A Bucket of Blood Page #6

MRS. SWICKER

It's terrible! Why don't you

ever clean it up!

Walter notices the arm as Mrs. Swicker directs her attention in the

opposite direction, grabbing a sheet -

MRS. SWICKER

And when did you change these sheets

last! It looks like they're alive!

Walter panics, and gently leads Mrs. Swicker to the door -

WALTER:

Uh, Mrs. Swicker I got to meet some

friends later, and I have to take

a shower!

MRS. SWICKER

Well why don't you clean up this

dump!

Mrs. Swicker resists as Walter opens the door and pushes her out -

WALTER:

I will - good night Mrs. Swicker!

MRS. SWICKER

What's the matter with you!

Walter shoves her out the door and closes it behind him -

Pressing his back against the door he looks ahead -

Blood begins to trickle down Lou's arm -

Walter approaches the bloody arm, caught in a total panic -

Blood begins to drop on the floor -

Walter looks around frantically, and finds a big metal POT -

He places it under the dripping blood, lowering it to the ground -

He then steps back, listening to the rhythmic trickle of blood

hitting the pot -

Walter staggers back, grabbing a sponge -

He heads over to a PUDDLE of smeared blood on the floor -

He gets on his knees and begins to wipe up the blood -

WALTER:

(crying)

I didn't mean to hurt you, sir...

if you had shot me, you'd be

mopping up my blood now...

Walter continues to mop up the stain -

WALTER:

I couldn't help it if I got scared.

I didn't mean it!

Walter stops to listen to the trickling blood - something dawns on

him -

WALTER:

It's crazy...it's crazy...

(Beat)

I didn't think I had it in me...

How'd ya do it, Walter...

Walter gets up, faces Lou's off camera corpse and addresses it -

WALTER:

He said go home and make something

Walter! Make another cat...

Walter looks down at the pot filling with blood -

WALTER:

But I told him I didn't have

another cat...

Walter then gets an idea, and looks up toward Lou's body -

Walter's expression changes, from one of panic to one of new

inspiration -

EXT PAYPHONE - DAY

Art is on the phone -

ART:

No, nobody seems to know where

he went...

(Beat)

why don't you put an A.P.B. out

and I'll check on it from here...

(Beat)

Right...Ok, bye.

Art hangs up the phone -

DISSOLVE TO:

INT JABBERJAW - DAY

Leonard enters and closes the door - he begins lifting shades and

getting the place ready to open -

He heads over to the alcove, something catches his eye -

It is the Dead Cat sculpture -

Leonard stops to look at it, laughing faintly to himself - he then

picks it up and inspects it, shaking his head -

He puts it back, positioning it just so - as he turns his back the

cat leans forward and crashes to the ground -

Leonard turns around and sees what happened - he picks it up and

examines it -

There is a FRACTURE in the plaster - Leonard runs his finger over it

-

CLOSE on Leonard's face he notices something -

As Leonard traces his finger over the fracture, he discovers some

CAT HAIRS protruding from the sculpture -

Taken aback by the discovery, Leonard puts the sculpture

down -

He then pokes it, almost as if he expects a response -

Leonard slowly breaks into a knowing smile -

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT STREETS - NIGHT

A MONTAGE of police PATROL CARS driving down various

streets -

RADIO OPERATOR(V.O.)

...officer Louis LaRue...age 29,

five foot eleven, Caucasian, black

hair, last seen wearing jeans and

a dark jacket...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT JABBERJAW - NIGHT

The joint is jumping as the audience listens to a MUSICIAN playing

assorted GARBAGE from the scrap yard -

Several PATRONS examine the Dead Cat sculpture -

Cuff and Link sit at a table noticing the commotion wit contempt -

CUFF:

Look at that, man. Big deal.

LINK:

I know.

CUFF:

I mean it's like, you know, I do

my art because that's what I am,

you know? I'm an artist. I'm not

like a banker, you know. Like I

create.

LINK:

I know, man.

CUFF:

But it bugs me when someone rips off

our ideas, our concepts, and people

freak out about it, you know, and

tell us ours stinks!

LINK:

I know, man.

CUFF:

I mean, screw them, you know? I'm

just gonna go right on creating

'cause it comes from here -

(pounds chest)

you know?

LINK:

I know, man.

Just then Art enters the club -

Cuff and Link see him come in - Walter busses an adjacent table -

CUFF:

And, man who is this dude? He's

like always casing the joint.

A shady - looking couple behind Cuff and Link notice Art also, and

decide to hastily leave -

LINK:

I wonder what his deal is.

CUFF:

I think he's looking for you, man...

it's all finally catching up with you!

Link sees Walter -

LINK:

No I think they're looking for Walter,

'cause he's wanted for stealing -

Walter leaves with the tray pretending not to have heard the comment

- he nevertheless CRASHES into a Leonard, spilling the contents of

the tray -

CUFF:

Jeez, take it easy Walter!

Walter crouches and picks up the items -

Leonard looks down at him with disdain - Walter then stands

up -

WALTER:

Sorry about that Mr. De Santis!

Leonard says nothing for a beat -

LEONARD:

That's alright Walter...

Leonard then gestures to a table -

LEONARD:

Put the tray down...have a seat.

The comment takes Walter by surprise -

WALTER:

H-have a seat?

LEONARD:

Have a seat -

Cuff and Link watch as Walter sits down -

WALTER:

I thought I'm not supposed to

sit with the customers...

LEONARD:

Now why shouldn't you, Walter?

Things are different now...

WALTER:

They are?

Leonard sits down, facing him - he lights a cigarette -

LEONARD:

Of course they are, Walter.

Carla then makes her way toward their table -

LEONARD:

You've arrived. You've been

recognized. You're a talent,

a creative force to be reckoned

with.

CARLA:

Leonard, what are you doing?

Leonard and Walter notice Carla -

WALTER:

Hiya Carla.

LEONARD:

What am I doing? I'm just telling

Walter the truth.

Carla sits down and listens -

LEONARD:

A man came in here and wanted to

pay me fifty dollars for the cat.

In fact, he took it home to show

to his wife, in case you're wondering

where it was.

Carla looks at Walter -

LEONARD:

You know what that proves?

WALTER:

What, Mr. De Santis?

LEONARD:

It proves I've underestimated

Walter's ability. His work has

hit a nerve in the collective

zeitgeist of the art community.

It has enormous realism - you can

hardly tell it from the real

thing!

LINK:

Sounds like he's busting your

chops, Walter.

CARLA:

Are you trying to be funny?

LEONARD:

I'm totally serious!

Leonard gets close to Walter - puts his hand on his

shoulder -

LEONARD:

The question is what are you going

to make next, Walter? Did you

make that dog yet, or that parakeet?

(beat)

How about making something out of

the cockroaches in your room?

WALTER:

I-I already got a new one!

CARLA:

Great! What is it?

WALTER:

It's a...full length life-size

figure!

CARLA:

What's it called?

WALTER:

(Beat)

Murdered man.

Leonard takes his hand off Walter's shoulder -

LEONARD:

Murdered...man?...

CARLA:

When do we get to see it?

WALTER:

Well...any time, I guess.

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