Leverage Transcripts derived from the closed captions available online and formated by slaysvamps. Feel free to download and share, but please give credit and a link back to me here.Leverage Main | When Darkness Falls |
5x07 The Real Fake Car Job |
| [Golf Course] Erickson: The hell kind of muni track has a par-five dogleg left into the wind? Stupid rental clubs cost me two strokes a side. Kyle (approaches in golf cart): Erickson?! Erickson! I’ve been trying to call you for months! (guards pull up in a car and rush toward Kyle and Erickson) Kyle: Where’s my money?! You took my money! Guard: Stand back, sir. Kyle: Erickson! Marshal Rose: Get him out of here. Guard 2: Okay. Kyle: You belong in jail, Erickson! You’re a thief! Marshal Rose: Sir. I think you’re mistaken. Kyle: That man is a thief! Marshal Rose: That man is Jim Cole, not Erickson. I suggest you walk away. (Kyle reluctantly turns and leaves) [Brew Pub] (Nate pours a beer and sets in on the counter in front of Kyle) Kyle: I just figured a guy like you would have, I don’t know, an office or something. Nate: Oh, yeah, I tried it once. Had trouble keeping it in one piece. Kyle: Secretary? Business cards? Nate: Gabe Erickson got one of those? Kyle: Yeah. Well, you got me there. Nate: Is this the guy? (shows mug shots on an iPad) Kyle: Gabe Erickson. I mean, this guy wipes me out back east. I spent 14 months looking for a job, and, finally, a buddy of mine sets me up over here at Eagle Cove, and... boom... there he is. Nate: You sure it was him? Kyle: Mr. Ford, me and my brother started our landscaping business over 20 years ago with a borrowed truck. But we worked it. Every hour, every day. My wife, she did the accounts. And on the weekends, we’d always have this big barbecue, you know? And we’d let our kids wash the trucks. ‘Course, they’re just running around with the hose, screaming. And we would just watch them, you know? And we knew that we had built something that was gonna last. Gabe Erickson looked me in the eye, swore he’d take care of my family’s money, and then he stole it. So, yeah, I’m sure. Nate: Now, Erickson... he was arrested a year ago on $130 million stock scam, right? Kyle: He hasn’t even been tried yet. Nate: So, what’s he doing on that golf course three days ago, hiding behind bodyguards? [Leverage Headquarters] Hardison (controlling pictures on the display): I got the security-camera footage from Eagle Cove’s parking lot. Eliot: Those guys are Federal Marshals. Hardison, zoom in on that gun right there. That’s a Glock 23, .40 caliber... standard-issue weapon of choice for Marshals Service. Sophie: Erickson’s in the Witness Protection Program? How did he rate that? Hardison: I don’t have all the information just yet, but it looks like, in addition to the stock scam, he’s been laundering money for the mafia, including Don Paolo Brancato, the head of the New York mafia. Eliot: Erickson doesn’t strike me as a mob guy. Nate: Because he’s not. No, he establishes mob ties as a get-out-of-jail-free card. So, if the day ever comes that the S.E.C. discovers his stock fraud... Parker: He’ll trade his mob records for immunity and a new identity. Sweet! I mean, evil. And clever, but bad. Hardison: I just found this out. Of the $130 million, $50 million’s missing. They say Erickson stashed it right before his arrest. And found this WITSEC memo dated two days ago. Apparently, being recognized on a golf course is a low-level breach of security. Eliot: They’re gonna move him. Hardison: Transfer papers are for Friday. Nate: Yeah, so it’s less than a week with that Marshal hanging all over him. Sophie: And the mob out there, looking for him. I mean, if the guy’s careless enough to be found by his own victims, then they’re not gonna be far behind. Nate: Okay. So, first, we split up. Now, we don’t know enough about this guy to run a job on him, so we got to find out what we can. This Gabe Erickson... he must be employed somewhere. [Exterior Redstone’s] (Erickson parks on the street. Marshal Rose pulls up and parks next to him. He leans over to talk through the window) Erickson: What? Is it time for my 2:00 P.M. lecture? I know... don’t contact anyone from my past. Don’t tell anyone what I used to be. Marshal Rose: Well, I didn’t realize you were listening, Mr. Cole. (Erickson goes into the building. Across the street, Eliot looks away when Marshal Rose looks in his direction) [Redstone’s] (Eliot watches a young girl walk through the stack, then looks toward the counter where Erickson is reading a comic book while working) Customer: Here you go. (hands him money) For the wifi. Thanks. (Erickson pockets the money) Girl: Is the last “Warriors of Grun” book in? Erickson: No. And that stupid goblin kills Mistress Ferryweather in the end. (Girl flounces away, upset. Back in the stacks, Eliot takes a picture of Erickson) [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Second, we need the hook. What does this guy want? Sophie: Look at the items confiscated after his arrest. There’s high-end art, properties all over the world, vintage cars... all seized and sold at government auction for pennies on the dollar. Somewhere in there is the thing he loves that’s been taken away forever. Nate: Okay. Hardison, Parker, you’re on that. (Parker nods) [Exterior Street, Suburbs) (Hardison’s van is tapped into a wiring conduit) Hardison: So, this is where he lives. [Interior Van] (Hardison looks at screen while Parker opens door) Hardison: Hey. I’m tapped into his DVR. Right now I got detailed records of what he’s watching, what he’s buying on demand, and all the little bits he’s fast-forwarding through. Parker: Cool. (throws a bag of garbage into the van) Hardison: Looks like it’s just a bunch of car-restoration shows, some soap operas... embarrassing. What you doing? Parker: Got his garbage. Garbage is always best. Hardison: I just had Lucille detailed! Oh, are you kidding me? Get... girl... Is that seafood I smell? Parker: I don’t... yeah, a little... whew. [Leverage Headquarters] (Hardison goes through several bags of garbage with gloves on when Sophie enters) Hardison: I’m done. I’m done. I mean, really? I got to be the only one sitting here, sifting through garbage by myself? Y’all can’t help? Y’all ain’t got hands? (Sophie throws an empty Chinese food box onto the stack of garbage) Hardison: Wow. Nate: You know, the thing about this Erickson guy is that he goes straight home and straight to work. No stops, no friends. Sophie: And the U.S. Government have him on a very short leash. Hardison: The guy’s basically in jail already. WITSEC is like the ninth circle of hell for guys like him. Like us. I mean, Nate, do you think that you can go back to being John Q and not go insane if you had to give it all up? Nate: Sure. Maybe. Yeah. Maybe not. I really... I don’t think beyond the job that’s right in front of us. I, you know, don’t have the luxury to think beyond that, so... Sophie: Really? Nate: Hmm? Sophie: Huh? Nate: What? Sophie: That’s the best you’ve got? Hardison: Hey, guys, I got something. Nate: Thank God. Hardison: Looks like he likes building model cars. I got... what is this? A ‘46 Triumph 1800, ‘38 Bantam Roadster. Nate: So, he’s a... he’s a car collector. Sophie: He owned at least a dozen rare vintage cars when he was arrested. Hardison: He’s got nothing but rare-car shows on his DVR, so... Nate: You know what we have to do? You know we have to... We have to create a rare-car competition... right here in Portland. So... something, like... you know, with a tent and trophies and... and big lawn and people and... you know, that sort of thing. And... and we’re definitely gonna need... A Packard 1934 original 1101 Roadster coupe. Sophie: The “Motor City Mussolini.” Hardison: Hey, you know, I’m on that. I got... I’m on that. (tosses garbage toward Sophie) Sophie, handle that. Thank you. Appreciate it. Sophie: Oh! Hardison: I’m out. (Nate continues to flip through pictures on the display) Sophie: I don’t like that... that whole smug look on his face. Nate: Yeah. Like he’s got a, you know... a $50 million backup plan. Let’s go steal it. [Exterior Street] (Nate drives a vintage car down the road) [Redstone’s] (Erickson places a ‘Wifi password $5’ sign over the ‘Free Wifi’ sign) Erickson (to customer): It just means that it’s available. Customer (hands him $5): Mm. Erickson: Thank you. (pockets money) So, the password... (Nate drives by outside, revving the engine. Erickson looks from Nate’s car to Marshal Rose waiting in her car) Erickson: I am now on break. [Exterior Street] (Erickson approaches as Nate wipes down the car) Erickson: Ohhh. (bending to look) Nate: Ah, ah, ah, ah. Erickson: Nash-Healey. 1953? Nate: Pretty rare out here in Lumber-ville. That’s right.: One of the earliest American-made sports cars. Showed extremely well at Le Mans its first year off the line. Erickson: Dual jetfire. Inline six. Manual three-speed transmission with overdrive. Nate: Well, well. You an owner? Erickson: Used to be. Nate: Oh. Oh, sorry to hear it. It’s such a shame to lose something you love so much, you know. Erickson: It’s only temporary. Nate: You ought to come out tomorrow to the first annual Portland vintage. It’s gonna be quite something. Biggest competition in the Northwest. It’s the only reason I shipped her here. Erickson: You shipped her yourself? Nate: Yeah. I mean, I keep most of my collection offshore. Now I do most of my own shipping... ah, tax purposes. (hands him a card) If you’re interested. Hey, and I hope to see you tomorrow. Gonna be something. Erickson: Hmm. (walks away) Nate: Hardison, how we doing with the competition? Hardison: Competition’s all set, Nate. Nate: All set? Already? [Exterior House] (Eliot and Hardison are crouched in some greenery) Hardison: Hey, easier done than said, man. Craigslist. One simple ad, and these rare-car guys will flock to any empty lot just for a peek at a vintage carburetor. Eliot: Owner’s heading out of town. (Owner exits house) Hardison: He won some trip... all expenses paid to Bora-Bora. Eliot: He’s a lucky man. (Owner gets into car and drives away) [Leverage Headquarters] Parker: Erickson’s got $50 million. Can’t he just buy another one of these Packards? Nate: No, no, no. Back in the day, there was a legend among car collectors. A lost car... the lost ark of luxury cars. Sophie: Yeah, the Packard Coupe... It was the limousine of the rich and famous. It was used by movie stars, dignitaries, royalty. Nate: Yeah, now there’s only 30 of them left in the world. But the legend is of one very special Packard Coupe. It fell off the grid just before the second World War. Owned by Benito Mussolini, plucked from the heart of American industry at the height of fascism. Parker: We found it in Sacramento? The one Mussolini owned? Nate: Well, uh, no. We found one that was close enough to Portland— [Exterior Driveway] (Eliot pulls up up a truck and trailer) Nate: —that matched the basic right description. Eliot, did you get it yet? Eliot (exits truck): There’s 18 hours until competition. We got 10 hours between here and Portland. Hardison (looking at pad sisplay): Yeah, and about half a dozen security systems to disarm. And that’s just on the car itself. [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: That Packard is the golden fleece. Sophie: And car collectors, a bunch of wealthy eccentrics, can’t stop looking for it. Nate: Yeah, they’re... they’re still looking for it. They’re convinced it’s out there, wasting away somewhere for nearly 70 years. Parker: So we convince Erickson that we found Mussolini’s lost Packard Coupe. He’ll pay at least what he owes Kyle Davis to acquire it. Nate: Yes, and in the process, he’s gonna have to access his secret $50 million stash. And Hardison can trace where the money’s hidden. [Exterior Garage] (Eliot approaches garage doors) Hardison: Oh, hey, hey, hey. (Eliot hesitates, then opens the garage door to reveal a Packard Coupe) Hardison: No way am I giving up this life to be an ordinary person. Eliot: Did you talk to Parker about that? Hardison: What you mean... why would I... No, she’s the least ordinary person I know... you know. Shoot. Wait. Do I have to talk to her about stuff like... Eliot: Yeah. Hardison: ‘Cause I... You know what? Just forget it. Let’s get to work. [Portland Vintage Car Show] Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Portland vintage car show. Judging of all the concourse events will begin shortly. (Marshal Rose and Erickson walk through the show) Marshal Rose: I see, once again, I have to explain the rules of WITSEC to you. Erickson: I just want an hour... half-hour. Marshal Rose: Unless you want a mob bullet in the back of your skull, do not engage in any activities from your old life. Never contact anyone from your old life. Erickson: This isn’t what I signed up for. I just want five minutes. Could you forget about rules for five minutes? Marshal Rose: You’ve been forgetting about the rules for 10 months now, and I’m still mad at you for that little trip to the golf course the other day. Erickson: You’re mad? I’m supposed to be in Arizona, not Portland. (walks away) Nate: They’re headed your way, and the Marshal is all over him. Sophie (approaches Erickson): We need a 10-second window. Nate: I’ll see what I can do. Parker (approaches Sophie): Excuse me. I’m so sorry to bother you, but I was hoping you could help me. Um, my grandfather just passed. Sophie: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Parker: Well, he left me a farm nearby, and in the back barn, I found a classic car, I think. A Packard 110-something-or-other. (Erickson is interested and begins to follow them discretely) Parker: But I know so little about cars, I was wondering if you... Sophie: Well, there’s a guy called Phil. (points) He’s set up over there. He’s got a beautiful Alfa Romeo. I’m sure he can help you. Parker: Thanks. Sophie: Good luck. Announcer: See the evolution of the Porsche 911 through the decades on the north lawn. (Sophie walks away. Erickson follows Parker. Marshal Rose tries to follow but Nate intercepts her) Nate: You know, I... I always felt they made the judges in these things dress too serious. Yeah, no, no. They told me you’d be here at 11:15. It’s 11:30. I just wanted you to see my sweetheart before... yeah, it’s just right over here. It’s this beauty right here, this... Marshal Rose (jerks Nate around): I’m not a judge. (looks around for Erickson, then to Nate) Are we gonna have a problem? Erickson (to Parker): Uh, excuse me, miss. Parker: Hi. Erickson: Hi. I couldn’t help but overhear you earlier. Parker: Oh, about my grandfather? I know. It’s such a shame, isn’t it? Erickson: No. I... I mean, yes, it... yeah, of course it’s a shame. But I was actually talking about the car that he left you. The Packard 1101 Coupe? Parker: You’re familiar with it? Erickson: Oh, yes. Parker: Oh, terrific! Yes, um, well, my grandparents emigrated from Italy after World War II and brought it back with them. But grandpa’s kept it in the barn ever since, so... Probably didn’t want anyone to think he’d stolen it. An immigrant, he was poor. Parker: What... Erickson: I could go look at it right now if you’d like. Parker: Um, no, I’m sorry. It’s... it’s still a little... Erickson: I understand. I’ve had things I love taken away from me, too. Okay. (moves to leave) Parker: W... wait. I’m Bonnie. Myerson. Erickson: Jim. Jim Cole. Nice to meet you. Parker: Nice to meet you. Erickson: Shall we? Parker: Yes. (they begin to walk together) The barn’s just about two miles from here. Nate (watching them walk away): Okay, Hardison, Eliot, are we up and running at the barn? [Interior Barn] Hardison: Not exactly. (entering barn with gas tank and hose) The freeway was like a classic-car parking lot. Thought somebody was gonna try to race us for pinks. (Eliot spreads dust on the vehicle) Nate: Okay, well, we got less than five minutes to turn a car that looks— [Portland Vintage Car Show] Nate: —brand-new into the old relic that Erickson is coming to see, or we are blown. [Interior Barn] (Eliot siphons gas from the vehicle with a hose. Hardison places cobwebs on tires. The two men continue to make the car look like it’s been sitting in the barn a long time, finishing with putting a tarp on it) Eliot (running toward truck): Let’s go! Hardison (picking up some equipment before following): Thanks for the help. Appreciate it. (A few minutes later, Erickson pulls the tarp from the car and studies it while Parker watches) Erickson: It’s a 1934 Packard 1101. It is spectacular. (examines car) Some of these pieces look like they’ve been restored. Parker: Oh? Erickson: Old-world craftsmanship. They used to build these to last. Nate (on comm.): Push the history, Parker. Parker: You know, I think someone very wealthy gifted this car to my grandfather right before Italy bowed out of the war. You know, maybe someone he worked for? Erickson: But you don’t know where he worked? Parker: No, he didn’t really talk about it. But, ah, my grandmother once let something slip about “The Palace.” Erickson: Ah. That’s interesting. Nate (on comm.): Parker, drop some more Italian names. [Portland Vintage Car Show] Sophie: She’s got it, Nate. You know, the trick is knowing when to leave the party. Nate: Ah. When does it end? Sophie: Gabe Erickson could tell you. Sometime before you lose everything you showed up with. Nate: You know, I... I showed up to the party empty-handed, but I met a nice girl. You know, maybe if I play my cards right... Sophie: Nate, the reason you can’t look to the future... Nate: Sophie. Sophie: Is because you’re still motivated by the past. I just hope that one day... with or without me... ‘cause that doesn’t matter... you can put it all behind you. (Sophie walks away while Nate watches, smiling) [Interior Barn] Parker: I read online that Clark Gable had two of these. Erickson: It’s probably just a myth. I had an old car buddy of mine named Charlie, knew every rumor in the book. Hell, he probably made up half of them to pump up the sale price. What if I told you that I wanted to buy this car? Parker: Oh, well, I... I was just hoping you could tell me if it was valuable. Erickson: Oh, any car from this era is gonna have value, but the engine’s on its last legs, and the inlaid wood in the coach, the paint... I’ll tell you what... why don’t I go home? I’ll do a little research, I’ll come back, and I’ll make you a fair offer. Huh? You can trust me. I promise. [Portland Vintage Car Show] Nate: Okay, guys, we’ve bought ourselves a few more hours. Hardison, breadcrumbs... the Myerson family and the car itself. Sophie, Eliot, we need to distract the Marshal just a little bit longer. You know what to do. [Erickson Home] Marshall Rose (on phone): Where are you? I swear, if you even think of running off on me, I will use every means in my... (doorbell rings. Marshall Rose hangs up and goes to answer door to find Eliot and Sophie standing there with a dish of food) Sophie: Hello. Eliot: How you doing? Sophie: We just moved in two doors down. I’m Frannie McElroy. This is my husband... Eliot: Barry McElroy. Sophie: We’re the McElroys. Is your husband around? We heard that you two are just so sweet. Eliot: Let me ask you a question. What kind of security system are you guys using? ‘Cause you never can be too careful these days. Marshal Rose: You know what? This really isn’t a good time, so if you two could come back another t... Sophie: Oh! Before I forget. (hands her the dish) We baked you a fruitcake. Just a little something to thank you for letting us join your neighborhood! (Marshal Rose closes the door in their faces, then turns to look out peep hole. She reenters the kitchen and throws away the cake, placing the tray on the counter) [Exterior Erickson Home] (Sophie and Eliot walk away) Sophie: They always throw out the cake, but they keep the tray. [Erickson Home] (Erickson enters, looks at Marshall Rose and sighs) Marshal Rose: Where have you been? Erickson: What, do I have to tell you everything I do now? [Interior Van] (Hardison and Parker listen to broadcast, checking information on display) Marshal Rose: We have to be joined at the hip. You can’t just go anywhere you please. Not anymore. Erickson: Well, I’m here now. Marshal Rose: That is not the point. Hardison: I guess that’s what it’s like, huh? Retirement? Parker: Mm-hmm. Erickson: You’re trying to run my life. I got to work. I come home. I go to work. I come home. [Erickson Home] Erickson: I mean, you’re smothering me! [Interior Van] Hardison (laughs): Just all up in each other’s business 24/7. Nothing to do. Parker: I could never retire. Could you... would you ever... Hardison (quickly): Mnh-mnh. Mm. No, hell, no. Parker: Good. Good. Hardison: Are you sure you... Parker: Mm. Good. Then we’re on the same page. Hardison: Eliot told you. Parker: You were flailing just a little bit. Hardison: A skosh? Parker: Yeah, a skosh. [Erickson Home] Marshal Rose: There’s a problem. This couple... they rang the bell. They said that they moved in a few doors down. I didn’t actually see anyone moving in! The house is empty, and they were acting really strange. Erickson: Acting strange? In Portland? Marshal Rose: They could be hired guns. Erickson: You’re overreacting. Marshal Rose: You get recognized on the golf course, and two days later, Mr. And Mrs. Smith show up? How do I get you to understand that there are people trying to kill you?! The kind of people that... Erickson (walks away): I’m gonna go to my crappy bookstore job now. Is that okay with you? Marshal Rose: Fine. (Marshal Rose sees Erickson’s phone on the counter, picks it up, and enables the GPS tracker. As Erickson returns, heading for the door, she calls out) Marshal Rose: Hey. Your phone. (Erickson returns for his phone) [Redstone’s] (Erickson types on laptop while Hardison sits in a van outside) [Interior Van] Hardison: I got the bookstore covered. I cloned his laptop, and I’m wired into his phone. We’re in, baby. Cha-ching. [Redstone’s] (Erickson continues to type on laptop) [Interior Van] Hardison (watching Erickson’s search): This guy knows what he’s doing. He spent the last hour playing six degrees of immigration. Now he’s looking for records of upkeep and parts ordered for our Packard. [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Yeah, well, he wants to make sure the car’s been parked in the barn since the war. [Interior Van] Hardison: I’m on it. (types on keyboard) [Leverage Headquarters] Hardison: There we go. Specialty website. Okay, look. I’m logged into a chat room for classic cars. Sophie: How many people are there? Hardison: 12. [Interior Van] Hardison: 7 of them are me. [Redstone’s] (Erickson picks up his phone and dials) [Interior Van] Hardison: Okay, guys, we got a problem. Right now he’s calling the granddaughter of Mussolini’s custom-coach builder... in Italy. [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Okay. Hardison, uh, divert the call. Sophie: Huh? [Interior Van] (Hardison types on keyboard) [Leverage Headquarters] (phone rings) Nate: Ready? (Nate opens the call, Sophie speaks Italian, and Nate hangs up) [Redstone’s] (Erickson hangs up and sighs, then dials another number) [Interior Van] Hardison: He’s dialing a number. It’s got a Manhattan code. I think it’s somebody he knows. [Interior Shop] Charlie (answering phone): Yeah. Erickson: Charlie? [Redstone’s] Erickson: It’s Erickson. Charlie: Gabe Erickson. [Interior Shop] Charlie: Blast from the past. How you been? Erickson: I’m about to be a lot better. [Redstone’s] Erickson: I need everything you got on the Motor City Mussolini. Charlie: You know same as me. [Interior Shop] Charlie: Last seen being driven by one soon-to-be-dead Italian dictator. Most recent photo... 1935. [Redstone’s] Erickson: I think he may have gifted it to his butler or whatever. And the guy took off to the states when it went South. Charlie: Hey, if you found a Packard that spent some time off the grid, you just hit pay dirt. [Interior Shop] Charlie: What show you snooping around at? [Redstone’s] Erickson: The, uh... Portland Vintage. Charlie: Never heard of it. Erickson: Neither have I. (hangs up) Oh, what the hell? (dials another number) Parker: Hello? Erickson: Bonnie. Hi! Jim Cole. Tell you what... I’d like to pay cash for that car. [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Okay, Hardison, tell me as soon as he accesses those accounts so Parker can do what she needs to do. [Interior Car] Sophie: I’m thinking $550,000, $600,000. Eliot: No way. $300,000, maybe $400,000. [Interior Van] (Watches Erickson leave Redstones with a bag, then opens his trunk) Hardison: Hey, guys. It looks like Erickson’s bringing a bag of money to the barn. By the size of the bag, I’d say it’s a couple hundred thousand— [Interior Car] (Sophie gives Eliot a look) Hardison: —tops. But I’ve been monitoring [Interior Van] (Erickson counts some money in the bag, looking around as if he doesn’t want to be seen) Hardison: —every move he’s made for the last 24 hours, both physically and virtually. He didn’t access any accounts to get that money. (Erickson closes trunk and gets into car before driving away) [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Can somebody please tell me how a witness in federal protection gets his hands on a couple hundred— [Interior Car] Nate: —thousand dollars we don’t know about? [Flashback] (Eliot watches from the stacks) Customer: Here you go. (hands him money) For the wifi. Thanks. (Erickson pockets the money, Eliot takes a picture) [Interior Car] (Eliot shows Sophie the picture he took of Erickson taking money) Eliot: He was selling people free Internet for five bucks a pop at the bookstore. Sophie: The parking-lot scam. That’s old-school. [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Yeah, I bet he’s been running dozens of the same scam for the last 10 months. Hardison, here’s what I need you to do immediately... go over to that barn. I want you to play a rival bidder, okay? [Interior Van] Nate: We need that guy to access those secret accounts. (Hardison starts van) [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Eliot, Sophie, you stay with the Marshal. Do whatever— [Interior Car] Nate: —you have to do to keep her dialed in. [Interior Barn] Erickson: What do you mean that there is a rival bidder? Parker: I’m sorry. I just know if $150,000 is worth the years... possibly decades... that my grandfather spent... Erickson: Is it Gustavsen? It’s Gustavsen, isn’t it? (in the doorway, Hardison catches their attention by making noise with a tape measurer) [Exterior Erickson Home] (Marshal walks out of the house looking at her phone, sees Erickson’s location) Marshal Rose: Such a bastard. (Marshal sees Eliot’s car drive past slowly, Sophie waving) [Interior Barn] Hardison (to Parker): I want it. Erickson: For what? Hardison: To unlock its... (measuring car) artistic potential. This wheel well... that one, too... would serve as the perfect base for my... my next expression. Erickson: Let me get this straight. You’re gonna take this car... this car... and you’re gonna dismantle it for parts? Ah, you... Hardison: Shh, shh. Mnh-mnh. Not parts. I don’t... I don’t... I don’t see parts. I see links to a very specific time and place. I select only those that best capture the gripping detail of their origins... the grille of a 1921 Bentley. The side-door panels of a Mercer Cobra. Erickson (panting): You took apart a 1921 Bentley... and a Mercer Cobra? Hardison: Yes, they were acquired at a government auction last year. Welded into... Erickson (desperate): I’ll give you $300,000 for this car. Hardison: $500,000. Erickson: $600,000. Hardison: $700,000. Erickson: I will give you 7... 7... $750,000 for this car. Parker: Sold. (laughs) Hardison: For shame. Parker: Out. [Exterior Barn] Erickson (on phone): Pass code... 2294. Client number... [Interior Van] (Hardison enters and sits down at computer) Erickson: 66155. $600,000 American, wired to primary location. [Exterior Barn] Erickson: First password... Boesky. [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Hardison, you getting all this? [Interior Van] Erickson: Second is Milken. Hardison: I’m working on it. Erickson: Third... Steinbrenner. [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: Where’s the guy on the other end of the line? [Interior Van] Hardison: Well, that’s the problem. There is no guy. Erickson’s leaving a recording on an Internet voice-mail. It’s kind of like a dead drop. His account manager accesses the recording, so there’s never any direct link between— [Leverage Headquarters] Hardison: —Erickson and his secret accounts. I’m tracking the I.P. address, but until we can actually— [Interior Van] Hardison: —get a bank location, these passwords are useless. [Exterior Barn] (Erickson pulls Nate’s card from his pocket and dials his phone) Nate: Hello? Erickson: Hi. Remember me from two days ago outside the coffee shop? [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: “Used to be an owner.” [Exterior Barn] Erickson: I’m about to be again. [Leverage Headquarters] Nate: How can I help you? [Exterior Hardware] (Sophie and Eliot walk across the parking lot with a shopping cart full of miscellaneous equipment, an axe and a shovel that they begin putting into the trunk of Eliot’s car) Sophie: She there? Eliot: Yeah, she’s in the back of the parking lot, watching us like a hawk. (Marshal Rose is watching from across the lot) Sophie: Are we being suspicious enough? (Eliot hands her the axe) Sophie: Never mind. (Marshal Rose continues to watch as they load the car) Sophie: So, what do you think you’re gonna do after all this is done? Eliot: Always wanted to open up my own restaurant. Now I’m probably gonna get stuck making sure Hardison’s doesn’t go out of business. Throw a couple of drunks out every once in a while. Maybe the place will get robbed once a year. (Sophie looks at a coil of rope) Eliot: Don’t- don’t use that. Sophie: Hmm? Eliot: For future references, you can chew right through it. Sophie: Huh. (puts rope into the trunk) Any other tips from back in the day, when you used to... (makes slashing motion across her neck) people? (Eliot walks around the car while Sophie pushes the cart away. Marshal Rose watches as they enter the vehicle) [Exterior Field] (Sophie watches Eliot digging a hole) Eliot: After sunset, this field is gonna be completely dark. No clear sight lines from the road. First thing to find a body out here would be a coyote... Sophie: Okay. Now I’m scared. Eliot: I’m here. Sophie: Eliot. You’re what’s scaring me. (Marshal Rose approaches through the grass, watching and listening) Sophie: So, just for argument’s sake, which one of us do you think would cope better? You know, with being an ordinary person? You know, without going... mad? Eliot: Me. (continues digging) Sophie: Really? ‘Cause, um... well, you know, I was thinking me. Eliot (firm): It’s me. (Marshal Rose looks at display on phone showing a cash transfer) Marshal Rose: They’re not mob hit men. They’re hit men for... (walks away, dials her phone) Yeah. Portland police? [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Nate: Okay, Parker, Hardison, get here as soon as you can. [Interior Van] Hardison: All right, got it, Nate. We’re on our way. [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Nate (into phone): Uh, Cole, yes. Um, so, I’m at the warehouse with the car. The Myerson girl is on her way to sign the papers and everything, only I don’t see you. Yeah, the place is like an aircraft carrier. Uh, I guess I’m at the, uh, the South end, so, uh, give me a call when you get this. (hangs up) [Exterior Field] (Eliot steps out of the hole he’d dug while Sophie stretches) Sophie: I’m tired. Eliot: You’re tired? Must be all this fresh air you’re breathing. (sirens sound in the distance) Eliot: Where’s the Marshal? You see her? They’re coming for us. Go. (they throw the shovel in the trunk and get into the car) Sophie: Nate, Marshal Rose called the cops. They’re on our way to us now. (Eliot starts the car and drives away) [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Nate: Guys, is our cover blown? What did she tell the police? Do either one of you know where the Marshal is right now? (Marshal Rose puts a gun to the back of Nate’s head and he turns to look at her. She handcuffs him to a chair) Marshal Rose: Tried to distract me while your two friends spoke to Cole about murdering me for money. Nate: Look, I... what are you talking about? Erickson (approaching): Yeah, what are you talking about? Marshal Rose (laughs): I’m talking about the two hit men you hired to have me killed. Three if you count this guy. Erickson: I didn’t hire anybody to kill you. Nate (softly): Uh, guys, I need a little help, here. [Interior Car] (Eliot and Sophie are being chased by police cruisers) Eliot: Yeah, we’re a little busy right now, too, Nate! [Interior Van] Hardison: Uh, Nate, look... we’re coming, man. We’re coming. [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Erickson: How the hell did you find me, anyway? Marshal Rose: I activate the GPS tracker on your phone. I followed you to the building. (Erickson scoffs) Marshal Rose: What? You’re pissed at me? I could gun you down right now for plotting to kill a federal Marshal, and nobody would even ask me any questions! Erickson: Nobody’s plotting to kill you, you idiot! Nate: Okay, guys, due respect, both of you. Due respect. (moves chair closer) Listen, I don’t think anyone’s hiring hit men to kill either one of you. Now, all Mr. Cole did, here, was buy a vintage car for $750,000 and ask me to help with the shipping of it overseas. That’s all. That’s the only reason I’m here. So if you’d kindly just let me go. Marshal Rose: You didn’t. Erickson: Ehh. Marshal Rose: Tell me you didn’t! (punches Erickson) I did not sell out the Marshals service so that you could throw away all of our planning on a car! Erickson: God, that hurt. You are not in control, Ellie! I’m the one in control here. I’ve been in control since the second you agreed to get me out of the country after I testify. Marshal Rose: I agreed for $5 million, Erickson! [Interior Van] Parker: Well, I guess we know why they can’t stand each other. [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Marshal Rose: And that payday is two years from now! You can’t go 10 months without doing something stupid! Nate: Actually, I thought he got terrific valuation on the car. Marshal Rose: Shut up! Erickson: Thank you. Marshal Rose: The government is gonna find the money. This time or next time. They’re just waiting for you to screw up and lead them back to your little hiding place. (points gun at him) What are you gonna do then? Erickson: Y... you’re not gonna shoot me. You’re not gonna shoot me ‘cause you know how it’ll make you look. Like you screwed up the biggest assignment of your life. Nate: And you won’t get the $5 million. Just... observing. Marshal Rose: That’s why I’m gonna shoot you. Nate: Whoa, hey, hey. I... Erickson: Wait. Why you gonna kill him? Marshal Rose: So we can fake your death, idiot. And get you out of the country today. I want to get paid! A mob dentist I used to protect... he’ll fake all the records. We’ll burn his body. Erickson: I like this plan. Nate: Sounds really interesting. (whispering to comm.) Uh, guys, Eliot, Sophie, you got to come here. Bring the cops as soon as you possibly can. Erickson: So, what are you mumbling about? Nate (softly): Hardison? [Interior Van] Parker: Be there in a sec. [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Nate (softly): And bring some orange soda. [Interior Van] Parker: What? Hardison: I can’t dip into my stash, Nate. Parker: Just... just... just bring the man a soda! Hardison: Okay. [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Nate: Look (crosses legs) I know how hard it is for a person to change their nature. I have some experience in this. You are in what is called a transitional period. Erickson: You picked up on that, did ya? Nate: Let me give you some advice that, um, someone gave me. It’s very hard to move forward and be happy until you stop looking to the past. Erickson: Give me the gun. I’ll shoot him myself. Marshal Rose: Wait. Stop. Stop. Stop. (sirens sound in distance) Did you hear that? Erickson: No, just give me the gun. I want to shoot him. Marshal Rose: No, shut up! Erickson: I’ve never shot anybody. Marshal Rose: The cops are gonna be here any minute, and this is all your fault because you couldn’t keep your hands off your wallet. Nate: M... Marshal, you know, I know you’re upset and everything, but, really, you can’t blame him for something that happened yesterday. Past is the past. I mean, you can’t blame him for anything that happened 20 minutes ago, 2 minutes ago. What you need to be thinking about, I think, is what’s gonna happen next. [Interior Car] Sophie: Can somebody record this? I want a record of this. [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Nate: The cops might be outside this building right now, and they’re gonna come in and everything… (Parker and Hardison walk carefully between several large drums, but seeing several men, move back into hiding) Nate: …but you both still have a moment, a chance to get outside and... and ...and plan your getaway. Hardison: Nate. You’re not gonna believe who just showed up. (camera closes in on several mob men) [Flashback] Don Paulo: What could you give me that’ll make me reconsider asking my two associates here to tie you up in a bag with the nearest mountain lion? I... (phone rings) Charlie: Can I... (Don Paulo shrugs) Charlie (answers phone): Yeah? Erickson: Charlie? It’s Erickson. Charlie: Gabe Erickson. Blast from the past. How you been? [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Don Paulo: Want you guys to watch the doors. You guys come with me. I don’t care about the cops. I want Erickson. Hardison: Nate, it’s Don Paolo Brancato, man. He’s headed your way. [Interior Car] Eliot: All right, I see the warehouse up ahead, Nate, but we still got cops on us. It’s gonna take a couple more minutes. [Interior Warehouse, Docks] Marshal Rose: Just shut up and let me think for a minute! (mob men approach from out of sight) Erickson: What good is that gonna do us? Nate: If the cops, in fact, are gonna come in here, you might want to make it less obvious that you’re holding a hostage! Erickson: That’s actually not a bad idea. Marshal Rose: No, no! Erickson: Now, if we just untie him... Marshal Rose: I can say that I just arrested him. Erickson: If we untie him, we’re not gonna be in trouble. Marshal Rose: Don’t touch him! (Don Paulo and his men enter the area. Erickson grabs Marshal Rose’s gun and points it toward the mob men) Don Paulo: Hello, Erickson. Erickson: How did you find me? Don Paulo: You called our mutual friend, Charlie. Marshal Rose: Oh, you are an idiot. Erickson: Shut up. Don Paulo: Granted, that only got us to Portland. But then, when we traced your phone, seems you left your GPS tracking on. Marshal Rose: All right, that one’s on me. Erickson: Just put the gun down. I’m serious, Brancato. Just... put the guns down. (backing away nervously) Put the guns down, or I’ll sh... oh! (Erickson trips over the bag of money and the gun goes off, shooting toward the ceiling and richocheting. The mob men hide) Nate (pushing the chair back): Whoa! Thug: I can’t see him! Thug 2: Check over there! (Marshal Rose hides behind a stack of boxes and pulls a second gun from her ankle holster. She fires several shots toward the mob men who return fire. Hardison pulls Nate’s chair around a corner out of the line of fire) Nate: Parker, a little help? (Parker undoes Nate’s handcuffs. Nate takes the bottle of orange soda that Hardison was drinking from and pours it out under a skid) Hardison: What are you doing? What are you doing? That is the good stuff, imported from Mexico! (Nate fills the bottle from one of the containers nearby) Sophie: Nate, the cops are at the north side. (several mob men see her and walk toward her, not seeing Eliot behind them) Sophie: The South entrance will be clear in 10 seconds. (Eliot punches each of the men, knocking them out) Sophie: Make it five. (Marshal Rose continues to exchange gunfire with the mob men. They see Erickson run across an opening and several follow him) Thug: Come on! (Marshal Rose moves away and the mob men move off into the warehouse) Parker: You think it’ll work? Nate: It has to. Hardison: What will work? Nate: Lots of cars in the ‘30s were diesels. They would run on vegetable oil. We’re gonna fuel up the Packard and try to... Hardison: The car?! The car that’s all the way over there?! You mean we got to run over there and get in the car, drive through a gunfight, and pray that it’s bulletproof like the Batmobile?! (a bullet ricochets nearby) Hardison: Okay, I’m in. Let’s go. Go, go. (they run toward the car. Marshal Rose moves through the stacks of crates carefully, sees the bag of money and grabs it. Erickson runs through the stacks and fires at some of the mob men before running for cover) Erickson: Wait! Wait, wait, wait, wait! Just stop shooting! Stop shooting! I wasn’t... I wasn’t gonna testify against you. (Nate pours the vegetable oil into the fuel tank of the car) Erickson: I was just trying to avoid prosecution. (a bullet richochets near Erickson’s head. Nate, Hardison and Parker get into the car) Erickson: Aah! Wait, wait, wait! I have $50 million in the Cayman Islands. I’ll give you half. (mob men shoot at him) Erickson: Okay! You can have all of it. (another mob man shoots at Erickson from the other direction. He screams and runs) Nate: Okay, Hardison, what are there, a couple of dozen banks down there in the Caymans? Hardison: Nate, get the car started. Worry about the stash later. (Nate attempts to start the car. It hesitates, then catches and he pulls away. As he drives down the rows of crates, Erickson steps out, pointing a gun at them) Erickson: Stop! Please stop! Hardison: Nate. Parker: Nate. (Nate continues to drive at Erickson) Hardison: Nate! Erickson: That’s my car! (dives out of the way) No! Hardison: Nate! (Nate drives out of the warehouse. Sophie and Eliot step out from around the corner and follow them out. Erickson watches them go) Officer (on loudspeaker): This is the Portland police. We have the building surrounded. Cop: Freeze! (Officer’s surround Erickson, all pointing guns at him. He drops his weapon) Officer (on loudspeaker): Come out with your hands up. (behind them, Don Paulo peeks out, then runs away) [Portland Vintage Car Show] (Don Paulo sits at a table with Nate) Don Paulo: You actually put all this together? Nate: We handed out the trophies yesterday, but these people, they ...they just won’t leave. Don Paulo: You asked to speak with me, Mr. Ford, so let’s speak. Nate: We recovered the $50 million from Erickson’s bank in the Caymans. I would like to distribute that money to the people he stole it from. Don Paulo: I have no claim on that money. And I don’t believe I wish to pick a fight with a man such as yourself... If I can avoid it. What about the Marshal? Nate: I’ll take care of her. [Canadian Airport] (Marshal Rose stands at a counter with the bag of money at her feet and hands her passport to an agent) Announcer: Welcome to Canada. Please have your passport or nexus card out and available for inspection. Marshal Rose: Just a little weekend getaway. Announcer: You must provide receipts for any purchases made out of country. (Agent stamps her passport and hands it back to Marshal Rose) Marshal Rose: Thank you. (Marshal Rose bends and picks up the bag but a man grabs her arm) FBI Agent: Hold it there, Marshal. (another agent places the bag on the counter and opens it, revealing the money and Erickson’s phone with the GPS still turned on. Marshal Rose sighs) [Portland Vintage Car Show] Nate: There is one other thing I’d like to ask of you, and that is that you or any of your associates leave Erickson alone in prison. Don Paulo: Out of the question. I need Erickson dead. Nate: Well, no. No, you just need him quiet, really. He was picked up by the police. His Marshal’s gone rogue. He’s losing his immunity as we speak. He’s gonna stand trial for his financial infractions and go to jail for a very long time. Let him live and enjoy it. Don Paulo: You know, my organization, in its original and purest form, was law enforcement. Neighborhoods where the police didn’t have the ability to enforce the law. Nate: Mm. There was a purpose. They were trying to build something. Don Paulo: We lost sight of that. Nate (looks around): Well, we can all be better, huh? [Brew Pub] Nate: Gonna be hard work getting that landscaping business up again? Kyle: The thing I’ve learned about hard work, Mr. Ford... Makes coming home at night to the people that love you feel even better. Nate: That’s true. Hey, take care. (Kyle leaves. Nate looks toward Sophie, who is sitting at the bar. Hardison enters) Nate: Oh, hey. The car? Hardison: Back where we found it. Nate: Oh, good. The owner’s gonna be back soon. Hardison: Now, let me just roll this back for a second, Nate. You knew that that Mussolini car would drive Erickson crazy. So crazy that he would call his old car contact, access secret bank accounts, turn on his Marshal babysitter, and almost get taken out by the mob guys that he planned to testify against? Nate: Mm-hmm. Hardison: That’s like five different things nobody could have ever known would happen. Nate: I only knew three of the five. Hardison: Ah. I knew it. See, which three? (Nate looks at him, then walks away) Hardison: Oh, come on, Nate, don’t... Don’t do me like that, Nate. Don’t do me like that, Nate. (Nate sits at the bar with Sophie) Sophie: I couldn’t help overhearing what you said in the warehouse about putting the past behind you. Nate: I had a gun to my head. Sophie: This is our bar. I’m sure I can rustle up a gun somewhere. Nate: Mm. You were wrong about one thing. Sophie: Really? Because I couldn’t possibly be right, could I? Nate (leans closer): Wanting to move on with or without you... it matters. We matter. The End |
Content and graphic are copyright © 2011 When Darkness Falls. Scripts are under fair use and published for educational and entertainment purposes. No infrigment intended. This web site, its operators and any content on this site is not authorized by TNT. |