Knives Out Page #2

LINDA:

I'll start. Hopefully Joni and Walt

are on their way.

Linda exits with Wagner, leaving Richard and Marta.

RICHARD:

So. How you doing kiddo.

INT. LIBRARY

Mystery and horror memorabilia scattered on the shelves.

Linda sits opposite three men: LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT, in his

30s, in a working suit. Very good at his job. The young

Trooper Wagner stands behind him.

Sitting back behind both of them, almost blending into the

background, is a slight man in a linen suit. Legs and arms

fold sharply, like a paper crane. Silent, listening.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

Good to see you again, just to

reintroduce ourselves, I'm Detective

Lieutenant Elliott, Trooper Wagner

here. We just want to run through

everything one more time. I'm going

to record this if it's alright, just

makes it easier.

squints at his phone

(

)

I think that's... going... ok.

Speaking to Linda Drysdale, nee

Thrombey, Harlan Thrombey's eldest

daughter, regarding the events the

night of his demise, November 8th.

TROOPER WAGNER:

We're sorry for your loss.

LINDA:

dry as chalk

(

)

Thank you that means a lot.

Elliott checks his notes.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

So the whole family was gathered at

the house that night... for your

father's eighty fifth birthday party.

LINDA:

Yes.

6.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

How was that?

LINDA:

The party? Pre my dad's death? It

was great.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT OF THE PARTY - FLASHBACK

Warmly lit, classic rock playing, food laid out. Linda and

Richard mingle happily with the rest of the family (who

we'll meet shortly.)

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT (V.O.)

Anyone besides the family there that

night?

LINDA (V.O.)

Uh. The caterers. Fran, the

housekeeper. Marta, Harlan's nurse

caretaker person, hard worker, good

girl. Family's from Ecuador. And

Wanetta - Greatnana, Dad's mom.

At the snack table wearing a dozen coats, a woman who might

be three hundred years old. She pounds down chips and dip

like a machine.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT (V.O.)

wow

(

)

His mom? How old is she?

LINDA (V.O.)

Nobody knows.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT (V.O.)

Your son Ransom, he lives in town

right? He was at the party too?

LINDA (V.O.)

Yes but he left early.

RANSOM DRYSDALE, roguishly handsome in his early 30s,

breezes out the side door, past Greatnana.

GREATNANA:

Ransom, are you leaving?

7.

INT. LIBRARY

The strange man in the linen suit taps Elliott's chair with

his toe, as if reminding to ask him something.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

Right, did all three of you arrive to

the party at the same time?

LINDA:

N...o, Richard went over early to

help the caterers set up, I got there

around 8, Ransom a little later.

She raises a questioning finger to ask about the man but

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

And in Boston you and your husband

work for a real estate firm?

LINDA:

sharp

(

)

It's my firm.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

checks notes

(

)

Sorry. Right.

LINDA:

I built my business from the ground

up.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

Just like your dad.

LINDA:

Just. Like my dad.

LIEUTENANT ELLIOTT

Were you very close?

LINDA:

We had our own secret way of

communicating. You had to find that

with dad. You had to find a game to

play with him. And if you did that,

and played by his rules...

beat

(

)

Yeah we were close.

CUT TO:
Richard in the chair Linda was in, giving his

statement.

8.

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