The Great Plane Robbery

By

Rowen Smith

"A quircky Avant Garde Spin Off of "The Great Train

Robbery (1963)"

Jameson First Shot

Entry 2016

Rowen Smith

rowen.work@gmail.com

+27(0) 79 647 0077

www.vimeo.com/rowensmith

www.cignalhill.com

FADE IN:

1 INT. TOY STORE - DAY 1

We open on a series of Cutaways of an old, classic 1950’s

traditional toy store.

Shelves and rows of wooden toys, dolls and interesting

things to play and fiddle around with. SMOOTH JAZZ music

is heard while we roll the opening credits.It sounds like

something Frank Sinatra or Billy Joel would play.

DISSOLVE TO:

2 EXT. THE TOWN/STREETS 2

The Montage moves onto the streets of a New York-Harlem

Town Setting, clean, crisp, cobblestoned roads, newspaper

stands, fire hydrants and smoke coming out of the gutter.

We see the feet of a MAN walking along the side walk.

Pointy shoes and all business. He’s tall and rather

strange,wearing spectacles and eating a piece of beef

jerky.

Meet CLIVE.

Clive walks past the toy store, glances at the display

window and walks on, but rather abruptly and takes a few

steps back, staring at the store with eyes wide open,

taking off his spectacles.

A particular item is in sight. A small TOY-AIRCRAFT. We

ZOOM-IN on it. It’s evident that Clive likes this

aircraft, from the grin on his face.

3 INT. TOY STORE 3

TING TING, the doorbell rings, as Clive walks into the

store. CLASSICAL JAZZ MUSIC is heard from the vintage

speakers across the store.

The SHOPKEEPER who is presumed to be a GIRL (MAGGIE

GYLLENHAAL), from her voice, greets Clive as he walks in.

She’s unseen, working in the backroom of the toy store,

packing boxes. We can call her BONNIE for now.

BONNIE

Morning.

CLIVE

uh, Hello there.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

BONNIE

(from the store room)

I’m just in the back, but do let

me know if I can assist you in

any way.

CLIVE

uh-that won’t be

necessary...Thank you.

Clive seems a little bit anxious, but makes his way

through the isles and rows and shelves to find the toy

aircraft.

He finds it, but before he picks it up, he stares at it,

with some kind of intent or agenda. Clive takes it and

walks over to the pay counter.

He rings the large golden service bell.

RING RING, RING RING.

Bonnie walks over to Clive, dusting herself off and tying

her hair into a bun. Clive likes Bonnie, You can see it in

his eyes. He takes his spectacles off.

BONNIE

Good Morning sir, how can I help

today?

CLIVE

Hello. I’d like to buy this

aircraft please.

BONNIE

I’m sorry sir, that toy is not

for sale.

Clive seems rather confused, but he is not an aggressive

customer.

CLIVE

may I ask why not miss?

BONNIE

Those toy shouldn’t have been on

display. It’s of a kind. May I

ask where did you find it sir?

Clive points at the main display window of the toy store.

CLIVE

It was right there

(points)

By the window, the big one. Next

to that teddy bear and baseball

glove.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

BONNIE

I apologize sir, those toys are

not for sale. They are collectors

items.

CLIVE

But I’m a collector. I collect

things. Especially that which is

completely and absolutely

authentic and unique.

BONNIE

Those items are priceless sir. We

really cannot sell them.

Clive raises his voice a little which catches the

attention of the other customers; an OLD LADY and a

DELIVERY MAN, who just walked into the toy store with

goods in boxes.

CLIVE

but I want it. I want it even if

it has no price and even if its

not for sale. I want to have it.

BONNIE

Can I offer you another toy

perhaps?

Clive looks a little bit sad for a moment.

CLIVE

no thanks misses. It’s alright. I

just really wanted this specific

toy, nothing else will do.

Clive places the toy aircraft gently on the pay counter

and greets Bonnie off with a salute

BONNIE

I’m sorry sir, I must have made a

mistake putting the plane on the

shelf. I just really wanted the

customers to see it. to know that

it exists.

4 EXT. TOY TOWN/STREETS 4

Clive leaves the store, sadly, but as he walks away, he

stops in the middle of the road with a decisive stop.

He whips off his spectacles and takes in a deep breath of

courage.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

CLIVE

(to himself)

I want that plane, nothing else

will do. I want that which is

completely and absolutely

authentic and unique. I want

what’s one of a kind.

CLASSICAL DRUM-ROLL music fades in and Clive marches back

into store.

5 INT. TOY STORE 5

Clive rushes through the isles and shelves and rows.

Bonnie is in the backroom again, luckily for him.

Clive stops at the main window, but can’t find the toy

aircraft. Only the baseball glove and teddy bear is on

display. He looks over his shoulder and spots the toy

aircraft on a small shelf behind the pay counter.

Clive is determined and walks towards it, but his pace is

stopped by the Old Lady, who slowly walks through the isle

with her crutch.

Clive backs off and hides behind the shelves, wondering

what to do, looking back and forth at the pay counter and

the toy aircraft and at Bonnie who is near by packing

boxes in the backroom.

Clive tries again, taking a different route, but is

stopped again by the same Old Lady in his tracks. Bonnie

walks out of the backroom, and Clive hides again. He scans

the area like a proper thief.

a) Outside is the delivery man, loading his 1960’s pickup

truck.

b) Bonnie is at the pay counter, greeting the old lady as

she walks off. She returns to the backroom.

c) The old lady is about to leave the shop. It’s now or

never. As the old lady leaves the shop, we go SLOW-MOTION.

...and then he rushes behind the pay counter and GRABS the

toy aircraft. Bonnie catches him red handed. THE MOMENT

FREEZES, as Clive weighs his options. He makes a run for

it, and we go back to REAL TIME.

6 CHASE MONTAGE 6

a) Bonnie chases Clive outside. He’s way ahead of her.

b) She stops, looks left and right, and spots Clive pacing

down the sidewalk. She runs after him with haste.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

c) The Delivery Man see’s the commotion and is in on the

chase.

d) Clive turns a corner and runs on. Bonnie and the

delivery man soon to follow.

e) A dog barks at Clive’s feet, gripping his pointy shoes,

and slowing him down. He looks back at Bonnie and the

Delivery man who are approaching fast. Clive empties his

pockets to find some left over beef jerky, throws it at

the dog and gets him off him. He runs on.

TOY AIRCRAFT falls out of Clive’s hands, but Bonnie keeps

running after him.

f) The delivery man is too tired and stops, picking up the

toy aircraft. The Delivery man takes the dog on his leach

and watches the two run off.

g) Clive and Bonnie enter a wider pathway and they are

sprinting fast. He jumps over a countryside fence and runs

onto an open cornfield. He’s in the clear.

e) Bonnie jumps the fence as well, but more ladylike.

It’s quirky and funny, but also kind of romantic. There’s

a certain chemistry between the two.

7 EXT. CORNFIELD 7

Bonnie is tired and gives up. We HOLD ON her as she blows

off some steam and as she looks up her despair turns into

a rather shocking expression.

We REVEAL Clive, leaning against an actual 1940’S TIGER

MOTH AIRCRAFT. He puts a pilot’s cap on his head and looks

at Bonnie with a charming grin and of course, he’s

celebrating with a glass of Jameson. a dapper cognac glass

for a dapper man.

Bonnie’s eyes pop with flattery. She’s been fooled. She

notices something behind Clive.

Something painted on the aircraft, a text message of some

sort. Clive slowly steps away, REVEALING a message, hand

painted in bright white strokes..

..reading: COME FLY WITH ME. Bonnie and Clive look each

other eye to eye, and it’s clear. They are in love.

Slowly, a MUSICAL COMPOSITION fades in:Frank Sinatra’s -

Come Fly With me.

In a High Angle Extreme Wide from the POV of a tall oak

tree, we see Bonnie running to Clive, they spin and kiss

and get into the aircraft. The Delivery man and the dog

are watching Bonnie & Clive from the cornfield fence.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

WOOF WOOF barks the dog.

CLOSE UP: The propellers spin.

CRANE SHOT: The Aircraft takes off into the beautiful

Sunset.

TITLE CARD: The Great Plane Robbery.

FADE TO BLACK.