The Cover: The Pawns - A Screenplay
The Pawns - A Screenplay
by
Tony Broadwick
Copyright 2019.
[This material is protected under the International Copywrite and Intellectual Property Protection laws.
For permission to use any part/s of the script, contact the author at
tonybroadwick@gmail.com
The Pawns - A Screenplay
EXT. A SMALL CLINIC - DAY
A large luxury-SUV pulls up and parks next to a Mercedes Benz with MD license plates. GAIL ALVAREZ, a woman in her late thirties steps out of the SUV. She is professionally and elegantly dressed. She carries a leather briefcase. She enters the building.
INT. THE CLINIC. HALLWAY - DAY
DR. SAM ALI, dressed in scrubs and an older female patient emerges from an examination room. Sam walks half a step behind the patient.
SAM
Everything looks good. You keep taking your medication and come see me in a month.
THE OLD WOMAN
Si. gracias.
SAM
If there's any problem, call the girls at the front desk and we'll get you in right away.
THE OLD WOMAN
Moi gracias.
SAM (to a nurse's aide)
Liz, will you take care of Mrs. Ramirez? No one else is waiting, now, is there?
LIZ
The Congressman is on line-one. He's up for re-election, and the Mayor called. He's facing the run-offs next week.
SAM
Send them checks. The same amounts as the last time.
LIZ
You got it. You're clear until one-thirty.
SAM
When's the rep from Santa-Fonasi coming?
LIZ
She's already here. She's waiting in your office.
Liz and the old lady walk out and Sam opens the door to his office.
SAM
Hello, Gail, Sorry to have kept you waiting.
INT. SAM'S OFFICE - DAY
Sam and Gail shake hands. He motions her to sit.
SAM
Lunch should be arriving soon.
GAIL
Good, I'm starving.
SAM
How's the big business?
GAIL
Getting bigger.
SAM
You mentioned something about a new vaccine for cholesterol regiment.
Gail opens her briefcase and takes out a few boxes and puts them on the table.
GAIL
Here it is. One-shot-a-month, no more daily pills.
SAM
And the cost to the patient?
GAIL
Same as the pills, if they're covered by their insurance.
SAM
Who will administer the shots? The pharmacy?
GAIL
Yes, they can, but here's the beauty of it all. You ask the patients to come to your clinic to get the shots. While they're here, they get their vitals checked, if there's any other problem, your staff can take the samples. A patient would feel they're seeing their doctor every month.
SAM
The insurance companies won't like that.
GAIL
We're not working for the insurance companies. Yes, the vaccine costs more than the pills but if a physician prescribes it, the insurance companies will have to pay.
SAM
You trained as a surgeon. You were an accomplished surgeon. Wish you had stayed with it instead of peddling drugs.
GAIL
There's no money in surgery. And I got tired of fighting with the insurance companies...If you can't beat'em, join 'em.
SAM
What would happen if everyone abandoned the ship?
GAIL
Don't worry, there's one idealist born every minute.
There's a soft knocking at the door, the door open and a man wheels in a trolley with food and bottles of Perrier water.
THE MAN WITH THE FOOD CART
Hi, Doc. Shall I serve?
SAM
Just leave it, Carlos. I'll take care of it. Thanks.
Carlos smiles and turns to walk out. He stops at the door and turns back.
CARLOS
Belated, Happy Birthday, Doc.
SAM
Thanks, Carlos.
GAIL
Of course, Happy Birthday!
She produced a dark green box from her briefcase and offers it to Sam. It's the all-so-familiar green box for Rolex watches.
SAM
Oh, I can't accept this, Gail, but thank you.
GAIL
It's not from the company. It's from me. From one friend to another. Did I tell you I got a raise. I have a fancier title. Here's my new business card.
Sam looks at the card. He's impressed.
SAM
Congratulations. It was long overdue.
GAIL
Anything I can do, you let me know. Let's eat.
EXT. ARIZONA-MEXICO DESERT - NIGHT
An aerial shot of a group of immigrants (men, women, and children of all ages) are walking through the desert. The caravan is led by a Hummer with two armed men in the front seat. A jeep is trailing at the end of the caravan. Armed men are riding in the jeep. These are the lookout vehicles that also carry water and blankets for the group of immigrants. The caravan stops in a small village. The group is led to a small cantina. A woman hands the individuals small packets of food. Some go inside the small restaurant, others stay outside and sit down to eat. One of the young men in this group is a Pakistani, WARIS KHAN. He stands out as the only non-Hispanic among them. Waris brings his food from the cantina and sits under a tree, away from the crowd. Nearby, two young men are sitting under another tree. One of the men nudges the other and points to a YOUNG WOMAN [ANGELICA] who is nursing a baby [VIKTORIA]. The two men get up and walk to the woman and sit near her.
THE FIRST MAN
That's beautiful.
The woman turns away from the two men. She tries to cover herself.
THE SECOND MAN
Show us the other one.
THE FIRST MAN
You don't have to be so modest. They are beautiful. Let's take a look.
THE YOUNG WOMAN
Go ask your sister and your mother to show you, you pigs.
THE FIRST MAN
I've seen my sister's. Yours are better.
THE SECOND MAN
And I've seen his mother's, they are nothing to see.
The first man moves closer to the woman and tries to grab at her clothing. The woman stands up. She's still holding her baby. Her food falls out of her hand and onto the ground. The first man gets up and tries to touch her. She pushes her knee between the man's legs. He groans in pain. The second man holds the woman from behind. Waris puts his food on the ground and picks up a thick stick. Waris hits the second man on his head with the wooden stick.
WARIS
Leave the woman alone.
The second man let's go the woman and turns to see his attacker. The first man is still bent forward. Still in pain. The baby begins to cry. The second man throws an awkward punch at
Impressum
Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Texte: Tony Broadwick. 2019
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 27.08.2019
ISBN: 978-3-7487-1383-8
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Widmung:
Dedicated to all the immigrants who came to America, worked hard, and made America proud of them.