Thursday, May 15, 2014

# 3 HONEY

...continuing on from # 2 HONEY


71 EXT. STREET OUTSIDE BUILDING SITE. NIGHT

As CONSTABLE DAVID leads HONEY out into the street a SECOND POLICEMAN joins him - a pair of handcuffs in his hands. HONEY sees the handcuffs.  

HONEY (SCREAMS) 
No

DAVID gestures to the SECOND POLICEMAN to back off, put the hand-cuffs away, but it is too late - HONEY bolts down the street, straight towards where DANIEL stands taking photos. The SECOND POLICEMAN catches HONEY quickly and roughly. HONEY puts up a fight, screams like a banchee.

HONEY 
Let me go…fucking arsehole…

HONEY screams as she kicks and scratches the SECOND POLICEMAN. CONSTABLE DAVID steps between them, pushing the SECOND POLICEMAN away. DANIEL keeps taking photos.

HONEY holds her arms out towards DANIEL: a plea for help. 

DANIEL takes a photo. Click.

A LITTLE LATER

CONSTABLE DAVID opens the back door to the paddy wagon for HONEY as the Fire Engine drives off.  

HONEY 
I want to sit up the front with you?

CONSTABLE DAVID  
You can't.

HONEY (GRINS) 
That's not a nice thing to call a lady!

72 INT. PADDY WAGON. NIGHT

HONEY, backpack in her lap, sits between CONSTABLE DAVID and the SECOND POLICEMAN who is driving.  CONSTABLE DAVID has emptied the contents of Honey's wallet in his lap. 

CONSTABLE DAVID 
No ID? 

HONEY (GRINS) 
Identity free. 

CONSTABLE DAVID 
Got a name, I hope!

HONEY 
No-one in particular.

CONSTABLE DAVID 
Gotta be someone.

HONEY 
Okay, you can call me 'someone'. 

CONSTABLE DAVID 
How old are you, 'someone'? 

HONEY 
Sixteen. What about you guys? (A BEAT) Your names, I mean.

CONSTABLE DAVID 
Constable Timmins.

HONEY 
Your first name's 'constable'!?

CONSTABLE DAVID 
David.

HONEY 
Davo. And you?

SECOND POLICEMAN 
Trevor.

HONEY 
Trev and Davo. You both got girlfriends? Boyfriends?

73 INT. DARKROOM 

DANIEL, bathed in red dark room light, immerses a white sheet of photographic paper in a tray of developing solution. A ghost image appears. It is Honey, struggling with the police.

74 INT. POLICE STATION. NIGHT

HONEY draws a caricature of the DUTY SERGEANT in her journal. TREVOR and DAVID and OTHER POLICE are in the room.

HONEY 
I'm hungry, I need a meat pie or something, and a can of coke and… 

The POLICE are not sure how to deal with HONEY.

HONEY 
…and I've got my period so I need some tampons and…

DUTY SERGEANT
Now hang on a second, missy 'someone'. You can't just…order us around like you own the place.

HONEY 
Police are public servants, right? 

The DUTY SERGEANT nods warily.

HONEY 
And I'm a member of the public, right?

The DUTY SERGEANT smiles. The OTHER POLICEMEN laugh.  

HONEY 
Don't suppose any of you guys have a durri do you?

The DUTY SERGEANT holds a packet of cigarettes out to 
HONEY. 

75 INT. DANIEL'S STUDIO. NIGHT

DANIEL stands in front of a rack with a dozen or so 10 x 8 photos hanging from it. We see them from behind, their white backs only. As DANIEL looks at them it becomes clear that there is one, in particular, that excites him.

76 EXT. POLICE STATION. DAY

HELEN walks from a police station towards her car.

HELEN (VOICE OFF) 
Officially, cops couldn't tell me anything… protocols, procedures, bla bla…

77 EXT. ART GALLERY. NIGHT


DANIEL, HELEN and JASPER (all dressed up in their best) make their way towards the Gallery entrance.

HELEN 
…unofficially…she's sixteen but won't tell them her name, where she's from…calls herself 'Someone'…I'll follow it up tomorrow…

DANIEL 
Thanks.  

HELEN 
Nervous?

DANIEL nods. HELEN takes his hand.

DANIEL kisses her on the cheek. JASPER takes DANIEL'S other hand as they walk past the DOORMAN.

78 INT. ART GALLERY. NIGHT

JASPER'S  point of view as they walk into the gallery: 

Well dressed PATRONS drink champagne, eat canapés, looks at black and white photos of street people on the walls.

As they move into the crowded gallery, as DANIEL is greeted by FRIENDS and PATRONS.

We follow JASPER at the level of her eyes as she moves through the crowd - eyes open, observing, glancing at photos, looking up at PATRONS, stopping in front of:  

Jasmin, early 30s, dressed in a micro-mini skirt, tight tank-top, argues with a policeman - hands on his hips, exasperated, at the end of his tether. Jasmin challenges him - finger pointed just an inch from the policeman's nose. 

JASPER stares at the photo, points her finger at it in imitation of Jasmin's gesture. She turns to see, through the crowd, DANIEL and HELEN walking up to the actual JASMIN - wearing high heels, short skirt, breasts barely contained by an uplift bra. JASPER’S eyes open wide in wonder.

On the other side of the gallery, introductions:

DANIEL 
My wife, Helen.

JASMIN smiles warmly.

JASMIN  
Hi Helen.

HELEN smiles nervously.

HELEN 
Hi Jasmin.

JASMIN  
You're even more beautiful than Danny said.

HELEN looks at DANIEL, smiles, links her arm through his.

JASMIN 
You do know your husband is mad as a cut snake, don't you?

HELEN nods, laughs, relaxes.

On the other side of the gallery JASPER watches with interest as HELEN and JASMIN talk with increasing animation.

Elsewhere in the gallery DANIEL stands in front of a photo that is clearly an exhibition favourite. A slim YOUNG WOMAN, early 20s, flirts with DANIEL.

YOUNG WOMAN  
She's awesome…her eyes…wow! All the photos…I mean…

HELEN, talking with JASMIN, observes: 

The YOUNG WOMAN laughing with DANIEL. She touches him on the chest, throws her head back; laughs. MIRIAM, middle aged, note pad in hand, taps DANIEL on the shoulder. He turns.

MIRIAM  
Daniel, I'm Miriam Coulter. From 'Art Today'.

DANIEL is pleasantly surprised.

MIRIAM  
Have you got a moment?

Elsewhere, HELEN and JASMIN continue their talk. DANIEL and MIRIAM can be seen talking in the background.

HELEN 
…from your photo…I thought you were pretty scary.

JASMIN (LAUGHS) 
It's all an act. I'm a closet wimp…

HELEN smiles, sips her champagne.

HELEN 
Jasmin, I hope you don't mind… what… I mean…if you don't mind my asking…

JASMIN 
'What's a nice girl like you doing working in a place like this?'

HELEN laughs.

MIRIAM writes in her note book. HELEN and JASMIN can be seen talking in the background. JASMIN is doing most of the talking. HELEN nods, listens - intrigued; fascinated.

MIRIAM  
So, your first exhibition?

DANIEL nods. MIRIAM raises her eyebrows; surprised.

MIRIAM 
This is good work, Daniel. Very good. You should be proud. The photo of the girl…marvelous. Dynamic…

MIRIAM gestures to the photo with the crowd in front of it.
Back with HELEN and JASMIN. HELEN'S glass is being re-filled with champagne by a WAITER.

HELEN (LAUGHS) 
My fantasies!? Don't get me started…

JASMIN  
Nothing shocks me anymore… French, Golden showers, B & D. I actually quite like B & D. Whipping men! Yeah! Not too keen on Greek, though…

HELEN, fascinated, does not notice JASPER'S approach.

HELEN 
Greek?

JASMIN  
Anal. And I won't kiss 'em. Not for any money. That's where I draw my line. 

JASPER (VOICE OFF) 
Who won't you kiss for money?

JASMIN  
Hello sweetheart. 

HELEN is shocked to discover JASPER standing beside her.

JASMIN  
What's your name? I'm Jasmin.

JASPER 
I'm Jasper. This is my mother, Helen.

JASMIN  
Let me guess, Jasper. Nine? Ten?

JASPER 
Nine and a half.

JASMIN 
My son is…nine and three quarters. Donald.

JASPER 
You have a son!?

JASMIN (NODS) 
And a daughter, Abigail. Abbie's three.

JASPER 
Jasmin, what do prostitutes actually do to men?

JASMIN laughs. HELEN tenses up. 

JASMIN (LAUGHS) 
You should talk with your mum about that.

JASPER looks up at HELEN but she is blushing and speechless.

JASPER 
Mum?

HELEN, lost for words, laughs a little nervously.

GALLERY OWNER (VOICE OFF) 
Everyone!

The GALLERY OWNER, microphone in hand, stands in front of a large black and white photo of a bearded hobo (Grant) pushing a shopping trolley filled with his worldly possessions.

GALLERY OWNER  
Well, Daniel, here we are. How many years has it taken? Eight? 

DANIEL 
Nine.

GALLERY OWNER 
For nine years Daniel, has been stalking the streets of Sydney late at night terrorizing his subjects with his camera…No, seriously…

79 EXT. ENTRANCE. ART GALLERY. NIGHT

GRANT approaches the front entrance to the art gallery.

GALLERY OWNER (VOICE OFF) 
It is through Daniel's photos that we come to know those in our community that are all too often out of sight out of mind; hidden from view. It is through … 

80 INT. ART GALLERY. NIGHT

HELEN looks proudly at DANIEL; JASPER swells with pride.

GALLERY OWNER  
… Daniel's ability to get to know these men and women as individuals and not merely as subjects… 

81 EXT. ENTRANCE. ART GALLERY. NIGHT

The GALLERY OWNER continues with his speech as GRANT stands smiling at the confused and embarrassed DOORMAN.

GALLERY OWNER (VOICE OFF) 
…his ability to breach the gap between 'us' and 'them'…

DOORMAN  
I'm sorry sir but the gallery's not open to the public this evening.

GALLERY OWNER (VOICE OFF) 
It is through Daniel's ability to get to know his subjects as friends… 

82 INT. ART GALLERY. NIGHT

Through the crowd DANIEL can see the DOORMAN trying to block GRANT'S entrance into the gallery.

GALLERY OWNER (VOICE OFF) 
…and through his skill with a lens that we may meet these unfortunate men and women who have fallen through society's many cracks…

PATRONS look towards the entrance.

DOORMAN  
I'm sorry sir.

83 EXT. ENTRANCE. ART GALLERY. NIGHT

The DOORMAN blocks GRANT'S entrance.

GALLERY OWNER (VOICE OFF) 
…but who demand our understanding, our compassion. 

GRANT 
Nonsense!

GRANT pushes past the DOORMAN with his shopping trolley.

GALLERY OWNER (VOICE OFF) 
Each of these men and women has a name, a history. They are someone's son, someone's daughter, someone's mother, father…

84 INT. ART GALLERY. NIGHT

All eyes turn to GRANT, smiling, pushing his shopping trolley towards DANIEL - delighted to see him.  

DANIEL 
Everyone, this is my friend, Grant.

GRANT holds his hand aloft to greet the PATRONS.

GRANT 
I changed my mind. So where is it?

DANIEL points to the photo of Grant. GRANT walks up, looks at it for a moment, leans close to DANIEL.

GRANT (SOTTO VOCE) 
Still prefer m'memories.

The gallery PATRONS wait patiently and silently as DANIEL and GRANT have their sotto voce conversation.

GRANT 
Remember when old Charlie put his shoes on the wrong feet…

GRANT chuckles. DANIEL feels a little awkward.  

HELEN 
Perhaps Grant would like to say a few words on behalf of the…men and women on the other side of the lens.

GRANT shakes his head. HELEN takes the microphone from the GALLERY OWNER, hands it to GRANT. He looks at the assembled PATRONS, in no hurry, sees JASPER, smiles. JASPER smiles back. 

GRANT 
I'm proud to have Daniel as a friend. He's a good bloke. There's been lots of nights…

GRANT sees the photo that drew so much attention earlier. He walks towards it, stands in front of it, looks at it closely:

HONEY, held firmly by two angry-looking policemen, stares with blazing eyes directly, questioningly, into the eyes of the viewer. Her partially unbuttoned shirt is open and part of one of her breasts can be seen.

GRANT  
What's her name, Daniel?

All eyes turn to DANIEL. 

DANIEL 
I don't know.  

A deathly silence envelops the gallery. 

DANIEL 
I took it last night. (A BEAT) I don't know who she is.

MIRIAM  
I don't understand…you mean you don't have her consent?

DANIEL shakes his head.  

...to be continued...



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