Jennifer 8 Page #36

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HELENA:

Then why didn't he kill me?

Back at the booze and he's almost inaudible "Stop it, will you?"

Why didn't he kill me, John?

Something snaps in BERLIN and he throws his glass at the grate.

BERLIN:

Will you fucken stop it. I'm not

Serato .. He didn't kill you coz

he wasn't here .. he isn't in the

room with you, and lets you live ..

And just as suddenly he's full of remorse. Takes HELENA in his

arms with a lot of sorrys. But she isn't interested in apology.

There's a passion in her face. And fire even in her blind eyes.

HELENA:

Kiss me, John .. Kiss me [he does]

I love you, kiss me again [he does]

I love you .. Are my lips lying to

you? Kiss my mouth [he does] Is my

mouth lying to you? He. Was. Here.

144:
INT. GARAGE. HOUSE. NIGHT.

Music slams in on the cut. Berlin is about to take this garage

to pieces. He searches cans and boxes and stacked timber. What

ever it is his eyes are looking. The Camera looks down from ab-

ove. Bits & pieces all over the floor but he discovers nothing.

145:
INT. BATHROOM/BEDROOM. HOUSE. NIGHT.

Close on a hand searching underside of the bath. Pipes and cob-

webs. He reaches toward the taps. His hand is literally inches

from the Walther (taped to the end of the tub). Fingers almost

touch it. Just a fingernail away when HELENA interrupts "John?"

HELENA (O.S.)

I just remembered something ..

And BERLIN rolls out and stares up like a mechanic under a car.

He used a breath freshener.

BERLIN:

A "breath freshener?"

HELENA stands in the doorway and BERLIN is already on his feet.

HELENA:

I heard it hiss, twice.

BERLIN wipes a thought through his hair with fingers. "I don't

know what that means." Walks past into the bedroom. Everything

taken apart. Every drawer open and the bed heaped with clothes.

BERLIN:

... he's either here to take

something .. or leave some-

thing .. I don't find nothing ..

146:
INT. LIVING ROOM. HOUSE. NIGHT.

BERLIN pours last of the whisky. Looks totally snuffed out. He

and HELENA sit on the same sofa but the atmosphere puts them a

mile apart. A yellow pad on the table covered in notes. BERLIN

swallows scotch and reads to himself "I guess we all got lucky?"

HELENA:

You gotta stop drinking, darling.

Another mouthful of scotch & she hears the glass hit the table.

He's glad you're drinking. Every

drink you take you're helping him.

BERLIN:

He doesn't need my help.

HELENA:

I know about alcohol, John.

BERLIN:

You do?

HELENA:

I'm blind because my father drank.

That's what she knows about alcohol and he'd prefer to be dead.

I lost everyone I ever loved .. I

lost my hopes .. my future .. I'm

in love with you, John .. I don't

want them to take you away from me ..

147:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM. POLICE STATION. DAY.

St ANNE is close enough to kiss BERLIN. Right into his space &

talking right into his face. And today he's not in a good mood.

St ANNE

He humiliated you. In front of every

one .. In front of a bunch of secret-

aries? .. Well, that would piss any-

one off? ... That would piss me off ..

I'd be real mad if a guy did that to

me, & called himself a friend .. Coz

that ain't a friendly thing to do? ..

You side with "friends" .. You don't

go bitchin on them behind their back?

And he suddenly switches gear. And whispers like it's a secret.

He wasn't much of a "friend" at all?

BERLIN:

Ross was my best friend.

St ANNE

Did you shoot your "best friend?"

BERLIN:

No.

St ANNE

The next time I ask you that quest-

ion, you're gonna tell me the truth.

St ANNE shunts back in his chair. Expands the frame as he goes.

Sergeant TAYLOR sits on a chair with his back to the wall. Cig-

arettes and ashtray on the table next to his. St ANNE lights a

Pall Mall and as if it's an after-thought he snaps the Sony on.

[TAPE]

.. "Just be careful now, coz I'm coming

up." .. [Footsteps on cast iron stairs]

"Is that you, John? .. Answer .. Now ..

or I blow this fucken staircase to pie-

ces." [Sound of someone breathing hard]

BERLIN already looks devastated. He's about to got annihilated.

"Me, Freddy." .. [Just the gale] "What

the hell's going on up there, Brother?

I been calling ton minutes." .. [Lungs

heave for air) "Hey, c'mon, John, talk

to me?" [Just the sound of breathless-

ness] "Jesus Christ .. What are you do-

ing? What the f*** are you doing? It's

me - Holy sh*t - John - John - Not you -

Don't shoot you crazy bastard! [2 shots]

St ANNE clicks the Sony off & BERLIN is too stunned to breathe.

St ANNE

That's second degree - you wanna stop

at that? Will you give me that, John?

BERLIN gives him nothing but silence. A knock on the door "Come

in." And the ASSISTANT hands St ANNE a note. Reads it and excus-

es himself. Leaves the silence for BERLIN. But TAYLOR breaks it.

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