THE C WITH THE SLASH
INT. HELL'S KITCHEN- MARTY'S APARTMENT- EVENING
MARTY WALKER, 38 years old, sits on his used dusty sofa watching an old cowboy show on an old television set with a plastic bucket of popcorn resting on his lap. The lights are off.
A thin figure emerges from out of the shadows; that of a man with crazed eyes and messy brown hair. This is CLETUS KASSIDY.
Marty stirs as he catches Cletus out of the corner of his eyes. He moves to get up.
CLETUS
Uh, uh, wouldn't do that if I were you.
MARTY
Who are you? How did you get in here?!
Cletus takes a shiny dagger out of his pocket and grins. Kassidy talks in a frightening calm emotionless voice.
CLETUS
It's a pity you don't remember me. Because I remember you...
MARTY
What are you talking about man? Never seen you before in my life!
CLETUS
You cut me in line today, little diner off Fifth Avenue. I told you that you cut in front of me but you just stood there and laughed.
MARTY
I'm sorry man. I was a jerk. Alright? I have problems.
CLETUS
We all have problems.
Cletus feels the tip of the blade with his hand and then he CHARGES at Marty!
FLASH CUT:
INT. HELL'S KITCHEN- MARTY'S APARTMENT- MORNING
FLASH! A crime scene investigator snaps a picture of Marty's dead corpse resting on the wooden floor panels below.
George Stacy walks around the scene of the crime and shakes his head in disgust.
Against the wall is a carved symbol of a C with a slash through it.
GEORGE
How many guys does this guy need to kill before we catch a break?
George takes a deep breath as JEAN DEWOLFE, mid 30s, approaches him.
GEORGE
What did you find Jean?
JEAN
No one saw anyone enter or leave the apartment at any hour last night. They heard screaming and the sounds of a struggle, but only one of them managed to call the cops.
(beat)
Neighborhood like this, they're used to it, never think twice.
GEORGE
And family, friends relatives, what did they have to say? This guy have any enemies?
JEAN
None.
GEORGE
Well, he must have angered someone. Get me more information.
JEAN
Yes sir.
George notices several photographers and reporters trying to take pictures and jotting down notes, clearly avoiding the yellow tape.
GEORGE
And can someone get rid of those God Damn reporters! This is a crime scene for crying out loud!
ALL BRUISED UP
EXT. MIDTOWN HIGH SCHOOL- PARKING LOT- AFTERNOON
Track with Peter's car as it pulls into the school's parking lot and into a parking space.
CLOSE UP on Peter stepping out of the car. GRADUALLY TILT UP to reveal Peter bruised and beaten with a poignant black eye.
Peter fixes his shirt collar as he approaches the school.
Students watch him enter the school.
STUDENTS (ADD-LIB)
Is that Mr. Parker?... Wonder what happened to him?... Cool... he got into a fight?
INT. MIDTOWN HIGH SCHOOL- HALLS- AFTERNOON
Peter walks through the halls more conscientious of the eyes of students and faculty. He stops at a classroom and enters.
INT. MIDTOWN HIGH SCHOOL- PETER'S CLASSROOM
Peter closes the door and rubs his eyes. He looks out over his students looking at him in awe. Josh watches Peter curiously...
PETER
So, where were we?
The school bell rings and the students gather their things, silently chatting together as they exit. Peter sighs and nods his head okay. Josh stops at the door and glances back towards him.
JOSH
What happened?
PETER
Fell off my bed.
Josh nods his head, not completely believing him, and leaves the room.
An overweight teacher, FREDERICK, enters the classroom and looks at Peter concerned.
FREDERICK
What happened to you?
PETER
A lot is going on...
FREDERICK
Yeah? I can tell. You've been skipping a lot recently. Coming back with these odd bruises. What is it you do exactly?
PETER
I can't talk about it.
FREDERICK
Like Fight Club?
Peter cracks a grin and shrugs.
FREDERICK
Well, you need to get back on the horse alright buddy? You've got the faculty all talking about it behind your back. Some find you to be a bad influence on the kids.
PETER
Bad influence?
FREDERICK
Doesn't speak much about character if one keeps on arriving late to class all bruised up.
PETER
I'll keep that in mind.
Frederick nods his head okay as he approaches the door.
FREDERICK
I'm going to get something from the faculty room, want anything?
PETER
No thanks.
FREDERICK
Your loss.
Frederick leaves the classroom. Leaving Peter alone to his own devices.
FRONT PAGE NEWS WORTHY
INT. DAILY BUGLE- JAMESON'S OFFICE- AFTERNOON
JJ Jameson staring out over the city from his perch above smoking a cigar.
Robbie Robertson stands off to the side waiting for an answer.
ROBBIE
Paper sales have been readily declining, what are we going to do?
Jameson grins as he nods his head.
JAMESON
That's it!
(beat)
Ellis!!!
KEN ELLIS, late twenties, enters the office with a styled haircut and a brown leather jacket.
KEN ELLIS
Yes sir?
JAMESON
Ditch that story about Sly Chemicals; no one's interested in family corporate feuds these days. No, what the people really want is something they can sink their teeth into, something that will keep them up at night.
(beat)
Find me everything you can about that murder in Hell's Kitchen.
ROBBIE
What are you doing Jonah?
JAMESON
The people want a bad guy? This guy fits the bill tenfold. Leaves that mark doesn't he, the C with a slash...
ROBBIE
You want to publicize a mass murderer?
JAMESON
Sure, why not?
ROBBIE
Ethics for one.
JAMESON
Eh, screw ethics. Do people want ethics? No. They want a story. This guy, this Carnage is a story... that's good, yeah... Carnage. C with the slash, makes sense.
Jameson looks towards Ellis.
JAMESON
What are you still doing here? You're my investigative reporter; get to it.
KEN ELLIS
Yes sir. Right away.
Ken Ellis quickly leaves the office. Jameson takes a smoke from his cigarette.
JAMESON
Finally a story worthy of the front page!
ANARCHY IS THE WAY OF LIFE
INT. DAILY BUGLE- CONFERENCE ROOM- MORNING
Jameson sits at the head of a conference table with Ken Ellis and Robbie sitting besides him. Other members of the Daily Bugle staff fill in the other chairs while Peter leans against the back wall.
Ken Ellis has the note in his hand; he looks it over and takes a deep breath.
KEN ELLIS
Dear Editor... thank you for appreciating my art. I am not a murderer; I am merely a man free to live by my natural instincts. Some may call me crazy, but I ask what is so wrong with what I do? This is how we were meant to live. Chaos. Anarchy. Take away morals, laws and government and you will have true freedom. It is true that we may not last for long. But at least we will finally be free. Tonight I shoved a woman who looked at me like I was a freak in front of a bus. If only she would have accepted me, she wouldn't have died. Oh well, her loss. I am a man with a message and I will not be silenced.
(beat)
Then at the bottom he marked it with a C with a slash written through it.
The staff looks around the room, clearly disturbed by what they read.
JAMESON
Well, you heard the man. He has a message. That means more correspondence, which equates to an increase in sales.
ROBBIE
You'll be giving him what he wants.
KEN ELLIS
If this guy wants to be heard, I have to ask what the problem is with that.
PETER
What? You're actually considering doing this?
Jameson shrugs.
JAMESON
Sure, why not?
PETER
You'll only be encouraging him more!
JAMESON
And our sales will increase in the process, brass tacks is that Ellis' column brought in our highest profit since 2005. The people look for somebody they can hate and they finally found him.
PETER
I can't believe I'm hearing this.
JAMESON
Good thing you're not in charge then.
Jameson hands the letter to Robbie.
JAMESON
Make sure it goes into printing.
(to KEN)
And Ellis, write a companion piece to it.
Ken Ellis nods his head okay.
KEN ELLIS
I'm on it JJ.
Ken Ellis get up and leaves the conference room.
Peter looks around, not believing what he's seeing.
PETER
Am I going insane?
Jameson leans back and smokes his cigarette grinning.
JAMESON
God, I love this city.
And I really haven't had the time to sit down and write something. 
t:
