by Peter Ackers
DISSOLVE TO:
NICK’S POV:
Where his nose pushes the strip of cloth away from his cheeks, Nick can see under the blindfold.
He’s looking at Ice, who’s on his back at the rear of the car, rolling a joint on his chest. As we dissolve here, we seem to have arrived mid-conversation.
Ice
It’s been two days, for your information.
ZACK (o.s)
You’re a freak. No one needs sex as much as you do.
ELI (o.s.)
You help yourself to all my girls. That’s more than enough.
Ice finishes rolling his joint.
ice
They’re skanks. I mean sweet girls. A sweet girl should be available to every man. Like library books.
ZACK (o.s.)
Maybe like a public toilet? Have one chained up in the town centre with a chastity belt? Pop a pound coin in the slot to release her.
ice
Yeah. And all virgins.
zack (o.s.)
Only you’d have to be first in the queue, or she wouldn’t be a virgin when you got there.
ELI (o.s.)
Are you rolling a spliff? Don’t be smoking that in my car.
ice
I won’t. It’s for outside.
Ice notices that Nick is watching him. He sits up and slaps the cage. And pulls out a small knife.
ice
Don’t be staring at me, dickhead.
END POV
Eli is playing a game on his phone
ELI (to ice)
What are you doing?
ice
Fucker’s staring at me. Under the blindfold.
He drags the blade across the metal cage, making a musical noise.
ice
I’ll cut those eyes right outta ya head, dickhead.
ELI
Calm it.
(seeing something outside)
Hey, what’s this shit? Pull over here.
Nicks turns his head again to face the front, trying to see what’s going on.
The car stops.
Eli winds down his window.
THROUGH OPEN WINDOW
We see a woman with intense make-up. Her attire makes her look like a PROSTITUTE.
prostitute
I don’t kiss, before you ask.
ELI
Always fucking puzzled me about you lot. No kissing, but you’ll take dick up the arse.
prostitute
Fuck you.
ELI
That’s all you’re good for. So what’s with no kissing? Scared you’ll fall in love?
All three guys LAUGH. The Prostitute begins to walk away, but the car FOLLOWS at her pace.
ELI (cont.)
I don’t pay for sex. You pay me so you can earn your drug money from having sex in my zone. This is my fucking zone. You don’t work here without paying rent.
prostitute
Fuck you.
ELI
If you do, it’s free, you skank. I run this zone. So this is what we’ll do. I’ll give you half an hour to go chat to some of the other dirty slags that roam about here. Ask them who Eli is. Then be back here, half an hour, on your knees, and have half your fucking earnings laid in the palms of your hands and apologise as you hand it over.
No response from the Prostitute. She looks concerned, like maybe she wants to tell this guy to fuck off again, but daren’t.
eli
Then you’ll be one of Eli’s girls and you’ll get all the benefits. My protection, use of my house for changing clothing and eating. And change that lipstick. Eli’s girls wear black lipstick.
(to ZACK)
Go, Zack. Go.
The car MOVES OFF faster.
