BLACK SCREEN.
PRE-LAP AUDIO: Baggage claim at LAX.
CUT TO:
INT. LAX BAGGAGE CLAIM – DAY
People, and their luggage, sift between each other like schools of passing fish, in and out of focus as they make their way.
Two distinct voices stand out from the rest.
JACKIE
Hey… Sarah! Hey!
SARAH
Jackie!
Their bodies collide into a hug. This is Jackie and Sarah. Sisters. Both in their twenties.
SARAH (CONT’D)
You made it.
JACKIE
I know. I know. You called so. Here
I am!
(BEAT)
It’s been a while.
SARAH
It’s so good to see you.
Jackie smiles as she glances at Sarah.
JACKIE
Oh my god, Sarah… you look like a rock star! You’re seriously glowing.
She does look like a rockstar, and she knows it. Sunglasses on inside, a white one piece canvas jump suit, her shoulders wrapped in a fur coat, but it’s faux.
Sarah takes Jackie under her arm. They exit through the terminals sliding glass doors.
INT./EXT. SARAH’S CAR – DAY
L.A. goes by through the passenger window of Sarah’s baby blue diesel Mercedes, gliding down La Cienega Highway towards MID CITY, LOS ANGELES.
JACKIE
How’ve you been? Seeing anyone?
SARAH
No one worth mentioning.
(BEAT)
You? Anyone special back home?
JACKIE
I was seeing someone for a while, but… it ended.
SARAH
How long ago?
Jackie’s smile wrinkles.
JACKIE
A couple weeks.
SARAH
Shit, Jack… Wound still fresh?
JACKIE
A little. I guess. Yeah. I don’t know. I’m fine.
SARAH
Aw baby…
(BEAT)
Well, there’s nothing like a little fun in the L.A. sun to heal you right up. Were going to have fun.
INTERCUT:
Jackie and Sarah sing and rock their heads in unison to Zombie by the Cranberries.
“In your head, in your head, Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie. What's in your head, in your head, Zombie, zombie, zombie-ieie.”
For a moment, Jackie watches Sarah sing on her own, adrift in the music.
BACK TO SCENE
Jackie and Sarah sit in bumper to bumper traffic.
SARAH (CONT’D)
How’s mom?
JACKIE
The same. Hasn’t changed.
Sarah laughs.
JACKIE (CONT’D)
I know she misses you.
SARAH
How’s your Dad?
JACKIE
John is John. Finally getting over mom.
SARAH
Took him long enough.
JACKIE
Yeah, six years.
BEAT.
SARAH
And, um, how about you? How are you… feeling lately? You know with your-
JACKIE
(Interrupting)
I’m good. I’m better. Thanks for asking.
Sarah glances away.
JACKIE (CONT’D)
You’re still making music and everything?
SARAH
Oh, yeah, it’s a dream! I sing a couple nights a week at a little jazz club in Koreatown. I did vocals on this song for a film, didn’t make the cut, but the producer is working on an amazing album and guess who’s voice he wants to feature?
JACKIE
Yours?
SARAH
Mmhmm!
JACKIE
Wow. Sarah… You’re really doing it.
SARAH
Well, look, after having the type of jobs I’ve had since moving out here, I just want to be my own boss you know? Fuck everything else.
(BEAT)
Wait a minute…
Sarah glances across the yellow road line into the empty lanes of oncoming traffic, her eyes narrowing forward. Jackie watches her nervously.
JACKIE
What are you doing?
SARAH
…Usurping this bitch.
Ahead, cars drive through A GREEN LEFT TURN LIGHT.
JACKIE
Sarah don’t!
SARAH
Hold on!
Sarah pops the transmission into a lower gear and stomps on the gas pedal, veering into on coming traffic.
The left turn light ahead shifts to YELLOW.
Jackie yells out with nervous excitement as…
Sarah speeds up the wrong side of the road and…
Swerves into the left turn lane, driving through the light just as it turns RED.
INT. SARAH’S APARTMENT – DUSK
Jackie and Sarah come through the front door of Sarah’s Hollywood apartment.
SARAH
Put your things down, make yourself at home. Help yourself to the kitchen.
(BEAT)
Oh and there’s a spare key on the counter for you.
Sarah heads into her bedroom. CU on the KEY as Jackie slides it off the counter and into the palm of her hand.
Jackie takes a Tejava from the refrigerator and notices:
A PHOTO BOOTH strip of Sarah and a KOREAN GIRL stuck on the refrigerator door with ROSE SHAPED MAGNETS at each end.
She swigs from the Tejava bottle.
INT. SARAH’S BATHROOM – CONTINUOUS
CLOSE on the bathroom mirror. The top of Sarah’s head bobs in and out of view. She takes an audible inhale, through her nose.
INT. SARAH'S APARTMENT – DUSK – CONTINUOUS
Jackie digs her finger nail under the Tejava bottle label, methodically peeling it off.
CUT TO:
INT. SARAH’S BEDROOM – BEAT LATER
Jackie takes in Sarah’s bedroom and sifts through her closet.
