FADE IN:
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Eighteen-wheeler roars down the highway. POV: Driver of the
semi. We follow driver’s focus as he he glances to his
right. A green sign with white lettering reads:
WINDING RIVER - 2 miles
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS
The eighteen-wheeler approaches the city limits. On the
right we see another sign:
WINDING RIVER
Pop. - 7,622
Montage: idyllic, small-town images: mother with three kids
at the butcher shop, two young men hunched over the open
hood of a pickup truck in a driveway, foursome of retired
women on golf course, local swimming pool filled with
laughing and splashing kids, Budweiser delivery man and bar
owner bull shitting about life, and three old farts laughing
it up in barber shop.
EXT. SIDEWALK OUTSIDE OF WINDING RIVER COMMUNITY BANK - DAY
NORA MCCOMBS -- late 80’s, walking with cane, carrying purse
in left hand -- approaches the bank entrance. She freezes.
Inside the bank a masked gunman points a revolver at the
bank employee on the other side of the counter. Nora makes
fluttering motions with both arms while looking around.
There’s no one else in the immediate vicinity. She digs a
cell phone out of her purse and punches in 911.
NORA
I, I, I want to report a bank
robbery.
(Beat)
My bank. The Winding River
Community Bank, for heaven’s sake.
(Beat)
No, I’m not inside the bank, thank
God. I was about to go inside to
make a deposit in my grandson’s
college savings account. That’s
when I noticed someone with a gun
pointed at poor Ed Nelson’s face.
(Beat)
Don’t worry, I won’t try anything
heroic You just get an officer over
here right away.
EXT. SIDEWALK OUTSIDE OF WINDING RIVER COMMUNITY BANK - DAY
From Nora’s POV, we see ED NELSON setting stacks of bills in
a black and teal duffel bag sitting on the counter. The
robber says something to Ed before turning and striding
toward the main doors. Nora scrambles behind an island of
shrubbery just in time. She frowns at a red and black
eighteen-speed bicycle propped against the island of
shrubbery. Bank robber emerges from the building, glances
left and right and hustles right toward Nora and the bike.
She scrambles around to the far side of the topiary.
Peeking between the shrubs, she watches as the bank robber
jogs over and hops on the bicycle. Robber pedals away from
the bank with the black and teal duffel bag slung over the
left shoulder.
NORA
Dear, dear, what is this world
coming to?
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE WINDING RIVER COMMUNITY BANK - DAY
Squad car, lights flashing and siren blaring, screeches to a
halt. OFFICER DARREN GLANDER -- 30’s, medium build, dark
hair -- hops out of the squad. He jogs toward the bank
entrance.
INT. BANK TELLER AREA - CONTINUOUS
Glander approaches the counter area. ED NELSON -- late
40’s, athletic-looking, wire-rim glasses -- opens a door to
the right of the counter area and comes out to meet the
police officer.
OFFICER GLANDER
Good god, Ed, what happened?
ED
It was scary, man. I’m sitting in
my office going through paperwork.
The bell dings so I get up and go
out to help what I assume is one of
our customers. Instead I see this
dude with a ski mask pointing a gun
at my face. He says to hand over
all the money in the tills and the
vault or he’ll blow my head off.
OFFICER GLANDER
And you weren’t inclined to argue
with him?
ED
Exactly.
OFFICER GLANDER
The bank robber, after taking all
the money, fled on bicycle down Rail
Side Avenue, is that right?
ED
I guess. I was talking with your
dispatcher at the time so I didn’t
see how the guy got away. Pretty
damn bizarre.
OFFICER GLANDER
It’s unusual all right. Not your
typical getaway vehicle. What’d he
look like?
ED
He had a ski mask on so about all I
can say is that he was about five
ten and weighed like 170 or so.
OFFICER GLANDER
Great. Anything else you can think
of?
ED
Not right now.
OFFICER GLANDER
If we have anymore questions, we’ll
contact you.
ED
I’ll be happy to help in any way I
can.
INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Officer Glander is at his desk studying a police report. He
shakes his head.
OFFICER GLANDER
Screw it, I’m going to call the
sheriff.
He punches a number into the phone.
INTERCUT TO:
EXT. OUT-OF-TOWN GOLF COURSE - CONTINUOUS
SHERIFF DUANE MUNDLE -- late 40’s, shaved head and slight
gut -- and MONICA JOHNSON -- early 20’s, nose ring, multiple
tattoos, black hair dyed orange, well-endowed -- sit on a
golf cart. The sheriff takes one last drag from a joint,
coughs for a couple beats, and tosses the tiny stub away.
Cart comes to a halt. Monica hops out, grabs an iron and
prepares to hit. Sheriff’s cell phone rings. Mundle, a
silly smile on his face, studies the LED.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Oh shit, it’s my work.
MONICA
Go ahead, answer it. I dare yah.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’m stoned but not that fucking
stoned.
Both laugh uproariously.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
Go ahead and hit. I’ll call my work
back after the round is over. The
bastards can wait.
Monica nods and prepares to hit her next shot.
INTERCUT TO:
INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Officer Glander hangs up the phone.
OFFICER GLANDER (SOFTLY)
That’s weird. He said he’d keep his
cell on the whole weekend.
(Beat)
Screw it, who needs him anyway?
INT. CLUBHOUSE - DAY
The sheriff and Monica sit in a booth in the very back of
the clubhouse. Monica lights up a cigarette while Mundle
checks his voice mail messages.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Son of a bitch.
MONICA
What’s wrong?
Sheriff pulls the cell phone away from his ear. He shakes
his head while avoiding eye contact with his female friend.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
The bank was robbed a little before
noon. The bastard got away with
over a quarter million dollars.
MONICA
Which bank?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
The one and only bank in the whole
one-horse town. The Winding River
Community Fucking Bank.
(Beat)
I can’t believe it. There’s never
any real crime in the town and the
one weekend out of the entire year
I’m any distance away from the
place, the bank gets robbed.
Monica sips from her drink, then sets her cigarette in the
ash tray.
MONICA
Murphy’s law, man. So what’s next?
You gonna head back tonight?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I don’t know, I need to be straight
before tackling this. Plus Glander
is a bright kid. He’ll do okay.
I’ll head back tomorrow morning, be
back in town around noon.
MONICA (SMILING COYLY)
So tonight’s our time to shine?
Sheriff Mundle takes a long draught from his margarita.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Damn right it is. Shine, smoke and
do each other up right.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Mundle crawls out from underneath the covers without waking
Monica. Red-eyed and yawning, the sheriff stumbles into the
kitchenette.
An empty bottle of tequila and about a dozen empty beer cans
are strewn across the counter. Smiling and shaking his
head, Mundle rifles through several drawers until finding a
packet of coffee. He empties the coffee into the filter,
pours water into the top of the coffee maker and hits the ON
switch.
He looks at the clock: 6:02 a.m.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (SOFTLY)
Good god, it’s going to be a long
damn day.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Mundle has drank most of the coffee. Monica is still dead
to the world. The sheriff pulls his wallet out. He
extracts a small photograph of a young, smiling, fairly
attractive woman who’s obviously not Monica. The sheriff
smiles ruefully at the photo before slowly putting it away.
He pours the rest of the coffee from the pot into a
stainless steel travel mug. He slips over, kisses Monica on
the forehead and heads for the door.
INT. SHERIFF’S CAR - DAY
Mundle uses cell phone to make a call.
SHARON (O.S.)
Winding River Police Department, how
can I help you?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Hey Sharon, it’s Duane.
SHARON (O.S.)
Oh my god, you missed the
excitement. Darren was going crazy
yesterday.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So I heard. I’m driving back to
Winding River right now. You want
to fill me in on just what in the
hell went down yesterday?
SHARON (O.S.)
Good lord, where to begin? All
right, the silent alarm at the bank
was activated at 11:45 a.m....
INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - MORNING
Sheriff Mundle reads the police report of the robbery at his
desk while slurping down more coffee. Officer Darren
Glander appears in the doorway.
OFFICER GLANDER
Mornin’.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Morning. I was just reading your
report on the robbery.
OFFICER GLANDER
Sorry, Sheriff, but I got nowhere
questioning the residents along Rail
Side Avenue. No one saw a thing. I
can’t believe it.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Yeah, that does seem odd.
