Lesson 18

[Stephen Maynard]

Lesson 18: Act 3 Middle Scenes

Subject line: Stephen Maynard Act 3 Middle Scenes

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” What a great assignment. I learned that this is the place to install the final all-out attempt to succeed with the task at hand. This is another great place to insert comedy as I install another of my Key scenes in this screenplay. Thank’s Hal.

Write Key Scene 3: Things go well, until…

INT. EL CAMINO – MOVING – NIGHT

Johnny decelerates, switches off the headlights, turns, and does a slow roll through the gates and into the Bradford compound. They pull forward and stop behind the Range Rover.

JOHNNY

We’re in luck, Dude. Charlie’s here.

STEVIE

Two birds with one stone.

EXT. / INT. TREE – BRADFORD RESIDENCE – NIGHT

Stevie and Johnny wearing large colorful sombreros, stand on tree branches facing a second-story balcony.

Johnny tosses a rope over a branch, pulls it down, and ties it to his guitar strap. He pulls the rope, positioning the guitar at his waist, and hitches the rope to a branch.

Stevie tosses a handful of dried pinto beans that chatter on the glass of the French doors.

He tosses another handful of beans.

Dawn appears wearing pajamas, squinting through a glass pane. She opens the door, and steps to the balcony.

Johnny strums his Guitar, searching for the right chord.

DAWN

Charlie, come see who’s here.

Charlie comes out in pajamas. The girls look at each other and giggle.

Johnny does a turn on his branch, wobbles, recovers his balance, and takes the hanging guitar with a flair and strums.

STEVIE

(singing)

Ecstasy awaits you, darling ladies. Tarry not,

tonight’s the night. Pine, no more for carnal

pleasures, in our lust you’ll find delight.

DAWN

Oh, Yes. Sing to us… rhapsodize.

JOHNNY

We’re the downright, forthright, upright boys

that all girls dream about.

STEVIE

We’re the charming, handsome, skillful guys that

girls can’t do without.

JOHNNY

And we’re cute, got smarts and chemistry.

Stuff it takes to knock ‘em out.

STEVIE & JOHNNY

Rendezvous here in your garden

when the moon is shining bright.

Come take your ecstatic journey.

Tarry not, tonight’s the night.

Johnny loses his balance and hits a sour note on his guitar. He attempts to recover and slips, knocking Stevie off the branch.

They fall.

Crashing through the leaves.

Bouncing off branches.

Landing SPLAT, in a flower bed.

Charlie and Dawn applaud and laugh as they look down at Johnny and Stevie sprawled out in the flowers.

They look up at the hats and guitar left hanging in the tree.

DAWN

How adorable. They left mementos of

their visit.

[Steve Jones]

Steve Jones Act 3 Middle Scenes

What I learned doing this assignment is more about keeping moving forward rather than getting stuck navel-gazing.

INT. CARINA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Carina brings over drinks for Harry and her. She looks at the robot quizzically.

ROBOT

I do not need to imbibe fluids thank you.

CARINA

Suit yourself. (TO HARRY) you trust this walking scrap heap?

ROBOT

I do not take slights personally.

HARRY

He’s OK.

ROBOT

I am slightly susceptible to flattery.

Carina paces around the room.

CARINA

So, what’s the plan?

HARRY

I was going to ask you the same question. I’m about this close to arresting you. So, let’s hear what you know and your plan.

CARINA

OK, no pressure then. Worple is untouchable here, right

HARRY

Pretty much. You’d have to catch him in the act.

CARINA

Exactly! That’s where I’d got to. So, I was thinking that we need to send someone through with the next delivery and make sure we get him red handed before he extracts the thingy and disposes of the delivery man or woman.

The robot looks at Carina and then Harry.

HARRY

I know. A few questions. How do we know that Worple is still smuggling stuff through now that we’re on his case? I asked him to his face if he was doing it.

CARINA

We don’t but we know someone who does. My aide is in Worple’s pocket and he must be the Earth-side of the operation. I’m not his stooge so it must be Keenan.

HARRY

Must be? So we don’t know for certain.

Carina shrugs.

