A Most Violent Year Page #4

ABEL:

First, please know that we respect

the work you are doing to try to

help our business and the city. But

also know I have never taken

anything I haven’t earned from

anyone so when you say you’ve...

He pulls himself back.

ABEL (CONT’D)

We are on the same side here.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

Well yes and no. See, all that I

can do is to try and put people

away in the simplest and most

economical way possible with the

limited resources at my disposal.

It doesn’t really matter to us who

it is or how we do it as long as

it’s progress.

ABEL:

Well, it makes a difference to me.

20

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

I know it does. This city is a very

difficult place to do business

right now.

ABEL:

Yes.

This more conciliatory tone makes LAWRENCE think through his

next reply for a long beat.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

You know... Mr. Morales you seem

like a decent man, and because of

that I’m really not comfortable

just sitting here with you

pretending that the elephant

perched on the corner of my desk

isn’t there.

LAWRENCE looks over at DEPUTY LANGE whose body language says

‘don’t go down this road’. But he does.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE (CONT’D)

I can’t go into specifics at this

moment but we believe that you and

your company have broken the law

and that we have enough evidence to

prove that. So next week, Monday

actually, we will be bringing a

case against you.

This drops like a bomb. ABEL and LAWRENCE stare at each

other. Then ABEL glances to the corner of the desk. We see

that a large draft copy of the case is actually sitting

there. ABEL looks back up.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE (CONT’D)

I’m sorry to do this in person.

It’s awkward, obviously, but I

didn’t want to have this happen on

Monday not having said something

here in person today, out of

respect.

ABEL:

I understand.

ABEL stands up to leave and ANDREW is still a little stunned

but stands.

ABEL (CONT’D)

You have your job to do. But know

that you are wrong and that we will

take advantage of every opportunity

to prove that.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

I’m sure you will.

They turn to leave. And LAWRENCE has one more thought.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE (CONT’D)

One more thing... Have you been

doing anything different in your

business over the last year?

ABEL:

I’m sorry?

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

I’m just looking here through these

reports. It looks like out of the

nineteen registered heating oil

companies in the city your trucks

have been getting hit three to one.

ABEL:

Yes?

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

So are you maybe doing something to

bring this on yourself?

ANDREW WALSH:

Like what?

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

Like enter a new market?

ABEL:

I am always trying to expand my

business.

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

Of course. But I think you

understand what I’m saying... there

are always some markets that are

more difficult than others to

enter.

ABEL:

Every new market is a difficult

market.

(MORE)

22

ABEL (CONT'D)

But my driver was assaulted and my

truck and oil were stolen in broad

daylight in front of fifteen toll

collectors and six police officers

yesterday. And yet no one saw

anything. That is a problem... no?

A.D.A. LAWRENCE

I have a lot of problems coming

across my desk every day Mr.

Morales.

ABEL:

I’m sure you do.

INT. HALLWAY OF BROOKLYN D.A. COURT BUILDING - DAY

ABEL walks out in front of ANDREW.

ANDREW WALSH:

Abel. Abel.

He stops and turns.

ANDREW WALSH (CONT’D)

(his words escape him)

ABEL:

Exactly.

ANDREW WALSH:

No... let’s not overreact. We don’t

even know what they are bringing

against us. It could be total

bullshit, and they are just trying

to use us along the way. This isn’t

anything yet.

ABEL:

I know.

INT. ANNA’S OFFICE STANDARD HEATING OIL - DAY

ANNA is working away on an adding machine in her office. She

is listening to the radio that sits behind her on the desk.

We can see that she is in her comfort zone. ABEL enters.

ANNA:

How’d it go?

23

ABEL:

The DA... He said he’s going to

bring down charges on us next week.

ANNA:

For what?

ABEL:

We don’t know yet.

ANNA:

Who else?

ABEL:

Right now they are just saying us.

Beat.

ABEL (CONT’D)

Where are we exposed?

ANNA:

We follow standard industry

practice on every front.

ABEL:

Anna?

ANNA:

I need to know what they are saying

we did.

Beat.

ABEL:

Okay.

INT. HOSPITAL LONG HALLWAY - DAY

ABEL walks down the long hallway and enters a room.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

JULIAN is sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting. His jaw is

in bandages, and there are crutches sitting next to him, but

he looks much better than the previous day. They look at each

other intensely but say nothing.

24

INT. SH*T-HOLE TENEMENT STAIRWELL - DAY

ABEL is helping JULIAN up the stairs. They struggle together.

Finally they get to the top floor and stand outside apartment

number . JULIAN stops, not really wanting to open the door in

front of his boss.

ABEL:

I’m very sorry this happened. Do

you need anything else?

(JULIAN nods no)

If you do, you call the office...

Okay then.

He turns to leave and walks back to the stairs.

JULIAN:

Abel?

ABEL turns and looks at him.

JULIAN (CONT’D)

Do you think I am ready to move

into sales?

ABEL thinks this through.

ABEL:

I don’t.

JULIAN:

I... I’m not sure I will be able...

ABEL:

You will.

JULIAN changes the subject.

JULIAN:

Did you get the truck back?

ABEL:

Yes. They took the load.

JULIAN:

This is the sixth one?

ABEL:

Seventh... you get some rest.

25

EXT. BUILDING BY ABEL’S CAR - DAY

ABEL comes out of the building and walks towards his car

where a group of TOUGH-LOOKING KIDS in their early twenties

are sitting, looking to see who is going to come and claim

the brand new car. He walks right though them without being

overly aggressive but without a hint of being intimidated. He

gets in and drives away.

INT. BROOKLYN BARBERSHOP - NIGHT

ABEL is sitting in the barber chair getting a trim. Through

the window we see ARNOLD KLINE, a competitor of ABEL’S

walking by. They see each other. ARNOLD KLINE comes into the

shop followed by a BODYGUARD. He sits down next to ABEL. This

conversation happens with them both looking at each other in

the mirror.

ARNOLD KLINE:

Well, look who it is.

ABEL:

Arnold.

ARNOLD KLINE:

Just a touch off the side Jimmy.

Not all of us are as lucky as Mr.

Morales here in terms of keeping

our hair.

BARBER JIMMY:

You’re a good looking man.

ARNOLD KLINE:

I know I am. So I hear

congratulations are in order?

ABEL:

What’s that?

ARNOLD KLINE:

You got yourself in contract over

there.

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