Fargo

The following text fades in over black:

This is a true story. The events depicted took place in

Minnesota in 2006. At the request of the survivors, the

names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the

rest has been told exactly as it occurred.

FLARE TO WHITE:

EXT. TWO LANE HIGHWAY. RURAL MINNESOTA - DAY

The white becomes snowfall, a blizzard. Through it we can

make out a two lane road. A car emerges from the snow --

rust-spotted, chains on the tires -- coming towards us.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR (TRAVELING) - DAY

LORNE MALVO, age unknown, birth place unknown, sits behind

the wheel, his breath white with frost. If he minds he

doesn’t show it.

As he drives we become aware of THUMPING coming from inside

the trunk. As if someone is in there who doesn’t want to be.

Malvo ignores it.

A DEER:

appears in the road ahead of him. Malvo turns too late, HITS

it. The CAR SKIDS off the road, ROLLS twice -- the trunk

popping open -- before coming to rest on its wheels.

Beat. A MAN emerges from the trunk wearing only underwear.

He is stunned from the crash, but sound enough of mind to

know this is his chance. As we watch he LOPES off through

waist-deep snow, making for the tree line.

Beat. The driver’s door opens. Slowly, Malvo climbs out.

His head is bleeding where it hit the windshield. He stands

unsteadily in the snow, getting his bearings.

ANGLE ON THE OTHER MAN

Loping off through the snow. Malvo could catch him if he

tried, but he makes no attempt. Instead he walks into the

center of the road where the deer lays on its side,

struggling to get up. Three of its four legs are broken, but

still it fights for life. Malvo stands over the wounded

animal, looking down.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

CLOSE UP ON THE DEER

It’s eyes wild, blood bubbles foaming from its nose and

mouth, mortally wounded.

CLOSE UP ON MALVO

Studying it’s eyes. What does he see in there?

We begin to hear a strange throbbing, churning sound, half

animal, half machine.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN. NYGAARD HOUSE. SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA - DAY

LESTER NYGAARD, 40, home for lunch, sits at the kitchen

table. Lester is the kind of guy who apologizes when you

step on his foot. His wife, PEARL, 39, is heating up a can

of soup at the stove. We get the sense she has been talking

nonstop since Lester walked in the door.

PEARL:

-- Saturday. I said we’d bring a

Jello salad, but Kitty said

meatloaf, so --

The surging, churning sound is louder now, coming from under

the floor. Nygaard listens to it, both fascinated and

slightly disturbed.

PEARL (CONT’D)

(exasperated)

Hon?

LESTER NYGAARD:

(snaps out of it)

What’s that, hon?

Pearl brings the pot over, ladles tomato soup into his bowl.

PEARL:

(exasperated)

I said it’s Scotty’s birthday

Saturday. We’re supposed ta be at

your brother’s at one. With

meatloaf.

LESTER NYGAARD:

(beat, listening)

It sounds different today, don’t ya

think? Angry.

2.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

PEARL:

I’m washing towels. That’s the

towel sound.

She sits. They eat.

PEARL (CONT’D)

Kitty says they just got one of

those fancy European all in ones.

Says it washes and dries. One

machine. Can you believe that?

LESTER NYGAARD:

I bet that set them back a penny.

PEARL:

He can afford it, your brother.

Kitty said he just got a big

promotion. After only working

there a year.

We can tell his brother is a touchy subject for Lester.

PEARL (CONT’D)

Kitty said they got one of those

new surround-sound systems too.

(Lester eats)

Guess I married the wrong Nygaard.

That’s what I said. We had a good

laugh.

LESTER NYGAARD:

It’s just slow now. At the shop.

PEARL:

Oh, hon. That’s what you always

say. Slow.

Beat. They eat. Lester wipes his mouth, stands.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Well, better get back to it.

PEARL:

You make your own wins. That’s

what Kitty said Ron told her.

Salesmen make their own wins. You

gotta try harder, hon. Smile, for

Pete sake. Maybe wear a nicer tie.

LESTER NYGAARD:

(looks down)

You gave me this tie.

3.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

PEARL:

Well, if you were a better

salesman, I’da bought you a nicer

tie.

The sound of the washing machine takes on a new urgency.

PEARL (CONT’D)

At least take a look. I keep

thinking maybe it’s the settings.

Kitty said Ron fixes things around

the house all the time. Says he

took the toaster apart over the

weekend. Good as new now. Browns

to beat the band.

Lester’s jaw is tight. He opens the door to the basement.

CUT TO:

INT. BASEMENT. NYGAARD HOUSE - DAY

Lester stands at the bottom of the stairs. The washing

machine is acting like a caged animal, roaring and bucking.

Lester stares at it, hypnotized. We get the sense he’s

looking at his own trapped heart.

CUT TO:

INT. INSURANCE AGENCY. SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA - DAY

Lester Nygaard sits across from a YOUNG COUPLE.

LESTER NYGAARD:

So, that’s -- like I said, there’s

two kinds of policies you should be

thinking about. You got your Whole

Life and your Whole Life Plus.

Which is -- has all the benefits of

Whole Life -- plus a heck of a lot

more.

YOUNG MAN:

We just came in to get Charline on

my health care.

YOUNG WOMAN:

On account of I’m having a baby.

YOUNG MAN:

Ya. A boy we’re hoping.

YOUNG WOMAN:

Or a little girl.

4.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

YOUNG MAN:

But definitely one or the other.

YOUNG WOMAN:

Ya. I’d just about hug the pants

off a little girl.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Oh ya? Even more reason to -- all

the more --

He digs through his desk, pulls out a brochure.

LESTER NYGAARD (CONT’D)

-- because, I mean, what happens if

you have an accident at your job?

YOUNG MAN:

I work at the library.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Well, what if you’re in a car crash

and you go out the windshield? Or

say you’re on a ladder cleaning out

the gutters and fall off the darn

thing and break your neck. These

things happen every day. People

fall asleep smoking in bed and burn

ta death. What I’m saying is the

morgue is full of guys thought they

didn’t need life insurance.

The young couple stares at him, horrified.

LESTER NYGAARD (CONT’D)

(losing steam)

-- for peace of mind, I’m saying.

To know that your little boy --

YOUNG MAN:

Or girl.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Right. Or little girl is taken

care of.

YOUNG WOMAN:

(beat, creeped out)

We’re supposed to be at my mom’s by

four.

YOUNG MAN:

Ya, so we’re gonna --

5.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

They stand, head for the door.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Oh. Okay, well -- at least let me

give you a brochure. Or I got

these nifty pens. Look at that.

Black and red ink. You just click

the -- Okay, well, come on back if

you --

The couple exits. Nygaard sits for a moment.

LESTER NYGAARD (CONT’D)

Well, heck.

CUT TO:

EXT. APPLIANCE SHOP. SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA - DAY

Lester stands outside the store, staring in through the plate

glass window at a brand new washer dryer set. He’s wearing a

puffy orange coat and a wool hat with ear flaps.

An SUV pulls up down the block. SAM HESS, 40, climbs out

with his TWIN SONS, MICKEY and MOE, 15. Hess is a big guy,

intimidating. His boys look like two identical blocking

sleds.

SAM HESS:

(to the driver)

Circle for a bit. I’m gonna feed

the boys.

The SUV pulls away. Hess and sons walk towards Lester.

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