Penumbra - Fargo

MARCUS STOPS HIS CAR OUTSIDE A THE ANGEL PUB IN HACKNEY. ITS RAINING OUTSIDE IN THE DARK OF NIGHT. HE IS LISTENING TO HEROES BY DAVID BOWIE. HE REMAINS SEATED UNTIL THE SONGS CLIMAX. HE SWITCHES THE CAR ENGINE OFF, AND GETS OUT OF THE CAR. HE STANDS AND STARES AT THE PUBS NAME THAT SHINES BRIGHTLY THROUGH THE DARKNESS AND RAIN. HE LIGHTS A CIGAR, AND TAKES A SLOW WALK OVER TO THE ANGEL ACROSS THE ROAD. HE GLANCES THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE ANGEL, HE CAN SEE ANDY SITTING AT THE BAR WITH A PINT OF BITTER. MARCUS LOOKS AT HIS WATCH, HE STUBS OUT THE CIGAR AGAINST THE AGED BRICKS OF THE ANGEL. HE WALKS INTO THE PUB AND SITS DOWN RIGHT NEXT TO ANDY. HE TURNS AND SMILES TO ANDY, ANDY LOOKS BUT DOES NOT SMILE BACK. THE BARMAN WALKS OVER.

Marcus
Evening Sir, can I have a scotch if the rocks with a twist please.

Barman
Is that everythin’ ?

Marcus
No actually my good man, I would like to buy the gentlemen to my right whatever he likes.

ANDY LOOKS ON WITH CONFUSION.

Andy
You don’t have to do that.

Marcus
I’m fully aware what I have to and don’t have to do thanks, I want to. And in fact I would consider it a personal insult if you were to repudiate this offer.

Andy
A pint of bitter please..

Marcus
(To the barman)
A pint of your finest ale my kind sir.

THE BARMAN LOOKS AT THE PAIR WITH AN ELEMENT OF ANNOYANCE. AND DRAGS HIS TIRED FEET OFF TO PRODUCE THEIR DRINKS. MARCUS, WHILST WAITING MARCUS TURNS ONLY HIS HEAD WHILST HIS BODY REMAINS JUST AS IT IS, AND HE LOOKS AT ANDY WHILE ANDY JUST LOOKS FORWARD TOWARD THE BAR AND THE DRINKS THE PUB HAS ON SHOW. MARCUS IS SMILING WITH POMPOSITY. THIS REAMINS THE SO, UNTIL THE BARMAN RETURNS WITH THEIR DRINKS, MARCUS THEN LOOKS AT THE BARMAN STILL SMILING, HE REACHES INTO HIS INSIDE POCKET AND PULLS OUT A WALLET WITH CLINT EASTWOODS FACE STITCHED ON THE FACIA , PULLS OUT A 10 POUND NOTE AND LITGHTLY PLACES IT IN THE BARMANS HANDS.

Marcus
Keep the change.

Barman
Cheers boy. (Walks off)

Marcus
(Turning again to Andy)
So, how’s your day been?

Andy
Good thanks, and you?

Marcus
Its been ok, you know same old same old.

Andy
Thanks for the pint.

Marcus
Think nothing of it. If I were you I would enjoy it.

Andy
(About to sip, pauses and looks nervously to Marcus and proceeds to sip)
Oh yeah? Why would that be?

Marcus
There was once a Bald Man who sat down after work on a hot summer’s day. A fly came up and started buzzing about his bald pate, and stinging him from time to time. The man aimed a blow at his little enemy, but his palm came on his head instead; again the fly tormented him, but this time the man was wiser and said:
“You will only injure yourself if you take notice of despicable enemies”
Eddie is a despicable enemy, and you have kept on buzzing, do you have any idea of what I’m talking about?

Andy
Look, I don’t know what you think you know.

Marcus
I know what’s important, and its important that you know that. You have been playing Eddie for a fool, and one thing for certain is a fool Eddie is not.

Andy
I have no idea what your talking about.

Marcus
Now your being facetious, don’t play these games with me sunshine, we know what’s been going on. On the information given to me by our mutual friend is that you have been giving up information , important information that jeopardises Eddies business and his freedom, as you know he considers this a lack of respect and loyalty. And once you loose that, well that’s when things begin to turn ugly.

Andy
I haven’t been giving up information about anything, I don’t know where he has been getting any of this from, but I swear to you I have not done anything like that and never would. You have to believe me, I’m being set up.

Marcus
Its not important that I believe you, its important that Eddie believes you, and this is where I come in. Your gonna finish that pint mate, and finish it quick, then me and you are taking a trip over to Greenwich to the docklands, where Eddie will be waiting for us. Then you can paint your pretty little picture of truth to him.
So drink up my friend, I don’t wish to for you to say anything else to me till we leave, I wanna sit here enjoy my drink in silence. And if there is any funny business, well, you know the rest.

Andy
But…

Marcus
(Interrupts)
Ah, what did I just say.

ANDY SITS, AND THROWS BACK HIS PINT QUICKLY, AND PLACES IT ON THE BAR. MARCUS LOOKS AT HIM AND WINKS. THEN MARCUS NECKS HIS DRINK AND STANDS. GRABS ANDYS ARM AND WALKS HIM OUT OF THE PUB AND OVER TO THE CAR, THE RAIN IS COMING DOWN WITH FORCE, HE SHOVES ANDY IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SLAMS THE DOOR SHUT, THEN HE GETS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND STARTS THE ENGINE. HE EJECTS DAVID BOWIES CD AND PUTS ANOTHER IN.

Marcus
You like Johnny Cash

Andy
I fucking hate Johnny Cash

Marcus
Good, then this journey will be that much more unpleasant for you.

JOHNNY CASH TENNESSEE STUD DESCENDS FROM THE SPEAKERS, MARCUS THEN DRIVES OFF INTO THE LONDON EASTEND NIGHT.
MARCUS DRIVES UP A LITTLE DIRT TRACK INTO DESERTED WASTELAND NEAR THE LONDON DOCKLANDS. A CAR IS WAITING WITH THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. MARCUS STOPS, AND GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND GRABS ANDY OUT OF THE CAR. THEY WALK OVER TO THE OTHER CAR. A MAN WALKS OUT FROM THE SHADOWS, ITS DIFFICULT TO MAKE HIM OUT BUT ITS CLEAR TO ANDY THAT ITS EDDIE. HE WALKS OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND INTO THE LIGHT SHINING FROM MARCUS’ CARS DIRT COVERED HEADLIGHTS AND STANDS OPPOSITE THEM.

Eddie
Hello Andy, I’m sure Marcus has filled you in.

Andy
You could say that. But whatever information your going on its wrong.

Eddie
Ah, really well I better let you go then silly me. (Pause) Come ere!

Andy
Look Eddie I would never give you up, or anyone else for that matter.

Eddie
Come over here, now!

ANDY WALKS OVER MARCUS STAYS WHERE HE IS A LIGHTS UP A CIGAR. AND WITHOUT MARCUS NOTICING EDDIE PULLS A GUN WITH A SILENCER OUT OF THE INSIDE POCKET FROM HIS LONG CLOAK AND HANDS IT TO ANDY. ANDY THEN TURNS AND AIMS IT AT MARCUS, THIS MAKE MARCUS DROP THE CIGAR FROM HIS HAND, AND HE THEN TRIES TO REACH INSIDE IS INSIDE POCKET FOR HIS GUN BUT QUICK AS A CAT ANDY PULLS THE TRIGGER AND SHOOT MARCUS SQUARE IN THE FACE DEAD. ANDY SMILES AND WALKS OVER AND SHOVES MARCUS’ EMPTY SHELL INTO HIS CAR AND POURS PETROL FROM THE BOOT OVER HIS THE BODY OF MARCUS AND SETS IT ALIGHT. ANDY QUICKLY MOVES AWAY FROM THE CAR AS THE FLAMES GROW. HE WALKS OVER TO EDDIE WHO STARTS SUCKING A LOLLIPOP.

Eddie
What a double crossing fuck. Tell me Andy, do you fancy an Indian?

Andy
I would fucking love one.

Eddie
Do you like lollipops?

Andy
I love lollipops Eddie.

Eddie
Here have one. (Hands Andy a lollipop) I know a great Indian, shall we?

Andy
After you sir.

Eddie
You drive, we better get out of here quickly. Incidentally what do you make of the word penumbra?

Andy
(Getting into the driving seat)
Not much sir, whys that?

Eddie
No reason Andy, no reason at all.

FADE TO BLACK.