Get Carter Page #13

DOREEN:

You mean sweating like a pig in

the summer and freezing your tits

off in the winter?

The two laugh.

JACK:

It’s called a White Christmas.

F.A.O. Schwartz, ice skating in

Rockefeller Plaza, snowballs...

DOREEN:

When have you ever gone ice

skating? I’d pay money to see

that one.

The two share a laugh.

DOREEN:

What do you do for a living?

Jack looks over to the Waitress and taps his watch.

(CONTINUED)

80.

CONTINUED:

DOREEN:

(waiting for answer)

Uncle Jack?

JACK:

What did your dad tell you?

DOREEN:

Nothing. I wasn’t allowed to ask

about you.

JACK:

Well, there you go then.

DOREEN:

My mom says you’re a compulsive

gambler.

JACK:

You’re only compulsive when you

lose.

DOREEN:

So you make a lot of money?

JACK:

Enough.

DOREEN:

More than a million?

(no response)

More than two million?

JACK:

Doreen, didn’t your dad teach you

it’s impolite to ask about

someone’s income?

DOREEN:

Yes, but... I’m curious how you do

it. I mean, like, what’s the

process?

JACK:

You don’t want to hear this,

Doreen.

DOREEN:

Yes, I do. Come on. Tell me.

The Waitress finally drops off the check and Jack pulls

out his money roll. Doreen stares at it in disbelief but

doesn’t say anything.

(CONTINUED)

81.

CONTINUED:

JACK:

Do you know what a ’bookie’ is?

(as she nods)

Well, the way it works is I have

an 800 number people can call if

they want to place a bet. Rather

than using names, they are

designated a personal code. The

people then call message

recorders, which are set up in an

empty apartment, and the person

leaves a message saying their

code, who they want and for how

much. My people retrieve the

messages and I bankroll it.

Pretty simple.

DOREEN:

So you never go to the apartment?

JACK:

Never.

DOREEN:

So you never get your hands dirty?

JACK:

Almost never. I’ve had a few

brushes. But don’t tell your

mother.

Doreen sips her coffee as Jack takes another bite.

DOREEN:

Have you ever killed anyone?

JACK:

Why would you ask me that? Come

on, we have to go.

Jack stands and Doreen walks with him.

STEADY ON the two as they make their way outside.

DOREEN:

Answer me.

JACK:

No, I’ve never killed anyone.

Everyone seems to pay up.

DOREEN:

Would you ever kill anyone?

The two exit the diner.

82.

EXT. OLDS

Jack opens her door. Doreen looks serious. Jack smiles

and shakes her head.

JACK:

Our father instilled something in

your Dad and I. He used to say

the only way to keep the devil

away from your door is to always

offer others a second chance. So

far I’ve been fortunate. Now get

in.

She gets in the Olds and Jack slams the door.

CUT TO:

EXT. DESERT -DAYBREAK

The Oldsmobile slices west on the highway, back to L.A.

INT. OLDSMOBILE -JACK AND DOREEN

Doreen can only stare at him.

DOREEN:

You’re so much like him. Your

mannerisms, your facial

expressions...

(as Jack smiles)

The fact that neither of you will

step foot on an airplane.

(as Jack looks over)

He told me and my mom all about

that one. How you guys held

hands... how you dropped five

thousand feet before the pilot

pulled you out of it. I think I

would’ve killed myself.

JACK:

It was the worst feeling in the

world, being helpless like that.

Having to rely on someone you

can’t see.

DOREEN:

You don’t see the train conductor.

JACK:

Yes, but I’m on the ground.

(CONTINUED)

83.

CONTINUED:

She nods, laughs, and glances east to catch the first

rays of sunlight. After a long moment of silence -

DOREEN:

I don’t think he died

accidentally.

JACK:

What? Why do you say that?

Doreen is silent. Jack pulls over to the side of the

road and throws the Olds into "Park."

JACK:

Doreen, tell me why you think

that. Does this have anything to

do with your mother?

Doreen stares at him, shakes her head and tears form.

DOREEN:

I don’t know. I just do.

She breaks into tears. Jack slides over in the seat and

consoles her.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GLORIA’ GARAGE

The door automatically closes. Jack carries a sleeping

Doreen to the front door.

INT. DOREEN’S BEDROOM -TIGHT ON JACK

He tucks Doreen in and watches her sleep. He turns to a

CREAK behind him.

QUICKLY TO Gloria. A sexy nightie and a baseball bat.

GLORIA:

(angry)

Have yourself a good time last

night?

JACK:

(smirking)

I even brought a girl home.

Gloria looks to the bed and sees Doreen. She puts the

bat down and sits beside her.

(CONTINUED)

84.

CONTINUED:

GLORIA:

Is she okay?

JACK:

She’s just tired.

Gloria caresses her face and kisses her. Jack and Gloria

make their way out of the room.

INT. HALLWAY -JACK AND GLORIA

They stand face-to-face and whisper.

JACK:

I have this feeling you’re not

being entirely honest with me.

GLORIA:

What do you mean?

JACK:

What was he into that you haven’t

told me about yet?

GLORIA:

Who? Frank?

JACK:

Yes. There was something he was

hiding, Gloria. And I think you

might know what it is.

GLORIA:

Oh, I do. You know what? Get the

hell outta here. What are you

saying? That I was involved in

killing my husband!

JACK:

You know I didn’t mean it like

that!

GLORIA:

Well, that’s what it sounded like!

JACK:

I know. And I’m sorry. I just...

GLORIA:

You know, I think it’s about time

for you to leave, Jack.

(CONTINUED)

85.

CONTINUED:

Jack locks eyes with Gloria. After a long stare-off, he

nods his head.

JACK:

Would you mind if I cleaned myself

up first? I’ve got blood on me.

(as she looks

skeptical)

I’ll be outta here in ten minutes.

(as she finally nods)

Thank you.

Jack makes his way into the bathroom.

GLORIA:

No, that shower’s clogged. You’ll

have to use mine.

INT. GLORIA’S BEDROOM -JACK

Towel around waist, he passes Gloria on his way into the

bathroom. She watches him close the door behind him and

looks at his folded pile of clothes and holsters.

INT. BATHROOM -JACK

turns on the shower faucet. As steam starts to billow,

he stares into his reflection in the glass door.

CUT TO:

EXT. GRAY VOLVO -EARLY MORNING

The car speeds through a yellow light.

INT. VOLVO -SAME TIME

Two unseen men head down the street. The gloved

passenger produces a .357 Magnum and spins on a silencer.

INT. BATHROOM -JACK

steps into shower.

INT. VOLVO -SAME TIME

Hands discharge the magazine and shove shells into it.

86.

INT. BATHROOM -SHOWER

Jack soaps up.

EXT. GLORIA’S VALLEY SUBURB HOUSE -CONTINUOUS ACTION

The Volvo pulls parallel to the house and the still

unseen men now put on black ski masks.

STEADY ON PASSENGER

He steals across the lawn, gun ready. At the front door,

he presses the silencer tip to the LOCK and SHATTERS it.

He creeps inside.

INT. BATHROOM -SHOWER

Jack wets his hair.

INT. DOREEN’S BEDROOM -SKI MASK POV

The man studies Doreen sleeping. He decides against

taking her out and heads for the stairs.

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