The Hit

by
Sean Wu
[email protected]
FADE IN:
INT. DUNCAN HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON
RILEY DUNCAN sits in his favorite armchair, a faded velvet
one with hair clinging to the peeling edges. He is heavy,
often sounding drunk because he is drunk. At the moment, he
is holding a bottle of beer and a TV remote. An old TV
BLARES unintelligible white noise in the room. Riley takes a
sip out of his bottle before calling for his son.
RILEY
(drunkly, softly)
Son.
No response.
RILEY
(louder)
Son.
Still no response.
RILEY
(hollering)
Son!
A teenaged boy, MICKEY, bounds into the room. Upon seeing
his father's condition, he frowns.
MICKEY
Yea dad?
Riley grunts as he bends down to reach something below the
armchair. In the process, he knocks his beer bottle over and
it shatters. Eventually, Riley is back in his upright
position, holding a loaded revolver.
MICKEY
Whoa-
RILEY
Son, do you know what this is?
MICKEY
(nervous, loud)
It's a gun. Dad, I didn't know we
had a gun!
RILEY
Look at it.
Riley removes and spins the chamber.
RILEY
This machine here has got six
bullets in it. That means you've
only got six tries to do what you
got to do tonight, alright?
2.
MICKEY
Dad, you're drunk. What are you
talking about.
RILEY
(slurring)
I'm talking about Roddy Sullivan.
MICKEY
What? Who's Roddy?
RILEY
Roddy is a guy from college that
owes me five thousand dollars. It's
been twenty five years, yet my
hands are empty.
MICKEY
Dad, forget about it. What will you
do with five thousand dollars?
RILEY
(dumbfounded, frustrated
by the question)
Are you serious? Five thousand
dollars? What wouldn't you do with
five thousand dollars?
MICKEY
Okay, but what does your gun have
to do with Mister Sullivan?
RILEY
Well...
Riley spins the chamber of the gun, then puts it back in its
place.
RILEY
Someone's gonna kill Roddy tonight,
and take his money.
MICKEY
You? You're gonna shoot this guy?
Are you outta yo-
Riley interjects
RILEY
No, you.
MICKEY
Get some sleep.
RILEY
(yelling)
Damnit son I know what I'm saying!
You're gonna kill Roddy tonight.
3.
MICKEY
No. No, no, no. No!
RILEY
Mickey, I've got a personal
question for you.
MICKEY
Dad, I'm not gonna kill this guy.
RILEY
You getting any pussy?
MICKEY
(confused, shocked)
What?
RILEY
You heard me. Do you have a lady
friend that your Richard sees
sometimes?
MICKEY
No. Why do you ask?
RILEY
Well if you had a lady friend to
give the gift of life to, I would
reconsider. But you don't, so I
won't. You've got nothing to lose
kid. Walk on over to old man
Sully's house, and bam! Easy as
pie. Raid his place for some money
too, that would be nice.
MICKEY
No.
RILEY
Son, I'm the one with the gun here.
Have you ever been shot before?
MICKEY
(nervous)
Dad, dad, why can't you do the hit?
I mean, it's your business and all,
right?
Riley unloads the revolver and places a bullet in his hand.
RILEY
Look at this. Tell me what it is.
MICKEY
It's a bullet.
RILEY
It's a hunk of metal.
4.
MICKEY
So?
RILEY
It's not dangerous unless you make
it so.
MICKEY
(frustrated, worried)
Dad, why can't you do this
yourself!?
RILEY
Well someone's gonna find Mister
Roddy Sullivan's body sometime
right? Well his barber and his
ex-girlfriend and some guys from TV
are gonna connect the dots, or some
shit like that, and it's gonna lead
back to me. I'd like to think that
I'd have an alibi, right?
MICKEY
So what are you gonna do?
RILEY
The obvious. I'm going to the bar
to get a few cold ones with some
guys, maybe a whorehouse later.
There's nothing like a skank to
back you up in court.
MICKEY
Oh my god.
RILEY
Son, don't you dare use the lord's
name in vain.
MICKEY
You're serious about this.
RILEY
Look, it's as easy as 1-2-3. Get
there, get him, get the money, get
out.
MICKEY
But what if I get caught?
RILEY
You won't. I bet that asshat lives
in a cardboard box with an old
newspaper to protect is earnings.
Mickey crouches down, putting his hands on his knees. He is
breathing heavily.
5.
RILEY
Don't be such a bitch. Get up! Be a
man!
MICKEY
Dad, I'm scared.
RILEY
And I'm Riley. C'mon, help your old
man up.
Riley takes the bullets and puts them back in the gun. Then
he extends his arm to his son so he can be pulled out of his
chair. He then hands the gun to Mickey.
RILEY
Take good chair of this thing.
MICKEY
Chair?
RILEY
Care, whatever the fuck I said.
Riley walks out of the living room and out of the house.
Mickey stands in awe of the events that just occured.
EXT. BAR - THAT EVENING
An old sedan pulls up to the parking lot of the bar that
Riley plans to hang out at. Mickey, at the wheel, steers
into an open parking spot. Riley stares out the window from
the shotgun seat.
RILEY
You shoulda taken a handicap spot?
MICKEY
Why? Because it's closer?
RILEY
Yea, and how many cripples do you
see driving?
MICKEY
Whatever.
Riley notices the gun is in the cupholder of the car.
RILEY
(pointing at cupholder)
What the hell is that.
MICKEY
That's your gun, remember?
6.
RILEY
(angry)
Why the hell is it in the fuckin'
cupholder then? It's not some damn
beverage.
Riley pulls open the glovebox in front of him.
RILEY
Place the damn thing in here. This
thing here-
Riley picks up the gun, dangling it between two fingers at
the end of the handle.
RILEY
This thing is hot. Don't fuck with
it. It's not a toy.
MICKEY
Okay, I'm sorry.
RILEY
Sorry means it's not gonna happen
again. Tell me this won't happen
again.
MICKEY
I hope I don't have to do this
again.
RILEY
Okay. Pick me up here, in this
precise spot, in thirty minutes,
you hear?
Mickey nods his head. Sweat trickles from his forehead.
RILEY
Do you know where that skunk lives?
MICKEY
I have his address, it's by a
McDonald's. I'll probably stop by a
gas station and ask where that
MickeyD's is and figure it out from
there.
Riley smiles. He pats his son on the shoulder.
RILEY
That's my boy. Get yourself a
washcloth while you're there. Your
forehead is having a cry. And
remember- it's just a hit.
Riley then opens his car door and stumbles out. Mickey
watches to make sure he safely enters the bar. As the bar
door closes after Riley enters, Mickey drives off.
7.
EXT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - 10 MINUTES LATER
The old sedan pulls up to the curb of the Sullivan house. As
soon as Mickey climbs out of the car, he sees what he is up
against. In front of him is a house much nicer than his,
presumably occupying a man that can afford to lose five
thousand and then some. He walks up to the door of the
house, intimidated by an elaborate gargoyle door knock.
Alternatively, he presses the doorbell that is on the door
frame.
DING DONG
Out come RODDY SULLIVAN, a tall man who has aged
considerably well assuming that he and Riley are the same
age. He is in relatively good shape, and exudes a surprising
amount of confidence. Upon seeing Mickey on his doorstep, he
smiles yet is bewildered.
RODDY
Hello young man. Do you know what
time it is?
Mickey reaches into the waistline of his jeans, but then
realizes that his gun is still in the glove box. Roddy is
still left puzzled by this unexpected visitor.
RODDY
Sir?
Mickey breaks down on the doorstep. He is on his hands and
knees sobbing.
MICKEY
(between tears)
... I- I- had a g-g-gun...
