No Direction Home

NO DIRECTION HOME

INT. THE GARAGE WORKSHOP. NIGHT

DENNIS is sitting on the floor, huddled in the corner of the room, handcuffed to filing cabinet. The lights turned off the garage is lit only by the dim glow of the street lights outside. They shine through the blinds that cover the windows making lined shadows on the floor, and across DENNIS's face like the bars of a prison cell. The garage it self is very run-down and shabby. Tools litter the floor and the work spaces, scattered by a struggle. A beaten up dark green car sits in the middle of the room, one of its windows smashed in the same struggle.

DENNIS is wearing a grey T shirt, jeans, a hooded jumper and dark jacket. He has a black eye and a cut lip. LIAM is wearing a white shirt black tie, black trousers and smart shoes. He is sitting nonchalantly on the bonnet of the car with his trench coat lying neatly beside him. Despite being slightly roughed up he has clearly come off better than DENNIS in their fight. He stares blankly down at DENNIS; DENNIS does not make eye contact. Between them lies an unzipped rucksack, DENNIS is staring at it regretfully. DENNIS reaches into his pocket and takes out a packet of cigarettes. He opens it, takes one out and places it in his mouth then with his free hand starts patting his pockets looking for a lighter. LIAM takes a silver zippo out of his trouser pocket and offers it to him.

DENNIS
Thanks

Taking the lighter DENNIS lights the cigarette. He moves his hand to cover the flame, and as he does it pulls the drawer he is handcuffed to along with it. The cigarette now lit he holds out the lighter. LIAM takes it

LIAM
So... they'll be here soon

DENNIS pulls at the cuffs frantically. LIAM watches without amusement. Realizing there is no chance of getting free DENNIS punches the side of the filing cabinet and knocks his head against the wall behind him.

DENNIS
Shit!

There is silence for a moment while DENNIS pants after his outburst

LIAM
Where's the gun Dennis?

DENNIS
What gun?

LIAM
The one you shot him with

DENNIS
Ah...

DENNIS reaches into the drawer he is handcuffed to, and rummages through the files inside it finally pulling out a black semi-automatic pistol.

LIAM
Is it still loaded?

DENNIS raises the gun and points it at LIAM. LIAM watches without flinching, staring down the barrel entirely unaffected. DENNIS holds this position, waiting for the blink. It doesn’t come.

DENNIS
No…

DENNIS pulls the trigger, the empty click of the weapon echoes quietly around the room.

DENNIS
Shame…

Defeated DENNIS lowers the gun and holds it with both hands. There is a tense moment while DENNIS holds the gun staring at it.

LIAM
Would you have done?

DENNIS
I don’t even know…

DENNIS puts the gun beside him and slides it along the floor to LIAM, it skittering on the uneven surface. LIAM picks it up holding it only with his index finger and his thumb to avoid leaving finger prints and places it beside him on the bonnet of the car.

Silence for a while, while DENNIS finishes his cigarette. Liam begins to pace around the room his hands in his pockets. The cigarette dead DENNIS stubs it out on the filing cabinet, the sparks float down to the floor and flicker out. He looks up at Liam.

DENNIS
For what it’s worth I'm sorry...

Liam pushing the light switch. The solitary light bulb hanging in the centre of the room, flickers on and the dull orange light makes DENNIS's face lighter. LIAM turns to face DENNIS, surprised by his apology.

LIAM
For killing him?

DENNIS
Nah about.... you know...

LIAM
Oh.... well, no need to apologize

DENNIS
But-

Liam begins to pace again, running his hand along the body of the car as he goes.

LIAM
[Cutting him off]
You saw an opportunity and you took it....

DENNIS
I know but-

LIAM
[Cutting him off again]
Forget it...

Pausing at the driver’s window of the car LIAM bends down and looks inside to inspect the interior.

LIAM
Not bad this…

[Looking over at DENNIS his face less hard]

Leather interior nice colour, needs bit of work but still…

DENNIS watches him half smiling at his comments; they have not lost their rapport. Liam leans inside the car to check the dashboard clock, it reads 22:49.

LIAM
Not long to go
DENNIS
What's gunna happen when they get here?

LIAM walks around the car back to his original position.

LIAM
Hard to say…

Sitting back on the bonnet of the car he leans back on the wind shield, looking up at the flickering light bulb in the centre of the ceiling.

