OPEN ON:
SLEEPY:
(V.O.)
I'd come for the past six nights, that's how long she'd been there.
INT. IVORY CLUB | MAIN FLOOR - NIGHTSHOT IN BLACK/WHITE (ED: other than things noted with color)(SOUNDTRACK: Rhapsody in Blue by Leonard Bernstein)Smoke fills up a crowded club, seats and tables all around with a stage up-front, on which the local band performing.
PAN TO:
The barside beside the stage to reveal SLEEPY COSTELLO (Isaac Lovelock, russian greatcoat-unbuttoned, dress shirt, red tie, dress pants and Converses) sitting amongst a cadre of other men, a glass of bourbon sitting on the bar beside him. The look on his face is one of intrigue and patience mixed together.
SLEEPY:
(V.O.)
She only came out after the guys who were there just to get their fill had left. She seemed like she was the type of person that had a strict routine, not to be broken up by anything.
(Soundtrack END)The lights in the club fade to nothing, except for one spotlight which snaps attention towards the stage in-front of the bar. The once prevalent bar chatter dissipates, and now only silence reigns.
Slowly she walks out onto the stage, the house band eager to introduce her, but they wait, as do the rest of the audience in anticipation. When she finally hits the light, she grasps the microphone, stand and all. She holds it near to her, in an almost tender embrace, if it weren't so one-sided.
She is VIOLETTE (Arianna Harley, BLUE sparkling dress, white gloves, heels), and without hesitation, she and the band begin their rendition of Ella Fitzgerald's Summertime.
SLEEPY:
(V.O.)
I'd never spoken to her, but I didn't need to. She had spoken to me just had she did to any other Joe in the joint, just by singing.
The song continues for several minutes, as Sleepy along with every other open eye in the bar watches mindlessly.
Once the song ends, the club erupts into applause, and Violette backs away into the darkness.
CUT TO:
INT. IVORY CLUB | BATHROOM - NIGHTSleepy washes his hands, an indeterminable amount of time has passed.
After he finishes he checks his watch, it’s pushing past 2AM before stretching his arms and breaking out into a yawn.
He pushes the bathroom door...
INT. IVORY CLUB | BACKSTAGE - NIGHT(SOUNDTRACK: Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Summertime)...to exit behind the stage of the Ivory Club. As he places his hands in his pocket, a scream shatters his thoughts.
PAN TO:
Violette (no shoes), her wrist held by PERRY (Lucifer, black leather jacket, jeans, boots), his other arm outstretched and soon enough he strikes Violette down, yelling.
Violette manages to pull away, scrambling to get up a set of stairs. Two men that were flanking Perry on both sides of him rush after her as Perry prepares to as well...
WHAM!
Sleepy floors him, anger in his eyes as he gazes up the stairs, Perry is out before he hits the floor.
CUT TO:
INT. IVORY CLUB | STAIRS - NIGHTViolette rushes up the stairs, with the two lackeys hot on her heels, she turns at each door, continuing her ascent.
One of the lackeys notices Sleepy behind him and turns to fight him, before he can make a move Sleepy gut-punches him, as he curls up, rolling down the stairs.
The last lackey looks back as well, yelling inaudibly at Sleepy who shrugs off the silent insults. The man throws his fist forward, Sleepy dodges, rushing forward and flipping the man forward as he also rolls down the steps.
With both of the men down, Sleepy looks up, but there's no Violette, just an open door with rain pouring in from the night.
CUT TO:
EXT. IVORY CLUB | ROOFTOP - NIGHTSleepy bursts through the door into the rain. The cloudy sky is pierced by the full moon's blinding wane. He looks around, then he sees her.
She stands on the edge of the building, illuminated by the moon as if she was on the stage again with tears staining her cheeks red. Violette looks down, to the streets below. She hovers one foot over the edge, about to take the fatal step...
...but at the last moment she is yanked backed by Sleepy who speaks to her.
She stares as his inaudible words travel to her. The rain continues to pour and she buries her face in his chest, crying.
Sleepy's arms open, he doesn't know what to do...but after a few moments he removes his greatcoat, and covers her.
He looks up as the camera RISES, and rain covers them both.
FADE OUT.
TITLECARD: NO EXITS