The Mechanic Screenplay

Click HERE to read the full screenplay.

PLOT

The story (you can read it here) takes place the night of the DNC office break in (Watergate). It’s a two hour interrogation between The Mechanic, a retired spy, and a federal agent.

The screenplay is mostly flashbacks to the year leading to his capture. Acts and sequences are accompanied by the music from The Car. All the music has been timed accurately to the plot. Previous album mentions: The Hand (jeweller’s hands) and Mark (TBHC).

ABOUT ME

Let me recap. I’ve been a fan of Arctic Monkeys since 2006. It was my last year of university, and songs like Certain Romance and Ritz, really defined my last days of keggers and house parties.

In 2007, I was abruptly diagnosed with cancer just nine months after graduation and a few months after my 24th birthday. I was diagnosed on the first day of summer. A truly cruel detour at the peek of my adult life and a poetic rebirth signalling a new season.

My world was put on hold for six years to follow. The timing and my luck with their concerts always fell on moments of medical uncertainties. I didn’t think I would ever experience them live or find a platform to share my passion for this band. I came close in 2014 Squamish and 2018 Toronto, but bad luck struck again. In 2011, Suck it and See was released around the time I finished treatments and most major surgeries. That album has become the soundtrack of my salvation.

When the world stopped in 2020, I spent the majority of my time creating stories out of the worlds his writing catapults us in and sharing them with fans all over the world, who like me were stuck at home waiting for the wheels to turn again. And now? I’ve written countless posts, articles, two stories, and one screenplay. I also will be attending my first concert for the band this upcoming summer. I simply have nothing but adoration for them. They’ve given me soundtracks that enriched my life, through every stage.

THE CAR

After Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino, I waited anxiously through the pandemic for the next album. The previous lunar project blew my mind. I had no clue where the band would take us.

When the band emerged back on tour in 2022, I shared views and predictions of where the next album could be headed. Based on the design of the portal (lens) on stage, the CCTV broadcast signal, the use of film noir music as their entrance track, the green jacket, and themes of their previous album seeping through, I predicted a narrative of surveillance, a battle within the industry, and self reflection beyond isolation. I joked about my mystical powers playing a hand at work, but I believe my eerily accurate theories are a testament of my adoration. I knew I needed to elaborate down the line.

All my theories and chaotic stream of consciousness can be found on my Instagram in the story highlights and posts. The unfiltered flow of ideas and my genuine passion for this band echo with every post I’ve ever created.

Enter, The Car. Before its release we had a taste of what’s to come. The fans were divided, reminiscent of the previous album’s reception.

It’s no surprise the new age groups entering the fandom consume music differently from my generation. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s not meant to dismiss their presence. The new revival of the band is a testament of their longevity. Personally I welcome the new generation of listeners.

However, this album reads like a journal entry of someone who has paid the dues of adolescence. He is beyond that scope of thinking. There’s no shame in admitting the divide between him and the new fans exist. It’s only natural for a band that’s been here for long. The marriage of melodies and lyrics throughout this album paint a narrative not everyone can relate to. And the wonderful thing about record collections is that you can shelf this one for the inevitable perfect moment. I did with many of my parents’ music. The craft will not evaporate. It will meet you half way when you need it the most. Music will always find a way through the cracks of our fragility.

When the album was released, I sat down and skipped straight to The Car track. It was the one track I was anticipating the most. The emotions, the visuals, the instant inspiration of a world I didn’t think was possible to conjure up from one melody, consumed me. From that title track alone, I collected the main ingredients for this screenplay. The rest of the songs fit perfectly as the story unfolded in my writing.

And I am shocked at how little praise the title track gets amongst the fans. This only makes my screenplay, my labour of love more exciting! This is my attempt of providing an alternative perspective. The album is a cinematic journey so why not enhance the experience with a suitable screenplay?

This is my first attempt at writing a speculative screenplay. This isn’t a shooting script, not yet anyway. I’m used to writing novels so I found it challenging to condense the writing and the emotional depth of my characters. The formatting was fun to learn but it did take me seven months trying to write this story before and after work, on my lunch breaks and all while learning the ins and outs of screenplay writing. I learned about acts and sequences, how to write a screenplay without the shooting script directions, and I also learned a lot about Alex Turner’s style of writing. And I hope my respect for his skill is suitably embodied in my screenplay,

Please note this runs at about 98 minutes.

Thank you for taking the time to read it.

Xo