Heinz 57-revised 6-11-16 - Patrick Sean Lee (best book club books of all time txt) 📗
- Author: Patrick Sean Lee
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MYRON
Sit down, guys. It's okay.
CUT
INT. MARSTEN'S OFFICE-CONTINUOUS
Marsten is seated at his desk. The walkie-talkie buzzes. He picks it up and presses the talk key.
INTERCUT-COMMUNICATION ON WALKIE-TALKIES
MARSTEN
What is it?
GUARD JACK (V.O.)
Sir, there's just been a minor incident. Zippo's boys. It's all clear here now.
MARSTEN
Where's Zippo?
GUARD JACK (V.O.)
He's sitting. Everything's quiet again. He wasn't involved.
MARSTEN
Bullshit. Where are Myron and the painters?
GUARD JACK (V.O.)
In their usual spot.
MARSTEN
Get Zippo and Myron in here.
GUARD JACK (V.O.)
Yes sir. What about Heinz and the midget?
MARSTEN
Leave them.
GUARD JACK (V.O.)
Right.
FADE
INT. MARSTEN'S OFFICE-AFTERNOON
Five minutes later Myron and Zippo stand in front of Marsten's desk.
MARSTEN
What the hell's going on?
Neither speaks.
MARSTEN
(pointedly)
Gonzalez. What happened?
Zippo's demeanor shouts innocence. He raises his eyebrows and lets his mouth droop open slightly. He acts confused by the question.
ZIPPO
How should I know, Warden? A couple of guys got in a fight...probably over the chow again.
MARSTEN
A couple of your friends.
ZIPPO
I wasn't with 'em.
MARSTEN
Where were you?
ZIPPO
Sittin' by myself. I don't know nuthin' about the fight.
MARSTEN
Yeah, I'll bet you don't.
Marsten keeps his eyes locked on Zippo for a second or two, and then switches to Myron, who is standing with his hands clasped behind his back, impassive.
MARSTEN
What went down, Myron?
MYRON
I suppose exactly like Mr. Gonzalez said, sir, although what precipitated the argument I have no idea. The food was fine.
MARSTEN
(raising a finger to his cheek, tapping it)
I see that...so good you slopped a bit onto your face.
Myron brings a finger to his cheek and finds a spot of food that he missed. He rubs it off. Marsten taps the intercom.
ROSA (V.O.)
Yes sir?
MARSTEN
Send Jack in, Rosa.
ROSA (V.O.)
Yes sir.
Seconds later, the door opens and Jack steps in.
MARSTEN
Take Gonzalez back to the block.
GUARD JACK
Yes sir.
Jack waits. Zippo glances briefly at Myron, and then turns and leaves the office. Jack pulls the door closed behind him. A moment of silence ensues.
MARSTEN
Now, Fleur. What happened?
Myron is uncharacteristically nervous, stares down at the floor. His body language shows uncertainty.
MARSTEN
Well?
MYRON
Not too much, Warden. Zippo was correct...he was seated away from his boys. He had nothing to do with the fight. It didn't last long anyway.
MARSTEN
The food on your face. How did that happen?
MYRON
(glancing up at Marsten)
That...it...I didn't see where it came from.
MARSTEN
Where was Zippo sitting?
Myron stares at Marsten for a second or two, then drops his gaze down at the floor again. He doesn't answer.
MARSTEN
Well let me guess. Straight across from you.
Silence.
MARSTEN
Right?
MYRON
(looking up)
No sir.
(he hesitates)
A table over.
Silence once more as Marsten surveys the giant of a man.
MARSTEN
Yeah, I get it now.
Marsten purses his lips, moves his hand across a stack of papers, fiddles with a pen lying atop them. At last he rises and walks to the window. He looks out for a minute, and then turns back to face Myron.
MARSTEN
I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sending two gallons of gray paint over to your cell. Get it back the way it was. I'll have a guard get the stuff your friend brought in and have him pick it back up.
Myron nearly jumps in shock. He takes two quick steps toward Marsten, but then stops. Myron is shaking his head in disbelief.
MYRON
You can't, Mister Dick...Warden. We're on our way. We're ready to paint. I can handle Zippo...his whole damned gang if need be. Please don't do this. The men...the men...they're behind us!
MARSTEN
It isn't that, Myron. Zippo'll continue to pull his shit. Did you know two of his gang attacked Budd in the shower yesterday?
MYRON
Yes sir. Laverne's ok. They just shoved...
MARSTEN
Yeah, I heard all about it. Look, it's no good. Zippo'll keep it up until someone gets hurt badly, or else a new riot starts.
MYRON
Then move him, sir. Everyone else is with us.
MARSTEN
Where? There's no other place for him.
MYRON
To another block. Bring someone else over to his cell.
MARSTEN
It'd be the same. He'd foment a riot over the painting from there. He has eyes everywhere. No. At least in One I have him and the majority of his boys herded together. Sorry...get 57 back to the way it was. That's all. You can go.
Marsten walks back to his desk. Myron remains welded to his place for a moment, and then begins to leave, shoulders sagging. He stops at the door but doesn't look back.
MYRON
The obvious outcome of things isn't always what seems apparent, sir. Let me deal with Zippo. Let us finish what we started...please.
Myron turns the knob, opens the door, and then leaves quietly. Marsten sits looking at the closed door. He waits...waits...and then pushes the intercom button.
ROSA (V.O.)
Sir?
MARSTEN
Get Jack in here.
ROSA (V.O.)
Yes sir. He's gone with...
MARSTEN
I know. Just tell someone to go get him.
FADE
INT. CELL 57-AFTERNOON
Myron has returned to his cell. Rollo, Laverne, and five other inmates are inside with him. An air of defeat overwhelms everyone. Rollo, Myron, and Laverne are squeezed shoulder to shoulder, or body to body, in Laverne's case, on the lower bunk. The five inmate visitors are speechless. A mill of other inmates are visible just outside the cell, congregated around the bars and the cart laden with paint supplies.
ROLLO
There must be something we can do.
MYRON
Yes. Wait for the gray paint.
LAVERNE
Ith unfair. I hate Thippo.
MYRON
(tapping Laverne's knee)
We do not hate, little man. Remember that.
Laverne jumps to his feet and points a finger at Myron.
LAVERNE
Yer thupid! Thupid, thupid, thupid! You live in a thrange, thupid world that doethn't even e-thist!
Laverne storms out of the cell, knocking into inmates as he leaves. Rollo turns his head to Myron.
ROLLO
Not stupid, but he's probably right. What really did we expect in a place like this? A miracle?
MYRON
I don't know...yes, maybe so. It would have taken more than that, though, I suppose. We gave it our best.
(turning his gaze to the inmates)
My time is up in a week...and then I must sadly leave you in a place that is no better off than when I arrived. Maybe worse. I'm sorry, guys. We did have a bit of a run, though, didn't we?
Bodies outside the cell shuffle.
JACK (O.S.)
Move aside men. Move back.
Jack comes into view outside the door; looks in at Myron and Rollo.
JACK
Rollo. Myron. Outside for a minute.
(to his partner)
Take the cart to the Warden's office.
Myron and Rollo rise and walk out of the cell, and then follow Jack out of earshot of the rest of the inmates.
CUT TO
INT. CELLBLOCK 1-CONTINUOUS
As the other guard wheels the cart back toward the door leading out, Jack stops in the center of the block walkway and waits until the giant and the petty thief arrive.
JACK
Where's Budd?
ROLLO
Not sure. He was upset, so he took off.
JACK
Uh. Okay.
Jack looks up quickly toward Zippo's cell. Zippo, Mercurio, and a few others of the gang are at the tier rail, elbows atop it, looking down at the three men.
JACK
(to Rollo and Myron)
Sorry, guys. Hate to do this...the Warden's orders...but, he said to give you this message...
