Post by TheCarterHayesUniverse on Jun 23, 2014 1:45:23 GMT
INT. LAW OFFICE OF MARTY SUNSHINE, ESQ. - AFTERNOON
He was everything you hate about attorneys. He was slick. He was smug. He was unscrupulous. MARTY SUNSHINE, ESQ., former law partner to Mort Goodman, Esq. (back when it was Goodman & Sunshine, LLC, before their bitter break-up), sits at his desk conversing through the speaker phone, dispensing the kind of legal advice that gives the legal profession a bad name.
MARTY SUNSHINE (Into the speakerphone): Listen! Listen! Laurie, you're paying me good money to tell you what to do. You want him out of the house? It's a three step process, my dear. Number one, provoke him. Number two, record him once he is provoked. Number three, call the cops...
Marty rolls his eyes, pops a Mento in his mouth.
MARTY SUNSHINE: I don't know how you provoke him-- tell him you banged his best friend, with your kids in the other room...
Marty simulates jerking off, as if to signify what he thinks of Laurie's question.
MARTY SUNSHINE: Yes, it is legal to record any conversation you're a part of in New Jersey-- it's a one consent state.
Suddenly, the door to Marty's office swings open. In barges DAMIAN COLE, 30, athletic and clean cut. Judging by the look on Marty's face, this visit is a surprise-- and not necessarily a welcomed one.
MARTY SUNSHINE (into the speakerphone): I'm gonna have to call you back. Just remember-- don't record the part where you provoke him-- just his response.
Marty hangs up. He takes a moment to gaze over his visitor and determine how to play it. Marty elects to rise to his feet, arms extended, a smarmy grin on his face.
MARTY SUNSHINE: Damian, how've you been? Has it been two years already? When did you get out?
Damian takes three steps toward Marty, cocks his arm back, and UNLOADS AN OVERHAND RIGHT at Marty's nose.
The FRAME COMES TO A FREEZE just as Marty is about to connect, and it remains frozen as we receive DAMIAN'S NARRATIVE AND ACCOMPANYNG MONTAGE SEQUENCE:
DAMIAN COLE (Voice Over): Now, since you only get one chance to make a first impression, and before anyone passes judgment on what I am in the process of doing, let me pause for a moment and digress to give you the full story. After hearing all the facts, you can judge me. I've spent the last two years in New Jersey State prison for possession with intent to distribute. It wasn't even mine-- it belonged to this guy, my lawyer, manager and longtime friend-- Marty Sunshine.
CUT TO:
INT. NIGHT CLUB - EVENING - MONTAGE SEQUENCE
We are travelling back to the night that it all came to an end. Marty and Damian are in a private booth-- the type where you pay a thousand bucks for a bottle of champagne, but what you are really buying is real estate and attention inside the club. Like with real estate, at clubs like this, it's all about location, location, location. They looked important, and the women and the liquor and the drugs which occupied their booth told the story of men who worked hard and partied harder.
DAMIAN COLE (voice over): I had a decorated career as a wrestler. Two time New Jersey State Wrestling Champion-- I was the only guy who beat Carter Hayes in high school career-- overtime of his senior year. Two time NCAA all American. After I added some mixed martial arts training to my tool box, I took my shot at the big time, and Marty landed me a contact with the GMW-- Greater Metropolitan Wrestling. And within months, I was on my way to a shot at the top gold in the organization. This night was in celebration of that achievement.
Damian, Marty, and the women kick back a celebratory shot, living it up like they are above the law.
CUT TO:
EXT. BENTLEY - EVENING - MONTAGE SEQUENCE
Marty stumbles to his car. He his laughing hysterically as he fumbles with his keys. Damian is on the passenger side, laughing it up as he waits for Marty to unlock the door.
DAMIAN COLE (voice over): I had it all. A wife. Two young children, Allison and Sammy. A nice house in the suburbs of Bergen County, New Jersey. And a promising career. I was the man upon whom all eyes were fixed.
CUT TO:
INT. BENTLEY - EVENING - MONTAGE SEQUENCE
We're now inside Marty's Bentley with Marty and Damian-- only the car is wrecked. There is smoke coming out of the radiator. The window is shattered. There is glass about. Both Marty and Damian are bleeding. Sirens can be heard in the distance. Marty in particular is panicked.
DAMIAN COLE: Shit! What just happened?
MARTY SUNSHINE: Are you alright?
DAMIAN COLE: Yeah, I think so but--
Marty, frantic and drugged out on something, grabs hold of Damian in sheer desperation.
MARTY SUNSHINE: Damian, I need you to switch seats with me!
DAMIAN COLE: What are you talking about?
MARTY SUNSHINE: I can't lose my law license! I'm already on probation with the State Bar. If I get pinched for this, I'm done! We're done!
DAMIAN COLE: Marty, I don't know about that.
Marty is pleading.
MARTY SUNSHINE: Damian, I'll take of you. This will be a first offense for you. I'll take care of it-- I promise!
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION - EVENING - MONTAGE SEQUENCE
Damian stands for his mug shot.
DAMIAN COLE (voice over): Yeah, he took care of it alright. Not only did he not get me off for the d.u.i., but he forgot to tell me that he had enough product in the car to-- well, to put me away for two years.
CUT TO:
INT. MARTY'S OFFICE - MORNING - MONTAGE SEQUENCE
Marty is stuffing bills into an envelope.
