The Trail - First Draft

INT. BUS DEPOT - EVENING
MOLONEY (early thirties, weathered and scarred) slumps on a
bench, clearly dishevelled.
People moving to and fro around him take no notice of his
crushed demeanour. He's starring into nothing, eyes glazed
over.
A well built man plonks on the bench beside him. Moloney
jerks with the motion and comes too slightly.
Reaching his hand into his pocket he pulls out a CASSETTE
TAPE. He stares at it, long and hard with a look of
resentment and reaches his hand into his pocket again.
FLASHBACK
EXT. STREET - DAY
Moloney (looking cleaner and neatly dressed) strides
through a derelict area clutching a black duffle bag. His
eyes are fixated dead ahead as he weaves through tramps and
shifty looking individuals who eye him suspiciously.
INT. ATTIC - DAY
Cramped and dingy space, musty. HUTCH (wearing a black mask
that is completely covering his head) sits motionless
staring down at cassette player on a table.
Beside the cassette player are two brown ENVELOPES laying
side by side. Hutch casually glances at his watch.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY
Moloney turns off the street down into a narrow alley which
is strewn with litter and rusty household appliances.
He is running his fingers through his hair, reading a worn
slip of paper and looking at each building in turn.
He stops outside a metal door, double checks the slip of
paper then moves towards the door.
INT. STAIRCASE - DAY
Moloney closes the door behind him and reads the slips of
paper again. Flustered, he lifts up a plant pot and picks
up the cassette tape lying beneath it.
The tape has the letter P scratched into it.

---

2.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he starts to ruffle through his
duffle bag, getting more frustrated the more he has to
look.
INT. ATTIC - DAY
Hutch's head jerks to the side as muffled footsteps fill
the air. He reaches down to his waist slowly. The footsteps
come to a stop and the door creeps open.
Hutch pulls up his shirt and rests his hand on the butt of
a gun. Moloney steps into the room, a black mask is
completely covering his head. The pair freeze for a beat.
MOLONEY
Moloney
Hutch loosens his grip on his gun.
HUTCH
Hutch
Moloney's shoulders loosen and he steps into the room
closing the door behind him. Hutch waits for Moloney to sit
opposite him.
Moloney passes Hutch the cassette tape which he inserts
into the player and presses the PLAY button. Static for a
bit then -
VOICE (ON CASSETTE)
Good afternoon Hutch, Maloney;
welcome to the safehouse! Thus
far I am most pleased with the
days events. I must admit as
incredulous as it seems you have
both preformed extremely well. I
hope I haven't overstepped the
mark at this point, uttering
praise to a pair of dead bodies
whose paranoia betrayed them at
the very. Last. Hurdle..
Hutch shifts in his seat, Moloney jumps inadvertently
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
That's right. The man sitting
across from you is the only thing
between you and the prize.
Hutch cocks his head to the side as a soft tapping fills
the air. Moloney, noticing this, presses down on his knee
to stop it tapping the table.
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
Fight to the death..

---

3.
The tape begins admitting static again. Both men tense
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
No.. Much too crass at this
point. I've organised somewhat of
a more.. Tactful finale. On the
table before you should be two
envelopes; equal in size, colour
and weight. In each envelope is a
ticket to the prize. Not that I
doubt the integrity of your
fellow competitor but security
measures have been enforced here.
There should be a wax seal with
my initials on the flap of each
one. Ensure this is intact; if
not, it's game over.. Choose..
The voice stops again - static. Both men remain motionless
for a beat, blacked out faces staring across the table.
Finally Hutch leans forward and slides one of the envelopes
towards him.
Moloney follows suit, takes the other. He runs his finger
along the wax seal; satisfied he places the envelope on his
lap.
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
I have gifted you with some sense
of anonymity for this final task
gentlemen. Use it wisely. Let the
race begin. You may vacate the
building when ready. The choice
of who goes first is up to you, a
head start may warrant your
success; this is a race after all
.. No foul play while inside the
safehouse, once outside, make
your rules as you see fit.. The
race is on.. Best of luck..
Static once more, then silence. Moloney shifts in his seat,
makes to leave but Hutch stands up with purpose, towering
over Moloney.
He stares, holds two fingers to his head and utters a soft
POW of a gunshot before moving away. Moloney sits, frozen.
He listens to Hutch move across the room, shut the door and
descend the stairs.
As his footsteps grow fainter Moloney yanks the black mask
from his head. He is covered in sweat and panting heavily,
eyes darting everywhere before finally resting on the
envelope. He tears it open and slides out the contents.
A BUS TIMETABLE with a POSTIT NOTE attached to it. The note
reads 199.

---

4.
Moloney gathers himself, checks the envelope again but it's
empty. He runs his finger down the timetable over and over
mouthing 199 over and over.
Dissatisfied he slams the timetable down and begins pulling
off his jacket and T-shirt. He pulls out another jacket
from his duffle bag along with a peak cap and begins to get
changed.
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
Can the tortoise outwit the hare?
Moloney jumps and spins around.
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
Given the impatient nature of
your competitor I am assuming we
are alone now. I wish to offer
you a small degree of assistance.
The third floor board from the
window is loose. Remove the
contents, use it wisely. It may
keep you in the race a little
longer..
The tape whirs for a bit then clicks off. Moloney scrambles
across the floor. He digs his fingers into the crack and
lifts the board with ease. A look of confusion spreads over
his face before he reaches down and grabs the content.
INT - STAIRCASE - DAY
The attic door creaks open, Moloney peers out before
slipping into the hallway and moving cautiously down the
stairs. Halfway down he notices something on one of the
steps - It's a black mask.
Around the bend and down a few more steps he stumbles
across a jacket, which he recognises as belonging to Hutch.
At the bottom of the staircase Moloney stops before the
metal door.
He opens it a sliver, a thin shaft of light spreads over
his face as he peers out - from his perspective the alley
looks empty. He contemplates, shuts the door and turns
around into the building.
EXT - STREET DAY - DAY
Moloney emerges from the front entrance onto a dilapidated
street, he checks his surroundings before moving on.

---

5.
INT - BUS DEPOT - DAY
Bustling with people moving to and fro, chatter and noise
fill the air. Moloney meanders through the crowd, doing his
best to keep his composure. His eyes are darting from face
to face, trying to gauge some sense of recall.
The throng surrounds him, bumps into him - some faces stare
then look away, he is sure not to hold a gaze on anyone for
too long. Stopping before a large LED timetable, Moloney
reads down through the bus numbers and times. Muttering 199
over and over - nothing.
MOLONEY (FRUSTRATED)
Fuck.
He adjusts his cap and looks around. Something catches his
eye; he makes a bee line in the direction he's looking.
INT - BUS DEPOT - BASEMENT - DAY
Moloney steps down off the staircase and is greeted with a
narrow corridor with bathrooms at the end. The walls on one
side host rows of lockers; some open, others shut.
There is a row of benches against the opposite wall.
Moloney paces up and down, scanning the lockers before
finally resting on one - 199. He pulls at the locker door
but it's locked. He tries again, with more force and
frustration.
MOLONEY
FUCK!
Moloney slams his fist into the locker, the thud echoes
loudly through the narrow corridor. This is followed by the
sound of a toilet flushing, which lingers in the air as the
realisation of his mistake spreads across Moloney's face.
He looks down the corridor to the bathroom doors.
Footsteps, the door creaks open. Moloney composes himself
and holds his breath. A homeless man stumbles out of the
gents toilets and staggers toward Moloney with an
outstretched hand.
HOMELESS MAN
Givus a euro for a hostel, bitta
change anything at all.
Moloney shrugs him off.
HOMELESS MAN (CONT'D)
G'wan, please chief with the
times that are in it will ya not
spare any bitta shrapnel at all.

---

6.
MOLONEY (FRUSTRATED)
Piss. Off
The homeless man recoils then stumbles past him.
HOMELESS MAN
Yas are nuttin but tight aul
cunts the lot of yas. Wouldn't
give a man the steam of yer piss.
Moloney throws his head back; he moves backwards and plonks
down on a bench, head in his hands - thinking hard. He
glances at the homeless man as he attempts the first step
of the staircase.
INT. - ATTIC - PREVIOUS
VOICE (ON CASSETTE)
...The race is on.. Best of
luck..
Moloney shifts in his seat, makes to leave but Hutch stands
up with purpose, towering over Moloney. He holds two
fingers to his head, uttering a soft POW of a gunshot. He
paces past Moloney to the door and exits.
INT. - STAIRCASE - DAY
Hutch races down the stairs, taking two steps at a time. He
pulls off his mask and drops it. Another few steps down he
unzips his jacket and shakes it off. He jumps the last few
steps to the ground and crashes out the metal door to the
alley.
INT - ALLEYWAY - DAY
Hutch leans against the metal door, panting heavily. He
whips the envelope from his pocket and rips it open
spilling the contents into his hand: An A4 SHEET OF PAPER
folded over and a SMALL KEY taped to it. Hutch opens the
sheet of paper and reads it:
VOICE (V.O.)
In the alley beside the entrance
to the safehouse are four
coloured bins. Open the green one
and remove the package.
Hutch quickly does as requested and finds a brown package,
opening it he reveals a cassette tape. He rolls his eyes
and takes a few steps backwards from the metal door;
pressing himself against the wall and removing his gun from
his waist.

---

7.
He holds the gun directly in front of him, aiming it at the
metal door - waiting. The door opens ever so slightly, he
cocks back the firing pin - nothing. The door clicks closed
again and Hutch exhales deeply, lowering his gun.
INT - ATTIC - DAY
Hutch bursts in the door, gun outstretched swinging left to
right. The room is empty. Hutch sees a black mask on the
ground and what he recognises as Moloney's jacket and T-
shirt spilling out of the duffel bag.
He secures the gun at his waist and opens the cassette
player, throwing the old tape on the table, replacing it
with his own. PLAY
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
Nice to speak to you again. It is
at a time like this when you know
if a plan has come together or
not. When you know if the rats
follow suit with mindless intent
and take the easiest route
through the maze to claim their
prize. If my voice is coming to
you through a cassette player
other than the one in the
safehouse then congratulations.
Make your way to the bus depot.
If not..
Hutch's face drops, he motions for his gun.
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
.. You may have taken a rather
big risk at this early stage of
the race.
Hutch manages to put a hand on the butt of his weapon
before a deafening gunshot fills the room. Hutch's head
jerks forward violently, he drops to his knees then falls
forward onto his face, cracking against the wooden floor.
A masked figure is Silhouetted behind him stepping out from
a wardrobe in the corner of the room, hand outstretched,
holding a smoking gun.
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (CONT'D)
Slow and steady wins the race..
INT - ATTIC - PREVIOUS
LITTLEJOHN (big build, black mask covering his face) enters
the cramped, empty room. He looks to a small table and
gazes at a cassette player that is sitting on it.

---

8.
Two envelopes lay side by side in front of it. He moves
forward, takes a tape from his pocket and inserts it,
presses play.
VOICE (ON CASSETTE)
Good afternoon Littlejohn,
welcome to the safehouse!
Congratulations on making it into
the semi-final. Only two more
competitors stand between you and
the prize. Your role for the
first part of this race is one of
patience, cunning and careful
timing. Your fellow competitors
will arrive shortly, you do not
have the pleasure of meeting them
just yet. Remain in the wardrobe
by the door. Take no action until
both of them have vacated the
room. When, or if, either of them
return you may enter the race,
taking whatever measures you feel
is necessary to secure the prize.
Remove this tape from the
cassette player and keep it on
your person. Provided you've
arrived on time and depending on
the punctuality of the next
competitor you have about five
minutes.. GO
Littlejohn does as instructed, removes the cassette tape
and enters the wardrobe, closing the door behind him.
INT - WARDROBE - LATER
MOLONEY (O.S.)
Moloney
HUTCH (O.S.)
Hutch
Littlejohn remains motionless as he carefully listens to
the events unfolding outside. A whir of a tape starting up -
VOICE (ON CASSETTE) (O.S)
Good afternoon Hutch, Maloney;
welcome to the safehouse! Thus
far I am most pleased with the
days events...
INT - ATTIC - LATER
Littlejohn secures his gun at his waist and moves toward
Hutch's body; he gives it a dig with his foot, nothing.

