HATE ME GENTLY

Written by
Michaela Rempel

Shoot the Stars! - Season 4

The Film School
Santa Fe University of Art and Design
Producers:
Jeff.keas@student.santafeuniversity.edu
Deandre.montoya@student.santafeuniversity.edu
Produce@redlotus.us

WHITE DRAFT:
10-10-15
BLUE DRAFT:
10-24-15
PINK DRAFT:
11-4-15
YELLOW DRAFT:
11-12-15

FADE IN:
1

INT. BACK ROOM - NIGHT - TEN YEARS BEFORE

Smoke pools from cigars. A bare lightbulb swings from a chain

in the ceiling.
Three fat thugs stuffed in a sweatbox of a room.
A BIG THUG with silhouetted face looms. THUG #1 and THUG #2
tie a YOUNG MAN with a bag over his head to a chair. (We
might notice the thugs have distinctive tatoos on their
wrists.)

*
*
*

BIG THUG
He better show up, or youre in for
an uncomfortable night, pal.

Thug #2 yanks off the bag.

Big Thugs knuckles crack.

INT. BAR LOUNGE - NIGHT

A small, hole-in-the-wall bar. Quiet. Cozy.

Neat stacks of drinking glasses and bottles of booze.
Dim lights cast buttery pools on the floor.
An OLD REGULAR nurses on gin in the corner.
Soft JAZZ.
HAROLD, the bartender, mid-30s, picks up used cups. Tattooed
wrists, neat uniform over a fighters build.
His dark sunglasses reflect the bar.
An old STREET-RAT GONE STRAIGHT.
Harold bends to dump ice.
Above the sink, A STAINED BAR COASTER taped to the memomirror behind the bar.
Ice melts down the drain. Bells above the door JINGLE as
ELLIS, early-30s, a wiry man in a fancy, dark coat wipes his
feet and hops up onto a bar stool.
Harry!

ELLIS

(CONTINUED)

Yellow Rev. (11/12/15)

2

CONTINUED:

1A.
2

Harold's hand slams against the counter. The glass SHATTERS

in his fingers.
3

INT. BACK ROOM - NIGHT - TEN YEARS BEFORE

Flash of swinging bulb.

(CONTINUED)

Yellow Rev. (11/12/15)

3

2.
3

CONTINUED:
SMACK. Laughter. SMACK.
A shard of human molar clicks on the floor.
EARS RINGING.

INT. BAR LOUNGE - NIGHT

Blood dapples the counter.

ELLIS
(dim, from a distance)
Your shades shook me for a second
there. Never took you for the
bartender type.
EAR-RINGING drowns Ellis's voice.
Ellis reaches to tap Harold but recoils.
ELLIS
But you're always a big bag of
surprises, huh? Harry?
(notices Harold's blood)
Hey!
Annoyed, Harold whips toward a trash can, wincing.
He plucks glass shards from his hand and cleans it with his
rag.

*
*

Ellis wipes his hand on his pants. His eyes show a brief
flash of concern to Harold.
ELLIS
Kinda shabby, but the place
is...cozy, I guess?
Harold finishes cleaning his hand.

HAROLD
What are you doing here?
ELLIS
I'm feeling lucky. Hit me with a
Strangelove, bartender! Straight
up, extra cherries.

(CONTINUED)

3.
4

CONTINUED:

Cherry vodka, brandy, and three cherries slop into a glass.

It slides across the counter, trailing most of its contents
on the wood.
Harold grabs a fresh cloth and attacks a stack of snifters.
ELLIS
Hey, Harry. You want to know a
secret?
No.

HAROLD

ELLIS
How about something illegal?
Harold shakes his head.
ELLIS
Aw, come on! Don't be like that!
Ask me what I've got.
Harold finally looks up at Ellis. A hard Fuck-Off stare.
ELLIS
You wont believe it! I've got a
new job. I'm a cleaner.
HAROLD
Finally moving up, then.
Ellis looks around, beckons, and lifts one side of his coat.
He taps the butt of the gun in his shoulder holster.
ELLIS
Its easy stuff. Never have to
worry where to hit 'em.
HAROLD
Still begging for trouble.
ELLIS
Harry, I got this! Don't forget who
you're talking to.
HAROLD
I'm trying.
ELLIS
Anyway, you interested?

(CONTINUED)

Blue Rev. (10/24/15)

4

4.
4

CONTINUED: (2)
HAROLD
I know your games, Ellis. I ought
to call the cops on you for
carrying that into my bar.
ELLIS
And that's the only reason, right?
Harold seizes Ellis's jacket and yanks him across the
counter.

INT. BACK ROOM - NIGHT - TEN YEARS BEFORE

Black-ash butt of a cigar ground under a heel.

Heavy jeweled rings slipped onto fat, scraped knuckles.
BIG THUG
I hate doing this, boy; but I'm a
man in the grind-house, so I hope
you understand why this has gotta
happen.
6

INT. BAR LOUNGE - NIGHT

The OLD REGULAR in the corner stares in shock.

Spilled Strangelove almost the same color as blood drips off
the counter. The upturned glass grinds against the wood.
ELLIS
My my, Harry, still sore, huh? I
was hoping ten years was enough
time for you to grow up.
HAROLD
(hissed)
If you want to die so bad, I can do
it right here!
He shoves Ellis back into his seat.
ELLIS
But you won't. It's the little
risks that keep the grind exciting,
right?
HAROLD
Shut up! If I see your face in here
again-Harold hammers his injured fist against the counter with a

(CONTINUED)

Pink Rev. (11/04/15)

6

CONTINUED:

5.
6

BANG.
A bad choice. He winces.
Ellis shakes his head, and pats Harold's fist a bit too
roughly.
ELLIS
Easy on that hand, bartender.
You're gonna need it.
Harold snatches his hand away, seething.
Ellis sighs at the spilled drink.
ELLIS
Guess you owe me another one.
Harold grabs a rag to mop up. The bell on the door JINGLES as
Ellis leaves.
On the counter, two fifty dollar bills tucked under Ellis's
glass.
Harold looks from the closed door to a GLASS MASON JAR next
to the register. The jar is labeled: "Make Sure Everyone Gets
a Christmas Together! Your Dollars Feed Families in Need."
He jams the money into the jar
as the clock ticks.
7

MONTAGE

In the dark room, the Big Thug paces like a predator. A clock
high on the wall ticks past seven.
In the Bar, Harold sweeps the floor during the day.
Past nine.
Blinds open at night.
Past ten.
Eleven-Thirty. Thug #2 yawns.

Blue Rev. (10/24/15)

8

6.

INT. BAR LOUNGE - ANOTHER NIGHT

Rain DRUMS against the windows, smearing the streetlights.

A battered van without plates idles across the street.
Moody JAZZ inside.
Harold polishes already-clean glasses with his back to the
door.
The bell rings. Harold looks up.
Elliss smirk in the mirror next to the Stained Coaster. He
snaps his fingers for a drink.
Harold thumps down an empty glass and fills it with the usual
liquor. Yanks open the cherry jar and flicks the fruit into
the cocktail. Red liquid splatters.
Ellis sits, glances out the window, then drinks.
ELLIS
You ever do anything outside this
place? A decade looks good on you.
Harold wrinkles his nose and raises an eyebrow above his
shades.
Ellis laughs bitterly.
ELLIS
Stupid, right? You hear about that
actor they found in the hotel room?
No.

HAROLD

ELLIS
I was just thinking, one second
he's top of his game and the next
he's drowned in his own puke.
Just...
(snaps fingers)
gone and nothing stops around him.
HAROLD
That's the way life works.

(CONTINUED)

Yellow Rev. (11/12/15)

8

7.
8

CONTINUED:
Ellis gives a high, anxious laugh.
ELLIS
Good old Harry, always keeping the
talk chipper.
Harold huffs and turns his back to fix up the bottles.
Ellis swallows. His eyes dart from the Bar Coaster on the
mirror to the charity jar.
ELLIS
Love the new angle. Good use of
money.

INT. BACK ROOM - NIGHT - TEN YEARS BEFORE

Cigar butt in rotten-toothed mouth.

The Battered Man coughs at the smoke.
BIG THUG
If he dont show up with the cash
soon, then my people are gonna have
both our heads!

Eleven-forty.
10

INT. BAR LOUNGE - NIGHT

10

ELLIS
I had some clarity today. Think you
might like it.
Harold shuffles booze bottles noisily, drowning Elliss talk.
HAROLD
I never do.
Ellis leans forward against the counter and puts a hand on
Harold's shoulder.
ELLIS
A lot changes in ten years.
Harold puts down the bottles and wipes his hands on his
apron.

(CONTINUED)

Pink Rev. (11/04/15)

10

8.
10

CONTINUED:
HAROLD
Get out of my bar.
ELLIS
Not before we talk. I'm serious.
Harold sighs and turns to Ellis. His frown isn't so hard.
Ellis's nervous face reflects in his glasses.
Then talk.

HAROLD

ELLIS
I messed up in a big way--but, you
see, I thought for sure you weren't
just gonna walk into that whole
thing, face-value--I mean you're a
pretty smart guy-HAROLD
Watch it, Ellis.
ELLIS
What? I didnt make you throw your
life away-Harold's face shows genuine disappointment. His hardened
expression returns.
HAROLD
I've heard enough of your bullshit.
Wait!

ELLIS

Ellis grabs to keep Harold from turning away. He notices the

Coaster on the mirror.
A HARD SILENCE.
Ellis swallows. His eyes lock on the Coaster, horrified.
ELLIS
I never meant for it to go that far-Harold turns to Ellis. His fingers clench the edge of the
counter.
HAROLD
But it did.

(CONTINUED)

Blue Rev. (10/24/15)

10

9.
10

CONTINUED: (2)

ELLIS
It was ten years ago! I was a dumb
kid--I got scared-Enough!

HAROLD

Ellis throws another glance outside.

The van still idles with headlights turned off.
ELLIS
Please, Harry, youre all I got!
Harold snatches the Stained Bar Coaster from the mirror and
slaps it face-up in front of Ellis.
HAROLD
THAT is all I'll ever need from
YOU!
Ellis cowers back from the bartender, his eyes wide in horror
at the Paper.
11

INT. BACK ROOM - NIGHT - TEN YEARS BEFORE

11

Dark feet shuffle around Battered Man crumpled on the

concrete floor...
Big Thug leans over a folding card table, panting, massaging
his wrists.
Thug #1 flicks a cigarette butt on the floor. It smolders
near the face of...
A BLEEDING, BLACK-EYED, YOUNGER HAROLD.
Knock.
Thug #3 steps in, whispers to Big Thug, and hands him an
envelope.
Meaty, bloody hands rip open paper.
Beat.
BIG THUG
Now thats downright unfortunate.
Thug #1 and Thug #2 lean forward.

(CONTINUED)

Blue Rev. (10/24/15)

11

CONTINUED:

9A.
11

BIG THUG
In my day, no punk would think
twice about pulling this kinda
shit.
Harold is yanked to his knees by his hair. Grinning teeth at
his ear.

(CONTINUED)

Pink Rev. (11/04/15)

11

10.
11

CONTINUED: (2)
BIG THUG
But we still got a business to run
here. Before we continue, you wanna
see? I got you a love-letter from
your baby brother!
The unstained Bar Coaster drops to the floor in front of
Harolds knees.
BIG THUG
Take a good long look at that,
Harry-boy. Soak it all up. I got
more sweet nothings to help you
remember.
Smokey air.
The clock shows midnight.
Light flash on silver tools in a padded case.
CHIMES.
Swinging bulb.

12

INT. BAR LOUNGE - NIGHT

12

The clock chimes midnight.

Ellis reaches a hand for his pocket and starts counting out a
wad of fifties in a rubber band. He holds them out miserably.
ELLIS
Harry, what Im trying to say-HAROLD
DON'T. Just stop talking. Get out.
Ellis nods once, glances out at the van, puts the money on
the counter, and turns to the door.
Harold slaps the money off the counter.
Green bills flutter around Ellis's retreating figure.
The battered van turns on its headlights.
Harold reaches for the Coaster, notices his hand still
bruised and wrapped in stained gauze from the broken glass
incident. His shoulders droop.
HAROLD
Ellis, look, Im out. I cant--

(CONTINUED)

Pink Rev. (11/04/15)

12

CONTINUED:

10A.
12

The bells jingle. Ellis is gone.

Harold slumps against the counter and rubs his eyes under his
glasses.

(CONTINUED)

Yellow Rev. (11/12/15)

12

11.
12

CONTINUED: (2)
The van is gone.

13

INT. BAR LOUNGE - ANOTHER NIGHT

13

Dark clouds and wind.

Harold glances up and down the street through the window.
He turns the lock in the door and pulls the blinds shut.
The bar is empty. Chairs stacked on top of the tables.
The clock reads after midnight.
Behind the counter, Harold buffs a scratch with the cuff of
his sleeve.
A KNOCK at the door.
Harold crosses over and opens it a crack.
Outside, a STRANGER in a stiff blazer and business skirt
holds a white cardboard box in one hand and a clipboard in
the other.
STRANGER
Is this you?
The Stranger points to a printed name on her clipboard
papers. (We might notice a modest tatoo, much like the tatoos
the thugs had ten years earlier...)
Harold nods.
STRANGER
I'm a representative of Donn House
Funeral Home. Sign here, please.
Harold numbly signs the paper.
The Stranger hands Harold the box and one paper from her
clipboard.
STRANGER
My condolences, sir. Should you
require any counseling services or
a different vessel, call the number
on the form.
She leaves.
Harold locks the door and sets the box on the counter. His
face and motions are empty, wooden.

(CONTINUED)

*
*

Pink Rev. (11/04/15)

13

12.
13

CONTINUED:
Harold pulls out cherry vodka, brandy, a glass, and the
container of maraschino cherries. Only three are left.
He pours, but his hand shakes. Booze spills across the
counter.

Harold cobbles together a Strangelove and slides the shabby

drink over to the cardboard box. The box is SILENT.
Harold picks up the cocktail and takes a sip. His face
contorts in disgust. He SPUTTERS and COUGHS twice.
Painfully, he reaches into his pocket for the Stained Bar
Coaster.
Sunglasses clatter onto the counter.
Harold rubs his eyes wearily. His right eye socket is scarred
from old mutilation.
He coughs again, but the cough cracks into a sob.
Harold buries his face in his elbow until his breaths are
steady again.
He props the Stained Coaster against the box.
HAROLD
Don't sweat it, little brother.
This one's on me.
On the Coaster, in scratchy, washed-out handwriting:
"I'M SORRY, HARRY."
THE END

FADE TO BLACK.