Mosquera
TO A TIME WHEN TRUTH EXISTS
A Modern Private Investigator’s Drama
“That There: That’s Not Me”
CAST
Agustin Bamonte, Part Time Private Eye
Rosalind Durn, secretary to Bamonte Sustainable Social Relations
Inquiry Research Firm
Lillian McClellan, Assistant Director of Technologies at WGHP Port
Huron
Violette Smith, Office Assistant II at PH Police Department
Dr. Anthony Nervo, biologist at Joshua Goeldstak Huron Institute
Mrs. Margaret Harrowdown-Nervo
Alice Barrow, acquaintance of Anthony
Dr. Nathan Magpie, associate to Anthony at Huron Institute
Adam Nervo, brother
Tony Nervo Jr.
Jeff
Brady Travis
Children
News Stand Clerk
Adam McDonnell
Priest
(2) Detectives
Examiner
SETS
INTERIORS
Bamonte Sustainable Social Relations Inquiry Research Firm Office
Nervo’s Office at Goeldstak Huron Institute
The House of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Nervo
A Classroom
Bamonte’s Apartment
Lillian’s Office
Mr. Jones’s Lakeside Tavern
The House of Brady Travis
Port Huron Police Department
PHPD Morgue
EXTERIORS
Pine Grove Ave.
Pine Grove Park
2003 Ford Taurus
Scrap Yard
Church Parking Lot
News stand
Lakeside
Brady’s Car
Lake Nepessing
1
Mosquera
2
TEASER
1.
FADE IN
INT. HOUSE - DAY.
It is an uncommonly cold afternoon. This is an American Foursquare
style house. The camera trails a sequence of household items
emitting steam in each room and finds MARGARET Harrowdown-Nervo.
She paces the room listening intently to her cell phone.
MARGARET
(shaken)
Hello? Hello? Oh, hi, Jane… Yeah…
How… How are you?... I was just w-wondering if
you had heard from Tony at all?... No… no big
research, last— last he told me… Uh huh… Not
Frank either? No no no. It’s all right… Thanks…
No, it’s all right.
TIGHT ON her eyes, teary.
FADE TO
2.
INT. THE SAME - LATER
CLOSE ON Margaret facing out window. A typical grey overcast
cold Michigan day. She still has the cell phone to her ear but she
is sitting now.
TIGHT ON the side of her face with cell phone clenched
tightly.
PHONE
(faint recording)
We’re sorry the number you have dialed…
She hangs up abruptly with a curse. Her CHILDREN arrive from the
front door. Margaret’s eyes move rapidly about.
3.
CHILD (o.s)
Mom! When’s dad coming back from his trip?
FADE TO
INT. THE SAME - EVENING
Margaret sits before the window as before. A Television buzzes off
screen. She still clutches the phone.
TIGHT ON her weary face. An empty expression.
Mosquera
3
CLOSE ON her phone as she scrolls through a list of contacts.
SCROLL (actual phone screen): Hamilton Mike, Harry, Humbert
(school), Huron Life Insurance, Inglewood Priory, Iris…
CLOSE ON: Margaret thinks. Got it!
PAN: follows Margaret as she turns to the desk behind her and
retrieves a tattered Yellow Pages. She flips through ravenously,
finds it, and dials a number.
FADE OUT
END OF TEASER
Play opening credits to the tune of “Alone in the Town” by Akira
Yamaoka.
FADE IN
4.
EXT. STOREFRONT PINE GROVE AVE – AFTERNOON SAME DAY
FAR SHOT: Detective BAMONTE walks down the store front towards
camera. He wears a trench coat with his signature black chapeau and
scarf. He is a tall plain man, possibly more attractive in his
thirties than his despondency gives recognition to. Through the
worry worn edges of his face there is the trace of inheritance of
the idealist madmen of the picarescos of his ancestry. Passersby
scurry with faces downcast.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Another cold sad day here on the
lakes… Everyone running away, avoiding any kind
of eye contact that would make them stop for a
minute in this weather. A whole city minding
its own damn business.
CLOSE ON: Bamonte stops at a newsstand. The CLERK is
barricaded in glass and other materials to block out the cold. He
does not look up only shoves a paper under his glass after Bamonte
passes three dollars through.
CLOSE ON newspaper headlines.
SCROLL (paper): “February 20th, 2025: Renewable Energy
Interchange Still Michigan’s New Life Blood.”
PAN as Bamonte, pockets newspaper, lights a cigarette, and
turns again down the street.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Why am I looking for work here in
Port Huron? A town that was once an abandoned
shipping nexus with nothing but pubs has
overtaken Detroit in her former glory. The new
Mosquera
4
economic center. And as time can tell: with
prosperity comes a whole lot of dirty secrets.
SHARP ON Bamonte. A fog of smoke clings about his tired,
determined face, soldier like, and is wisped away by the harsh lake
winds.
V.O. (Bamonte)
That’s where my job comes in…
Sirens blast off screen nearby.
5.
SMASH CUT to
INT. Bamonte’s CLASSROOM – EARLIER (it may be assumed)
The raucous horde of adolescents overpowers the preceding noise as
Bamonte enters, briefcase in hand. Their riot eases by half its
energy.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Well, this is my other job. My real
work? Well let’s just say “confidential”
business.
STUDENT 1
(The class clown)
Hey, Senor B, did you have to shoot
any gangsters last night?
STUDENT 2
(Has a crush on the teacher)
Yeah, Senor B, tell us how you
figured out your last case. You never told us
what happened.
V.O. (Bamonte)
(Smiling)
Yes, indeed. The most rewarding most
selfless profession. My true calling.
P.O.V. of Bamonte as he scans the classroom, detecting
evidence for classroom blackmail.
BAMONTE
So, Jeff, I don’t see your draft on
your desk. What happened?
PAN as classroom settles down to a low murmur. Some students forage
through desks in vain.
Mosquera
JEFF
(Caught messing around. Outraged)
Senor B! Half the class is missing
their paper! Don’t just single me out!
V.O. (Bamonte)
I wanted to say: “Assault and Battery
One with Negligent Intent. We are willing to
plea bargain… Only if you give us names!”
BAMONTE
You mean to tell me only half of you
finished your first draft of your 7 Billion
Good Works paper?
STUDENT 2
(near tears)
But, Senor B… I… just… couldn’t think
of… nothing to write…
V.O. (Bamonte)
I wanted to say: “Indeed, no surprise
from your generation…” But ours is a more
subtle profession.
SLOW PAN from TONY NERVO JR., very sullen cursing under his
breath, across two columns of desks to GIRLFRIEND, with
characteristic unpleasant contortion of face.
V.O. (Bamonte)
I take pity on guys like these.
BAMONTE
(Facetious)
Tony, you know I have sharp hearing.
I am offended by what you’re saying back there!
TONY JR.
(Tired)
Whatever, Mister Bamonte. I’m sorry I
just didn’t do anything… I—
BAMONTE
(Reassuring)
Don’t worry, young man. Don’t sweat
it, young ones…
5
Mosquera
6
CLOSE ON Tony Jr. ZOOM out slowly.
V.O. (Bamonte)
What I wanted to say was: “Lady
problems, again, Mr. B-Ball champ?” But,
unfortunately we can’t dabble in the “personal
business” of our “young clients” even if it
doesn’t even take not even the most insipient
fan of Law and Order to deduct the problems and
solutions that affect our children’s real
lives…
CLOSE ON Girlfriend casting mean glances towards Tony Jr. and
gossiping cruelties to her friend.
V.O. (Bamonte)
No, you can’t fool me, young lady.
What with your icicles for eyelashes and the
frost about your cheeks you’ve probably won
this young man a free intervention program… And
there it is, just as it is every day… The root
of all evil… the bane of mankind… the
overarching motive for all of my
investigations: Woman.
MATCH CUT to
6. INT. OFFICE RECEPTION – EVENING
CLOSE ON Margaret’s worry worn teary eyed face that replaces
the frigid frown of the girlfriend.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Yes. Woman. Seventy per cent of my
clients are women and the other thirty percent
are investigating women. I’ve seen the most
sinister of public fraud trace back to a
woman’s motive… This one, though, I don’t know…
CUT to
7. INT. BAMONTE’S OFFICE – EVENING
Bamonte sits at his desk, pours a drink, skims the newspaper,
lights a cigarette and cross checks other files, while a
conversation is eventually heard muffled beyond the door to the
receptionist.
Mosquera
7
V.O. (Bamonte)
This is my real job, yes. This ain’t
no silly TV show. I work as a Private
Investigator. “PI,” they say. Of course it’s
only a part time gig. PIs are a thing of the
past, but only insofar as our citizens became
more and more complacent with letting criminals
defraud their cities and letting employers
embezzle their money. The economy turning
around gives me a little more opportunity but,
hell, the city won’t let me call a Sam Spade a
Sam Spade.
CUT to outside of office, reading plaque on the door: Bamonte
Sustainable Social Relations Inquiry Research Firm Office
V.O. (Bamonte)
I had to rent out this office under
some bogus pretext… I hate that plaque…
CUT to
8. INT. RECEPTION – SAME
ROSALIND DURN is seated behind a mountain of papers and a laptop,
regarding Mrs. Nervo with distrust. They speak under the voice
over.
V.O. (Bamonte)
So all of my cases have to be
refilled into some hooey statistical analysis
or they boot me out… Those bureaucrats can’t
appreciate real effective work… That’s where
this sweetheart here with the heart of a
Labrador but the bark of a Rottweiler… That’s
where she, Miss Durn, comes in.
ROSALIND
I guess I just don’t understand what
it is you are looking for Mrs…?
MARGARET
My name is Margaret Nervo, I know Mr.
Ba—
CLOSE on Bamonte from behind the door. He thinks he knows the
voice and the name.
Mosquera
8
ROSALIND
(Used to dismissing bothersome “clients”.)
All acquaintances aside, Mrs. Nervo.
Mr. Bamonte is a very busy man and there are
high priority cases in his care. You’re going
to have to come up with more of a…
CLOSE on Margaret whose tears stream down. She looks up as the
door is heard to open. Bamonte enters.
BAMONTE
(Smilingly chiding)
Rosie, sweetheart, what’s the matter
here? Go easy on my clients now. You brought
this poor lady into tears. You don’t work for
Billionaire Taylor anymore, sweetheart! (to
Margaret) You see, I was lucky to get the
state’s best call screening secretary from a
real dog-eat-dog office. We don’t do that here
though.
MARGARET
(There is some past beneath her words.)
Gus, I need your help.
V.O. (Bamonte)
(This past pertains to him.)
I wish she wouldn’t call me that.
He leads her into his office. Winks at Rosalind as she passes
through.
BAMONTE
Margie, It’s been a while… I suppose
we can catch up on old times after we finish
with business.
CUT to
9. INT. BAMONTE’s OFFICE – SAME
They sit.
MARGARET
I can’t find my husband. I mean: I
don’t know where he is.
Mosquera
BAMONTE
How long has it been now?
MARGARET
A week. Over a week. Seven days. Last
I saw him was last Monday, going to work. He…
BAMONTE
(a mixture of emotions: between the opening of an old wound of
melancholy and the scrambling through time-eroded memory for the
obvious conclusion to the case.)
An old fashioned missing person’s
case?
MARGARET
I guess… I mean I really hope so… You
don’t think he could be…
(she loses it)
Oh, Gus! I really need you right now.
Please help me…
Bamonte refills his glass.
MARGARET
We were once so close, but now I need
you… need your great friendship again.
He promptly swallows the contents.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Yeah, we were close once before, but
now we are far apart. Very far. You know, I
needed you once before too, but you…
BAMONTE
Certainly, Margaret, certainly. I’m
here to help. It’s my job now.
V. O. (Bamonte)
I always say the mean stuff just in
my head.
BAMONTE
(Refills his glass)
Are the police on the case?
MARGARET
9
Mosquera 10
No… I think not… I wanted to see you
first… You know how the police are these days.
There’ve been such strange things happening at
the Institute—
BAMONTE
(Now we got a real case.)
The Goeldstak institute? Is that
where Anthony works now? I’ve been following
that place for some time and I know what you’re
saying.
He looks off. He sets down his glass and paces the room. He catches
Margaret’s tearful eyes. He looks around distractedly. He takes up
his glass and succumbs to the flood of emotion.
BAMONTE
(Appreciatively compassionate or cruelly ironic?)
Anthony at the institute… big family
going to good schools… Nice house in the
prosperous city. Things must have been going
well for you… well, until… today.
CLOSE ON Margaret as she leaps from her chair to embrace
Bamonte. She weeps without words.
BAMONTE
(The old tenderness exudes.)
Don’t worry now, Margie. I will help
you. I will help you. Give me a night to check
all of this out. Just give me tonight to wrap
up some things and I’ll investigate this case
top priority. He can’t have gone far, darling.
He can’t have gone too far away, darling.
CLOSE ON Bamonte’s worn face. The lines of age and rivulets of
alcohol are traced by the camera. The emotion on his face fades
into stone.
FADE OUT.
10. INT. BAMONTE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
CLOSE ON another glass being poured.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Like I said. Woman… the root of all evil.
Mosquera 11
ZOOM OUT to Bamonte at desk looking over documents and talking
on the phone. There are the signs of organized chaos in Bamonte’s
study.
BAMONTE
(On phone, irritated.)
No, baby, I can’t just look it up,
because, like I told you one hundred times, I
don’t have a computer!
CUT TO
11. INT. OFFICE OF LILLIAN MCCLELLAN – SAME
LILLIAN sits before the glow of the screens of the latest
technology. While on the phone she navigates the seas of hyperspace
two or three at a time with relative ease, with the exception of
momentary distractions.
LILLIAN
Ugh! When are you gonna give up your
silly stone age kick, Monty?!
V.O. (Bamonte)
I wish she wouldn’t call me that.
LILLIAN
(searching)
Anthony Nervo, huh? Why do doctors
always have such creepy names? Nervo. Like a
neurosurgeon or something? Nervo Pervo! My
gynecologist’s name is Makalahaki. You know
what he said a—
Lillian silently mocks what she hears.
BAMONTE (over phone)
I didn’t call so you could fill me in
on your feminine health, Lilly. Just shoot me
what you can, baby.
V.O. (Bamonte)
My great discovery about women? 100%
true, yes. But, I have to admit that all of my
life after that discovery has involved finding
exceptions to that rule. Lillian McClellan?
Mosquera 12
Lillian has a heart of gold and an attention
span of… well, the length of one those
microchips in her phone. I couldn’t ever handle
the storm of technologies that make our job “so
much easier”. Ha! She helps me out a ton on
that end.
BAMONTE
I’m looking for critical papers, breakthrough
studies, promotions, or demerits: anything that
looks like he’s got enemies.
LILLIAN
(Playing dumb)
You mean you don’t want to get in
touch with his friends and get a Facebook
search party going?
CUT TO Bamonte, rubbing his face in aggravation.
BAMONTE
No, baby… no Facebook search parties,
please. The cops aren’t even on this one yet.
LILLIAN
Really? Doesn’t that sound strange?
BAMONTE
(His face betrays him.)
No… not really. Hey, thanks again,
baby. Call me anytime. Good night.
LILLIAN
(Didn’t hear that.)
You’re pretty up on this case, Monty.
This Marge lady really got you working. Do you
guys know each other?
Beat.
There was a fling wasn’t there! Oh!
Don’t fib, Monty—
BAMONTE
Yeah, what? Huh? You’re breaking up,
baby… Okay, well, call me. Bye.
Mosquera 13
He hangs up the phone. He pours a drink and begins to finger
through his filing cabinet.
V.O. (Bamonte)
A fling huh? Well, another thing
about Lillian. She finds out a lot in those
brief moments of attention. Yes, a fling, I
guess.
He finds a photograph attached to a letter.
V.O. (Bamonte)
There she is. That girl really did me in
good, back in the day.
FLASHBACK to
12. EXT. LAKESIDE – NIGHT
Two silhouetted figures along a lakeside at night. They face each
other for a moment, then the female turns abruptly and walks off.
The male figure remains frozen.
DISSOLVE back to Bamonte at his desk.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Well, that’s another episode of
another drama. Can’t let all that get in the
way of business.
FADE OUT
13. EXT. PINE GROVE PARK – DAWN
ESTABLISHING SHOT of the park. Only the most gung-ho of
joggers are seen apart from Bamonte standing beside a bench.
CLOSE ON Bamonte who looks out at the distance. He lights a
cigarette and rubs his hands to keep warm.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Saturday is my day off. I should be
sleeping in right now.
LONG SHOT of Violette Smith walking at a leisurely pace down
the trail. She is well bundled but as she approaches her caring
face is visible after her generous figure.
Mosquera 14
V.O. (Bamonte)
Here’s a fine exception to the law of
woman. Violette Smith has helped me immensely.
Never any trouble with her.
VIOLETTE
Good morning, Agustin.
V.O. (Bamonte)
She says it right. With the “een” at
the end and everything, but I still wish she
wouldn’t call me that. The original Spanish
sounds funny from the mouth of our AngloSaxons.
BAMONTE
Well, good morning to you too, love.
Only I wish we didn’t have to meet at the dead
of day.
VIOLETTE
(concerned)
Oh, I’m so sorry. I hope you got
enough rest! We can talk ano—
BAMONTE
Don’t worry, love. I’m just impressed
that you walk here every morning.
VIOLETTE
Oh, but it’s so beautiful. I have to
so I can ease away all of the work from
yesterday. You know how everyone at the
precinct has been so stressed lately.
BAMONTE
(Must keep a bit of distance between his State competition.)
Right. I don’t know much about this
latest scandal but I hope it all gets resolved.
VIOLETTE
Yes, I know I’m only an office
assistant but we are pushed the most at the
bottom at times like these.
Mosquera 15
BAMONTE
(Always needing a safe entry.)
So, I was wondering if you could help
me with a new case. I think it may have some
connection to these dealings with the Goeldstak
Institute.
VIOLETTE
Oh, really! I hope I can help you. I
hope you can help us all figure this whole
thing out. The case of that reporter being
shot… that unexplained river bank full of dead
wildlife… two cases of vanishing people… all
somehow related.
BAMONTE
I think we might have a third missing
person, love.
VIOLETTE
(Her compassion is instant.)
Oh, no! That’s terrible.
BAMONTE
Yes. It is. His poor wife came to me
yesterday.
VIOLETTE
The poor thing. It must be terrible
for her.
BAMONTE
Yes. Terrible. So much so that she
didn’t even go to the police yet.
VIOLETTE
Oh, dear. She really should. She
should… I could write up a report for our
detec—
BAMONTE
No, no, love. I think she wants to
know a little bit before we can get her to
trust the police. You see. Her husband works at
the Institute.
Mosquera 16
VIOLETTE
Oh dear. I can understand her, I
suppose. But what can I do?
BAMONTE
Please, love, if we’re going to help
this woman (she’s an old friend of mine, by the
way.) if we’re going to help her I just need
you to keep me up to date on anything the
police uncover.
VIOLETTE
Sure, anything you want to know.
V.O. (Bamonte)
There’s an angel. Always so helpful.
Never any trouble… well, except sometimes…
VIOLETTE
I just don’t want to reveal anything
confidential or withhold anything to could help
out our officers, you know…
V.O. (Bamonte)
…Except sometimes, along with her
immense compassion comes an impenetrable moral
code.
what
help
them
step
BAMONTE
No, need to worry, love. Just tell me
you see going on. You know I only ever
our trusty detectives. I couldn’t help
like I do if you didn’t always keep me one
ahead of the game.
ZOOM OUT AND FADE OUT as they walk down the path.
END OF ACT ONE
14. INT. INSTITUTE – AFTERNOON.
OMITTED
The detective browses the institute in search of Nervo’s office but
cannot find any trace of his presence there.
Mosquera 17
15. INT. BAR – EVENING
OMITTED
The detective meets with Alice Barrow for some information about
Anthony. It is understood that the two shared a love interest for a
time. Was this only in the past?
16. INT. BAR – NIGHT
OMITTED
Lillian meets with the detective and presents her research. She
notes similarly the general erasure of Dr. Nervo’s presence at the
institute. Her insight to social networking reveals his interest in
family, John Wayne films, fishing, hunting, and camping. Lillian
characteristically proceeds to relish in extracting the “juice”
from Bamonte’s past affairs with Margaret.
17. EXT. OUTSIDE BAMONTE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT OMITTED
Margaret awaits Bamonte’s return outside. They converse briefly.
The detective gives her a surface account of his progress. He
forbids himself from inviting the lady within, but hails a taxi for
her. He reassures her on her departure
18. EXT. COUNTY ROAD 58 – SUNDAY MORNING
LONG SHOT of burning automobile. Bamonte exits his car, a 2003
Ford Taurus (old by this time) behind the crime scene. State
DETECTIVES notice his arrival and approach.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Violette gave me the heads up on this
one. Now there’s an angel.
DETECTIVE
(Cops are never respectful of the gravity of a crime scene.)
What are you doing around here,
Bamonte? Shouldn’t you be looking into some
domestic suspicions? Something more in your
specialty?
BAMONTE
I am a friend of the deceased.
DETECTIVE
Doctor Nervo, huh? I’m sure…
Mosquera 18
V.O. (Bamonte)
So it was him… I recognized the
license plate from Lillian’s notes…
DETECTIVE
Look, we got enough critical minds at
work here. We can do just fine without your
part time messing around—
BAMONTE
Please, just let me see for myself. I
knew this man…
The detective suspects some sincerity but stands firm on his
arrogance. He says nothing as Bamonte approaches the crime scene.
The flames have been extinguished. A charred corpse is hunched over
the steering wheel.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Yeah, I knew this guy… Margaret’s
husband… way too much fire here… recognized
biochemist… obviously a terrible driver… closet
drinker?… maybe had too much… way too much…
church on Sunday? Probably not… But where then?
DETECTIVE 2
(Wiser)
You investigating this guy? His wife
put you on, eh?
BAMONTE
(Again, keeping that distance of knowledge.)
Yeah… I guess she’ll never know if
there was a mistress…
DETECTIVE 2
That’s good, eh? At least he can die
in good memory. Good, in a sick kind of way,
eh?
BAMONTE
Right… guess my case is closed…
He walks back to his car.
Mosquera 19
V.O. (Bamonte)
I would really love to break it to
the poor girl… I would love to let Dr. Anthony
“die in good memory”… I really would… only…
CUT TO
19. INT. FORD TAURUS – SAME
Bamonte is driving away from the scene. He smokes while on the
phone and driving. One could call him a distracted driver.
BAMONTE (on phone)
Hey, Lillian! Yeah, tell me something
baby: did Dr. Nervo’s work ever involve autopsy
of any kind? Yeah, human bodies.
CUT TO previous LONG SHOT of burning car.
BAMONTE (on phone)
Gross, I know… look it up for me, baby, will
you? Yeah… yeah, okay, please… thanks, baby…
He makes another call.
BAMONTE (on phone)
Love, how are you? I must thank you
again for the tip… It is really a tragedy. Yes…
Yes, but I really have some doubts about a few
things… I feel I need to clear this man’s name
from a few circumstantial accusations, you
know? Yeah, the detectives are saying: drunk,
asleep, reckless, affair… anything to wrap it
up…
REACTION SHOT briefly of Lillian’s pained expression.
BAMONTE (on phone)
Yes, love. So, please let me know as soon as
the body or the car is taken to their
investigation sites. Thank you, love… Thank
you… yes… I have to run, love… Good bye… Yes…
Goodbye…
One last call.
Mosquera 20
V.O.
Only one thing bothers me… That’s the
doctor’s car for sure, but I don’t think that
is his body.
CUT TO
20. EXT. CHURCH PARKING LOT – AFTERNOON
BRADY Travis is playing basketball with some other boys after their
Church service. He is a “strapping lad,” as Bamonte would say, of
17 years full of fortitude for many following years of physical
strain and abuse. He has a shining personality beneath his acne
scarred face. Eager and hearty in two words. He is fouled by a wild
faced boy, but he recovers to make a lay-up.
LONG SHOT of Brady as he leaves the finished game. He reaches
his car and takes out his phone.
CLOSE ON the screen reading: 1 Missed Call: Senor B.
Brady calls back.
BAMONTE o. s. (over phone)
Hey, Brady, I’m on a big case here.
I’m going to need you…
21. INT. BRADY’S CAR – CONTINUOUS
BAMONTE o. s. (over phone)
(Youngsters are easy to recruit.)
Prime time experience for a detective
in training, right?
BRADY
(His chance has come!)
Yeah! This is great, Senor B. I’ve
been hoping you’d let me in on the excitement.
I’ll be there. Yeah, for sure. I—
BAMONTE o. s. (over phone)
(Has found cheap labor but big liability.)
Great, great. Keep your head on
straight there, son. This is tricky business.
If we get caught, you don’t know me, right? So
practice those evasive answers I taught you,
alright. Be ready in fifteen.
Mosquera 21
22. INT. BRADY’S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
TRACKING SHOT of Brady, still on the phone, as he runs inside,
changes, picks up necessary items and exits.
BAMONTE o.s. (over phone)
We’ve got a missing person’s case
here. The cops found the guy in a car crash,
but I got a hunch it’s not the guy.
BRADY
(Geeked)
What do you mean? Like a car crash
that was so bad that the body was charred
beyond recognition?
REACTION SHOT of
BAMONTE
(Smiling uneasily at the familiar morbidity.)
Yeah… charred beyond recognition…
BRADY
Cool, man! I mean that’s… that’s bad
news, boss.
MOM (o.s.)
(As distantly concerned as modern mother’s can be.)
Brady! You’re not going out with
those punk friends of yours without you
homework being done! Huh?
BRADY
Yeah, mom. I mean, no mom. I mean,
yeah my homework’s all good. Just gotta read
some. Okay, bye!
CUT TO
23. INT. 2003 FORD TAURUS – SAME
Bamonte is joined by Brady.
BAMONTE
Yes, and please be able to explain
your absences to your mother. I can’t afford to
Mosquera 22
lose my teaching reputation over violating
child labor laws.
BRADY
Yeah, sure, boss. Sure.
V.O. (Bamonte)
This kid is something else. He wants
to be a cop. Sure, we might risk running up his
rap sheet, but I consider him an apprentice.
Indeed, the only true way to learn. He’s always
the kid who runs me off on tangents about my
cases in class. For all the class time he makes
me lose out on he can at least lend me hand
here and there for some of my work. Field
experience, right? Work-study, right?
BAMONTE
Now, here’s the yard.
CUT TO
24. EXT. SCRAPYARD – SAME
Bamonte and Brady approach the wreck from earlier.
BRADY
Where’s the body?
BAMONTE
Come on, son. That’s in the morgue.
Bamonte peers into the front seat.
CLOSE ON steering wheel of burnt out interior.
BAMONTE
Check the back. What’s there?
BRADY
Crap, man. Um… Empty bottles… burnt
papers... I think that was a McDonald’s bag,
maybe… Looks like alcohol bottles. Was this guy
tanked or something?
BAMONTE
Take out those bottles. You have that
Milton-Bradly home forensics kit, right?
Mosquera 23
BRADY
(His pride is rubbed wrong.)
Yeah… It’s not no kid’s toy, boss.
Bought it at the spy shop. I saved a lot of
money for that…
BAMONTE
Great. That should work. I shouldn’t
take the latest technology to prove that those
bottles were consumed long ago and were
planted.
BRADY
Wow, boss. This car is toasted! Must
have crashed pretty hard right?
BAMONTE
Well, you’d think. But this car isn’t
so badly mashed up, right?
CLOSE ON burned fabric of interior.
BAMONTE
And look at the interior. See how
everything is burned from the middle out?
BRADY
You mean the flames from the gas tank
were so hot that they melted through the
bottom?
BAMONTE
Come on, son. Guess again…
BRADY
Uh… wait a minute! Are you saying
that someone doused the car in gas before
crashing it up? That’s messed up!
CLOSE ON steering wheel as Bamonte scrapes some fragments with
his knife. He then cuts a piece from what remains of the seat belt.
BRADY
Mosquera 24
Damn, the guy must have died on
impact…
BAMONTE
We should get this checked too. I’ve
got a hunch that the guy was already dead. Long
dead.
CUT TO
25. EXT. GOELDSTAK LABORATORIES: LOADING DOCK – LATER
Bamonte and Brady stay by the car. Bamonte is on the phone.
LILLIAN o. s. (over phone)
Part of Doctor Nervo’s research
involved access to cadavers. Gross. I don’t
know if he worked exclusively with them or not
at all but his access presupposed his
qualification for post mortem operations. Now
the same number of experimental cadavers on
deck matches the number registered the week of
Nervo’s disappearance. None missing. I’m
assuming Nervo’s liaison is the supervisor for
the institute’s supply shipments. The same
secure delivery company handles all their
resource. Even the nasty stuff. Adam McDonnell.
The guys who signs off everything. Every day at
three.
BAMONTE
Thanks, baby. You’re the best.
He hangs up.
BAMONTE
Stay in the car, kid. I need to look
believable here.
BRADY
Aw, come on boss… alright. Hey, let
me bum a smoke, boss. This stuff’s got me
stressed out.
BAMONTE
(He reluctantly fishes out a cigarette.)
Mosquera 25
Damn it, kid. That’s a stupid habit
to get into at your age… “Stressed out,” he
says…
V.O. (Bamonte)
Well, he earned it so far…
He approaches the shipping crew, unloading a few crates. Easy
business on a Sunday but business as usual more and more every
moment of this modern era. He approaches the man signing the
paperwork.
BAMONTE
Good afternoon. Mr… McDonnell right?
MCDONNELL
(It’s never a good sign when a stranger knows your name.)
Yeah, what’s up, bud?
BAMONTE
Listen, I was hoping I could ask you
a few questions. I’m investigating a case
involving a certain Doctor Nervo here…
MCDONNELL
(His face betrays him.)
Hey, I got some work to finish here,
buddy. I’ll talk to you after—
BAMONTE
You want to talk right now discreetly
or do you want me to speak out loud about your
great job in smuggling corpses out of
laboratories?
They step aside from the business.