---

9.
Littlejohn roots through Hutch's pockets and pulls out the
A4 sheet of paper with the key attached to it. He pockets
it, frisks Hutch up and down and slides the gun from the
dead man's waist. Satisfied, he makes his way to the door
dropping his black mask to the ground as he leaves.
EXT - ALLEY - DAY
Littlejohn exits the metal door and stops at one of the
bins. Opening it, he places Hutch's gun underneath some
rubbish and moves on.
INT - BUS DEPOT - BASEMENT - EVENING
Littlejohn steps down into the narrow corridor, checks his
surroundings - empty apart from a homeless man snoring
loudly on a bench, turned into the wall. He walks by the
lockers, scanning them as he passes, doubles back and
starts the process again.
He exhales deeply, hand on his hips. He takes the small key
from his pocket, tries one at random, the key refuses to
turn. He moves down to the next, then the next and so on -
the key refusing to turn.
The homeless man stirs, turns away from the wall and slowly
slides his peak cap up from his face.
Littlejohn is at the top of the next row, the key still
refusing to turn the lock. Before he inserts the key into
the next locker down, Littlejohn's head jerks forward
violently with the weight of a metal bin smacked up against
it.
He collapses into a heap on the floor; Moloney stands
behind him, metal bin in hand, panting heavily. He drops
the bin onto the floor and shakes off the soiled jacket
before crouching down to search Littlejohn's body.
He roots through Littlejohn's pockets, first pulling out a
cassette tape which he pockets, next the A4 sheet of paper,
he scan reads the note before stuffing it into his pocket
in frustration.
Suddenly, Moloney notices the butt of a gun sticking out of
Littlejohn's shirt. Without hesitation he grabs it and
carefully stashes it in his waistband.
He begins searching Littlejohn's hands then the floor
around him before putting his hand's on the small key.
Getting up, Moloney stumbles over Littlejohn's body as he
claws his way to locker 199.
Half sobbing, half laughing Moloney shaking inserts the key
into the locker - he breaths deep, CLICK.

---

10.
He swings the locker door open and peers inside. The steel
interior is completely empty. Moloney's face crumbles.
MOLONEY (SOBBING)
No.. No..
He feels around the inside of the locker before slamming
his fist against it.
MOLONEY (CONT'D)
Bastard!
Moloney slams his back against the row of lockers and
slides down it, crumbling into a ball. He throws his head
back and stares up, his eyes widening.
Scrambling to his feet Moloney stares at a postit note
which is stuck to a mirror on the inside door of the
locker. The note reads - 199.
MOLONEY (CONT'D)
The fuck...
He peels the postit note from the mirror, checks the back -
nothing. He slams it back onto the mirror then angrily
slams the locker door repeatedly. Wearily, Moloney makes
his way to the staircase.
INT. BUS DEPOT - SAME
The crowd has lessened now but Moloney simply plods through
anyway, bumping and knocking people in his daze. He flops
down onto a bench and stares straight ahead, lost in a
trance.
A well built man plonks on the bench beside Moloney.
Moloney jerks with the motion and comes too slightly.
Reaching his hand into his pocket he pulls out the cassette
tape he took from Littlejohn.
He stares at it, long and hard with a look of resentment
and reaches his hand into his pocket again.
CUT TO:
INT - ATTIC - EARLIER THAT DAY
Moloney digs his fingers into the crack and lifts the
floorboard with ease. He stares down into the floor, a look
of confusion spreads over his face as he reaches down and
pulls out a WALKMAN.

---