The Jeweler's Loupe Read online

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  The Backbone of Europe - E45: Milan

  By

  Max E. Harris and Valentina LaScala

  FADE IN:

  SPLIT SCREEN SHOT:

  On the left side of the screen a road map scans up from south to north while pictures on the right depict both an aerial view of the highway and sights along the way.

  The aerial views on the right include the road signs in each area on posts or overhead signs where there is both the designation of E45 and the regional numbering, such as the A1 south of Rome, the A13 south of Innsbruck, the 9 north of Munich, the Ostjyske Motorvej near Vejle, Denmark, and the Nordjyske Motorvej in Sweden.

  NARRATOR (V.O.)

  Not all the major highways in the world are 4 or more lanes of concrete.Some of the most extensive highways are really patchworks of regional and national roads given a uniform designation.

  The backbone of Europe stretches from southern Sicily through central Italy, across the Alps past Innsbruck in Austria, around Munich and Hamburg, up across Denmark.It jumps to Sweden and runs north and east to the Finnish border.

  Along the way are vast numbers of cultures and historical sites. Thousands of years of pageantry and tragedy now show their traces to anyone with the interest to look. Into this setting drive 2 young men, open to the flow of history and current events.

  EXT. STREET IN MILAN - EVENING

  An old tram rolls down the street but is blocked from proceeding by a double parked delivery van.The tram driver sounds the horn repeatedly. The tram passengers become increasingly agitated and louder in their protests. Finally, the tram driver opens the doors to permit riders who desire to exit to step down.

  Roger climbs down wearing a linen jacket over a LaCoste shirt and linen slacks.His shoes are brown Gucci loafers.

  Roger looks up and down the street and then stops 2 young women who are walking past.

  ROGER (smiling)

  Scusi, ma dove c’è una ferramenta vicino a qui?

  The women discuss the matter a moment and then one replies.

  YOUNG WOMAN

  C’è una feramenta piccola drrito a 300 metri sulla destra.

  ROGER

  (smiling and nodding)

  Grazia, signorina.

  Roger proceeds down the street towards the hardware store.

  ROGER (V.O.)

  That’s the bad thing about taking a flight in a hurry: you can’t count on a seat on a reliable airline. So I rushed to get on and my bag is on the flight behind me, if I’m lucky. Now I don’t have Junior at my side and that makes me uneasy. I’ll have to find an alternative.

  No, Junior is not a person, it’s my foldable pocket knife, a Spyderco C150GP Junior to give its full name. It is not the first Junior I have left behind and it won’t be the last. If I have to make a quick flight without checked luggage, then Junior goes in the trash, only to be replaced by a new Junior at my next stop. Maybe not exactly Junior, but a knife that behaves the same way.

  What I like about Junior is that it is legal in most places and can cut through everything from envelopes and cords to flesh and small bones, tendons, cartilage, like chicken or rabbit.

  EXT. DARK STREET WITH DISTANT STREETLIGHT CASTING SHADOWS

  NIGHT

  2 dark figures, 1 hooded and 1 with a watch cap fight at close quarters. The one in the watch cap suddenly has an open knife in his left hand with the light glinting off the blade. He reaches down and slices the back of the hooded man’s leg. The hooded man falls backward.

  HOODED AND WATCH CAP Grunts of exertion.

  ROGER (V.O.)

  And it works equally well in either hand if you are truly ambidextrous like I am. People notice if you are left-handed so I generally do everything with my right hand and save the use of my left hand and arm for special occasions when the use of the left side is advantageous or can be used for psychological impact. For example, when I play racket ball or tennis and it is a close match, I will change to my left side and inform my adversary, "I see I’m going to have to switch to my good hand to beat you." It usually works.

  EXT. STREET IN MILAN - EVENING

  Roger looks in the show window at the knives on display and then enters the shop. The shop is empty except for the proprietor. Roger enters the store and a chime sounds.

  INT. HARDWARE STORE - EVENING

  PROPRIETOR

  Buona sera.

  ROGER

  Buona sera. Mi serve un Spyderco C150GP Junior o un coltello uguale.

  PROPRIETOR

  Una buona scelta. Non ho quello modello in Spyderco ma ho un altro molto simile.

  ROGER

  Va bene. Farmi vederlo.

  The proprietor goes to the shelves behind him and finds a knife in a box from which he removes the knife. He hands it to Roger who examines it carefully, opening and closing it with his left hand.

  ROGER

  Sembra molto buono.Prenderlo io.

  Roger hands the proprietor a banknote and receives the change and receipt.

  PROPRIETOR

  Vorreste la scatola e un sacchetto?

  ROGER

  No, grazia. Arrivaderla.

  Roger clips the knife into his waistband and leaves the shop.

  EXT. STREET IN MILAN - EVENING

  Roger looks both ways and decides to proceed the direction he was going, looking in the shop windows as he goes. As he walks along he looks in the shop windows. Sometimes he looks at what is in the window and other times he looks at the reflections from the street for any indication of being followed or observed. Then he feels the vibration of his cellular phone in his coat pocket.

  ROGER

  (in a low voice)

  Hello.

  Roger behaves as if he is being told a joke, smiling and laughing quietly as he glances around.

  ROGER

  Yes, everything went reasonably well. You should be able to track the progress of the shipment by the satellite tracking. I gave the driver the usuual promise of a good bonus for prompt delivery. There is a follower about a click behind the truck and he knows what to do if there are any problems. I don’t foresee any problems because all the documents are in order.

  Roger listens, nods, laughs and glances around.

  ROGER

  (in a much louder voice)

  That’s a great story, Horst, thanks for the call.

  Roger disconnects and returns the phone to his pocket. After 2 blocks he comes to a attractive bar with the sign identifying it as an osteria. The windows are not blocked and it is dark inside so someone in the bar can observe who is passing or entering without being too visible.

  INT. BAR - NIGHT

  Roger comes in through the main door of the bar, looks around and makes his way to the bar. It is early evening and the bar is almost empty.

  Roger stands at the bar looking at the bottles and the drink dispenser handles.

  BARTENDER Prego, Signore?

  ROGER

  Una birra Corona e un Jack Daniels, senza ghiaccio.

  Standing next to Roger is a big young guy Jim drinking a beer from a bottle.

  JIM (chuckling)

  You must be American with that choice but your Italian is good. Did I hear a Sicilian accent in there?

  ROGER

  Yeah, I’m from Texas but my mother took us to the family house in Sicily every summer and I don’t seem to be able to lose that accent.

  JIM

  My name’s Jim, Jim Phelps. I was raised in Florida but I’ve been an expat for a while now. I hope I’ve lost most of my accent by now.

  Jim shakes hands with Roger.

  ROGER

  Pleased to meet you, Jim.

  I’m Roger Phillips. Phelps, Phillips: We’re almost related.

  JIM (chuckling)

  Right, cugino.

  The bartender sets 2 drinks in front of Roger.

  BARTENDER

  Prego, signore.

  ROGER

  Grazie.<
br />
  Roger lifts a glass and turns to Jim.

  ROGER

  Salute!

  JIM

  A la nostra!

  Both men take a long drink and pause.

  ROGER

  So, Jim, what brings you to Milan?

  JIM

  I’m currently a drilleron an oil production platform offshore Angola. I just finished a 28 day rotation so I decided to spend a few days in a cooler climate. I’m trying to decide if I want to continue this line of work. I’m not too pleased with the way this operation is being run and maybe I’ll try the far east or Australia.

  What about you?

  ROGER

  Ah, well, for me I’m always looking for a better opportunity. I make a living selling stuff and I go where the stuff is.

  JIM

  Stuff? What kind of stuff are we talking about here?

  ROGER (chuckling)

  Don’t worry. Nothing that would interest the police.

  I spent some time in the service in the mid east and learned a lot about what people need and how to get it to them. There are always people looking for something on short notice and they are willing to pay a premium to get it. It can be oil field supplies, flu vaccine, telecoms equipment, you name it somebody is looking for something and somebody else has it. You take auto parts for example.50 years ago every car maker made their own parts. Seats, starters, even batteries were make by some division of the main car company.

  He takes a long drink.

  But that’s changed. Now they write a spec for a radio and buy it from whoever can supply it cheap and on time. But sometimes something happens that they can’t get the parts they need through the normal channels. Things fall apart. I put them back together again. I find a source. Call me an expediter. Maybe another user of the same part has a warehouse full of the parts stored but won’t really need them for 2 months. So why let that hold up production for a company that can use them right now. I made a lot of contacts when I was in the service and I have expanded them pretty well in the last few years.

  JIM

  So why don’t you just do it from Amsterdam like your partner?

  ROGER

  It’s not quite that easy. Sure the contact says they have what you need and it’s just waiting in the warehouse. But how do you know it’s the right thing and there is enough of it? In some cases I have dealt with the people for a long time and I know I can trust them to deliver. But other times I have to go verify it, check it out myself. After all, its my reputation on the line to deliver the goods. And your reputation is only as good as your last delivery. For this security buyers come to me first and are willing to pay a better premium.

  JIM

  Sounds like a good formula. Ready for another round?

  ROGER

  Sure.

  Jim nods to the bartender.

  JIM

  Di nuovo. So where do you call home now?

  ROGER

  I spend most of my time on the road so I don’t spend much time in one place but I have a small operation in Holland that handles all the details for me. It is actually a small partnership with another guy from the service who is married to a Dutch gal and prefers living in Amsterdam while I do the leg work. It works out quite well, and very profitably, for both of us.

  JIM

  Not married?

  ROGER

  Nope. I’ve avoided that trap so far.

  JIM

  Good idea. Women can sure tie you down. I lived with a great woman for a couple years but she wanted something more permanent with a couple kids in mind and I told her I wasn’t quite ready for that many restrictions, so we split up with a handshake.Well, it was a little more pleasant than a handshake.

  ROGER

  Right. No point making enemies if you don’t have to. Jim, I made a date to meet someone for dinner. She said she was bringing a friend. Why don’t you come along?

  JIM

  Thanks, that sounds like a great idea. Always better to eat a meal in good company, and the male company offshore gets a little stale.

  Roger leaves a large note on the bar and they walk to the door.

  WAITER

  Molto grazie, signori.

  EXT. BUSY STREET WITH CAFES - NIGHT ROGER

  We agreed to meet here. I have seen this woman’s picture but I have never met her before. Ah, that looks like her there.

  Roger sees 2 attractive women and proceeds towards them. Both women look towards Roger and smile. The men approach the women and Roger smiles and extends his hand.

  ROGER

  Jessica, its so good to finally meet you. Roberto told me how beautiful you are and he was not exaggerating in the least. He had shown me family pictures but I would not have recognized you from them. You were just a little girl.

  JESSICA

  Roberto never likes to carry current photos. You are Roger and questo bello è?

  ROGER

  Scusi. Ma questo è Jim, un americano ho appena incontrato, but lets speak English this evening if your lovely friend does not mind?

  JESSICA

  Ah, but this is my friend Sylvia who is a travel agent and speaks all the European languages. Sylvia, this is my brother’s friend Roger and Jim.

  SYLVIA

  Piacere.

  All the parties exchange smiles and handshakes.

  INT. STREET SIDE RESTAURANT - NIGHT SYLVIA

  This is an excellent restaurant. It’s such a lovely evening. We might sit outside unless you would rather...?

  ROGER

  No, actually I would prefer a table outside.

  They take seats at a table for four under the tent.

  ROGER

  Drinks?

  Roger waves his hand to bring a waiter.

  SYLVIA

  Un aperitivo per me.

  JESSICA

  Anche per me.

  JIM

  Un Jack Daniels senza ghiaccio.

  ROGER

  Bene, e un whisky per me, anche senza ghiaccio.

  The waiter leaves to fetch the drinks.

  ROGER

  Jim is in the oil business and has been working in Angola.

  SYLVIA

  How interesting! I am currently arranging a trip for a youth group to Angola. I have never been there myself. Maybe you can tell me some things that are not in the travel guidebooks.

  JIM

  Yes, I can tell you many things that they don’t print in the guidebooks. The guidebooks tend to become out of date a week before they are printed. It is always better to plan with news from someone who has just been to a place.

  Jim and Sylvia start a private conversation. Roger turns to Jessica.

  ROGER

  Now, Jessica, I know this is not purely a social meeting although I am very pleased to meet you.

  JESSICA

  Yes, Roger, I need your help. Or I should say, we need your help.

  ROGER

  Your brother has saved my neck many times so any assistance I can give will be my pleasure.

  JESSICA

  Roberto is in the hospital and will be there for a while. He will recover but he will not be of any help to you, or his family, for many months.

  The waiter brings the drinks.

  JESSICA

  I don’t know how much my brother has told you about our family’s business.

  ROGER

  Very little in fact. I know it has something to do with a winery but I don’t know much more than that.

  JESSICA

  I am surprised he did not tell you more. We are all so proud of how successful my father has been in growing our wine business. The winery has been in the family for centuries but it was always small until my father developed it about forty years ago. He has expanded and modernized it with new facilities and techniques.

  FLASHBACK TO

  EXT. CAR PARK IN FRONT OF WINERY - DAY- FLASHBACK SEQUENCE JESSICA (V.O.)

  And he is alway
s looking for new markets so when he was contacted by a man who said he represented a large cruise line he was very excited. Not only would it mean more sales to the cruise ships, but it would spread the name of our wines worldwide. He invited the gentleman to visit our winery.

  A car arrives and parks and a well dressed visitor steps out. From the winery Giulio in suit steps out. He looks at his watch and smiles. The men shake hands and they talk with Giulio nodding and listening with a smile as the visitor talks.

  JESSICA (V.O.)

  This man came and received a tour of the winery, but it is now apparent that he was already aware of how successful my father had been and was only interested in buying the business at a very low price. But my father did not know that so he told the man about some of his expansion plans and he mentioned a particular piece of new German equipment that he was planning to buy to improve the quality of the wines.

  Jessica’s father is shown leading the visitor around the winery, pointing out the fields of vines and then the wine making equipment.

  INT. SMALL WELL FURNISHED OFFICE - DAY- FLASHBACK SEQUENCE JESSICA (V.O.)

  They went to my father’s office where they had coffee together.

  The 2 men are in the office with Giulio seated behind desk and the visitor in a guest’s chair.

  Jessica (V.O.)

  At this point the visitor said the winery was everything he had hoped but there was a little more to the business than just supplying wine to the cruised line. The cruise line was interested in buying a variety of wines. They could do this through a distributor but they preferred to deal directly with the producers.

  The visitor is talking as Giulio nods understanding.

  Jessica (V.O.)

  The visitor in fact had his own small winery but only produced a single variety and had decided to expand by buying other wineries that would offer the range the cruise line sought. He had already purchased three other small wineries and ours would be the jewel in the tiara.

  Giulio frowns and stands behind the desk.

  JESSICA (V.O.)

  The visitor said he would make us an irresistible offer that would make us wealthy once the cruise line contract was awarded. My father said he was not at all interested no matter how large the offer.

  He led the man to the door and the man said to consider his actions carefully.

  The visitor is at the door speaking in a determined manner but Giulio shakes his head and makes gestures of rejection.

  INT. OFFICE - DAY (ONE WEEK LATER)- FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

  GIULIO is seated at his desk reading a trade magazine. He circles an ad with his pen and calls on his cellular. Momentarily Roberto enters the office and looks at the circled ad.

  JESSICA (V.O.)

  About a week later my father saw an ad for the exact piece of equipment in a trade magazine. The ad said it was for sale due to a failure of a winery. There was no phone number, just an email address. My father sent an email asking if the equipment was still available. Soon there was an email reply that the equipment had not been sold but they were dealing with another potential buyer so immediate action was required.

  Giulio showing screen with email message to Roberto, then speaking to Roberto.

  ROBERTO nodding understanding.

  JESSICA (V.O.)

  They agreed that Roberto would go examine the equipment the next day. They sent an email and received a reply soon with a time and directions to the location in the country. The location was about two hours south near the E45.

  EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY- FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

  ROBERTO driving and looking at navigator. He passes an E45 sign then turns off on a dirt road.

  EXT. OUTSIDE FARM BUILDING - DAY-

  FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

  ROBERTO stops car in large parking area near another car. A young man in a jacket comes out of the farm building smiling. Roberto leaves leaves his car and they shake hands and chat for a moment before the young man in a jacket leads him to the door of the farm building.

  JESSICA (V.O.)

  Roberto said the young man was so pleasant that he did not suspect anything and followed the man into the building.

  INT. FARM BUILDING, EMPTY CRATES - DAY-

  FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

  JESSICA (V.O.)

  Roberto entered the building which was dark compared to the outside so he did not notice the young man had stayed behind him at the door. Then he was struck from behind and as he fell he saw two men step out from the crates.

  The young man leads Roberto through the door who then strikes him on the neck with a small club. two men kick Roberto as he lies on the ground.

  JESSICA (V.O.)

  They obviously did not want to kill Roberto or they could have easily done it. Roberto woke later and managed to pull himself to the doorway. Sometime later a passing farm worker saw him and called for assistance.

  EXT. DOOR OF FARM BUIIDING - TWILIGHT

  FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

  Roberto lying in open doorway with bruised face and dirty clothes. Small tractor parked nearby with farm worker talking to Carabinieri. An ambulance arrives. Roberto is loaded on stretcher and placed in ambulance which leaves with blue lights flashing.

  BACK TO PRESENT

  ROGER

  I see the whole picture. The doctors say he will make a full recovery?

  JESSICA

  Yes, given time and care. When he is well enough we will send him to a rehabilitation facility in Switzerland.

  JIM

  I don’t know what you two are plotting but Sylvia and I are both ready to eat.

  ROGER

  Sorry, Jim. Sylvia, I am sure you know what is good here. Why don’t you order for the four of us.

  SYLVIA

  As you wish.

  TIME CUT

  INT. STREET SIDE RESTAURANT - NIGHT, LATER

  The table has only liqueur glasses and coffee cups.

  JIM

  That was an excellent selection of foods, Sylvia.

  SYLVIA

  Thank you, Jim, but all I did was order.

  JESSICA

  Grazie for the lovely evening but we both have to be at work early in the morning.

  JIM

  But it’s still early and the weather is so good. At least let us take you for a walk.

  SYLVIA

  We’d like to but we need to catch the metro before they stop running.

  JIM

  Fine, we will walk you to the metro.

  EXT. METRO ENTRANCE - NIGHT

  The 2 couples walk down into the metro.

  INT. METRO STATION - NIGHT

  ROGER

  Let us take the metro with you.

  JESSICA

  Really that is not necessary.

  JIM (hurriedly)

  Actually, I’m for walking myself if you don’t mind.

  ROGER

  Jessica, I will be in touch with you tomorrow about this matter.

  All parties kiss lightly as friends and the women go through the turnstiles.

  JESSICA (waving)

  Grazie di nuovo. Ciao.

  SYLVIA

  Grazie e buona notte.

  Roger turns to Jim as they leave the metro station.

  EXT. METRO ENTRANCE - NIGHT ROGER

  What was that about? I thought you and Sylvia were becoming good friends.

  JIM

  Sorry. Yes, we got along very well. I’d like to see her again.

  ROGER

  Then...?

  JIM

  It goes back to when I was about eight years old in Florida.

  FLASHBACK TO

  EXT. DEEP SANDY DRAINAGE DITCH - DAY

  Three 8 year old boys with sticks walking in the ditch and poking things with the sticks. Two go ahead while one falls behind poking at a brass object in the sand. He stops to pull on the object.

  Sound of boys yelling.

  JIM (V.O.)

  There was a lot of property development go
ing on then. There always is in Florida. Part of the work is excavating drainage ditches. We kids used to like to explore them. There were stories that Spanish gold had been found in these excavations. So when I saw the shiny metal I thought I had struck it rich. I dug with the stick and then with my hands. But when I tried to pull the object out of the side of the ditch the soil above suddenly collapsed upon me. I could hardly breathe.

  The sandy soil collapses on the boy. The sand moves and muffled sounds can be heard from the sand. The other two boys stop walking.

  BOY 1

  Hey! Where’s Jim?

  BOY 2

  I don’t know. He was right behind us.

  BOY 1

  Wait! I heard a funny sound.

  The boys turn and run back along the ditch.

  BOY 1 AND BOY 2

  Jim! Where are you? Jim! Jim!

  The boys see the mound of sand and begin digging with their hands.

  BACK TO PRESENT

  JIM

  They got me out in time but since then I am nervous in tight, unlit places. I like to sleep with a light on and I don’t even like heavy bedding. That’s why I prefer walking above ground to riding in a tube below ground.

  ROGER

  I understand. We’ll walk back then.

  As they pass a bar Jim walks into the bar. He turns back to Roger.

  JIM

  That food made me thirsty. Would you like something to drink?

  ROGER

  No, thanks, I’m fine.

  They continue walking, Jim with a bottle of beer hanging from his right hand, until they are on a narrower street with no traffic and no signs of life. Four men approach from the other direction.

  FOUR MEN

  (indistinct talking and laughing)

  One of the men steps out from the others with a small pocket knife in his hand in front of him.

  MAN WITH KNIFE

  Dammi i suoi portafogli!

  Jim breaks the bottom off his beer bottle as Roger takes his new knife from his waistband and opens it with his left hand. Roger and Jim slowly wave their weapons in front of them so the street light flashes from the knife blade and the broken beer bottle.

  JIM

  No, cazzi! Dammi i suoi portfogli puttanati!

  ROGER

  (in Sicilian)

  Si, e prendo io quelle i collane d’oro, con o senza i suoi sanguine su quegli!

  The four men quickly turn and run away.

  Jim and Roger look at each other and laugh.

  ROGER

  That was not half bad, Jim.

  JIM

  Yeah, it was fun but I wasted a half bottle of beer!

  ROGER (laugning)

  Look, you’re in Italy! Just drink wine now.

  EXT. STREET CAFE - DAY

  Roger is drinking coffee at a table with an Italian newspaper in his hands. Jim walks up.

  JIM

  Buon giorno, amico.

  ROGER

  Jim! Buon giorno a te. Had breakfast?

  JIM

  Not yet.

  Jim sits at the table with Roger and Roger waves to the waiter.

  ROGER

  Due caffe. Jim how do you take it?

  JIM

  Corretto per favore con un brioche.

  The waiter nods and goes into the cafe for the order..

  ROGER

  Jim, you handled yourself very well last night.

  JIM

  With the girls or with the boys?

  ROGER (laughing)

  Both. But how you did with the boys interested me more.

  JIM

  Habits and training kick in when you need them.

  ROGER

  You said you were tired of the oil business. I’ve got some business to take care of south of here. I was planning on help from Jessica’s brother Roberto but now he is the one who needs the help. I could use your skills.

  JIM

  And which ones would those be?

  ROGER

  From what you showed last night and what you told me before there are a number of things you could do. And I get the impression I have not seen all you can do.

  JIM (shrugging)

  What do you have in mind?

  ROGER

  I need to buy a vehicle and then head over towards Ravenna and down south of there to check on Roberto and his father. After that I was thinking of driving down to my family’s place in Sicily.

  All at a leisurely pace. Part business, but more pleasure. I pay all the expenses and give you a little cash for your bar tab. You give me a hand when I need backup.

  JIM

  I’ve got all the time in the world. Sounds like it could be interesting. Count me in.

  The men laugh and shake hands.

  EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

  The vehicle drives past with the top down showing the two men and as the vehicle recedes in front the camera pans to show the countryside in the background and then focuses on the E45 road sign in the foreground.