The Deceit

We see a setting sun fast receding over an empty suburban street as day turns into dusk, harsh footsteps violate the tranquility.

Cross dissolve:

An attractive young woman, MERCEDES, the source of the footsteps, late twenties, dressed in a fashionable winter coat is striding confidently along a quiet street. She looks to be in a hurry.

Mercedes' mobile phone rings. She stops abruptly, snaps shut her lipstick mirror, pockets it, pauses and stares at the name on the cell screen: Beatrice, this is an important call, she answers. Only Mercedes' voice is audible.

MERCEDES

Hey you, did you sort everything

out at your end?

Mercedes listens.

MERCEDES cont

I wouldn't, curiosity killed the cat, and he's a damn fool anyway.

Mercedes listens.

MERCEDES cont

Dantean I think not, any attempt at redemption on his part would simply be uncouth... Still, he's a handsome thing.

Mercedes listens.

MERCEDES cont

Vanity, finance, desire... Darling we're fallen angels, not cherubim.

(laughing)

Mercedes listens.

MERCEDES cont

Hell hath no fury like a women scorned. This is simple, amoral,

The sun further recedes over the empty street

Cross dissolve:

(pause) perfect. Bye for now.

Mercedes snaps shut her mobile phone, pockets it, and regains her stride.

EXT- RESIDENTAIL FRONT PATHWAY- TWILIGHT

Mercedes strides confidently up to the door of a street-side apartment and knocks sharply three times. After a brief wait the door is opened by ANTONIO, an early thirties businessman wearing an olive black vest over a partially unbuttoned crisp white shirt, he is holding a martini in each hand.

ANTONIO

(Deviously)

Fancy a drink? MERCEDES

Why certainly

Mercedes leans in close to Antonio, clasps one of the drinks in her right hand, raises it to her nose and carefully smells it before leaning in closer to Antonio's ear.

MERCEDES

(In reference to the martini)

Dirty? ANTONIO

Of course

Mercedes takes a sip from the glass lowers it to hang gently in her hand, leaving a smear of lipstick on the rim. Antonio leads her inside.

INT-ANTONIO'S LIVING ROOM

Antonio is sprawled comfortably across a plush sofa, drink in hand, he is staring lasciviously at Mercedes. She removes her coat revealing an elegant jet black cocktail dress, she places the coat neatly on the sofa adjacent to Antonio, against which also rests an antique pistol, and sits down. Her eyes flick to the pistol and then back to Antonio.

MERCEDES

So I take it everything went to plan?

ANTONIO

Yeah, took a while to get it working though... But thinking about that stupid wench with a gun in my hand was pretty tantalizing.

MERCEDES

(teasing)

You shouldn't talk about your wife like that Killing animals is one thing...

ANTONIO

She is an animal, a fucking vulture!

MERCEDES

(teasing/ominous)

Does that make you an owl then? I doubt that your beak and talons are any less fierce, and any less calculating.

Mercedes lets slip a subtle but knowing smile in Antonio's direction.

ANTONIO

(taken aback)

Play nice.

Mercedes' glance shifts from Antonio to the pistol resting against the flank of the sofa on which she is sitting.

MERCEDES

I've never fired a gun you know.

MERCEDES puts down her drink and tentatively picks up the nearby gun, but her fingering of the pistol almost betrays her carefully disguised familiarity with its mechanics, however, Antonio remains ignorant.

ANTONIO

Well before it gets used, it needs a clean, there's a kit Under the sofa if you fancy a quick tutorial.

Mercedes reaches her slender arm under the sofa and withdraws a smart briefcase, she opens the clasps revealing a small can of grease, some polish, a dirty rag, and four old-school bullets, and a tin of gun powder. Opening the polish, she applies some to the rag and begins to clean the exterior of the weapon.

ANTONIO

(enquiringly)

You seem to have a fair idea of what you're doing.

MERCEDES

(condescending)

Boys and their toys! When will you learn?

ANTONIO

Ouch, perhaps every now and again boys just might need their toys. You can get a lot more with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone.

MERCEDES

(condescending)

I suppose you're right, although quoting gangsters doesn't make you any more appealing honey.

ANTONIO

(laughing)

So then, are you here then for my boyish good looks and youthful charm?

MERCEDES

Or perhaps for the insatiable size of your back pocket.

Mercedes winks provocatively and exposes the underside of her wrist revealing a delicately adorned Tiffany's bracelet.

Antonio retreats into silence as his face assumes a disinterested expression. He produces an elegant cigarette case from his breast pocket and proceeds to light up a cigarette. Meanwhile Mercedes finishes polishing the pistol, and throws it over to Antonio. Antonio catches it as Mercedes gently pushes the suitcase with the cleaning gear and the bullets over to him with her foot.

MERCEDES

Could you be a darling for me and load it? I've never handled a loaded gun before.

Antonio shrugs nonchalantly, removes a bullet from the case and expertly places it into the chamber of the pistol, puffing on his cigarette all the while, before cocking the gun and placing it on the sofa next to him. Mercedes smiles generously.

MERCEDES

Purely out of interest where is it exactly that you managed to find a hitman?

ANTONIO

Through some colleagues of mine would you believe it, he's an evil fucker, but an absolute professional, we met the other week over caviar and a bottle of Laurent Perrier, I picked up the bill of corse.

Mercedes laughs curtly at Antonio's response, clearly bemused by his approach and handling of his divorce. She raises herself from the sofa and saunters sexily over to Antonio, bends over him and removes a cigarette from the case which is sitting next to him on the sofa. She then places it gently in her lips and lights up via the already lit cigarette that hangs loosely from Antonio's mouth. She then lowers her face to his, kisses him gently on the cheek and whispers in his ear.

MERCEDES

But honey, why not hire a female assassin, it's far sexier?

Mercedes then places her finger against his lips, encouraging Antonio's silence. Cigarette in mouth she reaches over him, picks up the pistol and retreats elegantly a few steps. There she remains standing striking a daunting pose, fitted black dress, limp cigarette, and pistol resting against her shoulder. Antonio stares enthralled at the Valkyrian image in front him.

ANTONIO

I look for a women as a mistress or a confidant. In an assassin I require a ruthless and objective killer. A fucking robot, for Christ's sake, not some sexy minx with a size two waist and a fondness for firearms.

Mercedes

You don't think I'd make a good assassin?

ANTONIO

(smugly)

Please, you know it as well as I do, it's a man's job. What kind of idiot would be dumb enough to hire a female assassin?

Mercedes breaks forth in a fiendish but still subtle smile, she slowly but confidently levels the pistol at Antonio's head.

MERCEDES

Your wife.

A shotgun is heard going off

Fade to black