INT. SHO-BAR PRIVATE DINING ROOM - NIGHT/ LATER

Sal Marcello's silver lighter ignites and lights a cigarette which belongs to DAVID FERRIE, a short, squat guy in his early forties with a bad reddish-brown toupee, which slips forward as he leans in for the light.  David slides his toupee back into place.

                                                                 FERRIE
                                Almost lost my rug.

                                                                 SAL
                                So, how's the case against me comin' along?

                                                                 FERRIE
                                Not so good.  The DA ain't got a case, nothin' they
                                can make stick.  Conspiracy?  They don't know
                                nothin' about conspiracy.  Look, Bobby Kennedy
                                can order them to go after you, but we're still here
                                in New Orleans.  And you're the man in New Orleans,
                                Sal.  Nobody'll testify against you.

                                                                 SAL
                                So, you know when the trial will be?

                                                                 FERRIE
                                Not 'til the end of the year.  Don't worry, everything'll
                                be handled by then.

                                                                 SAL
                                I know.  You're a good man, David.  I like you.

                                                                 FERRIE
                                I know you do, Sal, and I appreciate it.

                                                                 SAL
                                Good.  So, I need a name from you.

                                                                 FERRIE
                                Anything.

                                                                 SAL
                                I'm lookin' for the creepiest little pro-Castro, CIA
                                rat operative you can think of.  A sucker.  Either
                                here or in Dallas or Miami.  Any ideas?

                                                                 FERRIE
                                                           (grins)
                                That's funny, I know just the guy.  And he just
                                moved from here to Dallas a few weeks ago.

                                                                 SAL
                                Who is it.

                                                                 FERRIE
                                A guy I served in the National Guard with.  Lee
                                Oswald.

                                                                 SAL
                                Oh yeah, I've met him.  He is a little creep.  I know
                                his uncle, too.  Dutz the putz.  Yeah, they're all creeps.

                                                                 FERRIE
                                Yeah.  Lee and me was both just in this Fair Play
                                for Cuba group, which was a CIA front run by that
                                asshole, Guy Bannister.  But the CIA recruited Lee
                                right outta the Marine Corps and then had him defect
                                to Russia as a double-agent, then three years later he
                                defected back, with a Russian wife.  And now he's
                                tryin' to defect back again.  He just went to Mexico
                                and talked to the Russian embassy, but they wouldn't
                                let him.

                                                                 SAL
                                Christ, what a nut.  Okay so he's obviously tied up
                                with the CIA.  Good.  And you say he's in Dallas
                                now?

                                                                 FERRIE
                                Yeah, he just moved there.

                                                                 SAL
                                Right.  Go to Dallas, find out what he's doing, and
                                call me, okay?

                                                                 FERRIE
                                Sure thing, boss.

David gets up and leaves, straightening his toupee as he goes.

EXT. THE CITY OF MARSEILLES - DAY

The city of Marseilles, France sits on the waters of the Mediterranean surrounded by docks and boats of all kinds.  It is the largest port on the Mediterranean, and the second largest city in France, with a population of a million people.  A title reads, "Marseilles, France, July, 1963."

A 38-year old man with curly brown hair and a friendly grin stands on a corner wearing a beret and smoking a cigarette.  A subtitle reads: "LUCIEN SARTIE, professional hitman."  A thick-necked, middle-aged man steps up beside Lucien.  A subtitle reads: "ANTOINE GIVENEY, head of the Marseilles mob, largest heroin traffickers in the world, known in America as 'The French Connection'."

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                Lucien.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                Antoine.

The kiss on both cheeks, then they take a walk through the city streets.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                So?  How much?

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                Ten kilos.  Pure.  I'll take them right off your
                                hands for 100,000 francs a kilo.

Lucien stops, his eyes wide.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                That's a million francs.

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                To split between you and the others.  Two or three
                                others, you decide.  But you must get the very best,
                                which would still only be a hundred to a hundred
                                and fifty thousand francs each, leaving you with
                                more than half a million.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                Well, who on earth could it possibly be?  De Gaulle?

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                                           (shakes his head)
                                Bigger than De Gaulle.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                The Pope?

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                No.  President Kennedy.

They both stop, turn and look out to the water.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                                           (considers)
                                That's a very big contract.

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                The biggest.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                Why, if you don't mind me asking?

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                Kennedy's father insulted a mafioso capo.  Came
                                to him for a favor, then when it came time to pay
                                back he told the capo, 'fuck you.'

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                                           (eyes widen)
                                'Fuck you'?  To a mafioso capo?  Very ballsy.  And
                                only his son is getting it?  They don't take revenge in
                                America like we do here.

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                                           (shakes his head)
                                No.  Say 'fuck you' to a mafioso capo here and it's
                                you, your whole family, and all the cousins you
                                never met, too.  And this isn't just some local capo,
                                either.  It's the American capo de capi.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                                           (also shakes his head)
                                So, what about me and my people?  This sounds very
                                dangerous.

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                I've been assured by people I trust that everything
                                will all be handled in the most professional way
                                possible.  Just like you, no expenses are being spared.
                                Everything's precisely planned.  Public place, lots
                                of confusion, scapegoats already set up and in place,
                                ready to be fed to the wolves.  It's all very clever.
                                You and your people will slip in and slip out.  You'll
                                be taken care of.  You've got my word on it.

Lucien nods, shakes Antoine's hand and hugs him.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                That's good enough for me, Antoine.  Thank you
                                for thinking of me, and giving me the chance to
                                make my fortune.  This will change my life, and
                                make me a rich man.  I won't fail you.

                                                                 ANTOINE
                                                           (nods)
                                I know you won't, Lucien.  You're the best and
                                you're my friend.

They kiss each other on the cheeks, as sentimental Frenchmen will.

INT. SHO-BAR PRIVATE DINING ROOM - NIGHT

This is the same private dining room in New Orleans where we last saw Sal Marcello.  He is seated in exactly the same spot, and the same men lurk around the perimeter.  The door opens and in walks heavy-set man of medium height, with thinning dark hair, and wearing a dark suit.  He is JACK RUBY.  Sal stands up and shakes Jack's hand.

                                                                 SAL
                                Jackie.  How ya doin'?

                                                                 JACK
                                Fine, Sal.  Couldn't be better.

                                                                 SAL
                                Wanna drink?

                                                                 JACK
                                Sure.  Scotch on the rocks.  A big one.

Sal glances at one of his men and the drink instantly appears.  Jack puts a cigarette in his mouth and Sal lights it for him with his expensive silver lighter.

                                                                 JACK
                                So, you wanted to see me and here I am.

                                                                 SAL
                                And I appreciate it, Jack.  Thanks for coming.

Jack seems distinctly uncomfortable.

                                                                 JACK
                                Yeah, well . . .

                                                                 SAL
                                So, how much money do you owe me?

                                                                 JACK
                                Uh . . . I guess it must be about a hundred thou'.

                                                                 SAL
                                                           (frowns)
                                No, it used to be a hundred thou', Jack.  But there's
                                this thing called 'compounding interest,' you heard
                                of it?

                                                                 JACK
                                Yeah, I have.

Sal turns to one of his THUGS.

                                                                 SAL
                                How much is it really?

                                                                 THUG
                                One hundred and twenty-seven thousand, five hundred
                                and seventy-two dollars.

                                                                 SAL
                                But it's not just me, Jack.  I'm representing some
                                other people, too.  Old friends of yours that you also
                                owe a lot of money to.

                                                                 JACK
                                Like who?

                                                                 SAL
                                                           (shakes his head and frowns)
                                Like Sam Mooney in Chicago, Santo Trafficante in
                                Miami, and Johnny Roselli in Vegas, too.  Now you're
                                up to nearly half a million bucks.

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (shocked)
                                Oh, fuck!

                                                                 SAL
                                Oh, fuck is right.  Owing me money is a very bad
                                idea, but Mooney, Trafficante, and Roselli, too?
                                You must have a fuckin' death wish, Jack.  What's
                                wrong with you?

                                                                 JACK
                                It's just a streak of bad luck, Sal.  I'm sure these
                                last two clubs I opened will really pay off big.

                                                                 SAL
                                Jack, face it, nothing can hit big enough at this point
                                to help you.  There's no chance of you paying any of
                                us back.

Jack reaches into his pocket and takes out a rubber-banded roll of money and puts it on the table.

                                                                 JACK
                                Look, here's ten Gs.  It's all I could put together
                                since you called this morning.

Sal takes the roll of money, goes over and sits closer to Jack.  Sal sets the money on the table.

                                                                 SAL
                                You're in for a half a million and you bring ten
                                Gs?  You think I'm an asshole, Jack?

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (starting to panic)
                                No, no, of course not, Sal.  Jesus Christ!  I'll pay
                                the money back.  I swear.  I'll figure out a way.

Sal puts his arm around Jack's shoulder and gives him a firm hug.

                                                                 SAL
                                No you won't.

                                                                 JACK
                                Yeah, I will.  I swear I will.

                                                                 SAL
                                It's too late for that, Jack.  You know what happens
                                when you get in too deep to guys like me and Mooney
                                and Trafficante and Roselli.  You know what happens
                                next, right?

Two of Sal's Thugs step forward until they are right behind Jack.  Jack apprehensively glances up at them.

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (frightened)
                                Yeah, I do.

                                                                 SAL
                                I know you do.  And that's good.

Sal let's all of this sink in for a second.  Jack shakily picks up his drink and downs it.

                                                                 SAL
                                So what'dya think I'm gonna do now?

Jack glances up at the thugs, then back at Sal Marcello.

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (a tiny voice)
                                Kill me?

Sal smiles and hugs Jack closer.

                                                                 SAL
                                'Course I should, but today's your lucky day, Jack.
                                I'm not going to.

Jack can't believe what he's hearing.

                                                                 JACK
                                No?

                                                                 SAL
                                No.  I gotta job for you.

                                                                 JACK
                                Yeah?

                                                                 SAL
                                Yeah.  So now I don't need to explain why I want
                                you do a few things for me, I just want you to do
                                them, okay?

Jack is incredibly relieved and takes a deep breath.

                                                                 JACK
                                Sure.  Anything.

                                                                 SAL
                                Right.  And that's how you're gonna work off this
                                debt.

                                                                 JACK
                                The whole thing?

                                                                 SAL
                                The whole thing.

                                                                 JACK
                                Good God, Sal, how?

                                                                 SAL
                                You're just gonna do a few things for me, no questions,
                                just do 'em.  Some will be easy, others harder, but
                                either way you just do 'em.  Got it?

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (nods)
                                Yeah, sure, of course.  No problem.

                                                                 SAL
                                And you mention anything about this to anyone, I
                                mean, anyone, and you'll make me very unhappy.
                                You know what I mean, Jack?

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (nods)
                                I know what you mean.

                                                                 SAL
                                Good.

Jack stands and shakes Sal's hand.

                                                                 JACK
                                Thanks for giving me a way to work this out.  I
                                really appreciate it, Sal.

                                                                 SAL
                                I know you do.  Here.  You keep this.

Sal slides the roll of money back to Jack.

                                                                 JACK
                                Thanks a lot.  You can count on me.

                                                                 SAL
                                I know I can.  But don't let me down, Jack.  There's
                                no second chance on this.

                                                                 JACK
                                No, I won't let you down.

Jack leaves and Sal watches him go.  After a moment Sal picks up the phone and dials.  It rings a few times, then is answered.

                                                                 SAL
                                                           (into phone)
                                Hello, Mooney?  Yeah, it's all moving along.

EXT. MARSEILLES HARBOR - DAY

Lucien sits on the deck of a sailboat docked in the Marseilles Harbor.  Two other men sit there with him.  They are MARCEL, an intense, dark-complected man in his early forties, and ANDRE, a blond, handsome fellow in his twenties.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                I don't know the exact locale as yet, but the target will
                                probably be in a moving car.  A convertible.  I am hoping
                                that between the three of us we can arrange a triangulation
                                to be absolutely certain of the kill.  Anything less than a kill
                                is failure, and in this case, working for the Cosa Nostra, that
                                is, of course, unacceptable.  That's why I've got you two,
                                you're my friends and the only other shooters in Marseilles
                                as good as me.

                                                                 MARCEL
                                Better.  I killed three times as many Nazis as you.
                                I was the best sniper in the entire resistance.  I was
                                already there three years when you just started, and
                                you were just a snot-nosed young kid.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                                           (nods)
                                Okay, okay.  You're the best, Marcel.  Relax.  Anyway,
                                we'll all have to lay low for a while, maybe eight weeks,
                                then we'll be back here and we'll be rich men.

                                                                 ANDRE
                                And you say this is a high-ranking American political
                                official.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                Yes.  Does it matter?

                                                                 ANDRE
                                Not to me.

Lucien looks at Marcel inquiringly.

                                                                 MARCEL
                                                           (smiles)
                                You're joking, right?  For a hundred and fifty thousand
                                francs I'll shoot anybody, including my mother.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                Marcel, your mother's dead.

                                                                 MARCEL
                                Which is, of course, why I would use her as an example.
                                If she were alive, I wouldn't have said that.

Lucien and Andre are both amused.  Lucien hands each man an inch-thick stack of money.  Marcel picks up his pile and fans himself.

                                                                 MARCEL
                                This is as much as I've ever made before, and it's just
                                the advance.  When I get back from this job I'm going
                                to buy a café.

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                Then I'll have a new place to go drink.

                                                                 ANDRE
                                Me, too.  And I'll drive you there in my new car.

                                                                 MARCEL
                                What about you, Lucien, what will you do with all
                                your money?

                                                                 LUCIEN
                                                           (smiles)
                                Buy a new house, then stay home for a while.

Marcel and Andre both shake Lucien's hand warmly and thank him.  Lucien smiles back, pleased to have helped his friends.

EXT. THE CAROUSEL TOPLESS CLUB, DALLAS - NIGHT

The Carousel Topless Club is a seedy looking joint, but it's got a lot of traffic going in and out.

INT. CAROUSEL CLUB- NIGHT

The place is jumping.  A shapely stripper named Jada with a tall hairdo is performing her bump and grind routine on the stage.  Jack Ruby sits at a table with two other men.  David Ferrie and LEE OSWALD, a thin, slightly dopey-looking guy in his mid-twenties.

                                                                 FERRIE
                                Go on, Lee, tell him.

                                                                 LEE
                                I been with the agency on and off for nearly five
                                years.  They had me defect to the U.S.S.R. for three
                                years, then brought me back.

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (amazed)
                                Really?

                                                                 LEE
                                Oh, yeah.  That's where I met my wife, and she
                                came back with me, too.  The agency got me right
                                out of the Marine Corps.

                                                                 JACK
                                And the CIA set sent you to Russia?

                                                                 LEE
                                                           (shrugs)
                                How else could I have done it?  You know anyone
                                else that's defected to Russia, then defected back
                                again?

                                                                 JACK
                                No.

                                                                 LEE
                                                           (shrugs)
                                And David and me both just worked with them on
                                this Fair Play for Cuba, Castro thing, too.

                                                                 FERRIE
                                And you see, as hard as they try they can't assassinate
                                Castro.

                                                                 LEE
                                And nobody will, either.  If Ike couldn't get him right
                                at the beginning, Kennedy sure as hell ain't gonna get
                                him now.  Look what happened with the Bay of Pigs.
                                Ridiculous!  Kennedy is a yellow-bellied chicken.
                                Fidel is ten times the man that Kennedy will ever be!
                                It's not Castro that should assassinated anyway, it's
                                Kennedy, the son of a bitch!  He's dragging this whole
                                country down by its boot straps and right into the
                                toilet!  They're just all pissed-off about losing their
                                Goddamn casinos in Havana.  The lives of the Cuban
                                people mean nothing to government.  Castro is a man
                                of the people.  Kennedy is nothing but a flunky of the
                                wealthy elite, the oppressors pigs!

Jack and David both look uncomfortable at Lee's vehemence and volume, and they both glance around to see if anyone's listening.

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (to Lee)
                                So then, uh, you're available if I should need you
                                for a job sometime?  Nothing too hard, I assure
                                you.

                                                                 LEE
                                Yeah, if it pays pretty good and doesn't take too
                                long.  I got a real job these days, so if you need me
                                for too long and I've got to quit, then it's gotta pay
                                a lot better than my real job, if you know what I'm
                                saying?

                                                                 JACK
                                Sure.  Of course.  Where you workin'?

                                                                 LEE
                                At a book warehouse in Dealy Plaza.  It's the easiest
                                job I ever had.  I move boxes of books for a couple of
                                hours, then I sit and read for the rest of the day.  And
                                it pays pretty good, too.  I'm a proletariat now and proud
                                of it.
                                                           (raises his fist)
                                Power to the workers!  Viva la revolution!

                                                                 JACK
                                Okay then.  And you two met in the Army reserves?

                                                                 FERRIE
                                National Guard.  Yeah, I was the captain, Lee was
                                one of my men.  He's a good man, I can vouch for
                                him.

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (nods)
                                Okay.  I'll be in touch.
                                                           (puts out his hand)
                                Good to meet you, Lee.

                                                                 LEE
                                Yeah, you, too, Jack.  Nice club.

                                                                 JACK
                                Thanks.

Lee stands and leaves.  Jack and David watch him go.  David looks at Jack inquiringly.

                                                                 DAVID
                                So?

                                                                 JACK
                                Jesus!  What a creep.  You know if he's got a rifle?

                                                                 DAVID
                                Sure.  I've seen it at the shooting range.  Some cheap
                                Italian piece of crap.

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (nods)
                                Good.

                                                                 DAVID
                                Man, he couldn't hit the side of fuckin' barn.

INT. BACK ROOM OFFICE OF THE CAROUSEL CLUB - NIGHT

Jack enters the little, messy back room office, sits down at the desk and dials the telephone.  Sal Marcello answers.

                                                                 SAL
                                Hello?

                                                                 JACK
                                Sal, it's Jack Ruby.

                                                                 SAL
                                Yeah, Jack, you meet him?

                                                                 JACK
                                                           (nods)
                                Yeah, I did.  He sure is a creepy little weasel, and
                                he's definitely been workin' for the CIA for years.
                                And this asshole was born looking guilty.  I'll tell
                                ya something else.  You want this whole thing to
                                stick like glue to this guy, get the cars to go past
                                where he works, which faces out to a plaza with a
                                million windows, with a bunch of other big buildings
                                across the way, and couple of tight, hairpin curves
                                going through it that a parade of cars would have to
                                slow way the hell down for, to like ten miles-per-
                                hour.

                                                                 SAL
                                And how would I get the cars to go past there?

                                                                 JACK
                                You can't?  I think I could.  I know every cop in
                                town, and all the local secret service guys, too.  I
                                can get 'em to do pretty much anything I want.  I'll
                                just tell 'em it would mean a whole lot to the business
                                owners in Dealy Plaza.

                                                                 SAL
                                Okay, then do it.

                                                                 JACK
                                It's done.

                                                                 SAL
                                Good work, Jack.  Keep it up and you'll be fine.