Reddit Write off 9/24

INT. CAVE - DAY

There is scrabbling upon the rocks before we see anything.
Looking into the cave, a man in raggedy clothes shaves over
a puddle, rinsing himself off under a drip from the cave
ceiling.
He grabs a pair of white silken socks drying upon a rock.
EXT. GAMBLING PARLOR - NIGHT
Gilted candelabras shine their light on the center table of
the parlor. A crowd of people has gathered about, gentlemen
and ladies in the finery of the colonial era, their faces
pressing against one another as they cluster about the two
players.
NICOLAS DORION, 35, a stoic man of colonial bearing, in a
fine but simple suit of dark colors, sits opposite
CHARLES-MAURICE DE BRABANT, 31, of distinctly old-world
sentiment, somewhat clownish in his exubrant whites and
blues, the only white wig in the room, and a light veneer of
makeup, who raps his fingers across the burgundy felt table.
Between them, a large ROULETTE WHEEL, and a DEALER takes a
cloth to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
DEALER
Monsieur Dorion has called Monsieur
De Brabants wager.
The crowd reels. Another staid looking man, GARIBALD, grabs
at Nicolas arm.
GARIBALD
Nic, what are you doing? This is
foolishness. Your estate is already
close to insolvency. To chance it
all to fate-
NICOLAS
Have a little faith, my friend.
De Brabants sees their chat.
DE BRABANT
What are you plotting over there? I
dont like hushed words while the
roulette is in play.
Nicolas turns to De Brabant with acute annoyance.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
NICOLAS
I did not realize that hushed words
in a house of gambling were frowned
upon.
DE BRABANT
The only hushed sounds should be of
cards being flipped and dice
tumbling in the cup.
NICOLAS
Ah, then forgive me. I did not mean
to insult as a guest in your home.
De Brabant twitches ever so slightly.
DE BRABANT
This is not my home.
NICOLAS
Oh, really? They say you spend so
much time here that it might as
well be. What kind of a man whiles
away his days solely on cards, dice
and drink?
The crowds back off slightly at the sudden attack by
Nicolas. De Brabant brushes him aside.
DE BRABANT
The kind who wins.
The crowd responds with murmurs of shock and scandal.
Nicolas reddens slightly.
DE BRABANT
(cont)
And, if this is my home, then a
warmer one I have yet to find. Too
often are homes cold and ugly
places devoid of laughter or joy.
INT. CAVE - DAY
The man shivers upon a cave floor. He clutches at his
stomach, which rumbles loudly.
3.
INT. GAMBLING PARLOR - NIGHT
Nicolas is sneering.
NICOLAS
What would a man of the ancien
regime know of the cold? Or of
ugliness? De Brabant, hah, more
German than French even.
Again, the crowd waits on De Brabants comeback. De Brabant
chuckles.
DE BRABANT
Do not think to match me. If I am
half-French then you are not French
at all.
The crowd laughs. Nicolas looks ready to strangle De
Brabant.
DEALER
The wheel is spinning.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
The man is walking along a quiet lonely forest road. A fine
mist has descended, and it is darkly overcast. He wraps
himself in his arms and shivers.
His ear twitches and he looks to the side.
In a ditch, dashed upon the rocks, is a small carriage. The
man runs down to survey the wreckage. The driver is dead,
his body dashed and bleeding, and a loose hand dnagles out
the door of the carriage, in blue and white finery.
A suitcase has burst open and clothes tumble about. The man
pulls something out, a portrait of a man with a name at the
bottom.
MAN
"...De Brabant."
INT. GAMBLING PARLOR - NIGHT
The crowd is clapping De Brabant upon the back.
DE BRABANT
Do not worry, Nicolas, such is the
course of fate.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
Nicolas faces De Brabant with fire in his eyes.
NICOLAS
You are the most meretricious,
pompous man I have ever had the
displeasure of meeting. And I hope
that you do cling to those old ways
and your powdered wigs and your
silken socks. One day tour finery
will fade and they will show you to
be the meretricious, disgusting
little man you are.
DE BRABANT
I do not-
NICOLAS
And further-
Garibald attempts to hold him back, but Nicolas knocks hiom
aside.
NICOLAS
(cont)
And further, you represent
everything hateful and oppressive
of the old world. Your garb, your
glib tongue, your- your
supercilious means. These clothes-
He flicks at a piece of loose fabric.
NICOLAS
(cont)
You are no different than any of
us. God has given you one face and
you make yourself another.
He stands tall. The crowd awaits De Brabants response.
De Brabant wipes a small gob of spit from his cheek. It
smears the makeup of his face ever so slightly. He rises
from his seat, straightens himself out.
DE BRABANT
A courier will be arriving later
for my cheque.
He turns and walks away as Nicolas sinks into his seat.
5.
FADE OUT