Frequency Page #28

Satch steps into the study...1969.

FRANK:

Okay, I'm on it.

(sees Satch)

Hey.

SATCH:

Hello, Frank.

Frank's hand lifts off the squawk bar. He notes Satch's tone

and demeanor.

FRANK:

What are you doing here, Satch? You off

today?

JOHN (O.S.)

(over the HAM)

Dad, you there?

SATCH:

Frank, we need to talk...

FRANK:

(into radio)

John, hold on a second.

(to Satch)

I'm in the middle of something important

here. You mind if...

Frank suddenly spots something through the front window.

Satch's partner, PHIL HAYES, and TWO UNIFORMS out at the

curb.

Half a penny drops. All his senses go on alert. And

instinct kicks...he hits the squawk bar.

FRANK (CONT'D)

Satch, you gotta just give me...Satch is

here John. You hear me? Satch is here.

SATCH:

I'm sorry, Frank, but you need to come

outside.

Frank releases the squawk bar.

Johnny and Gordo remain fixed on the game, oblivious to

anything else. In the kitchen, we can see Julia moving

around putting away the groceries.

JOHN (O.S.)

(over the HAM)

Dad, what the hell is going on?

FRANK:

(into mic)

Just a minute, John...okay? Don't go

away.

Julia now becomes aware of the tension in the voices in the

other room. She looks outside and sees Phil and the

uniforms. She looks at Frank and Satch with confusion.

Frank hits the squawk bar again. He wants John to hear this.

FRANK (CONT'D)

What is going on here, Satch? What are

those guys doing out there?

SATCH:

I think you know, Frank.

FRANK:

No, I don't.

SATCH:

Let's go outside and talk. We need to do

that.

FRANK:

About what?

SATCH:

Let's go. Do us both a favor.

A long beat. Frank sees Julia staring at them. She is now a

bundle of growing anxiety. Frank stands up.

FRANK:

Okay.

(to Julia)

It's okay, Bud. I'll be right back.

(into radio)

Stay there, John.

And then he and Satch walk out the front door.

EXT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - FRONT YARD - CONTINUOUS

...and towards a spot halfway between the house and the cops.

From inside the house, Johnny and Gordo have begun to take in

the activity.

SATCH:

Where were you last night, Frank?

The rest of the penny drops. Frank stalls, trying to think

FRANK:

What do you mean?

SATCH:

Do you know where I found this?

And he hands FRANK his missing DRIVER'S LICENSE. Frank looks

like a truck hit him.

SATCH (CONT'D)

415 Greenwich St. #302. Under the body

of a murdered woman.

FRANK:

No. This isn't what you think.

SATCH:

I wanna be wrong here. But we need to go

to the precinct and talk about it.

FRANK:

Okay, okay. I need to go say something

to Julia and finish up with the guy on

the radio.

SATCH:

You can talk to Julia. Forget the radio.

Frank nods. Takes stock of the cops by the cars and heads

back into the house.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Julia, who has been watching through a front room window with

Johnny, moves to meet Frank. Behind Frank, Satch signals

Phil and the uniforms that all is okay, giving Frank a couple

of steps on him.

Frank steps into the house and wraps his arms around Julia,

turning so he can see both Satch outside and where he wants

to go inside.

FRANK:

Trust me, Bud. Do that for me.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - STUDY - CONTINUOUS

Frank moves Julia toward teh desk, lulling Satch a moment,

then quickly steps to the HAM radio and hits the squawk bar.

FRANK:

John, you there?

JOHN (O.S.)

(over the HAM)

Yeah, Dad. What the hell is going on?

FRANK:

Satch is busting me for Sissy Clark's

murder. John...

Julia stares dumbfounded at Frank.

SATCH (O.S.)

Frank.

Satch strides by Julia and reaches to take Frank's elbow.

Frank wheels at the sound of his name and the touch, and he

lurches back from Satch.

FRANK:

...you gotta help me, Chief.

-- and the movement yanks the mic cord to the radio tight,

dragging it to the edge of the desk.

Johnny tears into the room and clutches onto his mother.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

SATCH:

That's not the deal, Frank. Don't do

this to your family.

And Frank throws his hands up in front of his chest in an "I

give up" gesture.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes