THE BIG WHITE



                                        Written by

                                      Collin Friesen






      FADE IN:

      EXT. ROAD - WINTER DAY

      A police car, nothing more than a speck on the landscape, is intermittently
      visible through the blowing snow.

      INT. POLICE CAR - SAME

      A CORPORAL (20s), behind the wheel, with a bored DETECTIVE BOYLE (60s)
      at his side.

                                  CORPORAL
              So his hand is like, off, right.  So he puts on a
              tourniquet, puts the hand in his pocket, walks five
              miles through the bush til he gets to the highway,
              where he passes out, on the road, right.  Then this
              logging truck comes along...

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
                        (looking ahead)
              Hey.

      The Corporal looks forward.

      CAR'S POV: Through the windshield of a WOMAN (40s), dressed in her
      pajamas and a parka, skipping down the middle of the road.

      EXT. ROAD

      The police car pulls to a stop, just as the woman does a pirouette and falls
      over backwards.

      Detective Boyle and the other Cop get out and walk over.

                                  CORPORAL
                        (into his radio)
              Dispatch, this is unit 611, we need a first
              responsder --

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Cancel that.

      The Woman kicks up a leg, wiggles her foot.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE (cont'd)
              I know where she belongs.

      As they lift her up...

1     INT. INSIDE A TRASH DUMPSTER - LATE AFTERNOON                                  1

      The dumpster lid opens on a bitterly cold, gray winter's day in an Alaskan city.  A
      chunky, shivering HAIR STYLIST with jet black bangs shakes out a box of
      conditioning samples.

                                  HAIR STYLIST
                        (to someone O.S.)
              She says "I haven't eaten all day," then, right there on
              the bus she pulls out this, like, salmon steak and
              I'm...

2     INT. INSIDE A TRASH DUMPSTER - LATE AFTERNOON                                  2

      The dumpster lid BANGS shut, reopens a beat later. A moment of calm until
      two garbage bags SLAM against the inside of the lid. It falls shut with a CLANG.

3     EXT. TRASH DUMPSTER - NIGHT                                                    3

      The lid reopens. Night time now, as a street lamp BUZZES to life. A middle
      aged MAN in work clothes checks to make sure he's alone. He gently lowers
      the lid, opens it again a moment later, this time balancing a mini-bar fridge on
      his shoulder.  He dumps the appliance into the bin and runs off.

4     INT. INSIDE A TRASH DUMPSTER - NIGHT                                           4

      The lid reopens.  SIRENS off in the distance...

                                  MEN'S VOICES (O.S.)
              One, two, three... up.

      The lifeless body of a fair-sized man comes CRASHING into the garbage.
      SIRENS closer.  A man seen only in silhouette leans in to pull some garbage
      over the corpse.  A second man looks in, then pulls the first man away.

                                  MAN'S VOICE
              We'll get him later.  C'mon.

      The lid drops.

5     EXT. TRASH DUMPSTER - MORNING                                                  5

      Black.  The dumpster reopens. Morning now. A Korean-American  TEENAGER
      wearing an apron and headphones sings along to an  old KISS tune as he
      deposits two large orange garbage bags.

                                  TEENAGER
              "...Get up, everybody's gonna move their feet, get
              down, everybody's gonna leave their seat...gonna
              lose your mind in..."

      He shuts the lid with care.  Black.

6     EXT. CITY STREET - DAY                                                         6

      A cookie-cutter subdivision.  Old pine trees poke through the snow cover that
      blankets the neighborhood.  HOWARD (30s), a burly outdoors type, is trying to
      unload a new snowmobile from the back of his pickup.  TED WATTERS (late
      20s) half hidden under a heavy dress coat, walks down the street. He stops by
      Howard's driveway.

                                  TED
              Need a hand?

                                  HOWARD
                        (turning)
              Yeah.  Could ya grab me those two by eights?

      Ted walks up the driveway, grabs the wood slats, makes a ramp by leaning
      them against the rear bumper.

                                  HOWARD (cont'd)
              Thanks.

      Howard maneuvers the snowmobile down the ramp, his back turned toward
      Ted -- who has taken out a small cam-corder and is taping Howard.

                                  HOWARD (cont'd)
              I tell ya, it may look fast but it sure ain't light.  You the
              guy who just moved in to the Stevens old house?

                                  TED
              No.  Name's Ted.

                                  HOWARD
              Hey Ted, I'm Howard.

                                  TED
              Hey Howard.  What is that, an Arctic Cat? What do
              those go for?

7     P.O.V. CAMCORDER VIEW FINDER                                                   7

      Howard finally has the snowmobile on the ground.  He's breathing heavy as he
      pulls off his mitt to shake hands.

                                  HOWARD
              More than I could normally afford, I'll tell ya.
                        (seeing the camera)
              Hey!  What do you think you're you doing?

      As Ted and Howard continue to talk, we PULL BACK to reveal we are watching
      Ted's video playing on a VCR that is --

8     INT. INSURANCE OFFICE / COMMON AREA - DAY                                      8

      A group of office WORKERS look on, very much impressed, as a stunned
      Howard stares at the camera.

                                  TED (O.S.)
              Howard, you seem like a reasonable kind of guy.
              Lets you and me talk.

      TIGHT ON: WATTERS at his nearby cubicle, typing frenetically on his computer.

      At first, he appears to be working, until we realize that on his computer screen
      pixilated Zombies die in silent anguish beneath an unholy hail of bullets.  A
      Miami Dolphins sticker is the sole cubicle decoration.

      As the tape finishes, a smattering of APPLAUSE from his colleagues.  Ted
      gives a small wave over the cubicle wall.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              Thank you.  Just happy to give something back to
              Liberty Capital...
                        (to himself - bitter)
              After all they've done for me.

9     INT. INSURANCE OFFICE / COMMON AREA - DAY                                      9

      CAM (30s), Native-American Alaskan walks over. Ted immediately hits a key
      that turns the screen to a spread-sheet.

                                  CAM
              That was really cool.  It was like... watching "Cops".

                                  TED
              He was pretty spry for a man with a herniated disc.

                                  CAM
              You know, I don't want to bitch or anything, but you
              were supposed to take me along on that one.

                                  TED
              Couldn't find you.

                                  CAM
              I know you know this, but the sooner they think I can
              handle calls on my own, the sooner they'll kick you
              back down south.

                                  TED
              I've been hearing that for 13 months and six days,
              Cam.  After a while, it gets a little old.
                        (off Cam's look)
              Next time, okay.

      Good enough.  Cam moves off.  Back to the zombie blood bath.  The phone
      RINGS.  Ted picks up, his eyes never wavering from the gore intensive
      computer game.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              Claims, Ted Watters.  Sure.

      A final key stroke separates one last zombie from its entrails.

10    INT. INSURANCE OFFICE / BRANCH'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER                       10

      TIGHT ON: A MOUNTED SALMON

      We PULL BACK to see the walls lined with souvenirs of a life spent on the
      edge of the wilderness; citations from the Rotarians, pictures of sponsored
      hockey teams... We are --

      FRANK BRANCH (50s), a mid-level management type sits across from PAUL
      BARNELL (40s), a mild-mannered everyman wrapped in a cheap suit.  Paul
      takes in the display.  The two men sit in silence, smiling politely at one another.

                                  PAUL
              That's... quite the fish.

      Branch is about to answer when Ted enters with a slim file.

                                  BRANCH
              Paul Barnell, Ted Watters.

      Handshakes.  Paul makes steady eye contact.  Ted notices.

                                  BRANCH (cont'd)
              Mr. Barnell wants to talk to us about his brother's life
              insurance policy.

      Ted sits and flips open the file.

                                  TED
              Raymond, isn't it?

                                  PAUL
              Yes, Raymond.  You see, as I've already explained to
              Mr. Branch, he's been gone for five years now, and I
              thought it might be time to... move on.

                                  TED
              By move on you mean...?

                                  BRANCH
              ...cash in Raymond's policy.

      Ted smiles to himself.

                                  PAUL
              I just thought, well, it's pretty unlikely he's still alive.
              My Dad always wanted us to be able to look after
              each other if anything should ever happen.  And to
              be frank, money's a little --

                                  TED
              I understand Mr. Barnell, but here's the thing. With no
              actual body, under Alaskan statutes a person must
              be missing for seven years before he or she can be
              legally declared dead and that's not withstanding an
              investigation period where concerned parties can
              take up to another year to file interventions
              concerning the motion.  So, even though your
              brother's status is undetermined at this point, there's
              really very little we can do for you.

      Ted flips the file shut.  Case closed.  Branch, not entirely happy with Ted's
      demeanor, forces a smile.

                                  BRANCH
              Of course we are extremely sorry for your loss.

      Branch looks at Ted.  Ted turns to Paul.

                                  TED
              Oh, absolutely.

11    EXT.  STRIP MALL - NIGHT                                                      11

      The city skyline rises in the distance as heat vents belch steam against the
      rapidly setting sun.  But that's miles away.  Here on the outskirts is a rapidly
      failing five store strip mall; a "Porn-a-copia" XXX Video store, hair stylist,
      small engine repair shop, fish and chips joint and the "Barnell Great Escapes" 
      travel agency.  We might notice a big trash dumpster in the corner.  Paul's car,
      a Ford Taurus, pulls onto the parking pad.

12    INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS                                                  12

      Paul driving, talking on his cell phone and balancing a big non-spill metallic
      travel coffee mug at the same time.

                                  PAUL
              Hang on, hang on.  First off, how did you get my cell
              number?  (Beat)  Because it's for mechanical and
              medical emergencies only.

      Paul, wound up, taps his brakes too hard.  His mug falls, the lid pops and the
      coffee proceeds to soak a stack of papers.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Great.
                        (back into phone)
              No, I'm not...  I just... give me a second here.

      Paul parks his car, gathers the soggy papers and gets out.

13    EXT. STRIP MALL                                                               13

      Paul, still on the phone, carries the papers to the dumpster.

                                  PAUL
              Yes, and that check went out a week ago.  I watched
              my secretary write it up.

14    EXT. INSIDE THE DUMPSTER                                                      14

      Black.  Paul opens the lid.  The phone is cradled in his neck, he checks each
      soggy page to make sure he's not tossing anything important.

                                  PAUL
              Well I don't know.  I, I, I have no clue.  Could it
              possibly be a problem on your end?  So the electric
              company never makes a...  Look, I pay my bills.  I'm a
              Rotarian for goodness --

      Paul looks over to see some MEN from Rodney's Repo Ranch walking up to
      the front door of his office.  Distracted for a moment, the phone slips and falls
      into the trash.

      Paul, muttering, leans in to get it.  He pushes aside an orange garbage bag,
      guided by the faint sound of the other person STILL TALKING. And then--

      PAUL'S POV: of THE BODY-- a 40-ish White (well, a little blue) male dressed in
      a cheap suit.  Paul's phone lies across the corpse's mouth, like the dead guy is
      talking.

                                  THE CELL PHONE
              Mr. Barnell?  Mr. Barnell?

15    EXT. PARKING AREA / STRIP MALL                                                15

      A SHOUT as Paul jumps back from the dumpster. The lid CRASHES down as
      he scrambles/slides away.  He takes a moment to compose himself, then
      realizes his phone is still in there.

      He opens the dumpster lid and very quickly reaches in, grabs his cell and
      hurries off.  The lid CRASHES shut.

                                  PAUL
                        (into the phone)
              Hello?

      Hung up.  Paul dials 911, looks back at the dumpster, thinks for a second, then
      hits END.  He stands there, thinking.

A15   INT. "BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL" - LATER                                  A15

      Paul back in his office, staring out the window with a perfect view of the
      dumpster.  He can't take his eyes off it.

      Behind him, the Repo-Men are picking up a newish computer monitor and
      walking toward the door.  He's oblivious.

      At the sound of a TRUCK, his head snaps around.  It's a garbage truck, but
      instead of heading to the dumpster, it rumbles past on the road.  That's all it
      takes.

B15   EXT. PARKING AREA / STRIP MALL - MOMENTS LATER                               B15

      Paul backs his Ford Taurus up to the dumpster, pops the trunk, checks to
      make sure he's alone then steps up on the rear bumper, opens the lid and
      clambers inside.

16    INT. INSIDE A FRIDGE - LATER                                                  16

      Black.  The fridge door opens, the light revealing several cans of pop and beer
      in the foreground.  Behind the

      beverages, a garage where Paul struggles with the lifeless body.  He props the
      man against the hood of his car, gives him a quick once over, pockets, obvious
      wounds.  Nothing.

      Paul moves to the fridge, starts to pull things out.

17    INT. ATTACHED SUBURBAN GARAGE - CONTINUOUS                                    17

      Jodie, an annoyingly small dog, enters the garage from the house and starts
      sniffing around the body.  A new chew toy!

                                  PAUL
                        (at the sound)
              Jodie, no!  Not for dogs!

      He SHOOS the dog back into the house.  Paul moves back to the fridge, opens
      the door and, with great effort picks up the dead man and tries to stuff him
      inside.  Only problem...

      The man's legs don't want to fit.  Paul leans down and grabs an uncooperative
      appendage.  He grits his teeth, looks away as he kicks at the knee.  It SNAPS
      sideways.

      Paul fights nausea.  But with the leg now out of joint, the man fits.  Paul,
      breathing heavy, leans against the door.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              OK then.  OK.

      He packs in the remaining space with beer and pop bottles.  Then, just before
      he shuts the door, Paul reaches in and sets the fridge temperature from 1 to 9
      (the coldest setting).

      A padlock and chain come from the base of a propane BBQ.  It goes around the
      fridge, the lock SNAPS it in place.  Paul spots some leftover drink cans.  He
      kicks them to the corner and walks into the house, trying to sound casual.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Hey Honey.  Any mail?

18    EXT. CITY ROADWAY - EVENING                                                   18

      Ted drives home through a wooded section of town.

A18   INT. TED'S CAR - CONTINUOUS                                                  A18

      Ted checks out various radio stations, hating everything.  He lands on one
      playing "Escape (The piña Colada Song)" when he looks up and suddenly
      jams on the brakes.

B18   EXT. ROADWAY                                                                 B18

      Ted car slides toward a moose that has wandered into the middle of the road.
      The car stops about five feet away.

      The moose looks at Ted.  Ted looks back, wondering what he ever did to
      deserve the life he's stuck with.  After a moment, the moose lumbers off.  Ted
      drives on.

                                                                               CUT TO:

C18   INT TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT                                                  C18

      TIGHT ON: A COMPUTER SCREEN where swirling signs of the Zodiac act as a
      screen saver.  PULL BACK TO REVEAL we are --

      A telephone cord runs from the computer to the headset of TIFFANY (20s), pert,
      smart and dressed in a tight University of Alaska T-shirt.  Tiffany sits with her
      feet up on the desk as she flips through a copy of "Cosmo".

      It's a medium sized apartment, littered with guy stuff although bowing to
      advancing signs of feminine influence.

      The phone RINGS.  Tiffany hits the space bar.  The caller's number flashes on
      screen.  By the second ring, an electronic timer kicks in and a complete file on
      the caller appears with name, address, background, pets...  She smiles, hits
      "enter."

                                  TIFFANY
                        (into her headset)
              Psychic Pals.  How are you today... Mr. Williams?
                        (pause - she listens)
              Well, we are all registered psychics here.  I just had
              a feeling you'd be calling.  What's up?

      A KEY IN THE DOOR.  A tired Ted walks inside.

                                  TED
              Hey Tiff.

      Tiffany looks up, then holds up a file folder with the words "WORKING -
      SHHHHHH!" in big black letters.

                                  TIFFANY
                        (to caller)
              Your TV remote control?  Okay.

      Ted SIGHS, gives her a quick peck on the cheek as he wrestles off his winter
      gear and heads to the kitchen.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              I need you to clear your mind...

      Ted looks into the fridge, making up new words to the song "Escape."

                                  TED
              "If you like frozen enchiladas, getting caught in the
              rain.  If you're not into...something brownish."

      Ted pulls out some Tupperware, tries to figure out what's in it.  Tiffany, still
      wearing her headset, appears behind him, grabs a Diet Coke from the fridge
      and kisses him on the cheek.

                                  TIFFANY
              It's stew.  I'm not sure it's still good.

                                  TED
              Aren't you with a customer?

                                  TIFFANY
              They're concentrating.

      Ted grabs a fork, takes the pot and sits at the table.  Tiffany goes back to her
      desk and flips through her magazine.

                                  TED
                        (through a mouthful of food)
              So?  How's the tea leaf business today?

                                  TIFFANY
              I've decided from now on to ignore you when you're
              ignorant about my work.  And it's going very well
              thank you.
                        (reconnecting to the caller)
              Mr. Williams, I'm seeing sofa cushions.  Do you have
              a sofa?  Good.  Glad I could help.

                                  TED
              You here from that software distributor guy?

                                  TIFFANY
              No, but I did crack that code problem.  You know how
              sometimes when you're running Beta versions you --

                                  TED
              English, please.

                                  TIFFANY
              There was a boo-boo, but I fixed it.
                        (another call comes in)
              Psychic Pals, how are you today, Carol?  Now I
              thought we'd agreed God is everywhere, but not
              specifically in your coffee pot.

                                  TED
              Jeez, Tiff.

                                  TIFFANY
              Jeez, Ted.  Do I tell you how to do your job?

                                  TED
                        (kidding... kind of)
              No, but then again I'm not a computer aided pseudo
              psychic, so if you're looking for moral equivalence...

                                  TIFFANY
              Before you say anything else that may keep us from
              having sex ever again, let me ask you something...

      She picks up her magazine.

                                  TED
              Tiff, please.  I always get these wrong.

                                  TIFFANY
              That's why we keep trying.  Now, Love is Sacrifice
              test.
                        (reading)
              If you were in a life raft with me and there was only
              enough water --

                                  TED
              Don't you have a customer?

                                  TIFFANY
                        (to the caller)
              Carol?  God says he's busy with a famine right now,
              but you should keep praying.  Cool.

      She hangs up.  Turns back to Ted, about to pick up where she left off...

                                  TED
              No.  I'm not doing it.

                                  TIFFANY
              It's just a stupid quiz.

                                  TED
              Exactly.

      The PHONE RINGS.  Tiffany bolts to her desk, sits, spins in her chair as she
      answers the call.

                                  TIFFANY
              Psychic Pals.  Is this the first time you've called us
              Mrs...?

      Tiffany at her computer, enters the name "Margaret Barnell" into her database.
      Tiffany works a "mute" button as she points back to the magazine.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              But stupid quizzes can be illustrative of potential
              relationship problems.
                        (to her caller)
              Margaret, I'm getting the feeling this is an anxious
              day for you.

      Ted, cooking pot in hand, walks over to her desk.

                                  TED
              Our only relationship problem is you're running a
              $1.99 a minute carny scam out of my living room.

                                  TIFFANY
              Don't call it a scam.
                        (to the caller - startled)
              Excuse me?

                                  TED
              What?

                                  TIFFANY
              You've got to learn to channel that rage, Margaret.
                        (to Ted - playful)
              You didn't just call this your living room, did you?

                                  TED
              I meant ours.  Ours, ours, ours.

      Tiffany returns to her call, but keeps looking at Ted.

                                  TIFFANY
              I feel someone you really care about, maybe even
              the love of your life, is being a real pain.  Now I need
              you to concentrate...

      Ted pretends to do just that, drawing a giggle from Tiffany before he walks off.

22    INT. "BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL" - MORNING                                 22

      Paul tries to open the front door, but finds it blocked by a small pile of snow.
      Three good yanks and it finally opens. He enters the shop.

      Faded travel posters cover the walls.  AVIS (40s), a career office gal, smiles at
      her boss as she assembles a life-size stand-up cardboard display for Aloha
      Airlines.  It features a

      dark Hawaiian beauty holding a softball sized sea shell.  The shell juts out of
      the display giving it a 3-D quality.

                                  AVIS
              Morning Mr. Barnell.  Coffee?

                                  PAUL
              Thanks Avis.  Looks good.

      Paul, shivering, hangs up his coat as Avis picks up a promotional Aloha Air
      surfboard (the old display) and walks it to the back.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Was November this bad last year?

                                  AVIS (O.S.)
              Well if we didn't have the weather what would we talk
              about?  Did you send the computer back?

      Paul moves to his desk.

                                  PAUL
              Yeah, it was not working.  Any calls?

                                  AVIS (O.S.)
              Just that fellow from Municipal Power and Electric.  I
              told him you sent the check in weeks ago, but some
              people don't like to listen.

      Paul turns to look at the snow covered empty parking lot, then at a photo of his
      wife Margaret on his desk.  He mentally gathers himself.

                                  PAUL
              Something... strange happened last night Avis.

                                  AVIS (O.S.)
              What was that?

                                  PAUL
              Did... you ever meet my brother Raymond?

                                  AVIS (O.S.)
              The one who went missing?

                                  PAUL
              Uh huh.  Well anyway last night there's a knock on
              the door and there's Raymond, just... standing there
              on the doorstep.

      Avis arrives with the coffee and the mail.

                                  AVIS
              Didn't you have him declared...?

                                  PAUL
              Dead?  No.  I mean, they said he hadn't been gone
              long enough.

                                  AVIS
                        (smiling warmly)
              Good thing in hindsight.

      Paul puts the mail down on the desk and start to flip through it.  Lots of bills,
      most marked past due.  He finds a "pre- approved" credit card application, sets
      it to one side.

                                  AVIS (cont'd)
              So where was he all these years?

                                  PAUL
              Lower 48.  Said he wanted to get away from the cold.

                                  AVIS
              Where 'bouts?

                                  PAUL
                        (looking up)
              Sorry, what was that?

                                  AVIS
              Where was he living?

      Paul, a flash of panic, looks over at the Hawaii display.  He keys on the shell.

                                  PAUL
              Florida.

                                  AVIS
              I've got an aunt down there.  Where 'bouts?

                                  PAUL
                        (blanking)
              A uh... small place.  By the beach.

                                  AVIS
              Well that's great.  You and Mrs. Barnell will have
              some company for a bit I guess.  How is she?

                                  PAUL
              Better, a little better.  Some days are better than
              others.

23    INT. BARNELL HOME - DAY                                                       23

      MARGARET BARNELL (early 40s) stands in a plush bathrobe and slippers.
      Despite her casual attire she is immaculately made up as she walks to the
      front door, opening it on -- a young wholesome PAPERBOY smiling through the
      cold.

                                  PAPERBOY
              Collecting, Mrs. Barnell.

                                  MARGARET
              Daniel, you pussy little cocksucker.  I'll get my purse.

      The paperboy, unfazed, smiles as Margaret walks off.

                                  PAPERBOY
              It's 12 dollars.  I missed you last time.

                                  MARGARET (O.S.)
              Jerk off... OK, jerk off, uhhuh...

      Margaret gives the paperboy his money, the stamp card plus a dollar tip, then
      tweaks his nose.  Twice.

                                  MARGARET (cont'd)
              You say hi to your slut Mom for me?

                                  PAPERBOY
              Sure will.  Thanks.

      He trots down the walk as Margaret shuts the door.

24    EXT. INSIDE A TRASH DUMPSTER - NIGHT                                          24

      The lid opens.  GARY and JIMBO (30s), check to insure they're not being
      watched.  Gary, slightly effeminate, leans into the bin and BURROWS through
      the garbage.  Jimbo, a bear of man, keeps watch.  He's nervous, a little out of
      sorts.

                                  GARY
              I thought stuff didn't smell when it was frozen?  I
              don't know why we have to--

                                  JIMBO
              Dave wants visual confirmation, he gets visual
              confirmation.  We have a chance to move up here,
              so let's just--

                                  GARY
              Like the guy's not gonna end up in a land- fill,
              anyway.  You ever ask Dave what he did?

                                  JIMBO
              Whatever it was, he told him if he did it again, he'd
              snap his neck.

                                  GARY
                        (smiling)
              Whoops, he did it again.
                        (off Jimbo not getting it)
              The song?  From that girl?

      No response.  Gary, HUMMING now, keeps digging, finding nothing.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              So how'd it feel?  I mean, not when you did it, but,
              like now?

                                  JIMBO
              I don't want to talk about it.

      Gary hops inside as his actions become more frantic.  Still no luck.  He stands.

                                  GARY
              Not here.

      Jimbo glares at his partner.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              Serious.  He's gone.  Maybe he wasn't...

                                  JIMBO
              Don't even joke.  Maybe the trash was emptied.

                                  GARY
              Looks pretty full.  Hey...
                        (ducking down)
              There's a little fridge down here.
                        (standing)
              If we would have shot him at least we'd know for
              sure.

                                  JIMBO
              I was following orders.  And if you hadn't started a
              screaming match, no one would have called the
              cops and we wouldn't have had to dump his --

                                  GARY
              Fine.  Sorry.

                                  JIMBO
              Fine.

                                  GARY
              I'm just saying... maybe you didn't break it all the way.

                                  JIMBO
                        (walking away)
              It was broken.

                                  GARY
              I'm just saying... maybe it was like hypothermia and
              he just looked dead.

                                  JIMBO
              It - was - BROKEN!

      Gary, embarrassed, digs in the trash with his feet.

25    INT. GARAGE - CONTINUOUS                                                      25 

      Margaret, still in her bathrobe, walks to the fridge.  As she puts her hand on the
      latch, she notices the pile of pop cans on the floor.

      She tugs on the door.  It opens just a crack before the chain stops it.  The
      frozen head peeks through the slight gap.

      Margaret SIGHS, tries to push the fridge door closed, but the body is in the way.
      She gives the door a hip check.  The door latches shut while something frozen
      and brittle inside CRACKS.  Margaret, oblivious, walks away.

26    INT. KITCHEN OVEN                                                             26

      A chicken sits in a pan, the rest of the room visible behind it through the oven
      door window.

                                  MARGARET (O.S.)
              Paul?  Why is the fridge in the garage chained shut?

                                  PAUL
              How's my Angel tonight?

                                  MARGARET
              Blow me.  Dinner's almost ready.  You feel like some
              wine?  I feel like some wine.

      Paul walks to the oven, opens the door and pats the chicken.  Stone cold.

                                  PAUL
              Sweetie, here's a crazy thought... I don't feel like
              chicken tonight, why don't we order in?

                                  MARGARET
              Fuck it, okay.

                                  PAUL
              There's actually something we need to talk about.
              It's about Raymond.  He's back.

      Paul smiles bravely as he shuts the oven door.  Behind the chicken, Margaret
      doesn't look happy as Paul starts to explain.  She rushes from the room.

27/28 TIGHT ON: TV SCREEN                                                        27/28

      Home video of RAYMOND (then early 30s), fat, physically imposing and the only
      person not in festive tropical gear, standing in a VFW hall decorated in a
      Caribbean theme. (He is definitely not the same person Paul has cooling in the
      fridge.)  A large banner behind him proclaims "HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY -
      BON VOYAGE."

                                  RAYMOND
                        (a little drunk)
              Okay, I never thought it would last this long, but
              seeing as how it has... There ya go.  Let me just say
              that my brother, old "Puddles McBarnesy" did better
              than he should have.

      A younger, somewhat tipsy Paul comes into frame, puts an arm around his
      brother and smiles.

                                  PAUL
              What'cha saying there Raymond?  Wha'cha saying
              'bout me?

      Raymond shakes his brother's arm off his shoulder.

                                  RAYMOND
              Enough, OK?

                                  PAUL
                        (sing-songy)
              Ray's a little jeallllllllous.  This is the one that got
              away, right Ray?

      The crowd LAUGHS as Paul reaches over and musses up his brother's hair.
      Raymond, furious, grabs his brother by the lapels and throws him roughly to
      the floor.  The laughter stops.

                                  MARGARET (O.S.)
              Leave him alone, ball licker!

                                  RAYMOND
              And shut that thing --

      The screen turns to snow.  We are...

      Paul at his desk, watching the video on a small TV in the wall unit.  He turns his
      attention to a large cardboard box filled with documents, souvenirs, old report
      cards...

      On the TV playing behind him (the second part of the tape), Margaret is pictured
      on a cruise ship, sunning herself.  Paul, obviously behind the camera, watches
      as Margaret takes a tropical drink from a WAITER'S tray, who promptly dumps it
      all over her.  But instead of the expected burst of profanity, Margaret just
      LAUGHS.

                                  MARGARET
              That's okay, don't worry about it.
                        (as the waiter walks off)
              I'd like the next one in a cup, please.

      Paul puts aside a faded hotel postcard from Hawaii and digs out an insurance
      policy out of the box.  On the last page is a list of the payouts.  Loss of a limb:
      $100,000.  Loss of thumb: $5,000. Accidental death: $1,000,000.

      And, as an extra bonus, Raymond's birth certificate.  Perfect. Paul takes out the
      credit card application from work, and starts to write...

                                  PAUL
                        (to himself)
              Raymond... Barnell.

29    EXT. TOBOGGANING HILL - LATE AFTERNOON                                        29

      LAUGHING children on toboggans, inner tubes and discarded cardboard
      boxes slide down a snow covered hill against a slate gray sky.  It's an isolated
      area on the outskirts of the city.

30    INT. GARY AND JIMBO'S CAR - CONTINUOUS                                        30

      Gary and Jimbo sit in their car in the parking area.

                                  JIMBO
              Which one's your sister's kid?

                                  GARY
              See the one on the little bike-thing?  Him.

                                  JIMBO
                        (hesitant)
              You been alright with this?

                                  GARY
              The thing with the guy?  Ya know, I thought it might
              kinda mess me up...

                                  JIMBO
              First time for both of us.

                                  GARY
              ...but I've been sleeping really well.

                                  JIMBO
              Yeah.  'Course, you didn't actually...

      Jimbo mimics snapping someone's neck.  It's clearly not a gesture he enjoys.
      As Gary looks at him, a Cadillac pulls up beside them.  Behind the wheel is
      DAVE (50s) well dressed, in a thuggish kinda way.  Jimbo and Gary share a
      nervous look.

31    EXT. TOP OF THE HILL - CONTINUOUS                                             31

      About 50 yards away from the two cars, Gary's NEPHEW is having his
      Snowrider (a tricycle with skis instead of wheels) hijacked by a playground
      BULLY in a red parka.  A tug o' war for the toy ensues as Gary and Jimbo get
      out of their car.

                                  NEPHEW
              Leggo... it's mine.  Uncle Gary!

32    EXT. PARKING AREA                                                             32

      Gary and Jimbo are leaning close to the Cadillac's open window. Dave does
      not look happy.

                                  DAVE
                        (to Jimbo)
              Wait a minute.  He's disappeared?

      Gary waves to his nephew.

                                  GARY
                        (shouting)
              You just... hang in there, Billy!

                                  JIMBO
              Yeah.  But he's dead.  I mean, that part, no question.

                                  DAVE
              Yeah?  Take off your coat.  And your shirt, too.


      Jimbo knows better than to argue.  He strips down, exposing his corpulent
      middle-aged belly to the chilly winter winds.

                                  JIMBO
              I'm not wearing a wire, Dave, if that's what this is
              about.

                                  GARY
              It was our first time.  No one gets it perfect their first
              time.

                                  DAVE
              You too, Sweetie.

      Gary is about to comply when the sound of a FIGHT on the tobogganing hill
      causes them all to look over, just in time to see GARY'S NEPHEW shoved to
      ground.  The Bully LAUGHS as he slides away.

                                  GARY
              Excuse me for a second.

      Gary trots toward the hill.  Jimbo can't believe it.

                                  JIMBO
              Gary!  We're in the middle of something.

                                  GARY
                        (calling back)
              Hey, I'm supposed to be looking after him.

      Jimbo turns back to Dave, shrugging sheepishly.

                                  DAVE
              Is he...?

                                  JIMBO
              He's fine.  Look, we can take you there right now.
              We'll show you.

      Behind them on the hill, Gary tries to retrieve his nephew's Snowrider from the
      Bully.  He is failing.

                                  DAVE
              Show me what?  An empty trash dumpster?  It was
              supposed to look like an accident.  I was hoping to
              see it in the paper.  So help me, if this guy pops up
              somewhere...

      While Jimbo does his best to stay warm, behind him on the hill, Gary can only
      watch as the Bully slides away.

                                  BULLY
                        (echoing in the cold)
              Fag!  Big homo!

                                  JIMBO
              He won't.  He can't.  He's --

                                  DAVE
              Proof, Jimbo.  I like to know my money's well spent.
              You got a week.

      Dave drives off as Gary walks over with his SNIFFLING nephew.

                                  GARY
              Slippery little sucker.  You mind if we stop at a toy
              store on the way back?

33    OMITTED                                                                       33

A 33  INT. BARNELL HOME / BEDROOM - NIGHT                                         A 33

      HIGH ANGLE ON:  Paul and Margaret in bed.  Margaret takes up more than her
      share of the bed, her arm tossed over her husband.  Paul, on his third of the
      bed, looks as if he's lying in state. But Paul's not sleeping.

34    EXT.  BARNELL HOME - MORNING                                                  34

      A newspaper clears the "For Sale - price reduced!" sign on the front lawn and
      lands with a THUD on the steps.

35    INT.  GARAGE - CONTINUOUS                                                     35

      Paul has the "Morning News" on the hood of his car.  He looks over at the
      fridge, still padlocked.

                                  PAUL
                        (to himself)
              Let's see if anyone's missing you.

      He flips through each section.  There's nothing.  Paul walks to the fridge.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
                        (to the corpse)
              I don't know what kind of man let's himself just
              freeze to death in the trash, but I was never one to
              preach.  Way I see it, you've probably got family
              somewhere and they'd probably appreciate seeing
              you get a decent funeral, even if it's not really... yours.

      Paul, somewhat befuddled, gently pats the fridge door.

36    OMITTED                                                                       36

37    INT. BARNELL HOME / LIVING ROOM - LATER                                       37

      Margaret pushes the vacuum across the floor, humming to herself.  Paul walks
      by slipping into his coat.  He notices that the vacuum isn't plugged in.  Without
      missing a beat, he walks over and plugs it into the outlet.  The VACUUM
      ROARS TO LIFE.  Margaret doesn't flinch.  Paul heads out the door.

38    OMITTED                                                                       38
39    OMITTED                                                                       39

40    EXT. WOODED AREA - LATER                                                      40

      A ways out in the forest.  Only two houses on this turn-out; a cozy looking lived
      in cabin sits up the road from a seemingly deserted rundown mobile home.  A
      car pulls up.

A40   INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS                                                 A40

      Paul adjusts a pillow he has taped to his stomach, then pulls on a blue ski
      mask.

41    EXT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - MOMENTS LATER                                      41

      Paul undoes the bungee cord and drags his snowblower out of the trunk.  He
      fires up the snowblower and starts to plow the drive way of both houses.

      MRS. WHERRY (80s), in her bathrobe, looks out the window of the cozy cabin.
      A tad confused, she waves to the man in the blue parka.  The blue parka waves
      back.

42    INT.  PAUL'S KITCHEN - NIGHT                                                  42

      Paul walks in from the garage, pulling off his blue parka.  Margaret enters from
      the living room.  (Paul still has the pillow taped to his front, which Margaret
      happily pokes with a finger but never mentions.)

                                  MARGARET
                        (nervous)
              He's not here, is he?

                                  PAUL
              Sweetie, don't you worry about Raymond.

                                  MARGARET
              When he's around, it just brings back... Fuck.

                                  PAUL
              I know.  He, he said he's probably gonna head back
              down South soon.

      Margaret smiles, relieved.  The phone RINGS.  Paul picks up.

43    INT. MRS. WHERRY'S HOME - CONTINUOUS                                          43

      Mrs. Wherry talks on the phone in her kitchen.  The head of a large antelope is
      mounted on the wall behind her.

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              Paul?  Thank you so much for clearing the drive way.
              That was most considerate.

                                  PAUL
              I'm afraid I don't understand Mrs. Wherry.

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              You were out at the cabin this morning.  Nice to see
              you getting some use out of that thing.

44    INT. PAUL'S KITCHEN                                                           44

      Paul shakes off his boots.

                                  PAUL
              Oh I see.  No, you see that must have been
              Raymond.  (beat) Very much so.  No, no one was
              more surprised than we were. (beat)  No, he's...
              indisposed right now, but I'm sure you'll see him
              again.  He's going to stay at the cabin for a while
              until he... leaves.  And bless you too.

45    OMITTED                                                                       45
46    OMITTED                                                                       46

47    EXT. WILDERNESS ROAD - NIGHT                                                  47

      A "Moose Xing" sign is briefly illuminated by Paul's car's headlights as it heads
      up a snow packed mountain road.  The distant lights of the city are swallowed
      by the thick forests of fir trees that line the road.

48    INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS                                                  48

      Paul, nervous, sings along to "Escape" on the radio.

                                  PAUL
              "...It was my own lovely lady, and she said, oh it's
              you..."

A48   EXT. WILDERNESS ROAD / TURNOUT - NIGHT                                       A48

      Paul pulls off.  Kills his headlights.  Pops the trunk.

49    EXT. FOREST - LATER                                                           49

      The corpse, now in Raymond's clothing and the blue parka, lies face up on the
      Aloha Airlines promotional surfboard being lurched forward by Paul, who wears
      a pair of snowshoes.  On the body's chest lies a second pair of snowshoes.
      Somewhere, a WOLF HOWLS.

50    EXT. TOP/BOTTOM OF A RIDGE - LATER                                            50

      Paul at the top of a 25 foot drop.  He rolls the corpse, now wearing the other set
      of snowshoes, over the side.  It BOUNCES down, landing in the snow with a
      soft WHUMPH!

51    OMITTED                                                                       51

52    INT. PAUL'S HOME / KITCHEN - DAWN                                             52

      Paul sits in a seeming stupor at the kitchen table.  A DING from the microwave
      snaps him out of his catatonic state.  He walks to the appliance, takes out his
      now re-heated coffee, checks his watch and heads out.

53    EXT. TOP OF THE RIDGE / FOREST - MORNING                                      53

      Paul, wearing snowshoes and carrying the surfboard, peeks over the edge.

      PAUL'S POV: down at the corpse, exactly as it was last night.

                                  PAUL
              Well come on!  How much easier do I have to make
              this?

      His words echo in the cold wilderness.

54    INT.  PAUL'S KITCHEN  - DAY                                                   54

      Jodie the dog is in a complete frenzy, jumping up and down at the feet of Paul
      who stands over a SIZZLING frying pan full of bacon.  He checks the bacon's
      consistency with a fork.  Still pretty raw.  He takes the bacon and lays it on a
      plate.

      Beside the pan on the counter sit a baseball cap and a stapler.  Paul carefully
      takes each strip of bacon and staples it to the peak of the ball cap.  He holds it
      up.  The bacon hangs down like fringe.

      Margaret appears in the doorway.

                                  MARGARET
              Paul?

                                  PAUL
                        (startled)
              Holy-- Margaret, you scared the wits out of me.

      Margaret lifts up Jodie, who's desperately trying to get at the hat.

                                  MARGARET
              She just wants that bacon.

                                  PAUL
              Such a little puppy.  How late is "Rudys" open?

55    EXT. SHOPPING CENTER / RUDYS MARKET  - LATE AFTERNOON                         55

      A large sign outside advertises "Fresh Moose Meat". Paul runs out with a
      shopping bag, jumps in his car and drives off.

56    EXT. BOTTOM OF THE RIDGE - SUNSET                                             56

      Paul, carrying the shopping bag, he painfully picks his way down the rock face
      toward the corpse.

                                  PAUL
                        (really bad British accent)
              You may want to take a gander.  You may want to
              take a gander...

                                                                               CUT TO:

57    EXT. BOTTOM OF THE RIDGE - SUNSET                                             57

      THE BACON HAT -- as Paul pulls it snug on the corpse's head.  He pulls the
      bloody steaks from the shopping bag and starts to smear them on the corpse's
      parka.  Drops of blood hit the snow at the body's feet and disappear.

      Paul drapes the steaks on the body, tucking one under an arm, the other
      hanging from a pocket. He pauses for moment, then pulls out a container of
      lard and, fighting his own revulsion, smears it across the dead man's face.

                                  PAUL
              Sorry about this part.

      Paul pats the body on the shoulder, then looks up at the ridge and the long
      journey ahead.

58    EXT. BOTTOM OF RIDGE  - NIGHT                                                 58

      A WOLF appears in the moonlight.  Followed by another, and another.  They
      approach the corpse...

59    EXT. HIGHWAY TURNOUT / CLEARING - DAY                                         59

      Snowmobiles SCREAM to the site as people tramp through the thick snow,
      covering all of Paul's hard work.  An ambulance and State Conservation
      vehicles pack the area where Paul first pulled off.  Yellow police tape is strung
      between fir trees marking a path toward the ridge.

60    EXT. BOTTOM OF RIDGE  - DAY                                                   60

      The corpse is covered with a tarp.  The area is littered with blood, animal tracks
      and bits of blue parka.  POLICE OFFICERS and tough looking LOCAL
      SNOWMOBILERS mill about the corpse, taking turns lifting the tarp that covers
      the body.  A few yards away, DETECTIVE BOYLE (60s) talks to a seemingly
      distraught Paul.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
                        (looking at the ridge)
              If it's any comfort to you, he likely wasn't eaten while
              conscious.  Did he say where he'd been living,
              before he came home?

                                  PAUL
              Florida.  He didn't really talk about it much.  He
              brought us this shell.

      Paul holds up a sea shell, obviously from the display at his office.  Tears well
      up in his eyes.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              It's really all we have left.  He'd been gone for five
              years.  We'd given him up--

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              --for dead, yes sir.

                                  PAUL
              How did you...?

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Anonymous phone tip from some Jamaican guy.
                        (Paul shows no reaction)
              Said he saw what looked like a body.  We tracked
              you through his ID.

                                  PAUL
              Just like on TV.

      Boyle nods sympathetically

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              I've got to see him.  Please.

      Paul starts to make his way to the body.  Boyle stops him.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Mr. Barnell,  I should warn you, an animal  attack isn't
              pretty.  There's not much left.

      Paul nods.  They make their way over to the tarp.  Boyle pulls it back.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE (cont'd)
              Is that your brother, sir?

      Paul leans in-- the man's face is hamburger.  Paul nods.

                                  PAUL
              They chewed his ears off.  What kind of animal does
              something like that?

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Normally I'd say bear, but these tracks and the
              feeding pattern indicate wolf.  It's rare, but it can
              happen.

      Boyle pulls the cover back over the body. Boyle hands Barnell a clear baggie
      with the dead man's wallet inside.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE (cont'd)
              Your brother's personal effects.  We've got some
              people with the victim's assistance program who
              can help you through this.  Marcie?

      Marcie, a female police officer, walks a distraught Paul away.  As they go,
      another FEMALE COP approaches.

                                  FEMALE COP
              Coroner found some smaller bite marks on the
              ankle.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Pups.  Must have been the whole freakin' pack.

                                  FEMALE COP
              You want an autopsy?

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              On what?

                                  FEMALE COP
              Derek found this.

      She holds up a clear evidence bag with the remnants of a strip of bacon on the
      inside.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Not the smartest snack for a hiker.

                                  FEMALE COP
              Messy animals aren't they?

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Messy.  Messy messy messy messy.

61    INT. INFLATABLE GOLF DOME - LATE AFTERNOON                                    61

      The second level of a large indoor driving range/mini golf course.  The sound of
      clubs SMACKING golf balls echo as an intense Ted "waggles" before his shot.
      On his back-swing, Tiffany throws her arms around him from behind.

                                  TED
              I take it you're done?

                                  TIFFANY
              Yup.

                                  TED
              Wanna hit some of mine?

                                  TIFFANY
                        (hugging him harder)
              Nope.

      He turns, LAUGHING.  They kiss as she playfully starts to grope him.

                                  TED
              Now this is definitely a violation of Golf Dome policy.

                                  TIFFANY
              Must be all this talk about using your wood.

                                  TED
              Woods.  So maybe later I can... check your grip?

                                  TIFFANY
              Secret?

                                  TED
              My dirty talk sucks?

                                  TIFFANY
              I like it when you try, though.

      Tiffany gives him a peck and flits back to a nearby chair.  He hits one, skying it
      into a low hanging light.

                                  TED
              You know in some states they actually do this
              outside?

      Tiffany looks over at one of the tacky tropically-theme'd mini-golf holes.

                                  TIFFANY
              So how many insurance companies are there in the
              United States?  Like, a billion.

                                  TED
              That's not the point, Tiff.  I've busted my ass for
              Liberty Capital.  I don't want to quit.  I deserve to be
              promoted out of this ice bound backwater.

                                  TIFFANY
              And when it happens, I guess I'll just be another
              notch on your briefcase.

                                  TED
              I can't believe you said that.  You know you are...

      He looks around.  Embarrassed, he lowers his voice.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              ...the most important thing in my life.

                                  TIFFANY
                        (smiling/shouting)
              Sorry, what was that!  You want to take me right
              here?

      As other GOLFERS look over, Tiffany and Ted share a warm smile, the moment
      only broken by the ringing of a CELL PHONE.  She SIGHS, unzips Ted's gym
      bag and answers his phone.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              Psychic... Uhm, sorry, hello?  Yeah.  Look, is this a
              matter of life and death, because right now he's...

      Suddenly concerned, she hands the phone to Ted.

                                  TED
              Hello? (beat)  You're kidding me.
                        (almost stunned)
              Yeah, I'll hold.

                                  TIFFANY
              Your Mom?

                                  TED
              Million dollar life policy just checked.

                                  TIFFANY
              On a Saturday?  What about the first annual golf, sex
              and pizza triathlon?

                                  TED
              Look, if this is... who I think it is, I may have found us
              a ticket out of here.

                                  TIFFANY
              We don't need a ticket.

      Tiffany stands, knowing it's no use arguing, she pulls on her coat.  Ted tries to
      give her a hug.  She falls into his embrace, but doesn't hug him back.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              Don't be late, OK?

                                  TED
              You won't even know I'm gone.

      CORPSE'S POV:  Black.  The drawer is pulled open.  We are...

62    INT. CITY MORGUE (BODY TRAY)                                                  62

      Ted, Cam and Detective Boyle stand at the end near the feet.  A white sheet
      covers most of the deceased.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              That's him.  Raymond Barnell.

                                  TED
              Could you?

      Boyle moves toward the head and pulls back the covering.  Ted recoils.  Cam
      leans in for a closer look.

                                  CAM
              Ouch.  That's gotta hurt.

                                  TED
              So what's your line on this?

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Just what it looks like.  Wolves got him. Maybe a
              grizzly with insomnia, but we didn't find any tracks.

                                  TED
              Would it surprise you to learn his brother tried to
              cash in his policy two weeks ago?

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              You trying to tell me Mr. Barnell chewed off his
              brother's leg?

                                  TED
              Doesn't that make you the least bit suspicious?

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Mr. Watters, this is a nice simple ending.  We like
              nice simple endings.

                                  TED
              But shouldn't you--

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Ya know, I don't know thing one about insurance, but
              I'm guessing it's your job
              to find a way not to pay these poor people.

                                  CAM
              Hey now, we're just like you guys, gotta run down
              whatever leads we can find.

      Ted walks down to the head of the victim, pulls out a camcorder and starts to
      tape the body.

                                  TED
              Detective, we're an insurance company, not the
              Salvation Army.

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Mind telling me what you're doing?

                                  CAM
              They gave every claims team a video camera last
              quarter... you'd be amazed at how it cuts down on
              litigation.  We had this case two months ago where
              this mother of six was claiming...

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              I've got my own war stories, thanks.  You mind
              stopping that?

                                  TED
              Just doing --

                                  DETECTIVE BOYLE
              Your job?  Yes, I caught that.

      As Ted gets his last shot, Boyle covers the body back up and slides the drawer
      shut with a loud CLANG.  Black.

63    EXT. PAUL'S HOUSE - SUNSET                                                    63

      TV NEWS CAMERA POV: Of Paul, standing on his stoop, as he's interviewed by
      a well made-up female TV REPORTER (20s) dressed for the cold.

                                  TV REPORTER
              You ready Mr. Barnell?

                                  PAUL
              Yes.

      The camera man flicks on his light as Paul squints.

                                  TV REPORTER
              The police told us what happened, how are you folks
              holding up?

                                  MARGARET (O.S.)
              Paul?  Who's out there?

      Paul reaches back, and, as discretely as possible, grabs the door handle to
      keep Margaret from opening it.

                                  PAUL
              Obviously, my wife's very upset...

                                  MARGARET (O.S.)
              Paul, the door's stuck!

      Margaret starts to HAMMER rhythmically on the door.

                                  PAUL
                        (ignoring her)
              It's been a tough, you know, when something like
              this happens you just have to ask yourself...

                                  MARGARET (O.S.)
              Who fucked with the fucking door!

                                  PAUL
              You can see how stressful it's been, I should really
              go now.  We have to plan a service.

      And with that, Paul opens his front door and ducks inside, quickly shutting it
      behind him.

64    INT. BRANCH'S OFFICE - DAY                                                    64

      Branch, very unhappy, flips through some papers then looks up at Ted and
      Cam.

                                  TED
              This isn't a standard case.  You were there when
              this guy came in looking to cash in.  C'mon, it stinks.

                                  BRANCH
              Secondly, if the police say this guy was...

                                  CAM
              Eaten by wolves.  Sir.

                                  BRANCH
                        (incredulous)
              Eaten by wolves, then we've got no case.  Did you
              see Mr. Barnell on the news last
              night?  Last thing we need is bad P.R.  I don't want
              this thing Valdeez-ing on us.

                                  TED
              Mr. Branch, I'm sure head office would take a rather
              dim view of our --

                                  BRANCH
              Corporate's view will be whatever I tell them.

      Cam, seeing his partner is about to get himself into a heap of trouble, hustles
      him toward the door.

                                  CAM
              Yes Sir.  Color us called off, as of now.

65    INT. INSURANCE OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER                                         65

      Ted and Cam walk through the cubicles.

                                  TED
              Stop looking at me right now.

                                  CAM
              You've got a strange way of bucking for a promotion,
              my friend.
                        (off Ted's look)
              Look, I'm gonna start on the Johnasen file.  You want
              to do up the paper work on Barnell?

      Ted grabs his coat.

                                  CAM (cont'd)
              Where ya going?

                                  TED
              Lunch.

                                  CAM
              At 9:30?

      Ted is out the door.

66    INT. "BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL" - DAY                                     66

      Ted sits across the desk from Paul.  As per usual, the place is a tomb.

                                  TED
              The police say they found Raymond's wallet, that's
              how they tracked you down?

                                  PAUL
              That's right, yes.

                                  TED
              Any idea what he was doing out there?

                                  PAUL
              He'd go for walks.  Hikes, I mean.  Hiking.

                                  TED
              How sporty.  Was he a big hiker?

                                  PAUL
              Not sure I follow.

                                  TED
              Did he hike more than once a week?  Or was this a...
              one time thing?

                                  PAUL
              Can I ask why you need to know all this?

                                  TED
              Just trying to tie up a few loose ends.

                                  PAUL
              You know the police... they say Raymond died in the
              attack.  You do cover that sort of thing don't you?

                                  TED
                        (forced smile)
              Yes sir.  It shouldn't take more than a few days.
              Now, tell me a little more about your brother.  The
              hiker.

67    EXT. STRIP MALL PARKING LOT - MOMENTS LATER                                   67

      Gary and Jimbo's car parked in the lot.  Gary is just returning to the vehicle with
      a brown paper bag.  Jimbo has the look of man who hasn't slept in days.

      Gary and Jimbo are eating fish and chips.  The name on the bag is "Ye' Olde
      Fish Shoppe."

                                  JIMBO
              Cod or Halibut?

                                  GARY
              Didn't ask.

                                  JIMBO
                        (digging in)
              So we got six different stores here. We got your
              "Great Escapes" travel agency, your Ye Old Fish and
              Chips place, Porn-a-Copia videos, a hair place, one
              for lease and one... what is that?

                                  GARY
              Small engine repair.  See all the snow blowers out
              front.

      There is indeed a row of snowblowers lined up outside.  Jimbo takes another
      bite of his fish.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              Should move the blowers over to the triple X store.

      Gary LAUGHS.  Jimbo is in no mood.

                                  JIMBO
              So, which one you figure would want to take our
              friend?

                                  GARY
              I guess maybe the porn palace.  Ya know for some
              weird sex film.

                                  JIMBO
              Yeah, this place is just a hotbed of adult cinema
              production.  Fish shop look clean?

                                  GARY
              Very nice Korean family.  You figure maybe they
              battered him up?

      Gary LAUGHS again, then shoves Jimbo's shoulder.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              Maybe we're eatin' him right now.  Huh?

                                  JIMBO
              Gary, this isn't a joke.  You ever known Dave to joke?

      Gary, embarrassed, takes another bite of his fish.  Jimbo turns up the radio.  A
      local call-in show comes on.

                                  WOMAN CALLER (O.S.)
              ...it could never happen.  There's never been a
              documented case--

                                  GARY
              Sorry.

                                  JIMBO
              Yeah, "Sorry."  I get strip searched and you go off
              playing snow angels...

                                  RADIO HOST (O.S.)
              Well, we've got one now, don't we!?

                                  WOMAN CALLER (O.S.)
              That was different. From what I read in the paper he
              was unconscious. And now people are going to use
              this as an excuse to--

                                  RADIO HOST (O.S.)
              Hey lady, why don't you tell Raymond Barnell how
              wolves have gotten a bad rap.

                                  WOMAN CALLER (O.S.)
              I can tell you from years of experience that wolves do
              not operate--

                                  JIMBO
              Wait a minute.

                                  RADIO HOST (O.S.)
              You can tell me all you want, lady, but it is an
              undeniable, indisputable fact.  This Barnell guy got
              turned into a Scooby Snack by a pack of wild
              animals...

      JIM'S POV: Through the windshield, looking at the sign for "Barnell Great
      Escapes Travel."  Jimbo and Gary look at each other. Maybe...

68    INT. INSURANCE OFFICE - DAY                                                   68

      Ted at his cubicle on his phone.

                                  TED
              Yeah, hi, it's Ted Watters from Fidelity Mutual. (beat)
              I need a complete credit work up on a Raymond
              Barnell... and Paul, a Paul Barnell too... sure, I'll hold.

      Cam walks by, leans his head over the top of the cubicle.

                                  CAM
              You start the month ends yet?

                                  TED
              Can you take care of it?  I'm kinda... working on
              something.

                                  CAM
              Oh God, you're not still on the Barnell thing are you--

      Ted pulls Cam down into his cubicle, talks in a harsh whisper.

                                  TED
              I went to see him.

                                  CAM
              And?  Then?  So?

                                  TED
              Trust me. Something's not right.  I can smell it.  Help
              me buy a week.

                                  CAM
              We're gonna get in such trouble.

                                  TED
              I promise from now on you can come along on
              everything.

                                  CAM
              No more Cam goes to the coffee room and Ted
              disappears for three hours?

                                  TED
              I'll try.

                                  CAM
              And you'll work on your interpersonal skills?

                                  TED
                        (a long beat)
              Yes.

                                  CAM
              Good.  Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go start covering
              your ass.

69    INT. BARNELL HOME / STUDY - EVENING                                           69

      Paul sits beside his desk, flipping through travel brochures. Margaret enters,
      teetering in the doorway.  Paul looks up.

                                  PAUL
              Hey.  How's my Princess?

                                  MARGARET
              OK.  I took some Adavan.  And called my psychic.

                                  PAUL
                        (picks up the phone bill)
              Honey, you know how expensive that is.  I thought we
              agreed that...

      She moves to him, runs her hand through his hair.

                                  MARGARET
              Don't be mad.  It's just... this week has been so...
              well with Raymond getting eaten by animals and
              someone trying to steal the fridge.

                                  PAUL
              I know.  Why don't you --

                                  MARGARET
              We got another letter from the HMO today.

                                  PAUL
              Have you opened it yet?

      Margaret starts to CRY, holding the letter up to her face the SOBS building to a
      full blown breakdown.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Oh hey honey, come on now.

                                  MARGARET
              I'm sorry.  It's just, fucking cocksuckers.

      Paul takes the letter, unfolds it and reads...

                                  PAUL
              "As we have stated previously... usual onset before
              the age of 18... coupled with no genetic history..."

                                  MARGARET
              I'm sick!  I'm really, really sick!

                                  PAUL
              Shush, now.  (reading again) "We hasten to add,
              Tourette Syndrome is not..."

                                  MARGARET
              Fuck them.

      Paul is about to say something, but returns to the letter.

                                  PAUL
              "As well, please reference our previous decisions
              regarding your claims for ADD, ODO, OCD,
              ADHOPHI...
                        (treading lightly)
              Honey.  I know you don't like to talk about it, but
              maybe it's not... what we might think it is but... maybe
              it's just stress?  Remember that cruise?  I saw you.
              You were happy.

      Margaret looks at him, crestfallen.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              I'm sorry.  I'm just really tired.

                                  MARGARET
              They say you can't get it all of a sudden but I did.  I
              really, really did.

                                  PAUL
              I know.  They just don't --

                                  MARGARET
              I'll kill myself.  Then they'll see.

                                  PAUL
              That is nonsense talk.

                                  MARGARET
              Then you can go off and...
                        (sobbing again)
              ...marry someone normal.

                                  PAUL
              You're the most normal girl I know.

                                  MARGARET
              I'm not crazy, Paul.  Something's really wrong with
              me.

      He takes her to a small sofa, cradles her in his arms.

                                  PAUL
              I know, Sweetie.  I know.  And we're gonna find you
              the best specialists in...
                        (a second, then confident)
              ...what you have that we can.

                                  MARGARET
              Promise?

                                  PAUL
              I really think things are going to turn around.  Call me
              cr... I just have a feeling.  You just leave everything to
              me, OK?  Is that OK?  Leave everything to me?  I
              promise.

                                  MARGARET
                        (gently)
              Shit bag.

                                  PAUL
              That's my girl.
 
                                                                               CUT TO:

      TIGHT ON : TV SCREEN

70/71 INT. TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT                                               70/71

      Where Edward G. Robinson (as the character Keyes in "Double Indemnity")
      grills a man about a fake insurance claim.

                                  EDWARD G. ROBINSON
              "Every time one of these phonies comes along it ties
              knots in my stomach... I can't eat.  That's how I knew
              your claim was crooked..."

      At the sound of DOORBELL, the whole scene freezes.  We are --

      Tiffany at her desk, working on the computer.  Ted has paused the DVD, puts
      down the Barnell file and opens the door on a snow covered PIZZA GUY, soggy
      pizza box in hand.

                                  TED
              Hey.

                                  PIZZA GUY
              Hi there.  That'll be $12.97.

      Ted looks at his watch.

                                  TED
              What about thirty minutes or free?

                                  PIZZA GUY
              Doesn't apply when it's snowing.

                                  TED
                        (digging out his wallet)
              So nine months of the year your guarantee is
              worthless?

                                  PIZZA GUY
              It doesn't snow every day.

                                  TED
              They should really tell people when they order.

                                  TIFFANY
              Would you just give him the money already?

                                  PIZZA GUY
              It's not my decision.

                                  TED
              I know that.  I'm just saying.

                                  PIZZA GUY
              Sure.

                                  TED
              You understand though?

                                  PIZZA GUY
              Absolutely.

                                  TED
              It wouldn't take much.

                                  PIZZA GUY
              Full disclosure to the pizza consumer. I'll be sure to
              pass that along.

      The delivery guy leaves.

      Ted walks back into the living room.  Tiffany comes over, grabs a slice.

                                  TIFFANY
              Why you gotta argue with the service industry?

                                  TED
              The problem with people today is they don't expect
              anyone to tell the truth.
              We've just come to accept lying as acceptable.

                                  TIFFANY
              If this is another passive/aggressive shot at Psychic
              Buddies, all our ads state "for amusement purposes
              only."

                                  TED
              Tiff, it has nothing to do with... look, just forget it.

                                  TIFFANY
              You remember being amused, don't ya, honey?
              What is with you anyway?

                                  TED
              Want to know what's "with" me?  I'm on the verge of
              cracking the biggest case of my career, one that
              corporate has to notice, and nobody gives a crap.
              Not my boss, and not even my girlfriend.

                                  TIFFANY
              So this is my fault?

                                  TED
              No, it's not your fault. I just want to live somewhere
              where road hazards don't have antlers and the pizza
              doesn't have to be delivered by dogsled.

      Tiffany storms off as Ted flops onto the couch, swipes the snow from the top of
      the pizza box and hits play on the DVD.

                                  EDWARD G. ROBINSON
              "What kind of outfit is this, anyway?  Are we an
              insurance company or a bunch of dim-witted
              amateurs to write a policy on a mug like that?"

      Tiffany turns from the bedroom door, almost in tears.

                                  TIFFANY
              You know, even though Edward G. Robinson wins,
              everyone like Fred MacMurray better.

      She SLAMS the door.  Ted doesn't move, lost in his own world.

72    INT. MRS. WHERRY'S HOUSE / LIVING ROOM - DAY                                  72

      Ted and Mrs. Wherry sit on plastic covered furniture.  The mounted heads of
      several dozen dead animals, foxes, wolves, elk, surround them.  Ted takes
      notes.

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              It was terrible.  Just terrible. Raymond should have
              known better.

                                  TED
                        (re: the mounted heads)
              All these yours?

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              Greatest sport on earth.  Moved to a compound bow
              two years ago.
                        (whisper)
              Arthritis.  Less draw weight.

      She mimics pulling back an imaginary bow with her bony hand.

                                  MRS. WHERRY (cont'd)
              Coffee OK?

                                  TED
              I'm fine.  Did you talk to Raymond at all when he
              came home?  Was he getting along with his
              brother?

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              No.  Only saw him the once.  Never spoke.  Waved to
              him.

                                  TED
              Waved?

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              He was clearing my driveway.  Raymond was a real
              hellcat when he was younger.  But like they say, time
              mellows even the hardest soul.

                                  TED
              Was he much of an outdoorsman?

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              I thought it was Paul at first.  Have you met Paul's
              wife?  Now there's a story.  Not that I'm much for
              gossip, but I think Raymond used to have a --

                                  TED
              Mrs. Wherry, I'm sorry, but --

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              Sorry.  Did Raymond like the outdoors.  Not so
              much, no.  Liked living out here at the cabin, though.
              I think he had some friends on the police force.
              Have you talked to them?  They'd pull up here day
              and night, always looking for --

                                  TED
              I'm sorry, did you say you thought it was Paul who
              did your driveway?

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              Well in a ski mask you can hardly tell who's who.
              Now, how 'bout some jerky?  I've got it drying out
              back.

73    INT. INSURANCE OFFICE - DAY                                                   73

      Ted at his cubicle, thinking hard as he chews on some jerky as he works the
      phone.  Snow whips by outside the window.

                                  TED
                        (just waiting to cut in)
              That's really super, Simon.  Now how'd you like to
              run some names for me?

      Ted sees Cam reflected in his dark computer screen.  Annoyed, he puts his
      hand over the receiver.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              You mind?

                                  CAM
              Now, now.  Let's not forget who's pulling double duty.

                                  TED
                        (hanging up)
              Simon, I'll call you back.
                        (to Cam: forced)
              Sorry.

                                  CAM
              Much better.  So?

                                  TED
              Turns out our Mr. Barnell is mortgaged to the nuts.
              His business is about one step
              away from chapter 11.  Plus it's like his brother
              Raymond never existed.  He's got no credit history,
              no nothing for the last five years.

                                  CAM
              Ya know, not having a credit history isn't actually a
              crime.  People around here have been known to
              swap a snow mobile for 500 pounds of venison.
              Doesn't exactly leave a paper trail.

                                  TED
              Yes, but he was in Florida, someplace.  Plus, the
              only thing he did after his recent "reappearance" was
              get some new ID and a new credit card.  Didn't
              charge anything.

                                  CAM
              Wow.  Less than nothing.

                                  TED
              It's something.

                                  CAM
              No it's not... in my humble, junior investigator's
              opinion.

      The phone RINGS.  Ted picks up.

                                  TED
              Watters, claims.  Yeah, hang on...
                        (to Cam)
              It's personal.  I promise.

      Cam shrugs, walks off.  Ted waits 'til he's gone...

                                  TED (cont'd)
              Mr. Barnell... Your ears must have been burning, I
              was just -- sure, what time?

      Ted is scribbling down something on a pad of paper.

74    EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY (FULL ON BLIZZARD)                                       74

      Tombstones, barely visible through the blowing snow, dot the top of a small hill
      on the outskirts of town.  A small group of mourners try to keep warm.  Paul and
      Margaret, Avis, two other FRIENDS and the MINISTER huddle against the cold.

                                  MINISTER
              When someone is taken from us at such a young
              age we often ask ourselves, why?  What possible
              purpose could this serve?

      The Minister is temporarily lost from view.

                                  MINISTER (cont'd)
                        (just a voice in the white)
              Why is God, who is a loving God, capable of such
              things...

      The snow clears.  Paul, a pillar of strength, discreetly checks his watch then
      sneaks a concerned look at Margaret who busily grins at everyone in sight.
      Ted's car pulls into the parking area.

75    INT. JIMBO'S CAR / GRAVEYARD PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS                         75

      Gary and Jimbo sit in their vehicle, watching as Ted gets out of his car and is
      swallowed in a white out.  He reappears a moment later farther up the hill.

                                  GARY
              We should have checked the funeral
              announcements right away.

                                  JIMBO
              Shoot.

76    EXT. GRAVEYARD                                                                76

      A wind GUST rocks the casket just as it's lowered into the frozen earth.  The
      funeral breaks up quickly as Paul and his wife shake hands with the minister.

                                  PAUL
              That was lovely, thank you so much.

                                  MINISTER
              Margaret, Paul, you two get some sleep.

      Paul looks nervously at Margaret, who is about to reply.  As her mouth
      engages, a gust of wind obliterates most of her words, except for...

                                  MARGARET
              ...nun banger.

      The Minister smiles, he must have misunderstood.

                                  MINISTER
              Absolutely.

      Paul turns to see Ted approaching.  A blast of snow obscures his view.  When
      Ted reappears, he's just a few steps away.

                                  TED
              Mr. Barnell.  There was no hurry on this, we could
              wait until--

                                  PAUL
              It's OK.  We just wrapped up.  This is my wife,
              Margaret.

      As they shake hands, and Margaret opens her mouth to speak...

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Why don't you wait in the car, sweetheart?

                                  MARGARET
              Okee dokee, smokee.

      Margaret smiles and totters off.

                                  PAUL
              She's under a little strain right now.

      Ted looks down the hill at a small group of TV news vans, the REPORTERS
      just now venturing out into the cold.

                                  TED
              I see the media's here.  They don't give people a
              moment's peace, do they?

                                  PAUL
              I called them.

                                  TED
                        (surprised)
              Really?

                                  PAUL
              Well, they've been asking me to talk some more
              about Raymond.  I thought now might be an
              appropriate time.

                                  TED
              And you'll just happen to mention your heartless
              insurance company that hasn't paid off your policy
              yet.

                                  PAUL
              I had to borrow money for the casket, Mr. Ted.

                                  TED
              You are breaking my heart.

                                  PAUL
              No, I doubt that.  They asked me to bring some
              photos of Raymond.  Guess it's gonna be a pretty
              big story.

      He pulls out some shots of his brother.  They whip around in the wind and
      blowing snow.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Of course, we could walk over there together.  You
              could tell them how deeply moved you were by this
              tragedy and how... the check is on its way?

      Ted thinks, grudgingly impressed with Paul's ploy.

                                  TED
              Enjoy your press conference, Mr. Barnell.

      Paul stuffs the photos back in his pocket and walks down the hill.  Ted watches
      him go, is about to leave when a gust of wind forces him to avert his eyes.
      Looking down he sees a photo of Raymond Barnell, on the beach in swim
      trunks.  Must have fallen.  Ted pockets it and moves on.

A76   INT. GARY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT                                                A76

                                  JIMBO
              That's your plan?

                                  GARY
              How tough can it be?

                                  JIMBO
              You ever try digging through six feet of half frozen
              sod?  We'd need a back hoe.  Can you operate a
              back hoe?  Do you know where we'd get a back
              hoe?  We don't even know for sure...

                                  GARY
              Oh please.  Don't you think it's a pretty neat
              coincidence?

                                  JIMBO
              Maybe we just go explain it to Dave.

                                  GARY
              He won't take it well.

                                  JIMBO
              Then I'm all for new options, here, Gary. (beat)  If we
              give the money back--

                                  GARY
              Hey, wait a minute, now.  We did the job.  We
              deserve the--

                                  JIMBO
              I did the job, Gary.  I know, because I haven't been
              sleeping for the last week.

                                  GARY
              I don't know why you're letting it get to you like this.
              Look, let's just not rush into anything.  It's my turn to
              step up.  I know that.  I'm on it.

      They look on as Paul is interviewed by the reporters.
77    OMITTED                                                                       77

78    INT. PAUL'S HOME / KITCHEN - MORNING                                          78

      Margaret washes down some pills with her morning coffee as she looks at a
      fawn in the backyard, nibbling on a bush.

                                  MARGARET
              Hey little, Bambi.  Where's your Mommy?  Gettin' it
              from some ten point buck.  Yes she is.  Yes she is.

      Just then, a THUMPING sound from the garage causes the fawn to bolt.
      Margaret turns, suspicious.  She picks up the portable phone as she moves
      toward the door.

79    INT. GARAGE                                                                   79

      Gary sticks his head inside the now unchained fridge, grabs a can of soda
      from the door rack and closes the door.  A moment later, he reopens the door...

      There, hanging off the frosty inside, is a chunk of the dead man's hair and
      scalp.  Gary pulls it off, not sure what it means, but sure it means something.

      Unseen behind him, Margaret steps into the garage.  She quickly assesses
      the situation.

                                  MARGARET
              Stay away from our fucking appliances.

      Gary spins, shocked to see Margaret.

                                  GARY
              Lady, just calm down.

      Margaret, eyes wide with fear, unleashes a hailstorm of soda cans,
      knickknacks, gardening implements and anything else she can lay her hands
      on.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              Hey!  Would you... Lady... I have a--

      He tries to close in on her, but the torrent of stuff (a rake, a Whipper-Snipper,
      an old pair of skates...) keeps him pinned down.  Finally, he manages to grab his
      gun from his pocket.  But even as he raises it...

      A Bissel Handvac catches him flush in the face.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              Sud of a bit!

      He drops to his knees, grabbing his nose, which is now gushing blood.
      Margaret reaches for her portable phone and starts punching numbers.

                                  MARGARET
              You are in so much trouble.

      Gary stands, pissed off, gun aimed at Margaret's head.

                                  GARY
              Lady, so help me I --

      Gary ducks as the phone whizzes over his head and smashes against the
      garage wall.  He stares at her.  Game over.

80    INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY                                                          80

      A standard corrugated metal storage facility.  Snow falls in from a large hole
      that's been cut in the roof.  Cam and Ted, clipboard in hand, stand by the
      owner, MR. SPELLMAN (50s).

                                  CAM
              So you're a souvenir wholesaler?

                                  SPELLMAN
              For the cruise ship trade, mostly.  Usual stuff, stuffed
              animals, your huskies, your moose, your baby seals,
              your whales, your walrus --

                                  TED
              They came in through there?

                                  SPELLMAN
                        (looking up/duh!)
              Yeah.  Through that... big hole in the roof.  I got a list
              of all the things that are missing.

      Ted stares up at the sky through the ceiling.

                                  TED
              How much?

                                  SPELLMAN
              Uh, we figure about 200,000, plus fixing the roof.
              Now I know you guys are gonna bust my --

                                  TED
              Fax over your estimate.  We'll have you a check by
              Friday.

                                  CAM
                        (taking Ted aside)
              Ted.  Maybe we should take a look at their inventory
              list first?

                                  TED
              This is a simple case, Cam.  Bad guys, through roof,
              stole stuff.  Let's clear it and get going.

                                  SPELLMAN
              I should tell you... we also had some VCRs we were
              holding for another company.  That could run
              another couple of...

                                  TED
              Cam?  You wanna wrap this up?
                        (off his look)
              Gotta go primary some time.

      Cam shrugs-- "sure."  Ted hands him his clipboard and walks out, the door
      closes behind him with a loud BANG.

                                  CAM
              Mr. Spellman?  Now I noticed a nice looking
              computer in your office.  Why do you think they left
              that?

81    INT. BARNELL HOME / LIVING ROOM - LATER                                       81

      Margaret sits taped to a Lazy-Boy recliner.  Gary, who's still bleeding from the
      nose, sits across from her.

                                  MARGARET
              You try and rape me, I swear to Christ I'll bite it off.

      Gary looks confused.  The doorbell CHIMES, playing "Tiny Bubbles."  (We stay
      in the living room as Gary answers it.)

                                  JIMBO (O.S.)
              What's going on?

                                  GARY (O.S.)
              Okay, now here's the thing, just keep an open mind.

      They both enter the room.  Jimbo looks at Gary, is about to smack him when...

                                  MARGARET
              So what now, you gonna get me smokin' from both
              ends?

      Gary and Jimbo have no idea how to react.  Margaret senses their discomfort,
      starts to relax.

                                  GARY
              I just came to look around, but she started yelling
              and hitting me...

                                  MARGARET
              Oh please.

                                  JIMBO
              How the hell is this solving our problem?  How is
              this stepping up?

                                  GARY
              Just listen, okay.

                                  MARGARET
              Yeah, listen, if the fat from your neck hasn't stopped
              up your ears.

      Jimbo looks confused.  Gary ushers him into the other room.

82    INT. BARNELL HOME / KITCHEN - LATER                                           82

      Gary and Jimbo sit at the table, talking.  Jimbo's not happy.

                                  JIMBO
              This is not what we do.

                                  GARY
              It is now.

                                  JIMBO
              Where would we stash her?  Your place?

                                  GARY
              Too small, plus we'd have to get her in and out
              without anyone seeing.  And I've seen that sty you
              call an apartment.

                                  JIMBO
              See, it's just a bad idea.

                                  GARY
              Yeah.  Maybe.
                        (a possible idea)
              You see the whirlpool tub?

                                  JIMBO
              You can't be serious.

                                  GARY
              It could be like a little getaway.

      Off Jimbo, considering this.

83    EXT. BARNELL HOME - NIGHT                                                     83

      Paul pulls up, hits the garage door opener and drives in.

84    INT. BARNELL HOME / KITCHEN                                                   84

      Paul walks in from the garage, pulls off his jacket.

                                  PAUL
              Hey Maggie-magster.  How ya --

      Paul stops short as he sees Margaret, Gary and Jimbo sitting around the table.
      Margaret's mouth is taped shut.

      Paul is about to lunge at the men when Gary slides his gun into view.  He
      stops.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              What are you people doing in my house?

                                  GARY
              Mr. Barnell.  You have something that belongs to us.

                                  PAUL
              I, I don't know what you're talking about.

                                  JIMBO
              Do you remember a dead man you found in the
              dumpster behind your office?

      Paul, shocked, tries to hold it together.

                                  PAUL
              No, I can't say that... I mean that would probably stick
              in my mind a... dead body.

                                  GARY
              Think hard Mr. Barnell.

      He tosses the frozen lock of hair onto the table.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              Think hard.

      Paul realizes he's screwed, gestures to the living room.

85    INT. BARNELL HOME / LIVING ROOM - LATER                                       85

      Gary sits on the sofa as Paul paces.

                                  GARY
              I thought it might be some weirdo sex thing, ya
              know?  But you look like a pretty straight arrow.  So
              then I'm thinking, maybe it's a scam.  Maybe
              somehow our friend is worth some money to you.

      Paul face lets Gary know he's dead on.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              So what'd you collect?

                                  PAUL
              We, we had a life insurance policy
              on my brother.  It was for... 100,000 dollars.

                                  GARY
              You know, it's always you quiet guys.  Here's how it's
              going to work.  We stay here with your wife, you go
              get our guy.

                                  PAUL
              Here?

                                  GARY
              We even see you or a cop even roll past, she's dead.
              Plus you'll have to explain
              how you scammed the insurance people out of their
              hard earned money.  We'll call you in three days.
              Have the body and, let's say 50,000 dollars for our
              trouble.  Screw with us, we start mailing your wife
              back to you.

      Gary pauses for dramatic effect.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              Starting with her feet.

86    INT. KITCHEN - LATER                                                          86

      Gary walks in on Jimbo and Margaret, still gagged.

                                  JIMBO
              He gone?

      Gary nods, well pleased with himself.

                                  GARY
              He was scared.  Really scared.

                                  JIMBO
              You used the feet thing, didn't you?

                                  GARY
              No.

87    INT. TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT                                                  87

      Tiffany comes through the door carrying a sack of groceries.

                                  TIFFANY
              Hey, little help here.  I got Pop Tarts.

      She sees the living room wall -- it's covered with charts, diagrams and
      theories.  Ted on the floor, remote control in hand, replaying the shots of the
      body over and over...

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
                        (re: the screen)
              Don't tell me, "Sound of Music"?
                        (no reaction)
              Honey?  You OK?

                                  TED
              Shhhh.  This is the important part.

      Ted rewinds the tape, hits play, rewinds it again as -- Tiffany watches, quietly at
      first, then with growing frustration.  Finally, she walks over and grabs the
      remote control.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              I was watching that.

                                  TIFFANY
              This stops now.  This case is making me and you
              crazy, especially you.

      No response.  Tiffany plops on the sofa and starts leafing through Ted's files.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              Ya know, I am trying to be supportive.  Leading
              experts agree that's the number one complaint men
              have about their mates.

                                  TED
              I don't have any complaints about my... you.

                                  TIFFANY
                        (re: the file)
              Dead guy's got a record?  Cool.

                                  TED
              Yeah. He beat the hell out of some guy in bar fight.
              Broke the guy's eye socket.

      Tiffany scans the file, then looks up at the screen.

                                  TIFFANY
              Honey?

                                  TED
              Yeah?

                                  TIFFANY
              I think you should read this again.

      He looks.  She tosses him the file.

88    INT. BARNELL HOME / KITCHEN - NIGHT                                           88

      Margaret, still taped to a chair, sits at the kitchen table.  By the stove, Gary is
      cooking, an apron tied like a bath towel around his waist.

                                  MARGARET
              We don't have any money, you know.

                                  GARY
              Lady.  Please.

                                  MARGARET
              If you want Raymond's fucking insurance money...
              we don't have that either.

                                  GARY
              It's none of your business what we want.

      Gary goes back to his cooking.  Then...

                                  GARY (cont'd)
              So how come you talk like you do?  I mean, cursing
              all the time.

                                  MARGARET
              It's a disease.  It's called Tourette Syndrome.  I can't
              control what I say.  Turnip.

                                  GARY
              Really?

                                  MARGARET
              You've taken a handicapped person hostage.  I hope
              you're proud of yourself.

                                  GARY
              I saw this thing on TV where they said people with
              that don't usually curse.

                                  MARGARET
              They must have got it wrong.

                                  GARY
              I don't think so.  It was a movie of the week based on
              real events.  Don't most of Tourette's people twitch
              and stuff?

      Margaret just glares.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
                        (knowingly)
              Oh, I get it.  You got a spice rack?

                                  MARGARET
              Over the sink.  And what's that supposed to mean?

                                  GARY
              Nothing.  Cumin?

                                  MARGARET
              On the left. (beat)  And I'm not... crazy, it's a physical
              disease.  Sometimes I can control it, and
              sometimes --

                                  GARY
              You can't?  Want to know what I think?  I think this
              "syndrome" is something you
              read about somewhere and figured, hey, works for
              me.

                                  MARGARET
              Ass-rimming ball-sucker.

                                  GARY
              You can completely abdicate your societal
              responsibilities, say whatever you want whenever
              you want, and slough it off on a illness.  Maybe I
              should catch this thing. "Gee, sorry Your Honor, I
              have a disease that makes me rob 7-11s."  It's
              called really need a Slurpee disease.

                                  MARGARET
              You've never robbed a 7-11 in your life you shit
              eating fuck-weasel.  What kind of man threatens a
              woman with a gun, anyway?

                                  GARY
              You are so faking it.

                                  MARGARET
              Oh, I'm faking it?  Is this how you get your kicks, you
              over-compensating pussy little fart sack?

      Gary, suddenly tense, puts down his spoon and picks up his gun.

                                  GARY
              Hey!  Keep your voice down or the gag goes back.

                                  MARGARET
              You don't scare me.  If something bad was going to
              happen, my psychic would have told me.

      Gary awkwardly chambers a round, starts gesturing with the gun, trying to look
      tough.

                                  MARGARET (cont'd)
              You put that down now you little bitch, or so help me,
              I'll start yelling so loud you'll have to shoot me.

      Gary, confused and embarrassed, doesn't know what to do.

89    EXT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - NIGHT                                              89

      Paul gets out of his car carrying a K-Mart bag.  He looks like he's been
      CRYING.  Mrs. Wherry waves from her deck.

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              Paul, sorry to hear about your brother.
                        (Paul gives a sad smile)
              You moving in?

                                  PAUL
              Just for a bit.

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              She'll come to her senses.  They always do.  Oh, the
              septic lines are frozen, so you'll have to use the
              outdoor commode.

      Paul waves as he enters the mobile home, closing the door behind him.  A
      light goes on.  It starts to snow.

90    INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - NIGHT                                              90

      Paul walks in, survey's the interior of the mobile home.

      PAUL'S POV:  A 7 year old time capsule of a party that was never cleaned up;
      beer bottles, ashtrays and general garbage.

                                  PAUL
                        (to himself)
              Would it have killed you to clean up before you left,
              Raymond?

      Paul picks up a small box from the floor, looks at the label.  Edible Panties.  He
      puts them on top of a stack of porno mags, neatens the pile, then heads out.

      INT. BEDROOM - LATER

      HIGH ANGLE ON: Paul lying in bed, wide awake, but in the same position
      we've seen him in when he sleeps with Margaret.  An electric heater glows
      beside him.

91    EXT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - CONTINUOUS                                         91

      TIGHT ON: Car tires as they pull to a stop on the main road.  A pair of heavy
      men's boots get out, start to make their way toward the mobile home.

92    INT. MOBILE HOME - LATE NIGHT                                                 92

      There's a KNOCK on the door.  Paul heads to the door.

                                  PAUL
              Who is it?

                                  MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
              State Police.  Is there a Mr. Barnell here?

                                  PAUL
                        (as he unlocks it)
              Yes, is there something wrong--

      As he opens the door a crack, a gloved hand shoves it open.  The force of the
      blow sends Paul staggering backward, landing in a heap against the wall
      where a picture of his family tumbles over and shatters on his head.
      RAYMOND BARNELL (40s), a bear of man, enters, picks up Paul and throws
      him through the serving kitchen serving hatch.  Raymond leans through the
      hole.

                                  RAYMOND
              Hello brother.

      He walks around, takes a copy of "USA Today" and throws it at Paul.

                                  PAUL
              Raymond?  Is that...

                                  RAYMOND
              Page 16, Paul. That's why I love "USA Today", news
              from every fuckin' state.  Don't you want to read it?  I
              was eaten by wild fuckin' animals.  But ya know,
              despite that, I'm feeling pretty God-damned chipper.

      Paul beats a hasty retreat, stumbling through the mobile home with Raymond
      right on his heels.

                                  PAUL
              Raymond, let me tell you what happened here.  We
              all thought you were...

                                  RAYMOND
              Dead?  Yeah, I got that impression.

                                  PAUL
              But you had dropped off the face of the earth.

                                  RAYMOND
              And you just decide to make it permanent?

                                  PAUL
              But there were no records of you anywhere.  I
              checked.

      With that, Raymond kicks his brother hard in the ribs.  Paul doubles over,
      gasping for breath.

                                  RAYMOND
              In certain lines of quasi-legal employment, using
              your actual ID can be a hinderance.  But despite the
              reliance on aliases, it's nice to have your actual birth
              certificate to fall back on.  Gotta tell ya, Paul, I was
              pretty pissed.

      Raymond is about to kick him once more, but Paul puts up a hand, begging
      him to stop.  Raymond, relents, then bends over and helps his brother to a
      sitting position.

                                  RAYMOND (cont'd)
              But then I start to think, Paul's no idiot.  He woulda
              told 'em it's not me.  Unless...

      Paul can only sit there and WHEEZE.  Raymond sits beside him on the floor,
      pulls out a cigarette and lights it.

                                  RAYMOND (cont'd)
              So what is it?  Frame job, lawsuit...

                                  PAUL
              Life insurance.

                                  RAYMOND
              Figured.  So where's my money?

                                  PAUL
              Your money?
                        (a beat)
              They're still... investigating.

                                  RAYMOND
              What you get?

      Paul considers whether or not Raymond would even remember.

                                  PAUL
              Fifty thousand.

                                  RAYMOND
                        (with a shrug)
              Almost worth coming back for.  What's the split?  I
              get half?

                                  PAUL
                        (not quite trusting him)
              Okay.  Sure.
                        (changing the subject)
              You look good.  Lost some weight?

                                  RAYMOND
              Gave up carbs.  So what are you doing out here?
              She not go along with it?

                                  PAUL
              Who?  Margaret?

                                  RAYMOND
              How she hold up, anyway?

                                  PAUL
              She's fine.  Actually, we're not doing so good right
              now.

                                  RAYMOND
              Any kids?
                        (off his look)
              Still can't get one by the goalie, huh.

93    INT. BARNELL HOME / KITCHEN - LATER                                           93

      Gary and Margaret sit in silence, Gary taking Margaret's pulse.  Jimbo walks in,
      grocery bag in hand.

                                  JIMBO
              Hey.

                                  GARY
                        (snarky)
              Hey.

                                  JIMBO
              Talked to our friend.  We're okay for now.  How's
              everything here?

                                  GARY
              Oh, just great.
                        (to Margaret)
              Seventy six, perfectly normal.  What a shock.

      Gary jumps up and storms into the bathroom just off the kitchen.

                                  MARGARET
              He's a little over tired.

                                  JIMBO
              It's been a rough week.

                                  MARGARET
                        (for Gary's benefit)
              Really?  Why?  You and your life partner in the shitter
              having trouble picking a China pattern?

                                  JIMBO
                        (shocked)
              Um, um... Gary?

                                  GARY (O.S.)
              Your turn to deal with it.  If I come out of this
              bathroom I'll put a bullet in her head, swear to God.

                                  MARGARET
              I have a psychiatric disorder.
                        (to Gary, in the bathroom)
              And so do you!

94    EXT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME / DRIVEWAY - MORNING                                 94

      Paul, looking like a man who recently took a beating, shovels the light snow
      cover that blankets the drive.  He looks as Ted's car pulls up.  As Ted walks
      toward him...

                                  PAUL
              Mr. Watters.  You said on the phone something
              about a resolution in our claim?

                                  TED
              Mr. Barnell.  Why are you staying out here?

      Paul thinks about this for a long time.  Then, finally...

                                  PAUL
              My wife and I, we're having some problems.

                                  TED
              Kind of understandable I guess.  Seeing as how you
              killed that man and dumped his body out in the
              woods.

                                  PAUL
              You mean Raymond?

                                  TED
              No.  Not Raymond.  Definitely not Raymond.  I
              thought it was at first, but that's what was throwing
              me...

                                  PAUL
              I'm not sure I appreciate your tone.

                                  TED
              My tone, Mr. Barnell?  You are going to jail.  I will
              personally see to that.

                                  PAUL
              I really think you should go now.

                                  TED
              You are a liar and thief.

      Paul stabs his shovel into a snow bank, then walks to Ted.

                                  PAUL
              You know Mr. Watters, I've had a pretty rough night,
              so if you wouldn't mind just leaving.

      Paul tries to guide Ted away, but slips and falls on the snow.  Ted, rolling his
      eyes, reaches down to help him up.

                                  TED
                        (noticing the bruises)
              Hey.  How'd you get all cut up?

                                  MRS. WHERRY (O.S.)
              What's say you just move away from him.

      Ted, with his hands still on Paul, turns to see -- Mrs. Wherry, from her porch, a
      compound bow aimed at his forehead.

                                  MRS. WHERRY (cont'd)
              You all right there, Paul?

                                  PAUL
              I'm fine, Mrs. Wherry.  Just go back inside.

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              I can drop him if you want.

                                  PAUL
              I'm fine.  Really.
                        (turning to Watters)
              I think you'd better go.

      Ted backs to his car, gets in and drives off.  Paul brushes the snow from his
      jacket, reaches up, touches his bleeding forehead (the fall having reopened the
      wound).

                                  MRS. WHERRY
              I've got some fishing line if you want me to stitch that.

      Paul waves her off, then stares at the blood on his fingertips.  An idea slowly
      takes hold.

95    INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - MOMENTS LATER                                      95

      Raymond pours whiskey into a 7-11 specialty cup as Paul  pulls off his coat.

                                  RAYMOND
              He give you the check?

                                  PAUL
              No.  He thinks I...  It'll be fine.

                                  RAYMOND
              Maybe I'll pay him a little visit.  See if we can speed
              up the process.

                                  PAUL
              You don't have to... I figured out a way to take care of
              things.

                                  RAYMOND
              Yeah, I was watching from the window.

      Paul, agitated, pulls the blinds shut.

                                  PAUL
              You can't do that, Raymond.  If someone sees you...

                                  RAYMOND
              Ya know, I been thinking there, Paulie.

                                  PAUL
              About what?

      Raymond walks over to Paul.  Paul tenses, expecting to be hit.  Raymond
      moves right by to refill his drink.

                                  RAYMOND
              After we get her back from these guys who grabbed
              her, you think your wife'll be able to keep her mouth
              shut?

                                  PAUL
              I don't think I...

                                  RAYMOND
              Crazy people talk a lot.  And I think if you tell your
              therapist something, they can use it in court.

