Fargo Page #4

MALVO:

You’re doing it wrong. You wanna

press your forearm against the back

of his neck, then grab your elbow

with the other hand. Choke him

right out.

The two boys separate, unsettled.

MICKEY:

Whatcha want, mister?

MOE:

Ya, mister. Whatcha want?

MALVO:

Sign outside says Hess and Sons.

Malvo studies them, Tweedle Dum and Dumber.

MALVO (CONT’D)

Which is the older boy?

MICKEY:

Me. Mickey. So that means I’m in

charge when dad’s gone.

MOE:

Are not. Mom said --

MICKEY:

Mom’s got nothing ta do with it,

f*ggot.

Upstairs, Sam sees his boys talking to Malvo, comes out of

the office.

SAM HESS:

Help you with something?

Malvo sizes him up, ignoring the hired muscle.

MALVO:

You Hess?

Hess and the two big guys come down the stairs. It’s clear

they don’t like strangers coming around, asking questions.

SAM HESS:

Who wants ta know?

21.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

Malvo checks to see if there’s another guy behind him asking

questions.

MALVO:

Me.

He nods to the big rig.

MALVO (CONT’D)

See you do work for Narcol. You

know Romo?

SAM HESS:

You know Romo?

MALVO:

(beat)

Never heard of him.

Hess looks at his guys to see if they’re hearing this.

SAM HESS:

Is he serious?

Hess closes on him.

SAM HESS (CONT’D)

Only two reasons to come to my

shop, friend. Either you need a

truck. Or you drive a truck. You a

truck driver?

Malvo is unintimidated.

MALVO:

I was just talking to your boys. I

think the younger one’s a little

dim.

SAM HESS:

What did you say?

MALVO:

His IQ seems low, I’m saying. Have

you had him tested?

The two heavies close around Malvo.

MICKEY:

Hit him, dad.

MOE:

Ya, dad. Hit him.

22.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

Bruce Gold clears his throat. Hess looks at him. Gold

shakes his head.

SAM HESS:

I’m gonna restrain myself -- on

accounta you got an obvious head

injury -- and not beat you with you

to death with a tire iron. But I’m

gonna` ask you again. What the heck

do ya want?

MALVO:

Just wanted to get a look at you.

Malvo gives Sam a slow once over.

MALVO (CONT’D)

Okay. That’ll do it.

Malvo walks out. Off Hess: what the f*** was that about?

CUT TO:

EXT. LESTER’S BROTHER’S HOUSE. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DAY

An expensive two story home. Lester and Pearl stand on the

threshold with a meatloaf. Lester’s broken nose is taped,

his eyes black.

PEARL:

How does a grown man fall over his

own feet?

LESTER NYGAARD:

It was ice. I slipped on ice.

(feels his nose)

We should have cancelled.

PEARL:

Don’t be a baby.

Unhappy, Lester rings the bell. SCOTTY, 9, opens the door.

LESTER NYGAARD:

(animated)

We’re here.

The boy SLAMS the door in their face. Beat. Lester rings

the bell again. KITTY NYGAARD, 32, opens the door. She’s

pretty, well appointed.

LESTER NYGAARD (CONT’D)

(tries again)

We’re here.

23.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

KITTY:

Come on in. Ron’s working the ham.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN. BROTHER’S HOUSE - DAY

RONALD NYGAARD (30s) stands at the kitchen counter. It’s

clear he got all the looks and charm in the family. Lester

holds a can of beer with a straw in it. Ron massages honey

into a ham with his bare hands.

Behind them, Kitty and Pearl set the table. Scotty watches

TV in the other room.

RON:

-- took the whole team down to

Duluth Tuesday. Big spread at the

Marriot.

PEAL:

Ooh. I’ve always wanted ta stay

there.

RON:

Ya. It’s real sweet. King sized

bed. View of the lake. You name it.

Boss took me out for dinner.

KITTY:

Just the two of them.

RON:

Steak big as a catcher’s mitt.

Said, Ronny, you’re going places in

this world.

KITTY:

Gave him a raise and a corner

office.

PEARL:

Hear that, Lester? A corner

office. Where two walls meet.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Ya. Real good.

PEARL:

And him your younger brother.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Ya. I said I heard.

24.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

KITTY:

Vice President Sales, Midwest

Region.

Ron massages the ham.

RON:

Bought the surround sound to

celebrate. Pretty sweet, huh?

Lester sips beer through a straw, watches his brother work

the meat.

LESTER NYGAARD:

You may have ta marry that ham, you

get any more familiar with it.

RON:

Saw it on Rachel Ray. She says

massaging breaks the muscle down.

Makes the meat juicier.

PEARL:

Lester never wants to try new

things.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Now hold on -- that’s not --

KITTY:

Oh, we make Scotty try stuff all

the time. Ron says we hafta open

his horizons.

RON:

Broaden his horizons. It’s a big

world, ya now. There’s more to

life than just Minnesota.

Lester sips gingerly from his can of beer.

RON (CONT’D)

Took a real tumble, huh?

LESTER NYGAARD:

There’s a spot over by the fire

station. Always icy. Don’t know

what the heck I was thinkin’.

Ron washes his hands.

25.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

RON:

(to Lester)

Come out ta the garage. Help me

get some more beer.

CUT TO:

INT. GARAGE. BROTHER’S HOUSE - DAY

A sweet setup with tools hanging on the wall. Ron opens a

mini-fridge, hands Lester a beer.

RON:

We took Scotty to a specialist last

month. Think he might have the

autism. Won’t stop drawin’ on the

walls. Also, Kitty found a mason

jar in his closet. I guess he pees

in it at night. What’s that about?

Hey. Wanna see something cool?

He goes over to a locked footlocker, opens the padlock with a

key.

RON (CONT’D)

Take a look at this baby.

Lester comes over.

ANGLE ON THE FOOTLOCKER

Inside is a large automatic weapon, gleaming and deadly.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Geez. What is it?

RON:

That there is your M-249 SAW light

machine gun. Sometimes referred to

as ‘the piglet.’

LESTER NYGAARD:

Are you allowed to -- can you even

have that?

RON:

Is it legal? Technically no way.

But I got a buddy works supply over

Camp Ripley. And heck, I’m an

American. I pay my taxes. Take a

look. It’s gas operated, air

cooled. Shoots seven-hundred-twentyfive

rounds per minute.

26.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

He takes the machine gun out of the box, hefts it, then hands

it to Lester, who, unprepared for the weight, DROPS IT on the

concrete floor.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Aw geez.

Ron bends down. The machine gun is clearly damaged.

LESTER NYGAARD (CONT’D)

You shoulda told me it was so

heavy. Is it okay?

RON:

No, Lester. It’s not okay. You

bent the darn --

(sighs)

Why are you such a G.D. screw up?

LESTER NYGAARD:

Hey, now --

RON:

Ever since you were -- And now

Kitty said she talked to Pearl last

week. And she’s had it. Your wife.

Said yer acting just plain weird.

Mopin’ around. Said she caught you

standing in the bathroom with yer

toothbrush in yer hand just looking

in the mirror. Said foam was

comin’ outta yer mouth like a rabid

dog.

LESTER NYGAARD:

That’s -- come on -- that’s not --

how I may -- or may not -- be

feeling. And fer yer information I

was -- I hadn’t had a lotta sleep

the night before. So the

toothpaste -- that was just --

RON:

Did you really trip on the ice and

break yer nose?

LESTER NYGAARD:

Ya. Yes. I told ya. Outside the

fire station. Ya know they run the

hoses and wash the trucks and the

ground gets all wet. Real slippery.

Ron shakes his head.

27.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

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