MOSS
Written By
Edward L. Singletary Sr.
and
Eddie Singletary
Copyright©2004 Edward L. Singletary, Sr.
All Rights Reserved
122 Encantado Canyon
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 981 1510
http://www.mossthemovie.com e- mail:Edward@singletary.com
EXT. METROPOLITAN BANK PARKING LOT - DAY
At 8:55 A.M. on Tuesday morning a lone driver pulls a late model sedan into the parking lot of the Metropolitan Bank. The driver is wearing a hooded sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. He has a pair of sunglasses resting on top of his forehead. His eyes scan the area looking for anything or anyone who might interfere with his plan, which he will execute at exactly 9:01 A.M. At the door to the bank are 7 customers waiting for the doors to open.
The bank customers include an elderly gentleman, a man in his thirties sporting a business suit; three middle aged women and one young lady with her six year old daughter by her side. He studies the customers carefully as if to assess which, if any might interfere with his plan to get into and out of the bank in 90 seconds with as much money as he can stuff in his bag. He removes a 9mm automatic pistol from his waistband and checks the magazine to verify that it is loaded and ready. He then returns the weapon to his waistband. Once again the bank robber carefully studies the customers.
BANK ROBBER
Piece of cake.
The Bank Robber checks his watch. It is now 9 A.M. He sees the security guard approach the door from the inside and unlock the door allowing the customers to enter. Intensely he watches as the last customer enters the bank and then he scans the parking lot once again. Sweat beading on his forehead from the anxiety-producing act he is about to engage in. The bank robber looks at his watch. It is 9:01. He exits his car and begins briskly walking toward the front door of the bank. As he approaches the door he drops his sunglasses down over his eyes, pulls the hood of his sweatshirt over his head and removes his 9mm from his waistband.
INT. BANK
Just inside the bank, to the left side of the entrance there is a security guard. The security guard, and elderly man, sees the Bank Robber enter and realizes a robbery is going down. The security guard begins struggling to un-holster his sidearm. The Bank Robber quickly fires off one round and the security guard drops to the floor - dead.
Teller #1 is in the vault when she hears a gunshot and looks out into the bank. She sees the robbery in progress and immediately closes the vault door locking herself inside.
BANK ROBBER
All right, everybody down…
Now , goddammit ..
Growing impatient with the lack of cooperation, he waves the gun around
BANK ROBBER
Come on, all of you on the
floor. Face down. If I see anybody
looking up, you’re dead.
Robber goes over to Teller #2.
BANK ROBBER
Come on fill the bag. Hurry your ass up!
Teller #2 begins putting money into a money bag.
BANK ROBBER
No bullshit either. No dye.
no alarms. Just fill the bag.
Robber is not happy with the small amount of cash the teller places in the bag.
BANK ROBBER
Come on, Don‘t play stupid with me.
Put it all in the bag.
TELLER #2
That is all of it.
Robber looks toward the vault.
BANK ROBBER
Open the vault.
TELLER #2
I can’t open the vault. It’s on
a timer.
The robber presses his gun against the forehead of teller #2.
Teller #2
(screams and begins crying)
The bank robber becomes more irritated He grabs the money bag from Teller #2 and moves over
to Teller #3 and hands the bag to her.
BANK ROBBER
Let’s see if you can do any better than
your friend over there (she hesitates out
of fear) Hurry!! Goddammit
Teller #3 begins stuffing money into the bag.
TELLER #3
That’s all there is.
INT. INSIDE THE BANK VAULT.
TELLER #1 (On the phone)
Please hurry. He shot the security
guard.
911 OPERATOR (OS)
Please try to relax ma’am. Help
is coming. Can you tell me how
many suspects are in the bank?
TELLER #1
One. Just one. He’s alone. Oh God
Please hurry.
911 OPERATOR (OS)
Can you give me a description of the
suspect? What is he wearing?
TELLER #!
I think he’s wearing a hooded shirt
and shades. Hurry, please.
911 OPERATOR (OS)
We’re on the way ma’am.
can you describe the weapon he is using?
TELLLER #1
I think it’s a handgun.
911 OPERATOR (OS)
Does he have more than one gun.
TELLER #1
I don’t think so. I didn’t get a good look.
Please hurry.
911 OPERATOR (OS)
Help is on the way ma’am. Keep calm.
CUT TO:
EXT. POLICE UNIT – DAY
Police officer on patrol in his black and white receives call from dispatch.
DISPATCH
All units in the vicinity of Metropolitan Bank
a 211 in progress. Repeat, a 211 in progress.
Reporting party indicates a lone gunman. Security
guard is down.
POLICE OFFICER 1 activates his overhead lights and accelerates his unit towards the bank. He approaches a railroad crossing just as the warning lights are activated and the barrier drops into position. Seconds later the officer hears the clanging wheels of the freight train approaching the intersection. He decides not to attempt to cross the track. He reports in to Dispatch.
POLICE OFFICER 1
Dispatch, 3 bravo 12, I am delayed
by a freight train.
DISPATCH
Ten – Four
Officers in two other police units are seen activating their overhead lights and sirens as they attempt to make their way to the bank through the heavy morning commute traffic. The officers responding to the 211 call find their route bottlenecked by a road construction project and confused drivers who are heeding the signals of a lone flagman instructing motorist to shift to a single lane.
POLICE OFFICER II
Dispatch, 3 bravo 14, traffic is
backed up and blocking. My ETA
is eight minutes.
DISPATCH
Ten – four. All units in the vicinity of
` Metro Bank, code 3 to the location – a
211 in progress.
CUT TO:
INT. THE MAN’S DEN
Camera focused on the back of the man’s head as he sits on his couch. Camera then pans the apartment. Dirty dishes in the sink. Stacks of newspapers on the coffee table. Trash container overflowing. Camera returns to focus over his shoulder from behind. There is a clear view of the television broadcasting a breaking news story of a bank robbery in progress. From his news desk at the studio the news reporter describes a scene where shots have been fired inside the bank.
NEWS CASTER
Breaking news. A report just in that a bank robbery is in progress at the Metropolitan Bank in downtown Los Angeles. Early reports of shots fired. No other details at this time but we'll stay on this breaking news story and report details as they develop.
The man’s dog is lying on the couch next to him. The man is gently stroking the dog’s head. He reaches for a police scanner which is sitting on the coffee table and flips the switch.
The voice on the radio is that of a patrol officer who is responding to the 211 call. He is complaining that his route to the bank is blocked by a slow moving train. He hears another unit complaining of heavy traffic blocking his progress to the bank. It may be as much as ten minutes before he can arrive at the scene.
INT. FRONT DOOR OF MAN’S APARTMENT
Camera continues to focus on the man’s feet as he exits his apartment
THE MAN
Stay, Thumbs, I’ll be back in a few.
The man exits the building.
EXT. Sidewalk
Camera focused on the Man from the waist down as he extends a folding “blind man’s cane” and begins gently tapping the tip of the cane to feel his path
EXT. ENTRANCE TO BANK - DAY
The Blind man approaches the entrance to the Bank, tapping his cane against the sidewalk and against the door as he reaches out with his left hand in search of the door handle.
Distant siren’s can now be heard in the background.
INT. BANK
Robber hearing the sirens approaching becomes very agitated and moves briskly back to Teller #2 and points his 9 mm at her face.
ROBBER
Who called the cops, you pushed that button
didn’t you bitch? You pushed that button didn’t you?
Didn’t you?
TELLER #2
No, no, It wasn’t me. Please, please don’t do this.
The robber’s attention is drawn to the front door as he sees the blind man entering the door. The Robber moves the gun away from the teller’s head and pointing it towards the blind man.
ROBBER
What? What the hell is this?
TELLER #2
Don’t shoot. He’s blind. Can’t you see?
He’s blind. He can’t harm you, please.
Robber makes his way over to the Blind Man while pointing his gun at the customers lying on the floor and at the teller.
ROBBER
Stay put! Move and you die.
The Blind man hears the Robbers voice and stops in his tracks.
BLIND MAN
What? What? What’s going on man?
The Robber presses the gun against the Blind Man’s head
ROBBER
That goes for you too.
BLIND MAN
Okay, Okay what’s up?
Robber escorts the Blind Man over into the direction of the 6 other hostages lying on the floor.
ROBBER
If you wanna live, just do as I say
BLIND MAN
Okay, Okay I just want to make a withdrawal
ROBBER
Yeah, me too
Robber grabs the Blind man’s shirt and tugs at him to get him to move faster.
ROBBER
Come on, move your ass!
Suddenly the Blind Man, with his left hand, and with lightening speed grabs the barrel of the gun and twists it out and away from his face. The gun discharges a round into the ceiling. The Blind Man swiftly and forcefully raises the cane up into the Robber’s crouch. As the Robbers body thrust downward and forward he cries out in agonizing pain and releases the gun into the hand of the Blind Man. The Blind Man delivers a sharp blow with his knee to the Robbers face propelling him back and onto the floor. The Blind Man shoves the Robber’s 9 mm into his left rear pocket and removes his own 9mm from the backside of his waistband. The Blind Man suddenly leaps forward toward the fallen Robber and presses the barrel against the Robbers forehead.
BLIND MAN
One move, you piece of shit and they’ll carry your
ass out of here in a body bag.
The Blind Man flings his shades off and onto the floor. He focuses briefly on the hostages.
BLIND MAN
I’m a cop, Detective Moss. It’s gonna to be okay.
Just stay put for now.
Moss removes a set of handcuffs from his right rear pocket and begins cuffing the Robber.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE BANK.
Three police cars arrive on the scene outside the bank. Overhead lights are flashing and officers are standing behind their vehicles with shotguns pointed in the direction of the bank. Sergeant DUNCAN retrieves a bullhorn from the trunk of his patrol car. As the Sergeant scans the parking lot for possible getaway cars he notices exhaust fumes coming from tail pipe of the sedan. He notices the car is unoccupied.
SERGEANT DUNCAN
Hey, KELLY. Run the plate on that car.
OFFICER KELLY
Got it.
Officer Kelly, using his radio…
Control, 3Adam7, I need a 10-28 on
3, Edward-Ida-George 510.
SERGEANT DUNCAN (bull horn)
Come out of the bank with your hands in the air.
It’s over. You’re surrounded. Come out now.
INT. BANK
Moss hears the familiar voice of Sergeant Duncan over the bullhorn and shouts instructions to TELLER #2, who is still standing at her work station.
MOSS
Get on the phone and dial 911. Tell them
Detective Moss has secured the bank and to
patch you through to Sergeant Duncan.
Teller 1 picks up the phone and dials 911.
TELLER #2
Hello, I’m calling from the Metropolitan Bank.
There's a Detective Moss here and he wants
you to patch me through to Sergeant Duncan.
Yes, Detective Moss.
MOSS
When you get Duncan on the phone tell
him Detective Moss is in the bank and we
are code 4. Tell him I’m bringing the suspect
out and DON”T shoot.
TELLER#2
Hello, Sergeant Duncan? A Detective Moss
is in here and he says to tell you we’re code 4
and he ‘s bringing the suspect out. And, oh yes, he
says don’t shoot.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE BANK
OFFICER KELLY
The sedan comes back stolen.
SERGEANT DUNCAN
Figures.
Sergeant Duncan putting his cell phone away.
SERGEANT DUNCAN
All right. Hold your fire. Moss is in
there and he’s bringing the suspect
out. Repeat – HOLD YOUR FIRE.
DUNCAN (to himself)
What the hell is he doing in there?
INT. Inside the Bank.
Moss hoists the suspect to his feet.
MOSS
Let’s go. You’re taxi is waiting.
Come on, move it.
Moss walks the suspect out the door. Customers inside the Bank begin rising to their feet.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE BANK.
Moss escorts the suspect over to the awaiting officers who take custody and begin placing him into a police car. Sergeant Duncan approaches Moss and speaks quietly so others could not hear.
SERGEANT DUNCAN
Hey Moss, didn’t know you were
working robbery. Things a little slow
in narcotics?
Moss shrugs it off and begins walking away towards his apartment which is only three blocks away. The side walk is busy with pedestrians making their way to the nearest coffee shop to the nearest grocery market, to their neighborhood bank . A half block from the bank Moss approaches a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk with his back against the building. He has a cup sitting in front of him and he is playing a tune on a harmonica. Moss takes the dark shades from his shirt pocket and hands the shades and cane to JAKE and tosses money into Jake’s collection tin.
MOSS
Thanks Jake. Those were a life saver.
JAKE
That’s all right Mr. Moss. I don’t know what
You needed them for, but I’m glad I could
help.
