Brazil Run - draft 2 (15 pages)
Brazil Run - feature screenplay by Stone Korshak
FADE IN:
EXT. RIO BEACH (DRIVING POV) - DAY - MAIN TITLES
A collage of bright colored tiny bikinis on beautiful bodies
passes slowly.
The long Rio beach is spotted with palm trees and drink
stands.
The car stereo starts to PLAY Credence Clearwater Revival:
"Run Through the Jungle".
EXT. RIO CENTRO (DRIVING POV) - CONTINUOUS - TITLES CONTINUE
The streets are crowded, dirty, and shaded by tall buildings.
Buses pile on each other, moving inefficiently along the
roadways congested with small non-American cars.
EXT. RIO SHIPYARD (DRIVING POV) - CONTINUOUS - TITLES
CONTINUE
The raised highway runs along an endless shipyard with
gigantic metal cranes stretching into the bright horizon.
EXT. RIO FAVELA (DRIVING POV) - CONTINUOUS - TITLES CONTINUE
The hills lining the highway are carpeted with the Favela
slums, ramshackle homes of mismatched brick and unfinished
levels stack on top of each other.
EXT. RIO SUBURBS (DRIVING POV) - CONTINUOUS - TITLES CONTINUE
The green fields open up along the highway, interrupted by
polluted rivers, billboards and color-coordinated apartment
buildings.
TITLES END
EXT. RIO AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS
The sprawling airport compound is alive with vehicles coming
and going.
TITLE: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The international fleet of planes line the horizon, distorted
in the polluted, blistering haze.
EXT. AIRPORT DEPARTURE DROP-OFF AREA - DAY
SMITTY, a gringo pushing 40, unshaven, messy with a deep tan,
steps out of a taxi smoking a cigarette in sunglasses,
wearing a wrinkled white button-down shirt and jeans.
He's calm in the chaos of endless cars HONKING and stuttering
around him.
The sign above (in Portuguese): International Departures
Oppressive heat weighs on groups of travelers, unloading
oversize luggage and the extra boxes required for
international trips.
He finishes his cigarette while the driver dumps his two worn
suitcases on the curb.
SMITTY
(in Portuguese)
Thanks.
He pays the driver, picks up his bags and enters.
INT. AIRPORT ATRIUM - DAY
The airport INTERCOM is steadily providing flight information
from overhead in Portuguese then English.
Smitty waits while his cell phone RINGS, with his luggage
between his legs. Through his sunglasses he watches the
people buzzing around him.
Large wealthy families, business men, aspiring models,
exchange students and sunburnt-gringo-backpackers fill the
airport mezzanine.
The phone is answered.
GINA'S VOICE
(through the phone - in
English)
Hello?
SMITTY
(in English)
Hey, I'm at the airport.
GINA'S VOICE
Good. Everything okay?
SMITTY
Yeah, fine.
INT. HOME IN NEW JERSEY - DAY - INTERCUT AS DESIRED
Gina, looks great at 36, with olive skin and thick wavy dark
hair. She sits on a burgundy leather couch in a spacious
living room, watching TV.
GINA
What time do you get in?
SMITTY
(disappointed)
Six Gina, same as always.
(pause)
Guess I'll get a cab.
GINA
(annoyed)
The kids have to get to school
early, remember the band recital.
SMITTY
(long sigh)
Sure.
(pause)
What the fuck.
GINA
Michael.
SMITTY
What the fuck Gina? Really?
GINA
Okay. I'll get Angie to come over.
I'll be there by seven, we can
talk, I'm sorry.
(pause)
Michael?
Smitty shakes his head, and then notices a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
walking by slowly, smiling at him.
SMITTY
Don't worry about it, I'll get a
cab. See you in the morning. Give
the kids my love.
INT. AIRPORT CHECK-IN LINE - DAY
As Smitty steps into the long line, he notices the same
Beautiful Woman enter directly behind him.
SMITTY
(in Portuguese)
Hi, good afternoon.
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
(in Portuguese)
Good afternoon.
She smiles flirtatiously, but offers nothing more. He
notices she is only carrying her hand bag.
SMITTY
(in English)
Traveling light?
She only smiles.
Smitty turns to see two uniformed AIRPORT POLICE approach
him, tense and grim.
AIRPORT POLICE 1
(in English)
Name and destination sir?
SMITTY
Mike Smith.
(pause)
Newark, New Jersey... New York.
AIRPORT POLICE 1
Come with us please.
