272. The Mark - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. THE HOUSE - DAY


• THE ASSASSIN pulls into a spot in front of the house, carefully parallel parking his rental by the sidewalk.


• He moves briskly, pulling open a briefcase on the front seat and retrieving a Heckler & Koch pistol from a hidden compartment and screwing on a silencer, all the while chewing on a long, thin toothpick.


• He tucks the pistol under his suit jacket and shuts the car door, scanning the area.


• He strides to the door and pulls his lock pick set from his inner jacket pocket.


• THE MARK (O.S.)
• No need for that, the door's open.


• The Assassin steps back, cautious.


• He feels the door, testing for booby traps, then pulls the toothpick from his lips and runs it around the edge of the door, testing for wires.


• Finding nothing, he draws his weapon and opens the door carefully.


• INT. THE HOUSE - DAY


• He slides into the house in a practiced motion and shuts the door behind him.


• The house is completely empty, save for a rocking chair that faces away from the door.


• THE MARK (O.S.)
• Please, come around this way, no reason to be impolite.


• The Assassin takes his time, walking around the chair carefully.


• THE MARK, a dignified older man, sits comfortably in the rocking chair jeans and a t-shirt that reveals a surprisingly strong body for someone his age.


• THE MARK
• You'll have to excuse me, I didn't have time to change for the occasion, was working on a big project.


• The Assassin pulls a photo from his pocket and confirms his mark.


• THE MARK
• I suppose you're here to kill me.


• The Assassin pulls his weapon.


• THE MARK
• You're certainly not the first you know?


• THE ASSASSIN
• Just here to do the job.


• THE MARK
• Of course you are, don't let me hold you up.


• The Assassin falters.


• THE MARK
• Come, come now, you've done this a hundred times before.


• THE ASSASSIN
• More.


• THE MARK
• True, 167 times. That's quite an impressive body count. I've been called psychopathic in my day, a mass-murderer even. I suppose that might be why you're here.


• THE ASSASSIN
• Just a professional, nothing psychotic about me.


• THE MARK
• Tch, tch, of course there is child.


• The Assassin blinks.


• The Mark is no longer a man, but an old woman, long gray hair twisted into a pony tail.


• A book of fairy tales is in her lap.


• THE MARK
• Your mother never knew, it would have broken her heart. And you knew it. But you were good at hiding. You've hidden from yourself too.


• The Assassin is shaking.


• THE MARK
• Would you like me to read you a fairy tale? No, no, of course not, you never did like them; but I think you'd appreciate Hansel and Gretel so much more now. Humans are so very clever aren't they?


• The Assassin's hand is at his side now, he can't seem to raise the gun.


• THE MARK
• Why so surprised? You knew what to expect when you took the job. Of course, this isn't a job is it? You've been looking for me for a long time. Quite personal I would say.


• THE ASSASSIN
• You took everything away from me, you're a scourge, everything you've touched turns to dust.


• THE MARK
• Would you risk the world for your revenge?


• THE ASSASSIN
• It would be a relief for us. Nothingness would be welcome.


• THE MARK
• Tsk, words have power, be careful with them; especially when you understand so little.


• THE ASSASSIN
• Why? Do you hate us so much? And don't say anything about love. If you love me, I wouldn't be here right now.


• The Mark is once again an old man.


• THE MARK
• Have you stood in the center of an ice storm on Europa? Can you spin a gas cloud on the surface of Jupiter. Have you seen the dreams of an ant, or traveled to where the blind termite makes its nest. Can you explain the genome of a lion and expound on the meaning of each separate gene. Have you seen the building blocks of the building blocks and their building blocks?


• THE ASSASSIN
• Enough!


• He raises his weapon and fires.


• The Mark slumps in his chair.


• The Assassin rushes from the house.


• EXT. THE HOUSE - DAY


• He walks quickly down the sidewalk, and into his car.


• INT. ASSASSIN'S CAR - DAY


• He drives away from the curb.


• A motion at the edge of his peripheral vision catches his eye and he turns.


• A LITTLE GIRL sits, strapped into the seatbelt, in the passenger's seat.


• He screams, running the car off the road and smashing into a tree, his head slamming into the air bag.


• Everything is blurry as he pulls his bloody face away from the steering wheel.


• The girl sits, watching him, unharmed.


• THE ASSASSIN
• Who are you?


• THE MARK
• You know who I am.


• He frantically unbuckles himself and forces the door opening, stumbling and running down the block.


• The little girl sits in the seat, feet dangling, a little smile on her face.


• THE MARK
• You know where to find me and next time, you don't have to bring the gun along.


• FADE TO BLACK.