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This is an excerpt from a completed screenplay.
"Highway Robbery" - screenplay by Derek Paterson.
FADE IN
EXT. BUSY HIGH STREET - DAY
Old flats above retail shops. Morning traffic hisses by.
INT. BATHROOM, GEORGE'S FLAT - DAY
GEORGE brushes his teeth. Early 20s, yuppie office type.
He dribbles toothpaste onto his tie, and groans. As he
wipes it, a mobile phone RINGTONE comes from another room.
INT. LIVING ROOM, GEORGE'S FLAT - DAY
Yuppie bachelor pad, leather and chrome, widescreen TV.
George picks up the ringing phone.
GEORGE (INTO PHONE)
Yellow?
MALE VOICE (V.O.)
(Indian accent)
Hello Mister Henderson, how are
you today? Would you be liking a
brand new mobile phone, free of
charge sir?
GEORGE
Eh, no, I've already got a phone
thanks--
MALE VOICE (V.O.)
(his normal accent)
George you arsehole it's Kenny.
GEORGE
Yo Kenny, you velly funny man.
How's it going?
MALE VOICE (V.O.)
All right. You know who I ran
into yesterday? Sandy McDonald.
You remember him?
The very mention of the name makes George wary.
GEORGE
Yeah, I remember. Did you check
you've still got your wallet?
MALE VOICE (V.O.)
He says he wants to talk to you.
GEORGE
What does he want to talk to me
for?
MALE VOICE (V.O.)
No idea. He gave me his number,
you want to write it down?
GEORGE
Not really.
George picks up a notepad and pen.
GEORGE
I've not seen him since school.
What's he like now?
MALE VOICE (V.O.)
Twice as big and ten times as ugly.
You got a pen?
GEORGE
Yeah.
George listens, and writes a number down.
GEORGE
What else did he say?
George listens, frowns.
GEORGE
Thanks Kenny, talk to you later.
You have very good day now sir.
George hangs up. He stares at the notepad, perplexed. He
looks at his watch. He thumbs the number. RING TONE. A
gruff male voice answers.
MCDONALD (V.O.)
Yeah, what?
GEORGE (INTO PHONE)
Is this Sandy McDonald?
MCDONALD (V.O.)
Who's asking?
GEORGE
It's George Henderson.
MCDONALD (V.O.)
Georgie, my man! Need to see you.
Where are you?
GEORGE
I'm just on my way to work.
MCDONALD (V.O.)
Don't suppose you can call in sick?
GEORGE
Well, not really, I'm the manager.
Sets a bad example for the troops.
MCDONALD (V.O.)
Lunch-time. Meet me at the Sunshine
Cafe on Glebe Street. One o'clock,
okay?
GEORGE
I usually work through lunch.
MCDONALD (V.O.)
C'mon Georgie, a breath of fresh
air, do you good. Happy workers
are efficient workers.
George hesitates... doesn't want to... can't think of a
good reason. Another deep sigh.
GEORGE
All right. It'll take me time to
get there. Say one-fifteen?
MCDONALD (V.O.)
That's my boy. Be there or be
square.
BEEP, call ends. George mimes "Be there or be square" as
if it's something a kid would say.
EXT. SUNSHINE CAFE - DAY
A sign, "Breakfast Served All Day" in the window.
INT. SUNSHINE CAFE - DAY
George enters, looks around. A handful of CUSTOMERS at
plastic tables. Two WAITRESSES chat behind the counter.
George sees SANDY MCDONALD at a corner table. McDonald
sees him and waves him over. McDonald's the school bully,
grown bigger and more dangerous. He's tucking into a
breakfast.
Beside McDonald sits MARTINE, purple hair and black leather.
She watches George with interest.
McDonald puts down his knife and offers his hand across
the table. George reluctantly shakes as he sits down.
MCDONALD
How you doing, Georgie? Appreciate
you coming. You want a cup of tea
or something?
GEORGE
I'm all right.
MCDONALD
This is Martine.
(to Martine)
Say hello to Georgie. We were in
the same class at school. He's a
manager now.
MARTINE
Hi Georgie.
GEORGE
It's George.
MCDONALD
(bad German)
Sprachen ze Deutch, Georgie?
GEORGE
Not since school.
MCDONALD
I thought you won the German prize?
GEORGE
Fat lot of good it did me. Some
of these European guys in the office
talk five languages. They make me
look like a right dumpling.
MCDONALD
I know this German lad. Doesn't
speak a word of English. How'd
you like to help him with a wee
problem?
GEORGE
Depends on the wee problem.
MCDONALD
There's this computer, he says
it's the software, the manual's in
German, none of us know what the
fuck he's talking about.
GEORGE
Isn't there someone he can talk
to? Tech support, a help desk?
MCDONALD
That's what he did. Gibbered on
the phone for hours, cost me a
fortune. Still doesn't work. So
I thought, who do I know talks
German? Georgie Henderson!
GEORGE
I'm surprised you remembered me.
MCDONALD
Our class was mental. Remember
the laughs we had?
GEORGE
I remember you kicking the shit
out of everyone.
McDonald throws his head back and laughs.
MCDONALD
Okay, I was a silly boy sometimes.
No hard feelings, eh? Look, there's
a couple of bucks in it for you.
Cash in hand, no questions.
GEORGE
I've got to get back to work.
MCDONALD
It's just round the corner. Two
minutes walk. Come on, two minutes,
a bit of the lingo. How about it,
Georgie? You up for it?
McDonald smiles but his eyes are hard, intimidating.
GEORGE
You know what this reminds me of?
MCDONALD
No.
GEORGE
All those times you beat me up and
stole my playpiece.
McDonald laughs again.
MCDONALD
Those were the days, eh?
(to Martine)
Tell Georgie you'll look after
him. Make sure I don't steal his
playpiece.
MARTINE
I'll watch out for you, Georgie.
McDonald drinks his tea, gets up and heads for the door.
Martine slides over and stands up. George stares open-
mouthed at her short denim skirt, fishnets, leather boots.
He quickly looks away, embarrassed. Martine just smiles.
Martine follows McDonald out, McDonald lets the door swing
shut in her face, Martine has to open it for herself.
George gets up to follow but a WAITRESS cuts him off.
WAITRESS
That'll be three-ninety-nine.
George doesn't get it.
WAITRESS
All-day breakfast, three-ninety-
nine.
George looks outside, McDonald's nowhere to he seen. He
gets out his wallet, offers her a fiver. She snatches it
out of his hand, glares, takes it to the cash register.
GEORGE
Keep the change...
The two Waitresses discuss the rat who just tried to leave
without paying. George exits, affronted.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREETS - DAY
George hurries to catch up with McDonald and Martine.
MCDONALD
What's keeping you, Georgie?
GEORGE
Someone forgot to pay for their
breakfast.
McDonald fishes into a pocket and flashes a wad of twenties.
MCDONALD
Would you believe it, I've not got
any change. I'll pay you back
later, promise.
They keep walking, George a couple of paces behind. He
stares at Martine's legs. Martine looks at him over her
shoulder. George looks away, she's caught him again!
MCDONALD
(to George)
It's just round the corner.
(to Martine)
What are you smiling at?
MARTINE
Nothing.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
Boarded up, abandoned. The bottom of the boarded up door
has been kicked in. McDonald ducks down, squeezes through.
Martine follows him, as if they do this every day.
George looks around, bewildered. This is the place? He
ducks down and follows them inside.
INT. STAIRWAY, TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
Peeling paint, boarded windows, poor light. McDonald,
Martine and George climb upstairs.
MCDONALD
Told you, two minutes.
Martine misses her footing and almost falls, George catches
her hand, she smiles thanks. She keeps hold of his hand.
INT. LANDING, TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
McDonald knocks on a scabby peeling door.
MCDONALD
Pardon the smell of piss. Fuckin'
junkies.
The door's opened by BIG SHUG, 30s, a menacing thug. George
has a real bad feeling about this. McDonald enters with a
nod to Big Shug. Martine leads a reluctant George inside
by the hand. Big Shug closes the door.
INT. DARK HALLWAY, TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
McDonald stops, blocking their way.
MCDONALD
(to Martine)
You stay here.
(to George)
You're with me, Georgie.
INT. BARE LIVING ROOM, TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
Boarded up windows, floorboards, peeling walls. A nailed-
up sheet stretches across the room, cutting it in two.
McDonald lifts a corner of the sheet for George to pass
under and gestures, "After you!"
In the hidden half of the room is a single chair occupied
by GUNTHER. He's tied to the chair, head bowed as if he's
asleep. George stops, shocked. He takes a half-step back
but Big Shug is right behind him, blocking him.
MCDONALD
This is Gunther. The German lad
with the software problem.
GEORGE
Jesus. What's going on?
MCDONALD
All we want, is for you to ask our
boy here a couple of questions.
McDonald grabs Gunther's hair and lifts his head. Gunther's
had the shit beaten out of him, his face is a swollen mess
of crusted blood and snorters.
MCDONALD
You ask, he answers, you go on
your way. Dead simple.
George gasps for breath, panic attack. McDonald puts his
arm around George's shoulders and leads him over to the
boarded up window.
MCDONALD
Calm down, Georgie. You need to
listen. Are you listening?
GEORGE
There never was a computer, was
there?
MCDONALD
Fuck's sake, Georgie, try to focus
here. He was supposed to deliver
something. We want to know where
it is. What's German for, "If you
don't tell us where you left it,
we'll kill you."
George stares at him, horrified.
MCDONALD
We're just going to scare him.
The old "Ve haf vays of making you
talk" routine. We'll let him go,
he'll bugger off back to Germany,
everybody's happy. We just want
you to ask him, "Where did you
hide it?" That's all.
George sucks in deep breaths. This is a nightmare.
MCDONALD
Come on Georgie, you won the German
prize, you can do this. Georgie!
GEORGE
Okay! I'll try.
MCDONALD
Good man! Shug!
Big Shug pulls a GUN from inside his jacket. Gunther stares
at the gun fearfully. So does George.
MCDONALD
For fuck's sakes Georgie, will you
listen? Scare tactics, that's
all. Nobody's going to shoot
anyone. Go on, ask him. He just
has to tell us where it is, and he
goes free.
GEORGE
What's "it"?
MCDONALD
He knows with it is. Ask him.
George steps up to Gunther. Tries to think...
MCDONALD
Will you just fucking ask him?
GEORGE
All right, give me a minute, will
you? It's been years.
McDonald rolls his eyes at the ceiling, why me, God?
GEORGE
(in broken German)
Gutten Tag, Mein Herr. Wie ist
der Sache... der Hauptsache?
Gunther stares at him, huh? Big Shug touches the gun to
Gunther's head, thumbs back the hammer. George gulps.
Every muscle on Gunther's face twists and writhes in fear.
GEORGE
(in broken German)
Wie ist der Hauptsache!
Gunther responds with a STREAM OF BABBLING GERMAN.
MCDONALD
What's he saying?
GEORGE
It's too fast for me--
McDonald pushes past George and slaps Gunther hard, rocking
him. But Gunther won't stop, he TALKS even faster, his
eyes roll toward Big Shug's gun, he's terrified, pleading.
MCDONALD
What's the bastard saying?
As George listens to Gunther's babbling, his expression
grows more and more thoughtful. He's getting the gist.
He understands. And now gears are turning in George's
head. But he doesn't want McDonald to know he knows.
MCDONALD
Come on, come on...
GEORGE
He won't talk.
MCDONALD
He's talking plenty! Tell us what
he's saying. Come on, Georgie.
GEORGE
You don't want to know.
McDonald squeezes George's shoulder so hard George winces.
GEORGE
He says your mother... your mother's
a whore. He says fuck off. He
says fuck right off, he's not
telling you anything.
McDonald bares his teeth in anger. Big Shug scowls, he
doesn't like this at all. He looks at McDonald, who nods.
