This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. 
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express 
written permission of the author.

TARGET


Written by
Vaagn Avakyan




First draft
May 21, 2005

Vaagn Avakyan
Phone: (095) 319-94-41
+7 916-160-51-13
E-mail: vaga05@mail.ru
vaga2004@hotmail.com


BLACK SCREEN

We hear a sound of heart beating in total blackness. Boom-boom, boom-
boom, boom-boom… and so many times.

Then we hear noise of the crowd. Somewhere in the middle of a big city.

And after appearing and dissolving of the head title of the film, we…

FADE IN:

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

At first sight whole image is fuzzy and totally out of focus. Only 
bright unclear spots cover the screen. As image becomes clearer and 
clearer, we can see the crowd. Lots of people on the street, walking up 
and down, moving fast and low.

The sound of heart beating is still heard.

Through the sniper's optical tube, from high angle, we see a face of 
the man in a black suit and with tinted glasses, smiling, enters the 
frame. He's the Boss. We follow him moving, his head is in the straight 
middle of two red crossing lines.

Heart beating rises. Rumble in the crowd rises.

Finally, we hear:

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			What is the life?..
				(Pause. Deep rumble
				in the crowd).
			A nonsense…
				(Pause).
			Misunderstanding…
				(Pause).
			A chance…

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Boss, in a black suit, but without tinted glasses, sits behind a huge 
luxurious desk and talks slowly and peacefully.

					BOSS
			A good chance for one person… A bad
			chance for another one…

He puts out a Cuban cigar from his pocket.

					BOSS
			And what's the fair?
				(Laughs).
			Nothing.
				(Pause).
			How can we talk about the fair, when
			one person judges another person in
			this world. A person, who has a real
			power, can judge. A person, who has no
			any power, can be judged.

Now we see a face of another Man. He sits against Boss, looks at him, 
listens carefully. He's absolutely calm. Emotionless.

					BOSS
			And one thing else.

Small scissors in Boss' hand cut the tip of the cigar.

					BOSS
			The betrayal.

A big elegant matchbox shakes in Boss' hand. He lights the cigar.

					BOSS
			Treason…

The cigar's tip goes dark red.

					BOSS
			Faithlessness…

Man watches him.

Boss is silent.

Then:

					BOSS
			Whore!
				(Pause).
			A slut…

Man's eyes turn down.

Boss' eyes shake. He's confused for a moment.

Then:

					BOSS
				(sharply)
			Stop her…

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Two human bodies, male and female, are moving, touching to each other 
in the bed. We see only fragments of these bodies twisting in 
passionate love agony.

Then Woman's face suddenly fills the frame. Holds.

					MAN'S VOICE-OVER
			Who is she?

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Same dark and gloomy atmosphere. Both Boss and Man sit against each 
other.
			
					BOSS
			She is my wife.

A cigar is hold tight between Boss' fingers.

					MAN
			Do you want to liquidate her?

Boss is silent. His silhouette covers with thick shroud of smoke.

					MAN
			Do you want me to liquidate her?

					BOSS
			Yes, I do.

He shakes off the ashes from the tip of the cigar right on the 
expensive desk.

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

On TV screen we see a football match. Football player runs through the 
field. There is no sound, the sound is almost turned off.

The woman, half-naked, sits on the bed, looks towards TV and talks 
slowly to someone off screen.

					WOMAN
			Why are you asking about my
			husband?
				(Pause).
			Do you know him?

					SOMEONE (OS)
			No.

					WOMAN
			He's… quite strong…
				(Pause).
			What? Is it bothering you?

We hear now:

					MAN'S VOICE-OVER
				(to Boss)
			Is it so bothering you?

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			Yes, it is.

					MAN'S VOICE-OVER
			Are you sure there is no other way?

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			Yes, I am.

Football game on TV screen in it's progress.

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			I have already decided I want her
			to be dead.

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

					MAN
			I do it with women quite rarely.
			Never with children.

					BOSS
			I know. But I'm going to pay you as
			I never pay.

Man looks into Boss' eyes.

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

					WOMAN
			…he never pay me. He knew I
			wouldn't allow him to pay, just because
			I was not like these girls…
				(Laughs).
			I didn't want him to buy my love, I
			just loved him. Are you surprised?
			Didn't you expect that from me?

She lights a cigarette. Smokes.

					WOMAN
			But it has gone. All feelings have
			gone… disappeared… 

She's nervous. Tears almost appear on her eyes.

					WOMAN
			I loved him. I really loved him. I
			do love him still… But he always
			saw me as a doll. Just as an expensive
			toy.
				(Pause).
			I can't stand that anymore. I came
			here with you, I've betrayed him… And
			I still have this terrible pain in my
			heart.

She sobs.

A male hand appears and touches to her face carefully.

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

					MAN
			So, and what about him?

					BOSS
			About who?

					MAN
			About your wife's lover?

Man is silent. Still.

Cigar shakes in his hand.

					BOSS
			I haven't any idea who he is.
				(Pause).
			Besides… I don't want to deal with
			him, whoever he is… This is HER fault.
			Not HIS. This was HER choice. Not HIS.

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Woman is sobbing.

					WOMAN
			I don't want to live… I love him…
			I love him so much, you even can't
			imagine… He's everything to me, he's
			all my life, you know, and I don't know
			what I'm going to do now…
				(Pause).
			This betrayal… Oh God, it was just my…
			I didn't know what to do… I did this
			only because of his coldness… and my
			stubbornness…

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Both men are surrounded with thick shroud of smoke.

					BOSS
			That's all. Never marry a woman.
				(Grins).

A pause. Silence.

					MAN
			Didn't you think she loves you?

					BOSS
			What?

					MAN
			Maybe she loves you? Why do you
			want to kill her?

					BOSS
			What in the goddamn hell do you know
			about the love!

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

On TV - a culmination moment in the football game. Goal!!!

					WOMAN
			I'm a silly idiot…

A male hand moves again towards her face. Slowly and nicely caresses 
her forehead, her chin, her neck.

					SOMEONE (OS)
				(in a low voice)
			Don't worry… Don't be worry…

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Boss is furious.

					BOSS
			…so what are you going to teach me?
			What are you going to say me after
			all that, huh? "She's innocent, let her
			go, forgive her…" or some other
			sentimental crap like that? No! Never!
			No way! And do you know why? Because
			you are going to kill her!!!

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Woman's embarrassed face. Tears on her cheeks.

					SOMEONE (OS)
			I love you, Kathryn… I love you,
			too…

					WOMAN
				(confused)
			What do you mean?

A male hand dries tears from her face.

					SOMEONE (OS)
				(whispers)
			I love you…

And his face, finally, enters the frame. He's the Man!

He gives a sad smile. It seems like it is the first-time smile in his 
life.

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

					MAN
				(in lower metal voice)
			When?

					BOSS
			The day after tomorrow. In the fashion
			ceremony show. We'll be together there.
			It's the best alibi for me.

					MAN
			Where?..

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

From above - the street is full of crowd.

Red carpet. Solemn atmosphere. Photographer's flashes.

Luxurious cars and limousines arrive to the entrance.

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Boss' hands push the photo of Woman on table…

…towards Man.

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Man's hands open a long violin case. There is a non-assembled 
telescopic rifle.

Dark and beautiful sunset illuminates dusty loft through a small 
window.

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Boss looks at Man with his cool-headed gaze.

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Man looks at Woman.

Her tearful face is still beautiful. Still attractive and nice.

					WOMAN
			Don't be ridiculous…

She grins. She almost finishes her dressing.

					WOMAN
			…it's all over…

					MAN
			What are you doing? Where are you
			going?

					WOMAN
			I have a meeting… and it's almost
			5 pm…

					MAN
			Where?

					WOMAN
			At a fashion party… with my husband…

On TV - the match ends. We see happy players from the winning team.

Man wants to say her something, something very important, but he can't.

Finally:

					MAN
			Don't go… Please…

					WOMAN
				(grins)
			Don't be silly…

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Close on Boss' lips.

					BOSS
				(whispers)
			Kill her…

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Man watches her leaving the room. Door shuts after her.

Man gives a start suddenly. For the first time in his life!

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Cuban cigar between Boss' fingers. It's almost completed.

The last ashes fall down…

Flash! A photo of Woman…

Flash again!

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Man's hands get the parts of telescopic rifle from the case.

He assembles the rifle.

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

From above - a huge black Mercedes stops at the entrance.

Photographers and journalists take pictures with flashes. Crowd buzzes.

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Click! The barrel is already connected…

Click-click! The optical tube is ready…

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

Boss and Woman goes out from the Mercedes. Flashes… buzz… noise…

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Man, the sniper, is ready with his rifle.

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

Through sniper's sight we follow Boss, like in the beginning of our 
story. He's extremely elegant in his expensive black suit and with 
tinted glasses. He smiles.

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Man's face.

His eye beyond the optical tube. He watches.

We hear Boss' low voice, like in the beginning of the story.

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			What is the life?..

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

Sniper's view pans from the Boss' smiling gaze towards… Woman, who is 
next to him. She's thoughtful, her face is rather sad than happy.

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			A nonsense… Misunderstanding…

Sniper's view follows Woman.

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			A chance…

Flash!

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Man's wide-open eye beyond the optical tube.

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			A good chance for one person…

Flash! Back to:

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Boss at his desk.

					BOSS 
			A bad chance for another one…

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Woman is sitting on the bed, half-naked. She's stopped her weeping, her 
tears are dried on her face.

					BOSS' VOICE-OVER
			And the fair?
				(Pause).
			Nothing.

Man moves closer to Woman.

					MAN
				(in a low voice)
			So, what are you going to do now?

INT - BACK ROOM - NIGHT

Man is sitting against Boss.

					BOSS (OS)
			…when one person judges another one…
			A person, who has a real power…

INT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Woman looks straight into Man's eyes.

					WOMAN
				(answering his question)
			Nothing.

					MAN
			But… I told you the truth!
				(Pause).
			He's going to kill you. I… I am
			going to kill you… for him… don't you
			understand that?!

					WOMAN
			I understand everything.
				(Pause).
			But I told you I love him.
				(Pause).
			And if he has made this decision… I…
			I can only agree with him…

Man is shocked. He looks at her strong and beautiful face.

She's putting on her clothes.

					MAN
				(puzzled)
			Don't you even want to know - where
			it is going to happen?

					WOMAN
				(grins)
			Don't be ridiculous…

Flash!

He looks her leaving the room. Door shuts.

Flash!

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Man's finger moves to the trigger.

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

Through the sniper's optical tube - Woman moves to the entrance. The 
view moves towards Boss, who is next to her. He slows down his step, 
puts off his tinted glasses.

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Man's face, his eye beyond the optical tube.

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

Through the tube - Boss looks around. The smile slowly disappears from 
his face.

He raises his eyes suddenly, for a moment… and his eyes…

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

…meet with Man's eyes.

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

Through the tube - Boss turns back slowly… sniper's view moves a bit 
and focuses on Woman… She also turns back her head…

The deep sound of crowd's buzz. Then we hear a sound of heart beating.

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Man's finger is on the trigger. Heart beating sound.

Man's eye. Heart beating sound. Crowd buzzes.

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

Boss and Woman are almost entering the building.

She moves forward slowly, her back is turned to us.

Crowd buzzes. Heart beating sound fasters.

Camera dollies promptly to Woman at the entrance… making its way 
through the heavy-crowded street…

We hear a crashing sound somewhere behind…

The opposite building.

In extremely slow motion we see Man jumping out from the upper window 
of the building.

Woman slowly turns her head back.

Man's body drops down… so as splinters of broken window.

Heart beating sound. Someone screams on the street.

Woman's gaze in slow motion.

Boss' gaze in slow motion.

Man's body on the ground. His eyes are open, he's breathing hardly.

INT - LOFT (CITY CENTRE) - SUNSET

Telescopic rifle is on the floor, nearby the opened case.

Dark-orange rays of settling sun illuminates the loft with a mystic and 
beautiful light.

From outside we hear nervous and exited people voices… a police car and 
ambulance siren…

EXT - CITY CENTRE - SUNSET

Man, lying on the ground, is surrounded by the crowd.

A few police officers go out from the cars and moves through the crowd.

Man's eye is half-open. Settling sun reflects in it.

His lips freeze. He breathes harder and harder.

Woman looks at the accident place. Her gaze goes down.

Boss' gaze is hard and complicated.

Finally, his hand squeezes her hand.

					BOSS
				(in a low voice)
			Lets go…

He leads her to the entrance.

Man's eyes freeze. His breath freeze. He dies.

Police officers and ambulance doctor approach him.

Policemen move through the crowded street.

					POLICE OFFICER
			All right… Get back… Everybody back,
			back, back… Move away from the place…
			Clear out the street…

Sun has almost disappeared behind the high buildings.

From above we can see the city centre… the accident place… policemen 
and ambulance doctors doing their job… and the crowd dispersing…

FADE OUT

CREDITS ROLL


THE END