Fletch Page #10

FLETCH:

Have you ever heard the name Jim Swarthout?

MRS. STANWYK

Swarthout. Yes. He's the man who sold us the ranch in ---

FLETCH:

Wrong. He sold you $3,000 worth of scrub brush.

MRS. STANWYK

But I've seen the deed.

FLETCH:

You saw a forgery.

He takes out his photographs.

FLETCH:

That's the real deed.

162-A INSERT - PHOTO OF DEED

It's is so fuzzy, shaky, and poorly framed that there's no way we can read the price on it.

FLETCH (O.S.)

Now, if this were at all legible, you'd believe me.

162-B MASTER

Fletch shows her more of the photos.

FLETCH:

Here's this dog that tried to eat me.

Here's my motel. Here's the car I rented....

MRS. STANWYK

Stop it.

(angry and concerned)

Are you saying my husband is defrauding me?

FLETCH:

I don't know. All I know is that he told me a lot

of things and so far not one of them has been true.

Mrs. Stanwyk stares at Fletch. She gets a little teary.

FLETCH:

I'm really sorry I have to tell you all this.

MR. UNDERHILL (O.S.)

Mrs. Stanwyk?

MRS. STANWYK

(really screams)

Just wait, all right?!?

(to Fletch)

I'm going to call my father. He'll know what ---

Fletch stops her.

FLETCH:

No. You can't. Look, I know you don't know me from

Adam, but you've got to trust me.

MRS. STANWYK

Trust you? I may seem a little goofy at times, but

I'm not a complete Bozo, you know.

FLETCH:

Just give me twenty-four hours. Please. Someone

almost killed me today. People are not being nice

lately, and I don't want you getting hurt. I think you're

terrific. Are you a Laker fan?

Gail is now teary, confused, and scared.

MRS. STANWYK

No...I've got to go to Mr. Underhill....

FLETCH:

I'll take you to a game.

MRS. STANWYK

What are you talking about?

FLETCH:

I'm talking about how much I'd like to take you

to a Laker game.

MRS. STANWYK

Wait a second. What am I supposed to do

for twenty-four hours?

FLETCH:

(climbing out window)

Act natural.

MRS. STANWYK

I was afraid you'd say that.

FLETCH:

If you need me, call the paper. Hand

me that extra bottle okay?

163 EXT. CABANA

Gail opens the door where Mr. Underhill has been waiting.

MRS. STANWYK

Sorry. Here.

(grabs the bill from his hand)

Thanks. Bye.

She closes the door in his face.

164 OMITTED

165 EXT. BOYD AVIATION - PARKING LOT

Alan Stanwyk crosses the parking lot and gets into his Jaguar. He starts the engine, backs out of his reserved space, and pulls out of the lot.

166 ANOTHER ANGLE - PARKING LOT

Fletch is reading a copy of Sports Illustrated. He puts it down, starts his car, and pulls out of the lot.

167 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD

Stanwyk's Jaguar tools down Santa Monica Boulevard. Fletch's car follows, several discreet car lengths behind.

168 INT. JAGUAR

Stanwyk checks his watch, and makes a turn.

169 MASTER

Stanwyk has pulled into a service station. He gets out of his car and opens the trunk.

170 FLETCH

He pulls into a fast-food joint on the west side of the street. He opens the Sports Illustrated and peers over it.

171 STANWYK

He takes a gas can from the trunk, goes to the pump, fills it, and pays the attendant in cash.

172 FLETCH

Curious.

173 STANWYK

He puts the gas can back in the trunk, gets into the car, and starts off.

174 FLETCH

follows suit.

175 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD

We are getting into the increasingly rundown section of Santa Monica. The Jaguar turns off. Hold: Several beats later, Fletch turns off.

176 OVERPASS

A freeway overpass. Stanwyk stops his car.

177 FLETCH'S CAR

He pulls off behind a liquor store, in view of the overpass. Fletch waits.

