Film Noir Story board with Script

Film Noir screen play – The Sweetest Death

 

Establishing shot Tamworth View from castle and castle grounds

EXT. DETECTIVE AGENCY – NEAL’S OFFICE – EARLY MORNING

 

INT. DETECTIVE AGENCY – NEAL’S OFFICE – EARLY MORNING

 

Wide shot from above showing the entire office from overhead: Detective Jonah Neal standing looking out towards the city through venetian blinds. The showing effect of the blinds leaves him squinting in the early morning light. His suit is crumpled giving him a look as though he has spent the night in his office and he is smoking from a hand rolled cigarette.

 

Jonah (V.O) Debauchery, Deprivation, and impropriety this city is built on it. 40 years and I thought I’d seen it all (Takes a drag of the cigarette OS) But like always the world just loves to prove me wrong.  

 

[Knocking at the office door]

 

Camera slowly descends towards Jonah’s face as he turns his body away from the office door.

 

Jonah (re: the office door) [audibly irate] we’re closed! Come back tomorrow – or better yet come next week, by then your problems will have magically disappeared.

 

[Sound of the door opening]

Jonah turns towards the door

 

Jonah (V.O) I should have known no dame walking into my office would be walking in without a past, a story but damn! This dame was enough to make even me lose my mind.

 

Camera angle changes giving a view of a woman’s lower legs as she appears to be waking into the office- the camera tilts until the woman’s whole body has been shows from feet to head. Wearing red high heeled shoes, and a knee length coat her clothing is fine in comparison to the surrounding office. She is classically beautiful with fair hair and big blue eyes. The woman is Estelle Eveleigh. 

 

Jonah [audibly irate] what part of we’re clo-

(Speech is cut off as he turns and takes in the appearance of woman before him)

 

Estelle [Imploring] please! Mr Neal, I NEED you, you’re the best of the best, and I need the best for this. I have nowhere else to go.

 

Jonah appears to be appraising Estelle’s words

 

Jonah [Audibly sighing in defeat] Alright, fine! Come on in and take a seat doll. Tell me what has gotten you all up in a tizzy.

 

Estelle takes a seat in the far right chair at the desk leaving the chair closest for the window free for Jonah to sit

Estelle (Afraid) Please Detective, this is serious. I’m afraid, deadly afraid. I’m not just some silly little woman who’s overreacting. I think somebody is trying to kill me.

 

Estelle reaches into her bag and removes some tissue paper with a written warning on it- the words are at first unclear in the shot but the camera focus clears up making them clear to read ‘room 201 18:00)

 

Jonah sweetheart, I doubt you’re in any danger-this is just an appointment slip, nothing scary or dangerous here but poor calligraphy. 

 

Estelle (Afraid) Please Detective you don’t understand, I was supposed to be in room 201 at six o’clock when it exploded last night. I’m supposed to be dead

 

Jonah (intrigued but clear scepticism) Dead huh? Well little lady I don’t know if I believe that but I’ll tell you what I’ll look into the explosion for you- for a small fee of course

 

Estelle (relieved) Thank you, money will be no problem

 

EXT. HOTEL - EXPLOSION SITE – NIGHT OR EARLY HOURS

 

Wide shot showing the building, detective Neal walks into the shot reading a fire report. The camera angle changes to a mid-shot showing clearly the nature of the report and the shock on Neal’s face.

 

Jonah Well I’ll be dammed, the explosion really was a set up.