The Public Eye Page #3

Bernzy -- his eyes as keen as a fox's -- takes a last look

at the covered stretcher -- not a good picture -- then heads

quickly down the stairs.

EXT. TENEMENT HOUSE - NIGHT

Bernzy opens the cavernous trunk of his car. He sorts through

a cigar box containing various tools of the photographer's

trade, including a scissors he uses to crop prints. He picks

up the scissors.

He strips off his coat.

CUT TO:

EXT. TENEMENT HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

The Attendants load the stretcher into the back of the waiting

limousine. People watch, Bernzy not among them.

One of the Attendants climbs in back, the other gets in the

front, next to the Driver.

The ambulance pulls out. Siren.

INT. AMBULANCE - SAME

Bernzy sits in the back of the ambulance. He has cut a square

in the back of his jacket collar, then put the jacket on

backwards, to simulate a clerical collar.

BERNZY:

(to the Attendant)

Better uncover him, son.

The Attendant complies. We don't see the corpse, but the

handle of the meat cleaver juts up ludicrously into the frame

and it moves back and forth as the victim moans. Even Bernzy

is taken aback.

BERNZY:

Jesus.

Not the thing a priest would say; he crosses himself to cover.

Bernzy begins to mutter piously, indecipherably, over the

ailing man. He waves something over the man, like a bottle

of Holy Water when the last rites are administered.

We see what he's waving: a light meter. Still muttering,

Bernzy reads the meter.

The Attendant looks perplexed -- a dawning realization.

ATTENDANT:

...Wait a second.

From his oversized pocket, Bernzy withdraws a 35 mm camera.

He gets his shot fast, before the Attendant can react.

SHOCK CUT TO:

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

A Man in a hat watches as the ambulance comes to an abrupt

halt. The Man watches as The back doors open and a "priest"

spills out -- half leaping, half pushed. The "priest" lands

on his ass in the street (careful to protect his camera) as

the Attendant slams the ambulance doors.

The ambulance takes off again.

The "priest," unfazed, dusts himself off as he hails a cab

with a cheerful serious determination.

BERNZY:

Taxi!

As the cab squeals away with the "priest", the Man in the

hat wonders what he just saw.

CUT TO:

INT. PHOTO DESK - DAILY MIRROR - NIGHT

A photo editor, EDDY, studies the picture of the meat-cleaver

victim (we don't see it).

EDDY:

This is a new low, even for you,

Bernzy.

BERNZY:

Flatter me all you want. It's still

twenty dollars.

EDDY:

You got a release on this guy?

BERNZY:

You got a spirit medium on staff?

EDDY:

You checked with the hospital?

Bernzy nods.

Eddie opens the big ledger-style checkbook, starts to write

the check.

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