The Italian Job Page #3

INT. HUMVEE

They duck for cover as the vehicle is riddled with gunfire.

Glass shatters. Bullets ricochet. They're in the epicenter

of hell.

Handsome Rob jerks the steering wheel and stomps the gas.

Driving blind.

EXT. MOUNTAINOUS ROAD

The Humvee hits the side of the Jeep, grinds alongside it,

metal tearing against metal.

The Humvee's right side tires precariously hover by the cliff

and the raging water below.

The gunners keep FIRING. Bullets rip into the Humvee's

tires.

EXT. HUMVEE

It almost escapes, but it can't make it on shredded rubber.

It careens off the road and —

SERIES OF SHOTS:

The Humvee plummets through the air and plunges into the

raging river.

INT. HUMVEE

Water cascades in through the open windows. They're thrown

around as the Humvee rides the rapids. WHAM. The passenger

door caves in as the Humvee rams into a large rock then is

swept further downstream. Through the foam and spray,

Charlie looks over to Bridger. He's dead. The torrent

ROARS.

Only their chests and heads are above water. And that's not

all. There's a WATERFALL AHEAD.

EXT. WATERFALL

The Humvee is palmed in its deadly embrace and hurled over.

It cartwheels into the pool below, sending up a huge geyser

of water.

It sinks out of sight.

EXT. MOUNTAINOUS ROAD -SAME TIME

The crates of gold are now inside the Italians' Jeep. Steve

climbs in, leaving the crew for dead.

UNDERWATER -SAME TIME

The Humvee strikes the surface bottom with an ominous thud.

EXT. MOUNTAINOUS ROAD -DAWN

The Jeep jerks to a stop. A door opens and the bodies of the

two Italians, shot dead, are dumped out into the mud.

Steve ±s alone now. Just him and the millions in gold.

INT. HUMVEE -SAME TIME

The water entombs them. Blood from Bridger's fatal gunshot

mists the water red.

They manage to get the door open. They start to swim out but

Charlie won't go without Bridger. He grabs his friend's body

and pulls it up with him.

EXT. RIVER -SUNRISE

They drag themselves ashore, Handsome Rob helping Charlie

pull Bridger's corpse. Charlie is shocked, tormented,

grieved, and angry beyond description. Against the rocky

embankment, he holds Bridger. Not wanting to ever let go.

CHARLIE (V.O.)

If you would have told me that I would

spend the next three years searching for

Steve Bandell, I would have said that was

nothing. Cause I would have spent a

lifetime looking for that bastard if I

had to.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. OFFICE -DAY

SOMEONE'S POV. A top of the line safe. The only light in

the office is the beam of a penlight on the dial.

GLOVED HANDS spin the dial, feeling for "contact points",

areas on the dial where a slight resistance can be felt — if

you have the touch.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

NEW ANGLE. A woman holds the penlight in her teeth while

trying to crack the safe. It's Stella Bridger, now 30.

SUPERIMPOSE:

Three Years Later Philadelphia

She manipulates the dial. Click. She grabs the safe's lever

and swings the heavy steel door open, her face a mixture of

pride and relief. But before we see what's inside —

LIGHTS TURN ON.

S:

TWO COPS lurk at the doorway.

FIRST COP:

You always work in the dark?

STELLA:

Buzz of the fluorescents throws me off.

She's all yours.

The cops come closer and only now do we realize that they' re

on the same team.

SECOND COP:

Damn. Chris Perley couldn't crack it.

Neither could Michael Hoyt.

STELLA:

Now you know who to call first.

FIRST COP:

You're expensive, Stella. Those guys cut

us a break on subpoena jobs. Goodwill,

community service. . .

STELLA:

Well I do it for the money. I'll send

you the bill.

SECOND COP:

Don't you want to see what's inside?

STELLA:

I never look. Bye/ guys.

And as she walks off, they do look — at her.

EXT. STREET -DAY

A car RISES INTO FRAME on a bustling street: a 1960 Mini

Cooper S., a worldwide motoring icon. Its shape crouches low

to the ground and its tiny 10-inch wheel-at-each-corner gives

it the legendary Mini look.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

If when you see its headlights and classic grille it doesn't

bring a smile to your face, then you've got no automobile

soul.

INT. MINI (CRUISING) -DAY

Stella takes on the road like someone who loves to be behind

the wheel of a car that claimed victory in the Monte Carlo

Rally three times. She passes a minivan, a breeze with the

Mini's quick, go-kart-like handling.

She searches for a parking space on a street lined with SUVs.

Sees a spot, it's not really a space, just a gap between two

gas guzzlers, there's no way any car could squeeze in.

Brake. Shift. Hard turn. She parallel parks the Mini with

ease. She's right in front of —

HER SHOP:

Antique keys and locks dominate the storefront window with

the name of the shop stenciled across the glass: BRIDGER

LOCK AND SAFE COMPANY. Stella hops out of the Mini. With a

poised walk she heads inside.

INT. SHOP -DAY

It is filled with old cast-iron safes she has rebuilt along

with some new models. Stella's RECEPTIONIST greets her.

RECEPTIONIST:

How long?

STELLA:

Four minutes, forty-three seconds.

High-five.

RECEPTIONIST:

You're the man.

STELLA:

So what's on the line-up?

RECEPTIONIST "

2:
00. Home safe in Fairmount Park.

Owner died and the wife never knew the

combination. And Todd Milliken called.

He has a prototype combination lock he

wants you to test out tomorrow morning.

Says he added two false contact points on

the tumbler.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

STELLA:

Tell him if I don't have it opened in six

minutes flat, breakfast is on me.

RECEPTIONIST:

And there's a Charlie Croker in your

office. He said you two know each other.

(an aside)

And he looks pretty fine for a white boy.

Without a response, Stella heads over to —

HER OPEN OFFICE DOOR

and sees him fiddling with her collection of safe doors that

line the shelves.

STELLA:

Charlie Croker.

He turns around. Smiles. Charming.

CHARLIE:

Hi, Stella.

She steps inside.

STELLA:

Refresh my memory. After you came to see

me and told me what happened to my

father, I told you I never wanted to see

you again, didn't I?

CHARLIE:

Yeah. You did.

STELLA:

So I'm a little confused.

CHARLIE:

I found him.

At first it seems that Charlie's words have no effect on her,

but then he notices that her hands are trembling.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

I can tell you where he is.

STELLA:

I don't want to know.

CHARLIE:

Are you sure?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

She doesn't answer.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

He's in Los Angeles.

She doesn't respond. Doesn't ask him to go on, doesn't ask

him not to. So he goes on...

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

The gold bricks he stole from us were

minted in Singapore and decorated with

the face of a Balinese girl. I've had my

tentacles out and got a call from a

friend of mine and your father's, Philly

Steak.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes