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INT. JOSH'S SHOLTON HOME (MAIN ROOM) - NIGHT

Harvey is sitting down watching TV with the sound turned down. Officer Drake is standing up.

OFFICER DRAKE: Do you think you can manage it from here? I’d really like to get back.

HARVEY CHURCH: Would I steal candy from a baby?

OFFICER DRAKE: Most men wouldn’t

HARVEY CHURCH: There ain’t no way those scumbags in there are going to get out of this situation alive. I’ve got twenty grand riding on it.

Officer Drake leaves.

INT. JOSH'S SHOLTON HOME, SMALL ROOM

Elias removes his handcuffs and quietly moves toward the window and opens it gently.

CHUCK HUMPHREY (in a whisper) Elias, what about us?

ELIAS: Don’t you trust me?

CHUCK HUMPHREY : No.

Elias climbs out and gently shuts the window.

JOSH: He’ll be back

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Not the Elias that I know.

INT. JOSH'S SHOLTON HOME (MAIN ROOM) - NIGHT

Harvey is watching television when a baseball comes through the window and hits him on the head. The baseball has a message on it. “Come get me, you big yellow wimp.”

SMALL ROOM

Harvey strides into the room where the captives are held. He sees that Elias is missing. He grabs his gun and races out of the house. 

EXT. JOSH'S SHOLTON HOME - NIGHT

Harvey sees Elias in the distance running away. He shoots, but Elias keeps running. Harvey climbs into his car and drives after him.

EXT. FIELD NEAR JOSH'S HOME - NIGHT

Elias keeps running and Harvey continues driving his car at a fast pace towards Elias. Elias runs out of the way and Harvey tries to stop but his momentum takes him towards a ravine edge. The car teeters on the brink.

HARVEY CHURCH: Help

ELIAS: Now why would we want to help you?

HARVEY CHURCH: We could split the reward money

ELIAS: No deal.

HARVEY CHURCH: Sixty forty

ELIAS: I wouldn’t worry Harvey. You’re a ghost. Remember.

Elias walks away and the car eventually plummets down into the ravine.

INT. JOSH'S SHOLTON HOME (SMALL ROOM)

Elias enters the small room where Josh and Chuck are still handcuffed.

JOSH: I told you he’d come back

Elias proceeds to uncuff them.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Yeah well, he must have been conflicted.

ELIAS: Something tells me I’m growing on you Chuck.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Where’s Harvey?

ELIAS: He always did have a burning ambition.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: What did you do Elias?

ELIAS: You’d better get out of here before Vance arrives. 

The men climb to their feet.

Elias addresses Josh and hands over a bag

Harvey had a stash in the boot of his car. It should keep you going for a while. 

He pauses

Chuck, take the car and get him out of here quickly. I’ll handle Vance.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Vance won’t believe you. He’ll kill you Elias.

ELIAS: I’ve got to try Chuck, but, the only way he’ll believe me is if Josh keeps a low profile. Do you understand Josh?

JOSH: Why are you doing this?

ELIAS: God only knows.

EXT. OUTSIDE JOSH'S SHOLTON HOME - NIGHT

Mr Vance and three of his bodyguards exit their car and approach the house.

MR VANCE: I’ve been looking forward to this day for a very long time.

INT. JOSH’S SHOLTON HOME - NIGHT

Mr Vance enters the house and sees Elias sitting at a table waiting.

MR VANCE: Where is he?

ELIAS: Dead

MR VANCE: And Mr Church?

ELIAS: Wounded. We crossed paths. You said previously you didn’t care who got Kajinsky. You also said you would pay ten grand to me if I killed him or brought him to you.

MR VANCE: Nobody plays games with me, Duckworth. Kajinsky has been dead a long time. I want to make sure of it, before I commit to any financial reward.

ELIAS: Turn left out that door for about four hundred yards and you will find a ravine. At the bottom of that ravine is a burnt out car with the burnt out body of one, Josh Kajinsky.

Mr Vance nods, for one of his men to go check out the ravine.

MR VANCE: Burnt? How convenient.