Smitty looks around, catches the eye of several Security
Personnel in the immediate area, and the Beautiful Woman
walks away.
SMITTY
What's the problem?
The Police become rigid and glare in silent warning, raising
an arm to indicate the way.
AIRPORT POLICE 1
This way, sir.
INT. AIRPORT HALLWAY - DAY
Smitty looks back over his shoulder with an Officer on either
side of him, each carrying one of his bags.
They move down a long institutional hallway with flickering
overhead lights and no windows.
INT. AIRPORT INTERGATION ROOM - DAY
Smitty sits in the windowless room while the Officers tear
through his luggage on the table in front of him.
He starts to stand but one of them points forcefully.
AIRPORT POLICE 1
(in English)
Sit.
SMITTY
(in English)
What's going on? Am I gonna miss my
flight?
Neither acknowledge the question.
One of them pulls out a large package wrapped in newspaper.
After opening it, he holds up two Pandeiro Tambourines.
Smitty smiles wryly, holding his hands up in mock disbelief.
SMITTY (CONT'D)
Gifts, for the kids.
After pulling everything out of his bags, they leave the room
frustrated.
AIRPORT POLICE 1
Wait here.
SMITTY
Sure, no problem.
(pause)
Thanks.
INT. AIRPORT INTERGATION ROOM - LATER
Smitty is fidgeting in his chair and rubbing the stubble on
his chin anxiously.
He holds his cell phone in the air to no avail, so he pockets
it again. The overhead light HUMS and flickers.
The door opens suddenly and two POLICE OFFICERS in
paramilitary uniforms enter.
One is large and heavy with lighter skin and a pencil thin
moustache. The other officer is darker, handsome with
piercing blue eyes, slender but built.
They both stand in front of Smitty, looking at him for a
moment.
SMITTY
(in English)
What the hell's going on?
(pause)
I missed my flight.
(pause)
Who's paying for that?
LIEUTENANT HECTOR ALVARO, the heavier one, sneers while
smoothing his mustache, and eyes him playfully.
ALVARO
(in Portuguese)
You speak Portuguese.
OFFICER MARCOS NEVES, approaches with a self-assured smile,
and sits on the corner of the table.
NEVES
(in English)
If you speak in Portuguese, our
English is so-so.
Smitty stands up and POUNDS the table.
SMITTY
(in English)
I could give a shit! I've been here
for two hours. What's the fuckin'
problem!?
Alvaro moves fast for a big man. He grabs Smitty's head and
throws it backwards, his body follows, THUMPING into the
wall, then staggers.
Alvaro catches him and puts him back in the chair. Neves
hasn't moved and Smitty rubs his head.
NEVES
(in Portuguese)
Do you speak Portuguese now?
SMITTY
(in Portuguese)
A little.
There is a moment of silence as everyone in the room takes in
the situation.
NEVES
Your name is Michael Smith?
SMITTY
Yeah.
NEVES
We think you are smuggling drugs.
SMITTY
No.
ALVARO
We know you are smuggling drugs.
SMITTY
NO, no drugs!
(pause - in English)
You know who I am?
ALVARO
(slowly - in Portuguese)
Big American business man, comes
down here to fuck whores and get
cheap cocaine to bring back to his
stupid cunt wife.
Smitty looks at him for a moment in confusion.
SMITTY
(in English)
Fuck you.
Alvaro grabs for him again but this time Smitty is ready. He
stands and ducks out of the way, tripping Alvaro so he
stumbles.
Neves grabs Smitty from behind, putting his arm around his
neck in a choke hold, pulling him back against the wall.
Alvaro is on him in a flash, PUNCHING his gut, again and
again, and then kneeing him in the groin.
Smitty falls to the ground in fettle position. Alvaro STOMPS
on his head, then the next time Smitty blacks out.
FADE IN:
INT. AIRPORT INTERGATION ROOM - LATER
Smitty is bruised and bloody, laying on the ground. He opens
his eyes to VOICES.
Alvaro is sitting on a chair enjoying a cigarette, while
Neves is tearing out the liner of his bags.
NEVES
(in Portuguese)
There must be something.
Smitty sits up in the corner, not attempting to get off the
floor.
Alvaro gives him a wink and snarls a kiss.
Neves walks over to Smitty and roughly reaching for his
pocket, pulls out some papers, and a distinct black Passport.
NEVES (CONT'D)
What's this?
Neves looks at the Passport with Diplomatic written across
the front, and his eyes narrow, his mouth tightens. Then he
hands it to Alvaro, who lowers his head in a GRUNT.
ALVARO
(in Portuguese)
A diplomate.
NEVES
What now?
Alvaro tosses the Passport back to Neves with a grim shrug.
SMITTY
(in Portuguese)
It's no problem.
(in English)
Just let me on the plane, please.
Alvaro and Neves look at each other, Neves gives a nod of
agreement, and Alvaro takes out his pistol.
Smitty stands, hands up.
SMITTY
(in Portuguese)
It's no problem!
Neves turns away, puts the Passport into his pocket, and
starts throwing the clothes into the torn up luggage.
SMITTY (CONT'D)
You can't do this, not here.
Alvaro smiles, screws on a silencer, and raises the pistol
slowly at Smitty.
SMITTY (CONT'D)
Please, nobody needs know.
(pause)
I have money!
ALVARO
(in Portuguese)
Now he speaks Portuguese.
CLICK, the gun jams.
ALVARO (CONT'D)
Shit.
Neves looks over his shoulder, in teasing reproach.
Smitty is watching in stunned disbelief.
Alvaro aims and tries again, CLICK, the gun is still jammed.
Smitty snaps out of it, picks up the chair and throws is at
Alvaro, who waves it away TUMBLING to the floor.
Then Smitty steps forward and PUNCHES Alvaro hard and square
in the chin, his knees buckle and he stumbles back and slides
against the wall.
Neves goes for his pistol but Smitty reaches him too fast.
They struggle and Smitty fluidly pulls his head down into a
front head-lock, then KNEES him in the face, AGAIN and the
AGAIN.
Neves crumbles in a WHIMPER with blood covering his face and
shirt.
Alvaro is getting up unsteadily with wet eyes.
Smitty runs out the door.
INT. AIRPORT HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Smitty sprints down the hall. Twenty meters behind, Alvaro
SLAMS the door open in chase.
INT. AIRPORT ATRIUM - CONTINUOUS
Smitty charges out of the hallway doors into the large open
atrium bustling with people.
Smitty runs full speed, weaving through the crowd towards the
escalator going down.
As he is midway across the floor, Alvaro CRASHES out of the
hallway doors.
ALVARO
(in Portuguese)
POLICE, FREEZE, STOP HIM!
An AIRPORT POLICEMAN moves from a corner of the room to cut
Smitty off.
They collide against the balcony railing, Smitty side-steps
and using the Policeman's momentum, tosses him over the edge.
The Policeman manages to hold onto the railing, and silently
dangles three-stories above the ground floor.
Smitty looks down into the Policeman's eyes for a moment,
then hears Alvaro.
ALVARO
STOP HIM!
Alvaro is charging across the atrium floor, pushing people
out of his way, knocking some to the floor.
ALVARO
GET OUT'A MY WAY!
Behind him Neves emerges from the hallway, hand over his
bleeding nose.
Smitty dashes down the escalator, sliding through the
startled spectators.
The dangling Policeman falls SCREAMING behind Smitty, and
CRASHES down into a restaurant seating area.
Smitty reaches the bottom of the escalator and runs full
speed for the exit.
Alvaro is half-way down the escalator. Neves is at the top
looking over the edge at the fallen Officer. Airport Police
are converging into the lobby, confused.
ALVARO
(in Portuguese)
Get the gringo!
(screaming)
MOVE!
EXT. AIRPORT ARRIVAL PICK-UP AREA - CONTINUOUS
Smitty runs out the door, and a herd of Taxi Drivers convene
on him, offering their service.
He rushes through the crowd and moves to the taxi cab at the
front of the line. Sliding over the hood he lands by the
driver-side door.
The TAXI DRIVER is pissed and gets out.
AIRPORT TAXI DRIVER
(in Portuguese)
What the fuck!
The scrum of Police pile through the exit and collide into
the Taxi Drivers. Alvaro viciously punches people out of his
way.
ALVARO
(in Portuguese)
Get the FUCK OUT'A MY WAY!
Smitty and the Taxi Driver look in each other's eyes.
AIRPORT TAXI DRIVER
(in Portuguese)
Not my taxi.
SMITTY
(in English)
Sorry.
Smitty shoves him out of the way, jumps in the taxi and
starts to RACE off.
INT. AIRPORT TAXI - CONTINUOUS
The Taxi Driver reaches into the window and is being dragged
as Smitty drives.
