Taking It Back

by Stephanie Johnson

INT. CATHERINE’S APARTMENT – DAY

Catherine is seated at the kitchen table with her feet up on the corner of the table. She’s in her pajamas with a cup of tea in her hand. She’s reading the paper and moving her feet to music. Her laptop sits on the table next to her.

CLOSE UP on the laptop, where we see “The Ventu Collection at the Long Island Museum” and images of various silver items. The door buzzes.

CATHERINE BRAC

(pushing intercom button)

Yup.

SHOKO NAKAMURA (V.O.)

It’s me, sunshine.

CATHERINE BRAC

Come on up.

After pressing the unlock, Catherine walks back to the table and looks at the computer. Shoko walks in.

CATHERINE BRAC

(looking at the computer)

So…how was dessert?

SHOKO NAKAMURA

Delicious.

(beat)

Hey, so listen, we have a little problem with the new stuff.

CATHERINE BRAC

(looks up at Shoko)

What do you mean?

SHOKO NAKAMURA

Well, I now know why there was nothing in the papers about it. It’s stolen.

CATHERINE BRAC

Yeah…I’m pretty sure I was there.

SHOKO NAKAMURA

No, I mean it was stolen before you stole it. And, that’s not the worst part. It was stolen from the Mangioni family.

CATHERINE BRAC

Whoa.

(pauses and thinks back)

Do you know what this means?

Catherine begins to smile at Shoko who is a little puzzled.

CATHERINE BRAC

Remember, the Mangioni’s personal collection disappeared last year. It had to be The Collector.

(slightly gasps and whispers)

I stole from The Collector.

SHOKO NAKAMURA

Who cares about that? What the hell are we gonna do with it? There is no way I am getting rid of it. It’s the Mangioni’s!

CATHERINE BRAC

Do nothing with it. In fact, I’ll keep it here. Wow, I can’t believe that guy is The Collector. Weird.

SHOKO NAKAMURA

Oh, please. What did you think he would be like?

CATHERINE BRAC

I don’t know. I just thought he’d be different. Where is the stuff now?

SHOKO NAKAMURA

Don’t do anything stupid. Just toss it somewhere.

CATHERINE BRAC

No way! I am not tossing it! This is a huge opportunity.

SHOKO NAKAMURA

What are you talking about?

CATHERINE BRAC

Think about it. We know who The Collector is and where he lives.

(beat)

I feel like going to the beach. How about you?

SHOKO NAKAMURA

What are you doing?

CATHERINE BRAC

Aren’t you curious what he’s after next?

SHOKO NAKAMURA

Not really…maybe a little but it’s too risky.

CATHERINE BRAC

Yeah…

Catherine rubs her hands together and smiles deviously. Her excitement is evident as she hurriedly gathers her gear. Shoko studies her friend and takes a deep breath.

INT. CATHERINE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Catherine is in the kitchen setting two places at the table, music is playing and Milty is lying at her feet. The door buzzes.

CATHERINE BRAC

(presses intercom button)

Come on up!

Catherine grabs a glass of red wine and walks back to the door. It’s Shoko. She puts the glass in her hand before she walks in the door.

CATHERINE BRAC

Come on in, dinner’s almost ready.

SHOKO NAKAMURA

Thank God. I am famished and tired of watching you-know-who.

CATHERINE BRAC

Thanks. I owe you big.

SHOKO NAKAMURA

Are you kidding? You keep me unemployed in the best way. You owe me nothing.

(looks at the stovetop)

God, that smells good!

CATHERINE BRAC

It’s coq au vin and roasted veggies.

SHOKO NAKAMURA

So, I can’t wait to fill you in on the rest of the juicy details.

(pulls out a picture of the German Shepherd)

Here is a picture of his new friend.

CATHERINE BRAC

Hello, handsome. I can’t wait to meet him.

Shoko takes out an envelope with more pictures. She takes out one 8×10 and holds it to her chest.

SHOKO NAKAMURA

But this one…this one is my personal favorite. I like to call it “Casing for Cat”.

She hands the picture to Catherine. Catherine studies it and smiles.

CATHERINE BRAC

No wonder he’s hanging around Long Island. The Vertu opens next week.

(looking at him in the picture, she whispers)

Looks like we’ve got some competition.

Catherine puts down the picture. CLOSE UP on the picture. It is night and Jeremy is standing on top of a building that reads “Historical Museum of Long Island”. There is a banner hanging that says “Special Exhibit October 1 through October 22–The Vertu Silver Collection”

Stephanie Johnson lives in Celo in the mountains of Western North Carolina with her husband and two children. She moved to the area from California five years ago. She has a BA in English from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

About Taking It Back–Taking It Back is a heist screenplay that centers on a strong, independent thief, Catherine Brac. While battling demons from her past, she meets “The Collector,” thief extraordinaire, and her demons personified–all in one. A degrading and threatening rejection by “The Collector” leads to the unfolding of taking back her confidence, facing her fears, exerting her own power while inflicting a stinging revenge. 

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