NATURAL BORN KILLERS

                         WAYNE
               I'm with you.  (into recorder)
               Testing one...two...three...over.  Oh man this
               place brings back memories.  I did my first
               network interview in this place.  Remember
               Sonny "The Beast" Maricopa.

     They shake their heads.

                         WAYNE
               Years ago.  Great welterweight.  But dumb --
               like all these killers, couldn't count the eyes
               in his head.  Beat his bimbo girlfriend to
               death, then mutilated her.  Ever box?

                         DEPUTY WARDEN
               A little.  Back when...

                         WAYNE
               Yeah.  I was nowhere near as good as Sonny
               but...I could hit.  I had some power.  Some
               moves.  I was a dancer...

     FLASHBACK - INT. GYM - DAY

     A sudden disconnected image of WAYNE beating a bag, lathered
     up, a real anger expressing itself.

     BACK TO WAYNE - PRESENT

                         WAYNE (Cont.)
               Anyway there I was just another punk kid from
               the streets of New York, got a free ride to
               Columbia, got out of school, kissed some ass
               over at CBS, and my first pony out the gate I
               get to interview Sonny Maricopa.  That was
               something.

     During this, Wayne's expression tightens as he hears the
     approaching SLAM of doors and the CLANKING of chains and now the
     sound of "his" FOOTSTEPS:

                         WAYNE
               Ohhhkkkaaaay.....showtime

     The gate slides open.  MICKEY KNOX is led in by TWO DEPUTIES,
     wearing a blue jumpsuit with a thick and wide leather belt around
     the waist and metal rings built into each side.  Long sturdy
     chains with handcuffs on each end are wrapped across his body and
     through the rings, binding his arms to his sides.  His hands and
     feet are double-cuffed.

     The DEPUTIES have their guns drawn, ready to blow Mickey in half
     at the slightest provocation.  Yet for a man wrapped and bound in.
     chains, Mickey seems strangely in control of his environment.

     He is seated roughly on the prisoner's side of the glass.

     Wayne starts to smile but something weird happens.  The smile
     gets stuck on his face.  He can't stop smiling his all-American
     you-must-love-me smile.  It just hangs there, embarrassing and
     noticeable to everyone in the room.

     Mickey waits -- what's wrong with this guy?

     Finally Wayne gets control of his nerves.

                         WAYNE
               Hi, Mickey. We've never been introduced, but I'm...I'm
               Wayne Gale. (starts to laugh again) Oh jeesus! Oh god!

                         MICKEY (cutting it short)
               Hey.  I know who you are.  You're famous...

                         WAYNE
               Hey I could say the same about you. (smiles) I
               want to thank you for seeing me. (Mickey waits)
               I have a television show.  Every few weeks as
               part of our look at current America we profile
               a different serial killer.  You don't mind if I
               call you a serial killer, do you?

                         MICKEY (shrugs)
               Technically, mass murderer.

                         WAYNE
               Whatever. The episode we did on Mickey and
               Mallory was one of our most popular ones.

                         MICKEY
               Y'ever do one on John Wayne Gacy?

                         WAYNE
               Yes.

                         MICKEY
               Whose ratings were higher?

                         WAYNE
               Yours.

                         MICKEY
               How 'bout Ted Bundy?  Ever do one on him?

                         WAYNE
               Yes.  Yours got the larger Nielsen share.

                         MICKEY
               Good.  Yuppie piece of shit.

                         WAYNE
               What I'd like to do --

                         MICKEY
               How 'bout Manson?

                         WAYNE
               Manson beat you.

                         MICKEY
               Yeah, it's pretty hard to beat the king.

                         WAYNE (indicating Julie)
               Julie, my producer...and I...
                    (Julie nods; she's mute)
               ...we've been waiting to do a follow-up episode
               on you for a long time.  And that time has
               definitely come
                    (encouraged, Julie makes a strange, grunting sound
                    of approval)
               I feel it's apparent to anyone who's hip to
               what's going on that the Prison Board has
               thrown the Constitution straight out the
               fuckin' window.  You and Mallory may be killers
               but nuts, insane? NOT.  You're being
               railroadedinto a hospital for the sole purpose
               of turning you into a vegetable.  Now some
               people are saying, "So what."  I am not one of
               those people.  If we avert our eyes while they
               do this to you, we give them permission to do
               it again whenever they see fit.  Today, they
               wipe clean your mind because they feel your
               actions are dangerous, tomorrow they wipe clean
               my mind -- or dump me in syndication -- because
               they feel what I say is dangerous.  Where does
               it all end?  That's my angle.

