Scene 8 : Setting : The Living Room : Characters : Mort Rainey, Chico.
[Shot of table with a sandwich with a bite taken out of it, Doritos, an open jar of Jif, an almost empty glass of milk] [The clock ticks] [Mort sits at the table, the dog on the floor] [The faucet leaks] [Mort looks down, then up] [The dog licks its lips] [Mort picks up the sandwich sadly]
Mort : [Sighs] I don’t wanna call her. [Gets on floor, holds the sandwich out to the dog] [Lies down next to dog] I wanna go to sleep, I wanna take a nap. Huh? [The dog eats the sandwich] Okay. No nap. I give her a call about the magazine.. I go write some crap for a couple of hours.. [The dog isn’t paying attention] And then I get to take a nap. A dog barks from outside [Chico looks away] Right? Chico? [The dog gets up and leaves, heading to the doggy door] [Mort turns his head to the dog] ChicoOoOoO don’t be discouraAaAaAaged! [The dog walks out] Alright, go ahead and be discouraged, ya blind [Gets up] bastard. See if I care! [Unplugs the phone line] [Heads to the couch] And returned [Sits down] to the couch. Sighs [Takes of watch] In shame. Degradation. [Puts watch on table] [Takes off glasses and puts them on the table] [Takes off shoes] [Lies down] Sighs Sloth. Sloth. [The clock ticks] [The shot pulls away into darkness] [Mort tosses and turns on the couch] [He turns to the edge, and sees he’s hanging over a waterfall] [He falls off, flustered] [He pushes back his hair and groans] [Picks up watch, then puts on glasses, then pushes back hair again] [Puts down watch and breathes in] [He gets up and goes over to the sink, fills a glass of water] [He places it up to his mouth to drink, but notices that his back door is open, and there’s something white on the wall blowing in the wind] [Is curious, goes up closer to get a better look, places the glass on the counter] [He opens the door, and flips the light switch, but the light doesn’t turn on] [He scowls, and goes in to get a flashlight] [Turns the flashlight on, and examines the light, noticing that there is broken glass on the floor] [He moves the flashlight around and looks elsewhere, then walks over to the garbage bin] [He moves the beam across trees, and his car] [Goes down the stairs, and over to the wall and finds a note attached to the wall HAve 3 days i am Not JokiNg NO POLICE”] [Mort turns to the garbage bin and sees a white blanket over something] [He focuses the flashlight on it, then turns away] [He turns back and approaches, then pulls off the blanket] [The dog with a screwdriver through its head is under the blanket] [Mort falls away] Oh! Uh. Ho.. uh.. [He looks at the dead dog, moves his flashlight all around him, breathing heavily] Shooter! I’ll get you for this! You hear me? I’ll get you for this! [Mort returns to the house and locks all windows and doors] [He walks forward and looks around the house] [The sun is coming up, and he buries the dog int he ground with a shovel] [He sticks the shovel in the ground]
Scene 9 : Setting : The Sheriff’s Department : Characters : Mort Rainey, Dave Newsome, Secretary.
[A shot of Tashmore lake]
Dave : Chico? He killed Chico?
Mort : Yeah. Last night, around 9. I was asleep. [They walk towards the building] Look, he left this [Holds out the note]
Dave : [Takes the note] You have 3 days, I’m not joking. No police. Hahaha. Anytime somebody sits down and writes “No police” That’s just about exactly the time that a fella should get himself over to the police. [He opens the door] [Mort goes in, then Dave]
Mort : Yeah, yeah. Well, that’s what I figured. [They walk to Dave’s desk] So what I’ve got is a detailed description of him, I’ve got a detailed [He turns to Dave] description of his ca—Dave : Type a little harder. You have to get through the carbon [He points to the secretary’s papers]
Mort : [Dave walks to behind his desk] [Mort is shocked at the rudeness] You know what, [He points] I didn’t get the license plate number, but I’m sure they were Mississippi tags. [Dave puts his glasses on and sits down] I think that it started with an A.. ‘cause that’s what I see in my mind.
Dave : [Picks up needlepoint] Needlepoint! Can you believe it? Doc says it’s good for the arthritis. [Does some needlepoint]
Mort : Yeah.. [Glances at secretary] [Sits down] Anyway, anything you can find out about this guy I would really appreciate—Dave : I must cut quite an intimidating law enforcement figure, huh [Laughs]
Mort : [Is nervous] I-I’d like to know what I’m dealing with here, because maybe he’s got a violent history.. uh… maybe you find him, you could talk to him. I think that would probably be better.
Dave : So, you got yourself a member of the crazy folks tribe?
Mort : Yeah.. I mean, they pop up every once in awhile, I suppose that’s just the price of selling a few books.
Secretary : [On phone] Ha ha ha ha haa! [Mort looks at her, annoyed] Sorry..
Mort : [Smiles, then looks away] [He grabs something from his coat pocket] Here’s the uh.. [He looks back at the secretary confusedly] The description.
Dave : Killing an animal is not like killing a man. I’m not even sure that it’s a crime, come to think of.
Mort : Come on, it’s gotta be. What about animal cruelty? What about destruction of private property? What about—Dave : Yeah, yeah, yeah.. Maybe. Okay. First thing I’m gonna need [Puts down needlepoint and picks up a pen], is a description. [Looks up at Mort] [Mort looks shocked]
Scene 10 : Setting : Ken’s Office : Characters : Mort Rainey, Ken Karsch, Secretary.
[Shot of New York buildings through a window]
Ken : Tell me the truth. Did you steal it? [A siren goes]
Mort: [Turns away from the window in shock] What!? No!
Ken : Kind of an amazing coincidence, don’t you think? [Mort listens] The stories being so much alike?
Mort : Well, obviously the guy copied it from me. Would you like to choose a side before we continue?
Ken : I’m on your side, but I still need to know the truth. Which kind of situation is this? Is he a regular wacko, like you’ve had before in which case I can help? Or is this something you should be talking to your lawyer about?
Mort : [Shakes head] No, no. This guy is just simply out of his mind. I think that’s all it is. [Sits down]
Ken : Fine. [Spreads hands] Okay. What do you want me to do?
Mort : I want you to help me in the same way that.. [Ken’s secretary comes in bringing some food and places it on the desk] [Mort is distracted, stares at the secretary] In the.. same way that you.. did before.
Ken : He wasn’t this crazy. [Reaches to food] That guy was just an obsessed reader who couldn’t tell real life from the crap that you make up for a living. No offense. [Mort smiles] Now, this Shooter guy. He threatened your life?
Mort : He put a screwdriver through my dog.
Ken : [Eating] Well, he did break a law, but it doesn’t seem to be an important law in Tashmore Lake. The sheriff… must be a cat person. [Smiles]
Mort : [Comes forward] Yeah, well I don’t exactly feel safe with a 70 year old arthritic sheriff watching my back. Are you gonna help me, or not?
Ken : Uh.. Let’s see. [Looks at plan book] I got a…. corporate loyalty thing I gotta be back for by Friday, but I can give you a couple of days.
Mort : [Nods] Okay. [Breathes in] My story came out a couple years… [Ken presses Mort’s side of the chess timer] [Mort looks annoyed] before.. he says he wrote his. So I’ve got a copy of the original up at Amy’s house. I was just gonna stop by on my way upstate and pick it up.
Ken : Amy’s house?
Mort : Yeah. [Nods] Amy and I split up about 6 months ago.
Ken : I’m sorry.
Mort : [Nods] Yeah. Me too.
Ken : Amicable?
Mort : Not remotely.
Ken : What happened? Did you finally nail one of your groupies at a book signing? The Omaha Barnes & Noble? Hehehe. [Mort presses Ken’s side of the chess timer] [Nods] That was a dick thing to say, you know? Rotten profession. I apologize. [Presses Mort’s side of the timer again] You were saying?
Mort : I was saying… That if it’s just proof that this guy Shooter wants, fine. I show him the magazine, but I think that maybe you should be with me when I show it to him.
Ken : No shit, I’m gonna be with you. You remember my rate?
Mort : Yeah. An obscene fortune, right?
Ken : Look, you’ll see a black cadillac in the driveway tonight when you get home. Don’t freak out, it’s me. Keeping an eye on things.
Mort : Okay. [Gets up]
Ken : Get a good night’s sleep. You don’t look too hot. [Mort Leaves]
Scene 11 : Setting : Outside Amy’s House : Characters : Mort Rainey, Amy Rainey, Ted Milner.
[Mort drives on the highway to Amy’s house] [He gets into the neighborhood and slows down] [He stops across from the house and pulls into someone’s driveway] [Amy and Ted emerge from the house, talking, Ted pointing at things] [Mort regards from the reflection in the car mirror] [Amy and Ted stop by their car, and kiss]
Mort’s Voice : This is not..my beautiful house. [Amy and Ted get into the car] This is not.. my beautiful wife. [The car drives off] … Anymore. [Camera focuses out of the picture and we see the mirror, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear”] [Mort is sad, and plays with his face]
Scene 12 : Setting : The Cabin : Characters : Mort Rainey, Ken Karsch.
[The moon is out. Mort pulls into his driveway, and spot’s Ken’s black cadillac] [He stops the car, looks around and sees Ken’s head against the window] [He turns the car off and gets out] [He walks towards the car slowly and carefully] [He bends down and sees Ken’s head on the steering wheel] [He approaches, his reflection in the window, and taps on the glass] [Ken’s head lifts]
Mort : [Jumps] Oh! [He turns away] [Ken opens the car door and gets out] [They both laugh] [Mort pushes back his hair and smiles] You scared the shit out of me!
Ken : Hey, hey. I’m sorry about that. This last week must’ve finally caught up with me.
Mort : That’s very reassuring. Thanks.
Ken : Hey, relax Hemingway. I was only out for ten minutes, swear to god.
Mort : Hm..
Ken : Already checked the place, everything is fine. Just waiting for you to get back to let you know.
Mort : [Breathes out] [Looks off to the side] You think you’d be sticking around.. tonight or..
Ken : No [Smiles] Not unless you want me to.
Mort : No. [Looks away] No. No, I’m sure it’s fine. In.. [Nudges to house] In there.
Ken : Nope. [Descends stairs] Heh. No monsters up here.
Mort : Did you check under my bed?
Ken : Even in your toy chest. [Mort comes out, holding a paddle] I’ll be back in the morning, start asking around town. [Sees the paddle] What the hell you gonna do with that, sailor. Huh? [Takes the paddle away and goes to put it back] Find out who else saw your nut-job.
Mort : Tom Greenleaf. [Points]
Ken : Huh?
Mort : [Flashback of Tom honking honk honk honk] Tom Greenleaf passed by when I was talking to Shooter on Lake Drive and waived at us, so he must’ve got a good look at him.
Ken : [Walks into the next room] Hmm.. Tom Greenleaf. How do I get ahold of him?
Mort : Bowie’s store. Breakfast every morning, 9 am.
Ken : Okay, I got it. Don’t worry. [Comes back in] Once I find out where this Shooter’s staying, I’ll stop in for a little freak-me-out chat. Use the word “We” a lot. [Gestures with his hands, Mort nodding at each line] We know what you’re doing. We want it to stop. We’re watching you. Trust me, he’ll hit the road so hard, it’ll hit back. [Walks off]
Mort : [Stands there] Yeah. [Ken opens front door and steps out] [Mort follows] Hey, you know what. Are you staying in town tonight?
Ken : Yeah, some motel out by route 9. Uh.. Irv’s lakesider, I think it’s called. You know the place?
Mort : [Flashback of Mort backing up towards motel] [Nods] Yeah, I know, yeah I know the place.
Ken : Okay. good night. [Ken walks off] [Mort shuts the door and locks it]
Scene 13 : Setting : The Cabin : Characters : Mort Rainey.
[Mort stands in the cabin, drumming on his thighs] [Ken gets into his car] [Mort walks over to the window, hands behind his back] [Mort bends down and looks out the window] [He takes the string of the shade] [Something moves in the house] [Mort turns around rapidly, and looks up at the railing]
Mort : Hello? [Ken’s car pulls out] [Mort scans the upper floor] [He sees Ken’s car leave] Shit. [He walks forward, then stops. He picks up a fire poker from the holder] [He goes up the stairs slowly] [Mort looks around the upper floor, but sees nothing] [He turns and cautiously opens up a door with the fire poker] [He turns on the light, and looks around, but sees nothing] [He approaches another door, and begins opening it with the fire poker] [He hears something suddenly and jumps and turns to the bathroom] [He gulps, and moves closer] [He sees a figure in the mirror and becomes scared] I know you’re in there, shithead! If you don’t come out by the time.. I count to five…. I gonna come in swingin’ [He looks at the figure] [Wipes his sweaty hands on his pants] One, two…. [He runs into the bathroom] Ahhhhhh! Smash [He attacks the mirror] [Turns on the light, and looks at his victim] I killed a mirror. Squeak [He turns to the shower and begins attacking again] Hu.. uh! Smash [Through the broken glass, he sees a mouse scamper through the tub] And my shower door.. [He slides open the busted door, and looks down at the mouse and sighs] [Throws down the poker and grabs a nearby towel] [Takes the mouse up in the towel] Crash [Part of the broken cabinet falls, scaring him] [He walks past it, and heads downstairs] [He pauses, and goes over to the desk] [He picks up the tattered packet of L&M’s and holds them for a moment, then replaces them on the desk] [He continues downstairs, then stops and comes back upstairs. He grabs the L&M’s and places one in his mouth and leaves] I don’t care. I’m just gonna smoke. I’m just gonna totally smoke. I’ll finish these, go to the store and get a brand new pack, smoke the shit out of that one. [He walks outside, takes the cigarette in his hand] [Bends down, and releases the mouse from the towel into the wild] [He strikes a match on the ground, and lights the cigarette back in his mouth]
Scene 14 : Setting : Outside : Characters : Mort Rainey, John Shooter.
Shooter : Thought you didn’t smoke.
Mort : [Throws away the match] I took it up recently for my health.
Shooter : How are you, Mr. Rainey?
Mort : Oh, I’m just… Peachy, Mr. Shooter. How are you?
Shooter : Well, It sounded like you pitched a fit or something in there. [He bends down next to Mort] I don’t think you’re really all that well. Stealing from another man, that don’t seem to have ever bothered you none. Being caught up on, though. [They both stand up] Or maybe it’s just that successful writers like you throw tantrums when things don’t go the way they expect. Why didn’t you get that magazine? You were down there at her house today, weren’t you?
Mort : If I get this story, and I show it to you, will you then kindly disappear?
Shooter : There isn’t any.. Magazine with that story in it, Mr. Rainey. You and me, we know that.
Mort : Okay, then. [He leans against the shovel standing in the ground] What can we do [He places his hand on the handle] to make you feel better? [Shooter moves around, and Mort backs away from the shovel]
Shooter : I want you to fix it.
Mort : What would you like me to fix?
Shooter : My ending. The one you wrecked. I can’t decide what’s worse. [Shooter rubs his hand on the top of the shovel handle] Stealing my story, or ruining the ending. Mine was perfect.
Mort : I don’t think I even read your whole story.
Shooter : Oh, I’ll bet you did. I know I can do it, Todd Downey said, helping himself to another ear of corn from the steaming bowl. I’m sure that in time her death will be a mystery. Even to me. That’s how the story ends, pilgrim. It’s the only ending. You’re going to write it for me and get it published and it’s going to have my name on it.
Mort : I’d be more than happy to write your ending, Mr. Shooter.
Shooter : [Smiles and turns away] So, that wife of yours coming out of the house. [Grins] She’s purty.
Mort : My wife? Why don’t we just leave her out of this?
Shooter : [Turns to Mort] Would, if I could. But I’m starting to think you ain’t going to leave me that option. [Mort becomes upset, and picks up the shovel. He tries to hit Shooter with it, but Shooter grabs it with one hand] Grrrr! [He pins Mort against the wall with the shovel to his throat] You want to wake up from one of your stupid naps and find Amy nailed to your garbage bin? Or turn on the radio some morning and hear she came off second best in a match with a chainsaw you keep out in the shed? [Mort chokes] [Shooter releases him and he falls to the ground, clutching his throat and gagging] Do ye? [Mort chokes] You can’t get away with it. [Shooter walks away] I know what you did and I ain’t quittin’. Until right gets put right. [Mort catches his breath on the ground and leans backwards against a tree]
Scene 15 : Setting : The Living Room : Characters : Mort Rainey, Amy Rainey.
[Mort lies in his bed, staring out. Then he turns and thinks for some moments] [He grabs his glasses and heads downstairs] [Shot of Tashmore Lake] [Mort sits on the couch scarfing Doritos] [He looks at the phone, then to the wall and realizes that it’s been unplugged] [He gets up and plugs the phone back in] [He goes to sit back down] Phone rings [He pauses and looks at it in awe] [He puts his Dorito back in the bag and picks up the receiver]
Mort : Is that you, John Wayne?
Amy : [On phone] Mort? [Mort looks up] Are you there? Mort?!
Mort : [Shuts his eyes] Yes, Amy, I’m here! Just lower your voice a little. What is it?
Amy : [On phone] Where have you been? I have been trying to get ahold of you all night and this morning.
Mort : I was asleep.
Amy : [On phone] Oh, great. So you unplugged the phone!?
Mort : How may I assist you, Amy?
Amy : [On phone] Oh god.. Mort.. [Mort shoo’s a fly]
Mort : [Grabs some Doritos and eats them] What happened, what?
Amy : [On phone] Someone burned down our house, that’s what happened, okay?
Mort : [Stops chewing] What?
Amy : [On phone] Someone burned down our house!
Scene 16 : Setting : The Site : Characters : Mort Rainey, Amy Rainey, Ted Milner, Fire Chief Wickersham, Steven Bradley.
[A Shot of the site, firemen moving around, chatter of police radios in the background] [Mort walks forward, and lays his eyes upon what used to be his house] [Flashback fades in]
Amy : [Comes out of the house] Bye, babe.
Mort : [Comes out of the house] Pardon me, miss. I noticed that you, uh left 100$ on the dresser.
Amy : Shut up!
Mort : Well, surely the escort service told you that I was 3.
Amy : Shhhh! Please! [She runs off]
Mort : Mm.. Some guys are less. Some guys are a hundred if you like that kind of thing. Some guys are even less than that. But I’m 3. I happen to be 3. There’s something on your mouth just there. [Amy gets in her car] Bye.
[The flashback fades out]
[Mort walks closer] [Amy and Ted appear, Amy spots Mort]
Amy : Mort! [She runs up, then walks] [She wraps herself up in her sweater] [When Mort sees her, he flashbacks to her making out with Ted in the motel] [He looks away from her sadly] Hi [She hugs him]
Mort : Hi. I’m really sorry about all this, Amy.
Amy : So am I.
Ted : [Takes off his sunglasses] Me too.
Mort : Thank you, Ted. [He turns away and makes a face]
Wickersham : Mr. and Mrs. Rainey!
Mort, Amy, Ted : No, Yes, Yes.
Wickersham : You the owners?
Amy : Yes.. we..ar.. we.. were the owners. [Comes forward]
Wickersham : [Mort looks down sadly] Were the owners? What do you mean? [Mort looks at Ted angrily] [They both go forward to Wickersham] You don’t own it anymore?
Mort : Were Mr. and Mrs. Rainey. Are the owners.
Bradley : I’m Steven Bradley, I’m a detective with Riverdale P.D.
Ted : [Shakes his hand] How do you do? Ted Milner.
Bradley : [Pointing to Wickersham] This is Fire Chief Wickersham.
Ted : Chief [Holds out his hand]
Wickersham : Hi. [Shakes his hand]
Bradley : We won’t take long, the insurance investigator needs to see you in the city at 3.
Wickersham : [Holds out a burnt champagne bottle on a tweezers] You are definitely the victims of arson. The fire was started by an incendiary device made.. uh.. with a champagne bottle and a couple of quarts of plain old gasoline.
Mort : Well that really works then, eh?
Bradley : So, first question. Enemies. You got any? [Mort looks down sadly once more]
Amy : No. No one.
Ted : No, no. Not a soul.
Mort : [Turns to Ted, annoyed] Bother you if I answer one or two of these, Ted? [Raises hands] [He makes his way over to Bradley] Yeah. [He turns and looks back at Amy then back to Bradley] I have an enemy.
