Price to Pay

by
JMFP

INT. RICHARDS HOUSE - DAY

TITLE OVER: Two weeks ago
RICHARD, dressed semi-formally sits across from ASHTON.
Though these men are equals Ashton clearly seems to have the
upper-hand and more power.
ASHTON
I told you to do this earlier, its
not my problem.
RICHARD
Youre better connected than me, I
need your help on this one.
A beat.
ASHTON
I understand. But like I said
theres only one thing to do.
RICHARD
He deserves it. I have to take arms
against his trouble.
ASHTON
Despite Henry?
RICHARD
Thats my only regret.
ASHTON
Henrys played down before, but
this is more serious.
RICHARD
I know my situation. If this
doesnt happen, Ill regret it.
ASHTON
I understand. But I warned you.
RICHARD
Yeah, thanks.
ASHTON
Ive got a solid deal; my friend
hooked me up with a good contact,
you can trust it. Keep me out of
this though.

2.
EXT. PARK - DAY
A gym bag sits at the side of an empty park bench. DAVID, a
smart-looking man, approaches the bag, picks it up, and sits
down. He opens it to find it filled with money and a folder
which he opens to see a picture of an innocent-looking man,
TOM, smiling back at him and other various papers.
TITLE OVER: Price to Pay
BLACK SCREEN
KYLE
It all started with Richard Hart.
INT. HENRYS HOUSE - DAY
A folder is exchanged between two hands. The receiver opens
to see a picture of RICHARD HART, a handsome man with the
looks of someone whos about to about to steal your lunch
money. Not the fat guy that steals your lunch, the
cool-looking jock.
EXT. RICHARDS BACKYARD - DAY
Richard sits in a hot tub with two girls, telling an
exciting story that cant be heard.
KYLE
Richard was the kind of guy who
could open his own doorOFFICER
Lets start with your name.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
TITLE OVER: Now
On one side of the table a DETECTIVE sits, decently dressed
in a white collared shirt. On the other side is a disheveled
KYLE GREEN, clearly exhausted with blood spatter on his
shirt and messy hair. He wears pajamas.
OFFICER
Please go ahead, start off by
saying your name to the camera.
Kyle looks into the crappy camcorder set up to record him.
KYLE
My name is Kyle Green. Now as I was
saying, it all started with
Richard.

3.

EXT. RICHARDS BACKYARD - DAY

RICHARD sits in a hot tub with two beautiful girls. He is
relaxed and exerts a confidence that can only be found with
the presence of someone who seems to control life. Party
music plays from some speakers.
KYLE (V.O.)
Richard Hart, drug-lord.
RICHARD
-and I have him in the corner, hes
unarmed, I can blow this guys
brains off by putting some pressure
on a single finger. But I decided I
wanted to make it interesting this
time, so I turn the gun around and
hold it out to him and say, "Shoot
yourself". And of course he tries
to aim the gun at me but I grab his
wrist and hold it to his chin, I
dont touch the gun at all,
meanwhile saying "do it man do it".
He did it. It was nasty, Im never
doing that again.
A FRIEND of Richard enters into the backyard.
FRIEND
Hey, youve got someone out front.
RICHARD
Thanks. Excuse me ladies.
Richard exits the hot tub and puts on a bath robe, before
entering into..
INT. RICHARDS HOUSE - DAY
The music quiets down immediately when he enters the house
but doesnt fade entirely. Richard walks into the kitchen,
where a girl is bound to a chair and gagged, clearly in bad
condition, and passes her.
KYLE (V.O.)
Richard had a girl with him at the
time, Kristen Parks, wife of Henry
Parks, my employer.
Richard walks to the front door, the music progressively
getting softer. He opens the door without hesitation.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

RICHARD
Wheres HenRichard is cut off mid sentence when Kyle pulls out his gun
and shoots him in the head. He falls back immediately. Kyle
nonchalantly enters the house. As he passes Richard he
shoots him a few more times in the chest. He then leaves the
room. A few more gunshots resonate followed by short combat
sounds and he returns with Kristen, who he exits the house
with.
Richard stares absently at the ceiling, a puddle of blood
forming around his head. A deep red bullet wound bleeds
slowly on his forehead.
KYLE (V.O.)
All Richard wanted was a ransom for
Kristen, then life would just go on
as nothing happened.
INT. HENRYS HOUSE - DAY
TITLE OVER: 3 Days before
The living room is slightly messy but it is clear that HENRY
has money. There are bags of chips and other various food
items scattered across the tables.
David is seated around one of these tables while Henry looks
through some drawers. After a few tries he finds what hes
looking for - a small folder. He take it and sits across
from David.
HENRY
There you go.
Henry hands David the folder and David opens it to look at
some pictures of Richard and Kristen.
KYLE (V.O.)
Kristens husband, Henry, didnt
like that.
HENRY
Its gotta be by tomorrow. Kristen
dies at seven tomorrow night if the
money doesnt get in.
DAVID
How do you know hell carry it out?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.
HENRY
I know him. It wouldnt be the
first time hed done something like
this.

David looks up when he says this, registering the response.

DAVID
Okay, so heres whats going to
happen. I have a safe in my car,
which needs two locks. Youre going
to put the money down and one lock
on the safe and Im going to put
the other lock on. Ill get the
money when I return Kristen.
EXT. EMPTY PARKING LOT - DAY
David and Kyle sit at the edge of a parking lot, drinking
from glass soda bottles with their cars parked nearby. David
hands Kyle the folder that Henry gave him and Kyle looks at
it.
KYLE (V.O.)
David was my business partner. He
handled the business aspects while
I carried out the tasks.
KYLE
Richard?
DAVID
I know, not exactly what I
expected.
KYLE
What happened?
DAVID
Theres a whole deal. I guess Henry
pissed Richard off, so Richard took
his wife for money to settle.
KYLE
Theres something wrong with these
people.
DAVID
Noo wayy.
KYLE
No, I mean theyre on the same
side. Most people at least stay
loyal to each other.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

6.

DAVID
Yeah, youre not wrong, but what do
you expect from these kinds of
people?
KYLE
Less killing each other and more
killing other people.
DAVID
Im sure theres at least some
reasoning behind it.
KYLE
Even if there is, its messed up
that it can even be justified. Like
how low would I have to stoop for
you to put a bullet in me?
DAVID
Ive considered it.
KYLE
No, seriously though.
DAVID
I dont know, this isnt something
I really think about.
KYLE
Exactly. And here we have people
taking each others wives and
blowing each others heads off, I
mean it made sense when we killed
Tom, Tom screwed everyone over.
DAVID
Well they were still killing each
other then, its not really
different.
KYLE
Thats true, but the lengths these
people have to go to need to kill
their own friend in the first
place, I mean shit man, thats
gotta be pretty messed up.
DAVID
Okay, okay. So youre good for
tomorrow?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

KYLE
Id rather not be, but yeah. I just
need you to help me drop off this
chick, I dont really want to deal
with Henry.
EXT. RICHARDS HOUSE - DAY
David pulls up to Richards house with Kyle in the passenger
seat.
DAVID
All Im saying is that if he had
just made sure he knew who was
behind the painting before shooting
their damn head off..
KYLE
Thats the point though, some
asshole too stupid to do anything
logical. He pays the price for
killing the wrong guy.
Kyle loads a pistol, then stuffs it into his jacket pocket.
DAVID
I hate that shit.
KYLE
Be right back.
Kyle exits the car and starts walking to the front door.
KYLE (V.O.)
The problem was, me and David
didnt know how connected Richard
was, we just wanted the money.
Richard was the kind of guy who
could kill a mans sister and
expect an apology from the guy
because his sister was an asshole.
He would open his own front door,
something that no one in this
business does, simply because he
could do it without anyone shooting
him.
When he approaches, he rings the doorbell, then waits. After
a brief period, Richard opens the door.
RICHARD
Wheres Hen-

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

Richards voice cuts short and he drops dead to Kyles

raised gun.
KYLE (V.O.)
Well, except for me.
Kyle enters into..
INT. RICHARDS HOUSE - DAY
He shoots Richard as he passes him, then proceeds into the
kitchen where Kristen is tied to a chair. He proceeds out
to..
EXT. RICHARDS BACKYARD - DAY
Kyle shoots the two girls in the hot tub. He enters back
into..
INT. RICHARDS HOUSE - DAY
He runs into Ashtons friend and engages in very short
combat with him, ultimately coming out victorious.
He unties Kristen and removes the tape from her mouth. She
immediately spits out a large wad of cloth when the tape
comes off.
KYLE
You alright?
Kristens face shows a mixture of relief and fear; she nods
her head. Kyle helps her out of the chair and the two walk
past Richards body, Kristen looking at Richard as they
pass, and out to..
EXT. RICHARDS HOUSE - DAY
Kyle opens his car door for Kristen, then gets in on the
passenger side and David drives away.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
OFFICER
David Stark was driving the
vehicle?
KYLE
Yeah, he drove. I didnt want to
deal with Henry, so David did that.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.

OFFICER
Okay, continue.
KYLE
We stopped, got food, and then got
to Henrys house around 2 hours
after we visited Richard.
EXT. HENRYS HOUSE - NIGHT
Kyles car parks across from Henrys house and David gets
out and starts to walk toward the house.
KYLE
David.
David stops at Kyles window. Kyle holds up a gun, and David
takes it from him.
DAVID
Five minutes. It takes any more
than that you get your ass in
there.
David glares at Kyle for a second then walks to Kristens
side of the car.
DAVID
Im going to go in, make sure
everythings okay before we both go
in.
David leaves and walks to Henrys front door. He knocks, but
the door falls ajar as he does so. Realizing something isnt
right, he raises his gun before he steps into...
INT. HENRYS HOUSE - NIGHT
The house is completely silent apart from Davids footsteps
as he walks down the hallway slowly, gun raised. He arrives
at the living room, where he met with Henry only two days
before, to see Henry, sitting in the exact same spot that he
sat when he met David, with several bullet wounds in his
torso, bleeding vibrantly on a white shirt. A picture of Tom
sits on the table in front of him. David stares, a mixture
of disbelief and disgust, and notices footsteps a moment too
late. As David turns his head toward the footsteps, the
sound of a suppressed gunshot resonates and he falls over.

10.

EXT. HENRYS HOUSE - NIGHT

Kyle and Kristen are sitting in the car, the stopwatch of
Kyles phone reading around 2 minutes while Kyle watches
Henrys house.
They sit in silence for a few seconds before Kristen speaks.
KRISTEN
Why didnt Henry pay the ransom?
KYLE
I dont know. He spent more money
the way he did it.
KRISTEN
Yes, but thats not the point;
killing Richard Hart is not the
better of the two options.
KYLE
Why not? This way youll never have
to deal with him again.
KRISTEN
Do you know anything about Richard
Hart?
KYLE
I worked for him once.
KRISTEN
Yes, but do you actually know
anything about him?
KYLE
I dont know, David handles that
kind of thing.
KRISTEN
What kind of thing?
Kyle notices a figure running from Henrys house wearing all
black.
KYLE
Open the glove compartment and hand
me the gun.
KRISTEN
What?

11.

Kyle impatiently reaches over and retrieves the pistol

himself. He exits the car to chase after the man, who runs
to a car and gets in. As the vehicle begins to move, Kyle
chases it. He stops to aim his gun, but brings it down after
a short pause, realizing his attempt is futile.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
KYLE
They had connections everywhere and
knew almost everything. But worst
of all, they knew me.
EXT. HENRYS HOUSE - NIGHT
Headlights pull up and tires screech to a startled Kyle
standing in the middle of the road. Kyle quickly moves out
of the way.
INT. HENRYS HOUSE - NIGHT
Kyle enters the front door cautiously and stealthily, gun at
ready. He walks down the hallway in the direction of the
living room but stops when he sees the safe from David and
Henrys deal sitting in the middle of the hallway with both
locks smashed off. He opens the safe to find it completely
empty except for a single piece of paper with two words
written on it: "Kyle Green". He then stands up and finishes
his walk down the hallway to the living room, where he sees
David and Henry both shot dead.
EXT. EMPTY PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Kyle sits next to Kristen, holding a glass bottle of soda
and the piece of paper he found in the safe. He smashes the
bottle across the pavement. He looks at the piece of paper
for a second, then abruptly discards it.
KYLE (V.O.)
I had officially reached new levels
of being screwed.
KRISTEN
What do you know about Richard?
KYLE
Like I said, I worked for him once.
KRISTEN
Yes, but what do you actually know.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

12.

