I’ve recently started reading full scripts. It sounds stupid, but I never really did that before. Sure, I have read many screenwriting magazines with full breakdowns, etc., but the only screenplays I’ve ever read were Pulp Fiction and The Matrix. So based on GITS recommendations to improve my writing ability, I’ve started their 1, 2, 7, 14 format to read 1 script a week, watch 2 movies a week, write 7 pages a week and work 14 hours on prep work for the next script. And just in the past week, I feel like it’s making a huge difference. I think my pages are more fluid and read much better.

On to the script:

I thought Martin calling Jimmy in the last scene broke the tension, so I decided to move it into Jimmy’s scene below.

(page 46-53)
INT. HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Empty bottle of champagne. The steady creaking of a bed with people having sex on it. Two half-filled champagne flutes. Men’s black dress socks on the chair. Women’s panties on the floor.

MARY
Don’t stop, don’t stop. Oh yeah.

Saul is having sex, missionary style with MARY SCHUMER, 60, and holding up very well for her age. Mary is naked. Saul still has his white t-shirt on. Mary’s hands are on Saul’s ass pulling him in and out.

SAUL
(cumming)
Aaaaah!

Saul collapses on Mary. Stays there for a minute, kisses her and rolls off.

MARY
(turning towards Saul)
That was wonderful.

SAUL
Oh yeah? I’m glad you’re happy.

MARY
You’re not?

SAUL
I came didn’t I? That means I’m happy.

Mary laughs.

Saul checks his watch. Sits up on the side of the bed.

SAUL
I gotta go.

MARY
Oh c’mon. Don’t leave already.

SAUL
(leaning over and kissing her)
Sorry, babe. I gotta get home.

MARY
Why don’t you just leave her?

Saul stands up and begins getting dressed, limping around while he does. We see the huge bruises on his legs where the car bumper hit him.

SAUL
Honey, you don’t leave someone you’ve been with for fifty years. Don’t confuse what we have here as a relationship. I mean, I love it and I think you’re terrific, but I’m not leaving my wife.

MARY
Hand me my purse.

SAUL
(looking around)
You’re free to look for something else. I don’t care if you move on.
(finding her purse, handing it to her)
In fact, I hope you do. You’re a wonderful woman, you deserve to be with someone that’s going to make you happy.
(beat)
And if they don’t, they’ll answer to me.

Mary pulls a joint out of her purse then a lighter.

MARY
(lighting the joint)

Saul, I can’t find men twenty years younger than you with your energy.

Mary takes a long toke of the joint.

SAUL
What can I say? I’m one of a kind.

Mary offers the joint to Saul.

SAUL
I can’t. I don’t want to smell like pot when I get home.

MARY
Oh? So you’d rather smell like sex?

SAUL
(sarcastic)
Haha.

Saul is dressed now. He pulls out the ring box to make sure he still has it.

SAUL
Okay, babe. Gotta go.

Saul goes over and kisses Mary passionately.

MARY
Call me.

SAUL
Sure thing.

Saul limps off with cane in hand.

CUT TO:

INT. JIMMY’S KITCHEN – NIGHT

Spacious house. Reeks of wealth. A large top-of-the-line kitchen with granite counters, dual ovens, etc.

ELIZABETH DIMITRIOS, 42, striking beauty, has a game hen roasting in the oven. She checks it. Jimmy embraces her from behind.

ELIZABETH
Oh my.

She turns and kisses him.

JIMMY
Tommy’s at Damon’s. Ashley’s about to go on a date…

ELIZABETH
(interrupting)
Her first date.

JIMMY
Her FIRST date. That just leaves you and me and a big house with lots of places to do it.

ELIZABETH
(laughing)
Well, just keep it in your pants until she leaves.

JIMMY
Her date better get here soon, or I’m not going to make it.

She laughs. Jimmy pulls her in for a long kiss.

The doorbell rings, breaking the mood.

JIMMY
Speak of the devil. I’ll get it.

ELIZABETH
I’ll open us a bottle of wine.

INT. JIMMY’S FOYER – CONTINUOUS

Jimmy opens the door to TRAVIS JACKSON, 18, a tall, young, well-dressed black kid.

JIMMY
Hello?

TRAVIS
Hi, I’m Travis. I’m here to pick up Ashley.

BEAT

JIMMY
Come in.

Travis enters.

JIMMY
(pointing)
Have a seat in the living room. I’ll get her.

TRAVIS
Thank you.

Travis walks into the living room while Jimmy turns and goes into the kitchen.

INT. JIMMY’S KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS

Jimmy marches into the kitchen to speak to Elizabeth. There is a kitchen island between them.

JIMMY
(quietly)
You never told me he was a black kid.

ELIZABETH
(pouring a glass of wine)
So?

JIMMY
(quietly)
So!? So, you should’ve told me.

ELIZABETH
What difference does it make?

JIMMY
It’s just…I don’t – I should’ve been told.

ELIZABETH
Jimmy, we live in the twenty-first century. Our kids go to school with black kids, Chinese kids, Mexicans, everything. It’s not like when we were kids. They’re going to meet and like kids of other races and you know what?

JIMMY
What?

ELIZABETH
It’s a good thing. Travis is Mr. Basketball. All-State. He’s going to MSU next year with a full ride. And he’s valedictorian. Don’t judge him by his color.

Jimmy, speechless, turns and exits.

INT. JIMMY’S LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS

Jimmy enters. Travis is sitting quietly.

JIMMY
So, I hear you’re good at basketball?

TRAVIS
Yes, sir, the best in the state.

JIMMY
I like the confidence. So you’re going to play for Izzo?

TRAVIS
Yes, sir.

JIMMY
That’s great. I like it when our kids stay and go to local schools. It kills me when they go to Ohio State.

Jimmy grabs a walnut-shell from a bowl on the small table next to him.

TRAVIS
My dad is the same way. He wouldn’t even let me go look at their campus.

JIMMY
Smart man. I can’t wait to meet him.
(picks up bowl, offering)
Walnut?

TRAVIS
Sure.

He leans over and grabs a walnut.

Jimmy takes the walnut in one hand and cracks it. He removes the nut and eats it. Travis watches and tries to do the same thing. He puts both hands on it and nothing. He even leans his body into it but he can’t break the shell.

JIMMY
Oh. Here.
(hands him a nutcracker)
So, where you headed tonight?

TRAVIS
We’re going to see a movie.

Travis uses the nutcracker and opens the shell.

JIMMY
(nodding his head)
That’s good. That’s nice. So, you’re driving.

TRAVIS
(eating the nut)
Yes, sir.

JIMMY
You have your license?

TRAVIS
Yes, sir.

JIMMY
Okay. Well if you do any…

The phone rings interrupting Jimmy.

JIMMY
(to Travis)
Hold on.
(answers phone)
Hello?
(beat)
No, I never called him.
(beat)
He what?
(beat — Jimmy’s mood changes mid-conversation — he’s visibly getting pissed)
That doesn’t make sense. I don’t know what he’s talking about. If that fucker is trying to fuck me over, so help me God. Call, Perry and bring him in. I want to talk to him in person.
(beat)
No, no, no, don’t touch him. I want him to be clear when I look him in the eye.

Jimmy hangs up. His mood instantly changes to what it was before he took the call. A chameleon.

JIMMY
Where were we?

TRAVIS
Uh…uh…uh..I don’t –

JIMMY
(interrupting)
Oh yeah, if you do anything to hurt my girl, I won’t be happy.

TRAVIS
Oh, I won’t.

JIMMY
That’s good.
(picks up the walnut bowl, offering)
Another walnut?

TRAVIS
No, thanks.

CUT TO: