Detective Film – Script Segments

Remember – it’s only a 1st draft; a template…

1.0 - Serious scene.  Act 1 climax, Darby seeks 'The Gambler' for info.
2.0 - Absurd scene.  Act 2 center, rural Wisconsin, Darby's lost everything.
1.0 - Serious scene
Elizabeth goes to the door, which Josh opens for her.  She
  takes a step outside of it and looks around.  At her first
  glance, she can't seem to find a person.  Josh, impatient,
  snaps at a young woman (KRIS) who is walking by.

                      JOSH
            Excuse me!  Miss.

  Kris stops and turns to him.

                      JOSH (CONT'D)
            Come here, please, we need a small
            favor.  Just a small one.
                (gives her a nice smile)

  Kris comes over.  Elizabeth looks critically at her, then all
  three of them re-enter the room and Josh closes the door
  behind them.  Josh motions to the gambling table and Kris
  approaches it.

                      LEONARD
            Hello.  I'm Michael.
                (grins and shakes her
                 hand)
            We're playing poker.
            I just want you to deal a hand to
            myself and my good friend Liz.
            Just five cards each.

                      KRIS
                (smiles)
            OK.

  She takes the deck and clumsily shuffles it on the table.
  Then she deals five cards each to Leonard and Elizabeth.
  Elizabeth is wary of the men and keeps her cards low to the
  table, only lifting the corner to herself.  She looks up and
  Leonard meets her cold stare with perfect equanimity.

                      LEONARD
            Well?

  Elizabeth just glares and tosses in three chips (out of her
  ten).  Leonard tosses in three and raises her three more.

                      ELIZABETH
            Call.  Two cards.

  Kris deals Elizabeth two cards.

                      LEONARD
            Two cards, please.

  Kris deals two cards to Leonard.  Elizabeth turns her cards
  up again, and this time Darby catches a glimpse - they are:
  [J of diamonds], [J of clubs], [6 of diamonds], [6 of hearts]
  and [9 of spades].  

                      ELIZABETH
            I'm all in.

  She pushes her remaining chips into the pot.  Leonard watches
  the chips, then meets her eyes.

                      LEONARD
            See, and raise you 20 more.

  Elizabeth silently blanches.  Beat.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
            Liz, you know what the deal is here
            if you can't cover the bet.

  Beat.

                      ELIZABETH
            We'll just see what happens.

                      LEONARD
                (beat)
            Fine.  We'll just see what happens.

  Leonard flips over his cards: [K of spades], [K of clubs], [J
  of clubs], [J of hearts], and [8 of hearts].  

  Hans involuntarily lets out a despairing moan and his head
  falls into his hands.  Elizabeth is so shocked that she
  noticeably gapes, gasps, wide-eyed.  Then she seems to slow
  down internally and her gaze goes distant.  She looks ill.
  Leonard's gaze slowly moves from his cards to Elizabeth's
  eyes.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
            Relax, Liz.  And you too, Hans.
            I'm not an unreasonable man.  We
            can work something out.

  Leonard removes a pack of Nat Sherman cigarettes, takes one
  out and lights it.

                      ELIZABETH
                (to herself)
            Oh my god.

  She looks to Hans for consolation but he can't even raise his
  head; dying from shame.

                      LEONARD
                (looking at his cigarette)
            Hans.

  Hans looks up, meets eyes with Leonard.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
                (final)
            It didn't work out.  You need to
            accept that.

  Hans... does not accept it.  He quivers and looks around the
  room, at all the men, like he's trying to determine if he can
  take them with enough adrenaline.  Elizabeth seems to get
  this and looks with him, but the two are well-aware that they
  are outmatched tenfold.  They are subjugated.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
            Run along, you two.  You'll want to
            have a little talk with Josh before
            you go.  Come on now.

  Leonard playfully shoos them away.  They slowly stand, waver,
  take one another's hands and solemnly exit the room, as if at
  their own child's funeral.
  Josh leads them out, hands on their shoulders, and he closes
  the door behind him.  Instantly the room is calmer.

  Leonard, smoking, snorts air out of his noise and shakes his
  head.  Kris puts her hands on his shoulders and stretches a
  little, arching her back and tilting her head back, moaning.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
            You play with fire, you get
            burnt... idiots.
                (beat)
            A toast!
                (raises his glass)
            To "Our Benefactor."

  The men in the room all take drinks.  Leonard stands and
  looks at Darby.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
            Hello for the third time.  You must
            be Tom Darby.

                      DARBY
                (beat)
            Yes.

                      LEONARD
            Amiable fellow.  Well allow me to
            introduce myself.  My name is
            Michael Leonard.
                (puts his arm around
                 Kris's waist)
            And this is my girlfriend.
                (she smiles)

  Darby glowers.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
            Are you also here to buy somebody
            back?  Perhaps the friend you made
            an hour ago?

  Darby considers this statement.  Kris giggles.

                      DARBY
            I'm just here to talk.

  Leonard paces, smoking.

                      LEONARD
            No, I'm afraid not.  Here you pay
            or play.  I have no business with
            you beyond those two things.
            Now what do you want?  Be quick
            about it.

                      DARBY
                (beat)
            ...do you have any White Claudia?

                      LEONARD
                (smiles)
            Is that all?  Boys, I think he
            wants drugs.  Well we don't have
            any drugs, Darby.  I think maybe
            it's time for you to go.

  Two goons (ERIC and LEIGH) approach Darby.

                      DARBY
            No, fuck it, I don't want drugs.  I
            want to meet your boss.

  The Goons put their hands on Darby and move him toward the
  door.

                      LEONARD
            Then go to Potawatomi during
            business hours, which isn't hard
            since that's all the time.

                      DARBY
            No!  Downing Street!

  The Goons stop.  Leonard stops pacing.  He coolly powerwalks
  to the door and slams it.  Close to Darby, he looks at him
  and blows smoke in his face.

                      LEONARD
            What were you saying?

                      DARBY
            Don't you work for Downing Street?

                      LEONARD
            Who is Downing Street?

                      DARBY
            He makes pornos.  You made one
            once, with a girl named Bianca del
            Sol.

  Leonard grins widely.

                      LEONARD
            Oh, that.  Yes, I worked with him a
            long time ago, but we haven't
            talked in ages.  I don't even have
            his phone number anymore.  And if I
            did, why on earth do you suppose
            I'd give it to you?  I have no idea
            who you are.
                (beat, removes a card from
                 his pocket)
            Well... except for the fact that
            you live in New York City.  On 182
            Thompson, Apartment MG, 10112.  And
            that you're an Art Collector,
            whatever the hell that is, for a
            fellow named [Russell Bauman].

  Darby's mouth hangs slightly open and his gaze is slightly
  widened.  He glares at Leonard.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
            I can go on.  I can tell you your
            social security number, how much
            debt you have, your credit score,
            your parents' names and address -
            which is here in town, by the way.
            So you're back here to visit your
            family and you thought you'd get
            into some pornos while you're in
            town, is that it?

  Leonard chuckles and the Goons laugh.

                      LEONARD (CONT'D)
            I understand, of course.  Everybody
            needs to unwind.  Well I'll tell
            you what: You want - - well, what
            you want.  How much is it worth to
            you?

  Darby scrutinizes him.

                      DARBY
            I get it.
                (beat)
            Do we have to play poker?

                      LEONARD
                (genuinely accommodating)
            Oh, no!  Any game of chance will
            do!  They all carry the same thrill
            for me.  For instance...
2.0 - Absurd scene
INT. DINER - AFTERNOON

        Darby somnolently enters, gazing forward.  A plump young
        waitress exits the kitchen holding a tray of food and Darby's
        weird aura draws her attention... until, passing him, she
        crashes to the floor with the food.

                            WAITRESS
                  Omigod, I'm sorry!

        The men at the table, who were waiting, look at the waitress
        and sort of groan with her, then eye Darby, unable to make
        heads or tails.  Darby just stands shattered and let's it
        play before him, then walks to booth that nobody else sits
        near.  He facepalms.

        The annoyed men talk furtively a few rows down from Darby -
        he doesn't care (they're definitely talking about him).  He
        reaches into his pocket for cigarettes, immediately remembers
        he has none.  He's dead.

        The waitress comes over.

                            WAITRESS (CONT'D)
                  Hey there, howya doin today?

        Darby just looks dead at her for a moment.

                            DARBY
                      (scant eye contact)
                  Oh... you know.

                            WAITRESS
                  Um - ooook.  Can I get you somethin
                  sweetheart?

        Ping - that word.

                            DARBY
                      (total eye contact)
                  You are the sweetheart.  You're the
                  sweet one.

        She's about to freak out.

                            DARBY (CONT'D)
                  No, forget it.
                      (beat)

        She waits..

                            WAITRESS
                  ...can I get you something?

                            DARBY
                  Um... well...
                      (beat)
                  ...coffee.

                            WAITRESS
                  OK.  Cream or sugar?

                            DARBY
                  No thank you.

        She's out.  Darby looks out the window at the nothing town.
        A police car cruises very slowly down the main drive.  Darby
        watches it snail forward for a minute - watches a kid playing
        in the street, totally unaware, and whose mother spirits him
        away when the car is a mere few feet from him.  The car's
        horn emits two friendly honks at this - or perhaps a "ha ha."

        The waitress brings the coffee.

                            WAITRESS
                  Would you like something to eat?

                            DARBY
                      (sort of eyeing cop car)
                  Umm... no.  Not now, maybe later.

                            WAITRESS
                  OK hon, just let me know if you
                  need anything.

        He nods.  The police car is taking a full two minutes to inch
        past the length of the diner.  He watches.  Sips the coffee.
        Finally, the car stops at the very edge of the diner's
        property.  It's sort of in the middle of the road, but a 30
        something cop gets out and slowly ambles toward the diner.

        Darby rises and goes to the bathroom.

        INT. DINER, BATHROOM - AFTERNOON

        After the door shuts Darby just stands, mildly panicked, not
        even sure why.  He does have to urinate so he goes to the
        urinal.  He can't go.  Waits for two minutes.

                            DARBY
                  Fucking hell.

        Finally he zips back up, still full of pee.  He peeks out the
        door, sees nothing.  Exits.

        INT. DINER - AFTERNOON

        Darby anxiously and quite awarely returns to his table, eyes
        darting, and expecting the cop - who, somehow, is only now
        entering the diner.

                            WAITRESS
                      (to cop)
                  Hi Ronnie.

                            RONNIE
                  Hey Lynette.
                      (beat, looks to Darby)
                      (to Lynette)
                  Who's this fella?

                            LYNETTE
                  Never seen him before, he just came
                  in.

        Lynette walks to the cop and whispers in his ear.  Darby is
        looking directly at them.  She walks away and Ronnie
        approaches Darby.

                            RONNIE
                  Good afternoon.

                            DARBY
                  Good aftern-

                            RONNIE
                  Can I see your driver's license,
                  please?

                            DARBY
                  My.. driver's license?

                            RONNIE
                  Yes, sir.

                            DARBY
                  Why?

                            RONNIE
                  State ID?

                            DARBY
                  I don't live here.

                            RONNIE
                  Long way from home, then, are you,
                  Mr...?

        Darby doesn't answer.

                            RONNIE (CONT'D)
                  What's your name, sir?

        Darby knows he is being fucked with.  He crosses his arms
        defiantly, never breaking eye contact.

                            RONNIE (CONT'D)
                  I asked you a question, son.

        Darby doesn't answer.

                            RONNIE (CONT'D)
                  Why'd you duck into the bathroom
                  when see me pull up?

        Silent.

                            RONNIE (CONT'D)
                  You into some trouble?
                      (beat)
                  What's your business in Centralia?

        Silent.  Ronnie SLAMS his fist into the table, spilling
        Darby's coffee.  

