THE MASK

 

 

Revised by Chuck Russell

 

Third Draft

April 21, 1993

SHOOTING DRAFT

 

EXT. HIGH SEAS - DAY

 

The dragonhead prow of an ancient Viking ship cuts through the thick fog of the rough North Atlantic Sea.

 

MUSIC EXPLODES: WAGNER'S "GOTTERDAMMERUNG" (Twilight of the Gods)

 

SUPERIMPOSE: THE TENTH CENTURY A.D.

 

EXT. BOW OF THE SHIP - DAY

 

Viking explorer LEIF ERICSON carefully studies his fob compass as he dangles it above a parchment map. His SAILORS steal nervous looks at a large, diabolical-looking IRON BOX in the hold.

 

OLAF, a fierce, one-eyed Viking warrior approaches Ericson. NOTE: Dialog is in OLD NORSE, with SUBTITLES)

 

OLAF

Leif, let's do the deed

before another night falls. The crew's

near mutiny.

 

Ericson draws his broadsword with a flourish.

 

LEIF ERICSON

Know this! The first man to turn

will taste my steel in his guts.

 

OLAF

But we've surely gone far enough.

 

ERICSON

That accursed box must be thrown

off the edge of the world. We

will go until we can go no more…

 

Suddenly there is an ear-splitting SCREECH and the entire boat rocks violently as it runs aground.

 

The LOOKOUT is thrown from his crow's nest… and CRASHES straight through the deck right in front of Ericson. His pained voice floats up from the black hole.

 

LOOKOUT

…Land ho.

 

Ericson wheels about just as the fog parts off the starboard bow.

 

ERICSON'S P.O.V.

 

A beautiful rustic coastline stretching off as far as the eye can see.

 

LEIF

(gasps)

By Odin's beard…

 

EXT. THE NEW WORLD - A HARBOR - SUNSET

 

Olaf finishes digging a hole in the sand. He backs away, terrified, as burly Vikings, led by Ericson, muscle the IRON BOX over to the hole and quickly bury it. Ericson turns to an exotic-looking Eurasian WITCH.

 

ERICSON

Be quick, Witch. Let the deed

be done.

 

The Witch unravels a scroll and recites:

 

WITCH

Oh Loki, ancient one. Thy mischief

dwell now in waters, base and

bland. And in waves and sand thy

magic forever sleep…

 

As the Witch speaks, a strong wind kicks up and a black wall of clouds appears. The sky explodes in THUNDER and LIGHTNING. The men look about fearfully.

 

ERICSON (CONT.)

Back to the ship men, hurry.

 

OLAF

Captain, you've discovered a new

world. It is your right to name it.

 

ERICSON

Leave that to the Italians. We're

never coming back here. Never.

This land is now cursed.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

A SIGN: 'BEACH CLOSED - RAW SEWAGE - NO SWIMMING'

 

EXT. BEACH - PRESENT DAY

 

Hot, smoggy and packed. Cityscape of towering skyscrapers stands in the haze just beyond the crowded beach.

 

SUPER: EDGE CITY - THE PRESENT

 

A caffeine-driven D.J's voice booms over the beach-goers' radios.

 

D.J. (V.O.)

Yessiree, it's a four-alarm

sizzler out there today with highs

 in the upper nineties and no

relief in sight. We have a third

 stage smog advisory and a metro

traffic gridlock alert.

Flourocarbons are up, the Dow

Jones is down and we're expecting

another Spike Lee movie any

second. In other words folks,

it's just another bee-youtiful

day in Edge City.

 

Camera ENDFRAMES on an industrial barge marked "Department of Sanitation." A crane's cable line disappears underwater.

 

EXT. UNDERWATER - SAME TIME

 

SCUBA WELDERS repair a cracked, scum spewing pipe. One diver hits something hard with his dredger. He unearths…

 

THE ANCIENT IRON BOX

 

Rust and barnacles partially obscure the engraved images of Norse gods and demons.

 

THE DIVER wedges his scuba knife under the corroded lock. Erie 'MASK' theme SFX rise as he tries to pry open the lid.

 

Suddenly the PIPELINE BREAKS FREE, crushing the diver and cracking open the box.

 

SOMETHING (seen only in rippling shadow) explodes out of the box on a cloud of bubbles and shoots toward the surface.

 

EXT. WATER

 

The Mask surfaces in the f.g. as lightening EXPLODES across the distant cityscape.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. EDGE CITY BANK

 

A banner displays their proud motto: "WE BANK ON TOMORROW."

 

EXT./INT. EDGE CITY BANK

 

CHARLIE SCHUMACHER (30's) gazes out the window from his cluttered desk as the crack of THUNDER echos through the urban canyons.

 

CHARLIE

Look at those clouds rollin' in,

man. Freaky weather.

 

STANLEY IPKISS, a bright0eyed amiable young account exec pauses by Charlie's desk and drops off a print-out.

 

STANLEY

Hey Charlie, can you go over these

stats? We're supposed to have

a complete report before lunch.

 

Charlie takes one looks at the complex print-outs and tosses them back.

 

CHARLIE

Woah. Sorry Stanley, I just had

my weave tightened and my head

is killing me. Be a pal and take

those over to Hinkleman, will ya?

 

MAGGIE, a cute young blonde now strolls by.

 

MAGGIE

Hi guys. Did you have any luck

with those concert tickets

Stanley?

 

Stanley perks up at the sight of her.

 

STANLEY

I sure did. Friday night, just

like you wanted.

 

MAGGIE

Oh, Stanley, that's wonderful.

 

STANLEY

What time should I pick you up?

 

MAGGIE

Gee, I don't know. My best

girlfriend just got into town and

I know she'd love to go. Can we

get an extra ticket for her?

 

STANLEY

Well… uh, actually it's sold

out. I was kinda lucky to get

these.

 

MAGGIE

She's only going to be in town

a couple of days and I just can't

let her sit at home all alone.

Are you sure there isn't something

we can do?

 

Stanley considers the situation for a moment, then pulls the tickets out of his pocket.

 

STANLEY

You know what? Here. You two

go.

 

MAGGIE

Oh Stanley, I couldn't do that.

 

STANLEY

No really. Go ahead. It's okay.

I hate concerts anyway. All that,

you know… music floating around.

 

Maggie snatches the tickets from Stanley's hand.

 

MAGGIE

That is so sweet. Sheila's just

going to love this.

 

STANLEY

So maybe you and I can get

together over the weekend?

 

MAGGIE

I'm not sure what's going on, but

just give me a call. You know

I like to be spontaneous.

 

STANLEY

Oh, sure. Me too.

 

MAGGIE

Stanley Ipkiss, you are the nicest

guy.

 

Maggie gives him a quick air-kiss and hurries off to her teller's window.

 

CHARLIE

That's it.

 

STANLEY

What?

 

CHARLIE

The kiss of death. As soon as

 they use the "N" word it's all

over.

 

STANLEY

So maybe I am a nice guy. So

what?

 

CHARLIE

You are a rug. I am talking

astro-turf here. You're letting

these women sharpen their cleats

on you.

 

STANLEY

Hey, I'm a gentleman. If they

can't appreciate that, it's their

problem.

 

CHARLIE

You spend too much time being

"nice" to a girl, you'll wind up

sittin' around listening to her

complain about the son of a bitch

she really loves.

 

STANLEY

Charlie, you are a very sick

puppy.

 

CHARLIE

Wake up, Stanley! These are the

nineties. We're dealing with an

entire generation of dysfunctional

love junkies. You can't romance

'em. You gotta confuse 'em. It's

the only thing that gets their

attention.

(pauses)

Let me demonstrate. You see that

girl over there?

 

Stanley looks over at the coffee service where an attractive young WOMAN is pouring herself a cup of coffee.

 

CHARLIE (CONT.)

Hi Lisa.

 

LISA

(forgets his name)

Oh, hi…

 

CHARLIE

Charlie.

 

LISA

That's right. Sorry.

 

CHARLIE

Lisa, this may seem a little odd,

but my friend over there and I

were having this discusion and

I thought maybe you could settle

it for us.

 

LISA

I'll help out if I can.

 

CHARLIE

(sheepishly)

Actually, I don't know… this

is kind of a personal question.

 

LISA

That's okay. Go ahead.

 

CHARLIE

Alright. Just for the sake of

argument, if I wasn't a happily

married man… am I the kind of

guy you'd go out with?

 

LISA

Oh, um… I don't know.

(pauses)

Well… yeah. I guess I would.

 

CHARLIE

Lisa, I have terrific news for

you.

 

LISA

What?

 

CHARLIE

I'm not married! Is this perfect

or what? Listen, there's not a

lot of women willing to come right

out like that and admit they're

attracted to a guy, but…

 

Lisa SLAPS Charlie, turns on her heel, and marches off.

 

CHARLIE (CONT.)

Jeez… make up your mind.

 

Stanley gives Charlie the fish eye as he returns.

 

CHARLIE

Okay. Bad example. Some

of these women got so much baggage

they need an emotional sky cap.

I'll tell you what Stanley,

tonight I'm gonna take you on a

love safari, deep into the darkest

heart of the urban jungle.

 

STANLEY

And where's that?

 

CHARLIE

The Monkey's Paw. Hottest new

club in town. It's a guaranteed

skirt alert and no dead beats

allowed.

 

STANLEY

So how are we gonna get in?

 

CHARLIE

Woah, do I detect a little

self-image problem there, buddy?

You just leave everything to me.

This, my friend is going to be

the perfect night on the town.

 

Suddenly a resounding peal of THUNDER rings out like the crack of doom. Sheets of rain pour down on the bank's windows.

 

EXT. STREET

 

Pedestrians scramble for cover in the sudden downpour.

 

INT. BANK - FOYER

 

A young woman scurries into the bank holding a newspaper over her head. She's soaking wet and pauses in the foyer to straighten herself out.

 

Charlie immediately notices her…

 

CHARLIE

Hold the phone. Killer at three

o'clock.

 

Stanley follows his gaze.

 

STANLEY'S P.O.V.

 

CAMERA does a classic CHEESECAKE TILT-UP starting with the woman's million dollar legs as she squeezes some of the water out of her skirt… up past her body, which through her damp summer clothes is undeniable proof that there is a God… up… up… to her face as that newspaper is tossed aside. She's a heart-stopping woman/child with a Cupid's bow mouth and ice blue eyes. In other words she's trouble. Big trouble, also known as TINA CARLYLE.

 

Charlie may as well have just seen the Virgin of Guadalupe.

 

CHARLIE

(hushed reverence)

Oh my god… A perfect dime. The

dame of dames. The Moby of my

dick.

 

STANLEY

Easy Charlie. You'll sprain your

eyes.

 

Tina now enters and walks towards Stanley and Charlie.

 

TINA

Excuse me, where can I open a new

account?

 

Charlie flashes his best 100 watt smile.

 

CHARLIE

You've come to the right place,

ma'am. Just step right this way

and pull up a chair…

 

Charlie tries to steer Tina to his desk, but she's still preoccupied with her damp clothing.

 

TINA

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm a complete

wreck. Will you hold this please?

 

She hands her shoulder bag to Stanley and peels off her wet blazer, creating another awe-inspiring visual moment.

 

CHARLIE

Here, let me take that for you.

 

Charlie clutches her jacket with white knuckles.

 

TINA

Thanks.

 

But Tina turns and sits at Stanley's desk; Charlie is stunned at his near miss, but there's not a thing he can do about it.

 

STANLEY

So, uh, what kind of account did

you have in mind?

 

TINA

(smiles sweetly)

Well, I'm not sure exactly. I'm

just terrible with things like

that. That's an interesting tie

Mr…?

 

STANLEY

Ipkiss. Stanley Ipkiss…

 

Tina extends her hand.

 

TINA

Tina Carlyle. Pleased to meet

you.

 

STANLEY

The, uh… pleasure's all mine.

 

Tina notices a box of Kleenex on Stanley's desk.

 

TINA

May I? I'm such a mess.

 

STANLEY

Oh... of course.

 

Tina takes out a compact and daintily blots the moisture from her face.

 

TINA

As I was saying about that tie. It's

like one of those, what do you

call them, ink blot tests.

 

STANLEY

A Rorschach test.

 

She twists open a tube of lip gloss andbegins to run it across her incredibly lush liips.

 

TINA

That's it. It looks like... um.

A young woman riding bareback.

You know, like a Lady Godiva or

something.

 

STANLEY

Really? I don't think I  can...

 

She slowly runs a finger along Stanley's tie.

 

TINA

Or... if that's not a horse it

could be two lovers. A man and

a woman. That would be the woman

on top, of course.

 

STANLEY

(mesmerized)

...Of course.

 

She licks her lips and blots them on the Kleenex, leaving a perfect kiss impression and drops it on Stanley's desk.

 

TINA

What do you see, Mr. Ipkiss?

 

Stanley starts to get uncomfortable under her gaze.

 

STANLEY

I don't know. ...Bold colors.

It's a power tie, y'know? They're

supposed to make you feel...

powerful.

 

TINA

Does it work?

 

STANLEY

Sort of. It's just a tie. Now,

about that account.

 

CLOSE-UP

 

as Tina drops her compact back in her shoulder bag and we see her flick a red L.E.D. light on. She carefully adjusts the bag, aiming a tiny CAMERA LENS neatly concealed within it.

 

Tina's pointing the bag at the open bank vault that stands a short distance from Stanley's desk.

 

CUT TO:

 

C.U. - VIDEO MONITOR

 

displaying the shot of the vault that Tina is broadcasting.

 

WIDER - INT. MONKEY'S PAW NIGHT CLUB

 

DORIAN TYREL - a slick nouveau-mobster complete with diamond ear stud and Matsuda jacket watches the video broadcast from his inner sanctum; an eclectic post-modern playroom with an array of electronic toys and minimalist gun racks.

 

Dorian sips nervously on a Yoo-Hoo as he watches the show.

 

DORIAN

That's it sweetheart. A little

to the right.

 

His two gunsels, SWEET EDDY and CHUN WOO are busy at the back of the room playing air-hockey. Serious firepower is visible in their shoulder holsters.

 

DORIAN (CONT.)

Hey, will you guys keep it down

back there?

 

Dorian's safe cracking expert, a black hip-hop artist named DOCTOR FREEZE scribbles notes as he watches the screen with a practiced eye.

 

DR. FREEZE

That's cool, man. Freeze it right

there.

 

Dorian punches a button and the image freezes.

 

DORIAN

What do you think, Doctor?

 

DR. FREEZE

Layout's not bad. We got us a

sweet little Perkins/Jenning time

lock. But them motion detectors

are putting the chill on my

thrill.

 

DORIAN

Can you pull it off?

 

DR. FREEZE

Hey, you're talkin' with the

Doctah, man. It's all about time

and money.

 

DORIAN

Yeah, well the meter's runnin'

on this one. We got less than

a week.

 

DR. FREEZE

Not cool. What about the coin?

 

DORIAN

There's plenty. And I'll be happy

to invest your share.

 

DR. FREEZE

What you talkin' about, man?

 

DORIAN

This isn't about the lousy couple

hundred thou' that's sitting in

that vault, Freeze. That's chump

change.

 

DR. FREEZE

Yeah? Then I'm chump number one,

man.

 

DORIAN

We gotta expand your horizons

Doctor. Take a look.

 

Dorian pulls back a curtain. An amazingly gaudy building stands on a pier across the river from Dorian's club. A huge sign across it's archway reads: "Opening Soon Valhalla Casino".

 

DORIAN (CONT.)

The Valhalla Casino. Twenty mil

of glass, neon, booze and dice.

World class sucker bait. The

grand opening is Saturday night

and it will drive this two bit

club of mine out of existence.

But I say if you can't beat 'em,

take 'em over.

 

DR. FREEZE

Yeah? That's Arnie the Swede's

place, man and he is one ice cold

meatball eatin' motha fucker.

 

DORIAN

Leave him to me. You pull off

this heist and I promise you,

it'll be all tits and champagne

from here on in.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. RIVER - CULVERT - SUNSET

 

The Mask lies tangled in a rat's nest of seaweed and garbage that's washed up in a culvert under a bridge.

 

A large WHARF RAT now creeps out along the garbage sniffing curiously at its timeworn wooden surface. It takes a tentative nibble.

 

CLOSER - THE MASK

 

begins to SHIMMER... to vibrate with its own magical inner life. The rat SQUEAKS and jumps back, disturbing the pile of garbage.

 

WIDER

 

The Mask is dislodged and floats back out into the river. Camera TILTS UP with the Mask as it follows the current into the dark heart of the city.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. CITY STREET - EARLY EVENING

 

Stanley and Charlie are riding along at breakneck speed in a taxi cab.

 

STANLEY

Hold it up right here, please.

 

A gun port suddenly SLAMS open and the wild-eyed Albanian TAXI DRIVER wheels about and cocks a huge .45 from his side of the bullet riddled partition as the cab continues to barrel through traffic.

 

DRIVER

Hold up?! No hold up! I keel

you very well! I splatter your

guts big time, Mr. Cowboy Man!

 

Stanley dives for cover.

 

CHARLIE

No! No! He only wants you to

stop the cab!

 

The driver instantly SLAMS on the brakes, throwing his passengers forward mercilessly.

 

DRIVER

(now totally calm)

Hokay. Pardon you very much.

 

Charlie helps Stanley sit back up.

 

CHARLIE

It's alright, Stanley.

 

STANLEY

(softly)

I hate this town. I really hate

this town.

 

CHARLIE

Why are you getting out here?

 

STANLEY

I gotta pick up my car.

 

CHARLIE

Fine. Now don't forget. Ten

o'clock at the Monkey's Paw. I've

already got us lined up with a

couple of authentic dimes.

 

Stanley steps out of the cab.

 

STANLEY

Charlie, please. The last time

you said that you showed up with

two lesbian mud-wrestlers.

 

CHARLIE

Well, I can't promise we'll get

that lucky again... Later!

 

With a SCREAM of tires the cab peels back out into traffic.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. RIPLEY'S AUTO FINISHING - EARLY EVENING

 

Stanley enters the grease spattered, cluttered garage and scans the area for signs of life. We can hear the CLANK-CLANK-CRASH of some less than light-fingered automotive work in progress.

 

Stanley DINGS a little service bell sitting on a counter plastered with naked playmate decoupage and Mrs. Power Tool '93 calendars.

 

STANLEY

...Hello?

 

IRV, a lumbering unshaven behemoth of a man with permanently low-slung refrigerator repairman pants, makes his way past half rebuilt car carcasses towards Stanley.

 

IRV

Hang on. Hong on. Don't get your

panties in a twist.

 

BURT, a thinner version of Irv with Coke bottle glasses and a mop of greasy hair, pops up from beneath a car, RIPS out of chunk of motor and wiring and holds it up to Irv.

 

BURT

(examining part)

Hey Irv, what the hell is this?

 

IRV

(eyes it carefully)

Ohh... I dunno. About seven

hundred bucks.

 

They both laugh evilly as Irv slaps Burt on the back. Irv makes his way over to Stanley, still chuckling to himself.

 

IRV

Now what can I do for you, Bub?

 

STANLEY

I'm here for the Civic.

 

IRV

Japanese car, right? Kind of a

nasty pea soup green?

 

STANLEY

Well, they call it Emeral Forest,

actually...

 

Irv turns back to Burt.

 

IRV

Burt! Pea green Civic!

 

Burt pops back up from beneath the hood.

 

BURT

Green Civic... Green Civic. Oh

yeah! Brake drums are still on

order and I'm only halfway through

rebuilding the trans.

 

STANLEY

But I just brought it in for an

oil change!

 

IRV

Yeah? Well you're lucky we caught

those other problems before they

caused some serious trouble.

 

STANLEY

Alright. Alright. When will it

be ready?

 

Irv looks over at Burt, who gives him a "Make something up" look.

 

IRV

Come back tomorro...

(Burt shakes his head "no".)

...First thing next wee...

(Burt shakes again)

...next month?

(Burt shakes an enthusiastic "yes".)

Yeah, first thing next month.

That's if we can get the parts.

 

STANLEY

What am I going to do in the

meantime? I can't afford to keep

taking cabs all over town.

 

Irv smiles a rotten-toothed smile.

 

IRV

Oh, hell... we can take care of

that!

(to Burt archly)

Hey Burt, bring around the loaner.

(to Stanley)

And for you little buddy, only

ten bucks a day.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. MONKEY'S PAW - NIGHT

 

The joint is jumping with musclehead BOUNCERS picking and choosing from the crowd of terminally trendy WANNABE'S gathered around the entrance. A light drizzle is falling.

 

A parade of swanky cars pulls up one by one as CAR HOPS scurry to keep up with the flow;

 

A glistening pearlescent Rolls Royce.

 

A fire engine red Ferrari.

 

A classic two tone Corniche in tan and burgundy.

 

And finally a broken down Citroen in rust bucket red and spackle gray RUMBLES up to the front of the club with a disgruntled Stanley behind the wheel.

 

A car hop attempts to open the door, but it's rusted shut. Stanley throws his shoulder into it and the door finally pops open with a SCREECH of metal. Stanley nearly tumbles out into the street.

 

He smiles nervously at a high class couple looking with disdain at the eyesore-mobile. He pats the hood.

 

STANLEY

It's a classic.

 

The car hop jumps in and tries to throw the car into gear with a horrible GRINDING. He finally waves over two other car hops who quickly push it off down the street.

 

CHARLIE

Hey, Stanley. Nice wheels. What

is that, a Rolls Canardley?

 

STANLEY

A what?

 

CHARLIE

You know, a Rolls Canardley.

Rolls down one hill canardley roll

up the next.

(he cracks up)

 

STANLEY

We are not discussing the car,

okay?

 

CHARLIE

Whatever you say, man.

 

Charlie gestures expansively towards the club.

 

CHARLIE

What do you think? Pretty

terrific, huh? This place make

Sodom and Gomorrah look like

Mayberry.

 

Stanley now notices a life-sized poster of Tina Carlyle standing by the main entrance that reads "Featuring the Musical Stylings of Miss Tina Carlyle."

 

STANLEY

Hey, isn't that...

 

CHARLIE

Right. The wet dream from the

bank.

(pauses)

Hold on... I think I see my future

ex-wife.

 

Two rather tacky looking GIRLS beckon Charlie from the crowd.

 

GIRLS

Hey Charlie! Charlie!

 

CHARLIE

(waves)

We're in luck. It's Barbie and

Pebbles.

 

STANLEY

Doesn't it bother you that all

the women you know are named after

cartoon characters?

 

Barbie and Pebbles hurry over through the crowd.

 

BARBIE

We've been waiting out here for

hours. Can you get us in?

 

CHARLIE

No, problemo. Ladies, this is my

pal Stanley Ipkiss.

(leans closer)

Stanley's very influential in the

banking business.

 

Charlie is truly in his element as he elbows his way through the crowd dragging his entourage with him.

 

EXT. THE FRONT DOOR

 

Charlie finally makes through the crush of badies at the entry way's velvet ropes and calls to one of the two hulking BOUNCERS that guard the door.

 

CHARLIE

Hey Bobby! Bobby, buddy. What's

happening man?

 

Bobby completely ignores Charlie as he ushers a pasty faced ROCK STAR and his underage TARTLET past the ropes.

 

CHARLIE (CONT.)

(to the girls)

This will just take a second.

(to the other bouncer)

Yo Nick! It's me... Charlie!

 

Nick is also completely oblivious.

 

STANLEY

Forget it, Charlie. I refuse to

stand here waiting to be judged

by these power-mad steroid

jockeys.

 

CHARLIE

How much cash you got on you?

 

STANLEY

What?

 

CHARLIE

You heard me. How much you got?

 

STANLEY

I dunno, fifty or sixty bucks.

 

CHARLIE

Hand it over.

 

STANLEY

No way.

 

CHARLIE

Hey, I'll pay you back! I'm only

carrying plastic. C'mon man, you

want to stand out here all night?

 

Stanley begrudgingly starts to count out some cash. Charlie snatches the whole wad and elbows his way back around to the ropes.

 

CHARLIE

(subtly flashing bills)

Hey Bobby!

 

Bobby's uncanny tip radar suddenly lights up.

 

BOBBY

Charlie, how you doin' man? Long

time no see.

 

Bobby unsnaps the rope for Charlie and gets the cash handshake he longs for.

 

The crowd surges around Charlie, Barbie and Pebbles as they step by, briefly cutting Stanley off.

 

He catches up just as the all-important rope is SNAPPED closed.

 

STANLEY

Hey, wait a minute! Charlie!

 

But Charlie and the girls have already been whisked inside. Dorian now steps out of the club and begins to check Bobby's list.

 

STANLEY (CONT.)

I'm with them! Hey, Bobby!

 

But Bobby is back into his deaf and dumb routine. Stanley unsnaps the rope himself and starts throgh. Bobby and BOUNCER #2 immediately grab Stanley and quickly subdue him.

 

STANLEY

Hey! Leggo... awk!

 

Dorian glares at Stanley.

 

DORIAN

Lose him.

 

The bouncers drag Stanley through the crowd and unceremoniously toss him out into the rain-slick street.

 

ANGLE ON THE STREET

 

Stanley slowly rises, smoothing out his disheveled clothing. A horn BLARES and Stanley scrambles to one side as a limo swings into the club's alleyway, splattering him with a wave of muddy water.

 

Stanley wipes the mud from his eyes just in time to see Tina Carlyle escorted from the back of the limo by a CHAUFFEUR carrying an umbrella. She's shoe-horned into a heart-stopping red dress that's fighting a losing battle to restrain her decolletage.

 

Their EYES MEET. Tina pauses as she recognizes him.

 

TINA

(smiles)

Oh... Stanley. Hi.

 

Stanley realizes he looks ridiculous but gives a pathetic little wave hello anyway.

 

TINA (CONT.)

Are you okay?

 

Stanley gestures "no problem" and tries to strike a casual pose against a street lamp, but slips and nearly falls.

 

With a SQUEAL of grinding gears and the KA-POW of a backfire, the car hop pulls Stanley's battered loaner right up behind him.

 

Stanley flashes a last nervous smile at Tina, and digs for the car hop's tip money... nothing.

 

He shrugs apologetically to the disgusted car hop and climbs in. The car RATTLES, COUGHS the finally ROARS off in a cloud of noxious exhaust fumes.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

EXT. TAHOOCHIE BRIDGE - NIGHT

 

A forlorn looking spot on the outskirts of Edge City. We can hear Stanley's car SPUTTERING and POPPING along before it actually pulls into sight on the dark rain-slick street.

 

INT. CAR

 

Stanley drives along in a miserable daze. Suddenly the engine starts KNOCKING violently and the car dies.

 

EXT. BRIDGE

 

Steam HISSES from the radiator as the car slowly rolls to a stop. Stanley GRINDS the ignition key again and again trying futilely to restart the engine.

 

Finally, Stanley fights his way out of the rusted door with a SQUEAL of metal, turns and kicks the bumper… which promptly falls off with a resounding CLUNK.

 

Beat.

 

The front axle collapses, the tires fall off and the driver's side door CLATTERS to the ground.

 

Stanley stands there staring at the steaming heap of useless metal… his mind a complete blank.

 

He slowly turns, looking down at the black brackish water swirling along beneath the Tahoochie Bridge. A wave of melancholy sweeps over him. Stanley plucks a button from his coat and watches as it drops down… down to the river below.

 

Suddenly, something catches Stanley's eye… a BODY, floating along in the darkness. He snaps back to reality.

 

STANLEY (CONT.)

Hey… Hey mister!

 

EXT. RIVER BANK

 

Stanley rushes down the slippery embankment beneath the bridge. He spots the body dead ahead, floating along in the moonlight and hurries as fast as he can.

 

CAMERA DOLLIES with Stanley as he scrambles down the slope; a black cat YOWLS as it races past him. He steps on and shatters a discarded mirror, and he ducks under an old ladder that leans against the bridge's foundation as he finally reaches the shore.

 

Stanley splashes into the waist deep water just in time to catch the body as it floats by.

 

CLOSER - BODY

 

As Stanley grabs it, the "body" falls to pieces… revealing that it's nothing but a trash bag, an old tire and some floating bits of garbage all clinging to the "head": an old wooden Mask.

 

Stanley shakes his head in disgust… some lifesaver.

 

Stanley inspects the Mask more closely; strange ritualistic symbols carved into a puckish face with a leering grin and eerie empty eye holes.

 

The faintest sound of a haunting "Mask SFX Theme" rises as Stanley turns the Mask around and inspects the inside… slowly bringing it closer and closer to his face. The surface of the Mask begins to SHIMMER.

 

But then… RIBET! A frog jumps out of it, right into Stanley's face. Stanley nearly loses his footing on the slippery river bottom.

 

Suddenly a blinding SPOTLIGHT shines down from the bridge and an amplified voice calls out from a squad car.

 

POLICEMAN

Hey, you! What are you doing down

there?

 

Stanley squints into the light, trying to think of a reasonable answer.

 

STANLEY

I was just looking for…

(holds up Mask)

My mask.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. MONKEY'S PAW - NIGHT

 

The club is closing up. WAITERS stack chairs on top of tables in the B.G. as Tina gathers her sheet music from her PIANIST.

 

TINA

Thanks Reno, you're the greatest.

 

RENO

G'night, doll.

 

Tina crosses to the bar area where Dorian lounges with DR. FREEZE, SWEET EDDY and CHUN WOO. Dorian toasts her as she pulls up a bar stool.

 

DORIAN

That was a great performance,

baby. But not as great as the

one you pulled off at the bank.

 

TINA

Yeah, well don't get used to it.

I'm not going to start running

cons for you again, Dorian. I'm

a singer now and that's it.

 

Dorian rolls his eyes at Freeze, "Get her".

 

DORIAN

Oh, really? And you had such a

red hot career before you latched

on to me?

 

Tina pours herself a drink.

 

TINA

Who latched on to who?

 

DORIAN

Get real, Tina. You'll do what

I say or I'll drop you back where

I found you, slingin' hash and

dodgin' horny peterbuilt drivers.

 

TINA

(downs a shot)

Don't push me, Nicky. I might

just take a walk I should have

taken a long time ago.

 

DORIAN

(chuckles)

Easy, baby. Easy.

(to his men)

I love it when she gets pissed.

 

Dorian scoots over and puts an arm around Tina. She remains cool.

 

DORIAN (CONT.)

C'mere. You take a hike and who's

gonna kiss you like Dorian Tyrel.

 

Tina pours another shot.

 

DORIAN (CONT.)

C'mon. Who?

 

Tina finally cracks a smile.

 

TINA

Nobody.

 

DORIAN

(pulls her close)

That's right, baby. C'mere.

 

Tina slowly leans in for a kiss, her lips softly parted… but raises a finger to Dorian's lips, stopping him cold. She glances over at Freeze.

 

TINA

Sorry. I never get personal in

front of the help.

 

Tina abruptly stands and exits as Freeze glares at her.

 

Dorian breaks into laughter.

 

DORIAN

That broad kills me.

 

DR. FREEZE

She just might, man. The bitch

is trouble.

 

Dorian pours them all a drink.

 

DORIAN

C'mon Doctor, lighten up.

(raises his glass)

Here's to Edge City Bank.

May it crack like an egg on Easter

Sunday.

 

Their glasses CLINK.

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

 

The police car pulls up in front of Stanley's brownstone and he wearily climbs out.

 

OFFICER

Okay, Mr. Ipkiss. Try to be a

little more careful next time.

 

STANLEY

Thanks Officer.

 

The black and white pulls away and Stanley starts across the empty street.

 

VOICE

Hey, mister…

 

Stanley turns.

 

A razor-cut DEATH'S HEAD PUNKER hops down from a fire escape in a darkened alleyway.

 

DEATH'S HEAD

You a cop or something?

 

A half dozen other DEATH'S HEADS appear out of the shadows all decked out in nipple chains, tattoos and other self-mutilation-as-fashion oddments.

 

STANLEY

Uh… no. They just gave me a

lift.

 

DEATH'S HEAD

A cop chauffeur? I never seen

that before. How about you boys?

 

The other Death's Heads pipe up with "Not Me," "Nope," "Pretty special," etc. as they slowly surround Stanley.

 

STANLEY

Alright, you guys. It's been a

tough night. I haven't got any

money. I haven't got a car. All

I have is this and you're

welcome to it.

 

Stanley tosses Death's Head #1 the Mask.

 

He briefly inspects the funky looking antique, still slick with river slime, then tosses it back. He approaches Stanley.

 

DEATH'S HEAD

Hey, man. You got us all wrong.

We don't want any trouble. I was

just going to ask you for the

time. That's all. You got the

time?

 

STANLEY

Uh… yeah.

 

As Stanley pulls back his sleeve to check his watch, the Death's Head flicks out a butterfly knife. With a FLASH of steel, he slices straight through Stanley's watch band and snatches the watch.

 

DEATH'S HEAD

(holding up his prize)

See, I only wanted the time! Heh,

he, heh…

 

All the punkers laugh like the half-wits they are as Death's Head #1 shoves Stanley into Death's Head #2. #2 pushes him back across to #3 and so on. Stanley is roughly bounced back and forth more and more violently within the circle of giggling street toughs. He finally breaks free and scrambles to his front door, still reeling with dizziness. He fumbles with the key and SLAMS the door behind him as the Death's Heads roar with laughter.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

 

Stanley's wet shoes SQUEAK as he tiptoes past –

 

APARTMENT "A" – MANAGER

 

A sign that reads "Quiet Please" hangs from the doorknob. Stanley continues past it to Apartment "B". Just as he removes his keys – the Manager's door flies open and MRS. PEENMAN appears. She's an old dragon in hair curlers who will probably live forever just to spite her relatives.

 

MRS. PEENMAN

Ipkiss! Do you have any idea what

time it is?

 

Reflexively, he looks at his (now empty) wrist.

 

STANLEY

Actually, no.

 

MRS. PEENMAN

It's three o'clock in the morning!

First, you wake up the entire

building laughing it up with your

pals. Then, you come in and start

squeak –

(sees puddles)

My new carpet! Just look at that!

This is coming out of your

cleaning de