They get out and walk around to the back. HATCH is as nervous as before, but MIKE has got his own nerves under control. As they reach the rear of the vehicle: MIKE Safety off?
HATCH looks first surprised, then guilty. He pushes the shotgun's safety off. MIKE, who has his own gun in his hand, nods in satisfaction.
MIKE You're up top.
There are stairs at one end of the loading dock. HATCH climbs them and stands with his shotgun at port arms. MIKE unlocks the back doors of the vehicle, then stands back.
MIKE
Step out on the dock. Don't approach my . . . partner.
Sounding like a guy on Adam 12 makes MIKE uncomfortable, but under the circumstances,
"partner" is the right word.
LINOGE steps out, still awkwardly bent over but graceful. And still smiling that faint, corners-of-
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the-mouth smile. HATCH takes a step back to give him room as LINOGE mounts the steps. Their prisoner is cuffed and they have the guns, but HATCH is still scared of LINOGE.
LINOGE stands in the driving snow, as comfortable as a man in his own living room. MIKE climbs the stairs to the loading dock, searching in his pants pocket. He brings out a ring of keys, separates out the one that opens the back door, and gives it to HATCH. MIKE keeps his pistol pointed slightly down but in LINOGE'S direction.
104 EXTERIOR: HATCH, AT THE LOADING DOOR.
He bends and slides the key into the lock.
105 EXTERIOR: LINOGE, CLOSE-UP.
He's watching HATCH very closely . . . and now we see A FLICKER OF BLACKNESS in his eyes.
106 EXTERIOR: MIKE, CLOSE-UP.
He frowns. Did he see something? It was too quick to tell.
107 EXTERIOR: THE LOADING DOCK DOOR, CLOSE-UP.
HATCH twists the key. SOUND: A SNAP. And now HATCH'S hand is holding nothing but the head of the key.
108 EXTERIOR: RESUME LOADING DOCK.
HATCH
Aw, sugar! Snapped right off! Must have been the cold!
He begins to HAMMER ON THE DOOR with a gloved fist.
109 INTERIOR: THE ISLAND CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
This was once part of the market's storage area. Now it boasts a desk, a few filing cabinets, a fax, a CB radio, and a bulletin board on the wall. There is also a jail cell in the corner. The cell looks sturdy enough, but homemade a kind of do-it-yourself project. It's a strictly temporary facility for 71
weekend drunks and part-time hell-raisers.
SOUND: HAMMERING ON THE DOOR.
HATCH (voice-over) Hey! Anybody in there? Anybody?
110 EXTERIOR: RESUME LOADING DOCK.
MIKE
Forget it. Go around and open it from the inside.
HATCH
You want me to leave you out here alone with him?
MIKE
(stress breaking through)
Unless you happen to see Lois or Superman hanging around in the alley.
HATCH We could take him
MIKE
Through the market? With half the island doing their storm shopping? I don't think so. Go on, now.
HATCH gives him a doubtful look, then starts back down the stairs.
111 EXTERIOR: IN FRONT OF THE MARKET.
In snow that's thicker than ever, ROBBIE BEALS'S Lincoln comes SPINNING AND SLEWING into the parking area, almost broadsiding MOLLY'S little car. ROBBIE gets out and goes up the porch steps just as PETER GODSOE comes out of the market. PETER is a ruggedly handsome man in his early forties, father of SALLY, the little girl with the jam on her shirt.
PETER GODSOE
What happened, Beals? Is Martha really dead?
72
ROBBIE
She's dead, all right.
ROBBIE sees the mannequin with the sign around its neck GENUINE "ROBBIE BEALS BRAND"
LOBSTERIN' GEAH and yanks the sign off with a snarl. He SCOWLS at it. HATCH has slogged around from the back just in time to see and react to this. PETER GODSOE follows ROBBIE back inside, to monitor developments. HATCH follows them both.
112 INTERIOR: THE MARKET AFTERNOON.
Lots of people milling around. Prominent among them is MOLLY ANDERSON, talking to CAT but mostly worrying about MIKE. We see RALPHIE halfway down one of the aisles and mooning over the sugary cereals.
MOLLY
(as HATCH enters) Where's Mike? Is he all right?
HATCH Fine. Out back with the prisoner. I just have to let him in.
Other people move in on him.
PETER GODSOE Is he a local?
HATCH I never saw him before in my life.
Lots of relief at this. Others try to grab HATCH'S attention and ask questions, but MOLLY isn't among them the sooner HATCH does his job, the sooner she'll have her husband back. HATCH
fights his way up the center aisle, pausing to ruffle RALPHIE'S hair. RALPHIE gives him an AFFECTIONATE GRIN.
ROBBIE still has the sign; is tapping it angrily against his thigh. MOLLY sees it and winces a little.
113 EXTERIOR: ON THE LOADING DOCK, WITH MIKE AND LINOGE.
They stand facing each other in the DRIVING SNOW. There are several beats of silence. Then: 73
LINOGE
Give me what I want, and I'll go away.
MIKE
What is it you want?
That smile shakes MIKE in spite of himself.
114 INTERIOR: THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, WITH HATCH.
He comes bustling in and hurries to the loading door. He turns the dead-bolt knob and tries to open it. The door still won't open. He pushes hard, then harder. No luck. As a last resort, he SLAMS
HIS SHOULDER against the door. Nothing. The door might as well be dipped in concrete.
HATCH
Mike?
MIKE (voice-over) Come on, hurry up! It's freezing out here!
HATCH It won't open! It's stuck!
115 EXTERIOR: RESUME LOADING DOCK, WITH MIKE AND LINOGE.
MIKE is totally EXASPERATED everything has gone wrong with this piece of work; it's a complete Russian fire drill. LINOGE is still smiling his faint little smile. For him, everything's right on track.
MIKE Did you unlock it?
HATCH
(rather hurt by this) Course I did, Mike!
MIKE Then whale on it! There's probably ice in the jamb.
116 INTERIOR: RESUME CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, WITH HATCH.
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ROBBIE is standing in the door behind HATCH, observing all this with HEAVY CONTEMPT. HATCH
rolls his eyes, knowing perfectly well the door isn't frozen; he already whaled on it. Nevertheless, he hits the door another couple of good shots. ROBBIE crosses the room, stopping on the way to drop the joke sign on MIKE'S constable's desk. HATCH turns toward him, startled. ROBBIE (who is a physically bigger man) moves HATCH aside, none too gently.
ROBBIE
Let me.
He hits the door several more good shots, his look of confidence gradually subsiding. HATCH
watches with subtle but understandable satisfaction. ROBBIE gives up, rubbing his shoulder.
ROBBIE
Anderson! You'll have to come around and take him through the store.
117 EXTERIOR: RESUME LOADING DOCK, WITH MIKE AND LINOGE.
MIKE ROLLS HIS EYES IN ANNOYANCE SEALS in the constable's office, still meddling. Oh, goody, better and better.
MIKE Hatch!
HATCH (voice-over) Yeah!
MIKE Come around. (pointedly) Alone.
HATCH (voice-over) Right there!