Patrick Downey
Forum Replies Created
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Patrick Downey – Chronological Edit
What I learned doing this assignment was that the format for reading through the script and finding the areas to focus on given by Hal were invaluable. It really helped to tie everything in together.
Improve the description – I used this tactic to work on my word choices, to make them stronger.
Improve the dialogue – There are conversation that I just love between characters and some I don’t, so I changed those around to flow better.
Improve the clarity – Due to the nature of my protagonist being deaf, there will be a lot of questions on how to get certain things across to the audience. So, if this is ever picked up, it will take some serious selling to get it to production.
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Patrick Downey – Solved Scene Problems
What I learned doing this assignment is I could write, rewrite, fix, read again, add, improve, improve again and still find areas that could use work. When do you stop re-writing?
1. Weak characters – I found areas that I felt added a situation to the story to carry it along or tie it in so I kept it.
2. Building arcs – Several scenes didn’t have an arc, so I rewrote some of the scenes for the reader to understand.
3. Scene structure – My screenwrite deals with dates and times in history so, I had to make sure they worked within the overall story. I went back and realigned a few scenes.
I orginally only had 78 pages when I first wrote my screenplay and thought I could never get to the 90 – 100 pages. As of today, it sits at 100 pages and counting!
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Patrick Downey – Solving Character Problems
What I learned doing this assignment was that I needed to fill in some areas that were weak. I didn’t realize how much until this outline. Good stuff!!!!!
A. Weak Antagonist – My character was missing in many of the action scenes and only popped up halfway through the story
D. Talking heads not in action – many of my scenes took explanation to build but there was a lack of action from them. Subtle little moves made them come alive.
G. Lead characters not present – I tried to move around with various different scenes, engaging as many different characters into the story or back story as possible but in doing so, there were pages and pages without my main characters at all.
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Patrick Downey – Filled in missing scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is that there was a lot of room to fill in missing dialogue and build on characters that went missing along the way.
1. I added a scene with Crutch and Cayman’s interaction after Dardanos seems to know more than they think he does.
2. I added a scene that develops more of a relationship between Cayman and his friends.
3. I added a scene that brought Ms. Nebhan back into the picture for purposes of having her around in the ending.
4. I added a few small other scenes to have the characters not disappear for such a long time and add depth to the overall story.
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Patrick Downey – Act 4 Resolution
What I learned doing this assignment is to just write out your thoughts and ideas and if you need to enhance your ending, you can always do it later. Is there a perfect ending after all? Isn’t that for the audience to decide?
Superbowl Kick-off
We see sitting in the vault Dardanos, Kristos, Graham and Patrick glued to the TV with anticipation of a huge payday. There have been years before where they didn’t even necessarily watch all of the game and seldom if ever came together to watch a championship. However, with the large sum on the line, some dissention and hesitation amongst the group, and a tightly forecasted outcome everyone thought it better to watch at the office. What is typically a very quiet day at the Chicago FBI office, some 25 agents, task force, and other personnel are getting ready for their own celebration.
The end of the 3<sup>rd</sup> quarter has the HAVOC selection down by 3 points but the other teams star running back has just headed to the locker room with an injury which is a godsend since he already had a 165-yard rushing day and 3 touchdowns. The game is down to 5:12 in the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter and it is all tied up at 24-24. The vault reeks with the stench of cigar smoke and high dollar imported scotch two things Ray never allowed inside the vault but Dardanos continues to disrespect Ray even in his grave. The 2-minute warning has been given with their selection to win the Superbowl sitting at their opponent’s 28-yard line with a first down. This is purely clock management at this point with only a short field goal to win the Championship. First down they run the ball for 4 yards up the middle, clock still running. Second down they run the ball off the right side for 8 yards and a first down. The ball is now at the 16-yard line and the clocks starts up again on the referee’s whistle. The opponent has no timeouts, and the clock is down to 38 seconds and still running. First down they try a pass to the corner of the endzone, but the receiver was covered so the QB threw it out of the endzone. It is now second down, and the clock is stopped with the incomplete pass at 31 seconds. They hand the ball to the fullback who gets just 2 yards to center the ball. The clock is rundown to 8 seconds and the sidelines signals time out. Out comes the field goal unit on third down just in case something goes wrong with the snap or hold to attempt the game winning kick which happens to be a chip shot just a little more than an extra point kick.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICE VAULT – NIGHT
Dardanos
Gentlemen, you’re about to win the largest bet ever placed in American sports history. Don’t forget who you have to thank for it either. You would still be a bunch of bums without me!
Sensing the win, the tension has definitely lifted and the guys all chuckle and tell Dardanos where he can go.
Patrick
You’re still spoiled little brat Dardanos no matter how much money you have.
Graham
We don’t give a rat’s ass about history, we’re about the future daddy’s boy!
Dardanos doesn’t like the disrespect at all but looks over at his father who winks at him and laughs. Dardanos takes a big swig of his whiskey and laughs along with them.
(The radio sounds with the following command)
Agent Belfiore
All agents into final positions.
The vault is electrified with anticipation; the ball is snapped the kick is up and out of nowhere the starting free safety with a 6 yard running start times the snap perfectly and dives over the entire defensive and offensive lines to block the kick. The safety was a member of the United States Olympic team as a high jumper and as he flew through the air and blocked the kick it was even more incredible how he tucked and rolled and the end. The ball bounced one time off the turf right into the hands of the cornerback and in full stride as the clock winds down and no one chasing him except his own players the improbable happens and the Handlers have lost 472.5 million dollars just like that. If the mood wasn’t already shitty enough, in walks Agent Belfiore and Agent Greene with weapons drawn followed by another 12 or so agents.
Agent Belfiore
FBI, everyone stay exactly where you are with your hands in the air. You are under arrest for illegal gambling, extortion, money laundering and at least a half dozen other state and federal charges.
Kristos, Graham & Patrick all bolt for various exits in the building. Dardanos still sits stunned and numb with the actions on the field as agents cuff him. Kristos makes it out to the street through a side door and notices an uber car waiting for a customer and quickly jumps in and tells the uber driver to drive towards the airport and tosses him a $100 bill. Graham manages to exit through the basement level a section not known to all the Handlers, but Graham had discovered the exit during the initials days after the purchase of the building and disguised it as a huge hanging painting of his beloved NY Giants. Upon his exit, he headed towards the street and fell in with some partygoers and even grabbed a guy’s hat and a beer from another fellow. Patrick chose to take his chances inside the building and hide in the women’s restroom standing on one of the toilets.
High fives and cheers sound off outside the building as the streets fill with partygoers, bar hoppers and in a nearby van with Cayman’s gang celebrating with the most incredible last play ever seen in a Superbowl game. Heck for that matter any NFL game to date. Cayman and his group pile out of the van to get a first-hand look on the faces of the Handlers as they are escorted out of the building. Cayman wants to make sure that Dardanos gets a good look at the poor deaf boy that put him away. As Dardanos’s eyes meet Caymans, he opens his jacket and has on a sweatshirt that says “4 Ray” and flips Dardanos double fingers.
It just so happens that as Agent Belfiore is walking out Dardanos, Cayman looks at one of the agents and seems to recognize him but can’t place where from but with the excitement going on figures it was just at the Mac-n-Cheeze truck one day. About 5 minutes later as they are loading the men into the FBI vehicles, he sees this same agent putting Dardanos into his vehicle and it clicks. He reaches for his phone and pulls up the picture of Dardanos meeting with the guy at the Violet Hour six months earlier and it is the same guy. Cayman’s emotional state goes full on red like a bull charging a matador. He grabs the nearest agent’s gun from his holster and points it directly at this agent. In a split second a dozen officers and agents all pull their revolvers and aim directly at Cayman.
Agents/Officers
Drop the gun son! We don’t want to shoot you, but we will if we have to.
They are yelling at him to drop the weapon, but they don’t know he can’t hear them. Cayman’s friends try getting to him but are held back by other officers.
Agent Belfiore
Hold your fire! Lower your guns! This kid is deaf and can’t hear you.
The agent with Dardanos realizing the situation decides to reach for his weapon at the same time, however, barely gets his weapon out before he is shot in the shoulder by Cayman. As he turns the gun towards Dardanos ready to fire a second shot Agent Belfiore tackles him to the ground. Agent Belfiore
Cayman what the hell is wrong with you?
Cayman shows him the picture on his phone. Agent Belfiore quickly puts two and two together.
Agent Belfiore
Agent Greene put Agent Tortelli under arrest. I had long suspected a mole within our ranks but could never flush them out. It figures our only New York transfer that requested this field position. That should have been a red flag right there. No one request this shitty job. Get that piece of trash out of here.
We see the uber car that Kritos has jumped in pulling up to a red light with two large black SUV’s sitting on either side of them at the light. The guy driving the uber car puts in park and opens his door and walks away. Kristos is yelling at him asking him where the hell is he going when doors open on both sides of the car from the SUV’s and out steps FBI agents with handcuffs and guns drawn.
(CUT TO STREETS)
Switch to the calamity in the streets of people celebrating and the group that Graham has fell into. Graham tries to break off to head down another street less busy, but the guys won’t let him go. They put their arms around him, hugging him very tight as drunk guys do when they’ve had way too much alcohol. He pushes one guy off and another puts him in a headlock, laughing and wrestling with him. Patrick finally gets upset and yells “that’s it I’m done!” One of the guys says your damn right and three of the guys pull out their badges and put him under arrest. Patrick lasted almost 30 minutes until he became tired, and his foot slipped into the toilet bowl just as a female agent was entering the restroom to use it. Needless to say, he was quickly flushed out!
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Patrick Downey – Act 4 Climax
What I learned doing this assignment is to just write out your thoughts and ideas and if you need to enhance your ending, you can always do it later. Is there a perfect ending after all? Isn’t that for the audience to decide?
Superbowl Kick-off
We see sitting in the vault Dardanos, Kristos, Graham and Patrick glued to the TV with anticipation of a huge payday. There have been years before where they didn’t even necessarily watch all of the game and seldom if ever came together to watch a championship. However, with the large sum on the line, some dissention and hesitation amongst the group, and a tightly forecasted outcome everyone thought it better to watch at the office. What is typically a very quiet day at the Chicago FBI office, some 25 agents, task force, and other personnel are getting ready for their own celebration.
The end of the 3<sup>rd</sup> quarter has the HAVOC selection down by 3 points but the other teams star running back has just headed to the locker room with an injury which is a godsend since he already had a 165-yard rushing day and 3 touchdowns. The game is down to 5:12 in the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter and it is all tied up at 24-24. The vault reeks with the stench of cigar smoke and high dollar imported scotch two things Ray never allowed inside the vault but Dardanos continues to disrespect Ray even in his grave. The 2-minute warning has been given with their selection to win the Superbowl sitting at their opponent’s 28-yard line with a first down. This is purely clock management at this point with only a short field goal to win the Championship. First down they run the ball for 4 yards up the middle, clock still running. Second down they run the ball off the right side for 8 yards and a first down. The ball is now at the 16-yard line and the clocks starts up again on the referee’s whistle. The opponent has no timeouts, and the clock is down to 38 seconds and still running. First down they try a pass to the corner of the endzone, but the receiver was covered so the QB threw it out of the endzone. It is now second down, and the clock is stopped with the incomplete pass at 31 seconds. They hand the ball to the fullback who gets just 2 yards to center the ball. The clock is rundown to 8 seconds and the sidelines signals time out. Out comes the field goal unit on third down just in case something goes wrong with the snap or hold to attempt the game winning kick which happens to be a chip shot just a little more than an extra point kick.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICE VAULT – NIGHT
Dardanos
Gentlemen, you’re about to win the largest bet ever placed in American sports history. Don’t forget who you have to thank for it either. You would still be a bunch of bums without me!
Sensing the win, the tension has definitely lifted and the guys all chuckle and tell Dardanos where he can go.
Patrick
You’re still spoiled little brat Dardanos no matter how much money you have.
Graham
We don’t give a rat’s ass about history, we’re about the future daddy’s boy!
Dardanos doesn’t like the disrespect at all but looks over at his father who winks at him and laughs. Dardanos takes a big swig of his whiskey and laughs along with them.
(The radio sounds with the following command)
Agent Belfiore
All agents into final positions.
The vault is electrified with anticipation; the ball is snapped the kick is up and out of nowhere the starting free safety with a 6 yard running start times the snap perfectly and dives over the entire defensive and offensive lines to block the kick. The safety was a member of the United States Olympic team as a high jumper and as he flew through the air and blocked the kick it was even more incredible how he tucked and rolled and the end. The ball bounced one time off the turf right into the hands of the cornerback and in full stride as the clock winds down and no one chasing him except his own players the improbable happens and the Handlers have lost 472.5 million dollars just like that. If the mood wasn’t already shitty enough, in walks Agent Belfiore and Agent Greene with weapons drawn followed by another 12 or so agents.
Agent Belfiore
FBI, everyone stay exactly where you are with your hands in the air. You are under arrest for illegal gambling, extortion, money laundering and at least a half dozen other state and federal charges.
Kristos, Graham & Patrick all bolt for various exits in the building. Dardanos still sits stunned and numb with the actions on the field as agents cuff him. Kristos makes it out to the street through a side door and notices an uber car waiting for a customer and quickly jumps in and tells the uber driver to drive towards the airport and tosses him a $100 bill. Graham manages to exit through the basement level a section not known to all the Handlers, but Graham had discovered the exit during the initials days after the purchase of the building and disguised it as a huge hanging painting of his beloved NY Giants. Upon his exit, he headed towards the street and fell in with some partygoers and even grabbed a guy’s hat and a beer from another fellow. Patrick chose to take his chances inside the building and hide in the women’s restroom standing on one of the toilets.
High fives and cheers sound off outside the building as the streets fill with partygoers, bar hoppers and in a nearby van with Cayman’s gang celebrating with the most incredible last play ever seen in a Superbowl game. Heck for that matter any NFL game to date. Cayman and his group pile out of the van to get a first-hand look on the faces of the Handlers as they are escorted out of the building. Cayman wants to make sure that Dardanos gets a good look at the poor deaf boy that put him away. As Dardanos’s eyes meet Caymans, he opens his jacket and has on a sweatshirt that says “4 Ray” and flips Dardanos double fingers.
It just so happens that as Agent Belfiore is walking out Dardanos, Cayman looks at one of the agents and seems to recognize him but can’t place where from but with the excitement going on figures it was just at the Mac-n-Cheeze truck one day. About 5 minutes later as they are loading the men into the FBI vehicles, he sees this same agent putting Dardanos into his vehicle and it clicks. He reaches for his phone and pulls up the picture of Dardanos meeting with the guy at the Violet Hour six months earlier and it is the same guy. Cayman’s emotional state goes full on red like a bull charging a matador. He grabs the nearest agent’s gun from his holster and points it directly at this agent. In a split second a dozen officers and agents all pull their revolvers and aim directly at Cayman.
Agents/Officers
Drop the gun son! We don’t want to shoot you, but we will if we have to.
They are yelling at him to drop the weapon, but they don’t know he can’t hear them. Cayman’s friends try getting to him but are held back by other officers.
Agent Belfiore
Hold your fire! Lower your guns! This kid is deaf and can’t hear you.
The agent with Dardanos realizing the situation decides to reach for his weapon at the same time, however, barely gets his weapon out before he is shot in the shoulder by Cayman. As he turns the gun towards Dardanos ready to fire a second shot Agent Belfiore tackles him to the ground. Agent Belfiore
Cayman what the hell is wrong with you?
Cayman shows him the picture on his phone. Agent Belfiore quickly puts two and two together.
Agent Belfiore
Agent Greene put Agent Tortelli under arrest. I had long suspected a mole within our ranks but could never flush them out. It figures our only New York transfer that requested this field position. That should have been a red flag right there. No one request this shitty job. Get that piece of trash out of here.
We see the uber car that Kritos has jumped in pulling up to a red light with two large black SUV’s sitting on either side of them at the light. The guy driving the uber car puts in park and opens his door and walks away. Kristos is yelling at him asking him where the hell is he going when doors open on both sides of the car from the SUV’s and out steps FBI agents with handcuffs and guns drawn.
(CUT TO STREETS)
Switch to the calamity in the streets of people celebrating and the group that Graham has fell into. Graham tries to break off to head down another street less busy, but the guys won’t let him go. They put their arms around him, hugging him very tight as drunk guys do when they’ve had way too much alcohol. He pushes one guy off and another puts him in a headlock, laughing and wrestling with him. Patrick finally gets upset and yells “that’s it I’m done!” One of the guys says your damn right and three of the guys pull out their badges and put him under arrest. Patrick lasted almost 30 minutes until he became tired, and his foot slipped into the toilet bowl just as a female agent was entering the restroom to use it. Needless to say, he was quickly flushed out!
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Patrick Downey – Act 4 First Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is that’s it’s really hard to have a clever or smart ending to a movie. I’m an avid movie goer and the amount of bad endings to movies is ridiculous. It almost seems as though the writer or director just gave up and threw something out there to end it. Well, here I am writing and it’s difficult to come up with something new and different that hasn’t been done before. So, I kind of get it now.
Key Scene 1
3<sup>rd</sup> Act Turning Point: It’s the morning of the Superbowl and whatever thoughts everyone had about each other are about to play out, either in favor of good or evil. All the anxiety, nerves, and second guessing has been thrown out the window it is literally game time! May the best prepared team win!
The H.A.V.O.C. four have arrived at the office and are settling in for what is about to be the biggest game of their betting lives. Dardanos has his cocky look of confidence as usual and the O’ brothers have camped out on the opposite end of the room still very uneasy.
Key Scene 2
Dilemma: Cayman has so many moving parts and players in this game, it’s hard to know who to trust. There is also the factor that someone will make a last-minute change without his knowledge and that could jeopardize the whole operation. Remember, this plan is 2+ years in the making.
In order to pull this off, Cayman had to take his own money and place multiple bets in large amounts to skew the odds and the points favored. He took the money his mother had set aside for him plus her insurance policy payout and the offshore money his grandfather had been stashing away. Needless to say, between the two amounts it was a considerable amount of funds.
Reaction: Everyone is in place, the FBI, the H.A.V.O.C. four, and Cayman’s people. It will be a tense next few hours as the game goes on and all wait to play their part.
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Patrick Downey – Completed Act 3
What I learned doing this assignment is that I was a little light on material in scene 3 and this is where I need to make up some material that will get me the additional pages I need to reach the 90 – 100 page mark.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICE – DAY
The HAVOC four have returned to the office the Saturday before the Superbowl a little more relaxed after winning back most of their money on the Championship games and still having their overall pick make it to the Superbowl. A still skeptical but renewed confidence in Dardanos by the other men sets the tone for what Dardanos and his arrogance is about to propose. This is exactly the calculated move Cayman was banking on and he couldn’t have been more correct.
Dardanos
Gentlemen, I’ve instructed Crutch to deliver some of the highest payouts in HAVOC history to ensure everything goes according to my plan.
Patrick
Dardanos, I don’t like how you spend our money without telling us first!
Graham
That is some bullshit! We don’t run this company like that ever!
Dardanos
Yeah, you boys will be kissing my ass and thanking me when tomorrow night is over.
What they don’t know is that Crutch never exactly made it to his destination. As a matter of fact, he is in South Beach, FL., with Audie, Carmella, and about 30 of their family members and close friends at the home of Audie on Star Island for the Superbowl weekend.
INT. O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL – NIGHT
Crutch is heading for the check station where Lt. Lundy works with a gift bag in hand.
Crutch
Lt. what up man! (The two shake hands and hug)
Lt. Lundy
It’s kind of late in the season for you to be going somewhere isn’t it?
Crutch
This is pure pleasure my man! I’m off to Miami to work on my tan! (They both laugh)
However, I wanted to drop this off with you on my way out.
Crutch hands Lt. a gift bag and as he reaches his hand in and pulls out a Baltimore Ravens jersey with Lundy on the back and signed by the entire team.
Lt. Lundy
Ohhhh man! That’s too much! I can’t believe you remembered.
Lt. Lundy is in full tear mode and doesn’t care who sees him. He gives Crutch a big bear hug around his mid-section and holds on for a full 15 seconds.
Dude! My wife is going to go crazy! You don’t understand what this means to my family. Thank you, thank you, thank you! If there is anything I can ever do for you, just ask.
Crutch
Lt. you have always been good to me, and I can see that you’re a good man that loves his family. So, I’m glad I could do this for you. Peace out brother!
Lt. Lundy
God bless you Crutch!
Crutch heads down the terminal turns and does a touchdown signal with his arms at Lt. Lundy
EXT. AUDIE’S HOME – DAY
We see this beautiful house filled with party guests both inside and outside. On the large screens is the pre-game show for the Superbowl hosted in Chicago.
Crutch
Audie, Carmella can I talk to you guys out front for a minute?
Audie/Carmella
Ya, sure.
Crutch walks over to his Bently parked in the dirveway and opens the trunk. Inside neatly arranged are 10 large gym bags lying side by side in two rows.
Crutch
Inside each of these bags is the money given to me by Dardanos for various payoffs. Each gym bag contains $6 million dollars and I want to make sure we all get a piece of this action.
Carmella
Wow! That’s a lot of money. They must have really gone after a huge payday.
Audie
You know guys, I’m good. Really. Why don’t the two of you just enjoy it! As a matter of fact, you’ve earned it!
As Audie walks back to the house, Carmella and Crutch stand there just looking at the bags in disbelief. They share a huge hug and a laugh! Carmella wipes tears from her eyes and Crutch lets out a yell.
Carmella
Crutch lets go get a bottle of Cristal for each one of us!
Crutch
Now you’re talking mama!
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Patrick Downey – Act 3 Turning Point
What I learned doing this assignment is having a beginning, middle, and end is not enough. A good screenplay must have multiple layers for the pure entertainment of the reader or audience.
3<sup>rd</sup> Act Turning Point
INT. CAYMAN’S ROOM – NIGHT
Cayman had spent the last couple of years looking at all angles. He was sure that his plan had covered everything without a leak. However, it seems as though there is something or someone involved in turning this into a disaster. He sends a email to Audie to make sure all his people are trustworthy and there are no leaks. He knows all his team are good but sends out an email for them all to watch their backs and make sure they aren’t being followed.
EXT. DOWNTOWN PARK – DAY
Cayman calls a meeting with his crew to run through some scenarios and it’s obvious that Cayman is extremely stressed. His friends have never seen him like this before and it’s worrisome. It doesn’t look like Cayman has slept in days. He has dark circles under his eyes, hair looks disheveled, and his thoughts are confusing.
Cayman
I don’t want to involve the FBI anymore. I just want them to lose their money.
Cornelius
Cayman, what are you talking about? You’ve already given them the tape and the letter. There’s no going back now.
Jam-Sabo
Dude, let’s stick to the plan. It’s a good one and you put so much into it. Believe in yourself bro!
Cayman
I can’t let them beat me. I’ve waited so long, and I owe this to my grandfather. Dardanos is a scum bag who deserves to be put away forever. He thinks he’s so damn smart and nobody can touch him.
Cayman breaks down in tears and his friends all huddle around and console him and assure him this will work.
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Patrick Downey – Act 3 Middle Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is that my characters can’t be trusted at all. They have gone off writing their own scenes without me! LOL
Key Scene 2 – Makes a new plan
INT. INSIDE VAN – DAY
Cayman is watching and recording the conversation of the H.A.V.O.C. four inside the vault when he records their very own confession during a fight and heated argument.
CUT TO: BIKE MESSENGER RIDING THROUGH STREETS OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AND DELIVERING PACKAGE TO FOOD TRUCK
INT. FOOD TRUCK
Agent Greene rips open package and pours out a thumb drive and proceeds to plug it in and listens. They can’t believe what they’re hearing and wondering where in the world this information came from, it’s like an early Christmas present.
INT. FBI OFFICE – NIGHT
Agents Belfiore and Greene met with Director to discuss their next move and the steps forward as a department. If they agree to Cayman’s terms, there are certain measures that will need to be put in place. There’s not a consensus among them but they finally agree to do what’s the best interest of all parties.
Key Scene 3 – Things go well, until
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – DAY
Agent Belfiore makes his very first entrance into the building after only watching it for 8 years from across the street. He is dressed in the Mac-N-Cheese finest apron and hat looking like a squirrel in the middle of the street with cars coming both directions.
After exchanging letters with Crutch and making his way out as fast as one possibly can, he hears Dardanos yell at him and he freezes. Caught off guard, he stumbles and bumbles through a brief conversation in which he agrees to bring another lunch item dish for him.
Upon returning to the food truck, agent Belfiore is sure that he was just made, and an ensuing cloud now hangs heavy over the investigation for both the FBI and Cayman’s crew.
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Patrick Downey – Act 3 Reaction to Midpoint
What I learned doing this assignment is that my story is far from being done. I had a beginning, a middle, and an end but no midpoint changes, only one major change, and a lack of intertwining scenes.
Key Scene 1: REACTION/RETHINK
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES — DAY
Dardanos is pushing the envelope with regards to the bets and being careless which raises some concerns amongst the others.
Patrick
What is this I am hearing about side bets going on with our money? Not to mention we are still behind on this current money play you sold us.
Graham
Dardanos, you had better not be screwing us over! So help me if I catch wind of any funny business going on, I will personally beat you right out of this organization.
Dardanos
Are you two threatening me? If I remember correctly, it was my plan that put us in the driver’s seat of this company. So, sit down and shut the hell up!
Patrick
You son of a bitch, who do you think you are talking to?
Dardanos
A bunch of grown men that didn’t have the balls to stand up to Ray and Audie.
Kristos
Dardanos that’s enough!
As Dardanos looks towards his father, Graham draws back his cement block of a fist and cold cocks Dardanos right in his jaw. Dardanos stumbles back flips over a chair and lays on the ground bewildered. Graham starts at him again when Crutch breaks into the room and grabs Graham by both arms.
As the shouting continued the O’ brothers were clearly upset and came just short of blaming Dardanos for this mess. Kristos said that without his friend Audie there and Ray gone that this was his last year in the business. Then Graham asked Dardanos point blank what he knew about this organization on the Indian reservation and swore that if he had got them mixed up with this group, he would suffer the same consequences as Ray. As the room erupted in chaos Crutch had heard with his own ears that they were the ones that killed Ray, but their egos were too inflated with rage to realize someone was in the room that wasn’t part of the crime. This division and untrust amongst the Handlers gave Cayman the perfect opportunity to implement his final plan.
If Cayman was not already motivated enough, that was the nail in the coffin that set it all in motion. Cayman recorded an audio file in James Earl Jones voice and had it delivered via bike messenger at the Mac-N-Cheeze truck the Thursday before the Championship games. Agents Belfiore and Greene still on the case listened intently to every bit of evidence they were given and connected the missing links together. At the end of the tape there was one final demand before they were handed over to them the final instructions to bring down the HAVOC four. The FBI was instructed to give immunity to Audie, Carmella, and Mathis who had helped to gather the information about the others.
INT. FBI OFFICE – DAY
Agent Belfiore
This is bullshit to let the three just walk away without so much as an indictment. We have the tape that confirms exactly what we have expected for years now.
Director Grice
Slow down Agent Belfiore. We need to assess our options because this is the biggest break we have gotten in the past 8 years. We know that Ray Stingnelli is dead, Audie is a very smart businessman with plenty of lawyers and we would have a hard time getting a conviction on our limited evidence for Mathis and Carmella. At best they would be accessories to a crime which carries minimal sentencing.
Agent Greene
Can’t we go after them when this is all over for something else?
Director Grice
Like what do you have in mind? They said complete and total immunity.
Agent Belfiore
I don’t know I’m not a damn attorney but what I do know is that my team busted their ass day and night out on stakeouts just so we can let half of them walk out the door.
Agent Greene
Agent Belfiore look Ray was admired in Chicago that was going to be a tough sell if we had landed him anyway. Audie has a legitimate and respectful sports agency, Carmella and Crutch are small fish in the big picture. Director Grice is right; we can nab the Alexandrites who own several professional sports teams and the “O” brothers who were ex-commissioners. There is enough in those 4 men to put all this sports gambling and illegal activity to bed for good.
Director Grice
It also shows that we are willing to go after the very top of any organization to put an end to corrupt activity in sports betting. It sends a strong message to the community, businesses and the sports arena that no one is above the law.
Agent Belfiore looking defeated with his elbows on the table and hands on his head finally looks up and nods his head several times.
Agent Belfiore
You’re right, both of you, it just stinks that bad guys are getting away when lives have been destroyed and crooked rich people get richer. Agent Greene will you get the paperwork together for the Director and Attorney General to sign?
Agent Greene heads off to his desk and the Director reaches out to Agent Belfiore for a handshake.
Director Grice
Agent Belfiore you and your team did one hell of a job on this case. Don’t be disappointed in the outcome just go out there and bring it home. Nice work son!
-
Patrick Downey – Has completed Act 2 Draft 1
What I learned doing this assignment is that my original work needed so much more texture to it and I’m only 60% through this class but it has already opened my eyes to the art of screenwriting!
Act 2
It was September 6<sup>th</sup> just after the Labor Day holiday and “The Handlers” were back in the office but with a much different feel without Ray, Audie, and Carmella. They were somewhat surprised to see Cayman but greeted him with respect and courtesy. After a brief catching up, they dove right into business as usual, and it was indeed Dardanos who took the reins. While they went through the routine of selecting who would be the next Superbowl winner, there were other issues brought to the table and one of them surrounded their security.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES
Dardanos
We should look elsewhere for security especially after what happened to Ray and Crutch was brought in by Ray and Audie.
Graham
Dardanos, I trust Crutch more than I trust you, so let it go.
Patrick’s eyes grew wider expecting a brawl right in front of him. Dardanos shakes his finger at Graham, bites his lip and runs his fingers through his hair as he exhales. Kristos can see the tension building in his son and quickly stands up.
Kristos
We have no reason to replace Crutch and no time to find a replacement. Do you all have your top three teams written down yet?
Patrick
I’ve got mine ready!
Graham
Me too.
Kristos
Son, son are you with us?
Dardanos sitting with his arms crossed looking like a little child that had just been scolded.
Dardanos
Yeah, yeah of course.
Cayman breathed a sigh of relief thinking he might experience a major setback right out the gate.
Each of the men came ready with their own thumb drive filled with information supporting their choice for the eventual Superbowl winner. This was an elaborate, thought provoking, heavily constructed performance of why the men had selected each of their three teams. It covered the marketing method of SWOT on steroids. SWOT stands for strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. Now this was no generic reasoning but almost a science of predictions based on the suspension of players/length of suspension, drug related occurrences of a particular player, finishing ability of a team’s character, coaching by position, health of key personnel, weather, inside vs. outside games and the play calling ability of the offensive and defensive coordinators. If you notice in this process, most of these attributes are things they cannot control from within the HAVOC organization. So, these qualities are paramount to their positioning and argument of their top three choices to advance into the Superbowl.
In the interim, the always overly cautious Dardanos did have Cayman relocate to where Carmella used to sit which means he could no longer see the men in their meetings. At least that is what Dardanos thought but Cayman had Jam-Sabo install hidden mini cameras and microphones throughout the vault all tied into Cayman’s laptop and a back-up mobile unit.
To set the plan in motion the group leaked a rumor to Graham O’Brien who has a big mouth and can’t keep a secret.
Graham
The word on the streets is that the mob was on to an organization on the Nevada Indian reservation which is trying to muscle in on their racket. Supposedly, they were going to deal with them and anyone who was dealing with them in their own way.
Dardanos
That’s a bunch of bullshit! No one would ever try and take on the mob in Vegas. It was a suicide mission but the fact that they were on the Indian reservation is very clever because the mob can’t touch them there.
Just hearing of this speculation sent Dardanos into a frenzy, as soon as the meeting was over, he bolted outside and placed a call to Aaron “Two Tongues” Yazzie who was his contact within the organization. Mr. Yazzie answers the phone call from Dardanos.
EXT. SIDEWALK OUTSIDE BUILDING – DAY
Yazzie
What up bro!
Dardanos
I was hoping you would tell me. I’m hearing rumors that the mob is sniffing around about us.
Yazzie
I assure you those rumors are impossible because we have kept an almost invisible profile up until this point, following ever instruction that you have given us bro.
Mr. Yazzie went on to explain that each bet that was placed with them was farmed out with a group of young Native American boys between the ages of 16 – 22 that call themselves the “painted ponies”.
Yazzie
Each boy would carry the wager slip along with the cash to a side bookie who would call the bet in as an anonymous client and receive an additional $10,000 for his autonomy. They used as many as 12 different ponies to carry out a single bet depending on the total amount.
Mr. Yazzie promised him that their end was checked backwards and forwards and there were no leaks in the operation. As they hung up Dardanos was still perplexed by the news and paced back and forth with anxiety. He felt he had no choice but to make his money in one large sum and then break ties just in case there was some truth to this rumor. Typically, the men would bet on five different games each week dropping about 10 million per game so as not to raise any suspicions within the ranks. Then double those bets during the divisional playoffs and doubling them again for the NFC & AFC championships. The Superbowl bet amount fell between 200 – 350 million depending on the interest of the teams playing that year. Bets were always placed with at least a dozen different Las Vegas booking agencies under a fictious name each year as to not bring awareness upon HAVOC. Cayman’s plan was to nickel and dime them into a position where they felt they had to place larger bets as the season moved along eventually placing the largest Superbowl bet in HAVOC’s existence. As the season got underway, it was business as usual and weeks 1 through 8 went off without a hitch. The group was sending Crutch out on a very regular schedule, and it was obvious that their payments were going off as usual.
EXT. O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL – NIGHT
Crutch
What up Lieutenant?
Lt. Lundy
What’s up bossman? I see you are playing road warrior again.
Crutch
Ya man! That time again.
Lt. Lundy
Where you off to this time?
Crutch
Need to visit a player in Miami. A holdout.
Lt. Lundy
Don’t these guys know that they are throwing money away?
Crutch
Most of them are playing football for a reason if you know what I mean.
Crutch winks at Lt. Lundy gives him a fist bump and walks towards his gate.
EXT. HARD ROCK STADIUM – DAY
Crutch pulls up to the players entrance in an all black on black Range Rover. Rolls down the tinted window and hands the guard a crisp $100 bill. He slaps hands with Crutch and waives him on through. Crutch pulls up to silver coupe Mercedes pops the trunk and places a large duffle bag inside then closes it.
The Dolphins suffered their biggest home opening lost in history that day by turning the ball over 5 times and only scoring 9 points all on field goals.
However, in week 9 the wheels started to come off the train. Teams that they had poised for the playoffs started losing games and there was no explanation of why. In the midst of watching his plan fall into place Cayman was set back for a moment as he watched with millions of others as the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years. Cayman was again enraged with determination because he knew if his grandfather was alive this never would have happen. Caymen went back to his notes to see that it was indeed the Cleveland Indians that were supposed to win the World Series. This also meant that Ray had someone on the payroll that was supposed to make this happen but without his supervision and Audie also gone history took an unimpeded step forward. It happened just the way it was supposed to, naturally, for the first time in 12 years without HAVOC’s interference. However, Cayman didn’t find himself swept up in the emotion of the city over an historic win watched by millions of people or the parade celebration that went right by the office following the World Series. His friends invited him out for drinks, but he was all business making sure there were no holes in his plan.
EXT. O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – NIGHT
Lt. Lundy
Hey Stranger! Where in the world is Crutch going tonight?
Crutch
Oh hey Lt., I’m off to Three Rivers
Lt. Lundy
Well at least you’re going before the real cold hits.
Crutch
Tru dat! Lt., tru dat!
Lt. Lundy
See you next time bossman.
Crutch
Will do!
EXT. HINES FIELD, PITTSBURG, PA. – DAY
Crutch pulls up to the stadium drives around to the players entrance rolls down his window hands the guard a crisp $100 bill and pulls inside. However, this time he walks down the tunnel and on to the field. He greets several of the players and coaches, talks with the halftime show host and flirts with a few cheerleaders before leaving just before halftime. The difference this time was no bag drop for anyone. This process would repeat for the next three weeks in a similar fashion but in a different NFL stadium.
By week 12, two of their playoff teams were on the bubble of even making a wild card spot and their choice for winning the whole thing was on a two-game losing streak. Referees they had on their payroll to make calls were overruled by instant replay, GM’s who demanded players be pulled for rest and lack of performance were overruled by ownership, and players who had been paid to mail it in were outshined by others on their team with career performances. The Handlers were extremely upset with Dardanos and called a special meeting just before the divisional playoffs. Cayman was not invited but Crutch was on hand and he sent a text to Cayman that you could cut the tension amongst the men with a knife as they entered the vault, as the meeting got underway Cayman sat outside the building in an unmarked van with his crew. The van was equipped with a large screen HGTV, state of the art hearing devices for the impaired, a video game type device that allowed Cayman to fix the cameras directly on their mouths as they spoke, and he had ever angle possible covered. Jam-Sabo had on a thermal infused monitor that gave him the ability to read body temperatures when mood changes from anger to anxiety and every emotion in between. This gave them the ability to pick up on non-verbal motion and body language that was not being captured from the cameras. Back at their temporary staged office was Cornelius getting direct feed of the meeting and crunching the numbers they had lost thus far and what they needed to bet to win back their loses and have a huge payday.
Patrick
What is this I am hearing about side bets going on with our money? Not to mention we are still behind on this current money play you sold us.
Graham
Dardanos, you had better not be screwing us over! So help me if I catch wind of any funny business going on, I will personally beat you right out of this organization.
Dardanos
Are you two threatening me? If I remember correctly, it was my plan that put us in the driver’s seat of this company. So, sit down and shut the hell up!
Patrick
You son of a bitch, who do you think you are talking to?
Dardanos
A bunch of grown men that didn’t have the balls to stand up to Ray and Audie.
Kristos
Dardanos that’s enough!
As Dardanos looks towards his father, Graham draws back his cement block of a fist and cold cocks Dardanos right in his jaw. Dardanos stumbles back flips over a chair and lays on the ground bewildered. Graham starts at him again when Crutch breaks into the room and grabs Graham by both arms.
As the shouting continued the O’ brothers were clearly upset and came just short of blaming Dardanos for this mess. Kristos said that without his friend Audie there and Ray gone that this was his last year in the business. Then Graham asked Dardanos point blank what he knew about this organization on the Indian reservation and swore that if he had got them mixed up with this group, he would suffer the same consequences as Ray. As the room erupted in chaos Crutch had heard with his own ears that they were the ones that killed Ray but their egos were too inflated with rage to realize someone was in the room that wasn’t part of the crime. This division and untrust amongst the Handlers gave Cayman the perfect opportunity to implement his final plan. Only the AFC & NFC Championship games remained and then the Superbowl, with only 3 games left on their betting docket and millions to recover Dardanos knew he had to work fast and assured the others it was all going to be okay and just to trust him. He reminded each of them if it weren’t for him, they would still be pulling in chump change under Ray’s reign.
If Cayman was not already motivated enough, that was the nail in the coffin that set it all in motion. Cayman recorded an audio file in James Earl Jones voice and had it delivered via bike messenger at the Mac-N-Cheeze truck the Thursday before the Championship games. Agents Belfiore and Greene still on the case listened intently to every bit of evidence they were given and connected the missing links together. At the end of the tape there was one final demand before they were handed over to them the final instructions to bring down the HAVOC four. The FBI was instructed to give immunity to Audie, Carmella, and Mathis who had helped to gather the information about the others. If they were in agreement, they were to deliver a pan of their famous mac-n-cheeze with lobster meat to Cayman the young kid helping out at the office across the street the next Friday at 12 noon sharp. They would also need to have signed documents giving complete and total immunity to the three. The agents took this information back to their superiors for guidance and to decide whether it was worth the cooperation to get the remaining four behind this long running and elusive operation.
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Patrick Downey – Act 2 TP Midpoint
What I learned doing this assignment was how to contact more players into the story. I was looking for a scene to introduce various parties and previously had them popping in wherever, but this makes more sense.
Key Scene 4
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES
Dardanos takes over as leader of the organization just as Cayman had thought and he immediately starts making changes. Dardanos first suggestion was to remove Crutch because he had been hired by Ray and Audie, but he was quickly out voted by the others. A moment of concern for the team but luckily avoided.
We see where Dardanos has some very different plans for the company and has taken some liberties to move ahead on some of them without the others knowledge or approval. This causes tension between the partners and a split starts to form between the Alexandrites and the O’ brothers.
Dardanos has partnered with a Native American tribe just north of Las Vegas to run extra bets on the side to multiply his winnings without the partners knowledge. This is an extremely risky move because Vegas has been run by the “family” since the 1940’s so, any outsider would be strongly frowned upon.
Cayman takes a small setback in his overall plan when the Chicago Cubs win the World Series. However, it requires him to look at his entire operation once again to make sure it covers all bases.
Same Journey: Dardanos is still following the basis procedures and formulas that have worked for the firm over the years to make their money.
Different Meaning: but now it’s all about his greed and his legacy as the leader of H.A.V.O.C.
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Patrick Downey – Act 2 Middle Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment was that what I call a screenplay may be a better fit for a book or both? I have a lot of explaining to do in my story without dialogue. This is where I have to sell my vision to the producer and have answers for how to fit and shoot all the scenes to get the audience to understand and follow. It’s all in my head, I promise!
Key Scene 2
INT. INSIDE CHURCH – DAY
A week later was the viewing and funeral service but to a closed casket due to the disfigurement sustained by the truck crushing Ray. The Old Saint Patrick’s Church was filled to capacity for a man whom the city had grown to love as did Cayman despite his devious dealings. Sitting one row behind his family were the four men and their families responsible for his grandfather’s death.
Audie was there with his wife and showed true heartache so much so that he knew he could not have been any part of this plan. Audie even got up to speak on his grandfather’s behalf.
INT. CAYMAN’S ROOM – NIGHT
Cayman’s email:
Hi Audie I was hoping we could get together soon to discuss some important issues concerning my grandfather.
Audie’s email response:
Absolutely Cayman just tell me when and where.
Audie sent up his private jet to scoop up Cayman and by 2p.m. the next day they were sitting on the rooftop of Audie’s sports agency 12 story building in downtown Miami overlooking the America Airlines Arena and the many cruise ships docked for their next adventure. Cayman was intoxicated by the view, the weather, and the lifestyle of South Florida but quickly remembered why he was there and turned his attention to the matter at hand.
EXT. ROOFTOP OF AUDIE’S BLDG – DAY
Cayman was careful to tell in great detail what he knew, when he learned of it, and who was responsible for his grandfather’s death. Audie was speechless and caught off guard, his first reaction was to try and explain why they did what they did but he knew Cayman was extremely bright and there wasn’t much he could say except that he was sorry. Cayman had known about their business dealings for some time and while he wasn’t happy about it that was not his reasons for meeting with Audie. He shared with Audie how he was going to revenge his grandfather’s death and offered Audie the opportunity to get him and Carmella out without being caught up in the destruction of both the men guilty for murder and the collapse of the company. Audie really had no choice and he saw the determination on Cayman’s face so, he agreed to help in any way he could. They agreed to meet again in one week at the Chicago office.
Key Scene 3
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – NIGHT
One week later, Cayman arrived at the office where he was met by Audie, Carmella, and Crutch. Audie had done some work of his own prior to the meeting by enlisting the help of Carmella and having Crutch as an inside man. Cayman showed up with a crew of his own, Leopold his hearing impaired, multi-faceted friend that took the pictures of the meeting with Dardanos. Jam-Sabo, a DJ by night and an ex-military communications genius by day and once reportedly sought out by Julian Assange of WikiLeaks for possible employment, and finally Cornelius, a childhood friend from Scottsdale, AZ who dropped out of MIT because he was bored. He was noted as a savant with numbers, the son of a Las Vegas bookie father and Stanford mathematics professor mother.
After introductions the group quickly sat down to work out the plan with little more than a couple of weeks before everyone came back to work. The focus would be on football because baseball was winding down, basketball and hockey had yet to start and their seasons were much longer. Audie explained to the group how the process worked each year with the committee, starting with the initial meeting and how the eventual Superbowl winner was going to be decided. He gave examples of past years and certain calls that were made, players under performing in certain games, referees’ missed or bad calls, referee strikes, trades, draft deals you name it they were involved in ever stitch of the games fabric. Carmella filled them in on all the contacts under contract with them, and the group was astonished at the names of officials, refs, coaches, players, and agents. The list was endless with who’s who of the NFL past and present. Crutch told them about the payoffs and deliveries to individuals which was all paid out in cash so it was untraceable. In some cases depending on what was asked to be done, the payout was in the millions especially for title games. The company operations had been laid out and now it was time to hear from Cayman.
He didn’t feel the need to bring up his personal vendetta amongst the group but instead jumped right into his plan to bring them down. As he went through each detailed action needed from each person, Audie and Carmella were stunned by the amount of knowledge Cayman had about the operations, business handlings, communications, monetary figures, people involved, and about each of the partners. He had some insight that even Audie and Carmella had no knowledge of ever hearing before. His laptop flashed a diagram on the wall with a detailed timeline of who was to do what and at what point of the season they were to perform their duties. It was clear to some that this was not something that was thrown together within a couple of weeks since his grandfather’s passing. Cayman had this plan in place for quite some time but didn’t know exactly how to execute it.
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Patrick Downey – Act 2 Reaction to TP 1
What I learned doing this assignment is that beat sheet helps keep you grounded to your script and continuity.
ACT 2 BEAT SHEET
INT. ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDERAL CHURCH – DAY
Cayman is in behind the curtain on stage peering out at packed house of all the people there to pay their respects to his grandfather. He looks in the second row with disgust and hatred for the men responsible for his death.
EXT. ROOFTOP IN MIAMI -DAY
Audie and Cayman meeting on the rooftop of his sports agency building in downtown Miami at the request of Cayman. He drops a bombshell on Audie when shares all his knowledge and informs him of how his grandfather was killed.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – NIGHT
Cayman is waiting inside with his whole crew as Audie walks in with Carmella and Crutch in tow. Cayman didn’t expect this but is extremely pleased to have more valuable inside help.
INT. VAULT
Cayman goes into great detail about his plan to the amazement of all in attendance.
ACT 2 OUTLINE
INT. ST PATRICK’S CHURCH – DAY
BEGINNING: Cayman stands in the holding area behind the stage with the entire Stingnelli family. He peaks out to see the gathering and is amazed at how many have come to pay their respects. His gaze is interrupted when notices the other partners sitting with their families in the second row.
MIDDLE: After Audie gets up to give his moving tribute about his best friend, Cayman knew he could be trusted and was not part of the scheme. It prompted Cayman to reach out to Audie a few days after the funeral.
END: Cayman avoids the pression afterwards to avoid seeing the other partners in fear of doing something he would regret. He sits heads alone to the church garden awaiting his grandmother and uncle John-John.
INT. CAYMAN’S ROOM – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Cayman sits at his desk typing what looks like a lesson plan maybe for a class or project.
MIDDLE: Cayman plugs in a flash drive and a map pops up with various charts and graphs.
END: Cayman drafts an email to Audie asking for a meeting at his office in Miami.
EXT. ROOFTOP MIAMI OFFICE BLDG. – DAY
BEGINNING: After the customary hellos, Cayman gets down to business and pulls out a new device which allows him to have a voice while he types. Audie starts to write on his notepad which he always carries around Cayman.
MIDDLE: Cayman assures Audie he doesn’t need that because he has been able to read lips since he came to live with his grandfather. He also shocks Audie with all his knowledge about the business and the truth about his grandfather’s killers.
END: Cayman gives Audie the opportunity to work with him but realistically, it’s his only choice unless he wants to get caught up in what’s about to go down.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Cayman sits inside waiting with his crew when Audie walks in with Carmella and Crutch in tow for valuable inside support.
MIDDLE: Cayman introduces everyone to new device that Audie is familiar with and continues with introductions.
END: Cayman
goes through the plan in great detail leaving no stone unturned. -
Patrick Downey – Finished Act 1
ACT I
(Fade In – Present Day Downtown Chicago)
A hot and hazy Chicago morning with the streets filled with activity from shop owners sweeping their sidewalks to tourist making their way through the city. The sound of commuter horns honking, squealing of subway brakes and a scatter of musicians out early to capitalize on hopefully making a decent day’s take home pay.
INT. FOOD TRUCK PARKED ON STREET – DAY
Sitting on S. Wabash Avenue in a converted motor coach Mac-N-Cheeze foodie vehicle is 14 year veteran FBI Agent Belfiore dressed in the standard FBI dark blue suit. He is explaining the situation to first year Agent Greene a wet behind the ears, twenty something, first in his class, smart ass and two other agents assigned to the stake out. Also, why they are parked across from an old historical building in downtown Chicago, whom it is registered to, and the reasons the FBI has suspicions of the group. Agent Greene is a young African American man with a thin frame, wire glasses, dark as midnight with a smile that can light up half of Chicago on a power outage night. He was number one in his class at the Academy, very humble but with a chip on his shoulder with something to prove.
Agent Greene knew he had what it takes to be an outstanding agent. He was an only child of a single mother from the deserted streets of Tucson, Arizona. Growing up in Tucson you had two choices the good side of the law and the wrong side of the law. Agent Greene chose the good side not because he wanted to but because he feared his mother’s wrath. He had a way of getting under your skin and he knew and used it to his advantage every chance he had.
Agent Greene
I don’t understand why the agency is wasting time and energy when I have read the case file and there are very few facts, evidence, leads, and substance to justify this kind of manpower.
Agent Greene rifles through some papers in a thick file obviously uninterested with the entire case. Agent Belfiore, a solid team player of the FBI’s task force for the past 8 years has received numerous awards and recognition for his arrest and closed cases. He is not an opposing figure by any means about 5’10, 165 lbs with mousy brown hair. Agent Belfiore looks like any average Joe but his reputation for insubordination and no nonsense is legendary in the Bureau. Most agents consider this type of assignment below them, but Agent Belfiore lives for the challenge and jumped at this opportunity. The running joke around the agency based on his family is he’s married to the FBI, his wife’s name is Francis, he has an eight year old daughter named Bailey and a six year old son named Ian. Francis, Bailey and Ian (FBI) don’t tell me that was by accident. He sure premeditated that obsession into existence right under his wife’s nose. Agent Belfiore snatches the file from Agent Greene’s hands and stares him down with eyes pierced and a snarl on his lips looking like a crazed foaming at the mouth pit bull.
Agent Belfiore
(Sour look on his face)
What the hell do you know rookie, I have sat my ass out here in this vehicle day and night for the past two years gathering information so we can nail these guys to the wall. It’s called having a gut feeling and taking chances to uncover the bigger picture. Since you can barely wipe your own ass and have your runny nose buried in paperwork you wouldn’t have the first clue. You may have been first in your class but you aren’t shit out here. Now make yourself useful and get everyone in the truck some coffee around the corner.
Agent Greene springs from his chair never missing a beat as if to say you don’t scare me old man. He pushes his way past the others to the door, takes a look back at Agent Belfiore with an I’m not done yet attitude swings the door wide open and slams it shut with an exclamation point.
Agent Belfiore
If any of you other lollipops want to find yourself on a desk job until retirement, try pulling some crap like Agent Greene just did.
[Inside the coffee shop]
Agent Greene standing in a popular downtown coffee cafe waiting for his order to be filled still fuming from the altercation is texting like a mad man on his phone. The café is filled with people from all walks of life and little room to have your own personal space. All of a sudden, he looks up and his whole expression changes in an instant. It was like the parting of the Red Sea, Agent Greene managed to reach his new destination with bumping a single person with coffee in their hands, side stepping a couple of strollers and just missing the cane supporting an elderly man.
Agent Greene
(Briskly walks to the end of the line with a single focus)
Hey I recognize you, “The Crutch” right? I’ve followed you throughout your entire career from our alma mater to retirement.
(They exchange an uncomfortable laugh)
Agent Greene
Do you mind if we take a quick selfie together? My friends will never believe this when they see it. I have dreamed of meeting you for years now.
Crutch
Yay man that’s cool but I need to go right after this, in kind of a hurry you know what I mean.
Things get really awkward when Agent Greene reaches up to put his arm around him with a height difference of 6 – 7”. Crutch looks around hoping no one else notices the interaction in the coffee shop and catches the eye of the young cute barista he often flirts with and rolls his eyes. She burst out in a snort and then a laugh and quickly buries her head in her own embarrassment.
Agent Greene grabs his coffee and returns to the food truck excited to tell his story.
[Inside the van]
Agent Belfiore
Sit down, shut up and listen.
He points across the street and starts to tell them who all the players are in this stake out as they arrive over the next 15 minutes.
Agent Belfiore
The first person to enter is…..
Agent Greene
“The Crutch!” (the kid yells out) University of Vanderbilt linebacker from 1998 – 2001, first team All American honors his junior and senior year, Dick Butkus award winner as a junior, and Bronko Nagurski Award for outstanding defensive player of the year as a senior. Completed his master degree by the time he entered the draft and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the #3 overall pick in 2001. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for 8 consecutive years, ended the careers of 2 QB’s , 3 RB’s, and 1 WR with his vicious hits. This is a picture of Crutch and I just 15 minutes ago at the coffee shop, small world huh?
(One of the other young agents slaps him a high five and when he turns to Agent Belfiore for a high five he gets no love.)
Agent Belfiore
(Agent Belfiore looks at him dumbfounded and continues.)
The organization we are pursuing goes under the company name of H.A.V.O.C. Enterprises strangely enough it stands for Hearts and Voices of Champions. They hide under a non-profit cloud and they are one of the largest donors to children’s hospitals in the country. So, why you ask are we sitting across the street notating their every move? Well just listen and learn, oh by the way unless you have a personal relationship with any of these people like Agent Greene here has with Crutch I suggest you take notes.
Agent Greene looks around at everyone else hoping for some sympathy, but no one makes eye contact, so he just shakes his head and pulls out his note pad.
Agent Belfiore
That is the head of the HAVOC partnership, Ray Stingnelli or as his victim’s like to call him “Sting Ray”. He was old school Mafia from right here in Chicago, in his late 70’s now but always well dressed in only Italian handmade suits from Milan. A stocky man with a full head of gray hair and a piercing look that makes even the toughest of men look away first. He is not a well-educated man but as street smart and connected as they come. He comes from a long line of Stingnellis that claim to be one of the oldest Italian mafia families to settle in Chicago. He has spelt a lot of blood on these streets in his younger days but never convicted of so much as a traffic violation. Ray is very well connected in the political ring, upstanding businessman and beloved by his community. It has been said that if he ran for mayor, he would win hands down. Married to the same woman for 56 years and has 9 children, 5 of which are doctors and 4 are attorneys.
Arriving now is second in command, Audie Christman a former Wall Street mogul and owner of the largest sports agency in North America based out of Miami. He is the brains of the company, a graduate of Duke who holds a Master’s degree in Statistics and a PhD from Berkeley in Applied Mathematics. Don’t let his tall, slender, mousy look fool you because he is a genius with numbers. Audie is a bit of a playboy and world traveler who loves the horses and the card tables. He has property in the Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Spain, Cuba, Hawaii and has been rumored to own a castle in England somewhere.
Those two boneheads are the muscle in the form of the “O” brothers from New York, Graham O’Brien and Patrick O’Riley. Just by their mannerism alone, you would think they were separated at birth or maybe grew up in the same household. Both retired officials that went on to hold commissioner jobs in the NBA and NFL respectively. O’Brien was a referee for 22 years and NBA commissioner from 1981 – 1988 and later went on to head up the selection committee for the Summer Olympic Games from 1988 to 1994. O’Riley was an official for 17 years, director for the NFL Referees Association for a stint and eventually selected as NFL commissioner from 1984 – 1992. Not to stereotype the Irish but, both are very loud with explosive tempers. O’Riley is a little more conservative about his views but make no doubt he is very head strong once he sets his sights on a topic, he minced no words. O’Brien is a speak first, think second kind of guy. He has so many controversial comments over the years they could fill a book and don’t get him drunk because anything is possible to come out of his mouth. Finally arriving from Los Angeles are Kristos Alexandrite and his son Dardanos. Kristos is a very handsome, well-educated and aligns himself with royalty and power. He is known as the Hugh Hefner of Europe. Dardanos is the Adonis of Greek men, ladies’ man, and avid race car driver. They come from very old Greek money and have an extremely high sense of self-worth about the family and are not afraid to share it with you. The son’s name alone should tell you a little about their narcissistic bloodline, his name means “to devour”. They own the international chain of Alexandrite Luxury hotels located in Paris, Dubai, New York City, Sydney, Tokyo and Singapore. The Alexandrite Luxury hotels are not for the faint at heart or want to be big spenders the most exclusive rooms come with the use of a yatch and a helicopter at your dispense. The Alexandrite’s have made some extraordinary investments along the way. In addition to their hotels under construction in Los Angeles and Beijing, they own 2 NBA teams, 1 NFL team, 1 NHL team all in the great State of California.
Agent Greene
Why are we so interested in what these men do for a living?
Agent Belfiore
Glad you asked, our records show that their net worth is far, far exceeding any amount they could have made through business transactions, investing, 401K’s or putting it under the mattress. Here’s what we know thus far, the men meet at the beginning and end of every individual sports season, and weekly during the summer in what they call the “Vault”.
The building was an old Chicago bank which had been around from the 1950’s with an actual functioning vault. The room is equipped with the latest technology and divided into five sections, one for each of the major sports and one section shared for the Vegas odds. Besides the six gentlemen there are only two other people that have ever been inside of the vault; Carmella Acevedo Colon who has been Audie’s personal assistant for the past 20 years and now works for the partnership full-time wearing a number of different hats, the other person is Crutch a former NFL football player turned personal security for the men. His real name is Mathis Crutchfield and thanks to Agent Greene here, you already know his stats and personal history. He was the NFL’s form of early retirement with his hits, thus the nickname Crutch.
Agent Greene
(chirps in again not learning his lesson from the first time)
“So how do you know all this information about the inside of the bank?”
Agent Belfiore pauses for a moment, looks to the ceiling of the motor coach as if not wanting to address the question at all but realizes as he gazes at the others, they are quite curious as well. He pops another piece of gum in his mouth and mauls it just like he has for the past four months since he stopped smoking.
Agent Belfiore
“We were able to tap into an old hidden bank camera with a live feed plus we have been sending in federal agents serving as UPS drivers to deliver packages and scan the room.” What we also assume is that all payoffs are made by Crutch on game day. He is the only one that travels on game days, and it is always to a NFL city. We have been unsuccessful in gathering further information or photos due to his status and unrestricted movement among NFL players and team facilities. They seem to have a few others on the payroll with similar access into MLB, NBA and NHL facilities. I mean think about it, who stops these guys? Most people are thinking either selfie or autograph rather than what are they carrying and why they are here.
On June 4, 2009 a new person was to enter the vault and change the partnership forever. Ray brought his 10 year old grandson into work with him for the summer. His name was Cayman, he was the only child born to Ray’s youngest daughter, Stacy a single mother and he was born deaf. Ray loved this kid more than any other of his eighteen grandchildren; Ray even learned sign language to be able to communicate with Cayman. The others took to Cayman right away he had this calmness about him and often studied the facial movements of people as if to read your mind. The only one that never cared for Cayman was Dardanos, who didn’t really like anyone let alone a child. Cayman was a gangly kid, with big brown eyes, a head full of black hair, the curiosity of a cat, with a bottomless pit for a stomach. You couldn’t help but love him.
Ray had paid very good money to send his grandson to the best hearing-impaired school in Scottsdale, AZ where he and his mother lived. Over the next two years Cayman would come spend the summer hanging out with his grandfather at the company doing mindless task and mostly playing video games. Cayman loved being anywhere his grandfather was even in the office for hours on end. He felt safe and Ray served as a good role model for him since Cayman didn’t have a father in his life. Cayman would follow his grandfather to the ends of the earth. The summers seemed to pass by faster each year but that just meant he would be back soon also.
INT. STACY HOME, SCOTTSDALE, AZ – DAY
Cayman’s mother, Stacy wanted to surprise her father Ray with a gift, so she hired a tutor for Cayman to teach him how to read lips. Now this was no ordinary tutor, it was a lady that was highly recommended and regarded as one of the best in her field. The doorbell rings and Stacy heads to the door. As she opens it, there stands a very exotic looking lady in her fifties but with every bit of sophistication you would imagine in a Fortune 500 CEO. The teacher was tall, olive colored glowing skin, dark wind-blown curly hair from driving over in her convertible, stylish spring outfit looking like it came right out of an Armani Collezioni catalog. She was even a little intimidating to Stacy and that was extremely hard to pull off. However, the moment she smiled and extended her hand, the warmth came rushing into Stacy’s soul.
Stacy
Hello you must be Ms. Nebhan. I have heard so many wonderful things about your teaching style and the incredible success you have had with the Mouth Beta Mimic to Phonics Program.
Ms. Nebhan
(Ms. Nebhan gathers her wind-blown hair and twist to one side)
Thank you, Mrs. Stingnelli, but it’s truly all about the kids not me. I decrease so they can increase.
(Stacy thought how beautiful and remembers hearing a worship song with similar words)
Stacy
Please Mrs. is my mother, call me Stacy.
Ms. Nebhan
Then I insist you call me Ms. Nebhan!
(The ladies burst out in laughter)
Ms. Nebhan (CONT’D)
No please my name is Sophia.
Stacy
Now that we have the formalities out of the way, let me warn you about my son. He can be very shy, sometimes lacks confidence and doubts his ability to sign even though he has been doing it since he was three.
Ms. Nebhan
Okay. Anything else I should know?
Stacy
That’s it. All his teachers say he is a very good student. That he keeps to himself most of the time but has friends and everyone likes him. I work from home a lot, so I set aside time to work with him on his school assignments every afternoon when he comes home. Our lives are pretty normal and boring I am afraid to say.
The ladies head back towards the family room and there sitting in front of the computer is Cayman. Stacy signs to Sophia this is my most wonderful son Cayman! Sophia signs to Cayman it is very nice to meet you I’m Ms. Nebhan! Cayman signs back me too! Sophia signs to Cayman we have the same name? Cayman laughs as does his mother and the three quickly begin a learning and loving relationship.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICE FRONT DESK – DAY
(A handsome, well-built, middle-aged UPS driver leans against Carmella’s desk chatting her up.)
Carmella
So, how many stops a day do you make? And how many women do you flirt with on these stops?
Driver
I make anywhere between 100 – 125 deliveries a day and I only flirt with one! As a matter of fact, you might know her? Sweet old lady in her late 70’s works at the front desk of the Chicago Board of Trade building. I think she has been there about 45 years now.
(He winks at Carmella, and she laughs and throws a paperclip at him)
(She knows good and well that he is with the FBI and trying to get some information from her, but she doesn’t care, she thinks he’s handsome and funny. She’ll play along as far as she can because she likes the attention, he gives her)
So, this might seem a little forward, but is there a chance I could take you to dinner one night? I mean, I’m assuming there is no Mr. Colon in the picture?
(Carmella bites the end of her pen with anticipation of her answer. She completely forgets who he works for and is caught up in the excitement of the moment)
Carmella
Well, there is no Mr. in the picture thanks for asking. However, you’ll need to give me some time to think about this dinner situation if that’s okay. After all, I don’t even know your name.
Driver
It’s Greg, Greg Conner.
(Carmella smiles and thinks to herself that sounds nice!)
Carmella
Thank you, Greg! Nice to meet you… kind of for the first time.
Driver
Likewise, and please take your time on the decision. I appreciate you even considering.
Carmella
That’s very kind of you Greg, thank you!
(Greg waves goodbye and heads for the front door as Carmella watches him from behind with the complete head to toe inspection. She is pleased with what she sees.)
INT. STACY’S OFFICE – DAY
About six months into her teaching Sophia can’t help but be amazed at how quickly Cayman is picking up this MBMPP (Mouth Beta Mimic to Phonics Program). She has seen several high IQ students grasp the concepts immediately, but no one has excelled in her twelve years of teaching the program like Cayman.
Ms. Nebhan
Cayman, I am so proud of the progress you have made in such a short time.
Ms. Nebhan purposely did not use any sign language to see just how much Cayman could pick up. Cayman stared at Ms. Nebhan intently while she spoke slowly and clearly at the end, he paused for a moment looked up to the left for memorization began to smile real big and signs to her “thank you”.
Over the next few months as Sophia came to the house to work with Cayman, her and Stacy would spend time enjoying a glass of wine after the lessons were done and they got a chance to just chat. On one fire-lite sky sunset evening sitting out in the backyard with a fire pit warming the air.
Stacy
Sophia where did you grow up?
Sophia
Good question? I was always moving from country to country because my father worked for Exxon and every 3 or 4 years, they would relocate us to a new place.
Stacy found it intriguing living all over the world but also thought she must feel unsettled never really having a home.
Stacy
That sounds exciting but also kind of displaced, I mean never really having a place to call home or go back to visit.
Sophia
True…but I also don’t feel tied down to any one place either. There is a kind of wild freedom about being a nomadic woman! In this day and age I still travel all over the world by myself, some places less than others but every place has its own beauty.
Stacy
You are a true travel warrior Sophia! I admire you for enjoying your life. There are times I wish I could take a vacation from my family. Don’t get me wrong I love my parents and my siblings, but we are an Italian family with a lot of tradition and pride. The competition in the house during holidays is almost overbearing. My brothers fighting over my mother’s attention and my sisters fighting over my father’s love. Then toss in all the grandkids talking about what they have accomplished lately or where they have traveled with their parents and who is the smartest and cutest. It’s a side show Sophia, you wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it yourself. Oh, did I mention we are loud!
Sophia
It sounds like so much fun and just the opposite of how I grew up. Our house was quiet with just me and my younger brother. My parents were very traditional from the old country, my mother had her master’s degree and my father his PhD both were serious all the time. I remember once my father told a joke at the dinner table. I was in shock and didn’t know rather to laugh or not but my younger brother broke out in a hysterical laugh and my mother popped him with the wooden spoon.
Stacy
What? That’s hilarious! Well, you don’t seem to fit the mold of your parents that’s for sure.
Sophia
Thank you, Stacy! Are you channeling my mother at this very moment or what?
(They shared a laugh)
Sophia (CONT’D)
When I was very young and got in trouble, my mother use to always say “we are going to return you to where we found you.”
Again, the two laughed so hard and loud grabbing their stomachs with tears streaming down their faces. Cayman had turned to see them laughing and he was so happy they both loved each other that he came and gave them both a hug then turned and walked right back to his computer. As they both watched Cayman walk away Stacy wondered about Sophia.
Stacy
Do you have any children of your own?
Sophia
No, I don’t. Never married, never found Mr. Right. However, I think God planned it that way because I have given some much to the children I have taught over these many years. I don’t (she pauses) well I know I wouldn’t have given them as much had I had my own family.
Stacy
Huh, I never looked at it that way. Well, I can tell you have the gift of teaching it shows with my little man in there. He just adores you!
Sophia
How about you? Where is Cayman’s father?
Stacy
In a bank.
Sophia
(Looking confused)
Excuse me. I don’t understand.
Stacy laughs and fills their glasses with more wine thinking Sophia will need it after her explanation.
Stacy
A sperm bank. That’s where Cayman’s father is sitting, on a shelf #040817 my Mr. Right there!
The two of them burst out into laughter, clink their glasses and enjoy a long sip and almost spit wine out of their mouths as they continue to laugh.
These little get togethers became almost a weekly tradition between Stacy and Sophia as the months went by.
EXT. RESTAURANT IN CORAL GABLES, FL
(Audie and Ray sitting outside at a table drinking after dinner cognac and smoking cigars)
Audie
Ray how’s the family doing?
Ray
Everyone is really good! I’m taking the Mrs. to Santorini for her 75th birthday and we are staying at one of Kristos’s houses for a couple of weeks.
Audie
That sounds so relaxing Ray. I’m jealous! We should both be doing more things like that on a regular basis but here we are working everyday even when we don’t need to.
Ray
Mine is a family curse but I don’t know what you keep doing with that agency of yours. It can clearly run itself with the people you have hired to run it.
Audie
Yeah. I get it but it’s that win, that rush you feel from getting the next biggest rookie out of college or that free agent that every team wants, and you change their lives with generational money. It’s tough to walk away from all that.
Ray
Audie, let’s promise each other from every year going forward that we start spending more time together and going places, agreed?
Audie
I’ll toast to that plan everytime!
(They raises their glass in cheers and sit back and enjoy the fire, cognac, cigar and each other’s friendship)
INT. STACY’S HOUSE – DAY
A year had passed since Cayman started the program and his ability to read lips was at the advanced level. Most of Sophia’s younger students took a couple of years to reach the intermediate level but Cayman had reached the advanced level in his first year.
Ms. Nebhan
Stacy, I really think I have done all I can do with Cayman. He just needs to continue to progress on his own at this point and challenge himself as much as possible. He is truly gifted!
Stacy
Thank you so much Sophia! You have been such a blessing to Cayman in more ways than you can imagine. I wish you continued success in all your endeavors, and you will be missed a lot.
Ms. Nebhan
You two have become like family to me. I hope we keep in touch I want to know how you guys are doing from time to time.
Stacy
Absolutely!
(signs to Cayman – this is Ms. Nebhan’s last day teaching you)
Ms. Nebhan turns towards Cayman and extends her arms for a big hug. They embrace tightly and you can see both sadness and gratitude on Cayman’s face. She pulls him away so he can see her lips.
Ms. Nebhan
Cayman, please continue to make me and your mother proud. I see the most wonderful and abundant life ahead for you.
Cayman
(signs)
I will never forget you Ms. Nebhan and don’t let anyone take the song out of your heart.
(Something Ms. Nebhan use to always say to Cayman at the end of every lesson)
Ms. Nebhan
You’re such a little lover, thank you!
So, before his fourth summer at the age now of fourteen Cayman’s mother was going to surprise her father with the news of him being able to read lips. Just two weeks before their trip to Chicago, Cayman’s mother a highly respected corporate merger attorney was driving back from a business meeting in Tucson, AZ. The meeting had run a little longer than anticipated and she was expected home by Cayman around 4p.m. so they could go for their usual Friday pizza date. Stacy was a little concerned because a weather warning had been issued for a massive dust storm heading right into the I-10 path she needed to take to get home. About 20 minutes into her 90-minute drive she could see the wall of sand coming across the desert like a mountain. If you have never lived in the Arizona desert during dust storms or monsoons it is something like the storm in the Mummy movie. As it reached the highway Stacy didn’t feel safe, so she pulled her Volvo SUV over to the side of the highway and followed protocol of turning off her lights. She pulled out her phone to text Cayman and let him know she was running late due to her meeting running long and the dust storm but that she was safely waiting it out on the side of the road just outside Red Rock, Arizona. As she hit send, she heard a terrible and ferociously loud grinding noise and when the storm cleared about 25 minutes later emergency crews found Stacy’s Volvo smashed under an 18-wheeler trailer that had been driving blindly in the sandstorm. After an hour Cayman became very worried since he had not heard from his mother so he text Ms. Nebhan to see if she would come over and keep him company. When Ms. Nebhan arrived at the house another car she didn’t recognize was sitting in the driveway and she wondered who it might be. A well-dressed, young lady in her 30’s stepped out of the car and introduced herself as Tezhary, Ms. Stingnelli’sassistant at the firm.
Tezhary
Hi, I’m Tezhary, Ms. Stingnelli’s assistant at the law firm.
Ms. Nebhan
Hi, I’m Sophia Nebhan, Cayman’s teacher and a family friend.
Tezhary
Thank God you are here I couldn’t do this by myself. I’ve been sitting in my car for 10 minutes just frozen in disbelief.
Ms. Nebhan
Do what? What’s going on?
Tezhary
You haven’t heard I thought that was why you were here so quickly. Ms. Stingnelli was killed in a traffic accident during a sandstorm just North of Tucson this evening.
Ms. Nebhan
Oh, dear God no!
(She plunges her face into her hands as her eyes well up and quickly dart to the front door of the house where Cayman is inside anxiously waiting for her)
Tezhary
As soon as we were notified, I contacted her father in Chicago and the other two partners of the firm. I was told to come to the house and tell Cayman, but I didn’t know how with him being you know, deaf.
(Tezhary continued rambling with different scenarios of just how she was thinking of telling him, but it had become just white noise to Ms. Nebhan as her focus shifted immediately to Cayman).
Ms. Nebhan
I need to get inside now. Tezhary you can go I will handle this and stay with him.
(Ms. Nebhan starts her long walk towards the door with a very heavy heart. She had walked this walk many, many times but this time it seemed like a never-ending corridor)
Tezhary
Okay, okay…. um his grandfather is on his plane as we speak and said he should land around 11p.m. tonight.
(Ms. Nebhan stops and turns back realizing she is not the only one hurting here)
Ms. Nebhan
Thank you very much Tezhary I’m so sorry are you going to be, okay?
Tezhary
Yes, I guess, I mean, please go take care of Cayman I will be fine.
(The ladies share a half-hearted smile and a head nod of solidarity and go their separate ways)
As Ms. Nebhan reaches for her key to the house Stacy had given her with a heart shaped jingle ball on the end, memories came rushing to her mind and she had to take a moment to herself. She had witnessed first-hand the amazing bond that Cayman and his mother had developed over the years and thought how crushing this would be for him. Ms. Nebhan enters the house and finds Cayman sitting on the living room floor holding an 8×10 framed photo of him and his mother at the Grand Canyon. He barely acknowledges Ms. Nebhan when she walked in which was so out of character for Cayman. It was as if he already knew something was wrong and as she sat down on the couch next to him, she could see the TV on in the other room showing a string of multi car accidents up and down the Phoenix-Tucson I-10 corridor. Ms. Nebhan moved to the floor beside Cayman grabbed his face in her hands and proceeded to tell him that his mother was not coming home.
Ms. Nebhan
Cayman my dear, I don’t know how to tell you this, but your mother is not coming home tonight or ever again. Our Lord has decided it was time to call her home.
Cayman’s big eyes filled with water like a bathtub that was overflowing because someone left the water on. He did not sob uncontrollably like Ms. Nebhan would have expected as a matter of fact he really didn’t show much emotion at all. Ms. Nebhan asked him if he understood what was going on and Cayman just looked at her like as if he was looking right through her and she became worried that he might be in shock. She went to get him a blanket, a glass of water, a box of tissue and his tablet. After wrapping him in the blanket she pointed to the tablet and said “write what you are feeling”. Cayman grabbed his tablet turned it on and typed one sentence.
Cayman
(typing) I could feel my mother take her last breath at exactly 4:56 p.m.
Ms. Nebhan
Cayman I am staying here with you until your grandfather arrives late tonight, okay?
Cayman nods his head and stares straight ahead with tears still streaming down his face. Ms. Nebhan puts her arm around him and pulls him close and they sit there in silence as the dusk turns to night. The doorbell rings and startles the both of them as they had nodded off, Ms. Nebhan because the unfamiliar sound and Cayman because Ms. Nebhan jerked forward. Ms. Nebhan heads for the door to see who it is and realizes that it must be Cayman’s grandfather as she glances at her watch. She opens the door and there stands Ray Stingnelli looking weathered and beat from the flight and sadden news of his youngest daughter.
Ms. Nebhan
Welcome you must be Mr. Stingnelli. I’m Sophia Nebhan, Cayman’s tutor, and Stacy’s friend. (she extends her hand for a handshake)
Ray
(receives the handshake as he steps inside the door)
Yes, Tezhary sent me a text saying that you were at the house with Cayman. Thank you for being here for our family. I wish our meeting was under better circumstances. How is Cayman doing?
Ms. Nebhan
I’m not really sure, kind of in a fog I think. I explained to him what happened but he seemed to know already when I arrived.
Ray
What do you mean?
Ms. Nebhan
Follow me into the other room let me show you.
Ray sets his suitcase down and follows Ms. Nebhan into the Living room. As Ms. Nebhan reaches the living room she expects to see Cayman where she last left him but he is not there. She reaches down onto the couch and picks up Cayman’s tablet and proceeds to show Ray what Cayman had typed.
Ms. Nebhan
After I told Cayman that his mother would not be coming home and that she is with the Lord now, this is the one and only response I have gotten from him.
Ray (reads the words aloud)
“I could feel my mother take her last breath at exactly 4:56 p.m.”
That was the tipping point for Ray as he broke out in tears as he reached for his handkerchief. Sophia realized this was probably the first time he had time to grieve his daughter’s death. She felt uncomfortable not knowing what to do at this point, should she hug him, would he be offended if I did when we only meet 5 minutes ago, maybe I should go check on Cayman and give him his privacy or should I just wait for him to gain his composure and then take him to Cayman. Just as Sophia was about to touch Ray on the shoulder and excuse herself, he says
Ray
I’m sorry it’s just Stacy was very special to me. She brought us so much joy! She never had a bad day, ever! We had tickets to the White Sox game in 3 weeks, she knew baseball better than her brothers!
(Ray wipes his eyes, blows his nose like a trumpet and then smiles)
Ms. Nebhan
She sure talked about you a lot! You were her inspiration and motivation! She often talked about the love in your whole family but know that she loved you immensely.
Ray
That’s my Stac! Now let’s go find my little caveman Cayman.
They must have looked in every room at least twice and spent 20 minutes before finding him sitting on the floor in the back of his mother’s walk-in-closet. Ray found him because he noticed a pair of converse sneakers smack dab in the middle of a bunch of 5 inch heels. As Ray parted the long evening gowns to unveil Cayman’s disillusioned face, Cayman looking up expecting to see Ms. Nebhan instead peering into his Papa’s eyes he leaped forward and practically knocked Ray over with a tight hug around the neck. As they exited the closet Ray called out to Sophia that he had been found. They all reunited in the kitchen with Cayman still hanging onto his grandfather. Ms. Nebhan knew her work here for the night had been accomplished. She grabbed her purse and cell phone and said her goodnights.
Ms. Nebhan
Well I can see he just needed family so I am going to head home. I left my number on the refrigerator if you would like me to stop back in tomorrow and help out?
As Ray starts to answer he sees Cayman shaking his head yes and realizes that Ms. Nebhan didn’t use any sign language. Ray signs to Cayman to take his bag to his room please. Cayman gives Ms. Nebhan a big, giant hug and signs thank you for being here for me I will never forget it.
Ray
Sophia, you have quite the relationship with Cayman. I have only seen him that way with his mother, not even his aunts or grandmother get that kind of affection. Thank you!
Sophia
Well in all fairness I have spent a good part of the past year working with Caymen, not to mention the times Stacy and I just hung out.
Ray
(Still thinking back to the yes head nod of Cayman)
What type of tutor did you say you were? I must have missed it.
Now Sophia, knowing good and well that her teaching Cayman to read lips was supposed to be a huge surprise upon their upcoming visit. However, with Stacy now gone should she tell Ray or leave that up to Cayman. After all it was his hard work and determination that made it all possible this quickly.
Sophia
I am a facial recognition and emotion therapist. We teach kids to use their facial emotions when signing and to recognize an obvious situation to express themselves. For instance you may have noticed Cayman was shaking his head yes when I asked about coming back tomorrow.
Ray
I did.
Sophia
Well Cayman was trying to anticipate the conversation between us, and he probably figured you were telling me thank you or drive home safely or even that I was available if you needed me for anything. So, he was saying yes to any and all of those and he happened to be right. We feel like it helps them to feel more assimilated into society even though they have a disability. I guess my teaching has paid off.
Ray
I would say so! I thought maybe he could hear or somehow understand you.
(They both chuckle at the thought of that idea)
Sophia
I’m good at what I do but not that good.
Ray
Thank you again Sophia! Goodnight
Sophia walked to her car feeling kind of bad for lying to Ray but she justified it by saying it was not her place to tell what Stacy wanted to keep a surprise. She was also kind of impressed with herself for pulling all that out of nowhere so fast.
At the wishes of Stacy Stingnelli, they held a small private ceremony with family and close friends all gathered around her ashes and the Father DeFrancisco of St. Patrick’s Catholic Community Church in Scottsdale, Arizona blessed the ceremony.
A few days after the funeral Ray took Cayman to Chicago to live with him and the surprise of Cayman being able to read lips was lost with his mother.
-
Patrick Downey – Turning Point 1 Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment was to use that emotion I put on paper to get the feeling I hope to from my audience. I thought what makes me tear up, what makes me mad, what makes me root for a certain outcome when I watch a scene… I hope this captures that moment.
ACT 1 BEAT SHEET
EXT. WACKER DRIVE – NIGHT
Ray is killed in an auto accident
EXT. STINGNELLI’S FRONT YARD – NIGHT
Cayman receives the news that his grandfather was killed.
EXT. BUS STOP
Cayman reads text and see pictures of his grandfather’s other partners celebrating at dinner. His rage has entered an unfamiliar level that needs to be quenched.
ACT 1 OUTLINE
EXT. CHICAGO DOWNTOWN STREETS – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Ray Stingnelli is driving home from work during rush hour and as he travels northbound through a traffic light, he catches a brief glimpse of large delivery van out his peripheral vision. A loud crash, sound of glass flying, crunching of metal, a dragging sound and finally a thud against a road barrier. The vehicle Ray was driving is reduced to half its size with the impact directly on Ray driver’s side. It took the firemen an hour to cut, and pry open the car with saws and the jaws of life.
CUT TO THE STINGNELLI’S HOUSE
Caymen running as fast as he can turns the corner to see a mob of police cars and people standing out front the house. His second worst nightmare has come to pass. His grandmother is crying hysterically surrounded by his uncles and aunts.
EXT. STINGNELLI FRONT YARD
MIDDLE: Caymen out of breath and frantic signs to his grandmother to find out what has happened, but she doesn’t know sign language. He then grabbed a police officer, signing the same motion repeatedly flaying his arms and making unusual noises as if trying to yell. Finally, one of the officers grabbed his notebook and a pen and wrote “sorry kid but your grandfather was killed when a delivery truck ran a red light about an hour ago.” Cayman couldn’t believe what he was hearing as if he were in shock and the whole world grew so much quieter than it had ever been before. He threw a fit, cried out with a whaling sound that made everyone cover their ears, he was signing so fast and waving his arms all over the place the officers tried to grab him, his Uncle John-John tried to hold Cayman and calm him down, but he fought them off and dashed out the back door. Cayman ran and ran for what seemed like 10 miles and when he stopped from exhaustion and collapsed, he lied right down in oncoming traffic and was almost hit several times before getting to his feet and diving to the curb busting up his shoulder on a bus stop bench. As Cayman lay there feeling alone in the world and guilt for not being able to help his grandfather, his phone vibrated and began to flash.
CUT TO BUS STOP – NIGHT
END: Leopold who had taken pictures of Dardanos at the Violet Hour decided to follow Dardanos to his next destination. Upon opening the file, Cayman could not believe what he was seeing, pictures of Dardanos with his father and the “O” brothers having dinner and toasting with champagne. The amount of rage that was building up inside of Cayman was of an unspeakable measure and it became clear that Cayman no longer had a dilemma but a clear-cut purpose.
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Patrick Downey – Act 1: Inciting Incident
What I learned doing this assignment is that there are a lot of moving pieces and it’s easier to just write away without any structure but the minute you have to throw a particular scene here, beat there and a turning point, WOW!
INT. FOOD TRUCK PARKED ON THE STREET IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO – DAY
Team setting up the surveillance of the FBI on the HAVOC organization in downtown Chicago. Introduction of all the main players and their roles and the FBI’s case for bringing them down.
OPENING SCENCE OUTLINE
INT. FOOD TRUCK – DAY
BEGINNING: FBI veteran agent Belfiore exchanges some choice words with young rookie agent Greene who’s right out of the academy and think he has all the answers about this case just because he read through the files earlier. Agent Greene considers it a waste of his time and intelligence and Agent Belfiore blows up, curses him out and kicks him out of the truck to go get everyone some coffee.
MIDDLE: While in line waiting for coffee Greene recognizes former NFL Linebacker standout also from his alma mater, Mathis Crutchfield. They exchange some awkward conversation momentarily and Agent Greene finishes it with a request for a selfie. Upon returning to the truck, Agent Greene settles in as Agent Belfiore is going over the men under surveillance. Suddenly, Agent Greene burst out in excitement to tell everybody who Crutch is in great detail.
END: After Agent Greene finishes, Agent Belfiore looks at him dumbfounded and continues describing the organization’s purpose, methods, and operations. Agent Greene looks around for some sympathy but no makes eye contact with him.
SECOND SCENE BEAT SHEET
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICE VAULT – DAY
Ray is standing at the head of the table discussing an important matter with his partners and we see Dardanos Alexandrite texting on his phone laughing to himself and totally ignoring Ray.
SECOND SCENE OUTLINE
INT. VAULT – DAY
BEGINNING: Ray notices Dardanos on his phone and questions him about a topic knowing full well he wasn’t paying attention. Dardanos stumbles around trying to fluff it and everyone looks at him like he’s an idiot. Ray snickers and continues, Kristos, Dardanos’s father looks at him with disgust.
MIDDLE: The meeting ends, and everyone heads out except Dardanos. He hangs back to confront Ray about his insults and tells him he’s an old man that is out to touch with the new ways of the world.
END: Ray waves off Dardanos and dismisses it as childish behavior like one of his toddler grandchildren and walks out of the vault.
ACT 1 BEAT SHEET
INT. CAYMAN’S ROOM -DAY
Cayman sits on his bed, it’s 6:30am in the Central Time Zone and Cayman still can’t adjust to the time change. He sits on the edge of his bed staring into space until he jarred by his grandmother’s touch. She hands him his school uniform fresh off the ironing board.
CUT TO CAR
As he rides with his grandfather to school, he wonders if this is all for him. His mother always talked to him about having a plan and executing it but here, he’s just here.
INT. SCHOOL ROOM – DAY
The teachers are sharing the many professions that deaf people from the past made a difference in people’s lives. She also talks about present ones that are current professions and how they’re contributing to society in a big way.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES
Cayman decides that afternoon that he is going to stop feeling sorry for himself and do the very best he can for his mother and grandfather.
ACT 1 OUTLINE
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES
BEGINNING: Cayman has been really applying himself all over the office for about a solid month. It hasn’t gone unnoticed by Carmella, would has managed to get the approval of the partners to move him to his own desk looking directly into the vault. A prized possession!
MIDDLE: Cayman uses this platform to elevate his game by reading lips and anticipating what everyone needs a head of time. He is working the room and they don’t even know it. One day while eating a late snack at his desk he catches a conversation about a business move and he is floored to hear, or shall I say see that they are not a charity but a sports gambling organization. He can’t believe what is going on, they are actually talking about who they want to win the Superbowl this year.
END: Cayman first thought is one of utter shock. He thinks back about all those various games that he attended with his grandfather and how he seemed to know everybody from the players to the coaches all the way up to the owners. He thought his grandfather was a real big shot but it turns out he owned everyone of them and he was nothing but fake, a crook. He vowed to tell someone anyone who would listen and ruin them all. Just then he remembered some stored memory about the guys across the street in the food truck that Carmella and Crutch said were FBI.
INT. CAYMAN’S ROOM – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Cayman has books, magazines, and his laptop surrounding him on his bed. He is digging into everything betting related, odds, patterns, scandals, myths, and curses. He was an extremely smart young man and things came to him fairly easy. I guess he could thank his mother for having that lawyer type thinking.
MIDDLE: Cayman was furious at his grandfather for his criminal activity and even more so for pretending to good for other people. He had withdrawn from his grandfather over the next couple months, and it was getting noticeable. When asked he replied that his studies had consumed him as of late, but he never missed a day at the office. He was so torn because ultimately this would ruin his family and the lives of all the others in the office. He struggled mightily on how to handle this matter day and night.
CUT TO OFFICE
END: One day as Cayman was doing his own surveillance, he caught Dardanos in the vault all by himself with the door closed. Dardanos was discussing a meeting with a guy at a local restaurant, and he clearly saw him mention Ray at least two of three times. Cayman had Dardanos followed by a friend and later that night found out they were going to kill his grandfather. He dashed out of the office after hearing the news but his was too late when he arrived home. After almost getting killed himself while running through the streets in agony and falling in the middle of a busy road, he knew what to do. There was no more dilemma!
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Patrick Downey – Act 1: Opening Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is that I can take my story in different directions depending on who I highlight as a lead character. Do I want to write in the lead FBI agent into more scenes or leave him out as insignificant player until I absolutely need him? Questions and Thoughts!
INT. FOOD TRUCK PARKED ON THE STREET IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO – DAY
Team setting up the surveillance of the FBI on the HAVOC organization in downtown Chicago. Introduction of all the main players and their roles and the FBI’s case for bringing them down.
OPENING SCENCE OUTLINE
INT. FOOD TRUCK – DAY
BEGINNING: FBI veteran agent Belfiore exchanges some choice words with young rookie agent Greene who’s right out of the academy and think he has all the answers about this case just because he read through the files earlier. Agent Greene considers it a waste of his time and intelligence and Agent Belfiore blows up, curses him out and kicks him out of the truck to go get everyone some coffee.
MIDDLE: While in line waiting for coffee Greene recognizes former NFL Linebacker standout also from his alma mater, Mathis Crutchfield. They exchange some awkward conversation momentarily and Agent Greene finishes it with a request for a selfie. Upon returning to the truck, Agent Greene settles in as Agent Belfiore is going over the men under surveillance. Suddenly, Agent Greene burst out in excitement to tell everybody who Crutch is in great detail.
END: After Agent Greene finishes, Agent Belfiore looks at him dumbfounded and continues describing the organization’s purpose, methods, and operations. Agent Greene looks around for some sympathy but no makes eye contact with him.
SECOND SCENE BEAT SHEET
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICE VAULT – DAY
Ray is standing at the head of the table discussing an important matter with his partners and we see Dardanos Alexandrite texting on his phone laughing to himself and totally ignoring Ray.
SECOND SCENE OUTLINE
INT. VAULT – DAY
BEGINNING: Ray notices Dardanos on his phone and questions him about a topic knowing full well he wasn’t paying attention. Dardanos stumbles around trying to fluff it and everyone looks at him like he’s an idiot. Ray snickers and continues, Kristos, Dardanos’s father looks at him with disgust.
MIDDLE: The meeting ends, and everyone heads out except Dardanos. He hangs back to confront Ray about his insults and tells him he’s an old man that is out to touch with the new ways of the world.
END: Ray waves off Dardanos and dismisses it as childish behavior like one of his toddler grandchildren and walks out of the vault.
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Patrick Downey – Beat Sheet Draft 2
What I learned doing this assignment is that my screenplay doesn’t follow the typical forms. My theme doesn’t get introduced right away, as a matter of fact it kind of grows. There’s no immediate conflict between the Protagonist and Antagonist but it builds into slow boiling mess. Then it’s a crafty game on mystery and matching wits with the circumstances not so much the person. The Antagonists is seen and made known the Protagonists is hidden for a very good reason. It’s difficult to have a true battle when you don’t know who you’re fighting and too self-absorbed to see it coming.
Act 1
INT. FOOD TRUCK PARKED ON THE STREET IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO – DAY
Team setting up the surveillance of the FBI on the HAVOC organization in downtown Chicago. Introduction of all the main players and their roles and the FBI’s case for bringing them down.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – DAY
Cayman comes to work with his grandfather for the first time and the team gets to know him and finds out that he’s deaf. All welcome him except a young hot shot named Dardanos, who can’t be bothered with a deaf mute.
EXT. FOOD TRUCK – DAY
Surveillance team notices that after a couple of summers visiting and working with his grandfather, Cayman comes to live in Chicago permanently after his mother is tragically killed in a traffic accident.
Act 2
INT. PRIVATE SCHOOL – DAY
Cayman sitting in his classroom at a Catholic School for the deaf looking out the window. Cayman’s whole world is turned upside down as he withdraws into his very new and different circumstances. Every day is like Groundhog Day for him, school, office, and home with his grandpa.
INT. STINGNELLI HOUSE – NIGHT
PLACEHOLDER: (The entire Stingnelli family is at the house for a birthday party, all 36 of them)
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – DAY
One day Cayman decides to stop feeling sorry for himself and makes up his mind to be the best he can be for his mother and grandfather. So, he starts really applying himself after school in the office. He is rewarded by receiving more responsibility and a new desk right across from the vault.
INT. VAULT – DAY
One late afternoon Cayman is sitting at his desk with headphones on and looking into the vault as the men are meeting. He starts to read their lips and realizes they are not a charitable children’s organization at all but a bunch of crooks fixing sporting events to capitalize on the betting odds to line their pockets with millions if not billions.
EXT. FOOTBALL STADIUM PLAYERS PARKING LOT – DAY
(Crutch leaning against his car waiting on the team’s standout All-Pro receiver)
(Show plane landing in a different city that evening)
INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT
(We see Crutch again meeting with a team executive over dinner and handing him a briefcase)
Act 3
INT. CAYMAN’S ROOM – NIGHT
Laptop open and books spread out all over his bed.
Cayman’s eyes are wide open to their operation, and he starts digging into past bets, performances, curses, unbelievable wins and anything else sports related that could so a pattern of this organization’s a
PLACEHOLDER: CAYMAN RUNNING THROUGH THE GAMES HE HAD ATTENDED WITH HIS GRANDFATHER AND THINKING HIS GRANDFATHER KNEW EVERYBODY ON THE TEAMS AND STAFF. THEN THINKING IF THIS WAS ONE OF THE GAMES, THEY HAD RUINED FOR HIM FOREVER.
EXT. CAR TRAVELING ALONG LAKE SHORE DRIVE – DAY
Furious at his grandfather for his criminal activity and even more so for pretending to do good for other people. With his newfound knowledge, he had to decide what to do and how to go about handling it. Does he question his grandfather directly, does he go to the police or just do nothing?
PLACEHOLDER: (MEETING WITH DARDANOS, GRAHAM, PATRICK AND KRISTOS OUT OF THE OFFICE SOMEWHERE)
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – DAY
Cayman catches wind of a plan by Dardanos to kill his grandfather and takeover the organization. He hopes to warn his grandfather even though he’s pissed at him but doesn’t want any harm to come to him. However, he’s too late and his grandfather is killed.
Act 4
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – NIGHT
Gathered is Cayman, Audie, Crutch, and several of Cayman’s friends to discuss their plan of action over the remaining 4 partners who had Ray killed. Cayman starts out the meeting by displaying a revolutionary cool device he has recently patented. Cayman focuses all his energy and resources on bringing them all down with an elaborate plan.
PLACEHOLDER: (ESPN HIGHLIGHTS OF SEVERAL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS)
Resolution: Every player hits their mark, the greedy get greedier and Cayman enjoys his win!
Pass 2:
Antagonist: Dardanos Alexandrite – 38 yrs old and oldest son of Kristos Alexandrite owner of world-renowned luxury hotels in several countries. Also, owns several professional sports teams in the USA. He is being groomed to one day takeover his father’s position.
1. Dardanos is a narcissist in every way and only cares about himself.
2. He doesn’t have many friends only the ones he buys things for, and he hates kids.
3. Dardanos has never said more than two words to Cayman. He thinks he’s beneath him.
4. He is in constant disagreement with Ray and thinks his ways are outdated.
5. Meets with other partners secretly to discuss major decisions without Ray and Audie.
6. Puts a hit out on Ray to have him killed
7. Steps right into the leadership role at H.A.V.O.C.
8. Tries to double their winnings in his first couple of months and has a side bet going on behind the other partners back which rattles the people in Vegas.
9. Thinks he is so smart that he doesn’t realize that Cayman is in his blind side, working with the FBI to foil his plans.
10. Ends up being greedy and arrogant which causes his demise.
Dardanos did have an exit plan just in case something went wrong but just because you can’t hear doesn’t mean you can’t see. Checkmate to Cayman!
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Patrick Downey – High Speed Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment is that I was stressed about doing this assignment, but it turned out to be very helpful. I’m current short about 20 – 30 pages on my screenplay and the placeholders will add some good content, depth, and length to my story.
Act 1
INT. FOOD TRUCK PARKED ON THE STREET IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO – DAY
Team setting up the surveillance of the FBI on the HAVOC organization in downtown Chicago. Introduction of all the main players and their roles and the FBI’s case for bringing them down.
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – DAY
Cayman comes to work with his grandfather for the first time and the team gets to know him and finds out that he’s deaf. All welcome him except a young hot shot named Dardanos, who can’t be bothered with a deaf mute.
EXT. FOOD TRUCK – DAY
Surveillance team notices that after a couple of summers visiting and working with his grandfather, Cayman comes to live in Chicago permanently after his mother is tragically killed in a traffic accident.
Act 2
INT. PRIVATE SCHOOL – DAY
Cayman sitting in his classroom at a Catholic School for the deaf looking out the window. Cayman’s whole world is turned upside down as he withdraws into his very new and different circumstances. Every day is like Groundhog Day for him, school, office, and home with his grandpa.
INT. STINGNELLI HOUSE – NIGHT
PLACEHOLDER: (The entire Stingnelli family is at the house for a birthday party, all 36 of them)
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – DAY
One day Cayman decides to stop feeling sorry for himself and makes up his mind to be the best he can be for his mother and grandfather. So, he starts really applying himself after school in the office. He is rewarded by receiving more responsibility and a new desk right across from the vault.
INT. VAULT – DAY
One late afternoon Cayman is sitting at his desk with headphones on and looking into the vault as the men are meeting. He starts to read their lips and realizes they are not a charitable children’s organization at all but a bunch of crooks fixing sporting events to capitalize on the betting odds to line their pockets with millions if not billions.
EXT. FOOTBALL STADIUM PLAYERS PARKING LOT – DAY
(Crutch leaning against his car waiting on the team’s standout All-Pro receiver)
(Show plane landing in a different city that evening)
INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT
(We see Crutch again meeting with a team executive over dinner and handing him a briefcase)
Act 3
INT. CAYMAN’S ROOM – NIGHT
Laptop open and books spread out all over his bed.
Cayman’s eyes are wide open to their operation, and he starts digging into past bets, performances, curses, unbelievable wins and anything else sports related that could so a pattern of this organization’s a
PLACEHOLDER: CAYMAN RUNNING THROUGH THE GAMES HE HAD ATTENDED WITH HIS GRANDFATHER AND THINKING HIS GRANDFATHER KNEW EVERYBODY ON THE TEAMS AND STAFF. THEN THINKING IF THIS WAS ONE OF THE GAMES, THEY HAD RUINED FOR HIM FOREVER.
EXT. CAR TRAVELING ALONG LAKE SHORE DRIVE – DAY
Furious at his grandfather for his criminal activity and even more so for pretending to do good for other people. With his newfound knowledge, he had to decide what to do and how to go about handling it. Does he question his grandfather directly, does he go to the police or just do nothing?
PLACEHOLDER: (MEETING WITH DARDANOS, GRAHAM, PATRICK AND KRISTOS OUT OF THE OFFICE SOMEWHERE)
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – DAY
Cayman catches wind of a plan by Dardanos to kill his grandfather and takeover the organization. He hopes to warn his grandfather even though he’s pissed at him but doesn’t want any harm to come to him. However, he’s too late and his grandfather is killed.
Act 4
INT. H.A.V.O.C. OFFICES – NIGHT
Gathered is Cayman, Audie, Crutch, and several of Cayman’s friends to discuss their plan of action over the remaining 4 partners who had Ray killed. Cayman starts out the meeting by displaying a revolutionary cool device he has recently patented. Cayman focuses all his energy and resources on bringing them all down with an elaborate plan.
PLACEHOLDER: (ESPN HIGHLIGHTS OF SEVERAL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS)
Resolution: Every player hits their mark, the greedy get greedier and Cayman enjoys his win!
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Patrick Downey – Transformational Events
What I have learned from this assignment is that the transformational journey applies to me as much as my character. I’ve been sitting on this screenplay and idea for 6 years and every now and then I would pull it out and write a little more as I learned something new. However, as time went by it became less and less of a conflict to finish and more of a task to complete one day. Eventually, it was more of just something I talked about to friends and family. It’s time to complete my journey so I will write it just as I did this screenplay as a side exercise that will help me to have a finale and resolution.
Cayman Stingnelli
Old ways:
Ø Shy, demure
Ø Quiet, introvert
Ø Withdrawn, absent
Ø Unnoticeable
New Ways:
Ø Assertive, determined
Ø Thought provoking, clever
Ø Creative, Leader
Ø Daring, risk taker
Transformational Events
Ø Cayman is deaf and depends on his mother and grandfather for survival.
Ø Cayman’s mother is killed in traffic accident leaving without any parents.
Ø Cayman is uprooted to go live with his grandparents in Chicago, a totally new environment.
Ø Cayman is liked by all at his grandfather’s office accept Dardanos. He’s unsure why.
Ø Cayman learns that his grandfather and partners are fixing sporting events and making millions.
Ø Cayman uncovers a plot by Dardanos to kill his grandfather and takeover the company. Dardanos pulls it off without leaving a trace all before Cayman can warn his grandfather.
Step 1 – Cayman is forced into growing up faster than he thought now that his mother is gone.
Step 3 – Cayman grows leery of Dardanos and his business dealings
Step 4 – Cayman intuition is confirmed when he discovers a plot by Dardanos to kill his grandfather.
Step 5 – Cayman finds out he is too late to save his grandfather and even though he was very mad at him, this was family.
Step 6 – Sets the stage for Cayman to exit his plan clothed schoolboy outfit and dawn his mask and cape!
4 ACT STRUCTURE
GENRE: THRILLER/ACTION
—— ACT 1 ——
Opening: Scene sitting up the surveillance of the FBI on the HAVOC organization in downtown Chicago. Introduction of all the main players and their roles and the FBI’s case for bringing them down.
Inciting Incident: Cayman comes to work with his grandfather for the first time and the team gets to know him and finds out that he’s deaf. All welcome him except a young hot shot named Dardanos, who can’t be bothered with a deaf mute.
Turning Point: After a couple of summers visiting and working with his grandfather, Cayman comes to live in Chicago permanently after his mother is tragically killed in a traffic accident.
Cayman is forced into growing up faster than he thought now that his mother is gone.
—— ACT 2 ——
New Plan: Cayman’s whole world is turned upside down as he withdraws into his very new and different circumstances. Every day is like Groundhog Day for him, school, office, and home with his grandpa.
Plan In Action: One day Cayman decides to stop felling sorry for himself and makes up his mind to be the best he can be for his mother and grandfather. So, he starts really applying himself after school in the office. He is rewarded by receiving more responsibility and a new desk right across from the vault.
Midpoint Turning Point: One late afternoon Cayman is sitting at his desk with headphones on and looking into the vault as the men are meeting. He starts to read their lips and realizes they are not a charitable children’s organization at all but a bunch of crooks fixing sporting events to capitalize on the betting odds to line their pockets with millions if not billions.
Cayman’s whole world is destroyed when he finds out who his grandfather really is and what the H.A.V.O.C. organization truly represents.
—— ACT 3 ——
Rethink Everything: Cayman’s eyes are wide open to their operation, and he starts digging into past bets, performances, curses, unbelievable wins and anything else sports related that could so a pattern of this organization’s hands all over it.
New Plan: Furious at his grandfather for his criminal activity and even more so for pretending to do good for other people. With his newfound knowledge, he had to decide what to do and how to go about handling it. Does he question his grandfather directly, does he go to the police or just do nothing?
Turning Point: Major Shift: Cayman catches wind of a plan by Dardanos to kill his grandfather and takeover the organization. He hopes to warn his grandfather even though he’s pissed at him but doesn’t want any harm to come to him. However, he’s too late and his grandfather is killed.
Cayman grows leery of Dardanos and his business dealings. His intuition is confirmed when he discovers a plot by Dardanos to kill his grandfather. However, Cayman finds out he is too late to save his grandfather and even though he was very mad at him, this was family.
—— Act 4 ——
Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict: Cayman focuses all his energy and resources on bringing them all down with an elaborate plan.
Resolution: Every player hits their mark, the greedy get greedier and Cayman enjoys his win!
The ultimate plan is born for a mastermind revenge plot that will land each of the partners in prison and bankrupt them at the same time. However, it will take calculated measures to gain access to information, recruit outside help from friends, and turn a couple of company employees to his side.
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Patrick Downey – 4 Act Transformational Structure
What I learned from doing this assignment is structure. The one thing I felt my 6-year old screenplay missed the most and it was also short on content and pages. So, this will help me fill in some blanks and produce a more refined product.
Concept: A group of men decide who wins the Superbowl, NBA Finals, World Series and Stanley Cup every year by manipulating players, officials, General Managers, and owners to collect millions of dollars by betting and fixing the odds. Until one day a deaf little boy blows up their entire operation.
Main Conflict: Cayman struggles with the fact that his grandfather and several other men are cheating games to make money and pretending to be a charitable children’s organization.
Cayman’s Old Ways:
Naïve and trusting way too much
Losing his mother has set him back, withdrawn
Loner, shy, pleaser
Cayman’s New Ways:
Motivated, Purposeful
Eye for an eye mentality
Focused on revenging his grandfather’s death
Clever, resourceful, devious
—— ACT 1 ——
Opening: Scene sitting up the surveillance of the FBI on the HAVOC organization in downtown Chicago. Introduction of all the main players and their roles and the FBI’s case for bringing them down.
Inciting Incident: Cayman comes to work with his grandfather for the first time and the team gets to know him and finds out that he’s deaf. All welcome him except a young hot shot named Dardanos, who can’t be bothered with a deaf mute.
Turning Point: After a couple of summers visiting and working with his grandfather, Cayman comes to live in Chicago permanently after his mother is tragically killed in a traffic accident.
—— ACT 2 ——
New Plan: Cayman’s whole world is turned upside down as he withdraws into his very new and different circumstances. Every day is like Groundhog Day for him, school, office, and home with his grandpa.
Plan In Action: One day Cayman decides to stop felling sorry for himself and makes up his mind to be the best he can be for his mother and grandfather. So, he starts really applying himself after school in the office. He is rewarded by receiving more responsibility and a new desk right across from the vault.
Midpoint Turning Point: One late afternoon Cayman is sitting at his desk with headphones on and looking into the vault as the men are meeting. He starts to read their lips and realizes they are not a charitable children’s organization at all but a bunch of crooks fixing sporting events to capitalize on the betting odds to line their pockets with millions if not billions.
—— ACT 3 ——
Rethink Everything: Cayman’s eyes are wide open to their operation, and he starts digging into past bets, performances, curses, unbelievable wins and anything else sports related that could so a pattern of this organization’s hands all over it.
New Plan: Furious at his grandfather for his criminal activity and even more so for pretending to do good for other people. With his newfound knowledge, he had to decide what to do and how to go about handling it. Does he question his grandfather directly, does he go to the police or just do nothing?
Turning Point: Major Shift: Cayman catches wind of a plan by Dardanos to kill his grandfather and takeover the organization. He hopes to warn his grandfather even though he’s pissed at him but doesn’t want any harm to come to him. However, he’s too late and his grandfather is killed.
—— Act 4 ——
Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict: Cayman focuses all his energy and resources on bringing them all down with an elaborate plan.
Resolution: Every player hits their mark, the greedy get greedier and Cayman enjoys his win!
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Patrick Downey – Character Interviews
What I learned doing this assignment is that you can keep developing your character even if you have completed your script. I guess that’s why we call it a rewrite right! (LOL) These exercises have given me small clues and nuances that help me to tweak my story just enough to capture one more reader, one more producer, one more audience member.
Protagonists: Cayman Stingnelli (Hero)
Antagonists: Dardanos Alexandrite (Predator)
Supporting characters: Ray Stingnelli, FBI agents, business partners and company employees
Minor roles: Cayman’s mother, Cayman’s teacher
Background characters: Varied from police officers, FBI Director, betting runners, Stingnelli family members and others
Genre: Thriller
Lead character: Cayman
Role: Grandson of the CEO Ray Stingnelli that has lost his mother, is hearing impaired and wants to do the right thing in the end.
Age range: From 8 or 9 years old through his 18<sup>th</sup> birthday
Motivation: Revenge his grandfather’s death
Wound: Being hoodwinked into thinking his grandfather was a good man doing good for the community. Working for and with a bunch of criminals.
Mission/Agenda: Set things right in a way that outsmarts the best of them.
Secret: Cayman can read lips and only his inner circle knows this about him.
What makes them special: He can be your worst nightmare if you get on the wrong side of him. He has his mother’s intelligence, grandfather’s business sense and his own new found agenda!
Traits: Niave, brilliant, deaf but other senses are heightened, charismatic
Subtext: Hard worker, people pleaser, visionary, insightful
Flaw: Loved his grandfather too much
Values: Hidden ability to read lips, great at rallying the troops, strategic thinker, easily forgives others.
Irony: His handicap/disability became his greatest asset. The ability to blend in without being seeing as a threat has many advantages. Also, being a young kid makes adults believe you don’t really know much about the real world thus you can operate behind the scenes to obtain your ultimate revenge.
What makes this the right character for the role?
Cayman has history with the organization being around the partners since he was little. There’s a comfort level between them and nobody suspects otherwise. He is very motivated to turn on the partner’s once his grandfather is killed by one of them. He has access to all of them and the organization with or without their permission by them just talking in an eyesight of Cayman.
Questions for the Antagonist: Dardanos Alexandrite
1. Tell me about yourself?
I’m the oldest of 7 children born into a wealthy Greek family that owns luxury hotels across the world. When I turned 10 my parents sent me to boarding school in Switzerland and on my 17<sup>th</sup> birthday I was sent to America to attend the University of Princeton. My name means “to devour” and I have planned my whole life to takeover my father’s business when he steps down.
2. Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses?
My strengths are that I’m young, hungry and adored by most of my male friends and all of my female friends. At 38, I could be the CEO of one of many Fortune 500 companies but choose to wait on my father but not too long. For sure I should be heading up the H.A.V.O.C. partnership instead of old man Stingnelli. I have no weaknesses that I know of…
3. Why are you committed to making the Protagonist fail?
Cayman Stingnelli is a young punk that can’t even hold a conversation, and everyone treats him like royalty because he’s Ray’s little project. Plus, I hate kids and the way he looks at me all the time makes my skin crawl. When I’m running H.A.V.O.C. he won’t be around anymore making people uncomfortable.
4. What do you get out of succeeding in your plan?
I show my father that I’m ready to take over the business. I show these other losers how to make more money than they ever have in their lives. I become my own made man that others should fear!
5. What drives you towards your mission even in the face of danger, ruin of death?
Did I mention my name means “to devour” so, I don’t fear anyone or anything. I was born, educated, and trained for this exact moment in time. I want the name Dardanos Alexandrite to be known by every businessman, businesswoman, hedge fund manager, economist, and socialites in the world. My empire when it’s all said and done will dwarf the likes of Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos.
6. What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear/insecurity?
Next questions please. I didn’t get to where I am by sharing my secrets.
7. Compared to other people like you, what makes you special?
First, let’s understand that there’s no one else like me! I broke the mold! Seriously, I’ve set some really high goals for myself before I’m 40! I’ll be damned if anyone stops me.
8. What do you think of the Cayman Stingnelli?
Not much, why should I? I mean I don’t feel sorry for the kid those were the cards he was dealt. Ya, he can’t hear, and he lost his mother, but he’ll never have to worry about money.
9. Tell me your side of this whole conflict?
You’ll have to wait and read the script or see the movie buddy!
Questions for the Protagonist: Cayman Stingnelli
1. Tell me about yourself? My name is Cayman Stingnelli, I come from a long line of Stingnelli’s that came to America as immigrants. I’m full-blooded Italian and my family reminds of that every holiday. I was born unable to hear…deaf! Or as some people politely put it hearing-impaired so as not to feel uncomfortable. My story really starts when I was about 10 years old and progresses until my 18<sup>th</sup> birthday. So, to not bore you, I’ll hit the highlights up until I hit my purpose and dilemma here. My mother and I lived in Scottsdale, Arizona where I attended private school and my mother was a big shot Corporate Merger Attorney. When I was fourteen, my mother was driving in an AZ monsoon dust storm back from Tucson and was killed by a tractor trailer that was out of control. So, not having any other family in Arizona, I went to live with my grandfather Ray. I spent my time in Chicago going to school and working part time with my grandfather at his downtown office building. He was the CEO of H.A.V.O.C. which was a children’s charity organization that stood for Hearts and Voices of Children. I did various administrative task around the office which give me the excuse to spend every moment I could with my grandfather. Fast forward to when I was 16 years old, on a hot humid July afternoon I witnessed a conversation that would rock my core to the bone. I had never really taken much interest in my grandfather’s business I just knew it was helping sick children and their families. It was something to take pride in and it gave me more of a reason to admire my grandfather. However, sitting across from the vault I watched and read lips of all the partners including my father discuss how, when, where, why and who was going to be selected to win this year’s Superbowl. To say I was flabbergasted, astonished, and absolutely numb was a huge understatement. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing or actually seeing is more like it. Ray Stingnelli, a man I had thought walked on water, was a common thief manipulating sporting events to line his pockets with money. Worse yet, was doing it under the pretense that it was benefiting children’s hospitals all around the country. I spent the next 6 months learning everything I could about the business, watching conversations, putting myself in direct access to be able to read the lips of every partner in the company. I researched sports betting companies like Draft Kings and FanDuel Sportsbook. I investigated past stories of players and coaches that were caught betting on games they played in or coached. All I wanted to do is understand and have it make some sense to me. Everything in my world came crashing down when my grandfather was killed through a hit orchestrated by one Dardanos Alexandrite to take control of the company.
2. Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you?
I’m not completely sure. I mean I still struggle with the thought of did my mother know what my grandfather did for a living and how did she or her siblings justify it. I’m extremely anger with my grandfather for shattering my image of him, but he didn’t deserve to die. He did do a lot of great things for the community and his family. People loved my grandfather; he was even asked to run for mayor on more than one occasion. Maybe I was the only one who could balance the playing field. Look at me; I’m the son of a highly respected lawyer and the grandson of a highly talented criminal. Who better to put in the middle of this quandary!
3. You are up against Dardanos. What is it about him that makes this journey even more difficult for you? The guy is a narcissistic genius, by that I mean he loves himself so much that the only thing he loves more is his mind. He plots out every move with precision, has multiple backup plans should something go wrong, very secretive, ruthless and never leaves a trail back to him. He is not one to sneak up on or outwit for the most part. Dardanos also seems to have some backing from a faction of partners.
4. In order to accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside your box. What changes do you expect to make and which will be the most difficult?
That’s a good question. I’ve always been more defensive by nature, hiding my disability a lot of times from people. I’m not one to seek the spotlight obviously or to step out and take control from a leader standpoint. However, I’ve never had such a desire to crush someone as I do now! Previous test have me in the upper echelons of academia with a high IQ and a gift for being creative. Up until now that has all been used with friends on designing video games and building robots for school competition. I think it’s time the world hears who Cayman Stingnelli really is and take my place among the Stingnellis. My biggest challenge will be to get people to hear me but I have an idea, a side project I’ve been working on for a couple of years now.
5. What ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of? That my grandfather was a good guy, and the organization was doing good things for people. Also, that everyone there was innocent of their actions no matter how much I liked them. If I pursue this avenue of revenge, there’s going to be a lot of carnage along the way. People’s livelihoods will be gone, their lives and families will be destroyed, and they will be publicly shamed not to mention going to prison.
6. What fears, insecurities and wounds have you held back? Wow! You don’t hold anything back, do you? You are asking me some pretty tough questions that I’m not sure I’ve ever answered myself. I know you’re a journalist, but psychology had to be your minor, am I right? So, I guess my biggest fear is that I will end up just like my grandfather if I’m found out. Knowing who I’m dealing with nothing is off the table with these kinds of high stakes. My biggest insecurities stem from not having delved into the underworld. I will need a lot of help from friends and a lot of luck along the way. Wounds! I’ve been bleeding internally for most of my childhood. I’ve been dealt some very unfortunate circumstances, but I’ve never showed the wear and tear it has caused upon me. I’ve managed to keep two very influential voices in my head; that of my mother who always instilled in me a “fight club” mentality and Ms. Nebhan who told me never let them take the song out of your heart!
7. What skills, background or expertise makes you well-suited to face this antagonist?
I think we match intellects well. It’s classic good vs. evil and we know who usually wins that battle. Dardanos realize on himself because he doesn’t think anyone else is capable. Where I know my strengths and weaknesses plus it will take a team to pull this off. So, I’m lining up some of my most talented and trustworthy friends from school and other places I hangout.
8. What are you hiding from the other characters? What don’t you want them to know?
The elephant in the room is that I can read lips as you know but no one else has any idea and when people don’t think you can hear, they will say almost anything even about you. You quickly find out people’s motives and agendas and where you stand with them. I’m like a honey-do list for a husband, you know it’s there and it must be addressed but if you don’t pay attention to it, you hope no one else will either. My primary goal is to leverage my relationships to win favor among a few in the organization and then become camouflage until the last possible moment. I find that the element of surprise is so underappreciated, but I just love the recipient’s reactions!
9. What do you think of? How this will all play out. Will it even work, what people need to buy in and how can I manipulate various situations and finally, who can I truly trust.
10. What does it do for your life if you succeed here? No one knows, not even me and I try not to think ahead that’s how you make mistakes. Stay in the moment follow the process and the money, it will always lead you to the end of the rainbow. This question reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by football coach and legend, Vince Lombardi. “I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.”
11. So where do you pick up from here? At the new top. CFO Audie Christman, my grandfather’s best friend and right-hand man. He holds the key to my next move. Wish me luck and if this all goes as planned, I’ll be sitting down with you for another interview. Arrivederci!
Please tell Cayman thank you for letting me interview him Ms. Nebhan and good luck to both of you in your future endeavors.
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Patrick Downey – Character Interviews
What I learned doing this assignment is I have the perfect Antagonist from the beginning and a Protagonist that will morph into his own as the story unwinds. The Antagonist while the women will love his on-screen presence and bad boy attitude because they always get the most attention for some reason will be easy to cast aside as time goes on because his arrogance is overwhelming. While doing my interview he made me want to vomit!!!! LOL
Protagonists: Cayman Stingnelli (Hero)
Antagonists: Dardanos Alexandrite (Predator)
Supporting characters: Ray Stingnelli, FBI agents, business partners and company employees
Minor roles: Cayman’s mother, Cayman’s teacher
Background characters: Varied from police officers, FBI Director, betting runners, Stingnelli family members and others
Genre: Thriller
Lead character: Cayman
Role: Grandson of the CEO Ray Stingnelli that has lost his mother, is hearing impaired and wants to do the right thing in the end.
Age range: From 8 or 9 years old through his 18<sup>th</sup> birthday
Motivation: Revenge his grandfather’s death
Wound: Being hoodwinked into thinking his grandfather was a good man doing good for the community. Working for and with a bunch of criminals.
Mission/Agenda: Set things right in a way that outsmarts the best of them.
Secret: Cayman can read lips and only his inner circle knows this about him.
What makes them special: He can be your worst nightmare if you get on the wrong side of him. He has his mother’s intelligence, grandfather’s business sense and his own new found agenda!
Traits: Niave, brilliant, deaf but other senses are heightened, charismatic
Subtext: Hard worker, people pleaser, visionary, insightful
Flaw: Loved his grandfather too much
Values: Hidden ability to read lips, great at rallying the troops, strategic thinker, easily forgives others.
Irony: His handicap/disability became his greatest asset. The ability to blend in without being seeing as a threat has many advantages. Also, being a young kid makes adults believe you don’t really know much about the real world thus you can operate behind the scenes to obtain your ultimate revenge.
What makes this the right character for the role?
Cayman has history with the organization being around the partners since he was little. There’s a comfort level between them and nobody suspects otherwise. He is very motivated to turn on the partner’s once his grandfather is killed by one of them. He has access to all of them and the organization with or without their permission by them just talking in an eyesight of Cayman.
Questions for the Antagonist: Dardanos Alexandrite
1. Tell me about yourself?
I’m the oldest of 7 children born into a wealthy Greek family that owns luxury hotels across the world. When I turned 10 my parents sent me to boarding school in Switzerland and on my 17<sup>th</sup> birthday I was sent to America to attend the University of Princeton. My name means “to devour” and I have planned my whole life to takeover my father’s business when he steps down.
2. Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses?
My strengths are that I’m young, hungry and adored by most of my male friends and all of my female friends. At 38, I could be the CEO of one of many Fortune 500 companies but choose to wait on my father but not too long. For sure I should be heading up the H.A.V.O.C. partnership instead of old man Stingnelli. I have no weaknesses that I know of…
3. Why are you committed to making the Protagonist fail?
Cayman Stingnelli is a young punk that can’t even hold a conversation, and everyone treats him like royalty because he’s Ray’s little project. Plus, I hate kids and the way he looks at me all the time makes my skin crawl. When I’m running H.A.V.O.C. he won’t be around anymore making people uncomfortable.
4. What do you get out of succeeding in your plan?
I show my father that I’m ready to take over the business. I show these other losers how to make more money than they ever have in their lives. I become my own made man that others should fear!
5. What drives you towards your mission even in the face of danger, ruin of death?
Did I mention my name means “to devour” so, I don’t fear anyone or anything. I was born, educated, and trained for this exact moment in time. I want the name Dardanos Alexandrite to be known by every businessman, businesswoman, hedge fund manager, economist, and socialites in the world. My empire when it’s all said and done will dwarf the likes of Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos.
6. What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear/insecurity?
Next questions please. I didn’t get to where I am by sharing my secrets.
7. Compared to other people like you, what makes you special?
First, let’s understand that there’s no one else like me! I broke the mold! Seriously, I’ve set some really high goals for myself before I’m 40! I’ll be damned if anyone stops me.
8. What do you think of the Cayman Stingnelli?
Not much, why should I? I mean I don’t feel sorry for the kid those were the cards he was dealt. Ya, he can’t hear, and he lost his mother, but he’ll never have to worry about money.
9. Tell me your side of this whole conflict?
You’ll have to wait and read the script or see the movie buddy!
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Patrick Downey – Character Profiles Part 2
What I learned doing this assignment is that the more I build up my character to either be liked or hated, the more the audience is going to be invested into that character. I’ve seen many movies that don’t take the time to give you a reason to care if they die or get the girl or win the game etc. I see why the subtext is so valuable because it lets a smart audience figure it out along the way without having to write in so much detail only to be cut out when produced due to time and length.
Protagonists: Cayman Stingnelli (Hero)
Antagonists: Dardanos Alexandrite (Predator)
Supporting characters: Ray Stingnelli, FBI agents, business partners and company employees
Minor roles: Cayman’s mother, Cayman’s teacher
Background characters: Varied from police officers, FBI Director, betting runners, Stingnelli family members and others
Genre: Thriller
Lead character: Cayman
Role: Grandson of the CEO Ray Stingnelli that has lost his mother, is hearing impaired and wants to do the right thing in the end.
Age range: From 8 or 9 years old through his 18<sup>th</sup> birthday
Motivation: Revenge his grandfather’s death
Wound: Being hoodwinked into thinking his grandfather was a good man doing good for the community. Working for and with a bunch of criminals.
Mission/Agenda: Set things right in a way that outsmarts the best of them.
Secret: Cayman can read lips and only his inner circle knows this about him.
What makes them special: He can be your worst nightmare if you get on the wrong side of him. He has his mother’s intelligence, grandfather’s business sense and his own newfound agenda!
Traits: Naive, brilliant, deaf but other senses are heightened, charismatic
Subtext: Hard worker, people pleaser, visionary, insightful
Flaw: Loved his grandfather too much
Values: Hidden ability to read lips, great at rallying the troops, strategic thinker, easily forgives others.
Irony: His handicap/disability became his greatest asset. The ability to blend in without being seeing as a threat has many advantages. Also, being a young kid makes adults believe you don’t really know much about the real world thus you can operate behind the scenes to obtain your ultimate revenge.
What makes this the right character for the role?
Cayman has history with the organization being around the partners since he was little. There’s a comfort level between them and nobody suspects otherwise. He is very motivated to turn on the partner’s once his grandfather is killed by one of them. He has access to all of them and the organization with or without their permission by them just talking in an eyesight of Cayman.
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Patrick Downey – Character Profiles Part 1
What I learned doing this assignment is that I’m brand new at this and it shows in my writing style or lack of….I’m not really putting myself down here it’s just that I assume most of you have some sort of experience in screenwriting and this is my first go at it. With that being said, I wrote a script about 6 years ago and I think it has real potential. It’s a unique storyline that I haven’t seen at least in a movie but maybe a book somewhere. Well, I noticed after I posted my assignment yesterday that mine didn’t look like the others in the class. Then after reading today’s assignment, I realized I already did most of this but it’s because my script has already been written. However, after all that whining, I am learning so much because I’m a blank canvass with a great set of paint colors already in front of me!!!!!
Protagonists: Cayman Stingnelli (Hero)
Antagonists: Dardanos Alexandrite (Predator)
Supporting characters: Ray Stingnelli, FBI agents, business partners and company employees
Minor roles: Cayman’s mother, Cayman’s teacher
Background characters: Varied from police officers, FBI Director, betting runners, Stingnelli family members and others
Genre: Thriller
Lead character: Cayman
Role: Grandson of the CEO Ray Stingnelli that has lost his mother, is hearing impaired and wants to do the right thing in the end.
Age range: From 8 or 9 years old through his 18<sup>th</sup> birthday
Motivation: Revenge his grandfather’s death
Wound: Being hoodwinked into thinking his grandfather was a good man doing good for the community. Working for and with a bunch of criminals.
Mission/Agenda: Set things right in a way that outsmarts the best of them.
Secret: Cayman can read lips and only his inner circle knows this about him.
What makes them special: He can be your worst nightmare if you get on the wrong side of him. He has his mother’s intelligence, grandfather’s business sense and his own superpower!
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(Patrick Downey) Transformational Journey
“What I learned doing this assignment is how to talk about my screenplay to a total stranger by putting it into several small categories (not that I would do that until it’s finished) but you get the idea. It helped me to structure out new screenplays moving forward without getting lost in the story first. I’m rabbling but maybe someone will understand??
Hero: Cayman Stingnelli, young hearing-impaired boy who has recently lost his mother and now lives in a different city with his grandfather.
Transformation: Cayman goes from innocent deaf kid to vengeful, resourceful teenager.
Internal Journey: Wants to live a life that honors his mother and desires to please his grandfather every chance he gets.
External Journey: Worships the ground his grandfather walks on until he finds out that his whole business and life is a lie.
Character Arc: This happens when young Caymen who is proficient at reading lips, a secret that died with his mother who was holding it back to surprise her father, Cayman’s grandfather upon their upcoming visit. A gift that now pays huge dividends as Cayman focuses on several men that work with his grandfather in what he thought was a charitable organization for children. Cayman deciphers that they are betting and rigging professional sporting events by manipulating owners, officials, and players. At this point he loses all respect for the man he idolized since he had no father and deep, resentful anger has set in. Cayman had every reason to shut out his grandfather and withdraw inside his shell, but his life really didn’t take a turn until Dardanos Alexandrite made his ultimate power play. Dardanos, the youngest of the partners had Ray Stingnelli killed to grab control of the organization and that was all the motivation Cayman needed to take them down from within.
Cayman’s Old Ways: Quiet, unassuming, background player, pleaser
Cayman’s New Ways: Conniving, highly motivated, mastermind, and brilliant
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Patrick Downey
I agree to the terms of the release form.
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Hey everyone,
My name is Patrick Downey
I’ve written 1 script and it’s still in my computer for the past 6 years. If anyone here can tell me how to get it out, I’m all ears!
As you can see, I’m a forever dreamer and really want to get off the fear platform. I think, like everyone else that I have some really good and unique material but then again doesn’t everyone. LOL
Unique about me? Not sure I’ll let you all pick
Served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm
Played college football against several Hall of Famers back in the day
Suited up in motion capture gear for several years and played in games like Gears or War and Tom Clancy games.
Happy to meet you all!