                            RONNIE (CONT'D)
                  I ASKED YOU A QUESTION BOY!

        Darby squirms from the hot coffee, glares angrily at Ronnie,
        says nothing.  All diner eyes are on them.

                            RONNIE (CONT'D)
                  What is your business here??
                      (beat)
                  You don't answer me... you're
                  obstructing justice.

        Darby's expression: "Give me a fucking break!"  Darby now
        notices that Ronnie has an incongruously nice watch.

        Suddenly - a car honk.  Ronnie & Darby look to see a single
        car in the street, right behind the cop car.  Ronnie angrily
        gesticulates "Go around!"  The car's horn blares again.
        Ronnie motions again.  Beat.  Horn.

        Ronnie turns to Darby.

                            RONNIE (CONT'D)
                  Don't - you - move - mister!!

        Ronnie turns and moves out faster than we've seen him move
        yet.  Darby waits one second - then races to the bathroom.

        EXT. DINER - AFTERNOON

        From the rear, we see Darby climb through the bathroom
        window.  

                            LYNETTE (O.S.)
                  RONNIE!  THAT GUY RAN TO THE
                  BATHROOM!  HE'S SNEAKIN OUT THE
                  BACK!!

        Darby snaps alert.  Listens for nearing footsteps.  

        [Now - Darby's clever evasion of Ronnie will depend entirely
        on the geography of the little town you find.]

        Darby is forced to hide directly behind the passenger side of
        Ronnie's police cruiser.  Ronnie, standing next to the
        driver's side, places a cell phone call.

                            RONNIE
                      (into phone)
                  I had him in the diner but he got
                  away.

        Darby eavesdrops - and then notices and OLD MAN standing at
        the steps of a nearby house who is gawking at him, in plain
        sight. 

                            RONNIE (CONT'D)
                      (beat, into phone)
                  Hey, you watch it mister!

        The Old Man leans forward, mouth agape, utterly disbelieving.

                            OLD MAN
                      (pianissimo)
                  Hey..

        Darby glares tensely, wide-eyed, intent.  Ronnie hasn't
        noticed.

                            RONNIE
                      (into phone)
                  Course I can get'im!  There's no
                  way out of this town without my
                  knowing!  I can see both sides of
                  it right now!

        The Old Man begins to take glacial steps forward, straining
        his eyes, grasping, grappling.  

                            OLD MAN
                      (mezzopiano)
                  Hey!

        Darby watches, panicked.  Still nothing from Ronnie.

        The Old Man is now in the street.  He points at Darby, his
        slow burn coming to a boil.

                            OLD MAN (CONT'D)
                      (forte)
                  Hey!!

        Ronnie has apparently ended his phone call.  He notices the
        Old Man approaching and inwardly groans.

                            RONNIE
                      (lazily annoyed)
                  What is it, George?

        George is aghast, unable to form a coherent sentence as he
        labors forward.  He points more forcefully.

                            GEORGE
                      (fortissimo)
                  Hey!!

        Ronnie watches him dumbly.

                            RONNIE
                  What is it, got a flat?

        George is now steps from Darby.  He tremblingly begins to
        bend and reach.  He grasps Darby's jacket and tries to pull
        Darby up, Darby struggling to remain hidden.

                            GEORGE
                      (furioso)
                  Hey!!

        George has that terrifyingly unrelenting grip of the elderly
        or of infancy - but isn't powerful enough to raise Darby, and
        only succeeds in pulling himself downwards toward him.

                            RONNIE
                  George, what are you doing?

                            GEORGE
                      (burning up on entry)
                  Hey!!

        Darby rears against the cruiser as much as is possible, wide
        eyed with revulsion.  George's breath is at his face and
        Darby uses every ounce of mettle to resist - but breaks.

        Darby shrieks in panicked disgust, rises and hurls George
        back, who lets out a truly pained and amazed OOMPH as he
        lands.  Darby immediately breaks into a sprint.

                            RONNIE
                  HEY!!

        And he's in hot pursuit, mere feet behind Darby.


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