Fatal Instinct Page #11

The Older Gentleman sits on the bench across from them. He

opens a paper sack and begins neatly laying his lunch out

next to him. An apple, sandwich, napkin, Mountain Dew.

LANA:

(whispers to Frank)

Speak Yiddish.

FRANK:

What?

LANA:

Red Yiddish.

We see the SUB-TITLE "Speak Yiddish." From this point on,

all their dialog is in YIDDISH... but it appears in ENGLISH

SUB-TITLES across the bottom of the screen.

FRANK:

Ich hobe getracht, efsher iz der

nisht geshtoigen un nisht gefloygen.

(I been thinkin'...

maybe this plan is

too complicated.)

LANA:

Zein nisht azoy meshige! Der plan iz

kosher vi yosher.

(Quit worrying. The

plan is perfect.)

INTERCUT - ANGLE ON OLDER GENTLEMAN

He tosses crumbs of his sandwich to the pigeons, occasionally

glancing up at Frank and Lana. Whenever they speak, however,

his eyes look down toward their legs.

INTERCUT - MEDIUM TWO-SHOT ON FRANK AND LANA

with SUB-TITLES across the bottom of screen, about knee-level.

FRANK:

Yo! Ober mir darfen imvarfen in tsug.

Un schissen un schtippen in vasser

arein. Oy a broch! Mir zenen git

bakackt.

(Yeah, but we gotta

get him on the train,

shoot him... then

push him in the river.

There's a million

ways we can screw

up.)

LANA:

Vus iz mit idr? Die host a vaichen

schmoke?

(You're not going

soft on me, are you?)

FRANK:

Ven hob ich gehat a vaichen schmoke?

(When have I ever

gone soft on you?)

LANA:

Lest'n Yomkippur.

(Last Yom Kippur.)

FRANK:

Nu shoin, ein mul. Es paseert tsie

yeyden man.

(Okay... once! It

happens to every

guy.)

He looks around nervously.

FRANK:

Oy! Mir vellen zein oif groise tsures.

Me'vet unz chap'n.

(We're going to be in

big trouble. They're

going to catch us.)

OLDER GENTLEMAN:

There's very little risk involved.

Statistics reveal that less than

thirty-two percent of all murderers

are ever apprehended.

They both look at him... stunned. A long beat.

LANA:

You speak Yiddish?

OLDER GENTLEMAN:

No. But I can read sub-titles.

Frank and Lana are speechless. But across the bottom of the

screen we see a SUB-TITLE reflecting their thoughts.

SUB-TITLE

Oy vay!

INT. NED'S LAW OFFICE - DAY

Ned enters, carrying the box. He sets it down on her desk.

LAURA:

Oh gee, you shouldn't have...

NED:

I didn't. It's for my wife.

He goes into his office, starts to change out of his tattered

suit. Laura talks to him from the outer office.

LAURA:

She called. Wondered why you never

came home last night. I told her you

were working with a client,

undercover.

She steps into the doorway of his office.

LAURA:

Were you?

NED:

What?

LAURA:

There's lipstick on your collar.

She returns to her desk. Disturbed, Ned quickly pulls the

shirt collar out, checks it.

NED:

No there isn't.

LAURA:

No... there isn't. But you answered

my question. She's a real looker,

huh?

NED:

Who?

LAURA:

Lola Cain.

NED:

I hadn't noticed.

She opens the blinds behind her and looks at Ned through the

window between their offices.

LAURA:

Yeah, I noticed how you hadn't

noticed.

(returns to work)

That's alright. She noticed enough

for both of us.

She picks up a stack of papers from the FAX machine. Ned

steps into the doorway, wearing a clean shirt.

LAURA:

I worry about you, Ned. I worry a

lot.

(hands him papers)

Max Shady's been faxing death threats

to you all morning.

NED:

(reading bits)

...stick a knife in your...

(reacts, next)

...rip the eyeballs out of your...

(next)

...drive razor-sharp spikes under

your...

LAURA:

Did you get to the one...?

NED:

...cut it off... shove it in a

blender.

LAURA:

Yeah... that one.

NED:

(tosses them aside)

He's just getting it out of his

system. Once they say it... they

never do it. You know... like the

President.

There's a KNOCK at the door. They look up to see an ominous

SILHOUETTE of a MAN on the milkglass. Ned starts toward the

door. Laura grabs his arm, stopping him.

LAURA:

(whispers)

Wait. It might be him.

She opens her purse, pulls out a big COLT .45, holding it

out to him. Ned stares at it, taken aback.

NED:

Where did you get that?

LAURA:

(as if obvious)

From my purse.

NED:

What are you doing with it?

LAURA:

(still obvious)

Handing it to you.

NED:

Jeez, Laura, what do you use a gun

for?

LAURA:

You shoot it. A bullet comes out.

Gosh, Ned, after all your years as a

cop, I'd think you'd know these

things.

NED:

Laura... put the gun away.

He hands the gun back to her... goes to the door... opens

it. There's a young DELIVERY MAN holding a bouquet of flowers.

DELIVERY MAN:

(checks card)

Flowers for Ned Rav...

(looks up)

Hey... aren't you that lawyer guy?

Man, you are dead meat!

Ned grabs the flowers, slams the door. Laura takes the

envelope from the flowers... opens it.

LAURA:

Is this another sick joke from Max

Shady?

She looks at the card... her expression turning cold.

NED:

What is it...?

LAURA:

(hands it to him)

Lola Cain.

She grabs the flowers... takes them into the bathroom.

LAURA:

I'll put these in water for you.

Ned opens the envelope. An audio cassette drops into his

hand. Written on the label: PLAY ME.

From the bathroom, we hear the LOUD SOUND of a TOILET

FLUSHING.

INT. NED'S CAR - NIGHT

It's raining. Ned pops the cassette into the tape player.

LOLA'S VOICE

Ned, darling... I know this seems

like a strange way to talk with you...

but since you won't take my calls, I

have no other choice.

(then suddenly)

Watch it! That red car's turning

left!

Ned swerves to avoid a collision, HONKING his horn.

LOLA'S VOICE

I love you, Ned. We're meant to be

together... forever.

(then suddenly)

The light's changing! Floor it! Go!

Go! Go!

Ned guns it!... accelerating through a yellow light.

LOLA'S VOICE

Nice move!

(then sincere again)

Nothing can keep us apart, Ned. Not

even your wife. I'd hate to have to

tell her about us, but if necessary...

I will.

We see HEADLIGHTS behind Ned's car.

INT. LOLA'S CAR - NIGHT

She is following him, her eyes intense, obsessed. Dizzy sits

in the back seat, noodling softly on his saxophone.

INT. NED'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Ned steps into the living room carrying the box. Lana comes

down the stairs, pulling on a bathrobe.

LANA:

What happened to you last night?

NED:

(guilty as charged)

Why? What have you heard?

LANA:

(sarcastic)

You could have called. But then, I

suppose you were tied up.

NED:

(reflecting back)

Only part of the time.

LANA:

I never know when you're coming home,

Ned. How can I ever make any plans?

In the b.g., through the window, WE SEE Frank drop from the

second floor, right onto the seat of a waiting motorcycle.

He ZOOMS OFF into the night.

Ned steps up behind Lana, slips his arms around her.

NED:

I promise I'll spend more time with

you. I know it's been rough, being

alone so much. But I'll make it up

to you. Maybe we should try again,

you know... to have a baby.

She rolls her eyes at this... changes the subject.

LANA:

So what's in the box?

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