OVER BLACK 
TITLE APPEARS:
"ERIC"

EXT. GAS STATION - DAY

Eric is dressed as though he just got off of work.  He leaning against his car while he pumps gas into it.  

In the background a man can be seen walking out of the store.  The man notices Eric and stares at him for a moment, but then walks away.  A few moments later, however, he quickly walks towards Eric.  Eric notices him and smiles. 

ERIC
Luke!  How are you?

Luke opens his mouth to say something, but Eric gives him a hug before he can say anything.

ERIC
I hardly ever see you outside of work.  I thought you were a shut in or something, which would kind of explain why you're so pale, but anyways, what's up?

Luke gives him a somewhat upset look.  

LUKE
Look, there's something that I have to tell you. 

OVER BLACK
TITLE APPEARS:
"COLE"

INT. ROOM - DAY

Cole is a man sitting indian-stlye on the ground staring at a television playing homemade videos.  His hair is a mess and he is wearing a v-neck t-shirt with a robe.  He stares at the television unblinkingly.  

A man in a nice suit and sunglasses walks into the room with a manilla folder in his hand.  Cole doesn't even notice him walk into the room.  The man walks up right behind Cole and puts the folder in his face.  Cole takes the folder and sets in the ground next to him. 

MAN
(Taking off his sunglasses)
As usual, you'll get half now and half later.  Just call us when you're finished. 

Cole nods his head "okay" and continues to stare at the television.

MAN
You should put some furniture in here.  

Cole turns around and gives the man a strange look.  

COLE
Why?  I'm not done fixing the house.  Why would I have furniture if the house isn't finished?

MAN
Well, you sleep here don't you.

COLE
Sometimes.

MAN
Well, wouldn't it be nice to have a bed?

There is a silence and then the man puts on his sunglasses and walks out of the room.

INT. GROCERY STORE - DAY

Cole buys a disposable camera and a box of condoms.  He is still wearing the robe and t-shirt.  He pays and then walks out as he puts on sunglasses. 

EXT. ERIC'S HOUSE - DAY

Cole is sitting in his car taking pictures of Eric's house with the disposable camera.  He puts the camera down and stares off at something.

Eric is standing in front of his house with a full garbage bag in his hand.  

Cole quickly starts the car and goes to drive off, but he goes up on the curb.  When he gains controls he turns the car around and speeds off around the corner.  Eric just has a confused look on his face.  He sets the garbage bag down and then walks back into his house. 

OVER BLACK
TITLE APPEARS:
"KIM" 

INT. BATHROOM (ERIC'S HOUSE) - DAY

Kim, Eric's wife, is in front of a mirror getting ready for work.  Eric walks into the bathroom and leans against the wall next to her. 

ERIC
Someone was just in front of the house taking pictures of it. 

KIM
Was it him?

ERIC
I don't know.  I've never seen him before?

KIM
Then how are you going to know what he looks like when you meet him?

ERIC
I'll know. 

KIM
Can't we just leave?

ERIC
They'd know if we left because they're probably watching us constantly.  More than likely in the shower, too. 

KIM
(Shocked)
You mean to tell me they could be watching me naked in the shower?

ERIC
No, not you, me.

Kim gives Eric a confused look.  

ERIC
To see if I try and escape, I guess.  But anyways, I have to do this.  If everything goes well then there isn't going to be anything to worry about.

KIM
I don't wanna take the chance of things going wrong.  You know what I've been doing at work for the past week?  I've just been sitting there at my desk waiting for the police to call me and say, 'Oh, I'm sorry, but your husband is dead.  He was shot in the face.'

Kim angrily walks out of the room, into their bedroom, and sits on the edge of the bed. 

KIM
Do you know what thats like for me?

Eric walks out of the bedroom and sits on the bed next to her.  He puts his arms around her and kisses her on the cheek. 

ERIC
You don't have to worry.  I'm not going to be shot in the face.  The police won't be able to identify my body if I am.  I'm going to be fine.

EXT. ERIC'S HOUSE - DAY

Eric walks out of the side door of his house and cautiously sneaks up to the front of his car.  He gets on the ground and crawls to the door.  Without looking he tries to put the keys into the hole and open the door.  Eventually he gets the door open and he jumps into the car.  

He starts the engine and pulls out of driveway with his head low.  He speeds off down the street.

OPENING CREDITS MONTAGE: Eric driving around the parish with different shot of things going on around there.  Eric driving down the interstate and passing up different familiar locations in Metarie.

EXT. COFFEE SHOP PARKING LOT - DAY

Eric's car pulls into the parking lot and into a parking space.  

INT. ERIC'S CAR - DAY

Eric turns off the engine and unbuckles his seat belt.  He takes his cell phone out of his pocket and dials a number. 

ERIC
(Into phone)
Hello?  Yeah, I just wanted to tell you that, uh, if for whatever reason I don't make it back, I love you.

INT. BEDROOM (ERIC'S HOUSE) - DAY

Kim is still sitting on the edge of the bed.  She has a phone held up to her face. 

KIM
(Into phone)
I love you too. 

INT. ERIC'S CAR - DAY

Eric hangs up the phone and puts it back into his pocket.  He leans back in the car seat for a moment, but then Cole walks up and knocks on the window.  Eric jumps and then quickly opens the door.

EXT. COFFEE SHOP PARKING LOT - DAY

Eric gets out of his car and locks the door.  Cole glances down at the car door. 

COLE
Why is your door all scratched up?  

ERIC
It doesn't matter.

Eric starts to walk towards the trunk of the car.  

COLE
What are you doing?

ERIC
I have to get something out of the trunk. 

Eric opens up the trunk of the car and there is a bag sitting in it that seems to be filled with something.  Cole walks over and looks at the bag.

COLE
What is that?

ERIC
It's my bag.

COLE
Is there money the bag?

ERIC
Possibly.

There is a long silence between the two of them. 

COLE
Close the trunk, Eric. 

ERIC
Alright. 

Eric closes the trunk and the two of them start walking towards the entrance of the coffee shop.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Eric and Cole sit at a table and both of them remain quiet for a few moments.  Cole is calm and laid back in his char.  Eric is leaning forward and nervous.  His leg is jumping under the table.  

ERIC
So, is there anyway that I...

He is cut off by Cole;

COLE
Why don't we start by you telling me how find out about the mark?

There is a moment of silence between the two.  Then Eric speaks;

ERIC
This guy that I work with, Luke, he came up to me one day while I was at a gas station and told me everything.  He told me why they did it, who set it up and who it was that going to kill me.  Then it was just a matter of time before I found out how to get in touch with you.

COLE
Was it really that easy to find me?

ERIC
When you have the right amount of money it is.

COLE
Judging by your bag there in the trunk you have a good bit. 

Eric shrugs his shoulders.

COLE
It would be even better if you had made it honestly.

ERIC
What are you talking about.  How can you tell me something like that?  You (quietly) kill people.  

COLE
I didn't say that I was a good person, but I am saying that if you hadn't stolen the money from your company than none of this would be happening.  Also, it's my belief that there is not a single soul on the planet that isn't guilty of something. 

ERIC
What do you mean?

COLE
The way I see things is that everyone has done at least one thing that is unforgivable.  Something so bad that they diserve to be killed for it.  Once you're in that state of mind it's a lot easier to kill someone.  

ERIC
How can you say that?  There are millions of innocent people in this country. 

COLE 
Let me give you an example.  After the first time I ever killed someone I was having serious second thoughts about my line of work.  The next job I had was to shoot a man from a roof across from his office building when he went into work.  I had been keeping tabs on this man for a couple of months and he seemed like a really nice guy.  I felt so bad that I didn't shoot him from the roof.  I followed him into his office building and thats when I seen him take his secretary into his office and lock the door.  Even then I couldn't do it, because I figure that people cheat on each other every day in this country.  But thats when I hear her scream. Not of joy, but for help.  Apparently, she didn't want to be in that office.  The real killer, however, is that not a single person in that office did anything to help that woman.  That little incident made it a lot easier to kill that man in the parking garage.  Since then, that's the way I've looked at everyone, myself included.  I mean if anyone diserves to die here today it's me.  Thankfully there aren't any hitmen here for me. 

ERIC
That was just one time.  How can you say that about everyone?  Not everyone is like that.

COLE
If a woman is being raped in an alley and she screams rape, nobody is going to come.  She'd have more of a chance of being helped if she screamed fire.  That's how afraid this country is.  
People are afraid to help someone being raped, to go war, and to basically take any kind of chance with anything.  Take being a coward, and add that to the fact that they have more than likely done something unforgivable and you have someone who doesn't diserve to live.

There is a long pause between the two of them.  Eric is still very jumpy. 

ERIC
So how long have you been keeping tabs on me?

COLE
Since they first gave me the job about a month ago.

ERIC
Why didn't you kill me right away?

COLE
Because I like to keep tabs on the people and figure out the best way to do it. 

ERIC
What were you going to do to me?

COLE 
When you usually get up to piss in the middle of the night I was going to break your neck and throw you down the stairs.  Place a small item that you could have tripped on at the top. 

ERIC
So make it seem like it was an accident. 

COLE
Yeah, that's one of the option that's available. 

ERIC
What?

COLE
I have a website with about hits. 

ERIC
You mean kills?

COLE
Yeah.  I have a few different options like the accidental death, staged suicide, total disappearence, sickness or poisoning, or the standard killing.  I also have a gift certificate.  Sort of like a buy one get one free deal.  

ERIC
Oh my God.

COLE
That's how I make a living.  If you were going to alive longer than I'd ask you to check it out. 

There is another long pause between the two of them.

ERIC
So there's no way that I can get out of this?

COLE
No, not that I can think of.  Did you try apologizing?

ERIC
Why?

COLE
Hey, I'm just saying.  It's worked before.

ERIC
I'm sure it has. 

COLE
No, really it has. 

ERIC
I'm not going to do that.  And besides I'd be apologizing for more than stealing at this point.

COLE
Why?

ERIC
When I found out that he had put a hit on me I went to his house and punched him in the face.  

COLE
Wow.

ERIC
Two days later he found out it was Luke that told me about the hit and had him killed.  That made me and my wife a nervous wreck.  I haven't sleep well at all for the past week. 

INT. ERIC'S OFFICE (ERIC'S HOUSE) - DAY

Eric is a total mess.  His hair is messed up and his clothes are stained and dirty.  He is staring out of a window down into the street.  Kim comes into the room and walks up behind him and puts her hand on his shoulder. 

KIM
Eric, you should come...

Eric cuts her off and screams;

ERIC
No, I'm going to die!

This makes Kim jump and then walk out of the room. 

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Eric is now sitting by himself at the table.  Cole comes back with a cup of coffee and hands it to Eric. 

ERIC
Why didn't you get anything?

COLE
I don't like coffee.  It stains my teeth.

ERIC
I can't start my day without it.  It used to be cigarettes, but then I quit.  Now it's coffee. 

COLE
At least you were able to quit smoking.  I couldn't if my life depended on it.  Coffee isn't too much better for you, but you won't get cancer from it.  Unless you use sweet and low. 

Eric takes a sip of his coffe and then looks at Cole, who is still laid back in his chair. 

ERIC
So why did you agree to meet me?

COLE
At first I wasn't sure what to make of it, but then I talked to our friend and he said that I should just go along with it.  He said that it was going to make things easier, although I'd much rather stick my plan. I came because I thought it would be the decent thing to do.  You know, humor you. 

ERIC
Humor me?

COLE
Yeah.

ERIC
So is that why you're being like this?

COLE
Like what?

ERIC
I had expected you to be an asshole to me. 

COLE
Why would I be an asshole to you now?  I've got plently of time to do that later. 

