Day 5 Assignment

[Patrick Malone]

INT. NIGHT CLUB – NIGHT

Early evening, not very busy. TRENT, a well-dressed hipster, saunters up to attendant ANGIE. She stands by the door to a private VIP section.

TRENT
Angie, just who I want to see.

Angie looks as if she doesn’t know the man.

TRENT (CONT’D)
You’re looking so fine. I’m having a little meeting with an associate and need some privacy…

He looks to the VIP room.

ANGIE
You need to pre-book the VIP room.

TRENT
This is kind of last minute. He’ll be here any moment. We’ll just really only need like ten minutes.

ANGIE

Your name.

TRENT

Trent. You must recognize me. I’m always here with Depp and Slash.

He flashes a huge smile.

ANGIE
Slash, huh? It’s booked for eight.

Trent sees his associate ROBERT across the room. Robert moves like he feels out of place.

TRENT
He’s here. Ten minutes is all.

ANGIE

I don’t – –

TRENT
I promise I’ll make it worthwhile.

He presses two twenties in Angie’s palm.

TRENT (CONT’D)
Bieber is coming to town. His whole entourage will fill your club. We’re like this.

He clasps his hands together. Angie smiles. Robert approaches.

TRENT (CONT’D)
Robert. I was telling Angie about you.

ANGIE

Robert.

ROBERT

Angie. Love the name.

TRENT
I booked the VIP. Had to pull rank on a top producer to get it.

Trent steps into the VIP room.

ROBERT (to Angie)

Trent takes after me. Beautiful neckless, Angie.

He joins Trent in the VIP room.

INT. VIP ROOM – NIGHT
It’s a small, well appointed room with a liquor cabinet.

ROBERT
So, you come here often?

TRENT
It’s one of my regular haunts. The staff go out of their way to cater. Angie there loves making everything just perfect for me.

ROBERT

Of course.

TRENT
If you’re generous with de l’argent, you’re treated like this is your home.

ROBERT
I was hoping to have a drink, but the cabinet appears to be locked.

TRENT
Oh, someone will be in shortly. Have a seat.

ROBERT
So, Trent, what’s the occasion? We don’t normally socialize.

TRENT
I want to commend you on how you’ve been helping Lindsey.

ROBERT

Thanks.

TRENT
You seemed to came out of nowhere, and in little time got right in Lindsey’s inner circle.

ROBERT
I’ve been a big, no a gigantic admirer of her talent. Such a voice. She is one very special lady and deserves the best.

TRENT
You are absolutely correct. The best.

ROBERT
We just clicked. I was surprised, but we hit it off and I do what ever I’m able to smooth her journey.

TRENT
Well, that’s something. Remind me what you were doing before clicking with Lindsey.

ROBERT
Um, PR with some bands.

TRENT

Which ones?

ROBERT
You know the usual. Some metal, various artists.

TRENT
Well, Lindsey’s not easily impressed. You must have the touch.

ROBERT
When is Angie or someone going to open the liquor cabinet?

TRENT
I’m getting a little parched as well. Be just a minute. As you must know Lindsey has this big important event coming up soon.

ROBERT

I’m aware.

TRENT
If it goes as planned, which it will, her career will skyrocket to another universe. We don’t want anything to hinder that.

ROBERT

Of course we don’t.

Robert licks his parched lips.

TRENT
You know what, I’m sick of waiting. Guess what? I didn’t come alone.

Trent removes a flask from his jacket pocket. He gets up and selects two glasses and placed them on their table.

ROBERT

Wow. Fantastic.

TRENT
I’m always thinking ahead.

He pours a drink for Robert.

ROBERT

Thanks.

Trent sits and starts to pour one for himself.

TRENT
I seem to have miscalculated.

The flask appears to be dry. Robert slides his glass to Trent.

ROBERT

Have mine.

TRENT

You’re my guest.

He slides the drink to Robert. Robert takes a sip.

TRENT (CONT’D)
As I was saying, we want Lindsey’s event to be a success. And I’m sure you have added your two cents. So congratulations.

Trent picks up his empty glass and clinks Robert’s. Robert takes a second sip.

TRENT (CONT’D)
Are you aware that someone tired to leak a story that Lindsey was heavy into meth?

ROBERT

No. Impossible.

TRENT
That she is unable to function and is becoming reclusive.

ROBERT

That’s not true.

TRENT
We have all the evidence. Someone was about to spread that gossip.

Robert stares at Trent.

