A Most Violent Year Page #7

He reaches over and opens the small door. A fire is burning

inside. On cue the instructor hands ABEL a crisp clean white

handkerchief.

ABEL (CONT’D)

When this door opens you begin to

close. It must always be spotless.

If they see you have ever done this

before it is over.

He takes it and reaches up into a small exhaust chimney.

ABEL (CONT’D)

Now, you do this and only this...

You look down at the cloth and

don’t say a word... You just keep

staring at the cloth and then you

slowly just start shaking your

head. Very very slowly and small.

(MORE)

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ABEL (CONT’D)

Don’t look up at them. Just at the

cloth.

Then ABEL makes a small clicking noise.

INSTRUCTOR:

Do you hear that noise... that’s

the noise.

SALES STUDENT ALEX

What noise?

ABEL:

It means you are close... Then

after sitting in silence way longer

than is comfortable, you turn. And

say “I’d love to run a few numbers

for you. Is there somewhere more

comfortable we could sit.” They

will almost always take you to the

dining room table and will offer

you something. And whatever it is

you always take the fancy option.

INSTRUCTOR:

Can I get you a coffee or tea?

ABEL:

A tea please.

INSTRUCTOR:

We have some homemade lemonade or a

soda.

ABEL:

I’d love a lemonade, thank you.

SALES STUDENT ALEX

Why?

ABEL:

Because, we are never going to be

the cheapest option, so we have to

be the best. And they want... no,

need... to feel that you want the

best too. That’s why our trucks are

the newest or cleanest, and our

drivers are approachable.

Just then the woman who works behind the front desk (STANDARD

FRONT DESK) comes to the door.

STANDARD FRONT DESK

They need you.

ABEL:

I gotta go, but the final point I

will make is the hardest one. Once

you have done the math and shown

them what we can save them over the

long haul through proper

maintenance, you need them to sign.

And the problem is by hiring you

that means they are firing someone

else. And that’s never easy. So to

get them over the line you need to

close them. So when you show them

the number look up at them both...

and just stare at them...

ABEL begins staring at the recruits. He continues to stare.

ABEL (CONT’D)

You stare longer than you should.

Because this is not a joke. You

will only keep this job if you

close. And that’s not funny to you.

And I am only interested in this

company growing, and when it isn’t

I don’t think it’s funny at all.

These people work very hard for

their money and these other guys

are ripping them off, treating them

poorly, because they don’t know...

so when you look them in the eye

you have to believe that we are

better, and we are, but you will

never do anything as hard as

staring a person straight in the

eye and telling the truth.

ABEL then does exactly that to them. And he holds it for a

long beat.

ABEL (CONT’D)

Well... it was great to meet you.

Welcome and I wish you luck.

ABEL walks out of the room and straight into.

INT. LARGE STAFF MEETING ROOM - DAY

There is a great high/low nature to the way ABEL runs the

company. While he wears great suits and his trucks are

impeccable, he does not waste money. So this room where the

drivers have company meetings is very basic.

40

The room is filled with all of the drivers. There is a bit

of a nervous energy in the room. It quiets as ABEL comes in.

He stands aside.

STANDARD FRONT DESK

Trucks 16 through 23 you should be

ready to go...

As STANDARD FRONT DESK sees ABEL standing behind her, she

stops. ABEL walks forward a few steps.

ABEL:

Good morning. First off, I picked

up Julian yesterday and he is back

home and doing much better. And I

just wanted to make sure you are

all aware that we are doing

everything we can to deal with this

situation. We are working with law

enforcement, and they seem to be

closing in on these guys. But,

sadly these are the times we are

living in and we must rise above

them. So, on that front we have

these.

He puts one of the new radios on the dais. ANDREW comes into

the room behind ABEL and stands.

ABEL (CONT’D)

These will be in every truck by the

end of the week. Much to my wife’s

concern I spent some serious coin

and we now have our own closed

channel that shouldn’t have any

blackout areas. You will always be

in contact with us.

(a hand goes up in the

back)

Yes, Eddy.

SENIOR DRIVER EDDY

I have heard that the union is

considering recommending other more

active options for us to consider.

Do you know about this?

ABEL looks to ANDREW.

ABEL:

We have been in constant contact

with the union and they aren’t

considering any new course of

action at this time.

41

SENIOR DRIVER EDDY

So this radio is what we got?

ABEL:

Yes.

EXT. ABEL AND ANNA’S HOUSE - DAY

ANNA is walking back from the mailbox looking through the

day’s mail. As she approaches the house she looks up and sees

the two younger daughters, ELIZABETH (6 years old) and

CATHERINE (4 years old), playing in front of the house.

CATHERINE comes out from under a bush near the side door with

something in her hand.

ANNA looks back down at the mail. As she gets closer to the

house we see a look of concern come across her face. The look

then turns to one of complete horror but as she gets closer

to CATHERINE she tries to control her emotions.

ANNA:

Catherine... Catherine. Katie!

She drops the mail. And goes right up to her daughter.

CATHERINE:

Mommy.

As ANNA comes up to CATHERINE we now see that the little girl

is holding a large very real looking handgun in her little

hands. ANNA is besides herself.

ANNA:

Where did you get this? Catherine

where did you find this?

CATHERINE:

Right here.

The little girl points over towards the bushes near the side

door where LOUIS SERVIDIO was hiding and got hit the night

before.

ANNA:

Show me.

The little girl walks over to bushes and kneels down.

CATHERINE:

It was just sitting right here.

ANNA turns to the middle daughter, ELIZABETH.

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ANNA:

Did you see this?

ELIZABETH:

Yeah, she went under there to get

that ball and came out with it.

ANNA:

Maria!

ANNA yells towards in the house.

ELIZABETH:

What is it?

ANNA walks towards the front door to retrieve the NANNY

MARIA.

ANNA:

Maria!

ELIZABETH:

Mom, is it real?

INT. ABEL’S OFFICE STANDARD HEATING OIL - DAY

ABEL is sitting down at his desk. ANNA comes to the door. She

gets his attention and then walks right up to the desk. She

puts the handgun down right in front of him.

ABEL:

What is that?

ANNA:

A gun... It’s a gun Abel.

ABEL:

Where did you get it?

ANNA:

Your youngest daughter found it in

the bushes outside our front door.

She was playing with it.

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