"Slayer of Clocks"
by Camille LaGuire
(WGA reg 1027506)
FADE IN:
INT. PIT -- DAY
DARK
Shuffling, scuffling. A dog whines. With a creak, a trap
door opens above, and dusty daylight streaks in to reveal a
small dirty cellar, a pit with a dirt floor. No exit except
a rope ladder that hangs down from the trap door above.
STINKY, a fat, elderly dog, is at the bottom. He looks up
and whines again, wiggles, eager to see a face.
A woman looks down through the opening. MARCIE is in her
twenties, very short hair, nose pierced. She looks annoyed,
but then sympathetic.
MARCIE
You poor little money bag, you.
She throws down an empty sports bag. It smacks the ground,
puffing up dust. The dog scrambles and barks.
Marcie looks back over her shoulder, as if she's heard
something behind her.
MARCIE
Shit.
EXT. MUSEUM -- NIGHT
Local history museum in a small industrial "rust belt"
town. Large terrace area at the back with steps going down
to the sidewalk and parking lots.
People in middle-class finery move across the parking lot
to the entrances and terrace.
Marcie walks across the parking lot. She has changed.
Longer hair, the nose ring gone, hole healed up. She is
almost appropriately dressed; nice shoes, nice purse, simple
black dress that's a little too short and too tight.
She hesitates as she comes to the sidewalk. Holds back
from joining in, scans the people on the terrace, sees
someone, looks determined, moves on.
TERRACE
A banner announces "Van Gurk Foundation Fundraiser".
Guests linger to socialize, then head inside.
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2.
Greeting them is AGNES "PRINCESS" VAN GURK, 30s, hair
perfect, dressed in a Grace Kelly elegance above the fashion
of her guests. Dangly diamond earrings and a matching
bracelet.
She nods, listens, smiles pleasantly, but she looks bored,
like a supermart greeter.
JOE WALTHER, uniformed security guard, 50, tough guy on his
way down hill, stands down on the sidewalk, looking just as
bored and uncomfortable. He tries to look like he's doing
his job, keeping watch and pointing directions, but he's
mostly watching Princess.
Most of the people have gone inside, as an older couple
passes Joe. The WIFE is in a hurry, the HUSBAND pauses to
light a cigarette.
WIFE
Melvin! You can't smoke on the
museum grounds.
HUSBAND
Says who?
The woman taps Joe's arm.
WIFE
Sir, sir. Tell him. He can't
smoke here.
Joe sighs and turns reluctantly to look at them, at the
sign that says no smoking on the grounds, at the cigarette.
He snatches the cigarette out of the guy's hand.
HUSBAND
Hey! What are you--?
JOE
Smoking is bad for your health.
Sir.
Joe takes a drag on the cigarette and flicks it into the
street. The guy looks angry, but Joe gives him a mean
"don't mess with me" look.
Joe starts to turn back to the terrace, but sees another
security guard, ALLEN, watching him. Joe gives the couple a
half-hearted smile.
JOE
Have a nice day.
The couple back away and scurry toward the party. Allen
shakes his head and comes closer.
ALLEN
You need the work, Joe. Behave.
Joe gives him a little salute, and Allen moves on. Joe
pretends to move on himself, but circles, and looks again at
the terrace.
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3.
The guests have gone inside, but Princess lingers, as if
reluctant to go in. Joe watches, bemused.
She sidles away from the door with a furtive glance, as if
escaping. She sees Joe watching her.
PRINCESS
What do you want?
JOE
Not a thing.
PRINCESS
Bored?
JOE
Not right now.
PRINCESS
I am. I am so bored.
Suddenly she comes straight at him, her arms extended,
wrists together, bracelet dangling. It's a charm bracelet,
with little dogs among the diamonds.
PRINCESS
Arrest me, officer. Quick!
JOE
What for?
PRINCESS
Trespassing. I crashed the party.
Kick me out.
JOE
Sorry, Ms. Van Gurk. I think
arresting the guest of honor would
get me into trouble.
PRINCESS
You like your job too much?
JOE
No, I hate my job, but it's
temporary and I need the money.
PRINCESS
So you'd be amenable to a bribe?
JOE
What kind of bribe we talking about?
Princess pulls back, fingers her earrings.
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4.
PRINCESS
The earrings? You've been staring
at them all evening, so you must
like them.
JOE
I wasn't staring at the earrings.
She smiles, pleased. She sighs, as though giving up.
PRINCESS
I don't suppose you take credit
cards?
JOE
I like cash.
PRINCESS
Oh, so do I.
There is some passion in her voice at the mention of cash.
She glances back. There's a man, HENDERSON, conservative
suit, fifties, looking for her. He looks disapproving.
Joe backs off a step or two, gestures toward the grounds.
JOE
I gotta make my rounds.
PRINCESS
Me too.
She backs off, and turns to join Henderson. They go inside
and join the party. Joe stays and watches her go.
MARCIE (O.S.)
That was sweet.
Joe starts, turns around. Marcie stands on the sidewalk
behind him.
MARCIE
Don't we all like cash?
JOE
Shit.
Joe turns away, not happy to see her. Marcie quicksteps
around him, then leans back on the post at the bottom of the
steps.
MARCIE
Hiya Marcie, I'm glad to see you're
out of prison.
Joe sighs, gives in.
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5.
JOE
Hello Marcie. I am glad to
see you're out of prison.
MARCIE
Forget it, Joe. I'm onto something
else.
JOE
Oh, great.
MARCIE
No, it is. It is great, Joe.
She's excited, happy, sly. He hesitates.
MARCIE
Yeah. You're interested.
JOE
What?
MARCIE
And I guess I can't say it's
something else either. I
mean, I'm just finishing up what you
and Laurie started....
JOE
No.
Joe takes her arm and pulls her away from the terrace. She
pulls back, can't get away, but keeps smiling.
He marches her to the curb, then stops to hiss in her face.
JOE
You're not crashing this party to
kidnap her dog.
MARCIE
I don't need to. Joe, listen. I
know where the money is.
JOE
What are you talking about?
MARCIE
The hundred and twenty grand you
were supposed to get for her dog. I
know where it went.
JOE
It went back to the bank.
She shakes her head, as he keeps speaking.
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6.
JOE
We never got it.
MARCIE
The bank never got it either. I
just found out. It was never
recovered. That money's still out
there.
Joe pauses, stunned, not believing.
JOE
But...where?
MARCIE
Remember Milo Banks? Oh, that's
right. You wouldn't. He never
showed up, did he?
JOE
Who is he? What--
She glances over her shoulder, toward the party.
MARCIE
I've got to get inside. I'll fill
you in later.
She slips away and heads up the stairs. Joe follows, makes
a grab at her arm, but she gives him the slip.
MARCIE
Don't worry. I'm a guest.
JOE
Marcie....
She's already across the terrace. Joe is afraid to call
too loudly. He glances around, sees Allen patrolling over
by the parking lot. Marcie slips into the building.
LATER
Joe makes his rounds outside. The party is in full swing.
Music. People inside and on the terrace laughing, talking,
getting noisier.
Joe moves up the stairs and lurks along the terrace.
Looking for Marcie. He catches a glimpse through a window.
Marcie's talking to Princess. They move out of sight.
Joe goes to the next window to watch. Can't see them.
Some people on the terrace nearby look at him.
JOE (CONT'D)
Watch yourselves. We've got a
pick-pocket on the grounds.
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7.
LATER
The party has spread out, more subdued, softer music.
Fewer people on the terrace. Joe simply lurks. He sees
Marcie inside again. He moves closer to the window.
Marcie's talking to a man or maybe two men. Too many
people around. Joe can't see. In the deep background there
is a disruption at the buffet table. In the foreground
Marcie flirts, seems drunk.
Joe edges, trying to get a better look at who she's talking
to. The radio on his belt squawks. It's Allen.
ALLEN (V.O.)
We've got a drunk at the buffet.
Will ya give me a hand?
Joe notices the scuffle going on in the background. Allen
attempts to break up a clinch between a man and a frightened
caterer.
EXT. MUSEUM FRONT DOOR -- NIGHT
Joe bursts out the door, escorting a DRUNK, a middle-aged,
middle-class, walking mid-life crisis. Joe's face and
shoulder are wet.
The Drunk staggers, propelled by Joe's hand on his back.
Joe doesn't need to make much effort. The Drunk isn't quite
sure what's pushing him.
DRUNK
Hey!
He swipes an arm through the air, misses, staggers. Joe
steadies him, pulls a handkerchief out of the Drunk's pocket
to wipe his own face.
DRUNK
I have not had too much to drink.
JOE
You had enough extra to throw in my
face.
DRUNK
That wasn't mine. She wouldn't
give me...hey!
