By Douglas Dietzold
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February 8, 2023
"Weekend at Bernie's: The Quest for Fortune" INT. LARRY’S APARTMENT - DAY Larry is pacing around the room, talking on the phone. LARRY (excitedly) Richard, you won't believe what I just found on the dark web! CUT TO: INT. RICHARD’S OFFICE - DAY Richard is at his desk, looking uninterested. RICHARD (skeptically) What is it, Larry? LARRY (excitedly) A way to bring back Bernie from the dead! Can you believe it? Richard rolls his eyes. RICHARD (sighing) Larry, that's crazy. Bernie’s been dead for years. Let him rest in peace. LARRY (persistently) I know, I know, but think about it, Richard. We could finally find that hidden money Bernie had. Plus, it’ll be just like old times. RICHARD (firmly) No, Larry. It’s a bad idea. Just let it go. CUT TO: INT. LARRY’S APARTMENT - DAY Larry hangs up the phone and sees Winston and his friends listening from the door. LARRY (nervously) Uh, hey guys. What are you doing here? WINSTON (excitedly) We overheard your plan, Uncle Larry. Can we help bring Bernie back? Larry looks hesitant, but eventually agrees. LARRY (thinking) Well, I guess it couldn’t hurt. CUT TO: EXT. HAMPTON CEMETERY - DAY Winston, his friends, and Larry gather around Bernie’s grave. They perform the ceremony and Bernie rises from the dead. WINSTON (excitedly) It worked! Uncle Larry, you’re a genius! LARRY (laughing) Well, I try. CUT TO: INT. LARRY’S APARTMENT - DAY Bernie is now in Larry’s apartment, looking just like he did in the 90s. WINSTON (excitedly) Let's go find that hidden money, Uncle Larry! LARRY (excitedly) Yeah, let’s do it! CUT TO: EXT. CAT’S CREEK, MONTANA - DAY Richard catches wind of the scheme and goes to Cat’s Creek to stop them. But, he eventually gets convinced to play along. RICHARD (sighing) Alright, fine. I’ll play along. But, we need to be careful. WINSTON (excitedly) We got this, Dad. Richard, Larry, Winston, and Bernie are sneaking around trying to find Bernie’s safety deposit box. They finally uncover it, filled with gold bars worth millions. RICHARD (excitedly) We’re rich! WINSTON (excitedly) Yeah! LARRY (excitedly) Finally, all the money Bernie owed us for bringing him back is paid off. CUT TO: EXT. ROAD - DAY The mafia who Bernie stole the gold from chases them across the country in a car race . The group races across the country, trying to outrun the mafia. They encounter numerous obstacles, but with Winston's quick thinking and Richard's driving skills, they manage to stay ahead of the mafia. WINSTON (excitedly) We're doing it! We're actually doing it! RICHARD (concentrating) Just hang on a little longer, son. LARRY (nervously) I hope they don't catch us. BERNIE (calmly) Don't worry guys, I've got a trick or two up my sleeve. Suddenly, Bernie pulls out a map and points to a shortcut. BERNIE (excitedly) Take this road, it'll cut ten minutes off our time! Richard takes the turn, and they arrive at the bank in record time. CUT TO: INT. BANK - DAY The group rushes inside, grabbing the gold and making a run for it. The mafia is hot on their heels, but they manage to get away just in time. WINSTON (excitedly) We did it! We're rich! RICHARD (proudly) And we're still alive! LARRY (happily) And Bernie's back! BERNIE (smiling) And I couldn't be happier. CUT TO: EXT. ROAD - DAY The group continues their road trip, laughing and celebrating their newfound wealth. But, their joy is short-lived as they soon discover that the mafia has caught up to them again. WINSTON (worriedly) What do we do now? RICHARD (determinedly) We fight! INT. LARRY'S APARTMENT - DAY Richard, Larry, Winston, and Bernie are all in Larry's apartment, looking at the gold bars from the safety deposit box. LARRY (excitedly) Can you believe it? We're rich! RICHARD (skeptical) But what about the mafia? They're still after us. WINSTON (excitedly) We can handle them! BERNIE (smiling) I've always been lucky with the ladies, but now I'm lucky with money too! LARRY (laughing) We'll split the money four ways and live the life of luxury! Suddenly, there's a loud knock at the door. RICHARD (whispering) It's the mafia! Quick, hide Bernie! Winston and Larry hide Bernie in a closet while Richard goes to answer the door. It's two police officers. POLICE OFFICER 1 (officially) We received a tip that Bernie Lomax was seen in this apartment. RICHARD (nervously) Bernie Lomax? I've never heard of him. POLICE OFFICER 2 (suspiciously) Really? Then why does it look like someone's hiding in that closet over there? Richard tries to come up with an excuse, but Winston and Larry burst out of the closet with Bernie. WINSTON (excitedly) Bernie's back from the dead! The police officers are shocked and Bernie gives them a charming smile. BERNIE (smiling) Gentlemen, let me explain. The police officers listen to Bernie's story and how the gold was obtained through a series of unfortunate events. In the end, they confiscate the gold as evidence, but Bernie, Richard, Winston, and Larry all escape unscathed. INT. COLLEGE DORM ROOM - DAY Winston is in his college dorm room, surrounded by his new friends. He regales them with the story of Bernie's return from the dead and the wild adventure they went on. WINSTON (excitedly) And that's how I became a millionaire, even if it was just for a little while. His friends are in awe and Winston realizes that his bond with his father and Uncle Larry will last forever. WINSTON (V.O) (nostalgically) The adventure may be over, but the memories will last a lifetime. The screen fades to black as the theme music starts to play. THE END