     No response from Mickey.

                         WAYNE (looks at Julie and back to Mickey)
               My problem Mickey, is you don't exactly inspire
               empathy.  I'm all alone on this.  I need your
               help.  I have interviews with the Prison Board,
               with Warden Dwight McClusky -- and I'm telling
               ya Mickey, they look bad.  The two
               psychologists they used for their kangaroo
               court won't talk to us -- which also looks bad.
               I have an interview with the judge at your
               trial Bert Steinsma, and the psychologist and
               famous author Emil Reignold -- both of which
               discount the notion you're insane.  What we
               need now is YOU.  You haven't talked to the
               press since your trial.  Now a few days before
               you get transferred to an asylum, you give an
               exclusive to Wayne Gale.  We're talking a media
               event here.  A 40/50 share.  We run this during
               the Sweeps, the network'll be creaming for it,
               promos on the Super Bowl -- (new idea) hey,
               I'll even ask 'em to program it same day as the
               Super Bowl!  Right after it!  They might go for
               it. Television history.  The first sit down, in-
               depth interview with the most charismatic
               serial killer ever, one day before he's being
               shipped to a mental hospital for the rest of
               his life.  This is Wallace with Noriega, Elton
               John confessing his bi-sexuality to Rolling
               Stone, this is the Maysles Brothers at
               Altamont, this is the Nixon/Frost interviews.

     INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - DAY

     Watching them through one-way glass are the WARDEN and SCAGNETTI.

                         WAYNE
               Every sonofabitch out there witha TV's gonna be
               looking at you Mickey, listening to your words.
               Sell 'em on your sanity.  You're composed, you're
               articulate, you may be a cold-blooded killer but
               you're obviously not a nut.  We'll shame 'em into
               dropping the whole thing.  Whattaya say?

                         MICKEY
               You got any gum?

     Wayne has a duty free bag filled with items -- gum, multi-
     vitamins, fruit shakes, health food.

                         WAYNE
               Gum, spearmint, big red? Multi-vitamins? I even
               got a fruit shake.

                         MICKEY
               You got a guitar you can give me?

                         WAYNE (hopeful)
               I'll bring a guitar next time!

                         MICKEY (pause)
               You talked to Mallory about this?

                         WAYNE
               She won't see me Mickey.  Now you're not
               supposed to know anything about what's going on
               with her, but since you two been sentenced,
               Mallory hasn't spoken one word.  All she does
               is sing.

                         MICKEY
               She sings?  What does she sing?

                         WAYNE
               Songs.  "He's a Rebel" "Leader of the pack,"
               that Dusty Springfield tear-jerker, "I Only
               Want To Be With You."  Her behavior's the main
               thing the doctors used against you.  So even if
               she'd see me which she won't, I can't put her
               on camera anyway.  If I ask her, Mallory, are
               you insane?"  And she starts singing, "Dead
               Skunk in the Middle of the Road," that blows
               our whole case.

     Mickey cracks a smile.  The GUARD comes over to take him away.

                         DEPUTY
               Time, motherfucker!

                         WAYNE (jumping up)
               Wait a minute!  Wait a minute!  Civilization
               rules here, civilization!  Let him answer
               me...Come on Mickey, whaddaya say?  Time is
               running out...

     Pause.  Mickey being pulled up by the Guards, strangely in
     control.  CAMERA suddenly TRUCKING in on him -- a bizarre sound
     as if a plan has now kicked off in his malevolent mind.

                         MICKEY (quietly)
               I say, go for it...

     He exits with Guards. Wayne stunned, turns to Julie.

                         WAYNE
               "Yes!"  Am I God or what!  This saves us,
               Jules, this saves us.  That asshole didn't know
               it but we were over, we were history,
               shitcanned.  This gives us another whole
               season!  Takes us to the end of the year!  I'll
               renegotiate with network, million dollars more
               on the contract, maybe Sunday night, maybe you
               get a little more money...One fucking "Yes,"
               Yes! Yes! Yes!

     INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - SIMULTANEOUS DAY

     SCAGNETTI has the opposite reaction.

                         SCAGNETTI
               Why the hell you lettin' that scumbag do this,
               Dwight?

                         MCCLUSKY
               Relax. If I don't, we'll be excoriated in the
               press. If I do, it'll be weeks before they
               clear it.

                         WURLITZER
               Legal, appeals.

                         MCCLUSKY
               And M & M are gonna be post toasties before
               that ever happens, right Jack?  And no one's
               gonna give a flying fuck about two dead losers.

     INT. VISITING ROOM - DAY

     The WARDEN, followed by SCAGNETTI, enters the room, smiling.

                         MCCLUSKY (to Wayne)
               Everything all right Mr. Gale?

     WAYNE, seeing the Warden, switches character instantly.

                         WAYNE
               Warden McClusky -- a man made for the camera.
               Too bad James Arness just kicked off. And Ted
               Danson's busy.  He would've been just perfect
               for your life story.

                         MCCLUSKY (chuckling)
               How 'bout Johnny Cash? Is he available? Maybe
               you know Jack Scagnetti -- he's gonna be
               helping us with the transfer.

     Wayne, affable, shakes hands.  Scagnetti treats him like vermin.

                         WAYNE
               Of course.  America's favorite cop.  "Scagnetti
               on Scagnetti" great book -- makes me want to do
               one of my own.  You paved the way Jack...

                         SCAGNETTI
               And you shit on it you little turkey-neck.

                         WAYNE
               Turkeyneck, eh? Am I? You better get back on
               the stairmaster, Scagnetti.

                         MCCLUSKY
               Boys boys.

                         WAYNE
               Heh heh Jack isn't too fond of our show; we
               sometimes give the B.O.D. to the defendants.
               You know "human rights" --

                         MCCLUSKY
               B.O.D.?

                         WAYNE
               "Benefit of the doubt"

                         SCAGNETTI
               What doubt?  Mickey and Mallory are turds, you
               little sissy. Australia is a penal colony,
               isn't it.  The only doubt I got is you --

                         MCCLUSKY (contains him)
               Uh Jack! ... Jack's sort of our avenging angel
               you might say.

                         WAYNE
               In any case, he says yes.

                         MCCLUSKY
               I figured he would.  But I want to keep contact
               with the population to a minimum.

     EXT. PRISON CORRIDOR - DAY

     The WARDEN shuttling the GROUP back out into the CELLBLOCKS,
     towards the exit.

                         MCCLUSKY (Cont'd)
               They hate Mickey Knox in here.  They see him as
               a publicity hound.  It's bound to stir 'em up.
               It's gotta be done my way.

                         WAYNE
               No problem.  Just give me a big room and I'll
               take it from there.  We're "stealth"
               journalists.

     As they walk off, we hear:

                         WAYNE (Cont'd)
               My crew is the crew that got inside the Shining
               Path for a face to face with Abimayel Guzman
               while the BBB was stuck at the airport
               scratching their nuts.  If I were you, chief,
               I'd worry more about the promos that start
               hitting the air next week.  You're a
               national face, Warden -- a real hero to the
               American public.  You run a
               damn impressive ship here.  And...frankly, who
               knows?  Something like this could launch a new
               career in public office for you.  So I'll have
               my producer Julie call you in the morning to
               work out the details.  I got a plane to catch
               right now to New York.

                                                            CUT TO:

     INT. MICKEY KNOX CELL - DAY

     CAMERA drifting to MICKEY lying on his bunk. A high security
     single cell. Lawbooks, no pinups, a fax, a telephone,
     television.  He writes Mallory a letter.

                         MICKEY (V.O.)
               Dearest Mallory...You once told me I had no
               feelings.  You were right and you were wrong.
               I got more feelings now than I ever had before.
               I never missed someone like I miss you.  My
               cell is so cold.  At night I get the chills.
               pretend you're lying next to me,holding me from
               behind with your leg draped over mine and your
               arms wrapped tightly around me.  I lie in my
               cell...

     WIDE SHOT off the cell.

                                                     DISSOLVING TO:

     INT. MALLORY'S CELL - DAY

     Not knowing where we are, CAMERA moves across a wall into a CU of
     MALLORY.

                         MICKEY (V.O.)
               ...and imagine kissing you.  Not making love,
               just kissing for hours and hours on end.  I
               remember everything about our time.  I remember
               every joke you ever told.

     INT. MICKEY CELL - DAY

     CLOSE UP of the LETTER being written over the WIDE SHOT of the
     cell.

                         MICKEY (V.O.)
               I remember every secret you ever shared.
               Shared or revealed?  I think shared is proper.
               I remember every single time you laughed.

     ECU of Mickey, mouthing the words as he writes.  We can hear
     Mallory's laugh -- a distant haunting echo.

                         MICKEY (V.O.)
               I remember every meal we ever ate.  I remember
               your cooking.  I remember watching David
               Letterman.

     We hear the echo of television laughter.

                         MICKEY (V.O.)
               I remember driving fast behind the wheel of the
               Dodge Challenger.

     The sound of the Dodge Challenger swells as we...

                                                       INTERCUT TO:

     INT. MALLORY'S CELL - DAY

     MALLORY is moving her body in the middle of the cell to a music
     only she can hear, then begins to sing "All of Me" (B. Holiday)
     in slow acapella, using the cell as the stage and a man who isn't
     there as her audience.

                         MALLORY (singing)
               I'm no good without you
               Take my lips I want to lose them
               Take my arms I'll never use them
               You took the part that once was my heart
               So why not take ALL OF ME.

                         MICKEY (V.O.)
               You, baby, by my side.  Your bare feet up on
               the dash, singing along with the radio, "He's A
               Rebel,"  "Ring of Fire," "Groove Me,"...and
               your dancing, my God, your dancing.  I lie on
               my bed and go over every day, every minute of
               our happiness.  Every day take a day of our
               time and go through it hour by hour.  I don't
               jump ahead either.  I take it as it comes, and
               I live that day again.  That way when I get to
               our first kiss...

                                                       DISSOLVE TO:

     FLASHBACK

     INT. MALLORY'S PARENTS' LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

     The set is sitcom TV format.  The lighting is flat, the
     performances and timing are TV.  It is SHOT in three camera
     SITCOM FORMAT -- possibly BLACK and WHITE, harkening back to an
     earlier era in Mickey's mind.  The time when he first saw TV.

                         MICKEY (V.O.)
               ...they're not just memories.  I feel that joy
               again.  And I am no longer in prison.  We're
               together again.  And when my head hurts and I
               can remember no longer, I write you letters and
               send them telepathically to your heart.

     MALLORY gets a big handful of AUDIENCE APPLAUSE as she comes down
     the stairs, dressed to the nines, punky, sexy, ready to trot --
     yet a sweet girl's expression, maybe with braces.

                         MALLORY
               Hello Dad, how was work?

     DAD is a strange-looking hombre, seated at the table, exhausted
     and angry in a dirty undershirt.

                         DAD
               Work?  What work! I'm unemployed.  Three years.
               I'm unemployed.
                    (LAUGHTRACK)

     MOM is always-smiling with cracked-egg eyes, serving him a large
     salt cracker with pea soup.

                         MOM
               You look nice, Mallory.

     Her younger brother, KEVIN, is doing his homework at the table.

                         KEVIN
               Yuck. She looks like...uccckkk.
                    (LAUGHTRACK)

                         MALLORY (ignoring Kevin)
               Thanks Mom.  I'm late. I'll be back by midnight.

                         DAD
               What are you wearing? A broom stick in a trash
               bag.  A few pounds lighter and you'd be Miss
               Ethiopia. Where the hell do you think you're
               going?

                         MALLORY
               To the John Lee Hooker concert.  With Donna.  I
               told you yesterday.

     Dad rises and tracks her across the living room.  She's evidently
     not going anywhere tonight in his mind.

                         DAD
               First off, you don't tell me anything, you ask
               my permission.  Second, you can't go out in
               that whorehouse dress.  Third, you can't go out
               at all.  You didn't mow the yard.

     Mom keeps her smile intact.  But Mallory loses her schoolgirl
     sheen and becomes the Mallory we know and love.