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8 Vulnerable - Riverboat Justice 

INT. CALIANO'S DRAWING ROOM - DAY 

Caliano is sitting at a table in his drawing room, smoking a cigar. JULIO enters. Julio is about twenty five and dresses casually but sharply.

JULIO 
Yes, Mr. Caliano?
CALIANO 
Sit down, have a cigar.
Caliano pushes a humidor toward the chair he wants Julio to sit in.
JULIO 
No, thank-you, Sir. I don't smoke.
CALIANO 
Good pleasures take time to cultivate. 
Hands Julio a cigar. 
CALIANO 
Unwrap it. Smell it. Taste it. 
It will grow on you. 
Julio smells it and puts it in his pocket obligingly. 
CALIANO 
You know what was wrong with Bobby? 
Julio shakes his head. 
CALIANO 
He was rough as a cob. He would been 
as content sleeping in the middle of an 
Illinois corn field as here. 
   Same for Andrew. Those two never 
took the time to become refined - never 
appreciated the finer things in life. It 
takes more than killing someone to be 
family. It takes more than being Italian. 
It even takes more than being smart. 
   That's why I don't associate much the 
Chicago family. Take this furniture, for 
example. Solid cherry, Queen Ann. I 
came in here one day and found Bobby 
resting his feet on a chair. 
Julio squirms and sits less casually.
CALIANO 
Neither one of those guys ever thought 
about anything. I was too on them. I'm a 
softy. But I'm not going to be so easy on 
you, Julio, because I can tell you have a 
brain. You're smart.
JULIO 
Thank-you, Sir.
Caliano reaches for a beverage decanter and two glasses and pours them both a drink.
CALIANO 
I want you to enjoy this furniture. Take 
time to admire it. Cultivate a taste for it. 
You're welcome to sit here anytime. 
Caliano passes Julio a drink. 
CALIANO
Red label. You like scotch?
JULIO 
Thank-you, Sir.
CALIANO 
This is what separates us from the 
people out there; the scum we have to 
work with. We appreciate this: 
Indicates the entire room/house. 
CALIANO 
We take their money for things that 
make them happy, like gambling and 
drugs, and we get what makes us happy. 
But to do that we have to work with that 
trash out there. 
   Does that bother you?
JULIO 
No, Sir.
CALIANO 
Good. I've got a job for you. 
JULIO 
Who do I have to kill? Andrew?
CALIANO 
No, no. You'll get your chance for that 
later. 
   I want you to spread the word on the 
street: $25,000.00 reward for anyone 
who can tell us the location of the 
motorcycle with these plates.
Caliano hands Julio a piece of paper.

INT. ZIGLER'S OFFICE - DAY 

Zigler is working at his desk with paperwork. Lora appears in the doorway, hesitant, wringing her hands.

LORA 
Zig.
ZIGLER 
Yes, Lora?
LORA 
Have you thought it over? Are you going 
to tell Caliano the business is -
ZIGLER 
The guy is dead.
LORA 
What do you mean, dead?
ZIGLER 
Word on the street is, twenty five grand 
goes to anyone who can locate the guy's 
motorcycle. Then comes a contract and 
that's it. Forget him, Lora. 
Lora leaves the room in tears.

INT. RIVERBOAT CAPTAIN'S CABIN - DAY

NELSON 
Congratulations. You have a price on 
your head. 
ADRIAN 
A price?
NELSON 
Street talk: Caliano has a twenty five 
thousand dollar reward for the location 
of your motorcycle. A contract will come 
next.
ADRIAN 
I could use twenty five thousand. Think I 
should tell Caliano where it is?
NELSON 
You probably will.
INT. CAFE - DAY 

Dino is dialing a public phone. He is dressed in cheap, dirty work clothes, and has an unkempt beard. His hands are washed, but dirty with worn in greasy dirt, and his fingernails are black. He wears a Cardinals baseball cap that is also dirty.

JOEY (V.O.) 
Hello.
DINO 
(Voice disguised) 
Is this Caliano?
JOEY (V.O.) 
Who's calling please?
DINO 
Larry Schmall. I got some information 
for Caliano.
JOEY (V.O.) 
What kind of information?
DINO 
Twenty Five Grand kind.
JOEY (V.O.) 
Just a moment. I'll see if there is 
someone to take your call. 
INT. CALIANO'S DRAWING ROOM - DAY 

Julio walks to the phone and picks it up.

JULIO 
Hello.
DINO (V.O.) 
Caliano?
JULIO 
I'm an associate of Mr. Caliano. I 
understand you have some information?
Caliano appears in the background.
DINO (V.O.) 
Yes, regarding the whereabouts of a 
certain motorcycle.
JULIO 
I would be happy to meet with you 
regarding this. Where are you?
DINO (V.O.) 
I'm at the Lunch Time Cafe, down on 
thirty fourth street.
JULIO 
A black limousine will arrive in about 
thirty minutes. It will drive slowly by the 
window and park down the street. 
You come to the limousine and we'll talk.
DINO (V.O.) 
I'll do better than talk. You bring the 
twenty five grand and I'll take you to the 
motorcycle.
JULIO 
I think we can do business, Mr. Schmall. 
After we see the motorcycle, we'll give 
you the money.
Julio hangs up and looks at Caliano with a broad smile.
JULIO 
He says he can take us to the motorcycle. 
CALIANO 
You handled that well, Julio. 
Caliano removes an envelope from the desk drawer and hands it to Joey.
CALIANO 
Hide this under the seat. After you see it 
is the right motorcycle, give it to this 
guy. 
   Then drop him off. Julio, look the place 
over, discreetly. Don't go in. Tonight 
we'll send some men over to exterminate 
this pest.
INT. CALIANO'S LIMO - DAY 

Julio and Dino are sitting in the limo. Dino is admiring the limo's appointments from the viewpoint of a common laborer. Julio is pretending to look down on Dino's commonness, but is secretly enjoying showing off the limo.

DINO 
Man, I never hoped to ride in nothin' this 
nice before. 
Dino points to the intercom button.
What's this button do?
JULIO 
That's the intercom.
DINO 
This cabin on wheels got a bar in it?
JULIO 
Of course. How did you locate this guy's 
motorcycle, anyway?
Julio opens the bar and begins fixing a drink.
DINO 
I followed him home in my truck. I see 
him every morning leave a gas station 
down on forty fifth. Maybe he works 
there, maybe not. Anyway, I looked at 
his license and zing! It was the one. 
JULIO 
How did you hear about our reward?
DINO 
You kidding? Everybody knows. You 
hear things, you know? Go in a pool hall, 
talk to the right people, it's all around.
JULIO 
What do you do for a living?
DINO 
Anything I can. 
(Laughs) 
You need anything hauled? I can do it. 
Got a one ton flatbed with a big Buick 
engine in it. Sucker will haul ass, or 
anything else you want to haul.
Julio suppresses a smile. Dino points out the window. They are passing a small house in a run down section of town. Many of the houses look vacant and are boarded up.
DINO 
Look, there it is! See, back behind that 
bush with the rear end sticking out. Read 
the plate.
Julio looks at it carefully. He pushes the intercom button.
JULIO 
Joey, pass through the alley. I want to 
get a good look at that motorcycle.
INT. NELSON'S GARAGE - DAY 

Nelson paces expectantly, checking the window for Dino, as Adrian bolts a turbine engine onto the back of his motorcycle. Dino arrives on a motorcycle and enters the garage, excitedly waving the money.

DINO 
Ha haaa, we did it. Twenty five thousand 
dollars. 
ADRIAN 
Nice of Caliano to pay for his own 
undoing. I wonder if we could get a retainer?
All laugh.
DINO 
What's that thing you're putting on the 
back of your motorcycle?
ADRIAN 
It's a gas turbine engine. It's very quiet - 
you only hear a whistle.
DINO 
A stealth bomber, huh?
ADRIAN 
Yeah. I can run on just this engine when 
I want to sneak around. Or I can use it 
for a booster when I want extra power.
DINO 
Nice.
ADRIAN 
I'm going over there around ten and 
sneak in the side window.
NELSON 
Where?
ADRIAN 
To the house. Caliano's men should be 
showing up sometime tonight to kill me.
NELSON 
Don't go there. They show up with guns 
in that little house, someone's going to 
get hurt.
ADRIAN 
Only their pride. 
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT 

A car driven by Joey, with two gunmen in the back, drive slowly past the house, then park in the alley. The two men get out and inspect the motorcycle with pen lights. They sneak around the house and peer into the windows. It is dimly lit inside. One man indicates to the other that Adrian is in one room. He points to a door. The two go to the door, pick the lock, and open it. They draw their guns, with silencers attached, and go in. 

SHOT: Borden watching from the bushes. Goes to the windows to observe.

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT 

The two gunmen sneak down the hall and into a room, their Uzzis aimed ahead, ready to kill. They enter the room and find it empty. They look around the room in disbelief, then confer in hushed tones.

GUNMAN 1 
He ain't here.
GUNMAN 2 
Where the Hell is he? I saw him here, 
in bed. 
GUNMAN 1 
Where's the bed? The room's empty.
GUNMAN 2 
It must be the next room.
The two gunmen leave the room and sneak down the hall. One raises his hand to indicate go slowly. He has seen the bed straight ahead in the end room. He keeps the gun pointed straight ahead, both hands on it. Just before the door, he bumps into an obstacle and makes a slight noise. He freezes and waits for Adrian to move. He feels around with his foot and can't find a sure way through. He aims the gun and fires several rounds at Adrian. Adrian rises, stretches, and starts walking toward them. The gunman fires more.
ADRIAN 
Better check your gun. It must be firing 
blanks. 
The other gunman moves into place.
ADRIAN 
Want me to move right or left? Am I a 
good target?
The second gunman fires. Adrian checks himself over, finds no wounds, and walks toward them, laughing. Suddenly the two are seeing themselves in a mirror, with Adrian in the image standing behind them. They turn to shoot Adrian, but he isn't there. They look back at the mirror and the image is gone. They climb all over each other trying to get out, yelling at each other (ad lib) as they go. Adrian kills the lights, then watches them leave, through a window. Outside, Borden has strung a rope across the porch. The two men trip over the rope and sprawl in the yard, their guns sailing into the dark. Borden kicks each one in the ribs and they scurry toward the car. After the car pulls away, Adrian slips out a back door and sneaks toward his motorcycle, then pushes his motorcycle down the alley. 

Borden stands in the shadows, his gun drawn. He takes aim at Adrian as he pushes his motorcycle, the gun and silencer outlined in the moonlight. He hesitates, and as Adrian moves past bushes and tree limbs that interfere, Borden fires one shot that misses. Then another. Adrian ducks and looks around.

BORDEN 
I'm not done playing with you, 
cockroach! 
Adrian slumps down, hiding, then farther down the alley rides away with his lights off, just as the car with the two gunmen passes slowly in front of the house, looking for him. Borden removes the silencer and holsters his weapon.

EXT. RIVERBOAT - NIGHT 

Adrian, on the dock, changes the license plate on his motorcycle and puts the old one in a saddlebag. He walks toward the boat as customers leave. Cecillia sees him enter and follows.

CUT TO:
Adrian is standing by the rail on the upper deck of the forward crew quarters. He is talking to a star. Cecillia watches.
ADRIAN 
I'm not having much fun, Mom. I thought 
- I hoped - this would be my season for 
fun. You asked me to always be kind to 
people, but I guess you never said it 
would be fun. Anyway, I think I'm in 
over my head here. You know I got the 
arms dealers taken care of - that was 
just a brawl, best man wins. 
   Well, one of the arms dealers is still 
shooting at me. Caliano is still around - 
this is all just a game to him. No matter 
what I do, I can't convince Lora or Zigler 
to help - Caliano gets to them every 
time. 
   And now I have a price on my head, so I 
have to watch out for this arms dealer 
and everyone else in town. 
   What would you think of me if I just 
packed it in and left town?
CECILLIA 
I'd think you were human instead of the 
god you seem to think you are.
Adrian, startled, turns toward her.
ADRIAN 
You should become a spy, the way you 
sneak around.
CECILLIA 
You came on the boat with your tail 
dragging. It's my job to resolve that.
ADRIAN 
Cheering me up might be a tall order.
CECILLIA 
I might have just the thing. Senator 
Paulson was on TV tonight. He resigned, 
citing exhaustion and wanting to spend 
more time with his family.
ADRIAN 
Why should that interest me?
CECILLIA 
Dino told me Senator Paulson was 
connected with the arms dealers.
ADRIAN 
Loose lips sink ships. I'll have to talk to 
Dino.
CECILLIA 
Come down off your throne, Mr. War 
God, and lighten up. Why don't you go 
work up a magic/comedy routine about 
vulnerability. You might feel better. 
Adrian starts to walk away. 
CECILLIA 
Hey! Something tells me you're going to 
win this battle with Caliano. I believe in 
you.
ESTABLISH SHOT: RIVERBOAT GRANADA with bright lights and people. 

ESTABLISH SHOT: ADVERTISING SIGN: RIVERBOAT GRANADA PRESENTS: 

MARLIN AND HECKLER - MAGIC AND COMEDY - IN OUR CASINO LOUNGE. 

INT. RIVERBOAT NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT 

Nelson is sitting at a table watching the show. Marlin and Heckler are on stage doing their act. Audience is laughing.

HECKLER 
Our last illusion will be done in the nude... 
at least Marlin will be in the nude. I'm not 
about to do anything that funny.
Audience laughs. Marlin, brings out a PARTITION and gets behind it.
HECKLER 
(Disgust) 
What are you hiding behind the partition, 
Marlin? You know the routine, everyone 
has to know the partition isn't fake.
Heckler helps Marlin rotate the partition, one standing on each end, showing there is nothing behind it. Marlin begins throwing clothes over the partition as Heckler talks. 
HECKLER 
I read this psychologist once who 
recommended you sit in front of a mirror 
naked for several minutes and just study 
yourself... meditate about how great you 
are. All I could think about was how 
vulnerable I was. What if someone came 
in and saw me sitting there looking at 
myself in the mirror.
Heckler does an impression of someone discovering him, then looking at him. 
HECKLER 
Weird guy. What are you looking at 
there? 
   Oh, very interesting.
Marlin throws a bra over the partition. 
AUDIENCE 
Laughs
HECKLER 
Who else do you have back there? 
OK, Marlin, are you ready?
MARLIN 
One moment.
HECKLER 
Now in a moment, Marlin is going to be 
as vulnerable as he ever gets. But none 
of us is any more vulnerable than he 
chooses to be.
MARLIN 
Shut up with the Mayan philosophy. 
Marlin throws a pair of socks out.
HECKLER 
Come out and make me. Now see how 
vulnerable he is? I can say anything I 
want, and he won't come out from behind 
that partition. Marlin, you're a complete 
and total idiot. You're ugly as sin. You 
have the personality of a slug. 
  Being invulnerable is an illusion. We're 
all completely vulnerable all the time, we 
just hide it behind clothing and other 
things. 
   But we fool ourselves if we think 
someone can't get to even the most 
powerful of us. We're all very vulnerable 
and we all find ways to deal with it.
Marlin throws over bikini underwear.
MARLIN 
That's it.
Heckler takes a pencil from his pocket and lifts the underwear. 
HECKLER 
(Singsong) 
Ring around the collar.
Heckler throws the underwear onto the other clothes.
HECKLER 
Now this trick, to be effective, must be 
performed totally in the nude. 
We need some pretty young lady to 
come on stage and verify that Marlin is 
totally nude. 
Heckler goes into the audience and asks several women if they will come check him out (ad lib). All say no, with varying degrees of embarrassment. Heckler returns to the stage. 
HECKLER 
Marlin has made himself completely 
vulnerable. But everyone in the audience 
is hung up on their own vulnerabilities. 
   Now if anyone had said yes, in all 
fairness they would have had to undress 
also. Fair is fair. 
   OK, Marlin, you know Missouri is the 
"Show Me State." We believe that so 
strongly we put it on our license plate. 
And we're never going to believe you... 
You're going to have to show us. 
Marlin extends one bare foot and calf, past the knee, from behind the screen. 
HECKLER 
Is that good enough? Say "We believe." 
Heckler shakes head no to the audience. 
AUDIENCE 
Nooooo.
HECKLER 
OK, Marlin, you're going to have to 
show them more.
Marlin sticks out a bare shoulder and arm.
HECKLER 
Now the trick is that Marlin can get 
completely dressed by the count of 
three. 
How many of you take twenty minutes in 
the morning to get dressed? 
(Beat) 
How many ten? 
Five? 
OK, super-dressers: one minute. 
(Beat) 
Can any of you do it in three seconds? 
OK, Marlin put your arms above the 
screen. Let's make sure you're not 
pulling a fast one back there.
Heckler pulls a set of handcuffs from his pocket and points to them, smiling broadly, sharing this as a secret with the audience. 
HECKLER 
This trick isn't much of a challenge. I 
know what Marlin can do.
He sneaks up to the partition. Heckler handcuffs Marlin. Marlin's hands disappear.
MARLIN 
This isn't fair! Heckler, take these off. I 
can't do it. I haven't even practiced this. 
I'm not set up for lock tricks!
HECKLER 
Think positive, Marlin. I'm going to pull 
down the screen at the count of three... 
If he fails, you get to see... the entire 
show.
Heckler puts the clothes behind the screen, looks at Marlin and shakes his head.
HECKLER 
Ladies, you haven't missed a thing. 
Ready?
MARLIN 
NO!

Heckler points to the audience.

HECKLER 
Everybody count. 

AUDIENCE: ONE, TWO, THREE. 

Heckler pulls down the screen, pulling the top toward the audience to the floor. Marlin is standing there fully dressed, the handcuffs in his hands. 

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

HECKLER 
Marlin, you know they don't believe 
you've done it. 
MARLIN 
Why?
HECKLER 
You know why? It's the bra. You tossed 
out that bra for a joke and now it's not 
here. 
  You didn't really put the clothes on, 
because, where's the bra?
Marlin shrugs.
HECKLER 
Come on, Marlin. They want to see it. 
MARLIN 
No, they don't.
HECKLER 
Do you want to see it?
AUDIENCE: YES.
HECKLER 
Will you believe the trick if you don't 
see it?

AUDIENCE: NO.

MARLIN 
This is embarrassing.
Marlin pulls up his shirt and shows a bra. 

Audience laughs and claps. 

MARLIN and HECKLER 

Good night, everyone. 

Next:9 War

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