Screenplay - Riverboat Justice, 5 Challenge. The Visual Writer, LLC

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5 Challenge - Riverboat Justice

INT. SENATOR PAULSON'S OFFICE - DAY

Senator Paulson picks up his telephone, dials and speaks in hushed tones.

PAULSON

Tell Alfredo we have the account
number. It's just a matter of time before
we locate them. Get your men to St.
Louis.
ALFREDO (V.O.)
I will strangle them myself.

PAULSON

Don't do anything crazy. Just make them
disappear, no attention.
ALFREDO (V.O.)
What about those high tech devices?

PAULSON

Forget them. I'll report they were blown
up with the bodies.

EXT. ZIGLER CONCESSIONS - NIGHT

Adrian walks up beside the building out of sight. He finds a side door, picks the lock, and enters, checks the door for an alarm but finds none.

INT. OFFICE - NIGHT

Adrian stealthily checks out the building, looking for a watchman. He finds the WATCHMAN in a back room watching TV. Adrian backs away and goes to the front of the building where the offices are. He enters each office and looks around, unlocking and checking the contents of filing cabinets. In one of the offices he finds a FILE he wants, labeled: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, MISC. STATEMENTS. He also finds a LEDGER labeled: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. He takes them all, putting them in a plastic bag. He turns on the computer, examines the floppy disks and takes them, then enters onto the computer screen: ERASE ALL FILES. After a few moments he turns the computer off, then moves quietly out the door.

EXT. WHARF AT RIVERBOAT - NIGHT

Adrian walks up to a trash dumpster and throws the plastic bag in.

INT. ADRIAN'S CABIN - NIGHT

Dino is sitting on his bunk looking at the Mayan calendar. Adrian enters.

DINO

I won a thousand bucks today using my
Mayan calendar. How did it go for you?

ADRIAN

Like it was supposed to happen.

DINO

This Mayan calendar says that life goes
in cycles, like everything is already
planned and all we have to do is live it.
Do you believe in destiny?

ADRIAN

I don't know. I just know what I have
to do.

DINO

See, there it is: you have to do it. We
didn't ask to come here, it was like it was
prearranged, and then you know just
what you have to do. And here am I.

ADRIAN

Does this mean you're going to help me?

DINO

I'm not doing anything crazy!
(Beat)
But, you know, if I can help you out
some, I'll do it.

EXT. OUTSIDE OF CALIANO'S ESTATE - DAY

Adrian is on his motorcycle, watching the entrance to the estate through binoculars. The limo leaves with a second car following. Adrian has camouflage paint on his face. He smiles, lowers his visor, and follows. At the first stop sign, Adrian overtakes them, and shoves an apple into the limo's exhaust. Bobby, in the second car, tries to squash him between cars, and rams the limo. Adrian speeds away. Bobby speeds around the limo and both the limo and the car follow, but the limo soon sputters and dies.

The car continues to follow with a shotgun pointed out the window. A bridge appears ahead and Adrian exits on what appears to be a road leading to a stream under the bridge. It is actually a pull off with a footpath that leads to a cement drain channel that people use to walk to the creek. He rides in the cement drain channel. Bobby doesn't know this and follows, panicking when he discovers it isn't a road. He can't stop on the sharp grassy incline, and runs off the end of the cement channel into the stream, where the car remains stuck. Adrian waves at them and rides off.

Adrian returns to where the limo is stalled. He pauses out of sight to the rear of the limo, removes a brick and two noise bombs from his saddle bag, lights the bombs, rides to the limo driver's side, breaks out the rear side window and tosses a bomb in the window. Caliano panic exits the passenger side before the bomb goes off, running away from the car, gun not yet drawn. The driver, JOEY, tries to exit, but Adrian blocks his way with the cycle. Adrian breaks out the driver's window, puts a cable noose around Joey's neck and attaches the noose to the outside door latch.

Caliano is running away and pulling his gun. Adrian races toward Caliano from the rear and, with his foot, knocks Caliano off his feet. The gun goes flying. Adrian recovers the gun and throws it into the brush. He raises his visor, but has camouflage paint on.

ADRIAN

I want you to get yourself and your
business out of St. Louis. Any questions?

Caliano picks himself up from the ground.

CALIANO

I'm going to have cement shoes made
especially for you. Any questions?

ADRIAN

Shoe size is ten and a half D.
I'm going to make your life miserable
until you get out of here.

CALIANO

You don't have the guts to play in my
ball game.

ADRIAN

Guts? You prey on defenseless people.
What kind of guts does that take?

CALIANO

You're next. Answer your own question.

Adrian smiles.

ADRIAN

You're a wimp, Caliano. Get out of
town before you embarrass yourself
in public.

Adrian rides away and Caliano runs for the gun. He can't find it and turns angrily to see Adrian disappear.

INT. CALIANO'S DRAWING ROOM - DAY

Caliano is pacing the floor. His two security men enter. Bobby has his head bandaged.

CALIANO

Well, it's Boggle and Bungle.

BOBBY

Does this mean we're fired.

Caliano picks up a gun from his desk.

CALIANO

Spread yourselves on the floor!

Bobby immediately goes to the floor, spread eagle. Andrew acts like he will, but is stalling, hoping to run.

ANDREW

(Frightened, talking fast)
Look, the guy set us up. He's smart.
He's on a motorcycle. We're no match
for him.

CALIANO

So I hire men who are a match for him.
Then what use do I have for you?

BOBBY

Boss, you don't want to do this to us.
You're not that kind of guy. We're one of
your own.

CALIANO

You bungled the job! The guy came
back, tore up my car, hog tied my driver,
and made ludicrous threats. I don't want
to live with that.

Caliano holds the gun on Andrew and motions him to the floor. Andrew makes one more furtive glance at the door, then gets on the floor. Caliano holds the gun on them a few seconds longer. Bobby starts pleading for his life (ad lib). Andrew starts praying (ad lib). Caliano is smiling. He fires the gun at the floor. The two men jump. Both plead frantically (ad lib) for their lives.

ANDREW and BOBBY
I swear, we'll get this guy. Please don't kill us.

CALIANO

All right, get up. I'll let you two clowns
live just to see what you'll do next.

The two stand at extreme attention.

ANDREW

How are we going to find him?

Caliano throws a paperweight at him.

CALIANO

We aren't you idiot! We don't know
his name or anything about him. But he'll
come back, and when he does, we'll be
ready for him.

ANDREW

Do you want more guards, sir?

CALIANO

No, this guy's sharp. He knows where to
hit. We need guys who are tougher and
outnumber him in his own element.

ANDREW

Tough guys on motorcycles.

CALIANO

When this guy shows his face, he's dead.

Beat.

BOBBY

(Timorously)
I got his license number.
Caliano is stunned, then smiles warmly
at Bobby. They all smile and laugh.

EXT. SUBDIVISION - DAY

Bobby and Andrew are cruising a city street in their car, looking for a house number. They see the number on an inexpensive duplex and stop in front of it.

ANDREW

That's the address for the motorcycle
license plate. Look for the motorcycle.

Andrew goes to the side front corner and stands there while Bobby goes around back, sees nothing, goes to the back door and peeks in, seeing no one. Bobby looks through windows as he comes back around.

BOBBY

No motorcycle. Can't see anyone.

ANDREW

You cover the front door. I'll knock and
go in.

Andrew goes to the rear door and knocks twice without a response. He tries the knob, which is locked, breaks the door glass, unlocks it and goes in. The duplex is very sparsely furnished. He quietly checks each room for a person, then checks the drawers in the bedroom. In one he finds a scrapbook. He sees a chubby man with glasses in most of the pictures. He takes one and slips it into his pocket, checks the other drawers and rooms, finds nothing, and leaves. Andrew and Bobby confer at the duplex side.

ANDREW

Boss is going to shit.

BOBBY

What now?

Andrew shows Bobby the picture.

ANDREW

This is the guy? Terry Barbour?

BOBBY

That isn't the guy.

ANDREW

We had better find out more.

Andrew goes to the other side of the duplex and knocks on that door. A woman in her sixties, in a housecoat, answers, yawning.

WOMAN

Yeah?

ANDREW

Excuse me for interrupting your nap,
lady. We're looking for someone.

The woman closes the door.

WOMAN (OS)
Bill collectors! Never give up.

Andrew pounds on the door.

ANDREW

I'm not a damned collector. Open the
door.
I need to see this man, it could be very
important to his health.

The door opens a crack.

WOMAN

You from the Health Department?

Andrew nods his head.

WOMAN

I suppose he has AIDS. I'm living next
door to some dirt bag that rides a
motorcycle and has AIDS.

Andrew takes the picture from his pocket.

ANDREW

Is this the guy next door?

Woman nods.

ANDREW

Does he have any friends or close
associates?

WOMAN

If he has AIDS, I guess he must.

ANDREW

(Angrily)
He hasn't got AIDS, it's something else.

WOMAN

What?

ANDREW

I can't say. Does this guy have any other
friends that hang around? Guys who ride
motorcycles?

Woman shrugs.

WOMAN

I don't know, I never see the guy.

ANDREW

What's he do for a living?

WOMAN

He's a cook in the Merchant Marines.
But I wouldn't eat his food, he stinks
and he drinks too much. You ought to
see his apartment. Pizza boxes and beer
cans this high.

ANDREW

When did you last see him?

WOMAN

A month ago. He's away for three
months at a time.

Andrew looks at Bobby. Bobby shakes his head. The two exit the porch.

WOMAN

Hey! You want me to tell him he's dying?

Andrew and Bobby keep going and don't look back.

WOMAN

Obnoxious government employees.

INT. WOMAN'S APARTMENT - DAY

Adrian enters the room. The woman takes off her wig, revealing Dino. He wipes his brow and collapses into a chair.

DINO

There. Satisfied?

ADRIAN

Tell me that was difficult. Tell me you
were in danger.

DINO

I wish nerves of steel came as easy for
the rest of us. I just want to stay an arm
length from the dangerous stuff, OK?

INT. ZIGLER'S OFFICE - DAY

Zigler is on the phone, standing and pacing, and wiping his brow while he talks.

ZIGLER

You don't understand, Mr. Caliano. We
have no business without books. We
have no idea how much money people
owe us.
ANTHONY (V.O.)
Then make up something!

ZIGLER

You can't do that, sir.
ANTHONY (V.O.)
Yes, you can! Because if you're out of
business, then you can't launder money
for me, so I'm out of business. You sit
down and start making up amounts.
They will be beating your door down
to tell you the right amount.

ZIGLER

But what if whoever did this, does it
again?
ANTHONY (V.O.)
What kind of a business are you running
down there, a kindergarten? You're not
going to let this happen again. You fire
that security guard and hire someone
with a gun. And you put in an alarm
system. If it happens again, you and
your wife are going to come to a parting
of the ways. Understand?

ZIGLER

(Hurriedly)
Yes, sir. I'm sure we'll have the business
rebuilt soon and everything will return to
normal.
ANTHONY (V.O.)
Your normal is screwed up. Do it like I
would!
And tell that little bitch that works for
you we're coming to ask her some
questions, and she had better not pull
anything or we'll be meeting at a
warehouse.

ZIGLER

Yes, sir.

Zigler holds the telephone handset with two fingers, as if frightened of it, and puts it back on the cradle.

DISSOLVE

INT. ZIGLER'S OFFICE - DAY

The Watchman is leaving Zigler's office, head hanging. Zigler is sitting at his desk, looking at a picture of his wife and daughter. LORA enters. Zigler doesn't look up, just sits looking at the picture. A tear forms and runs. Lora goes to him and puts her hand on his shoulder, comforting him.

ZIGLER

I used to run a good business, Lora. It
was a business a man could be proud of.
I made enough to support a wife and
family, and kept a lot of good people
working. I had respect in the community.
Now look at us. Crooks for Caliano.
Where did I go wrong? What did I do to
deserve this?

Lora shakes her head, looks on, not speaking.

ZIGLER

He's making threats against my wife if
anything else goes wrong. He says he's
coming to talk to you. I would do
anything to get out of this. But what?
Where do I turn?

LORA

Maybe I can find out.

Zigler looks at her pleadingly, a broken man, holding onto the picture with both hands, tears streaming down his face. Lora studies him compassionately for a moment, then leaves.

INT. LORA'S OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE SHOT: CLOCK: 12:30

Lora checks out front toward the riverboat area. She sees a motorcycle pull into the area and a man go inside.

INT. RIVERBOAT OFFICES RECEPTION AREA - DAY

Lora is waiting in the reception area. Cecillia exits her office and goes to Lora.

CECILLIA

May I help you?

LORA

I saw a man arrive here today who rides
a motorcycle. I think it was the same
man who helped me a couple of days
ago, and I just wanted to thank him.

CECILLIA

I think we can help you. If you'll wait
just a moment, I'll contact him. Who
shall I say wants to see him?

LORA

Lora Shively. I work next door at Zigler
Concessions.

CECILLIA

Oh, sure, I think we've met before.

DISSOLVE

Lora is sitting alone in the waiting area. There are no others. Dino enters, studies her briefly.

DINO

Ms. Shively?

LORA

Yes?

DINO

What can I help you with?

LORA

I'm sorry, I thought you might be
someone else. Someone helped me the
other day in the parking lot and we didn't
get a chance to finish our....

DINO

My pleasure.

Next: 6 Attacked

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