One of the reasons I decided to pay real money for this site instead of using the free WordPress hosting thing was because I wanted to post the scripts I have been working on.
However, screenplays are formatted interestingly. You can’t just copy and paste the things in and have it look right. I wasn’t entirely happy with merely embedding the PDFs, which meant switching to the full WordPress installation where I can use plugins.
The usual screenplay formatting plugin, Scrippets, isn’t fully compatible with WordPress’s fancy new Block editor thing. Manually uploading the plugin and using the Shortcode block appears to work, however.
Below is my test script. It’s a small scene featuring characters from my Exalted story. The previews show it looking correct, although I’ll have to mess with the CSS or something to make it not thin like that.
Anyway, the block editor is nice, but there’s a lot of very obvious options that either are hidden or not there. Good for basic blogging I guess, but I’m trying to do slightly more than basic blogging.
I tried a plugin that parses .docx files
but it didn’t understand the script formatting 🙁
INT. INN COMMON ROOM – DAY
The inn’s rustic common room is half full of travelers scarfing their breakfasts of toast or porridge in booths or at tables, and a few locals doing the same.
A hooded and cloaked WOMAN slowly approaches the counter where the large but sturdy INNKEEPER is coordinating food orders. She seems to radiate an aura of sadness.
INNKEEPER
Oh M’- Good morning, I’m glad to see you come down today. It looks to be a good day out.
(beat)
Your food is just about ready, I can have brought to your room.
The Woman nods and turns toward the stairs but abruptly stops.
INNKEEPER
What is it? Something wrong?
He follows her gaze to a booth where three people sit, eating in silence.
INNKEEPER
Do you know them? They arrived late last night.
WOMAN
I know them.
INNKEEPER
Should I call in the guards? Or I could-
WOMAN
No. I will talk with them.
ON SUNRISE WAYFARER, RING, and AMIRA sitting in a booth. Sunrise notes the Innkeeper trying to casually alert the two guards standing at the door, then tracks the Woman as she approaches their table.
The Woman stops at the head of the table. Sunrise and Ring eat in silence, but all of them are tense, not knowing if a fight will break out. Amira has been staring into the hood.
AMIRA
Leyi?
V’NEEF SORAS LEYI (WOMAN)
W-why are you here?
The Celestial Exalts glance at each other.
RING
We’re traveling east in search of a Shogunate library.
LEYI
Is that the truth?
RING
Yes.
LEYI
Amira?
AMIRA
The Forest Library of Misapal.
Leyi considers for a moment, then sits down next to Sunrise, waving the guards away.
LEYI
(deep sadness)
You’ve heard, right?
The celestials nod.
SUNRISE
Any word from your family?
LEYI
No, but... They can’t all be gone.
SUNRISE
For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.
LEYI
Thanks.
RING
What have you been doing here?
LEYI
I don’t know... Hiding. What am I- I hadn’t even left the Threshold.
[More explanation of what happened to her?]
SUNRISE
I don’t suppose you could... Travel with us? It’d be better than hiding here.
Surprised, Leyi sits, thinking.
LEYI
Just let me ask one question.
SUNRISE
Alright.
LEYI
(to Ring)
Was it intentional?
(to all)
When we first met, was it part of some plan? When you learned who I was did you think I could be made into some kind of pawn? To protect you from the Wy-enemies?
SUNRISE
Never!
AMIRA
No!
RING
No. When we-
SUNRISE
You were a traveler alone on a dangerous road. We would have helped anyone.
(quieter)
And when you revealed yourself, we were going to leave. Then those Dragons found us, and we realized that we couldn’t leave you to them. We stayed, despite the danger, because we care about you.
LEYI
You... Cared about me?
Everyone falls silent as the Innkeeper arrives with Leyi’s food. The bread is toasted and buttered, and a few pieces of fruit adorn the plate.
INNKEEPER
Is all well here, my Lady?
LEYI
(staring at Sunrise)
Yes.
The Innkeeper leaves.
SUNRISE
We still do.
(mischievous grin)
Even if we really shouldn’t.
LEYI
I- You- Even now?
RING
Being on opposite sides of a conflict doesn’t change the experiences we had together.