A vintage World War II Sherman tank careens across the US- Mexico border one cold night, followed by police cars and helicopters. As the border forces get ready for a faceoff with the unknown insurgents inside the tank, it grinds to a halt, crashing over a police booth. Watched by an entire army of police and border forces, a motley crew of three emerges from the vehicle. Halada, in his late teens, is the leader of the group and the protagonist of our story. The other two in the tank are Tugger, a twelve-year-old and Schubert, a sixty-five-year senior. The tank crash is the end of an adventurous and eventful road trip undertaken by the trio to escape from the gloom of their terminal medical conditions. To add more excitement to their road trip, they contrive a game, complete with a complex point structure to vie with each other for a title. Their trip takes them across the country and beyond, into Mexico. Their undertakings turn riskier with time, confident that nothing worse can happen to them.
‘Mortality Game’ is a feature length screenplay by writer Ed Vela. Ed tells the cheerful tale of three friends on an adventurous road trip, with an omnipresent depressing dark shadow following them. Like his characters, Ed turns the tables on the gloom to create an enjoyable story that is fun and filled with life. He accomplishes this by telling the story in three parallel streams. One in the interactions between Halada and his interrogator. The second recalling the events that have transpired between the three runaways. And the third in the hallucinations that are an unavoidable part of the life of Halada. Suffering from a condition where the tumours in his brain blur his ability to comprehend the difference between reality and his hallucination. All three characters in ‘Mortality Game’ shine through bright with their resolve to make the best of what little they are left with. This makes it contiguously positive.
‘Mortality Game’ is the story of three terminally ill patients unhappy with the way society treats them in their most precarious moments. It raises the question of whether shackling patients with a depressing treatment regime is emotionally the best option for someone whom medical science has already given up as ‘terminal’?
The Mortality Game is bracing, fun, and engrossing. I felt for all the characters, their physical issues and emotional heartbreak. It was nice to see characters determined to strike for the bright side of life, even as they race the Grim Reaper. Ed Vela doesn’t skirt the realities of Life, but he’s not afraid to have a laugh in the face of death.
Exactly what I have come to expect from Ed Vela. A great adventure from start to finish. I like how easy it is to tag along with the characters in the story!
I read this script as part of another contest it was entered, and I found it to be of superior quality. Especially in the areas of dialogue and character development. It was hysterical in spots, poignant in others, with an ending that is bittersweet, but inescapably satisfying.
Ed Vela us an awesome writer! Glad to hear he’s been seen.
Love this multi award winning story. Love how true to life it is and it does make you think about medical treatments at times
Sounds like a great story that will be visually amazing!!!
Just reading this write up I can Imagine this story -visually. And in my mind it is playful and beautiful, but also action packed from the perspective of kids playing in the woods or down by the creek during better times when kids stayed outside till the street lights come on. It also alludes to moments that are “coming of age”, and these kind of films are always classic in my mind. We are only young once. I’m not a very good writer, but that is my take and I’d love to see this story on the big screen!
Awesome screenplay!
This summary leads me to think this will be a good story with some insight into the terminal condition we are all facing….don’t see a link to the full script on this page, tho.
In Morality Game, I love the way told the story in three parallel.
It was very well written and very entertaining.
Although I haven’t read this story yet I would like to! I’ve watched all of Ed’s YouTube shows and a few other stories! Great stuff!
Amazing script and writer
Ed vela’s writing is bright and shining. The way he embeds Unique personality in every corner of every story is masterful. MUCH LOVE