Short from the Done Deal Sex & Murder contest, March/April 2007
"Money Changes Everything"
FADE IN:
EXT. STRIP CLUB - NIGHT
Topped by a naked girl in pink neon, whose big boobies blink
on and off.
INT. STRIP CLUB STAGE - NIGHT
Close on big boobies, owned by the hottest brunette you ever
saw. SANDI, 20s, performs a slow strip to sensual music.
Her audience, BUSINESSMEN and HUSBANDS, are seeking a thrill.
Sandi gives it to them. She owns them. They know it.
INT. BACK STAIRS - NIGHT
TWO BOUNCERS on the landing watch MATTY climb upstairs.
Matty's so good-looking he's pretty, he dresses impeccably,
his hair's immaculate.
MATTY
Mr. Grogan is expecting me.
The Bouncer opens the door, Matty goes inside. The Bouncer
closes the door and sniffs the air in disgust.
BOUNCER
Jeez, is that freakin' pansy wearing
after-shave or perfume?
INT. GROGAN'S OFFICE - NIGHT
GROGAN, 40s, a shark in a silk suit, rises to greet Matty.
GROGAN
Hey Matty, thanks for coming.
MATTY
What can I do for you, Mr. Grogan?
GROGAN
Let me show you something.
Grogan opens window blinds. His office looks down onto the
strip club stage. There's Sandi, wearing just a G-string,
shaking her big boobies at the hypotized audience.
MATTY
Oh, my. Can we spell "slutty"?
GROGAN
She's my fiancée.
MATTY
She's a very talented girl.
GROGAN
I gotta go out tonight. It's
business, I can't take Sandi with
me. I need someone to protect her.
MATTY
You think her life is in danger?
Grogan snaps the blinds shut.
GROGAN
The only thing that's in danger is
every man in the room, whenever Sandi
walks in. I trust my guys. But
Sandi's like an electrical storm.
She blows men's fuses. Makes them
go crazy.
Grogan glances significantly at Matty.
GROGAN
Most men, anyway.
MATTY
I'm surprised you allow her to dance.
GROGAN
She says if I don't, she'll get a
job somewhere else. Sure, I could
strong-arm her, but I want her to be
here of her own free will. Yeah, I
know that sounds sappy. Go ahead
and laugh, I don't care.
MATTY
I think she's fortunate to have such
an understanding person in her life.
Grogan shrugs and nods, modestly taking the compliment.
MATTY
So you want me to look after her?
GROGAN
Just till I get back. Take her out
somewhere. Entertain her.
Grogan gives a wad of cash to Matty.
GROGAN
Don't let her out of your sight,
okay?
MATTY
You can count on me, Mr. Grogan.
INT. MATTY'S CAR - NIGHT
Matty drives through slick neon city streets. Sandi looks
gorgeous in a tight black dress. She eyes Matty, curious.
SANDI
How long have you known Groggy?
MATTY
Oh, quite a while. Mr. Grogan and
my old boss were friends.
SANDI
Where are we going?
MATTY
I thought we'd hit a couple of clubs.
SANDI
Take me where you usually go.
Matty thinks about that for a moment.
MATTY
All right.
INT. DANCE CLUB - NIGHT
Thumping dance music, dazzling lights, a dancing CROWD,
predominantly semi-naked male. Among them, Matty and Sandi
dance. She goes at it with wild abandon, drawing smiles
from other dancers.
Watching them from the bar area, a smoking hot BLONDE and
her three PALS. Sandi notices the scrunity. A look of mutual
dislike crackles between Sandi and the Blonde.
Sandi leans close to speak to Matty. He nods. Sandi heads
for the LADIES ROOM. A good-looking GUY slides into Sandi's
place to dance with Matty, who doesn't mind at all.
INT. LADIES ROOM - NIGHT
Sandi touches up her make-up in the mirror. The dance music
swells as the door opens and the Blonde and her three Pals
enter. The last girl shuts the door, cutting off the music.
Their eyes meet in the mirror. The Blonde holds up a flick-
knife. The blade SNAPS open. Sandi just smiles.
INT. DANCE CLUB - OUTSIDE LADIES ROOM - NIGHT
A very concerned Matty pushes through the curious CROWD that's
formed outside the door. He squeezes inside.
INT. LADIES ROOM - NIGHT
Matty enters, stops, looks around. The Blonde and her Pals
lie scattered on the floor. Red spatter on the walls, on
the floor, everywhere.
Sandi leans over a sink, washing her face. Matty spins her
round. She's OK, there's not a mark on her.
MATTY
The hell happened here?
SANDI
Blondie and her cute little friends
wanted to play rough.
A SECURITY GUY kneels and turns the Blonde over. Her face
has been slashed. Security Guy looks at Sandi. She smiles
and waves the flick-knife. Matty grabs the knife.
MATTY
Come on, we're leaving.
SECURITY GUY
You ain't going nowhere.
Matty straight-fingers Security Guy in the throat, kicks him
in the nuts, chops him on the neck. Security Guy goes down
like a felled tree. Matty drags Sandi out of there.
INT. DANCE CLUB - OUTSIDE LADIES ROOM - NIGHT
Matty and Sandi push through the crowd.
EXT. PARKING LOT OUTSIDE DANCE CLUB - NIGHT
Sandi leans against Matty's car, arms folded. Matty hurries
outside, he's got something hidden inside his jacket.
SANDI
About time.
MATTY
Get in!
They climb in, Matty starts the engine and zooms out of there.
INT. MATTY'S CAR - NIGHT
Driving, Matty dumps cassette tapes on Sandi's lap.
MATTY
I got the security tapes.
SANDI
I can see why Groggy likes you.
You're a very useful person to have
around.
MATTY
I can see why he told me not to let
you out of my sight. You're one
crazy bitch.
SANDI
Yes I am. Does it turn you on?
Matty just drives. Sandi lights a smoke, closes her eyes.
SANDI
Do you know where Groggy's going
tonight? Did he tell you?
MATTY
He just said it was business.
SANDI
He wants to marry me but he won't
tell me things. I have to find out
from other people. Twenty million
dollars. Shh, I'm not supposed to
know.
MATTY
What are you talking about?
SANDI
He's collecting money he's owed.
That's a lot of zeroes, huh?
MATTY
I guess.
SANDI
Drugs money. Whore money. Blood
money. He's so sweet, but he won't
tell me nothing. It's like he doesn't
trust me. I had to screw Jimmy to
find out about the twenty million.
A man shouldn't keep secrets from
his fiancée. Don't you think?
MATTY
A fiancée shouldn't screw other guys.
SANDI
I can get past the guards. Surprise
him before he puts it in his safe.
You and me. Ten million each. What
do you say?
MATTY
I think you're nuts. Why me?
SANDI
Because you don't work for Groggy.
Because you can handle yourself.
And because I trust you.
She strokes his sleeve, feeling the material.
SANDI
And because ten million would buy a
lot of good-looking suits.
Matty thinks about this, long and hard.
INT. GROGAN'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Grogan opens the door and turns on the lights. He carries a
fat attaché case to his desk. He swings a hinged painting
aside to reveal a wall safe, which he opens. He opens the
attaché case and smiles at stacks of money.
SANDI (O.S.)
Hi honey, I'm home.
Sandi points a gun at Grogan.
GROGAN
Bad idea, baby. Put that away unless
you really want to get hurt.
BLAM! Sandi smiles at Grogan through the cloud of gunsmoke.
Grogan touches his chest, inspects the blood on his hand.
GROGAN
Stupid. Bitch. How far do you think
you'll get? How far...
Grogan collapses, dead as a wooden duck.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
The Bouncer comes running, Matty steps out and beats the
Bouncer to a bloody pulp, smashing him down. Sandi arrives
with the attaché case.
MATTY
Grogan?
SANDI
We broke up. Let's get out of here.
INT. MATTY'S CAR - NIGHT
Speeding through the neon city. Sandi turns to Matty. She
places her hand on his crotch.
SANDI
I knew it was an act. Pull over.
EXT. MATTY'S CAR - DARK ALLEYWAY - NIGHT
The car rocks on its springs, Sandi GASPS with each bounce.
SANDI (V.O.)
Oh yeah baby. That feels real good.
BLAM! As the gunshot sound fades, the car stops rocking.
FADE OUT
04/07
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