One Dollar Incident Shooting Script.1

THE ONE-DOLLAR INCIDENT SHOOTING SCRIPT
Written by Jonathan Postal

CLOSE UP: a crumpled dollar bill.
If possible starting at the Masonic
Symbol and drawing back to hands
Holding the bill.
THE CAMERA PANS UP: Taking in a
worn leather jacket and faded
black T shirt on a slender frame up to a
of a young mans face.
The face is unlined and has regular
features and large eyes. His hair is
unruly and the collar of the jacket
disordered.
THE CAMERA PULLS BACK: back revealing Him the sitting on the back seat alone.
We’ll call him “THE KID” and
The rest of his clothes consist of an old
pair of jeans and down at the heel converse
high-tops.
MEDIUM CLOSE UP: of The Driver
from bus door turning slightly in his seat.

DRIVER
End of the line everybody off.
CAMERA TRAVELS BACK:WIDE
SHOT.
Following The Kid as he walks down isle
of the empty bus till we reach the front.
Cut to a medium shot of the “DRIVER” turning in his seat.
The Driver is tired
& irritated . It’s been a long day – it’s
been a long life. He wears Dickey’s type pants and zip jacket over a uniform shirt, which is over a T-shirt.
He opens the door with a tired flourish.
CLOSE UP:from POVf of the back of the
Bus.
DRIVER
Move it sparky I ain’t got all Damn night.
MEDIUM TRACKING SHOT:
Looking around.
The Kid makes his way dejectedly
To the front of the bus
MEDIUM CLOSE UP: DRIVER
More tired than mad. Hurry up



MEDIUM SHOT DOWN: pauses on the steps and turns to the driver.
KID
This bus is supposed to go to Mid Town-
This is the middle of nowhere.



MEDIUM CLOSE UP-SHOT DRIVER
Everywhere is somewhere and this is the end
of the line. The baby ain’t going nowhere
cept back to the barn to rest her bones just
like me. I pulled a double and that’s the
end.

CLOSE UP: KID
Common man it’s scary out there – Can’t I
just ride with you toward the barn-let me off
anywhere near something like civilization.

CLOSE UP: DRIVER
No can do. If my supervisor saw you it’d be
my ass & my job. My job and my ass.
It may not be the end of the world
another bus will be along some time you
might be OK.
The Kid steps down and the bus
disappears into the night.
LONG SHOT:The Kid looks around
A lonely urban street desolate except
For a closed bar with a dull light
Emanating from the door.
He looks around. No payphone –
Bar closed – an occasional car passes
(sound only) but nothing he feels good
about flagging down.
Aside from that he is not even sure
Exactly where he is – so walking
Is not an option.
Shoves his hands in his jacket pockets
And leans against the bus stop pole.
Out of the shadows he hears a voice.
It’s the voice of the man referred to here
as The Thief. This may not be his
primary calling (or it may).
His voice is deep and and he
Speaks slowly like a man used to not
Having to repeat things twice.
MEDIUM SHOT: THIEF
Emerging from shadow Hey kid got a light?
The thief appears in partial light –
flips open a pack of smokes and
as a few cigarettes rise from the fold
he captures one between his lips.
CLOSEUP: KID
Sorry man – don’t smoke.

MEDIUM SHOT: THIEF
That’s OK I gotta have something here ‘bouts.
The Thief fishes around in his pocket
And comes up with and old Zippo and
lights the cigarette with one hand.
So far he has used his left hand for all
his actions.
CLOSE UP:
The Thief’s face it more illuminated.
It’s a well-worn face with some thing between stubble and a beard.
He’s wearing and Amy overcoat
From his time in Desert Storm
(he was bounced due to his problems
with authority). A plane long sleeved
shirt buttoned to the collar and flat front
trousers.
THIEF
Come closes so’s I can have a look at you.

LONG SHOT: KID
I’m OK here.

THIEF
MEDIUM SHOT: I think you misunderstood me. It wasn’t a
Request.
The thief lets smoke pour out of his
mouth
WIDE ENDING CLOSE:
The kid approaches cautiously.
CLOSE UP: THIEF
Closer boy I don’t bite….Least under these
circumstances.
Gesturing to the thief’s smoke.
MEDIUM KID
You know those’ll kill you.
TRACKS INTO CLOSEUP
OF GUN:
Binging his right hand out of
his pocket he casually shows a gun
THIEF
No – this be what kill you.

3/4 SHOT: Raising his hands KID
I think you’re gonna be really disappointed
Man.
OVER KIDS SHOULDER:
THIEF
I think I’ll be the one worrying about my
Level of disappointment. You just worry
about giving me all your money.

OVER THIEF'S SHOULDER: KID
That’s the thing - I only have a dollar
(Smiles and shrugs).
CLOSE UP OF GUN:
LONG SHOT:
The Thief smacks him on the side of
The head with the gun and the kid
Drops to the ground.
The Thief straddles him and leans
over. And says calmly.
WIDE UP SHOT :
THIEF
Don’t be mistakin’ my good manners
for a lack of serious intent.
Or be showing me disrespect.
Motherfucker you come visiting me here at
my home – I don’t recall inviting you.
WIDE DOWN SHOT:
KID
I………

WIDE UP SHOT: THIEF
Shut the fuck up. What you got here. Turn
WIDE DOWN SHOT: Turn out your pockets (the kid does so and
The single dollar and keys tumbles out.
Patting down the kids jacket) you got a
watch. (The kid shows two empty wrists.)
Pass those over – no car key (kid shakes his
head.) A guitar pick.
Christ you worse than useless what about a
WIDE SHOT: What about your wallet – let me see it.
The kid hands over his wallet.
The thief goes through it.
Drivers license, ah…a credit card.

MEDIUM SHOT: KID
Maxed out.


MEDIUM SHOT:Stands THIEF
You one pathetic motherfucker. I’ll be
Holding on to this (puts the wallet in his
Pocket,)
You can stand up nobody’s holding you
down. You might have a headache
in the morning – ain’t nothing.
What’s a pathetic little cracker like you doing
walking ‘round this part of Memphis this
time of nigh with one single dollar in his
pocket?
WIDE SHOT:
Kid picks himself up and dusts himself
off…checks the side of his head
where there’s a bit of blood.
CLOSE UP: KID
Motherfucker bus driver just l left me here.

MEDIUM OVER SHOULDER: THIEF
Yea life’s tough – then you die.
TRAVELS CLOSER:
Thief lights another cigarette. Pause while thinking

What you doing here at all – you don’t talk
Like you from these parts.

MEDIUM SIDE WITH BOTH: KID
I play guitar.
You know R L Burnside?

THIEF
You played with R L Burnside?

KID
No, but I heard him – I wish I could play
With him.

MEDIUM CLOSE: THIEF
I heard him plenty a times – It’ll never
Make me no guitar player.
Anyways nobody be playin’ with
Him now as he be sleeping in the
Boneyard.
The thief turns around slightly (Long pause)
Troubled runs his hand over his head.
You are a pain in the ass but you remind
me of someone.

MEDIUM: KID
Your son?

MEDIUM: THIEF
NO (Practically hits him again)

MEDIUM CLOSE: KID
Your brother?

CLOSE: THIEF
Fuck No – My dog.
Listen Kid you’re so pitiful I just don’t
have the heart to take your only dollar.
CLOSE ON DOLLAR-
WIDE ON WALK:
Hands back the dollar and
Starts to walk away. KID
WIDE: Hey Wait
Thief turns slowly Please don’t leave me here – I mean
The next guy that comes along might
really fuck me up.
……..could you maybe just hang out
MEDIUM: till the bus comes.
The Thief looks amazed but not
Entirely unamused. THIEF
WIDE OVER SHOULDER: You want me to be your
Motherfuckin’ Baby Sitter?

Slightly ashamed KID
WIDE OVER SHOULDER: Yea…Please.

LONG SHOT: of them waiting at the bus stop.
The bus approaches.
MEDIUM: THIEF
Look kid I’m a professional thief –
This is my profession my livelihood.
This is what I do.
I’m gonna have to take that dollar
From you.
The kid fishes out and hands over the dollar
MEDIUM SIDE WITH BOTH: KID
But I need a dollar for the bus
To get out of here.

THIEF
Lord save me – take back the dollar.

MEDIUM: As he gets on the bus KID
What about my wallet?







THIEF
WIDE: He’s close then smaller Boy, this is Memphis –
Not Disney Land.
The Thief walks away.
WIDE:
The Kid gets on the bus.
The bus fades into the night.