Natural Born Killers Page #11

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Mickey looking like the devil himself.

BISBING (V.O.)

Then out of the blue, they're

dealing with the devil incarnate.

It was extremely difficult for us

to find survivors who would take

the stand and testify when they

knew Mickey would be cross-

examining them.

A terrified Grace. CAMERA CLOSES ON Grace's face.

BISBING (V.O.)

Grace was every bit as terrified,

every bit as haunted. But she

felt her brother Tim and her five

girl friends were counting on her.

CUT TO:

INT. COURTROOM -COURT SKETCH -DAY

Close on Grace staring intently. CAMERA WIDENS to

include Bisbing standing before the bench as Mickey

sits with Mallory at the defense table. Judge Steinsma

looks down at Grace. The distinct SOUNDS of a COURT IN

SESSION can be heard in the b.g.

The COLOR of the scene FADES to black & white as the

CAMERA CRANES UP to reveal the court artist drawing while

court is in session.

O.S.:
Bisbing is wrapping up her examination of Grace

who is at the witness stand. Judge Steinsma resides at

his bench.

CAMERA DOLLIES into a MED. OVERHEAD TWO-SHOT of Mickey and

Mallory who are sketching on a pad of paper. CAMERA

REVEALS the drawing of a man stabbing a woman. Mickey is

doing the actual drawing, but every once in a while

Mallory takes the pencil and adds some touches, as Grace

finishes her tearful testimony.

(CONTINUED)

59.

CONTINUED:

BISBING (O.S.)

No further questions, your honor.

An emotional pause, then silence.

JUDGE STEINSMA (O.S.)

Would you care to cross-examine

the witness, Mr. Knox?

Mickey scratches out the drawing. Still holding the

pencil, he stands and LEAVES FRAME.

MICKEY (O.S.)

As a matter of fact, your honor,

I would.

NOTE:
The following scene is to be played in extreme

closeups. Not once is the courtroom seen in detail.

However courtroom sound can be heard vividly in b.g.

CLOSEUP -MALLORY

who grins at Mickey like a Cheshire Cat.

CLOSEUP -GRACE'S EYES

as they look downward.

CLOSEUP -JUDGE STEINSMA

as he shuffles paper on his bench.

CLOSEUP -MICKEY'S FEET

crossing the court floor.

CLOSEUP -BISBING

as her eyes follow Mickey across the court. Mickey ENTERS

the FRAME, with a pencil pressed to his lips in thought.

Mickey is looking straight INTO the CAMERA.

MICKEY'S POV

of Grace sitting on the witness stand, staring into her

lap.

60.

EXTREME CLOSEUP -GRACE'S FINGER

rolling a large, male-style, high school class ring

around her palm.

CLOSEUP -MICKEY

glancing to the ring. Mickey smiles.

MICKEY'S POV

Grace as she pulls from a reserve of strength. Clenching

the ring tight in her fist, her eyes come up and lock

hatefully on Mickey.

CLOSEUP -MICKEY

as he walks forward towards Grace.

MICKEY:

That's one helluva story, Miss

Mulberry.

CLOSEUP -GRACE

GRACE:

Yes. It is.

At this point, Mickey begins to pace from right to left,

but always remaining in CLOSEUP.

MICKEY:

Grace... I hope you don't mind if

I call you Grace...

BACK TO GRACE:

as we DOLLY FROM a MEDIUM CLOSEUP INTO an EXTREME CLOSEUP.

MICKEY:

Grace. I'd like to talk to you

about your late brother Tim, if

you feel up to it.

CONTINUE DOLLY:
Once locked onto her eyes, her head drops

forward and we...

CUT TO:

61.

INT. GRACE'S HOME -NIGHT

EXTREME CLOSEUP of Grace's eyes as her head is pulled back

INTO FRAME. Her eyes are wide with fear. The CAMERA PULLS

BACK to reveal a gag in her mouth and a knife pressed

against her throat.

She's back at the night of the murder.

Mickey's wearing a black leather jacket over a white T-

shirt, which is covered with blood. Blood is smeared on

his face, and he's holding a knife pressed to his lips,

also covered with blood. But he's walking and talking

with the same manner and poise as in the courtroom.

MICKEY:

Grace... I hope you don't mind if

I call you Grace...

TWO SHOT REVEALING that Grace is bound and gagged with

Mallory right behind her, holding the knife and cracking

gum.

MALLORY:

Naw, she don't mind.

MICKEY:

Grace. I'd like to talk to you

about your murdered brother Tim,

if you feel up to it.

CUT TO:

INT. COURTROOM -DAY

CLOSEUP of Grace in a daze.

MICKEY (O.S.)

Did you get along?

MICKEY:

waits for an answer that doesn't come.

MICKEY:

Miss Mulberry?

BACK TO GRACE:

GRACE:

More or less.

MICKEY (O.S.)

More or less...

62.

BACK TO MICKEY:

MICKEY:

What do you mean by that?

BACK TO GRACE:

GRACE:

Well, he's my older brother.

When we were growing up, there

were times we could of done very

well without each other. But

when it counted, we were close.

CLOSEUP -BISBING

listening. Grace is doing better than she thought.

CAMERA PANS FROM shadows to find Mickey. PAN CONTINUES

through his line.

MICKEY:

I'd like to talk about Tim's

martial arts abilities. How long

had he been studying?

PAN CONTINUES back INTO shadows, then 180 DEGREES to find

Grace.

GRACE:

He started when he was in the

seventh grade, so that would make

it nine years.

PAN CONTINUES back INTO the shadows, then...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL -DAY

CAMERA PANS FROM darkness INTO a well lit martial arts'

classroom in full session. TIM MULBERRY, an expert

martial artist, is competing against a lesser opponent

while their master looks on.

CAMERA PANS INTO darkness.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. COURTROOM -DAY

CAMERA PANS FROM darkness and LOCKS ON a CLOSEUP of

Mickey.

(CONTINUED)

63.

CONTINUED:

MICKEY:

When you study the martial art,

they give out belts that come in

different colors to signify what

level you're at in your training.

Am I correct on that point?

GRACE:

Yes, you are.

MICKEY:

What was the color of Tim's belt?

GRACE:

The style of fighting that Tim

studied didn't believe in belts.

MICKEY:

Is that a fact? Well then, Grace,

could you tell us what form of

martial arts it was that Tim was

schooled in?

GRACE:

Tim studied several styles, but

his favorite was Jeet Kune Do.

MICKEY:

Jeet Kune Do... Now, I did some

research on that form of fighting,

and I found out that Jeet Kune Do

was a style developed by Bruce

Lee. Did you know that?

GRACE:

Yes, I did. That's why Tim

studied it. Because it was Bruce

Lee's fighting style.

CLOSEUP of court clerk's hands typing in SLOW MOTION.

MICKEY:

Now, while I freely admit total

ignorance on the subject, I have

heard of Bruce Lee. And I was

under the impression that Bruce

Lee was one of the, if not the

greatest fighter in the history

of martial arts.

GRACE:

That's what Tim said.

(CONTINUED)

64.

CONTINUED:

MICKEY:

So, I think it would be safe to

say that anybody who studied the

fighting style that Bruce Lee,

arguably the greatest martial

artist of all times, developed

for nine years, that would be a

fella who could defend himself.

Would you describe Tim that way,

Grace?

GRACE:

Yes, I would.

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