美国丽人8

  
 
INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
CLOSE on a COMPUTER MONITOR: We're in some sort of virtual-reality post-apocalyptic environment. Hideous armed MUTANTS approach from all angles, shooting at us. One by one, they're blown away, their heads EXPLODING in geysers of BLOOD.
LESTER (O.C.)Take that, alien bitches!
Lester sits in his cubicle at work, glued to his monitor, feverishly handling a JOYSTICK.
LESTER (cont'd)Woo-hoo!
From the surrounding cubicles, his co-workers watch blankly.
INT. BRAD'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
BRAD is seated behind his desk, reading a document. LESTERsits across from him, smiling.
BRAD(reads)...my job consists of basically masking my contempt for the assholes in charge, and, at least once a day, retiring to the men's room so I can jerk off while I fantasize about a life that doesn't so closely resemble hell.(looks up at Lester)Well, you obviously have no interest in saving yourself.
LESTER(laughs)I've spent fourteen years being a whore for the advertising industry. The only way I could save myself now is to start firebombing.
BRADWhatever. Management wants you gone by the end of the day.
LESTERWhoa. What kind of severance package is "management" prepared to give me? Considering the information I have about our editorial director buying pussy with company money.
A beat.
LESTER (cont'd)Which I'm sure would interest the I.R.S., since, technically, it does constitute fraud. And some of our advertisers and rival publications might like to know about it as well. Not to mention Craig's wife.
A beat. BRAD sighs.
BRADWhat do you want?
LESTEROne year's salary, with continued benefits.
BRADThat's not going to happen.
LESTERWhat if I throw in a little sexual harassment charge?
BRAD LAUGHS.
BRADAgainst who?
LESTERAgainst you.
BRAD stops LAUGHING.
LESTER (cont'd)Can you prove you didn't offer to save my job if I'd let you blow me?
BRAD leans BACK IN his chair, studying Lester.
BRADMan. You are one twisted fuck.
LESTER(standing)Nope. Just an ordinary guy with nothing to lose.
LESTER starts toward the door, then:
LESTER (cont'd)I hope you and I can still be friends, Brad. And even though you didn't save my job...(smiling)You can still blow me, asshole.
And He exits.
INT. RESTAURANT - the same DAY
Carolyn sits at a table By herself, lost IN thought. thereare two menus on the table. After a moment, Leonard Kane, the Real Estate King, joins her. Upon seeing him, Carolyn immediately becomes warm and gracious.
CAROLYNLeonard.
LEONARDCarolyn.
Carolyn smiles, genuinely touched THAT He remembers her name.
LEONARD (cont'd)I'm so sorry I kept you waiting. Christy left for New York this morning, and... let's just say things were very hectic around my house.
CAROLYNWhat's she doing in New York?
LEONARDShe's moving there.(off Carolyn's look)We're splitting up.
CAROLYNLeonard. I'm so sorry.
She places her hand on his, Suddenly deeply concerned.
LEONARD(bitterly)Yes, according to her1 I'm too focused on my career. As if being driven to succeed is some sort of character flaw. Of course, she certainly took advantage of the lifestyle my success afforded her(then laughing)Believe me, it's for the best.
CAROLYNBut when I saw you two at the party the other night, you seemed perfectly happy.
LEONARDWell, call me crazy, but... it's my philosophy that to actually be successful, one must project an image of success, at all times.
He smiles, then opens his menu. Carolyn picks hers UPmechanically, but continues to stare at him, enraptured, like a fervent Christian who's just come face to face with Jesus.
EXT. high SCHOOL CAMPUS - LATER THAT DAY
Students pour out OF the BUILDING at the end OF the day. wefollow Jane and Angela as they head toward the parking lot. A handsome teenage JOCK walks past them.
JOCK(to Angela, grabbing his crotch)Just say the word, baby, and it's yours.
ANGELAGreat. Wrap it up and I'll take it home. Oh, and I'd like thin slices, please.
JOCK(laughs)You know you want it, you stuck-up bitch.
And he's gone.
JANEWhat is with you? Everyone I know is dying to do it with him.
ANGELAOh, please. I would totally fall asleep. Trust me, Jane, once you've fucked that black guy who does the Polo ads, you're a little spoiled.
She spots something and grabs Jane's arm.
JANEOw.
ANGELALook.
