Act I Shameless US (Spec Script)- "Welcome to the Machine"

FADE IN...

EXT. DEBBIE’S CUPCAKES - EVENING

Frank watches as a young man, Brady, dressed in his Debbie’s Cupcakes uniform, stands hitting and shaking a cola machine outside of the cupcake shop.  The man gives up and Frank approaches the machine.  He tries all the buttons, smacks the machine, and pressing the coin return but nothing works as the machine reads that it has the $1.50 needed to buy something.  He walks away.

INT. BAR - EVENING

Kevin serves a beer and a shot of whiskey to a Brady who has just sat down at the bar.  He downs the whiskey in one gulp then signals for another.

Kevin hesitates for a moment.

Brady

Don’t worry I’m not driving anywhere tonight.

Kevin pours another then looks up to see Frank enter.  Frank approaches the bar.

Frank

Maker’s Mark.

Brady downs the second shot.  Frank downs his first.

Frank

Hey, I saw the way you were hitting that machine out there.  You should take it easy.  You’ll live a lot longer.

Brady

I’m trying to get my hand to stop hurting.  What’s it to you?

Frank evaluates the situation and decides there might still be something to gain from the young man.

Frank

You seem to be trying to get as much alcohol in you as possible.  Do you like drinking games?

Brady

You mean like beer pong?

Frank

Kind of like that.  

Brady

Alright let’s do it.

Frank

Hey barkeep, couple of drinks over here.

Kevin

What’ll it be Frank?

Frank

Two beers for me and one whiskey for my friend here we’re going to bet on who pays.

Kevin gets the drinks.

Brady

What’s the game?

Frank

Well, I am going to bet you the tab for these drinks that I can finish these two beers before you drink that one measly shot.  The rules are that you have to wait until I finish my first beer then set it down on the bar, you have to leave your glass on the table, and you can’t touch either of my glasses.  This is very serious business and I need to concentrate.  Are you good with that?

Brady

Yeah sure.

Frank picks up his first beer and begins to drink slowly first as if he is savering it then he downs the beer as quickly as he can.  He then takes the empty glass and turns it over to cover Brady’s shot glass on the bar.  He picks up his second beer and raises it to Brady who is amused.  

Frank

My friend here is paying.

Brady

Alright, you got me on that one.  But I got some bad news for you, my friend is coming.

A gruffer looking man, Doug, with two days growth of beard steps up to them as Frank begins to chug his beer.  Brady points to his glass.

Brady

Would you take that beer glass off my drink?  Hurry up.

Doug reaches for the glass and picks it up.

Doug

What like this?

Frank finishes his beer and sets the glass down.

Frank

(patting Brady on the shoulder)

Thank you gentlemen but that’s the only trick I know.  I’m going to take my next drink and slide on down the bar to that machine down there.

Brady

Hey, why don’t you stick around and drink with us?  First pitcher of beer is on me.

INT. BAR - MUCH LATER

Frank, Doug, and Brady are all in a booth on their third pitcher of beer as they talk and laugh with each other.  Frank is keeping them amused because so far the drinks have been for free.

Far away from them sits a cute, young man, Zack, with an open laptop, several open books, and a half-full bottle of beer.

Ian enters the bar and walks to where Kevin is mixing a cocktail.

Kevin

What brings you by our humble establishment?

Ian

I was on my way home and Fiona said you bought some cookies or something from Debbie.

Kevin

Oh yeah right, here I can’t believe the cost of fundraiser cookies these days.

Kevin pulls out his wallet and begins to count cash.  Ian spots Zack at his own table.

Ian

Who’s that guy over there?

Kevin

He’s been coming here about once a week for the last three weeks.  He just showed up one day.  He doesn’t drink much, just enough so I don’t have to kick him out.

Ian stares at Zack who looks back in his direction and smirks.  

Ian

You know what I think I’ll take a drink.

INT. BAR - FRANK’S TABLE

Frank pours out the last of the beer in the pitcher amongst the three glasses then raises it up to the two cheerful and drunk men.

Brady

I don’t know if I got another pitcher in me.

Frank

No problem, I should be going anyway.  The little lady is probably up waiting for me.

Brady

Besides I have to make it to work tomorrow morning and I should probably be approaching sobriety by then.

Doug

You should just quit your job.

Brady

Not everybody can do that.

Doug

They could if they listened to their friends.

Brady

You’re not a millionaire yet and probably never will be with your plan.

Frank

Plan?  Are you an entrepreneur?  Something on the internet?

Doug

(shakes head)

Nothing like that.  No, it’s better than that.

Doug leans down to the table and signals that the others should get closer.  Both Frank and Brady get closer.

Doug

I want to rob the Sagan bank.

Brady

You shouldn’t be talking like that.

Frank

Yeah, people take things very seriously these days.  Not me, I mean I know you’re kidding but still.  Why would you rob a bank?

Doug

Because I used to work for it and I know the delivery schedule, and the pay was shit.

Frank

You know if I robbed a bank I wouldn’t try to speed away.  I’d drive to one of those parking garages where I had a second car and trade them out like in the movies.

Brady

That’s all it’s ever going to be for this guy over here.

Frank

I’d get me a wheel man like Sam ‘the Nose’ Gunther who just got out on parole, plus another guy, one of us would have a shotgun for crowd control.  I’d make sure they left the last bill in the slot, no dye packs, and no silent alarms.  

Doug

That’s the best part.  The money would be still in the bag.  We’d just intercept it from the truck to the bank.

Brady

Keep talking and keep drinking then maybe none of us will remember this in the morning.

INT. BAR - IAN AT BAR

Ian finishes his drink as he has been cruising Zack and Zack has been cruising him in return between trying to do his homework.  Zack signals to follow as he heads to the restroom.

INT. MEN’S ROOM - 

Zack walks to the urinal and Ian follows shortly behind him and steps to the urinal beside him.  Ian smirks then unzips his fly.  Zack smiles back then looks at Ian’s dick as he begins to urinate.

Zack

Do you want to go back to my place?  No one else will be home.

Ian

What’s your name?

Zack

Zack.

Ian

Ian.

Zack

Follow me, I have to get my books.

EXT. SHOT OF LARGE SUBURBAN HOUSE

INT. BEDROOM - LARGE SUBURBAN HOUSE - LATER SAME NIGHT

Ian and Zack begin to kiss and strip each other of their clothes.

Ian

Are you sure no one is coming home?

Zack

My mother is a night nurse and my father is away on business.  I used to stay up all night playing video games but this is so much better.

Ian pushes and pulls Zack to the bed where they continue to kiss and grab at each other.

Ian

Have you been tested?

Zack

Yeah.

Ian

When?

Zack

Last week.  Are you a virgin?

Ian

No.  You?

Zack

I’ve done it all.  Fuck me.

INT. BEDROOM - 

Ian and Zack are fucking missionary position with Ian on top.  Zack begins to cry.  Ian becomes concerned.

Ian

What’s wrong?  Does it hurt?  Do you want me to quit?

Zack

No.  Fuck me.

Ian continues but Zack’s crying worsens until he is heaving with emotion.  Ian stops but Zack is quick to wrap his legs around Ian’s back and lock his ankles together.

Zack

Do it.  Fuck me.

Ian is bothered by the proposal but there is little he can do and Zack has not only given his consent but ordered that Ian finish.