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Pictures from a major scene of Escaping a Spinning Room
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Here is part 2 of the podcast that was never posted on time
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Here is our commentary track, its me, frankie, and brett chatting up the movie :)
Here is the link for the video
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This is it, Immunity!
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The first draft of Immunity
This is the awful, terrible, crappy first draft of Immunity, as you can see it was a mostly different film, same characters, same overarching story line but just bad all over, with shame I share this with you all just so you can see how far this came, I would post the final version but the only difference is the final scene which was only a paragraph long, in fact here is the original ending, this is the scene directly following the last conversation between Virgil and The Boss:
INT. VIRGIL’S HOME-NIGHT
Virgil sits at his table, he looks at the photo of the ultra-sound of his child. He frames it and puts it next to a photo of him and Maggie and turns the lights off.
See? Pretty anticlimactic, but nothing compared to the badness that was the first draft of Immunity, which is this:
FADE IN
EXT. BRIDGE-DAY
JAMES stands nervously on a bridge looking as cars pass by, he grabs onto the fence shaking it to test if it’s sturdy, VIRGIL shows up behind him.
VIRGIL
You wanted to see me?
James turns around.
JAMES
Virgil!
VIRGIL
What are you doing?
JAMES
Just waiting.
VIRGIL
You weren’t thinking of jumping were you?
JAMES
What? No! I was just admiring the view, I guess.
VIRGIL
Whatever that means, what’s up? Why did you want to meet?
JAMES
(nervously and rapidly)
Well to be honest, I need someone to talk to about all this.
VIRGIL
All what?
JAMES
This job.
VIRGIL
Oh, what about it?
JAMES
I can’t do it, I can’t do it anymore.
VIRGIL
Oh… well that’s unfortunate.
CUT TO:
INT. THE BOSS’ OFFICE-DAY
The BOSS is sitting behind a plain desk with Virgil.
BOSS
Is this the first time he’s shown any signs of doubt?
VIRGIL
No, I mean he did a few days ago but I didn’t think it was much to worry about.
BOSS
(Annoyed)
God Virgil!
VIRGIL
What? A guy looks a little bummed out doesn’t mean he’s going to commit suicide for Christ’s sakes!
BOSS
We’ve been over this, this is an extremely sensitive operation we got going on here, any sign of doubt, or fear, or disgust, anything you need to let me know right away.
VIRGIL
It was nothing though, really.
CUT TO:
INT. WORK VAN-DAY
Virgil and James are riding in the van back from a job, Virgil looks over at James.
VIRGIL
Do I got any blood on my face?
JAMES
Yeah a little right here, by your chin.
Virgil licks his hand and starts to rub around his chin.
VIRGIL
Is it off?
JAMES
Yeah it’s off.
VIRGIL
Good, I got a date tonight, did I tell you?
JAMES
No, haven’t heard you talk about it.
VIRGIL
Oh, her name’s Dianne, cute blonde chick I met online.
James starts laughing.
VIRGIL (CONT’D)
What? You think a guy like me can’t get a date?
JAMES
Oh no nothing like that, it’s just funny you know?
VIRGIL
Funny how?
JAMES
We just killed someone not twenty minutes ago and now you’re talking about your date.
VIRGIL
So?
JAMES
So? It’s funny man! I mean what are you gonna say when she asks what you do for a living?
VIRGIL
I’ll tell her the truth.
JAMES
That you kill people for money.
VIRGIL
No, that I kill vermin.
JAMES
So these people, they’re vermin?
VIRGIL
What would you call them?
JAMES
Not vermin.
VIRGIL
Well to me that’s what they are.
JAMES
Hmm…
James’ face drops, Virgil notices it.
VIRGIL
You okay man?
JAMES
Yeah I’m fine, just… that was a hell of a kill you know?
VIRGIL
Well you know, sometimes you get a straight kill sometimes you get someone who wants to be held, it is what it is you know? Variety’s the spice of life.
James has his attention somewhere else, ignoring Virgil, Virgil leaves it alone.
CUT BACK.
INT. BOSS’ OFFICE-DAY
VIRGIL
And that was it, just a brief second of disconnect, I thought it was nothing.
BOSS
Well it obviously wasn’t now was it?
VIRGIL
Come on, how was I supposed to see this coming?
BOSS
We deal with the mentally ill on every level of our organization.
VIRGIL
There are only two levels here, you and me, you calling me crazy?
BOSS
I’m calling you reckless.
VIRGIL
So you’re the crazy one?
BOSS
I’m the one signing your paychecks and covers up your little hobby, maybe I am crazy but I’m only as crazy as my position in all this allows me to be and believe me I got a very small margin of error, okay? You got that?
VIRGIL
Yes, I got that.
BOSS
Okay, so what happened next?
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT-NIGHT
Virgil and James are sitting at a restaurant eating burgers.
JAMES
I’m just kind of worried, you know?
VIRGIL
Yeah I get you but believe me, we run a tight crew, the cops all know who we are and what we do and how to handle our clients-
JAMES
Yeah no, I get that it’s not the law stuff I’m worried about.
VIRGIL
Well then what’s the problem?
JAMES
(nervously, almost whispering)
Virgil… we kill people, for money, I mean, this is blood money.
VIRGIL
That’s the best kind!
JAMES
I’m serious.
VIRGIL
Me too, do me a favor man, in one word tell me what exactly it is you’re feeling.
JAMES
Guilt.
VIRGIL
Why?
JAMES
Because, I’m not picking who I kill here, I’m letting someone else dictate that, I’m not okay with that.
VIRGIL
What’s the difference?
JAMES
I don’t know these people, before I went to prison I followed people, met them, I was their friend, that was my method, it made my guilt easier to deal with.
VIRGIL
Wait a minute you actually felt bad?
CUT TO:
INT. BOSS’ OFFICE-DAY
VIRGIL
And that’s when I knew, I mean my hands were pretty much tied at that point.
BOSS
I see.
VIRGIL
He felt guilt, how did that happen? I thought you guys had a really strict screening process.
BOSS
Our process relies on the ability to keep a secret perhaps now we will look into emotional response a bit more.
VIRGIL
I hope. Listen, I liked James, he was a good guy, a good listener, I didn’t want to kill him, but I like my job, you know? I can’t lose it, the money’s one thing but I got a fire in me, and without this job it’ll consume me, so please understand, I did not want to kill him, but it’s protocol.
BOSS
Virgil you’re not in trouble here, or on trial, I just need to know what happened so I can report it to the governor. So please, go on.
VIRGIL
All right, well
CUT TO:
EXT. RESTAURANT-NIGHT
Virgil and James are walking out of the restaurant.
VIRGIL
Listen, it’s normal, this is a weird line of business to be in but we live in a weird time, just remember, we’re killing the people who leech off the workers or people who want die anyways, okay? We’re doing society a favor here.
JAMES
Well maybe if you let me read the files a bit that might make me feel a bit better.
VIRGIL
Well that’s do-able, I can do that.
JAMES
Thanks.
VIRGIL
Still though I’m sorry things haven’t been that smooth for you.
JAMES
It’s fine, it’s just getting used to it, I mean as weird as this job is it’s still a job, we all need time to adjust you know?
VIRGIL
Yeah for sure.
Virgil keeps looking around the area for witnesses.
JAMES
Hey thanks for listening man, I appreciate it.
VIRGIL
Oh no it’s fine, my pleasure. Still though, it’s a shame.
JAMES
Oh no, like I said it’s just whatever.
VIRGIL
I wasn’t talking about that.
JAMES
Then what were you talking about?
VIRGIL
Well James in this line of work we need our workers to have a strong emotional disconnect from the world, sorry to hear about your guilt.
Virgil slashes James’ throat, Virgil drags James into a close by alley and lays him down on the ground, he looks around one more time to make sure there are no witnesses.
VIRGIL (CONT’D)
(sighs)
Fucking noobs.
Virgil takes out his cell phone and begins walking away.
VIRGIL (CONT’D)
Code HP-1138. Hey how you doing? Oh no, it’s one of our own, in the alley between 4th and 3rd, next to a dumpster, his name is James Tillmore, yes THE James Tillmore, the BFF Killer.
CUT TO:
INT. BOSS’ OFFICE-DAY
VIRGIL
And that was that.
BOSS
Hmm I see.
VIRGIL
Yeah, pretty standard.
BOSS
Yes, like I said no one’s saying you did a bad job, it’s just a shame we had another one die on us, I don’t know how you do it Virgil but you’re the only one who has dealt with all this decently enough.
VIRGIL
Well what can I say? I don’t give a fuck.
BOSS
You’ve made that all too obvious.
VIRGIL
Glad you enjoy my work.
BOSS
I’m not sure “enjoy” is the right word for it but it is what it is, right?
VIRGIL
It is what it is, so what’s on the agenda for today?
BOSS
Well, James picked a good time to quit, the town is clear of all the welfare folks so it’s solo jobs from here on out.
VIRGIL
Oh good.
BOSS
Yeah, all we got are the suicidal folk, not too many around thirty are being processed, we only got one ready to go right now.
The boss hands Virgil a file, Virgil takes it and glances at it.
CUT TO:
INT. LEONARD’S LIVING ROOM-DAY
LEONARD is in his living room writing his suicide note.
BOSS (V.O.)
His name is Leonard Collins, 25, been visiting various pro suicide forums for a few years now, sent to a psych ward a few times when he was a teenager for suicide threats and attempts, nothing too extraordinary. Everything else is in the file.
VIRGIL (V.O.)
What were his wishes?
BOSS (V.O.)
It’s one of those “Will discuss” things, so I don’t know, prepare for something, expect nothing.
VIRGIL (V.O.)
Right, I’ll see you tomorrow Boss.
BOSS (V.O.)
See you tomorrow, Virgil.
The door bell rings, Leonard gets up to answer it, it’s Virgil.
VIRGIL
Leonard Collins?
LEONARD
You must be from the assistance program, hi nice to meet you.
Leonard and Virgil shake hands.
VIRGIL
Name’s Virgil.
LEONARD
Right, please come in.
Virgil goes into the house.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN-DAY
Virgil is sitting on the table with some paper work, Leonard beings him a glass of water.
LEONARD
Here you go.
VIRGIL
Oh thank you.
LEONARD
Yeah no problem.
VIRGIL
So first off, I know this is a difficult thing to be going through, this whole operation is strange in concept, so if there’s anything I can do to make you feel a little more at ease, don’t hesitate to ask me.
LEONARD
Okay thank you for telling me.
VIRGIL
Yeah it’s nothing, so do you have any questions for me about this process or anything, from what I’ve read in your file you haven’t made your final request just yet.
LEONARD
I haven’t actually.
VIRGIL
Why is that?
LEONARD
Well I didn’t really know what I wanted at the time.
VIRGIL
Have you decided on your final request since you filed?
LEONARD
Yeah, it’s kind of dumb though.
VIRGIL
Well dumb or not, it’s my duty to hear it and make it happen.
LEONARD
All right.
Leonard slides his suicide note over to Virgil.
VIRGIL
What’s this?
LEONARD
It’s my suicide note.
VIRGIL
Suicide note? You do know our entire purpose here is to make suicides look like murders.
LEONARD
Yeah, I get that.
VIRGIL
So what am I doing here?
LEONARD
Because I can’t do it, I can’t kill myself, I’ve tried but, I just end up wussing out.
VIRGIL
Why is that?
LEONARD
Hard to say, sometimes it’s just thinking about how my mother would be heart broken, or the fear that no one would go to my funeral, or… anything really, to be honest sometimes I think I just look for excuses.
VIRGIL
I see, well if a suicide is what you want, a suicide you will get.
LEONARD
So when are we going to do this?
VIRGIL
Whenever you’re ready.
LEONARD
Right.
Leonard freezes with a blank look on his face.
VIRGIL
You okay?
LEONARD
Yeah.
VIRGIL
What are you doing?
LEONARD
Getting ready for it.
VIRGIL
I see, well can I ask you how you want to do this? I mean do you want this to be slow and painful or quick and clean?
LEONARD
I want you to drug me.
VIRGIL
Drug you?
LEONARD
Yeah and I want you to read me my suicide letter while I’m dying, if you don’t, I’ll chicken out, I don’t want that, I want to commit to something.
VIRGIL
You got it.
Leonard takes a deep breath.
LEONARD
Okay, let’s do this.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM-NIGHT
Leonard is dead, he lies on his bed looking peaceful, Virgil still has the suicide note in his hand, he looks over Leonard with envy and remorse.
VIRGIL (V.O.)
(Reading the letter)
Dear friends and family, I love you all.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY-NIGHT
Virgil has hung up his phone, James’ body lies behind him.
VIRGIL (V.O.)
I want you all to know that I am very sorry for the years I spent avoiding you all, but I did this in your best interest.
CUT TO:
INT. VIRGIL’S LIVING ROOM-NIGHT
Virgil arrives home and eats cereal alone watching television.
VIRGIL (V.O.)
I’m not a good person. A good person doesn’t hide away from people who wish to connect to them, a good person doesn’t kill himself and leaves good people holding the emotional bag he could never hold.
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM-DAY
Virgil has a bag over someone’s head.
VIRGIL (V.O.)
A good person doesn’t make people suffer, I’m a bad person, though I’ve often tried not to be.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM-NIGHT
Virgil is reading Leonard’s suicide letter to him.
VIRGIL
I cannot tell you how many time I’ve tried to be there for someone, but I have a fire in me, a fire I haven’t been able to put out no matter how hard I’ve tried.
Virgil is now stabbing Leonard’s body to make it look like a murder.
VIRGIL (V.O.) (CONT’D)
This fire has slowly been destroying me for years, I used to be a good person at some point, but that person was burned a long time ago. I lay before you now fully engulfed, my fire is self destructive, but like all fires it’s impossible to control, this is me giving my best effort.
CUT TO:
EXT. FRONT OF LEONARDS HOUSE-NIGHT
Virgil is walking to his car.
VIRGIL (V.O.)
I tell you this now because it’s better for you to know that I’m not a person worth mourning. I am the lowest of the low, a parasite who feeds off other peoples sadness patience.
CUT TO:
INT. WORK VAN-NIGHT
Virgil re-reads the suicide letter.
VIRGIL (V.O.)
I love you all more than you will ever know, and I wish I could have shown you that, but the only thing I know how to express is my own pathetic narcissism, I hope you can forgive me.
Virgil sits completely still, he picks up his cell phone about to make the call but he puts it away, he looks out into the rood with an overwhelming sense of guilt.
CUT TO BLACK.
END.
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This is the full song version of the opening credits music, whats in the film is much shorter, roughly half the length, which is a shame this song was a bunch of fun to make.
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These are the photos that were to make up the original ending of Immunity, they dont show up in the film, but since I took them, I figured theyre worth posting
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This is the first part of our post viewing roundtable discussion of “Immunity” where we talk about the origins of the film, and touch upon pre production
