RIPTIDES
by William C. Martell
FADE IN:
EXT. BEACH -- DAY
Sunlight on the sand.
Only a hundred feet away from the most expensive homes in
California; drop outs, drifters, surfers, and beach bums
party and drink beer.
SANDI FULLER, a beautiful beach bunny in her early twenties,
laughs and throws a Frisbee across the sand. Dressed in a
microscopic bikini, she's the 21st Century version of Gidget:
no job, no serious relationship, nothing to tie her down.
She lives for the sand and the surf.
The Frisbee skims over the sand, rising at the last minute
to pop into the hand of TEDDY LEWIS. A stringy-haired drifter
into drugs and petty theft, Teddy is Sandi's current lover.
A cigarette dangles from his mouth, and there's a beer can
in his left hand.
TEDDY
Shit, I almost spilled my beer.
He fires the Frisbee to Sandi, but a gust of wind blows it
over her head.
The Frisbee sails onto the redwood deck of a BEACH HOUSE.
SANDI
You missed me by a mile, Teddy.
TEDDY
Could of got it. Just gotta learn to
reach.
Sandi shakes her head and crosses the sand to the Beach House.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
A SIGN READS: No Trespassing. And warns that violators
will be greeted by an armed response.
Sandi passes the sign and climbs onto the deck. She searches
for the Frisbee, finally finding it under a chaise longue.
ROBERT
This is private property.
Sandi spins, startled.
2.
Standing in the shadows near the sliding glass doors is ROBERT
GOODIS, an attractive gentleman in his late thirties.
In his right hand is a Colt Python 357 Magnum, casually aimed
towards Sandi. With his Armani suit and gold jewelry, Robert
is a noir version of Cary Grant.
SANDI
I'm just getting my Frisbee, okay?
Robert steps out of the shadows, pocketing his gun.
ROBERT
Sorry. We've had some burglaries in
the neighborhood.
(smiles)
I'm Robert. Robert Goodis.
SANDI
I'm Sandi.
ROBERT
Yes, you are.
Sandi smiles and brushes some sand from her shoulder... palm
moving close to her breast.
Robert looks from her hand up to her eyes and smiles.
She's the sexiest thing he's ever seen.
Sparks of attraction fly between them.
ROBERT
Do you live near here?
SANDI
Yeah.
LAURA
Dear? Who are you talking to?
LAURA DASHIELL-GOODIS steps through the sliding glass doors.
An attractive woman in her forties, Laura was born wealthy
and is used to getting her way.
Robert is her trophy husband. Even after three years of
marriage, she is still trying to house train him.
Laura and Sandi lock eyes - will a cat fight erupt over
Robert? A moment of uncomfortable tension.
Broken when Sandi lifts the Frisbee.
SANDI
I've gotta get back.
3.
Sandi jogs down the steps and across the sand.
Robert tries not to watch her. Laura touches him before
entering the house. Claiming ownership.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Robert closes the sliding glass door behind them.
ROBERT
Her Frisbee landed on our deck.
When he replaces the Colt Python behind the wet bar, he grabs
his martini.
LAURA
How many drinks is that?
ROBERT
I'm not sure. I didn't know I'd be
quizzed on it.
Laura turns so that Robert can zip up her gown.
LAURA
This dinner, tonight, is important.
ROBERT
It's only business.
Laura frowns and brushes past him.
LAURA
Come on. We'll be late.
ROBERT
Dear. Don't forget your pill.
(smiles)
Hate to have you throw a fit, I mean,
seizure, during this "important"
dinner.
Laura controls her anger as she re-enters the bedroom and
grabs her vial of medication.
THE VIAL READS: Dialantin. For treatment of Epilepsy.
Dosage: One pill, every eight hours.
Laura takes her pill, leaves, dragging Robert behind her.
EXT. BEACH -- EVENING
As the sun sets, the BEACH KIDS roast hot dogs in a bonfire
and listen to a trio of MUSICIANS play a rock ballad.
4.
When the music ends, BRIAN, the world oldest Beach Bum, looks
out at the crashing surf. A ragged hard-bound copy of "The
Anarchist's Convention" is clutched in his right hand.
Sandi, wearing her Top Cat backpack, listens.
BRIAN
It's the end of the world, you know?
SANDI
What is?
BRIAN
This is. The beach. I come out from
Wisconsin, over twenty years ago.
Sixteen years old. Hitch-hiken.
Wanted to see the world. Find
something to believe in. Got all the
way here and the water stopped me. I
couldn't walk across the water, no
way to hitch hike... Trapped.
(beat)
So I learned to surf. At first I was
wiping out every time. Couldn't stay
on the board. People kept telling me
I had balance issues. "You're
unbalanced, dude," they were saying.
But I knew it was the water knocking
me off the board. Keeping me trapped
here on the beach.
(beat)
I wasn't going to let the waves win.
Every day I was on that longboard.
Trying to stay up. Find my balance.
Standing up for all of us that are
looking for something to believe in.
Something more than this fast food
life the man tries to cram down our
throats. More than that minimum wage
job with the name badge.
(beat)
Took me almost a year, but I was
standing proud on that board. I
paddled out to find the big waves,
something that would take me all the
way to Hawaii. But no matter how big
the wave was, it always took me back
to shore. All the waves lead right
here.
(beat)
That's when I realized this was the
end of the world. Hawaii doesn't exist.
A Beach BUNNY seems confused.
5.
BUNNY
I went there on vacation with my
parents when I was fifteen.
BRIAN
You THINK you went there, but how can
you be sure? The only way to get there
is by plane or by boat. You get on
the plane, it flies for a while, then
lands someplace and they tell you
it's Hawaii. That could all be a lie!
The Man's saying you're in Hawaii -
it's probably just someplace in Mexico.
You believe that Hawaii exists because
they tell you. You get on that plane,
that boat, you don't know where they're
really taking you! Can you see Hawaii
from here? No. Can you walk to Hawaii?
Drive to Hawaii? No. Some airline or
cruise line owned by The Man SAYS
they are taking you to Hawaii. It's a
scam to take your money. There is no
Hawaii. Nothing beyond those waves.
This is the end of the world. Can't
go no farther. We're all trapped here.
There's nothing to find, and no place
else to go.
Teddy rolls his eyes at the story and pulls on Sandi's elbow.
TEDDY
Come on.
Sandi follows without asking "where?".
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Robert and Laura return from dinner.
Robert heads straight to the bar.
LAURA
That went rather well, I think.
Laura pulls back a painting of her first husband to expose a
wall safe. She puts some documents from her briefcase inside
the safe, then closes it. The painting of her first husband
makes him look a little like 1940s movie star Dana Andrews.
ROBERT
Add another million to the Laura Goodis
fortune. How much is it now?
Laura frowns at him.
6.
ROBERT
I'm sorry. I keep forgetting. I'm
only your husband, your money is none
of my business.
Laura grabs the end of his neck tie.
LAURA
Help me out of this gown.
Robert grabs his drink as he is pulled into the bedroom.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM
Robert removes the last of his clothes and glides into bed
behind Laura. He kisses her neck, hand moving to her breast.
Laura removes the hand from her breast.
LAURA
Not tonight.
ROBERT
Why should tonight be any different?
Robert sits up, lights a cigarette.
LAURA
I'll be leaving for Denver tomorrow,
to set up the Chandler deal.
ROBERT
Deals, deals and more deals.
LAURA
This is the ultimate deal. Once this
one closes I'll never have to do
another deal for the rest of my life.
ROBERT
How long will you be gone?
LAURA
Three days. I'll be home Friday night.
ROBERT
(sarcastic)
Fine. I'll make sure dinner's waiting
on the table for you.
Robert snubs out his cigarette in the ash tray.
7.
EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT
Teddy snubs out his cigarette in the sand. Sandy lays next to
him, Top Cat backpack as a pillow, looks up at the stars.
SANDI
Teddy?
TEDDY
Yeah.
SANDI
Where do we go from here?
TEDDY
Nowhere, babe. It's like Brian said,
we're at the end of the world. Nowhere
else to go.
SANDI
I want to go farther.
TEDDY
What? Hitchhike to Hawaii?
...If it even exists.
She props herself up on an elbow, looking at him.
SANDI
No. I want to have my own place.
Things that are MINE.
TEDDY
Babe, you don't own things. Things
own you. Talk like that, you end up
trapped in Consumer World on the ride
to nowhere.
She lays back down, looking up at the stars again.
SANDI
I was just thinking.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE DRIVEWAY -- DAY
Laura pulls out of the garage in her Mercedes, pausing next
to where Robert stands, window down.
LAURA
You'll be thinking of me while I'm
gone, I hope?
8.
ROBERT
Of course, dear.
LAURA
Kiss-kiss.
She puts the car into gear and drives away.
Robert watches the car disappear, smiles.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Robert smiles as he watches the party in progress.
MUSIC blasts from the CD player, and BEACH KIDS dance in the
center of the living room. A few joints are being passed
around, and EVERYONE has a drink in hand.
There's a knock at the front door, and Robert answers it.
It's MARK, the bachelor who owns the place next door.
MARK
What's going on?
ROBERT
Throwing a party for the kids from
the beach. You could hear it from
next door?
MARK
Sure. E.S.P.P.
(laughs)
Extra Sensory Party Perception.
ROBERT
Come on in.
Robert closes the door behind Mark, who looks from one
beautiful beach girl to another.
MARK
Oh, I get it: When the wife's away,
the mice will play.
Robert smiles.
ROBERT
You're lucky. You can do this every
day, if you want.
MARK
I tell you, I'd do THAT every day.
9.
A BUXOM girl walks by.
Mark's eyes almost pop out of his head.
MARK
Did you see what she had tattooed on
her boobs? "Not To Be Used As A
Floatation Device".
Robert laughs, then sees...
The sliding glass door opens, Teddy and Sandi join the party.
ROBERT
Excuse me.
Robert leaves Mark to the Buxom girl, crosses to Sandi.
ROBERT
Well, hello.
SANDI
Hello yourself.
Sandi and Robert smile at each other.
Sparks of attraction between them.
Mark and the Buxom Girl begin dancing. Mark has trouble
keeping his eyes off her chest as his wiggles to the music.
Teddy sits on the sofa, sharing a joint with Brian and some
of the kids.
BRIAN
...those TV shows like Hawaii 5-0 and
Magnum P.I.? Shot on a soundstage in
Burbank, just like the moon landings...
Robert looks from Teddy to Sandi.
ROBERT
Is that your date?
SANDI
I came with him.
ROBERT
But you might not leave with him?
SANDI
I haven't made up my mind, yet.
Robert smiles.
10.
ROBERT
I like that. Come on, let's dance.
Robert and Sandi move out to the center of the room and dance
with the other kids.
Mark dances with the Buxom Girl, clowning around and having
a good time.
One of the beach girls takes off her top as she dances,
receiving cheers from the group.
KIDS
More! More!
Robert touches Sandi's waist as they dance. It's like a charge
of electricity passes between them. Both getting hot.
Teddy watches them dance from behind the bar.
Sure that no one is watching him, he opens the bedroom door
and disappears inside.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM
Teddy wanders around, opening drawers.
Looking for something to steal.
INT. LIVING ROOM
Sandi and Robert continue dancing as a slow number comes on.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM
Teddy hits pay dirt.
He opens a dresser drawer and finds a box filled with gold
cuff links, diamond studded tie tacks, and a gold Rolex.
There's also a pair of hundred dollar bills in the box.
SOMEONE turns the bedroom doorknob, opening it a crack.
Teddy freezes.
GIRL (O.S.)
Just a minute while I take a winky-
tink.
GUY (O.S.)
The bathroom's over here.
GIRL (O.S.)
Oh.
11.
The door clicks shut, and Teddy relaxes. Then he pockets
the jewelry and money, replaces the box and closes the drawer.
INT. LIVING ROOM
The slow dance is over, and Robert leads Sandi over to the
bar. He makes a pair of drinks and gives her one.
The party is winding down, a few couples have already left.
Mark and the Buxom Girl stop by the bar to talk with Robert.
MARK
Hey, Robby, I got to leave. Thanks
for inviting me.
ROBERT
Sure. Hope the noise doesn't keep
you up all night.
MARK
I hope it does.
Mark allows the Buxom Girl to pull him towards the door.
Robert waves goodbye, then turns back to Sandi.
SANDI
Great house.
ROBERT
It's my wife's. But living on the
beach is a dream come true for me.
SANDI
Being able to swim whenever you want.
ROBERT
Yeah. Do you like swimming?
Sandi gives him a sexy smile.
Neither is really talking about swimming.
SANDI
I love getting wet. Tides moving in
and out around you, waves crashing on
the shore...
ROBERT
My wife hates swimming. Probably
because she's not very good at it.
12.
SANDI
She should practice more often.
ROBERT
Too busy with her business.
SANDI
I thought EVERYBODY liked to swim?
ROBERT
Laura doesn't even like to get wet.
She's afraid she'll go out too far,
get caught in a riptide and drown.
SANDI
But you aren't afraid?
ROBERT
Swimming's my favorite thing in life.
I could swim all day long.
SANDI
Really?
ROBERT
It takes a lot to tire me out. Nothing
I like better than to wake up early,
do a couple of laps before breakfast.
SANDI
Free style?
ROBERT
I prefer the breast stroke.
Sandi smiles.
Teddy closes the bedroom door behind him, re-joins the party.
Notices Sandi and Robert talking to each other and frowns.
Robert touches her hand.
Sandi feels the sexual electricity pass between them.
ROBERT
Would you like to spend the night?
SandI looks at him, weighing it. It takes her a long time
to decide, and she's disappointed by her own decision.
SANDI
It's too soon. Maybe some other night.
ROBERT
Something to look forward to.
13.
That's when Teddy moves up to the bar, smiling at Sandi.
TEDDY
Ready to split?
Sandi looks at Robert for a moment, then back to Teddy.
SANDI
Sure.
Robert watches as Sandi grabs her backpack and leaves the
beach house with Teddy.
ALMOST EVERYONE IS GONE.
Robert puts a couple of jazz disks in the CD player.
Then he turns to a Beach BUNNY in a tube top and smiles.
ROBERT
Is it true what they say about girls
in tube tops?
BUNNY
What?
ROBERT
You get best results when you squeeze
from the bottom?
BUNNY
Try me.
Robert kisses the Beach Bunny.
Robert and the Beach Bunny cross to the bedroom.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Sandi stands on the beach, watching the silhouettes of Robert
and Beach Bunny as they ripple across the bedroom curtains.
She looks down at the sand, wishes SHE had stayed the night
with Robert.
Sandi is hooked.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
A Frisbee sails across the sand, landing on the deck of
Robert's beach house.
Sandi, dressed in cut-offs and a shirt, climbs onto the deck
to retrieve it.
14.
When she raises up, Frisbee in hand, Robert stands over her.
He looks out over the beach, it's empty.
ROBERT
Who are you playing with?
SANDI
Just myself.
ROBERT
No reason to do that.
(smiles)
Why don't you come in for a drink.
SANDI
(hesitant)
I... I don't know.
When Robert goes inside the house, Sandi has no choice but
to grab her backpack and follow.
She wants him.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
The moment Robert closes the sliding glass door, the Frisbee
drops to the floor and Sandi sweeps into his arms.
Their kiss is deep and passionate.
SANDI
Good. As good as I thought it'd be.
Robert kisses her again, hands move over each other's bodies.
Sandi reaches between his legs, caressing over his trousers.
Robert's hands glides over her shirt, caressing her breasts.
SANDI
Rip me! Oh, God, rip me!
Robert pulls on her shirt, tearing fabric and sending buttons
zinging all over the living room.
PING! a shirt button lands inside a wine glass on the bar.
Robert tears the shirt to shreds, exposing Sandi's lacey
white bra.
SANDI
My pants!
15.
Robert snakes his hand up the leg of her cut-offs and RIPS
them off of her, exposing white cotton panties.
SANDI
Yes! Yes!
Robert unhooks her bra, kissing and suckling her breasts as
he presses her against the wall.
Sandi unbuckles his pants, reaching inside his fly.
Robert kisses down her body to her panties, tearing them off
with his teeth.
Robert raises up, panties still between his teeth.
Sandi bites into them, too.
Joined at the mouth by torn cotton, she presses his butt,
forcing him into her.
They make love against the wall, rattling the painting of
Laura's first husband.
Sandi looks even more naked next to Robert's clothed body.
The sex is incredible... The best either has ever had.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM
It's dark outside.
Sandi and Robert lay in bed, a sheet draped across them.
Their hands massage each other under the sheet.
SANDI
How much time do we have?
ROBERT
Hmm?
SANDI
Until your wife comes back.
Robert rolls over, kisses her, hand still between her legs.
ROBERT
She'll be back tomorrow night.
SANDI
That's not much time.
Sandi giggles and they begin making love again.
16.
INT. LIVING ROOM -- MORNING
Sandi lays spooned in Robert on the sofa, licking his fingers.
ROBERT
You born here?
SANDI
Cherry Hill, Michigan. Land of the
rich. Private schools, summer camp...
ROBERT
How'd you get here?
SANDI
Usual way. Mom and dad split when I
was ten. Mom dated every rich guy in
Wayne County...
(beat)
Too many of her boyfriends hit on me,
so I split.
(beat)
Hitch hiked all the way. Had a couple
of shitty jobs waiting tables, but
they fired me.
(shrugs)
Ended up on the beach with Teddy.
Robert kisses her neck.
ROBERT
He doesn't seem like your type.
SANDI
Teddy's a loser. He's all messed up,
with no place to go. Let's not talk
about him.
Sandi gives Robert's fingers a final lick, then guides his
hand down her body. Over her breast, down her flat stomach,
and between her legs.
Sandi moans with pleasure.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Moans echo across the sand.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Sandi moans with pleasure. She is on her hands and knees,
with Robert behind her, on the bed.
17.
SANDI
I love that!
Robert hears a car pulling into the driveway.
He stops moving, listening.
SANDI
Don't stop.
ROBERT
I heard a car.
SANDI
DON'T STOP!
EXT. BEACH HOUSE DRIVEWAY -- NIGHT
Laura parks her Mercedes in the driveway and gets out.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Robert and Sandi continue making love.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE DRIVEWAY -- NIGHT
Laura pops open the trunk, pulls out her luggage.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Robert and Sandi's breathing is ragged and loud in the quiet
bedroom.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Laura slides the key into the front door lock.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Robert stops, listening to the sounds of the keys.
ROBERT
(whispering)
My wife...
SANDI
Don't stop.
18.
INT. LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT
Laura opens the door and enters the house, setting down her
luggage in the entrance hall.
LAURA
Robert?
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Sandi bites down on a pillow to muffle her cries of passion.
INT. LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT
Laura flicks on a light and moves deeper into the house.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Sandi finds it harder and harder to muffle her cries of orgasm
with the pillow. Robert bites his lip, trying to stay quiet.
INT. LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT
LAURA
Honey? Are you home?
Laura hears a sound, crosses to the bedroom.
The door is closed.
She listens for a moment at the door.
LAURA
Robert?
She twists the bedroom door knob.
Slowly opening the door.
Entering the bedroom.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Laura looks around the bedroom.
Shadows fill the corners of the room. The bed is empty, but
unmade. Curtains ruffle in the breeze from the open window.
LAURA
Robert?
Light from the bathroom.
The shower suddenly goes on.
19.
Laura is startled, then advances into the bathroom.
INT. BATHROOM -- NIGHT
Laura sees Robert in the shower through the glass door.
Alone.
LAURA
Robert?
The shower door opens, Robert sticks his head out.
ROBERT
You're home. Need help with your
bags? I'll be out in a minute.
LAURA
No. I've got them already.
Robert nods and goes back to his shower, closing the door.
Laura studies the shower for a moment.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Laura looks at the blowing curtain and open window with a
confused look. Crossing the room, she closes the window.
Then notices the smell. The smell of passion is in the air.
EXT. BEACH -- DAY
Sandi comes out of the ocean, shaking out her hair.
Teddy, dressed in black jeans and a black T shirt, tosses
her a towel.
SANDI
Thanks.
TEDDY
You comin' by the bonfire tonight?
SANDI
I don't think so.
Sandi reaches into her backpack, pulls out Teddy's Frisbee.
SANDI
Teddy... I don't know. I think it's
time for me to move on, you know?
Teddy forces a smile.
20.
TEDDY
Hey, no problem. I was thinking of
getting something going with Debby,
you know?
Sandi gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Teddy takes his Frisbee and runs down the beach.
EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT
A FIGURE, dressed entirely in black, runs from the beach to
the beach house.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
The Figure in black stops at the sliding glass doors.
A black gloved hand uses a strip of tin to unlock the door.
The gloved hand opens the sliding glass door, and the Figure
enters the beach house.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
The black clad Figure almost merges with the shadows, as it
creeps across the room.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Robert and Laura are asleep next to each other in bed.
The doorknob begins turning, glittering in the moon light.
Slowly and quietly, the door opens.
The black-clad figure is silhouetted in the door frame.
Robert and Laura continue sleeping.
The black-clad Figure moves deeper into the room.
Not making a sound as it creeps.
A GLOVED HAND clamps over Robert's mouth, muffling his screams
as he suddenly wakes up.
Robert's hand reaches up, grabbing the wrist of his assailant,
trying to pull the hand from his mouth.
The black-clad Figure puts a gloved finger up to her lips.
Robert recognizes the figure as Sandi.
21.
Robert stop struggling, allows Sandi to pull him out of bed.
Careful not to wake Laura, Robert slips from under the covers.
Sandi pulls Robert out of the bedroom, careful not to make a
sound.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Sandi pulls Robert to the sofa.
ROBERT
(whispering)
What if she wakes up?
SANDI
Shhhh.
She begins unbuttoning his pajamas.
Robert looks at the bedroom door, still open.
Sandi places his hand between her legs, gets his attention.
Robert kisses her, peeling the tight black clothes off her.
Soon both are naked on the sofa, illuminated only by the
moonlight filtering through the sliding glass doors.
They kiss. A deep, passionate kiss.
As they make love on the sofa, Robert keeps looking at the
open bedroom door. Entwined with his passion is a trickle
of fear that Laura will wake up and catch them together.
Robert accidentally knocks over a nick-nack on the end table.
They stop.
Waiting for Laura to wake up and catch them.
Nothing happens, so they continue making love.
Sandi's climax is frighteningly vocal.
Robert looks at the door to the bedroom.
Waiting for the light to come on...
But nothing happens.
SANDI
(whispers)
Your wife's a sound sleeper.
Robert smiles.
22.
EXT. BEACH -- DAY
Kids on the beach.
A group plays tackle football in the sand using a Frisbee.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- EVENING
Robert hears Laura talking to someone outside, opens the
sliding glass door...
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- EVENING
Laura and Sandi talking.
Tension in the air.
LAURA
You have to make a decision - sleep
with him or deal with me.
Sandi snatches a sheet of blue paper from Laura, storms off.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- EVENING
When Laura turns and walks back to the house, Robert moves
away from the door - wouldn't want to be caught spying.
Laura enters, closes the door behind her.
ROBERT
What was that all about?
LAURA
Telling your girlfriend who's boss.
They move into the...
INT. DINING ROOM -- EVENING
Robert pulls out the chair for Laura.
Dinner by candle light.
ROBERT
Do you really think I'm sleeping with
some white trash kid from the beach?
LAURA
Aren't you?
ROBERT
Did she say that I was?
23.
LAURA
No... but you just did.
Robert freezes, looks across the table at his wife.
LAURA
You always underestimate me.
ROBERT
I really don't know what you're talking
about.
LAURA
I'm TALKING about divorce, Robert.
I'm TALKING about seeing a lawyer
next week and having you thrown out
on the street.
ROBERT
Laura, let's be reasonable....
LAURA
Why? Remember the prenuptial we
signed? You don't get a penny.
Robert lowers his fork, looks across the table at his wife.
ROBERT
I'm sorry you feel this way, Laura.
I haven't done anything to hurt you.
I love you, I've always been faithful.
He gets up from the table and walks into the bedroom.
Laura watches the bedroom door close, confused.
Was she just imagining things?
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Robert watches his wife sleep, then slips out of bed.
He dresses in the darkness, before leaving the bedroom.
EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT
FROM OVER ROBERT'S SHOULDER we see the beach at midnight.
Full moon glowing overhead and waves crashing the shore.
Robert moves closer to the surf, coming upon Sandi's beach
towel, handbag, and wrap. He squats for a moment, studying
her things, then looks out at the water.
24.
Sandi explodes from the water's surface, body glistening in
the moonlight, dressed in a sexy one-piece bathing suit.
Robert strips off his shirt and jeans, leaving them at Sandi's
towel, as he runs towards the water in his briefs.
Sandi's laughter echoes across the dunes as Robert splashes
into the water next to her.
The two frolic in the water, splashing each other, laughing,
wrestling, swimming.
ROBERT
Can't go too far out. The riptides.
They'll pull us right under.
SANDI
Then let's swim back to shore.
Sandi and Robert swim back towards the shore.
Sandi takes Robert's hand, and they run along the edge of
the surf, waves crashing into their legs. A big wave knocks
them to the sand, and their bodies melt together in passion.
Lips and legs entwined, as the surf breaks over them.
Robert pulls the bathing suit from her shoulders, exposing
her breasts to the moonlight. He fondles, licks, and kisses
them. His fingers travel down her body, moving under the
leg band of Sandi's bathing suit, pressing and caressing.
Sandi reaches inside his wet briefs, taking hold of him.
Robert gently slides the bathing suit off Sandi, kissing
down her body as he does so. Naked in the moonlight, Sandi's
body is the kind men kill for.
Sandi kisses down Robert's chest, biting his left nipple, as
she removes his wet briefs.
They make love on the wet sand, waves crashing over them,
bodies entwined.
AFTERWARDS:
Robert and Sandi lay on a sand dune, still wrapped in each
other, looking up at the stars.
ROBERT
My wife suspects, doesn't she?
SANDI
She warned me away.
25.
ROBERT
If she gets proof, it's over.
Everything's in her name. The house,
the cars, the bank accounts. If she
divorces me, I've got nothing.
SANDI
Isn't California a community property
state?
ROBERT
We signed a pre-nup. She wants to
destroy me. Leave me penniless.
SANDI
That's not fair. You spent time with
her, that ought to be worth SOMETHING,
right? I mean, she can't just DUMP
you...
Robert pulls her close.
ROBERT
I wish Laura would just go away. We
could live together in the beach house.
Just you and me.
SANDI
(sotto)
I'd have a home.
ROBERT
Sometimes I wish she'd forget to take
her medication. Have a seizure, go
into a coma, and just die.
Sandi holds Robert's head against her chest maternally.
After a moment, she kisses him gently, and he responds.
ROBERT
Sandi, you're the best thing that
ever happened to me. I want to spend
the rest of my life with you.
Sandi nods, and kisses him again.
The passion increases, and they begin making love.
ON A DUNE
A FIGURE watches Robert and Sandi make love.
Giggles and cries of passion echo through the night,
underscored by the crashing surf.
26.
When he takes a drag on his cigarette, light from the ember
illuminates the figure's face for the first time.
It's Teddy Lewis. Frisbee is clenched in his left hand.
When he has seen enough, Teddy turns, and walks over the
dunes to the Beach Kid's camp.
EXT. BEACH -- DAY TO NIGHT
Waves crash against the shore and sea gulls swoop as we time-
laps from day to night.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
We can hear Sandi and Robert making love on the deck.
Laura rolls over in her sleep.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Robert and Sandi lay entwined after making love.
SANDI
I wish we could do this every night.
ROBERT
I wish she'd die.
(beat)
Just have a seizure and die.
Sandi looks into Robert's eyes.
SANDI
Why don't we help her.
ROBERT
What do you mean?
SANDI
She'll go into a seizure without her
medication, right? And she can't
swim very well...
ROBERT
You mean, why don't we drown her?
SANDI
But make it look like an accident...
Like she skipped her medication and
got caught in the riptides.
27.
ROBERT
But the police will suspect me. I'll
need an alibi.
SANDI
What do you mean?
ROBERT
I can't be anywhere near here when it
happens...
(thinks)
Maybe one of your beach bum friends
can fly to San Francisco, pretending
they're me. Wear my clothes, use my
credit card, and check into a hotel
under my name.
SANDI
Teddy would do anything for me.
ROBERT
Perfect.
Robert kisses her.
ROBERT
A week from now, my wife will be dead,
and we can be together... Forever.
As Robert and Sandi make love again, we raise up until the
beach house looks like something from a Monopoly game.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- DAY
Robert creeps into the bedroom. Sliding on a pair of rubber
gloves, he takes Laura's pill vial from her night stand.
Uncapping the vial, Robert pours the pills out into a zip-
lock baggie. He places the baggie in his left pocket.
Robert pulls an over-the-counter sleep aid from his pocket.
Opening the bottle, he pours the pills into Laura's vial.
The sleep aid pills are the same size, shape, and color as
Laura's medication.
Replacing the vial, Robert sets the vial back on the night
stand and strips off his rubber gloves.
28.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Robert picks up the phone and dials a number.
INT. CASABLANCA TRAVEL -- DAY
The phone rings at the travel agency, an AGENT grabs it.
AGENT
Casablanca Travel, Richard speaking,
do you need a vacation?
ROBERT (V.O.)
Richard, this is Robert Goodis.
AGENT
Yes, Mr. Goodis, how are you? Ready
for eight days - seven nights in
beautiful and exotic Bangkok? Ancient
Buddhist temples, famed palaces,
manicured parks and stunning modern
high-rises plus gourmet restaurants
and exotic night life?
ROBERT (V.O.)
Love to, but I need to fly to San
Francisco tomorrow on business. Could
you book me an afternoon flight to
SFO with a Thursday return to LAX?
The Agent turns to his computer and keys in some information.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
AGENT (V.O.)
How about a one thirty American Air,
arrives at two twenty five.
ROBERT
Great. Can I pay by credit card and
pick up my tickets at the gate?
INT. CASABLANCA TRAVEL -- DAY
AGENT
No problem. Where will you be staying?
The Hotel Atherton? I have a suite
package starting at only --
29.
ROBERT (V.O.)
Not this time. What's the Airport
Holiday Inn like?
AGENT
Busy and impersonal.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Robert laughs.
ROBERT
Well, reserve a room there anyway.
I've got to be in Daly City bright
and early for a meeting and I don't
want to fight traffic.
AGENT (V.O.)
How will you pay for that?
ROBERT
With my credit card, when I get there.
AGENT (V.O.)
Okay, Mr. Goodis. Tickets will be
waiting for you at the American counter
and the Airport Holiday Inn will be
expecting you tomorrow for six days.
(beat)
Sure I can't book you for Bangkok
while I'm at it?
ROBERT
Maybe next month.
Robert hangs up the phone.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE DRIVEWAY -- DAY
Robert spots Mark watering his lawn and approaches him.
ROBERT
Mark, how are you?
MARK
Hey, Robby. How they hanging?
ROBERT
Look, could you do me a favor?
MARK
What do you need? Alibi for the wife?
30.
ROBERT
Nothing like that. I've got to go to
San Francisco for a week on business -
Just got off the phone with the travel
agent - I'm kind of worried about Laura.
MARK
How so?
ROBERT
She's been having trouble sleeping
lately. So she's been doing these
midnight swims in order to relax...
MARK
I thought she hated swimming?
ROBERT
Well, she read one of those self-help
books, and decided to "confront her
fears". She still hates it, but she's
doing it anyway.
MARK
I'll never understand women.
ROBERT
You and me both. Anyway, if you could
just look in on her every couple of
days, I'd really appreciate it.
MARK
No problemo.
ROBERT
Hey, thanks.
Robert gives Mark a wave, heads back inside the beach house.
EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT
Sandi approaches Teddy, who has an arm around DEBBY.
They have a brief conversation, Teddy nodding a few times,
then Sandi leaves.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Sandi and Teddy approach the beach house, knocking on the
sliding glass door.
Robert opens the door and beckons them inside.
31.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Teddy sits on the sofa, beer in hand, listening to Robert's
proposal.
TEDDY
Sandi said something about some money.
ROBERT
Yes. I have a little job I want done.
TEDDY
Work is a four letter word... I don't
believe in it.
ROBERT
Oh, there's no work involved, here.
More of a vacation.
TEDDY
All expenses paid, of course.
ROBERT
Of course. You see, I wish to go on
vacation with a young lady, without
having my wife find out about it.
TEDDY
Don't tell her.
Robert smiles.
ROBERT
But she might still check airline
tickets, hotel reservations, and find
witnesses who would ruin me in divorce
court.
(smiles)
So I need a ringer. Someone to pretend
they're me. Go to San Francisco for
a week. Check into a hotel, go out
to dinner... But do it alone. In
case my wife checks up on me, later.
TEDDY
What if she decides to call this hotel
of yours?
Robert pulls an electronic device from behind the bar.
ROBERT
This is an electronic call re-router.
(MORE)
32.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
When you arrive at the hotel, plug it
into the phone jack in the room.
It's pre-set for our condo in Maui.
Teddy examines the re-router, checking the phone jack.
ROBERT
If my wife calls San Francisco, the
call will automatically be rerouted
and the phone will ring in Maui.
(smiles)
That way, I can talk to her as if I
were in San Francisco... Alone, in
my hotel room.
TEDDY
What does it pay?
ROBERT
Five thousand dollars. Cash.
Robert pulls a bundle of money from behind the bar and tosses
it to Teddy.
Even though it's high and outside, Teddy catches the bundle
with one hand.
He admires the money.
More than he's ever seen before.
TEDDY
So? When do I do this?
ROBERT
Today. The plane leaves at one thirty.
You'll pick up the tickets at the
terminal.
Robert pulls out his billfold and extracts a credit card.
ROBERT
There's a seven hundred dollar line
of credit on this card. Use it to
pay for the hotel room and meals.
Teddy takes the card, smiles.
ROBERT
You're booked into the Holiday Inn at
the airport under my name.
(beat)
Don't get any ideas about using the
card for anything else.
(MORE)
33.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
Once the seven hundred is used up,
that's the end of it. I plan to pay
off the card and cancel it at the
same time. It'll be worthless.
TEDDY
Okay.
He pockets the credit card.
ROBERT
Now. You'll need to dress in my
clothes, and cut your hair like mine,
to confuse any witnesses.
Teddy brushes his hair with a hand, frowning.
TEDDY
Shit. For five grand, it'll grow back.
Sandi drops a newspaper to the floor and picks up a pair of
scissors.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- LATER
Teddy, with hair styled like Robert's, dressed in one of
Robert's suits and wearing dark glasses; looks enough like
Robert to pass in a crowd.
Robert closes a suitcase on the re-router box and some extra
suits and clothing.
Sandi dumps the hair clippings and newspaper in the trash.
Teddy looks at himself in the mirror.
He looks just like Robert.
ROBERT
This is my old driver's license -
you'll need it to get past security
at the airport. It's a domestic flight -
they'll only glance at it.
TEDDY
How do I get to the airport?
ROBERT
In my Jaguar. Here.
He hands Teddy his car keys, on a Jaguar emblem key ring.
34.
ROBERT
Leave it in long term lot C at LAX.
I'll pick it up on my way home from
Hawaii.
TEDDY
Okay.
ROBERT
Oh, and Teddy?
TEDDY
Yeah?
ROBERT
(smiles)
Don't fuck with me. I'll check to
make sure my car's in the airport lot
this evening. If it's not, I'll call
the police and report it stolen at
gunpoint.
TEDDY
Okay.
Teddy nods slowly.
ROBERT
I'll also call the hotel before flying
to Hawaii to make sure you've plugged
in the re-router. If you haven't,
I'll phone the police and report my
credit card and drivers license stolen.
(smiles)
I'm sure you don't wish to deal with
the police. I'll bet you're a real
rip-off artist, with a record and
every thing.
Teddy studies Robert for a minute, then nods slowly.
TEDDY
I won't fuck you.
ROBERT
Good. Now you'd better hurry, or
you'll miss my flight.
Teddy nods, tosses the keys up in the air and catches them,
then leaves the beach house.
Sandi and Robert watch the door close, and listens as the
Jaguar starts up and pulls out of the driveway.
35.
ROBERT
I think that went rather well.
Sandi nods, and lifts her drink in toast.
Robert clinks glasses with her.
SANDI
To crime.
ROBERT
To PERFECT crime.
They finish their drinks, setting their empty glasses down
on the coffee table.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE DRIVEWAY -- EVENING
Laura parks her Mercedes, heads to the front door.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- EVENING
Robert sets a wine glass down on the dining room table, as
Laura enters the house.
Then notices the shirt button in the glass.
Laura's footsteps get closer.
Robert replaces the wine glass with an empty one from the
bar, just as Laura enters the room.
When she sees Robert, she's startled.
LAURA
Where's your car?
ROBERT
Repair shop. Wouldn't start. Mark
drove me back.
LAURA
Any idea what's wrong with it?
ROBERT
Too early to tell.
Laura notices the elegantly set table, candles, food.
LAURA
So. What's the occasion?
36.
INT. DINING ROOM -- NIGHT
Dinner is in progress.
Robert notices that Laura's wine glass is empty, fills it.
ROBERT
I thought we could discuss our
marriage.
LAURA
You mean: your settlement.
Laura takes a sip of her wine, watching Robert squirm.
ROBERT
Have you talked to your lawyer, yet?
LAURA
I have an appointment next Tuesday.
ROBERT
That gives us time to talk this over.
LAURA
I really have nothing to say.
She takes a sip of her wine.
The moment she sets her glass down, Robert tops it off.
ROBERT
Laura, I wish you'd reconsider. I
know I haven't been a model husband.
But I think you unfairly compare me
to your first husband....
Robert gestures to the painting of Laura's first husband.
ROBERT
It's hard to compete with a dead man.
LAURA
What you mean is: It's hard to lose
to a dead man. But I think you've
done splendidly.
She takes another sip of wine, and Robert tops off her glass.
LAURA
I really shouldn't be drinking so
much.
ROBERT
You took your medication, right?
37.
LAURA
Of course.
ROBERT
Then there's nothing to worry about.
He tops off her glass again.
LAURA
You're right. We should celebrate.
She lifts her glass in toast.
LAURA
To our marriage.
Robert clinks glasses with her, and both drink.
ROBERT
I don't want it to end, Laura. I
love you. I want to try again. Please,
give me another chance.
She takes another sip of wine studying him; obviously tipsy.
LAURA
Another chance?
ROBERT
Yes.
Robert refills her glass.
LAURA
Another chance to do what? Spend my
money? Flirt with my friends? Ruin
my business reputation?
Laura's eyes flutter spasmodically, she rubs them.
ROBERT
Are you okay?
LAURA
I'm just tired.
ROBERT
Maybe we should discuss this some
other time?
She looks up at him, frowning.
LAURA
No... I'm fine.
38.
She takes another sip of wine.
Robert tops off her glass.
LAURA
I was thinking about our prenuptial
yesterday...
ROBERT
And?
LAURA
I've made a decision.
She takes a sip of wine.
LAURA
A decision regarding your settlement.
ROBERT
Yes?
The suspense is killing him.
She takes another sip of her wine, eyes twitching slightly.
LAURA
The contract stands, Robert. You
don't get a cent.
ROBERT
I'm sorry you feel that way.
Laura takes another sip of wine, studying him.
LAURA
You're taking it rather well.
ROBERT
What do you want me to do? Cry?
Laura takes another sip of wine, twitching slightly.
Robert tops off her glass.
ROBERT
A final toast.
(smiles)
To the good times we had.
Laura lifts her wine glass.
LAURA
Both of them.
39.
She finishes her glass, her eyes begin twitching violently.
LAURA
Robert? I think....
Her eyes roll up and her left arm goes stiff, knocking her
empty glass off the table.
THE GLASS SHATTERS an the floor.
Laura's eyes close as she passes out, going into a mild
rigidity seizure.
Robert finishes his glass of wine, blots his mouth with his
napkin, then moves around the table to check her pulse.
A LOUD KNOCK at the sliding glass door.
Robert let's go of his wife's rigid arm and goes to the door.
He opens it.
Sandi enters.
Sandi looks at Laura, rigid and unconscious in her chair.
SANDI
Is she okay?
ROBERT
Mild seizure. Rigidity. And she's a
little drunk, too.
Sandi nods, then heads into the bedroom.
SANDI
Where's the bathing suit?
ROBERT
Third drawer down. It's a red one
piece with a monogram.
We hear drawers opening in the bedroom, as Robert carefully
lowers Laura to the dining room floor.
SANDI (O.S.)
Got it.
We hear the drawer close.
Sandi comes in with the red swimsuit - monogrammed LDG.
Robert and Sandi carefully peel Laura's clothes off of her
body. It isn't easy. Her arms and legs are rigid.
ROBERT
Here. Let me get her arm.
40.
Robert has to muscle her arm into position to remove her
blouse and bra.
Sandi and Robert work to squeeze her into the swimsuit.
ROBERT
Darling, I think you've gained a little
weight.
Laura lays there without response.
Eyes fluttering behind their lids.
Sandi pulls the straps over her shoulder, examines their work.
SANDI
There. Looks fine.
Sandi's face is next to Robert's, and they kiss.
Passion consumes them.
He presses Sandi back against the table.
SANDI
Not now. Not now.
But she doesn't mean it.
Her hands are all over him.
She unbuttons his shirt, moving her hands over his chest.
Robert reaches up under her skirt and pulls off her panties.
THE PANTIES drop onto the floor next to Laura... whose eyes
flutter open.
Sandi unzips Robert's fly, as he presses her sweater up to
expose her breasts.
Robert kisses her breasts and pushes her back onto the table.
SANDI
Yes. Oh, yes.
Robert and Sandi make love on the table, dishes and silver
rattling around them. Passion exploding.
Laura's glazed eyes watch her husband make love with Sandi.
Her arm begins twitching out of control.
Laura makes a low, breathy, moaning sound.
Almost non-human.
Robert and Sandi make love on the table, plates rattling.
When they finish, they hear the moaning sound.
41.
SANDI
She okay?
ROBERT
Nothing to worry about. Just part of
her seizure.
SANDI
She's not going to bite her tongue or
something, is she?
ROBERT
No. This is just low-grade rigidity.
If she goes into a panic, she may go
grand-mal and completely lose control.
Laura's eyes close again, and she stops moaning.
ROBERT
Let me get the towels.
Robert goes into the bathroom and comes out with a pair of
big beach towels.
ROBERT
We'll tie her with this one.
Sandi and Robert roll one towel long-ways around Laura's
upper body, "tying" her arms to her sides.
ROBERT
There. Won't leave any marks.
They roll Laura onto the second towel, which they wrap around
her entire body.
Completely wrapped, the only thing which shows is the top of
Laura's head.
ROBERT
You get the boat?
SANDI
It's out on the beach.
(beat)
No one will ever notice it missing.
ROBERT
Okay. Ready to lift her?
Sandi nods.
ROBERT
Wait. The clothes.
42.
Robert gestures to Laura's clothes.
SANDI
Right.
Sandi scoops all of the clothes (including her panties) into
her Top Cat backpack and carries it to the bedroom.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Sandi sets the Top Cat backpack down next to the dresser,
counts down to drawer number four and opens it.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Sandi returns from the bedroom, wearing the backpack.
ROBERT
Ready?
Robert bends down next to the wrapped body.
She and Robert pick up Laura's wrapped body and head towards
the sliding glass door.
ROBERT
Shit. I should have left it open.
Robert fumbles as he tries to open the sliding glass door
while maintaining his grip on Laura.
He almost drops Laura a couple of times as he opens the door.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Robert and Sandi carry Laura's wrapped body out of the house.
They set her down on a chaise longue, while Robert closes
and locks the sliding glass door.
ROBERT
Where's the boat?
SANDI
Straight down there.
She points to the crashing surf.
Robert nods, and they lift Laura's wrapped body again.
43.
Sandi leads as they negotiate the stairs down to the sand,
balancing the body.
EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT
The beach is empty, lights off in many of the beach houses.
Robert scans the beach, then they carry the rolled up body
across the sand towards the ocean.
The extra weight is hard on Sandi's back.
She tries not to stumble as her feet sink into the sand.
Terror builds.
Any minute, someone might open a door or look out a window
and see Robert and Sandi with the rolled up body.
A light goes on in Mark's beach house.
Illumination falling over Sandi and Robert's faces.
They stop cold.
There is a sound, echoed in the stillness of the night.
Robert and Sandi freeze.
Waiting for someone to wake up.
Waiting to be discovered. Nothing happens.
The light goes off.
Robert and Sandi continue carrying Laura down to the ocean.
ON THE CREST OF A DUNE
Sandi hears something drop out of the roll onto the beach
behind her.
SANDI
(whispering)
Wait a minute.
They stop and she turns around.
Behind Sandi on the beach is a Laura's wedding band,
glittering in the moonlight.
SANDI
Her wedding ring.
Robert looks around the beach for signs of life, then they
set Laura down an the beach. He picks up the wedding ring
and shoves it in a pocket.
44.
A door slams somewhere.
Robert and Sandi freeze.
All of the doors from the beach houses are still closed.
After a moment, Robert and Sandi hoist Laura's rolled up
body back up and continues to the beach.
NEAR THE WATER
Sandi and Robert stop dead.
There's a JOGGER on the beach.
Coming towards them.
Maybe two hundred feet away.
Sandi sees the row boat, beached about twenty feet away.
SANDI
The boat.
Robert nods.
The Jogger continues towards them.
Robert and Sandi carry Laura down to the boat.
Lay her on the sand.
The boat is a small row boat, made of aluminum.
The Jogger gets closer.
Robert starts to drag the boat down to the water.
Sandi stops him.
SANDI
Not enough time.
The Jogger gets closer.
Sandi gestures to Robert to move quickly.
They take the aluminum boat and flip it over Laura, keel up.
Covering her... but her arm sticks out.
The Jogger gets closer.
Sandi pulls Robert down to the sand and kisses him, leaning
back against the upside-down boat.
It's a pretty good kiss...
But the pressure on the boat presses against Laura's arm.
Laura begins MOANING under the boat.
The aluminum gives it a mechanical sound.
45.
The Jogger is only a few feet away.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer!
Laura's moaning gets louder.
Vibrating the aluminum boat.
Neither Sandi nor Robert know what to do.
The Jogger runs right at them!
Closer.
Closer!
CLOSER!
THE JOGGER gives them a nod of hello.
Then continues jogging down the beach.
He doesn't hear a thing.
He's wearing a Walkman.
Robert and Sandi turn and watch him jog away.
Laura's moaning stops.
The Jogger is just a silhouette on the horizon.
ROBERT
Where are your panties?
SANDI
I took them off in the house... Should
I go back and get them?
ROBERT
Not enough time.
Robert and Sandi flip the boat back over, uncovering Laura.
They lift Laura and place her inside, next to the paddles.
Then they drag the boat down to the crashing surf.
EXT. ROW BOAT -- NIGHT
Robert and Sandi row the boat out to sea, with Laura's wrapped
body between them.
Moonlight glitters over the water, as they row further and
further out to sea.
ROBERT
How far?
46.
SANDI
All the way out to the buoy. Make
sure she gets caught in the riptides.
They continue rowing in the moonlight.
Finally, they reach a point far out at sea.
A buoy bell can be heard ringing nearby.
Robert lays down his paddle and unrolls Laura from the first
beach towel.
Laura's eyes flutter under their lids.
She's still unconscious.
Robert pulls the wedding band from his pocket and slides it
over Laura's finger.
ROBERT
'Till death do us part.
Sandi lays down her paddle, looking at Laura.
SANDI
What do we do now?
ROBERT
We throw her over the side.
SANDI
We can't just dump her....
ROBERT
It's a little late to get cold feet .
SANDI
I can't do it, Robert. I just can't.
Robert puts an arm around her, comforting her.
ROBERT
Sure you can. It's easy.
Robert puts Sandi's hands under Laura's shoulders.
He untucks the second towel, loosening Laura's arms.
Then his hands go under Laura's knees.
ROBERT
Gently. Over the side.
Robert lifts, and Sandi follows suit; their eyes locked
together.
47.
Laura Is lifted gently over the edge of the row boat.
BUT LAURA'S BODY gets away from them, making a loud SPLASH
as it hits the ocean and sinks from view.
THE SOUND ECHOES ACROSS THE WATERS.
Robert looks around the rowboat, wondering if anyone heard
the noise.
Behind him, the Laura POPS back to the surface...
SCREAMING. THRASHING. CONVULSING.
Sandi sinks down in the row boat, trying to hide, as Laura
fights her way through the cold waters to the boat.
LAURA'S FINGERS clamp onto the side of the boat.
LAURA
NO! NO! NO!
Robert puts a hand on her face, pushes her away from the boat.
Her fingers hold tight.
Holding her with one hand, Robert begins prying her fingers
off the boat one by one.
Sandi cowers on the floor of the boat, scared.
Wondering how she got into this.
LAURA
NO! NO! NO!
Robert removes one entire hand from the boat.
The hand begins thrashing in the air.
He pulls the second hand's fingers from the boat, one by one.
LAURA
No! No! No!
He gets down to the last finger.
Plucking it from the boat. He shoves Laura's head away.
Laura begins thrashing back to the row boat.
Robert picks up a paddle - ready to hit Laura in the head.
SANDI
No! Don't want to leave marks.
Robert places the blade against Laura's chest. Gently pushing
her away from the boat.
48.
ROBERT
(smiling)
Goodbye.
Laura continues thrashing, clawing, screaming, and yelling
in the water.
Robert takes his seat in the row boat, grabs the other paddle.
He calmly begins rowing the boat back to the shore.
Sandi looks on in terror as Robert rows the boat to shore,
while Laura screams and thrashes in the water behind them.
Robert rows, whistling "Michael Row The Boat To Shore"...
AS LAURA THRASHES in the water behind them.
Finally, Laura gurgles, taking in a lung full of water.
She goes into a grand-mal seizure, wheezing and twitching
out of control. Taking in more water.
LAURA FINALLY SINKS below the water level...
Drowning.
Caught in a riptide.
Robert calmly rows the boat, whistling in the moonlight.
Sandi sits up in the boat, eyes full of fear.
EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT
Robert beaches the boat. Sandi gets out of the boat slowly,
still haunted by images of Laura's murder.
ROBERT
Are you okay?
SANDI
It's just a hell of a thing, you know?
Just dumping her out there...
Robert pulls her close, hugging her.
ROBERT
It'll be okay.
Sandi nods, getting back some strength.
ROBERT
You've got to take back the boat and
make the phone call.
49.
SANDI
Yeah.
ROBERT
Look. We can't see each other for a
while. A couple of months, maybe
more. We can't let the police suspect
either of us, okay?
Sandi takes a long time before answering.
SANDI
Okay.
Robert lets go of her, and starts to move away; but Sandi
grabs him and gives him a final, passionate, kiss.
SANDI
To tide you over.
Robert smiles, then walks across the beach to the Beach House.
Sandi watches him walk away, feeling very alone.
She adjusts her Top Cat backpack and pushes the row boat
back into the water, begins rowing to the pier.
EXT. THE PIER -- NIGHT
Sandi ties up the boat...
No longer wearing the backpack.
INT. PAY PHONE AT PIER -- NIGHT
Sandi steps into the phone booth and dials 911.
OPERATOR (V.O.)
Nine One One, operator twenty three.
Can I help you?
SANDI
I want to report a drowning.
OPERATOR (V.O.)
Your name please.
SANDI
Look, this is an emergency.
(beat)
I was night surfing out at Cain's
Point and heard some woman screaming
in the water.
50.
OPERATOR (V.O.)
At Cain's Point?
SANDI
Yes.
OPERATOR (V.O.)
Your name, please.
SANDI
Look, I wanted to help her.
(beat)
But she was too far out. Too close
to the rip tides.
Sandi looks down at the ocean, under the pier, and sees
something the thrashing in the water...
Just like Laura thrashed...
But this is just a sea gull.
OPERATOR (V.O.)
Your name, please?
SANDI
Afraid I'd get caught in the rip
tides...
She hangs up the phone.
Turns away from the water.
Walks down the pier to town.
EXT. BEACH -- DAY
KIDS in swimsuits walk across the sand in the morning sun.
Looking completely out of place, Lt. JACK WOOLRICH is dressed
in a blue suit and tie. Woolrich is a smart, good looking
ex-big city cop. A no-nonsense homicide detective who never
goes anywhere without his Fred Flintstone Pez dispenser.
NEAR THE EDGE OF THE WATER
A pair of uniform policeman hold a crowd of sunbathers back
from a crime scene.
Woolrich pops a Pez into his mouth as he tries to squeeze
through the crowd.
DETECTIVE NEBEL takes photographs of something on the beach.
He lowers his camera when he sees Woolrich.
51.
DT. NEBEL
Hey, Woolrich. What's the flavor of
the day?
Woolrich pops a Pez into his mouth.
WOOLRICH
Grape. What have we got?
DT. NEBEL
Nine one one got a call last night -
woman drowning, caught in the riptides.
Coast Guard did a search, found zip.
Then this washed up this afternoon.
WOOLRICH
That's all that's left of her?
DT. NEBEL
So far.
Woolrich squats down to examine the crime scene.
No body, just a ripped and bloody red one piece bathing suit
with a monogram - LDG.
DT. NEBEL
We've had some shark sightings...
WOOLRICH
Anybody see anything?
DT. NEBEL
Got a drunk who saw two women making
out on the pier last night.
WOOLRICH
Find out what he's drinking and get
me a bottle.
(looks at bathing suit)
L.D.G. Who could that be?
DT. NEBEL
Laura Goodis. She and her husband
live in the beach house over there.
Dt. Nebel points down the beach to the Goodis beach house.
Woolrich nods and pops a Pez in his mouth.
WOOLRICH
Anybody talked to the husband?
DT. NEBEL
Figured we'd let you do that.
52.
WOOLRICH
(smiles)
Thanks.
Woolrich heads down the beach to the Beach House.
INT. BEACH HOUSE BEDROOM -- DAY
Robert creeps into the bedroom, and puts on his rubber gloves.
Suddenly, there is a LOUD KNOCKING at the sliding glass door.
WOOLRICH (O.S.)
Mister Goodis? Mrs. Goodis?
Robert freezes, not wanting to make a sound.
MORE KNOCKING on the glass door.
WOOLRICH (O.S.)
Mister Goodis?
FOOTSTEPS moving across the deck.
Robert relaxes a little....
THEN A SHADOW falls over the bedroom window.
A silhouette of Woolrich as he tries looking in the window.
Even though the curtains are closed, Robert stands absolutely
still.
WOOLRICH'S SILHOUETTE moves away from the window.
Robert waits a moment, then pulls the empty Sominex container
from his left pocket.
Moving to the night stand, he pours the contents of Laura's
medication vial into the Sominex container.
Pocketing the sleep-aid bottle, he pulls the baggie containing
the actual medication from his right pocket and pours it
into the empty vial.
Carefully re-capping the vial, he returns it to the night
stand.
Robert quietly crosses to the bathroom.
53.
INT. BATHROOM -- DAY
Robert opens the medicine cabinet and takes the bottle of
Sominex from his left pocket and returns it to the cabinet.
He moves a container of vitamins in front of it, and slowly
closes the medicine cabinet.
SUDDENLY, there's a loud knocking at the front door.
Robert freezes, trying not to make a sound.
WOOLRICH (O.S.)
Anybody home?
EXT. BEACH HOUSE DRIVEWAY -- DAY
Woolrich knocks on the door again.
Mark ambles over.
MARK
Can I help you?
Woolrich turns around, spotting Mark.
WOOLRICH
Are you Robert Goodis?
MARK
I live next door.
(beat)
Who are you?
WOOLRICH
Detective Jack Woolrich.
He flips his ID for Mark to look at.
MARK
Is anything wrong?
WOOLRICH
Have you seen Mrs. Goodis today?
MARK
Her car's in the driveway... But I
haven't seen her.
WOOLRICH
What about Mr. Goodis?
54.
MARK
Robert's out of town.
WOOLRICH
Fishing trip in Berkeley?
MARK
What is this about?
WOOLRICH
A woman got caught in the riptides
and drowned last night.
MARK
Oh, my God. I shoulda known.
WOOLRICH
What?
MARK
Laura had been taking these midnight
swims. Robert asked me to keep an
eye on her while he was away.
WOOLRICH
Away where?
MARK
San Francisco. He's there for a week
on business.
WOOLRICH
Do you know where he's staying?
MARK
No. But you could call his travel
agent. Casablanca. Here in town.
Woolrich writes this down in his notebook, flips it closed.
WOOLRICH
Thanks.
Woolrich walks away, popping a pez.
EXT. BEACH -- DAY
Dt. Nebel puts the swimsuit in a plastic evidence bag when
Woolrich walks up.
55.
WOOLRICH
Tell me if this sounds familiar:
Wealthy wife is missing, husband has
a perfect alibi - away on business.
DT. NEBEL
Peterson case.
WOOLRICH
Wins the prize... Let's get a dive
crew out there to search for her
body... or whatever's left of it.
DT. NEBEL
Where you going?
WOOLRICH
Check out the husband's alibi before
he dies his hair and heads to Mexico.
INT. CASABLANCA TRAVEL -- DAY
Woolrich talks to Richard, the travel AGENT.
AGENT
Yes, he made his arrangements through
me. He left at one thirty yesterday.
WOOLRICH
Can you give me his flight number and
hotel reservations?
AGENT
Of course.
Richard punches information into his computer and prints out
Robert's travel plans.
AGENT
You look like you could use a vacation.
Eight days - seven nights in beautiful
and exotic Bangkok? Ancient Buddhist
temples, famed palaces, manicured
parks, plus gourmet restaurants and
exotic night life?
Woolrich grabs the print-out and leaves.
INT. POLICE STATION -- DAY
Woolrich, at his desk on the phone, looks at the print-out.
56.
WOOLRICH
So, his car's in the airport lot.
(listens)
Did you check the time on his ticket?
Yeah.
(nods)
One 0'clock, huh? Okay. Did he make
the flight?
(frowns)
He WAS on it, huh? Okay. Thanks.
Woolrich hangs up the phone and picks up the hotel
information. He dials the number of the SFO Holiday Inn.
WOOLRICH
Hello. Holiday Inn? Do you have a
Robert Goodis staying there?
(beat)
Yeah? When did he check in?
(beat)
Three 0'clock yesterday, huh? Well,
could you patch me through to his
room?
Woolrich holds as they ring Robert's room.
ESTABLISHING SHOT. SAN FRANCISCO -- DAY
The San Francisco skyline.
INT. HOTEL ROOM -- DAY
In the non-descript hotel room, Teddy hears the phone ring.
He turns to look at the call re-router box.
THE RE-ROUTER clicks on, light going from red to green and
dial spinning.
There isn't a second ring.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
The phone rings.
Robert picks it up before it rings again.
ROBERT
Robert Goodis' room...
57.
INT. POLICE STATION -- DAY
Woolrich tosses the computer print-out in his trash can and
pops a Pez.
WOOLRICH
Mr. Goodis? This is Detective Jack
Woolrich, with the Cain's Point Police
Department.
(beat)
Yes, sir. Are you the husband of a
Mrs. Laura Goodis?
(beat)
When was the last time you spoke with
your wife?
(beat)
Sir, I'm sorry, but I have some very
bad news for you.
(beat)
A swimming accident.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Robert's voice sounds shocked, but his body is relaxed.
ROBERT
Oh, my God.
(beat)
Yes, sir. I'll fly back right away.
Robert hangs up the phone. It's working.
EXT. BEACH -- DAY
Woolrich pops a Pez as he questions the BEACH KIDS.
WOOLRICH
So, none of you were surfing out here
last night.
He turns to BRIAN, the old beach bum.
WOOLRICH
What about you?
BRIAN
What's the point in surfing, man? The
waves just bring you back to the beach.
WOOLRICH
You don't know anybody that made a
phone call to 911?
58.
BRIAN
Back in Wisconsin my friend Elmo once
made some prank calls --
WOOLRICH
Anybody in California last night?
Brian shakes his head. Woolrich turns to Sandi.
WOOLRICH
What about you?
SANDI
I was at a party in town all night.
Woolrich nods, and walks away from the beach kids.
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Woolrich pops a Pez and looks across his desk at Robert.
WOOLRICH
When was the last time you spoke with
your wife?
ROBERT
Before I left for the airport. I called
last night, she must have been out...
Should I file a missing person report?
Woolrich drops the plastic evidence bag on his desk.
WOOLRICH
You ever seen that before?
ROBERT
My wife's bathing suit.
WOOLRICH
Forensics found traces of blood - OB
positive, your wife's blood type. Any
idea how it got there?
ROBERT
You found my wife's bathing suit, but
you can't find my wife?
WOOLRICH
What are the odds of that?
ROBERT
I want to file a missing persons report.
Whatever it takes for you to find her.
59.
WOOLRICH
We don't know if this is a missing
person, accidental drowning, or something
else. You have any recent problems with
your wife?
ROBERT
No... Well, we had a disagreement
last week. Just a spat.
WOOLRICH
Really? What about?
ROBERT
Should I have a lawyer present?
WOOLRICH
Think you need one?
ROBERT
My wife is missing - probably drowned.
I want you to find her. I don't want
to bury an empty coffin.
Woolrich pops a Pez, decides to call Robert's bluff.
WOOLRICH
We have dive teams searching out by
the old buoy... but usually a body
will wash ashore by now. Unless it's
weighted down by something.
ROBERT
Find her. Please find her for me.
WOOLRICH
Sure, but do me a favor - don't take
any sudden trips out of town.
Robert leaves. Woolrich pops a Pez.
WOOLRICH
Don't dye your hair blond, don't grow a
goatee.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- EVENING
Robert enters, dropping his luggage in the entry hall.
He grabs the evening paper from his porch, closes the front
door, and crosses to the bar.
Robert mixes himself a drink, opening the paper.
60.
THE HEADLINE READS: "Society Woman Missing" A sub-headline
reads: "Victim of Riptides?"
Robert raises his drink in toast to the painting of Laura's
dead husband.
ROBERT
To Dead Spouses.
He finishes the drink in one swallow, crosses to the sliding
glass doors and looks out at...
EXT. BEACH -- EVENING
A DIVE TEAM big steps off a Search & Rescue boat - looking
for Laura's body at the bottom of the ocean.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. THE PIER -- DAY
Saturday, and the pier is crowded with CHILDREN, FAMILIES,
and COUPLES in shorts and T shirts. A uniformed POLICEMAN
strolls through the crowd.
Robert stands nervously at the pier railing, throwing bread
scraps to the sea gulls.
A WOMAN in shorts, a tank top, and sunglasses moves to the
railing next to him, looking out at the water.
The Woman pretends not to know Robert.
When she speaks quietly, we realize it's Sandi
SANDI
I miss you.
ROBERT
We shouldn't even be meeting...
SANDI
How'd it go with the police?
ROBERT
They can't close the case until they
find a body. They've been searching
for days.
(MORE)
61.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
(beat)
They were supposed to find the body,
do an autopsy, no evidence of foul
play... because we didn't give her any
drugs, we just took away her medication.
You can't see what isn't there. They'd
call it an accident, case closed. But
they can't find the body...
SANDI
They questioned me.
Robert fights the urge to turn towards her.
ROBERT
What?
SANDI
This cop named Woolrich.
The POLICEMAN wanders past them.
Robert is almost in a panic from the last bit of information,
tries to remain calm.
ROBERT
How'd he find you?
SANDI
They questioned everyone on the beach.
Robert is relieved.
SANDI
I miss you, Robert. I want to feel
you inside me again.
Her hand touches his on the railing.
SANDI
When can we be together?
ROBERT
Maybe never.
SANDI
What do you mean?
Robert extracts his hand from under hers.
ROBERT
My wife's dead. We murdered her.
(MORE)
62.
ROBERT (CONT'D)
(beat)
If the police EVER connect you and
me, we could end up in jail.
Understand? Jail.
(beat)
Maybe even the gas chamber.
He looks away from her.
ROBERT
So we can never see each other. Never.
Sandi tries to maintain her anger... fails.
SANDI
You can't just dump me. Throw me away
like garbage? After what we did
together?
ROBERT
What are you going to do? Go to the
police?
Before Sandi can smile at the possibility, Robert dashes it.
ROBERT
I'm the one with the alibi, remember?
You don't have any alibi for the time
of Laura's murder.
Sandi's expression turns to fear, but Robert continues.
ROBERT
What's more, it's YOUR voice on the
police department's 911 tape.
(smiles)
They can voice-print you, prove it.
The Policeman wanders past them again.
Stopping for a moment.
Robert and Sandi pretend not to know each other, but even
their silence is charged with tension.
When the Policeman moves on, Sandi pleads with Robert.
Tears edge from under her sunglasses.
SANDI
I did it all for you.
63.
ROBERT
Everything you did to help our
"relationship" helped put an end to
it. It's over, Sandi. Over.
She turns towards him, voice louder than it should be.
SANDI
You can't just dump me.
ROBERT
If you don't leave me alone, I'll be
forced to call the police.
Robert walks away, leaving Sandi alone at the railing.
Sandi looks at the water, a sea gull THRASHES and caws...
EXT. OCEAN -- FLASHBACK -- NIGHT
Laura screams and thrashes in the water.
EXT. THE PIER -- DAY
Sandi slams her hands over her ears, trying to block out the
noise of the sea gulls.
EXT. OCEAN -- EVENING
The Dive Team splashes out of the water, back onto the boat.
The Search & Rescue boat starts up and heads to the shore.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Robert watches the boat head back to the pier.
BUNNY (O.S.)
What you looking at?
Robert lets the curtains fall closed and turns to the Beach
Bunny, smiling.
ROBERT
The most beautiful girl in the world.
He takes her in his arms and starts dancing with her.
Robert whispers in the Beach Bunny's ear, she giggles.
64.
BUNNY
Really?
ROBERT
Let's find out.
BUNNY
Okay.
Robert dances towards the sliding glass door with the Beach
Bunny, and they move outside.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Robert and the Bunny end up on the chaise longue.
She giggles as he undresses her.
BUNNY
Out here?
ROBERT
Don't worry, nobody's watching.
(sotto)
The police are between shifts.
Robert and the beach Bunny make love on the chaise longue.
Robert and the beach Bunny's naked bodies move rhythmically.
Sweaty sounds echo across the dunes. Slap. Slap. Slap.
ON A DUNE OVERLOOKING THE BEACH HOUSE
Sandi watches Robert and the beach Bunny make love.
Something slaps against her left hand rhythmically.
We move down slowly to see that it's a big kitchen knife.
Slap. Slap. Slap.
The knife glitters in the moonlight.
Sandi puts the knife in her tote-bag, turns, and walks away.
Sandi becomes is a silhouette on the beach in the moonlight.
EXT. BEACH -- MORNING
Robert jogs along the beach, dressed in shorts and a hooded
sweat shirt.
Tries not to look at the Dive Team as they continue to search
for his wife's body. Splash! Splash! They enter the water.
65.
ON A DUNE
Sandi watches Robert jog, a distant silhouette.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE DRIVEWAY -- DAY
Robert carries groceries from the Jaguar.
He balances them as he unlocks the front door.
DOWN THE STREET
Sandi watches him enter the house.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Robert looks out the sliding glass door at the ocean...
Sees Sandi, just a silhouette, watching his house from a dune.
Robert frowns and moves away from the door.
He mixes himself a drink at the bar, thinking about this.
He returns to the sliding glass door with his drink, wondering
if she's gone.
SANDI IS STILL THERE.
Standing on the stand dune, watching the beach house.
ROBERT
Shit.
Robert downs his entire drink in one gulp.
EXT. BEACH -- AFTERNOON
Sandi watches the house from a dune.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- AFTERNOON
Robert on the phone, lets the curtains fall - hiding Sandi
from his view.
LAWYER (V.O.)
You can't file a life insurance claim
until it's classified as an accidental
death. For that they need a body.
ROBERT
What if they never find her body?
66.
LAWYER (V.O.)
You wait seven years.
ROBERT
Seven years? What about our other
assets? The checking account is almost
tapped and I'm running out of room on
the credit cards.
LAWYER (V.O.)
There ARE no other assets. Laura has
everything tied up in this Fuller deal.
ROBERT
Everything?
LAWYER (V.O.)
Eighteen point three million dollars.
She even borrowed against the house.
ROBERT
What am I supposed to do when the
money runs out?
LAWYER (V.O.)
Find a job?
Robert hangs up.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
The beach house at night.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
Robert moves to the sliding glass doors, looks out at the beach.
Sandi still stands on the sand dune.
Robert turns away from the glass and heads towards the bar.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE DRIVEWAY -- MORNING
Robert steps out onto the porch to get the newspaper.
When he looks up, paper in hand, Sandi is standing behind
his parked Jaguar.
ROBERT
What are you doing here?
67.
She places the tip of her keys against the side of the Jag.
SANDI
Just going for a walk.
Robert hears the keys SCREECHING against the car as she walks
its length.
Sandi gives Robert a final smile, then puts her keys in her
tote-bag and continues down the street.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Robert races in, tossing his paper on the sofa, and scoops
up the phone.
Robert dials the police number from an 'In Case Of Emergency'
sticker.
VOICE (V.O.)
Cain's Point Police Department.
(beat)
Can I help you?
Robert slowly hangs up the phone, frowning.
WHEN HE OPENS HIS PAPER, the headline reads:
"Society Woman Missing"...
Someone has written "Murdered" over "Missing" in red ink.
THE NEWSPAPER DROPS to the floor.
EXT. STREET -- NIGHT
A TRUCK pulls over to the side of the road and stops.
The passenger door opens, and Teddy hops out.
TEDDY
Hey. Thanks for the ride.
Teddy grabs his duffle bag from the truck and shuts the door.
As the truck speeds away, Teddy slings the duffle bag over
his shoulder and heads towards the beach.
68.
EXT. BEACH -- NIGHT
Teddy finds a bench to sleep on.
He uses the duffle bag as a pillow, and grabs an old newspaper
to put over his face.
The newspaper's headline jumps out at him:
"Society Woman Missing"
TEDDY
Shit.
He pulls the newspaper from his face and tries to read it.
There's a little spill light from a street light, and by
holding the paper at the correct angle, he can read.
"Heiress presumed dead. Victim of riptides."
TEDDY
He killed her.
(grins)
Killed his fucking wife, and I was
his alibi.
Teddy drops the newspaper to the sand.
TEDDY
Five grand just ain't enough.
The newspaper lays on the sand.
INT. ROBERT'S JAGUAR -- DAY
Robert buckles his seat belt and starts the car, notices the
newspaper under his wiper blade.
"Murdered" has been written over "Missing" in red ink again.
ROBERT
Fucking bitch.
Robert gets out of the car, ripping the newspaper from under
the wiper and destroying it.
He gets back into the car and drives away.
EXT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
As the Jaguar drives away, Sandi reaches down and picks up
the newspaper, smiling.
69.
EXT. PUBLIC LIBRARY -- DAY
Establishing shot of the public library.
INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY -- DAY
At a microfilm machine Sandi flips through the Dallas Tribune.
She looks at a sheet of light blue paper with Dashiell
Industries letterhead with a hand written list of Newspapers,
Dates, and Page Numbers... under the heading Robert Goodis.
Her research.
The page number next to Dallas Tribune is "3".
She scrolls through to page 3.
ON THE SCREEN
The newspaper page - Headline reads: "Society Woman Killed
In Auto Accident".
A photo of Robert - identified as "Robert Hammett.
Sandi flips through pages from the Boston Globe, stopping at
an article on page twelve.
ON THE SCREEN
Headline reads: "Woman Mugged/Murdered".
Sandi puts her finger on the victim's name: "Mrs. Robert
Gardner"... but the photo of the husband is Robert Goodis.
Sandi flips through pages of the San Francisco Examiner,
stopping at an article on page three.
ON THE SCREEN
The newspaper headline: "Society Woman Killed By BART train".
The victim's name: Helen Daly, wife of Robert Daly.
A PHOTO shows Robert Goodis... and his dead wife.
Sandi sits back in her chair.
SANDI
He's a fucking black widower.
She inserts a roll of microfilm from the New York Times, and
flips through it.
A photo of Robert with another last name & another dead wife.
70.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- DAY
Robert flips through a copy of Forbes, sipping a cocktail,
when the phone rings.
ROBERT
Hello?
TEDDY (V.O.)
Is this Mister Robert Goodis?
ROBERT
Yes. Who is this?
TEDDY (V.O.)
Sorry to hear about your wife.
(beat)
A shame she had to die like that...
leave you all that money.
ROBERT
Who is this?
EXT. PAY PHONE AT PIER -- DAY
Teddy leans against the phone booth wall, smiling.
TEDDY
You don't even recognize your partner's
voice? I'm shocked.
(grins)
This is Teddy Lewis. I'm back in
town, and I thought I might return
your charge card....
ROBERT (V.O.)
I have nothing to say to you.
TEDDY
Well, if you'd rather I turned it
over to the police... Along with this
call re-router.
ROBERT (V.O.)
What do you want?
TEDDY
Now we're talking, huh?
(grins)
I read in the newspaper that your
wife was worth millions.
(MORE)
71.
TEDDY (CONT'D)
(beat)
I wouldn't ask for that much...
But ninety thousand would probably
keep me quiet.
INT. BEACH HOUSE -- NIGHT
ROBERT
Go to hell.
Robert hangs up the phone and collapses onto the sofa.
It's all coming apart.
THE PHONE RINGS LOUDLY.
Robert jumps.
He picks up the phone.