Hard Cash Script

Hard Cash

Scene 1
Location: Lucy’s Kitchen
Props: Round table, white cloth, candle, red dress, heels, suit, tie and jewellery
Characters: Evelyn Harold and Detective Jack Chandler
Style: Neo-nior/Colour

Candle lit meal for two around round table. Evelyn and Jack are happily together when they start to discuss what has happened to them in the past month.

Evelyn:                 [walks in holding two plates] I cooked your favourite, here you go darling.

Jack:                      It looks lovely, thank you.

[Both start to eat]

Jack:                      So tell me what really happened?

Evelyn:                 It all started a month ago, I didn’t suspect a thing. I thought that we were really happy …

(Fade out)

Scene 2
Location: Rosie’s House – Door, stairs, bedroom and bathroom.
Props: Hat, rings, life insurance letter, dress and suit.
Characters: Evelyn Harold and James Harold
Style: Film Nior/ Black and white

Voice over scene with shots of James coming home from work. He then receives a life insurance letter and leads his wife upstairs.

(Fade in)

Evelyn:                 [Voice over] … It was a completely normal day.

James:                 [Walks in the doors and hangs hat up]

Evelyn:                 [Hands James the letter and kisses him in greeting]

James:                  [Quick look at letter then throws it on the counter]

(Close shot of letter)

                                [Takes wife’s hand and leads her upstairs]

(Bedroom scene with close up on some body features)

James:                  [Gets up and goes to bathroom]

Evelyn:                 (Deep shot of bedroom) [Evelyn gets up to do her hair in mirror]

James:                  [Splash face with water and takes off ring, leaves house. Just before walking out of the door] Edward wanted to see me; we’re meeting at the pub. I’ll be home for dinner!

Evelyn:                 Okay see you later [Walks into bathroom, sees ring] Oh James wait…

(Sound of door slamming interrupting Evelyn)

Scene 3
Location: Urban area and diner
Props: Ring, hat, mac coat, women coat, waitress’s outfit, venetian blinds and cigarette.
Characters: Evelyn Harold, James Harold and Sarah Jones
Style: Film Noir/ Black and White

Tracking shots of wife following husband to the diner to give him the ring and then she realises he isn’t going to the pub. He kisses Sarah Jones whilst wife watches through the venetian blinds.

(Fade out to show the passing of time)

Scene 4
Location: Diner, at a table.
Props: waitress outfit, address note, venetian blinds and shirt dress
Characters: Evelyn Harold and Sarah Jones
Style: Film Nior/ Black and White

Evelyn re-visits the Diner the next day and asks for Sarah to be her waitress. She tells Sarah about James and leaves a note on the table with a time and an address to meet later that evening.

Evelyn:                 (Deep shot of Canteen) [walking in to the Diner and sitting down]

Sarah:                   [coming over to Evelyn’s table] Hi there ‘mam, what would you like today?

Evelyn:                 I’d like to speak to you actually [Sarah reacts in surprise] It’s about my husband… James Harold. I believe you two know each other.

Sarah:                   Your… your err Husband?! [Looking angry] He didn’t tell me he was married!

Evelyn:                                 [Smiling tightly] so he tricked us both then? I thought so.

Sarah:                   What a bastard!!

Evelyn:                 Yes well, listen, why don’t we meet another time, this is a little too public don’t you think?

(Shot of people trying to listen in)

                                Just a coffee please. [Said louder]

Sarah:                   (shot of her walking off)

Evelyn:                 [writes on a piece of paper, leaves it next to the salt and pepper]

(Close up of the note – address and time)

(Shot of Evelyn leaving just as Sarah brings the coffee in the background)

Scene 5
Location: Rosie’s house, living room.
Props: Sarah’s out of work clothes, Evelyn’s home clothes, poison, big tumbler, Whiskey.
Characters: Evelyn Harold and Sarah Jones
Style: Film Nior/ Black and White

Sarah and Evelyn meet up at Evelyn’s house and plot to kill James. They decide to make it look like suicide so that they can get away with it.

(Close up of clock revealing time left on the note – door bell rings)

Evelyn:                                 [answering the door] quickly, come in.

Sarah:                   Is he in? I want to slap that man!

Evelyn:                 Oh shut up, he was obviously going to end it with you soon anyway. He wants us to move to Italy!

Sarah:                   Wh-What? He said that to me! He said he was getting a job there and that he wanted me to come with him! He said he loved me!

Evelyn:                 [Getting angry] that sneaky, two-timing bastard! He deserves to die!

Sarah:                   [Nodding] too right! But then we’d get put in prison when it’s him who deserves the punishment!

Evelyn:                 Not if we make it look like suicide…

Sarah:                   … but how?

Evelyn:                 We could use poison. Quick, grab that glass (shot of glass and alcohol set) and pour a whiskey for him. He’ll be home soon. [Goes to a cupboard and grabs a poison bottle]

Sarah:                   [Pouring drink] Wh-Where did you get that from?

Evelyn:                 Never you mind. Put ice in that drink, will you?

