INT. MONtage – TIME indeterminate 7
Across screen “ 5 years ago” The following Montages will play.
1.Maria training in martial arts from punching bag to doing ju jitsu with an African American woman – JOJO– and learning to toss her. She rolls her and puts her in a lock then Jojo taps and they both end up laughing.
2.Giovanni with the younger Burduchi at a strip club with women doing lap dances on them and them slamming shots off a tray. Multiple shots of them at club partying with naked women everywhere, in background, MAFIA SOLDIERS.
3.Maria at a gun range shooting with Jojo next to her also shooting. They shoot speed and change clips like lightning and keep shooting. Camera reverses at last clip tearing up the chest of target then head, all perfect groupings. Jojo comes over, looks, leans on Maria’s should smiling then kisses her. Maria winks then like lightning raises gun and fires, camera moves like lightning as bullet into target through holes to…
4.Shot of Giovani’s face with a straw snorting coke with a naked woman hanging on his shoulder and in background Burduchi fucking a woman bent over table in first class hotel room. Another women scantily dressed comes onto other side of Gio’s shoulder while the other woman leans down and does coke. Giovanni kisses the woman who just entered grabbing her breast.
8 INT. house of Salvadori – night 8
CURRENT DAY across screen. Domanas Salvatore is on his death bed. He is attached to various machines and an IV. His eyes are open but he looks moments away from the long sleep. Cerce and Slovansky are in the room. Giovanni dressed as if in celebration with a Russian woman on his arm BELLE. Maria stands apart with all black, tight fitting outfit, pants and shirt and shoulder strap, firearm holstered, looking like a soldier. Domanas opens his eyes confused then sees everyone and nods to himself.
Speaking to himself.
Domanas
The long sleep has finally come to take me to my Selina.
Eyes focus.
Domanas (cont’d)
Giovanni, all the paperwork has been put in order, at my passing you become head of the Salvatore family.
He hacks, coughs, blood. Gio smiles and Belle cozies up to him, both look fat on the hog.
Giovanni
Thank you father.
Domanas waves him away.
Domanas
I don’t know if your ready, but life does what it does. Cerce and David will be your greatest assets. Listen to them.
Gio looks a little bothered but nods.
Giovanni
Yes father.
Domanas looks around and sees Maria with a tear in her eye and he sees her get up and holstered weapon and smiles.
Domanas
Now leave me everyone. I would like a moment with my daughter.
Giovanni looks incensed.
Giovanni
But father, shouldn’t I be the one.
Domanas interrupts.
Domanas
No son. I’ve said what I want to say to you, now leave.
Gio nods then both he and Belle stare daggers at Maria. Everyone shuffles out. Maria watches them leave then sighs then looks at her father and wipes the tear. Domanas beckons her. She moves over and grabs his hand, he smiles weakly.
Domanas
Little moon.
Puts his hand to her face.
Domanas (Con’d)
You make me so proud. So strong.
He sighs.
Domanas (cont’d)
Makes me wish you were a son, but then, you wouldn’t look so much like your beautiful mother.
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A tear in his eye, his hand drops, he weakens and talks to himself.
Domanas (cont…)
I’ll see her soon.
Maria realizes he’s drifted off.
Maria
Love you Poppa. I wish…, I wish being a woman meant more in this world. It should be, will be.
A look of determination crosses her face.
She gently pats his hand and tucks him in. The electronic device monitoring his heart flat lines. She rushes out then immediately a doctor comes in with a nurse. At the door is Giovanni and Belle both smiling.
9 int. outside domanas’s bedroom – night 9
Maria sits on a cushioned bench outside her father’s room. Cerce and David are ten feet away conversing. Bella and Giovanni are whispering together. The Doctor comes out with a nurse who has him sign a clipboard. Doctor then looks at everyone.
doctor
He’s gone.
Cerce and David both bow their heads while Maria wipes a tear from her eyes. Giovanni interrupts everything.
Giovanni
Finally.
Looks at everyone.
Giovanni (Cont’d)
Things will be changing around here, get ready for it.
Stares right at Maria.
Giovanni (Cont’d)
Especially you.
10 INt. house of Salvadori – NIGHT 10
Maria is standing with two thugs (ANTONIO, ROMEO) on either side of her, holding her, her mouth bleeding. Two other THUGS are pointing guns at her. Giovanni is smiling rubbing his knuckles.
Giovanni
This is a long time overdue sister o’ mine. Father is no longer around to cuddle your dumb ass. You were his favorite when it should of been me. I was his son, his heir and you, you and him, always looking down at me,judging me, like I was, like I was weak.
Maria spits blood at his feet.
Maria
My little brother, the tough guy who beats a woman pinned by 4 guys. Rambo in etcha a sketch. You are weak.
Giovanni steps in and punches her again and hollers “Whoa” like he had hit a home run, laughing, Maria even bloodier.
Giovanni
That mouth of yours, always jumping hurdles to see how fast it can get it’s foot in.
Maria
You’re a coward Gio, always have been. You’ve spent your entire sad road wanting everything handed to you with as little work as possible, pathe….
Punch in the mouth.
Giovanni
There ya go again, foot in mouth.
Laughter, Romeo and Antonio joining in.
giovanni (cont’d)
Why should I have to work for anything? I am the son of Domanas Salvatore. Whatever I want should be served on a golden platter and a thank you for having the privilege to give it.
Maria starts laughing.
Maria
And that’s why Poppa was perpetually disappointed in you little brother.
Gio’s face becomes furious at that and starts just repeatedly punching Maria.
Giovanni
You think your funny bitch! You think I’m funny! I’ll fucking beat the funny out of you.
POV of Maria as punches fly towards camera as Gio does above line. Camera goes to black as a bucket of water is splashed onto camera as image forms to Gio smiling.
Giovanni
When you pick yourself up from this abject lesson you’re gonna start acting like a real daughter of the Mafia. And to help you out on that front you will be marrying my good friend Burduchi who will help keep you in line. And he won’t be so gentle. Him and I got big plans for this corner of the world. Play your part and we wont have to repeat this.
He slaps the camera like a hard love tap a few times, Giovanni starts walking away his thugs including Romeo and Anthony and looks back one more time.
Giovanni
When you crawl your way back to your shit hole apartment I got one final reminder I left there for you. Learn your lessons well sister o mine. I am fucking Giovanni Salvatore, I am the Throne, don’t forget it again.
His laughter echoes to the rafters. Camera flips and does a slow tilt up from Maria’s feet blood pooled and dripping down her chest to her bloodied and ruined face. BLOOD WASHES SCREEN.
11 INT. MARIA’S apartment – NIGHT 11
CAMERA does close handheld follow. Maria beaten up and bleeding profusely as she stumbles up stairs to her apartment. She falls hard and pulls herself up again leaving a trail of blood. A little OLD LADY opens door at top of stairs, sees her, eyes growing wide then closes door. Maria smiles and shakes her head, spitting a glob of blood on ground.
Maria
Yea, thanks lady.
Maria stumbles to her apartment door, fumbling for keys in her pocket, drops them, stoops, picks them up then struggles to get keys in door, finally succeeds then opens door. She puts out bloody hand to stop from falling on wall, leaving a hand print then smearing across wall as she stumbles into living room. Her eyes grow white and shocked. CAMERA doing close up on her face as she falls to knees.
Maria
No, no, no.
Tears and blood.
CAMERA pans around and there is an older ISABELLA with her throat slit sitting on her couch eyes wide open in a pool of blood. A wedding dress is laid over back of couch next to her. Back on Maria’s defeated face.
Maria
Isabella. I’m sorry.
Tears, sobbing.