Magicians veil? < working title
By
Christi ElkinsEXT. CITY MARKET DUSK
MC(Del-boy-esque early twenties) flogging market goods.
BUYER:
(vulnerable voice)
Can i get just the one for a fiver?
MC:
(waving knock off DVD’s
around/dodgy goods)
No fuck off! Two for a tenner or
seven quid each! Not to be missed
these...Bargain!
CUTS ON BARGAIN
EXT. CITY MARKET DUSK-NIGHT
MC exhales as packing away sparse goods, checks profits.
£12.50.Shakes head exhaling.
EXT. MAGICIANS ALLEY NIGHT
MC walking home. Passes Magician(Mysterious smartly dressed
man pertaining eccentric exotic style).
MAGICIAN/ALAKAZAM:
Have you a lighter monsieur?
MC:
Monsieur?
(Hushed chuckles, checks
pockets)
...yeh yeh i do actually.
gives blue lighter, gets red back. MC looks to lighter
before sparking Cig. Suspiciously pockets lighter.
MAGICIAN:
So tell me, do you believe in Magic
monsieur?!
MC:
(Shakes head dismissively
laughing slightly)
...You taking the piss?
Begins card trick with black Aces. MC’s cig now transferred
to Magicians hand. Magician smokes.
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 2.
MAGICIAN:
No?...Of course you don’t;
everybody knows that magic isn’t
real, yes?
MC:
Erm yeh yeh...
(MC distracted, hands still in
cig position. Sparks new Cig)
MAGICIAN:
(Pulls out Black aces,
Shuffles cards)
What if i told you that magic is
simply an illusion...a trick of the
eye?
MC:
Yeh well obviously bu...
(interrupted)
MAGICIAN:
Well what if i told you that
reality is also just an illusion,
the same trick of the eye?
(begins pulling marked fabric
from pocket)
MC:
Look i ain’t got no till you know?
MAGICIAN:
You see, imagine this fabric is
activity around us, our senses only
pick up a tiny proportion; a lot of
activity passes unnoticed, yes?
(Indicating on marked rag,MC
nods sullenly)
So this is percieveable activity,
less than one percent is visible
light, less than 1 percent acoustic
sound... and then there’s areas we
cannot even detect in the
slightest...
(Rapidly pulls rag which fills
MC’s hands)
You see, magic makes use of this
hidden world we cannot see...yes?
MC:
(suspiciously/unconvinced)
Yeh and?...
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 3.
MAGICIAN:
(Continuing unperturbed)
Well mix this with time[Slow mo sfx
etc] and well...
Indicates MC’s hands. fabric disappeared.
MC:
Quick hands, ill give you that...
MAGICIAN:
(Ignoring statement
completely)
you see in life we can manipulate
this...and this is magic...true
magic.
MC:
(laughing Sceptically)
True magic?...Mate I’ve seen Darren
Brown and all that shit...I’m not
fuckin twelve.
MAGICIAN:
(Laughing)
Ok ok calm yourself Monsiuer...
Tell you what,watch this...
(Magician throws cig to
floor[Disappears off bottom.
falls in from top])
MC:
(Looks up in amazement)
...Fuuuck me!...Do that one again!
MAGICIAN:
No no no you see you cannot simply
change things as you please...you
must manipulate...
MC:
Go on then, do another trick!
MAGICIAN:
I cannot do a ’trick’...i do not do
simple ’tricks’...I manipulate.
MC:
(Rolling hand gesture)
Well fuckin whatever you wanna call
it just do summat else!
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 4.
MAGICIAN:
Not tonight my friend, not tonight.
I tell you what...Im recruiting,
and your names on the list, see?
(Holds ordained parchment up)
MC:
Woah nahh im not on any lists me,
off the grid so to speak.
MAGICIAN:
’MC name’, You were born, 1984,
Williamshire hospital; weighed 8.9
Ib’s, a right little porker! When
you were seven you sneaked into Mr
Gunters sweetshop and stole 50p’s
worth of strawberry gum-gums; but
nobody knows about that, yeh?
MC:
How the fuck do you know that?
MAGICIAN:
Tell you what, ill give you this
starter pack and you can see for
yourself...
(Passes over Matches)
...Oh and just a warning...You
won’t remember a fucking thing
about tonight...
EXT. MARKET DUSK
FADE IN FROM BLACK
MC packs away yawning deeply.(Turn this into morning going
to market scene?)
Leaving, MC Lights Cig, lighter breaks. Huffs checking
pockets. Pulls out matches. Inspects reminiscing, laughing
slightly.
MC:
Fuckin street gypsies.
He strikes match(CU) spilling majority. Cider Bottle appears
next to tramp in Bground. Tramp notices, chuffed, cracks
open. MC looks at matches, frowns. Sparks another, looking
to the right he is stunned. A pile of ’ ’ has appeared from
nowhere. Sparks another. Cam zooms out. New location.5.
