two minuets till never

8/4/2019 Two Minuets Till Never

1/26

Two Minuets Till Never

By

Eric FoxJonathan Widener

Jared Wood

Based on:The short film

Two Minuets Till NeverBy: Jonathan Widener & Ian McFarland

Foxwood Productions 2011 Jonathan widener:

[email protected]


2/26

INT. NORBERTS HOUSE EARLY EVENING 1

Norbert and Jeff are sitting at a table playing poker makingsmall talk.

NORBERT

You deal like shit.

JEFFYeah? You play like shit.

Norbert laughs and looks at his cards for a moment beforepulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket he opens thepack and lights one up

JEFFI thought you quit?

NORBERT

Ha, I might if I win this hand.(pauses) All in.

JEFFFeeling lucky?

NORBERTAlways

Jeff chuckles lightly and breathes deep about to show hiscards.

JEFF

I guess youre next packs on methen.

shows his hand revealing a full house

NORBERT(Under his breath)

son of a...you want another drinkman?

JEFF(scooping up the chips from themiddle of the table) nah man, Ishould probably get going.

NORBERTtake the money and run huh?

JEFFnah, if I dont get home soon Nikkiwont leave me alo..

(CONTINUED)


3/26

CONTINUED: 2.

Cut off by phone ringing. Jeff looks down at his phone.

JEFFSpeak of the devil

NORBERT

(in a whisper) oooh, someones introuuuuble.

Norbert makes whipping motions

JEFFHi honey..yeah..no, Im still atNorberts... (Jeffs tone changes toconcerned and irritated) wait,what? What do you mean overdrawn?

Jeff motions to Norbert to give him a second and he standsup and leaves the room. Norbert continues to sit at the

table, fiddling with his pocket watch. Jeff is standing inanother room talking on the phone still irritated but lessconcerned, Jeff seems defeated as he talks to Nikki

Jeff is standing in another room talking on the phone stillirritated but less concerned, Jeff seems defeated as hetalks to Nikki.

JEFF(in defeated low tone)Hey.

NIKKIWhere are you?

JEFFStill at Norbs

NIKKI(nagging tone with attitude) theaccounts overdrawn Jeff!

JEFFWait, what? What are you talkingabout?

NIKKII mean, the money isnt there!

Norbert is sitting at the table still fiddling with hispocket watch, the sound of Jeffs conversation can still beheard and Norbert seems slightly sympathetic

(CONTINUED)


4/26

CONTINUED: 3.

JEFF(line heard during Norbert shot)What money? Our money? Where is it?

NIKKII dont know but you should get

home so we can figure this out.

JEFFIm still playing cards overhere...

NIKKII NEED you to come home Jeff.

JEFFAlright, Jesus, I can leave now, Ishould be...(Niki hangs up)... homesoon.

Jeff walks back into the kitchen where Norbert is sitting.

JEFFShoot me.

NORBERTYou want me to walk you home?

JEFFYeah thatd be cool.


5/26

4.

EXT. STREET EVENING 2

Norbert and Jeff are seen walking down the steps of a frontporch, the camera follows them as they continue down thestreet. Jeff still looks defeated as he and Norbert walkdown a small town street, Norbert tries to change the focus

with some conversation.

NORBERTSo Laia and I were thinking oftaking a trip next month, were notreally sure where though, she hasfamily down in.....

As Norbert talks Jeff pulls his cell phone out of his pocketand checks the screen

JEFF(cutting Norbert off)

What a BITCH!

NORBERTWho, Laia?

JEFF(angry and frustrated)

Nah, Nikki. She doesnt stop, itsendless. A real FUCKING tragedy. Aneveryday Fucking tragedy.

NORBERTWhat is it this time? Money?

JEFFSomething like that, but its noteven that. Its everyday. Im nothappy with this. If its not onething its another.

NORBERTYou know this stuff blows over,maybe itll just....

JEFF(cutting Norbert off)

no, NO. every time this happens Iget a little more pissed, and Imnot happy, hell Im not even mad,Im just fucking..ahhhh

NORBERThey, this isnt your street.

(CONTINUED)


6/26

CONTINUED: 5.

JEFFyeah I know, Im not giving her thesatisfaction.

(mocking Nikkis voice)you gotta get home Jeff, its timeto get home.

(in his normal voice)Im a grown goddamn man, ill comehome when I want to.

NORBERTwell its a scenic route anyway..

JEFFIf I only had solid proof about hersleeping around before we gotmarried.

NORBERT

whoa man, I think youve gotten offtrack here.

JEFFyoure damn right Im off track, Iderailed the day I fucking marriedher!

Jeff lets out a sigh of frustration while Norbert walkssilently admiring the houses around him

NORBERTHey man, you got the time?

JEFFhuh? Oh, yeah

(pulls cell phone back out ofhis pocket)

yeah its 6:58

NORBERTah, thanks

JEFFwhere is that pocket watch ofyours?

NORBERTI have it, it stopped working acouple of days ago, on my birthdayof all days

(CONTINUED)


7/26

CONTINUED: 6.

JEFFoh yeah?

NORBERTYeah I havent been able to get itworking since then.

JEFF(laughs to himself)

Have you wound it?

NORBERTha ha, funny guy. I dont know, Imthinking of taking it somewhere toget fixed.

JEFFI wish someone would fix Nikki!

GRANDFATER

Alles zu seiner Zeit ... (All ingood time)

NORBERTThis ones really bugging you, isntit?

JEFF(stern)

Yyyep.

Jeff continues looking forward as they walk with a glare ofdetermination on his face. Norbert glances at Jeff longenough to give a look of concern. Norbert and Jeff arrive atJeffs house, stopping at the sidewalk leading to the frontdoor

NORBERT(looks at the front door thenback at Jeff)

Are you going to be alright?

JEFF(with sarcastic enthusiasm)

Oh, Ill be fine. In fact, I ought

to be doing Pretty damn good afterthis.

NORBERT(in a defeated tone)

Alright.(Inquisitive)

Are we still on for tomorrow?

(CONTINUED)


8/26

CONTINUED: 7.

JEFF(walking toward the frontdoor)

You can bet your left nut were onfor tomorrow, I still owe you forlast week.

Jeff walks into his house, Norbert stands at the sidewalkfor a moment looking at the front door.


9/26

8.

INT. JEFFS HOUSE EVENING 3

Jeff enters his home and shuts the door.

NIKKIJeff, could you come in here?

JEFF(under his breath)

Oh Im coming, and Im bringinghell with me

Jeff walks into the living room to find Nikki sitting on thecouch. Its obvious that she has been crying but Jeff is notconcerned, his only interest is to tell her off.

JEFF(staring at Nikki)

Well?

NIKKI(echoing Jeffs attitude)

Well..(looks down and with a softertone)

what are we going to do to fixthis?

JEFFFix what? You being a bitch?

NIKKIWell, .....yeah. Us, Jeff...

JEFF(stunned that she agreed)

Oh - Oh, so now youre comingaround, now youre getting it? Itonly took you, oh, I dont know,SEVEN FUCKING YEARS - Better latethan never though, I guess.

NIKKIJeff, I can tell youre upset...

JEFF(cutting Nikki off)Upset? You think Im upset? No,upset happened years ago.

NIKKIIm sorry it took me so long torealize...

(CONTINUED)


10/26

CONTINUED: 9.

JEFFTo realize what, how much of abitch you are? After everythingIve done for you, you still treatme like shit, like Im some fuckingchild. Im a grown god damned man,

I deserve respect.

NIKKII know you deserve respect...

JEFFYoure god damned right I deserverespect, not to be called all thefucking time to find out where I amor what Im doing. Oh, andespecially not to be told when tocome home - that shits going tostop right now.

NIKKII dont mean to be overbearingJeff, I just want...

JEFFYou know what I want? I want tohave a decent time when I go out,not to be sucked back into thisshit. I feel like Im on somefucking game show and all I can dois get the answers wrong, all I dois lose. Id like to fucking win

for once.

NIKKINeither one of us is winning hereJeff, this ISNT some game.

Jeff looks at Nikki for a second then looks away, lettingout a frustrated sigh. He walks over to the couch and sitsdown near Nikki, putting his head in his hands and leavingsome space between them.

NIKKI(looking at Jeff)

What are we gonna do Jeff?

JEFFI dont know. Im just sick offeeling like shit all the time.

(CONTINUED)


11/26

CONTINUED: 10.

NIKKIMe too - Im sorry. I know howterrible Ive treated you.

JEFFYou cant treat me like a child

Nikki, you need to let me have myspace.

NIKKIIts hard. It feels like the onlyway I can get your attention is ifI yell at you

JEFFThat isnt true..

NIKKIIts how I feel

JEFFI feel like this is your mothersbirthday all over again.

NIKKI(smirks trying to hide alaugh)

You mean the one where you gotdrunk and asked her if shed everseen a trouser snake?

JEFF

(slight laugh)yeaaah...

Nikki takes Jeffs hand in hers.

NIKKI(looking into Jeffs eyes)

I want us to be happy.

JEFF(looking into Nikkis eyes)

I do too. I can start giving youmore attention when Im home.

NIKKII can stop calling you incessantlyand treating you like a child.

Jeff and Nikki are looking at each other smiling. Jeffstarts to laugh a little, looks down then back up at Nikki.

(CONTINUED)


12/26

CONTINUED: 11.

JEFFHey.

NIKKIWhat?

JEFFHave you ever seen a trouser snake?

NIKKI(Giggling)

Oh Jeff....

Jeff stands up with Nikkis hand still in his, leading heroff the couch and toward the bedroom.


13/26

12.

INT. NORBERTS HOUSE EVENING 4

Norbert is sitting at his kitchen table fiddling with hispocket watch, sipping on a cup of coffee when he hears thefront door open and close. Its laia returning from work,tired.

LAIA(talking from the other room)so how was the card game?

NORBERT(not looking up from thewatch)

huh? Oh, the game was good. Jeffwon.

LAIA(still in the other room)

oh yeah? Did he take all your money

again?

Norbert shoots a scowl toward her direction then goes backto the watch. Laia walks into the kitchen, walks over to thefridge and gets out a gallon of milk.

LAIA(while pouring a glass ofmilk)

Still playing with that watch?

NORBERTso how was your day?

LAIAoh, let me tell you about my day...

Laias voice drifts out and you hear a high pitch noisebecame louder as the camera pans towards Norberts intenselooking face, then it suddenly stops...

LAIAyeah, Nikki called me and said thatJeff was acting up again and theywere going to have it out tonight.Its hard to believe Jeff is soinsensitive. Did he say anything toyou?

NORBERT(in a regular tone)

yeah he said he was going to tellthat controlling bitch off.

(CONTINUED)


14/26

CONTINUED: 13.

LAIAuhhh. See what I mean, soinsensitive.

NORBERTJust like you to go sticking your

nose in their business. Im prettysure this ones taken care of, justfucking drop it.

LAIAJesus, youve been an assholelately, ever since your birthdayyouve been a dick. You only seemto care about that stupid watch

NORBERTIt was my fucking grandfatherswatch!

LAIAI dont give a shit if it was thepopes watch, and you didnt evenknow the guy!

NORBERT(standing up quickly whileclenching the watch andspeaking fast and angry)

you dont know what youre talkingabout, you need to lay off, dontfucking tell me Im an asshole,

(In German)and NICHT Respektlosigkeit ME!

LAIA(looking confused but stillangry and turning to walkaway)

have fun sleeping with your FUCKINGwatch tonight!

Laia walks away as Norbert returns to the table.


15/26

14.

INT. JEFFS HOUSE LATE EVENING 5

Jeff and Niki are getting ready to go to sleep, Niki is inthe bathroom brushing her teeth while Jeff lays under thecovers in bed looking very tired. Niki begins asking Jeffhow the poker game with Norbert was.

NIKKISo how did the game go with Norbtoday?

JEFFOh, you know. Normal stuff. Ikicked his ass.

NIKKI(in a motherly tone)

Yeah? Did my big man take all hisfriends money?

Jeff rolls over in bed pulling the covers up tighter to hishead.

NIKKIYou know, I was thinking, since youhave off tomorrow, maybe you couldmove that couch in the living room.I want it up against the wall wherethe grandfather clock used to be.You know I cant move it. So canyou Jeff?

(motherly tone)Can my big man move the big couchfor meeeee?

JEFF(tired grunt)

Yeahh.

NIKKIThank you sweetie. Yeah so Dianetoday decides not to show up untilalmost twenty after, which means Ihave to watch the floor by myselffor an hour. This is like the tenth

time shes pulled this shit sinceshe started. I keep putting it inthe log but she must be fucking Jimbecause he wont do anything aboutit. Anyway, I told Laura Id coverher this morning, so Im going inearly, Ill leave you a reminder soyou dont forget about the couch. Imean, I know you wont but...

(CONTINUED)


16/26

CONTINUED: 15.

Niki walks out of the bathroom and into the bedroom to seethat Jeff is already asleep. She crawls into bed and kissesJeff on the head.

NIKKII love you honey.

JEFF(Sleepy)

I love you

NIKKI(Whisper)

Im leaving early...

JEFF...early

NIKKI

...and you wont forget thecouch...

JEFF...couch

NIKKIThank you honey. Goodnight.

JEFF...night.


17/26

16.

INT. NORBERTS DREAM/ HOUSE NIGHT 6

Norbert is standing in a dark area. Hes looking aroundconfused. A noise is heard like people yelling and fire canbe seen. The whole time German voices are heard gettinglouder. A shotgun fires and Norbert is awakened.

Norbert wakes up on the couch startled. Hes panting butrelieved to be on his couch.He walks into the kitchen turning the light on and walkingover to the coffee pot. Norbert pours old coffee into a cupand puts it in the microwave. He turns the microwave on thensits at the table still catching his breath a little. Hepulls out a cigarette and is getting ready to light it whenhe hears the ding of the microwave go off. Norbert stands upand opens the microwave, pulling his hot cup out. He sitsdown at the table with his steaming cup of coffee in frontof him. Norbert lights a cigarette. The camera follows thesteam of the coffee up and across the clock on themicrowave.


18/26

17.

INT. JEFFS HOUSE NIGHT 7

Niki and Jeff are asleep in bed. The camera begins to slowlymove toward the bed. As it moves, a noise can be heard fromdownstairs. The noise is heard several times before we seeNiki stir from her sleep. She sits up in bed and tries to

wake Jeff up. Unable to, she gets out of bed and headstoward the bedroom door, grabbing a baseball bat thatsleaning against the wall. The camera pans to the hallwayshowing Niki moving toward the stairs and then down them. Aspot of silence before what sounds like a scream being cutoff.


19/26

18.

INT. NORBERTS HOUSE VERY EARLY MORNING 8

Open where the Norbert kitchen scene faded. The camera pansover from the microwave clock which shows that four hourshave elapsed. The camera continues to move opposite thedirection it had before, moving over to the coffee cup still

full of coffee now cold and a burned out cigarette with along ash on it. Pan up Norberts hands covered in blood, upNorberts arms and chest and eventually face all covered inblood. Norbert looks to be in a trance mumbling under hisbreath in German. He stops. Focusing his eyes to hissurroundings he seems disturbed, trying to understand wherehe is. He notices the blood and begins to freak out. Heknows that Laia is still asleep so he is staying quiet butalso racing around to get the blood off from him. Norbertwashes the blood off from himself in the shower and thenputs his clothes in the garbage. Norbert takes cleanclothes off from the top of the dryer and puts them on,still shaking. He is clean but is still in shock. He takes

out his cell phone while still in the bathroom and callsJeff. Jeff answers but is very tired.

NORBERT(Frantic whispers)

Jeff, I dont know whathappened....

JEFFHold on there Norb, what the hellare you talking about.

NORBERT

I dont know I just woke up and itwas all there, I was there in thekitchen..

JEFFNorb youre really not making anysense, just come over and we cantalk....

Jeff hears a click before he can end his sentence, realizingNorb is on his way he begins to get up.


20/26

19.

INT. JEFFS HOUSE VERY EARLY MORNING 9

Norb is shaking and stuttering to himself while he iswalking up Jeffs walkway. Jeff opens the door and lets Norbin.

JEFF

Jeez Norb, you look terrible. Getin here. What the hell happened?

Norb isnt saying much, just sort of shaking and lookingdazed.

JEFFAlright man, just sit down in theliving room while I get us somewater.

Norb walks into the unlit living room moving towards thecouch, stopping in front of it to pull out a cigarette. Norb

fumbles with the pack for a moment and then drops acigarette on the floor. He reaches down to get it, searchingwith his hand in the dark. The camera follows his hand as itbumps an object. Norb grabs the item to discover that it ishis pocket watch, covered in blood. Norb begins to panic. Hedecides to leave and heads towards the front door, quicklyputting his pocket watch away. Jeff notices Norb headingtoward the door.

JEFFHey Norb, where the hell you going?You just got here.

NORBERTI gotta go. I dont want Laia toworry.

JEFF(Annoyed that Norb woke himup)

so, uh, you OK then?

NORBERTyeah, Ill be alright, thanks Jeff.

As Norbert is walking by the driveway he can hear Jeff inthe background.

JEFFhuh, cars still here. Ahh, she musthave caught a ride in.

