Familiar Faces (Draft 2.3) By Christopher Jacobs
INT. WHITE HOSPITAL TOILET - NIGHT A shirtless man in blue patient trousers stares into the mirror, bandages wrapped around his head conceal his face. Blood seeps through these bandages on the right side of his head, and drips into the sink, besides his pills. His dog tags read FRANK and are stained by his blood. He breathes heavily. FRANK (V.O) What you’ve walked into, is an introduction in fear tactics and misinformation. Remember that. STRINGER Mr. Blue? INT. WHITE HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY FRANK’s eyes jolt open, the white hospital room blinds him. The music fizzles out from an old radio. Slow and dazed, he scans the room, vaguely making out two doctors conversing at the bottom of his bed, their faces are obscured. On his left, DEATH stoically towers over him. Frank is disorientated; Dr.Nedley glances at Frank. DR NEDLEY He’s awake. Pray he remembers nothing. He leaves the room as DR NICOLE picks up her clipboard and sashays to Frank. DR NICOLE You’ve been unconscious for quite a while. I’m Doctor Nicole, I’ve been taking care of you. Dr Nicole caresses Franks face with her hand. DR NICOLE Your’re burning up. Frank grabs her hand, she pulls back but he doesn’t let go. DR NICOLE Let go Frank! She struggles free and falls back against the wall. Death reaches over and places an hourglass onto Frank’s chest, anchoring him down into the bed, in a state of paralysis. He panics, breathing erratically.
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2.
FRANK What’s happening? Where am I? Dr Nicole sits on the edge of the bed and carefully raises a cup of water to Franks parched lips. He gulps it down. FRANK I can’t moveDR NICOLE The ties are for your own protection. The sand in the hourglass continues to fall. Dr Nicole becomes restless; she walks around the bed and flicks through her clipboard. DR NICOLE Frank, I’m going to ask you a set of questions. Answer them truthfully, and within the allotted time. If your answers are correct, you’ll be free to leave. FRANK (Frantic) No... Why do I have to answer questions!? Get me out of here! He struggles as the sand continues to fall. DR NICOLE First questionFRANK I’m not answering shit! DR NICOLE Please tell me Frank, what do you recall before your coma? CUTS TO A MIRRORED IMAGE OF FRANK. He gazes over to see a TV at the other end of the room, replaying the ending of the memory of his night at club. FRANK I... I don’t know. I remember a lady; I remember seeing familiar faces - events... were they dreams?
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DR NICOLE More than likely... Frank hears music with a heavy club beat. Dr Nicole leans close to Frank’s ear. DR NICOLE You’ve been dreaming for a long time. INT. CLUB SCIMITAR - NIGHT Frank springs awake at the side of the club. A heap of bodies groove and sweat on the dance floor, the music is almost deafening. FRANK (V.O) Bad dream. Usual side effect of my sleeping meds. But why would I take them in a place like this? Frank looks around, and inspects the bag on the seat next to him. He peeks inside, discovering a pistol and a picture of MR BLUE; a grimy gent, donning a dapper blue suit. Frank studies the photograph. LISA Frank! LISA, a gorgeous brunette with blue wrist bangles, rushes over. Frank shoves the photo into the bag and places it below the seat. LISA Hey! FRANK Hey... do I know you? LISA You forgot again? Frank looks clueless and shrugs, slyly kicking the bag under his chair. FRANK (V.O) I should probably leave. Get home and-
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LISA -Don’t leave! Dance with me. FRANK What? She grabs his hand. LISA Dance! She drags him into the mass of people that jiggle on the dance floor. He busts out awkward moves, but as the music picks up, so does Frank; his moves evolve into an euphoric groove with Lisa. CUT TO: INT. CLUB SCIMITAR - NIGHT Frank stands by the bar, taking a sip of whiskey. Obscured in the background, Lisa struts over to Mr.Blue sitting by a table littered with empty bottles. Frank holds out a five pound note but the bartender turns him down. BARTENDER No - this ones on the house. Lisa throws her drink over Mr.Blue. (background) FRANK Thanks... do I knowMr.Blue springs up angered, and shoves Lisa back. BARTENDER You don’t remember? We were in the same unit. FRANK I can’t recall. What’s yourFrank’s attention is caught by what’s happening behind him. He turns to see Lisa weeping on the floor; Mr. Blue over her. Frank puts the five-pound note into his empty glass and marches over. He shoves him away from Lisa and helps her up.
