THE BIG FIX, A Screenplay by Me

Here is my screenplay by me, I finished the first draft a week ago. There might be some errors but I haven’t edited it yet. So tell me what you think… Also this is based on the REAL Costello 8)



FADE IN:



INT. KEFAUVER COMMITTEE HEARING August 28, 1959



There is one table filled with the Kefauver Committee. Sitting down at a table in front of them is FRANK COSTELLO. Frank sits there in grey dress suit cool and relaxed. There is a crowd of people behind the tables watching the committee on fold. The room is well lit and bright - do to the white walls and tile floors. Frank is sitting down and the only thing on the brown table is a microphone for him to speak into.



In the committee is SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER (chair), SENATOR HERBERT R. O’CONOR, SENATOR CHARLES TOBEY, SENATOR LESTER C. HUNT, and SENATOR ALEXANDER WILEY.



Frank is eager to go and the Kefauver hearings begin.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Good mourning (interrupted)



FRANK COSTELLO

And good mourning to you.



Frank smirks.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

May I suggest we go by the

procedures this mourning, Mr.

Costello? Now we have been

investigating and set to prove that

there is in fact Organized crime in

regions of this country. First off,

you’re from New York, am I correct?



FRANK COSTELLO

Yes, you would be. Is it that easy

to become senator?



Senator Estes Kefauver bangs the gavel.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Procedures, procedures, procedures!

You may not follow them out side

these walls but when you’re between

mine you will! Is that clear?



FRANK COSTELLO

(grinning)

Okay, yes boss!



Frank smirks again and Senator Kefauver continues on. Frank head drifts toward the clock. The clock ticks, its 11:05 am.



INT. WAREHOUSE NIGHT August 28, 1959



Gun shots are heard. The loud screams were due to the forecast of the shower of bullets. The main room to the warehouse is empty however blood streams down from the upward slant of a hallway.



The ware house was empty and the home to many spiders and their webs. The decrypted walls oozed mold and a piss colored leaks.



From the slanted hallway comes Frank Costello and two other unidentified MEN in masks. The two men drag VITO GENOVESE to the center of the ware house. The two men slam him down and a few bats flew out the open door.



Vito Genovese has a coat of white (almost pink) powder all over him. He was husky and resembled an ape. Thick of Italian decent, he has brown hair and brown eyes. His dark shades glasses are cracked and ready to crumble.



Frank crouches down like a catcher to the bloody and beaten Vito. Frank pulls out a .38 snub nose piece. He flashes the piece in his face. Frank laughs. Vito screams. One of the men with Costello bags/sacks Vito. The old potato sack seals the identity of Vito.



FRANK COSTELLO

Vito…



Frank taps the trigger twice. Blood paints the back wall red.



FRANK COSTELLO

You’re in the bag, rest assure.



Frank puts his left hand on the right shoulder of Vito and pats his shoulder.



FADE OUT:



FADE IN:



EXT. OUTSIDE GARAGE OF COSTELLO NIGHT 1957



Frank Costello stands outside leaning on the garage. He takes out a cigarette and lights it. The night was dark and cold. The garage overshadowed the small driveway in suburban New York.



Bats silently flew over head. One bat flew into a nearby tree. It watches Frank.



Frank begins to walk back and forth and like a steam engine blowing its whistle - the exhales make smoke clouds.



A noise of rummaging is heard. Frank looks down the street but there is nothing. He rubs his head as he paces and continues to smoke.



INT. KEFAUVER COMMITTEE HEARING August 28, 1959



The clock continues to tick away. Frank looks back at Estes Kefauver as he continues to rant. It is still midday.



Senator Estes Kefauver looks down at papers in front of him. He speaks into his microphone.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

It says here, you have relations

with New York and Chicago mobsters,

is that true?



FRANK COSTELLO

As Mr. J. Edgar Hoover once said,

there is no such thing as Organized

crime. So can you please specify the

men who are in this ghost “mafia�?



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

There names are as follows, Sam

Giancana and Joe Adonis?



FRANK COSTELLO

I’ve might have met them.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

You’re going to have a give a more

definite answer then that, Mr.

Costello.



FRANK COSTELLO

Everybody knows everybody, you

know?



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

No, I don’t know. Mr. Costello this

is a trial you will have to give

definite answers, you are only

hurting yourself, may we proceed?

Now I’ll take your last answer as a

yes, would I be wrong in doing so?



FRANK COSTELLO

No.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Now, one man goes in and out of Miami

and New York – Joe Adonis. Now Sam

Giancana lives in Chicago but

frequently visits Miami and New York.

The connection provokes the thought

of unsolved murders and Interstate

Commerce.



FRANK COSTELLO

There could be.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Are you saying that there is?



FRANK COSTELLO

There could be. I wouldn’t know of

anything like that.



Frank looks back at the clock, the clock pushes on.

INT. WAREHOUSE NIGHT August 28, 1959



There is a room with concrete walls. Three men are shoved into the room. The three men are Vito Genovese (covered in white powder), VINCENT “THE CHIN� GIGANTE, and CARMINE GALENTE. The Chin is a big man while Carmine is the average small sized Italian. Frank Costello walks in with a black bag. The bag had a few bullet holes. The black bag was what New York scum learned to fear. The Chin and Carmine fear for their lives. Two masked men walk in behind Costello. One masked man carries a chair while the other man is carrying two.



Frank points using the black bag.



FRANK COSTELLO

Over there.



Frank has no emotion showing in his face. The two men line the two chairs up. The other chair is placed off to the side.



Frank walks over to Vito. He punches Vito across the chin.



FRANK COSTELLO

Sit over there, you two fruit flies

take a seat right next to one

another.



The Chin and Carmine sit in the two chairs placed next to one another. Vito stands up and sits in the chair.



Costello reaches into the bag. He pulls out some cocaine.



FRANK COSTELLO

May the Lord Christ be with you.

And?



No one says anything.



FRANK COSTELLO

And?



VITO GENOVESE

And with you.



FRANK COSTELLO

The body of Christ.



Frank sprinkles some of the cocaine over the three men like it was holy water in church.



FRANK COSTELLO

Death. We’ve been in the Genovese

family business since were young

boys bootlegging in the days of

Prohibition. We’ve seen our fathers

die. We’ve seen our mothers die.

We’ve seen people in the business

disappear. Vanish.



Vito begins to cry.



FRANK COSTELLO

Cigar Vito?



Vito nods. Frank takes out a cigar and stuffs it in the mouth of Vito. He takes out a match from his pocket and ignites it with his thumb. The butt of the cigar burns.



Frank throws the match at the Chin. He takes a Colt .45 out from the bag.



He walks over to Carmine. Franks looks back at Vito and speaks. He points the .45 at Carmine.



FRANK COSTELLO

Real men fade away in death.



Frank shoots Carmine. Carmine falls back – dead.



FRANK COSTELLO

Other men try to cause pain while

in their impending death.



Frank walks over to the Chin. The Chin begins curses in Italian while Frank speaks.



FRANK COSTELLO

Reality is reality.



He pistol whips the Chin. The Chin’s upper lip splits up to his nostrils. Frank during this violence remains calm and emotionless.



Vito watches on in aguish. Exhales of smoke continue to be blown.





FRANK COSTELLO

Men cannot see reality until six

cylinders show them the passion,

the fire of this reality.



The chin spits blood onto the hand that Frank has the gun on him. Frank shoots the Chin in the right shoulder. The track suit is not only filled by Italian sweat of a pig but blood.



FRANK COSTELLO

Death is death. These facts are

accepted. From the Medici family

in Italy to the Genovese family.



Blood that drains from the useless body of Carmine leaks out of the room. Red rivers galore.



FRANK COSTELLO

‘Til death and in death we come face

to face. One made fades one man is

the underworld. Most of man betrays

the one true friend.



Frank shoots the Chin in the neck. The Chin falls out of his chair and blood sprays like Lysol. He is gasping for air. Blood drenches the track coat. The coat is soaked in blood and is not red but maroon. The Chin crawls on his stomach over to Frank. He coughs blood unto Costello’s shoes and uses Costello’s trousers to pull himself up while staining Costello’s brown slacks red. The Chin now violently shaking looks up at Costello. Costello looks down and shoves the gun into the Chin’s mouth. He pulls the trigger and the big man flops over. The room was now painted with fresh red blood.



Vito gives up hope. He falls out of the chair. The cigar falls into the blood of fellow syndicate members. Vito lays in the blood. Costello looks down and drops the .45 on top of the Chin.



FRANK COSTELLO

When we need the Lord, the Lord is

here for thou that need him because

all real men… fade away in death.



EXT. OUTSIDE GARAGE OF COSTELLO NIGHT 1957



Costello continues to finish his cigar. The night is silent. Frank tries to open the garage door but it does not open. He stands back up and takes a drag from the cigar. Costello tries opening the door again.



The garage door does not open. Frank breathing in and out smoke kicks the door handle to the garage. He throws his cigar off to the side (into the street).



Costello opens the door. The garage door screeches open. The nearby bats in the tree fly off into the night.



An unknown man (Vincent “the Chin� Gigante) walks up behind Frank with a Colt .45. Frank stares into the back of his garage.



CUT TO:



A black screen. There is mumbling. A gun fires.

NT. KEFAUVER COMMITTEE HEARING August 28, 1959



The clock says two O’clock. The hearings are coming to a end. Senator Estes Kefauver continues to grill Frank Costello.



Frank looks at the clock several times.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Joe Adonis and Sam Giancana appeared

in Miami and then both flew to New

York on the dates of July 19, 1958.

One day later Mr. “Lucky� Luciano was

found dead in Miami. His money which

had been marked was then later

retrieved in Tammany Hall bathroom.

There was blood and no bodies. Is

there anything that needs to be

repeated, Mr. Costello.



Frank is still staring at the clock.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Mr. Costello!



Frank slowly shifts his head towards the angry Senator.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

A man in your situation should play

more intention to more important

matters then staring at a clock.

I’ll say it again, there is nothing

that needs to be repeated?



FRANK COSTELLO

No.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Good, your making progress. Now,

you visit Tammany hall very so often

and you spend money inside the hall.

In fact the Genovese family has very

strong bind on Tammany Hall, is that correct?



FRANK COSTELLO

Anybody who contributes a lot to the Democratic party, can have an

influence there.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAURVER

So you’re say-



FRANK COSTELLO

Anyone with a paycheck can have

influence. Green sways the tide.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Interesting theory…



FRANK COSTELLO

Interesting theory because something

I said is true in your eyes or

because it is true within the

Democratic party. Aren’t you a

Democrat Mr. Kefauver?



Senator Estes Kefauver face begins to rush with redness like water running in a sink.



Senator Estes Kefauver bangs the gavel.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

One more word when you are not

spoken to and you’ll be thrown into

to jail for CONTEMPT! MR.COSTELLO!



FRANK COSTELLO

Yes sir.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Back to Joe, Sam and Tammany Hall.

Now you were there along with Vito

Genovese, who is a close friend?



FRANK COSTELLO

Yes a very close friend, may death

do us part.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

What did the four of you do inside?



FRANK COSTELLO

Business.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Business?



FRANK COSTELLO

Yes. Last push for election ’58.

Off year elections may go unnoticed

to the uneducated eye but not us

Italians.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

So your sure there is nothing you

want to say about Vito Genovese,

Sam Giancana or Joe Adonis?



INT. WAREHOUSE NIGHT August 28, 1959



Vito, Vincent and Carmine are in the main room of the warehouse with a table. Three bags of cocaine sit on the table. Vito looks down at his watch.



VITO GENOVESE

If one dealer could be on time, I

swear to Kefauver Donkey’s could fly!



VINCENT “THE CHIN� GIGANTE

We make the pigs and donkeys fly

down at Tammany Hall-



Automatic arms fire outside the warehouse. Bullets pierce the weak rusty walls of the Warehouse. A line of bullets make the bags of cocaine explode.



Vito drops on the floor after the bags of coke are gone. The Chin falls on the floor quickly. Carmine cradles himself on the cement floor.



The two masked men walk in with FBI vests. The two masked men yell.



MASKED MAN # 1

DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND SLIDE THEM

TOWARDS THE DOOR! DO IT! SLIDE

YOUR WEAPONS LADIES!



All three men get out their pieces and slide them towards the two men. The two men kick the guns away. Frank Costello walks in with a black bag.



FRANK COSTELLO

All the tree of you, back room.



EXT. OUTSIDE GARAGE OF COSTELLO NIGHT 1957



Vincent “the Chin� holds the gun on Costello. Costello doesn’t realize it. Frank walks intot he garage a few feet. The Chin takes his chance.



VINCENT “THE CHIN� GIGANTE

This is for you, Frank!



Frank dives towards the side of the garage. Vincent shots at Frank. Costello falls over as blood sprays like a fire hydrant. The shot went in and out of the right side of Franks neck. Costello fades away and is unconscious.



INT. KEFAUVER COMMITTEE HEARING August 28, 1959



The hearing is almost complete and the committee is tired of the topic : MAFIA.



Senator Estes Kefauver takes a drink of water from a clear plastic cup.



SENATOR ESTES KEFAUVER

Well, Mr. Costello, its seems as if

you have proven yourself to the

committee. You gave us the

information that was needed so on

behalf of the Kefauver Committee

you are acquitted.



The senator bangs the gavel three times. Frank nods his head towards Estes and exits through the door behind him.



EXT. OUTSIDE FEDERAL COURT NIGHT August 28, 1959



Two men are out standing by a car waiting for Frank. Frank stands on top of the steps to the federal court. Frank tips his hat at the two men. The two men get intot he car and drive off as Costello lights a cigarette.



CUT TO:



INT. COSTELLO’S CAR NIGHT August 28, 1959



Costello is at end with the cigarette. Frank flicks the cigarette outside the window. Costello pats a black duffle bag right beside him. He continues to drive in the abscene of any traffice.



EXT. OUTSIDE WAREHOUSE NIGHT August 28, 1959



There is already three cars outside. Two cars are empty while two men sit in the other. The two cars are parked away from the old warehouse. Frank pulls without any lights on. He slowly gets out of the car and leaves the car door open. Costello slowly walks over to the other door and gently opens it. Costello takes the bag out as a shower of bullets is heard.



Costello turns around. He waits outside as he listens to what is happening inside the warehouse.



MASKED MAN # 1

DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND SLIDE THEM

TOWARDS THE DOOR! DO IT! SLIDE

(CONT’D)YOUR WEAPONS LADIES!



Frank chuckles and walks inside the door to the warehouse. As bats fly over head.



EXT. OUTSIDE FEDERAL COURT NIGHT August 28, 1959



Frank takes a few drags from his cigarette as he watches the New York City life.



Rats are rummaging in the streets.



Bats fly in the thickness of pollution.



Frank takes another drag.



FRANK COSTELLO (V.O.)

Anyone can rat, but it takes a

certain amount of ingenuity to

re-rat. Is it revenge that causes

man to do so? Revenge cross lines.

Revenge re-crosses lines. Revenge

is said to be to powerful of an

instrument of man. Only the weak

are not strong enough.



Frank watches a rat at the bottom of the court house steps run by.



Frank then walks down the stairs and to his car. He drives away to the warehouse.



FRANK COSTELLO (V.O.)

Real men… fade away in death.



FADE OUT.



THE END

Feedback anybody?

8)

I liked it :slight_smile:

Thanks :wink:

I’d read it but I just don’t feel like it. I’m just lazy, like a sloth humping a turtle.

Cool…

I kinda had a hard time following the timeline of the flashbacks.

That and some the dialogue just didn’t make sense to me but for

the most part it was pretty good. I noticed every now and then you’d

start writing in the past tense. Here’s an example:



"The ware house was empty and the home to many spiders and their

webs. The decrypted walls oozed mold and a piss colored leaks."



It doesn’t happen alot but it’s something you might want to look out

for when you’re doing your re-write.

Yeah, I noticed that when I was re-reading it.



You’re not supposed to get it just one time through, maybe a two or three.



Thanks for the feedback.

Didn’t Chin live and become the real boss of the Genoveses until he died, 12-19-05? I think you have him getting shot in the mouth here, killing him, at least from what I gathered when I read your scene. Are you making this factual?

Yeah, The Chin doesn’t really die but I thought it would be better if Costello killed him. It’s based on real people, but the dates are off. So it’s not entirely factual.

btw, Vito comes off too much of a bitch. I know he’d definitely be spittin’ something smart back even if he’s getting slapped around at gun point. They were all mean mothers, everyone of 'em.

Meh, he’s taking it like a man, or that’s what I tried to convey.

tried to read it, but it was hard to follow. Some of the names are super creative and distracting. it’s probably just me. they shouldn’t be too simplistic I know, but not to the point of distraction. I like what i do get though.

Thanks :wink: