Screenplay Example (Standard Format)

Below is a short film screenplay written from start to finish: “The Scale” — a story of about five minutes that takes place in a single location. It's written in the standard (master scene) format used in the film industry: the scene heading sits on the left in capitals, the action is in the present tense, the character name is in the middle of the page and the dialogue runs under it in a narrow column. You can download the same script, and a blank template, as Word or PDF at the bottom of the page.

What to look for in this example

Every scene opens with INT. or EXT. + location + time of day.
The action lines only write what's seen and heard: there's no “Cemal was sad”, there's “he wipes the pan with a cloth, then wipes it again”.
The dialogue is short; the real issue sits under the words (subtext).
The scale appears at the start and at the end of the film — the object is the story's measure.
The ending arrives through an action, not a line: the vest put away in the drawer.

How many pages, how many minutes?

Rough measure: in standard format, one page ≈ one minute of screen time. This example runs to about five pages. For your first short film, 5–10 pages is a realistic target; worry less about the page count and more about whether every scene is needed.

The Scale — short film screenplay (full text)

From Senaryo Okulu's Workshop Film universe; written to illustrate the techniques the lessons teach.

INT. BUTCHER'S SHOP – MORNING

A small butcher's shop. On the wall, a framed master's
certificate; the ribbon on its edge has faded. The glass
of the counter is empty.

CEMAL (60s, big hands, straight back) raises the shutter
from inside. Morning light falls across the empty hooks.

Cemal dusts the scale. Wipes the pan with a cloth. Wipes
it again.

He hones the knife on the strop. One. Two. Three.

He looks across through the window. On the far side of the
pavement, a giant shop window with a poster: OPENING IN 2
DAYS.

Cemal looks at his own reflection in the glass and
tightens the strings of his apron.

INT. BUTCHER'S SHOP – NOON

The door bell rings. NEVIN (70s, string shopping bag)
comes in.

                    NEVIN
          Two hundred grams of mince.

Cemal takes the meat from the hook, cuts it, feeds it to
the grinder. He puts the mince on paper and sets it on the
scale.

The needle stops at 220.

Cemal takes a pinch of mince back. The needle: 200.

                    NEVIN (CONT'D)
          Oh, come on, Cemal. It's twenty grams.

                    CEMAL
          You said two hundred.

Nevin leaves the money on the counter. On her way out she
stops at the door and looks at the shop window across the
street.

                    NEVIN
          They're opening on Friday, they say.

Cemal doesn't answer. He wipes the knife.

INT. BUTCHER'S SHOP – AFTERNOON

The empty shop. Cemal sits behind the counter and opens
his account book. Three lines on the page, all the same
day.

The door opens. EMRE (24, backpack) comes in. He pauses on
the threshold.

                    EMRE
          Dad.

Cemal closes the book.

                    CEMAL
          Have you eaten?

                    EMRE
          I have.

Emre drops the bag in the corner and takes the apron from
its hook. He starts to put it on.

                    CEMAL
          No need. There's no work today.

                    EMRE
          I'll clean the glass, then.

Emre takes the cloth and starts cleaning the window. The
light from the shop window across the street falls in
through the patch he's wiped.

INT. BUTCHER'S SHOP – EARLY EVENING

Cemal steps up to the scale. He calls to Emre without
looking at him.

                    CEMAL
          Come here.

Emre goes behind the counter. Cemal points to the scale's
zero.

                    CEMAL (CONT'D)
          Empty, it shows zero. If it doesn't,
          you weigh nothing.

Cemal takes Emre's hand and puts his finger on the
adjusting screw.

                    CEMAL (CONT'D)
          You weigh wrong once. Nobody comes
          back.

                    EMRE
          Dad, I...

Emre reaches for his bag. Pulls the zip.

A blue vest hangs out of the bag's mouth. On its chest,
the logo of the supermarket across the street.

Cemal sees it. He doesn't raise his eyes. His hand stays
on the scale.

A long silence. The hum of the fridge.

                    CEMAL
          How much are they paying?

                    EMRE
               (hesitates)
          Minimum wage. Plus meals.

                    CEMAL
          Count the meals. They won't.

Cemal adjusts the scale. The needle settles on zero.

Emre stuffs the vest back into the bag.

                    EMRE
          Three months. Just till winter. Then
          back here...

                    CEMAL
          You did the glass well.

Cemal unties his apron and hangs it on the hook. He goes
to the till.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE BUTCHER'S SHOP – NIGHT

Cemal pulls down the shutter. The metal echoes down the
street.

Emre waits a few steps away. The light of the shop window
across the street turns both their faces blue.

                    EMRE
          Do you want me to come tomorrow?

Cemal fits the padlock. Turns the key.

                    CEMAL
          I open at seven.

Emre nods. They walk off in opposite directions.

Cemal walks a few steps and stops. He looks back.

The end of the blue vest is hanging out of the bag on
Emre's back.

INT. BUTCHER'S SHOP – NIGHT

The dark shop. The door opens and Cemal comes in. He
doesn't turn on the light.

From under the counter he takes a folded blue vest — Emre
has forgotten it.

Cemal unfolds the vest. Looks at the logo. Then folds it
neatly.

He opens the drawer where his knives are kept. Puts the
vest inside. Closes it.

The scale is empty. In the dark, it shows zero.

                                                 FADE OUT.

Checklist

Are the scene headings in INT./EXT. + location + DAY/NIGHT order?
Is the action in the present tense and visible?
Are the character names centred and in capitals?
Is the dialogue in a narrow column, right under the character name?
Have you left out inner thoughts, backstory reminders and camera directions?

Download as Word and PDF

Open the Word version and write straight over it; the PDF looks the same on every device and prints as it is.

You can write without downloadingStart writing in screenplay format →Senaryum — opens in the browser, nothing to install. It formats the slug line, the action and the dialogue as you type.You can try it without an account; you'll need one to save and download what you write.

Sample screenplay — “The Scale”A complete 5-page short film script in standard format: slug lines, action and dialogue.Word (.docx)PDF

Blank screenplay template — standard formatOpen it in Word and start writing: Scene Heading · Action · Character · Dialogue styles built in, Courier New 12.Word (.docx)PDF

Frequently asked questions

Can I open the sample in Word and write over it?

Yes. The document you download has the Scene Heading, Action, Character, Parenthetical, Dialogue and Transition paragraph styles built in. You choose the line's style in Word and the program sets the indent. You can also download the blank template and start your own screenplay straight away.

Can I use this sample screenplay in my own film?

Use the template and the format however you like. The text of “The Scale” is Senaryo Okulu's own sample work: you can read it, study it and cite it in class; publishing or shooting it as if it were your own work isn't right.

How many pages should a short film script be?

One page is taken as roughly one minute. Short films usually run between 1 and 20 minutes; for your first film, 5–10 pages is a realistic target. Most festivals find it easier to programme films under 15 minutes.

Which program should I write my screenplay in?

Word or a similar word processor is enough once the right styles are set up — the template you download does exactly that. If you'd rather write in your browser, you can use Senaryo Okulu's editor Senaryum: it lays out scene headings, action and dialogue for you.