The American Page #7

"The American" June 21st, 2010

page 34.

Beside them is the Ruger M14 semi automatic rifle.

Using the CHURCH BELLS as sound cover...

...JACK puts the GEARWHEEL on a flag stone tile and separates

one of the gears from the shaft using the four pound mallet.

57

INT. LOGGIA ABRUZZO- NIGHT 57

By the light of a little desk lamp, Jack is forming

suppressor parts using one of the gear wheels and a hammer,

again using the Church Bells as cover.

It’s very tricky work and his eyes ache in the poor light.

58

EXT. WOODS- DAY 58

JACK is wearing a KNAPSACK over one shoulder.

His manner is dark, purposeful, alert.

The trees offer deep shade.

JACK stops.

Everywhere there is a profusion of autumnal colours.

JACK’s guardedness begins to evaporate. He has never seen

anything so beautiful or utterly uncorrupted. He looks

around, bewitched by delicate golds and yellows, brilliant

crimsons.

JACK is transfixed.

59

EXT. RIVER - DAY 59

JACK gets to the edge of the WOODS.

Beyond him is a river.

His original cautiousness has returned.

Carefully, he checks the RIVER for signs of people, surveying

the lake side with his TELEPHOTO LENS, monitoring every

square on an imaginary grid for human activity.

Satisfied that he’s alone, he takes a deep breath of air.

And turns back- heading for his car.

60

EXT. RIVER - DAY 60

JACK has parked his FIAT in the shade of a TREE. The RIVER

shimmers in the autumn sunshine.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 35. page 35.

JACK reaches a patch of soft grass beside the water.

This, he decides, is the perfect spot. He unrolls a blanket,

kneels, and from his KNAPSACK he produces:

-a polystyrene cool box packed with ice and containing a

chilled bottle of Frascati

-a loaf of coarse bread

-50 gms of pecorino

-100 gms of prosciutto

-a small jar of black olives

-an orange

-and a rolled blanket containing the disassembled parts of

the M14 Mini Semi Automatic GUN.

JACK sets the stopwatch on his weather beaten OMEGA.

It takes approximately thirty-four seconds to assemble the

bastardised M14 - including TELESCOPIC SIGHTS and SOUND

SUPPRESSOR- and a further six seconds to press TEN ROUNDS

into the magazine, slot it into the base of the hand grip,

snuggle the butt to his shoulder and place his eye beside the

rubber cup on the sight.

He’s fast.

Carefully he surveys the lake. Settles on a CLUMP OF REEDS.

And with the focus and dexterity of a surgeon, concentrates

until his grip and aim are perfectly tense and still.

A beat...

...as JACK holds his breath. Then squeezes the trigger.

CHOOP!

CHOOP!

CHOOP!

Not the conventional “phut, phut, phut” of a movie silencer,

but the genuine dampened sonic boom of a TAC 65 sound

suppressor.

Through the sight we see the water churn at four o’clock to

the REED CLUMP and four metres off.

From the knapsack, JACK takes a watchmaker’s steel-handled

screwdriver and adjusts the sight, then loads another ten

rounds in the magazine.

"The American" June 21st, 2010

page 36.

CHOOP! CHOOP! CHOOP!

The reeds are clipped, the bullets slapping into the bank

behind, mud spurting.

JACK adjusts again and reloads.

CHOOP-CHOOP-CHOOP-CHOOP-CHOOP!

The reed clump is shot to sh*t.

61

INT. LOGGIA ABRUZZO- DAY 61

The sound of CHURCH BELLS.

JACK is at work:

-modifying the SOUND SUPPRESSOR to make it more efficient

-filing a sear on the trigger mechanism until the trigger

squeeze is softer

-adjusting the position of the TELESCOPIC SIGHT mountings

And finally:

-checking the balance of the weapon: JACK poises it on the

edge of a ruler over the pencil mark he has determined to be

the gun’s centre of gravity.

The M14 balances perfectly.

By now the sun is low and the light fading. JACK's eyes are

sore and his fingers aching.

He sits on his bed with his hands on his knees, silent in the

dying light.

62

INT. BROTHEL, VIA LAMPEDUSA- NIGHT 62

We’re in the living room of a small apartment. It’s simply

and attractively furnished. There are 3 GIRLS: not obviously

hookers.

The FIRST GIRL is on her mobile phone. Every now and again

she glances at JACK. The SECOND GIRL approaches him for a

light.

JACK JACK:

C’. Clara? Is Clara here?

SECOND GIRL SECOND GIRL

No, questa sera no. She’s not here tonight.

She loops her arm through JACK’s.

"The American" June 21st, 2010

page 37.

SECOND GIRL:

Vuole bere qualcosa?

[Would you like a drink?]

JACK shakes his head.

JACK:

Grazie, la prossima volta.

[Perhaps another time.]

63

EXT. CASTEL DEL MONTE- NIGHT 63

JACK parks in his usual hiding spot and heads for the town

square.

Suddenly, he spots something.

A hundred yards away is the same YOUNG MAN who JACK spotted

in L’Aquila.

Cautiously, so as not to spook him, JACK continues walking.

The YOUNG MAN is several parked cars away on the opposite

side of the street, leaning against a Fiat Punto, bending

over as if speaking to the car’s occupant.

JACK side steps swiftly down a back street, uncertain as to

whether or not he’s been spotted.

Closer on the YOUNG MAN: we reveal that there’s no one in the

Seat.

64

EXT. SIDE STREETS- NIGHT 64

JACK slips from one side street to another taking full

advantage of short-cuts, alleyways and crumbling walls. His

route is circuitous. It betrays a perfect knowledge of the

maze-like back streets of the town.

Eventually JACK peeps out of a tiny passageway half-way down

his own street and on the opposite side of the road from his

LOGGIA.

The entrance to the LOGGIA is clear.

JACK crosses the street and slips inside.

65

INT. LOGGIA ABRUZZO- NIGHT 65

We’re in the corridor outside JACK'S ROOM.

JACK takes his right hand from his pocket.

He’s clutching the WALTHER.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 38. page 38.

Slowly, he reaches his left hand upwards, towards the lintel

above the door where he finds...

...a single FEATHER.

66 INT. JACK'S ROOM- NIGHT 66

From the inside of the room we watch four sturdily fashioned

deadbolt locks slide open. Each lock is new and home made.

JACK enters, shuts the door, locks all four bolts. And sits

on the bed.

67 EXT. STATION PLATFORM - MORNING 67

There’s a phone on the Station Platform, it’s fixed to the

wall of the station building.

JACK puts a coin in the slot. Two rings.

JACK:

I’ve got company.

JACK scans the area outside.

PAVEL (V.O.) *

You got a long list of enemies,

Jack.

JACK:

He doesn’t add up. If he’s not baby-

sitting the Belgian contract then

what’s he waiting for? A shooter

would have taken care of business

by now. When’s he going to make his

move?

The door next to the phone opens.

Jack’s hand moves to his pocket.

PAVEL (V.O.) *

Jack?

We hear a CLICK.

The STATION MASTER steps out onto the platform next to the

phone. Apparently he has spooked Jack as Jack is no longer on

the phone.

The PHONE is deserted.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 38Apage 38A.

68 EXT. TRAIN STATION - CONTINUOUS 68

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