going to ask him on a date.
Dominick and Heidi laugh.
JAKE
No, someone paid that man to follow us--
HEIDI
Why?
JAKE
I'll tell you the longer story sometime, but by "take out" I mean "take down" or defeat him. Hopefully not violently. You two go back and play now, and remember to look only at the ocean.
DOMINICK
Okay.
He and Heidi go back to the waves that crash ashore.
JAKE
(to Vicki)
Please keep me in your peripheral vision.
He walks up the beach toward Valenti.
EXT. HOTEL--DAY
JAKE
How much does your boss pay you to follow me?
Behind a Caribbean beach-front hotel, Jake stands in front of Valenti. A hundred yards down the beach at the shore, Vicki sits on a beach towel and watches Dominick and Heidi play in the shallow surf and wake. Valenti replies with the accent of his native Italian.
VALENTI
The name is Valenti, and I accidentally noticed that the two others are following you. I'm just in town, on vacation, and it was too obvious to me that those hot ladies were sent to lure them away.
JAKE
You mean you don't work for anyone?
VALENTI
Correct, but I wanted to scare you into thinking I did. I'm a former spy. I could give you trouble.
He smiles mischievously.
JAKE
Ah, thanks for being candid with me, and I confess you did frighten me. But it's too bad for you that you can't actually give me trouble.
A shadow of regret and fear flashes across Valenti's face.
VALENTI
How did you--
JAKE
How did I know? I didn't, but your face just told me.
Valenti laughs, and wheezes, short of breath.
VALENTI
Ah, you played my own trick on me. I used to do that all the time.
JAKE
Listen, I'm in a hurry, and I think even my life is in danger, and I am not going to buy you off to protect me. Unless you do exactly as I say, I will kill you right here, right now, with my bare hands. Believe me I can, and you can't outrun me, wheezy.
Valenti laughs.
VALENTI
Ah well it was worth a shot. Save your family. You charm me so much I will ensure your safe departure, free of charge. Go.
JAKE
If you're playing stupid to make me think you're not a spy--
Valenti goes volcanic, and raises an arm as if to aim something at Jake. Jake kicks him hard in the balls. Valenti doubles up, falls to his side on the ground, groans in agony, drops the small silenced pistol which he got from his vest pocket, and grabs his crotch. He is bug-eyed and red-faced, and cries. Jake picks up the gun. Valenti manages a pained, wheezy, breathless plea.
VALENTI
Please--
Jake kicks him full-force in the ribs, and the blow knocks his breath out with an involuntary, funny, short operatic shout, and the blow also throws him flat on his back. Jake switches off the gun safety, cocks it, and aims at Valenti's shoulder. Valenti regains his breath with a sharp, deep, loud breath, and Jake pulls the trigger: ZRT! He winces from the kickback and squeamish fear.
He looks around. Other than his family and Valenti, no one is on the beach or at the back of the hotel. Jake aims at Valenti's head. No, he doesn't, because Valenti isn't there on the ground where he was.
Valenti stands beside Jake, and cries and laughs through his pain, still red-faced.
Jake turns and steps back, and aims the gun at Valenti's heart. Valenti holds his hands up, defenseless.
VALENTI
Ah, my friend! Please forgive me! My old ways. I use to get in such an incredible rage, back when. I am afraid that you have just seen it. You insulted my honor, but how silly of me, how could I know what you are to think? I deserve no respect from you. I just tried to--
JACK
(angry whisper)
Get on with it!
VALENTI
I am utterly harmless. You have played my game better than I. I will not harm you. Take my gun. Go.
JAKE
I have no compelling reason to trust you.
VALENTI
True. Except that I have accidentally gotten the attention of one of my old friends, who will emerge from that door
(nods to the Hotel exit)
to trap you within moments. You must aim the gun up in the air toward the beach, and pretend to laugh with me. I am red-faced because I am laughing, you see?
He takes up a hearty, chummy, breathless laugh.
Jake stares him down hard. Valenti's eyes show that he tells the truth, so Jake decides to trust him. Jake points the gun high into the air toward the beach. Valenti lowers his arms, raises his eyebrows at Jake to hint to him to play along, continues his fake laugh, and looks in the direction where Jake "Aims." Jake joins in the faked laughter.
VALENTI
Ah, wow! You remind me what an excellent shot I used to be! That duck will not go anywhere else soon!
They indulge in more faked, hearty, chummy laughter.
CATALDO LORI, male, Spanish-Italian, forty, stout, stocky, with a chummy facade over his cross cynicism, and in a fine suit, emerges from the rear hotel exit, and looks at them. Their backs face him.
CATALDO
What, what is it, my old friend? What is so funny?
Cataldo eyes Jake with greed and regret that he missed this prized hunter trophy. Jake and Valenti both notice it as Jake lowers the gun and they turn to him. Jake casually holds the gun down at his side. Cataldo eyes it, and fails to conceal his wariness.
VALENTI
Ah, what is funny? Why, the incredible aim and quick draw which my friend has just shown me. I challenged him to take down a bird, and--BLAM! Before I could even finish my challenge! He downed a duck! Just like an old Mafia quick-shot! I didn't even see the duck until it fell!
Valenti and Jake indulge in more mock laughter. Cataldo hesitantly joins in.
VALENTI
(to Cataldo)
But do you know what else is funny, my old friend? That I can still see that old Mafia greed in your eyes. It betrays you so. Why, right now, you are looking at my new friend as if he is a prize trophy which has escaped. Why is that?
Cataldo's face flashes alarm, and he takes a quick, deep breath and settles into an unreadable "poker face."
CATALDO
Ah, I am just disappointed he got a duck first. They are coming through, and I hope to get one.
Valenti genuinely laughs.
VALENTI
AH, but that is really funny. Because, you see--
Quick as lightning, Valenti raises a small silenced pistol and aims it at Cataldo's heart, then fires: ZRT! Blood spurts from a wound near Cataldo's heart. Valenti tracks his aim to the movement of Cataldo's head. Cataldo is shocked, and gasps in pain. His hand extends from his suit sleeve and drops a small silenced pistol to the pavement. He staggers back and leans against the wall beside the hotel exit, beside some very thick hedges, then slouches and slides down to the ground. Blood saturates his shirt and pants, and slowly pools under him.
VALENTI
We both know that nobody will find a duck near salt water unless they are lucky, and that there was no duck. I saw that gun hidden in your sleeve. You are after my prize, here!
Valenti gestures with his free hand to Jake, and speaks to Cataldo in a cold fury.
VALENTI
But you cannot have him! No! Why? Because--
Valenti cuts off as he hears Cataldo loudly gasp for air.
CATALDO
I saw the one in your sleeve.
He chokes, and coughs up a lot of blood.
CATALDO
I wanted to negotiate.
VALENTI
BULLSHIT! I know you! You never negotiate! You were going to try to trick my friend into losing his gun, and
then shoot me first!
Cataldo laughs, chokes, and coughs up blood.
JACK
Uh, should we call--
VALENTI
Only if you want your family to die. We have minutes, if we're lucky. Nobody sees this.
JACK
Okay, so can you stop with the ego-maniacal super-villain monologue?
Both Italian men laugh.
CATALDO
(to Valenti)
You know me too well indeed, friend. That was my plan. You've got me.
He nods to Jake.
CATALDO
Go.
VALENTI
(to Cataldo)
You were going to shoot me first! But not this time! No, I shot you first first!
JACK
I have to say, this monologue is getting more awesome by the minute.
Cataldo laughs hard, chokes, coughs, and gargles on more blood as he laughs.
CATALDO
You have given me an entertaining exit from this life, my friends.
JACK
I think he gets it. I'm leaving.
Jake walks away, down the beach toward his family. He ignores Valenti's rant.
VALENTI
No, he doesn't get it! He will never get it!
Valenti points with his free hand to Jake as he berates Cataldo. Cataldo takes a long gasp of gargled breath.
VALENTI
He was my prize, and I was first--
Cataldo coughs up a lot of blood, then takes a long, clear breath and stands up. Jake stops, disturbed, and turns his head a bit to listen behind him.
VALENTI
And he has reminded me of the Italian honor which I and my old Mafia friends--
Cataldo quickly raises his other hand--the one that we didn't prior see any gun drop from--and aims at Valenti. ZRT-ZRT-ZRT! Two spouts of blood spurt from Cataldo's chest, then one spurts out the side of
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