Devil in a Blue Dress Page #3

12.

16 CONTINUED:
16

There is a paper calendar hanging on the wall behind him

with a picture of a basket of blackberries, but other than

that the room is bare.

ALBRIGHT:

Have a seat, Mr. Rawlins.

Easy takes a seat in a chair in front of the desk and tries

not to stare at the tan leather shoulder holster under

Albright's arm with the muzzle of the pistol almost reaching

his belt.

EASY:

(gesturing back)

Your friends, hunh?

ALBRIGHT:

Like you, Easy. I need a little

help? I give 'em a call... Drink?

EASY:

Sure.

Albright pulls another glass from the desk drawer and pours

a fresh one for Easy and fresher one for himself.

ALBRIGHT:

One thing I like about working for

myself... I always have a bottle on

the table... You wanna drink with

me? Fine. You don't? Door's

right behind you... Joppy tells me

you're a war hero... Said you went

in with Patton.

Easy nods, proud but polite, and Albright pushes him a glass

of whiskey.

ALBRIGHT:

So, you want the job?

EASY:

Depends on what kind of job. I

don't want to get mixed up in

nothing.

ALBRIGHT:

Walk out the door in the morning,

Easy, and you're mixed up in

something. Only thing that matters

is if you're mixed up to the top or

not.

13.

16 CONTINUED:
(2) 16

EASY:

I mean I don't wanna get mixed up

with the law...

ALBRIGHT:

Neither one of us wants to get

mixed up in that. That's just rich

people trying to keep me and you in

our place.

He laughs and takes a healthy swig and Easy takes a drink

too.

ALBRIGHT:

I'm looking for somebody for a

friend.

He pushes a newspaper across the desk to Easy and Easy holds

it up.

NEWSPAPER:

It's the front page with the photograph of the wealthy Todd

Carter and his beautiful bride-to-be... Despite her smile,

there's a sadness in the eyes.

ALBRIGHT (O.S.)

Daphne Monet... fiancée of Todd

Carter, one of the richest men in

town... Been gone for two weeks...

BACK TO SCENE:

EASY:

She leave him?

ALBRIGHT:

Evidently... You know how it is

with women, Easy... Happens to the

best of us...

He rears back in his chair as if expecting a sign of

recognition.

EASY:

I ain't never heard of her before.

I wouldn't know how to find a woman

like that.

ALBRIGHT:

That's a shame.

He laughs a conspiratorial, lecher's laugh and Easy allows a

smile.

14.

16 CONTINUED:
(3) 16

ALBRIGHT:

See, Daphne has a predilection for

the company of Negroes. She likes

jazz and pigs feet and dark meat,

know what I mean.

The insult takes Easy off guard but he should've known.

EASY:

So you think she might be down in

Watts.

ALBRIGHT:

I'm sure of it. But I can't go

looking for her myself because I'm

not of the right persuasion, so to

speak. I've been asking Joppy for

over a week, but all he could do

was introduce me to you.

EASY:

What do you want me to do?

ALBRIGHT:

Just get a location on her. Mr.

Carter wants to make up with her...

EASY:

That's all.

ALBRIGHT:

(smiling)

That's all.

He pulls out a brown secretary-type wallet and counts out 10

ten-dollar bills into a neat stack next to the whiskey.

ALBRIGHT:

One hundred dollars, and I pay in

advance.

Easy eyes the money. All he has to do is pick it up.

EASY:

I just have to tell you where she

is?

ALBRIGHT:

That's right. And keep it, you

know, confidential...

He freshens Easy's drink and Easy eyes the money some more.

15.

16 CONTINUED:
(4) 16

ALBRIGHT:

Joppy tells me you used to frequent

an illegal club down on Eighty-

ninth and Central. Somebody saw

Daphne there a few nights ago. You

could start tonight.

Easy takes a drink and looks again at the money.

17 EXT. JOHN'S PLACE (MARKET) - NIGHT 17

Stripped down to its dark, naked self, Central Avenue has

drawn a crowd from all over town. Neon glistens off slick

pomade and silk clings to the contours of simmering flesh.

An outrage to police even before the era of Police Chief

Parker's personal crusade, a squad car sits idling while two

d*cks in blue manhandle a brother in a grey sharkskin zoot

suit, prodding and whapping with nightsticks, searching for

something -- anything -- because his date is a young white

woman. A few onlookers stand back watching, but since this

white woman is not Daphne Monet, Easy only glances and walks

inside.

18 INT. JOHN'S BAR 18

Easy sees his fifth white MAN that day in a disheveled but

expensive dark blue suit staggering toward him, reeking of

gin.

DRUNK:

Hey, colored brother. I need you

to do somethin' for me--

O.S. WOMAN'S VOICE

Go on. What'd I tell you about

hair-assing my customers.

Easy looks over to see HATTIE PARSONS, the small, brown-

skinned manager of the place, glaring daggers at the drunk

man while watching the commotion out the window.

Easy starts over toward Hattie and the drunk turns and tries

to grab Easy's arm. But his desperation causes him to trip

and he winds up sitting against the wall.

Easy steps over him and joins Hattie at the window.

HATTIE:

I just paid these damn cops and

they still roustin' my customers.

Well, that's what he gets for being

with that white woman.

16.

18 CONTINUED:
18

She walks over to the cash register of this neighborhood

corner store; and Easy follows, the drunk beckoning him to

bend down to talk as he passes.

DRUNK:

Come on, brother help me...

HATTIE:

Don't worry 'bout him. I rung

Junior ten minutes ago to come get

him.

Easy pulls out two dollars and Hattie deposits them into the

till.

HATTIE:

I ain't got nobody tonight but Lips

and his trio -- Holiday came

through here last Tuesday.

EASY:

Yeah?

HATTIE:

Yeah.

Heavy FOOTSTEPS are heard pounding down a stairway in the

back of the store and big burly JUNIOR FORNAY lumbers in

with a cigarette hanging from his lips.

JUNIOR:

Where's he at?

Hattie points to the drunk man as he struggles to get to his

feet.

HATTIE:

Over there. Let Easy in upstairs

and when these cops leave throw his

ass out.

EASY:

Hey, Junior. What's goin' on?

JUNIOR:

Not too much. But stick around.

Junior leads the way back up the stairs.

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