THE LEADING MAN

(First 10 pages) Please forgive the format, I've made it more readable for the screen. The actual screenplay is in industry standard format.

EXT. AIRPORT – DAY
There is a small, chartered jet in the background with people moving luggage into it. Driving into frame is a long silver Mercedes limousine. It stops and the driver, DANNY, gets out. He is a good-looking Irish man in his 30’s, in good physical condition and 5’4” tall. He is a perfectly proportioned short man. He moves to open the back door. The first person to emerge is a very tall, gorgeous man wearing a polo shirt and khaki pants, loafers, a braided leather belt, looking very cool and casual. His hair is long and pulled back into queue, he has an unshaved look about him. This is BRYAN PEREZO, our leading man. Next to emerge is a beautiful, petite redhead dressed in a minidress of watered silk, holding a toy Doberman puppy. This is AILEEN the trophy wife - she is quite young.

AILEEN: Bryan? Why do you have to go all the way to Chile? Can’t they just build something here in LA?

BRYAN: We’ve been over this before, sweet. It’s only for a few weeks, we’ve filmed as much as possible in the studio, but these are crucial shots. I’ll call you every night, I promise. (beat) Will you be home?

AILEEN: Bryan! You know how I hate it when you’re gone! I’ll be out with my friends most of the time. Besides, I’m sure you’ll have your hands full in the evenings, what with all your Latino fans!

BRYAN: I have NEVER…

AILEEN: So you keep saying! Don’t be angry with me, I do appreciate that you haven’t been indiscrete since we got married.

BRYAN: It’s impossible to be indiscrete when there is no infidelity. What will make you believe me?

A professional looking woman in her 40’s approaches the couple from the direction of the plane. She has two burly porter types with her. They move to the back of the limo to get the luggage as she stops before Bryan. She is his personal assistant; her name is IRIS. Her light brown hair is in a short, easy to care for style. She is wearing a navy blue pantsuit with a white blouse and navy flats.

IRIS: Bryan, you have about 5 more minutes, then we’re gong to need to get you boarded. (nods) Good day Mrs. Perezo.

BRYAN: Thanks, I’ll be there!

Iris walks toward the plane, following the two porters with Bryans bags.

AILEEN: All men would cheat it they could. Good-looking men cheat because they can and famous men cheat because they have to. What about your own father and his ego problems? Can you look me in the eye and name one of our male friends who has never cheated on his wife or girlfriend?

BRYAN (looking away): I am NOT my father. I am not guilty by association. Besides, why can’t you at least believe that I don’t cheat out of pure fear? After all, Otto here (waving toward the dog) would rip my balls off at your command, I’m sure.

AILEEN: It’s so nice to see we agree on something! Say goodbye to Otto dear.

Otto growls at Bryan. Aileen snuggles the dog then hands him over to Danny. Aileen slowly places her hands on Bryans shoulders then tilts her head as far back as it goes. He leans down to give her a passionless kiss. They look ridiculous because she is at least a foot shorter than he is even with her heels on.

BRYAN: Goodbye sweet, I’ll call you!

Bryan walks towards the plane with no expression whatsoever on his face. Aileen turns back toward the car. Danny opens the passenger door for her. Their eyes meet, her eyes flash with anger, she nods almost imperceptibly. Danny smiles and closes her door.

INT. AIRPLANE – DAY
Bryan steps into the plane and the stewardess closes the door behind him. Iris is standing in the aisle waiting to see where he wants to sit. Bryan nods to her and sits very properly in a single reclining seat. Iris sits on the couch facing him.

IRIS: Can I get you anything?

BRYAN: Thanks, when we can, I’d like a Manhattan. Meanwhile, do you have any cold water with you?

IRIS: Right here! The suits are planning a little meeting once we reach altitude. Is there anyone you’d like to talk to?

BRYAN: No, not particularly. Can you get me that script Jason sent me?

Iris goes into an overhead compartment and rummages through a large briefcase, then pulls a script out and hands it to him.

IRIS: Here you go. If you don’t need me for anything else, I’ll be back with the crew.

Bryon nods and turns to his script. Iris walks back to where the crew is sitting. There are arrangements of tables for four as well as regular seating. She focuses on one table with three people at it. They look up from their card game and scoot around to make room for her. Around the table is BILLY WATSON, Bryan’s stuntman, they are almost identical in body size and type. Billy keeps his hair cut and styled the same way Bryan does for professional reasons. He is wearing jeans and a tee shirt advertising vodka. Next is JOHN DAVISON. He is a slender, meticulous man with a narrow mustache and no hair at all on his head. He is the head make-up artist for this film and has worked with Bryan on most of his recent films. He is wearing all black, not a wrinkle in sight. Rounding out the foursome is JANIE SMITS, the lady in charge of costumes and props. She is a beautiful woman with mahogany skin and hair the color of cinnamon. She is wearing a brightly colored skirt and tank top with a matching scrunchy in her hair and several strings of beads around her neck.

JANIE: Come and sit down Iris. We were about to deal out a hand of 5 card stud.

IRIS: If you don’t mind, I think I’ve had about all the "stud" I can handle.

JOHN: Is he a real problem today?

IRIS: No…I just wish he’d open his eyes and notice the other people in the world.

BILL: He can’t hardly not notice that cute little filly he’s hitched up to! Every head goes, boing, when she walks into a room!

IRIS: You know, Billy, I don’t think he’s even looked at her, really looked at her, in over a year. God knows everyone else has been.

JOHN: Has he even mentioned that last tidbit the Star ran?

IRIS: Either he hasn’t seen it or he’s pretending he hasn’t. (pause) Anyone up for a game of Gin Rummy? It should be at least half an hour before we need to sit up and pay attention to the suits.

Billy starts to deal out cards.

EXT. POOLSIDE – DAY
Aileen is lounging poolside in a skimpy swimsuit watching Danny dive into the pool. Otto is playing in the background. Danny is wearing Speedos and a satisfied expression. He swims the length of the pool and pulls himself up near her feet.

AILEEN: He’s got to go.

The smile leaves Danny’s face slowly.

DANNY: What are you gonna do?

AILEEN: I hate feeling like I shouldn’t enjoy myself with you. I love you, Danny, not him! I won’t stay married to a man I don’t love.

Danny climbs out of the pool and sits on the edge of her chair.

DANNY: Do you think he’ll take it poorly, fight you maybe?

AILEEN: He won’t fight…

Aileen’s slitted eyes glitter with evil intent as Danny starts kissing the curve between her neck and shoulder.

INT. HOTEL – EVE
An unctuous Chilean native man is holding the door to the small hotel open as Bryan and the Producer, KEVIN JENOWICZ, walk through. Following them are Iris, Bill, Janie, John and the rest of the crew. The hotel is stucco painted an obnoxious greenish yellow color with a red tile roof. The production company has rented the entire place for the duration of the shoot.

KEVIN: Well Bryan, would you rather be on the ground floor or the top floor? They have three very nice suites, but I’m afraid the rest of the rooms are smallish.

BRYAN: You, me and … the director? Or Natalie?

KEVIN: Harrison, certainly. Natalie doesn’t know yet what she’s entitled to.

Bryan points to an old cage elevator.

BRYAN: Does that old thing work?

KEVIN: It had better, we’re not walking up 5 flights of stairs!

BRYAN: I’ll look at the suites on the top floor and pick mine. Does each room have a phone? I need to call my wife.

KEVIN: The suites all have their own phones.

Bryan nods and walks toward the elevator.

EXT. POOLSIDE – DAY
Aileen is sitting on a lounge next to the pool with Otto in her lap. She is affectionately petting him. She is in a tiny golden bikini swimsuit. Next to the lounge chair is a small table with a cordless phone, an open palm pilot and a strawberry daiquiri. She picks up the phone and dials.

PETER: Hola!

AILEEN: Hello! Peter?

PETER: Who is calling?

AILEEN: Aileen Perezo

PETER: Ah! Mrs. Perezo, a pleasure to speak with you! What is this about, if I may ask?

AILEEN: I’d like to discuss your company’s extermination methods?

PETER: Ah! Is this about the pest problem you are having these past couple years?

AILEEN: Yes! Be here at noon tomorrow. Be ready to outline a whole extermination plan then!

PETER: OK, Mrs. Perezo, I’ll be there!

Aileen hangs up and sets the phone down slowly, with an excited, tremulous look. She picks up the drink and takes a very long draught. The phone RINGS. Aileen stares at it. It RINGS again. Aileen puts down the drink and picks up the phone.

AILEEN: Hello!

BRYAN: Hi, sweet!

AILEEN: Bryan…are you there already?

BRYAN: I’ve just picked my room at the hotel and I thought I’d call to give you the phone number in case you needed me for anything. We’re staying at the Crazy Rabbit Hotel. The number is [get an appropriate phone number], I’m in room 5A.

AILEEN: OK.(pause)

Aileen writes in the palm pilot.

BRYAN (pause): Are you by the pool?

AILEEN: Um-hmmm.

BRYAN: Well, enjoy yourself.

AILEEN: Oh, I will. Talk to you again, bye!

BRYAN: Bye. (to a dial tone)

Aileen hangs up and finishes her drink, then picks up the phone again.

INT. OFFICE – DAY
Kevin is sitting behind a cheap rented desk in a cheap rented trailer on the set. In front of him, on the desk, are an ancient looking phone and an old, taped together fax machine. The phone RINGS.

KEVIN: Yes!
(listens)
Wait! Wait! I’ll have it…
(listens)
Soon, very soon. Just give me another week!
(listens)
I have a plan!
(listens)
It’ll work, I swear! If it isn’t working by Friday, I’ll do it myself!

There’s a long pause while Kevin listens. Then he hangs up slowly and rubs his face. He looks like he’s just been ordered to drop the A-bomb on his hometown. He pats his jacket pocket and is rewarded with the rustle of paper.

KEVIN (to himself): I’ve got the insurance…I’ve gotta be ironclad…

He pauses and looks scared and thoughtful, then pulls out a local phone book and starts flipping though the pages. He settles on one and picks up the phone to dial. INTERCUT between Kevin and a small, neat office with an older man answering the phone.

KEVIN: Hola! No habla espanole. English por favor.

OLDER MAN: Si! Yes.

KEVIN: I need a bodyguard.

OLDER MAN: Need… (flipping through English/Spanish dictionary)

KEVIN: Big. Strong. Can kick ass.

OLDER MAN: (writes on a message pad – big and ass) Si…

KEVIN: We’re making a movie, I need a body…

OLDER MAN: (writes “cinema” next to “big” and “ass”. Motions to someone off screen) OK. When?

KEVIN: Right away! At the Crazy Rabbit Hotel. Ask for Mr. Jenowicz.

OLDER MAN: (gives slip to a great looking young latino woman in a business suit – she nods) Be sending TJ Ramone.

KEVIN: TJ Ramone. OK. Thank you, Gracias!

Kevin hangs up the phone and sits very still for a moment looking thoughtful. He then jumps up and runs out of the room.

If you want to read the rest of it, send me an e-mail and I will mail it out to you.

All comments are welcome.