Awoken By A Ghost 

INT. LORB HEADQUARTERS (PRISON CELL)
The accountant is escorted back to the same room where he had previously been detained. After an hour, he is fed breakfast, while still bound. The accountant is fed a second meal several hours later. 
ANDREA : Well, at least they’re not going to kill you
ARNOLD: No, but once your boyfriend Mr Big catches me, I’m toast.
LORAZAR: Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Mr Big.
ANDREA: Honey, remember you told me about burning down a hotel by accident before. You need to cage your rage.

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY (REMOTE LOCATION) - NIGHT

Eventually Arnold is bundled into the back of a van once more. The journey lasts almost an hour. His binds are loosened. The door of the van is opened and he is allowed to find his feet on the ground before the van speeds away. 

LORAZAR : I can burn them right off
ARNOLD : Please don’t
LORAZAR: Not even just a little fireball?
ARNOLD : No.

The released prisoner feels a little chilly in the cold night air. The accountant manages to unbind himself after several minutes. 

LORAZAR : I met Houdini, you know. He gave me some tips.
ARNOLD: Isn’t it a bit late to be mentioning that now?
LORAZAR : Well, I did offer to burn them off you. It would have been much much faster. The accountant removes his blindfold and looks around. He is located on a road on the side of a hill on the outskirts of the city. ANDREA So, we’re back to square one.
ARNOLD: Not entirely. You must have been murdered for a reason. You must know something. Perhaps there was a dark secret you know about someone that they wanted kept hidden.
ANDREA : There are loads. There are too many to mention.
ARNOLD: Yes, but if you exclude embarrassing details of Mr Big and his bedroom performance, what are you left with? What business associates did he have?
ANDREA : You know me with names. I tend to forget them. I’m not good with faces either.
ARNOLD : Well think about it. Your future may depend on it. 

EXT. STREET IN THE CITY SUBURBS - NIGHT

Arnold hears the loud sound of the tyres of a car behind him. Arnold turns around and can see that a car is heading towards him at great speed. He runs behind a lamppost, hoping that it would offer him some protection. The vehicle which has three men inside crashes into the lamppost and comes to a stop. Their airbags are triggered. Arnold does not recognise them but starts running.

INT. POLICE STATION IN SUBURBS - NIGHT

The accountant slows to a jog when he sees a police station nearby. He enters the police station for safety purposes and approaches a police officer who is standing behind a desk. He is munching on a large sandwich and talking on the phone. When the police officer finishes talking to his Mother on the phone, he addresses the man in front of him.

ARNOLD : I’d like to report an attempted murder 
POLICEMAN BEHIND DESK: Take a seat and join the queue Arnold took a seat between a man dressed as a punk rocker and a large twenty two stone man who took up two seats and didn’t look very friendly. 
Punk Rocker - pink mohican, multiple piercings and tattoos, wearing a leather jacket with no sleeves, thirty two years old 
PUNK ROCKER: What are you in here for? 
ARNOLD: I wouldn’t like to say. It might prejudice my case. They may not know everything about me 
PUNK ROCKER They have me on an assault charge. It’s my third one this week. Wait till Sid Vicious hears about this. 
Arnold didn’t respond 
PUNK ROCKER: I bet you’re here for some white collar crime. Embezzling billions, that’s what I’d say. I’ve been done for five robberies. If you add them up together they come to sixty dollars and fifty two cents. If I had your know-how I’d probably make more money and get away with it too. 
Ten minutes later Detective Legowski enters the station.
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI Palmer, you’d better come with me. 
The accountant accompanies the Police Detective to his car. 

INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICE - NIGHT 

Eventually at 2am in the morning, Arnold is sitting at a table with a cup of tea and a half stale sandwich. Both Detective Legowski and Detective Cobalt are sitting opposite him. 

DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: Where have you been these last thirty-six hours Mr Palmer? 
ARNOLD: Oh, you know, here and there. 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: We’ve been tracking your movements and it’s like you disappeared off the grid. Your phone was located at your apartment but you weren’t. There are rumours on the QT that most of Fileas Bog’s staff have been eliminated. He hasn’t confirmed this, but you know, he isn’t the most forthcoming of individuals. You are the main suspect Mr Palmer. Even if I don’t get enough evidence to bring you down it’s my understanding that Mr Bog will put a contract on your head. Mr Bog is a powerful man with powerful friends and a lot of money. You’ll probably be a lot safer in prison. You’d have a free bed and free meals. Spill the beans Mr Palmer. Where were you? 
ARNOLD: Maybe you’d like to offer me a brochure of life on the inside. Detective Legowski, I’m tired and exhausted. I have to be in work in the morning. My boss won’t be happy if I miss two days in a row without contacting him. DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: Your boss won’t be happy if he finds out you’ve been arrested Mr Palmer. 
ARNOLD: All the same, I’m looking forward to a good nights sleep. Even if you don’t wheel a bed in here with a nice comfortable mattress and a soft pillow, I could conk out at any time. 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: Mr Palmer, we are the police. If you don’t respect us, we could have you thrown in jail for obstructing justice and withholding information. 
ARNOLD: I was investigating the murder of Andrea Fiddlestone. 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: Come now, Palmer, Miss Fiddlestone committed suicide. I investigated the matter myself. That case is closed. 
ARNOLD: How do you explain the fact that a red ribbon was attached to her clothing? 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: It was most likely a fashion statement. 
ARNOLD: It was attached to her butt, Detective Legowski. 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: Well some people go to extremes to get noticed. Besides, you didn’t tell me where you were, investigating this nonsense. 

Arnold closes his eyes, allows his head to rest on the table and drifts to sleep. The accountant wakes up and sees that Detective Legowski is still there.

DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: I’ve had enough of your contempt for the badge, Mr Palmer. You’re not in any condition to respond to my questions even if you did want to cooperate. I suggest you drop down to the station at 8pm tomorrow evening and we will resume from there. If you don’t I will have you arrested. Is that clear? 
ARNOLD: Clear Detective 

INT. FOYER OF LOCAL POLICE STATION - NIGHT 

On his way out of the Police Building, Arnold spots a familiar face. 

ARNOLD: Dad, what are you doing here? 
Arnold’s Father - five foot three inches tall, thinning white hair, sixty three years old, polite but prone to paranoid thoughts. 
ARNOLD’S FATHER: I just stopped by to make a complaint. 
ARNOLD: But it’s 3am in the middle of the night. Can’t it wait until the morning? 
ARNOLD’S FATHER: No son it can’t. 
ARNOLD: What is it now? 
ARNOLD’S FATHER: Well there was a group of teenagers throwing stones at our roof in the middle of the night. 
ARNOLD: Did mom hear it too? 
ARNOLD’S FATHER: No she didn’t. She’s probably still sleeping. 
ARNOLD: Well, if she didn’t hear it, then can’t you consider the possibility that it didn’t happen. Come on Dad, you have a history, just like Grandad. You have to keep taking pills and question things before you make allegations that are like… unfounded. 
ARNOLD’S FATHER: You’re a good kid. Can’t you just trust me for once? 
ARNOLD: Like the time you said that the television was sending you messages or the time you picked a fight with an old lady because you thought she was a wanted terrorist with a bomb in her handbag. Come on Dad, you have to admit that sometimes you can’t tell fantasy from reality. 

Ted Palmer bows his head and struggles to formulate a response. Arnold puts his arm around his Father’s shoulder 

ARNOLD: Come on Dad, lets go home. I think both of us need a good nights sleep. 

INT. ARNOLDS WORKPLACE -MORNING

MR KRONAUER:  Morning, Palmer (After Arnold walks into his office) 
ARNOLD: I’m sorry about yesterday, Mr Kronauer, I was laid low with the flu. I kept meaning to call but in the end I left it too late.
MR KRONAUER:  Sure you were my boy. We all need to kick loose sometimes. If you took the day off to drink tequilas, I’d say good on you. I’ve always thought that you need to loosen up and open up them shoulders. Frankly, you look terrible. I’d say you had twenty tequilas yesterday and are now the worse for wear. We’ve all done it, and to be sure in your case, it’s about time. 
ARNOLD: I really didn’t have twenty tequila’s Mr Kronauer. 
MR KRONAUER: Sure. Next thing you will tell me is that you were abducted by the mob. 
ARNOLD: Well.. 
MR KRONAUER: Have I ever told you that I enjoy fishing Arnold?
ARNOLD: Yes sir, you have. Many times 
MR KRONAUER: There’s nothing in life that can’t be traced back to fishing. Sometimes you get a big catch, sometimes you get a little catch. Its not the size of the catch that matters. Its all about taking it all in. Now, how is the Henderson file progressing? 
ARNOLD: I’m almost finished working on it. It could be reviewed by this afternoon. 
MR KRONAUER: That’s good news Palmer. I’ll schedule a meeting for the end of the week. 

EXT. STREET NEAR ARNOLDS APARTMENT - EVENING

On his way home from work Arnold notices a shaven headed man who stands over six foot tall and is strongly built, standing outside his apartment building. Arnold assumes that this is one of Mr Big’s employees. The accountant slowly turns around and walks back in the direction he had come from. 
ANDREA: Arnold, you can’t go home. Bruno is outside your apartment. He’s one of Bigsy’s most trusted bodyguards. ARNOLD: I know that. Where can I go? 
ANDREA: What about your parents house? 
ARNOLD: I don’t want to involve them. It’s bad enough that I’m a wanted man without bringing my family into it 
ANDREA: I know where you can go, I have a friend who could put you up for a few days until you find my killer. 
ARNOLD: How am I going to explain that I’m your friend? 
ANDREA: Leave that to me. She lives in an apartment off Rigoder Avenue. 

EXT. OUTSIDE RIGODER AVENUE APARTMENT - EVENING

Andrea directs Arnold to the apartment number off Rigoder Avenue. Outside of the dwelling is a man 
BIG TONY - relatively long brown hair/less than five feet tall. 

ANDREA: That’s big Tony. Be very careful. What he lacks in stature he makes up for in tenacity. Don’t ever say anything about his mother. He can be quite volatile. 
ARNOLD: I’d like to talk to Charlotte. Is she in? 
BIG TONY: Who are you? 
ARNOLD: I’m a friend of Andrea’s 
BIG TONY: What’s your name? 
ARNOLD: Bud Fladelstein 
BIG TONY: Never heard of you. Go take a walk. 
ARNOLD: I insist, she will want to talk to me 
BIG TONY: Well you’re not doing a good job of insisting. Watch the suit. I paid good money for it and if you crease the suit I’ll make you regret it. Now as I said, go for a walk. She doesn’t want to see you. 
ARNOLD: I’m more than a friend of Andrea’s. She speaks to me 
BIG TONY: So you’re from a looney bin then? 
ARNOLD: She told me you’re known as big Tony and you’re not to be messed with 
BIG TONY: Everyone knows that. Anything else Looney Tunes? 
ARNOLD: She says you’re the best looking man she’s ever been with. 
BIG TONY: Everyone knows that. 
ARNOLD: She said you’re bigger than big and have huge bulging biceps underneath that expensive suit. 
BIG TONY: Ok, I’ll let you talk to her. Big Tony knocks on the apartment door. 
CHARLOTTE: Who is it? 
BIG TONY: He claims to know Andrea. His name is Bud Fladelstein. 

The door opens and a beautiful woman peers out. She looks exactly like a woman who had called herself Bethany and saddled him with a huge hotel bill. 

CHARLOTTE: I don’t know him. 
ARNOLD: I know Andrea 
BIG TONY: Beat it Big Tony charges at the young man, pushing him back with great force until he hits the ground. Tony then rains down punch after punch 
CHARLOTTE: Go easy on him. 

Tony stops his assault and Charlotte stands over Arnold’s body. 

CHARLOTTE: What’s your game. 

ARNOLD I’m trying to find Andrea’s killer. 
CHARLOTTE: Everyone knows, Andrea killed herself. Detective Legowski said so 
ARNOLD: Yeah. Everyone keeps telling me. 
CHARLOTTE: So you’re not a government agent then?
ARNOLD: No CHARLOTTE: How disappointing. Andrea knew I had a soft spot for Government agents. 
ARNOLD: Maybe I can prove to you that I have a connection with Andrea. Think of something that only she would know. CHARLOTTE: On Christmas Eve. I had a fling with another man. She walked in on us. We were lying on a pool table. Who was he? 
ANDREA: I can’t remember. 
ARNOLD: What do you mean, you can’t remember? 
ANDREA: I was high as a kite. Oh I know. It was Doug Harrison, the Billionaire. 
ARNOLD: Doug Harrison 
BIG TONY: So, he knows things about you. 
CHARLOTTE: Andrea, used to talk about going back to her home town and opening a bar. What was she going to call it? ARNOLD: She was going to name it after your cat. Dino. 
CHARLOTTE: Come inside