Awoken By A Ghost (Part Three)

EXT. STREET 8 KILOMETRES FROM MR BIG’S HOUSE - DAY
Arnold Palmer is thrown out of a car into an alleyway. He suffers minor cuts to this hands bruises to his legs and ribs.
ANDREA: They will eventually kill you, you should know. 
ARNOLD : Thanks for the pep talk.
Arnold starts walking through a park with the intention of going to work
ARNOLD: I have no choice in the matter. I have to help the police track down the serial killer. If he is caught then your boyfriend will believe me.
ANDREA : What about my killer?
ARNOLD : Surely you know who killed you, right?”
ANDREA : Whoever it was, pushed me over the edge of the roof top from behind when I was admiring the view and hiding from danger.
ARNOLD : So you saw nothing?
ANDREA : Only a red ribbon that seemed to be in his hand. He grabbed me with his right hand around the throat before pushing me over the edge with his left hand. He also had two goldish rings on his right hand.
ARNOLD: What you need is the worlds greatest hand detective, not Arnold T Palmer.
ANDREA : For some reason Arnold, you are the only one that can hear me.
Arnold passes by a man in priest-like clothing.
MAN DRESSED IN MONKS ROBES: Peace be with you my friend. The kingdom of God is within you my brother.
The same woman Arnold had encountered the previous day appears out of nowhere with a large cream cake and flings it at him. 
ANGRY WOMAN: Die Barnabus die
Arnold ducks and the cake hits the preacher.
MAN DRESSED IN MONKS ROBES : Peace be with you, my sister
The Angry woman storms away
ANDREA : Help me Arnold, and I will be gone out of your life forever.
ARNOLD : I can’t think of a single reason why I’d like to help you. You deceived me. What happens anyway, if the girlfriend of a mob boss finds her killer?
ANDREA : So you think you can judge me now? You’re not so perfect. 
ARNOLD : I never said I was. I’m not judging you, but being the girlfriend of a mob boss doesn’t look good on your resume. There must be a different reason that you are stuck down here in the spirit world but I’m sure you can go find someone else to help you.
Arnold:  arrives ninety minutes late for work. His boss greets him with a smile on his face, until he sees the young accountant’s upturned collar. 
ARNOLD : I’ll fix it right away boss (Before sitting down at his desk)

INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICE - EVENING
Arnold visits Detective Legowski at the police department, who is sitting at his desk, admiring a picture from a glamour girl magazine. He stuffs it in his drawer once he sees Arnold approaching.
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI : Are you here to confess, Mr Palmer?
ARNOLD : No Detective Legowski, there was something I was afraid to tell you.
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: What was it?
ARNOLD : I think the murderer is the serial killer known as the Phantom Killer. He wore a hat and glasses and looked to be taller than average and aged in his fifties. You probably caught him on cctv in the area.
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: Is that right Palmer? You’ve changed your story and you expect me to believe you? Next thing I know you’ll expect me to believe that we managed to put a man on the moon.
ARNOLD: All you have to do is check the video footage in the area. The Phantom Killer most likely killed Mr Big’s men and his girlfriend. The reason I am here now is because Mr Big threatened to kill me. If you don’t track down the Phantom Killer, I’m a dead man.
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: I see, so you got to big for your boots. You killed too many people for Mr Big’s liking and now you expect us to bail you out. You put your hand in the cookie jar and had it snapped right off. We don’t bail out criminals in our line of business Mr Palmer. Now I want a confession from you about what really happened or I’m going to be watching your every move from now on. You won’t be able to scratch yourself without me knowing about it. I have a sixth sense for spotting criminals. My sixth sense has been honed from years and years of experience. It’s like I toss the dice and every time it tells me your guilty, so confess now before it’s too late.
ARNOLD: Don’t you think you’re being unreasonable Detective? Justice shouldn’t be based on the tossing of dice. 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI:  You may think you can outsmart me but I’m nearly thirty years in this business and you can’t fool me. I’m going to bring you down just like the Hurricane. 
ARNOLD: Wasn’t the Hurricane innocent Detective? 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: Not in my book. I know everything there is to know about police work. I’ve read all the books from Magnum PI to TJ Hooker. Nothing gets past me.
ARNOLD: Weren’t they tv shows Detective? 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: Of course not. 
ARNOLD: Can I go now Detective? 
DETECTIVE LEGOWSKI: You won’t be gone long. I’ll see to that
 
EXT. LOCAL PARK - EVENING 
Arnold goes into a nearby park and sits on an unoccupied bench. Mostly deserted apart from some kids playing basketball on a court a few dozen yards in front of him. 
ANDREA: Don’t you have something more exciting to be doing? You could be partying the night away. If you’re not going to catch my killer at least do something exciting instead 
ARNOLD: Look at you. You chose the easy life. What credentials do you need to be the wife of Mr Big? Good looks and a complete lack of conscience. 
ANDREA: You forgot tolerance. Mr Big can get quite annoyed at times. I’ve had several black eyes and bruising from Mr Big
ARNOLD: I can hear the violins playing now. 
ANDREA: You’re going to die soon anyway. You may as well find my killer while you’re at it. 
ARNOLD: Always thinking of yourself. You don’t even say please or thank you. 
ANDREA: Ok so. Pretty please with cherries on top and some sprinkles thrown in. 
ARNOLD: What did the bureaucrat in purgatory say to you? 
ANDREA: I didn’t get that far. As soon as i died, my spirit never left this world. It was like an out of body experience. 
ARNOLD: So you really don’t know why you are here. 
ANDREA: No, but I must be still here for having done something right in my life. I must have unfinished business.
ARNOLD: I’ll be paying off those bottles of Dom perignon for the rest of my life. 
ANDREA: On the bright side. Your life mightn’t last all that long. 
ARNOLD: Well I’m sure hell isn’t as bad as it is cooked up to be. 
ANDREA: Thanks, but I’d rather avoid it if I could. 
ARNOLD: Maybe your objective isn’t to find your killer but to help me with my life. 
ANDREA: Let’s face facts Arnold. Your love life is a lost cause. 
ARNOLD: Thanks 
ANDREA: The only reason I sat beside you was because you were the only one on your own and I was trying to escape Bigsy. 
ARNOLD: You really know how to cheer a guy up. There’s just no escaping you. 
An African American teenager who looks to be three stone overweight approaches Arnold with a basketball in his hand. 
ROLAND: Say, Mister would you like to shoot some hoops? 
ARNOLD: Sure Arnold climbs off the park bench and walks on to a basketball court several dozen yards in front of him 

EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - EVENING 
ARNOLD: So, what’s your name then? 
ROLAND: Roland Erickson
ARNOLD: Do you want to be a basketball player when you grow up? 
ROLAND: Yes sir, I want to play in the NBA. My mom says I’m wasting my time, but she doesn’t mind me playing as long as I do my homework. She doesn’t think I’ll make it, neither do my schoolmates or my teachers. I’d like to prove them all wrong. 
ARNOLD: I know what it’s like for people to not believe in you Roland. Sometimes it could be the best thing to happen to you so let’s get started, shall we. Are we taking shots or some one on one? 
ROLAND: Shots  

EXT. STREET NEAR ARNOLDS APARTMENT - NIGHT
Arnold is eighty metres from his apartment, when Andrea reappears. She is worried. 
ANDREA: Arnold the serial killer is waiting for you in his car just outside the apartment block. 
Arnold looks up and can see the Phantom Killer calmly getting out of his car. The accountant turns around and starts walking at pace in the opposite direction. Once he rounds the corner Arnold’s walk becomes a sprint. At the end of the next street Arnold turns left. He is aware of a derelict building only a short distance away. He opens the door as quietly as he can and enters. The serial Killer’s distinctive footsteps slow down. Arnold makes his way into the kitchen and hides behind the counter on the floor with his knees pressed against his chest. 
ANDREA: Arnold you can’t stay here. He will catch you. 
The Serial Killer enters and very slowly makess his way through he building. The serial killer produces a torch from his coat pocket. 
ANDREA: Arnold, I think I can help you. 
Andrea attempts to push over some kitchen items. Eventually a salt shaker topples over and falls on Arnolds toe. The gunman stands three yards in front of Arnold with his gun pointed straight at the accountant. Andrea topples a large saucepan onto the serial killer’s neck and shoulder. Arnold lunges straight at the gunman and pushes the gun holding arm away. Arnold punches the murderer on the chin with his other hand. The murderer falls to the ground. Arnold kicks the gun away and runs.

 INT. ARNOLDS APARTMENT - NIGHT
Arnold enters his apartment and his flat mate Frederick Tasselwat looks happy to see him.
FREDERICK: The police detective stopped by this morning.They asked me if I had noticed anything unusual about you the other day. I do remember your blood stained clothes. They told me they suspected you killed two mobsters. They asked me was this out of character. I tried to explain to them that I wasn’t aware of your dark side. I could go back to them and tell them about your bloodstained clothes and about the number of times you threatened me. The possibilities are endless unless I get my fair cut. 
Arnold doesn’t respond. 
FREDERICK: I want to live here rent free for as long as I like. I want to have free Coco Pops every morning and not Weetabix or Corn Flakes. I want to have everything paid for. 
ARNOLD: Go ahead. Tell Legowski everything you know. I don’t have that kind of money to pay you with. I’m broke as it is.
FREDERICK: I’m not going to make any rash decisions. I do open your post after all. I know how much money is in your bank account and how much money is on your credit card. All I’m asking from you is every cent you can spare. 
ARNOLD: Frederick, I’m not paying you a cent. If you want to tell Legowski that’s fine by me. I already explained to Legowski what happened. 
FREDERICK: Did he believe you? 
ARNOLD: I don’t know. If you lose me as a co-tenant, Frederick your next flat mate might not be so soft. 
FREDERICK: Maybe I was harsh. A few bob here and there when I need it wouldn’t go astray. I’m sure we can work things out. 
Arnold does not respond. 
FREDERICK: Who is your lady friend anyway? 
ARNOLD: What lady? 
FREDERICK: I hear you on the phone sometimes in the evening talking to a lady. Are you afraid to share her with the Fredmeister? 
ANDREA: Ugh, gross 
ARNOLD: I guess it’s nothing. Some annoying woman who won’t leave me alone. 
FREDERICK: Is she attractive? 
ARNOLD: I guess so, but she’s more hassle than she’s worth. 
FREDERICK: Well then you can give her my number. She sounds like she’s a walk in the park for the Fredmeister. 
ARNOLD: Well she is a bit clingy. She might give you a splitting headache.
FREDERICK: I’ll be the judge of that. 
ARNOLD: Ok I’ll give her your number and let her take it from there. I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t call you. She has a thing for accountants. 
FREDERICK: Make sure you send her my photo.Then she will definitely be hooked. I have a super smart geeky look with glasses. She’ll definitely fall for that one. I’ll send it on to you.