Open:
1
Daytime; Morning
A four-paned window, framed in brick.
Blinds behind the window rise, the character executing this action is our Mugger;
his knuckles hook under the window to raise it, exposing an upside-down philosophic quote lettered on each finger.
He pulls a chair over and sets an ashtray on the sill, lighting a cigarette and opening a thick book with intellectual intent. He is dressed modestly sloppy, pajama bottoms and T-shirt. He takes a long drag, looks up from the book and scans over the terrain of the city.
2
9 o'clock
An office for a bank, the atmosphere is busy. Our Banker sits, dead-pan, in front of a computer, his body moves independently from his head, diligent motions of efficiency. All Banker can hear is a whooshing vacuum as if the world were quickly losing its air, everything sucked away.
3
Late Morning
The Mugger sits at the window, studiously reading.
4
12 o'clock
The clock in the Bank Office strikes 12. In unison bankers get up to exuent for Lunch, smiling and interacting amicably. Our Banker, however, pauses and looks out the window, over the city, scanning.
5
Afternoon
Our mugger opens his fridge and removes the last remaining foods and begins to cook.
6
3 o'clock
The Banker steps outside his office building and smokes a cigarette, stone-faced, calm.
7
Early Evening
The Mugger sets plates down to three placements on the kitchen table. As he does this, his front door is opened by his wife, and his child runs in to greet him. The husband and wife kiss and sit at the table, savoring the meal while the child excitedly explains how the day went.
8
6 0'clock
The Banker enters a Gym Locker Room and changes from his workout clothing. His body is rugged as Adonis, veins protrude from under his light, but not pale, complexion. In his locker lays an open wallet, a picture of a young girl stares out joyfully.After putting on a shirt, the Banker pulls a shoulder holster and Pistol from his Gym bag, succinctly covering it with his Jacket. An inscription on the hilt reads,
" Happy Anniversary - 2011 - Love and Safety First - Tara"
He Pulls out ten bills from his briefcase and sets them in his wallet, places the wallet in his back pocket, puts everything else into the locker and leaves.
9
Night
Our Mugger tucks his child into bed, kisses his wife after buttoning his "cleaner" uniform before exiting onto the street with a small backpack tucked under his arm. As he approaches a subway, he removes his uniform revealing an outfit of black fitted clothing, puts the uniform in the backpack and descends into the subway.
10
11 o'clock
The Banker ascends out of the subway in a rough area, walking with brisk intent down decrepit streets until he crosses an alley which he then goes into.
Moments later, Our Mugger ascends the Opposite side. Looking around intuitively, he saunters into a busy pub.
11
11:52
Our Mugger sets his watch by the clock inside the pub, holding a perspiring tumbler of beer, less than half full.
Across the street, Our Banker emerges from an alley, lighting a cigarette, he glances towards the pub. This figure catches our Mugger's eye, and he watches the Banker turn away and walk to the next alley, flicking his cigarette down before entering. Our Mugger swallows the remaining beer and leaves, tracing the Banker's steps to the alleyway. The cigarette tossed by the Banker is still lit until the Mugger snubs the butt with his shoe. The Banker is deeper into the Alley but less than expected, his pace is torpid, as if walking through mollasses.
Our Mugger follows him quietly, soon catching up.
12
Midnight
M: You lost
B: Hi
M: Where are you going
B: I'm sorry
M: Doesn't look like your part of town
B: I won't argue with your observation
M: Need Directions
B: I am not lost
M: Are you an officer of the law or otherwise affiliated
B: I am not
M: Put your hands up
B: I beg your pardon
M: Hands Up take off the watch first
B:
[removes his watch and tosses it over]
There
M: Put your hands up
B:What for
M:
[pulls out his intimidating knife]
This goes one of two ways up to you
B:This can go many ways
You want my wallet
[tosses his wallet to the ground]
M:I want it all
[Banker puts his hands up. Mugger pats him down, finds the gun]
What is this
B: A gun
M: What is it that you do
B: I work for a bank
M: which one
B: does it matter
M: Why the fuck do you have a gun
B: My wife gave it to me to protect me
I take it everywhere
M: It's working well
B: I'm not looking for protection
M: What are you looking for
B: I'm looking for you
M: Do I know you
B: No
M: Do you know me
B: No we just met
M: What does that mean
B: I want you to kill me
the gun will help
M: You are psychoatic
No way I don't kill
B: You're holding me at knifepoint
M: It's a scam I only scare money out of people
When people stick up for themselves I stop the gimmick
B: So if I said no you would let me go
M: You didn't say no
Thanks for the gun and the watch
I'm guessing there's only plastic in that italian leather
B: There is cash
M: This is a first
B: Yes
M:
[picking up the wallet]
How much is in here
B: 100,000 dollars
M:
[opening the wallet]
You're full of
Shit
[pulls out ten ten-thousand dollar bills]
B: Ten
M: Is this real
Who is Samuel P Chase
B: Secretary of Treasury under Lincoln
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
M: You are some kind of a trap
B: I just want out of these clothes
[begins to undress]
M: You need serious help
B: You're here to help me
I'm serious
M: I am not killing you
B: Why are you still here then
M: Death doesn't solve your problems
B: I am the problem
Problem solved
M: What about your family
Who's the little girl in your wallet
Or the other half for that ring
B: All that I've ever thought about
Pick up these clothes take them with you
M: Absolutely not
B: It is in your best interests
M: How the fuck do you figure that
B:
[Advances lightning fast, striking M
Blood is drawn
M drops the knife and dives for it
B kicks the knife away and smothers M's face with the clothes]
Your blood would be awfully suspicious to leave here
M: Psycho son of a bitch
B:
[Moves calmly towards the knife]
If you were to be accused of murdering a wealthy businessman you would make a hell of a life for your family
If you don't have one be assured your life would not much be better
M: What about your family
B: It's all I ever think about
[First-Person perspective reveals the bloodied Mugger blanketed in the fuzz of the great whooshing sound]
You have the gun
100,000 Dollars
You'll need to be fast
If my body were not willed so i would do it myself
You will have to earn your life back
[Banker takes a deep breath
Centers himself
and charges]
THREE GUNSHOTS ARE HEARD
M:
[First-Person perspective reveals Banker staggering but not overcome
Everything is tinted red
Banker continues to approach]
Stop
B: Shoot me in the face
SHOOT ME
Our mugger shoots the Banker three times in the face, each flash brings the alley to absolute clarity. A ringing in Mugger's ears as he scrambles to pick up the clothes and everything else, shoving them into his backpack after pulling over his cleaner uniform. He runs full speed to the nearest subway station.
13
Dusk
Our Mugger ascends the subway with a ringing in his ears. He enters his building. Within a minute, he is sitting at the window sill, smoking a cigarette, Scanning. The ringing begins to deepen to a variation of the Banker's whoosh.
{BLACKOUT}
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