Lesson 23

[Ronald Neustrom]

Ron Neustrom- Lesson 23-QE #5 Scene

Logline – Brandy has been promised by Phillip if she sets up her drug dealing boyfriend, she can avoid charges. However, she has set him up.

Essence – Brandy is playing stupid and playing a drug informant for Phillip. He thinks she is the drug dealer’s dumb girlfriend/client. However, she knows they’re crooked and will steal from the scene and is setting them up instead.

EXT. DERELICT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – EVENING

DEPUTY PHILLIP, undercover, anxious, pulls out a cell phone and pushes a button. He is waiting inside his UNMARKED CRUISER.

DEPUTY PHILLIP
We’re here.

Another UNMARKED VEHICLE pulls up behind him.

He TURNS to the backseat. BRANDY, 24, unsure, silent is sitting behind him.

PHILLIP
Do your thing. It’ll be over.

BRANDY
What are you going to do?

PHILLIP
That’s all we need. I appreciate your cooperation. This will put him away for a long time.

BRANDY
Tell me once more.

PHILLIP
You are one of the special few who can get the done. This keeps you out of prison.

BRANDY
I love hearing that part. It makes me feel important.

PHILLIP
I don’t see why this can’t work out for both of us. You’ve been nothing but cooperative. I thank you for that.

ALEX LIN, another UNDERCOVER DEPUTY opens the backdoor. He sits next to Brandy and opens a BRIEFCASE.

PHILLIP
Detective Lin this is Brandy. She has agreed to do this if we set aside the possession charge. I can get it cleared.

Deputy Lin is a man of few words. He pulls a few WIRES and sets up to plug her into their SYSTEM.

PHILLIP
He’ll be gentle.

BRANDY
Then I can go.

Lin reaches for her bra. Brandy pushes him away.

PHILLIP
This is the hard part. Let him get you hooked up.

BRANDY
One last question. After we get his confession…Can I go? No charges.

PHILLIP
Everything dropped. No arrest.

BRANDY
I just had to hear one last time.

Lin hooks up THE WIRE and sends Brandy outside the sedan.

EXT. DERELICT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER

Brandy can be seen cautiously approaching the front door.

INT. PHILLIP’S SEDAN – CONTINUOUS

They are listening through a SPEAKER as she goes inside.

BRANDY (O.S.)
How are you doing baby?

MALE VOICE (O.S.)
Did you get the money?

BRANDY (O.S.)
Yeah, just like I said.

INT. DERELICT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER

Antonio is at the dining room table weighing baggies.

ANTONIO
Let me have it.

Brandy puts the money on the table. She turns and tries to walk back out the door.

ANTONIO
Where you going?

BRANDY
I can’t stay.

ANTONIO
Sit down.

BRANDY
You got the money. I gotta go.

EXT. DERELICT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – SAME TIME

Phillips and Lin are OUTSIDE the door. Guns drawn.

INT. DERELICT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – CONTINUOUS

Antonio has approached Brandy.

ANTONIO
Where the hell did you get this much money?

BRANDY
I got connections. I got savings.

The door is BLOWN OPEN. Phillips and Lin RUSH the room.

They push Brandy OUTSIDE.

PHILLIP (TO BRANDY)
Go to the car.

Antonio sprints for the kitchen. He reaches the refrigerator and grabs a gun from the freezer.
Phillip puts one through his head. He goes down.

PHILLIP
Why do they run? They always run.

Lin reaches into the freezer grabs a PLASTIC BAG of money. Phillips pulls it out of his hands.

PHILLIP
I’m the one who set this up.

EXT. DERELICT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER

Brandy is waiting in the car. Phillips opens the door.

PHILLIPS
I thought you said there was cash in the freezer.

BRANDY
That’s where he keeps it.

He grabs her by the wrist and takes her out of the car. Slaps cuffs on her.

BRANDY
I can’t go back in. You promised.

He shoves her inside. Slams the door. Walks over to his sedan with Alex.

PHILLIP
If you want your cut. Go process her…Please.

ALEX
I can do that. Then what?

PHILLIP
We’ll meet up later.

EXT. SAN DIEGO DOCKS – LATE NIGHT

Phillip and Lin are walking to Phillip’s boat slip. They reach a 30ft. WHALER and climb inside.

INT. PHILLIPS BOAT – MOMENTS LATER
Phillip takes the money and pours it on the table.

PHILLIP
We took a drug dealer off the streets today. You’re welcome.

ALEX
With a family.

PHILLIP
It was him or the money. We deserved the money more than him. I wish there was an easier way.

EXT. SAN DIEGO DOCKS – MOMENTS LATER

BRANDY is driving up with a group of other Deputies. She pulls a police issue AK47 from the cruiser.

Locks and Loads. CHEST PUMPS one of the other deputies.

BRANDY
Booo yeah!

CAPT. MORRIS pulls her aside.

CPT. MORRIS
So they didn’t offer you a deal.

BRANDY
Nope.

CPT. MORRIS
If this pans out you’re going to make day shift.

BRANDY
And a gold shield!

Capt. Morris rounds up the group. They all have weapons.

CPT. MORRIS
Brandy show us the way.

BRANDY
Follow me!

She leads the ARMED GROUP down the dock.

• This reply was modified 6 months ago by  Ronald Neustrom.

[Diane Keranen]

LOGLINE: Social media influencer wannabe, Brandy, has an opportunity to gain followers by interviewing Phillip, a BASE-jumper who recently caused an online uproar over his most recent trespass.

ESSENCE: Both Brandy and Phillip expect audience adoration.

SCENE:
(Cover up/Current Situation)

EXT. CITY STREET – DUSK

Outside a coffeeshop, Brandy, 20, waits. She checks her phone. Just then, Phillip, 22, walks up to her.

PHILLIP
Brandy?

BRANDY
Yes. You’re Phillip. I recognized you right away. Good to meet you in person.

PHILLIP
Sorry I’m late. I had a few errands to run.

BRANDY
No bother. I’m just happy we could get together to talk about your adventures.

PHILLIP
Adventures? I consider them necessary actions to live by. A philosophy of life, if you will.

BRANDY
Yes, of course. Shall we go in and get started?

PHILLIP
I have a better idea. Come with me.

BRANDY
Where to? We should meet here. It’s a familiar location for my viewers.

PHILLIP
Just come on.

BRANDY
I think I should maintain my style.

PHILLIP
I understand. I’m sure you’re right. I don’t want to give you a bad interview. I did that before and regretted it. They will love this. I promise.

Brandy starts recording video.

PHILLIP
What’re you doing?

BRANDY
Just getting some video for my channel.

PHILLIP
Not yet. Later. When we get there.

BRANDY
Okay. It’s off.

She pretends to turn off her camera.

Phillip leads her across a busy street seemingly unbothered whether there is traffic that needs to brake for him. One driver yells at him, and Brandy rushes to stay close to Phillip who just ignores the irritated drivers.

Brandy gives them an apologetic look. She hurries to keep up with Phillip.

He enters the lobby of a high-rise office building.

PHILLIP
May I?
(gestures that she give him her hand)
This way.

Brandy takes his hand. He guides her past the front desk to a door. It’s a maintenance door. He gives a quick look around then enters. She follows.

BRANDY
Are we supposed to be here?

PHILLIP
It’s out of the way, but unlocked. If we can get in, we’re okay.

Phillip leads her to an elevator and pulls her in. Brandy pulls up her phone that has been recording this whole time. She pretends to start it recording.

BRANDY
I’m here with Phillip Stanton. Yes, the real Phillip Stanton.

He smiles for the camera, leans in close with Brandy and winks at the viewer.

PHILLIP

Hi everyone. We’ve got some exciting surprises for you. You’re gonna love this.

BRANDY
You can see I’m not at my usual location but I can assure you, this will be worth the change in venue.

The elevator stops. Doors open. They step out.

