EXT. LAKE SOULMANE - TWENTY YEARS EARLIER
A ten year old boy is swimming in a lake but gets into trouble. He cries for help but can’t see anyone near him. He goes underneath the surface. A girl of similar age grabs hold of him and helps him swim to safety. The boy is laying on his back on the beach. The girl is crouched over him. Some people come to look.
ANDREA BANKS (TEN YEARS OLD) Are you ok?
The boy is still somewhat in shock but his eyes are opened
ANDREA BANKS (TEN YEARS OLD) Are you alright?
He smiles
CARLTON BANKS (TEN YEARS OLD) Never been better.
INT. CASERO’S RESTAURANT - NIGHT
A happy couple are seated at a table in a restaurant and recall their favourite memories
ANDREA BANKS: Dark hair, Five Feet Seven Inches, Hazel eyes, slim, attractive, well dressed, 29, Caucasian
CARLTON BANKS: Five Feet nine inches, thin, 30, Dark hair, Caucasian
ANDREA BANKS: Do you remember the time you climbed a tree and crawled through my window just to avoid my Dad
CARLTON BANKS: He never really did like me.
ANDREA BANKS: Don’t be silly. Of all the boys who were interested in me, you were the one he least detested
CARLTON BANKS: Is that supposed to be a compliment?
ANDREA BANKS: Sort of
CARLTON BANKS: Do you remember the first time we met?
ANDREA BANKS: Vividly. It was High School. It was a comic book convention. I was working part time as an administrator and you..
CARLTON BANKS: I was dragged along. Chester, my friend who is big into all things comics, dragged me along.
ANDREA BANKS: Chester? Have I even met Chester?
CARLTON BANKS: You don’t remember the other time?
ANDREA BANKS: What other time?
CARLTON BANKS: I was ten and I was swimming in a lake with my brother. I got into difficulty and you along with my brother helped me back to safety. You always were a strong swimmer.
ANDREA BANKS: I’ve saved so many lives. I guess that one slipped my mind
She smiles
ANDREA BANKS: I’m messing with you. Of course I remember
She reaches out a hand and touches his lightly
CARLTON BANKS: No you don’t
ANDREA BANKS: Yes I do.
CARLTON BANKS: What would you do without me holding you back?
ANDREA BANKS: I’d probably see the world. Travel and stuff.
CARLTON BANKS: I knew I was like a chain around your neck. You could have had Jack Rivers instead of me.
ANDREA BANKS: Experiences aren’t much Carlton unless we have someone to share them with. Sure, Jack Rivers was better looking, more athletic and funny, but he didn’t have your.... Besides, what would you do if you didn’t have me?
CARLTON BANKS: I’d probably cry every day, every hour and be totally unhappy. I don’t even want to go there.
ANDREA BANKS: You’d probably marry a supermodel and have ten kids.
CARLTON BANKS: If I had ten kids, I’d still probably cry all day.
EXT. SYMONDS STREET, CITY - 11:00PM
Carlton & Andrea are walking on their way home. In front of them are three rough looking men
THUG ONE: Blonde hair, blue eyes, caucasian, 26, unshaven, wearing well worn clothes, five feet ten inches, holding a baseball bat
THUG TWO: Six Feet tall, unshaven, brown eyes Mexican in origin, 28, wearing jeans and a Hawaiian t-shirt, Shoes have holes in them, thin
THUG THREE: Five Feet seven inches, longer than average brown hair, light blue eyes, slim, 25, caucasian.
THUG ONE: Going somewhere hot stuff
The couple ignore him and walk past the three men.
THUG ONE: I’m talking to you
He taps the baseball bat against his left hand. The couple keep walking until the thug with the baseball bat prods the woman with it.
CARLTON BANKS: Leave us alone, please.
THUG ONE: Please? Aren’t we well brought up with our fancy etiquette.
Carlton receives a blow to his right arm and upper body followed by a punch to the chin which renders him momentarily unconscious.
INT. HOSPITAL WARD - 1:30AM
Carlton awakes. Standing over him is a Police Detective.
In the background a woman can be heard crying out in pain and the muffled sound of doctors and nurses talking.
DETECTIVE GRUBER: Male, Six Feet Two Inches, 41, Full head of dark hair with flecks of grey, light blue eyes, strong build, wearing a well worn brown suit, blue shirt and red tie.
DETECTIVE GRUBER: Mr Banks, I am Detective Gruber. I’d like to know about the events of several hours ago. Can you tell me what you can remember?
CARLTON BANKS: Where is my wife? How is she?
DETECTIVE GRUBER: She’s dead, Mr Banks
Carlton is tormented with a mixture of rage, shock and horror.
CARLTON BANKS: What happened?
DETECTIVE GRUBER: That’s what I’m here to establish Mr Banks. Nobody else was there at the time. What do you remember?
Detective Gruber takes out a pen and paper and starts making notes.
CARLTON BANKS: I remember three guys stalking us. One of them hit me with a baseball bat and another one punched me.
DETECTIVE GRUBER: So, you don’t remember running from the scene?
CARLTON BANKS: I ran?
DETECTIVE GRUBER: Yes. Several people said you asked for help but they didn’t actually witness the attack. Can you tell me what these men looked like?
CARLTON BANKS: One was Blonde, average height, another looked Mexican, six feet, dark hair, and the third guy was smaller than average with brown hair.
DETECTIVE GRUBER: What were they wearing?
CARLTON BANKS: They all wore shabby clothes. Jeans a Hawaiian t-shirt, I can’t remember exactly
DETECTIVE GRUBER: You can’t remember. Well, we’ll have an artist, work on it when you’re feeling better and we’ll have you go over a few photos of ex-cons. We’re not ruling out your involvement Mr Banks.
CARLTON BANKS: You’re not seriously suggesting that I had something to do with this?
DETECTIVE GRUBER: We’re not ruling it out. Your wife’s Father has come forward. He says that there was a hefty life insurance policy taken out months ago. You stand to earn a lot of money from the policy.
CARLTON BANKS: I didn’t know anything about any policy other than the one for the house? Are you suggesting I made the whole thing up and did it myself? Are you out of your mind?
DETECTIVE GRUBER: At this point Mr Banks, we are only exploring the possibilities. You could have hired these men to kill your wife or you could be telling the truth. The fact that you ran to save yourself is a little suspicious.
CARLTON BANKS: I don’t remember running.
DETECTIVE GRUBER: As I indicated, there are a number of witnesses who said you ran. For the moment I suggest you get some more rest.
INT. HOSPITAL WARD - MORNING
An African American police detective approaches Carlton Banks
Detective Plummer: Five Feet Ten Inches, 38, Slim, African American, blue eyes, clean shaven, neatly dressed, wearing a suit.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Mr Banks, let me apologise firstly for my colleagues insensitivity. How are you feeling today?
CARLTON BANKS: Like my wife’s been murdered and I’m the prime suspect.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: I know how you are feeling. I lost my own wife some years ago. It’s something that is hard to come to terms with. I don’t...
CARLTON BANKS: I don’t think you’ll ever understand how much I love my wife. She was everything to me.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Perhaps I should give you some time. My name is Detective Plummer. If you need me for anything just blink twice.
CARLTON BANKS: I’m in no mood for fairytales Detective Plummer. My wife has just died
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: No Mr Banks, but I’m here for you if you need me.
INT. HOSPITAL WARD - AFTERNOON
Carlton Banks Mother and Brother are by his bedside when he wakes up.
Hilda Banks: 64, Five Feet Four Inches tall, Grey curly Hair, Slightly over weight, blue eyes, Caucasian, Wearing a blue cardigan over a long floral skirt, white shoes and brown tights.
Henry Banks: 32, Six Feet Tall, Dark hair, Thin build, brown eyes, Wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie
MRS HILDA BANKS: It’s good to see you son. It’s great that you’re alive.
CARLTON BANKS: Right now, mom I wish I was dead and Andrea were alive.
HENRY BANKS: That’s no way to treat your Mother.
CARLTON BANKS: Well sorry if I’m not in the best mood right now.
HENRY BANKS: Well, we’re family, you could treat us with more respect.
Carlton pauses for a moment
CARLTON BANKS: Are Andrea’s parents here?
MRS HILDA BANKS; No son, they’re not here
CARLTON BANKS: They think I did it. Don’t they?
MRS HILDA BANKS: Of course not
CARLTON BANKS: They were never too fond of me. No matter how much I loved Andrea, they would never accept me.
MRS HILDA BANKS: They love you almost as much as we do. You’ll see.
INT. HOME OF ANDREA’S PARENTS - DAY
MR SPIELMAN: SIX FEET TALL, WHITE HAIR, THIN, 60, BROWN EYES
MRS SPIELMAN: FIVE FEET EIGHT INCHES TALL, SLENDER, DYED DARK HAIR, 58
Mr Spielman is in conversation with some of his business associates at the funeral of Andrea. Carlton approaches him
CARLTON BANKS: Mr Spielman, can I talk to you?
Mr Spielman continues concentrating on the conversation with his business associates
CARLTON BANKS: Mr Spielman....
(Pauses before speaking in a loud voice)
God damn it you think I had some involvement in it. Well I didn’t. I loved Andrea. I worshipped her. She was everything to me.
Mr Spielman looks as if he is looking right through Carlton. Carlton feels humiliated. His mother comes over to him and puts his hand on his shoulder.
MRS HILDA BANKS: It’s alright son. Everyone knows that you didn’t do it. Everyone knows that you loved her.
MR SPIELMAN: He didn’t love her. He was just a parasite. Andrea was the breadwinner. Carlton here is just a second rate journalist. If he did it, justice will be done but he is nothing without Andrea. He’ll just be a bum on the street.
MRS HILDA BANKS: You don’t know my son. He loved her and she loved him. His world has been destroyed because of this
MR SPIELMAN: Your son doesn’t know the meaning of the word love. Even if he wasn’t involved, he still didn’t love her.
CARLTON BANKS: Even Andrea admitted that you never liked any of her male friends. How can you be so cold and so blind to other peoples feelings?
MR SPIELMAN: Get out of my house. Get out now
Carlton, Henry and their mother leave without further protest.
INT. HOSPITAL WARD - EVENING (EIGHT YEARS EARLIER)
A middle aged man is dying of cancer. He is surrounded by his wife and young son.
FERNANDO CORTEZ: 52, Six Feet tall, Hispanic descent, Dark hair and beard, Blue eyes, Slim
RENO CORTEZ: 9 Years old, Hispanic descent, Dark Hair, Hazel eyes, Four Feet Four inches tall, thin frame.
FERNANDO CORTEZ
(speaking through pain)
Reno
RENO: Yes father?
FERNANDO CORTEZ: Promise me you’ll be good to your Mother and always do what she says. You won’t always agree with her, but you should always respect her.
RENO: When are you coming home?
FERNANDO CORTEZ: Reno, it looks like I won’t be coming home.
RENO: Where will you go?
FERNANDO CORTEZ: Reno, I have something for you. I don’t get you very much but this is special. Check in the drawer. You’ll find in my wallet, three baseball cards.
(He pauses for breath).
I want you to hold onto them until they are worth a lot of money.
As he says this Reno removes three baseball cards from his Fathers wallet
FERNANDO CORTEZ: Maybe one day they will pay for your college education.
RENO: I don’t want to go to college. I want you to come home. I don’t want this. I want you.
FERNANDO CORTEZ: Reno..
Reno runs out of the hospital ward and out of the hospital building. He sits down on the steps and sniffles as he looks at each of the baseball cards.
INT. OFFICE OF LORRIMER & CO - MORNING
Mr Lorrimer calls Carlton into his office. Carlton is a journalist at a magazine publisher.
MR LORRIMER: FIVE FEET ELEVEN INCHES, 40, BROWN HAIR, BROWN EYES, WELLL DRESSED IN A NAVY SUIT AND WHITE SHIRT
MR LORRIMER: Carlton are you ok?
CARLTON BANKS: Yes I’m fine
MR LORRIMER: Frankly Carlton I haven’t published a piece you wrote in almost two weeks. It’s obvious your head is elsewhere.
CARLTON BANKS: Boss, you need to approach my work from a different angle. Then you’ll see it really is some of my best work.
MR LORRIMER: Carlton for the past four years you’ve been a political commentator and you weren’t our worst one. Now you’re writing about Daffodils and Tulips and things that people interested in politics don’t want to read about. You’re a political correspondent not a gardening expert.
CARLTON BANKS: You overlooked my piece on Gummi Bears sir.
MR LORRIMER: Carlton, it’s not what we are looking for. I think you should take a few weeks off..
CARLTON BANKS: I don’t want a few weeks off
MR LORRIMER: Well it’s obvious that your work is being affected by your family life. I’m not going to fire you Carlton. I just think you should take some time off.
CARLTON BANKS: Well, Whoopadee dee. You’re not going to fire me. Thank heavens for that.
MR LORRIMER: Not every one can launch themselves straight into their job. We’re not all machines Carlton.
CARLTON BANKS: I don’t want the time off ok. I’ll just sit around and feel sorry for myself.
MR LORRIMER: Which is what you’re doing in here anyway. Go see the world Carlton. Take a break
CARLTON BANKS: What are you now? Mother Teresa?
MR LORRIMER: You’ve been through hell Carlton, but don’t let your past ruin your future.
CARLTON BANKS: Yeah well, maybe I don’t have a future. Maybe I’m not lucky like everyone else and have a picture-book life.
MR LORRIMER : Come back when you’re ready Carlton.
INT. MAIN OFFICE OF LORRIMER AND CO - MORNING
Once Carlton leaves the Editorial Office and enters the main open plan office, there is a hushed silence as if everyone has stopped talking.
PETE CALLAGHAN: Bald with brown hair on the sides, 42, Six feet two inches tall, slim, Light Blue eyes, Wearing a white shirt and red and black tie.
NADINE PALMER: 29, Dark relatively short hair, Attractive, brown eyes, glasses. Five Feet Seven inches, slim, Well dressed.
CARLTON BANKS: You all think I did it don’t you? Well I’ve got news for you, one of you will be next. That’s what you all think. That I’m some kind of cold blooded monster.
PETE CALLAGHAN: No Carlton that’s not what we all think. I mean Hirst and some of the others were having bets as to whether you did it or not but the rest of us, are here for you man.
CARLTON BANKS: Well Pete at least your honest. That’s what makes you such a lousy journalist.
As Carlton speaks he is making his way slowly through the office.
NADINE PALMER: Pot Kettle Black
CARLTON BANKS: You all think I can’t write
PETE CALLAGHAN: You know Nadine is only playing with you Carlton. You’re a good writer man. She doesn’t mean it.
NADINE PALMER: Yes I do
PETE CALLAGHAN: Look Carlton, apart from Nadine and Hirst and some of their friends and the entire fashion section the rest of us think you’re a stand up guy. You’re just going through a phase.
CARLTON BANKS: Well, thanks for the talk Pete. You just left me feeling on top of the world. And on that note it is adios from me.
Carlton walks out of the office.