EXT. DESERTED SUBURB
He looks up from Cig amazed(Cig drops from mouth)
MC:
(bewildered)
...What the fuck?
looks around confused. Strikes match after match but little
effect’s.
MC:
(attempting to light last
match)
...Fuckin bullshit!
He lights match as old bike pings into view(black aces on
handles). MC looks across. Face drops. Fumes at black aces.
EXT. STREETS LATE NIGHT
MC pedals wearily past steady shot, heaving.
EXT. MAGICIANS ALLEY NIGHT
MC walks determinedly up Alley.
MAGICIAN:
back again Monsieur?
MC:
(flipping)
Dont monsieur me you tit!I ended up
on the fuckin tour-de-France last
night cos of you!
MAGICIAN:
Matches are matches.
(Calm before jumping out way)
MC:
I don’t know what the fuck you gave
me but..
MAGICIAN:
(Magician looks about)
Matches! Just matches!..Look!
(Indicating car)
Magic is real my friend, its a bit
big but I can see your going to
take a lot of
convincing...Watching?
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 6.
(indicating car. MC nods
sceptically)
...well...
(points to car. Disappears)
MC:
(Complete shock)
...Nooo way!!
(runs to car and wafts in
space it occupied.turns to
Magician in awe)
Am i on scare tactics or some shit?
MAGICIAN:
You see, The world we see around us
is just a mirage of the eye...just
one big card trick...There are
things going on we cannot see,
cannot feel, cannot touch.
(MC nods in awe)
And well you see for this
reason...We manipulate....
FADE TO BLACK
EXT. MAGICIANS ALLEY NIGHT
MC sits next to Magician on back-alley step.Both smoke.
MC:
So your telling me you can change
anything to anything?
MAGICIAN:
(Laughing)
No no no; modern day
ignorance...You see if you piss in
a cup i cannot turn it into
wine...but get me grape juice and
were drinking Riocca...you see
there must be a link
MC:
(Exhales)
Can’t believe I’m even considering
this!?
(nods thoughtfully in
momentary pause, pulls on Cig)
Can you make money?
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 7.
MAGICIAN:
(Slight laugh/gasp)
You need to review your priorities
Sonny...
MC:
Look, just say i do believe this
shit? Whats the next step?
MAGICIAN:
(Provocatively)
...Your prophecy maker.
MC:
Fuckin Prophecy maker now!?
MAGICIAN:
You want to meet him? Delve deeper?
MC:
Ive got a fucking life you know?
MAGICIAN:
What sat at home wanking over
countdown? Don’t kid me!
MC:
(Thoughtful pause)
You know what fuck it, I wanna see
what Mystic Meg’s got on offer.
MAGICIAN:
Good! Now I just need to measure
your magical influence...
(Magician begins routing in undergarments, finally pulls out
compass. Begins following wildly. Points to MC, spins
wildly)
MAGICIAN:
Your off the charts, Excellent!
Just one final thing then...you
need to look the part.
EXT. CITY STREETS
Song>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeaypQk2u_I&NR=1
(Gramatik-Swucca chust)
MC and Magician walk streets confidently(MC now in Magician
style clothes). Long coats fly in wind. Magician spins with
stick etc. ?Remove?>>[Strike matches as walk helping people
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 8.
in street bground(Achieve by using set camera angle and
letting gravity control speed of track)].MC follows behind.
flicks cig.
MAGICIAN:
This is the place.
MC unimpressed.
INT. PROPHECIST HOUSE NIGHT
Prophecist(Manic/twisted)sat at single chair/desk, peers
around books(Or suddenly pops up from nowhere/behind desk,
deserted room). Enforcer appears right next to Magician.
PROPHECIST:
Ah Alakazam you grace me with your
’abrasive’ presence. I’m sure you
remember my Enforcer, ’Pablo’.
Magician turns to enforcer who snarls. Magician jumps/yelps
before regaining composure.
MAGICIAN:
(Cheekily)
So is he still washing your pots
Proph?
PROPHECIST:
Shut up Alakazam you cretinous
growth!
MAGICIAN:
...Bit steep; anyway I’ve brought
someone to see you.
PROPHECIST:
And who is it this time? If its Ali
Baba after one of his ridiculous
all-nighters again, I’m frankly not
interested!
MAGICIAN:
Not quite Proph! Its me apprentice!
PROPHECIST:
(Flabbergasted/tongue pops out
a bit-of Enforcer?)
What! At last? Ive been waiting for
years, the prophecy!
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 9.
MAGICIAN:
I didn’t think you’d be so excited
you old bugger!
