I’ve dreaded writing this scene forever. I haven’t been sure what I wanted to do with it. Do I want to put in the details of the amount, collateral and all that crap? In the end, I decided against it. All we need to know is that Sam needed a loan to raise the money to pay off Jimmy. I think the rest is irrelevant.

I’m afraid that this is the kind of scene that slows down a movie and has people reaching for the remote control. But I like it and I think it came out better than I would’ve envisioned before I sat down to write it.

(pages 9, 10 & 11)
INT BANK – MORNING

Sam enters the bank carrying a briefcase. A GREETER welcomes Sam at the door.

GREETER
Good morning. Can I help you?

SAM
Is Mr. Murphy in this morning.

GREETER
Sure is. Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll see if he’s available.

Sam has a seat.

He picks up a financial magazine and looks at the front cover. The front cover has some smug looking man in a suit with a cigar in his mouth and money burning in his hand. The caption on the magazine reads: Take Financial Control Of Your Life!

Sam throws the magazine back on the table.

SAM
Ugh.

MR. MURPHY, 30s, baby-faced and dressed in a suit, walks over to Sam.

MR. MURPHY
Mr. Goldstein, how are you doing today?

SAM
Fine.

Sam stands up.

SAM
You’ve got everything in order?

MR. MURPHY
I sure do. Just follow me into my office.

Sam follows Murphy into his office.

The office is a typical cubicle style and everything is particularly neat. There is nothing to show that it’s even Murphy’s office, except for the name tag on the desk that reads John Murphy.

Murphy grabs a file behind his desk and transfer it to his desk. He opens it and starts pulling out papers.

MR. MURPHY
I just need you to sign some paperwork here. Take a look here and you’ll see these are the terms we’ve agreed to.

Murphy points at the paper. Sam raises his eyes.

Sam starts signing.

MR. MURPHY
Yeah, just sign where you see those yellow tabs.

Sam quickly signs where he needs to and doesn’t even read the paperwork.

MR. MURPHY
That’s interesting.

SAM
What is?

MR. MURPHY
Every other attorney I’ve had in here, getting a loan, read every single word on the page. It’ll take them an hour sometimes.

SAM
Is there someting in here I should be worried about? Balloon payments and all that bullshit?

MR. MURPHY
Oh no, no, no. I’m just saying that if I’d known you weren’t going to read it, I would have put that bullshit in there.

Sam just stares at him.

MR. MURPHY
I’m sorry, sir. It was a bad joke.

Sam finishes signing.

SAM
Where’s the money?

Murphy pulls out a certified check from the file.

MR. MURPHY
Should I deposit this into your account?

SAM
No. I’ll take cash.

MR. MURPHY
I’m sorry?

SAM
Cash. I want it in cash. All hundreds if possible. Put it in this.

Sam puts his briefcase on the desk. He opens it and it’s empty.

MR. MURPHY
I’m sorry, but I don’t think we can do that.

SAM
Why not?

MR. MURPHY
I don’t think we have that kind of cash.

SAM
You’re a bank.

MR. MURPHY
I know, but…

SAM
But what?

MR. MURPHY
I’ll be right back.

Murphy exits his cubicle. Sam sits back.

Sam looks around the office, but there is nothing interesting to look at. Sam turns to look for Murphy. He sees Murphy in an office talking to another BANKER. They talk for about two minutes.

Murphy exits the other banker’s office and walks back to his cubicle.

MR. MURPHY
Okay, Mr. Goldstein, let me have your briefcase and I’ll be right back with your money.

Murphy turns to go to the vault. Sam stops him.

SAM
John?

Murphy turns back around.

MR. MURPHY
Yes, sir?

SAM
Am I going to have to count it?

MR. MURPHY
No, sir.