Next Page #4

19.

CRIS:

(slurred)

He was gonna kill you! You all

would'a died!

Cris sees that they're afraid of him, not the dead man. He

runs out. PAUSE TAPE.

Back to scene

Cavanaugh studies Ferris’ reaction.

INT. BACK ROOM AT THE FINISH LINE - DAY

Guy finishes counting Cris’ chips.

Guy

But you of all people. How could

you have let it happen?

CRIS:

That was the night Donna broke off

our engagement.

GUY:

Ahh.

CRIS:

I was so drunk I could barely see

now.

Guy opens a drawer, takes out a pack of a hundred $100’s, and

counts out an additional sum from his pocket.

GUY:

Well, I hope you don’t mind. I

called Neal to let him know you’re

here.

CRIS:

Christ, Guy, did you have to?

GUY:

You say everything’s inevitable, so

I guess I did.

Guy returns to his antique copper espresso machine and starts

to make two cups.

CRIS:

Well, you can save your breath.

Cause I know what you’re gonna say.

20.

GUY:

Then you’re aware that Neal is in a

serious cash crunch and could lose

it all.

CRIS:

I’m sorry to hear that. But I’m

done playing the market.

While Guy is distracted making espresso, Cris jams the desk

drawer shut with a penny.

GUY:

Neal’s got it all worked out. He’ll

fly you out of the country on his

jet. Put you up in style. He pays

taxes, totally legal. You get cash,

squeaky clean. Half the net. When

your share hits fifty mil, you can

say “finito”...and it’s over.

CRIS:

Except last time, Neal didn’t take

“finito” for an answer.

Guy slams his fist.

GUY:

You need us, a**hole! The Law is

breathin’ down your neck!

CRIS:

I can stay ahead of ‘em forever.

GUY:

But why live that way?

CRIS:

Because I don’t want to be used any

more.

GUY:

What do you give a sh*t as long as

you get what you want?

CRIS:

Cause what I want is freedom. And

you don’t get it by giving it up.

Guy calms himself and sets an espresso in front of Cris.

21.

CRIS:

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Cris picks up the cup and knocks it back.

Ext. finish line - Parking lot - day

Cris starts up the car. Notices he’s woozy. He prepares to

back out. Instead he blacks out -- as Guy and THREE MEN drag

him out of the car.

SNAPBACK TO:

Guy’s office

Guy sets the cup of espresso in front of Cris, who picks it

up. But Instead of knocking it back, he sets it down and

grins cryptically at Guy, who senses something and reaches to

open his top desk drawer - the one Cris pennied shut. Guy

can’t get it open. Guy reaches under his Racing Form. Feels

around. Cris holds up a knife.

CRIS:

Looking for this?

Guy pulls his arm from under the Racing Form -- spilling the

cup of espresso that Cris just set down. Guy knows that’s not

a coincidence.

CRIS:

Don't mess with somebody who knows

your moves before you even think

'em.

Cris takes his cash.

GUY:

The jet’ll be sold in a week. Then

there goes your ticket out.

CRIS:

Don’t wait for me.

Cris heads out.

Guy

You know what I think? I think I

know the future better than you do.

Cris scoffs as he leaves.

22.

Int. State police STATION - dAY

Cavanaugh pours coffee for himself and Ferris.

CAVANAUGH:

He’s just some gambler. Lives

completely off the grid. No bank

account. No credit cards. No

previous record.

Ferris

So why’d he do it?

CAVANAUGH:

Must be a wacko. He’d never met the

victim. No connection whatsoever.

Ferris tries to make sense of it all.

feRRIS

And in fifteen months, why haven’t

you caught him?

Cavanaugh sighs woefully.

CAVANAUGH:

You saw. He’s got eyes in the back

of his head. He can see around

corners. I even had him in custody

once, and he disappeared.

Ferris

Must be very embarrassing.

A painful subject for Cavanaugh.

CAVANAUGH:

And what is it you want him for?

Ferris

Questioning.

CAVANAUGH:

About?

Ferris

Stuff that hasn’t happened yet.

Cavanaugh nods knowingly.

23.

CAVANAUGH:

Well, I guess Homeland Security

trumps liquor store murder. How can

I help?

Ext. Suburban home - las vegas - niGHT

A tract house, cheap, from the 60’s, could be anywhere.

Something sad about the place. Cris stands at the door,

holding a bag of groceries. IRV, a sick old man, opens the

door, wearing a knit cap and pajamas. He’s hooked up to a

little oxygen tank on wheels. When he sees Cris, his smile

crimps the tube in his nose.

IRV:

What are you doing back here?

CRIS:

I came to fix you dinner.

IRV:

Idiot.

Irv pulls Cris inside. Closes the door.

Int. irv’s house - night

They embrace like father and son. The oxygen tube gets in the

way.

IRV:

This is what you get from two packs

a day.

CrIS

But you quit ten years ago.

IRV:

It was already too late. I just

didn’t know it.

CRIS:

Sometimes not knowing is better.

Irv shakes his head.

IRV:

Look where you’re headed, pal. The

big decisions are over before you

even realize you made ‘em.

24.

Int. The finish line - back room - night

Cavanaugh and Ferris chat with Guy. This time the poker game

is in progress.

CaVANAUGH

Any idea where he might be going?

Guy turns to Ferris.

GUY:

I’ve got a little problem with the

IRS. Think I could get some relief?

FERRIS:

Depends how helpful you are.

GuY

Oh, I know everything about him.

He looks at Ferris, knowing. She turns to Cavanaugh.

FERRIS:

I need to speak to him alone.

INT. FINISH LINE - MAIN PARLOR - NIGHT

Guy and Ferris sip cappucino.

GUY:

And another thing, no woman ever

turns him down, I’m serious. Mainly

because he only propositions the

ones he knows’ll say yes, which is

most of ‘em anyway. But does that

make him happy? No. Says he’s

bored. Never surprised. Has to

watch himself die over and over

again.

FERRIS:

Why’d he come back to Vegas?

GUY:

Didn’t say, but I’m guessin’ it’s

this friend who’s dying. An old

fart who took him in when he was

strung out on drugs. - He’s an

orphan, ya know. Been on the road

since he was ten.

25.

Int. Irv’s house / living room - night

The place is a mess. Piles of newspapers. Old clothes. Cris

cleans up as they talk. Irv sits at a table and plays

solitaire.

IRV:

You want my advice? Get yourself a

good lawyer and turn yourself in.

CRIS:

If I tell ‘em the truth, you know

what happens? I end up with the

Feds. - And you know what they do

to me?

IRV:

Make you a secret agent.

Cris

Don’t laugh. They strap me in a

chair and make me watch the news.

IRV:

Dan Rather or Peter Jennings?

CRIS:

It’s not funny, Irv. That’s all I

do, day after day, for the rest of

my life. Watch the news until I

lose my hair and croak.

Irv is moved by Cris’ dilemma.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes