EXT. “Grasslands Saloon”- Downtown Chicago 1936- late Night
Pouring rain hammers down onto the cold dark pavements of a Chicago street. The streets a deserted, apart from the odd car driving quietly through the down pour. In the vague blackness of the night, faint light can be seen peering thru the gap in an old doorway of the bottom section of a rundown three storey building.
The bottom section of the building houses a small public bar. The outside of which is lined with scattered garbage cans and narrow lane ways.
The name of the bar, “Grasslands Saloon” is painted in a faded green at the side of the doorway across the brickwork. Despite the lateness, the bar seems to have a small gathering of people inside.
Int. “Grasslands Saloon”- Downtown Chicago 1936- late Night
The bar is quiet with a smokey haze, which circles around the dim orange lights that hang low. The inner architecture of the bar is constructed from thick wooden beams with tables and chairs set out in no particular order. Booths line the brick interior wall. Dry grass is scattered across the floor.
SEDRICK the bar owner wipes glasses glances at empty bar stool
Sedrick
Hey, any of you fellas seen Johnny tonite?
EXT. “Grasslands Saloon”- Downtown Chicago 1936- late Night
TWO DARK FIGURES are scuffling in a narrow alleyway, lit on slightly from a busted street light. The LARGER FIGURE, in a soaked suit from the rain, punches the OTHER FIGURE mercilessly to the pavement.
A scrunched up sheet of paper falls out of the jacket of the OTHER FIGURE on the ground.
Int. “Grasslands Saloon”- Downtown Chicago 1936- late Night
NORTON standing in the Doorway of the Bar.
Sedrick
I thought cats didn’t like water
Animals in the bar laugh. NORTON looks around quickly quickly, scares, smiles
norton
You’re a funny pony ain’t you Sedrick? Where’s that sense of humour been hiding I wonder?
SEDRICK
Oh, I was just kidding around Norton...
Norton
No, No ...you were entertaining your little pals with your “new found” bravado...
NORTON pauses, then smiles
...but someone’s missing, aren’t they?
SEDRICK
What have you done with Johnny?!
Norton
My, my, haven’t we gotten brave? And to think I came down here to give you a present...
SEDRICK eyes NORTON off as NORTON disappears from the doorway.
NORTON appears suddenly in the doorway and with a growl, tossed JOHNNY through the doorway by the scruff of his neck, where he comes crashing down onto the top of a nearby table, scattering empty beer glasses and wooden pieces of the furniture.
Several customers in the bar all stand up suddenly, shocked and fearful of NORTON’s outburst.
Blood and drool trickles from JOHNNY’s mouth. He is badly beaten and barley breathing.
SEDRICK is Furious.
SEDRICK
You son of a...!
NORTON
(Interrupting)
Did you think I wouldn’t find out?!
SEDRICK is suddenly taken aback.
SEDRICK
You...you’ve got a lot of nerve Buster!
NORTON
I have a lot of nerve?!...
NORTON pulls out a wet, blood spattered piece of paper from his coat.
... “5 grand for the fella who bumps off Norton Lyons”.
NORTON screws up the flyer and calmly lobs it in the Direction of JOHNNY.
...That’s a federal offence pony!.
SEDRICK
I say bumping off Dirty cops that squeeze dough from honest animals trying to earn a living is a community service.
NORTON
Oh I get it, you think ‘cause you lived in brown grass and were given black and white stripes for camouflage that the world owes you a break, huh?
Well let me tell you something; you’re prey my friend. Lions don’t like searching all day for food, hence your little horsy body and your silly pyjamas...
NORTON pauses, reflects slightly on what he just said and smiles a little as if enjoying his own wit.
...I sit on top of the food chain- you and your little grass eating friends sit under me. And if you think some big miracle is going to come along, see your pretty flyer and change that, you’re even stupider than you look, which is pretty darn stupid ‘cause you look ridiculous!
A RHINO, who had been viewing the proceedings from the corner of the room, stands up and approaches NORTON. The RHINO glares at NORTON, showing unwavering disdain.
RHINO
(Growling)
Puuuudddddeeeee taaaaaaat!
Fight details
Norton
Any one else think they’re big enough to...
NORTON pauses, his eyes widen suddenly. NORTON clutches his heart, gasps for air and collapse in a heap on the floor.
The animals in the bar slowly pear over to where NORTON lies. Quiet shuffling can be heard coming from under NORTON’s body until suddenly, a tiny scorpion scurries out and crawls onto the top of the bar to face SEDRICK, who stares at him dumbfounded.
SCORPION
Umm, dreadfully sorry, he was rather loud and annoying, what?
The SCORPION pulls out a small folded piece of paper from his jacket, and unwraps it to reveal a copy of the NORTON flyer. He shows it to SEDRICK.
...Do you mind if I have that in bills please?
Sedrick
Err, yeah. Sure thing.
SCORPION
Could I also trouble you for a cocktail Umbrella?
It’s rather wet outside.
END
Some of the action details were incomplete in this draft. Draft 4 came about mainly because when re-reading the dialogue before re-typing the action, I found that some things the characters said didn't make sense in regards to their answers and reactions. Plus, I had a bit of trouble inserting the scene where Johnny (formerly Arthur) gets beaten up by Norton. - I shortened this scene, then made the hard decision of cutting the scene altogether - (sorry, kinda rushing this post, Ive been working all day and I'm a bit stressed.)
Anyways, the progression from this to draft 4 will make more sense than my frantic explaination.