Norberts face turns gray at Jeffs words but he continuesto walk away, letting Jeff walk back into his house.


21/26

20.

EXT. STREETS EARLY MORNING 10

Norbert has just left Jeffs house but is too distraught togo home so he decides to go for a walk instead. As he walksthrough vacant ally ways and fields, he continues to showsigns of confusion and terror.

Eventually Norb walks home and gets dressed for work, nowmore tired than in terror.


22/26

21.

INT. NORBERTS PLACE OF WORK 11

Norbert is sitting at a small desk in a cubicle. His eyesare drooping and he continues to nod off into a dream ofGerman voices and fiery commotion. During one sequence, adistinct German voice can be heard followed by laughter.

Norb is startled from this by a coworker talking.

CO-WORKERHey Norbert, youre not going toget much done with your eyesclosed. You should probably atleast turn your computer on, youknow, in case the big wigs stop by.

The camera shows that Norberts monitor is still off.

NORBERToh yeah, right. Thanks

CO-WORKERare you doing alright, youre notlooking so well. I think you oughtto get some sleep man, maybe

(leans closer and whispers)let the hangover go away a little.

NORBERTyeah,....... maybe.

Norberts co worker walks away shaking his head. Norbertlooks around his cubicle for a second and then stands up,

grabs his coat and walks out. Norbert is seen leaving thefront door of a building then heading down the street.Transitional distant street shots show Norbert as he wandersthe streets a bit, sad music plays. Norbert sees a bar anddecides to go in. He steps through the doorway into a smalldark bar. There are two other people, the bartender and adirty old man sitting at the far end. The bartender askswhat he wants. Norbert orders a glass of something strong.


23/26

22.

INT. BAR NIGHT 12

The scene opens at the bar where Norbert was sittingearlier. It is night now and there are about fifteen totwenty people in the bar. One person in particular, a younggirl, is sitting close to Norbert, flirting with him. He is

talking in German.

NORBERT(Inaudible German dialogue)

WOMAN(a little slurring drunk)

thats so pretty, what does thatone mean

NORBERTyoure eyes are like twosapphires...twinkling in the beam

of the moon

WOMANoh thats sweet. You speak it sowell.

NORBERTSie haben ein Gesicht wie einSchwein. (you have a face like apig)

WOMAN(Drunken giggling)

NORBERTIch kann es kaum erwarten, habenSie Split offen wie ein Rind Kuh.(I cant wait to have you splitopen like a beef cow)

WOMAN(gives a look of sexualintrigue)

Thats so sexy...

NORBERTIch wette, du bist einEntlftungsventil. (I bet youre ableeder)

WOMANOh god, Im feeling that last shot.You wanna go out for a smoke?

(CONTINUED)


24/26

CONTINUED: 23.

Norbert nods and the two walk out front

Once out front, Norbert and the girl are seen laughing andstanding close. Camera focus on Norberts face as he lightshis cigarette. Jeffs hand grabs Norberts shoulder. Norbert

turns around. Jeff looks uneasy.

JEFFNorbert, have..have you seen Nikitoday? She never came home fromwork, but then I got a call fromsomeone she works with to say shenever showed up. She never justleaves like this Norb, you knowthat. I mean weve had fightsbefore and shes threatened to, butthis has never happened. Have youseen her?

NORBERT(drunk and sly)

shes gone, let her go Jeff. Youhave always deserved better thanthat. Hell, cmon in and well haveone on me. A toast to your newfound freedom.

JEFFDidnt you hear me? I think itsmuch more serious than that - Imean, shes never just up and left.

You know her Norb; she wouldvekilled me before she left.

NORBERTnicht, wenn sie zuerst tot (not ifshe was dead first)

JEFFWhat?

NORBERT(Noticing a sudden abdominalpain)

oh man, Ive got to, to pee. Stayhere Jeff Ill be right back.

Norbert leaves Jeff standing out front as he walks back intothe bar, still holding his stomach. He gets to the middle ofthe bar when he suddenly stops. Norb looks slightly confusedat his surroundings.

(CONTINUED)


25/26

CONTINUED: 24.

NORBERT(Looking at the bar clock)

why am I here so late?

Norbert begins heading towards the back of the bar, exitingthrough the rear door.


26/26

25.

INT. NORBERTS HOUSE EVENING 13

Norbert arrives home where Laia is livid at the time thatNorbert has decided to show up.

LAIA

Where the hell

two minuets till never

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