Zodiac Page #24

Silence. Graysmith rises stiffly, suddenly formal:

GRAYSMITH:

Thank you for your time.

He heads for the door. As he goes:

AVERY:

It’s been four years, Bobby - let

it go.

He turns back to face Avery.

GRAYSMITH:

I don't care what you say. It was

important. It was important.

AVERY:

Well, what the f*** did you ever

do about it?

GRAYSMITH:

What-

AVERY:

If it was so important, what did

you do? Hovered over my desk?

Stole sh*t out of wastebaskets?

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm being unkind.

You went to the library.

This hits hard. Avery may be mad, but he’s right. A beat.

GRAYSMITH:

Sorry to have bothered you.

He turns and goes.

187 EXT. HARBOR -- SUNSET -- (RAIN) 187

Graysmith gets into his car. It's begun to rain. He sits

behind the wheel. Breathing hard. Taking it all in. He

comes to a decision. Puts the car in gear and drives.

188 INT. GRAYSMITH APARTMENT -- NIGHT -- (RAIN) 188

Late. Graysmith comes in from the rain. STACKS OF BOOKS

under his arm. Melanie, watching TV. Looks up as he enters.

MELANIE:

Where have you been?

He disappears into the bathroom. We hear water running.

(CONTINUED)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 138A.

188 CONTINUED:
188

The library.

GRAYSMITH (O.S.)

189 INT. HALL OF JUSTICE -- HOMICIDE UNIT -- DAY 189

Toschi at his desk.

Hi.

He looks up to see Graysmith.

GRAYSMITH:

Hi.

TOSCHI:

(no idea who this is)

A beat.

GRAYSMITH:

We met at the movies once.

TOSCHI:

It must have been magical.

GRAYSMITH:

I'm Robert Graysmith, I work at

the Chronicle. I was wondering if

I could buy you lunch.

190 INT. DINER -- DAY 190

Graysmith and Toschi sit across from each other. Toschi

chows down on a burger. Graysmith ignores his food.

(CONTINUED)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 139.

190 CONTINUED:
190

TOSCHI:

So you're a friend of Paul Avery's?

GRAYSMITH:

He's the reason I'm here. I

wanted to ask to you about Zodiac.

TOSCHI:

I appreciate the interest but we

don't discuss open cases-

GRAYSMITH:

What's happening with it really?

Day to day?

TOSCHI:

We're actively pursuing all leads-

GRAYSMITH:

It's just you now, isn't it.

TOSCHI:

Mr. Graysmith, Zodiac hasn't

written in three years. Do youknow how many murders San

Francisco has had since then?

GRAYSMITH:

No.

TOSCHI:

Over two hundred. That's a lot of

dead people and grieving families

who need our help.

GRAYSMITH:

So nobody cares anymore?

Toschi puts down his burger.

TOSCHI:

Hey. I care.

GRAYSMITH:

Can I show you something?

Toschi shrugs. Graysmith pulls a stack of books from his

briefcase and lays them on the table.

GRAYSMITH (CONT'D)

I've been doing research on the

first code. Everything an amateur

would need to create it can be

found in these books.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 140.

190 CONTINUED:
(2) 190

GRAYSMITH (CONT'D)

So I started thinking, if you can

track the books, maybe you can

find the man.

He hands Toschi a LIST.

GRAYSMITH (CONT'D)

I know you thought Zodiac was

military so I went to every base

library and got a list of people

who checked out the books. That's

when I found this.

He points to the PRESIDIO LIBRARY LIST. Almost the entire

column of books have the word "MISSING" written by them.

TOSCHI:

"Missing"?

GRAYSMITH:

That means the book was stolen.

TOSCHI:

Almost every book on ciphers was

stolen from the Presidio Library?

GRAYSMITH:

And the Oakland Army Terminal

Library. Someone didn't want to

leave a record of checking them

out, so he stole them.

Toschi stares at him.

TOSCHI:

Who are you again?

GRAYSMITH:

I just want to help.

