BLIND SPOT

Neil Stratton


EXT NICK'S OFFICE  DAY

A car drives through the drizzling rain and pulls up outside a
nondescript building.  Lara Chadwick emerges, her stylish dress
contrasting with the drab surroundings.  She stands there a
moment, without coat or umbrella, apparently unconcerned by the
weather.

Her eye goes on the upstairs window where Nick Bramble stands
looking out.  She smiles to herself.

INT  NICK'S OFFICE  DAY

The office of Bramble Investigations, consisting of little more than
a desk, filing cabinet, laptop and coffee-maker.

Lara knocks and enters.  She sits down without invitation.  Nick
remains standing by the window.

LARA
Lara Chadwick.

NICK
Coffee?

LARA
Thanks but I have an appointment.

NICK
I didn't think you believed in them.

Lara ignores the jibe, instead eyeing a pile of electronic
components in the corner, including what looks like an overgrown
flash-bulb.

LARA
You like to tinker.

NICK
You like to notice things.

Lara takes a photo from her purse and hands it to him.

LARA
My daughter Ingrid.

NICK
Missing?

LARA
No.  Attractive, wouldn't you say?

He realises she's studying his reaction and attempts to return the
photo, but she waves this aside.

NICK
The word I'd use is trouble.

LARA
Why?

NICK
Because in my experience, attractive
daughters of rich women usually are.

LARA
It's not your experience I'm after.

NICK
Meaning?

LARA
The others I've seen have all been
ex-cops with a paunch.

NICK
And that's relevant to the case?

LARA
Yes.  I want you to seduce my
daughter.

Nick gives a short incredulous laugh.

NICK
You want me to investigate what
she's like in bed?

LARA
If you really were that crude, I
wouldn't have considered you.

Their eyes lock for a moment.

LARA
My daughter is engaged to a man
with underworld connections.  I want
the marriage stopped.

NICK
Like I said, trouble.

LARA
I thought you specialised in trouble.

NICK
No, I specialise in staying out of it.

LARA
That would explain why you have
plenty of time to study the weather. 
Perhaps you should become a
meteorologist.

She places a card on his desk.

LARA
Call me.

She leaves without waiting for a response.

INT  CHADWICK HOUSE  NIGHT

DINING ROOM

The Chadwicks are at dinner.  Presiding at the head of the long
table is James, a genial round-faced man somewhat older than his
wife, seated on his left.  On his right is their younger daughter Holly. 
Next to her is Ingrid, who looks up from her meal to fix on Nick,
opposite, a penetrating stare.

INGRID
So tell me, what's your advice?

NICK
Advice?

INGRID
You do advise people, don't you?
Isn't that what you do to Mother?

NICK
So we're talking finance?

HOLLY
Well if you want my opinion and
you're getting it anyway, people with
money should spend it, and those
without should move to a tropical
island, where they can live on
coconuts for free.

JAMES
Holly is renowned for her practical
streak.

Ignoring her family, Ingrid fires another scornful question at Nick .

INGRID
Will you charge me for asking?

NICK
The best advice is by Dickens, and it's
free.  Save more than you spend.

JAMES
What are your thoughts on shares?

LARA
James has the rare ability to
completely defy the odds.  He loses
money on all occasions.

JAMES
It's a  hobby, you know.  People
always lose money on their hobbies.

HOLLY
I don't see why you need advice, Ingy.
You're marrying Eliot and he can
make money in his sleep.

INGRID
And how do you know his sleeping
habits?

HOLLY
Mother, she's being disgusting.  I
thought I was the only one allowed to
be disgusting.

JAMES
Just because you have a talent for it,
my dear, doesn't mean we
encourage it.

LARA
Her fiancé owns a nightclub.  Not
normally the source of great wealth,
but Eliot has obviously mastered the
black art of alchemy.

INGRID
Thank-you, Mother.  She would have
me marry someone boring like a
doctor or a lawyer.

 JAMES
Had a friend once, a little off-colour,
trundled off to the doctor and got
told he had six months to live.  Who
needs that?

NICK
So he survived?

JAMES
No, got hit by a bus the next day.  The
shock, you see.  Not paying attention.

Holly turns to her father.

HOLLY
Why don't you ask Eliot about
shares?   Or Ingy could pump him.

JAMES
He doesn't believe in them.

HOLLY
You mean like some people don't
believe in alien abductions?

INGRID
Do you?

HOLLY
I keep an open mind.

INGRID
As in vacant, space to let.

NICK
So what's his secret?

JAMES
He never talks about stuff like that. 
He's the mysterious sort.  Girls go for
that sort of thing.  Look at Ingrid.

Ingrid pulls a long-suffering face.

LARA
All we get from Eliot is that it's a
numbers game.

JAMES
And that's where I fall down.  At
school, maths and I never got on. 
Except for pi r squared.  Always had
a soft spot for pi r squared.

LIVING ROOM

Ingrid and Holly have gone out.  James has settled into a large
armchair in the corner with headphones and a glass of port.  Nick
and Lara sip coffee.  As though suddenly remembering the guest,
James takes off the headphones and turns to Nick.

JAMES
You listen to CCR?

NICK
My father used to play them.

JAMES
Well this is John Fogerty years on.  It
chugs along pleasantly enough, but
it's not until he starts singing about
the swamp that it really explodes into
life.

He swirls his glass around reflectively.

JAMES
It's a funny thing, Bramble.  He grew
up in San Fran, but his roots are in
the Louisiana swamps.

He returns to his headphones.  Lara waits until he starts tapping
time before speaking.

LARA
Well?

NICK
Well what?  It was a disaster.

LARA
Nonsense, she likes you.

NICK
It didn't feel that way.

LARA
For an investigator, you're not very
observant.

NICK
I noticed this.  She's in love with Eliot. 
It was in her voice when she spoke
about him, and in her eyes.

LARA
She's in love with love.

NICK
So how do I compete?

LARA
Pique her, Mr Bramble, pique her.

EXT  CHADWICK LAWN  DAY

Nick and Lara sit under a sun umbrella sipping iced drinks while
Holly whoops and hollers around her father as they play croquet.

LARA
That girl.  She's the only one I know
who turns croquet into a blood sport.

Nick glances at his watch.

NICK
The librarians must be holding your
daughter hostage.

LARA
She knew perfectly well you were
coming.  I believe the little minx is
playing games.

NICK
Or simply avoiding me.

Lara raises an eyebrow.

LARA
You expected her on a plate?

Nick doesn't reply.

LARA
Never mind, there's always the ball. 
She can't avoid you there.

NICK
Yeah, along with croquet, that's my
world.

LARA
It's not Eliot's either but he still
landed Ingrid.

NICK
With his croquet swing?

LARA
Holly ran rings around him.  Literally,
the silly girl.

NICK
Then I guess he must tango up a
storm.

LARA
The eye of the storm, more like.  He's
a minimalist.

She sighs.

LARA
And speaking as the only one in this
family who can tango, I assure you
there are worse things than not being
able to dance.

INT  BALLROOM  NIGHT

DANCE FLOOR

Ingrid, radiant in an off-the-shoulder creation, moves through the
crowd greeting friends. 

MEZZANINE

Lara and Nick watch Ingrid from above.

LARA
Ravishing, don't you think?

Nick doesn't reply, but instead fiddles with his jacket.

LARA
Relax.  You can hardly tell it's a rental.

NICK
I haven't seen her dance with Eliot.

LARA
He owns a nightclub, remember.  
He's more used to watching others
dance.

DANCE FLOOR

Eliot stands in a corner talking to one of his henchmen.  His
languid air hides the sharp alertness in his eyes.

MEZZANINE

Lara turns to Nick.

LARA
What are you waiting for?

NICK
The right moment.

LARA
I believe that's now.

NICK
Why?

LARA
Because I'm paying you.

DANCE  FLOOR

As Nick approaches Ingrid, she turns around unexpectedly and
they almost collide.

INGRID
Oh it's you, Mr Persistent.

NICK
You can call me Nick.

INGRID
Somehow I imagined this wasn't your
thing.

As if to emphasise the point, she straightens his bow-tie.

INGRID
But silly me, this wasn't your idea. 
Mother obviously dragged you along.

NICK
May I please have the honour of this
dance?

INGRID
That's a taught phrase.  Nobody talks
like that.

NICK
That's not an answer.

INGRID
Imagine if I said yes.  Now that really
would make for a tangled web.

NICK
Why?

INGRID
You're my mother's escort.  I'm not
in the habit of dancing with Mother's
escorts.

She brushes past him.  Nick grabs her arm.  She swings round,
eyes flashing defiance.

INGRID
Either kiss me or let me go.

Nick kisses her.  At first she's too surprised to react, then she
quickly breaks off.

INGRID
That wasn't very smart.  Eliot's here.

NICK
Then I suggest you plead momentary
insanity.

INGRID
He's more likely to believe yours is
long-lasting.

She marches off.

Lara joins Nick.

LARA
I said pique her, Mr Bramble, not
manhandle.

NICK
She thinks I'm in the escort business.

LARA
Obviously quoting Dickens has its
limitations in establishing financial
credentials.

NICK
You chose the cover.

LARA
Because I thought you had the
required bluff and bravado.  It
appears we need a new approach.

NICK
Yes, approach someone else.  I'm
quitting.

LARA
We had a deal.

NICK
I only agreed to trial.

LARA
So when do you start trying?

Nick walks out.

EXT  CITY STREET  NIGHT

Nick trudges aimlessly through the misty rain.  He pays no
attention to a car with tinted windows that pulls up alongside.  Two
men jump out while the driver keeps the engine idling.  They drag
Nick into an alley.

EXT  DARK ALLEY  NIGHT

Thug # 1 holds Nick's arms pinned behind his back while Thug # 2
addresses him.

THUG # 2
We got a message for you.

NICK
So have I.  That's a no-parking zone.

THUG # 2
Funny guy, huh?

He knocks Nick's head sideways with a back-fist.

NICK
Critic, huh?

Thug # 2 eyeballs him.

THUG # 1
Just get on with it.

THUG # 2
He provoked me.

NICK
And it wasn't even a challenge.

Thug # 2 pulls out his gun.

THUG # 1
Hey, he said no guns.

THUG # 2
Yeah but this guy's stupid.  How else
we gonna get through?

THUG # 1
Just tell him.

Thug # 2 reluctantly puts his gun away.

THUG # 2
I speak, you listen.

Seconds pass.

THUG # 1
Whacha doin?

THUG # 2
I'm handling this.

THUG # 1
So forget the dramatic pause.

NICK
He's waiting for the beep.

Thug # 2 whips out his gun again and holds it against Nick's
temple.

THUG # 2
Don't hang around where you're not
wanted.  Got that?

NICK
Yeah, you don't love me no more.

THUG # 1
Told ya we shoulda just kicked shit
outa him.

Thug # 2 delivers a spring-loaded punch to the stomach.  Thug # 1
lets Nick go and he crumples onto the ground.  They both start
kicking him.

EXT  CITY STREET  NIGHT

The driver rolls down the car window.

DRIVER
Hey, move it.

EXT  DARK ALLEY  NIGHT

Nick hears fading footsteps, then screeching tires.  He lifts his
head groggily and fumbles for his cellphone.  He rings then leaves
a message.

NICK
It's Bramble.  I'm back on the case.

The cellphone clatters onto the ground and he sinks into
unconsciousness.

INT  ELIOT'S NIGHTCLUB  NIGHT

Nick enters, his face a map of bruises.  He does a rapid scan.  It's
a quiet night.  He goes to the bar.

NICK
Scotch me.

The bartender observes his face then slowly shakes his head.

BARTENDER
Sorry.

NICK
I prefer my sympathy in the form of a
scotch.

BARTENDER
I don't want any trouble.

NICK
If a drink's too much trouble, you
could always re-open as a playcentre.

The bartender signals to a bouncer, who's had his eye on Nick
ever since he entered.  He comes over.

BOUNCER
Time to leave.

NICK
I get it.  You want me to spread the
word this place is a cheap night out.

BOUNCER
The face.  Not good for business.

