Screenplay - Riverboat Justice, 1 opening. The Visual Writer, LLC

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RIVERBOAT JUSTICE

By Dorian Scott Cole

FADE IN

ESTABLISH SHOT: ST. LOUIS, MO. AS VIEWED FROM THE ILLINOIS SIDE, ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER SHOWING THE MISSISSIPPI, THE ARCH, THE BRIDGE AND RIVERBOATS.

ESTABLISH SHOT: RIVERBOAT GRANADA

(Riverboat Granada - fictitious name - is a steam paddlewheel cruise boat with passenger cabins, a gambling casino, casino lounge with entertainment, restaurant, and observation decks.)

EXT. RIVERBOAT GRANADA - DAY

CARR, a plain clothes security man stands on deck looking toward Zigler Concessions. He raises his binoculars to look at a limo waiting on the street.

EXT. WHARF BUILDINGS - DAY

The limo waits down the street from a building with a sign ZIGLER CONCESSIONS. ZIGLER, late forties, dressed in a business suit and carrying a briefcase, exits the building and walks toward the riverboats. The limo cuts him off. The rear door swings open revealing ANTHONY CALIANO, forties, who is well dressed in a stylish suit, and is cold/steely, all business.

CALIANO
(Gruff)
Get in, Zigler.

ZIGLER

Is anything wrong, Mr. Caliano?

CALIANO

We're going to do lunch. Is that OK or do
I need an appointment?

ZIGLER

Any time, Mr. Caliano. You always have
an appointment.

Zigler gets in the limo. It moves away.

INT. LIMO - DAY

ZIGLER

Look, I want to apologize for that fiasco
with the police. If that's what this is about...

CALIANO

I want to do something for you - call it a gift.

Caliano reaches into his coat.

ZIGLER

God! No, look. There's no need. I'll lie on
the witness stand. I'll disappear for a while.
Forever. Anything you want.

CALIANO

Zig, your mouth is the least professional
thing about you. Hold your peace until
you find out what the other man wants.

Caliano pulls out a cigar, passes one to Zigler, and lights them. Zigler is very tense and the cigar shakes as Caliano lights it. Zigler coughs and blows smoke without inhaling.

CALIANO

It's come to my attention you're not
exceptionally bright, Zig.

ZIGLER

I launder money. I don't have any other...
special skills.

CALIANO

You're going to get smarter, I guarantee it.
Now, Zig, anyone else but you, I would
have to cut out of my will. But you did just
what I wanted you to.

ZIGLER

What? What did I do?

CALIANO

Drink? How about a bourbon?

Caliano takes a bottle from the cabinet and pours a drink for him as he talks.

CALIANO

You notice anyone missing in your
organization since the police dropped in?

ZIGLER
(Hurriedly)
Of course. I run a very tight business.
There's a young man missing. He was
doing accounting work. He never came
back after the police visit.

CALIANO

You thought he was scared off, huh?

ZIGLER

Yes, yes, of course.

CALIANO

He was an undercover cop.

Caliano hands him the glass of bourbon. Zigler eyes it suspiciously. Caliano smiles at him and takes a large drink from his.

CALIANO

I knew he was there.

ZIGLER

Why didn't you tell me?

CALIANO

I played him for a fool.

ZIGLER

Oh?

CALIANO

I had a specialist fake your books.

ZIGLER

That's remarkable. I didn't know.

Caliano shakes his head in disgust. Zigler squirms in his seat.

CALIANO

That leaves only one problem: The cop's
an eye witness to the operation. It's not my
problem, it's yours.

Caliano requests his limo driver, JOEY, sixties, to pull over.

EXT. QUIET HIGHWAY - DAY

The limo pulls over on a lonely stretch of highway. Zigler gets out and Caliano appears in the door.

CALIANO

Nice lunch, Zig. Now about that gift.

Zigler begins to back away.

CALIANO

Take off your clothes. All of them.

Zigler nervously stops, then undresses.

CALIANO

Give them to me.

Zigler hands the clothes to Caliano who puts them into the limo.

CALIANO

Take a good look at yourself, Zig. You're a fool. I want you to be twice as smart.
So what are you going to think about on your way back to town?

Zigler has no answer.

CALIANO

This is your thinking assignment: you figure out how to get rid of this cop. You make a mess, you clean it up! Make sense?

ZIGLER

Yes, sir.

The limo pulls away leaving Zigler painfully stepping on gravel, headed toward the trees.

EXT. RIVERBOAT GRANADA - DAY

Zigler walks up the passenger ramp onto the boat, observed by two security men on the bridge, one with binoculars. Carr speaks into a transceiver as Zigler enters a passageway. Zigler goes down the walkway, up a stairs into an interior passageway, and enters a door with the title ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR.

CECILLIA

Zig! How are you?

ZIGLER

Fine, Cecillia, for a gutless old caterer.
How are you?

CECILLIA

What's that gutless....?

ZIGLER

Oh - self criticism of the day, that's all. Everyone needs something to prevent them from having too much fun.
The Banquet Director called, said I
should contact you about a banquet
you want catered. He couldn't say
whether you wanted hot dogs or hors d'oeuvres.

Carr and Neal enter with CAPTAIN NELSON.

NELSON

Mr. Zigler, we need to talk to you for a minute.

ZIGLER

So formal, Captain Nelson? Is something wrong?

NELSON

Just routine. These are my security men, Carr and Neal. They keep a watchful eye for any kind of situation that might indicate trouble.

ZIGLER

I hope there has been no trouble with the food.

NELSON

Not at all. Your service has always been excellent. But we have noticed a dark limousine frequently parked near your establishment.

ZIGLER

I have no control over where people park. This is a tourist area.

NEAL

These people don't act like tourists.
Tourists get out and see things. These people just sit and watch. Yesterday we thought we saw the car approach you, and someone who looks like you got in.

ZIGLER

No, no, wasn't me. I don't know who these people might be. Why, did they do something wrong?

NELSON

This is a gambling boat. Being on the water puts us in a precarious position so we have to be very careful. We're especially concerned about organized crime.

ZIGLER

I understand your concern, Captain.

NELSON

If you see anything suspicious at all, please let us know. Especially if there is any trouble.

CARR

We tour the decks every twenty minutes. That's the law. We'll be watching more often.

ZIGLER

Of course. Now, was there an order?

Cecillia smiles at him and nods her head.

INT. CAPTAIN NELSON'S OFFICE - DAY

Nelson enters with Carr and Neal. Nelson sits down.

NELSON

What do you think?

CARR

I think Zig is in some kind of trouble with organized crime.

NELSON

I think so, too.

NEAL

Should we get the police involved?

NELSON

There's no evidence, and I really don't want the publicity. If people fear organized crime on a gambling boat, it could put us out of business.

CARR

Or attract a lot of business - some
people love to hear about gangsters.

NELSON

The Chicago Outfit wouldn't think twice about sinking this boat just to make a point!
I wonder what they want? It would be so easy for a concession group to bring drugs on board.

NEAL

I think we should involved the police.

CARR

The police can't do much about
organized crime. They cover themselves too well.

NEAL

Then who?

NELSON

I have a friend - son of a friend - who might be able to find out what they're up to. He does clandestine things - maybe he is due for a vacation.

Next: 2 Flight

Other distribution restrictions: None

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