INT. SARAH’S BATHROOM – CONTINUOUS
Sarah raises into the frame of the mirror, eyeing herself as she wipes her nose.
JACKIE (O.C.)
Sarah?
BEAT on Sarah, catching her own wide eyed gaze in the mirror again.
JACKIE (O.C.) (CONT’D)
Sarah…
SARAH
Coming.
INT. SARAH’S BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS
Jackie sits on the bed, wearing one of Sarah’s sequin jacket.
JACKIE
So you ready?
The reflective sequins of Jackie’s coat blur and…
CROSS FADE TO:
EXT. LOS ANGELES – NIGHT
Street lights glowing throughout the city.
Then, establish East Hollywood.
INT. SMALL VENUE – NIGHT
FROM ABOVE, a DIM SUM BOWL slides onto a table. STEAM rises as Sarah pulls away the lid, revealing the dumplings inside.
Jackie watches Sarah as she inhales.
SARAH
Yum!
Sarah watches Jackie as she fumbles her chopsticks.
SARAH (CONT’D)
Here here. Like this…
JACKIE
Am I doing it right?
Sarah nods as Jackie reaches for a dumpling and dips it in sauce.
SARAH
There you go.
Jackie bites. Sauce drips down her chin from her mouth. Sarah laughs, biting into her own dumpling.
SARAH (CONT’D)
Mmmmm! Oh my god.
JACKIE
So good!
SARAH
I swear I could live off of dim sum.
(BEAT)
Here…
Sarah pours two glasses of sake and places one in front of Jackie.
SARAH (CONT’D)
Cheers! To us. It’s great to finally have you here, Jack.
BEAT on Jackie as she smiles.
JACKIE
Cheers.
They clink their glasses and down the sake. Sarah stands.
SARAH
Be right back.
Sarah disappears behind a curtain near the stage.
Sarah steps onto stage, the lights dim around her.
The Cigarette’s After Sex song Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby begins to play.
Sarah Sings. She stands at the center peaking up from the microphone here and there.
BEAT on Jackie, watching her sister glow on stage.
Sarah finishes. The crowd applauds. She takes a slight bow and exits stage.
MOMENTS LATER…
Jackie navigates the small venue. On the other side of the velvet curtain leading backstage is Sarah talking to a man, DAKOTA, muted.
JACKIE’S POV:
He kisses Sarah on the cheek as she wraps her arms around him. Tears in her eyes.
Sarah comes towards Jackie.
JACKIE
Hey. You were great.
SARAH
Thanks sis.
BEAT.
SARAH’S FRIEND (O.S.)
Sarah…
Sarah turns towards a group of her friends. They exchange a series of kisses on each others cheeks.
SARAH’S FRIEND (CONT’D)
Sar, come with us.
(To Jackie)
We need to borrow her for five minutes.
JACKIE
OK…
Sarah’s friends pull her away.
SARAH
Be right back!
Jackie stands by the bar alone. A SKETCHY GUY across from her drops something into his drink which he swirls around, letting it dissolve.
She turns away as someone bumps into her, their drink spills onto her clothes.
INT. BATHROOM – BEAT LATER
Jackie stands against the sink, trying to wash her clothes. In the bathroom stall next to the sink, voices.
SARAH’S FRIEND (O.S.)
Was that one of the new girls you were with?
SARAH (O.S.)
Oh, no. She’s just my sister, well, half sister or whatever.
FROM ABOVE: Sarah and her friends pass a small bag filled with white powder between each other. Jackie moves closer to the stall, listening in on their conversation.
SARAH’S FRIEND
That’s cool.
SARAH
Cool? No. Not cool. That girl… she’s like not OK.
SARAH’S FRIEND
What?
SARAH
Right before our parents split up, she had started, I don’t know, seeing things.
SARAH’S OTHER FRIEND
Like hallucinating?
SARAH
Yeah.
SARAH’S FRIEND
Ew. Weird.
SARAH
I know. She was sent away for a years, and I guess she’s better now. But who knows.
(BEAT)
Can you…
Sarah’s OTHER FRIEND passes her the small bag.
SARAH (CONT’D)
Thanks.
Sarah inhales white powder from her finger tip.
SARAH (CONT’D)
My mom literally begged me to invite her out here.
SARAH’S OTHER FRIEND
So how long are you baby sitting the Sixth Sense?
SARAH
She leaves Sunday.
SARAH’S OTHER FRIEND
That’s not bad.
SARAH
No, trust me, it is. I can already tell I’m in for a long weekend. She was stalking me outside of my bathroom earlier.
SARAH’S FRIEND
You’re such a bitch.
SARAH
I know. Thanks for reminding me.
Sarah shrugs. Her friends laugh. Jackie leaves the bathroom.
INT. SMALL VENUE – CONTINUOUS
Jackie navigates the crowd, finding SKETCHY GUY, his drink still full. She pushes up against him taking his drink and a large gulp of whatever concoction was inside.
Sarah walks towards her. Her friends standing in b.g.
SARAH
Jack…
JACKIE
Hey.
SARAH
So listen. I just got pulled into this work thing tonight. It came up super last minute, but they’re making me come in. It’d be really boring for you so-
JACKIE
I get it. It’s fine.
SARAH
Oh. OK.
SARAH’S OTHER FRIEND
C’mon Sarah. We’re going to be late.
SARAH
OK, one sec.
(To Jackie)
You’re sure?
JACKIE
I can take care of myself.
SARAH
Alright. Well. I’ll see you tomorrow. You’ve got the key and everything?
JACKIE
Yep. I’m fine. Go ahead.
SARAH’S FRIEND
(To Sarah)
We’re leaving…
SARAH
Be right there.
JACKIE
Bye.
Sarah kisses Jackie on her cheek as she leaves. Jackie turns away as the effects of her laced drink begin to kick in.
She stands in the center of the crowd, people move quickly in front of and past her.
Her surroundings DECREASE in speed and begin to blur into long shapes and streams of colors, like Long exposure photography.
Then… BLACK.
INT. SARAH’S APARTMENT – AFTERNOON
ON Jackie, lying alone in Sarah’s bed. Her eyes peel open.
A clock reads 2:37pm.
Moments with Jackie as she slowly recovers from the night before:
– She drinks from an expired cartoon of orange juice.
– Swishes with mouth wash in the bathroom.
– Finds a half smoked cigarette in an ash tray on the fire escape and relights it.
SARAH is nowhere to be found.
Jackie picks up her phone, dials. Straight to voicemail.
SARAH (VOICEMAIL)
Hi you’ve reached Sarah, leave a message and I’ll-
Jackie hangs up. Calls again. Voicemail again. She flicks the cigarette off the fire escape.
CU on her phone. Jackie scrolls to Sarah’s iMessage chain.
Types: “Where r u?”.
The iMessage shifts from BLUE to GREEN as it sends.
ERROR: MESSAGE NOT SENT.
EXT. SARAH’S APARTMENT – MOMENTS LATER
Jackie pushes open the sliding gate of the car port, spotting Sarah’s Blue Mercedes parked in the driveway.
BEAT. THEN…
As Jackie enters Sarah’s apartment building…
VOICE (O.S.)
Sarah! Sarah! Are you in there?
Come on. Open up… Sarah!
Jackie ascends the courtyard stairs. She finds Dakota (20s) knocking on Sarah’s apartment door.
JACKIE
Can I help you?
DAKOTA
Sarah!
BEAT. Dakota notices Jackie standing next to him.
DAKOTA (CONT’D)
Oh. Hi. Yeah. Hey. Sarah, she here?
JACKIE
No.
DAKOTA
What?
JACKIE
She’s not.
MOMENT on Dakota.
DAKOTA
I’m sorry you’re the… who are you?
JACKIE
Sarah’s sister.
DAKOTA
Sister? Huh. And? Sarah, she’s… Where is she exactly?
BEAT.
JACKIE
What are you doing here?
DAKOTA
Just… coming by to see a friend.
JACKIE
Yelling her name out here like some fucking psycho? Who are you?
Dakota hesitates.
DAKOTA
Sorry. I’m Dakota… Sarah and I.
We are friends.
JACKIE
OK?
BEAT.
DAKOTA
OK. So. Any idea where she is?
JACKIE
No.
DAKOTA
Fuck.
David paces in a small circle in front of Jackie.
JACKIE
Something wrong?
DAVID
You think we could go somewhere?
BEAT. Jackie considers.
INT. KOREAN CAFE – THAT MOMENT
Jackie sits across from Dakota. A waitress drops tea in front of her and a bottle of Soju in front of him.
An OLDER KOREAN COUPLE sit across from the two of them in silence, staring through each other as they slurp udon noodles.
Dakota pours himself a shot. Puts it back. He wipes with his mouth with his jacket sleeve. Pours another to sip on.
Jackie watches him.
JACKIE
I saw you last night. With Sarah.
DAKOTA
You were there?
JACKIE
Why was she upset?
Dakota shakes his head. Pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
JACKIE (CONT’D)
You can smoke in here?
Dakota nods, lights the cigarette.
DAKOTA
It's Koreatown. You can smoke
anywhere.
(BEAT)
Sarah never mentioned she had a sister.
JACKIE
Sounds about right.
BEAT on Jackie.
JACKIE (CONT’D)
What are we doing here?
He slides an ash tray towards him.
DAKOTA
Do you know what Sarah was doing where she worked?
JACKIE
Well, yeah. She said she was singing at a place somewhere around here.
DAKOTA
And that’s what she told you?
JACKIE
Yes?
Dakota exhales, his hands uneasy. He leans in towards Jackie.
DAKOTA
She came to me about week ago. She fucked up, man. I thought she might have started using again.
Jackie interrupts.
JACKIE
Using?
Dakota nods.
DAKOTA
She didn’t know who to turn to and that she had made some sort of mistake.
(BEAT)
She noticed she was…
Someone comes through the front of the restaurant. Dakota glances over his shoulder, then continues.
DAKOTA (CONT’D)
She noticed she was being followed sometime last week.
JACKIE
By who?
DAKOTA
Men. Wearing all black. Driving black cars.
(BEAT)
Look, your sister. I’ve know her for a while now. And she’s a tough girl, but when she came to me last week and when I saw her last night… She seemed shook. Something was wrong.
JACKIE
So, what, these people… you think they’re from this club? Where she sings?
DAKOTA
From what I know, very little singing went on inside.
Moment there between the two.
INT. SARAH'S APARTMENT – THAT NIGHT
Jackie steps inside, closing the door behind her.
An emptiness lingers throughout the space in Sarah’s absence.
INT. SARAH'S BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS
Jackie moves across the room to the dresser covered in loose jewelry, an open makeup powder case, crumpled receipts.
She finds a business card. The Korean symbol for DOUBLE-HAPPINESS embellished in the left corner. It reads:
VIBES X KARAOKE ROOM
AFTER MIDNIGHT
WILSHIRE & WESTERN
FADE TO:
INT. SARAH'S CAR / EXT. KOREATOWN STREETS – NIGHT
MONTAGE:
Mazzy Star’s Mary of Silence plays.
Jackie speeds from Hollywood to Koreatown in Sarah’s Mercedes.
The relic tungsten halogen street lights of Sunset and Santa Monica Blvd give way to the bright white L.E.D.’s of Koreatown.
NEON HANGEUL LETTERS [Korean Alphabet] glow from the storefronts surrounding her as she maneuvers through traffic in search of VIBES.
She stops on the side of Western Blvd.
END MONTAGE.
Jackie glances to the clock in the car. It reads 11:59pm.
She looks at the business card for VIBES, running her finger over the embossed DOUBLE HAPPINESS LOGO.
Notice the wording AFTER MIDNIGHT on the card.
The clock shifts from 11:59pm to 12:00am.
A BRIGHT WHITE NEON LIGHT flashes onto Jackie's face. Her eyes dart upwards.
The DOUBLE HAPPINESS symbol glows above a doorway just in front of her.
EXT. VIBES X NIGHT CLUB – CONTINUOUS
TWO BLACK CARS sit outside on the curb surrounded by MEN WEARING BLACK.
The vibrations from the sound inside VIBES rumbles louder as Jackie gets closer to the entrance.
INT. VIBES X NIGHT CLUB – CONTINUOUS
FOLLOW Jackie inside.
Small cliques of girls sit around the lounge together.
RHIANNA (20s) wearing a pair of black cotton cat ears on her head, notices Jackie inside of VIBES, watching her move across the room. [We’ll meet Rhianna again later.]
Jackie notices THE KOREAN GIRL from the picture on Sarah’s refrigerator door, wearing a green flower print dress and round rose colored glasses.
A KOREAN MAN surrounded by other men waves the Korean Girl over.
KOREAN MAN
Kiki.
KIKI kneels by the KOREAN MAN’S table. He grips her arm, pulling her close to whisper in her ear.
KIKI
(In Korean)
Which ones are you requesting?
The KOREAN MAN nods across the room to a group of girls.
KIKI (CONT’D)
(In Korean)
Yes. Right away.
Kiki walks towards the girls.
Jackie watches from afar.
KIKI (CONT’D)
(To the girls)
Table nine. Room four.
Kiki walks them to the KOREAN MAN’s table.
KIKI (CONT’D)
(In Korean)
Gentleman, meet Stella, Ariel, and Jamie. They’ll show you to your room.
The men stand, walking with the girls to a back room.
KIKI (CONT’D)
(In Korean)
Enjoy.
Jackie follows the group as they enter a backroom. She peers through the small square window in the door.
The KOREAN MEN move closer to their companions as they pour each other drinks.
A karaoke machine projects lyrics across the room, but no one stands to sing.
A curtain drops in front of the window from the inside.
Jackie steps away. Something draws her further down the hallway. A large door at the end. Muffled voices emanate from the other side.
As Jackie reaches for the door handle…
SOMEONE (O.S.)
Hey!
She turns, one of the MEN dressed in BLACK (MIB) stand in front of her.
MIB
(In Korean)
What are you doing back here?
Jackie steps backwards, stumbling over feet and her words.
MIB (CONT’D)
(In Korean)
Huh? Don’t you know? It’s off limits.
She shakes her head, unable to understand. KIKI’s voice interrupts.
KIKI (O.S.)
(In Korean)
Is there a problem?
The Man in Black turns. Kiki stands behind him.
MIB
(In Korean)
She’s not supposed to be back here.
KIKI
(In Korean)
It’s not your job to harass our clients is it?
(BEAT)
You can run along now.
MIB
(In Korean)
Excuse me?
KIKI
(In Korean)
I said to run along. Go on. Back to where you belong.
Kiki takes Jackie in her arm and walks away with her.
JACKIE
I know you.
Kiki leans towards Jackie to whisper.
KIKI
Shhh… Not in here.
She pulls jackie through the double doors of the kitchen.
INT. VIBES X KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Kiki drops her small purse on the kitchen island counter.
KIKI
You look a little lost.
JACKIE
I’m trying to find someone.
KIKI
Sarah?
JACKIE
How’d you know?
Kiki smiles to herself.
KIKI
The jacket. It’s Saint Laurent, I got it for her. Also, she hasn’t showed up yet.
JACKIE
That’s why I came.
KIKI
Shit. Well. Guess we’ll make do without her.
Kiki slowly works her way around the long kitchen island, rapidly texting.
JACKIE
I haven’t seen her since last night.
KIKI
Oh, that’s unfortunate.
JACKIE
You know I saw a photo of the two of you.
Kiki glances up from her phone.
KIKI
Where are you from by the way? Your accent is so cute.
JACKIE
Um…
(BEAT)
Look, I’m just trying to find her, OK?
KIKI
Wish I could help, but I can’t.
JACKIE
Why?
KIKI
Because she’s done this before. No shows. Disappears for days at a time. Then, all of the sudden, she’s back as if she never left.
BEAT on Jackie as she moves away from Kiki, around the other side of the kitchen island.
JACKIE
And you don’t know where she goes?
KIKI
If I did I would’ve already told you.
Kiki glances up at Jackie. Putting her phone away.
KIKI (CONT’D)
Look, sweetie, It’s been nice meeting you and… chatting. I’ve got a client coming in, so.
As Kiki leaves…
JACKIE
Hey Kiki?
BEAT on Kiki as she turns back towards Jackie.
JACKIE (CONT’D)
What is it you actually do here?
KIKI
What was your name again? Think I missed it.
JACKIE
Jackie.
Kiki nods.
KIKI
Right. Jackie.
(BEAT)
We cater to the needs of highly esteemed customers.
Kiki smiles and turns on a heel. Jackie watches her leave.
CUT TO:
INT. KOREAN NOODLE SHOP – THAT NIGHT
Jackie slurps noodles alone. She glances at her phone here and there. Tries dialing Sarah’s number again to no avail.
An old KOREAN WOMAN in an apron scurries over to her, the bill and a fortune cookie in her hand, nodding with a smile on her face.
Jackie hands over cash and cracks open the fortune cookie.
She unrolls the long fortune inside. It reads:
RAIN AND STORM ON THE HORIZON. SUNSHINE NOT IN SIGHT.
THREE CAN KEEP A SECRET IF YOU GET RID OF TWO.
16, 30, 32, 46, 50
JACKIE
(To herself)
The fuck does this mean?
She looks up in confusion to the KOREAN WOMAN who smiles and nods her head.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOTEL POOL – LATE AFTERNOON
Bare feet run towards the edge of an oval shaped pool, lift from the ground, and dive in.
Jackie looks out from a staircase in the corner, towards Dakota, who buoy’s at the far end of the pool, speaking to Rhianna, laying on a towel at the pools edge.
Dakota glances over as Jackie moves towards them.
DAKOTA
There she is.
JACKIE
Hey.
She sits next to Rhianna.
RHIANNA
This is Sarah’s-?
DAKOTA
Mmhm.
RHIANNA
Right. I thought so.
(BEAT)
Hey.
JACKIE
Hi.
DAKOTA
She still M.I.A. ?
Jackie nods.
JACKIE
Yeah.
Dakota glances to Rhianna, then swims away.
BEAT.
RHIANNA
Isn’t it a dream?
JACKIE
Isn’t what a dream?
RHIANNA
All this.
Rhianna glances around. Jackie traces her eyes. Palm trees. The pool. The sunshine. The people. Warm air on a late afternoon.
JACKIE
It’s felt like a dream. So far.
Rhianna glances up as Dakota swims by.
RHIANNA
Can I ask you something?
(BEAT)
What brought you here?
JACKIE
Sarah. She… invited.
RHIANNA
But is that what brought you here?
Jackie drags her hand through the water at the pools edge.
JACKIE
Wanted to get away from home for a little. Bit of an escape I guess.
RHIANNA
You’ve got great timing.
JACKIE
Why do you say that?
RHIANNA
I don’t know. Just a little curious. You get to L.A. one day and Sarah’s gone the next. Maybe it’s a coincidence or, maybe she wanted you to be here right as she went off to who knows where. I’m left with wondering why.
BEAT.
Dakota swims over. Someone calls to Rhianna from OFF SCREEN. She jumps up to greet them.
Jackie looks to Dakota, his face sitting at the edge of the pool.
DAKOTA
She was with Sarah last night. She said that she had left with someone. But for some reason she won’t tell me who.
Dakota and Jackie glance towards her.
DAKOTA (CONT’D)
Maybe she’ll tell you.
JACKIE
Me? No. Dakota, is this why you brought me here?
DAKOTA
I just thought that-
JACKIE
You know I spoke to Kiki last night. And she’s right. Sarah’s been pulling this disappearing act on me and everyone else her entire life. And I’m over it.
(BEAT)
I leave Sunday, and I’m going to try and enjoy myself, and not get wrapped in Sarah’s bullshit for once.
Jackie stands to leave. Dakota reaches out, grabbing her by her arm.
DAKOTA
Jackie. Put aside whatever happened between the two of you or whatever is going on now.
(BEAT)
Trust me. I think she needs you right now more than you realize.
RHIANNA (O.S.)
Hey you two!
DAKOTA
(To Jackie)
Just stick out around tonight. OK?
Rhianna steps towards them.
RHIANNA
Dry off Dakota. We’re going to a party.
CUT TO:
INT. BUNGALOW #3 – THAT NIGHT
[TRACKING SHOT aka ONER]
LEATHER JACKET MAN [man wearing leather jacket] swings open the front door to BUNGALOW #3 to greet SHY GUY.
LEATHER JACKET MAN
Dude. What are you doing? Get your ass inside here, brother.
SHY GUY
Oh. OK. I mean yeah of course, ha. What am I doing…
Shy Guy walks in, Leather Jacket Man takes him under his arm.
LEATHER JACKET MAN
Standing out there, you just come on in, you know. No big deal.
SHY GUY
Well I didn’t know, it’s not my party I didn’t want to just walk into some random place, be that guy.
LEATHER JACKET MAN
But I invited you. If I invite you then you’re welcome to come on in alright? My close friend, it’s his place for a few days.
SHY GUY
Right. Got it. Great.
Here, they pass a sushi chef in a corner, throwing sashimi into someone’s mouth from his knife with the flick of his wrist.
LEATHER JACKET MAN
We’re gonna have a good time. You want a drink? Let’s get you a drink.
SHY GUY
Tequila?
LEATHER JACKET MAN
You bet your ass.
They walk to the collection of bottles, red cups, drug paraphernalia and charcuterie plates in a small corner of the room.
From here, PAN to a small group of ROCKERS sitting in a circle with GROUPIE GIRL, catching them in the middle of a conversation.
GROUPIE GIRL
I loooove their music. It’s sweet, it’s innocent. Their songs are almost like these lullabies to love lost and missed opportunities.
ROCKER #1
Yeah their music is good but what does that even mean today? Anyone can make good music today. A monkey with a macbook pro and Ableton can make a good song.
GROUPIE GIRL
Oh come on.
ROCKER #2
No, he’s right. We saw them live last month. It was painful. Like, I don’t think they actually know how to play their instruments.
GROUPIE GIRL
Seriously?
ROCKER #3
Either that or they were drunk.
ROCKER #1
Or both.
ROCKERS laugh.
GROUPIE GIRL
Oh no. This is breaking my heart. The singer, what’s her name? She’s so cute too. I can’t take it.
COOL GUY walks guy the rocker group. GROUPIE GIRL reaches out to him.
GROUPIE GIRL (CONT’D)
Hey.
COOL GUY
Hey.
GROUPIE GIRL
Where you headed?
COOL GUY
Upstairs.
GROUPIE GIRL
Yeah?
COOL GUY
Yeah.
GROUPIE GIRL
You got what I’m looking for?
COOL GUY
You coming with?
GROUPIE GIRL
I don’t know. Am I coming with?
COOL GUY reaches out his hand to GROUPIE GIRL and lifts her off the floor. COOL GUY takes GROUPIE GIRL under his arm, they walk towards the staircase.
HERE, a glimpse of Dakota, leaning onto a girl in the corner of the room.
BACK on COOL GUY and GROUPIE GIRL as they ascend the staircase, and RHIANNA descends.
TRACK RHIANNA, as she stumbles through the party.
FINALLY, On JACKIE, as she watches Rhianna from afar. Dakota nods to Jackie as if saying “Now’s your chance.” As Jackie moves towards Rhianna — who walks out of the front door — she is stopped by THAT GUY.
THAT GUY
Well what’s your name young lady.
Rhianna tries to maneuver around THAT GUY.
THAT GUY (CONT’D)
Hey-hey-hey-hey. Don’t be rude.
JACKIE
It’s Jackie.
THAT GUY
You’re not from here are you Jackie?
JACKIE
No ones from here.
THAT GUY
Smart too.
JACKIE
Excuse me.
THAT GUY stops Rhianna again from leaving.
[END TRACKING SHOT]
THAT GUY
So what are you? Why are you here? Acting? Modeling? You’re a singer, you dance? What’s your thing baby?
JACKIE
I don’t have a thing.
THAT GUY
Oh Please. Everyones got a thing. Look you come to Los Angeles, You want to be a star, right? That’s why you’re here, that’s why we’re all here isn’t it? I can make you a star baby.
Jackie glances around the room. Catching eyes of people who stare at her and THAT GUY from a distance.
THAT GUY (CONT’D)
I’ll have your face plastered on every fucking billboard and building South of Hollywood blvd. It’ll be me, you, and Leo DiCaprio eating omakase in the backroom at Yoshi Hattori’s on Fountain.
As THAT GUY continues…
CU: The slicing of fish. The eyes of onlookers. The floats in a Galileo thermometer rising and falling.
THAT GUY (CONT’D)
Or you know, fuck being a star, sweetheart. I’ll take you to the fucking stars. I’ve got the first pair of tickets to the red planet.
CU: Jackie’s eyes darting back and forth. THAT GUY’s lips as he speaks. A mouth biting into sashimi. A GOLDFISH darting back and forth in its fish tank.
[CU intercutting increase in speed]
THAT GUY (CONT’D)
Picture this. You, me, and Elon Musk sipping Deimos Moon Dust cocktails on the crest of the Gale Crater. How’s that sound?
CU: Dakota across the room, his eyes on a woman. THE ROCKERS from earlier strung out on the floor.
THAT GUY puts his hand on Rhianna’s waist. She pulls away.
THAT GUY (CONT’D)
So what’s your plan tonight baby, you wanna take a ride with or you just going to stand here with the rest of the nobodies occupying our breathing room?
Jackie ignores him, as the CU images flash faster in front of her face.
THAT GUY SNAPS his fingers in front of Jackie’s face.
THAT GUY (CONT’D)
Hey? Hello? You still with me?
He presses his body up against Jackie, grabbing her wrist, kissing her hand. She pulls her hand away.
JACKIE
Let go of me!
THAT GUY tries to embrace her. They struggle, and in a moment, Jackie overpowers him, holding his hands back.
He moves his face close to her as she pushes him hard across the room. He stumbles backwards, landing on a glass coffee table.
The party goes silent. THAT GUY looks around in embarrassment. Jackie, feeling the tension in the room, leaves out of the front door.
EXT. HOTEL – MOMENT LATER
Outside, Jackie finds Rhianna sitting on the ground alone.
RHIANNA
Hiiiii.
JACKIE
You OK?
Rhianna shakes her head “no”. Jackie helps her up off of the ground.
CUT TO:
INT. SARAH’S CAR – NIGHT
Rhianna rides in the passenger seat of the car, just holding her eyes open from falling asleep, as Jackie drives.
Jackie glances over at her, Rhianna catches her gaze.
BEAT.
JACKIE
Rhianna. I know you know where Sarah was last night.
RHIANNA
You’re the kinda of girl that likes to get straight to it don’t you?
(BEAT)
Little anxious to get to aren’t you?
Jackie glances away.
EXT. MULHOLLAND TENNIS CLUB – DAY
Clean white Nike’s cut back and forth on a green top tennis court.
The THWACK of the ball hitting the tennis racquet echos around the chain link court followed by Kiki’s guttural exhales.
She slams a point.
KIKI
Game!
Kiki paces to the side of the court. She picks up a tall glass of lemonade and sips from its stripped straw. The trainer walks towards her from the opposite side of the court.
TRAINER
Great work Kiki. You’re crushing it. Your ground shot is perfect.
And your defensive footwork has become impeccable. You’ve really up’d your game. Been beating me all morning.
KIKI
Mmhmm. And that’s why you’re fired.
TRAINER
Excuse me?
KIKI
If I can beat you, what else is there for you to teach me?
BEAT on the Trainer.
KIKI (CONT’D)
You can go now. Thanks.
Kiki thumbs rapidly tap the screen of her phone as her now ex trainer walks away.
INT. MULHOLLAND TENNIS CLUB -DINNING ROOM -MOMENTS LATER
LOOKING THROUGH tall windows from dinning room, TRACK Jackie as she pulls into the parking lot below driving Sarah’s car.
She makes her way inside, upstairs and into the dinning room of the tennis club.
She finds kiki on her cell phone at a round table in the center of the room.
KIKI
(On Phone: In Korean)
I told you we're going to be fine, you have nothing to worry about.
Jackie stands in front of her. Kiki scribbles notes in a small black alligator skin bound book.
JACKIE
Hi.
KIKI
(In English)
What are you doing here?
JACKIE
I was told this is where I could find you.
Kiki eyes her up and down. Jackie wears the night before on her sleeve.
KIKI
You look shit.
Jackie shrugs.
KIKI (CONT’D)
Well. You’re here now. Sit down.
And she does.
KIKI (CONT’D)
(To Waitress: In French)
Esmée? When you have a moment,
please?
(On Phone: In Korean)
We've got seven now, and I'll begetting the eighth as we speak.
Esmée, the WAITRESS, steps to their table.
ESMÉE
(To Kiki: In French)
Hello Ms. Park. What will you having?
KIKI
(On Phone: In Korean)
Can you hold on a moment?
(To Waitress: In French)
I'll have another glass of the Complemen'terre.
KIKI
(To Jackie: In English)
Do you do Rosé?
JACKIE
Sure.
KIKI
Great.
(To Waitress: In French)
Two glasses of the Complemen'terre for us. She'll do the 'Oeufs en
Cocotte.' We'll split the root vegetables, and 'Les Fromages.'
ESMÉE
(To Kiki: In French)
Excellent selection.
KIKI
(To Waitress: French)
Thank you very much my love.
ESMÉE
(In French)
I'll be back in a moment with yourRosé.
The French Waitress and Kiki exchange a series of kisses on each others cheeks.
KIKI
(On Phone: In Korean)
Listen, I'm at lunch, everything will be in place for tonight. OK,
I'll see you then. Ciao.
(To Jackie: In English)
Sorry about that.
ESMÉE
(In French)
Your Rose.
KIKI
(To Waitress In French)
Thank you.
(To Jackie: In French)
Cheers.
They clink glasses and sip.
JACKIE
I wanted to ask you about-
The waitress drops their food on the table, interrupting Jackie.
ESMÉE
(In French)
'Les Fromages.' root vegetables.
KIKI
(To Waitress: French)
Oh, Beautiful.
JACKIE
I have a name.
KIKI
You have to try this!
Kiki takes a scoop of food into her mouth.
KIKI (CONT’D)
(To Waitress: French)
Mmmm. Perfection.
WAITRESS
(In French)
I'm happy you enjoy.
Kiki smiles as the Waitress as she watches her walk away from their table.
JACKIE
Han.
Kiki glances back towards Jackie.
KIKI
What was that?
JACKIE
You know him?
KIKI
Where did you hear his name?
JACKIE
Around.
KIKI
From who?
JACKIE
It matters?
KIKI
Yes. Very much so.
JACKIE
Who is he?
The waitress interrupts.
WAITRESS
(In French)
The Oeufs en Cocotte-
KIki waves her off, accidentally pushing her notebook and pen ever so out of place.
KIKI
(In French)
Fuck off.
And she does. Kiki realigns her notebook and pen in front of her.
KIKI (CONT’D)
Why do you want to know?
JACKIE
Because he knew her. I guess they were close.
BEAT off Kiki.
KIKI
He works for the people we work for.
JACKIE
Doing what exactly?
KIKI
Doing things people pay others todo because they can’t do it themselves.
JACKIE
Where I can find him?
KIKI
I wouldn’t know.
(BEAT)
Don’t you think you’re taking this all a bit too seriously?
Kiki takes a bit food, chewing 22 times before swallowing.
Jackie eyes her until she finally swallows.
KIKI (CONT’D)
Anything else?
JACKIE
No, I guess not.
Jackie stands. As she steps away, Kiki glances just over her shoulder at Jackie.
KIKI
She’s a whore by the way. Sarah.
Another bite of food.
JACKIE
Fuck you.
Jackie leaves as Kiki swallows.
KIKI
(To Waitress: In french)
Check please.
The check slides in front of her.
Kiki stands towards the tall windows over looking the parking lot, watching Jackie as she walks to her car and pulls away.
EXT. MULHOLLAND DRIVE TENNIS CLUB -CONTINOUS
Jackie pulls through the valet drive thru to exit as Esmée, the waitress paces towards Jackie’s car, a cigarette burning between her lips. She climbs into the passenger.
ESMÉE
Drive.
Esmée rolls down the window.
ESMÉE (CONT’D)
Make a left here.
(BEAT)
I can’t stand her.
(In french)
Fucking cunt.
(In English)
Another left.
She makes the turn.
ESMÉE
So there’s someone you’re looking for? A man?
JACKIE
Yeah.
ESMÉE
And what did this man do?
JACKIE
I’m not sure if he did anything.
But I think he knows what might have happened to someone I’m looking for.
Esmée nods.
ESMÉE
Make a right.
(BEAT)
Everything about anyone that bitch has ever known or ever will know is in or will be in that little black book of hers. Names, numbers,
addresses. Everything. Another right.
(BEAT)
You’re probably in there by now as well.
JACKIE
How do you know all this?
ESMÉE
I watch her and everything she does. Closely.
(BEAT)
Stop. I’ll walk from here.
Esmée gives Jackie two pecks on both sides of her face. She climbs out of the car.
ESMÉE
(In French)
Goodbye.
EXT. SARAH’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Jackie turns the key to enter Sarah’s apartment, the door doesn’t open. She gives it another push, noticing it’s secured closed with a latch and padlock from outside.
JACKIE
Shit.
EXT. APARTMENT MAINTENANCE – NIGHT
Jackie finds a MAINTENANCE MAN in a cramped space connect to the apartment building.
JACKIE
Excuse me sir?
MAINTENANCE MAN
Can I help you?
JACKIE
Yeah I’m staying at my sisters place while she’s out of town.
There’s a lock on the door and I can’t get in.
MAINTENANCE MAN
Oh. 237?
JACKIE
That’s the one.
MAINTENANCE MAN
Management had me put that on this afternoon. Delinquent payments.
Think she’s a couple months behind.
JACKIE