BLAM! Gunther's brains take flight.
Blood spatters George's shirt and tie and his shocked face.
Gunther slowly pitches sideways onto the floor taking the
chair down with him. The side of his head is bloody mush.
George tries to turn and run but McDonald holds him.
MCDONALD
Georgie. Stand still. Stop your
nonsense.
George freezes, gasping for breath, eyes fixed on Gunther.
MCDONALD
Nothing to get excited about.
It's just a dead Jerry.
(to Big Shug)
Are you out your fucking mind?
--------end page 10--------
BIG SHUG
I thought you wanted me to shoot
him?
MCDONALD
In the leg. In the fucking leg.
Put the gun away. You're making
Georgie nervous.
Big Shug sticks the gun inside his jacket.
McDonald takes a wad of money from his pocket, counts out
big notes, stuffs them into George's shirt pocket.
MCDONALD
That's you and me square for
breakfast. Just go back to work.
Forget this ever happened. Okay?
McDonald jerks his head at Big Shug, telling him to go.
Big Shug lifts the sheet and exits.
McDonald lifts the sheet, ready to follow--
But he stops, looks back over his shoulder.
MCDONALD
You're a sensible boy, Georgie. I
can trust you to keep your mouth
shut, can't I? Especially when
you're the prime suspect.
George doesn't get it. McDonald points at his own chest,
then points at George's chest.
George looks down, examines his clothes. Spattered with
Gunther's blood.
MCDONALD
Talk to the cops, they'll bang you
up for murder. You mention my
name, I've got two witnesses who'll
say I was with them all day.
Realization slaps George, now he gets it.
MCDONALD
See you around, Georgie boy. Well,
maybe not.
McDonald spits on Gunther.
MCDONALD
That's for Clydebank, bastard.
McDonald exits, letting the sheet drop.
George stares at Gunther. Blood pools under Gunther's
head.
A door SLAMS, startling George.
He lifts the sheet. No one's there.
INT. DARK HALLWAY, TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
George peeks out from the living room. They've gone.
INT. LIVING ROOM, TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
George stares at Gunther's shadow behind the sheet.
He takes out the money McDonald put into his pocket.
He throws it down, scattering it across the floor.
INT. DARK HALLWAY, TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
George wrenches the front door open, runs outside.
INT. STAIRWAY, TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
George runs downstairs, four steps at a time.
EXT. TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY
George ducks and climbs out through the boarded entrance.
He brushes himself down, looks around.
No one's in sight. An empty street.
EXT. STREET - DAY
George walks along with his head down, hands in pockets.
He comes upon--
EXT. JOLLY ROGER PUB - DAY
A seedy dive. George pauses at the door, uncertain.
The door flies open, two ROUGH-LOOKING MEN exit, mumbling
in conversation. They don't even notice George.
George grabs the door before it shuts. He goes inside.
INT. JOLLY ROGER PUB - DAY
Nicotine decor, tiny TV on a shelf near the ceiling, showing
horse racing. Music from a 1980s compilation CD.
A couple of ANDY CAPPS sit at the bar watching the TV.
A young barmaid, SANDRA, wearing yellow rubber gloves cleans
behind the bar.
The BARMAN looks up from his sports pages. He stares at
the blood on George's shirt.
GEORGE
Cut myself shaving. Double whisky
and a pint of lager.
George looks around nervously while the Barman pours the
pint and the whisky. George pays for the drinks. He
throws the whiskey back, takes the pint over to a table.
The Barman goes back to reading his newspaper.
George sits down and takes a drink. The glass RATTLES
when he puts it down, his hand's shaking.
The Barman glances over. A wee bit curious.
George takes a deep breath. Tries to be calm.
The Barman turns a page, ignoring him.
Sandra, finished cleaning, gets herself an orange juice,
comes round from behind the bar, sits on a stool.
George studies her reflection in the mirror behind the
bar. She studies him.
George takes out his phone, thumbs a number.
GEORGE (INTO PHONE)
Angela, hi, it's George.
Something's come up. Some personal
business. Tell David I'll be in
as soon as I can. I'll explain
then. Thanks, you're a doll. I
mean that in a non-sexist way.
Yeah, cheers.
He hangs up, puts his phone on the table. The Barman smiles
knowingly. George takes another drink.
The door at the other end of the bar opens, and Martine
walks in. She greets Sandra, sits down beside her. They
talk like old friends pleased to see each other.
George stares, shocked.
Sandra calls to the Barman. He pours them both a drink
from the bar optics. Then goes back to his newspaper.
Martine and Sandra talk while George just stares, not sure
what to do.
Martine laughs. She takes her drink and sees George in
the mirror. She looks over her shoulder, making sure it's
him. Can't believe it.
Sandra twigs something's going on. She looks at George.
Asks Martine what's wrong. Martine shakes her head.
George gets up to leave, reaches for his phone--
Martine puts her hand on his arm, stopping him.
MARTINE
Wait. Please.
GEORGE
Or what? You'll ask your boyfriend
to shoot me too?
Martine hisses through her teeth--
MARTINE
Keep your voice down.
She makes George sit back down, and sits beside him, thigh
to thigh. They talk in whispers.
Sandra pretends to ignore them but casts sly glances in
the mirror.
MARTINE
What happened back there?
GEORGE
Don't give us that, you know fine
well what happened.
MARTINE
Whoa, keep your teeth in. If I
knew I wouldn't be asking, okay?
GEORGE
Why don't you go and ask your
boyfriend?
MARTINE
He's not my...
(takes a breath)
I did ask, he said, "You don't
want to know." So I'm asking you.
George takes a drink.
MARTINE
Come on, tell me.
Martine stares at the blood on his shirt.
GEORGE
It's not mine.
MARTINE
(puzzled)
Whose is it?
GEORGE
You don't know?
MARTINE
(exasperated)
I told you, no! Come on, spit it
out.
GEORGE
There was a German guy.
MARTINE
What guy, where?
GEORGE
In the flat.
MARTINE
What are you talking about?
GEORGE
He was behind the sheet. Tied to
a chair. They beat the shit out
of him. Made jelly out of his
face.
Martine looks away, sick.
GEORGE
Then they put a gun to his head
and they shot him.
MARTINE
Oh Christ.
GEORGE
You didn't hear the shot?
MARTINE
No.
GEORGE
You're a liar.
MARTINE
I'm not. I was outside having a
smoke. I heard a bang. I thought
it was a door slamming.
Sandra watches them in the mirror. The Barman watches
too, turning pages without reading.
MARTINE
(to Barman)
Mind your own business!
The Barman finds something fascinating in his newspaper.
MARTINE
(to George)
Why did they do it?
GEORGE
It was...
MARTINE
What?
GEORGE
I'm not sure.
MARTINE
Say it.
GEORGE
It could have been an accident.
They wanted to scare him, that's
all.
MARTINE
Are you sure he's dead?
GEORGE
Go back and see for yourself. His
brains are all over the floor.
MARTINE
I swear to God, I'll throw up over
you if you say that again.
Martine closes her eyes, takes deep breaths.
MARTINE
Who did it?
GEORGE
What's the difference? I report
this to the police, they'll have
me.
MARTINE
Did you shoot him?
GEORGE
No!
MARTINE
Were you holding the gun? Did you
pull the trigger?
GEORGE
No...
MARTINE
Then don't be stupid. They can
tell if you fired a gun. Did you
never watch "Columbo"?
George thinks about it. Sees her point.
GEORGE
Where did you go when you left?
MARTINE
They took my bloody car. Buggered
off and left me stranded. Said
they were going down to Newcastle.
Bastards.
GEORGE
You should pick better friends.
MARTINE
(surprised)
Shug's my brother.
George thinks about this... Martine's suspicious.
MARTINE
C'mon, what?
GEORGE
He did it.
MARTINE
He did what?
GEORGE
The big guy. He had the gun. He
shot him.
Martine closes her eyes.
MARTINE
Oh Jesus Christ. I knew it.
GEORGE
What does that mean?
MARTINE
Shug was in the Army. He knows
how to handle guns.
GEORGE
Oh, that makes it all right then.
Martine grabs George's shirt, threatens to punch him.
MARTINE
You think this is funny?
George struggles with her--
GEORGE
Get off!
--the table's nudged, his pint spills, his phone falls to
the floor.
Sandra rushes over, grabs Martine, pulls her off George.
The Barman watches, only mildly interested.
The two Andy Capps give a rousing cheer of encouragement.
ANDY CAPP
On yourself hen!
SANDRA
Let go!
BARMAN
Wee bit of decorum, ladies.
Martine sits back, angry. Sandra throws a cloth down on
the wet table.
SANDRA
Clean up your own mess. And behave
yourself. Any more of that and
you're out.
Sandra takes their glasses to the bar, bangs them down.
SANDRA
(to Barman)
Aye, you just stand there and do
nothing.
The Barman shrugs and reads his newspaper.
Martine slumps, petulant and angry.
GEORGE
Right, I'm off.
George gets up but she grabs his hand.
GEORGE
Let go, will you?
MARTINE
Look, sorry, don't go, please.
Let's talk about this, eh?
GEORGE
What's to talk about? Your brother
shoots people. You start fights
in bars. Nice family.
MARTINE
Will you shut up!
She pulls George back down.
MARTINE
Look, I'm upset. I mean, Christ,
you just told me my brother killed
someone. Nothing can make what
Shug did right. Nothing.
Martine's suddenly hurt and vulnerable, tears in her eyes.
She lets out a sob. It gets George right in the heart.
MARTINE
I'm sorry, I really am.
He pulls out a handkerchief, offers it. She hesitates.
GEORGE
It's clean.
She blows her nose, a wet rasp. She offers it back to
him. He shakes his head, keep it. They share a little
smile.
Sandra shakes her head, turns her back on them.
MARTINE
Sorry.
GEORGE
My mum still gives me them for
Christmas. I've got dozens.
She examines the hankie--
MARTINE
It's got your initial on it. "G"
for Georgie.
GEORGE
George.
MARTINE
George. Sorry.
GEORGE
Stop saying sorry. You've done
nothing wrong. Well, except try
to banjo me.
MARTINE
I said I was sorry!
George closes his eyes. Takes a deep breath.
GEORGE
I'll be back in a minute.
He heads for the men's toilets. Martine watches him.
INT. TOILETS, JOLLY ROGER PUB - DAY
George comes inside, throws open a stall door, flushes the
toilet, and throws up, heaving for all he's worth.
He leans against the wall, gasping.
He wipes his mouth. Catches his breath.
He goes to a sink. Runs water, washes his face.
He stares at himself in the mirror. He looks down at his
hands. They're shaking.
He lurches back to the stall and throws up again.
INT. JOLLY ROGER PUB - DAY
George sits down beside Martine.
MARTINE
You all right?
GEORGE
Yeah. Look. I've got nothing
against you.
MARTINE
But.
GEORGE
Maybe, considering the
circumstances, we should, you know.
MARTINE
Avoid each other like the plague.
GEORGE
Yeah.
MARTINE
You think I followed you here.
GEORGE
Doesn't matter if you did.
MARTINE
I come in here all the time. Just
ask them.
GEORGE
It doesn't matter. We've got to
forget what happened. Just totally
forget about it. Okay?
Martine takes a deep breath, exhales.
MARTINE
Okay.
George gets up and exits. She watches him go.
EXT. JOLLY ROGER PUB - DAY
George exits. He takes another deep breath and hurries
along the street, wanting to leave it all behind him.
INT. JOLLY ROGER PUB - DAY
Martine sees a phone lying on the floor. She picks it up,
realizes it's his. She gets up and hurries to the exit.
EXT. JOLLY ROGER PUB - DAY
Martine steps outside.
She looks up and down the street.
No sign of George.
11/07
§