The Lost Client - Screenplay
Included below is the full screenplay for The Lost Client. The identifiers in square brackets in the scene headings refer to the iClone project files that make up the movie.
FADE IN: EXT. PINHEAD'S HOME - FRONT YARD - NIGHT [PRE] It's dusk in the peaceful suburb. It's quiet but for the cheerful chirping of the evening birds. Pinhead's single family home is seated in a pleasant front yard. A dog runs by and briefly glances at the dark-clad figure of BOB GARRETT, in gloves and hat, who is squatted near an contraption placed at the edge of the front yard. Garrett engages a counter and the stillness is disturbed by a beep every second to accompany the steady countdown. Garrett rises while the relentless countdown continues. INT. PINHEAD'S HOME - VESTIBULE - NIGHT [S00] WALTER PINHEAD is standing in the vestibule of his home, drawn there by a beeping noise. PINHEAD Thought I heard something! A sudden explosion blasts the front door open. EXT. PINHEAD'S HOME - FRONT YARD - NIGHT [S00] Fire erupts throughout the house, as more explosions follow. Soon the whole structure is ablaze. The garage doors are blown from their hinges and hurled onto the driveway. Pinhead is projected from the front door, swirling like a bowling pin after a major impact. His T-shirt is full of smudges. The force of the bursts flip open the mailbox, revealing a cell phone. With the inferno raging, the phone lights up and starts ringing. Pinhead as bowling pin slowly comes to rest with his back to the house. After a few rings of the phone, a dazed Pinhead turns towards the mailbox. EXT. PINHEAD'S HOME - SIDE OF HOUSE - NIGHT [S00b] Ringing phone in hand, Pinhead walks slowly along the side of his house towards a shed in the backyard. He brings the phone to his ear. The sinister voice of BOB GARRETT growls from the earpiece. GARRETT (V.O.) I thought that might get you moving! EXT. PINHEAD'S HOME - BACK YARD - NIGHT [S01] With the fire blazing, a cacophony of sirens heralds the steady advance of an army of rescue vehicles. Pinhead, holding the phone, continues strolling towards the shed. PINHEAD (in phone, staccato) Oh. It's. You. GARRETT (V.O.) We got Alura. You better hang on to this phone if you want to help her. I'll contact you again, in exactly one hour. Make sure you pick up. And, be alone. No, authorities. A busy signal marks the end of the call. Pinhead stands forlorn and in shock. He then pulls himself together, walks the last few steps towards the shed, and opens its front door. INT. GARDEN SHED - NIGHT [S02] The shed is a wooden structure with a front door and a back door. Most remarkable are a flight of stairs to a subterranean room. On the side away from the doors stand two tables, filled with various gardening paraphernalia. Pinhead closes the front door and lets out a deep sigh. He then perks up and descends the stairs. INT. GARDEN SHED - SUBTERRANEAN ROOM - NIGHT [S03a] The room's walls are built out of large Durox blocks and are decorated with film-noir posters. The concrete floor is painted. Off the room is a small hallway towards the back, leading to a beaten-up metal exit door. Opposite the stairs is a large wall-mounted video screen, showing the images of four rotating security cameras, labeled as: "Front Door", "Back Patio", "Garage", and "Sewer Tunnel". In the corner to the left of the screen, is an old-fashioned secretaire. It is open and holds a laptop and a telephone. In front of the desk is an aged wooden office chair. Pinhead halts at the bottom of the stairs and gazes at the devastation unfolding on the wall screen. INT. CSA FIELD OFFICE - OPERATIONS ROOM - NIGHT [OC-A] SUPER: "CLANDESTINE SURVEILLANCE AGENCY, OPERATIONS ROOM" The huge room has a transparent wall, flanking a hallway. Across the hallway are enormous video screens, showing episodes of Pinhead's past adventures. Personnel walks by. Inside the room are three workstations with LCD screens on a wide desk. Young operators study footage featuring Pinhead. On the left, female OPERATOR #1 stares intently at the LCD. In the middle, executive Commander ROBERT SIMMONS instructs female OPERATOR #2. SIMMONS Look at this file again and see what you can make of it. We are interested in his fears, his phobias. OPERATOR #2 Yes, Commander Simmons! On the right, male OPERATOR #3 watches a recording from Pinhead's cell phone, showing the back of the burning house. The PROGRAM DIRECTOR, an elegant grey-haired woman, stands at his side and looks with him at the screen. PROGRAM DIRECTOR What's footage like? The operator looks glum. OPERATOR #3 It breaks off! Meanwhile, from a back hallway, a senior analyst walks to the front of the room. The Director studies the screen and then nods. PROGRAM DIRECTOR That's OK. We know the phone transmits. Pinhead will need to switch it on again in one hour. We just wait. INT. GARDEN SHED - SUBTERRANEAN ROOM - NIGHT [S03b] Pinhead walks to the desk and switches the phone to speaker. At the dial tone, he pushes a speed-dial button. The number is dialed, and the phone rings in short double beeps. At the second ring, FRANCISKA, late twenties, answers. FRANCISKA (V.O.) Yes? PINHEAD Franciska, I need code 25. FRANCISKA (V.O.) Fifteen minutes. PINHEAD P - H out. Pinhead ends the call. INT. GARDEN SHED - SUBTERRANEAN ROOM - NIGHT [S04] Determined, Pinhead walks to the other side of the room. A section has been walled off, with a curtained opening in the middle. Pinhead slides the curtain to the side. He briefly looks over his shoulder, then enters. When he reemerges he is all smiles and dressed in a long leather trench coat and a hat, mimicking the attire of a private eye from the forties or fifties. He walks over to the wall screen and gives a voice command. PINHEAD Tunnel! The screen changes to show just the video from the camera that monitors the sewer tunnel. Fog rises up from a slow stream of soiled water. PINHEAD (CONT'D) Sound! The sound of flowing water fills the room, mixed with a faint roar that becomes loader and louder. On the video screen, the shape of a fast approaching jeep emerges from the fog and then stops. Pinhead's face lights up. PINHEAD (CONT'D) Ah! Franciska! Then, a final voice command. PINHEAD (CONT'D) Engage alarm! The screen shows the four security cameras again and informs: "Security Engaged". Satisfied, Pinhead turns away from the screen and walks towards the metal exit door. INT. SEWER TUNNEL - NIGHT [S05] Soiled water streams slowly through a canal in the middle of the tunnel. There are raised platforms on either side. Yellow-orange lighting establishes an eerie atmosphere, enhanced by the fog that rises up from the water. Pinhead emerges from a metal door in the left-hand side wall. Franciska is waiting in the jeep. She turns to Pinhead. FRANCISKA Hop in. Pinhead lowers himself into the seat next to Franciska. PINHEAD Thanks for coming. Franciska nods and they drive off. INT. SEWER TUNNEL WITH MOVING JEEP - NIGHT [S05; S06] Franciska studies Pinhead. FRANCISKA It's that latest case, right? PINHEAD My house was blown up, and my client was kidnapped. To contact me, the kidnappers left me a mobile. They will call in about forty minutes. I've switched it off. FRANCISKA Good. They will not be able to trace you. But, I'll try to trace those guys instead. PINHEAD Franciska, you're a marvel. Franciska smiles, briefly. FRANCISKA I know. Now you rest. It will be a long night. Pinhead smiles back, then closes his eyes. EXT. SEVILLE ROAD - NIGHT [S07] Seville Road is lined with devastated architecture. Its four lanes attest of past grandeur, long forgotten. Somewhere among the structures is an old office with glass entrance doors that have miraculously survived. The street has a sewer manhole right in front of the office building. A police SUV is parked along the curb, and OFFICER ANDERSON is studying the manhole cover, attracted by the sound of car engine coming from it. Then a human voice adds to the mystery, muffled by reverberation. FRANCISKA (V.O.) Pinhead, Pinhead, wake up! A yawn follows, and a miffed Anderson stares at the manhole. INT. SEWER TUNNEL - NIGHT [S08] Pinhead and Franciska are standing on the platform next to the jeep. In the wall is a metal exit door. Next to the door are a small video screen and an intercom. Franciska activates the screen, which shows the street with the manhole and the investigating Officer Anderson. FRANCISKA Damn! She switches on the intercom. FRANCISKA (CONT'D) Gregory! Some shuffling comes through the tiny speaker, then the wary voice of GREGORY JONES. GREGORY (V.O.) Huh, who's this? FRANCISKA This is Franciska. I need a diversion near the Seville Road manhole. GREGORY (V.O.) Now? FRANCISKA Yes, now! Stop complaining! GREGORY (V.O.) (mutters) Women... EXT. SEVILLE ROAD - NIGHT [S09] Gregory an older man with grey hair and a grey beard walks down the pavement towards the manhole. GREGORY (grunting) Uh - ah - aw - eh ouch! He suddenly collapses and slumps to the pavement. GREGORY (CONT'D) Officer, over here! Officer Anderson turns and rushes towards Gregory, then kneels besides him, his back to the manhole. OFFICER ANDERSON Hey, Gregory, it's you? What ye doing out so late? GREGORY Just getting some libation, officer. I was thirsty... OFFICER ANDERSON Let me check your leg. Officer Anderson feels Gregory's ankle. GREGORY Ouch, that hurts! Officer, you think it's broken? Behind Anderson, the manhole cover is slid open. Pinhead's head appears. He moves aside to peek along the parked SUV. Gregory ever so slightly looks past Officer Anderson and meets Pinhead's gaze. EXT. SEVILLE ROAD - NIGHT [S10] While Pinhead slides the cover back in place, Franciska walks up to Gregory and Anderson,. FRANCISKA Hi Gregory! What's up? Anderson turns to face Franciska, a wailful look in his eyes. OFFICER ANDERSON Good evening, do you know this man? Pinhead joins the company. FRANCISKA Yes we do. We will see what he needs. (to Gregory) Can you try to stand? Slowly Gregory gets up, accompanied by a few more grimaces and moans. OFFICER ANDERSON All right. I'll be on my way. Franciska smiles at him sweetly. FRANCISKA Thank you for assisting, officer. Gregory is an old friend... GREGORY I'm not that old! Meanwhile, the police car drives away. PINHEAD Thanks for your help, Gregory. GREGORY Anytime. Well, I'll be off! Gregory slowly shuffles away. FRANCISKA Bye! A distant clock strikes nine. Pinhead turns to Franciska. PINHEAD Twenty more minutes. We better get cracking, uh, hacking... EXT. SEVILLE ROAD - NIGHT [S11] Pinhead and Franciska enter the office building. Gregory limps away along the sidewalk, shrouded in fog. INT. OFFICE BUILDING - LOBBY [S11] Franciska and Pinhead walk towards the elevator. Pinhead presses the "UP" button. A moaning ensues, announcing the descend of a tired elevator. INT. OFFICE BUILDING - TOP FLOOR HALLWAY - NIGHT [S12] The hallway provides access to the two top-floor offices. To the right is a door with a frosted glass window. Elegant lettering on the window reads: "Walter Phineas Pinhead / Private Investigator". A door at the end of the hallway has the silhouette of an angry cat shown on a binary pattern and a "Private / Keep Out" sign. This door leads to the domain of Franciska. She opens it, and she and Pinhead both enter. INT. FRANCISKA'S PLACE - NIGHT [S13] Franciska's place serves as her living quarters and her hacking workshop. On two worktables four monitors are set up. To the right of the tables is a large server rack. Franciska is busy typing, and all kinds of data flashes on the screens. FRANCISKA This phone comes from the C - S - A. PINHEAD What is the C - S - A? FRANCISKA The Clandestine Surveillance Agency. PINHEAD I see. Why? FRANCISKA I think it has to do with your client. What is her last name? PINHEAD Simmons. I am to investigate her husband Robert. Franciska nods. FRANCISKA Robert Simmons is the top-honcho at the C - S - A. But why the kidnapping? PINHEAD I have no idea. Pinhead checks the wall clock. PINHEAD (CONT'D) Almost nine-twenty. Are we ready for the call? FRANCISKA Yup. All set. It's on speaker. INT. FRANCISKA'S PLACE - NIGHT [S14] The phone rings. Franciska presses a few keys to connect. PINHEAD Well? The gruff voice of Bob Garrett fills the room. GARRETT (V.O.) Where are you? You messed with the phone? PINHEAD Far from it. Now what do you want? GARRETT (V.O.) We want you to stop working on the case and hand over everything. PINHEAD How do I know Alura is OK? GARRETT (V.O.) I can let her talk. PINHEAD I want her on screen, and have her read something I tell her. GARRETT (V.O.) Wait... Franciska turns to Pinhead, then mutes the phone. FRANCISKA Clever! PINHEAD What about the trace? FRANCISKA I'll be done before the call is over. Garrett reappears on the phone. Franciska unmutes. GARRETT (V.O.) Here. Make it brief. No funny stuff. The phone switches to video. ALURA SIMMONS appears. Pinhead looks at the wall clock. It shows 9:21. PINHEAD Alura, what's the date and time on the phone. GARRETT (V.O.) Go ahead. ALURA (V.O.) (on screen) April 12, nine-twenty-one, P.M. (scared) Pinhead! The screen goes blank. GARRETT (V.O.) That's enough. Now about your case notes... INT. CSA EXECUTIVE COMMANDER OFFICE - NIGHT [S15] A lavishly appointed office with a large desk. A picture window reveals the city's skyscrapers. On the desk, a photo of Alura. Behind the desk, Executive Commander Robert Simmons glares up at his visitor: the Program Director. SIMMONS What do you mean you lost him? You used our tracer phone, right? PROGRAM DIRECTOR Pinhead must know someone who neutralized it. He couldn't do it himself. SIMMONS Well, find him! PROGRAM DIRECTOR Yes, sir! The Director leaves. Simmons smiles faintly and presses the intercom button on his phone. SIMMONS Odette! Please come. I need you. ODETTE DURAND enters. She's a young woman in an outfit that is quite daring for a secretary. SIMMONS (CONT'D) Did you finish the Pinhead files? ODETTE (French accent) Yes, Monsieur Simmons. She walks up to him and hugs him from behind. Simmons slowly shakes his head. SIMMONS Darling, I'm SO sorry, our dream is turning into a nightmare. Odette looks puzzled and kisses the top of his head. ODETTE Monsieur? INT. FRANCISKA'S PLACE - NIGHT [S16] Franciska is busy with the keyboard. Pinhead watches in awe. FRANCISKA (to herself) OK, this is the account it came from. This is the closest tower. Now a bit of triangulation... Pinhead shakes his head. PINHEAD Gobbledygook to me... Better leave her to it. Pinhead turns to the camera. PINHEAD (CONT'D) You know, this was going to be such an easy case, like I have done many times... About a week ago, Alura Simmons hired me to check on her husband, Robert, who'd started to come home later and later. In the background, a window with a complicated network diagram is displayed on Franciska's LCD screen. On another window lines with numbers flash by. PINHEAD (CONT'D) I began my surveillance. Simmons went to work in the morning, stayed all day and worked late. When he left, I tailed him; he went straight home. Pinhead shakes his head. PINHEAD (CONT'D) It was boring... Then one night, same thing at first, but then Simmons took another route. I followed... INT/EXT. PINHEAD'S CAR - NIGHT [FLASHBACK] [S17] Pinhead drives down a woodsy and bumpy country road in his old Ford pickup. He's in pursuit of a white Bentley. He keeps his distance but follows the Bentley at every turn. INT/EXT. BENTLEY - NIGHT [FLASHBACK CONT'D] [S17] Simmons is behind the wheel. In his rearview mirror, the Ford is just visible. He uses his Bluetooth phone. SIMMONS He's here again. Don't use violence. Just scare him off. GARRETT (V.O.) Yes, boss! EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT [FLASHBACK CONT'D] [S17] The Bentley goes through a crossing, where a large red pickup truck is waiting. When Pinhead passes, the truck emerges from the side road, cutting off the Ford. Pinhead steps on the brakes and the Ford comes screeching to a halt. INT/EXT. BENTLEY - NIGHT [FLASHBACK CONT'D] [S17] Simmons sees only the blocking truck in the rearview mirror. He smiles. The Bentley moves on, leaving the Ford and the truck behind. EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT [FLASHBACK CONT'D] [S17] Garrett gets out of the truck and approaches the Ford. Pinhead has rolled down the window. PINHEAD What's the problem? Garrett glares at Pinhead through the open window. GARRETT It's you. Lay off of Mr. Simmons, or else... PINHEAD Is that a threat? GARRETT Yes. And I won't warn you again! INT. FRANCISKA'S PLACE - NIGHT [S18] An excited Franciska shakes a dozing Pinhead by the shoulder. FRANCISKA Pinhead, Pinhead, wake up! Pinhead slowly opens his eyes. PINHEAD (groggy) Uh, what? FRANCISKA I found the place! PINHEAD What place? Franciska looks frustrated. FRANCISKA Oh dummy, where the call came from, of course! Pinhead perks up. PINHEAD Franciska, you're a genius! How did you do it? On second thought, don't tell... So, where? FRANCISKA It's a few buildings down the street, at the corner of Seville and Third! Pinhead is astonished. PINHEAD What? FRANCISKA Right. I wasn't sure at first. I needed to double-check. Anyway, what's next? PINHEAD I do have an idea, but we will need some help. Do you still see Carl sometimes? Franciska nods. FRANCISKA He owes me. I'll give him a call. INT. KIDNAPPER'S ROOM - NIGHT [S20] SUPER: "KIDNAPPER'S LAIR" Alura sits on a couch. Garrett sits at a desk staring at the smart phone he's holding. The sound of a Popeye cartoon fills the room. Alura slowly turns her head to glance at Garrett, to quickly look straight ahead again when he glares back at her. Garrett returns his attention to his cartoon, grimacing in various ways to show his reaction to the story. EXT. CORNER OF SEVILLE ROAD AND THIRD STREET - NIGHT [S19] CARL is surveying Third Street. He's wearing dark clothes that contrast with the fog that surrounds him. At the opposite corner, Pinhead is checking out Seville Road. He nods at Franciska, who speaks into a Bluetooth phone. FRANCISKA Hey, Carl! Carl has a Bluetooth phone as well. CARL Yo, Fran! FRANCISKA (V.O.) (through phone) Go, now! Carl runs towards a large red pickup truck and skillfully opens the door. Immediately an alarm goes off with flashing headlights and a honking horn. INT. KIDNAPPER'S ROOM - NIGHT [S21] Garrett's answers his ringing smart phone. GARRETT Who's this? FRANCISKA (V.O.) (through phone) Never mind that. EXT. CORNER OF SEVILLE ROAD AND THIRD STREET - NIGHT [S19] Franciska speaks in her Bluetooth phone. FRANCISKA Someone is nipping your car. GARRETT (V.O.) (through phone) Oh, no! Shit! Moments later Garrett sprints out of the corner building, leaving the front door open. Meanwhile, Carl is busy inside the truck. Suddenly the alarm stops, and Carl manages to start the car. Garrett dashes around the corner and runs towards the still stationary truck. Just then, Carl drives off. Garrett chases after the truck and both disappear into the fog. EXT. SEVILLE ROAD - NIGHT [S22] A clock strikes one. Franciska and Pinhead stand in front of the corner building. They give each other a fist bump. PINHEAD Good work! I'll fetch Alura. I'll see you downstairs. Franciska nods and walks off towards the manhole cover. Pinhead gazes after her admiringly, then turns to the open front door of the building. INT. SEWER TUNNEL - NIGHT [S23] Franciska is behind the wheel of the parked jeep, with Alura next to her. Pinhead sits on the steps leading to the upper platform. He turns to Alura. PINHEAD You'll get a full report, but I know that your husband was behind it all. Alura looks angry. ALURA The bastard. Why? PINHEAD He tried to jeopardize the case. Which was puzzling, because I couldn't find anything, and would have given up. Alura shows surprise. ALURA Why didn't you? PINHEAD Well, he then set a trap and had Garrett, your kidnapper, threaten me. That made me think that he didn't want me to look where I hadn't looked before. FRANCISKA Which was inside, where Pinhead had no access. Simmons then realized he had made a mistake and needed to take drastic measures. PINHEAD I thought it might be an affair, and it was, but inside, an internal affair... ALURA I've been so blind! It's that French tart, Odette! She once was at a party at our home. I remember her revealing dress and "Midnight Heat" perfume... That's what I smelled on Robert's suit the other day! Alura bends her head and shakes it slowly. Franciska looks on in sympathy. FRANCISKA Let's go. I'll take you somewhere safe. Pinhead, what about you? Pinhead shakes his head. PINHEAD I'll sleep in my office. Have a good night. Franciska and Alura drive off. Pinhead checks the Seville Road exit monitor. Officer Anderson stares at the manhole, which is not covered. PINHEAD (CONT'D) Oh, I'm so stupid. He presses the intercom. PINHEAD (CONT'D) Gregory? You there? A load snoring emits from the intercom speaker. PINHEAD (CONT'D) Bloody hell, well too late. Better try an other exit. He slowly walks down the platform surrounded by the dampness rising up from the water. INT. PINHEAD'S OFFICE - DAY [S24] SUPERIMPOSE: "WALTER PINHEAD'S OFFICE - ONE WEEK LATER" Pinhead's office is decorated like that of a fifties private eye. The desk is old, with an old typewriter and telephone. There is an old radio, and on the ancient file cabinet sits an old fan that tries to keep the place cool. The only recent commodity is a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. Pinhead sits behind the desk, and Franciska is stretched out on the couch. They watch a newscast that's playing on the flat screen. FLAT SCREEN TV - NEWSCAST A FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR sits behind a large desk on the newscast set. She is in her late twenties and formally dressed in blazer and skirt. ANCHOR Now the rest of the news. The Clandestine Surveillance Agency has announced that Executive Commander Robert Simmons will step down. On the studio screen behind the announcer, images of Robert Simmons in his office appear. ANCHOR (CONT'D) No official reason was given, other than that Mr. Simmons is leaving the C - S - A for personal reasons. The announcer smiles. ANCHOR (CONT'D) So much is certain, though: his departure is not a case of: "I want to spend more time with the family". Alura appears on the screen. ANCHOR (CONT'D) Yesterday, his wife Alura Simmons filed for divorce, and she has even accused her husband of kidnapping her. These allegations have been substantiated by Walter Pinhead, a private investigator hired by Ms. Simmons. A shot of Pinhead appears, in private-eye attire. PINHEAD Mr. Pinhead and his assistant were also instrumental in the rescue of Ms. Simmons about a week ago. Pinhead is shown, gesticulating in the kidnapper's room. PINHEAD'S OFFICE Franciska glances at Pinhead. FRANCISKA Assistant? Pinhead looks at her sheepishly. PINHEAD Well, uh... FLAT SCREEN TV - NEWSCAST ANCHOR Mr. Pinhead is working with the authorities, as there is more to this case than meets the eye, even the private eye. Franciska turns to Pinhead, who shrugs dismissively. ANCHOR (CONT'D) Mr. Pinhead has kindly agreed to appear in a special presentation on this channel, titled "The Lost Client". An announcement appears on the screen for "The Lost Client". ANCHOR (CONT'D) In this exclusive, which will air next Saturday, all will be revealed. That was the news. Over to Christine for the weather. PINHEAD'S OFFICE Pinhead switches the TV off. He turns to Franciska. PINHEAD Franciska? Franciska looks up. FRANCISKA Aha? PINHEAD I would like to take you out to dinner. Franciska shows surprise. FRANCISKA Oh, really? I thought you'd never ask... She smiles cutely at Pinhead. FADE OUT: THE END