A Most Violent Year Page #3

uncle. Sadly he had no children of

his own. He was the one that let

them build these tanks here. So

this place can do little for me...

in fact thanks to all those tests

you’ve done it may be a liability.

As you know I offered to lease the

site to you at a fair price, but

you were not interested?

ABEL:

No.

JOSEPH:

Why not?

ABEL:

I like to own the things I use.

JOSEPH:

I can see that.

Long pause.

ABEL:

So.

JOSEPH:

Yes. This contract here, your

lawyers have fully reviewed it?

ANDREW WALSH:

Of course.

JOSEPH:

And you have brought the money?

(ABEL nodes yes)

So you realize you have only thirty

days to close this transaction?

(MORE)

8

JOSEPH (CONT'D)

No extensions, no... contingencies

whatsoever.

ABEL:

I understand.

JOSEPH:

I want you to know this up front. I

am a very fair man but I believe in

honoring contracts. You will

fulfill your end of this contract

and the property is yours. If you

can’t we will keep your money and

will sell it to your competitor who

has been chasing us almost as badly

as you have. I like you, but know

that the only reason I am choosing

you is because of the favorable

terms of this contract. So this is

business... and when you sign

this....

ABEL:

I understand.

JOSEPH:

Well then, let’s see this money,

and then I will sign these papers.

ABEL turns to ANDREW and gives a slight nod. ANDREW pulls the

black briefcase onto the table and opens it. It has seven

hundred thousand dollars in cash in it. He slides it over to

their side. The old man signs the contract and they shake

hands.

EXT. MASSIVE OIL TANK FARM PARKING LOT - DAY

ABEL stands next to ANDREW’s car.

ANDREW WALSH:

Congratulations.

ABEL:

It’s not ours yet.

ANDREW WALSH:

Well, it was a hell of a job just

getting them to this point. It’s a

good day for us. Take a walk

around. Enjoy it for a second.

ANDREW gets in his car and drives away. ABEL looks around and

decides to go for a little walk.

9

He heads out towards the tanks and walks among them. They

tower seven stories above him. As he walks, he is cut off

like a maze from any other visual input. (Similar to being

inside a Richard Serra sculpture) Finally he emerges into

some light and as ABEL looks up the camera reveals his view.

It’s midtown Manhattan in all its glory, just across the East

River from the site. He stares at the city and we see the

true depths of his ambition lock on his face. He looks to his

watch.

INT. 1981 MERCEDES 500 SEC

ABEL drives away from New York City. We see it behind his

head.

INT. CAR ON MERRITT PARKWAY

The terrain turns to upscale country.

EXT. COUNTRY HOUSE - DAY

ABEL’s car drives into a long driveway through the woods.

Then an architect-designed, 80’s modern house, still under

construction, appears. He pulls up in front.

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