The Magic Circus

New Idea - The Youvie

Tuesday, 09 December 2008 00:21

It is just past three o'clock in the morning so take this thought with a grain of salt...The Youvie. You film scenes from my script and I'll link to them and vice versa.

I originally pitched this Magic Circus script to Gunn Productions, they did College Road Trip and Adam Sandler's latest, Bedtime Stories. The woman I talked to liked it, and asked to see pages, but has yet to get back to me (Hi Heather!). The likelihood of getting a movie made is pretty slim, the average pic costs more than $100 mil to do, so no one's going to take a flier on just any shmoe. However, anyone can make a movie. My 7-year old has made a movie. It was short and he needed help, but still you see my point.

Or maybe you don't.

Here's the challenge, get a camera, find some friends, film a scene and send me the link. If we get enough people making Youvies, we'll have a real movie one day.

It is now 3:26 and I'm going to lie down.

The Magic Circus - Scene 29

Tuesday, 09 December 2008 00:14

Monk looks up.  His phone rings.  It's HOME.  He lets it ring.  Looks at Nel who looks at him.

Shot of Mary holding phone in Redmond, just waiting.

Monk doesn't answer.

Nel - Mary?

Monk - Yeah.

Nel (pointing to Monk's papers) How ya' doin' over there?

Monk - Good.  You?

Nel - Good.  Really good, if I do say so me own damn self.

Monk - Beer?

Nel - Sure, if you call that beer.

They sit and drink.

Nel - What time is it?

Monk picks up his phone.  It beeps, he has a new voicemail message.

Monk - Almost midnight.

Monk's phone rings again.

Monk - (to Nel) Bud.

Monk - (answering phone) Hey Bud.  What's up?

Bud - (at strip club) Dude, you HAVE to get down here.

Monk - Bud. (pause)

Bud - What?

Monk - We don't have a car.

Bud - Oh, yeah.  (pause)  We'll be right there.  (Hangs up)

Monk - (flips phone shut, says to Nel)  Ready to call it a night?

Nel - It's a night.

Monk - (not laughing) You're tired.

Nel - You can say that again...

Monk smiles and takes a drink.

End scene

The Magic Circus - Scene 28

Monday, 08 December 2008 23:58

Monk looking at page sees JTM waking on couch in his office-trailer.  Feet on floor, elbows on knees, hands on top of his head as he stares at his feet on the floor.  There's a knock on his door, then it opens.  CK pokes his head in.

JTM - Come in...

CK enters, leaves door open, the screen door slams behind him.  CK walks in sheepishly.  He pulls the chair from in front of JTM's desk and drags it in front of JTM on the couch, sits on it backwards.

CK - Hey.

JTM - Hey.

CK - Heard you had a bad day.

JTM - You could say that.

CK - Listen.  I know we go way back...

JTM - Kent.  We went to school together.  We went to war together.  We built this circus.  Saying we "go way back" doesn't begin to describe us.

CK - Yeah.  I know.

Pause. 

CK looks around at the shabbiness, JTM's scorched and damp suit hung up on a light fixture.  Turns back to JTM.

CK - Look at this place, look at you.  This is gonna kill you.

JTM - It's my baby, Kent.  I've given my whole life to this operation.  I can't just walk away.

CK stands up and walks away.  Pulls open drapes and looks outside as the circus comes to life after a restless sleep.  Nellie trundles by, Bud at his heels.  CK turns back, shaking his head, shuffles to the center of the trailer, running his blackbooted foot along the grungy carpet.

CK - This could be my big break...

JTM - Who's it with, this audition?

CK - A band called August West, their lead guitar had a run-in with brandy and horse tranquilizers.  They're on the brink, man.  Been playing bigger venues, totally hit my demographic, slated to play the Vernal Equinox Festival in the...Spring.

JTM - Yeah?  Sounds groovy.

CK - Hey, man.  I still might make it.  Their studio's by The Mountain, if I can get in early and catch a break on the traffic I might still make it.

Pause.

CK - Add another act.  Drag the show out, I can still close.

JTM thinks, runs his fingers through his hair.  Stands up, paces.  He pats his chest, reflex, looking for smokes.  Walks to suit and pulls soggy pack from the breast pocket.  Limp cigarette between fingers.  CK pulls out a pack and offers him one.

JTM - These aren't...Yooks?

CK - No.  Ordinary tobacco.  Harmless.

JTM pats his thigh looking for his lighter, but he's not wearing pants, just ratty underwear and a stained t-shirt.  CK flips his zippo and JTM leans forward to get a light.  He takes a long drag and CK lights one for himself.

JTM - Wally's working on a New Act with Bruce.  We may be able to use that.  Bilge has some crazy roller derby thing he's been working on with the girls.  And, I could always get Bud and his pack to go long...This might just work!

CK - That's the spirit!

They exchange terrorist fist bump.

JTM - But, listen.  We've already done all the adverts; posters, radio, RodenTV, the whole nine yards.  If we don't have our headliner, we'll have one unhappy crowd.  There might even be legal ramifications.

Pause

CK - Joe.  I'll make it.

JTM - You better.

Pause. 

JTM walks to the light fixture, pulls down his suit and starts to put it back on.

JTM - I gotta go find Bud and tell him he may have to spice up his bit.

CK - Those cats are funny.  They'll rock.

Pause

CK - Are you really gonna wear that thing.

JTM - Baah.  A little water never hurt nobody.

Kent finds an ashtray, finishes his smoke, stubs it out, makes a gun with his finger, shoots, leaves.  He stops at door, turns to JTM.

CK - Catch ya' on the flip side.

The screen door slams.

End Scene

The Magic Circus - Scene 27

Monday, 08 December 2008 23:52

Back at studio. Ned and Monk are still sitting at conference room table, talking, taking notes. Bilge and Clarice are on the bean bag chairs.

Bilge - ...your daughter's 8?

Clarice - Rachel. Yeah, Rachel's 8.

Bilge - Eight. Wow. Must be hard.

Clarice - A bit, but Jack's folks are close by, they help out heaps, which reminds me, I've gotta call and tell 'em I'm not comin' back.

Bilge - You're not?

Clarice - No...we left my car at Bud's.

Bilge - Hey, when's Rachel's birthday?

Clarice starts to dial.

Clarice - December.

Bilge - (thinking) December what?

Clarice - (distracted) - 25th, she was a Christmas present.

Bilge - That's funny, Monk's boy was born in December.

Clarice is now on the phone with her mother-in-law. Bilge shouts to Monk who is working with Nel in the other room.

Bilge - Hey, Monk, what's your boy's birthday?

Monk - (without looking up, focused on talk with Nel) 12-25. He was a Christmas present.

Bilge rubs his left cheek with his left hand, pushes himself up off the ground with his right, leaves Clarice chatting on the phone. Through a window in the office/studio that looks out to the foyer before the elevator doors, Bilge sees said doors open. Juan is escorting in Kent and Bud.
Bud and Kent enter the studio, Juan stands at door.

Bud - Perfecto, mi amigo.  Mission Accomplished.

Clarice walks over to the trio of new arrivals.

Clarice - Muchos Gracias, Juan.

Juan - De nada.  No worries (he looks at Kent, who gives him a thumbs-up).

Juan leaves.  Clarice, Bud and Kent walk into conference room where Bilge, Monk and Nel are working.  Monk looks up as Bud drops the beer on the table.

Monk - Shaeffer?

Bud - It's the beer after beer beer.

Monk - I meant where the hell did you find Shaeffer?  I haven't had that beer in years.

Bud - Korean market down the street.

Kent - (handing beer to Monk) Mr. Shaeffer I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Monk. (Talking like Mr. Bill, moving it like puppet)  Oh, Captain, Monkeyboy and I go way back.  Don't drink me, are you going to drink...oh, no...

Monk - (snatches can)  Give me that!  (Opens beer, drinks.)

Bud starts picking at Chinese food.  Looks over Nel's shoulder at what he's writing, picks up pages.

Bud - Whatcha' doin'?  Playing cards?

Nel ignores him, snatches back pages.

Nel - Piss off, Bud.

Bud - Not a bad idea.  I don't want to spend my bachelor party writing some silly story.

Bilge - Y'know every once in awhile ya' should try to think of someone other than y'self, Mate.

Bud - Oh, that's rich coming from you.

Nel looks up.

Nel - Really.  Will y'all jes' fuck off!  We're workin' here.

Clarice - I think we have too many people in this scene.

Bilge - You can say that again.

Clarice - I think we have too many...

Nel - (interrupts) Leave the comedy to us, eh, Clar.

Bilge - (to Clarice)  Ya' want me to take you back to Bud's place to git your car.

Monk looks up at Bilge, then over to Clarice.

Bud - (to Clarice)  You've got the key.  (Pause) Don't let HIM drive my car!

Clarice walks over to bean bag chairs to find her purse.  Comes back, dangles, jangles keys before Bilge like a hypnotist.

Clarice - (to Bilge) Coming.  (Pause as Bilge hesitates)  Come on let's blow this Taco Stand.

Bilge stands up.  Nel mutters without looking up.

Nel - More like a Chinoise kitchen in King's Fucking Cross.

Bilge and Clarice leave together.

Bud - And then there were four.

Monk - (trying to draw) Still too many.

Bud - You know, Kent, I'm beginning to think we're not welcome.

Kent - Me feelers are hurt.

Nel and Monk ignore them.

Kent - What say ye to more native dance?

Bud - In the wilds of LA, Cap'n, you'll need a native guide.

Kent - A'right Pocahontas, let's ride.

Bud - Pocahontas...that's kind of twee, ain't it.

Kent - She was a stud.  I read a book 'bout Lewis and Clark, western exploration, exploitation, all that...did ya' know she traveled with her baby...

Nel - Really...fascinating...Now get the fuck out!

Bud - OK, OK, we can take a hint.  You don't have to spell it out for us.

Bud and Kent leave.  Nel and Monk bend over their pages.  Monk stares down.

End scene