RODDY
(puzzled)
Is everything okay?
MICKEY
(still crying)
...I'm a f-f-fuckin' fool...
RODDY
(confused)
Is this some sort of joke? Who are
you?
MICKEY
M-m-mickey D-d-un-can
RODDY
(investigative)
Are you Riley's kid?
Mickey nods.
8.
RODDY
Okay, come in. I think we should
chat a little.
INT. DUNCAN HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - THE NEXT MORNING
Riley is sitting in his favorite armchair. Sunlight seeping
through a dirty window stains his angry face and the old
chair. There is a KNOCK on his front door.
RILEY
(yelling)
It's open!
In walks Mickey, tears marking his eyes and cheeks. He is
shaking out of fear. Upon seeing Mickey, Riley's face turns
red with rage.
RILEY
You son of a bitch! I had to walk
home from the fuckin' place!
Explain yourself!
MICKEY
(softly, almost a
whisper)
I didn't do it.
RILEY
Old men mean old ears. Speak up,
mouse.
MICKEY
(soft, but more audible)
I didn't do it.
RILEY
(shocked, but not
suprised)
What?
MICKEY
(yelling with a cracked
voice)
I didn't do it!
RILEY
You telling me that you didn't do
the hit?
MICKEY
No.
RILEY
No what? No, you didn't do the hit?
9.
MICKEY
(regresses back into
softness)
I didn't do it.
RILEY
(dumbfounded, mad)
Aw shit. I should really fuck you
up. You get any pussy with that
face of yours?
MICKEY
No.
Riley cups his hand against his ear.
RILEY
(mockingly)
Come again.
MICKEY
(louder)
No.
RILEY
(laughing)
Yea, I already knew that. Just
confirming some bias.
Riley leans over one of the armrests and picks up a shard of
glass from broken bottle from the day before. Mickey stands
with his legs frozen in fear. A the chunk of sharp glass
whizzes close to Mickey's face, but misses. Riley tries
again, but not before Roddy bursts in.
RODDY
Stop!
Riley, welcoming of the surprise, laughs.
RILEY
How the hell'd you get in?
RODDY
I was in the kitchen. I heard the
whole thing.
Riley suddenly throws the second shard at Roddy, but Roddy
dodges it.
RILEY
(muttering)
Slick bastard. Roger dodger.
Roddy pulls a gun from a holster on his belt. It's the
Riley's revolver. Without even batting an eye, Roddy fires a
shot on Riley's arm. Mickey screams in fear.
10.
RILEY
(yelling)
You dick! You shot me in the
fucking arm! Where's my five
thousand dollars!
Roddy walks up close to Riley, face-to-face.
RODDY
I'm leaving now. I'm taking the kid
with me.
RILEY
You're not going to get away with
this, you chump!
Roddy wipes the handle of the gun on his shirt, then places
it on Riley's lap.
RODDY
No one's ever gonna believe you.
C'mon Mickey, let's go.
Mickey scurries out of the living room. Riley yells out in
pain.
RODDY
Oh, and if I were you, I'd put
pressure on the wound.
Mickey looks behind him, checking to see if Roddy will
follow him. He suddenly hears a GUNSHOT, and sees Roddy fall
over, as if he were dead. Mickey collapses, howling in
anguish. His head is buried between his knees. When he lifts
his eyes to peek at the situation, he sees a river of blood
get close to him. The gun drops to the floor. Mickey then
gets up to confront his dad.
MICKEY
Do you know who you just shot?
RILEY
(faint, weak)
Yea, I hit the bastard that owes my
five grand.
Mickey stares at Riley with a mix of disbelief and sadness.
MICKEY
You're a lousy drunk.
RILEY
Tell me something I don't know. I'm
tired, let me sleep.
Mickey takes one last look at his father while he continues
to bleed out before returning to the kitchen. He crouches
on the wall of his kitchen and softly cries.
11.
FADE TO BLACK: