Asylum Page #16

DOUG:

Good morning.

DIPLOMAT:

I'm just here to record some details,

standard stuff.

DOUG:

You mean your NOT going to spring me?

Diplomat shakes head.

DIPLOMAT:

I don't know what it is with you bloody

hooligans. Not content with causing

trouble back home, YOU idiots have to go

off and wreak havoc throughout the whole

of Europe. And when finally, the police

do catch up with you, you expect us to

wave a magic wand and get you out, well

not this time, I'm sorry.

DOUG:

So am I.

DIPLOMAT:

Now - Your name is Douglas Greenwell, yes?

DOUG:

Yes.

DIPLOMAT:

Date of birth, November the fourth

nineteen-sixty-two.

DOUG:

Yes.

DIPLOMAT:

Your home address is 18 Thornton Avenue,

Coventry.

DOUG:

That's my mum's.

DIPLOMAT:

I see, would you like us to inform her

of your situation?

DOUG:

No!

DIPLOMAT:

Now, have you been read your rights

and are you aware of the charges?

DOUG:

No!

DIPLOMAT:

Well, I'll try and get that clarified.

As I understand it though, the charges

include break and enter, theft, trespass,

operating an unlicensed facility,

vandalism and destruction of government

documents - Whatever possessed you to

start destroying people's medical records?

DOUG:

They didn't look like medical files to me.

DIPLOMAT:

Well a plea of ignorance won't go

far here. Frankly, I think you deserve

everything that's coming.

DOUG:

Regards to Her Majesty.

Doug gets up, walks to door and knocks on it. Diplomat is still

filling in some details when an Officer comes in.

DIPLOMAT:

Before you go, did you get those

bruises here?

DOUG:

Sure, they wanted to know if I ever

voted Conservative.

Doug and officer exit. Show Diplomat shaking head and sliding papers

to the bottom of an already full briefcase.

INT - COURTROOM - DOUG - DAY

Doug is led into the room hand-cuffed and he is shown to a table where

there are TWO MEN sitting. Doug looks tired. Courtroom is small,

modern and functional with barred window and Communist icons still in

place together with a Czech Republic flag and coat of arms displayed.

There is a JUDGE drinking coffee flanked by TWO ADVISORS and nearby

are CLERKS and a STENOGRAPHER. Adjacent to Doug's table is another

table with a civilian, who is the PROSECUTOR, and TWO POLICE OFFICERS.

The man next to Doug introduces himself.

(Jaroslav:
weaselly Czech man in his thirties)

JAROSLAV:

(to Doug)

My name is Jaroslav Novak, I will be your

translator.

Jaroslav gestures to a man at the table who is going through some

papers.

JAROSLAV:

This is Petr Vitovetch, he will represent

you.

(Petr:
Unpleasant-looking Czech professional in his fifties)

DOUG:

About time I saw a lawyer.

(to Petr)

We've got some serious talking to do.

Petr doesn't respond and Doug looks back at Jaroslav. The JUDGE calls

Petr to the bar and they talk casually. The stenographer takes notes.

Occasionally they look at Doug and are joined at the bar by the

prosecutor. They continue discussion and refer to the advisors who

check through some books.

DOUG:

(to Jaroslav)

Any chance of getting me out on bail?

JAROSLAV:

What is bail?

Doug shakes his head.

DOUG:

Will they free me?

JAROSLAV:

I don't know - maybe they are talking

about it now. Mr Vitovetch is a good

friend of the Judge.

DOUG:

Will this thing take long?

JAROSLAV:

No, it should be over soon.

DOUG:

You mean it's started?

JAROSLAV:

Of course, you can see that lady over

there, she is recording everything.

DOUG:

How do I know what's being said?

JAROSLAV:

I will tell you - within a week I will

have the transcript and we can go through

it.

Doug shakes his head in disbelief. Petr comes back to the table and

talks with Jaroslav.

PETR:

(Subtitles)

He is in big trouble, the Judge will

hang him out to dry, but tell him he has

nothing to worry about. The trial will

be in two weeks and he must stay in police

custody till then. Here are the charges.

Petr hands Jaroslav some papers, show Judge exiting. Petr joins up

with the prosecutor and they leave together. Jaroslav is still

talking to Doug who is now staring away, his guards wait nearby.

INT - JOSH'S OFFICES - JOSH/HOLLY - DAY

Corporate offices - FIRST AMERICAN INVESTMENT BANKERS. Holly waits in

the reception area with an empty coffee cup by her side. Josh comes

down the hall and past RECEPTIONIST, Holly stands.

JOSH:

Honey what a pleasant surprise, sorry

to keep you waiting.

HOLLY:

Josh, I have to speak you, it's urgent.

JOSH:

Of course Darling, you'd like to apologise?

HOLLY:

Can we talk in your office?

Josh nods and Holly heads off in the direction of his office.

JOSH:

(to receptionist)

Hold all my calls and book me a table

for lunch at Luigi's.

Receptionist acknowledges and Josh goes off down the hall.

INT - JOSH'S OFFICE - JOSH/HOLLY - DAY

Classy office with lots of leather and wood. Holly sits down on one

end of the couch clasping her hands, knees together. Josh enters the

office and closes door, he goes to his desk, a distance from Holly.

JOSH:

So, what have you got to say for

yourself? Was he good in bed?

HOLLY:

Josh, I need your help. Doug's been

arrested, he's in big trouble. I thought

maybe your father and the Embassy might

be able to do something.

JOSH:

You really are a piece of work, you know

that? You walk out on me and my family

for some worthless bum and you expect us

to help him when he screws up.

Josh laughs and shakes his head, Holly gets up to leave.

JOSH:

Suppose I do help him?

Holly turns back to Josh.

JOSH:

Will you come home and forget all about

him?

HOLLY:

Yes, if you can get him free.

JOSH:

Alright, I'll see to it and things'll

be just as they were, okay?

Josh comes over to Holly and moves a hand down from her head to a

breast.

JOSH:

Deal?

Holly nods with tears in her eyes and Josh pulls open her blouse and

then moves back her head to kiss her.

INT - POLICE CELLBLOCK - DOUG/CHRIS - DAY

Doug is sharing a cell with an elderly MAN. Cell-mate is playing

chequers on his bed, Doug is using a spoon to make carvings on the

wall. There are metal plates on a small table. Daylight comes in

through a small barred window. Chris enters the cellblock with a

GUARD opening/closing barred door behind him and comes down the

corridor. SHOW some assorted other detainees. Chris walks straight up

to Doug's cell but slows a little as he approaches. Chris is carrying

a copy of the "Prague Echo".

CHRIS:

I thought I'd find you here.

Doug turns slowly.

DOUG:

Chris! Tell me some good news.

DOUG:

Tell me some bad news?

CHRIS:

I don't want to ruin your day.

DOUG:

That bad?

CHRIS:

Your too good for this town, Buddy.

DOUG:

So I hear.

CHRIS:

Huh?

DOUG:

I had a visit from the British Embassy.

They think I'm a stray soccer hooligan.

CHRIS:

They ain't the only ones.

Chris passes newspaper through bars.

CHRIS:

I stopped by your office. Henry was

steaming, he says he's going to throw

you out of the window and that you

never worked at the Bugler.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes