The screenplay for "Trip", the second short film we might try to shoot along with "Flame" in September

1. Trip
By
Richard Lackey
Richard Lackey Trevone Cottage
4A Main Rd
St James
Cape Town
7945

2. FADE IN:
1 EXT. STARS - NIGHT 1
ANIMATION
We are moving backwards through space, stars flying past
us into the distance. The MUSIC FADES IN and the credits
roll. The movement of the stars slows and stops.
CUT TO:
2 EXT. CLUB - NIGHT 2
CRANE, HIGH ELEVATION, WS
The stars of a clear Cape winter night and TILT DOWN to
WS. of a large industrial warehouse.
We slowly swing around and DESCEND to the pavement below.
The heavy hypnotic beat from the club gets louder, mixed
with the sounds of night time city traffic.
A queue of people line the sidewalk to the entrance of the
club. TWO BOUNCERS stand in the doorway. We quickly PULL
IN to the door past the bouncers as they admit A COUPLE
into the club. For a moment the couple block our view
and.. .
CUT TO:
3 INT. CLUB - NIGHT 3
STEADICAM, WS
The couple move out of shot and we float quickly across
the dancefloor, bodies moving in time to the beat, a
hypnotic display of light illuminates the crowd. We stop
moving suddenly at the edge of the dancefloor. The MUSIC
CUTS OUT. JASON is sitting on a couch with a GIRL. His
CELLPHONE RINGS.
NEW ANGLE
Jason stands as he reaches for his phone and answers.
Moments pass and his face takes on an expression of total
disbelief and shock. He drops his phone.
TIMESLICE
We quickly track 360 degrees around Jason, frozen his
phone in mid air. The background drops out completely, he
is alone in darkness, we pull into the dark centre of his
eye.

3. 2.
CUT TO:
4 TITLE SEQUENCE ANIMATION 4
MUSIC CUTS IN We rush through a tunnel, a fast flowing
labyrinth of fire and explosions as if the tunnel is
collapsing around us, we stay always just one step ahead
of being consumed by it. A light appears at the end of the
tunnel, getting bigger, faster ...
CUT TO:
5 INT. HOUSE, LOUNGE - EVENING 5 5
We quickly pull out from a TV screen into a room as if
ejected from the tunnel, slowing suddenly almost to. a
stop. The room is dark and smoky, oppressive. STEVE and
ALEC are sitting in front of the TV mimicking guitar and
drums to the Five Star Society music video which appears
on the screen. Jason pokes his head around the corner.
JASON
We’re leaving in ten minutes.
We pull into Jason’s face and follow in front of him
(moving backwards) as he walks into his room (high speed).
CUT TO:
6 INT. HOUSE, BEDROOM 6
He opens the cupboard door (normal speed) and pulls out
some clothes, we then see him try on various outfits (high
speed, time lapse). He puts on his original choice of
clothes (normal speed) and walks out past the bathroom.
CUT TO:
7 INT. HOUSE, BATHROOM 7
We leave Jason, and turn into the bathroom to find
SABRINA. She starts putting on make-up etc (high speed,
time lapse). She opens the door and walks out (normal
speed). Steve runs past the camera, Alec follows shortly
after. We pull in behind them.
CUT TO:

4. 3.
8 INT . HOUSE, STEVE’ S BEDROOM 8
Steve and Alec pile into the room. Steve opens a drawer in
his bedside table.
He rummages around (high speed) and pulls out a small
clear bag (normal speed), in it are some white tablets. He
looks at them, smiles and closes his fingers around the
bag. The MUSIC FADES OUT.
FADE TO BLACK:
9 INT . HOUSE , BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER 9
We hear the sound of RUNNING WATER.
STEVE
Jason. . . Jason!
Jason lowers his hands from his face, we see his
reflection in the mirror. He turns towards the door. Steve
is leaning against the wall in the doorway with his hand
stretched out, in the palm of his hand is a small white
tablet. Jason looks at it, pondering. He picks it up and
slowly puts it in his mouth. As his mouth closes, the
MUSIC CUTS IN.
10 INT. HOUSE, HALLWAY 10
Jason walks out of the bathroom and down the stairs as
Steve, Alec and Sabrina make their way toward the front
door (high speed). They leave and the door SLAMS shut
behind them.
CUT TO:
Note: In the following interior car shots, a different
mirrored object will hang from the rear view mirror in
each shot. Things should be not quite what they seem, a
drugged out illusion of reality. The music will be
directly from the studio recording, loud and clear.
11 INT. CAR - NIGHT 11
Steve is driving, Jason sits next to him, smiling, he
turns to look behind him. In the back seat Alec and
Sabrina move close to kiss. Just before their lips meet...
CUT TO:

5. 4.
12 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 12
The car swerves around a corner recklessly.
13 INT. CAR - NIGHT 13
VARIOUS SHOTS
Everyone is laughing, Steve shifts into high gear and
steps on the accelerator.
CUT TO:
14 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 14
We see the front wheel arch of the car and the road ahead,
the road speeding past.
CUT TO:
15 INT. CAR - NIGHT 15
Jason (slow motion) turning to Steve and speaking, all we
hear is a deep moan.
CUT TO:
16 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 16
We see the front end of the car, it is swerving and
swaying as it accelerates.
CUT TO:
17 INT. CAR - NIGHT 17
Alec and Sabrina laugh (slowed down) their eyes are red
and bloodshot.
18 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 18
We see the passenger side of the car from the rear, the
taillights in view. Jason leans his head out of the window
shouting to a group of girls. The taillights glow bright
red as the car slows down.
CUT TO:

6. 5.
19 EXT. CLUB, CAR PARK - NIGHT 19
The car pulls into a empty parking spot. Everyone piles
out.
CUT TO:
20 INT. CLUB - NIGHT 20
The club is full and the dance floor is packed with
sweaty, writhing bodies moving in time to the music.
Through the crowd our four friends push their way towards
the bar.
21 INT . CLUB, BAR - MOMENTS LATER 21
Steve approaches the bar, followed closely by Jason, and
lastly by Alec and Sabrina. A few of STEVE’S FRIENDS are
at the bar already and a PRETTY BLONDE GIRL stands with
two GIRLFRIENDS a meter or so away. Jason stands next to
her, gives her a quick glance. Their Ieyes meet, she
smiles.
The BARMAN asks for orders, Steve orders a paddle of
tequila tots.
MS TRACKING
We move around the barman as he grabs the bottle (slow
motion), and then high speed as he spins it in the air and
pours the shots one by one. As he gets to the last glass
... XCU SLOW MOTION
Tequila pours into the glass swirling, then a hand comes
into shot, grabs the glass and... Steve, Jason, Alec and
Sabrina clink their glasses, lick, down, bite and grimace
and slam their glasses back down on the bar. The girl
leaves the bar. Jason turns, she doesn’t look back.
DJ
(interrupts)
The band will be up in five
minutes...
SLOW MOTION WRACK
Focus from the glass to Jason, Alec and Sabrina leave the
bar as tequila swirls into the empty glass.
CUT TO:

7. 6.
22 INT. CLUB, COUCH 22
We follow Jason, Alec and Sabrina from the bar to the
dancefloor. They walk past the blonde girl from the bar,
standing talking to her friends. Jason stops, checks her
out and accidentally knocks a glass of beer out a big
guy’s hand, it falls onto her. She looks at him in disgust
and runs off upset, The man looks at him angrily.
CUT TO:
23 INT. CLUB, BAR 23
Steve and his friends clink their glasses, lick, down,
bite and grimace and slam their glasses back down on the
bar. XCU of the glass hitting the bar SLOW MOTION of
tequila pouring into the glass, a hand comes into shot,
grabs the glass and...
CUT TO:
24 INT. CLUB, COUCH 24
Jason is now facing two large guys shouting at him. He
quickly slides off the couch away from them and disappears
into the crowd of moving bodies on the dance floor. The
two guys move to follow him and stand scanning the crowd
looking for him.
CUT TO:
25 INT. CLUB, DANCE FLOOR 25
They spot him in the crowd and begin pushing through the
crowd making their way towards him. Jason has forgotten
about the two men, and is dancing with two young girls.
CUT TO:
26 INT. CLUB, BAR 26
Steve and his’ friends clink their glasses, lick, down,
bite and grimace and slam their glasses back down on the
bar. XCU of the glass hitting the bar SLOW MOTION of
tequila pouring into the glass, a hand comes into shot,
grabs the glass and...
CUT TO:

8. 7.
27 INT. CLUB, STAIRWELL 27
Alec pulls out a small bottle of pills from his pocket and
takes two, giving one to Sabrina. They both take the
pills. Sabrina smiles mischievously at Alec and takes him
by the hand into the bathroom. We hear the door lock
behind them.
CUT TO:
28 INT. CLUB, DANCE FLOOR 28
Jason is dancing unaware that the two men following him
now stand behind him. They tap him on the shoulder, he
turns and...
CUT TO:
29 INT. CLUB, BAR 29
Steve and his friends clink their glasses, lick, down,
bite and grimace and slam their glasses back down on the
bar.
XCU of the glass hitting the bar SLOW MOTION of the last
drop of tequila from the bottle drip into the empty glass.
CUT TO:
30 INT. CLUB, STAIRWELL 30
The bathroom door bursts open and Alec holds a limp,
unconscious Sabrina. He stops in the doorway, almost
unable to stand and shouts for help.
CUT TO:
31 INT. CLUB, DANCE FLOOR 31
The two men stare at Jason. Jason is frozen on the
dancefloor unsure of what to do.
CUT TO:
32 INT. CLUB, BAR 32
Steve leaves the bar, stumbling and laughing. He
disappears into the crowd on the dancefloor.
CUT TO:

9. 8.
33 INT. CLUB, DANCE FLOOR 33
Steve bumps into the two men that face Jason, the two men
turn around and Jason runs. As the two men realize that
Jason has escaped they run after him, pushing people out
of the way. Steve follows. Two bouncers scan the
dancefloor from the club entrance wondering what the
commotion is about. They spot Jason and the two men, then
Steve running towards them, they close in on the doorway
as Jason approaches from the dancefloor. Jason, looking
behind him as he runs, collides head on with the bouncers
and stops as the others catch up. TWO MORE LARGE BOUNCERS
appear.
CUT TO:
34 EXT. CLUB, ENTRANCE 34
Jason, the two men chasing him, and Steve are thrown out
of the club. Jason, and Steve run towards the parking lot,
the two men chasing them.
35 EXT. CLUB, CAR PARK 35
Steve approaches the car, opens the door and gets in.
Jason and Alec arrive moments later and bang the window
for Steve to unlock the doors. The two men are fast
approaching.
CUT TO:
36 INT. CLUB, BACK ENTRANCE 36
Through the open door we see an ambulance pull up. Two
paramedics rush in. Sabrina is now convulsing on the floor
and Alec is in shock.
CUT TO:
37 INT. CAR 37
Steve peels out of the parking lot leaving the two men
standing in their dust.
38 EXT. CLUB, CAR PARK 38
The car screeches past the ambulance and disappears into
the night.

10. 9.
39 EXT. CAR, MAIN STREET 39
Through the windscreen we can see the guys laughing,
messing around. Jason leans out of the window shouting at
some girls as they pass. We see reflections of the lights
of town in the windscreen as they drive down the main
street.
40 INT. CAR, INTERSECTION 40
Steve is laughing as he approaches a red traffic light,
there is no one on the road in front of him. Instead of
slowing down, he accelerates towards it.
41 EXT. INTERSECTION 41
CRANE, HIGH ELEVATION, HA
The car races through the red light and onto a open
stretch of highway.
42 EXT. CAR 42
We see the front wheel of the car swerving slightly, and
the road rushing beneath. We hear the engine accelerating,
shifting into fifth gear.
43 EXT. HIGHWAY 43
The car approaches in the distance and swerves into the
oncoming lane of traffic. A large truck passes in the
foreground, speeding towards the car, it’s horn blaring.
44 INT. CAR 44
Steve is still laughing, the headlights of the truck
coming quickly towards him. Jason is not laughing anymore,
he shouts and motions wildly for Steve to get out of the
way of the truck now bearing down on them. Jason grabs the
wheel at the last minute and wrenches it out of Steve’s
hands. We see the headlights of the car catch the
guardrail as it swerves off the road. The truck passes
them, it’s horn blaring.
45 EXT. CAR 45
Following behind we watch the car swerve from the road and
hit the guardrail. Moments later the guardrail ends and
the car launches off the embankment, hitting the ground
below at full force.

11. 10.
46 EXT. EMBANKMENT 46
From the ground below the drop we see the car launch from
the embankment and hit the ground, stopping against the
opposite slope almost instantly. The front of the car is a
twisted mess. There is silence as we pass slowly over the
front of the car, just the sound of the steam streaming
from under the hood. We see the shattered glass and blood
smeared windscreen.
FADE TO BLACK:
47 INT. HOUSE, BATHROOM - EARLIER 47
The music fades and we hear the sound of RUNNING WATER.
STEVE
Jason.. . Jason!
Jason lowers his hands from his face, we see his
reflection in the mirror. He is surprised to see his own
reflection and touches his face almost unsure if it is
real. He turns towards the door. Steve is leaning against
the wall in the doorway with his hand stretched out, in
the palm of his hand is a pill.
Jason looks at it, pondering. He refuses Steve’s offer.
48 INT. HOUSE, HALLWAY 48
Jason walks out of the bathroom and down the stairs as
Steve, Alec and Sabrina make their way toward the front
door (high speed). They leave and the door SLAMS shut
behind them.
CUT TO:
Note: In the following interior car shots, things should
be shown in absolute stark reality, in total contrast to
how this sequence was first shot. The music playing in the
car will be as if it was recorded directly from the small
tinny speakers. We hear the music only quietly in the
exterior shots.
49 INT. CAR - NIGHT 49
Steve is driving, Jason sits next to him, nervously, he
turns to look behind him. In the back seat Alec and
Sabrina move close to kiss. Just before their lips meet...
CUT TO:

12. 11.
50 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 50
HA, WS, CRANE, HIGH ELEVATION
The car swerves around a corner recklessly. We can see
that they had cut off a car approaching the corner on the
other side. The other car hoots it’s . .. horn loudly.
CUT TO:
51 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 51
We see the man driving the other car shake his fist at
them (slow motion) .
52 INT. CAR - NIGHT 52
MS Jason from the open window of the car, watches the guy
as he curses them (slow motion).
53 INT. CAR - NIGHT 53
VARIOUS SHOTS
Everyone is laughing apart from Jason, Steve shifts into
high gear and steps on the accelerator.
CUT TO:
54 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 54
We see the front wheel arch of the car, the road speeding
past.
CUT TO:
55 INT. CAR - NIGHT 55
Jason (slowed down) turns to grab his seat belt from over
his shoulder, he is worried.
CUT TO:
56 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 56
We see the front end of the car, it is swerving and
swaying as it accelerates.
CUT TO:

13. 12.
57 INT. CAR - NIGHT 57
Alec and Sabrina laugh (slowed down) their eyes are red
and bloodshot.
58 EXT. CAR - NIGHT 58
We see the passenger side of the car from the rear, the
tail lights in view. The tail lights glow bright red as
the car slows down’.
CUT TO:
59 EXT. CLUB, CAR PARK - NIGHT 59
The car pulls into a empty parking spot. Everyone piles
out.
CUT TO:
60 INT. CLUB - NIGHT 60
The club is full and the dancefloor is packed with sweaty,
writhing bodies moving in time to the music. Through the
crowd our four friends push their way towards the bar.
61 INT. CLUB, BAR - MOMENTS LATER 61
Steve approaches the bar, followed closely by Jason, and
lastly by Alec and Sabrina. A few of Steve’s friends are
at the bar already and a pretty blonde girl stands with
two girlfriends a meter or so away. Jason stands next to
her, gives her a quick glance. Their eyes meet, she
smiles.
The barman asks for orders, Steve orders a paddle of
tequila tots. XCU of the glasses as the barman pours the
shots one by one. As he gets to the last glass ...
XCU SLOW MOTION
Tequila pours into the glass swirling, then a hand comes
into shot, grabs the glass and... Steve, Alec and Sabrina
down their first shots. Jason looks embarrassed. The girl
looks at Jason, she motions for him to go with her and her
friends. They leave the bar together.
DJ
(interrupts)
The band will be up in five
minutes ...
CUT TO:
(CONTINUED)

14. CONTINUED: 13.
XCU SLOW MOTION WRACK
Focus from the glass to Alec and Sabrina as they leave the
bar. Tequila swirls into the empty glass.
CUT TO:
62 INT. CLUB, COUCH 62
Jason and the girl are getting on well. Alec and Sabrina
arrive from the bar and Alec knocks a glass of beer out a
guys hand as he passes. The man looks at Alec angrily.
CUT TO:
63 INT. CLUB, BAR 63
Steve and friends clink their glasses, lick, down, bite
and grimace and slam their glasses back down on the bar.
XCU of the glass hitting the bar SLOW MOTION of tequila
pouring into the glass, a hand comes into shot, grabs the
glass and ...
CUT TO:
64 INT. CLUB, COUCH 64
Alec is now facing two large guys shouting at him, Sabrina
is embarrassed and leaves, making her way onto the dance
floor alone. Alec quickly slips away from the two guys and
disappears into the crowd of moving bodies on the
dancefloor. The two guys move to follow him and stand
scanning the crowd looking for him.
CUT TO:
65 INT. CLUB, DANCE FLOOR 65
They spot him in the crowd and begin pushing through the
crowd making their way towards him. Alec has forgotten
about the two men, and has found Sabrina, they are
dancing.
CUT TO:
66 INT. CLUB, BAR 66
Steve and friends clink their glasses, lick, down, bite
and grimace and slam their glasses back down on the bar.
XCU of the glass hitting the bar SLOW MOTION of tequila
pouring into the glass, a hand comes into shot, grabs the
glass and...

15. 14.
CUT TO:
67 INT. CLUB, DANCE FLOOR 67
Alec is dancing unaware that the two men following him now
stand behind him. They tap him on the shoulder, he turns
and...
CUT TO:
68 INT. CLUB, BAR 68
Steve and friends clink their glasses, lick, down, bite
and grimace and slam their glasses back down on the bar.
XCU of the glass hitting the bar SLOW MOTION of the last
drop of tequila from the bottle drip into the empty glass.
CUT TO:
69 INT. CLUB, DANCE FLOOR 69
The two men stare at Alec. He is frozen on the dance floor
unsure of what to do.
CUT TO:
70 INT. CLUB, BAR 70
Steve leaves the bar, stumbling and laughing. He
disappears into the crowd on the dance floor.
CUT TO:
71 INT. CLUB, DANCE FLOOR 71
Steve bumps into the two men that face Alec, the two men
turn around and Alec runs, grabbing Sabrina’s hand. As the
two men realize that he has escaped they run after him,
pushing people out of the way. Steve follows. Two bouncers
scan the dance floor from the club entrance wondering what
the,commotion is about. They spot Alec, Sabrina and the
two men, and then Steve running towards them, they close
in on the doorway as Alec approaches from the dance floor.
Alec, looking behind him as he runs, collides head on with
the bouncers and stops as the others catch up. Two more
large bouncers appear.
CUT TO:

16. 15.
72 EXT. CLUB, ENTRANCE 72
Alec, Sabrina, the two men chasing him, and Steve are
thrown out of the club. Jason, Steve and Sabrina run
towards the parking lot, the two men chasing them.
CUT TO:
73 INT. CLUB - LATER 73
JASON is sitting on a couch with a GIRL. His CELLPHONE
RINGS. Jason stands as he reaches for his phone and
answers. Moments pass and his face takes on an expression
of total disbelief and shock. He drops his phone.
TIMESLICE
We quickly track 360 degrees around Jason, frozen his
phone in mid air. The background drops out completely, he
is alone in darkness, we pull into the dark centre of his
eye.
FADE TO BLACK:
THE END