Fade in.
COWBOY SHOT on a man standing ALONE in a hallway of doors. CAMERA view is from an angle, his left shoulder toward the camera, his right away from it. He is cast in deep shadows that obscure his face. A light buzzes and flickers behind him. He is tall and thin and stands as a man who carries his wounds with a sense of abstract survivalism. He is relishing a cigar. When he lifts the cigar to his mouth and he takes a drag from it, we see hints of his face, but little more. He is dressed oddly; black pirate shirt, a snugly tied black leather vest, black broadfall pants, black knee boots, and black leather gloves. Around his waist is tied a deep indigo sash with an axe-headed flintlock pistol secured on one side; a cutlass on the other. A bandana on his head of the same color as his sash keep his long hair out of his eyes, covers his scalp and ties in the back. A gold hoop earring dangles from his left ear. There are people all around him, moving with intent and without noticing him, but noting each other, exiting one door to enter another. The doors are of plain wood abused by use and neglect. There are gouges and burrs in the wood, heavy tarnish on the brass handles and hinges, and only visually separate the hallway from the rooms within. They are marked but the signs unreadable in the unreliable light. The walls of the hallway are split halfway between floor and ceiling by charcoal colored ceramic tiles on the bottom, chipped and peeling aquamarine paint on the top. There is a thick layer of dust, grime, and algae in the corners and less trodden areas of the floor. The air is damp and heady, sticky with the stink of sex, liquor, narcotics, and hedonism.
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FULL SHOT of the man, a dark outline in front of the flickering light. He begins to walk towards the CAMERA as it retreats before him down the hallway. He walks a long time, occasionally taking a drag from his CIGAR. The other residents mill with agitation from room to room, OPENING and CLOSING doors. Frequently, one will try to enter a ROOM to find it LOCKED. Some stand at the door knocking, others MOVE ON immediately. The man is IGNORED by all as he walks down the center of the hallway, ALONE.
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COWBOY SHOT of the man, suddenly stopped, listening to the sounds emanating from a door to his right.
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LOWER TORSO of the oddly dressed man. Slowly, he turns his feet to the right, grit grinding against the leather soles of his boots.
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COWBOY SHOT of the man placing the CIGAR in his mouth and reaching for the HANDLE. The DOOR opens with a CREAK and he steps in.
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INTERIOR room, lit with NEON lights and LAVA lamps, and appointed with post-modern decor. TECHNO music thumps subtly in the background. The man walks in and a smartly dressed, GREETER PAGE shouts his name above the rest of the conversations to ANNOUNCE his arrival. The GREETER PAGE hands the man a small NOTEBOOK with a list of names and short description for each PATRON in the room. A GREETER PAGE is a fully automated lemming, inanimate and having the form of a male BUTLER cliché.
GREETER PAGE: E. Edward Grey has joined the room.
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OVER SHOULDER of MR. GREY. There are almost twenty-five people in the room, engaged in some CONVERSATION or another. MESSENGER PAGES are scurrying between individuals carrying on private conversations. Some folk are dressed as oddly as MR. GREY, others are in workout shorts and tank top. Some are NAKED and writhing COITALLY, oblivious to the voyeurs. We hear a myriad of CONVERSATIONS that coagulate into a single buzz.
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COWBOY SHOT of MR. GREY slowly walking around the room, ready to ACKNOWLEDGE anyone who takes note of his presence. NONE do.
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INTERIOR HALLWAY, COWBOY SHOT. MR. GREY has EXITED the room and DROPS his cigar, RESIGNED.
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FULL SHOT. Stepping to the middle of the hallway, MR. GREY begins walking again.
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COWBOY SHOT of MR. GREY entering a room.
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INTERIOR different room. MR. GREY is WALKING the perimeter and being IGNORED.
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COWBOY SHOT of MR. GREY exiting a room. (this repeats several more times with exaggerated sounds of doors opening and closing between each cut.)
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INTERIOR room, lit with hurricane LAMPS and CANDLE. MR. GREY walks in and a smartly dressed GREETER PAGE (a clone of the first) shouts his name above the rest of the conversations to ANNOUNCE his arrival. The GREETER PAGE hands MR. GREY a small NOTEBOOK with a list of names and short description for each PATRON in the room.
GREETER PAGE: E. Edward Grey has joined the room.
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MR. GREY view of the room. There are almost forty people in the room, engaged in some CONVERSATION or another. MESSENGER PAGES are scurrying between individuals carrying on private conversations. There are more MESSENGER PAGES in this room than the others, and they are BUSY. The CAMERA pans the room slowly, left to right. There is a hardwood DANCE FLOOR, a DJ BOOTH, a WET BAR with BAR STOOLS around it, a large stone FIREPLACE, large VELVET COUCHES, RECLINERS, TABLES and CHAIRS. There is a warm FIRE blazing in the fireplace and a cadre of PATRONS surrounding it. Patrons in this room are in various stages of INTIMACY, but all are fully DRESSED in varying styles. Some are acting SILLY, like children given leave to burn excess energy, others observe the silliness with the WATCHFUL attention of a sentinel; still others are holding DRINKS and engaged in multiple CONVERSATIONS. There are a few standing in the shadowy CORNERS, shy but INTRIGUED by the room. There are grateful, attentive WOMEN sitting on the laps of protective, attentive MEN.
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TORSO SHOT of MR. GREY noticing that though the conversations are continuing, the PATRONS in the room are watching HIM; some overtly, others through lowered eyes and long lashes.
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COWBOY SHOT from the left of MR. GREY turning to his right to walk and ACKNOWLEDGE those who notice him. He takes two steps when a MESSENGER PAGE appears at his LEFT arm.
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MR. GREY view of a MESSENGER PAGE that is dressed in a tuxedo, white tie, black coat, white gloves. IT is carrying a small silver PLATTER on which is a finely sewn doily with an ENVELOPE atop that. There is a silver gilded fountain PEN next to the envelope.
MESSENGER PAGE(at attention): Mr. Grey? Will you accept a private message from “~sugar {Irishs lap}~”?
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TORSO SHOT of MR. GREY considering.
GREETER PAGE (off screen): PUPPET_MASTER has joined the room.
MR. GREY (surprised but wary): Aye.
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MR. GREY view of the MESSENGER PAGE extending its hand so MR. GREY may accept the ENVELOPE.
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CLOSE-UP on the envelope. It is of heavy card stock, egg-white, and sealed by a gold sticker. On the front is written, “E. Edward Grey.” MR. GREY’S gloved hand enters the shot to take the ENVELOPE from the platter.
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COWBOY SHOT of MR. GREY opening the ENVELOPE and removing the CARD from within.
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CLOSE-UP of the writing on the card.
GREETER PAGE (off screen): dove has joined the room.
CARD ON SCREEN (“~SUGAR {IRISHS LAP}~” handwriting is very feminine and changes color from the first word through to the last): i’m sorry to send You a private message without permission but i wanted to tell You that The Secretary is my favorite movie
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COWBOY SHOT of MR. GREY taking the PEN from the PLATTER, turning the card over and WRITING a reply on the back of the original.
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MR. GREY’S view of writing on the card.
CARD ON SCREEN (MR. GREY’S handwriting is very formal and fluid): apology accepted … it is my favorite movie as well … how many times have you seen it?
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COWBOY SHOT of MR. GREY putting the card back in the ENVELOPE, capping the PEN and replacing them on the PLATTER.
GREETER PAGE (off screen): lil_bite has joined the room.
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MR. GREY’S view as the MESSENGER PAGE bows its head and returns to “~SUGAR {IRISHS LAP}~".
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FULL SHOT of MR. GREY standing long enough to lookup who “~SUGAR {IRISHS LAP}~” is. MR. GREY leafs through the NOTEBOOK to find her profile. He turns again to continue his STROLL about the edge of this room. He was not invited over and will not intrude. CAMERA PANS as he walks.
GREETER PAGE (off screen): pooltablesnbondagegoddess has joined the room.
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OVER SHOULDER of MR. GREY as he walks by random conversations, PATRONS stop long enough to express their WELCOME, which he returns.
FIRST PATRON (female): be welcome, E. Edward Grey, Sir.
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OVER SHOULDER of FIRST PATRON.
MR. GREY (warmly, surprised): Thank you.
