Knives Out Page #9

MARTA (cont'd)

That's where Fran keeps her stash?

MEG:

Who ever opens a clock?

then

(

)

Walt! Walt!

INT. LIVING ROOM

Walt yells at a non responsive, bored Greatnana.

WALT:

DO YOU WANT DINNER, NANA?

DINNER? TO EAT? EAT?

LINDA:

Walt she's fine, she ate the

whole salmon spread already.

Meg grabs Walt, pulls him to Marta.

MEG:

Did you tell Marta yet? What we all

talked about?

WALT:

No, not yet, is now a good

time?

MEG:

Yes a very good time. Right

now.

WALT:

Marta. We've talked it over, and

wait

(

)

Are you smoking grass?

MEG:

No.

WALT:

We talked it over and the whole

family, we want to take care of you.

MARTA:

What does that mean?

MEG:

We all think you deserve something.

WALT:

Financially, we want to help you out.

You were never anything but good to

dad. Because of that, you can count

on us.

Walt embraces her, Meg puts a hand on her back.

54.

Over Walt's shoulder, Marta sees Harlan's portrait again.

Has its expression changed? It looks like it has a slight

conspiratorial smile. Marta breathes - maybe this is all

going to be ok.

WALT (cont'd)

I thought you should have been at the

funeral, by the way. I was outvoted.

EXT. SIDE PORCH - NIGHT

Later. Marta comes out to get some air. Exhales deeply.

And then jumps - she's not alone. Benoit Blanc sits in a

wicker chair in the dark, smoking a long thin cigar.

MARTA:

Wah ha. Detective. You're still here?

BLANC:

Mm.

Silence. Blanc smokes and stares at Marta. Marta shifts.

MARTA:

Did you know Harlan?

BLANC:

He knew my father who was a police

detective. Years ago.

MARTA:

So that's why you're here?

BLANC:

Here now here? No. I stayed hoping

to speak to you a little more.

MARTA:

Uh?

BLANC:

Something is afoot with this whole

affair. I know it, and I believe you

know it.

MARTA:

So you're... going to keep digging.

BLANC:

Harlan's detectives they dig, they

rifle and root, truffle pigs.

(MORE)

55.

I anticipate the terminus of

BLANC (cont'd)

gravity's rainbow.

MARTA:

Gravity's Rainbow.

BLANC:

It's a novel.

MARTA:

I know. I haven't read it.

BLANC:

Neither have I. Nobody has. But I

like the title. It describes the

path of a projectile, determined by

natural law. Voila, my method. I

observe the facts without biases of

the head or heart, I determine the

arc's path, stroll leisurely to its

terminus, and the truth falls at my

feet.

beat

(

)

The medical examiner was ready to

rule this a suicide, but Elliott

agreed to keep it pending for forty

eight hours. Tomorrow morning I

search the grounds and the house,

begin my investigation. I want you

to be by my side for it. My

confidant, my eyes and ears.

MARTA:

What but - why me?

BLANC:

I trust your kind heart. Also you

are the only one who had nothing to

gain from Harlan's death. So.

Watson.

Blank puts out his cigar, stands.

MARTA:

You want my insight into this family?

None of them are murderers. That's

my insight.

BLANC:

And yet. Be it cruel or comforting,

this machine unerringly arrives at

the truth. That's what it does.

56.

MARTA:

Always?

He does a little bow.

BLANC:

Tomorrow at eight.

Marta watches him go.

INT. CABRERA LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Marta gets home. Her mom is on the couch, zoning out in

front of the tv, still in a cleaning uniform. Without a

word Marta sits next to her. Stares at the TV.

Off her eyes, we FLASH BACK with her:

INT. HARLAN THROMBEY'S STUDY - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

HARLAN:

I know I missed something... there's

going to be something I missed. But

I know you can beat it. Without

losing your soul you have to do what

you have to do to beat this, and win.

MARTA:

I can't.

HARLAN:

You can and you have to. For me.

Right now.

She's out the door and he shuts it.

INT. OUTSIDE HARLAN'S ATTIC OFFICE DOOR - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Marta stands frozen. Soft voices of Walt and Jacob float up

from downstairs. She turns back to the door.

Silence. Moments going by. Sh*t. Can she do this? Sh*t.

No. She turns and pushes back into the office -

INT. HARLAN THROMBEY'S STUDY - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

MARTA:

Harlan I have to get you help -

57.

Harlan reclines on the couch in the middle of the room,

ornate dagger against his throat. Marta's eyes go wide.

HARLAN:

Do what I say and everything's going

to be ok, Marta. I promise.

She makes a move to stop him and with one quick motion he

DRAWS THE DAGGER across his throat. Blood sprays.

She leaps back, hands to her mouth, spins and leaves the

room, closing the door behind her.

EXT. THIRD FLOOR LANDING - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Breathing hard, silent crying. Then her breathing slows.

Her brain taking over. Resolve settling. The dice are

thrown. She wipes her eyes. Then bounds down the stairs,

out of frame.

MARTA (O.S.)

Walt, I'm leaving now.

INT. CABRERA LIVING ROOM

Back to Marta and her mom on the couch. She puts her hand

on Mom's knee.

MARTA:

Everything's going to be ok. I

promise.

MOM:

of course

(

)

I know.

They go back to watching tv. But Marta's mind is buzzing.

On her white sneaker, we see but she does not - one single

drop of blood.

EXT. THROMBEY ESTATE GUARD GATE - MORNING

The gate is open, Marta's car pulls up just inside it. The

small Guard house next to the gate, Blanc, Elliott and

Wagner outside it. Blanc waves to her.

58.

INT. GUARD HOUSE

Thrombey's security man, MR PROOFROC, guides them into the

cramped dusty space. Proofroc is old and salty. He shows

them old photos of the house, stuck to a steel fridge with

big brightly colored fruit magnets.

MR PROOFROC:

Fifty years I worked this estate,

back when it was the Redfirns. Course

back then security meant making the

rounds with a 94, keeping your ears

open. Before all this modern

technology.

Nothing in the room is newer than 1988. An 8 inch CRT

monitor shows a phosphorescent live feed of the road outside

the gate, and a top loaded VHS VCR sits next to it.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

So what do you have from that night?

MR PROOFROC:

Eh?

He squints, hard of hearing.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

What do you - WHAT DO YOU

HAVE, FROM THAT NIGHT, WHAT

DO YOU HAVE FROM THAT NIGHT?

TROOPER WAGNER:

WHAT DO YOU HAVE FROM THAT

NIGHT?

Proofroc squints at Marta, who asks him quietly

MARTA:

What do you have from that night?

MR PROOFROC:

Well the video here, I saved the tape

from that night, usually I erase 'em

with the magnetic de-gauser, but I

thought better save that one. Cause,

security. That's the live feed

there.

Marta notices something with alarm - the video feed shows

the road outside, and at the top edge you can just barely

see the carved elephant that marks the gardener's utility

road. She realizes Harlan said

59.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote