Vibes/Transcript

Transcript for Vibes.

Script
EXT: RAINY CHICAGO STREET, AROUND MIDNIGHT

''We match cut from the title to the entrance to VIBES, a small door on a large, windowless building, with nothing but a small neon sign informing us of what lies inside. Muffled music can be heard from the outside.''

''We pan back to reveal the figure of a common ROBBER across the street from the entrance, obscured partially in darkness. A hood covers his head. A sleek-looking car zooms past in the rain, splashing across the street. The robber looks around, then runs across towards the entrance to the club. From what little we can make of his face, he seems somewhat nervous. He grabs onto the door, pulls it open, and heads inside.''

INT: VIBES ENTRANCE

''The robber enters into the building, and we follow him down a set of stairs going deep into the building. The music is getting louder now, as we reach the bottom of a staircase, and we see a rusty iron door guarded by a single bouncer in a suit.''

''The robber produces a small electronic device from his pocket, and shows it to the bouncer. The bouncer reads it for a second, before looking up to the robber and nodding. He opens the door, and we take our first glimpse into a strange new world of pulsating beats, flashing lights, and people of all kinds. This is VIBES, the crown jewel of the Chicago underground scene. The robber hesitates for a second. This is clearly a lot to take in.''

Soon, however, the robber braces himself, takes a breath, and steps forward through the door….

INT: VIBES DANCE FLOOR

''...and enters into another world. The entire club is lit up in purple and pink shades, occasionally flanked by brief strobes. On the main dance floor, the DJ is playing an ambient techno piece. The bass is overwhelming and echoes across the club in all directions. The robber pushes through the crowd of people, looking around for his target. Some people turn back and yell at him for passing by him, but most just ignore him. Still more are too high on whatever drugs they’ve taken here to notice.''

''We turn our focus to a single JUNKIE CLUBBER, leaning against a wall with a drink, halfheartedly bobbing his head in time with the music. He’s looking around the club, clearly astounded by his familiar surroundings. He’s clearly high as a kite on hallucinogens. The robber, not knowing this, approaches him to ask about information on his target.''

ROBBER

Hey, you!

''The junkie turns around to face the robber. He looks confused at first, but slowly his confusion morphs into an expression of almost childlike joy.''

ROBBER

I was wondering if you had any idea wh-

JUNKIE (amazed)

HOLY SHIT! It’s you!

''Beat. The robber has never seen this guy before.''

JUNKIE (cont’d)

Nicky Kickzoo, in the flesh! It’s just… just an honor to meet you man.

''The junkie reaches out and shakes the robber’s hand. He is still trying to process this.''

JUNKIE (cont’d)

Man, I’ve played basically all your games, me and you, we’re basically soulmates! You feel me?

''Beat. The robber begins to realize who this guy thinks he is. He decides to go along with it. Will probably be easier to get answers this way.''

ROBBER

Heh heh…. Yeah, it’s me, Nick. And I’m glad I found you, because I need your help with something, buddy.

JUNKIE

Anything for an old pal like you!

ROBBER

Right. So, I'm looking for the guy who runs this place. I gotta, well, tell him something important.

The junkie seems elated to hear this

JUNKIE

Man! Got a date with Big Beck himself, huh? I'm so damn jealous!

ROBBER

I can see that. Any idea where I could find him?

''The junkie ponders this question, scanning the club around him. The answer suddenly comes to him as he looks up, away from the robber.''

JUNKIE

He's usually up in the VIP section, watching over his kingdom.

''The junkie points to an area behind the robber. He turns around to see a section of the second floor of the club, its patrons considerably more resigned than those on the main dance floor. The robber turns back to the junkie.''

ROBBER

Well, thanks. I need to get going now, though. I have a lot to do.

''The robber turns to leave, but the junkie grabs his shoulder and stops him. He turns back around.''

JUNKIE

Hey, before you go, how's about a little power-up for the road?

''The junkie digs around in his pocket and produces a small sheet of hallucinogenic tablets. They're labeled with an image of a recycling bin. ''

JUNKIE

Compliments of the club.

''The robber seems bemused by this display. This is clearly an individual reflective of the spirit of Vibes. Reluctantly, he takes the sheet. ''

ROBBER

Well...thanks, I guess. I'll put it to good use.

''The robber turns to leave, disappearing into the crowd of the club. The junkie waves him off energetically.''

JUNKIE

Give em hell, Nicky!

''As he waves, we pan back towards the VIP section on the second floor. Leaning over the railing, we center on a man. He's an OLDER MAN, with greying hair and a short beard. He's wearing a white suit, with matching trousers. He looks down on the area where the junkie is, and something resembling a smirk crosses his face. ''

INT: VIBES, STAIRCASE

''We cut to a different section of the club, the bottom of a staircase. A sign on the wall indicates that this leads up to the VIP area. Another ambient track is playing now. The robber steps onscreen, and leans against the wall. He looks to see if nobody else is around, and finds no one is. He unzips his jacket somewhat, and produces a pistol from within. He quickly checks to make sure it's loaded, before hastily hiding it away again.''

''He gets up off the wall and walks over to the staircase. He looks around at the wall around him for a second, somewhat confused. He didn't expect to get this far with no trouble at all. And to find the stairs up to the VIP area completely unguarded, too! It can't be to good to be true......right?''

Steeling himself, the robber boldly ascends the staircase ''and heads up to the VIP area. ''

INT: VIBES, VIP AREA

''The older man from before is still looking over the railing, observing the chaotic euphoria occurring below him. It should be clear now that this man is ROLF BECK, owner and self-professed ruler of Vibes. This won't be the first time someone's tried to mug him, far from it actually. ''

We focus to reveal the ''robber standing behind him, at the doorway into the VIP area, awkwardly staring him down as though he never thought he'd get this far. Nobody else in the area is paying much mind to him. Taking a breath, he approaches Beck. ''

''We cut back to Beck, as seen from the side. A pistol is pressed against his neck, the robber's. Beck doesn't seem very phased by it. ''

BECK

Robbing a king in his own court? You must be very brave. Or very foolish. Both, perhaps?

''The robber is somewhat taken aback. He didn't expect this kind of response from him. He quickly regains composure, however. ''

ROBBER

Sh-shut up. You know what I'm here for, old man.

BECK

Yes, I suppose I do. And I'm willing to comply with you; ecstatic, actually. A good king can afford to let some treasure go now and then.

''Beck turns around to face the robber. He is somewhat intimidated, but keeps the gun aimed at him. Beck remains placid in his expression and motions ''

BECK

Come, I'll show you to the vault. And keep that gun hidden, you don't want to start a stampede or something.

''Beck makes his way out of the VIP area. The robber removes his jacket and uses it to cover the gun before following closely after him.''

INT: VIBES DANCE FLOOR

''The robber and his victim(?) traverse the dance floor. They stand out as solitary and stoic among the perpetual revelry occurring around them. They ford the river of people, the robber continuing to ogle at his surroundings, Beck keeping his eyes on his destination.''

''We see them emerge from the crowd into a less populous section of the club. We follow the two as they approach a nondescript door on the club wall. Obscured from view at this angle, Beck produces a key, opening the door and leading the robber inside. ''

''We turn again, revealing a tough-looking individual dressed in the same casual manner as most of the clubbers. His face is serious, he seems have caught on to what's happening. He steps back and crouches down to face another tough-looking individual, operating an electronic device similar to the one the robber was using. ''

''He taps the man, who puts away his device to look at him. The first man motions for the second to come with him. The second man stands up, and proceeds to follow the first man offscreen, towards the door.''

INT: VIBES, VAULT HALLWAY

''A light flickers on, revealing a white concrete hallway. Muffled jungle music plays in the background. Beck and the robber stand in front of the door. Beck leads them down the hallway and around a corner. We follow him the whole way, until he disappears around it. A few seconds later, the tough men from earlier appear onscreen and pass around it, as well as one other man, who looks back before moving offscreen.''

''We cut to a large maglocked steel door at the end of the hallway. The only visible way of accessing it is a small keypad and a biometric scanner. Beck and the robber pass by the camera, stopping in front of the door. The robber drops his coat, and motions with his gun towards the keypad.''

ROBBER

Open it.

BECK

I wasn't about to defy you now.

''Beck leans in and begins typing on the keypad, the robber looking on intuitively. The keypad flashes, the words "SUBMIT BIOMETRIC CREDENTIALS" flash on the keypad's screen. Beck casually places his hand on the scanner, turning to his would-be captor as it confirms his identity.''

BECK: You know, we've got a lot more than cash in here. There's precious stones, gold bars, all assortment of weapons and contraband, and a good few pieces of art. Even some especially valuable records. Are you familiar with Jacob Renner?

The robber is put off by his captive's attempt to start conversation.

ROBBER:

Shut up! I'm just here for cash.

Beck shakes his head, tutting.

BECK:

Oh, there I go again. Expecting taste from a common crook...

''We cut to see the robber from Beck's point of view. He looks past him to see a trio of large shadows emerging from around the corner.''

BECK:

I mean, if you're going to go through all the trouble of robbing a place like this, you should be willing to diversify your haul a bit... wouldn't you agree?

''As Beck punctuates the last part of this statement, the robber begins to turn his head, but at that moment, the biometric scanner beeps. A small chime is head, followed by the sound of the maglocks disengaging, and the scanner lights up with the words "CREDENTIALS ACCEPTED. WELCOME, MR BECK". The robber turns back to his alleged captive, who takes his hand away and smiles suavely.''

BECK:

But then again, who am I to judge my captor? Come in, let's get this over with.

''Beck pulls open the door, leading the robber in and closing it partially behind him. After a beat, the three men we saw earlier approach the door, their footsteps reverberating throughout the hallway.''

More coming soon.