SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

Written by

Charlie Smith

Based on, The Silence of the LambsBy

AddressPhone Number

EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT

We see a brick wall in a dark alleyway only lit by a single street lamp. DETECTIVE CLARENCE (Early to mid 30s with a craggy face and medium build) walks past the brick wall and enter his office.

INT. CLARENCE OFFICE - NIGHT

Clarence walks in his office and puts his coat and hat on the coat hanger next to his desk. He walks across the room to his filing cabinet, opens it and grabs a bottle of whiskey. He walks to his desk, sits down, pours himself a drink and starts typing.

CLARENCE (V.O.)Jackie Lake... they say wherever she goes, trouble follows. Lover to two head mobsters in the local area. Found dead last night with three bullets in her chest, faced down in the gutter. Prime suspect... Lecter;. Spotted at the scene of the crime. The only other possible suspect, Buffalo Bill, Lecters nemesis. Between them they have killed more people in this city than the god damn civil war. One of them wanted to meet me in an abandoned building down on 24th street. I could feel trouble, it was in the air. It smelt like a set-up but to catch one of these guys, id throw it all on the line.

INT. DERELICT WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

An empty derelict warehouse lit only by the moonlight and the street lamps. Harsh shadows created by debris and pillars scatter the walls and floor. CLARENCE enters from the shadows and stands there waiting. LECTER (mid to late 30s criminal, medium build, aged face) then enters from the shadows holding a cigarette. Both of them wait for each other to say the first word.

CLARENCEWhy dont you tell me about Jackie Lake?

LECTERJackie... Lake?

Lecter takes a drag of his cigarette.

LECTER (CONTD)And who might that be?

CLARENCEDont play games Lecter, you know who it is. Some skirt gets gunned down in your territory, and you dont know about it? I dont buy it.

LECTERWhats the name again? Jackie? Oh yes, that rings a tiny bell. Maybe youll have to refresh my memory.

FLASHBACK TO:

EXT. ALLEYWAY #2 - NIGHT

JACKIE LAKE (Mid to late 20s, slim build, pretty face) is walking down an Alleyway. The Alleyway is dark and narrow. You can see her shadow on the wall. It is only light by a single street lamp.

CLARENCEShe was last seen alive Saturday night walking down the ole'Pescialleyway. A pretty little thing, bright face, red hair, with heartbreak-blue eyes brighter than the ice on her wrist.

A mans running footsteps and moving silhouette alerts Jackie who searches her handbag for a lighter, she sees a man manifest from the shadows of the alley.

JACKIEHey Honey, you got a light?

Hidden by the shadows, He draws out a gun, holding it at his waist and then fires three shots into Jackie.

CLARENCEUntil some mug pumped her full of lead and left her to bleed out in the gutter. She was coming home from a date she had with her new fella.

BACK TO PRESENT

CLARENCE (CONTD)Murdered by a jealous ex, maybe? Let's not beat around the bush, Lecter, I know she used to be your broad and a witness can place you at the scene of the crime.

2.

LECTERIt appears you think you've caught me, red handed. I was there, but I didn't kill her, do you really think I would smoke some "dame" right under your nose? I don't shitwhere I eat Clarence. This woman, I merely tucked her away. I knew you and your boys would come sniffing around once you discovered the body.

CLARENCEWouldn't it have been easier to just leave her for the police to find?

LECTERAnd have you and your boys clompingabout in my life? Oh dear, no... At that time I still had certain engagements of my own.

CLARENCESome plan. Didnt count on a witness did you Lecter?

Lecter stares at Clarence with intensity.

CLARENCE (CONTD)So if you didn't kill her, then who did?

LECTERWho can say? I'm sure they had their reasons. But, it was the best thing for her really. Knowledge is power, and she had too much of it. A loose cannon with the potential to squeal on things bigger than her, her dance card was revoked.

(BEAT)

LECTER (CONTD)But tell me, how did you feel when you saw her, Clarence?

CLARENCENothing, new day, new body.

LECTERReally... Why?

3.

CLARENCEBecause when you live in a city like this, filled with sewer rats like you, it hurts less to get killed when youre already dead.

LECTERHow poetic... but do you have something you use, when you need to get up your courage? Memories, tableaux... scenes from your early life?

CLARENCEI don't know. Next time I'll have to check.

Clarence lights a cigarette.

LECTERWhat about the old man at the office? Jack Crawford is helping your career, isn't he? A little birdie tells me he's not into dames. But he's taken a "liking" to you, hasn't he Clarence?

CLARENCECrawford? A queer? Not a chance.

LECTERYour first lie to me, Clarence. How sad. Tell me - do you think Crawford wants you, sexually? True, he's much older, but - do you think he visualizes... scenarios, exchanges...? Fucking you?

CLARENCE

That doesn't interest me, so I don't think about it.

LECTERNot anymore.

Lecter starts walking towards Clarence. His shadow on the wall getting larger. Clarence steps back, his shadow shrinking.

LECTER (CONTD)Surely the odd confluence of events hasn't escaped you, Clarence. I'm spotted at the scene of a murder, and then I arrange to meet the detective on the case. I called you here for a reason.

4.

(MORE)

Just imagine, the mass outrage once this hits the front of the papers, "Queers protect us!" If it ain't up the river you'd be heading then the curb's a safe bet. You know who I am Clarence, you know what I can and will do. So... why dont you ask me about Buffalo Bill.

CLARENCE

Bill? What about him?

LECTERClarence, did you not identify EXACTLY who Jackie was out meeting that night? "Maybe" it was an associate of mine."Maybe" she was giving my guy the lowdown on Bill's whereabouts and upcoming business ventures; I hear he was planning something real big, a whiskey shipment worth 30 large. And as I'm sure you know Clarence, Bill does not play nice with squealers.

CLARENCEBut... your lies, they don't make any sense, Buffalo Bill...? Bill killed her, that's impossible. They was together.

LECTERTogether? Haha, she was a crafty little broad when she wanted to be. She listened to me and got the job done. She knew all about Bill's operations."Maybe" Bill knew this and he thought "Maybe" she would tell us. So "maybe" he had her whacked. Are you catching my drift... Clarence? Doesn't this all begin to suggest to you a kind of... negotiation?

CLARENCEI... understand.

Clarence visibly slumps. His body changes, no longer is he standing there with confidence.

LECTERGood.

Dr. Lecter smiles, enigmatically.

5.

LECTER (CONTD)

CLARENCEYou wont get away with this Lecter. Not a chance!

LECTERFor your sake Clarence, you better hope I do. But the question remains, who is "Bill" stalking right now, Clarence? I wonder, don't you?

Clarence stares at him, unsure how to respond as a black silhouette manifests in the background.

FADE OUT:

6.