[Sarah adds ice to the drink and Evelyn makes her hide in the cupboard]

                                He’ll be home any minute, don’t make a sound!

Scene 6
Location: Rosie’s house, living room.
Props: Sarah’s out of work clothes, Evelyn’s home clothes, James work clothes, Poison, big tumbler, Whiskey, suicide note. Gloves for Evelyn.
Characters: Evelyn Harold, James Harold and Sarah Jones
Style: Film Nior/ Black and White

James comes home from work and is greeted by Evelyn with his favourite drink. She goes to ‘make it’ and adds the poison. They sit down in the lounge and he drinks it. James chokes and dies.

(Door unlocks, shot of Evelyn turning to the door)

James:                  Honey I’m home! Pour me a drink, will you?

Evelyn:                 [Shouting down the hall] in the lounge darling, I’ll pour one for you now! [Turns back to the door and pours the poison into the glass]

James:                  [walks into room and sits down in an armchair] Ah, work was horrible!  Edward wasn’t in so I had to do everything. [Evelyn turns around with the drink and a nervous smile] Give me that drink! [Grabs drink from here and downs it]

(Close ups of his dying face)

(Slow motion falling of the glass from his hand)

(Long shot of room with dead body in chair, Evelyn standing over it and Sarah coming out, pale, from the cupboard)

Sarah:                   Oh my god, what do we do now?! [Slightly hysterical]

Evelyn:                 What’s your writing like? We need a suicide note!

[Gets paper and pen, hands it to Sarah who takes it and writes with shaking hands]

                                That’s good but make it a bit more manly, and cross some things out!

(Close up of finished note)

Sarah:                   Where should we put it? In his pocket?

Evelyn:                                 Yes, and take the poison and put it in there too. Now hurry!

[Sarah does what Evelyn tells her to do]

Right. Now I’m going to phone the police. [Picks up phone and dials] Yes? Hello. Evelyn Harold speaking. Yes. Police please. Hello? Yes, my friend and I were upstairs getting ready when my husband came home. We’ve just come downstairs and …and he’s [fake sob] he’s dead on the sofa! …Thank you. Yes. Goodbye. [Puts the phone down] [Speaking to Sarah] right so that’s our story, ok? You have to tell the police the same thing!

(Dissolve out)

Scene 7
Location: Lucy’s Kitchen
Props: Round table, white cloth, candle, red dress, heels, suit, tie and jewellery
Characters: Evelyn Harold and Detective Jack Chandler
Style: Neo-nior/Colour

Jack realises he has been deceived by Evelyn and they struggle for power. Jack overpowers her and kills her but then regrets his actions.

(Dissolve in)

Jack:                      Wait! You lied to me! [Evelyn reacts shocked] You little bitch! [Evelyn reaches for her gun, Jack overpowers her] It was you! [Reaches for her gun]

Evelyn:                 [Femme fatal style] Oh shut up! You wouldn’t dare shoot me.

Jack:                      [Putting gun to her head] Oh yeah?

Evelyn:                 [Clearly getting scared] No… you wouldn’t… [Jack cocks the gun] Please! No please!

Jack:                      You’re a murderer Evelyn! You deserve this! [Evelyn struggles to get the gun from Jack’s hand, in the struggle; Jack pulls the trigger and shoots Evelyn in the chest]
(Dramatic pause) … [Reacting shocked] (Shot of gun, his face, the body) (Zoom out) (Long shot of him collapsing to his knees, dropping the gun) What have I done?
[Staggers to the phone] [Dials] Harry? Come over, I’ve got news.

(Fade out)

Scene 8
Location: Rosie’s house, living room.
Props: Sarah’s out of work clothes, Evelyn’s home clothes, James work clothes, Poison, big tumbler, Whiskey, suicide note. Gloves for Evelyn. Detective clothes and Policeman clothes. Body bag.
Characters: Evelyn Harold, James Harold (dead), Sarah Jones, Jack Chandler and Harry White, 2 extras to take the body away.
Style: Film Nior/ Black and White

Detective Jack Chandler and Policeman Harry White arrive at the house after receiving the distress call. It is now shot in the POV of Detective Jack Chandler. They interview the two women and then leave with the body for further analysis.

(Fade in)

Jack:                      What were you and Miss Jones doing here tonight?

Evelyn:                 [Slight flirting] we were getting ready to go out, Detective. Can’t you tell by what I’m wearing? (Face, pan down to shot of seductive legs)

Harry:                    Where were you heading to?

Sarah:                   Rosie’s. Y’know, the bar down town?

Jack:                      Oh yeah, and when did your husband get back?

Evelyn:                 Well we heard him come in, he shouted about getting a drink. Sarah went down to introduce herself and tell him that we were going to Fanelli’s Café when [pause, fake sob] … when she screamed and I found him like this. [Jack comes over to comfort the fake crying Evelyn]

Sarah:                   I went downstairs first, to … to introduce myself, but he was choking on the sofa so I screamed for Evelyn. It was so scary sir! [Begins to actually cry]

Harry:                    Calm down ‘mam. You’ve been through a lot tonight. No body should ever witness a suicide like this.

Jack:                      … and he left this note? [Still with his arm around her]

Evelyn:                 Yes Detective, it was crunched up in his hand. [Looking up at him with puppy eyes]

Jack and Harry: (Split screen)
Jack:                      Thank you for your time.
Harry:                    we’ll get back to you after the post-mortem.
Jack:                      Try and get an early nights sleep.

(Fade to black)

Scene 9
Location: Policeman’s office
Props: Detective clothes and Policeman clothes. World map with red string and newspaper clippings. Desk with an old fashioned light and telephone.
Characters: Jack Chandler and Harry White
Style: Film Nior/ Black and White

Jack and Harry compare notes and realise that the stories don’t match up. Just as they come to this conclusion the phone rings for Jack and its Evelyn asking to meet.

Harry:                    Seems a pretty clear cut case to me. Miss Jones said the two of them were heading to Rosie’s bar down town when she came downstairs to introduce herself and found Mr Harold choking to death. Poor woman.

Jack:                      [realisation] Rosie’s huh?

[Phone rings] (Shot of phone)

Harry:                    [Picks up phone] Hello? Yes he’s right here, hang on, one moment. [Passes to Jack]

Jack:                      [cautiously takes the phone] Jack Chandler speaking. Hello?

Evelyn:                 (voice over) Jack, its Evelyn, I need to speak to you, it’s very important.

Jack:                      [Curious, thinking expression] Yes ‘mam, I can come and see you tomorrow, I’m just discussing your case with Harry…

Evelyn:                 (voice over) [interruption, slightly panicked] No, it’s urgent, you must come right away!

Jack:                      I’ll see you in 10 minutes then Ms Harold.

Scene 10
Location: Rosie’s living room.
Props: Detective clothes and Evelyn’s clothes
Characters: Jack Chandler and Evelyn Harold.
Style: Film Nior/ Black and White

Jack arrives at Evelyn’s house and she seduces him, persuading him that it was Sarah Jones who killed her husband and that he should check the finger prints on the poison bottle.

Evelyn:                 Thank you for coming, I … I don’t think it was suicide Detective.

Jack:                      What makes you say that ‘mam?

Evelyn:                 My… my husband was happy, he wouldn’t. Sarah… Sarah and James were having an affair… I know but I didn’t say. That … That little whore poisoned him! [Sobbing]

Jack:                      How do you know? Think about what you’re accusing her of.

Evelyn:                 [Stops sobbing abruptly] I’m sure of it. Check the bottle, you’ll find her fingerprints on that dreadful bottle, I’m sure of it. [Starts sobbing again]

Jack:                      [Puts his arm around her] Evelyn doll, calm down, we’ll catch her don’t you worry.

Evelyn:                 [Burying her face in his chest] Oh Jack [Puts her arms around him] You’re so lovely to me Jack, unlike James, all he cared about was her.

Jack:                      Shh now, you deserve better [kissing her on the forehead]

Evelyn:                 [Turns her head up and kisses Jack] run away with me?

Jack:                      What?

Evelyn:                 Can’t you feel it? From the moment you walked through that door… Jack, I love you. We could get a place in the country; I’ve got the money, and lots of it, think about it, Jack! We’d be so happy.

(Music)

(Shot of Sarah getting arrested)

(Voice over of news article): Waitress Murders! Young waitress arrested for Murder of Upper class husband to Evelyn Harold. Detective Jack Chandler and Policeman Harry White named heroes for discovery of the fake suicide plot.

(See Sarah’s face standing in a cell, door slams shut) (Loud slam, face in window)
(Fades to black)

Scene 11
Location: Lucy’s Kitchen
Props: Round table, white cloth, candle, red dress, heels, suit, tie and jewellery
Characters: Evelyn Harold (dead), Detective Jack Chandler and Policeman Harry White.
Style: Neo-nior/Colour

Harry comes to the house and helps Jack. They plot to make Jack get out of the situation without getting arrested.

(Fade in)

Harry:                    [opens door and walks straight to Jack] what’s happened Jack? [Helping him sit up]

Jack:                      She lied to me, Harry. I got it all wrong. It wasn’t Sarah Jones; it was her [points to body]

Harry:                    [Shocked reaction] Why did you shoot her?

Jack:                      Didn’t [struggling to stand up] didn’t mean to. She pulled her gun out on me. I had no choice, it was me or her!

Harry:                    [accusingly] I have to call the police [heading towards the phone] this is out of my hands!

Jack:                      No. Harry. Wait. I’ve got money … you have to help me! I didn’t mean to. I sware!

Harry:                    [Curious] How? Where from? How much?

Jack:                      Her dead husbands life insurance! Lots Harry. You can have it all, just help me out. [Begins to cry] That bitch tricked me.

Harry:                    [Grasping Jack’s arm and holding him supportively] It’s alright mate, I’ll sort this out. It will be ok, come and get a drink now.

(Fade out to black)

(The End)

(Fade in)

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(boof) Hard (boof) Cash