COURIER
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
SHAHAR, a soldier in his 20’s, in an army suit, sits in front of ILANA, a pretty
woman of nearly 35 with a furious glance, detective of the anti-drug department.
She lights a cigarette. Shahar slightly gets up to take one as well.
SHAHAR
May I?
ILANA
No.
Shahar sits back on his chair.
ILANA
You know you’re seriously fucked
up, don’t you?
SHAHAR (mockingly)
Why is that?
ILANA
Drug smuggling. You know what it
means? 8 years in jail!
SHAHAR
That’s all?
Ilana leans closer to Shahar.
ILANA
I wanna hear your story, and you
better make in convincing! Copy
that?!
Shahar swallows and nods in agreement.
SHAHAR
D’you know what’s the most shitty
job in the army?
FADE IN:
INT. SHAHAR’S VAN – DAY (FLASHBACK)
Shahar drives his van and listens to Eastern music.
His PHONE RINGS. He answers and puts it on speaker.
SHAHAR
Hey Mom!
YAEL (Shahar’s Mom)
Why weren’t you answering before?
You know how much I’m worried?
SHAHAR
I told you yesterday, I’m coming
home! No need to call me nine times
every hour since the morning!
YAEL (from phone)
You’ve been in Gaza for 35 days!
(silence)
How are you?
SHAHAR
For the 17th time… I’m fine! You?
YAEL (from phone)
Work all day, barely pay the rent…
Oh… I’ve made stuffed chicken,
just as you love!
SHAHAR
Thanks, Mom! I’ll be in 20 minutes.
He stops the van at the checkpoint. A cop approaches him.
SHAHAR
I’ll call you back. Bye!
Alon, a cop of 40 years old in a police suit, knocks at the window. Shahar shows
him his soldier’s ID card.
ALON
Get out.
SHAHAR
I’m a soldier!
ALON
Get out of the van!
Shahar exits the van, irritated.
EXT. SHAHAR’S VAN – DAY (FLASHBACK)
The cop searches him, looks inside the van and goes to the trunk. Opens it and
sees a coffin. Alon looks at Shahar, confused. Shahars rolls his eyes.
SHAHAR
It’s my brigade commander.
Alon looks terrified.
SHAHAR
I mean… that’s my job in the army.
I deliver fallen soldiers to their families, so
that they get buried.
ALON
Open it.
Shahar smiles, as if it was a joke. Alon stares at him.
SHAHAR
Are you fucking kidding me?
Alon’s face doesn’t change.
SHAHAR
What about some respect?!
ALON
Open… the coffin!
Shahar breathes madly. Alon points on the coffin again. Shahar obeys and
slowly opens the coffin.
SHAHAR
People die out there… for you,
armed clowns in suits…
When Shahars opens the coffin, they find no dead body. There is a suitcase with
Heroin, a loaded gun, and a NOTE, which says “Get rid of the courier”.
SHAHAR
What the…
Shahars and Alon stare at it in aghast.
Alon takes out his gun, points at Shahar and handcuffs him. Shahar stares at the
coffin, confused.
SHAHAR
I didn’t…
ALON
Shut the fuck up!
Alon puts him into the police car and calls for backup.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
Ilana laughs.
ILANA
So you think I’m gonna believe
that you had no idea what was
in the coffin?
SHAHAR (sarcasm)
No, of course not! I always open
coffins to see what’s in there!
ILANA
I’m not buying this.
SHAHAR
And what about the note?! “Get
rid of the courier”! If “courier”
is me, why would I go on with my
mission, knowing I’m gonna be shot
when I reach the client?!
ILANA
You did not. You ran away.
And since you got nothing to lose,
you gonna give me the names!
Shahar raises an eyebrow.
ILANA
Who sent you? Who gets the dope?
Shahar sighs in disdain.
ILANA
You don’t wanna screw your chance
to reduce your sentence by half,
do you?
SHAHAR
Are you fucking idiot?! I was told
to get this coffin to the colonel’s
family! So that note was addressed
to him, right?! So we know who’s
the client! You get it? Need to
explain slower?!
ILANA
D’you know who’re you talking to?!
I work in this department for the
last ten years! Trust me, I’ve
heard much more creative stories!
Shahar gets up, furious, throws the chair aside.
SHAHAR
I had no fucking idea what was in
the coffin!!! I didn’t know!!!
Ilana gets up as well and pulls out her gun.
ILANA
Sit… down!
SHAHAR
What you gonna do?! Shoot me?!
C’mon!!! Shoot!!!
The door opens. Alon enters.
ALON
Wow! Calm down!
SHAHAR
I had no idea what’s in there…
ALON
I know… I know…
Both Shahar and Ilana watch him in surprise.
ALON
We’ve investigated this case. We
got a witness in the military base
who saw someone switching the dead
body with the drugs. They needed a
courier who won’t get nervous at
the checkpoint. Best liar is one
who believes in what he says.
ILANA
Can the witness identify the dealer?
ALON
I’m afraid, he can’t.
ILANA
What about the client?
ALON
They think Shahar is on his way.
ILANA
Go there on the van! They must not
suspect anything. I’ll set off to
that military base, before…
Shahar clears his throat. Alon and Ilana turn at him.
SHAHAR
So… I’m good, right? Can I go home?
Alon and Ilana glance at each other.
ALON
They can turn on him, so…
Ilana looks at Alon and nods.
INT. SHAHAR’S VAN - DAY
Alon and Shahar enter the van.
SHAHAR
Wow, man! She’s a nutcase! How
the hell you work with her?…
Alon starts the van, without saying a word.
ALON
Ten years talking to no one but
criminals. Ten years, and not a
single successful case. Ten years,
and no promotions. Still getting
paid like shit…
Shahar sighs. They leave the police department.
INT. SHAHAR’S VAN – DAY (LATER)
Shahar looks at the PHONE. 13 missed calls from “Mom”. He dials his Mom
Yael. She answers.
YAEL (from phone)
Shahar! What’s wrong?! You said
20 minutes! It’s been 4 hours!
SHAHAR
I’ll explain later, ok?
YAEL (from phone)
Do you realize what I’m going…
Her voice suddenly distorts. The call ends. Shahar looks out of the window
and sees the van entering an underground parking station. He glances at Alon.
SHAHAR
Damn! No line here…
He looks around, confused.
SHAHAR
Are you lost?
ALON
Get out.
SHAHAR
What?!
ALON
Get out of the van.
Shahar becomes confused. Alons pulls out a gun points at him. Shahar swallows
and looks outside. A bodyguard with a gun waits outside of the van.
SHAHAR
You… Why?
ALON
Why? My salary isn’t enough to
feed three kids!
Alons grabs Shahar’s phone. Shahar exits the van.
INT. UNDERGROUND PARKING OF THE DRUG MAFIA BUILDING - DAY
The bodyguard and Alon point their guns on Shahar. They take him away.
INT. DRUG MAFIA H.Q. - DAY
They take him to a large room with a laptop on a table. Looking aside, Shahar
sees the COFFIN with the Heroin suitcase and the note, but without the gun.
SHAHAR
Why didn't you kill me then?
BARUKH (O.S.)
Plans have changed, Shahar!
BARUKH, man of 50 dressed in a tuxedo, enters the room and approaches the
laptop.
SHAHAR
Colonel! I thought you were dead!
BARUKH
You were supposed to be shot, but
thanks to Alon you didn't reach my
son. Fortunately, even dedicated
cops like Alon have their price.
Alon and Shahar exchange glances.
ALON
I did my part of the deal. Now you
do yours!
Barukh gives a sign to the bodyguard. Alon is confused. The man shoots Alon to
death. Shahar is terrified.
BARUKH
I couldn’t let him live. He knew
about this place. I can’t trust
someone who trades his loyalty.
Shahar stares at Alon's dead body, shocked.
BARUKH
I wrote that note, but following
the last events, I've realized you
could be more useful alive…
SHAHAR
You offer me a job? After this
He points at Alon's corpse.
Barukh turns the laptop to Shahar. Shahar sees his Mom, Yael, held as a
hostage by a man with a gun at her house.
SHAHAR
No!!! You fucking…
He lunges towards Barukh, but the bodyguard holds him.
BARUKH
I’m afraid you have no choice.
SHAHAR
Please, don’t!!!
BARUKH
I’ve got one simple task for you.
Do it, and my son won’t kill her.
SHAHAR
The police already investigates
it! They gonna find you!
Barukh laughs.
BARUKH
If you thought about going to
police, quit the idea. Half of the
police in this country works for
me, and the other half – for the
opponent dealer.
Shahar calms down, breathes deeply.
SHAHAR
What do you want?!
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Ilana dials Alon, but no answer. She tries a few times, but nothing. She
dials Shahar’s house and no answer again. Her face expression changes to
worry. She grabs her car keys and leaves the room.
INT. DRUG MAFIA H.Q. - DAY
Shahar stands near the coffin and listens to Barukh. The bodyguard stands
behind him.
BARUKH
As you can see, the suitcase
with the dope was meant to be
delivered to my son. There was
no drug deal. Not yet.
He shows a picture of a building on his laptop.
BARUKH
That’s my opponent’s place. He has
been a pain in the ass for a very
long time. Luckily, I have a plan!
The armed man brings another suitcase, which looks the same as the one
with the Heroin and puts it next to it.
SHAHAR
Something tells me that’s not dope.
BARUKH
Smart boy! It’s a bomb. You take it
there, they get you in. There is a
phone in there. When I see through
the camera I attach under your hat,
that the suitcase is inside, I make
a phone call. It activates the bomb
The bodyguard puts a camera into Shahar’s hair, and put a hat on it.
BARUKH
Just to make it clear - don’t be a
hero. I see whatcha doing through
my laptop. And if, for some reason,
the camera shuts down, your Mom
gets shot. Any more questions?!
Shahar stands still looking at the suitcase with the bomb
SHAHAR
Just one. How much time do I get to
get out of there?
Barukh sighs and turns around.
SHAHAR
If I’m not getting alive from this,
promise me that my family lives!
Barukh approaches Shahar.
BARUKH
You might think I’m a criminal, a
bastard who kills people and makes
money, but I also have a family.
Shahar sees Barukh’s son on the screen, pointing a gun at Shahar’s Mom, Yael.
BARUKH
Every God damn day, when I wake
up, the first thing I do is seeing
they are alive. This business is
full of people like me, like you…
We do it, because our government
doesn’t give a fuck for it’s
citizens’ safety and living. So we
build our own empires, to ensure
our children will live and prosper.
Barukh puts his hand on Shahar’s shoulder.
BARUKH
I’ll do my best to make sure your
family live good lives, including
your problems with the rent. You
have my word!
Shahar nods in understanding and takes the suitcase.
EXT. ENTRANCE TO OPPONENT DRUG MAFIA BUILDING - DAY
Shahar exits the car, wearing a hat above the camera hidden in his hair.
Two men with guns approach him. He tries to be calm, holding the suitcase.
INT. DRUG MAFIA H.Q. - DAY
Barukh watches on his laptop what the camera displays.
EXT. ENTRANCE TO OPPONENT DRUG MAFIA BUILDING - DAY
The men with guns escort Shahar inside the building.
INT. OPPONENT DRUG MAFIA BUILDING - DAY
Shahar, followed by the men, approaches a table in the lobby. He puts the
suitcase on it. The two men stand behind him, and point him to open the
suitcase.
INT. ILANA’S POLICE CAR – DAY
Ilana drives. She tries to call Alon and Shahar, but no answer. She speeds up.
INT. DRUG MAFIA H.Q. - DAY
Barukh watches Shahar hands, as he slowly opens the suitcase. Shahar’s hands
shake. Barukh makes a phone call.
INT. OPPONENT MAFIA BUILDING - DAY
Shahar slowly and carefully opens the suitcase. The men stand behind him,
ready to pull out their guns. Shahar stops opening it and looks behind. One of
them points him to go on. Shahar opens it completely.
INT. DRUG MAFIA H.Q. - DAY
Barukh sees that the suitcase if full of Heroin.
BARUKH
What the…
He looks back at the suitcase in the coffin.
INT. OPPONENT MAFIA BUILDING - DAY
The men behind Shahar calm down.
ONE OF THE MEN
Wait here.
Shahar smiles. One of the men goes away.
INT. DRUG MAFIA H.Q. – DAY (FLASHBACK)
BARUKH
…You have my word!
Shahar pulls his hand to take one of the suitcases, but stops at the last
moment, and takes the other one.
INT. DRUG MAFIA H.Q. – DAY
Barukh’s looks at the suitcase in the coffin, terrified. He exchanges glances
with the bodyguard.
BARUKH
Fuck!
The building explodes.
INT. OPPONENT MAFIA BUILDING - DAY
The man returns with a suitcase and opens it in front of Shahar. It is full with
money. Shahar shakes the hands to both of them and leaves.
EXT. ENTRANCE TO OPPONENT MAFIA BUILDING - DAY
Shahar enters his van and throws away the camera and the hat. He starts the
van and speeds up.
INT. SHAHAR’S HOUSE - DAY
Avi, Barukh’s son of 30, sits in front of Yael, Shahar’s Mom, ready to pull out his
gun. He wears an earphone, and suddenly hears a NOISE OF EXPLOSION.
AVI
Dad?
No response.
AVI
Dad!? Can you hear me?!
He hears a stronger sound of explosion.
AVI
Dad!!!
Yael watches him, scared and confusing. He pulls out his gun and points at her
face. Yael paralyzes in fear.
Avi’s finger nearly presses the trigger.
A SHOT is heard. Both Avi and Yael stand still. Avi’s gun is still aimed at Yael’s face.
After a few seconds, Avi collapses on the floor.
Yael’s P.O.V. of Ilana behind him, pointing a gun at Avi.
A DOOR SLAMS.
Shahar runs into the apartment and sees both of them. He runs to Yael and hugs
her. Ilana takes off her gun.
SHAHAR
How did you…
ILANA
Just doing my job.
SHAHAR
Well, congratulations! Your first
successful case!
ILANA
Yeah… after 10 years!
(stunned)
Wait… How do you know about that?
She watches as Shahar puts the suitcase on the table.
ILANA
What’s that?
Shahar looks at Yael, his Mom.
SHAHAR
Our solution to the rent problem.
He opens the case, loaded with money.
ILANA
I don’t think so!
Shahar gives her a stock of bucks.
ILANA
Did you just…
He gives her another stock.
ILANA
Who the fuck you think I am?!
He gives her 3 more stocks. Ilana makes a step closer.
ILANA
Next time, you better check what’s
in the coffin.
They shake hands.
FADE OUT:
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