The Shape of Water Page #17

He puts his finger INSIDE Hoffstetlers’ cheek injury andhooks him aggressively. Hoffstetler screams in pain.

Excrement and blood spurt out of his wound.

HOFFSTETLER:

Augh- no- Please- listen to me.

STRICKLAND:

I’m gonna need the names, ranks andlocation of the entire strike team.

HOFFSTETLER:

Strike team?

STRICKLAND:

The ones that took the asset.

Zap. Kick. Kick. Zap. Hard candy.

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

This candy. It’s cheap candy. I

love it since I was a kid. Some

favor more sophisticated snacks-

Nougat center and all that fu-fushit. But not me, Bob. This is it

for me.

(beat)

(MORE)

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

Sometimes, if Im feeling anxious, Ijust bite right into it- chew it topieces. But-

(Kick, kick)

-most of the time- I just take mytime. I make it last.

Strickland shocks Hoffstetler with the Alabama Howdy-Do.

STRICKLAND (CONT'D)

Names, ranks and location of the

entire strike team.

Hoffstetler laughs weakly. Gets shocked again.

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

Names! Ranks! Now!

HOFFSTETLER:

(weak laughter)

No names, no ranks, they...

(beat)

They just clean...

Strickland comes to an impossible conclusion:

STRICKLAND:

Piss Wipers... Sh*t cleaners

HOFFSTETLER:

(quietly, In Russian)

I'm not one of those who left their

land... To the mercy of the enemy.

I was deaf to their gross flattery.

I won't grant them my songs...

Strickland cattleprods Hoffstetler for too long. His wound

and mouth emit a bit of smoke

CUT TO:

198 INT. KIND OF CRAPPY ROW HOUSE - NIGHT 198

PORCELAIN SPARROWS IN FLIGHT adorn the walls. A lovingly-

decorated, humble home.

Zelda is frying some Brussels sprouts with bacon. Knock

Knock.

ZELDA:

Alright Brewster. I’m gonna fix youdinner and then I’m going to runout for a little while and help afriend.

Her husband BREWSTER sits in his Barca-lounger. We get the

feeling Brewster does a lot of sitting.

BREWSTER:

Help with what?

ZELDA:

Helping a friend.

BREWSTER:

Zelda. Door.

She Lowers the burner and comes to the door.

ZELDA:

Well- You could well help me answerthe door, Brewster! You’re layingthere- not ten feet away.

BREWSTER:

My back is acting up, woman.

Opens it.

ZELDA:

Your back. Your back. Always yourback.

(surprised)

Mr. Strickland, what-

Strickland barges past her into her house. Pops a handful ofpills.

ZELDA (CONT’D)

What are you doing here--?

Strickland and Brewster size each other up.

STRICKLAND:

Where is it? Where did you take it?

ZELDA:

What are you talking about?

STRICKLAND:

The thing in the lab. Where is it?

ZELDA:

I’m sorry, Mr. Strickland, if I

knew anything I would surely tell

you, but-

STRICKLAND:

Would you? Perhaps you would, if

you knew exactly what was at stake.

If you knew that all can be taken

from you- if you were to - out of

some misplaced loyalty to a

traitorous friend - be untruthful.

Brewster weighs his options. Half-watches TV.

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

That story about Samson. I never

told you how it ends...

(beat)

After the Philistines- torture him

and blind him-Samson asks God for

the strength he needs- and at the

last minute- he is spared. For

Samson is a good man and a man of

principle and the Lord gives his

strength back to him. One last

time.

And just then, Strickland grips the fingers-

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

And he holds the columns of the

temple with his powerful arms and

crushes them- and he brings the

whole building down on the

Philistines.

-and rips them loose!! Blood pours out. He grabs a gauze.

Clamps his hand.

STRICKLAND (CONT'D)

He kills them all. He dies. But he

gets every single one of them

motherfuckers. That is his will.

Pulls out his gun.

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

That’s how powerful his will is.

(beat)

Now, do you know what that story

means? For us, Delilah?

(beat)

(MORE)

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

It means that if you know somethingyou’re not telling me, you will

tell me. Either before or after I

bring this particular temple downupon our heads. I am, for the time

being, the true plight of theNegro, Zeldelilah...

Brewster’s had enough.

BREWSTER:

Gal done stole that thing right outthe lab! Whatever it is! I hear

them talking and talking and I havemade my mind about it!!

They both look over, a little stunned that he’s spoken.

BREWSTER (CONT’D)

Mute girl took it. She’s who youwant to interminate.

Zelda’s eyes narrow.

STRICKLAND:

(holding his spurtingfingers)

Thank you very much, Mr. Fuller foryour assistance.

BREWSTER:

Don’t say nothin’ of it.

198A OMITTED 198A

198B INT. CRAPPY ROW HOUSE -NIGHT 198B

ZELDA:

What have you done--?

(beat)

I have to warn her. He’s going

after her-Brewster

gets between her and the phone.

BREWSTER:

You will not do such a thing,

Woman. I just saved your life. Why

you worry about her? B*tch deservesto be gone after, she broke the

law.

Zelda pushes him. Stares at him, hating him and all he isn’t.

Dials quickly.

ZELDA:

Shut up, Brewster! Shut up! For

years- You don’t talk and now you

can’t shut your mouth up. Damn you

Brewster! You wouldn’t understand.

You couldn’t understand. Not if you

tried your whole life- She loves

him.

(beat)

She loves him

On the phone now.

ZELDA (CONT’D)

Giles, that you? Put Elisa on.

(then)

Elisa, honey, you gotta listen to

me, make a sound in the phone if

you can hear... good. He’s coming

for you. You got to go now and take

that thing with you. Give the phone

back to Giles...

199 OMITTED 199

200 OMITTED 200

201 OMITTED 201

202 OMITTED 202

203 OMITTED 203

204 OMITTED 204

205 INT. ELISA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT 205

Elisa hands Giles the phone.

GILES:

What is it?

She Enters the apartment, walks to the tub and extends her

hand towards the creature, helping it out of the tub.

206 EXT. ARCADE CINEMA AND TENENMENT BUILDING - NIGHT 206

Strickland is already pulling up.

He takes the stairs

207 OMITTED 207

208 EXT/INT. CORRIDOR/ELISA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT 208

Strickland finishes climbing the stairs - takes the corridorand bashes open Elisa’s door. No one there.

He looks around:

Looks in the bathroom. Algae in the tub.

STRICKLAND:

Dammit.

He searches the table, picks up an egg. Checks the kitchen,

spots the calendar and the note: RAIN and DOCKS.

Strickland on the phone in the corridor.

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

They’re at the docks, Sally. Sendback up and a containment unit. We

will get them.

He slams down the phone and goes out the fire escape door.

209 OMITTED 209

209A OMITTED 209A

210 EXT. DOCKS / CANAL - EARLY DAWN 210

Rain. Falling on them: Giles parks the van-takes a

flashlight and goes around the van. He opens the door. Elisaholds the Amphibian Man in her lap.

GILES:

Come on. We have to go. Come on.

Elisa takes the creature to the edge of the water.

The Amphibian Man looks at the waters- murky, dark and coldand then looks back at Giles.

Giles removes his hat and places the Amphibian Man’s hand on

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