Saturday, April 25, 2009

Drive Like Thunder, Crash Like Lightning

In a Saturdaze today. Welcome back to my dark, little corner of cyberspace. Hope you enjoy the ride.

Apologies to all of you who have posted comments. I'm still kinda new to this, and just learned that I have to 'moderate' them. So I fucking did. They're now posted. Thanks loads. Keep 'em coming ...

Screened ROUNDERS last night. Forgot how good that one was. Can't go wrong with Ed Norton (sleaze version) and Matt Damon (in wimp mode, sorta). Add John Malkovich as a vicious, Russian mob boss/card sharp, stir in a little Famke Jansen for flavor, and you have a meal fit for the Word Series of Poker. Deal me in. Double down. Raise the stakes.

Onto today's scene from GUN-WILD. Love car chases. Love to see 'em, love to write 'em. Especially love to figure out something that hasn't been done before.

How about a giant Winnebago, pursued by the cops -- crashing through the crowd on the Venice Boardwalk?

In my dreams ...

***

INT. WINNEBAGO - AT THAT MOMENT
Rod dashes over the driver’s seat. GUNS the engine.

CAM
Go slow. We’re just a couple of tourists,
leaving the beach after a nice day.

ROD
(turns the wheel, hits the gas)
Yeah. With two dead bodies,
a hostage, and a tub full of bloody cash.

EXT. VENICE BEACH - PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
The behemoth slowly pulls out of the parking lot.

UP AHEAD
A POLICE CRUISER comes roaring straight at them.
Cherry top FLASHING. Siren SCREAMING.
WHOOP-WHOOP-WHOOP.

IN THE WINNEBAGO
Cam grips the back of the seat.

CAM
Fucking COPS!

Rod turns right, onto the boardwalk.

ROD
Hold onto your tits --

CAM
Ohmigod, NO.
Not on the fucking BOARDWALK!

ROD
You wanna go to fucking JAIL?

He PUNCHES the gas.

Music EXPLODES.
The rockabilly swing of The Brian Setzer Orchestra’s
DRIVE LIKE LIGHTNING (CRASH LIKE THUNDER) over --

THE WINNEBAGO
Takes off like rocket, PLOWS into the crowd.
People SCREAM, JUMP out of the way.
It SMASHES into a vendor’s TABLE.
Cheap, shitty jewelry FLIES in the air.

THE POLICE CRUISER
Turns left. Follows them. Picks up speed.

POLICE OFFICER (O.C.)
(electronic)
YOU, in the RV -- STOP, NOW!

IN THE WINNEBAGO
Cam looks in the rearview.

CAM
They’re FOLLOWING US.

Asian Art Dealer SCREAMS.

CAM (CONT’D)
SHUT UP, fucking CHINK!

ASIAN ART VENDOR
I’m Japanese, not CHINESE.
We don’t LOOK ALIKE.

CAM
Yes YOU DO, motherfucker!

THE WINNEBAGO
SWERVES. Careens into a SIDEWALK CAFE.
PLOWS into tables. CRASH.
Patrons LEAP out of their seats.
JUMP out of the way.

IN THE WINNEBAGO
Rod looks at Cam.

ROD
Hold on tight. I got an idea.

He STOMPS on the brakes.

ON THE BOARDWALK
The Winnebago SCREECHES to a halt.
The police cruiser SMASHES into the rear end.
CRASH. The hood CRUMPLES.

IN THE WINNEBAGO
Rod turns left, pulls into an alley between buildings.

BOBBY AND TAYA
Come running up the boardwalk toward us, weapons drawn.
They race up to the ruined cruiser.

BOBBY
You okay?

IRATE COP
Yeah. FUCK-HEADS.
(points)
They went down that alley. Big fucking RV.

BOBBY
Okay, got it.
(to Taya)
C’mon --

And they race toward the alley.

IN THE ALLEY
The Winnebago turns right onto Speedway,
a narrow street which runs behind the boardwalk.

IN THE WINNEBAGO
Rod downshifts. Slows down a bit.

ROD
Okay, where do we go, where do we go.

CAM
Turn left, into that alley.

THE WINNEBAGO
Turns left. Lumbers through an alley
between walkway streets. A tight squeeze.
It pulls over. Stops.

The song ENDS.

IN THE WINNEBAGO
Rod turns. Looks at Cam.

ROD
Okay, what now?

CAM
We grab the money, go jack new wheels.

ROD
The money’s floating in the tub, doll.

CAM
Then you watch Egg Foo Young here,
and I’ll go wrap it up in a towel.

She gets out of her seat.
Moves toward the rear of the bus.

ASIAN ART DEALER
Sits in his seat. Trembling with anger. Glares at her.

ASIAN ART VENDOR
Egg Foo Young is CHINESE FOOD.
NOT Japanese.

Cam comes up to him.
Places her gun against his head.

CAM
You’re confusing me with someone who gives a fuck.
(CLICKS the safety)
Go ahead. Give me a reason.

ROD
CAM. Stop fucking around.

CAM
(lowers her gun, to Asian)
This is your lucky day, Grasshopper.
(strokes the barrel)
Me love you LONG time.

***

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