Writing a Flashback??

I'm writing something in which the character is haunted by violent flashes of a past event. As the story moves forward, the flashes further the plot by saying the things that the character won't/can't. Some of them are longer, but most are just a quick snapshot of what's going on in her mind and what happened in the past.

But HOW to write these into the script in an acceptable way is where I am stumped. Can anyone recommend a movie script with similar or has anyone heard the "correct" way to do this?

Thanks!

Great advice, thanks! Are there free sources for viewing those TV scripts?

I went to http://imdb.com/ and put in the keyword 'flashbacks' and searched under plots. It spit out quite a few movies to peruse and see if any would give me an idea. Now if I can find those scripts online, I'm set.

I really like the new TV show idea though. Very smart writing sometimes and fast paced thriller drama that I am looking for.

Great ideas!

I'm REALLY interested in a very hard punch. The reader needs to suddenly feel the fear, the chaos, the violence, the danger. Like a hit in the gut. The first few flashes are just that.. a flash. A face, a hand clawing, etc..

I think keeping those flashbacks short and choppy will help. But should I underline or some other technique?

In this case, since you mentioned 'memory' as opposed to 'flashback,' should I use something to convey how fast the flashes are at first? Like INT. KITCHEN VIOLENT MEMORY FLASH.

Overkill?

They do get a bit longer in spots as I need them to move the plot. But especially the first few are violent, quick and chaotic. So I am supposed to be consistent, yet in doing it that way, I would need to soften the flash's line in a few areas (foresaking consistency).

I do NOT want to overthink this, but need direction. I'll check out those movies you mentioned. Thanks!

Great ideas (read: I get the drift!) and I am already there. She's a professional and a wife and mother, so the trauma she hides is coming out in ways that begin to affect her socially, professionally and in her family. Strands of obsession, phobias, depression, anxiety and the subtle things like jumping, daydreaming, clumsiness, fears, physical symptoms, etc...

I am definitely not going for the cheese factor here. But I can see how to pull this thing off in my mind, I just need to get the technicalities of writing the scenes on paper. Someone mentioned to me the movie Catch 22.

I'm checking out Memento now and that's just a bit of a confusing screenplay for me. I think I should watch the movie first so I am not getting hung up on the details.