Fargo Page #6

MOLLY:

Say, Chief. I been thinkin’. That

fella in the snow. With the

underpants. Somethin’ odd about

that.

VERN:

Yer sayin’ other than the fact he

was just wearin’ panties.

MOLLY:

Ya. See, we know from the wreck

that whoever was driving the

vehicle cracked their head on the

windshield. But the fella in the

snow --

VERN:

No head injury.

MOLLY:

Right. So, ya see --

VERN:

That’s some good police work there,

deputy.

MOLLY:

(smiles)

Thanks.

VERN:

But if he’s not the driver -- I

guess we gotta ask -- who is he?

MOLLY:

I ran his prints. Nothin’. Plus,

turns out the car was stolen.

VERN:

Oh ya?

MOLLY:

Ya. Over in Grand Forks. I called

the local PD. Waiting for a call

back.

VERN:

(nods to Hess file)

Any thoughts there?

36.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

MOLLY:

Not as such. The lady Hess was

with didn’t get a good look at the

fella killed him on account of all

the blood in her eyes. But we’re

checkin’ the knife fer prints.

Also Bill’s goin’ around to the

stores, see if the knife was maybe

bought here in Saint Cloud.

Vern studies her.

VERN:

You’ll make a good chief one day.

MOLLY:

(surprised)

Me? What about Bill? He’s got

seniority.

VERN:

Bill cleans his gun with bubble

bath. No. It’ll be you. If you

want.

Molly nods. She does.

CUT TO:

INT. HESS HOUSE. SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA - DAY

Mickey and Moe, wearing black suits too short in the arms and

legs, sit on the sofa, looking bored. Their mother, GINA

HESS (30s) sits in a chair, wearing red. She’s not from

around here. Bruce Gold, Hess’s consigliere, is there,

drinking coffee. As are the TWO HEAVIES we saw at the

garage.

BRUCE GOLD:

When you talk to the police just

keep it simple. Thanks but no

thanks in other words. I’ve

already talked to Fargo and they

want to deal with this themselves.

They’re sending guys.

GINA HESS:

Deal with what? He was in a

whorehouse. I’m glad he’s dead.

MICKEY:

Ma, don’t talk like that.

37.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

MOE:

Ya, mom. Don’t talk like that.

Through the living room WINDOW we see Vern’s prowler pull up.

Vern and Molly get out.

GINA HESS:

Makes me live in the god damn north

pole and then he has the nerve to --

I’m not kidding. I’m gonna sing at

his funeral.

She breaks into tears, inconsolable. The men of Minnesota

watch her cry, mystified by her emotional range.

A MAID comes in.

MAID:

Mr. Mickey. You have a phone call.

Mickey and Moe stand together.

MICKEY:

She said me, doofus.

MOE:

Can’t I come?

MICKEY:

No. Geez. Stay here with ma.

Mickey follows the maid into the ...

KITCHEN:

He picks up the phone.

MICKEY:

Hello?

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. FARMDALE MOTEL. SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA - SAME TIME

Lorne Malvo sits on his bed, clipping his toe nails.

MALVO:

Mickey, it’s Lewis Grossman. Your

dad’s estate attorney. First let

me say how sorry I am for your

loss.

MICKEY:

Ok.

38.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

MALVO:

Next thing is, I’m responsible for

overseeing the dispersal of your

dad’s vast estate.

MICKEY:

(brightening)

You mean the money?

MALVO:

Right. Money, real estate

holdings, automobiles. And --

well, there’s no delicate way to

put this -- the will is very clear.

Your dad decided to leave

everything to your younger brother,

Moe.

MICKEY:

Are you f***ing kidding me?

MALVO:

I know it’s hard to hear. But the

will is very specific. Quote, I

leave the entirety of my vast

estate to my second born -- and

favorite -- son, Moe. That’s

sweet. He musta really loved that

boy. Anyway, that’s it. Again,

sorry for your loss. If you have

any questions please don’t hesitate

to call.

Malvo hangs up, finishes clipping his toe nails.

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM. HESS HOUSE - DAY

Vern and Molly have come in while Mickey was on the phone.

They stand talking to Gina, Moe and Bruce Gold.

VERN:

Well, like I said, Mrs. Hess, we’re

checking some things on our end.

But anything you could tell us --

about yer husband’s business, or --

BRUCE GOLD:

Appreciate the visit, Vern. But

Mrs. Hess had no kind of

involvement in Sam’s business.

Frankly, she’s mystified.

39.

(MORE) TV Calling - For educational purposes only

Her husband being a pillar of the

community and all. I mean, heck,

voted Saint Cloud Businessman of

the Year, 1996 and 98.

VERN:

Ya. Like I said, it’s a puzzler.

But if you or these big fellas have

any information --

Mickey comes back from the kitchen, stands in the doorway.

MOE:

(mouths)

Who was it?

Mickey waves Moe over (come outside and I’ll tell ya). The

two go to the front door.

VERN:

-- about enemies Mr. Hess mighta

made or --

There is a HOCKEY STICK resting against the wall. Mickey

GRABS it on his way out.

VERN (CONT’D)

-- you know, differences he mighta

had with certain individuals, well,

we’d appreciate the sharing of such

information.

GINA HESS:

When do I get the fat bastard’s

body back?

BRUCE GOLD:

Gina.

Vern and Molly exchange a look. Through the LIVING ROOM

WINDOW we see Mickey and Moe walk out into the front yard,

Mickey holding the hockey stick.

VERN:

Well, there’ll be an autopsy today.

And they’re real delicate with

that. I wanna reassure you. You

won’t be able to tell a thing.

MOLLY:

Ya. It’s amazin’ what those fellas

can do. My aunt had a stroke in

the bathtub. Just real bloated

when they found her.

40.

BRUCE GOLD (CONT'D)

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

Outside, MICKEY CLOBBERS MOE with a hockey stick. Moe

staggers. Mickey hits him again.

MOLLY (CONT’D)

Puffed up like a fish. But -- what

do ya know? -- we had an open

casket.

Moe goes down. Mickey BEATS him mercilessly.

GINA HESS:

(stares at Molly)

What the hell are you talking

about?

MOLLY:

-- just, they do nice work is --

Molly glances out the window, sees Moe on the ground, taking

a beating.

MOLLY (CONT’D)

Chief! 217! 217!

She sprints for the door and out into the yard. We watch

through the window as she TACKLES Mickey.

CUT TO:

INT. POLICE CAR (TRAVELING). SAINT CLOUD, MN - DAY

Mickey sits in back, handcuffed. Molly drives. Vern is in

the passenger seat.

MOLLY:

I don’t understand. Why would ya

do a thing like that? And to yer

own brother.

Mickey says nothing. They drive in silence.

CUT TO:

INT. LESTER’S CAR. SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA - DAY

Lester is driving to work. As he passes the Farmdale Motel,

he sees Lorne Malvo exit his room. Lester slows, watches

Malvo go into the Arby’s next door.

LESTER NYGAARD:

What the heck?

CUT TO:

41.

TV Calling - For educational purposes only

INT. INSURANCE AGENCY. SAINT CLOUD, MINNESOTA - DAY

Lester Nygaard arrives for work. He takes off his puffy

coat, hangs it on the coat rack. His boss, BO MUNK (50s)

comes over.

BO:

Heya, Lester.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Oh, hiya, Bo.

BO:

What happened to yer face there?

LESTER NYGAARD:

Ya know that spot near the fire

station?

BO:

Where they wash the trucks?

LESTER NYGAARD:

Yah, slipped on the ice.

BO:

Ouch. Say, Lester. I needya ta

pull the policy for Sam Hess.

LESTER NYGAARD:

(beat)

For -- who now?

BO:

Sam Hess, owns the truck depot over

on Winslow. You know. Big fella.

Well, he’s dead.

The color goes out of Lester’s face.

LESTER NYGAARD:

Oh ya?

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