ELIAS: If they can’t trace his DNA, they will be able to trace his dental records. The police are on your side are they not, Mr Vance? It will check out. And you can pay me what is owed to me.

MR VANCE: Church was to check in with me every half hour. He didn’t check in with me in just over an hour, so if you don’t mind I asked Drake to tag along.

Officer Drake enters the room.

MR VANCE: Where’s Harvey?

ELIAS: Run away, like the chicken that he is.

OFFICER DRAKE: I’m guessing that that’s Harvey’s car at the bottom of the ravine, with Harvey in it.

ELIAS: I got the jump on Harvey and took his gun. He ran out. I shot at him, may have wounded him and he kept running. While all this was going on, Josh took Harvey’s car. He tried to run me down. I shot at him and he went over the ravine.

OFFICER DRAKE: He’s lying. What happened to Chuck?

ELIAS: He was the first of us to make a run for it. He got past Harvey and took my car. 

OFFICER DRAKE: You expect us to believe that all three of you escaped at the one time.

ELIAS: Well Chuck is one regular Houdini. He uncuffed all three of us before saying it was every man for himself. When he distracted Harvey, I managed to get the gun.

OFFICER DRAKE: Why did you stay behind? Why are you still here?

ELIAS: I have no car and am owed ten grand. If I was trying to help Josh, why wouldn’t I just call the cavalry?

Mr Vance removes a gun from his clothing

MR VANCE: This here is what I like to call my truth gun. There is one bullet in this gun so you have a five out of six chance of survival.

He points the gun at Elias

One last time. Are you telling the truth?

ELIAS: Yes

Mr Vance pulls the trigger but the bullet doesn’t fire

MR VANCE: One more time, Duckworth.

ELIAS: I just want to get paid Mr Vance. You said you only cared about the end result.

Mr Vance pulls the trigger again and the bullet doesn’t fire.

OFFICER DRAKE: He’s lying. He has to be.

MR VANCE: If I find that you’re playing me for a fool, Duckworth, you will find out what it is to feel pain. I know you have a daughter. I know you care about her, so you better not toy with me. 

ELIAS: I know better than to play games with a powerful man.

MR VANCE: I’ll be watching you Duckworth. Time reveals all.

INT. DENTIST OFFICE - MORNING

Elias walks into Dr Schreiner’s office

ELIAS: Dr Schreiner, I told your receptionist that it was important and you wouldn’t mind me interrupting your break.

DR SCHREINER: What is it Elias?

ELIAS: It’s a matter of life and death.

EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY

Elias stands in a graveyard looking down at a headstone.

ELIAS: You were right ma. I always was a good for nothing

Sirens blaring in the background.

But even a good for nothing can become something.

INT. COURTROOM IN THE CITY - DAY

Elias is sitting in the courtroom, waiting to be called when Officer Goodbody approaches him quietly.

OFFICER GOODBODY: Elias, as you are aware, you have stepped out of line. I thought you were making good progress. Your boss from the restaurant was very pleased with you. Frankly, you can’t keep breaking the rules. I’ll be recommending six months jail time. It’s the best that I can do.

ELIAS: Do you think can I get a cell with a view of the ocean?

OFFICER GOODBODY: There’s nothing else I can do for you Elias.

INT. STATE PRISON VISITING ROOM - DAY

Elias enters the visiting room where he sees Cassandra. He smiles at her but she isn’t happy to see him.

CASSANDRA: I know you killed him. I know you killed Josh for the money.

ELIAS: I haven’t killed anybody in my life. 

CASSANDRA: Josh is dead. You violated your parole to kill him. How could you?

ELIAS: Did somebody get to you?

CASSANDRA:Tell me what happened.

ELIAS: This is not the time or the place

CASSANDRA: I let you into our home.

ELIAS: I can’t tell you what happened but I can tell you what he did for me. My father was a con artist. He brought me with him. For the most part he had medicine and potions that he would sell as miracle cures. One of them resulted in a woman becoming seriously ill. A group of men had their revenge. I ran away. I was little more than nine years old. I had no mother or Father and the only thing I had learned was how to con people out of their money.

CASSANDRA: Does this have a fairy tale ending Elias? One where everyone else lives?

ELIAS: Josh wrote a book that featured a boy who lost his parents and had to fend for himself. I had become hard because I thought nobody cared about me and the only person I could rely on was myself. Reading that book helped me get over the line. It helped me feel better about myself.

CASSANDRA: So you claim Josh was your inspiration and you destroyed him.

ELIAS: I didn’t destroy him.

CASSANDRA: Then what did you do Elias? 

Cassandra stands up

ELIAS: I’m...

CASSANDRA: Let me guess. You’re trying.

I/E. ISABELLE KAJINSKA'S HOME - DAY

Chuck, carrying a large bag, rings the doorbell of Isabelle’s home. Cassandra answers

CASSANDRA: What do you want?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: May I come in?

Cassandra retreats from the doorway and Chuck follows her inside.

ISABELLE: Why, hello Chuck.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Mrs Kajinska

CASSANDRA: What is it?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Before the police arrived, we removed some items from Josh’s house that we believe you would want to see. They are undelivered letters to the both of you. There are more than sixty in total.

CASSANDRA: Why now?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: We knew that Josh would want you to have them and we didn’t know if you would ever get to see them.

CASSANDRA: What happened that night.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: I can’t say

CASSANDRA: Did you cause his death?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Cassandra, I’m a police officer. I’m here to uphold the law.

CASSANDRA: Where have I heard that before?

ISABELLE: Would you like some tea, Chuck?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Ordinarily I would, Mrs Kajinska but I don’t want to outstay my welcome.

ISABELLE: Don’t mind Cassie. She’s just blowing off steam. Deep down she knows, that you’re one of the good guys.

INT. 224 EAST SUSSEX STREET, CLIFF MERRIT’S HOME - EVENING

Cliff Merrit answers the door to Chuck Humphrey

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Mr Merrit, I have some good news. May I come in?

CLIFF: Did the Kings odds improve?

Cliff leads him to the kitchen.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: A teenage boy confessed to stealing money from your house a few weeks back. He says it’s all there.

Chuck leaves a bag of money on the kitchen table. Cliff goes through it.

CLIFF: It looks a little short

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Well maybe he bought some candy?

CLIFF: Funny, the guy who stole the money didn’t look like no teenager.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Well he did look mature.

CLIFF: Can I see him?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: I promised him I wouldn’t tell.

CLIFF: Oh well, I have a good feeling about the Kings tonight.

EXT. STATE PRISON BUILDING - DAY

Elias leaves the prison behind and starts to walk out into the street. In front of him are Mr and Mrs Socovich and Loren

MR SOCOVICH: She wanted to see you. Don’t ask me why.

LOREN: I missed you Daddy

ELIAS: I’m sorry that you have to see me like this.

LOREN: You don’t have to tell me anything. I just want you back.

ELIAS: From now on I promise not to lie to you ever again. I didn’t captain a cruise ship around the world or become an astronaut. I want you to love me for who I am, not who I say I am.

LOREN: Willie Boville’s dad says that life would be dull if everyone told the truth all the time.

ELIAS: I don’t deserve you Loren. You’ve turned out alright.

LOREN: Does this mean we can go ice skating and bowling and go to a water park?

ELIAS: One thing at a time, Loren. I can only promise that your Father will do whatever he can to live up to your expectations.

INT. SCHOOL FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, TEACHERS ROOM - DAY

MS PEMBLETON: Cassandra, you know that child you had last year?

CASSANDRA: Which child?

MS PEMBLETON: Loren Duckworth

CASSANDRA: What about her?

MS PEMBLETON: Well, you told me that she told a lot of tall tales.

CASSANDRA: Well, it’s her father’s fault.

MS PEMBLETON: Only this year she said he was a waiter. Just a waiter, I said? Just a waiter, she said. She must have opened her eyes.

CASSANDRA: Yeah. Something must have opened her eyes.

EXT. STREET IN ELIAS NEIGHBOURHOOD - DAY

Chuck notices a graffiti artist painting a wall

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Hey kid, how would you like to make fifty bucks

GRAFFITI ARTIST: You’re a real big spender huh?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: How about I give you fifty bucks and don’t throw you in jail for vandalising property?

INT. ELIAS STREET, SURVEILLANCE VAN - DAY

Two men inside a surveillance van are listening into Elias house. Chuck knocks on the door of the van. They remain quiet but worried.

CHUCK HUMPHREY (O.S.)

Come on open up. Somebody has just vandalised your van. I know you’re in there. 

One of the surveillance men covers up the equipment and opens the door slightly.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Come on. I have something to show you.

The surveillance man carefully climbs out of the van and closes the door behind him.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: We have a situation here

The surveillance man looks at the side of the van. It is painted in colourful writing with a large message that reads: This is a surveillance van

CHUCK HUMPHREY: I’m going to need to take a look inside.

The surveillance van speeds away, with an open rear door. The surveillance man outside the van, chases after it.

The graffiti artist stands beside Chuck.

GRAFFITI ARTIST: Aren’t you supposed to chase after them?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Hell no.

INT. ELIAS HOUSE - DAY

Elias is packing up his belongings when Cassandra walks in.

CASSANDRA: Are you moving out?

ELIAS: I figure it’s for the best. There’s no point in staying somewhere where you’re not wanted. 

CASSANDRA: What are you going to do now?

ELIAS: I’ll find somewhere with a roof over my head.

CASSANDRA: What about Chuck? He seems very loyal.

ELIAS: Chuck is Chuck.

CASSANDRA: Well it looks tidier than it’s ever been.

ELIAS: Why are you here?

CASSANDRA: I’ve been doing some thinking. 

She pauses 

I don’t think you killed Josh

ELIAS: I may as well have

CASSANDRA: Tell me what happened.

ELIAS: I’m not your hero Cassandra. I’m just a guy who can’t stop lying.

CASSANDRA: That woman was really your mother. Those tears were real. I think you’re trying. I think there’s something...

ELIAS: I wish I could wave a magic wand and get rid of all the bad stuff in my past and what’s left of my life. 

CASSANDRA: I have so many questions Elias. Are you going to leave them all unanswered?

ELIAS: Josh died because he always wanted to reveal the truth. He was a maverick.

Elias picks up his suitcase

CASSANDRA: I want you to stay. I just want to talk. Can’t you humour me?

ELIAS: It’s an imperfect world, Cassandra. There are no good guys. Just different shades of grey.

Elias walks out the door. Cassandra follows.

CASSANDRA: Elias. Please.

Chuck is waiting in a car. Elias puts his suitcase in the boot and climbs in the passenger seat.

Cassandra retreats back inside the house. She hears a noise coming from the spare room. She enters. 

SPARE ROOM

The train set is fully operational, running along a winding track. Cassandra tries to reign in her emotions.

INT. CHUCK’S CAR (STATIONARY) - DAY

Chuck turns on the ignition as Elias sits into the passenger seat.

CHUCK: Are you sure you know what you’re doing?

ELIAS: Its for the best

CHUCK: It’s the best thing for her brother but is it the best thing for you?

ELIAS: Are you going to be this annoying for the rest of our partnership together?

Chuck drives away.

CHUCK: Humphrey and Duckworth. It has a ring to it.

ELIAS: Duckworth and Associates more like.

INT. LOCAL CAFE - DAY

Chuck and Elias are seated when waitress Jane Doe approaches.

JANE DOE: Ah, the guy with the baseball. I see your fashion sense has improved. 

CHUCK: That must be my influence.

JANE DOE: Just what line of business are you in? Robbery, extortion, crime of an improper nature...

ELIAS: Aren’t they all improper?

JANE DOE: No jumping out of burning buildings, running from cops or playing with guns?

ELIAS: Nah. A pretty uneventful nine months if you ask me.

JANE DOE: No more tall stories?

ELIAS: Every day is a new day, Miss Doe.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Even I don’t know what that means.

JANE DOE: What’ll it be?

ELIAS: Is there a Mr Doe?

JANE DOE: Yeah. He’s built like a tank and doesn’t take kindly to old men hitting on his girl.

ELIAS: I think I’ll stick with a Cappuccino so.