KYLE
Your husband is dead.
KRISTEN
Thats not important.
KYLE
Right. Okay. And its not important
that David is dead too then?
KRISTEN
This is about us now.
KYLE
What do you want?
KRISTEN
Do you recognize the name Ashton
Gray?
Kyle pauses, trying to recall the name.
KYLE
No, doesnt ring a bell.
KRISTEN
But youre definitely familiar with
Henry and Richard?
KYLE
Yes.
KRISTEN
There are four, now two people in
collaboration. Richard, Henry,
Ashton, and someone else. As long
as Ashton and the fourth guy are
alive, we might as well consider
ourselves dead.
KYLE
What are you saying?
KRISTEN
Were going to die, unless they die
first.

13.

KYLES LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Kristen sleeps on a couch.
KYLE (V.O.)
We decided wed take one night in
my house before getting on the
move, Kristen said there was no way
theyd react that fast anyway.
A door creaks open. A pair of legs in jeans approaches the
edge of the couch; a hand drops low enough to see a knife
between its fingers
KYLES BEDROOM - DAY
Kyle lays asleep on his bed. His alarm goes off and he stirs
but makes very little movement to turn it off until a few
seconds go by and he lazily shuts it off.
INT. KYLES KITCHEN - DAY
Kyle exits his bedroom, with pajamas and messy hair, and
walks to the kitchen where he sees Kristen sitting at the
table, the handle of a knife through her forehead. Ashton
Gray sits next to her, a pistol comfortably dangling in one
hang, and a soda in the other. A stack of money sits on the
table next to him.
KYLE (V.O.)
She, of course, was wrong about
that.
ASHTON
(smiling)
Kyle! Its nice to finally meet
you.
KYLE
Pleasure to finally meet you.
ASHTON
Would you like a soda? Id offer
you something fancier but
apparently you dont drink.
Ashton gets up to walk to the fridge
KYLE
Are you going to kill me?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

14.

ASHTON
We havent gotten that far yet,
relax.
Ashton takes out a soda and throws it to Kyle. He walks back
to his chair.
ASHTON
Sit down.
Kyle stays put.
KYLE
Are you here to kill me?
A beat.
ASHTON
No.
KYLE
Then why should I sit down?
ASHTON
Because I want you to, and I have a
gun.
KYLE
But youre not going to kill me?
ASHTON
I have a much more sophisticated
idea in mind perfect for you.
KYLE
I dont care, shoot me. Dont make
it too hard for yourself, avoid the
struggle.
KYLE (V.O.)
When you have a gun on someone, you
want to keep a reasonable distance
between yourself and your hostage.
Kyle walks forward and sets his soda on the table.
KYLE
I want you to shoot me.
Kyle kneels down in front of Ashton and grabs his hands to
hold the gun against his head.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

15.

KYLE
Shoot me.
ASHTON
Listen, I have a muchKYLE
SHOOT ME!
Ashton fails to react. Kyle pulls
back on the gun and releases it
from Ashtons hands. He stands back
up, now armed. Ashton shrugs and
puts his hands in the air.
KYLE (V.O.)
When such a distance is allowed,
you avoid any chance of being
disarmed.
Kyle pulls back on the trigger and the gun clicks.
ASHTON
I told you I wasnt here to kill
you.
Kyle tosses the gun aside.
KYLE
Well, youre here. Do you want any
breakfast?
ASHTON
What do you have?
Kyle walks to the kitchen, and opens some drawers.
KYLE
Uh.. Cheerios, oatmeal..
ASHTON
Ill pass.
Kyle pours himself a bowl of Cheerios, then pulls a gun out
of another drawer. He returns to his seat across from Ashton
with both. Kristen continues to stare into space.
KYLE
Why are you here?
ASHTON
Thats my business.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

16.
KYLE
Apparently not. Tell me why I
shouldnt kill you right now.
ASHTON
Two reasons. The first is I have
another job for you. You do this
one and I permanently agree to cut
all communication and let you free.
And also you get your money for
killing Richard. Now I dont
believe that appeals to you very
much but the second reason might.
There is a car waiting outside,
with four armed men inside of it.
If you kill me, I can almost
guarantee you will be dead.
KYLE
Whats the job?

Ashton slides a folder across the table. Kyle opens it and

looks at it.
KYLE
(with a mouthful of cheerios)
This a work partner?
Ashton nods his head then promptly receives a bullet in it.
KYLE (V.O.)
Ashton never had any intention of
leaving my house alive.
EXT. KYLES HOUSE - DAY
Kyle walks out the front door wearing the same attire and to
his car, then drives away.
KYLE (V.O.)
He showed up with an empty gun and
the only car outside my house was
mine.
INT. KYLES CAR - DAY
Kyle slouches in the driver seat, his car parked on the side
of a random road, cell phone in one hand, open folder in the
other.
KYLE (V.O.)
Ashtons folder told me the best
way to do this was to set up a
meeting, a coke deal.

17.

Kyle glances back and forth between the folder and the phone
as he dials a number.
EXT. PARK - DAY
Kyles car pulls up.
KYLE (V.O.)
Tony Wolfe, target.
Kyle approaches a park bench, where TONY is seated and sits
down.
TONY
What do you got?
KYLE
5 pounds, top quality. In my car.
Follow me.
Kyle leads Tony to his cars trunk then stops and looks
around. He opens the trunk to see trash bags lining it. Kyle
continues to look around.
TONY
What the fKyle wraps a chain around Tonys neck and chokes him until
he passes out, he then puts him in the trunk.
EXT. SIDE OF THE ROAD - DAY
Kyles car is parked at the side of an empty street. He gets
outs of the driver side and opens the trunk, then shoots
Tony multiple times, spattering blood onto his shirt.
He closes the trunk and goes back inside the car.
EXT. EMPTY PARKING LOT - DAY
Kyle sits alone at the side of the parking lot, drinking a
soda and holding his cell phone. He stares at his cell phone
for a while, then dials 911.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
OFFICER
Why did you report yourself?
KYLE
Well I figure the story needs to be
told somehow.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

18.

OFFICER
You are aware these crimes are
punishable by death?
KYLE
Yes, I am aware.
INT. HENRYS HOUSE - NIGHT
TITLE OVER: 3 days ago
Henry and Ashton sit in Henrys living room.
ASHTON
Why?
HENRY
I know what he did, Ashton, I know
it was him.
ASHTON
You knew it had to be done.
HENRY
No it didnt. We couldve just cut
him out, Tom was a good guy.
ASHTON
Tom screwed us over. It had to be
done, if not to help us, for
revenge.
HENRY
Yeah well this is my revenge. You
know who I sent to do it? The same
guy who killed Tom, because I know
you or Tony will get him.
ASHTON
What about Kristen, you know shell
be done now too?
HENRY
She was a whore.
ASHTON
That doesnt justify anything.
HENRY
To me it does. What are you waiting
for?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

19.
ASHTON
Im thinking about retiring. With
Richard gone, and soon you, theres
really hardly anything left of
this.
HENRY
You know theres only one way out.
ASHTON
Yeah, but Ive done everything I
need to do.
HENRY
Me too.
ASHTON
I think its about time that our
business closed.
HENRY
Youll have to talk to Tony about
that.
ASHTON
Sooner or later, Im either going
to kill Tony or Tony is going to
kill me. I dont need that. If Im
retiring Im killing the business.
HENRY
I never thought Id be responsible
for Richards death.
ASHTON
Yes, but you were. And I bet
Richard never thought hed be
responsible for Toms.
HENRY
But he was.

The words sink in for a second.

ASHTON
Anything else you want to say?
HENRY
One of them is coming to drop off
Kristen and pick up the money in
the safe. They should be here in a
little. Do you mind if I get
something before?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

20.

ASHTON
Yeah, go ahead.
Henry goes to his stereo and turns on "Well Meet Again" by
Frank Sinatra, then goes to a wall where a picture of Tom is
framed and takes it down. He looks at it for a little then
sits back down and sets it up on the table in front of him.
HENRY
Im ready.
Ashton shoots Henry.
*THE END*