Finishing Act Two


[Previous script]

Let me write some scenes from the last half of Act Two. First, let's review some new story steps:

I pick up after this:

       EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       Andres comes out and gets into the car.  He drives off alone.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

       Carlo is watching from the window.  The First Lady comes up
       beside him and puts her arms around him.

                                FIRST LADY
                    Are you two going to be all right?

                                CARLO
                    I think so.  He doesn't trust you.

                                FIRST LADY
                    Do you?

       Carlo studies her.  Then they embrace and kiss.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

       The First Lady and Carlo are making love.

       With Carlo, the First Lady has found physical passion she 
       hasn't felt in a long time.  She is on fire.


       EXT. SMALL TOWN - MAIN STREET - DAY

       Andres' car enters a small town on Main Street.  He drives to 
       a supermarket and parks.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

       The First Lady and Carlo sit up in bed after lovemaking.

                                 CARLO
                     We will be going home soon.  I want 
                     you to come with me.

                                 FIRST LADY
                     I don't know.  I feel in the way.

                                 CARLO
                     You've done more for us than we could 
                     ever have done alone.

                                 FIRST LADY
                     I don't think we're in a position to think
                     that far ahead.

       He starts to say something but she puts a finger on his lips.
       Then she kisses him.


       INT. COUNTRY STORE - DAY

       Andres is at the check out stand when there is sudden traffic 
       outside.  Through the window, we see military vehicles.

                                  CHECKER
                     Goddamn, I've never seen the Army on maneuvers
                     around here.


       EXT. COUNTRY STORE - DAY

       A local crowd has gathered to watch the Army pass by.   There are
       trucks, jeeps, some tanks and other weaponry.

       Andres comes outside.  One look is enough for him - and he hurries
       to his car.


       EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY

       Andres is passing the long line of military vehicles along the
       shoulder of the road.


       INT. CAR - DAY

       He looks tense and worried as he speeds along the shoulder.


       EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY

       Finally Andres reaches the head of the line and turns back onto 
       Main Street just at the edge of town.  

       He races off for the farmhouse.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

       The First Lady and Carlo are in the kitchen, starting dinner 
       together.  

       They are in a playful mood, almost like newly weds.  

       They sip from glasses of red wine.  

       They kiss and pinch one another.

       They laugh a lot.


       EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       Andres swerves into the driveway and skids to a stop.

       He gets out and races into the house.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

       The First Lady and Carlo are slow-dancing to a ballad on 
       the radio when Andres enters.

       Carlo immediately sees that something is wrong and stops
       dancing.

                                 CARLO
                    What is it?

                                 ANDRES
                    The goddamn Army's coming.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - CARLO'S BEDROOM - DAY

       Carlo is quickly packing as the First Lady watches.

                                  FIRST LADY
                    I can talk to them.

                                  CARLO
                    How do you know they'll listen?  How 
                    do you know your husband doesn't find this 
                    a convenient way to get rid of you?

       The First Lady's expression tells us that she hasn't thought 
       of this before - and the possibility frightens her.


       EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       Helicopters have the farmhouse in sight and begin circling down 
       to land.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       Carlo and Andres, at the door with their suitcases, hear the 
       WHIR of the choppers.

                                   ANDRES
                     Shit.

       He grabs two rifles and hands one to Carlo.

                                   FIRST LADY
                     I know I can stop them!

       She heads for the door.

       Carlo makes a move to stop her but Andres grabs him.

                                    ANDRES
                     She's our only chance.


       EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       The First Lady comes outside.

       Helicopters land outside the farmhouse, surrounding it.  As 
       soon as they touch earth, soldiers jump out and take position.
 
       The line of Army vehicles is pulling up.

       The First Lady is screaming at the choppers, her words lost 
       in the loud WHIRRING of the blades.

       
       INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       Carlo and Andres have taken positions at the front windows.

                                    CARLO
                     We're sitting ducks.

                                    ANDRES
                     Then we fight.

       He breaks a window with the barrel of his rifle.  He takes 
       aim.

                                    CARLO
                     You'll put her in danger.

                                    ANDRES
                     How do you know she's not behind this?
                     How did they find us?

                                    CARLO
                     Because I know.

       Carlo takes his rifle and moves to the door.  Andres watches him.
       
                                    ANDRES
                     Love makes you blind.  She is with them.

       Carlo stares at Andres.  Then he leans his rifle against the 
       wall and opens the door.


       EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       The First Lady is moving slowly toward the front helicopters.

       Behind them approach the ARMY OFFICERS in charge, headed by 
       COL. MCLAUGHLIN, 60s, a tough bird with years of combat experience.

       He talks into a portable speaker.

                                    COL. MCLAUGHLIN
                      Hold fire!

       The First Lady shouts back at him.

                                    FIRST LADY
                      Don't do this!

                                    COL. MCLAUGHLIN
                      Come ahead, ma'am!  We have you covered!
                      You, behind her, raise your hands high 
                      above your head!

       The First Lady turns and sees Carlo moving slowly forward.
       He is unarmed.

                                    CARLO
                      We have nothing to fight for here!  We 
                      are supposed to be allies!

       The First Lady races to Carlo, almost diving into his arms.
       They embrace.

       The colonel puts down the speaker and talks to an aide.

                                    COL. MCLAUGHLIN
                      What the hell is that about?

       Carlo lifts the First Lady's face to his.

                                    CARLO
                      Do you know why they're doing this?

                                    FIRST LADY
                      No.

                                    CARLO
                      Then maybe you can talk to them.

                                    FIRST LADY
                      Only if you'll come with me.

       The colonel raises the speaker again.

                                    COL. MCLAUGHLIN
                      We're coming in for you, ma'am!

       He nods to a soldier in the group, who moves forward to 
       fetch her.

       The First Lady takes Carlo's hand.

                                    FIRST LADY
                      I'm in no danger!  Let us all come forward
                      peacefully!

       The soldier approaches, his rifle raised.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       Andres sees the soldier approaching.  He takes aim.

       He pulls the trigger.


       EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       The shot hits the ground in front of the soldier.

       Suddenly GUN FIRE starts up everywhere, most of it aimed at the 
       house.

       Carlo grabs the First Lady and knocks her to the ground, 
       rolling his body on top of hers.

                                   CARLO
                      Are you all right?

       The First Lady nods, yes.

       Andres is firing from inside the house.  Shots from the Army 
       splinter the outside of the window frame.

       Carlo takes the First Lady's hand and leads a quick beeline
       for the door.  

       They dive inside the house just in time, shots pockmarking the 
       door as it swings closed behind them.

                                   COL. MCLAUGHLIN
                      Hold your fire!

       He lowers the speaker.

                                   COL. MCLAUGHLIN
                      Goddammit, what side is she on here?


       INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY

       Carlo picks up his rifle and hurries beside Andres.

                                    ANDRES
                      I'll cover the back.

                                    FIRST LADY
                      I want to help.

       Carlo and Andres exchange a glance.  Andres shakes his head, no.

                                    FIRST LADY
                      You need all the help you can get.  Give 
                      me a gun.

       Andres looks at Carlo, as if to say, "Your decision."  He moves 
       out to cover the back of the house.

                                    CARLO
                      Can you handle this?

       He hands the rifle to the First Lady.

                                    FIRST LADY
                      What about you?

                                    CARLO
                      Guns we've got plenty of.  You cover 
                      the front.  I'll float where I'm needed.

       He moves off but turns before he's gone.

                                    CARLO
                      Thank you.

       The First Lady manages to smile.  Then she takes her position 
       at the broken window.


       INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY

       The President is on the phone.

                                    PRESIDENT
                      I have no idea what she thinks she's doing.
              

       INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION

       The President is talking to the colonel (on a mobile).
              
                                    COL. MCLAUGHLIN
                      Well, they can't go anywhere.  I suggest
                      we wait them out.

                                    PRESIDENT
                      Do they have a phone?  I'd like to talk to 
                      her.

                                    COL. MCLAUGHLIN
                      Wasn't that handled on your end?

                                    PRESIDENT
                      Right.  Colonel, just hang tight til you 
                      hear from me.


       BACK TO SCENE

       The President hangs up.  His office is filled with staff.

                                    PRESIDENT
                      Anybody got the phone number there?

       Aides look at each other.  Who has it?  Oops.

                                    AIDE
                      I'll get right on it, sir.


       EXT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT

       The Army surrounds the house.  A standoff.


       INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT

       Carlo stands near Andres at the back of the house.

                                    CARLO
                      You okay?

       Andres shrugs.

                                    CARLO
                      We're getting out of this.  Somehow.
                      
       Another shrug.

                                    CARLO
                      I don't think they'll attack with her
                      here.

       Andres just looks at him.  He eyes read, "Sucker."

       At the front of the house, the First Lady is having a hard 
       time staying awake when Carlo moves into the room.

       She turns quickly, her rifle pointing at him.  Then she 
       realizes who it is.

                                    FIRST LADY
                      Sorry.

                                    CARLO
                      I think if they were going to do something 
                      tonight, we'd've seen it by now.  Why don't
                      you take a nap?  I'll take the watch.

                                    FIRST LADY
                      Are you sure?

       Carlo smiles and nods.

       The First Lady kisses him on the cheek, then stretches out 
       on the sofa.

       Carlo peers out into the dark night.  When will they attack?


Okay, this is where I'll stop. I still want to raise the stakes but I'm not quite sure how I want to do that yet.

They are surrounded - the only way out is through negotiation. The President is the key - and he needs to be here, to confront the First Lady directly.

So that's the direction I plan to go in. But later.

[BACK TO TEXT]


MODULE 7: SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting

4/98