• Chris Spizuoco

    Member
    December 19, 2022 at 1:35 pm

    Act 4 First Scene

    INT. FRANK’S CAR – DAY
    Post funeral Frank passes Ken’s house and SLAMS the BRAKES. Backs up into Ken’s driveway.
    EXT./INT. KEN’S HOUSE
    He knocks twice and opens the door…Dot lays quietly on the sofa.
    INSIDE THE HOUSE
    She is half sleeping. Frank points to an interior door and she waves him in.
    INSIDE KEN’S OFFICE
    The walls are adorned with images of all the great philosophers: Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Nietzsche, Karl Marx, etc.
    Interior space is that of a hoarder house with random piles of books and magazines on science, politics, social/cultural, and economics.
    A corner space is dedicated to Transcendentalism with beautiful black and white photos of local nature. Frank picks up a copy of “The Maine Woods” that has sleeves of negatives bookmarking the pages.
    INSIDE THE LIVING ROOM
    Frank spots a machete and picks it up.
    FRANK
    (to Dot)
    Do you mind?
    She waves him on his way.
    FARM HOUSE – DAY
    Frank parks and exits with the machete and book; heads toward the open field.
    EDGE OF THE FIELD
    Cool autumn days have reduced the brush but thick overgrown alders encroach the field. Frank furiously HACKS away; pushing from field over a rock wall and into the woods.
    INSIDE THE WOODS
    He finds “the place”. A stump centers a towering white pine, massive sugar maple, and smaller old hickory tree. He sits and thumbs the book; holds up and examines the black and white negatives.

  • Benita Cullingford

    Member
    December 19, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    INT. SHOP – DAY

    MARTY’S STOCKROOM

    Tracy is sitting at Marty’s desk. An untidy pile of paper

    faces her. Tracy sighs. She picks up an account book,

    stares into space for a while, and then opens the book

    Ping from the doorbell as the door opens.

    Tracy gets up and hurries into the shop.

    Constable Stone, out of uniform, thrusts his warrant card

    at her.

    TRACY

    Yeah, I know who you are. What do

    you want? Marty’s gone. You know

    that, so there’s nothing you can

    pin on him now. Why don’t you

    leave us alone?

    CONSTABLRE SHORT

    Yes, and George Godwin has gone

    too. Probably a good thing that.

    But the evidence was clear. I

    don’t think he went there to kill

    George Godwin –

    TRACY

    Marty couldn’t hurt a fly!

    CONSTABLRE SHORT (CONTINUING)

    But, I reckon he went there to

    steal. Goodness knows what that

    man has tucked away. What’s more I

    think there’s a good chance

    whatever he took from Godwin is

    here in this shop.

    Tracy frowns.

    CONSTABLE SHORT

    Whether you know it or not what

    say we have a look?

    TRACY

    You have no right to do that. You

    need a search warrant. I thought

    you were no more than a low level

    guard dog. This isn’t even your

    patch. I want you to leave. Get

    out!

    Constable Stone turned with a sneer on his face. He

    reversed the door sign to CLOSED and clicked the door

    lock.

    Tracy retreated behind the counter.

    CONSTABLE STONE

    You don’t want to hinder a police

    enquiry, now do you?

    TRACY

    I certainly want to hinder you.

    Get out, I’m sure you need a

    warrant to search somewhere.

    Constable Stone raises the hatch in the counter. Tracy

    steps sideways to block him.

    Without warning, Constable Stone raises his hand and slaps

    Tracy hard across the face.

    Tracy gasps and stumbles back putting a hand to her left

    cheek.

    Stone ignores her and pushes past her into the stock

    room.

    CONSTABLE SHORT

    Maybe you know where he hid his

    stuff.

    Trace quickly slips her phone out. Fingers moving

    rapidly, she texts Jim.

    HELP.

    STOCK ROOM

    Constable Stone is looking around. He sees-

    KEYS hanging from hooks behind Marty’s desk. One key has

    a label marked LOCK UP.

    Tracy has followed him in.

    TRACY

    This is just you, isn’t it? It’s

    nothing to do with the police –

    what would that inspector of yours

    make of what you’re doing here?

    Stone pulls open the desk drawers one by one, each is

    stuffed with paper and pieces of the trade: keys,

    padlocks etc.

    Stone turns towards Tracy, menacingly.

    CONSTABLE SHORT

    Where’s the safe?

    TRACY

    There’s no safe here. People tend

    not to try and rob locksmiths.

    Have you seen the lock on the

    door? It’s state of the art.

    Stone takes a step towards her.

    CONSTABLE SHORT

    I don’t believe you. I…

    A loud pounding on the shop door. Pounding continues.

    Constable Stone and Tracy stand unmoving, staring at each

    other.

    TRACY

    You going on with this in front of

    witnesses. Lots of witnesses?

    SHOP

    Tracy pushes past him and hurries towards the shop door.

    Constable Stone follows.

    Jim and a group of stallholders stand looking in.

    Tracy unlocks the door.

    Constable Stone steps outside holding up his warrant

    card.

    CONSTABLE SHORT

    Police business. Nothing to see

    here.

    Jim enters the shop. Tracy and Jim hug each other. Jim

    runs a finger down Tray’s reddened cheek.

    JIM

    Are you okay? What happened?

    Did he hit you?

    Tracy turns towards the door.

    TRACY

    Lets get out of here and I’ll tell

    you all about it.

    37.

    INT. CAFE – DAY

    Tracy and Jim sit at a table with mugs of tea and a kit

    kat each. Tracy holds a cloth wrapping a number of ice

    cubes to her left cheek.

    JIM

    So, he’s after Marty’s ill-gotten

    gains and it’s him doing it and

    not any sort of police

    investigation. Right? How’s your

    face feeling?

    Tracy lowers the cloth.

    TRACY

    Getting better, I think, but it

    bloody well stung. What a bastard.

    JIM

    I’m sure it did and we need to

    report him. And take a photo

    before it fades.

    Tracy raises the ice pack again.

    TRACY

    No, listen, it would just open up a

    whole area of police interest. And

    what if there was stuff hidden

    somewhere? It’s the last thing

    Mary would want, too, worst of all

    now she’s grieving.

    JIM

    Alright, we’ll say nothing. But if

    Constable what’s his name comes

    back, I’m not having you in any

    danger – promise me you’ll think

    again. Yes?

    Tracy nods.

    JIM

    How about we go and watch a film

    this evening? Forget about bent

    cops?

    Tracy removes her cloth and smiles.

  • Douglas Booth

    Member
    December 26, 2022 at 2:49 am

    Doug Booth – again, pretty rough, but I’m still heading for FADE OUT (at which point I’ll review everything and do my best to whip it all into shape)!

    FOR BEGINNING OF ACT FOUR
    IN THE BASEMENT OF THE MANSION

    we see the 2 ghostly figures – Caspar and Alice – looking over Carl and Nick, both still unconscious. Note: they won’t be tied up, because that could look suspicious, if their bodies are found and they are tied up – won’t look like an accident. Not sure if Scott needs to be in there, to be a “credible witness” to the accident – “tried to save them”, etc – but couldn’t. Hmmm, Have to see!

    NOTE: THERE IS A LOT TO WORK OUT HERE – INCLUDING THE WHOLE SETUP FOR THE FINAL WALK-THROUGH – HOW NICK AND CARL GET JUMPED, IS SCOTT THERE – A LOT MORE OF THE OVERALL PLAN – TO BLOW UP THE MANSION AND HAVE THAT, APPARENTLY, TRIGGER “ACCIDENTAL BLASTS” AT THE CHURCH AND THE HDFC – SO THE ENTIRE BLOCK IS DESTROYED AND, OF COURSE, NICK AND CARL ARE KILLED IN THE EXPLOSION, AS WELL.

    5.

    I SUSPECT SCOTT WILL, IN FACT, PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN ALL THIS – AND, OF COURSE, HE WILL HAVE TO GET HIS COMEUPPANCE THROUGH A NEAT FORM OF POETIC JUSTICE. SO… AS THE TWO GUYS ARE LYING, UNCONSCIOUS, IN THE BASEMENT, WITH THE EXPLOSIONS ALL CREDIBLY SET UP AND EVERYTHING WORKING LIKE CLOCKWORK!

    CASPAR
    Check out the valiant heroes!

    ALICE
    Hey, one of them is your grandson!

    CASPAR
    Oh dear. The ones we’ve entrusted

    to save the neighborhood? He looks at Alice.

    CASPAR (CONT’D) Remind me who was his father?

    ALICE
    Oh, Daddy! You really liked Edgar!

    Caspar shakes his head.

    CASPAR
    Edgar. How could I forget!

    ALICE
    Quiet yourself, poppa! You know

    both of their hearts are good – and, as far as their intentions – well, you know that my Carl’s are 100% pure!

    CASPAR
    Yes, but allowing themselves to be

    suckered into such an obvious trap?

    ALICE
    Poppa – remember, you – apart from

    being a philanthropist and a neighborhood hero – were also an out and out criminal! You had very well developed instincts!

    CASPAR
    True. But I was sure that other

    one, Nick – he seemed to show some pretty good promise in that direction… though I know you spoiled Carl so the only things he learned were in books…

    (MORE)

    6.

    CASPAR (CONT’D) but, seriously! Allowing

    themselves to be…

    ALICE
    As I recall – YOU were one

    kidnapped for 5 days… and laid low for the next three years after your “miraculous escape”!

    CASPAR
    Hey – that was Dutch Schultz’s mob –

    they had serious skills. But then again, so did I. Lucky for you, because otherwise, you would never have been born!

    ALICE
    You know I love you, Poppa!

    CASPAR
    As do I, sweetheart – to infinity

    and beyond! She gives him a look.

    CASPAR (CONT’D)
    You know I like to keep up with

    what the new folks are doing down here…(if we needed to establish that he knows contemporary stuff, to finish up the story)

    He looks down towards a corner in the basement.

    CASPAR (CONT’D) Hey, you. Over there!

    A rat poking around in the basement looks up. “Me”?

    CASPAR (CONT’D)
    Yes, you! Go wake that big stupid-

    looking one up!

    The rat looks from one to the other, not able to figure out which one is meant.

    CASPAR (CONT’D)
    I get it. Take your choice!

    The rat gives Nick’s ear a gentle nibble. He stirs, moves, then sits up fast – and the rat, who had still been hanging on, is tossed away…

    7.

    And when he lands, he turns back to Caspar, CHITTERING his outrage!

    CASPAR (CONT’D) Sorry, little fellah. I owe you

    big time!

    The rat recovers its composure and does a little “namaste” type bow and nod – and then skitters away.

    As Nick rouses Carl.

    NICK
    Wake up, Carl! C’mon. We’re in

    maximum trouble!
    Carl does come back to consciousness.

    CARL W-what happened?

    NICK We got jumped…

    (sees the flashing, beeping device set up in the basement)

    What the hell is this?
    Carl reacts – picks up a heavy brick…

    CARL
    No idea – but whatever it is – not

    in my house!!!

    He smashes the brick down and the device is pulverized and dies.

    NICK
    Whoa! That is so much cooler

    than… “is it the red wire or the blue wire… holy shit, we’re gonna die”…

    (laughing with nervous relief)

    CARL
    Yeah – luckily in the case,

    neighborhood rules applied! CASPAR AND ALICE

    barely visible, exchange looks. Alice beams and Caspar nods.

    8.

    CASPAR
    I guess he takes after his Grandpop

    after all!

    AS SOMEONE FROM THE CHURCH CONGREGATION with whom Nick had made a previous contact (Riley?) sends a text to Nick’s phone. (PS dumb those guys didn’t take their phones. Is there a reason why Nick would have put his down inside his underwear, because he was afraid of something like that? Don’t know.

    At any rate, Nick looks at his phone – reads:

    NICK
    It’s from Riley, Jenice’s son.

    (reading text)
    Hey, Nick! We just got an alert to clear the building! What do you think is going on? My mom’s not home and I can’t reach her.

    Nick and Carl exchange looks.

    NICK (CONT’D) (texting back)

    On our way!

    EXT. HOLSTEIN WAY

    The guys leave the mansion and run past the church towards the HDFC.

    (Is someone watching them from a car, across the street? Gets on the phone)

    EXT. HDFC

    Meanwhile, everyone is filing out, with firemen helping keep order… as Nick and Carl rush in, going in the opposite direction.

    FIREMAN
    You can’t go in! We’re clearing

    the building!

    NICK
    I got a text from a disabled kid

    who lives inside. He needs help getting out!

    The fireman steps aside and Nick and Carl head in.

    9.

    INT. BUILDING

    They see Riley, in his wheelchair, coming down the stairs, carried by a couple of his larger male neighbors! Tired but diligently making sure to give him a smooth ride!

    RILEY
    Hey, Nick! You didn’t have to come

    – we’re all family here!

    NICK
    I know! I just used you as an

    excuse to get in. How do I get to the basement?

    One of the neighbors points to another staircase doorway.

    NEIGHBOR
    Over there. But we’re supposed to

    be clearing the building… not messing around down by the boiler! If that sucker explodes…

    NICK Exactly! Thanks!

    He dashes off. Carl hesitates, then follows,

    CARL
    Hey, I’m coming too!

    INT. BASEMENT

    The two of them clamber down the basement stairs as fast as they can,

    They find the boiler room – walled off from the rest of the basement. They open the door…

    And when the lights come on, there is the natural gas-fired boiler – looking as big as an antique submarine. Yeah – if that thing blows…

    CARL Where…? Where…?

    And there it is, off in the far corner, snuggled up against gas intake line to the boiler,

    Not dissimilar to the one at Carl’s house. The digital read- out is ticking down…

    No bricks or anything to use…

    10.

    Nick pick it up with both hands – it weights about 40 and SMASHES it agsinst the boiler, And again.

    CARL (CONT’D) Let me try.

    Lifting it high over his head, he brings it down in a monumental smash – and, with sparks and light flashes device dies..,

    NICK
    Yeah. Way better than “red wire,

    blue wire”…

    Just as… there’s a HUGE EXPLOSION OS and the entire basement shakes…

    EXT. BUILDING

    Out on the street, everyone is rushing away from the explosion – as Nick and Carl burst outside, to see…

    11. lbs –

    – the

    The entire church crumple and collapse with earth-shaking impact and a deafening roar. (ps looks like I lost my “save the cat” reference back with going to get Riley – unless Nick wanted to say that and Carl says “that’s stupid – tell ‘em you need to save the kid!”)

    Then, Nick checks his phone…

    NICK (reading text)

    Shania’s in trouble.
    Carl shrugs. He’s in it for the duration.

    CARL You know where?

    NICK Her place.

    Not sure why it’s there and not where they were before? Hmmm.

    CARL Let’s go.

    CUT TO:

  • michelle patnett

    Member
    February 21, 2023 at 10:30 pm

    INT. HOME – DAYTIME

    Monique watches Mr. Miller as he sleeps. He draws a few, ragged breathes, then appears to stop breathing. Monique closes her eyes and turns away.

    INT. HOME – NIGHTTIME

    Monique in the kitchen, doing the dishes. Mr. Miller’s two children bicker in the background, arguing about who gets what.

    MARGARET

    The china is mine. And the furniture. You took the stamp collection, and that’s worth a whole lot more than this other junk.

    BOB

    Hey, I got here first. Not my fault you refused to come when I called you.

    MARGARET

    No, you took what you wanted, THEN called me.

    BOB

    Hey, early bird and all that.

    MARGARET

    And you – what’s your name again – make sure the kitchen is all packed up. We’re still paying you for the rest of the week.

    Monique stares through the window and slowly wipes a plate.

    INT. HOME – DAYTIME

    Monique in the middle of packing boxes. Phone rings.

    MARK (on the phone)

    Hey, it’s me. Can you talk?

    Monique tiptoes to a bedroom and closes the door.

    MARK

    We have a court date.

    MONIQUE

    What? How?

    Close-up of Monique pressing the receiver to her ear, tears rolling down her face.

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