Genre: Drama
Director: Damien Chazelle
Writer: Jimmy Ellis
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Al Pacino, F. Murray Abraham, Mckenna Grace, Ashley Benson, Jack McMullen, Monica Bellucci
Plot: Inside a doctor’s office sits Lenny Bianchi (Joaquin Phoenix). He sits on an exam table nervously looking at a doctor, the doctor looks worried as he reads charts. He tells Lenny that he has bad news, he tells him the sickness is getting worse. The doctor upsettingly tells Lenny to get his affairs in order and that he doesn’t have very long to live. Lenny tries to talk back but nothing comes out, that’s rare for Lenny.
Lenny walks along the sidewalk, thinking. He stops by a playground, and watches some kids play for a bit, which makes him happy. One mother, seeing him, jumps up and runs to her son. She turns him away and scowls at Lenny. He turns and leaves, dejected. He walks along, coming to a large Catholic church. He looks up at it, then decides to go inside.
Lenny walks to the priest (F. Murray Abraham) who notices him. The priest walks up to Lenny to talk but Lenny doubles over in pain. The priest asks why he has been skipping confessionals. To which Lenny replies he is no hypocrite. The priest leads Lenny over to a pew and he tells him that God forgives no matter what. Lenny says that he has done some pretty bad things in his life, will God forgive those? Lenny thinks its bullshit however the priest tells him that God will forgive those that he senses are truly sorry. He looks at his watch and tells the priest he has to run.
Lenny walks into a massage parlour. The woman at the front desk doesn't even look up at him. He walks down the hallway past the rooms and opens a door to a back room. Lenny walks in to the room. Lenny enters the room and a large desk covers most of it. Two bodyguards flank the man sitting down, Pete (Al Pacino). Pete smiles as he sees Lenny, Lenny tries to look positive but definitely doesn’t feel it. Pete asks where Lenny has been, to which he says he had the doctors. Pete asks if health is good, Lenny lies and says everything is well. Behind them Carl (Jack McMullen) walks in carrying a violin case. One of the bodyguards goes over and checks him over. He takes the case and opens it. There is a violin inside. He takes it out to check it. Carl tells him to be careful as it is valuable. The bodyguard nods to Carl and puts it back in the case, giving the closed case back to him. Carl places it on the desk and tells Pete it is collateral for the money he wants. He says it’s worth millions. Pete mentions Lenny is his hitman, Carl becomes even more sheepish. Lenny doesn’t like his role being mentioned and flinches at the word. Pete looks to Lenny and tells him that he trusts him with his life, so he wants him to take care of the violin, put it someplace safe only he knows about. Lenny takes up the job.
Lenny walks up to a lady at a desk that says Library, he greets the woman with a smile then continues walking. He goes near the back of the library to the newspaper section. He searches through the papers until he finds the one he is looking for. The title reads, “Mob Boss Mario Bellaraba found murdered along with wife in their own home.”
Flashback: Lenny is in an office with Pete. Pete tells him that he has a job for him. Lenny asks who it is and Pete stares straight through his soul. He tells him that he must kill Mario Bellaraba. The two talk for a while longer with Lenny asking why he needs the hit on Mario, Pete snaps saying that he never asks why he kills, so why start now. Lenny apologises and gets on his way.
Lenny arrives at the Bellaraba home with black gloves on. He exits the car and starts to walk to the house, slowly. He finds an open window to enter from. Lenny slides in the window and begins to creep around. He hears noises coming from the home office. He peeks through and sees Mario’s wife Donna (Monica Bellucci). He leaves her be and keeps walking to find Mario. Lenny finds Mario sleeping and puts his silencer on his pistol. Lenny places the gun at his head and fires the gun. As the blood trickles from his temple, Donna enters the room. Lenny doesn’t want to go off script in killing Donna as well. He raises his finger to his lips and tells her to be quiet. She lets out a scream and Lenny swears. He points the gun at Donna and fires leaving her laying. He leaves just as quick as he arrived. End of Flashback.
Lenny sits on the seat looking down onto the paper. His head is in his hands. He then feels the pain and holds his side, doubled over. A woman asks if he is alright, the pain has past and he says he is. He heads off to his car and to get back on the road.
Lenny drives along a country highway. The violin case sits on the seat next to him. He approaches a small roadside diner, and pulls in. Lenny walks around to the back of the car, opens the trunk and puts the violin inside. As he does, his coat opens a bit showing his shoulder harness and gun. He closes the trunk. Suddenly a wave of pain comes over him. He waits until the pain is gone then walks inside. Once he is seated a waitress (Ashley Benson) comes over and takes his order, the two talk for a bit, until a young girl goes up to the waitress and asks her when they are going, calling her mommy. The waitress calls her daughter Brittany (Mckenna Grace) and tells her that he shift is almost over. She mentions a concert and Lenny overhears. Lenny asks Brittany if she plays or not, she hangs her head and shakes it. The waitress says she’d like to but that they can’t afford an instrument. Brittany dejected heads back to her seat and sits down. The waitress says that she has tried everything she can think of she can’t seem to get an instrument. Lenny mumbles under his breath, then jumps up. He goes outside with a smile.
Lenny opens the trunk, but a big wave of pain sweeps over him. He collapses to the ground, sitting behind the car for a moment, waiting for it to pass. When it does, he gets the violin out. He is about to close the trunk, when he stops, removes his gun, and puts it in its place. He walks in carrying the violin case. He hands it to the waitress. He says it’s for Brittany. She puts the case on the table opening it and gasping. The waitress says that she can’t take it, but the kid really wants it. Lenny tells her it would be his honour if she had it and took good care of it. Brittany with a massive smile on her face thanks him and runs back to her seat with the violin. The waitress has tears running down her face and thanks the man. He smiles pleased.
Lenny stands on the shore, looking at the lake. He seems peaceful. Suddenly a big wave of pain comes over him. He sits down, waiting it out. He smiles, then closes his eyes. “Forgive me father, for I have sinned. I can’t remember my last confessional.” He tries to say something else but it fades away.
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