Project 15: Part Two
INT. ELIAS HOUSE - DAY
Elias picks up a MANUSCRIPT written by Josh, sits down on the couch and briefly reads through it. He then tosses it on the floor
ELIAS: Thrash.
Elias turns on the television. It flickers. He ambles towards it.
INT. LOCAL BAR - NIGHT
Elias is drinking in a local bar late at night. Chuck climbs off his chair.
CHUCK HUMPHREY: I think I’ve had enough. Shouldn’t you hit the road?
ELIAS: I’m a big boy. I can make my own way home.
Chuck puts his hand on Elias shoulder
CHUCK HUMPHREY: Well, I’ve got a cantankerous old man to get back to.
Chuck leaves.
At the end of the bar ROGER MERRIT is having a conversation with a BAR CUSTOMER. Elias listens in.
Roger Merrit: 30’s, male, likes to drink, friendly, naïve.
ROGER MERRIT: So this guy, my brother. He’s a Kings fan. Biggest losers in the history of basketball. So what does he do? He bets on them every time. Every now and then he wins and he leaves his money in the kitchen. Then he bets again and again.
BARMAN:Hey Roger. Watch that mouth of yours.
ROGER MERRIT: I’m not drunk. This is a good town. These are good guys. Am I right?
He turns back to the other customer.
ROGER MERRIT: Where was I?
BAR CUSTOMER: Damned if I know.
CUT TO:
EXT. LOCAL BAR - NIGHT
Elias follows Roger out of the bar and catches up with him.
ELIAS: Say Roger, I’m fairly sure I know your brother. He looks just like you.
ROGER MERRIT: You mean Cliff
ELIAS: Yeah. The guy that likes to dabble
ROGER MERRIT: That’s Cliff alright.
ELIAS: Say, where does he live?
ROGER MERRIT: Two, eh. Two eh. Two Twenty Four East Sussex Street.
ELIAS: I must call round to him one of these days.
EXT. 224 EAST SUSSEX STREET - NIGHT
Elias approaches the house. He checks the perimeter and finds an open window. He opens it fully and enters.
INT. 224 EAST SUSSEX STREET - NIGHT
Elias can hear CLIFF MERRIT snoring in the same room.
CLIFF MERRIT: male, 30’s, gambler, careless.
Elias uses a small lamp light to assist him. He leaves the bedroom and enters the kitchen. A large sum of money is on the table. He grabs it and turns to leave.
A small dog suddenly attacks him. Elias tries to shrug him off and move towards the front door. The dog is biting at his ankles. Cliff awakes. The door is locked. Elias breaks a large window and climbs out.
EXT. EAST SUSSEX STREET - NIGHT
Elias runs as fast as he can. Cliff chases him.
CLIFF: Come back here you thieving varmint.
The owner who is in his bare feet stops chasing after a hundred metres.
INT. OFFICER GOODBODY’S OFFICE - DAY
OFFICER GOODBODY sits behind his desk as Elias strolls in.
OFFICER GOODBODY: 33, male, African American, overweight, honest
OFFICER GOODBODY: Mr. Duckworth, I see you’ve got a job in the factory.
ELIAS: It pays minimum wage. It’s barely enough to live on.
OFFICER GOODBODY: Well stick with it. A guy in your position, has to start somewhere.
ELIAS: You really know how to motivate a guy. You should be a football coach.
OFFICER GOODBODY: I coach my sons mini league team. Does that count? How are you settling in, otherwise?
ELIAS: Like a Duckworth to water.
OFFICER GOODBODY: At least, according to our reports you haven’t ventured outside the state.
ELIAS: Like a lion in a cage.
OFFICER GOODBODY: I see you haven’t been attending any rehabilitation courses.
ELIAS: I don’t like being reminded of time spent on the inside. I’m moving forward officer.
OFFICER GOODBODY: As long as you haven’t robbed anybody or conned old ladies out of money that’ll do just fine.
INT. ISABELLE KAJINSKA'S HOME - DAY
Elias enters Isabelle’s home, with a hand written invoice.
ELIAS: Isabelle, I’ve taken the liberty to draft an invoice, for all the work I’ve done to date.
ISABELLE: My, Elias, you’ve been busy. Forty hours already, plus expenses. Have you made progress?
ELIAS: I have a few leads but nothing concrete.
ISABELLE: He’s my only son Elias. Bring him home, please.