GREETER PAGE (off screen): SHADES_OF_MEMORY has joined the room.
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OVER SHOULDER of MR. GREY, taking a few more steps.
SECOND PATRON (male): Hello, Grey.
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OVER SHOULDER of SECOND PATRON.
MR. GREY (nodding): good evening …
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OVER SHOULDER of MR. GREY, still walking, but slower.
THIRD PATRON (female): greetings, E. Edward, Sir.
GREETER PAGE (off screen): *)O(* yoovie *)O(* has joined the room.
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OVER SHOULDER of THIRD PATRON.
MR. GREY (smiling): greetings …
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OVER SHOULDER of MR. GREY, just to his left of the THIRD PATRON.
MESSENGER PAGE: A message from “~sugar {Irishs lap}~”, sir.
MR. GREY steps away from the THIRD PATRON and takes the ENVELOPE from the PLATTER. It is a new one with his NAME on the front, SEALED as before. He opens the ENVELOPE and pulls out the CARD.
GREETER PAGE (off screen): Puppets~wicked~temptress~vashti has joined the room.
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CLOSE-UP of the writing on the card..
CARD ON SCREEN (same feminine, multi-hued handwriting as before): well the first time i ever watched it was last Sat…. ummm since then 5 times.
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OVER SHOULDER of MESSENGER PAGE waiting while MR. GREY WRITES on the back of the CARD, reinserts it into the ENVELOPE, and places it and the PEN back on the PLATTER. .
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FULL SHOT of MR. GREY GLANCING around, FROWNING a little, then TURNING from his spot and STEPPING to the DOOR..
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CLOSE-UP of the door handle. MR. GREY’S gloved hand enters the screen, but HESITATES before grasping the handle..
GREETER PAGE (off screen and louder since MR. GREY is right in front of it): dwar98 has joined the room.
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FACE SHOT of MR. GREY glancing over his shoulder, UNDECIDED about leaving and NOTICING that though the room is carrying on as it was before, the PATRONS are this time WATCHING him overtly.
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CLOSE-UP on MR. GREY’s hand, unmoved from where it had HESITATED. Then it slowly rises out of the shot.
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OVER SHOULDER of MR. GREY. He is looking at the GREETER PAGE.
MR. GREY (flatly): Chit.
The GREETER PAGE reaches into an interior pocket of his jacket and removes a SMALL square of thick PAPER. It also removes a PEN and hands them both to MR. GREY. The door opens and closes as a new PATRON enters the room.
GREETER PAGE (over MR. GREY’s shoulder): sirspankyou2001 has joined the room.
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TORSO SHOT of MR. GREY WRITING on the chit and handing the PEN back to the GREETER PAGE. MR. GREY looks around, finally finding the ‘FAVORITE ROOM’ board hanging behind the bar.
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FULL SHOT of MR. GREY walking across the room to the bar.
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OVER SHOULDER of MR. GREY on the ‘FAVORITE ROOM’ board. It is covered with chits from other PATRONS who have decided to revisit this room and be LISTED as a returning patron.
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CLOSE-UP of MR. GREY tacking his CHIT to the board with a push-pin. On his, he has written, “Mr. Grey.”
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FULL SHOT from MR. GREY’S right side. After looking over the board, he NOTICES a clear HUMIDOR atop the bar, filled with fresh CIGARS. Reaching in, he TAKES one and prepares it for smoking, leaving a $10 on the bar.
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LONG SHOT from mid-way across the room. MR. GREY fishes for MATCHES from an interior pocket of his pants and SITS on a stool near the bar. MR. GREY strikes a MATCH and begins to LIGHT his cigar when he is interrupted by a MESSENGER PAGE. Finishing the light, another MESSENGER PAGE appears. CAMERA slowly retreats across the room, CONVERSATIONS becoming CLEAR as the CAMERA passes close to them and becoming MUDDIED again as it goes by. CAMERA continues retreating, RISING to the ceiling as it does so, still focused on MR. GREY and the two MESSENGER PAGES in front of him. CAMERA stops its retreat and ascension when most of the room can be viewed.
GREETER PAGE (off screen): sweet_lil_lacey has joined the room.
Fade to black.
