The Storyboards and Scripts of the “Shan Xi” level for Fear Effect Inferno PlayStation 2
This article [Fear Effect Inferno Playstation 2 and its prototypes: the art of video game storytelling], dedicated to revealing the secrets behind Fear Effect Inferno, has already guided you through the twists and turns of its tumultuous history, its complex characters, and the technical peculiarities of its prototype. Now let's venture into the back alleys of the “Shan Xi” level, where reality is superseded by the paranormal.
Each cutscene has its own unique Kronos Entertainment code. The first letter coincides with the level of Fear Effect Inferno, in this case “D” for “Shan Xi”. The numbers refer to the cinematics. Finally, the last letter “N” stands for “Narrative”. The Scripts and extracts making up the Storyboards are numbered in the same way, to link them to the corresponding cutscenes.
On this page, you can view the Scripts and all the Storyboards for the “Shan Xi” level in the order in which they appear in the game.
Compilation of cutscenes of the Shan Xi level for Fear Effect Inferno
Clicking on the blue cutscene link, where available, will open the Youtube video on the right at the start of the cinematic (Timecode).
Enjoy your reading!
Cutscene D055N (8 extracts making up the Storyboard)
1)
ext. cemetary – stormy day
Dark clouds loom overhead, and sheets of rain pound two gravediggers who stand a discreet distance from an open grave.
Rain kneels beside the grave, before a large clay urn, in which a low flame burns. Glas stands over her, holding an umbrella to shield her and the flame from the pouring rain.
A coffin rests on the floor of the pit and a marker has been placed at its head.
Rain places a small folded piece of paper into the flame, and it flares briefly. With her other hand, she clutches an object to her chest. She’s clearly doing her best to control her tears.
Whatever Glas is feeling, he lets no indication to the surface.
After another moment, she stands, still looking at the coffin.
A tortured sob finally chokes past her defenses. Then another. We see now that the object she’s clutching to her chest is a framed photo of Hana.
Glas hangs his head now, his hair hiding his face.
Suddenly, Rain’s head snaps up.
2)
Glas turns to face her, but she’s looking back at the grave, and continues to focus on the soaked ground.
Glas approaches and puts his hand on her shoulder.
She doesn’t move, and continues to look at the grave. A beat.
She tears herself away from the grave at last, and buries her face in Glas’ shoulder. Glas is startled by the unaccustomed contact, but warms to her and returns the embrace.
cut to:
ext. graveyard, hill - same
Deke stands behind a tree, watching, seen in silhouette, from behind.
He watches as Glas and Rain take their leave, stands a few more moments, looking at the grave.
CLOSE ON: his hand, fingers clenching, digging into the bark.
After another moment, he turns to leave.
As he walks away, we see five bloodied spots on the tree where Deke’s fingers had dug in.
1)
int. rain’s living room – later that night
Rain sits lengthwise on her couch, dressed for bed. A few candles burn in the otherwise darkened room, and a cup of hot tea steams from the coffee table. A wounded soul in a self-made cocoon.
She holds Hana’s disc in her hand, fingering it, but seemingly not yet ready to play it.
Her attention drifts to a photograph of Hana looking uncharacteristically happy and relaxed – no guns, no gear, on a sunlit hillside – the photo she held earlier at the funeral. For a moment, she allows herself to get lost in the image again.
But all she has left is the disc. With sudden resolve, she reaches over to the laptop and inserts it.
After a brief flash and a pause, Hana’s face appears as she settles back in front of the recorder she’s just started.
Hana
Hi Rain.
(a beat, as she collects herself)
Ah, if you’re seeing this –
She looks down and away, then back into the camera.
Hana
(serious)
Everything’s taken care of. You won’t have to worry about… well, about stuff anymore.
She smiles, wanly.
Hana
(continued)
Keep an eye on the boys. They’re your family now.
(beat)
…I’m sorry I can’t be there…
If she goes any further down this road, she’s going to crack… so she doesn’t.
2)
Hana
All the information you’ll need is here on the disc.
But she just can’t carry it. This is taking more out of her than she thought, and she’s almost completely drained.
She manages one more line.
Hana
…I love you.
…And that’s all she has left. She reaches forward, and a moment later, the screen blinks out.
1)
i/e. glas’ car, alley – later that night
Glas sits in his grungy ATV, parked in a seedy alley somewhere in the city. The engine’s running, lights are off, and the only sound is the patchy rain rattling off the roof.
Moving shadows of the rain running down the windshield almost take the place of the tears he’d never allow.
There’s a bottle in his hand, and he’s clearly on his way to being drunk. A laptop sits on the hump between the seats, glowing faintly. Hana’s disc is in his other hand.
He inserts the disc and takes another swig.
After a flash and a pause, Hana’s face appears on the screen, settling back from starting the recorder.
She tries to start off casually.
Hana
Well, if you’re watching this, then...
She stops herself a beat. She can’t make eye contact with the camera anymore.
Hana
…well… …then it’s done.
She steels herself back to business.
Hana
I left the estate to Rain. She needs it.
(beat)
There’s a package for you too. The information is on the disc.
(beat)
I guess I don’t worry about you as much. You’ve always been able to look out for yourself.
A beat. A deeper realization.
2)
Hana
(subdued)
Take care of Rain. This is going to be really hard on her.
She looks away, unsure of how to say what comes next. A beat.
Hana
I guess I never told you –
(struggling for the words)
how much you meant to me.
(looking up at the camera)
It’s not really how I am. I’m sorry for that.
She looks away for a moment, reflecting. Then, back to business.
Hana
Make a better life for yourself, huh? You deserve it.
She looks directly at the camera now and smiles wryly.
Hana
I’ll miss you, Glas.
She reaches forward and shuts off the camera. The screen blinks out.
Cutscene D000N (13 extracts making up the Storyboard)
1)
int. rain’s apartment, bedroom – later that night
Rain lies in bed, in the throes of what has obviously been a fitful sleep. The bedclothes are in disarray and tangled around her, and as we find her, she rolls over again in agitation. Hana’s photograph lies on the bed nearby.
The SUDDEN BUZZING of the intercom shocks her awake.
cut to:
int. rain’s apartment, living room – same
Rain presses the intercom button.
Rain
(still half-asleep)
Hello?
Glas
It’s me, Glas.
cut to:
int. rain’s apartment, door –same
Rain opens the door, and Glas is there.
Glas’ gaze falls briefly to her body, and he quickly pulls it away, uncomfortable.
Glas
Is this a bad time?
Rain
No. It’s okay.
Rain turns from the door and Glas follows her in.
cut to:
INT – RAIN’S APARTMENT, Living Room – 2 HOURS LATER
Glas and Rain sit on the floor. There are two empty wine bottles between them.
2)
Rain
I keep thinking she’ll come walking through the door.
A beat, and both sit in silence for a moment.
Rain
(suddenly angry)
Why did she have to do this? She knew who those guys were.
(beat – directly at him now)
You all did. – Why didn’t you stop her? You, Deke, Hana. You all act like you’re untouchable!
Glas
They wouldn’t let her out any other way.
(beat)
They threatened to hurt you. To get at her. And she wasn’t going to let that happen.
(another beat)
…I guess she’s free now.
Rain processes this.
Rain
(quietly)
…but she’s alone.
Rain begins to cry in earnest, and she scrambles to her feet and runs through the bedroom to the bathroom.
INT – CONNECTED BATHROOM
Rain stands at the sink, trying to calm herself, but only getting more angry and upset as she goes.
With a sudden, swift fury, she looks up into the mirror and smashes it with her hand.
cut to:
int. living room
Glas hears the mirror break and is on his feet instantly.
3)
INT – BEDROOM
She makes her way out of the hallway from the bathroom into the bedroom, and nearly runs into Glas, who’s coming to check on her.
Glas
Are you alright?
Rain
Yes.
Her hand is bleeding, and he notices this.
Glas
You’re bleeding.
He takes her hand.
She looks suddenly up into his eyes. All the hurt, all the loneliness reflected there. A moment passes between them; a charged moment.
Glas suddenly breaks away.
Glas
I should go.
Rain moves to the open door, then turns to face him, uncertain.
Rain
(quietly)
You don’t have to go.
She makes her way to the corner of the bed, where a towel lies crumpled. She picks it up and presses it to her cut.
Glas
Should I go?
Glas
Maybe I should go.