ERIC
You would think that you wouldn't want to do this kind of thing for the risk of not being able to go through with the hit. 

COLE
Nah.  I'm still not going to have a problem with killing you later. But for right now we're just two guys talking over a cup of coffe.  In a completely heterosexual way, of course. 

ERIC
Movies tend to give you the wrong idea about things. 

COLE
Well yeah, there movies and this is real life.  Movies screw with the details and make them more acceptable for a mainstream audience.  Even the independent movies of late are becoming more skewed.  It used to be that if you wanted a movie that was dead on and didn't hold back you could go with independent movies, but not so much anymore.  It's a shame.

There is another moment of silence and then Eric speaks;

ERIC
Can I see your cell phone?

COLE
Why?

ERIC
I'm going to call him and try and work something out.

COLE
Why can't you use your phone?

ERIC
I forgot mine at home.

Cole gets his cell phone out of his pocket and sets it on the table.  

ERIC
(Picking up phone)
Hopefully this works. 

Eric dials a number and puts the phone up to his ear. 

ERIC
(Into phone)
Hello?  Yeah, it's me Eric.  Look, I'm sorry and I'll give you the money back and then some if you want.  I'll disappear or whatever you want. (Pause)  Yes, I am begging. (Pause) Yeah, hold on.

Eric hands the phone to Cole , who puts it up to his ear. 

COLE
(Into phone)
Hello?  Yeah.  Yeah, I took care of it.  Sure, if that's what you want.  Alright.  I'll stop by after. 

Cole hangs up the phone and puts it back into his pocket.  There is a long pause where they just stare at each other.  

ERIC
(Extremely nervous)
What did he, uh, say?

COLE
Do you have to use the bathroom?

ERIC
Sort of.  Why?

COLE
Because you're sitting there squirming around like you've got a stick up your ass.  Go piss and I'll tell you when you come back.

Eric has a confused look on his face. 

ERIC
What?

COLE
Go piss and then I'll explain this all to you.  It's sort of complicated and I need you're full attention. 

ERIC
(Confused)
Uh, alright. 

COLE
Don't try anything.  And you can't escape.  There's no windows in there.

Eric gets up and walks across the shop into the bathroom.  After a few moments Cole turns to face the bathroom and then gets up and walks towards to the bathroom. 

INT. BATHROOM (COFFEE SHOP) - DAY

Eric is splashing water in his face.  He takes out his cell phone and dials a number.  There is no answer.  He dials it again, but then Cole walks into the bathroom.  He looks at the cell phone. 

COLE
You lied to me. 

Eric doesn't say a word. 

COLE
Anyways, you can go home.  Your boss thinks you've learned your lesson. You might want to go home and let your wife know she's okay.

Eric walks past Cole and out of the bathroom. 

EXT. COFFEE SHOP PARKING LOT - DAY

Eric walks out of the coffee shop and gets into his car.  He drives out of the parking lot. 

INT. ERIC'S CAR (MOVING) - DAY

Eric is driving quietly.  He doesn't put on the radio.  He just rests one hand on the side of the door and rests his head on his hand.  

EXT. ERIC'S HOUSE - DAY

Eric's car pulls into the driveway.  Eric quickly gets out of his car and goes into his house.  

INT. HALLWAY (ERIC'S HOUSE) - DAY

Eric comes up the stairs and goes into his bedroom.  

INT. BEDROOM (ERIC'S HOUSE) - DAY

Eric looks around the bedroom, but he cannot find Kim anywhere.  He walks into the bathroom and sees Kim's dead body in the tub. A look of horror comes across his face.  He quickly walks out of the bathroom and stops dead in his tracks when he sees Cole standing in the doorway of his bedroom. 

COLE
You left the car on. 

Cole then throws Eric the keys to his car, which he catches. 

EXT. ERIC'S HOUSE - DAY

Cole walks out of the side door of Eric's house.  He opens the trunk of Eric's car and takes out the bag of money.  He then gets into his car and drives off down the street.