Copyright 2001, 2009 by Ronald L. Ecker
All Rights Reserved
This screenplay has been divided into four Web pages, which helps with
the downloading time. A "Go to" link at the bottom of each page will
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FADE IN:
INT. A HOUSE TRAILER - DAY
Handsome CHARLEY COKER, 40, sits on the couch smooching with
girlfriend SALLY, 27. Both wear T-shirts and jeans.
COKER (V.O.)
I never thought, after all my
adventures, I'd wind up in a cheap
house trailer outside of Fort
Pierce, Florida. But Sally was a
real nice auto mechanic. And she
was paying the rent.
(beat)
Then one day Amal Hassan showed up.
Coker stops smooching as he seems to hear something outside.
EXT. TRAILER - DAY
A nice rented car pulls up at the trailer, which is an older,
medium-sized model, sitting off to itself in a field. Parked
in front of the trailer is an older model pickup truck.
The driver who gets out of the car is AMAL HASSAN, 35, a
moustachioed, slim Egyptian in a business suit and hat. He
walks around the car toward the trailer.
Coker peeks out of a curtained window at Amal.
INT. TRAILER - DAY
Sally, still on the couch, watches Coker grab a pistol from a
lamp table drawer.
SALLY
Charley, what's wrong?
Coker puts a finger to his lips and moves to the front door.
He fastens the door chain.
SALLY (cont'd)
Charley, there's a law against
convicted felons having guns.
COKER
I know. I feel guilty as hell.
There are knocks on the door. Coker, gun ready, stays behind
the door as he opens it, only as far as the chain will allow.
AMAL
Mister Coker?
COKER
Yeah, what do you want?
AMAL
I am here for Lord Packington.
COKER
The lord isn't here.
AMAL
No, he has sent me.
Amal sticks his hand in offering a business card. Coker
takes the card and reads it.
COKER
What does a business card prove?
You could have had this printed.
Amal's index finger points.
AMAL
He wrote something on the back.
Coker reads the back. He looks out at Amal, who smiles and
touches his hat brim in greeting. Coker unchains the door.
COKER
Okay, come on in.
Amal enters. He looks nervously at the gun, which Coker
hasn't lowered, then smiles a greeting to Sally, who sits
looking scared on the couch.
AMAL
Amal Hassan at your service.
COKER
Have a seat, Amal.
Amal takes a chair, while Coker, keeping the gun in hand,
sits down by Sally on the couch.
COKER (cont'd)
You came all the way from Egypt?
AMAL
Yes, Mister Coker.
COKER
You'll have to excuse the pistol.
There could still be some people
in Egypt who would like to see me
dead. So when I see an Egyptian
drive up -
AMAL
I understand, Mister Coker. I fit
the profile.
COKER
How did you find me?
AMAL
Through the Bureau of Prisons.
COKER
They're giving out my address? I
ought to sue 'em for invasion of
privacy. I gave the bastards two
years of my life, what else do
they want?
Coker looks again at the card.
COKER (cont'd)
What does Billy Boy Packington
want?
AMAL
He has some work for you, sir.
COKER
Yeah? I'm already working. We're
auto mechanics. Learned all about
it in prison.
SALLY
(to Amal)
He did, not me.
COKER
What kind of work does he want me
to do?
AMAL
I do not know, sir. He mentioned
a treasure hunt. It is my job to
get you promptly back to Egypt.
COKER
(to Sally)
Wanna go to Egypt?
SALLY
Honey, my vacation time is used up.
And you don't have any yet. Are
you going to quit?
COKER
(to Amal)
Sorry. Can't go. And like I said,
there are some people there who
don't like me.
AMAL
But it is your kind of work, sir,
or he would not have sent me to
get you.
COKER
I'm an auto mechanic. I'm not a
spook anymore.
AMAL
Very well. Lord Packington will be
most disappointed.
COKER
Tell him that life is full of
disappointments. He'll get over it.
Shrugging, Amal rises from his chair.
AMAL
This was a very short visit.
Amal touches his hat brim and walks to the door. He turns to
look back.
AMAL (cont'd)
Good luck with the auto mechanicals.
Amal leaves. Coker looks conflicted.
SALLY
What did you do in Egypt?
EXT. TRAILER - DAY
Amal is about to get in his car when Coker comes out of the
trailer.
COKER
Amal . . .
Coker walks over to the car. He and Amal look at each other
over the hood.
COKER (cont'd)
Didn't he give you any idea what
the job is?
AMAL
A treasure hunt, that's all I know,
Mister Coker. And of course he
would pay you handsomely.
Sally props in the doorway of the trailer, watching them.
COKER
A treasure hunt in Egypt . . .
AMAL
Think about what you will be missing.
Coker glances back toward Sally.
COKER
That's what I'm thinking about.
EXT. CAIRO, EGYPT - DAY
Scenic SHOTS of the city, Nile River, and pyramids.
COKER (V.O.)
Four days later, despite what I was
missing, and the possible trouble I
was getting into, I returned to the
Nile.
EXT. PACKINGTON'S MANSION - DAY
A nice mansion by the Nile. A taxi arrives in front.
INT. MANSION - DAY
The Egyptian BUTLER, 55, opens the front door. Coker stands
outside.
COKER
Hi. It's me again.
The butler lets Coker in with a welcoming smile, while trying
to remember the name.
BUTLER
Why, yes, Mister, uh -
COKER
Coker. Call me Charley.
BUTLER
Mister Coker. It has been a couple
of years. Where have you been, sir?
They proceed through the foyer.
COKER
Oh, I had to go to do some - I mean
spend some time in America. How's
Lord Packington?
BUTLER
Fine, sir. Is he expecting you?
COKER
Yeah, he bought me a plane ticket.
On the balcony WILLIAM PACKINGTON, 50, overweight but elegant,
appears at the railing. He speaks with a British accent,
PACKINGTON
Charley! Come on up!
INT. AN UPSTAIRS STUDY - DAY
Coker enters. He and Packington shake hands like old friends.
PACKINGTON
Welcome back to Egypt.
COKER
It's great to be here so far.
Packington moves to the bar.
PACKINGTON
What'll you have, Charley?
COKER
How about a zibib? With water.
PACKINGTON
Mouthwatering!
Packington starts fixing drinks.
PACKINGTON (cont'd)
I've got a job for you, Charley.
COKER
So I understand. Is it legal?
PACKINGTON
Perfectly.
COKER
I appreciate it, Billy.
Coker takes a cigar from a fine cup on the desk, and smells
the cigar leaf approvingly.
COKER (cont'd)
Though I was looking forward to a
career in automotive technology.
Coker puts the cigar in his pocket and takes another one.
PACKINGTON
You know Egypt, you know Arabic,
and you were a bloody good spy.
You're the logical choice.
COKER
Yeah, I shouldn't let my Arabic go
to waste. And Egypt? What can I
say? I just have to watch my step,
try to avoid certain people.
PACKINGTON
Such as?
COKER
Oh, Ahmed Seghawi, for example.
Packington brings Coker his drink.
PACKINGTON
Seghawi is well worth avoiding.
COKER
So this job. What do I have to do?
PACKINGTON
Find something.
They sit down with their drinks.
PACKINGTON (cont'd)
A long-lost, first-century Christian
scroll was recently found at Saint
Anthony's Monastery here in Cairo.
It was discovered during renovations.
Packington hands a lighter to Coker.
PACKINGTON (cont'd)
A Father Saviano was dispatched
from the Vatican to see this
discovery first-hand.
COKER
They know it's authentic?
Coker lights his cigar.
PACKINGTON
Yes. I know the scholar who
examined it. A lovely lady, by
the way. She has told me a carbon
fourteen test has confirmed the
first-century date.
COKER
And somebody stole it.
PACKINGTON
Father Saviano, supposedly. It was
stolen in the very presence of my
friend the scholar.
COKER
The Catholic Church stole the scroll?
PACKINGTON
No. It was someone posing as
Father Saviano.
INT. A HOTEL ROOM - DAY (FLASHBACK)
A hand removes a pillow from the face of gentle-looking
FATHER SAVIANO, 60, who lies dead, eyes half open, in bed.
PACKINGTON (V.O.)
The real Father Saviano was found
dead in his Cairo hotel room. He
had been smothered with a pillow.
INT. PACKINGTON'S STUDY - DAY
Packington and Coker as before.
COKER
So the first order of business is
to find this imposter. Do we have
any clue?
PACKINGTON
Oh, the imposter was found. His
body, that is. He was murdered,
and relieved of the scroll, before
he got two blocks from the scene
of his crime.
Coker laughs.
COKER
No honor among thieves. This
scroll, then - talk about a hot
item. Now the monastery wants it,
the Cairo police want it, the
Department of Antiquities wants it,
the Vatican wants it -
PACKINGTON
Most importantly, I want it.
COKER
To sell to the highest black market
bidder?
PACKINGTON
Perhaps. Or perhaps just to keep.
As you know, I am a fool for worldly
possessions.
COKER
I thought you said this was legal.
PACKINGTON
Finding it, Charley, is legal.
And a thwarting of unscrupulous
thieves.
COKER
Scruples is my middle name. What's
in it for me?
PACKINGTON
A finder's fee. One million dollars -
Coker chokes on his cigar smoke and coughs.
PACKINGTON (cont'd)
- when you find it . . . Are you
all right?
Coker recovers, clearing his throat.
COKER
I've never felt better.
PACKINGTON
You'll have all the expense money
you need, a room at the Nile
Hilton, while in Cairo.
COKER
Cough it up.
Packington rises and goes to a wall safe.
COKER (cont'd)
In addition to the money and room,
could I have a handgun? I left
mine in a Miami pawn shop. Get me
a shoulder holster too.
Packington dials a combination on the safe.
PACKINGTON
I will get you a gun, Charley, but
you didn't get it from me. And for
God's sake, try not to use it.
Packington opens the safe.
COKER
It'll give me a sense of security.
I don't want to be the next person
to die for this scroll. You
haven't told me what's in it.
Packington takes a full white envelope from the safe. He
closes the safe.
PACKINGTON
My scholar friend said it is a
priceless Christian antiquity.
Packington returns to the desk and hands Coker the envelope.
PACKINGTON (cont'd)
She used the word "sensational",
Coker. That is all she would tell
me. But it was all I needed to
know.
Coker riffs through the Egyptian bills in the envelope.
PACKINGTON (cont'd)
I want that scroll, be it nothing
more than an old Christian laundry
list. And I always get what I
want.
COKER
What's your scholar friend's name?
PACKINGTON
Amy Jensen Adawiya.
EXT. THE ADAWIYA MANSION - DAY
A taxi pulls up at the fine residence in a Cairo suburb.
Someone's car is parked in front.
EXT. THE MANSION - DAY
Coker, walking toward the front door from the waiting taxi,
stops as he sees someone come out of the mansion. It's AHMED
SEGHAWI, 45, rather mean-eyed, in a business suit and hat.
COKER (V.O.)
When I got to Amy Adawiya's, who
should I see coming out but another
old friend. Ahmed Seghawi.
Coker and Seghawi encounter each other and stop.
COKER
Colonel Seghawi.
SEGHAWI
How did you get back into Egypt?
COKER
I flew into Cairo International
Airport. Wanna see my visa?
SEGWAI
You are no longer with C.I.A.
COKER
No, I'm not. As you ought to know.
Could I get a job at your ministry?
SEGHAWI
Does Mrs. Adawiya expect you?
COKER
Yes.
SEGHAWI
A business appointment?
COKER
Yeah. What are you here for?
Seghawi walks toward his car.
COKER (cont'd)
Oh - Colonel . . .
Seghawi stops and turns. Coker, stepping over to him, takes
out the cigar from Packington's. Coker shows the cigar to
Seghawi.
COKER (cont'd)
Would you have a light for my
Seghawi?
Seghawi stares at him, Coker enjoying it.
COKER (cont'd)
I know they're bad for your health,
but I love to flush 'em down toilets.
SEGHAWI
You should not have come back to
Egypt, Mister Coker. It is not
too late to leave.
Seghawi proceeds toward his car.
INT. ADAWIYA MANSION - A SITTING ROOM - DAY
An Egyptian MAID shows in Coker, where beautiful AMY JENSEN
ADAWIYA, 33, stands waiting. The maid leaves.
COKER
Mrs. Adawiya . . .
They shake hands.
AMY
Pleased to meet you, Mister Coker.
Would you like a cup of tea?
COKER
Yes, thank you.
Amy steps over to a table.
AMY
Milk or lemon?
COKER
Give me some sugar please.
Amy gives him a look. She pours two cups of tea.
COKER (cont'd)
Guess who I ran into on my way in.
He was on his way out.
AMY
Colonel Seghawi of the Interior
Ministry. Do you know him?
COKER
Yeah, we go way back. My former
employer and the Ministry of the
Interior don't always get along.
Amy hands him his cup.
AMY
Your former employer?
COKER
Thank you. I used to be C.I.A. I
ran into some trouble.
Amy picks up her cup.
AMY
Trouble with Seghawi?
COKER
Seghawi and a few other people.
It's an unpleasant story.
AMY
Who do you work for now?
COKER
Oh, a client of mine. I've gone
into private investigation.
They sit down across from each other.
COKER (cont'd)
I assume the colonel was here about
the theft of the scroll.
AMY
No, it was about something else.
He thinks I killed my husband.
COKER
How did your husband die?
AMY
Oh, he was definitely murdered.
About two months ago. But let us
not digress. I believe it is you
who are here about the scroll.
COKER
Yes. I understand you're a biblical
scholar.
AMY
Correct. I taught New Testament, till
I married Omar and moved here to
Egypt. I write mostly on feminist
theology.
COKER
Christian, I assume. Coptic?
AMY
No, Mister Coker. Just the garden
variety.
COKER
Call me Charley. I was raised
Catholic, but I wouldn't say I'm
religious.
AMY
Then don't.
COKER
Now you were there, as I understand
it, when this fellow posing as a
Vatican priest took the scroll.
AMY
Yes.
BEGIN FLASHBACKS
INT. THE MONASTERY - A LARGE ROOM - DAY
Amy stands closely admiring an ancient papyrus scroll, well
preserved, containing Greek text. The scroll lies unrolled
full length under glass on a table.
AMY (V.O.)
It's such a beautiful document.
The 70-ish ABBOT brings in trim Italian PAOLO BELLINI, 45,
dressed as a Catholic monsignor and carrying a satchel.
The abbot introduces Amy to Bellini, who looks eagerly at
the scroll. During this,
AMY (V.O.) (cont'd)
I believe the imposter was Italian.
We spoke in English, and the accent
seemed genuine.
Moments later, Bellini takes a pistol from his satchel, which
he has set on the table, and holds up the abbot and Amy.
AMY (V.O.) (cont'd)
He produced a gun, and told us to
roll up the scroll, which he put in
his satchel.
EXT. THE MONASTERY - DAY
Exiting a side door, Amy sees Bellini with his satchel hurry
around the corner of a back street.
AMY (V.O.)
When he left by a side door, I
followed him.
EXT. KHAN EL-KHALILI BAZAAR - DAY
Amy, looking searchingly ahead, hurries through the CROWD in
the bazaar.
AMY (V.O.)
He fled through the Khan El-Khalili
Bazaar.
Bellini pauses at a corner to look back through the bazaar.
He turns - and is stabbed with a knife in the gut. Bellini
stares at his ASSAILANT and falls.
The sinister-looking assailant, 30-ish, is humbly dressed in
turban and galabia. He has a finger missing from the hand
that reaches down and picks up Bellini's satchel.
Moments later, Amy pushes her way through the crowd that has
gathered around Bellini's body. The assailant is gone. Amy
looks desperately around at the crowd.
AMY
Where is his bag?
No one seems to know.
AMY (cont'd)
He was carrying a bag! Where is it?
END FLASHBACKS
INT. AMY'S SITTING ROOM - DAY
Amy and Coker as before.
AMY
Whoever killed him and took the
satchel must have known what he
had, whether or not they were
in it together.
COKER
Seghawi should know who the imposter
was by now. Interpol, for example,
would have fingerprints, if the
guy has a record. You say your
husband's been gone for two months?
AMY
Yes.
COKER
Then I guess you're, uh - free to
go out, like to dinner?
(no response)
You did say that Seghawi was here
on business.
AMY
Yes and no. He also asked me out.
Coker looks mad.
COKER
Well the guy's got some nerve,
asking you out while working a
murder case with you the prime
suspect.
AMY
I turned him down.
COKER
You did the right thing.
(then)
Tell me, Amy - if I may call you
that. This scroll we're talking
about. What exactly is in it?
AMY
Didn't Lord Packington tell you?
COKER
Lord Packington?
AMY
The art collector - among other
things - who referred you to me.
Isn't that who you work for?
COKER
Oh, that Lord Packington. Well,
he said you told him that it's
a priceless Christian antiquity.
That's all you would tell him.
AMY
And why would I tell you more,
Mister Coker?
COKER
Call me Charley. I'm just curious
as to what's the big secret.
The phone rings. Amy rises and picks up the receiver.
AMY
(into phone)
Hello.
INTERCUT WITH: INT. SEGHAWI'S CAR - MOVING - DAY
Seghawi is on a cell phone as he drives.
SEGHAWI
Is Mister Coker still there?
AMY
Is that any business of yours?
SEGHAWI
Everything that goes on in Cairo is
Ahmed Seghawi's business.
AMY
If you will excuse me now, Charley.
Coker rises.
COKER
Sure. I appreciate your time. And
the tea. About dinner, uh - I'd be
glad to pick you up about eight.
AMY
I didn't know we had a date. And
I'm afraid I am busy this evening.
COKER
Some other time then.
AMY
Perhaps.
COKER
Thanks again. I'll find my way out.
AMY
Please do.
Coker leaves. Amy returns to the phone call.
AMY (cont'd)
He is gone now. Does that satisfy
you?
SEGHAWI
Yes. I do not want Mister Coker
sticking his nose into Egyptian
affairs. And you would be wise
to avoid his company.
Seghawi hits the end button on his phone.
END INTERCUT as Amy, doing a slow burn, hangs up.
EXT. THE INTERIOR MINISTRY - DAY (NEXT MORNING)
Coker approaches the entrance, PASSERSBY in b.g.
COKER (V.O.)
I decided to go to the Interior
Ministry to see what I could get
out of Ahmed Seghawi.
Coker stops to look back at nice-looking EGYPTIAN WOMAN #1,
in Western dress, leaving the building.
COKER (V.O.) (cont'd)
I didn't expect to get much.
INT. SEGHAWI'S OFFICE - DAY
Seghawi sits eating fava beans and pita bread at his desk,
while watching and listening to a video on his monitor.
The video is a hidden-camera recording of Coker and
Packington in Packington's study.
PACKINGTON
(on video)
It was stolen in the very presence
of my friend the scholar.
INT. THE OUTER OFFICE - DAY
Seghawi's secretary SALWA, 35, dark-eyed and sullen, is
dressed in a traditional Muslim abaya - a black, head-to-toe
garment with no flesh showing but her face and hands.
Coker stands waiting by her desk as Salwa - whose lunch is on
her desk - opens the inner office door. Coker hears from
within,
COKER'S VOICE
The Catholic Church stole the scroll?
PACKINGTON'S VOICE
No. It was someone posing as Father
Saviano.
INT. SEGHAWI'S OFFICE - DAY
Seghawi continues eating and watching the video while Salwa
stands at the opened door.
PACKINGTON
(on video)
The real Father Saviano was found
dead in his Cairo hotel room. He
had been smothered with a pillow.
This is overlapped by,
SALWA
(in Arabic, subtitled)
Sir, Mister Coker is here. He
would like to -
She doesn't finish, as Seghawi desperately lunges over to
turn off the video. Aggravated, Seghawi wipes his mouth with
a napkin and throws it down.
SEGHAWI
(in Arabic)
I will see him.
Salwa leaves, and Coker walks in. Coker glances at the
monitor.
SEGHAWI (cont'd)
May I help you?
COKER
I hope so, Colonel. May I sit down?
Eating, Seghawi motions toward a chair. Coker sits down.
COKER (cont'd)
I've learned that the man who stole
the scroll from Saint Anthony's was
not Saviano from the Vatican. He
was an Italian imposter. Have you
made an identification?
SEGHAWI
Yes.
COKER
Could you tell me his name?
SEGHAWI
In the United States, you have, uh -
open public records, Freedom of
Information Act - things such as
that?
COKER
Yes.
SEGHAWI
This is the Arab Republic of Egypt.
We are in the Interior Ministry.
We do not have open records.
Certainly not for you.
COKER
Can you tell me if you've checked
the guy out?
SEGHAWI
Checked him out? Yes. I sent a
fellow to Italy, and he came back
with nothing. Is that of some help?
COKER
No, not really.
SEGHAWI
And what do you expect, Mister
Coker? You are not welcome in
Egypt. We appreciate that your
country has been fighting a war
against terrorists. But the
assassination of El-Orbany, a
suspect, made our anti-terrorist
efforts more difficult.
COKER
He was only a "suspect," eh?
SEGHAWI
And I am proud of having helped
prove your complicity. El-Orbany
was under surveillance. One
terrorist can lead us to others.
To us El-Orbany was worth more
alive than dead.
COKER
Yeah, I guess dead men depreciate
fast.
Coker rises and walks to the door.
SEGHAWI
Sorry I could not be of more help.
Coker stops and turns.
COKER
No problem. Every organization has
someone like you.
SEGHAWI
It is a shame you served only two
years in prison. Such lenient
courts in America.
COKER
Ain't that the damn truth. Do you
know a good pest control outfit in
Cairo?
SEGHAWI
Pest control outfit?
COKER
Yeah. For my friend Billy Packington.
(nods toward the monitor)
He has bugs in his mansion.
Coker leaves.
INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Walking by on his way out, Coker notices plainclothes
Interior Lieutenant BISATIE, 35, doing paperwork in his
office.
Coker stops and goes back to Bisatie's office door. A
ministry CLERK passes by.
INT. BISATIE'S OFFICE - DAY
At the door Coker smiles in at Bisatie. Another CLERK walks
by outside.
COKER
Lieutenant. The name's Charley
Coker.
BISATIE
I remember you.
Coker walks in and sits down in front of Bisatie's desk.
COKER
Could I borrow an envelope?
Bisatie stares at Coker, then picks up a plain white envelope
and hands it to him.
COKER (cont'd)
Thanks.
Coker, with a glance toward the door, takes out a handful of
bills. He puts them in the envelope.
COKER (cont'd)
I need just the name and any
address of the Italian imposter who
was killed for that scroll from
Saint Anthony's.
Coker offers the filled envelope to Bisatie. Bisatie glances
toward the door, then takes the envelope and puts it into his
desk drawer.
COKER (cont'd)
I may need more information as
time goes along, so there's more
where that came from.
Bisatie again turns his attention to paperwork.
BISATIE
Paolo Bellini. Somewhere in Rome.
COKER
Paolo Bellini. Where exactly in
Rome?
BISATIE
Somewhere in Rome. Take it or
leave it.
COKER
I'll take it. Thanks.
As Coker rises, Seghawi walks in. Seghawi looks at both men,
then,
SEGHAWI
(to Coker)
What are you doing still here?
COKER
Just inquiring about Italian-
Egyptians. This man is no help
at all.
Seghawi produces a small walkie-talkie.
BISATIE
(to Seghawi)
I told him to get out of here.
SEGHAWI
(Arabic, into walkie-talkie)
Three-four-two. Bisatie's office.
(then, in English)
You have a lot of nerve, Mister
Coker. Do not set foot in this
building again. Or you will be
arrested, tried, and convicted.
COKER
For trespassing?
SEGHAWI
For spying. I have heard that no
one is ex-C.I.A.
COKER
With me they made an exception.
SEGHAWI
You know what you are, Coker? You
are a dung beetle. A little bug
that rolls shit around.
INTERIOR AGENTS #1 and #2 come in.
SEGHAWI (cont'd)
Don't come rolling your shit around
here again.
(to agents)
Escort this bastard out.
The agents move toward Coker. As Coker eyes them, Seghawi
sucker-punches him in the gut. Coker bends over, the agents
holding him.
SEGHAWI (cont'd)
To reemphasize, Mister Coker, you
are not welcome in Egypt. Now you
have been warned. If you dare to
stay in our country, you best not
cross swords with me.
EXT. MINISTRY FRONT ENTRANCE - DAY
Coker walks out, a hand on his gut, Agents #1 and #2 right
behind him. A few PEOPLE pass.
Agent #2 shoves Coker hard in the back. Coker staggers
forward, then turns and looks at the agent, who stands with
Agent #1 in front of the door.
COKER
Real tough guy. Meet me sometime
away from this building. Just you
and me, asshole.
Coker turns to leave.
EXT. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - ROME - DAY
An airliner lands.
COKER (V.O.)
When I got to Rome, it didn't take
long to find out what I expected.
The town's full of Paolo Bellinis.
INT. BELLINI HOME - NIGHT
A working-class home. TERESA BELLINI, 40, heads for the
front door.
PAOLO'S MOTHER (O.S.)
(in Italian, from kitchen)
Who is it, Teresa?
TERESA
(Italian)
Give me time to open the door!
Teresa opens it. Coker stands outside.
COKER
(Italian)
Good evening. My name is Charles
Coker. Is this the family of Paolo
Bellini?
TERESA
Si.
COKER
Do you speak English?
TERESA
A little, yes.
COKER
Are you the wife of Paolo?
TERESA
Yes.
COKER
Did your husband Paolo speak English
and go to Egypt?
TERESA
Yes. It is true then? My Paolo is
dead.
Coker reluctantly nods yes.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Coker listens to PAOLO'S MOTHER, 65, while she cooks spaghetti.
Teresa and her son GIOVANNI, 15, listen.
MOTHER
(Italian)
"Who killed Paolo"? We know who
killed my son Paolo. Didn't Mario
say? That rat Packing whatever his
name is - that is who killed our
Paolo.
COKER
(to Teresa)
Does she mean Paolo was killed by
Lord Packington?
The phone rings in the living room.
TERESA
Yes. Do you know Packington?
Coker seems reluctant to answer.
COKER
I've seen him around.
Teresa goes to answer the phone.
INT. THE LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Teresa speaks secretively on the phone,
TERESA
(Italian, subtitled; into
phone)
Mario, there is a man here who has
come about Paolo. He may have been
sent here by Packington.
INT. A BEDROOM - SOMEWHERE IN ROME - NIGHT
40-ish MARIO BELLINI, mean-looking, bare to the waist, is on
the phone. A LOVER dresses in b.g.
MARIO
(Italian, subtitled; into
phone)
Keep him there. I am on my
way. Do not let him get away,
understand?
INT. BELLINI HOME - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Coker feasts on spaghetti with Teresa, the mother, and
Giovanni. Music plays, not too loud, on a boom box.
MOTHER
(Italian)
That Packing rat hired both of
my sons to steal for him. In
Florence, some museum.
TERESA
(to Coker)
Packington hired Paolo and Mario
to steal for him. From museums,
and some rich person's home.
MOTHER
(Italian, subtitled, to
Giovanni)
My grandson, you know this, or I
wouldn't say it.
TERESA
Then Packington flies my Paolo to
Egypt. Paolo called me. He was
going to be a priest from the
Vatican and steal an old document.
And he never comes back.
Teresa sees something behind Coker, who is busy eating.
COKER
Tell me this. Did anyone from the
Egyptian government come here, to
ask about Paolo?
TERESA
No. No one has come but you.
MARIO (O.S.)
And the question is, why has
he come?
Coker looks at him with surprise as Mario, a pistol in hand,
sits down at the end of the table. TWO THUGS, 30-ish, have
come in with Mario, and stand behind Coker.
MARIO (cont'd)
(Italian, to Giovanni)
Turn off the music.
Giovanni goes to the boom box.
COKER
This is Mario, right?
MARIO
Why did Packington send you here?
COKER
He didn't. I just work for him.
TERESA
You told me you had "seen him
around."
COKER
Well, you weren't holding a gun
on me.
(to Mario)
I'm looking for the scroll that
was stolen from Paolo.
MARIO
Stolen from Paolo? It was Paolo
who stole it. The man you work for
got rid of Paolo. Now you come
looking for me, because I know
too much.
COKER
You've got it all wrong. The part
about me anyway.
MARIO
Let's go for a ride.
EXT. BELLINI HOME - NIGHT
Coker comes out of the house, followed by Mario with the gun
and his two thugs.
Thug #1 opens the back door of a car, and holds it while Thug
#2 grabs Coker's left arm as if to shove him into the car.
Coker slugs Thug #2 in the jaw with his left elbow. Almost
simultaneously Coker pulls on the door, pulling Thug #1 with
it, then pushes it hard, hitting Thug #1 in the chin with the
top of the door.
Mario aims his gun but Coker jumps into the car. Coker
scrambles out the other side, Mario firing at him through
the car.
Mario hurries around the back of the car, while Coker runs
around the front.
Mario fires at him as Coker runs around the corner of the
house, the two thugs chasing him.
EXT. BACKYARD - NIGHT
In the dark Coker runs into garbage cans, spilling garbage,
and falls. As he tries to get up, he is tackled by Thug #1.
Coker and Thug #1 struggle on the ground. Thug #2 helps
subdue Coker.
Mario sticks the muzzle of his pistol to Coker's head, which
Thug #1 presses into spilt garbage.
MARIO
You were sent here to kill me, by
Packington.
Coker talks with the side of his head mashed into leftover
food.
COKER
No. I want to know who killed your
brother. I thought his family
might know.
MARIO
But you work for Packington.
COKER
I didn't know that your brother
did too.
MARIO
He used him for a theft and then
killed him. Paolo is in Egypt in
some unmarked grave.
COKER
Well I'll have a talk with Lord
Packington.
MARIO
You do that. You tell him I am
coming to get him. You tell him he
will not know when. I will be like
a thief in the night. And when I
get there, I will eat his heart.
You will tell Packington that?
COKER
You got it.
Mario takes the gun from Coker's head, and Thug #1 turns him
loose.
Coker's face is covered with garbage. He wipes off his mouth
with disgust.
COKER (cont'd)
I hate cold lasagna.
EXT. PACKINGTON'S MANSION - DAY
A taxi arrives.
INT. FRONT DOOR - DAY
The Egyptian butler answers the door, to find Coker.
COKER
I'm here to see Packington.
BUTLER
He is not at home, sir.
Amal Hassan, who fetched Coker from Florida, comes to the
door. He steps out past the butler.
AMAL
Mister Coker, how are you?
COKER
Where is he? Did he see me coming?
AMAL
But the butler just told you, Lord
Packington isn't here.
COKER
Okay, where is he?
AMAL
He is out on the Land of de Nile.
EXT. PACKINGTON'S YACHT - DAY
The 80-foot motor yacht "Land of de Nile" is anchored offshore
on the Nile. There is a tender on the stern. A cruise ship
and one of the one-sail boats called feluccas pass in b.g.
Young EGYPTIAN WOMEN #2 and #3 in bikinis are swimming near
the stern. A Westernized-looking Arabic man named NEGAD, 45,
sits with a drink on the aft deck.
An Egyptian BOAT CAPTAIN is also on board. An Egyptian BOAT
OPERATOR is waiting by the yacht in a speedboat.
INT. THE SALON - DAY
Seghawi, in a business suit, accepts a bulky envelope from
the casually dressed Packington. Seghawi pockets it.
PACKINGTON
Have you made any progress, Colonel,
on the scroll of Saint Anthony's?
SEGHAWI
Sometimes things move slowly, like
the Nile. But patience is always
rewarded.
EXT. A FELUCCA - DAY
Coker sits in a felucca as the Egyptian FELUCCA OWNER is
sailing it toward the anchored yacht.
The two young women who were swimming now stand on the
foredeck drying themselves off.
COKER (V.O.)
I had to rent a felucca to get out
to Packington's yacht. I saw he
had two good-looking women on
board. But the only person I
wanted to see was Packington.
Go to Part 2
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