Monday, March 27, 2017

"NEST OF VIPERS' Episode # 5

1 EXT. ORPHANAGE. DAY

Angela’s MOTHER, early 20s, reaches up to the lower branches of a large tree with red flowers, picks one, crouches close to YOUNG Angela (aged 4); places the flower behind her ear.

YOUNG Angela smiles happily until she registers the tears in her mother’s eyes. She wraps her arms around her mother’s neck. Angela’s mother turns, looks at two out-of-focus figures standing closeby. Young Angela turns to look at them also, then back to her mother, who speaks to her in Khmer.

ANGELA’S MOTHER
I will be back soon.

Young Angela nods but doesn’t understand. Her mother kisses Angela on the cheek stands, walks a few paces away, turns back; waves. Young Angela mimics her mother’s hand wave and watches as she fades slowly; dissolving into thin air.

The two shadowy figures walk up to Young Angela. One takes her hand, leads her to the gates leading into the orphanage.

Young Angela looks back to the tree with the red flowers; to the space where her mother stood a moment ago. She is gone.

Close on Young Angela’s confused face.

Out of a silence interrupted only by the sound of insects the overloud sound of creaking floorboards intrudes.

2 INT. NICK’S BEDROOM. NIGHT

Angela wakes up; disoriented. She sits up; the sarong falling away from her body. Again the sound of creaking floorboards.

ANGELA
Nick?

STAIR’S VOICE
No. Stair.

The reality of what has happened, hits her hard. 

Stair appears in the doorway, sees she is naked; turns away.

3 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Stair stands in front of Nick’s Nest of Vipers collage, glass of wine in hand, his attention focused on the photo of Wing Chou with a dart protruding from his eye.

Angela appears in the doorway, adjusting her sarong. 

ANGELA 
Nick didn’t call you a cunt.

STAIR
I’ve been called worse.

ANGELA
What’s worse than ‘cunt’?

STAIR
No cunt. (A BEAT) Sorry, that was below the belt.
Angela smiles.

ANGELA (voice over)
Am I allowed to say ‘cunt’ on TV?

4 NICK’S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM. DAY

Another day. Angela is being interviewed by Katie and Todd.

KATIE
The broadcaster will bleep out the ‘c’ word.

ANGELA
Not the ‘c’ word, Katie. Cunt.

KATIE
I hate that word.

ANGELA
Really! Why? I love my cunt. Do you, Katie? Love your cunt? Does Todd?

Katie is lost for words. Todd smiles; glances at Katie. She has turned bright red.

KATIE
Can we just...(continue)?

Angela is a little drunk.

ANGELA
I think I am drunk. I know I am drunk. Fuck.

Angela stares into space, finishes her glass of wine, looks at her empty glass.

KATIE
We can call it a day, if you like?

ANGELA
No, it’s OK. (A BEAT) Do you... (want a drink?) 

Katie shakes her head. Angela reaches for the bottle of wine; refills her glass; raises it in a toast.

ANGELA
In vino veritas.

KATIE
Sorry!

ANGELA
‘In wine there is wisdom.’ 

Angela puts her glass down, composes herself, moves her mouth close to the radio mike pinned to her shirt.

ANGELA
Next question.

KATIE
You’d just woken up...?

ANGELA
We talked about Nick, we argued... about Nick...and then...I saw the photos Stair had taken of...the skeleton... and we...I lost the plot and we fought...
(Angela pauses a long moment)
...it got pretty physical... and then Balin Meas turned up with the gun and scared the shit out of us...

KATIE
Physical!?
(Angela nods)
In what way?

ANGELA
Stair probably told you, right?

KATIE
We want to hear your version.

ANGELA
What do these...details have to do with ...anything?

KATIE
Maybe they don’t but we’d like to have as many options open to us in the editing room as possible.

Angela thinks about this for a moment; mouths the word ‘options’ - a thought forming in her brain that she can’t bring into focus.

ANGELA
What’s Stair’s ‘version’?

KATIE
That you tried to kiss him.
(Angela laughs)
Did you?

ANGELA
Fuck yes! I’d lost the plot... you’ve no idea what adrenalin does to your libido. I was...fuck! What am I...(saying)?
(Referring to the camera)
Can you turn that fucking thing off for a moment?

Katie nods, leans forward, pretends to turn off the camera.

Close on the flip out screen of the camera. It is switched on; the time code rolling. Angela’s face fills the frame.

ANGELA
You’ll edit that last bit out, right? About the kiss...I don’t want...?

Angela looks at Todd and Katie enquiringly.

ANGELA
This is my life, right?
(Katie nods)
And if I am going to bare my ‘soul’...to...
(She points at the camera)
I need to be able to trust you not to...screw me. OK?

Katie and Todd both nod.

KATIE
But you wanted to screw Stair, right?

Angela laughs, sips on her wine.

ANGELA
A girl is entitled to her secrets.

5 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela’s point of view, from where she lies on the floor, looking up at Stair kneeling astride her, his hands holding her wrists firmly against the floor.

Their heads are close together. They stare into each others eyes - both breathing deeply, exhausted by their struggle. There is ‘madness’ in Angela’s eyes.

Angela lifts her head, parts her lips slightly, as if wanting to be kissed.

Stair moves his lips close to hers. As their lips meet, Angela bites Stair. Stair jerks his head back: “ouch”

Angela glares at him, a strange mad lust in her eyes, raises her head, mouth open, ready to kiss him; wanting to kiss him.

The sound of Angela singing:

ANGELA (singing off)
“There’s a fine line between pleasure and pain. You’ve done...”

6 EXT. OUTDOOR BAR. NIGHT

Later that night, Angela and Katie sit together in an outdoor bar. ‘Girlie’ bars abound. Angela, glass of wine in hand, lost in her memories, sings drunkenly:

ANGELA (singing off)
“...it once, you can do it again...”

KATIE
Sorry, you’ve lost me.

ANGELA
I’ve lost me, too. There may be wisdom in a little wine but too much...

Angela sips her wine looks away for a long moment; thinking.

ANGELA
Truth is...I was ready to fuck Nick’s brother! Who I hated. With a passion. (A BEAT) Weird, eh!? I was mad, yes, but... wet...you understand? With... lust. I didn’t know you could grieve...to be so sad, lonely and desperate that you want to die and also...also...to feel...incredibly horny.

Angela takes another slug of her wine. She is very drunk.

ANGELA
Adrenalin is a strange aphrodisiac.
I didn’t know that.
(She turns to Katie)
Did you, Katie?
(Katie shakes her head)
I could have fucked the next man who came in the door. Stair...Balin Meas...No problem.

KATIE
The next woman?

Angela frowns playfully, wags her finger at Katie; shakes her head: “Don’t go there!”.

KATIE
You did say ‘warts and all’! 

ANGELA
Yes, I know what I said...I’m really beyond caring what anyone thinks of me. Of my ‘warts’. But I have a mother. And a father. And if they heard me... talking like this... they’d care.  Believe Me...They’re Christians. And not just practicing. They’ve perfected the art of denial. I’m still a novice.

7 INT. HOTEL ROOM. NIGHT

Todd and Katie look at a computer screen, on which can be seen, through a slightly distorted wide angle lens:

Angela, sitting in the outdoor bar, looking almost directly into Katie’s hidden camera:

ANGELA
I don’t want to say any of this... stuff...when the camera is running. And there’s some things I don’t want to say in front of Todd. Like I wanted to fuck Stair. Animal sex! Don’t ask me why...It makes no sense...I hated him then...but, hey, love-hate’s the story of my life with men.

Todd presses pause; gives Katie a thumbs up: “Good work.” Katie has mixed feelings about her ‘good work’; presses ‘play’. Onscreen, the image sourced to Katie’s hidden camera:

KATIE (voice off)
With Gerard?

Angela sighs; sips her wine.

ANGELA
It is very seductive...being loved. (A BEAT) I love to be loved. That’s the problem. Even if I can’t love back. Does that make sense? 

KATIE
Being loved scares the shit out of me.

ANGELA (laughs)
Not being loved scares the shit out of me.

Todd presses ‘pause’, looks at Katie; eyebrows raised.

TODD
Really?

Katie waves his question away.

KATIE
We’re working!

TODD (nods)
OK, lets get back to...Nick’s telephone.
(He consults his notes)
Time code...

Angela is already fast-reversing through the time line. Todd’s eyes are on her face. She ignores him; finds the relevant spot; presses ‘play’. Angela talks to camera onscreen:

ANGELA
My gut feeling was that Stair and Meas were bullshitting me about Nick’s phone but...it was just a feeling...an intuition...

8 EXT. TROPICAL GARDEN. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Stair, Angela and Balin Meas talk.

BALIN MEAS
I am sorry, Miss Angela. There was no mobile phone. Not that we found.

This makes no sense to Angela. She turns to Stair.

STAIR
Gasoline burns at more than 800 degrees centigrade. It would have melted.

ANGELA
So, the same fire that didn’t melt Nick’s laptop melted his mobile?

STAIR
It seems so.

Angela stares at him for a long moment; signals to Stair that she wants to talk with him; opens the sliding door.

9 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela walks in, signals to Francoise that she wants to talk alone with Stair. Francoise nods, walks into the tropical garden; joins Balin Meas; closes the sliding door.

ANGELA
Was Nick in some kind of trouble? A couple of years ago? With the police?

Stair looks at her; his face betraying nothing.

ANGELA
He was, wasn’t he?

STAIR
If he told you he was, I guess he was. Nothing I know about!

In the background Balin Meas can be seen answering his mobile; nodding as he listens.

ANGELA
You are so fucking infuriating, Stair! No, he didn’t tell me. He wouldn’t tell me. I picked up clues, asked him about... whatever it was. The police were involved. And a girl, I think. Underage. He said it was ‘nothing’. Now I am asking you. Was Nick’s ‘nothing’ the same as your ‘nothing’?

STAIR
Some sleeping dogs are best left to lie, Angela.

ANGELA 
Lie! That’s what he did. He lied.  He wasn’t a good liar, Nick. He was a fucking hopeless liar! 

STAIR
Or so good you never picked it!?

ANGELA
Cunt.

STAIR
Groundhog Day.

ANGELA
Groundhog Day.

STAIR
The family dog. (A BEAT) That’s what he wanted to talk about.

Angela is gobsmacked; doesn’t know what to say. The sliding door opens and Balin Meas appears; very apologetic. He walks in, closely followed by Francoise.

BALIN MEAS
Please excuse me for intruding, but I must leave. I have some matters I must attend to.

ANGELA (nods)
Before you...(go)...the house where the young girl Nick and I saw being led into...did you...find out anything?

BALIN MEAS
Yes, I am sorry, I forgot to tell you. It is owned by a company that is owned by a company that...it is not possible for find who owns the company in Cambodia.

STAIR
Is it possible to find where the company that owns the company that owns the company is registered?

BALIN MEAS
In the British Virgin Islands.

Angela’s sharp intake of breath catches the attention of  Balin Meas, Stair and Francoise.
Stair looks at her questioningly. Angela steps closer to the Nest of Vipers collage; points at a colour photo of the British Virgin Islands with the banner headline:

“British Virgin Islands growing rich as a global tax haven.”

Stair steps closer, looks at the photo of the Virgin Islands, traces a coloured thread back to a photo of Gerard.

STAIR
Who is this man?

BALIN MEAS
A very good man.

A momentary grimace crosses Angela’s face. Stair notices it.

ANGELA (sarcastic)
A multi-award-winning humanitarian...

Stair waits for her to continue. She doesn’t. She takes a sheaf of printed photos from the printer tray.

ANGELA
The good news is that she is alive. The girl.

She finds two photos on Monkey looking out from between legs in the crowd; hands them to Balin Meas.

BALIN MEAS
Thanks you. These will help me. And if you have other photos...?
Angela nods.

A LITTLE LATER

Balin Meas stands by the open front door.

STAIR
Thank you, Meas.

BALIN MEAS
It is my job. (A BEAT) We will talk in the morning before you leave.
(Stair nods.)
Now, if you will excuse me.

He smiles, nods his farewell to Angela and Francoise; walks out. Stair turns to Angela

STAIR
Back in a moment.

He moves fast towards the front door.

10 EXT. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Stair runs after Balin Meas, calls out:

STAIR
Meas!
(Balin Meas stops; turns.)
Can I ask you a question? About my brother?
(Balin Meas nods)
You know about his case? The young girl?

BALIN MEAS
Yes. I was not involved but...I have looked at the file.

STAIR
Was Nick guilty?

Balin Meas pauses for a long moment.

BALIN MEAS
I believe you are a man who would prefer the truth to...

STAIR
Yes, the truth, Meas, please.

BALIN MEAS
I was hoping you would not ask me this question, but...

He opens the concertina manila file, takes out a folder.

BALIN MEAS
Are you sure?

Stair looks from Balin Meas to the folder; nods.

BALIN MEAS
Photos. (A BEAT) The evidence. Entrapment, perhaps, but...

Stair takes the folder, looks at it for a long moment; not sure he wants to open it. He does, takes out a 10 x 8 inch photo. We see the back of the photo only.

Stair looks at it. His facial expression gives nothing away.

A LITTLE LATER

Stair stands in the street as Balin Meas’ police car drives off. He is looks at a 10 x 8 photo. We see the back of the photo only. Angela appears in the doorway.

Stair moves to another photo; looks at it; moves to the next one; distressed by what he sees.

Angela walks up behind him.

ANGELA
Meas gave you some photos?
(Stair puts them back in their folder)
Can I see them?

STAIR
You don’t want to see them. 

ANGELA
I do.

Stair holds up his hands: “No”. This infuriates Angela but she is in no mood for another fight.

STAIR
Do you have any photos of Nick at work?

Angela looks at him, a little puzzled; nods.

11 INT LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Stair sits at Nick’s desk, looking through a small pile of photos of Nick in various work situations:

- interviewing subjects in different locations
- taking notes, playfully annoyed at being photographed
- driving his 4WD
- clowning around in a boyish fashion.

Angela watches Stair as he flicks through the photos fast, as if looking for a particular photo.

Francoise is in the kitchen area, preparing food - her eyes on Angela and Stair.

Angela shifts her attention to Balin Meas’ manila folder resting on the desk.
Stair stops on one photo:

- Nick, talking on his yellow mobile phone, looking directly into the lens - one arm outstretched: “I won’t be long.”

STAIR
Did you give him a hard time about being on the phone all the time?

ANGELA (smiles)
“I won’t be long.”

Stair takes a photo of the photo of Nick with his smartphone. Angela watches him; trying to figure out what he is up to.

ANGELA
Is there method in your madness?

Stair smiles. A ‘ping’: a text message.

Francoise lays the makings of a salad and fruit - pineapple, mangoes, passionfruit - out on the counter; looks at Stair reading his text message, with Angela closeby looking at him.

Stair reads the message; tries to hide his concern.

ANGELA
You winning or losing?

Stair makes a so-so gesture with his hand.

STAIR
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet.

ANGELA
And if she does?

STAIR
I need to get on the phone and...

ANGELA
Think you can talk your way out of...whatever it is?

Stair holds up his crossed fingers; tries to smile.

Angela holds up her crossed fingers; smiles. They look at each other for a long moment.
Stair breaks the connection; calls to Francoise in the kitchen area.

STAIR
Au revoir, Francoise. I won’t say it was a pleasure to meet you, but it was an interesting experience.

FRANCOISE
Meeting you, Alistair, ‘as be one of zee less intéressant experience in my life.

STAIR (laughs)
The next time you try a liver kick...
(Stair kicks out his leg)
...try not to signal your intentions...

Francoise holds up her index finger. Stair smiles, signals ‘goodbye’ to Angela, walks to the door.

ANGELA
Let me drive you.

FRANCOISE
Merde!

Francoise glares at Angela, throws her hands in the air, shakes her head. She is pissed off. She picks up her carry bag; heads for the front door.

ANGELA
Frannie!

Francoise waves Angela’s plea away; walks out the door.

Stair opens his mouth to say something.

ANGELA
Don’t say....(anything)

12 EXT. PHNOM PENH STREET. NIGHT

Angela drives her 4WD down a street crowded with girlie bars, street vendors, roadside stalls, beggars - all the richness of night life to be found on a hot Phnom Penh evening. Stair looks out the window; takes it all in.

STAIR
For how long was Gerard your ...boyfriend!?

ANGELA
I don’t know what he was.

13 INT. ANGELA’S 4WD. NIGHT

Angela, driving, turns to Stair with a self-effacing smile.

ANGELA
A few months. My “A serious error of judgment.”

STAIR
A specialist?

Angela smiles, nods; looks at Stair.

ANGELA
I’m a slow learner!
(Stair smiles)
I’m sorry about what happened...

She makes a ‘what-happened-earlier’ gesture.

STAIR
For being a bitch?

ANGELA
I was provoked. You can be an arsehole, you know that, don’t you?

STAIR
Takes two to tango, I guess.

ANGELA (smiles)
You a good dancer?

STAIR
Two left feet. (A BEAT) Nick was the dancer in the family.

Tears well in Angela’s eyes. She wipes them away; shifts her attention to the manila folder resting on the seat between them. He registers her looking at it. She looks up at him.

STAIR
Your choice.

Angela nods, pulls over to the curb outside Stair’s hotel; looks at the folder, picks it up; looks at Stair.

ANGELA
Can you choose for me?
(Stair shakes his head)
A clue?

Stair looks out the window for along moment; shakes his head. Angela puts the folder back on the seat.

STAIR
What’s the name of Wing Chou’s casino?

ANGELA
No name. It doesn’t exist. Officially. Why? (A BEAT) I know you have a gambling problem, you know.

STAIR (smiles)
Thought you and Nick never talked about me.

ANGELA
Nick’s silences are eloquent. Were. He worried about you.

STAIR
It’s only a problem when I lose.
(He smiles)
Otherwise, its no problem at all.

ANGELA
Except when...

Stair holds his hand up: “No.” Angela mimics him.

ANGELA
I’ll add that to the list of subjects that can’t be discussed with Mr. AliStair Morecombe.

Stair looks at her, his face giving nothing away. She returns his gaze for a long moment. Tears well in her eyes again.

ANGELA
We only ever danced once.

Tears roll from her eyes. Stair is not sure how to respond. Angela looks at him, leans tentatively towards him. He puts his arms around her awkwardly. She clings tightly to him. He clings tightly to her, his own eyes moist.

14 INT. ANGELA’S 4WD. OUTSIDE HOTEL. NIGHT

Through the windscreen of Angela’s 4 WD Stair and Angela can be seen looking at each other. This in the point of view of:

Vanny, standing on the pavement; a tray of books around her neck. Stair and Angela do not notice her. She sees:

Angela looking up at Stair; their faces close. It seems as though they might kiss.

ANGELA
I don’t want to be alone tonight.

15 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela, in a big close-up, looks directly at the camera:

ANGELA
Did we kiss?

In a wider shot, Angela’s face can be seen on the flip-out camera screen; her own face in soft focus in the background.

ANGELA
Did we make love?

Katie and Todd sit on either side of the video camera.

ANGELA
Did we fuck?

She laughs; sips her wine; gestures to the camera.

ANGELA
You’ll cut that out, right?

KATIE
Did you? Fuck Stair?

Angela smiles, shakes her head; wags her finger at Katie.

KATIE
“A girl’s entitled to her secrets”?

ANGELA
Her privacy.

16 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Moving through Nick’s darkened living room; the shot hand-held: the POV of an INTRUDER with a flashlight.

The flashlight beam explores the room; focuses on Nick’s desk; tilts up to the Nest of Vipers collage.

A ‘walkie-talkie’ receiver pinned to the Intruder’s shoulder makes a soft crackling sound.

The Intruder moves closer to the desk, pans along it with the beam of light: looking for something.

The Intruder’s gloved hand reaches out, lifts some papers gently; looks amongst the accumulated books, magazines, newspapers but cannot find what is being sought.
The flashlight beam moves up to Nick’s Nest of Vipers collage, explores it slowly:

A photo of Terry Swinton with different coloured threads connecting him with other ‘vipers’.

The beam of light follows various coloured threads to the photo of Wing Chou - a dart jammed into the iris of one eye.

17 INT. ANGELA’S 4WD. OUTSIDE HOTEL. NIGHT

Through the windscreen of Angela’s 4 WD, Stair and Angela, can be seen, their heads close, looking at each other.

ANGELA
My brain is...my heart is...

She touches her heart. Stair looks at her for a long moment; uncertain how to deal with Angela’s naked emotions.

Angela, feeling vulnerable, more emotionally exposed than she would like to be, edges a little away from Stair.

ANGELA
It’s OK.

She gestures to him: go. Stair hesitates; opens the door.

STAIR
I’ll see you in the morning before...You going to be OK?

Angela, her eyes filling with tears, shakes her head.

ANGELA
No, but that’s OK.

Stair stands on the street by the open door for a moment; in two minds about parting like this. He does not notice Vanny standing on the pavement; observing with interest.

STAIR
I’m so sorry.

Angela holds her hand up: “It’s OK”. It occurs to her that she has inadvertently mimicked Stair’s gesture. She smiles.

Stair turns awkwardly; walks into his hotel. Vanny walks up to the window; touches Angela gently on the arm. Angela places her hand on Vanny’s; smiles as best she can.

18 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

The Intruder searches the apartment; careful to leave everything as it was found; no evidence that it has been searched. The ‘walkie talkie’ crackles. A voice is heard:

VOICE
Travelling.

The Intruder double clicks the ‘walkie-talke’; OK; points the flashlight at the ceiling as if looking for something.

19 INT. HOTEL ROOM NIGHT

Stair, sitting on the edge of the bed in his hotel room, looks at the photo of:

Nick’s skeletal hands on the steering wheel.

He flicks through to another photo:

Nick talking on his yellow mobile phone.

He is faced with a conundrum that he cannot resolve.

20 INT. ANGELA’S 4WD. GIRLIE BAR DISTRICT. NIGHT

Angela, her face streaked with tears, drives down a street lined with girlie bars, outdoor restaurants, vendors, beggars and CAUCASIAN MEN on the prowl. Her POV.

21 EXT. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela pulls up outside Nick’s apartment; barely registering the motor bike and rider closeby doing u turn; driving past - the rider’s face obscured with a full face black helmet.

STAIR (voice off)
Angry. (A BEAT) She’s angry. Very...

22 EXT. OUTDOOR BAR. NIGHT

Stair talks with Tilda on skype in a busy street lined with ‘girlie bars’ etc.

TILDA
I’m angry. (A BEAT) Aren’t you?

STAIR (hard)
At who? At what? The universe?  (A BEAT) I’m sorry that Nick died like that but...who should I be angry with.

Tilda decides against responding to this.

TILDA
The girls don’t understand. Tina said to Grace, “Uncle Nick has just gone to stay with God for a bit. He’ll be back soon.” Grace was...she smiled. “Phew”. She was worried Nick was never coming back.

Stair nods; at a loss how to respond to Tilda’s raw emotions.

TILDA
“And how are you bearing up, Tilda?”

STAIR
Sorry.

Vanny approaches, stands closeby, trying to catch Stair’s attention. He ignores her.

23 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela walks in through the front door, stands in the middle of the room; not sure what to do with herself.

Something catches her attention. She is not sure what it is. She sniffs a couple of times. It is a smell. She is mildly puzzled for a moment before walking to the refrigerator, opening the door; remembers that there is no wine there. She thinks a moment; remembers; walks to:

24 INT NICK’S BEDROOM. NIGHT

Angela crouches beside the bed; finds a half empty bottle of white wine.

25 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela takes ice from the refrigerator freezer, puts it in a glass; pours white wine over the cubes.

26 EXT. OUTDOOR BAR. NIGHT

A WAITRESS places a schooner of beer in front of Stair, and a small bowl of peanuts. He thanks her with his eyes, turns back to Tilda, on his iPad.

TILDA
Want me to pick you up?

Stair shakes his head.

STAIR
Miriam’s arranged for me to be picked up. I’ve got to go straight to a meeting.

TILDA
Fingers crossed.

STAIR
It’ll be fine.

TILDA (nods)
I hope so.

STAIR
Give the girls a kiss from me, OK?

TILDA
And me?

Stair glances at Vanny. She smiles, looks at her watch as if to say: “how much longer are you going to be?”

STAIR
Love you.

Stair kisses the screen of his iPad, switches it off. Vanny frowns, shakes her head.

VANNY
Wierd! Kissing an iPad!

STAIR
My wife.

VANNY
You married an iPad!?
(Stair laughs.)
You buy my book?

Vanny holds out a book.

STAIR
Don’t need a book. Don’t want a book. No.

VANNY
Your mouth says no but your eyes say ‘yes’.

STAIR
My eyes are lying.

VANNY
You not buy my book I cannot buy food for my granny. She is...

Stair holds his hand up playfully to shut her up. Vanny puts her hand up, gives him a high five. Stair laughs.

VANNY
The word for ‘no’ is ‘awt tay’.

Vanny places her tray of books on Stairs table.

STAIR
Awt tay.

VANNY
And the word for ‘yes’ is ‘bart’ if...

STAIR
Bart.

VANNY
No, you say ‘bart’ for boy but for girl you must say ‘Jah’.

STAIR
Jah.

27 INT. NICK’S BEDROOM. NIGHT

Angela sits on the bed, glass of wine in hand, staring into space. She is an emotional wreck. The distinctive sound of her mobile phone are heard. She ignores it.

28 EXT. STREET BAR. DOWNTOWN PHNOM PENH. NIGHT

Vanny sits beside Stair pulling books one by one from her book tray - holding them out.

VANNY
So, you buy this book, Mr Staircase?

Stair laughs, shakes his head. She tries another. Stair shakes his head, smiles. A game.

VANNY
If you not buy my book I cannot feed my granny. She very old and sick. She needs medicine and...

STAIR
No...awt tay...but...
(He thinks for a moment)
...I’ll give you a dollar if you tell me where I can find a casino.

VANNY
What the name casino?

STAIR
It has no name.

VANNY
Chinaman casino?

STAIR (nods)
Chinaman.

VANNY
Five dollars.

STAIR
Four dollars.

VANNY
Three dollars.

STAIR
OK, three dollars.

Vanny takes a pen and school text book from her tray.

VANNY
I draw you map.

STAIR
You speak good English.

Vanny draws a map as she talks. 

VANNY
I study hard..., yul prom...that’s ‘OK’ in Khmer...

STAIR
Yul Prom

VANNY
...if you go up this street, turn left...walk up...and right here....it doesn’t look like a casino from the outside but...

STAIR
How do you know what a casino looks like inside?

VANNY
I young but I not stupid.
(She holds out her hand)
OK, now the three dollars.

Stair reaches into his pocket, takes out a small plastic bag with the burnt remains of a red mobile phone. He looks at it for a moment; reaches into his pocket again for his wallet.

VANNY
If you want talk to me more it cost you two dollars and if you want take my photo one more dollar and...

STAIR (laughs)
Thank’s Vanny. $5 and you don’t even have to talk to me anymore.

He takes a $5 note from his wallet; hands it to her.

VANNY
Good.
(She beams a big smile)
Next time I talk to you for free, OK?

STAIR
Yul prom.

Stair holds up his hand. Vanny holds up hers: high five!

29 INT. NICK’S BEDROOM. NIGHT

Angela lies on the bed, staring at the ceiling; her brow creased with worry; empty wine glass resting on her chest. She remembers something. Her eyes light up. She swings her legs out of bed and rushes into:

30 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela searches through the papers on top of Nick’s desk for something; frustrated that she can’t find it.

She starts to pull out drawers out; search through their cluttered contents.

As she lifts a deeply buried folder with ‘Money stuff’ written on it, a photo slips out. Angela picks it up:

Tilda and Stair on their wedding day. Tilda wears a white dress; Stair a dinner suit. Very formal. On either side of them are the bridesmaids - all looking at the photographer.

Angela slips it back into the folder; places the folder on the desk; annoyed she can’t find what she is looking for.

Her eyes light on the bottle of Port. She picks it up, walks into the kitchen area; upends the bottle, pours its few remaining contents into the sink; shakes the bottle. A small package wrapped in layers of clingwrap falls into the sink. Angela unwraps it to find the small purple plastic container. She opens it; takes out Nick’s diary memory card.

31 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Close on the cursor moving across a screen filled with differently named folders; stopping on one entitled DIARY.

Angela double clicks. The folder opens. There are many icons. Angela scans them, trying to decide which one to open. She decides on: “This is the end”. She looks at it for a long moment, her hand playing nervously with the ‘mouse’; trying to decide if she wants to open it or not.

32 EXT. SHOP. PHNOM PENH STREET. NIGHT

Stair, Vanny’s map in hand, walks up to a nondescript shop selling a variety of grocery-style goods. A middle aged MAN IN A WHITE T-SHIRT beckons him. Stair follows.

33 INT. STAIR WELL. NIGHT

Stair follows the Man in a white t-shirt up three flight of a grimy stair well. At the top there is a nondescript door.

34 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair stands in the doorway looking at:

The interior of a gaudy casino: red carpet, gold-rimmed mirrors, chandeliers, roulette wheels, backgammon tables etc - all that one would to expect to find in Las Vegas.
The PATRONS, well dressed, represent the nations of the world but there is a preponderance of CHINESE MEN.

Immaculately dressed KHMER WAITRESSES circulate - taking drink orders and delivering colourful cocktails. CHANTOU, early 20s, walks up to Stair; takes his hand.

CHANTOU
Come, Mr Handsome Man.

Stair allows her to lead him by the hand towards a table.

CHANTOU
You look for lady?

STAIR
You know where I can find one?

Chantou doesn’t get the joke but smiles anyway.

35 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela opens the icon entitled “This is the end”.

With great trepidation she presses ‘play’. Nick’s face appears onscreen.

NICK
If you are watching this, my darling, it means that I am dead and trying to figure out who killed me. And here I am, talking to you from beyond the grave, with my list of possible assassins...

Nick smiles.

Angela gasps in shock; presses pause. Nick’s face freezes.

36 EXT. CITY STREET. NIGHT

Monkey and a FRIEND search through a large pile of rubbish at the side of the road - placing recyclable plastic bottles in large dirty woven-plastic bags.

In amongst bags of discarded rice, rotting vegetables, babies nappies etc Monkey finds a small broken box. She opens it. Close on the contents:

Worn down tubes of lipstick, eye-shadow, rouge, fake eye-lashes and other women’s beautifying products.

Monkey smiles. She calls out to her friend.

MONKEY (subtitled)
Look

Monkey’s Friend walks up; looks at the contents; smiles.

37 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair sits at the table with Chantou, sipping a blue cocktail as Chantou strokes his thigh. 

CHANTOU
You are very handsome.

STAIR
You are very pretty.

CHANTOU
Not beautiful?

STAIR
OK, beautiful.

CHANTOU
I am Chantou. What is your name?

STAIR
Hello Chantou. My name is Stair.

CHANTOU
What means ‘Stair’.

STAIR
My name is Alistair. Stair is the shortened...my name in short.

CHANTOU
My name mean ‘flower’ I smell sweet, like a flower.

She leans towards Stair, her face close to his, presenting her neck for him to smell.

Closeby, Quong Tran, the well-dressed and groomed Vietnamese man seen earlier in the story watching Nick in the street, observes:

Stair placing his hand on Chantou’s back; smelling her neck; turning her head to him; smiling radiantly.

38 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela, tears in her eyes, sits in front of her laptop computer - on which the frozen face of Nick can be seen smiling out at her. She composes herself and, with some trepidation, presses ‘play’. Nick comes to life:

NICK
I’m sorry for dying on you like this. Bad timing, eh! Not my choice, of course. I do hope my death was relatively painless...and I hope you are OK. No, I hope you are heart-broken...you know what I mean. Are you crying now?

Angela, crying, nods her head; talks to the screen.

ANGELA
That’s OK.

NICK
I’m sorry. (A BEAT) Anyhow, you will find plenty of clues here in this...
(He points at the camera)
...remember you used to make fun of my ‘diary’? Clues as to who my assassin might be. And I need to tell you a few things that...well, they might come as a bit of a shock. I am sorry to do this to you but... context is important. I’ve told you some of this story already...how I met Gerard...but I haven’t told you the most important parts. Brace yourself, OK? Hey, the truth may not set you free but...its a much better story. When I first came to Cambodia...

39 EXT. PHNOM PENH AIRPORT. DAY

Nick emerges from the crowded ‘Arrivals’ exit wearing a backpack; a laptop computer bag slung around his neck.

NICK (voice over)
...my hair was longer, my waist was trimmer and I was pretty naive...

40 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Chantou strokes Stair’s hairy arm; resting alongside her hairless arm. He is enjoying the attention.

CHANTOU
So furry. You like massage? I can give you special massage, good!

STAIR
What makes your ‘special massage’ special?

Chantou laughs. Quong Tran walks up, gestures to Chantou to leave. As she does so, hers and Stair’s eyes meet for a moment. Quong Tran sits in her chair.

QUANG TRAN
You cannot believe anything Kimsong says.

STAIR
She told me her name was Chantou.

QUONG TRAN (laugh)
Our ‘flower’ girl. Did she offer to open her petals for you? (A BEAT)

My name is Quong Tran. 

STAIR (cool)
My name is Alistair.

QUONG TRAN
Alistair. (A BEAT) Alistair, is your Christian name, I think?

STAIR
Yes, but I am not a good Christian.

QUONG TRAN
And your family name?

Stair waves the question away.

WING CHOU (smiles)
I will call you ‘Mr Smith’. Or ‘Mr Jones’.

STAIR (smiles)
Mr Smith.

Stair holds up his hand, shakes his head. 

QUONG TRAN
You are here to play, Mr Smith? (A BEAT) Or for the ladies?

Stair shakes his head; looks to where Chantou stands, looking at him.

STAIR
Play with the ladies?

Quong Tran smiles. A door opens behind him. A HOSTESS, carrying a tray of colourful cocktails, enters a private gambling room in which Wing Chou sits at a round green velvet covered table playing a card game with OTHER PLAYERS.

QUONG TRAN
A spy, perhaps?

STAIR
Yes, a spy.

The door to Wing Chou’s private gambling room swings shut.

QUONG TRAN
Do you mind if I ask you why you are here?

STAIR
Sex. (A BEAT) My mother and father had sex one night and nine months later....voila!
Stair makes a ‘here-I-am’ gesture. Quong Tran laughs.

STAIR
And you?

QUONG TRAN
I find it hard to believe that my mother and father ever had sex, but they must have because, nine months later...

He makes a ‘here-I-am’ gesture; smiles.

QUONG TRAN
No, I am here because I am the manager. 

STAIR
The boss!

Stair knocks back the last of his blue cocktail. Quong Tran signals to Chantou to get Stair another cocktail.

QUONG TRAN
And you, Mr Smith, why are you here? Business? Pleasure?

STAIR
Just passing through. And a young woman I met this evening told me about...
(He gestures to the casino)
And I was curious. I’ve never been in a casino and I thought...

QUONG TRAN
You have never gambled?

STAIR
A little poker, when I was a boy. For small change.

QUONG TRAN
You have never been tempted?

STAIR
To give my hard-earned money to people like you?

QUONG TRAN
To take my hard-earned money from me?

STAIR
Hard earned? (A BEAT) The odds are not stacked against your...guests?

Quong Tran makes a ‘maybe, maybe-not’ gesture.

QUONG TRAN
There is no shortage of people who think they can beat the odds.

STAIR
A sucker born every minute.

QUONG TRAN
Is it better to be a sucker with the courage to take a chance...

Stair’s eyes are on Chantou, leaning over the bar as the BARTENDER prepares a blue cocktail.

QUONG TRAN
…to walk the tightrope with no safety net to catch us when we fall?

Chantou turns, smiles at Stair.

QUONG TRAN
Or a coward, tip toeing through life looking down at the safety net?

STAIR
Does anyone fall for that bullshit line?

QUONG TRAN (smiles)
As you say, there’s a sucker born every minute.

Quong Tran gestures to the gambling tables.

QUONG TRAN
I cannot tempt you?

STAIR
I don’t know the first thing about gambling.

QUONG TRAN
There is nothing to it. Perhaps you can learn.

STAIR
You know the expression, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?”

QUONG TRAN
And you are an old dog?

Chantou, her eyes on Stair, walks up to him and Quong Tran, laughing together, blue cocktail in hand.

STAIR
Almost forty.

QUONG TRAN
You are well preserved.

Stair holds up his empty glass.

STAIR
A great preservative.

Chantou places a blue cocktail beside him. 

STAIR
Thank you, Chantou. Kimsong!?

Chantou laughs, places her hand on Stair’s shoulder.

CHANTOU
You cannot believe anything Quong Tran tells you, Mr Alistair.

Quong Tran smiles. Stair laughs. Chantou spins on her heels; walks towards the door leading into the private gambling room of Wing Chou; opens it; walks in. Stair watches as:

Chantou stands at Wing Chou’s side, places a hand on his shoulder. The stack of chips in front of Wing Chou is high. As the door swings shut Chantou looks directly at Stair.

STAIR (nods)
Remind me, which is better? Four of a kind or a full house?

The muffled, distinctive, sound of Angela’s mobile is heard.

41 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela looks at Nick’s smiling face onscreen, ignoring the sound of her mobile phone for a moment:

NICK
I don’t believe in fate but...

She presses ‘pause’ as she tries to figure out where her phone is. Nick’s face is frozen mid-sentence; mid-smile.

She moves fast to:

42 INT. NICK’S BEDROOM. NIGHT

The muffled sound of Angela’s mobile is heard as she searches for it. She strips the sheets from the bed, hears a ‘thump’, looks down, sees her mobile, picks it up.

ANGELA
Hello

TILDA’S VOICE
Angela?

ANGELA
Yes.

TILDA’S VOICE
It’s Tilda. Stair’s wife.

ANGELA
Hi.

TILDA’S VOICE
I don’t know what to say...

The sound of Tilda crying. Tears well in Angela’s eyes. She walks back towards:

43 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

As Angela walks back into the Living Room; sits at Nick’s desk:

ANGELA
You don’t have to say anything. 

TILDA’S VOICE
I’m....you must be...I’m so sorry. And...You are in my thoughts.

The sound of Tilda crying.

ANGELA
Thank you, Tilda.

Angela’s eyes focus on the image of Nick smiling onscreen.

ANGELA
How did you know? About me and Nick?

TILDA’S VOICE
He told me.

ANGELA
Told you what?

TILDA’S VOICE
Maybe I shouldn’t...

ANGELA
It’s OK.

During a long silence Angela opens the folder with ‘Money stuff’ written on it.

TILDA’S VOICE
That he loved you.

ANGELA
That he was in love with me?

TILDA’S VOICE
That he was in love with you.

After a long pause:

ANGELA
I wish he’d told me.

As they talk, Angela looks at the first few photos in the Money stuff’ folder - of Tilda and Stair at their wedding.

TILDA’ VOICE
Men.

ANGELA
Men.

TILDA’S VOICE
Anyhow...

44 INT. WING CHOU’S PRIVATE ROOM. CASINO. NIGHT

A baby turtle walks across a green velvet gambling table.

STAIR (voice off)
I’ll try anything once, Mr Wing Chou.

Stair sits to the right of Wing Chou. Chantou stands behind, between Stair and Wing Chou. There are FOUR OTHER PLAYERS at the table. Quong Tran hovers - not playing; just observing.

WING CHOU
Call me Wing, please, Mr Smith. (A BEAT) Anything?

STAIR
If it doesn’t hurt me.

WING CHOU
Losing your money could hurt.

STAIR
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

WING CHOU
But if you can’t cook maybe you should not be in the kitchen.

Wing Chou signals to Quong Tran: ‘cards please’.

STAIR
But if you are not in the kitchen, how can you learn to cook?

WING CHOU (smiles)
Watching...observing...paying attention.

Quong Tran hands Wing Chou a new pack of cards wrapped in cellophane.

STAIR
I’d rather learn on the job.

WING CHOU
That could be an expensive way to learn.

Stair shrugs. Wing Chou unwraps the cards.

WING CHOU
How much can you afford to pay for your lesson tonight?

STAIR
Is there a limit of some kind?

WING CHOU
Five hundred dollars per raise.

STAIR
Per raise? What’s that?

Wing Chou and Quong Tran exchange looks. Stair takes out a shiny black credit card.

STAIR
You have an ATM?

45 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela, her mobile held to her ear, looks at another photo in the Money stuff’ folder:

Stair and Tilda, both dressed in tennis whites, holding tennis rackets.

TILDA
The boys had their secrets.

ANGELA
The boys!?

TILDA
That’s what their mum called them.

Angela looks at a another photo of Stair and Tilda:

Tilda in her white tennis outfit, alone, winking playfully at the person taking the photo.

Angela’s mobile ‘pings’. She looks at the screen: Missed Calls

ANGELA
Tilda, I should go. I’ve got...

TILDA
That’s OK. I just wanted...skype me anytime...

ANGELA
Thanks. Bye.

TILDA’S VOICE
Bye.

Angela hangs up; types numbers into the mobile keypad.

ELECTRONIC VOICE
You have twelve missed calls. Do you want to listen to twelve missed calls now?

Angela is in two minds about checking them; looks to the frozen smiling face of Nick onscreen; decides against checking them just now; closes the folder of ‘Money stuff’ photos; presses ‘play.’

On Angela as she looks at the monitor; sees and hears:

NICK
I got sidetracked. It’s what happened next that’s important.

When her boyfriend appeared on the scene, your ex-boyfriend, Gerard...

46 INT. HALLWAY. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair stands in front of an ATM machine. He places his credit card into it, presses the appropriate numbers. A message appears onscreen:

Insufficient funds

He presses the ‘balance’ option:

      $5,263.
A look of concern crosses his face as he types in:

      $2,000

He is in the process of getting money out of it as Chantou leans close; speaks softly.

CHANTOU
Be careful, Mr Alistair. These men. They are not good men.

Stair nods, extracts a small wad of $100 bills from the ATM.

47 EXT. RIVERSIDE. NIGHT

Monkey and SEVERAL BOY AND GIRL STREET KIDS sit on the pavement close to the river’s edge making themselves and each other up with Monkey’s found make-up kit. They laugh, chatter and thoroughly enjoy themselves.

48 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela sips on a glass of wine mixed with ice as she watches Nick onscreen:.

NICK
So, Ingrid lied about having just met me but I could tell from the smile on Gerard’s face that he knew and didn’t care. A little detail that I left out of the story I told you.

Angela’s phone emits its distinctive sound.

ANGELA
A lie!

NICK
A lie, but only a small one!

Nick smiles mischievously.

Angela presses ‘pause’. Nick’s smiling face freezes onscreen. She picks up her mobile; looks at the screen: Nick

She stares at the screen in shock for a long moment; lifts it  to her ear fearfully. 

ANGELA
Hello.
(There is only dial-tone.)
Hello!

She looks at the screen of her mobile with a mixture of confusion and panic; hesitates a long moment before pressing ‘call back’. The phone rings and rings and rings. Then it is answered and a female voice, speaking in Khmer, says something. It is too faint for Angela to hear.

ANGELA
Who are you? Why have you got this phone? Hello...hello...

The line has gone dead. Angela stares at the screen of her mobile; in a state of shock.

49 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair slaps his black credit card on the table; hands a wad of $100 bills to Quong Tran, who is the ‘Banker’. He glances momentarily at Chantou, standing behind Wing Chou, as Quong Tran passes him piles of white, red and blue chips:

WING CHOU
The white chip is worth $100.
(He holds up a white chip.)
The ante is one of these.

STAIR
Ante?

Quong Tran shuffles the cards. Stair glances at his hands.

WING CHOU
To play in a round you have to put one of these on the table.

Stair nods. Wing Chou picks up a red chip. Quong Tran continues to shuffle the cards.

WING CHOU
One of these
(He holds it up.)
Is $250. And one of these...
(He picks up a blue chip)
...is $500
Stair finishes his blue cocktail, signals to Chantou to get him another. He is a little drunk.

STAIR (nods)
So, is the limit $500 per raise or per hand?

WING CHOU
Per raise. With a limit of three ‘raises’.

Stair looks around the table, does some mental arithmetic; talks to himself.

STAIR
And three of a kind beats two pairs, right?

Stair’s mobile phone vibrates on the table alongside him. He looks at the screen:
Angela

He does not take the call.

50 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. DAY

Angela talks on her mobile phone.

ANGELA
Something very weird has just happened. Please call me the minute you get this message. It’s important. Very important.

She hangs up; sits for a long moment - mind racing.

She opens the ‘Money stuff’ folder resting on the table in front of her; looks at another photo:

Tilda, naked from the waist up, has one arm placed across her breasts as she holds out her bra to the photographer with the other; pouting playfully.

Then another:

Tilda, naked, one arm placed across her breasts and the other held over her pubic region, smiles at the photographer.

Angela is processing the significance of the photos as her phone rings. She looks at the screen:  Tilda

Angela is in two minds about answering the call. She lets it ring as she looks at the next photo:

Tilda naked, lying on a bed, looking up at the photographer - whose naked body (holding the camera) can be seen in a mirror. It is Nick. 

As her mobile rings out, Angela looks at the photo in shock. Her phone starts to ring again. Angela looks at the screen. A Skype call. She answers tentatively.

ANGELA
Tilda?

Tilda is vulnerable, confused; an emotional mess.

TILDA
Sorry to be calling at this hour but...Can I...Did Nick ever....talk to you about me?

ANGELA
All he told me was that Stair was married to someone called Tilda and that you had two gorgeous girls.

TILDA
That’s all?

ANGELA
Stair was not a subject he wanted to talk about much. 

TILDA
I guess he told you he and Stair had fallen out?

ANGELA
He didn’t want to talk about it but, yes, I gathered that.

TILDA
Do you know why?

ANGELA
No. Why?

Tilda looks way - torn between wanting and not wanting to broach this subject. She decides against.

TILDA
I don’t know.

51 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair sips his blue cocktail, looks at his cards; tries hard to hide how happy he is with his hand; fails badly. He pushes a red chip onto the table. And then his last two blue chips.

STAIR
And raise you one thousand.

Wing Chou leans forward, pushes one of the chips back.

WING CHOU
Just five hundred per raise, remember...Mr Smith?

STAIR
Oh, sorry.

Stair sips his blue cocktail; looks at his cards; fails to keep the smile off his face.

One OTHER PLAYER folds, throws his cards on the table. The Other Players, all ‘poker-faced’ push a blue chip onto the table. Without hesitation, Stair pushes his last blue chip onto the table. ANOTHER PLAYER folds.

Stair lays his three kings on the table, smiles confidently.

All the OTHER PLAYERS, except for Wing Chou, turn their cards face down on the table.
Wing Chou lays his cards down.

       A flush

Stair is confused. He thinks he has won!

STAIR
That beats three of a kind?

Quong Tran rakes all of Stair’S chips towards Wing Chou.

A look of panic crosses Stair’s face.

52 LIVING ROOM NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela stands in front of Nick’s ‘Nest of Vipers’ montage. She holds her mobile up so that Tilda (on Skype) can see it.

Angela turns the phone back to her.

TILDA (chocked)
Stair hasn’t said anything about any...’nest of vipers’. Nothing.

ANGELA
Maybe he....just doesn’t want to ...upset you?

Tilda looks at Angela with a quizzical expression; tries to read between the lines.
Angela’s expression suggests that there is something ’between the lines.’

TILDA (cold)
OK. Thanks. I have a few questions for my husband.

ANGELA (grimaces)
Please don’t tell him I told you that?

TILDA
Don’t worry, I’ll keep your name out of it. I’ll act dumb. (A BEAT) I am blonde after all. Thanks.

53 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Quong Tran rakes all of Stair’s chips towards Wing Chou.

Stair lets the reality of yet another loss sink in for a moment, picks up his blue cocktail as if to drink it; looks at his chips (only a few white ones left); makes a decision; picks up his black credit card, stands, starts to move towards the door; blue cocktail in hand. Chantou moves to accompany him. Stair puts his hand up: “Stay” He stumbles out of the room, drink in hand. Quong Tran shakes his head.

QUONG TRAN
A sucker born every minute.

54 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela paces up and down, mobile phone in hand; trying to make sense of the complexities she has been confronted with; moves back to her computer’ stands in front of it; not sure if she wants to look at any more of Nick’s diary.

She picks up her phone; finds the number she wants to call:

FRANCOISE
Before she has a chance to do so, she receives a skype call; presses the appropriate button: Tilda. She is not happy!

TILDA
He’s not in his hotel. It’s 3 in the morning and he’s not in his hotel.

ANGELA
Are you sure?

TILDA
I got the guy at the front desk to check his room. He’s not there. (A BEAT) Is Stair with you?

ANGELA
No.

TILDA
No?

Tina and Grace, in their pyjamas, have just woken up; walk into Tilda’s bedroom chatting.

ANGELA
He’s not here, Tilda.

TILDA
Sorry, it’s just...do you have any idea where he might be?

Angela hesitates a moment.

ANGELA
No.

TILDA
Please, Angela, if you have any idea, I’d like to know. I need to know.

Tilda signals to Tina and Grace to be quiet.

ANGELA
I don’t know for sure but he did ask me about a casino.

TILDA
Fuck.

TINA
Mummy!

TILDA
Sorry, sweetheart. That’s a dollar in the swearing jar.
(Turning back to Angela)
If you see Stair before I talk with him...Hang on...
(She turns to Tina and Grace.)
Girls, can you please...

She makes a ‘leave the room gesture’ Tina puts her hands on her hips defiantly. Grace mimics her. Tilda glares at them.

TILDA
Now!

Tina and Grace turn, flounce out of the room.

TILDA
Are you good at lying?

ANGELA
No! I’m a hopeless liar. I turn red and...

TILDA
So was Nick.

ANGELA
Yes, he was so bad at it that he didn’t even try.

TILDA
One of the things I....liked about him.

ANGELA
One of the things I loved about him.

TILDA (nods)
Anyhow, I’d rather you didn’t tell Stair I know he didn’t spend the night at the hotel. If that’s OK?

ANGELA
OK.

55 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair walks unsteadily back into Wing Chous’s private gambling room, a wad of $100 bills in one hand and his empty cocktail glass in the other. As he sits, he signals to Chantou to get him another cocktail. She is reluctant to do so. Stair gestures his insistence. She takes his glass. Stair slaps his black credit card on the table.

STAIR
I am feeling lucky. Very lucky.

WING CHOU
Perhaps we should raise the limit.

Stair slurs his words.

STAIR
To the sky.

WING CHOU
Sky’s the limit?

STAIR
Why not. Why the fuck not!

The PLAYER to Stair’s right deals cards. Stair picks his up; seems to have difficulty focusing on them. Chantou appears at his side with a blue cocktail; places it alongside him. Stair looks at his cards and, without giving it too much thought, pushes 5 blue chips onto the table.

Stair, quite drunk, is very happy with the hand he is holding and does not try to hide it. He has most of his chips on the table. He takes a sip of his blue cocktail; pushes the rest of his chips into the centre.

Wing Chou is the only player still in the game. Chantou looks on with concern; Quong Tran with interest. Wing Chou matches Stair, indicates to him to show what he has.

Stair places 3 Jacks and two eights on the table.

Wing Chou grimaces, holds on to his hand for a moment before laying out his cards one by one: 6 of Hearts, 7 of Hearts, 8 of Hearts, 9 of Hearts, 10 of Hearts.

The smile disappears from Stair’s face.

WING CHOU
Perhaps this is a good time to finish our game.

Stair ponders this drunkenly for a moment, nods his assent but then suddenly changes his mind.

STAIR
No, fuck it.

He holds up his black credit card, stumbles to his feet; picks up his blue cocktail, takes a sip.

STAIR
One for the road.
(To Wing Chou.)
You up for one last round?

WING CHOU
If you still have money to lose I am happy to take it.

Stair chuckles, holds his index finger aloft as he stands (”I’ll be back in a minute”); stumbles towards the door. When he gets to it he turns.

STAIR
Never say die.

56 INT. HALLWAY. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair stumbles back into the hallway, walks up to the ATM machine; places his credit card in the ATM, goes through the motions of pressing in the appropriate numbers; looks at the screen, brings his hands to his head: ‘freaking out’

From the perspective of a security camera Stair can be seen raking his hands through his hair; as if in a panic.

57 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Quong Tran looks at the screen of his mobile phone - on which can be seen:
Stair, panicking; trying to figure out what to do; drunkenly mouthing the word ‘fuck’ over and over again.

58 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Wing Chou hands the deck of cards to Stair. He looks at them, drunkenly, as if he is not sure how to shuffle them.

STAIR
Hey, can we have a new pack of cards?

WING CHOU (nods)
Of course.

He indicates to Quong Tran to get a new pack. Stair holds up the old pack.

STAIR
This one has not been kind to me. Maybe...

Quong Tran hands a new pack of cards to Stair. He has a little trouble removing the cellophane.

STAIR
Can I ask you a question, Mr Wing Chou?

WING CHOU
Of course.

Stair shuffles the cards amateurishly.

STAIR
If a businessman...a hypothetical American businessman...came to Cambodia hoping to make a lot of money fast... you have a lot of money is my guess... what would be ...the quickest way?

WING CHOU
Playing poker.
(He laughs)
But if the hypothetical businessman is you, Mr Smith, poker is not a business plan I would recommend.

Stair laughs, starts to deal cards to Wing Chou.

WING CHOU
You must deal to the person on your left first, remember!

STAIR
Sorry.

He takes the cards back, hiccups, starts to deal to the man on his left.

STAIR
And you, Mr Wing Chou? How did you make your money? Legally?

59 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela sits at Nick’s desk looking at half a dozen or so printed blow-up photos laid out neatly in front of her. They are in soft focus.

Angela thinks hard; trying to solve puzzles. She looks further down the desk at the photo, with cracked glass, of:

Young Nick and Stair, each with an arm around the other’s shoulder and each carrying a tennis racket.

She reaches out, places it in front of her with the other photos. She looks at the arrangement for a moment, stands, moves further down the desk; picks up the manuscript with “The Boys” written on it and adds this to her ‘collection’.

60 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Wing Chou throws two cards onto a table stacked high with chips. They dwarf Stair’s small pile. The OTHER PLAYERS have ‘folded’. Stair deals Wing Chou two more cards.

Wing Chou looks at his cards. And then at Stair.

WING CHOU
We have a problem, Mr Smith.

STAIR
Yes?

WING CHOU
If I bet as I would like to
(He indicates Stairs chips)
...you do not have enough to cover the bet.

Stair indicates his black plastic credit card.

STAIR
Don’t worry. I can cover it.

WING CHOU
Ten thousand dollars?

STAIR
Ten, twenty, thirty...

WING CHOU
I have your word?

STAIR
You have my word.

He reaches out with his hand. Wing Chou shakes it.

61 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela has a photo in her hands:

Tilda and Stair on their wedding day.

She places the photo back on the table; picks up another:

Tilda in her white tennis outfit, alone, winking playfully at the person taking the photo.

The sound of the front door bell buzzing. Angela gets up; walks towards it.

62 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Wing Chou pushes a large stack of chips onto the table.
Stair deals himself two more cards; looks at them for a long moment before picking up all five cards. He jiggles his leg nervously, taps the fingers of his free hand on the table; makes an impulsive decision.

STAIR
Raise you $10,000.

WING CHOU
You’re sure you have the funds to cover this?

Stair nods. Wing Chou nods, counts out another $10,000 worth of chips; pushes them onto the table.

Chantou has a look of horror on her face. Quong Tran observes the proceedings with the eyes of a hawk.

Wing Chou lays a card on the table:

Jack of Spades

63 INT. POLICE STATION. NIGHT

Balin Meas, smoking a cigarette looks at a photo of:

Monkey getting out of the white car at the gate in front of the palatial home.

Other photos are laid out on the table in front of him - faces circled; notes written on them.

64 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Wing Chou lays the Jack of Clubs alongside the Jack of Spades Jack of Diamonds.

He cannot help but smile as he prepares to lay down his fourth card. Stair remains poker-faced.

Wing Chou lays the Jack of hearts alongside the Jack of Clubs Jack of Spades and Jack of Diamonds

Stair looks on in shock. Wing Chou smiles.

Stair sits for a long moment looking at Wing Chou’s cards - as if defeated. He glances at Chantou. She looks worried.

The beginnings of a smile appear on Stair’s face.

Taking his time, relishing the drama of it, Stair lays out:

10 of Spades, 9 of Spades, 8 of spades and 7 of spades.

The smile disappears from Wing Chou’s face. The suspense is almost too much for Chantou.

Stair lays out a 6 of Spades.

There is a deathly silence at the table.

Wing Chou recovers quickly from his shock; smiles.

WING CHOU
Congratulations, Mr Smith.

65 INT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair talks on his mobile.

MIRIAM’S VOICE
Someone lent you ten grand? (A BEAT) Talk to me, Alistair. (A BEAT) Poker? (A BEAT) You’ve been gambling right?

Chantou’s eyes are on Stair, on the other side of the room.

STAIR
Ask me no questions...

MIRIAM’S VOICE
You are an idiot.

STAIR
Yes, but an idiot who just kept the deal alive.

MIRIAM’S VOICE
So you got lucky at cards, this time. But cards is what got you into this mess, Alistair.
(Stair glances at Chantou; smiles.)
And poker is not a business strategy! (A BEAT) Are you listening to me?

STAIR
I always listen to your advice.

MIRIAM’S VOICE
And ignore it!

STAIR (teasing)
But I do listen. (A BEAT) OK, here’s what I want you to do...

Close on Chantou; looking at Stair intently.

A LITTLE LATER

Stair walks up to Chantou, two $100 notes in his hand.

STAIR
Thank you.

He hands the notes to her. She takes them but does not smile.

STAIR
You have been my good luck charm.

Chantou stares at him in a way that makes Stair uneasy.

66 EXT. STREET OUTSIDE CASINO. NIGHT

Stair walks away from the front entrance to the casino.

STAIR
I got your messages but I was caught up with...

ANGELA’S VOICE
That’s OK. I just wanted...

67 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela stands in the middle of the room; mobile to her ear.

ANGELA
I still want...

Angela hesitates, looks back at:

Nick’s desk, at which sits Francoise; seat swivelled around looking at her.
Angela makes it clear with a gesture, that she wants to have this conversation in private.

FRANCOISE (offended)
Pourquoi?

ANGELA (to Stair)
...hang on.

She covers the mouthpiece. Angela looks daggers at Francoise. She does not take the hint.
Angela turns away, annoyed, walks towards the sliding glass door leading to the adjacent outdoor garden.

68 EXT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair stands alone in the deserted street.

STAIR
Was that Francoise?

ANGELA’S VOICE
Yes. (A BEAT) I needed...its not just that I didn’t want to be alone...

Chantou appears in a pool of light spilling from the casino entrance behind Stair. He does not see her at first.

ANGELA’S VOICE
I also needed...

69 EXT. TROPICAL GARDEN. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela closes the sliding glass door. Francoise, in the background, looks at the photos laid out on the desk.

ANGELA
...someone to talk to...about... I got a phone call from Nick’s phone.

70 EXT. CASINO/TROPICAL GARDEN/LIVING ROOM. NIGHT

NOTE: The scene split between three locations

Stair becomes aware of Chantou as she walks towards him.

STAIR
It’s not possible.

ANGELA
I know, I know, but it happened and... maybe he had two phones so maybe...but it’s freaking me out...and...I know you don’t think he was murdered but there’s something I need to show you...Nick’s video diary.

STAIR
Video diary!?

Stair is interested in what Angela has told him but is distracted by Chantou, as she steps close to him - an angry expression on her face; the two $100 bills in her hand.

ANGELA
I only found it tonight...and...

Chantou slips the two $100 bills in Stair shirt pocket.

ANGELA (vulnerable)
Please come.

Chantou turns; walks back towards the casino entrance.

ANGELA
Now?

Stair’s eyes are on the retreating figure of Chantou.

ANGELA
I’ll get rid of Frannie.

STAIR
OK. Be there soon. (A BEAT) Can I ask a favour?

ANGELA
Sure.

In the Living Room (Angela on her mobile in the tropical garden in the background) Francoise opens the folder with ‘Money stuff’ written on it.

STAIR
If Tilda calls you...

ANGELA
Why would she call me?

STAIR
I gave her your number. She wanted to call you.

ANGELA
OK.(A BEAT) What?

Francoise places the photo of Nick and Tilda naked alongside the photo, with the cracked glass frame, of Young Nick and Young Stair as Stair and Angela’s voices are heard over:

STAIR
Just...don’t say anything about... gambling, OK?

ANGELA
OK.

71 INT. POLICE STATION. NIGHT

Balin Meas’ attention is focused on Armed Guard #1, standing close to Monkey; his face clearly visible. He holds a magnifying glass close.

He picks up another photo - one of Angela’s taken at the launch of Wing Chou’s new island casino/hotel complex.

72 EXT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair shouts out to Chantou as she walks away.

STAIR
Chantou! Wait.

Chantou stops, turns.

73 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Francoise, foreground, looks at the photo of Nick and Tilda naked. Angela, in the tropical garden, opens the sliding door; sees what Francoise is doing; walks fast towards her.

ANGELA (angry)
Frannie, that’s private. You can’t...

Angela reaches out to take the folder from her. Francoise withholds it, holds up the photo of Tilda and Nick naked.

FRANCOISE
Who is zis woman?

74 EXT. CASINO. NIGHT

Stair walks up to Chantou; tries to hand the 2 $100 bills to her. She waves them away.

STAIR
You don’t want...need...some (money)?

Chantou shakes her head; refuses to accept the $100 bills.

75 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Angela’s eyes are on the photo of Nick and Tilda naked.

FRANCOISE
You know zis Tilda?

76 EXT. CASINO. NIGHT

CHANTOU
Yes. I want. I need. But not your money.

STAIR
What do you want?

CHANTOU
I think you have a good heart.

77 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Francoise holds up the photo of Nick and Tilda naked.

FRANCOISE
Did you tell zis Tilda about...

ANGELA
Of course not! It’s none of my business.

FRANCOISE
Does Stair know...?

ANGELA
Stop Frannie! It’s none of your fucking business either.

FRANCOISE
I am just trying to help you.

78 EXT. CASINO. NIGHT

Chantou looks at Stair with a mixture of anger and longing.

STAIR
Chantou, you are a beautiful young woman. You deserve a man with a good heart. I have a bad heart.

Chantou smiles, places her hand on his heart.

CHANTOU
You are a liar.

STAIR
Yes, but not about...this.

He places his hand on his heart, close to Chantou’s. She entwines her fingers with Stair’s.

79 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

ANGELA
I’m totally stressed out..that’s all. Sorry...

FRANCOISE
You need zee massage.

ANGELA
No, I don’t need a fucking massage, Frannie. I just want...I just want to be alone right now, OK?

FRANCOISE
C'était Alistair on zee phone?

ANGELA
Yes.

80 EXT. RIVERSIDE. NIGHT

Monkey and several other street kids (mainly girls) sit on the pavement close to the river’s edge - all made up with rouge, lipstick, fake eye lashes. As they all look at Monkey taking her small video camera from a plastic bag, Vanny, a tray of books around her neck, walks up; sits with them.

81 INT. LIVING ROOM. NICK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

Francoise, indignant, confronts Angela.

FRANCOISE
Et vous voulez que je parte parce qu'il vient? (A BEAT) ‘Ee come ‘ere? Now?

ANGELA
There are things I need to talk with him about.

FRANCOISE
Et vous ne pouvez pas parler avec moi about zese things?

Angela shakes her head. Francoise nods, hurt, picks up her carry bag; walks towards the front door; opens it.

ANGELA
Frannie!

Francoise turns. Angela walks up to her.

ANGELA
Please don’t take it personally.
(Francoise will not be easily placated.)
Thank you for...everything...

Angela puts her arms around Francoise; hugs her. 

FRANCOISE
Je m'inquiète pour toi. (I worry about you.)

Angela nods; tears in her eyes. Francoise wipes them away.

82 EXT. CASINO NIGHT

Chantou holds Stair’s hand in both of her own; close to her heart; looks directly into his eyes as his mobile rings.

CHANTOU
You say to me you have bad heart. And you say you are liar, so I do not believe you.

Stair smiles, untangles his fingers; takes out his phone; looks at the screen: Tilda
He gestures to Chantou, in a friendly way, that he needs privacy. She nods. Stair moves away; answers the call:

TILDA’S VOICE
Sorry to be calling so early?

Stair looks at his watch.

STAIR
Four in the morning.

TILDA’S VOICE
Shit, sorry, I thought...

STAIR
It’s OK...

TILDA’S VOICE
You still in bed?

STAIR
Just got up, but I can’t talk now...

TILDA’S VOICE
Why?

STAIR
Except to say ‘problem solved’. Our...

TILDA’S VOICE
Which problem? (A BEAT) Have you got someone with you? (A BEAT) In your bed?

Stair sees Wing Chou and Quong Tran emerging from the casino in the background.

STAIR
No.

83 EXT. RIVERSIDE. NIGHT

Monkey fast-reverses through the images she has shot (some of which we have seen) and stops at a shot of:

...herself, made up, dressed in white, standing in the doorway with the Elegant Khmer Woman.

Monkey presses ‘play’:

The Elegant Khmer Woman pulls the door closed. Monkey is very frightened.

84 EXT. CASINO NIGHT

The headlights of a car illuminate Stair and Chantou.

TILDA’S VOICE
Then which problem, Alistair? Your gambling problem?
(The car drives by.)
Was that a car going by? In your bedroom.

STAIR
Look, now is not...

TILDA’S VOICE
Have you been gambling?

STAIR
No.

85 INT. POLICE STATION. NIGHT

With his magnifying glass Balin Meas focuses his attention of two men in the background of a shot that has Terry Swinton in the foreground and Wing Chou in the middle ground.

As he moves the magnifying glass close to the figures in the background, one of them is clearly identifiable as Gerard, leaning close in confidential conversation with another man who looks as though he could be Armed Guard # 1.

86 EXT. CASINO NIGHT

TILDA’S VOICE
I called your hotel. At one in the morning. You weren’t there.

Stair watches Wing Chou and Quong Tran walking towards him.

TILDA’S VOICE
Where were you?

Wing Chou and Quong Tran are close now. They are not smiling.

TILDA’S VICE
Stair? (A BEAT) Can we Skype?

Wing Chou and Quong Tran are close now. Quong Tran has something in his hand.

WING CHOU
We have a problem, Mr Smith.

TILDA’S VOICE
Stair! Who is that?

Stair hangs up as Wing Chou and Quong Tran walk up.

WING CHOU
Or should I say, Mr Morecombe?

Stair registers the switchblade knife in Quong Tran’s hand.

STAIR
And the problem is?

WING CHOU
You are Nicholas Morecombe’s brother.

87 EXT. RIVERSIDE. NIGHT

Monkey and her new street kid friends, Vanny amongst them, look a the flip-out screen of the video camera:

A man’s hand appears in frame, beckons to Monkey, dressed in white, standing in front of the door, to approach.

The street kids look at the screen - eyes wide open in amazement.


End of Episode # 5

No comments:

Post a Comment