Trust no one, not even yourself – in this twisted tale of crime, betrayal, and a legendary criminal mastermind.
Watch the original version of The Usual Suspects
Prologue:
Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint sits alone, waiting for the feds to enter. Outside the room, a team of investigators is poring over evidence from a disastrous heist that ended in a massive explosion at San Pedro harbor. Verbal is the only one left alive to tell the tale, and he knows that his life hangs in the balance as he prepares to spin a story that will either save him or condemn him.
As the door opens and the feds enter the room, Verbal braces himself for what’s to come. He knows that he’s about to take them on a wild ride, one that will involve a master criminal known only as Keyser Soze. Verbal is convinced that Soze is more than just a myth, and that he played a crucial role in the heist that went wrong. But the feds are skeptical, and Verbal knows that he has his work cut out for him if he’s going to convince them that Soze is real.
Chapter 1: The Setup
Verbal Kint sits in the cramped interrogation room, waiting for the feds to begin the questioning. He takes a deep breath and begins to recount the events that led up to the heist, starting with the day that he and his four partners were hired to do a job for a mysterious figure known only as “Mr. Kobayashi.”
Verbal describes the members of his team, each of whom had their own reasons for getting involved in the heist. There was Dean Keaton, a former cop with a troubled past; Michael McManus, a suave con artist with a penchant for danger; Fred Fenster, a nervous, jittery thief with a thick accent; and Todd Hockney, a brash, hot-headed criminal with a talent for explosives.
As Verbal describes the planning process, the feds begin to realize just how well thought out the heist was. They wonder how a group of small-time criminals could have pulled off such a complex operation, and Verbal explains that it was all thanks to Keyser Soze.
Verbal describes Soze as a master criminal, a man with almost supernatural powers of persuasion and control. He claims that Soze was the one who orchestrated the entire operation, from start to finish, and that he was the only one who knew the true objective of the heist.
The feds are skeptical of Verbal’s story, but they can’t help but be intrigued by the idea of a criminal mastermind like Keyser Soze. They press Verbal for more details, and he obliges, spinning a tale that involves the mafia, drug lords, and corrupt businessmen all vying for control of a valuable piece of cargo.
As Verbal speaks, the tension in the room grows, and the feds begin to realize that they may be dealing with something much bigger than a simple heist gone wrong. They start to wonder if Keyser Soze really exists, and if he does, what his ultimate goal might be.
Verbal finishes his story, leaving the feds with more questions than answers. They’re not sure what to believe, but they know that they need to investigate further. They leave the room, leaving Verbal alone once again to contemplate his fate.
As Verbal sits in silence, he can’t help but wonder if he’s made a mistake by revealing so much. He knows that Keyser Soze is a dangerous man, and that by speaking his name, he may have just signed his own death warrant.
Chapter 2: The Players
Verbal Kint leans back in the wooden chair, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he begins to introduce the members of his team. He starts with McManus, a hard-edged criminal with a sharp tongue and a quick trigger finger. McManus was the muscle of the group, always ready to step in when things got rough.
Then there was Fenster, the wildcard of the team. A small-time crook with a big mouth, Fenster’s street smarts and quick wit had been invaluable in pulling off the heist. But there was always the sense that he was playing his own game, that he had his own agenda that he wasn’t sharing with the rest of the team.
The third member of the team was Hockney, a former art forger with a talent for forgery and counterfeiting. Hockney had provided the team with the necessary fake IDs and paperwork to pull off the heist. But there was something about him that made Verbal uneasy, a sense that he was holding something back.
Finally, there was Keaton, the mastermind of the operation. Verbal had known Keaton for years, and had always been in awe of his ability to plan and execute high-profile heists. Keaton was charming, charismatic, and had a way of getting what he wanted by any means necessary.
As Verbal describes each member of the team, their personalities and backstories begin to emerge. McManus had grown up on the tough streets of Boston, where he had learned to fight and survive by any means necessary. Fenster had come up in the ranks of petty criminals, building a reputation for himself as a smooth talker and a skilled pickpocket.
Hockney, on the other hand, had a more refined background. He had studied art at a prestigious university, where he had discovered his talent for forgery. But when his career as a legitimate artist faltered, he turned to a life of crime.
And then there was Keaton, the man who held the entire operation together. Keaton had always been a mystery to Verbal, a man who seemed to have everything figured out before anyone else had even thought of it. Keaton’s charm and wit had always been his greatest weapons, but Verbal knew that there was more to him than met the eye.
As Verbal finishes his descriptions, the feds lean forward in their seats, intrigued by the different personalities and backgrounds of the team members. They begin to ask questions, trying to get a sense of what might have gone wrong during the heist. But Verbal simply smiles enigmatically, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“You’ll have to keep listening,” he says. “All will be revealed in due time.”
The feds exchange glances, unsure of whether to believe Verbal’s story or not. But even as they remain skeptical, they can’t help but be drawn into the web of intrigue and deception that he has woven. As they prepare to hear the rest of the story, they can’t help but wonder just what kind of game Verbal is playing.
Chapter 3: The Plan
Verbal took a deep breath before launching into his recollection of the plan that Keyser Soze had laid out for them. He could sense the skepticism of the feds in the room, but he knew that if he could just paint a vivid enough picture, they would start to believe that the crime lord was real.
“The plan started as a rumor, something whispered in the shadows of the criminal underworld.” Verbal began, his voice almost a whisper. “It was said that there was a job so big, so audacious, that only one man could pull it off. And that man was Keyser Soze.”
The feds leaned in, their eyes locked on Verbal’s face. He had them hooked, and he knew it. He continued, his voice growing stronger with each passing word.
“We didn’t know who Keyser Soze was at first, but we knew that if he was behind the job, it was going to be big. We had to get in on it. So we started doing some digging, and eventually, we found ourselves in the presence of the man himself.”
Verbal paused for effect, letting the gravity of what he was saying sink in. The feds were on the edge of their seats, eager for more.
“Keyser Soze was… intimidating, to say the least. He had this aura about him, like he was untouchable. But he spoke to us like we were his equals, like he respected us. He laid out the plan, and we knew right then and there that we had to be a part of it.”
Verbal went on to describe the plan in detail, painting a picture of a heist so complex and intricate that it almost seemed impossible. They would need to secure a cargo ship that was carrying millions of dollars’ worth of contraband, but they would have to do it quietly, without raising any alarms. The team would need to be split into two groups, each with their own unique roles to play.
“As I said, the plan was audacious, but it was also foolproof. We had every angle covered. It was like Keyser Soze had seen the future and knew exactly how everything was going to play out.” Verbal said, his voice tinged with awe.
The feds were silent, their pens scribbling furiously on their notepads. What they were hearing was almost too fantastical to believe, but Verbal’s conviction was starting to wear them down.
“But the real genius of the plan was that it put the focus on the one thing that nobody expected.” Verbal said, his eyes locking onto the feds’ with a steely gaze.
“And what was that?” One of the feds asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
“Me.” Verbal said, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.
The feds looked at each other in confusion, unsure of what he was getting at.
“You see, the whole plan was designed to put the spotlight on me. To make sure that I was the one who got caught.” Verbal said, his voice growing more urgent.
“Why would they do that?” Another one of the feds asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“Because they knew that I was the weakest link, the most likely to crack under pressure. They needed me to take the fall, to distract everyone while they disappeared into the shadows, never to be seen again.”
The room was silent for a moment, the feds digesting everything that Verbal had just said. It sounded like a compelling theory, but they still had their doubts. There were too many holes in the story, too many unanswered questions.
“You expect us to believe that Keyser Soze, a man who is almost mythical in his level of power, would go to all this trouble just to frame you for a heist gone wrong?” One of the feds said, his voice dripping with skepticism.
Verbal leaned back in his chair, a sly grin on his face.