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FRANK Apologise to her. MR. BLUE She deserved it. FRANK What did you say? LISA Frank, leave it... MR. BLUE The bitch deservedFrank right hooks him across the jaw, knocking Mr Blue off balance. They exchange a flurry of punches; Frank shoves the guy against the wall. Mr.Blue head butts Frank back. As he staggers, Mr.Blue left-hooks him off his feet, grabs him, and swings him into the wall. Frank’s head collides with the wall and slowly, he falls by the bag he hid. INT. BEDROOM - DAWN Frank lands comfortably in bed. The sound of a fireplace crackles in the background. NICOLE (V.O) Please tell me Frank, do you care about me? A blonde lady lays in Frank’s bed. He is perplexed. FRANK (under his breath) Another bad dream... NICOLE Frank? FRANK Yeah? NICOLE I asked if you cared about me, but if you’re going to-
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FRANK Must you ask me that? The moment of confrontation dissipates as he runs his hand through her hair and smiles, but she turns away. Of course I care. You’ve always mattered; even when I was gone, coming back to you was all I could think about. It’s just... Lisa turns back to face him. FRANK I’m afraid I’m not the same as once was... How I remember things now, I don’t want to forget you. NICOLE Don’t think about it. What we have is real... unforgettable. Just close your eyes, and remember this. She begins to kiss him. INT. PUB - DAY Frank sits, with his coat on, by the fire place in a homely pub. His eyes are shut as he smooches the air; the hippies at the bar snicker. Slowly, he awakens and looks around. The hippies turn back to their pints. Frank strides to the bar; tired 60s classics play as a cat stretches on the bar-top. BAR MAN What can I get you? STRINGER enters with heavy footsteps and a long black coat. Frank checks behind him, then back to his wallet full of change. FRANK Double Whiskey on the rocks. He counts the change, he doesn’t have enough. FRANK (V.O) I could’ve sworn I had a five-pound note. The Bar Man places his drink in front of him.
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FRANK Listen Barman, I left myBAR MAN It’s on the house mate. The Bar Man walks away, whilst Frank awkwardly watches him leave, sipping his drink. Stringer sits by him, Frank glances over. STRINGER What’s your name? FRANK Excuse me? STRINGER Forget it. Follow me into the toilets. Stringer hands him an envelope and begins to walk to the toilets. FRANK Nah... I think I’ll pass mate. Stringer pauses. He turns and leans next to Frank. STRINGER You’re a poor, uneducated veteran. You’ve lost your wife, and your past days have become an awkward haze. But I’ve got a job for you, and it pays well. Stringer taps the envelope and proceeds into the toilets. Frank gulps his drink, and inspects the envelope. It’s full of money, a grand, maybe more. INT. TOILETS - DAY Frank enters the room to see Stringer bent by the sink, snorting a line of white powder. FRANK I don’t know who you are, butStringer, like a feral animal, lunges at Frank, dragging him into the piss-stained floor. He presses a gun into his head.
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8. STRINGER But what, huh? FRANK ButSTRINGER -but nothing! FRANK Let go of me!
Frank ceases to struggle. Stringer comes down from his high and stands. STRINGER You’re becoming too lively Frank, just like the other guy - chill compadre... until ice cubes are fuckin jealous. From his pocket, he throws photographs onto the floor. STRINGER You and I are after the same person. Frank gathers the photos on the floor and slowly rises. His eyes tear up. He scrambles into the nearest cubicle and throws up in the toilet. STRINGER I’ve seen a lot of shit in my time, but this kind of person... more monster than man. If anyone should kill him Frank, it should be you. Stringer pats Frank gently on the back. FRANK Kill him? STRINGER It’s not like you haven’t killed before. I’ve set everything up for you to end this monster’s life without a trace. No links back to you. I also have the evidence to turn him in, but knowing his connections, he’ll be out in a year or two max.
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FRANK What’s in this for you? STRINGER He’s a murderer Frank, he’s dragging my name through the mud and he needs to be stopped. If you disagreeHe snorts the last line of coke. ... you’re a fucking nutter! Is it not our right to take justice into our own hands? The law of nature is about becoming the righteous predator - the question is, Franky boy, do you agree? FRANK You’re a delusional drug addict. I don’t want any part of it. Frank shoves the photos into Stringer’s chest and paces to the exit. He halts in his tracks, there’s one photo he didn’t pick up. Frank halts in his tracks. STRINGER You walk, this man gets away with it. I’m merely an investor Frank. I don’t want to allow monsters to exist in our civilised society. They don’t comply with our rules. Besides, it’s an easy way to earn some cash if you ask me. Frank looks back at Stringer. Meet me, tonight, at ten. I’ll give you what you need; evidence for bureaucracy, or a gun for justice. It’s your decision Frank; I suggest you choose before you leave. FRANK (Beat) Give me the gun. Frank exits the bathroom and emerges inside INT. CHURCH - NIGHT Lit candles line the sides and the altar of the dark hall. Frank navigates through the empty church with his gun aimed, and bruises all over his face. He slowly walks past the altar, littered with wine bottles. (CONTINUED)
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He spots Mr. Blue limping into the confession box. Frank follows and enters the booth next to his. MR. BLUE Please tell me Frank, how did you know I was here? FRANK I...can’t remember. MR. BLUE Please tell me Frank, what is your mission? FRANK To kill you. MR. BLUE You and everyone else. She never loved me y’know. She loved "Frank", an amalgamation of her perverse cause. Mr.Blue’s silhouette stands. MR. BLUE Soldiers like us are always used. Please tell me Frank, you will remember this dream. FRANK I will remember. MR. BLUE More importantly though, don’t let them know, that you know... you’ll end up like me. Mr. Blue reaches into his pocket and takes out what looks like a gun. Frank pulls his trigger and shoots twice through to the other booth. BOOM. BOOM. Mr. Blue staggers out and falls onto a set of candles, setting his body alight. Frank shoots him in the head. BOOM. His body slumps into the amalgamating flame; Frank stares at it intensely. FRANK Fuck. STRINGER (O.S) Give me the gun Frank. Stringer emerges from the shadows at the back of the church.
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11.
STRINGER I’ll clean the mess here, give me the gun, and leave. Frank hands him the gun. STRINGER Please tell me Frank, what did he say? FRANK He told me to remember, remember that we were soldiers once. Frank begins walking towards the door. He hears a click from the gun. His hand reaches the door handle. BOOM! INT. WHITE HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY Frank’s eyes spring open; the white hospital room blinds him. He scans the room, vaguely making out two doctors conversing at the bottom of his bed. A MARINE towers over him on his left side. Stringer (the male doctor) glances at Frank. STRINGER He’s awake. Let me know if he remembers. He rushes out of the room as Lisa picks up her clipboard and sashays to Frank. LISA You’ve been unconscious for quite a while Frank. I’m Dr.Nicole, how are you feeling? She checks his temperature. LISA You’re burning up. FRANK I’ve been here before. LISA Like a memory? FRANK More like a dream. He squints at Lisa. (MORE) (CONTINUED)
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12.
FRANK (cont’d) Lisa!? What’re you doing here? She nods to the Marine and he straps Frank’s arms down to the bed. He struggles continuously and screams as the Marine ties him down. LISA Frank, I’m going to ask you a set of questions. Answer the questions truthfully, and within the allotted time. If your answers are correct, you’ll be free to leave. Dr. Nicole places a clock on the bedside table near Frank; the timer goes down. FRANK I’m not answering shit! Let me go! You don’t have any right to control me! Lisa! Untie me! please, just let me leave, let me go home please! GET ME OUT OF HERE YOU FUCKS!!! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT! Frank squirms in his bed. LISA It’s difficult to be civil with you when you’re like this. So... Please tell me Frank, what do you remember before your coma? Frank quietens down and stares at Lisa; he smiles. The End.