Lesson 2

[Jan Fantl]

Jan’s ACT 1

WIL: Mainly I allow myself letting the characters speak in a rough direction of what the story needs to flow forward. From characterizations earlier I remember where the intriguing sound might be, doing it not correcting it. moving forward.

forward. ACT 1: TRAVEL

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY

Oliver leans over the table – some time has passed – and shoves a glass of water into his third of the table.

OLIVER

Ok, let’s look at it this way. Here s some water. what do you want to put next on the playfield? A name, a name of a village? Tell me

MAHMOUD

My name is Mahmoud Khalid ben Khalid Al Masmouri and I am warrior of Allah.

OLIVER

Yes. But even warriors have knights, servants, chieftains. Allah would accept apologies if we’d knew who ordered you to trigger.

MAHMOUD

Allah is wise. He sees it all.

OLIVER

He does. And the he will see that the kid does not know what to do with 99 virgins. Too…

A YOUNG SOLDIER enters the room, salutes and walks over to Oliver, whispers discreetly in his ear.

OLIVER

Thank you soldier. (turns) Now we’re heading from playground to death row, Mahmoud. One kid, two body counts on our end. Murder.

Oliver hangs in silently.

Patient.

MAHMOUD

(under his breath)

Allah is wise. One of our child heroes takes two of your well trained men. (looks at Oliver). We have more children and women than you soldiers.

Oliver invisible breathes to calm, (turns to soldier)

OLIVER

Thank you soldier, dismissed.

The young soldier salutes, turns…the wrong way…Mahmoud checks and jumps… oliver realizing same time but beeing on the wrong side of the body. Mahmoud grabs the long knife on the young soldiers hip and re surfaces with the deadly blade in his hand.

Oliver pushers the young soldier out of the eyeline and signals the guard by the door to not use his weapon.

MAHMOUD

Allah will show me the way. Allah is wise.

OLIVER

Now we’re talking. Stop Mahmoud. Nothing will happen here. Nothing

He signals the guard by the door

OLIVER

Allah will be questioned now, as nobody will send you to see your destined virgins. Not 99, not one, none.

Nobody is armed here but the door guard and you. Not me and not the young stupid walking in here with a knife to his hip.

What do you want to do? Want to debate with Allah?

I`ll tell …- stop don’t wove – listen. I am giving now orders to the guard: Sergeant, you are going not to shoot the suspect. Train at his tighs, calves and ankles. Shoot until he cannot get to you, off the ground nor to the door. Copy that.

GUARD BY THE DOOR

Sir, copy that, sir.

OLIVER

That’s for that, you will not die through the enemy. So, what now? My young camerade will stay back in the far corner, watch and hope to survive this. And he will. And you will.

Oliver moves slowly towards the interrogation table

OLIVER

Leaves you with me. Hmh. Me? No dying, no virgins, no honor.

Mahmoud begins visibly to react to Oliver’s negotiation.

MAHMOUD

(agitated)

These kind of fairy tales do not work with Allah. We don’t have to listen to infidels

OLIVER

Fine, Allah may stay out of it. Leaves us with just you .and this interrogation about a cowardly set ambush. And your trial in Brussels. No honor… Or death row, yes, dedpends. Honor… No. Certainly a No

Mahmoud steps back into his corner raising the knife …. And then the move to cut his own throat.

Oliver knew it, steps on the chair , grabs the bottle of water from the table… flies into Mahmouds corner …

Mahmoud irritated for a split second to turn the knife against Oliver or himself … looses time … and Oliver gushes the water into the face of Mahmoud and split seconds later against his wrist. Knife gone, Oliver lays on him

OLIVER

Guard, take him. And to his cell..

Done. No fight.

The guard rushes into their corner of the cage and fixes one hand and with oliver getting up, the other one.

OLIVER

24 hours no contact. Food and water based on human rights, nothing more, nothing less.

Mahmoud spits on the floor in front of Oliver.

OLIVER

Isn’t Allah great? How does that get any better?

Mahmoud is led away.see Aide In the opened door we see AIDE arrive.

AIDE

(formal)

Major Wind, Lieutenant Colonel Brauen request your presence.

Oliver looks at his aide, they are buddies and comrades and soldiers, knowing every tone between the lines.

AIDE

… Instantly

Oliver reacts …

EXT. MILITARY CAMP – DAY

… and they – Aide and Oliver – walk together through the German camp in the midst of the desert.

OLIVER

What is it? You know?

AIDE

Nope, nothing. But he looked like ..calm

OLIVER

Calm? That sound dangerous. Else thing? About my latest complain back home?

