SEEK, SEDUCE, SLAY

SEEK, SEDUCE, SLAY SCREENPLAY BY RELENTLESS AARON

LEAD ACTRESS – YOU! LEAD ACTOR – RELENTLESS AARON INT – PANERA BREAD. BUSINESS AS USUAL. PRETTY GIRL APPROACHES THE COUNTER FOR COFFEE. GILMORE SPOTS PRETTY GIRL (ZOE’) AND CONFRONTS HER. [*SHOT IS FOCUSED ON HER HANDS AS SHE PUTS SUGAR AND CREAM IN HER COFFEE] THE TWO CHAT BRIEFLY AND HE PASSES HER A NUMBER IN ATTEMPT TO GO OUT ON A DATE. ZOE’ LEAVES PANERA BREAD NOT NECESSARILY PROMISING TO CALL. EXT – [GILMORE, WORKING AT HIS COMPUTER, SEES TEXT MESSAGE ON HIS CELLPHONE. CONTINUOUS TEXTING BETWEEN GILMORE AND ZOE’. GILMORE EVENTUALLY SHOWS FRUSTRATION AND FINALLY CALLS ZOE’] GILMORE – SORRY. SOMETIMES THE TEXTING CAN GET OUT OF HAND. ITS SUPPOSED TO BE SHORT AND SWEET, BUT THEN IT TURNS INTO A WHOLE CHAPTER YOU’RE WRITING. HOW ARE YOU?” ZOE’ – “I’M GOOD.” (ZOE’ IS WITH HER GIRLFRIEND WINDOW SHOPPING, VICTORIA SECRET, LADY FOOTLOCKER, ETC) GILMORE – “WELL I’M GLAD YOU CALLED…” [THE TWO GET INTO TRIVIAL CONVERSATION UNTIL GILMORE EVENTUALLY ASKS ZOE’ TO DINNER.] “SO WADDAYA SAY WE DO CARRIBBEAN. I KNOW THIS GREAT RESTAURANT IN STONECREST CALLED CARIBBEAN GRILL.” ZOE’ ‐ “MMM, THAT SOUNDS DELICIOUS. BUT…” GILMORE – “BUT WHAT?”

ZOE’ – “WELL, DON’T YOU THINK IT’S A LITTLE FAST FOR A DINNER DATE? I MEAN, WE JUST MET THIS MORNING.” (GIRLFRIEND PLAY‐PUNCHES ZOE’, ENCOURAGING HER TO TAKE THE OFFER) [GILMORE IS MULTI‐TASKING AT HIS DESK WHILE ON THE PHONE. COMPUTER. TEXT MESSAGING. ETC.]

GILMORE – “HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE ZOE’.” (SWITCHES OVER TO TAKE ANOTHER CALL) “HEY, WHO’S THIS?” (MEAN WHILE ZOE’ COVERS PHONE AND GETS INTO TRITE/PLAYFUL DISAGREEMENT WITH GIRLFRIEND) EVA – “HEY. IT’S EVA. WE MET THE OTHER DAY IN PANERA BREAD?” GILMORE – [IMAGES OF EVA FLASH IN HIS MIND. HER LAST WORDS ECHO] “OF COURSE, I REMEMBER. UUHM, HOW ARE YOU?” EVA – “GOOD. I APPRECIATED YOUR DINNER OFFER, BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW I RESPECT MYSELF. I’M NOT JUST GONNA RUN TO DINNER AFTER JUST MEETING.” GILMORE – “I UNDERSTAND.” EVA – “NOTHING PERSONAL, BUT, YA KNOW… MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME UP BETTER THAN…” GILMORE [INTERRUPTING] “”EVA? I WAS SORTA ON ANOTHER CALL. A BUSINESS CALL. CAN I CALL YOU BACK?” EVA – [SOMEWHAT STUNNED] “YEAH, SURE.” GILMORE – “THANKS” [INHALE. EXHALE] “UHM… (ALMOST FORGETS ZOE’’S NAME) ZOE! SORRY, I THOUGHT I LOST YOU. SO… OKAY, I KNOW DINNER IS A LITTLE FAST, BUT… WE ALL GOTTA EAT, RIGHT?’” (SILENCE) “RIGHT ZOE’?”

ZOE – (PULLING AWAY FROM THE CONVERSATION WITH GIRLFRIEND) “YEAH, I’M HERE.” GILMORE – “SO WHADDAYA SAY. A NICE QUIET DINNER. NO STRINGS ATTACHED. NO EXPECTATIONS.” ZOE – “WELL ALRIGHT.” GILMORE – “GREAT. 6?”

ZOE – “SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN. EXCEPT, I’M WITH MY GIRL NOW. LEMME HAVE THE ADDRESS TO THE RESTAURANT AND SHE CAN BRING ME THRU.” FADE TO BLACK EXT – SHOT OF ROUTE 178. SHOT OF RESTAURANT. INT – SHOT OF INSIDE AND SOME OF THE RESTAURANT ACTIVITIES. GILMORE IS ON THE CELLPHONE WITH ANOTHER WOMAN. SHOT OF CLOCK AS IT CHANGES FROM 6PM TO 6:20 EXT – [ZOE IS AT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, LOOKING IN, TALKING HER FRIEND]

ZOE – (LEANING OVER, SPEAKING INTO PASSENGER’S SIDE DOOR) “DON’T WORRY, GIRL. I’LL BE OKAY.” INT – MATRE’D ESCORTS ZOE TO TABLE. GILMORE SHUTS DOWN PHONE CALL ABRUPTLY. GILMORE – “HEY, I’LL CHAT W’CHA LATER HOMIE.” (GILMORE TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO ZOE APPROACHING. THEY EXCHANGE A SLIGHT HUG.) CONVERSATION CARRIES ON DURING DINNER. EXT ‐ [THE COUPLE LEAVE THE RESTAURANT, HEAD TO GILMORE’S TRUCK.] INT – [DURING DRIVE FROM RESTAURANT, GILMORE REALIZES HE NEEDS GAS. MEANWHILE, ZOE’ IS CHECKING OUT THE AUTHOR’S BOOK] ZOE’ – “SO, AHH… YOUALWAYS WRITE ABOUT MURDER?” GILMORE – “WELL, IT KINDA HELPS TO ADD IMPACT TO THE STORIES; NOT TO MENTION THAT THROUGHOUT HISTORY MURDER SELLS BOOKS.”

ZOE – “SO YOU WRITE MURDER BOOKS TO MAKE MONEY.” GILMORE – “NOT EXACTLY. ACTUALLY, IT’S A WHOLE LOT DEEPER THAN THAT.” ZOE ‐ (A MINUTE OR SO LATER) “YOU ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES?” GILMORE – “WELL, IT HELPS ME GET A GRIP WHEN I’M DRIVING.” ANOTHER MINUTE PASSES ZOE – “DO YOU KNOW THERE’S A KNIFE IN YOUR VAN?” GILMORE LOOKES OVER BETWEEN THE SEAT. A KNIFE IS SEALED IN A PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE. GILMORE – “OH THAT’S NOTHING. I USE IT TO CUT CUCUMBERS NOW AND THEN. LOVE THEM CUCUMBERS.” EXT – VAN PULLS INTO BP GAS STATION GILMORE – “JUST REALIZED I NEED GAS. BE RIGHT BACK. HOLD THAT THOUGHT.” [GILMORE LEAVES VAN AND STEPS OFF TO PAY CASHIER. WHEN HE RETURNS TO PUMP THE GAS, ZOE IS OUT OF THE VAN, ON HER CELL PHONE AS IF HER CALL IS TOP SECRET.] [ZOE IS WANDERING IN THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT AND THE SCENEREO IS SERIOUSLY STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A HOOKER JUST LEFT HER ‘JOHN.’

GILMORE – [LOOKING UNCOMFORTABLE] “YOU OKAY?” ZOE – “I’M GOOD.” SHE’S WITHIN EARSHOT. “DON’T WORRY ABOUT ME. MY UNCLE’S COMING TO PICK ME UP. HE NEEDS ME FOR SOMETHING.” [ZOE’ IS RESPONDING, BUT SHE’S ALSO STEPPING OFF WITH A REALLY STRANGE LOOK ABOUT HER, STILL ON THE PHONE. GILMORE IS DONE PUMPING GAS AND IS BESIDE HIMSELF ABOUT WHAT TO DO HERE. A ‘DATE’ JUST EXCUSED HERSELF, NO HUG, NO ‘REAL’ EXPLANATION. AND HE’S SUPPOSED TO JUST LEAVE HER? HE HANGS IN THE GAS STATION LOT FOR A TIME AND WATCHES AS ZOE GOES INTO THE BP GAS/CONVENIENCE STORE. MEAN ARE LOOKING AT THIS VERY ATTRACTIVE WOMAN WHO’S LOOKING A LITTLE ESTRANGED, AND PURPOSELESS. SHE DOESN’T STAY LONG IN THE STATION, SEEMS TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ALL THE ATTENTION SHE’S GETTING. SHE EXITS THE STATION. GILMORE IS THINKING THAT SHE’S COMING BACK, BUT SHE JUST WANDERS AROUND TO THE SIDE OF THE STATION. FRUSTRATED, GILMORE FINALLY LEAVES. [FADE TO BLACK.] ‐3 DAYS LATER ‐ GILMORE & ZOE ARE TEXTING ONE ANOTHER. TRITE CONVERSATION. EVENTUALLY, GILMORE QUITS WITH THE TEXTING AND CALLS ZOE’ GILMORE – [SURPRISED SHE ANSWERS THE PHONE] “SORRY. THAT TEXTING GETS TO ME SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE’S SO MUCH MOE TO SAY. LISTEN… LOOK, I DON’T KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG. BUT I FELT SOMETHING THE OTHER DAY.” SILENCE. GILMORE – “DIDN’T YOU? I KNOW YOU DID.” ZOE’ – “KINDA” [CONVERSATION IS LIGHT, BUT EVENTUALLY GILMORE GETS ZOE’ TO AGREE TO MEET AGAIN. GILMORE ‐ “SO HOW ABOUT WE START FRESH. PANERA BREAD? I MEAN, AFTERALL, IT’S WHERE WE FIRST MET.” ZOE’ – (AFTER MORE SILENCE) “I GUESS. OKAY” INT – [PANERA BREAD. THE TWO ARE COZY IN THE CORNER.]

GILMORE ‐ “GLAD YOU DECIDED TO TRUST ME.” THE TWO GO INTO CONVERSATION. GILMORE IS LEAD TO EXPLAIN THINGS AFTER ZOE TELLS HIM HE LOOKED LIKE KILLER; GLOVES. MURDER BOOKS. A KNIFE IN THE CAR. SHE MENTIONS OJ. SHE MENTIONS ALL THE VIOLENCE IN ATLANTA’S HOODS. GILMORE – 9CHANGING SUBJECT) “SO HOW ABOUT WE GO TO A PARK. SOMETHING SIMPLE, LIKE A WALK. YOU KNOW, SOME EXCLUSIVE TIME TOGETHER.” ZOE’ ‐ (SMILES) “OKAY” EXT – SHOT OF GILMORE AND ZOE’ LEAVING PANERA BREAD HAND IN HAND. THEY GET IN GILMORE’S VAN. INT – INSIDE VAN. ZOE’ – “WAIT. WHAT ABOUT MY CAR.” GILMORE – “IT’LL BE ALRIGHT HERE. TRUST ME.” ZOE’ EASILY AGREES. EXT ‐ VAN DRIVING OFF, STREET SCENES ON THE WAY TO PARK. SHOT OF VAN ARRIVING AT PARK AND GILMORE IS A GENTLEMAN TO HELP ZOE’ OUT OF THE PASSENGER’S SIDE. ZOE’ – “YOU COME HERE A LOT?” GILMORE – [SHRUGS] “HERE AND THERE. COME ON. LETS MAKE THE BEST OF THE DAYLIGHT.” [ZOE’ NODS WITH A CUTE/AGREEABLE SMILE AND THE TWO WALK OFF] SHOTS OF ZOE’ AND GILMORE LAUGHING. GILMORE TICKLES ZOE’. ZOE’ JUMPS ON GILMORE’S BACK AND IT’S VERY PLAYFUL. ZOE’ – “IT’S GETTING DARK, YOU THINK WE SHOULD GET BACK?” GILMORE – “YOU SCARED?” ZOE’ – “NOOOOOOOOOO. I’M JUST SAYIN.” GILMORE – “DON’T YOU TRUST ME?” ZOE’ ‐ [WITH THE DEEP INHALE/EXHALE] “YOU KNOW YOU ARE SO CRAZY. THAT’S PROBABLY WHY I LIKE YOU.” ZOE’ SNUGGLES UP TO GILMORE. [HEAVY KISSING SCENE. GILMORE LIFTS ZOE’ DURING THE KISSING. GILMORE TAKES ZOE’ TO THE GROUND. MORE KISSING. VERY HOT AND HEAVY. GILMORE SUDDENLY STOPS]

ZOE’ – “WHAT’S THE MATTER?” GILMORE – “YOU KNOW WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN IF WE KEEP THIS UP.” ZOE’ – “UHH, YEAH! DUHH!” [SHE GRABS GILMORE’S SHIRT AND PULLS HIM IN FOR MORE KISSING.” GILMORE – [STOPPING AGAIN] “I THINK WE SHOULD STOP. I SHOULD WARN YOU, I GET CRAZY.” ZOE’ – [LAUGHS] – YEAH, LIKE IN YOUR BOOK. LIKE CHAPTER 23. SEE, YOU THINK I DIDN’T READ. I READ YOUR FUCKING BOOK AND YOU’RE A MONSTER FREAK. SO, WHAT… THAT WAS ALL FICTION? YOU’RE NOT REALLY AS BAD AS YOUR PEN? MISTER BEST‐SELLING AUTHOR? [LAUGHS] [GILMORE SURRENDERS TO ZOE’ AND THE KISSING IS MORE SENSUAL. SHOT OF GILMORE’S EYES OPENING, DEVILISH, THE PREDATOR, EVEN WHILE ZOE’ IS OVER‐INDULGING IN THE EMBRACE.] GILMORE – “I HAVE AN IDEA.” ZOE’ – [TAKES OFF TOP AND NOW HAS ONLY BRA AND SKIRT] “ME TOO. HOW ABOUT YOU GIVE ME CHAPTER 23. UN‐EDITED.” (NEED CLOSE‐UP OF ZOE’’S LIPS SAYING “UN‐EDITED”) [GILMORE GOES TO TICKLE ZOE’, THEN STOPS] GILMORE ‐ “HOW ABOUT WE PLAY AUTHOR HORROR.” ZOE’ – “AUTHOR HORROR? I NEVER HEARD ‘A THAT. HOWS THAT GO.” GILMORE – “YOU RUN INTO THE WOODS, I TRY AND CATCH YOU.” ZOE’ – [LAUGHING] “THAT’S SILLY!” [MORE LAUGHING] “OKAY‐OKAY, SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CATCH ME?” [HER SMILE; CUTE AND CURIOUS] GILMORE – [DRAMATIC] “I GET TO RAPE YOU.” ZOE’ – [GUILTY SMERK] “AND IF YOU DON’T CATCH ME?” GILMORE – [SINISTER LAUGH] “I STILL GET TO RAPE YOU.” [MAKES SCARY FACE] [ZOE’ SCREAMS AND BACKS AWAY. GILMORE STARTS AFTER HER. THE CHASE IN THE WOODS] INT – THE WOODS {SHOT OF ZOE’’S FEET RUNNING THROUGH WOODS. SHOT OF GILMORE CHASING. SHOT OF GILMORE GETTING CLOSE. ZOE’ SCREAMS. GILMORE TACKLES ZOE’. SHE SCREAMS AGAIN.

SHOT OF ZOE’ ON HER BACK. GILMORE ABOVE HER, ON HIS KNEES. ZOE’ – [BREATHIGN HEAVY, LOOKING VERY PRETTY, VULNERABLE, WANTON] ZOE’ – “NOW WHAT” GILMORE – “NOW WHAT? I THOUGHT YOU READ THE BOOK?” ZOE’ – “WELL, I DID… ITS JUST… CHAPTER 23 WAS SO HOT I READ IT 2 TIMES, THEN I STARTED THE BOOK ALL OVER AGAIN JUST TO GET THAT WHOLE FEELING AGAIN AND…” GILMORE – “YOU TELLIN ME YOU DIDN’T FINISH THE BOOK?” ZOE’ – [GUILTY LOOK WITH INNOCENT BATTING EYES] GILMORE – [CHUCKLE] “WELL THAT’S GOOD. SO THEN, THIS PART SHOULD BE A BIG SURPRISE..”

FADE TO BLACK – SCREAMS MUFFLED MORE SCREAMS. SOUND OF SMACK. THEN HEAVY PUNCH. HEAVING BREATHING. SILENCE

THE END

ZOE’ ATTIRE (FIRST ENCOUNTER) IS REAL SEXY CLUB WEAR, SHORT SKIRT, COLOR‐BLOUSE THAT SHOWS CLEAVAGE. (SECOND ENCOUNTER) MORE CONSERVATIVE. JEANS AND SEXY PUMPS. A BLOUSE WITH LESS CLEAVAGE, BUT SHOULD BE A ‘BUTTON UP’ THAT CAN BE PULLED OPEN FOR THE PARK SCENE. ALSO A SEXY BRA THAT’S EXPOSED/SHOWN DURING PARK SCENE. GIRLFRIEND IS WEARING THE AVERAGE OUTFIT TO SHOP AT THE MALL. EVA IS WEARING BUSINESS ATTIRE.