Thomas Smit

2 minute film opening – “Mobster from Manhattan” Script

FADE IN:

EXT. TRACK NEXT TO BARN - DAY

We see the Gangster’s car rolling up the track towards the camera. The car stops and we see feet getting out. Camera follows the feet left towards the barn doors. TITLES:"Jake Barnes""Max Silver""Faegan White" Jib shot from above showing the Gangster walking up to the barn doors. He unlocks the padlock. TITLE:"Written and Directed by Tom Smit" The gangster opens the padlock and it lands in front of the camera with the gangster's legs in the background. INT. BARN

Inside the barn the light switch is shown out of focus. The gangster opens the barn doors and walks inside a step or two. He looks round and the switch becomes in focus. He walks up to it and flicks on the switch. Camera shows quick succession of shots of the hostage. These include his head and eyes squirming with the uncomfortable brightness - he is gagged by rope. His hands are tied as well as his legs. This is concluded with the view of the hostage in full. The gangster performs a very minimalist wry smile (he is pleased at the torture of the hostage) as he removes his hat chucks it on the floor. He looks to his left and pulls out a chair by the handle. Camera shows view of whole room with hostage on far right and gangster on far left. The gangster walks up to hostage whilst dragging chair behind him. We see the gangsters' feet dragging the chair as he walks towards the hostage. The chair is put down in front of the hostage, whom we can see behind it. The gangster begins to sit down, obscuring our view of the hostage. The gangster sits down, facing camera and takes off the gag rope. GANGSTER:

Now I understand, Mr Johnson, that you have... a little sum of money you owe us. Am I correct?

HOSTAGE:

I really... don' know what the hell you're talking about

Thomas Smit

GANGSTER:

Oh I think you do, MR Johnson. I know you know. We see the point of view of a henchman looking at the gangster and hostage from behind some boxes. HOSTAGE:

So what if… I don’t tell you anything? GANGSTER:

What? HOSTAGE:

Ya know the way I see it from an outsider’s perspective, you’ve got the upper hand in this situation, whereas I… I’m bound by these ropes, a little bit tight on the hands if you ask me, but if I don’t give you the information well…

As the gangster jumps out of his seat, the hostage abruptly looks up towards this oncoming attack. The gangster lunges towards the hostage and, with both hands, violently tips over the chair. The hostage falls to the floor and the gangster looks on from above. GANGSTER:

An ‘outsiders perspective’, huh? Well I wonder what an outsider would think of this...

The Gangster raises the gun at the Hostage and the Hostage looks up. HOSTAGE:

Yes, I wonder what an outsider would think of this… The Hostage looks to his right and then back at the gangster HOSTAGE:

Shall we find out? A henchman sharply rises (at Hostage's RIGHT) from behind a number of boxes. He points the rifle in the direction of the Gangster. The gagster quickly turns round looking into the camera. The henchman aims his rifle to his eye, in the direction of the Gangster, looking into the camera (a super zoom is used). The gangster's eyes and mouth open wide in the realisation of his imminent slaughter (a super zoom is used). EXT. BARN

Thomas Smit

We see the barn and its doors as the camera tracks from left to right. As this occurs, we hear a succession of gunshots. The gunshot sounds stop as tracking shot ends. INT. BARN The hostage drags the gangster's legs as he walks towards the barn doors on his exit. (We cannot see the gangsters' face).

EXT. TRACK NEXT TO BARN - DAY

From above, the crane follows the Hostage and Henchman carrying the gangster out of the barn and up to the gangsters' car. They gently throw him in the boot. We see (from inside the boot) the gangster being thrown in. He may block the view of the gangster but only for a second. The gangster then becomes partially in view. The hostage presses the button to close the boot and it begins to close. Camera shows inside the boot the boot ‘lid’ continue to shut. From the Hostage's side, the boot finishes closing but at the last second we see the gangsters' eyes shoot open at camera. CUT TO BLACK TITLE:"Mobster from Manhattan"