- Helpful Link: Three-Act Structure by Syd Field
- Original Screenplay by Tammy Welson Smith. All Rights Reserved 2012.
Music Video: Heartbreak Hotel song written 1956 by Tommy Durden and Mae Boren Axton.
EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY
A pick-up truck kicks up dust along a road surrounded by barren Florida land.
Jim, 30’s, wearing a button-down shirt and jeans, caresses the wheel as he drives.
A chilled bottle of champagne sweats on the passenger seat. Two champagne flutes beside it.
SINGER (V.O.)
Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Well, it's down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel
EXT. HEARTBREAK HOTEL - DAY
A simple box of a building in the middle of nowhere.
Jim’s truck approaches the building.
SINGER (V.O.)
Well, I'll be so lonely baby
The side of the building reads: Heartbreak Hotel.
A luxury sports car is parked outside the dilapidated hotel.
SINGER (V.O.)
Well, I'm so lonely
Sherry, 30’s, wearing a sundress, opens the car door and swings her bare legs, designer shoes on her feet, out to the dirt ground.
Jim parks his truck. With champagne and flutes in hand, he rushes to Sherry.
SINGER (V.O.)
I'll be so lonely, I could die
Jim takes Sherry in his arms and moves to kiss her.
Sherry looks around nervously and pulls Jim toward the hotel.
INT. HEARTBREAK HOTEL - LOBBY - DAY
A flea-bag dump, barren, a few pieces of torn, dusty furnishings.
Goober, 70, a toothless, wrinkled man in weathered clothing, sits at the front desk and smokes.
SINGER (V.O.)
Oh, although it's always crowded
You still can find some room
Jim signs the guest register “Mr. Jones”.
SINGER (V.O.)
For broken hearted lovers
All the signatures in the guest register read: “Mr. Jones”.
Jim places a few twenty dollar bills on the desk.
SINGER (V.O.)
To cry there in their gloom
Goober hands him a key.
I/E. - HEARTBREAK HOTEL - ROOM #9 - DAY
The weathered paint on the door reads: #9
SINGER (V.O.)
They'll be so
They'll be so lonely, baby
Jim opens the door with the key.
SINGER (V.O.)
Well, they're so lonely
Jim hands the champagne and flutes to Sherry then lifts her, honeymoon style, and carries her over the threshold.
The room has a king-sized bed, peeling wall paper, not much else.
SINGER (V.O.)
They're so lonely, they could die
Jim and Sherry passionately kiss and lunge for the bed, so engrossed in each other, they do not notice their bleak surroundings.
INT. HEARTBREAK HOTEL - LOBBY - DAY
Goober takes an old pocket watch from his shabby coat and glances at the time.
SINGER (V.O.)
Now, the bell hop's tears keep flowin'
And the desk clerk's dressed in black
EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY
A luxury sedan speeds down the road towards the hotel.
SINGER (V.O.)
Well, they been so long on Lonely Street
Matt, 40’s, wearing a suit, clutches the wheel as he drives and stares intensely.
SINGER (V.O.)
They're never comin’ back
A shotgun is on the passenger seat.
INT - HEARTBREAK HOTEL - ROOM #9 - DAY
The unclothed lovers are entwined. Sherry straddles Jim’s lap on the bed. Their eyes meet as they passionately rock, loving kisses, tears of joy.
SINGER (V.O.)
And it's so
Well, it's so lonely baby
Well, they're so lonely
Well, they're so lonely, they could die
EXT. HEARTBREAK HOTEL - DAY
Matt screeches his car to a halt and bursts to the ground, shotgun in hand and moves toward the hotel.
SINGER (V.O.)
Well, if your baby leaves you
You got a tale to tell
Well, just take a walk down Lonely Street
To Heartbreak Hotel
INT. HEARTBREAK HOTEL - LOBBY - DAY
Matt storms into the lobby guns blazing.
Goober puts his hands up over his head holding up nine fingers.
SINGER (V.O.)
Where you will be
You'll be so lonely, baby
I/E. HEARTBREAK HOTEL - ROOM #9 - DAY
Matt stands before the weathered door and kicks the door in with his boot.
SINGER (V.O.)
Well you'll be lonely
You'll be so lonely you could die
Jim and Sherry recoil, backing up against the bed’s headboard.
Matt calmly fires two shots; one into the head of Jim and one into the head of Sherry.
SINGER (V.O.)
Oh, although it's always crowded
You still can find some room
For broken hearted lovers
To cry there in their gloom
They've been so
They're be so lonely, baby
Well, they're so lonely
Jim and Sherry’s bodies slide down as the trail of blood stains the wall behind them.
SERIES OF SHOTS:
A) Jim dressed in button-down shirt and jeans carries Sherry dressed in sundress, circa 2012, over the threshold of room #9.
Matt, dressed in suit, circa 2012, calmly fires two shots.
B) Jim dressed in bell-bottom jeans and tie-dye tee carries Sherry dressed in peasant dress, circa 1977, over the threshold of room #9.
Matt, dressed in suit, circa 1977, calmly fires two shots.
C) Jim dressed in army uniform carries Sherry dressed circa 1942, over the threshold of room #9.
Matt, dressed in suit, circa 1942, calmly fires two shots.
D) Jim carries Sherry over the threshold of room #9, both of them dressed circa 1907.
Matt, dressed in suit, circa 1907, calmly fires two shots.
INT. HEARTBREAK HOTEL - LOBBY - DAY
Goober bellows a ghostly laugh.
SINGER (V.O.)
They'll be so lonely, they could die
No comments:
Post a Comment