Script Revised #4 (10-27-10)

Main Characters
Christopher Hilshire
Francis R. H. Holland

Secondary characters and extras
Clare Hilshire
Secretary
Guard 1 & 2

Locations
Large House
Office Interior

By Celia Mitchell

ACT I:
Opens with a hand reaching for the doorbell in the daytime. Two guards are lying motionless on the lawn.

Inside the house: Holland walks toward the door. Opening it without much thought, Holland is promptly greeted with a swift punch to the face.

Cut to Black

ACT II:
Holland wakes up, lying in a chair in his living room, not bound by so much as a rubber band. Chris is standing in the same room, looking out a window. Chris looks back at Holland.

CHRIS
You’re finally awake…

HOLLAND nervously looks around the room.

CHRIS turns his whole body to face HOLLAND

CHRIS
There’s no need to be afraid. I’m not going to do anything to you… yet…


HOLLAND catches his last word, his expression tenses.

CHRIS gives him a calm, cold smile. CHRIS takes a seat across from HOLLAND, looking oddly at ease.
CHRIS
So… I finally meet the man who has been pulling the strings.

HOLLAND looks suspiciously at CHRIS

CHRIS
So, this is how it’s going to work. I’m going to ask you a question, and you’re going to give me an answer. Sound fair?

HOLLAND
What is this? Who are you?

CHRIS
That doesn’t matter. What does matter is the work you do. Tell me about you.

HOLLAND
I don’t have to listen to this…

HOLLAND gets up from his chair.
CHRIS rounds on him, almost nose to nose. CHRISTOPHER takes out a black tactical Salute Knife. CHRISTOPHER caressing HOLLAND’s skin with the blade.

CHRIS
It would be in your best interest to stay put.

HOLLAND looks nervously at the blade and sits down.

CHRIS
You didn’t answer my question.

HOLLAND
I’m not afraid of your threats. I’m not going to tell you anything about me.

CHRISTOPHER bends down and points the knife toward one of HOLLAND’s fingers.

CHRIS
Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. If you insist on keeping your mouth shut, I will skin one finger at a time until you start talking.

CHRIS moves his knife to the first finger on HOLLAND’s left hand, holding his hand down against the chair, and starts to draw the knife back towards HOLLAND’s skin.

HOLLAND
[Frazzled] WAIT!

CHRIS releases HOLLAND’s hand, looking up at his face.

HOLLAND
I work for the National Security Division.

CHRISTOPHER straightens up, waiting to hear the rest.

HOLLAND
I coordinate the deployment of agents to eliminate threats to the State.

Cut to: Flashback: Office Interior: CHRIS’s office is lit solely by a lamp on his desk.

A file slides over to CHRIS’s side of the desk. He looks up at SECRETARY.

CHRIS
What’s this?

SECRETARY
Orders came in for you. It’s a private mission. They’ve requested you go alone.

CHRIS picks the file up off his desk.

Secretary
[Hesitatingly] A group of doctors have been passing medicine and information to the rebels.

CHRIS looks briefly inside the file, shuffling through a couple pages, looking troubled.

CHRIS
There isn’t a shred of target info!

SECRETARY looks to the side uncomfortably, before turning to walk away.

Cut to: LIVING ROOM.


CHRIS
Who authorizes your orders?

HOLLAND
That’s classified.

CHRIS hits Hilshire across the face with the fist opposite of his knife hand.
CHRIS clearly unhappy glares into HOLLAND’s eyes before pacing in a circle around HOLLAND’s chair.

CHRIS
What was the last mission you issued?

HOLLAND
The last elimination was a group of physicians who turned defector, passing along their state-issued medicines and classified information to the rebels.

Cut to brief flashback:

CHRIS is holding a woman in his arms, kneeling on the floor, rocking back and forth.

CHRIS takes off her wedding ring. Visibly very distraught.

CUT to: LIVINGROOM.

CHRIS’s eyes flash angrily toward HOLLAND.

CHRIS
You slime-ball! Lying will get you nowhere!

CHRIS slams the knife down, point-first, dangerously close to one of HOLLAND’s fingers.

HOLLAND
I assure you, I’m very serious. They’ve been doing this for quite some time. Years in fact…

CHRIS
If they’ve been doing this for years, what changed to make them a threat?

HOLLAND
Things got personal. One in particular got a hold of classified files. Files located and encrypted on your own home computer, agent NOIR-31, Christopher Hilshire. Oh yes, you’re wife, Clare, was the one.

CHRIS stared at HOLLAND, stunned. He went through a few stages of anger, hitting a nearby chair before taking a deep breath and turning back to HOLLAND.

CHRIS
You’ve known it was me this whole time?

HOLLAND
[Smugly] Of course, my dear friend. What other agent in the field has a trademark of skinning the hands off those unlucky enough to be his victims?

CHRIS stared at him, not totally knowing what to say. But then, just moments later, he regained his composure.

CHRIS
But wait, you said classified files. What kind?

HOLLAND
Specifically, profiles of agents. Something that would make you an easy target in the future.

CHRIS
Agent profiles? I realize informing the dogs that do your dirty work, what’s actually going on, is below you, but for this, there should have been mountains of target info. Why wasn’t there any?

HOLLAND
It wouldn’t have benefitted the mission in any way, so I left out unnecessary details.

CHRIS
Unnecessary details…

Brief pause.

HOLLAND
You should read Clare’s file. You’re here after all.

CHRIS
[Defiantly] I have no intention of—

HOLLAND
Did you know that on ten separate occasions, she used your agent code number to get through the gates of a rebel lockdown zone?

CHRIS eyes HOLLAND suspiciously.

HOLLAND
You don’t believe me? How about this… She cooked dinner every Sunday and Monday, except on the anniversary of her mother’s death. Her favorite necklace was a sapphire that you gave her on her birthday. She once spent an entire evening caring for you when you fell ill after your first mission.

CHRIS’s eyes open wide, obviously recognizing the details in HOLLAND’s words.

CHRIS
What—

HOLLAND
That one day she was late meeting you on the lake, she was with her commanding officer in the rebel faction. She’s been playing you! She stole from you! The best thing you ever did was dispose of her. Her treachery would have destroyed you and the state. And the state is everything! Am I wrong?

CHRIS is quiet.

HOLLAND
AM I WRONG?

CHRIS folds his knife back up and puts it back in its rightful place on his belt.

CHRIS
[Mumbles] You aren’t wrong…

HOLLAND
She never really loved you. You should know that. She was just using you for her own gain.


ACT III:

CHRIS is silent, seeming to turn this over in his mind. But then, slowly, he cracks a cold smile.

CHRIS
You know… you almost had me there. If this had been about anyone else, then I would have believed you. But as it happens, I believe beyond any doubt that Clare loved me. And that’s all there is to it.

CHRIS turns to the window.

CHRIS
There’s only one more thing.

HOLLAND is silent.

CHRIS
Why did it have to be me?

HOLLAND rises from his seat.

HOLLAND
I would think that’s obvious. You were the best suited for the job. It was also thought that the best way to inform you of her treason was to see it with your own eyes. That way the satisfaction of ending her betrayal could be yours and yours alone.

CHRIS continues to stare out the window silently. His anger is still boiling as he mulls over his thoughts.
Taking the opportunity with CHRIS’s back turned, HOLLAND lunges forward to choke CHRISTOPHER. HOLLAND’s arms begin to take hold of CHRIS’s neck.

CHRIS grabs his arm, peels it back from his neck, immobilizes HOLLAND and snaps HOLLAND’s neck.

CHRIS looks down at the body that has just fallen to the floor, no remorse in his eyes.

CHRIS turns and walks out of frame.
END

Character Francis Holland - Choreography Rehearsal

Character Francis Holland - Choreography Rehearsal from Celia Mitchell on Vimeo.

These are the highlights of over an hour of rehearsal. The final product of this session, putting all the moves together, is in the last 20 seconds.

Script Revised #3

Main Characters

Christopher Hilshire

Francis R. H. Holland

Secondary characters and extras

Clare Hilshire

Secretary

Guard 1 & 2

Locations

Large House

Office Interior

By Celia Mitchell

ACT I:

Opens with a hand reaching for the doorbell in the daytime. Two guards are lying motionless on the lawn.

Inside the house: Holland walks toward the door. Opening it without much thought, Holland is promptly greeted with a swift punch to the face.

Cut to Black

ACT II:

Holland wakes up, lying in a chair in his living room, not bound by so much as a rubber band. Chris is standing in the same room, looking out a window. Chris looks back at Holland.

CHRIS

You’re awake…

HOLLAND nervously looks around the room.

CHRIS turns his whole body to face HOLLAND

CHRIS

There’s no need to be afraid. I’m not going to do anything to you… yet…

HOLLAND catches his last word, his expression tenses.

CHRIS gives him a calm, cold smile. CHRIS takes a seat across from HOLLAND, looking oddly at ease.

CHRIS

So… I finally meet the man who has been pulling the strings.

HOLLAND looks suspiciously at CHRIS

CHRIS

Why don’t we start from the top? Don’t be shy.

HOLLAND

[Nervously] What is this? Who are you?

CHRIS

That doesn’t matter. What does matter is who you’re working for.

HOLLAND

Why do you care?

CHRISTOPHER takes out a black tactical Salute Knife.

CHRIS

Lets just say, it’s a personal matter.

CHRISTOPHER caresses HOLLAND’s skin with the blade.

HOLLAND looks nervously at the blade as CHRISTOPHER points it toward one of HOLLAND’s fingers.

HOLLAND looks up at CHRISTOPHER to try and read his expression.

CHRIS

If you remain silent, I will skin one finger at a time until you tell me what I want to know. I asked who you work for!

HOLLAND

[Frazzled] I work for the National Security Division.

CHRISTOPHER leans away from HOLLAND, walking in a circle around HOLLAND.

CHRIS

And what do you do there?

HOLLAND looks mildly annoyed.

HOLLAND

I coordinate the deployment of agents to eliminate threats to the State.

Cut to: Flashback: Office Interior: CHRIS’s office is lit solely by a lamp on his desk.

A file slides over to CHRIS’s side of the desk. He looks up at SECRETARY.

CHRIS

What’s this?

SECRETARY

Orders came in for you. It’s a private mission. They’ve requested you go alone.

CHRIS picks the file up off his desk.

Secretary

[Hesitatingly] A group of doctors have been passing information and medicine to the rebels.

CHRIS looks briefly inside the file, shuffling through a couple pages, looking troubled.

CHRIS

There’s not even a shred of target info!

SECRETARY looks to the side uncomfortably, before turning to walk away.

Cut to: LIVING ROOM.

CHRIS

Who authorizes you to eliminate a target?

HOLLAND

That isn’t within my jurisdiction.

CHRIS hits Hilshire across the face with his fist.

CHRIS clearly unhappy glares into HOLLAND’s eyes for a moment. CHRIS paces in a circle around HOLLAND’s chair.

CHRIS

What was the last mission you issued?

HOLLAND

What does that have to do with anything?

Cut to brief flashback:

CHRIS is holding a woman in his arms, kneeling on the floor, rocking back and forth.

CHRIS takes off her wedding ring. Visibly very distraught.

CUT to: LIVINGROOM.

CHRIS’s eyes flash angrily toward HOLLAND.

CHRIS

Answer the question!

CHRIS slams the knife down, point-first, dangerously close to one of HOLLAND’s fingers.

HOLLAND

It was for this group of traitors. They were passing along agent profiles to the rebels.

CHRIS has regained control, projecting a false calm.

CHRIS

Agent profiles? I realize informing the dogs that do your dirty work, what it is they’re actually supposed to be doing, is below you, but for this, there should have been mountains of target info. Why wasn’t there any?

HOLLAND

It wouldn’t have benefitted the mission in any way, so I left out unnecessary details.

CHRIS

Unnecessary details…

Brief pause.

CHRIS

One of those details was the name of a woman I loved…

Cut to FLASHBACK: CHRIS turns over CLARE’s body, that has fallen at an obscure angle. His expression turns from casual to fearful. He takes off a glove to check her pulse. Having found no pulse he gently lifts her off the ground (indicated into his arms).

CUT to LIVINGROOM:

HOLLAND stares at CHRIS.

HOLLAND

Wait. You’re…

CHRIS projects an angry glare at HOLLAND

HOLLAND

How unlucky. I suppose your reputation speaks loudest.

CHRIS

She… was my wife…

HOLLAND

And you’re still sticking up for her? I don’t think you knew her as well as you think you did…

CHRIS

[Sarcastically] Oh really? And you would know how?

HOLLAND

I’ve been running surveillance on Clare Hilshire for about three years now.

CHRIS

And you never once noticed that I was there?

HOLLAND

I wasn’t the one who had you both on camera. That was the office above me. Everything I got was in writing. You and that doctor were never more than names to me.

CHRIS

So you didn’t actually see any of it? How do you know it was even true? The higher ups probably lied to you the same way they lied to me!

HOLLAND

I need no proof. The details in the reports were proof enough. Precise details can’t be made up.

[Pause]

HOLLAND

You should read her file. You’re here after all.

CHRIS

[Defiantly] I have no intention of—

HOLLAND

Did you know that on ten separate occasions, she used your dinner dates as a cover for her activities with the rebels?

CHRIS eyes HOLLAND suspiciously.

HOLLAND

You don’t believe me? She cooks dinner every Sunday and Monday, except on the anniversary of her mother’s death.

CHRIS’s eyes open wide, obviously recognizing the details in HOLLAND’s words.

CHRIS

What—

HOLLAND

That one day she was late meeting you on the lake, she was with her commanding officer in the rebel faction. She’s been playing you! The best thing you ever did was kill her. Her treachery would have destroyed you. It would have continued to wound the State, and the State is everything to you and me! Am I wrong?

CHRIS is still, watching HOLLAND.

CHRIS

[Mumbles] You are not wrong…

HOLLAND

She never really loved you, you know. She was just using you for a suitable long-term alibi.

ACT III:

CHRIS is silent, seeming to turn this over in his mind. But then, slowly, he cracks a cold smile.

CHRIS

You know… you almost had me there. If this had been about anyone else, then I would have believed you. But as it happens, I know beyond any doubt that Clare loved me. And that’s all there is to it.

CHRIS turns to the window.

CHRIS

Just one more thing.

HOLLAND is silent.

CHRIS

Why did it have to be me?

HOLLAND rises from his seat.

HOLLAND

Because you were the best suited for the job. And because it was thought that the best way to inform you of her treachery was to see it with your own eyes. That way the satisfaction of ending her treason could be yours and yours alone.

CHRIS continues to stare out the window silently and angrily, mulling over his thoughts.

Taking the opportunity with CHRIS’s back turned, HOLLAND lunges forward to choke CHRISTOPHER. HOLLAND’s arms begin to take hold of CHRIS’s neck.

CHRIS grabs his arm, peels it back from his neck, immobilizes HOLLAND and snaps HOLLAND’s neck.

CHRIS looks down at the body that has just fallen to the floor, no remorse in his eyes.

CHRIS turns and walks out of frame.

END

Schedule & lists

Schedule:
~This Friday & Saturday (23rd) –> finish working out end scene moves with actors
Saturday (23rd) –> Finish getting props, clothing
~Next week – Saturday (Oct. 30th) —Sunday (Nov. 1st) -> filming

~Saturday – Sunday (Nov. 6th) -> Finish filming
~Monday (Nov. 8th) –> Digitize footage
~Tuesday (Nov. 9th) - >Start Preliminary Edit
~Friday (Nov. 12th) – Saturday (13th) -> Make video edit.
~Friday (Nov. 19th) - Sunday –> Start audio edit and color correction.
~Monday (Nov. 27th) –> Finish audio edit
~Friday (Dec. 5th) –> Complete everything left in film (effects, extra audio, etc.) and DVD menu

Actors/Actresses:

- Christopher = Brian Truesby

- Holland = Austin Williams

- Secretary = Caroline Huss

- Clare = Clare Freeman

Extras:

- Guard 1
- Guard 2

Choreograph:
- End fight sequence
- Punch to face
- Side punch across the face


Props:
- ring
- knife (+)
- clothes for all people
- rubber for knife edge
- lamp
- desk
- makeup

Locations:
- Holland’s house (Robbie’s house)
- Clare’s scene (Parkside?)
- Office

Shot List:
- lawn – guard scene [2 guards & Christopher] (large house)
- Inside house door [Holland, Christopher, 2 guards] (large house)
- Living room sequence interrogation [Holland, Christopher] (large house)
- Office scene [Christopher, Secretary] (office)
- Clare’s scene [Christopher, Clare] (old room)
- End action scene [Christopher, Holland] (large house)

Support staff needed:
- camera man (+ Michael)
- makeup artist
- choreography coordinator (+ Aaron)
- lighting & boom pole

Rehearsal Footage

Rehearsal Footage from Brian/Chris

Untitled from Celia Mitchell on Vimeo.

Final Revision - Script

Main Characters

Christopher Hilshire

Clare Hilshire

Francis R. H. Holland

Secondary characters and extras

Secretary

Guard 1 & 2

Locations

Large House

Office Interior

By Celia Mitchell

ACT I:

Opens with a hand reaching for the doorbell in the daytime. Two guards are lying motionless on the lawn.

Inside the house: Holland walks toward the door. Opening it without much thought, Holland is promptly greeted with a swift punch to the face.

Cut to Black

ACT II:

Holland wakes up, laying in a chair in his living room, not bound by so much as a rubberband. Chris is standing in the same room, looking out a window. Chris looks back at Holland.

CHRIS

You’re awake…

HOLLAND nervously looks around the room.

CHRIS turns his whole body to face HOLLAND

CHRIS

There’s no need to be afraid. I’m not going to do anything to you… yet…

HOLLAND catches his last word, his expression tenses.

CHRIS gives him a calm, cold smile. CHRIS takes a seat across from HOLLAND, looking oddly at ease.

CHRIS

So… I finally meet the man who has been pulling the strings.

HOLLAND looks suspiciously at CHRIS

CHRIS

Why don’t we start from the top? Don’t be shy now.

HOLLAND

[nervously] What is this? Who are you?

CHRIS

That doesn’t matter. What does matter is who you’re working for.

HOLLAND

Why do you care?

CHRISTOPHER takes out a swiss army knife.

CHRIS

Lets just say, it’s a personal matter.

CHRISTOPHER caresses HOLLAND’s skin with the blade.

HOLLAND looks nervously at the blade as CHRISTOPHER points it toward one of HOLLAND’s fingers.

HOLLAND looks up at CHRISTOPHER to try and read his expression.

CHRIS

If you continue to not give me answers, I will skin one finger at a time until you tell me what I want to know. I asked who you work for!

HOLLAND

[frazzled] I work for the National Security Division.

CHRISTOPHER leans away from HOLLAND, walking in a circle around HOLLAND.

CHRIS

And what do you do there?

HOLLAND looks mildly annoyed.

HOLLAND

I coordinate the deployment of agents to eliminate threats to the State.

Cut to: Flashback: Office Interior: CHRIS’s office is lit solely by a lamp on his desk.

A file slides over to CHRIS’s side of the desk. He looks up at SECRETARY.

CHRIS

What’s this?

SECRETARY

Orders came in for you. It’s a private mission. They’ve requested you go alone this time. Some doctors have been passing information and medicine to the rebels.

CHRIS looks briefly inside the file, shuffling through a couple pages, looking troubled.

CHRIS

Good grief, not even any target info.

SECRETARY

Nope. Just eliminate everyone inside.

Cut to LIVING ROOM.

CHRIS

Who authorizes you to eliminate a target?

HOLLAND

How should I know?

CHRIS hits Hilshire across the face with his fist.

CHRIS leans within inches of HOLLAND’s face.

CHRIS

Who gives you your orders?

HOLLAND

I don’t know! I don’t have the clearance…

CHRIS clearly unhappy glares into HOLLAND’s eyes for a moment. Leaning away from HOLLAND, CHRIS paces in a circle around HOLLAND’s chair.

CHRIS

What was the last mission you issued?

HOLLAND

What does that have to do with this?

Cut to brief flashback:

CHRIS is holding a woman in his arms, kneeling on the floor, rocking back and forth.

CHRIS takes off her wedding ring. Visibly very distraught.

CUT to LIVINGROOM.

CHRIS’s eyes flash angrily toward HOLLAND.

CHRIS

Answer the question!

HOLLAND

But I don’t get it…

CHRIS

Tell me!

HOLLAND

Fine! It was for this group of traitors. They were passing along agent profiles to the rebels.

CHRIS has regained control on his emotions.

CHRIS

Agent profiles? Why was there nothing about it in the mission profile?

HOLLAND

It wouldn’t have benefitted the mission in any way, so I left out unnecessary details.

CHRIS

Unnecessary details…

Brief pause.

CHRIS

One of those details was the name of a woman I loved…

Cut to FLASHBACK: CHRIS turns over CLARE’s body, that has fallen at an obscure angle. His expression turns from casual to fearful. He takes off a glove to check her pulse. Having found no pulse he gently lifts her off the ground (indicated into his arms).

CUT to LIVINGROOM:

HOLLAND stares at CHRIS.

HOLLAND

Wait. You’re…

CHRIS projects an angry glare at HOLLAND

HOLLAND

How unlucky. I suppose your skills speak stronger than your family ties.

CHRIS

She… was my wife. And I killed her with my own hands…

HOLLAND

If you’re still sticking up for her, you probably don’t know her as well as you think you do.

CHRIS

[sarcastically] Oh really? And you would know how?

HOLLAND

I’ve been running surveillance on Clare Hilshire for about three years now. You had yourself one really messed up woman.

CHRIS

What crap are you spouting?

HOLLAND

Since you don’t believe me, you should go read her profile. You’re here after all.

CHRIS

[defiantly] I have no intention of—

HOLLAND

But you really should. Did you know that on ten separate occasions, she used your dinner dates as a cover for her activities with the rebels?

CHRIS eyes HOLLAND suspiciously.

HOLLAND

I’m sure you know her favorite color is blue, but do you know that the reason she loves blue is because it reminds her of the lake near her first home?

CHRIS’s eyes open wide, obviously recognizing the details in HOLLAND’s words.

HOLLAND

The very first time you took her out for a date, you went to see the medical museum.

CHRIS is silent.

HOLLAND

For her twenty-fifth birthday, she spent the night at The Blue Fish restaurant. She ordered the Salmon.

CHRIS

[Angry] Enough!

HOLLAND

You did well to follow through with your mission. Her treachery would have continued to wound the state. It would have destroyed you.

CHRIS is still, watching HOLLAND.

HOLLAND

She never really loved you, you know. She was just using you for a suitable long-term alibi.

ACT III:

CHRIS’s expression wavers. He cracks a cold smile.

CHRIS

You know… you almost had me there. But now I know you’re lying to me. If there was anything I was ever totally certain of, it was that Clare loved me, and I loved her.

CHRIS turns to the window.

CHRIS

Just answer one more thing.

HOLLAND is silent.

CHRIS

Why did it have to be me?

HOLLAND rises from his seat.

HOLLAND

Because you were the best suited for the job. No other reason.

CHRIS continues to stare out the window silently, mulling over his thoughts.

Taking the opportunity with CHRIS’s back turned, HOLLAND lunges forward to choke CHRISTOPHER. HOLLAND’s arms begin to take hold of CHRIS’s neck.

CHRIS grabs his arm, peels it back from his neck, immobilizes HOLLAND and snaps HOLLAND’s neck.

CHRIS looks down at the body that has just fallen to the floor.

CHRIS turns and walks out of frame.

END

Actors

Brian Truesby - as Christopher

Clare Freeman - as Clare

Holland - Robbie Siskin (tentative= still waiting to hear back from a few people)

Caroline Huss as Secretary