BOUTIQUE LITIGATION
2015
T293, Rome

BOUTIQUE LITIGATION

Written by

LINDSAY JARVIS

EXT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS, LOS ANGELES - DAY 113

The s u n is about t o go down. Mark is driving his Maserati GranTurismo off the freeway along Sugar Hill Drive, passing the Eucalyptus trees and Oleander bushes. He is nonchalantly smoking a cigarette, the car's sunroof is open and there are a number of Baute Law files on the passenger seat.

CUT TO:
EXT. ENTRANCE/ MARK'S HOUSE - DAY 114

Mark drives up to the entrance of the house and activates the opening of the 12-foot ornate iron gates through a remote control. They slowly open and he drives over the speed bump, he is alone and there is total silence. The two Executive Protection employees that were guarding the entrance are nowhere to bee seen and their guns are resting on the ground by the garage.

CUT TO:
INT. MARK'S CAR/ OUTSIDE MARK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS DAY 115

Mark loosens his tie and opens the car's glove compartment to make sure his pistol is there.

CUT TO:
EXT. MARK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS DAY 116

Mark parks and exits the car; he cautiously approaches the house's front door.

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LOBBY/ MARK'S HOUSE - DAY

Mark turns off the alarm, 08-12-09 (the date his partner Jeffrey was murdered)

His cellphone RINGS

FRANK
Why don't we have the fucking
money, we fired him over a year
ago? Our company is in the Fortune
500 _ you should treat us with
respect!

MARK
This will make you some serious
money; we will win the retrial ...
I'll make sure.

Frank abruptly hangs up.

MARK (CONT'D)
Goddamn fucking son of a bitch!
INT. DRAWING ROOM/ MARKS HOUSE - DAY

CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM/ MARKS HOUSE - DAY 118

The window to the left of marble fireplace is suspiciously open. Mark takes a moment to observe this before walking over to the windowsill. He pensively looks out over the garden before he closes and locks the window.

CUT TO:
INT. LOBBY/ MARK'S HOUSE - DAY
OMITTED

EXT. GARDEN/ MARKS HOUSE - NIGHT 120

There is a little flickering of light on the swimming pool's surface reflected from a distant security light and Mark can make out some of the gargoyles. A dog BARKS aggressively in the distance.

GARGOYLE
I unlocked the window

MARK
Who said that?

Mark turns around, looking frightened.

GARGOYLE
I did ... my name is Jeff.

MARK
Jeff is that you?

The gargoyle's eyes suddenly light up a bright red color and fill the screen. Mark stands opposite the gargoyle and a look of pure horror and trepidation erupts on his face. He steps backwards, stumbles and then falls on his back. He drags himself up, turns around and races back into the house.

CUT TO:
INT. SAFE ROOM/ MARKS HOUSE - NIGHT 121

Mark rushes into the safe room. Breathing heavily he takes out the laptop from the closet and frantically starts deleting files and collecting the letters from Victoria.

CUT TO:

INT. SIDEWALK - NIGHT 122

A car pulls up outside the house; the driver opens the door and exits. The silhouette of a lone tall man is partly visible.

CUT TO:

INT. SAFE ROOM/ MARKS HOUSE - NIGHT 123

Mark freezes momentarily and then wipes the sweat from his brow.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 125

He rushes in the direction of the service entrance but then turns around as he remembers he should take the laptop. Mark can now hear MOVEMENT in the drawing room.

CUT TO:

INT. SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS 126

Mark runs back into the safe room, locks the door behind him and slouches on the floor. Beads of sweat fill his face and he is trembling with fear. Crickets CHIRP outside as FOOTSTEPS from down the hallway become LOUDER and LOUDER...

FADE TO BLACK.