Loose Ends - Scenes 18-36

18. EXT. HACIENDA HOTEL BEACH - DAY

Mona, clad in a bikini, breasts barely restrained by a tiny bra, hair hanging loosely down her back, struts her stuff westerly along the water's edge. MEN on the beach gape. Their FEMALE COMPANIONS try to ignore her.

As Mona approaches the section of beach adjacent to the Gold Dolphin, she slyly eyes the yacht.

19. EXT. GOLD DOLPHIN - FLYING BRIDGE AFT

Roberto watches Mona through binoculars.

20. INT. GOLD DOLPHIN - MAIN DECK AFT

TOMAS (35), RICARDO (30), and Enrique, all dressed in tight T-shirts, white trousers, and white deck shoes, watch Mona with happy grins. Tomas peers through binoculars.

TOMAS

(urgently)

“Mira. Mira las piernas.”

Ricardo grabs the binoculars from Tomas.

RICARDO

(in awe)

“Mira los pechos.”

Enrique seizes the binoculars.

ENRIQUE

(salaciously)

“Ayee, mira las nalgas.”

The three crewmen LAUGH evilly.

21. EXT. GOLD DOLPHIN - FLYING BRIDGE AFT

Roberto picks up a microphone.

ROBERTO (loud speaker voice)

“Cuidado, putañeros.”

22. EXT. BEACH

Mona pretends to ignore the Gold Dolphin. She grins, raises the binoculars concealed at her right side, turns toward the motor yacht.

23. EXT. FLYING BRIDGE AFT - BEACH - P.O.V. ROBERTO BINOCULARS

Mona, binoculars to her eyes, faces the yacht.

24. EXT. BEACH. P.O.V. MONA BINOCULARS

Tomas, Ricardo, and Enrique BREAK UP LAUGHING. Roberto's sad face cracks into a wistful smile.

25. INT. GOLD DOLPHIN - FLYING BRIDGE AFT

Roberto raises his microphone.

ROBERTO (loud speaker voice)

Tomas, take the tender ashore and invite the

young lady to visit us. And mind your manners.

26. INT. GOLD DOLPHIN - MAIN DECK AFT.

Tomas, Ricardo and Enrique scramble for the control panel, bump into each other in their haste. Tomas raises his hand commandingly, touches a button.

27. EXT. GOLD DOLPHIN STERN - MONA P.O.V.

Gold Dolphin’s transom swings upward and slides beneath the main deck. A sleek grey and white inflatable boat with an inboard jet drive engine emerges from the hold, slides into the water.

28. EXT. BEACH

Tomas, Ricardo, Enrique and Mona stand by the tender. They check each other out with admiring looks, happy grins.

TOMAS

“Señorita,” our “Capitan” invites

you to visit our “Delfin de Oro.”

MONA

I thought he'd never ask.

They all BREAK UP LAUGHING, turn to dragging the tender back into the surf. Mona holds up her quarter of the heavy inflatable as effortlessly as the men.

(Photo courtesy Gentry Eagle.)

29. INT. GOLD DOLPHIN - SALON

Roberto waits near the top of the steps from the landing platform. As Mona reaches the main deck, Roberto holds open a silk dressing gown.

ROBERTO

“Buenos dias, señorita.” I am Roberto

Delafina and these, your impetuous

admirers, are my loyal comrades,

Tomas, Ricardo, and Enrique. Enrique,

I believe, has already introduced himself.

Enrique hangs his head, shuffles his feet.

ROBERTO (continues)

We welcome you aboard our Dolphin.

MONA

Thank you Captain. I’m Ramona Deering,

skipper of the sailing cutter Rocking Chair.

Mona motions to the east where many sailboats are moored.

ROBERTO

But you are so young to command

a sailing vessel.

MONA

Why, Captain, if that’s a compliment,

I thank you. But if you want to know

how old I am, just remember, a woman

who will tell you her age, will tell you

anything.

ROBERTO

Very good. I shall remember that.

MONA

Rocking Chair is owned by Doctor

George Selkirk, a retired psychiatrist,

and his wife Susan. They just returned

to California for the holidays. In truth,

Doctor Selkirk runs the yacht when

he’s aboard.

Mona takes a quick look around the salon.

MONA (continues)

“Delfin de Oro es muy magnifico. Es

muy grande. Se mira que es veloz.”

Roberto glances at Enrique, smiles slightly. Enrique hangs his head again. Tomas and Ricardo LAUGH.

ROBERTO

Ah. You speak Spanish.

MONA

“Muy poquito!”

ROBERTO

More than a little, it would seem.

Come, let me show you our Gold

Dolphin, if I can pry you away

from these young stallions.

Roberto looks to his crewmen.

ROBERTO (continues)

I am sure they have much to do.

The disappointed crewmen return to the boat deck. Roberto takes Mona’s arm. As they walk forward through the salon to the control bridge, their bodies seem to say, “We’re going to get along just fine.”

30. EXT. SAN LUCAS BAY, EAST ANCHORAGE - ROCKING CHAIR

The small dinghy, Mona at the controls, slides up to the stern of a sleek 55 foot sailing yacht. On the transom is lettered: ROCKING CHAIR Jack London Square Oakland, CA.

Mona ties off the dinghy, grabs a line and pulls down a boarding ladder, scrambles up on deck, unlocks the main hatch, and disappears below. The yacht’s exterior is immaculate.

Mona emerges from the main hatch struggling with a large, tightly stuffed black canvas bag. She wrestles the bag into the dinghy and zooms off. The yacht’s hatch and ports are open, the boarding ladder still hangs in the water.

31. EXT. CABO ISLE MARINA

Mona ties the dinghy off behind a small sailing yacht upon which Fred, wearing only shorts, is on his knees scrubbing the teak deck. Fred struggles to his feet, rubs his knees.

FRED

If God had only given me another inch

of fat on my knees and another - -

MONA

Yeah, yeah, Fred. I’ve heard it all before.

FRED

How ya' doing, Mona?

MONA

I'm goin' sailing on the Dolphin.

They're picking me up at the Las

Glorias dock. You gotta baby-sit

Rocking Chair for me. I left it open.

Promise you'll stay aboard? And,

please, keep it clean.

FRED

“No problema.” Hold on, I'll drive

you down.

Fred goes below, emerges dressed in shirt, slacks, and sandals. He hands a cigarette carton to Mona.

FRED (continues)

Here, stow this in your bag. First

chance you get, hide it.

Mona hefts the carton.

MONA

What’s this, a fucking bomb?

FRED

Nah. Just a transponder, a special

frequency transmitter. We’ve got

orders to keep close tabs on “El

Capitano.”

MONA

Why? Is he dirty? Remember, if this

is DEA business, I get my usual cut.

FRED

Sure, sure, Mona. Don't worry. First

port you hit, take a plane back here.

Your five grand will be waiting for you.

MONA

Hey, all right. My kids sure can use it.

Mona crams the package into her bag.

32. EXT. LAS GLORIAS HOTEL DOCK

The dinghy draws dockside. Mona scrambles out. Fred tosses her bag onto the dock.

FRED

Bye, bye, baby.

33. INT. HOTEL LOBBY PUBLIC TELEPHONE

Mona, phone to her ear, checks a piece of paper as she dials, stuffs coins in the slot. Waits. And waits. Hangs up. Nervously dials another number.

34. INT. SAN DIEGO - DEERING HOME DINETTE - DAY

KEVIN DEERING (35), tall, balding, blue-joweled, his current wife, Janet (30), and his two sons -– KEVIN JUNIOR, a husky 10-year-old, and BEETLE, a small skinny 6-year-old -- are eating.

The TELEPHONE RINGS. Beetle jumps up and rushes to the phone in the living room beside a Christmas tree.

BEETLE

(importantly)

Kevin Deering residence.

35. INT. HOTEL LOBBY - PUBLIC TELEPHONE

Mona's face lights up with joy.

MONA

Hi there, Beetle honey.

INTERCUT AS NEEDED

BEETLE

Mommy! Mommy!

Kevin angrily jumps to his feet, upsetting his chair.

KEVIN

Give me that phone, Beetle. Right

now! Dammit.

Kevin grabs the phone. Beetle cringes, starts crying.

KEVIN

I told you, no more talking to the kids

until you pay up your back support.

Tears well in Mona's eyes.

MONA

Kevin, please let me talk to the boys,

just for a minute. You'll get your

money in a few days, I promise.

KEVIN

Yeah, sure. Show me the money, and

then maybe we’ll talk.

Kevin slams down the phone. Kevin Junior smirks at Beetle. Janet looks at Kevin approvingly. Tears roll down Mona’s cheeks. She hangs up the phone. Dabs at her eyes. Squares her shoulders. Walks to dock.

END INTERCUT

36. EXT. LAS GLORIAS HOTEL ESPLANADE, MONA’S P.O.V.

The Gold Dolphin tender, Tomas at the helm, RUMBLES as it slowly approaches the dock. Mona waves energetically, runs to meet the tender. Tosses in her bag.

MONA

(forced gaiety)

All right. Let's get it on.

(Continue to Scenes 37-48.)