The Long Way Down
Written by Vernon Mortensen & John Harrington
Copyright, 1999
Synopsis: Deacon Taylor is having a bad day. He just found out his stepson, John, has been killed in a drug deal gone wrong, in a sleepy little town just south of the border. All he wants to do is make his wife happy and bring John's body back home. But thanks to some crooked Mexican police, blood thirsty drug runners, and his own bad luck, this night is spinning out of control. Deacon is about to find the road to hell, and it's a long way down.
(The formatting on the dialogue has gotten a little screwed up, but this is one of my favorite stories. I co-wrote it with the amazingly talented, John Harrington. Enjoy)
WE HEAR DOGS BARKING
FADE IN:
EXT. SANTA ROSA - MEXICO -- EVENING
EXTREME SLOW MOTION
We hear MUSIC but it is playing so slow that it is too distorted to hear clearly.
Through an EXTREME CLOSE UP we see blurred images moving across the screen but we can't make them out.
The camera slowly ZOOMS OUT to reveal...
TWO STRAY DOGS tearing the PIECES out each other in a vacant lot.
The camera continues to pull out to reveal a run down BUILDING in the background.
Your typical decrepit Mexican border town.
SLOW MOTION BECOMES REAL TIME.
We hear the MUSIC clearly-- "COCAINE" by Eric Clapton.
JOHN TAYLOR (19),a half black, half white mulatto -- a lean and lanky albino with a huge, light colored afro exits a run down BUILDING carrying a...
FREEZE FRAME ON:
A BLUE U.S. NAVY BACKPACK.
BACK TO SCENE:
Beads of SWEAT roll down John's forehead as he nervously checks the street for federales -- he's sees nothing. He watches in horror as one dog RIPS the other dog's throat out.
A YOUNG BOY on a two-wheeled tricycle watches the action as DUST CLOUDS whip at his feet. Waves of HEAT ripple across the landscape.
John takes a deep breath and makes his move...
EXT. SANTA ROSA -- STREET - LATER
...keeping a steady pace -- cutting in and out of LOCALS on a street full of VENDORS.
John keeps moving.
A VENDOR offers him a disgusting hot dog -- he declines.
John is stopped outside a BAR by a WHISTLE blowing MEXICAN armed with a bottle of TEQUILA.
MEXICAN
Tequila and
women! Come
inside!
He tries unsuccessfully to pour tequila down John's throat.
FREEZE FRAME:
Through a rapid succession of jump cuts we are drawn closer and closer to the tequila bottle until we are...
INSIDE THE TEQUILA BOTTLE:
Floating helplessly in the cloudy liquid is a WORM-- puffy and bloated from soaking up too much tequila.
It turns to the camera and opens its mouth.
A DISTORTED SCREAM rumbles through the liquid as the worm desperately fights in vain to keep from drowning.
EXT. SANTA ROSA -- CONTINUING
The WHISTLE blowing Mexican continues to assault John.
JOHN
Get off me,
man!
MEXICAN
C'mon man...you'll
like it!
John keeps walking.
MEXICAN
(CONT'D)
American
faggot!
John stops at an intersection as a FEDERALE CAR pulls up beside him. He tries in vain to avoid eye contact with the FEDERALE who stares at him suspiciously. The light changes and the federale slowly drives away.
John continues to walk while constantly looking over his shoulder. The HAGGLING of vendors fills the air -- everybody is searching for their next DOLLAR.
A dirty ONE EYED BOY (10) tugs on John's pants...
ONE EYED BOY
Chiclets!
John keeps walking.
ONE EYED BOY
(CONT'D)
Chiclets!
The boy continues to nag and stalk John like a fly on shit.
ONE EYED BOY
(CONT'D)
Chiclets!
Chiclets!
Not paying attention, John accidentally kicks over a LITTLE GIRL'S ceramic CRUCIFIX.
CLOSE ON:
Jesus' cracked ceramic face.
BACK TO SCENE:
The girl grabs hold of John's leg and won't let go.
GIRL
Five dollars!
ONE EYED BOY
Chiclets!
GIRL
Five dollars!
Five dollars!
ONE EYED BOY
Chiclets!
Chiclets!
GIRL
Five dollars!
Five dollars!
All vendor's eyes fall upon John. He reaches into his pocket and quickly gives the girl a TEN -- hoping to settle the matter quickly and quietly.
John turns to leave and...
COLLIDES with a FEDERALE.
JOHN
Excuse me.
John attempts to step around the federale -- they "dance" left and right.
ONE EYED BOY
Chiclets!
Chiclets!
The federale SMACKS the annoying boy -- he shuts up.
FEDERALE
(Spanish)
What's in the
bag?
ZOOM IN ON the blue US NAVY BACKPACK
FREEZE FRAME:
SUBTITLE- "COCAINE"
We HEAR a WOMAN MOANING-- dubbed from a cheap porno.
BACK TO SCENE:
Drops of SWEAT form on John's forehead.
JOHN
No Spanish.
We HEAR the SQUEAL of PIGS.
Ten WILD PIGS nonchalantly saunter down the middle of the street. In the center of the pack appears to be the leader -- a large WHITE SOW with the word "LEGION" painted on its belly. The pig stops and eyes John -- then bolts down an ALLEY. The one eyed boy gives chase.
The federale ignores the bizarre occurrence -- just another day in Santa Rosa -- and grabs John's backpack.
FEDERALE
(Spanish)
What's in the
bag?
John's grip tightens.
JOHN
No Spanish.
FEDERALE
(Spanish)
What's in the
bag?
A CAR -- surrounded by the pigs -- starts honking its HORN.
FEDERALE
(CONT'D)
(Spanish)
What's in the
bag?
Three FRAT BOYS argue over the price of a hot dog with the vendor. They're your typical drunk college types -- a montage of khaki pants, Miller Lites and baseball caps.
FRAT BOY #1
You said three
for three dollars!
The vendor shakes his head.
FRAT BOY #1 (CONT'D)
Give me my
fucking money
back! You
said three --
three dollars!
The vendor shakes his head again.
The car continues to BLASTS its HORN at the obstructing pigs.
The federale is torn -- he recognizes the opportunity for good old fashioned police corruption in the frat boys -- but doesn't want to let John off the hook.
He stares hard at John.
FRAT BOY #1 (CONT'D)
I'm an American!
Don't fuck with me!
FRAT BOY #2
Fuck this guy!
I'll kick your ass!
Give him back his
money!
The federale tunes into the commotion...
...and turns back to find John long gone.
EXT. RED ROSE HOTEL - CONTINUING
John, his heart POUNDING, crosses the street toward the RED ROSE HOTEL. Before he enters, he notices TWO FEDERALES talking to a WHORE. They eye-ball him from head to toe as he...
INT. RED ROSE HOTEL -- CONTINUING
...enters the lobby of the dilapidated hotel. John is immediately approached by two rancid HOOKERS.
HOOKER #1
(broken English)
Let me suck.
Let me suck.
Let me suck.
Suck, suck,
suck, suck!
Staving off their advances, he notices a FEDERALE punching a PAY PHONE -- searching for change. They make eye contact as John escapes...
INT. STAIRWELL -- CONTINUING
Climbing five stairs at a time, he hears a door open one floor above. Panicking, he bails out on the second floor.
INT. HALLWAY -- CONTINUING
John pulls out a KEY and sets his sights on room 206. Suddenly, he hears some movement from the hallway ahead and turns back to the stairwell -- the door slowly opens.
TRAPPED
Without hesitation, John opens the backpack and pulls out a tightly wrapped BRICK.
He looks around in desperation...
...to find a broken down ICE MACHINE in the corner.
Lifting the lid to top of the ice machine, he shoves the brick inside and notices a rusty sign that hangs on its front:
O'CONNOR ICE MACHINE COMPANY - GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN
Broken
We hear GRINDING METAL and BROKEN MACHINERY.
BREATHING HEAVILY, he leans on the ice machine for support.
The door to the stairwell opens and a FEDERALE steps through.
They eye each other for what seems to be an eternity. The federale walks toward him and stops.
John is frozen.
The federale places a plastic bucket under the ice machine and waits -- nothing. He tries again...
FEDERALE
(Spanish)
Fuck! Stupid
piece of shit!
No ice. He kicks the machine.
Again we hear the GRINDING METAL and BROKEN MACHINERY.
John makes his move toward room 206 when TWO COLLEGE KIDS walk around the opposite corner. They are followed by the hooker from the lobby. The federale continues to rant and rave...abusing the machine. Relieved, John quickly inserts the key and opens the door...
INT. HOTEL ROOM -- CONTINUING
...to find FRANKIE (25) and STACY (19) together on the bed. She's a street wise sex-pistol of a chick, blonde with a white streak in her hair. Frankie on the other hand -- ain't too much to look at -- he's covered in prison tattoos which compliment his greased back oily hair.
There is an awkward moment between the three -- it's obvious that John has caught them in a compromising position. Stacy, guilty, quickly rolls off Frankie.
FRANKIE
John...that
was fast.
Any problems?
Stacy fixes her jeans as John watches.
CUT TO:
Stacy stands in a beautiful pool of glowing heavenly light.
STACY
(whispering)
I love you, John.
BACK TO SCENE:
She walks over to John and wraps her arms around him. He eyes her suspiciously.
STACY (CONT'D)
I was worried.
She lays on a delicate kiss.
JOHN
I think I was
followed.
FRANKIE
Remember what
I said, "if
you think
you're being
followed...you're not."
John throws the backpack on the bed -- Frankie can't keep his eyes off of it.
JOHN
That was the
first and
last fucking
time I do that.
FRANKIE
You think that
was the hard
part? Wait
'til we get
to the border.
JOHN
Include me out --
I ain't carrying it
across no god
damn border. There are
federales everywhere.
FRANKIE
Fucking relax.
I'll do it.
I've done it
before and
I'll do it
again.
Stacy nervously eyes Frankie.
The screen FLASHES RED for a split second.
JOHN
When do we leave? --
cause let me tell you --
I've just about had
enough of this shit hole.
Stacy giggles. She walks past Frankie and he glides his hand over her ass -- John sees this.
Again the screen FLASHES RED for a split second.
FRANKIE
I was thinking
about sticking around a
while. Maybe
have some fun --
a donkey show
perhaps.
PULL BACK to reveal a cut away view of the hotel. The room on the left has the two college kids involved in a "two on one" with the whore. The room on the right contains the federale snorting coke off the slut's tits.
JOHN
No thanks...I
want to get
out of here --
tonight.
John turns his back and peeks through the peep hole.
BANG!
A BULLET rips into his back. He stands frozen and turns to see...
...Stacy holding a SMOKING GUN.
The neighboring rooms continue with their drug and sex soaked debaucheries -- ignorant of the assault.
ZOOM into Frankie's room.
FRANKIE
What the fuck
are you doing?!
STACY
You told me to
shoot him when his back
was turned.
John's eyes widen in shock.
FRANKIE
But not here!
STACY
You didn't say that. You
said, "shoot him when he turns his
back."
John slides down the door leaving a smear of BLOOD.
FRANKIE
You stupid bitch!
Frankie grabs the gun from Stacy and drags John away from the door.
EXT. HALLWAY -- CONTINUING
Frankie peeks outside the room to find the hallway empty.
INT. HOTEL ROOM -- CONTINUING
Frankie closes the door and steps over John -- slipping on the pool of BLOOD.
FRANKIE
Fuck!
STACY
You said, "shoot him
when he turns his back."
FRANKIE
I say a lot of
things Stacy. What I meant
was shoot him when his back
is turned -- but not here.
This isn't the fucking place.
STACY
You didn't say that.
FRANKIE
I know I didn't say that!
I just assumed that you
would...forget it.
Frankie stands over John as he wriggles in pain on the floor. He grabs the backpack and unzips it --
A SHOCKED LOOK...
FRANKIE (CONT'D)
It's not here.
STACY
What do you mean it's not
there?
Frankie turns the bag inside out.
A pile of T-shirts and worthless crap spills out onto the bed.
STACY (CONT'D)
Shit.
FRANKIE
That son of a bitch...
Frankie grabs John by the collars and shakes him.
FRANKIE (CONT'D)
Where the fuck
is it John? You don't tell
me...I swear
to God I'll kill you.
John lets out a little laugh as blood bubbles from his mouth.
CLOSE ON:
A BLOOD BUBBLE forms on his chapped lips-- with a THUNDERING ECHO it POPS.
BACK TO SCENE:
STACY
He's not gonna
tell you.
FRANKIE
Shut the fuck
up!
STACY
He's stubborn.
FRANKIE
Do you blame him.
STACY
That's not fair. If you
would have explained --
FRANKIE
Shut the fuck
up. Where is
it John?
STACY
He's not gonna
tell you.
Frankie shoots her a look to shut up. He's about to explode. He grabs a CIGARETTE and lights it.
CLOSE ON:
The end of the cigarette BURNS brightly-- ROARING like a FOREST FIRE.
BACK TO SCENE:
FRANKIE
He'll tell me.
STACY
No he won't.
FRANKIE
Yes he will.
Frankie wedges open John's eye and slowly brings the cigarette to it.
FRANKIE (CONT'D)
Oh, he's gonna
tell me.
Frankie winces as he SINGES John's eye.
John SHRIEKS in pain and Frankie PUNCHES him in the throat. As he coughs up blood, Frankie pummels John's face with a barrage of BLOWS. Stacy's stomach turns...
STACY
This is just
fucking great
Frankie.
Without hesitation, Frankie grabs Stacy by the hair and shoves his GUN inside her mouth. His eyes BULGE like a mad bastard --
FRANKIE
I'll do it
John -- her
fucking head
will - fucking - fuck --
I'll do it!
Tell me where
you put it!
Stacy starts to CHOKE on the gun as tears stream down her face.
CUT TO:
Stacy standing in the heavenly light. Wind gently blowing through her hair.
STACY
(whispering)
I love you, John.
BACK TO SCENE:
She struggles with Frankie.
FRANKIE
You don't want to be
responsible for her --
don't make me do it!
He COCKS the gun.
FRANKIE (CONT'D)
You know I will!
John struggles to whisper.
FRANKIE (CONT'D)
Tell me, you
albino mother
fucker!
Bubbles of BLOOD sprout from his nostrils.
CLOSE ON:
A BLOOD BUBBLE POPS!
BACK TO SCENE:
JOHN
O.
FRANKIE
O? What the
fuck is that!
JOHN
O'Conner.
O'Conner.
John tries to point.
INSERT:
The O'CONNER ICE MACHINE SIGN-- the sound of METAL GRINDING.
BACK TO SCENE:
FRANKIE
O'Conner? Who
the fuck is O'Conner?
JOHN
(gasping)
O'Conner.
There's a KNOCK at the door.
FRANKIE
Fuck me. Fuck.
Frankie pulls the gun out of Stacy's mouth.
STACY
You fucking asshole!
She SLAPS Frankie.
FRANKIE
Relax -- I wasn't gonna
do it.
KNOCK!
STACY
That fucking
hurt, Frankie!
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Frankie motions for Stacy to keep her mouth shut.
He drags John's body into the...
...BATHROOM and throws him into the tub. Frankie walks back into the...
...MAIN ROOM.
Stacy removes a piece of chipped TOOTH from her mouth.
STACY (CONT'D)
Fuck.
KNOCK!
Frankie paces while he thinks.
KNOCK!
FRANKIE
Take off you're clothes.
STACY
What?
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
FRANKIE
Take off your fucking clothes!
STACY
Why?
FRANKIE
This is a
whore house.
STACY
I am not a whore.
FRANKIE
I know that --
just take off
your fucking clothes.
STACY
You chipped my
tooth.
Frankie points his gun at her -- she catches his drift.
Hesitantly, she removes her clothes -- a body to die for.
IN THE BATHROOM
...John struggles out of the tub.
IN THE MAIN ROOM
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Frankie hides behind the door with his gun drawn.
FRANKIE
(whispering)
Open it.
IN THE BATHROOM
...John crawls out of the tub and reaches up to the door -- his fingers slick with blood.
CLOSE ON:
John's fingers fumble with the knob. Eventually, after a few attempts, he manages to lock the door.
The LOUD ECHOING sound of THE CLOSING LOCK.
BACK TO SCENE:
He looks up to see a small window stained with a RED ROSE.
IN THE MAIN ROOM
...Stacy slowly opens the door to reveal a MAID. She smiles at the naked Stacy.
MAID
(Spanish)
The ice machine is
working.
Stacy is confused.
IN THE BATHROOM
...John crawls onto the toilet and lifts himself up to the window.
INSERT:
BLOOD SPLASHES everywhere.
BACK TO SCENE:
He struggles to open the window, it won't budge.
INSERT:
BLOOD circles the bathtub drain.
BACK TO SCENE:
John pauses -- catching his breath. Blood bubbles are frothing out of his nose and mouth.
He continues to struggle when he slips and CRASHES to the floor.
IN THE MAIN ROOM
...Frankie hears the commotion and runs to the bathroom door.
LOCKED!
He starts to panic.
FRANKIE
Fuck!
IN THE HALLWAY
MAID
(Spanish)
What was that?
STACY
I don't understand.
The maid tries to peer inside the room and Stacy obstructs her view.
MAID
Is everything okay?
STACY
Yes. Fine.
MAID
The ice machine is
working now.
STACY
No thank you.
No ice.
Stacy closes the door.
IN THE MAIN ROOM
...Frankie slams his body against the bathroom door.
It doesn't budge.
IN THE BATHROOM
...John has worked himself up to the window and throws an elbow against the lock -- it opens.
He looks down the outside wall and sees a POOL below him -- a long way down.
IN THE MAIN ROOM
...Frank tries the door again -- it's about to give.
IN THE BATHROOM
...John can hear Frankie at the door.
With one last effort he tries to pull himself through.
IN THE MAIN ROOM
...Frankie reels back and gives the door a good kick -- it flies open.
He rushes into...
THE BATHROOM
...as John looks down at the pool and pulls one last time.
He FALLS free from the window.
EXT. RED ROSE HOTEL -- EVENING
John CRASHES to the cement, falling inches short of the pool.
His bloody, broken body rolls into the pool and sinks to the bottom -- the water a brilliant red.
CLOSE ON:
Johns face as he sinks to the bottom of the pool. He tries to SCREAM-- it sounds exactly like the scream made by the tequila worm.
FREEZE FRAME:
SUBTITLE- "THE INNOCENT"
INT. BATHROOM -- EVENING
Frankie looks down at the mess in the pool and closes the window.
He turns to see a naked and scared Stacy standing before him.
STACY
Where is he...?
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