I DO NOT WANT NOTES. Like AT ALL. At this point the script is completed and being read around town, and I've already worked this scene a number of times. In fact, if you're on Done Deal you can find the thread where I workshopped this scene. Anyway, here's the final product:
FADE IN:
EXT. PUBLIC LIBRARY - RAINY DAY
It might as well be night, as evil as that sky is. The rain is POURING hard on the pavement in front of the library. Only one car in the parking lot.
A Jeep Cherokee pulls up.
INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY - RAINY DAY
Budget cuts have hit this place hard, but there's still a bank of five-year-old computers near the entrance.
YANCY, fifties, graying, well-worn bifocals, hums as he fiddles with a few cables at the back of one of the machines. Only one light is on in the empty room.
A fist BANGS on the door.
Yancy pops up. He can barely make out a small figure in the rain.
He motions to the sign posting the hours of operation.
The fist bangs again.
He stands up and walks to the door. He points to the sign.
The figure, now clearly identifiable as a GIRL wearing a backpack, makes a motion of pleading. She's drenched.
Yancy opens the door a crack.
YANCY
I'm sorry, the library is closed on Mondays.
GIRL
(Southern accent)
Please! Honey, can I just use the phone? Mine died, and my car...
He nods, waves her inside.
She shuffles inside where we get a good look at her.
LANA. A young 30 something, wet hair clinging to her face. Absurdly hot. You want to ask her out, but you're afraid she'll eat your head after she fucks you.
Yancy hands her his cell phone.
YANCY
Here. If you-
Her phone rings. Warrant's "Cherry Pie." She ignores it.
She shoves his phone in her pocket.
LANA
This place is so quiet. I like it. Y'all still got that Dewey system?
YANCY
Listen, miss, I don't have time to-
LANA
Oh I apologize, Yancy. How rude of me. I'm Lana.
She waves, bright smile.
He begins to hyperventillate.
LANA
You got that Child Called It? I heard that's a good book.
YANCY
I didn't do it. Whatever it is, I swear. I'm not the one.
LANA
Joe thinks you got his money.
YANCY
I don't! Oh God, that's not me! I told Carl!
He falls on the floor, grabs her leg and pleads. Lana tries to shake him off. This is uncomfortable.
YANCY
Call Carl! Why would I tell him about missing money if I'm the one who stole it?
LANA
Please get off me, honey.
He clings even tighter.
YANCY
Call Carl! Please!
She tries to shake him loose, to no avail.
LANA
GET OFF!
YANCY
PLEASE!
She sighs, pulls a gun out and shoots him in the foot. He screams and lets go to nurse his injury.
LANA
Listen, honey. I'm a nice girl. I don't do that whole bamboo under the fingernail shit, but if you paw at me again I will shoot off your shriveled old Willy, put a knife in your gut and leave you to bleed to death. Are we clear?
He nods, weeping over his foot.
YANCY
Ask Carl. I told Carl.
LANA
You tell anybody else?
YANCY
I don't know... um.... I don't know!
Lana shoots him in the shin. He shouts. Her phone starts to ring again. "Cherry Pie."
YANCY
NO! Only Carl! I don't have the money I swear!
LANA
I know, honey.
She shoots him in the head. Picks up the still ringing phone.
LANA
(into the phone)
Elliot how many fucking times have I told you not to call until the job's done?
She wipes Yancy's phone of fingerprints, tosses it on his body.
LANA
No, I didn't find the money. Idiot died first.
She searches his wallet. Pulls out a twenty.
LANA
I know. You think you know somebody, then they steal your shit. You gonna have my payday in the right box this time?
(beat)
Don't get all huffy, honey, it's not my fault you're such a goddamn fuck-up.
She hangs up.
She dials a saved number.
LANA
(into the phone)
He's dead. You're in the clear.
She throws the phone down.
She looks at the body.
LANA
Let's rock and roll, honey.
She reaches into her backpack and pulls out a bottle of bleach.
She starts pouring it over the body.
LANA
(to the tune of "Cherry Pie")
She's my Cherry Pie. Motherfucker's dying and he don't know why.
That's very good. Establishes tone well, makes me interested in Lana (great character) and a well written scenes. The only thing I would say is you used the pronoun instead of Lana's name an awful lot toward the end. The punchline was very amusing.
ReplyDeleteYou have your calling card.
I liked it too, but I think you could change the description of her, as it suggests your reader is a male only.
ReplyDeleteNice. Just out of curiosity, do you envision any particular actress playing Lana or for that matter any particular actor playing Yancy? Is that part of your process, envisioning a particular actor/actress playing a role?
ReplyDeleteP.S.
"hyperventillate" should be "hyperventilate"
I do not picture actors when I'm writing. I sometimes think of them when I'm finished.
ReplyDeleteEven though you're not looking for notes, I'm going to give one anyway: Read you dialog aloud (just like an actor would do in a reading), there are some alliteration issues.
ReplyDeleteYou said ahem, so...
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the pages. Alliterative hyperventilating aside, I like your writing. It's interesting to see the evolution of the scene. And your determination is admirable.
Downside: Your version of "Cherry Pie" is stuck in MY head again!
And thanks for the encore of "I HAS FEETS". So stinkin' adorable!
Thanks! Yeah I used to love "Cherry Pie." After working on this script all this tme I really hate "Cherry Pie."
ReplyDelete"Y'all still got that Dewey system?". Snortled out loud.
ReplyDeleteAnd what the hell is Lana up to?!
Well, damn, that's jumping right in and keeping us guessing, thanks for sharing. That's a movie I want to see.
OT, re layered ladies like Lana, in case ever a comic book break would be just the thing, Morning Glories (private HS setting). Like your story, it don't slow down, and the ladies, they be complicated (new issue this week, cannot wait, and who the hell is David?!).
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=2548
Girl - you write well.
ReplyDeleteIn fact - you have the ability to get the reader interested from the first sentence. This got to sell.
And great I discovered your blog.
Been looking around for a cool forum blog lately. Yours is well balanced. I was not intersted in other forum and blogs of guys rambling nonsense and kissing each others butts.
Your blog is cool and balanced.
Laura
Thanks Atlanta and Laura and everybody else!
ReplyDeleteThis one scene was rewritten probably a dozen times. I hope it gets the right people to keep reading.
I like you writing! This is a good story. I know you said you don't want notes. But can I give my version if I were allowed to make changes?
ReplyDeleteThis is my version. I hope you don't mind!
EXT. PARKING LOT - PUBLIC LIBRARY - DAY
Torrential rains hammer the hood of a lone parked car, a 1982 Monte Carlo (or whatever).
A Jeep Cherokee screeches into the parking lot. It slams to a halt in the middle of a big puddle.
The driver’s side door cracks open. Then it closes. Then it opens again. This time wide.
WOMAN
Oh, who gives a fuck.
Shapely legs swing out of the car. Pink stilettos step into the ankle-deep puddle. The car door slams. Wet ankles scoot through the puddle.
INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY – DAY
Budget cuts have hit this place hard. The carpet is thread-bare. Rain drips through the ceiling tiles onto a bank of computers near the entrance.
CLANCY (52), graying, well-worn bifocals, throws a plastic tarp over the computers.
A fist BANGS on the door.
Clancy pops up. He can barely make out a small figure in the rain.
He motions to the sign posting the hours of operation.
A pink stiletto KICKS the glass pane of the door.
CLANCY
You’re gonna break the goddamn door. Hold on. I’m coming.
He moves to the door. The figure is now discernible. LANA (31), undeniably hot, drenched, her backpack dripping, is the kind of girl you want to fuck, but not the kind you want to marry. She makes a motion of pleading.
Clancy opens the door a crack.
CLANCY
Lady, this is a library. We read here. Read that sign. It says we’re closed on Mondays.
LANA
(Southern accent)
Sweetheart, I just need to use your phone. Mine died. And don’t get me started about my car.
CLANCY
Come in. But just for a minute. It’s against regulations.
He hands her his cell phone. And he takes a moment to check her out. He likes what he sees.
CLANCY
Here, you can use mine.
Her phone rings…(the rest of it.)
Wow. Wow...starts with a bang.
ReplyDelete