The White Angel Page #6

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52 INT CARTERS ROOM DAY - STECKLER looks round, like a child at the fair

ground.

He moves to her cupboards and drawers - curiously ignoring her make-up,

clothes and underwear.

He begins to search, under drawers, behind cupboards, behind books,

above the curtain rail.

Eventually he gives up and lies back on CARTER's bed looking at the

ceiling. Suddenly he flips over and looks under her bed - still

nothing. He pulls himself back up when he notices a slight rip in the

mattress. He pushes his fingers in and the flap gives way - it is a

velcro held opening. STECKLER places his hand in and slowly removes the

hidden contents - a small case.

53 INT STECKLER'S ROOM DAY - STECKLER is sat at his table with the case.

He is removing his make-up with a towel and is now wearing a T shirt.

He inspects it closely before opening it. Inside is tightly packed. He

smiles as he removes the letters written from cut out newspapers - he

delves deeper - a passport is there, STEPHEN CARTER, ELLEN'S husband.

STECKLER moves on, excited by his find.

A small but sharp knife, a wedding ring, a newspaper cutting from a

small column which reads 'Famous Novelists Husband Disappears'. He

finds a small gold statuette - her prize from the awards at the start

of the movie. STECKLER feels honoured to hold it and inspects it

closely before moving on.

Curiously enough, he finds the plans of the house. He inspects them

closely - the kitchen, the hall, the bedrooms...The Living room -

something looks odd, different, wrong...

54 INT DAY LIVING ROOM - STECKLER is stood in the LIVING ROOM getting his

bearings in relation to the plans. He looks round, and then at the wall

to his right.

He goes over to it, running his hand over the surface - there is a

slight bump where extra work had been done.

He thumps hard on the wall, moving along as he does so - suddenly, the

echo changes.

He takes an involuntary step backward.

CUT TO - The screen is black. There is a heavy thud, and another.

Suddenly a brick falls from it's place, and another - STECKLER is

knocking the wall down!

Excitedly, he makes a hole big enough for him to fit his head and arms

through. He turns on his torch and leans in.

The recess is dark and his torch cuts a beam in the dusty air. He looks

down - sure enough, there are the crumbling and crusty remains of a

corpse. STECKLER is almost jubilant at his discovery and begins to

laugh...

We see the face of the dead man, his skin dry and old, stretched in a

deathlike grin...

FADE TO BLACK:

55 EXT DAY 66 ACACIA AVENUE - CARTER's car pulls into the driveway and she

parks up. The sky is heavy and there is a distant rumble of thunder. As

she steps out of her car - she senses something - a still - a quiet...

56 INT DAY HALLWAY - CARTER enters the house, hangs up her coat and picks

up her mail. She walks past the living room and into the kitchen. She

stops dead in the kitchen and backtracks.

She drops her letters to the floor as she looks into the room - a huge

gaping and black hole is all that is left of her husbands tomb...

A great pile of bricks lie to the side.

She moves forward - desperate but not wanting to inspect the contents

of the hole.

She steps forward, takes another step, and another - all the time

getting closer to the shadowy hole...

(CONTINUED)

56 CONTINUED:

And then she is there. Slowly she leans in...And it is empty. She leans

back out and jumps as she realises STECKLER is standing right behind

her.

For a long time she doesn't know what to say - everything is moving too

fast and she has to be careful.

CARTER:

(With difficulty) What have you done?

STECKLER smiles and walks behind the sofa - enjoying the moment -

savoring the atmosphere...

STECKLER:

I knew you did it - I just couldn't

figure out what you had done with the

body...

CARTER is really not sure what is happening anymore, why hadn't he told

the police? what did he want? She cannot speak - just listen

STECKLER:

I knew you had killed him - I just felt

it - I'm surprised that the police

didn't suspect 'foul play' - everything

pointed that way...

CARTER looks at the gaping hole in the wall

STECKLER:

(Smiling) Oh, I admit it's a rather

vulgar method - but I needed to fire

your (Searching) Imagination...

CARTER is still a little blank

STECKLER:

The reason I knew you killed your

husband - apart from the fact that he

disappeared - is that you stopped

writing - he must have been a bastard to

you - Anyway, (Smiling) I'm going to

give you a second chance to start anew.

STECKLER looks down, searching for a way to tell CARTER something.

STECKLER:

You had better sit down

(CONTINUED)

56 CONTINUED (2):

Dutifully, CARTER sits - she's too confused to do anything else.

STECKLER stands opposite, the sofa forming a barrier between them.

STECKLER looks deep into the empty tomb - into the blackness...

STECKLER:

You see ELLEN, there are parts of me you

haven't encountered - parts that are

more important - that most people don't

or won't understand.

STECKLER turns to face CARTER, fire in his eyes

STECKLER:

I want you and your words to make people

understand - I'm commissioning a book

CARTER is starting to get afraid for her safety...

STECKLER:

I want people to understand the power

any man can use - to take what he needs,

to take what he wants - I want people to

know why I do what I do - so that when I

am finished, they will understand the

truth of my actions. I want THE ELLEN

CARTER to write the life story of LESLIE

RAYMOND STECKLER

STECKLER stops for a moment - CARTER is looking out of depth...

STECKLER:

I don't have much time ELLEN - They have

my finger prints - they WILL catch me...

CARTER is beginning to shake...

STECKLER:

I'm not going to hurt you (Smiles) -

Your'e not my type - I need your skills

- (Enthused) don't you see the divine

perfection - you and I are both carved

from the same stone - it will be the

perfect partnership - your words - my

story...

STECKLER calms down, looking back into the darkness of the tomb -

(CONTINUED)

56 CONTINUED (3):

STECKLER:

And don't think of calling the police -

STECKLER shows CARTER a photo of a weird looking tree with a spade

stuck in the ground

STECKLER:

That's where your husband is - It's not

too far from here, but far enough. I

have marked the map reference near the

tree and lodged it in my family safety

deposit box

STECKLER puts his arm down his shirt and dangles a key in front of

CARTER...

STECKLER:

should anything ever happen to me -

should I die, get hit by a truck - or

disappear, then I have instructed the

manager to turn the contents - along

with an explanatory letter, over to

Scotland Yard - so lets just hope

nothing happens to me.

STECKLER moves to the other side of the room,

STECKLER:

Otherwise, you are free to do as you

will...

He looks at her - her eyes are red rimmed and she is shaking

STECKLER:

As long as you write my book...(Thinks)

He turns and makes for the door, opening it - he stops, but doesn't

turn...

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