Short screenplay from the Done Deal "Touch of Noir" contest,
Feb 2008
"Brig's Out!"
FADE IN:
EXT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
Torrential rain drums on the asphalt. A flash of lightning
reveals a sign, MIDTOWN HOSPITAL
INT. PRIVATE HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
BRIG, a giant of a man, lies asleep in bed.
A COP guarding the doorway looks at Brig over his shoulder.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
A DOCTOR and NURSE confer, watched by the Cop in the doorway.
DOCTOR
I doubt he'll wake before morning,
with all the sedatives we've given
him. Sleep is the best healer.
The Doctor and Nurse move away.
INT. PRIVATE HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
Brig opens his eyes. He lifts the sheets, looks down at his
stomach. He's swathed in bandages.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
The Cop looks up and down the corridor, bored.
Brig's giant hands close around the startled Cop's neck.
EXT. MURPHY'S BAR - NIGHT
The pink neon OPEN sign flickers and dies.
INT. MURPHY'S BAR - NIGHT
Tough bartender McQUEEN has only one customer, a DRUNK.
MCQUEEN
Hey. Time to hit the road. HEY!
No response. McQueen comes round the bar, grabs the drunk,
drags him to the door and tosses him out into the rain.
MCQUEEN
On your way, buddy!
Lightning flashes, revealing Brig standing there.
McQueen slowly backs inside. Brig enters, shuts the door.
They stare at each other, Brig dripping rain on the floor.
MCQUEEN
Brig. How did you get out?
Brig opens his ill-fitting coat, shows bloody bandages.
BRIG
I let myself out. Burst appendix.
MCQUEEN
Jesus. You came here?
BRIG
I'm calling in my marker.
McQueen licks his lips. Christ he doesn't need this sh!t.
MCQUEEN
Okay. Okay. What do you want?
BRIG
Some place to stay. And the ten
grand Johnny's been holding for me.
MCQUEEN
Okay. I'll call Johnny, let him
know. I got a room upstairs, through
the back. It's not much, but the
cops don't know about it.
BRIG
Show me.
INT. BARE ROOM - NIGHT
Peeling walls, an old spring bed, a bare light bulb. McQueen
steps aside to let Brig enter.
MCQUEEN
I'll bring you a mattress, blankets.
BRIG
Forget it.
Brig lies down on the creaking springs, closes his eyes.
BRIG
One more thing.
McQueen waits, wondering what it is.
BRIG
I want to see her.
MCQUEEN
What if she doesn't want to see you?
BRIG
Put the light out.
McQueen turns off the light. He exits, closes the door.
Merciless rain lashes the window.
EXT. DARK ALLEYWAY - NIGHT
A black sedan pulls up. The engine dies. Doors open. Three
pairs of men's shoes splash into puddles.
INT. DARK STAIRWAY LANDING AND HALLWAY - NIGHT
Three MEN wearing slouch hats and long coats climb into view.
They pull out guns and creep along the hallway.
The three Men silently approach a door. They exchange looks.
INT. BARE ROOM - NIGHT
CRASH! the door slams open, the three Men run inside the
dark room, guns ready. But no one's there!
Brig grabs the third Man from behind and takes his gun.
BLAM! BLAM! he shoots the other two Men in the back. He
chokes the struggling third Man to death. Brig lets the
body fall.
INT. MURPHY'S BAR - NIGHT
McQueen cleans the bar. He stops, listens. Nothing. He
cleans some more. A shadow falls over him. He spins and
gasps in surprise. It's Brig, holding his side.
MCQUEEN
It wasn't my idea, I swear.
BRIG
It's OK. I believe you.
Brig smashes a whisky bottle against McQueen's head, then
twists the broken glass into McQueen's throat. McQueen
clutches his gushing throat and gurgles horribly. His wide
eyes stay fixed on Brig as he slowly collapses.
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
The black sedan cruises along through the hissing rain.
INT. BLACK SEDAN IN MOTION - NIGHT
Brig drives with one hand.
EXT. CASINO - NIGHT
A gaudy temple of worship to the gods of gambling and greed.
INT. JOHNNY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
JOHNNY, a cool shark in an expensive suit, is on the phone.
JOHNNY (INTO PHONE)
Yeah, I already took care of our
little problem. Never mind the
details. Just check the morgue come
morning. You never know who might
turn up.
A HENCHMAN knocks, enters, whispers into Johnny's ear. Johnny
slams down the phone receiver.
JOHNNY
Send somebody over there. Find out
what happened.
The Henchman heads for the door -- but stops, and slowly
backs up. Brig enters, gun aimed at the Henchmen's guts.
Johnny reaches for a gun in a desk drawer but Brig kicks the
drawer shut, trapping Johnny's fingers. Johnny cradles his
broken hand and groans.
BRIG
Why Johnny, what's the matter? Aren't
you glad to see me?
Brig brutally pistol-whips the Henchman to the floor.
JOHNNY
Wise up, Brig. Shoot me, you won't
get out of here alive.
BRIG
You owe me ten big ones. I'm here
to collect.
JOHNNY
I don't have that kind of money here.
Brig slams his gun across Johnny's face. Johnny spits blood.
JOHNNY
All right. All right.
Johnny gets up and opens a hinged painting of a beautiful
Chinese woman, revealing a wall safe.
BRIG
Open it.
Johnny spins the tumbler.
JOHNNY
Every cop in the city's looking for
you. You think they aren't watching
this place?
BRIG
Concentrate on your own problems.
Johnny opens the safe, reaches inside.
JOHNNY
Ten grand, huh?
BRIG
That's right.
Johnny spins, gun in hand. Brig rams his gun into Johnny's
belly and SHOOTS, a muffled bang. Johnny grimaces through
the rising gunsmoke and collapses, dead.
Brig steps over him and takes money from the safe.
INT. ENTERTAINERS CHANGING ROOM - NIGHT
GLORIA, a brassy curvacious blonde, applies makeup at a
showbiz bulb mirror. She sees Brig's reflection in the glass,
turns in her seat to look at him.
GLORIA
Are you crazy? The cops are looking
everywhere for you. Why'd you come
here?
BRIG
Why do you think?
Gloria takes a moment to figure out Brig's tender expression.
GLORIA
For me? You came back for me? Ain't
that sweet. You got the wrong dame,
mister. I don't go for losers like
you. I'm with Johnny now, see?
He's twice the man you ever were.
She turns back to the mirror, resumes putting on makeup.
GLORIA
Come morning you'll be back in your
cell, serving another thirty years,
or you're gonna be dead. Me, I got
no preference one way or the other.
But it's only words, Gloria's heart is breaking.
GLORIA
So why don't you scram, Brig? Why
don't you get out of here before the
cops come or Johnny plugs you?
She's crying, her face twists with pain and regret.
GLORIA
Please, Brig, just go. I'm no good,
see? I'm--
Brig's right behind her. Gloria turns, looks up at his
enraged face. She opens her mouth to scream--
Brig's big hands close around her throat. Gloria struggles
but Brig's too strong and she's driven him too far, he's
crazy now. Gloria's movements slow... stop... she relaxes.
Brig pants for breath as he stares in horror at Gloria's
limp body. Her open eyes stare back at him, unseeing.
Police sirens wail in the distance. Brig runs from the room.
EXT. CASINO - NIGHT
Police cars surround the entrance, COPS spill out, take aim.
Brig rushes outside, gun blazing! The Cops let him have it!
Brig is hit a dozen times. He collapses, money spills from
his pockets and sticks to the rain-soaked asphalt.
FADE OUT:
10/07
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