THE BIG WHITE.doc

8/21/2019 THE BIG WHITE.doc

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ALL SCRIPTS

THE BIG WHITE

Written by

Collin Friesen

FADE IN:

EXT. ROAD - WINTER DAY

A police car, nothing more than a speck on the

landscape, is intermittently

visible through the blowing snow.

INT. POLICE CAR - SAME

A CORPORA !"#s$, behind the wheel, with a bored

%&'&C'()& *O+& !#s$

at his side.

CORPORAL -o his hand is like, o, right. -o he

puts on a

tourni/uet, puts the hand in his pocket,

walks ive

miles through the bush til he gets to the

highway,

where he passes out, on the road, right.

'hen this

logging truck comes along...

DETECTIVE BOYLE

!looking ahead$

0ey.

'he Corporal looks orward.

CAR1- PO)2 'hrough the windshield o a WO3A4

!5#s$, dressed in her

pa6amas and a parka, skipping down the middle o

the road.

EXT. ROAD

'he police car pulls to a stop, 6ust as the woman

does a pirouette and alls

over backwards.

%etective *oyle and the other Cop get out and

walk over.

http://www.imsdb.com/all%20scriptshttp://www.imsdb.com/all%20scripts


2/113

CORPORAL

!into his radio$

%ispatch, this is unit 77, we need a

irst

responsder 88

DETECTIVE BOYLE

Cancel that.

'he Woman kicks up a leg, wiggles her oot.

%&'&C'()& *O+&

!cont1d$

( know where she belongs.

As they lit her up...

1 INT. INSIDE A TRASH DUMPSTER - LATE AFTERNOON

1

'he dumpster lid opens on a bitterly cold, gray

winter1s day in an Alaskan city. A

chunky, shivering 0A(R -'+(-' with 6et black

bangs shakes out a bo9 o

conditioning samples.

HAIR STYLIST

!to someone O.-.$

-he says :( haven1t eaten all day,: then,

right there on

the bus she pulls out this, like, salmon

steak and

(1m...

2 INT. INSIDE A TRASH DUMPSTER - LATE AFTERNOON

2

'he dumpster lid *A4;- shut, reopens a beat

later. A moment o calm until

two garbage bags -A3 against the inside o the

lid. (t alls shut with a CA4;.

3 EXT. TRASH DUMPSTER - NIGHT

3

'he lid reopens. 4ight time now, as a street lamp

*


3/113

'he lieless body o a air8si>ed man comes

CRA-0(4; into the garbage.

-(R&4- closer. A man seen only in silhouette

leans in to pull some garbage

over the corpse. A second man looks in, then

pulls the irst man away.

MAN'S VOICE

We1ll get him later. C1mon.

'he lid drops.

" EXT. TRASH DUMPSTER - MORNING

"

*lack. 'he dumpster reopens. 3orning now. A

?orean8American '&&4A;&R

wearing an apron and headphones sings along to an

old ?(-- tune as he deposits two large orange garbage bags.

TEENAGER

:...;et up, everybody1s gonna move their

eet, get

down, everybody1s gonna leave their

seat...gonna

lose your mind in...:

0e shuts the lid with care. *lack.

# EXT. CITY STREET - DAY

#

A cookie8cutter subdivision. Old pine trees poke

through the snow cover that

blankets the neighborhood. 0OWAR% !@#s$, a burly

outdoors type, is trying to

unload a new snowmobile rom the back o his

pickup. '&% WA''&R- !late

"#s$ hal hidden under a heavy dress coat, walks

down the street. 0e stops by

0oward1s driveway.

TED

4eed a hand

HOWARD

!turning$

+eah. Could ya grab me those two by

eights

'ed walks up the driveway, grabs the wood slats,

makes a ramp by leaning

them against the rear bumper.

0OWAR% !cont1d$

'hanks.

0oward maneuvers the snowmobile down the ramp,

his back turned toward

'ed 88 who has taken out a small cam8corder and


4/113

is taping 0oward.

0OWAR% !cont1d$

( tell ya, it may look ast but it sure

ain1t light. +ou the

guy who 6ust moved in to the -tevens old

house

TED

4o. 4ame1s 'ed.

HOWARD

0ey 'ed, (1m 0oward.

TED

0ey 0oward. What is that, an Arctic Cat

What do

those go or

$ P.O.V. CAMCORDER VIEW FINDER$

0oward inally has the snowmobile on the ground.

0e1s breathing heavy as he

pulls o his mitt to shake hands.

HOWARD

3ore than ( could normally aord, (1ll

tell ya.

!seeing the camera$

0eyB What do you think you1re you doing

As 'ed and 0oward continue to talk, we P


5/113

'&% !cont1d$

'hank you. ust happy to give something

back to

iberty Capital...

!to himsel 8 bitter$

Ater all they1ve done or me.

INT. INSURANCE OFFICE & COMMON AREA - DAY

CA3 !@#s$, 4ative8American Alaskan walks over.

'ed immediately hits a key

that turns the screen to a spread8sheet.

CAM

'hat was really cool. (t was like...

watching :Cops:.

TED

0e was pretty spry or a man with aherniated disc.

CAM

+ou know, ( don1t want to bitch or

anything, but you

were supposed to take me along on that

one.

TED

Couldn1t ind you.

CAM

( know you know this, but the sooner they

think ( can

handle calls on my own, the sooner

they1ll kick you

back down south.

TED

(1ve been hearing that or 7@ months and

si9 days,

Cam. Ater a while, it gets a little

old.

!o Cam1s look$

4e9t time, okay.

;ood enough. Cam moves o. *ack to the >ombie

blood bath. 'he phone

R(4;-. 'ed picks up, his eyes never wavering

rom the gore intensive

computer game.

'&% !cont1d$

Claims, 'ed Watters. -ure.

A inal key stroke separates one last >ombie rom

its entrails.

1( INT. INSURANCE OFFICE & BRANCH'S OFFICE - MOMENTS

LATER 1(

TIGHT ON: A MOUNTED SALMON


6/113

We P


7/113

thing. With no

actual body, under Alaskan statutes a

person must

be missing or seven years beore he or

she can be

legally declared dead and that1s not

withstanding an investigation period where concerned

parties can

take up to another year to ile

interventions

concerning the motion. -o, even though

your

brother1s status is undetermined at this

point, there1s

really very little we can do or you.

'ed lips the ile shut. Case closed. *ranch,

not entirely happy with 'ed1s

demeanor, orces a smile.

BRANCH

O course we are e9tremely sorry or your

loss.

*ranch looks at 'ed. 'ed turns to Paul.

TED

Oh, absolutely.

11 EXT. STRIP MALL - NIGHT

11

'he city skyline rises in the distance as heat

vents belch steam against the

rapidly setting sun. *ut that1s miles away.

0ere on the outskirts is a rapidly

ailing ive store strip mallD a :Porn8a8copia:

)ideo store, hair stylist,

small engine repair shop, ish and chips 6oint

and the :*arnell ;reat &scapes:

travel agency. We might notice a big trash

dumpster in the corner. Paul1s car,

a Ford 'aurus, pulls onto the parking pad.

12 INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS

12

Paul driving, talking on his cell phone and

balancing a big non8spill metallic

travel coee mug at the same time.

PAUL

0ang on, hang on. First o, how did you

get my cell

number !*eat$ *ecause it1s or

mechanical and

medical emergencies only.

Paul, wound up, taps his brakes too hard. 0is

mug alls, the lid pops and the

coee proceeds to soak a stack o papers.


8/113

PA


9/113

lid CRA-0&- down as

he scramblesGslides away. 0e takes a moment to

compose himsel, then

reali>es his phone is still in there.

0e opens the dumpster lid and very /uickly

reaches in, grabs his cell and hurries o. 'he lid CRA-0&- shut.

PAUL

!into the phone$

0ello

0ung up. Paul dials H77, looks back at the

dumpster, thinks or a second, then

hits &4%. 0e stands there, thinking.

A1" INT. *BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL* - LATER

A1"

Paul back in his oice, staring out the window

with a perect view o the

dumpster. 0e can1t take his eyes o it.

*ehind him, the Repo83en are picking up a newish

computer monitor and

walking toward the door. 0e1s oblivious.

At the sound o a 'R


10/113

odie, an annoyingly small dog, enters the garage

rom the house and starts

sniing around the body. A new chew toyB

PAUL

!at the sound$

odie, noB 4ot or dogsB

0e -0OO- the dog back into the house. Paul moves

back to the ridge, opens

the door and, with great eort picks up the dead

man and tries to stu him

inside. Only problem...

'he man1s legs don1t want to it. Paul leans

down and grabs an uncooperative

appendage. 0e grits his teeth, looks away as he

kicks at the knee. (t -4AP-

sideways.

Paul ights nausea. *ut with the leg now out o

6oint, the man its. Paul,

breathing heavy, leans against the door.

PA


11/113

'he car stops about ive eet away.

'he moose looks at 'ed. 'ed looks back,

wondering what he ever did to

deserve the lie he1s stuck with. Ater a

moment, the moose lumbers o. 'ed

drives on.

CUT TO:

C1% INT TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

C1%

'(;0' O42 A CO3P


12/113

'(FFA4+ !cont1d$

( need you to clear your mind...

'ed looks into the ridge, making up new words to

the song :&scape.:

TED

:( you like ro>en enchiladas, getting

caught in the

rain. ( you1re not into...something

brownish.:

'ed pulls out some 'upperware, tries to igure

out what1s in it. 'iany, still

wearing her headset, appears behind him, grabs a

%iet Coke rom the ridge

and kisses him on the cheek.

TIFFANY (t1s stew. (1m not sure it1s still good.

TED

Aren1t you with a customer

TIFFANY

'hey1re concentrating.

'ed grabs a ork, takes the pot and sits at the

table. 'iany goes back to her

desk and lips through her maga>ine.

TED

!through a mouthul o ood$

-o 0ow1s the tea lea business today

TIFFANY

(1ve decided rom now on to ignore you

when you1re

ignorant about my work. And it1s going

very well

thank you.

!reconnecting to the caller$

3r. Williams, (1m seeing soa cushions.

%o you have

a soa ;ood. ;lad ( could help.

TED

+ou here rom that sotware distributor

guy

TIFFANY

4o, but ( did crack that code problem.

+ou know how

sometimes when you1re running *eta

versions you 88

TED

&nglish, please.

TIFFANY

'here was a boo8boo, but ( i9ed it.


13/113

!another call comes in$

Psychic Pals, how are you today, Carol

4ow (

thought we1d agreed ;od is everywhere,

but not

speciically in your coee pot.

TED

ee>, 'i.

TIFFANY

ee>, 'ed. %o ( tell you how to do your

6ob

TED

!kidding... kind o$

4o, but then again (1m not a computer

aided pseudo

psychic, so i you1re looking or moral

e/uivalence...

TIFFANY

*eore you say anything else that may

keep us rom

having se9 ever again, let me ask you

something...

-he picks up her maga>ine.

TED

'i, please. ( always get these wrong.

TIFFANY

'hat1s why we keep trying. 4ow, ove is

-acriice

test.

!reading$

( you were in a lie rat with me and

there was only

enough water 88

TED

%on1t you have a customer

TIFFANY

!to the caller$

Carol ;od says he1s busy with a amine

right now,

but you should keep praying. Cool.

-he hangs up. 'urns back to 'ed, about to pick

up where she let o...

TED

4o. (1m not doing it.

TIFFANY

(t1s 6ust a stupid /ui>.

TED

&9actly.


14/113

'he P0O4& R(4;-. 'iany bolts to her desk,

sits, spins in her chair as she

answers the call.

TIFFANY

Psychic Pals. (s this the irst time

you1ve called us 3rs...

'iany at her computer, enters the name

:3argaret *arnell: into her database.

'iany works a :mute: button as she points back

to the maga>ine.

'(FFA4+ !cont1d$

*ut stupid /ui>>es can be illustrative o

potential

relationship problems.

!to her caller$

3argaret, (1m getting the eeling this isan an9ious

day or you.

'ed, cooking pot in hand, walks over to her desk.

TED

Our only relationship problem is you1re

running a

K7.HH a minute carny scam out o my

living room.

TIFFANY

%on1t call it a scam.

!to the caller 8 startled$

&9cuse me

TED

What

TIFFANY

+ou1ve got to learn to channel that rage,

3argaret.

!to 'ed 8 playul$

+ou didn1t 6ust call this your living

room, did you

TED

( meant ours. Ours, ours, ours.

'iany returns to her call, but keeps looking at

'ed.

TIFFANY

( eel someone you really care about,

maybe even

the love o your lie, is being a real

pain. 4ow ( need

you to concentrate...

'ed pretends to do 6ust that, drawing a giggle

rom 'iany beore he walks o.


15/113

22 INT. *BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL* - MORNING

22

Paul tries to open the ront door, but inds it

blocked by a small pile o snow.

'hree good yanks and it inally opens. 0e enters

the shop.

Faded travel posters cover the walls. A)(-

!5#s$, a career oice gal, smiles at

her boss as she assembles a lie8si>e stand8up

cardboard display or Aloha

Airlines. (t eatures a

dark 0awaiian beauty holding a sotball si>ed sea

shell. 'he shell 6uts out o

the display giving it a @8% /uality.

AVIS

3orning 3r. *arnell. Coee

PAUL

'hanks Avis. ooks good.

Paul, shivering, hangs up his coat as Avis picks

up a promotional Aloha Air

surboard !the old display$ and walks it to the

back.

PA


16/113

%id... you ever meet my brother Raymond

AVIS O.S.!

'he one who went missing

PAUL


17/113

AVIS

Well that1s great. +ou and 3rs. *arnell

will have

some company or a bit ( guess. 0ow is

she

PAUL

*etter, a little better. -ome days are

better than

others.

23 INT. BARNELL HOME - DAY

23

3AR;AR&' *AR4& !early 5#s$ stands in a plush

bathrobe and slippers.

%espite her casual attire she is immaculately

made up as she walks to the

ront door, opening it on 88 a young wholesomePAP&R*O+ smiling through the

cold.

PAPERBOY

Collecting, 3rs. *arnell.

MARGARET

%aniel, you pussy little cocksucker.

(1ll get my purse.

'he paperboy, una>ed, smiles as 3argaret walks

o.

PAPERBOY

(t1s 7" dollars. ( missed you last time.

MARGARET O.S.!

erk o... O?, 6erk o, uhhuh...

3argaret gives the paperboy his money, the stamp

card plus a dollar tip, then

tweaks his nose. 'wice.

3AR;AR&' !cont1d$

+ou say hi to your slut 3om or me

PAPERBOY

-ure will. 'hanks.

0e trots down the walk as 3argaret shuts the

door.

24 EXT. INSIDE A TRASH DUMPSTER - NIGHT

24

'he lid opens. ;AR+ and (3*O !@#s$, check to

insure they1re not being

watched. ;ary, slightly eeminate, leans into

the bin and *


18/113

GARY

( thought stu didn1t smell when it was

ro>en (

don1t know why we have to88

+IMBO %ave wants visual conirmation, he gets

visual

conirmation. We have a chance to move

up here,

so let1s 6ust88

GARY

ike the guy1s not gonna end up in a

land8 ill,

anyway. +ou ever ask %ave what he did

+IMBO

Whatever it was, he told him i he did itagain, he1d

snap his neck.

GARY

!smiling$

Whoops, he did it again.

!o imbo not getting it$

'he song From that girl

4o response. ;ary, 0


19/113

sure.

+IMBO

( was ollowing orders. And i you

hadn1t started a

screaming match, no one would have called

the cops and we wouldn1t have had to dump his

88

GARY

Fine. -orry.

+IMBO

Fine.

GARY

(1m 6ust saying... maybe you didn1t break

it all the way.

+IMBO

!walking away$

(t was broken.

GARY

(1m 6ust saying... maybe it was like

hypothermia and

he 6ust looked dead.

+IMBO

(t 8 was 8 *RO?&4B

;ary, embarrassed, digs in the trash with his

eet.

2" INT. GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

2"

3argaret, still in her bathrobe, walks to the

ridge. As she puts her hand on the

latch, she notices the pile o pop cans on the

loor.

-he tugs on the door. (t opens 6ust a crack

beore the chain stops it. 'he

ro>en head peeks through the slight gap.

3argaret -(;0-, tries to push the ridge door

closed, but the body is in the way.

-he gives the door a hip check. 'he door latches

shut while something ro>en

and brittle inside CRAC?-. 3argaret, oblivious,

walks away.

2# INT. )ITCHEN OVEN

2#

A chicken sits in a pan, the rest o the room

visible behind it through the oven

door window.

MARGARET O.S.!


20/113

Paul Why is the ridge in the garage

chained shut

PAUL

0ow1s my Angel tonight

MARGARET *low me. %inner1s almost ready. +ou

eel like some

wine ( eel like some wine.

Paul walks to the oven, opens the door and pats

the chicken. -tone cold.

PAUL

-weetie, here1s a cra>y thought... (

don1t eel like

chicken tonight, why don1t we order in

MARGARET Fuck it, okay.

PAUL

'here1s actually something we need to

talk about.

(t1s about Raymond. 0e1s back.

Paul smiles bravely as he shuts the oven door.

*ehind the chicken, 3argaret

doesn1t look happy as Paul starts to e9plain.

-he rushes rom the room.

2$&2% TIGHT ON: TV SCREEN

2$&2%

0ome video o RA+3O4% !then early @#s$, at,

physically imposing and the only

person not in estive tropical gear, standing in

a )FW hall decorated in a

Caribbean theme. !0e is deinitely not the same

person Paul has cooling in the

ridge.$ A large banner behind him proclaims

:0APP+ 7#'0 A44()&R-AR+ 8

BON VOYAGE.*

RAYMOND

!a little drunk$

Okay, ( never thought it would last this

long, but

seeing as how it has... 'here ya go. et

me 6ust say

that my brother, old :Puddles 3c*arnesy:

did better

than he should have.

A younger, somewhat tipsy Paul comes into rame,

puts an arm around his

brother and smiles.

PAUL

What1cha saying there Raymond Wha1cha

saying


21/113

1bout me

Raymond shakes his brother1s arm o his

shoulder.

RAYMOND

&nough, O?

PAUL

!sing8songy$

Ray1s a little 6eallllllllous. 'his is

the one that got

away, right Ray

'he crowd A


22/113

!to himsel$

Raymond... *arnell.

2 EXT. TOBOGGANING HILL - LATE AFTERNOON

2

A


23/113

NEPHEW

eggo... it1s mine.


24/113

!calling back$

0ey, (1m supposed to be looking ater

him.

imbo turns back to %ave, shrugging sheepishly.

DAVE (s he...

+IMBO

0e1s ine. ook, we can take you there

right now.

We1ll show you.

*ehind them on the hill, ;ary tries to retrieve

his nephew1s -nowrider rom the

*ully. 0e is ailing.

DAVE

-how me what An empty trash dumpster(t was

supposed to look like an accident. ( was

hoping to

see it in the paper. -o help me, i this

guy pops up

somewhere...

While imbo does his best to stay warm, behind

him on the hill, ;ary can only

watch as the *ully slides away.

BULLY

!echoing in the cold$

FagB *ig homoB

+IMBO

0e won1t. 0e can1t. 0e1s 88

DAVE

Proo, imbo. ( like to know my money1s

well spent.

+ou got a week.

%ave drives o as ;ary walks over with his

-4(FF(4; nephew.

GARY

-lippery little sucker. +ou mind i we

stop at a toy

store on the way back

33 OMITTED

33

A 33 INT. BARNELL HOME & BEDROOM - NIGHT

A 33

0(;0 A4;& O42 Paul and 3argaret in bed.

3argaret takes up more than her

share o the bed, her arm tossed over her

husband. Paul, on his third o the

bed, looks as i he1s lying in state. *ut Paul1s


25/113

not sleeping.

34 EXT. BARNELL HOME - MORNING

34

A newspaper clears the :For -ale 8 price

reducedB: sign on the ront lawn and lands with a '0


26/113

A ways out in the orest. Only two houses on

this turn8outD a co>y looking lived

in cabin sits up the road rom a seemingly

deserted rundown mobile home. A

car pulls up.

A4( INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS A4(

Paul ad6usts a pillow he has taped to his

stomach, then pulls on a blue ski

mask.

41 EXT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - MOMENTS LATER

41

Paul undoes the bungee cord and drags his

snowblower out o the trunk. 0e

ires up the snowblower and starts to plow the

drive way o both houses.

3R-. W0&RR+ !L#s$, in her bathrobe, looks out the

window o the co>y cabin.

A tad conused, she waves to the man in the blue

parka. 'he blue parka waves

back.

42 INT. PAUL'S )ITCHEN - NIGHT

42

Paul walks in rom the garage, pulling o his

blue parka. 3argaret enters rom

the living room. !Paul still has the pillow

taped to his ront, which 3argaret

happily pokes with a inger but never mentions.$

MARGARET

!nervous$

0e1s not here, is he

PAUL

-weetie, don1t you worry about Raymond.

MARGARET

When he1s around, it 6ust brings back...

Fuck.

PAUL

( know. 0e, he said he1s probably gonna

head back

down -outh soon.

3argaret smiles, relieved. 'he phone R(4;-.

Paul picks up.

43 INT. MRS. WHERRY'S HOME - CONTINUOUS

43

3rs. Wherry talks on the phone in her kitchen.

'he head o a large antelope is

mounted on the wall behind her.


27/113

MRS. WHERRY

Paul 'hank you so much or clearing the

drive way.

'hat was most considerate.

PAUL

(1m araid ( don1t understand 3rs.Wherry.

MRS. WHERRY

+ou were out at the cabin this morning.

4ice to see

you getting some use out o that thing.

44 INT. PAUL'S )ITCHEN

44

Paul shakes o his boots.

PAUL Oh ( see. 4o, you see that must have

been

Raymond. !beat$ )ery much so. 4o, no

one was

more surprised than we were. !beat$ 4o,

he1s...

indisposed right now, but (1m sure you1ll

see him

again. 0e1s going to stay at the cabin

or a while

until he... leaves. And bless you too.

4" OMITTED

4"

4# OMITTED

4#

4$ EXT. WILDERNESS ROAD - NIGHT

4$

A :3oose ing: sign is briely illuminated by

Paul1s car1s headlights as it heads

up a snow packed mountain road. 'he distant

lights o the city are swallowed

by the thick orests o ir trees that line the

road.

4% INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS

4%

Paul, nervous, sings along to :&scape: on the

radio.

PAUL

:...(t was my own lovely lady, and she

said, oh it1s

you...:

A4% EXT. WILDERNESS ROAD & TURNOUT - NIGHT

A4%

Paul pulls o. ?ills his headlights. Pops the


28/113

trunk.

4 EXT. FOREST - LATER

4

'he corpse, now in Raymond1s clothing and the

blue parka, lies ace up on the Aloha Airlines promotional surboard being

lurched orward by Paul, who wears

a pair o snowshoes. On the body1s chest lies a

second pair o snowshoes.

-omewhere, a WOF 0OW-.

"( EXT. TOP&BOTTOM OF A RIDGE - LATER

"(

Paul at the top o a "E oot drop. 0e rolls the

corpse, now wearing the other set

o snowshoes, over the side. (t *Oy, 6umping up

and down at the eet o Paul

who stands over a -(==(4; rying pan ull o

bacon. 0e checks the bacon1s

consistency with a ork. -till pretty raw. 0e

takes the bacon and lays it on a

plate.


29/113

*eside the pan on the counter sit a baseball cap

and a stapler. Paul careully

takes each strip o bacon and staples it to the

peak o the ball cap. 0e holds it

up. 'he bacon hangs down like ringe.

3argaret appears in the doorway.

MARGARET

Paul

PAUL

!startled$

0oly88 3argaret, you scared the wits out

o me.

3argaret lits up odie, who1s desperately trying

to get at the hat.

MARGARET -he 6ust wants that bacon.

PAUL

-uch a little puppy. 0ow late is :Rudys:

open

"" EXT. SHOPPING CENTER & RUDYS MAR)ET - LATE

AFTERNOON ""

A large sign outside advertises :Fresh 3oose

3eat:. Paul runs out with a

shopping bag, 6umps in his car and drives o.

"# EXT. BOTTOM OF THE RIDGE - SUNSET

"#

Paul, carrying the shopping bag, he painully

picks his way down the rock ace

toward the corpse.

PAUL

!really bad *ritish accent$

+ou may want to take a gander. +ou may

want to

take a gander...

CUT TO:

"$ EXT. BOTTOM OF THE RIDGE - SUNSET

"$

'0& *ACO4 0A' 88 as Paul pulls it snug on the

corpse1s head. 0e pulls the

bloody steaks rom the shopping bag and starts to

smear them on the corpse1s

parka. %rops o blood hit the snow at the body1s

eet and disappear.

Paul drapes the steaks on the body, tucking one

under an arm, the other

hanging rom a pocket. 0e pauses or moment, then


30/113

pulls out a container o

lard and, ighting his own revulsion, smears it

across the dead man1s ace.

PAUL

-orry about this part.

Paul pats the body on the shoulder, then looks up

at the ridge and the long

6ourney ahead.

"% EXT. BOTTOM OF RIDGE - NIGHT

"%

A WOF appears in the moonlight. Followed by

another, and another. 'hey

approach the corpse...

" EXT. HIGHWAY TURNOUT & CLEARING - DAY

"

-nowmobiles -CR&A3 to the site as people tramp

through the thick snow,

covering all o Paul1s hard work. An ambulance

and -tate Conservation

vehicles pack the area where Paul irst pulled

o. +ellow police tape is strung

between ir trees marking a path toward the

ridge.

#( EXT. BOTTOM OF RIDGE - DAY

#(

'he corpse is covered with a tarp. 'he area is

littered with blood, animal tracks

and bits o blue parka. PO(C& OFF(C&R- and

tough looking OCA

-4OW3O*(&R- mill about the corpse, taking turns

liting the tarp that covers

the body. A ew yards away, %&'&C'()& *O+&

!#s$ talks to a seemingly

distraught Paul.

DETECTIVE BOYLE

!looking at the ridge$

( it1s any comort to you, he likely

wasn1t eaten while

conscious. %id he say where he1d been

living,

beore he came home

PAUL

Florida. 0e didn1t really talk about it

much. 0e

brought us this shell.

Paul holds up a sea shell, obviously rom the

display at his oice. 'ears well

up in his eyes.

PA


31/113

gone or ive

years. We1d given him up88

DETECTIVE BOYLE

88or dead, yes sir.

PAUL 0ow did you...

DETECTIVE BOYLE

Anonymous phone tip rom some amaican

guy.

!Paul shows no reaction$

-aid he saw what looked like a body. We

tracked

you through his (%.

PAUL

ust like on ').

*oyle nods sympathetically

PA


32/113

got some

people with the victim1s assistance

program who

can help you through this. 3arcie

3arcie, a emale police oicer, walks a

distraught Paul away. As they go, another F&3A& COP approaches.

FEMALE COP

Coroner ound some smaller bite marks on

the

ankle.

DETECTIVE BOYLE

Pups. 3ust have been the whole reakin1

pack.

FEMALE COP

+ou want an autopsy

DETECTIVE BOYLE

On what

FEMALE COP

%erek ound this.

-he holds up a clear evidence bag with the

remnants o a strip o bacon on the

inside.

DETECTIVE BOYLE

4ot the smartest snack or a hiker.

FEMALE COP

3essy animals aren1t they

DETECTIVE BOYLE

3essy. 3essy messy messy messy.

#1 INT. INFLATABLE GOLF DOME - LATE AFTERNOON

#1

'he second level o a large indoor driving

rangeGmini gol course. 'he sound o

clubs -3AC?(4; gol balls echo as an intense 'ed

:waggles: beore his shot.

On his back8swing, 'iany throws her arms around

him rom behind.

TED

( take it you1re done

TIFFANY

+up.

TED

Wanna hit some o mine

TIFFANY

!hugging him harder$

4ope.


33/113

0e turns, A


34/113

...the most important thing in my lie.

TIFFANY

!smilingGshouting$

-orry, what was thatB +ou want to take

me right

here

As other ;OF&R- look over, 'iany and 'ed share

a warm smile, the moment

only broken by the ringing o a C& P0O4&. -he

-(;0-, un>ips 'ed1s gym

bag and answers his phone.

'(FFA4+ !cont1d$

Psychic...


35/113

'ed, Cam and %etective *oyle stand at the end

near the eet. A white sheet

covers most o the deceased.

DETECTIVE BOYLE

'hat1s him. Raymond *arnell.

TED

Could you

*oyle moves toward the head and pulls back the

covering. 'ed recoils. Cam

leans in or a closer look.

CAM

Ouch. 'hat1s gotta hurt.

TED

-o what1s your line on this

DETECTIVE BOYLE

ust what it looks like. Wolves got him.

3aybe a

gri>>ly with insomnia, but we didn1t ind

any tracks.

TED

Would it surprise you to learn his

brother tried to

cash in his policy two weeks ago

DETECTIVE BOYLE

+ou trying to tell me 3r. *arnell chewed

o his

brother1s leg

TED

%oesn1t that make you the least bit

suspicious

DETECTIVE BOYLE

3r. Watters, this is a nice simple

ending. We like

nice simple endings.

TED

*ut shouldn1t you88

DETECTIVE BOYLE

+a know, ( don1t know thing one about

insurance, but

(1m guessing it1s your 6ob

to ind a way not to pay these poor

people.

CAM

0ey now, we1re 6ust like you guys, gotta

run down

whatever leads we can ind.

'ed walks down to the head o the victim, pulls


36/113

out a camcorder and starts to

tape the body.

TED

%etective, we1re an insurance company,

not the

-alvation Army.

DETECTIVE BOYLE

3ind telling me what you1re doing

CAM

'hey gave every claims team a video

camera last

/uarter... you1d be ama>ed at how it cuts

down on

litigation. We had this case two months

ago where

this mother o si9 was claiming...

DETECTIVE BOYLE

(1ve got my own war stories, thanks. +ou

mind

stopping that

TED

ust doing 88

DETECTIVE BOYLE

+our 6ob +es, ( caught that.

As 'ed gets his last shot, *oyle covers the body

back up and slides the drawer

shut with a loud CA4;. *lack.

#3 EXT. PAUL'S HOUSE - SUNSET

#3

') 4&W- CA3&RA PO)2 O Paul, standing on his

stoop, as he1s interviewed by

a well made8up emale ') R&POR'&R !"#s$ dressed

or the cold.

TV REPORTER

+ou ready 3r. *arnell

PAUL

+es.

'he camera man licks on his light as Paul

s/uints.

TV REPORTER

'he police told us what happened, how are

you olks

holding up

MARGARET O.S.!

Paul Who1s out there

Paul reaches back, and, as discretely as

possible, grabs the door handle to


37/113

keep 3argaret rom opening it.

PAUL

Obviously, my wie1s very upset...

MARGARET O.S.!

Paul, the door1s stuckB

3argaret starts to 0A33&R rhythmically on the

door.

PAUL

!ignoring her$

(t1s been a tough, you know, when

something like

this happens you 6ust have to ask

yoursel...

MARGARET O.S.!

Who ucked with the ucking doorB

PAUL

+ou can see how stressul it1s been, (

should really

go now. We have to plan a service.

And with that, Paul opens his ront door and

ducks inside, /uickly shutting it

behind him.

#4 INT. BRANCH'S OFFICE - DAY

#4

*ranch, very unhappy, lips through some papers

then looks up at 'ed and

Cam.

TED

'his isn1t a standard case. +ou were

there when

this guy came in looking to cash in.

C1mon, it stinks.

BRANCH

-econdly, i the police say this guy

was...

CAM

&aten by wolves. -ir.

BRANCH

!incredulous$

&aten by wolves, then we1ve got no case.

%id you

see 3r. *arnell on the news last

night ast thing we need is bad P.R. (

don1t want

this thing )aldee>8ing on us.

TED

3r. *ranch, (1m sure head oice would

take a rather


38/113

dim view o our 88

BRANCH

Corporate1s view will be whatever ( tell

them.

Cam, seeing his partner is about to get himselinto a heap o trouble, hustles

him toward the door.

CAM

+es -ir. Color us called o, as o now.

#" INT. INSURANCE OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

#"

'ed and Cam walk through the cubicles.

TED

-top looking at me right now.

CAM

+ou1ve got a strange way o bucking or a

promotion,

my riend.

!o 'ed1s look$

ook, (1m gonna start on the ohnasen

ile. +ou want

to do up the paper work on *arnell

'ed grabs his coat.

CA3 !cont1d$

Where ya going

TED

unch.

CAM

At H2@#

'ed is out the door.

## INT. *BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL* - DAY

##

'ed sits across the desk rom Paul. As per

usual, the place is a tomb.

TED

'he police say they ound Raymond1s

wallet, that1s

how they tracked you down

PAUL

'hat1s right, yes.

TED

Any idea what he was doing out there

PAUL

0e1d go or walks. 0ikes, ( mean.


39/113

0iking.

TED

0ow sporty. Was he a big hiker

PAUL

4ot sure ( ollow.

TED

%id he hike more than once a week Or

was this a...

one time thing

PAUL

Can ( ask why you need to know all this

TED

ust trying to tie up a ew loose ends.

PAUL +ou know the police... they say Raymond

died in the

attack. +ou do cover that sort o thing

don1t you

TED

!orced smile$

+es sir. (t shouldn1t take more than a

ew days.

4ow, tell me a little more about your

brother. 'he

hiker.

#$ EXT. STRIP MALL PAR)ING LOT - MOMENTS LATER

#$

;ary and imbo1s car parked in the lot. ;ary is

6ust returning to the vehicle with

a brown paper bag. imbo has the look o man who

hasn1t slept in days.

;ary and imbo are eating ish and chips. 'he

name on the bag is :+e1 Olde

Fish -hoppe.:

+IMBO

Cod or 0alibut

GARY

%idn1t ask.

+IMBO

!digging in$

-o we got si9 dierent stores here. We

got your

:;reat &scapes: travel agency, your +e

Old Fish and

Chips place, Porn8a8Copia videos, a hair

place, one

or lease and one... what is that

GARY


40/113

-mall engine repair. -ee all the snow

blowers out

ront.

'here is indeed a row o snowblowers lined up

outside. imbo takes another

bite o his ish.

;AR+ !cont1d$

-hould move the blowers over to the

triple store.

;ary A


41/113

WOMAN CALLER O.S.!

'hat was dierent. From what ( read in

the paper he

was unconscious. And now people are going

to use

this as an e9cuse to88

RADIO HOST O.S.!

0ey lady, why don1t you tell Raymond

*arnell how

wolves have gotten a bad rap.

WOMAN CALLER O.S.!

( can tell you rom years o e9perience

that wolves do

not operate88

+IMBO

Wait a minute.

RADIO HOST O.S.!

+ou can tell me all you want, lady, but

it is an

undeniable, indisputable act. 'his

*arnell guy got

turned into a -cooby -nack by a pack o

wild

animals...

(31- PO)2 'hrough the windshield, looking at the

sign or :*arnell ;reat

&scapes 'ravel.: imbo and ;ary look at each

other. 3aybe...

#% INT. INSURANCE OFFICE - DAY

#%

'ed at his cubicle on his phone.

TED

+eah, hi, it1s 'ed Watters rom Fidelity

3utual. !beat$

( need a complete credit work up on a

Raymond

*arnell... and Paul, a Paul *arnell

too... sure, (1ll hold.

Cam walks by, leans his head over the top o the

cubicle.

CAM

+ou start the month ends yet

TED

Can you take care o it (1m kinda...

working on

something.

CAM

Oh ;od, you1re not still on the *arnell

thing are you88


42/113

'ed pulls Cam down into his cubicle, talks in a

harsh whisper.

TED

( went to see him.

CAM

And 'hen -o

TED

'rust me. -omething1s not right. ( can

smell it. 0elp

me buy a week.

CAM

We1re gonna get in such trouble.

TED

( promise rom now on you can come alongon

everything.

CAM

4o more Cam goes to the coee room and

'ed

disappears or three hours

TED

(1ll try.

CAM

And you1ll work on your interpersonal

skills

TED

!a long beat$

+es.

CAM

;ood. 4ow i you1ll e9cuse me, (1ll go

start covering

your ass.

# INT. BARNELL HOME & STUDY - EVENING

#

Paul sits beside his desk, lipping through

travel brochures. 3argaret enters,

teetering in the doorway. Paul looks up.

PAUL

0ey. 0ow1s my Princess

MARGARET

O?. ( took some Adavan. And called my

psychic.

PAUL

!picks up the phone bill$

0oney, you know how e9pensive that is. (

thought we


43/113

agreed that...

-he moves to him, runs her hand through his hair.

MARGARET

%on1t be mad. (t1s 6ust... this week has

been so... well with Raymond getting eaten by

animals and

someone trying to steal the ridge.

PAUL

( know. Why don1t you 88

MARGARET

We got another letter rom the 03O today.

PAUL

0ave you opened it yet

3argaret starts to CR+, holding the letter up to

her ace the -O*- building to a

ull blown breakdown.

PA


44/113

is but... maybe

it1s 6ust stress Remember that cruise

( saw you.

+ou were happy.

3argaret looks at him, crestallen.

PA


45/113

PAUL

'hat1s my girl.

CUT TO:

TIGHT ON : TV SCREEN

$(&$1 INT. TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

$(&$1

Where &dward ;. Robinson !as the character ?eyes

in :%ouble (ndemnity:$

grills a man about a ake insurance claim.

EDWARD G. ROBINSON

:&very time one o these phonies comes

along it ties

knots in my stomach... ( can1t eat.'hat1s how ( knew

your claim was crooked...:

At the sound o %OOR*&, the whole scene

ree>es. We are 88

'iany at her desk, working on the computer.

'ed has paused the %)%, puts

down the *arnell ile and opens the door on a

snow covered P(==A ;>a bo9 in hand.

TED

0ey.

PI,,A GUY

0i there. 'hat1ll be K7".HM.

'ed looks at his watch.

TED

What about thirty minutes or ree

PI,,A GUY

%oesn1t apply when it1s snowing.

TED

!digging out his wallet$

-o nine months o the year your guarantee

is

worthless

PI,,A GUY

(t doesn1t snow every day.

TED

'hey should really tell people when they

order.

TIFFANY

Would you 6ust give him the money

already


46/113

PI,,A GUY

(t1s not my decision.

TED

( know that. (1m 6ust saying.

PI,,A GUY

-ure.

TED

+ou understand though

PI,,A GUY

Absolutely.

TED

(t wouldn1t take much.

PI,,A GUY Full disclosure to the pi>>a consumer.

(1ll be sure to

pass that along.

'he delivery guy leaves.

'ed walks back into the living room. 'iany

comes over, grabs a slice.

TIFFANY

Why you gotta argue with the service

industry

TED

'he problem with people today is they

don1t e9pect

anyone to tell the truth.

We1ve 6ust come to accept lying as

acceptable.

TIFFANY

( this is another passiveGaggressive

shot at Psychic

*uddies, all our ads state :or amusement

purposes

only.:

TED

'i, it has nothing to do with... look,

6ust orget it.

TIFFANY

+ou remember being amused, don1t ya,

honey

What is with you anyway

TED

Want to know what1s :with: me (1m on

the verge o

cracking the biggest case o my career,

one that

corporate has to notice, and nobody gives


47/113

a crap.

4ot my boss, and not even my girlriend.

TIFFANY

-o this is my ault

TED 4o, it1s not your ault. ( 6ust want to

live somewhere

where road ha>ards don1t have antlers and

the pi>>a

doesn1t have to be delivered by dogsled.

'iany storms o as 'ed lops onto the couch,

swipes the snow rom the top o

the pi>>a bo9 and hits play on the %)%.

EDWARD G. ROBINSON

:What kind o outit is this, anyway

Are we an insurance company or a bunch o dim8

witted

amateurs to write a policy on a mug like

that:

'iany turns rom the bedroom door, almost in

tears.

TIFFANY

+ou know, even though &dward ;. Robinson

wins,

everyone like Fred 3ac3urray better.

-he -A3- the door. 'ed doesn1t move, lost in

his own world.

$2 INT. MRS. WHERRY'S HOUSE & LIVING ROOM - DAY

$2

'ed and 3rs. Wherry sit on plastic covered

urniture. 'he mounted heads o

several do>en dead animals, o9es, wolves, elk,

surround them. 'ed takes

notes.

MRS. WHERRY

(t was terrible. ust terrible. Raymond

should have

known better.

TED

!re2 the mounted heads$

All these yours

MRS. WHERRY

;reatest sport on earth. 3oved to a

compound bow

two years ago.

!whisper$

Arthritis. ess draw weight.

-he mimics pulling back an imaginary bow with her


48/113

bony hand.

3R-. W0&RR+ !cont1d$

Coee O?

TED

(1m ine. %id you talk to Raymond at allwhen he

came home Was he getting along with his

brother

MRS. WHERRY

4o. Only saw him the once. 4ever spoke.

Waved to

him.

TED

Waved

MRS. WHERRY 0e was clearing my driveway. Raymond was

a real

hellcat when he was younger. *ut like

they say, time

mellows even the hardest soul.

TED

Was he much o an outdoorsman

MRS. WHERRY

( thought it was Paul at irst. 0ave you

met Paul1s

wie 4ow there1s a story. 4ot that (1m

much or

gossip, but ( think Raymond used to have

a 88

TED

3rs. Wherry, (1m sorry, but 88

MRS. WHERRY

-orry. %id Raymond like the outdoors.

4ot so

much, no. iked living out here at the

cabin, though.

( think he had some riends on the police

orce.

0ave you talked to them 'hey1d pull up

here day

and night, always looking or 88

TED

(1m sorry, did you say you thought it was

Paul who

did your driveway

MRS. WHERRY

Well in a ski mask you can hardly tell

who1s who.

4ow, how 1bout some 6erky (1ve got it

drying out

back.


49/113

$3 INT. INSURANCE OFFICE - DAY

$3

'ed at his cubicle, thinking hard as he chews on

some 6erky as he works the

phone. -now whips by outside the window.

TED

!6ust waiting to cut in$

'hat1s really super, -imon. 4ow how1d

you like to

run some names or me

'ed sees Cam relected in his dark computer

screen. Annoyed, he puts his

hand over the receiver.

'&% !cont1d$

+ou mind

CAM

4ow, now. et1s not orget who1s pulling

double duty.

TED

!hanging up$

-imon, (1ll call you back.

!to Cam2 orced$

-orry.

CAM

3uch better. -o

TED

'urns out our 3r. *arnell is mortgaged to

the nuts.

0is business is about one step

away rom chapter 77. Plus it1s like his

brother

Raymond never e9isted. 0e1s got no

credit history,

no nothing or the last ive years.

CAM

+a know, not having a credit history

isn1t actually a

crime. People around here have been

known to

swap a snow mobile or E## pounds o

venison.

%oesn1t e9actly leave a paper trail.

TED

+es, but he was in Florida, someplace.

Plus, the

only thing he did ater his recent

:reappearance: was

get some new (% and a new credit card.

%idn1t

charge anything.


50/113

CAM

Wow. ess than nothing.

TED

(t1s something.

CAM 4o it1s not... in my humble, 6unior

investigator1s

opinion.

'he phone R(4;-. 'ed picks up.

TED

Watters, claims. +eah, hang on...

!to Cam$

(t1s personal. ( promise.

Cam shrugs, walks o. 'ed waits 1til he1s

gone...

'&% !cont1d$

3r. *arnell... +our ears must have been

burning, (

was 6ust 88 sure, what time

'ed is scribbling down something on a pad o

paper.

$4 EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY FULL ON BLI,,ARD!

$4

'ombstones, barely visible through the blowing

snow, dot the top o a small hill

on the outskirts o town. A small group o

mourners try to keep warm. Paul and

3argaret, Avis, two other FR(&4%- and the

3(4(-'&R huddle against the cold.

MINISTER

When someone is taken rom us at such a

young

age we oten ask ourselves, why What

possible

purpose could this serve

'he 3inister is temporarily lost rom view.

3(4(-'&R !cont1d$

!6ust a voice in the white$

Why is ;od, who is a loving ;od, capable

o such

things...

'he snow clears. Paul, a pillar o strength,

discreetly checks his watch then

sneaks a concerned look at 3argaret who busily

grins at everyone in sight.

'ed1s car pulls into the parking area.

$" INT. +IMBO'S CAR & GRAVEYARD PAR)ING LOT -

CONTINUOUS $"


51/113

;ary and imbo sit in their vehicle, watching as

'ed gets out o his car and is

swallowed in a white out. 0e reappears a moment

later arther up the hill.

GARY We should have checked the uneral

announcements right away.

+IMBO

-hoot.

$# EXT. GRAVEYARD

$#

A wind ;


52/113

Okee dokee, smokee.

3argaret smiles and totters o.

PAUL

-he1s under a little strain right now.

'ed looks down the hill at a small group o ')

news vans, the R&POR'&R-

6ust now venturing out into the cold.

TED

( see the media1s here. 'hey don1t give

people a

moment1s peace, do they

PAUL

( called them.

TED !surprised$

Really

PAUL

Well, they1ve been asking me to talk some

more

about Raymond. ( thought now might be an

appropriate time.

TED

And you1ll 6ust happen to mention your

heartless

insurance company that hasn1t paid o

your policy

yet.

PAUL

( had to borrow money or the casket, 3r.

'ed.

TED

+ou are breaking my heart.

PAUL

4o, ( doubt that. 'hey asked me to bring

some

photos o Raymond. ;uess it1s gonna be a

pretty

big story.

0e pulls out some shots o his brother. 'hey

whip around in the wind and

blowing snow.

PA


53/113

'ed thinks, grudgingly impressed with Paul1s

ploy.

TED

&n6oy your press conerence, 3r. *arnell.

Paul stus the photos back in his pocket andwalks down the hill. 'ed watches

him go, is about to leave when a gust o wind

orces him to avert his eyes.

ooking down he sees a photo o Raymond *arnell,

on the beach in swim

trunks. 3ust have allen. 'ed pockets it and

moves on.

A$# INT. GARY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

A$#

+IMBO

'hat1s your plan

GARY

0ow tough can it be

+IMBO

+ou ever try digging through si9 eet o

hal ro>en

sod We1d need a back hoe. Can you

operate a

back hoe %o you know where we1d get a

back

hoe We don1t even know or sure...

GARY

Oh please. %on1t you think it1s a pretty

neat

coincidence

+IMBO

3aybe we 6ust go e9plain it to %ave.

GARY

0e won1t take it well.

+IMBO

'hen (1m all or new options, here, ;ary.

!beat$ ( we

give the money back88

GARY

0ey, wait a minute, now. We did the 6ob.

We

deserve the88

+IMBO

( did the 6ob, ;ary. ( know, because (

haven1t been

sleeping or the last week.

GARY

( don1t know why you1re letting it get to

you like this.


54/113

ook, let1s 6ust not rush into anything.

(t1s my turn to

step up. ( know that. (1m on it.

'hey look on as Paul is interviewed by the

reporters.

$$ OMITTED$$

$% INT. PAUL'S HOME & )ITCHEN - MORNING

$%

3argaret washes down some pills with her morning

coee as she looks at a

awn in the backyard, nibbling on a bush.

MARGARET

0ey little, *ambi. Where1s your 3ommy

;ettin1 it

rom some ten point buck. +es she is.+es she is.

ust then, a '0


55/113

0e tries to close in on her, but the torrent o

stu !a rake, a Whipper8-nipper,

an old pair o skates...$ keeps him pinned down.

Finally, he manages to grab his

gun rom his pocket. *ut even as he raises it...

A *issel 0andvac catches him lush in the ace.

;AR+ !cont1d$

-ud o a bitB

0e drops to his knees, grabbing his nose, which

is now gushing blood.

3argaret reaches or her portable phone and

starts punching numbers.

MARGARET

+ou are in so much trouble.

;ary stands, pissed o, gun aimed at 3argaret1shead.

GARY

ady, so help me ( 88

;ary ducks as the phone whi>>es over his head and

smashes against the

garage wall. 0e stares at her. ;ame over.

%( INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY

%(

A standard corrugated metal storage acility.

-now alls in rom a large hole

that1s been cut in the roo. Cam and 'ed,

clipboard in hand, stand by the

owner, 3R. -P&3A4 !E#s$.

CAM

-o you1re a souvenir wholesaler

SPELLMAN

For the cruise ship trade, mostly.


56/113

SPELLMAN


57/113

GARY O.S.!

Okay, now here1s the thing, 6ust keep an

open mind.

'hey both enter the room. imbo looks at ;ary,

is about to smack him when...

MARGARET

-o what now, you gonna get me smokin1

rom both

ends

;ary and imbo have no idea how to react.

3argaret senses their discomort,

starts to rela9.

GARY

( 6ust came to look around, but she

started yelling and hitting me...

MARGARET

Oh please.

+IMBO

0ow the hell is this solving our problem

0ow is

this stepping up

GARY

ust listen, okay.

MARGARET

+eah, listen, i the at rom your neck

hasn1t stopped

up your ears.

imbo looks conused. ;ary ushers him into the

other room.

%2 INT. BARNELL HOME & )ITCHEN - LATER

%2

;ary and imbo sit at the table, talking.

imbo1s not happy.

+IMBO

'his is not what we do.

GARY

(t is now.

+IMBO

Where would we stash her +our place

GARY

'oo small, plus we1d have to get her in

and out

without anyone seeing. And (1ve seen

that sty you

call an apartment.


58/113

+IMBO

-ee, it1s 6ust a bad idea.

GARY

+eah. 3aybe.

!a possible idea$ +ou see the whirlpool tub

+IMBO

+ou can1t be serious.

GARY

(t could be like a little getaway.

O imbo, considering this.

%3 EXT. BARNELL HOME - NIGHT

%3

Paul pulls up, hits the garage door opener and

drives in.

%4 INT. BARNELL HOME & )ITCHEN

%4

Paul walks in rom the garage, pulls o his

6acket.

PAUL

0ey 3aggie8magster. 0ow ya 88

Paul stops short as he sees 3argaret, ;ary and

imbo sitting around the table.

3argaret1s mouth is taped shut.

Paul is about to lunge at the men when ;ary

slides his gun into view. 0e

stops.

PA


59/113

GARY

'hink hard 3r. *arnell.

0e tosses the ro>en lock o hair onto the table.

;AR+ !cont1d$ 'hink hard.

Paul reali>es he1s screwed, gestures to the

living room.

%" INT. BARNELL HOME & LIVING ROOM - LATER

%"

;ary sits on the soa as Paul paces.

GARY

( thought it might be some weirdo se9

thing, ya know *ut you look like a pretty

straight arrow. -o

then (1m thinking, maybe it1s a scam.

3aybe

somehow our riend is worth some money to

you.

Paul ace lets ;ary know he1s dead on.

;AR+ !cont1d$

-o what1d you collect

PAUL

We, we had a lie insurance policy

on my brother. (t was or... 7##,###

dollars.

GARY

+ou know, it1s always you /uiet guys.

0ere1s how it1s

going to work. We stay here with your

wie, you go

get our guy.

PAUL

0ere

GARY

We even see you or a cop even roll past,

she1s dead.

Plus you1ll have to e9plain

how you scammed the insurance people out

o their

hard earned money. We1ll call you in

three days.

0ave the body and, let1s say E#,###

dollars or our

trouble. -crew with us, we start mailing

your wie

back to you.

;ary pauses or dramatic eect.


60/113

;AR+ !cont1d$

-tarting with her eet.

%# INT. )ITCHEN - LATER

%#

;ary walks in on imbo and 3argaret, still

gagged.

+IMBO

0e gone

;ary nods, well pleased with himsel.

GARY

0e was scared. Really scared.

+IMBO

+ou used the eet thing, didn1t you

GARY

4o.

%$ INT. TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

%$

'iany comes through the door carrying a sack o

groceries.

TIFFANY

0ey, little help here. ( got Pop 'arts.

-he sees the living room wall 88 it1s covered

with charts, diagrams and

theories. 'ed on the loor, remote control in

hand, replaying the shots o the

body over and over...

'(FFA4+ !cont1d$

!re2 the screen$

%on1t tell me, :-ound o 3usic:

!no reaction$

0oney +ou O?

TED

-hhhh. 'his is the important part.

'ed rewinds the tape, hits play, rewinds it again

as 88 'iany watches, /uietly at

irst, then with growing rustration. Finally,

she walks over and grabs the

remote control.

'&% !cont1d$

( was watching that.

TIFFANY

'his stops now. 'his case is making me

and you

cra>y, especially you.


61/113

4o response. 'iany plops on the soa and

starts leaing through 'ed1s iles.

'(FFA4+ !cont1d$

+a know, ( am trying to be supportive.

eading

e9perts agree that1s the number onecomplaint men

have about their mates.

TED

( don1t have any complaints about my...

you.

TIFFANY

!re2 the ile$

%ead guy1s got a record Cool.

TED

+eah. 0e beat the hell out o some guy inbar ight.

*roke the guy1s eye socket.

'iany scans the ile, then looks up at the

screen.

TIFFANY

0oney

TED

+eah

TIFFANY

( think you should read this again.

0e looks. -he tosses him the ile.

%% INT. BARNELL HOME & )ITCHEN - NIGHT

%%

3argaret, still taped to a chair, sits at the

kitchen table. *y the stove, ;ary is

cooking, an apron tied like a bath towel around

his waist.

MARGARET

We don1t have any money, you know.

GARY

ady. Please.

MARGARET

( you want Raymond1s ucking insurance

money...

we don1t have that either.

GARY

(t1s none o your business what we want.

;ary goes back to his cooking. 'hen...

;AR+ !cont1d$


62/113

-o how come you talk like you do (

mean, cursing

all the time.

MARGARET

(t1s a disease. (t1s called 'ourette

-yndrome. ( can1t control what ( say. 'urnip.

GARY

Really

MARGARET

+ou1ve taken a handicapped person

hostage. ( hope

you1re proud o yoursel.

GARY

( saw this thing on ') where they said

people with that don1t usually curse.

MARGARET

'hey must have got it wrong.

GARY

( don1t think so. (t was a movie o the

week based on

real events. %on1t most o 'ourette1s

people twitch

and stu

3argaret 6ust glares.