Nick glances around.

NICK
I'd say business isn't good for
business.

He turns back to the bartender.

NICK
You won't forget to put my idea in the
suggestion box?

He feels a large hand clamp his shoulder.

BOUNCER
You wanna go quietly?

NICK
If the alternative is karaoke, then yes.

He starts to leave then stops, as though remembering something.

NICK
Your boss in?

BOUNCER
What's it to you?

NICK
I have a message.

BOUNCER
Maybe he doesn't wanna hear it.

NICK
Maybe it'll rain tomorrow.  Maybe you'll
win the lottery and be able to afford
that brain implant you've always
dreamed about.

BOUNCER
You're gonna regret that.

BARTENDER
Hey, just let him speak, then we can
be rid of him.

NICK
Thanks ol' buddy, I knew you'd come
through for me.

BOUNCER
You got ten seconds.

NICK
Make it three.  That way you can
count it.

The bouncer grabs him by the collar.

BARTENDER
We're listening.

NICK
Tell Eliot the wedding's off.

The bouncer continues his grip.  Nick doesn't flinch.  He pushes
Nick away.  Nick leaves.

EXT  PARK  DAY

Ingrid's on a bench reading.  A shadow falls across her face.  She
looks up and sees Nick.

NICK
Hi.

INGRID
Hi yourself.

He sits down beside her.

INGRID
So now you're following me?

NICK
Your mother suggested you might be
here.

INGRID
What is it with you and my mother? 
It's starting to weird me out.

NICK
She's concerned about you, that's all.

INGRID
Me?  I'm fine.

NICK
You and Eliot.

Ingrid sighs and returns to her book.  He waits.  She throws it
down.

INGRID
Okay, what about me and Eliot?

Nick still doesn't say anything.  She studies the bruises.

INGRID
What happened to your face?

NICK
The wind changed.

Ingrid continues staring.

NICK
What's your book?

INGRID
Art History.

NICK
Eliot's favourite subject.

Ingrid eyes him scornfully.

INGRID
What's a flying buttress?  And please,
no kick-ass jokes.

NICK
It takes the load from a roof, so a
wall can be things like stained glass.

INGRID
Okay, so it's Eliot who would've made
the kick-ass joke.  You think I want to
marry an art historian?

NICK
Well somebody's got to, or they'll
become extinct.

INGRID
Anyway, what qualifies you to judge
my choice of fiancé?

NICK
They teach it in Finance 101.

INGRID
Really?

NICK
Yes, marriage is a contract with
financial implications.

INGRID
Tell my mother she can plot and
scheme all she likes, it won't change
a thing.  I love Eliot and I'm going to
marry him.

She packs up her books and storms off.

INT  CHADWICK DINING ROOM  NIGHT

The Chadwicks are at dinner, joined by Eliot and Nick.  Eliot has
brought a magnum of champagne, which he pours.  As he tops up
the last glass, James seizes the initiative.

JAMES
Everybody raise your glass.

They all do so.

JAMES
I'll keep it short because nobody likes
to keep champagne waiting.  To
Ingrid and Eliot, and their happiness
together.

Holly is a chorus of one.

HOLLY
Ingy and Eliot.

She tries to clink glasses.

INGRID
It's not Auld Lang Syne.

HOLLY
Well then, can I propose a toast?

LARA
As long as it's not something silly.

HOLLY
Damn.

They all drink.

JAMES
I'm rather looking forward to having a
financial genius in the family.  Not
that my grandfather, who started 
Chadwick Furniture, was any slouch
in that line, but you know what they
say - lightning never strikes twice.

LARA
Yes, Eliot, you must tell us your
secret.

Eliot smiles at her coolly.

ELIOT
Hard work.

HOLLY
That is so boring and thoroughly
deserves to be kept secret.

LARA
What's your opinion, Nick?  Is
success solely due to hard work?

INGRID
Mother, you're grilling.  My turn for
a toast.  To love, wherever we may
find it.

She smiles at Eliot.

HOLLY
And to Auld Lang Syne.

She quickly clinks glasses with everyone.

ELIOT
What about you, Nick?  How's