Lesson 1

[Jan Fantl]

Jan’s High Speed writing

WIL:

EXT. WAR ZONE – DAY

A SOLDIER 1 drinks from his canteen.

A child approaches, mimicking the drinking sign.

OLIVER sitting on a semi armoured car, grabs for his mouth piece

OLIVER

(in mike)

Falcon One for nest. Keep the kiddo away. Don’t let it come near to any of you.

Oliver scans the surrounding of the village. German soldiers load bags welded in plastic on two military trucks. His team of five soldiers of his special unit cover the work of froman outer ring.

Soldier 1 waves with hois hand towards tje kid to stay away. The the kid in a arabic Burka stops, and signals too, he is thirsty, makes the international sign for drinking

OLIVER

Soldier in nest copy, do not let the kid approach it could be an asset. Copy

The kid waves with both hands. The soldier ignores the warning ..

The Kid approaches The semi armoured Jeep…

SOLDIER 1

I think he really asks for sometzhing to drink. He looks thirsty

OLIVER

WArn him to go awqy . Now. This is an order

OLIVER

Any team near the kid and nest 1 ?

AIDE

(over intercom)

I am 30 sec away

VOICE

(intercom)

On my way in 25

… the kid is only 5 sec away.

Oliver shoots into the air to raise attnetion.

The working soldier turn. The kid turns… and starts running the last meters towards the truck

Soldier 1 understands the situation. He lifts his weapon

SOLDIER 1

Stop. Do not coem Close! Stop now!

Oliver aims at the kid through his special rifle … the kid is too close to the truck already.

The kid is in reach of the truck, touches it

ARABIC KID

Allah is great

BOUUMMMMHH

Everything explodes, no kid, no soldier … a truck lifted into the air in fire, and dust

Oliver watches, covering his face.

OLIVER

(intercom)

All team Falcon. Swarm and find his accomplices, the kid didn#t trigger it itself. Somebody nearby did. Finde these fuckers.

Oliver jumps of his Jeep and rushes to the injured soldier.

Soldier 1 lays 30 meters away from where his truck was. Oliver knees next to him opens his Kevlar vest. Lot of blood gushing from wherever

OLIVER

Falcon One for Camp xy,copy

VOICE CAMP

Come in Falcon One.

OLIVER

We have been ambushed. One men wounded, one seriously. We are 30 clicks out, preparing for transport. Prepare for hospital. Copy that

VOICE CAMP

Copy. Two injured, one for immeadiate surgeries. Once on your way, forward Id and we’ll prepare for blood preserves eat al. And send ESTA. Copy that

Oliver tries to keep Soldier 1 alive.

VOICE CAMP

Falcon? Copy…….Falcon Cop

EXT. MILITARY CAMP – IN FRONT OF POLICE BUILDING – DAY

AIDE

Oliver…Oliver, common, Oli for planet earth

Oliver wakes up from a dream, disturbed and agitated.

OLIVER

You can make … What. Ohh. What. Fuck. Again

AIDE

Yoe bro. You need to wake. Here

Oliver goes from something to nothing, starts shaing, breathing.

OLIVER

No. Ohhhhh. W…what .hm Hm hm

It’s a panick attack

Aide, not surprised, continues to slap Oli’s face

AIDE

Yes, you can make, come back I am her, comon

It’s not working and his buddy is not surprised even, grabs a grocery bag from one of his many soldier pants pockets and pulls it over Oliver’s head. Pulling it tight.

Oliver defends himself, wriggels and squirms. Aide helds tight and Oliver faints and slumps in his seat.

Aide releases the grocery bag instantly and slaps in Oliver’s face again.

Oliver gains consciousness and returns to this side of the universe.

Aide hands him a bottle of water and a can with a power drink.

AIDE

Welcome back, boss. We re ready to continue with that prick?

OLIVER

Just give me a sec

Takes a sip. Inhales. Another sip.

OLIVER

Ok, Allah is great. Let s see

Oliver gets up. He and his aide walk into the building marked MP.

END OF TEASER

[Chanda Haynes]

LIKE THE JONESES – TEASER

“What I learned doing this assignment is thinking about going high speed triggered a lot of anxiety. Prior to listening to the video I was super excited to get started writing. After listening to Hal’s audio, I found myself stalling to get started and trying to make sure things were good around me. SO it was like I was trying to “edit” the environment since I knew I couldn’t edit the teaser. But I did like the pace and the flow and the relief of not editing as you go. When I caught myself doing it, I just stopped and kept forward, leaving it however it was. I didn’t even correct misspelled words. I just wanted to keep the momentum. It was a good experience. I am looking forward to writing Act 1 tomorrow.

INT. MCMENAMIN’S

INT. MCMENAMIN’S – MOMENTS LATER

The crowd is still gathered. The drinks and joints continue to flow. Clouds of smoke are in every pocket of the room. The GOVERNOR Julie Adams, 60s, easygoing but professional. She shakes several hands on her way to the podium.

She arrives at the podium and everyone in the room applauds. She nods and waits for them to finish. Her dress is stunning and shimmery.

GOVERNOR

Greetings and good evening good people of Oregon and beyond. They told me there were some Trinidadians in the place tonight. Welcome. Welcome to this great state that I am proud to govern.

Another round of APPLAUSE.

Governor’s POV: Willie nods and claps very proudly.

GOVERNOR

Ten years of Jones Farmacy. What can I say. Other than Willie Jones you are a genius.

Governors POV: Willie blushes and CHUCKLES.

GOVERNOR

He said Julie I am going to be the first black cannabis business owner in the state of Oregon. And I said Willie I’m going to be the first South African female governor for the state of Oregon. So let’s do it together.

Several people stand and applaud. Willie stands and applauds, still blushing. A STANDING OVATION.

GOVERNOR

Now I know that Elaine said that they will be heading to Trinidad. But just in the event that that does not occur. I would like to offer you four more years as our Multnomah County Cannabis Commissioner.

2.

Elaine smiles gracefully. The crowd APPLAUDS. The Governor raises her glass.

GOVERNOR

Cheers to you Willie, someone I consider a colleague and a friend.

STANDING OVATION.

CUT TO:

INT. MCMENAMIN’S – MOMENTS LATER

Heather stands at the podium. She has note cards in her hand. She seems a bit off kilter, more from the weed than from nervousness. She takes a pull from her vape. She EXHALES.

HEATHER

My Dear Uncle Willie and my brother cousin Tony mother. Fucking. Jones!!

She jumps up and down. The crowd ERUPTS in applause and laughter.

HEATHER

These guys are my family. To know that they are carrying out my grandfather’s dream.

A series of shots

HENRY Jones, 30s, rushes from a hotel and hops in a LYFT. The car quickly pulls off. RONNY, 40s and SHARK, 50s arrive at the curb just as the car pulls off the hotel’s lot. They’re both out of breath.

Inside the car, Henry constantly looks out the back window.

HENRY

Airport please. The quickest route.

Henry at the airport counter.

HEATHER (V.O.)

That our family could earn an honest living.

HENRY

Eugene, ORegon please.

3.

AIRPORT TELLER

There’s not another one for six hours. How about Portland? But you’d have to You could fly to Anchorage Alaska. Then get a separate connecting flight to Eugene.

HENRY

Okay that works.

AIRPORT TELLER

ID Please.

CLOSE ON: HENRY JONES LOUISIANA DRIVERS LICENSE

HEATHER (V.O.)

And on behalf of my twin brother Henry. He apologizes for not being here, but his flight from New Orleans to Portland was delayed.

A SIGH from the crowd.

HEATHER

Our uncle Willie is our mom’s brother. Our we lost our mom to terminal illness.

Henry lands in Eugene, Oregon. He hurries through the aiport.

Outside the airport he hails a cab and hops in.

HENRY

Salem, Oregon please.

CABBIE

That’s gonna be about two hundred dollars.

HENRY

Fine.

CABBIE

Who you know in Salem?

HENRY

My grandfather. Henry Jones, Sr.

HEATHER

Uncle Willie took us in, and so once our mother’s inheritance ran out. It was uncle willie’s weed money that kept us afloat.

4.

Henry hops out at a cape cod style home on Maple Avenue. He pauses until the cab pulls out of sight. He surveys the home. He stares up at the roof. He checks out the brick. He takes it all in. A car SCREECHES by and it startles him. He is knocked out of his zen moment. He hurries to the side porch and lifts a large concrete flower pot where he finds a key. He opens the front door and returns the key.

He closes and locks the door behind him, then tips through the house. There’s no one home. He hears voices getting closer and louder. He shoots into the large bedroom and ducks off in a walk-in closet.

An unknown voice speaks.

UNKNOWN

Hey. Anybody here. Heather?

Now closer and louder.

UNKNOWN

Heather? Probably that damn dog.

Henry looks up to spot the attic door. Sweat beads form on his head. The talking stops and the door CLICKS. Henry EXHALES.

HEATHER

And it’s been amazing to watch the company grow and to know that I am a part of this amazing legacy.

In the attic, Henry peeps out the window. He sees the van that says Pest Control pull out of the driveway. He BREATHES a sigh of relief. And sits back against the wall. He spots a box marked PRIVATE.

Henry pulls from a vape pen and stares at a picture of his mother, MONICA.

HEATHER (V.O.)

Our mom would’ve been so proud of you both. Monica Jones my mother outlived her life expectancy due to cannabis. My grandfather would tell her to smoke it. SHe didn’t want to. She hated smelling like weed smoke.

The crowd is pulled into the story. They remain quiet and attentive.

5.

HEATHER (V.O.)

But she loved popcorn. So he would have me pop the popcorn and he’d drench in his cannabutter. And that’s how the Jones Movie Butter Popcorn that my cousin Cynthia can’t stop eating…

A laugh from the crowd.

Henry flips through more photos…Willie, Henry, Cynthia, Heather, he and Heather in matching outfits, Tony,

He continues digging to the bottom of the box and sees an envelope marked MONICA JONES HAYES.

Henry removes the documents from the envelope and reads..

Close on: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF MONICA JONES HAYES

Henry erratically flips through the pages. He takes photos of the pages. His movement gets more tense as he flips through the pages. He reaches the signature page.

Close on: Willie Jones Trustee

Henry frisbees the papers and they all scatter.

HENRY

Son of a bitch!

HEATHER (V.O.)

Most of all the Jones name stands for integrity. Loyalty. A name you can trust.

Ronny and Shark sit on the plane.

PILOT (V.O.)

Welcome to Portland Oregon where the time is now 5:58 pm. Enjoy your stay.