dawnandthefrog_extract
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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EXTRACT FROM 'DAWN AND THE FROG'
by Peter Devonald and Kevin Scrantz
COPYRIGHT 2004-2009: Contact pdevonald@hotmail.com for more details
FADE IN:
COLD OPEN:
STU (V.O.)
So a bird and a snake were born at
the same time.
JESSIE (V.O.)
Yeah?
EXT. LONDON - SUBURB - DAY
Gray terrace houses against a bleak gray sky.
STU (O.S.)
But they were shunned by their
fellow species because they were
both blind.
JESSIE (O.S.)
'Kay...
Outside the CHEADLE HOUSE, a CAT washes its face by a stunted
rosebush in a clay pot.
DAWN (O.S.)
Would you hurry it up, please? I'm
gonna be late.
A squealing noise O.S. Cat looks up as a clothesline inches
towards the window.
STU (O.S.)
They met up one day and decided
since no one from their species
paid any attention to them, they'd
get to know each other.
A brassiere made from clamshells and green panties painted
with fake fish scales flap by. DAWN's hands reach out of the
window and snatch them off the line.
INT. CHEADLE HOUSE - DAWN'S BEDROOM
STING smiles from a wall poster.
STU (O.S.)
Since they were blind, they thought
the best way to do that was to
touch each other.
Jessie snorts loudly O.S. DAWN, early 20's, dyed red hair,
frowns while she adjusts her clamshells bra and struggles
into a TIGHT skirt matching the fish scale panties.
STU (O.S.)
The snake went first, and after
touching the bird all over, says:
"You have feathers, a beak, and
wings, so you must be a bird."
HALLWAY
Through the open bathroom door, plump JESSIE, late 20's,
fixes her blonde hair at the mirror. STU CHEADLE, 20's, long
haired and lanky, lounges on the toilet with a newspaper.
STU
Next was the bird's turn. So it
touches the snake all over.
"Hmmm," it says. "Slimy skin,
scales, no balls. You must be
French."
Jessie bellows hysterical laughter. Dawn BANGS the wall.
DAWN
Oh, come on!
STU
Oi!
JESSIE
If you dent the wall, I dent your
head.
Jessie and Stu look at each other. He folds the newspaper.
Both hurry out. Dawn steps in.
DAWN
Thank you.
Dawn slams the door shut.
EXT. PARIS - STREET - DAY
A sports car roars through traffic, screeching around hairpin
curves. In the front seat, gorgeous BLONDE TWINS. Between
them, a wine bottle in one hand, cigarette in the other, LUC
PRALINE.
In his 20's, Luc is dark and pretty, a pointless person in an
expensive designer suit, shirt undone to show his chest.
EXT. PRALINE TOWNHOUSE - COURTYARD
Stinking of ambience and tradition.
SYLVIE glares from the door as the sports car pulls in. In
her 20's, beautiful, with dark bobbed hair and an amazing
figure, she is acidic Parisian elegance at its best.
Luc stumbles out of the car. BLONDE TWO waves at Sylvie.
BLONDE TWO
Here he is, safe and sound.
Sylvie backs inside the house, SLAMS the front door.
Luc kisses Blonde One.
LUC
Marie-Clare, thank you for a lovely
evening.
Blonde Two lights a cigarette.
LUC
Marie-Marie, leaving you is like
dying a thousand deaths.
He kisses her as she exhales. He backs off, coughing smoke.
INT. PRALINE HOUSE - DINING ROOM
Sylvie butters a croissant as she reads LE NEWSPAPER. Luc
stumbles in and kisses her cheek.
LUC
Sylvie.
He reaches for the croissant. Sylvie's hand comes down fast.
Luc jerks his hand away as the fork judders into the table.
LUC
Ah! Now, aren't you ashamed of
yourself? And on my grandmother's
table.
He removes the fork, smooths the wood with his hand. Sylvie
tosses a letter at him.
SYLVIE
You are overdrawn at the bank.
Again. Three million euros you
owe.
LUC
(shrugs)
I am an only child from one of the
wealthiest houses of Paris. All my
relatives are old, a crouton away
from death.
(strokes her cheek)
Plus, I was born lucky. Something
good always happens when I need it
most.
She slaps him.
LUC
Oof! You're not angry about the
twins? They're only friends. I
could never give my heart to them.
What would it take to convince you?
Sylvie shrugs, looks her bare ring finger, then up at Luc.
SYLVIE
Marry me.
LUC
Marry!
She jumps up, wraps her arms tight around his neck.
SYLVIE
It is all I want.
LUC
You are joking. All these years
together and now you want to marry
me when I am penniless?
He chuckles. She backs away with a hurt look.
SYLVIE
It's obvious I'm asking too much.
I apologize. I'll just... go
on... Alone.
She edges to the door, watching him out the corner of one
eye. She takes another tentative step away.
SYLVIE
I will just... Go.
He grabs her wrist, pulls her back.
LUC
If it is only marriage you want...
I would consider it the greatest
honor of my life.
SYLVIE
Luc!
She hugs him, sobs with happiness.
EXT. LONDON - CHAPPY'S CHIPPY - DAY
A slick chain eatery. Rain batters a sign shaped like a
mermaid holding a sandwich.
INT. CHAPPY'S CHIPPY - LOCKER ROOM
Dawn opens her locker. Taped inside the door, a color PHOTO
of Sting. Dawn takes two concert tickets from an envelope
and kisses them.
DAWN
Soon, Sting. Soon.
Sting's photo WINKS at her.
STING
I'll be singing JUST for you, Dawn!
Dawn beams, closes the locker, revealing BRENDA standing
behind it. Brenda, 20's, pouty, attractive in a whore-ish
way, wears the same clamshell bra and TIGHT skirt as Dawn.
BRENDA
Come on, Dawn, be a friend and sell
me your other Sting ticket.
DAWN
It's my boyfriend's ticket. Go
find your own.
BRENDA
I've been trying for days, not even
ticket touts have any more. I've
just got to see Sting!
DAWN
I thought you were scheduled to
work that night?
BRENDA
I can get somebody to fill in for
me. If I had a ticket, that is.
DAWN
Sorry, Brenda, wish I could help.
You should have waited in line like
I did. Oh hell, it's Granger.
A shrill whistle blasts O.S. GRANGER, 30's, short, stout,
prickly, stands beside a scale with a tape measure.
GRANGER
Tank Girls, fall in!
Dawn and Brenda rush to join TWO GIRLS in identical costume.
GRANGER
Dawn Vining.
Dawn climbs on the scale while Granger measures her waist.
GRANGER
You've gained half an inch. One
more and you'll be sent home.
Brenda snorts.
INT. PARIS - PRALINE HOUSE - BEDROOM - DUSK
Sting croons a romantic ballad through the stereo. Luc sings
along in mangled English as he showers O.S.
Sylvie lounges with LE BRIDE magazine. The phone rings.
BATHROOM
Luc, still singing, ties a towel around his waist.
BEDROOM
Sylvie puts the phone down with a stricken look as Luc comes
in.
SYLVIE
Cherie. I have horrible news.
She holds his face in her hands, hurting for him.
SYLVIE
I am so sorry to be the one to tell
you, my dearest. But your
father... Your father is dead.
Luc's jaw drops. He slaps his hands against his eyes.
Sylvie's eyes brim with tears.
SYLVIE
I know, but it was very quick. He
did not suffer, so the doctors say.
Do not take this too hard, but...
Oh! How can I tell you this?
He lowers his hands, looks at her.
SYLVIE
They have already scattered his
ashes at sea, as he requested.
There won't even be a funeral.
Luc's face twitches as he looks up at the ceiling. Then
breaks into a high wide gleeful smile.
LUC
Yes!
He howls, whips the towel off. He hops onto the dresser,
dances naked. Sylvie looks at him, horrified.
SYLVIE
Luc! Oh, my poor, poor Luc! The
shock, I should not have told you
the way I did. Now you are
hysterical and it is all my fault!
LUC
Hysterical, me? Noooon. Bankrupt,
me? Ehn-ehn-ehn, pas moi, pas moi!
Sylvie crosses herself and staggers back, mortified as Luc
leaps on the bed, whoops wildly as he runs the towel between
his legs.
LUC
Party time! Magnifique! The 1998
World Cup all over again! I am
rich! Rich beyond my wildest
dreams!
SYLVIE
Have you lost your mind? Your
father is dead!
Luc leaps off the bed, grabs her by the arms.
LUC
Yes! We must celebrate. Wine!
Didn't I tell you something good
always happens when I need it most?
He kisses her passionately. Sylvie, surprised, kisses back.
SYLVIE
And, uh, we will still marry?
LUC
Oh, oui. Oui!
SYLVIE
Wheeeeeeee!
They sink to the floor in a frenzy of lust.
INT. PARIS - BOUCHON'S OFFICE - DAY
BOUCHON, 50's, an iceberg in pinstripes, stares across the
vast desk at Luc, who rubs his palms, trying not to show joy.
LUC
It is a very emotional time for me.
I am devastated by the loss of my
beloved papa, as I'm sure you can
understand, Monsieur Bouchon. So,
tell me. How...
BOUCHON
How did he die?
LUC
How much did he leave me?
Bouchon purses his lips, slides an envelope across the desk.
Luc opens it. A videocassette slips out.
LUC
He left me a video?
Bouchon picks it up, goes to the VCR, puts the tape in.
On the TV, white-haired, twinkly-eyed, PRALINE, 70, appears.
PRALINE
Well, my son. We meet again. Can
I just say, it has been a good
time, not a long time. Not a day
goes by that I am not thankful we
have not been in contact.
Luc looks at Bouchon, his jaw dropping.
LUC
What is this?
Bouchon gestures to the TV.
Beside Praline, seen only from the neck down, a busty NURSE
holds a glass of champagne and a cigar.
PRALINE
But now, I assume from the fact
that you are here, I am dead. So
we have the dubious pleasure of
being in each other's company
again. And with that thought
alone, I need a drink.
Nurse hands Praline champagne. He leans back in his chair
while she lights his cigar. He grins up at her.
As she turns away, his free hand gooses her. Nurse giggles.
Praline remembers the camera, turns to it, frowns.
PRALINE
You never in your whole life
listened to me. Until now. Now
you have no choice if you want my
money.
Luc winces.
LUC
Merde!
(to Bouchon)
I'm just so upset that he's gone.
On a video screen behind Praline, a MONTAGE of fast cars,
chateau, women, yachts.
PRALINE
When I look back over my life, I
see happiness and joy. Why would I
not? I have been blessed with more
riches than I could spend in two
lifetimes. And now I am in the
happiest of places where I can
bestow this lovely legacy.
(sips champagne)
And then I look at you. Luc. Luc,
the cretin. Luc, le croutte!
Spittle hits the camera lens. Praline wipes his mouth.
Nurse takes a napkin from her cleavage, bends down and wipes
the lens.
Luc leans back, intimidated.
PRALINE (O.S.)
Don't think for one second I am not
aware of what you are.
Praline leans forward angrily as the camera pans in on him.
PRALINE
A pathetic travesty of a man.
Utterly vacuous, utterly empty.
And you know how I know this, when
I have not laid eyes on your
pathetic face in years?
Praline leans back in her chair, an evil smile.
PRALINE
I had you followed.
Praline snaps his fingers. PHOTOS on the video screen show
Luc drunk, drunker. Each shot closer, uglier, more
distorted.
Luc groans and covers his face with his hands.
PRALINE
So, what are we to do? All my
life, my work, has been for
nothing.
Praline shakes his head, breathes harshly. The Nurse gives
him oxygen. Praline eyes her up and down with a smile.
PRALINE
Okay, maybe not nothing, but if I
wasn't already dead, it would kill
me to think of you living off my
sweat. And so, I have set up a
certain condition you must adhere
to if you want money. Only when
you do this thing will you be given
my fortune.
Praline leers. Looks horrified. Grips his chest with a
pained look. Collapses back in his chair. The screen goes
blue.
Luc looks at the TV, worried.
LUC
He died making the will?
BOUCHON
It appears so.
LUC
But I don't even know what the task
is, how can I complete it?
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.