DAMIAN COLE: Now Marty promised he'd take care of my family, my wife Julie and two children Faith and Max. And for a while he did. But then the envelopes started getting thinner. When I spoke to Marty, he said his practice was in a down period, blamed the economy.
CUT TO:
INT. COURTROOM - AFTERNOON - MONTAGE SEQUENCE
We see a judge rendering a decision.
DAMIAN COLE (voice over): And so Julie did what she felt she had to. She filed for divorce, and took it all, the house the kids, and secured a huge alimony and child support award. You see, in New Jersey, they fix your support obligation based not upon your actual income, but upon your supposed "ability to earn." Since before I went in, I was the top star in my organization-- I was making decent dollars, so earning ability was quite high, and that's what they used to determine how much I'd be paying. They didn't care that that earning ability was flushed down the toilet the night we hit that telephone pole. She also assured that when I got out, I couldn't see the kids unsupervised unless I jumped through an assload of hoops.
As the camera pulls back we see Damian standing at the counsel table in an orange jump suit.
DAMIAN COLE: I'm sure it didn't help my cause that I got transported right from the jail to the courthouse for my divorce proceeding, so I wasn't what you would consider to be properly dressed.
CUT TO:
INT. NEW JERSEY STATE PENITENTARY - EVENING - MONTAGE SEQUENCE
Damian paces in his cell. And then he reads. And then he is doing push-ups. He lies on his mat bouncing a racquetball against the wall.
DAMIAN COLE (voice over): I can't say I blame her. I fucked up. She knew the life I was leading-- and she hated that I associated with Marty. And she was right. But God, did I miss her, and the kids. There's not a lot to do in the pen, except bide your time and think about your mistakes. I guess that's why they call it a penitentiary-- it's a place to think over your mistakes, and hopefully come out with a repentant heart.
Damian rests on his bunk, staring at a picture of his wife and kids.
CUT TO:
EXT. NEW JERSEY STATE PENITENTIARY - AFTERNOON - MONTAGE SEQUENCE
The large barb wired fence slowly opens. Out walks Damian Cole-- a free man.
DAMIAN (voice over): And so that just about brings everything up to speed. Here I am today, a free man, job, no family, no prospects, and tens of thousands of dollars in support arrears. I have to start from scratch, and all I have in my tool box are my fists and wrestling acumen. But even with that, I don't have the good will or connections get my foot in the door anywhere-- which led me to the office of my former friend and manager.
END OF MONTAGE SEQUENCE
CUT TO:
INT. LAW OFFICE OF MARTY SUNSHINE, ESQ. - BACK TO PRESENT
We return to the confrontation at Marty's office. The frame UNFREEZES as Damian's fist meets Marty's nose, sending blood flying, and the attorney reeling back into his seat.
Marty quickly grabs a handkerchief and wipes his bleeding nose.
MARTY SUNSHINE: Missed me, I see.
DAMIAN COLE: Well it was pretty hard not to miss you, seeing that you disappeared for two years. Where were you?
MARTY SUNSHINE: I tried. I really did, but--
DAMIAN COLE: You said you'd take care of me! Julie left me, you know that? Took the kids-- they probably don't even remember me. I have nothing.
Damian slams the desk.
DAMIAN COLE: Nothing!
MARTY SUNSHINE: Relax. You have something. You have two things, in fact. First, you have a tremendous skillset-- you are extremely talented at beating people up. And two, you have me.
DAMIAN COLE: I need a steady paycheck, Marty. I have bills, alimony, child support. You owe me!
MARTY SUNSHINE: I understand all of that. I have one word for you: Chicago.
DAMIAN COLE: Chicago? What's in Chicago?
MARTY SUNSHINE: Second City Wrestling.
Damian does not look impressed.
Marty flashes his hands in an attempt to drum up some excitement.
MARTY SUNSHINE: Think about it-- Second City-- "second chances." I know a guy who knows a guy, and I can get us in.
DAMIAN COLE: You've gotta be kidding if you think I'm going into business with you again.
MARTY SUNSHINE: Listen to me. I am sorry, and I wasn't kidding when I said my practice was dying. I've developed, well, sort of a reputation within certain circles of the legal community-- particularly, the judges. And well, word gets around.
DAMIAN COLE: That's not my problem.
MARTY SUNSHINE: No, but not having the right connections is your problem, and I'm your problem solver, baby.
DAMIAN COLE: I hate when you call yourself that.
MARTY SUNSHINE: It was mine first. Anyway, I can help you. You wanna get on your feet? Make a steady paycheck? Get your wife and kids back maybe?
DAMIAN COLE: She's not my wife anymore.
MARTIN SUNSHINE: She is in God's eyes. Listen, we can help each other. What do you say? Do we have a deal?
Marty extends his hand.
Damian thinks about it. He wants to pull Marty out of his chair and toss him out the window, but he is pretty low on options and connections at the moment.
Damian shakes his hand.
DAMIAN COLE: Don't screw me Marty. I'm a changed man. The party days are behind me. I have one goal and one goal only--- to get back on my feet so I can see my kids again.
MARTY SUNSHINE: Don't worry, baby, it will all fall into place. We're gonna make so much money together that you'll get your kids back and be able to buy new kids if you want. When can you leave?
DAMIAN COLE: As soon as you clear it with my parole officer to let me leave the state-- I have nothing holding me here.
FADE TO BLACK