EXT. LOCAL PARK - DAY
Elias sits on a park bench with his daughter LOREN
LOREN: 8, female, Caucasian, slim, fair hair, naïve.
LOREN: Why did you go away for so long Daddy?
ELIAS: I was the captain of a cruise ship that went all the way around the world. I had to earn money to buy you ice cream didn’t I?
LOREN: Please don’t leave me again. I don’t like my foster parents. Mrs Socovich is always making me do my homework and Mr Socovich is always so serious.
ELIAS: I’m sure they’re not all that bad.
LOREN: I want to live with you.
ELIAS: A captain’s wages will only go so far Loren.
LOREN: Maybe you should go back to being a Doctor again. They make loads of money. At least that’s what Reeva Trumpledump says.
ELIAS: I promise, that when I have enough money I will buy the biggest house and we can live there forever. You’ll see. It won’t be long.
Loren puts her arms around Elias.
LOREN: You’re the best Dad in the whole world.
ELIAS: The last time we met, I was the best Dad in the Universe. What happened? Did a Romulan usurp me?
INT. LOCAL BAR - EVENING
Elias and Chuck sit near each other at the local bar
ELIAS: Say, Chuck, would you be able to look up a case for me?
CHUCK HUMPHREY: Well it is a little outside my line of work.
ELIAS: And I thought you were a police officer.
CHUCK HUMPHREY: What’s the name?
ELIAS: Josh Kajinski.
CHUCK HUMPHREY: That’s the batty old lady who keeps turning up at the station saying he rings her in the middle of the night and other stuff.
ELIAS: She’s just a mother who wants to find out about her son Chuck.
CHUCK HUMPHREY: I’ll see what I can do.
EXT. ELIAS HOME - DAY
Elias mows the grass in his front lawn. CASSANDRA saunters up to him. Elias stops mowing.
CASSANDRA: 36, female, blonde, Caucasian, slim, attractive, sincere.
CASSANDRA: My mother tells me that you’re investigating Josh’s case.
ELIAS: In my spare time.
CASSANDRA: Have you any leads?
ELIAS: I’m working on it.
CASSANDRA: If I can be of any assistance, let me know.
ELIAS: Your mother brought me a pie. She’s a lovely woman. I assume you’re Cassandra.
CASSANDRA: She talks about you a lot. Don’t let her down.
ELIAS: Would you like to come inside for a cold beer.
INT. ELIAS HOUSE - DAY
Cassandra and Elias enter Elias home.
LIVING ROOM: Clothes and papers are strewn around the living room. Only the orange and yellow couch escapes the untidiness.
CASSANDRA: This reminds me of Vernon’s house.
ELIAS: Who is Vernon?
CASSANDRA: My ex husband. Total disappointment of a human being. I hope your detective work is better than your housekeeping Mr Duckworth.
They enter the kitchen
KITCHEN
ELIAS: I guess I’m so consumed in my work that I neglect my other, less important duties. You do drink beer don’t you?
CASSANDRA: Do you have a ginger ale?
ELIAS: Unfortunately it’s either Bud or water. I’m not sure if the water is a hundred per cent safe.
CASSANDRA: You’re a regular Mary Poppins.
ELIAS: I’ll remember to stock up on ginger ale next time.
Elias removes a beer from the fridge.
CASSANDRA: Who says there’s going to be a next time? First impressions tend to last.
ELIAS: Well Cassandra, I tend to wear people down.
CASSANDRA: My ex husband wore me down. Never again.
Cassandra pauses
CASSANDRA: You know, your Uncle used to have a train set. He used to invite my Father, myself and Josh around to play with it.
ELIAS: It’s in the spare room. I’m afraid its the worse for wear.
Cassandra moves in the direction of the spare room.
SPARE ROOM
CASSANDRA: Oh, its horrid. Who did this?
JOSH: It wasn’t me. Scouts honour.
CASSANDRA: Oh, I really loved this set. I had so many memories as a kid. Sometimes it’s a pity that you have to grow up.
ELIAS: It’s only fit for scrap now. Unless you want it.
INT. ELIAS HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - DAY
Elias sits on the couch, in front of the television alone. HARVEY CHURCH strides in the door uninvited
HARVEY CHURCH: 38, male, tall, strongly built, cold, temperamental.
HARVEY CHURCH: Looks like you’ve settled right in.
Elias presses the mute button but doesn’t stand up.
ELIAS: I meant to put a sign up. No uninvited guests.
HARVEY CHURCH: Now is that any way to treat an old friend. I just thought I’d catch up with you. It’s been a while.
ELIAS: Can’t say I’ve been looking forward to this day.
Harvey taps his right hand fist against the palm of his left hand.
HARVEY CHURCH: Well, you didn’t rat so maybe that counts for something. Rick said you turned down a job.
ELIAS: I’m not allowed out of the state
HARVEY CHURCH: Never stopped you before.
He pauses and taps his right fist against his left hand again.
HARVEY CHURCH: Wouldn’t like to think you’ve gone soft.
Isabelle knocks on the door. Elias stands up and approaches her.
ELIAS: Can this wait Isabelle? I’m with someone at the moment and I’ve got to go.
ISABELLE: I thought I’d pay you early. I’m visiting relatives.
Isabelle hands over the money
ELIAS:Thanks
ISABELLE: I really hope you find him
Harvey puts his hands in his pockets
HARVEY CHURCH: Find who?
ISABELLE: My son. Who is your friend?
Harvey smiles.
HARVEY CHURCH: The name’s Harvey. I was just catching up on old times. Elias is a dear friend of mine. We were thinking of becoming partners.
ELIAS: I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.
Harvey pats Elias on the shoulder
HARVEY CHURCH: Always the joker.
ISABELLE: Well, I’ll be seeing you. Must rush.
Isabelle leaves. Harvey and Elias retreat inside the house.
HARVEY CHURCH: So, what’s this old lady worth to you?
ELIAS: Get out Harvey before I throw you out.
HARVEY CHURCH: You wouldn’t last two seconds in a ring with me and you know it. Half of that is mine or I’ll be paying the old lady a visit. Now hand it over.
INT. LOCAL CAFE - LUNCH TIME
Chuck and Elias are seated opposite each other at a table. They both have cups of coffee in front of them. Elias has a pastry in his hands.
ELIAS: What is so significant that you couldn’t discuss over the phone?
Elias takes a bite out of the pastry.
CHUCK HUMPHREY: Elias, I’m scared.
ELIAS: Why would you be scared?
CHUCK HUMPHREY:The thing is, that there is no file.
ELIAS: Well it is seven years old.
CHUCK HUMPHREY: I’m afraid that there is a cover up going on and I’ve asked too many questions. The Captain called me into his office. He mentioned Josh. I never thought...
ELIAS: So the Captain’s involved?
CHUCK HUMPHREY: I hope not. There’s a lot of hints in the media that the station is corrupt but I always thought they were simply a bunch of jerks.
ELIAS: Where are these hints coming from?
CHUCK HUMPHREY: Josh Kajinski isn’t the only journalist to go missing. This could be too big for the both of us.
ELIAS: Maybe, I’ll just have to bury it.
CHUCK HUMPHREY: She won’t leave it lie. You don’t have a body and you don’t know who killed him. What are you going to do?
ELIAS: I’ll think of something.
Elias takes another bite out of the pastry.
CHUCK HUMPHREY: I don’t mean for you to lie, Elias.
ELIAS: Why, I’m as honest as they come Chuck. You should know that.
INT. INTERNET CAFE - DAY
Elias searches the local newspaper archive. He searches the last four weeks for articles written by Josh Kajinski. One of them is redacted. Elias makes a note of the date.
Elias reads more recent articles. He notes down on a piece of paper the name of a journalist, Miles Jordan.
EXT. LOCAL PARK - DAY
Elias greets MILES JORDAN the journalist, in a local park
MILES JORDAN: Forties, male, average height, slim, tossled hair, wearing a worn brown suit with an orange tie.
MILES JORDAN: I have to say, your face does look familiar Mr Duckworth and I never forget a face.
The two start walking slowly through the park in the same direction.
ELIAS: Do you know what Josh Kajinski wrote about a few days before he was murdered?
MILES JORDAN: That’s the kind of thing that could get me killed Mr Duckworth.
ELIAS: Doesn’t it come with the territory?
MILES JORDAN: It was about police collusion and a criminal by the name of...
ELIAS: Who?
Miles tenses up.
MILES JORDAN: Wait. I know who you are. You’re that con artist. The one who got three years for conning old ladies out of their money.
ELIAS: Answer the question Mr Jordan
MILES JORDAN: No. How could I trust you? A con artist? A convict?
ELIAS: You’ve got to trust somebody Mr Jordan.
MILES JORDAN: Yeah well, it sure ain’t gonna be you.