AIRPORT TAXI DRIVER
(in Portuguese)
Not my taxi!
Smitty elbows him in the face and he tumbles away.
SMITTY
(in Portuguese)
Sorry.
EXT. AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS
The taxi SPEEDS out of the Arrival Area.
Alvaro moves to another taxi but all the drivers are
resisting. He raises his gun and FIRES into the air, sending
everyone sprawling away.
Neves exits the building on his walkie-talkie.
Several police vehicles pull up and Officers pile in, then
race away with sirens BLAZING.
INT. AIRPORT TAXI - CONTINUOUS
Smitty is driving with his full attention, passing cars as
fast as possible.
He takes out his cell phone but can't manage to dial and
drive.
EXT. HIGHWAY OUTSIDE RIO - CONTINUOUS
Smitty's taxi is weaving in and out of cars as it heads back
into Rio.
a kilometer behind him are a dozen police vehicles with
sirens FLASHING.
There is an exit ramp just ahead of him.
INT. AIRPORT TAXI (DRIVER POV) - CONTINUOUS
Smitty looks in his rearview mirrors and sees a mass of
FLASHING sirens in the distance.
He sees the exit ramp, and goes for it.
EXT. EXIT RAMP - CONTINUOUS
Smitty's taxi SLOWS to turn off the exit ramp, and continues
to weave through traffic. The taxi takes a sharp turn into a
shaded neighborhood.
INT. AIRPORT TAXI - CONTINUOUS
Smitty SPEEDS along littered streets, lined with concrete
huts and makeshift aluminum shelters.
A malnourished horse grazes on the garbage speckled grass
along the road.
He turns into another side street and then stops.
EXT. CITY SIDE STREET - CONTINUOUS
Smitty gets out and looks around the repressed neighborhood.
He holds up the car keys for all to see, then tosses them
onto the front seat.
The people on the street watch without reaction.
Then Smitty turns and runs.
EXT. CROWDED CITY STREET - DAY
Smitty rounds the corner into a crowded street and forces
himself to slow down.
He picks some sunglasses from a street vender and pays her.
SMITTY
(in Portuguese)
Thanks.
He covers his swollen and bruised eyes with the big glasses,
then looks at her for approval.
SMITTY (CONT'D)
Good?
She looks at his torn and bloody shirt, and shakes her head
frowning.
He takes it off and tosses it to her, then heads along the
street, blending in with other shirtless people, although a
bit lighter skin.
INT. STREET CAFE - DAY
Smitty ducks into a small street cafe filled with locals who
observe him with disinterest.
He moves to the corner and pulls out the cell phone.
INT. EMBASSY OFFICE - DAY
A small office is packed, file boxes cover the floor and the
walls are decorated with framed photographs of politicians.
On old office furniture rests an antiquated computer and a
name plate: David Cheeney, Economic Director, U.S. Consulate.
DAVID
(quietly - in English)
Oh yeah, how you doin?
DAVID, in his early thirties is small and bald with an ill
fitting suit and thick glasses.
He is looking at pornography on his small computer when the
phone RINGS. He quickly closes the browser window and picks
up the phone.
DAVID (CONT'D)
David Cheeney.
SMITTY'S VOICE
(through the phone - in
English)
Hey, it's Smitty.
DAVID
Hey bro, aren't you flying home
today.
INT. STREET CAFE - DAY - INTERCUT AS DESIRED
Smitty turns toward the wall and lights a cigarette
nervously, then speaks with hushed urgency.
SMITTY
I'm in deep shit.
DAVID
What'd you do?
SMITTY
Got stopped at the airport, some
cops kicked the shit out of me.
DAVID
Ya right.
SMITTY
I had to fight my way out.
DAVID
Put them in the guillotine?
SMITTY
Do I sound like I'm fuckin joking?!
Long pause.
DAVID
They find drugs?
SMITTY
Course not. But they tore through
everything, then brought in the
pychos.
DAVID
Didn't they know who you are?
SMITTY
When they found out, they were
gonna shoot me.
DAVID
(pause)
Jesus... Where are you?
SMITTY
I'm in Centro. I'm gonna swing by
Margarita's place. Should be at the
office in an hour.
About this entry
You’re currently reading “Brazil Run - draft 2 (15 pages),” an entry on Stone Productions, Independent Filmmaking by Stone Korshak
- Published:
- 05.08.09 / 5am
- Category:
- Screenplays
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