EXT. SKYSCRAPER ROOFTOP – NIGHT

They are high over the city.

BRANDY
(selfies herself turning to show the skyline)
Look at this. It’s gorgeous.

She notices Phillip is walking toward the edge near a small structure.

BRANDY
Let’s catch up.

She jogs to catch up.

PHILLIP
Look at this.

BRANDY
So, Phillip, how did you manage to jump from the SkyTower building last month?

PHILLIP
It’s a matter of confidence, really. I packed my gear and borrowed a dolly and just hauled everything up to the roof. Sometimes they lock the doors, but with a few persuasive techniques I’ve developed to gain access to jump-off points, this is all mine.

BRANDY
What about your buddy, Colton? The police caught him didn’t they?

PHILLIP
Yeah, sure. I worry about that. We hate for each other to get caught up in nonsense charges. But he knows how to handle himself. We never turn each other in. Besides, they have need evidence if they want to bring any charges and as long as we are careful, they won’t find anything. After you jump. You take everything with you. If you don’t jump. You might get a trespass warning, but so what. That’s nothing. We’re not hurting anyone so we just keep quiet.

He smiles.

PHILLIP
(to the camera)
Take that as a lesson everyone. It’s not a matter of what they let you do, it’s a matter of what you know how to do. And always protect each other.

BRANDY
That’s fascinating. Can you tell us how you got started at this BASE jumping?

PHILLIP
That’s a long story, let’s do this instead. We can talk about that later.

He drags a big pack from behind the small structure. He takes out some gear and starts suiting up.

BRANDY
Amazing, look at that. Is this what you jump with?

After a few minutes, Phillip is suited up.

(Demand)

PHILLIP
Now you.

BRANDY
What? Are you kidding?

PHILLIP
C’mon. I’ll talk you through each piece of equipment.

BRANDY
I don’t know about this. You’re not going to make my jump over the edge are you?

Phillip looks into the camera.

PHILLIP
What do you guys think? Should Brandy jump?

BRANDY
No way!

PHILLIP
Come here. Just look.

He coaxes her to the edge of the building and a short wall that marks the outer edge of the building.

PHILLIP
Just look.

Brandy turns the camera to look out over the city. She baby-steps closer to the edge.

BRANDY
Only for you my dear followers.

Brandy is terrified. She holds her phone over the edge to peer down. Phillip stands right at the edge and an up-wind blows his t-shirt and hair in steady upward waves.

PHILLIP
This is what living is all about. If you don’t know where the edge of your experience is, how can you know what you’re capable of.

BRANDY
I’m capable of not jumping.

Phillip laughs at and with her.

PHILLIP
Jumping has to be your own choice. I would never force you to jump. C’mon, put the gear on and we can keep talking at the same time. Sitting talking isn’t my thing.

Over the next few minutes, Phillip shows Brandy and her audience the gear he has on and helps put some of it on Brandy just to show and describe how each part of equipment works.

Phillip looks over to the rooftop door and sees a security guard coming their way.

PHILLIP
Looks like it’s time for me to go. Excuse me, Brandy, but may I?

He takes her phone and records the view. He steps on the short wall.

(Reveal)

PHILLIP
I’ll get this back to you as soon as I can.

He reaches up to his helmet, starts his Go-Pro and jumps off of the building.

EXT. FALLING ALONG SIDE OF SKYSCRAPER – NIGHT

Phillip yells “WHAHOOOO” as he falls and releases his parachute. He holds Brandy’s phone in one hand and records all the way down.

After he lands, he takes off his helmet and talks into his camera.

PHILLIP
That’s how it’s done. Live life your way.

EXT. SKYSCRAPER ROOFTOP – NIGHT

The SECURITY GUARD, 50s, out of shape, approaches and takes Brandy into custody. He looks over the edge to see Phillip gliding away.

GUARD
Who’s your friend there?

Brandy thinks for a moment with Phillips words going through her head.

SOUND OVERLAY – PHILLIP
We never turn each other in.

BRANDY
Nobody. I was here by myself.