One of my first scripts. I wrote it inspired by Christopher Nolans 'Following' |
Story
and Screenplay T A R G E T S EXT. DOWNTOWN BRIDGE - DAY Daniel leans on the edge of the bridge and looks out at the stream running through the town. Daniel looks down at his watch and looks over as a man he does not know approaches while talking on his cell phone. This man's name is Scott. SCOTT (To phone) Yeah, I can hack into the software but there is only one way to do it and that is to get him to cooperate without him knowing what's happening. Scott looks over at Daniel as he passes and Daniel turns to follow Scott from a distance. Yes, I will keep you posted. Get his attention fast though. Scott hangs up his phone and turns down an alley. Daniel quickly moves to catch up and when he gets to the alley, Scott is nowhere to be found but a parking garage sits at the far end. Daniel reaches into his pocket and pulls out a phone and answers it. DANIEL (To phone) Talk to me Michael. Do I go on the target or not? MICHAEL (V.O.) Daniel, we have a bigger problem. I went over to your place earlier. Someone broke in. DANIEL The box, is it MICHAEL (V.O.) Gone. Daniel lowers the phone a little and looks angry. MICHAEL (V.O.) Look Daniel, I followed the trace on the box to a house on the outskirts of town. The house has security too advanced for my skills. I don't know how, but if you want to try, I've got a setup at the safe house. DANIEL You know, I think I have just the thing. FLASHBACK TO: SCOTT Yeah, I can hack into the software BACK TO PRESENT Daniel hangs up the phone and walks to the parking garage. Daniel walks up the stairs calmly, exits on the Second Floor, stands against the wall, pulls out his sidearm, looks at the magazine, and aims along the wall towards where the exit is. Daniel looks up at the ceiling, opposite where his gun is pointed. DANIEL (Whispering to self) Five. Four. Three. Daniel looks down at his fingers. Two. One. Scott comes out on the Second Floor where Daniel just came out, turns and ends up staring down the barrel of Daniels gun. Daniel is busy looking at his nails on his other hand. DANIEL Hello Scott. Scott stands in silence, for a moment of fear has taken over. Daniel looks up at Scott. Scott Merlin, age 26, lives at home and picked a very inconvenient person to piss off. You are Scott Merlin are you not? Daniel waits for a moment. Speak boy! SCOTT (Gasps) Yes! Yes, I am. Daniel pulls the gun back and points it straight up before putting it away. Scott breathes finally. DANIEL You know much about computers Scott? SCOTT Um...yeah. Yeah I know a thing or two. DANIEL Could you hack high security cameras and alarms? SCOTT Yeah, probably. Daniel sticks out his hand. DANIEL Name's Daniel. Come with me, I think I have something that might be of interest to you. Scott nervously shakes Daniels hand and we... CUT TO: EXT. SAFE HOUSE - DAY Daniel and Scott walk up to a door and enter the house. SCOTT Do you live here? DANIEL Only when I have to. Come inside, I have something to show you. INT. SAFE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Scott walks inside and sees a large setup of computers. Scott pauses for a moment and looks at Daniel. DANIEL Well, take a look. Scott moves over to the computers and sits down. Scott looks at the screens for a moment and looks up at Daniel. SCOTT So this guy, whoever he is, obviously has something he feels is worth protecting. DANIEL I know, it's something of mine. SCOTT And just what exactly are you wanting me to do? DANIEL I want you to shut down the security of this house. Not completely, just long enough for me to get in and out, unseen. Can you do that? SCOTT Yeah, I mean other than the fact that there has to be guards at a place like this. Even without the cameras and alarms, this place won't be easy to enter. DANIEL You worry about shutting down his security. I will worry about getting inside. Scott looks back at the computer screens. SCOTT I'll do what I can do, but this guy has security for his security. Let me see what it is I'm dealing with here and I'll get back to you. Daniel nods and heads to the door. DANIEL There's a phone in the top right drawer. SCOTT You won't stay? DANIEL I have other business to attend to, the number is programed in, call it when you're finished. Daniel exits and we... CUT TO: INT. CLARK'S HOUSE - DUSK A figure stands in the shadows and whispers on the phone. This man's name is Clark. CLARK (To Phone) How does everything look? (Pause) Yes, the security up and running. (Pause) I will do my best. When can you get here? I may need your help. (Pause) Hurry, I don't know how much longer I can stay here. I have a feeling something bad is about to happen. Clark hangs up the phone and we... CUT TO: INT. DANIEL'S APPARTMENT - DUSK Scott types quickly. He stops for a second, clicks a couple times and then he sits in patience for a moment then sits back in excitement. Scott reaches into the drawer and pulls out Daniels phone and pushes call. SCOTT (To Phone) Yeah, I finished. You have a 5 hour window so I suggest you get there quick. (Pauses) Hey! I didn't sign up to risk my life! I'm just going to sit back here and monitor these cameras. (Pause) To make sure they don't suddenly decide to change back to normal! Just calm down, I can handle this here. Scott hangs up and kicks back and we... CUT TO: EXT. CLARK'S HOUSE - NIGHT Daniel walks up to the entrance of Clark's house and loads his pistol. Daniel looks up at a security camera and touches his ear. DANIEL I'm at the front of the house, can you see me? INT. DANIEL'S APPARTMENT - CONTINUOUS Scott jumps up to look at the monitors. SCOTT Sure can't. You're a ghost out there. EXT. CLARK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Daniel goes to the door and crouches down. DANIEL Unlocking this door isn't going to trip an alarm is it? SCOTT (V.O.) Nope, you're good to go. Daniel puts a clip into the door, wiggles it and *click* the door unlocks. INT. CLARK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS DANIEL Alright, I'm in. SCOTT (V.O.) That's what she said. Daniel stops and goes against a wall. DANIEL Damn-it, this isn't the time for games! A voice comes from further inside the house. VOICE Huh? What was that? CLARK Probably just the wind, don't worry about it. DANIEL You almost blew my cover. SCOTT Sorry boss, so what is it we're after? Daniel moves further into the house, stealthy. DANIEL A box kid, one with more value inside it than in all the computers you've ever touched. Clark appears above Daniel. CLARK Which is exactly why you're not getting it back. Daniel jumps up and swings his gun towards Clark. Clark grabs Daniel's arm, twists his wrist, the gun flies, and Clark puts another gun in Daniel's side. CLARK Nice to see you again Dan. DANIEL Clark... CLARK Funny how things work out with us. One day we're business associates and the next day I'm on that fancy little list of targets that you have. DANIEL How do you know about the list? CLARK Look Daniel, we worked for several years on bank jobs. You had to have known that I'd find out sooner or later. Plus, when you suddenly vanish and my men start getting picked off, one begins to wonder. Clark gets closer to Daniel. You know, for a hit man, you're not too difficult to find. DANIEL You won't kill me Clark. CLARK We both know that. Good thing for me, I don't have to. A figure comes out behind Daniel and knocks him out and we... CUT TO: INT. SAFE HOUSE - NIGHT Daniel starts to come to. SCOTT Daniel, Daniel can you hear me? DANIEL Where...where am I? SCOTT You're home Daniel, I came and got you when you stopped replying. DANIEL And what about Clark? CLARK Yes, he brought me back too Daniel. Scott steps aside and reveals Clark tied to a chair. Daniel staggers up and begins to lung at Clark. DANIEL You son of a... Daniel pushes forward and collapses. CLARK I wouldn't do that if I were you. Clark stands up from the chair, his ropes drop to the floor. With the drugs we gave you, rest is the best thing you can have now. DANIEL Drugs? You gave me drugs? SCOTT I did actually. DANIEL Scott. What did you do to me? Scott kneels down to Daniel. SCOTT It was always like this. Scott looks away and then back to Daniel. At the bridge. FLASHBACK TO: SCOTT (To Phone) Yeah, I can hack into the software but there is only one way to do it and that is to get him to cooperate without him knowing what's happening. CLARK (V.O.) Daniel is a very sly individual so be cautious and keep me posted.
SCOTT Yes, I will keep you posted. Get his attention fast though. CLARK (V.O.) Already done, his partner is just about to discover the break-in. BACK TO PRESENT DANIEL So, you're the one who stole my box? SCOTT No, Clark stole it, but stealing that was not the point. You see Daniel, we've been working together for quite some time, you just didn't realize that I am who I am. Scott gets up. I've been your boss for years now until you betrayed me and my men. Scott turns a monitor. On the monitor shows a bank account with a withdrawal of $200,000 that was direct deposited to Scott G. DANIEL You...you took it all... SCOTT Yes, it's all gone. And soon you will be gone too. Scott sets a vial next to Daniel that says 'Aconite' SCOTT Do you know what aconitine does to the body? You see, first your mouth will start to burn. That's the easy part. After that, your body will start to reject the poison. You'll get stomach pain and you'll start to vomit. You don't remember, but you've already completed these stages. Scott stands up Now you're body is going through a phase of shock, your muscles are (CONTINUOUS) shutting down along with your respiratory system. Normally after the dose we gave you, a person will die within four hours. You've only got two left. DANIEL You're just going to leave me here to die?
SCOTT Good-bye Daniel. Scott walks to the door. DANIEL You can't! You can't do this! Scott stands in the doorway. SCOTT Maybe Daniel, you should research your targets. Scott shuts the door. The End. Credits. |