Scene 43 From My 2009 Script Frenzy Screenplay

Now that I am in the thick of Script Frenzy, I won’t really have any new posts for a while. So until R and R is finished (or April 30), this blog will have some filler material (especially now that I know how to work Blogger’s scheduler).


This is one of my favorite scenes from last year’s Script Frenzy entry, Foo Fighter. As noted in the previous entry, It is the story of Danny Shepherd, a documentary film maker who stumbles onto a UFO crash site 12 miles off the cost of Long Beach. The story starts at the controversial Battle of Los Angeles, and then moves to modern day Southern California. Shepherd (a UFO skeptic), his best friend and partner, and a tabloid reporter are hunted by Naval Intelligence, the guardians of this secret since World War II. In this scene, Danny, Marcus and Lydia are on the run. The rest, is rather self explanatory.

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INT. DANNY’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS 43
Danny turns on the light, and we see an apartment that is totally trashed. Clothes are strewn all over the place. Books and papers are scattered on the floor. It looks like the aftermath of a moderate California earthquake. They walk in and Marcus closes the door behind him. Danny quickly moves to the bedroom.

LYDIA

Oh my God. They ransacked the place.

MARCUS

No, it was this way yesterday.

Lydia looks at Marcus in disbelief.

MARCUS (CONT’D)

He gets a little disorganized during pre-production.

LYDIA

OK.

Danny comes back carrying A BLACK BAG and his LAPTOP BACKPACK.

DANNY

Got it, let’s go.

MARCUS

How much do we have.

DANNY

A few grand.

MARCUS

That’ll help for a few days.

DANNY

I’m hoping that it won’t take that long.

MARCUS

Well, we should come up with "Plan B"

DANNY

When haven’t we?

MARCUS

I mean, something better than "get a new ’Plan A’."

We hear a noise outside the door. Marcus, still with the bat moves to the door. Danny motions for Lydia to go to the bedroom, which she does. Marcus cocks the bat, ready to swing at whoever is at the door. A BALDING MAN wearing a cheap business suit opens the door. He is in his mid 40s. The man looks like the 90 pound weakling all grown up, and without the help of the Charlie Atlas exercise plan. He turns and sees Marcus about to clock him with the bat. Marcus lets out a primal scream, prompting the balding man to put up his hands and scream as well. Marcus pulls the swing when he realizes the cowering man is not a threat to him or the others. The balding man looks over at Danny, who finally gets his first good look at his intruder.

DANNY

Morris?

The frightened man nods in acknowledgment.

DANNY (CONT’D)

Hit him anyway, Marcus.

MORRIS

I wouldn’t. I’m a lawyer.

Morris finally stands upright and straightens his tie.

DANNY

What are you doing here, Morris?

MORRIS

I heard on the news that you were presumed dead, and I--

DANNY

Was going to troll for anything that was worth something?

MORRIS

Leslie expressed an interest in finding something, for sentimental value. Besides, the divorce isn’t final yet. She’s entitled to any and all property in the event of your death.

DANNY

Which reports of have been greatly exaggerated.

Lydia walks in from the bedroom. Morris takes a look, and finds this little development interesting.

MORRIS

I’m sorry, did I come at a bad time?

DANNY

Anytime you show up, it’s a bad time.

Morris walks over to Lydia.

MORRIS

Aren’t you going to introduce me?

DANNY

Lydia, this is Morris Fletcher, Esquire; representing the future former Mrs. Sheperd. Morris, this is Lydia Ross. She’s a woman of great compassion and is giving to others needs, you’re probably unfamiliar with the type.

Morris takes her hand and he kisses it.

MORRIS

Charmed.

LYDIA

(social fakes it poorly)

Nice to meet you.

DANNY

Careful, Lydia. If he bites you, you’ll live forever.

MORRIS

Well, it’s nice to see that you are still alive.

DANNY

Yeah, I’m sure it is.

MORRIS

Anything that you want me to pass along to Leslie?

DANNY

Bite me. Burn in Hell. STD tests are free on Wednesdays at county health centers.

MORRIS

I’ll tell her that you send your best.

Let’s Not Get Carried Away, Butler Fans

The other day, I saw someone wearing a Syracuse sweatshirt (It’s still a little cool here in Minnesota).

“I hate to tell you this,” I said. “I grew up down the road from Butler University.”

This isn’t exactly true, unless you consider a three hour drive to Evansville “down the road.” That’s how much I've been caught up in the recent “Butler Fever” that is sweeping the country. People are going nuts over the Bulldogs, and for good reason. For as many “fans” who buy Duke and Michigan State t-shirts, there are just as many people who love the underdog.

However, the ones who are getting carried away more than anyone is a small portion of Butler diehards who have made a variation of this comment in the Indianapolis Star.

“Butler has now surpassed IU as the best basketball program in the state of Indiana.”

*Deep breath. Sigh.*

So this is now my open letter to the few Butler fans who are, shall we say, a little over excited.

Dear Bulldog Extremists:

First off, congratulations on a truly extraordinary season. There is much to celebrate with your team’s success. As with many people who are from Indiana, we are hoping that you take care of Michigan State, and dispatch either Duke of West Virginia in the NCAA Championship game. You have come a long way from being the easy win for the University of Evansville back in their MCC days.

I know that some of you think that Butler is now the top program in Indiana. While it is true that Butler has certainly been the best team in Indiana in the last five years, it’s a long drive to be Indiana’s best.

Making the National Semis is a very impressive thing to do, and not many schools can make that claim. But remember, you’ve made one Final Four. So has Notre Dame. So has Purdue. Hell, even Indiana State did it. While it looks great on the résumé, it’s not the end all be all.

As a younger sibling, I know how important it is to step out of the shadow of a larger than life big brother. It’s true that the last time Indiana won the National Championship, none of the Butler players were born, and Coach Brad Stevens was in swaddling clothes. However, Indiana is one of only five schools to make the Final Four in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s (the others are Kansas, Duke, UNC and UCLA).

Indiana’s efforts to return to its former glory isn’t a rebuilding project, it’s major reconstruction. The Cream and Crimson will be down for the next couple of years, but they will be back.

A five to 10 year run doesn’t make a program. Ask Oklahoma. Ask DePaul. Ask Seton Hall. Glory can vanish in a heartbeat.

I don’t want to take anything away from the wonderful accomplishment that BU has earned, but let’s exercise a little perspective. It takes a long time to build a top flight program, and Butler just isn’t there yet. I hope that one day they are held with the same reverence as UK, Duke, Kansas, and UNC. Until then, enjoy the Final Four and hopefully a National Championship.

GO DOGS,

Ian Shane

Week 4 Review, Week 5 Tonight at Erick's

Last week, an Ace/Queen off suit beat my pair of 10s (pulled an Ace on the flop), which was good enough for me to finish 6th for the night. Tonight, I will do my best to protect my point lead in the Minnesota Poker League WSOP, Tuesday night game. Half way through, I am the only one to make the final table every night. I have a 166 point lead of the second place player. Here are the standings so far…

1 IAN SHANE 572
2 Wanda 406
3 Wyn 392
4 Allen 369
5 Tom 368
6 Pete 328
7 Dan 314