THE LAST TEMPTATION OF MR. BLACK

Written by: Jamie A. Granger

BLACK

KEY TEXT

"Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last!"

- Samuel Johnson -

HOLD BLACK

SCENE I:

FADE IN AUDIO - BACKGROUND NOISE - Restaurant style

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

The SOUND of fingers tapping on a table is heard.

CUT FROM BLACK

ECU (profile) of fingers tapping on a table.

CUT TO BLACK

KEY TEXT: OPENING CREDIT

DROP TEXT

HOLD BLACK

The SOUND of a ticking watch is heard.

CUT FROM BLACK

OTS (high-angle) of a MAN checking his watch as he continues tapping his fingers on the table (include, within the shot, a coffee cup filled with steaming hot liquid).

CUT TO BLACK

KEY TEXT: OPENING CREDIT

DROP TEXT

HOLD BLACK

The SOUND of sugar packets being shaken and torn open is heard.

CUT FROM BLACK

CU of hands over coffee cup pouring the sugar into the cup.

CUT TO BLACK

KEY TEXT: OPENING CREDIT

DROP TEXT

HOLD BLACK

The SOUND of a spoon stirring the coffee is heard followed by a tap on the side of the cup before being set down on the table.

CUT FROM BLACK

TWO-SHOT (profile) of the MAN at the table as another man slides into the opposite side of the booth while he is taking his first sip of coffee.

MR. MCCARTHY (MITCH)

Sorry, I'm late...

The other man (Peter) finishes sipping his coffee and replies as he sets the cup down.

MAN (PETER)

Save the excuses, Mr. McCarthy?

CUT TO:

MCU- PROFILE of Mr. McCarthy

MR. MCCARTHY (MITCH)

How do you know my name?

CUT TO:

MCU - PROFILE of Mr. X (Reverse shot)

MR. X (PETER)

I "know" a lot more than you think...

CUT TO:

TWO-SHOT (Profile) of both men.

MR. X (PETER)

...you see, Mr. Kilgore is a very powerful man, a man that

never takes risks...and in that, I can assure

you there is no uncertainty...

Mr. X (Peter) takes another sip of coffee.

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. McCarthy who follows (with his eyes) the path of the coffee cup from the table to Mr. X's mouth.

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. X as he sets the coffee cup back down and proceeds...

MR. X (PETER)

...with that being said, shall we proceed!

TWO-SHOT (MS) of both men as Mr. McCarthy picks up a briefcase and sets it on the table.

MR. MCCARTHY (MITCH)

You got the cash?

MR. X (PETER)

Please...don't insult my integrity.

Mr. X takes the briefcase and slides it off the table toward himself.

MR. MCCARTHY (MITCH)

Aren't you gonna open it?

Mr. X proceeds to set the briefcase on the floor and picks up another briefcase and sets it on the table.

MR. X (PETER)

Obviously, you're not familiar with

proper transportation etiquette...

CUT TO:

MCU (45 degrees) of Mr. McCarthy.

MR. MCCARTHY (MITCH)

Come on...you can't tell me you're not dyin' to know

what's in there...

PAN LEFT TO MCU (45 degrees) of Mr. X.

MR. X (PETER)

I suggest you subdue your curiousity concerning

the contents of Mr. Kilgore's package...

finish the exchange and get on with the rest of your

highly unprofessional life...

PAN RIGHT TO MCU (45 degrees) of Mr. McCarthy as Mr. X slides the other briefcase across the table. Mr. McCarthys holds his hand in front of his face indicating a small gap between his thumb and his index finger.

MR. MCCARTHY

You're not even a tiny bit curious?

PAN LEFT TO MCU (45 degrees) of Mr. X who casts a blank look at Mr. McCarthy.

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. McCarthy as he opens the other briefcase.

MR. MCCARTHY

You know, my grandfather used to say:

life isa collection of memories, and the ones

we regret most are those in which

we resisted temptation...

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. X casting a blank stare.

CUT TO:

TWO-SHOT (Profile) of both men sitting at the table as Mr. McCarthy closes the briefcase.

MR. MCCARTHY

On that note, pleasure doin' business with ya?

Mr. McCarthy extends his hand, but Mr. X refuses to shake his hand and instead grabs his briefcase and rises from the seat.

MR. MCCARTHY

Tell me somethin', it must really burn doesn't it?

CUT TO:

MS/OTS (with Mr. X in the foreground CU and Mr. McCarthy in the background (low-angle).

MR. MCCARTHY

...the temptation...

knowing that you're just a guinea pig...

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. McCarthy

MR. MCCARTHY

...worthy enough to make the delivery...

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. X standing up, but looking away from Mr. McCarthy.

MR. MCCARTHY

... but never worthy enough

to know exactly what you're delivering...

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. McCarthy

MR. MCCARTHY

...yeah...that must really burn!

CUT TO:

MS/OTS (with Mr. X in the foreground CU and Mr. McCarthy in the background (low-angle).

Mr. X holds his ground and without turning around he proceeds to exit the frame, leaving Mr. McCarthy behind.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE AUDIO - BACKGROUND NOISE - Restaurant style

HOLD BLACK

FADE IN AUDIO - ACOUSTIC GUITAR: E - major

KEY TEXT - TITLE w/ADDITIONAL CREDITS (cast & crew)

DROP TEXT

HOLD BLACK

SCENE II:

KEY TEXT - MR. BLACK

DROP TEXT

HOLD BLACK

EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY

FADE IN AUDIO - STREET SOUNDS/FOOTSTEPS ON PAVEMENT

CUT FROM BLACK

TRACKING SHOT - MCU of a set of feet walking down the sidewalk.

TRACKING SHOT UPWARD - MCU - moving from the feet up to the briefcase (in hand) and continuing upward to a MCU (Profile shot) of Mr. X (hold shot).

MR. X

(Voice-over)

The life of a transporter is a lonely one, indeed...

the loss of self, the lack of identity, the emptiness...

CROSS DISSOLVE

EXT. SIDEWALK

MS with Mr. Black in the backgound

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

...for years I had played the part of a dedicated

servant...

CROSS DISSOLVE

MS with Mr. Black in the foreground

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

to an unknown cause...

CROSS DISSOLVE

EXT. STREET

CU of Mr. Black's eyes walking with the camera (DOLLY-SHOT).

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

I was Mr. Black...

the man who delivered the goods, without

question and without hesitation...

CU of Mr. Black looking over his shoulder.

CUT TO:

EXT. ALLEYWAY looking out toward the street.

Mr. Black steps into frame and slides in against the brick wall.

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

...yet, for some strange reason, no matter

how unprofessional Mr. McCarthy may have seemed...

CUT TO:

MS of Mr. Black pressed against the wall (on the right) reaching for gun and Kaleigh walking down the sidewalk (on the left).

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

... I couldn't help thinking that perhaps, he was right...

CUT TO:

MCU/OTS of Kaleigh walking by Mr. Black

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Black's eyes as he watches her pass by.

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

...maybe I truly was nothing more than a guinea pig...

CUT TO:

MCU/OTS as Mr. Black turns and walks out of frame.

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

...a pawn in a deadly game of high stakes and dirty secrets...

CROSS DISSOLVE

EXT. MR. KILLGORE'S OFFICE - BACK ENTRANCE

MS of Mr. Black coming around the corner and approaching the door.

HOLD SHOT

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

...but as they say in this business,

once you're in, you're in and the

only way out...

CUT TO:

CU (45 degrees) of Mr. Black looking around before entering the building.

MR. BLACK

(Voice-over)

...well, there is no way out...

FADE TO BLACK

UP FROM BLACK

SCENE III:

INT. OFFICE - FIRST FLOOR

MS of Mr. Killgore sitting at a desk with his two female assistants at his side.

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Killgore in same position looking a bit antsy. He looks down at the desk.

CUT TO:

POV of Mr. Killgore looking at the contents of his healthy lunch.

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Killgore looking from the center of the desk to the far right side of the desk.

CUT TO:

POV of Mr. Killgore looking at a picture of his wife.

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Killgore as his eyes move from the far right, back to the center of the desk.

CUT TO:

POV of Mr. Killgore looking again at the contents of his healthy lunch.

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Killgore as his eyes move from the center of the desk to the far left side - toward the upper half of the wall.

CUT TO:

POV of Mr. Killgore eyeing the ticking clock.

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Killgore looking from the clock straight down to the left side of the desk as we hear a voice over an intercom system.

SECRETARY

Mr. Killgore...

CUT TO:

POV of intercom system as the secretary continues.

SECRETARY

Mr. Black is on his way up...

CUT TO:

MS (45 degrees) of Mr. Killgore responding.

MR. KILLGORE

Thank you very much...

Mr. Killgore turns the intercom off and sits back in his chair looking straight ahead.

CUT TO:

LS looking down the hallway at Mr. Killgore as Mr. Black walks into frame.

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Killgore.

MR. KILLGORE

Mr. Black...as always your timing is impeccable...

...please, come in...

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Black entering the office and sitting down.

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Killgore.

MR. KILLGORE

I'd like to commend you on yet another flawless effort...

Mr. Killgore snaps his fingers and one of his assistants responds immediately.

MR. KILLGORE

...who ever said " good help is hard to find?"

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Black

MR. BLACK

The pleasure is all mine, sir.

CUT TO:

MCU of Mr. Killgore

MR. KILLGORE

As it should be. Not everyone has the

pleasure of working for such a powerful

man as myself...

One of the assistants returns with a glass of milk.

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Black

CUT TO:

MCU of Mr. Killgore

He snaps his fingers again and the other assistant takes the diet foods away.

MR. KILLGORE

Now then, you'll receive payment as usual..the funds will be

wired to your account first thing tomorrow...

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Black

MR. BLACK

Of course...

CUT TO:

MCU of Mr. Killgore

MR. KILLGORE

Now, if you'll excuse me...

I'd like to get down to business...

Mr. Black rises and hesitates for a moment.

MR. KILLGORE

Something wrong?

MR. BLACK

No...no...

Mr. Black turns to walk away when suddenly the lights go out, beawwwww...we hear sounds in the darkness, confusion and chaos. The lights come back on. Mr. Killgore is looking up at the light .

MR. KILLGORE

Huh, must a been a power surge.

Mr. Killgore sudden.ly realizes that the briefcase is missing. He searches under the desk looking for the briefcase.

MR. KILLGORE

Where's my briefcase?

Everyone looks puzzled. Mr. Killgore is still looking around for it.

VERA

Maybe somebody stole it?

MR. KILLGORE

Of course, how ingenious of you, thank you Vera.

MR. BLACK

Who would be crazy enough to steal from you?

MR. KILLGORE

That' a good question.

Just then something catches Mr. Killgore's eye.

MR. KILLGORE

And the answer, ladies and gentlemen, could be non other

than the person who truly fills my life with misery.

MR. BLACK

Your wife, I don't undertand...

MR. KILLGORE

It's not your job to understand...however, it is your

job to retrieve it and get it back to me within

the hour...I don't care what it takes...

MR. BLACK

Mr. Killgore, that's not really my line of work...

MR. KILLGORE

Are you questioning my authority...

MR. BLACK

Of course not...

MR. KILLGORE

Well then, what are you waiting for?

Mr. Black reluctantly leaves the room.

FADE TO BLACK

HOLD BLACK

SCENE IV:

INT. KITCHEN - MR. KILLGORE'S HOUSE

MS looking over the counter as Mrs. Killgore walks into frame with the briefcase. She sets it on the counter...

PAN LEFT as she proceeds to the refrigerator.

CUT TO:

MCU from behind the refrigerator as she pulls out a bottle of water.

TRACKING SHOT following her as she rises to a fully upright position. We see Mr. Black in the background over her shoulder.

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Black

MR. BLACK

Tell me somethin'...

CUT TO:

CU - OTS of Mr. Black w/Mrs. Killgore's face in frame.

MR. BLACK

...what kind of wife steals from her own husband?

CUT TO:

REVERSE ANGLE - CU of Mrs. Killgore as she turns to face Mr. Black.

MRS. KILLGORE

The kind of wife that's sick of being lied too...

Mrs. Killgore looks down at the briefcase.

CUT TO:

POV of briefcase on counter.

CUT TO:

CU of Mrs. Killgore looking from the briefcase back to Mr. Black.

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Black (mid-level) reaching for his gun. TRACKING SHOT upward to Mr. Black's face.

MR. BLACK

I recommend you think about the repercussions of such an action before

you take it...

CUT TO:

OTS of briefcase, PAN RIGHT (UPWARD) to PROFILE SHOT of Mrs. Killgore looking at Mr. Black.

MRS. KILLGORE

What about the repercussions of your actions...what about that...

don't you see what your doing...

CUT TO:

CU - PROFILE of Mr. Black.

MR. BLACK

What I do is none of your business...

CUT TO:

CU - PROFILE of Mrs. Killgore

MRS. KILLGORE

If it concerns the well being of my husband it's my business...

CUT TO:

MS of Mr. Black as he casts an empty stare and proceeds to the counter to retrive the briefcase.

CUT TO:

CU of Mrs. Killgore watching him take the briefcase.

MRS. KILLGORE

You don't get it do you, of course you don't,

you're just his guinea pig...

CUT TO:

MS of Mr. Black as he pulls the briefcase off the counter.

MR. BLACK

I am not his guinea pig. I do what I do, cause that's my job?

CUT TO:

CU of Mrs. Killgore

MRS. KILLGORE

If that's what you wanna belive then go ahead,

but he's just using you to get what he wants...

CUT TO:

MCU of Mr. Black.

MR. BLACK

What Mr. Killgore wants is of no concern to me...

Mr. Black turns to walk away.

CUT TO:

CU of Mrs. Killgore

MRS. KILLGORE

Well, maybe it should be...

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Black as he pauses at the comment. He turns to look at her.

CUT TO:

REVERSE ANGLE of Mr. Killgore looking away from her and walking out of frame leaving Mrs. Killgore behind (pick up an additional CU of Mrs. Killgore watching him exit the room).

FADE TO BLACK

HOLD BLACK

UP FROM BLACK

SCENE V:

EXT. STREET

WALKING SCENE W/BRIEFCASE TRANSPARENT IMAGES - THE DEBATE - THE TEMPTATION!!!!!

FADE TO BLACK

HOLD BLACK

UP FROM BLACK

SCENE VI:

INT. OFFICE - FIRST FLOOR

WS looking down the hallway.

CUT TO:

REVERSE SHOT as we hear the voice of the secretary.

SECRETARY

Mr. Killgore...Mr. Black is here to see you again...

HOLD SHOT - PAN LEFT WITH KILLGORE as he responds to the secretary.

MR. KILLGORE

Send him up...

CUT TO:

MS - PROFILE of Mr. Killgore as he takes a seta at his desk. He takes the picture of his wife and lays it down flat.

MR. KILLGORE

Ah, my precious...

Mr. Killgore extends his hands in praise.

PAN RIGHT to see Mr. Black carrying the case over to the desk. He sets it down and stands.

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Black

Mr. Killgore snaps his fingers and the assistant leaves the room immediately.

MR. KILLGORE

Your services will be duly noted...

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Black's eyes.

MR. BLACK

Thank you, sir.

If you don't mind I'd like to go, now...

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Killgore as the assistant returns with a fresh glass of milk. Mr Killgore starts to place a cloth in his shirt.

MR. KILLGORE

I can't argue with that, you've had a busy day and

the breakfast hour is still upon us...

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Black's eyes as he turns and makes a bee-line for the exit.

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Killgore who watches Mr. Black for a moment before speaking.

MR. KILLGORE

You know what, hang on a second...

MCU of Mr. Black's eyes with OTS of Mr. Killgore.

MR. BLACK

I can explain...

Mr. Black turns to face Mr. Killgore.

CUT TO:

CU of Mr. Killgore.

MR. KILLGORE

There's nothing to explain, I just thought it'd

be nice if you joined me this time...

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Black.

MR. KILLGORE

...all these years and you've held true to form, I think

now is the time to reward you.

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Killgore

MR. KILLGORE

Although there won't be enough to go around, I can still

assure you that the pleasure will be all yours...

CUT TO:

CU - PROFILE of Mr. Black

MR. BLACK

I really shouldn't...

CUT TO:

CU - PROFILE of Mr. Killgore w/hand motion.

MR. KILLGORE

Sit!

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Black sitting down.

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Killgore as he starts to open the briefcase.

MR. KILLGORE

Ah, yes, the moment I shall always welcome with anticipation...

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Black's eyes looking fearful.

CUT TO:

MCU of Mr. Killgore looking in the briefcase and pulling out the contents.

MR. KILLGORE

...wait a minute...

CUT TO:

ECU of Mr. Black's eyes looking even more fearful.

CUT TO:

OTS of Mr. Killgore looking over the bite taken out of the white powdered doughnut. Mr. Killgore looks in the direction of Mr. Black as something catches his eye.