The Killer Page #48

4/6/92 D.G. W.H. 81.

People milling around

Stands outside sell food....

STAGE:

The opera has already started.

Brilliantly painted scenery

Heavily made up actor singers.

Elaborate headdresses.

Percussion instruments on one side of the stage.

Wind instruments on the other.

Lead ACTOR-SINGER in the middle.

Shrill but intensely disciplined vocal performance.

AUDIENCE:

Payne sits in front.

One of his retainers approaches him --

Whispers something .

Payne leaves his guests

Moves through the audience to the back.

The audience eats

Talks among themselves .

Normal behavior in Chinese Opera.

ENTRANCE:

At the back of the theater framed in the doorway is PAUL YAO.

An assassin for hire

Payne approaches him.

PAYNE:

Mr. Yao I have need of your services. Let's discuss

some details...

Affability is wasted on Paul --

They walk out on the patio.

STAGE:

A rising tide of percussion

Accompanies a storm at sea...

INT. ROOM - SMALL HOUSE - WALLED CITY - NIGHT

Jeff and Jenny in bed

JEFF:

We have another hour -- then we have to go.

4/6/92 D.G.. W.H. 82.

JENNY:

Where?

JEFF:

If everything goes right... Thailand.

JENNY:

I like Thailand. Temples. Elephants.

JEFF:

I hope you like boats.

JENNY:

I love boats.

JEFF:

We'll be on one for a few days.

JENNY:

The police have my passport.

JEFF:

That's one of the things that has to go right. Sidney's

getting you a new one.

They hear a SOUND.

Jeff reaches across Jenny for his gun --

JENNY:

What was that?

Suddenly --

Lee bangs open the door...

Gun out.

Jeff freezes --

Mid-reach for his own pistol.

LEE:

Hold it!

A moment.

LEE:

Put your clothes on and let's go.

JEFF:

You don't have any authority here, cop-

LEE:

I got all the authority I need, right here in my hand.

Jenny has pulled the sheet up over her.

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes