Fargo Page #10

MALVO:

I’m rolling up my window.

The window rolls up. Gus stands there, knowing he should

pull his gun. That he should order Malvo out of the car, but

something stops him. The feeling the rabbit gets in the

presence of the wolf.

So he stands there as Malvo’s car pulls away.

KURT GRIMLY (O.S.)

Dad. Come in, dad. Over.

Gus walks back to the car, climbs in, closes the door. Beat.

He picks up the walkie talkie.

GUS GRIMLY:

Dad here. Over.

KURT GRIMLY:

Detroit just got a touchdown. Over.

(beat)

Dad? Are you there? Over.

Beat. Gus sits, shaken.

GUS GRIMLY:

I hear ya. We’ll get ‘em in the

fourth. And hey, don’t forget ta do

yer English homework, okay? I love

you.

63.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

A long silence.

KURT GRIMLY:

Ya didn’t say over. Over.

GUS GRIMLY:

(smiles)

Over and out.

Beat. Gus sits in his warm car, while outside the

temperature drops. Then he picks up his note pad, examines

Malvo’s license plate number.

CUT TO:

EXT. LESTER’S HOUSE. SAINT CLOUD, MN - NIGHT

It’s really snowing now. Every police car in town is there,

along with fire trucks and an ambulance. Patrolmen go in and

out of the house. Molly sits on a planter by the front door,

in shock.

Inside the lobby we can see Vern’s body covered with a

blanket. After a moment, Molly gets to her feet and walks

down the driveway.

She passes Vern’s prowler. Something inside catches her eye.

ANGLE ON TWO CANS OF HOUSE PAINT

In the back seat.

MOLLY:

Stands looking in at them, and all they represent.

CUT TO:

EXT. VERN’S HOUSE. SAINT CLOUD, MN - NIGHT

Molly’s car pulls up. She gets out, grabs the paint cans,

starts for the house. There are responsibilities she will

take on now, unspoken promises that must be kept.

The front door opens. Ida comes out. She knows from Molly’s

face that the worst has happened.

CUT TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM. ST. CLOUD, MN - DAY

Lester is in bed, unconscious. His head is bandaged. He

looks terrible. Outside, snow falls. He wakes up.

64.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

Gets his bearings. He is in the hospital. Not dead. Better

still, he is not handcuffed to the bed. There are no cops.

Could it be? Could he have gotten away with it? He lifts

his right hand to get some water, sees the BANDAGE.

He examines the spot where the shotgun pellet caught him. On

his face is a hint of uncertainty.

CUT TO:

EXT. ICE. SAINT CLOUD, MN - DAY

Molly’s dad, Lou, unpacks fishing gear from the back of his

Suburban. Molly, in civilian clothes, sits on the tailgate,

looking out at the snow. Her prowler is parked nearby.

LOU:

I got two kinds of sandwiches.

Tuna and turkey.

(beat, off her)

Tuna’s for the fish. Unless ya

think they’d think that’s

cannibalism.

Molly doesn’t answer. Lou offloads a cooler.

LOU (CONT’D)

Nice service yesterday, I thought.

Simple.

Beat. Molly is lost in thought.

LOU (CONT’D)

Ya know, I been looking for some

more help at the restaurant.

Someone to seat customers. Answer

the phones.

MOLLY:

(absently)

A hostess.

LOU:

That what they call it? Anyway,

not sure if that was somethin’ you

might be interested in.

MOLLY:

(this gets a look)

I’m a police officer, dad.

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TV Calling - For educational purposes only

LOU:

Well, sure. I know that. I also

know that people in this world are

less inclined to shoot a hostess,

than, say, an officer of the law.

MOLLY:

(beat)

That’s true.

He kicks snow off his boots.

LOU:

So, does that mean you’re gonna

help yer old man out?

MOLLY:

No. But maybe you could put that

in the ad.

Molly jumps down from the tailgate.

MOLLY (CONT’D)

On second thought, I’m gonna head

in ta work. Coroner’s report should

be in. Rain check on the fishin’?

He nods. She kisses his cheek.

MOLLY (CONT’D)

Love ya, dad.

LOU:

Love ya too, hon.

Molly walks to her cruiser. Her father watches as we ...

FADE TO WHITE:

END OF PILOT:

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