“I expect you to believe whatever it is that you want to believe. But mark my words, the truth is stranger than fiction.”
Chapter 4: The Execution
The team was ready to execute their plan, and Verbal could feel the excitement and tension pulsing through his veins. They had spent months planning this heist, and it was finally time to put it into action. Verbal had memorized every detail of the plan, every contingency, every backup plan, and every possible outcome. But even with all the preparation, things never go according to plan.
The team arrived at the harbor in the middle of the night, dressed in black with their faces covered. Verbal stayed back in the car, ready to provide support as needed. The others approached the cargo container where the valuable cargo was said to be stored. They used their tools to cut the lock, and it gave way with a loud snap.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching. They had been so focused on the cargo container that they hadn’t noticed the security guard making his rounds. The team retreated to their vehicles, hoping to escape unnoticed. But one of the team members, McManus, couldn’t resist taking a shot at the guard. The sound of the gunshot echoed through the harbor, and chaos erupted.
The team raced back to their cars, and Verbal sped away. But as they drove, they could see the flashing lights of police cars in their rearview mirrors. The team split up, hoping to lose the cops. But Verbal knew that they needed to regroup to figure out their next move.
They met up at a safe house that they had rented a few miles away from the harbor. Verbal could see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. They had expected this heist to go smoothly, and now they were on the run from the law. Verbal tried to keep them focused, reminding them of their roles and what they needed to do next.
But then, their phones rang. It was Keyser Soze, and he was not happy. He demanded to know what had happened at the harbor, and Verbal could hear the anger in his voice. Keyser Soze was not one to be crossed, and Verbal knew that they were in serious trouble.
The team worked frantically to come up with a new plan. They knew that they couldn’t go back to the harbor, but they needed to get their hands on the cargo. Verbal suggested that they try to steal it from the police evidence locker. It was risky, but it was their only option.
They spent the next few days planning their new heist, with Verbal taking on a more prominent role. As the leader of the team, he had to make tough decisions and keep everyone focused. But as the day of the heist approached, Verbal could feel the pressure mounting. They had to succeed this time, or else they would all end up behind bars.
The day of the heist arrived, and Verbal could feel his heart pounding in his chest. They approached the evidence locker, using their tools to break in. The room was small and crowded, and they had to be careful not to make any noise. They found the cargo, stashed it in their bags, and made a run for it.
They were almost out of the building when they heard the sound of sirens. The cops had arrived, and they were trapped. The team quickly came up with a new plan, this time involving a hostage. They grabbed a young woman who had been walking by, using her as leverage to escape.
As they made their way to their getaway car, Verbal could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. They had done it. They had succeeded in their heist, against all odds. But as they drove away, Verbal couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he knew that they hadn’t seen the last of Keyser Soze.
Chapter 5: The Fallout
As the smoke clears from the harbor explosion, Verbal and his surviving partners are left to deal with the aftermath of the heist. They scatter, trying to keep a low profile as they try to figure out their next move.
Verbal reunites with his partner in crime, Dean Keaton, who is nursing a gunshot wound. Dean is haunted by his past, and it becomes clear that his connection to Keyser Soze runs deeper than anyone suspected. Verbal realizes that he’s not the only one being watched by the enigmatic crime lord.
Meanwhile, the feds are digging deeper into the case, trying to find any evidence that could lead them to Keyser Soze. With Verbal’s story becoming more and more credible, they start to consider the possibility that the mythic crime lord may actually exist.
As the investigation intensifies, the surviving members of the heist team start to turn on each other. Verbal is caught in the middle, trying to keep everyone from revealing too much. But it becomes clear that someone is trying to set him up, and he must find a way to clear his name before it’s too late.
The tension builds as the feds close in, and Verbal realizes that he’s running out of options. He decides to take matters into his own hands and tracks down the man who he believes is responsible for setting him up. But when he confronts him, he’s met with a shocking revelation that turns everything he thought he knew upside down.
As the pieces start to fall into place, the feds and the surviving members of the heist team converge on a remote location. Verbal is forced to confront the truth about his involvement in the heist and his connection to Keyser Soze. But even as he confesses, he leaves the feds with one final twist, casting doubt on the entire story.
The fallout from the heist leaves everyone shattered and reeling. No one is quite sure who to trust or what really happened, and the mystery of Keyser Soze remains unsolved. As Verbal leaves the interrogation room, he realizes that he’s not the only one with something to hide. The true mastermind behind the heist may never be caught, and the legacy of Keyser Soze lives on.
Chapter 6: The Twist
The feds had been working tirelessly to dissect Verbal’s story and were finally starting to connect the dots. They had come to the realization that the mythical Keyser Soze was more than just a rumor, and that he had orchestrated the heist that led to the explosion in San Pedro Harbor. But as they dug deeper, they discovered that the truth was even more shocking than they could have imagined.
Verbal had been weaving a complex tale, leading them down a path of half-truths and lies. He had created a world where Keyser Soze was almost mythical, a figure with almost supernatural abilities. But in reality, Keyser Soze was a man, a cold and calculating criminal mastermind who had managed to stay off the radar for years.
The feds had uncovered a network of criminal activity that spanned the globe, and at the center of it all was Keyser Soze. The man behind the legend was a ruthless killer, a chameleon who had used his abilities to stay one step ahead of law enforcement for years. He had recruited Verbal and his team for a specific purpose, and he had executed his plan with ruthless efficiency.
But the truth behind Keyser Soze was even more shocking. As the feds pieced together the evidence, they discovered that the man they had been searching for was right in front of them the entire time. Keyser Soze was none other than Verbal’s lawyer, a mild-mannered man named Kobayashi.
The revelation was stunning, and the feds struggled to come to terms with the truth. Verbal had been playing them all along, spinning a web of half-truths and lies to protect the man he had been working for. But why? The feds couldn’t understand why Verbal would go to such lengths to protect Kobayashi.
It wasn’t until they started digging deeper into Kobayashi’s past that they finally started to understand. Kobayashi had been working for Keyser Soze for years, and he had been instrumental in carrying out some of the most heinous crimes in recent history. He was a man with no conscience, a killer who had managed to stay under the radar for years.
The feds knew that they had to act quickly before Kobayashi could slip away. They arrested Verbal and used his testimony to build a case against the criminal mastermind. But even as they closed in, they knew that Kobayashi was always one step ahead.
In the end, Kobayashi managed to slip away, leaving the feds with more questions than answers. Verbal was left to languish in jail, still holding onto his secrets, still playing the game that had gotten him into trouble in the first place. The mystery of Keyser Soze remained unsolved, a tantalizing enigma that would continue to haunt the feds for years to come.
Chapter 7: The End
The room fell silent as Verbal finished his story. The feds exchanged looks, unsure of what to believe. They had followed every lead, connected every dot, and finally, they had their man. But even as Verbal admitted to his role in the heist, there was something unsatisfying about his confession. It was as if he was holding something back, as if there was still more to the story that he wasn’t telling them.
Agent Kujan leaned forward, his eyes narrowed as he regarded Verbal. “You’re telling us that all of this was just a legend? A myth?” he asked skeptically.
Verbal shrugged, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Well, isn’t that what I’ve been trying to tell you this whole time?”
The feds exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of Verbal’s words. Had they been chasing a ghost this entire time? Had all of their hard work been for nothing?
Agent Kujan stood up, his expression darkening as he glared down at Verbal. “This isn’t a game, Kint. People lost their lives in that explosion. Families were destroyed. Do you have any idea the kind of chaos your little story has caused?”
Verbal just shrugged, his eyes flickering with something that could have been amusement or contempt. “I told you the truth, Agent Kujan. Everything I said was true.”
But the feds weren’t buying it. They had spent too much time on this case to be duped by some petty criminal with a gift for storytelling. They had to believe that there was something more, some lead they had missed, some connection that Verbal had been withholding.
Agent Kujan leaned in close to Verbal, his voice low and dangerous. “What about the other suspects? Where are they now?”
Verbal just smiled, his eyes glinting with something almost feral. “Oh, they’re all around. Just waiting for their next assignment.”
The feds exchanged panicked looks, suddenly realizing that there was much more at play than they had originally thought. If Verbal had been telling the truth about Keyser Soze, then there was a dangerous criminal mastermind out there who was still at large, who had orchestrated one of the most complex and deadly heists in recent memory.
Agent Kujan clenched his fists, his mind racing as he tried to figure out his next move. “You’re going to help us find him,” he growled at Verbal. “You’re going to give us everything you know about this man, and you’re going to do it now.”
Verbal just smiled, his eyes glittering with something that could have been amusement or something darker. “What if I told you that even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you?”
The feds exchanged glances, realizing that they were dealing with a master manipulator, someone who was always one step ahead of them. They had gotten their confession, but it wasn’t enough. They needed more. There was still so much they didn’t know, so much that Verbal had kept hidden from them.
As Agent Kujan stormed out of the room, the other feds lingered behind, their minds still racing with questions and doubts. They had solved the case, but at what cost? Had they caught the real culprit, or had they been chasing a phantom all along?
Verbal sat back in his chair, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. He had won. He had outsmarted them all. And as he sat there, watching the feds scramble to pick up the pieces of their shattered case, he couldn’t help but wonder what else he could get away with. What other stories he could spin, what other legends he could create.
Because in the end, that’s all any of it was. A story. A myth. And Verbal was the master storyteller, the one who could bend reality to his will, who could shape the world around him with nothing more than his words.
As he sat there, watching the feds flounder, Verbal couldn’t help but wonder what other myths he could create, what other legends he could spin. Because in the end, that was the only thing that really mattered. The story. The myth. The legend.
And Verbal was the one who held all the cards.
Some scenes from the movie The Usual Suspects written by A.I.
Scene 1
Genre: Crime Thriller
Logline: Verbal Kint tells the story of how he and his partners got involved in a heist orchestrated by the mysterious Keyser Soze, leading to a multi-million dollar explosion in the San Pedro harbor.
Characters:
Verbal Kint – A small-time con artist with a gift for storytelling.
Keyser Soze – An enigmatic crime lord with an almost supernatural reputation.
Dean Keaton – A hard-edged criminal with a tragic past.
Michael McManus – A hotheaded thief with a penchant for risk-taking.
Fred Fenster – A petty criminal with a nervous demeanor.
Hockney – A brash and confrontational criminal.
Setting:
The cramped interrogation room in Los Angeles.
Dialogue:
FADE IN:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
VERBAL KINT sits at the table, chain-smoking. The room is dingy and claustrophobic. Across from him sit AGENT KUJAN and AGENT JACK BAER.
AGENT KUJAN:
So you’re telling us that this Keyser Soze is real?
VERBAL KINT:
All I know is what I heard. A lot of people say he’s just a myth, but I saw otherwise.
AGENT BAER:
What did you see?
VERBAL KINT:
I saw his plan in action. I saw how he brought us all together for that heist. I saw how he controlled every move we made.
AGENT KUJAN:
What was the plan?
Verbal takes a long drag on his cigarette.
VERBAL KINT:
It was the perfect heist. We were a team of specialists, each with our own skillset. Keaton was the planner, McManus was the muscle, Fenster was the inside man, Hockney was the lookout, and I was the detail man.
AGENT BAER:
And Keyser Soze?
VERBAL KINT:
He was the puppet master. He orchestrated the whole thing, from start to finish. And when it all went wrong, he made sure we were all caught in the crossfire.
AGENT KUJAN:
Why would he do that?
VERBAL KINT:
To cover his tracks. To make sure no one could ever connect him to the heist.
The agents exchange a look.
AGENT BAER:
We’ll need more than just a good story to make a case against Soze.
VERBAL KINT:
I understand. But I’m telling you, he’s out there. And he’s more dangerous than you could ever imagine.
FADE OUT.
Scene 2
Genre: Crime Thriller
Setting: A dingy bar in downtown Los Angeles
Characters:
1) Verbal Kint: A small-time con artist with a gift of gab
2) Dean Keaton: A hardened criminal with a dark past
3) Todd Hockney: A skilled safecracker with a chip on his shoulder
4) Fred Fenster: A quirky and paranoid explosives expert
5) Michael McManus: A smooth-talking thief with a cool demeanor
Scene 2: The Players
The five members of the criminal crew sit across from each other in a dimly lit bar. Verbal takes a sip of his drink before launching into his pitch.
Verbal: “Alright boys, here’s the deal. I got a lead on a job that’s gonna make us all rich beyond our wildest dreams.”
Dean: “What kind of job?”
Verbal: “Let’s just say it involves a few safes, some explosives, and a lot of cash.”
Todd: “Sounds risky. What’s the payout?”
Verbal: “We’re talking millions. But we’ll have to work together and trust each other if we want to pull this off.”
Fred: “Trust? That’s a funny word coming from you, Verbal.”
Michael: “I agree. What makes you think we should trust you?”
Verbal: “Because I know things. I know how to get in and out of places without getting caught. And I know the right people to talk to.”
Dean: “Fine. But if we’re gonna do this, we need to know who we’re dealing with.”
Verbal grins and leans back in his chair.
Verbal: “Alright. Let me introduce you to our new friend, Keyser Soze.”
The other four criminals exchange a look of confusion and curiosity.
Dean: “Who is Keyser Soze?”
Verbal: “He’s the man who’s gonna make us rich. And he’s the man who’s gonna make sure we don’t get caught.”
The camera zooms in on Verbal’s sly smile as the scene cuts to black.
Scene 3
Logline: When a small-time con artist gets involved in a multi-million dollar heist orchestrated by the elusive Keyser Soze, he must convince the authorities that the crime lord is real before it’s too late.
Characters:
– Verbal Kint: a smooth-talking con man with a talent for spinning tall tales
– Kobayashi: a mysterious figure who works for Keyser Soze
– McManus: one of Verbal’s partners in the heist, a tough guy with a short fuse
– Fenster: another partner, a jittery thief with a thick accent
– Hockney: the muscle of the group, a brash and violent criminal
– Dave Kujan: an FBI agent who is skeptical of Verbal’s story
Setting: An interrogation room in Los Angeles
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
Verbal sits across from Agent Kujan, a smirk on his face.
VERBAL: “You wanna hear about the plan? Alright, let me tell you. We had it all figured out.”
He begins to recount the intricate details of the heist, a grin spreading across his face as he relives the glory of the operation.
VERBAL: “So first, we had to get our hands on the manifest. That was Kobayashi’s job. He had the connections to make it happen.”
Agent Kujan leans forward, scribbling notes furiously.
KUJAN: “Kobayashi. And who is he?”
VERBAL: “I don’t know. I never met the guy. But he was our link to Keyser Soze.”
KUJAN: “Keyser Soze. And you say he’s real?”
Verbal nods.
VERBAL: “Oh, he’s real. And he’s a scary son of a bitch, let me tell you. Anyway, once we had the manifest, we knew where the cargo was. That was our ticket to the big time.”
Verbal describes the planning process in detail, his words painting a vivid picture of the operation.
VERBAL: “We had to hit the boat at just the right time, when the cargo was being loaded. Hockney was the muscle, he was in charge of making sure everything went smoothly. McManus was the brains, he came up with the diversion. And Fenster was our inside man, he knew how to get us onto the boat.”
Kujan looks skeptical.
KUJAN: “And what was your role in all this?”
Verbal grins.
VERBAL: “I was the mouthpiece. The guy who could sweet talk his way out of anything. I convinced the captain to let us on board, and I kept everyone calm during the operation.”
