BSA 204 W13 : Lizard People Treatment ACT I
EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE BACKYARD
Scavenging the rocky garden with her eyes she says that there was a Tuatara, he doubts this asking her if she's sure. She says yes, but she wasn't sure if it was dead or not, it wasn't moving, so she was gonna poke it with a stick. He laughs at this and asks her if she's sure it was a Tuatara, they are very endangered and finding one in a suburban neighborhood like this would be quite a find. She is very sure and answers that yes, it was, but self-doubt washes over her straight after this strong statement.
He apologises for scaring it off and says that he's sure it was a Tuatara as she claims, expanding to say that she has to come in as it's time for dinner. She throws the stick down and it lands centimeters from the unassuming newt who twitches once but maintains its stony exterior as the siblings walk towards the house in the background. She is asking Robbie whether she can come with when they go to rob the house, he laughs and tells her it would be too dangerous, but maybe some day when she's older. She protests that Danny is allowed to go and he buffers that Danny is 17, when she's 17 she can go too.
INT. MODEST DINING ROOM
A chicken leg is violently ripped from the roasted carcass, a man puts it into the girls plate and continues to mutilate the corpse. An entire family are gathered around the table, an older mother and father, Robbie and Danny (brothers), Robbie's girlfriend, the young girl and an even younger boy, and another unrelated adult male who is quiet and reserved. Everyone is feverishly talking over each other, having a good time.
The mother speaks up and has to clink her glass to make herself heard, the laughter dies and people politely listens. She says that this feast is not only for Robbie's greatest achievement, something a parent can't be more proud of, even if they as parents haven't always agreed with his methods or line of work, they can't deny that he has made a name for himself. She refers to him as a modern day Robin Hood, and tells how he was once asked in school what he wanted to be and Robbie told his guidance counselor that he wanted to change the world for the better, it didn't matter what line of work he had to do to be able to achieve that. She jokes that it certainly isn't what they as parents wished for but it's undeniable that it has had a positive affect on the community. But its also a celebration for Danny, who has now officially become a man. They accept this gracefully, she tells Robbie straight that he has to ensure that Danny comes home safe, just because he's old enough now, doesn't mean he can stop keeping a watchful eye on him.They joke and Robbie reassures his mother that Danny will be fine, they've got the whole thing down to the T, anyway it shouldn't be any more of a hazard than what Danny has already demonstrated he can do on the streets. His father makes a comment about how society forced them to be a pickpocket and a robber, in his time young men grew into respectable positions. Robbie questions this, stating that these so called respectable positions were dead ends were one was paid only as much as they needed to survive. He says that they weren't forced into this position, they chose it and its the only way to show those above that the ones below will no longer be treated as they were in the past. He is ensuring the proper distribution of wealth, even if it has to be taken by force.
His father isn't happy with this, Robbie asks him if it didn't help the Johnsons last time, or the Black family before that. Their young girl would have died if weren't for the money that he 'stole'. His father concedes that this is true, but he doesn't like it all, Robbie says he doesn't either but its the only way to make it fair. Those above already rigged the game, and instead of doing anything about fixing it they are squabbling amongst themselves. His girlfriend looks on with a glimmer in her eye as he says all this.
The moon is full and shines proudly on Robbie, the quiet one, his brother and girlfriend exiting the house. They start entering a van but Robbie is stopped by his little sister, wiping sleep from her eyes. He asks her why she's up, she says she wanted to say goodbye first. He says there's no need he'll see her in the morning when she gets up anyway, she asks him if he'll be alright. He asks her why she's so worried, and she says she heard mum and dad talking and that dad was very worried. He says that dad is always worried, that dad doesn't understand what they do. He asks her is she trusts him, she says yes, he asks her is he's ever been caught or hurt before, she says no. He tells her to ignore dad and trust him then, everything is going to be alright as per usual.
The mother speaks up and has to clink her glass to make herself heard, the laughter dies and people politely listens. She says that this feast is not only for Robbie's greatest achievement, something a parent can't be more proud of, even if they as parents haven't always agreed with his methods or line of work, they can't deny that he has made a name for himself. She refers to him as a modern day Robin Hood, and tells how he was once asked in school what he wanted to be and Robbie told his guidance counselor that he wanted to change the world for the better, it didn't matter what line of work he had to do to be able to achieve that. She jokes that it certainly isn't what they as parents wished for but it's undeniable that it has had a positive affect on the community. But its also a celebration for Danny, who has now officially become a man. They accept this gracefully, she tells Robbie straight that he has to ensure that Danny comes home safe, just because he's old enough now, doesn't mean he can stop keeping a watchful eye on him.They joke and Robbie reassures his mother that Danny will be fine, they've got the whole thing down to the T, anyway it shouldn't be any more of a hazard than what Danny has already demonstrated he can do on the streets. His father makes a comment about how society forced them to be a pickpocket and a robber, in his time young men grew into respectable positions. Robbie questions this, stating that these so called respectable positions were dead ends were one was paid only as much as they needed to survive. He says that they weren't forced into this position, they chose it and its the only way to show those above that the ones below will no longer be treated as they were in the past. He is ensuring the proper distribution of wealth, even if it has to be taken by force.
His father isn't happy with this, Robbie asks him if it didn't help the Johnsons last time, or the Black family before that. Their young girl would have died if weren't for the money that he 'stole'. His father concedes that this is true, but he doesn't like it all, Robbie says he doesn't either but its the only way to make it fair. Those above already rigged the game, and instead of doing anything about fixing it they are squabbling amongst themselves. His girlfriend looks on with a glimmer in her eye as he says all this.
INT. TV ROOM
TV flickering light up the whole family lounging on a couch, the other adult males is restfully snoozing in the corner. The volume is down, the older people and children have fallen asleep. Robbie has his girlfriend in his arm and they are watching the TV where the Queen Live Aid performance is playing. He drowsily points out how confident Mercury was and how someone can be that graceful in unashamed in front of millions.
She says she always thought he looked a bit silly and criticizes his fashion sense, joking about Robbie growing a mustache like that. He laughs and says no, then points out what he means saying that what's on screen is an example of what a human being can reach - a peak of greatness. He says he can only wish for such motivation and drive.
She says what he's doing at the moment is great, he disagrees saying he can do more, its been two years and this is only his third job, he wishes for more and if only he partitioned his time better he would have gotten farther by now. She says he's being too hard on himself, he can't be perfect. He says he guesses not, but if others can do it, those he steals from works hard 24/7, somehow, and they never lose focus. If they can so can he.
She says he's never happy and kindly disproves of his silly ambition. He tells her he did feel like that once - on top of the world that is. She asks when, he tells her when he first started going out with her. It was around that time he first saw the Queen performance and that is also when he thought he feels like that. Winning her made him feel like king of the world.
EXT. FRONT PORCH
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