ACROSS TOP OF SCREEN, LETTERS APPEAR, AS IF ON TELETYPE:
THE JOINT VENTURE
SCREEN GOES BLANK
AERIAL VIEW - NOONTIME
Suburban Italian countryside: wooded hills, winding road.
ACROSS TOP OF SCREEN, LETTERS APPEAR, AS IF ON TELETYPE:
OUTSIDE OF TORINO, ITALY
NOVEMBER 8, 1980
CUT TO:
EXT. VILLA - ROAD VIEW
Two-story, white stucco, manicured grounds. High wall along road with double iron gate.
On right half, heraldic crest. In front of villa entrance, black Fiat 130 limo.
GARDENER
(from screen right, walks toward camera, ready to open gates)
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO
CHAUFFEUR
(in driver's seat, reading sports section of newspaper. Checks watch)
CUT TO:
INT. VILLA - PAN
Harmonious blend of antique and modern - shows money as well as good taste.
End with view of sunny informal dining room, where two people have just finished eating.
CUT TO:
INT. VILLA - HALLWAY
MAN - mid-thirties, executive type, looking in mirror, adjusting tie. Looks preoccupied.
WIFE - tall brunette, stands beside him, facing camera.
WIFE
Do you have to leave right away?
MAN
(nods)
WIFE
(reaches over, straightens his collar)
You ought to rest more. You're so tense.
MAN
I have to meet the Chairman in an hour. BEAT And I couldn't even tell him why I had to see him.
WIFE
(concerned, rubs hand across his brow, which is furrowed.)
Dario himself? Something wrong?
MAN
Everything... I think.
Looks at watch, kisses WIFE lightly on cheek, starts toward door.
CUT TO:
EXT. VILLA
CHAUFFEUR looks at watch, opens car door and steps out. Door of villa opens also.
CHAUFFEUR holds passenger door open as MAN comes down steps and walks briskly toward limo.
WIFE stands in half-open door, reluctant to see him go.
CHAUFFEUR
(gives half salute)
Prego, dottore.
MAN
(nods, gets in limo)
CUT TO:
EXT. LIMO
Through open rear door, plush leather rear seat. MAN slides in, opens briefcase, takes out sheaf of papers.
CHAUFFEUR closes door, moves left to get behind wheel.
CUT TO:
EXT. VILLA - ROAD VIEW - ZOOM OUT AND DOWN ROAD
Blue Renault parked screen left, villa in distance. Two figures inside Renault. Villa gates open.
GARDENERcomes out to road, looks signals all clear. Limo emerges slowly, heads toward camera.
CUT TO:
INT. RENAULT - P.O.V. DRIVER
In rear-view mirror, limo approaches Renault and passes.
Sound of clip being inserted into rifle. Limo continues downhill. Renault pulls away from curb, follows.
MOVING SHOT
PASSENGER
(into walkie-talkie:)
He's on his way. Acknowledge. Over.
Sound of static, and then three different voices:
One all set.
Two OK.
Three ready.
Click and static ends.
Limo comes to intersection, slows down, crosses, continues straight ahead. Renault follows. Sound of static
PASSENGER
One out. Get ready, Two. You're next.
Limo approaches intersection, slows down, turns left. Two signs: Viale Giulio and Torino 27 km.
PASSENGER
He's yours, Two. Pick him up!
Sound of static.
CAR TWO
Two here. All set. Out.
CUT TO:
EXT. AERIAL VIEW FOLLOWING VEHICLES
Renault and limo on winding road. At intersection ahead of them, screen right, red Volvo is parked.
As limo approaches intersection, Volvo comes from right, turns into road ahead of limo.
Limo slows down slightly at intersection, runs through stop sign, comes up behind Volvo, intending to pass.
Renault follows some distance back.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOLLOWING LIMO
Screen right, limo passes low stone wall close to edge; screen left, a narrow shoulder and then
a grassy hill falling steeply to woods.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO - P.O.V. DRIVER
Suddenly, Volvo accelerates sharply and spins so it is broadside to road, blocking limo.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO
CHAUFFEUR whirls steering wheel, brakes, shifts. MAN looks up, sees CHAUFFEUR working hard,
car spinning. Papers thrown around.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO P.O.V. CHAUFFEUR
Limo is facing opposite direction. Renault blocking road. CHAUFFEUR turns wheel to right,
trying to avoid Renault by passing on narrow shoulder. Sounds of gears, spinning wheels, etc.
CUT TO:
EXT. LIMO - REAR VIEW - SLOW MOTION
Limo trying to get around Renault, but right wheels of Limo drop off shoulder onto slope of hill.
Limo, off balance, tilts to right more and more, starts rolling, tumbles down slope.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO
Rolling over and over. Confusion, papers thrown everywhere. Sounds of metal crunching, then crash.
Absolute silence BEAT Screen blurred.
CUT TO:
EXT. LIMO - FRONT VIEW
Right side up, but leaning crazily against large tree. Shapes of people coming downhill screen right.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO - FROM REAR SEAT
CHAUFFEUR struggles to sitting position, reaches for shoulder holster. MAN tries to get back into seat.
Shapes of people approaching from screen left.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO - P.O.V. MAN
CHAUFFEUR cursing under his breath, tries to get gun out. Blasts of automatic rifle fire from screen left.
CHAUFFEUR thrown against side of car screen right, blood spattering on window.
MAN looks left, sees shapes through window.
MAN
My God, what are you...
Voice cut off by blasts of automatic rifle fire. Screen turns black with white flashes as soon as rifle fire begins. When rifle fire ends, screen goes blank. Silence 4 BEATS
DISSOLVE TO:
AERIAL VIEW - AFTERNOON
Side view of executive jet, white and robin's egg blue, flying among clouds over Alps. Alfindustria logo on tail.
