Manhattan Murder Mystery Page #10

- Hold on.

- We don't have an answer for that.

- Go to a different thought.

- What thought? Wait.

You either pay them off,

or get rid of them.

- We can't talk on the phone. Can we meet?

- Yes! They're k eeping it refrigerated.

- What? What did you say?

- About two hours ago.

- Two... What? Two hours, what?

- Hold on.

- I got this screwed up.

- Stupid.

- Let's get off quick. We've done it.

- All right. Do something.

Okay.

Hello, Paul. I can't talk much now.

If I sound strange, don't get alarmed.

You're not making sense.

Pull yourself together.

- Now, can we meet? The usual spot.

- Hold on.

Helen? Helen, you still there? Helen?

- Okay, hurry up.

- Forget it.

- Somebody press something.

- Carol. You do it.

You have no choice. Pay them off,

or get rid of them. I have to hang up.

- What's the matter? You look shaken.

- It's nothing.

- I worry about you these days, Paul.

- I'm fine.

- You're different.

- I said I was fine. Stop interfering.

- You never used to pull away.

- Leave me alone!

I don't want to have

this conversation!

My job is to wait one hour

and call Mr. House from a phone booth.

- Why are you running?

- I have to change.

- I've got an appointment about...

- What are you steamed up about?

How could you give a book

to Marcia and not to me?

What? We just had a big success.

Marcia likes to read what I like.

We've got nothing in common,

that's for sure.

Now that Nick's grown,

we're left facing each other.

You've got stuff in common with Ted.

You can take your clothes off

and baste a chicken.

What about Marcia?

What does she teach you besides poker?

- Nothing, I'm her editor.

- It's time to re-evaluate our lives.

I re-evaluated our lives.

I got a ten, you got a six.

- Maybe I'll go back to my shrink.

- You don't have to see a shrink.

Nothing's wrong with you that can't

be cured with Prozac and a mallet.

I would like to be alone a while, okay,

Larry? Just, I... Okay?

I have a crazy father. He's wanted in three

states. He has a terrible driving record.

- We had to move to New Jersey.

- Your father is wanted for driving?

Yeah. I moved to Hackensack...

I was in all these different contests.

And I was even Miss Teenage Passaic.

How wonderful.

God.

Was that before or after

the fourth abortion?

- After, but before the drama prize.

- Drama prize? I don't remember...

Remember? "Out, out, damned spot"?

The topless Macbeth?

- Yeah, for the fraternity party.

- Yeah.

- Topless Macbeth, how could I forget?

- I was great.

Hello, Mr. House?

This is Larry Lipton.

I got a package

I think you're gonna want.

Of course, it's gonna cost you

$200,000 in small, unmarked bills.

Or large, marked ones,

if you want to go that route.

And I have a package. If you want

to see your wife alive, do as I say.

Really?

Well, I think you're bluffing.

Don't try and bluff a bluffer. If

you've got Carol, put her on the phone.

Larry, help me! I'm here, Larry!

Oh, my God. Don't hurt her!

I'll tell you where to meet me.

Bring that package.

Once I have it and I'm gone,

you get her back. Otherwise, I kill her.

Yes. Yeah, no, I understand.

I'll be there. I'll be there.

Yes, I'll bring your wife's body,

she... In the trunk of my car.

Yes, I promise, I'll be there.

I don't have his wife's body.

Bluff, bluff.

- Where's Carol?

- Show me Lillian's body.

- I got it.

- No way she survived a molten steel vat.

- No...

- If you're not bluffing, where is she?

- Why are you nervous?

- Where is she?

- In the trunk of my car.

- Open it. Now.

If she's not there,

I'll put a bullet through your head.

Come on. Come on!

- Step back.

- No, I got her.

If I don't have her,

how come I got her ring?

- I think you're lying!

- This is her ring. No.

- What's this?

- I can never bluff.

- I've lost a fortune in cards.

- Listen.

- I'm not a bluffer.

- Get off...

Let go.

That's what Grisby thought.

She meant to kill Grisby.

After he'd served his purpose.

He never even did that.

He went and shot Broome.

And that was not part of the plan.

Broome might have gone to the police.

And if the cops traced it to Grisby...

...and the cops made Grisby talk,

he'd spill everything.

And she'd be finished, so

she had to shut up Grisby, but quick.

And I was the fall guy.

Why don't you try to understand?

- He was mad. He had to be shot.

- And what about me?

We could've gone off together.

- One who follows his nature, keeps...

- Help! Help!

They can't see us behind the screen.

And they can't hear us with the sound on.

- Not even a gunshot.

- Hello, Paul. Didn't you expect me?

- Mrs. Dalton.

- You made promises to me over the years.

And then you decided to dump me

for that young model.

- I never led you on.

- It's late for excuses.

- None of you can prove anything.

- So you'd be foolish to fire that gun.

With these mirrors, it's difficult to tell,

but you are aiming at me, aren't you?

I'm aiming at you, lover. Of course,

killing you is killing myself.

- It's the same thing.

- But you know, I'm pretty tired of both of us.

- I'm so glad. Are you okay?

- Oh, God, Larry!

I'm so happy to see you!

- I was never so glad to see somebody.

- Get me out.

Are you all right?

You don't know what's going on. I'll never

say life doesn't imitate art again.

- We gotta call the police.

- Yes, and a glazier.

- I know. Oh, God.

- Quick. Dial.

Dial. I know. Larry.

Oh, God, Larry. Oh, God. Honey.

- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

- Jesus.

- Wife mine.

- Hello?

Oh, God.

God, it's so complicated.

I can't keep track of it all.

Listen.

I'll give it to you one more time.

Mrs. House had a sister

who moved to England.

She changed her name when she married.

Her husband died.

She moved back to New York

a rich widow, but a recluse.

Mr. And Mrs. House

knew they weren't in her will.

They have her to dinner,

she accidentally keels over.

She resembles her sister, so they

fake it, pretend Lillian House died.

They cremate the sister.

Lillian checks into a fleabag joint...

...pretends to be her sister: Closing

her accounts, liquidating her assets...

...accumulating money.

She didn't realize her husband...

...was two-timing her with Helen Moss,

this pretty model.

He decides not to cut her in and go off

to, I don't know, with his mistress...

...and keep all the dough.

So he kills Lillian.

He cremates her, pours molten steel

over her or something...

...and that's when we came along

and tripped him up.

- He had great alibis.

- That woman who worked for him?

She covered for him. She loved him.

Not that she dreamed he was a murderer.

I want to celebrate.

What do you want to do?

Want to see what

Larry and Carol are up to?

I think they want to be alone.

Yeah. Okay. All right.

Well, you have any plans?

- You're taking me to dinner, right?

- Right. We can't sleep together.

- Why?

- Not tonight.

I slept with Helen Moss today.

I'm not young like I used to be.

You'll do anything to catch a murderer,

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote