TWO HOUR MOVIE SCREENPLAY

EXT. MALIBU BEACH, CALIFORNIA – SHORELINE / MORNING

JORDAN MILLER, wearing a Speedo swimsuit, goggles, and cap, examines the ocean waves. He is 45 years old with physically fit body. Behind Jordan lies his ocean front home, and other similar homes, all supported by circular concrete pillars and wooden foundation beams that rise out of the sand. Besides Jordan stands RINCON, an Australian Cattle Dog wearing a red bandana. After inhaling asthma medication, Jordan tosses his inhaler aside. Rincon snags the inhaler in midair and scurries up a staircase leading to Jordan’s ocean front home.

EXT. MALIBU BEACH – OCEAN

Jordan enters the surf and swims straight for the horizon. His swimming strokes are strong and polished and confident.

EXT. MALIBU BEACH - SHORELINE

TAYLOR MILLER, age 16, and SYDNEY MILLER, age 14, run down the same staircase Rincon ran up, with Rincon nipping at their heels. They toss a tennis ball between them as they run along the shoreline. Rincon steals the tennis ball and races ahead of the girls. The girls chase Rincon, then stop and stare in horror. Choking on her vomit, Sydney runs home. Tayler remains behind, shocked by what she sees along the shoreline.

EXT. MALIBU BEACH - OCEAN BAIT DOCK

Jordan stops swimming and grabs ahold of a bait dock located one quarter mile offshore. He takes several deep breaths, and swims back toward the shoreline.

EXT. UTAH NATIONAL PARK – CAMPSITE BESIDES RIVER / AFTERNOON

Jordan sits upon a lounge chair. From the whitewater river screams a woman, separated from her innertube. Powerful whitewater currents sweep her underwater. When she resurfaces, her innertube lies beyond her reach. Jordan runs to the river’s edge. He dives into the whitewater and swims against a strong crosscurrent. Jordan coughs and wheezes and grabs ahold of a tree branch protruding from the river. An asthma attack has stolen his breath away.

EXT. MALIBU BEACH - OCEAN

While still swimming, almost at the shoreline, Jordan sees Taylor wading waist deep into the ocean, her hands frantically waving at him. Behind Taylor stands a crowd of people gathered along the shoreline. Behind the crowd are three Sheriff’s cars with flashing red emergency lights, parked along Pacific Coast Highway. Jordan sprints harder toward Taylor.

JORDAN

(hugging Taylor)

You alright?

TAYLOR

(nodding her head)

Yes, but come daddy-o. Hurry.

EXT. MALIBU BEACH - SHORELINE

Jordan pushes his way through an anxious crowd. There sits a pale white, naked young woman with her eyes open, and an antique wooden snow ski pole protruding from her mouth. A ROCKIE SHERIFF AND VETERAN SHERIFF stand alongside the woman.

VETERAN SHERIFF

Try pulling on it.

ROOKIE SHERIFF

Alright already. Give me a second.

The Rookie Sheriff pulls gently on the ski pole with one hand, but it will not budge.

VETERAN SHERIFF

Try harder.

The Rookie Sheriff grabs the ski pole with both hands, and pulls harder, but it still will not budge.

VETERAN SHERIFF

 Here. Help me do it.

Both Sheriffs grab the ski pole. They tug and yank at the ski pole until it finally slides out of the woman’s mouth. The woman topples over onto her side.

ROOKIE SHERIFF

God almighty. Someone shoved that thing from stern to bow. How is that possible?

VETERAN SHERIFF

Everyone get back. Stay back. Now!

Jordan covers Taylor’s eyes and leads her away.

INT. JORDAN’S CLASSIC MERCEDES BENZ CONVERTIBLE SPORTSCAR – FAVORING EXTERIOR VIEW OF PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

Jordan finds a news station on his car radio.

RADIO NEWS REPORTER

We now turn to Helen Rivera.

HELEN RIVERA

Thank you, Philip. The fire department continues to battle a large office building fire in Central Los Angeles. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Back to you Philip.

INT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES FEDERAL COURTROOM / LATE MORNING

Jordan enters the courtroom and sits down at defense counsel’s table next to his client, DANDRE JANSEN. Dandre is 18 years old. He is a white supremist with a shaved head and muscle-bound body. Neo-Nazi tattoos cover his neck and arms. District Attorney JACK TALBERT sits at the prosecuting counsel’s table.

JUDGE ROBERT HADLEY

(taking the bench)

You may proceed with your closing argument, Mr. Talbert

TALBERT

(standing at a podium)

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you once again for serving as jurors, and for your promise to follow the law according to the jury instructions read to you by Judge Hadley.

(pauses a moment)

You heard Mr. Jansen’s co-defendant testify this past week that she and Mr. Jansen are members of the 47^th Street gang, and that they were walking together along a public sidewalk. You also heard Judge Hadley inform you that, according to our recently enacted California law, it is unlawful for any member of a Los Angeles gang to sit, stand, walk, or gather in public with another member of a Los Angeles gang. By returning a jury verdict of guilty, you will help guarantee the safety of our community from inner-city gang members.

JUDGE HADLEY

Thank you, Mr. Talbert. Mr. Miller?

JORDAN

Thank you, your honor.

(approaching the jury)

Exactly what did Dandre Jansen do to be here today? He did not threaten anyone. He did not assault or batter anyone. He did not disturb the public peace. He had no alcohol or drugs in his body.

(starring at Mr. Jansen)

Dandre Jansen was arrested for simply escorting his girlfriend along a public sidewalk in their very own residential neighborhood in broad daylight.

(scanning the jurors)

Walking upon a public sidewalk is a basic inalienable human right in America. The first amendment to our United States Constitution provides that Congress shall make no law prohibiting our freedom of assembly.

(pauses to collect his thoughts)

Our California legislatures clearly respect and cherish our first amendment right of freedom of assembly. Nevertheless, our legislatures recently carved out an unlawful exception to our constitutional freedom of assembly for so-called gang members.

(staring over at Dandre Jansen)

Who will be next? Members of certain races and nationalities? Members of certain religions? Every American citizen? You and your family?

(leaning his hands against the jury box)

The people of California demand justice for Mr. Jansen. There is only one justice for Mr. Jansen. A jury verdict of not guilty.

INT. LOS ANGELES PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES / AFTERNOON

Jordan enters the office of public defender EDWARD LARSON. Upon his office desk sits a legal file. On the floor, next to his desk, sits a huge cardboard box poked with tiny holes.

JORDAN

Main man. Good to see you. How are you?

EDWARD

Fine. I have a fun one for you today.

JORDAN

(peering inside the cardboard box)         

What’s in here?

EDWARD

Baby Condors. They’re probably worth more than a Vincent Van Gogh painting.  

The Condors flap their wings. They start hissing, grunting, and growling.

JORDAN

They’re looking mighty hungry.

EDWARD

We’ll get to that in a moment. Two defendants got arrested trying to smuggle these birds on an international commercial flight out of LAX. The Feds charged them with ten counts under the Endangered Species Act. One defendant can afford counsel. You want her case? She will be arraigned tomorrow.

JORDAN

Sure, on one condition. I can take the Condors to her client interview for moral support. I’ll return them afterwards.                

EDWARD

That can be arranged. Besides, nobody here

knows how to care for the ugly buzzards.  

INT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES FEDERAL JAIL - PRISONER JAILCELL

A FEDERAL JAIL GUARD allows Jordan to enter a jail cell. On the jail cell cot lies MICHAEL DUNCAN, an attractive 25 year old woman with half African descent and half Dutch descent.

MICHAEL

Sir Lancelot, I presume? You clearly aren’t attorney Johnny Cochran.

Another FEDERAL JAIL GUARD, pushing a dolly containing the cardboard box and Condors, arrives at the jail cell.

MICHAEL

(leaping off the jail cell cot)

Zeus and Athena! They must be starving. They’ll be dead in one to two weeks without food, and even less time without water.

(peering inside the cardboard box)

Imagine a 5 feet tall, 25 pound dinosaur that flies with a wingspan of 10 feet. Zeus and Athena are about five months old. They will be flying any day now.

(extending her hand for a handshake)

Michael Duncan. Your beloved new client. You must be Mr. Jordan Miller Esquire, my faithful and humble servant of the law.

JORDAN

Something like that. Anyways, we need to discuss some important

legal matters before your court arraignment tomorrow morning.

MICHAEL

Lead me to the promise land my dear Moses.

The Federal Jail guards lock the jail cell and depart.

JORDAN

I’ve spent my entire legal career defending people’s civil rights. Law school taught me how to do justice. Practicing law taught how to win trials. We will win your case. It’s only a matter of when. Now tell me exactly what happened.

MICHAEL

There’s not much to tell. I purchased Zeus and Athena from an animal rights group. I intended to give the Condors a good life with good people at the Pretoria Zoo in South Africa. When I started boarding my flight, there they were, an army of United States Custom Agents. And now I am here.

JORDAN

Aren’t Condors on our national endangered species list? I heard they’re nearly extinct.

MICHAEL

I’m a Zoologist, Mr. Miller. I have managed the Pretoria Zoo for over a decade. We just built a natural enclosure at the zoo where these Condors can live healthy and happily. Where they can breed to their hearts content. Where the public can enjoy these magnificence creatures who mean us no harm.

JORDAN

Understood. You’ll plead not guilty, post bail, and hopefully have you feeding your beloved pals before noon tomorrow.

MICHAEL

Perfect. How about a crash course regarding how to give them food and water?

JORDAN

Sounds good.

EXT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS, CALIFORNIA – NEIGHBORHOOD / AFTERNOON

Jordan drives his Mercedes along residential streets in the Hollywood Hills. He parks at a two-story super modern home.

Jordan knocks on the front door, but no one answers the door. He opens the door and enters the interior foyer.

INT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME - FIRST FLOOR

JORDAN

Mia?. . . Mia, are you here?

MIA SATO appears at the top of the staircase. She is 21 years old, mixed native Japanese and white protestant descent. She wears denim shorts and a halter top. Silver jewelry dangles from her neck, arms, and fingers. A tiny video camera is perched upon her eyeglasses. She gives Jordan a hug and kiss.

The first floor living space consists of a single room filled with bedroom furniture, universal gym, and kitchen. One wall is constructed entirely of clear glass which provides a spectacular view of the city. Jordan sits down on a waterbed.

MIA

I created something special for us today.

Mia places virtual reality goggles over Jordan’s eyes, and then removes his suit shirt and tie, before removing her denim shorts. Jordan observes a topless image of Mia dancing erotically before him in a discotheque. The real Mia snuggles aboard Jordan’s lap and kisses his neck and chest. Jordan pulls Mia closer for an intimate perfect moment together.

JORDAN  

(removing the goggles)

A menage-a-trois? Amazing. How can I ever let you out of my sight.

MIA

I just downloaded the software. We can create any sensual fantasy we desire.

JORDAN

(kissing Mia)

You’re the best. The best of the best.

          MIA          

I love you too.

JORDAN

Can you investigate a new client?

MIA

Your wish is my command.

INT. MIA’S HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME - SECOND FLOOR

Mia sits at an office desk containing five computer keyboards. Around the perimeter of her desk are five computer tower servers. Ten computer video monitors hang on the far wall.

            MIA             

Name your victim.

JORDAN

Michael Duncan. One of my new clients. She’s supposedly a Zoologist at the Pretoria Zoo in  South Africa. That’s all I know about her.

Mia’s fingers dance across one of the computer keyboards. She peers up at the video monitors, but they remain blank. She  tries another keyboard, and another keyboard, but she cannot bring up any images on the video monitors.

MIA

Too bad. All my internet browsers for South Africa are down today. I’ll keep trying and get back with you by tomorrow.

JORDAN

(glancing at his cellphone)

Sounds good. I have dinner date. The girls are cooking a special meal tonight.

EXT. JORDAN’S MALIBU BEACH HOME – BALCONY DECK / NIGHT

Jordan sits on a futon couch with his bare feet on a coffee table where a laptop computer shows the local news report.

SYDNEY

(serving Jordan a delicious Italian meal)

Bona Appetito.

TAYLOR

(serving Jordan a glass of red wine)

Alla vostra salute.

SYDNEY

(viewing the laptop computer screen)

Attenzione! Turn up the sound.

Jordan raises the laptop computer volume.

NEWS REPORTER HELEN RIVERA

The body of a young woman was discovered today along the Malibu Beach shoreline. Sheriffs have not released her identity. No suspects have been arrested. Back to you, Philip.

Jordan lowers the laptop computer volume.

SYDNEY

Do we know that woman, dad?

JORDAN

I don’t believe so. Why don’t both of you avoid the beach for a while.

TAYLOR

(groaning)

Oh, daddy-o. I’ll be careful.

SYDNEY

(changing the subject)

We learned a new musical piece. We’ll play it for you tonight if you like.

JORDAN

I’d love to hear it.

INT. JORDAN’S MALIBU BEACH HOME - LIVING ROOM / NIGHT

Taylor and Sydney, while standing in front of a one hundred gallon aquarium filled with colorful saltwater fish, rocks, and plants, play a Wolfgang Mozart Sonata. Taylor plays the flute, while Sydney plays the violin.

EXT. CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - SIDEWALK CAFÉ OVERLOOKING A MARINA AND BAY FILLED WITH BOATS / AFTERNOON

Clothed in a fine Armani Italian suit, RAYMOND DUNCAN eats alone at an outdoor café table. He is in his mid 60s and has a professional appearance. He places a cellphone call.

RAYMOND

This attorney better be good. And I mean really good.  He has no idea who he’s dealing with. He will learn soon enough.

INT. JORDAN’S MALIBU BEACH HOME – BEDROOM / LATE NIGHT

Jordan sleeps on his bed. His cellphone rings. Rincon leaps off the bed and retrieves it.

JORDAN

Hello?

RAYMOND

This is Raymond Duncan. Sorry to disturb so late. I understand you represent my daughter, Michael. How’s she doing?

JORDAN

As good as anyone who lives in a jail cell. I interviewed her today. I’ll be appearing at her arraignment in the morning.

RAYMOND

What about your retainer?

JORDAN

$25,000 should be adequate. I don’t foresee any legal complications. I’ll reimburse you any unused money.

RAYMOND

Excellent. Let’s talk after her arraignment.

EXT.  MALIBU – CLIFF ABOVE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY / MORNING

Jordan rides his professional magnesium alloy bicycle along a mountain bike trail. When he reaches the top of the mountain, he stops to inhale asthma medication from his plastic inhaler, then races back down the mountain.

INT. UTAH NATIONAL PARK - CAMPSITE TENT / MORNING

Jordan awakens inside a sleeping bag with his wife CAMILLE MILLER. She is 23 years old, athletic in nature, with long blonde hair and avocado green eyes. They share a soft kiss.

CAMILLE

I’ll make some green tea.

Camille catches Jordan watching her get dressed inside their tent. She sticks out her tongue and laughs. Jordan smiles and then lays back and gazes through the tent window into a clear morning sky partially obscured by pine trees.

EXT. MALIBU BEACH – CLIFF ABOVE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

While still riding his bicycle, Jordan begins coughing and wheezing. He loses control of his bicycle. The front wheel goes over the edge of a cliff, followed by the rear wheel, but not before Jordan safely abandons his bicycle. His bicycle crashes against the jagged rocks below.

Jordan inhales more asthma medication. Breathing normally again, he hikes down the mountain.