Rough Diamonds Page #3

MARIE:

Nah. I'm cool.

JENNY:

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, babe.

You got diamonds on the mind.

JAY (O.S.)

Have either of you seen my video camera?

Marie looks round to her stepfather, shakes her head, bringing a

bemused look to Jay's face.

JAY:

I had it at the dive meet, I'm sure...

He shrugs, picks up a crystal glass, hits a fork sharply against

it, drawing the attention of the assembled partygoers...

JAY:

Ladies, Gentlemen, friends, raise a glass

to Marie, on her eighteenth birthday.

Everyone raises their fine crystal.

"Wild Things 3" 03/22/2004 11.

JAY:

She's become every inch of the woman her

Mother hoped she'd be. Wherever she is

now, Julie's looking down and smiling.

Tears well in Marie's eyes...

JAY:

And that's why, on your eighteenth

birthday, Marie, I know your mother

wanted you to have...

He notices, out of the corner of his eyes, two well-dressed MEN

standing at the entrance to his house. Whoever they are, Jay's

instantly unnerved. He stumbles over his words...

JAY:

... she wanted you to have... a wonderful

birthday party surrounded by all your

friends.

He glances back toward the house, watching the two men enter...

JAY:

Please excuse me.

... and hurries after them. Marie is left dumbfounded. So close,

but so far...

MARIE:

Jay! What about my present?

She chases after him...

INT. CLIFFORD MANSION HALLWAY - DAY

Marie makes her way down the sleek white corridors inside the

opulent Clifford Mansion, past framed family photos, of Jay, Marie

and the late Julie...

MARIE:

Jay?

He's nowhere to be found. Frustrated, Marie finds herself alone in

the kitchen. She angrily selects a bottle of Champagne, pops the

cork. Before she can swig any alcohol she hears raised voices.

JAY (O.S.)

It simply can't be done...

Marie tentatively edges out of the kitchen, back into the hallway,

and down towards Jay's study...

"Wild Things 3" 03/22/2004 12.

JAY (O.S.) (CONT'D)

In all construction there's delays.

Marie sidles up to the door jam, peaks through the crack. What she

sees makes the blood run cold in her veins...

An imposing Cuban businessman, MR. BARAJAS, stands threateningly

over a visibly frightened Jay. Another man, CICATRIZ, dressed in

designer silks, stands menacingly in the corner, clearly the brawn

of this little operation.

MR. BARAJAS

Four months is not a delay. It's a

disaster.

JAY:

You have my word, Mr. Barajas, the

building is almost finished. Just give me

a week, two tops.

Barajas nods to Cicatriz, who moves in on Jay with lightning

quickness, holds a Razor sharp KNIFE against his thumb.

MR. BARAJAS

We are long past the negotiation stage.

Cicatriz runs the steel blade across Jay's thumb. Marie has to

cover her mouth from screaming as she sees a trickle of blood

stain the spotless white carpet.

MR. BARAJAS (CONT'D)

For every day the building goes

unfinished, we'll take a finger...

A sinister grin stretches across Cicatriz's lips.

CICATRIZ:

Pray, Mr. Clifford, you finish before the

eleventh day...

And with that the Cuban men head to the door. Marie scrambles

away, her heart pounding...

She's halfway down the hallway when Mr. Barajas and Cicatriz exit

Jay's study. She turns, tries to look innocent as the Cuban

'businessmen' stare her down.

.

Jay appears in the doorway, sweat cascading from his brow.

JAY:

Marie! Shouldn't you be with your

friends?

"Wild Things 3" 03/22/2004 13.

MARIE:

I was just...

Cicatriz takes a step towards her.

JAY:

(to Marie)

I'll be right there. With your gift...

just... wait outside, OK?

Marie backs away, never taking her eyes off the intimidating Cuban

men...

EXT. CLIFFORD MANSION - AFTERNOON

Marie stumbles down the lawns, past the semi-clad partygoers, in a

daze, as she takes hits from the bottle of champagne.

Jenny and the dive team wait by the dock, and welcome their lost

sheep with open arms.

JENNY:

So? Did you get the key? Are you Blue

Bay's richest b*tch?

Marie's thoughts are drowned out by the ROAR of a powerful engine.

All attention turns to a rusted MOTORCYCLE as it streaks across

the verdant lawns, leaving a spray of MUD in its wake.

And atop the bike... Elena, in skintight leathers.

JENNY:

Holy sh*t, who invited her?

Marie's slightly drunken eyes narrow. Elena brings the bike to a

screeching halt inches from the surprised guests. The ultimate

partycrasher...

MARIE:

This is a private party...

ELENA:

Don't mind me. I ain't here for your

stupid party.

She's striding towards the Mansion, towards Jay who's standing at

the patio doors, an exquisitely wrapped present in his hands.

MARIE:

Get the hell outta here! NOW!

Marie stumbles after Elena, grabbing her from behind, holding her

back. There's a tense moment before...

"Wild Things 3" 03/22/2004 14.

ELENA:

Damn girl, whattcha been drinking?

MARIE:

Stay away from my stepfather!

ELENA:

Make me...

And that's it. Marie lashes out with a haymaker punch. Connects on

Elena's jaw and she goes reeling back. But it's ignited the street

fighter in her, and she comes roaring back into the fray, ramming

into Marie and together they tumble to the ground...

.

The crowds gather to watch the cat-fight, in equal parts appalled

and aroused. It's a hair pulling, teeth gnashing, make up smearing

wrestling match, no holds barred. The drunken Marie has the upper

hand, the alcohol fueling her rage.

JAY (O.S.)

What the hell's going on here?

And that stops the fight right there and then. Marie looks up to

see a red faced Jay standing over her.

MARIE:

This...trash is just looking for a meal

ticket...

Elena gets to her feet, licks the blood from her split lip.

ELENA:

Mr. Clifford. Betcha proud of little

Marie now, huh?

He hauls Marie to her feet, thrusts her towards the mansion.

JAY:

Party's over.

Groans from the crowd, but Jay's mind is made up.

MARIE:

But...what about...my present...

Jay's already walking away.

JAY:

I'm going to the condos. Sleep it off,

whydontcha?

Elena watches Jay stride away, like a lioness stalking her prey...

"Wild Things 3" 03/22/2004 15.

EXT. TEAM CLIFFORD BUILDING SITE - NIGHT

Work lights illuminate the half finished condo building site, on

prime beachfront real estate. These places would sell for

millions, if they were ever finished...

INT. TEAM CLIFFORD BUILDING OFFICE - NIGHT

In a concrete makeshift office, on the top floor of the condo

building, Jay clicks open the lock on his large metal safe and the

steel door swings open.

Inside are stacks of CASH, piled high, along with a shiny new

HANDGUN. Jay flicks through the money, shaking his head...

JAY:

(sotto)

Not enough. Just not enough...

A clanking noise from outside has him quickly snatching the gun

from the safe, before closing it once more, spinning the lock...

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