THE DRIFT
By
Patrick Donahue
Patrick Donahue ProtectRite #R692-6264
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 806-2129
bottlne@comcast.net
FADE IN:
EXT. BUSHES - NIGHT
Two PUNKS, one white, with a tattoo of a SNAKE on the side of
his neck. The other ... Mexican.
They beat and rob a WOMAN, 30s.
They laugh and run off; leaving her bloodied body hid in the
bushes.
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO - STREET - DAY
The fabulous Golden Gate Bridge off in a distance as
ALBERT, white, 70, wears an assortment of unmatched clothes.
MR. HAMILTON, African-American, 60, white shirt, tie, sports
jacket with a laborious cough, pulls his shopping cart loaded
with aluminum cans.
JOEY, white, 55, wears a black trench coat.
All need haircuts, a shave and clean clothes.
They share a bottle of wine, hidden in a brown paper bag.
Albert walks off unnoticed as Mr. Hamilton digs in a garbage
can.
MR. HAMILTON
You know what's wrong with the
world today?
JOEY
People, yes sir, too goddamn many
people like him.
Joey points to the street.
MR. HAMILTON
No, no. We's needs people, no
people no cans...
Mr. Hamilton sees Albert standing in the
STREET
Cars swerve as Mr. Hamilton hobbles toward Albert.
JOEY
I hope Al Baby's insured.
Mr. Hamilton gently pulls Albert from the street.
MR. HAMILTON
This is a fool thing to be doing
Albert?
ALBERT
Have you seen my car?
JOEY
You see, that's my point. Do we
really need people like him?
MR. HAMILTON
We'll soon find your car, Albert.
ALBERT
I believe I may have parked it over
there ... maybe, I just don't know.
JOEY
You're wasting your time looking
for that stupid red car?
ALBERT
It is a beautiful red, isn't it?
ON THE SIDEWALK
The same two Punks.
The one with the tattoo grabs Mr. Hamilton's cart and runs
with it.
Mr. Hamilton runs after them, his cough intensifies, causing
him to spit blood. He drops to his knees out of breath.
Joey tackles one of the punks.
A car hits the cart and cans explode.
Joey wrestles the white Punk to the ground then gets kicked
in the face by the other one.
The white Punk jumps up and kicks Joey in the stomach. The
other kicks him in the face again.
Joey blocks the next kick and springs up with Martial Arts
moves and beats them to a pulp.
One lay on the ground, the other is pinned to a tree.
Joey pulls his hand back to chop him across the throat.
EXT. FENCED-IN AREA - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Rain and thunder light up the sky.
A much younger, clean-shaven JOEY beats BOBBY, a biker dude
in a Martial Arts fight.
Bobby lies in a puddle of muddy water.
DEBRA gets up in the background, grabs and slaps Joey.
JOEY
What the hell you doing with this
guy? You're my wife!
Debra looks past Joey to Bobby.
Joey turns side ways just as Bobby throws a spear-like pipe
and hits Debra in the chest.
Joey catches her as she falls.
JOEY
No...
Joey dives at Bobby.
Joey hits Bobby a few times then delivers a final chop across
the throat ...
CRACK!
And breaks Bobby's neck.
JUDGE (V.O.)
Joseph Patrick Shannon, the court
finds you guilty of second-degree
murder...
CLUNK!
The judge's wooden mallet strikes the anvil.
A bolt of LIGHTNING shoots across the sky followed by
crashing THUNDER and heavy rain.
Bobby falls to the ground and splatters mud and water
everywhere.
Joey stands with his hand frozen in the chop position.
EXT. SIDEWALK - PRESENT DAY
Joey readies to chop the Punk across the throat.
Mr. Hamilton grabs Joey's hand.
MR. HAMILTON
They's only cans, Joey.
JOEY
They are your cans, Mr. Hamilton.
The Punk breaks away and the two flat-out run off.
Albert strolls off in the opposite direction.
Joey bleeds from a cut under his eye, staggers over and YANKS
Albert by his arm and PUSHES him to Mr. Hamilton.
JOEY
If you want to baby-sit, then baby
sit goddamnit!
STREET CURB
The cans in the street are smashed flat by passing cars.
The three sit on the curb.
ALBERT
Let's go to the dealership and look
at some beautiful red Ferrari's?
JOEY
Yes sir, maybe they will let us
take one for a test drive ... you
idiot.
MR. HAMILTON
Joey, Don't be so down on the man.
JOEY
If I could get rid of some of the
people in this world, I'd start
with this moron.
ALBERT
Ferrari's are a skillfully
manufactured automobile.
MR. HAMILTON
Yes, good car, Albert.
Joey and Mr. Hamilton put the flatted cans into the DAMAGED
cart while Albert fills his pockets with them.
EXT. CAMP SITE - NIGHT
A dirty, unkempt, makeshift cardboard camp.
A small fire burns; the three pass the wine bottle and eat
beans from cans.
Mr. Hamilton has a paper plate, and his cart is empty.
Joey works on a small home made trap.
A train ROARS nearby.
ALBERT
This is especially good this
evening, Mr., ah, Mr. ...
MR. HAMILTON
Mr. Hamilton, Albert.
ALBERT
Mr. Hamilton, Albert.
JOEY
Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Hamilton, just
plain old Mr. Hamilton, goddamnit.
ALBERT
What happen to Albert?
JOEY
You're Albert and you're a stupid
moron. Why in the hell do you put
up with his crap?
Albert lovingly hugs Joey.
Joey yanks Albert free and knocks him to the ground. He sets
up to punch Albert when he hears a dog GROWLING a few bushes
away.
Joey releases Albert.
They all listen and walk slowly walk towards the sound.
Joey looks around some
BUSHES
and sees a large DOG dragging the body of a female covered in
blood.
The dog growls and moves toward Joey.
Joey quickly breaks a small branch and shakes it while he
moves toward the dog.
JOEY
Get the hell out of here, get, get.
The dog runs off.
Joey slowly walks to the body, stares for a moment, puts his
ear to her mouth, covers his other ear.
JOEY
Nothing, dead, she's goddamn dead.
Joey quickly stands.
JOEY
This isn't any good, not at all, no
good for me.
MR. HAMILTON
Joey, we got to get the police.
JOEY
We're moving the camp, that's what
I'm doing.
Albert starts making like a SIREN.
ALBERT
Arrrrrrrrrr, rrrrrrrr...
JOEY
Shut-up, shut him up before I do,
now shut-up.
ALBERT
Arrrrrrrrrr, rrrrrrrr, rrrrrr...
MR. HAMILTON
Albert ma man, Albert. Shuuuuu,
Shuuuuu, Albert.
Albert calms down.
MR. HAMILTON
Joey, the police will understand,
we got to help, Joey.
JOEY
No way, I ain't going back, man.
MR. HAMILTON
We got to do something.
JOEY
She's probably a burned out hooker.
She's none of our goddamn business.
ALBERT
I'll drive her to the hospital.
Arrrrrrrr, Areeeeeeeee...
Mr. Hamilton puts his hand over Albert's mouth.
MR. HAMILTON
Albert, Shuuuuuuu, Albert. We can't
just do nothing, Joey, come on.
JOEY
Look at me man, I just had 20 years
of lock up; they'll throw me back
faster than this moron can walk
off.
ALBERT
I can help. Areeeeee, Areeeeeee...
ALBERT
Runs around like he's driving a car and races off around some
trees. His siren starts to fade.
MR. HAMILTON
Please Joey. You got to think this
out.
Mr. Hamilton rushes after Albert.
JOEY
bends down to feel her pulse.
She springs up and grabs him.
They roll on the ground.
Joey breaks from her and quickly stands.
WOMAN
Help me.
She goes unconscious again.
JOEY
Mr. Hamilton, Albert, she's alive!
Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Hamilton!
Joey looks around, no one, total silence.
JOEY
Oh man! Mr. Hamilton where in the
hell are you? I need some help
here.
The woman coughs and moans.
WOMAN
Please help.
She passes out.
JOEY
Oh man.
Joey picks her up and carries her off out into
TRAFFIC
Down the
CENTER OF THE STREET
To the rear door of a
HOSPITAL
He gently sets her down. He tries the door, locked.
Joey breaks the glass, the alarm RINGS, Security Guards and a
Doctor-looking person run down the hallway to the door.
The woman opens her eyes, and looks at Joey. Their eyes
connect.
Joey quickly runs off, hides and watches them bring her into
the Hospital.
EXT. CAMP SITE - DAY
Rats on a stick cook over a small fire. Mr. Hamilton eats.
MR. HAMILTON
I demand's to know what you did
with the body last night.
JOEY
This is her, yes sir.
Joey bursts out with laughter.
Albert laughs.
Mr. Hamilton throws his rat at Joey and attacks him. He
spits up blood. Joey helps to settle him down.
JOEY
I'm just kidding. Can't you take a
joke? I told you what I did, end of
story.
Joey gives his rat to Mr. Hamilton.
JOEY
It's the truth Mr. Hamilton, let's
eat, protein, it's good for you.
Joey hands Albert a fresh rat off the fire then picks up Mr.
Hamilton's rat, brushes it off and eats it.
ALBERT
Nobody cooks these as good as he
does, Mr... Mr...
JOEY
Yes sir, you tell'em, Einstein.
ALBERT
Yes, you tell'em, Einstein.
EXT. STREET BY THE BAY - DAY
Mr. Hamilton pulls his damaged cart.
Albert walks off in a different direction.
Joey gently takes Albert's arm as they pass a newspaper
stand.
Mr. Hamilton notices the
HEADLINES
"MISSING WOMAN SAVED"
Woman left at the back door..."
Mr. Hamilton and Joey look at each other, smile...
THE HOTTEST
Goddamn red Ferrari RIPS by as Albert jumps up and down. He
laughs, imitates the sound of the Ferrari.
Albert runs off after the Ferrari.
Joey catches him, with the help of a bus stop bench, and puts
him in the cart.
JOEY
Ladies and gentlemen, start your
engines.
Albert pretends he's steering and makes the sounds of a race
car, shifting gears and peeling out.
Joey pushes the cart in circles around the bus stop bench.
Mr. Hamilton laughs between coughs.
Joey laughs with Albert.
BLACK STRETCH LIMOUSINE
Drives by, the rear window rolls down and ROBERT, in a sharp
three piece suite looks hard at them. The limousine flips a
U-turn and stops.
Joey pushes faster and faster, Albert laughs, still making
race car noises.
The front tires on the cart hit the grass, the cart flips
over crashing Albert and Joey to the ground showering them
with aluminum cans.
They all laugh as Mr. Hamilton staggers over to them.
The limousine's rear door opens; Robert runs to Albert, helps
him up.
ROBERT
What the hell is this? Mr.
Trousdale? Everyone's been looking
for you sir, family's worried sick.
Come now, it's time to go home.
Robert takes out his wallet and pulls out five ones.
MR. HAMILTON
Sir, we do not take handouts, we's
not beggars.
Joey snatches up the money.
JOEY
Speak for yourself.
Robert walks Albert to the limousine.
ALBERT
We were looking for my car.
ROBERT
Were did you get those dreadful
clothes, sir?
Robert and Albert get in the limousine.
JOEY
Excuse me, sir. Does he own a car?
ROBERT
He owns twenty-eight Ferrari's.
MR. HAMILTON
Twenty-eight you say...
JOEY
What color sir?
ROBERT
Red...
ALBERT
I like red.
The limousine drives off.
Albert looks out the back window and pretends he's driving
the car and mouthing the sounds, laughing.
JOEY
Damn.
MR. HAMILTON
Yeah... Damn.
Joey and Mr. Hamilton continue to walk, sharing a bottle of
wine.
Mr. Hamilton's cough worsens.
Joey takes the cart.
JOEY
Now you don't be coughing all over
that there bottle, Mr. Hamilton.
MR. HAMILTON
This is fine wine for the price.
As you know, when I was at Enron, I
drank the finest Pinot Noir.
MR. HAMILTON
Hands the bottle to Joey.
Coughs and drops back unnoticed.
JOEY
Yes sir, I know you did Mr.
Hamilton, I surely know that.
A hand covers Mr. Hamilton's mouth.
It's the same two Punks.
They pull him into the thick bushes.
Mr. Hamilton fights for every breath as blood spurts through
the punk's fingers.
THE PUNKS
Look at the blood on their hands, they see Joey walk back.
They throw Mr. Hamilton to the ground, kick him and run.
Mr. Hamilton spits blood and chunks of his intestines.
Joey hears Mr. Hamilton in the bushes and charges through.
JOEY
Oh man, Mr. Hamilton, what the hell
are you doing back in here?
Mr. Hamilton coughs so bad he can't catch his breath.
MR. HAMILTON
Your absolutely right, there are
some people we don't need in this
world.
JOEY
Yes sir... That's what a judge said
about me.
They laugh.
MR. HAMILTON
Twenty-eight Ferrari's.
More joyous laughter.
Mr. Hamilton CHOKES and dies.
JOEY
Yes sir... all red.
Joey lays Mr. Hamilton out on the grass by the street and
cleans him the best he can.
JOEY
You're a good man Mr. Hamilton, I'm
proud to call you my friend.
Joey stands and bows to Mr. Hamilton, takes the cart and
struts off, abruptly stops, turns.
JOEY
I'll take real good care of it, yes
sir.
Joey slowly walks off with the cart.
EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY
The doors open as a nurse pushes the raped woman in a
wheelchair.
Her two small children run to her and smother her with hugs
and kisses.
Joey sees the woman in the wheelchair and recognizes her.
THE WOMAN
Gives Joey a passing look.
JOEY
Watches her as the kids laugh and jump for joy.
The nurse pushes her to the car.
Her husband opens the car door.
Joey turns, walks off.
She turns and stares at Joey, smiles.
Joey turns and gets eye contact with her, smiles.
The woman and her family drive off.
EXT. STREET - LATER
AN AMBULANCE
Picks up Mr. Hamilton.
JOEY
walks to a garbage container, smiling from ear to ear, as a
POLICE CAR
stops for the light, with the same two Punks in the back
seat.
Joey pulls out some nice fresh aluminum cans.
BRAD
Nice shopping cart. What model is
it?
JOEY
I don't know. It belonged to a
friend.
BRAD, 60, badly need of make-over, picks up empty cans from
the gutter, and tosses them into--what is now--Joey's cart.
Joey with the cart, and Brad walk down the street.
JOEY
Do shopping carts have models?
BRAD
Good question.
FADE OUT.