Lesson 19

[Chris Spizuoco]

Act 3 Turning Point – Protagonist faces their lowest low.

EXT. UMAINE PAVILION – SUNSET
Frank and Rae where they had their first lunch. He has a hint of enthusiasm (for him) while she’s pensive.
FRANK
So our book’s publishing? How does it proceed? I surmise 10 thousand copies on our first print.
His hand moves toward hers – she withdraws.
RAE
Frank, this is your work, and…I, I mean the publisher thinks it’s just too much.
FRANK
What is this?
RAE
Your essays on the environment are amazing. Pure poetry and reason. Timeless. But your politics; and how you attack social/cultural issues…and economics…
FRANK
(amazed – for him)
And you bring this to me now? On the eve of such a momentous occasion? How dare you?
He stands up. She waves him back down.
RAE
Frank…we’ve been together how many times and you’ve never even attempted to kiss me. It seems painful for you to even touch me…
She reaches out and he peels back.
RAE
You’re aloof, cold, indifferent. I want to be with someone that wants to be with me. I mean really be with me! Not as your muse, or someone for you to observe like the birds you follow. And someone to help you get published. That’s not me. I’m sorry.
She leaves. He ponders.
EXT. KEN’S HOUSE – DAY
Frank out of sorts rambles up the driveway; approaches the front porch. Ken’s wife DOT (age unknown) sits in a chair next to the boarded over area where the bull fell through.
FRANK
Greetings Dot. Where is Ken?
She points down the hole.
FRANK
What?
He peers down and sees Ken splayed out on the basement floor on top of his shattered rocking chair. He’s not moving. Dot sits there chewing tobacco and spits.
FRANK
What happened? When did this happen? Is he OK?
DOT
Told him to nail those boards down. Guess he got excited reading one a those new engineering magazines; lost his bearings.
FRANK
When?
DOT
Last evenin’ I guess. Got no way to get down there…was thinking he’d come to like he usually does and tell me what to do.
Frank scrambles around the house and finds a step ladder. He scurries down the porch hole and minutes later back up. Head slung low.
DOT
He’s passed on hasn’t he?
FRANK
One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. The living is a species of the dead; and not a very attractive one. To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.
DOT
That’s profound. Thoreau?
FRANK
Nietzsche. Thoreau is dead for me now.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by  Chris Spizuoco.

[Benita Cullingford]

Benita lesson 19 Turning point

EXT. MARTY’S LOCK UP – DAY

Tracy has unlocked the doors. She steps inside the lock-up

up followed by Jim.

JIM

Good of her to remember at all I

guess. What was the message then?

TRACY

It meant nothing to me at first

but as we chatted and I talked

about Marty it came back to

me.’ Look Under my favourite

thing,’ he said. It’s the old car,

it’s got to be. D’ you think he

had something hidden away after

all? It had to be something he

didn’t want ignored or he wouldn’t

have bothered sending a message

like that.

They move further into the lock up.

JIM

Well, you knows, but we maybe

going to find out. But don’t go

falling into that pit. There’s

been enough drama in here to last

us both a lifetime.

Tracy overtakes him and walks between the two vehicles.

TRACY

Lets take a look. Can You grab

that lamp.

LAMP with a bulb set inside a metal cage attached to a

long length of wire is plugged into a socket on back

wall.

Jim switches the lamp on – and climbs down the ladder.

The lamp sends light flashing to and fro.

BOTTOM OF PIT

Jim turns at the bottom and helps Tracy down the ladder.

They look at each other for a moment, then Tracy looks

down. Tracy shivers.

DRIED BLOOD on the concrete floor and the old wheel.

TRACY

We should do something about that,

right?

Jim nods. He swings the lamp up and along, looking at the

underside of the old classic.

The underneath is remarkably clean.

JIM

The message said ‘under the car’

but not on it. Maybe there’s

something down here we’re missing.

Jim swings the lamp around. Then he stamps hard on the

ground.

JIM

This pit is concrete lined. D’ you

think those boards at the ends

move? Lets see.

A wooden board is attached to the wall. Tools hang from

hooks on the board.

Jim takes a large SCREWDRIVER off hook and struggles a

bit, then prises the board away from the (bare) wall.

Tools fall to the floor.

TRACY

Nothing. Try the other end.

Jim pushed the board back in place and Tracy replaced the

tools. They moved to the wooden panel at other end.

Jim easily loosened one corner. He got his fingers

underneath the panel and it swung open like a door.

Tracy and Jim stood back, elated.

TRACY

Well, I can now guess why he sent

the message to me rather than

Mary. She’d never have got into

that!

Set flush with the concrete wall was the door of a safe.

