"PHONE BOOTH" by Larry Cohen November 15, 2002 FADE IN: NEW YORK CITY - AERIAL VIEW OF DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN - DAY MULTIPLE STREET SCENES - DAY The sidewalks crowded as usual. A sea of humanity. People come and go -- always in a hurry. Oblivious of one another. A TRAFFIC JAM -- A STREET being torn up by construction workers; A SANITATION TRUCK loading up refuse; VENDORS PEDDLING nuts and salted pretzels; PANHANDLERS blocking a passerby. Intimidating. Demanding. Almost mocking. We're surrounded by the teeming life of the city as we've come to expect it -- complete with a cacophony of sound. MULTIPLE CUTS -- Phone kiosks and phone booths on the East Side and West Side -- uptown and down. One frustrated caller has lost his money in the slot and he takes it out on the equipment -- smashing the receiver violently against the coin box until the instrument splinters into a dozen pieces. NARRATOR There are 237,911 pay telephones in the five burroughs of the city of New York. Many of them are still in working order. DOZENS OF QUICK CUTS -- NEW YORKERS on the phone in extreme close up. We don't hear the words. Only the facial expressions inform us that these are human beings under tremendous pressure. Life in the city is wearing them down. MULTIPLE SHOTS - JUST MOUTHS Lips jabbering into receivers. Cross-cut against one another. NARRATOR Despite increased usage of cellular devices, an estimated four and a half million New Yorkers and two million visitors still utilize pay telephones on a regular basis. At thirty-five cents a pop... for the first three minutes. ANGLE ON CORNER IN MID-MANHATTAN - DAY There's a phone booth situated on the southeast side of the street. NARRATOR You're looking at the telephone booth at the corner of 45th Street and 8th Avenue in the heart of the Manhattan theatrical district. It has been scheduled to be removed and replaced by a kiosk. It's one of the few remaining phone booths left in the city. CAMERA MOVES IN on the irate caller in the booth -- a very well-dressed gray-haired lady -- totally conservative in appearance. WOMAN IN BOOTH (into receiver) You have lied to me for the last time, you lowlife prick bastard! I don't ever want to hear the sound of your fucking voice again. (listens) Yes, well fuck you, too! She slams down the receiver and exits. The booth remains vacant for a brief interval. NARRATOR At least three hundred calls daily originate from this booth. The coins are collected twice a day. This booth has been burglarized forty-one times in the last six months. Someone is approaching the booth, fishing in his pocket for coins. This is STUART SHEPARD, snappily dressed, his hair styled and his nails manicured. Here is a man who clearly takes excellent care of himself. He sports a Donna Karen suit and silk Armani tie. He's about to step into the booth when he's accosted by a middle-aged man in a soiled apron who's run out of a nearby restaurant and has finally caught up with him. MARIO Stu, we got to talk. STU Wish I could accommodate you, Mario, but this is my busy time of day. MARIO How come you cross the street every time you go past the restaurant? STU Why don't I stop in later for some lunch? MARIO There's no more drinks or free meals until the restaurant starts showing up in the columns like you said. STU I'm doing my level best for you people. MARIO One lousy mention in the Post and you expect to eat for six months! STU I got the food critic from the Village Voice all lined up to give you a review. MARIO That's what you tell me last July. And he never shows. STU I was allowing you time to expand the menu. Wallpaper the bathrooms, for God sakes. You get only one shot with these fucking critics and I don't want you to blow a rare opportunity. MARIO You the one blowing it. How long you think you can fuck everybody? STU Hold on right there. I've got a very excellent reputation around this town. MARIO So how come you take two nice suits of clothes from Harry and never get his daughter on David Letterman? STU Hell, I'm not an agent. I'm a publicist. MARIO Mister, you're nothing! STU Believe me, Valerie's on the waiting list to audition. Harry's got no complaints. He just let me pick out this tie the other day. MARIO That Harry's a damn fool! STU Mario, please let me make this up to you. How about I arrange for the opening night party for this new off- Broadway show I'm handling -- to be held at your place with local TV coverage on nine and eleven? I mean I had it promised to another client -- who actually pays me money. But it isn't firmed up yet. And I could throw it your way. Maybe. MARIO What is involved? STU You'd toss in the buffet for say seventy or eighty. The producers would supply their own vino, of course. I'd deliver you a truckload of celebrities. And if they like the food, they'll all come back, naturally. MARIO What celebrities? STU You want Liza Minelli? An Oscar winner. Or Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.? MARIO Is he still alive? STU I saw him last night going into the Four Seasons. I'll bring you over a whole VIP list when we come by for dinner. MARIO How come everybody wants to eat but nobody wants to pay? STU You can't think small like that. Hey, you still feature musicians Fridays and Saturdays? MARIO At least they work for their meals. STU What about Harry's daughter as an extra added attraction? She'll belt out five or six showtunes -- two sets a night -- and it won't cost you a fucking nickel. MARIO How come? STU Star Showcase! Let me handle setting that up. And when she eventually goes on Letterman, she'll announce I'm currently appearing over at Mario's fine supper club. Right over CBS she'll say that, Mario. MARIO You're full of shit. You know that? All bullshit! STU That's just a vulgar word for PR. (placing an arm around him) Mario, you can't hurt my feelings. Even when I was a kid and they hurled certain invectives my way, it never bothered me. Other kids would fall apart if anybody called them a fucking name. Me, I just loved the attention! 'Shit-for- brains' -- that's what the bigger kids named me. And I answered to it. Hey, 'shit-for brains' reporting for duty. Everybody loved me for that. I could take abuse. After a while, I kind of wore them down. There was nothing more they could say to me. So they stopped. I kind of missed it. MARIO I'm sorry I even talked to you. STU I'll bet your loving wife put you up to this. She saw me pass by and she sent you out in the street. But I don't hold it against you personally -- you still serve up superior veal chop. (entering phone booth) Now I got urgent business to conduct, Mario. He slides the booth closed in Mario's face. The frustrated restaurateur glares at him through the glass before giving up and walking off -- talking to himself as he goes up the block. INSIDE THE BOOTH, Stu inserts his thirty-five cents and dials. STU Hello, Mavis, sweet creature. MAVIS' VOICE Where have you been? Do you think I have nothing to do but wait around for you to call? STU I'm only a few minutes late, loveliest individual on earth. MAVIS' VOICE Stu, I'm so lonely. When can I see you? STU Good news in that arena. Kelly goes into rehearsal as of Monday. You know how dedicated she is. By the time she gets back from dancing her ass off, she goes right to sleep. We'll have both our days and certain nights. Not to mention when they take the show