by James Cage
in his face. He breathes the coke in and is stunned for a second. He sneezes.
Jaime grabs a towel and wipes his mouth and nose. He opens a suitcase and pulls out a green surgical mask. He ties the mask over his mouth and nose.
Jaime proceeds to chop the bricks of cocaine. He makes twelve individual piles. He wraps the first pile in cellophane. He gets a white gym sock and pads the sock with a small sponge and cotton. He places the cellophane bag of cocaine into the sock and rolls it up. He mechanically repeats the procedure.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DAWN
TITLE CARD: THE NEXT MORNING - WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13, 1976
Jaime closes the trunk of his Chevy Malibu, walks around and enters the car.
INT. CAR - DAWN
Jaime pops two pills into his mouth and washes them down with a Coke. He places the pill bottle on the passenger seat.
INSERT
The LABEL on the pill bottle reads LOMOTIL.
NOTE: LOMOTIL is a mild opiate derivative that prevents diarrhea.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAWN
MOVING
The Chevy drives east into the mountains.
ANOTHER ANGLE
The lights of Guadalajara are seen on the Western plateau.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - TABASCO, MEXICO - MORNING
MOVING
Driving around the mountains, the car slowly passes a SIGN marking the town of TABASCO. Tabasco is a small, dreary town. There are MEXICAN PEASANTS on the side of the road, waiting at a bus stop. These men look like movie extras in films about Emiliano Zapata. Jaime pulls the car into a PEMEX gas station at the far end of town.
EXT. HIGHWAY - ZACATECAS, MEXICO - DAY
MOVING
The car continues the trip and finally comes out of the mountains into a town. A SIGN shows the town ZACATECAS.
The sun shines.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR - DAY
Jaime now drives the car wearing sunglasses.
The car passes a SIGN on the road, 54 NORTE. The drive continues through the flat desert. There is sparse traffic.
MUSIC by WAR plays from the car. "The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine, he drinks whiskey Poncho drinks the wine."
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - SALTILLO, MEXICO - DAY
MOVING
The car enters the city of SALTILLO. The traffic is heavy and driving is slow. There is steady highway traffic all the way into the larger city of MONTERREY.
EXT. PEMEX STATION - MONTERREY, MEXICO - DAY
Jaime pulls the Chevy Malibu into the gas station at the north end of Monterrey. A Gas Station Attendant fills the tank.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Jaime gets out, stretches and yawns. He takes off the sunglasses and rubs his eyes. He drinks another small Coke, while the car drinks gasoline. He looks at his wristwatch.
INSERT
The WRISTWATCH TIME shows 2:15 o'clock.
CUT TO:
EXT. FEDERALE PERIMETER CHECKPOINT - MEXICO - TEN KILOMETERS FROM THE UNITED STATES BORDER - DAY
The car is stopped at a Federale checkpoint. Jaime gets out of the car.
Jaime hands the FEDERALE a Mexican student visa, an American passport and his car documents. The big, fat Federale, authoritatively looks at Jaime's documents and ambles to the front of the Chevy Malibu. He checks the date on the Mexican car permit sticker at the driver side front window. Everything is in order.
The Federale peers inside the car and speaks to Jaime in Spanish.
FEDERALE
Andale pues.
Jaime gets going.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - NUEVO LAREDO, MEXICO - DAY
MOVING
The Chevy Malibu travels through the busy border town of NUEVO LAREDO and crosses the bridge into LAREDO, TEXAS.
CUT TO:
EXT. USA CUSTOMS STATION - LAREDO, TEXAS - DAY
The car idles in a line at the US frontier entry point. There are many cars and vans entering the USA at Laredo, Texas. In the adjacent car line, three Customs Agents are thoroughly checking a Ford van. A different CUSTOMS AGENT approaches Jaime's car. He is middle aged, tall and slightly overweight. He looks into the car.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Jaime rolls the window all the way down.
CUSTOMS AGENT
(Heavy West Texas drawl)
Get out of the car.
Jaime gets out.
CUSTOMS AGENT (CONT'D)
Driver's license and registration.
Jaime hands the Customs Agent his license, Texas car registration, American passport and Mexican Student Visa.
The Customs Agent checks these documents. He walks toward the back of the car.
Jaime opens the driver side door and exits the car. He walks around the front of the car to the other side. Jaime opens the passenger door. He reaches into the car and grabs a Coke from the bag on the floor. He opens the bottle, with his Swiss Army knife can opener. He takes a sip of soda. Jaime relieves tension by sipping Coca Cola.
CUSTOMS AGENT (CONT'D)
Open your trunk. Do you have anything to declare: fruits, vegetables, alcohol?
Jaime opens the trunk.
JAIME
I have nothing to declare.
The Customs Agent does a half-ass job checking the baggage in the car trunk. He does not open any luggage.
VARIOUS ANGLES
The Customs Agent turns and looks at Jaime.
CUSTOMS AGENT
When was the last time you were in Texas?
JAIME
About six months ago.
CUSTOMS AGENT
Are you carrying contraband?
JAIME
No contraband, just this Coke.
Jaime holds up the bottle of Coca Cola that he has been drinking.
CUSTOMS AGENT
(Speaking Slowly)
Get the fuck out of here wise-ass.
Jaime quickly finishes the coke and puts it in a garbage can. He gets back into his car. Jaime turns his head to look at the large clock in the Customs Station Office.
INSERT
The CLOCK shows 5:45 o'clock.
EXT. ROAD - LAREDO, TEXAS - MOMENTS LATER
MOVING
The Chevy goes down the road North, as the sun sets in the West.
CUT TO:
INT. BATHROOM - GRAND HOTEL LAREDO, TEXAS - EVENING
The extreme tension of the day has gotten to Jaime. He vomits into the toilet.
INT. BEDROOM - GRAND HOTEL - A SHORT TIME LATER - NIGHT
Jaime wears pajamas. He gets into bed. A nightmare begins.
FLASH CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT KITCHEN - BROOKLYN, NY - NIGHT
TITLE CARD: JERRY'S BAR AND GRILL BROOKLYN, NY - 1966
Jaime is seventeen years old. He sits on a kitchen chair. He wears an apron. The kitchen is clean, the dishes and glasses are properly in place. Jaime drinks a glass of milk. Everything is quiet and peaceful.
INT. BARROOM - MOMENTS LATER
The barroom is empty. A middle aged man wearing an apron wipes off the bar. He is Jaime's UNCLE JERRY. Uncle Jerry has snow white hair and is average height and weight.
The CLOCK on the wall shows 3:00 o'clock. It is 3 AM, closing time.
TWO LARGE MEN in casual dress quietly enter the barroom. Uncle Jerry turns and recognizes the men.
UNCLE JERRY
(Brooklyn Accent,Speaking Friendly)
Hey guys, what's up.
VARIOUS ANGLES
The Two Men draw revolvers and shoot at Uncle Jerry. Uncle Jerry quickly dives under the bar. He is not fast enough and one of the bullets hits him in the shoulder. He groans.
As the Two Men move around the side of the bar to kill Uncle Jerry, Jaime enters the barroom from the kitchen.
Jaime aims a double barrel twelve gauge, pump action shotgun at the Two Men. He unloads both barrels. There are two loud BLASTS. Jaime motionless, stares at the dead men. He has blown their h
eads off.
Uncle Jerry comes from around the bar. There is blood on his right shoulder. With his good left arm, he grabs the shotgun from Jaime.
UNCLE JERRY (CONT'D)
Get out. Don't ever say a word about this to anyone. I will take care of everything.
(Pause)
Thanks Jimmy.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - GRAND HOTEL LAREDO, TEXAS - DAWN
Jaime wakes up. He just shakes his head. He jumps out of bed and goes into the bathroom.
SOUNDS of a shower running water are heard off camera.
Jaime re-enters the bedroom. He is very slim. He has lost fifteen pounds since July. He dries his face and torso with an extra large towel. He looks at the towel.
INSERT
Written on the towel: GRAND HOTEL LAREDO, TEXAS.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY ROUTE 35 NORTH - AUSTIN, TEXAS - DAY
TITLE CARD: AUSTIN, TEXAS - THURSDAY OCTOBER 14, 1976
MOVING
The Chevy Malibu drives up ROUTE 35 into AUSTIN, TEXAS.
EXT. MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT - DAY
The car pulls into McDonald's.
VARIOUS ANGLES
Jaime walks from the car parking lot toward the entrance of McDonald's.
GUYS with cowboy hats, sitting in trucks with shotgun racks are eating hamburgers and drinking beer. A Country Music station plays Roy Orbison, "I feel so bad I've got a worried mind, I'm so lonesome all the time."
Three very pretty TEENAGED GIRLS in jeans and boots are walking into McDonald's. They are happy, having a gleeful conversation. One of the girls, a good-looking Blond about five feet eight inches tall, has a pair of well-endowed breasts. She smiles at Jaime.
Jaime nods his head and silently smiles back at her. He walks over to a phone booth.
INT. PHONE BOOTH - DAY
Jaime dials. SOUNDS of COINS are heard.
SOUND of RINGING.
ROB (V.O.)
(Midwestern Accent) Rob here.
JAIME
Rob this is Jaime. How are things in Cincinnati?
ROB (V.O.)
The Reds are in the World Series against the Yankees.
JAIME
That's great. Where's Tom?
ROB (V.O.)
Tom is in Chicago. Can we all meet there?
JAIME
No. I am not driving to Chicago. (Pause)
Today is Thursday. I'm in Austin, Texas. I'll make Little Rock by Saturday. I'll meet you and Tom, at the Ramada Inn on Highway 30 West at 2:00 PM. Make the reservation in your name, so I can call you at the motel.
ROB (V.O.)
OK, that's Saturday, October 16, 2:00 PM, Ramada Inn, Highway 30 West, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Jaime hangs up the phone.
CUT TO:
EXT. WAFFLE HOUSE - LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS - DAY
TITLE CARD: LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1976
Jaime stands next to his car in the WAFFLE HOUSE parking lot. He has the backpack on and holds a canvas gym bag in his left hand.
He walks to a phone booth on the side of the restaurant. He makes a call.
INT. PHONE BOOTH - LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS - DAY
SOUND of RINGING.
HOTEL OPERATOR (V.O)
Ramada Inn.
JAIME
Hello, can you please connect me to Mr. Rob Loesser.
HOTEL OPERATOR (V.O)
Yes, I'll ring him.
Phone RINGS once.
ROB (V.O.)
Hello.
JAIME
What's your room number?
ROB (V.O.)
Two fourteen.
Jaime hangs up the phone.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Jaime walks two long blocks to the Ramada Inn.
EXT. RAMADA INN - DAY
The motel building and SIGN, RAMADA INN are seen from the highway. Jaime walks through the parking lot of the Ramada Inn wearing his backpack and carrying the gym bag.
He enters the Ramada Inn from a side entrance. It is obvious that he is familiar with the hotel layout.
INT. RAMADA INN - DAY
Jaime goes up one flight of stairs, walks down the hallway and stops at Room 214.
DOORWAY
Jaime knocks at the door. Rob opens the door and lets Jaime in.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Tom sits on one of the twin beds. He sees Jaime and smiles.
Rob stands by Tom.
The television set is on. There is a campaign commercial that explains what a great guy Jimmy Carter is.
JAIME
Who's that guy?
TOM
That asshole is Jimmy Carter and he's running for President against Ford.
Tom walks over and turns the television off.
Jaime is tense but conceals it.
Tom and Rob are perfectly comfortable with Jaime. They think Jaime is an asshole.
JAIME
Here's the stuff.
Jaime places the canvas bag on a bed.
TOM
Have any problem at Customs.
JAIME
No. The Customs Agent barely checked the car.
Jaime opens the canvas bag. He removes a large sweater and places it on the bed. Next he pulls out a sock and puts it on the bed. He rapidly pulls out the remaining eleven socks placing each one in a row, across the twin bed.
Jaime replaces the sweater into the bag and zips it shut. He has his backpack on.
JAIME (CONT'D)
I had to chop the coke up and wrap it in cellophane, cotton and sponge. Then I placed the stuff inside these socks. It's all here.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Tom begins to check a sock. He puts his finger in and tastes the coke. He smiles at Rob.
Rob goes over to the closet and pulls out two stacks of one hundred dollar bills. He hands the bills to Jaime.
ROB
That's two thousand dollars.
Jaime does not show much emotion. He takes the money and places it into the gym bag.
Rob walks to the radio located between the two twin beds and turns it on. The station plays MUSIC by Jim Croce.
TOM
We are going to cut this stuff, and make it into four kilos. I have a guy in Chicago that will pay thirty grand a key.
Rob goes into the closet. He brings back a small scale and a jar that contains a white substance that looks like powdered milk. Tom places a sock on a table.
Tom and Rob put on green surgical masks.
ROB
Let's get to work and cut this stuff.
Tom puts a sock full of coke on one scale. Rob pours powdered milk onto the opposite side scale until the weights are equal. Tom empties the sock of cocaine into a mixing bowl. Rob pushes the milk powder into the bowl and mixes.
Jaime stands a short distance from them.
JAIME
I need to use the bathroom before I leave.
TOM
Sure, go ahead.
Jaime takes the gym bag and goes into the bathroom with his backpack on.
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Jaime places the canvas bag on the floor. He takes off the backpack. He removes a different sweater from the backpack. He pulls a 38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver and silencer from inside the sweater. He removes a baseball cap from the backpack and puts it on his head.
CLOSER
He screws the silencer onto the revolver. He aims the pistol at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
In the background the radio station now plays COUNTRY WESTERN MUSIC.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
BATHROOM DOORWAY
Jaime stands in front of the open bathroom doorway. He aims the revolver.
Tom and Rob are busy cutting cocaine. Their backs are shown.
VARIOUS ANGLES
Jaime quickly shoots Rob and Tom in the back of their heads. The silencer works but there are two large THUD SOUNDS when
Rob and Tom go down.
Jaime walks over. He shoots Rob in the heart. Then he shoots Tom in the heart.
Blood, brains and cocaine are spread across the room.
Jaime inspects his outer jacket for blood. He puts the gun on the bed and removes the jacket. He takes the sweater from the canvas bag and puts it on. He throws the soiled jacket into the canvas bag.
Jaime disengages the silencer from the revolver and places them in the canvas bad. He removes his backpack and puts it into the canvas bag. Jaime zips the bag shut. He goes to a desk and turns off the radio.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE - MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - NIGHT
TITLE CARD: MISSISSIPPI RIVER, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - SATURDAY NIGHT
The Chevy Malibu is parked alongside the Mississippi River. The BRIDGE is a few hundred yards to the north. A HOLIDAY INN is seen in the East.
VARIOUS ANGLES
Jaime gets out of the car. He walks to the riverbank. He carries the canvas bag. He removes the gun and silencer from the bag and flings them into the river. He walks down river twenty yards, removes the soiled jacket and throws that into the river.
Jaime walks a few more yards, removes the backpack from the bag and throws the backpack into the water. Finally the canvas bag gets launched into the muddy Mississippi river.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR - MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - NIGHT
Jaime turns the radio on.
RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O)
Tomorrow The New York Yankees play the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
Jaime presses buttons on the radio and changes channels.
MUSIC by The Eagles. "Don't let the sound of your own wheels, drive you crazy."
Jaime has a blank expression on his face.
EXT. HIGHWAY 40 EAST - MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - NIGHT
MOVING
The Chevy travels down HIGHWAY 40 EAST out of MEMPHIS.
DISSOLVE TO.
INT. JAIME'S HOTEL ROOM QUATTRO FONTANI - ROME, ITALY - JULY 4, 1980 - NIGHT
TITLE CARD: BACK TO PRESENT - ROME, ITALY JULY 4, 1980
Jaime sits relaxed. He lights a cigarette and blows smoke out the window. MUSIC plays softly on the radio. The song is by Steely Dan.
The phone RINGS. Jaime picks it up. It's THE BEAR.
THE BEAR (V.O)
Que paso Jaime.
CLOSER
Jaime, smiles slightly.
Steely Dan SINGS on the radio, "You go back, Jack, do it again. Wheel turning, round and round."
FADE OUT.