Kujan leans back in his chair, taking it all in.
KUJAN: “It sounds like a well-planned operation. But I still don’t believe in this Keyser Soze character.”
Verbal’s smirk turns into a sly grin.
VERBAL: “Just you wait, Agent. You haven’t heard the best part yet.”
Scene 4
FADE IN:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
Verbal continues his story, recounting the events of the heist. The feds listen intently, the skepticism on their faces slowly melting away.
VERBAL:
We had the truck, the guns, the explosives, everything we needed. It was all going according to plan.
FLASHBACK TO:
EXT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
The team arrives at the warehouse, ready to execute the heist. Hockney, McManus, Fenster, and Verbal all emerge from the van.
HOCKNEY:
Alright boys, let’s do this.
MCMANUS:
Remember, we stick to the plan. No screw-ups.
FENSTER:
Yeah, no screw-ups.
The team splits up, each taking their assigned positions. Verbal stays behind to keep an eye on the van.
BACK TO PRESENT:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
VERBAL:
But then Fenster screwed it up. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut and drew attention to himself.
FLASHBACK TO:
EXT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
Fenster is nervous and fidgety, drawing attention to himself. A patrol car pulls up, and Fenster panics, pulling out his gun and firing.
BACK TO PRESENT:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
VERBAL:
The whole thing went to hell after that. We had to improvise, but we managed to get the truck to the harbor.
FLASHBACK TO:
EXT. HARBOR – NIGHT
The team is struggling to get the truck onto the boat. The clock is ticking, and McManus is starting to get agitated.
MCMANUS:
Come on, come on! We don’t have all night!
HOCKNEY:
We’re trying, man! Give us a break!
Suddenly, there’s a loud explosion, and the boat starts to shake.
BACK TO PRESENT:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
VERBAL:
That’s when I knew something was wrong. We all ran for our lives, but only a few of us made it out alive.
The feds exchange a look. Verbal’s story is starting to add up.
FADE TO BLACK.
Scene 5
FADE IN:
INT. POLICE STATION INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
VERBAL is seated at a table, flanked by two FEDERAL AGENTS. He looks haggard and exhausted.
FEDERAL AGENT 1
So, Verbal. You say Keyser Soze is coming after you?
VERBAL
(laughing bitterly)
He’s already come after us. That explosion in the harbor wasn’t an accident. He set us up.
FEDERAL AGENT 2
(angrily)
You expect us to believe that? You and your partners were involved in a multi-million dollar heist. You got greedy and it went wrong. That’s it.
VERBAL
(fiercely)
No! You don’t understand. Keyser Soze is real. He’s a myth, a legend, but he’s also a man. And he’s coming for me.
The agents exchange a skeptical glance.
FEDERAL AGENT 1
Let’s go back to the beginning. Tell us everything that happened after the explosion.
VERBAL takes a deep breath and begins to recount the aftermath of the heist.
CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
VERBAL, DEAN, FENSTER, and HOCKNEY are holed up in a deserted warehouse, surrounded by police.
DEAN
(shouting over the noise)
This is all your fault, Verbal. You talked us into this, and now we’re gonna die.
VERBAL
(defeatedly)
I know. I’m sorry.
FENSTER
(nervously)
What are we gonna do?
HOCKNEY
(angrily)
We’re gonna get out of here. And we’re gonna take that bastard Soze down with us.
Suddenly, there’s a loud crash from outside. The door bursts open and armed men stream into the warehouse.
VERBAL
(recoiling in terror)
It’s him. It’s Soze.
The team makes a desperate run for it, firing blindly at their pursuers.
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
Verbal finishes his story, his voice shaking.
FEDERAL AGENT 2
(skeptically)
And you expect us to believe this? It sounds like a bad action movie.
VERBAL
(imploringly)
Please. You have to believe me. Keyser Soze is real. And he’s coming for me.
FADE OUT.
