The Knot – Scene 10

EXT. JACK-N-THE-BOX PARKING LOT – NIGHT
DEVIN and MITCH are standing in a dumpster. They’ve found the box and are trying to lift it up to DAVE. The three are attempting to load the box into the back of a Blackbird Roost Apartment labeled pick-up truck.

DEVIN
(TO DAVE) You dumb ass

DAVE
What?

DEVIN
Grease all over me; I smell like a Jumbo Jack Burger. You could’ve hid this in the woods or something!

DAVE
Didn’t think I’d be back.

MITCH is holding the box looking down at the weed.

MITCH
Look at all that weed!

DAVE
Shut up! Just put it in the truck.

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The Knot – Scene 9

EXT. DUSTY ROAD IN ARIZONA – DUSK

VICTOR SANZ, in his early 30s, tall, tan leathered skin, with jet-black hair, drives a mint late model burgundy El Camino SS into an endless desert horizon. Dust kicks up from his tires leaving a huge trail of smoke.

The El Camino is modified loud and has an air-freshener of a hand shooting the bird hanging from the rear view mirror. Rusty pliers are on the front passenger seat next to a copy of GEORGE ORWELL’S 1984.

The car pulls into a rock gravel parking lot of an old run-down bar, the sign reads: THE BIG STEER. There is an oversized cow statue in the front parking lot. Victor walks to a roadside pay phone and puts in a coin. VICTOR dials.

VICTOR SANZ
It’s Victor. (Pause) I told you I’m not coming there for that. (Pause) You think I spent all day driving up from Tucson for you to fuck me in the ass like this?

VICTOR slams the phone down on the receiver. He enters the bar. A gun is visible in the back of his black jeans.

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The Knot – Scene 8

INT. DAVE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
MITCH and DEVIN are watching the Karate Kid – we hear the music “You’re The Best” by Joe Espisito. The guys are quoting the movie as DAVE stands anxiously in the doorway.

DAVE
Guys.

DEVIN
Shut it, Dave, crane kick’s coming up! (Quoting movie) Get him a body bag, yeah!

MITCH
(Quoting movie) Finish him, Johnny, finish him!

DEVIN
(Quoting movie) It’s over Johnny, yeah, you did it!

DAVE
(Annoyed) Hey!

DAVE closes the door and throws a brick of weed at DEVIN who gets hit in the balls with the brick and reacts in pain.

MITCH pauses the movie right as Daniel Larusso gets into his crane kick stance about to kick Johnny in the head. They all look at the brick.

MITCH
Where did you?

DEVIN
What the?

DAVE
I know. I found it in the pool shed outside.

MITCH
What do you mean, you found it in the pool shed?

DAVE
It was just there, sitting behind the pool pumps in a big brown paper box. There was a lot of it. My dad told me to dump it somewhere, so I did.

DEVIN
(Dumbfounded) You what? You mean there’s more?

DAVE
I don’t want a bunch of weed sitting around.

DEVIN
Good God, you dumped a box of weed! What the fuck is wrong with you?

DAVE nods yes but doesn’t feel good about it. He looks queasy.

DEVIN (CON’T)
Did you smoke it first or something?

MITCH LAUGHS. DAVE sits down next to DEVIN and MITCH who are studying the brick of weed.

DAVE
I put it in a dumpster. That will last us a long time.

DEVIN shakes his head in disbelief.

DEVIN
Are you fist fucking me?

DAVE
Forget it!

DEVIN
You could’ve sold it!

DAVE
Like I know anything about selling weed.

DEVIN
Where did you dump it?

DAVE shakes his head visually trying to ignore Devin.

MITCH
Lets see how this smokes.

DEVIN starts unwrapping the brick and his face is visually startled by the potency.

DEVIN
Man this stuff reeks!

DEVIN pulls off a bud, loads a glass pipe, lights it, inhales and then passes the pipe to MITCH.

DEVIN (CON’T)
(In between inhaling) This isn’t your typical Flag-Schwag. This stuff has a name. (Exhaling) Black gold!

MITCH
I’ve always wanted to smoke something with a name.

MITCH takes the pipe and inhales.

DEVIN
Smoke this Mitch…

DEVIN grabs his crotch.

DEVIN (CON’T)
I call him the terminator!

MITCH’S lungs are full of smoke as he shoots DEVIN the bird and coughs furiously. DAVE reluctantly hits the pipe slightly and passes to DEVIN.

MITCH
(To DEVIN) What’s the street value?

DEVIN
Have to think this is probably $200 an ounce.

MITCH
Are you stoned already?

DEVIN
I’d pay $200 an ounce for it.

MITCH
Devin, you’d pay $200 for a reach around. (To DAVE) What did the box weigh?

DAVE
At least 50 pounds, maybe more.

DEVIN
I can’t believe you dumped it bro. (Beat) Lets go get it. We can sell this tonight. We can quit our jobs!

DAVE
Yeah (like whatever), not likely.

DEVIN
Show me where you dumped that box, Dave.

DAVE
Man, I’m not sure I want anything to do with this. I should’ve called the cops.

MITCH and DEVIN look at him like he’s nuts.

DAVE (CON’T)
I mean, what if I was pulled over?

DEVIN
Dave. (Beat) Dude (Beat) Go. Get. That. Weed! We’re talking thousands of dollars here. We can sell this.

MITCH
(To DEVIN) It’s Dave’s weed, dude.

DEVIN
(To MITCH) Dave dumped the weed. (Looking at DAVE) It’s not Dave’s weed anymore.

MITCH pauses and looks at the ground and then looks up at DAVE with sympathy and optimism. He’s about to pitch DAVE.

MITCH
I don’t want you to take this the wrong way. Your dad has been jerking you around for three years now, always threatening to leave and put you in charge. And I know you want to believe him, shit, we all want to believe him, but you’ve got to have doubts about whether that’s ever going to happen.

DAVE
What are you saying?

MITCH
I’m saying, “Why the hell not?” Take a chance. The money you’ll make will give you the freedom you want.

DAVE
Freedom? Define, “freedom.”

Devin gets up and starts putting on his shoes.

MITCH
Money.

DEVIN
You could use some of that, Dave

MITCH
No job.

DEVIN
(Crouched over tying his shoes looking up) Lawn boy makes good!

MITCH
Get stoned all day and do whatever.

DEVIN
You know what I’ll be doin’!

DAVE
Man, I don’t know.

MITCH
Come on Dave, dream a little.

DAVE
I dream plenty. Just not about being a drug dealer.

Devin is putting on his coat.

DEVIN
Just tell us where it is. I’ll give you fifty bucks.

MITCH LAUGHS at DEVIN.

DAVE
(To DEVIN) Where you going?

DEVIN
You tell me Dave, I’m not the fucktard that threw a box full of weed in a dumpster.

DAVE
(Sighs) Enough. Fine. Let’s go. But you guys are comin’ with me. (Beat) You better be right about this.

MITCH
I’m coming to, but let’s watch the end of this.

MITCH presses play on the remote and we see Daniel Larusso nail Johnny in the head with the crane kick.

—-

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The Knot – Scene 7

EXT. BLACKBIRD ROOST APARTMENTS – DUSK

DAVE walks through the courtyard of the apartment complex listening to his iPod and picking up trash with a pole. As he walks towards the pool shed he goes to unlock the latch on the door but the door is already unlocked. Dave views the lock with squinted eyes, clearly surprised to find it unlocked. He tilts his head before removing his iPod earphones, the music is now audible, Jack Johnson’s Banana Pancakes plays. Dave glances around the area perplexed.

DAVE enters the pool shed and goes behind the pool pumps by the chlorine tablet bags. The box from the opening credits is there. DAVE picks it up, it’s obviously heavy, and the box is unmarked without any names or postage identification.

DAVE – NARRATING
My mom used to tell me that “finders keepers, losers weepers” wasn’t a good philosophy to live by. (BEAT) I never was a good listener.

DAVE carries the box to the leasing office where STAN is sitting behind his desk. STAN’s back is to DAVE, and STAN is looking through filing cabinets.

DAVE
Dad?

STAN
Glad you’re here, just getting everything ready.

Stan turns round to see DAVE with the box.

STAN (CONT)
Whatcha got there?

DAVE
Found it outside. (BEAT) It’s not addressed to anyone.

STAN
Well…(Perplexed) Open it.

DAVE opens the box with a pair of scissors. The box is packed with vacuum-sealed bricks of marijuana.

STAN
Jesus Christ, Dave! Where did you find this?

DAVE
Just outside, I’ll show you.

STAN: Like hell you will! I’ve seen enough as it is. Get rid of it.

DAVE: And do what?

STAN: How should I know? Dump it. Sell it. Have a bake sale. I don’t give a shit either way. Just get it out of my office.

DAVE nods approvingly and leaves the leasing office with the box.

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The Knot – Scene 6

INT. DAVE’S APARTMENT – DAY

Two men in their early 20s are sitting around the living room. DEVIN PARKS, who speaks as if he’s ablaze and walks like there’s a sale. DEVIN compensates for his balding head with a long goatee; and MITCH GIBBONS, who sports a chiseled face and ripped arms. He is God’s gift to women yet he’s somehow humble enough to be likable.

DEVIN and MITCH are playing video games; beer bottles are everywhere in an apartment that is decorated in leftover college furniture and jam band posters.

DEVIN
Look ladies, it’s the lawn boy!

DAVE
Tired of that shit.

DEVIN
Bad day at the office, cutter?

DAVE
What’d you do today, dipshit?

DEVIN
You’re looking at it. (BEAT) It’s Saturday, dawg.

MITCH
Dawg. (LAUGHS)

DAVE
I’ll be running this place soon and your punk ass will be paying rent.

DEVIN
You’ve been mowing the grass all day while I’ve been getting my drink on!

DAVE
I need a shower.

DAVE goes to the bathroom, sound of: SHOWER. MITCH pauses the video game as DEVIN looks at him annoyed.

MITCH
(To DEVIN) You should really give the guy a break, man.

DEVIN
What?

MITCH
All that lawn boy stuff? (Beat) He hates that.

DEVIN
Well jeez, don’t I feel like a douche-bag?

DEVIN drinks his beer as if it’s nothing. MITCH shakes his head slightly annoyed.

DEVIN (CON’T)
You’re serious?

MITCH
Yeah, dude’s been bustin’ his ass.

DEVIN
Stan needs to get his poop in a group and retire.

MITCH
I know I wouldn’t want to mow lawns and evict people waiting for my old man to retire.

DEVIN
But Mitch, he’s set once Stan takes off.

MITCH
If you call managing some apartment complex “set” then you need to dream a little bigger.

MITCH motions for DEVIN to be quiet, as DAVE emerges dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

MITCH
(To DAVE) That was quick.

DEVIN
(To DAVE) Damn, son, you use soap in there?

DAVE
Where we going tonight?

MITCH
Maloney’s?

DEVIN
Too many frat boy douche-bags.

MITCH
Monte Vee?

DEVIN nods his head yes.

DAVE
I gotta get some things done around here first.

—

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The Knot – Scene 5

EXT. APT 104B – DAY
HANNAH AGUILAR, mid-40’s, would be very attractive if she gave a shit, stands in the doorway in a blue t-shirt, gray sweat pants and no make-up. Her hair is in a ponytail that seems like an afterthought. She wears a wedding ring that is missing a stone.

Six-year-old OLIVIA AGUILAR’s large sad eyes are barely visible through her unwashed black hair and dark skin as she stands by HANNAH’S’s side in her nightgown holding her mother’s leg and a naked Barbie doll. OLIVIA is always holding something. HANNAH is disappointed to see DAVE.

DAVE
Hi, Hannah. (Not happy to be here)

HANNAH AGUILAR
I suppose you’re here for the rent?

DAVE nods yes shyly through the doorway, embarrassed.

DAVE
Hi, Olivia, what you got there?

OLIVIA
My dolly, her name is Ice Cream.

DAVE and HANNAH make sad smiles to each other.

HANNAH
(Yelled into the apartment) Artie?

OLIVIA
(Imitating her mother) Artie?

ARTIE AGUILAR (OS)
(Annoyed) What?

HANNAH
Dave is here for the rent. (Under her breath so only Dave can hear).  Again.

ARTIE AGUILAR is tall and slender with dark skin. He wears black dress slacks and a white A-line tank top that is un-tucked and too long. ARTIE is unshaven and he suffers from a false sense of machismo. ARTIE brushes HANNAH and OLIVIA aside as he comes to the doorway and leans his arms on the threshold. He flexes his muscles and his upper lip glistens with sweat.

ARTIE
Look, man, I’ll get it to you next week. I’ve had a bit of (Beat) a job problem.

DAVE
(Sincere) I understand. No problem.

ARTIE
You see? Getting ready for an interview right now.

DAVE
Next week will be fine.

ARTIE
(Ungrateful) Thanks.

DAVE
(Honest) Good luck with that interview.

ARTIE SLAMS the door in DAVE’S face. DAVE starts walking down the hall. The door opens behind him and DAVE turns around walking backwards.

HANNAH
Sorry, Dave.

ARTIE (OS)
Close the damn door!

DAVE
(To HANNAH) No problem, Hannah, thank you.

DAVE – NARRATING
The world wouldn’t miss a guy like Artie Aguilar.

—

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The Knot – Scene 4

INT. APARTMENT COMPLEX LEASING OFFICE – DAY

DAVE walks thru a door that reads: Leasing Office

Sitting behind a desk is STAN HOLTON, late 50s, plump, with thinning hair. He’s dressed like he is going to a cookout complete with a dated Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts. The office is bare bones – only business essentials.

STAN HOLTON
Mornin’, Dave.

DAVE HOLTON
Sup’ Dad? (Beat) Did you see that blond?

STAN
Does the pope wear a funny hat?

DAVE
She a resident?

STAN
Find out. It’d be a good excuse to talk to her.

DAVE
I reek of chlorine.

STAN
So what?

DAVE
and I look like Jabba-the-Hutt just had a seizure.

STAN
(LAUGHS) Shower and a haircut would fix that. Look.

Stan hands DAVE binoculars but DAVE quickly declines. Stan looks out the window with his binoculars then stops suddenly, and looks at a picture of a woman in an old wood frame. Stan tosses the binoculars aside.

DAVE
You miss her don’t you?

Stan clinches his lip and holds back sadness. Stan picks up the frame and studies the picture. Stan sets the picture down and looks at DAVE with optimism.

STAN
It’s been five years now, time to move on.

DAVE looks confused and concerned.

STAN (CON’T)
Too many memories here, Dave. So many, I can’t stay here anymore.

DAVE
What are you talking about?

STAN
When your mom and I built this place we made our dreams come alive. (Beat) Sure, The Roost doesn’t look all that great today, but she really used to be something.

DAVE
Wish I could’ve seen that.

STAN
My life aint getting any better, Dave.  As of tomorrow, kid, you’re the boss around here.

Stan flips DAVE a set of keys.

DAVE
You messing with me?

STAN
(LAUGHS) No, I’m serious. I’m ready. You’re ready.

DAVE wipes off more sweat with his shirtsleeve. Still somewhat in disbelief. Stan hands Dave a towel.

STAN (CONT)
Wipe that silly look off your face, the Roost is yours! Well, half yours, I gotta make a living somehow. (Beat) Towel?

DAVE nods and wipes off more sweat with the towel.

DAVE
Where you headed?

STAN
You know we always wanted to retire in Mexico. Maybe a little fishing village. Something simple.

DAVE nods yes and smiles sympathetically at his dad.

STAN (CON’T)
Heading there tomorrow to look for a place to stay. Call you when I get settled. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks to get my things.

DAVE nods his head approvingly and moves to leave.

STAN (CON’T)
Hey before you leave, can you run over to 104B? Mr. Aguilar is late on the rent again. (BEAT) He’s your problem now.

—

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The Knot – Scene 3

EXT. HOUSE DRIVE WAY – DAY
ACE loads the box into the back of a black SUV. The SUV heads north through downtown Phoenix on Highway 17. We follow the SUV through desert landscape and the mountain peaks of Flagstaff are in the horizon on a beautiful blue cloudless day. Road sign: Welcome to Flagstaff.

—

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The Knot – Scene 2

SUPER
“Four Weeks Ago”

INT. AREA RUG – MORNING
A large cardboard box is being wrapped with brown paper on top of shag carpet. ACE, whose face is unseen is wrapping the box. He has a tattoo on the inside of his right forearm of the Ace of Spades. ACE forms a knot on the top of the box with hemp rope.

—–

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The Knot – Scene 1

SUPER
“Look down on me, you will see a fool. Look up at me; you will see your lord. Look straight at me, you will see yourself.” – Charles Manson

INT. CABIN – NIGHT
The back of a dental chair shakes on old rusty hinges. The walls and the floor are splattered with blood; the floor has human tissue and fingertips on it. There are jars with teeth in them on a shelf. Pliers, a propane torch and other dental tools sit on a dental chair table and the dental light is on.

VICTIM’s POV. Facing the chair we see an enraged DAVE HOLTON, mid-20s and overweight wearing a black hooded raincoat. DAVE is sweating and blood covers his nose and mouth. DAVE is holding a gun and preparing to shoot. The gun is pointed at the Victim.

DAVE – NARRATING
Stop.

Movement stops as we freeze on DAVE looking possessed.

DAVE – NARRATING (CON’T)
You may wonder how a fat ass wimpy white bread like me could be in this predicament.

Camera moves to a bloodied dead body on the floor.

DAVE – NARRATING (CON’T)
That can’t instill confidence either.

Victim’s POV. Still frozen on DAVE. Camera pans over DAVE’s shoulder and through the closed wall behind him to a bunch of cops also frozen in running movement, about to charge through, guns drawn.

DAVE – NARRATING (CON’T)
Most movies start out with a save the cat kind of moment. You know, the unlikely hero does something remarkable that makes you root for him throughout the film. (BEAT) I guess this aint that kind of movie.

SUPER
“The Knot”

SUPER
Inspired by true events.

——

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