Thought I'd try another angle for the intro. I was hoping to come up with something outside of NYC, but it's just too perfect a setting for Mike to become a bum and a nobody for the first act. Sorry if the spacing/tabbing's a little off below.
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FADE IN:
EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - 1948 - NIGHT
Typical night. Cars line the streets, couples the sidewalks.
EXT. NEW YORK ALLEY - NIGHT
Lonely men hide in the shadows, with fears that light will
expose their evil deeds.
EXT. ST. MICHAEL'S CATHEDRAL - NIGHT
MIKE HARRISON, late 20s, wearing semi-tattered clothes,
stands outside the church as he waits for something. He
stares at the cross on top of the steeple.
FATHER JONES, mid 60s, is a gentle, elderly man. He's
graceful in his movements and walks with confidence. He
steps out and passes by Mike.
MIKE
Is it sinful to kill?
Father Jones stops and turns around.
FATHER JONES
What's that?
MIKE
Is killing sinful?
FATHER JONES
Depends on the cause.
MIKE
The cause?
FATHER JONES
Killing in a war isn't sinful if
the war itself isn't sinful.
MIKE
So all wars aren't sinful?
FATHER JONES
No, not exactly.
MIKE
Try asking the victims! Especially
the children!
FATHER JONES
That's the price.
MIKE
The price? What kind of price
could be worth that?
FATHER JONES
The price of defense. Defense
against losing our identity and
being forced to take on a new one.
MIKE
Easy for you to say.
FATHER JONES
You seem to be in rough shape, son.
Let's go to the shelter. We can
talk on the way there.
MIKE
No thanks, I've got a ride.
Mike points to his taxi parked in front of the church.
MIKE
Could I take you, instead?
FATHER JONES
I was on my way home, actually, but
I accept your offer.
Mike and Father Jones get in the taxi and drive off.
INT. TAXI CAB - NIGHT
FATHER JONES
Take me to the corner of Fifth and
Vine.
MIKE
All right.
FATHER JONES
You stand there a lot, don't you?
MIKE
Some.
FATHER JONES
You never come in, though.
MIKE
No reason to.
FATHER JONES
So you wait for your answers to
walk out, do you?
Mike ignores the comment.
MIKE
Back to war. You say war isn't
sinful.
FATHER JONES
Not all wars.
MIKE
Right. So which wars have been
sinful and which haven't?
FATHER JONES
World War II wasn't sinful.
MIKE
Why not?
FATHER JONES
It was a fight between good and
evil. Sin and righteousness.
MIKE
Doesn't every soldier in a war
think he's fighting on the side of
righteousness, though?
FATHER JONES
Yes, I suppose so.
MIKE
So who's to say that a kraut's
wrong in fighting so Germany can
rule the world? What standard do
you use to tell him he's wrong?
FATHER JONES
The Word of God.
MIKE
I've been over there and...they
don't really go for that.
EXT. JONES'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The cab stops. Father Jones gets out and goes to Mike's
window.
FATHER JONES
How much do I owe?
MIKE
It's on me.
FATHER JONES
Thank you! I think.
MIKE
My way of tithing.
FATHER JONES
God bless you.
MIKE
Good night.
Father Jones walks in his apartment.
Mike pulls a flashlight out of his glove compartment and uses
it to look at his watch. He turns the roof light off and
drives off.
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