Fletch Page #2

STANWYK:

Who?

FLETCH:

Hopalong Cassidy. Killed himself here.

Bow and arrow. Strange.

---Stanwyk stops before the front door, stares at Fletch

STANWYK:

What are you, doped up or something?

---Fletch abruptly changes gears, stares at Stanwyk

FLETCH:

I don't work for you yet, assface.

Don't talk to me like that.

STANWYK:

(after a beat)

Come inside.

15 INT. HOUSE - DAY

---Stanwyk and Fletch enter. A Mexican Maid crosses.

STANWYK:

Buenas dias.

MAID:

Buenas dias.

She disappeared.

FLETCH:

I commend you on your Spanish.

---Stanwyk doesn't reply, keeps on walking. He opens a set of double doors to the

---left of the winding staircase, then stands to one side, indicating that Fletch

---should enter.

16 INT. LIBRARY - DAY

---Massive fireplace. Everything built in teak. Fletch enters, and Stanwyk closes

---the door behind them.

FLETCH:

Ahh, the library. Masculine but sensitive.

---Stanwyk wordlessly goes behind the desk

FLETCH:

Really, I love what you've done with the place.

Must have cost you...hundreds.

---Stanwyk turns, looks out a pair of French doors behind his desk, then turns

---back.

STANWYK:

Here's my proposition, Mr. Fletcher.

FLETCH:

I'm all ears.

STANWYK:

I want you to murder me.

17

thru OMITTED

19

20 FLETCH

---Even garrulous Fletch is stopped in his tracks by this remark, uttered in the ---most business-like manner.

21 STANWYK

STANWYK:

Here. On Thursday. I'd like you to shoot me dead.

22 FLETCH

---He just stares, barely breathing.

23 STANWYK

STANWYK:

The reason I ask you to do me this service

is that I am facing a long, painful, and most

certain death. You see, I have bone cancer.

I don't know if you know anything about bone cancer.

24 FLETCH

---He shakes his head.

25 STANWYK

STANWYK:

It doesn't get any worse than that. Just

eats you up, bit by bit.

FLETCH:

---Finally regains the gift of speech.

FLETCH:

You don't look sick, Mr. Stanwyk.

27 MASTER

STANWYK:

I don't feel sick. Not yet. They tell me it'll

start getting bad in about a month. After that...

well, I'd rather not be around for it.

FLETCH:

Why don't you try suicide?

STANWYK:

My company has taken out a very large insurance

policy on me. And I have a wife. Suicide would

nullify my insurance. Murder does not.

FLETCH:

So why pick me?

STANWYK:

You're a drifter, a -- pardon the expression --

beach bum. No one would notice if you disappeared.

I've watched you for a couple weeks.

FLETCH:

Maybe I'm just on vacation.

STANWYK:

Not with the scum you hang out with. I've watched.

I've thought. Its a perfect scheme. I even have a perfect

escape plan for you.

FLETCH:

Did it ever occur to you that I might not want to kill you?

STANWYK:

I've got fifty thousand dollars says you will.

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