(Looks to Tarrow cards
worryingly then to proph)
PROPHECIST:
It is done! Alas! Hazar! I shall
meet you at midnight, 12PM tonight;
do not be late!
Magician leaves, Prophecist and Enforcer comedy laugh where
stops suddenly and starts again.
EXT. UNDERPASS NIGHT
MAGICIAN:
Keep yourself sharp around these! I
can normally get the better of them
but you know, you might struggle.
MC:
I thought these were on our side?
MAGICIAN:
...Prophecists reach far back into
history and every last single one
has flipped under the pressure at
some point, Thatcher was the most
recent...
MC:
Thatcher was?...Look wtf’s going
on?
MAGICIAN:
I think he’s gunna try and use
this(holds egg aloft) to gain
power, good job ive got it eh!
MC:
Woah one second, you what?
MAGICIAN:
(Compass spins wildly).
...come on.
MC follows extremely paranoid. Magician approaches
Prophecist through tunnels confidently.
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 10.
PROPHECIST:
Ahh at last.
(Signals to Enforcer who grabs
Magician-Chokes/struggles)
Magician gargles comically under Enforcers grip, Prophecist
takes magical blue egg.
MC:
Shit! Shit!
PROPHECIST:
(manic.flipped. Too MC)
You! Stay put or ill turn you into
’ ’(use taylor phrase)
MC:
Look mate i don’t want no
trouble...
PROPHECIST:
Oh it’s a bit late for that ’MC’
MC:
What the fucks happening?
PROPHECIST:
I tell you whats happening! I’m
claiming power!
(Grabs passer by and magic’s
revolver into hand. Manic
laugh.)
I’m done reading the future! I’m
making it now!
(Demented laugh)
MC:
Calm down shit! I’m just a market
man, I dunno what the fucks going
on!
PROPHECIST:
Im gunna blow this motherfuckers
head all over the pavement that’s
whats going on!
(In song style)
Then when the clock reaches 12,
Shit hits the fan, the new day
gives its power to man(beat-box
noise)
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 11.
MAGICIAN:
Get him ’MC’(cut short by choke)
PROPHECIST:
Oh and expect things to get a whole
lot worse when i do!
MC looks for solution(Remove passer by and put gun to
magicians head?).Prophecist checks watch frantically.
PROPHECIST:
3,2,1!
MC searches pockets, pulls bannana out, raises hand,
Revolver turns to Bannana, Prophecist squeezes onto floor.
Captive runs away. Prophecist looks up, MC has revolver to
head.
PROPHECIST:
...Oh bugger!
MC pulls trigger. Blood splatters over face. Expression
reflects gory scene. Enforcer drops also, Magician ruffles
collar, non-chelauntly walks beside MC, sparks Cig.
MAGICIAN:
Not a bad shot that,
(Tapping own skull)
directly in the Cranium!
MC looks to Magician, to body, back to Magician,traumatized.
MC:
What the fuck’s going on?
MAGICIAN:
Oh Im sure he’ll be alright
(Waving to body, changing
subject)
Anyway! No worry, you’ve restored
the balance!
MC:
(Traumatized)
Fucking hell man...
MAGICIAN:
Yeh and this is the tip of the
iceberg; not to bad for your
training eh?
(CONTINUED)CONTINUED: 12.
MC:
(still traumatised)
What now?
MAGICIAN:
(Joviantly)
...Tell you what! Aint no going
back for you, and looks like I’m
getting a promotion...
(Quick look to prophecist)
I’ve got just the ticket!
FADE TO BLACK
EXT. CITY BACKSTREET NIGHT
MC stood in alleyway in Magicians place. Shopper passes by.
MC:
S’cuse me mate? You got a light?
(Insert shots of world returning ’nice’ as MC saves day. As
film ends scales wobble with credits. Use extensive dutch
angles etc. Have shots from impossible ’magical’ angles.
Blue egg instead of matches?) Magician uses compass to
determine MC potential, Compass girates wildly indicating he
will have an important future? On credits Magician dances to
Swucca chust as MC stands unimpressed. Make split screen
scene where MC stuck on one side and Magician on other?Look
at ’HONDA’ advert.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqoWY0C9ZAw)
Add ’Ballet dancer water colour’ scene in Prophecist lair?
Flick cig turns into pigeon which flys away(actually flick
cig at pidgeon/splitscreen final footage)
For credits after nightmares on wax kicks in have ’MC
training scene’ in which hes trying to make objects explode
and Magician teaches him techniques(Comical/in time to
music). he finally does it, they celebrate ecstatically,
credits end.
Whole 10 minutes piece acts almost as intro to larger
show/story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI9-CkiXWJE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKhGkkOo34Y
Seeing as the film is meant to be at most 10 minutes long Christi and Robin are going to have to shorten it a bit as each page translates as about a minute of film time and the script is twelve pages long
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