FADE IN:
EXT. DIMLY LIT NEW YORK STREET. WAREHOUSES AND CLOSED
SHOPS.
A young blonde woman looks nervous and scared as she
hurries along a sidewalk. Every few steps she glances back
to see who is following her. Her heels click on the
pavement so she stops to remove her shoes. She looks behind
her once more and screams. A black shadow overtakes her.
She is next seen laying on her back on the pavement as she
tries to fight off a dark figure in silhouette. Something
glints in the streetlight. The young woman screams louder.
EXT. SAME URBAN STREET WHERE THE YOUNG WOMAN
COLLAPSED.PORTABLE FLOOD LIGHTS ALLOW US TO SEE POLICE CARS
AND AN AMBULANCE ARE ON THE SCENE.
A body on a gurney is loaded into the back of the
ambulance. Sebastian Stephens is talking to a young
detective identified as Nolte by the I.D. badge hanging
from his neck. An older man slips out of an alley wearing a
fedora and a black topcoat with the collar turned up. He
sees the police activity, pulls the brim of his hat down
over his eyes and detours away from the gathering. He
passes a taxidermy shop window filled with birds. A crow is
prominently positioned in the center of the display facing
the street.
EXT. EARLY SUMMER. MIDNIGHT. NEW ORLEANS.
MASSIVE FAST-APPROACHING STORM CLOUDS APPEAR TO BE LEAD BY
A MURDER OF CROWS FLYING PAST IDENTIFIABLE LANDMARKS
STREETS. THE CROWS CONTINUE WEST CIRCLING THE GARDEN
DISTRICT AND LOWER TO THE GARDEN GATE ON THE SIDE OF
SEBASTIAN STEPHENS' HOUSE. THE GATE OPENS ITSELF TO REVEAL
A BEAUTIFUL WELL-KEPT FRENCH STYLE GARDEN. THE LEAD CROW
DESCENDS AND LANDS IN THE SHADOWS NEAR THE HOUSE. A PAIR OF
INCREDIBLE BLUES EYES STARES OUT FROM THE DARKNESS. NO
OTHER FACIAL FEATURES ARE DISCERNIBLE AS THE CROW SURVEYS
THE STEPHENS' GARDEN: THE BACKDROP OF FLOWERS, THE GARDEN
LIGHTS, THE BRICK WALK LEADING THE VIEWER TO THE PATIO AND
FINALLY TO THE SEATED FIGURE OF SEBASTIAN STEPHENS. HE IS
30-ISH, FULL-CUT AUBURN HAIR, HIS FACE IS CONTOURED BY
STUBBLE. HE WEARS A PALE BLUE V-NECK PULLOVER SHIRT OVER
KHAKI PANTS AND SOCKLESS CORDOVAN LOAFERS. HE IS SIPPING A
GLASS OF ICED TEA AND IMPATIENTLY LOOKING AT HIS WATCH.
2.
Mister R steps out of the shadow of the house. He is
dressed completely in black except for pearl grey gloves.
Everything about him shows wear and age.
MISTER R
Mister Stephens? Good evening.
Sebastian stands at attention. Defensive. He and Mister R
size each other up for fight or flight like territorial
animals.
SEBASTIAN
I expected you hours ago. You said
this was an urgent matter, yet
you're late.
MISTER R
My apologies. You were kind to
agree to see me on such short
notice.
SEBASTIAN
You caught me by surprise, sir. Do
you always come around the rear of
a house when you call on people?
MISTER R
I knocked at the front door. There
was no answer. What a magnificent
garden. You have quite a green
thumb, Mister Stephens.
SEBASTIAN
(Holding up his hands for
inspection.) No green thumbs here.
My parents created this. All I do
is water the plants and replace
them as they die. No special
talent.
MISTER R
Still, you keep the magic going.
SEBASTIAN
Magic?
MISTER R
Of course.
No comments:
Post a Comment