HARRY (cont’d)

OK, next question then. I’m assuming we find out what’s being shipped and why through the same resource?

CARINA

Sure.

HARRY

There’s a lot riding on this guy being who you think he is.

CARINA

Yeah, well he also has to set everything up at that end and he’s going to tell Worple.

HARRY

So, we’re setting a trap for someone who will know it’s a trap. How do we guarantee he’s going to take the bait?

CARINA

You’ve met him. He’s got a God complex. He wants to… no, he needs to control everything and everyone. He won’t be able to resist being there because he’ll know that no-one is coming to rescue the mule.

HARRY

So, we’re going to send someone from Earth up here and they’re going to be dropped into the lions’ den with no back up?

CARINA

Well, we’re the back up. But he’ll make sure no police are there.

HARRY

So, how are you going to find someone on Earth to do this and how are you going to manage it all from here?

CARINA

I’ll go back and set it all up.

HARRY

And you’ve got some special forces killing machine on hand who’s ready to give up their life?

CARINA

No, you’re going to do it.

HARRY

Say what now? I’m not going to Earth.

CARINA

That’s an interesting first reaction when you’re basically being dropped into a life or death fight with the most powerful man on Mars.

HARRY

I’m not. Because I’m not going to Earth.

CARINA

OK, that’s settled then. Worple gets away with multiple murders of illegal Earth immigrants because no-one cares about them enough to do something. Oh, and smuggling who knows what into the most controlled environment in the Solar System. He gets away with that does he?

HARRY

No he doesn’t but there must be another way that doesn’t involve going to Earth.

CARINA

What’s the big deal, hero? Why are you so shit scared of spending a few days back on the planet you were born on?

HARRY

I wasn’t born on Earth.

CARINA

Yes you were. Someone’s told you otherwise?

HARRY

I was born here when my parents were working on the fit out of this dome.

CARINA

Sorry big boy but I checked you out before I came here. You flew here with them when you were old enough.

HARRY

Crap. That’s not right.

ROBOT

May I read the file to you?

HARRY

NO!

CARINA

Why not? It says you were born on Mars, right?

HARRY

Of course it does and I don’t need to hear it read back to…

ROBOT

Oh!

CARINA

What?

ROBOT

I peaked.

CARINA

Right, red it then. It’s too late now. You’ve opened Pandora’s box.

Harry looks at the robot’s expressionless features.

HARRY

Shit.

Harry nods.

ROBOT

You were born twelve months and sixteen days before you arrived here. You have dual citizenship but your Martian status can be revoked and you can be returned to Earth if you commit any action deemed to be in conflict with Martian law.

HARRY

Buzzard.

CARINA

What?

HARRY

My boss has always threatened me with sending me back home. I thought it was just power-play based on my fear of being sent to that blue blob of shit. I never thought he actually could do that. He’s just a shit boss.

CARINA

OK, well sorry for your loss and all that but time’s a wasting so let’s start making tracks. The next shuttle back to Earth is in two days. I’ve booked the tickets. You just need to pack.

HARRY

You’ve booked the tickets? When did you have time to do that?

CARINA

On the flight here.

HARRY

Really?

CARINA

Come on, powder puff. What could be so bad about my home planet?

HARRY

I’ll tell you when we get there.

INT. SPACEPORT – DAY

Harry and Carina board the shuttle.

CARINA

They know we’re running coming now.

HARRY

Buzzard must be pissing himself laughing.

INT. BUZZARD’S OFFICE – DAY

Wisecrack barges into Buzzard’s office.

WISECRACK

You’re not fucking going to believe this!

INT. SHUTTLE – DARK OUTSIDE

Harry and Carina sit in a comfortable lounge area at a table in the darkest corner.

HARRY

I feel sick.

CARINA

Shut up. We need to get our shits in a row.

HARRY

Ducks.

CARINA

Whatever. We need to sort out our plan when we get back.

They make the perfect plan.

CARINA (cont’d)

So, what’s so scary about Earth?

Harry explains his fear. He feels better once he’s voiced it.

They arrive on Earth with a positive attitude.

They go through immigration separately.

Harry is arrested.