A GRIM TRAGEDY
by
Gabriel R. Lopez








































Gabriel R. Lopez
gabbygt@z6.com
(address withheld)
Henderson, NV 89009







EXT. BUS STOP

A young DRUG DEALER, about 20 years old tries to sell drugs to a 14 year old girl, but stops when a dodge pickup pulls up.
The DRUG DEALER seems to recognize the driver. The driver looks thin and doesn’t appear to shave regularly. The driver is wearing a stained T-shirt, Black Jeans and ratty looking black sneakers.


1.


DRUG DEALER
Hey Danny!

DANIEL
Hop in.

DRUG DEALER gets into the dodge pickup, DANNY and the DRUG-DEALER drive off.

INT. DODGE PICKUP

DRUG DEALER
What up Danny? (sniffs, the Drug dealer seems to have a bit of a head cold and coughs) You need anything.

DANIEL
Yeah man, you know where I can find Lenore?


EXT. PICKUP

DANIEL
(V.O.) I wasn’t always like this. I had a good job, a life, family. But that all changed when I met Lenore….

FADE OUT

INT. BEDROOM -SUBURBAN HOME

Victor is half dressed, standing in front of a window looking out into a suburban setting through vertical blinds, a young man is mowing the front yard…a small 3ft by 5ft patch of grass surrounded by a two foot border of pebbles, large rocks, and a small squirrel shaped statuette. Victor then closes the blinds.



2.


MELISSA is pregnant, she is laying in bed looking at the ceiling fan, laying across her lap is a child. Melissa strokes child X’s head as child Y is sitting Indian style, staring blankly at the television set… both children are 5-10 years old and are watching the big bird movie.

VICTOR an MELISSA are not married, Melissa is still married to DANIEL. The two are separated and Victor is her live in boyfriend.



VICTOR
Las Vegas is the city of lights. America’s playground. The one location where you can find everything you’ve ever wanted, and you’re worried about some jackass that cheated on you, destroyed your family, and exposed your children to drugs.

MELISSA
Oh, come on Vic. He’s not that bad.

VICTOR
Your not seeing the whole picture here darling. He’s charmed you into believing that he’s become a new man. You can’t see the truth because you’ve known him for so long that you ignore-

MELISSA
Ha! You’re jealous.

VICTOR
No, I just don’t want him to hurt you again. Can’t you see, he doesn’t really love you, he’s just using you.



3.


MELISSA
Victor. When you love someone, you don‘t stop loving them. The love just stops growing. When Daniel got hooked, it set a bad example for our children, it put our family in harms way, and it may have… Just how do I put this? But, Just because Daniel uses drugs, doesn’t mean he doesn’t love our kids, it just means he got hooked.

VICTOR
Oh, Come on Melissa. If he cared about you he would have signed the divorce papers. He would have let me be their (the children‘s) father. He’s selfish.



MELISSA
Who isn’t? I’ve known him for twelve years. We went to high school together. He may not be the best father, but he’s better than mine was.


The phone on the nightstand rings. Melissa answers the phone and discovers Daniel, her estranged husband, is in the hospital from a drug overdose.

MELISSA
I understand…I’ll be right over. [Claps her hands] All right time to get dressed.

The children leave, one of them complains.

VICTOR
What’s wrong?


4.


MELISSA
The hospital they… It was about Daniel.

FADE OUT

INT. HOSPITAL - EMERGENCEY ROOM/FRONT DESK.
MELISSA is talking with a nurse. She is carrying X and holding Y by the hand.

MELISSA
Hello, my names is Melissa Becker. My husband was brought in recently for a drug overdose.


NURSE
Ok, you’re going to have to fill out a few forms.

Find some legitimate reason a nurse would allow the following.

NURSE
But, you can see him right now.

An orderly passes behind the nurse at the counter.


Nurse
Stacy! Could you take miss …


MELISSA
Becker.

NURSE
Stacy, Could you escort Miss Becker to 16-A.

FADE OUT




5.


INT. HOSPITAL - BEDROOM
STACY escorts Melissa into the room alone.
DANIEL is attached to an IV, and looks pretty beat up.

DANIEL
(groggy) heeey!

MELISSA
(sighs) how you feeling?

DANIEL
(sarcastic) Great! How’s the kids?

MELISSA
Their doing pretty good, Kevin’s made the honor roll.

DANIEL
Did he now…pretty smart, like his father.

MELISSA
Dan, I…I need you to sign over you paternity rights to the baby.

DANIEL
No…let me be his father. I’ll be the baby’s father.

MELISSA
He’s not yours.

DANIEL
I know, but I love you. And, if he’s your baby he’ll be mine too.
A DRUG COUNCILOR enters the room.

D.C.
Mrs. Becker, may I have a word with you in private?

MELISSA looks at Daniel.

6.



DANIEL
I don’t mind. Go.

EXT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR
MELISSA and the DRUG COUNCILOR are discussing ways to help Daniel with his addiction.

MELISSA
I just don’t know what to do anymore.



D.C.
Have you ever heard of tough love?

MELISSA
What’s that?



D.C.
Normally, individuals who are chemically dependent find support from friends and family members, and this enables them to continue destroying themselves. What I’m suggesting is that you withdraw your support from the person…Daniel. He can’t live with you , he can’t contact you, your family, or his friends.

MELISSA
He’s already staying with his mother, and we still share a joint bank account.

D.C.
Then you’ll have to open a new bank account and get his mother involved somehow.

7.


FADE OUT

DANIEL is leaving the hospital. He is wearing a blue denim jacket, a red T-shirt,ratty black jeans and matching shoes. Daniel is holding a bouquet of flowers. There is a TAXI waiting near the exit. Daniel exit’s the hospital, gets into the passenger seat of the Taxi and rides off.

The camera then cuts to the Taxi pulling up the driveway of a thirty year old trailer home.
Daniel pays the driver shakes his hand and then exit’s the vehicle with the bouquet. Daniel then approaches the door. He knocks on the door…no one answers.

EXT. TRAILER HOME

DANIEL
YO! Mama , it’s me Daniel.

Daniel knocks on the door again


DANIEL
Mama! You there?

An elderly woman exit’s the trailer home.

DANIEL
Grandma?

BITA
You can’t come here Daniel, you’re not welcome.

DANIEL
Where’s Mama?

BITA
(slaps Daniel) Your mama’s asleep. You kept her up all night worrying about you. And, Melissa dropped by with the kids after trying to help you. You ought to be ashamed of you self;



8.


BITA
(continued)
having a pregnant worrying about you. Now you get your ass in that Taxi and leave, before I call the cops.

DANIEL
Aw, c’mon Bita.

Bita enters the trailer home, pulls out a shotgun. Bita then primes the gun. Daniel see’s the gun, backs away and falls on his ass.

BITA
Hit the road Jack.

Daniel pulls himself to his feet, stands up and raises his hands and backs away to the taxi.


DANIEL
Chill! I know where I’m not wanted.

DANIEL crawls into the taxi.
FADE OUT

INT- HOTEL LOBBY
DANIEL walks up to the registration desk. The clerk’s name is CASEY, as this can be seen on her nametag.

CASEY
Can we help you sir?

DANIEL
Yeah, I need a room for the night…

CASEY
(typing into the computer) Would you like a room overlooking the pool?

9.


DANIEL
Don’t care.

CASEY
Ok, we’ll need your drivers License and a credit card.

DANIEL pulls his wallet out of his pocket

CASEY
Would you like to buy some insurance? It comes with a room discount.

DANIEL
What’s it for?

DANIEL fishes out his drivers license and a credit card from the wallet.


CASEY
For a small fee of ten dollars, you get the piece of mind that
comes with the knowledge your room is safe. That, and you won’t be charged for any damages that may ...

DANIEL
Whatever, How much is the discount?

CASEY
Five dollars.

DANIEL
No, I think I’ll take my chances.

CASEY
All righty.

CASEY continues typing into the computer

10.


CASEY
That’s strange…according to this your credit card has been canceled.

DANIEL hands her another credit card.

CASEY
We’re sorry, this one appears to be canceled also.

DANIEL
How’s that possible?

CASEY
We wouldn’t know sir, we just work here.

DANIEL
No, I mean that’s my debit card. It’s linked directly to my bank account.
CASEY
If you’d like we can contact the bank for you.

DANIEL
Who the hell is this “we” you keep referring too? Do you got a mouse in your pocket?

CASEY
Are you implying something?

DANIEL
No I’m just wondering, Is there some magical fairy floating around the room that I can’t see?

CASEY
Sir, I’m afraid that we’re going to have to ask you to leave. Vagrants aren’t welcome here.


11.


DANIEL
Listen lady, you do not want to fuck with a working man.


CASEY
Well, if you were a working man you wouldn’t have any trouble paying for your room.

DANIEL grabs his license and credit cards off the desk.

DANIEL
Bitch!

DANIEL leaves the hotel.

FADE OUT
INT. WHITE DODGE PICKUP
DANIEL Pulls up to a bus stop. Rolls down the passenger window. The DRUG DEALER recognizes Danny.

DRUG DEALER
Hey Danny!



DANIEL
Hop in.

DRUG DEALER
What up Danny? (sniffs,the Drug dealer seems to have a bit of a head cold and coughs) You need anything.

DANIEL
Yeah man, you know where I can find Lenore?

DRUG DEALER
I know where to find her. She’s kickin’ it over at Las Brisas’ off of Maryland.

12.


DANIEL
Shit. She still trying to kill herself?

DRUG DEALER
Friend, I don’t want to talk about her any more. What about you?

DANIEL
What about me?

DRUG DEALER
What you up too? You look like you been sat on by an elephant.

DANIEL
Mama kicked me out. I had to spend the night at a chapel.

DRUG DEALER
Harsh…you believe in god?

DANIEL
What do you care?


DRUG DEALER
Just making conversation.

DANIEL
Need me to drop you off somewhere?

DRUG DEALER
Since you’re heading out there anyway, you may as well drop me of at Lucky’s.

FADE OUT
INT. APARTMENT COMPLEX

DANIEL enters the apartment complex belonging to LENORE. Lenore’s apartment is a 450sqft one bedroom apartment. Lenore is sharing the apartment with two room mates and a dog. Daniel knocks on the door and waits impatiently, fidgeting. Lenore peeks through the peep hole unlatches the door.

13.


LENORE
Hey Daniel.

DANIEL
Whatever.

INT. APARTMENT
DANIEL brushes past Lenore and heads for the kitchen. He pulls out a carton orange juice from the refrigerator. The dog follows him around wagging its tail

DANIEL
How’s Cathy?

LENORE
She’s doing good.


DANIEL
She still a stripper?

LENORE
No, she’s a nurse now. She’s working over at Desert Shadow. So, how are your kids?

DANIEL
They’re fine.

LENORE
You doing ok?

DANIEL
(sips orange juice)Yeah.

LENORE
You look like you’ve been run over by a steamroller.



14.


DANIEL
(irritated) I said I’m fine.
DANIEL moves to living room and sits in a green sofa. The dog hops on the sofa and Daniel scratches it between the ears.

LENORE
You sure?

DANIEL
(grinds his teeth) I told you already I’m FINE.

LENORE
You don’t sound fine.

DANIEL
I was up around 2:30 last night. I spent the night on a chapel floor and I’ve been up since they opened the doors at 4o’clock.
LENORE
What were you doing at the chapel?

DANIEL
(lays back, shuts his eyes and falls asleep)

FADE OUT

A GUNSHOT is heard DANIEL wakes up immediately. His eyes dart around to find the source of the sound. His eyes fall to the sight of LENORE’S body. The dog barks. Lenore shot herself in the chest, and the blood is leaking out over her shirt. Daniel rushes to her body to check for a pulse. He holds her limp body for a while and starts crying before calling the police.

FADE OUT

INT. INTEROGATION ROOM
DETECTIVES are interviewing DANIEL.

15.


DETECTIVE A
You expect us to believe this wasn’t the first time she tried to commit suicide.


DANIEL
Look, I don’t care what you believe. All I know is she suffers…suffered from clinical depression. When I first met her she walked into the path of a city bus. The girl isn’t exactly on the level.

DETECTIVE B
And so you bought her the dog to keep her occupied?




DANIEL
Yeah, I thought if she had something to take care of, she wouldn’t …

DETECTIVE A
Last week she was in the emergency room for an aspirin overdose.

DANIEL
Hey, I had nothing to do with that. I wasn’t even with her. A week before that she tried to drown herself in the bathroom toilet. And about a week before that she tried to asphyxiate herself with the cord of a hair dryer. And a few days before that she tried to electrocute herself with the office toaster.


16.


DANIEL
(continuing)
Oh, and about a month before that she jumped into one of the shark tanks at Mandalay Bay.


DETECTIVE B
I see, and you expect us to believe you had nothing to do with her previous suicide attempts?

DANIEL
Why do you think I started using drugs? Look, if you’re going to book me, then book me. I
Don’t care anymore.

DANIEL gets up and leaves the interrogation room.

FADE OUT
EXT. MELISSA’S SUBURBAN HOME
DANIEL pulls up the driveway in his dodge pickup. He sits quietly, looking mildly depressed he sighs, then exit’s the vehicle.

EXT. DOORWAY SUBURBAN HOME.
DANIEL knocks, adjusts his jacket, sniffles, coughs, then rings the doorbell. A woman answers the door, she Identifies herself as the BABYSITTER.

DANIEL
Um…is Melissa home?

BABYSITTER
She’s at the hospital with Victor. I’m just looking after kids until they get back.

DANIEL
Oh…um. Would it be alright if I see my kids?


17.


BABYSITTER
You Daniel?

DANIEL
Yeah.

BABYSITTER
They’re asleep, and I was told that you weren’t welcome here.

DANIEL
Could you tell them …my kids that I love them.

BABSITTER
Don’t count on it.

DANIEL
I understand.

DANIEL gets into his pickup and leaves.

EXT. TRAILER HOME
DANIEL has returned to his mom’s trailer home. It’s late, the lights are on but no one appears to be home.

DANIEL
Mama! Listen to me. It wasn’t my fault. It was Lenore. I swear I would have never done anything like that on my own. She tied me up mama. You have to believe me I would have never done that on my own…I- I’m sorry mama. I just wanted you to know I still love you. And I… I miss you mama.

DANIEL returns to his pickup and leaves.

INT. TRAILER HOME
Danny’s mom is crying.




18.


EXT. A LONELY STRETCH OF ROAD IN NORTH LAS VEGAS
DANIEL sits alone in his pickup. He stares blankly at the light as it turns red. As he waits for the light to change. He is alone and grieving…the radio starts playing a sad country song. Daniel closes his eyes and tears well up into them and he begins to weep. As he weeps there is a tap on his window.

The tap is followed by another, the sound is that of a gun being tapped against the windshield or drivers side window by a CAR_JACKER.

DANIEL chuckles and leans across the steering wheel laying his head across his forearm . At this point Daniel no longer cares what happens to him anymore.

CAR_JACKER
Get out of the car asshole.

DANIEL opens the truck’s door slowly at first and then quickly snaps it into the carjacker, pushing the man off balance.

The CAR_JACKER falls to the ground and drops the gun. The carjacker regains his footing and starts running as Daniel gets out of his truck.

DANIEL gets out of the truck chases the carjacker, stops, picks up a large rock the size of a baseball and hurls it at the carjacker. It was a direct hit.

The CAR_JACKER falls to the ground after being hit by the rock.

DANIEL returns to his truck picks up the gun and drives off.

EXT. PARK BENCH
DANIEL is sitting alone. He is drowning in the depths of despair. Daniel is hunched over, he still has the gun. Using the palm of his left hand he wipes the tears form his eyes. Daniel stifles a chuckle. Gun in hand pointed to the ground. We hear a click as Daniel pulls back the hammer.

19.

DANIEL sniffles once before he brings the gun to his head and releases the trigger.

BANG!!!

FADE OUT

INT. HOSPITAL DELIVERY ROOM.
We discover Melissa has given birth to twins. A nurse is asking her a few questions.

NURSE BETTY
So, what you going to name them?
MELISSA is completely unaware that Daniel has committed suicide.

MELISSA
I want to name them after their father.

NURSE BETTY
Victor and Victoria?

MELISSA
Oh, Victor isn’t their father. Their names are Dan and Danielle.

FADE OUT
THE END