                                  PAUL
              She's not...  she doesn't have a therapist.

                                  RAYMOND
                        (taking a slug)
              Still, might wanna think about it.

                                  PAUL
              Think about what?

                                  RAYMOND
              You crossed over into the bigs now, Paulie.  Fraud.
              Consorting with felons.  Got to "cowboy up."

                                  PAUL
              Cowboy up?

                                  RAYMOND
              Get tough, ya suck-hole.  I'm just saying sometimes
              a man has to make problematic decisions.  Cull the
              heard, so to speak.
                        (off his look)
              Paul, come on, just kiddin' around, here.  Don't be
              such a fuckin' stick.

      Raymond, an enigma, looks at Paul, then grins -- just kidding.  Paul relaxes.
      Raymond tenses -- not really.  Paul's not sure how to read his brother as they
      shoot looks at one another -- sibling rivalry ad absurdum.

96    EXT. CITY SKYLINE - MORNING                                                   96

      The sky moves from dark grey to light grey, then stops.  A thermometer outside
      on an office tower shows a brisk minus 20.  Workers bundle themselves
      against the cold, hurry to work past the drifts piled alongside the road.

97    INT. INSURANCE OFFICE - MORNING                                               97

      Ted walks in, throwing his coat over the wall of his cubicle and is about to sit
      down when he notices Paul in his boss' office.  Ted moves closer.

                                  PAUL (MUFFLED)
              I haven't called the police yet, but I'll tell you it was
              certainly tempting.

      Ted opens the door to his boss' office.  Paul doesn't notice.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              I've had some dealings with, diseases of the mind,
              and I can tell you he is not well.

      Branch, obviously worried, stands.

                                  BRANCH
              Watters.  Glad you're... Mr. Barnell was just telling
              me about the... meeting you two had.

                                  TED
              I caught that, yes.

                                  BRANCH
              As you can see... well, Mr. Barnell has some...
              concerns.

      Paul turns to look at Ted.  He has a large band-aid on his forehead, scratches
      and bruises on his face.  It takes a second for the dime to drop.

                                  TED
              You don't think I did this?

      Paul gets up and moves to the other side of the office.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              Oh come on.  I never laid a hand on him.

                                  BRANCH
              Ted, his neighbor says... otherwise.

                                  TED
              Now just hang on here.  Let me show you
              something...

      Ted digs into his briefcase.  He takes out a video tape, the police file on
      Raymond and the photo of Raymond Paul dropped in the snow.

98/99 INT. OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER                                                98/99

      Paul and Branch listen intently as Ted paces, the TV/VCR plays shots of the
      dead body in the background.

                                  TED
              See?  Where's the birthmark?  Your brother's police
              report listed it...
                        (reading from the report)
              "...large purple birthmark, upper left thigh..."
                        (leaning into the screen)
              But I don't see it.  Not on this body.  You can see it in
              the picture.  See?

      Ted points to the photo;  Raymond, in the summer, wearing shorts with a
      blotchy purple spot clearly visible on his leg.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              So what, Mr. Barnell?  Did it just disappear?  Did it
              just... get better.

      Ted grins.  His moment.  Finally.  Seconds feel like minutes.

                                  PAUL
              It... did get better.

                                  TED
              Did it now.  Well how in the world did that happen?

                                  PAUL
              Raymond was always... bothered by it. When he
              came back from... Florida, he'd
              had it fixed.  Laser surgery... like removing a tattoo.

      Paul looks at Branch.  It's an excuse Ted hadn't thought of before.

                                  TED
              He did not.

                                  PAUL
              You taped my brother's body, in the morgue?

      Paul stands and grabs the photo from off the desk.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              And this?  You stole pictures of my family?  And
              taped his naked body?  What kind of sick company
              are you running here?

                                  TED
              Oh for... he's lying.  It's obvious he...

      Paul, feigning fear, shrinks back into the corner.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              This is crazy.  All we have to do is dig up the body...
              check the leg for scars...
                        (bingo)
              Dental records!

      Paul goes white.  He hadn't thought about this.

                                  BRANCH
              That will be just about enough of that. Mr. Barnell, I'm
              sorry it's all come to this.  We'll have a check brought
              over to you tomorrow morning.

      Paul nods, stressed and strung out, he hugs the wall as he walks out.  After a
      moment...

                                  TED
              Sir, with all due respect, he's --

                                  BRANCH
              Jesus, we're lucky he's not suing.  Now tomorrow,
              you deliver the check to Mr. Barnell with a complete
              apology.

                                  TED
              Fine, I understand how this looks --

                                  BRANCH
              It looks like you beat the hell out of one of our policy
              holders.  Now send Cam in here.

                                  TED
              Why?

                                  BRANCH
              Well, while you were off on your little Easter Egg
              hunt, your junior found us an out on that warehouse
              robbery.  Head office is bumping him a level.

                                  TED
                        (fuck me naked)
              I'll go get him.

                                  BRANCH
              They're very keen on him.  They want me to feel him
              out on a transfer --

      Ted has left the office, SLAMMING the door behind him.

100   INT. INSURANCE OFFICE STAIRWELL - MOMENTS LATER                              100

      The door CLANGS shut behind Paul as he dials his cell phone.

                                  PAUL
              Hello... yes, I'm wondering what city department
              would be in charge of... sure, I can hold.
                        (to himself)
              Hang on Mag Pie, just hang on.

      Paul puts a hand to his chest.  Suddenly dizzy, he drops to his knees and starts
      to RETCH.  Tears well up in his eyes.  After a few moments, the storm passes.
      Still on his knees, the person on the line comes back.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Yeah, hi.   I was wondering if you could.... but I was...
              sure.

      He sits there, on hold again, waiting...

101   INT. UNDERGROUND PARKING AREA - EVENING                                      101

      Ted walks to his car.  As he opens the door -- WHAM!  A fist to his face drops
      Ted.  Raymond in a ski mask, picks him up, opens the car door and lays Ted's
      head on the door jamb.

                                  RAYMOND
              Listen you little prick, we've had just about enough of
              this.  You get me?

      Raymond leans onto the door, Ted SCREAMING as his head is squashed in
      the vice.

                                  RAYMOND (cont'd)
              So let's just settle this right now, OK?  We want
              what's coming to us.

      Ted tries to say "yes."  Raymond releases his grip on the door, leans down and
      grabs Ted's wallet and walks off.

102   OMITTED                                                                      102

103   INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - NIGHT                                             103

      Paul walks in on A LOUD PARTY.  Raymond, drunk out of his head, has his
      arms around two marginal looking HOOKERS.

                                  PAUL
              Ray -

      Not wanting to use his brother's real name.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Richard!  What in the blazes are you doing?

                                  RAYMOND
              Hey Paul.  Took care of our little problem today.  We
              should see some serious money any time, soon.

                                  PAUL
              Could... I have a word with you?

104   INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME / KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS                              104

      Paul pulls the sliding door closed behind Raymond.

                                  PAUL
                        (whisper)
              Are those...?

                                  RAYMOND
                        (serious)
              Prostitutes?
                        (laughing)
              I sure as hell hope so, cause Jehovah's Witnesses
              won't lick your lolly no matter how much you pay
              them.

                                  PAUL
              How did you get them here?

      Raymond pulls out the credit card Paul got for him.

                                  RAYMOND
              Put it on my plastic.  See, got my name on it and
              everything.  It's every where I want to be.

                                  PAUL
              You can't use that.  You're supposed to be dead!
              They'll track us down.

                                  RAYMOND
              You think they give a shit who pays the bill?  Think for
              a minute, will ya?

      Paul turns, trying to compose himself, when he notices  a handgun sitting out
      on the counter.

                                  PAUL
              What... Raymond, what is... this?

      Paul pokes at the gun, sending the barrel spinning around to face him.
      Raymond grabs it and stuffs it into his pants.

                                  RAYMOND
              That's "muh gun," Paul.

      Paul's cell phone RINGS.

                                  RAYMOND (cont'd)
              Don't be long.  The little spinner's yours.

      Paul picks up the phone as the party revs back up.

                                  PAUL
              Yes, hello.  Sorry, what?

105/106 INTERCUT:  BARNELL HOME / KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS                         105/106

      Jimbo is on the wall mounted phone.

                                  JIMBO
              You having a party, Mr. Barnell?
                        (embarrassed for Margaret)
              That's... that's not right.

      Margaret, now gagged, sits where we last saw her.  She tries to talk through
      the gag.

      Gary's staring at his watch, calling out seconds.

                                  GARY
              Thirty, sorry, startinnng... Now!

      Paul pulls the kitchen door closed with his free hand.

                                  PAUL
              There's no party...let me talk to my wife.

                                  JIMBO
              Hang on.

      He hands the phone to Margaret.  Gary leaps up and stops him.

                                  GARY
              Twenty-five!

      Jimbo pushes past him, pulls down Margaret's gag and holds the phone to
      her.

                                  PAUL
              Why are you counting?

                                  MARGARET
              Paul?  Are you entertaining?

                                  PAUL
                        (a wave of relief)
              Oh God, oh Jesus... Margaret, are you okay?

                                  RAYMOND (O.S.)
              Paul, we got any more chips?

                                  GARY
              Fifteen!
                        (grabs the phone)
              The body. Have you -- (beat) No, I'm the other guy.
              Have you got the body?

                                  MARGARET
                        (shouting)
              Paul, the carrot little weasly one wants to carrot
              screw me with his sick carrot little cock.  And he's
              messing up my kitchen.  Carrotcarrocarrot...

      Jimbo, annoyed, puts the gag back in Margaret's mouth.

                                  PAUL
              You sick... Don't you hurt her!!

                                  GARY
              I never said anything like--
                        (looks at his watch in panic)
              Yes or no.  Ten seconds.

                                  PAUL
              Yes! It'll... it'll happen tomorrow.  Put Margaret back
              on!

                                  RAYMOND (O.S.)
              Paul!  Chips!!

                                  PAUL
              Hello?

      Gary lunges for the phone cradle like it's the finish line in the 100 meter dash,
      slamming the phone down.  A beat.

                                  GARY
              I think I managed to avoid a trace.

                                  JIMBO
                        (quietly to Gary)
              We're staying at his house.

107   (END INTERCUT) INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME KITCHEN                              107

      Paul goes to the cupboard and pulls out a box of potato chips.  As he turns, he
      sees one of the HOOKERS (30s) standing in the doorway.  She gives Paul a
      come hither look.

108   INT. BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL - MORNING                                  108

      A bruised Ted enters, once again the only person in the shop.  He keeps his
      parka on.  Avis stands to greet him.

                                  AVIS
              Hello.  Can I help you?

                                  PAUL (O.S.)
                        (icily)
              Mr. Watters?

      Paul comes around the corner.  He extends his hand, shocked to see the
      bruises on Ted's face but knowing exactly where they came from.

                                  TED
              Mr. Barnell.  I have your check.

                                  PAUL
              Thank you, I appreciate that.
                        (an awkward pause)
              Please, sit.

      Ted sits at Paul desk, reaches into his brief case and pulls out an envelope
      and several forms.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Have a little accident, there?

                                  TED
              I was mugged.  The cops say it was just a random
              act of violence.  But who knows, right?
                        (re: documents)
              You'll have to sign.

      Ted slides the papers across to Paul, then gets up and moves around over
      Paul's shoulder.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              Where I've marked it with an X.  And... I'd also like to
              apologize for my --

                                  PAUL
              No, please.  You don't have to...

      Paul, at a loss, starts to read the paperwork. He pulls open his desk drawer to
      grab a pen.  Ted looks down, sees the Sea Shell in the drawer.

                                  TED
              That's quite the shell.

                                  PAUL
                        (picking it up)
              It was a gift from Raymond.  He bought it for me from
              Florida.  It's all we have to remember him by.

      Paul puts the shell down on the desk.

                                  TED
              That and a million dollars.  Things really worked out
              for you, didn't they? lots of cash, newly single guy...

                                  PAUL
              I'm not single.

                                  TED
              ...so you gonna head down to Club Med?  See how
              much fun a big bank roll can buy?

                                  PAUL
              Mr. Watters, I love my wife.  Very much.

      Ted can't help but look confused by this simple, yet sincere declaration.

                                  TED
              Can we level with each other for a moment?
                        (Paul nods)
              Did you --

      Before he can finish his question, a DELIVERY DRIVER entering the office with
      a large box.

                                  PAUL
              Avis!  Avis?

      There's no answer.  She's in the back.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Will you excuse me?

      Paul gets up to deal with the delivery.  Ted, sullen, picks up the shell and turns
      it over in his hands.  Avis enter from the back.  She smiles at Ted, then sees
      the shell.

                                  AVIS
              Oh, that's where you went.

      She takes the shell and reattaches it to the display for Aloha Air.  Ted,
      confused, walks over as Avis snaps the shell back into place.

                                  TED
              That's quite the display.

                                  AVIS
              They do some very nice in store promotions.

      Paul walks back, shocked to see the shell now back on the display.  Ted just
      stares at him.

                                  AVIS (cont'd)
              Here it is Mr. Barnell.
                        (to Ted)
              I thought someone might have walked out with it.  It's
              not the best neighborhood.

      Avis walks back to her desk.  Ted and Paul hold their look.  Finally, Paul walks
      back to his desk and the paperwork.

                                  PAUL
              So, right here, by the X.

      Ted nods.  Paul signs.  Ted takes the envelope with the check, hands it to Paul
      but doesn't let go.  Paul tries to pull it free.  He looks at Ted who looks right
      through him.  Just then, the lights go out.  They're all in the dark.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              We, uh... Avis?  Call Municipal Light and Power and
              let them know I'll... stop by in a bit.

      Paul looks at Ted, embarrassed.  Ted finally lets go of the check.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Thank you.

      Ted shakes his head, gets up and walks out.

109   OMITTED                                                                      109

A109  EXT. "BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL" - NIGHT                                 A109

      Paul, seen through the window, sits alone in the dark.  His face lit only by a
      small flashlight, he is completely still.

110   INT. TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT                                                 110

      Tiffany on her headset with a customer.  Ted on the sofa, lost in thought and
      whatever's on the TV.

                                  TIFFANY
              There's nothing to be embarrassed about.
                        (a snide glance at Ted)
              A lot of people find talking to a psychic very
              therapeutic.  So what's on your mind, Carlos?

111   INTERCUT WITH: "BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL" - CONT.                        111

      An overwrought Paul is on the phone with Tiffany, sitting in the dark.  He's got
      his home phone bill in front of him.

                                  PAUL
              I have a situation.  My wife...  do you think it's okay to
              do something kinda bad to someone if you think
              they're gonna do something really bad to someone
              else?

                                  TIFFANY
              Sure.

                                  PAUL
              What if it's a really bad thing?

                                  TIFFANY
              Well, you probably shouldn't break the law if you can
              help it.  Are you really sure they're going to do this
              other thing?

                                  PAUL
              I'm... I... I don't know.  He said some things.  He said
              he was joking, but I... I think he might.

                                  TIFFANY
              Don't think, know.  How close are you to the other
              someone else, the one you're trying to protect?

                                  PAUL
                        (crying)
              I just, I just...  Have you ever felt like that?  Like your
              own life didn't even matter, as long as...

                                  TIFFANY
                        (touched)
              Listen to me, Carlos.  Your wife is an incredibly lucky
              woman.  I know, relationships are tough, but you do
              what you gotta do to keep it together, okay?
              Remember, love is sacrifice.

      Ted can't help but SNORT at the mention of this familiar phrase as he looks at
      Tiffany.  Tiffany glares back at him.

                                  PAUL
                        (sniffling)
              I guess you're right.

                                  TIFFANY
              Now you get tough.  And remember, this call is for
              entertainment purposes only.  Call me back and let
              me know how it goes.

      Tiffany hangs up and walks out.  Ted tries to catch her eye and let her know he
      was just kidding.  He can't.  She goes.

112   INT. PAUL'S CAR - LATER                                                      112

      Paul behind the wheel, a strange determined look on his face.  He appears be
      steeling himself for something.

113   INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME / MAIN AREA - LATER                                 113

      Paul enters, SLAMMING the door behind him as Raymond looks up from his
      porno magazine.

                                  PAUL
                        (blowing by)
              She's having sex with them.

      And with that, Paul disappears into the back bedroom.

114   INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME / BACK BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER                      114

      Paul sits, waiting.  After what seems like forever, Raymond walks in.

                                  RAYMOND
              Who's doing what?

                                  PAUL
              Margaret.  You know that Stockholm Syndrome
              thing?

                                  RAYMOND
              The movie?

                                  PAUL
              When you fall in love with your kidnappers.

                                  RAYMOND
              Get the fuck out of here.

                                  PAUL
              I went by there.  She was in the bedroom with the big
              one.
                        (quietly)
              Not the first time, either.
                        (a flash of panic)
              With other men, not kidnappers.

                                  RAYMOND
              For real?

                                  PAUL
              Her therapist.  And some guy she... hardly knew.

                                  RAYMOND
              Wow.  Sucks to be you.

                                  PAUL
              Shut up.

      Raymond, a momentary flash of anger, sits on the bed beside his brother.
      Paul does his best not to flinch.

                                  RAYMOND
              I always knew she was a fucking tease.

                                  PAUL
              Yeah.  Guess you were right.

                                  RAYMOND
              Well, you want my opinion...
                        (Paul nods)
              I don't trust her, Paul.  Never did.

                                  PAUL
              You think she'd... really mess things up?

                                  RAYMOND
              Only one way to make sure she doesn't.

                                  PAUL
              Not sure what you're saying?

                                  RAYMOND
              You remember that pooch Mom had?  Crazy little
              Jack Russel with the bladder infection?

                                  PAUL
              Whole basement stank.

                                  RAYMOND
              Nothing you can do but put the thing out of it's
              misery.  And yours.

                                  PAUL
              You... You sure, Ray?

                                  RAYMOND
              Trust me, Bro'.  Leaky dogs, crazy women.  Two
              things no man should have to live with.

      As Ray stands to go, Paul nods, his heart ripped apart for any number of
      reasons.

115   INT. BANK OFFICE - MORNING                                                   115

      Paul sits in the manager's office, signing forms.  A large BANK GUARD stands
      nearby.  The reason? One million dollars in hundred dollar bills neatly stacked
      on the desk.

116   INT. OUTDOOR CLOTHING STORE - DAY                                            116

      Paul, with his sack of one million dollars at his feet, is calmly trying on new
      winter coats with a CLERK.  He feels each one, checking the amount of
      padding.  He finally settles on a red full-length down parka.

117   INT. "BARNELL GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL" - LATER                                  117

      The lights are back on as Paul, wearing his oversized red parka comes
      through the front door carrying his sack of cash.  Avis looks up.

                                  AVIS
              Mr. Barnell?  I didn't expect you back today.  Nice
              jacket.

                                  PAUL
              Well... I am.  And Avis?

                                  AVIS
              Yes?

                                  PAUL
              You've been with me for five years?  Paul?  Can we
              make it Paul?

      Paul enters the back room, closes the door.  Avis walks over.

                                  AVIS
              Sure.  I just thought it was more professional when
              people were around to call you Mr. Barnell.

                                  PAUL (O.S.)
              Avis.  There haven't been any people in here for
              months.  No one comes in here, unless they're
              looking for pornographic movies or deep fried fish,
              neither of which we carry.  So you can call me pretty
              much anything you want and it won't impress the
              customers at all because we don't have any.

                                  AVIS
              Are you OK, Paul?

      Paul opens the door.  Avis is surprised to see billowing clouds of down floating
      in the air behind him.

                                  PAUL
              No Avis, to be frank I'm a little frazzled right now.
              Now could you get me some tape, my passport out
              of the safe and two open-ended tickets to Paraguay.

      Paul shuts the door.  Avis gets to work.

118   INT.  COFFEE ROOM - DAY                                                      118

      ARNITH and BILL, two city workers, sit sipping coffee at a cafeteria table.  The
      room is white, very clean and fairly new.  The men wear large orange overalls,
      their white construction safety helmets sit on the table beside them.

                                  ARNITH
              Trouble is the city keeps cutting us back and cutting
              us back.

      Raymond and Paul, wearing his big red parka, enter.

                                  PAUL
              Excuse me, are you Arnith?

      ARNITH sips his coffee, points to his name patch but doesn't look up.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Great.  I was told to give you this.

      Paul hands Arnith a folded form.  Arnith puts his hand out, forcing Paul to move
      the form to him.  As Arnith looks at it.

                                  PAUL (cont'd)
              Disinterment order.  Got it from the coroner's office.
              My brother didn't want to be buried.

                                  ARNITH
              How'd you know?

                                  PAUL
              Know what?

                                  ARNITH
              That he didn't want to be buried.

                                  RAYMOND
              He left it in a letter.

                                  ARNITH
              And you just got it now?

                                  PAUL
              Ya know, I don't mean to be rude here, but I'm not
              sure this is any of your business.

                                  ARNITH
              That's entirely possible.

      Bill stifles a LAUGH.  Raymond is about to tear out Arnith's spine.  Paul holds
      his brother back.

                                  PAUL
              I, I don't think this is anything to be flippant about.

                                  ARNITH
              I appreciate that, Sir.  But I'm on a union specified
              break right now, which means you are talking to me
              as a private citizen. Now as a private citizen I can
              pretty much say whatever I want to. If
               you talk to me in 15 minutes I can assure you, you
              will be afforded every courtesy as specified in the
              workers policy guide and recently ratified in our
              latest collective agreement dated --

                                  PAUL
              Sorry.  I'm just --

                                  ARNITH
              Trying to get your brother out of the ground. We
              couldn't be more pleased.  You've arranged for
              transportation of the remains?

                                  RAYMOND
              We're gonna take him to go.

                                  BILL
              See, now that's a problem.  We can't release the
              body into your custody unless you are licensed by
              the state to convey deceased persons.

                                  ARNITH
              Good point Bill.  Bill knows exhumation policy.  You
              can look it up but I'm betting he's right.  You come
              back with a bonded agent and we'll get right on this.

      Paul thinks for a moment, digs into his pocket pulls out five crisp, new hundred
      dollar bills and SLAMS them on the table.

                                  PAUL
              I'll give you five hundred dollars to go get him now.

119   EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY                                                         119

      A large back hoe TURNS OVER.  The muffler BELCHES a cloud of black
      smoke into the air.  Arnith is at the controls, expertly maneuvering the shovel
      end towards the unmarked grave.

120   INT. TRUNK OF PAUL'S CAR                                                     120

      Black.  The trunk lid opens as Bill and Arnith dump a well-wrapped body
      unceremoniously into the trunk.  Arnith and Bill look at each other.  Bill closes
      the lid.  Black.

                                  ARNITH (O.S.)
              There ya go Mr. Barnell.  Snug as a bug in a rug.
              Anything else we can get you?

121   INT. NICK'S STRIP BAR - NIGHT                                                121

      Ted sits at the bar beside Cam.  Ted, close to being drunk, plays with a book of
      matches as a STRIPPER struts to Tennessee Ernie Ford's version of "16
      Tons."

                                  CAM
              So... Miami, huh?  Can you believe that?  One little
              case and "boom", you're the flavor of the month.

                                  TED
                        (without a trace of sincerity)
              Congratulations.  Why are you here?

                                  CAM
              Say thanks.  I really owe you.  If you hadn't given me
              a shot on that--

                                  TED
              Forget it.  I'm trying to.

                                  CAM
              So we were all kinda wondering... what did happen
              to your face?

                                  TED
                        (beat)
              Car trouble.

      Ted gets up, a little shaky on his feet.

                                  CAM
              Should you be driving?

                                  TED
              Absolutely not.

      Ted gets up and walks to the door.

A121  EXT. NICK'S BAR - NIGHT                                                     A121

      Ted exits, a BLAST of Arctic wind and snow hits him in the face.  He closes his
      eyes, letting the cold run over him.

122   INT. PAUL'S HOUSE - NIGHT                                                    122

      Margaret sits at the dinner table, as Gary puts down an overly large serving
      plate of tuna casserole.  Jimbo walks in, takes a seat and a scoop full of food.

                                  GARY
              We set?

                                  JIMBO
              Yeah.  How you feel about the turnout by Summit Hill
              where the snowmobilers park?

                                  GARY
              Fine.

      They all dig in.  Gary looks expectantly.  Just the sound of chewing.  Finally, he
      can't wait.

                                  GARY (cont'd)
                        (to Jimbo)
              You like it?

                                  MARGARET
              Tastes like a rectal polyp.

      A long, protracted silence.  Then...

                                  JIMBO
                        (to Gary)
              How would she know.

      Gary CHUCKLES as he gets up for some ketchup.  Margaret stares at Jimbo,
      who gives her a "I'll-say-what-I-need-to-have-peace-in-this-house."  Margaret
      smiles, then discretely slides him the salt.  Jimbo quickly douses his food.

123   EXT.  PAUL'S HOUSE - LATE AT NIGHT                                           123

      Ted pulls up in front of Paul's home.  He stares at something that looks like a
      tree on the front lawn.  He looks closer -- it's a "For Sale" sign.

                                  TED
              Blowing town, are we, Mr. Barnell?  I don't think so.

      Ted staggers through the snow to the sign and drunkenly pushes it down into
      the snow.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              I'm not done yet "travel man!"  You hear me?!

      LAUGHING, he takes some matches from his pocket and tries to light the "For
      Sale" sign on fire.  It's no use.  He quits.  He's cold now.  He gets up and
      staggers back to his car.

124   OMITTED                                                                      124
125   OMITTED                                                                      125

126   INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME / LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER                       126

      Raymond, half in the bag, sits on the sofa.

                                  RAYMOND
              See, I could have had her.  We both know that, but I
              figured, she was such a... I mean, I don't know why...
              You know why?

                                  PAUL (O.S.)
              No.  You want a refill?

                                  RAYMOND
              Does a duck shit under water?

      Paul walks in with two glasses.  He hands Raymond the larger.

                                  RAYMOND (cont'd)
              Any trouble getting the bank to handle that much
              cash?

                                  PAUL
              They said it'd be in tomorrow by --

                                  RAYMOND
              Right, right, you told me.  Then all we have to do is
              get her and the thing... Hey, remember that time in
              school, when I jumped out and scared you, and you
              fucking pee'd all over yourself?

                                  PAUL
              Was pretty funny.
                        (raises his mug)
              Bottoms up.

                                  RAYMOND
              Okay, "Puddles."  Remember how they called you
              that?  Huh, "Puddles?"
                        (about to drink - then)
              Christ, what time is it?

                                  PAUL
              It's early.  Come on... ya...
                        (uncomfortably)
              ...pussy.

      Raymond LAUGHS, takes the drink.

127   EXT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME - CONTINUOUS                                        127

      A beautiful winter's night, the soft snowy silence broken only by Raymond's
      drunken shot of...

                                  RAYMOND (O.S.)
              Pussy!!!

      A startled rabbit scurries across the snow.

128   INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME / VARIOUS - LATER                                   128

      Raymond is passed out on the sofa.  Paul sits, gun in hand, the barrel pointed
      at Raymond's forehead.  His finger grazes the trigger...  but it's suddenly all too
      real.  Paul lowers the gun, takes a deep breath and tries again.  Not wanting to
      be sprayed by Raymond's gray matter, he half turns his head...  Another idea
      comes to him.  Paul picks up a plastic picnic plate to use as a shield from the
      blow back.

      He gets ready to fire again, then makes the mistake of looking at Raymond.
      Maybe it's the light... maybe it's the small puddle of drool on the cushion, but he
      looks almost angelic.  Paul stares at his brother.

      In the kitchen, Paul fills a glass with water, empties the pistol's bullets into
      The cup and hides it on the top shelf.

      Paul puts the gun back.  Not sure of his next move, he spots the beat up clock
      radio lying next to his brother.

A128  EXT. BARNELL HOME - MORNING                                                 A128

      Establishing.

129   INT. BARNELL HOME / BEDROOM - MORNING                                        129

      Margaret, still tied up, lays on top of the bed covers.

      Gary walks past, looks in, checks his watch, then heads to the bathroom.

      Margaret listens as Gary turns on the jacuzzi tub jets.  As he starts singing,
      Margaret sits up and scooches over to the phone on the end table.  Her hands
      tied loosely to her chest, she manages to dial by placing the phone receiver flat
      on the bed.

                                  JIMBO (O.S.)
              Gary!  You seen my shirt?

      Margaret looks over to see Jimbo, wearing Paul's pajamas, walking past while
      shaving with a portable razor.  As the line rings.

                                  JIMBO (O.S.) (cont'd)
              Aw jeez, again?

                                  GARY (O.S.)
              It relaxes me.  You know it has twelve different
              settings?

                                  JIMBO (O.S.)
              No Gary, I don't know that because every time I
              thought about using it someone was in it.

                                  GARY (O.S.)
              Hey, I do a lot around here.

      As they continue to squabble, the phone line connects.

                                  911 RECORDING
              You have reached 9-11.  All our operators are busy,
              but your call will be handled in the order in which it
              was received.  If this is a --

      Margaret, using her nose, hangs up.

132   INT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME / LIVING ROOM                                       132

      Paul, quiet as a mouse and dressed in his money-lined parka, picks up his
      cell and his car keys, drops them quietly into his pocket.  Just as he finishes...

                                  RAYMOND
                        (half asleep)
              What's going on.

                                  PAUL
              We're out of coffee.  But I'll be right back.  Still early.

      Not to worry.  Raymond has already rolled over.

133   INT. BARNELL HOME / BEDROOM                                                  133

      Margaret has just dialed another number.  It RINGS on the other end... And
      RINGS... And connects.

                                  MARGARET
              Paul?

                                  AUTOMATED VOICE (O.S.)
              The number you have dialed is no longer in service.
              If you think you have --

      Margaret disconnects the call, then dials again.

134   INT. TED'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS                                            134

      A woozy Ted is trying to keep Tiffany's phone from RINGING.

      Finally, he puts on the headset and hits a computer key.  It connects.

                                  TED
              Yeah?  Hello?  (coughs)  Hello?

      He hits a few keys on the computer keyboard.  The screen pops to life.  The line
      connects.

                                  MARGARET
              Oh thank fucking Christ.  Is Tiffany there?

                                  TED
              No, she's...

      He pulls off a yellow Post It note stuck to the computer.  It reads:  "Coffee made.
      Don't touch my computer.  Back in 10."

      Unseen on the computer screen beside him, the name "Margaret Barnell"
      pops up, along with all her pertinent information like pet's name, husband,
      delusions...

                                  TED (cont'd)
              She'll be back in a few minutes.  You want to try
              later?

                                  MARGARET
              Well you should know, fuck-wit.  You know there's a
              man with a gun in my shower, right now?

      Ted, distracted, turns as he hears the doorknob turning.

                                  TED
              Hang on, she's on her way --

      Finally he notices the computer screen.  Holy shit.

                                  TED (cont'd)
                        (tentatively)
              Mrs. Barnell?

      But before she can answer, Tiffany walks in carrying a laundry basket, pulls the
      headset off Ted's head and holds it up to her ear.

                                  TIFFANY
              I'm here, Margaret.  How you feeling today?

                                  TED
              Give me the headset.

      Ted grabs for the headset, Tiffany resists.

                                  TIFFANY
                        (to Ted)
              What is wrong with you?

135   INT. BARNELL HOME / BEDROOM                                                  135

      Margaret sits in the same position on the bed by the phone.  Gary, in the
      shower, belts out some SHOW TUNE.

                                  MARGARET
              Christ, where do you want to start?

136   INT. TED'S APARTMENT                                                         136

      Tiffany shoves Ted, who loses his balance and stumbles backward.  She puts
      on the headset.

                                  TIFFANY
              Sorry about that.  Mrs. Barnell?  Could you speak up
              a bit?

      Ted is at her side, trying to listen in by pressing his ear to the outside of the
      headset.

                                  TED
              What's she saying?

                                  TIFFANY
              Something about the gay mafia taking her to a park
              to kill her.  Can you hand me my Help Line list?

                                  TED
              What... Wha...

      Ted's throat seizes up again.  He stumbles to the kitchen, gulping water from
      the faucet. Tiffany watches with some amusement.

                                  TIFFANY
              Margaret, are you sure these are real people in your
              house?

                                  TED
              Find out where she...

      His voice locks up again.  More water.

                                  TIFFANY
                        (listening to a profane ramble)
              Well then it's a good thing you called.  Nope, not
              seeing any problems, but hang on, let me really
              concentrate.

                                  TED
              Ask her...

      Ted's not doing much better.

137   INT. BARNELL HOME / BEDROOM                                                  137

      Margaret hears the shower stop running.

                                  MARGARET
              Shit on toast.

      She hangs up, places the gag back in her mouth and hustles back into place.

138   INT.  TED'S APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER                                        138

      Ted, pulls on his boots and his jacket.  In his hand, an address scribbled down
      on a piece of note paper.  Tiffany watches, not happy.

                                  TED
              You're sure this is it?

                                  TIFFANY
              She specifically mentioned the cock-sucking turnout
              up the highway where the snowmobilers hang out.

                                  TED
              I'll call later.

                                  TIFFANY
              I won't be here.

                                  TED
              Excuse me?

      The phone RINGS.  Tiffany lets it.

                                  TIFFANY
              I know relationships aren't all sunshine and roses,
              but I'm really not having fun anymore, and I don't
              think you are either.

                                  TED
              God, now's so not the time, Tiff.

                                  TIFFANY
              Maybe you have to be like this right now, and I'm just
              not in a good space to deal with it.  But...

                                  TED
              But what?

                                  TIFFANY
              Maybe we shouldn't be like this together.

      Tiffany gives him that look every man who's ever crossed the line for the last
      time is all too familiar with.

      Ted stares.  Words fail him.  Finally, his only recourse is to hurry out the door
      which shuts with a BANG.  Tiffany lets the phone continue to RING as she
      stares at the door.  Sadly, she hits the computer key that picks it up.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              Psychic Buddies.  How are you Mr. Bennett?  I think
              she'd be fine with you remarrying, but hang on, let
              me concentrate.

      Ted opens the door, steps back inside.

                                  TED
              OK.  Come on.

                                  TIFFANY
                        (to Ted)
              Really?

                                  TED
              I've been cutting you out of my life and as a result our
              normal communication channels have been
              blocked.  I think you coming with me would... would...

      He's reaching, but Tiffany looks cautiously hopeful.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              ...further the development of our relationship and
              allow us to both... realize the potential of our...
              interpersonalism.

                                  TIFFANY
              If you're going to be sarcastic.

                                  TED
              I'm not being anything.  Swear to God.

                                  TIFFANY
              Okay.  Why do you want me to come?

                                  TED
                        (total sincerity)
              Cause if you don't, then I'll have to stay, and I'll be
              mad at you and eventually we'll break up over it, and
              as bad as my life is right now, that would make it a
              million times worse.

      Tiffany smiles, genuinely touched.

                                  TIFFANY
                        (into the phone)
              Mr. Bennett, she's totally cool with it.  but listen,
              you're gonna have to call back... I gotta go help my
              boyfriend.

139   OMITTED                                                                      139

140   INT. PAUL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS                                                 140

      Paul drives, smiling for the first time in a long time.  He listens to the
      beautifully wrenching Iz-Kamakawiwo'Ole's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
      on the radio.  (The music continues over the next two scenes.)

141   EXT. TED'S APARTMENT BUILDING - LATER                                        141

      Ted and Tiffany walk out to their car.  They sneak looks at each other, not
      entirely sure what emotional sign-post they just passed.

142   INT. BARNELL GARAGE                                                          142

      Gary and Jimbo, with Margaret, hands bound, walk into the garage.  Jodie (the
      dog) runs out after them.  Margaret looks at Jimbo, who takes the dog and
      gently puts him back inside.

143   INT.  TED'S CAR / CITY STREETS - LATER                                       143

      Ted and Tiffany drive in silence.  Then...

                                  TIFFANY
              Okay, it's called the listening game.  You talk, I listen,
              and I can't interrupt.  Then we switch.

                                  TED
              Doesn't sound like much of a game, but...  I can talk
              about anything?

                                  TIFFANY
              Yes.

      Ted smiles, and launches in...

144   INT. JIMBO'S CAR / CITY STREETS - LATER                                      144

      Gary leans into the backseat and holds a magazine in front of Margaret's face.

                                  GARY
              See the little box down there?  Lists all the
              symptoms of that Tourette's thing, and you don't
              have half of them.

                                  MARGARET
              And?

                                  GARY
              And?  And you're faking it.

                                  MARGARET
              Magazines don't prove anything.

                                  JIMBO
              Gary, can we just try and get there in peace?

                                  GARY
              Magazines prove everything!!

145   EXT. BARNELL MOBILE HOME                                                     145

      The residence seen from a distance.

                                  RAYMOND (O.S.)
              That little prick!!!

      As the camera rushes the mobile home, from inside comes the sounds of a
      very angry man.  Then, just as we're at the door, it SLAMS OPEN.  Raymond
      stands in the doorway, a mountain of anger in a hastily pulled on parka.

      He's holding the clock radio by the cord.  He checks his wristwatch, then
      smashes the clock radio against the trailer.

      Stalking toward his car, he checks the pistol in his side pocket, then, almost as
      an afterthought, opens the clip.  No bullets.  He smiles.

146   EXT. GLACIER - LATER                                                         146

      A not-well-frequented tourist spot, featuring an expansive, far-as-the-eye-can
      see carpet of white.  The road from the turnoff is about 200 yards long, leading
      to a plowed out parking area.  The road is the only way in or out.  Paul's car
      takes the corner and heads toward the parking area.

147   INT.  JIMBO'S CAR /  HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS                                    147

      Margaret in the back, Jimbo and Gary in the front.

                                  GARY
              You can't be serious.

                                  JIMBO
              I'm still not sleeping.

                                  GARY
              Jimbo.  Come on.

                                  JIMBO
              It's a thought, okay.  With hard work, you can live okay
              as a civilian.

                                  GARY
              After all this...

                                  JIMBO
              Yeah, after all this.

                                  GARY
              Don't you go soft on me, Jimbo.

      Margaret LAUGHS through  her gag in the backseat.  Gary and Jimbo pretend
      not to hear her.  They drive on in silence.

148   EXT. PARKING AREA - CONTINUOUS                                               148

      Gary and Jimbo's car pulls in, sliding to a stop beside Paul.

149   OMITTED                                                                      149

150   INT. TED'S CAR / HIGHWAY                                                     150

      Tiffany and Ted drive.  Ted has just finished.  Tiffany has been paying rapt
      attention.

                                  TIFFANY
              So this is kind of like a really weird "Law and Order"
              episode?

                                  TED
              Sure.  I guess.

                                  TIFFANY
              And if Paul Barnell already killed his brother...

                                  TED
              Maybe his wife is next.

                                  TIFFANY
              Cool.  My turn?
                        (Ted nods)
              Now a healthy relationship is...

                                  TED
              Hey, here we are.

      Ted takes the turnoff to the parking area.

151   INT. GUN STORE  - MOMENTS LATER                                              151

      A young, bored female CLERK (18) is behind the counter as the door CHIMES
      go off.  She looks up to see Raymond walking in, gun in hand.  Raymond lays it
      on the counter.

                                  GIRL
              Calibre?

152   EXT. PARKING AREA                                                            152

      Ted's car pulls up at the far end of the lot, about 200 yards from where Paul,
      Gary and Jimbo are parked.  Paul's car is in between Ted's car and Jimbo's.

      Paul gets out of his car, as do Jimbo and Gary.  Paul looks for Margaret in the
      back of Jimbo's car, but she remains lying down on the backseat.

                                  JIMBO
              Mr. Barnell.  I'll assume you've got our friend back
              there?

                                  PAUL
              Yes.  You can let her go now.

153   INT. TED'S CAR                                                               153

      Ted looks at Paul's car, too far away to see much.   He's about to get out when
      Tiffany stops him.

                                  TIFFANY
                        (gently)
              So, do you have a plan here?

                                  TED
              I'm gonna go talk to him.  You mind staying here?

                                  TIFFANY
              I guess.  So when do we call the cops?

                                  TED
              Soon as I... if he actually is doing... something.  I'll
              wave, alright?

      Tiffany gives him a quick kiss.

                                  TIFFANY
              That's a very good plan.

      Ted's about to jump out of the car, but has to pull back his door as another
      vehicle slides in beside them, the driver locking his brakes and sliding into the
      snow embankment.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              Tourists.

      Ted, a confused look on his face, looks over as Raymond gets out of his
      vehicle.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              What?

                                  TED
              That was...

                                  TIFFANY
              Who?

      Ted, too excited, fumbles with his seat belt as he tries to jump out of the car.

154   CORPSE'S POV: FROM PAUL'S OPEN TRUNK                                         154

      Black.  The lid opens.  Jimbo, Gary and Paul look in at the frozen body.  Jimbo
      recoils at the mangled mess before him.  Gary reaches down and touches the
      well-chewed body.

                                  GARY
              How do we know it's him?

                                  PAUL
              Come on!  Where would I get another one?

      Good point.  Paul hands him the ransom money.

155   OMITTED                                                                      155

156   EXT. PARKING AREA                                                            156

      Ted rushes up beside Raymond.

                                  TED
              Excuse me.  Aren't you... Raymond Barnell?

                                  RAYMOND
              I know you?

                                  TED
                        (confused)
              You're... You're dead?

      Raymond shoots him a look... Clearly this was taken as a threat.  Ted can't
      help but step back.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              That came out so wrong.

      Raymond sizes up Ted, then looks off to Paul's car.

                                  RAYMOND
              Go away, now.

      Raymond walks on.  Ted, realizing he has no choice, runs and jumps in front of
      Raymond, blocking his way.

                                  TED
              Okay, I don't know exactly what's going on here, but if
              you would come with me to my office, just for a few
              minutes, it would really help me out with my boss.

      Raymond steps around Ted.  Ted stays with him.

                                  TED (cont'd)
              Look, I'm not trying to screw with your life at all, but
              you can't just walk off with a million dollars and
              expect people to--

                                  RAYMOND
                        (stops cold)
              How much?

                                  TED
              See, your brother has, and I use this term carefully,
              stolen a million dollars from my insurance company.
              Now if we--

      Before he can finish, Raymond hits him with an elbow to the temple.  Ted
      drops to his knees, but even as Raymond tries to walk off, Ted manages to
      grab his ankle.

157   INT. TED'S CAR                                                               157

      Tiffany is busy fiddling with the radio, missing the fight just outside her window
      as she tunes in the Beach Boys "Wouldn't It Be Nice."

158   EXT. PARKING AREA / BY PAUL'S CAR                                            158

      At Jimbo's car, Gary is folding the corpse into the trunk as Jimbo pulls Margaret
      upright from the backseat and tugs down her gag.  She smiles at him as, with
      great care, he helps her out of the car and presents her to her husband.

                                  PAUL
              It's all over honey.  It's all over.  Did they hurt you?

                                  MARGARET
                        (smiling/whisper)
              Does food poisoning count?  Have you been eating?

                                  PAUL
              You know me when I get busy.

      She touches the bruise under his eye.

                                  MARGARET
              Did you fall?

                                  PAUL
              Just a little.
                        (to Jimbo)
              Hey, we're gonna get...

      That's when Paul sees what Jimbo and Gary are watching.

      Raymond kicks Ted in the head, turns, spots Paul and breaks into a run.

      Paul seems frozen, but just for a moment.

                                  JIMBO
              Who the hell is that?

                                  MARGARET
              Paul?

      Paul discretely takes off his red parka and drapes it over Margaret's shoulders.

                                  PAUL
                        (quietly)
              Honey, I need you to start walking to that hill over
              there, alright?

                                  MARGARET
              Why?

                                  PAUL
              I'll catch up in a bit.  Now, no matter what you hear,
              just keep going, alright.  And if I'm... late or
              something, just look in the coat, alright?

      Margaret nods, kisses her husband quickly on the cheek, then starts to walk
      off.

      Paul, Gary and Jimbo watch, transfixed at the down-parka'd shit-storm that is
      headed their way.

                                  GARY
                        (nervous)
              Jimbo?

                                  RAYMOND
                        (yelling)
              A million dollars, Paul!?  You really think you could
              take me?  Again!

                                  JIMBO
              What million dollars?

      Gary and Jimbo look over at Paul, somewhat confused. Raymond's ten yards
      out, and they can now see he's taken out his gun.  He's aiming it at Paul.

      Paul looks over his shoulder at Margaret, who's having some trouble making it
      up a snow covered hill.

      Gary's hand slips into his pocket, grabbing hold of his gun.  Raymond,
      oblivious, moves right past.

159   INT. TED'S CAR                                                               159

      Tiffany finally looks over at Ted, who's just getting to his feet.  She bursts out 
      of the car...

160   EXT. PARKING AREA / BY PAUL'S CAR                                            160

      Raymond reaches Paul, takes the gun and points it at the top of his head.
      Paul's eyes shut tight, expecting the worst.

                                  PAUL
              Raymond... please.

      But shooting your brother is tougher than it looks. Paul opens his eyes.
      Raymond tries to pull the trigger again, but can't. He moves the barrel six
      inches to the right and shoots Margaret in the back.  She drops face first into
      the snow.

      Paul's world ends.

      Ears RINGING, he rushes toward his wife.

      Jimbo can't believe it as Gary holds him back.

                                  JIMBO
              Hey!  What the fuck!!

      Raymond, a look of relief on his face, turns to Jimbo.

                                  JIMBO (cont'd)
              She had nothing to do with this!

                                  RAYMOND
              And you do?

      But even before Raymond can raise his weapon, Gary pulls his gun and gets it
      pointed (shakily) at Raymond.

                                  RAYMOND (cont'd)
              Oh put it down, Nancy.

                                  GARY
              You first.

                                  JIMBO
              Gary!  Just --

      Raymond drops his gun to his side.  Gary smiles, too happy he won the face
      off.

                                  RAYMOND
              You win, tough guy.

      Gary, trying to be cool, flips the gun to his other hand.  As he does-- BANG!  The
      bullet rips into the snow about six feet from Raymond's feet.

      Raymond glares at Gary.  So does Jimbo.

                                  GARY
                        (meek, apologetic)
              Sorry.

      Jimbo lunges for cover as Raymond FIRES back.  Gary, truly terrified, closes
      his eyes as he squeezes off shots on the run -- BANGBANGBANGBANG.

      One bullet bounces off Paul's car.  One hits Raymond.  With a quizzical look on
      his face, he drops to his knees.  A large crimson stain forms on his jacket.
      Everything goes quiet, except for the sounds coming from...

      Paul, almost crazed with grief, cradles his wife's body.

                                  PAUL
              Oh God... Oh Jesus...

                                  MARGARET
                        (muffled)
              Oh fucking hell... I can't... breath.

      Paul gently turns her over.  Margaret, alive, unharmed but winded, tries to catch
      her breath.

                                  MARGARET (cont'd)
              Paul...  Someone kicked me.

      Paul feels around the bullet hole and pulls out a stack of money, now
      embedded with the slug from the Raymond's gun.  He starts to weep tears of
      relief.

                                  PAUL
              Can you stand.

                                  MARGARET
              Is... The Pope... a...

                                  PAUL
              Okay, easy...

      Gary is behind the other car with Jimbo.

                                  GARY
                        (starting to lose it)
              He just, fell... Oh Jesus, oh God.

      Jimbo gently takes Gary's gun.

                                  JIMBO
              I know.

      As Jimbo puts an arm around Gary and helps him to the car, he sees Paul,
      arm around Margaret, coming their way.  Everyone stops.  A look passes, then
      both couples move off.

161   EXT. PARKING AREA - CONTINUOUS                                               161

      As Jimbo and Gary drive away, Paul brings Margaret to his vehicle.  Spotting
      Raymond, he walks over, kicks the gun away, then leans down.  Raymond's not
      dead, but he's close.

      Paul has to turn away.

                                  RAYMOND
                        (laboured)
              Look at me, you little...

      Paul turns back, not angry, not frightened, just a little sad.  Raymond, taken
      aback for a moment, tries for one last verbal shot, but all he can manage is...

                                  RAYMOND (cont'd)
              Puddles.

      And Raymond dies.

162   EXT. PARKING AREA - CONTINUOUS                                               162

      Paul turns back to his car when he spots a delirious, damaged Ted stumbling
      toward him with Tiffany desperate to drag him the other way.

                                  TED
              Where do think you're going?

                                  TIFFANY
              Ted, leave him alone.

                                  TED
              No, no, no.  I have been beaten, humiliated, had my
              head squeezed by a guy... and I am getting some
              answers, right now.

      Ted, barely able to stay on his feet (concussion) gets in front of Paul, and just
      stands there and waits.  Paul can't help but feel bad for the guy.

                                  PAUL
              Okay.

                                  TED
              Well go ahead.
                        (re: his left ear)
              I can still kind of hear out of this one.

                                  PAUL
                        (a long pause)
              I love my wife, Mr. Watters.  And when you love
              someone, I mean, really love someone...

      The punch hits Paul on the top of his head.  He stumbles back, but Ted is on
      him before he can move out of range.  It's a strange looking fight between the
      younger (physically spent) and older (emotionally drained).

                                  TED
                        (between punches)
              I want a fucking Hallmark card or the lyrics to a
              Foreigner rock ballad, I'll go to the mall, Mr. Barnell.

      Margaret and Tiffany jump in, trying to pull the two men apart.

163   INT. PAUL'S CAR - LATER                                                      163

      The car is still in the parking area.  Paul and a bloody, beaten Ted sit up front
      with Margaret and Tiffany in the back.  No one speaks, until...

                                  TIFFANY
              They call this the listening game.  Mr. Barnell, you
              get to go first.

      Ted glares at Tiffany, but her look instantly softens him.  Ted looks at Margaret,
      who looks expectantly at Paul.  Ted shrugs.

                                  TED
              Knock yourself out.

      Paul starts to talk, and Ted starts to listen...

164   EXT. GRAVEYARD - NOON                                                        164

      Arnith (the grave digger) walks to the side of a casket.  He hits the switch and it
      starts to drop.  Arnith watches impassively, taking brief note of two people up
      the hill before returning to his work.

165   EXT. GRAVEYARD HILL - CONTINUOUS                                             165

      It's Gary and Jimbo, dressed in black.  They watch silently as Raymond is laid
      to rest.

166   EXT.  TROPICAL BEACH - DAY                                                   166

      The sun beats down on a white sand tropical paradise.  The wind is calm, the
      water azure blue.  Perfection, except for the -- SNOW.  Big pure white flakes,
      cutting across this idyllic --

      Poster that hangs in a BOOK STORE window.  We are...

167   EXT. STREET / LIBERTY CAPITAL TOWERS - DAY                                   167

      Tiffany stares at her reflection in the window, her face transported to an island
      paradise.  Ted walks out.

                                  TIFFANY
              Hey.

                                  TED
              Hey yourself.

                                  TIFFANY
              So where you want to go?

                                  TED
              Somewhere close.  My three o'clock's been moved
              up.

                                  TIFFANY
              Cool.  You alright about everything?

                                  TED
              Yeah.  The life policy was written on his brother, and
              he did, you know, die.  I may be rationalizing a bit, but
              ethically I think I'm okay.

                                  TIFFANY
              Good.  I like it when you're okay.

      The two walk down the street.  Snow keeps falling.  Tiffany shuts her eyes,
      looks straight up as the gossamer snowflakes land and melt on her face.
      She's never looked more beautiful.

                                  TIFFANY (cont'd)
              Don't ya just love this weather?

      Ted stares at her.

                                  TED
              Learning to.

      Tiffany grabs his hand and pulls him away, disappearing into the whiteness.

168   OMITTED                                                                      168

A168  INT. BARNELL HOME / LIVING ROOM - DAY                                       A168

      Paul, sitting alone, reads a postcard from Margaret.

                                  MARGARET (V.O.)
              Pauly, know it sounds corny but I miss you so much!
              Wish you could have come.  Saw some dolphins
              today.  Frisky little buggers.  They were even playing
              our song in the bar.  Have been pondering about
              your question, and I think my answer is "yes."  After
              all, it's no fun in the sun without...

                                  MARGARET (O.S.) (cont'd)
              Paul, you ready?

      Paul looks up to see Margaret.  Dressed in a coat, she is standing in the
      middle of the living room, now empty save for a few boxes and a very ugly floor
      lamp.

      Paul flips Margaret's letter over, and we now see it is the faded Hawaiian Hilton
      postcard from the box in his den.

      Paul puts the postcard in a shoe box full of keepsakes, and tucks it under his
      arm.  Margaret picks up Jodie, whose in his carrying case, and walks over.

      A CAR HORN sounds from outside.  It's their cab.  As they walk to the door...

                                  PAUL
              How you feeling?

                                  MARGARET
              Pretty damn good.

                                  PAUL
              I can tell.

                                  MARGARET
              Can you?

      Paul takes her hand and gives it a squeeze.  They head out.

169   EXT. AIRPORT TARMAC - DAY                                                    169

      Snowing now, as various PEOPLE walk toward the aircraft and the portable
      stairs rolled to the door.

      Paul and Margaret among the crowd, exchange nervous but hopeful smiles,
      then they are lost along with the other pilgrims in the swirling white.

                                                                        FADE TO BLACK.

170   (CODA) EXT. DAVE'S HOUSE - DAY                                               170

      Dave and his WIFE (50s) walk out of their house toward their  car.  They get in,
      Dave behind the wheel.

171   INT. DAVE'S CAR - CONTINUOUS                                                 171

      As they pull down the driveway.

                                  DAVE
              Why don't we go there after?
                        (off her look)
              Fine.  We'll do it now.

                                  DAVE'S WIFE
              Watch the curb.

      Dave keeps backing up.  As he takes the corner and bumps over the curb, the
      momentum sends the half-eaten body (that Gary and Jimbo stuffed into the
      backseat) to an upright position.

      They drive on, oblivious.

                                  DAVE
              Looks like weather.

                                                                          FADE TO WHITE.