The Straight is a short film I’ve written, I will be producing and directing it come February and I am excited to bring you the script. You all get a special first look at the script that made me take the leap. Enjoy, Hughie
FADE IN
EXT. BACK ALLEY-DAY
4 vehicles, all well maintained sit behind a row of buildings. Overgrown weeds reach up and tickle graffiti covering the bare concrete walls.
A vehicle pulls into the alley and comes to a stop near the other vehicles.
INT. CAR – DAY
A young beautiful woman sits behind the wheel, LIZ appears nervous as she runs her fingers through her long hair. Next to her her in the passenger seat, MORGAN stares straight ahead. His nose cut on the bridge and his eye black and blue.
MORGAN
Let’s do this.
LIZ
Morgan you know how much is riding on this.
Liz hands him an overstuffed envelope. He pulls out two ten thousand dollar stacks of cash and places them in his jacket pocket revealing a gun in a shoulder holster.
MORGAN
Yeah I know, that’s why I have a plan B.
LIZ
I’ll be here waiting.
She looks forward.
EXT. BACK ALLEY-DAY
Morgan walks to a large metal door and knocks. A young man, rough around the edges, AJ, opens the door and steps out of the way for Morgan to enter. He disappears inside the building.
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY. DAY
Morgan opens up his jacket and pulls out the cash, he eyes it for a split second and hands it to AJ who turns, a briefcase sits on a table with eight more stacks inside, he tosses the two inside to make ten. He latches it closed.
They move down the hallway, AJ carrying the briefcase, Morgan following close behind. They reach a large metal door and AJ swings it open.
CUT TO:
INT. POKER ROOM – DAY
The middle of the room holds a round green felt table with stacks of poker chips in front of five chairs, a sixth chair has no chips. Four chairs holds Morgans opponents, KYLE, a well dressed, well put together man; LINDSEY, a rough but sexy woman; OSCAR, a young online gamer dude; and Dillon, an overweight bald man. Morgan pulls up a seat at the empty chair with the chips.
AJ pulls up to the spot with no chips and picks up a deck of cards. And shuffles them.
AJ
Chips are 500 each, Morgan you open first, blinds are at 500 and 1000, this is no limit boys and girls.
Morgan throws out one chip and Dillon next with 2 chips.
AJ tosses each player 2 cards each. They all peek at their cards. Kyle folds, Oscar tosses in two chips, Lindsey throws in two chips, Morgan calls, Dillon checks.
AJ throws out three cards, 5 diamonds, 7 clubs, 6 diamonds.
Morgan raises all in. Dillon calls.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK ALLEY-DAY
Liz sits in the car watching the door. Dillon exits the door and the door slams behind him.
INT. POKER ROOM – DAY
Morgan’s stack of chips sits in front of him. With the newly vacant chair at the table the stacks are higher. He peeks at a pocket pair of twos, diamonds and hearts.
On the table lay 3 clubs, 2 spades, J hearts, Q diamonds.
Around the table, everyone throws in five chips.
AJ places a J clubs, Morgan checks, checks around the table, Kyle pushes in two stacks. Morgan calls, folds by Oscar and Lindsey. Morgan throws down Full house, twos over Jacks, Kyle, throws down 2 jacks, Jacks over twos
Morgan shuffles around in his chair.
Kyle pulls the pot to him and throws back in chips. Morgan throws in his.
CUT TO:
AJ passes around cards. Oscar pushes in the few chips he has left followed by Lindsey who does the same.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK ALLEY-NIGHT
The door opens and AJ escorts out an angry Oscar who doesn’t seem to be taking the loss well. Oscar’s finger pushes deep into AJ’s chest. Oscar attempts to get past AJ, trying to squeeze between him and the door frame. AJ’S fist swings wildly and Oscar flies back, landing on his ass.
AJ reaches behind his back and pulls a gun from his belt, A small black handgun, and places it to Oscars forehead as he lays on the ground.
Oscar stands with the gun to his forehead. AJ pushes the gun further into his head. AJ pushed hard, if it were possible the gun would be inside his head.
CUT TO:
INT. POKER ROOM – NIGHT
Three remain in the game. Morgan and Lindsey with short stacks. Kyle with a large stack.
AJ passes cards, Kyle folds. Lindsey looks at her cards, all in, Morgan calls. They lay their cards face up.
Morgan 2 Ks, Lindsey 2As.
AJ puts down A, J, 4. Morgan stands, sending his chair scooting across the floor. He puts his hand inside his coat. AJ puts down a K.
Lindsey stands, and Kyle laughs.
AJ places a card on the table. Morgan’s face releases tension, she exhales a large sigh.
LINDSEY
NO! What the hell!
Kyle laughs at the K that sets on the table.
Lindsey slams the door on the way out of the room.
They ante up, AJ passes the cards out, laying them in front of Kyle and Morgan. They each have
Morgan looks at his cards, 10,K. Kyle checks, Morgan checks.
AJ puts down the first card, a J, then 4.
Morgan checks, Kyle bets half. Morgan calls.
AJ places a 9.
Morgan tries to contain himself, checks. Kyle bets half again, leaving one stack. Morgan calls, leaving him one stack as well.
AJ places a 10, Morgan checks, Kyle goes all in. Morgan calls and throws in his cards. A straight, 9 10 J Q K
Kyle puts his K down. Morgan stands. Kyle throws his A, straight 10 J Q K A
KYLE
Straight, Ace high
Morgan reaches into his jacket and pulls his gun.
Everyone jumps up.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK ALLEY-NIGHT
Gun shots ring out, Liz sits nervously. The door flies open, Kyle and AJ runs out of the door, AJ carrying the briefcase.
INT. POKER ROOM – NIGHT
Morgan lays on the floor, his chest riddled with bullet holes and in a pool of blood. His eyes stare at the ceiling. On his chest, soaking in blood, are two cards, a K of hearts And a Queen of diamonds.
FADE TO BLACK:
hughiegibson author 