I came up with this set-up for lesson #5, introducing characters in an incongruous setting or situation...and it only took me all friggin' day to get it. I rammed through a dozen different scenarios before settling on this one. Dunno how it comes across or even if it fits the scenario, but it's what I posted.
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A straight-laced librarian’s assistant is sent to pick up a
rare book from an actress notorious for her crazy stunts, but she won’t give it
to him until he does a favor for her...that might be illegal.
INT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME – DAY
Perfectly decorated with a beautiful view of the Los Angeles
Basin and a huge fireplace. ADAM VERLAIN, 25, glasses, dressed a bit
dorky but proper, follows ORIN, middle-aged but dressed 20 years too young,
into the main room.
ORIN
Casey’ll be here in two sec’s.
ADAM
Thanks.
ORIN
Drink?
ADAM
I’m fine, thanks.
ORIN
Well, I'm not.
He zips behind the bar and makes a Bloody Mary.
ORIN
When’s your flight back?
ADAM
Eleven-fifteen. I’m on an overnight -- .
ORIN
A redeye. Ouch. I've done a few of those...and they can be
fun.
He smirks and casts a glance over Adam then shakes his head
then plops ice in his drink. NOT worth it.
ADAM
They don’t want to pay for a hotel. Miss Blanchard’s got a nice home. Wonderful view of the city.
(goes to bookcases)
Is the book in here?
ORIN
No, she’s got it somewhere else. In its case. One of those
things that snaps shut.
ADAM
Oh, you mean a clamshell case?
Orin shrugs.
ADAM
Excellent. That gives it much better protection.
ORIN
Is it really worth that much?
ADAM
Ten years ago, one sold at auction for nearly a million
dollars.
ORIN
Really? Well…I hope no one cares that I flipped through it
while I was on the crapper.
ADAM
She kept it in the bathroom?!
CASEY BLANCHARD enters, elegant, same age as Adam but years
more experience.
CASEY
Hi, I’m Casey. Orin’s full of shit. The book’s in a safety
deposit box.
ADAM
Oh. Good. Uh, I’m Adam Verlain and -- .
He offers his hand. She does not take it, but circles him
like she’s trying to figure out if he’s worth buying.
CASEY
I know.
(to Orin)
What do you think?
ORIN
About what? Him!? Honey, you’ve been popping too much
Vitamin B….as in Bourbon.
CASEY
That's your poison, not mine. Do you have contacts, Adam?
ADAM
With whom?
CASEY
In place of glasses.
ADAM
Huh? Uh, no. I don’t like them.
CASEY
Okay…well, Gucci could send a nice pair over.
ADAM
Pair of what?
ORIN
Oh, God – he looks smart, but…
CASEY
Cut it, Orin. How strong do they need to be?
ADAM
Wait…what are you talking about?
ORIN
Casey, baby, Lando’ll never buy it. Not with this guy.
CASEY
No, he’s perfect. No Hollywood to him. No background.
Nothing for that prick to find out and use. Just needs some
upgrading…
ADAM
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, I’m just here to pick up the
Alice Sixty-five. A book. That’s all.
CASEY
Which I have and you don’t, and you won’t get till we get
done.
ADAM
What? Done with what?
CASEY
Tonight’s party and premier and all the fucked up shit that
goes with it. You’re my escort, so you have to be presentable,
but don't worry about protecting me; I have bodyguards for that.
ADAM
No, no, no, my plane leaves at eleven-fifteen and I have to
be at the airport two hours before that, to check in, and -- .
CASEY
Orin, call Vincent; I’ve got his cell number in mine. Tell
him Adam’s going to be delayed, so he’ll need to rebook the ticket.
ORIN
Casey, you are out of your fucking mind. Nobody’s going to
believe you went from Lando to this…this…dork.
CASEY
They will when they see the performance I give, all but
sucking his dick on the red carpet. Hm…do we need to use your dildo?
Give Lando even more reason to freak out?
She gropes Adam’s crotch. He jumps back, falls over the
couch and smacks his face on the hearth. A gash by his eye bleeds everywhere.
Orin rolls his eyes, grabs a towel, fills it with ice, and
presses it to Adam’s cut.
ORIN
Perfect. Now you’ve committed sexual assault and battery,
and probably lined up a nice little lawsuit. What’s next,
dancing naked in the Jacuzzi limo while driving down Rodeo?
He helps Adam into a sitting position. Casey kneels by him.
CASEY
Are you all right? I didn’t mean to scare you.
ADAM
No, I…I…why did you do that?
CASEY
Just wanted to see what I had to work with.
ADAM
Why did you need to know that?
CASEY
You’re right, Adam, I should’ve explained this from the
beginning. I’m trying to get this prick...a guy I used to date...to see
that I don’t give a shit about him, anymore. Show him that I've moved on.
Maybe you’ve heard of him, Lando Grissom?
ADAM
Is...is he a…an actor?
CASEY
Uh...yes.
ORIN
You never heard about the king of the kung-fu sci-fi crap?
ADAM
I don’t go to movies. They cost too much, and I...I have
more fun gaming.
CASEY
So you like electronic games? Lando was in the movie version
of Ilithium Four.
ADAM
Wait…was he the guy who played Leopard?
(she nods)
He sucked.
CASEY
Oh, Orin…he's perfect. You'll help me, won't you, Adam? Just
a little favor.
ADAM
Well...you'll give me the book when we're done, right?
Orin almost says something but Casey's quick glance shuts
him down.
CASEY
For sure. I'll even drop in a first class ticket home. But
only after a night on the town with people everybody wants to know. Okay?
And her smile is so bright and inviting and focused on him,
Adam cannot help but smile back.
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