BOUND

BOUND 

by

Larry and Andy Wachowski

FADE IN:

Inside a closet.

It is a large closet with double doors, a crisp line of

light cutting down through the center of the darkness.

As we begin to descend, we hear a man's stern voice.

MAN (V.O.)

I know your type. Your type is

dangerous.

We move past a shelf filled with hat boxes and hand bags.

It is a woman's closet.

MAN (V.O.)

You know how to act, how to pretend

but all the time you're waiting,

just waiting.

We glide over the tightly packed hangers, close enough to

feel the different fabrics and descend past the dresses to

the racks of high heels.

MAN (V.O.)

I've told you before that there is

no such thing as an ex-con like

there is no such thing as an ex-

alcoholic.

We slide along the delicate taper of a stiletto heel and

reach the bottom of the closet where we find a pair of

black Doc Marten boots that are tied together with a

white rope.

MAN (V.O.)

There are those who stay on the

wagon, those who fall off the wagon

and those who jump.

We move up the boots and we see it is a woman that is

bound, lying motionless on the floor of the closet, the

rope coiling tightly around her wrists.

MAN (V.O.)

You? You're a jumper.

The crack at the bottom of the door lights her face. She

is gagged and unconscious, a trickle of blood running down

her forehead. Her name is Corky.

MAN (V.O.)

Are you listening to me?

CUT TO:

INT. PAROLE OFFICE

It is a small cramped office, manila folders piled

everywhere.

OFFICER

You had better listen to me.

At the desk is a large man with a serious expression on

his face as he lectures. A patch on the shoulder of his

uniform reads, "PROBATION OFFICER".

CORKY

I'm listening.

Sitting across from him who we now see in full light, is

Corky, a very butch looking woman with short hair and a

black leather jacket. She is a lesbian and she wants

people to know it.

OFFICER

Bullshit. Your kind never listens.

I've seen that same look in a

hundred different eyes. Every one

of them looking for the same thing,

dreaming about that perfect score.

Corky looks down, examining her fingernails.

OFFICER

I can tell you right now what's

going to happen. Something will

come along. It always does and it

will be irresistible. Like a wet

dream.

An office slogan behind her reads, "Play It Straight!"

OFFICER

It will hurt you day and night and

tie you in knots. You'll figure it

a thousand ways and when you think

you know it inside and out you will

jump.

She does not look at him, but she hears what he says.

OFFICER

If you hear one thing in this

office, hear this: no matter how

smart you are, no matter how

careful you are, you will fuck up.

Corky looks up and eyes the man.

OFFICER

And when you do get caught --

INT. ELEVATOR

Corky is standing against the back of the elevator as the

doors begin to close.

OFFICER (V.O.)

This time it will be life.

The doors begin to slide shut when a woman yells.

WOMAN

Wait! Hold the elevator.

Corky pushes the "open" button. A couple steps into the

elevator.

His name is Ceasar, a middle-aged Italian, wearing an

expensive suit and sunglasses.

She is Violet; a piece of sexual candy that would melt in

your mouth.

From her tight dress to her high heels, she is on the

surface, the exact opposite of Corky.

Violet smiles at her.

VIOLET

Thank you.

In his own world, Ceasar does not even see Corky.

As the elevator begins to rise, Violet catches Corky

admiring the curve of her dress.

Corky does not look away, instead she stares straight into

Violet's eyes.

Violet stares back, a faint smile on her painted lips. It

is awkward at first, the tension between them escalating.

The doors "ding" and glide open.

Violet slowly turns and steps into the hall just behind

Ceasar.

Corky follows them down the hall.

INT. HALL

They reach the door at the end of the hall. Ceasar opens

it and enters. Just before Violet steps inside, she peeks

over her shoulder and sees --

Corky look away.

Violet smiles and steps inside.

Corky checks the room numbers, stopping in front of the

apartment next to the one Violet and Ceasar entered.

She slides the key in and opens the door.

INT. EMPTY APARTMENT

It is later. All of Corky's tools are gathered in the

middle of the living room.

The apartment is cavernous and looks like someone recently

moved out: cracks in the wall, picture hooks, hangers,

and other discarded junk.

Corky is on the phone.

CORKY

I looked over everything sir, and I

don't think there will be any

problems... yes, I checked the tub

and I'm pretty sure I can rod it

out.

She suddenly turns when she hears something that sounds

like a man moan.

CORKY

Yeah, I ordered the vanity. And you

want latex eggshell on the walls,

right?

She looks at the blank white wall separating this

apartment from Ceasar's apartment.

CORKY

All right, sure. I'm going to start

first thing in the morning.

She hears it again, a guttural sound.

CORKY

Thanks again for this opportunity,

Mr. Bianchinni. Goodbye.

She hangs up the phone and walks toward the wall.

As she gets closer, we hear a bed rocking, tapping against

the wall.

The man's breathing grows more and more labored until

finally it swells --

DISSOLVING INTO:

INT. BATHROOM - MORNING

The whining motor of a high powered drain-rod.

The spiral cable whips wildly, spiraling deeper into the

tub drain, black goo splattering everywhere.

The machine is so loud Corky almost cannot hear someone

pounding on the apartment door.

Killing the motor, she stands and goes to the door.

Behind the door is Violet, wearing jeans, a white T-shirt

and cowboy boots.

VIOLET

Hi. My name is Violet. We sort of

met in the elevator --

CORKY

Yeah, sure. I'm Corky.

VIOLET

I heard you working in here and I

just wondered if you'd like a cup of

coffee?

She is holding two cups of coffee: one black, one with

cream.

CORKY

Sure. Come on in. Give me a minute.

Violet steps inside as Corky goes back to the bathroom to

wash off the drain dreck.

VIOLET

What happened to Rajeev?

Corky calls from the bathroom, scrubbing her hands

vigorously.

CORKY

Who?

VIOLET

Rajeev, the man who usually works on

the building.

CORKY

Oh, he went home to India, but as

far as I know he'll be back.

She wipes her hands on her overalls, returning to the main

room.

VIOLET

So this is temporary for you?

CORKY

Pretty much. One day at a time.

Violet hands her the cup of black coffee.

VIOLET

I guessed you were straight black.

CORKY

Good guess.

They both sip from the piping hot mugs.

CORKY

Mmmm... thanks, I needed this.

VIOLET

My pleasure... but to be honest, I

did have a slightly ulterior motive

here. I was wondering if I could

ask a small favor?

CORKY

A favor?

VIOLET

Yeah, see, I'm kind of a night

person, so I was wondering if it

wasn't a terrible inconvenience if

you could wait a bit before using

power tools.

CORKY

Oh, I'm sorry --

VIOLET

No, it isn't your fault. The walls

here are just so thin.

CORKY

Are they really?

VIOLET

Yes, it really causes problems.

Sometimes it's like you're in the

same room. But if it's too much

trouble, I understand...

CORKY

No, no trouble. There's other work

to do.

VIOLET

You're doing everything yourself?

CORKY

Yeah.

VIOLET

That is so amazing. I'm in awe of

people who can fix things. My dad

was like that. We never had

anything new. Whenever something

broke he would open it up, tinker

with it and it would work. His

hands were magic.

She looks at Corky's hands cupped around the mug.

VIOLET

Yeah... I bet your car is twenty

years old.

Corky smiles.

CORKY

Truck.

VIOLET

Truck. Of course.

CORKY

'74 Chevy.

VIOLET

I knew it.

Violet sips.

VIOLET

So, how do you know the owner, Mr.

Bianchinni?

CORKY

I don't, really. I was referred to

him.

VIOLET

Oh, really.

Corky suddenly feels she has revealed something.

CORKY

Do you know him?

VIOLET

No, but Ceasar does. He likes him.

Says he's a good Italian.

CORKY

Ceasar is your husband?

VIOLET

Oh no, no. I'm not the marrying

kind.

Smiling, she says nothing else.

VIOLET

I should be going. You can drop the

cup off anytime.

CORKY

Thanks.

VIOLET

My pleasure.

Corky watches her leave.

EXT. THE WATERING HOLE - NIGHT

A dirty bar hidden away on a dark street, its cracked,

moon white sign the only evidence it exists.

A couple of large motorcycles are parked in front.

INT. THE WATERING HOLE - NIGHT

The smell of leather and cigarette smoke fills Corky's

nose as she crosses to the bar.

BARTENDER

Well, well...

Corky sits as the fat bartender waddles over.

BARTENDER

Been awhile, Cork.

CORKY

Five years, two months, sixteen

days. How you doing, Sue?

Corky puts a cigarette in her mouth and lights it.

SUE

Like shit. Now that we're all

caught up, how about a drink?