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Indigenous Arts & Stories - A Smile to Die For

A Smile to Die For

2013 - Writing Winner

It’s not something to laugh about. I know someone who was killed by Mahaha. She looks at Katie. KATIE My dad? ELDER He was found with a creepy smile on his face. There was no other explanation. You students should respect our culture and legends

Read Nicole Nanordluk's A Smile to Die For

Nicole Nanordluk

Repulse Bay, NU
Repulse Bay/Inuit
Age 16

Author's Statement

I’m an Inuk student currently in grade 11. I live in Repulse Bay, NU, right on the Arctic Circle. Repulse Bay is a small town; very cultural. We speak Inuktitut.

I chose to write a screenplay because a film class asked our English class to write a script for them to film. I enjoy horror movies so I chose “Mahaha” because Mahaha is an Inuit Mythological Creature that is tall, thin, and blue and tickles you until you die. I have heard about many Inuit Mythological creatures from elders and from reading about them. Many Inuit believe in them and they are a way to keep children from doing dangerous things. Many of the mythological creatures have been written about at length already so I wanted to write about one that hasn’t been written about before. I chose Mahaha because it interesting, creepy and entertaining. Hope you most enjoy my screenplay.

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A Smile to Die For

Scene 1 (FLASHBACK)

EXT-OUT ON THE LAND-DAY

Father is hunting by himself on foot. He is carrying a rifle. He hears ECHOING LAUGHTER behind him. He turns around something grabs his ankle and pulls him down. We hear LAUGHTER that can’t stop an ugly smiling face shows right into the camera

Scene 2

INT-SHOP-DAY

Students are preparing for a land trip. The students are Jasmine, 15, Katie, 16, Beth, 15, Brynn 17 and Jaden, 16, Dude, 17, Blake, 15. The teacher is James, and there is an elder, Rebecca. Jaden is filming the preparations.

JASMINE

So, did you stay up all night?

KATIE

Naung. I went to sleep at 3am I and I had to pack up.

Jaden puts the camera right up in their faces

JADEN

In yo’ face!

KATIE (laughs)

Stop flirting!

Jaden puts his camera on Dan, Dude and Blake

JADEN

Hey Dan, Dude Suvi?

JAMES

Jaden, filming doesn’t start until we get on the land. Come over here and help us!

Scene 3

INT- KATIES HOUSE – MORNING

Katie is getting ready at home. Katie is trying out the camera.

KATIE

Anaana ilinniavikliagiaqatunga sinitarianiatugu

GRANDMA

Inguta inututaaligi

KATIE

II

*Teacher calls

TEACHER

Katie, your late we’re leaving soon

KATIE

Anaana, qimaktaunialiqtunga

Scene 4

EXT-LAND-DAY

Two qamutiks going out on the land. Katie and Dan video tapes the scene. Katie sees something tall, thin, and blue that looks like a person far away. She turns the camera to the ski-doo and then turns back. The “something” has disappeared. She doesn’t tell anyone what she has seen.

Scene 5

EXT-LAND-DAY

Everyone has arrived at the camping site on the ice. Teacher is filming.

TEACHER

Okay guys fix the igloos while the girls make lunch

EVERYBODY

Okay!

*Guys starts building the igloos while the girls make lunch. Dan yells, making the teacher jump and drop the camera. Dan fell and hurt his ankle by carrying a block of snow. Everyone starts laughing at the teacher.

Scene 6

EXT-LAND-DAY

Boys prepare to go hunting Katie wants to join. Katie is filming.

DAN

No! Girls aren’t supposed to go hunting! They get cold easily!

KATIE

No we don’t! We girls are tough; we don’t get cold easily!

TEACHER

C’mon Katie help us with the cooking, leave the boys alone.

Katie sighs and walks over to the cooking tent.

Scene 7

INT-LAND/IGLOO-NIGHT

All students are sitting inside the igloo. The only light is from the stove and lantern. Dan is filming. Jasmine tells a story about Mahaha

JASMINE

You know Mahaha, right?

KATIE

Yea, my Anaanatiaq told me a story about him

JASMINE

Well, I’m gonna tell the story

One little girl went walking alone with her little puppy out on the tundra. She hears LAUGHTER ECHOING throughout the land she was alarmed but ignores then it goes LOUDER and LOUDER next thing you know he is right in front of you with he’s ugly smile and grabs you…

Jasmine grabs Katie

And tickles you!

The girls starts laughing, Katie just stays silent..

ELDER

It’s not something to laugh about. I know someone who was killed by Mahaha.

She looks at Katie.

KATIE

My dad?

ELDER

He was found with a creepy smile on his face.  There was no other explanation. You students should respect our culture and legends.

DAN

Whoa, you’re getting all Paranormal Activity on us!

ELDER (laughing)

I don’t know what that means, but if you do see Mahaha, make sure you get him to the water. That’s the only way to get away.

TEACHER

Bed time kids!

Dan turns off his camera.

Scene 8

INT-TENT-NIGHT

Girls are in their tent talking and gossiping. Katie is disturbed by the earlier conversation.

KATIE

I’m staying with the elder

GIRLS

Your missing out..

Katie leaves the tent heads to the elder’s tent

Scene 9

INT-TENT-NIGHT

Katie walks towards the elder’s tent, reaches the tent and quietly asks if its okay to stay with her.

KATIE

Qanuingipa tavaniqatauguma?

ELDER

II qanuangi taika inniqatu igliq

Katie lays down and falls asleep

Scene 10

INT-TENT-NIGHT

Jasmine jokes around with the other girls in the tent but then they get scared because they hear FOOT STEPS outside. The flap slowly opens. Frantically, jasmine hesitates to grab something. One of the girls holds tightly on to their cameras.. then Dan shows up

DAN

ROAR !!

JASMINE

DAN you jerk !! you scared us !

Dan laughs and rejoins he’s tent

Scene 11

INT-BOY’S TENT-NIGHT

As Dan approaches his tent the girls SCREAM yelling for help. Dan Thinks they’re joking

JADEN

Hey why don’t you check out the girls?

DAN

They are just messing around!

They guys hear LAUGHTER from the girls

DAN

See? Jaden they’re just messing around

JADEN

Okay I see

Scene 12

INT-ELDER’S TENT –NIGHT

Katie wakes up from the terrifying laughs from the girls. Katie goes and checks what is wrong with them.

Katie screams in fear. All the girls are dead with creepy smiles on their faces.

KATIE

Dan!! The girls are dead!

Katie hears nothing but silence, but then she hears the guys LAUGHTER. Katie is scared but showing courage goes to check the guys tent. She sees the guys faces frozen with scared smiles and ECHOES with LAUGHTER. Katie’s face frozen from fear goes to the elders tent.

Scene 13

EXT-LAND-NIGHT

Mahaha seeks to find a survivor, sees Katie and the elder. Mahaha tries to walk towards them but slowly

ELDER

You got to get him in the water!

KATIE

How? Where?

ELDER

Down by the open ice

KATIE

Lets get on the Ski-doo drive through the open ice

They run to the Ski-doo but Mahaha is getting closer

KATIE

You got my father but you’re never gonna get me!

The Elder starts the Ski-doo Katie jumps on and head to the opening of the ice the elder and Katie makes it through the open ice but Mahaha sinks and drowns. Katie turns the camera to the ice as they’re driving away. Slowly we see the finger nails. Katie turns the camera on herself and we see the ugly smiling face … Mahaha.

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