JIM

Will you tell her about this?

CONTINUED: (2)

30.

TRACY

Yes. Yes, I must. But we’ll see

what’s inside first, it may be

nothing. But either way I’ll let

her know. Lets leave this until

Sunday – it might take me longer

than my lunch break.

[Douglas Booth]

Doug Booth – as mentioned in Day 18 – things get pretty rough-hewn from here on in – partially outlined, with lots of notes, and partially scripted. But, one way or another, it all seems to be here – and I’ve been able to keep going!

DAY 19 – WITH LOTS OF NOTES STARTING FIRST

So – Act 4 will start with Nick having to – well – to go back – by the end of Act 3 – he’s realized that, no, he doesn’t want to take the money and run – he wants to provide value for the people whose lives will be affected by all this – AND – it looks like he’s gotten his new girlfriend on board – and even her powerful mom – who pretty much set up the whole rip- off scheme (but didn’t really think it through – as to how it would be affecting the “little people” on the ground – AND THAT is a really good scene to lay in there, somewhere – and how she felt in her life – and a way to reveal a lot of her backstory, while she has to decide how she wants to play things going forward, and what really matters to her, as well – GOOD) AND so, her own transformation is really, really important, just like Nick’s, and – maybe it’s only partial? And she has to figure out – will she “save her daughter from disappointment by X’ing out Nick – or she just doesn’t know – or Ernesto and others may turn on her and on Shania if they feel they were swindled – or – does she have to find them a better deal or… does she tell Ernesto they’ll find a way to make everything work (oh – no problem with the pastor – he’s already been taken care of – we’ve got Carl locked up – he has to cell – AND – well – I am sure that those buyers will not want to go through with their purchase – Board prez can veto but also (or will she have a change of heart) or Mark Matthews will talk to her – and she thinks she can get her to see reason – or will there be a shareholder revolt? How could that work? At any rate, ATHENA is the one with the contacts at HPD and at the foreclosure court – and – someone – at the AG’s office (when the call comes in, the person who reports it to the AG then turns and makes a call to Shania or Scott – showing that they are “in on the fix” – So Athena wouldn’t be the first contact – probably to Shania – and – not knowing all context and – maybe Shania, a little shell- shocked – simply says – (about Pastor) he won’t be returning the call. Turn on the news. He’s dead. (we could see it on Spectrum One or Harlem Patch)

So, yeah, this is how it works. Shania is still the contact – she gets all the calls from the AG – knows that Pastor is dead – and – talks to board prez – who no way wants to give up her Kissimmee home (how do we deal with her? Does she have to become a costumed Disney character to pay her new mortgage now, under “new rules” – seems fun! We’ll see)

And Carl calls – yeah. The final walkthrough is tomorrow. I’m really glad it’s going through but I haven’t been able to reach Nick (to Shania) – I really need him to be here. Things have been so weird – all around – the movers have been here all day, clearing everything out – straight into storage – and Scott did say he’d come, but I feel like I really want Nick to be here as well.

AND THEN – once Athena learns that Shania is going to go there (to the mansion) and she could be killed – cause that is the plan – to kill Carl and Nick – unfortunate, but Carl’s family will still get the cash, because we’re going to close anyway – and Nick is a pain in the butt, so who cares? And the goal is to close and get control – and the explosion is the most important thing – and better to have that happen BEFORE we own it than after… with all the legal red tape) –

But all of a sudden, Shania is in the middle of all this, and she, Athena, tells Shania –

ATHENA You can’t be there.

Why?

SHANIA

ATHENA
Don’t question me. Just don’t be

there.

(so maybe she is a really interesting flawed character – whew – what conflicts! Shania is going to be sort of free-and- clear – but Athena is going be fucking interesting to work with! And we’ll root for her, but she is definitely “shades of gray”!)

AND THEN

SHANIA Mommie, you didn’t?

And then…

Something happens, cause Ernesto doesn’t trust her anymore and he omes in with his Guy 1 and Guy 2 – and they grab her (grab who? Athena? Think so)

And smash her phone… and drag her off? (whoaa! Mess with Athena? Really bad move on their part – but great for the script, cause she’ll have to really evaluate who she has become and who she feels that she is – and major soul- searching, leading to a major turn-around and let’s see what happens with her estranged Lord Donegel!

Anyway – good question – does Athena have an organization to protect here? Here in NYC? In London, probably for sure – but not here. Her daughter works through the real estate company and Scott – and they do all their bribing and so forth – but not a “foot soldiers” on the ground type of gig.\

3.

