THE RETREAT
Written by
Alexander Milo Bischof & Michael Couvaras
Stave Hill Films 9th Draft 48 Ruthin Road 8 September 2017 London SE3 7SH Tel: +44 (0)79 4395 8443 E-mail: info@alexandermilobischof.com
FADE IN:
OVER BLACK
The sound of heavy wheezing ...
INT. STATE PRISON - CELL 245 - MORNING
A ripped CONNOR ‘RAZOR BLADE’ REYNOR (30s) does press-ups against the concrete cell floor.
Sweat runs down his rugged face. On his arm, a faded tatoo of a leprechaun -- an amateurish piece of work.
Reynor jumps to his feet. Grabs his prison shirt and wipes the sweat off his face -- an expression of pure intent, his movement confident, precise.
He throws on the shirt, buttons it up while glancing at a worn-out photograph stuck to the wall.
SUPER: photograph, a little girl in school uniform. An adorable, innocent smile across her freckled face.
Reynor kisses his two fingers, presses them against the photograph - shows no sign of emotion. A hard son-of-a-bitch!
A bell rings in the background, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Reynor reaches underneath the steel bedstead and reveals a razor blade melted onto the tip of a toothbrush, then ...
...the clanking sound of the metal cell door unlocking.
Reynor quickly tucks the hand-made weapon into his sock, before ...
...the flap on the cell door is yanked open and the gum- chewing face of WARDEN WHITAKER (40s) appears in the opening. A big, fat scar above his lip.
WARDEN WHITAKER (sadistic grin) Morning, Sunshine.
INT. STATE PRISON - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Warden Whitaker provocatively swings his baton as Reynor steps out from his cell. Slowly, in no rush.
WARDEN WHITAKER Come on, come on. We haven’t got all day.
2.
Reynor sends out a cheeky stare. Whitaker, in return, nudges him in the back with the baton.
WARDEN WHITAKER (CONT’D) Get in line, shit head.
REYNOR (Irish accent) Why so grumpy? Your wife didn’t come home again last night?!
Another nudge -- stronger, fiercer.
WARDEN WHITAKER What did you say?
REYNOR (chuckles) Nothing. I didn’t say nothing.
WARDEN WHITAKER That’s what I thought.
Reynor, confident in his stride, joins the line of prisoners.
INT. BEDROOM - MORNING
Bright beams of sunlight drift in through the window, transforming the room into a blissful, golden oasis.
HARRY JOHNSON (35) and BETH JOHNSON (32) are asleep in bed.
The alarm rings -- the kind-on-the-ears type, non-intrusive.
Harry opens his eyes. A yawn. Turns off the alarm. Puts on his spectacles and lovingly gazes over at his sleeping wife.
Beth awakes, shuffles around - a yawn.
HARRY Good morning, Sweetheart.
BETH Already? What time is it?
HARRY Just gone seven.
BETH (sighs) It’s too early.
Harry gently runs his fingers over Beth’s naked body, glowing in the sunlight.
3.
HARRY (teasing) I was thinking, you know...
BETH Now?
HARRY You won’t get pregnant without trying.
BETH I’m tired of trying.
HARRY You know what the doctor said. This is completely normal, it happens. Just takes longer with some people.
Harry kisses Beth on the lips... once, twice...
BETH Don’t you have to go to work?
HARRY I’ve got five minutes.
BETH Okay, fine. But make it count.
HARRY I’ll try my best.
The two wrap their naked bodies around each other...
INT. BATHROOM - MORNING
Harry steps out of the shower. Wipes the steam off the mirror and inspects his apprehensive reflection.
INT. HALLWAY - MORNING
Harry, suited and booted, grabs his briefcase.
Beth appears in the doorway, leans against the frame. A look of sadness across her face.
Harry quickly picks up on this.
HARRY Hey, come here.
He gently pulls her towards him.
4.
HARRY (CONT’D) Everything’s going to be alright.
BETH How do you know?
HARRY I just do.
(beat) I promise you, we will have a baby soon.
BETH (forces a smile) Okay.
Harry wraps his arm around Beth and kisses her lips.
BETH (CONT’D) You’re going to be late.
HARRY I’ll call you later?
BETH Good luck.
HARRY Thanks.
Harry heads out of the door.
INT. UNDERGROUND CARRIAGE - MORNING
Harry sips a take-away coffee and observes his fellow commuters as they drown in their early morning sorrows.
This whole “baby” situation still lingers on his mind.
EXT. CITY OFFICE BUILDING - MORNING
Harry crosses the street, heading towards the entrance of a modern corporate high-rise.
INT. CITY OFFICE BUILDING - ELEVATOR - MORNING
Harry steps into the elevator, greeting his fellow colleague HOLDEN (30s), a neatly-groomed, cocky, upper-class dipshit.
HARRY Holden.
5.
HOLDEN Harry.
(beat) Big day, huh?!
HARRY You can say that.
Harry smiles proudly as the elevator doors close.
INT. WATSON, SMITH & LEWIS LLP - RECEPTION - MORNING
A swanky reception area with spectacular views across the city. You can literally smell the money.
A smartly dressed RECEPTIONIST guards the fort.
Harry enters...
HARRY Morning.
...and proceeds down the corridor.
INT. WATSON, SMITH & LEWIS LLP - OPEN SPACE OFFICE - MORNING
Harry steps into this light and airy office space with individual offices lined along large windows (of course!).
He stops to greet KAREN (40s), his Personal Assistant.
HARRY Morning, Karen.
KAREN How are we holding up?
HARRY Surprisingly well.
KAREN That’s good to hear.
Harry is about to step into one of the individual offices “with a view”, stops in the doorway, when ...
HARRY Can you forwarded me the Hampton lease? I’d like to get it out today.
KAREN Of course. Anything else?
6.
HARRY Not for the moment. Thank you, Karen.
Karen quickly gets to work while Harry disappears inside his office.
INT. WATSON, SMITH & LEWIS LLP - HARRY’S OFFICE - DAY
Harry sits behind his desk.
The telephone rings. He picks up.
HARRY Thank you for getting back to me so quickly, Roger.
ROGER (V.O.) I like your angle here, but ...are you sure they’re going to bite?
HARRY Trust me, the way their lawyers have been handling this case so far and considering Portman’s financial situation there is no way in hell the courts are going to reject this.
ROGER (V.O.) That’s music to my ears. You are making me a happy man, Harry.
HARRY Glad to hear. Are we still on for Thursday?
ROGER (V.O.) Absolutely.
HARRY Great. I’ll get Karen to make a reservation.
ROGER (V.O.) Bellamy’s?
HARRY Of course, where else?!
ROGER (V.O.) Good man.
7.
HARRY See you Thursday. Bye.
Harry ends the call. Swirls around in his chair to face the stunning views unfolding before his eyes.
EXT. STATE PRISON - YARD - DAY
Dark clouds embrace the iron sky, casting a murky blanket over the grey prison walls.
An elated smile across his face.
INT. STATE PRISON - CANTEEN - DAY
Reynor steps up to an empty table. Tray in hand. Takes a seat. Scans the place for any potential danger.
His eyes settle on a group of ‘dodgy’ inmates across the room, exchanging suspicious glances.
Danger asserted, Reynor begins to tuck into his breakfast, or whatever the grub in front of him is supposed to constitute.
One of the inmates across the room, they call him THE BEAST (40s), walks over. Casual, yet with a clear agenda.
Two beats, before ...
...Reynor looks up at the approaching threat. He doesn’t blink until the Beast stands in front of him.
Two beats.
The Beast bends down, whispers in his ear.
THE BEAST (aggressively calm) I wonder if you can help me out here. See -- there’s a rumour doing the rounds that you’re supplying a little known substance by the name of ‘spice’.
The Beast puts deliberate over-emphasis on the word ‘spice’, letting it linger on his tongue like a hissing snake.
REYNOR Now who told you that?
THE BEAST That’s unimportant. However -- what is important is if what I’ve been hearing is true?
8.
REYNOR I don’t know what you’re talking about.
THE BEAST Oh I think you do.
REYNOR You got the wrong man. I don’t deal anymore.
THE BEAST Is that so?
REYNOR Positive.
OTHER PART OF CANTEEN
Warden Whitaker stands by the gate. Arms folded. Controlling the canteen with eagle eyes. He turns to ...
...WARDEN MILLER (20s) standing next to him. A green horn, new on the job.
WARDEN WHITAKER So, how’s your first week coming along then?
WARDEN MILLER Fine, I guess.
WARDEN WHITAKER Glad to hear.
Warden Whitaker notices Reynor and the Beast conversing across the room.
WARDEN WHITAKER (CONT’D) (points) You see those guys over there?
WARDEN MILLER Yeah.
WARDEN WHITAKER Pay close attention -- you’re about to witness something very special.
A smile unfolds across his face, clearly enjoying himself.
BACK TO REYNOR AND THE BEAST
The Beast leans in further.
9.
THE BEAST You see...
Now Reynor begins to mind the intrusion.
THE BEAST (CONT’D) My informant tells me he’s seen you selling the drug to Watson over there.
The Beast gestures over at another inmate, CARTER (20s), trembling in the corner. A skinny fella -- looking worse for wear, showing all sorts of withdrawal symptoms.
THE BEAST (CONT’D) So -- what do you have to say for yourself?
Reynor takes his time to respond, calmly chewing on a piece of bread. A smile, then ...
REYNOR Do you remember the first blowjob?
The Beast is unsure how to interpret the question. A look of slight confusion across his bulky face, then ...
...the memory comes flooding back and with a boyish grin ...
THE BEAST Yeah. Sure I do.
REYNOR (calm as a cucumber) Tell me, how did it taste?
The Beast takes immediate offence. His expression changes to one of pure anger as he lunges forward, ready to attack.
THE BEAST Motherfucker.
But Reynor is quick to anticipate the action.
Jumps up.
Reaches for the razor blade in his sock and ...
...forces it against the Beast’s throat, cutting the skin like butter.
REYNOR Like I said -- I don’t deal with drugs.
10.
THE BEAST You’re making a big mistake.
BACK TO WARDEN WHITAKER AND MILLER
Warden Whitaker releases a delightful chuckle.
WARDEN WHITAKER What did I tell you?
WARDEN MILLER (looks worried) Shouldn’t we do something?
WARDEN WHITAKER Not quite yet. Let’s give them a moment.
BACK OF THE CANTEEN
The Beast’s cronies take notice of the action and come rushing in -- chests out, ready to attack, but ...
...Reynor is quick to fend them off.
REYNOR (to cronies) Stand back... or I’ll slash his fucking throat, do you hear me?!
THE BEAST You don’t know who you’re dealing with. You’re a dead man.
REYNOR Not if I kill you first.
THE BEAST (fuming) You don’t have the balls, you Paddy cunt.
Reynor forces the blade further into the Beast’s skin, more blood oozing from the neck, when ...
...Warden Whitaker steps in, making full use of his baton to fight his way past the cronies.
WARDEN WHITAKER Now, now girls -- what’s going on here then?
Warden Miller follows, looking nervy.