Lesson 23

[Benita Cullingford]

Benita Lesson 23 key scenes

INT. JIM’S BEDSIT- NIGHT

Tracy and Jim are eating Chinese takeaways.

JIM

You can’t take a bag of jewels

into a police station, hand it

over and say you found it, right?

TRACY

Yes, we all link back to Marty and

would immediately cause suspicion.

And I don’t think Mary wants

anymore about his secret life

being known to all and sundry.

(beat) It’s a puzzle to know what

to do.

Tracy forks some more rice into her mouth.

JIM

Maybe we could post a package to

the police.

TRACY

That wouldn’t guarantee it getting

back to the rightful owner and

that’s what Mary wants.

JIM

Lets think about it.

They eat in silence for awhile.

JIM

Google wasn’t much good – mind

boggling the number of hits from

all over the world for ‘stolen

jewellery or lost jewellery.

TRACY

We can’t give up. Lets finish

eating and have another go.

Jim pushes his plate away and gets up. He wanders around

thinking on his feet.

JIM

Let’s assume Godwin stacked his

stuff recently. He didn’t want to

hold on to it long, wanting to

turn it into cash. As far as we

know he didn’t have a girl friend –

TRACY (INTERRUPTING)

We haven’t tried ‘stolen jewellery

collection.’

JIM

Okay.

Jim collects his laptop and sits on the floor with Tracy.

He opens it up.

A long list appears, mostly high profile people,

celebrities and film stars. They stare at the screen – in

danger of going boss-eyed, until –

TRACY

Go back, go back! Stop. There I

think that might be it.

She holds up her phone near the screen, comparing.

An image of the PENDANT NECKLACE (she’d taken earlier)

shows up very like her photo, on Jim’s screen.

TRACY

I’m pretty sure that’s it. What d’

you think?

JIM

Yeh. Looks right to me.

As Jim clicked on several sites, they both exclaimed out

loud.

TRACY

Small stately home… Armed

robbery!

JIM

Newspaper article, Tracy!

TRACY

Oh, the poor woman. Family

heirlooms!.. That’s awful. She’s

seventy two! Oh, I can’t read it.

FLASHBACK – NIGHT

BEDROOM. RHONA MCDONALD asleep in bed.

A masked man in dark clothes moves towards the bed.

Rhona opens her eyes. The intruder lowers his pistol at

her. She twists rapidly to the far side of the double bed

and gets out, attempting to run.

He grabs her and forces her to the door, menacing with

the pistol.

STAIRS. Rhona is dragged down the stairs.

STUDY. Rhone is forced to open the safe. She is knocked

on the side of the head with the pistol, and left

unconscious.

FASHBACK ENDS

Tracy has a hand to her face.

JIM

It’s Okay. She recovers and phones

the police… oh, there’s a follow

up. The jewels were due to be

auctioned due to financial

difficulties.

They exchange a look.

TRACY

Where is it, exactly?

Jim scrolls some more on his laptop.

JIM

It’s called Buntington Hall.

Blimey! That’s a long way. It’s in

Scotland, somewhere near a place

called Dunoon on the west coast.

Tracy is on her phone.

JIM

What are you doing?

TRACY

Texting Mary. We need a

conference.

INT. MARTY’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Tracy, Jim and Mary sit around the dining table. Mary

fusses with a tray of hot drinks.

MARY

I haven’t been to Scotland for so

many years. Maybe a trip is in

order. But first a phone call.

Jim looks horrified.

JIM

You can’t just phone up on your

phone. It has to be done without

anyone knowing, right?

Mary and Tracy both nod in agreement.

JIM

We’ll need to get ourselves a

burner phone.

[Douglas Booth]

Doug Booth – as in previous days – still very rough, with a lot of things I’m realizing I have yet to learn – but I am also very happy to have gotten to FADE OUT and I feel certain that there is a great story here and that I am the right person to tell it. It’s just gonna take a lot more work, because a lot of what I’ve written so far is incredibly clunky or incomplete or badly structured! Which is okay with me, because I feel like the story is now “there” and all I have to do is keep working on it until it reveals itself “appropriately”!

INT. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
All gathered around a conference table. FIRST VERSION:

ATTORNEY
Yes, indded – this is a valid deed

of ownership. You, as Caspar Holstein’s sole remaining heir, do own the land underlying the current State House in Central Harlem.

(MORE)

19.

ATTORNEY (CONT’D) There were obviously great

improprieties when the building was originally built – after your Grandfather’s death, of course – however, as I have been in touch with the appropriate New York State legal authorities, they have proposed an ongoing land lease – dated retroactively to the date of construction – which seems more than generous…

Athena takes the proposed lease document away from him and hands it over to her attorney, seated next to her…

ATHENA James?

He’s a buttoned-down, white-shoe type of attorney. He reads, reads, perhaps jots down a note or two, scowls, finishes reading… crosses out an earlier note, writes something else – adds up a few figures on his calculator – and, seeing the total, his eyes widen, he smiles, and passes the lease back across the table.

JAMES Yes… indeed!

(to Carl)
Young man, not only will this cover your debts on the property, but it will more than adequately fund your community non-profit for the foreseeable future. And, if any reason New York State should wish to terminate the lease – well, their entire 30 story governmental building will be forfeit (look this up) – which is extremely unlikely to ever take place!

SECOND VERSION

20.

ATTORNEY
Well, Mr. Holstein, since we’ve

been able to verify that, thanks to your inheritance of your mother’s and grandfather’s house and the entire estate of all their possessions – since you are now the legal owner of the deed to the underlying land of the State House (figure out a way to say this) – you are in a position to set a fair and just rent for the occupancy of this building on your property…

(beat)
Needless to say, this is incredibly unusual, but, as your attorney, I have to say – Nice going, Carl! Their first offer was a little low – but I think if we only ask for a slight increase – say – $40,000 a month more – the tax payers of the state of New York will most likely be happy to foot the bill, to keep their current occupancy intact!

Carl lights up. As we see Alice and Casper hovering behind…

CARL So…

ATTORNEY
Not only can you now afford to keep

the house, but we can get started on the neighborhood scholarship fund for the kids on the block and beyond – that we’ve been talking about for the past five years!

Caspar and Alice exchange high fives – and both dissolve into light and disappear.

SERIES OF SCENES AT THE HDFC

Queen Mother, Jenice, and the rest of the board are getting into an oversized Lyft SUV…

INT. A DIFFERENT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE (FOR THE HDFC)

A much larger conference table – with the attorneys, board members, and the five new co-op shareholders all assembled – everyone signing various documents furiously!

21.

MARK MATTHEWS Congratulations, everyone! I don’t

think I’ve ever presided over five simultaneous closings – but, thanks to the incredible cooperation of the board of Holstein Court HDFC and all the new shareholder’s attorneys – not to mention the new shareholders themselves – I can declare, “Mission accomplished!” Welcome to Holstein Court HDFC, everyone – and I can confidently assure all of you that the outstanding debt to HPD and the New York State Department of Finance and Taxation – thanks to the proceeds of these five co-op owned apartments – has been satisfied completely! Your co-op is now debt- free and, as an added bonus, your reserve fund is looking incredibly healthy as well! Nice going, one and all!

And as everyone applauds and QM and Jenice exchange (who would have guessed?) a heartfelt hug…

THE BUILDING’S ATTORNEY
holds up a check he’s just written.

BUILDING ATTORNEY
What should I do with the agent’s

commission check?
Both QM and Jenice reach for it…

QM/JENICE I’ll give it to him!

Both laugh and then QM defers.

QM Jenice.

JENICE
Thanks, (whatever QM’s actual name

is). I’ll see that he gets it!

DISSOLVE TO:

22.

MUCH LATER – GROUND-BREAKING AT CHURCH PROPERTY

The rubble has been cleared – and there’s now a ceremony as the Congregation is gathered in front of the now vacant lot. Nick, Shania, and Athena are gathered as well.

The new pastor (NP) is addressing the group. Including “D”, the deacon who was, in fact, responsible for Pastor Summer’s death. He is looking increasingly agitated and upset as he listings to the New Pastor’s dedication… and just before its conclusion, he can’t take it any more and rushes off.

NP
Thanks to Pastor Summer’s divinely

guided foresight in making the Holy Covenant Tabernacle Church as the sole beneficiary of his extremely generous life-insurance policy, it is my pleasure to officially announce the inception of construction of our new church facility – including a new worship center plus a community gathering space, theater, and educational facility – not to mention a state- of-the-art roof garden and hydroponic farm, farm-to-table restaurant, community supermarket (complete with all appropriate City tax credits) AND fifteen residential condo units – three of which will belong to the Church for their exclusive use, five available as affordable housing units for lower-income families, and seven market rate units, whose sale will more than cover the remaining costs of construction, when added to the commercial leases for the restaurant and super-market, for which we already have fully qualified applicants!

As the pastor hands a shovel to the first of the church’s board of directors – an elderly lady wearing an elaborate bonnet – and she shovels a ceremonially small shovel of dirt, then turning the shovel over to the next board member – a much-younger gentleman wearing a three-piece suit…

All react as they hear a loud OS THUD…

23.

ANGLE – STREET

And people are rushing out into the street – where we see a stopped bus and the body of the Deacon, lying face up on the pavement, blood pooling around his body.

Nick is the first to reach him. The Deacon weakly raises his right hand – and Nick clasps it, and bends down, as the Deacon is attempting to speak.

DEACON (pained whisper)

The mills of God grind slow, but exceedingly fine. (get exact quote)

(his eyes change focus, become extremely bright)

Oh – Pastor! So good to see you again!

(beat – with great relief) Thank you so much!

And with that, smiling peacefully, he dies.

EXT. TRINITY CEMETERY

DISSOLVE TO:

Nick, Shania, Athena, and Carl are watching as both the Deacon and Pastor Summers are buried in adjoining plots – right in front of the Boylston Family Crypt – as well as the Holstein Family (outdoor) enclosure. PS – it should probably be the Holstein Family Crypt, right??? Why not?!!!)

INT. CRYPT

Where Alice and Caspar are joined by Deacon and Pastor Summers – luminous specters, all! Alice is pouring the champagne – and, as everyone’s glass is filled – they click them together.

ALICE Cheers!

CASPAR
I’m guessing you boys have a lot to

talk about?

The two look at each other – a variety of emotions flashing across their faces. Then Pastor Summers smiles, shakes his head, and takes a sip.

24.

PASTOR SUMMERS
We’re good. In Adam’s fall, we

sinned all.

DEACON
But thanks to the grace of our

Lord, Jesus Christ… we can still be saved!

CASPAR
Amen to that. Well, drink up! Now

that all that is taken care of, I think it’s time we took our leave!

Alice looks towards the door…

Which suddenly becomes a transparent window – allowing her to see Carl and his family (?) and they others.

ALICE
Good by, my son! My love will

alway be with you!

CASPAR (nodding)

Indeed.

At which point, a shimmering column of light descends, enveloping them all.

CASPAR (CONT’D) (laughing)

Scotty, beam us up!
He REACTS to the looks of the others.

CASPAR (CONT’D) What? Hahaha! As I told my

daughter, I like to keep up with current events!

And – as they all dissapear into light…

BACK IN THE CEMETERY

CUT TO:

As the coffins have been lowered and dirt is being shoveled in, Athena turns to Shania.

25.

ATHENA (attempting to sound

casual)
Oh, by the way, I spoke to your father last night.

Shania reacts, happily surprised but wary.

ATHENA (CONT’D) Hey, no big deal. We talked,

that’s all.

SHANIA That’s a huge deal.

ATHENA (acknowledging this)

Well, he’s not an ogre. And… I’m not a witch.

Off Shania’s look.

ATHENA (CONT’D) (laugh)

Oh, okay. But he’s not an ogre and there’s no reason we can’t meet and talk like civilized people… some day?

SHANIA
Some day is fine with me!

ATHENA (softly, to herself)

And… maybe even have a family again?

Shania hears this – tears coming to her eyes, takes her hand and she squeezes it tightly as

EXT. ORPHANAGE – MUCH LATER

as well. Nick we…

DISSOLVE TO:

26.

Nick and Shania are standing out front – as kids, supervised by their teacher, stream out, laughing, heading to the nearby park.

The Headmistress comes out – beaming – and gives Nick a hug!

HEADMISTRESS
Nick! So good to see you! Shania?

SHANIA That’s me!

They clasp hands.

HEADMISTRESS Your mother…

Shania grins.

HEADMISTRESS (CONT’D) But a buy-out of the entire

mortgage and retirement of all debt?

SHANIA
If my mother is prone to anything,

it is “excess”! Nick looks at her.

NICK
You didn’t tell me…?

SHANIA (grinning)

She said to consider it… an advance wedding present!

Nick takes it in.

NICK
So… my future mother-in-law just

proposed marriage to me – to her daughter?

Shania smiles.

SHANIA
And your answer is…?

NICK Absolutely… YES!

He sweeps her up into a whirling hug – as the Headmistress grins and the kids, noticing, all look back – pointing and applauding!!!

KIDS Yay!!!!

DISSOLVE TO:

27.

EXT. SCOTISH CASTLE

Athena is led up to the battlements by a liveried attendant – up on the battlements, overlooking a vast, wild countryside, Waiting there is Shania’s father and Alicia’s former paramour, LORD DONEGAL.

He holds out his hand.

DONEGAL
So good… so WONDERFUL to see you,

Athena!

She takes his hand – and they look long into each other’s eyes.

DONEGAL (CONT’D)
It’s been so long. And I have so

much to make up to you. Athena looks at him.

ATHENA
I’m no longer the teary-eyed sweet

young thing you swept off her feet, so many years ago.

Donegal smiles in acknowledgement.

ATHENA (CONT’D)
These days, I could buy your castle

out from under you, and still have enough left over to install you as my boy-toy in my chateau in the south of France.

DONEGAL I know.

Athena smiles back, happy and secure in the knowledge that this is all true.

DONEGAL (CONT’D) And now that we’ve gotten the

preliminaries out of the way, may I welcome you properly?

Athena tilts her head and gives him a sideways look.

Eh?

ATHENA

Donegal tentatively, but then, meeting no resistance, pulls her into a full embrace!

28.

DONEGAL (whispering in her ear)

It’s been been too damned long, my love…

ATHENA (whispering back)

You are completely damned right! And whose fault was that?

DONEGAL
Mine, all mine. But, if you’ll let

me, I’ll spend the rest of my life doing my best to make it right!

As Athena closes her eyes and gives herself over to the shared embrace, we…

FADE OUT.

THE END

PS – I STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW/WHY ALICE DIED! ACCIDENT, HEART ATTACK, OR, IF PUSHED, BY WHOM? SEEMS LIKE A TWIST WOULD BE – CASPAR – BUT THAT SEEMS WRONG! SO I’LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT – ALSO THE PERSON FROM THE CO-OP WHO SNUCK IN TO LOOK FOR THE TREASURE, WHO KILLED JEROME – OR – WAS IT REALLY ERNESTO, WORRIED THAT JEROME WAS SELLING OUT “THE DEAL” AND HAD TO PUT AN END TO THAT! AND AS A WARNING TO SCOTT? AND… WHAT ABOUT SCOTT – WHAT DO I DO ABOUT HIM!!! HAHAHA!

UP IN HEAVEN – Alice and Caspar – “I can’t believe you pushed me down the stairs! You’re own daughter!

I told you I didn’t. You had a heart attack, you silly goose. If you’d eaten better…

Ha! Then why did you say –

Just teasing. Your mother and your husband both didn’t hang around long after they passed – they just headed straight upstairs and, yeah, I did get lonely. But, no – I didn’t do a thing – it was all on you!

(Just wanted to see what you’d say.) Anyway, what’ important is that everyone worked out okay for your son – our legacy and the neighborhood – and now, here we are, happy as clams, in heaven, itself.

29.

Alice looks reconciled,,,
Caspar – sideways – and I was getting kinda lonesome.. She reacts, pushes him, and laughs!
You silly goose! (their pet name for each other)
NEW THE END (OR THAT WAS IN THE END TITLES)

[michelle patnett]

EXT. COURTROOM – DAY. IT’S FOUR MONTHS LATER

Jack is sentenced to two years in prison, and two years’ probation.

Jack smirks as he’s led away. He yells at Monique as he leaves.

JACK

Six months. Tops. Then I’ll be back. And I’m coming especially for you!

Monique cries and bows her head as Mark hugs her.

MONIQUE

It’s not enough. Never enough time…

Monique’s mother and sister comfort her as she walks out of the courtroom.

INT. MONIQUE’S HOME – NIGHT

Monique sits in a darkened room and silently cries.

INT. MONIQUE’S HOME – DAYTIME

Monique talks with her mom and sister, and eloquently apologizes to them for her past behavior. They all cry and forgive each other.

Monique returns to Seattle and requests a meeting with Kira and her husband. She offers a sincere apology, but neither seem to be open to a reconciliation. Monique also visits her old workplace, but few people recognize her. Those that do, greet her with chilly reception.

Monique is forced to face the truth – her past behavior permanently burned bridges, and there’s no way to rebuild the relationships she ruined with her drinking and brash behavior.

She returns to LA, sadder and wiser.

EXT. JAIL, DAYTIME

Jack exits the fence and pauses, takes a deep breath, and heads towards a car. Lynette, the clerk from the Hall of Records, is waiting for him. As he approaches the car, Monique emerges and approaches him.

JACK

You again? You’re kidding me with this. I just spent six months in lock-up, there’s nothing more you can do to me. You got your house back.

MONIQUE

You took a lot more from me than a house. You’ll never know…

JACK

Fine, whatever. Don’t start crying, expecting me to say I’m sorry. I’ve never been good at apologizing, not gonna start now. Besides, it all worked out for you, didn’t it.

MONIQUE

No. Not in the least. It’s not gonna work out for you either. You honestly think you’re gonna go back to your old life? Just like that? No harm done?

LYNETTE

Look, just go away and forget about it. He’s right. You got your house back, no harm done.

Monique laughs hysterically, pulls out a gun and aims at him.

MONIQUE

You took my life, I’ll take yours.

Monique shoots him point-blank in the head. Lynnette screams hysterically, as panic ensues all around.

Monique sighs in relief as the cops surround and handcuff her.

Monique is sentenced to 10 years in prison. Six months later she is granted a compassionate release. She returns to her home, which has been turned into a hospice. She dies from complications from Hepatitis C, contracted from her time as a homeless person.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  michelle patnett.