Struck by Lightning

Synopsis: A high school boy, desperate to escape the idiocy of the people in his hometown, tries to create a way in which he can move to New York, attend the college of his dreams and do something other than live in the footsteps of his drunken, divorced mother. Along the way he blackmails his fellow students into contributing to his literary magazine and discovers what it's like to feel accomplished. Does he get accepted into the college of his dreams? Is he going to make a difference and follow his life goal?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Director(s): Brian Dannelly
Production: Tribeca Film
  2 wins.
 
IMDB:
6.3
Metacritic:
41
Rotten Tomatoes:
27%
NOT RATED
Year:
2012
90 min
$100,000
Website
564 Views


[Carson] i always thought

death would be different.

I expected a

great wave of realization

to sweep over me.

Suddenly, the meaning of life

would be answered along with

every other question

i ever had.

But there was

nothing to realize.

- I was dead.

- [Doorbell rings]

- What?!

- Are you sheryl phillips?

What, did i forget to put my

trash bins away or something?

No, ma'am.

Your son has died.

His body was found

in the school parking lot

this morning.

[Student reporter]

A few days ago,

right here where i'm standing,

clover high school senior

carson phillips

lost his life when he was

struck by lightning.

A service

will be held this sunday

at clover community chapel.

He will be missed.

AT it's so hard

to say goodbye

to yesterday

and... my funeral sucks.

Goodbye, carson.

You've seen my end.

But where do i begin?

I remember when

i realized i was different

from everyone else.

My name is carson.

My mom says i was named carson

because that's what was on tv

when i was conceived.

When something

takes away something else,

what do we call that?

- Not addition, but...

- homicide.

I was advanced at a young age.

Most of the founding fathers

were closeted homosexuals

and slave owners.

My reports were always

more thorough than my peers.

I'm serious.

I remember when i discovered

the power of words

and how easy it was

to escape into a world

of my own by using them.

[Neal]

It was a pleasant environment.

Three sheets to the wind, too.

You're already.

At least leave me one beer.

Carson, this is

the last time you'll ever

see your grandfather!

- I know what he looks like!

- Stop fighting me!

Stand up.

- Boo!

- Ahh!

What the hell

is wrong with you?!

It was lame.

I know, i know.

The kid's a puss.

I remember the day

grandma came to live with us.

Grandma!

[Neal]

It's the fifth time

you found her

wondering around town.

Oh, mom.

And now

she's in the linen closet.

Your bedroom is the next door.

And the day

that grandma got sick.

- I wrote you a story, grandma.

- Oh, let's see.

"Once upon a time,

there was a boy."

Well, it could use

a little development,

but it's a great beginning.

The whole neighborhood

remembers the night

that dad left.

We just started

going back to counseling.

You can't just do this.

Yeah, well, i'm leaving.

I can't take this.

- Where are you going?!

- Anywhere but here.

- That's mine!

- That is not yours.

I... thank you.

You can't come back!

No!

I hate you!

[Sobbing]

I hate you!

Screw it.

If anyone asks,

we're jewish.

It's been me and mom

ever since.

Mom, wake up.

You passed out again.

- Wake up, mom.

- Oh, jesus!

Congratulations.

You survived the night.

Oh, jesus.

If you were descent,

you would just let me sleep.

If i was descent,

i'd just put you to sleep.

My god.

My head.

You know, the morning

isn't supposed to hurt.

I don't have to go to school.

Why do i have to get up?

Here.

Are you sure

you're supposed to be drinking

with all those pills

dr. Diehler's giving you?

Dr. Wheeler. Why don't you just

leave that to the professionals?

Can i have my other glass

back, please?

It's in the sink.

Get it yourself.

You know, you make me wish i'd

had that abortion in the '90s.

- That makes two of us.

- Go to school already!

Go! Go! Go!

And if i am still sleeping

when you get home,

don't you dare put my hand

in a bowl of water again.

- [Laughs]

- Shut up.

Bye. Love you, too.

Would you bring me

my pillow back?!

Close the shades.

- [Door closes]

- I hate you.

High school.

Society's bright idea

to put all their aggressive,

self righteous,

pubescent, naive youth

into one environment

to torment

and emotionally scar

each other for life.

Cattle, cattle,

cattle, cattle!

Shakespeare once wrote

that life is but a dream.

And that's exactly

how i lived my life,

from one dream to the next.

Hating every

update of reality.

Well, the "l" stands for

an imaginary number.

Okay, hold up.

There are imaginary

numbers now?

Are there

unicorns the next lesson?

Can someone please

teach me something useful,

like how to balance a checkbook?

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Why did i get a "c" on this?

- This is a great paper.

- The assignment was to pick

either evolution or creationism

and provide background evidence

as to why

you believe that theory.

I know.

I picked evolution.

I said that it's

obvious creatures can adapt

to their environments

because i no longer

have the urge to throw things

at students

who believe in creationism.

Right?

Right?

I believe in creationism.

Exhibit "a."

Welcome to career day

here at the counseling center.

Right, i'm sure

you saw our flier.

And you know,

we're here to just sort of

help you kiddos

establish your

future career options,

what do you want to do...

i know the exact career

that i want.

Okay.

What is it, munchkin?

I want to be the editor

of the new yorker

and the youngest

freelance journalist

to be published

in the new york times,

la times, boston herald,

and the chicago tribune.

You have had some time

to think about this then, huh?

- Every day since i was eight.

- Okay. Well...

what about college?

I can help you decide

what college to go to.

Uh, no. I've got

to get into northwestern.

All right.

Where is that exactly?

- Illinois.

- Never heard of it.

I've put 17 good years

Rate this script:4.7 / 3 votes

Chris Colfer

Christopher Paul Colfer (born May 27, 1990) is an American actor, singer, and author. He gained international recognition for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the hit television singing series Glee (2009–15). Colfer's portrayal of Kurt has received critical praise for which he has been the recipient of several awards, including Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards and three consecutive People's Choice Awards for Favorite Comedic TV Actor in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In April 2011, Colfer was named one of the 2011 Time 100, Time's list of the 100 most influential people. Colfer wrote, starred in, produced, and novelized his first film, Struck by Lightning, which debuted at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. He is also a New York Times number-one bestselling author of The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, the first novel in his middle-grade reader series. more…

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    "Struck by Lightning" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/struck_by_lightning_19014>.

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