Very Bad Things

Very Bad Things   

By

Peter Berg

9/2/97

Fade In:

TITLE SEQUENCE. . .

1    THE DEAD OF NIGHT        1

Pitch black. Dead quiet. Dim faint light appears in the distance, approaching, growing larger. As the light nears, we recognize car headlights. Closer and closer until the car is bearing down upon us with great force. . .

2    INT. CAR          2

Two men in the front seat, FISHER and MOORE. Fisher drives. All seems quite normal until we take a closer look, sweat matts hair, dirt stains on white tuxedo shirts hands are blistered and bloody. They seem almost entranced.

MOORE: That ought to be about the end of that.

FISHER: Yup.

SILENCE. PUSH IN ON Fisher…

ANNOUNCER (V.O.):“The Oakland Raiders have taken a 7 - 6 lead in a, tough, football game and this crowd is standing...”

FISHER’S VISION - GRAINY - OUT OF THE PAST

3    THREE RIVER STADIUM - DECEMBER 23RD, 1972          3

Playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Scoreboard reads: 22 seconds, 4th down, 10 yards to go, 4th quarter.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.): “Hang on to your hats, here come the Steelers out of the Huddle...”

4    INT. CAR - FISHER     4

transfixed…

ANNOUNCER (V.O.): “It comes down to one big play, 4th down, ten yards to go. Terry Bradshaw at the controls...”

Bradshaw throws.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.): “And Bradshaw, back and looking…Again, Bradshaw running out of the pocket… Looking for someone to throw to...”

Bradshaw throws.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.): …Bradshaw fires it down the field and there’s a collision!...”

The ball bounces off the helmet of a Raider player and is caught low by the Steelers’ FRANCO HARRIS.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.): “...and it’s caught out of the air! The ball is pulled in by Franco Harris!”

6    FISHER - DRIVING      6

ANNOUNCER (V.O.): Franco Harris running for the end zone, all but home...”

Oncoming headlights illuminate Fisher’s face…

END TITLES.

FADE TO BLACK:

FADE IN ON:

7    INT. LOS ANGELES CITY HALL - MARRIAGE LICENSE DEPT. - DAY   7

SLOWLY TRACKING down a long line of couples. Some with kids, some old, some young, all waiting to pay their $55 and pick up their marriage license.

We HOLD on a young couple, late 20’s, KEITH FISHER and his fiancee, LIZ GARRETY. Fisher has a blondish quality to him, unassuming, pleasant, attentive, a bit more reactive than he could be. Liz is quite attractive, but somewhat tense, and not at all happy about having to stand in this very slow moving line.

LIZ: This is ridiculous.

FISHER: Government cutbacks.

LIZ: Why can’t we do it through the mail?

FISHER: (patient) We missed the deadline.

LIZ: Can’t we do it on the phone?

FISHER: I don’t think so.

In front of them a middle-aged MEXICAN COUPLE make-out intensely while their chubby little THREE YEAR OLD stares at Liz.

LIZ: Why is this Kid staring at me?

FISHER: I’m not sure.

Liz pulls a note-pad out of her daypack.

LIZ: (reading from her notes) Did you send in all of the deposit checks?

FISHER: I think so.

LIZ: (pause) What do you mean, you think so?

FISHER: I sent a lot of checks, I’m not sure what all of them are.

LIZ: The wedding cake check?

FISHER: Sent it.

LIZ: Photographer?

FISHER: Sent it.

LIZ: Florist?

FISHER: Yup.

LIZ: Caterer?

FISHER: Yes.

LIZ: Hotel for my parents, the tent, the band, the Judge…

FISHER: (beat) I think I forgot the tent.

LIZ: (somewhat alarmed) You forgot the tent?

FISHER: I think so.

LIZ: Why?

FISHER: Why what?

LIZ: Why did you forget the tent check?

FISHER: I didn’t mean to Liz. I’m sorry.

LIZ: You can’t play around with these tent people.

FISHER: I’m not playing around. I forgot.

LIZ: What else have you forgot?

FISHER: How could I know what else I forgot?

LIZ: I’m working my ass off here. I’ve taken care of absolutely everything Keith.

FISHER: Because you wanted to. You wanted this to be your wedding not your parent’s.

LIZ: Don’t you dare.

FISHER: What?

LIZ: Don’t you put this on me. Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t...

A YOUNG TEENAGE COUPLE behind them stares at Liz, a bit confused.

FISHER: (trying to calm her) Stop it. I’m sorry.

LIZ: (trying to control herself) You know how important this is to my mother. You know that.

FISHER: I’m sorry. I’m sorry I forgot the tent. I don’t think I forgot anything else.

LIZ: (not bitchy) I bet you didn’t forget the bachelor party checks.

FISHER: Are we going to do this again?

LIZ: I’m just saying I bet those checks all found the mailboxes.

FISHER: I wouldn’t know.

LIZ: It amazes me how organized you and your little fun bunch can be when it comes time to mobilize to Vegas.

FISHER: (patient) They organized this, not me. I have nothing to do with it.

LIZ: well it’s bad timing.

FISHER: How do you figure?

LIZ: Right before the wedding?

FISHER: It’s a bachelor party. You sort of have to do it before the wedding.

LIZ: I suppose Boyd is the creative force behind all this.

FISHER: He is.

LIZ: He’s a moron.

FISHER: He’s my friend. He’s not a moron.

LIZ: David Boyd is a big sack of hot gas.