This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.
PLAYBACK
SCENE 1: INT. MALT SHOP, NEUTRAL
MARTIN CALABRESE sits at a table reading a piece of paper.
When he finishes reading the paper, he pulls some source of a
small flame from his pocket, and burns it. He blows the paper
out.
At some point during the previous happenings, enter FRANK
FURROWS.
FRANK
Mr. Calabrese.
MARTIN
Mr. Furrows.
FRANK sits down with MARTIN.
FRANK
Is Ms. Coltrane late?
MARTIN
You're late. My client's in the
bathroom.
FRANK
Ah, alright.
They sit. FRANK notices the burnt paper.
FRANK
What's that?
MARTIN
Just something I'd like to forget.
After a bit, STELLA enters.
STELLA
I hope you boys didn't start
without me.
FRANK
Of course not.
STELLA
Hello, Mr. Furrows-
FRANK
Call me Frank.
STELLA
Alright, Frank. I'm Stella
Coltrane. You've already met Mr.
Calabrese?
MARTIN
He has. Mr. Furrows, I'd like to
thank you for agreeing to meet with
my client and I on such short
notice.
FRANK
Oh, that's not a problem at all.
STELLA
I knew you'd understand. This means
so much to me.
WAITER approaches the group.
WAITER
Hi there, are you three ready to
order?
MARTIN
Yes. I'll have a small cup of warm
milk. Sugar on the side.
WAITER
Alright. And for you, ma'am?
STELLA
Just a cola, please.
WAITER
Alright, the usual, Frank?
FRANK
That'll do.
WAITER leaves.
MARTIN
Stella and I, we're good people,
you understand.
FRANK
No, I don't doubt that. By and
large, most who come to me are.
They're mostly just people who've
suffered injustice at the hands of
our nation's incompetent legal
system.
STELLA
I just can't believe they're going
to take my baby because of some
ridiculous, trumped up charges and
one, crooked, lying eyewitness.
FRANK
They won't get your baby, Mrs.
Coltrane. I guarantee it.
MARTIN
But you understand you're not going
to kill him, right?
FRANK
No, that wouldn't help either of
us. I'll just be sure and remind
him of Ms. Coltrane's innocence.
MARTIN
And if any of this got back to my
colleagues, I'd lose my license to
practice law-
FRANK
Mr. Calabrese, I've done this a
hundred times over. Your job is
secure.
MARTIN
And how much is this going to cost
my client?
FRANK
Well, I really like you two,
alright? And this is for the well
being of your child, Ms. Coltrane.
So I am willing to do this for
$1500.
STELLA
Thank you so much, Frank. You have
no idea how much you've eased my
heart. This is so little to ask for
such a wonderful deed. I just can't
think of a way to thank you enough.
You are a savior.
FRANK
Please, I only want to see everyone
walk away happy from this, Ms.
Coltrane. That's payment enough.
MARTIN
And just what are you planning to
do to Mr. Hawhtorne?
WAITER returns with the orders, sets the drinks down, and
leaves.
FRANK
Well, like you said, he's no good
to us dead. I figure I'll break
into his house-you said he lives
alone?
STELLA
Right.
FRANK
I'll break into his house and put
him down with an ether rag. While
he's out, I'll take a finger off.
The middle one. I'll leave him a
note letting him know what to say
on the bench about his neck
breaking. A boating accident,
perhaps. I'll look into his
hobbies. Something that makes
sense. If he's smart, it won't come
back to us. And voila: Problem
solved.
FRANK looks down at his drink, takes a sip, and passes out.
MARTIN
Let's do this.
MARTIN spreads one of FRANK's eyes open.
STELLA twists her lipstick all the way out, and pops it off.
She dumps a fine, white powder from the hollowed out
container into her hand and blows it into FRANK's open eye.
MARTIN takes a knife from his pocket. He cuts a lock of
FRANK's hair off and places it in a Ziploc bag. He hands the
bag to STELLA.
STELLA places the bag in her purse. They both get up and
leave.
SCENE 2: EXT. THE STREETS, FRANK
FRANK
(To himself, via internal
monologue)
Ok, so here it goes, I guess. My
hands are shaking. Are my hands
shaking? Feels like it. Right. Cool
it.
INT. THE MALT SHOP
FRANK walks into the malt shop. He sees MARTIN burning a
piece of paper at the table. FRANK approaches him.
FRANK
(I.M.)
There he is. Always a punctual guy,
Martin Calabrese. You see, he lies
for a living. But then again, so do
I. I can get through this.
FRANK approaches MARTIN
FRANK
Mr. Calabrese.
MARTIN
Mr. Furrows.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Playing it cool, Martin? I can play
it cool too. But I sure hope you're
right about this girl.
FRANK sits down with MARTIN.
FRANK
Is Ms. Coltrane late?
MARTIN
You're late. My client's in the
bathroom.
FRANK
Ah, alright.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Martin and I, we go way back. Old
chums in scum, one might say. God,
I'm so nervous I'm punning. It's a
funny little dance we dance.
They sit. FRANK notices the burnt paper.
FRANK
What's that?
MARTIN
Just something I'd like to forget.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Martin's always got something to
forget. Can't trust the guy. I took
out Martin's partner at his request
a few years back. Made it look like
an accident. They always say that,
"Make it look like an accident."
Something they heard on TV., I
guess.
After a bit, STELLA enters.
FRANK
(I.M.)
There she is. Is that her? She's
beautiful.
STELLA
I hope you boys didn't start
without me.
FRANK
Of course not.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Oh, crap, that was horrible. "Of
course not." You're cracking under
the pressure, Frank.
STELLA
Hello, Mr. Furrows-
FRANK
Call me Frank.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Just don't call me a sitting duck,
here.
STELLA
Alright, Frank. I'm Stella
Coltrane. You've already met
Martin?
MARTIN
He has. Mr. Furrows, I'd like to
thank you for agreeing to meet with
my client and I on such short
notice.
FRANK
Oh, that's not a problem at all.
STELLA
I knew you'd understand. This means
so much to me.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Listen to that conviction! I'm up
against the big-leagues, here. Hold
it together, Frank.
WAITER approaches the group.
WAITER
Hello, are you three ready to
order?
MARTIN
Yes. I'll have a small cup of warm
milk. Sugar on the side.
WAITER
Alright. And for you, ma'am?
STELLA
Just a cola, please.
WAITER
Alright, the usual, Frank?
FRANK
That'll do.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Coffee. Open the eyes a bit.
WAITER leaves.
MARTIN
Stella and I, we're good people,
you understand.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Here we go.
FRANK
No, I don't doubt that. By and
large, most who come to me are.
They're mostly just people who've
suffered injustice at the hands of
our nation's incompetent legal
system.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Damn, I'm good. That was great.
STELLA
I just can't believe they're going
to take my baby because of some
ridiculous, trumped up charges and
one, crooked, lying eyewitness.
FRANK
They won't get your baby, Mrs.
Coltrane. I guarantee it.
MARTIN
But you understand you're not going
to kill him, right?
FRANK
(I.M.)
That's the Martin I know. He's
begging me to shout it from the
rooftop, "I'm the killer!" I'm not
your freaking puppet, Martin.
FRANK
No, that wouldn't help either of
us. I'll just be sure and remind
him of Ms. Coltrane's innocence.
MARTIN
And if any of this got back to my
colleagues, I'd lose my license to
practice law-
FRANK
Mr. Calabrese, I've done this a
hundred times over. Your job is
secure.
FRANK
(I.M.)
So shut up about it before you
screw up, idiot.
MARTIN
And how much is this going to cost
my client?
FRANK
(I.M.)
Much better.
FRANK
Well, I really like you two,
alright? And this is for the well
being of your child, Ms. Coltrane.
So I am willing to do this for
$1500.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Ah, that could've sounded better.
STELLA
Thank you so much, Frank. You have
no idea how much you've eased my
heart. This is so little to ask for
such a wonderful deed. I just can't
think of a way to thank you enough.
You are a savior.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Oh yeah?
FRANK
Please, I only want to see everyone
walk away happy from this, Mrs.
Coltrane. That's payment enough.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Touché.
MARTIN
And just what are you planning to
do to Mr. Hawhtorne?
FRANK
(I.M.)
Alright. Here's your money shot,
Martin.
WAITER returns with the orders, sets the drinks down, and
leaves.
FRANK
(I.M.)
Think it over. Think it over. Ok.
FRANK
Well, like you said, he's no good
to us dead. I figure I'll break
into his house-you said he lives
alone?
STELLA
Right.
FRANK
I'll break into his house and put
him down with an ether rag. While
he's out, I'll take a finger off.
The middle one. I'll leave him a
note letting him know what to say
on the bench about his neck
breaking. A boating accident,
perhaps. I'll look into his
hobbies. Something that makes
sense. If he's smart, it won't come
back to us. And voila: Problem
solved.
FRANK
(I.M.)
There. Funny little dance we dance.
Here, ladies and gents, is my cue
to pass out on the table, in a
sweet, sedated slumber. Bottoms up.
FRANK looks down at his drink, takes a sip, and passes out.
SCENE 3: INT. MALT SHOP, MARTIN
MARTIN CALABRESE sits at a table reading a piece of paper.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Martin. I'll be here to pick him up
at 6:00. Vinnie.
When he finishes reading the paper, he pulls some source of a
small flame from his pocket, and burns it.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Here's to being an honest lawyer.
Someday.
He blows the paper out. At some point during the previous
happenings, enter FRANK FURROWS.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Frank Furrows. Late. As usual. I
was young, then. I was young the
day I told Frank Furrows about
Gerald Schrank.
FRANK
Mr. Calabrese.
MARTIN
Mr. Furrows.
FRANK sits down with MARTIN.
FRANK
Is Ms. Coltrane late?
MARTIN
You're late. My client's in the
bathroom.
FRANK
Ah, alright.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
I was young that day, and three
years older two seconds after he
called me to say he did it. Thus
began a long, and bitter
partnership. Me cleaning up his
dirty work. Making sure he stayed
out. The second they lock the door
behind Frank Furrows, he'll be
singing my name from the rafters.
Can't have that happen.
They sit. FRANK notices the burnt paper.
FRANK
What's that?
MARTIN
Just something I'd like to forget.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Stella Coltrane came to me, hopeful
and angry. All that girl wants is
to stop the killing. Personal
reasons. I didn't ask. She did some
digging up on me, and found out how
Frank had been the prime suspect on
my partner, Gerald's, murder case.
She thought I wanted him off the
street. Of all the lawyers in the
state, she picked me. Fate must be
a real jerk.
After a bit, STELLA enters.
STELLA
I hope you boys didn't start
without me.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
You were so beautiful that night-
FRANK
Of course not.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Standing in my office.
STELLA
Hello, Mr. Furrows-
FRANK
Call me Frank.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
We hatched this plan up together,
her and I. She already thought of
drugging him. She had no idea what
to use, of course. I know a lot of
lab folks in forensics and such who
like to run little over the counter
chem. Departments on their off
days.
STELLA
Alright, Frank. I'm Stella
Coltrane. You've already met
Martin?
MARTIN
He has. Mr. Furrows, I'd like to
thank you for agreeing to meet with
my client and I on such short
notice.
FRANK
Oh, that's not a problem at all.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
If you haven't guessed, this
conversation is being taped. She
thinks that when Frank Furrows
takes a sip of that drink, he'll
pass out, we'll take the tape to
the District Attorney, get a
warrant, and return with the
cavalry to haul him to jail. Not a
judge in the county who wouldn't
gladly give Frank Furrows the chair
for spitting on the sidewalk. He'd
never see the light of day.
STELLA
I knew you'd understand. This means
so much to me.
MARTIN
(I.M)
But that won't happen. I got a guy
to pick Frank up an hour after he's
out. Frank freaked when I told him
the plan, but it's the only way.
We'll get him on a plane to
Bermuda, or Guam, or whatever, and
it'll all be under-rug-swept.
WAITER approaches the group.
WAITER
Hello, are you three ready to
order?
MARTIN
Yes. I'll have a small cup of warm
milk. Sugar on the side.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
You better be happy, Frank. Hell's
gates may be waiting for you, but
you're a slippery guy.
WAITER
Alright. And for you, ma'am?
MARTIN
(I.M.)
A slippery guy who I'll never, ever
see again, after tonight.
STELLA
Just a cola, please.
WAITER
Alright, the usual, Frank?
FRANK
That'll do.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Frank's not a decaf guy.
WAITER leaves.
MARTIN
Stella and I, we're good people,
you understand.
FRANK
No, I don't doubt that. By and
large, most who come to me are.
They're mostly just people who've
suffered injustice at the hands of
our nation's incompetent legal
system.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
The corruption of our nation's
legal system. That's me.
STELLA
I just can't believe they're going
to take my baby because of some
stupid, trumped up charges without
a single eyewitness.
FRANK
They won't get your baby, Mrs.
Coltrane. I guarantee it.
MARTIN
But you understand you're not going
to kill him, right?
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Say it, Frank. You know you have
to.
FRANK
No, that wouldn't help either of
us. I'll just be sure and remind
him of Ms. Coltrane's innocence.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Say it. The tape doesn't mean
anything. You know that.
MARTIN
And if any of this got back to my
colleagues, I'd lose my license to
practice law-
FRANK
Mr. Calabrese, I've done this a
hundred times over. Your job is
secure.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
That's too vague. Stella needs the
words. She won't be happy until
admit, black and white, you've
killed before.
MARTIN
And how much is this going to cost
my client?
FRANK
Well, I really like you two,
alright? And this is for the well
being of your child, Ms. Coltrane.
So I am willing to do this for
$1500.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
He sounds like a used car salesman.
STELLA
Thank you so much, Frank. You have
no idea how much you've eased my
heart. This is so little to ask for
such a wonderful deed.
I just can't think of a way to
thank you enough. You are a savior.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
That poor girl. She deserves it. I
feel horrible about this, Stella.
Really, I do.
FRANK
Please, I only want to see everyone
walk away happy from this, Mrs.
Coltrane. That's payment enough.
MARTIN
And just what are you planning to
do to Mr. Hawhtorne?
MARTIN
(I.M.)
No more messing around, Frank. Just
say it.
WAITER returns with the orders, sets the drinks down, and
leaves.
FRANK
Well, like you said, he's no good
to us dead. I figure I'll break
into his house-you said he lives
alone?
STELLA
Right.
FRANK
I'll break into his house and put
him down with an ether rag. While
he's out, I'll take a finger off.
The middle one. I'll leave him a
note letting him know what to say
on the bench about his neck
breaking. A boating accident,
perhaps. I'll look into his
hobbies. Something that makes
sense. If he's smart, it won't come
back to us. And voila: Problem
solved.
FRANK looks down at his drink, takes a sip, and passes out.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Sleep well, Frank.
My guy will be here in a few hours.
You just bought yourself some time.
MARTIN
Let's do this.
MARTIN spreads one of FRANK's eyes open.
STELLA twists her lipstick all the way out, and pops it off.
She dumps a fine, white powder from the hollowed out
container into her hand and blows it into FRANK's open eye.
MARTIN takes a knife from his pocket. He cuts a lock of
FRANK's hair off and places it in a Ziploc bag. He hands the
bag to STELLA.
STELLA places the bag in her purse. They both get up and
leave.
MARTIN
(I.M.)
Now, just give me the tape
recorder, Stella.
SCENE 4: EXT. BEHIND MALT SHOP, STELLA
STELLA and the COOK stand out back.
COOK
You're sure, Stella?
STELLA
Yeah, I'm sure.
COOK
Just dump it in his drink?
STELLA
How many times do I have to tell
you this? Yes. Put the serum in his
drink. Look-
Shows him the bottles
STELLA
It's a little bottle.
COOK
Alright, Stella. Your funeral.
STELLA
Just do what I'm paying you for.
COOK leaves.
STELLA starts walking towards the front door of the malt
shop.
STELLA
(I.M.)
I suppose it's time to get in
character. To play the victim.
Well, allow me to confide to you,
humble viewers, the master plan.
There's a man in this malt shop.
He's responsible for the death of
my daughter. My only child. The
legacy of my husband, God rest his
soul. So nothing, not Martin
Calabrese's law degree, not the
law, not even pretty little angels
in heaven, are going to stop me
from taking Frank Furrow's greedy,
filthy life. I came to Martin, and
I begged him for help. I knew he'd
listen. This is a guy who must
mutter Frank's name in his sleep.
Since the little jerk killed his
partner, he's testified against him
thirteen times. What can I say?
Frank's a wily one. I hope that,
even though I'm setting him up,
Martin can take some happiness in
that we're finally getting Frank
out of the picture, forever. And
all I had to do was play dumb.
She enters the malt shop.
STELLA
I hope you boys didn't start
without me.
FRANK
Of course not.
STELLA
(I.M.)
Look me in the eyes, and play
stupid, you heartless freak.
STELLA
Hello, Mr. Furrows-
FRANK
Call me Frank.
STELLA
(I.M.)
When Martin arranged to get
chemicals to put him out, he said
that if we went over the counter,
he needed two different sedatives.
The powder, I guess it was too
strong. He'd smell it in his drink.
So the liquid one, that's going to
be in Frank's coffee. The powder,
on the other hand-
STELLA
Alright, Frank. I'm Stella
Coltrane. You've already met
Martin?
MARTIN
He has. Mr. Furrows, I'd like to
thank you for agreeing to meet with
my client and I on such short
notice.
STELLA
(I.M.)
So Martin gets close to a gallon of
this liquid, because you can only
buy in bulk. He takes a portion of
it, which he only calls, "Enough,"
and gives it to me. He's the legal
mind, right? He knows what he
knows, and I know what I know. I
don't know chemicals.
FRANK
Oh, that's not a problem at all.
STELLA
I knew you'd understand. This means
so much to me.
WAITER approaches the group.
WAITER
Hello, are you three ready to
order?
STELLA
(I.M.)
So then, when we take the evidence
down to the D.A., I got a friend in
the kitchen, says he'll make sure
to use plenty more of that
sedative. "Enough," is what I'd
call it. Enough to kill him.
MARTIN
Yes. I'll have a small cup of warm
milk. Sugar on the side.
STELLA
(I.M.)
See, it'll all point to Martin. I
only did what he told me, I'll say.
WAITER
Alright. And for you, ma'am?
STELLA
Just a cola, please.
STELLA
(I.M.)
And being that we're going straight
to the police after we're done,
they'll believe me. He'll get
murder, or if he's lucky, reckless
homicide. He'll say he swears he
gave me the right amount. He'll
swear on his mother's grave.
WAITER
Alright, the usual, Frank?
FRANK
That'll do.
WAITER leaves.
MARTIN
My client and I, we're good people,
you understand.
STELLA
(I.M.)
Martin, we all have to play martyr
now and then. The way I see it,
I've lost my daughter. I'm already
a martyr. Time for you to throw
your hat over the wall, right?
FRANK
No, I don't doubt that. By and
large, most who come to me are.
They're mostly just people who've
suffered injustice at the hands of
our nation's incompetent legal
system.
STELLA
(I.M.)
Sickening. You will burn in the
fires of hell, Frank.
STELLA
I just can't believe they're going
to take my baby because of some
stupid, trumped up charges without
a single eyewitness.
STELLA
(I.M.)
My girl. Life's empty without you.
I'll wipe this world clean of him,
baby. I promise.
FRANK
They won't get your baby, Mrs.
Coltrane. I guarantee it.
STELLA
(I.M.)
I second that, Frank. You already
did.
MARTIN
But you understand you're not going
to kill him, right?
FRANK
No, that wouldn't help either of
us. I'll just be sure and remind
him of Ms. Coltrane's innocence.
STELLA
(I.M.)
Did you even think about her,
Frank?
MARTIN
And if any of this got back to my
colleagues, I'd lose my license to
practice law-
FRANK
Mr. Calabrese, I've done this a
hundred times over. Your job is
secure.
STELLA
(I.M.)
Or did you just think, "Damn. I
missed."
MARTIN
And how much is this going to cost
my client?
FRANK
Well, I really like you two,
alright? And this is for the well
being of your child, Ms. Coltrane.
So I am willing to do this for
$1500.
STELLA
(I.M.)
You shot my innocent, by-standing,
little girl. Do you even remember?
STELLA
Thank you so much, Frank. You have
no idea how much you've eased my
heart. This is so little to ask for
such a wonderful deed. I just can't
think of a way to thank you enough.
You are a savior.
STELLA
(I.M., at simultaneous
with the last sentence of
her last line)
I am a savior.
FRANK
Please, I only want to see everyone
walk away happy from this, Mrs.
Coltrane. That's payment enough.
MARTIN
And just what are you planning to
do to Mr. Hawhtorne?
WAITER returns with the orders, sets the drinks down, and
leaves.
FRANK
Well, like you said, he's no good
to us dead. I figure I'll break
into his house-you said he lives
alone?
STELLA
Right.
FRANK
I'll break into his house and put
him down with an ether rag. While
he's out, I'll take a finger off.
The middle one. I'll leave him a
note letting him know what to say
on the bench about his neck
breaking. A boating accident,
perhaps. I'll look into his
hobbies. Something that makes
sense. If he's smart, it won't come
back to us. And voila: Problem
solved.
STELLA
(I.M.)
Drink up, you son of a bitch.
FRANK looks down at his drink, takes a sip, and passes out.
MARTIN
Let's do this.
STELLA
(I.M.)
I'm sorry, Martin. But I'm not that
sorry.
MARTIN spreads one of FRANK's eyes open.
STELLA twists her lipstick all the way out, and pops it off.
She dumps a fine, white powder from the hollowed out
container into her hand and blows it into FRANK's open eye.
MARTIN takes a knife from his pocket. He cuts a lock of
FRANK's hair off and places it in a Ziploc bag. He hands the
bag to STELLA.
STELLA places it in her purse. They both get up and leave.
FRANK is lying with the poisoned eye open. His hand peels off
a contact lens. He throws it on the table. He gets up,
walking towards the front door.
The WAITER approaches him.
WAITER
Hey, Frank. Bob said Stella paid
him $7500 to dump this crap in your
coffee and keep the place locked up
for the day.
FRANK
Yeah, well, I guess it's a world
full of big spenders who'll pay for
just about anything..
WAITER
While you yourself take money to
kill?
FRANK
Yeah. They call prostitution the
oldest profession in the world.
I'll bet I could give them a run
for their money.
FRANK begins to walk away.
WAITER
Forgetting something, Frank?
FRANK stops.
WAITER
Your gun.
FRANK turns around, grabs his gun, and begins walking out of
the malt shop.
FRANK
(I.M.)
You're gonna get it, Martin. I'm
just supposed to lay here and
expect you to come through on this?
I know a burn when I see one,
Martin. Besides, I've been looking
for a new partner.
Roll credits.
Return to Simply Scripts