ThreeFates
[ bottom ]

               THREE FATES OF A MOBSTER

               Written By

               Andrew Atkins

               --------------------------------------------------------------

                                                       FADE IN:

               INT. OFFICE - MORNING

               In a small cluttered office lies a desk and two comfortable,
               leather chairs resting at opposite ends of the desk.  The
               walls are filled to the brim with notes and pictures, shit
               like that.

               Sitting at the chair behind the desk is a middle-aged man in
               his mid-forties, Cage.  He has slick black hair, clean-shaven
               and wears an expensive tuxedo – assumed to be well educated. 
               There's also a man sitting in the chair in front of the desk -
               the complete opposite of the man previously described, Stan. 
               He is a relatively young man, early twenties with shaggy
               brown hair and stubble for a beard.  He is wearing a "What
               Would Jesus Do?" T-shirt and a pair of jeans.  We are able to
               identify him by the "Hello my name is Stan" sticker he is
               wearing just above his heart. 

               The conversation between these two is very casual and fast
               paste, like these two strangers have known each other since
               childhood.

                                   CAGE
                         You're late.

               Stan pointing to his watch.

                                   STAN
                         Six minutes early.

                                   CAGE
                             (Sarcastically)
                         Did you bring your resume?

                                   STAN
                             (playing along)
                         I didn't know you needed a resume
                         for this kind of deal.

                                   CAGE
                         Fair enough, but you know it's
                         always good to have one handy just
                         incase.

                                   STAN
                         I'll keep that in mind.

               There's a pause; both men take in what's been said.  Cage
               sits up straight in his chair, getting down to business.

                                   CAGE
                         I guess you know why you're here.

                                   STAN
                         I think so - I did well on the
                         test, right?

                                   CAGE
                         Not only that, you also fit our
                         criteria.

                                   STAN
                         And what are your criteria?

                                   CAGE
                         Smart, logical, resourceful and
                         someone that doesn't give a fuck.
                         (Making an indirect statement about
                         the clothes Stan is wearing)

                                   STAN
                         Am I supposed to take that as a
                         compliment?

                                   CAGE
                         Take that however you want, you
                         don't care, remember?  Moving on, I
                         was looking over your profile, and -
                         how should I say this - you're one
                         smart motherfucker.

                                   STAN
                         Thanks.

                                   CAGE
                         But may I ask?  A man with your
                         intellect -- I mean - shouldn't you
                         know choosing a life of crime isn't
                         exactly - well, the right career
                         choice.

                                   STAN
                         I am aware of that.

                                   CAGE
                         However...

                                   STAN
                         However... nobody's perfect.

                                   CAGE
                         Perfect, there's a word for you. 
                         Let me tell you something about the
                         word perfect -- it doesn't exist.

                                   STAN
                         What do you mean?

                                   CAGE
                         I mean, perfection is the
                         imperfections of life, is it not? 
                         Perfect by my definition is
                         something that's complete in its
                         nature.  It is human nature to
                         always fuck up; meaning... isn't
                         everyone in his or her own nature
                         perfect?

                                   STAN
                             (Confused)
                         Perfect - Something that is
                         flawless?

                                   CAGE
                         That's the bullshit definition,
                         whoever came up with that
                         definition is a dreamer, a fucking
                         optimist, everything has flaws if
                         you put it that way.

                                   STAN
                         Optimism is for pussies.

                                   CAGE
                         Care to explain?

                                   STAN
                         Sure.  They're only two reasons why
                         people are optimistic.  One,
                         they're unable or don't want to see
                         the truth, so they allow their
                         optimism to blind them from it.  
                         And two, they use it as
                         justification.

                                   CAGE
                             (Confused)
                         Justification?

                                   STAN
                         Yeah, they try to justify their
                         actions whether they are bad, for a
                         greater good.

                                   CAGE
                         Does this mean you're not
                         optimistic about your career
                         choice?

                                   STAN
                         No.  I never said that - in fact
                         I'm quite optimistic about this
                         career choice.

                                   CAGE
                             (As a statement)
                         So you're a pussy?

                                   STAN
                             (Impersonating Butch, from
                              Pulp Fiction)
                         It certainly appears so.

                                   CAGE
                         You better not be, the last thing I
                         need is some dickless piece of shit
                         running around, with mommy's
                         nipples still between their teeth,
                         you understand?

                                   STAN
                             (Confidently)
                         Yeah.  Don't worry.

                                   CAGE
                         Good.  Cause if you are we'll find
                         out real fucking fast.

                                   CAGE (CONT'D)
                             (Direct - getting the
                              point across)
                         Now -- they're three fates of a
                         mobster and only three, so remember
                         'em good.  One, you get a bullet
                         through the head.

                                                       CUT TO:

               A quick glance of Stan in an expensive tuxedo, the same one
               Cage is wearing getting shot

               in the head during a bank robbery by a police officer.  We
               make a hard zoom to the exact point on Stan's head, where the
               bullet inevitably enters his skull.  The entire sequence is
               of the bullet's point of view, though we never actually see
               the bullet.

                                                       BACK TO:

                                   CAGE (CONT'D)
                         Two, You're tortured for days -
                         each minute begging for death.

                                                       CUT TO:

               A quick shot of Stan with most of his hair ripped out strand
               by strand, bleeding insane amounts of blood from the scalp. 
               He is sitting down, tied up in a chair on a rooftop.  We see
               the backs of three figures of men standing in front of him,
               one of them, Cage.

                                                       BACK TO:

                                   CAGE (CONT'D) 
                         And three, you serve about 160
                         years in the penitentiary, which
                         results in… uh – suicide, if you
                         know what I mean.  We can't take
                         any chances.  It's not that I doubt
                         you or anything - it's just when
                         men are under extreme pressure -
                         you know - they might let something
                         slip.

                                                       CUT TO:

               A quick shot of Stan hanging with a rope tied tightly around
               his neck, hanging from the ceiling in a jail cell.  His face
               is pitch blue due to the lack of oxygen to his brain and his
               eyes bulging out, all bloodshot.  The camera angle is
               directly under his feet, looking up at the dead corpse.

                                                       FADE TO BLACK.

                                                       CUT TO:

               TITLE SEQUENCE

               ROLL CREDITS

               INT. RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON

               Two men are sitting down at a local restaurant having lunch
               in the middle of the afternoon.  They're both wearing the
               same tuxedos we previously saw Cage and Stan wearing. 
               They're each having a plate full of fries and a hamburger
               with a huge mug of beer.

               Porter is a 30 year old male with blonde hair and blue eyes
               and is in great shape.  The typical "pretty boy" look; except
               for the blonde mustache he's sporting.  Gordon looks
               identical to Porter, with the exception he's about 150 pounds
               over weight.

                                   GORDON
                         Hey Porter.

                                   PORTER
                         Yeah?

                                   GORDON
                         You gonna finish that burger?

                                   PORTER
                         Jesus Christ man, yes.

               Porter takes the burger off his plate and takes a big juicy
               bite.  He is eyeballing Gordon as if it's the tastiest burger
               he has ever had the privilege of eating.

                                   PORTER (CONT'D)
                         I thought you were on a diet?

                                   GORDON
                         Does it look like I'm on a diet?

                                   PORTER
                         You need more than a fuckin' diet,
                         my friend -- you need some
                         motivation first.

                                   GORDON
                         Motivation... For what?

                                   PORTER
                         To drop a few pounds, fatty.  At
                         least to a reasonable size, so you
                         can at least be fuckable.

                                   GORDON
                             (Second guessing himself)
                         I'm fuckable.

               Porter whistles a waitress over, she's the hottest fucking
               waitress Gordon has ever seen.  She's wearing a hot white
               tank top, a short black skirt and a smile.

                                   WAITRESS
                         Can I get you fellas anything?

                                   PORTER
                         Tell ya' what, if you give us your
                         honest opinion, I'll give you one
                         motherfuckin' generous tip.

                                   WAITRESS
                             (worried)
                         About what?

                                   PORTER
                         Do you think this hefty fella over
                         here is fuckable?

                                   WAITRESS
                         Fuckable...

                                   PORTER
                         Yes. Fuckable.

                                   WAITRESS
                             (Shy and embarrassed to be
                              taking part in this
                              conversation)
                         No - well I have standards -- I
                         mean I don't have a thing for big
                         guys - you know.

                                   PORTER
                         Yeah I know.  Thank you, you've
                         been most helpful.

                                   WAITRESS
                         Ok - well, if you guys need
                         anything else, just let me know.

               She nods and gracefully walks away.

                                   GORDON
                         Yeah, fuck you.

                                   PORTER
                         Only trying to help, man.  Tell me
                         something Gordy, when's the last
                         time been laid?

                                   GORDON
                         I've gotten laid before.

                                   PORTER
                         I said the last time.

                                   GORDON
                         Not too long ago.

                                   PORTER
                         When?

                                   GORDON
                             (mumbles)
                         sev-seven years.

                                   PORTER
                             (laughing hysterically)
                         SEVEN FUCKING YEARS?

                                   GORDON
                         Shut the fuck up.

                                   PORTER
                             (loud enough so the entire
                              restaurant could hear)
                         YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN LAID IN SEVEN
                         LONG-FUCKING-YEARS?!

                                   GORDON
                         I said shut the fuck up.

                                   PORTER
                         If that isn't a reason for
                         motivation, I don't know what is...

               In a desperate attempt to change the topic of conversation,
               Gordon brings up Stan.

                                   GORDON
                         Did you hear about what happened to
                         Stan?

               His desperate attempt has succeeded.

                                   PORTER
                         Hear?  I was fuckin' there man.

               There's a short pause, Porter is replaying the incident again
               in his head.

                                   PORTER (CONT'D)
                             (Disbelief)
                         Fuck man - have you ever seen
                         anyone go through so much shit
                         before he took his last breath?

                                   GORDON
                         That was fucked up, what a waste of
                         talent.

                                   PORTER
                         You almost hafta feel sorry for the
                         guy - you know?  He was one of the
                         best - atleast one of the best I've
                         ever had the pleasure to work with.

               Gordon holds up his mug of beer with a gesture to a toast.

                                   GORDON
                         To Stan.

                                   PORTER
                         To Stan.

               Porter reaches into his wallet, pulls out a wad of cash just
               enough for the meal, and puts it on the table.

                                   PORTER (CONT'D)
                         It's on me.

                                   GORDON
                         What about that motherfuckin'
                         generous tip?

                                   PORTER
                         You wanna give her the tip?  The
                         women that said you were the most
                         disgusting piece of shit that ever
                         walked the earth.

                                   GORDON
                         She never said that.

                                   PORTER
                         Yes or no.

                                   GORDON
                         No.

                                   PORTER
                         Then shut up, and let's go.

               The two get up and walk out of the restaurant.  As they're
               leaving they stand out like a red-head in a room full of
               brunettes.  They're obviously overdressed with their pimping
               tuxedos, compared to the people around them.

               EXT. RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON

               The two mobsters are in the restaurant's parking lot walking
               towards their car.  Porter, casually swinging the car keys
               off the tip of his index finger, whistling "The Song That
               Never Ends."  Gordon is a few steps behind completely winded,
               struggling to keep up. 

               It's a beautiful sunny day, blue sky, birds chirping, the
               sound of a busy street in the background. Everything is
               perfect.

                                   GORDON
                             (winded)
                         Porter...

                                   PORTER
                         Yo.

                                   GORDON
                         You think Cage knows...

                                   PORTER
                         About - uh, your lovemaking...
                         difficulties?

                                   GORDON
                         No asshole, about Stan.

                                   PORTER
                         Yeah - unfortunately, I was the one
                         who told him.

                                   GORDON
                         Haha - you poor bastard.  How did
                         he take the news?

                                   PORTER
                         How do you think?  He was super
                         fuckin-pissed.

               The men finally reach the car.  The car is a black 1995 Neon,
               practically made of plastic.  Porter opens the door and gets
               in the driver seat, Gordon, the passenger. 
               Once in the car, Gordon practically collapses in his seat,
               causing the entire car to shake like it was a goddamn roller
               coaster.

                                   PORTER (CONT'D)
                         Whoa! - what the fuck man, you
                         nearly bent this shit in half!

                                   GORDON
                         I did not almost snap the car in
                         half.

                                   PORTER
                         Be careful man, this is a cheap
                         fuckin' car.

                                   GORDON
                         Yeah, yeah, so tell me what
                         happened?

                                                       FADE TO BLACK:

                                                       CUT TO:

               A quick glance of Stan in an expensive tuxedo, the same one
               Cage is wearing getting shot in the head during a bank
               robbery by a police officer.  We make a hard zoom to the
               exact point on Stan's head, where the bullet inevitably
               enters his skull.  The entire sequence is of the bullet's
               point of view, though we never actually see the bullet (The
               exact same sequence we saw earlier).

                                                       FADE TO BLACK:

               "Exactly forty-five minutes earlier."  Appears over the black
               screen.

                                                       FADE OUT:

               SFX:  The distorted chatter going on in a bank meshed with
               employee's going to work on their keyboards at a hundred
               miles per hour.

                                                       FADE IN:

               INT. BANK - MORNING

               The bank is crowded and full of impatient white-collar
               workers anxiously waiting to cash their check on a Saturday
               morning. Behind one of the tellers stands an employee of the
               bank, Stan.  He is dressed in his expensive tuxedo
               outdressing anyone in the bank, including his fellow
               coworkers and his manager. 
               It's a different Stan then we've seen before.  He has gotten
               a haircut and shaved, he looks good.

                                   STAN
                             (yelling)
                         Can I help the next person in line?

               The next person in line is a thirty-three year old MILF. 
               She's dressed in a black suit with a blouse underneath, the
               jacket, and black shades resting on her nose.  She has long
               blonde hair, a nice pair of tits, and high heels.  She is
               also carrying a black purse, to go with her business outfit,
               and a check in her hand.

                                   STAN (CONT'D)
                         Can I hel...

               He's cut off

                                   LADY
                         Here.

               She slams the check on the counter, she's in a huge rush.

                                   STAN
                         Bank card?

               She starts scrambling through her purse looking for her bank
               card. Ah! She finds it at last.

                                   LADY
                         Here.

                                   STAN
                             (Casually)
                         You workin' on a Saturday?

               He starts processing her check, as she stands impatiently.

                                   LADY
                         Nice tux.

                                   STAN
                             (flattered)
                         Aw, thanks.  I dress to impress.

               Stan takes a moment and thinks about how untrue that
               statement is.
[ top ]