on the road. MAVIS' VOICE How long is that for? STU Four to five weeks -- minimum. MAVIS' VOICE Maybe I should quit my job so we can be together full time. STU I wouldn't do that. MAVIS' VOICE Sometimes I think if I have to give one more fucking manicure... STU That's how you met me. MAVIS' VOICE I never saw a worse set of nails. Bit right down to the quick. STU I'm much better groomed since you've been looking after me. MAVIS' VOICE I'm glad you admit it. STU Even Kelly remarked on it when I first met her. MAVIS' VOICE She could care less how you look. She's only interested in pushing her own career. Some wife you're stuck with! STU The marriage is not without its compensations. Do you imagine I could afford that apartment on what I'm earning? Not with everybody cutting back on the publicity. Not to mention a million college graduates coming into the profession trying to cut me out. And one thing you can't expect from your clients is loyalty. They get a couple of bad notices, they dump you. Goodbye. MAVIS' VOICE Don't go. STU I wasn't saying goodbye to you. I was saying how the clients try to give you the wave off without even a month's notice. A conservative businessman now stands outside the booth waiting to use it. He deliberately glances at his watch a few times to demonstrate his impatience. This bothers Stu who slides the booth open a crack. STU (yelling) What? Is your watch busted? It's twenty after eleven and I'm gonna be occupied indefinitely with my transaction. So get out of my face! He closes the booth up again and turns his back to the gentleman who gives up and departs. STU Sorry, honey. There will be no further interruption. MAVIS' VOICE Why must you always be calling me from some booth? STU On account of that phone records are regularly subpoenaed in divorce proceedings. And I don't want some entry showing up on my cellular bill either. She gets the mail. She looks these items over. Sometimes she even dials up a strange number to see who it is. MAVIS' VOICE Then she suspects something. STU It's only because her last husband, the choreographer, ran around on her. She can't get that out of her head. That's how she caught onto him. The phone bills. MAVIS' VOICE She hasn't developed much skill at holding a man. STU You know what a self-fulfilling prophecy is? She was so sure I was going to find me a woman that she finally drove me back to you. I thought I'd feel all guilty about it -- but I guess it hasn't kicked in yet. (beat) Still, I wouldn't do anything to hurt her. Basically, Kelly's a decent individual. MAVIS' VOICE What about hurting me? Like last time? STU Hurt? You were glad to be rid of me. MAVIS' VOICE For a while I was, 'til I took stock of what was around. You're the lesser of many evils. STU That's about the nicest thing you ever said. MAVIS' VOICE I'll have it engraved. STU We've been up front with each other from the beginning. Let's keep it that way. How about a drink? Say seven o'clock? The Monkey Bar? MAVIS' VOICE Meet me in front. I don't like walking in there unescorted. STU Yeah, you're great enough looking to be mistaken for one of those thousand dollar a night girls. MAVIS' VOICE It happens all the time lately. STU And wear that short black number I bought you from Bendel's. MAVIS' VOICE Again? I don't know if it's me or that dress you like. STU Have a good day. Make plenty of tips. And leave the whole evening open. She thinks I've got Knicks tickets. He hangs up. Then whips a tiny cellular phone out of his jacket pocket, flips it open and dials. Someone answers on the first ring. COLUMNIST (V.O.) Speak! STU (into cellular) It's your boy Stuart. When was the last time I called you for a favor? COLUMNIST (V.O.) The column is already full. STU I just need one line. Anybody you wanna say was seen dining out at Mario's Stromboli restaurant. COLUMNIST (V.O.) Maybe you don't hear so good? I got no space for you. STU Who's asking any favors? I'm offering reciprocal information. COLUMNIST (V.O.) Since when were you ever a reliable source? STU Check it out. Tony award-winning producer Willie Beagle tossed his wife back into rehab again following her third attempt at diving off the terrace at their plush eighteen room residence at the San Remo. I got it from the doorman. COLUMNIST (V.O.) I got it from their maid yesterday. It's in the paper today. Or don't you bother to read my shit? STU Louis, my intentions were entirely honorable. COLUMNIST (V.O.) I'll drop your item in sometime next week. If you promise not to call me for a month. He hangs up. Stu looks pleased as he folds the cell phone and tucks it away. Then he starts to vacate the booth. The phone rings. And rings. Curious, he picks up the receiver. There's a voice on the other end of the line. A DISTINCTIVE MALE VOICE. VOICE Don't even think about leaving that booth. STU What? VOICE Stay exactly where you are and listen carefully. STU I've got a heavy day, mister. VOICE You know better than to disobey me. STU I don't know you at all. VOICE Are you absolutely sure? STU Who is this? VOICE Someone who's watching you. STU Get lost! VOICE Love the gray suit. That red and black tie makes a nice combination. Stu is taken back by the accurate description of his apparel. He looks around nervously. STU Where? Where are you? VOICE Closer than you think. STU I don't see you. VOICE There are any number of windows. Check them out. Indeed that street corner is surrounded by high rise buildings and hotels. STU Okay, you had your little joke. VOICE I'm not sufficiently amused. Not yet. We have more to talk about. Stu knows he should simply hang up but something tells him not to. Perhaps it's the strange tone of the man's voice. STU Do me a favor. Call up somebody else. VOICE But it's you I'm interested in. You know how many people use that booth every day? STU Why don't you tell me? VOICE Better than two-hundred people on average. STU Is that what you do? Count them? VOICE What else do I have to do? It's interesting watching people. Trying to guess who they are. And what they're up to. STU What are you -- a shut-in of some kind? VOICE You might say that. I can't go out. I might be seen. STU Somebody's looking for you? VOICE Desperately. STU The cops? VOICE Not yet. STU The ex-wife. What'd you do -- run out on child support? VOICE What kind of man do you think I am? STU Frankly, I could care less. You had your fun. Now goodbye. VOICE It's not in your best interests to hang up on me. That would make me angry. STU Isn't that just too bad? VOICE For you. STU There's ten million names in the phonebook. Pester somebody else. VOICE I never talk to people I can't see. I need to study their reactions. STU Alright, bullshit artist, what am I doing right now? VOICE Scratching your forehead with your left hand. Now you're brushing your hair back. STU Okay, okay, you got me in your scrutiny. So what? VOICE So let's talk. STU Only I got nothing to say. VOICE Oh, you will. You'll do a lot of talking before this conversation is over. And it'll only end when I want it to. STU Is that a fact? Well if you watch closely, you will see me hang up. VOICE I don't think you will. STU Why not? VOICE I interest you. STU Why should I be interested in some creep who gets his jollies spying on strangers in phone booths? VOICE But you're not a stranger, Stu. The sound of his own name sends a chill through him. STU Who put you up to this? VOICE You were my very own selection. STU Why me in particular? VOICE Because you're so afraid. STU Ha! What've I got to be afraid of? STU Just about everything. You have so much to hide. STU How do you figure that? VOICE Why else would a man with a perfectly good cellular bother to make calls from a pay booth? STU That's my business. VOICE I've made it mine. STU All of a sudden I'm required to give explanations to you? VOICE In explicit detail. STU What is this? Some kind of candid camera gag? Or like that thing on HBO where the cab driver is taping what goes on in the back seat? VOICE This is not showbusiness, my friend. This is reality. STU Your reality. Not mine, you lowlife fuck. VOICE Stu, you'll be made to suffer for your attitude, so let's dispense with the vulgarities. STU Now you're threatening me! Fuck you. Could that be any clearer? VOICE You're only making it easier for me to do you harm. STU Oh yeah. Right. Can you see how I'm trembling? VOICE You will be. STU Shit, this is a new one. Fucking threatening calls in a goddam phone booth. When are you going to start with the heavy breathing. VOICE I'm not the degenerate. You are, Stu. STU You don't know anything about me. VOICE Infinitely more than you know about me. STU Like what? VOICE Like the number you dialed when you first entered the booth. STU How would you know that? VOICE I'm watching through a scope and I could clearly read the buttons you pushed. I have another extension here by the window. Shall I dial that same number back for you? Would that convince you? Stu nervously cranes his neck, looking around at all the tall buildings that surround the street corner. STU'S POV PANNING up at thousands of windows. The Voice could be coming from anywhere. BACK TO STU IN THE BOOTH VOICE Let's see who's on the other end of the line. STU Don't. VOICE Too late. (beat) It's already ringing. I'll hold the receiver up so you can listen in. Stu can hear the beeping as the other line rings. Then Mavis' voice can be heard answering. Stu listens helplessly. MAVIS' VOICE Hello? VOICE Well, hello. MAVIS' VOICE Who is this? VOICE Someone who's really tight with your boyfriend -- who just called you from his favorite phone booth. MAVIS' VOICE You know Stu? VOICE Stu? Oh, I know him better than anyone. What he does -- how he thinks. How he lies. MAVIS' VOICE Who the hell is this? VOICE Stu is listening in. He knows what we're both saying. MAVIS' VOICE Stu? Is that true? Are you there? VOICE He doesn't feel like talking. STU (shouts) Mavis! Just hang up the goddam phone. VOICE She can't hear you, Stu. Only me. (a pause) Mavis, I'm afraid Stu hasn't been totally honest with you. But then he can't be honest with anyone, can he? MAVIS' VOICE What's your name? To whom am I speaking? VOICE You've never heard of me, Mavis. He doesn't want you to know I exist. He wishes I didn't exist. But there isn't anything he can do about that. (beat) Still there, Stu? All you can do is listen. STU Mavis -- the guy is a fucking nutcase! Hang the fuck up. VOICE She doesn't want to. She wants to know all about us. Don't you, Mavis? MAVIS' VOICE Did his wife put you up to this? That bitch, Kelly? VOICE Oh yes, the bitch wife, Kelly. My very next call. STU (yells) He doesn't know my wife! Don't tell him anything else. Outside the booth, a huge, heavy-set black woman in a too tight dress, now appears with the clear desire to use the phone. Her name is FELICIA. She taps on the glass. FELICIA Could you hurry it along? Stu ignores her and Felicia glares at him through the glass with hostility. Stu has no inclination to deal with anybody else. He's too distracted by the madness happening over the telephone. STU Can you hear me, Mavis? Keep your big mouth shut. VOICE Is that any way to talk to a woman you love? (beat) Mavis, is he always that abusive to you? MAVIS' VOICE You're getting me all upset. I don't know who you are or how you know all this -- VOICE I find out things -- from watching people and listening to them. MAVIS' VOICE Just what is your relationship to Stu? That's all I want to know. VOICE Well, what do you think? MAVIS' VOICE Answer me, goddam it! VOICE Well alright. Stu and I are -- longtime companions. A pair. Two of a kind. Closer than close. Peas in a pod. Spoons in a drawer. MAVIS' VOICE You pervert! VOICE That, too. STU Don't believe a word of it. It's all lies. VOICE Too late, Stu. She already believes it. MAVIS' VOICE You can tell that scumbag never to bother me again. VOICE He won't care. He'll still have me. STU It's not true. I do care. From outside the booth, there's a louder rapping on the glass. Felicia really wants in. FELICIA Get done in there, mister. I got me an important call. STU Go away. FELICIA Shit I will! Finish up! She continues to rap on the glass as Stu tries to focus on the two-way phone call. VOICE Why don't you tell me what you think of us? MAVIS' VOICE You're both disgusting. VOICE That's what he said about you. Well, if Stu didn't have the balls to come out and tell you the truth, I felt it was my responsibility to clear the air. Goodbye now, Mavis. Thanks for your time. (the phone clicks off; we hear only a dial tone) Back to you again, Stu. STU You total asshole! How could you do that? VOICE Speaking of females, that woman hovering outside the booth -- may as well tell her that you'll be on the line forever. STU Like hell I will. VOICE I'm ready for you to take out your cellular and phone home. And this time, I'll listen in. STU There's no chance of that. VOICE Or should I call Kelly and make up something totally outrageous? You must realize by now I have a vivid imagination. STU You don't know our phone number! VOICE Are you absolutely sure? I may have been watching you on a regular basis. Keeping track of all the numbers I see you dial. STU And I'm supposed to believe that? VOICE I've put a great deal of preparation into this -- prior to actually saying hello. Now do you want to dial 832- 7165 -- or should I? The sound of the actual number being spoken shocks him even more than the earlier mention of his name. STU What are you going to tell her? VOICE You'll do the talking. STU What am I supposed to say? VOICE Try telling her the truth. STU Look, I don't want to hurt Kelly. She's always there for me. It's just my nature to have a little 'strange' on the side. It doesn't mean shit. VOICE But you still find it necessary? STU Kind of like having a beautiful home. With everything you ever dreamed of. But you still need that vacation now and then. Some nice hotel room with a great view. Maybe a pool. Only you wouldn't want to spend more than a few days in any hotel. Eventually, you want to go back to your home and all your stuff. You're real glad to check out. VOICE Kelly is home and Mavis is a hotel? I'm sure they'll both appreciate that explanation. STU You're ruining my fucking life, you sonofabitch. VOICE Didn't I warn you about calling me names? It makes me vindictive. STU What else can you do to me? VOICE We haven't even begun. STU She's not home. She went out. VOICE I'll bet she's back. Now hold the cellular up where I can see it -- so I can be certain you don't misdial on me. (pause) A little higher and to your left. Now I have it in perfect view. Dial slowly. More violent rapping on the glass from the persistent black lady outside. FELICIA If you got you a cell phone, how come you taking up the whole fucking booth! This