Thief: the Dark Project - Screenplay

Namdrol on 31/10/2009 at 08:38

For me the tone of a Thief film should be dark, sombre and ominous.
With slow camera shots and slow heartbeat type breathy music.
Lots of silence and tension, punctuated by brief frantic action.

I'm really enjoying the script Shroud.

The Shroud on 31/10/2009 at 21:04

This is the music I envision in the Bafford's manor sequence (out of all the versions of the TDS intro, I thought this was truest to the Thief mood):

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkRAMplcKRE)

Namdrol on 31/10/2009 at 22:02

Yup, does it for me.

The Shroud on 1/11/2009 at 03:56

Took Beleg's suggestions and did some fine-tuning:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]EXT. ALLEY BEHIND CUTTY'S PAWN SHOP - NEXT DAY - ESTABLISHING

As pedestrians pass through the nearby COBBLESTONE STREETS, a
hooded, brown-robed figure (Garrett) arrives at the back of a
secluded pawn shop and knocks on the recessed door. Moments
later, the shopkeeper (CUTTY, 45) opens the door and grins.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]CUTTY
Garrett. Come in.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]INT. BACK ROOM - CUTTY'S PAWN SHOP - MOMENTS LATER

Garrett enters, lowering his hood as Cutty locks the door.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT
How's business, old man?

CUTTY
Been sparse ever since the Hammers
started snooping about. I've been strapped
for weeks.

GARRETT
More inspections huh?

CUTTY
They've been cracking down all over
Stonemarket. Clients are getting
squeamish.

GARRETT
Heh. If only the Hammers knew what
goes on right under their noses.

CUTTY
(smirking)
Do you have it?[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]Reaching into his robe, Garrett brings out the scepter.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]CUTTY
Ahh -- Bafford's prized ruby
scepter. Magnificent.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]Cutty runs his hands over the scepter as he appraises it.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT
Silver, jewels, the usual
adornments. It should command a
high price.

CUTTY
That it should. Well done.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]Moving behind a counter, Cutty produces a sack of gold coins
and hands it over to Garrett. Garrett exchanges the scepter
for the sack, then begins quickly counting the coins as Cutty
puts the scepter away.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]CUTTY
Bafford's loss was the talk of the
town this morning. The whole city's
speculating over who could have
pulled it off. Even the Downwinders
haven't got a clue.

GARRETT
There's only one-fifty here.
Where's the rest?

CUTTY
The deal fell through with the
buyer. I had to take a lower bid.
That's the best I could get you,
I'm afraid.

GARRETT
Our agreement was two-hundred.

CUTTY
Lower bid, lower payment. Sorry,
old friend, but that's how the
hammer falls in this business.

GARRETT
(coldly)
Good thing you're strapped, Cutty --
or I'd have to clean you out for shorting me -- again.

CUTTY
Snap, snap, puppy! You're lucky I
do business with you at all. Not
many fences would risk dealing with
an independent like you.

GARRETT
Not many would risk stiffing me,
either.

CUTTY
Maybe. But the other choice is to
let one of the so-called "City
Wardens" give you orders -- and
take a cut of your profits.

GARRETT
(stashing the sack)
I know. They've been after me for
years to join one of their stables
but I'm not interested.

CUTTY
(sarcastically)
Maybe they'll get the idea and give
up?

GARRETT
Heh. More likely they'll just ramp
up the threats.

CUTTY
That's a dangerous edge you're
walking.

GARRETT
Nothing I can't handle if I'm
careful -- and lucky.

CUTTY
Well, your luck seems to have
finally turned for the better -- a
woman named Victoria was looking
for you earlier. Said she had a job
for a skilled thief -- something
too sensitive for the usual
channels. I told her I'd pass on
the word, see if you were
interested.

GARRETT
Victoria? Never heard of her. Did
you check her out?

CUTTY
I did some digging before you
arrived. She's an independent fence
-- previously Raputo's. Deals in
exotics, medicinals and the like.
No known organization. She's
reputed to have contact with second-
tier nobility, the Grand Library,
and the Order of the Vine.

GARRETT
Sounds pretty well-connected. She
mention anything about the job?

CUTTY
She wouldn't give any details --
just said to inquire at the
Crippled Burrick pub if you were
interested.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]Pulling up his hood, Garrett heads for the door.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT
Thanks for the tip.

CUTTY
Going to look into it?

GARRETT
(shrugging)
Not like I have a whole lot of
choice, really -- got some old
debts to pay off and the rent is
due. And my landlord's even tougher
than the Hammers.

CUTTY
(chuckling and waving)
Be seeing you, Garrett.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]Garrett waves and exits the shop, closing the door after him.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Echelon5 on 4/11/2009 at 05:15

Any more script excerpts for us to read?:cheeky:

Beleg Cúthalion on 4/11/2009 at 12:02

I just started seeing The Perfume in English yesterday (needed inspiration for my tannery) and I remembered that I had always wished for a Thief movie to be produced by Bernd Eichinger. Not only for mere quality reasons, but because it would provide the "Constantin Film" logo at the beginning. :p

But I don't want to turn this into a general Thief movie discussion, just as a side note.

Albert on 4/11/2009 at 23:37

Quote Posted by Beleg Cúthalion

Not only for mere quality reasons, but because it would provide the "Constantin Film" logo at the beginning. :p

Not an expert, but I don't think that's how the film industry works.

Namdrol on 4/11/2009 at 23:58

Al, Constantin films is the production company that Bernd Eicheniger heads, so yes, in this case it's how the film industry works.
;)

Beleg Cúthalion on 5/11/2009 at 07:52

I just thought the name would fit. There is also a company called herbX and although it comes from a surname, it could be a reference to the Pagan rising. :sly:

The Shroud on 5/11/2009 at 22:07

Quote Posted by Echelon5

Any more script excerpts for us to read?:cheeky:

Well, since you asked - here's another excerpt (another 4 pages/minutes). This follows immediately after the previous scene at Cutty's shop. Hope you enjoy it. ;)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]EXT. STREET OUTSIDE CRIPPLED BURRICK PUB - DAY - ESTABLISHING

Garrett heads up the bustling street to a tavern. A sign over
the doorway reads: "The Crippled Burrick", with a Burrick
(see TDP concept art) pictured above. Posted by the entrance
is an ad for "Bear Pits" showing two fierce bears fighting.

INT. CRIPPLED BURRICK PUB - MOMENTS LATER

Entering the busy, sordid tavern, Garrett approaches the bar
and speaks with the bartender. The man gestures toward a
secluded corner-booth. Garrett heads to the booth, where
VIKTORIA, 29 (see TDP, intro to "The Sword"), sits alone.

SHADED CORNER-BOOTH

Stepping inside the booth, Garrett sits across from Viktoria.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT
(quietly)
I heard you were looking for me.

VIKTORIA
(quietly)
So you’re Garrett. It’s a pleasure
to meet you.
(extending a hand)
I’m Viktoria.

GARRETT
(taking her hand)
The pleasure’s mine. I was told you
had a job for me?

VIKTORIA
Yes. I represent a client who is
impressed by the way you obtained
Lord Bafford’s scepter. He’s now
interested in you acquiring
something for him.

GARRETT
(warily)
You and your -- client seem to know
a lot, Miss Victoria.

VIKTORIA
The scepter’s theft? It wasn’t hard
to deduce. You’re the only thief
who could have performed a job like
that without the wardens or the
Downwind thieves guild
commissioning it. That’s why my
client wishes to hire you.

GARRETT
What does he want acquired?

VIKTORIA
The object he wants is a rare
artifact --[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]As she speaks, Viktoria produces a folded sheet of papyrus
and slides it across to Garrett. Unfolding it, he sees a
drawing of a beautifully engraved, gladius-styled sword. "THE
SWORD" THEME MUSIC BEGINS (see TDP, intro to "The Sword").[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]VIKTORIA
-- a magical sword owned by a
nobleman named Constantine.

GARRETT
Constantine. The collector?

VIKTORIA
So you know of him.

GARRETT
Very little -- just that he is an
eccentric new face in the city, and
mostly keeps to himself.

VIKTORIA
His mansion is on the outskirts of
town. The sword will probably be on
display --[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]As Viktoria speaks, the MUSIC TRANSITIONS TO THE
CONSTANTINE’S MANSION THEME (see TDP, intro to "The Sword").[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]VIKTORIA
-- but it will be well protected by
guards and security systems.

GARRETT
Nothing I haven’t dealt with
before.

VIKTORIA
I have no doubt -- though I should
warn you --[/CENTER]

[RIGHT]DISSOLVE TO:[/RIGHT]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]INT. FIFTH-FLOOR STUDY - GARRETT’S APARTMENT - EVENING

MONTAGE (MUSIC CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THIS SEQUENCE)

A) Sitting at a desk, Garrett writes in a journal by the
LIGHT OF A KEROSINE LAMP, AS VIKTORIA’S VOICE CONTINUES:[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]VIKTORIA (V.O.)
-- I’ve been told that the guards
are quite tough and organized --
and the mansion is --[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]VIKTORIA’S VOICE FADES OUT AS GARRETT’S VOICE FADES IN -- HIS
WORDS SPOKEN IN UNISON WITH HERS:[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
-- and the mansion is confusing to
navigate in.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]B) C.U. - OUR VIEW DRAWS TOWARD A ROUGHLY SKETCHED MAP OF
CONSTANTINE’S MANSION (see TDP, intro to "The Sword").[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
The house was constructed recently
so I’ve had to piece together my
own map from observation and
hearsay. Sounds like the place is a
bit of a maze.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]SERIES OF SHOTS (GARRETT’S V.O. CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THESE)

A) C.U. - a WATER-ARROW’S EMPTY CRYSTAL REFLECTING MOONLIGHT.
Inside, a white powder is visible. As Garrett (now wearing
slim black gloves) fills the crystal with water through the
HYPODERMIC ARROW-SHAFT, its contents instantly MIX and FIZZ.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
I guess if you’re rich enough, you
can build any sort of[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]B) C.U. - Garrett’s gloved fingers screw a metal nock into
the end of the water-arrow’s shaft, sealing it airtight.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
madhouse to live in.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]C) He slides the arrow into a black quiver full of others.

D) He fastens a pair of black archer-bracers to his forearms.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
This is going to be a challenging
job --[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]E) He slips several lock-picks into sleeves on his jerkin.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
-- but it’ll pay better than the
last few I’ve taken.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]F) He slides a dagger into a sheath on one of his bracers.

G) He flips his blackjack into hand and slips it in a pocket.

H) Suited in black, Garrett straps his quiver to his hip.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
As usual, the front entrance is
heavily guarded --[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]I) He secures a narrow, black, coiled rope to a belt-clip.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
-- but I’ve managed to find[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]J) He hooks one end of the rope to a grappler-arrow’s ring.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
another way in.[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]K) Garrett slides the grappler-arrow into his quiver.

L) He secures his folded, black short-bow in a bow-sheath at
his other hip, beside an empty short-sword scabbard.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
Course, once I’ve picked up the
sword, I’ll still have to worry
about[/CENTER]

[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]M) Garrett pulls his black hooded-cloak from a wall-hook. AS
THE CLOAK SWEEPS ACROSS, THE VIEW WIPES AND FADES.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]

[CENTER]GARRETT (V.O.)
getting back out.[/CENTER]

_________________________________________________________________