(Beat)
But the bigger question is why the
robber chose a bicycle for a getaway
vehicle.
OFFICER GLANDER
That is weird. I’ve never heard of
a criminal in the history of the
world using a bike as a getaway
vehicle in a bank robbery.
The sheriff motions for Glander to have a seat in front of
his desk. He accepts.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Actually I have read of a couple
instances of that happening. It’s
rare but it happens.
(Beat)
At any rate, given the method of
escape, we have to put ourselves in
the criminal’s shoes. What
advantage does a bicycle offer over
your run-of-the-mill getaway
vehicle?
OFFICER GLANDER
No license plate.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Right. What else?
OFFICER GLANDER
More freedom. You don’t have to
drive on the streets and highways.
Bikes can go pretty much anywhere.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Right again. I think the robber
also chose an unconventional mode of
escape because he thought it would
confuse the local law-enforcement
community. That’s not a personal
slam, merely an observation.
Glander shifts uneasily in his chair.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
But the bicycle can only work for
the short-term. You’re not going to
make your ultimate getaway on a damn
bike. It just doesn’t go fast
enough.
Officer Glander sits silently. After a few seconds, he
leans forward in the chair. He points at the sheriff.
OFFICER GLANDER
There is a bike path that runs
parallel to Rail Side Avenue. You
know the one just beyond the
railroad tracks?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Sure. The path runs through the
city park.
(Beat)
I bet you the robber took the bike
path into the park and ditched the
bicycle in the deep grass or in the
forest that surrounds the park. And
then they took the money into the
actual getaway vehicle.
(Beat)
God knows where they are now.
Sheriff Mundle slurps from the coffee mug. He sighs long
and loud.
OFFICER GLANDER
So now what?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
We search every inch of the park for
a bicycle that matches the
description of the one the robber
rode. If we find one, that at least
confirms my theory. It doesn’t get
us any closer to identifying a
suspect but at least we’ll be on the
right track.
OFFICER GLANDER
Gotcha. So what’s next?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Right now, I’ve got a bank VP to
question.
He groans while struggling to his feet. Sheriff grabs his
stainless steel coffee mug.
OFFICER GLANDER
You want me to search the park for
the bike?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Yes.
OFFICER GLANDER
Before or after my rounds?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Before. The shit hasn’t really hit
the fan yet but I can see the blades
spinning and smell a big ass load of
excrement heading right for it. The
bank robbery is priority one.
OFFICER GLANDER
I hear you.
He turns and leaves the office. The sheriff is right behind
him.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Ed Nelson sits on the edge of a recliner several feet from a
home theater TV system. ESPN’s Sports Center is on but
muted. The highlights from the world of sports parades
silently across the screen. Sheriff Mundle sits comfortably
in a couch five feet to Ed’s left.
ED
You sure you don’t want a drink?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
No thanks, Ed. Besides being on
duty, I’m still recovering from last
night.
ED
Yeah, you do look like shit.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (LAUGHING)
Thanks. What can I say, a seductive
female led me astray.
ED
I’ve heard that can happen.
Ed sips from a wine goblet.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So tell me about the robbery.
ED
What you want to know? I already
told Officer Glander what happened.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I know but I haven’t had a chance to
read his report yet plus I want to
hear what happened in your own
words.
Ed looks away from the sheriff. He stares at the TV for a
few seconds. He turns back to the sheriff.
ED
Like I told the officer, I was
sitting in my office going over some
reports. I heard the bell ding,
which means someone is coming into
the bank.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Right.
ED
So I hopped up and went out to the
teller area. I was about to ask the
person how I could help when I saw a
guy with a ski mask pointing a
revolver at me.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
There is Plexiglas protecting you,
right?
Ed laughs and gulps down most of the remaining wine.
ED
It’s only three feet high. It’d be
easy for a robber to get around that
if they wanted to.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So then what happened?
ED
He told me he wanted all the money
in the drawers and from the vault.
I told him I didn’t know the
combination to the vault but he
didn’t believe me. Said if I didn’t
cooperate that he’d shoot me in the
face and see if that jogged my
memory.
Mundle hops up and begins pacing in back of the couch.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Yeah, that would have spurred me
into opening the vault for him.
(Beat)
Can you describe the robber’s voice?
ED
You mean did he have an accent?
Sheriff is still pacing.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
That or anything else about the
voice. You know, was it raspy like
the guy smoked cigarettes a lot,
baritone like Barry White, highpitched
like Pee Wee Herman, Italian
Mafia like "The Sopranos", etc.
Ed shakes his head while contemplating his glass of wine.
ED
I don’t know, nothing that really
jumps out. He sounded normal, like
your typical Minnesotan guy.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Really. So he sounded kind of like
you or me?
ED
Yeah, pretty much.
Ed looks away, again gazing at the soundless highlights on
ESPN. The sheriff stops pacing. He leans over the couch,
elbows resting on the top of the back cushions.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Okay, so you opened up the vault,
right?
ED
Yep. Brought out $250,000 but I
left a little over $100,000 in the
vault. It was in the far right-hand
corner so I knew the robber couldn’t
see it. Plus I figured he’d be
happy with a quarter of a million
dollars.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
And was he satisfied with that
amount?
ED
He bitched, said something like,
’you sure that’s all the money’. I
assured him it was. Told him he was
free to come into the vault and look
for himself. I was scared shitless
that he might take me up on the
offer. But I figured your typical
bank robber doesn’t want to hang
around the bank any longer than he
absolutely has to.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So he took the money. What did he
use to transport the bills?
ED
A black and teal duffel bag. It was
barely big enough to hold it all.
He told me to stay right where I was
until he left the building. If I
moved, he’d shoot me. So I stood
there and watched him leave the bank
with the money.
Sheriff nods. He raises up, folds his arms across his chest
and thinks.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
What time did the gunman leave the
bank?
ED
11:46. That I’m sure of.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
That’s odd. Sharon said the silent
alarm was activated at 11:45. Why
wasn’t it activated earlier?
ED
I didn’t think to activate until
right before he left. Hey, I’m
sorry but when someone points a gun
at your face, it’s not that easy to
think clearly. I froze up, I
panicked, all fucking right?!
Sheriff holds up both palms in a mock-surrender gesture.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Whoa, whoa, easy fella. I’m not
accusing you of anything.
Silence. Ed hops up and makes for the kitchen.
ED
Getting a refill. Be right back.
Sheriff nods, then takes a seat on the couch. Ed returns
with a full glass of wine. He plops down into the recliner.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Nora McCombs said she saw the robber
hop on a black and red bicycle and
travel south until hitting Rail Side
Avenue. He turned right on Rail
Side Avenue. Is that what you saw?
ED
I didn’t see any of that. I called
911 just in case the silent alarm
didn’t work.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
That’s right, you were talking with
our dispatcher Sharon when the
robber made his escape.
ED
You got it.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
One more thing. How tall would you
say the gunman was?
ED
Little under six feet, maybe five
ten. Skinny but muscular.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
All right, that’s all I need for
right now. If I think of anything
else, I’ll let you know.
Sheriff walks over to Ed. The two shake hands.
ED
Good luck on finding the guy.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Thanks for your help. Hey, are we
still on for tennis this Saturday
morning?
ED
Sorry but I’ll have to take a rain
check. I turned my ankle real bad
yesterday. Walking is no big deal
but I don’t want to take a chance
playing tennis. One wrong step and
it could get ugly.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Okay, well, maybe next week, huh?
ED
Hopefully. I’ll let you know how it
feels next week.
Mundle frowns, then heads toward the door.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
All right then. Talk you soon.
ED
Yeah, sure.
Ed cradles the wine glass while staring at the TV screen as
Mundle lets himself out.
INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Sheriff Mundle is in his office. He presses the PLAY button
on a remote.
P.O.V. SHERIFF MUNDLE - CONTINUOUS
Video in the VCR begins playing. Black and white image of
masked gunman entering the bank. Sheriff nods, then takes a
swig of coffee.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (FROWNING)
Robber isn’t close to five foot ten.
Shaking his head, the sheriff makes a note on a yellow pad.
INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Mundle fights to stay awake while shuffling through stacks
of paperwork. Officer Glander appears in the doorway. He’s
holding a black and red bicycle in his gloved hands. Mundle
jumps up.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Holy shit, you found it.
OFFICER GLANDER
Damn right. It was lying not more
than fifteen feet off the bike trail
in the northwest corner of the park.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
All right, leave it here by my desk.
I’ll call the Minnesota BCA and have
them send a technician to check for
prints. Good work.
OFFICER GLANDER
Thanks. Unless you need anything
more from me, I’m outta here.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
You and me both. See you tomorrow.
OFFICER GLANDER
Sounds good. Good night.
INT. ANDY’S OLD FASHIONED PUB - NIGHT
Sheriff Mundle sips a Coke while sitting at the bar. The
owner, ANDREW SCOTT -- tall, strapping, mid 50’s, handlebar
mustache -- reads the sports section of the newspaper while
washing out beer mugs. Two of the four pool tables in the
back of the bar are in use. A third of the booths are
occupied.
ANDREW
So how’s the bank robbery case
goin’?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
It’s going.
ANDREW
You got any suspects yet?
Andrew folds up the sports section. He starts cleaning an
already spotless beer mug while regarding the sheriff.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
We do.
ANDREW
Really?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Yep. We found an 18-speed bicycle
lying in some tall grass in the
northwest corner of the city park.
ANDREW
You mean where the railroad track
intersects with tenth street?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Right. Officer Glander found the
bike there the day after the
robbery. I’m thinking the robber
used a bicycle so he wouldn’t have
to worry about anyone catching a
license plate number. The robber
must have high-tailed it down the
bike path with the loot in a black
and teal duffel bag. When no one
was looking, he veered off the
trail, rode over the railroad
tracks, and ditched the bike in the
tall grass.
A young white male covered with tattoos yells for another
pitcher of beer.
ANDREW
Hold that thought. I’ll be right
back.
He zips down to the other end of the bar, grabs the pitcher
and refills it. Tattoo guy gives Andrew eight bucks.
TATTOO MAN
Keep the change, man.
ANDREW
Thanks.
Owner returns to Sheriff Mundle.
ANDREW (CONT’D)
All right, so you were saying?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
The robber ditches the bike and
takes the loot over to the getaway
vehicle that he’d parked in the city
park earlier that morning. After
that, he drives away with a quarter
million dollars.
ANDREW
So how are you going to come up with
suspects? Did anyone see a guy
getting into a car with a black and
teal duffel bag?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
No but we have videotape from a
security camera at the park. Every
vehicle that enters or leaves the
park is captured on video. We have
identified four vehicles that
entered the park Saturday morning
and left between 11:50 and 12:10
that afternoon. Now it’s a matter
of tracking down the owners of the
vehicles and checking their alibis.
Andrew smiles and shakes his head.
ANDREW
Pretty smart thief but apparently
not smart enough. Guess he didn’t
know about the park security camera.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Apparently not.
Someone else yells for a refill.
ANDREW
Gotta run, Sheriff. You want a
refill on the Coke before I go?
Sheriff shakes his head.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
No, thanks. I better run. Got a
feeling the next couple of days, or
longer, are going to be hectic.
Better get my beauty rest.
ANDREW
Good luck with the case, Sheriff.
Sounds real interestin’.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Thanks, Andy. But you have to
promise me you won’t tell anyone
else what I told you about the case.
I’m serious.
ANDREW
I’m with you, Sheriff. Mum’s the
word.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Excellent.
INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - MORNING
Mundle and Officer Glander sit at the sheriff’s desk.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So you got the owners of the four
vehicles in question?
OFFICER GLANDER
Sure do. One is Katie Koplin. She
was there with her husband and their
three daughters and two sons. Met
another couple for a barbecue.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Okay, that’s one we can cross off
the list. Next.
OFFICER GLANDER
Jeff O’Neil. Unemployed for going
on five years, one prior, an armed
robbery of a 7-11 nine years ago.
He served three years and was
released on parole for good
behavior.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I don’t get how he survives without
ever working.
OFFICER GLANDER
Shacks up with desperate, dumb
women. They house him, give him
money for booze and cigarettes and
in return, I don’t know, he must be
good in bed. That’s all I can
figure.
Telephone rings. Sheriff grabs it.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Sheriff Mundle speaking.
(Two beats)
Oh hi, Mayor Kolawski. What can I
do for you?
(Two more beats)
Oh sure, I understand your concern.
You have to understand it’s early in
the investigation. We’re in the
process of identifying suspects.
Once that’s done, we’ll be
vigorously questioning said suspects
to determine if they’re truly
suspects. And then we’ll see what
happens from there.
(Three beats)
You bet. I’ll keep you in the loop
all throughout the investigation.
Take care, Mayor.
Sheriff hangs the phone up.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
Jerk off.
Glander tries unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
He’s all bent out of shape. Says
the Twin Cities media is making fun
of the police department, and by
extension, the entire town of
Winding River.
OFFICER GLANDER
What are they saying?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
One newspaper read, "Bank Robber
Evades Small-Town Police Force on
18-speed Bike" while the other was
something like, "Robber Pedals Away
with a Quarter of a Million
Dollars".
OFFICER GLANDER
What can you say? They’re right.
For now. After we catch the dirt
ball, everything changes and all is
forgiven.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I couldn’t have said it better
myself. All right, where were we?
OFFICER GLANDER
Two down, two to go.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Yeah, yeah. Okay, next name.
OFFICER GLANDER
James Foley, local resident, no
visible means of support for seven
years, single, no priors. Nothing
official but the word around town is
he likes the dry hooch. Also found
out Mr. Foley purchased, with cash,
a high-definition home theater TV
system worth a little over twenty
grand on the day after the bank job.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Really? That is very interesting.
All right, he’s suspect #2. Next.
OFFICER GLANDER
Ramone Rodriquez -- fireman for the
city for nineteen years, married
with three kids, in the park for a
church picnic.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
He’s out. All righty then, we got
two out of four. That’s not bad.
I will have a little chat with our
two suspects and see just what the
hell their stories are.
EXT. STREETS OF WINDING RIVER - AFTERNOON
Sheriff’s squad car breezes through the bright afternoon
light.
P.O.V. SHERIFF IN FRONT SEAT OF SQUAD CAR - CONTINUOUS
We see a wooden sign on the right:
PARKVIEW MOBILE HOME COURT - NEXT RIGHT
Sheriff flicks on turning signal and negotiates the turn.
He glances down at a note pad lying on the seat beside him.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (SOFTLY)
7115 Alice Avenue South.
We cruise past two intersections. Sheriff squints at the
next street sign.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
Aha, here we go. Alice fricking
Avenue South.
He veers right and soon comes upon 7115 Alice Avenue South.
Mundle parks the squad and jumps out of the vehicle. He
strides toward the mobile home. The yard is crammed full.
Three ATV’s, two ancient, rusting cars on blocks, a
discarded lawn mower, two snowmobiles, croquet set and metal
barbecue fight for space on the yellowed lawn.
Sheriff approaches the front door of the Jeff O’Neil
residence. Nearby a big dog barks desperately. Mundle raps
on the door. No answer. He knocks again.
Finally the door opens. JEFF O’NEIL -- tall, unshaven,
slight paunch and wearing a too-small white tee shirt --
stands before Mundle.
JEFF
Good god, if it ain’t Sheriff
Mundle!
(Beat)
What brings you out here?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’m investigating a bank robbery
that took place last Saturday
morning.
Jeff tries unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.
JEFF
Sorry. Stayed up late playin’ cards
with the boys. So anyway, why in
the hell are you askin’ me about the
bank robbery? I mean you don’t
think I had anything to do with it.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’m not sure. Maybe, maybe not.
Here’s what I got: The city park’s
security system videotape shows a
vehicle registered in your name
entered the park at 9:49 a.m. last
Saturday morning. It exited at
12:23 p.m.
Jeff O’Neil frowns, then issues another yawn.
JEFF
Sorry. Hey Sheriff, let’s discuss
this inside. I just woke up like
fifteen minutes ago. I need some
coffee.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Fine.
The suspect opens the door for the sheriff. Mundle looks
down and sees a pair of size 16 or 17 shoes on a mat to the
door’s right.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
It must really be true. I’ll be
goddamned.
JEFF
What’re you talkin’ about?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Never mind.
Jeff plops into a ratty, olive-colored couch. Mundle takes
a seat on a love seat positioned directly across from the
ugly couch.
JEFF
Now what were you saying?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
A car registered in your name, a
maroon 1992 New Yorker, entered the
park at 9:49 and left at 12:23 p.m.
JEFF
So?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I have a theory about how the bank
robbery was carried out. I believe
that after the man robbed the bank,
he fled on a black and red bicycle.
The robber pedaled down the bike
path parallel to Rail Side Avenue,
veered over and ditched that
bicycle. He then made his getaway
in a more conventional vehicle, in
other words a car or truck.
(Beat)
So where you were between 11:30 a.m.
and 12:30 p.m. last Saturday?
JEFF
I can tell you one thing. I sure
the hell wasn’t in the New Yorker
that drove into the city park.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Who was?
JEFF
Jessie and her two kids.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Who’s Jessie?
JEFF
My girlfriend.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
She owns this place, right?
JEFF
You got it.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
What was she doing in the park with
your car?
JEFF
Takin’ her two kids, Joey and Lizzy,
plus two other neighbor kids, to the
park. They were having this picnic
deal. The parents of the neighbor
kids, Norma and Bob or Robby or
somethin’ like that, were going to
meet them at the park in the early
afternoon.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Why was that?
JEFF
To pick up their children.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
What time did the picnic end?
JEFF
A few minutes after noon. Hey, you
want coffee or anything?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
No thanks.
JEFF
Be right back, Sheriff. I need a
refill.
He jumps up, grabs a coffee cup and disappears into the
kitchen. Mundle looks around the unremarkable living room.
Jeff returns with a steaming cup of java. He plops onto the
same ratty olive couch.
JEFF
All righty, that’s better. So what
were you saying what, Sheriff?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
The picnic ended shortly after
twelve o’clock noon. If you weren’t
with your girlfriend and her two
kids, where were you?
JEFF
Hangin’ out here. Had a bunch of
buddies over the previous night for
a poker game. Didn’t get outta bed
until a few minutes before noon.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Can anyone else verify this?
JEFF
Hell no. Jessie wasn’t here and all
my poker buddies left after the card
game was over.
Sheriff nods. Jeff slurps his coffee.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Did a neighbor maybe see you go
outside to pick up the newspaper or
anything like that?
JEFF
Nope. We don’t get the newspaper.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I see.
JEFF
Why in the hell am I a suspect?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Number one, a vehicle registered in
your name was in the city park on
the day of the robbery. Number two,
you were convicted of armed robbery
in the state of Arkansas seven years
ago, and number three, the Winding
River Police Department has
investigated four domestic
disturbances involving yourself
since 2002. In short, in the eyes
of the local police, you ain’t no
Mother Teresa, all right?
Jeff jumps up. He glares at the sheriff.
JEFF
I never claimed to be a Mother
Fucking Teresa but that don’t mean
I’m a criminal.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
It also means that you’re not
necessarily innocent. Until further
notice, you’re not to leave the town
of Winding River.
Jeff glares at the sheriff.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
Is there anything else we should
discuss?
He takes a step toward Mundle. The sheriff hops up, hands
on hips, his right hand poised a few inches from his .45
Beretta.
JEFF
Not a fuckin’ thing.
The two men glare at each other for several tense beats.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Thanks for your time, Mr. O’Neil.
I’ll be in touch.
Jeff glares as the sheriff strides toward the door. Mundle
looks back to ensure the suspect isn’t making any
threatening moves. He finishes the journey to the door with
Jeff O’Neil shooting invisible arrows of loathing at his
back.
EXT. STREETS OF WINDING RIVER - CONTINUOUS
Squad car slows, then eases over to the curb. Sheriff gets
out of the car and strides up the sidewalk leading to a twostory
Victorian house. Water gurgles through a vast,
intricate rock garden on his left. Three vast collections
of shrubbery and flowers take up residence on the right.
Mundle reaches the door. He grabs a bronze lion knocker and
bangs it on the midnight blue door. Several beats later,
the the door is pulled back.
JAMES FOLEY -- brown hair splattered with gray, silver wirerim
glasses, thin layer of stubble on chin and neck, dressed
in black sweats and tee-shirt -- stands in the doorway. He
frowns after seeing Mundle.
JAMES
Can I help you, Sheriff?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I hope so. I’m sure you know about
the bank robbery last Saturday.
JAMES
Sure. It’s the talk of the town.
(Laughing)
I gotta give the robber credit.
Using a 18-speed or whatever speed
bike it was to escape was pretty
damn ballsy -- and original.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
It sure was. I think the robber
used two modes of transportation to
escape.
JAMES
No shit?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
He used a bike on the first part of
his getaway. Then he ditched the
bike in some tall grass in the park
and used a car or truck to make his
ultimate getaway.
JAMES
Really? That is one clever
criminal. Don’t get me wrong, I’m
not condoning his actions. I’m just
saying it doesn’t sound like your
run-of-the-mill, deadbeat armed bank
robber.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I agree.
(Beat)
The reason I’m here is that the
park’s video surveillance system
shows a vehicle registered to you
entered the park a few minutes after
ten o’clock last Saturday, the day
of the robbery, and left at 12:10.
JAMES
Oh, I get it now. You think I may
be involved because I was in the
park during and right after the
robbery.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Bingo.
James gets a faraway look in his eyes. After a few seconds
of staring glassy-eyed into some unknown horizon, he
refocuses on the sheriff.
JAMES
Sorry, I was distracted for a
moment. How about we go inside to
finish our discussion?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
That’s fine.
James pushes the door open. The sheriff steps inside.
JAMES
The living room is to your right.
Mundle nods and veers right. James closes the front door
and follows. We walk into a living room dominated by a HDTV
home theater system and expansive aquarium. A mahogany
coffee table divides a large leather couch from a pair of
director’s chairs.
JAMES
Please, have a seat.
Sheriff takes him up on the offer.
JAMES (CONT’D)
Can I get you something to drink,
Sheriff?
Mundle shakes his head.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
No thanks.
James takes up residence on the couch.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
All right, tell me about your
experience in the city park last
Saturday.
JAMES
Not much to tell. I played tennis
with a buddy of mine.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
What’s your buddy’s name?
JAMES
Tommy Ryan.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
He’s a partner in the accounting
firm of Welch, Brown and Ryan.
JAMES
He sure is. Besides knowing
accounting and taxes, he’s a pretty
decent tennis player. Beats me more
times than not, although lately I’ve
been making him work harder to win.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
How did it go on Saturday?
JAMES
We played three sets. He won 6-4 in
the third.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So the match ended right around
noon?
JAMES
Actually it was ten to twelve. We
usually bullshit for at least
fifteen minutes after the match.
Saturday was no exception.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Bullshit about what?
JAMES
The usual -- sports, politics,
religion, you know, all the
noncontroversial subjects.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
And you left the park after b.s.ing
until shortly after noon, is that
right?
JAMES
Right again, Sheriff.
Mundle shifts position in his chair. He shoots a steely
look at James.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
And what, may I ask, were you
thinking about a few minutes ago?
JAMES
What do you mean?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Right before we came inside, you
didn’t speak for a few seconds. You
had this faraway look in your eyes
and you were smiling ever so subtly.
James laughs.
JAMES
I need to preface my answer by
saying that I truly had nothing to
do with your current case. I just
want to emphasize that.
Sheriff smiles.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Duly noted.
JAMES
All right. I was wondering if there
are professional bank robbers out
there. You know, someone who
actually gets away with bank
robberies. No, strike that. Not
even plural. How many bank robbers
actually get away with their crime?
Sheriff nods, then scrunches up his face.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
You know, I don’t have exact figures
but I’d say we catch over 90%, maybe
even 95% of armed robbery
perpetrators.
JAMES
That leaves five to ten percent out
there with a shit load of money and
and if they invest it properly,
won’t have to ever work another day
the rest of their lives.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
That’s right.
JAMES
I just find that scenario very
intriguing.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Getting back to the current case, I
need to know if anyone else saw you
and Tommy Ryan playing tennis in the
park last Saturday morning.