Her POV: RICKY stands at the edge OF the parking lot with hisVIDEO CAMERA, videotaping something on the ground at his feet.
ON VIDEO: A dead BIRD lays on the asphalt, decomposing, covered with ants and flies.
ANGEL (O.C.) (cont'd)What are you doing?
On VIDEO: the camera JERKS UP to discover JANE and ANGELAstaring at us.
RICKY (O.C.)I was filming this dead bird.
ANGELAWhy?
RICKY (O.C.)Because it's beautiful.
On VIDEO: ANGELA looks at JANE, trying not to laugh.
ANGELAI think maybe you forgot your medication today, mental boy.
On VIDEO: she falls out OF frame as we ZOOM IN on Jane.
RICKY (O.C.)Hi, Jane.
JANE(uncomfortable)Look. I want you to stop filming me.
RICKY lowers the CAMERA.
RICKYOkay.
He looks at her, curious, his eyes searching hers. shefinally has to look away.
ANGELAHey, I have an idea! Let's all go to the mall together.(off Jane's look)He can film us doing things.
JANE
What kind OF things?
ANGELAI don't know.(to Ricky, suggestive)What kind of things do you like to film?
RICKY(looking at Jane)Things that are beautiful.
ANGELAOkay. We can take my car.
ANGELA starts off. JANE looks doubtful, But follows.
RICKY(to Jane)Do you do everything she says?
JANE(defensive)No. I want to go.
RICKYOkay. Just making sure.
EXT. Top HAT MOTEL - the same DAY
Carolyn's Mercedes-Benz ML320 is parked next to a forest green JAGUAR CONVERTIBLE with a VANITY LICENSE PLATE that reads "R E KING."
INT. Top HAT MOTEL - CONTINUOUS
Carolyn and Leonard are in the middle of sex. Dramatic, pyrotechnic, vocal sex.
CAROLYNYes! Oh, God, yes!
LEONARDYou like getting nailed by the king?
CAROLYNYes! I love it! Oh, yes! Fuck me, your majesty!
INT. TOYOTA CAMRY - the same DAY
LESTER drives, smoking a joint. He SINGS along to theBeatles' "GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE" on the STEREO.
LESTERI WAS ALONE, I TOOK A RIDE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD FIND THERE... ANOTHER ROAD, WHERE MAYBE I COULD SEE ANOTHER KIND OF MIND THERE...
He trails off, as something outside catches his attention:
His POV: A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT called SMILEY'S. The logo on the sign features a yellow SMILEY-FACE with a red tongue licking its smiling lips. Underneath it, plastic letters spell out: NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS.
Lester's face suddenly takes on a far-away expression.
INT. SMILEY'S - MOMENT LATER
A slightly overweight TEENAGE GIRL mans the counter; behind her, a couple of slow-moving teenagers work... vaguely. They all wear bright yellow uniforms and white BASEBALL CAPS which feature the SMILEY'S logo. Lester enters, straightening his tie, and crosses to the counter.
COUNTER GIRL (zombie like)Smile, you're at Smiley's Would you like to try our new bacon and egg fajita, just a dollar twenty-nine for a limited time only?
LESTERActually, I'd like to fill out an application.
She stares at him, confused By his age and attire.
COUNTER GIRLThere's not jobs for manager, it's just for counter.
LESTERGood. I'm looking for the least possible amount of responsibility.
INT. SMILEY'S - LATER
LESTER sits at a booth with the MANAGER, a greasy kid wearinga white short sleeve shirt and a tie covered with the Smiley's logo. He looks over Lester's application baffled.
MANAGERI don't think you'd fit in here.
LESTERI have fast food experience.
MANAGERYes, like twenty years ago.
LESTERWell, I'm sure there have been amazing technological advancements in the industry, but... surely you have some sort of training process. It seems unfair to presume I won't be able to learn.
The Manger frowns, unconvinced.
LESTER (cont'd)Should you choose not to hire me, I have to assume it's because of my age, which I can only interpret as discrimination and would have to take up with my attorney.
The Manager sighs and runs an hand through his greasy hair, wondering what he could possibly have done to deserve this.
EXT. HIGHWAY - LATER
Artificial Joy Club's "SICK AND BEAUTIFUL" blasts as Angela's BMW speeds down the highway.
