Gold

EXT. THE JUNGLES OF INDONESIA - DAY

A NATIVE slashes through thick foliage, leading a patrol of

INDONESIAN MILITARY -- shouted commands and radio chatter.

The tribesmen hack through the perimeter of the brush and the

party emerges onto the wide silt bank of a muddy river.

Suddenly WILD BOAR let out a chorus of squeals and scatter

into the brush, and there, splayed on the river bank, we find-

A BODY.

One of the soldiers approaches -- the stench is palpable --

the body already decomposing.

The soldier finds a wallet, checks the ID -- we don’t see the

identity. The Soldier speaks into his radio.

SOLDIER:

(Indonesian)

We have the body...

While from the jungle the eyes of a wild pig can be seen

peering out, waiting to resume its meal.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DIMLY LIT ROOM - DAY

A hand tosses ice into a low ball. Realizes there’s no booze.

Into the cabinet, finds a stashed bottle. The MAN pours a

healthy measure of whiskey. KENNY WELLS (40’s), unshaven,

takes a long drink, masking his nerves. He is a about an inch

from total collapse.

WELLS:

Sure I can’t pour you one?

VOICE (O.S.)

No, thanks. I’m working.

The VOICE is calm, in control, authoritarian.

WELLS:

All the more reason.

2.

VOICE (O.S.)

Wells, sit. We’ve got a lot to cover.

WELLS:

Here I am. Fire away.

Wells raises his glass in a mock toast. He will not be rushed.

He’s got an easy smile and sparkling eyes -- but his face

tells the story of a man acquainted with his whiskey.

VOICE (O.S.)

How did you meet Michael Acosta?

WELLS:

The first time or the second time?

VOICE (O.S.)

How did you meet him, Wells?

WELLS:

You sure you don’t want a drink?

You’re making me nervous.

Wells sits and faces us. Off the silence --

WELLS (CONT’D)

April of ‘88 -- I had three properties

crap out on me in six week period.

SIERRA NEVADA RANGE... TILT DOWN to find Reno against it...

EXT. RENO, NEVADA - DAY

SUPER:
Reno, Nevada... April, 1988

-- ROULETTE WHEEL SPINNING, reveal it’s in a grocery store.

-- COWS GRAZING scrubland on the edge of town.

-- OLD CASINOS. Dusty ranches. Tourists. Migrant workers.

-- A ONE-ARMED BANDIT, with a gun “arm,” pays out nickels.

...SLOWLY TIGHTENING as if a dry wind carries us to...

EXT. THE THREE GREENHORNS BAR - MORNING

A faded watering hole from the boomtown days.

WELLS (V.O)

I was on the balls of my ass,

scrambling. Not exactly uncharted

waters, but I was in pretty deep...

A beat up ‘79 Caddy Eldorado, covered in a layer of road

grime, it’s bumper held on with wire, pulls into a spot and

dies. For this hour there are already many cars in the lot.

3.

Through a smoky haze, Wells stares out, eyes like a Bukowski

poem. He’s got one lit cigarette as he lights another. Flicks

ashes at the ashtray, misses -- a constellation of burn marks.

WELLS (V.O.)

Ten AM. And I knew the board of

directors had already convened.

INT. THE THREE GREENHORNS BAR - CONTINUOUS

Wells enters like the cock of the walk, back slapping and

waving hellos, a well-liked regular. His suit looks like it

might have been slept in... more than once.

Middle-age men in bad suits with bad hair fill the tables,

working phone lines and yellow pads. These are modern-day

“prospectors,” promoting bottom-feeder mining stocks. Pass a

couple regulars -- CONRAD “CONNIE” WRIGHT (40’s) and SCOTTIE

NEVINS (50’s) -- doing more drinking than working.

A BARMAID concentrates on scratching a lotto ticket that looks

like the slots:
Cherry... Cherry... Cherry! The winning

amount:
$5.00 -

Wells approaches one of the traders, clamping down on his

shoulders with both hands, working out the knots. This is

BOBBY BURNS (50’s), balding, pouring a shot into his coffee.

WELLS:

Bobby Burns!

BURNS:

Oh yeah, that’s the stuff...

WELLS:

You boys hear about this cowboy’s

tombstone that won the contest for

Best Tombstone? The 5 Rules To Follow

For A Happy Life...

Smiles from the guys at the surrounding tables. They all lean

in to listen. Wells clearly loves the attention.

WELLS (CONT’D)

One:
it’s important to have a woman

who helps at home, cooks from time to

time, cleans up and has a job. Two:

it’s important to have a woman who can

make you laugh. Three: it’s important

to have a woman you can trust, and

doesn’t lie to you. Four: it’s

important to have a woman who is good

in bed, and likes to be with you.

(MORE)

4.

WELLS (CONT’D)

(beat)

Five:
it’s very important that these

four women do not know each other or

you could end up dead like me.

Everyone laughs. Wells beams, punctuating the punch-line with

a slap on Burns’s back. Burns calls out to the barmaid --

BURNS:

Whaddayou think, Kay?

KAY is short for KAYLENE, an ex-Jr. Miss Reno, and second

runner-up Jr. Miss Nevada. She loves Joe Montana, horses, and

Kenny, though in reverse order. Kay’s jeans are a half-size

too small, not because she’s trying to be sexy but because

she’s happy.

KAY:

I’ll kill him right now.

More laughter. Wells loudest of all.

WELLS:

(to Burns)

So, whatcha working? Anything I should

know about?

BURNS:

Telmerek. Their Aukland stake, the

bank called the note. I picked up a

bunch of the debt, I gotta flip it

before the call.

WELLS:

Any bites?

BURNS:

Nibbles.

WELLS:

Keep throwing that line.

A pat on the arm and he’s off to the bar where his double

Seagrams is already being poured by ROY BAKER (60’s), sweet

face that’s seen some miles -- like a broken down boxer.

ROY:

A little eye opener, Kenny?

WELLS:

Breakfast of champions, Roy. Breakfast

of champions.

Wells raises his glass in his signature salute.

5.

WELLS (CONT’D)

To the mother lode.

Wells pounds the whiskey and WE GO...

INT. THE THREE GREENHORNS BAR - BACK BOOTH - LATER

Wells sits at his “desk” -- the corner booth in the back of

the bar. Working one of the two phones on the table. He

flicks the ash from his smoke into a half full ashtray.

WELLS:

(into phone)

...It’s an outstanding opportunity,

which is why I’m calling you

personally. The geologic reports are

encouraging and we’re taking a very

aggressive position. We’re looking at

yields in the high six figures.

A prospectus? ...Of course, I can mail

one right out. I should tell you,

though - this offering is already

oversubscribed. I’m taking out of my

own holdings to cover demand but hey,

we can always get you in on the next

one... I understand. Look, why don’t

I give you a ring this afternoon and

we’ll see if there are any parcels

left. Well, if you just give me...

Click. Another one that got away.

WELLS (CONT’D)

You have a pleasant day...

He hangs up the receiver and grabs his drink, a HAND stops it

before it reaches his lips.

KAY:

11:
15, Kenny.

WELLS:

Oh, Christ.

He hops out of the booth. Maybe drinking all morning suddenly

not the best idea.

KAY:

There’s a fresh shirt in the “office.”

WELLS:

Where would I be without you?

5A.

KAY:

Sittin’ right here.

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