Learn about the screenplay Down the Mountain and get involved.
Down the Mountain is a screenplay in which the child of God, Xander, comes down to live with humanity, but he finds humanity is wicked and is faced with the decision on whether to save humanity or let it perish.
Down the Mountain is set in a magical realist world that is steeped in a blend of traditional Mesoamerican beliefs and Christianity.
Script Excerpt
FADE IN:
EXT. MOUNTAIN- DAY
The sun is in the middle of rising. There is a large mountain formed from red beds. The sky is clear, but at the foot of the mountain, there is heavy smog. Through the smog, we see a poor 1930s rural town.
EXT. MOUNTAIN- DAY
Some scattered yellow shrubbery exists on the red-brown ground. A few purple flowers can be seen.
The ground looks almost like a path, but it looks like it naturally formed this way.
XANDER, a nervous and lighthearted eleven-year-old boy, walks down the mountain. He is dressed in frayed corn husks and purple flowers.
He stops.
A rabbit is struggling to hop.
Xander walks up to it. He lifts the rabbit up, pets it, and winces. He puts the rabbit down.
The rabbit hops away with ease.
Xander smiles.
Xander begins walking down the mountain again with a slight limp.
EXT. MOUNTAIN- NIGHT
The sun begins to set.
THE TOWN OF KÓSMOS- NIGHT
The small smog-covered town at the bottom of the mountain looks humble.
A wooden sign is mounted in the ground.
INSERT-SIGN
The sign reads, "The Town of Kósmos."
BACK TO SCENE
A dress shoe comes down and squashes a purple flower.
PADRE PEDRO, a well-dressed plump middle-aged man, is looking down at the squashed flower. He looks up.
Facing Padre Pedro, about TWO DOZEN PEOPLE are kneeling at the edge of town at the foot of the Mountain. They smile and seem to have no care for the flower.
They are dressed in humble 1930s church clothing. No one wears the color purple. Most of the people are adults. There are some oil lamps and candles set on the ground, but the smog is so heavy that it is still difficult to see what is ahead.
All the colors in the town are dull. The town has no electric lights or other amenities.
PADRE PEDRO
(in Latin)
Amen.
Everyone rises. Some pick up the lamps and candles.
PADRE PEDRO
I also like to say I know his coming is a sign that we are making the right choice with the mining.
Some of the people look excited. Others look worried.
Padre Pedro walks into the crowd.
There is a silence. Everyone looks at the mountain.
Xander appears walking down the mountain. He looks tired.
The Two Dozen People begin to cheer and sing what sounds like hymns.
Xander smiles.
The Two Dozen People, overjoyed, rush up to Xander. They continue to cheer and sing.
They begin walking with Xander into the town.