INT.

LIBRARY - DAY — FLASHBACK

The will reading, the family assembled. Ransom sits in back, a

sly smile on his face as the will is read.

BLANC (V.O.)

He goes to the will reading in high

spirits, ready to see the family tear
themselves apart, secure in the
knowledge that it will all be undone
when the tox report comes to light.
And then...

INT. RESTAURANT — NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Beers stacked up. Marta has just confessed. Ransom's face is

unreadable.

BLANC (V.O.)

Marta's confession. And everything

turns on its head. Now he realizes
that Marta has committed no crime,
and the tox report will prove her
innocence. The changed will is going
to stand. He has lost. Unless.

INT. LIBRARY
Blanc rounds on Ransom.

BLANC
Unless you decide.

INT. RESTAURANT -—- NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Ransom giving Marta his pep talk -

RANSOM
...you're not going to give up the
money.

INT. LIBRARY
 BLANC
You are not going to give up the
money.

INT. RESTAURANT — NIGHT - FLASHBACK

RANSOM
You've come this far!

INT. LIBRARy
BLANC
You have come this far. Just one
step further. Just one last act, in
for a penny, in for a pound. You
decide. You are in.

CLOSE ON: A lighter ignites a rag stuffed in a tin gas can.

THE CAN: Being thrown through a window in a brick wall.

INT. MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE MORGUE - FLASHBACK

Empty, dark. The flaming can falls in slow motion from the
high window. Hits the floor, ignites.

BLANC (V.O.)
Step one: destroy all evidence of
Marta's innocence.

The flames dance in the reflection of a glass case of

refrigerated BLOOD SAMPLES.

BLANC (V.O.) (cont'd)

Step two:

INT. RANSOM'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT / DAY?

CLOSE ON: The BLACKMAIL NOTE - at the bottom is written "1209

COLUMBUS ROAD 8AM” A hand TEARS this bottom part off, then
puts the top half in an envelope.

BLANC (V.O.)
Send Marta the anonymous email with a
late morning rendezvous time,
CLOSE ON: An email addressed to Marta being typed on a phone,
"1209 COLUMBUS ROAD 10AM”

INT. APARTMENT BACK HALIWAY — NIGHT — FLASHBACK

Ransom creeps down the hall, slips the ENVELOPE into the
letter slot of Marta's door.

BLANC (V.O.)
and deliver her the blackmail note.

EXT. 1209 COLUMBUS ROAD - MORNING - FLASHBACK

Ransom's Porsche pulls up. He gets out, pulling on gloves.

BLANC (V.O.)
Step three: keep your appointment
with Fran.

INT. 1209 COLUMBUS ROAD - 8AM - FLASHBACK

Fran standing in the middle of the room, nervous. She turns as

Ransom walks in and strides towards her.

FRAN
I knew it. I knew you were a no good
son of a bitch, I knew Harlan
wouldn't have just killed himself.

RANSOM
Yes, you were right Fran.

Ransom sees the medical bag on the floor, kneels and pulls
something out of it.

FRAN
I knew you were guilty as shit. Now
you're gonna pay for it don't come
near me I'm warning you I -

But he's upon her, hand over her mouth, stifling her scream as
he pushes the syringe into her neck and PUSHES THE PLUNGER.
MINUTES LATER - her inert body in the chair. He fishes through
her pockets, finds the envelope, and takes the TOX REPORT from
it, leaves the empty envelope in her hands.

On his way out: lights the tox report on fire, drops it

burning next to Marta's bag. We stay with it as it burns away.

BLANC (V.O.)
Now the board is set. Marta will get
the blackmail note. You will put the
pieces together for her - the tox
report, her one chance at getting
away with it all. You'11 guide her
to the rendezvous.

(MORE)
BLANC (V.O.)
You'll make an anonymous call to the
police, they will catch her there
with the body and the burned
evidence. Marta will be arrested for
killing Fran... and Harlan.

INT. LIBRARY
MARTA
She said -

INT. 1209 COLUMBUS ROAD - FLASHBACK

Marta holding Fran on the floor, her dying words -—

FRAN
you... did this…

INT. LIBRARY
MARTA
She didn't say "you did this," she
wasn't talking about me, she said

INT. 1209 COLUMBUS ROAD — FLASHBACK

Exact same moment but this time we hear -

FRAN
Hugh... did this...
INT. LIBRARY
MARTA
Hugh did this. Cause you made the
help call you Hugh. Cause you're an
asshole.

BLANC
(to Ransom)
It would have worked. If we hadn't
brought you in for questioning, so
you could not make your anonymous
call. And if Fran had not stashed a
safety copy of the tox report.

INT. 1209 COLUMBUS ROAD - FLASHBACK

Marta turns away from the dying Fran.

BLANC (V.O.)
And if Marta had not outplayed you
once again.

Marta turns back, calls 911, gives mouth to mouth to Fran.

BLANC (V.O0.) (cont'd)

By having a kind heart. By saving
Fran's life, though it meant her
losing the inheritance and going to
jail. She didn't play your game, she
saved Fran's life.

INT. LIBRARY
For the first time, Ransom looks afraid.
RANSOM
Fran's alive?

Marta's phone starts to ring. They all see the caller id –

it's the hospital.

BLANC
(to Marta)
Oh yes. Fran, who will confirm this
fairy story or something close to it.
(to Ransom)
And will send you, Hugh, to Jail.
She answers the call, puts the phone to her ear.

MARTA
Yes.

A long beat, then her face breaks in relief.

MARTA (cont'd)
Yes. Thank you doctor, that's great
news, we'll be there soon.

She hangs up. And smiles with radiant joy.

MARTA (cont'd)
she's okay.

(to Blanc)

She's ready to talk.

Ransom stares at Marta, his face a mask.

BLANC
Trooper Wagner, if you would keep Mr.
Drysdale in custody while Lieutenant
Elliott, Ms. Cabrera and myself go to
the hospital to take Fran's statement.

Ransom stands. Steps to Marta, who's frozen, looking in his

eyes. His poker face breaks. And he grins.

RANSOM
I want to say this just to you, not
to a courtroom of cameras, Just to
you because you know it's the truth:
we allowed you into our home. We
allowed you to take care of granddad,
to be part of our family and now you
think you can steal it from us? You
think I'm not going to fight for our
birthright, our home, our ancestral
family home?
 BLANC
Harlan bought this house in the
eighties. From a Pakistani real
Estate baron.

RANSOM
Ok shut up Blanc, shut up! Shut up
with that Kentucky fried fog horn
rag-horn drawl. Yeah I killed Fran
but I guess I didn't, so what do you
have on me. Nothing
What? attempted murder –

(to Blanc)

I’ll get arson for the bombing, maybe a

few other charges, with a good lawyer
I'll be out before you know it.

Face to face, Ransom's face hateful, Marta's strong and set.

RANSOM (cont 'd)

(to Marta)
And then you'll see just how much
hell I can wreak on your life, you
vicious little bitch.

But then... Marta's face starts to do things. Odd

things.Convulses. Her jaw clenches. Her cheeks bulge.

And the PROJECTILE VOMITS into Ransom's face.

RANSOM (cont'd)
AUGH! WHAT THE SHIT!

He falls back cursing, she drops to her knees, spitting.

Wagner, inappropriately excited:

TROOPER WAGNER
That means she was lying!

MARTA
That's right, Fran's dead.
(to Ransom)
 And you just confessed to her murder.
Ransom takes this in. Then he smirks.

RANSOM
Well. In for a penny...

In one fluid motion he spins to the ornamental WALL OF KNIVES,

grabs one -

BLANC
No!

and TACKLES MARTA...

Time slows as Blanc and Elliott lunge to stop him but it's too
late.