Lawnmower Man

From our last class meeting everyone seemed to like the Lawnmower story out of the other story lines I had come up with and I agree. I also like Matt's story about the old man and the piano, that would be interesting to do as well. I'd be happy going either way.

Anyhow, here is the a rough draft story for "Lawnmower Man" (working title). I'll post up a few rough sketches once I get them scanned.

The scene opens with a clear view of a simple lawn with a few trees of in the background.
The sound of a push mower is heard, the sound of it jamming, and then continuing before the main character comes into view. The Lawnmower man mows his way into the frame, moving forward until the push mower catches and jams forcing the Lawnmower man to struggle against the push bar of the mower to unjam it and continue. His expression and body posture suggest a growing amount of frustration.
The camera cuts in close to show just the push mower and the title of the short before cutting back to the overall scene revealing that the Lawnmower man has only moved less then halfway across the frame. After having the mower jam two more times at closer intervals, he finally gets entirely fed up. Turning around he storms off the frame, leaving the push mower behind. A door slams and a moment later a truck pulls in front of the camera and a large cardboard box is dropped out the back onto the edge of the lawn. The Lawnmower man returns from offscreen, looking over the large box for a moment before tearing it away to reveal the Power Mower 3000. The camera cuts in close for a brief second for a short of Power Mower 3000 as the sunlight reflects off the chrome tail pipes, like one would introduce a high octane race car.
The camera cuts back to the Lawnmower man walking around to the back of the mower when the push bar abruptly springs out, unfolding into position, causing the character to jump in surprise. Grabbing hold of the push bar the character pulls on the cord that starts the mower which vibrates and revs up. Reaching forward, the he pulls down on large lever suddenly causing the mower and the character to speed off the frame. A second later the camera cuts to a dolly shot as the mower zooms across the lawn, the Lawnmower man trailing along behind barely holding on with one hand. Loosing grip, he falls face first into the grass. Lifting up his head he jumps up in shock, turns around and runs off screen, the Power Mower 3000 chasing after him. The Power Mower 3000 chases after him back and forth across the camera three more times, getting closer and closer every time. During the second pass the Power Mower tips back, lifting the front wheels off the ground to expose the blade and look all the more dangerous. At the last minute when it is almost right on his heals, the Lawnmower man zips around the abandoned push power. The Power Mower runs over the push mower and parts go flying, totally destroying the mowers.
The camera transitions to the Lawnmower man mowing the lawn with a very beat up push mower as happy as could be.

Alternatives:

• The Lawnmower man can call from a cell phone rather then storming off the frame

Story Rundown:

• Character gets fed up with old push mower and replaces it with fancy power mower.
• He looses control of the power mower and is almost chased down by it but the power mower runs over the old push mower, destroying it and saving the character.
• Character goes back to using push mower, thankful that it had saved his life

Character:
Lawnmower Man

Active Objects:
Mow Master 3000 (not quite a character but close)
Push Mower
Mow Master Box
Delivery Truck

Theme: Getting something better does not always turn out for the best

Conflict: Mowing Man with old push mower, then with agressive mower power

Genre: Comedy