Lost Highway

FADE IN:

INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

In the blackness, a man, FRED, is sitting on a bed smoking a

cigarette. We see his back, but with each glow of the

cigarette ash, we see his face reflected in a mirror on the

wall across from him. In the darkness, there starts the sound

of a motor which draws curtains back across a large picture

window just off screen. As the curtain moves, hard-edged

light begins crawling across the room, and we see everything

clearly. Fred is wearing a robe and pajamas, it's early

morning.

CLOSE UP ON FRED'S FACE IN THE MIRROR - Blank expression -

face somewhat obscured or distorted by smoke from the

cigarette.

CLOSE UP ON FRED'S ACTUAL FACE - Unshaven, haggard look,

eyes seem empty, glazed over. Fred is 32 years old, with

dark hair.

THE DOORBELL RINGS. Fred looks up, startled by the noise.

He looks at the digital clock: 5:30 a.m.

FRED STANDS, goes to an INTERCOM on the wall next to the

mirror. He pushes a button.

A VOICE comes over the intercom.

VOICE OVER INTERCOM

Dick Laurent is dead.

Fred leaves the bedroom and goes through the house. He is on

the upstairs level. He looks through a narrow slot window,

but can't see the front door below. He goes further in the

house to a picture window that overlooks the street below.

There is NOBODY there.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE MADISON HOUSE - DAY

We can see Fred standing at the picture window, looking out.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Fred is dressed to go out: Black sport coat and slacks,

buttoned up white shirt. He picks up a music case. A woman

comes into the room. This is Fred's wife, RENEE, 30 years

old, dark hair, dressed smartly, a drink in her hand.

RENEE:

You don't mind that I'm not coming

tonight?

FRED:

What are you going to do?

RENEE:

I thought I'd stay home and read.

Fred looks her over, she's sexy without trying.

FRED:

Read?... Read what, Renee?

Renee sits down on a couch and sips her drink. Fred comes

over to her, kisses her on the neck, which makes her laugh.

FRED:

It's nice to know I can still make

you laugh.

RENEE:

I like to laugh, Fred.

FRED:

That's why I married you.

RENEE:

Wake me up when you get home.

Fred brushes her cheek with his fingers, allowing them to

linger for a moment on her face.

CUT TO:

EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT

A blue neon sign reads: LUNA LOUNGE.

CUT TO:

INT. LUNA LOUNGE - NIGHT

Fred is on the bandstand. He takes a solo on his saxophone.

Fred plays hot, hard, neo-bop. The BAND wails madly behind

him. The PATRONS explode onto the dance floor, making it a

wild scene. Fred is a lion now, roaring away on his tenor,

driving everyone nuts.

CUT TO:

INT. LUNA LOUNGE - LATER

After the band quits to take a break, FEMALE FANS come onto

Fred, but he moves away, refusing their attentions.

CUT TO:

INT. LUNA LOUNGE - BACKSTAGE - LATER

Fred dials a pay phone.

CUT TO:

INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - NIGHT

We move through the empty living room - empty bedroom, etc.

The ringing telephone goes unanswered.

CUT TO:

INT. LUNA LOUNGE - BACKSTAGE - NIGHT

CLOSE UP ON FRED'S FACE as he listens to the ringing. Sweat

is still rolling off his face. His eyes are blank.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE MADISON HOUSE - NIGHT

Fred's car pulls up in the driveway in front of his house.

Fred gets out, and goes into the house carrying his music

case.

CUT TO:

INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - NIGHT

Fred puts down his music case, goes to the bedroom, and sees

Renee sleeping soundly.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. THE MADISON HOUSE - DOORSTEPS - DAY

Renee in a bathrobe, opens the front door to collect the

mail. She sees a plain, clean, manila envelope lying on the

step. She picks it up.

CLOSE UP ON THE ENVELOPE - No stamp, no writing, blank. She

takes the mail from the box, and goes back into the house.

CUT TO:

INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Renee opens the manila envelope. She's noticeably nervous

when she sees a videotape inside. She stares at it.

Fred enters, also wearing a bathrobe. He sees Renee staring

at the videotape - before she hears him enter. When she does

hear him, her eyes jerk away from the tape.

FRED:

What's that?

RENEE:

A videotape.

FRED:

Who's it from?

RENEE:

I don't know... There's no return

address on the envelope... In fact,

there's no address on it.

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