A Good Night To Kill

A businessman, ALEXANDER THOMAS, sips coffee outside a posh New York cafe. A sniper rifle's SCOPE targets him. A gunshot sounds as we cut to black. A month later, MALICK JOHNSON performs at a comedy club. LUKA KOTNIK watches the show, he keeps a satchel with him at all times. Malick gets praise from other comics and fans on his way off stage. He meets Luka. Luka shows him a magic trick where he makes a vial of white powder levitate out of his satchel. The CLUB OWNER tells Luka that Malick will be featured on the Tonight Show the following night. The Club Owner references Luka's previous performance as a stand up comic, where he froze up and said nothing. Alexander Thomas meets TILLY at a spa. Tilly tells Alexander that she's "found him." She references that Alexander owes a Russian mob boss money. Alexander insists he shouldn't have to pay. Luka and Malick go to a diner, and Luka admits that he is a contract killer. He works for VSEVOLOD, a Russian crime boss. Luka shows Malick his gun to prove it. Luka points out a BIG RUSSIAN and SMALLER RUSSIAN nearby, whom Malick had earlier insulted while performing at a comedy club. He offers Malick a deal. If Malick will teach Luka how to be a good comedian, he will protect Malick until his performance at the Tonight Show. Malick agrees and Luka uses two "mini-needles" to knock the Russians unconscious. They ride the subway, and Luka explains his ambitions to be a great comedian, and his paralyzing stage fright that is preventing him from performing. Tilly sees the two Russians that Luka sedated. Luka warns Malick that they can't hang around any comedy clubs too long, because the Russians will be looking there. They walk the streets of New York together. Luka gives Malick coconut water laced with a drug, hoping it will help Malick loosen up and improve their relationship. Luka misinterprets advice from Malick and decides his stand up comedy act should be about how he kills people. Malick's agent GREG calls him to check on him. Vsevolod watches surveillance video of Alexander and his HOT YOUNG WIFE getting into a limo. Malick struggles at his next gig and Luka seeks advice from veteran comedians RICK and TONY. They tell him about John Osgood, a comedian that only New York comics know, who was brilliant but also a drug addict. John was so good he intentionally started his sets off poorly so he could challenge himself to get the audience back. John has since died. Luka invites Rick, Tony and Malick to accompany him to a strip club. Tilly goes to a comedy club looking for someone. Luka bribes their Uber driver, DOUG, so that they can drink beer while riding to the strip club. Malick snorts cocaine and blows some of it onto Doug. The COPS pull over the Uber when an upset Doug pulls a harsh traffic maneuver. Luka confronts the COPS directly. Just as it seems Luka will kill the cops, he recognizes one of them as a friend (VASILIY) and the situation is resolved. Luka, Rick, Tony, Malick and Doug enter the strip club. Luka has called two YOUNG LADIES to the strip club, and they perform oral sex on Luka and Malick. Tilly shows up at the strip club. Malick wonders why Luka, who has money, a way with women, and success in his field, would want to switch to being a comedian. Luka says he's lonely and wants people to remember him when he's gone. Tilly confronts Luka at the strip club. She tells him that he missed (presumably when he was supposed to kill Alexander) and that she believes he missed on purpose because he has a death wish. Luka admits he did miss on purpose. Tilly says she has been paid to kill him. Luka shoots Tilly dead before she can shoot him. Luka invites everyone to join him at the plaza hotel. While Malick has sex with the Young Ladies, Luka practices his comedy material. Vsevolod calls Luka. Malick has a dream and wakes up in the diner the next day. Luka tells him everyone went home. Luka tells Malick he has decided he is funnier than Malick. Malick warns him that everyone thinks they are funny, but that doesn't necessarily translate to the stage. Luka reveals Vsevolod called him warning of retribution for Luka killing the two Russians earlier (he had lied to Malick about simply sedating them). Malick encourages Luka to find out if he can be a good comedian. When Malick gets to the Tonight Show, he realizes the other guest is Alexander (a name he heard Tilly say). He deduces that Luka is going to kill him and also kill Alexander and has been planning this from the beginning. When Malick threatens to out Luka, Luka mentions that Malick's FATHER is at the show and implies a threat to him. Luka wanders around the Tonight Show set. JIMMY FALLON interviews Alexander, who denies any ties to Russian mafia figures and announces he's running for president. Malick tells Luka he believes that Vsevolod and Alexander are working together. He thinks Alexander's insistence on innocence really means he has paid Vsevolod off, leaving the two of them (Malick and Luka) as remaining loose ends. Malick tells Luka that they are friends. Luka disappears. Luka confronts Vsevolod at his Russian restaurant. He murders Vsevolod, his SIX HENCHMEN and another ASSASSIN. Malick successfully completes his set on the Tonight Show. Two years later, Luka has written a best selling memoir about working as a contract killer and performs as a comedian on the road. Malick is working on a movie set. Vasiliy tries to kill Luka but he turns and shoots at him. Cut to black.