Jaws Page #4

CLOSE - ACCIDENT REPORT

Brody has just typed the girl's name. He skips the space for

Cause-of-Death, and just under it types the Next-of-Kin

information he has collected from her wallet.

POLLY:

Searle's Rent-a-Bike, the Rainy Ale,

Tisberry's Hardware... they say it's

those nine-year-olds from the school

practicing karate on all those nice

picket fences.

The phone rings and Polly picks it up.

POLLY:

It's the Coroner. Somebody pass away

in the night?

Brody nestles the phone between ear and collar, listening,

as he turns to the typewriter.

BRODY:

Jesus, Santos.

INSERT - ACCIDENT REPORT

Cause-of-Death line rolls into place. The hammers punch out:

SHARK ATTACK.

BRODY:

leans forward, staring at what he just wrote. Polly c*cks

her head and removes the phone from his ear.

POLLY:

What's the matter?

Brody takes a breath. A new resolve comes over him.

BRODY:

Polly, I want to know what water

recreation is on for today.

POLLY:

Right this minute?

Brody gets up and moves hastily toward the door.

BRODY'S OUTER OFFICE

Cassidy and Hendricks look up as Brody enters.

BRODY:

(To Hendricks)

Where'd you hide the 'Beach Closed'

signs?

HENDRICKS:

We never had any. What's the problem?

A local merchant comes through the door.

LOCAL MERCHANT:

Glad I caught you. There's a city

truck with New Hampshire plates parked

right in front of my...

Brody pushes past him and out the door.

EXT. AMITY MAIN STREET – DAY

In the busy center of a town preparing for the big Fourth of

July weekend, Brody wends his way around sidewalk activity,

purpose and haste in each stride. As he turns a corner a

little man in a white smock emerges from the Funeral Parlor.

This is Carl Santos, Amity's part-time coroner. Santos looks

both ways before crossing Colonial Drive.

Brody passes Keisel's Bicycle Rental, navigating an awkward

course through an odd assortment of Schwinns that line the

sidewalk in front of a demolished white picket fence. Keisel

intercepts Brody on the run.

KEISEL:

(he stares at Brody's

face)

Wait-a-minute.

(stares some more)

Glasses, right?

Brody nods yes, and starts to move away, but Keisel holds on

to him.

KEISEL:

Look at those fences! Little guys

about eight to ten years old. And

look at this!

He holds up bicycle. The bicycle's spokes are bent and broken

from some sort of blows.

KEISEL:

They did that with their bare hands.

BRODY:

Call me later in the day, okay, Harry?

ANGLE - AMITY GAZETTE NEWSPAPER OFFICE - PORCH

Santos emerges with Ben Meadows, the stylish, late-thirties

editor of the Amity Gazette. Together they cut a beeline for

the other side of the street.

ANGLE - AMITY STREET

Past taverns and chowder shacks, past bleacher construction

and July Fourth posters, Brody enters Hardware and Sporting

Goods... so overstocked that beach umbrellas, aluminum deck

chairs, and rainbow beach towels splash a surplus of color

from the display window to the sidewalk.

INT. HARDWARE STORE – DAY

The store proprietor is busy at work on an inventory list

with a mainland delivery man.

LYNWOOD:

Stuff's no good to me in August when

the Pilgrims come in June...

(to Brody)

Go on and help yourself to whatever

you need, Chief. Can you work the

register?

EXT. HARDWARE STORE AND STREET - DAY

Brody emerges with enough poster-board, wooden stakes, nails,

paint, and brushes to close every beach on the island. He

starts back the way he came when Hendricks shoots up the

street in the patrol jeep. He stops fast enough to call

attention, leans out the window.

HENDRICKS:

Polly told me to tell you there's a

scout troop in Avril Bay doing the

mile swim for their Merit Badges. I

couldn't call them in, there's no

phone out there.

BRODY:

(hands him the sign

material)

Get out of there – take these back

to the office and make up some 'Beach

Closed' signs, and let Polly do the

printing.

HENDRICKS:

What's the matter with my printing?

EXT. VAUGHN'S REALTY – DAY

Revealing Larry Vaughn, the Mayor of Amity, exchanging

anxieties with Ben Meadows and Coroner Santos and two other

city Selectmen. They come out in a group, reach the sunlight,

and squint down the street as Brody careens around the corner

and out of sight. Deputy Hendricks, laden with his arts and

crafts, passes them on the street front.

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