James frowns.
JAMES
Yeah, there were a couple teen-age
boys, probably on the high school
tennis team by the looks of their
strokes, playing on the court next
to us.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
You know their names?
JAMES
Nope. The one looked very much like
Ralph Jorgensen so I’m thinking it
was Ralph’s son but I can’t say for
sure.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Anyone else?
JAMES
Sorry Sheriff but I need a
cigarette. Do you mind?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Certainly not. It’s your home. You
do what you want.
James pulls a pack of Marlboro Lights out of his shirt
pocket. After lighting up, he takes a long drag, exhales
and sets the cigarette in a metal ashtray on the coffee
table.
JAMES
I’m sorry, Sheriff, where were we?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
You were about to tell me who else,
if anyone, saw you and Tommy Ryan
playing tennis in the park last
Saturday.
James sneaks in another drag. He nods vigorously while
putting the cigarette down.
JAMES
I would say yes but I couldn’t give
you a name. There was a junior high
or maybe even grade school soccer
game going on just to the north of
the tennis court. But I’m sure all
the players, coaches and spectators
were focused on the soccer game.
Let’s face it, Sheriff, except for
the combatants themselves, no one
else gives a shit about two late
40’s guys batting a tennis ball
around.
The sheriff laughs.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Trust me, I know that from personal
experience.
(Beat)
But you think the one high school
boy was probably Ralph Jorgensen’s
son, correct?
James nods.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I understand your tennis buddy’s
accounting firm has major
profitability issues. Has he said
anything to you about it?
JAMES
Claims his firm has several new
clients on board that will make up
for the two big ones they lost to
that new CPA firm.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I see. By the way, what do you do
for a living?
James takes another drag from the cigarette, lifts his head
and shoots the plume of smoke toward the ceiling.
JAMES
You could call me an independent
investment broker.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Which means what exactly?
JAMES
I manage my retired parents’
extensive portfolio. In return,
they pay me a very generous fee.
Plus I’m a day trader and very
successful on-line sports gambler.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
You seem to enjoy taking risks.
JAMES
Only calculated ones, Sheriff.
Mundle nods while scribbling on a note pad. He looks up and
regards James with a steely stare.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’m seriously considering obtaining
a search warrant for your property
for the missing money from the
Winding River Community Bank.
James laughs while casually taking a drag from his
cigarette.
JAMES
What makes you say a thing like
that?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Number one, based on your facial
expressions and comments, you are
obviously intrigued with the idea of
pulling off a bank robbery. Number
two, you were in the park where the
bank robber probably dropped the
bike off before escaping in a
conventional getaway vehicle.
Number three, other than your tennis
partner, who may well be your
partner in crime, you have no eye
witnesses to verify your presence on
the tennis court from just after ten
a.m. to twelve-fifteen p.m.
James frowns while taking one last drag.
JAMES
So what exactly are you saying? How
we go from playing tennis to robbing
a bank? I don’t get it.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Let’s say you and Tommy Ryan are
partners in the bank job. You pull
into the park at a few minutes after
ten in the morning. You play tennis
until say eleven-fifteen. You take
a break. While Tommy sneaks off,
you chill out on the court, drinking
water, toweling off and maybe
watching the high school boys
playing on the court next to you.
Tommy, with the ski mask on and
revolver tucked in his pants pocket,
pedals over to the Winding River
Community Bank. He pulls off the
robbery, hops on the bike and pedals
down the bike path. After ditching
the bike in the tall grass, he
casually strolls over to the tennis
courts with the duffel bag full of
stolen money. From there you two
drive back out of the park.
James smiles broadly.
JAMES
That would have been very
impressive, indeed. Like I said
before,
I was to rob a bank, I
would have scripted it very much
like this one.
(Beat)
The truth is I had nothing to do
with your bank robbery.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
We’ll see about that. Don’t leave
town for the next week or two. I’ll
be in touch.
JAMES
I’m sure you will be.
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
JUDGE RED TAYLOR -- mid to late 50’s, tan, around six feet
tall, in good shape for his age, full head of white hair --
sits at the kitchen table smoking a pipe. He’s holding five
cards, as are the other four players. Three young women,
two of them well-endowed blondes, the other a slender
brunette, and a mid-twenties Asian man wearing only black
boxers, occupy the other spots at the table.
One blonde is wearing only a bra and panties while the other
blonde is fully clothed. The brunette still has her pants
on but no top. Judge Taylor is fully clothed in a golf teeshirt
and chinos. A pile of money sits in the middle of the
table.
JUDGE TAYLOR
I call.
The other players lay their cards down.
GREGORY
Shit.
The three women giggle and stare expectantly in Gregory’s
direction. Judge Taylor is likewise interested. The
portable phone next to his pipe rings. LED reads: Winding
River District Attorney Office.
JUDGE TAYLOR
This fucking better be good.
He snaps up the phone.
JUDGE TAYLOR (CONT’D)
Hello.
RICK TRAVIS (O.S.)
Rick Travis here, Judge. Sorry to
bother you but I just got a request
for a search warrant from Sheriff
Mundle.
JUDGE TAYLOR
Search who and where?
RICK TRAVIS (O.S.)
The residences of James Foley and
Tommy Ryan.
JUDGE TAYLOR
This have something to do with the
bank robbery?
RICK TRAVIS (O.S.)
Yes. The sheriff thinks James Foley
and Tommy Ryan were involved in the
robbery of the Winding River
Community Bank. He questioned James
Foley and found he and Tommy were in
the city park before and allegedly
during the bank robbery. He’s
convinced Tommy Ryan robbed the
bank, ditched the bicycle and the
two of them drove off with the
stolen money.
JUDGE TAYLOR
And I suppose he can’t wait until
tomorrow for the search warrant.
RICK TRAVIS (O.S.)
Right. He’s afraid the suspects
will move the money or take the
money and run.
JUDGE TAYLOR
Fine. I’ll be in my office in
fifteen minutes.
RICK TRAVIS (O.S.)
Thanks. See you then.
The judge points at Gregory.
JUDGE TAYLOR
You keep your pants on. But just
until I get back. And the same goes
for the rest of you. I have some
business I have to take care of but
I’ll be back in forty-five minutes,
an hour at the most.
One of the blondes, DAISY MAE, disgustedly throws her cards
on the table.
DAISY MAE
I wanna see what’s he’s got now.
JUDGE TAYLOR
I paid a lot for you guys so you’ll
do what I say or your pimp’s going
to hear an earful from me.
Daisy Mae frowns while the other two girls stifle their
laughter. Gregory folds his arms across his chest in an
attempt to keep warm.
EXT. SIDEWALK LEADING TO JAMES FOLEY’S FRONT DOOR - NIGHT
Sheriff Foley and four officers stride toward the suspect’s
front door. Sheriff raps on the door. Seconds later, James
Foley appears.
JAMES
Back so soon?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
James C. Foley, the Winding River
Police Department has obtained a
search warrant from Judge Red Taylor
for your residence located at 1661
Maple Lane.
He shows the document to James Foley. Foley nods.
JAMES
Yeah, fine, whatever. Do whatever
you need to. I have a three-monthold
pit bull named Elsie down in the
basement. But since she’s kenneled,
you won’t have any problems with
her.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So noted. All right, guys, let’s
move. You heard what he said about
the pit bull.
The officers disburse.
INT. KITCHEN - HOUR LATER
James Foley is nearly done with his cigarette. Sheriff
Mundle shuffles into the room.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
We’re through here. We didn’t find
anything.
James nods, a smug smile on his face.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
That doesn’t mean you’re not still a
suspect. You could have moved the
money between the time I questioned
you earlier today and the time we
got here tonight to search your
place.
JAMES
All I gotta say is you must have a
serious shortage of suspects if
you’re hoping to pin this crime on
me and Tommy.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
We don’t need a lot of suspects. We
just need to identify the right
suspects. And from where I sit,
right now, you’re a damn strong one.
JAMES
Prove it.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’m working on it. Excuse me, Mr.
Foley.
Sheriff turns away, produces a cell phone and hits several
buttons.
OFFICER GLANDER (O.S.)
Officer Glander here.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Your search team find anything over
there?
OFFICER GLANDER (O.S.)
