The Florida Project Page #10

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Halley, holding her duffel bag, stands in front of the

Arabian Nights manager JIMMY (Male, 40’s). Moonee waits with

her backpack.

HALLEY:

Hey hey. It’s that time of the

month.

The manager smirks, obviously familiar with Halley. He begins

taking out the paperwork to check her in.

JIMMY:

Forty five, my dear.

HALLEY:

Forty five? No no. I come here one

night a month and the rate is

thirty five.

JIMMY:

One night is forty five.

HALLEY:

But the Magic Castle discount...

JIMMY:

(motions over his

shoulder)

I know. I know. The new owner is

not honoring the discount.

HALLEY:

Not honoring my f***in’ ass. Oh,

owner! Owner, will you come out

here please?

The ARABIAN NIGHTS OWNER, a South Asian Woman, enters from

the back office.

OWNER:

Is everything alright here?

59.

HALLEY:

Everything is not alright. I’m

right across the way at Magic

Castle. I come here once a month

and the rate’s $35.

OWNER:

Yes, well, our policy has changed.

HALLEY:

You can’t just change your policy.

OWNER:

I certainly can.

HALLEY:

Oh f*** this right now.

Halley takes out her phone and dials up Bobby on speaker.

HALLEY (CONT’D)

(into phone)

Hey Bobby, these fuckos at the

Arabian wanna charge me--

She extends her arm out to hold the phone closer to the

Owner.

JIMMY:

Forty five.

HALLEY:

Forty five bucks. Can you tell them

it’s thirty five.

JIMMY:

Hey, Bobby -- it’s out of my

control here.

BOBBY:

(on phone)

Hey Jimmy. What’s going on?

The owner interrupts.

OWNER:

Hello. This is the new owner of

Arabian Nights. Any agreements or

deals your motel had with the

previous owners are no longer being

honored or recognized. Thank you.

60.

BOBBY:

(on phone)

Who’s this?

OWNER:

This is the new owner. Thank you.

BOBBY:

(on phone)

Okay, but what is your name?

OWNER:

That is not important. We are very

busy here. Thank you.

HALLEY:

Busy? This place is empty, Bobby.

EXT. ROUTE 192 - DAY

Bobby crosses Route 192 headed to the Arabian Nights.

INT. ARABIAN NIGHTS MOTEL - LOBBY - DAY

Bobby enters the lobby. Halley and Moonee are splayed out on

the couch. Jimmy and the Arabian Nights Owner are behind the

desk.

BOBBY:

Hey, what’s going on?

JIMMY:

Yeah, thought you got the memo. No

more discounts for any of the

motels. Not just the Castle.

BOBBY:

Please to meet you, Ma’am. I’m

Bobby Horton, I manage the Magic

Castle across the way. There’s been

an agreement in place for a while

where we give a little break to

each other’s tenants for one night

for--

OWNER:

I’m well aware of the arrangement

you used to have in place with our

motel but as I have said five times

now this is no longer being

honored.

61.

JIMMY:

(under his breath)

Just went through this for The

Enchanted Inn.

BOBBY:

Can you perhaps just--

OWNER:

This is not up for discussion.

HALLEY:

See what I’m sayin’, Bobby?

MOONEE:

She’s a real dickwad.

They all look to Halley, who is holding in laughter.

HALLEY:

What are you lookin’ at me for? She

said it.

Bobby does a quick breathing exercise. He then whips out a

ten dollar bill from his wallet and slams it down on the

counter.

BOBBY:

(to Moonee)

Magic Castle discount. There ya go.

Sleep tight.

HALLEY:

Awwww... the feels. You so sweet,

Bobby. I’m sorry I was a dickwad to

you earlier.

Bobby looks at Moonee, to see if she heard her mom say that.

MOONEE:

Don’t look at me, she said it.

OWNER:

We don’t need your business. All of

you kindly leave. Thank you.

HALLEY:

What?

OWNER:

If you could please leave. Thank

you.

62.

HALLEY:

I have the forty five. You can’t do

that.

Bobby and Jimmy know this is a no-win situation and keep

quiet.

OWNER:

Listen to yourself and your child.

No wonder you are in this

situation. Please leave the

property.

Halley walks forward and spits at the owner. It gets the

intended response. She grabs Moonee and exits into magic

hour.

EXT. FUTURELAND INN - DUSK

Halley and Moonee approach the motel.

INT. FUTURELAND INN - JANCEY’S ROOM - NIGHT

Big sleepover with Grandma Stacy/Jancey/Luci/Halley/Moonee.

Much has changed in this room. Grandma Stacy has completely

moved her family in, feels more lived-in than Halley’s room.

HALLEY:

Damn, girl, this sh*t looks fancy

in here.

GRANDMA STACY:

Thank you.

HALLEY:

You an interior decorator or some

sh*t? It’s mad cozy.

Little Luci plays in one corner. Jancey shows Moonee some of

her stuff in another. Grandma Stacy and Halley sit on the

bed.

MOONEE:

Mom, they have so many toys. Why

can’t I have this many toys?

JANCEY:

Gramma, if you’ll be in the one bed

with Luci then can I be in the

other with Moonee and her mom?

63.

GRANDMA STACY:

Sure, honey.

HALLEY:

(pointing to crock-pot)

What’s that?

GRANDMA STACY:

What, that? That’s a crock-pot.

That’s where I make my rice and

peas.

HALLEY:

Damn, I have to learn how to cook

or something ‘cause those

Lunchables hurt Moonee’s stomach.

MOONEE:

Lunchables suck.

GRANDMA STACY:

(nods)

Crock-Pot.

JANCEY:

Gramma, can they sleep here every

night?

MOONEE:

Yeah!

JANCEY:

This is gonna be the bestest

funnest sleepover ever.

HALLEY:

Since it’s bedtime can we finally

go outside and smoke a blunt?

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - EMPTY ROOM + ROOM 323 - DAY

Bobby unlocks the storage room for Halley and Moonee.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - PLAYGROUND - DAY

Moonee, Jancey and Cubby (now with 2 casts on his arms) are

playing on the dilapidated swingset. Two dogs, BUNSEN and

BOONEE, frolic with the kids. A SUSPICIOUS MAN (70’s)

approaches.

SUSPICIOUS MAN:

Hi, Kids. Having fun?

64.

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - 3RD FLOOR WALKWAY - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Bobby is up on a ladder painting the gutter of the third

floor walkway. Bobby notices the Suspicious Man speaking with

the kids down below. A full bucket of purple paint falls and

almost hits a LUCKY RESIDENT.

LUCKY RESIDENT:

What the f***, Bobby?!

EXT. MAGIC CASTLE - PARKING LOT - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Bobby exits the stairwell and makes a bee-line towards the

playground. Lucky Resident wipes paint off himself.

Bobby turns and walks towards the playground. The commotion

has caused the Suspicious Man to look over and see Bobby

approaching. He begins to walk away.

BOBBY:

Excuse me? Can I help you?

SUSPICIOUS MAN:

No, that’s okay.

BOBBY:

What’s okay? You a guest here?

SUSPICIOUS MAN:

Um, no. Just looking for um, a soda

machine.

BOBBY:

Yeah, come to a motel to get a

soda?

SUSPICIOUS MAN:

Yeah, it’s okay. Thanks anyway.

BOBBY:

No, no, no. Follow me.

SUSPICIOUS MAN:

No really, it’s okay. I’ll find a

convenience store.

BOBBY:

I’ll show you where the machine is.

Come with me.

The suspicious man reluctantly follows Bobby.

65.

BOBBY (CONT’D)

You parched?

SUSPICIOUS MAN:

Oh yeah.

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