Joe jerks the guy's arm and quick-marches him down to the
sidewalk, past cars, to a bench near a bus stop.
JOE
Be a good boy and sit. We've got a
cab coming for you.
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8.
DRUNK
I don't want a....
The man tries to get up, but Joe's hand holds him in place.
JOE
Don't give me any shit. I hate
this job. I'm just begging to be
fired.
The man looks him in the eye, stays put. Joe lets go and
stands, arms crossed. They both wait.
Joe looks over his shoulder, back to the party. He catches
a glimpse of Marcie on the terrace.
Joe cranes his neck. Marcie heads down the stairs toward
the street. She's tipsy, but seems in a hurry.
Joe considers. Looks at the Drunk.
JOE
Stay there.
Joe goes off after Marcie. The Drunk sits forward.
Watches.
DRUNK
Fuck you.
He gets up and staggers away toward the parking lot. Joe
glances back, sees him, but continues after Marcie.
SIDEWALK
Joe catches up with her, catches her arm. She turns, seems
tired. Less enthused.
JOE
Okay, what's up? Where is the
money?
MARCIE
Tomorrow. Let me go home.
JOE
Marcie, don't be a fuckin' tease.
He takes her arm, she pulls away. She staggers to the
gutter and pukes her guts out.
JOE
Jesus, how much champagne did you
drink?
MARCIE
As much as I could get. It's been
a while since I had some, you know?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.
He waits while she wipes her mouth. Straightens herself.
She starts along the sidewalk, back toward the parking lot.
He follows along side.
MARCIE
You hear from Laurie?
JOE
She cut out after you were
arrested. What did you go steal a
car for anyway?
MARCIE
I had to get out of town.
JOE
What for? It was a dog. It wasn't
like there were federal kidnapping
charges.
MARCIE
Laurie called me. She was scared.
I guess I got scared too.
Joe pauses, considers.
JOE
Why? What did she say?
MARCIE
I don't know, Joe. I haven't
talked to her since I got nabbed
trying to get her a car. What did
she say to you?
JOE
She took off.
MARCIE
She give you any reason for being
so scared?
JOE
No. I never talked to her--
MARCIE
Did you give her a reason
for being so scared?
JOE
What do you mean?
MARCIE
You, Mr. Knee-breaker. You weren't
too happy about things going wrong.
Did you take it out on her?
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10.
JOE
Marcie, your sister ran out on you.
Don't blame it on me.
They're near the driveway to the parking lot. Marcie
stops, looks angry, but pulls herself back in. Calculates.
MARCIE
What if she took the money?
Joe pauses, studies her, doubtful. She's watching for his
reaction. He finally looks impatient.
JOE
Is that what you think happened?
MARCIE
I was in jail. You tell me what
happened.
JOE
Oh, fuck that. I don't know. As
far as I know, that money went back
to the bank. You're the one saying
you know where it is. Where is it?
MARCIE
What if I don't tell you?
JOE
Cut the crap. You came here to
tell me.
She turns away. He grabs her arm. She hits him with her
purse. He takes the purse. Shoves her.
JOE
So tell me.
MARCIE
I changed my mind.
She turns, he grabs her arm again, jerks her back. They
are now right at the edge of the driveway to the parking
lot. A car moves in the lot behind them, fast, erratic, no
lights.
JOE
You don't even know.
MARCIE
Oh, I know. I know exactly where
it is, every penny.
She punches him, tries to take her purse back, he shoves
her. She staggers back a step. He advances.
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11.
JOE
Then where is it?
MARCIE
Why don't you find out for yourself?
She sneers, shoves him. The car behind them now swerves
into the drive. Neither of them see it. Joe shoves Marcie
back, hard.
She staggers back into the path of the car. Then Joe sees
it. Too late. Squeal of tires, a bump, and Marcie hurtles
into the street. Another car, going along the street,
screeches to a halt to keep from hitting her.
The first car -- the one that struck her -- bounces past
the sidewalk and half down into the road. The driver gets
out. It's the Drunk.
Marcie lies in the street. The Drunk and two women from
the other car run to her.
One of the women speaks into her cell phone. The other
calls out.
WOMAN
I think she's dead.
DRUNK
Oh, no. No no no no.
Other onlookers are gathering from the party. Their
attention is on Marcie and the Drunk. No one notices Joe,
who stands, watching, uncertain.
Joe looks down at the purse in his hands. Backs away
quickly, silently.
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