LIAM
They won’t be pleased I can tell you that much

DENNIS
Christ....
DENNIS casts around desperately, the reality of the situation finally starting to set in.

Dennis
Can’t you-

LIAM
No.

LIAM stares defiantly at the ceiling, not wanting the eye contact. Staying unattached.

DENNIS
Why not?

LIAM
Because.

DENNIS
Oh I see… so you are a bit annoyed then?

LIAM
A bit.

DENNIS
Well...
[Lost for words]
You’ve got the money back

DENNIS desperately kicks the rucksack closer to LIAM. Money spills out of the bag and onto the floor.

DENNIS
So fucking take it! What’s the point!

LIAM sits up straight ignoring the money he looks directly at DENNIS stony faced and to the point.

LIAM
A. I don’t want it and B. We’ve got the money back because I caught you, you didn’t give it back.

DENNIS
Well… fuck man…

The two men sit in silence for a few moments, looking each other in the eye. Holding the eye contact, neither of them wants to be the first to look away.

LIAM
It’s not like you don’t deserve it

Silence. Dennis’s eyes flicker, that one hit home. Silence, broken only by the flickering noise of the dying light bulb.

DENNIS
Well that’s blunt

LIAM says nothing. DENNIS looks away from him

Dennis
Yeh, you're probably right
[Pause]

DENNIS looks back up at LIAM

DENNIS
Can you do something for me?

LIAM
No.

LIAM now the one to look away from DENNIS, He knows what's coming.

DENNIS
I just-

LIAM
You just want me to tell someone that you love them or that you’re sorry. And the answers still no. I don’t do that.

DENNIS
Right… ok… fuck…

A train runs along the near by tracks, the two remain silent until it has passed. DENNIS opens his mouth as if to say something but his eyes are drawn to the light of a car's headlights reflecting in the window and from outside they hear the sound of the car pulling up. They both look up at it.

LIAM
Here we go

DENNIS
[Now terrified]
Oh Shit…

LIAM stands up, puts on his coat and picks up the gun once again with only his finger and thumb. Walks to the door and pushes a button. The the slow rumble of the garage door starts up and the door begins to roll upwards filling the room with white light from a car's headlights outside. DENNIS looks away in the opposite direction not wanting to see as the garage is washed out by the brightness of the light. With a strange smile on his face Liam turns to look at DENNIS, who is still looking away.

LIAM
[Sarcastically]
See you around.

As LIAM turns toward the light, DENNIS finally giving up pulls his hood up with his free hand and slumps his head hiding his face. LIAM walks out of the garage into the light.

EXT. ALLEY OUTSIDE THE GARAGE. NIGHT

A sleek expensive looking black car is parked with its headlights on full beam pointing into the garage. JACK is behind the wheel and TERRY is in the front passenger seat. JACK is wearing a black shirt and leather jacket. TERRY like LIAM is wearing a dark suit and smart shoes, his arm is in a sling. LIAM walks out of the garage towards the car. Turning off the engine JACK climbs out of the drivers side, slams the door shut and walks quickly into the garage ignoring LIAM. TERRY gets out of the passenger side slowly so as not to hurt his arm. LIAM draws level with TERRY just as he shuts the car door.

LIAM
Evening Terry

TERRY
All right?

Noticing LIAM has been roughed up TERRY reaches out with his good arm and straightens LIAM'S tie

TERRY
There you go

LIAM
Thanks

TERRY
The boy in there?

LIAM
[Nods]
The money to.

LIAM holds up DENNIS gun, dangling it by his finger. TERRY takes it. About to walk into the garage LIAM stops him with a hand on his shoulder.

LIAM
Don’t drag it out

TERRY smiles and walks inside the garage. LIAM turns to watch as TERRY enters. JACK pushes a button on the side of the door and it begins to roll back down. LIAM catches a brief glimpse of DENNIS sat on the floor his face still hidden as TERRY moves in front of him the door then reaches the floor concealing the room from sight.

Turning up the lapels of his coat LIAM walks away down the alley onto the street.

EXT. THE STREET. NIGHT

LIAM walks out of the Alley and begins down the street. The pavements are wet from rain, the light from the streetlamps and nearby houses reflecting off them. Behind him two shots ring out, turning his head to look behind him, he acknowledges this without breaking his stride, and continues into the night.