1. A CATALOGUE OF ERRORS
by
Michael Piggott
For ACT 2 of IMPACT 50
During a gang's final job, one robber has an existential crisis.
(Draft 2)
ma_piggott@hotmail.com

2. EXT. FINANCE DISTRICT, COASTAL CITY - DAY (4 HOURS IN)
A grey, nondescript van pulls up in a seafront parking lot
opposite a bank. Immediately, the van appears to rock a
little and the sound of an argument comes from within.
PASSERS BY, many carrying their worldly possessions, give
the vehicle odd looks but hurry on by, anxious to get home.
INT. VAN - DAY
Two men, JACK, mid twenties with a clean cut look, and
STEPHEN, early forties and more world weary, are in the
middle of a heated argument. Both are dressed in black
combat gear and carry an array of weaponry. A third man in
the driver's seat, ISAAC, aged thirty, geeky and
bespectacled and dressed in an impeccable suit, watches with
exasperation.
JACK
(dropping his gun)
I just don't see the point.
STEPHEN
The point, my young apprentice, is
that they won't put up a fight with
what's about to happen. It'll be
the easiest job we've ever done.
JACK
And you do understand the reason
they won't be putting up a fight
don't you?
JACK turns his attention to ISAAC for support.
JACK (CONT'D)
What are you, a silent partner?
Help me out here.
ISAAC
Look, I get it, I do. But Stephen
has a point and you never know,
maybe this will all blow over.
Whilst this is all going on STEPHEN is quietly pulling out
his weapon and moving towards the van's door.
JACK
(witheringly to ISAAC but
with one eye on STEPHEN)
All... blow... over?
JACK confidently grabs STEPHEN'S gun before he can get out
the van. The two men share a look. This could get ugly.
JACK (CONT'D)
We're not done here.

3. 2.
EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY (4 HOURS 20 MINUTES IN)
A TRAFFIC WARDEN walks past and notices the van is parked
illegally. She proceeds to clamp the vehicle, either unaware
of the argument going on inside it or simply doesn't care.
INT. VAN - MOMENTS LATER
JACK and STEPHEN are now grappling in a frankly comical
display for hardened criminals when... CLUNK. Noise outside.
ISAAC goes to leap out but gets caught in the melee and
FALLS out the back door to the sight of the TRAFFIC WARDEN
driving off and a ticket fluttering to the ground.
EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY
The three men stand there awkwardly, unsure what to do next.
Their weapons openly on display. After all, it doesn't
really matter if they hide them now.
EXT. FRONT OF THE BANK, OPPOSITE PARKING LOT - DAY
A SECURITY GUARD, listening to the radio on his break, spots
them. It's clear he's just heard the news and is torn on
what he should do. He grimly sets his jaw, his mind made up.
EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS (4 HOURS, 40 MINUTES IN)
JACK takes the wheel clamp as a sign, an omen even, and
drops his guns, opens his arms and looks to the heavens.
STEPHEN shrugs and turns back to the van and begins arming
himself for armageddon, let alone a simple robbery.
The skies darken, the wind whips up. A storm is almost upon
them. Out to sea the horizon is no longer visible.
ISAAC spots the SECURITY GUARD advancing towards them,
shotgun drawn. He DRAWS his weapon but is too slow.
BANG! Bullets fly, savagely peppering the van. Its
windscreen EXPLODES shattering glass everywhere.
STEPHEN, like a kid caught in a candy jar, is too overloaded
with weapons to move and JACK remains rooted in his pose.
The SECURITY GUARD, in his element now, PUMPS to reload.
He's barely a few feet away and has the men in his sights.
He stops walking and takes aim.
Beat. Time slows down.
The almighty ROAR of the ocean is now deafening and the sky
is almost black.
ISAAC looks down to see blood blossoming through his crisp
white shirt and sighs, drops his gun and takes a running
jump in front of his friends, looking oddly gallant.