Calle Ocho was commissioned by Royal Pictures Inc. in Miami.   The original writer, Joey Giannone, left the project and I was hired to do a rewrite.  Since I was never paid for the  rewrite despite a whole slew of promises and a written contract, I decided against doing another rewrite, and the script went to Alfredo Sanchez who rewrote it again, making it more ethnic and changing the ending.  He too was not paid.  Betty Kaplan (directed Antonio Banderas in his first picture) was hired to direct the film, but after six months she left the project, and I was approached by her significant other, Peter Rawley, who wanted to buy my rights to the film. He feels that Royal is not capable of getting it made.  Unfortunately, I don't really have any rights unless I terminate my contract with Royal Pictures and take Robert Brent to court for breach of contract.  This is a big mess no matter what happens, so let it be a warning to anyone just starting out:  never write a screenplay without getting a fair amount of money up front.  Here's a scene from it anyway:

INT.  THE CLUB - DAY

It's the same day and they're still at work.  Marisa is loading the refrigerators with bottles of beer and Carlos comes out of the back room carrying a metal box with the previous night's receipts in it and a large ledger book.  He sets these down on a table toward the back, sits down, takes out the money, and starts by separating the charges from the cash.  The door opens and JULIO, the drummer, comes in.  He walks over to the bar, and looks over the top so he can see Marisa crouched down in front of the refrigerators.  He admires her breasts from above.

                         JULIO

          Oh Marisa, my heart swells with love

          every time I see you. 

Marisa looks up and smiles seductively.

                        MARISA
          I don't think it's your heart, Julio. 

I think it's something else.

                        JULIO

          That too.

Marisa laughs and stands up.  She swings her hair back, leans against the back of the bar, and looks at him.

                        JULIO

          You know Carlos can't please you

like I can.

                        MARISA

          Oh, and how do I know that?

                        JULIO

          Well, I keep telling you.

          MARISA
But Julio, men always lie about how

good they are.

                        JULIO

They do?

Marisa laughs and bends down, giving him another look at her breasts.  When she stands, she's holding a bag of garbage, which she holds out for him.

                        MARISA

          I think so.  Sometimes, they even

lie to themselves.

Julio ignores the bag.

                        JULIO

          Well, I'm just telling you what the

          girls say about me.

                        MARISA

          About you, or to you?

Julio laughs appreciatively, and is about to answer when JOSE claps him on the back.

                        JOSE

          Admit it Julio, you're out of your

          depth. 

                   MIGUEL

          Julio, Jose, come on guys, you can't

spend the whole day flirting with that

woman.  We have work to do.

Julio sighs, takes the garbage, and heads for the back.

                        JULIO

          There would be nothing left of me if

          I spent the whole day flirting with her.

          Every time she talks she makes a little

          wound in my heart.

Marisa grins at the room in general.

                        MIGUEL

          Be glad it's just your heart.

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