TRENT (CONT’D)

Congratulations, Robert on attempting to sabotage Lindsey’s career.

ROBERT

That’s total nonsense.

TRENT
You are that someone.

ROBERT
I would never do anything to jeopardize Lindsey. Never.

TRENT
Fortunately we discovered this before you could release these lies. You are no longer part of the inner circle.

Trent stands.

TRENT (CONT’D)
You thought you could step over me, take advantage of me? No. You’re finished.

Robert takes the last swig of his drink. Trent leaves the VIP room and closes the door.

Robert sinks into his chair. His face turns red. He starts to choke. He grasps his throat. His mouth foams. He collapses on the floor of the VIP room.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  Patrick Malone. Reason: reformat

[Andrea Higgins]

FADE IN

EXT. POOLSIDE – NIGHT

INSERT: Cell Phone Screen

Cell phone video footage racks focus on the High School Super Bowl Champs banner that stretches above an in-ground pool.

Music THUMPS. The picture zooms out: a raucous teen party is in full swing.

In the frame couples dance, or make out, or drink.

The phone whip pans and ROBERT’S (17) face fills the screen. He has the detached quality of Timothy Chalamet, but he’s not nearly as pretty.

ROBERT

Sup! Coming to you live from the celebration. As you can see — we’re having a good time. I’m on the hunt for my man…

… Robert yells

ROBERT

Treeeennnnnttttt!

BACK TO SCENE

Everyone in earshot responds…

PARTY GOERS

Treeeennnnnttttt!

And the party resumes at an even more heightened level. Robert makes his way through the crowd and into the

INT. HOUSE – NIGHT

KITCHEN

where he moves on the periphery, a voyeur — not really a part of the celebration.

Now he’s moving up the

STAIRS

ROBERT

Very mysterious, this disappearance by our man of the hour.

As he reaches the second floor, Robert raises his eyebrows suggestively.

ROBERT

What could he be up to? Let’s check the bedroom, shall we?

He makes his way down the hall and pushes open the door. TRENT (17), high school quarterback, stands in a darkened room at a window that overlooks the pool.

TRENT

What the fuck took you so long?

ROBERT

Aw. I missed you too babe.

Trent, off Robert’s cell phone…

TRENT

Is that on?

Trent swats at the phone, it flies across the room and hits the wall before crashing to the floor.

TRENT

What the hell’s the matter with you?

Robert stays cool and easy. In his most reassuring tone…

ROBERT

No worries. I was just trying to help.

TRENT

By getting me arrested?

ROBERT

Nah. By getting you an alibi.

We come out as a couple and I’ll swear we were together all night.

Robert smiles flirtatiously.

TRENT

You say anything like that again and I swear I’ll put you through that wall.

ROBERT

Okay, okay — can’t blame a boy for trying. But it’s cool; I get it; you just need a friend. I can do friends.

TRENT

What I need is someone who follows directions. Who doesn’t fuck up left and right. And who knows enough not to film something that could land us both in jail.

ROBERT

I wasn’t the one who was driving.

TRENT

Shut up.

ROBERT

For someone who needs my help moving a dead girl’s body, you should be a little nicer to me.

Trent glares, but is calmer.

TRENT

Did you do what I told you?

ROBERT

Yeah, man. It’s all set. Look, there he is now.

Someone wearing Trent’s football jersey and helmet climbs onto the garage roof. He screams CHAMPS. The Party Goers go wild at the sight of him.

ROBERT

See! Right out of Central Casting.

TRENT

What if someone tries to get close to him.

ROBERT

He’s a starving actor. Trust me, the 1500 bucks you promised him is motivation to put on a good show but stay far enough away that no one will suspect anything.

They watch as fake Trent jumps from the garage roof to a nearby tree branch. Looks like he has some Parkour experience. He’s putting on a great show for the crowd.

ROBERT

You got the money, right?

Trent is silent.

ROBERT

Right?!

TRENT

Yeah, I mean I will as soon as my mom get’s back.

ROBERT

Your mom’s in Italy!

Trent grabs Robert by the throat pushes him up against the wall.

TRENT

I’ll get it!!!

Robert struggles to breath through the stranglehold.

ROBERT

I love it when you take charge.

Trent lets go and back away.

TRENT

Let’s go.

They exit the room quietly and turn down the hall in the opposite direction of the party.

The door closes. A dim light issues from something on the floor by the wall. It’s the cell phone.

INSERT: cell phone screen

It’s still recording.