SABLE

 

EXCERPT FROM 
SABLE 
Written by Melissa Zeigler
(A NARRATIVE FEATURE SCREENPLAY)



OVER BLACK

The FUNERAL DIRGE plays. SNIFFLES and WEEPING are heard.


INT. FUNERAL HOME - DAY

Decked out in all black, SABLE (30), a voluptuous, bombshell blonde confined to a wheelchair, uncomfortably fidgets with her hands. A giant engagement ring adorns her ring finger.

She dabs her eyes dry with a handkerchief, even though there are no visible tears.

Displayed next to a closed casket is a large portrait of Sable snuggled with MR. PARKER, a man in his 80’s.

GRACE (V.O.)
You don't fool me with those 
crocodile tears Sable Turner.

EXT. FUNERAL HOME - MOMENTS LATER

PARKER’S SON (65) and GRACE (60), Parker’s daughter, tower over Sable. Sable SOBS dramatically into her handkerchief.

PARKER’S SON 
You're not fooling anyone.

Sable reaches out and gently touches Parker’s Sons' arm. Sunlight glints off of Sable’s giant engagement ring, blinding Grace.

SABLE
I want both of you to know, 
I loved your father very much.

Sable smiles at both of them. Grace is disgusted to see the engagement ring on Sable’s finger.

GRACE
Give me back my mother’s ring!

SABLE 
I will not!

Grace attempts to yank the ring off of Sable’s finger but Sable fights back. Sable bites Grace’s hand in an attempt to loosen her grip but Grace eventually prevails and smugly stows the ring in her jacket pocket.

GRACE
Thank goodness you didn’t have time
to weasel your way into our father’s will.

Grace straightens her clothing and turns her back to Sable. Sable stews for a moment.

SUDDENLY she leaps out of the wheelchair and tackles Grace to the ground. She grabs a handful of Grace’s hair.

SABLE
Give me back my ring.


EXT. PARKER HOME - LATER THAT DAY

Sable, back in the ruse of needing a wheelchair, is pushed to the front door of a large, two story house by an ELDERLY WOMAN. Sable admires her engagement ring that’s safely back on her finger.

SABLE
I don’t know what came over me 
earlier.

The Elderly Woman pats Sable’s shoulder.

ELDERLY WOMAN
Grief causes strong emotions. Are
you sure you don't need any help?

SABLE 
I'm sure.

Sable hugs the Elderly Woman.

ELDERLY WOMAN
If you change your mind 
I'm only a call away.

SABLE 
Thank you.

They share a smile. The Elderly Woman slowly walks away.

Once the Elderly Woman is out of sight, Sable's smile evaporates. Sable bends forward in her wheelchair. She sees that the Elderly Woman is half way up the street.

Stoically Sable unlocks her front door and rolls inside.


INT. PARKER HOME, LIVING ROOM - SAME

Sable closes the door and rolls to the nearest window. She opens the curtain and peeks out; no one's in sight. She closes the curtain tightly.

With the coast clear, she jumps out of the wheelchair and whips off the blonde wig. She races to her bedroom.


BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

In the safety of her bedroom Sable quickly sheds the rest of her disguise.

Padded push-up bra and hip pads fall to the wayside. We finally meet Sable, as she truly is, a svelte brunette. She haphazardly throws clothes, shoes and jewelry into a suitcase. She runs into the...


BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
Where she gathers makeup and toiletries into a small case.

BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Sable touches up her hair and makeup at the vanity. She checks her clothing in the mirror.


INT. PARKER HOME, LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

The suitcases are stacked next to the front door. Sable peeks out from behind a curtain. The coast is clear.


EXT. PARKER HOME - SAME

Sable races out of the house, but quickly turns around and runs back inside.

A moment later she comes out again with the blonde wig askew on her head. She slams the front door behind her.

A wheelchair accessible van and a hot rod are parked in her driveway. She tosses her cases into the hot rod and quickly jumps in. She starts the engine.

Unbeknownst to her, a NEIGHBOR steps up to her driver-side window.

NEIGHBOR 
Ms. Wilson...

Startled, Sable accidentally bumps the car HORN. She quickly catches her breath and puts her car in reverse.

NEIGHBOR (CONT’D)
I’m sorry for your loss. I’m glad
to see you’re recovering.

SABLE
Thank you.

Sable gasses it out of the driveway and speeds off. Half way down the street the blonde wig flies out of the window.


EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - LATER

Sable emerges from around the corner, suitcases in hand. The apartment building stands tall over the busy, city street below. She runs into the apartment building.


INT. LIAM’S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Sable enters the apartment. She puts her suitcases down and kicks off her shoes. She picks up a stack of mail and sifts through it. A strange envelope addressed to her catches her attention. She quickly puts it into her purse.

LIAM JONES walks out of the bedroom into the living room.

They hug.

LIAM
Babe! How was your trip?

SABLE 
Productive enough.

LIAM
I thought you weren't coming home
until next week?

SABLE
I couldn't stand being away from
you for that long.

She grabs his face and kisses him. She wears a different, modest engagement ring on her ring finger.

LIAM 
You're amazing.

He passionately kisses her. She smiles and grabs hold of his hand. She coyly leads him toward the bedroom. He happily follows her.


INT. LIAM’S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Sable exits the bedroom, ties her robe closed and plops down on the couch. She grabs her purse. Inside her purse she has three cellphones.

She discreetly checks one, there are no unread messages or missed calls. She discreetly checks the second phone; she has numerous missed text messages and missed calls. Liam exits the bedroom and kisses her en route to the kitchen.

LIAM
What do you want for dinner?

Sable sneaks a peek at one of the text messages. It's from BOBBY. It reads: WHERE ARE YOU? WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING MY CALLS?

Liam notices that he doesn't have Sable's attention.

LIAM (CONT’D)
Babe?

SABLE 
What?

LIAM
What do you want for dinner?

SABLE
How about spaghetti?

LIAM 
Spaghetti it is.

Liam pulls a pot and pan from the cupboard. Sable fidgets for a moment then walks to front door and grabs her car keys.

SABLE
I forgot something in my car, I'll
be right back.

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER

Sable leans against the building, she's on her cellphone.

SABLE
Why does it have to be tonight?
(beat)
I'm already halfway to my mothers.

The response to her question annoys her.

SABLE (CONT’D)
No matter how hard you try, you

can’t stop me from visiting her. 

Unintelligible YELLING responds to her.

SABLE (CONT’D)
Fine. I'll turn around and head 
back 
since you can’t wait two fucking days.

Sable hangs up and angrily tosses the phone into her purse. A PASSERBY quizzically looks Sable up and down as the bottom of Sable's robe flaps slightly in the breeze.

SABLE (CONT’D)
What the hell are you looking at?

Startled, the passerby scurries away.


INT. LIAM’S APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER

LIAM
Can it wait until tomorrow?

SABLE
No. He says it can't wait.

He hugs her tightly.

LIAM
He's not going to be a problem is he?

SABLE
No, I've got him handled.

She somberly kisses him goodbye.


EXT. SABLE’S HOME - LATER THAT NIGHT

Sable's hot rod peels into the driveway of a modest single story home. It SCREECHES to a halt shattering the silence of the quiet neighborhood. Sable stomps up the front steps with a red wig in hand and storms inside.


INT. SABLE’S HOME, LIVING ROOM - SAME

Sable barges to a coat rack and hangs up the wig. She flicks the lights on as she takes off her coat. Behind her sits a shadowy figure, a MAN in a suit.

The sound of his lighter IGNITING doesn't startle Sable, but it does catch her attention. She turns around to face him. It's BOBBY (40's), a clean cut man with gruff features.

SABLE
You've got a lot of nerve.

Bobby lights a blunt and takes a hit.

BOBBY
It's good to see you too Sable.


EXT. BANK - THE NEXT DAY

Sable wears a suit and the red wig. She enters the bank.

INT. BANK - SAME
Sable weaves through a few desks. The BANK MANAGER spots her.

BANK MANAGER 
Welcome back Miss Wilson.

SABLE 
Thank you sir.

BANK MANAGER 
How's your mother?

SABLE
She's stable but I hope to 
visit her again next week.

BANK MANAGER
Put your request in and 
I'll make it happen.

SABLE 
Thank you sir.

BANK MANAGER
I left a few new accounts on 
your desk. I’d like you to review 
them as soon as possible.

SABLE
I'll get right on those.

She takes a seat at her desk and opens the first of many file folders. She doesn’t wear any engagement or wedding rings.


INT. BANK - LATER THAT DAY

ROY SMALLS (30's), a plain looking man with a quirky demeanor enters the bank. He glances around the room.

Sable is the only employee who isn’t with a client. Roy adjusts his glasses and awkwardly walks to her table. Sable glances up from the file she's reading. At eye contact, Roy is left speechless.

SABLE
How can I help you sir?

He doesn't respond.

Sable tries again.

SABLE (CONT’D) 
May I help you?

Roy tries to knock words together, but is unsuccessful.

ROY 
Trust fund.

SABLE 
Pardon?

Roy laughs uncomfortably. He corrects himself.

ROY
I'd like... information about
establishing a trust fund.

SABLE
Please, take a seat Mister...

Roy quickly sits down.

ROY 
Smalls. Roy Smalls.

SABLE
Mr. Smalls. Our attorneys will need
to draw up all the paperwork 
to be approved by your attorney 
but I can help you get started 
with the process. Will the trust fund 
be for your son or daughter?

ROY 
Neither.

SABLE 
Niece, nephew?

ROY 
My dog.

SABLE 
Your dog?

ROY 
Yes.

SABLE
We offer options in $10,000
increments.

ROY
I'd like to do two 
million dollars.

Sable is taken aback by this staggering figure.

SABLE
Two million dollars?

ROY

Yes. I want to ensure that she
receives the same standard of living 
the remainder of her life 
should anything happen to me.

A smile warms Sable's face.

SABLE
That's very sweet of you and your
wife.

ROY
Oh, I don't have a wife.

SABLE 
Really?

Sables' smile beams brighter. The clock on her table progresses from 2:17pm to 3:58pm.

Sable and Roy LAUGH with each other. Sable glances at the time. She does a double-take.

SABLE (CONT’D)
Oh my goodness Mr. Smalls, I didn't

realize I had taken up so much 
of your time. I apologize.

ROY
No apology necessary. 
And please, call me Roy. 

Sable smiles coyly.

SABLE
Roy, it's been a pleasure. We'll
process your information by the 
end of the week. We should have a draft 
ready for your attorneys by early 
next week.

ROY 
That's it?

SABLE 
That’s it.

Sable stands from her chair and extends her hand.

SABLE (CONT’D)
It was a pleasure chatting. I hope
you have a wonderful day.

Roy remains in his chair. He glances around the room.

He leans in towards Sable but anxiously leans back. Finally he summons the courage.

ROY (whispers)
May I... may I see you again? 

Sable smiles at him sweetly.

SABLE
I’m flattered Mr. Smalls but...

SUDDENLY, Grace, with scratches on her face and an arm in a sling, enters the bank. Sable is thrown off of her game.

SABLE (CONT’D)
I’m... currently seeing someone.

Roy is crushed.

ROY
Of course. Excuse me.

He awkwardly gather his things while Sable attempts to gather her wits. Her focus barely leaves Grace.

ROY (CONT’D) 
Have a good day.

SABLE 
You too Mr. Smalls.

Roy races out of the front door while Sable quickly steals out of the back door.

EXT. BANK - MOMENTS LATER

Sable anxiously meanders near the bank. She bides her time, frequently checking to see where Grace is at inside.

Finally, she spots Grace shaking the Bank Manager’s hand. Grace exits the bank, gets into her car and drives away.

INT. BANK - CONTINUOUS

Sable rushes back into the bank, desperate for information. She approaches the Bank Manager.

SABLE 
Who was that.

BANK MANAGER
A potential cash cow. She’s looking
to transfer her father’s account 
from the Ferndale office. Why?

SABLE 
No reason.

Sable returns to her desk. At her desk she sifts through her purse until she finds the envelope that had arrived at Liam’s apartment.

She opens the envelope and is terrified to find a stack of surveillance-type photos inside: Liam outside of his apartment, Liam inside of his apartment, Liam with Sable. There are also photos of Sable with her MA (60s), a frail woman walking with the aid of Sable outside of a hospital.

Sable quickly hides the photos in her purse. She inspects the envelope, there's no return address. She nervously glances around. Uneasy, she gather's her purse, rushes past her manager and out of the front door.

SABLE
I'm sorry, I have to leave. 
There's been an emergency.

Sable races out of the bank.


INT. SABLE'S HOME - LATER

Sable anxiously paces back and forth. Bobby sits on her couch and sorts through the stack of photos. He's unflustered.

BOBBY
It's a scare tactic.

SABLE
Well, it worked.

Bobby hands her the photos.

 BOBBY
You need to calm down.

SABLE
Calm down? Wake the fuck up.
Frankie knows where I am.

Sable shows him a photo of her and Liam.

BOBBY
Funny, that doesn't look like
this place at all.

SABLE
Liam's got nothing to do with
any of this. Frankie knows where
Liam lives. He knows where my Ma is...

BOBBY
You brought Liam into this.

SABLE
I brought him into this? I didn't
bring me into this. You forced me
into this. You're supposed to be
protecting me and my loved ones.

BOBBY
We can't protect you if we don't 
know where you are. Since when 
did you start seeing Liam again?

SABLE
Again? I never stopped seeing him.

Bobby laughs in disbelief.

BOBBY
Well I suggest you refrain from 
seeing him until after the trial.

SABLE
They've postponed this trial for 
one reason or another for over 
three years. I'm not gonna wait 
for who knows how long to see 
Liam again.

BOBBY
They set a date.

This stops Sable in her tracks.

BOBBY
The trial's June 5.

SABLE
Next month? Nothing for over a
year and suddenly it's next month?

BOBBY
Just think, you won't have 
to be away from lover boy for 
too long.

Dread overwhelms Sable. Bobby continues talking to her but she zones him out. Her focus is on a million other things.

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