COOL CARGO - SimplyScripts

1 COOL CARGO SCREENPLAY BY DAVID ODESSEY ONE -- THE TRIAL OF OVIDThe screen is deep voice heavy with authority did you first meet Ovid?Cue Just Dropped By To Say Hello-- Johnny HartmanNOTE--The tune sets the tone. The crime of GALACTIC SLAVERY is lightened by the MUSIC OF LOVE. Our COOL CARGO is jazzmusicians. Screen clarifies to A RAINY NIGHT IN BROOKLYNA neon sign displays a golden crescent moon. Blue scriptwriting says CRESCENT LOUNGE. It's our shelter from thestorm. In small green script the offer of LIVE MUSIC sweetens the deal. A limousine pulls up. A passenger exitsthe car and enters the CRESCENT LOUNGE Camera enters and walks thru this Bar-N-Grill.

2 Nottoo shabby. To one side a long bar is flanked by booths. Tothe left is the dining room. A dozen cocktail tables with ahandful of customers stand between us and the small stagewhere the piano is stationed. We walk straight to the piano. We meet Tony Verona. He's in his 30's, handsome, and hesings and plays with style. We see our hand, garishly bedecked with large rings, put $20into the snifter that is the tip jar on the piano. We speak. We are Play Stairway to the looks up and the camera reverses view. Ovid is a fancydude. Short, dark, and fat, he sports more jewelry than mostmen would dare. His beard, mustach and dark glasses maskhis am Tony. I am the witness. INT. GRAND HALL OF SCALARIS--AFTERNOONWe are in a cavernous hall similar to a cathedral. Thesetting is grand in scale but stark with few stands before the Throne.

3 From the raised platform theKing struts about as he conducts the Trial of Ovid. KING LEGNABTell us what happened I finished his request heurged me to take my break bybribing me with a brandy. We got Crescent Lounge NIGHTTony's narrative sometimes intrudes on the My name is Ovid. Does that namemean anything to you?TONY-Yes, Ovid, the Roman poet. Heinvented the romantic Excellent! You are a trueRenaissance Man, an artist and ascholar. Perhaps you would care tojoin me in this repast? made a sweeping hand motionindicating the sumptuous feast laidout across his table. An imperiouswave brought forth another healthypair of brandy snifters. How couldI refuse?KING LEGNAB on with it! What about Ovid?Suddenly we're back at Court. The stomping of a staff stopped King Legnab short.

4 We lookup to the balcony where the Matriarchs are roosting like aclutch of vultures. One of them had slammed her staff toexpress her disapproval of Legnab's conduct. She wants thewhole story. They are the judge and leans forward and tells Tony to to the Crescent Lounge. We see Tony and Ovid having aprivate party and hear Tony's conducted a conversation thatdeveloped into an interview. Afterwe established my character to hissatisfaction we went on to discussworldly issues. History, politics,art, science, philosophy, all the academic clap-trap I'm so wellversed on was rounded up, trottedout and worked into a good had fun fencing Ovid got I know your type. You are aneducated bum. Society has no usefor you. You desire appreciationmore than money and thus far youhave paused to puff his cigar and let his words sink You are denied your properaudience because the music that youexcel at is considered oldfashioned in your country.

5 However,in other countries around the worldthose romantic ballads are prizedas timeless ama talent scout seeking performers for a cruise ship. I want to offeryou an open ended contract thatincludes a trip to the islands on aluxury liner; with gourmet meals,exotic locales, and a chance forexposure to a finer class ofclientele than you will ever see inthis dump. Leave this cold wet citybehind and enjoy the finestvacation that money can buy whileearning top dollars in a tropicalparadise. You could be living amusicians that time we were working ourway thru brandy and cigars. Then myboss, Marty, decided to interuptus. He was a nasty runt. That nightwhen I'd asked for my dinner earlyhe said "Sing for your Supper". came to call you for your dinnerbreak but I see that you've alreadytaken care of on that moment of tense faces.

6 Tony's thoughts a jerk. Now that the kitchenwas closing Marty rudely offeredthe lousy burger and fries thathe'd denied me earlier that it on the brandy, but I waspissed off and I let him know thanks to you Marty. You stillowe me dinner. I'll have it packedto 's face contorts into the mug of an ugly clown. OnlyOvid's prescence kept his nasty temper in check. With asnide tone he 't you think it's about time foryou to get back to the piano? was trying to piss me off andwas doing a good job of it. Iwasn't going to let Marty ruin mymood or my conclave with Ovid. Iwas about to tell him to BUZZ OFFwhen Ovid took control. He swiftlywhipped out a $100 bill, folded andheld length-wise between hisfingers. With a florish he cutMarty short with I am paying for the young man'stime as well as for his supper.

7 Iam sure Tony will favor us withmore music after he has eaten hisfill. I trust this is satisfactorywith that last remark Ovid releases the $100 and lets itflutter to the floor. His message is clear. Pick up themoney and beat it. Marty drops his hostile eyes,mumbles-Yeah, , picks up the bill and goes away. OVID Such an unpleasant man. Tony, Ithank you for a fine evening. SoonI must be going. Now, please, playyour last set. Leave this place instyle. And think about my that Ovid wraps a $50 around his card and hands it toTony. With hand gestures he urges Tony towards the -- MUSICAL COLLAGE My last night at the CrescentLounge was a rousing blast. Myspirits were high and myperformance was better for it. Iwas through 'Bidin' My Time', I was'Ridin' High'. 'Blue Skies' weresmiling at me.

8 I had regained that'Old Black Magic'. It was 'AlmostLike Being In Love.' It was great! When I left the bar I passed a limousine at the called to me thru the open there Piano Man. Come herefor a moment. I want you to meet mypartner. TONY stepped over to the limo with want you to know that I'm sold onyour venture. I just need to wrapup a few matters and I'm all are all mine NOW! Ovid sprays a gas into Tony's face. Instantly he goes driver gets out and shoves Tony into the car. In secondsthey are gone. BACK TO COURTL egnab struts about the throne platform and addresses theaudience with dramatic flare and , let us be clear. Ovid capturedyou off a city street, was no violence or alarm. Hehad no reason to fear reprisal. TONY Yeah, well, he got What do you mean by that?

9 That limousine, in that partof town, at that time of night,he's lucky he got out alive. Thereare roving gangs of bandits seekingtargets constantly, everywhere. Robbery, kidnapping and car-jackinghappen every day. LEGNAB - WITH FLARESo, you admit that your people aresavages! Your society can barelycontrol your animal impulses! TONY -- WITH VEHEMENCEThat's a joke coming from you oldman! You attacked me this morningwhen you lost your temper. Youcan't even handle a negotiation. Tome you're a barbarian!Lots of hubbub. The Matriarchs stamp their staffs. The Lordsand Ladies mumble and grumble. Legnab's lackeys hop liketoads on a hot skillet. The slaves, Ogres, and Manlings areshocked that a recruit has spoken against the Ventok only one who's cool is Ovid. He's having a hard timehiding his smirk.

10 Tony senses his advantage and presses it. With drama and abooming voice he turns and addresses the crowd. Upstairs tothe Matriarchs, downstairs to the Lords and Ladies, andstraight at Legnab and his gang on the throne platform--TONYYou have no idea who you're foolingwith! You have angered a giant. Ourpeople now know who you 'll be coming for you!TOTAL PANDIMONIUM ===== END SCENERESUME--SAME SCENE MINUTES LATERT rumpets blare calling for the balcony a Matriarch # 7 The witness will refrain fromflamatory remarks. Advise him!That instruction was aimed at asked for a witness. I told youthat people from Earth are hostileand dangerous. If you can't facethis single savage you should(MORE) (cont'd)withdraw to safer quarters. Theseare the recruits that confront theVentok of grumbling all around.