When The Tip Fades

By

Rob Blake

Fade in. You see a man in a business suit wearing a fedora walk into his office. It is a fairly regular office, nothing special. He walks through the room and you start to notice something strange… everything in it is messed up. He picks up a typewriter off the ground. He picks up several pieces of paper scattered around the room. He sits down, he is un comfortable. Gets back up and moves to the door and stands his coat rack where it used to be. He takes off his jacket and fedora and put it on the coat rack. He sits back down and pulls out a cigarette form his shirt pocket. Sticks it in his mouth and lights it, the smoke starting to fill the room. He starts to type. This man is John Rancon.

RANCON(over him typing):

Day: October 18, 1941

Time: 8

File: The Hammet Account

Number of people dead: 5 that I know of.

Account: It began at 6 o’clock this evening. It had been day full of nothin’. Nothin’ but layin’ around and typin’ up reports.

Cut to earlier. He is still in his office typing but now everything is clean and tidy. He gets up to leave and puts on his jacket and fedora. He takes a cigarette out of his pocket and lights it. His phone rings. He goes to pick it up. His secretary is on the phone. He sounds as beautiful as she truly is, and that is a lot mind you.

SECRETARY

Mr. Rancon?

RANCON

Yea?

SECRETARY

You don’t have any plans tonight to do ya?

RANCON

Not yet. You want to do something?

SECRETARY

No, I have a man on the phone who wants to drop in later. He says that he has a job for you.

RANCON

Ask him if he can pay.

SECRETARY

Okay one minute.

RANCON (talking to himself)

Hopefully this guy will have something interesting.

SECRETARY

Mr. Rancon, I’m back.

RANCON

Shoot.

SECRETARY

He says he can pay as much as you want.

RANCON

What is the bastard’s name?

SECRETARY

He says it is Orson Bogart.

RANCON

Well then tell Mr. Bogart I will be waitin’ for him here.

SECRETARY

Hey, boss. Can I get my pay check a little early?

RANCON

The only thing I’ve had in two weeks is that damn jewel store robbery.

SECRETARY

I know, but I really need it…

RANCON

You know what? I would love to get it to you in advance, but the truth of it all is that I just don’t got it. I need the money too, okay? But I’m livin’ in my office and just eating scraps and food that would not be fitting for even a rat to eat. You got it better than I got it okay? I take the money that people can give me. Usually it ain’t a hell of a lot. Listen this ain’t the pictures, we don’t have people bein’ killed right and left, and that is a good thing, but it doesn’t pay well.

SECRETARY

But…

RANCON

Just be quiet. I will try. Will that make you happy?

SECRETARY

Yea.

Rancon puts down the phone, but doesn’t hang it up. He walks out of his office and to his secretary’s room. He walks up behind her. Puts his arms around her and looks at her face.

RANCON

Can I get a smile?

SECRETARY

Of course.

She takes out the cigarette. They kiss. She puts it back into his mouth.

RANCON

Nice smile. What is so important?

SECRETARY

Well I’m going to my parents when I get off, and I want to buy them something. My dad isn’t doing to well.

RANCON

Well, then you can leave. I can manage it around here by myself.

SECRETARY

You sure?

RANCON

Yea, now get outta here.

SECRETARY

Okay, I just need to finish up a few things.

RANCON

Then I will get out of your hair.

Rancon leaves. His secretary watches him leave. When he does, she writes a note and puts is about to put it on his door, but suddenly a man walks up behind her. He is heavier set and wearing an overcoat and hat and suit. He startles her. He is the chief of police Bruce Davidtz.

BRUCE

Sorry about that Mary, didn’t know I would startle you.

MARY(aka the Secretary)

Oh it is okay Bruce.

BRUCE

Is John here?

MARY

Yea, Mr. Rancon is inside. What is going on?

BRUCE

I need to talk to John right now.

MARY

Yes sir. What is so important?

BRUCE

I can’t really talk to you about it before I talk to John.

MARY

Okay, I’ll tell him you’re here.

BRUCE

Sure.

Mary opens the door and peers in.

MARY

Mr. Rancon. Chief Davidtz is here.

RANCON

Sure let ol’ Bruce come on in.

Bruce walks in. Rancon gets up. They shake hands.

RANCON

Hey Bruce, how goes it?

BRUCE

I’m doing pretty good, but I know one fella who ain’t.

RANCON

Is that so? Sit down.

BRUCE

Yea, it is.

They both do so.

BRUCE

Yea, we got a call about 10 minutes ago that some poor stiff is lying dead in a ditch just outside of town.

RANCON

I’m betting that wasn’t no tractor accident.

BRUCE

Nope, the poor sap was shot three times.

RANCON

So you want my help?

BRUCE

Well that is what I came here for.

RANCON

I’ll be glad to do it. Nothin’ interesting ever comes my way, and I’m the only detective in the whole damn county.

BRUCE

Well this is the first murder in three years.

RANCON

And my business ain’t for the better.

BRUCE

Would you rather that people die?

RANCON

Hey, if it is better for business. In all reality though, what do we know?

BRUCE

He is dead. That is it. Like I said we got the call 10 minutes ago. I came by right after we heard. I sent a squad out after them.

RANCON

So I have nothing to go off of do I?

BRUCE

Nope, but you probably will when you get there.

RANCON

Well, why did you come here without any leads?

BRUCE

I was on my way over to the scene, and thought you would like to check it out.

RANCON

Okay, let’s get going instead of just sitting here.

They both get up and walk out of the room. They walk by his secretary.

RANCON
Hey doll. Can you leave a note to tell Mr. Bogart to come in when he gets here. I will be back in an hour, two hours tops.

MARY

Sure.

Rancon and Davidtz walk out. Mary is left alone now. She pulls something out of her desk. You can’t really tell what it is. She heads to Rancon’s office. Opens the door and walks in. She leaves a small sliver of light. It gives just enough illumination to tell she is pulling up some carpet in the corner. There is a whole, inside she puts the object. He walks over to the desk and types up a short note and puts that in the whole also. She then leaves the note that she was going to leave for Rancon on his desk and leaves. You see her pick up her coat and walk out into the rain.

Cut back to the place where she put it. It was on the edge of the carpet, and she accidently got a little corner of it in there. A very slow zoom in, so slow you can barely notice it.