;AR+ !cont1d$

!knowingly$

Oh, ( get it. +ou got a spice rack

MARGARET

Over the sink. And what1s that supposed

to mean

GARY

4othing. Cumin

MARGARET

On the let. !beat$ And (1m not...

cra>y, it1s a physical

disease. -ometimes ( can control it, and

sometimes 88

GARY

+ou can1t Want to know what ( think (

think this

:syndrome: is something you

read about somewhere and igured, hey,

works or

me.

MARGARET

Ass8rimming ball8sucker.


63/113

GARY

+ou can completely abdicate your societal

responsibilities, say whatever you want

whenever

you want, and slough it o on a illness.

3aybe (

should catch this thing. :;ee, sorry +our0onor, (

have a disease that makes me rob M877s.:

(t1s

called really need a -lurpee disease.

MARGARET

+ou1ve never robbed a M877 in your lie

you shit

eating uck8weasel. What kind o man

threatens a

woman with a gun, anyway

GARY +ou are so aking it.

MARGARET

Oh, (1m aking it (s this how you get

your kicks, you

over8compensating pussy little art sack

;ary, suddenly tense, puts down his spoon and

picks up his gun.

GARY

0eyB ?eep your voice down or the gag

goes back.

MARGARET

+ou don1t scare me. ( something bad was

going to

happen, my psychic would have told me.

;ary awkwardly chambers a round, starts gesturing

with the gun, trying to look

tough.

3AR;AR&' !cont1d$

+ou put that down now you little bitch,

or so help me,

(1ll start yelling so loud you1ll have to

shoot me.

;ary, conused and embarrassed, doesn1t know what

to do.

% EXT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - NIGHT

%

Paul gets out o his car carrying a ?83art bag.

0e looks like he1s been

CR+(4;. 3rs. Wherry waves rom her deck.

MRS. WHERRY

Paul, sorry to hear about your brother.

!Paul gives a sad smile$


64/113

+ou moving in

PAUL

ust or a bit.

MRS. WHERRY

-he1ll come to her senses. 'hey alwaysdo. Oh, the

septic lines are ro>en, so you1ll have

to use the

outdoor commode.

Paul waves as he enters the mobile home, closing

the door behind him. A

light goes on. (t starts to snow.

( INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - NIGHT

(

Paul walks in, survey1s the interior o themobile home.

PA


65/113

MAN'S VOICE O.S.!

-tate Police. (s there a 3r. *arnell

here

PAUL

!as he unlocks it$

+es, is there something wrong88

As he opens the door a crack, a gloved hand

shoves it open. 'he orce o the

blow sends Paul staggering backward, landing in a

heap against the wall

where a picture o his amily tumbles over and

shatters on his head.

RA+3O4% *AR4& !5#s$, a bear o man, enters,

picks up Paul and throws

him through the serving kitchen serving hatch.

Raymond leans through the

hole.

RAYMOND

0ello brother.

0e walks around, takes a copy o :


66/113

With that, Raymond kicks his brother hard in the

ribs. Paul doubles over,

gasping or breath.

RAYMOND

(n certain lines o /uasi8legalemployment, using

your actual (% can be a hinderance. *ut

despite the

reliance on aliases, it1s nice to have

your actual birth

certiicate to all back on. ;otta tell

ya, Paul, ( was

pretty pissed.

Raymond is about to kick him once more, but Paul

puts up a hand, begging

him to stop. Raymond, relents, then bends over

and helps his brother to a sitting position.

RA+3O4% !cont1d$

*ut then ( start to think, Paul1s no

idiot. 0e woulda

told 1em it1s not me.


67/113

Okay. -ure.

!changing the sub6ect$

+ou look good. ost some weight

RAYMOND

;ave up carbs. -o what are you doing out

here -he not go along with it

PAUL

Who 3argaret

RAYMOND

0ow she hold up, anyway

PAUL

-he1s ine. Actually, we1re not doing so

good right

now.

RAYMOND

Any kids

!o his look$

-till can1t get one by the goalie, huh.

3 INT. BARNELL HOME & )ITCHEN - LATER

3

;ary and 3argaret sit in silence, ;ary taking

3argaret1s pulse. imbo walks in,

grocery bag in hand.

+IMBO

0ey.

GARY

!snarky$

0ey.

+IMBO

'alked to our riend. We1re okay or

now. 0ow1s

everything here

GARY

Oh, 6ust great.

!to 3argaret$

-eventy si9, perectly normal. What a

shock.

;ary 6umps up and storms into the bathroom 6ust

o the kitchen.

MARGARET

0e1s a little over tired.

+IMBO

(t1s been a rough week.

MARGARET

!or ;ary1s beneit$

Really Why +ou and your lie partner


68/113

in the shitter

having trouble picking a China pattern

+IMBO

!shocked$


69/113

TED

3y tone, 3r. *arnell +ou are going to

6ail. ( will

personally see to that.

PAUL ( really think you should go now.

TED

+ou are a liar and thie.

Paul stabs his shovel into a snow bank, then

walks to 'ed.

PAUL

+ou know 3r. Watters, (1ve had a pretty

rough night,

so i you wouldn1t mind 6ust leaving.

Paul tries to guide 'ed away, but slips and alls

on the snow. 'ed, rolling his

eyes, reaches down to help him up.

TED

!noticing the bruises$

0ey. 0ow1d you get all cut up

MRS. WHERRY O.S.!

What1s say you 6ust move away rom him.

'ed, with his hands still on Paul, turns to see

88 3rs. Wherry, rom her porch, a

compound bow aimed at his orehead.

3R-. W0&RR+ !cont1d$

+ou all right there, Paul

PAUL

(1m ine, 3rs. Wherry. ust go back

inside.

MRS. WHERRY

( can drop him i you want.

PAUL

(1m ine. Really.

!turning to Watters$

( think you1d better go.

'ed backs to his car, gets in and drives o.

Paul brushes the snow rom his

6acket, reaches up, touches his bleeding orehead

!the all having reopened the

wound$.

MRS. WHERRY

(1ve got some ishing line i you want me

to stitch that.

Paul waves her o, then stares at the blood on

his ingertips. An idea slowly


70/113

takes hold.

" INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - MOMENTS LATER

"

Raymond pours whiskey into a M877 specialty cup

as Paul pulls o his coat.

RAYMOND

0e give you the check

PAUL

4o. 0e thinks (... (t1ll be ine.

RAYMOND

3aybe (1ll pay him a little visit. -ee

i we can speed

up the process.

PAUL +ou don1t have to... ( igured out a way

to take care o

things.

RAYMOND

+eah, ( was watching rom the window.

Paul, agitated, pulls the blinds shut.

PAUL

+ou can1t do that, Raymond. ( someone

sees you...

RAYMOND

+a know, ( been thinking there, Paulie.

PAUL

About what

Raymond walks over to Paul. Paul tenses,

e9pecting to be hit. Raymond

moves right by to reill his drink.

RAYMOND

Ater we get her back rom these guys who

grabbed

her, you think your wie1ll be able to

keep her mouth

shut

PAUL

( don1t think (...

RAYMOND

Cra>y people talk a lot. And ( think i

you tell your

therapist something, they can use it in

court.

PAUL

-he1s not... she doesn1t have a

therapist.


71/113

RAYMOND

!taking a slug$

-till, might wanna think about it.

PAUL

'hink about what

RAYMOND

+ou crossed over into the bigs now,

Paulie. Fraud.

Consorting with elons. ;ot to :cowboy

up.:

PAUL

Cowboy up

RAYMOND

;et tough, ya suck8hole. (1m 6ust saying

sometimes a man has to make problematic decisions.

Cull the

heard, so to speak.

!o his look$

Paul, come on, 6ust kiddin1 around, here.

%on1t be

such a uckin1 stick.

Raymond, an enigma, looks at Paul, then grins 88

6ust kidding. Paul rela9es.

Raymond tenses 88 not really. Paul1s not sure

how to read his brother as they

shoot looks at one another 88 sibling rivalry ad

absurdum.

# EXT. CITY S)YLINE - MORNING

#

'he sky moves rom dark grey to light grey, then

stops. A thermometer outside

on an oice tower shows a brisk minus "#.

Workers bundle themselves

against the cold, hurry to work past the drits

piled alongside the road.

$ INT. INSURANCE OFFICE - MORNING

$

'ed walks in, throwing his coat over the wall o

his cubicle and is about to sit

down when he notices Paul in his boss1 oice.

'ed moves closer.

PAUL MUFFLED!

( haven1t called the police yet, but (1ll

tell you it was

certainly tempting.

'ed opens the door to his boss1 oice. Paul

doesn1t notice.

PA


72/113

(1ve had some dealings with, diseases o

the mind,

and ( can tell you he is not well.

*ranch, obviously worried, stands.

BRANCH Watters. ;lad you1re... 3r. *arnell was

6ust telling

me about the... meeting you two had.

TED

( caught that, yes.

BRANCH

As you can see... well, 3r. *arnell has

some...

concerns.

Paul turns to look at 'ed. 0e has a large band8aid on his orehead, scratches

and bruises on his ace. (t takes a second or

the dime to drop.

TED

+ou don1t think ( did this

Paul gets up and moves to the other side o the

oice.

'&% !cont1d$

Oh come on. ( never laid a hand on him.

BRANCH

'ed, his neighbor says... otherwise.

TED

4ow 6ust hang on here. et me show you

something...

'ed digs into his briecase. 0e takes out a

video tape, the police ile on

Raymond and the photo o Raymond Paul dropped in

the snow.

%& INT. OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

%&

Paul and *ranch listen intently as 'ed paces, the

')G)CR plays shots o the

dead body in the background.

TED

-ee Where1s the birthmark +our

brother1s police

report listed it...

!reading rom the report$

:...large purple birthmark, upper let

thigh...:

!leaning into the screen$

*ut ( don1t see it. 4ot on this body.

+ou can see it in


73/113

the picture. -ee

'ed points to the photoD Raymond, in the summer,

wearing shorts with a

blotchy purple spot clearly visible on his leg.

'&% !cont1d$ -o what, 3r. *arnell %id it 6ust

disappear %id it

6ust... get better.

'ed grins. 0is moment. Finally. -econds eel

like minutes.

PAUL

(t... did get better.

TED

%id it now. Well how in the world did

that happen

PAUL

Raymond was always... bothered by it.

When he

came back rom... Florida, he1d

had it i9ed. aser surgery... like

removing a tattoo.

Paul looks at *ranch. (t1s an e9cuse 'ed hadn1t

thought o beore.

TED

0e did not.

PAUL

+ou taped my brother1s body, in the

morgue

Paul stands and grabs the photo rom o the

desk.

PAy. All we have to do is dig

up the body...

check the leg or scars...

!bingo$

%ental recordsB

Paul goes white. 0e hadn1t thought about this.


74/113

BRANCH

'hat will be 6ust about enough o that.

3r. *arnell, (1m

sorry it1s all come to this. We1ll have

a check brought

over to you tomorrow morning.

Paul nods, stressed and strung out, he hugs the

wall as he walks out. Ater a

moment...

TED

-ir, with all due respect, he1s 88

BRANCH

esus, we1re lucky he1s not suing. 4ow

tomorrow,

you deliver the check to 3r. *arnell with

a complete apology.

TED

Fine, ( understand how this looks 88

BRANCH

(t looks like you beat the hell out o

one o our policy

holders. 4ow send Cam in here.

TED

Why

BRANCH

Well, while you were o on your little

&aster &gg

hunt, your 6unior ound us an out on that

warehouse

robbery. 0ead oice is bumping him a

level.

TED

!uck me naked$

(1ll go get him.

BRANCH

'hey1re very keen on him. 'hey want me

to eel him

out on a transer 88

'ed has let the oice, -A33(4; the door behind

him.

1(( INT. INSURANCE OFFICE STAIRWELL - MOMENTS LATER

1((

'he door CA4;- shut behind Paul as he dials his

cell phone.

PAUL

0ello... yes, (1m wondering what city

department


75/113

would be in charge o... sure, ( can

hold.

!to himsel$

0ang on 3ag Pie, 6ust hang on.

Paul puts a hand to his chest. -uddenly di>>y,

he drops to his knees and starts to R&'C0. 'ears well up in his eyes. Ater a

ew moments, the storm passes.

-till on his knees, the person on the line comes

back.

PA


76/113

RichardB What in the bla>es are you

doing

RAYMOND

0ey Paul. 'ook care o our little

problem today. We

should see some serious money any time,soon.

PAUL

Could... ( have a word with you

1(4 INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME & )ITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

1(4

Paul pulls the sliding door closed behind

Raymond.

PAUL

!whisper$ Are those...

RAYMOND

!serious$

Prostitutes

!laughing$

( sure as hell hope so, cause ehovah1s

Witnesses

won1t lick your lolly no matter how much

you pay

them.

PAUL

0ow did you get them here

Raymond pulls out the credit card Paul got or

him.

RAYMOND

Put it on my plastic. -ee, got my name

on it and

everything. (t1s every where ( want to

be.

PAUL

+ou can1t use that. +ou1re supposed to

be deadB

'hey1ll track us down.

RAYMOND

+ou think they give a shit who pays the

bill 'hink or

a minute, will ya

Paul turns, trying to compose himsel, when he

notices a handgun sitting out

on the counter.

PAUL

What... Raymond, what is... this

Paul pokes at the gun, sending the barrel


77/113

spinning around to ace him.

Raymond grabs it and stus it into his pants.

RAYMOND

'hat1s :muh gun,: Paul.

Paul1s cell phone R(4;-.

RA+3O4% !cont1d$

%on1t be long. 'he little spinner1s

yours.

Paul picks up the phone as the party revs back

up.

PAUL

+es, hello. -orry, what

1("&1(# INTERCUT: BARNELL HOME & )ITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

1("&1(#

imbo is on the wall mounted phone.

+IMBO

+ou having a party, 3r. *arnell

!embarrassed or 3argaret$

'hat1s... that1s not right.

3argaret, now gagged, sits where we last saw her.

-he tries to talk through

the gag.

;ary1s staring at his watch, calling out seconds.

GARY

'hirty, sorry, startinnng... 4owB

Paul pulls the kitchen door closed with his ree

hand.

PAUL

'here1s no party...let me talk to my

wie.

+IMBO

0ang on.

0e hands the phone to 3argaret. ;ary leaps up

and stops him.

GARY

'wenty8iveB

imbo pushes past him, pulls down 3argaret1s gag

and holds the phone to

her.

PAUL

Why are you counting

MARGARET

Paul Are you entertaining


78/113

PAUL

!a wave o relie$

Oh ;od, oh esus... 3argaret, are you

okay

RAYMOND O.S.! Paul, we got any more chips

GARY

FiteenB

!grabs the phone$

'he body. 0ave you 88 !beat$ 4o, (1m the

other guy.

0ave you got the body

MARGARET

!shouting$

Paul, the carrot little weasly one wants

to carrot screw me with his sick carrot little

cock. And he1s

messing up my kitchen.

Carrotcarrocarrot...

imbo, annoyed, puts the gag back in 3argaret1s

mouth.

PAUL

+ou sick... %on1t you hurt herBB

GARY

( never said anything like88

!looks at his watch in panic$

+es or no. 'en seconds.

PAUL

+esB (t1ll... it1ll happen tomorrow. Put

3argaret back

onB

RAYMOND O.S.!

PaulB ChipsBB

PAUL

0ello

;ary lunges or the phone cradle like it1s the

inish line in the 7## meter dash,

slamming the phone down. A beat.

GARY

( think ( managed to avoid a trace.

+IMBO

!/uietly to ;ary$

We1re staying at his house.

1($ END INTERCUT! INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME )ITCHEN

1($

Paul goes to the cupboard and pulls out a bo9 o


79/113

potato chips. As he turns, he

sees one o the 0OO?&R- !@#s$ standing in the

doorway. -he gives Paul a

come hither look.

1(% INT. BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL - MORNING

1(%

A bruised 'ed enters, once again the only person

in the shop. 0e keeps his

parka on. Avis stands to greet him.

AVIS

0ello. Can ( help you

PAUL O.S.!

!icily$

3r. Watters

Paul comes around the corner. 0e e9tends hishand, shocked to see the

bruises on 'ed1s ace but knowing e9actly where

they came rom.

TED

3r. *arnell. ( have your check.

PAUL

'hank you, ( appreciate that.

!an awkward pause$

Please, sit.

'ed sits at Paul desk, reaches into his brie

case and pulls out an envelope

and several orms.

PA


80/113

TED

'hat1s /uite the shell.

PAUL

!picking it up$

(t was a git rom Raymond. 0e bought itor me rom

Florida. (t1s all we have to remember

him by.

Paul puts the shell down on the desk.

TED

'hat and a million dollars. 'hings

really worked out

or you, didn1t they lots o cash, newly

single guy...

PAUL (1m not single.

TED

...so you gonna head down to Club 3ed

-ee how

much un a big bank roll can buy

PAUL

3r. Watters, ( love my wie. )ery much.

'ed can1t help but look conused by this simple,

yet sincere declaration.

TED

Can we level with each other or a

moment

!Paul nods$

%id you 88

*eore he can inish his /uestion, a %&()&R+

%R()&R entering the oice with

a large bo9.

PAUL

AvisB Avis

'here1s no answer. -he1s in the back.

PA


81/113

conused, walks over as Avis snaps the shell back

into place.

TED

'hat1s /uite the display.

AVIS 'hey do some very nice in store

promotions.

Paul walks back, shocked to see the shell now

back on the display. 'ed 6ust

stares at him.

A)(- !cont1d$

0ere it is 3r. *arnell.

!to 'ed$

( thought someone might have walked out

with it. (t1s

not the best neighborhood.

Avis walks back to her desk. 'ed and Paul hold

their look. Finally, Paul walks

back to his desk and the paperwork.

PAUL

-o, right here, by the .

'ed nods. Paul signs. 'ed takes the envelope

with the check, hands it to Paul

but doesn1t let go. Paul tries to pull it ree.

0e looks at 'ed who looks right

through him. ust then, the lights go out.

'hey1re all in the dark.

PA


82/113

the soa, lost in thought and

whatever1s on the ').

TIFFANY

'here1s nothing to be em

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