The Salton Sea

THE SALTON SEA by Tony Gayton FADE IN: INT. RESIDENTIAL HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT A MAN recumbent on the bed, playing a TRUMPET, his white dress shirt defaced by a flower of blood.The room is ON FIRE all around him. He is playing Miles Davis' moody, Spanish-influenced SAETA, a haunting and lonely piece. DANNY (V.O.) My name is Tom Van Allen ... (beat) or Danny Flynne ... A DUFFLE BAG FULL OF MONEY ON THE BED.The money burning, tiny flaming pieces floating around the room. DANNY (cont'd) ... I don't know anymore. (beat) Maybe I'll let you decide.Maybe you can help me, friend.As you can see, I don't have a hell of a lot of time left. A PHOTOGRAPH of a woman taped to the inside of a trumpet case. The photo is on fire.Only her smile remains. DANNY (cont'd) Avenging angel ... Judas Iscariot ... Loving husband ... Prodigal Son ... The prince of Denmark ...? A GREETING CARD on the floor, a teddy bear and the word, CONGRATULATIONS! on the front.The wind from the fire blows the card open.Inside, a BLACKENED BLOOD STAIN. DANNY (cont'd) All of these? None of these? You decide, friend.You decide. Trumpet player? Speed freak? (beat) Speed freak. (beat) That's as good a place as any. (beat) But first, a little background on the mad world of the tweaker .. FADE OUT. FADE IN. INT. LABORATORY - DAY EXTREME CLOSE-UP of a glass pipette dripping a clear liquid into a glass beaker. DANNY (V.O.) Methedrene was first distilled by a Japanese scientist before WWII.