Magnolia

OVER BLACK;

NARRATOR:

In the New York Herald, November 26,

year 1911, there is an account of the

hanging of three men --

CUT TO:

Black and White Lumiere Footage

Three men hung....bang...bang...bang.

CUT TO:

Newspaper Headline

comes into focus; "Three Men Hung."

QUICK DISSOLVE:

Sub Head

comes into focus; "...for murder of..."

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT/FOYER - EVENING (Lumiere Footage Contd.)

A man in period dress (1911) walks in the door. CAMERA DOLLIES IN QUICK

as he takes his hat off, shakes snow, looks off --

NARRATOR:

...they died for the murder of

Sir Edmund William Godfrey --

Sir Edmund is greeted by his WIFE and two CHILDREN.

NARRATOR:

-- Husband, Father, Pharmacist and all

around gentle-man resident of --

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

CAMERA pushes in on the town sign, reads:

"Greenberry Hill, London. Population 1276"

NARRATOR:

Greenberry Hill, London. Population as listed.

CUT TO:

EXT. PHARMACY - NIGHT

HIGH ANGLE, looking down as Sir Edmond comes out the door,

locks up for the evening. CAMERA BOOMS DOWN and PUSHES IN

TOWARDS HIM, WHIPS RT TOWARDS:

NARRATOR:

He was murdered by three vagrants whose

motive was simple robbery. They were

identified as:

A COATED MAN standing in the shadows of the alley way nearby.

NARRATOR:

...Joseph Green.....

CAMERA WHIPS RT. again, nearby ANOTHER MAN steps closer --

NARRATOR:

...Stanley Berry....

CAMERA WHIPS RT. one more time and PUSH IN towards THE LAST MAN --

NARRATOR:

...and Nigel Hill...

WIDE ANGLE, ABOVE SCENE.

The three men move in on Sir Edmond and start to knife him

to death, stealing his money and jewelry. CAMERA PULLS BACK

and up to include the sign of the pharmacy now:

"Greenberry Hill Pharmacy."

CUT TO:

LUMIERE FOOTAGE REPLAYED.

Three men hug. Bang...bang...bang...

NARRATOR:

Green, Berry and Hill.

FREEZE FRAME On the last hanging image.

NARRATOR:

...And I Would Like To Think This

Was Only A Matter Of Chance.

OPTICAL WIPE OF FLAMES FILL THE SCREEN, CAMERA PULLS BACK:

EXT. FORREST/NEAR LAKE TAHOE - NIGHT (35mm/color/anamorphic now)

CAMERA is in the midst of a large FORREST FIRE. CAMERA

WHIPS RT TO SEE:

THREE FIREMEN battling the flames. CAMERA PUSHES IN On

them as they scream and shout directions at each other:

NARRATOR:

As reported in the Reno Gazzette, June

of 1983 there is the story of a fire ---

HIGH ANGLE, THE TREE TOPS.

The trees are on fire....moments later....

NARRATOR:

--- the water that it took to

contain the fire --

WATER FALLS DOWN...

dropped from a FIRE DEPARTMENT AIR TANKER.

CUT TO:

EXT. FORREST/NEAR LAKE TAHOE - MORNING

CAMERA pushes in towards FOUR FIREFIGHTERS as they survey the

area. The fire is out and they are walking through. The MAIN

FIREFIGHTER steps into a close up and looks:

NARRATOR:

-- and a scuba diver named Delmer Darion.

FIREFIGHTER'S POV, THAT MOMENT

CAMERA dollies in and TILTS up towards the top of the tree to reveal:

There is a MAN IN SCUBA GEAR hanging high in the tree.

He is wearing his goggles and his tanks and his wet suit.

FIRE FIGHTER (OC)

What the fuck is that?

ANGLE, CU. DELMER DARION.

He still has his mask and mouthpiece.

CUT TO:

INT. PEPPERMILL CASINO - NIGHT - FLASHBACK

CAMERA looks down on a blackjack game, BOOM DOWN and TILT UP

to reveal:
DELMER DARION (40s)

NARRATOR:

Employee of the Peppermill Hotel and

Casino, Reno, Nevada. Engaged as

a blackjack dealer --

CUT TO:

INT. CASINO/LOBBY - EARLY MORNING - FLASHBACK

CAMERA pushes in towards Delmer as he leaves for the nght,

his uniform draped on a hanger over his shoulder, he nods and

motions two fingers to his fellow WORKERS who say "so longer."

(Note:
He has a bandage over his forehead.)

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