Witness Page #6

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Samuel shoots a look at Book. then mutters something to his mother in German.

She responds in the same language. Book frowns.

BOOK:

What was that?

RACHEL:

He wants to know who you are.

Your name. I told him we don't

need to know anything about you.

Book eyes Samuel:

BOOK:

Book. John Book

36A EXT. 13TH STATION - NIGHT 36A

Book's car stops ,and from out of the shadows darts a

wizened little MAN. He looks about before crossing to

the driver's side window.

36B INT. BOOK'S CAR - NIGHT36B

Book lowers the window.

BOOK:

Sammy, where's Coalmine?

The little man stares at the weird-looking couple in the back seat.

36B CONTINUED:36B

SAMMY:

What you got there, the Salvation

Army?

BOOK:

Coalmine.

SAMMY:

Try "Happy Valley".

36C EXT. HAPPY VALLEY BAR, SOUTH STREET - NIGHT36C

Book's car pulls up outside the bar and he and Carter get out,

and move swiftly inside.

36D INT. HAPPY VALLEY - NIGHT36D

Sixty Black faces stare as the police enter. A hush

falls on the group. Book and Carter spot their man at

the bar and move up either side of him.

They've moved carefully to this point . . . no mistakes.

From the back, the black man they've approached certainly

looks like he could be the man who did the killing of

Zenovitch. And, as Book and Carter make their move . .

36E EXT. HAPPY VALLEY - NIGHT36E

As Book and Carter explode through the door of the bar,

violently propelling Coalmine along with them. Now we

see Coalmine is not the killer.

As Book and Carter escort Coalmine out of the bar a

police squad car pulls up, its headlights shining into

Book's car.

An alarmed Rachel holds Samuel close as Book forces

Coalmine's face down next to the car window.

BOOK:

Put some light on him.

A cop pulls out a flashlight, begins to play the beam

over Coalmine's face.

36E CONTINUED:

BOOK:

(continuing; to Samuel)

Look at him.

Crazy as Rasputin on speed and booze, Coalmine glares

at Samuel inside the car:

Samuel, white-faced, finally shakes his head in the

negative.

Coalmine tries to twist free of Book's grip. Book

snaps, and slams Coalmine's skull into the window edge,

finally crushing his face up against the front win-

dow. His face takes on a grotesque shape against the

glass. Carter restrains his partner and Book cools

down. Coalmine is led stumbling away by the uniformed

police. This sudden show of violence has horrified and

angered Rachel, and she glares at Book as he gets back

in the car.

RACHEL:

John Book, you listen to me!

will have no further part in this,

nor will my son! As God stands

between us!

Book sighs, starts the engine and moves off.

36F EXT. HOTEL - PHILADELPHIA - NIGHT

36F

Book pulls up outside a hotel entrance as a uniformed

DOORMAN moves to open the rear door.

36G INT. CAR - NIGHT

36G

Rachel and Sam recoil as the Doorman opens the door.

He is puzzled by the sight of the reluctant guests.

DOORMAN:

Ma'am?

RACHEL:

No! We do not stay in hotels.

Book and Carter exchange a glance.

37 OMITTED37

thru thru

42 42

43 EXT./INT. FRONT DOOR, SUBURBAN HOUSE -43

PHILADELPHIA - NIGHT

An attractive woman in her early thirties in robe and

slippers stares in disbelief as Rachel and Sam file into

the house. This is ELAINE, BOOK'S sister. She

stops Book as he tries to follow Rachel inside.

ELAINE:

How could you do this to me

tonight? I told you I had

company

BOOK:

Sorry. It's important.

BACK TO RACHEL:

as she glances in a doorway.

HER POV - ELAINE'S KITCHEN

It's a shambles, with dirty supper dishes piled

sink, the table littered with empty beer cans.

BACK TO RACHEL:

as she hustles Samuel along.

BOOK/ELAINE

Book frowns:

43 CONTINUED:

BOOK:

Where's Timmy and Buck?

ELAINE:

Upstairs, asleep. Where'd you

think?

BOOK:

You've got a man here and the kids

are upstairs?

ELAINE:

That's none of your goddamn

business! So keep your goddamn

holier-than-thou mouth shut!

(and)

Anyway, they like Fred.

BOOK:

Oh sure, Fred.

Elaine looks like she's going to blow again, then

decides it's pointless.

ELAINE:

Who are these orphans, anyway?

BOOK:

They're Amish.

44 ANGLE IN GUEST ROOM

Samuel is asleep in one twin bed in a tiny, cluttered

room. Rachel, in a plain nightgown, is preparing to

climb into the other one.

O.S. we hear a DOOR CLOSE, presumably Book leaving. A

beat, then Elaine opens the door and looks in.

ELAINE:

Everything okay?

RACHEL:

Yes, thank you very much.

ELAINE:

(a beat)

John said you're Amish.

RACHEL:

Yes.

44 CONTINUED:

ELAINE:

(blankly)

Oh.

She nods and goes.

Rachel crosses to Samuel, sits on the bed. Samuel

looks up at her bleakly.

SAMUEL:

I don't want to stay here.

RACHEL:

They are English. They don't

understand.

SAMUEL:

I wish dawdie was with us.

RACHEL:

(swallows)

I Know. Sleep now, Liebchien.

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