Artist in Residence
TV Pilot, developed with Julie Pacino & Niklas Ramo
Teaser
FADE IN:
EXT. HOUSE - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT
A quiet night in an affluent gated community in Miami, "San Amaro Village". Over shots of a large glass house, we hear an engine drawing near.
EXT. BACKYARD - NIGHT
As it gets louder, a white Maltese dog named COCO looks out a back window from atop a kitchen counter. He sees the buildings across the bay, the pool, the boat, and then he disappears. The kitchen door opens by itself and Coco walks out, down the stairs, and into the night. The kitchen door closes.
EXT. FRONT YARD - NIGHT
A BMW CAR approaches and speeds up the long driveway to the house. Coco stands at the end of the driveway, oblivious to the danger until he’s caught in the headlights. The BMW SKIDS to a halt where Coco was just standing.
Out of the driver’s seat stumbles LARS ADENAUER, a 30-year-old Englishman, but old for his age. His eyes are wide, hands shaky, suit buttoned up, tie chokingly tight, round glasses pressed too close against his face.
Lars books it up the stairs to his glass mansion. The ponderous front door opens automatically.
Coco has walked down the driveway to the street and disappears around the corner.
INT. FOYER - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Almost every wall in the house is made of glass. Aside from modern furniture and decor, there is also art: some modern sculptures but mostly paintings. These are not on canvas, however: they are high-resolution images in the glass.
Lars presses the Close button desperately until the door fully shuts. He takes an enormous breath, then begins to disrobe, leaving his clothing strewn all over the place. A flyer slips out of his jacket onto the floor.
CU OF THE FLYER: A dramatic self-portrait of Lars at the center. "Lars Adenauer - The James & Alice Schlitz Gallery in Wynwood, Miami - August 1, 2014."
INT. MASTER BATHROOM - NIGHT
Lars gets to the bathroom completely naked and locks the door, the only light coming in through the window. He plugs his phone into the wall and waits frantically for it to turn on.
LARS
Come on.
He comes to a realization.
LARS
Calista!
A computerized female face appears in the mirror over the sink.
CALISTA
Would you like to make a phone
call, Lars?
LARS
Call Alice.
CALISTA
Calling Alice.
The face fades away. Over the speakers in the bathroom, we hear the voice of ALICE SCHLITZ (30), a very excitable businesswoman.
ALICE (V.O.)
Lars, that was amazing!
LARS
I’m home, I -
ALICE (V.O.)
You know you sold everything. Well
except for the one you wouldn’t sell. Lars, you made us all bloody rich.
Lars takes a bottle of Aguardiente liquor out of the cabinet under the sink.
ALICE (V.O.)
Well, we were already bloody rich,
but you know what I’m saying. So, the woman from the Herald - oh! What am I saying? The woman from the New York Times says you’ll be on page one of the Sunday Arts, Lars.
Lars takes various pill bottles from behind the mirror and places them on the sink and toilet.
LARS
Alice -
ALICE (V.O.)
Not to rush you, I know you have
your own pace, but, when will your new pieces be ready? I have to start -
LARS
Alice, listen to me! Tell the woman
from the Times that I won’t be making public appearances, I won’t be leaving this house, Alice, until further notice. And there will be no more paintings. Understand?
ALICE (V.O.)
Wha-?
He hangs up. He takes a dose from each bottle, popping them one at a time with a swig of Aguardiente. When he’s finished, he chugs the Aguardiente. He doesn’t stop.
End of teaser.