FATAL

,,
ATTRACTION

JAMES DEARDEN and NIOJOLAS MEYER

 f14.

F A T A L A T T RA C T I O N

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?AS""'\N":' e1r.,:,ru;s C·~•eQSATCCN
1555 Meleo•• Avenue J,ne,ry 198)
:.~, An~~l~,. Calc!ocr.,a SOOJ!
 EXT. ND< YORK CtTY - NIGHT
Tho CAMERAlS HIGH AI!flVE J<a.nhattan, surveying the cit¥
skyline. Low clouds glo" dimly, reflecting the illumi-
nated buildings and tt'te ,treet lamps belQW, The SOO!IO
Of 'l'RA!"flC tilters up, faint and dl•••nt.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO,

2 EXT. OPPER WEST SIDE - NIGHT

The CAMERADRIFTS toward the upper stotle• of a gtoup

of tlli<t••• style apart.ment buildings. Mst of the
"indows are lighted.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO,

l EXT, APAIITll1:N1' BUILDING - N<GIIT

CNIERA CLOSING IN on one individual v1ndov. Through
the slatted blinds ve glimpse a bedroom. A \iOKAII in
bra and pan•• clo••• the blinds with • quici< swiv•l of
the blades.

4 INT. GA!.LAGRERAPAIITMENT- NIGHT

AJ,tiable cnaos. B£Tll, a gc,od-looking woiun in h•r
,hirtles, leaves tho vindQW, going to and !tom the
bath•""'"'• She trips ovor an ea,phone •~ten•ion cord,
wnloh leads to DAN, her husband, al•o mid-thirtie,,
w,th open good lool<•, fllpp,ng thtougb la1' texts and
legal pads, b,fooals sliding on hi• no"e • We can
faintly hea, Schubert•• SYMPHONYJ4 through the l!EAD-
PHONES.
£1.LZN, an aclotable chi~d of five r.old>ng a ooloting
book, is lying sp,a.,:ed <>n the next o<>uoh, int•ntly
"atching TV. 110" and then, Dan holds up his hand in
froc.t ot he, ~ace, bloo,ing out the TV screen. Ellen
oblivious to Dan'• atoempcs ,o dlstraot her, ~oveo har
head around his hand :or a clear view.
S~R
{laughs)
You bet<e< get going, l<Cddo; we',e
gonna be late ...

ELL~~
{over:app,ngl
Ee can't hea, y~c, Ko,omy •••
(CON~INtJE~I
4 CONTINUED,
Tile PllONE RJ!IGS, overlapping •..

loverlapp!.ng) •=
Oh, great.
She 9oea into the bathroom, laaving the PllONE RINGING
and Oan, happily obl\viou,. Ellen si%eS up the situa-
tion and goes over to her fath•r. ln a fillllliliar
ge,ture, •h• pulls off on• side of th• earphones.
ELLEN
Daddy! Telephone!

Huh?
l•tartledl
Oh, thanks,
'"" honey .••
lie stands up and heads for th• phone, revealing thao
he's only dressed from the "aiat up, in crisp wl:ite
•hirt and tie. Bel0" th• vaist l.t'• stio,ts and socks.
On his vay to the phone, he trip• and stuhs his toe.

INT. KITCHEN AND l!ALLNAi - N!Gl!T

Hello?
ll!LOY 10,5.)
Dan, ace yo~ okay? lt's llildy.

~i,
•o•.
I'm fir.e.
Hang on ...
'""
: iu•t atubbed my

{shouts)
Beth? It'• Hildy!
Ile calls out oo the passage, to the open bath,oorn door,

INT, BATHROOM
- NIG!r.'
BE~R (O.S.)
1••1 call he, hAck.

(to Holdy)
SC.e's in the Oatll,oorn.
'""
R:~~y (O.S. I
Ca~ you ask he, we.as sll•'s
wearoog?
6 CONTINO:EO:
'.
OM
SIie wan•• to knov wnat you're
waaring.

Il<T. GAL~ APARTM.ENT - BJ\TliROOM - NIGHT

Beth i• standing in hRr bra and pant• in front of the

mirror abova the hand basin, ,tarting on her 111.ilkeup.
Ellen ,tands beside her in a nlghtde•••• playing with
her ~other's m&kaup, which is scaotared chaotically.
Beth i! harasaad, panicky, late. Ellen is twisoing up
a column of lipsOick,
BETH
(shouts)
Hy black suit, .• !
(to Ellen)
Don't do that, honey, you'll get
it all over your hands,
OM
(to llildyl
liar blacl< su\t.

H!LOY (D.S.)
011•.• it's going to be sm,irt?

7 INT. KITCE!EN- NIGHT

OM
You •now whac these things a,e
like. It's business.
lllL~Y 10,S,)
Ask her ,f sne thinks my red dress
is o•ay.
Dan smiles to himself. snaking his head good-nat~cedly.
o,,
(to Be:~:
oo you then; hec red dress 1s
okay?

SE~!!
lf~'.l ~f ,~oth?a•t~J
Pe,f~c, !
 ,.
7 CONTil<01.:11,

OM
She aays it's pe,f•ct. Okay,
'bye. jSee you late,.)
She look• down at Ellen, who ha• completely flattened
th• tub•.

Ellen.,.
•=
(dism.o.yed)
now look what you've
done.
She take• the lip•tick away, cegiatering ita condition,

I needed
(continuJ.ngJ
that.
=
ELLEN

Bt:":11
It's o<ay, honey, it's okay,

INT. GAI.LAG!IER APMTMI:NT BEIIROOK - IH(;l!T ·

New Can is n,mmaging ia the va,dcobe, ••arching among

the clothe•.
Oil~
Where's my hl~e suit?

-
The OOORBELL RINGS --

(continuing)
~it, tne,e's cn,isci.ne .••

INT, GALLAGHDAPAltTKENT- BATHROOM

- NIGHT
Beth straighten• up ia respo~•e Co Ch,1,t1ne'< arr1va:,
lcnocking a Jat ol: cream onto t.oe floe, "here ,, SKA:-
Tl:RS with a SPLA~.

Snit!,,,
1shoe,s)
It's on tne oack c: cne doo,i .• ,
[Watch o~t fo, tC,e g:ass./ Don't
~om• in ho,o, honoyJ
 ,.
9 CONTINO.EC,

Shit,
(continuing,
•hit,
•=
•hit!
""-'tters)

OAA
(in bedro°"')
Oh ... (thanks, hon@y).

Ellen waddling down the corridor.

Et.LEN
(•ing-scng)
Shit-sh1t-sh1t.
B£TII (O.S,)
Ellen!!

OMITTED

INT. GALLAGHER APAATMENT - ~LLWAY - N!Gl!'T

n..n and B•th ar• giving CD.ISTINE, the babysitte,, a

~;Cdly "n•" wave• teenage, with a eed st,eak in he,
hair, inst,uction,. Silm pad• a,ound axcit•dly. Beth
looks elegant ;n a black tailored su1:, her ha1, pinned
up with a co,,,b.

Th•re'• so~e lasagne •=

in the
fridge, and l've left tr.o nu~~•rs
"here ""' l.l be on a pad by the
lcitchen ,>hone.
Cl!fUSTINE
{••lf-confident)
Sure.

(teasingly)
And no pa,cy1ng,
''" ~•you nea,?
CHP.:STINE
But I've al,eady sent the
,nv1eattons.

!grins)
Can ' c~m•?

Cl!P.!ST:NE
tou'ce too o:d.
(CQNTI!IL'~:J)
 ,.
ll CONTim!E:O:

OM
Thanks, kiddo,

I thought we•
,~,
were late?
She pull• him out into the outer hallway with her.

12 OMITTED
•
''
14 INT. JAPANESE R.ESTAORANT - NII.IIT

A large reception. The restaurant has been taken over

for the evening and cleared of table• •o that the
gue••• can oall about. Waitre•••• in kimonos pa,, in
and out with trays of tasty sushi goodies and glasses
of champagne. A publishing hou•• •• launching a naw
bool< -- A Japanese e~eroiie IM.nual, hence u,e the,ae of
the occas•on. can and aeth, looking elegane, worlc
their way towards the stairs, Dan grab• hAnds, pounds
backs, working the room.

B!:':H
Oh, loo< at this!

OM
Hey, Chuckle, you play1n' ball on
Friday? Great, we',e ,n the
cellar, can use every lawya, we
gat •.. Iii, yeah, I mean, no. next
"eel<,,, uh, Wednesday, yRah, ,ee
you in ccurt ... J~•u• !
He and Bech have ,eocned tne stoi,s to the main roo1:1.
Utll pats ne, hair,

BETH
I~ 01y hair o••y?

(eating)
,.,
tou look ~,ea:.

..
3E1~
Dan, l'n, as,ir.g yo~.

Honey, ycu',e
,,~e cucest gi,l
here ... ~!

( LON'CIN'.JE:J !
l4 CONTINUED,
'.
Before Beth c•n ••Y what she think• of "cute,• Dan's
face ha• suddenly assuffled a ,nask-like smile •• he sees
so,neone approaching. B• nudges Beth in the ribs and

-
•he follows ouit.

I continuing)
Bi, Bob! B<>" are you?
BOB ORIIIHER, senior editor at Robbins and Hart, arrives
alongside, working hi• way around the roo,n. Be's wear-
ing~ neck brace. Bis eyes dart !rom ,ide to side as
he pumps Dan's hand, his mind already on t\is next 010ve.

~,-
Glad you could m.ake it,. Dan,
sorry about the meeeing
tomorrow.,. I know it's Saturday,
but we've got a real crisis.

That's okay,
,~
This is my wife,
Beth -- Sob Orimm•r.

ORil!>\t:R
Please~ 00 meet yo~.

1; ACROSS Tl!.!: ROOM

HILDY
Both! •••

16 SETI!, DAN ANO OHIIIM.ER

B••h lights U"f' on soeing er~~Y. She -,ave• back.

o,unme, sei:es tne oppoet~r.i:y to :oove o~.
Dl!tKM£11
: hope YO" l\ke sushi!

Love i,.
se,h a~d Dan p~sn to,.,a:d tn,ouqC. the c,ush and moe, up
~,en H,ldy and .Jll'.IH.

SS-:11
What happ•r.•C to hos nee•?
 ••
16 COITT'INIIEO:
OM
H• ""s making love to his wif•.

(al1,ay• !alls
Clan'• ,torie•
'"'
for
I
Are you serious? Dani

OM
It's the truth.

Y011 should
,,=
see his .,;_te they
had to take her •"•Yon a
str•tcher !

17 Laughte:, The ,,.,o wom•n comp~iotent each other on their

r••pectiv• ouofits. Jimmy and Oan gravitat• """•rds
each other. Jim.my "orks in the same la" fir:n. He
,aises his glass, only to hav• his "'"' jogged by a MAN
elbc,ving p•••· Champagne goes all eve, his shirt
front.

JIMMY
Tl>ank you!

The Man half~turned, wi,h a shrug.

AA,
(moving on)
Sorry.

:immy dabs his shi,t f,or.t 1,ith a handkerct-.ief.

JHII\Y
Fuck! ... What great cult~••l event
are we he<e to celeo,ate, anr,,ay?

Some new e,ercise

,~ ~•nual.

J:.•.1-1,
!groans;,
Not anotc.e, one.
o,,
T~i• one's d\f!e,e,.t. 1,•, by
some Japor.ese c;uy. :t•• based on
ancient Sa:nu,a. Gi,o(p!ines.
T!!EIH POV

Coe, :ne othe, end of t.•,e ,com, the .:apanese Aucho, ,n

quest,on ,, being ,~t,c,~ucec ,o t.,e Geest• ir. f,ont of
• ,ao~• display cE his oeo,,.
 ,.
17 CONTINOEO:

Ee keeps nodding and bowing politely.

JIIIH!! (V.O.)
Look at that IIL!lnnod! 00 you
think it's part of the treatment?

They branch off into their v•roion of Samurai Delica-

tessen, amusing •ach other but slowly getting ••!"'rated
ftO-"' their wives. Lots of pidgin Japanese,

18 ANGLE

At that moment, an ext,emely attractive blonde GIRL

pass•• by, heavily ogled by Ji...,y.
JIIIHY
Iii, there ..•

She turns and gives him a look to make hell f,ee%e

over. She holds the look a fraction longer, then turns
&nd mov•• on,
JIMIIY
100ntinuin~)
Shi-io. If looks coul<! kill.

Very good, J,mmy, very gcx,d! ! I

••• you haven't lost your touch.
'''
I I like Your moves! I

1~ GENER/ILV!f:i< Of Tll.E ROOM

Time has elapsed. G,ou,>ir.gs have crtanged. rt's ever.
mo,e crow<ie~.

20 IN:. IIEN'S ROOl1 ~ N!GII:

Iii, ArUrnr .•.

ARTl!UR
1hat you, Ga:lagno,?
,,,
Y@~h... ho~•• i, goin'?

AR:lfC'P
Fine. You Stoll t~inking about
moving to che co•.int,y?

ICONT:NUE:>)
 -AA-
20 CONTIITTIEC:

We'ra •till talking about it.

I tried it once - !or about four

years. llart,dale.

reah? (And?)

1 =uldn't
M,-
taka the commute. The
tra1ns were alwafs breaklnq down.
lpointadly)
What I should have done was waited
'til they made me a partner.
OAA
(Well, Arthu,.) !'l.l see you
later, Arth~,.

M-
Yeah ••• If I eve, fini•h h•ra.

21 INT, RESTAW\AllT AR£A - NI~HT

Dan tries to malte it to t~e ba,. Uis ,oute take• him
p.>$t the Girl "no cold-s.~oulde,ed Ji111111y. They almo$t
bump into each other. Can i• •ligh•ly di,tracted by
what Ar•hur seemed to ~.1nt at.

Can I have
Ito ''"
bartende')
a cc,ampagne?

OAA
1continuing)
I'm not ,aying ... I'm not eve~
l.00•1~g at you!

AL~X
Was it thac bad?

Put Ct tC.is ·•ay,

on t.,e ,~ce1vcr.g
''"en~. glad
:•m I ,;as~•,

1<1.;:x
I hate t~e ,;ay some guys thin<
t~.ey have a eogh: co ~o~• on :i•e
t~•··
 -
21 ctlNTINUEO:

JiUly'• okay ••• "little insecure

-- like the r••· of US, ..
'l'h•re is a sl.i11ht pause. She'• looking at him with
ev,dant interest, •o he doesn't ~ova on. And she
r•ally is •enaational-lool<ing. She must be in her
thirties, but she drasses younger, trandily, and gets
a"ay with it.
OAA
(continuing I
I'll C).an -- Galla9her.

Alex Forrest.

OAA
Ale~ ... lihat'• your connection

..
h<He7

I --ark tor Robbins

ALEX
and Bart. ,
•n {~••Ociatel editor ... And you?

OAA
(smiles)
I'm with Killer, Goodm.on and
llu<st. I de all you< legal
vork. I'm.su,pri,ed I've neve<
•een you around.
u,,
I just Joined thern " couple ot
weeks ago.
SOlllething ac,os• the room catches Dan's attention.

3eth has seen horn and 1s •ignal1ng ,hey al: want to

leave.

2l BCTF.'S POV

24 DA~ AND ALEX

(CCN~I~UED)
24 CONTil'OED;

I'v• gotta go.

Is that your il•'

wif•?

Yes.

ll•>
1u, ..singly)
Hell, you'd better run along the111.

Vary nica to 111eet you.

around. (Some ti<ne,)
''" See you

ll•>
Ilic• to meet you,
He walk• away. She watches him go, cle .. rly intrigued.

2S INT. GALI.AG!!Elt HALLWAY- IIIGl!T

Tha conversation of the women drift, in from the dimly

lit hallway.
BET!! 10,S,)
Thanlts, Chr1stine.
CHRISTINE (O,S, I
Any time, Mrs. Gallagher.

26 INT. GALLAGIIEII BEDIIOOM - NIGHT

Beth ente,s the bedr0<>m .. nd sits down :n cl\e nearest

chair to take her shoes off. She leolts aero•• th"
bed. She is l0<>1ting at Dan, sitting and start1ng to
ta~e his shi<t off.

Ar•n't you """

forgett1ng S017lecn,ng?
She gestures. Dan follows t.e, loo,. 5.om is waiting.

l7 !!IT. GAL~AGIIER APAATMrN~ - lll~IIT

naa ar.d s~m re-enter. All the log.ots •r~ cEf. Dan
to<es ofE his jacket ancl feel• h•• ><oy ir.tc ""·• hal:.
Ee cnbuttons his s/'.,r, an~ move• cau,,ocsly fo,,,o,o.
2a INT. GALLAGlll:I! BEDROOM - NIGIIT

Dan enters tentatively, and &tops in the doorway,

looking at the bed. His face drops.
Ellen is curled up next to her mother.

lhalf asleep)•=
She had a bad dream, •• Just for
tonight, honey •••

Yeah, yeah.
lie smiles resign&dly and wa!ks toward his side Of the
bed.

JO IN-r. GA!.LAGHER l'J'MTIU:111' BTJH,DI>IG t.OBBY - DAY (SA:rt!IIOAY)

Tha alevato, doors o~n. Bath, Dan, Ellen and the dog
a,e crammed inside with a small bicycle. They hu,ry

-
tr.rough the lob~y.

(If you like itl when you see it,

don't say anyth,ng, for (;()d's
oaKe, or we can't negoeiata .•.
aITS
Honey, whet a,e you wo,ried aboue?
Ellen, are you chewing g~m again?

{You Know) we can't

,~ af~ord this
house.
ELLEN
Daddy ... Daddy ...
DAN
!<hat, dar:.ing ...
SE~H
No harrn loo1<1nq, .a the,e? It'•
iu•t up tl>e ,cad t,cm >lorn and
Dad.
~AN
T~at's a~c,~e, goct ,eason Eo, not
buy,nq ,,.

----------
30 CONTillO!:D:

J didn't hea, •=
that. Ellen. ! "ant
that gum ...

OM
Gcod mo,ning, Ch<i•.

Good morning, =~
K:. Gallagher ••.

We continue TRACKING them up to a little <'ol,o ,tac1on

wagon parl<ed at the curb.

Let•• not worry •= about it n0",

ol<ay? ! haven"t even seen the
damn place yet. ! ,._.Y not even
like i,!
(holding out ~.er
hand)
Ell~n, the gum, plaa,e ...

She ,urrenders l.t. Ellen cll.mbs into ,he back seat.

Quincy the deg natutally follo.,s.

01\N
(g,abbing him)
No, Quincy, not this time ...

ELLCN
But, Daddy, l "an, !'.lm .•.

Daddy "ill be all''' alone!

lie holds the dog by the loash. Seth starts a,ound th•

·~·
ca, to the drive,•• •ide.

(cons0l1ngly)
I'm sorry, Quincy .•. ¥cu "on"t
Eorge, to walk ~1m, .,,1: you?

I promise!

BE~!!
Have a go,od rne~t,nq! Love ya ...
01\N
Thanks ... ( l 1.ove you too) ...

~• an,o.,, !".e, • k1•• as s.".e ;eta ,~co the ~a,. Elle.-.

·•as~• •• ne, .,,nclow.
30 coirrrmrco, !2)

-
'!lye, Oaddyl

Say hello to Grandma and Grandpa!

The car moves off, Dan ~alks away with the do9.

ll OMITTl:ll

32 INT. NOB!llNS MO IUIRT - DOTER OFFICE/LOBBY - DAY

Jl INT, ROBBINS AND IUIRT - CONFERENCEROOK - KORN ING

Bob Drimmer and a couple of guys from the busir.e•• af-
fairs department are seated a,ound the confe,ence table
"ith a SECRETARY. Dan comes in "ith a beiefcase, Gen-
eral hellos -- everybody seems to know each oeher.
The,e'• • general air of eme,gency. D<iffllller is ,till
.,.a,in9 a nee< brace. People a,e drinking taka-out
cottee and noshing on bagels.
,,,
DRIM>IEP.
Iii, Dan. !'m so,,y to ruin yo~,
""ekend, Please give 111yapolcgies
,o you, lovely "ife.

( laughs
,~
I
No problem, she's used to 1,.
!low'• your neeR? Any better?
DRIM/IER
Don', ask. Een,y's out of to,,n,
so I've asked Alex Forr&sc to
stand in for him •c the meeting ...
Eas anyb<>dy oeen he,?
S~CRET/JlY
She's on~ .• , "•Y·
{tw,nR!ingl '""
ijhil• s,e',e w•iting, you "anr.a
toll us what really happened to
your necl<, 3ob?
33 COIITINOED:

DRIIIMER
That's cute, very cute. I was
planting geraniums •••
Dan can hardly suppress a laugh. At this m01Cent, how-
ever, Al.ex comes through the door, slightly out of
breath. Ko,oent of recognition as her eyes meet Dan's.
~~
S<:>rry, I was just getting the
tile.
Dll!IIMER
Dan, this i• Al•x Forrest, our new
associate editor.

(smiles)
,~
He"ve met before.
lie and Alex shake hands.

I bu• ine••
~,, l i Ile)
Bello. Iii, Ed.

Oll:l'.M.!:R
Let"• get started, if we may.
Okay, Dan ...

O<ay, here·• ''"

the deal 1stocy) .••
You want oo ~ublish a novel in
which one of the cha,acter• i• •
Senator fro~ New JRrsey who sleeps
(fools) aroun~. A Congressman
tr011 Ohio cla1rns the character is
based on hi!O an~ r.as fil•d an
injunction against publication.
DRIM.>u;R
Loo<, the Congressman"• Cal~. this
guy has hai,. ne's from anothe,
state, fo, Ch,i••••••··· Look, 1f
we can't sell ehese boo<s, we',e
sc~@w@d.
~AN
Hell. that's a:l f:ne ... but Cf
I'~ gonna go ,~to cour, and p,ove
th@ Senato, ,s~', oased •spon tn,s
Ccngressman, l nave ,o <now ehe
trutc ..
33 CONTINOED, 12)
01"1 (CONT'D)
Now, ,trictly (strictly speaRin9)
between thes• walls, did the
author have ar. affair with Mr.
Ohio o, not?

o,i ... e< glances at Alex, nods imperceptibly,

Yeah,
also
she did,
had an affair
= But then, ohe'•
with a lot of
othe< polit1cians. Any one of
them could make this claim. She
swea,s the character's fictitious
-- I just got o!f the phone wl th
her. (l ju,, talked to her on the
phone. J

And you believe

,~ h•r?

Yeah, I believe
~,,h•••

Oan tak•• a bite of his bagel and leaves a dab o! cream

cheese on h1• nose. Alex smil•• and •ignal• to h1m.
Gcate!ully, he wipes ,t o!~, smiles bacR.

01'.lMMEI'.
Good. Noo, that that's on the
tahle, let's see 1f we can move
ahead, !lo" soon can we have tllis
,njunct1on lift•d? I'v• got
is,aoa boo<• 1n a warehouse
ga•h•ring dust •. ,

31 OHJ~TEO

JS EXT. ROBBINS AND !!ART BUILDING - AFTERNOON

1,•s p1•~ing ,a1n. Oan •m•eges, "restli~g Cu,1lely

,,,,ha portable umbcella. :t's • losi~g co~test as""
DOLLY BACK to reveal he has ar,ived a, che curbs1d•
next to Alex, ~ho's searching Eo, • ,ax,.
A0,uptly, all the ,~d• ,ear thcou;h the 11'.msy mate,1al
s,::iultaneously: ~""- sees he's nexc to hec. sc.•·• 9ot
an umbrella. Sile approaches him, srn1:ir.g.

A:,ex
•• ic •~-ade in Ta1,,an"?
 COIITINtlE01
OAA
Bey, look, these aro tough to
find •.. Don't laugh! (Do you
believe thlo??)

Ee chucks the wabrella in the t<a•h bin and p,,to his

bri•fcase over his head.

Ei• face lights up.

~o
Oh, wait, wait,., Here, I've got
one ...

OAA
Bey, buddy, come on!,
giving us a break! I

T~EIR POV - A SINGLE CAIi

Can il.nd Alex crane their necks hopefully as the cab

turn• on it• "Off Outy" sign and passes.
MC>
Oh, COllle on!

Can you believe ''"this?

They stand the••• getting wetter as the rain intensi-
f .....
OAA
1ccntinuing)
This i• hopeless. ~o you wanna
get a drink oomeplace till it
stops?
ALEX

36 !NT. BAA/RESTAORAJI! • LATEP

~hey set a, ,he bac o! a r.earby restau,ant. ~he place

1< pacsed. A NOISY IIUBBUB comes fcom t.oe d,n,ng area.
Alex finishes he, d,ink.

iCONTCNOE:l)

•
CONTHllllll:

(reacting
,~
to thi•)
want .o.noth•< one?
~~
!looks at her
watch)
I'm otarvin9, H.o.ve you got to be
anywhere?

Mo .•. you "anna

,~eat?
~,,
(smiles)
I have to ma<e a phone call.
She get5 up and go•• to the pay phone. Dan "atches ~.er
90, intrigued by the develop,ng s,tuat,on.

Th•y sit opposit• each oth•= at a snug t&ble for two.

The atmosphere is comfo,table and rela~ed. They' re
evidently gett,ng along -,ell. Be"s telling he, a
story, putting it eve, with zese, perfo,.,!ng for he,
benefit. 1vari0us iu, ~!BS leading into d>alogue
belo,,. I

Strangest
,~
ca,e I eve, handled?
Well, the truth is I never
actually handled >t, but the
strangest case I eve, came near
was when "'Y p.a,ent• decidedto"get
divo,ced and my mother asked~• to
represent her.

You're l<idding.
~,,
That's
,~
what I sa,d to he,.
"\lhaddaya ,nean," she told~•• "you
<now what a burn the guy is, you've
been an eye.,,tness to thi•
""'criage for t;aenty-r.\ne years!"
Can you imag,~• th,s -- f,o.m ,ny
own mothec?

I\Lf:X
Ho" did you get out cE it? !What
did you do/I
 J7 COl!TtNUE:l:l,
..
,
OM
Well, you can't ju•• turn down
your 1110thet. I escaped on a
tecl\nicality.
~ll
I laughing)
l!hich wa..s?

' told ,.,..

, --'
OM
dido' t practice
.. ,,.
family
bought it.

•• , ..
"hich true . ,

~··
A waiter moves elear
'" table •

(You're

(Who cc,uld
making

(sha~es
ma~e
..
,
this

this
his l\ead)
up.)

up?

11alten)

000
1continuing)
It takes a special touch, II
don't have the special eouchJ .••
This is my favor.co resea.,,ant. t
have a lot of pul: ne,e 1in this
restaurant I !! Oh, miss ...
A WAITRESS comes ovec.
o,,
1continilinc;I
You want coffee?
1ag Alex nods)
Can we get two coffees, please.

~he Waitress goes off. Ale~ is '-'•tc!:ing him "itC. a

little smi:e. She lights • cic;a,e:te, oEfe,, him one.
o,,
{contin~ingl
No, thanks. !:'s (;inny, being a
la,,ye,'s a lot l,Ke being •
doceo,. Pec?l• '.et you ,non

~··
their 1nne,mos, soc:•••·

Yo~""'' .".ave ,c he ~,sc,eet.

- - . -
 '"
CONTINUED:

That's right.

(smiles)
~,,
Are you?

Am l vhat?

Discreet.
OAA
lironic~lly)
I'm very discreet.

ALtX
(vithout emphasis)
Me too ...
She holds his ga~e for a beat, teasingly.

The Waitress returns vith their coffee.

WAITRESS
Ito Alex)

The Wal tress tutns to Don with the cream.

I"m fine, thank "'"you.

She leaves. Dan offers the suga, to Alex.

ALtX
Not for me.

She watches a, r.e ••irs •·.1gar iato hi• cup. The<e ,s •

mCffleneary lull.

OAA
You <now waat real:y surpr,ses
me ... (Can I ask yoc somethin9) (I
don', undecstar.d) ... You were
free ... Why dcn·c you have a date
sa,u,day ncg!'.t! iS~m•one as
a,,ractive as yc·.1)

!CON~!Nt:!Di

-
 ,,.
37 CON1'INOE!>: (3)

~c
I did !lave a date. I stood him
up. That was the phone call I
111<1.da.
oan is flattered by thia inform.otion, as was no doubt
intended, lie cannot suppress a little smile. />lex
notices and laughs lightly.
~~
(continuing)
Doe• thao JU.ke you feel 9ood?

-
Dan makes no reply, changes hi5 mind, laughs.

It doasn't &ake me feel bad.

~~
So. lll\ete's your "ife?
Taken by surp,ise, can fumloles for hls words, almost
chol<ing on his coffee.

My "ife
country
(splutte,s)

...
~
... ? She's ... er ... in
fer tile ><eeker,d .. .
the

visiting he, parents.

ALEX
(teas1ngly)
And ne,e you are •.•
lie holds up his hands as lf to protest ~is innocence.
~c
(continulng;
shakes her head)
Being a naughty boy ...

OM
We're having dinne,. ls that a
crime?

AL~X
1smCles)
No< yeL

ALEX
: don't <no". What iio you ,.o,ok?

iCONTI~UECJI
 ,,.
-
37 CONTINl.1£0, 14)

(smile•)
I think •.. it'• gonna be up to
you.
She smiles. She'• anjoying the gu,••
,en
ll•ll ••• I can't say yet.
haven't
d•cida. J
made up my mind. '11 can't
SIie !>olds hio

At le•••
gaze. The,e

you',e ·~ is

hor.e,t.
A!-EX
a 1110lnent of complicity.

II• were attracoed to each other at

the party. Th•••• obviouo.
You're on your o~n for the night.
We're adults.

Lat's Qet.the ·~
checK,

43 INT • .\U:X'S APARTIIENT - KlTCH~ - NIGIIT

A pot of coffee i• percolating. Alex and Dan are

pr•••ed against the kctchen sink, l<iss,ng savagely, lie
lifts her up onto the coun,e, as they gtope at each
ot11er•s clotheo, dropping his pa~••• liftJ.ng net skict.

As she lean• back, her hands b,aclng hetself in the

sin<, she accidentally sta,ts the faucet ruc,ning, $he
splashes w;,t•c all ove, r.im with he, ""t nands.

finally Oan picks Ale~ op aaC, with he, l•~• st,Cl

wound accund n,m, makes t:is way clumsily Eccm ks,cher.
tc bedroom.
H1• pants, which ace stcl: ;a,he,ed a,cund his ankleo,
thceaten eo tcip h•m ~p, ou, r.e manai;•• tc make it tc
tr.e bed.
:hey fall en it togethe,.
iCO~TlNUE:J}

-
43 GON'l'TNCIEO:

Ee t~rns her over, and durin9 the wild rolling and

pushing that follows, they get clo•er and closer to the
edge of the bed, and finally land on the floor,
exllau<ted.
Sonae tioie later, we find them lying on the bed, still
breathing heavily.

Th.at was great!

~.,...

Thank God.

ALEX
Are you feeling energetic?

What did you have ''" in mind?

ALEX
Wanna go dancing?

He looks at her incredulously, not quite sure whether

to laugh.

INT. GALLAGHERAPARTMENT&ALL
'' The hall is In semi-da,,ness. a <haft o! light cooiing
through frooi the s,tting ,oooi. Sao, is lyin, ••leep
against the front door. The PHONE start• to RING.

T~e machine cuts in. Tne ~AP~ IS \IIIIMRING witn oar.'s

announce!llent.

45 INT. "CA: CLUB" - N!GIIT

!he place is pac,ed out. t~e >11.15:C cvecpo'"'ering. T~.i•
a,n•t R"qin@">; it"s lowec East Side, ~e,y pun•. Seri-
ous danc1ng. !~e dance t:oor.
T~e CMEl!A TRAC~s ove, tne ca~ce,s until ,, ~OCA~~s oa~
and Alex. They•,e expending
loo•• a< ~im and gc,ns.

You•,e
a ton

lshou<s)
a ~r@at
~.,
dancer,
of energy. A~ex

w~.at ... ? II "'"

can't hear yo~ ... J
 ,,.
45 CONTINUED:

~~
(hcarsoly)
I •aid ... For9•t it!

Alox 5hrug5, with a big, laughing Slllile. Suddenly, she

expoaes " brea5t. Dan looks quickly around. It was
just !or him.

46 EXT. ALEX'S 11.PAllTIIENT

BUILDING - NIGHT
It's almost morning,

47 DAN ANO ALE:X

Alex has her hand in Dan'•.

M•
1uncertain)
This is where you live??

Yeah.

Kno" where ''"get

! can a cab?
He loo<s a, hor uncor,aialy. Sh• s1cnply pulls him in<o
the building.

They make their way to the huge, old-lashioned frei~ht

elevator.

~le• de?cly pulls at the heavy iron gates.

k:-EX
IL>.ve you eve, dcne i, in an
elevacor?

ALEX
!'ll bee yoc havec,'t.
4~ CONTINOE!I•

She sl"""' the 9ate ohut and pushes the button. "5 th•
•levatoc slowly cises out cf sight, she th<C"S hec,olf
at Dan.

HIT. 0.E:VATOR IIIGJIT

They ate making love, bouncing o!! the walls o! the

alevato,.

Thei, bodias and fac&• aca b,iafly illuminatad

pas,ing neon light• seen th,ough the windows.

51 Finally, Alex reaches to stop the "le,,ator bet,,aen

floe,,.

She deeps to her <nees In front of him.

A• he moans loudly, '"'@ hoar the STEPS or SOMEONE

APPROAClltl>G. Oan al.most st-rangles hi=self trying to l;e
quiet a, he sees a paic of feet walk by en the eye-
level floor.

Desperately. he reaches out and pushes the button,

,tarting Oha111down.

Sl iN"!'. AL~X'S /\PMTHn<T BOILDING - CORRI~~ - NIGIIT

Dan and Alex a,o recomposing themselves. Ee clo.a,s his
throat. !l'.s hat, is disheveled. She clings oo his a,.,
as they wal< the fe., yacd• ,o her •!>'rtment.

T~ey l.ean against ,he wall~• ohe apa,tment doo,,

-
oxha"sttd.

lho•rse)
Roly shit,'

She ,eache• up outside hee •P<1ctmeno door and pcod"ces

a hide-a-<ey; erHm~l,ng, unlock• the door, wr.ile ~an
kisses he, on the nee<. T~e dooc o,>ens. Thev eate,
llke Siamese twir.s. •

S1 lNT. ALEX'S i\PART>IEN~ H~~ROOJ< - !>AWi!

Tr.e ea,ly mo,n1ng light filoe,s in througC. oc.e

cur,a,ns. cold and 9,oy.
5J CONTIIWE:0,
We FADE IN to a CLOSE SBOT of Alex, fast asleep, and
slo~ly POLL FOCUS onto Can's face, large in fo,eg,ound.
Bis eyes flicke< and open. As we TRACKSACK, he ca,e-
!ully disengage• himself from her arms and gets cuo of
bed without distu,bing he,.

53A ANOTHER ANGLt

Oressed, Dan places a note by the bedside.

54 OMITTEO
•;;
56 INT. GALLAGl!ERA!'ARTMENTHALL - £ARLY MORNING
Quincy is asleep againso ohe front dcor, awaiting ~is
master•s return. Se wakes at the SOtlNO OF FOOTSTEPS,
wagging hi• tail in anticipation. A Kt¥ IS !NSERTEO in
the !0<:k, ohe doc, opens, and Dan comes in. Quincy
jumps up eagerly.
OM
Good ~y. Quincy, Yeah, I'rn gonr.a
take you cut in a 01inute. !We'll
go out In a minute.)
l!e sees the message indicato, winking on theanswering
=chine and goes to REPl.AY THE TAPE, Tile<~ are a
COUPLEOF CLICKS before SITll'S VOICE come• on.
11i:-r111v.o.1
Iii. llhat happenedoo you? I
tried you earl1e, ... I gue$S
you',e not bac~. I'm 90,ng to bed
now, ao call ~e in •he oteening.
The MACIIIN:E:SEEPS and ,,art• t~ ce,,ind. Oan look$
pens,ve. lie IIOV&SOt11 OF SHOT, ,evea:,ng a (earned
plloto oE Seti> and Ellen.

57 :NT. GALLAGE!R APARTMENTIIATF.ROOI\- DAY

Dan luxu,iate~ 1n the $t,eaming Jets of cleans,09

ua,er. A large ,n!latable M.e<ey -~ouse ci~l: gcins 1n
tile b.g., suspen<led :rem ,he eeil1n9.

INT. ROGl:l\SCNROUSE
JOAN ROGE:RSO~•n••··· ,he phone.
iCONTlN'"JEDI
59 CONTINOEO:

Kello?
,~
Oh, !>an (dotling) .•. We
-•• expecting you!

SB INT. GALLAGHERAPARTMJ::NT- KlTCl!Dl - DAY

Dan is pacing. He looks clean and ftesh aft•r hi•
ablutions. Be's on the phone.

OM
Yeah, I know. I'm gotty
0
I
couldn't m.oke it •••

59 IN:. ROGERSONBOOSE - KITCHEN - DAY

Joan Rogetson, B•th's mother, is an atttsctive fifty
year old. The house is comfortable and large, s,ithout
looking ex;:,enslve. It's the house Beth gr•w up in.

>OM
Yes •.• It'•. pity, we ·••lly
want•d you to see this hotue ...

S9A INTeRCT.lT - DAN

o,,
Well, I'll••• Ct next time.

JOAN
Yes, of coutse, you want to sp,,ak
tc Beth, I g~ess ...

>OM
Yes, hold on• minu,e ... Bat~,
phone ••• !
:oan opens the <,tcne~ s,ir.do" •~d c•~l• to Beoc., who ,~
ploying a game of footCal~ ,n •h• ga,den with El:e~ and
he, fathe,, HOl<MD, Betn co:nes intc the greenc,ous~. ·

JOAN
It's oan.

BETH
Wel:, hello. w•.a, nappened to
JOU?
(CON~INTJEO)
~~A CONTINIJED:

(vaguely)
Oh, I ended up having
= dinno, with
Bill.

••m
-
You sound lli<e you got a hangover.

(defensively)
lie, l feel !ina.

lie"••
Bill.
uh, sll!o a•
(just Blll)
'"" ovor. You <no,,

Joan runs outside.

1!:llon, ~e car•f~ll
,-
BETII
Is he ,till with that gi<l?

OAA
llell, he "asn't ~as, night •.. I
thin< i,•~ ov~r. He didn't see~
to want to tal• about it.

aITS
So, a,e yc,u g•tt;r.g any worlc done'

Yeah. I'm .,o,<ing '"" (very) hard.

Sounds like it. Li,ten, •=cheee·s

501'le of the spaghetti sauce in tho
fridge 1! you get hungry.

l!lght •.. 110.,'s '""

EClen do,ng?

BE!I!
She"s having ,ne Oest cime. r
Jus, hope Dad surv1ves it. I
don"t •now no" ,~ tell you chis,
honey .•.

I CONTI~t;ED :,
 ,o.

• • • She wants
{continuing) ·~·
a rabbit
OAA
•

NO rabbit! Honey, this family'•

gonn<1. turn into Noah's ge<idamn
ark. Gi~• her a l<iss and no
pro.mise$. llhen are you com1ng

·~·
hoae?

-
Well, it's getting comp!1cated .••

1110,,. come?) Why •• t~.at?

BE':!!
There's a problein wioh the house.

OAA
l hcpeful I

·~·
They sold 10?

Very funny. No. !t turns out

that we can't see it until late
this afternoon. Darling, I'in not
up to fighting all that tcaff1c.
I ohougho I'd drive in (fi<st
thing) tomorro" mornin~.
OAA
I dlsappc, nt ed)
~esn't Ellan ha•e school?

She's five yaa,s

,,~
old; what's sne
gonna miss, trigonometry?

DAN
(reluctant;
Yeah. O~ay. !'11 see yo~ s,hen •
ge, t\ome f,om •<>",
SETH
Okay •.• 'Bye, sweet,e,
DAN
Take ca,, okay? Ha•~ a ,;~od tCme.
IL<>•• you. ~Ot.)

--·------ ------·------
 S9A CONTINUED, 13)
Be hang• up. Be remain• there !or a m0lll•nt, sitting
p•n•ively. Almost i,nmed,aoely, the FHONE HIIIGH aga,n.
He pic<s it straight up, a,,uming it'• Seth calling
back.

Yeah?

60 ALEX'S BEDROOM- MORNING

The room is in seml-darkne,s, the only light coming
through a crack in the curtain,, ·
Alex squats on th• bed, in a black kimono, li9htin9 up
her first cigareote cf the day. She i• still a little
groggy from sleep and looks very disheveled -- in•
"ord, rough.

What happened?
~,,
I "eke up and you
weren'o there, {I !>ate that.)

60A INTtFICUT - DAN

OP,~
Didn't you see my note?

What note?

I le!, you a note, ''" hy ohe bed.

~,,
l••ein~ it)
Oh •••
1reads it)
Th•t •• nice. But I thought we
ve,e going to •pend today
together.

I've got ''"

so much wor, ...
ALEX
Why don't you Ju•t come over?
I'll cook us lunch.
OM
I've get th,s dog to look afte,.
(Th,s ilo~ hasc.'t oeer. """t of ,e.e
.souse all /lay) I ca~•t leave e.irn
ale>~• a:l day.
(CDN~LSUED)

--~--
... - ~ =-- - ......._ -
 SOA CONTINUED:

~n
B:lng the dog. I love ani,...ls ...
Com• on ••. I'm• 9,eat coolt.

o=
(wea<enlngl
Listen ••• I'd lov• to, Alex,
<eally, but --

~n
LOolt, do what you have to do and
th•n come over. We can alway• aat

-~,,
late, if you want.

O<ay.,. Haibe laoa, on.

(pe,sioting)
or .•. you can wo,< he<e. r won't
distu<b you. I'll be a good 9irL
you'll see.
OM
("-"'USOd)
You don"t give_up, do you?

You should
~,,
be flatte,ed.
OM
( laughs I
I am .•• Oltay, but I'm gonna ~o
,ome voe< here Eirst. then l"ve
got to talte th• dog to the par<
for • "•l<.
Ar-~X
Alright -- l"ll meet you at the
81st St,eet entrance at one
o'cloc<.

61 EXT, CZNTRAL PARK - DA!

Quincy is ,unncng in the pa<< with oan and Alex. They

catch up with each o::her. and start rcilino a,ound in
th• gcass. f,gh,ing fo, ou,ncy's bal:. Daii gets u\.
chro"s t~e ball. Alex catches ic and th,ows ,, back. tc
Dao. Dan sends the Oa" ,,i~h ir. the s<y towards Alox.
rn,s ou11e it looks as,: Qc,ncy wen'< even botf.er
chas,r.g ct.

DA~
Go onl Quir.cy, cove, yo,,;, :11an, !

---- -
 ''.
Ol CONTINUED:
AD LIBS ra football game.
Alex has to run backwa,ds to catch the ball high above
her haad.
~a
Oh .•• Oh God •••

Th«>w it back!
,~ Gallagher is the
name, . football'• the game I

Alex laughs.
Oan yall• mo,e AO LIBS about foooball il.S h• fades back
for the ball.
She thr""• the ball back, but this time io lacks
length. Dan •print• forward to intercept. lie and the
dog are on a collision cou,~•• the ball bounoin~
tow<1.rda Oan. lie lunges fo, io, catches ie. !le runs on
fo< a few p•o••• carried forward by his own momentum.
Suddenly he pulls up, hi• <nees buo<ling unde, hi"1. lie
oinks slowly to the geound, clutching his chest.

She i• no longer laughing. S'le starts toward ~.im in

horro,.
ALEX

She b<eaks into a ,un.

(continuing;
~,,
pani0Kin9)
oanl

She reaches the ~pot whece he lies. ~• is unconocious.

She shal<es hia, gently. Re doesn"t et0ve.

oan ••• • C•~ you he&,

~., rne •.• ? Oh
Goel! [On ohit! I

She is ceal.ly .,c,,ied no"- She puts he< ~•ad eo his

cllest to listen :c, las heac<beat. She ~,,a,ghtens
up. Suddenly he pulls a grotesque ~ace a~d eta><•• a
•pool<y ~o,~•- She l'rac'1cal:y :urn!'• out of C.o, si<,n.
6lA CONTINUED,

You ba5ta<d!

Your face!

that was a shitty

-
Your face!
u,,
thing to do.

-
She s;ts up. She's really quite upset.

Bey, I',o sorry. I "as juot

fooling ~round.
She sta,es into the distance. Ber voice Is stony.
u,,
My father died of a heart attack.
l ,.., savan year5 old. It
happened right in front of ,oe.

OM
(Oh honey) l'm sorry. Really I
am •.• that's awful. I apologize.
If I'd known, I n•v•r "°uld
have ..•

Alex sits there, watching him squirm. Suddenly she

bu,st out laughing.

!le"s taken aha.ck. It takes him a second o, two to

-
catch on.

(You, dad's okay?) You, dad

didn't die? !le's alive??

ALEX
Re's alive and well and living in
Phoenix.

"•11,
(cuefully)
you go, ~•-
''" r ce,,ainly
C::ese,ved thac one!
 ''.
61A CQNTINU&D, (2)

ae looks at 1,lex out of the e<>rner of his eye, as it tc

say "What have I 9ot llly•elf involved with hare?"
She smiles swee.r.ly. Butte, wouldn't lllelt.

62 INT. ALC:'S APARTi'I.ENT - AM'ERW:ON

A TAPE of "M<ld.ameButterfly" PLJ\1S a, Can and Quincy

awkwardly examine the apartmeno.
Alex comes by, ""•ring an apron, looklnq efficient, on
her way from the kitchen. She ru!U<S 1JP Tl!£ VOLOII.E of
"Butterfly."

Let's hear it.

Cl\ll£!tA BOLOS on Dan's reaction, how nice eo be with
•=~one who likes to listen to ~usic loud.
A!-0 (O.S,)
(continuing)
I hope you like ,paghetti .•.
specialty of the house!

Goes with the opera ''" --

He uncork• a bottle of wine, trying not to
Quincy sniffing abo~t th,s •<ran9e place,
glasses and head• o~t.

63 She's coordng up a storm. can uncork• tho bot,l~.

That smotls
,~
so good .••

Anything els• ''"

: caa do to ho:p?

ALEX
No, ma<• yo·arselt
no, just at
home. You could ~ut or. another
,ape lf you ~ant.

DAN
No, tn,s is g,e.,,. I lovo "Madame
Butcec!:y."

ALEX
(ple•seCJ
Really? It's my CAvoc:ce o~e,a.

- -- - .
 ,,.
63 COIITilltJ£0:

'
64 Can b.rings
gl••• •
her• glass. lie remembers, twirling his

OAA
Mine too, It's the !itst opera I
ever (heard) saw. My dad took me
to (see it at) the old Met wh•n I
was five year• old.
~~
Did it 111axesense at all?

OAA
Oh, y@ah, I got the ~!.st o! !.t. !
unde,st0<>d about thi• U.S. ,ailor
setting up nouse with this
Japan••• girl -- I got all that.
But 1n the las, act, after he left
her and my father told me that she
was gonna kill hecsel!, I was
tetr1fied (fr••k•d out) and
climbed right under the ohai,.
(he listens)
Rig~.t here, isn't it? {Lioten.,.)

••• noels • They listen ,,, • moment • Can reme!llbe,s.

runny,
(continuing) ''"
ALEX
What7

OAA
I rernernte, it as being one (well
it had to be one) of the few oimes
my Oad was real:y nice to me ...
comforting ~eat "l<adame
Butterfly."

~• sllal<es n,.s head at the :oe:oory a~d take~ a drank; he

fai.l• to see c.ow ~oved Alex ,soy this "confess,on."

6$ iNT. ALEX"S DIN:N½ AREA" W.TER

'66 •sutterily"
ovec the,,
in b.g.
glasses.
Daa and Ale~ loo• a, eac.". otlle,

~AN
What? ... W~•• , a,e you ,niak,ag?
1aoo~,n
(CON:,m:Eo:

-------- ·-----· - -· - -
65 CONTINUED,
•66 ALEX
lshakes he, head)
I',o "ondering: why are all the
intaresting guys al"•Y• married?

llaybe that's
they're)
"hat ""kes
interesting
''"the01 lwhy
-- the fact
tnat you can't have tham.

long have
~., been married?
'"" '""
!line years._
,~
Have
~.,
kids7
'"" '"' ,~
Yeah. six
' ~.,"''
year git l.

Sounds !pretty) good.

Yas. Well, I'm ''"a luo<y guy,

=•
-
So what are you doing he,e?

( uncomfortably)
Boy.,. You lsure) lrnow how to ask
'em.

Ar.EX
I r•ally "•nt ,o know. too•, I
had a wonde,tul tJ.llle last r.ight.
I'd li<e ,., ••" you again. ls
that so ter,ible? (a.,Eul?)

No ...
possible.
1 JUSt do~··
Alex ...
'''
thlnk it's
,eall~ .•. this
1s very unusual for me. I don't
do ttus ...

ALEX
1,•s strange. I feel like I
al,eady know you. I Just war.na
know w~e,e I sta~d.

- -- - ..
65 CONTINIJl:P: 12)
, ..
•••
I think you'ce terrific ... but I'm
marr.led. llhat can l ••y? {So I
don't know what else to say, •• )

Al.EX
.Ju•• 111y luck, (l

She raises her gl••• ironically and drinks, coverin9

her disappointment.

67 INT. ALEX' 5 P.PMTHENT - Bl:OROOM - =t»G

The fading evening light casts voluptuous shadows

th,ough the .,indo.,, Alex and Dan are in bed, nakec:l
under the shee••· D~r. ,s asleep. Propped up on one
elbcw, Alex locks do.,r. at hi:11 tenderly, "atchin<; him.
All l.s still.
Suddenly Dan's eyes open. Fe, a moment he doesn't kno"
wtiere he is. He looks •• his watch.

Shit!

He swings his legs out ol the bed. For Alex the rnood
is abiuptly shattered.

ALEX
What are you dc1n;?

He p~lls or. his shirt.

l ha.Ye to go.

A~EX
!!hat for? I thought you said she
didn't get bac• ,,:.l tOll!Orrow,

OA~
l?~ti@nt:.y:
Look, there a,e th,ngs I have co
do. I 9otta g~ home.

ALEX
(angrLy)
You know ... r don·, th,nk I :i,e
ttJ.S!

Lek@ whatl

ICCJN7:N:JE~)
 ,,_
07 CONTINUED,
~~
The way you keep running off every
time we lllilka love.
Be l<><>k•at her and see• that she is in earna,t.
Indeed, there i• an edge of almo,t manic de•peratlon to
her voice. lie tries to take the !>eat out of the
situation.
OAA
(gently)
Ai•x, whethet I leava no,, ot in
tile 1110rnin9, the tact is, I gotta
,o.
Well, you're
u,,
not gonna go now!
She grabs hold of hi• shirt.
OAA
This is,., Stop it .•. Stop it!!

I me"n it!
There is a loud RIP as tr,e shirt tears. They are both
angry now.

What's
doing? J
t~e ~
p,oble~?? {Wha< a,e you

I'm ,o,ry.
OAA
1You gonna be) Be reasonable.
u,,
Me be raa,onable? What? -- Ohan<
you, goodbye, don't call me, I'll
C<i.ll you.

He starts to oueton up hlS shirt.

,,,
You knew all abou• me. ' didn't
hide anything. : thought it was
all unde,socod.
u,,
ijhat ~•• unae,stood7

OAA
Th@ o~po,tunity was ,he,e and w•
,ooi< ic. W•'•• boch adul,s,
a,•~•, we?
67 CONTIIWEO: (2)
. ,.
~~

-
What's that supposed to mean?

jlamely)
I tllou9ht "" could have a good
tim~.
~o
No, you thought you'd have a good
time. You didn't stop Co, a
second to think al>Out me.
OM
This is craiyJ.,. You know •h•
cules
(contem~~Susly)
Hhat rules,,, 7

OM
Look, Alex, I like you. I do.
I'm not ,aying if I wasn't with
so,r,.e<:>ne else .•• In anothe, tio,e
and place,,. That we couldn't have
bad ... l 'm not free,
~,,
19roansJ
Please! Don't justify yourself.
it's patheticl lf you just told
o,e to fuck oft !'d have more
respect fo, yo",

ae look• at her with calm deliberation.

OM
All right. Puck off.

Okay ... An~ yoc --

~,, get out!

She lashes out with ~er foot, ~ick1ng him off t~e edge
of the bed,

Alox stands o?er one of the worktops. ner back to the

entranco. Sh•'•"""''"' or.ly;, T-sn1,c. >.s ~.,. co,nes
,n, she drops someth1~g oaco the ""'t•ce ,,,,~ •
metallic CLATTER.

(Okay)
{flacl~!
I'm leaocr.g.
"'"
(COJITIN~EDI
 68 CONTINUED,

She ~utns atound, a smile on het face.

u~
l!hy don't you c°"'e here and say
goodbye nicely ••• Okay? Let's be
ftiends.

Ee advances "11.tily. She puts her arms around his neck

and kisses him.
~,,
-
I'm sorry if I upset you.

It's okay. It's okay.

She kisses him again, mc,e fie,cely this time, holding

his face in both hands. She releases him and takes a
step back, She has a triumphant gleam in her eyes. F.e

-
raises a hand tc his ch11.ak.

Your hands are all wet.

Ee looks down at his own hand, which is s~eared with
red, then back to her. She brandishes her "rlsts,
giggling cta:ily. Blood oo:es fro-.. t"o ugly ga•hes.
' OM
I horrified)
Oh Jesus !Christi ... Jesus!!

AL.EX
{taunting him)
Afraid of a little blood?

He drags he, to the sink and runs cold wace, eve, the
cuts. She "l.nces s,ith pain, her lau9hto, tur~iog "'
tears,
OM
Hold on.,. <eep it under the
""'"'- Jes~• cn,ist!'
u,,
!'m sorry .• , ;•,. sc,ry!

OM
tou nave~ (i,st aid kit?

11:,;;~
{soOtia~; -~A<OS
he, .,o~d)
6! CONTI>IIIED: (2)

OAA
(unnerved)
!!ave you got a bandage:? !lave you
got anytbing I can use as •
bandag•?? ll•re! !!old it up.,.
hold tight.

69 INT. ALEX'S APARTMl:lll' - H&OllOOM - N!GIIT

Can butsts into the roOl!l, goes to a chest o! ~rawers

and searches for oomethin9 to us••• a bandage. l!e
finds a shirt and tears it into strips.

70 INT. At&x'S APARTMENT_- BATHROOM - NIG!IT

ll••
her.
is ,itting
lie finishes
on the tub, oan crouches
~•ndaging her wr,sts.
in f,ont
She is silent,
of

-
head bowed, submitting passively to his ministrations.

{gently)
Is that too tight?
Alex shakes !lead.

We gotta
(continuing) ''"
go to t~.e hospital. Yoe
111ay need stitches.

No ••. II'o, o<ay.)

u,, (/1.ll right) l'Ol
fine.

Dan loc<s into har ~ye,, •earching for an •~plaaation.

She turns her head away.

O<>n't loci< at me li<e that.

u,, lllhy
are you locking at me like that?)

i,,sollta<y tea, tric<les down ~e, c~•e<. She ,,,., tc

fight it Mc•.

Why? Can you tell

are you •o unhappy??
me 1>hy? ''" Why

She looks at ha~, sta,ts to spea<, bu,sts Ir.to ,ears

and ~inally gets it cut th,ough ,,,angled sobs.

I'm so alonel
 .,.
70 CONTINUED:

The ..ords come out in a protracted, al.most p<ilDeval

wail, a terrible cry of pain. She starts to weep
uncontrollably, burying her fac• in h•r bandaged
hands. Moved, oan holds her in his arms, stroking her
hair,
llS<
(between sobs)
Sometiffies ••• I cOJne home .•. and I
just ... sit here ..• and there's a
kind of tlghtness in my chest.
It's like l c<1.n't breathe ••• ! I'ID
so sorry,

Don't be sorry,
Okay, it's
tc> be •orry.
sorry.)
••

okay.
don't -be scr<y •••
You don'•
(No reasoh
have
to be

We COT SACK WIDE to she" he, cradled in his arm.JI, a

touching, pathetic sight.

INT. ALEX'S APARTMEN'::

- BATHROOM
Dan opens a mirrored cabinet ab<>ve the basin. He is
conf,onted by rows and ,o,.,s of pills. lie finds the
bottle he is looking for and closes the doc,, coming
face to face with his own gdm reflec,ion,

INT. ALEX'S APA;tTMEN!- BEDROO~- NIG!IT

''
Alex io in bed. oan sits beside he,, watching as she
•wallow• two of the pill~. She lies bac<, loo<in~ ve,y
pale. All het deten•e• a,e dovn. She i• 0<,oally
vulnerable.

You'll feel
some sleep. I'll
"'' staywhen hereyou
bette, get

tonigho.
11..'..EX
You don't have to. :•m o<ay "'""·

No ...
lsinoer~ly)
I wa~t to.
"'"
She attempts a beave smJ.~e.

I'll
need
be ,n
~e.
•~• ''"otae, room ,f you
 •••
72 CONTlNOEO,

Thank you for =

being so kind,

OAA
(pateroally)
Go to sleep, okay?

lie gets oft the bed, ,.,itching off the bed,ido light.
She turns over and curls up into a fetal position.

73 " lllT. Atl:t'S I\PMTl!mT - IIAIN ROOI! - NIGHT

Dan dials a n<l!llber. Tile leaves of a large potted pal ..

cast ominous, jagged ohadc,vs over his face. lihen he
sp,1aks, he keep• his voice low afraid of being
ovorheard.

l!ETII {11.0.J
Hello?

OAA

BETH 111.0.)

-
Hi !

..
(l!o"
, are
(tentatively)
you?) D1d you

HETH (\1.0.)
just call

I was 1n the
I groping] ''"
shover and the phone
rang. I thought o,aybe it was
you •••

BETS {11.0.J
fsupp,esses a yawn)
Nope ••.

Ho" a,e
day?
you? ''"
Did you have • goorl

l!ETE (V.O.)
I ,ev,v(ng)
we wer.t to oee the ~ouse.

{CON'r:mJE~I
 Yeah? An<\ •.• ?

74 Ol'.tTTEO

74A INT. ,\LEX"S B&OROOM

- NIGET
Alex lie• still, eyes closed, as Dan's conversation can
l:>e faintly h•a<d. We can't tell if she"• li5teni.ng or
not . •
10. S.)
You did? '''
Really? Babe, that"5
You ,eally •ound
really ter,iflc.
excited ...

743 BACl T'J OAN IN ALEX'S LtVtNG ROOM

..• yeah ... yean.

,~You know I'm
not against it, don't get the
wrong idea. It's just a question
of the ,ooney.
BETB [V.0.J
(the good scout)
I know. If ve car.'t afford it, we
can't afford ••· What a,e you up
to?

Nothing much.
bite, kick 1n early
''"
r think I'll get
(go to bed
a

early). I',o wiped.

BETF. [V.0.)
see you t""'or,ow.

Okay, da,liog. ''"t love you.

BET~ [V.O.)
t love you tee.
OAN
Ol<ay.. . 'Eye.

.., " .
Can puts down the phone, deep ,r. tho,.gn,. <eel.ing !.ik•
 •••
7S Ili'l'. A.L.EX'S A.PMTIIEln - Bf.'.OROOK - N!G!IT

Alex is fast asleep. Dan vanders around the ~itchen

.and ·the living <OOl!O,looks 1n on l!.le~ on the way.
Later, he sits on the living roOIC couch, daep in
thought.

76 INT. Al,El('S LOFT - BEDROOM- DAWN

~n is lying on top of the hed, tully clothed, !\is eyes
open.

Softly, he ~•ts up and steps to the window.

Ale"?
She wakes drowsily.
on him. sne smiles

(continuing)
How are you teelin97
''"
AL.EX

Dees it hurt?

She moves her wrist from side to side.

~,,
lvinces)
A little.

Yean. I gotta '''go now.

AL.EX
\/ill you call me s<>met,me? tou
don't have to if you don't va~t
to.

DAN
No, no. I v,ll. II you promise
me you' 11 ••• ,c.e doctor.

. . --
 .,.
77 CONTlNU:E:Oe

Okay.

Be bends fon,ard il.nd kiaaea har chastely on the fore-

head.

Goodbye.

You take care.

You too.

Ha pauses at the door and looks bac<. o\lex turn• over

and goes back to sleep.

Ill'::. GAI.t.AGHD APARTH.£NT BEDROOM- MORNING

oan ruffles the bedcloohes until satisfied the bed has
a suitably slept-in look.

He opens the refri9erato,, takes out a I>'-" of spaghetti

sauce and gives it to Quincy who consumes it with
r•liah,

79A INT. OAN'S OFFICE ANO !iALL - a A.K.

MAl!Tl!A, Dan's secretary, c,osses the hall and aees

-~·
Oan'• doc, open. Sh.e goes into his office.

wnat a,e ycu do•~9 nere? lt's

ei9h, a.m.

Oan looks up from hss wo,k, glasses sl1d1ng down his

nose.
,,,
(Karena, I':n 10 ,~e s,,J.thouse.)
; 'm supposed to be in court by two
and :•m ,eally beh1r.d. Do 010 •
favo,. c•ncol ovo,yth,ng and call
Dri""'er -- tell hi~ ve',o fin• •nd
'."11 ••• him tb•r• •t two.

-
 --
7~A CONTINt!EO:

(backing out)
At two. o---kay ...

Good morning, ''"

Martha! •••

aa INT. GA.!.l.Ac;l!Eil lll'AflTI\EllT l!At,LIIAY - IIIGIIT

Dan puts the key ln the door and ente,s, some,.,hat

bu<hed.

Hello?
A• he starts to take off his coat, ELLEN chorges do11n
the hall and iump• 1nto hi• arrn<.

Daddy ... !

lley, ho1<'s my ma,n ''" •queeze?

l!e holds her aw<wa,dly in his arms and wal<s toward the
kitchen.

ELLEN
lie had a g,eat time! I went for a
walk w1th Grand?a and"" ,aw
rabbits and Sally chased them but
she didn', catch any and, ••

.>All
{laughs)
l!ey, slo" do"n • l can't
understand a wo,C you're saying!

Beth is standing (n the kitcher .• a ])1g smile on t.e,

face.

E~LEII
Bue, Dadey, 1 wAr.t a ,ab])ct •• ,

BJc;H
Bi, darl,n~ ...

DAN
lli, babe ... ; really m1ssed you.

BETH
Lia,.
 ''.
eo CONTI>ltll:Il,

Be i<;isses her tenderly. E• puts his arm .o.round her and

holds her tight, II• kisses her again, almost ,agging
.,; th reli•f.

(laughs) '=
I should go away more o!ten.

81 INT. GALLAGHER KITC!lEN ARJ::A - NIGHT

Dinner i• over and lleth is putting a"•Y dishes. START

on Ellen's tiny hands, atteo,pting to shu!!le a deck of
cards whicl'I she then pre••nts to Dan. An aura of cal:n
and serenity pervades. Low lignt,
C.LEN
Now pick• card.

My card?

Ellen loo<s at her mother, who nods.

ELLEN

wriere'd she ''"

lea,n this?

ELLEN
Ge;andpa sho.,ed me! IOf cc,urse,
Gr an,:!ma is too old . J

Oan does. With great a])so,ption, much to his delight,

she begins to deal wioh the oa,ds into rows.

DAN
Do I sh= it to you?

0.LEN
No •• , P~t ic baell.

I to Bech)
,~
So ..• How "as .c;
81 CONTHlUE!I;

(putting •= things away)

Ro" "as vha t;

conie on, !'ma

,~ b(g boy, tell me,
I can take it.

Ellen l•ans to t•ll him in his ear.

£!.LEN
It has a place !or eabbits.

Oar, makes a terrible face.

(dying '""
gasps)

-~·
She said it, she ,aid the "R"
word.

What can I tell you.,. It's

perfect!
ELLEN
1poir.ts)
ls it in this row?

DAN

BETE
(offhand)
So,., when are yoe gonna come up
and take a loolt je•t for tile
hell of it?
EL:.EN
(points)
Ir. >hi• ,ow?

No. How about

morning?
'""
fi••'- '-C.ing "' '-~••

!1L~N
>lhie~ ,ow'

DAN
{loo•,~s a, Sethi
~h,s or.e, swee,.oeacc.

{CON~lNUEDJ

-- - - - - . -----··---
Bl CONTINUED, 12)

tou mean it?

Yeah, I mean it -- if
,~ you can get
me back by one o'clock.

Be's smiling, ,o happy to be home with them.

ELLEN
Wait, that'• w,ong, i a,.ade a
mistake, Now I haft& start over.

She 9ath.,rs up the cards. Fine with oan if 1t tllkes

all night.

62 EX~. COUNTRYHODS[ - OA¥

In LONO SHOT, a $m.!1.ll two story timber house, painted
white, the paint somewhat flaked. Their Volvo is
par•ed in the deiva next to another ca,.

8) INT. COUNTRYHODS[ - MIN ROOK- DAY

The1r FOOTSTEPS ECHO on the ba,e floo,boards of thei,
empty house. L,ght ,t,eams in through the s,ide s,in-
dos,,. The,., is a spectacula, vte" over open count,y-
side. Dan loolts around, imp,essed. Beth sees this and
san,es victory.

BETH
Well?

It's
1smiles1
oltay ...
''"
He is trying not to let his enthus1Asm show.

BETH
\lhac do yc,u mean, •o•ay•: It's
fanoastic'
,.,
(tempor1z1ng)
Sh, sh .. , Fa~tast,c! It's gceat,
it's 9,eAc.

~ETH
1exc,tedly)
Jusc thi.nlt o: al'. ,1,e ~oney we'l:
sa~• by net iiv,n9 i.n New Ye>rK.
And : can get a ieb ,eaching, once
I ge, my d'.plcma.
I CONTIKL'!~\

• --··---
8J COIITINl,J;t):

(dubiously)
,~
Ohl Yeah ...

84 INT. COUNTRY BOOS£ - !!ALL - DAY

They continue through to.,ard the hall, vh&re the AGENT,

a p<imly dr•••e<I woman in her fortie•, has been hover-
ing in the doorway.

Th• local
,,-
hi9h school's •%c•llent.
My ovn children "enc there.

You see?
AGENT
This really is• ter,if(r a,ea ~or
kids.

NO, I"m suro.

,~
Would It be o••Y if
I. • .

Re points to the •tairs.

/\Gl:NT
Please. Go right ahead. l' ll
vai t I for you) do...n here I !o,
you I.
They car,y on up the stairs. oan•s ,e,istance is wea<-
en;ng, hi• ob;ections sounding l••• an~ less convinc-
in~.

We'd still have '''to decorate.

Thor@•• nothin9
-~,
we can• t fix
ou,selves. we can have pa1ntJ.r,g
pacties.

Pair.tine
makcng me ve,y
parties? '''ne,vo~s.
Beth, you',e

as '.Nr. COUNTRY HOUSE - LOFT ROOM - DAY

The trap doo, swin9• open and Dan's t.eacl ap~eacs, fol-
lo•ed by Bets.' s.

iCON~INCS:»
 ''.
as CONTINTJEO:
OM
WOl<I Look at thi•! This ia
fantastic! This 1s great!

They step up into the room. The floor is varnished

wood. T>ao .,lndovs have been cue in the sloping ,ocf.
The ceiling has been plaste,ed over between beams,
leaving the ""od exposed. A teally skillful conver-
sion,
on,
This'd make a terr>fic playroom.
o,,
{compleeely won over)
Wl,at are you talkong about,
playroOlll?? This ,s my den!
,n,
I kne1< you'd li•e 10!
OM
Eow abc,ut making it a nursery?!

He put his"-'""' around he, and gives her a big kiss.

Be push•• her Uck towa,d th• floor, pretending to
ravish ne,. Slie resists laughingly.
,n,
t al,eady did that ... Dan, stop
,u
She manage• to trip him. They tall togetha, on the
floo, "ith a loud bang. Re •••••• to ,oake :ove 1n
eo,nes,.
DAil
Why don'e ~e ch,1stea chi• lottle
suc~er right ne,e?
..CENT (O.S.)
Ar~ you all ,1gn, op one,e?
o,,
Yes, tC.ar.l< ycu!

T~e1< ca, pull.• up outs,de ,c.e ~nc,ance. Oan Jurnps ~ut

acd ,uns lato the ~u,ld,n~.

-- -
 87 INT. Bt:rlLOING LOBBY - OAY

Dan enters the building and crosses tovard the ban~ of

elevators. several ~ople, including a •tunning BLOND£
and a baby in a stroller, are about to get onto an
elev<1.tor. Dan ,uns to catch it.

BB INT. LAil FIRM BUILDING £.LS:VATaR - DAt

Dan is standing next to the extremely attractive 9i,1.

He loo~• at he<, then studiou,ly igno,es her. lie looks

around, at the !loor, and finally at the baby in the
stroller.

The baby sta,e~ bac< at him, <!'lizzically.

89 INT. !,Ail F!RM - ~ECEl'TlON - DAY

Oan comes out of the elevato, and into the ,eceptior.

-
a,e.

I'll be in court.

£1JNICE
Than< you.

AA"
Iii, Dan, ho~ you doing?

EOlllCZ
Good afternoon, Ke. Gallagher.

OAA
Hello, [unice. Martha bac< Eco«
lunch yet?

WNICE
She jus, got bac,.

Sitting thece, wa,t,n~. •• Al•x. She loo•s sc,i,ewhat

••vec@ ,n ~ ,;ell cut ~a,• su,t, but Still vec7 beout1-
ful. She is obviously ,1~ at •ase.

ALEX

3• ~lane•• to,;ards the receptionist, ,;ho ,s watchi~,

•~•"'• She loo<s a,;ay.

... --------
e9 CONTINUED,
ll~
I hop• this Isn't inconvenient. I
was in the a,ea ... I figured •••

She trail• off.

~o, no ... l!ould

,~ you like to C0t11e
into Illy office.

90 INT. LAW FIRM - CORRIOOR - DAY

~h•y walk along in silence. Alex is watching hi!> out

of the co,ner of her •ye, They pa•• the open door of
an offic•, inside "hich we glimpse Jimmy. He sees Dan
and pokes his head out th• door.

lley ! Dar:!

Dan stop• .and turns. So does P.lex.

JIMMY
(continuing)
Will you be ,n you, office late,,
The,e's sorneth,:,.,, • need to go
over with you.

JU<!<Y
Haven't we rnet somewhere?

AL!X
looolly)
I can't imagine.

WeCl ...
F.e an,:! Alex contin·.1e up t-"•
cor,i<!e,. Jim:oy goes back
,nto h,s oCfice, s,,:1 t,y,r.~ to '.i~ure it o~,.

I~•Y or.to, the of!1ce . ..,,,,ha, his secre,ary, •• v,s-

1~1• ,~,ougo. doo,,
0,10 s,a,1ag after •~em, cbvCcusly
cr.,,ig~•d by A:ex. oa~ clo••• ch• doe, er. h•<·
{CCJNTI~:JEDJ

...
91_ CONT?NOEO:
, ..
Be g<>es and sits at hi• da,I<, pointing Alex to the
cllai, in front. Tll•r• is a bizarrely for=l air to
proceedings.

!lave a seat.

Thank,.

She sits. Dan can't help glancing at her .,,i.sts, w11lch

are covered by he, long sleeves.

(awl<1<ardly)
Are you o•ay ••• ? r "as
call you ooday.
·~ going tc

I'm fine.
~,,
Li,ten., I find this
terrible emba,rassing ... l \fanted
to ••Y•sorry" for wnat hap~ned.
l had no ,i~ht to put you tllrough
all that.

Nothing happe"-•~- ''" Okay'

The fact
througll
is, I'd been go,ng
a bad time.
to some sort of c,1sis.
~··
I was coming
l fee~
much better """• thanl<s to you.

-
ISO, tllanl< you.)

You don't have eo thank me.

ALEX
Oh yes, r do. Most guys would
have JUSC oaken ,;;Cf. (run """Y•l
; don't l<no" wnat m,gtt nave
happened ... l,.,ha'- 1 would ha·,e
done) ii you hadn"t been the,e.

Ycu' ,e looKl.ng gcod.

of fact, you lco• gceat.
'''
As a matte,

He looKs at r.e, w,cn a srn.le. And ,nde~d. it"s tc·se.

He's begi~r.ing to wa,~ tc her. r.o,., he rea:ize, she"s
sane again.
9l CONTINt!EO, (2)
u,,
(quietly)
Thanl<s.
There is a IIIOlllent's silence. Dan isn't quite sure
~hat's co:ming noxt or ~here the conve;sation is lead-
ing.
UH
{continuing)
So ••• all tha••• in the pa,t. I
~as ~ondering ..• llould you do me
II"d like to ask) one more !avor.

What"• that"?

AL.EX
I• ve got ticl<ets !o, Madame
Butt•rfly t'-'0 ~eeks from Thu,sday.
I'd be very grat•ful if you"d l•t
me take you. A peace offering.
OM
It's very •ind o! you. hut l
really don"t think this i• a good
idea •.•

{SIDiling)
u,,
No •<ring• a<tached.

OM
(ger.tly)
Alex, unde, differer.t ci,cum --

AtDE
You don't have to explain. r just
thought I'd asl<.
(Sile gees '..LPI
I'll ••• yo~ •o~etime.
Thoy go to shake har.ds. Dao ,uddenly fen/ls the :~rma:-
iey ,atne, ,idic·,lous.
DAN

:so :cog.) ''"

Tal<e care.

- - -- . .
91 CONTINUED, (J)
,..
Goodbye.
Btt ascort• httr to he doc,, and clo••• it after her. He
•hake• hi• head and lttts out a deep hceath.

92 INT. OPE:l!A HOOS£ - NIGIIT

On gta9e, the beginning o! Act 2 of Madame Butterfly is

in progress, BOTTERFLYsings of her love tor Pinkerton
and dreams of hi• ceturn •one fine day•.,.
The CAMERAGLIDES over the heads of the audittnce un<il
it discovers Ale~. She sits alone, nexe to an empty
seat, elegantly d,e,sed for a night at the opeta.

We KOVECLOSE:R, unt1l he< face r;1LS TF.E SCREE~. She

listens to the KDSIC ,,,,h a fixed oxpression, lmpas-
sive, devoid of emotion. lt' s a st,angely unsettling
image.

9J INT. BOWLINGALLEY - N!GBT

Oan and Beth are seated at the sc~<ing table with HILDY
and J!N<Y.

They take turns getting up co bowl in tho alley befo,e

them, The ladie• ,eally Cor,'t ltno" ho" to bowl, the
men p«>f&•s to be experts.

There is bee, and •hou,i.ng, lots of 1.o.ughte, and lots

oC .,a,mth.

T~.• K □ s:c fr<>m •h• p<OVJ.OU< scene l"KAOAME B~TT!:RFLY")

eontinu•• over the SO!JNDTAACK.

94 INT. OPERA BOOSE~ CLOSE SHOT - ALEX - NIGHT

The image oE Al~x novers o·,ec them l•ke some rnalevo:or.t
lard o! ptey. Who <nows "ha, dat• t.S<>ught• are P-'lpi-
tati.ng bohind :nose ,mpene,cable •r••·
95 ON STAGE

The opera is co:n,ng ,c its c:io••· s~t,erClv co:lao•••

to tho g,ound. ctto,ta:ly wcccdeC by he, """ t,i,nc. A$
she ICnally exoi,es, we hoa, a:NKERTON'S d••?•<•ce
c~:~s cCfstage·.
95 INT. LAWFIR/I CORRIDOR- DAY
we n,tACI< SACK from Arthur and Dan, past office after
office.

... about Roger• versu•

AA-
whatchmacallit --
OAA
(o,,erlappingJ
Winitsky ...

Right. I got
AA,-
your ml!lllo. You're
90nna go for •=•ry judg~ent?
OAA
Why not? The facts aren't in
dispute. Roger• admits he read
Winitsky"o article. The cnly
question is, did he plagiarize it
in hi• book? As you well know,
(As we both knew]. ycu can't
copy<i~ht an idea, just the
expr••sion of an idea. RO<J•r•
certainly didn"t use any cf the
wo,ds in the book!
ARTl!tlR
Lem1:te think about 1t, ckay? So, I
hea, you're about to become a

-
,uburbar.>te.

Y&ah, we tcok the pCung•···

G<>t a buyer for

AA,-
th• aparement ...

Not yet ...

ARTHUR
Cot cold sweats abou, you, escrow?

Maybe a little ''"

...

AR~in:R
But ,.cc about Rcge,s ond W1nitsky?
 ,o.
97 INT, LAW FIRM - IIARTRA'S OFFICE - DAY

--
Martha is talking on the phone.

!!e's still in a meeting •.. Ye,, I

know, I did expect him to be '
through by now •••

98 INT. LAW FIIU'I - CORRIDOR - DAY

Oan and Artnu, are ~al<ing towards O..n'• office,

(he's
M,-
decided)

..
I'd like you to nave lunch vith me
on Tuesday, i! you're .i,our.d.
,
Oh that'd be g,eat, Arthur.
IThank you, Arthur, ic'll be my
pleasure.) Let me just Chee< my
diary.

99 INT, LAW FIRM - l'.ART!!A' S OfflCE - DAY

They arrive outside the doo,. Martha is •till tal<ic.;.

She's having a hard time gett,ng of! the phone.

IIARTIIA
You are on tus list of cal:s ...
She looks up as oan enters. He :oo••
z1cally. She cover• the receive,.

..
IIARTl!A
It's Alex Fo,esc.

I frowns)
,
Again? I thought you t~ld he; I'd
call back?

Ho cae.'t help glaneing back to whee• A,tr,": is stil:

hovering in the doorway.

1'.Al<TEA

DA~
Let me see •~• d,a,y. act he, on
held.

sr.e hands it eo h,rn. ~• ""'"edly looKs :o, ,.,e ,~le-

vact pa,;e.
 --
99 CON'I'INOJ:O,

Would you .,_ind holding? Be'll be

free in a ,oomont.

OM
( to Arthur I
(Arthur,) 'l'\Jesday'd be great
(Arohur), tt>ank you,
M,_
Good. I look forua,d to it.

Bo leaves. One• ,atistied ho's 9onB, oan turns to

Martha.
DAN
Put her through,

100 :NT. LAIi FIRM - DAN'S orrrc..: - DAY

Can pic•s up tho phone,

Boll<>?
agreed
LO<>k, "lex,
this uasn't
''" I thought
a good idoa.
""'d

' ha•• •• ··~ AL£X

YO'- ,
IO. S. I

Why? What foe' ''"

:nere's sam•<hing
AL.ii:X I O.S.
•• have
I
,.
di,cuss.
OM
I'Ol so,ry. I thoughO you
understood. It I've som~hou given
you the ,,,ang idea, r apologi••·
But I think tc's oesc iC ue don"t
talk to eacC. othe, anyn,ore.

lOJ Dan hangs 'J!>, t.,or. pus~•• tee but,an lo, ,~e ,a,e,cc~
to ~a,t.oa's ofEice.
103 INT. GALLAGIIE!tAPARTl<ENT- BEDROOM- NIGHT
''.
Beth i• sitting in front of the ,.irror, fi%ing her
...,k•~P, getting ready ~o, the evening. She's loo<ing
great in bra and panties. can coo,e, up behind and puts
his arms around her, kissing the nape o~ he, neck.

llmmm.,.
,~
You so,ell good.

BET!!
(gently)
Can •.. They're gonna be here in a
,.;nute.
He Ki•••• her on the lips. She r•sponds, er.joying the
OIOOlent.

,~
Just let"'" loo< at you ... God,
you'r• beauoiful! ..•
Beth is ,urprised and touched by h1• romantici,m, but
she respects his inten,ity.
can ,its behind her and star<• to strol<e her leg•. he,
breasts.

Re lool<s into her eye,. They are about to Kiss again.

The DOORBELL RINGS.

1smiles1 •=
Wouldn't ya kno~?

104 OMITTED

105 INT. GALLAGIIE!tAPAATMENT

- ~!V!NG ROOK- !VEN!NG
Junmy pries the coril c.,e of t:he hot,.le•
off wich a LOt:D
FOP. Be rus~e• to fill the glasses. 1'hey ace all
••~t•d around the sofa. General AD L!BBING of c~eers
and e~cite.:l chatter as t,o,.h'.ng champag~e spills eve,
tr.e tahle. Jimi:,y raises his g:ass 10 moc:; solemnity.

JIMKY
t.!B5 ,e cnsurac.ce,
(AO
cold sores. eee.)
Ladies and gentlemen. my w1Ce (my
ba:l and cha1r.1, (mother cf ,ome
of my c~1:d,e." ....

I CCN7INT.:C:0i
 ,,.
lOS CONTINIJJ;D,

(lltLDY
You should have such a Jo.all and
chain!)

JIMMY
A tea••! ae,e's to Killer,
Goodlnan, Eurst ... and Gallagher Il

Guys, illl he did"""

,~ as< me to
lunch.
IIILOY
... and they',e a,,oving to their
country esta<o, they'll forget
they.,..., kn•" us pleb, ...

(too '''
st,aightl
No" "ait a n:(n•Jce. I want you to
know I've been reading one of
those self-help book• lat•ly •.•

JIMMY
Published by Robbins and !!art, of
course.,.

Of course.
,~
"Samu,ai Self-help."
/\nd it tells he" to deal with the
anxieties ct friends as you move
up•~• co,pora,e ladder and they
stay put. o,, God fo,bid, ~eve
do"n .•.
J:C~J.'Y
(OeNiro in "Taxi
o,,ver"I
You talidng to~-•' To me!? llell,
there's no one e':se here." ..

HILDY
~••• beer. ,,y,.o; co get DeNiro for
'"" y•ars ... :,•s ~a,heti.c I• sad
th,ng).,.

Mo~ing r19hc alca~.

boo, ,, tel:s
''"
Ar.d ,n tJ-.is
,·cu not to codd:e
tho anxiot,es ~, ch••• fc,onds.
So : 'rn not gonna ""'"" a Cot cf
false ,eass•scaaces. l can't say
you"ll bo u~ ~v~,y ~••<•c.d. Let's
Eace i.t, thcngs have chaaged.
iMG~,:;
l OS CONTHIIIED, I2 )
..
,
DAN ICOMT'O)
This isn't a classless society.
As a matter of filtt, this is
goodbye, guys! .•.

JIMMY
I kn•" it. Well, at least you're
running true to for,n •••

Well,
"ar.na traoel
noney,
<::lailn break.
-
it's
We're
light
best
...
to na~e a
on our "•Y• ""

The PBONE l'.INGS. Betn answe,s. The others go on chat-

ting

lOSA CLOSE ON BETH

She picks up tne pl\ooe.

s=
Hello ... ? Hello ••. ?

Dan loo<• over towards he,, ale,ted hy a sirth sense.

Beth replaces the rece1ve, "ith a !rown, and returns to
the table.

BE:TE
10:ontinuing)
Nobody there. That•• the second
tt,ne tonight. r hate that. I•
gives me the creeps.

HILDY
l'<D always afraid it's someone
try1ng to case the Joint.
Jl!<MY
Oh, mo, don't wo,ry -- i•'•
probably ene c: Dan's gicl
friends.

105B C~OSE ON QAN

A sudder. reae,ion, as he's eaught ot~ guard by :iJMCy's

;,be. Of eou,se, it's exact:y whac J-.@'s,n,n><J.ag. Ho
~u,ck:y :a~ghs ,, eff·.

iCONT:NDED)

--- -- --
 ';.
lOSH CONTINIIEO,
OM
Yeah, but which one?

But as the Cllll£!I./\ LINGO!S on his face, "e sense his

anxiety.

106 INT. GALLAGHER APARTMENT - Bl:IlH00/1 - NlG!!T

Tho CAMERA SLOWLY TRACKS towards the bed, where Dan and
Beth are asleep, CONTINUING PAST TO ENO ON A CLOSE SHOT
of the TELEPHONE next to Dan'• head. It CLANGS into
lifa, .

Dan's aye• open "i.de as r.e is jolted"-""'"· Almost on

instinct, he reaches fo, t!",e pC.ono bofore it can ring
again. Beth stirs drowsily in her sleep.
o,,
Yeah?.,.

107 A!-EX'S APl\RTl<ENT BEDROO>I - BIG CLOSE'1P - NIG,n,-

ALEX
At la,,.

t07A BACK TO DAN

Ee shoots an arueiou• glance in Betr.'s direction,

is slo.,ly "al<ing up, int,igued by a call a< t~i•
hour.

OM
Oh, Richa<d, It's l<inda late,
Isn't It?

AL£:X (D.S.)
If you Reep ,e:us,ng my calls ac
the otl,ce, you :••~• me no
cho,o@.

DAr,
¥ut., it's ts,c i.n ch@mo,ni.ng he,e.
Can't this"~" tlll tomo,rou
mo,n,ng/

AL.:X
Oh •.. :s ct aw,,a,d !or you to
talk?

DAN
You cou:c ,ay ,.,ac.
 ,,.
1C7A CONTINUED:
u~
I've got to see you.
OAA
I ••• uh .•• don't have the.,. the
documentation here to ansver that
question. I'll call you fro,n the
office.
u~
No, meet me in front of the
Robbins a~d Hart building ae six.

OAA
Well, let me just thin< (about
that) ...
u,,

-
D<>n't disappoint me.

You can rely on that.

Goodbye.

- He ,.,place•
looking at
the phone. By no" Beth
him With oper. curH><ity.
is wide a,.,ake and

BETF.
Who 1n the hell ,.,a, that?
,,,
A client. "·•sus, tl'lese guys tl'linl<
they ovn you!

In the midCle
,,ffl
of t!-.e ni9he?

DA~
It's or.ly eleven L". L,A.

8f:':'E
1d1s9,untledJ
E·,en so •••

She turns ove,. trying tc f,nd a com~o,,able pcsiticr.,

f,nally settling down. Dan ,ema,ns or. !as bac•, s,a,-
•ng up at the ce,l1ng. TC.1s ,s beg1nr . .cng ,o get to
'·'"'.
 ,,.
108 EXT- SIXT!! AVENUE - E:<n:NING

Dan a/\d Ale>< are valking along Sixth Avenue.

striding angrily along beside her. Eis loud
attracts th• attention of passersby.
OAA
This has got to stop.

Dan, if
=uldn't
(calmly)
you'd agreed
~··
to see Ole, I
have had to call you.
om·
It hasn't regi,tered, has it?
It's over. There'• nothi,ng
b•tween us.·
ALEX
I chilling I
You mean you've had yo•.H !un, now
you just want a quiet 1ife.

-
He pulls her roughly into a doorway,

Why are you doing this?

ALEX
(5corn!ully)
Doing whae?

You need
I exploding)
help!!
''"

You need
(conti.nuing)
a shdn,!!
''" I"- fucXing
docto,:J

Dan and Alex are wal<ing along ehe endless corr,do,s.

ae looks gei.m.
ALEX
Why are yo~ so nost,:e? It ,ealiy
,sn't oecessa,y, you know. ;•m
not yo,, enemy.
OA~
~h•n ~hy ~,• you ,,y,ng to huco
o,e?
 •••
109 CONTINUE:O,

(pained)
I don't"""" to hurt
= you, Dan. I
love you.

You vhat?

uu
(quietly)
I lov• you.

OM
You don't ever. Jtnov me.
ALEX
(intensely)
How can you say that?
o,,
(baffled)
We •!"Int th• weekend <ogether.
That's•• fa, •• it goes.
ALEX
You stayed ohat second night. You
must ~.ave liked me a little?

OM
Iva• =rried aoout you. why do
you have to read so much into
everything?

She suddenly leoJts very vu:nera~le, He rea~i••• she

really does believe he must feel something for her,
OM
(g•n<ly)
Can't you understand? I've got a
wl\ole llfe g01ng wot~. someone
else. A very h•Pl'Y one.

ALEX
(l:atte,ly)
Whole means cornl':ete. lf your
1,fe's so damn cornp:ete, ,;n;H were
you doing uich me'

~A~
ls th,s f"hY you .,ad to ••• me?]
"hat you ·•ant to talk ~boqt? Ou,
irnagia~,y love a!Ea:,7

l'rn pcegnaa,.

ICDN~I~t;ED)

- --
109 CONTIN'O&O• (2)

His jaw drops, She stares at him coolly.

u~
1continuingl
NOW tell ,oe you don't helieve me.
,,,
I don't believe you.
u,,
(sighs: reaches
into ner pur••l
I saw my gynecologist on Monday •.
Here'• his number (if you want to
call him). You can call if you
want to.
She hands him a card. He takes it, stunned.

Don't you --
u,,
Use anything? No, I don't. I had
a very bad ,oiscarr1a9e last year.
I didn't think I could get
pregnant.
Atl Dan can do is •tare at the card.
,,,
(!ou're sure lt's oun~?l aow do
you ~now it's ,oine?
u,,
(controlling herself)
Because I don't sleep a,ound.
,,,
Okay, I'11 sorry ... l apologl:e.
Don't i,orry. I'm not going to le,
you handle thlS on yo~, own,

Randle what?
,,,
Well -- the abortion. You don'•
t,ave to wo,ry abouc the mo~•Y·
I'll tal<e care c: it.
u,,
What make• yo~ th1nl< I'm goi~g ,o
have an abc,,1on?

(CONT'N~ED)

-- -
 ',.
-
109 CONTimlED: (l)

jstunned)
We.•• No!! You're not gonna have
the bahy (kid)!?

~~
Why not? There are plenty o!
suecassful one-par&nt flllllilies.
At least they don't end in
divorce.

Do I t'.lave any

(fir,nlyl
-
say

~~
in {all) this?

I want the child. Ie has nothing

to do ,.,i,h you. I'm going to have
it, whether you want to be a part
of it or not.
OM
Then why the hell••• you telling
me?? Why not just do it?
~o
(subdued)
I was hoping you would want to be
a part of it.

DAN
This is crary I ,nsane) ... Tn,s is
just c-,aiy•
ALl:X
I'm thirty-six yea,s old .• , T~.is
may be my las, chance to have a
cl'lild,

Alex,
you're
for Go~••
saying:
'''sake,
(you're
thir,k what
gonna)
Ohis will afCec, hoch of o~, :ives
~o,ever!
A~EX
(earr.es,lyl
Oo you thin<: doo't kr,ov that
••• ? (I'vo t~oug.".t about 10 a
lot• ••. ] I er.derstar.d how you
fee~. Jt's a beg thing, be, ,t
do••~•t nav• to be a problem,
,eally ,t cioesn'c ... Play fa,,
--'1th me ant :•:1 ?lay fa1, with
you.

ICC~~INU!D)
 ,.,
l09 CONTINIIE:0: (4)

She r••ts a ,eassu,ing hand over his. But Dan feels

far !rOlll rea,sured, lie can ,ee a niqht<nare futur•
opening up in front o! him.

ll~ INT. GALLAGHER APARTMENT - LIVING ROOH - &VEl'ING

Beth sits at the dining table "1th Ellen, reading to

her frDlll an "Oink and Pea,l" l>ook.
BETH
"A<;,ne• and Nellie and Oink giggled
and laughed in the dark. Pearl
listened outside the doc,."

lll DAN

worRing ao hi• des>, o, at least tcyin~ to. lie cannco

concentrate. ne ,tarts to listen to Beth's story,
faint but distinct.
s= 10.S.J
"0<:>0000, ie V<>rks," cried Nellie.
"Of course," sa,d Cink. "Loo< at
the flying dog,• yelled Agnes.
"Wow'" cried Nellie,

Ill INT. GALLAGHERAPARTNENT- LIVING ROOH · EVENING

Seth continues the reading. Ellen is enthralled.

SE::'R
Pearl frowned. "Who ca,•s about
flying dogs.• ~he •aid. 1/obo~y
heard her.

Beth smiles and goes back to he, ,ead1ng. She senses

nothong arn,ss.

CLOSE ON DAIi

lie has a look oE po,gnan, tendeeness. Never nas his

Earni!y appeared rnore prec,ous. lie cannot take hos eyes
auay f,orn them.

BE:ll (Q.$.)
"Look out for Che worm!" squealed
,-gnes. "Eeeeee•<l"' )'•lled Ne:l'.•
a~d j\gnes togethe,.

- - - ... ··-. -·--- --

11? EXT, ALEX'S /\PARTl!ENT BOILOING - MORNING

Uex exits hor building and leaves tor work. CAl!ERA

PANS-after her, cocn;ng to rest on Dan, waochin9 from
ac,oss the street.
Sati,fiM thao •he's out of the way, he races oo the
front d0<>r.
Looking anxiously around. Dan i01pulsively presses all
the buiie,s. Be is hyperventilating. After a mo"'ent,
people start ANSWERINGon the INTERCOM. At loast one
peroon bu••es. !!e's in,
Instead of taking the elevator, he race• up the stairs.
Dan arrives on Alex's !loor, l0<>ks a,ound and hastily
!ee!s to, the llide-a~•ey, lie lets hirnsolf into />lox's
!lat.

l!J INT. ALEX'S LOTT - DAY

O..n hurries through the apa,tment, looking around, II•
doesn't even know~ he's looking foe, anything to
give hirn a handle on this person he's deal,ng wioh,
anything to givo htm •ome !overage.
In the bathroom, he l0<>1<0at all ho, 111anypills. Some-
t~-ing catches his eye in oh~ medicine chest.
CLOSEUP, She "as tolling the
trutn.
At Alex'• de•k, uan picks up"°"'" pap~,s and loo<s
th•ougn the,.,.,
Bo •pins her Rolodex, lool<ing for addre••es •• , A scrap-
bO<>kcatches h;s eye. Ee pull• it do,m, thu111b• throug~
it -- ANGLESof Al•~•• ~amily in Chicago. Suddenly he
•tops, CAM>;RA~001\5 I~,
A ne.,spaper obituary ot Alex's fathe<.

Dan can't de anything ~ut ga~•-

hell is •he?

ll4 INT. LAW Off!C! - Lra;,.,..,, - DAY

A clerl< ,s ~iStcibuting aad col~ectin; oooks amo~g •~•
,tacks. We dcscove, Oaa and -·immy ,n a co,~e,.
ICONTINtlED;

- - --
 ".
114 CONTIN0£D,
,~
so you know what happened ••. I then
you <no""""-" I did?) Righo, i
call he< docto,, and you know what
he say,? •congratulations!"
Can't yc,u io,.agine whao sh" must
nave said to him?
JIMIIY
Oh, Jesus! took, "hat do you
thin< would happen if you just
came

end.
child
out

Are you kidding;

and

Tnis "°"'"n
~·
told

i• having
[goddamn baby!) .•• Beth
Beth?

That'd
cny
he the

could n"ver accept that. Nobody

could.
( runs his hand•
through his hair)
Anyway, you haven't it all
heard
yet. ITMt'• not the .,nd •• ,)
(When I got o!f the phone with he,
doctor), I b,o<e Into he, place
this 11>0rnin9. I lrnow •• , me, a
iao,ye,, b,ea•ing and entiiing. r
..as looking for something,
anything to give me a handle on
wnat one hell I'm dealing with
he,e. I tnought mayb• l could
find out if she was sl••pin9 w,th
anyone olso .• ,

1continuin~l '""
I ca,oe up with nothing, JiOllOy,
I've never toucned farnily law,
what ~ind of case does she have?

Jill.~Y
In Na., York State, '-~• law ,,,1:
ta~• a wornan's wood to, pate<nity
until the ch,ld ,s ho,n and
patern,ty can be '-••ted. L'n,il
tho baby comes to ,e,rn, the
putative fatno, 11ou, pal, you the
tathor) is ,espons,b:e for a~l
medic•" and ota,nter.ance c~•••• In
othor words, the law •~ppeses you
quil'-y until prover. ,~nocer.t.

iCO>iTl~UE~l

- -
 •••

ll4 CONTIIIOE!I, 12)

OM
Thanks, buddy {JiouoyJ ••• You sound
like a la..ye<,
JIIIMY
sorry. Hey, co~e on ... look, once
ah• <eali,es you don't want
anything to do with her, she'll
decide not to go through with
it- She's pcobably hoping you"ll
leave your "ife.
OM

JIMMY
She sounds a little crazy,
oan looks at him, his face hagga,d with pa;n and an~-

-
iety.

Sh• <eeps calling the apartment,

tvecy time Beth answers, she hangs
up.,. I'm scared, Jl"""Y· I really
!desperately)
' I don't want to lo•• my farnily.

JIIIMY
Listen, Dan, can l ask you
s<>lllething? i'd <e&lly like •o
understand. I i<nc,w you. You
don't fuc< a,ound. iH<>" c0ll1e,)
illly'd you do it?
OM
That's funny, ~ keeps asl<ing rne
that, If I'm so happy, hov co,ne I
went name ,.,,n her/
He walks over ,~ the window and took~ out.

OM
{continuing)
All l con >hinK of is a
comb,nat,on lo=< -- you Know, all
the turnbl@rs na~• to fall ,nto
ploce. r:: ~adn'• oeen ma,,,ed
ten yea,s -- clioK. If l hoCn"t
gone tc, t~.a, wee<end meeting --
clicl<.
iMOREi

I CON"l'!NlJEj I

- .
ll4 c:oNTINtlE!>, (3)
!>.'UI (CONT'D)
It Beth and Ellen h~dn't ba•n in
th• country (90ne away) --
click. If she hadn't been at the
,aeetlng -- click. If it hadn't
b~en :aining •o hard, if •h•
hadn't ~en so attractive (pretty)
-- click, click, click -- You
know ... (1 don't know •• ,) I think
everyone's got ,om@ co~bination
that'll <:>pen them up ••• that can
unlocl< then,

tong silence.

115 INT. ALEX'S APARTMENT- BE!>~OOM- NIGBT

Ala% i• propp•d up in bed, "eating her ki=no, ••t:,.ng

an apple. She l0<0ks l:,.ke slle's been in bad all day,
Tile TV IS ON, but sh~ pays it no attention. She leafs
throu9h a .... nu,cript disttactedly. Eventually she
picks up the phone and dials, punching out the nwobers
with• stabbing finger. An ACTO-VOICE comes on th•
line.

VOICE 1v.o.1
I'm sorry, Tile numb~, you have
dialed has been disconnected and
there is no new number,

A TONE is hea,d. Al•x sta,e• at the phone in disbe-

lief, thftn dials 411.

OPE:P.ATOH 1v.o.1
Information, wtiat city, plea$e?
~n
I'11 t<y.tng to reac~ 555-8129 •.•
212, A raco,d,ng says it's been
disconnected.

OP!:RATO~ IV.O.)
.Jusc • ,ninute .•. tC.a'-'• correct,
the pa,ty has changed to an
unl,sted nu~ber.

ALEX
Operate,. th•• ,s a <•al
emergency. Please ... ycu must
give me that number•

OP!:RATOH 1v.o.1
I'm sorry, ~e·,e not al"o~ed to do
tha <•

(CONTINUED)
 ,,.
115 CONTINOl!ll,

Wall,
1exploding)
!uc~ you!
=
Furious, Alex alllll!S down the phone.

116 OMIT'l'l:ll

117 ElT. GALt.AGll&ll A?Ml'MDIT SIIILDIIIG - DAt

Dan is wal~ing along his street, d••p in thought. lie

start• to crosa the atreet, and is stopped in the 011d~
dle by a CM l!ON!<lllG furiously. II• fin.Illy crosses and
ente,s his building, halping a li<tle old lady in.

118 IIIT. Gl\LLAGIIER APARTMENT EALL - EVE!HIIG

Dan ooo,es through into the apartment. lie can hea,

women's VOICES =ing from th• .,,._;n room. One is imme-
diately r•cognixabl• •• belonging to Seth. The other
sounds unc<>lllfortably familiar, The conY•rsation is on
the subject of babies, as far•• c<1.n be inade out. Dan
OIOVes towards the room with increasing trepidation.

ll~ INT. MIN ROOK- EVENING

Th• CAl'.EP.A FOLWWS into tile ,0001. There, sitt,ng to-
gether on tne sofa, are Beth ~nd Alex•

acffl
!Ii, darling, This Alex -- I'm
sorry, l'v~ for9otcon you, last
n~"•·..
~IT

-~·
Ale" rorrest. Ho.

Alex ~or,ost ... Ky husband, Dan.

He mov~• for~a,d, as if in a bad drearn, almos, in slo~

mc,ion.

IU,£X
Glad tc moot you.

Nice to meet you. ''"

I CON~INU£0 !
 , ,.
119 CO>l'l'INVEO;

She gives hi..m her hand. ije has no alternative but to

sha~e it. She holds onto him a fraction longer than is
n•c••••ry, studying him with exaggarated curiosity.

Haven't we met before?

~,, Your face
ts awfully familiar.
OAA
I don't think &o.
ua
No, no, we have. W•ren't you at a
party•• that Japanese place a f•w
waekg ago? A book launch.

Oh, darling ... •=

The exercise book!
OAA
Oil, yes ••• y••·

You•,e
~,,
a lawyer, right? You
work for that firot ••. what'•
the name now •.. ? Anyway, we killer,
-~,
Goodman • nurst.
definitely met.
'
You have ''"
an excellent otemory.
uu

-~·
I never forget a face.

It'• a small world,

u,,
It certainly is.
She loo<s at Dan significantly. The<e is a pause. A
slight awkwardness, A~ex creaks tr.e •ilence, turning
to Dan,
u,,
(continuing)
Sc •.. I gate.er ycu'r• movin9 to
tho country?

SETH

ALEX
Have ycu found sc~e~he,e?

{CON'T!NUE:l)
 ll~ CONTtllOl:!>: 12)
, ..
We're buying
,,ra
a house near lledford.
llil.va you ever been out there?
M~
tes, it'• beautiful. So you'd be
ready to IIIOYOout of here almost
i1U1ediately?
Beth locks to Dan for guidance. He is Impassive, his
face a fr02en ,...,k.

We were planning •=to get some

remodeling done firs•. I Qu•s•
you're l0okin9 for a place (to
1110veinto) right away?
M<•
Wall, I "¢uld ,eal!.j. I want to
settle in.
BETli ·
(to Dan)

'
Alex is

(stiffly)
•>rpecting

Oh, •• Would you ex~use

Som• calls
·~
to mako.
a baby.

me? I have

Goodness, I've
u,,
gotta run.

She O'lOvas to get her co.oc and starts across. She curns
to B•th with• sweet sm,le.

Thank you !or

u,,
the tea, thank you
for showing me the apartment.

B!,11
You',e "elco"'••

ALEX
I lll<e Ct. ! dk~ 1' a lot.

BE"cl!
we·ve been ve,y hap?~ hece.

A~EX
I"d d~tio,te:y lik~ ,c ,h,o, aceut
it, iE I ~cold.

--
 ,,.
119 CONTINUEO, (l)

~t ~• give
•=
you our number
(di<ect), so you can call us
(direct) if you want to.

oan look• on in dismay as Heth ocribbles down the num-

bar and ~nds it to Alex,

Thank you.

INT, GALLAGJIEII APARt'MeNT !!ALL - EVDIING

Beth open, th• door to let Al•x out. !"or a 1110cnent,

Alex looks at Oan standing in the doorway.

I continuing
~,. I
I'll be in touch.
She Qiv•• him• t19ht little smile, Beth close• the
door,

120 INT, LIVING ROOM- OAY

Oan is stan<lin9 at the windo", staring out at the city.
Heth comes in •o clear the coffee table.
an,
She ,eaois really intar•sted.,,
It's funny, she didn't mention a
husband, I got the feeling she's
on ~•r own (alona I.

She moves toward• Oan. He suddenly loo•• eired and

haggatd.

(gently)
,a,
What's up? You seem Cepressed.
,,,
(srn1les w@akly)
I'm fine. Just ti<od.
Ev,,yehing's fine.

lll INT. LAW FlRM - OAS'S OFFICZ - DAl

iCONT:NOED)

-·----
 ,o.

OP&AATOR
Robbins and Bart •••
OM
Alex Forrest •• ,

ASSISTANT
Miss Forrest's cffica •..
OM
Yes, could ! sp,eak with Miss
Forrest? Can Gallagher.

122 INT, ROBBINS-ANO!!ART - ALEX'S OFFICE - OAY

Ale~' s ASS!STIUl'r /las ans.,ered the phone. lie mouths
Dan's name to Alex, who is standing nearby. 5he Sig-
nal• thao she's not in.

ASSISTANT
l;>e<sonal call AO LIBI
She's in a meeting, Mr. Gallagher.
Can I have her ,eturn your call?

!NT, LAWFIRM DAN'S OFFICE - CAY

'
No •.. I'll call
o,, h,, back.

lie slams the phone angrily.

124 INT,/£XT, PHONE 800T!I ON MANHATTAN STR.E:E! - OAY

oan is crossing tile st<eet to get to the phone booth in

tile neighborhood of his offic@ .

Hi, sweetheart. •••I gotta have a

d,inl< wioh a cl,on, ... (I'm gonna
he a little la,e,) l'OI sorry. {!
'fon't be ~••Y lace ... ) All c,ght
Give rny :ove to Ellon.
He p,osses do,;a ,he ,eco,vor, puts ir. ano,he, coia ar.d
d,als aga.r.. Ho ,;a,ts i"'pa,,e~tJ.y foe tho c•J.l o~ b•
ans.,eced, ,app,og a c~in aga,nst t~.• side of t!".e pay
pC.ono. H,s necves a,e an •~;•.

--------
 125 INT. ALEX'S APARTIIENT - MIN ROOM - DAY

The PRONE RINGS a couple of times and then an answering

m.achina cut• in. We hear Alex'5 announcment.
AL.EX 1v.o.1
RI, I'm not
In right no,;, but If
you care to leave a message I"ll
call you right baci<.

126 RACK TO OAN

127 INT. ALEX'S APART)IENT - MIN ROOK - DAY

As th• ANSWERING1'11\Cl!INECLICKS OFF, we PAN across to

the sofa. 1\lex Is sitting there, smiling to ne,se:f.

12a EXT. Attl<'S APARTMENT au:~DING - NIGBT

The str••t outside Alex"s •!>'rtment. Dan ENTERS FRAME

in f.g. and loo<s up at the building. Be crosses <he
street and goes up to the en<rance.

12g EXT. FRONT ENTP.ANCE

- NIG!!T
Dan pre••e• tho bell. And ,;aits. l!e presses aga(n.
A< la•• Alex's vo,ce comes over <he entry pnone.
ALEX (0.S.J

It's me.
ALEJ< 10.s. J
Who?

You i<now who it 1S"

I "ant to tall< to you.
''"
l~e< me ir .. )

ALEX 10.S.)
Oh, now you"""' ,o <alkl

Yean. I wa~n• ''"

,a:i<'

___..
 ...
l3D INT. AL.EX'S APARTMENTBUILDING - CORRIDOR- NIGIIT
Dan stand• outside Alex"s doer. The door opens to
reveal Alex. Sha look• ,tunning, at her most seduc-
tive, Sl>e has transformed her,ielf fro!ll the ea,li,,
•cane -- she knew he'd=•• Sha stands aside with an
Ironic little smile to let hirn enter. lie goes in. TIie
door closes.

131 INT. AL~'S A!'AATMn!T HALLWAY - NIGHT

Tight-lipped, Dan fcllc,ws her into the main room,

13i • INT. AL.EX'S AFARTll£NT - >IAIN ROOM - N~G!IT

Alex goes to,.ard the kitc~er. a,ea..

ilhat can I get you?

~,,
I've got
scotch, I've get vodi<a ehe,e's
a nice Chablis in the
tefrigerator.,.

Dan remains ,itandlng. His anget is bubbling over.

Can we (please]
,~cut the bullshit??
' Can~• Just cut the bullshit now?!
: don't know what you're up to,
but I'm telling you, it'• gonna
stop, Right he,e, right no.,,
•
~,,
1calmlyl
No. It'• not going to ,top. It'•
going to go on and or. -- until you
faca you, ,e5PonsibITities.

OAA
What ,e,ponsibilitlesc Wllat are
you talk>ng about?

l'OI p,egnant.
~,,
I'm ha~,ng cur
child.

OAA
Alex, that's you, choice, not
"''""· ~,,
l Just "anna be a {smalll pa,t cf
you, life.

I CQNT:Nt:l:D I

- --- -·
 •••
132 CONTINUEO:
OM
And you think this is the riqho
way to go about it.,.? Showing up
at my ap.artrnent?
She 1110v10sback towards him.

~n
What a,n I supposed to do? You
won't talk to me, you change your

-
number. I won'• be ignored.

[coldly)
You just don't get it, do you?
They a,e face to face now. She looks ineo his eyes,
her lips 010istly parted -- hss fot tha taking.

ALEX
(huskily)
Don't you ,eine,nbe, our weekend?
wasn't that wonderful? Wily can't
we be like thac again?
She presses herself against him, coiling har ar~ around
his necl<.

ALEX
(Continuing)
I kno" you feel ,, too. You vant
"'"• I know you do •••
She ,ncwes her rnouth to,,,a,ds his. At the lase o,orn@n'-,
he pushes her away,

Don't flatcer ''"

you,self.
ALEX
Poor darling! ... You can', hel~
having dirty tlloughts, can you"/?

A~EX
{continuing;
relentlessly)
Poe, little Bo,.o. I thoughc sh•
"as a"!ully """"' ... but sh~ "••
•lso k.ind of bce>ng' rs she
bocing ia bod too ... l Thot's the
pcohlom, isn't"''

(CON1INOED)

•
-
 •••
'"
CONTINOED:

Be grabs her by the wrist, tYisting her arm upwards.

For i second there is raga in hi• •Y•• and fear in
har•.

OAA
I'm warning you •• ,!
out of it! I

She grins ..,.liciously.

Go ahead, hit me! If you can't =•

fu·c~ me "hf don't you llit aie?

Be releases his grip.

OAA
You're so sad, you knc,w that •.•

·~·
You' re sad and lonely ..•

Don't pity me. Ever I

bAstard.

I de pity you.
gl <l.
u~
Why? Because I won't let you
troat me li<e so,oe •lut you can
bang a couple o: ti.rnes then du,np
lin the tra•h can?) I',o gc,nna be
the mother of your child!! I "ant
SOllle re•pect!
OAA
You want ra,pect? ..

ALEX
1•uddenly panCcXingJ
What are you doing?

Sne catches u,i w1th hi:o in t!".e hall, grabbing hi•

sleeve.

ALEX
sor,y, Dar., I didn't
Please don•, go.

. -
 ''.
l33 CONTINUEO,
Be pusheo lier away and car:ies on towards the exit.
Alex tires to interpo•• herself beew••n him and the
door.
~~
!continuing)
I'll tell your wife.
something inside Dan snaps. Be grabs her by the threat
and force• her up against the wall.
. ,~
(hoar.sely)
You do tllat and I'll kill you! I
swear to God!
lie releases his grip. Alex falls back, clutching her
,11roat and gasping fo, breath. He goes out the door,
slams it behind him.

13• ALEX

pull• herself togetne,_, shouts impotently atte, him.

~,,
All it ••••• is a phone call,
' Oan,
3ust
I',o warning
dis<1.r,,pear!
you, I won't

llS ALEX
corn•• bac< into the main room, b,eathing heavily. She
lunges for the phone and dials.

BETH 10.S. J
liello .•• ? Hello ... ? Who is
this ..• ? liello?
At the last moment, Alex's nerve fails ne,. ~.aybe she
rea11,e• 10 s,ould mean the er.d of he, ~old over Dan.
~aybe she's genuine~y f,19~tened o! what ~e might do.
At any ,ate, •he suddenly sla,ns do"" the phone, fl.1ngs
it violently against the s,all anC b,eaxs down into
~ncontrollable, hyste,ical g,1eE.
FAD£ TO B~ACK.

- -
 •••
l:l7 INT. COONTRY BOUSE - llALl,WAY - DAY

Dan is dir•cting tl.'o movers as they start up tho stairs

l.'ith a mattress, while he is helping anothe, man with~
table.

IThat's) Second '''door on the left,

up•tair•.

138 INT. COUNTRY HOOSE - LIVINt, ROOM - DAY

Beth and her =othe,, .Joan, ·a•e already ur.packlng

crates, trying to get one pliice into some lcind o!

-~·
order,

I never knew we had •o much junk.

COM
t still think you we,e crazy to
lllOVe in before the remodeling was
done. You could"ve stayed in the
apartment.
a,IB
1shrugs1
Dan couldn't wa1c eo get out oC
New York. 1<orn.•. is this you?
That's ,,.eet:

At that ot<)Ol@nt, the PHONE RINCS. Beth glances eve, ,o

the far end of the ,oo~, whe,e it rests on the hall
••airs.

139 !NT. COONTRY HOOSE - !lAL;'.,WAY - DAY

Dan i• helping one of the mover• wieh a lar9• table,

which is stuck in the doo,. Ho loo~s up anxic,usly.
B•• immediate in,tinct •• co answe, •• himself. buc he
is squee2ed up a9oinst tho door frame. ~evercho:oss,
he releases his grip on ,he ,able, wh1eh d,ops to ,he
9,ound, with the man sc1:1 c.olding up his end.

Mean~h,l• Beth ,s on her wey ,o p,c< c~ the phone. can

ccosses pas, the ~""'"•~ ca;:,a~ as he 9oesa

-- -
140 CONTINUED:

OM
I'll 9at it! I've got it, honey.

Surpri••d by his e•gerness, llaeh stops in her tracks.

141 INT. COONTRY HOUSE - l!ALL>IAY - DAY

Dan ,eaches the phone and grabs the receive,.

Bello?

-,~
•••
{11,0,)

,. gri,n•
'' '
hugely.
Dan, it'.

o=
Karth•!
... What
Kart/la,
it? ,, i' .• you! l
It's l'la<tha •..
•••
KARTl!A (11.0. J
Nothing iOlpOrtant, only your
calls •••

lie looks up at the Olover, still stuci< in the doc,. Re

nods, understandingly,

Yes ..• yes •••

142 OK:TTEO

143 INT. COONTRYHOUSE - UFFER HALLWAY- AFTERNOON

A week or so has el•~••d since the move, lleth is up a
ladder, !>"intcng <he ce,l,ng with a rolle, b<ush. She
v•a<• • scarf •,ound he, neacl ,c ~,o,ect he, t,cm the
!'-''"'•but is covered wieh spots all •~• ••me.
The PIIONE RINGS. ae goes to ~nswe,.

BETH
Bello?

••
 •••
l4S INT. LAWFIRM - DAN'S OFFIC& - DAY
Dan, too, a~a,s very relaxed. The pressure !lnally
seem.s to ba off.
OAA
Ri, babe, 110.. ·s it going? Did
th• plLllllber aver co~e?

Did he eve,.

I kno.,.
"ant to
Don't
heat.
tell"'' Ille. I don't

!Suddenly bcightened)
Hey, guess "hat i'm looking at?

~4SB OIFF!:R.l:NT AN~LE ON DAN

shc,wing a caged rabbit on top of his desk.
,,m
(veey excited)
You got iC?

I picXed
I picl<ed
it up,., "''
"ait
her ~P a, the
a minuoe ...
store

-~·
today.

What'• she ii.Ke?

OAA
St'.le • • a rabbit ..• "hi te, long
floppy ea,s, pin< eyes ... No,
Sha'• beautiful,

B!~H
Sound cuoe (n,ce),,.

Are you sure Eller.

anythong about it??
''" doesn't <no"

6ETH
No! She's •~•• sne isn"t goir.g ,o
get one.
 .,.
146 INT. LAW FIRM - !U:CEP'TION - E:VE:NIIIG

Can passes through at the end of the Qy, carrying the

cage,
RECEM'IONIS'l'
I like your fr lend.
,~
!lave you met our ne" partner,
Eunioe1 (S•• what happens to you
i! you •••y here too long?!)

He shows her the rabbit. She chirp• delightedly at it.

RECEPTIONIST
Aran't we sweet!? Oh, I forgot.
This atrlved for you.

She hands hi0t a ,mall padded envelope. He slips it

into his pocket.

EXT./INT, PARKINGGAA/IGE- £:li'DIING (OAYJ

oan walk• up to th• garage and the control booth, No
sign of the attendant. A SIOall portable TV plays to an
empty chair. He leans across and takes his keys from
I the racl<. Re starts to "all< to the elevator.

He pushes the button, and puts the cage do"n as the

elevator gees up, and delivers hi,. to his !loo,.

l4B INl'. GARACE

~@ TIIACK BACK in !ton• cf hicn as he saunoers alcng,

hu111111inga oune. lie comes atound ohe bend and heads fo,
his cat.

:49 ANOTHER ANGLE

Alez i.s waoohing Dan at • distance, !to., the balcony of

the •levatot shaft. After a moment, she wal<s of:.

150 Dan is \latl<ing along. lie is momer.tar1ly s,a,,.led by •

CAR 1U-ARM GOING Of!".

!51 lie suddenly slo\ls do,,n, a look cC horro, on his !ace.

Jesus!
152 IIIS POV
Allead o! him, something terrible has happened to hi•
SMW. · A poisonou,, HISSING VAPOR ri•e• in at yel.lowy
cloud t,om its stricken bO<!y.

DAN"S CAll - ANOTIIER MGLE

lie approaches, ha<dly able to believe his eyes. Th&

paint i• blistering and peeling off the metal, the
metal itself dissolvin9 and dribbling over the window•
in a hideous, <00lten mess.

llydrochloric acid has been poured over the entire oar,.

giving off a sinister, IIISSING STUM as it performs its
lethal "Ork, Thi• i• tha "erk of a sick mind, no less
distu,lang for being direeted against an inanimate
object.

153 INT. GARAGE - EVENING

The CAMERATRACKS towards a dark oorne,. at some di•-

tance. Alex is hiding there. Sile steps !orwa,d,
watching, a malignant smile on her lips.

154 DAN AND Tl!E CAIi

lie stands there ~ith the rabbit. The oa, is A write-

cff. lie knows who did this. lie screams with rage.

155 IN:. IIERTZ OFFICE - EVENING

Dan is on the phone to Beth ,n a nearby Avis of!ice.

N<>, it had something

,~ to do wi~h
the electrical system ...

BETII 10.S.)

Yeah, the whole t~ing

,~ went up ,n
smo<e.,, O<ay, 'bye.

156 !X~. AV!S QFP:Clc - CA.'< POUND - E'IEN!NG

157 REVERSE .\NGLE - ALEX"S EONOA

A:e,c 1s po,ked r.earby. S~e sca,ts the engir.e a.".d moves

oC:.
158 INT. RENTED CAR - TRA'O'ELIIII, - ,;,n:NING

TIie cat stop• for• light, Dan looks onto the oeat
na~t ·to hi~ and sees the pa.ckage. With a sudden intui-
tion, he tears it open. "!'here's• cassette "Ith tha
word• "PLAY IIE" on i,. He stares. So~eone HONKSbe-
hind. The light h~• changed. He puts the casse<te
into the deck. Koving forward, ha h•ars the hated
90ice:

l'.LEX IV,O.)
Hello, Dan. Surprised? This is
"hat you've reduced ~e to ••• I
guess you thought you'd g•t •"•Y
with lt7

1S9 INT. ALEX'S HONDA - TRAVELING - s;rl:NING

ALEX (V.O,)
Well, you we,e wrong.

160 INT. DAN'S RENTED CAR· TRAVELIN<,

Dan is list•ning intently.

Dan's car takes a right turn ahead, iust •• the light
turns to red. Ale>, puts on• spurt to keep up "ith
hi~, almost cunning ove, a stattled pedestrian,

INT. RENTED CAR - TRAVELING - EVENING

Dan listens, deep In gloomy thought, He is on the

:ree,,ay going out of th• city. Her vo,ce is ~hilleil
,~g•.
£XT. DAN'S< AJ,.J;:X'SCARS - POV SEOTS

AL£X rv.0.1
~a,, of yco is g,ow,ng in•ide rne.
That's a fact, Dan -- and you'd
~atter sta,, lea,ning ho" to deal
"tth \t.
I then, a sh,ft of
mooil, \ong:ng)
on, Dan, I feel you, I ••~•• you,
I th,nK you, : coucn you ... ! Can
you understanil• can youc

. .
162 &XT. COONTRr ROAD- NIO!IT
Dan•s car ~o"""' up and past along & tree-lined country
road; A few moments later the Honda follc,,,s, She'•
buoinesslike nc,,,.
ALEX (V.O.)
I'rn asking you to acknowledge you,
responsibilities. I• that so
unr•a•onable, •• ? I don't think
,o.

163 0:'1'. COUNTRYHO!!S£ - NIG!IT

Can's car pulls up beside the house.
ALEX (V.O.)
And another thing .••

163A INT. CAN'S RENTC:O CAR NIGRT

o.an •it,, listening for a moment.
Then, he reache• ove, and stops the tape, pulling the
cassette out and putting it into his jacket pocket,
l!e reaches for the rabbit cage and gets out of the car.
Alex's car stops momentarily on the road, at the top of
the driveway.
As Dan walks towa,d'his house, Alex's car atarts again
and cruises slowly past the driveway entrance.
A shado""Y figu,~ -- Alex -- runs across the vast la"n
to.,ard the house.

165 EXT. CO(JNTI!t HOUSE - GROUNDFLOOR WlNDOW- NIGHJ

T~• CAMERA,s le><><ing through <he gcound floo, window
inco the living room. E!l&n and Beth a,e ~neeling on
the floor ln Iron, of a log !i,e ma<ing a giant jig-saw
pu,:le. !llen is in hec p,tJarnas, ,eady for be~. Dan
en,ers ;,;th the rabbit. Ellen o.o.n't Oel,eve ,t. S~e
•• absolutely thrilled.
Dan loo,s on, feeling t!1e straO.n but ,rying no, ,o let
.0 Shos;.

we TRACK BACK ~o ,eveal Alex la f.g., "atohing Eroo, t!'.e

shado>,s.

(CONT:Nl!~~I
 165 CONTINUEil,

CLOSS Sl!OT - ALSX

She watches with a look of contempt, tinged "Ith a
paculiar fascination. Her exp,esslon chanqes to one of
alarm and sha •hrink• back out of sight.

166 OMITTED
•
'''
168 /!.LC<

Sh• suddenly clamps a hand over her mouth and stares to

run dc"n the garden away !rem the hou,e.

Sha barely makes it to the bushes be!c,e she is vio-

lently sick. She comes up, gasping fc, aie. She
stands there In the st,l!ness of the night, taking in
long, deep breath,. Then she •oftly walks a"ay,

169 INT. DAN'S "DSN" - NIGl!T

The ,emodeled attic, now furnished with Dan'• posses-

sions, his desk, ate., looking beaut1ful.
' Tha ·'''"-P door opens quiecly and Dan ente,s, The house
is asleep. !le pads over to his de•k and •••reo, puts
on the earphones and takes Alex's cassette out of hi•
jac,Re 1>0cket.
As he listens, the CAMERAHOV!S lN TlGIIT.
AL!X IV.O.)
(her voice increasingly
slurre~I
-- you thought you could just "alk
into my life and <urn 1t ups1de
do"n "ithout • thought for anyone
but yourself. 'lou kno" "ha< you
are? rou',e • coc•sucking
sonovabitch, Can. l"ll het you
don't even ,eal:y :i,e girls.
They ~robably sca,e you. I ,now I
Oo.
A• she ra~.bles, we·,e I~ ~:GHT aad startled whea a ?••r
of hands descer.d on Dan's s.,c~lders. lie jumps a ~,le.
It 1s Beu, -- Cn a nightgo·•a.
CLOS!C? -~ Dan's finge, presses the o!~ but,~r. on t~e
,ape deck.

-
 ' ..
169 CONTHIOEO:

Jesus, you ,ca,ed ·~ the •hit out of

•••
so,ry. -~·
I """ just -,ondering ,mat

-
you',e doing up so late ...

Oh, uh, list•ning to a dep<,sition.

I guess I'm still upset about the
ca,, needed to unwind •••
BETH
Come on, I'll give yc,u a back rub.
II bac• ruh and a b,andy and you
v<>n't <no" whae hit you.
The s,ords have an ominou• double meaning for Dan, hut
he has no choice. Re lets her tu,n out the llqht.

170 &l<T, BEDFORDSTATION HOOSE - DAX

O..n walks into the local station hou••·

171 INT. BEDFORDSTATION HOOSE - LIEOTENAIIT'S OFFICE - 0111

oan sits In a co,ne, o! the squad <<:><>rn,across frorn the
LIEUTENANT, a sh,.,..d l0<0<ir,g man in his forties. He
stares at Dan with d&<k, p,e,cing eyes.

My client
want• an end
"ants
to
''"the"' steppe~-
harass~er.t.
ae

LIE:JTE:NANC
And ne•s positive it was this
vom.an who trashed h,s car?

DA~
(startle~!
ias .•. who else?

No .•.

LI E:\J~!~AN~
~•11. '·••• "'•lco~• to file a
compla,n,, if ,,·1: m.ollo hi:n feel
any b•ct•c. T~e,e·s no, a loc we
can de, w,thou, proot.
 I71 CONTINtllm,
OM
Look, Lieutenant ... The woman"•
eompletely irrational. The<e's no
tellin9 what she might de.
LI.EOT.ENANT
We can"t 90 around ar,estl.ng people
on aceount of what they might do.

-
You know ttlat.

I'm not asking ••• I'm not askin9

you to arr•st her!
{catching himself)
He just wan•• h•• warned.
LIEOT&N/1"1"
we could talk to her. I•'• 9onna
lllilk• things more public, wh;ch he
ain"t gonna like. It may even
aggravate the situation with the
girl.

LI.Ell'TENANT
' Well, whateve,
feeling, sh•'•
,esentment
probably
she was
got it ouo
of her sys,em. Any action "e oake

-
may simply ptovoke M,r.

And if she hasn't "got i, out of

he< system"? What then?

He's becoml.n9 increasingly irritated by the Lieuten-

ant's casual approach.
Ll.EOT.ENIIN:
He'd beto•r catch her in the act,
Then we can b<sng (file) charges.

''"
You',e saying he's (the guy's)
just got to sit th••• and take 10?
The ~teu,enant loolts at him '<(tr. a little smile. !le
ltncws ~xact:y who ,n,s "cli.ent" ,eallv 1s.

l72 INT. G-0001-\All,HURST CONFEl!ENC! ROOM - DAY

T~• l1c19ation cornrni.ctee meet;ng is i~ ••ssion, Accnu,
i; holC1n9 !'o,ch.

{CONTINL"!~i
172 CONTIIIOEO,

AA-
•·• and so, i, everybody agrees,
"e'll ta•e an ;..,,ediate appeal
frO#I Judge Whit""'-n's ord&r denying
our motion to halt the take-over
l>id. And if that fails, "e"ll
seek an expedited trial .•. ~0"
"ith r109ard to Rogers versus
Winits~y, Dan has what I think i5
a bold ••roke, i• •• • gamble but
worth taking and that Is to go for
SUlllllliHYjudg•meno. I've asked DAn
to give u• the gist o, l>ls
argument and then we can discus•
deta:,.ls. Dan?
Dan is startled and nervously fishing around his brief-
case. lie has forgotten the bcief. lie keeps fishing
around•• the others watcn, uncomfottably.
OAA
Than• you, Artnu,. Just to bring
you all up to speed {recap) on
this Rog•rs ease ... Rogers is
accusing W1nits•y of plagiari•ing
an article (by Winitsky) ••. I'm
,orry. Acthur. I ,eern to have
left ••• I don't •eem to have the
papers for the appeal hete with me
l<ight

Jesus, M-
in front of me) ...

oan ••• (Jesus,

li<iga<ion
oan) the
comm1c<e• only meets
once a month! ...
o,,
Atthu, ••. : unde,stand. I blew
it. I'm ,orry. II apologize.)
A,<hur ree<>ve,s his disappointment by ,ear,anging his
paper5.
AATll~R
lfinal:y1
All right .. ~ov,n9 on to fo,sythe
ve,sus Plimp,~n. Does anybody
:eel that we oug.".t ,o be
challenging th• procedencs set by
th• fode,a: Appeals Cou,c ruling
,n lla,r1scr, ve,s·,s KcDonald ...
As Arthu, drones or., CAMERAC:.OSES on Dan. Now it's
,tart,ng to affect hes ·•or, ...
O:SSOLV! TO,
 173 OMITTED
,,,
tl>ru

175 EXT, CotJll'l'RY BO!JSE - GARDEN - DAY

At tile rear of tile nouse. There's a little wooden
l>utcl> vith the rabbit inside and Ellen is feeding it
carrots,
ELLEN
COllle on, Quincy ••• Here, Whitey,
h•re, Whitey! You want a carrot?
Here, Whitey, COllle closer •••

176A O"!TTEO
•
'''
''" EXT.
Dan,
••• •••
into
=••
Beth, Ellen
hurry.
road .
, ....
RO!JSE • DRIVEWAY - DAY

•••, Quincy
move•
.,,
., pile into Be•h•~ car,
the driveway and •urn•

' INT. JIQ(;DISON Ll1/ING ,oo,. ~,

''' Howard and oan are ••••ing in a cozy a"cove in a large
toom, having a leis~rely drin~ and cha,ting. Tiley ate
_also watcl>ing Beth and Ellen rehea,~ing !o< the Thanks-
giving show at •chool. Joan is serving tea.
BOWAAI!
I see you didn't ge< you< ca,
bacl<.

No •••
wiring'•
It's '''
a write-off.
completely
The
burnt out.
HOWAAD
Amazing,., Those foreign cacs.

Beth darling
,,~
idea<), ne,e you a,e.

,,re
r~An••· You want ,o tcy it once
mo,e 1aga,~}'

•
 •••
179 CONTINtlEO:

(M<>mi>y, r know my I.Ines,

=~ you don't
have to tell me,)

(Ol<ay, let's •=
hear \ti)

Olcay. "Dea, Priscilla,

n= Kil•s
asked me••• •

"to ••leyou•.,. '"'

ELLEN
•to ask you 00 ma,ry him."

BETH
Very good. No" do it with the ha<
and the bowl

ELLEN
"Dear Priscilla, Kiles as>ed me to
ask you to m.arry him."

"Sp,ea< for yourself. '"' John!"

- That's
good, honey,
what she will say.
you got it!
Very

Ho"ard and Dan are watch,ng <hem, smil,ng. Dan calls

out.

Ell•n? Ellen.
big hug.
''"
CO!Ce here, honey •..
""""'" a
Ellen comes over, and Dan p,c1cs her up and holds her
tight. He 15 overcOffle with emotien.

Beth is watching.
""••pers.

You okay??

("hisp,,,s "'' ,oo)

~••··· l'm E,ne i<><ay).

He lets~., go .

... - .
 l80 EXT. COIINTRY HOOSE - DRIVEWAY - DAY
Beth's car draws up out,ide the front cf the house.
Ell..,, gats cut and <uns tO'lard the back c,f the he>use
with Quincy.
ELLDl
co,ne on, Quincy,
Dan sets off after her. Beth goes intc, the hcuse.

181 OMIT'I'ED

181 INT. CotmTRY HOIISE - BALLWAY - DAY

a..th cc,me• through into the hiill. She continues

through to the kitchen.

183 INT. COONTRY ROOSE - KITCHEN - DAY

A5 she apprcache,, Reth bec""'"" aware o! the SOONDOF
BOBBLINGWA'I'5:R. Over on the cooker. a large ,tewpot
•••am.11
away, $pilling over the !la,ne, producing an
angry HISSING.

184 EXT. COUNTRY HOOSE - BACKYARD- DAY

Ellen come• around the back and runs up to the rabbit

hu<ch. She pull• up in dismay.
HER POV. The hutch is ampty. The rabb1t is gone.

ELLEN
{wail•!
!Mddy! Whitey's gene!!

lBS (NT. COUNTRY HOUSE - Kl':'CE!~ - DAY

app,oaches the cocke, and raises the l1d off the

She lot• out• pierc,~g scream.

186 EXT. COUN!RY ~Ot.5[ - BACKIAR~ - DA"i

Dar. reaches Ellen Ju~• at thao moment. As he hears Che

SCREA/'., he turr.• 1r. hoeror towarCs ,ae k,tchon doo,.

• •
 186 CONTI>IIIEO:

INT, COONTRY ROOSE - llTCl!E!l - OAY

Beth stares at the contents of the pot. She Is shaking

uncontrollably.
187 KER P()1/. The rabbit's gla••Y eye• star• back at her,
Sliced carrot• l>ob in the boiling water in grotesque
iinltaticn of a staw.

186 INT, COITTITRYROOSE - NURSERY - AFTERl>OON

Ellen i• in bed, sobbing her heart out. Beth tries to

•ccthe her, but the child is inconsolable, S01neh0" she
...,_nages to get her to -Calin down,

l89 INT. COONTRY EOOSE - ~!1/ING ROOM AFTERNOON

Don stands staring out of the door into the backyard.

It ha• Wgun to :ain, Ee loci<• at the e,npty rabbit
hutch, listens for weeping upstai:s, All is quiet.
B•th coines downstair•.
OM
{l!ow is she?) She ol<ay?

She's ••l•ep,,.
-~, Di~ you call the
police?

Net yet ... No.

Why not?

aoney ... (Be,hl '"'We gotta talk,

Be,h •i•• dcwn en the sofa. Dan close• tae dooc.

Outside, tne enc,oacning dusk casts dark sha<io"• inco
•h• roorn. Ee hesita••••

aITa
lc0nt,nu,n9)
~hat is it??

I kao" who d,d ''"th,s.

--- .
lS~ CON'rINtJE:O,

OM
oc, y<iu rememberthe girl who came
to see the apartment? The one I
c-) lmet) saw at the Japanese

-
restaurant?

The girl with blonde hair,.,

OM
I nods)
I Yes. I

BET!!
You're scaring"'"· Why don't you
talk? Wl\at is it --
(fals• levity)
-- did you have an affair with
her?
OM
(with difficulty)

Beth buries her head 1n her hands.

Dan sits down opposite he,,
OM
Hc,ney, the last thing l eve,
wanted to do is hurt you. More
than anyth,ng, I didn't mean to
hurt you .•.

BETE
1overlappingl
Are you in love wcth her?
OM
Of cour3e not. I< "as one night.
It meant nothing. ~e:ieve me •..
BETa
1ang,1ly conf•..LsedJ
I don't get it; "hat does tells
have <o do "'ith •hat happene~ ...

I CONT!~;JED I
 -
COHTINOED,

(short)
She'• pregnant.

(•tunned) •=
-
She's pregnant ... And it's yours?

(coming towards he<)

That's what she says ••• honey,
she's craey -- I don"t know,

BETH

-
ll<>n't c=e near mel

Plea,e ••. I love you.

flailing
Get
She keeps backing
at him.
out! Just
a"•Y
-~·
Leave"'"
from him,
alone,
and finally starts

BETH
(continuing; screarn•)

-
Get the fuck out! !low could you ••.

Bath, please, listen to OI@!

She rushe• at him again, punching an~ scratcc.,ng his

Eace. Ile tries to protect hii:iself "ithou, f,g~tin9
back.

! hat• you! •=
l "'ant you out of
he,e, undeestand? l want you out
of ""'"' Just oet the fuck out'cE
here!

Dan is abou, to respond when they both rea!.ice; theJ

tu,n and loo,, horrif,ed.

Ellen is standing there, "•tcC.ing the~.

seen tnern like t.'lis.

( CONTI NOE:J :,
l89A CONTINtlEO:

(sobbing) •=
Oh G<>d•••

190 OMITTED
•,,,
192 INT. COUNTRYHOOSE - SEDROO>!- EVENING
Dan pac~s a ,.,.._11 "uitca,.e. lloodeoly, h• closes
and, carrying i~, walk• oue of tho ,oorn and dowr.
hall, CA1'IERA FOLLOWINGTO:

l92A INT. ELLI:N'S ROOM- NIGIIT

Th• light• ar• out and Ellon •• asleep. Dan stands in
the doorway, helplessly, ,.,s oyes streaming tears.
Aftor a moment, he clo••• th• doo• and wal~s down the
hall,.

l.93 INT. COONTRYHO\/SE - LIVING ROOM- EVENING

Seth sits in secni-dar~ness on the sc,fa. Dan dials.

llell<>? Alex?

194 INT. ALEX"S APAIITME!r.- KAIN ROOM- SIGHT

Alox an,,,•r• warily, not quit• sure how to play it.
Sh• adopts• hea~ily iron,cal tone.

ALEX
Dan. T~.i• ,. a pleasar.t su,pcise.

BACR TO DAN - !NTERC;JT

~AN
Yoah, ,e~l. yc·a t,d 1', d,dn"t
you ••• A,e yo~ happy nc~?

A~EX
Aln I happy? No~ let~• ••• --
I'll have to on,~, •~out ,.,at "r.~.
I COITT"I~\/!D I
 104.
194 ~IITINUED,

IWoll, you think

all ovo,,
=about it.)
Alox, it's finished.)
l!t's
JI'vo told Both.) (keh l<no"s
about it-I Both kno"•··· I'vo
told her.

~c
Oh, suro .. ~ou haven't go• <he
balls.
OM
Why don't yo_u speak to her.
~.,
11••• co,tain)
why should I want to talk to hor?

Boeh gets up and cOlOeS to the phone. Sh• i• vo,y cool,

very calm, but th••• i• a lothal undo,curron• to he,
measured tone.

This •=
is Both 0-\llagher.
Al•~ freo:••· She i.s illlfflobili:M. She can't deal wioh

-~·
tr.is at all.

lcon,i.nuing)
I! yo~ ever corne near my fa01ily
again, I'll <ill you. Is that
understood?

Al~x slam• do'-'n the phone. She is sha<ing all eve,,

staring wildly.

Oan is loosing a, Both. S~• hangs u~, turns anC walks

"""Y·

;90 ;NT. HOLIOA~ INN - CORRIDOR- NIGHT

:96A INT. 01\N'S ~O!EL ~00.~ - NIGH~

He eneo,s, •••• the rna'.:l ~:ean,ng in the b&t.".room, 9oes

cos,, on the becl.

(CO~TINGEDJ

• •
-- . - ..
 l05.
l96A CONTINl!EO,

This is 405.
Thank you.
=
Any messages? ...

I!• hangs up, looks at the ""'id, who is just leaving,

th1tn dials again,

197 INT. COON'1'RtBOOSE - DINING ROOM- PIANO - N!Gl!T

Beth is playing~ sad piece by Chopin, Ellen is sit-
ting next to her. The P!IONE RINGS. After tv<> rings,
Ell1tn runs to the ,kitchen to 11ns.,er it.

ELLtN
I'll 9et it .. , Hello? •• , Daddy!
l»TE~C □ T with Dan,

Bl, honey •••

ELLEN
Daddy ...
(she's a bit
confus~d)
-- "hen are you coming ha cit?

OM
I don't kno.,, sweetie. Row're you
doing?

ELLZN
(like ~est ltids, she'll
let the grownups dsc-
tate the flow of tne
conve, •• tion J
Fine.

ELLEN
Grandpa taught me another card
trick.
OM
The one .,i,h the jacl<s?
EL~EN
No, the one .,,,h ,he l<Cn~•-

Oh, l see. "'" !\om?

Eow's

( CON-:'l NCIEDI

•• •
 106.
197 COIITINU.:O:

-
Fina.

Will you tell her I said "Hello"?

Yeah.

£1.Ll:N
I won't.

I send you loos of love.

you, okay?
''"
Both of
wr.a, are you eating?
l:tL!N
A ~rult roll-u~. Daddy,., Will
you call me tomo,ro~?
>AA
,-.
I promise. Don•, !or9et to ••11

ELLEN
II won't.) O<ay.

DAN
'Bye, sweethea,.t.

'Bye.

She hangs up.

197A INT. COIINTRt HOOS! - A1 PIANO - NIGHT

sies there, l1sten'.ag, tea,y-eyed, h";,n9 her

After a rnorneat, sc.e s,a,ts play:ag agair ..

198 :NT. HOLlDAY INN - DAN'S ROCM - NIGHT

Dan sits on the heC:, ,,o,k.ng, s,ar1ng at an iaar.e s.:t-

~om on TV.

l98A lNT, ALEX'S LOFT - NIGHT

Ale~ is"""" alone •~d lo,10,r.. She sw1t~n•s • l•~-~ oc.

ar.d of:.

-- - -
 107.

199 INT. IIZTl!'S STATION WAGON- TRAVELLING- DAY

Beth .is driving along, deep J:n thought.

200 EXT. PLAY SCl!OOL - BEDFORD- DAY

Parents ara collectJ:ng their ct'.lildren from the local

Infant sctiool. Beth drivas up and parKs. She goes up
to the entranc~. one o! the TEACHERS see,ns surprised
to see her.
TEACIIER
Iii, l'lrs. Gall•gher. Did you
forget 50tllething?

l've come to get •=Ellen.

TEAClU:R
I thought you pic<ed her up
already ... I'm sure st'.le's lefe!
Immediate panic regi•••r• on Bath'• face. The Teacher
also senses t,ouhle. They enter the building togetner.

Tney meat another TEACHER in the hall.

Tl:ACl!El!
(continui.ng)
Betty, is Ellen in hece ~ith you?

She'• gone
•=•
home already.

Tl:AC!tER
Are you su,e?

Posieive. •=•not
inoide
Sha'• and
sne's notin tne playground ...
(<O Beth)
I thought you'd piclted he, U?!

TEACHl:P.
Well, who did pick ner up?'

BETH
Oh. God,
TE:ACHER
Don't wo,,y. s~.e can't have get
Car.

SETH
tou don·t understand. on, ~od!
 108.
200 CONTINUED:

I'll check her

,=locker.

Baoh runs do"n the cor,idor to Ellen's claosroom. A

LITTLE GIRL is tying her laces.

(continuing) •=
Roney, where's Ellen? IRave you
,een Ellen?)

LITTLE GIRL
She's left. (She's gone) (No •• ,)

Beth is running back to the front doo,. She passes the

Teache<-
BETH
Call the police•

201 INT. STATION WAGON- TRAVELLING - DAY

Beth is driving along th• route home, checking !o, any

sign of Ellen. She is complet@ly dist,aught,

Oh, God .•• •

,~,
o~, God'

lOl RER POV - TIIE SlDDIA~R

On the sidewalk, a group of childre,s playing. No

Ellen.

lOl CLOSE SHOT - BETII

.\S she turns ~ac< to face ahead, a sudder. look of

ala,.,,

l04 AllEAD - TIIRODGH TIIE WINDS£IE~~

A car f:asheS across ne, ~o•, HORN Bl.ARING.

lOS EXT, ROAD JUNC~ION - DA'/

Beth's car SCREECHES co• .·.a:t.

iCON!!Nt:EJi
 109.
206 CONTINO.ED,

Pl.ease, God .••

207 EXT. PLAYLAIOO - DAY

.El.len hold• hand< "i th sooneone tall.er than she •• they

wal,~ into Pl.ayland.

!t Is Alex, who smil.e• down at her.

208 INT. COON"I"RY BOOSE !IALLWIW - OAY

·~·
The front door burgts open and Beth runs in.

Ellen .•. .Ell.en! ...

209 UT. PLIIYLA.NO- DAY

El.l.en and /I.lex leave the ice cream stand, each clu,ch-
in9 a cone.

They walk alon9 the ,nidway. Some of the rides ace

closed. Alex pcints.

The Playland "Musical Revue.• Alex and Ellen••• amon~

the few spectato,s.

210 INT. COUNTRY BOOSE - DIIY

HIINDBELOas Beth tears in and out of ,oom~, screallling

Ellen"s na,.e. Constr1ct1n9, stcongulating panic.

:Ill EXT. PLAYLAIOD ROWBOATLAKE - DAY

we see a rnan helping them intc • hoat.

Oetecly se,ene. Alex cows gent:y as Eller., i~ ,ne

stern. t<a1ls hec hand 1n t>.e wacer. Alex ~,ules enig-
:nacically. Ellen, abso,bed by t.oe wa,o,, doesr.'t
n~•ice.

Suddenly. Alex ge>• up ac.d a~s·ances mer.ac,n9l) ca

Ellen.

E"'-LEN
Don"t h~,, me!,
 110.
2llA INT. COUNTIIY HOOS.I: - DAY
Beth _,uns up the stai<s, callin9 for Ellen at the nur-
sery doo,.
l>e$pe<ate, she runs bac~ down and tears out of the
house, •la=ing th• d<>0<.

2llB OlllTTEO
•
'''
213 OC'l'. PLAYLAND - DRAGON COASTEI! &NTRANCE- DAY
Alex and Ellen are wande,ing across an open S<,Uaee.
l,IIOER ANGLE. '!'hey are app<oaching the cove,ed terminal
shed for the ~ull-size roller coaste,.

214 OMITTED

215 EXT. PLAYLANO - OIIAGONCOASTER - DAY

We are 1.00KING DOWN th• ••eeply slopin9 track ~rem one
of pinnacles
the of the ,ollar coa,ter, The car,iages
climb slowly TOWARDSOS ~itn an ominous CLAN~ING OF
CHAINS.

216 CLOS.EON ELLl:N ANO ALEX

Alex and Ellen are laugh1ng and yelling, having a fine
time.

216A ANGLE ON

ll6B /lNOTHEI! ANGLE

~he lead1n9 ca,,iage ,each@< the c~p of the slope,
hovers ehete.

217 IN:. B£~H'S CAA - T:IAVEL!NG - DAY

seen .s d,1v,ng a, sp@od, :ookir.g f,ar,t1cally !',om sode
to s1de. T~• STAAT Of' A SCREAJ<...

2la EXT. RDLLEX COASTE'.R- ~A~

wo,co cot~• oue eo b• El:or.' • ;oy:u: cry ~• ,.oo rol:e,

coascer pl·angos dowel
 lll.

218 CONTIN't!EO,

Ale% and Ellen are !lung lac~ •;•inst their seats by

the ·centrifugal force. The CAMERA io JOOunt•d on the
front o! their car, LOOKING SACK
the only fl%ed points
them, .,..king the,o
IN Tl!E FRAM.!:. The background
a•
b•hind the,o seems to t,avel •• •l.most unbelievable
sp••d.

21BA EXT. ROADJUNCTION - DA1

Beth's ca, arrives at a junction and SCREECHES to a
halt.

219 INT. SETll'S CM - DA1

On ;,opulse, Beth decides eo take a left turn, spinning

the wheel and taking o!! with a violent swerve.

220 EXT, ROLLE!! COAS'l:£;< - LOW ANGLE - TRAV!.'.LING - DAY

,,.
A see,oin9ly endless cantilevered curve hurtles TOl!MDS

221 O:T. B£Tll'S CAP - TIU\V~LING - 0A¥

The ca, races; ,eflections fcom overhead tcees flashing

on the windshield. She d,1ves in'-o a tunnel.

lll EXT. ROLLER COAS~ER - ANGL~ ON ALEX - OAY

He, hand on the 5afety-ba,. They come out of a tunnel!

llJ INT. BETH'S CAA - TRAl'!L:NG - OAY

Betn -- somet~ing att,acts !let attentior.; she tutn• to
••••

B•th c,anes he, n<>ck as sn• ove,,a,es a .-o,oar. Aa~ a

l:"l• gi,l, .-al,,a, on tOe s,de.,al•.
 112.
2l7 EXT. 1!0LL£R COASTER- TRAVUING - OAY
Sl!BJl:CTlvt, f'llONT OF TRE CAR POV, another plunge ...

22S INT. CAR - 8£"l'H'S POV - TRAVl:LING- DAY

The little girl is noching like 1:llen.

229 EXT. !!OLLERCOASTER- TRAVELING- DAY

The coaster POV, hits t>ottom, and the cars rear !!E'

2l0 INT. 8£"l'H'S CAR - TRAVl:LING- DAY

8eth react• to tho litcle girl, turns and her eyes
widen •.•

lll INT. EETll"S CAR - TRAVELING- DAY

Her POV ah•ad, I ... ediately in front of her a station
wagon slowed down to turn off the ,oad. Its taillights
race forward to meet the hood of Beth's car.

lll EXT. !!OLLERCOASTER- TRAV~L!NG- DAY

Ellen, "taring dght at the CAI\Ell.A. ~he SOUNDOF TCAR-
ING >IETAt.

lll INT. aETH'S CAR - HETH"S POV - TRAV~LING- DAY

The car'• hood •m••hes ir,to ,he bac< of t~• station
"agon with a .-,olent impac,.

lJ4 E:XT. BETll"S CAR - DAY

Tt,e st~ticn "agcn is ddven along l>y Eeth' • car foe

twenty yards o, mo,e 1:,et"c,e tt.e two vet,icle• come co a
rest w:.th a SC~£ECH OF -:-w:STlNG >!ETA:.. Theo a"l is
silence.

2J6 E:X:. ALO"S CAP - DA~

 113.
237 tN1'. ALEX'S CAR - DAY

Alex driving, serene; tor a moment ve don't know where

she i• or what'• happen•d to Ellen. She's looking
pleased with he,selt. We PAN OVER to find Ellen on the
,eat ne><t to her.

238 EXT. COONTRY HOUSE - OAY

Ale>< stops the car at the top of the driveway. Alex

raAche• ov"r to.,ard• Ellen -- hut past her. She'•
opening the pa.ssenger doo,, Outside, "" can oee that
Ellen has been brought home.

ALEX
Ellen ... lGimmeJ Can I have a
kiss?
Ellen comes back in the car and gives Alex a ki~• o~
the cheek. Then she turr.s and runs do"n the drlve,,ay.

ELLEN

ALTERNATE: Ell"n climhs bacl< in and Ille" leans do"n to

lei•• her. Suddenly Ale, grabs her by ohe hai, and cuts
off a handful of hair "ith scissor• taken from b•tween
the front ,eats. Ellen reac>s horrified. She staets
crying hysterically, runr,ing towa,ds the house as Ale~,
satisfied with the escapade, drives""·

2.39 OMITTEO

240 INT. ~ESTtHESTElt HOSFITAL - CORRIOOH- EVENING

Dan is running along tile coe,idor, looking at ,ne narnes
on tile doo,s. He co~es ,ound a corne,, catching u~
with a nurse.

I'rn
,•~
looking for
he, hu•~and.
''"Beoll Gallagher.

Nl:RSE
She ' • in T~er,ty-t"o at the end o:
the hall.
At ohe end oE ohe ha:l, ~can 1s ~itting in a cha1e .,,,c.
Ellen on her lap. E:len locks "~ ar.d spots Iler fat.·.er.

Daddy' ...

!CONTINUED.'
 ll4.

-
Sh• 9ats off Joan's lap and •tarts running towards him,

("•ves at Ellen)
Ia she all right? Is she going to
be all right?

Yes. (sha'll be all right.)

-,,But
she was very luc<y •.• it could
have been a lot w<>••e· A lot
worse.

Ellen arrives at a dead ,un. Dan bends down to sweep

her up in his arms. She'~ crying now, the t•nsion
flooding out cf her.

Oh, baby •.• !

<>~ay, Daddy's
''"
Oh Cllf
he,e.
It's

241 OMITTED

242 INT. ~ESTCHESTER BOSPITAL - aETl!'S ROOK - tvENING

' Beth Is lying in the bed, sedated. There is heavy
beuising around her ayes, buc she's all in one piece.
!!<>ward is sitting by the bed.
The door opens slowly. Dar. enters. Re approacnes ,ha
bed cautiously. Boward gives hun a cold, nacd look.

H""ard ..• 1

OM
It's Dan ... Every,hing's gonna be
al,l rign, •.• (I love you ••. )

Ii• take• her nand. 3r;•Ely, e.er eyes open and s.~e
•egister• hi• presence. He, hand gives n,s a little,
almos, impercepcible squee,e, hefo,e her eyelids flu,-
ter s~u, again.

He J.oo•s dovr. at her. A vulae,ahle, iaJured Eigu,e.

lie clo••s hls eyes.

:t•s raining hea,,ly. We see ,an th,ough ,he car ~,r.d-

shiel~, ,he ~•pers crossia<; back and across f~,,~
his
lace ~i,h ,nsistea, urger.cy. There .s a :oc< of ••eel
.r. ~,. •r••·
 llS.
244 HIS POV - Al!EAO

The llenry lludsoo Bti.dge COllleS TOWARDSOS. lie i.s entat-

in9 llanhattan.

245 J:XT. ALEX'S APAR'.l'MDITBUI1.-I.IIII<. - NIGl!T

Pa-n lurks in the shadows outside the enttance, a• a

YOONG CO!IP1.-£ comes out of the building. Be slips in-
side befote the door cac close.

246 INT. ALEX'S APARTMENTBOIU>!NG - ~RRIDOR - NIGl!T

Dan stands at the door to Alex's apart01ent. lie rings

the ~11. After a 1110ment, Al•>< opens the door a crack,
to the extent of a st:io,t chain. Seeing it's him, she
quickly tri•• to close it. lie slam, hi• shoulder
again,, the doo, with all his fo,ce, wich the steengtn
of all his pent-up rage. In t>.g. she"s listening to
"Madame Butterfly,"

246A INT, ALEX'S APARTMENT!IAL1.-WAY- NIGl!T

Alax comes flying t,ack into the t:iall, the chain ripping
off its bracket with a SOUND OF T&I\RrNG IIOOD. Dan
comes cra,hing int<> tho apaet.,ene. The music eon,ir.uos
' throu9hout.

Ale~ .Is on the floor, thcown there by the impact of the

doo,. She trios ,o crawl away, •tartloC hy the 5av·
agecy of his appearance. He ,hrow• himsolf after he,,
trying to grab tie,. lie foll=• tier towards ,he main
,oom.

147 IIAIN ROOM • NIGHT

Ale~ gets to her f•~t and raees into the mair. room,
trying to set up roadhlocxs to slow Dan down,

Sne throws a floo, lamp down behind

whieh i$ lean,ng again•• tho wal:,

1, doesn't slow Dan down very much, Re "simply jumps

over the up-ended la"'p and the bixe sprawled ac,oss his
path.

Alox ,s ,ur.ning ,hrou~n tae OeC:room, w,th Dan close

t>ohind her.

She managos to get ,n,~ the bath,~om, ac.d turns tc p~ll

tho door sc.ut, ;use as Dan ,s ,eaening fc, ne,.
247 CONTXNm:D,

As she pulls at the door, Alex pins his ano against the
door j~.

lie yells out in pain, and grabs he< head, pu,hing io

violently against the gl••• d<><0r.
A.o ohe otruggle• to free herself, ha pushes the door
open, and Alex lands on the bathroOlll floor.
lie throws himself on her and starts to choke he,.
She manages to free a leg, and gives him a kick in the
groin, vhich make• him turn away in pain.
Al~x is up and out of the bathroom.
Ale~ co,nes running out of ohe bathroom, l>uo Dan is
close behind her.
A• she reaches the other end of the bedroom, he ,eaches
for her.
E"or a moment, he i• not loo~ing "here he is head&d. lie
crashes into th• glass paroition. just as she wrenches
"""Y• Glass is flying in all directions.
Alex loses he, balance and falls into the glaos. Dan
•••• her fall and pounces on he,.
On her han~s and <n•e•, •h• t<1os to ••cape into the
kitchen acea, but Dan 1s ,;,n, beh,nd her.

218 KlTCIIEN - NlGHT

Dan grabs Alex and pulls her cp.

She tries to g&t away. hut ne slam• her into <he stove,
sending the light above it sw1r.9in9 madly.

Comple<ely out oi conc,ol. r.e s,a,ts to choke the life

out of he,. She cAr.'c get any a,,, and 1s gaspi~g and
ct,o<ing.

Suddenly, ~e seems to real,,e that he is about to ,,11

hor. He lets 90. and gets cp, pant,r.g.
Dan pul:s himsel! to hes feet at the stove, ar.d stag-
gees a'-'•Y·
 248 CONTINUED,

Al•~ crawls to the sink and al<Wly eemea up coughing

and tetchin9. Sh• puts het face in the sink, tries to
splash S01'1a wate< on it.
Sh• notices a la,ge kitchen knife, lying on the edge of
th• a ink.
Slowly she grabs it. She turns to where Dain is stand-
ing at the count••• catchin9 his bteath.
With a terrible acrea.m, she attacks, the knife ralsed
high over h•r head.
Dan turns in horror to see her comin9 at ~im.
He makes a grab for the knife, but she won't let go.
He puah•• her back against the far wall in an effort to
wrestle the knife frorn her.
se nolds h•r hand with the knife high and bangs it
against a water pipe. The p.oin mak•a her release ner
grip, and he grabs the knife fr= her.
Sudd•nly, it Is over. He backs away from h•r slowly,
leaving her standing, holding on fo< support.
She vatche• hiot with a strange, sad snale as he back•
away, puts the knife on the counter bf the stove, and
wordl~ssly turns and valks out of the tooot.

253 INT. BAT!!ROOI! - NIGl!T

Alo~ is sitting on the bathroClll floor, holding tho

<itchen knife, almost ritualistically, in !cont of
her. '!'hen, slovly and deliberately, Sh• puts It to he<
:hroat and d,avs it across.
As the blood starts flovin9, sC,e slowly !al!• •~ the
Eloor.

254 OI<l'ITI:D

255 INT. BEOF\lPD STATION HOUSE - LI[\/TEIIAll~'S OCTIC! -

P!ORNING

The u,ual activity of :ae Squa~ Roe~ 1• i~:errupced by

Dan's raised voice, corning out of the tieutenan:'<
o!!iee. He closes t!",e doo,.
 118.

-
2SS CONTINUED:

J told you before, but you don't

want to listen to me! No" she
took my child right out of ,chool!
It wa• kidnapping, pure and
gimple, >!y "ife•, lying in the
hospital, lucky to he alive, If
you don"t do oomething about this
WODo.n, I ... J •••

t,Jt:oTmMT
Take It easy, okay? You don't
have to •hcut.

OM
J•ubs!ding)
All right, "ha, are you going to
oo,
1 l1:11TENANT
lle'll get Ne" York to pick hee up
and bring he, in for question(ng,
Okay?

OM
(mollified)
Okay .• , l 'm goir.g •o pici< up my
' wife from the hospital tomo,row.
And hopefully I'll be at home fot
the weekend .•• If you need to talk
to me. Thank you, Lieutenan,.
Dan walks out, The Lieutenant look• aftec him,
thoughtfully.

111:tlTENANT
You• re welcome.

EXT, COUNTRYSOUSE - FRONT YAAD

D<ln i•
railing and bu,nin9 le~ves. ~:len, playing .,,th
Oulncy, helps ,akin9. Beo!". 1s ,tanding r.earh~. even
helping a little. Th@,o " an ai, of secenity abou:
her, sne seems roconciled oo ~•n. no~ thac Che n(gh<-
mare is fina_lly eve,.

rn th• d1stant b.g., a po:,ce cru1se, cutns ir.to ,~e

dciveway and s:owly ma<es ,,sway 'JP to the f,onc of
the h<:mse.
257 CONTINUED,
One of them is the Lieutenant from the l0<:al station
house·. The other t"o loo< like plainclothe•
DETECT~.

:isa OltITTED

25~ EXT. CODNTRYIIO!ISE - FRONT YARD- DAY

The thr1t11 man ilra wal<ing over. Dan approaches confi-
deiltly.
OM
Aftarnocn, Li@utanant. Did you
get her?
LIEUTENANT
(nod•)
Mr. Gallagher, this is Lieutenant
O'Rourke, Detective Fuselli. New
York homicide. They'd li<e to ask
you a few questions.

Sure.
He ,uddenly registers what the Lieutenant just sa,d.
,~
(continuing)
Excuse me ... Did you say ho,nicide?

OM
Why? What's tnat got to do
with -- ; "hat a~out Alex
Forrest? Did you get her or not<
O'RO:JRK£
No, "e haven't, as a mil.teer of
fact. You saw he, la$C ~J.ght]

DAN .
Ye• ... I alteady told the
Liautenant here. why -- "'hat's
sne saying/
O"ROURK£
!drily)
She's not •a~:ng ve,y ~uch, Mr.
Gallaghe,.
 120.
259 CONTINll£D:

rus~lli snicker• unpleasantly.

O' ROO>U<E
lcontinulng, flatly)
She'5 <le•d.

-
oan is completely stunned. They all stop.

She wh•t? She's dead???

f'USELLI
That'• right.

O'Rourke stare• back at him, ,aying nothing.

Bow?? Bow did she ...

,~
(suddenly, awed)
You think I did it .•• ? Oh,
Jesus .•. 1'lou think I killed her)
••• Oh, JeOu5 ... Look, guy,, I
ad!nit I ., •• pretty angry ... The
"°"'"n kidnapped my daughter. My
wif• ended up in the hospital !
But I didn't kill her, for
Chris,akes. i',;anted co, •~re.
But I didn't ...

He feels the gtound slipping away frorn under h\~.

· {continuin9,
de•pe,acelyl
''"
That "oman wa• cr.,,y, .•• (She was
cra,y.) tou know •.. She al,eady
tried to kill her,elf (once
b•fore).
O"ROORKE
In my experience a "oman who wants
to kill heesel~ doesn'c cu, hoc
throa, with ~ ~ino-,nc~ ;,,c~en
<nife.

No ••• •
lho,rif,ed) ''"
l60 CLOSE ON DAN

He's in Alox·s <ctchon. T~e CA><!:RARt:S~'i:S TOWA>!DS~'-"·

IN DREAM-LIKE Stow -~OTION ~.,
 251 EIS POV

In SLOWl<OTION, Alex co,nes at him with the knife.

252 BACl< TO SCENE

O'Rour<e is staring at Dan, who sha<es his h•ad slowly

-
from side to side.

I didn't de it.
O'ROORKE
In that case, all we have to do is
chec< your fingerprints against
the murder weapcn.
Ee smiles benignly. Can closes his eyes.

253 INT. ALEX'S APAATMENT- >\AIN ROOM- NIGHT

In SLOWMOTION, can crosses the room, leaving the <nife
on u,e kitchen tabl•. Alex appears in b,g. in the
<itchen doorway.

INT. ALEX'S APARTM..ENT BATHROOM

- NIGHT
' Alex is slo,.ly slumping to tC.e tloo,. Once or t"ice,
he, hand twitch•• sl,ghtly,
rinally, she lies complete:y st;ll as the pool ot blood
is w,dening.

lSS D:~. COUNTRY!IOOSE - CRIV.:WAY- OAY

Beth and Oa~ are walking out to the dti"e"'ay, She
doesn't understand what's going on. Oan puts on a
reassu,!ng act foe hec benefic. The three ""'n are
••anding near the ca,s,

I gotta go "it~ ,r.e,e

few mo,e queotoons.,.
''" guys ... a

s~rr.
I don't undeestand. «hat's gcing
en?
CAN
It's some era,y -- m,sunde,,tandir.g,
F'JS!t.11
Mr. Gallaghe, •.
 OM
LOck, l want you 00 call lrtbur
ri~ht away·. 'rl>e number' g in my
bc>Ok, upstairs. Tell him what's
happened and that I'm gonna need

--
hi,o ••

What has happened?

Alex For,e•t i• dead.

Ft1S£LLI
Mr. ~llagher •••
f'u•elli take• O..n by the ann and starts leading him
a"'ay.

•=
-
And -- they think you did it?

I kno" it's crary, but ...

' l"OSELLI
Sorry, but we gotta 90, lady ...

He am])ies fo,ward an'd take• out a pa1r of cuffs.

Now wa1t
,~,
a goddu minute ..•
F'USELLI
(putting the cuffs
on Dan)
No, ma'am. No •anutes. '!Ou<
t>usband is under a,,est,

ELLEN

BETH
Ellen, go back! Go bac• (n the
house!

Confused, the child obeys.

I CONTINL~:J I
 123 •

-
255 CONTINt!E:D: {2)

[ri~ing panic)
Beth, don't worry, just get ah0ld
of Arthur as fa,t as you an •••

I'll e<>me with

,,~ you

-
Fu~alli i• P\Jtting Dan into the car.

J!2! call Arthur, honey!

He's choking w1th eiotion a• Fuselli and the other, get

into the car. It starts 1novin,; &lowly, Betn running
along,ide.

aeffl
Can! l'm coo,ing with you, ••

OAA
I lov• you! lt'll be all right ...
J\nd finally the ca, ,eally •tarts to drive off. Beth
gives up as the car pulls a"ay, leaving he, ,tanding in
the driveway "here Ellen finally Join• her.

266 OlllTTEO

267 CLOSE ON CAN

He looks back through the rear window ...

268 HIS ~I' - BETH

She stands next to Ellen in a motionle•• family

tableau. with Dan tne on:y .,,ssing elen,ent. As ••~•
begins to recede from view, the CAIi.ERAZOOMS lor.g1ng"y
towa,d• h~r. oounte,acti~g the movement of the ca,, as
if in some ~~in atoe01pt to bring her l>Ac• co hem.

Gradually, imperceptibly, she slips away, ~urthe, a~d

fu"he, ... we should wor,y: 1• this the e~d?l?

269 O"ITT.!:D
 124.
270 INT. DAN'S "OEN" - DAY

B•th pushes open the trap door and ent•ts. She goes
'°""'·to Dan'• desk, looking fot his address
can't find it.
book.

She searches the small dra,.er• on top of his desk.

Sh• p,.,shes his pape,s around, 1110ves the tape play•r and
the type,.riter •••
Desperately, Beth slumps into the desk chair. she
pull11 the large desk dra""' open -- and finds the
add•••• bocl: lying on top.
She ••••t•looking up A<thui'• numbe,. Fin•lly finds
it. She ignores the tape cassette "hich is tuck•d in
the f,ont of the book.
She pulls the phone ove,, dials, and waits, Be, hand
abs•ntmindedly plays with the tape ca•••tte wh,ch was

-~·
in the book.

Come on, Arthur ... C<>meon,

Arthur ••• Oh God ... Pick up the
goddam phone!
She look at the cassette in her hand, and sees that i,
' read• "PLAY ME." She reacts and slips it into
deck, pushing PLAY.
the tape

for a !IIOlllent, nothing is hea,d. Beth reali:es the

proble,n and yan~• out the ea,phone extension cord.
lnotantly Alex's voice. ve,y slurred, cornes out of the
•peake<s as we CLOSE IN TIGHT£!! on S•th, r•ali:ing.
Alex, more or l••• "here "e left off; Alex's rn•rcu,ial
mood en the tap• ha• •h•ft•d again, pos•ibly "• hear a
fragm•nt of the last previou•ly heard sentence.
ALEX {V.O.)
You're my last chance, Dan ••• If
you don't c0111eth,ough :or me, l
don't ~now wha, I'll do, bu, i,
"ill be SOffl@thir.g ,e,rible. r
can't l'.ve w,thout you, Dan, Wt.en
you push me away you give rne no
Other choice. l'l: cut deepe,
next t«ne. I'll l<cll myselfl ...

(CONTINUED)
 27C CON'l'INIJED,
ALEX {V .0. 1
(continuing)
I'll kill ~ysell. Th••···
nothing else Left lot me, Dan,
nothing ... nothing ••• nothing ...
Beth is sobbing with teli•f.
,~,
( flabbetgaoted)
O, thank God ... Thank God!
Sh• grabs the tape out of the deck and tuns with it
down the trap door.
CI\IIPUI BOLDS on the empty room,
Very faintly, at fir,t, we hear the MOSIC,
SLOWDISSOLVE TO:

271 /,DDl:D SCENE: EXT. COUNTRY BOOSE - DAY

The CN<ERA SLOIILYPANS ac,oss the wide lawn a• ,now is
beginning to fall, Beth and Ellen come running out of
the house.
\ 270A TBE FINALE OH _STAGE
of Butterfly. with Pinkerton's franoic cries,
"Butterfly ... 1 Butterfly, •. t Butterfly ..• !"
ROLL CREDITS AS THE MOSIC SOARS.

FINIS