COMPLETED WORKS

LOYALTY

(a short subject film script)
by Curtis W. Long

Cast of Characters
Alec ---------- A private detective
Palmer ------ A police detective sergeant
Grant -------- A police detective

SCENE ONE

(It is late 1930s, in a large metropolitan city. The scene is the street-level, storefront office of a typical private detective of the era. A telephone conversation is in progress)

Alec:

Yeah, J.D., they're on their way over here right now. (Pauses.) Uh huh, yeah, I know. Don't worry. It'll be the same old drill; I'll handle it. I've got everything under control.

(There is a knock on the door.)

They're here now. Talk to you later.

(In a loud voice:)

Come in, gentlemen. I've been Been expecting you.

(Enter two police detectives, both in suit, tie and hat. One heavier than the other.)

Palmer:	I thought we were going to meet with your partner this time. What's his name; J.D. Stiers?

Alec:	Yeah, I tried to get him to be here. He feels it's best to maintain his anonymity. He says, if he were to let everybody knows who he is, it would compromise his effectiveness as a detective. He says, with me as the front-man and him undercover, we make a much better team.

Grant:	Look, what kind of game are you guys playing? We're talking about murder, here! I don't care if the two of you are private eyes, you're still subject to the law.

Alec:	We understand. J.D. assured me that as soon we have solved the murder to our client's satisfaction, we'll personally turn over all our evidence to you two detectives.

Palmer:	You guys are not making the rules around here. This is the very last time we're gonna play your stupid little charade. If J.D.'s not here tomorrow, we're taking you in until we find him. Is that clear?

Grant:	What does this guy J.D. Stiers look like, anyhow?

Ales:	He's about your size, kinda thin and somewhat older. He wears a mustache, and smokes a pipe. He kinda resembles a character out of a Sherlock Holmes story.

Palmer:	Just have him here tomorrow.

(They leave, as the scene closes.)

SCENE TWO

(It is the same day. A shoddy police headquarters. Palmer and Grant are seated at their desks, which face each other, in the open squad room.

Normal big-city police activity is taking place in the background)

Palmer:	We know that one of those guys did the killing. All that business about satisfying their client is bullshit. The only satisfaction their client wants is to know that his wife is really dead, and that the half-million dollars in insurance money will soon be in his bank account. Then our boy Alec and his mysterious partner J.D. Stiers will get their pay-off.

Grant:	Sarge, I thought you had met Stiers once. Didn't you say you'd run into him at Alec's apartment?

Palmer:	Yeah--almost. As I came in, he apparently left through the back door. He got away so fast that he left his ' pipe burning in the ashtray.

Grant:	I thought Alec didn't like people smoking in his place.

Palmer:	He can't stand cigarettes, but he tolerates J.D. and his pipe.

Grant:	We're gonna have to figure a way to get those two guys together, then separate 'em so they can't compare their stories. But, "how?" is the question. I have a feeling that J.D. has no intention of showing up. He'll probably lay low until the deal is over, thinking we can't take Alec without him.

Palmer:	All the evidence we have is the gun, which is registered to Stiers in another state. There were no prints left on it, of course, so we need one of the partners to give up the other one--and without Stiers, Alec walks.

Grant:	Say, Sage, did it ever occur to you that Alec and Stiers could be the same person?

Palmer:	What?! That's impossible. Just before Alec let me into the apartment that time, I could hear them having a knockdown, drag-out. I supposed that was why Stiers left so all-of-a-sudden. Besides that, I've been at the office when Alec was talking to him on the phone.

Grant:	Yeah, but did you ever see them together?

Palmer:	No, but isn't hearing them together enough?

Grant:	You heard 'em together, yeah; but did you ever hear them sing a duet together?

Palmer:	No, of course not. You nuts or something!

Grant:	Maybe. Didn't Alec say that Stiers was about my size?

Palmer:	Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?

Grant:	Maybe nothing, but I've got an idea!

(The scene closes.)

SCENE THREE

(Th next day. Palmer is standing outside Alec's office window. The blinds are closed. Palmer hears an animated telephone conversation going on inside. Apparently, Alec is on the telephone with JD. Stiers.

Abruptly, the conversation ends. Alec comes to the window and pulls up the blinds, revealing Palmer's presence. He starts then takes on an aggressive posture.

He turns his back to the window, and when he turns around, his suit coat is thrown over his right arm and hand, in such a way as to indicate that he is carrying a pistol. He slowly opens the door and walks toward Palmer, who has moved toward the door.

As Alec advances, an elongated shadow comes into view on the blank wall to the right of the storefront.

As the shadow shortens, it reveals a man of Palmer's build. He has a mustache and is calmly smoking a tweed hat and coat, and affects the casual air of British gentleman.)

Man:	It's okay, Alec. Loyalty should be taken only so far.

Alec:	But..., but...

Man:	I know we agreed that, if it got to this point, you would cover for me. But I couldn't let you take all of the blame.

Alec:	No, J.D., go back! I've got it all under control!

Man:	No, Alec, you don't have it under control any more.

Alec:	No, no, J.D., this is not right!

(He starts blubbering. By this time, the man, who has gradually been coming closer, is now face-to-face with Alec.)

Man:	We've been together since you were a little boy, Alec. It's now time to face up to reality.

(Alec's blubbering becomes uncontrollable, as two attendants, dressed in white, appear and lead him off.)

Finis