BOUND by Larry and Andy Wachowski FIRST DRAFT September 28, 1994 FADE IN: Inside a closet. It is a large closet with double doors, a crisp line of light cutting down through the center of the darkness. As we begin to descend, we hear a man's stern voice. MAN (V.O.) I know your type. Your type is dangerous. We move past a shelf filled with hat boxes and hand bags. It is a woman's closet. MAN (V.O.) You know how to act, how to pretend but all the time you're waiting, just waiting. We glide over the tightly packed hangers, close enough to feel the different fabrics and descend past the dresses to the racks of high heels. MAN (V.O.) I've told you before that there is no such thing as an ex-con like there is no such thing as an ex- alcoholic. We slide along the delicate taper of a stiletto heel and reach the bottom of the closet where we find a pair of black Doc Marten boots that are tied together with a white rope. MAN (V.O.) There are those who stay on the wagon, those who fall off the wagon and those who jump. We move up the boots and we see it is a woman that is bound, lying motionless on the floor of the closet, the rope coiling tightly around her wrists. MAN (V.O.) You? You're a jumper. The crack at the bottom of the door lights her face. She is gagged and unconscious, a trickle of blood running down her forehead. Her name is Corky. MAN (V.O.) Are you listening to me? CUT TO: INT. PAROLE OFFICE It is a small cramped office, manila folders piled everywhere. OFFICER You had better listen to me. At the desk is a large man with a serious expression on his face as he lectures. A patch on the shoulder of his uniform reads, "PROBATION OFFICER". CORKY I'm listening. Sitting across from him who we now see in full light, is Corky, a very butch looking woman with short hair and a black leather jacket. She is a lesbian and she wants people to know it. OFFICER Bullshit. Your kind never listens. I've seen that same look in a hundred different eyes. Every one of them looking for the same thing, dreaming about that perfect score. Corky looks down, examining her fingernails. OFFICER I can tell you right now what's going to happen. Something will come along. It always does and it will be irresistible. Like a wet dream. An office slogan behind her reads, "Play It Straight!" OFFICER It will hurt you day and night and tie you in knots. You'll figure it a thousand ways and when you think you know it inside and out you will jump. She does not look at him, but she hears what he says. OFFICER If you hear one thing in this office, hear this: no matter how smart you are, no matter how careful you are, you will fuck up. Corky looks up and eyes the man. OFFICER And when you do get caught -- INT. ELEVATOR Corky is standing against the back of the elevator as the doors begin to close. OFFICER (V.O.) This time it will be life. The doors begin to slide shut when a woman yells. WOMAN Wait! Hold the elevator. Corky pushes the "open" button. A couple steps into the elevator. His name is Ceasar, a middle-aged Italian, wearing an expensive suit and sunglasses. She is Violet; a piece of sexual candy that would melt in your mouth. From her tight dress to her high heels, she is on the surface, the exact opposite of Corky. Violet smiles at her. VIOLET Thank you. In his own world, Ceasar does not even see Corky. As the elevator begins to rise, Violet catches Corky admiring the curve of her dress. Corky does not look away, instead she stares straight into Violet's eyes. Violet stares back, a faint smile on her painted lips. It is awkward at first, the tension between them escalating. The doors "ding" and glide open. Violet slowly turns and steps into the hall just behind Ceasar. Corky follows them down the hall. INT. HALL They reach the door at the end of the hall. Ceasar opens it and enters. Just before Violet steps inside, she peeks over her shoulder and sees -- Corky look away. Violet smiles and steps inside. Corky checks the room numbers, stopping in front of the apartment next to the one Violet and Ceasar entered. She slides the key in and opens the door. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT It is later. All of Corky's tools are gathered in the middle of the living room. The apartment is cavernous and looks like someone recently moved out: cracks in the wall, picture hooks, hangers, and other discarded junk. Corky is on the phone. CORKY I looked over everything sir, and I don't think there will be any problems... yes, I checked the tub and I'm pretty sure I can rod it out. She suddenly turns when she hears something that sounds like a man moan. CORKY Yeah, I ordered the vanity. And you want latex eggshell on the walls, right? She looks at the blank white wall separating this apartment from Ceasar's apartment. CORKY All right, sure. I'm going to start first thing in the morning. She hears it again, a guttural sound. CORKY Thanks again for this opportunity, Mr. Bianchinni. Goodbye. She hangs up the phone and walks toward the wall. As she gets closer, we hear a bed rocking, tapping against the wall. The man's breathing grows more and more labored until finally it swells -- DISSOLVING INTO: INT. BATHROOM - MORNING The whining motor of a high powered drain-rod. The spiral cable whips wildly, spiraling deeper into the tub drain, black goo splattering everywhere. The machine is so loud Corky almost cannot hear someone pounding on the apartment door. Killing the motor, she stands and goes to the door. Behind the door is Violet, wearing jeans, a white T-shirt and cowboy boots. VIOLET Hi. My name is Violet. We sort of met in the elevator -- CORKY Yeah, sure. I'm Corky. VIOLET I heard you working in here and I just wondered if you'd like a cup of coffee? She is holding two cups of coffee: one black, one with cream. CORKY Sure. Come on in. Give me a minute. Violet steps inside as Corky goes back to the bathroom to wash off the drain dreck. VIOLET What happened to Rajeev? Corky calls from the bathroom, scrubbing her hands vigorously. CORKY Who? VIOLET Rajeev, the man who usually works on the building. CORKY Oh, he went home to India, but as far as I know he'll be back. She wipes her hands on her overalls, returning to the main room. VIOLET So this is temporary for you? CORKY Pretty much. One day at a time. Violet hands her the cup of black coffee. VIOLET I guessed you were straight black. CORKY Good guess. They both sip from the piping hot mugs. CORKY Mmmm... thanks, I needed this. VIOLET My pleasure... but to be honest, I did have a slightly ulterior motive here. I was wondering if I could ask a small favor? CORKY A favor? VIOLET Yeah, see, I'm kind of a night person, so I was wondering if it wasn't a terrible inconvenience if you could wait a bit before using power tools. CORKY Oh, I'm sorry -- VIOLET No, it isn't your fault. The walls here are just so thin. CORKY Are they really? VIOLET Yes, it really causes problems. Sometimes it's like you're in the same room. But if it's too much trouble, I understand... CORKY No, no trouble. There's other work to do. VIOLET You're doing everything yourself? CORKY Yeah. VIOLET That is so amazing. I'm in awe of people who can fix things. My dad was like that. We never had anything new. Whenever something broke he would open it up, tinker with it and it would work. His hands were magic. She looks at Corky's hands cupped around the mug. VIOLET Yeah... I bet your car is twenty years old. Corky smiles. CORKY Truck. VIOLET Truck. Of course. CORKY '74 Chevy. VIOLET I knew it. Violet sips. VIOLET So, how do you know the owner, Mr. Bianchinni? CORKY I don't, really. I was referred to him. VIOLET Oh, really. Corky suddenly feels she has revealed something. CORKY Do you know him? VIOLET No, but Ceasar does. He likes him. Says he's a good Italian. CORKY Ceasar is your husband? VIOLET Oh no, no. I'm not the marrying kind. Smiling, she says nothing else. VIOLET I should be going. You can drop the cup off anytime. CORKY Thanks. VIOLET My pleasure. Corky watches her leave. EXT. THE WATERING HOLE - NIGHT A dirty bar hidden away on a dark street, its cracked, moon white sign the only evidence it exists. A couple of large motorcycles are parked in front. INT. THE WATERING HOLE - NIGHT The smell of leather and cigarette smoke fills Corky's nose as she crosses to the bar. BARTENDER Well, well... Corky sits as the fat bartender waddles over. BARTENDER Been awhile, Cork. CORKY Five years, two months, sixteen days. How you doing, Sue? Corky puts a cigarette in her mouth and lights it. SUE Like shit. Now that we're all caught up, how about a drink? Sue opens the refrigerator and pulls out two Old Styles. CORKY Thanks. They click the bottles together and drink. SUE You got a job yet? CORKY Yeah. Some plumbing, painting and shit. Sue laughs. SUE I mean a J-O-B. A real job. CORKY Not for me, Sue. I'm straight and narrow. I'm just here to get laid or drunk and hopefully both. Corky gets off the stool. CORKY Thanks for the beer. Looking around, she sees a woman alone at one of the back tables. Through the smoky din, she bears a slight resemblance to Violet. The woman is dressed all in black, including a leather jacket. Smiling, Corky slides into the chair beside her. There is no one smoother. CORKY Hi. WOMAN Hello. CORKY You know... that outfit would look great on my bedroom floor. The woman smiles just as someone taps Corky on the shoulder. She turns and is face to face with a large bull of a woman in a heavy leather Chicago Police jacket. She is more wide than fat. WOMAN COP Hey, Jesse. What's happening here? CORKY Nothing... yet. WOMAN COP Who's this? Her coat opens as she puts her hands on her hips. A service revolver is clipped to her belt. She squints at Corky, her head nodding in recognition. WOMAN COP Wait, I know you. CORKY I don't think so. WOMAN COP I didn't know you were out. Corky smiles at the woman in black. CORKY When you get tired of Cagney and Lacey, come find me. She heads for the exit. EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT The neighborhood would be politely described as "rough." Corky parks her truck and gets out. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT It is a hole but it is home. Corky is lying on her futon staring up at the ceiling, a beer resting on her stomach; a folk singer quietly croons from the radio. We see the ceiling, a circle of light hovering over the small desk lamp. We move in on the spot, which slowly fills up the screen until there is nothing but the white light. Suddenly a wet paint roller loaded with white paint cuts a swath across the ceiling. MATCH CUT TO: INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky is painting the ceiling. The folk ballad has become an angry Riot Grrrl anthem. She is working hard, the roller sucking back and forth. Sweat covers her face. Dropping the roller down, she reloads it in the tray when the phone rings. She stops and answers it. CORKY Hello? Oh, hi, Mr. Bianchinni... yes, everything is going fine. I got the tub drain all cleaned out. She listens for a moment. CORKY What apartment? She glances at the main wall. CORKY All right, all right, I guess I could take a look. Yeah, you're welcome, goodbye. She hangs up and looks again at the wall, feeling... curious. INT. HALL Corky knocks and after a moment Violet opens the door. She seems surprised. VIOLET Oh no. Shit. I didn't know he would call you. God, you must think I'm a total nuisance. CORKY Not exactly. VIOLET I'm sorry, I usually would call Rajeev, but I didn't know what to do so I called Mr. Bianchinni. CORKY He said you lost something. VIOLET Yeah, come on in. She steps back and Corky walks inside. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Violet leads her through the apartment. It is expensively furnished with very masculine tastes; a lot of gray and black leather. VIOLET I was doing some dishes and just as I pulled the stopper my earring fell in. Corky looks at her blankly. VIOLET It's one of my favorites. That's why I got upset. I know it probably seems ridiculous to you. An eyebrow goes up. VIOLET I'm sorry, look, forget it. I shouldn't have called... CORKY I told Bianchinni I would take a look. Is it that sink? Violet nods. She opens the sink cabinet and pulls out a pair of channel locks from her back pocket. The teeth of the channel locks open and bite onto the pressure nut. CORKY Do you have a pot or a bucket? VIOLET Sure. She hands one down to her. Corky slides it under the curved pipe. As she works, Corky feels herself staring at Violet, at the hem of her dress curving tightly around her thighs. Water begins to trickle into the pan. The nut slides loose and Corky tips the trap. Water splashes into the pan with a soft metal "tink". VIOLET Did you find it? Corky fishes into gray water and pulls out the earring. Violet screams, a huge smile on her face, half falling as she tries to hug Corky. VIOLET I can't believe it! You did it! Corky leans back under and replaces the trap. VIOLET Thank you so much. You have to let me pay you something -- CORKY No. Mr. Bianchinni asked me to do it. I did it. Corky checks the drain by running the water. VIOLET If you won't take money, how about a drink? It's getting late. You can't work all night. Corky eyes her for a moment. CORKY Okay, one drink. VIOLET What do you want? CORKY A beer? VIOLET A beer. Of course. She smiles and turns to the bar. VIOLET Sit down. Corky sits on the black leather couch and Violet returns with two bottles of Heineken. Corky sneers. VIOLET Thanks again. They clink the bottles and swig. VIOLET You seem uncomfortable. Do I make you nervous, Corky? CORKY No. She looks at Violet, then takes another long pull on the bottle. VIOLET Thirsty, maybe. Violet smiles, her eyes again talking for her. CORKY Curious, maybe. VIOLET Curious? That's funny, I'm feeling a bit curious myself right now. Violet notices the tattoo on Corky's arm. VIOLET That's a great tattoo. She reaches over and touches it. VIOLET Beautiful labrys. Corky is a bit surprised that she knows what it is. She nods, rubbing it as if trying to hide it. VIOLET Are you surprised that I know what it is? CORKY Maybe. VIOLET I have a tattoo, would you like to see it? She moves closer, sliding over the leather cushions as she opens the front of her dress. VIOLET A woman in upstate New York did it for me. She is not wearing a bra. VIOLET Here. Do you like it? Set against the soft white skin of her breast is a bright green stemmed violet. VIOLET It took her all day to do it. She promised me it wouldn't hurt, but it was sore for a long time after. I couldn't even touch it. Corky looks up from Violet's breast to her dark eyes. VIOLET But now I love the way it feels. She runs her fingers softly over the slightly scarred skin. VIOLET Here, touch it. Corky feels the blood pounding in her ears as Violet takes her hand and places it on her breast. CORKY What are you doing? Violet looks at her. VIOLET Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to seduce you. CORKY Why? VIOLET Because I want to. I've wanted to since I first saw you in the elevator. Corky watches her, trying to figure her out even as her thumb presses into Violet's nipple. Inhaling sharply, Violet's eyes close, she can feel Corky staring at her. VIOLET You don't believe me. But I can prove it to you. She takes Corky's wrist and begins pulling her hand down her body. VIOLET You can't believe me because of what you see... She forces Corky's hand between her legs, up under her dress. VIOLET But you can believe what you feel. Violet opens her eyes, a wanton smile on her lips. VIOLET You see... I've been thinking about you all day. Corky's forearm flexes and Violet moans. With both hands, Violet takes hold of Corky's forearm. CORKY You planned this whole thing? Violet's head swims; she is unable to breathe. CORKY You dropped that earring down the drain on purpose, didn't you? VIOLET If I say yes, will you take your hand away? CORKY No. VIOLET ... yes. Now it is Corky who smiles. Violet shivers, her thighs rubbing, her hips thrusting against Corky's hand. VIOLET Please, Corky... please... Her eyes barely open. VIOLET ... kiss me. In a single motion, Corky takes hold of the back of her neck and covers Violet's open mouth with her own. With her hand still stuffed between Violet's legs, Corky lays her back onto the couch as the kiss becomes more -- More desperate, more hungry until -- We hear the front door unlock and open. CEASAR Violet? Violet's eyes pop open and she pushes Corky back. CEASAR Violet, you home? They scramble to compose themselves. VIOLET Yeah. In here, C. He comes around the corner and in the dim light sees the two figures sitting close on the couch. CEASAR What's this? He mistakes Corky for a man. CEASAR What the fuck is this? Violet stands as Ceasar barrels towards the couch. VIOLET I didn't expect -- CEASAR What the fuck is going on? Corky stands and turns, Ceasar suddenly realizing that she is a woman. CEASAR Oh, shit... VIOLET Ceasar, this is Corky. Corky, Ceasar. CEASAR I'm sorry, Christ, I thought... it's fucking dark in here. He reaches to the wall for the lights. VIOLET She is working for Bianchinni. Ceasar extends his hand. CEASAR Oh, right, right. Don mentioned that to me. Hi, welcome to the family. Corky shakes his hand. CEASAR You're helping Rajeev? CORKY No. Rajeev's in India. VIOLET She's doing the work herself. CEASAR No shit. Bianchinni hired you? You know he's a good friend of mine. Family, really. CORKY That's what Violet said. He looks at her as if he knows something. CEASAR So, you just got out? VIOLET Jesus, Ceasar! CEASAR What? It ain't no big fuckin' deal. I know who Don hires. Did you know he did time himself? Corky shakes her head. CEASAR Thirteen fucking years. See, there ain't no secrets here. Corky doesn't like this man. CEASAR How many you'd do? CORKY Five. He whistles. CEASAR Not bad. What for? VIOLET That's none of your goddamn business Ceasar. CEASAR You're right. You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to. I just hope you understand you're among good people here. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a thick fold of money and peels several hundreds. Corky stares at it. CEASAR Come on, come on. If you understand what I'm talking about you're going to take the money. If you don't, I'm going to have to worry about you. Corky takes it. Ceasar smiles. CEASAR Good. I hate to worry. I got ulcers. CORKY I should be going. CEASAR What? How about a drink? CORKY My brushes, I have to clean my brushes. Thanks though. CEASAR Another time. CORKY Sure. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Close on the paintbrush, Corky's fingers pushing through and separating the black bristles under the running water. When the brush is clean, she flicks it dry and resets the edge. She goes to the sink to wash her hands when she stops, noticing her left hand. It is the hand that was between Violet's legs. She is about to smell her finger when she sees herself in the mirror. CORKY What are you doing? She drops her hand. CORKY What am I doing? I'm fucking up, that's what I'm doing. She scrubs her hands clean. EXT. PARKING LOT It is late, the area burnished with amber street light. Corky walks from the building to her truck. She climbs inside and slides the key into the ignition when suddenly the passenger door opens and -- Violet gets in. Stunned, Corky stares at her. VIOLET I had to see you. CORKY Look, I don't think this is a good idea. VIOLET I wanted to apologize. CORKY Don't apologize, please. I can't stand women who apologize for wanting sex. Violet smiles. VIOLET I'm not apologizing for what I did -- She slides across the seat. VIOLET I'm apologizing for what I didn't do. She kisses Corky, and if Corky is trying to resist, we can't tell. The windshield is beginning to steam when Violet, panting, breaks the kiss. VIOLET Do you have a bed somewhere? Unable to speak, Corky reaches over and starts the engine. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT The sex. There is nothing flower-scented or out-of-focus about it. It is sweaty, slippery, body-grinding, bed-squeaking lesbian sex -- Pungent and potent -- And when it is over, neither woman can move. Finally, Corky's eyes flutter open. CORKY I can see again. Violet smiles. Slowly, Corky gets up and goes to the fridge. She grabs a beer and presses it to her sweating forehead. After a moment, she lowers it, gently pressing the cold can elsewhere. Eyes closed, she lets out a long "ahh". Violet hears the sizzle-pop of the beer as Corky returns to the bed. She holds the beer to Violet's lips and tilts the can, watching Violet's throat as she drinks. Violet's eyes open. VIOLET ... I needed that. CORKY Tell me about it. Corky hands her the beer as Violet sits up a bit. CORKY Ceasar's Mafia, isn't he? VIOLET You have to ask? CORKY No. VIOLET Funny, nobody calls it that anymore. Ceasar calls it "The Business". CORKY How did you meet him? VIOLET They took over a club I was working at. Ceasar started managing it. CORKY He's a launderer? VIOLET Basically. CORKY How long have you been with him? VIOLET Almost five years. CORKY Five years is a long time. VIOLET Yes it is. Corky stares at her beer. She knows what Violet is thinking. CORKY The re-distribution of wealth. VIOLET What? CORKY Isn't that what you wanted to know? What I did time for? VIOLET The re-distribution of wealth? CORKY That's what I tell someone when I'm trying to get them in my bed. VIOLET I'm already in your bed. CORKY My cellmate would say she did her time for getting caught. She was always more honest than me. Corky sips her beer. CORKY I started stealing when I was little. We were piss poor, which is not an excuse, just a fact. It isn't like her to talk about this, especially with someone she just met. CORKY The first time I remember so vividly. A bunch of us kids were at Waxman's Drugstore, when Mr. Waxman, who was a mean old prick, always worrying about us robbing him, dropped a roll of quarters. We can almost hear the coins tinkling on the tile floor. CORKY I can still hear that sound, those quarters, because right then something clicked inside of me. Some instinct took over and as everyone, including Waxman, dove down, I reached up and emptied the cash register. Violet smiles. She likes this woman. CORKY I gave most of the money to my mom. I told her I found it at the train yard. She was so happy she cried, calling me her lucky charm. Fifteen years later, I guess my luck ran out. She swallows that with beer. CORKY Sometimes I tell myself that I didn't have a choice, that stealing was surviving. Usually I can admit that's bullshit. I did it because it was a way out. It was easy and I was good at it, real good. She glances at Violet. CORKY I don't usually talk this much. I guess I have been rehabilitated. Violet laughs. VIOLET You didn't have to tell me if you didn't want to. CORKY I guess I wanted to. VIOLET I'm glad you did. CORKY So am I. EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY Corky gets out of her truck carrying her tools. Grinning like someone who has been well-laid, she whistles off to work. INT. LOBBY Between the main doors she sees a man. His name is Shelly and he is an over-dressed accountant. He is very nervous, talking to someone through the intercom. Shelly I know he's gone. Please. I have to talk to you. Fiddling with her keys, Corky recognizes the voice that answers him. VIOLET (V.O.) What do you want, Shelly? Shelly glances over his shoulder at Corky, answering in a hushed voice. Shelly I have to leave. Tonight. For a moment the intercom is silent. Then the door buzzes and Shelly pushes inside. Corky follows him to the elevator. INT. ELEVATOR Corky stares at Shelly like she is considering beating the crap out of him. She isn't sure why but she knows it would make her feel better. Shelly hides behind his sunglasses watching the elevator numbers go up. The doors open and he scurries out. INT. HALL She watches him enter Ceasar's apartment, her smile now completely gone. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT It is later. Through the wall we listen to the same sound as before of two people making love. We drop down and find Corky's brush, still wet with paint, abandoned in her tray. INT. BEDROOM Her face glistening with sweat, Violet climaxes, letting the orgasm spread through her like melting butter. VIOLET I had this image of you, inside of me... She flattens her palms against the soft cradle of her pelvis. VIOLET Like a part of me... As she opens her eyes, we see that her lover is Corky. Violet watches as she gets off the bed and begins to get dressed. VIOLET You are so beautiful. Corky does not answer as she yanks her pants on. Violet sits up. She can feel that something is wrong. VIOLET What's wrong? CORKY Nothing. Violet pulls the sheet around her. VIOLET Yes there is. I felt it this morning when I brought you the coffee. CORKY Shit, here we go. VIOLET You didn't want to see me, did you? CORKY If there is one thing I can't stand about sleeping with women, it's all the fucking mind reading. VIOLET What are you afraid of? CORKY I'm not afraid of anything. VIOLET I don't understand -- CORKY I know! You can't understand, because we're different, Violet. We're different. VIOLET We're not that different Corky. CORKY How can you sit in that bed and say that? VIOLET Because it's the truth. CORKY Let me guess. This is where you tell me that what matters is on the inside. That inside you, there is a little dyke just like me? VIOLET Oh no, she's nothing like you. She's a lot smarter than you. CORKY Is that what her daddy tells her? VIOLET I know what I am. I don't need to have it tattooed on my shoulder. CORKY What are you saying? That you don't have sex with men? VIOLET I don't. CORKY For Christ's sake, Violet! I heard you! Thin walls, remember? VIOLET What you heard wasn't sex. CORKY What the fuck was it? VIOLET All my life, everyone has been telling me that when I have sex, I'm not really having sex. Not real sex. But they're wrong. I know what is and isn't sex and what you heard was definitely not sex. CORKY What was it then? VIOLET Work. That knocks Corky back. VIOLET You made certain choices in your life that you paid for. You said you made them because you were good at something and it was easy. Do you think you're the only one that's good at something? Violet's stare pins Corky to the wall. VIOLET We make our own choices and we pay our own prices. I think we're more alike than you want to admit. CORKY What about that guy this morning? VIOLET You mean Shelly? CORKY Don't tell me, you're a workaholic. VIOLET No. Shelly knows what I am. He saw me in a bar with another woman. CORKY I suppose he just wants to watch. That's all Violet can take. VIOLET Fuck it! I think you better leave. CORKY I think so too. Violet turns away. VIOLET Try not to steal anything on the way out. That stings but Corky walks out without looking back. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT It is dark now. Corky is standing above the paint tray that has skinned over. She picks up the brush. It is dry with paint. CORKY Shit. She throws the brush across the room. EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY The rusty Chevy glides to a stop in a parking space near the service entrance. In its payload is a boxed bathroom vanity and sink. Corky climbs out of the cab and into the back, unhooking the bungy cords that hold down the boxes. She looks up as a black Lincoln Town Car screeches into a spot not far from her truck. Three serious looking men get out, leading a fourth, Shelly. He is the only one who seems to notice Corky. They enter the building, the door closing behind them. INT. BATHROOM Corky's legs jut out from the old wicker vanity as she finishes detaching its anchors and pipe work. She stands giving it a yank and pulling it away from the wall when voices begin to filter in from the next door apartment. She listens, a rising string of warbling sobs drowned out by an angry voice. ANGRY VOICE Shut the fuck up! You piece of shit! We hear a scream. ANGRY VOICE You're going to tell us! You're going to fuckin' tell us! just a matter of fuckin' time! Each sentence is punctuated with grunts and thuds. ANGRY VOICE Where is it? Where the fuck is it?! We begin to close in on Corky as she listens to each thud, watching something that disturbs her. ANGRY VOICE You shit! You piece of shit! With each thud the water in the toilet shimmers like a struck cymbal. As we move closer, the sound swells until -- MATCH CUT TO: INT. CEASAR'S BATHROOM Where blood splatters the toilet, heavy drops hitting the water and spreading like inverted mushroom clouds. ANGRY VOICE Did that hurt? News flash, fucko: I'm just getting started. The angry voice belongs to Johnnie Marconi. Shelly is kneeling in front of the toilet, hands tied behind his back with electrical wire. Johnnie Marconi is a flashy young man in Armani slacks, silk shirt and silver-tipped cowboy boots. His tie is tucked in as if torture were a fine dining experience. Ceasar and two other men are crammed in the small bathroom. JOHNNIE You got nerve trying to fuck us! Nobody fucks me! Nobody fucks my father! Nobody! Nobody! Shelly screams as Johnnie repeatedly rams his face into the toilet. CEASAR Whoa, whoa. Come on, he's making too much noise. JOHNNIE You hear that, bitch? Be quiet! CEASAR Here, put this in his mouth. Ceasar hands a towel to Johnnie, who stuffs it into Shelly's mouth. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Like Corky, Violet can hear the beating. She is trying to block it out but cannot. Standing at the bar, she runs the blender, grinding ice cubes, trying to drown out the sounds of the bathroom. The bathroom door opens. JOHNNIE Prick! I can go all night! All night! Ceasar steps out, shutting the door, masking the sounds behind him. Violet moves towards him. VIOLET Ceasar, I'm leaving. CEASAR What? Oh come on, I didn't use one of the good towels. The door opens again as someone else steps out. VIOLET Ceasar, I'm serious. This is too much. I have to get out of here. CEASAR Why? 'Cause you know him? She nods. CEASAR You women are so fucking sensitive. He takes hold of her. CEASAR But I don't want you to go. I like you here. You know this isn't easy for me either. He embraces her. Over his shoulder she sees Mickey Malnati in the hallway, staring at her. He is an older man, hair graying, built like a fire plug. Sinewy mass strains at his Brooks Brothers' suit. CEASAR Now, why don't you go watch some TV or something? MICKEY Are you okay, Violet? CEASAR Mickey, why is Johnnie here? You know how I feel about that fucking psycho. Mickey continues to stare at Violet, who looks up at him with her big, doe eyes. MICKEY Ceasar, didn't I tell you to get something? CEASAR Sure, Mickey. Sure. He goes to the kitchen. Mickey moves closer to Violet, lifting her chin the way a father would do to his little girl. MICKEY You shouldn't have to see this. Why don't you get out of here? Go for a walk. VIOLET Ceasar wants me to stay. MICKEY Don't worry about Ceasar. I'll handle Ceasar. You just get out of here, okay? She smiles. VIOLET Thanks, Mickey. Ceasar returns from the kitchen. He is holding a pair of tin snips. Mickey takes them. MICKEY Thanks, C. Now let's end this thing. Violet watches them return to the bathroom. INT. BATHROOM - DAY Mickey takes off his coat and hands it to a large man named Lou. He slaps Johnnie on the back. MICKEY Hey, Johnnie, ease up, okay. Johnnie hits Shelly once more. JOHNNIE Prick. Mickey kneels down next to Shelly's ear and motions to Lou who lifts Shelly's bound arms, holding his hand over the toilet bowl. MICKEY Shelly, I'm going to ask you ten times. You understand? Ten times. Mickey grabs Shelly's pinkie finger, putting it between the metal blades. MICKEY One. Where is our money? Shelly whimpers, red-faced and sobbing. There is a sick crunch and Shelly howls into his gag. His severed finger plunks into the toilet and floats to the bottom. INT. BATHROOM Corky can't stand it anymore. She throws her tools down, leaves the bathroom and finds -- Violet waiting in the main room. Both women stand apart in silence. Violet seems on the verge of saying something but doesn't know how to start. Her lip begins to quiver, her eyes search the room returning to Corky each time. The violence in the next room can still be heard. CORKY Violet? Are you all right? Almost unnoticeably, Violet shakes her bead. Corky puts her arm around her. CORKY Come on. Let's go. EXT. BAR An upscale bar in the same neighborhood. INT. BAR It is the kind of bar businessmen drink at in the afternoon. Dark wood and padded leather. Corky and Violet, the only women in the room, sit close together at a far corner table. Violet's voice is hushed. VIOLET Shelly was skimming from the business. He came to see me yesterday because he was afraid Ceasar figured it out. He wanted to run but he wanted me to come with him. CORKY Even though he knew about you? VIOLET Yes. CORKY He was in love with you, right? VIOLET That's what he told himself. But it wasn't even about me, it was about Ceasar. He wanted what Ceasar had. That's how they are. I understand them. She glances around the room; a man at the bar smiles at her. VIOLET For Shelly, taking the money was a way to take from Ceasar. He could have run at any time, but he didn't because he didn't want out. CORKY Sounds like he wanted to get caught. VIOLET Maybe he did. He would brag to me all the time. He was never afraid of Ceasar because he didn't know him. Not like I do. Two men sit down near them, laughing. VIOLET Ceasar lives for these moments. He tells me it's just the business but I know it's more than that. He likes it. The violence. I'll catch him in the bathroom mirror touching his scars. He says they remind him who he his. They're all like that. Except maybe Mickey. CORKY Mickey? VIOLET He's the part of the business that the rest of them pretend to be. But Mickey doesn't like it like they do. I suppose that's why he's good at it. Violet stares at her glass, at the melting ice. VIOLET I used to be able to block it out. I would tell myself that I wasn't really there so nothing really mattered. But I can't do it anymore. She downs the last of her drink. VIOLET I've been making the same mistake Shelly made. But now I know what I want. She turns to Corky. VIOLET I want out. I want a new life. I see what I've been waiting for, but I need you, Corky. CORKY For what? VIOLET You made a choice once. Do you think you would make that same choice again? CORKY What choice? VIOLET If those quarters fell to the floor, would you still reach up to that cash register? Corky stares at her, knowing where this is going. She glances around the crowded bar. CORKY Not here. We glide past a sign on a door that reads, "Women's Room". INT. WOMEN'S ROOM We move over the top of the far stall and find Corky and Violet. VIOLET Ceasar is going to get the money and bring -- CORKY How much money? VIOLET Shelly said it was over two million dollars. Corky quietly swallows that pill. VIOLET Ceasar will bring it to the apartment to count and go through Shelly's books to figure out how he did it. CORKY Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Do you have any idea what you are saying? You are asking me to help you fuck the mob. Violet nods. CORKY These people are serious, Violet. If you want to know how serious, ask Shelly. They're worse than any cop because they have lots of money and no rules. You fuck them, you've got to do it right. VIOLET That's why I need your help. You said you were good. CORKY I am, but... She knows Violet is challenging her. CORKY All right, let's say for the moment that I believe everything you are saying. VIOLET You think I'm lying? CORKY I didn't say that, but since you did, let's say that you are. It would have been easy to set Shelly up. You could have got him killed knowing that Ceasar would bring the money to the apartment. Violet stares, her face poker-blank. CORKY All you would need to keep yourself clean would be someone unconnected, someone like me. VIOLET Is that what you think? CORKY I'm just making a point. You have no idea what you're asking. How much trust two people need to do something like this. She moves closer to Violet. CORKY For me, stealing is a lot like sex. Two people that want the same thing sit in a room and they talk, they start to plan and it's like flirting, a kind of foreplay, because the more they talk about it, the wetter they get. She stops. CORKY The difference is, I can have sex with someone I just met, someone I hardly know, but to steal I need to know someone like I know myself. VIOLET Do you think you know me like that? CORKY I think... They are close enough to kiss. CORKY We're going to find out. Corky pulls back. CORKY But first, I want to see this money. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Violet springs from the couch as the front door crashes open, Ceasar charging in. He is doubled over clutching something to his stomach. He rushes to the kitchen dumping a bloody bundle into the double sink. There is blood everywhere, smeared up and down Ceasar's front. VIOLET Oh my god... Violet takes a step toward him unsure of what has happened. CEASAR Don't worry. It ain't mine. He pulls a bottle of whiskey and a glass from the cupboard. VIOLET Ceasar, what happened? CEASAR It was unbelievable! Un-fucking- believable! He pours himself a shot belting it back. CEASAR Goddamnit, look at this shirt! It's ruined! He begins unbuttoning the bloody shirt. CEASAR It started when Shelly took us to the money. I tell you, Mickey Malnati knows his shit, he does. Shelly takes us right there. He throws down another shot. CEASAR So Shelly's down on his knees and he's pulling out this bag of money from a safe in the floor and I'm staring at it like "holy fuck!" I mean look at it -- He tears open the bloody bag, wet money bricks spilling out. CEASAR And all I can think is how the fuck did he do this when -- Bang! Johnnie caps him. Blood sprays everywhere, all over the money. We've no idea if this is even all of it. Ceasar is exasperated. CEASAR And right then I go through the roof and -- Boom! I belt the dumb fuck as hard as I can. I didn't care who's son he was I just wanted to hit him again. Knock some sense into that dumb son of a bitch. He looks at the pile of bloody money. CEASAR Just look at this mess I got to deal with. VIOLET What are you going to do with it? CEASAR I told them to run it through the cycles. But I guess Gino has plans for it because he's coming here tomorrow night to pick this shit up. Searching through a sink cabinet, he can't find what he needs. CEASAR Where the hell's the laundry detergent? VIOLET Ummm... in the linen closet. Ceasar walks down the ball to the bathroom. Violet's eyes do not move from the pile of money. Corky seems to come from nowhere. She whispers. CORKY Come to my place in the morning. Early, okay? Violet nods. INT. CLOSET Corky's hands twitch, and then flex against the ropes that bind them. A reflex echoes through her body, muscles spasm and limbs jerk against their bonds. As if in a dream, she struggles trying to get free, fighting toward the edge of consciousness until -- She seems to succumb, slipping back into stillness. We move toward her face, her closed eyes as we again hear the voices in her head. VIOLET (V.O.) You're having second thoughts. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT - DAY Violet is on the bed, Corky at the window. CORKY ... no. She turns to Violet. CORKY You said he washed the money? VIOLET Yeah. CORKY Then what? Exactly. VIOLET He hung it up. CORKY What? VIOLET To let it dry. She begins to focus on the memory. VIOLET It was unreal... Moving in on her face. MATCH CUT TO: Benjamin Franklin's face on a hundred dollar bill. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Franklin's face rotates as we pull back seeing rows of bills carefully paper-clipped to lines of string. VIOLET (V.O.) Hundreds, paper-clipped everywhere like leaves. Eyes filled with green, Violet turns inside the laundry lines of money until she sees Ceasar. Wearing his undershirt, he is across the room standing at the ironing board, ironing every single bill. He seems to have one eye on her, one eye on his work. VIOLET (V.O.) Then one by one, he ironed all of it. He sprays starch across several bills and presses the steaming iron to them. CORKY (V.O.) Did he sleep? INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Violet is in bed, unable to sleep, listening to the machine-shuffle of Ceasar's bill counter. VIOLET (V.O.) No. But neither did I. We move past her, floating toward the wall. VIOLET (V.O.) All night long I listened to that sound. INT. OFFICE We drift across Ceasar's desk, past bricks of bound bills as Ceasar folds the paper tape around another stack. CORKY (V.O.) What sound? He hits the counter again and we hear the sound, now very loud as hundreds blur by, fluttering beneath us. VIOLET (V.O.) The sound of money. The sound rolls into thunder -- INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT That seems to shake the apartment. CORKY And where is it now? VIOLET In his office. I saw it this morning. INT. OFFICE Violet cautiously enters the office with a cup of coffee. Working furiously at the computer, Ceasar jumps when he sees her, bloodshot eyes animal wide. He checks his watch as she sets the coffee in front of him. VIOLET I need to go to the store. He nods automatically, back in his work, as she sees the briefcase filled with perfect rows of hundreds. VIOLET (V.O.) It's in a case, on his desk. CORKY (V.O.) Does the case lock? We see the open top with its silver flip-over locks. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT Violet is trying to remember. VIOLET Yes. CORKY Good. Corky begins to pace, ordering the information in her head. CORKY All right, now, tell me about Johnnie. VIOLET Johnnie? CORKY It sounded like he and Ceasar don't like each other. VIOLET Like each other? They hate each other. CORKY Why? VIOLET It started way before I was around. I think basically it's because he thinks Johnnie is a complete idiot. But Johnnie runs Chicago because Gino is his father. CORKY Who is Gino? Violet suddenly feels that she has made a mistake. VIOLET Gino Marconi. CORKY Marconi? As in Angelo Marconi, head of the Marconi family? VIOLET That's his brother. CORKY ... shit. Corky covers her mouth. CORKY Gino Marconi is coming tonight to pick up the money? VIOLET Yeah. CORKY And Johnnie is his son, that's Johnnie Marconi? VIOLET Yeah. CORKY Sweet Jesus. Eyes wide, she paces, pulling at her lip, mumbling. Suddenly she freezes as it clicks into place. She looks at Violet. CORKY It's perfect. She's pacing again. CORKY Gino Marconi is coming to your apartment. It's a big deal, isn't it? That means Ceasar will be ready. He doesn't want to look like an idiot. Gino has been there before? VIOLET Yeah, twice. CORKY What happened? VIOLET Not much, really. Ceasar was nervous, kept cleaning the apartment. The first time, he picked out the dress he wanted me to wear. Something occurs to Corky. CORKY Does Johnnie hit on you? VIOLET Johnnie hits on anything in high heels. CORKY Has Ceasar ever seen him? VIOLET He does it right in front of him. CORKY It's getting better and better. Keep going. VIOLET Gino doesn't know English, or at least he pretends he doesn't, so he doesn't talk much. He gets right to the point. Both times they talked for about five minutes, had one drink and then they left. CORKY What did Gino drink? VIOLET Scotch, Glenlivett. I remember that Ceasar made a huge deal about it. Corky smiles, the wheels rolling. CORKY All right... She turns from the window and gets onto the bed. CORKY I have an idea to make this work. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Violet is getting dressed, lining her lips with lip- pencil. CORKY (V.O.) You'll go back and get ready, take your time, make it real. As she works on her face we see the room behind her and the discarded dresses scattered about. CORKY (V.O.) The more attractive you are, the more believable it will be. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT Corky breaks her thought-train. CORKY What time did you say they would be there? VIOLET The plane is in at 7:00, so I'd say about 8:00. CORKY Any bodyguards? VIOLET Gino travels with a big man named Roy. Ceasar calls him the driver. CORKY Fine. INT. OFFICE Ceasar again checks his watch. CORKY (V.O.) At some point Ceasar is going to quit. I'd guess sometime around six, making sure he's got time to get ready. The watch reads 6:10. Ceasar rubs his eyes, his temples. INT. LIVING ROOM Violet is at the bar in a sexy dress and high heels. CEASAR Un-fucking-believable, what this guy did. Shelly is one smart-ass mutherfucker, I mean, he was one smart-ass mutherfucker. He laughs as Violet smiles handing him an enormous drink. CORKY (V.O.) As soon as he is done, you'll be right there to put a big drink in his hand. He takes the drink. CORKY (V.O.) We want him to come down, to relax, feel in control again. VIOLET Poor boy, has to work so hard. She gives him a woman's sympathy pout, he knows what it is, loves it anyway. Smiling, he slides his hand down over her ass. CEASAR You look good enough to eat. She smiles and waits for the kiss she knows is coming. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT Both women are starting to feel it, to believe it. VIOLET Where will you be? CORKY Waiting in the apartment next door. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky sits on the floor of the dark apartment. She has taken off her boots which are beside her. VIOLET (V.O.) Waiting for what? Through the wall we can hear the shower. CORKY (V.O.) For the shower. That will be our signal. Corky opens a thin box filled with needle-thin lock picks. She selects several and slips them into her multi-pierced ears like earrings. CORKY (V.O.) When he's done with his shower, you will go to the bar. INT. BATHROOM In slow motion Ceasar drops the shower plunger and water chokes from the faucet. INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Behind the bar, Violet pulls out the bottle of Glenlivett. CORKY (V.O.) You'll get out the scotch that Gino drinks. She steps out from the bar, her eyes on the bedroom when the bottle slips from her hands. We watch it slowly fall -- CORKY (V.O.) And as you do, the bottle will slip from your hands. And shatter against the hardwood floor. CORKY (V.O.) An accident. VIOLET Shit! Oh shit! Ceasar yells from the bathroom. CEASAR (V.O.) What happened?! INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Hearing Ceasar, Corky gets up, moving quietly toward the door. CEASAR (V.O.) V! What the fuck was it?! Violet? INT LIVING ROOM Ceasar enters, a towel wrapped around him, hair still dripping. CEASAR, V, what? You can't hear me? Violet looks terribly upset as she begins to clean up. VIOLET Ceasar, it slipped... I was trying to get ready... Ceasar realizing what happened. CEASAR Oh fucking Christ... You gotta be kidding me! He rushes at her. CEASAR Fuck! Fuck! How did you... Awwww goddamnit! VIOLET I'm sorry. It was an accident. She stands up. VIOLET Don't worry, I'll get some more. CEASAR There's no time. VIOLET Don't be silly, Ceasar. It'll take five minutes. She turns him back toward the bedroom. VIOLET I'll clean this up and be back before you're even dressed. INT. HALL Violet opens her door, stepping into the hall where Corky is waiting. CORKY (V.O.) When you open the door, I'll be there. They pass each other in silence, Violet stepping out as Corky slips in. VIOLET (V.O.) What if he sees you? CORKY (V.O.) He won't. INT. BATHROOM Ceasar finishes shaving, washing his face clean. His big drink is almost empty. In his reflection, he begins examining his scars. Through the open door we see Corky moving almost casually across the living room. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT Corky is looking for something. VIOLET You can't know for certain that he won't see you. CORKY Trust me, Violet. She finds a black duffel bag from one of her tool buckets. VIOLET I'm just asking, what if? CORKY If, he does... She opens a dresser and unwraps a gun. CORKY Then I won't have a choice, will I? She tosses the gun on the bed. INT. OFFICE The black case is lying on the desk, locked shut. Corky moves around the desk, dropping down behind it. CORKY (V.O.) When I'm inside, I will get the money. From her ear-lobe she chooses the right pick, sliding out the silver tool. It takes only a second and the first lock pops open. She is working on the other lock when the door is pushed open and Ceasar walks in. Corky drops down, grasping for her gun -- As Ceasar, wearing only underwear, enters. He looks around finding his cigarettes on the coffee table. The gun ready, Corky waits pressed against the desk until he leaves. She lets her breath out, then pops the second lock, unzips the black duffel bag and quickly empties the case filling the bag with fat money bricks. CORKY (V.O.) I'm going to need something... Finished, she zips up the bag and looks about. CORKY (V.O.) To fill the case. VIOLET (V.O.) Like paper? She sees several reams of blank paper hidden near the desk. CORKY (V.O.) Yeah, you should hide it near the desk before you leave. She fills the case, then closes it. CORKY (V.O.) At that point -- She thumbs the locks shut and they snap, unnaturally loud, into place. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT They are both on the bed. CORKY There is no going back. VIOLET When I get the scotch how do I know you won't take off? CORKY The same way I'll know that you went to scotch. Trust. Their faces are close, eyes still trying to read each other. VIOLET I still don't see how I'm going to get clean with the money in the apartment. Everyone will think I did it. CORKY Not Ceasar. VIOLET Why? CORKY Because of what you are going to tell him. You have to make it as real as you can. The moment you open the door with the scotch in your hand, you will be covered and that moment is the most important moment in the plan. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT The door bursts open. Violet enters quickly carrying a bottle in a thin brown bag. CORKY (V.O.) If it's real enough, he'll believe it because deep down he'll want to. VIOLET C! Shit, I'm sorry! Ceasar wanders out, tightening his tie. She looks at her watch. VIOLET They were early. CEASAR What are you talking about? VIOLET They just left, didn't they? CEASAR What are you, drunk? He smiles, grabbing the bottle from her. VIOLET You mean they weren't up here? CEASAR No! They're still on their way. VIOLET That doesn't make any sense. CEASAR Why? VIOLET Because I just saw Johnnie downstairs. Ceasar turns. CEASAR What? VIOLET I was getting out of the car when I saw him in the Mercedes. CEASAR It couldn't have been. VIOLET It was him. I'm positive. CEASAR It's impossible! VIOLET Ceasar, I know Johnnie. It was him. I screamed when I saw him. I couldn't believe I missed them. I knew you were going to be upset so I thought I'd apologize and give Gino the scotch. I honked a couple of times but he didn't stop. She watches him, her words caving in around him. CEASAR But Gino's plane doesn't get in for another half-hour. Violet thinks. VIOLET Actually, I didn't see Gino in the car. His eyes dart. His forehead beads with sweat. He turns toward the office. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT Violet is staring at Corky's mouth. CORKY If Ceasar hates Johnnie like you say, then the second he opens the case he'll know, in his gut, that Johnnie just fucked him. He'll realize that he has no choice. He can't touch Gino or Johnnie. There's only one way out. She pauses. CORKY He'll have to run. VIOLET If he runs, everyone will assume he took the money. CORKY You'll be clean and we'll be rich. INT. OFFICE Ceasar stands over the desk, afraid to open the case. INT. CORKY'S APARTMENT VIOLET Jesus, that's beautiful. CORKY Thank you. VIOLET If you're this goddamn smart, how did you ever get caught? CORKY Every job like this has moments where things don't go so well and everyone starts thinking about their own ass. It's in those moments that everything comes together or falls apart. She looks dead at Violet. CORKY I had a partner and she fucked me. VIOLET I won't. CORKY I think we're going to find out. INT. OFFICE The key turns and the locks pop. When Ceasar sees the blank paper, the whole world begins to spin. VIOLET Ceasar? His chest collapses onto itself while his hands ball into fists. CEASAR No no no no... She moves around the side of the desk and sees the newspaper. VIOLET Oh god... He slams the case shut, his head hanging down. After a moment he looks at her, like a little boy about to cry. CEASAR V... I've been set up. He seems ready to scream but can't say anything. VIOLET Johnnie? The name is like water hitting hot oil. CEASAR That fuck! That rat-fuck! Little shit rat-fuck! He starts punching the desk, each blow harder then the last. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky can hear him pounding. She looks down and smiles. Between her legs is the open bag stuffed with money. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Ceasar is choking on his own rage. VIOLET Why? Why would Johnnie do this? CEASAR Jesus Christ Violet! Open your fucking eyes! Johnnie hates me like I hate him! He starts to pound his fists against his own head. CEASAR I hate that little fuck! I hate him! I hate him! I should've done him! VIOLET But you know he did it? CEASAR So what?! So fucking what? Use your head Violet. The money is gone. Gino is coming here to get it. You think he's going to believe me if I tell him his piss-hole son stole it! Is that what you think? I don't. You know what I think? I think I'm a dead man. I'm one in the brain. That's what I think! VIOLET Ceasar, what are we going to do? He grabs hold of his chair using it to support himself CEASAR I know what he wants me to do. He wants me out of here. He wants me to run. She watches him, his body rocking against the chair. CEASAR If I run, then everyone will think I took the money and he walks away with two million clean. The words squeeze out like tears. CEASAR God, I can see him right now driving to get Gino. I can hear him laughing, fucking laughing, laughing at me. He swings the swivel chair over his head and smashes it down on the desk. Again and again. CEASAR Laughing at me! Laughing at me! The chair falls and he stands alone, covering his face to hide his tears. VIOLET C... She goes to hold him. CEASAR Don't touch me! He backs into the corner of the room. CEASAR Just leave me alone! I got to think! Violet watches him trying to wipe the tears and sweat from his face. CEASAR Got to think this through... VIOLET Ceasar, maybe we should run -- CEASAR Violet please! VIOLET I mean it Ceasar, forget Johnnie, forget the money, let's just go now, before it's too late -- CEASAR Goddamnit Violet! Would you just leave me the fuck alone! Please! Leave! Now! VIOLET All right, Ceasar. INT. BEDROOM Violet enters, closing the door quietly behind her. She looks at the wall, then goes to the bed and picks up the phone. As she dials we move along the phone cord, following it down to the jack in the wall. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT We move out from another jack, following a different cord. Corky is sitting with her back to the wall. The black phone beside her barely rings once before she answers. She waits, saying nothing. VIOLET (V.O.) It's me. CORKY What happened? INT. BEDROOM Violet whispers, her hand cupped over the mouth piece. VIOLET He totally freaked. I've never seen him like this. He's out of his fucking mind. CORKY (V.O.) That's okay, as long as he believes it was Johnnie. VIOLET Believes it! Jesus, it's driving him crazy. He wants to kill him. I don't know, Corky, I don't know what he is going to do. I'm getting nervous, really nervous. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT CORKY It's all right, Violet. It's working. All we got to do is wait him out and see what he does. VIOLET (V.O.) What if he doesn't run? CORKY That means he probably will kill Johnnie. VIOLET (V.O.) Oh, Christ, I got to get out of here! CORKY Listen, if he doesn't run, all you have to do is break down, go to your bedroom and pack some things, start crying, saying you love him but you can't do it. You're sorry but you have to leave and just walk out. INT. BEDROOM VIOLET Okay, all right. CORKY (V.O.) We're almost there, Violet. Just hang on. Violet hears him. VIOLET He's coming... She hangs up quickly just as Ceasar bursts in. CEASAR I got it! I know what I got to do! I got to get the money. VIOLET The money? The money's gone. CEASAR No. Johnnie's got it. All I got to do is get it back. VIOLET But it could be anywhere. CEASAR He didn't have that much time. He had to pick up Gino. I bet you he's got it with him. I bet it's in the car. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky presses against the wall, trying to hear. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Ceasar is pacing. CEASAR See, right now he doesn't know that I know, that's why he put the paper in the case. He wants me to hand the case to Gino. Then there is no doubt it was me. Gino will put a bullet in me himself. But it ain't going to happen. I won't let it! Johnnie ain't going to fuck me! Not like this! No way! VIOLET This is insane! She throws open her closet. CEASAR What are you doing? She grabs a suitcase from under the bed. VIOLET I'm leaving! This is crazy! I don't want to be involved. I don't want anything to do with this shit! She starts yanking the dresses from the closet. CEASAR You can't leave. VIOLET The hell I can't! CEASAR I need you... VIOLET Bullshit! You don't need me! You've never needed me! I can't help you! Understand?! I have to get out. CEASAR Violet, I won't let you leave. She turns and sees that he is holding a gun. CEASAR If you're not with me, Violet, then I have to assume you're against me. VIOLET Ceasar, this is crazy. CEASAR Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Maybe you dropped the scotch by accident. Maybe you didn't. Now it is her turn to feel the world spin. CEASAR It would have been so easy to let him in as you went out. VIOLET You don't, you can't believe that... CEASAR I've seen the way he looks at you. He's always wanted you. Maybe two million dollars finally bought you. She slaps him hard. He stares at her. CEASAR I'm sorry, Violet, but it has to be this way. He moves past her, picks up the dresses and returns them to the closet. CEASAR I hope you understand. I want to trust you, I want to believe you, but I don't have any other choice. He shuts the closet. INT. LIVING ROOM Ceasar is at the bar, drinking the scotch. The gun in front of him. Across the room, Violet sits staring holes through him. They wait in silence. CEASAR You sure you don't want a drink? Violet says nothing. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT In the dark, Corky sits, her face, her posture very similar to Violet's. She is concentrating, her mind somewhere else when the door buzzer sounds. She turns her head and hears Ceasar faintly answering the intercom. Corky stands just as -- INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Violet stands. Ceasar faces her for a moment, then shoves the gun into his belt behind his back. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky watches through the door peep as three men pass by. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT There is a knock and Ceasar opens the door. Gino Marconi is an old Italian whose face is a mask of irritated indifference. Roy, his enormous driver, is behind him. Ceasar smiles, greeting them in Italian with open arms. Johnnie is the last inside. He has tape over his broken nose. He smiles and hugs Ceasar. JOHNNIE You shouldn't have hit me. CEASAR You want to get into this now? JOHNNIE No, no Ceasar. Not now. He smiles again patting him on the shoulder, then throwing a fake punch. Ceasar sees Gino with his bright Italian smile, flattering Violet, kissing her. GINO Hey, Ceasar! You take care of this girl, or I find out! JOHNNIE You are as radiant as ever, Violet. As he bends to kiss her hand, she sees Ceasar watching them. CEASAR Glenlivett, right Gino? JOHNNIE I'll have whatever Violet's drinking. VIOLET I'm not drinking. JOHNNIE Then neither will I. This makes Violet very uncomfortable. VIOLET No, I'll have a Tanqueray and tonic. JOHNNIE Ceasar, make that two TNTs. Ceasar's hand shakes as he pours Gino's scotch. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Pacing in her socks, Corky tries to think through several possible situations. She stops, staring at the bag of money. The idea of it sitting out in the open suddenly bothers her. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Ceasar hands Violet and Johnnie a drink. He stares at her. She stares back. JOHNNIE Salud, eh. Roy, Violet, Pop, Ceasar. Ceasar watches Johnnie, suspecting everything he does. Johnnie reaches into his pocket and takes out a cellular phone. GINO No, Johnnie. No goddamned phones. Not now. JOHNNIE Pop? GINO Ceasar, come here. Sit. We talk now. You too, Johnnie. Each man sits on either side of Gino. GINO Ceasar, look at me. Johnnie tell me what happened. Ceasar, you gotta do me a favor, a personal favor. For me, eh? You gotta start respecting Johnnie the way you respect me. You understand? Good. Ceasar sees Johnnie smiling at him, but when Gino turns, the smile disappears. GINO And you, Johnnie. You gonna stop acting stupid. You gotta earn this respect that Ceasar's gonna give. You understand? Good. Done. Now, where's our money? INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky drops a hefty bag, knotted tight, into an open five- gallon bucket of paint. Pushing it under with a paint stick, the bag disappears, enveloped by the milk-white liquid. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Ceasar puts the briefcase onto the coffee table. Gino looks up at Ceasar, very serious, with his hand on the case. GINO We know how this was done, eh? CEASAR Yeah, I know. He looks dead at Johnnie. GINO It won't happen again, eh? Ceasar shakes his head. GINO Good. Gino throws down the last of the scotch. GINO Done. We go now. JOHNNIE Jesus Christ, Pop. You got two hours until your plane leaves. Gino checks his watch, shouting in Italian. Johnnie shouts back until Gino throws up his hands refusing to listen. GINO Ceasar! He gestures to his empty glass, then folds his arms leaning back. Ceasar gets the bottle. JOHNNIE So Ceasar, what did it total out at? CEASAR Two point, one seventy-six. Johnnie whistles as Ceasar pours Gino another scotch. JOHNNIE Unbelievable. Can you believe that, Violet? GINO Hey, Johnnie... In Italian tells him to shut up. JOHNNIE Come on Pop, all I want to know is one thing. Just one thing after he made such a big deal out of it. I bet it wasn't a big deal. Was it Ceasar? CEASAR What's that Johnnie? JOHNNIE The money. I bet it was nothing to get it clean, after you made such a fucking big deal... GINO Johnnie, what did I say? JOHNNIE Pop, this is important to me. It's a simple question. If he would just answer the question, that's the end of it. CEASAR Where is this going Johnnie? JOHNNIE Just admit it Ceasar. CEASAR Admit what? JOHNNIE That you over-reacted. That you lost it. Not me. It was your mistake. Ceasar sees it so clearly now. CEASAR All right Johnnie, you want to play it this way, I can play it this way. You want to know who made a mistake, why don't you open the case. VIOLET Ceasar... CEASAR Shut up, Violet! This is between me and Johnnie. He pushes the case toward him. CEASAR You want to do this now, let's do it. Open the case. Open the fucking case. Johnnie stares at him, feeling that something is very wrong. CEASAR That's right, I know. I fucking know. JOHNNIE Know what? CEASAR Open the case! JOHNNIE All right! Where's the key? CEASAR You don't need a key. He tries but it's locked. JOHNNIE How the fuck can I open it? CEASAR The same way you did before. JOHNNIE What are you talking about? Ceasar smiles and tosses the key onto the table. CEASAR There you go, Johnnie. He reaches for the key. Ceasar stands up and gives Violet his drink. CEASAR Get me another. He can see the fear on her face as she goes to the bar. Time drips. The key turns. One lock pops. Then the other. The case opens like a scream and Johnnie sees the blank paper. JOHNNIE What the... Before anybody can move, Ceasar whips around with his gun. Roy jumps off his stool, his drink crashing to the floor. CEASAR Don't! Don't fucking move! Nobody can believe what is happening. GINO Ceasar? What is this? CEASAR Ask Johnnie! Ask your rat-fuck son! JOHNNIE What the fuck? Ceasar levels the gun. CEASAR You don't think I'll do it, do you? JOHNNIE I think you're fucking crazy! CEASAR Where is it? JOHNNIE Where's what? CEASAR The money! JOHNNIE Ceasar, I don't know what you're thinking here, but if you don't put down that gun -- He stands up. CEASAR Sit down! He does. GINO Ceasar! CEASAR Gino, your son stole this money to set me up and I can prove it. Violet! She doesn't know what to say. CEASAR Tell them! Tell them! VIOLET For Christ's sake, Johnnie, do what he says. JOHNNIE This isn't happening... Boom! Ceasar blows a hole in the couch right between Johnnie's legs. Johnnie screams. CEASAR The next one blows off your dick. JOHNNIE You're a dead man! A fucking dead man! CEASAR Where is it? GINO Enough! Gino jumps up. CEASAR No Gino! GINO You aim a gun at me?! Do you know who I am?! I am Gino Marconi. You understand? He starts walking toward Ceasar. Roy moves around for a good angle. CEASAR Sit down Gino! GINO No, Ceasar, gimme the gun. CEASAR Stay away! He backs up as Gino walks straight to him. GINO We're family, Ceasar. CEASAR No! GINO Gimme the gun. CEASAR I can't. I can't. GINO Give it to me. He reaches up and takes hold of the barrel. Ceasar looks resigned as he shuts his eyes. GINO Good man. Close on Gino's hand holding the gun barrel as -- Ceasar fires. From behind the gun we watch Gino's grip yanked free, time melting away as he falls, blood bubbling from his chest, his eyes wide in disbelief. His body hits the floor and the room erupts. Roy dives, drawing his gun as Ceasar continues to fire, pumping the trigger. Violet drops behind the bar as Johnnie screams, falling toward his father. Blood spurts from Roy as two bullets hit, gun clattering and sliding across the floor. Johnnie lunges at Ceasar as Ceasar turns and fires, hitting Johnnie everywhere; blood and meat spray and speckle everything around him. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT The gun continues to fire as Corky clutches the phone whispering. CORKY This is an emergency! INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Crunched down behind the bar, Violet listens to the only sound, repeating in the unnatural quiet: Click. Click. Click. Rising, she peers over the edge of the bar. Ceasar is standing in the aftermath. His gun is still aimed at Johnnie as he pulls the trigger over and over. The bodies are still, blood silently pooling around them. Blinking the sweat from his eyes, Ceasar sees Violet. CEASAR I had to do it, Violet. You saw it. I had no choice. It was Johnnie. That lying fuck. He made me do it. He looks down at Johnnie, hate rising like bile. CEASAR You lying rat-fuck. You think you can set me up? Is that what you think? You stupid fuck. Kicking the body, be causes a series of sickening wet noises. CEASAR I'm a dead man? I'm a dead man? Guess again, fuckface. Who's dead? Who's the dead lying rat-fuck? Take another guess, take another fucking guess! He stops, panting, unable to catch his breath. Violet is afraid to even look at him. Blood creeps along the edge of the floorboards. Ceasar tries to clear his head, mopping the sweat from his face. He bends down and starts searching Johnnie's pockets. He finds his keys. VIOLET What are you doing? Lost in thought, he goes to Gino. Throwing open the coat, he sees the airplane ticket. He checks the times and then his watch. CEASAR ... maybe three hours. VIOLET Ceasar, what are you going to do? CEASAR What do you think we're going to do? We have to find the money. VIOLET What? CEASAR Once we have the money then none of this ever happened. VIOLET Ceasar you just killed Gino Marconi. CEASAR No I didn't. Not if his body disappears and not if the money is still here. Then they never showed up. VIOLET What happened to them? CEASAR I don't know. We may never know, but I'm going to guess it was a job, maybe the Karpola family. He smiles. CEASAR All part of the business. He picks up Roy's gun and stuffs it in his belt. CEASAR We just got to find the money. Once we do everything is going to be all right. In the distance the wail of a police siren can be heard. Through the window they see a squad car, lights blaring, roll up in front of the building. VIOLET Oh, no. He turns back to the carnage. CEASAR Fuck. VIOLET Ceasar, what are we going to do? CEASAR They're just cops. Stall them as long as you can. Ceasar flies into action. Hauling Roy's body up over his shoulder, he hurries to the bathroom and drops the body into the tub. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Standing near the bathroom, Corky hears the metal echo of the tub. Looking at her tub she imagines what he is doing. Through the wall, she hears the door buzzer. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT The buzzer sounds again as Violet sees him lift Gino's body. CEASAR Answer it! He rushes back to the bathroom, dropping Gino onto the other two. The three bloody bodies fill the tub. We see Johnnie's arm hanging over the edge as Ceasar snaps the shower curtain around, hiding them. VIOLET Hello? COP #1 (V.O.) This is the police, ma'am. She cuts them off using the intercom. VIOLET The police? Over her shoulder she sees Ceasar shoving the furniture, clearing the area around the heavy blood stains. COP #1 (V.O.) We had a report of gunfire, so if you could -- VIOLET Gunfire? Is this a joke? Violet sees Ceasar hurry to his office. COP #1 (V.O.) No joke, ma'am. Please open the door. VIOLET How do I know you are cops? INT. OFFICE Ceasar seizes the beautiful oriental rug and yanks it up, overturning furniture, dragging it out, he slams the door. INT. LIVING ROOM Violet looks at Ceasar, who is working with the calm, single-minded focus of a machine. COP #1 (V.O.) Ma'am, you have to open the door. VIOLET All right. She buzzes them in, as Ceasar throws the rug like someone making a bed, letting it fall and cover most of the blood. INT. HALL The cops are waiting for the elevator. After a moment, the door slides open. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Violet moves away from the intercom as Ceasar begins arranging the furniture on the rug. CEASAR Get me a wet towel. His words push her to the bathroom. INT. BATHROOM Stuffing a towel into the sink, she turns on the water. She does not even look at the shower curtain. INT. HALL The elevator opens and the cops step out. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Ceasar grabs the television remote, hits "on" and jacks the volume until it is obviously loud. Violet returns and he snatches the towel from her. INT. HALL As the two cops walk down the hall, they hear the television. They look at each other already knowing what happened. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Like a maniac, Ceasar wipes at any blood still visible until there is a knock on the door. He grabs Violet by the arm. CEASAR If you're thinking about doing something stupid, remember I just killed Gino Marconi. You understand what that means? She nods. VIOLET They're just cops. There is another knock, much louder. Violet goes to the door as Ceasar rips off his blood soaked jacket and shirt. He drops down behind the bar. Leaving the chain on, Violet opens the door. The cops smile. COP #1 See? We're for real. VIOLET I'm sorry, it's just you hear stories. COP #1 You did the right thing. Crouching, Ceasar wipes vigorously at the blood on his hands and face. Violet opens the door. Ceasar crams the bloody wad under the bar sink. Just as the cops enter the living room, Ceasar stands, looking comfortable in no shirt, with ice cubes in his hands. CEASAR Hey, hey, Chicago's finest. He plunks the ice into a glass and walks from behind the bar CEASAR How's it going tonight fellas? COP #2 Pretty good sir. Ceasar turns his head. CEASAR Huh? I'm sorry, I can only hear in this ear. The cops look at each other again. Wiping his wet hand on his pants, Ceasar shakes hands with each of them. CEASAR I'm Ceasar and this here is my Violet. They smile at Violet as Ceasar puts his arm around her. CEASAR Violet said something about gunshots? Violet sees the gun wedged in the back of his belt. COP #1 Yes sir, a neighbor in the building called in. COP #2 I think we know what happened. COP #1 It was probably just the television. CEASAR The television? He looks at Violet. CEASAR Honey, why didn't you say something? Turn it off. Violet walks across the rug and turns off the TV. CEASAR Fuck, this happened before. It's this shitty ear. Born with it. The batteries wore out in my aid. I'm sorry. COP #2 It's all right sir. COP #1 No big deal. CEASAR Hey, can I get you guys a beer? COP #1 Not on duty, sorry. CEASAR Oh right. COP #2 But, uh, would you mind if I used your bathroom? Ceasar's face tightens. CEASAR Yeah, why not? It's right there. COP #2 Thanks. He heads for the john. Violet watches Ceasar back up to the bar moving behind it. CEASAR I'm going to make myself a drink, if that's okay? COP #1 Go right ahead, sir. INT. BATHROOM Cop #2 enters, walking right past the shower curtain. We hear his sigh as he starts to piss. INT. LIVING ROOM Cop #1 walks onto the rug, looking around, turning to Violet. COP #1 This is a beautiful place. VIOLET ... thank you. She stares at his shoes on the rug. Watching everything, Ceasar takes a sip of his drink. He slips his gun out and holds it at his side. INT. BATHROOM There is a bulge in the shower curtain where we imagine Johnnie's arm is hanging. Slowly we slide down to the bottom edge of the plastic curtain, where a drip of blood forms and -- Plips into a small red spot on the white tile floor. INT. LIVING ROOM Close on the heel of the cop's black shoe, where we can almost see the blood seeping up through the oriental rug. COP #1 Is this a condo? Violet nods. Everyone turns when Cop #2 busts out of the bathroom. COP #2 Okay, let's roll. Cop #1 walks across the rug to the hardwood floor. He turns to Ceasar. COP #1 Try to keep the extra batteries for your aid around. CEASAR Good idea. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky hears the cop say goodbye to Violet. The door closes. She isn't sure what she should do. Over her shoulder, she notes the bucket of paint. She lets the cops leave. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Ceasar puts on a new shirt, the gun stuffed in his pants. CEASAR Let's go. INT. HALL - NIGHT They step out of the apartment, Ceasar jerking the door shut. As they pass by, Violet looks up to the door of the empty apartment, straight at the peephole. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky is pressed against the door, eye at the peephole. She sees that Violet is afraid as the two women seem to speak to each other with their eyes. CORKY ... shit. EXT. PARKING LOT Ceasar is on his knees searching under the seats of Johnnie's Mercedes. Unable to find the money, Ceasar is ready to snap. From the main doors, Corky slips out of the building. Hiding behind a column, she sees them across the lot. Corky moves behind the parked cars, the gun squeezed in her hand. Violet edges away, on the verge of running, looking toward the busy street. Standing, Ceasar pounds on the car. CEASAR Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! VIOLET Ceasar, some one could see us out here. Ignoring her, be tries to think. CEASAR Get in. Still too far from them to do anything, Corky sees Ceasar slam the trunk. CEASAR Get in! It's got to be at his house. That's the only other place it could be. Violet looks around the lot, looking for some way out. CEASAR Violet! Now! Corky can only watch as Violet gets in and the car rips away. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Alone, Corky stands over the bucket of paint. She kicks it with her boot-toe. CORKY Two million dollars, Cork... Two million dollars... She sighs, wondering how long she can make herself wait. EXT. JOHNNIE'S BROWNSTONE - NIGHT The Mercedes is parked in front. INT. JOHNNIE'S BROWNSTONE - NIGHT Close on Ceasar, as he rakes his sweaty hair back, his face knotted in torment. CEASAR Okay, I come in... He turns as if he just came in through the front door. We see Johnnie's home has been laid to waste. The furniture is broken, cushions split open, pictures shattered, holes punched in the drywall, even the carpeting has been torn up. Ceasar doesn't look much better. CEASAR I've got the money... Huddled in a corner, Violet watches him. CEASAR I can't wait to see the look on Ceasar's face when he finds out. Ceasar moves from the front door, trying to get into Johnnie's head. CEASAR Now I don't have much time... He takes a couple of steps into the room. CEASAR Got to put it someplace safe... He looks at a closet. It's gutted, searched 10 times already. CEASAR ... put it... A couple more uneasy steps and he looks at a large overturned rolltop desk. CEASAR ... got it... He starts looking around the room as if he is seeing for the first time that it is destroyed. He is near the breaking point. VIOLET C? His voice cracks. There is nowhere else to look. CEASAR Where did I put it? He explodes. A terra cotta lamp sails across the room. CEASAR Where's my fucking money?! Fucking cocksuckers! Where the fuck is it?! He smashes his forehead into the wall, denting the drywall. CEASAR Ow. He holds his head sinking to the ground. VIOLET C? She sits next to him, putting a hand lightly on his shoulder. VIOLET It's not here, Ceasar. CEASAR Where, then? VIOLET I don't know. it could be anywhere. We don't even know if he was alone. Please, Ceasar, we don't have much time. Let's get out of here. He knows what he has to do. Digging through the debris, he finds the phone. VIOLET What are you doing? CEASAR We're going to need some time. VIOLET Who are you going to call? Already dialing, he does not answer VIOLET Ceasar? Ceasar takes a deep breath, mustering composure. MICKEY (V.O.) Yeah? CEASAR Hey Mickey. VIOLET Oh god. MICKEY (V.O.) Ceasar? What the fuck time is it? CEASAR Mick, I know it's late, but there is a problem. They haven't shown up yet. MICKEY (V.O.) What? They ain't there? CEASAR No. I don't know where they are. I even called over at Johnnie's but no answer. MICKEY (V.O.) Okay. Let me call around. I'll see what I can do. Don't go anywhere, okay? CEASAR Okay, sure, Mick. MICKEY (V.O.) Ceasar, you still got the money? Ceasar looks at Violet. CEASAR Yeah, Mick. I've got the money. I'm staring right at it. MICKEY (V.O.) Good. Sit tight. I'll call you. He hangs up. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT Ceasar drags himself in. Violet closes the door behind them. Ceasar moves into the room where it happened. He is dizzy and confused and does not want to be here. Violet turns him around. VIOLET I'll start packing. You know what you have to do. She turns him toward the bathroom. He nods. CEASAR I can use Johnnie's car, dump it in Lake Michigan... I need plastic bags... tape and rope... VIOLET Just hurry. Nodding, he heads for the kitchen. INT. BEDROOM Violet enters and goes straight for the phone. She looks at the blank wall as she dials. VIOLET Please, Corky... The phone rings. When Corky answers, Violet almost collapses with relief. VIOLET Oh thank god. CORKY I'm still here. VIOLET I was so afraid you... CORKY You don't quit on me, Violet, and I won't quit on you. INT. KITCHEN A box of Hefty bags tucked under his arm, a coil of clothesline in his hand, Ceasar searches through several cabinets. INT. BEDROOM Violet glances at the door. VIOLET Corky, it worked! He's going to run. He needs to take care of the bodies to buy himself time, but as soon as he leaves, it's over. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky falls against the wall. VIOLET (V.O.) just a little longer and it's ours. She looks at the bucket. INT. KITCHEN Mumbling to himself, Ceasar walks out of the kitchen, heading for the bedroom. INT. BEDROOM Violet reaches out and touches the wall, as if she were touching Corky. VIOLET Corky, I have to tell you something... INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky turns to the wall. CORKY I know, Violet. I know. Her fingers gently touch the wall as we travel up and over where we see they are actually touching the wall in the exact same place. CORKY It's why I'm still here. INT. BEDROOM Suddenly, Violet hears Ceasar. CEASAR (V.O.) Violet? As he opens the door, she slams down the phone. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT The line cuts off. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Fear and panic paralyze Violet as Ceasar drops everything grabbing for his gun. CEASAR Who was that? He levels the gun at her. CEASAR Who the fuck was that? She stands and be rushes at her, grabbing her by the throat. CEASAR Was that Mickey? Did you call Mickey? Did you?! She shakes her head and he throws her on the bed. The gun aimed at her, he picks up the phone and -- Hits the re-dial. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Unsure of what happened, Corky hears the phone ring and answers it on reflex. Listening, she waits. INT. BEDROOM Ceasar listens, waiting as long as he can. CEASAR Mickey? Is that you? INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky hangs up, jumping away from the wall. INT. BEDROOM Ceasar hits the re-dial again. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Panicking, Corky doesn't answer it but as it rings very loud in the empty apartment, she realizes her mistake. INT. BEDROOM Turning slowly toward the wall, Ceasar hears the phone ringing in the empty apartment. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky rips the plug out of the wall. INT. BEDROOM The line goes dead. CEASAR Who is that? Who is over there?! Tell me! She tries to get away but he grabs her and slaps her to the ground. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Corky hears Violet scream and that does it. Gun in hand, she flies at the door. INT. BEDROOM The door to the empty apartment slams shut and Ceasar hearing it starts to run -- But Violet reaches out, catching his ankle, sending him crashing to the dresser. VIOLET Run! Just run! INT. HALL The door to Ceasar's apartment is locked. Corky falls to one knee, whipping two lock picks from her ear-lobe. INT. BEDROOM Ceasar raises the gun to pistol-whip Violet and she screams. INT. HALL Working the lock, Corky hears Violet's scream cut off. INT. LIVING ROOM Ceasar rushes towards the front door. INT. HALL Corky feels it click and rotates the cylinder. INT. LIVING ROOM He is almost there when he hears the lock snap open. He stops. INT. HALL Hearing something that sounds like footsteps, she stops. INT. LIVING ROOM Stepping quietly, he leans forward to the peep-hole. The hall is empty. Slowly we glide over the top of the door into -- INT. HALL Where we see Corky down low, pressed flat to the door, just under the scope of the wide angle lens. Separated by only a two inch thick door, they can almost feel each other's body heat. INT. APARTMENT Ceasar reaches for the knob, his fingers touching the metal sphere when -- It begins to turn. He pulls his hand back and seems to disappear. The door cracks open and Corky slips in, gun first. As she moves into the room we see Ceasar behind her. He puts his gun to her head. CEASAR Drop the fucking gun or die! Corky hesitates. CEASAR Drop it! She does. CEASAR Turn around. Rising from her crouch, she turns and he recognizes her. CEASAR You!? Holy fucking Christ! You gotta be kidding me? He starts to laugh when she strikes -- Knocking the gun, she punches him, slamming him back against the door as -- She twists, diving, grabbing her gun, just as -- He steps and kicks her full in the face. INT. CLOSET Still unconscious, Corky's head jerks reacting to the kick. We see the dried blood caked to her check where his kick split the skin. She is again swimming toward consciousness. We hear water splash, her face flinching as we move closer; the sounds and voices echoing. CEASAR (V.O.) Wake up! Come on you fucking dyke! We hear Ceasar slapping her. CEASAR (V.O.) Wake up! INT. BEDROOM Corky's face is dripping with water as her eyes slowly blink open. Coming into focus is Ceasar, standing over her with an empty glass in one hand. CEASAR Good. Except for the gag, she is bound as we have seen her bound in the closet. Ceasar yanks out his gun and puts it to her head. CEASAR I know everything now so I don't want to hear any "I don't know" bullshit, you understand? She sees Violet on the bed, also bound hand and foot. CEASAR God, I should have seen this coming! The second I met you I knew it. Everyone knows your kind can't be trusted! Fucking queers make me sick. The gun digs into her cheek. CEASAR But you tried to fuck the wrong guy. And I swear to you that I'm going to kill you for it. He thumbs back the hammer. CEASAR Where is the money? VIOLET Don't tell him -- CEASAR Shut up Violet! VIOLET He can't kill you -- He aims the gun at Violet. CEASAR Violet! VIOLET Not until he has the money! He fires and she jumps as the bullet punches through the wall behind her. His point made, he puts the gun back to Corky's head. CEASAR Now, where the fuck is my money? CORKY Lick me. CEASAR Where is it? CORKY Either pull the trigger or get that thing out of my face. Blood temperature rising again, Ceasar pulls the gun back and slaps her with it. CEASAR Stupid cunt! VIOLET Ceasar, stop acting like an asshole and think -- CEASAR Don't try to tell me what to do. VIOLET You need the money just like we do. CEASAR Shut up, Violet. VIOLET Let us go and we'll make a deal. He rushes at her, grabbing a fistful of her hair. CEASAR Shut the fuck up! He looks at Corky. CEASAR What did you do to her?! This isn't my Violet! He looks at her as if unable to recognize her CEASAR What did she do to you? VIOLET Everything you couldn't. He shoves her down. CEASAR You ungrateful bitch! You had nothing before I met you. You were nothing! He stomps around the room. CEASAR Who gave you this place? This apartment? He throws open the closet. CEASAR Who gave us all of this? I did! I gave you everything! I gave you this life! I made you, Violet. I saved you. He seems to believe what he is saying. CEASAR I saved you. VIOLET Ha! What a load of crap. Look at yourself, Ceasar. You're a thug. You launder money for the mob. You rent women like you rented this apartment. He doesn't want to hear this. VIOLET Saved me? You don't even know me. You used me Ceasar, just like I used you. All part of the business. CEASAR You betrayed me! VIOLET You murdered Gino! CEASAR I had to. You made me. VIOLET Bullshit, you killed him. Not me. You did it because you couldn't stand the thought of Johnnie fucking you. CEASAR Shut up! He slaps her. CEASAR Okay, you want business, I'll give you the fucking business. He leans closer. CEASAR I'm going to make you beg just like Shelly did. Just like Shelly! He storms out of the room. Corky looks up at Violet. VIOLET I'm sorry, Corky... CORKY Don't be sorry. Help me. She pulls at the ropes as Violet slides off the bed. INT. KITCHEN Ceasar throws open the broom closet and grabs the clippers that Mickey used to cut off Shelly's finger. INT. BEDROOM The two women are back to back, fingers working at each other's knots when Ceasar bursts into the room. CEASAR Oh, no no no. Grabbing Corky by the boots, he drags her and flips her so that she can now see Violet. He drops down onto Violet putting the clippers in front of her face. CEASAR Hey, Violet, you remember these? Her eyes widen with terror. She starts to scream when he stuffs a towel in her mouth. Laying against Violet, he turns to Corky. CEASAR I'm going to start with her so you'll get a good idea what's coming. He takes hold of Violet's pinky finger stretching it out. CEASAR I'm going to ask you where the money is. Every time you don't give me an answer, I'm going to cut off one finger. CORKY No. CEASAR When I reach ten, then I'll start with you. He puts the finger between the blades. CEASAR Where is the money? Corky sees Violet thrashing helplessly. She has no choice. Her mouth opens as -- The door buzzer rings. Ceasar is distracted, trying to think who it could be. CEASAR ... Mickey. He sees the phone, where he dropped it, lying off the hook. The door buzzer rings again, more incessant. Corky sees him momentarily unnerved. He looks back at her. CEASAR I said where -- He starts to cut and Corky screams -- CORKY No! I'll tell you! He stops, the door buzzing continuously. CORKY It's over there in the empty apartment. As she speaks the sound of the door buzzer changes. CORKY I put it inside one of the paint drums. He is not looking at her, listening, he realizes that Mickey is buzzing the other apartments. Ceasar stands as the buzzing stops. He pulls out his gun and aims it at Corky. CEASAR I promised I would kill you. He cocks it. CORKY You can't kill me yet. CEASAR Why? CORKY I could be lying. His hand starts to shake with frustration. He is beginning to hate this woman more than he ever hated Johnnie. Taking a deep breath, he eases back the hammer. CEASAR You're going to wish to god you hadn't done that. He kicks her again, snapping her head back. After he leaves, Violet looks over and sees Corky lying unconscious. INT. HALL Ceasar tries to open the door to the empty apartment but it is locked. CEASAR Fuck. At the end of the hall, the elevator "dings". Just as the door opens, Ceasar jumps back into his apartment. CEASAR Son of a bitch... His mind a racing blur, he locks the door and runs back to the bedroom. With another towel he gags Corky and drags her into the closet. In her pocket, he finds the key. He closes the doors then hangs up the phone. Grunting he hauls Violet up over his shoulder -- When there is a knock on the door. INT. LIVING ROOM Carrying Violet he hurries to the kitchen, where he throws Corky's gun into the freezer. Mickey is banging on the door as Ceasar heads for the bathroom. INT. BATHROOM Dropping Violet, he reaches behind the curtain and turns on the shower. CEASAR Mickey will get in. I know he will. We hear the water hitting the bodies while Ceasar starts tearing off his clothes. CEASAR Violet. I can kill you right now if that's what you want. If you want to live then you have to help me. I need you to make Mickey believe that everything is normal. He picks up his gun. CEASAR Tell me, do you want to live? She stares hard at him and his gun, then nods. CEASAR Good girl. INT. LIVING ROOM We move toward the door as the lock clicks open. INT. BATHROOM Violet's hands are untied. She pulls off the gag and the ropes at her feet. Naked, Ceasar sticks his head under the shower spray, wetting everything. INT. LIVING ROOM Still dripping, Ceasar walks out, a towel wrapped around his waist, another towel in his hand. Mickey and Lou are standing in the middle of the room. Ceasar jumps. CEASAR Jesus Christ! Ceasar holds his chest, laying it on a bit thick. CEASAR Holy fuck Mickey! You scared the shit outta me. He sees they both are holding their guns. CEASAR What is this? what are you two doing, sneaking in here with your peckers in your hands? You gonna do me, Mick? Is that it? Mickey smiles, putting his gun away. MICKEY No, Cease. There was no answer. CEASAR I thought I heard someone knocking. MICKEY I was buzzing, I was knocking, but I guess you couldn't hear me on account of being in the shower. CEASAR Yeah, it was Violet's idea. I was so wound up about Gino, she was trying to help me relax. MICKEY That Violet is one nice lady. Wish someone would help me relax. CEASAR Shit, Mick, come on in, let me get you a drink. Sit down, Lou. Behind the bar, he sets down the towel be was holding and we see the gun hidden inside it. INT. BATHROOM Violet watches through a sliver of open door, her mind already working. INT. LIVING ROOM Ceasar is making the drinks. MICKEY We was worried about you, Cease. CEASAR Me? Why? MICKEY We went over to Johnnie's place, just to check it out and it was busted up, Bad. Ceasar hands him a drink. MICKEY I started thinking maybe it's about the money so I call you but all I get is the busy signal. I figure the phone is off the hook, that's why I come rushing over here. CEASAR Oh Christ, the phone... That was a fucking stupid thing to do, wasn't it? MICKEY Hey, if Violet was helping me relax, I'd probably do the same thing. Mickey smiles as he sips his drink. INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT Violet stands and goes to the shower curtain. She reaches in and turns off the water. Steadying herself, she pulls back the curtain, exposing the wet, bloody bodies. INT. LIVING ROOM Mickey is looking at the furniture. MICKEY Cease, can I ask you something? CEASAR Yeah. MICKEY Why'd you move all the furniture around? The knot in Ceasar's stomach tightens. MICKEY Let me guess. That was Violet's idea too. He laughs, and Lou laughs with him. CEASAR Actually, yeah, she was nervous about Gino coming, wanted everything to look right. You know women Mick. MICKEY Sure Cease. They make us do stupid things, don't they. Ceasar smiles feebly. INT. BATHROOM Violet has pulled up Johnnie's body and is digging through his coat pockets, searching for something. INT. LIVING ROOM Mickey sees the briefcase still on the coffee table. MICKEY Is that the money? CEASAR Yeah, that's it. Ceasar puts his hand inside the towel as Mickey walks across the rug. MICKEY That fucking Shelly. I gotta hand it to the guy but Jesus if I were him I would have bailed a long time ago. I mean, how much money does a man need? Talking to Lou, be picks up the case and walks back, somehow moving right between the wet spots. MICKEY I remember I was just staring at all this goddamn money, Shelly down on his knees, and the next thing I know, Johnnie just blows his head off. He slaps the case up onto the bar. MICKEY What a fucking mess. Johnnie's laughing his ass off and that's when Ceasar lost it and -- Boom. He cold-cocked him. Fucking cold-cocks Johnnie Marconi. He thumbs the latches but the case is still locked. MICKEY Hey, Ceasar, where's the key? CEASAR The key, yeah, the key's in my pants in the bathroom. MICKEY Fuck it, I don't need the key. Ceasar takes the smallest breath. MICKEY I didn't need a key to get in here, did I? He pulls out a lock-pick and starts working the lock. The muscles in Ceasar's forearm bulge as he tightly squeezes his gun. He is slipping toward that same desperate choice. He is going to attack when -- Across the room, the phone rings. Everyone looks at it. MICKEY Who the hell could that be? The phone is near the couch. Ceasar doesn't want to let go of the gun. The phone continues to ring. MICKEY You gonna answer it? INT. BATHROOM Violet has Johnnie's cellular phone. Watching through the cracked door, Violet sees Ceasar cross to answer the phone. CEASAR (V.O.) Hello? VIOLET Hello, Ceasar. This is Gino. Ceasar looks toward the bathroom. CEASAR (V.O.) What? VIOLET You're blowing your only chance. Act like I'm Gino. INT. LIVING ROOM Ceasar's eyes light up. CEASAR Holy shit, I don't believe it! We've been going crazy over here, Gino! VIOLET (V.O.) Good boy. Mickey jumps up. CEASAR It's Gino! It's Gino! MICKEY Where in the hell is he? INT. BATHROOM VIOLET We were in a car accident -- CEASAR (V.O.) They were in a car accident. VIOLET But everybody is all right. INT. LIVING ROOM CEASAR They're all fine. Just bruises and shit. VIOLET (V.O.) Now you listen to me, asshole, I know your gun is behind the bar... MICKEY Un-fucking-believable. I called those highway patrol dumb fucks. CEASAR Ssh! I can't hear Gino! VIOLET (V.O.) We make a deal or I come out and hand this phone to Mickey. CEASAR I'm listening. INT. BATHROOM Violet has her robe over her dress, wrapping her hair in a towel, making sure the bruise on her forehead is hidden. VIOLET I want what's mine, half the money. We get rid of Mickey, no one else dies. No one. Say yes, I understand. CEASAR (V.O.) Yes, I understand. VIOLET Tell them I'm at St. Mary's off the Kennedy, in the waiting room, but stay on the phone until I come out. CEASAR (V.O.) Sure Gino, sure. INT. LIVING ROOM Out of the corner of his eye, he watches Violet come out of the bathroom. CEASAR St. Mary's off the Kennedy, sure. Okay, Gino. Mickey sees Violet. VIOLET Mickey? What are you doing here? MICKEY Violet, it's Gino and Johnnie. They were in a car accident. VIOLET Oh my god. Was anyone hurt? MICKEY I think everything is okay. Ceasar hangs up. CEASAR They're at St. Mary's in the waiting room. Mick is already on the way. MICKEY I can't fit them all in my car so give me your keys. You drive my car, Lou. Ceasar sees Violet walking toward the kitchen. CEASAR Sure, Mickey, sure. Violet! She stops, looking straight at the freezer. CEASAR Go grab my car keys from my pants in the bathroom. She turns to him. CEASAR Please, help us out, Mickey wants to get going. She turns to the bathroom. MICKEY They might want to go straight to the airport and back to Miami, so I better take this. He grabs the briefcase. MICKEY You got the key? CEASAR Oh yeah. Violet! INT. CLOSET Where Corky remains bound, still unconscious. We hear the name echo in her head. CEASAR (V.O.) Violet! Suddenly, her eyes blink open. CEASAR (V.O.) Violet! Her eyes blink again as she tries to focus. INT. LIVING ROOM Violet hands Mickey the keys for the car and the case. MICKEY Thanks, V. He kisses her on the cheek. CEASAR Call me as soon as you get him. MICKEY Leave your phone on the hook. Mickey and Lou leave. Violet is staring at Ceasar standing near the door. In his right hand he is holding the other towel. He smiles. CEASAR Now that's team work. VIOLET I should have let him kill you. CEASAR You know he would have done you too. VIOLET I knew I couldn't trust you. He drops the towel, raising the gun. CEASAR I said I'd let you live and I will. He smiles again. CEASAR Maybe. INT. CLOSET Corky is wide awake, thrashing-mad, biting her gag, struggling to get free. INT. LIVING ROOM Ceasar pulls his pants on. CEASAR Time to find out if the dyke was stupid enough to lie. Ceasar drags Violet through the front door. INT. BEDROOM The closet doors burst open, as Corky fights her way out. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Ceasar sees the buckets of paint. He rips the lid from the nearest and kicks it over. Paint spills out across the floor. INT. BEDROOM Suddenly Corky stops, something has caught her eye. We drop down focusing on what she is staring at -- The clippers. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT He kicks over the second bucket and the bag tumbles out with the rushing flow of paint. CEASAR Yes! He turns to Violet who is already running out the door. CEASAR No! INT. HALL Violet turns down the hall, bare feet beating against the floor. Ceasar slices out of the room behind her. CEASAR Violet! He aims the gun as she hurls her self into the emergency door. CEASAR Fuck! INT. STAIRWELL She flies, hands on the rail spiraling down each flight as he charges after her. CEASAR Goddamnit Violet! Stop! Now! INT. BEDROOM Straining, Corky's fingers curl around the handle of the clippers. INT. LOBBY Violet smashes through the door but instead of turning to the main doors she runs straight for the elevators. She pounds the button and waits. VIOLET Come on. Come on, please. She hears Ceasar coming just as the elevator opens. Ceasar crashes out of the stair door, running toward the exit. When he doesn't see her, he turns to the sound of the elevator -- And catches a glimpse of her as the doors close. CEASAR Oh, you bitch. You fucking bitch. Taking a really deep breath, he throws open the door to the stairs. INT. ELEVATOR Violet takes Johnnie's cellular phone from the robe pocket and dials a number. Mickey answers on the car phone. VIOLET Mickey! Oh god Mickey! MICKEY (V.O.) Violet? Whispering, she acts terrified. VIOLET He made me help him, Mickey, god I was so afraid. It was Ceasar, all Ceasar. You have to help me. He's coming -- Oh god! She hangs up, eyes blazing. INT. STAIRWELL Sweat pouring off him, Ceasar climbs the stairs. INT. HALL The elevator opens, Violet bolts out. She runs down the hall, past the empty apartment, back to her door. VIOLET Corky? INT. EMPTY APARTMENT She rushes to the bedroom where she finds the coils of cut rope. VIOLET Corky! She looks at the wall separating the apartment. INT. HALL Ceasar half falls out of the stair door, drenched with sweat. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Gun ready, Ceasar throws open the door. Spread out like a pond of milk is the spilled paint but -- The money is gone. Leading away from the white pool are boot prints and the drip trail of the plastic bag. The tracks lead to the bathroom. Ceasar kicks open the bathroom door and finds the bag of money next to Corky's empty boots. Over his shoulder we see Corky already swinging a massive pipe wrench. At the last second he is able to duck, falling to the ground as -- The door jamb splinters with a terrible metal crunch. Before he can recover and shoot she brings the wrench down on his arm. He screams as the gun hits the floor. She kicks it, sending it skidding, hydroplaning across the paint pool to the other side, leaving a jet trail of white swirls and spirals on the wood floor. They fight, Corky raining blows onto his back and flailing arm until -- He catches her foot, flipping her as he clambers up. Scrambling across the paint, slipping, crawling for the gun when -- Violet bursts in pointing the gun from the freezer. VIOLET Stop! Ceasar, on hands and knees, looks at her then at his gun still out of reach. VIOLET It's over, Ceasar. I called Mickey. He's on his way. Violet stands for long time, the gun trained carefully on him as he rises from the floor. Panting, Ceasar watches her like a mad dog. VIOLET Get out of here, Ceasar. If you want to live you had better start running. He smiles. CEASAR All these years and you still don't know me, Violet. He casually moves towards the gun. CEASAR But I know you. CORKY Violet? CEASAR You can't kill me, Violet. You're not the type. VIOLET Ceasar, don't. Corky's eyes widen as Ceasar stands over the gun. VIOLET Ceasar! CEASAR I hear you, V. Sure we'll split the money. Whatever you want. Ceasar lunges. CORKY Violet. He is up and aiming when Violet fires -- The bullet hits Ceasar in the shoulder, knocking him off balance. He spins around, still trying to find her in his sites when -- She fires again. His body arcs back, falling, splashing into the paint. Ceasar's blood bubbles out bright red against the glistening white. Violet and Corky hold each other, both women crying, ready to collapse. VIOLET It's not over, Mickey will be here any minute. CORKY Oh no. VIOLET It's all right. I know what to do. Just hold me a little more. Corky does. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT The door opens and we glide inside, moving through the main rooms as though searching them. We turn to the bedroom and we see Violet laying unconscious on the floor. MICKEY Violet! Gun in hand, Mickey bends to her side, checking her pulse. He sees the huge welt on her forehead where Ceasar hit her. Her long lashes beat like butterfly wings as she wakes. She is suddenly afraid. VIOLET Oh no! No! MICKEY It's me. It's me, Mickey. You're all right. Her body heaves with relief as she clutches to him. VIOLET Mickey... MICKEY Shh! It's okay now. Everything is all right. INT. EMPTY APARTMENT Days later. The apartment is totally clean. INT. CEASAR'S APARTMENT It is empty and clean. In the bedroom, only a few hangers are left dangling in the open closet. EXT. PARKING LOT Mickey is standing with Violet, next to his car. VIOLET I will never understand it, Mickey. You didn't even call the police. MICKEY I told you, the family doesn't want the police around. We want to take care of it ourselves and we will. I'll find him. I swear I will. VIOLET I know you will. MICKEY Sure you're going to be okay? I mean, if you're having second thoughts my offer still stands. VIOLET Thanks Mickey, but I need to get out, you know? Get away from all of this. Mickey nods. VIOLET But thanks. Thanks for everything. She hugs him and he kisses her. Then he gets in his car. Violet watches him drive away and knows that she is free. INT. PAROLE OFFICE Corky is still in the parole office. OFFICER You haven't heard a goddamn word I've said, have you? Corky studies her fingernails. They are clean and manicured. OFFICER I could hold you for six more months, for six years, and I'd just be wasting the taxpayer's coffee and air conditioning. She looks up at him as he flips open her file. OFFICER This is the part of my job I hate the most. Bam. He hits the first page with a stamp that reads: RELEASED. OFFICER Only satisfaction I get is knowing that I'll never see you again. CORKY No sir. You won't. She stands almost smiling. EXT. PAROLE BUILDINGS - DAY Corky exits the revolving door and smiles. Violet is waiting out front, leaning on a brand new Chevy truck. She is wearing a short hair cut and leather jacket. She stamps out a cigarette as Corky approaches. CORKY Going my way? VIOLET Definitely. CORKY So, where are we going anyway? VIOLET Anywhere we want. They smile, lean for each other, and lock lips. FADE OUT. THE END