Miller's Crossing Page #5

A MAN:

is slouched, half-sitting, against the wall of the alley.

He is motionless. His mouth is agape. His eyes are rolled

up in a lifeless stare.

He is wearing an overcoat but it is unbuttoned and reveals

a blood stain in the middle of his chest. His fedora lies

on the ground near one of his splayed hands.

There is something subtly odd about his hair.

CLOSE SHOT A LITTLE BOY

Perhaps five years old. He stares down at the dead man in

front of him.

CLOSE SHOT THE MAN

Staring vacantly.

THE BOY:

After a moment, he reaches forward.

THE MAN:

As the boy's hand enters frame. The boy pokes once at the

man's shoulder.

There is no reaction.

The boy touches the top of the man's head.

The man's hair slips forward a couple of inches over over his

forehead.

THE BOY:

Staring.

THE MAN:

Also staring, his skewed hairpiece ill becoming his stunned

expression.

The boy reaches forward and takes the hairpiece off the

man's head. Now a bald man stares off into smace, still

looking stunned, still quite dead.

WIDE SHOT THE ALLEY

The dead man and the little bov face each other in profile

in the middle foreground. In the background, between them,

the little boy's dog faces us, still on point, still

whining.

The little boy is fascinated by the hairpiece he holds. He

turns it over and around, and looks from it to the dead

man.

Suddenly the boy turns and runs, away from us, towards the

mouth of the alley, still clutching the hairpiece.

As he passes the dog it turns and runs after him, wagging

its tail, happy to be leaving.

FADE OUT:

9. FADE IN:

INT DINER EVENING

A man sits facing us at the counter in the foreground. His

face is hidden by the newspaper he is reading.

The page of the newspaper being presented to the camera

bears a story headlined: GANGSTER SLAIN. The subhead:

Politician's "Aide" Found Dead in Alley.

After a beat the diner drops the paper to the counter, and

we see that it is Tom, wearing overcoat and hat. He is

grimacing at whatever he was reading. He stands and digs

into his pocket.

REVERSE:

Looking down at the newspaper an the counter, next to a

steaming cup of coffee. Tom's hand enters to put some

change on the counter, leaves, and we hear his receding

footsteps.

The headlined story on the page Tom was reading is:

THUNDERCLAP INJURED IN RACING MISHAP.

10. CUT TO:

TRACKING IN TO CLOSE SHOT PLAQUE

Set into the brick of a building's exterior, it reads:

SHENANDOAH CLUB. In script underneath: Members Only.

11. INT THE CLUB NIGHT

Tracking towards the front door as Tom enters. He puts his

coat and hat on the check counter.

Tom

Hello, Beryl--

Her arm sweeps across frame to slap Tom hard.

Check Girl (off)

Ain't you got a conscience?

Tom stares dumbly.

ON BERYL:

A diminutive woman in a french maid's uniform with a pill

box hat. She rocks her weight on one leg with her hands

proceed defiantly on her hips.

. . . It's a little voice inside that tells you

when you been a heel!

Tom

Mine's been mum lately--what'd I do?

Beryl

Stood me up is all. Made me wait an hour and a

half is all? Or maybe you don't remember sayin'

you'd pick me up after work last night. I seen

heels in my time, sure, plenty of 'em! But none

so low as couldn't tell me to my face when they

was sick of me! . . .

She throws a check number at him.

. . . You know where you can stick it!

12. CUT TO:

TRACKING SHOT:

Pulling Tom as he walks across the gambling floor. He is

joined bv a nervous young man in a tuxedo.

Mink

'Lo Tom. What's the rumpus?

Tom

Mink.

Mink throws a glance back in the direction of the coat

check.

Mink

. . . I see you got your hat back.

Tom

Yeah, what of it.

Mink

Not a thing, Tommy. I got not a thing to say.

Listen, Bernie wants to see you. It's important.

Tom

Well I'm right here, and I'm not made of glass.

Mink

Yeah, but he's nervous walkin' around in public.

He's a right guy, but he's nervous, Tommy! He's

very nervous! Who wouldn't be?!

Tom looks at Mink for the first time.

Tom

Mink--

Mink

The spot he's in, who wouldn't be! He asked me

to ask you to ask Leo to take care of him. You

know, put in a good word with Leo. Leo listens

to you. Not that Leo wouldn't help the Motzoh

anyway! A guy like Bernie? A square gee like

the Motzah! A straight shooter like him?

Tom

I don't get it, Mink--

Mink

What's to get?! It's as plain as the nose--

Tom

I thought you were Bluepoint's sycophant.

Mink

Yeah Tom, that's right. But a guy can have more

than one friend, can't he? Not that I'd want

Bluepoint to know about it, but a square gee like

the Motzah? He's a right guy, Tom! He's a

straight shooter! I know he's got a mixed

reputation, but for a sheeny he's got a lot a

good qualities!

Tom has reached the foot of a large staircase. He turns to

look at Mink with mild curiosity.

Tom

Why should I care what happens to Bernie?

Mink

C'mon Tom, you like Bernie dontcha?

Tom

I don't like anybody, Mink, you know that.

Mink

Well, you like his sister.

Tom

What's that supposed to mean?

Mink

Nothing, Tom. If it ain't my business I got not

a thing to say.

Tom studies Mink for a beat.

Tom

What's going an between you and Bernie?

Mink

Nothin, Tom! We're just friends--you know,

amigos?

He sics on his cigarette and looks nervously around the

floor, then back at Tom, who stares coolly back.

Tom

You're a fickle boy, Mink. If Bluepoint found

out you had another "amigo"--well, I don't peg

him for the understanding type.

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