Not a blessed thing. Sorry.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
That’s all right. We keep
investigating, we keep looking,
something will turn up.
OFFICER GLANDER (O.S.)
We’re wrapping up here. I should
have my report done sometime
tomorrow, probably not until late in
my shift.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Don’t worry about it. Get it done
when you can.
OFFICER GLANDER (O.S.)
Thanks, boss. Good night.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Good night.
INT. SHERIFF MUNDLE’S SQUAD CAR - CONTINUOS
Black and white car cruises down side street of the dark,
silent town. Sheriff’s cell phone rings. He grabs it.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Sheriff Mundle speaking.
MAYOR KOWALSKI (O.S.)
Sorry to bother you at such a late
hour, Sheriff, but I learned from
Judge Taylor that you have two
bonafide suspects in the bank
robbery case.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Yes, we surely do. Unfortunately we
did not find the stolen money in
either suspects’ residences. But
that doesn’t mean they’re clear of
suspicion.
MAYOR KOWALSKI (O.S.)
It also means you don’t have much of
a case against them, isn’t that
right?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Not at this point but that could
change very quickly.
(Beat)
And why, may I ask, are you taking
such an interest in this particular
case?
Mundle flicks on the left-hand turning signal. He
negotiates the turn without incident.
MAYOR KOWALSKI (O.S.)
Because the sense of safety and
security the residents of Winding
River have come to expect has been
shattered. The citizens of our fair
community can no longer walk the
streets without worrying nor sleep
soundly at night because of this
robbery. And I can’t blame them!
We have bank robbers sticking guns
in the face of bank personnel and
then riding off on a damned bicycle
with a quarter million dollars.
Mundle turns right and slows to turn right again into the
driveway of his home.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Listen Mayor, the case is only three
days old, for god’s sake. I’m
working on it, all right? I’ve
notified the the FBI and I will be
working with them throughout the
case. Plus it’s not like crime is
running rampant in the town.
MAYOR KOWALSKI (O.S.)
You’re the law-enforcement expert
but it seems to me if you don’t
catch the bank robber within 24 to
48 hours, the odds are pretty small
of ever catching them.
The sheriff eases the squad car to a stop. He shuts off the
lights and motor.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Normally most armed robbery cases
are solved in the first 24 to 48,
sometimes 72 hours. I really
thought we had our men but we found
nothing in either Foley’s or Ryan’s
residences. That doesn’t mean they
didn’t move the money between the
time I spoke with Foley this
afternoon and the time we carried
out the searches. For now, they’re
still considered suspects.
(Beat)
It’s been a long day, Mayor. I’m
exhausted, frustrated and I don’t
know what else to tell you. We’re
doing the best we can.
Mundle climbs out of the squad, cell phone to his ear, and
trudges up the walk toward the front door of his house.
MAYOR KOWALSKI (O.S.)
All right, Sheriff, I won’t keep you
any longer. And by the way, if
there’s anything I can do to help
your department with the
investigation, don’t hesitate to
ask.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’ll certainly keep that in mind,
Mayor. Good night.
(Beat, then to
himself)
You just want to make sure you’re
reelected next November.
He powers off the cell phone and pockets it while unlocking
the front door.
INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - MORNING
Mundle hits a button on the phone sitting next to his
computer.
ROBERTA SMITH (O.S.)
Yes?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Please hold all my calls for the
next half hour or so. I need to
watch the video of the bank robbery
again.
ROBERTA SMITH (O.S.)
You got it. Anything else?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
No, thank you.
He takes the videotape over to a VCR unit on wheels, inserts
into the slot and pulls the unit closer to his desk. While
the tape begins to play, Mundle hustles back to the desk.
On the screen, we see but cannot hear a grainy black and
white Ed Nelson speaking to the robber.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (TO SELF)
Damn, I wish we had audio.
INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
The videotape ends with the masked robber stalking out of
the bank with a duffel bag full of stolen money. Mundle
hits the PAUSE button. He frowns. He hits the intercom
button on the phone.
ROBERTA SMITH (O.S.)
How was the video?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
The film production was iffy, the
plot predictable but all in all, it
held my attention until the very
end. I give it three out of four
stars.
ROBERTA SMITH (O.S.)
That’s nice. So you’re taking calls
again, right?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Not yet. Can you tear yourself away
from the phone for a couple of
minutes? I need to get your take on
one part of the bank video.
ROBERTA SMITH (O.S.)
I can take the headset with me but I
can’t really just leave the phones
since my back-up is out taking care
of a few errands.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Whatever. I just need a female’s
perspective on something.
ROBERTA SMITH (O.S.)
Hang on, Sweety.
Sheriff rewinds the the video back to where Ed Nelson is
about to hand over the last of the money. Roberta strolls
into the room.
ROBERTA SMITH
All right, Columbo, whaddya got?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Check out this ass.
ROBERTA SMITH
I beg your pardon?
Mundle nods at the screen.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’m serious. You have a wait a few
seconds but just watch this person’s
butt.
Sheriff hits the PLAY button. Masked robber takes the last
of the money from Ed and deposits in a large duffel bag.
With the gun still pointed at Ed’s chest, the robber backs
up for several feet. The figure throws the gun into the
duffel bag, quickly zips it up and turns toward the front
doors.
Mundle hits the PAUSE button.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
All right, I’m going to play it in
slow motion. You tell what you
think, all right?
ROBERTA SMITH
What am I supposed to be looking
for?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Just pretend you’re watching this
video for the first time. Hold it,
this is the first time you’ve
watched this video.
Roberta laughs.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
What I’m trying to say is forget
everything you know about the case.
Forget the descriptions of the
suspect and the newspaper and TV
reports of the crime. Can you do
that?
She shrugs, closes her eyes for a couple of seconds, and
open them. She is smiling.
ROBERTA SMITH
I can do it. All right, play the
damned tape.
Mundle hits the PLAY button.
CLOSE-UP OF RETREATING BACKSIDE OF ROBBER
Roberta and the sheriff watch as the baggy-blue-jean covered
rear end slowly retreats from view. Several seconds of
silence while the administrative assistant contemplates her
response. A frown comes over Roberta’s face.
ROBERTA SMITH
I thought the robber was supposed to
be a man.
The sheriff jumps up from his chair. He rushes over to
Roberta.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So you see that’s a female ass too?!
ROBERTA SMITH
Yeah, honey, either that or that is
one serious queer with a real strong
feminine side. But how come Ed
Nelson said it was a guy a little
under six feet tall?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
That’s what I aim to find out.
INT. ED NELSON’S CONDO - NIGHT
Ed pushes through the front door. Tie is loosened, both
sleeves are rolled up past the elbow and he’s got a sports
coat over one shoulder. He simultaneously slams the door
shut and tosses the sports jacket onto the couch.
Phone in living room rings. He bounds over. LED reads
BAILEY HOWELL.
ED
Lonely, shy, but basically great guy
banker here.
BAILEY (O.S.)
Hello my ballsy banker stud-type.
Are we still on for tomorrow night?
ED
My place at eight o’clock. I’ll
cook if you bring the booze.
BAILEY (O.S.)
Sounds great. And not only will I
bring the alcohol, I’ve got a little
bonus surprise for you.
ED
Really? What would that be?
BAILEY (O.S.)
Don’t be silly, Edwardo. If I told
you now then it wouldn’t be a
surprise, would it?
ED
Can’t argue with that logic.
(Beat)
Plus we need to discuss the
disposition of the, ah, assets we
recently acquired.
BAILEY (O.S.)
I was thinking the same thing, hon.
See yah tomorrow night.
ED
Ciao.
He rings off, hops up whistling on his way to the fridge.
Ed snaps up a bottle of beer. Phone rings again. This time
the displays shows WINDING RIVER P.D.
ED (TO SELF)
Oh shit.
His hand hovers over the phone for two beats. After
throwing down a healthy dose of beer and sighing, Ed grabs
it on the fifth ring.
ED (CONT’D)
Hello.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
Hey Ed, how’s it going?
ED
It’s Friday night, I got a cold beer
in my hand and the Twins are on the
tube starting in like fifteen
minutes.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
Plus from the sounds of it, you got
a good-looking, adventurous, younger
woman on the string.
ED
What are you talking about?
