Wine Mama (48) And If It Quacks

Kirk Carter@ WGA Copyright 2013

WINE MAMA (48)

AND IF IT QUACKS

INT: GATORTAIL RESTAURANT-BRIAN'S OFFICE-WEDNESDAY-9 A.M.

BRIAN COMES IN, SEE'S THAT INBOX FLAG IS FULL OF OFFERS ON EMAIL. 

GOES DOWN LIST, CHECKING OFF UNFAMILIAR'S,  COMES TO ONE POSTING HE HASN'T SEEN IN A WHILE

ARTHUR KNIGHT, ONE OF HIS OLD GURU COLLEGE PROFESSORS

ARTHUR KNIGHT WAS NEVER FOUND AFTER HIS LUXURY BOATHOUSE AND EIGHTY FOOT HATTERAS YACHT WAS CRUSHED TO PIECES DURING KATRINA

BRIAN PROMPTS THE FEED AND IT READS...

"Brian, Sorry I've been out of touch for so long, but I had debts, doubts about my business  and my future with my Susan and the kids. You were right on the money when you told me to meditate to Michael Franks and Jean Luc Ponty. Got me off that jack shit cacao leaf...but my nose nearly died from the withdraw. When I bought that shrimp trawler, along with the payments on the Hatteras, it looked like the national debt just to stay afloat. Anyway, profits from the shrimp and red-fish were not meeting expectations, but I kept the waterproofing business afloat best I 

could. So, when the storm showed up, I just thought about the family...what could I do? So, to make a long story short, I vanished into the bay, the Mississippi Sound presumably to the point where they would stop looking...I was pronounced dead, and the insurance went to Susan and the kids. Like I said, I know it was not right, I actually dressed up and attended my own funeral. Pretty good layout, I was impressed as to how well the family saw me off, but you have to admit, very emotional! I just had to do what I thought was right at the time. I'm down here in Belize, but will be coming up the Pan Canal in a week on one of the trade ships. Would like to come and hang, but would like permission to come aboard first. Read all about you on the net, you seem to be doing well. I will have an all new identity and documents. Probably be over to the Long Beach area in about a week, listen for me, I'm down on all your shit, so be cool. I can help you break this nightmare with this grape farm thing...I can tell you this, it's all about greed...it's Eric, and I say no more. Arthur"   

BRIAN STARES AT PAGE SHAKING HEAD

BRIAN TALKING TO HIMSELF

"Who dug this fucker up...I can't believe this shit!"

HE STARES AT THE REPLY BUTTON, TAPPING FINGERS

THEN HE TAPS OUT

"Dear Art, So good to hear from you again. If you were observant, I was in the crowd of domiciles, contenders to the big prize, and of course the Jewish bankers which had all the liens on your boats. I know you were thinking of your family, but for some reason the funeral seem like a pre-scripted soundstage. In other words, I always felt you were still around somewhere. Thought about this for two seconds, and yes...get on your rusted out tug or whatever and contact me when your in Long Beach. I'll have somebody come and fly you into Modesto, a lot simpler that way. However, be prepared to be productive and trustworthy, otherwise I'll treat you like the land owners did to the Mexicans...I'll call your ass in! Be cool, contact me when you get there, Brian"

TURNING TO HIS ADDRESS BOOK, HE LOOKS UP LIEUTENANT HARRIS WITH THE MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT

PULLS THE PROMPT AND PUSHES CALL

BRIAN

"Good morning, ah...this is Brian Cashman..."

HARRIS

"My God Brian, how how have you been...I'm still alive by the way."

BRIAN

"Wow, that was quick, I didn't even know this was a direct number, so your not a recording, this isn't Memorex...right?"

HARRIS

"Look, you and me been through the mill, Smith shot me and ended up blowing her brain's out under her desk...I swear the weasels don't squeal, they just drown themselves in sorrow...I'm sorry, are you okay?"

BRIAN

"Yea Harris, I'm fine...I'm fine, look...I'm glad your okay, but I've got a problem I need you to help me with...got a second?"

HARRIS

"To be be perfectly honest with you, you've been a problem since you came here...but hey, your good for business, the tax man Loves your ass, so what's up...Bear's again?"

BRIAN

"Yea, I'm glad that the tax man Loves me, no Bear trouble, not yet anyway...got a, well my first crop of grapes ready to harvest, and I made a deal with a rep at Sheffield, and my General Manager went out and did a little research and found out that he was going to pick our crop and resale it for fifty on the dollar, then make a claim that it was damaged or destroyed."

HARRIS

"So, he did this already?"

BRIAN

"No, not yet...suppose to bring in a crew and start picking this weekend.

HARRIS

"Well, you know the rules of law, the crime has to be committed first before we can make anything stick...what sucks is your calling me so late in the conspiracy, you don't give me much to work with!"

BRIAN

"well, to be honest with you, I never really saw a problem up until yesterday...look, can you at least set up some basic surveillance, so that we can trace the moments of the harvest, and document it's final resting place, just a couple of unmarks with running cams, you don't even have to have any one there, you know what I mean?" 

HARRIS

"You said Saturday?"

BRIAN

"Yea, I have monitors on my entrance, but give me some inputs once they leave the property, come on Harris, just so we have some official documentation of the activity...help me man?"

HARRIS

"Okay, but it may be from the Scout Cadets, they Love this stuff, like surveillance and stuff...we don't even know the sources, but they know how to investigate...try to keep in mind, we never resolved the case with my own boss, so anything is up!"

BRIAN

"So, come on by the Gatortail Friday night and we finalize?"

HARRIS

"You mean I get free food?

BRIAN

"Yea, a little Gatortail never hurt anyone..."

HARRIS

"See, you when?"

BRIAN

"Yea, bring your scout troops and I'll give them the particulars, and stuff their faces, too...sound like a plan?

HARRIS

"We'll be there sir, thanks for the deal, and it was so good hearing from you again, again, again, this is Memorex, this is a recording, beep, beep, man just kidding...see you Friday night, bye!"

BRIAN TALKING TO HIMSELF

"Shit, this has been a weird day...and it's still morning..."

scene close