Savages

“You have kids of your own?”

“Two boys. Eight and six.”

“Well,” Ben says, “you’re the accountant on this and it happened on your watch. Knowing the temperament of your client, I’d say it’s either his kids grow up without a daddy, or yours do. Unless … oh, J, you’re not in on this with him, are you?”

Ben leaves a twenty and Jaime sitting there.

197

Alex gets summoned to a meeting with Lado.

Alex gets:

(A) A bonus

(B) A promotion

(C) A strong talking-to

(D)

If you guessed (D) …

198

Alex can’t explain

The source of his income.

The three deposits, the condo.

It’s like a really bad meeting with an IRS auditor, except Alex can’t bring in H&R Block or any of those gunners that advertise on the radio.

He has to be his own attorney, but he doesn’t have the right to remain silent. And it ain’t no police interview room, it’s a warehouse out in the flats of Costa Mesa. At least Alex isn’t dangling from the ceiling. Lado knows his man—the lawyer isn’t tough, there’s no need for the pinata routine. So he just has Alex tied hand and foot, and he slaps him around a little, that’s all.

The lambioso lawyer is already crying.

Chon and Ben have been summoned to the meeting, too.

Elena’s idea.

To see how they react.

Ben watches this movie in horror.

CUT TO:

199

INT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

ALEX sits propped against a wall. Blood trickles from his mouth and flecks of blood spatter the shoulders of his gray Armani suit.

LADO squats beside him, speaking quietly.

LADO

Who paid you?

ALEX

Nobody.

LADO

Azul? 94?

ALEX

I swear to God. No one.

LADO

Look, you’re going to die. We both know this. But I like you and you have given years of good service. So I’m going to give you this chance. You can die—or you and your whole family can die.

ALEX starts to sob.

LADO (CONT.)

Tell me the truth—right now—and your wife and kids cash in your insurance policy. Lie to me again and I’ll go to your house, tell them you’ve been in an accident, and bring them here. I’ll kill them in front of you.

200

Ben can’t breathe.

The world spins and he thinks he might throw up, but he can feel Chon willing

Not one word. Not one goddamn word.

Alex straightens up, swallows, looks Lado in the eyes, and says, “It was Azul. He’s using the 94.”

Lado pats him on the head and stands up.

Takes a revolver out of his belt and

Hands it to Ben.

“Do it.”

201

“He took your money, too,” Lado says reasonably, “so you should do him. My gift to you.”

“I’ll do it,” Chon says.

“I said him, not you,” Lado snaps.

He looks into Ben’s eyes.

As he presses the pistol into Ben’s hand.

Do it, Chon wills.

You have to do it. Think about O.

Ben shoots twice

into Alex’s chest.

202

“So it was Alex,” Ben says out in the parking lot. His hand shakes like a haunted house skeleton.

“It was Alex,” Lado agrees.

“We’re in the clear.”

A terse nod.

“Then it’s business as usual?”

Si, Business As Usual.

“I want to Skype O.”

Lado thinks about that for a second, then agrees.