here's an emergency! STU There's another booth on the next block. FELICIA It's busted. Every damn phone on Eighth Avenue is busted but this one. STU Well, I'm not through! Go in a restaurant or someplace, but get away from me! FELICIA I'm gonna pull you out of that booth and snatch you ballheaded! She tries to pull open the sliding door to the booth but Stu jams it shut, right on her hand. FELICIA You assaulted my person. STU Let me hear from your lawyer! FELICIA You're hear alright. I'm coming back. And your ass better not be around. She stalks off obviously in search of assistance. VOICE Good work, Stu. Now let me see you dial. Tuck the receiver under your chin and dial your remote. STU I'm doing it. He punches in the digits. The phone rings -- and rings. STU I told you she was out. VOICE Let it ring. Then a girl's voice is heard. KELLY'S VOICE Shepard residence. VOICE Hold it close to the receiver so I can hear. KELLY'S VOICE Hello? STU Honey, it's me. KELLY'S VOICE What's taking you so long? I thought we were having some lunch at Mario's? STU Change of plan. We're not eating in that dump any more. KELLY'S VOICE How come? STU The Health Department gave them a 'C' rating -- that's how come. Here I'm trying to put the place on the map and he fucks it all up with a major roach problem. KELLY'S VOICE That's disgusting. Okay, I'll fix us a sandwich. Where are you now? STU Just in a phone booth. KELLY'S VOICE How come? The caller ID says you're on your cellular. STU Oh yeah, I am. KELLY'S VOICE But you're also in some phone booth? VOICE Explain that one, Stu. STU I only stepped in because the traffic was so loud outside. KELLY'S VOICE Well just hurry on back. VOICE Tell her you can't. STU Not for a few minutes. KELLY'S VOICE Are you sure you're alone? I hear somebody in the background. STU The guy in the next booth. He's got a bad connection and he's hollering his fool head off. VOICE You've got an answer for everything. STU I love you, baby. KELLY'S VOICE Do you? STU You know that. KELLY'S VOICE Stu -- who was that man? STU What man? KELLY'S VOICE Some person who phoned fifteen minutes ago -- just after you went out. STU I don't understand... KELLY'S VOICE This total stranger rang up and told me to wait by the phone -- because you'd be calling me in a few minutes -- from a booth. And I said what would he be doing in any phone booth? STU And what did this guy say? KELLY'S VOICE He said you'd be making phone calls. What else? STU Making calls is part of my business. KELLY'S VOICE To whom? STU Clients. People. Planting items like I do. KELLY'S VOICE Women? STU Once in a while one of them could be a woman. I just called "Elaine's" and talked to her to see who was in there last night. KELLY'S VOICE You know exactly what I mean. STU You're not going to start that shit again? KELLY'S VOICE I just feel something is wrong. STU What could be wrong? KELLY'S VOICE The way you sound. You don't sound like yourself. STU Yeah? Who do I sound like? KELLY'S VOICE Someone who's scared. There's fear in your voice like I've never heard before. VOICE See, Stu? Kelly agrees with me. KELLY'S VOICE I want you to come back home. Now! STU I told you. In a while. KELLY'S VOICE No. I want you here now. In case he calls back, I don't want to answer again. STU Why should he call back? KELLY'S VOICE I feel like he's going to. STU You're the one that sounds frightened. And of nobody. KELLY'S VOICE He's not a nobody. He knows about us. STU You're not telling me all he said. What are you holding back? KELLY'S VOICE I can't discuss it on the phone. Just get over here! CLICK! She hangs up. STU (into pay phone) Why did you do that to her? She never did you any harm. VOICE How would you know? Everybody does harm to somebody. And then they try their best to forget it. STU Maybe me -- but not her. Whatever I've done, there's no reason to take it out on her. VOICE Suppose that's the only way I can get to you? You claim you love her. STU Yeah, I do. VOICE You don't even love yourself. STU But Kelly... I would never hurt. VOICE Still you have to uphold your status as an honorary asshole. STU Listen, I've treated all my women decent. I never laid a hand on any of them, even when provoked. And I always let them down easy. (beat) I'm not ready to let Kelly go. Maybe I never will be. VOICE What if she dumps you first? What's the odds she's already taken up with somebody? One day soon you'll come home and find her gone along with the CD player and the VCR. STU I'm not gonna let you mind-fuck me all day! That's it. This call is ended. VOICE Not until I say it is. STU What happens if I hang up? VOICE You don't really want to find out. STU I'm dying to hear this!!! What the fuck can you do about it -- up in your fucking high window with your goddam binoculars? VOICE I never indicated I had binoculars. I said I had a highly magnified telescopic image of you that brought you up so close I could see where you nicked yourself under the chin shaving this morning. STU Oh -- while you're at it, have a look up my ass. VOICE I may very well do that, Stu. In the meantime, think about what kind of device has a telescopic sight mounted on it. STU What? You mean... like a rifle? VOICE A high-powered .30 calibre bolt action Remington 700 with a carbon one modification and a state of the art Henzholdt tactical sniperscope. And you're in the cross hairs, Stu. STU I'm supposed to believe that? VOICE There's only one way I can prove it to you. Hang up the receiver and find out. At this range, the exit wound ought to be about the size of a small tangerine. STU And you're just going to kill me for no reason? VOICE For plenty of reasons! Because you hung up. For years I hated people hanging up on me. Ex-girlfriends. Women I didn't even know. Prospective employers. STU I get hung up on all the time. You get used to it. VOICE Or else you don't. I worked for months getting people to switch to MCI -- being insulted at and being hung up on hundreds of times a day. The ones that cursed me out for invading their privacy never bothered me as much as those that clicked off without even bothering to reply. STU Then why didn't you go after one of them? VOICE Maybe you are one of them. STU Hey, I have worked in a boiler room myself peddling "Term Life." I would never be rude to a fellow salesperson. VOICE Can you feel it on you now? The heat of it. I'm moving the strike zone down to your stomach area. Now I'm raising it up again. Directly above the chest cavity -- sliding up to the forehead just above the left ear. STU Shit -- I do feel it. VOICE Tell me where I'm going with it now. STU Across my forehead -- now back where it was before. VOICE I'm amazed how you can do that. You're amazingly accurate. (beat) Now I know what you're thinking. If I drop down on the floor of the booth and flatten myself out... STU No, I'm not thinking that. VOICE Oh yes you are. Can I crawl out using the booth as a shield? Can I crawl to that Chrysler illegally parked only three or four feet away? The shattering glass may cut me, but it'll only be superficial. Otherwise, this lunatic will never let me out alive. STU No. You will. I know you will. If I just cooperate. VOICE Where is it now? Think and feel for the warm spot. STU Below the shoulder? VOICE Which one? STU The right shoulder. VOICE Remarkable how we're in tune. You're doing far better than the others. STU What others? What do you mean? (no reply) You said 'others!' VOICE (finally) I'm sure you read about the Italian tourist shot dead ten days ago at the corner of Forty-fifth and Eighth? STU I saw it on the news. VOICE And where are we now? STU Oh, God. Forty-fifth and Eighth. VOICE What else do you remember about that killing? STU I don't know. VOICE Try. STU He was gunned down. And nobody was caught. And they didn't even bother to take his wallet or his watch... or anything. VOICE Now you know why. It wasn't a robbery. STU What did he do? VOICE He hung up -- so I disconnected him permanently. STU Please -- don't do it to me. You got no reason to do it to me. VOICE Don't give me reason. STU I'm not looking to. Tell me what you want! VOICE Tell me about your job. STU What's to tell? I'm in Public Relations. They used to call us "flacks." Now we're media consultants. VOICE What do you do, exactly? STU Plant items in the paper and on the tube. More important sometimes, keep stuff out. VOICE What've you kept out? STU One of my people got nailed for indecent exposure. I managed for the cops to use his real name instead of his stage name so nobody picked up on it. VOICE You saved the little deviate's ass, didn't you? STU He's in major therapy now. I swear he is. VOICE You must hang with some major celebrities. Journalists, newscasters -- those types. STU I'm real close with Larry King. And the "Hard Copy" people. VOICE Could you get him down here? Larry King? STU Why would he want to come here? VOICE Because you asked him to. STU He comes from Atlanta. VOICE Well, who could you get? STU I don't know. VOICE Wolf Blitzer? VOICE Probably not. VOICE Regis? STU Definitely no chance. VOICE You'd be offering them an exclusive newsbreak. I'm talking about more than one homicide. STU How many? VOICE I don't answer questions. I ask them. STU I gotta have the facts. They might not believe me. My record isn't too good when it comes to hard news. VOICE You're not considered a reliable source? STU On a divorce or separation, maybe. Or who's gay, or who isn't gay any more. I kind of specialize in that kind of material. I mean I could probably get you Joe Franklin. VOICE How about Cindy Adams? STU I might have a shot. Are you familiar with Liz Smith? VOICE Do you know her number? STU Want I should call her? How much can I say? VOICE Tell her you're in direct touch with a killer who's willing to speak honestly if she shows up here alone and without notifying the authorities. STU She usually likes to have a celebrity involved. If you had an actor or a sports figure held prisoner instead of me, there'd be better odds she's come. VOICE Then lie. Pick a celebrity and put them in the booth. STU Let's see. Who does she like? Who couldn't be reached to deny it? VOICE I'm anxious to see you in action. Don't keep me waiting. Stu uses his cellular again. STU (dialing) Sometimes you only get her service. (into cellular) Hi -- Stu Shepard. Put me through. I've got hard news for her. I can only talk to her directly. But say it regards -- Liza. VOICE Liza? That was imaginative. STU (into cellular) No, I can't call back. I'll have to lay in on somebody else. Alright, but I can't hang on long. (to pay phone) She's coming on. (to cellular) Liz, hello. Sure I'll make it brief. Killing two weeks ago in the theatre district? Turn out a sniper did the job. Yeah, a sniper with a rifle. Now he's got another victim lined up. Not just your anonymous New Yorker, but Liza. Now you can't call anybody or Ms. Minelli's dead meat and so am I. She's hostage in a phone booth right in the sniper's sights. But he says he'll talk to you and let her walk. I know it'll take balls to do this, but you're a fine and courageous newspaper woman... There's a click. Silence. STU Hello? Hello? (to pay phone) Either she's on her way over or she doesn't believe me. VOICE You weren't particularly convincing. STU I didn't really believe in what I was saying. VOICE Because you don't really believe my Remington is pointed at you? STU I do. VOICE You're ninety percent sure. STU At least ninety-five percent, easy. VOICE Let me erase all doubt. STU No. Don't shoot. VOICE Control yourself, Stu. Glance down at your chest. What do you see. STU Oh, my God. A dot. A fucking red dot. A tiny red dot now moves across Stu's chest. VOICE Like you've seen in the movies? STU The laser dot. Just before some poor bastard always gets blown away. VOICE Usually a supporting player. That lovely but by now generic special effect of the bullet piercing the forehead. The tiny red laser dot dances around Stu's chest and stomach -- the jumps up and remains between his eyes. VOICE This takes all the guesswork out of it. You know exactly where to expect it before I even tighten my finger on the trigger. STU Don't tighten. Don't even tickle that fucking finger. VOICE How about Geraldo? He's run his ass off to get in on this. STU You're talking about the old Geraldo. Look, I can try and reach cable NBC. They're hungry. VOICE I'm disappointed. I wanted to go first class. STU They do a great job. They'll haul a whole crew over to cover your surrender "live." VOICE I never expressed interest in giving myself up. There are so many other phone booths in the city. I'm just getting warmed up. STU That's entirely up to you. Your choice. I'm just trying to set you up with the proper communicator. (beat) I suppose Liza wasn't strong enough. I should've said Madonna. VOICE Now you're being creative. Outside the booth, the angry black woman has returned, bringing with her a gaudily dressed pimp named LEON who looks like he means business. He slams his fist against the glass, nearly shattering it. LEON Drag your baggy butt out of that booth. We got business to conduct out of there. FELICIA He been in there all day. STU I'm not through. LEON Hang up that receiver or I'll make you eat the fucking thing! STU Fuck off or I'll call a cop. LEON Do you see one around here? What you think I'm gonna be doing while you're waiting for a prowl car to get assigned? I'm about to cut you a second asshole if you don't vacate those premises. STU I can't. FELICIA He's got him a fucking cellular. What's he need to be on our booth for? STU I can't explain it. LEON I'm not interested in your explanations even if you had any. He withdraws a switchblade knife from his pocket but doesn't open it -- yet. LEON If I flick this, I use it. STU I'll make it worth your while to go away. How much do you want? LEON Make me an offer. STU Thirty dollars. It's all I've got in cash. Take it and go. LEON You're offering to rent my phone booth? For how long? STU I don't know. For as long as it takes. LEON What's so special in there? STU Do you want the money? LEON Is that a genuine Rolex you've got on? STU Come on, man. That's my good watch. LEON That's what it's gonna take. STU Then here. Take the damn thing. LEON And the thirty! STU Take it all. The pimp pockets the watch and the money. But doesn't go away. LEON Now I'm satisfied. But you still got to deal with Felicia here. I believe you spoke harshly to her. STU I apologize. LEON And did her some injury. STU An accident. I'm sorry about that, too. FELICIA The man don't sound like he means it. LEON I agree. (to Stu) Why don't you hang up a minute so we can discuss this matter at length. STU It's long distance. I can't lose the call -- I might not get them back. LEON Do I have to rip that fucking phone out of there? STU That wouldn't be a good idea. (into pay phone) Would it? VOICE Not at all. STU I gave you everything I've got. LEON That pinky ring looks attractive. Felicia might like that. FELICIA It might fit. STU You want the ring, you've got the ring. If I can get it off. LEON I can get it off you. Leon reaches in and grabs Stu's ring hand. STU Let go of me! It's coming loose. There. (he tosses it) Okay, Felicia, with my deepest apologies. Goodbye now. LEON What's really going on in that booth -- that escapes the naked eye? STU Nothing. Talk. That's all. LEON That your connection on the end of the line? Or are you dealing? STU This has nothing to do with drugs. LEON You gotta be high on something to willingly divest yourself of your valuables -- just to maintain occupancy of a fucking phone booth that the local bums piss in every night. STU I knew it smelled for some reason. LEON You look like you're ready to piss yourself. STU Because I am. LEON Maybe if the city provided decent public toilets, folks wouldn't relieve themselves in the subway stations and phone booths! STU I'll take it up with the mayor. LEON Next thing you know you're gonna claim we mugged you -- took your billfold and watch. STU No, you didn't. It was a fair and equitable deal. You had territorial rights to this booth and I paid a license fee. Fair is fair. Now leave me in peace. LEON You sure you're alright? (to Felicia) He don't look well. FELICIA Kind of pale. Even for a white man. LEON Jaundice they calls it. Probably advanced liver trouble. (to Stu) If it's cirrhosis, you better find yourself a twelve step program and quick. STU Thanks for your interest but I'm in perfect health. FELICIA So how come his hand is shaking? LEON The man is cracking up. FELICIA Lookit the sweat pouring off the sonofabitch. That's one sick mother you started up with, Leon! LEON Me? You're the one that brought me over and exposed me to all his germs. STU I'm terminal, okay? Now can I close the booth and continue my conversation? LEON I'm worried now it might be catching. All that money out of your sweaty pocket is probably crawling with some rare and incurable disease. STU Fine. Give it back. LEON What good's that? We done touched it. STU Well go wash your hands. LEON Come on now. Own up to what you're carrying. Is it some of that sexually transmitted shit? Cause in that case, we can relax. STU I'm sick of you. Now get out of my face. LEON Here we's being solicitous as to your health and you respond by heaping abuse! FELICIA Whip his arrogant ass. Leon reaches into the booth and grabs Stu's jacket. STU Touch me and I'll throw up on you. At the suggestion, Leon lets go quickly. It looks like a stalemate. Stu isn't vacating the booth and Leon and his lady are reluctant to touch him further. He does indeed look sick. STU (into pay phone) You can see what I'm up against here. VOICE Want me to get rid of him for you? STU What do you have in mind? VOICE I'll think of something. Suddenly the red dot reappears on the forehead of the pimp. Leon doesn't realize it's there. The hooker behind him has no way of seeing it. But to Stu, there's no way to miss it. He reacts. STU God -- no. (into pay phone) Don't. It's not necessary. VOICE You asked for my help. STU I'll handle it myself. VOICE You're not doing too well. I can settle it in a fraction of a second. Shall I demonstrate? STU No. (to Leon) For your own safety, mister, just walk away. LEON Now the man is turning aggressive... issuing threats upon my person. STU You're making this happen. LEON If you don't hang up and step out, I'm about to topple this booth into the gutter with you inside it. Reluctant to touch Stu again, Leon assaults the booth itself. He begins shaking it violently -- trying to rip it from its foundation. And the rickety booth is not too sturdy. It starts rocking back and forth. Stu is thrown around inside it, barely keeping his footing. STU (into pay phone) This isn't my fault. (shouts) Stop that! But Leon continues rocking the booth. It won't come loose -- so in frustration, he punches in a side pane of glass. The glass shatters all around Stu, who does his best to shield himself from the slivers. STU (into pay phone) The guy's insane! VOICE Only one way to stop a mad dog. Give me permission. STU I can't. VOICE If he forces you out of that booth, I've told you what to expect. You or him, Stu. Leon is smashing other panes of glass now -- one after another -- as Stu cowers inside. FELICIA Don't cut yourself, honey. A crowd of derelicts and street people are now gathering to watch the out of control pimp take out his wrath on the booth and its occupant. DERELICT Looks like the fucker is comin' loose. STREET PERSON Shove it out into the oncoming traffic. DERELICT What'll you bet the bus could knock that fifty feet? The booth is being decimated but Stu hangs onto the phone. STU (into pay phone) Hello? Hello? VOICE (with heavy static) You're breaking up. We're about to be cut off. STU I can't help it! VOICE That counts as a hang-up. STU No. It can't. That's not fair. VOICE I can still make him stop. Say the word. Can you hear me? STU Yes. Stu sees the red dot reappear on Leon's chest as he continues to barrage the booth with punches and kicks. Then Leon recoils, staggers a step backward. He doesn't realize he's been shot. There's been no sound of gunfire. Perhaps a silencer was used -- or the downtown traffic drowned out the solitary discharge. Leon looks confused at first. His ladyfriend has no idea he's wounded -- neither do the derelicts and street people who've assembled on the corner. Even Stu isn't sure -- until the blood starts oozing from the wound on the pimp's chest -- staining his yellow vest. He isn't assaulting the booth anymore. He's trying to keep his balance. He slumps forward, hanging onto the booth for support -- only a few inches from Stu's face. The blood runs down the side of the booth. STU (into pay phone) You did it! VOICE You said 'yes.' STU I said 'Yes, I can hear you.' Not 'Yes -- kill the motherfucker!' VOICE Don't try to renege on it. I was following orders. STU You're twisting it all around. I didn't do this! Meanwhile, Leon leans upright against the booth. Then his legs cave in and he begins to slide to his knees. Felicia runs up beside him. She sees the blood. FELICIA I warned you not to cut yourself. (to crowd) Look at all that blood. He must've hit an artery. She screams as Leon topples backwards onto the pavement. Now his chest wound is evident. FELICIA Oh, Jesus. What is that? Talk to me! What happened? The crowd tightens around the fallen body. Street people who are fascinated but not shocked. DERELICT Gunshot! STREET PERSON Yeah. Sucking chest wound right over the heart. FELICIA Somebody call an ambulance. STREET PERSON Call the meatwagon. He's fucked up. FELICIA You shut the fuck up! Her focus turns to Stu in the battered phone booth. FELICIA Why did you do that to him? STU I didn't. FELICIA (to crowd) You all saw it! He shot my man without no provocation! DERELICT Yeah. Pumped one right into him at close range. STU How could I? I don't even have a gun. Look! STREET PERSON Everybody get the fuck back! They shoot one -- then they shoot everybody in sight! Kill all the fucking witnesses! The crowd disperses to doorways and around the corner -- out of immediate range. STU Come back. You've got to see -- I'm not armed. Only Felicia remains, leaning over the pimp's body, staring helplessly. FELICIA Hang up and dial 911. Get a doctor! STU I can't hang up. That's what this is all about. FELICIA You're gonna stand there and let him die? STU (takes out cellular) I can use this. (he dials) Emergency. Yes. There's been a shooting at Forty-fifth and Eighth -- on the corner. A man is down. What's the difference who I am? I don't want to be involved. FELICIA (shouts) That's bullshit. He's the shooter. You're talking to the shooter. Stu quickly disconnects the cellular. STU That wasn't nice. FELICIA Go ahead -- make a fucking run for it. I hope they gun you down -- like you did him! STU I'm not going anyplace. I'm staying right here in this booth. (into pay phone) Unless you give me permission. VOICE You're attracting a lot of attention. I suppose when the police get there, you'll accuse me. STU What do you expect me to say? VOICE That's up to you. But any mention of me will not be appreciated. STU You mean...? VOICE You won't even get to finish your sentence. Oh look, that little red dot is dancing around all over you again. You saw how quickly it can happen. And how accurate I can be. STU They can't blame me -- I'm not armed. VOICE Who's going to believe that? With all those witnesses to the contrary. STU They can see with their own eyes. Not far away, we hear the BLAST of POLICE SIRENS drawing closer. VOICE Remember to leave me out of it. STU How can I? VOICE You'll put the proper spin on it. Isn't that your specialty? Feeding the public a story that may not have a shred of truth -- and making it totally believable? STU This isn't a story. This is real. This is murder. VOICE If you'd only dealt with the man reasonably, shown him some respect, this might not have been necessary. STU I gave him my money, my watch... VOICE But not your respect. Which is what he required of you. STU He was a fucking thief. VOICE And now he's a fucking dead thief. Do you feel better about that? STU I don't feel a bit guilty. This is all your doing! VOICE Now you're being disrespectful of me. You never learn. Your job is to deal with people -- but you're not good at it. STU Hey, I'm not taking any more criticism from some lunatic sniper who gets his kicks killing strangers. VOICE You keep insisting I'm a stranger. Probably because you don't recognize the voice. But there are cheap electronic devices available that disguise the voice. I might not even be a man. I might be one of those many women you've almost totally forgotten. One who doesn't forgive easily. One who wants to watch you squirm. STU You're a man. I know you're a man. Women don't kill with telescopic rifles. They stab you. VOICE You sound so sure of that. But you've never provoked any man as much as have the women in your life. And so many of them, Stu. (a beat) Do you even remember their names? STU I've got no time to rehash my whole life. Oh my God! The cops are here. Police cars are pulling up on all sides of Eighth Avenue. Traffic has suddenly been shut down. Prowl cars have now blocked the streets. PRODUCTION NOTE: Everything is seen from Stu's perspective without intercuts. Half a dozen cops now emerge and approach with drawn guns. FELICIA (pointing) That's him -- in the booth. He's got a gun! As she hurls accusations, she's lugging Leon's lifeless body out into the gutter into the center of Eighth Avenue. It's a bright afternoon. In the distance, we hear the maddening HONKING of uptown traffic that is now being rerouted, creating a huge bottleneck and raising the anger of irate motorists and bus drivers whose horns provide their simplest form of protest. It's a discordant concert that echoes the confusion and frustration which Stu now feels... As the cops surround the booth -- at a distance. SERGEANT (into bullhorn) Throw down your weapon and come out with your hands raised. STU (into phone) They're ordering me to come out. VOICE I can see that. Ignore them. STU What if they open fire? VOICE They probably won't. Look across on the east side of the street. Do you see the tourist with the home video camera? STU'S POV A distant crowd gathering on the opposite west side corner behind the police cars. Some tourist is capturing the event on video. BACK TO STU STU What about him? VOICE He's going to keep the police on their best behavior. So long as you don't take what could be interpreted as hostile action, you'll be safe. STU You call this safe? Six cops with guns pointed my way? VOICE You want me to reduce them to three -- or two? STU Absolutely no more shooting. Now is that clear? VOICE You can always change your mind. SERGEANT (with bullhorn) You know the drill. Hands clasped behind the back of your neck -- moving slowly -- step out of the booth. If we see any sign of a weapon, we will respond. STU (shouts) You won't, because there isn't any. SERGEANT (bullhorn) I repeat. Raise your hands. STU I can't. I'm on a phone call. Now a black POLICE CAPTAIN arrives and takes full command of the situation. CAPTAIN RAMEY You have thirty seconds to comply. STU I told you. I'm busy. Come back later. VOICE Very good, Stu. The cops take cover behind parked cars, keeping Stu clearly in their sights. He has no place to hide. He's in the battered phone booth in plain view from all sides. RAMEY You've been given an order. The Sergeant slides up beside the Captain to confer. PRODUCTION NOTE: We remain in LONG SHOT of the cops -- always from Stu's POV. But we can hear their voices and all that is said as if they were in close up. It has an odd, unreal and distancing effect. SERGEANT We're dealing with a mental case. He's looking for us to kill him. RAMEY Well he's not getting his wish. In the center of the street, an ambulance pulls up and a team of medics jump out. They rush to Leon's body. (Again we hear their voices close, even though visually they are far off.) FELICIA Tell me he's gonna be alright. MEDIC Step aside. Let us look at him. The medics push her aside -- then examine the victim. He's DOA. MEDIC Nothing we can do. Don't touch the body. They'll need it to mark the crime scene. Far across the street, the Captain confers with his subordinates. They are small figures on the screen but we hear them sharply. SERGEANT Same corner as two weeks ago. RAMEY Maybe it's more than a coincidence. Cover me. I need to talk to him. SERGEANT You've got your vest on? RAMEY What do you think? The Captain steps out of cover and boldly approaches the phone booth. He stops cautiously about fifteen feet away. RAMEY I'm not armed. STU Neither am I. RAMEY Yeah, sure. I need to know what happened. STU Can't talk about it. RAMEY Sure you can. My name's Ramey. Captain Ed Ramey. What's yours? STU Look, I don't want to be friends. RAMEY You look like you need a friend. VOICE Tell him you've already got a friend. STU (yells) I've got a friend, okay. RAMEY Is that who you're talking to on the phone? STU None of your business. RAMEY When somebody gets shot, it becomes my business. Let's not have anybody else killed. I want to hear your side of it. STU I've got no side of it. VOICE Don't worry, Stu. I've got him fixed right in my sights. I won't let him hurt you. RAMEY Has this happened to you before? The need to hurt someone? To put a bullet in them? STU You won't believe anything I say. RAMEY Try me. STU I couldn't shoot anybody. I'm not armed. RAMEY You're right. I don't believe you. What's that bulge in your pants pocket? STU That? That's my cellular. RAMEY A cellular? Then what are you doing in a phone booth making calls? STU Do you want to see it? RAMEY Don't reach for it, mister. STU Then how can I show it to you? RAMEY I don't need to see it. I know what's there. All these witnesses saw you use it on him. From behind a parked car, a HOMELESS PERSON calls out. STREET PERSON (hollers) Damn straight! Another DERELICT, crouched in a doorway, joins in. DERELICT (shouts) Yeah! Shot him down like a dog! STU They're all lying. Nobody saw it because it didn't happen. RAMEY A man is dead but it didn't happen. STU Not on account of me! This is like some bad dream. RAMEY You're walking through a bad dream and you can't wake up. Do you want to wake up? STU I'm trying. RAMEY And in this dream, you killed that man. He was bothering you so you iced him. STU No. RAMEY Then who did? VOICE Don't tell him, Stu. Or it'll be the last thing he ever hears. His blood will be on your hands. STU (to Ramey) I don't know. RAMEY But you saw it happen? STU Yes. RAMEY You were the closest one to him. You must've seen who did it. STU No. RAMEY We're trying to be honest with each other, aren't we? STU Not necessarily. VOICE I'm losing patience with this cop. STU (into phone) I'm handling this. RAMEY Who do you keep talking to on the phone? STU Nobody. My psychiatrist. VOICE Excellent, Stu. You're getting good at this. RAMEY What's this doctor's name? It's important we know. STU He says not to tell you. It's privileged information. VOICE Damn good reply. Now you're having fun. Admit it. STU Whatever you say. VOICE Playing it so close to the edge. I'll bet you've never felt so alive. That's how I feel when I look through the sight and select somebody. The Captain begins advancing a few steps closer. RAMEY I respect your right to privacy. I've been to therapy myself. The department provides it. I know it's not good form for a cop to be admitting that, but... VOICE Tell him not to come any closer. STU Stop right there. Back up a few steps. Back where you were. RAMEY If it makes you more comfortable. VOICE Tell him to read you your rights. STU I want you to read me my rights and stop asking questions. RAMEY Al least tell me your first name. STU It's my right not to have any name. RAMEY No gun and no name. You're a highly underprivileged person. VOICE Demand a lawyer. STU And get me a lawyer, too. I want a lawyer brought down here to negotiate my surrender. VOICE Brilliant, Stu. Keep winging it. RAMEY It'll be hard to find a lawyer willing to risk his life. But if you hand over the gun... STU How can I when you won't let me take it out? RAMEY We'll take it out for you -- as soon as you exit the booth with your hands raised and... STU (interrupts) Now we're back to that again. It's always "Get out of the booth.' 'You can't stay in the booth.' Well, I like it in the fucking booth. It's my whole world now. It's my booth and I'm never coming out. RAMEY We're not about to force you because there could be a miscalculation and then we'd never find out why this happened. STU Why is it so important to know? The guy is dead. Isn't that enough? Knowing isn't going to make him alive again. So who gives a fuck! RAMEY It's what makes the job interesting. Finding out why. Something drove you to do this. You didn't go out today expecting this to happen. It was a nice day. You were out for a walk. And then suddenly it all changed. STU All I wanted was to make a phone call. One lousy phone call for thirty- five fucking cents. VOICE Careful, Stu. Don't volunteer too much. RAMEY You got some bad news on that call. STU The worst. RAMEY Something that pushed you over the edge? STU And I've been falling ever since. RAMEY Time to land. STU When you hit bottom, you die. RAMEY I'm your safety net. STU If I tell you what you want to know -- you'll die, too. Something about the implied threat sends a chill through Captain Ramey. INSERT SHOT The Captain's head as seen through a telescopic sight. Ramey could be dead in an instant. PRODUCTION NOTE: The only time we deviate from Stu's perspective is when we see the sniper's POV through his scope. ANGLE BACK ON STU IN THE BOOTH, the detective fifteen feet away. Ramey decides to back off momentarily. RAMEY I'll go see about that lawyer. STU Now that's a good idea. The Captain withdraws back across the street. VOICE He's lucky. I had him centered in my cross hairs. I really had to restrain myself. We hear the approach of a helicopter. Stu peers up ward as not one but two choppers appear above the tall buildings. VOICE It's not the police. It's the media. You're news, Stuart. The helicopters circle above. VOICE You've never gotten this much press for any of your clients. I'm making you a famous person. STU They're just hoping for coverage of me dying in the gutter. VOICE Their presence is putting the police on their continued best behavior. STU Those cops are just looking for any excuse. VOICE Then don't give them one. Then, as if on cue, Stu's cellular phone in his pocket starts ringing. But he can't allows himself to reach for it. To do so might cause the police to believe he was trying to draw his gun. It rings quietly -- virtually inaudible outside the booth. Drowned out by the traffic horns, the static from the police radios and the newly introduced sound of television helicopters circling over Eighth Avenue taking video coverage of the event below. VOICE Who could it be? STU Kelly. She was worried about me. Stu is afraid to reach in his pocket lest the cops think he's going for a gun. VOICE Maybe she's seen this on television. It must be on every channel by now. Breaking news. STU She doesn't watch daytime TV. VOICE One of the neighbors could've alerted her. The cell phone keeps ringing, almost drowned out by the sound of helicopters circling overhead. STU Why are you saying this? You want me to reach in my pocket so you can see them open fire? VOICE That's an unwarranted accusation and very unbecoming in light of the good advice I've given in the past. Have I ever steered you wrong? STU God -- how I'd love to hear her voice. VOICE It might even be worth it. She's insistent, isn't she? The cellular won't stop ringing. STU If she knows I'm in trouble, she won't give up. VOICE Probably glued to the TV by now. I'm watching coverage on two stations now. Channel surfing. (pause) Well, there you are on two and four and five. Not any decent angles on you, though, stuck inside there. The cell phone continues beeping until the sound of it is maddening. Stu is still afraid to reach for it and provide the cops with an excuse to open fire. VOICE But if you'd take one or two steps outside and look up, I think they could get a clear picture of you. STU You said I'm not allowed to leave the booth. Finally the cell phone stops ringing. VOICE I might be willing to bend the rules and let you enjoy your moment of fame. Set the phone down without hanging up... and take a step or two outside. Just for a minute. Then come straight back in or I'll be forced to provide 'live' coverage that should rival the historic Zapruder footage. (beat) Nothing like an exploding head to excite viewer interest. STU No, thanks. I'll stay where I am. VOICE It was only a suggestion. Since you're convinced I'm going to plug you anyway, it can't matter much. STU If you shoot me, you give yourself away. VOICE Even without a muffler, they'd never