INT. ANGELA'S BMW - CONTINUOUS
ON VIDEO: Angela is driving; Jane is in the passenger seat. We're watching from the back as they pass a JOINT. Angela spots us in the REAR VIEW MIRROR and turns back to us.
ANGELAHi. I'm Angela, and welcome to my car. My guest today is Jane Burnham. Jane, why don't you tell us about yourself?
JANENo
ANGELAOh, come on.(a pointed look to us)I'm sure our audience wants to know all about you.
JANEAngela, look out!ANGELA turns BACK around to see THAT traffic has Suddenlybacked up in front of her. She slams on the BRAKES.
EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS
Angela's BMW SCREECHES to halt, almost colliding with the car in front of her.
INT. ANGELA'S BMW - CONTINUOUS
ANGELA and JANE sit there, stunned, breathing heavily. RICKYseems completely unaffected.
RICKYWhat's going on?
JANEI think there's been a wreck.
RICKYReally? A big one?
He rolls down a window, then starts to climb out OF it.
ANGELAWhat are you doing?
EXT. ANGELA'S BMW - CONTINUOUS
RICKY hangs out OF the CAR window, focusing his VIDEO cameraas the traffic inches forward.
On VIDEO: over the roofs OF the cars IN front OF us, we seethe flashing LIGHTS of police cars and an ambulance, as well as FLARES on the pavement. One car is completely totaled, and PARAMEDICS are utilizing MACHINERY to release the driver.
BACK on RICKY, hanging out the window.
RICKYWow. I've always wanted to see the Jaws of Life.
INT. ANGELA'S BMW - CONTINUOUS
ANGELAWhat the fuck is he talking about?
They're pulling up alongside the accident now. Jane cranes her neck to look.
Her POV: the paramedics pull the bloody, broken BODY OF ayoung man out of the car.
JANE(disgusted)Oh God.
ANGELAGross. There goes dinner.
Past the accident Now, They return to normal speed with therest of the traffic. Ricky climbs back into the car.
RICKYThat was amazing.
JANE(snort)What was amazing about it?
A beat.
RICKYWhen you see something like that, it's like God is looking right at you, just for a second. And if you're careful, you can look right back.
ANGELA rolls her eyes. But JANE looks at RICKY, intrigued.
JANEAnd what do you see?
RICKYBeauty.
JANE(after a beat)Is it only dead things?
RICKY seems surprised By This question.
RICKYNo. Not at all. No, it's everywhere. You just have to be open to it.
He looks at her, curious, his eyes searching hers. This time, she doesn't look away. He smiles. Jane almost smiles back... then:
JANE(to Angela)You know what? Let's bag the mall. It's boring.
She glances BACK over her shoulder at RICKY and smiles.
ANGELAWhatever.(to Ricky)Hey, turn that camera back on, and do like it's my talk show again. That was fun.
RICKYI'd rather not.
His POV: ANGELA glares at us IN REAR view MIRROR.
INT. Top HAT MOTEL - the same DAY
Carolyn and Leonard are IN bed, post-sex, eating Clubsandwiches from room service.
CAROLYNThat was exactly what I needed. The royal treatment, so to speak.
She HOWLS, as if This were the funniest thing ever said.
CAROLYN (cont'd)I was soooo stressed out.
LEONARDKnow what I do when I get that way?
Carolyn sits UP FOR This, eager to learn from the master.
LEONARD (cont'd)I fire a gun.
CAROLYN(intrigued)Really.
LEONARDYep. I go to this little firing range downtown, pop off a few rounds, and it always makes me feel better.
CAROLYN(embarrassed)I've never fired a gun before.
LEONARDOh, you have to try it. Nothing makes you feel more powerful.
He grins, then reaches FOR her.
LEONARD(cont'd)Well, almost nothing.
Carolyn GASPS as his hand reach her neck. She's living some kind of dream here, and she makes her most seductive face as he pulls her to him...
INT. RECORD STORE - the same DAY
LESTER, still IN his business suit, But Now wearing aSmiley's BASEBALL CAP, approaches the checkout counter with a stack of about twenty CDs. The CLERK, a young, trendy kid wearing a BACKWARD BASEBALL CAP, starts going through the CDs. We see the covers as he scans them: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix...
CLERKCatching up?
LESTERYep.
LESTER stands there, Smiling, as the clerk rings UP his sale.After a beat, he flips his baseball cap around so it's backwards. 
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