Its during the 1930’s the
depression is over & we are entering the pre-WW2 era.
PRELUDE
JOE & DON stand as GERRY BLAKE sits back to us on
a chair.
JOE
So unless its paid in 48
hours
Some kind of tragic
accident is likely to happen
to that beautiful family
of yours GERRY
you understand me don’t ya?
GERRY nods JOE looks out the window,
DON looks at GERRY who has obviously been beaten
DON
If I were you I would
beg,
borrow or steal to get
that dough….
HEAR door open & close as JOE exits
You’re outta time now mate.
& he means what he
says!
Just some friendly
advice.
DON exits
GERRY stares at the door, STAR 14 creeps in quietly
GERRY notices her, it is obvious she has seen/heard
the whole thing
STAR
Are you ok dad?
GERRY
Yeah, come here.
(holds his arms out for a
hug, she obliges)
It will be all right.
STAR
Will it?
1.
EXT Nightclub line up -
night
Patrons await entry into towns hottest upmarket night spot.
Bouncers guard the door looking menacing.
A limmo pulls in
HEAR crowd murmer then hush
as the door opens
Subjective camera –POV
Get out of the limmo
slowly, walk straight past all the waiting patrons, noticing everyone knows
& loves you.
The bouncers smile willing to please & open the
doors happily.
Enter the foyer without looking back.
2.
INT Nightclub – night
A stylish bar with an up market crowd everyone seems
to be partying.
Suddenly everything stops for a brief second noticing
all looking toward the entrance (whispers/reactions)
Subjective camera – POV
Scan the room as they continue as before some
stopping to greet or acknowledge us.
A WAITER approaches carrying a tray of champagne
smiling eager to please.
A jeweled, manicured hand takes a glass we look into
his face
(turning to FX for memories)
3.
INT Clubhouse - night
FLASHBACK
WAITER carrying covered tray approaches JOE who plays
a high stakes poker game.
He waits patiently until JOE gives him a nod, he
bends, presenting the tray to JOE who pulls the cover off to reveal a selection
of different hand guns – he picks the “stand out in a crowd” one (of course)
& aims it at shocked/scared WAITER (who thinks he is going to die) a tense
moment at the table
HEAR the “click” indicating no ammo, JOE laughs then
everyone nervously laughs with him
4.
INT Nightclub
Subjective camera – POV
WAITER smiles, besotted, we tip him continuing
through the room toward the office.
Stop, noticing a VIP table (RAY, JEAN, DON, MAX
nursing/fooling with PRO & DOT) & approach. When MAX finally notices us
he pushes the PRO off him looking at her distastefully, swearing at her. As DOT
scrambles to follow PRO, look individually at them stopping on smooth, MAX.
5.
EXT Blakes
Home/Street – afternoon
FLASHBACK
A 14 yr old girl (well developed) STAR, exits the
house, looking around yelling
STAR
Dad, Mum?
MAX & JOE wait in a car outside the BLAKES HOME.
STAR walks toward them
MAX pulls his gun JOE slips on chrome knuckledusters
MAX
What the…..
JOE
Any resistance
(BEAT smiles)
I want to feel her break
MAX
(visibly appalled)
She’s just a kid for gods
sake!
JOE gets out still smiling bothered by his eagerness
MAX quickly follows.
The girl is closer.
JOE leans against the streetlight & lights a
cigarette still smiling & wearing the knuckledusters
The girl is closer uncertainty/weariness on her face,
she slows a little but continues
MAX is nervously watching JOE who seems to be
enjoying it all & it sickens him.
The girl is nearly upon them & MAX steps toward
her
mainly to get there before JOE does
MAX
Hello.
Gerry Blake’s daughter
aren’t you?
GIRL
(nods wearily)
Who are you?
JOE
(steps into light holding
out hand to shake)
Joe King
GIRL
(unsure not shaking
hands)
What do you want?
MAX (friendly)
You are a singer,
a good one they say!
JOE walks slowly past them so he is behind GIRL
making her more nervous/scared
MAX
We were wondering if you
would come with us,
Ya know, sing a few numbers
in the club?
(she looks
relieved/convinced)
We hear you could be a
famous star one day
(she smiles embarrassed
but pleased)
Your old man said to come
& pick you up…
JOE
That’s right,
(puts his hand on her
shoulder, she moves)
ya daddy is waitin’ pretty girl?
MAX senses JOE about to pounce & holds out his
hand to her as a gentleman would & genuinely smiles (he likes her)
hesitant; she takes it, wearily glancing back at JOE scowling
MAX
(guiding her toward the
car)
A star, yep that’s what
they say!
Voice of an angel…
He opens the car door for her as a gentleman would,
she acknowledges & accepts as a lady would.
JOE & MAX outside the car stare each other down,
speaking without words until
JOE
I am still keeping her, I
own her.
I always get what I want
MAX
MAX
Jesus JOE you wiped out
her whole family & that’s wrong!
You are responsible for
her now, sure,
But I don’t think anyone
will ever own her.
MAX
(laughs)
Even at this age she is
too classy for you
brother & she will
bring you undone I think.
MAX gets in, JOE kicks the car in a temper, swearing etc.
before composing himself, smoothing his suit &
getting in.
They drive away into the night
6.
INT Nightclub
Subjective camera – POV
MAX shifts to make room holding his hand out to
indicate “sit”
CAMERA MOVE side to side
to indicate no
MAX looks mock upset & kisses the jeweled hand.
JEAN looks on jealously then seeing us looking at her
instantly changes to fake smile
JEAN
Lovely to see you dah-ling
(gets up to air-kiss us)
You look beautiful, as
always…
As she speaks JEAN looks behind us - suddenly we are
spun around to look at MRS. WELLS alone without her mega wealthy husband who
can never get a word in anyway
MRS. WELLS
You simply must come
& say hello to ROBERT dear.
(leading us to another
area)
he just got back from
On the way people stop to acknowledge us
Approach a small table of ROBERT, MR. WELLS &
LUCY (a plain girl, frumpy, out of place in all this glamour) we get closer
ROBERT, ignoring LUCY talking to him, arises to greet us
ROBERT
I finally get to meet
you!
I have heard so much
about you from these 2
(indicates his parents)
I am glad you are real.
MRS. WELLS
Of corse
she is real ROBERT don’t be so silly!
(grabs their programme off the table)
Would you autograph our programme dear?
You know we are your
biggest fans.
Hands the programme
7.
INT The
FLASHBACK
JOE watches RAY (in masks) tying up MRS. WELLS as
MR. WELLS lays unconscious on the floor.
Once blindfolded they remove their masks
JOE lights a cigarette & exhales deeply
JOE
Now where are all the
jewels old woman?
MRS. WELLS
I don’t know,
maybe in the safe.
JOE
(mimics her)
I dunno
maybe in the safe.
(punches her down then
pulls her back up by the
hair)
Where IS the safe?
MRS. WELLS
(coughs blood)
Painting in the Den,
behind it.
JOE
(leans in to her face) Good
girl.
Go check. (to RAY) NOW!
8.
INT The
RAY removes the painting & easily opens the safe
grabbing a piece of jewellery, holding it up to the
light he takes it smiling & heads back toward the living area
9.
INT The
JOE is raping the now unconscious MRS. WELLS when RAY
comes back in,
shocked he watches sickened until JOE notices him
& stops
JOE
What? You want a go?
(swears gets off doing up
his pants)
Well?
RAY nods, JOE goes to look. RAY goes to cover MRS.
WELLS & her modesty
10.
INT Nightclub
Signed programme, hand it
back
ROBERT
I would love to hear you
sing,
Are you on tonight?
(indicate NO,
HEAR LUCY annoyed)
I had better let you go.
MRS. WELLS
LUCY is the jealous type
don’t worry about her though!
(NOTICE RAY waving us
over)
Well go & see your
friend love we will talk at the benefit.
(air kisses)
RAY is near the toilets as we approach he smiles
fondly,
we kiss (not passionate, brotherly)
RAY
Why are you here tonight?
JOE will not be happy ya know.
He’s in there injecting
more of that shit!
You don’t want to be
around him on that…
11.
INT Clubhouse - night
FLASHBACK
RAY is tied to a chair obviously beaten/interrogated
HEAR JOE “I don’t believe you”
RAY
You know I wouldn’t.
Why would I?
JOE (into shot, smoking)
To get ya hands on the stuff, that’s why.
RAY
I don’t touch the stinkin’ stuff,
I seen what its done to
you!
(JOE comes close to his
face as if he does not recognize him)
Look what you have become
JOE
JOE
Who do you think you are?
You don’t know me.
RAY
We grew up in the same
building JOE
We have known each other
all our lives
JOE looks convinced, RAY is relived…
JOE changes his mind (again) putting his cigarette
out on RAYs cheek
12.
INT Nightclub
RAY looks toward the office nervously, follow the
glances
RAY
You don’t want to be here
tonight
(push past him)
I warned ya babe
2 bodyguards are at the opulent office door.
Pause to look at the patrons zoom into DON among the
revelers
13.
INT Clubhouse
FLASHBACK
The girl is dressed as if grown in a ball dress.
JOE & MAX sit alone drinking as DON sets up a
“performance” space.
Girl is nervous DON hands her a shot, she takes it,
he silently encourages her
She gets to the mike in an empty barroom & sings…
…they are all blown away
a kid sings like this
14.
INT Nightclub
Looking at patrons, notice MAX looking at us, we look
toward the bodyguards then back at MAX who looks toward them then back with
fear shaking his head no.
15.
INT Clubhouse
FLASHBACK
The girl is putting on clothes crying on the stage,
the grown thrown into shot
JOE
(Sigh/curse)
What are you sniveling
about?
MAX enters laughing, which stops abruptly when he
sees the scenario.
JOE starts unpacking a syringe kit (of period – big)
preparing his “medicine”
MAX rushes to the girl wrapping the discarded dress
around her, helping her up
JOE
She wanted to be a grown
up.
Now she is a real woman,
ha, ha.
MAX
(noticing fresh blood)
Go to the toilet &
fix yourself up honey,
(she looks scared)
Its ok just go clean up,
go on.
She does, he turns ferociously to JOE who is pumping
his arm ready for a “hit”
MAX looks at him disgusted as the needle gets closer
to his vein MAX grabs it & his other arm
MAX
You fucked up sick
bastard!
I swear if you touch that
kid again & I find out
I will kill you myself
Brother or no
He lets go JOE giggles & puts the needle in
HEAR floorboard creek. MAX turns quickly to see girl watching
GIRL POV
JOE sits slack/passed out with the syringe hanging
out of his arm
MAX rushes for it hoping she won’t see but knowing
she did
MAX
Forget it kid, he won’t
touch you again
GIRL
When can I go home?
MAX
(looks sorry for her)
There is noone honey, you belong with us now.
GIRL
They are dead aren’t
they?
(looks with pure hatred at JOE)
He killed them
16.
INT Nightclub
MAX shakes his head no & waves we ignore him
& wave back continuing toward the office doors.
The bodyguards smile as we approach happy to see us
BODYGUARD
Good evening madam.
C’mon Jim may as well
relax now
(he winks, Jim nods &
they wander off)
We look in our handbag revealing a chrome derringer,
closing the bag taking a deep breath the jeweled hand reaches for the handle
opening the opulent door to…
17.
INT Opulent Office night
Subjective camera – POV
The room is dimly lit.
JOE & WHORE lay passed out all his “instruments “
& his “medicine” sit out on the desk.
We sit & light a cigarette, blowing it toward
them.
WHORE awakens coughing then sees us, shocked,
apologetic & dopey she makes a hasty exit.
We lock the door behind her
JOE
My little star.
We turn to look at him trying to get it together
under the influence
JOE
You shouldn’t be here
tonight
STAR
Why is that JOE I am 21
tomorrow?
JOE
That’s why honey
(gets up wobbly)
MAX cant help ya now
You are all mine
(the dillinger
is in the jeweled hand aimed at him)
& what MAX doesn’t
know about us…
could fill a fuckin’ book!
(the gun is cocked, he is
shocked)
You wouldn’t shoot me
would ya babe?
(begins to approach)
Nah I take care of you
don’t I?
(the gun lowers a bit)
good girl…
(closer)
gooooddd
He snatches the gun
HEAR the door trying to be opened MAX yells “JOE let
me in whats goin’ on”
JOE (quite invincible now) opens the door letting MAX
in & locks it behind him
JOE
The bitch came here to
shoot me!
Yeah me.
(seems to have an idea,
hands gun to MAX)
hold this
(He fixes a “fix”. To us)
sit there
(pushes us into chair, he
sweats)
hold out your bloody arm
He yanks it angrily as MAX objects,
JOE fills the syringe
MAX
Why are you doing this?
JOE
Like you said I shouldn’t
force her,
she should be willing
(he turns to appalled
MAX)
this makes ‘em willing
MAX
(putting gun on desk)
This has to stop,
you are out of control
now.
That shit has possessed
you.
JOE
I am the best I have ever
been!
We are making a lot of $$
with this “shit”
Ya don’t mind spending it
though little brother
(We take the dillinger off the desk)
Who kept you fed
anyway…me!
(we approach JOE from
behind MAX watching us)
Who gave you ya 1st gun…me!
(we hold it up to the
back of his head)
Who got you laid ya 1st time…me!
(MAX shakes his head
sorry, looks at us & indicates yes)
What?
(JOE turns to us, anger
turns to confusion)
But I own you,
you need me!
He is shot between the eyes by the jeweled hand which
drops the gun to the floor where JOE falls.
Finally from the gun & body we travel up to
reveal a very young yet elegant woman.
Blank of emotion looking into camera
STAR
I belong to no one.
You took away my life,
In so many ways,
now I’ve taken yours.
(She looks up at
MAX/camera?)
Are we even?
THE END