Luke Blake's Screenplay

OPENING SCENE

(Audience hook)

DAYBREAK - ARIZONA INTERIOR

Yesterday…

EX – Daybreak begins with an emerging orange glow…

The rising sun briefly layers the sky with glorious hues of mingling copper and gold.

Full daylight reveals a vast panorama of mountainous terrain surrounded by deserts of abundant vegetation. Fierce encroaching heatwaves distort and blur the rigid silhouettes of innumerable cactus trees…

  C/T – EX – An American Eagle gliding majestically above a remote mountain range. From the Eagle’s POV we look down on an ageing medium sized Recreational Vehicle stationary on a narrow mountain trail. Crudely hand painted in military green and layered with the grime of extensive mileage the RV has a steel rack bolted onto the cab roof. A long circular metal tube running from the cab to the rear of the RV houses a pull-out sunshade which is not in use. A sliding side door is slightly open. Adjacent to the RV are a cluster of massive round boulders.

C/T – INT - The RV.  A small semi dark bedroom dominated on both sides by two sets of upper and lower bunks. Beyond the bunks is a wide floor to ceiling storage cupboard. On one of the upper bunks a man roughly in his mid-thirties, ruggedly handsome and roughly six feet tall is sound asleep.

A screen message states the man is Jeffrey Blake.

On an opposite top bunk, also asleep, is a teenage boy.

A screen message states he’s Jeffrey’s son Luke.

Between two lower bunks lies a slumbering medium sized black and white mongrel.  

A screen message names the dog ‘Beric’

The scene encapsulates silence and tranquil normality…

C/T – EX - The Eagle. Plummeting down and with awesome precision to scoop up a small rattlesnake from the crest of one of the boulders close to the RV. As predator and prey become an animated airborne tangle.

C/T- EX - A dark crevice between the boulders where more rattlesnakes emerge into the open.

C/T – EX

Moments later - An overhead view shows the area around the RV now layered with an ever-increasing number of reptiles…  

C/T - INT - The Bedroom.

Beric stirs and briefly yawns before plodding over to a large stainless-steel bowl in a corner of the bedroom. The vague sound as he laps up what water remains in the bowl is the only sound to break the absolute silence. Returning to the lower bunks Beric settles down but moments later, suddenly alert, moves briskly to the closed bedroom door sniffing curiously around the base of the door before rearing up to urgently scratch it. The sound doesn’t disturb Jeffrey but Luke, siting up and grinning with obvious pleasure Beric pleads not relieve himself indoors sweeps aside his bedding and climbs down from his bunk. Naked except for boxer shorts, Luke is tall and well-built. His dark sunburnt complexion, mass of golden curly blonde hair and piercing China-blue eyes show him to be an extraordinarily handsome young man.

Affectionately tousling Beric’s ears, they walk to the bedroom door. The instant Luke opens it Beric dramatically surges into the central lounge area the RV and virtually in the time it takes to blink the silence changes to a chilling crescendo of vicious canine snarling and multiple rattling when Beric attacks three coiled up rattlesnakes nestling at the far end of the lounge.

 CUT - TO – A closeup of Luke’s bulging petrified eyes staring into the lounge conveying both the un-survivable plight of Beric and any attempt to retrieve him would futile if not suicidal. Panic stricken, Luke turns and slams the bedroom door so violently the catch fails to engage allowing it to rebound wide open as he frantically scrambles up to his bunk. Mere seconds have passed since Luke climbed down. Immediately Jeffrey sits on his bunk, his half-asleep expression dominated with disbelief as he gazes from Luke, perched in obvious dread on his bunk, to the lounge. From Jeffrey’s POV we see Beric panting heavily, slumping first to his knees then to the floor. In the exact moment Jeffrey begins to speak he and Luke instinctively recoil on their bunks, their attention drawn to the open doorway where one of the deadly snake’s slithers in a rapid sidewinding motion into the bedroom and rapidly changing to a writhing highly aggressive coil halts between the two lower bunks four feet below them, its chilling rattles mercilessly rasping on their nerve endings as they continue to stare down in rigid abject terror….

SCENE FADES WITH A SCREEN HEADING STATING…

THREE WEEKS EARLIER

RUSH HOUR - SOUTHBOUND FREEWAY – PHOENIX – ARIZONA

NEW OPENING SCENE

(No dialogue)

EXT – Aerial view showing all lanes of a freeway streaming with vehicles of every size and description.

C/T- EXT – An antiquated Pickup Truck lumbering along the inside lane.

C/T – INT- The Cab of the Pickup. The driver, an elderly overweight man of Hispanic appearance, gazes with obvious anxiety from the road ahead to a gauge on the dashboard marked fuel. A pointer on the gauge shows fuel is close to zero. The man fumbles for a packet of cigarettes on the seat beside him. Shaking a cigarette loose he ignites it using the stub of a cigarette he’s already smoking. When he glances in his rear-view mirror, from the man’s POV we see an Arizona Police Cruiser immediately behind him. The drone of the engine suddenly fades causing the Pickup to slow down. Nearby traffic brake sharply as the Pickup rolls to a halt. With its blue lights flashing and its siren wailing the cruiser halts behind the Pickup, its two-man crew emerging to take control. Within moments the freeway begins backing up.  

C/T- EXT – A red Ferrari draw to a halt at the rear of traffic in the blocked lane. Jeffrey Blake, wearing a white shirt and jeans, emerges from the Ferrari to briefly glimpse the long line of stationary traffic ahead of him. Slumping back into the driving seat and staring straight ahead his expression is grim until his attention is drawn to a man and a teenage boy who climb down to examine the front tyre of a huge state of the art Recreational Vehicle which halts beside him. Dressed identically in tee shirts, trainers and shorts showing dangling shards of cotton where they’ve been crudely severed from a pair of jeans, Jeffrey continues to stare at them as they hurriedly return to the RV when their lane begins to move.

C/T – EXT - The cruiser crew halting lanes and signalling vehicles in the blocked lane to pass the stationary Pickup truck.

C/T – INT – The Ferrari – Jeffrey. No sign of his previous dour expression as he roars passed the lumbering RV on the open road…. 

SCENE FADES…

NEW OPENING SCENE

C/T - EXT - Aerial view of the Ferrari moving along a lengthy driveway bordered by white picket fencing leading to a detached ranch style country house with an immense forecourt and a wide front veranda showing multiple tables and chairs. The overhead view briefly shows the rear of the house has a large swimming pool, a Sauna, a Jacuzzi, shower cubicles and ample sun loungers. Parking beside a Mercedes Coupe Jeffrey scoop up a jacket and a briefcase and walks briskly to the house. Echoing from the house is slow melancholy piano music.

C/T – INT - THE HOUSE

Jeffrey crosses a marble-floored reception hallway dominated by a wide mahogany stairway then enters a magnificent lounge with oak flooring randomly dotted with exquisite hand-woven Persian rugs. Nestling beside an immense stone fireplace two large white leather settees blend perfectly with surrounding period furniture. At the far end of the lounge, in front of wide cantilevered windows overlooking the rear garden a slim, stunningly beautiful blonde-haired woman wearing pale blue jeans and a blue cotton shirt plays a slow melancholy song on a Steinway Grand Piano.

 A screen message states the woman is Elena ‘Lenny’ Blake. 

Pausing her playing Lenny watches Jeffrey offload his coat and briefcase onto a regency chair. She vaguely smiles when he comments.

            “Keep playing Len! I love how you play that song!”

As Lenny resumes playing, Jeffrey walks over to a well-stocked cocktail bar fronted by several stools and begins making two drinks. Moments later Lenny settles onto a bar stool.

LENNY

Inquiringly.

“How’s your day been?” 

JEFFREY

Informatively while engrossed in making drinks.

“A truck broke down on the Freeway! For a while it was chaos until the cops got things moving!”

JEFFREY

Knowingly brusque.

 “I suppose Luke’s retired to his bedroom!”

LENNY

Affirmatively

“Yes! You could say it’s his age, but it’s not! You know what his problem is!”

JEFFREY

Placing a drink for Lenny on the bar. Sighing heavily as he retorts.

 “Len? I don’t want the same quarrel every time I even mention Luke! I know the mistakes I’ve made in the past, that I haven’t given him the time I should have, but I can’t be everywhere at once! I buy and sell anything that pays for the way we live, cruises around the Caribbean and everything Luke could possibly want…”

LENNY

Ready to argue until Jeffrey, staring dejectedly down at his drink, tersely comments.

“I’ve got to do something about the way things are with me and Luke! On the way home, when the freeway backed up, I saw something that gave me an idea, I saw a guy with a boy about Luke’s age, most likely his son because they were dressed the same, I watched them climb down from a huge RV to look at a front tyre then rush back to the cab when the traffic moved, the whole thing lasted about a minute, but the bond between them, as if they were each other’s best friend made me think why can't that be me and MY son?”

LENNY

Curiously as she sees Jeffrey pause.

“Where’s this headed Jeff?” 

JEFFREY

Informatively 

“I want to buy an RV, not anything modern like the one on the freeway, something much smaller, my idea is to take Luke on a ‘man-to-man’ camping vacation around the state, with no bedroom to run to sooner or later we’ll have a blowout that will clear the air once and for all!”

JEFFREY

Hesitating, watching Lenny intently before adding…

“We both know if I ask Luke to go with me he’ll refuse even before I finish speaking and nothing will budge him! If anyone can talk him into it, you can!”

LENNY

Immediately disparaging.

“Luke feels rejected, and I can’t blame him! I’ve been telling you for years to take time out for him, but you never listened, if you had, you wouldn't have this hostility from him, having said that your idea can’t make things any worse than they are. I’ll talk to him later this evening but convincing him to go with you won’t be easy! I know exactly how he’ll react!”  

JEFFREY

Leaning toward Lenny. Briefly touching his glass to hers as he comments.

   “That’s all I ask!”

        SCENE FADES 

NEW SCENE

 LATER THAT EVENING

C/T - INT - Lenny, visibly pensive, walks up the mahogany stairway then crosses a landing to pause outside a door. From her POV an A4 print out pinned to the door states in large bold lettering. ‘Luke’s Sanctuary’. Lenny gently knocks the door. From inside a gruff boyish voice abruptly enquires. “Who is it?”

LENNY

Politely

“Need to speak to you Luke?”

LUKE

Grinning boyishly as he opens the bedroom door.

“Hey Mom! What's happening?”

Responding with a brief half-smile Lenny enters the bedroom and settling onto Luke’s bed casually gazes around. From her POV we see a large all-in-one computer resting on a solid oak desk, the screen shows a still picture of the Roman Colosseum. On a swing-out support bracket beside the desk a fifty-inch LG television is not turned on and hangs like a dormant blank picture. Two walls have ceiling-high shelving, one containing hundreds of DVDs the other a library of books about Movie Stars, Directors and Movie Studios. A sizeable montage of pictures on a further wall depicts actors who have all appeared in epic films about ancient Rome. Richard Burton, The Robe. Victor Mature, Demetrius and the Gladiators. Charlton Heston, Ben Hur. Kirk Douglas, Spartacus. Russell Crowe, Gladiator.

It’s the bedroom of a rich kid who obviously loves movies.

LENNY

Nodding at the computer screen.

“What are you working on?”

LUKE

Enthusiastically.

 “We’re doing a project in High School mom, it’s called Movie Idea, who can write the best screenplay! I've started writing a story about a soldier who joins the Roman Army, did you know it took five years to train a fighting legion and by then they were so highly disciplined it was said you could march them off a cliff without a single man breaking ranks!”

LENNY

Genuinely amazed

“You’re kidding!”

LUKE

Affirmatively

“It’s amazing what’s evolved from the Romans! Today’s armies are very similar, we have a Senate and…”

LUKE

Sensing his mother has more on her mind than his passion for Roman history. 

“What?”

LENNY

Sighing heavily before commenting.

“I’ve got something to tell you Luke, and I may as well come straight out and say it! Your father wants to take you on a man to man camping vacation in an RV!”  

LUKE

His affable demeanour suddenly incredulous.

“A vacation…. WITH HIM?”

LENNY

Tolerantly

“Yes Luke! With him! He knows he’s made mistakes…”

LUKE.

Instantly

“MISTAKES?” Mom, he’s worth millions and all he thinks about is how to make more money, I can’t forgive or forget his endless greed and the way he treats us, how does he think I felt when he embarrassed me in front of all my friends by walking out in the middle of my birthday party last year to do one of his deals, how he casually abandoned us on that cruise last year every time his damn cell phone rang! No Mom! I won't go anywhere where him and that's final!"

LENNY

With a slow meaningful glance around the bedroom.

“He has been… generous!”

LUKE

Scoffing contemptuously 

“MOM, you can’t imagine how I feel when I listen to boys in school talking about what they do and where they go with their father’s, when did he ever do that? His idea of being a father is a solid gold Rolex for my birthday…”

LENNY

Nodding as she watches Luke lapse in silence.

“Luke? No way can I disagree with anything you’re saying, but he IS your father! Can’t you at least meet him halfway?”

LUKE

Shaking his head - Curtly obstinate’

“Mom! I can’t stand being in the same room with him, NO WAY would I go anywhere in an RV with him!”

LENNY

Shrugging with seeming resignation. Walking to the door, opening it but turning to make lingering eye contact with Luke.

“Your father asked me to talk to you Luke, and you’ve responded exactly as I expected, I won’t ask again, or try to convince you this vacation would be a chance for both of you to clear the air and damn well start acting like the father and son you should be!”

LENNY

Not releasing her rigid eye contact as she adds.

“But I will say this! When you have children of your own, when you make mistakes, and believe me you will, I hope they give you the second chance you’re not prepared to give him!”

Making no attempt to close the door Lenny turns and walks briskly to the stairs. Halfway down them her knowing smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes when she hears the Sanctuary door suddenly slam shut.

C/T – INT - THE HALLWAY

Jeffrey, now casually dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, and Moccasins stands at the base of the stairs, Lenny joins him, and they enter the lounge where she wearily settles on one of the white leather settees.

LENNY

Sombrely.

“I sure could use a drink!”

Immediately stepping behind the bar Jeffrey begins clinking ice cubes into two brandy glasses before adding large measures of Courvoisier.

JEFFREY

Despondently…

“I heard some of that! He’s not going to budge is he!”

LENNY

Knowingly confident.

“He’ll go with you Jeff, he doesn’t know it himself yet, but he will go!”

JEFFREY

Visibly astonished.

“But he just said…?”

LENNY

Affirmatively.

“Our son is full of turmoil, he’s lashing out the only way he knows how, but he’s not a fool, only a damn fool hates forever!”

LENNY

Pausing before adding

“When this vacation happens, take my advice, be patient with Luke, don’t rush things, give him plenty of time to figure you out, above all, I’m relying on you to keep him safe!”

JEFFREY

Impatiently.

“Len…? Why don’t we get him down here right now and talk to him together?”

LENNY

Instantly adamant

“ABSOLUTELY NO! Let him decide in his own time!”

JEFFREY

Settling beside Lenny, placing a bulbous glass into her hand. 

“If you’re right Len, and you probably are, trust me, I’ll look after him and I will keep him safe!”

FADE…