The Great Plane Robbery By Rowen Smith
"A quircky Avant Garde Spin Off of "The Great Train Robbery (1963)"
Jameson First Shot Entry 2016
Rowen Smith rowen.work@gmail.com +27(0) 79 647 0077 www.vimeo.com/rowensmith www.cignalhill.com
FADE IN: 1
INT. TOY STORE - DAY
1
We open on a series of Cutaways of an old, classic traditional toy store.
1950’s
Shelves and rows of wooden toys, dolls and interesting things to play and fiddle around with. SMOOTH JAZZ music is heard while we roll the opening credits.It sounds like something Frank Sinatra or Billy Joel would play. DISSOLVE TO: 2
EXT. THE TOWN/STREETS
2
The Montage moves onto the streets of a New York-Harlem Town Setting, clean, crisp, cobblestoned roads, newspaper stands, fire hydrants and smoke coming out of the gutter. We see the feet of a MAN walking along the side walk. Pointy shoes and all business. He’s tall and rather strange,wearing spectacles and eating a piece of beef jerky. Meet CLIVE. Clive walks past the toy store, glances at the display window and walks on, but rather abruptly and takes a few steps back, staring at the store with eyes wide open, taking off his spectacles. A particular item is in sight. A small TOY-AIRCRAFT. We ZOOM-IN on it. It’s evident that Clive likes this aircraft, from the grin on his face. 3
INT. TOY STORE
3
TING TING, the doorbell rings, as Clive walks into the store. CLASSICAL JAZZ MUSIC is heard from the vintage speakers across the store. The SHOPKEEPER who is presumed to be a GIRL (MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL), from her voice, greets Clive as he walks in. She’s unseen, working in the backroom of the toy store, packing boxes. We can call her BONNIE for now. BONNIE Morning. CLIVE uh, Hello there.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
2. BONNIE (from the store room) I’m just in the back, but do let me know if I can assist you in any way. CLIVE uh-that won’t be necessary...Thank you.
Clive seems a little bit anxious, but makes his way through the isles and rows and shelves to find the toy aircraft. He finds it, but before he picks it up, he stares at it, with some kind of intent or agenda. Clive takes it and walks over to the pay counter. He rings the large golden service bell. RING RING, RING RING. Bonnie walks over to Clive, dusting herself off and tying her hair into a bun. Clive likes Bonnie, You can see it in his eyes. He takes his spectacles off. BONNIE Good Morning sir, how can I help today? CLIVE Hello. I’d like to buy this aircraft please. BONNIE I’m sorry sir, that toy is not for sale. Clive seems rather confused, but he is not an aggressive customer. CLIVE may I ask why not miss? BONNIE Those toy shouldn’t have been on display. It’s of a kind. May I ask where did you find it sir? Clive points at the main display window of the toy store. CLIVE It was right there (points) By the window, the big one. Next to that teddy bear and baseball glove.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
3.
BONNIE I apologize sir, those toys are not for sale. They are collectors items. CLIVE But I’m a collector. I collect things. Especially that which is completely and absolutely authentic and unique. BONNIE Those items are priceless sir. We really cannot sell them. Clive raises his voice a little which catches the attention of the other customers; an OLD LADY and a DELIVERY MAN, who just walked into the toy store with goods in boxes. CLIVE but I want it. I want it even if it has no price and even if its not for sale. I want to have it. BONNIE Can I offer you another toy perhaps? Clive looks a little bit sad for a moment. CLIVE no thanks misses. It’s alright. I just really wanted this specific toy, nothing else will do. Clive places the toy aircraft gently on the pay counter and greets Bonnie off with a salute BONNIE I’m sorry sir, I must have made a mistake putting the plane on the shelf. I just really wanted the customers to see it. to know that it exists. 4
EXT. TOY TOWN/STREETS
4
Clive leaves the store, sadly, but as he walks away, he stops in the middle of the road with a decisive stop. He whips off his spectacles and takes in a deep breath of courage.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
4.
CLIVE (to himself) I want that plane, nothing else will do. I want that which is completely and absolutely authentic and unique. I want what’s one of a kind. CLASSICAL DRUM-ROLL music fades in and Clive marches back into store. 5
INT. TOY STORE
5
Clive rushes through the isles and shelves and rows. Bonnie is in the backroom again, luckily for him. Clive stops at the main window, but can’t find the toy aircraft. Only the baseball glove and teddy bear is on display. He looks over his shoulder and spots the toy aircraft on a small shelf behind the pay counter. Clive is determined and walks towards it, but his pace is stopped by the Old Lady, who slowly walks through the isle with her crutch. Clive backs off and hides behind the shelves, wondering what to do, looking back and forth at the pay counter and the toy aircraft and at Bonnie who is near by packing boxes in the backroom. Clive tries again, taking a different route, but is stopped again by the same Old Lady in his tracks. Bonnie walks out of the backroom, and Clive hides again. He scans the area like a proper thief. a) Outside is the delivery man, loading his 1960’s pickup truck. b) Bonnie is at the pay counter, greeting the old lady as she walks off. She returns to the backroom. c) The old lady is about to leave the shop. It’s now or never. As the old lady leaves the shop, we go SLOW-MOTION. ...and then he rushes behind the pay counter and GRABS the toy aircraft. Bonnie catches him red handed. THE MOMENT FREEZES, as Clive weighs his options. He makes a run for it, and we go back to REAL TIME. 6
CHASE MONTAGE
6
a) Bonnie chases Clive outside. He’s way ahead of her. b) She stops, looks left and right, and spots Clive pacing down the sidewalk. She runs after him with haste. (CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
5.
c) The Delivery Man see’s the commotion and is in on the chase. d) Clive turns a corner and runs on. Bonnie and the delivery man soon to follow. e) A dog barks at Clive’s feet, gripping his pointy shoes, and slowing him down. He looks back at Bonnie and the Delivery man who are approaching fast. Clive empties his pockets to find some left over beef jerky, throws it at the dog and gets him off him. He runs on. TOY AIRCRAFT falls out of Clive’s hands, but Bonnie keeps running after him. f) The delivery man is too tired and stops, picking up the toy aircraft. The Delivery man takes the dog on his leach and watches the two run off. g) Clive and Bonnie enter a wider pathway and they are sprinting fast. He jumps over a countryside fence and runs onto an open cornfield. He’s in the clear. e) Bonnie jumps the fence as well, but more ladylike. It’s quirky and funny, but also kind of romantic. There’s a certain chemistry between the two. 7
EXT. CORNFIELD
7
Bonnie is tired and gives up. We HOLD ON her as she blows off some steam and as she looks up her despair turns into a rather shocking expression. We REVEAL Clive, leaning against an actual 1940’S TIGER MOTH AIRCRAFT. He puts a pilot’s cap on his head and looks at Bonnie with a charming grin and of course, he’s celebrating with a glass of Jameson. a dapper cognac glass for a dapper man. Bonnie’s eyes pop with flattery. She’s been fooled. She notices something behind Clive. Something painted on the aircraft, a text message of some sort. Clive slowly steps away, REVEALING a message, hand painted in bright white strokes.. ..reading: COME FLY WITH ME. Bonnie and Clive look each other eye to eye, and it’s clear. They are in love. Slowly, a MUSICAL COMPOSITION fades in:Frank Sinatra’s Come Fly With me. In a High Angle Extreme Wide from the POV of a tall oak tree, we see Bonnie running to Clive, they spin and kiss and get into the aircraft. The Delivery man and the dog are watching Bonnie & Clive from the cornfield fence. (CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
6.
WOOF WOOF barks the dog. CLOSE UP: The propellers spin. CRANE SHOT: The Aircraft takes off into the beautiful Sunset. TITLE CARD: The Great Plane Robbery. FADE TO BLACK.