Anyways:
WORKING TITLE: "VIGILANTE" REVISED DRAFT
BY PAUL MASON
FADE IN
INT. VIGILANTE’S BEDROOM – EVENING
A VIGILANTE sits on the edge of his bed. At his feet is a small metal box with old World War 2 photos, bits and pieces. In the VIGILANTE’s hands he holds an old face mask which he stares at intently. The mask resembles the mask worn by a soldier in a photograph at the VIGILANTE’s feet.
FADE TO BLACK
Various News reports, overlapping each other.
NEWS REPORTER 1
Police are on the hunt for a gang of youths believed to have sexually assaulted an elderly woman in her South Brisbane home...
NEWS REPORTER 2
...The drugs, along with hydroponic equipment was seized during the raid, with a total street value of $80,000...
NEWS REPORTER 3
...shots were fired from the vehicle, seriously wounding two Officers and several bystanders...
NEWS REPORTER 4
...hunt for the serial Arsonist continues as the Death toll continues to rise. Police say...
NEWS REPORTER 5
...the girl is in a critical condition in hospital after the 5
year old’s uncle violently threw her from a moving car...
FADE IN
EXT. UNDER AN OVERPASS – NIGHT
A young man stands under an overpass of a Freeway in a Suburban area of Brisbane. He puts down his back pack and unzips the top. He begins to dress himself in dark clothes, hand wraps and a mask.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
I’m not a superhero. Let’s get that straight. I can’t fly, I can’t punch through walls and I can’t bench press cars.
The VIGILANTE clips on weapons straps and conceals a homemade Blackjack in his jacket sleeve. Next to the back pack, a digital camera, black texta pen, street map and stick of gum lay at his feet
VIGILANTE (V/O)
I’m not a scientist. And I’m not rich. My sense of justice, doesn’t come from a traumatic childhood experience, an atomic accident, cosmic rays or radioactive insect bites.
No fancy toys, no fancy outfit. Just me.
As he finishes suiting up, He peers down at the street below and takes a deep breath.
VIGILANTE (CONT V/O)
So why am I here?
The VIGILANTE slides down to the footpath, darts across the four lanes of traffic into the bushes.
VIGILANTE (CONT V/O)
Did you ever feel powerless when something tragic happens on the news, like 9/11 or the Victoria Fires? People could be absolutely
suffering, but you feel there is physically nothing you can do?
The VIGILANTE runs through back gardens, across a park, though the trees, and across streets.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
Acts of violence that claim the lives of so many innocent people.
The VIGILANTE pauses at the sound of smashing glass. At the end of the street, he spots a street light go out, smashed by a brick. He runs into the shadows.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
So what do you do? Join the Police force? Enlist in the Armed forces?
I considered this. Fight overseas problems or dispense speeding fines?
EXT. SMALL ROOF TOP – NIGHT
The VIGILANTE scales the side of a guttering and perches in the shadows on the top of a shop roof.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
You know, my neighbour’s house has been burgled 3 times in the last 8 months.
The elderly couple down the street; stabbed and robbed in their own home.
Below, a gang of four spray paints graffiti all over the shop front. One gang member kicks over a bunch of garbage cans while another whacks the plexiglass windows with a crow bar.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
The Shopkeeper who owns the store down there has been struck with an iron bar.35 stiches.
The VIGILANTE takes digital photos of what the gang members are doing to the shop. He takes the memory card and slips it into an envelope. With a marker he writes on the front "To Springwood Police".
VIGILANTE (CONT V/O)
I don’t need to be sent overseas to fight. There’s a war right here.
I don’t need to be sent overseas to fight. There’s a war right here.
As he stuffs the envelope and camera back into his bag, the VIGILANTE looks up to see two of the GANG MEMBERS harassing a YOUNG LADY walking through the street. GANG MEMBER 2 pulls out a knife as GANG MEMBER 1 tears at her clothes, attempting to grope her. The VIGILANTE’s eyes widen.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
And sometimes the police aren’t around to prevent casualties.
The VIGILANTE jumps down on top of GANG MEMBER(4), breaking his fall. He finds himself in front of GANG MEMBERS 1 and 2, who have grabbed the girl.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
So I wear the Mask.
GANG MEMBER 3 emerges from behind and grabs the VIGILANTE in a head lock. The VIGILANTE reaches over, grabs the face of GANG MEMBER 3 and leavers his leg to lift and drop the GANG MEMBER (3) onto his knee.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
My Grandfather’s mask. He made a promise, I aim to continue that promise.
Disposing of GANG MEMBER 3, he quickly jerks his right arm, sliding out the hidden blackjack, smashes the knife out of GANG MEMBER 2’s hand, and flicks the Blackjack back up, uppercutting GANG MEMBER 2’s head.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
To keep lives safe.
While GANG MEMBER 1 is distracted, the YOUNG LADY stomps on the GANG MEMBER 1’s shin, causing him to recoil. As she struggles to break free, she elbows her him in the face.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
I know I can’t fix the world doing this. I never set out to.
He clutches his face and lashes out to strike her with his other hand. The VIGILANTE slides in, blocking the strike with his blackjack, and dislocates the GANG MEMBER’s elbow, reverse elbows him in the throat and drops him with a back kick to the stomach.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
But I’d rather be out here doing something than watching another tragedy on the news at night.
He stops and looks around at the out cold GANG MEMBERS, then looks at YOUNG LADY, who smiles slightly. The VIGILANTE turns his head to the sound of police sirens. The YOUNG LADY turns her head, and turns back to find the VIGILANTE gone, with the Large envelope in his place.
VIGILANTE (V/O)
So that’s why I’m here. Why I do it. Because I choose to.
She picks up the envelope as the Police car pulls up. The VIGILANTE watches silently from the bushes and runs into the shadows.
END.
Paul Mason s2585694 Draft 2 story 2 Week 3 Sem 1 5
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