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
Don’t play coy with me. Four
different people have told me they
saw you and Bailey Howell having
drinks and/or dinner on at least
three occasions over the past month.
You’ve been holding out on me, old
buddy.
Ed nearly chokes on the beer. He holds the receiver away
from his mouth while the coughing fit runs its course.
ED
What are you talking about, holding
out?
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
You never told me you were going out
with Bailey Howell.
Ed again holds the receiver away from his mouth while
breathing out a giant sigh of relief.
ED
Sorry, man. I don’t know where, if
anywhere, really, this is going so I
haven’t told a lot of people about
it. I figure in a town this small,
word’s going to get around soon
enough.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
Anyway, I have a few more questions
about the robbery. It shouldn’t
take more than fifteen to thirty
minutes. You free tonight?
ED
Tonight is not a good night. How
about tomorrow morning or even
afternoon?
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
I see what’s happening. You and
Bailey have a hot date tonight.
ED
Actually we have a date tomorrow
night.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
So what’s going on tonight?
ED
Nothing but it’s been a long,
stressful week at work. I’m beat.
I’m sorry, Duane, can you excuse me
for just a few seconds? I’ve got
another call.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
No problem. I’ll hang tight.
Ed hits the HOLD button while burping long and loud. He
smiles brightly.
ED
All right, I’m back. It was a
telemarketer who I promptly hung up
on.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
Anyway, I’m sure you’ve had a long
week but this is important. I need
to clarify some things regarding the
robbery. Trust me, it won’t take .
Ed rocks back and forth on the couch, his eyes closed. His
eyes open.
ED
Okay. Come on over.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (O.S.)
Great. I’ll be there in ten
minutes.
INT. ED NELSON’S CONDO - CONTINUOUS
Sheriff Mundle and Ed Nelson sit at the kitchen table. A
bottle of beer sits in front of Ed. A glass of water waits
in front of the sheriff.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
With most cases I would wait until
tomorrow but given the seriousness
and magnitude of the crime, we need
answers as soon as humanly possible.
ED
I’m sure you do but I don’t see what
else I can tell you.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
First off, there’s the gender issue.
I’ve watched the bank surveillance
tape several times. My
administrative assistant, who is
female, watched the video as well.
We both agree the robber is a woman.
ED
No way. Okay, like I said before, I
was scared and when I said the guy
was a little under six feet tall,
that was wrong. Seeing your life
flash before your eyes after someone
points a gun at your chest can screw
up perception. But I know it was a
guy.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
We watched the tape of the robber as
they left the bank. We had the
luxury of seeing it in slow-motion.
The way the robber’s hips swayed as
the person fled the bank tells me
that was no gentleman. In fact, it
was no man at all.
Ed brings the beer bottle to his lips and drains the rest of
the container’s contents. He shakes his head while
shrugging his shoulders.
ED
Sorry but I didn’t have access to a
fucking videotape I could watch like
sixteen times. Besides, it wasn’t
like I was staring at her ass, if it
was really a female, as she/he left
the bank.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
All right, thanks for your time.
Sorry I had to do this, Ed, but it’s
my job. I really, really, really
hope I’m wrong about this. We’ve
been friends for, good God, over
going on thirty years, so I know
you’ve got a lot going for you. I
just hope you haven’t let it all
slip away because of one bad
decision.
ED
Now what? Am I being charged with
anything? If so, I’m going to hire
a lawyer.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
You’re not being charged...yet. We
need concrete evidence linking you
to the crime, which we don’t have.
I’ll be in touch with you as the
investigation proceeds. In the
meantime, don’t leave town without
informing me first.
ED
Sure. Is that it?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
For now.
INT. BAILEY HOWELL’S BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
BAILEY HOWELL -- mid 20’s, long, gorgeous auburn hair, tiny
waist, prominent breasts, dazzling brown eyes, deep tan --
puts on the last of her eyeliner. She stands back in front
of the mirror. She admires the perfectly presented face and
hair. She’s wearing a tight white tee-shirt and loosefitting
blue jeans. Tee-shirt reads MONICA SUCKED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE BUT SHE WASN’T THERE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
Doorbell RINGS. Bailey frowns. She hustles into the living
room and makes for the front door. Doorbell chime sounds
again. She pulls the door back. It’s Sheriff Mundle.
BAILEY
Hi, ah, I believe it’s Sheriff
Mundle, right?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
That’s right. Sorry to bother you
on a Friday night and all, it looks
like you’re ready to go out on the
town, but I need to ask you a few
questions about the bank robbery
case.
BAILEY
Little old, innocent, God-fearing,
country-loving me? Are you sure you
have the right person?
Mundle can’t help cracking a smile.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
’Fraid so, mam.
BAILEY
Well come on in, Sheriff. Have a
seat wherever you want.
She holds the door open as Mundle enters the house. He sits
down on one of the two leather couches in the well-appointed
living room. Bailey takes a seat at the other couch facing
the one the sheriff occupies. An array of wildlife and
literary coffee-table books cover most of the coffee table
separating the two pieces of furniture.
BAILEY (CONT’D)
I’m sorry, where in the devil are my
manners? A local-enforcement
official enters my home I forget how
to behave like a civilized human
being. Would you like anything to
drink, Sheriff Mundle?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’m fine, thank you. Hold it, I
lied. It’s getting late, I’m almost
off duty and the prospect of a cold
beer is exhilarating. If you have
any, that is.
BAILEY
I believe I could scrounge one up.
Lager, ale, stout or something else?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Grain Belt Premium, if you have it.
BAILEY
You’re in luck. Got three left.
She leaves the room to grab the beer. Mundle looks around
the home. There’s no television in sight. A small stereo
cowers in one corner of the living room. Paintings of
whales, kangaroos, elephants and giraffes cover most of the
walls. Bailey saunters back with the sheriff’s beer in one
hand and a cocktail glass filled with a Bloody Mary in the
other. Two celery stalks, a gathering of olives and ice
cubes fight for space inside the glass. Bailey hands the
beer to Mundle.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Thank you very much.
BAILEY
You are so welcome. So what is this
all about? I admit, I’m confused.
Sheriff sips the beer. He nods.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I’m not going to beat around the
mulberry bush or whatever the hell
kind of bush it is. I’m here
because you very well may be a
suspect in the robbery of the
Winding River Community Bank last
Saturday morning.
Bailey jerks her head toward the sheriff.
BAILEY
What?! Why in God’s name would you
think that?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
It’s a long story. Tell you what,
let’s talk about where you were last
Saturday between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00
p.m.
Bailey chomps on one of the celery stalks, then drops an
olive into her mouth.
BAILEY
Out for a bike ride like I usually
am on Saturday morning.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Do you take the same route every
time?
BAILEY
Not exactly but it’s close. After
starting out from my place --
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Which is, what, two miles north of
the city limits just off Highway 15?
BAILEY
Right. I ride down the frontage
road down to the start of the bike
path --
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Excuse me, Miss Howell, but what
time did you leave the house on your
bike ride?
BAILEY
It was almost a quarter to twelve.
The sheriff sneaks a swig of beer in.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Really? Why so late?
Bailey laughs.
BAILEY
Late? I didn’t realize I was on a
schedule to go for a bike ride.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I just meant it seems like you’re
riding through town by ten-thirty or
eleven. At least that’s when I’ve
noticed you coming down Main Street.
BAILEY
Yes, Sheriff, that is true.
Normally I’m out of the house by ten
but I woke up a little later than
normal.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
All right, so you left at elevenforty-
five. Did any of your
neighbors see you leaving on your
bike?
BAILEY
Not that I’m aware of.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Did you see anyone out walking or
driving that you recognized?
She shakes her head.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
You take the frontage road to the
the bike path. That puts you on the
bike path right around ten to
twelve. All right, then what?
BAILEY
I stayed on the bike path until
hitting Oak Street. I took a right
on Oak and headed south toward
downtown.
Bailey reaches for her drink but knocks it over instead.
Sheriff snaps up the books on the coffee table. She jumps
up.
BAILEY
Shit. Excuse me, Sheriff.
She rushes into the kitchen and comes back with a roll of
paper towels. Bailey squats down to clean up the mess. Her
jeans ride down to reveal black thong underwear.
