Reckless

EXT. VEGAS STRIP - NIGHT

The strip is thronged with cars.  The lights sparkle and shimmer.  Jack Bell’s car speeds down the road.

INT. JACK’S CAR

Jack is at the wheel.  He takes a swig of whiskey from a bottle.  Music BLARES.

JACK

(to himself)

No.  It couldn’t have been.  Donovan was in South America when Barbara died.

(frustrated)

Who then?  Who!

Jack cranks the wheel.

EXT. VEGAS STRIP

Jack’s car SCREECHES into a U-turn.  Traffic around him stops.  HORNS and angry SHOUTS from motorists echo through the street.

EXT.  CLUB NEW-VOGUE

Jacks car SQUEALS to a halt in front of the club.  He gets out.  Trendy customers wait behind a red velvet rope to enter the club.  A DOORMAN, a beefy man wearing a headset, holds back the crowd.

Jack cuts in line and tries to push his way through, but the Doorman blocks his way.

DOORMAN

Sorry, bud.  The line forms at the right.

JACK

Let me through, asshole.

DOORMAN

Even if you were next in line, pal, do you think I’d let you in dressed like that?  You look like a middle-school vice principal.

Jack punches the Doorman in the gut.  As he doubles over in pain, Jack brings his elbow down on the back of the Doorman’s neck.  He falls.

JACK

Consider that my cover charge.

He enters the club.

INT. CLUB NEW-VOGUE

Colored lights flash and pulse.  Smoke fills the room.  Bass THUMPS as dance MUSIC swells to ear-filling volumes.

Jack pushes his way through the crowed.  A PUNK ROCKER with a mohawk and pierced nose stands in his way.

PUNK ROCKER

What’s up, copper?

Jack grabs him by the mohawk, pulling his face down to meet his upwardly-thrust knee.  He tosses the Punk aside.

CARDAMOM, a prostitute, approaches him.

CARDAMOM

You are so sexy when you’re angry, Jack.

She puts his hands on him and kisses his cheek.

JACK

Not now, Cardamom.  I’m here on business.  Is Pip working tonight?

CARDAMOM

He’s over there.

She points to the other side of the club.

OTHER SIDE OF THE CLUB

PIP, a little person dressed in fetish gear, is dancing in a large birdcage that is suspended from the ceiling.

Jack walks toward the birdcage.

BIRDCAGE

Pip recognizes Jack as he approaches.  They must shout to hear each other over the music.

PIP

Jack!  What brings you here?  You know I’m not selling anymore, don’t you?

JACK

You got a minute to talk?

PIP

My break’s not for another hour.  Can you wait?

JACK

I’m afraid not.

He takes Pips cage from off the hook on which it hangs and begins to walk off, despite Pips protests.

PIP

Are you crazy?  You’re going to get me fired!

FRONT DOOR
The Doorman, now rather angry, stands in Jack’s way.  Jack carries the caged pip.

DOORMAN

Where do you think you’re going with that?

JACK

I’ve got to get to the vet as soon as possible.

He walks past the doorman.

DOORMAN

Asshole.

CURBSIDE

The customers and doorman in the b.g. watch as Jack opens his trunk and extracts a length of rope.

He begins to tie the rope through the loop in the top of the birdcage.  Pip watches fearfully.

PIP

What’s this all about, Jack?

JACK

I know you killed Barbara.

PIP

(shocked)

How can you say such a thing, Jack.

Jack secures the knot.  He begins to tie the other end to his car’s trailer hitch.

A TRENDY from the line speaks up.

TRENDY

Oh, my god!  What is he doing!

JACK

(to Pip)

Are you ready to go for a little ride?

PIP

Barbara’s death was an accident.  You know that!

Jack secures the knot at the trailer hitch.

PIP (CONT’D)

You’re making a big mistake.

JACK

We’ll see about that!

EXT. VEGAS STRIP
Jack’s car speeds down the road, dragging the sparking birdcage with Pip inside.  Pip SCREAMS for mercy.

INT. JACK’S CAR
Jack drives with a crazed look in his eyes.  Through the rear window the birdcage sparks as it is dragged along at high speeds.

Jack peers into the rear view mirror.

JACK

(maniacally)

Do you like that, you little shit? Huh?  Do you?

Jack laughs.