A Most Violent Year Page #17

ANDREW WALSH:

I’ll show this to them. He’ll never

go for it, but it’s a start.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

This could get a lot worse for you

all.

ANDREW WALSH:

I know... I will present it to him.

ANDREW gets up and prepares to leave. LAWRENCE stands with

him and walks him out into the hallway.

ANDREW WALSH (CONT’D)

Thank you.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

And Andrew, one other thing.

He turns. They are now alone in the hallway.

INT. IMPOSSIBLY LONG HALLWAY - DAY

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

I need this to stop.

ANDREW WALSH:

You need what to stop?

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

This f***ing bullshit with the open

warfare. I won’t put up with it.

It’s starting to be a real problem.

ANDREW WALSH:

Starting to be? No sh*t.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

Not for you... but for me.

This lingers for a beat as the meaning sinks in.

99

A.D.A. LAWRENCE (CONT’D)

I need the driver.

ANDREW WALSH:

I understand. The kid went out and

got his own gun. This was not us.

No matter what you think of him,

Abel doesn’t work this way.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

I really could give a f***, but you

need to get your man to talk to

these people, give in, stop doing

whatever you are doing to bring

this sh*t on you. It needs to stop.

ANDREW WALSH:

He wants to talk to them. We’ve

been trying to set up a meeting.

O'Leary hasn’t been able to get it

done.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

I’ll talk to him.

ANDREW gives him a look.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE (CONT’D)

He’s an old friend... and get that

kid back in here. I’m up in it a

little bit here and I need

something.

LAWRENCE turns and walks back into his office. ANDREW walks

down the hallway all alone then stops. He reaches into his

briefcase and takes out the offer. He looks it over again.

Then he looks towards the ground and almost looks like he

might cry. There is a distinct sense of responsibility for

the situation that ABEL finds himself in that is starting to

bring ANDREW to the edge.

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

ABEL is waiting standing next to his car. ANDREW comes

driving into the lot next to him and gets out.

ABEL:

I talked to the Hasid, I got us

three days.

ANDREW nods.

ANDREW WALSH:

Is that enough?

ABEL:

I don’t know.

ANDREW WALSH:

Well here it is. It’s just a first

pass.

He hands him the plea deal from the DA. ABEL looks it over

but shows almost no emotion. Then.

ABEL:

Felons can’t vote.

This takes ANDREW back.

ANDREW WALSH:

I’m sorry?

ABEL:

This plea has me...

ANDREW WALSH:

I know. It’s just a first offer.

ABEL:

I would never take this.

ANDREW WALSH:

I know.

ABEL looks off and resets.

ANDREW WALSH (CONT’D)

He’s going to get us the meeting.

ABEL:

Who?

ANDREW WALSH:

Lawrence, he’s tight with O'Leary.

ABEL:

Of course he is.

ANDREW WALSH:

Does Julian have anything?

ABEL gives him a look?

ANDREW WALSH (CONT’D)

Anything on us?

101

ABEL:

All the drivers could have us on

scales. Why?

ANDREW WALSH:

If we are cutting deals, we can’t

have anything new come up at the

last minute.

ABEL:

He would never do that.

ANDREW WALSH:

We need to find him... Lawrence

needs him.

INT. JULIAN’S APARTMENT - DAY

ABEL stands outside the door for a very long beat then

finally knocks.

JULIAN’S wife, LUISA, opens the door. She gestures him in.

He enters the apartment and looks around. She gestures for

him to sit. He chooses a seat right across from her. He

stares at her for a beat. Then for the first time we hear him

speak Spanish. (This whole conversation is in Spanish)

ABEL:

Thank you for letting me in.

LUISA:

Of course.

ABEL moves his chair closer. It’s meant to be, and is a bit

threatening.

ABEL:

Have you seen Julian?

LUISA:

No.

ABEL questions her with a look.

ABEL:

We need to find him.

LUISA:

I know.

ABEL:

I am worried about him.

LUISA:

So am I.

ABEL:

You know we were going to support

him. I do not know why he ran.

LUISA:

He was scared.

ABEL shakes his head.

ABEL:

I know.

LUISA:

He has always wanted to make you

proud. You know that right?

ABEL:

Yes. Well this time that hasn’t

worked out.

LUISA:

No... How did you do it?

ABEL:

Do what?

LUISA:

This.

She motions towards his suit.

LUISA (CONT’D)

Success... that’s all he wanted.

ABEL:

I know. It makes me very sad,

because he is a very talented young

man. But there are some decisions

that you cannot come back from. I

need to know where he is. And I

need him to turn himself in. His

actions are hurting me and my

business. And I refuse to let other

people’s weaknesses hurt me. I

don’t know how it has come to this,

but it has. If he does the right

thing I will help to take care of

his responsibilities. You and your

family. When you see him. Tell him

this. Please.

103

LUISA:

I will.

ABEL gets up and starts looking around the apartment a bit.

He walks over to a small cabinet.

ABEL:

Does he have any money?

LUISA:

I’m sorry?

ABEL:

Money? Has he taken money out of

your bank account?

LUISA:

I don’t know?

ABEL:

You need to start looking into

these things. It is very important

that we find him safely.

And with that JULIAN comes smashing out of the tiny cabinet

where he was hiding and knocks over ABEL. JULIAN runs to the

front door with ABEL chasing him.

He starts flying down the stairs at top panic speed. ABEL

follows him down half the flight and realizes it is useless.

ABEL (CONT’D)

(in English)

Stop! Stop running away! Andrew!

He’s coming your way!

This is screamed at the top of his lungs but JULIAN never

stops. We just hear his footsteps going down.

INT. BOTTOM/TOP OF JULIAN’S STAIRWELL - DAY

ANDREW comes up the first few steps and we see him waiting

for JULIAN.

ABEL then looks back up the half flight of stairs and sees

LUISA standing there in the hall. He walks back up to her in

an aggressive way. We fear for her. He gets right up in her

face but does not touch her.

ABEL:

(in Spanish again)

I understand why you lied, but it

is not smart.

(MORE)

104

ABEL (CONT'D)

There are other people looking for

him. I am as good an option as he

has. Know this.

And with that he heads down the stairs.

EXT. BACK OF JULIAN’S APARTMENT/PARK STAIRS - DAY

JULIAN is running out the back of the building and down a

huge exterior staircase that is in a small park. He is about

half way down when ANDREW gets to the top. ANDREW screams.

ANDREW WALSH:

F*** You! You better run!

INT. A SLIGHTLY RUNDOWN CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

ABEL sits across a table from an OLD MAN in his late-70’s who

seems to have early-onset dementia and a WOMAN in her early20’

s, LORRAINE LEFKOWITZ who’s overweight, but confident. The

old man, SAUL LEFKOWITZ, just sits there through the scene.

ABEL:

Thank you both for agreeing to meet

with me.

LORRAINE LEFKOWITZ

Of course.

ABEL:

I think we have met before but I

didn’t realize you were Saul’s

Granddaughter.

LORRAINE LEFKOWITZ

I am.

ABEL:

I’m sorry to ask but how old are

you?

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