Zodiac

FADE IN:

1 INT. CORVAIR -- NIGHT 1

Our camera is MOUNTED to a CAR WINDOW. Driving through a

small town at night. Passing white picket fences. Kids'

discarded big wheels. American flags flutter.

July 4th, 1969 - Summer of Love. Vallejo, California

FIREWORKS streak into the sky. Cookouts winding down. The

car slows. Stops in front of a house on Beechwood Avenue.

The driver HONKS. MIKE MAGEAU races out. Skinny at 19.

Runs up to the window. To the camera:

MIKE:

Where have you been?

waiting since seven.

I've been

At the wheel is DARLENE FERRIN, 22, clad in a WHITE AND BLUE

JUMPSUIT. Fake eyelashes and braces make her look like 17.

DARLENE:

(good natured)

Get in, I'm starving. I haven't

eaten in like twenty four hours.

MIKE:

Let me drive, then.

DARLENE:

No way, Jose. I have to pick upfireworks for the party tonight.

Food first though.

Mike doesn't move - he wants to drive.

DARLENE (CONT'D)

You coming or not?

2 EXT. MR. ED'S -- NIGHT 2

BOOM DOWN to see a local Vallejo teen hangout. Although the60's are almost over, Vallejo didn't get the memo. Darlene

(still driving) and Mike, cruising through the crowded lot.

She sees something offscreen. Frowning, unnerved:

DARLENE:

Screw this place.

MIKE:

I thought you needed to eat.

(CONTINUED)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 2.

2 CONTINUED:
2

DARLENE:

We have time before the party.

could just go talk.

We

Mike blinks at this. An opportunity...

3 EXT. BLUE ROCK SPRINGS -- PARKING LOT -- NIGHT 3

Minutes later. The Corvair pulls into the lot of the local

golf course. Make out point. The car on the road behind

them, passing, continuing on.

4 INT. DARLENE'S CAR -- NIGHT 4

Darlene, parking, checking the rearview to watch the car

pass. Tense, but relaxing as it goes. Mike, noticing.

Are you okay?

MIKE:

Fine.

DARLENE:

(relaxing)

MIKE:

You seem a little funny.

She touches his chest, playfully.

DARLENE:

It's July and how many shirts are

you wearing?

MIKE:

(embarrassed)

I'm cold.

DARLENE:

You're cold in July?

BANG-BANG-BANG! Mike and Darlene JUMP and Mike gives out a

scream! Looking around to see KIDS. A group of them in

three cars. Laughing, they toss another lit string of

fireworks towards the Corvair. BANG-BANG-BANG!

MIKE:

F*** off and die!

The kids PEEL OUT. Leaving Mike and Darlene alone.

moment, Darlene begins giggling. RELAXING.

After a

What?

MIKE (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 3.

4 CONTINUED:
4

DARLENE:

(mimicking)

"F*** off and die!"

She keeps laughing.

MIKE:

Shut up...

But he's smiling. Soon he succumbs to the laughter as well.

He shifts closer. Then, through the windshield - HEADLIGHTS.

Signaling to turn into the lot. The car pulls to a halt

eight feet behind them on their left side. Turning out the

lights. But not the engine. Mike stares at the car. Onlyone person in it. Odd for a make out spot.

MIKE (CONT'D)

Is that the car that was behind us

before?

Darlene doesn't respond.

MIKE (CONT'D)

(squinting)

It is, I think he's been with us

since my house- Sh*t, is that your

husband?

DARLENE:

No.

But she can't take her eyes off the car. The driver makes no

move to get out...

MIKE:

I can to tell him to leave-

She puts her hand over his. Looks at him. Don't move. Theywait for what seems an eternity. Then...

The other car PULLS FORWARD. Headlights click BACK ON.

Passing the Corvair. They watch it go, finally disappearing

over the horizon.

MIKE (CONT'D)

Who was that, Darlene?

DARLENE:

Don't worry about it.

Mike studies her face. Unnerved.

MIKE:

So... do you want to

(CONTINUED)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 4.

4 CONTINUED:
(2) 4

DARLENE:

Oh, sh*t...

Through the windshield - HEADLIGHTS, COMING BACK over the

horizon. Darlene and Mike watch them reach the entrance to

the parking lot. THEY TURN IN.

MIKE:

Let's go.

Darlene, FROZEN.

MIKE (CONT'D)

Now, Darlene.

The car pulls to a halt behind the Corvair. In an off-line

position, like a COP.

Mike, reaching over to start the engine when - A SPOTLIGHT

from inside the other car hits the Corvair.

The door opens and THE COP inside gets out. Walks up to the

car. Flashlight outstretched, shining it in Mike and

Darlene's faces, blinding them. He reaches Mike's door.

MIKE (CONT'D)

Get your I.D.

(rolls down hiswindow)

Man, you kinda creeped us-

THUNK! Mike's BLOOD AND TEETH EXPLODE onto the dashboard.

The muzzle of a SILENCER FLASHES. The Man KEEPS SHOOTING.

BULLETS PUNCH through flesh and bone. Some shots rip straight

through Mike and into Darlene.

Mike is shot in the face, the neck, and the arm. Darlene is

shot twice in each arm, and three times in the back.

The Man lowers the gun. Silence.

The Man turns away. Walking back to his car. A GROAN. The

Man turns. Walks back to the Corvair, reloading. Mike.

Still alive.

The Man FIRES TWO MORE SHOTS into Mike, propelling him into

the BACK SEAT. Then TWO MORE into Darlene for good measure.

The Man turns and walks away.

FADE TO:

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 5.

5 OMITTED 5

5A EXT. BLUE ROCK SPRINGS -- PARKING LOT -- LATER 5A

P.O.V. the front of a police motorcycle as it's HEADLIGHT

cuts into the lot... OVER THIS WE HEAR a coin clink into a

phone. One number dialed.

FEMALE OPERATOR {NANCY SLOVER}

Vallejo Police Department?

The headlight, SWINGING over asphalt until it comes to rest

on MIKE, slumped against the REAR of the Corvair. Blood,

running down his shirt...

A MAN (O.S.)

I want to a report a double

murder...

The Officer (HOFFMAN) dismounts and runs to him...

A MAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)

If you go one mile east on

Columbus Parkway to the public

park, you will find kids in a

brown car...

6

Mike gestures - and Hoffman goes to the front seat to find

Darlene. In even worse shape. She tries to mouth something.

A MAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)

They were shot with a nine

millimeter Luger. I also killed

those kids last year. Goodbye.

CLICK. The line goes dead. SMASH TO OUR TITLE SCREEN...

EXT. SAN FRANCISCO SKYLINE -- MORNING 6

August 1, 1969. SOARING OVER WATER towards the Bay City.

Magnificent spires and bridges. Bustling to life.

7 INT. GRAYSMITH APARTMENT -- BATHROOM -- MORNING 7

ROBERT GRAYSMITH stands, brushing his teeth. Mid 20's. Next

to him, his 4 year old son DAVID brushes his teeth as well.

Mimicking his father's movements. Graysmith does his top

teeth, David does his. Graysmith smiles. David smiles.

Graysmith scrubs his tongue, David scrubs his.

GRAYSMITH:

And spit.

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