Night of Ghosts

Basic Story Idea in the Medium of Screen Writing

ACT 1.
******
FADE IN:

EXT. MARTIN PLACE - 12:00 A.M.
The unearthly chimes of the Post Office clock striking the Witching Hour of Halloween.

EXT. STREET - 12:05 A.M.
A black car drives slowly past the Art Deco Bank with sinister intent.

CUT TO:
INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE - 12:10 A.M.
The BANK MANAGER unlocks a drawer in his desk and contemplates what combination of pills to swallow to steady his nerves.

BANK MANAGER
(Talking to himself)
I can retire tomorrow if I can survive the Night of Ghosts.

The BANK MANAGER sits down in a leather chair and glances up at the full moon suspended against the ink-like canvas of night.

INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE - 12:15 A.M.

The BANK MANAGER is reading a yellowed newspaper clipping dating back to the last century referring to the series of unsolved murders committed every twenty-five years.

BANK MANAGER
(Whispers)
My wish is not to die before my retirement like all the previous bank managers.

INT. BANK MANAGER’S DOOR - 12:20 A.M.
The SECURITY GUARD looks with distain at his ring of keys.

SECURITY GUARD
(Somewhat apprehensive)
I wish I were not working the graveyard shift.

THE SECURITY GUARD knocks on the door of the office of the BANK MANAGER.

INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE - 12:25 A.M.
The BANK MANAGER hastily hides the newspaper clipping under some documents on his desk.

BANK MANAGER
(Nervous)
Please come in.

INT. BANK MANAGER’S DOOR - 12:30 A.M.

The SECURITY GUARD turns the doorknob, opens the door, and walks into the room.

INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE - 12:35 A.M.
The SECURITY GUARD stands in front of the BANK MANAGER’S desk fidgeting with his ring of keys.

SECURITY GUARD
(Uneasy)

Sir, there is a black car with chrome detail parked outside the bank.

The BANK MANAGER starts to shake uncontrollably as he reaches for more pills.

BANK MANAGER
(Frightened beyond measure)
Do you believe in Fate?

SECURITY GUARD
(Unnerved)
Yes.

INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE - 12:40 A.M.
The vintage radiogram starts broadcasting a jazz program from the 1930s as time shifts back to the last century as the BANK MANAGER’S and the SECURITY GUARD’S clothing change as well.

BANK MANAGER
(Terrified)
This is the beginning of the haunting sense of the déjà vu.

SECURITY GUARD
(Shocked beyond belief)
I take exception to being forced to take part in this re-enactment of a bank robbery from the last century.

The BANK MANAGER opens a drawer in his desk and takes out a bottle of Scotch whiskey.

INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE - 12:45 A.M.

The SECURITY GUARD stares at the two lead-crystal glasses that suddenly materialize out of thin air onto the BANK MANAGER’S desk.

BANK MANAGER
(Steely resolve)
This script has been written and we are destined to die in this cursed fragment of time.

A singular long black glove attends to the task of filling the two glasses with whiskey for the BANK MANAGER and the SECURITY GUARD.

SECURITY GUARD
(Intrigued)
What is that apparition?

BANK MANAGER
(Irritated)
It is the bank’s resident thing like the Adams’ family.

The BANK MANAGER and the SECURITY GUARD hastily swallow their whiskey in a single gulp as two men deemed to be equal in death.

CUT TO:
INT.THE BANK - 12:50 A.M.
The BANK MANAGER stands inhaling the gunpowder stench of death and looking at the corpses of the bank tellers, customers, security guards, police and local gangsters.

BANK MANAGER
(Reflective)
Why did that AMERICAN GANGSTER insist on hiding his gold bars in several of this bank’s safe deposit boxes?

The AMERICAN GANGSTER appears from behind a column stepping over the dead.

INT.THE BANK - 12:55 A.M.

The AMERICAN GANGSTER aims his Tommy gun at the BANK MANAGER.

AMERICAN GANGSTER
(Angry)
You appear to know too much for your own good.

BANK MANAGER
(Frozen with fear)
Please show mercy just this once and you may redeem your soul.

AMERICAN GANGSTER
(Laughing bitterly)
Regrettably, there is no redemption for the damned.

The white-hot flashes of gunfire and the dull thud of the body of the fainting BANK MANAGER onto the marble floor.

CUT TO:
INT.BANK VAULT - 1:00 A.M.

An ENGLISH WOMAN dressed in black turns from the safe deposit box she has just closed. She stares at her deathly white reflection of maturity in the mirror.

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Grief-stricken)

This date is the seventieth anniversary of my late mother’s murder.

The ENGLISH WOMAN sits down on a tapestry-covered chair and opens a small red velvet box containing a gold ring with emeralds.

INT.BANK VAULT GATES - 1:05 A.M.
The SECURITY GUARD unlocks the gates, walks into the bank vault, and is surprised to find the ENGLISH WOMAN there when the bank is closed.

SECURITY GUARD
(Curious)
How did you get access to this bank vault at this ungodly hour?

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Tearful)
I always come here whenever I am in the city to check my legal documents.

The SECURITY GUARD walks over to the brass plate with the names of people killed in the Great Depression robbery of the twentieth century.

INT.BANK VAULT - 1:10 A.M.
The SECURITY GUARD looks at the faded cards and dried flowers arranged with care inside an Art Deco cabinet.

SECURITY GUARD
(Smiling)
I was admiring your bouquet of sunflowers.

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Flattered)
I always bring sunflowers to honour my late mother’s memory.

The ENGLISH WOMAN unlocks the cabinet and replaces the old sunflowers with new.

INT.BANK VAULT - 1:15 A.M.
The ENGLISH WOMAN starts to weep and takes out a lace-edged handkerchief from her beaded black purse.

SECURITY GUARD
(Embarrassed)
How did your mother die?

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Unhappy)
An AMERICAN GANGSTER shot my mother.

The SECURITY GUARD rings up from the desk just inside the bank vault.

just inside the bank vault.

INT.THE BANK VAULT - 1:20 A.M.
The TEALADY appears with a trolley with a silver service, fine bone china and an assortment of cakes.

SECURITY GUARD
(Pensive)
Therefore, you are familiar with the concept of death.

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Sobbing)
Yes, my mother died in my comforting embrace.

The SECURITY GUARD takes a cup of tea and cakes to the ENGLISH WOMAN as the TEALADY walks towards the lift.

CUT TO:
INT.THE LIFT - 1:25 A.M.

The lift doors slide open as the AMERICAN GANGSTER walks over to the bank vault holding a Colt Model 1911 handgun with mother-of-pearl grips as the TEALADY runs for cover behind the marble columns.

SECURITY GUARD
(Puzzled beyond belief)
Oh hell, you are the AMERICAN GANGSTER who cursed this place.

The AMERICAN GANGSTER aims his gun and shoots the SECURITY GUARD.

INT.BANK VAULT - 1:30 A.M.
The SECURITY GUARD collapses into a crumbled heap onto the marble floor.

SECURITY GUARD
(Whispers in between grasps)
Could you please come closer?

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Terrified witless)
Yes, how can I help you?

SECURITY GUARD
(Frightened)
I do not want to die on my own.

The ENGLISH WOMAN stares in utter disbelief at the dying SECURITY GUARD.

INT.BANK VAULT - 1:35 A.M.
The AMERICAN GANGSTER steps forward and aims his gun at the ENGLISH WOMAN.

ENGLISH WOMAN
(In a state of shock)
What do you want from me? What do you want from me?

The ENGLISH WOMAN closes her eyes as the sound of one gunshot ricochets off the high arched ceiling of gold leaf detail.

INT.BANK VAULT - 1:40 A.M.
The ENGLISH WOMAN opens her eyes and screams in horror at the AMERICAN GANGSTER lying in an ever-spreading pool of blood on the icy marble floor in front of the lift.

SECURITY GUARD
(Life force ebbing away)
Do you not find it strange that the AMERCIAN GANGSTER chose not to shoot you?

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Reflecting calmly)
I keep asking that question myself.

The next five minutes appear to be frozen in time as the AMERICAN GANGSTER quickly dissolves into the fabric of the past leaving only sticky blood stains as a reminder.

INT.BANK VAULT - 1:50 A.M.
The temperate of the air of the bank vault appears to changing from normal to an icy chill of dread.

SECURITY GUARD
(Shivering)
I am feeling so cold and distant now.

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Unhappy)
Do you have any last requests?

SECURITY GUARD
(Pensive)
Will you place sunflowers on my grave?

ENGLISH WOMAN
(Surprised)
I will honor your request because your choice of flowers represents infinity.

The SECURITY GUARD’S hazel-green eyes change to brown as his face contorts with pain.

INT.BANK VAULT - 1:55 A.M.
A MONK steps out from behind one of the pink marble columns carrying a sickle. His bare feet glide across the gold inlayed marble floor as the coarse brown speckled robe rustles with a sense of purpose. The hood covers the face of the monk with unearthly shadows of death as he bends over the dying security guard.

MONK
(Quietly whispering)
Be not afraid, your time has come.

The SECURITY GUARD steps out of his body and is shocked to see his corpse so pale against the background of his blood.

INT.BANK VAULT - 2:00 A.M.
The ticking of the antique clock seems too loud as the hands move to the Grim Reaper’s Hour of two in the morning.

SECURITY GUARD
(Amazed)
There is life after death.

The MONK beckons to the SECURITY GUARD to follow him through an archway of brilliant light. The ENGLISH WOMAN seems unperturbed by this event, as she appears to be a ghost unable to grasp the concept of moving on.

FADE TO BLACK:
INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE - 9:00 A.M.
The BANK MANAGER suddenly wakes up with a start in his chair behind his desk and realizes that he still alive.

BANK MANAGER
(Somewhat Smugly)
I have somehow survived the AMERICAN GANGSTER'S curse unlike the others.

The BANK MANAGER shaves his face and hums the tune of déjà vu.

CUT TO:
INT.BANK ENTRANCE - 9:15 A.M.

The BANK MANAGER glances at his gold fob watch impatiently and wonders what has happened to the MOTHER and DAUGHTER.

BANK MANAGER

(wistful)
I just want to walk barefoot on a crisp white beach with the two people dearest to my heart.

The sound of the alarm ringing unnerves the BANK MANAGER as the BANK ROBBER runs past him with a calico bag of money into the street.

CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - 9:20 A.M.

The BANK MANAGER against his better judgment runs after the BANK ROBBER and tries to grab the money.

BANK MANAGER
(Desperate)
Please give me the Bank’s money.

The BANK ROBBER shoots the BANK MANAGER in the head and disappears into the crowd of onlookers.

EXT. STREET - 9:25 A.M.
The BANK MANAGER falls into the gutter and lies dying as a singular tear runs down his face.

BANK MANAGER
(Somewhat bitter)
The only ambition in my life was to love and protect my soulmate and her daughter.

The last image the BANK MANAGER sees is the ashen-white faces of the MOTHER and DAUGHTER.