AIDE

I have checked mail and IT, not a word. Not what we have access to.

OLIVER

(suddenly aggitated)

I have it. I’m loosing one soul per month, only me. our people get killed protecting drug transports on behalf of the government.

AIDE

Oli, you have to do something about your nightmares first thing. it wount take long team will know. You re having them now in open daylight.

OLIVERIt’s not our job

(uninterrupted)

It s enough. Even if our pharmaceutical industy needs it

I spend my time interrogating the wrong killers. … And your right, don’t know

AIDE

I m with you, but now cool it. Let’s be army buisness

OLIVER

Right. I am the fuck of army biz.

Walk away into the HQ building, talking

INT. CAMP HQ – OFFICE – DAYFOR AN UNDETERMINED

Oliver stays in front of a desk.

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel BRAUEN looking at a map.

LT CL BRAUEN

Sad afternoon, Major Wind, Stay at ease.

OLIVER

Yes Sir, losses. Triggered by an individual misinterpreation. Fault – lead to own death and casualtyies .If I may ( he is not interrupted) We had 15 minues packing the trucks ahead of us . We would have fall for one of their traps. It wasnt really the mistake of this unexperienced …

LT CL BRAUEN

Sorry, appreciauteda but interrupted, this meeting has a different topic…. You are flying home. You are realedsd for an undeterminedd window of time.

OLIVER

Sir. I had to send this. Too many are dying becuase of …

LT CL BRAUEN

..and it is not about your petition either. Would please sit down?

Oliver does

LT CL BRAUEN

It is my sad duty to send you home because..let me make it brief. You are fyling home to assist your mother as your father has passed away last night.

Oliver looks at his LT C.

Stone faced. Stare. Nothing.

LT CL BRAUEN

Nothing soothers this. It’s differnt. Please do not become a stranger , we are here for you

Oliver gets out his chair.

OLIVER

I appreciate Sir. With your permission?

INT. CAMP HQ – TRAVEL MANAGEMENT – DAY

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER LT.

Yes and Yes. YES you have travel status. And Yes, you have the next available seat in xy hours

AIDE

Common ther e must be a better scheduling, this is a sad thing and he

Oliver is not parte´of this , staying back

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER LT.

No, .. he has already prio 2 from Lt.Brauen. We re looking

AIDE

Prio 2? What’s Prio 1 then? Can’t you put him in there?

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER LT.

One? That’s war, fly back to report to the Chancellor and the ministers. Really.

OLIVER

(from the back)

Is there any short cut?

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER LT.

Yes sir. In two days.

EXT. CAMP – DAY

OLIVER

I want you to find something to take me out of here. Not 49 or 44. IN Six the lates. A flying carepet, elephant or something.

Aide leaves, Oliver on his bed, alone, no tears.

INT. TENT/BARRACK – OLIVER – DAY

Oliver packs his belongings and tries to reach his mother on his satellite phone.

There is no answer.

Aide enters.

AIDE

Oli, let’s get running. No flights or the one cargo that leaves in six.

OLIVER

(wakes alert)

Now? Where?

AIDE

Now-Now. I’ll tell on the run,c’mon

Oliver seizes the opportunity, closes backpack while already moving.

They run.

EXT. AIRFIELD – DAWN

Oliver and Aide running

AIDE

You have probably no seat or so. Stuff flying back for repair

OLIVER

That ok, havent sleapt sinmce days anyawy. You makle sure that Mahmoud is alive when I’m back. Thta is not an order, I want you to promise.

AIDE

Oli, c’mon? The HQ will want us to

OLIVER

Promise

AIDE

Yes, will be alive and waiting

OLIVER

I#ll do the funeral and will be back. Days may be a ….

Oliver phone rings.It’s loud

EXT. AIRFIELD – CARGO PLANE – DAWN

Aide sees a blue light flashing above Oliver’s breast pocketzs points at it. Oliver grabs his ringing satellite phone and it shows MAMMA

OLIVER

Mum? I am on..

THE SCREEN OPENS TO A SPLIT OF OLIVER AND FREDDIE

FREDDIE

Oliver, Are you coming ? I need …

The connection is noisy,

OLIVER

Yes Mum, I am just jumping on aplane and …

FREDDIE

O need to tell you something urgent. Can we speak for 5 minutes?

OLIVER

Mum, I am at the plane. I need to go on board ….

FREDDIE

But it’s urgent. Your dad. The family is going out of ….

Oliver is running into the open hatch of the cargo, the cardo officer is waving him in.

From the other side a semi truck speeds into frame. Two soldiers bringing a body bag, running towards the open hatch.

OLIVER

I can’z hear you well. We talk in the morning ok? We re flying out now.I ‘ll call you when landed

Oliver hangs up, turns, waving to aide

AIDE

(only as mouth moves)

Call me, weirdo

Making the idiot moves

Oliver smirks, nods. Closing hatch interrupts their eye line..

INT. CARGO PLANE – DARK

(Optional)

Oliver sits between damages jeeps and trucks, weaponary. Unable to take his eyes away from the body bag. He shakes like a baby – no tears though.

EXT. AIRFIELD GERMANY – NIGHT

Rain, wind, fall.

Oliver as he disembarks the opening hatch. Soldiers waiting.

Oliver checks the situation approaches the officer supervising the ürocedure

OLIVER

Hey

AIRFIELD OFFICER

(checks,salutes)

Major

OLIVER

Save it, dismiss. Do me a favor? There is a bag on the flight? One of my team returning. Please see after some of your sensitive guys go see his parents

AIRFIELD OFFICER

A comrad? Fuck. Sorry Major, we shall do, look after him on the way home.

OLIVER

Appreciate. … I need to sleep, any bunk free here.

AIRFIELD OFFICER

Sorry no Sir. We are an airfield only, no barracks no nothing other tahn tricks and gasoline.

OLIVER

Next exit?

AIRFIELD OFFICER

The 9Inn, I can get you a driver. Best option

Oliver nods

INT. THE 9 INN – NIGHT

Oliver looks at..

CONCIERGE 9INN

…not kidding. 360 €uro is it until six o’clock. Must understand we charge by the 30 minutes, you’ll do the math.

OLIVER

I really want to sleep, nothing else.

CONCIERGE 9INN

Got it but the rrom is blocked, dude.

OLIVER

Look, how does that get any better? I just return from war zone, brought back a buddy home.A Rebate for a just a shower?

CONCIERGE 9INN

your real? not from the airfield? Ok, here’s my hero rebate

He truns the sign paper,with a scribbled number on it

OLIVER

Hm, seems I AM a hero

Grabs the pen and signs.

CONCIERGE 9INN

But maybe one of the girls needs to kae a rest on the other side of your bed, jus a nap

OLIVER

Man, I am so dead, haven’t slept for mopre than 36. As long as she doesn’t shot at em.

CONCIERGE 9INN

No extra service? Right?

Oliver grabs the key card.

INT. ROOM WITH A BED – DARK

Oliver emerges from the shower, his tiredness evident.

It’s a tiny room. Oliver comes from the shower mounted in the room, steps and turnsover his heavy backpack, we see several tattos but more present are his Scars from heavy wounds on back and his arm,rememberences to his past experiences.

Exhausted, Oliver grabs his phone, now the satellite and a older smart phone. But the he glances at his watch, late. He puts his back on the nightstand

Rubs his face, and

falls asleep before he hits linen

INT. ROOM WITH A BED – DARK

Oliver is restless in his sleep, bumping into Xenia’s arm and

immediately becoming alert. He Startles high and looks, ready to fight…

XENIA, a semi-attractive pro, wakes too.

XENIA

What?

Sees his hands ready for comabt

OLIVER

I said, no services, id I?

XENIA

Right but boss told you one might need to rest here

OLIVER

Did I?

XENIA

Yes. Man, sex worker, sleep, peace.

She looks at the bedspread

XENIA

But maybe you wanna reconsider, regulate some pressure before going home seeing Mutti.

Wrong button “Mutti” rings the bell. Oliver looks at his wrist

OLIVER

Shit, it’s eight? Man.

He jumps out of bed, forgetting. He is totally naked. Xenia looks at his/him

XENIA

(sarcasm yet motivating)

You sure You don’t want to regulate a bit?

OLIVER

What are doing this mornin’? I’ll give you 50.

Conversation goes sideways.

XENIA

Changed your mind quickly. Sure

OLIVER

Surely not. Drive me to the next car rental

XENIA

Oh, ok. 70 then.

Oliver stepping naked over his back pack towards bath room, looks at her in her exotic call girl underwaear

OLIVER

Need a t shirt? Or so?

Xenia kind of likes his humor but mostly looks at his/him

XENIA

Got two… or so. In case you ever need to regulate pressure, emme know.

Xenia totally openly smiles at Oliver. Oliver first time relizes he stands in front of her with an erection

OLIVER

Can we?

END OF ACT 1

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Jan Fantl.