Miller's Crossing Page #16

38. CUT TO:

INT CAR:

Tom sits behind the wheel of the parked car; we are an his

profile.

Tom's face is rigidly set; we don't know why as we watch

him for a short beat.

BAM--with a loud impact Bernie Bernheim's face is slammed

against the driver's window. Tom still faces forward.

Bernie is wailing as he is muscled back away from the

window by two topcoated torsos--their faces above the car

window.

They muscle Bernie out of frame towards the rear of the car

and we hear the back door being opened.

Bernie's voice, off, is near hysteria:

Bernie

Frankie, let me go, I'm prayin' to ya, Jesus God-

-Tom! Jesus!

As Frankie and Tic-Tac pile Bernie into the back, we

continue to hold on Tom's face. He still does not react.

Bernie

. . . Are you part of this?! You can't be part

of this! I think these guys're gonna whack me!

You gotta talk to 'em, Tommy!

Frankie

You gimme a headache, you little sheeny.

To Tom:

Tic-Tac

Okay, we're going to Miller's Crossing.

Tom still doesn't react. There is a beat of Bernie's crying.

Finally:

Frankie

. . . Lets go!

As Tom reaches forward and starts the car:

Bernie

You're not part of this! Tom! Help me! These

guys are gonna whack me!

Tic-Tac

Whack you inna mouth you don't shut up.

39. MILLER'S CROSSING WIDE

Day. A wooded area outside of town. The wind blows.

The car pulls into frame and stops on the shoulder. The

backseat passengers--Frankie, Tic-Tac and Bernie--emerge;

Tom remains in the driver's seat.

Bernie is weeping, loudly; he has lost control. Frankie

takes out a gun and whacks him smartly on the side of his

head. The blow sends him stumbling over towards Tic-Tac,

who kicks him down.

The blows haven't quelled Bernie's sobbing.

Tic-Tac

I don't want you runnin' anywhere.

Frankie takes a swig from his flask and hands it to Tic-

Tac, who leans in the car window.

INT CAR:

Tom gazes forward, jaw set, eyes off the doings outside.

As Tic-Tac hands his gun in through the window:

Tic-Tac

Okay. Take him in the woods and whack him.

Tom

Huh? I don't. . .

Tic-Tac

Yeah, that's right, the boss wants you to do it.

Make sure you're with the good guys.

Tom stares dumbly at the gun. Tic-Tac holds it, grip

towards Tom, motionless.

After a beat he takes the gun.

Tic-Tac

You know how to do this, right? You gotta

remember to put one in his brain. Your first

shot puts him down, then you put one in his

brain. Then he's dead, then we go home.

Tom opens his door.

WIDE EXT:

Bernie is still on the ground, sobbing, not responding to

Frankie who prods him with his foot.

Frankie

Get up.

Bernie

I can't get up! I can't get up!

Frankie drags him to his feet.

Frankie

Get up and walk, you chiselin' little yid.

He pushes him towards the woods and reaches for the whiskey

flask.

Bernie stumbles off; Tom follows him.

40. TRACK

Through the woods, pulling the two men, Bernie in the

foreground. Tree limbs groan in the wind.

Bernie is stumbling, his clothes rumpled and dirty, his

face stained by tears and blood from the gun blow. His

shaking voice strains for a tone of reasonableness:

Bernie

. . . Tommy, you can't do this. You don't bump

guys. You're not like those animals back there.

. .

Tom marches on, face drawn, silent.

. . . It's not right, Tom. They can't make us do

this. It's a wrong situation. They can't make

us different people than we are. We're not

muscle, Tom. I never killed anybody. I used a

little information for a chisel, that's all. I

couldn't help it, Tom, it's my nature. Somebody

hands me an angle, I play it. I don't deserve to

die for that! D'you think I do? I'm just a

grifter! Huh, Tom?

Still no response from Tom. Bernie is fighting a losing

battle to keep himself from whining.

. . . But I'll tell you what, I never crossed a

friend. Huh, Tom? Never killed anybody, never

crossed a friend. Nor you, I'll bet. We're not

like those animals. You can't do this! You're

not like those animals. This is not us! This is

some hop dream!

Tom's face is a ---ny mask. Bernie is losing control

again. He starts to weep.

. . . It's a dream! Tommy! I'm praying to you!

I can't die! I can't die! Out here in the

woods! Like a dumb animal! I can't die!

He turns and sinks to his knees, wailing, his hands clasped

in front of him, staring up at Tom.

. . . You can't kill me. I'm praying to you!

look in your heart! I'm praying to you! Look in

your heart!

Tom stares down at Bernie, his face drawn and pale.

. . . I'm praying to you! Look in your heart!

Slowly Tom raises the gun and levels it at Bernie's head.

. . . Look in your heart! Look in your--

BOOM! The gun blast is deafening. With it, Bernie's

sobbing abruptly stops.

The shot echoes away in the woods, taking the wind with it,

leaving silence.

CLOSE BERNIE:

Still kneeling, in shock, staring wide-eyed at Tom.

Finally, whispering:

Bernie

. . . Tommy.

Tom

Shutup. You're dead, get me?

Still whispering:

Bernie

I understand. I'm dead. God bless you--

Tom

Shutup. You have to disappear. You have to

blow, for good. Nobody can see you, nobody can

know.

Bernie

God bless you--

Tom

Go somewhere no one knows you. Anyone sees you,

you really are dead, I don't care, you're not my

problem any more.

Bernie

Of course not. Of course not. You've done your

share. Thank you. Don't worry, I understand.

Thank you--

Tom

Shutup. Just get the hell out, before I change

my mind.

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