Project 15: Part Three

INT. LOCAL SUPERMARKET - EVENING

Elias is finished paying for his groceries when Chuck approaches him.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Are you sure you’ve got enough food there Elias.

ELIAS: I like to be well stocked

Roger Merrit tips Elias on the shoulder. 

ROGER MERRIT: Elias

Elias turns around. CLIFF MERRIT stands beside his brother.

CLIFF MERRIT: 30’s, tall, thin, dour.

ELIAS: Roger

CHUCK HUMPHREY: You two know each other.

ROGER MERRIT: This is my brother Cliff. You said you knew him.

ELIAS: I thought I did

CLIFF: There’s something familiar about you.

Chuck hands over his shopping items to the checkout lady.

ELIAS: A lot of people say the same thing.

CLIFF: A guy robbed me. Thursday night. It wasn’t you was it?

ELIAS: Well, nobody ever accused me of that before.

Chuck gathers up his items and hands over money.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: I’m a police officer Mr Merrit. Elias is as honest as they come. He was with me that night.

ROGER MERRIT: Come on Cliff. He’s ok. He’s one of us.

CLIFF: Sorry. I guess I just get paranoid that’s all. Don’t mind me.

ELIAS: Well, I hope you catch the culprit. There’s too much crime going around.

INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON

Cassandra is wrapping up for the day after teaching her third grade class.

CASSANDRA: Ok kids, lets go home. See you all tomorrow and don’t forget your homework.

A pupil named LUANDE approaches Cassandra.

LUANDE: 8, male, African American, kind and innocent.

LUANDE: Mrs Farmer, I think you’re the best teacher I’ve ever had

CASSANDRA: Luande, that’s because I’m the only teacher you’ve ever had. Now, you’re mother will be worried about you.

LUANDE: I hate leaving.

Luande leaves. MISS CAPELA knocks on the door and 

MISS CAPELA: Cassandra, there’s a man asking for you?

CASSANDRA: Is he tall dark and handsome

MISS CAPELA: He might be

CASSANDRA: Well, tell him to go home. He couldn’t possibly be for me.

Elias enters the classroom and Miss Capela leaves. Cassandra cleans the whiteboard.

CASSANDRA: Elias. What are you doing here?

ELIAS: I thought I’d pay you a visit. Your mother told me you work here.

CASSANDRA: Is this stage one of the stalking hypothesis?

Cassandra tidy’s up by removing items from the desks of her pupils.

ELIAS: Well there’s a thin line between stalking and being plain old friendly.

CASSANDRA: I told you, I don’t do dates anymore.

ELIAS: You shouldn’t be afraid of a little friendly conversation.

CASSANDRA: Did you find Josh?

ELIAS: I’m still looking.

CASSANDRA: My mother is paying you good money. I hope you’re not taking advantage of her.

ELIAS: I wouldn’t dream of it.

Cassandra approaches her desk and tidies up some educational books

CASSANDRA: She really likes you. I wouldn’t want you to let her down. She loved Josh as much as any mother could.

ELIAS: Trust me on this. If he is out there I will find him.

CASSANDRA: Can I help?

ELIAS: It might be too dangerous.

Cassandra places some exercise books in her large bag.

CASSANDRA: If it helps, I’m willing to do anything.

ELIAS: Did you know anything about what Josh was writing in the last week or so before his disappearance.

CASSANDRA: My mother kept clippings of every article.

ELIAS: Not this one.

CASSANDRA: What do you mean?

INT. CHUCK HUMPHREY’S HOME - NIGHT

Chuck awakes, to the sound of a loud noise. He gets out of bed and checks on his Father. His father has fallen out of bed and is struggling to climb to his feet

CHUCK HUMPHREY: Dad

Chuck helps his Father back into bed.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: I’m here for you Dad.

HAL HUMPHREY: You always were a useless son of a bitch. You’re not even a real police officer. 

He pauses.

Your mother was too soft on you.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: I know you don’t mean it Dad

HAL HUMPHREY: Of course I do. I was always able to take care of myself and be a man. You’re a nothing.

Chuck tidies up his father’s covers.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: One day I’ll make you proud Dad

HAL HUMPHREY: You’ve been saying that since second grade.

INT. ELIAS HOUSE (BEDROOM) - MORNING

Elias and Cassandra are lying awake, in bed.

ELIAS: It must have been hard on you, losing your brother at a relatively young age.

CASSANDRA: We were like best friends. We both took it very hard. I had therapy for years and my ex husband wasn’t much of a help. One moment you’re fine and the next moment you’re not.

ELIAS: I lost my Father at a young age. He was a grifter. He was always scheming. Thinking of ways to con people out of money.

CASSANDRA: Josh always said that the ones who lied to themselves were the ones who were most resistant to change.

ELIAS: I bet you’ll find me an improvement on your ex.

CASSANDRA: I hope so too. He was great in bed.

Josh grabs a pillow and playfully tosses it at her.

INT. LOCAL BAR - EVENING

Chuck and Elias are seated at the bar with drinks in front of them.

ELIAS: Chuck, have you heard of a criminal known as the Hawk?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: (in a low voice) Just keep it down. 

ELIAS: (in a low voice) What is it?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: His name is Vance.

ELIAS: So?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: He has his fingers in a lot of pies. A lot of police officers, ordinary joes and hoods fear him. Myself included.

ELIAS: No wonder you became a police officer.

CHUCK HUMPHREY: If we all pulled in the same direction, I wouldn’t be so afraid.

ELIAS: So, you think Vance is responsible for Josh disappearance?

CHUCK HUMPHREY: You said that. Not me.

EXT. ISABELLE KAJINSKA’S PROPERTY, BACK GARDEN - DAY

Isabelle, Cassandra and Elias sit in the back garden, drinking ginger ale.

ELIAS: Isabelle, this is the best ginger ale I’ve ever tasted.

ISABELLE: I just got it in the local store.

CASSANDRA: Is it better than alcohol?

ISABELLE: How is the case going Elias?

ELIAS: Not good so far. The only lead I have is an article he wrote that nobody seems to have access to and nobody wants to tell me about.

ISABELLE: Unfortunately, I collected his articles Elias, but I didn’t read them all. I liked the lighter ones but..

ELIAS: Did Josh ever have other hobbies? Friends that you haven’t told me about?

CASSANDRA: There were a lot of things he liked. Sport, films, politics... But journalism was his passion.

ISABELLE: He was ever so good at everything he did.

ELIAS: Do you remember the last time you saw him? Was he stressed?

ISABELLE: Calm as a cucumber.

CASSANDRA: He had to be in his line of business. Nothing fazed him.

ELIAS: Did Josh ever mention a place with a lake, a bench, a willow tree and a farm? It came up in two of his books.

CASSANDRA: One summer we holidayed in a small town in Kansas. It was very picturesque.

ELIAS: Can you tell me more?

INT. KANSAS, PADDINGTON, BURTON’S GUESTHOUSE - EVENING

Elias is being shown a room by an ELDERLY GUESTHOUSE OWNER.

ELDERLY GUESTHOUSE OWNER: 78, female, slim, hunched over

ELDERLY GUESTHOUSE OWNER: Jordan? That name does ring a bell. What is it you do Mr Jordan?

ELIAS: I’m a journalist

ELDERLY GUESTHOUSE OWNER: Yes. His name was Jordan too? He was also a journalist.

ELIAS: What a coincidence? Were there any other journalists or writers around these parts that you know about?

ELDERLY GUESTHOUSE OWNER: A lot of people want to be good writers Mr Jordan. Lots of em.

ELIAS: How about if I show you the picture of the friend I’m looking for

Elias shows the picture of Josh and the woman has an uncomfortable reaction.

ELDERLY GUESTHOUSE OWNER: Can’t say I’ve seen him. Breakfast is at eight Mr Jordan. Please leave it the way you got it.

The elderly lady walks off.

INT. KANSAS BAR - NIGHT

Elias walks into a half full bar. He sits down at the bar. 

BARMAN: 31, male, tall, slim, business-like.

CHARLIE: 44, male, alcoholic, dark hair, dark beard, mentally unwell

ELIAS: Whiskey please.

The barman proceeds to pore Elias a whiskey.

ELIAS: Say, have you seen this guy around.

Elias shows the barman Josh’s picture and hands over some money.

BARMAN AT KANSAS BAR: No, can’t say I have. 

CHARLIE staggers his way to a seat at the bar a few feet away

CHARLIE : Lots of men come through here. Lots of em.

BARMAN AT KANSAS BAR: Don’t mind him. He’s drunk.

Elias shows Charlie the photo

CHARLIE: Never forget a face. Except that one time... What’s his name? Might help if I was sober. He does look familiar if a little blurry.

HANK and TAD approach the bar and stand behind Elias.

HANK: 28, male, average height, slightly overweight.

TAD: 27, male, tall, strongly built

HANK: Is this man causing problems?

BARMAN AT KANSAS BAR: He’s just asking some questions, Hank.

HANK: We don’t like people asking questions in our town.

ELIAS: I do apologise for my inquisitive mind. Sometimes it gets the better of me. I’ve paid for my drink. As soon as I drink it, I’ll be on my way.

HANK: You seem like a smart boy. Smart boys don’t go poking their noses in where its not wanted. We’ll be watching you.

Hank and Tad return to their seats

ELIAS: Are all the people here, this hospitable?

BARMAN AT KANSAS BAR: You just don’t want to be messing with those guys. Keep your head down.

CHARLIE: Never forget a face.

Charlie drinks from his bottle

INT. OFFICES OF THE TOWN CHRONICLE - MORNING

Elias enters the offices of The Town Chronicle. He addresses a young woman seated behind a desk

SHIRLEY: 30’s, attractive, well dressed, professional.

ELIAS: Is there any way I could view archived articles from your paper?

SHIRLEY: We’re not the most modern of newspapers. There’s a computer over there. What is it for?

ELIAS: Research. I’m researching newspapers across the state. I’m hoping to do a book on it.

SHIRLEY: It will cost you ten bucks an hour. I can show you how to operate it. The name’s Shirley.

An hour later.

Elias finds an article from two months earlier that has been redacted. He approaches Shirley, holding a printout.

ELIAS: Do you know why this article has been censored.

SHIRLEY: I’m afraid I can’t say. It wouldn’t be done without good reason.

The editor approaches Shirley and Elias

EDITOR: Word gets around mister. You’re not Miles Jordan. Who are you really?

ELIAS: Just a man hired to track down an old woman’s missing son.

EDITOR: Yeah well, when we answer questions it is important that we can trust the person asking them.

ELIAS: If it was your son that went missing, wouldn’t you like for something to be done about it.

EDITOR: Its not your cause, I object to. It’s you. Good day sir.

EXT. STREET IN KANSAS TOWN - MORNING

Elias throws a bucket of water over Charlie, the town drunk.

CHARLIE: God damn it. Can’t a man get some... Say what did you do that for?

ELIAS: A sleeping man can’t answer questions.

CHARLIE: Well Charlie isn’t in the mood to answer questions. I was a nifty boxer in my time. Nobody messed with me.

ELIAS: I thought you never forgot a face.

CHARLIE: Nifty boxer. Nifty boxer. Nobody.

Elias shows a picture of Josh

ELIAS: Who is this guy?

CHARLIE: He sure does look familiar.

ELIAS: What’s it worth to you.

CHARLIE: Twenty bucks might buy me breakfast

Elias hands over twenty bucks.

CHARLIE: I can’t remember his name. He was a nice fellow. Kept to himself mostly. One day about two months ago, someone eh...

Charlie scratches his head and pauses as if remembering takes a lot of effort.

They beat up his landlady pretty bad. The guy ran but nobody knows if he got away or not.

ELIAS: Do you know anything more?

CHARLIE: Say, another twenty bucks would buy me a few beers.

Elias hands over another twenty bucks.

CHARLIE: His name was Hoffman and his landlady was Mrs Vanderbilt. She owns a big blue wooden house on the edge of town. Eh.... 

Charlie scratches his head again as if there is more information concealed inside.

ELIAS: Is that all?

CHARLIE: Before you go, there’s something else. 

He looks around.

CHARLIE: Somebody’s watching. I know it.

INT. CHARLIE’S APARTMENT - MORNING

Charlie’s small apartment is a mess. It’s full of empty beer cans and old newspapers. He retrieves a manuscript from underneath a bunch of old clothes.

LANDLADY (O.C.): You better have that money for me, Charlie Baxter.

CHARLIE: I borrowed this from his apartment. 

Charlie sits on his bed and hands over the manuscript

I thought it might be worth a few bucks at some point.

ELIAS: I’ll give you twenty bucks for it?

CHARLIE: I know a mobster who might want it. I was a writer once. Could’ve been the next Hemingway. 

ELIAS: You’re safer negotiating with me rather than a mobster. Lets say sixty

CHARLIE: Might pay some of these bills.

Charlie tosses some bills from his bed.

ELIAS: Just where is this Vanderbilt place anyway?