So – with Scott – he has decided that if he and Ernesto can team up – Athena will be a liability – especially if Ernest can supply the cash – which is what he was getting from Athena – (though this thing is supposed to be generating mega- millions of profit!) –

BUT – they have to get some information out of her, first. Which she won’t tell them, cause… she is bad.

But then Shania comes after her – not really knowing what is coming down, but furious about her mom hanging up on her! (like a true daughter!)

Then gets to the hotel. Oh – your mom checked out. Shania is now worried.

She finds them through Scott’s cell phone which – as we’ve established – since she doesn’t trust him, she’s got it tracked secretly (she’s found out shit about him before) – (don’t think they ever had a “thing”, but…? Just in case it works)

Anyway – she goes to his “hidey-hole” yeah – that’s where Athena is held captive.

And she is going to rescue her. Is she captured too, and now they use her to gt info out of mom (the threat of hurting her) And – the whole ambivalence of Athena is probably a really good thing to work with – and how that works with Athena’s own relationship with Lord Bryan and her own pain – and then her daughter – and then her daughter’s relationship with Nick – and all of that. Pretty cool… since I know it’s going to work out – I just have to make that happen!

Anyway – as she’s captured, she texts Nick – cancel FWT and come to me. Maybe she puts an apt. # (They’ve previously shared locations) And, let’s remember, both Shania and Athena are pretty bad ass – so when they finally get fed up with everything, they will be quite awesome!

So, don’t quite understand this next part – but it says that Nick does the FWT with Carl and someone who is Ernesto’s rep or maybe Ernesto himself – and his thugs have been handling the rest.

Then, something – as, down in the basement – and they’re hit, knocked out (Carl and Nick) – okay – let’s get the charges ready – rig up the gas –

They’re on the phone to the folks who are doing the same thing at the church – YES!

4.

MINION Ready at the HDFC?

Yes!

MINION 2

At the church yard they’ve already dug each way (or in the basement, that is) – so charge will go through from one property to the next – a total tunnel dug through, maybe? – so it’s all linked up.

They set the times: 10AM Mansion 11AM Church

12PM HDFC (on the other side of Maybe. Then…

MINION 3 Let’s get outta here!

PS – is Shania freaking out now She’s in there, overhearing the

the church)

that Nick is in danger, too? plans and sequencing…

Then, in basement, Nick and Carl get out (is that when he sees the text from Shania? ACTUALLY, at this point, they are both unconscious and the explosion is set to go off in about a minute and a half – with cuts to the look-outs watching everything, checking out their watches, anticipating the destruction – and Ernesto supervising – and how much does Athena know or not know? And how is everyone calibrating all this – so A LOT TO WORK OUT, but it will be cool) –

• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by  Douglas Booth.

[michelle patnett]

Act 3 – Turning Point

EXT. MONIQUE’S FORMER HOME – MORNING

Door opens to Monique standing on the porch. Jack laughs mockingly and casually sips a beer.

MONIQUE

There’s still time for you. Give it all up, and I’ll go easy on you.

JACK

You’re joking. Give this up? I just moved in.

MONIQUE

You won’t succeed. I guarantee you it’s gonna end badly for you.

JACK

Nah. It’s gonna be great. Like candy from a baby.

MONIQUE

There’s still time. Walk away. This house doesn’t belong to you.

JACK

Mmm, according to the County Records it does.

MONIQUE

I’m telling you.

JACK

No, I’m telling you. It’s game over. You lost. Go back to wherever you came from cuz I own the house. Free and clear.

MONIQUE

Why do you do it? Why steal innocent people’s property and identity? Why not just get a job and earn your own money and

JACK

You still believe in the American dream. That’s funny. Cuz where I come from we’re too busy trying to survive. Dream? More like scheme. It’s a man’s world, sweetheart. Actually no; call it white man’s confidence. A dumb Mexican like you can’t hope to win. You wanna go up against me? Go right ahead. We’ll see who the courts believe.

MONIQUE

Be careful what you wish for.

Jack slams door in Monique’s face. She smiles sadly and walks away. As Monique walks down the street, curious neighbors peep out at her.

INT. OFFICE – EVENING

Monique faces down conference room full of lawyers. They all argue around her as she stares out the window.

MARK

It’s important that you understand exactly what’s at stake here. We can potentially bring down the entire ring. God only knows how far it extends.

MONIQUE

I just want my life back.

MARK

Yes, yes, I get that. But you have the rare opportunity here. Your testimony can be the key to it all.

MONIQUE

I just want to move on with my life.

MARK

Wait – what are you saying? You don’t want to testify? Come on! Where’s the old Monique? The old piss and vinegar gal? The one who was willing to take on a whole corrupt system?

MONIQUE

I just want… peace.

MARK

Yes! A piece of them! Carve them up and spit them out!