Crime Spree

FADE IN:

INT. DARK ROOM - NIGHT

Pitch dark. We hear two men speaking FRENCH in hushed voices.

NOTE:
All dialogue is in French until otherwise noted.

DANIEL:

(whispering)

Turn on the flashlight.

JULIEN:

I'm trying. It doesn't work.

DANIEL:

It has to work. You just bought it this

afternoon.

A beat.

JULIEN:

Do they come with batteries?

DANIEL:

You didn't buy batteries?

JULIEN:

I thought they came with batteries.

DANIEL:

I can't believe you didn't check.

JULIEN:

I bought everything you put on the list.

Gloves. Pen knives. Flashlight.

Batteries were not on the list.

DANIEL:

Why should I have to put it on the list?

It's like saying to buy a car with tires.

EXT. HOUSE -- NIGHT

A wealthy neighborhood of Paris off the Champs Elysees. Large

homes line the secluded street. We see the silhouette of a man in

a Peugeot. We MOVE IN closer to see RAYMOND GAYET, 30's, waits

nervously.

INT. DARK ROOM -- NIGHT

Dark. DANIEL FORAY lights his Zippo lighter. He is late 30's,

tall, handsome with eyes that seem to twinkle in the glow of the

flame. Beside him is JULIEN LABESSE, 30's, hyper. Daniel places

the LIGHTER on a small table and moves over to a PAINTING on the

wall. Daniel stops at one, removes a pen knife and starts to cut

the canvas from the frame.

Daniel rolls up the canvas.

DANIEL:

Let's go.

Julien starts to pick up the ZIPPO.

DANIEL:

Be careful it's...

Too Late! Julien has already picked it up. It burns his hand ans

he flicks it away. It flies through the air and lands in the corner

of the room. The CURTAINS catch on fire.

DANIEL:

... hot!

Julien panics! He grabs the canvas out of Daniel's hand and begins

beating the flames with it. Daniel looks at him with disbelief.

Julien flails his arms wildly as he beats back the flames. He

turns to Daniel pleased that his efforts have extinguished the

fire, but unaware that the canvas has now caught on fire. A beat.

Julien sees the flames and puts them out. Daniel just stares at

him. He opens the canvas. The painting is ruined.

EXT. STREET -- NIGHT

A Mercedes parks in front of the Peugeot, boxing it in between it

and a car behind it. The DRIVER gets out and walks away.

INT. HOUSE FOYER -- NIGHT

Daniel and Julien move through the darkness.

DANIEL:

Light your lighter. I can't see

anything... and try not to burn down

the house!

Julien remove a lighter and presses it. The entire room fills

with light. Julien stares at the flame amazed.

OLD MAN'S VOICE

Don't move!

They turn to see an old man standing at the top of the stairs in

his bathrobe. He is frail, his face pasty white. He is holding a

very long, double-barrel shotgun.

Julien looks to Daniel with a 'what now' expression. The old man

slowly moves down the stairs. He loses his balance and falls down

the stairs, tumbling head over heals until he reaches the bottom.

Daniel and Julien stare at the old man who is sprawled out on the

floor, motionless.

JULIEN:

Is he dead?

DANIEL:

I don't know. He looks dead.

JULIEN:

He looked dead before he fell.

The old man groans, then opens his eyes. He grabs his shotgun.

Daniel and Julien run to the door.

EXT. HOUSE -- NIGHT

Daniel and Julien run towards the street.

DANIEL:

Start the car! Start the car!

Raymond starts the engine. Daniel and Julien rush across the street

and get in the back seat.

Raymond tries to pull out but there are only a few inches between

the Mercedes in front and the car behind. Like a pinball stuck

between two bumpers the Peugeot jerks rapidly back and forth.

INT. PEUGEOT -- CONTINUOUS

Daniel and Julien stare angrily ar Raymond.

JULIEN:

You didn't think to move the car before

we came out!

Daniel looks out his window and sees...

DANIEL'S POV -- the old man runs out of his house with his shotgun

and heads towards the car.

Raymond is desperately trying to get the car free. They all slide

down as the old man fires. The windows on the left side of the

car shatter.

DANIEL:

Raymond, get us out of here!

Raymond pops up and returns to getting the car out as the old man

opens the breach of the shotgun to reload..

Raymond floors the Peugeot keeping his foot on the brake. The

engine revs. He turns the wheel to the left and releases the brake.

The Peugeot juts forward smashing into the rear of the Mercedes

and pushing in out into the street. Before the old man can take

aim the Peugeot is speeding down the street.

INT. PEUGEOT -- MOVING -- NIGHT

Raymond bites his lip nervously as he drives. Julien finds the

whole thing amusing. Daniel leans forward.

DANIEL:

(to Raymond)

You know what makes a good get away

driver?

(controlled anger)

Being able to get away!

RAYMOND:

You're always pointing out my negative

qualities. My analyst says positive

reinforcement is a much more productive

way of relating with people.

JULIEN:

Fine. Raymond, we'd like to commend you

on how well you f***ed up tonight.

EXT. STREET, PARIS -- DAY

A narrow street. Daniel carries the cardboard tube as he walks

with Julien and Raymond. They enter a WAREHOUSE.

INT. BASTALDI'S OFFICE -- DAY

Two large desks are lined up face to face. One is empty. The

other is occupied by LAURANT BASTALDI, 40's, all business. Off to

the side is MARCEL BUROT, 40's. Daniel, Julien and Raymond enter.

As they approach the desk Daniel glances at Marcel who is staring

at him.

MARCEL:

(amused)

I heard you almost got your ass blown

off last night. Some thief. A regular

black panther.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes