I’ve returned home after a three-month hiatus and it was more difficult acclimating than I thought it would be. I got used to my routine in Flint and trying to come up with one here may be a challenge without the consistent schedule I had gotten used to. Even though I knew where the following scene was going, I still stared at a blank page for at least an hour today before the five pages came out. Hopefully, I can find a routine and get as comfortable at home as I was in Flint.

(pages 49, 50, 51, 52 & 53)
INT. CAR – CONTINUOUS

Martin is driving and Dino is in the passenger street.

Martin’s phone starts ringing. Martin answers it.

MARTIN
Hello?

JIMMY (O.S.)
Martin, it’s Jimmy.

MARTIN
Yeah, Jimmy?

JIMMY (O.S.)
I’ve got Sam here and he’s telling me that Dino’s case was his case.

MARTIN
Is that so?

JIMMY (O.S)
It appears so. I want to know how he knows my business. And no bullshit stories this time.

MARTIN
Yes, sir.

Martin hangs up.

DINO
Any problems?

MARTIN
Nope. Turn here.

INT. RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS

Perry, Jimmy and Sam are sitting at the booth.

JIMMY
We still have a problem.

SAM
What problem?

JIMMY
You still owe me three hundred grand.

SAM
What the fuck are you talking about? I’m telling you this IS my money.

JIMMY
I’m getting fucked either way and I don’t like getting fucked. I do the fucking. Go home. I’ll we’ll call you when Martin is done and we’ll get this figured out. All I know is that between the two of you, I have five hundred and fifty thousand coming to me and I don’t give a fuck how it gets here, but it better fucking be here.

EXT. STORAGE UNITS – DAY

Martin and Dino’s vehicle pull into a Storage Unit business and stop at a unit.

INT. CAR – CONTINUOUS

DINO
What the fuck? You’ve got her in a fucking garage?

MARTIN
I’m not going to take her home with me.

DINO
What about a hotel?

MARTIN
Too expensive.

Martin exits the vehicle. Dino follows.

EXT. STORAGE UNITS – CONTINUOUS

Martin walks over to the unit and unlocks the padlock. He thrusts the unit open.

INT. STORAGE UNIT – CONTINUOUS

Inside the unit is a sofa and a chair with newspapers and takeout boxes littering the ground.

Sherry is gagged on the sofa with her feet bound behind her back to her hands. She’s laying on her stomach. Her eyes get wide when she sees Dino.

Dino rushes over and starts kissing Sherry.

DINO
Oh, Sherry, baby, I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry. What have they done to you? Untie her you prick!

MARTIN
Well, you see, that’s going to be a problem.

Martin is in the storage unit as he slams the door down shutting them all inside.

DINO
What the fuck are you doing, asshole?

Martin takes out his gun from his chest holster and starts screwing in a suppressor.

MARTIN
Sorry, Dino. Bosses orders.

DINO
Nooooooo!

Dino jumps up to attack Martin, but Martin puts a bullet into his knee.

Dino topples over.

DINO
AAAAAAAAAHHH! You motherfucker! I’m going to kill you, you motherfucker!

Martin puts his gun away. He picks Dino up and puts him into the chair.

DINO
Why the fuck are you doing this? I fucking paid, I fucking paid.

Dino is starting to cry.

MARTIN
Put your hands behind your back.

Dino is holding his wounded knee.

DINO
Fuck you!

Martin takes out his gun and places it on Sherry’s temple.

DINO
Okay, okay, okay.

Dino places his hands behind his back.

Martin puts his gun away. He removes his tie and ties Dino’s hands with it.

Martin takes out a switch-blade and starts cutting up Dino’s shirt. He uses the pieces to tie Dino’s feet to the chair’s legs.

Martin stands up straight and puts his knife away.

MARTIN
Where did you get the money?

DINO
I told you, I won the lottery.

MARTIN
Look, Dino, I know you don’t know how to tell the truth with all these women you’re juggling and the fucking different lives you’re living, but this time it’s very important you tell the truth. Jimmy’s taken the governor off me and I can be very mean without my governor on.

DINO
Please, Martin, you have to believe me, I actually hit the fucking lottery.

MARTIN
Jesus Christ. Well, I can see we’re going to be here all day. I’m going to get some pizza. What do you like on yours?

DINO
How else could I have come up with the money?

MARTIN
Oh, there are lots of ways to come up with money. Theft is usually the easiest way.

DINO
I didn’t steal it. I swear to God I didn’t steal it.

MARTIN
You believe in God, Dino?

DINO
Yeah, yeah, I believe in God.

MARTIN
You’re out cheating on your wife, stealing money, dealing drugs and God knows what else you do, and you believe in God. You oughta be ashamed of yourself.

DINO
You’re a fucking murderer!

MARTIN
I don’t believe in God. I can do whatever I want. And I usually do.

DINO
Then you’re going to hell.

Martin starts laughing.

MARTIN
Very funny. Well, I’m going to get the pizza. I already know what she likes on hers. What do you want on yours?

DINO
I’m not hungry.

MARTIN
Suit yourself.

Martin takes out a handkerchief and shoves it into Dino’s mouth.

Martin opens the door and closes it behind him.

CUT TO:

This scene I’m currently writing is starting to get away from me. I’m not enjoying it and I hate when conversations summarize an entire movie, like the one below. I’d like to print out a copy and read it all at once, but I’ve been away from home without access to a printer. So I haven’t been able to go over what I’ve written and make notes along the way. I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but I’ll fix it in the rewrite.

(pages 47 & 48)
INT. RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS

Sam enters and sees Jimmy sitting near the entrance.

Sam storms over.

SAM
What the fuck is going on, Jimmy?

Sam notices the briefcase on the table.

SAM
What the fuck is this? This is my briefcase!

JIMMY
What do you mean, your briefcase? Someone else just came in here with it.

SAM
I mean, this is the briefcase I dropped off to you the other night. The one Martin says you didn’t get.

JIMMY
What do you mean the other night?

SAM
What am I, talking in riddles? I feel like I’m starting to lose my mind here. If someone doesn’t start explaining things to me, I’m going to do things you’ll regret.

JIMMY
Sam, Sam calm down. Have a seat.

Sam sits down and inspects the briefcase.

JIMMY
Start from the top. Tell me the story from the beginning.

SAM
Okay, the other night, Tuesday night, er, Wednesday morning, at three in the morning, I get a phone call asking for the money. I thought it was Martin, but he says it wasn’t him nor was it you. But anyways, the caller told me to drop it off down by the river because there was too much heat here at the restaurant. So I did. Then Martin comes around wanting the money that I already gave and I come in here and see it sitting right in front of you. Now I’m pissed because I think Martin is trying to double dip on me.

JIMMY
What do you know about this, Perry?

PERRY
All I know is that Martin was starting to lean on Sam because the money was due. We heard the story he was telling and it sounded like bullshit to us.

JIMMY
It sounds like bullshit to me to.

SAM
Oh, come on…

JIMMY
How would Dino know you owe me money? Dino doesn’t even know you. Do you know Dino?

SAM
No, I don’t know any Dino.

JIMMY
There you go.

SAM
Then he must know you’re business and he’s the one that called me and stole the money.

JIMMY
Let’s find out.

Jimmy takes out his phone and calls Martin.

(page 46)
JIMMY
So where did the money come from?

DINO
What’s the difference? It’s here isn’t it?

JIMMY
The other day, there’s no chance of you coming up with the money and today you have the money. I find that interesting. Do you find that interesting, Perry?

PERRY
Very.

DINO
The craziest thing happened. I hit lotto for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

JIMMY
How fortunate.

DINO
Yes, it is.

Jimmy starts laughing.

JIMMY
You’re so full of shit, Dino. Whatever, the money’s here. If I cared about where my money came from, I’d be broke.

Martin enters the restaurant and walks over to the table.

MARTIN
What’s going on?

JIMMY
Dino hit the lottery and brought us our money back.

MARTIN
Oh yeah? The lotto? Really? Good for you, Dino.

DINO
Thanks.

JIMMY
I guess there’s only one thing left to do. Take him to his girl.

MARTIN
Yes, sir. Come on, Dino.

Perry gets up letting Dino escape.

Martin and Dino exit.

EXT. GREEKTOWN – CONTINUOUS

Martin and Dino leave the restaurant and enter a car parked in front.
As the vehicle drives off, another vehicle swoops in to take its place.

Sam exits the vehicle and walks into the restaurant.

(page 45)
Jimmy rejoins Dino and Perry at the table.

JIMMY
So where did the money come from?

DINO
What’s the difference? It’s here isn’t it?

JIMMY
The other day, there’s no chance of you coming up with the money and today you have the money. I find that interesting. Do you find that interesting, Perry?

PERRY
Very.

DINO
The craziest thing happened. I hit lotto for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

JIMMY
How fortunate.

DINO
Yes, it is.

Martin enters the restaurant and walks over to the table.

MARTIN
What’s going on?

JIMMY
Dino hit the lottery and brought us our money back.

MARTIN
Oh yeah? Good for you, Dino.

DINO
Thanks.

JIMMY
I guess there’s only one thing left to do. Take him to his girl. Martin, have him drive you there.

MARTIN
Yes, sir. Come on, Dino.

Perry gets up letting Dino escape.

Martin and Dino exit.

I read a screenwriting article by Patrick Sheane Duncan once about writing every single day. It was a motivational article about getting off of your ass and just writing. He says a funny thing starts to happen, you start thinking about your script all the time. After the first forty pages, I thought he was full of shit, but last night I actually started thinking about it. I actually came up with two more scenes that come later in the film. Let’s hope it starts a trend.

(pages 43 & 44)
INT. RESTAURANT – DAY

Dino charges into the restaurant.

Jimmy is seated alone at a booth, reading a paper, near the front of the restaurant.

Dino rushes over with a briefcase full of money. He opens it and thrusts it into Sam’s face.

DINO
Here, here it all is. It’s all there. Where is she.

Jimmy puts his paper away and looks around at his customers then at Dino.

JIMMY
Put it away. Close it. Sit down.

Dino closes it.

Perry descends the steps towards Dino.

Dino has a seat across Jimmy.

DINO
Where is she Jimmy? I want her back.

JIMMY
Are you fucking crazy calling my restaurant talking about business and barging in here throwing that kind of money around?

Perry has a seat next to Dino and slides so close that Dino is trapped and unable to move.

JIMMY
This is a business. I have cops in here all the time.

DINO
I’m not the one kidnapping people.

Perry squeezes in closer.

DINO
Ugh.

JIMMY
You have a lot of fucking nerve. I oughta shoot you right fucking here just for being stupid.

TWO POLICE OFFICERS enter the restaurant.

JIMMY
(under his breath)
Fuck.

Jimmy stands up and walks over to greet the Officers.

JIMMY
Hello, gentlemen. Come in, come in.

Jimmy grabs two menus.

The hostess STELLA walks over.

JIMMY
That’s okay, Stella. I’ll seat them. Right this way, officers.

Jimmy escorts them to a booth clear across the other side of the restaurant away from Dino.

Perry stares at Dino. Dino is afraid to look back.

(pages 42)
INT. OFFICE – CONTINUOUS

Sam enters the main area and tries to walk past.

CHERYL
What was that about?

SAM
Nothing.

CHERYL
Bullshit, Sam. Something’s going on and I deserve to know what.

SAM
It’s nothing. Just do your god damn job.

Sam takes several steps towards his office and stops.

SAM
I’m sorry, Cheryl. I didn’t mean that.

Cheryl starts tearing up.

CHERYL
I deserve a little more respect than that. I think of you as family. I thought you thought the same way.

SAM
I do. I’m sorry. I’m upset and I wasn’t thinking.

CHERYL
Ever since Claire died, you’ve become a complete asshole. You come in drunk all the time. You’re late with my paycheck every week. You sleep at your desk more than you work there. You hardly ever want to see clients anymore. I can’t take it. I have a family that depends on me. I thought your depression would pass, but it’s been going on too long. Consider this my two-week notice.

Sam stares at Cheryl for several seconds then heads to his office.

CUT TO:

(pages 40 & 41)
INT. SAM’S OFFICE – CONTINUOUS

The phone starts ringing on Sam’s desk. He answers it.

SAM
Yeah?

CHERYL (O.S.)
There’s a Martin here to see you. He said you’d want to see him.

SAM
Okay.

Sam hangs up the phone.

SAM
Will you excuse me please?

CLIENT
Sure.

Sam gets up and exits his office.

INT. WAITING ROOM – CONTINUOUS

Sams enters.

SAM
What the hell are you doing here?

MARTIN
You tell me, Sam.

SAM
I paid you. Get the hell out of my office.

MARTIN
You see, that’s where I’m confused. I talked to Jimmy and he says you never paid.

There’s several seconds of silence.

SAM
What?

MARTIN
He says you never paid. I don’t know what you’re talking about you paid. Are you trying to cheat us?

SAM
Hey, I dropped off the money where Jimmy, or you, told me to. After that, I’m not responsible.

MARTIN
Where did you drop it off.

SAM
Down by the Hart Plaza, where I was told.

MARTIN
Who told you?

SAM
I thought it was you, but it must have been Jimmy.

MARTIN
You didn’t ask?

SAM
Jimmy’s the only person I owe money to and that would fucking call me at three in the morning.

MARTIN
Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but you owe us and Jimmy is not going to take that bullshit for an answer. You better come up with the money.

SAM
Hey, someone called me and it was one of you guys. Someone is either trying to fuck me or fuck Jimmy and that caller sounded just like you.

Martin slaps Sam across the face.

MARTIN
Watch what you say. I know you and I respect you, but we never told you to drop it off anywhere but in our hands. If you’re too stupid to find out who’s calling you or speak to us directly, then that’s on you, not us. I’ll give you two more days to come up with our money. And that’s being very generous.

Martin exits.

Mostly what I’ve written so far has already been done somewhere and at some point. I’ve just touched it up some. Now it’s starts to get difficult. I’m at the point where I’m unsure of how to get from point A to point B and it still be entertaining and engaging. Judging by most of the movies I’ve watched lately, I’m not the only one with this problem.

(pages 36 & 37)
INT. RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS

Martin hangs up the phone.

MARTIN
Sam wouldn’t welch, would he?

PERRY
Welch? What does that mean?

MARTIN
To renig on a deal.

PERRY
Renig? What does that mean?

MARTIN
Jesus, Perry, you need to read more.

PERRY
Hey! No blasphemy.

MARTIN
Blasphemy? What does that mean?

PERRY
You know, when you use the lord’s name in vain.

MARTIN
I didn’t know you were a religious man.

PERRY
I’m not.

MARTIN
Then why do you care?

PERRY
Just in case. So what’s with Sam?

MARTIN
He says he already paid, then hung up on me and now he’s not answering.

PERRY
Hmm.

MARTIN
It’s not like him. It doesn’t make sense.

PERRY
Should we tell Jimmy?

MARTIN
Let’s give Sam the benefit of the doubt. We’ll see him in person first.

INT. ROOM

Dino is counting a large stack of money on a desk. He start throwing it all into a duffel bag. He takes out a gun from the desk and checks to make sure it’s loaded. He throws it in with the money.

Dino takes out his phone and makes a call.

FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
Parthenon.

DINO
Tell Jimmy it’s Dino.

There is a few second pause.

JIMMY (O.S.)
Hello?

DINO
Yeah, Jimmy, I’ve got your money. I want the girl back.

JIMMY (O.S.)
I think you’re confused. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

DINO
What!? I said I’ve got your money and I want my girl back! Where is she?

JIMMY (O.S.)
Dino, maybe you should shut up and come down and see me in person. Then we can clear it up.

DINO
What? Oh, okay. I’ll be down later.

Jimmy hangs up then Dino.

One of my favorite new sites is Happyplace.com. They post hilarious tweets and Facebook posts from people. Today, they posted this article about the proper use of your and you’re. I thought it was relevent because I’ve been talking about proper grammar lately.

(page 35)
INT. RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS

Martin and Perry are sitting at the table.

MARTIN
That was weird.

PERRY
What?

Martin dials Sam again.

INT. BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS

The phone starts ringing again in Sam’s room. Sam rips the phone out of the wall.

INT. RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS

Martin hangs up the phone.

MARTIN
Sam wouldn’t welch, would he?

PERRY
Welch? What does that mean?

MARTIN
To renig on a deal.

PERRY
Renig? What does that mean?

MARTIN
Jesus, Perry, you need to read more.

PERRY
Hey! No blasphemy.

MARTIN
Blasphemy? What does that mean?

CUT TO: