come… Hey, good title, btw

Quoted from MarkRenshaw That is a fantastic and creative idea for a OWC. I'm on several deadlines and I only just spotted this so I'm going to have to pass, but I do find it intriguing.

Thanks for the boost, Mark.

Quoted from JEStaats I've dibs on the name Steven. Dang, I just gave it away....

You could ask everyone to name their lead Steve!

How weird is weird? For example is collecting hotel towels (stealing them) weird?

Quoted from khamanna How weird is weird? For example is collecting hotel towels (stealing them) weird?

About as weird as having perfect hair as a superpower, I guess.

But yeah, I would accept something like that as long as it plays a role in the story.

Speaking of towels, I steal a pool towel from every Summer vaca I go on. Sort of reminds me of the vacation every time I use it.

Quoted from SAC ... I would accept something like that as long as it plays a role in the story. ...

This is obviously key. The addiction/compulsion has to connect with the rest of the plot and not be incidental.

Quoted from LC This is obviously key. The addiction/compulsion has to connect with the rest of the plot and not be incidental.

Correct a mundo!

Quoted from SAC Correct a mundo!

Now, that's a pop culture reference I 'get.'

Quoted from steven8 Now, that's a pop culture reference I 'get.'

I hear crickets. Seems like you and I are the only ones.

Quoted from SAC I hear crickets. Seems like you and I are the only ones.

You, me and the crickets.  It's good company.

Oh I've got one for the ages...or OWC...!

Quoted from RolandJ Oh I've got one for the ages...or OWC...!

Oh, this better be good!

Quoted from RolandJ Oh I've got one for the ages...or OWC...!

Mine is one for the aged.

Quoted from steven8 Mine is one for the aged.

When I saw the theme, I liked it. I came up with an idea. I haven't started writing because I have been busy. It is 1 day 19 hours left. Don't know if I can make it.

Michael

Quoted from MichaelYu When I saw the theme, I liked it. I came up with an idea. I haven't started writing because I have been busy. It is 1 day 19 hours left. Don't know if I can make it. Michael

Go!

Hey all,

Michael got me to thinking. Since I announced a day late, I’m going to push the deadline to Sunday at midnight. That and turnout has been a bit low so far, but hopefully this gives a few more peeps the time, and the incentive, they need to get rockin.

Okay? Sunday at midnight is the new deadline! Good luck!

So Steve, when looking at the current countdown clock, add a day.

Quoted from LC So Steve, when looking at the current countdown clock, add a day.

Yes. Don said he’d adjust the clock  

At some point.

The timer has been set.  

7/16/23 23:59:59 edt

Quoted from LC This is obviously key. The addiction/compulsion has to connect with the rest of the plot and not be incidental.

I'm not in but I think the addiction is being connected is an added later criteria. I see that Steve has "and what about that addiction" at the end of his top post but it's not that explicit. I mean it might be not fair towards those who already developed an idea where the addiction is not fully in or something.

again, i'm not in, don't have anything in my head for a really long time, sorry

Quoted from khamanna I'm not in but I think the addiction is being connected is an added later criteria. I see that Steve has "and what about that addiction" at the end of his top post but it's not that explicit. I mean it might be not fair towards those who already developed an idea where the addiction is not fully in or something. again, i'm not in, don't have anything in my head for a really long time, sorry

While I didn’t specify that it MUST play a role in the story, it’s not just tacked on at the end. It was the very first criteria I mentioned. Now, I would think that peeps would realize that the strange addiction/compulsion should play some sort of part in the story. How big a part would be up to the writer.  Quite honestly, it could be used for a cheap laugh, it doesn’t matter really. However you want to use it. What I’m really interested in is a good story

Have started 3 different scripts, I really like two of them but not going to work for this criteria... came on to declare myself out as I thought I only had a few hours left.

Now I see there's an extension, maybe not out afterall!

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Have started 3 different scripts, I really like two of them but not going to work for this criteria... came on to declare myself out as I thought I only had a few hours left. Now I see there's an extension, maybe not out afterall!

That’s good to hear, Anthony. It was looking pretty light there for a few minutes, but a couple more scripts came in. Hope peeps take advantage of this extension.

Well, in the words of Fresh Fish from Shawshank ..."I'm not supposed to be here!". I should be busying myself with the stupid amount of work I have to do, but I figure this is as good a time as any for a time out.

Steven, you've served up a Double Whopper!

We started one a few days ago, then trashed it. Now recycling. We'll see how it goes.

