The Pride, Part One (A Screenplay By Rod Townsend)
OPENING VIGNETTE and CREDITS
CUE MUSIC: Ramalama (Bang Bang), RóisÃn Murphy
INT. OMAR'S BATHROOM ON LOWER FIFTH AVENUE, MANHATTAN
The camera is lost in fog, but then reveals a straight shot at the fogged mirror of a bathroom medicine cabinet. A tanned, darkly-hairy muscular hand and forearm reaches to open the cabinet, revealing three shelves filled with Kiehl's, Omorovicza, Sisley and other beauty products, arranged artfully. OMAR'S hand grabs a tube of Dr. Sebagh "Anti-Pollution Purifying Mask," squeezes out a generous glob, and comes toward the camera.
A group of eight men sit at tables with a couple of plates of mostly-eaten "brunch foods," but mostly glasses of bloody Marys and flutes of mimosas. Close in on STEPHEN, mid-thirties, preppy and fit. He stares intently through dark Tom Ford "Alexai" sunglasses at passersby. He catches a smile and a wave from an early twenties "twink." The sun glints off a ring on his wedding finger. Pan to ERIC (also mid-thirties and very similar in look to STEPHEN, but with Dita "Insider" shades), laughing in conversation with those at his end of the table. The camera closes in on his hand (with a ring matching STEPHEN'S) as it squeezes his neighbor's (unringed) hand.
EXT. HUDSON RIVER PARK, PIER 64
Pan across the pier and fly to the hands of MARK, which are "dancing" to music and obscuring the faces of MARK and GREG. Both are late twenties, scruffy and bearded, shirtless and wearing cargo shorts; Carrera "Champion" sunglasses on MARK and Mosley Tribes "Hagen Aviators" on GREG. Both wear John Varvatos for Converse sneaks and have matching Scott "Genius" mountain bikes. GREG passes a lit roach to MARK. The camera follows their hands in this motion.
INT. OPEN-PLAN LOFT APARTMENT, TRIBECA
DEVIN's hand picks up a pair of Andrew Christian underwear from the floor of the apartment, darkened by drawn black "Eco Stripe" Smith + Noble blinds. He gathers more clothes, clumsily yet with semi-dancerly movement through the apartment, putting on pieces along the way. He reaches the front door and makes a quick glance toward the bed. Exiting into the hallway we finally see DEVIN, a mid-twenties, super-fit African American with a "DON'T FART, DON'T SMELL" tight T-shirt. He pulls the door closed.
INT. OMAR'S APARTMENT
OMAR dances in front of a full-length mirror. He face is mid-facial mask.
EXT. HELL'S KITCHEN, EIGHTH AVENUE
STEPHEN and ERIC walk south in semi-unison, both on iPhones. STEPHEN's is 3G. ERIC's is first generation. Both conversations seem intense.
EXT. HUDSON RIVER PARK
MARK and GREG ride their bikes, throwing water from bottles at one another. MARK crashes and GREG topples into him. They laugh uproariously.
INT. "A" SUBWAY CAR
DEVIN appears deep in thought, nearly talking to himself—rubbing and then shaking his head no, between quizzical expressions. He checks his watch.
INT. OMAR's BATHROOM
OMAR rinses the mask and stares at his face, touching the area around his eye. Stepping out of the bathroom, he picks up an iPhone 3G from a console table in the hall.
EXT. CHELSEA
STEPHEN and ERIC stand outside Barney's Co-op. STEPHEN gives money to a young Latino man while ERIC smokes a cigarette.
EXT. WEST THIRTEENTH STREET
MARK and GREG are walking their bikes on sidewalks. Both have some scrapes and scratches.
EXT. WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
DEVIN dodges and darts down a busy 181st Street, dressed in a black sleeveless Penguin "Montauk Monster" Polo and cuffed shorts. He is carrying a cake box.
INT. OMAR'S LIVINGROOM
OMAR wears white boxers and is sprawled across a Le Corbusier "LC2" tan leather chair. He pushes buttons on this phone and lifts it to his ear.
OMAR (into phone)
Can you get herpes in your eye?
Rod Townsend strives to make every client's experience remarkable. For over 40 years, he has done just that. With great optimism and with a continuing commitment to unparalleled client service, he is eager to continue that tradition. The Pride is his first screenplay.
's what I'm talking about. I'm eagerly waiting for the Grippos to make their product-placement appearance.
The Grippo's reference is totally missing.
She do!
You had me way before "Montauk Monster T-shirt" (HA!); that just sealed the deal.
:-)
Very fun read!
Um, it's a polo shirt actually. Devin cut off the sleeves himself.
http://www.penguinclothing.com/19MK0041-451-penguin.html
All of the fashions, cosmetics, mountain bikes, etc. are actual products.
No products here harmed in the making of this screenplay and cheaper stunt bicycles were used in the crash scene.
I eagerly await the next pages.
Tawk bout cha product placement!
Needs more explosions.
I'm a bad homosexual. My ability to rise to the level of accessorization demanded by my tribe is way beyond my paygrade. Although I guess if I lived in a universe of product placement and emotional dependence on electronics and lotions then I might be better at it…
But who were you wearing while writing it?
Just this.
…and the radio.
Who?! As in, like a person?? That's what I thought…silly breeder that I am, thinking all you queers think about is S-E-X.
Pecs and the City.
I can't wait for Act II, when Christian Bale shows up with a chainsaw.
Well can you? Get herpes in the eye?
A friend of mine wants to know.