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The following text fades in over black: "Why, boys, when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by God I was rich." - Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman FLARE TO WHITE FADE IN: We are flying over a suburban housing estate. All of the houses are identical. Cars peel away from drives in sync and join a queue of commuters. The cars glide down the main street. A lawn with a sprinkler machine. The spraying water pirouettes and flicks across the plush grass. SUBTITLE: SUBURB OF NEW JERSEY, 1937 FADE TO BLACK FADE IN: We are gliding over a main road. The painted dashes flashing past us. INT. NEW JERSEY APARTMENT - DAY A man wrapped in a towel is standing in his steamy bathroom. The mirror is all steamed up. The man is JERRY FRICK. Jerry wipes his hand across the mirror. His reflection is a mass of rumpled hair, bloodshot flecked eyes and an eleven o'clock shadow - despite the fact it is so early. INT. NEW JERSEY APARTMENT - A SHORT TIME LATER Jerry straightening his necktie. INT. NEW JERSEY APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER Jerry in a $300 suit drinking the dregs of his coffee. He puts the cup down and picks up his briefcase and saunters into the hall. INT. JERRY'S CAR - A SHORT TIME LATER Cruising down the main road. We are above the ground, over the same suburban estate that opened the film. I/E. JERRY'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER Jerry parks the car on the side of the street. EXT. SUBURB OF NEW JERSEY - CONTINUOUS Jerry walks up the drive of a house carrying his briefcase. EXT. SUBURB OF NEW JERSEY - CONTINUOUS Jerry rapping on the door... Jerry standing on the step... EXT. SUBURB OF NEW JERSEY - MOMENTS LATER The door opens. KATHY SPELLMAN At last...you're late. INT. THE HOUSE - A LARGE ROOM - DAY KATHY SPELLMAN Take a seat. Over here...I'll get the pictures. Jerry just looks through her. JERRY FRICK Pictures? She hands Jerry some photographs. Jerry shuffles the pictures. INSERT: BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS They are pictures of a man, her husband Mr. Spellman. JERRY FRICK So how do you want me to handle this? KATHY SPELLMAN Well, there's no point in...going round in circles. I want my husband out of the picture. Nipped in the bud... Jerry looks shocked but composed. JERRY FRICK Let's re-cap...this isn't like buying a car. KATHY SPELLMAN I'm good for it. JERRY FRICK Okay. KATHY SPELLMAN You do this all the time...no time to be getting on your high horse...how can you get moral palpitations? JERRY FRICK He's dead. End of conversation... KATHY SPELLMAN ...What about money? JERRY FRICK Right. KATHY SPELLMAN Got some quotes. Estimates from...other people in your trade. JERRY FRICK Can you do that? I mean they let you do that? KATHY SPELLMAN Sure. Showed me their portfolios...took me to a gig...very professional people...But your work was quite something. JERRY FRICK It's not something you rush...like a divorce, can't fly in. Very messy. Very expensive...it's gonna cost you serious bread to dig yourself out ...if you make the hole too big. Jerry is getting very animated. JERRY FRICK Takes time. Anticipation and blueprints. Planning. KATHY SPELLMAN Got the full whack. $10,000. A banker's draft all right? JERRY FRICK I won't go in for under 12 G's. KATHY SPELLMAN Oh. You said $10,000 last week. That's my savings. The whole lot. It's okay...I'll get the rest after the funeral... JERRY FRICK Hell...I think we can come to some kind of agreement...can cut my fee for a little tumble...upstairs. INT. THE BEDROOM - A SHORT TIME LATER Jerry is sprawled across the bed. He is stripped to the waist. Kath is sitting on the edge of the bed slipping off her shoes. JERRY FRICK You want to think this over. KATHY SPELLMAN Let's go for it. Kath drops a shoe onto the carpet. JERRY FRICK What was that? KATHY SPELLMAN What was what? JERRY FRICK That noise...something crashing downstairs. KATHY SPELLMAN Downstairs. You sure? JERRY FRICK You want me to check? KATHY SPELLMAN My husband! Dammit...must be Frank... JERRY FRICK All right, take it easy. KATHY SPELLMAN You got a gun? JERRY FRICK A gun? For what? Kathy makes a gun out of fingers and a thumb and presses it into Jerry's forehead. KATHY SPELLMAN (almost whispering) Pop...to grease Frank. JERRY FRICK Grease. Frank. Downstairs...You got one up here? KATHY SPELLMAN Why would I have a gun? JERRY FRICK Self defence. Gotta a baseball bat, towel rail...something to clock the sucker. Frank a golfer? KATHY SPELLMAN Golf? JERRY FRICK Something I can swing at the guy...Put him down so he won't get up in a hurry. KATHY SPELLMAN Just a sec. INT. THE BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Kathy re-emerges from the closet offering a leather golf bag, bulging with woods and irons spinning golf balls in all directions. Jerry snatches at the bag. He selects a nine iron. He makes a couple of air-swings with the club. INT. THE LANDING UPSTAIRS - CONTINUOUS Jerry creeping round the landing and hefting the golf club in his hands. INT. THE STAIRCASE - CONTINUOUS Jerry carefully moving down the stairs. Tense and coiled ready to spring into action. CUT TO: INT. THE LANDING UPSTAIRS - CONTINUOUS Kathy hugging herself as she leans across the balustrade. INT. LOOKING DOWN FROM ABOVE - CONTINUOUS The spiral staircase corkscrews down to the ground floor. CUT TO: INT. BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS - MOMENTS LATER Jerry is backed up against the wall. Nervous and breathing heavily. The door to the kitchen is open a crack. Gingerly Jerry swings open the door with one hand. CUT TO: INT. THE LANDING UPSTAIRS - CONTINUOUS Kathy framed by the lattice of the balustrade. She is tucked behind it, gripping the rungs like a prison cell window. We hear the SOUND of muffled blows and cracks from below. CUT TO: INT. THE KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS Jerry is standing over the body of a man who has been savagely beaten. The rim of the iron is splattered with BLOOD. Glass confetti and shattered china is everywhere. Jerry drops the golf club. It CLATTERS on the tiles. Kathy comes flying into the kitchen. She notes the body on her kitchen tiles. She stares at the body. KATHY SPELLMAN Fucking hell-- JERRY FRICK --What's the matter? You wanted to go to a funeral. KATHY SPELLMAN Yes...but that isn't Frank. JERRY FRICK What! You mean...then who the hell is this putz? KATHY SPELLMAN Never seen him before...no idea. JERRY FRICK Dammit! I'm in a bind! The DOORBELL goes. JERRY FRICK Expecting company...maybe Frank? KATHY SPELLMAN No. INT. AT THE DOOR - CONTINUOUS A man is at the door. The man is SONNY WEISS. WEISS I'm here about the situation...with your husband. Sonny Weiss...We spoke last week. KATHY SPELLMAN (indicating Jerry) But...then who is this guy? WEISS Your husband?...You tell me. KATH SPELLMAN (to Jerry) Then who the fuck are you? JERRY FRICK Jerry Frick...Field sales. You interested in investing for the Future? FADE TO BLACK THE END.
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