Reg

Quoted from ghost and_ghostie gal Well, in the words of Fresh Fish from Shawshank ..."I'm not supposed to be here!". I should be busying myself with the stupid amount of work I have to do, but I figure this is as good a time as any for a time out. Steven, you've served up a Double Whopper! We started one a few days ago, then trashed it. Now recycling. We'll see how it goes. Reg

Wow, Reg! A script from the First Couple of SS! Color me very intrigued.

Don’t forget, those of you who’ve entered already have another day and a half to rewrite and tweak if the mood hits you.

Quoted from SAC Don’t forget, those of you who’ve entered already have another day and a half to rewrite and tweak if the mood hits you.

I'm not touching mine.  The old creativity ammo clip is empty.  Perhaps the reviews will reload it.

Quoted from steven8 I'm not touching mine.  The old creativity ammo clip is empty.  Perhaps the reviews will reload it.

Liar, Liar, Pants on fire!  I went and reread it, found an incorrect word and something I totally meant to have in there, but forgot.  New version submitted.

I wish I'd seen this earlier - I have a great idea for this prompt!

Quoted from AlsoBen I wish I'd seen this earlier - I have a great idea for this prompt!

24 hours for what, 6 - 8 pages you have all figured out in your head?  You can do it!

Quoted from steven8 Liar, Liar, Pants on fire!  I went and reread it, found an incorrect word and something I totally meant to have in there, but forgot.  New version submitted.

See, I would have caught that blunder and you'd be kicking yourself.  

...

Ben, you have all day Sunday, no probs.

Steven8 is right. We can write 6-8 pages within 24 hours. AlsoBen,  you should try.


Michael.

I am going to leave it a secret whether I ended up submitting my three-hour travesty, LC and Col

I look forward to spotting it, Ben!

Quoted from MichaelYu Steven8 is right. We can write 6-8 pages within 24 hours. AlsoBen,  you should try. Michael.

Even twelve hours, as it stands now, could be enough if you have the bones in place. I’ve kicked myself in the ass for all the OWCs that I dipped out on because I wasn’t happy with the way the story was going. Basically, I gave up. It’s on OWC. It’s not supposed to be perfect, I guess.

After some serious recycling... who knows, maybe we'll beat the deadline.

Reggie

Quoted from ghost and_ghostie gal After some serious recycling... who knows, maybe we'll beat the deadline.Reggie

Two whole hours to go. You guys have got this!
Who needs sleep, right?  

Quoted from AlsoBen I am going to leave it a secret whether I ended up submitting my three-hour travesty, LC and Col

Mine took three hours to write, so I guess it could be called a three-hour travesty, too.  I spent 18 hours planning it out in my head, then three hours writing it out.  So you might call it a twenty-one-hour travesty.  

Quoted from LC Two whole hours to go. You guys have got this! Who needs sleep, right?

Right Right.

LC, how the hell are you? It's been awhile. I'd ask how you doing, but I get an earful.

Reggie

Quoted from ghost and_ghostie gal Right Right. LC, how the hell are you? It's been awhile. I'd ask how you doing, but I get an earful. Reggie

Yes, you'd better get back to work Reggie, or Andrea will be cracking the whip. All good here. Looking forward to reading your entry.

I've submitted my script. Look forward to reading yours.

Michael

Submitted. Just barely.
I needed almost every bit of those extra hours and minutes.
However,  I left out one of the conditions of the challenge.
Oh well, it's not often I write anymore.

I feel like sleeping.
But I've got to go to work. Ughh.

Stealing towels from every hotel makes the character a serial ...what?
A serial thief...? Or fulfilling a fantasy about....?
Serial killers always keep drivers licenses of  their victims so the can re-imagine the homicide. But a serial hotel towel thief must be reimagining any number of things he/she does with the towel ---hummm?

Quoted from RolandJ Stealing towels from every hotel makes the character a serial ...what? A serial thief...? Or fulfilling a fantasy about....? Serial killers always keep drivers licenses of  their victims so the can re-imagine the homicide. But a serial hotel towel thief must be reimagining any number of things he/she does with the towel ---hummm?

We’re heading out on vacation this week, so I’m sure I’ll find a whole new stash of hotel towels. Actually, they’re pool towels. Honestly, it’s a compulsion. Or maybe an addiction. Maybe I’ll find a note about a plotting to use AI seagulls to attack a boardwalk full of unsuspecting tourists. One can only hope.