You Have 7 Days to Live
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Be Good
Screenplay for a short
by Joe Barniak
2nd draft May 2006
Indianapolis, IN 2
Phone Number-317 291 4072 E-Mail: [email protected] 3
FADE IN.
1. CAR – INT. / NIGHT
A dark figure sits in the drivers seat. The rain and the windshield wipers obstruct our view.
The dark figure will be called MYSTERY MAN.
MYSTERY MAN What did you do?
A police badge gets thrown on the dash board.
VEGA I made the exchange but everything went hay wire.
VEGA moves his head, it gets illuminated by the street light.
ZANG Vega was about to get arrested and
A beat.
ZANG I killed a cop.
A gun is held in both hands.
GAIDEN I…I…
MYSTERY MAN Isn’t it funny how one moment can change your life.
FADE OUT.
2. TITLE SEQUENCE FADE IN.
Dark screen. The title “Be Good” super imposes on the screen.
FADE OUT. 4
CUT TO:
3. LIVING ROOM – INT. / DAY
GAIDEN has the phone up to his ear.
GAIDEN These guys are really great guy, I haven’t seen them in years so…
MOM You guys have been good kids growing up. There’s some diet pop in the fridge. And ooh, money. Write this down. You got a pen?
GAIDEN Yeah mom, I got a pen.
MOM Okay, it’s…
GAIDEN Wait, wait.
GAIDEN scuffles for a pen on the counter in front of him.
Year books and old photographs litter the disk. He grabs a pen. He looks for something to write on.
He flips over a picture of JACK. There’s a phone number on the back.
GAIDEN Oh snap.
MOM You ready?
GAIDEN Yeah.
MOM It’s 5…
GAIDEN writes the numbers on his hand.
We are unable to hear the rest of the numbers.
MOM 5
I gotta go, we’re about to miss our flight. And Gaiden…
GAIDEN listens attentively.
MOM (continues) Be good.
GAIDEN Okay. Bye.
MOM Bye.
Gaiden hangs up the phone slowly. His eyes are fixated on the back of JACK’S picture.
He dials the phone number quickly.
CUT TO:
GAIDEN talks on the phone for hours.
GAIDEN laughs.
GAIDEN Yeah I know what you mean.
GAIDEN walks while listening on the cordless phone.
He pulls the trash out from under the sink. Ties the top and carries it to the front door.
He unlocks the front door to take the trash out.
GAIDEN Oh really? I never noticed. Hold on, let me look.
GAIDEN walks to his bedroom off CAMERA.
The shadow of the trees rotate on the ground as time passes.
GAIDEN walks into the living room while he talks on the phone.
GAIDEN Alright, see you then.
GAIDEN hangs ups the phone. 6
ZANG stands up from the couch and looks at GAIDEN.
GAIDEN stares back.
A beat.
GAIDEN What are you doing in my house?
ZANG You invited me.
GAIDEN I haven’t seen you in 4 years, and you walk in my house like you live here.
GAIDEN gives ZANG some dats.
ZANG Your door was wide open.
The door is unlocked and cracked open, like GAIDEN left it.
GAIDEN Oh, it is.
GAIDEN pushes on the door to close it. A hand catches the door before it shuts.
VEGA Ringa ding ding.
The door pushes open and VEGA walks in.
GAIDEN Nobody rings the doorbell anymore?
VEGA I said ringa ding ding.
VEGA gives GAIDEN some dats.
VEGA Looking buff man.
VEGA looks off in the distance.
VEGA No way, Zang’s here.
ZANG stands calmly and looks at VEGA. 7
ZANG Vega.
VEGA gives ZANG some dats.
CUT TO:
ZANG, GAIDEN and VEGA sitting on the couch talking.
GAIDEN So what you guys been up to?
ZANG Nothing.
VEGA That’s what everybody says, when they don’t want you to know nothing.
VEGA walks to the kitchen.
VEGA I’m trying to find investors for this business I’m starting up. It’s a pain trying to find money.
ZANG Yeah.
GAIDEN You used to be all about business and finance. Man, Zang, we used to be good kids…all of us. We were all good kids man.
VEGA I’m still a good kid.
ZANG How?
GAIDEN Enlighten us.
A beat.
VEGA I never lie.
ZANG and GAIDEN bust out laughing.
GAIDEN 8
Never lie? That’s a lie right there.
VEGA That’s the truth, I’ve never lied before.
ZANG Haven’t you ever told a white lie before?
VEGA No, never, there’s no need to. When I tell the truth, people understand. Even when it’s bad news, I always get off the hook.
GAIDEN What about you? What’ve you been good about?
GAIDEN looks at ZANG.
ZANG Well…
A beat.
ZANG I never kissed a girl before.
A beat.
VEGA What about a guy?
GAIDEN Shut up man.
GAIDEN diverts his attention back to ZANG.
GAIDEN Are you serious?
ZANG Yeah.
VEGA We’re going to solve that right now.
VEGA starts dialing on the portable phone.
GAIDEN 9
Get off the phone. Zang, what about that one girl you hung out with all the time? um… VEGA I’m going to get Zang some girls he can practice on.
GAIDEN Hang up the phone, we don’t need that.
GAIDEN snatches the phone from VEGA, VEGA snatches it back. GAIDEN doesn’t care and diverts his attention back to ZANG.
GAIDEN What about…that girl…uh Heather
ZANG Heather?
GAIDEN Yeah Heather.
ZANG She’s my cousin.
VEGA Even I knew that.
ZANG stands up and walks to the hallway.
GAIDEN Where you going?
ZANG To the bathroom. It’s still in the same spot right?
GAIDEN Yeah.
ZANG turns to walk away. He turns back towards GAIDEN.
ZANG Hey Gaiden. What was your thing that you never did.
The CAMERA slowly pans in on GAIDEN. GAIDEN thinks.
VEGA puts his hand over the receiver to listen to what GAIDEN has to say.
GAIDEN 10
Well-uh-I-never killed anybody.
A beat.
VEGA and ZANG stare at GAIDEN, speechless.
VEGA shrugs his shoulders.
VEGA That’s a--
DING DONG. The doorbell rings.
GAIDEN walks to the door.
ZANG turns and walks down the hallway.
GAIDEN unlocks the bolt on the door. The door opens before GAIDEN reaches the door knob.
BLAIN steps in.
BLAIN Hey buddy.
BLAIN punches GAIDEN in the arm.
BLAIN Jack is in the car. Is it alright if I join you guys.
GAIDEN Of course.
BLAIN Leave the door open, we got something for you.
BLAIN sees VEGA.
BLAIN Hey Vega.
VEGA has a serious look on his face.
VEGA What’s up.
BLAIN walks out the screen door. GAIDEN starts to follow him. VEGA grabs GAIDEN’S arm.
The screen door shuts. 11
VEGA Are you serious? Your going to let Blain in here? That kid is nothing but trouble. There wasn’t a day in school that kid didn’t get in trouble for doing something stupid.
GAIDEN People change. He’s hanging out with Jack. Jack is a saint compared to us.
VEGA Well lets hope Jack hasn’t changed.
The screen door opens. BLAIN walks in the house backwards, he’s carrying something.
The CAMERA pans down to what he’s holding. BLAIN’S holding the legs to someone. Their legs are duct taped. The CAMERA up the body and reveals her face, duct taped. It’s JADA.
From JADA’S POV we see VEGA and GAIDEN stand speechlessly watching.
Silence.
JADA looks at the faces of VEGA and GAIDEN as she gets carried by.
ZANG walks into the room. He watches this happen in silence.
The CAMERA travels up from JADA’S face to JACK.
JACK Hey fellas.
CUT TO:
4. PARENT’S BED ROOM – INT. / NIGHT
The bed room is pitch black, all that can be seen is the light illuminating the door.
The door opens and BLAIN and JACK carry JADA into the bed room. They sit her down and walk out the room.
Turning on the light as they walk out the room.
The door closes and JADA is in this room all by herself. 12
The CAMERA slowly pans in showing her and the door.
Silence.
The sound of yelling echoes through the door.
We can see the fear on JADA’S face.
CUT TO:
5. LIVING ROOM – INT. / NIGHT
GAIDEN (sternly) No, who is this?
JACK Listen. Remem--
GAIDEN No you listen. Who is this.
BLAIN It’s the daughter of Don Brady.
ZANG The multi-millionaire Don Brady?
BLAIN Yeah.
VEGA Are you serious?
JACK No. It’s not what you think.
GAIDEN Then what is it?
A beat.
GAIDEN waits for an answer.
JACK It’s multi-billionaire Don Brady.
GAIDEN 13
Why is Don Brady’s daughter in MY house, tied up?
JACK Now it’s a long story.
ZANG Are you taking her hostage?
A beat.
The room goes silent. JACK scratches his head. He stretches his arms over his head.
JACK Yah, but listen…
VEGA Who talked you into this? Blain?
GAIDEN Get out of my house.
VEGA gets in BLAINS face.
VEGA Should’ve known you’d bring Jack into this.
GAIDEN swiftly walks down the hall way. He walks towards the bedroom. Reaches towards the door, Jack steps in front of him.
GAIDEN I’m letting her go.
JACK Just wait a sec.
GAIDEN This is wrong man. Do you want to go to prison?
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Loud knocks from the door. GAIDEN and JACK divert their attention towards the door.
A beat.
KNOCK KNOCK. VEGA and ZANG freeze, staring at the door.
A masculine voice beams through the door. 14
MASCULINE VOICE Police open up.
GAIDEN stares at the door.
A beat.
JACK stands there next to GAIDEN, keeping an eye on him.
GAIDEN We didn’t do anything.
GAIDEN heads for the front door, JACK cuts him off again.
JACK You’re an accomplice.
GAIDEN looks worriedly at JACK.
ZANG watches.
ZANG Gotta get that tape off.
ZANG pulls scissors off the counter.
GAIDEN stares at the door.
KNOCK KNOCK. GAIDEN doesn’t know what to do.
CUT TO:
6. PARENT’S BED ROOM - INT./NIGHT
JADA is sitting near the door. The bed room door opens and a silhouette of ZANG stands there with scissors in his hand- like a horror movie.
ZANG creeps up slowly to JADA, she’s afraid of what he’s going to do.
CUT TO:
7. LIVING ROOM – INT./NIGHT
The CAMERA slowly pans in to GAIDEN’S face, the decision is his.
He slowly reaches for the door. 15
CUT TO:
8. PARENT’S BED ROOM –INT./NIGHT
The scissors are open aiming for JADA’S tape. JADA squirms almost getting herself cut.
CUT TO:
9. LIVING ROOM – INT./NIGHT
GAIDEN reaches for the handle. VEGA gets in front of GAIDEN and opens the door.
CUT TO:
10. PARENT’S BED ROOM – INT./NIGHT
JADA flinches just as ZANG makes a cut.
CUT TO:
11. LIVING ROOM – INT./NIGHT
VEGA opens the door.
2 girls stand at the door smiling. It’s VEGA’S friends.
CUT TO:
12. PARENT’S BED ROOM – INT./NIGHT
The duck tape from JADA’S wrists drift to the floor.
CUT TO:
13. LIVING ROOM – INT./NIGHT
CADENCE 16
Oh my gosh. What took you so long?
LAURA We’ve been standing out here for like 5 hours.
CADENCE Yeah, so let us in.
CADENCE walks forward to enter the house. VEGA puts his arm up and blocks her.
VEGA There’s nothing in here- that you should be associated with.
CADENCE Is it drugs?
LAURA Or alcohol?
VEGA No, we’re not doing any of that here.
CADENCE Uh your no fun.
LAURA What about Gaiden?
CADENCE And Zang?
LAURA Gaidens car is here, I saw it.
LAURA yells through the door way.
LAURA Hey Gaiden!
GAIDEN looks up as his name is called. JACK holds up a finger to keep GAIDEN from saying anything.
CADENCE yells through the doorway to add to the commotion.
CADENCE Gaiden! Zang!
VEGA yells over the top of them. 17
VEGA Hey, hey!
LAURA Gaiden, I know your there.
VEGA They’re not here!
LAURA and CADENCE stop silent and listen to VEGA.
A beat.
VEGA Some girls took them to a party. And I’m just watching the house until they come back.
LAURA and CADENCE stare at VEGA like he’s lying.
A beat.
CADENCE nods her head like he just told the truth.
LAURA Alright, see ya.
LAURA and CADENCE walk away.
VEGA closes the door with disgust for himself.
GAIDEN turns to JACK.
GAIDEN What exactly is going on?
CUT TO:
14. BED ROOM - INT./NIGHT
ZANG opens the window. He squats down to JADAS level and takes the duct tape from her mouth.
JADA looks at ZANG.
A beat.
VEGAS voice echoes through the door. 18
VEGA (off camera) Zang! Zang!
ZANG ignores the call. He looks at JADA.
ZANG You can leave now.
JADA looks at ZANG and says nothing.
A beat.
ZANG stands up and walks to the door.
VEGA (off camera) Zang! Zang!
ZANG yells out the door.
ZANG I’m coming!
ZANG turns his attention back to JADA.
ZANG Be safe.
ZANG walks out the door.
JADA sits there quiet.
CUT TO:
15. LIVING ROOM – INT./NIGHT
VEGA Jack has something to say.
ZANG stands in the hallway and watches.
GAIDEN Go ahead Jack, tell us.
JACK Okay, remember when we were kids and we talked about money? We said we could make a million dollars if we started our 19
own company. Here’s what I’m thinking: Why wait until we’re forty to make a million dollars, why not make a million dollars right now.
VEGA Are you serious?
GAIDEN So how are you going to make this money?
A beat.
JACK Swap the girl for the money, end of story.
ZANG That is ridiculous.
JACK We need a place to do this and since Gaiden’s parents are out of town, we can use this place…
A fist hits JACK in the face knocking him back. GAIDEN grabs JACK and starts pummeling him.
BLAIN Hey guys, break it up.
BLAIN steps in between JACK and GAIDEN and breaks it up. VEGA steps in and shoves BLAIN to the wall. VEGA stares at BLAIN while holding him against the wall.
A beat.
VEGA looks at GAIDEN, he beats on JACK. VEGA and JACK step in and hold GAIDEN back.
JACK wipes blood from his nose.
GAIDEN Your not doing this in MY house.
VEGA Take her back.
JACK Do you want to make money?
VEGA 20
You don’t get it.
JACK raises his voice.
JACK Have you forgot what we live through? Did you forget how hard it is for us to live?
A beat.
GAIDEN brushes VEGA’S hand off, as if to say he’s calm.
JACK Our lives are going downhill and we know it. Zang, don’t you wanna pay off your college? And Vega, don’t you wanna have enough money to start your own business?
ZANG looks at JACK, he makes a point.
JACK And Gaiden, don’t you want to pay your parents back for that car they got you? We no longer live in the fifties anymore where candy bars are 10 cents and gas isa nickel. It’s hard living like this. We’re no murderers, we’re not trying to hurt any one. All we’re asking for is a little bit of money to help us out, that’s it. When its all over, we take her back, no marks, no scratches, no nothing.
A beat.
VEGA nods his head in agreeance with JACK. GAIDEN looks at VEGA.
GAIDEN Your not buying this are you?
VEGA What else are we going to do?
GAIDEN shakes his head, not understanding.
A beat.
ZANG What if we just let her go? 21
VEGA She’s seen our faces. That’s the worse thing we can do.
ZANG nods his head. He bites his nails, a nervous habit.
JACK I promise this is going to work, more than anything. If things don’t remotely work out, I’ll turn myself in. I promise.
VEGA Shake on it.
JACK shakes hands with VEGA and ZANG.
JACK sticks his hand out to shake GAIDENS. GAIDEN doesn’t budge.
GAIDEN You used to be different.
ZANG walks into the PARENT’S BED ROOM unnoticed by anyone.
CUT TO:
16. PARENT’S BED ROOM - INT./NIGHT
The window is wide open. Wind blows the curtains.
ZANG looks in the corner of the room, JADA is sitting there.
ZANG Are you alright?
JADA nods.
ZANG How come you didn’t leave?
CUT TO:
17. LIVING ROOM – INT./NIGHT
GAIDEN What made you do this? You used to be a good kid.
JACK 22
It was all a front man. I acted good but would do bad. I blamed everything on Blain.
GAIDEN You are--
BLAIN That fire in Arlington. Was that you?
JACK Yeah, it was.
BLAIN walks down the hallway and punches the wall.
GAIDEN has anger in his eyes.
CUT TO:
18. PARENT’S BED ROOM – INT./NIGHT
ZANG sits on the floor talking to JADA.
JADA Why are you doing this?
ZANG My ex…best friend thought it was a good idea to-- JADA No…I mean, why are you helping me?
A beat.
ZANG Because no one deserves to be held against their will.
JADA I’ve been held against my will for years.
ZANG You have?
JADA I swear, my dad won’t let me do anything. Being here is like the first time I’ve been out in years.
ZANG 23
Maybe your dad’s just looking out for you.
JADA (sarcastically) Yeah, he’s doing real good at that.
ZANG Do you know how much your worth?
JADA No, how much?
ZANG 5 million.
JADA For years my dad has spent millions on his company, on business trips, on stocks…on everything but his family. But today’s different, today he has to spend money on me. And if he doesn’t deliver the money, or he brings the cops into this, then that shows what kind of dad he is. In the end I’ll see how much I’m really worth.
CUT TO:
19. LIVING ROOM – INT./NIGHT
The bed room door is closed.
A beat.
ZANG steps out the door. The 4 look at ZANG.
ZANG Let’s do this.
FADE TO:
BLAIN plugs in the phone line to the wall. BLAIN signals to VEGA, VEGA presses enter on the laptop.
The computer dials as if it was dialing to the internet.
A ring tone sounds through the computer. It rings once. It rings again. Someone picks up. 24
DON Hello.
JACK speaks into a voice alternator.
JACK Mr. Brady, this is not a prank. I have your daughter hostage. If you want your daughter alive, you’ll give me 5 million dollars in cash, in exchange for your daughter. Show up at the fairgrounds at midnight, by yourself. If you refuse to comply, your daughter is dead.
DON 5 million?
JACK Yes, 5 million.
A beat.
DON I don’t have 5 million, 3 million.
JACK covers his hand over the receiver.
JACK 3 millions good.
JACK puts the phone to his ear.
ZANG snatches the phone from him.
ZANG Mr. Brady. You obviously didn’t understand us. Because we will mail your daughter to you in little grab bags if you try to negotiate with us. You tell me, how much is your daughter worth to you?
DON Okay! 5 million, just don’t hurt her.
JACK snatches the phone back from ZANG.
JACK Be at the fair grounds by midnight. 25
CLICK. JACK hangs up the phone.
JACK Blain, scrambler.
BLAIN rolls his eyes. He hooks banana plugs to the phone wire to scramble the signal. The computer makes a static noise.
In SLOW MOTION. ZANG looks at GAIDEN. GAIDEN puts his head down.
VEGA pulls the ski mask over his face.
Walkie Talkies are turned on.
Gym bags are open.
CUT TO:
20. PARENT’S BED ROOM - INT./NIGHT
JADA looks forward. ZANG squats down face to face.
ZANG You sure about this?
JADA nods.
ZANG puts duct tape over JADA’S mouth.
The CAMERA pans out and BLAIN and ZANG carry her out.
GAIDEN walks by to the safe in the closet. Squats down and looks at the numbers on his hand. He does the safe combination.
The safe opens. A pile of money sits there. GAIDEN grabs a hand full.
A pistol sits next to the money. GAIDEN grabs that and closes the safe.
CUT TO:
21. LIVING ROOM – INT./NIGHT
ZANG and BLAIN carry JADA out the front door. VEGA and GAIDEN follow with their ski masks on. 26
JACK stands in the hallway unmasked.
VEGA Aren’t you going?
JACK I have to monitor the phone line and scan the interface.
GAIDEN gets a disgruntled look on his face. He turns towards the door.
JACK Gaiden.
GAIDEN turns around.
JACK Don’t fail. Be good.
GAIDEN nods his head.
They walk out the door.
The CAMERA pans to the night sky.
CUT TO:
22. CAR – INT./MORNING
The rain hits the windshield. The street light hits BLAIN’S face. He’s sitting in the drivers seat.
BLAIN What should we tell him? What did you do?
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
ZANG I was about to get arrested and…I killed a cop.
ZANG pulls a badge out of a Toys R US bag. He throws the badge on the dash board.
GAIDEN I…I…killed the guy who tried to set me up. 27
ZANG and VEGA look at GAIDEN very seriously.
GAIDEN is fixated on the object he’s holding in his palms.
The CAMERA pans in on the pistol sitting in his palms.
CUT TO:
23. CAR – EXT./MORNING
The car doors open. The group steps out of the car.
CUT TO:
24. HOUSE –FRONT DOOR – EXT./MORNING
The group walks single file down the sidewalk to the front door. They file into the house. GAIDEN is the last to enter, he looks around before he enters. He pulls the gun out his pocket and enters.
The CAMERA pans from the front door to the window.
A FLASH illuminates from the window, followed by a loud BANG.
CUT TO:
25. CAR – INT./MORNING
JADA opens her car door. She and ZANG look into each others eyes. ZANG moves in closer as if he’s going to kiss her. He hugs her.
JADA steps out the car.
CUT TO:
26. FAIR GROUNDS – INT./MORNING
JADA walks by a parked car, an undercover police officer sits in there. He makes eye contact with JADA. His CB radio goes off.
DAN stands in front of his car with 2 briefcases in his hands.
JADA looks at DAN.
DAN drops the briefcases and hugs JADA. 28
CUT TO:
27. CAR – INT./MORNING
The car is driving. ZANG sits in the passenger seat. A smile grows on his face as he looks out the window.
FADE OUT.
The End.