Over the years, I’ve been a big fan of Luc Besson. Not only has he been a fantastic director, but a great writer and producer as well. I can really appreciate that kind of career, he’s got his hands on so many projects. He is amazing at developing interesting projects. Sometimes the ideas are originated by him and then handed off to other filmmakers, sometimes he takes them all the way through till release and he’s never one to turn away a great project that needs him to just produce. Here are my top 15 favorites that he’s had a hand in creating:
15 – Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
OK, Ok, this hasn’t come out yet, but I just know it’s going to hit my list. It’s the original inspiration for Star Wars and The Fifth Element, so I know I’m going to like it. This film is based on a French sci-fi comic book series created in 1967 by writer Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mezieres. Mezieres was also involved in creating visuals for Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element.
14 – Lucy (2014)
Many of his best stuff lay in 2 genres; Science Fiction and Action. This one film combines both aspects very well. In an interview on March 8, 2014, Besson said that this project took ten years to become a reality. Also, he admitted that he knew that some scientific assumptions were erroneous, ie; that humans use only ten percent of their brains. Nonetheless, he said that “(such an assumption) would be a great start for a sci-fi movie”. A woman, (Scarlett Johansson) accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
13 – 3 Days to Kill (2014)
Here’s one that Besson wrote but didn’t direct. It was directed by McG. A dying CIA agent (Kevin Costner) trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter is offered an experimental drug that could save his life in exchange for one last assignment. The meaning and relevance of the film’s title is that it refers to the estimate number of days that Ethan Renner (Costner) has to complete his mission prior to facing death from terminal brain cancer. Reminds me a great deal of a great film noir movie called DOA (Dead on Arrival) about a man who has been lethally poisoned and has to solve his own murder before he dies.
12 – Lockout (2012)
If you can excuse the main character’s dive out of a spaceship and not burn up on re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere and sky dive to a city below, then this is a pretty dang good flick. It totally would have made a fantastic “Escape From…number 3″ with Snake Plissken, but only because of Guy Pearce. He’s great. The plot totally reads like a Snake Plissken movie: A man wrongly convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage against the U.S. (Guy Pearce) is offered his freedom if he can rescue the president’s daughter from an outer space prison taken over by violent inmates. Call it Escape From Outer Space. Besson came up with the original idea and even wrote a draft of the screenplay.
11 – Colombiana (2011)
Zoe Saldana is great, I did a blog about her a while back called Zoe Saldana Takes Over the World. Here’s a starring vehicle with her as an assassin, kind of a reoccurring theme with Besson, just look at Leon and Nikita. It’s no wonder as this film was originally supposed to be Leon part 2. The film was based off a script that was set to be a sequel for Leon: The Professional. The story was set to follow Natalie Portman’s character Mathilda as she tracked down and killed characters that had wronged her and Leon. Portman’s success kept her from availability and the script was eventually re-written into Colombiana and cast with Saldana.
10 – From Paris With Love (2010)
In Paris, a young employee (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) in the office of the US Ambassador hooks up with an American spy (John Travolta)looking to stop a terrorist attack in the city. John Travolta is the real reason to watch this film, he just crackles with electricity. When Caroline enters James’s apartment you can clearly see the book ‘Nikita’ which was written and directed by Besson, who wrote “From Paris with Love”. This is a spy genre film and it is interesting to note that the title of the earlier film To Paris with Love (1955) is said to have been the inspiration for James Bond creator Ian Fleming for the title of his 1957 James Bond spy novel, From Russia With Love which was later made into the 007 movie.
9 – District 13: Ultimatum (2009)
This is a sequel to one of my all-time-favorite stunt movies, District B13. Follows up with great stunts and action with Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle. For those of you that like the Daredevil series on Netflix, you’ll recognize Elodie Yung (Elektra) in the film. Cyril is a great stunt coordinator and he choreographed all the fight scenes in the movie and David, who invented Parkour, did all of his own stunts, without practice ahead of time. Most of the ones that you see in the film were of him performing the stunt for the first time.
8 – Tell No One (2006)
Luc Besson was lucky this project crossed his path. He was one of the Executive Producers on the film and it’s based on a fantastic book by Harlan Corben. Police find two bodies at an old murder scene and evidence to suggest the first victim’s husband is a murderer. The husband receives clues suggesting his deceased wife is actually alive and begins to investigate. This film is definitely worth finding, but it is in English subtitles, as it’s a French-language film. Originally, author Harlan Coben had optioned off his novel to Hollywood, with director Michael Apted attached. During this time, director Guillaume Canet, who had loved the novel, had been calling up Coben with his take on the novel. Coben was immediately impressed with Canet’s passion for the story, and his vision, stating that Canet understood that the novel was a love story first, and a thriller second, which Hollywood never got. When the option with Hollywood fell through, Coben contacted Canet and decided to give him a chance.
7 – Bandidas (2006)
In turn-of-the-century Mexico, two very different women (Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz) become a bank-robbing duo in an effort to combat a ruthless enforcer terrorizing their town. This is directed byJoachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, who are coming out with Disney’s Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales later this year. Steve Zahn also plays a character in the film, and it’s good to see Penelope and Steve back together again.
6 – Leon: The Professional (1994)
Mathilda (Natalie Portman), a 12-year-old girl, is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin (Jean Reno), after her family is murdered. Léon and Mathilda form an unusual relationship, as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin’s trade. Luc Besson got the idea of doing this movie while working on his previous movie, La Femme Nikita (1990). In that film’s third act, Victor the Cleaner appears to deal with the aftermath of Nikita’s botched mission. Realizing the potential of the character was underused in that movie, Besson decided to create a story that focused on the activities of such a character. Both Victor and Leon appear dressed in a long wool coat, sunglasses and a knit cap. Both are played by Jean Reno. The film’s working title was “The Cleaner”.
5 – The Big Blue (1988)
The rivalry between Enzo and Jacques, two childhood friends and now world-renowned free divers, becomes a beautiful and perilous journey into oneself and the unknown. This film was such a hit in France that it played for over a year in theatres. The most financially successful French film of the 1980s. This film was probably the closest to Besson’s own upbringing. “I was never polluted by the world of cinema. I didn’t even have a TV until I was 16. My expression is a reflection of the world I have seen, and in that world everyone was barefoot in bathing suits, following the order of the sea, the natural order of sunrise and sunset. I never went to the cinémathèque. I didn’t know much about the masters of world cinema,” Besson has said.
4 – La Femme Nikita (1990)
Convicted felon Nikita (Anne Parillaud), instead of going to jail, is given a new identity and trained, stylishly, as a top secret spy/assassin. Luc Besson had Anne Parillaud train extensively with guns so that she would be completely at ease with them. Parillaud took to practicing loading and unloading a fake gun in her car which led to her being pulled over by the police and having their guns drawn on her in traffic one day as they thought her weapon was real.
3 – District B13 (2004)
I wrote about this great stunt film in my blog: David Belle and District B13. Set in the ghettos of Paris in 2010, an undercover cop and ex-thug try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb.
2 – The Fifth Element (1997)
I just love this film, although, I would have to admit that Chris Tucker has ruined it for me over the years. He’s so obnoxious in the film that he virtually makes it impossible to re-watch the film. Other than that, fantastic film. I was so upset after the film was released that no toys followed the film, as I wanted to buy all the action figures after I saw it. They could have really sold a lot of toys if they had this prepped like the Star Wars films. Another film that I loved enough to write a whole blog about; Fifth Element.
1 – Taken (2008)This film proves that Luc Besson has a magic touch. Again, he just wrote and produced this one but was genius when he hired Pierre Morel to direct as he was perfect for the job. It also gave Liam Neeson new life as an action star. Liam Neeson initially expected the film to bomb, but he signed on, in order spend four months in Paris, and learn karate, while playing the kind of role he had rarely been offered in the past. Ironically, not only was the film a massive hit, but created a new on-screen image for Neeson, as an action hero. Liam Neeson performs a good amount of his own stunts. Over the course of the movie, Bryan kills 35 people in order to get to his daughter.
Over the years I’ve really enjoyed Val Kilmer and his movies. I find him to be very funny in person, as you can see from any interview he’s ever done or if you’ve ever seen any of his blooper reels…but his acting is top notch too. He’s gotten a bit of a bad rap over the years, but I can appreciate that he acknowledges that he could have been easier to work with at times over the years. He’s mellowed a lot with age and by all accounts a real joy to be around for the most part, engaging, funny and authentic.
Here’s my top 15 movies that feature Val Kilmer:
15 – Comanche Moon (2008)
Great cast, interesting western. Kilmer once said that he would play in a bad western on a great horse any day and this mini-series can live up to that assessment. It’s a Larry McMurtry story, with his characters from the Lonesome Dove series and stars the ever likable Steve Zahn as well as Karl Urban, Elizabeth Banks, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Linda Cardellini, and Rachel Griffiths. Some of the scenes were filmed on Val Kilmer’s ranch in New Mexico. Val Kilmer’s work with the New Mexico Film Investment Program over the years fueled a nearly 40-fold growth in the state’s annual film production revenue, from $3 million in 2002, up to $117 million in 2006.
14 – Top Gun (1986)
This film would probably be in the top 5 on most people’s lists for Val Kilmer, but I’ve never liked it over some of his other movies. Besides, I’m not sure if you would consider, Top Gun to be “his” movie…but he sure is cool in it. Originally, Kilmer did not want to be in this film, but was forced to as he had contractual obligations. However, it became one of his most iconic roles in his career. His humor shines through and his perchance to improv while on the set, when the guys, as students, were first being spoken to by Charlie in the hanger, Maverick explains that he gave “the bird” to a MiG. She asks how he saw the MiG up close, and he says he was flying inverted. Right then, Val Kilmer as Ice coughs “bullsh*t” and the guys laugh. The “bullsh*t” line is ad-libbed. According to co-star Anthony Edwards, “A lot of the humor was discovered at the moment. The script was skeletal.”
13 – Batman Forever (1995)
Some people don’t like this Batman movie, but I loved it. How can you go wrong with Val Kilmer as Batman and then a cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Chris O’Donnell and Drew Barrymore. (most people at this point, go, “Drew Barrymore?”, yep, she’s in there, take a closer look.) Most of Val Kilmer’s bad press comes from this movie as he didn’t get along with director Joel Schumacher that well. I think the moments where he could have been a little more helpful in the filmmaking are blown way out of proportion over the years. He has said later, “I probably complained more when I was younger. The movie industry can be frustrating but I think sometimes I could have been more helpful, approaching a film as a partnership rather than being critical of a director’s ignorance. I wasn’t sensitive to the fact that it’s very hard to direct.”
12 – Heat (1995)
In this film, there is a huge shootout in the middle of the city between Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer and their crew and Al Pacino and the cops. They had to do a lot of training to be able to shoot the guns realistically. Kilmer was thrilled to learn that the moment in the gun battle scene where he runs out of bullets and rapidly changes his magazine is regularly shown to Marine recruits as an example of how to perform the action properly. Also, in order to prepare the actors for the roles of McCauley’s crew, Michael Mann took Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, and Robert De Niro to Folsom State Prison to interview actual career criminals. It helped that Danny Trejo, who plays a member of the crew, had in real life been an inmate at Folsom Prison. It’s interesting to note, before Danny Trejo was cast, both Edward Bunker, a writer, and Trejo were hired to be armed robbery consultants, since they both did time for these crimes and knew the ins and outs of performing such crimes. After meeting Trejo and talking with him at length, Michael Mann would later offer him a role in the film.
11 – Mindhunters (2004)
This little gem, directed by Renny Harlin, was caught in a studio’s bankruptcy and held for release up to two years later, even then it was silently released straight to video…but it’s actually a really fun film. Has some really good moments and has Jonny Lee Miller, LL Cool J, Christian Slater, Patricia Velasquez, Clifton Collins Jr, and Eion Bailey in it. It reminds me of an FBI training version of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, which I love a lot. This one would be on the top of the list of films that were made with her plot device of people dying one by one in a remote place, trying to figure out which one of them is the killer. You can see my blog post on that by clicking here.
10 – At First Sight (1999)
This one has Val Kilmer playing a blind man that regains his sight. His sister is played by Kelly McGillis, his co-star from Top Gun. The cast is excellent with Nathan Lane, Steven Weber, Mira Sorvino, Bruce Davison and Ken Howard. Val Kilmer prepared for his role by studying with a sculptor friend of his in New Mexico who had lost his sight in Vietnam. At 49:30 (NTSC) he is admiring a sculpture when he first visit’s Amy’s flat. Now, if you want to see how good an actor Kilmer is then watch this movie as he’s very good in it. There are a few times when I think he really should have gone up for an Oscar nomination at the very least and this is one of those performances. Other performances where he deserved recognition would be as Doc Holliday in Tombstone and as Jim Morrison in The Doors.
9 – Top Secret! (1984)
Kilmer’s first movie and it’s flat out hilarious! My brother and I love this movie. He’s so funny in this. It’s done by Jim Abrahams and David Zucker right after they did Airplane and Police Squad…so they were really on a roll. You can thank his casting in this film to Kilmer’s first Broadway acting role in 1983 in a play called Slab Boys which also starred Kevin Bacon, Brian Benben, Sean Penn, and Jackie Earle Haley. Kilmer would sing all of the Nick Rivers songs in the film himself, which would help him later when he decided to do The Doors.
8 – Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
This is based on a true story and is quite a good thriller. It’s about 2 lions that start to hunt and attack construction workers on a railroad track in Africa. The title of the movie is the nicknames for the 2 lions. Michael Douglas’s character Remington is fictionalized for the movie. In real life, Val Kilmer’s character John Patterson killed both lions (both nearly nine feet long). The real Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson published a book about his experiences, titled “The Man-Eaters of Tsavo“, which the movie is based on. The book is still available after nearly 100 years, and well worth reading. Originally, the movie was only to be produced by Michael Douglas, with Kilmer as the lead character, but somewhere in pre-production he insisted on having the Remington character created for him and as filming progressed his part was widened to what is in the film now. He eventually got top billing. Despite having top billing, Douglas still doesn’t appear on screen until 45 minutes into the movie.
7 – Red Planet (2000)
This is a really good sci-fi thriller that again seemed to be released straight to video, but is definitely worth finding, if you haven’t seen it. It has another fun cast with Tom Sizemore, Carrie-Anne Moss, Benjamin Bratt, Terence Stamp and Simon Baker. It didn’t help the release of the film that another Mars movie was in production at the time and often gets confused with it; Mission To Mars. It also didn’t help that the movie’s release date was pushed back twice. The original release date was slated March 31, then it was pushed back to June 16, and again it was pushed back to November 10. Studio officials said it was due to the movie’s extensive, expensive special-effects work.
6 – Real Genius (1985)
Now, here’s a movie that my brother and I just love, but if you were to take Val Kilmer out of the movie, then we wouldn’t even like it probably, he’s that good in it. He really stands out and it’s this movie that convinced us that he was going to be a big star. I think the studio knew it too, that why the title seems to refer to him and all the posters feature him by himself, when he isn’t even the main character. The marketing strictly pushed him as the whole film.