The guard pullis the cart through the cellblock door. He jostles it clumsily. Cans of paint rattle, and he must stop quickly to steady them before they fall. Several of Myron and Rollo's friends who are nearby jump to his aid. Jack finishes his message and then leaves them to help the other guard. Rollo looks up at Myron with a look of astonishment on his face.
FADE
EXT. EXERCISE YARD-CONTINUOUS
Laverne sits on the concrete seat of a table, his legs dangling, his elbows on his knees. He is looking down disconsolately at the asphalt, unmoving. He doesn't notice two of Zippo's thugs who have exited the cellblock. They walk the short distance across the yard and station themselves at the table. Each puts a foot onto the seat on the other side of Laverne, one at either end. Farther away, a dozen inmates are engaged in a game of half-court, oblivious of the three men at the table. Two guards stand at the far end talking, paying little attention to the inmates. Laverne pushes himself off the seat suddenly, and walks trance-like across the court to the fence. He stares out at the street beyond, placing his fingers into the links. A moment passes, and then he begins climbing the fence. The two guards react; draw their weapons, shove their whistles into their teeth. They rush toward Laverne.
CUT TO
INT. CELL 57-CONTINUOUS
Rollo stands beside the bunk. Myron is sitting, his eyes nearly level with Rollo's. The remainder of the men who were inside moments ago have wandered out.
ROLLO
Whatdya' suppose he meant by that, Myron?
MYRON (V.O.)
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
(out loud)
He was saying that God only knows, my friend.
ROLLO
(confused)
I don't get it.
MYRON
Shakespeare can be tough to understand. Wait and see.
There is a commotion outside the cell.
CUT TO
INT. CELLBLOCK 1-CONTINUOUS
Three inmates enter from the yard in a rush, yelling in confusion.
INMATES
(overlapping)
Breakout!
Breakout!
Heinz...fuckin' nuts!
CUT TO
INT. CELL 57-CONTINUOUS
Rollo's head snaps in the direction of the commotion. Myron bolts past him, on his way out, a look of shocked dismay on his face. Rollo is right behind him.
CUT TO
INT. CELLBLOCK 1-CONTINUOUS
The guards stationed at either end of the block shove their whistles into their teeth, lay into them, and begin to unsnap the holsters on their hips holding their pistols. The main floor cells empty, as do the cells on the second and third tiers. Zippo looks on, standing erect. He nods his head boldly, and then takes off alone to get to the main floor, skipping steps in his rush to descend. An inmate near the yard entrance door moves quickly forward and shoves another inmate into the guard, knocking both to the floor. The guard is dazed. A hand whisks the pistol away from him. Zippo arrives at a dead run. The inmate holding the weapon tosses it to him as he rushes by in the direction of cell 57, stuffing the weapon in his waistband at his back as he pushes through the clog of inmates. He dodges Rollo and Myron who are running in the opposite direction. The sudden, deep scream of the warning alarm adds to the bedlam.
CUT TO
INT. CELL 57-CONTINUOUS
Zippo moves quickly to the lower bunk; Myron's. He lifts the mattress at the farthest corner, next to the wall, and stashes the pistol there. Then he turns and sneaks back out of the cell to join the noisy crowd of prisoners.
CUT TO
INT. CELLBLOCK 1-CONTINUOUS
Myron bulls his way throught the confused and hyped crowd and arrives at the side of the downed guard. Zippo's helper has vanished, the prisoner he shoved is getting to his feet.
MYRON
(to the inmate, quickly)
You all right?
INMATE
Yeah, I guess. Somebody shoved me...
Myron leaves him, kneels down, and carefully lifts the guard's head, checking the back of it with his fingers to see if there is blood. The guard begins to regain his senses, opens an eye and notices the black giant.
ROLLO (O.S.)
Myron, quick! They're killing him!
Myron gently lowers the guard's head to the floor, rises, and barrels off in the direction of Rollo's voice. Rollo is near the door to the exercise yard, in a panic. As Myron approaches his friend, the doors inside the block burst open, and half a dozen
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