A Most Violent Year Page #2

JOSEPH:

So why is it you want this land?

ABEL:

I’m sorry?

JOSEPH:

It has been difficult for you to

get me here, no? Over a year?

ABEL:

Almost two.

JOSEPH:

There are many like it around? And

thanks to all these tests you paid

for, we now know it is as much of a

mess below the ground as it is

above. My people have looked at

your books, I know this is a lot of

money for you, so why have you kept

on us so... just for this ugly and

polluted little piece of the earth.

ABEL:

I have been looking over my fence

at this property for a very long

time.

JOSEPH:

So it is just proximity?

ABEL:

No... I imagine I want it for the

same reason you did.

JOSEPH:

And what’s that?

ABEL:

To grow.

JOSEPH:

Well, I am in the garment business

so I appreciate that sentiment. But

I inherited this land from my

uncle. Sadly he had no children of

his own. He was the one that let

them build these tanks here. So

this place can do little for me...

in fact thanks to all those tests

you’ve done it may be a liability.

As you know I offered to lease the

site to you at a fair price, but

you were not interested?

ABEL:

No.

JOSEPH:

Why not?

ABEL:

I like to own the things I use.

JOSEPH:

I can see that.

Long pause.

ABEL:

So.

JOSEPH:

Yes. This contract here, your

lawyers have fully reviewed it?

ANDREW WALSH:

Of course.

JOSEPH:

And you have brought the money?

(ABEL nodes yes)

So you realize you have only thirty

days to close this transaction?

(MORE)

8

JOSEPH (CONT'D)

No extensions, no... contingencies

whatsoever.

ABEL:

I understand.

JOSEPH:

I want you to know this up front. I

am a very fair man but I believe in

honoring contracts. You will

fulfill your end of this contract

and the property is yours. If you

can’t we will keep your money and

will sell it to your competitor who

has been chasing us almost as badly

as you have. I like you, but know

that the only reason I am choosing

you is because of the favorable

terms of this contract. So this is

business... and when you sign

this....

ABEL:

I understand.

JOSEPH:

Well then, let’s see this money,

and then I will sign these papers.

ABEL turns to ANDREW and gives a slight nod. ANDREW pulls the

black briefcase onto the table and opens it. It has seven

hundred thousand dollars in cash in it. He slides it over to

their side. The old man signs the contract and they shake

hands.

EXT. MASSIVE OIL TANK FARM PARKING LOT - DAY

ABEL stands next to ANDREW’s car.

ANDREW WALSH:

Congratulations.

ABEL:

It’s not ours yet.

ANDREW WALSH:

Well, it was a hell of a job just

getting them to this point. It’s a

good day for us. Take a walk

around. Enjoy it for a second.

ANDREW gets in his car and drives away. ABEL looks around and

decides to go for a little walk.

9

He heads out towards the tanks and walks among them. They

tower seven stories above him. As he walks, he is cut off

like a maze from any other visual input. (Similar to being

inside a Richard Serra sculpture) Finally he emerges into

some light and as ABEL looks up the camera reveals his view.

It’s midtown Manhattan in all its glory, just across the East

River from the site. He stares at the city and we see the

true depths of his ambition lock on his face. He looks to his

watch.

INT. 1981 MERCEDES 500 SEC

ABEL drives away from New York City. We see it behind his

head.

INT. CAR ON MERRITT PARKWAY

The terrain turns to upscale country.

EXT. COUNTRY HOUSE - DAY

ABEL’s car drives into a long driveway through the woods.

Then an architect-designed, 80’s modern house, still under

construction, appears. He pulls up in front.

He gets out of the car and stands there looking at the large

house. He walks into the house and we see more clearly that

it is nearing completion. It is empty.

INT. 80’S MODERN HOUSE - DAY

ABEL walks over to the massive floor-to-ceiling windows and

stands looking over the large pond that sits down the hill

from the house. As he stares out his CONTRACTOR comes quietly

walking in behind him.

CONTRACTOR:

Hello?

ABEL:

There he is.

He walks up behind him and they both look out in silence for

a beat.

ABEL (CONT’D)

You have done a beautiful job here.

CONTRACTOR:

Thank you.

ABEL:

I mean it. You and your men should

be very proud.

CONTRACTOR:

We are.

ABEL:

Most people don’t have anything

beautiful like this to show for

their day’s work. You are a lucky

man.

CONTRACTOR:

I am.

ABEL:

Well I thank you... my family will

be very happy here.

CONTRACTOR:

I hope so.

ABEL:

Now I think I owe you some money.

CONTRACTOR:

That may be true.

ABEL:

It is.

ABEL reaches into his jacket pocket and takes out a thick

envelope of cash. As he does we see a transformation of his

personality from pleasant philosopher to a direct voice of

unquestioned authority.

ABEL (CONT’D)

This is the seventeen outstanding.

But we are arriving here in four

days. It must be done.

CONTRACTOR:

Yes.

ABEL:

Well, I’ll let you go.

He says this as he leads him to the door.

ABEL (CONT’D)

And the tile in the master bath...

11

CONTRACTOR:

It’s being replaced, as I mentioned

to your wife, that was an error on

our part. Congratulations on your

home.

ABEL:

Thank you.

EXT. TOP OF HILL ON OTHER SIDE OF POND LOOKING BACK AT HIS

HOUSE. - DAY

ABEL stands, surrounded by massive trees in the thick forest,

looking across the ridge back at his house. He is a little

out of breath after climbing the hill but he looks strangely

comfortable even though he is standing in the woods in a

suit, tie, and dress shoes. He takes a nice cigar out of his

pocket, lights it and has a real moment of joy. He looks up

to the tops of the trees, then back at the new house. He

exhales a long deep breath. Then we hear a large truck come

rumbling in the driveway. He hears it. His face shows that he

knows the sound immediately.

EXT. HOUSE DRIVEWAY - DAY

ABEL comes out of the woods and sees a smaller heating oil

delivery truck (with the same Standard Heating Oil logo)

parked in the driveway. His face shows it probably isn’t

great news.

INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY

ABEL comes down a hallway and then turns through a curtain

into a treatment area. Sitting on the table is the young

driver of the truck, JULIAN.

He has a contraption on his head that is holding his jaw shut

in place. His eye is black. ABEL goes over and gives him a

tight hug. But then he ever so slightly checks himself and

places him back down on the table.

ABEL looks up and sees ANNA, standing in the corner. She is

all business. They stare at each other.

ANNA:

They broke his jaw.

ABEL:

Have they found the truck?

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