​

FADE IN

​

EXT. SUNSET BLVD. LOS ANGELES - NIGHT

Silence.  A brilliant blur of dancing, colorful circles.

​

       NICK (V.O.)

The single most powerful word

is "No".

​

The circles come into partial focus but remain undefined.

​

        NICK (V.O.) 

Saying no gives you the freedom

to do as you please ...not what

someone else wants.

 

Finally, the circles come into sharp focus and reveal massive billboards advertising hit films, exotic perfumes, popular singers, designer chocolates.

 

                                       NICK (V.O.) 

Now, there are a lot of ways to say

no ...for example, I'm afraid I'm

not the right person ...or you

might offer a simple maybe.

 

The colorful scene continues to pass.

​

                                       NICK (V.O.)

Here's one that always works

...I'm consumed with other

things right now.

 

INT. LIMO - NIGHT

NICK BONNER, late middle, age looks out the window.  LAURA, decidedly younger, snuggles on Nick's shoulder.

​

Nick glances at Laura, smiles, turns back to the passing parade.

 

                                       NICK (V.O.)

...or if you want to be direct

but still not say "no" try, I

don't know and then quickly turn away.

 

EXT. LIMO - NIGHT

The limo window reflects the passing scene, close on Nick's passive face.

 

EXT. LIMO SUNSET BLVD. - NIGHT

The limo drives into the courtyard at the Sunset Tower Hotel.

 

                                        NICK (V.O.)

And there's the door slammer

...FUCK YOU!

 

Nick turns back to Laura who looks through the opposite window to the busy Blvd.

 

                                       NICK (V.O.)

But I never learned to say any

of that.  I never learned to say

no to a good time ...is that so unusual?

(beat)

Who can say no to a good time?

 

The limo stops.

​

LIMO DRIVER

Here you go.

​

                                         NICK

Happy birthday, baby.

 

INT. LIMO - EVENING

Laura looks at Nick, puts her hand on his cheek, kisses him.

 

                                         LAURA

This is - this is the biggest,

wildest...

 

Laura enthusiastically kisses him again.

 

                                         LAURA (CONT'D)

...most thoughtful birthday present

anyone's ever given me.

 

                                         NICK

No one's ever loved you as

much as me, baby.

 

EXT. SUNSET TOWER HOTEL - NIGHT

The LIMO DRIVER helps Laura.  VALETS cart small bags into the lobby.  Laura tucks her arm into Nick's.

​

INT. SUNSET TOWER HOTEL - NIGHT

They enter the small, smart art deco lobby.  At the front desk.

 

                                         NICK

Nick Bonner.

 

                                     HOTEL CLERK

Yes, sir.

The CLERK slides a paper to Nick.

                                     HOTEL CLERK

If you could just review and

sign, please.  You're here for

the weekend?

​

Nick nods as he signs. He smiles at Laura.

 

                                     HOTEL CLERK

Welcome, a special occasion?

 

                                     NICK

Laura's birthday and...

 

                                     LAURA

(coyly)

And?

​

INT. SUNSET TOWER HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

The door closes.  Nick follows Laura who stops, turns, and playfully stands with her hands on her hips.

 

                                     LAURA

And?  And what, Mister?

 

                                     NICK

What?

 

                                     LAURA

You told the clerk we were here

for my birthday and something else. 

What?

 

                                     NICK

Fun.  For some laughs.  A good time.

 

Nick kisses Laura passionately.  They collapse on the bed.  Lying on top Nick reaches for Laura's breast.

 

                                     NICK (CONT'D)

And for this.

 

                                     LAURA

But Mister Bonner we do this at your home just two miles away.

 

Laura rolls Nick on his back and becomes the aggressor.  She unzips his pants.

 

INT. SUNSET TOWER HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

The couple naps.  Nick wakes, looks at the bedside clock which reads 6:17.

 

                                     NICK

Time to wake up.  It's late.

 

                                     LAURA

Late?

 

                                     NICK

We have dinner at 8.

 

                                     LAURA

Oh, you have dinner planned. 

I see.  Anything else ...planned?

Laura kisses him.

 

INT. LOS ANGELES MODERN RESTAURANT - NIGHT

In an energetic dining room, WAITERS rush about.  The bar is packed.  A piano plays an updated, jazzy version of "It Started All over Again". Buried deep in the crowd Nick and Laura walk to the exit past the PIANO PLAYER.

 

                                     NICK

I know that song.

(beat)

Can't place it.

Nick stops, listens.

 

                                     LAURA

It's hard to pick up on a jazz

version sometimes.  It'll come.

 

                                     NICK

Not that important.

 

As Nick passes the piano, he sees the music sheet: "It Started All Over Again." He grimaces.

 

INT. LOS ANGELES CLUB DANCE FLOOR - NIGHT

Lights flash. A jumbled maze dances wildly.  The music fades seamlessly into another techno beat.

​

Nick wraps his arm around Laura's waist, pulls her close, and kisses her with enormous passion.  Laura returns the kiss.

​

They break apart and effortlessly pick up the beat.  Then in defiance of the music, they dance slowly - slower than the music; seductively.

 

Nick takes her hand and moves her deeper into the swarm.

 

The music fades to a quieter slower tune.

 

As one, Nick and Laura adjust to the new beat moving carefully, seductively.

 

Nick motions with his head to go back to the bar.  Laura turns, walks a few steps when Nick taps her shoulder.

 

Laura turns.

 

Nick holds a generously sized engagement ring.

 

Laura looks at the ring, at Nick, at the ring again.  The music is too loud to hear Laura.

 

Laura kisses him as the crowd swirls about them.

 

The music fades into another hard-driving tune. Laura picks up the beat with her hips. 

 

Nick follows her lead.

 

Slowly but with unrelenting certainty the couple builds to a harder, more certain dance.

The music and the crowd noise fade to silence as Nick and Laura continue to dance.

 

FADE TO BLACK

 

Sound of rushing cars.

 

                                      LAURA (V.O.)

Oh my God.  I'm engaged to the

man I love.

 

EXT. SUNSET BLVD. - NIGHT

A delicate, misty rain shrouds the morning twilight.

 

A monstrous full moon sits near the horizon which captures both Nick's and Laura's momentary but full attention.

 

Disheveled they walk along the deserted street.  Laura clicks out the sound of her made-up techno tune.

 

She laughs as Nick carries a bottle of wine; stops takes a long drink, admires Laura's spur-of-the-moment street dance.  As she leads him down the sidewalk she stops, turns. 

 

Nick stops.

​

She continues her tune.  She dances.  Nick follows her lead.  Laura slips on the rain splattered-sidewalk, falls forward.  Nick catches her.

 

                                      LAURA

Blasted.  I'm really blasted, Mister.

 

They take a few stumbling steps arm in arm.  They wobble, stop.  The rain begins in earnest, they look to the sky crested with a modest early morning rainbow.  Laura tosses her rain-soaked hair aside.

 

                                      LAURA (CONT'D)

Say, am I really engaged?  That's

what I remember.

 

They walk bouncing off each other's hips.

 

                                      NICK

That be it, baby.

 

Laura breaks away, twirls, and stops at the sidewalk edge, near the crosswalk.  A car rushes by splashes the couple.  They laugh.

 

As Nick steps toward Laura, she slowly steps back into the street and silently motions for him to come closer with her index finger.  She twirls like a top, stops faces Nick.

 

Nick smiles, steps closer, and as he does Laura whirls and blows a kiss to Nick.

 

                                      LAURA

I love you so much.

 

He steps forward.  Laura steps backward deeper into the street, whirls, and steps into the path of a small speeding truck.

 

Laura flies into the air.

 

FADE TO BLACK

 

INT. NICK'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Nick enters a modern room filled with elaborate electronics, colorful vintage movie posters, eclectic furniture, the kind of condo any man would admire.

He looks over sprawling Century City from the 20th floor. He collapses on the couch.

 

                                    NICK (V.O.)

I'm a child of the 60s and even

after all these years, more than

anything, I still believe that I

can do whatever I want.  That

I am immune.

​

Nick grabs a remote, snaps on his stereo.

 

                                    NICK (CONT'D)

But I was wrong, I've always been

wrong. I am not immune.  And now I

am alone.

(beat)

And for the first time ever, I'm scared.

 

Nick's cell rings.

                                    NICK (CONT'D)

Hello ...Sandra.

​

Contact Ron Jackson in San Diego at

858 692 7392 or ronj905@outlook.com