Joker Page #27

Garrity and Burke are pointing their guns at the crowd,

yelling panicked for them to back off, back off, and one

idiot reaches for Garrity's gun--

Bang.

98.

Burke fires into the crowd, as the train pulls into the

station--

A protestor falls dead. The other clowns on the train go

crazy, starting to riot. Glimpse Joker walking away calmly

out of the chaos. Taking off the mask and dropping it at his

side as he steps off the train, disappearing onto the crowded

platform.

CUT TO:

102 EXT. WGCTV STUDIOS, FRANKLIN THEATER - MIDTOWN - EVENING 102

An excited line of ticket holders waiting to get in to "Live

with Murray Franklin!" The poster marquee box near the door

reads:
"TONIGHT'S GUESTS. Lance Reynolds. Dr. Sally Friedman.

And Special Guest."

They swing open the doors and start to let the audience

inside...

103 EXT. BACKSTAGE DOOR, FRANKLIN THEATER - SIDE STREET - EVENING

103

Random fans and autograph hounds hanging out by the backstage

door, waiting for the night's guests to arrive...

104 INT. STUDIO 4B, STAGE - FRANKLIN THEATER - EVENING 104

Studio audience filing into the studio, being seated in the

wide bleachers along one wall. Three TV monitors hang from

the ceiling, facing the audience. Three studio cameras on the

floor, black cables strewn everywhere.

The set for "LIVE WITH MURRAY FRANKLIN!" is dark... but we

can still make out his desk... guest chairs... Don Ellis and

his Jazz Orchestra's band stand... big blue curtain.

105 INT. HALLWAY, FRANKLIN THEATER - EVENING 105

The host of the show, MURRAY FRANKLIN (60's), usually quick

with a bemused grin but right now in a sour mood, walks fast

down the hall toward the drab dressing rooms with his old-

school producer, GENE UFLAND (60's), who's holding the show's

rundown rolled up in his hand.

GENE UFLAND:

--You gotta see this nut for

yourself, Murray. I don't think we

can put him on. With the rioting

out there.

99.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(annoyed)

Jesus, Gene, I don't have time for

this. Cindy's been breaking my

balls all day.

GENE UFLAND:

She's still mad at you about that

thing?

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

Three marriages, you'd think I'da

f***in' learned something.

(then)

What do I gotta see? I already know

he's a nut. That's why we're

putting him on, it's a goof.

A young BLONDE INTERN walks by in the opposite direction. She

nervously smiles to them and keeps walking. Both men turn and

check out her ass. Murray winks at Gene.

GENE UFLAND:

(just shakes his head, and

smiles)

I'm telling you, you gotta see him,

Murray. I think it's too risky, the

show's too big. It's worth too much

to blow it on this,-- this freak.

106 INT. DRESSING ROOM, FRANKLIN THEATER - CONTINUOUS 106

Joker's sitting on a small couch in the cramped dressing

room, watching the local news on a TV that's mounted up on

the wall, live shots from the subway station where Burke shot

the protestor, footage of the City Hall rally, clashes with

police.

He's cleaned himself up as best he could... white grease-

paint smeared more evenly over his face, green dyed hair

slicked back in place. Red lips redone.

Murray and his producer Gene open the dressing room door

without knocking--

Joker gets up off the couch and goes to shake Murray's hand.

Murray pauses when he sees Joker's face.

JOKER:

(shakes Murray's hand;

effusive)

Murray, I can't believe this is

real, that I'm really here.

100.

GENE UFLAND:

It's Mr. Franklin kid, show some

respect.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

Oh shut up, Gene.

(to Joker)

Murray is fine. I prefer it in

fact. Thanks for coming on the

show.

JOKER:

Are you kidding? Thank you for the

opportunity. I've been watching you

forever. My mother never missed a

show.

Murray nods not listening, he's heard this before.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

So what's with the face? Are you

part of the protests?

JOKER:

No, I don't believe in any of that.

I don't believe in anything. I just

thought it would be good for my

act.

GENE UFLAND:

(upset)

Your act? Didn't you hear that a

kid got killed on the subway and

two cops who were almost beat to

death? You didn't hear about the

dozens of protestors and police

injured in the riots?

Joker looks like he's about to bust out laughing. All of that

news is playing out on the TV above their heads. He takes a

deep breath. Swallows the laugh.

Beat.

JOKER:

No. I hadn't heard.

Gene and Murray share a look.

GENE UFLAND:

--the audience is gonna go crazy if

you put him on. It was okay maybe

for a bit, but not a whole segment.

101.

Murray thinks about it for a beat.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

I like it. It's timely. It's edgy.

It's, it's dangerous. The best

comedy is all those things put

together.

(done)

We're gonna go with it.

Rate this script:3.9 / 8 votes