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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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