The Firm (58 page)

Don’t
say
it. Just go.

ABBY

Will you be there?

MITCH

As soon as I can. I have to meet someone first. Someone who knows the truth.

Abby scans the area. Is someone watching her? How much time does she have?

ABBY

Mitch.

MITCH

I know. Abby … it’s happening again.

Abby absorbs his words. After a terrified beat, we RESUME FULL ON MITCH. He hangs up the phone and exits the booth. Resolved, he LOOKS UP TO SEE the:

7 EXT. PARKVIEW HOTEL - DAY 7

The enormous hotel looms over the phone booth. The CAMERA pans up to the 18th FLOOR. As Mitch walks toward the hotel, still dripping wet, we:

CUT TO:

8 INT. PARKVIEW HOTEL - 18TH FLOOR - DAY 8

The door to ROOM 1801. On the cut, MARTIN MOXON, mid-forties, OPENS the door and ushers Mitch inside. Moxon wears wire-rimmed glasses, his thinning hair neatly combed. At the moment, he’s beyond nervous. He SNIFFS when he talks, maybe from a cold, or maybe it’s an anxious tic.

MOXON

McDeere (
sniff
)?

MITCH

Mr. Moxon.

MOXON

Martin (
sniff
). Were you followed?

MITCH

No.

Moxon realizes that Mitch is wet.

MOXON

What’s this?

MITCH

(admitting)

I
was
followed, but I lost them. Thank you for coming.

MOXON

(
sniff
). I shouldn’t be here. Five minutes. That’s what you said. Then I’m gone (
sniff
).

Mitch OPENS his briefcase. He removes a PHOTO and shows it to Moxon. NOTE: we DON’T SEE the photo.

MITCH

Mr. Moxon, this is my client. Do you know who this is?

MOXON

No.

MITCH

I think you do. I think you know why I’m here.

MOXON

(slight panic) You called my extension. Three times. They know that. Don’t you think they know that? You came to see me at the
office
–

MITCH

I’m sorry–

MOXON

Sorry? You show up, using my name, asking questions (
sniff
)–

MITCH

Martin
. A woman is dead. And bottom line, the trail leads me to you and your company. I want to know the truth.

Silence. Then, weakly:

MOXON

They’ll kill me. Hell, I’m already dead.

MITCH

Then let me protect you. I know people. The FBI.

And now Moxon looks right at Mitch:

MOXON

Do you have any idea how foolish you sound?

(then, weakly)

I’ve done things. Horrible things.

I’ve tried to live with them. But I can’t anymore.

MITCH

I’m listening.

He wants to talk. Mitch is close. But suddenly, there’s a BANGING on the door. The door rattles on its hinges–

VOICE

(O.S.) Mr. McDeere. Hotel Security. Open the door please.

Moxon shoots a terrified look to Mitch.

MITCH

It’s not security. Security would have a key.

MOXON

I thought you said you lost them.

VOICE (O.S.)

Mitch McDeere. Martin Moxon. We know you’re in there.

The BANGING increases. Someone is KICKING at the door–

MOXON

I can’t help you. And you can’t help me.

Mitch rushes to the HOTEL PHONE. He picks it up, dials for the FRONT DESK. But as he does, Moxon walks to the BALCONY DOOR, which we now realize is OPEN. Mitch looks up just in time to SEE Moxon reach the BALCONY.

MITCH

Mr. Moxon. Martin, what are you–

And without another word, Moxon STEPS OFF THE BALCONY. One second he’s there, and then he’s gone. Mitch drops the phone and races to the ledge. He arrives just in time to see Moxon hit the ground, 18 stories below.

We quickly REVERSE ANGLE to see Mitch staring over the ledge in shock. As the CAMERA ZOOMS UPWARD, racing toward his face at high speed, we finally SMASH TO:

THE FIRM