ANGLE ON BAILEY’S EXPOSED LOWER BACK: WE SEE A TATTOO OF A
GIRAFFE, THE HEAD APPEARING TO STARE AT BAILEY’S BACKSIDE.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Nice tattoo. Where’d you get it
done at?
BAILEY
Place in south Minneapolis called
the Body Art Palace. A former
boyfriend recommended it.
She straightens up, empty glass in one hand, olives and
celery stalks in the other.
BAILEY (CONT’D)
If you’ll excuse me again, I need to
make another drink.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Certainly.
Bailey struts off toward the kitchen. We hear cupboard
doors opening and closing and then ice cubes falling into a
glass. Mundle sips his beer. A moment later, Bailey
flashes back into view. She sits back down on the couch
facing the sheriff.
BAILEY
Where were we?
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
We were discussing your tattoo but
where we really need to be is back
on your bike ride last Saturday.
BAILEY
Ah yes, of course. All right, so I
took a right on Oak Street, cruised
down and hung a right on Main
Street. Went down Main Street for a
couple miles and then cruised
through the Winding River Ball
Fields. I checked out the slow
pitch softball tournament but after
finding out my friend’s team wasn’t
playing, I moved on.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Did anyone you know see you at the
fields?
BAILEY
No, not that I know of. I never
actually stopped anywhere.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
All right, then where’d you go?
BAILEY
Pedaled back down Main Street, took
a left on Elm Street and stayed on
that until I hit the bike path.
Took that back to the frontage road
and that’s pretty much it.
Sheriff nods while taking a hit from his beer.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Assuming your times are accurate,
you would have reached the
intersection of Oak and Main Street
right around 12:05, maybe 12:10.
BAILEY
I wasn’t wearing a watch but that
sounds pretty close.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I figured it’s two miles from your
place to the city limits and then
it’s right around a mile from the
city limits to the intersection of
Oak and Main Street. Since you’re
young and in fairly good shape, I
figure you average right around a
six-minute mile, maybe a little
faster. Take three times six and
add that to your starting time of
11:50, that puts you there right
around 12:08, give or take a couple
minutes.
BAILEY
All right, so what’s your point?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
If you’re right about the starting
time, that means you couldn’t have
been at the Winding River Community
Bank during the time of the robbery.
BAILEY
Which I wasn’t.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
So you say. The problem is no one
else can verify your story. And
given your lovely appearance, I’m
sure more than a couple folks noted
your presence. But it’s also
possible they didn’t know you
personally.
BAILEY
Am I a suspect or not?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
You are a suspect unless we find
someone to back up your story about
where and when you were on your bike
ride through town.
Mundle polishes off the beer. He stands up.
SHERIFF MUNDLE (CONT’D)
I’ll be in touch, Miss Howell.
BAILEY
Fine. I’ve got nothing to hide,
Sheriff.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Judge Red Taylor, wearing a pair of bunny slippers and his
judge’s robe, lounges on the couch. A portable phone is
plastered to his left ear. Sultry, cigarette-raspy voice of
DIAMANA SUN is on the other end.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
What’s your story, Ned?
JUDGE TAYLOR
That’s Ted.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
Sorry about that, hon.
JUDGE TAYLOR
Don’t you worry, darlin’. So tell
me about yourself. I believe in the
chat room you said something like
late 30’s, chesty, adventurous, in
bed and out.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
That’s right, sugar. Every day is
an adventure. Skydiving, white
water rafting, big game hunting,
marathon lovemaking sessions, high
stakes poker, I’m all about risks
and rewards.
JUDGE TAYLOR
I’m bigger on rewards than risks but
I can dig the marathon lovemaking
sessions.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
What about you, Fred?
JUDGE TAYLOR
That’s Ned, I mean Ted.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
I’m sorry, hon. Anyway, what’s your
story?
JUDGE TAYLOR
After flying 747’s for United for
twenty years, I retired at fortyfive.
Shrewd investments and a
generous inheritance from my dearly
departed father have allowed me the
luxury of kissing the workplace good
bye forever. But enough about me,
what are you wearing right now?
DIAMANA (O.S.)
Besides a smile, very little, you
naughty boy.
JUDGE TAYLOR
How little? I need details.
The judge’s right hand lands on his right thigh. He leans
forward so he’s nearly on the very edge of the cushion.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
A black, lacy, well-filled out bra
from Victoria Secret and matching
thongs.
JUDGE TAYLOR
Oh my, that sounds absolutely yummy.
I’m wearing black too. And a really
big smile.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
You got anything else really big
besides your smile and bank balance?
Judge Taylor starts to slip his right hand under his robe
when a beeping comes over the line. He glances at the
caller ID: COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
JUDGE TAYLOR (CONT’D)
Oh shit.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
Excuse me?
JUDGE TAYLOR
Not you, sweetheart. I got another
call that I really, really don’t
want to take but I have to. It’s a
sort of a work emergency deal.
DIAMANA (O.S.)
Work? You said you were a retired
airline pilot! How can you have a
work emergency?
JUDGE TAYLOR
Did I say work emergency? I meant
personal emergency. Sorry I have to
go.
He answers the other call just Diamana is about to launch
into a curse-filled tirade.
JUDGE TAYLOR (CONT’D)
Now what?
RICK TRAVIS (O.S.)
Got another search warrant request
from Sheriff Mundle.
JUDGE TAYLOR
Who is it this time?
RICK TRAVIS (O.S.)
Bailey Howell and Ed Nelson.
JUDGE TAYLOR
And I suppose this can’t wait until
tomorrow morning.
RICK TRAVIS (CONT’D)
That’s right, Judge. Sheriff
respectfully asked if the search
warrant could be executed tonight.
JUDGE TAYLOR
Mundle better be right this time.
I’m getting damn sick of traipsing
into the office at all hours of the
damn day.
RICK TRAVIS (O.S.)
I hear you. It’s no fun for me
either. Thanks, Judge.
Judge Taylor rolls his eyes.
JUDGE TAYLOR
Whatever. I’ll be in my chambers in
fifteen minutes. Let’s get this
over with.
INT. ED NELSON’S CONDO - EVENING
Sheriff Mundle, Officer Glander and OFFICER SAM SMITH --
black hair, skinny, intense -- huddle around the kitchen
table. The sheriff’s cell phone rings. He answers.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
You guys find anything over there?
OFFICER BROWN (O.S.)
’Fraid not, Sheriff. We looked
everywhere but no sign of the stolen
money.
Mundle shakes his head while staring past the officers.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
I just don’t get it. I was sure
we’d find the money at either Ed’s
place or Bailey’s. This makes no
sense whatsoever.
The sheriff pushes away from the table. He turns to find Ed
Nelson standing in the doorway leading from the kitchen to
the dining room.
ED
You guys done yet?
SHERIFF MUNDLE
We are. Sorry to disturb you, Ed. I
really thought we’d find something
but apparently I was wrong about you
and Bailey.
ED
Obviously.
SHERIFF MUNDLE
Hey, I never claimed to be perfect.
Close, mind you, but not perfect.
Ed rolls his eyes.
ED
Whatever.
INT. SHERIFF MUNDLE’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Mundle sits in a recliner holding a mirror with a long line
of cocaine waiting for him. He takes a rolled-up dollar
bill, sticks in front his right nostril and proceeds to make
the line of white powder disappear. He leans, sighs and
close his eyes for a few seconds.
He hops up and zips into the kitchen. On the fridge is a
photograph of the same attractive woman from the photo
Mundle pulled out of his wallet earlier. He kneels in front
of the fridge. Mundle closes his eyes before leaning his
head so it rests on the fridge door a few inches beneath the
bottom of the woman’s photograph.
The sheriff opens his eyes. A tear rolls slowly down his
face as he peers at the woman in the photograph.
INT. ED NELSON’S CONDO - EVENING
Ed sips from a goblet filled with red wine. Doorbell rings.
He hops up and answers the door. Bailey Howell, wearing a
black, tight-fitting skirt and similarly-tight-fitting white
top, enters the condo.
BAILEY
Hi honey.
She grabs Ed and sticks her tongue into his mouth.
ED
Hello to you too. Did you want
anything to drink?
BAILEY
Silly question.
ED
Let me rephrase that:
