Destiny Turns on the Radio

Institute History

  • 1992 January Screenwriters Lab

Description

Yesterday bank robber, Julian Goddard, broke out of a federal penitentiary in Nevada. Today he’s hell-bent for Las Vegas to put the pieces of his life back together. First, there’s Harry Thoreau, his ex-partner in crime. Then there’s the big pile of money they stole three years ago. And finally, there’s Lucille, a sultry torch singer, the only woman Julian ever loved. Julian left them all at the Marilyn Motel one night three years ago.

Julian’s plan is simple enough: Get the girl, grab the money, go to Mexico. But three years is a long time, especially in Vegas, where the streets are paved with the pieces of shattered lives. The Marilyn Motel has fallen on hard times. Thoreau, holed up there all this time, has become manager by default. The clientele leaves something to be desired and the pool, once a show piece, now lies empty, the bottom dry and cracked. The loot is long gone, stolen from under Harry’s nose on the very night Julian was busted. And rumour has it that Lucille is shacked up with Tuerto, owner of the biggest casino on the strip. Besides, Lucille’s got her own plans. A big record producer is flying in tonight to catch her show. Mexico doesn’t exactly fit into her schedule.

But Julian isn’t the kind of guy who gives up easily, even when the cops are hot on his tail. He knows that plans change with each roll of the dice. It just depends on who’s tossing them. Which brings us to Johnny Destiny. He’s the tough guy in a loud plaid jacket, a gambler of sorts who keeps turning up at the most unlikely moments. In fact, he was at the Marilyn Motel that fateful night three years ago. Who is this guy? Why did he come back? And why does he want Thoreau to fill up the pool? Maybe the answers will be found in the shimmering depths.

Credits

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