A Day in the Life of Destiny and Ramona: Strip Club Entrepreneurs, Lecture notes of Voice

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HUSTLERS

Written by

Lorene Scafaria

Based on the article "The Hustlers at Scores" by Jessica Pressler

April 19, 2019

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.

MOM

Right here hon. What size you need?

Mom follows her off. Destiny reaches for a glass of vodka and downs it. Then stands, slings her bejeweled purse over her shoulder. Her clear heels turn.

DJ (O.S.) We got a parade of beauties coming at you folks, right now...

SUPER: 2007

We follow the back of her head as she joins the rest, like football players leaving the tunnel, making their way DOWN THE HALLWAY. For a moment, they plunge into darkness. Then--

INT. MOVES - THE FLOOR - CONTINUOUS

Destiny steps into the light. The music is overwhelming. It takes a moment for our eyes to adjust. The room is enormous, two floors, no windows, pink and red neon lights, smoke machines, strobes, mirrors. The girls are transformed.

DJ (O.S.) Here at Moves, we’re gonna give you the opportunity to have fun with any one of these lovely ladies...

Destiny walks across the floor, looking at the shapes of mostly men clustered, scattered throughout the room.

We PIVOT off of her and get a look at the DJ (30s) taking a sip of his soda before he’s back on the mic.

DJ (CONT'D) Coupla’ ATMs in the building... Accepting all major credit cards... Just see our bartender, we’ll get you all signed up there...

We pivot back to Destiny as she steps on-stage.

DJ (O.S.) (CONT'D) C’mon boys where’s that energy? Make some noise for the new girl!

Destiny does a quick spin to some cheers.

DJ (O.S.) (CONT'D) New York, we got a lotta beautiful girls.

Destiny steps off-stage, the girls disperse.

DJ (O.S.) (CONT'D) Folks we’re gonna get it cranked up here, Justice is gonna join us on the main stage, round number one, kicking off our three song special, here she is... Justice is served!

Justice takes the MAIN-STAGE. The crowd cheers. SONG ONE. Justice begins her routine. Destiny starts making the rounds.

WALL STREET GUY Hey, Lucy Liu! C’mere, Lucy Liu!

A group of YOUNG WALL STREET GUYS calls her over. She walks up to them. They push the SHYEST ONE on her.

WALL STREET GUY (CONT'D) Dan-ny! Don’t be a pussy, Danny!

Destiny leads the shyest guy by the hand to the PRIVATE AREA.

A YOUNG MANAGER (30s) takes his ID, swipes his credit card --

CLOSE on APPROVED!

Destiny leads the shy guy to a booth, sits him down...

INT. MOVES - PRIVATE AREA - LATER

Destiny dances for a BEARDED GUY.

INT. MOVES - PRIVATE AREA - LATER

An OLD MAN bounces Destiny on his lap while he talks.

INT. MOVES - MAIN STAGE - LATER

Destiny pole-dances in the spotlight.

INT. MOVES - CHAMPAGNE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Destiny dances for THREE STOCKBROKERS IN SUITS (30s). The guys pass coke back and forth to each other. The ALPHA does a bump, then looks at Destiny in disgust.

ALPHA Who hurt you?

YOUNG MANAGER

You got here after 5, didn’t you?

He removes one hundred-sixty dollars and adds it to the giant stack for the house. Hands her the remaining $127. She takes it, disappointed.

He reaches out his hand. She looks at him. Then takes twenty dollars out of her stack and puts it back in his hand. He pockets it. Leans back in his chair. She starts away.

YOUNG MANAGER (CONT'D) Hey, you wanna work Saturdays?

He unbuttons his pants. She turns away, starts out...

YOUNG MANAGER (CONT'D) What? I thought we could bond.

She walks straight into a Skinny Manager.

SKINNY MANAGER Is he bothering you?

She looks up at him. He puts a hand on her shoulder.

SKINNY MANAGER (CONT'D) Listen if he bothers you, you got my number, right? You call me...you need anything, someone to talk to, coke, anything, you want to keep working VIP...and don’t go telling Mom every little thing, okay? She worries cause it’s her job to but she doesn’t need to know everything.

He gives her shoulder a squeeze. Destiny looks up at him.

CLOSE on Destiny’s hands as she puts a twenty in the Skinny Manager’s palm. He pockets it.

INT. MOVES - LOCKER ROOM - LATER

The girls change back in their plain clothes. Destiny counts out her tips, deflated.

INT. MOVES - STAIRWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Destiny hurries down the stairs and out the side door.

EXT. MOVES - CONTINUOUS

Destiny walks up the street, away from the club.

INT. CAB - EARLY MORNING

The sun is coming up. Destiny looks out the window, exhausted, the sound of Howard Stern on the radio.

HOWARD STERN (ON RADIO) If Angelina Jolie is a 5, what’s Jennifer Aniston?

DONALD TRUMP (ON RADIO) I’d say she’s a 6 or a 7...

ROBIN (ON RADIO) Really? Wow!

HOWARD STERN (ON RADIO)

Who’s a 9?

DONALD TRUMP (ON RADIO) Howard. My standards are very high.

HOWARD STERN (ON RADIO) Angelina Jolie has a great body, big boobs, big natural lips...

DONALD TRUMP (ON RADIO) She’s got bad skin...

HOWARD STERN (ON RADIO) Does she...

DONALD TRUMP (ON RADIO) She’s got scars all over...

EXT. DESTINY’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE - LATER

Destiny shuffles up the front steps of the small house.

INT. DESTINY’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE - LATER

She walks in the front door, the decor hasn’t changed in thirty years. Destiny climbs the steps, sore.

INT. DESTINY’S CHILDHOOD BEDROOM - LATER

The alarm sounds. 3:00 PM. Destiny wakes in her twin bed, shuts off the alarm, half-asleep.

They are all paired off. Destiny is alone.

DJ (O.S.) And now, let’s welcome to the main- stage...the one, the only...Ramona.

Destiny turns to see RAMONA (10 years older than Destiny) take the main-stage like a boxer entering the ring. Ramona dances, commanding the room. The crowd is wild, throwing money until the stage is covered. Destiny is mesmerized.

Ramona finishes her routine with one final flourish, smacks an armful of money to her chest, and steps off-stage.

Destiny watches in awe as Ramona crosses the room, all different guys reaching out. Ramona looks them in the eyes, whispers in their ears, glides away with cash in hand.

Destiny can’t look away, as Ramona walks by, turns to her:

RAMONA Doesn’t money make you horny?

Destiny goes to respond, but Ramona is already gone. Off Destiny’s face, we...

CUT TO:

EXT. MOVES - ROOFTOP - LATER

Ramona, sits against a skylight in her fur coat, smoking. The club noise is drowned out by the sounds of the city.

Destiny hurries outside, cigarette in her mouth. The heavy door slams behind her. She turns to Ramona.

DESTINY Can I get a light?

Ramona turns to her, holds a lighter up to her cigarette.

RAMONA Where’s your coat?

DESTINY I left it inside.

RAMONA ... well climb in my fur, baby.

Destiny looks at her. Ramona opens her fur coat. Destiny takes a seat on the step below Ramona.

Ramona wraps her coat around Destiny, warming her. Destiny looks like a baby kangaroo. They smoke together.

DESTINY Is Justice a model?

RAMONA She’d like to think so. A few of the girls have been in Playboy, Hustler... I was a centerfold once.

DESTINY No way...

RAMONA ‘93.

DESTINY ... no way.

RAMONA That was back when Stevie Wonder came in.

DESTINY (laughing) Stevie Wonder? Noooo...what for?

RAMONA Casey had him in the champagne room. Swears he isn’t blind.

Destiny laughs into a sigh. Then...

DESTINY Hey how come you’re so good with everybody? I mean, I’ve seen you with the guys, all different guys, and...I don’t know, you seem to have ‘em all figured out.

Ramona takes a drag.

RAMONA I’m just a people person, I guess. (exhales) It’s easier if you think of them as your rich friends. Especially if you gotta see the same ones all the time. Some of ‘em aren’t so bad.

Ramona starts playing with Destiny’s hair.

INT. FANCY HOUSE - DAY

SOME YEARS LATER. Destiny (designer clothes) sits on a white couch in an immaculate, all-white living room. Across from her is a YOUNG WOMAN (same age, conservatively-dressed).

DESTINY That’s right. I mean, at this point everything was above board. I thought she was...nice.

Destiny shifts in her seat, her jewelry making a lot of noise.

YOUNG WOMAN So when would you say things got out of control?

DESTINY Control?

Destiny looks far off, thinking. Then, shakes her head.

DESTINY (CONT'D) Ramona was always in control.

BACK TO:

INT. MOVES - THE FLOOR - DAY [2007]

Chopin’s Etude Op. 25, No. 1 in A Flat Major. The club is closed. Ramona and Destiny are on the main stage.

RAMONA ... of course you know the basics.

Destiny watches Ramona do various moves and poses, narrating.

RAMONA (CONT'D) You got the carousel... the fireman... front-hook... ankle- hook... stag... reverse stag... peter pan... superman... you could try the scissor sit... fairy sit... genie... martini... hood ornament... table top... and, of course, the inverted crucifix.

Destiny watches Ramona slide down the pole with just her legs, face-first. Ramona rolls back up, ass first.

DESTINY Jesus Christ.

LATER --

Destiny tries to climb up the pole. She can’t help but laugh, as her arms and legs struggle. Ramona pushes up her butt. Destiny laughs, sliding back down.

LATER --

Destiny pulls herself up the pole.

RAMONA There it is.

Destiny is at the top, leaning back. Ramona cheers her on.

RAMONA (CONT'D) Keep your legs straight.

Destiny spirals around the pole.

RAMONA (CONT'D) Yes, look at that! That’s gorgeous!

INT. MOVES - THE FLOOR - LATER

Ramona introduces Destiny to Diamond.

RAMONA You know Diamond from the Bronx?

Diamond extends her fingernails to Destiny.

DIAMOND Boogie Down heyyyyyy.

INT. MOVES - THE FLOOR - MOMENTS LATER

Ramona and Diamond show Destiny how to give a lap-dance. Destiny straddles Diamond.

RAMONA That’s good. Arch your back a little.

DIAMOND Throw your hair around. Guys like it when you throw your hair around.

Destiny throw her hair around.

DIAMOND (CONT'D) Yeah that’s it.

STAR (30s) walks up naked, singing opera.

RAMONA And this is Star...

Star shakes her hand, still singing.

RAMONA (CONT'D) And you gotta meet Liz.

Destiny turns to LIZ (20s) playing a flute.

RAMONA (CONT'D) ... Liz?

MERCEDES (20s) takes a seat next to them.

MERCEDES She’s playing a song for Jackie’s new titties.

RAMONA Jackie’s got new titties? Lemme see.

JACKIE (30s) stands up and turns around.

RAMONA (CONT'D) Oh, these are good. Who did these?

JACKIE Dr. Bobby...

RAMONA God bless Dr. Bobby. And this is my baby Mercedes.

Mercedes shakes Destiny’s hand.

MERCEDES Nice to meet you.

Ramona sits next to Diamond, Destiny sits next to her, in the middle of the group. Justice comes in off the floor.

JUSTICE Tracy. Your boyfriend’s here.

TRACY Tsk. Again?

JUSTICE He looks like he’s been crying.

MERCEDES

What’s wrong with Rodrigo?

TRACY I don’t know, he’s been really jealous lately.

RAMONA You can’t let him drop you off.

TRACY I know...at first he liked it...

DIAMOND Of course he did. Guys think they wanna date a stripper until they realize we work 6 nights a week, and on our one night off, the last thing we wanna do is look at their fucking dicks.

Destiny laughs. The other girls chime in, in agreement.

LIZ I want to sit on my couch in my feety pajamas, no make-up...

JACKIE I tell my boyfriend, don’t even look at me.

STAR I haven’t had sex in two years.

JUSTICE My boyfriend never sees me naked. I change under the covers.

DIAMOND You wanna meet my boyfriend?

Diamond pulls a VIBRATOR out of her purse. The others laugh.

DIAMOND (CONT'D) He doesn’t get jealous. He’s not aggressive, unless I want him to be. And he never lets me down.

RAMONA ... too bad he’s not rich.

DIAMOND Well...you can’t have everything.

(MORE)

DESTINY (V.O.)

According to Ramona, there were three tiers of Wall Street guys...

INT. FINANCIAL DISTRICT OFFICE - DAY

A “BOTTOM-TIER” BROKER (30s) bounces his leg while cold- calling. Ramona’s voice takes over...

RAMONA (V.O.) The guys at the bottom don’t do anything dirty to make money, so most of ‘em don’t have any. But if they do, you can milk ‘em for every penny.

INT. MOVES - PRIVATE AREA - NIGHT

Destiny and Ramona dance for the bottom-tier guy. Ramona SHOUTS over the music but for some reason, he can’t hear her.

RAMONA Maybe they’re in a loveless marriage or single and feeling dejected. Either way, you can string ‘em along without getting physical. Chuck here pays for my place on the Upper East Side, I’ve never even sniffed his dick.

INT. FINANCIAL DISTRICT - BULLPEN - DAY

The bullpen is packed with BROKERS on their phones, shouting, cursing, high-fiving. We focus on one MIDDLE-TIER GUY.

RAMONA (V.O.) The guys in the middle will get their hands a little dirty, but they have their limits...

INT. MOVES - FLOOR - NIGHT

Ramona and Destiny watch this Middle-Tier Guy with his boys.

MIDDLE TIER-GUY Don’t taze me, bro!

RAMONA They dabble in greed, but they don’t cross a certain line. (MORE)

RAMONA (CONT'D)

Or maybe they’re not as good at it. Which is why they all share a two- bedroom in Cobble Hill.

The guys high-five and clink their Heinekens, but don’t do a lot of spending. Ramona steers Destiny away from them.

RAMONA (CONT'D) Then there’s the motherfuckers on top...

INT. FINANCIAL DISTRICT - PENTHOUSE OFFICE - NIGHT

An ASSISTANT brings a note to a CORPORATE RAIDER (50s). There’s porn playing on his computer. He takes the note but doesn’t dismiss her, making her watch the porn with him.

RAMONA (V.O.) CEOs, CFOs, investment bankers, corporate raiders, hedge funders, ax-murderers... coming straight from the crime scene into the club.

INT. MOVES - LATER

The same high-powered man walks through the BACK DOOR, his expensive shoes hit the carpet.

RAMONA (V.O.) But not through the front. These guys don’t want to be written about on Page Six.

Ramona greets the man. Introduces him to Destiny.

RAMONA (V.O.) They come through the back. They take the private elevator to the one room without cameras.

Ramona and Destiny lead the man into the ELEVATOR.

RAMONA (V.O.) And they don’t leave til they spent ten thousand, fifteen thousand dollars in one night.

INT. MOVES - CHAMPAGNE ROOM - LATER

Destiny opens the curtain for the man. He disappears inside. Ramona shuts the curtain behind them.

RAMONA (CONT'D)