MCDONNELL
Check the books, tough guy. This
joint is trump-tight. They keep track of every
piece of dirt my truck drops on their pavement.
BAMONTE
Oh, yeah? It sounds pretty easy to
let something slip through the cracks when the
smuggler is an authorized doctor at the
institute. I’ve already got a nice case against
Mosquera 26
Doctor Nervo. You can help me make it even
nicer by coming out with it or I can start
another case, even nicer, against you, my
friend.
MCDONNELL
Alright, man. Alright. But come on,
now. How am I supposed to know a respected
doctor is a criminal? What laws could he be
breaking with the help of dead bodies anyways?
BAMONTE
Doesn’t take much imagination…
MCDONNELL
Hey, he just called up and asked for
an extra shipment. All kosher, bud. He paid in
cash so you got no paper trail… I never said
anything and don’t think I’m gonna say anything
in court until you come back with a solid case,
bud. I know your games. So, end of story: three
bodies on a day when the books say two.
BAMONTE
White, Blonde hair, five-eightsomething?
MCDONNELL
(Unnerved by this obvious coincidence.)
Uh… yeah… actually. He, uh… made me
let him check it before…
CUT TO
26. INT. PHPD PRECINCT – LATER
Violette walks briskly with Bamonte and Brady through the police
headquarters.
VIOLETTE
(This is a slight violation of the rules.)
Listen, Agustin. It took me a lot of
sneaky trouble to get you this authorization
passes. (passes a disapproving look at Brady)
Twice the trouble for two passes…
Mosquera 27
BAMONTE
(Feigning rough professionalism.)
Straighten your tie there, Brady.
Look like you’re a real detective. I could have
just left you in the car. (To Violette) He’s a
good kid, love. He wants to be a cop.
VIOLETTE
Aw, how noble! Okay… okay… that’s
fine but just don’t cause too much trouble. I
don’t really know how I would explain this to
my superior other than “he held a gun to my
head, sir.”
CUT TO
27. INT. PHPD MORGUE— CONTINUOUS
An EXAMINER slowly extracts the body.
EXAMINER
(Oddly compliant)
Yeah, this is a strange case. It’s
already pretty much ruled an accident/suicide.
I just need to re-measure the alcohol levels on
this guy to determine if he was conscious of
killing himself.
LONG SHOT of the body unveiled, but hidden behind the three
men. Brady is frozen then turns his back concealing well his
uneasiness.
BAMONTE
Good, doctor. My investigation is
leading me down another route. I was wondering
if you could check for the rate of intoxication
as well.
EXAMINER
(He shares Bamonte’s suspicions.)
You think he was drugged. I will
definitely check it out. I’m hoping that you
can build a case before we can reexamine this
death in court? A big case, I hope. I would
look into the superiors of this Doctor Nervo…
You have heard of the disappearances?
BAMONTE
Mosquera 28
(Can’t let this conversation go on too long.)
Indeed, that’s the plan. Of course,
don’t be too eager to celebrate the grace of my
presence to the detectives on the case. Thank
you, doctor.
BRADY
(Knows the important question.)
Wait, Boss, don’t you—
BAMONTE
(Stops the boy quickly.)
It’s all good. Thank you, Doctor.
28. INT. 2003 FORD TAURUS – LATER
BRADY
(That was too much.)
Shit, boss! That guy was toast! Damn,
boss, give me a smoke will ya?!
BAMONTE
Relax, son, I’ll bye you a milk
shake. Chocolate or Vanilla?
BRADY
Well, why wouldn’t you ask the doc to
DNA test the body? It’s not Doctor Nervo, is
it?
BAMONTE
You don’t play cards a lot do you,
son? The body is what I would call a “trump
card.” Come on. Let’s get you a grilled cheese
and fries.
BRADY
I dunno… I don’t feel too hungry…
FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO
29. INT. CLASSROOM – MONDAY MORNING
Mosquera 29
Bamonte conducts his class in his usual laid back style: “Socratic”
as he would say. His face reveals almost instant distraction at the
start of a student’s response. He is much in thought.
CLOSE ON Brady at the far right of the classroom who passes
knowing looks at his teacher.
CLOSE ON Bamonte who slowly mouths the words back at him.
V.O. (Bamonte)
I’ll kill you if you tell anyone.
BAMONTE
So we’ve finished Romeo and Juliet.
Let’s recap with the general themes of the
drama. It’s important to zoom in on specifics
and zoom out on generalities hand in hand.
Tracy could you make the list. Alright…
V.O. (Bamonte)
The evidence is all there. It’s all
fact…, but what is the motive? Who? Why?
STUDENT 2
(The one in love)
Well, one theme is how love makes you
do crazy things.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Yeah, like taking on an unsolvable
case for an old flame. How can I break it to
Margaret? Haven’t heard from her. Does she know
the cops story? Probably. Should I keep this
secret from her until…?
BRADY
(walking the fence of revelation.)
I got a literary theory! What if the
Capulets actually knew that Romeo was going to
the tomb so they took Juliet out and replaced
her with a dead body: a look-alike? Yeah, they
totally set the guy up to commit suicide!
BAMONTE
(His eyes wide. Slow and stern.)
Yes… Brady… Great theory… We can see
that suicide is a very poignant event in this
Mosquera 30
drama. Now, Brady… how would you phrase suicide
into a theme, staying on topic of course?
V.O. (Bamonte)
This kid will get me killed… But why?
Let’s say that the doctor’s superior knocked
him off… a guy like that would be smarter than
the sloppy set up I saw. Or would he have to be
with cops on his payroll… Margaret? She
wouldn’t. Life insurance, policy? Maybe they
both would.
STUDENT 3
(This kid is too smart for his own good. His peer disciples listen
enrapt to his musings.)
I dunno, man. I don’t get the whole
killing yourself thing… I mean, come on. You
could just run away and start over again. I
thought about all of this and it’s like… I want
to call it “social suicide.” (A couple of girls
acknowledge his wisdom.) You know, like
“killing” your old life and disappearing but
still living a different life…
V.O.
Damn, crazy kids…
FLASHBACK to MORGUE. The Examiner speaks to Bamonte.
EXAMINER
This is a strange case. It’s already
pretty much ruled an accident/suicide.
BACK TO
V.O.
Damn crazy kids… They lay it out for
me all of the time. “Social Suicide”. That’s
such a smart piece of stupidity.
BAMONTE
Okay, class, keep up with the themes.
I have to step out for a minute. For the rest
of class I need you to select a theme and write
an explore/inquire essay on your theme in the
play, another text this year, and your own
personal experience.
Mosquera 31
He exits the class amid confused glances from students.
V.O.
Now to get to the real source of the
issue. I should have checked this place out
first.
CUT TO
30. EXT. OUTSIDE NERVO’S RESIDENCE – AFTERNOON
Bamonte and Brady approach the house from
a distance. Bamonte is on the phone, and is
carrying a Polaroid camera.
ROSALIND o. s. (over phone)
She works at the hospital until five
on Mondays. There’s a good chance she’s got the
day off, mourning and all. Kids get out of
school at three-thirty plus goofing off time…
I’d say you have a two hour window here.
BAMONTE
Thanks, sweetheart. You’re the best.
Bye. (to Brady) Alright, kid, I need you to be
my look out. Don’t get too close to this house
or the neighbors will call the cops. I’ll be
lucky if I get in here unnoticed.
BRADY
Alright, boss, I’ll keep my phone on.
Bamonte steps away.
BRADY
Oh, hey, boss!
BAMONTE
Yeah, what?
BRADY
Can I bum a smoke?
Bamonte sighs and in the interest of haste surrenders a cigarette.
BAMONTE
Mosquera 32
It won’t be my fault when you turn
eighteen.
ESTABLISHING SHOT of Nervo’s Residence as Bamonte approaches
with nonchalance, like an inspector of sorts.
CLOSE ON Bamonte examining the house for an entry, feigning a
concern for insulation leaks.
CLOSE ON the widows of the neighbors’ houses: empty.
Bamonte removes a screen from a back window. He attempts to loosen
the window. Tries again and crack!
V.O. (Bamonte)
Shit.
He replaces the screen and fumbles for some rocks to frame some
reckless neighbor child. He turns to the back screen door. Click!
It opens.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Too easy.
He enters the house. He examines various rooms discovering who
inhabits which. He lingers for a moment in the master bedroom and
notices a few mementos of Margaret’s past. He examines the desk
there and finds nothing of interest. He enters the basement and
discovers a study. There is a desk with papers scattered upon it.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Looks like Margaret has been doing
her own investigation.
He passes through each page carefully: research drafts, bills,
insurance documents, and letters from friends.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Alice Barrow? This one… some past
lover? Some affair. Seems to have been
overlooked…
He discovers a journal.
V.O. (Bamonte)
This is Anthony’s handwriting. Not
very prolific, though.
Mosquera 33
The journal reads:
Voice of DR. NERVO reads (o. s.)
8/15/2012 Marty’s Bachelor Party.
Great time on the lake. Most of our buddies
from HS came out this time. Lots of catching
up… love that place… Someday I’ll get a summer
home there…
Another entry:
Voice of DR. NERVO reads (o. s.)
12/6/2018 Margaret, love of my life…
These have been trying times… Sometimes I
wonder if you would have been better off
without me. The things that trouble you the
most about me are intrinsic to my profession.
Confidential research, long hours away,
unexpected evenings on call… I never gave you
the quality time you need…
V.O. (Bamonte)
(He begins to understand Margaret’s relationship apart from
himself.)
Poor guy. Sensitive, concerned. Well,
who ever really could afford quality time in
this slavish economy?
He glances over a few more entries. Another reads:
Voice of DR. NERVO reads (o. s.)
5/30/2020 Another slim vacation time.
I just had to go alone this time. Going to lose
my mind… Margaret is pissed… Said I may as well
be dead for all of time I spend out of her
existence… The lake is just as beautiful as I
remember it. Just as peaceful… apart from the
world… no urban filth… This is where I ought to
be… This is where man was meant to exist…
He glances around the study and notices a few pictures framed on
the wall: a cabin, a view from a pontoon… possibly a group shot of
the Bachelor party. Another set of photographs feature the doctor
holding his biggest catches from fishing. He peruses the doctor’s
bookshelf.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Mosquera 34
This guy… a man of nature… Mr.
Outdoorsman. He must have read… Yeah, I knew
it. Thoreau’s Walden. Good stuff—
He stoops to the foot of the bookshelf and discovers a letter
dropped. It reads:
Voice of DR. NERVO reads (o. s.)
Dear Margaret,
I hope this note never has to be
read. I wish I could have just burned it up. I
wish I could have just burned up everything:
all of the things in this awful existence that
pile up in barriers between us. I wish I could
have just burned myself up: purged out all of
my failings. Don’t worry for me, love. I only
want you to be happy. For that, I must remove
all things that prevent you from being happy.
For that, I should destroy all things that hurt
you: even myself. This world has no place for a
man like myself. But there are other men whom
the world has given a place, other men who
could give happiness and time to deserving
women. You deserve more than any woman. So,
please, if you have to read this awful letter.
Don’t waste a second in remembering me. Live
your life. Move on. Please, move on and be
happy…
V.O. (Bamonte)
(He soaks this in.)
Damn. A suicide note? Really? Did she
read this? Is she just in denial… What?
He ponders this letter and carefully replaces it on the floor in
the precise position it was retrieved. He distractedly examines
other documents. An insurance form catches his attention: Huron
Life Insurance Policy # 234789… conditions for disbursement…
V.O. (Bamonte)
Suicide? Really? Wasn’t there some
crazy movie about this: suicide for life
insurance? No… that’s not it… the body… it’s
not his… the crash was set up.
He looks back at the journal. Another entry reads:
Mosquera 35
Voice of DR. NERVO reads (o. s.)
9/3/2021 Drinking too much. I can’t
go on with this business. I am part of this
machine of insanity. I am just a cog. I don’t
know to what end all of my data is going. I
can’t imagine what awful snares of warfare
these studies will generate. How many people is
our government trying to kill off? I can’t sit
back and be a bystander to all of the cruelty
in the world. I can’t sit there and be passive—
no, active contributor to this cruelty. I won’t
let myself be lied to by the board, either. I
won’t let the bastards! But what could I do.
What could I do more than die and stop my part
of the machine of cruelty? What could the whole
world do better than just die? It could just
die and stop killing itself.
He recovers his focus as if he remembers why he is there and starts
snapping photographs. Some of the letters, one of the insurance
numbers, one of the suicide note, some of the photos on the wall.
He phone vibrates. He reads the text: from Brady: You ok boss? He
replies: yeah. The clock on the phone tells three-thirty. He types
another text: to Rosie: look up recent purchases of Waterfront
property at… he looks closer at one of the photos. …Lake Nepessing…
sent.
BAMONTE
(Aloud)
Got all I can here.
He takes a moment to rearrange everything, then exits.
CUT TO
31. BAMONTE’S OFFICE – EVENING
Margaret is weeping in Bamonte’s arms. He says nothing.
CLOSE ON Bamonte’s face. There is conflict and his mouth half
opens then shuts firm.
FADE OUT TO
32. EXT. HIGHWAY 58 – AFTERNOON TUESDAY
Bamonte is driving with the same preoccupation on his face.
Mosquera 36
BAMONTE
What could I say? What should I have
said? To her the whole thing is over… I
couldn’t accept her payment… I should have, for
all of this trouble… I’m acting like she’s my
own wife! I should have just dropped the case
too. But, I can’t. I know that Dr. Anthony
Nervo is still alive.
MONTAGE of LAKE NEPESSING as Bamonte scours the area, speaking
to all residents and visitors, searching the depths of the forest.
FLASHBACK to Bamonte’s office. Rosalind fills him in.
ROSALIND
There were no new purchases in the
last few months. The place is sold out. The
state’s retirees have bought every square inch.
There’s just the hunting grounds a good amount
of acreage to get lost in…
MONTAGE of LAKE NEPESSING continues as an obsessive pilgrimage
of trails, distant mirages of foliage, and endless horizons of
water.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Come on, girls! Help me out here…I’m
lost…in the woods…
FLASHBACK to Bamonte’s office. Violette fills him in.
VIOLETTE
The woods around Nepessing are rather
tranquil. Very few reports of strangers,
wanderers, fugitives, or any other suspicious
people. A few hunters passed a couple hints
towards a mountain man in the woods but none of
them had consistent ID’s.
SWISH PAN around and around the lake.
CROSSFADE into photograph of Nervo holding his fishing catch.
V.O. (Bamonte)
I’m gonna find you. I know he’s out
there. I know that body wasn’t his…
Mosquera 37
FLASHBACK to Student 3 regaling the class
STUDENT 3
It’s like… what I call “Social
Suicide”…
MONTAGE repeats very rapidly.
V.O. (Bamonte)
I know you’re there. You can’t hide
from this world of cruelty. This world has no
place for you but you can’t escape it! I know
you’re there.
CLOSE ON Bamonte, very suddenly. He is unshaven, worn out and
staring out into the distance of the woods.
V.O. (Bamonte)
But, even if I do…
FAR SHOT of DR. ANTHONY NERVO staring back from the woods,
looking only slightly more worn than the detective. He stares back
frozen, like a hunted beast.
V.O. (bamonte)
Even now that I found you… What will
I say to Margaret?
FAR SHOT of Bamonte equally frozen.
V.O. (Bamonte)
What could I say? What should I say?
FAR SHOT of Nervo as he walks backwards staring ahead at the
detective.
V.O. (Bamonte)
I should say…
CLOSE ON Bamonte as he turns around, after a beat, and
retraces his steps out of the woods.
V.O. (Bamonte)
I probably shouldn’t say anything.
Mosquera 38
CROSS FADE TO
33. EXT. CEMETARY – MORNING LATER IN WEEK
Bamonte stands silent at the funeral of Dr. Anthony Nervo. Brady
stands beside him with a puzzled look. The detective’s face is
suppressing a smile. Margaret is in tears at a distance.
PRIEST
Requiem aeternam dona eis, domine…
V.O. (Bamonte)
I really just wanted to laugh. The
thought that there was some random science fair
project in the casket of a living man was too
much to keep a straight face over. Damn, I
really just wanted to tell him what a crappy
job he did of setting up the whole car crash.
Brady, of course, was pissed that I let the
case go. I assured him that the time was not
right. The time will come for the truth to come
out…
The ceremonies over, Bamonte leaves accompanying Margaret.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Maybe if we keep in touch I could
find a way to break it to her.
CUT TO
34. INT. BAMONTE’S OFFICE – LATER
-
Mosquera 39
CLOSE ON Rosalind’s indignant expression.
BAMONTE
Asshole? I’m an asshole for this?
Why?
ROSALIND
How could you just let that man
abandon his wife like that? Men these days…
BAMONTE
(Loves egging her on.)
Okay, okay… abandon, yes. But you’re
the one who told me she hit the jackpot on that
irresponsible man’s life insurance policy.
ROSALIND
(Is not going to give up.)
You are the only person who can save
this woman from living the rest of her life
thinking her husband committed suicide.
BAMONTE
(Damn, she’s got a point.)
Rosie, sweetheart, okay. You’re
right. But like I said, I’ve got to build a
case here. If you read Dr. Nervo’s diary and
took his point of view you’d see that there are
worse evils in our world than dying. This guy’s
really got me hooked into discovering the dirty
secrets of this Goeldstak Institute. I know
it’s not really a constitutional right or
anything but a man has a right to flee danger.
Right?
Rosalind is not yielding to his rationalization.
BAMONTE
Alright, sweetheart. I’ve got most of
the evidence… It’s just… Damn, how can I
explain this one… No one would believe it… I’ve
got to find out what could be so evil going on
at the institute that it could drive a man to
forge his own suicide.
CUT TO
Mosquera 40
35. EXT. PINE GROVE AVE. – EVENING
LONG SHOT of Bamonte walking down the street away from the
camera.
V.O. (Bamonte)
Well, that’s another episode of
another drama. I mean, of the same drama… In
the lives of these selfish people, in the lives
of this town where everyone minds their own
damn business… It’s hard to see that truth
exists. Why, a man may lie even on the level of
life and death. Yet and still, my duty is to
the Truth and I must serve this age. My duty is
to a time when truth exists.