A beat. Toschi, mulling this over. Finally:

TOSCHI:

I can't allow you to help. I

can't have more meetings with you

to discuss what you might uncover

and I certainly can't tell you to

go talk to Ken Narlow in Napa, N-AR-

L-O-W in Napa who was in charge

of the case up there. You

understand?

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 141.

191 INT. NAPA POLICE HEADQUARTERS -- DAY 191

Graysmith, seated across from Narlow.

NARLOW:

I'm sorry Mr. Graysmith, but we

don't cooperate with writers-

GRAYSMITH:

I'm not a writer, I'm a cartoonist.

A beat.

NARLOW:

And Dave Toschi sent you?

Yes.

GRAYSMITH:

Why?

NARLOW:

GRAYSMITH:

Maybe he thought I could do some

good.

NARLOW:

(laughing)

What are you, a boy scout?

GRAYSMITH:

Eagle Scout actually. First class.

A beat. Narlow, realizing he's not kidding.

NARLOW:

You really want to do this, you

shouldn't let me stop you. TryVallejo. Jack Mulanax.

192 INT. VALLEJO POLICE DEPARTMENT -- MULANAX'S OFFICE -- DAY 192

Graysmith, seated across from Mulanax.

MULANAX:

I understand what you're trying to

do, but-

GRAYSMITH:

I'm a friend of Dave Toschi's.

said you could help.

He

(CONTINUED)

192 CONTINUED:

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 142.

192

Mulanax stares at him, silent.

GRAYSMITH (CONT'D)

The case is dead, right? Zodiac's

long gone, yesterday's news?

MULANAX:

That's what they say.

GRAYSMITH:

So what's the harm?

193 INT. EVIDENCE LOCKER -- DAY 193

Mulanax leads Graysmith past ROWS OF CARDBOARD BOXES.

MULANAX:

No pens, no paper, no copiers.

Anything you see that's relevant,

you gotta remember in your head.

They turn a corner to find THREE ENORMOUS BOOKCASE TYPE

SHELVES filled with boxes.

Here you go.

Which one?

MULANAX (CONT'D)

GRAYSMITH:

MULANAX:

All of them. There are more in

the next room. They're all marked

with these numbers.

He points to one box, marked #243-146.

MULANAX (CONT'D)

I'll be outside.

He goes. Graysmith wastes no time. Opening the top box,

scanning the Vallejo police reports. Words flashing by -

Ferrin, Lynch, Mageau, Corvair, Breathing phone calls, NMA,

handwriting, painting party, hypnosis, Husted...

194 INT. VALLEJO POLICE DEPARTMENT -- LOBBY -- DAY 194

Mulanax getting coffee as Graysmith HURRIES PAST.

GRAYSMITH:

Thank you very much!

(CONTINUED)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 143.

194 CONTINUED:
194

He's gone before Mulanax can respond. Officer GEORGE BAWART

wanders in to see this stranger's hasty departure.

MULANAX:

Hey, George.

BAWART:

Hey. Who was that?

MULANAX:

Graysmith. Some cartoonist, thinks

he's gonna solve the Zodiac.

Bawart watches Graysmith running across the street towards a

restaurant like a madman.

BAWART:

Good for him.

195 EXT. FRIED CHICKEN SHACK -- DAY 195

Graysmith sits at a table scribbling furiously into a

notebook. Transcribing from memory what he's just read...

196 OMITTED 196

196A INT. GRAYSMITH'S CAR -- DAY -- (RAIN) 196A

Parked under a BRIDGE. Graysmith sits with Margot on his

lap. The door opens. Toschi slides in, eating a hot dog.

GRAYSMITH:

Thanks for meeting me, Inspector.

TOSCHI:

We're not meeting. I gotta beback in five minutes-

GRAYSMITH:

Did anyone ever show Mike Mageau

suspect photos?

TOSCHI:

Why?

GRAYSMITH:

He's the only surviving victim who

saw Zodiac without a mask.

(CONTINUED)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 144.

196A CONTINUED:
196A

TOSCHI:

No, why are you asking me?

Darlene and Mageau are Vallejo's

investigation, Paul Stine is mine,

you got four minutes now-

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