Live and Let Spy

by
Jason McGill

Mcgill4473@live.missouristate.edu
October 1, 2009
EXT. BEACH - NIGHT

Waves lap up on the empty shore. The wind plays in the reeds
and dunes, lit by a nearly full moon and countless stars.

SUPERIMPOSE: “La Rochelle, France, 1935”

The HUMMING of aircraft engines rises above the waves and

wind. A giant grey shape slips from behind a cloud. In the
dim light, the shape becomes the impossibly huge Hindenburg
zeppelin, steadily heading inland, like a force of nature.

INT. ZEPPELIN LOUNGE - BRANDON’S BOOTH - SAME

The same HUMMING. The ocean, through the window, slips away
as the zeppelin flies further inland. Pull back to reveal:

BRANDON, early 30s, wearing a hand-me-down suit and too short

a tie, looks out the window. He sighs and returns to his pulp
novel, “Amazing Spy Stories”.

Booths line the side of the lounge with windows. Tables fill
the rest of the space, with an oval bar in the middle. The
decor mixes the charm of leather and wood with practical,
light weight materials like aluminium.

Brandon’s eyes pop up over the pages, seeing VIVIAN, late

20s, wearing a slinky red dress, slip into the lounge.
Brandon checks around in disbelief, but the few other patrons
don’t notice her. She takes a seat at the

LOUNGE BAR

Vivian pulls a cigarette from her case and fixes it on her

holder. HANS, 30s, in a spiffy white waistcoat, strolls over.

VIVIAN
Ein Commodore, bitte.

With a nod, Hans readies a martini glass. Vivian goes to

light her cigarette, but the lighter won’t light.

BRANDON’S BOOTH

Brandon’s gaze still fixed on Vivian. His eyes, then

FLAME

A lighter, a hand, an arm, belonging to Brandon, now wearing

a tuxedo. At the

LOUNGE BAR
 2.

Brandon lights Vivian’s cigarette and slides onto the stool

beside her. Her eyes fix on Brandon as Hans brings her drink.

VIVIAN
Danke.

BRANDON
Don’t mention it.

HANS
(German accent)
For you, Herr Brandon?

BRANDON
(eyes on Vivian)
The usual.

Hans bows to Brandon and heads off.

VIVIAN
You’ve come to my rescue again,
Mister Brandon.

BRANDON
All part of the job.

VIVIAN
Ah yes, the job you won’t tell me
about, except that you’re some sort
of G-man --

BRANDON
You said I was a G-man. All I said
was I get paid to keep an eye on
things, and um... you’re making it
hard... to keep my eye on things,
things... other than you.

VIVIAN
Mmm, well, if it’s so secret,
Mister Brandon, perhaps we should
discuss it someplace more private.

Vivian slides off her stool. She takes Brandon’s hand.

HANS (O.S.)
Mein Herr?

BRANDON
I... Yeah, I mean --

HANS (O.S.)
SIR?
 3.

BRANDON’S BOOTH

Brandon, dressed as before, snaps his head up and drops the

book. Hans stands over him, a glass of milk in his extended
hand. Vivian, alone at the bar, sips her Commodore.

Brandon takes the glass and holds out a coin. Hans snatches
the coin and storms off.

Brandon sips his milk. The spy on the novel’s cover wears the
same tux Brandon wore in the fantasy. Brandon considers the
picture for a moment, and lets out a long sigh.

LOUNGE EXIT

Leaving the milk behind, Brandon trudges to the exit. Just as

he reaches it, GREGORY, a massive bearded man, late 40s,
bursts through the door. They slam into each other. Gregory’s
briefcase hits the floor and papers spill out.

BRANDON
Goodness, I’m sorry.

Gregory scrambles to collect the papers. Brandon tries to

help, but Gregory maneuvers himself to block Brandon.

Over Gregory’s shoulder, Brandon spies documents with

official US Army letterhead, along with plans for airplanes.

Once Gregory has the papers back in the case, he straightens

up, but then leans back on his heels, reeling. His eyes
float for a moment as he tries to focus on Brandon.

GREGORY
(in German, slurred)
Watch where you’re going.

Gregory stumbles off and plops down in a booth.

Brandon, mouth agape, stares at Gregory. Brandon blinks,

looks around, but no one else is paying attention. He watches
Hans trot over to Gregory’s booth to take his order.

LOUNGE BAR

Brandon rushes to the bar, near Vivian’s stool. As Hans

returns to the bar, Brandon waves him over. He leans in.

BRANDON
That fella, the one you just talked
to, he’s got papers, secret papers
in that satchel.
 4.

Hans starts making Gregory’s drink.

HANS
Really?

BRANDON
Yeah, that’s right. U S Government
papers, military secrets--

Hans taps Brandon’s novel and turns to Vivian.

HANS
Too many stories, ja?

Hans chuckles, Vivian smirks. Hans heads to Gregory’s booth

with the drink. Brandon and Vivian share a moment, awkwardly
realizing they are now in a conversation.

BRANDON
Are you American?

VIVIAN
Sometimes. Mostly I’m called Vivian

BRANDON
I’m Brandon.

A burst of laughter from Gregory’s booth interrupts them.

They see Hans point at Brandon and joke with Gregory. Brandon
takes a seat one stool away from Vivian.

BRANDON
Don’t you care that this guy has
our plans, our government plans?

VIVIAN
Well...

She looks back a Gregory and considers him for a moment.

VIVIAN
He’s a bad spy, getting all hoary-
eyed and parading around with his
hush-hush for the world to see.

Hans returns to the bar and cleans bus tubs at the far end.

VIVIAN
He’s got it coming from somebody’s
goons. That is, if he is a spy.
 5.

BRANDON
It’s our duty, as Americans in a
foreign land, to do what we can for
our country. I mean, c’mon.

VIVIAN
Are you sure you saw anything? It’s
dark, your nose was in that dime
novel, it’s late, speaking of.

Vivian checks her watch and rises. Brandon stands up.

VIVIAN
Goodnight, junior G-man.

Vivian saunters out of the lounge. Brandon watches her go. He

looks back at Gregory, then charges after Vivian.

INT. ZEPPELIN SLEEPING COMPARTMENT HALLWAY - SAME

Brandon sets a foot inside the long, narrow hallway and peeks
inside. Vivian struggles with one of the compartment doors.

Brandon steps into the hallway. He opens his mouth to speak

just as Vivian’s door opens. She disappears inside.

Crestfallen, Brandon returns to the Lounge.

INT. ZEPPELIN LOUNGE - GREGORY’S BOOTH - MOMENTS LATER

Gregory’s head and left arm rest on the briefcase, his other
hand clutching his drink. Brandon slides in opposite Gregory.
Brandon surveys the scene for a moment.

BRANDON
(whispering)
Sir?

Brandon looks up, seeing Hans at the far end of the bar.

BRANDON
(little louder)
Excuse me, rotten Kraut spy, are
you asleep?

Gregory shifts his head, startling Brandon. After a moment,

Brandon slowly slips his thumb into Gregory’s sleeve.

Brandon checks on Hans, still facing away.

 6.

Brandon lifts Gregory’s arm and head, agonizingly slow, by

the sleeve. Brandon pulls the case, inch by inch, away from
Gregory. Once the case is clear, he lowers Gregory’s arm.

HANS (O.S.)
Harrumph.

Hans stands over the table, arms crossed. A beat, then

Brandon sheepishly pushes the briefcase across the table.

HANS
Enough games. You are lucky the
house dick is a friend of mine. I
don’t like to wake him.

Hans takes the glass from Gregory’s hand.

BRANDON
You’re gonna let him sleep here?

HANS
FIVE MINUTES!

Gregory awakens with a start. Hans paces the lounge.

HANS
FIVE MINUTES UNTIL CLOSING!
(then in German)
FIVE MINUTES! FIVE MINUTES UNTIL
CLOSING!

Brandon watches as Gregory lifts himself onto his feet,

relying heavily on the table. Grasping, Gregory gets a hold
of the briefcase. He takes a cautious step from the table.

Brandon jumps up and puts his arm around Gregory.

BRANDON
That’s okay, fella. Let’s get you
back to your cabin.

LOUNGE EXIT

The other few patrons of the lounge leave. Brandon helps

Gregory stagger toward the exit. Gregory groans incoherently.

BRANDON
All right, see that door? That’s
where we’re headed. All right. Good

Brandon takes a quick look back at Hans, who is busy at the

bar. Brandon reaches out and takes the briefcase from Gregory
 7.

BRANDON
Here, let me carry this for you.

INT. ZEPPELIN SLEEPING COMPARTMENT HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Gregory and Brandon squeeze through the door. Gregory anchors

himself with his arm against the door frame, his chest
heaving. Brandon slips the case behind his own legs.

BRANDON
Didn’t you have a briefcase before?

Gregory doesn’t react.

BRANDON
(in German)
Briefcase?

Gregory looks at both his hands. Flailing and turning around,

Gregory nearly knocks Brandon over to get back to the lounge.

Brandon props the lounge door open and sticks his head inside

BRANDON’S POV

Gregory ambles to his booth, looking under and around the

table. Hans approaches Gregory. Gregory talks, exasperated.

Hans touches Gregory’s shoulder. Hans raises his finger to

say “one minute,” and runs to the crew quarters.

BACK TO BRANDON

Brandon carefully shuts the door. Clutching the briefcase to

his chest, his eyes dart around, searching.

INT. ZEPPELIN SLEEPING COMPARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER

Darkness fills the room. The sound of clinking metal and

ropes being fastened mixes with the humming zeppelin engines.

A fist pounding on the door silences all sound but the

humming. It pounds again.

The door opens. Light from the hallway pours in on Vivian,

wearing a leather jacket and pants. The silhouette in the
doorway shoves Gregory’s briefcase into her hands.

Vivian opens her mouth to speak. Before she can, Brandon

leans forward, raising his finger to his lips to silence her.
He grabs her door handle and pulls it shut.
 8.

INT. ZEPPELIN SLEEPING COMPARTMENT HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Brandon strolls down the hallway with an easy gait but

clenched fists. At his compartment, he pulls out his key.

HANS
STOP!

Brandon sees Hans, Gregory, and FREDERICK, 40s, the House

Dick, wearing his badge on his pajamas, marching toward him.

INT. BRANDON’S SLEEPING COMPARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER

Brandon, Frederick, and Hans barely fit inside the

compartment. Frederick and Hans poke through Brandon’s things
while he watches, smirking to himself.

Hans stops, then holds up his hand.

HANS
Do you hear that?

The roar of another aircraft engine intermittently spikes

above the humming of the zeppelin. Hans goes to the window to
look out, followed by the other two men.

EXT. ZEPPELIN - NIGHT

The moon and stars paint the zeppelin and the French
countryside in an eerie blue light. A

BIPLANE

wobbles in the wake below the massive zeppelin. From the

BROKEN WINDOW

above the plane, Vivian climbs down a rope, with Gregory’s

briefcase strapped to her back. She jumps down onto the

BIPLANE’S

top wing, grabbing handles there for dear life. She climbs
into the rear seat.

The biplane banks away from the zeppelin, revealing the

French flag painted on the side.

FADE TO BLACK.