Cara O'Brien 'Madness on the Seine'
Episode 7
2.2.1. 'Wrap Pack' Cara O'Brien
GENRE: FILM NOIR
JACK'S HOTEL ROOM
FX: INT KNOCK ON JACK'S DOOR(Voices coming from outside)
DETECTIVE: (Knock) Monseiur Flanaghan? (Knock) Monseiur Flanaghan open ce door! This is the police! [Pause] Ok Francois
FX: KNOCKING DOOR DOWN
DETECTIVE: [Bursting through door - Acoustic change] Check all the rooms!
JACK: [Waking up in panic] What? Who are you? What are you doing here?
DETECTIVE: Monseuir Flanaghan I am arresting you for the murder of a Monseiur Buck Steinburg
JACK: Murder! But - (Struggling) Get off me! Who are you?
FX: STRUGGLE HAND CUFFING JACK
DETECTIVE: I am Detective (name TBC) You do not have to say anything that may be held against you in a court of law. Also…
FX: TAKING JACK OUT OF ROOM
JACK: [Exiting under restraint] (Shocked) You've made a big mistake- You've got the wrong man!
2.2.2.
INTERVIEW ROOMFX: CASSETTE TAPE IN MACHINE AND PRESSING RECORD
JACK: (Calm, tired) Is this absolutely necessary? I'm innocent
[Pause]
(Direct) Aren't you gonna ask questions then?
FX: DECTECTIVE OPENS TIN
DETECTIVE: Everyone thinks that detectives do nothing but asks questions [Offering Jack] Ciggarette?
JACK: [Taking one] Thanks
FX: LIGHTS UP AND INHALES
DETECTIVE: I am sorry for dragging you down here like an animal Monseiur Flanaghan. This must be quite a shock for you.
JACK: I haven't murdered anyone
DETECTIVE: Tell me your whereabouts from 10.00pm yesterday to this morning at 9.00 am
JACK: I'm working on a new film noir movie called Murder on the Seine. I'm -
DETECTIVE: I know all about your job
JACK: I was on set till a little after 10. Then I met with the props lady for a night cap. After, I went back to my hotel room where I slept alone all night.
DETECTIVE: Tell me Monseuir, what was the mademoiselle's name?
JACK: The props lady? Umm…Brigitte
DETECTIVE: [To officer at the door] Francois, please open the door
FX: DOOR OPENS AND PROPS GIRL ENTERS
DETECTIVE: Is this the girl you were with?
JACK: Y-y-es
DETECTIVE: What is your name Madamoiselle?GIRL: Joan
DETECTIVE: Not Brigitte?
GIRL: No Detective. I never had a drink with this man in my life
DETECTIVE: Thank you Madamoiselle Joan
FX: GIRL EXITS
DETECTIVE: So Jacque are you going to tell me the truth or would you rater I tell you
JACK: OK. It all started when I sent to Ms DuBois trailer by her husband Mr Steinburg
GRAMS: DREAM MUSIC. CROSSFADE TO EXT TRAILER GRAMOPHONE MUSIC
2.2.3 - FLASHBACK SCENE. EXT. MAGGIE'S TRAILER
GRAMS: GRAMOPHONE MUSIC
FX: JACK KNOCKS ON DOORMAGGIE: Entrez, doors open
JACK: (Sighs - to himself) Come on Jack, pull yourself together
FX: JACK OPENS DOOR AND ENTERS
INT. ACOUSTIC
GRAMS: GRAMOPHONE MUSIC LOUDERJACK: Er…hello? Ms DuBois? My name is Jack Flanaghan. Your husband…
MAGGIE: [Travelling on the line - entering from another room] (Inquistively) Who is it? (Seductively) Oh excuse me. I was getting changed. I couldn't hear you from in there
JACK: (Nervous-reaction to Maggie only wearing satin dressing gown) Umm…Er…My name is Jack-your husband…
MAGGIE: (Chuckling) Jeepers, You're my husband! It's an improvement anyway.
JACK: No I meant…
MAGGIE: In that case you don't have to have to shut your eyes Jack
JACK: (stuttering) B-b-ut your not fully decent!
MAGGIE: Oh honey relax. We're all adults here. I'll put my dressing gown on if it makes you feel more comfortable. Drink?
JACK: I don't know…
MAGGIE: [Putting on dressing gown] For cat's sake will you sit down. Your making me nervous
JACK: Just a small one
FX: POURING DRINK
MAGGIE: Scotch straight up. [POSITION 2] It's the kinda drink a girl needs after the day I had.
FX: GLASSES CLINKING
JACK: Bad day?
MAGGIE: Like you wouldn't believe. Oh everything's such a mess Jack. 'Margaret DuBois - The Femme Fatale' Yeah right! I'm certainly a fatal actress
JACK: I think you're a wonderful actress Margaret
MAGGIE: You are sweet. Call me Maggie.
JACK: I think your wonderful Maggie
MAGGIE: But you don't understand, working with Buck is…well let's just say it's a disaster. The film is a disaster!
JACK: Including the location?
MAGGIE: Why?
JACK: I chose it
MAGGIE: I love the location. Paris - [moving into POS.1] the city of lovers
JACK: It's a lonely town when you have no one to love
MAGGIE: I know exactly what you mean Jack. I'm always lonely
JACK: I'm here now
MAGGIE: Oh Jack
FX: KISSING
GRAMS: FADE UP GRAMOPHONE MUSIC
=========================================================2.2.4 - INT. DETECTIVE'S OFFICE
GRAMS: CHEESY MUSIC. CROSSFADE TO DREAM MUSIC
FADE DOWNJACK: And so I spent the night with her until I was woken at 6.00am by a noisy Janitor. snuck out without anyone seeing me
DETECTIVE How convenient (Strikes a match and lights ciggarette) This is a very interesting story Monseiur Flanaghan. It is however, only a story. An imaginative one at that
JACK: It's the truth. Ask Maggie!
DETECTIVE: I have already asked Maggie. Ms DuBois was informed of her husband's murder here at 7.00am this morning.
JACK: And?
DETECTIVE: Madame DuBois was in her budoir all evening. This is what she had to say.
FX: PRESSING PLAY ON CASETTE RECORDER
MAGGIE: [Recorded on tape] After my last scene I returned to my trailer. I spent the entire night with my maid learning scripts and listening to records.
FX: PRESSING STOP ON CASETTE RECORDER
JACK: That's a lie I tell ya. I was with her!
DETECTIVE: Her maid has confirmed Madame DuBois's alibi
JACK: No!
DETECTIVE: There is no grey matter here, everything is in black and white. You were seen by witnesses on set earlier that evening with the murder weapon - a 1940's revolver!
JACK: I was asked to take it on set to shoot the scene
DETECTIVE: To shoot the scene eh? Not a very good choice of words Monseiur Flanaghan. Then how do you explain a blood stained shirt and these bullets found in your hotel room?
FX: ROLLING BULLETS ON TABLE
JACK: I have never seen those before in my life. I don't know what your talkin about. I had never held a gun in my life before yesterday
DETECTIVE: And had never used one before either? It only takes a motive and your motive was jealousy. You were green with envy of Monseiur Steinburg as he was married to Madame DuBois. You are in love with her are you not Monseiur Flanaghan?
JACK: I have feelings for her…
DETECTIVE: (Attacking) And you could not bear to see her with another man could you Monseiur Flanaghan?
JACK: She was unhappy
DETECTIVE: You thought by ridding her of her husband that she would fall madly in love with you?
JACK: NO!
DETECTIVE: Ha! You're a mad Monseiur Flanaghan and your madness made you snap. You murdered Buck Steinburg in a cold and calculated fashion and you shall pay for your crime in the French courts
JACK: You are making a big mistake Detective. I want my lawyer
DETECTIVE: You are allowed one phone call so you better choose wisely. You will need all the help you can get
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2.2.5 - INTERIOR FRENCH POLICE STATION
FX: JACK ON PHONE. RINGING
OLIVIA: [Answering phone] Good morning Olivia speaking
JACK: Liv, it's me Jack
OLIVIA: Hi Jack, Where have you been? I've been waiting for your call. How's the location?
JACK: Liv I dunno how to say this, so I'm just gonna say it quick. Buck Steinburg's body was found on set this morning - I have been charged with his murder
OLIVIA: YOU WHAT?!
JACK: I didn't do it Liv, you gotta believe me. I've been set up!
OLIVIA: (Frantic) Jack this better not be some kind of sick joke
JACK: I can't talk long. I only have one phone call and I need a lawyer. Do you know of anyone?
OLIVIA: Let me guess, it's got something to do with a woman
JACK: Margaret DuBois
OLIVIA: His wife?! You have really gone and done it this time Jack! I'll see what I can do but I have a good mind to let you sweat this one out
FX: SLAMS DOWN RECEIVER
INT. OLIVIA"S OFFICE
OLIVIA: [To herself] (Angry-Out loud) God Damn you Jack! Your such a schmuck! What am I gonna do? Richard's gonna go mad, he'll fire me for sure.
FX: KNOCK ON DOOR. COLIN ENTERS
COLIN: Is everything alright Olivia? I heard you shouting
OLIVIA: No everything is not alright. It's that putz of a friend of yours
COLIN: Jack's messed up again huh? I warned you
OLIVIA: Messed up is an understatement of the century. No he's outdone himself this time. I need to find a lawyer quickly that won't cost anything. Know of anyone?
COLIN: (Thinking) Umm…what about…No he won't do it, not for free
OLIVIA: (Revelation) You! Get your bags packed your going to Paris
COLIN: But I…
OLIVIA: I know I made a mistake. I should have sent you in the first place. Please Colin I need you, the company needs you.