Zodiac
FADE IN:
Our camera is MOUNTED to a CAR WINDOW. Driving through a
small town at night. Passing white picket fences. Kids'
discarded big wheels. American flags flutter.
July 4th, 1969 - Summer of Love. Vallejo, California
FIREWORKS streak into the sky. Cookouts winding down. The
car slows. Stops in front of a house on Beechwood Avenue.
The driver HONKS. MIKE MAGEAU races out. Skinny at 19.
Runs up to the window. To the camera:
MIKE:
Where have you been?
waiting since seven.
I've been
At the wheel is DARLENE FERRIN, 22, clad in a WHITE AND BLUE
JUMPSUIT. Fake eyelashes and braces make her look like 17.
DARLENE:
(good natured)
Get in, I'm starving. I haven't
eaten in like twenty four hours.
MIKE:
Let me drive, then.
DARLENE:
No way, Jose. I have to pick upfireworks for the party tonight.
Food first though.
Mike doesn't move - he wants to drive.
DARLENE (CONT'D)
You coming or not?
2 EXT. MR. ED'S -- NIGHT 2
BOOM DOWN to see a local Vallejo teen hangout. Although the60's are almost over, Vallejo didn't get the memo. Darlene
(still driving) and Mike, cruising through the crowded lot.
She sees something offscreen. Frowning, unnerved:
DARLENE:
Screw this place.
MIKE:
(CONTINUED)
2 CONTINUED:
2DARLENE:
We have time before the party.
could just go talk.
We
Mike blinks at this. An opportunity...
3 EXT. BLUE ROCK SPRINGS -- PARKING LOT -- NIGHT 3
Minutes later. The Corvair pulls into the lot of the local
golf course. Make out point. The car on the road behind
them, passing, continuing on.
4 INT. DARLENE'S CAR -- NIGHT 4
Darlene, parking, checking the rearview to watch the car
pass. Tense, but relaxing as it goes. Mike, noticing.
Are you okay?
MIKE:
Fine.
DARLENE:
(relaxing)
MIKE:
You seem a little funny.
She touches his chest, playfully.
DARLENE:
It's July and how many shirts are
you wearing?
MIKE:
(embarrassed)
I'm cold.
DARLENE:
You're cold in July?
BANG-BANG-BANG! Mike and Darlene JUMP and Mike gives out a
scream! Looking around to see KIDS. A group of them in
three cars. Laughing, they toss another lit string of
fireworks towards the Corvair. BANG-BANG-BANG!
MIKE:
F*** off and die!
The kids PEEL OUT. Leaving Mike and Darlene alone.
moment, Darlene begins giggling. RELAXING.
After a
What?
MIKE (CONT'D)
(CONTINUED)
4 CONTINUED:
4DARLENE:
(mimicking)
"F*** off and die!"
She keeps laughing.
MIKE:
Shut up...
But he's smiling. Soon he succumbs to the laughter as well.
He shifts closer. Then, through the windshield - HEADLIGHTS.
Signaling to turn into the lot. The car pulls to a halt
eight feet behind them on their left side. Turning out the
lights. But not the engine. Mike stares at the car. Onlyone person in it. Odd for a make out spot.
MIKE (CONT'D)
Is that the car that was behind us
before?
Darlene doesn't respond.
MIKE (CONT'D)
(squinting)
It is, I think he's been with us
since my house- Sh*t, is that your
husband?
DARLENE:
No.
But she can't take her eyes off the car. The driver makes no
move to get out...
MIKE:
I can to tell him to leave-
She puts her hand over his. Looks at him. Don't move. Theywait for what seems an eternity. Then...
The other car PULLS FORWARD. Headlights click BACK ON.
Passing the Corvair. They watch it go, finally disappearing
over the horizon.
MIKE (CONT'D)
Who was that, Darlene?
DARLENE:
Mike studies her face. Unnerved.
MIKE:
So... do you want to
(CONTINUED)
4 CONTINUED:
(2) 4DARLENE:
Oh, sh*t...
Through the windshield - HEADLIGHTS, COMING BACK over the
horizon. Darlene and Mike watch them reach the entrance to
the parking lot. THEY TURN IN.
MIKE:
Let's go.
Darlene, FROZEN.
MIKE (CONT'D)
Now, Darlene.
The car pulls to a halt behind the Corvair. In an off-line
position, like a COP.
Mike, reaching over to start the engine when - A SPOTLIGHT
from inside the other car hits the Corvair.
The door opens and THE COP inside gets out. Walks up to the
car. Flashlight outstretched, shining it in Mike and
Darlene's faces, blinding them. He reaches Mike's door.
MIKE (CONT'D)
Get your I.D.
(rolls down hiswindow)
THUNK! Mike's BLOOD AND TEETH EXPLODE onto the dashboard.
The muzzle of a SILENCER FLASHES. The Man KEEPS SHOOTING.
BULLETS PUNCH through flesh and bone. Some shots rip straight
through Mike and into Darlene.
Mike is shot in the face, the neck, and the arm. Darlene is
shot twice in each arm, and three times in the back.
The Man lowers the gun. Silence.
The Man turns away. Walking back to his car. A GROAN. The
Man turns. Walks back to the Corvair, reloading. Mike.
Still alive.
The Man FIRES TWO MORE SHOTS into Mike, propelling him into
the BACK SEAT. Then TWO MORE into Darlene for good measure.
FADE TO:
5 OMITTED 5
5A EXT. BLUE ROCK SPRINGS -- PARKING LOT -- LATER 5A
P.O.V. the front of a police motorcycle as it's HEADLIGHT
cuts into the lot... OVER THIS WE HEAR a coin clink into a
phone. One number dialed.
FEMALE OPERATOR {NANCY SLOVER}
Vallejo Police Department?
The headlight, SWINGING over asphalt until it comes to rest
on MIKE, slumped against the REAR of the Corvair. Blood,
running down his shirt...
A MAN (O.S.)
I want to a report a double
murder...
The Officer (HOFFMAN) dismounts and runs to him...
A MAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
If you go one mile east on
Columbus Parkway to the public
park, you will find kids in a
brown car...
6
Mike gestures - and Hoffman goes to the front seat to find
Darlene. In even worse shape. She tries to mouth something.
A MAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
They were shot with a nine
millimeter Luger. I also killed
those kids last year. Goodbye.
CLICK. The line goes dead. SMASH TO OUR TITLE SCREEN...
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO SKYLINE -- MORNING 6
August 1, 1969. SOARING OVER WATER towards the Bay City.
Magnificent spires and bridges. Bustling to life.
7 INT. GRAYSMITH APARTMENT -- BATHROOM -- MORNING 7
ROBERT GRAYSMITH stands, brushing his teeth. Mid 20's. Next
to him, his 4 year old son DAVID brushes his teeth as well.
Mimicking his father's movements. Graysmith does his top
teeth, David does his. Graysmith smiles. David smiles.
Graysmith scrubs his tongue, David scrubs his.
GRAYSMITH:
And spit.
(CONTINUED)
7 CONTINUED:
7Graysmith spits. David does not.
DAVID:
I swallowed it.
GRAYSMITH:
Why?
DAVID:
It was minty.
Graysmith laughs and scoops David up.
8 INT. LIVING ROOM -- MORNING 8
The tiny apartment is cluttered. Dick Tracy and old mystery
movie posters abound. The TV PLAYS while Graysmith ties
David's shoes.
NEWSCASTER:
...at the Hall of Justice vow that
the rapist will be arrested and
brought to trial...
Graysmith frowns and shuts off the TV.
DAVID:
(giggling)
Rapist! Rapist!
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"Zodiac" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Nov. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/zodiac_1416>.
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