5 – The Doors (1991)
The singing that Kilmer does in the film is so close to the real Jim Morrison that even the real band members of the Doors couldn’t tell a version of a song sung by Morrison than that of Kilmer. In one scene during the filming of the movie, Kilmer broke his arm badly when he performed a jump from the stage into the crowd. The stuntman failed to catch him, leaving Kilmer with an abnormal growth on his right elbow. The growth is clearly visible in Heat, when McCauley discovers Shiherlis sleeping in his living room and begins briefing him on their itinerary. Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan were also in Top Gun together. Incidentally Kilmer worked with director Oliver Stone on this film and Tom Cruise worked with Stone on Born on the Fourth of July.
4 – The Saint (1997)
I just like this movie, even though a lot of people who loved the Saint TV show was disappointed with it. Val Kilmer got to use several disguises in the film, which I thought were a lot of fun. Plus it had, Elizabeth Shue…what’s not to like? Fun Fact – the poetry written by Simon Templar’s disguised-long-haired artist character, Thomas Moore, was actually written by Val Kilmer himself. Kilmer decided to do this movie instead of Batman and Robin. It was the first big-screen Saint film since the 1950s. Plans for a Saint film date back to the 1980s, when Pierce Brosnan was reported to be a leading contender for the Templar role in a Saint movie that was to be produced by Roger Moore, the original TV Saint. This project never materialized. The Saint (Simon Templar) over the years has been played by Vincent Price (over the radio), Roger Moore on TV, Louis Hayward, George Sanders, Hugh Sinclair, Felix Marten, Jean Marais, Simon Dutton, and Ian Ogilvy at the movies.
3 – Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)
Anyone who wants to see how truly funny and spontaneous Val Kilmer can be should watch the blooper real to this movie. Robert Downey Jr., who is incredibly witty in his own right has a hard time keeping up to the laughs Kilmer produces. Val Kilmer met Robert Downey Jr. for the first time at a Hollywood party. A week later he received the screenplay for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and agreed to do it before he’d even finished reading it. Upon agreeing, and much to his delight, he was informed that Downey Jr had already been cast. As a sign of support to Robert Downey Jr.’s recovery from alcohol and drugs, Val Kilmer refused to drink during the entire production. I’m a big Raymond Chandler fan and I learned that Shane Black read several stories by Raymond Chandler when writing this script. As a result, the story is divided into chapters and the chapter titles come from Chandler works. Specifically: 1. “Trouble is My Business”, 2. “The Lady in the Lake”, 3. “The Little Sister”, 4. “The Simple Art of Murder”, and Epilogue: “Farewell, My Lovely”. The title makes reference to James Bond, Thunderball where a song was produced and recorded for the film called, “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” has since become a slang description of the James Bond-style spy genre. The film’s original title was “You’ll Never Die in This Town Again”. When Harmony is seen on the bus leaving Indiana at age 16, she’s asleep with the Johnny Gossamer book, “You’ll Never Die in This Town Again” in her lap.
2 – Willow (1988)
Here’s pretty much his only fantasy movie, but it’s a great one. He plays a swordsman Madmartigan, a rogue and a really fun character. He had a real fun time working on this film with George Lucas, Ron Howard and Warwick Davis and met his future wife Joanne Whalley on. His comedy really came into play again on this one, and it’s documented that a lot of his dialogue is improvised.
1 – Tombstone (1993)
This movie flat out rocks with a great cast of Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Booth, Charlton Heston, Michael Biehn, Jason Priestley, Dana Delaney, Billy Bob Thornton, Thomas Haden Church and Stephen Lang. Kilmer would go on to say, “I liked being Doc Holliday. It’s fun to be insightful and aristocratic, to stand up for your friend and make sacrifices for him. It was fun to be arrogant like he was and have the goods to back it up. He was a very noble character. Although, let’s not forget, he did kill a lot of people.” Val Kilmer has also been quoted as saying that screenwriter Kevin Jarre insisted the actors wear real wool costumes, in accordance with the time period. In the Birdcage Theater scene, Val Kilmer says, a thermometer was placed on the set, and it read 134 degrees Fahrenheit. Kilmer suggested jokingly that this was the reason Doc Holliday killed so many people: “It’s just, like, he wore wool in the summer, in the Arizona territory, and that made him mad.”
Val Kilmer practiced for a long time on his quick-draw speed, and gave his character a Southern Aristocrat accent. The expression “I’m your huckleberry” spoken by Doc means “I’m the perfect man for the job.” It could indeed be a reference to Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, then known as the sidekick of Tom Sawyer before Huck got his own book. The phrase also refers, rather ominously, to the pallbearers who carry a coffin or casket to the actual grave site & specifically the one elected to sit, completely sober, in case the grave bell rings. So saying, “I’m your huckleberry ” could also be a threat like “I’ll put you in your grave.” It’s interesting to me that this would be attributed to Mark Twain as later on Twain would be an inspiration to Kilmer and he would go on to write and star in 2 plays about the writer, and star as Twain himself.
Here is part 2 to the unfilmed segments of Locker 13. This next one is written by Adam Montierth and is called, Apache Tears:
FADE IN:
EXT. GOLDFIELD NEW MEXICO 1885 – DUSK
Five MEN on horseback ride slowly into town. The TOWNSFOLK eye the men suspiciously.
The lead horse carries a large grizzled man in dark leather. He is JACOB CALHOUN. He grins ominously with a full set of dirty teeth and looks over at his younger brother, RUSS CALHOUN. Russ smiles too, mimicking his Brother, but he is missing most of his teeth.
Russ is a thin reed with wild hair, resembling a weasel more than a man. He turns to look at the three following close behind.
One of the men has a face full of scars, aptly nicknamed SCARFACE. The man on the other side is horribly disfigured with a burn covering his bald head and half of his face, nicknamed ASH.
Russ frowns at the RIDER in the middle. He is a stark difference to the others, as he is ruggedly good looking.
He has strong hard features. It looks as if God made him out of granite.
RUSS CALHOUN
Why’d ya hafta bring him? He’s trouble I’m tellin’ ya.
JACOB CALHOUN
We need a safe guy, don’t worry he knows Sanchez.
RUSS CALHOUN
But I’ve seen his face before.
JACOB CALHOUN
Probably with Sanchez.
Russ looks back at Rider who gives him a steely gaze.
The men ride up to the bank in the center of town and hitch their horses on the post in front.
Scarface and Ash stay on their horses, the others dismount.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
Now you two bone heads keep your eyes peeled this time.
SCARFACE
Boss, he’s as skittish as a mule.
ASH
Me? You’re as skittish as a Jack Ass.
SCARFACE
A Jack Ass is a mule…
JACOB CALHOUN
Enough! If’n you two… Don’t try me.
Scarface and Ash both nod. Then they turn to each other and glare daggers. Jacob turns to the others.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
Alright, stick to the plan. Let’s go.
Jacob, Russ, and Rider head for the bank’s front door.
Before they have a chance to go in, a beautiful WOMAN in cowboy dress comes out of the bank.
It is HELENA STORM. She appears to be half Native
American and half Caucasian. She looks up at the three men and locks eyes with Rider in surprise.
A moment of recognition arises, as both pause in awkward silence. Riders eyes seem to plead with her.
HELENA STORM
Terence…
Russ snaps his fingers in remembrance and points at Rider.
RUSS CALHOUN
Terence Dean, I knew it. Marshal…Terence Dean!
Jacobs’ eyes squint in anger.
Russ goes for his gun, but MARSHAL TERENCE DEAN is too fast for him and immediately has his six shooter out and guns him down. Scarface’s horse jolts from the gun shot.
ASH
Let’s get outta here.
Jacob draws his Colt 45 and immediately grabs Helena from behind. He puts his gun to her head as Marshal trains his gun on him. Ash and Scarface ride off in a cloud of frantic dust.
Marshal Dean evaluates the situation as each man pauses in stalemate. Jacob eyes his brothers motionless form on the ground beside him. He quivers in rage as he spits his words out at Marshal Dean.
JACOB CALHOUN
You’ll pay dearly for that, Marshal. Now throw your gun down or I open up another hole in this pretty little thing’s head.
Marshal puts his hands up in surrender. He slowly and carefully places his pistol on the ground.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
Now, see? That wasn’t so hard.
Jacob swings his gun around to the Marshal, but before he’s able to shoot, Helena lays an elbow hard into his face. In a flash she brings up a knife from her other hand and stabs Jacob in his shooting arm. He drops his gun.
Helena steps back. Jacob yells in pain and frustration as he looks up to stare at the barrel of Marshal Terence Dean.
Jacob freezes.
Marshal looks over at Helena, still in shock at the sight of her.
TERENCE DEAN
Helena. You’re alive!
Helena smiles at him, unsure of what to say.
Jacob smiles at her with an evil glint in his eyes.
JACOB CALHOUN
(Whispers.) Helena.
Terence clubs Jacob in the face with the back of his revolver.
EXT. GOLDFIELD NEW MEXICO – MORNING
The sun rises over the desert landscape. A stagecoach is drawn up to the jailhouse.
The door opens and Terence comes out with Jacob in handcuffs. Jacob has a bad bruise on his face left from the events of the previous day.
The towns’ SHERIFF follows them out carrying a bag. He throws it on the stagecoach.
SHERIFF
Do you really think it’s wise to leave so soon?
TERENCE DEAN
Jacob’s a popular man, the Judge in Tombstone’s anxious to see him. He’s got a date with the reaper.
SHERIFF
Give me time to send for my two Deputies. They can go with you.
Terence puts Jacob in the stagecoach and handcuffs him to the iron bars on the doors window.
Helena Storm walks over to the Stagecoach from across the street.
TERENCE DEAN
Thank you Sheriff, but we’ll be fine.
The Sheriff tips his hat and goes back inside.
Jacob smirks at the sight of Helena. Terence slams the door in his face. Terence walks over to meet her.
TERENCE DEAN (CONT’D)
I thought maybe you were a mirage. We didn’t get to talk last night before you disappeared. But thank you for coming to see me off.
HELENA STORM
Terence, I didn’t come to see you off, I’m the driver. This is my coach.
Helena has a hard time looking Terence in the eyes. She busies herself with getting the Stagecoach ready.
TERENCE DEAN
What? Helena, what the hell is going on here? I thought you were…I mean…the fire-
HELENA STORM
Yeah, the fire. There was a bad storm, lightning hit. I tried to stop the fire, but it was no use.
TERENCE DEAN
You were no where to be found, you made me think-
HELENA STORM
I made you…? Look, you were better off. I couldn’t wait for you forever.
TERENCE DEAN
I had work to do. I told you I’d be back.
HELENA STORM
You were gone for 13 months. I had to move on.
TERENCE DEAN
So the fire gave you a chance to start a new life?
HELENA STORM
Yeah, something like that.
FATHER WINTERS shows up. He looks uncomfortable with interrupting the heated conversation.
TERENCE DEAN
Father.
Father Winters nods politely and hands Helena his bag.
She secures it to the top of the stagecoach.
The Father opens the stagecoach door and hesitates at the sight of the prisoner in handcuffs. Jacob smiles wickedly.
JACOB CALHOUN
Father. How the hell are ya?
Father Winters nods politely and enters the stagecoach, clutching his Bible tightly.
TERENCE DEAN
Helena say something? You’re still my wife.
HELENA STORM
Another time and place maybe. You weren’t made to settle down and I couldn’t wait for you. You ran away long before I did.
Terence stands before Helena not knowing what to say.
She climbs up to her perch on the front of the stagecoach and looks down at Terence expectantly.
He stares blankly. She slaps the reins and the stagecoach takes off. Terence catches the open door and enters. He closes the door and sits back dazed.
They ride out of town. Jacob gazes out of the window as the stagecoach passes a plain pine box where his brother lie still. The undertaker shuts the lid and begins to nail it into place.
INT. DEAN’S RANCH – NIGHT – PAST
The cabin has been recently decorated with the comforts of a newly wed couple.
A younger Terence and Helena are in their king sized bed looking lovingly into each others eyes. A fire illuminates the room.
TERENCE DEAN
So how is Mrs. Dean enjoying her second day of marriage?
HELENA STORM
Better than the first. Every day seems like a dream.
TERENCE DEAN
It should.
HELENA STORM
I’m afraid that I’ll wake up one morning and you’ll be gone.
TERENCE DEAN
I’m not going anywhere.
HELENA STORM
But you’re not a rancher.
TERENCE DEAN
I am now. I don’t miss it. Wasting my life chasing demons.
HELENA STORM
You were good at it. Too good.
TERENCE DEAN
Yes I was, but I’ll be a better rancher. This is my heaven. My reward for being good.
HELENA STORM
I hope it’s enough.
INT. STAGECOACH – DAY
Terence shifts uncomfortably in his seat, lost in thought. Jacob eyes him closely. He looks at his gun and then to his handcuffs at the window.
Terence catches him and smiles for the first time. Jacob scowls. The Priest quietly reads to himself.
JACOB CALHOUN
So how do you know Sanchez?
TERENCE DEAN
Hung him in Wells. Robbed a stagecoach, killed the driver.
JACOB CALHOUN
Who hasn’t?
TERENCE DEAN
Had a nice chat before he swung. Told me where to find ya.
The Stagecoach begins to slow. Terence becomes alarmed.
He eyes Jacob suspiciously, who shrugs his shoulders.
Terence looks over at the Priest and then pokes his head out the window to see what’s up.
EXT. STAGECOACH – DAY
The Stagecoach comes to a halt. Terence exits, guns drawn. Helena grabs her rifle and jumps down from her seat. The Priest exits behind Terence.
JACOB CALHOUN
What about me?
TERENCE DEAN
Stay put Father!
The Priest hangs back with Jacob.
Terence and Helena see an old wooden foot locker on the road with a rusted iron padlock on the front. They slowly approach the chest, looking around.
HELENA STORM
What is it?
TERENCE DEAN
Trouble.
They look at the chest puzzled. Suddenly, they hear a knock from the inside. They both jump back. The knocking ceases.
Terence slowly walks forward and knocks back on the wood.
The chest begins to rock back and forth as a frantic voice is heard muffled.
Terence looks up at Helena who looks nervous. He aims and shoots the lock off the chest and opens the lid. A little man, BENNY LANG, jumps out. He is gagged and tied up. Terence unties him.
TERENCE DEAN (CONT’D)
What the hell?
BENNY LANG
Thank you kindly. I thought I’d never see the light of day again.
TERENCE DEAN
How’d you get in there?
BENNY LANG
That is quite the story, and see’n as I like to tell them, should make for a good time. Got anything to drink first?
BENNY LANG(CONT’D)
I done poured out all my fluids in that thing, if’n you know what I mean.
Helena tosses him a water canteen. Benny drinks greedily. He finishes and wipes his mouth on his sleeve.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
Thank you again so kindly. There’s no end to your generosity. Ah yes, my current unfortunate predicament.
TERENCE DEAN
Cut to the quick, we need to move on.
HELENA STORM
Terence let him catch his bearings.
BENNY LANG
No need Ma’am, I’m sorry to delay. The situation is simple enough. Names Benny Lang, and I’m a gambler by profession. I happened on four fellers last night and they welcomed me into their camp. As is my nature, a poker game began and they didn’t take so kindly to my winning. They locked me in my trunk, evidently taking my wagon and all my worldly possessions with them, leaving me for dead. You’ve taken all the passion from my tale, in your haste, but there it is.
Terence takes an uneasy look around.
TERENCE DEAN(To Helena)
We need to move on.
BENNY LANG
Please sir, I don’t mean any disrespect to your generosity, but could you drop me off at the next stop.
TERENCE DEAN
I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Benny’s eyes plead with Terence. He looks to Helena for sympathy.
HELENA STORM
Terence we can’t leave him.
TERENCE DEAN
We’re only a half a day out, we’ll send someone back.
BENNY LANG
But sir, these men, were the unsavory types…
TERENCE DEAN
Evidently.
BENNY LANG
What if they come back? Plus, I don’t have food or water.
HELENA STORM
He can sit on top with me.
TERENCE DEAN
This is not a leisure trip. We are delivering a dangerous man.
HELENA STORM
Well then we better go now, but I won’t leave him.
Terence sighs in frustration, having dealt with her stubbornness before.
BENNY LANG
Thank you, thank you, I will be no trouble, I assure you. Heaven has sent two angels my way.
TERENCE DEAN
Let’s go.
Terence turns to go back to the stagecoach.
BENNY LANG
Please sir, could you help with my chest?
Terence turns back getting annoyed. Benny motions to the foot locker and smiles.
TERENCE DEAN
Leave it.
BENNY LANG
It’s my only possession now.
Terence looks at Helena and then back to Benny. He sighs again.
He walks over and closes the lid and then picks it up.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
Again, many thanks. You don’t know, it’s been in my family for generations. I will be no more trouble to you.
Terence hefts the trunk on top of the stagecoach.
Helena helps Benny to the perch as Terence walks over to her.
TERENCE DEAN
You keep your eyes open, I don’t trust him.
HELENA STORM
Do your job Marshall, I’ll do mine. When this is over, we can go back to our own lives.
TERENCE DEAN
You mean our life?
Helena’s only response is to look away.
Terence takes her hand and feels for her wedding ring.
TERENCE DEAN (CONT’D)
What if I told you this was my last job?
Helena looks him straight in the eye.
HELENA STORM
I’ve heard that before, remember?
Helena steps up to her seat on the stage coach and grabs the reigns.
Terence is again left standing there as Helena starts the horses. He has to rush to catch the stagecoach door and climb in.
INT. STAGECOACH – SAME
Jacob is smiling broadly.
JACOB CALHOUN
Never gets old.
FATHER WINTERS
What’s going on Marshall?
TERENCE DEAN
Luke, Father, chapter ten.
JACOB CALHOUN
The parable of the Good Samaritan.
Terence and Father Winters stare at Jacob who continues to smile.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
With that in mind, my arm where your girlfriend dug her knife, is paining me. Is it possible to move my shackles?
TERENCE DEAN
When we get there.
JACOB CALHOUN
So kind.
TERENCE DEAN
Not another word.
Terence looks out the window at the passing red rock vistas.
EXT. DEAN’S RANCH – DAY – PAST
Young Helena exits the barn with a fresh bucket of milk.
In front of the house, she notices two US MARSHALS mounting their horses. Terence stands between them.
US MARSHAL # 1
See you day after tomorrow.
The Marshals see Helena, nod and then ride off.
Terence looks at Helena. She looks down worried and continues past him into their home. He tries to say something, but can’t find the words.
EXT. STAGECOACH – DAY
Benny and Helena sit silently on the perch. She steers the stagecoach through the winding desert, lost in thought. The sun is falling closer to the horizon.
BENNY LANG
Personally, I’m not one to settle down. Almost fell for a petite dancer in Georgetown, then I thought better of it and headed for the West. Heard the cards were highly regarded out here. They are, after all, my first love.
Helena smiles at Benny’s chatter, eager for a distraction from her thoughts.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
Love takes commitment. The kind a traveller like me can’t afford.
He pulls something out of his vest pocket.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
You know what this is?
Helena looks down. Benny is holding a deep black obsidian stone.
HELENA STORM
A rock?
BENNY LANG
Yes, but do you know what they call it?
HELENA STORM
(More hesitation.) A rock?
BENNY LANG
Yes, of course. But it’s much more than that. They call it an Apache Tear and it’s very rare. Do you know how it got it’s name?
Helena shakes her head no.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
Alright, story time. There is a legend behind the Apache Tear. There were two young Indian lovers who were from different tribes. They were warring factions of the Apache people. They were commanded to treat the other as hostile, but they desperately loved each other. They would meet in secret, making an oath of their undying love. When their tribes learned of their treachery, they were each sentenced to death unless they denounced their love. They would not. Each one escaped from their tribe and they met again on the cliff of the mountain top, with the tribes in pursuit. With no other option before them, they jumped off the cliff to their death. Legend has it, the Apache Tears were made when the mountain wept.
HELENA STORM
That’s a beautiful story.
BENNY LANG
Commitment and sacrifice is true love.
Helena turns away with a tear in her eye.
HELENA STORM
That’s why it’s so rare.
INT. STAGECOACH – DAY
Terence is also lost in thought. Jacob eyes him closely.
JACOB CALHOUN
I’m gonna kill you. You know that?
Terence snaps into the present.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
For killin’ my Brother. You shouldn’t a done that.
Father Winters looks up from reading his Bible.
TERENCE DEAN
Actually, you killed him.
JACOB CALHOUN
How’s that?
TERENCE DEAN
Your life led you to that moment. You created it years ago when you became an outlaw. What do they say Father? Live by the sword, die by the sword? Only our swords have changed, haven’t they?
Terence pats the six shooter on his hip.
JACOB CALHOUN
Your moment’s coming Marshall.
Suddenly, the stagecoach begins to slow again.
Jacob smiles knowingly.
Alarmed, Terence pokes his head out of the window to see what’s going on.
EXT. STAGECOACH – DUSK
The stagecoach comes to a complete stop.
Terence exits with his guns drawn.
TERENCE DEAN
I told you not to stop.
Terence stops in his tracks and stares into the tree before him.
Two men ominously swing on nooses in the large oak tree by the road. The first has a crude sign painted on him in red that reads, “Horse thief”.
TERENCE DEAN (CONT’D)
This is not right.
Terence swings around just as one of Jacob’s men, Ash, comes rushing around the back of the stagecoach with a rifle. Terence raises his pistol.
SCARFACE
I wouldn’t do that Marshall. Drop your guns.
Terence slowly turns to find Scarface swinging in the trees with the first man, but he is very much alive and has two six shooters aimed directly at him.
Helena reaches for her rifle, but Ash is there to take it from her.
ASH
I don’t think so little darlin. You and the boy jump down.
BENNY LANG
Who you calling a boy? I’ve more whiskers than you.
Helena and Benny climb down from the stagecoach.
JACOB CALHOUN
You bone heads gonna keep me in here all day. I need the key in Marshall’s left vest pocket.
Ash walks over and cautiously approaches Terence.
SCARFACE
Marshall, why don’t you kindly throw my buddy the key then.
Terence looks up at Scarface who cocks his guns.
He takes the key from his vest pocket and throws it to Ash, who rushes it over to Jacob.
Jacob unlocks his handcuffs and rubs his bandaged wrist.
Ash hands him a gun.
Jacob triumphantly walks up to Terence.
JACOB CALHOUN
Well, well, well. Who’s moment is it now Marshall?
Jacob looks over at the dead man next to Scarface.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
Who’s that?
SCARFACE
He’s a horse thief. Where’d you think we got the idea.
JACOB CALHOUN
Get down from there.
Scarface struggles.
SCARFACE
Boss, I need help.
Jacob ignores him and turns back to Terence.
JACOB CALHOUN
You killed my Brother. Now it’s my turn.
Jacob turns to look at Helena. Terence moves towards Jacob who shoves a pistol in his face.
TERENCE DEAN
You got me, leave her alone.
JACOB CALHOUN
Or what, Marshall?
TERENCE DEAN
So help me, I will travel to hell to make you pay.
JACOB CALHOUN
Strong words, for a man in your position.
Jacob walks backwards towards Helena, with his gun drawn on Terence. He reaches her and looks around.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
We’re missing someone. (Yelling) Oh Father, come on out. I’ll need you to deliver some last rites.
Father Winters slowly exits the stagecoach.
Jacob turns back to Terence, as Father Winters raises a hidden pistol.
SCARFACE
Boss, look out.
Father Winters shoots Scarface dead, as a whirlwind of motion occurs simultaneously.
Scarface drops one of his six shooters and Terence catches it. Ash turns and shoots Father Winters, who goes down.
Terence shoots Ash dead.
Benny runs for cover behind the stagecoach.
Helena gets to her rifle and raises it to Jacob, just as he grabs the barrel and swings behind her.
Terence trains his gun on Jacob, who now has Helena in his grasp with his gun to her head. They face each other once more.
JACOB CALHOUN
Deja vu Marshall. Seems like we been here before.
TERENCE DEAN
Let her go, and you live.
JACOB CALHOUN
Nice trick in there with the padre. One of your Deputy’s I presume?
TERENCE DEAN
You can’t win. Give it up!
Jacob cocks his pistol and pushes it into Helena’s temple.
JACOB CALHOUN
Why Marshall, I’ve already won. I just want you to pay.
TERENCE DEAN
Don’t! Okay, okay. Take me, not her.
Terence drops his gun and holds his hands up in surrender.
JACOB CALHOUN
Oh how very chivalrous, but that’s not the point. How does the scripture go? An eye for an eye?
Helena swings a knife over, but Jacob intercepts it this time and throws it to the ground. He squeezes her tightly.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT”D)
I don’t think so, little lady. Not this time. You see Marshall, I’m going to take something from you now.
With a wild banshee cry, Benny Lang jumps out from behind the stagecoach with a small Dillinger aimed at Jacob.
Jacob just turns and shoots him square in the chest. Benny looks helplessly down at the gaping hole in his chest and falls to the ground dead. Terence goes for his gun.
Jacob aims again at Marshall Dean. Both guns go off simultaneously. Jacob gets shot in the head and falls backwards.
Helena looks up at Marshall Dean breathlessly. He smiles. She smiles back. A red stain suddenly appears on his shirt. She hesitates unbelieving. He staggers to the ground.
She rushes over and kneels down and cradles him in her arms. She begins to cry. He struggles to breath.
HELENA STORM
Don’t leave me again, please don’t leave me.
TERENCE DEAN
I should have loved you more.
His eyes go blank as he stops breathing. She cries.
HELENA STORM
Please, please no. I will do anything. Just come back to me.
A voice is heard behind her.
It is Benny Lang now standing and uninjured. His eyes blaze red. Helena stares at him, puzzled.
BENNY LANG
Would you? Would you do anything?
HELENA STORM
What? I thought you were…
BENNY LANG
Sacrifice and commitment, remember. The sign of true love. Would you do anything?
HELENA STORM (Confused)
Of course I would!
BENNY LANG
Would you give your life? Your… soul for him?
Helena looks down at the still form of Terence and whispers.
HELENA STORM
Yes.
BENNY LANG
So be it!
Benny snaps his fingers and Terence wakes up. He looks into Helena’s eyes and kisses her. She immediately falls limp, dead.
Terence looks to Benny who smiles wickedly. He holds a white wisp in his hand. The faint voice of Helena can be heard in the wisp.
HELENA STORM (From the wisp)
I love you Terence, I always will.
The Marshall jumps up and goes after Benny, who quickly climbs up to the top of the stagecoach and opens his wooden trunk. Terence advances and Benny jumps inside, slamming the door shut on top of him.
Terence pulls the trunk down off of the stagecoach and it crashes to the ground open, empty. Terence yells helplessly in the desert.
INT. SALOON – NIGHT
Another time, another place, a seemingly normal poker game proceeds in a dark and crowded saloon. Benny Lang is smiling and rakes in another deep pot with a full house, aces high.
The GAMBLER across the table sits unblinking. Benny folds up the deed on top of the stack and puts it in his jacket pocket.
GAMBLER
That’s it, that’s everything. What have I done? I’ve ruined myself and my family. I would do anything to have the last few minutes of my life back.
Benny looks at him intently and his red eyes blaze.
I bet you didn’t know that there were officially 3 segments of the movie Locker 13 that went unfilmed, due to the fact that we couldn’t raise the funds to shoot them during the recession of 2008. I thought it would be interesting to publish in the blog the 3 missing scripts, for those of you that liked Locker 13 and would like to read what could have been. Would’ve made for a VERY different movie.
Here’s the 1st one called, Midnight Blues:
BLACK.
DANTE (V.O.)
Nietzsche once said, “The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.”
FADE IN:
EXT. CEMETERY – SOMETIME AFTER DUSK
A plain black casket lay closed on a pallet above a freshly dug grave. The casket is closed.
The cemetery is void of people, except DANTE CHARON. In profile, Dante is a pale white haired man dressed all in black. His hat in hand, he looks sadly at the casket as he says his last good-byes.
DANTE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
He never said anything about the bad times. There are some things we wish we could never remember. But sometimes…we have to. It’s the bad times that can remind us who we really are.
In silhouette, Dante looks up just as a CAR BACKFIRES, a flock of birds nearby release into the air with a start.
DANTE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
So I guess the reverse must be true as well. The burden of a good memory is that one must suffer often the painful memories HE holds…almost as if he’s paying some kind of endless penance for some past mistake…
Dante’s hand reaches down and cups some earth, he pauses a second…then tosses it into the grave.
DANTE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
But I guess that’s my fate. A life lived in solitude.
The morning sun hits Dante’s face. He is disfigured…
CLOSE-UP: DANTE’S EYE
His left eye is sealed shut and massive scars cover the surface from brow to cheek.
DANTE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
But it’s not only my life. I’ve made it my job.
Dante puts on his black hat. The hat of a chauffeur. He turns and walks toward a big black CADILLAC. But it’s no ordinary Cadillac.
It’s a HEARSE.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE – EVENING
A WOMAN screams.
It is SARA LIPTON, a middle-aged woman, stern and of fading beauty.
She wrestles with 2 YOUNG MEN. A hand with a rag filled with some kind of liquid is roughly placed over her mouth. She slowly goes slack and loses consciousness.
The men start laughing. One of them, JAKE, looks nervous. His eyes shift back and forth as a hand wipes nervously at a white powdered nose. The burly man, JIM, slaps Jake on the arm.
JIM
It worked!
Jake laughs at Jim and nods. He looks down at Sara and nudges her with his foot as she lays sprawled out ungenerously on the carpet.
JAKE
It’s payback, bitch!
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
The Hearse door shuts.
Feet walk past to the back where it is parked next to a set of double doors.
The man in black passes a plaque that reads, “Phoenix City Morgue” on his way through the double doors.
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY – SAME
The man in black walks to an entry desk in the back. A MAN IN A WHITE LAB COAT sits with his feet up on the desk watching “Matlock” from a miniature television while chewing on a piece of beef jerky.
His name tag reads, “ROBERT DIENER”.
He looks up and just about chokes on his jerky.
ROBERT
Holy shit!
Robert sees the scarred eye of Dante for the first time.
Dante ignores the reaction and pulls a name tag out of his pocket and waves it at him. It reads, “Dante Charon, Green Acres Cemetery”. He taps a clipboard.
DANTE
Here for a pickup.
Robert tries to compose himself.
ROBERT
Course.
He shuffles some papers around. Can’t find what he’s looking for. Dante seems to make him nervous.
DANTE
New here?
ROBERT
I been round the block if that’s what you mean…
Robert lifts the TV and looks under it. Dante breathes out slowly.
DANTE
This block?
ROBERT
Damn! OK, so I been here about an hour, it’s my first shift, I just had that file…
Robert tries not to look at Dante’s eye. But it’s obviously freakin’ him out.
ROBERT (CONT’D)
Ok, ok. So? You’re makin’ me nervous ok, could happen to anyone.
DANTE
Which one?
Robert stops shuffling papers. He’s confused.
ROBERT
What? I wasn’t lookin’ at the eye if that’s what you mean…I mean it’s frickin’ strange and all, but I’m no peep…
Dante looks at the clipboard.
DANTE
Cold chamber. Which one?
ROBERT
Oh, locker 13.
Dante nods and exits through a large metal door.
Robert sits back down and breathes out a huge jet of air.
ROBERT (CONT’D)
Sorry, about the eye…thing…
He trails off talkin’ to himself.
CUT TO:
INT. COLD CHAMBER – SAME
CLOSE-UP: METAL LOCKER DOOR WITH THE LARGE “13” ON IT DEAD CENTER.
Dante unlatches the metal latch. Cold air rushes out of the locker. Dante pulls out the casket on rollers. He pushes it towards the metal door in the back.
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – SAME
Dante loads the casket into the Hearse.
CUT TO:
INT. HEARSE – SAME
The door opens and Dante gets in and buckles up.
He lowers the visor to reveal a group of postcards, with a picture of Edward Hopper’s painting, “Nighthawks” on top. The postcards say, “Chicago Museum of Art” in the lower left hand corner of each card.
He takes the cards down and shuffles them until he finds the one he’s looking for. He puts them back under the visor with a picture of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” on top.
He closes the visor and starts the engine.
He reaches down and pulls out a “Hall and Oates” CD. He puts it into the CD player and skips to song number 4.
CUT TO:
ESTABLISHING – The city at night.
The Hearse drives through the freeway at midnight.
Hall and Oates, “She’s Gone” plays in the background.
CUT TO:
INT. HEARSE FRONT SEAT – NIGHT
Dante thumps on the steering wheel with the music.
INT. HEARSE BACK – NIGHT
The casket lays in silence. Something’s not quite right. Something BUMPS softly from inside the casket.
INT. HEARSE FRONT SEAT – SAME
Dante looks out the rearview mirror.
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – SAME
The Hearse pulls through the large metal gates of a cemetery.
CUT TO:
INT. HEARSE FRONT SEAT – SAME
Dante looks left and right as he slowly drives down the small path.
INT. HEARSE BACK – SAME
The THUMPING gets louder, more insistent.
HEARSE FRONT SEAT
Dante stops the car and listens.
HEARSE BACK
The THUMPING is very loud and panicky.
HEARSE FRONT SEAT
Dante turns the CD player off and hears the thumping coming from the back.
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
Dante gets out and walks around to the back. He opens it and pulls out the casket on rollers. The THUMPING is very fast and LOUD now.
He opens up the casket and Sara Lipton sits up and gasps for air.
She looks very much the worse for wear. Her hair is a mess, her makeup smeared on her face, and wearing what appears to be a mechanics grey jumpsuit. Dante doesn’t look surprised.
SARA
What’s going on! Why did you put me in here?
DANTE
I didn’t put you in there.
SARA
Where am I and how did I get here?
DANTE
You’re in the Green Acres Cemetery and I drove you here.
Sara gets out of the coffin and dusts herself off. She gets hysterical and runs over and starts beating on Dante.
SARA
ARE YOU CRAZY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT! THIS IS KIDNAPPING! I HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE…
Dante grabs her wrists and stops her from hitting him.
DANTE
Ma’am, calm down… I can help you through this.
She stops and cries.
SARA
You’ve done this before?
DANTE
I’ve helped people though a lot worse.
He points to his eye.
She notices it for the first time. This calms her down.
DANTE (CONT’D)
Do you remember who you are?
SARA
Of course I do, my name’s…
She’s puzzled. She can’t remember her name.
SARA (CONT’D)
My name is…
She’s terrified.
SARA (CONT’D)
I can’t remember…
Dante opens the car door and pulls out the clipboard.
DANTE
Sara Lipton.
She remembers.
SARA
YES! YES! Sara…of course my name is Sara!
He nods. She nods.
DANTE
Do you remember how you got in there?
She shakes her head. He shakes his head.
DANTE (CONT’D)
What’s the last thing you remember?
SARA
I remember working today. I’m a CPA…
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Sara is at her desk, she’s yelling at someone.
SARA
That’s it! NO MORE CHANCES! I’m sick of the lies! The backstabbing! I won’t take it anymore…
She throws a file into a startled man’s lap.
SARA (CONT’D)
GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE! YOU’RE FIRED, JAKE!
CLOSE-UP: Jake.
Jake’s eyes are panicked.
JAKE
You can’t do this! I been with this firm 10 years, I can’t start over…
She pushes him toward the door.
SARA
I just did! I never want to see you around here again! Don’t come back…
He walks away, stunned.
She SLAMS the door.
SLAM CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
Her eyes remember little things, but her brow furrows.
SARA
I had a bad day today…I can remember some things…but not how I got here…
DANTE
It will come to you.
CUT TO:
INT. HOME – EVENING
Sara comes home to an empty house. She opens the front door, turns on the hall foyer light. She reads the mail on a side table.
INT. KITCHEN – SAME
She opens the fridge. Hardly anything in there. Nothing interests her.
INT. BEDROOM – SAME
She turns on the bedroom lights and looks at the bed. There is only one pillow in the center of the bed. She leaves.
INT. FOYER – SAME
She stands in the empty room. She stands in an empty house.
She is alone.
She leaves and SLAMS the door behind her.
SLAM CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
She’s crying now. The memories are coming on stronger now.
SARA
I couldn’t go home so I went back to the office…
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE – EVENING
Sara screams.
She wrestles with 2 YOUNG MEN. A hand with a rag filled with some kind of liquid is roughly placed over her mouth. She slowly goes slack and loses consciousness.
FLASH CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
The memories are flooding in a torrent against her. She cries openly, trying to gain her composure.
SARA
It was Jake…he wanted to get back at me for firing him…but he was a junkie…I couldn’t have that in the office anymore. I covered for him way too long…
FLASH CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE – EVENING
She slowly wakes up from the floor. She gets up groggily. She can hear voices in the next room. She shakes her head and walks over to the door.
INT. ROOM – SAME
Jim and Jake are arguing. There’s a table between them with cocaine and hard liquor scattered about. A gun sits in front of Jim.
JIM
…we can get a ransom!
JAKE
From who? She’s got no friends or family, everyone hates her!
JIM
-Then what, JAKE? WHAT DO WE DO WITH HER?
JAKE
Make her clear her bank account! Get all the stuff from her house–
Sara opens the door and staggers in. She’s not quite right yet, still not lucid from being drugged.
SARA
I’ve got to get to the police! You’re going to JAIL! YOU’RE…
Jim picks up the gun, startled as she hobbles forward like a creature from a horror movie.
She sways forward, woozy, Jim thinks she’s coming to get him. He pulls the gun up and everything SLAMS to slow motion…
His finger pulls the trigger.
The gun FIRES…
She gets shot in the chest. Looks down at the gaping hole where her heart should be. She crumples to the floor.
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
Sara stops. Dante nods.
DANTE
You remember now, don’t you?
She reaches up and unzips the jump suit to reveal a Y INCISION on her chest.
DANTE (CONT’D)
They only do a Y-Incision when there’s been an autopsy…
She looks at him, in amazement.
SARA
You knew?
DANTE
It always goes smoother when they find out for themselves. I’ve been through this before remember?
She looks over at the casket. She walks over and lifts it.
The body of Sara Lipton still lies inside. She is looking at herself.
SARA
But how?
DANTE
The ones who aren’t quite ready yet, just need a little time to adjust. To get use to the idea of passing through…
SARA
Passing through, where?
DANTE
A much better place.
She cries.
SARA
Really?
DANTE
Yes. You have loved ones, Sara. They are waiting for you.
SARA
For me?
DANTE
Yes, Sara. You’re not alone. There is a place for you, and you’re not alone. A much better place than here.
She walks forward and wipes her tears. She smiles up at Dante. She reaches over and touches his eye.
SARA
You see much better than we do, don’t you?
He smiles at her.
She turns and walks away.
SARA (CONT’D)
You’re the ferryman, aren’t you? The river Styx, come to bring me to the other world…
DANTE
The river Acheron actually. My name’s Charon.
He nods to her.
DANTE (CONT’D)
You’re free to go, Sara. Go in peace.
SARA
Thank you, Charon.
She smiles and slowly fades away.
He walks over and closes the casket.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT CEMETERY – MORNING
A plain black casket lay closed on a pallet above a freshly dug grave. The casket is closed.
The cemetery is void of people, except Dante Charon.
DANTE
Aristotle once said, “Happiness is the highest good, being a realization and perfect practice of virtue, which some can attain, while others have little or none of it…”
CUT TO:
INT. HEARSE – SAME
He lowers the visor and takes the postcards down. He shuffles them until he finds Georges Seurat’s painting, “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.” He puts that on top and closes the visor.
He skips the CD to number 2 and “Sara Smile” from Hall and Oates starts to play.
Here is the list for the Best Movie Stunts for the Decade 2000-2009 as listed in the book, 100 Years of the Best Movie Stunts!
2000 – Mission: Impossible II
The motorcycle stunts in this John Woo Directed film performed by Tom Cruise and the rest of the stuntmen are worth the ticket of admission. Great bike stunts here.
2001 – Black Hawk Down
Military precision is on full scale display in this fine film directed by Ridley Scott. The actors went through a serious boot camp to get them ready and to make this as realistic as possible. Very well done.
2002 – Jackass The Movie
The first time a successful movie was released with UNTRAINED stuntmen performing all the stunts. Some of them are quite dangerous and most of them just downright silly and stupid. But all of them entertaining.
2003 – Ong Bak
Stuntman-turned-Actor Tony Jaa sparkles in this fantastic martial arts film. In the past most martial arts films uses wires and then cgi to cover the wires later, but not in this one. Jaa seems to have elastic legs with the kicks, jumps and splits he performs at lightning speed.
2004 – District B13
The French turn in a fantastic film full of Parkour stunts performed by one of the creators himself, David Belle and another great stuntman and top stunt choreographers in his own right, Cyrill Raffaelli. If you are a fan of Taken with Liam Neeson, then you’ll love this film as Pierre Morel directed this one first.
2005 – Batman Begins
Now another Director who likes to film the action scenes himself enters the list, Christopher Nolan with this film and the sequel 3 years later. He wanted to direct a bond film and got this franchise instead and really took it to heart. He’s a big fan of doing practical effects and the audience gets the benefit of it all the way. Thank you, Mr. Nolan.
2006 – Casino Royale
Speaking of Bond, Daniel Craig‘s first entry as bond has some great Parkour in it as well. I liked it so much I used a still as the cover for the 100 Years of the Best Movie Stunts book. It also boasts a World Record by flipping a car a record seven times!
2007 – Deathproof
I love to be able to announce another bad-ass stunt woman on the scene and Zoe Bell is not one who disappoints. She spends the better half of Quentin Tarantino‘s movie strapped to the hood of two racing cars, with Stuntman Mike in the other car trying very hard to kill her at every chance. Stuntman Mike played by Kurt Russell.
2008 – The Dark KnightHere’s Christopher Nolan‘s sequel to Batman Begins and in so many ways it tops the original. He manages to flip an eighteen wheeler end to end for this one by driver Jim Wilky and an amazing stunt crew.
2009 – Fast & Furious
The previous versions of this series were more racing films and this one transforms the series into a more stunt spectacular series from here on out. All of the original cast is back and film is chocked full of great stunts. Justin Lin would be the Director I would give credit to making this franchise more Universal. And we are all the better for it.
Check out our new Book, 100 Years of the Best Movie Stunts!
Christopher Nolan, as in his previous movies, pushed his film crew to develop and perform the best stunts possible in order to avoid having to resort to CGI effects. One of the greatest stunts of these in The Dark Knight was a scene involving a moving eighteen-wheeler truck being completely flipped upside down. Initially, the special effects supervisor of the film, Chris Corbould, attempted to convince Nolan to use a smaller vehicle for the stunt, as this would make the attempt much easier. Nevertheless, Nolan insisted on using a full size eighteen-wheeler.
The unforgettable semi-truck flip in the Dark Knight was completely real, driver (Jim Wilky) and all. A driver-operated canon-like contraption on the trailer blasted a two-ton steel battering ram against the pavement to flip the truck, resulting in an awe-inspiring cacophony of crushed steel and twisted metal. The stunt was actually practiced on an airstrip to ensure that the truck flipped straight, lest the buildings on either side be decimated with an off center crash.
Because of the gravity of this scene, Christopher Nolan used several cameras to capture the stunt. He noted on the Blu-Ray commentary, “We covered it from I think seven different angles—4 IMAX cameras, 2 Vista Vision ones, a 35…I actually don’t like to use a lot of multi-cam setups, but doing a stunt that is not repeatable like this, you really have to cover yourself and make sure you’ve got it from all angles.”
In the final cut of the film, Nolan used two angles of the truck: a camera positioned on a separate vehicle moving along with the eighteen wheeler, and a camera located inside a cop car that was moving directly toward the truck. Nolan stated, “Much to our surprise we found this to be one of the most effective angles.”
The Dark Knight was directed by Christopher Nolan for Warner Bros.
Things to look up (go to IMDB page ):
Christopher Nolan
Christian Bale
Chris Corbould
Jim Wilky
Check out our new Book, 100 Years of the Best Movie Stunts!
This film proves that Luc Besson has a magic touch. Again, he just wrote and produced this one but was genius when he hired Pierre Morel to direct as he was perfect for the job. It also gave Liam Neeson new life as an action star. Liam Neeson initially expected the film to bomb, but he signed on, in order spend four months in Paris, and learn karate, while playing the kind of role he had rarely been offered in the past. Ironically, not only was the film a massive hit, but created a new on-screen image for Neeson, as an action hero. Liam Neeson performs a good amount of his own stunts. Over the course of the movie, Bryan kills 35 people in order to get to his daughter.
