Insomnia Page #23

He points to his hearing-aid.

WALTER (cont'd)

Congenital problem.

The ferry's engine HUMS to a stop. Walter smiles.

WALTER (cont'd)

Oh. We're here.

EXT. GENDREAU GLACIER - DAY

Gendreau Glacier. Spilling down between two huge mountains.

Enormous in its whiteness, its coldness, its silent power.

Will and Walter walk up its face, away from the other

tourists. Walter leads the way. Hands in his pockets.

WALTER:

You know this glacier moves a quarter of

an inch every day?

He points off to the horizon.

WALTER (cont'd)

And on a clear day you can see all the

way over to Newtok. There's a beautiful

aviary over there. We can go sometime.

Will's lip curls. Watching him.

WALTER (cont'd)

It's actually cool for this time of year.

Normally the temperature runs about...

SUDDENLY Will lunges at him. Walter's eyes widen in surprise

as he grabs him up by the collar. Nose to nose. Will barely

keeping control.

WILL:

You think this is a nice meeting we're

having here? Friendly? Two people

getting acquainted?

(jerks him harder)

You sick, coward, f***. I get up every

morning of my life just to bring someone

like you down. Beating a seventeen year-

old girl to death. Washing her

afterwards, cleaning her. Make you feel

like a real man?

(tightens his grip)

Huh?

Walter flounders.

WILL (cont'd)

I outta end this right now. Take a rock

and smash your f***ing skull in...

His jaws tense, nostrils flare. Walter, red-faced,

sputtering...

WALTER:

I stood right behind you...I saw you look

right into his eyes and shoot him...

Will clenches his teeth.

WALTER (cont'd)

...Seattle's great hero. Shooting his

own partner. I saw it all...

WILL:

That was an accident! You hear me? I

didn't know it was him!

(shakes him hard)

I didn't know it was him!

Just then a SHRIEK. Will looks over

A COUPLE KIDS. Further down the glacier. Having a snowball

fight.

Will looks back at Walter. Has to take it easy. Shoves him

away in disgust. Walter falls down onto the snow. Dislodges

his hearing aid.

Watches Will pace. Head throbbing. Ribs, screaming in pain.

WALTER:

Then why lie about it?

Walter brushes the snow off the dislodged hearing aid. Puts

it back around his ear.

WALTER (cont'd)

I mean, I'm all for bending the truth.

That's what I do in my novels. It's my

trade you might say. But why cover it

up?

Gets up. Brushes the snow from his butt. Checks something

in his pocket.

WALTER (cont'd)

You don't have to tell me if you don't

want to. I'm sure you have some reason.

Something noble. I have faith in that.

Looks down at the kids. Shakes his head.

WALTER (cont'd)

They should be bundled up better.

WILL:

What's your game, Byrd?

Walter turns back to him.

WALTER:

No game.

WILL:

The phone call. The knapsack.

Walter shrugs.

WALTER:

I figured we're partners on this one. I

mean, after what I saw...

Will stops short. Eyes burning. It's all he can do not to

throttle this weed.

WILL:

Let's get one thing straight, Byrd. We are

partners on nothing.

Walter looks at him. Scratches his head.

WALTER:

I research my novels. I know the

procedures. You'd have cuffed me back at

the ferry. You'd have called for back-

up, read me my rights, and gotten a

search warrant for my apartment. You're

a well-respected detective. There's

no reason for you to be talking to me

right now...

He takes out a handkerchief. Blows his nose.

WALTER (cont'd)

...except that we could help each other.

Will stares at him.

WALTER (cont'd)

So. We're at an impasse.

Will runs his hands through his hair. Half-crazed. Heart

pounding. Turns to watch...

THE KIDS down the glacier. Making angels in the snow. Their

GIGGLES carried along by the wind.

Will, squeezes his eyes shut. Trapped. About to defy every

instinct in his body.

WILL:

(sotto)

You're going to get a phone call.

Walter steps up, tapping his hearing aid.

WALTER:

I'm sorry?

WILL:

I said you're going to get a phone call.

WALTER:

(perks up)

Oh?

WILL:

Kay Connell had a signed copy of one of

your books.

WALTER:

Thought you might find that.

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