Magnolia

OVER BLACK;

NARRATOR:

In the New York Herald, November 26,

year 1911, there is an account of the

hanging of three men --

CUT TO:

Black and White Lumiere Footage

Three men hung....bang...bang...bang.

CUT TO:

Newspaper Headline

comes into focus; "Three Men Hung."

QUICK DISSOLVE:

Sub Head

comes into focus; "...for murder of..."

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT/FOYER - EVENING (Lumiere Footage Contd.)

A man in period dress (1911) walks in the door. CAMERA DOLLIES IN QUICK

as he takes his hat off, shakes snow, looks off --

NARRATOR:

...they died for the murder of

Sir Edmund William Godfrey --

Sir Edmund is greeted by his WIFE and two CHILDREN.

NARRATOR:

-- Husband, Father, Pharmacist and all

around gentle-man resident of --

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

CAMERA pushes in on the town sign, reads:

"Greenberry Hill, London. Population 1276"

NARRATOR:

Greenberry Hill, London. Population as listed.

CUT TO:

EXT. PHARMACY - NIGHT

HIGH ANGLE, looking down as Sir Edmond comes out the door,

locks up for the evening. CAMERA BOOMS DOWN and PUSHES IN

TOWARDS HIM, WHIPS RT TOWARDS:

NARRATOR:

He was murdered by three vagrants whose

motive was simple robbery. They were

identified as:

A COATED MAN standing in the shadows of the alley way nearby.

NARRATOR:

...Joseph Green.....

CAMERA WHIPS RT. again, nearby ANOTHER MAN steps closer --

NARRATOR:

...Stanley Berry....

CAMERA WHIPS RT. one more time and PUSH IN towards THE LAST MAN --

NARRATOR:

...and Nigel Hill...

WIDE ANGLE, ABOVE SCENE.

The three men move in on Sir Edmond and start to knife him

to death, stealing his money and jewelry. CAMERA PULLS BACK

and up to include the sign of the pharmacy now:

"Greenberry Hill Pharmacy."

CUT TO:

LUMIERE FOOTAGE REPLAYED.

Three men hug. Bang...bang...bang...

NARRATOR:

Green, Berry and Hill.

FREEZE FRAME On the last hanging image.

NARRATOR:

...And I Would Like To Think This

Was Only A Matter Of Chance.

OPTICAL WIPE OF FLAMES FILL THE SCREEN, CAMERA PULLS BACK:

EXT. FORREST/NEAR LAKE TAHOE - NIGHT (35mm/color/anamorphic now)

CAMERA is in the midst of a large FORREST FIRE. CAMERA

WHIPS RT TO SEE:

THREE FIREMEN battling the flames. CAMERA PUSHES IN On

them as they scream and shout directions at each other:

NARRATOR:

As reported in the Reno Gazzette, June

of 1983 there is the story of a fire ---

HIGH ANGLE, THE TREE TOPS.

The trees are on fire....moments later....

NARRATOR:

--- the water that it took to

contain the fire --

WATER FALLS DOWN...

dropped from a FIRE DEPARTMENT AIR TANKER.

CUT TO:

EXT. FORREST/NEAR LAKE TAHOE - MORNING

CAMERA pushes in towards FOUR FIREFIGHTERS as they survey the

area. The fire is out and they are walking through. The MAIN

FIREFIGHTER steps into a close up and looks:

NARRATOR:

-- and a scuba diver named Delmer Darion.

FIREFIGHTER'S POV, THAT MOMENT

CAMERA dollies in and TILTS up towards the top of the tree to reveal:

There is a MAN IN SCUBA GEAR hanging high in the tree.

He is wearing his goggles and his tanks and his wet suit.

FIRE FIGHTER (OC)

What the f*** is that?

ANGLE, CU. DELMER DARION.

He still has his mask and mouthpiece.

CUT TO:

INT. PEPPERMILL CASINO - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

CAMERA looks down on a blackjack game, BOOM DOWN and TILT UP

to reveal:
DELMER DARION (40s)

NARRATOR:

Employee of the Peppermill Hotel and

Casino, Reno, Nevada. Engaged as

a blackjack dealer --

CUT TO:

INT. CASINO/LOBBY - EARLY MORNING - FLASHBACK

CAMERA pushes in towards Delmer as he leaves for the nght,

his uniform draped on a hanger over his shoulder, he nods and

motions two fingers to his fellow WORKERS who say "so longer."

(Note:
He has a bandage over his forehead.)

NARRATOR:

-- well liked and well regarded as a

physical, recreational and sporting sort --

Delmer's true passion was for the lake --

CUT TO:

INT. LAKE TAHOE/UNDERWATER - DAY

Delmer SPLASHES in and comes down towards the CAMERA. SOUND drops out,

becomes very quiet...

CUT TO:

EXT. LAKE TAHOE - THAT MOMENT

The FIRE DEPARTMENT AIR TANKER comes flying in, heading towards

the lake, coming directly at CAMERA...

CUT TO:

INT. LAKE TAHOE/UNDERWATER - THAT MOMENT

Delmer dives. Silent and peaceful.

CUT TO:

EXT. LAKE TAHOE - THAT MOMENT

OVERHEAD ANGLE Looks down on the calm lake....beat, then:

THE MASSIVE AIR TANKER FILLS THE FRAME, TOUCHING DOWN ON THE WATER,

FULLING IT'S BODY FULL OF WATER FROM THE LAKE. It enters CAMERA RT.

and exits CAMERA LFT.

ANGLE, THE AIR TANKER. It heads off full of water towards the raging

forrest fire in the distance.

NARRATOR:

-- as reported by the coroner, Delmer

died of a heart attack somewhere between

the lake and the tree. But most curious

side note is the suicide the next day

of Craig Hansen --

CUT TO:

EXT. RENO MOTEL - DAY - FLASHBACK

Establishing shot. (x3)

CUT TO:

INT. MOTEL - THAT MOMENT

CAMERA PUSHES IN SUPER QUICK towards a MAN named CRAIG HANSEN (30s)

He shoves a RIFLE under his chin and pulls the trigger, blood and brains

splatter the ceiling.

CUT TO:

INT. AIR TANKER COCKPIT - FLASHBACK - DAY

HANSEN flying the plane. HOLD CU. as he moves towards the lake.

NARRATOR:

...volunteer firefighter, estranged

father of four and a poor tendency

to drink -- Mr. Hansen was the pilot

of the plane that quite accidentally

lifted Delmer Darion out of the water --

CUT TO:

EXT. LAKE TAHOE - SHOT REPLAYED.

Quick flashback to the footage of the PLANE lifting the water

from the lake, SOUND CARRIES OVER....

CUT TO:

INT. CASINO - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

The Blackjack table where DELMER Is dealing. DOLLY AROUND to reveal

a drunk and obnoxious CRAIG HANSEN, screaming about the cards he's

been dealt and taunting Delmer

NARRATOR:

-- added to this, Mr. Hansen's

tortured life met before with

Delmer Darion just two nights previous --

Hansen SPITS and PUNCHES at Delmer Darion's FACE for dealing the

cards he's been dealt. SECURITY GUARDS attack and pull him to the ground.

CUT TO:

INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY - BACK TO SCENE

CRAIG HANSEN reading the paper, looking at the cover story,

that has a photo of DELMER DARION. He's crying and

mumbling to himself:

CRAIG HANSEN:

...oh God...f***...I'm sorry...I'm sorry...

NARRATOR:

The weight of the guilt and the

measure of coincidence so large,

Craig Hansen took his life.

Replay of Craig Hansen's suicide, except this time, right before he

blows his head off we hear him say, through tears:

CRAIG HANSEN:

...forgive me...

CUT TO:

INT. CASINO - NIGHT - BACK TO SCENE

Back to the fight DELMER and CRAIG HANSEN are having: CAMERA DOLLIES

IN QUICK TOWARDS Delmer on the ground with blood coming from his nose.

FREEZE FRAME.

NARRATOR:

And I Am Trying To Think This Was All

Only A Matter Of Chance.

QUICK DISSOLVE TO:

INSERT, CLOSE UP - HOTEL EVENTS BOARD.

It reads:
Welcome! AAFS Awards Dinner and Reception

Walnut Room

8pm

INT. HOTEL BANQUET ROOM - NIGHT (1961)

CAMERA pushes in following two GUESTS through some double

doors and reveals the DINNER RECEPTION.

ANGLE, MAN BEHIND PODIUM.

CAMERA pushes in quick then blends to 60fps on a man in glasses:

DONALD HARPER, forensic scientist as he speaks into the microphone.

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