178 OVERPASS

A second car pulls up behind Stanwyk's. A cop steps out and says something to Stanwyk. Stanwyk gets out of his car and walks over to the unmarked police car, and gets in.

178-A FLETCH

takes out his binoculars.

178-B FLETCH'S POINT OF VIEW

Because he's looking through the reflection of sunlight on the back window of the unmarked police car, Fletch's point of view is fuzzy, but we can just make out the form of someone else in animated conversation with Stanwyk.

178-C FLETCH

A moment of possible recognition. He focuses intently.

178-D FLETCH'S POINT OF VIEW - THE OTHER MAN IN THE CAR

with Stanwyk...is Police Chief Cummings.

179 FLETCH

FLETCH:

Jesus.

He starts up his car and backs out.

DISSOLVE TO:

180 EXT. FLETCH'S APARTMENT HOUSE

Fletch pulls up to his house and stops the car.

181 INT. CAR

Fletch looks around.

182 EXT. HOUSE

Fletch doesn't leave the car.

183 INT. CAR

Fletch sits put, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. He just has a feeling. He starts the car up, and pulls out.

184 EXT. HOUSE

Two cop cars, concealed in driveways, scream out, heading after Fletch's car.

185 INT. FLETCH'S CAR

Fletch sees them in the rearview and stomps on the gas.

FLETCH:

Should've known. Goddamn it.

186 EXT. STREETS

Fletch floors it.

FLETCH:

Great. First I'll get a speeding ticket,

then they'll shoot me. Terrific.

Fletch cuts through the parking lot of a drug store/dry cleaning complex. The cop cars follow suit. Shopping wagons are tossed about. He turns a corner and realizes he has a few seconds before they're on top of him again. He screeches up next to a teenager in a sports car.

FLETCH:

All right, fella, smog check. Move over.

Before the guy can say "who?", Fletch is in the guy's driver seat and tears out, hell bent for leather.

187 ENTRANCE TO FREEWAY

Fletch peels off onto the Santa Monica Freeway.

188 FREEWAY

Fletch hits about ninety. So do the cops. Now a motorcycle cop joins the chase.

189 OMITTED

189-A INT. SPORTS CAR

TEENAGER:

Holy sh*t!

FLETCH:

Sorry, youngster, but we have to see what kind of

fluorocarbons this thing puts out at ninety-five.

TEENAGER:

Holy sh*t!

FLETCH:

Don't worry about the speed limit. That's

what the police escort's for.

190 EXT. FREEWAY

Indeed, behind them is a gaggle of speeding cop cars and motorcycles.

TEENAGER (O.S.)

Holy sh*t!

Fletch cuts across two lanes of traffic and gets off the freeway. He loses the motorcycle cop who goes past the exit. The squad cars are thrown behind a bit, but still chase.

191 INT. SQUAD CAR

COP #1

Sh*t! He'll kill us if we lose him.

191-A INT. SPORTS CAR

The teenager is sweating bullets.

TEENAGER:

Okay, okay, just stop, will you. I admit

it. I stole it. I was just taking it for

a little joy ride, that's all....

FLETCH:

Holy sh*t.

191-B EXT. CAR

Fletch squeals around a corner, runs a light, and booms into the parking lot of a large Holiday Inn. He's a few seconds ahead of the cops.

FLETCH:

Okay, kid. Just stand here with your hands

on the car and wait for the cops. I gotta pee.

Here, take my hat.

Fletch pops his hat on the kid's head, and runs off.

192 EXT. HOLIDAY INN

Fletch runs into the kitchen entrance of the Holiday Inn.

193 INT. HOLIDAY INN KITCHEN

Fletch picks up a case of vegetables and walks through as if he belonged there.

Moments later, two cops enter.

194 THE COPS

can't see him because of the crate.

195 INT. HOLIDAY INN - BANQUET ROOM

A testimonial dinner is in progress. A sign on the wall reads:

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