FADE IN:

Late in the day.

A serene lake. A majestic mountain in the background. The otherworldly call of an EAGLE crying for its mate...

A clone of the opening of the classic film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

This lonely, deserted stretch of America is interrupted only by a CAR making its way down the old two lane road.

INT. EXPENSIVE BLACK CAR--NIGHT

Two MEN sit in the front seat, TWO in the back. The two in the front are large, bone-breaking goons of the Italian Mafia persuasion. The two in the back are obviously higher up the food chain.

All are dressed nicely -- Armani, of course. VIC DAMONE plays softly on the stereo system.

Mr. ANTHONY VESTA sits with his concierge DANTE "Nuni" PESTINO. Vesta is obviously not happy with the entire trip and keeps fidgeting. Nuni is calm, enjoying the scenery.

They pass a crossroad and a sign that says WILDWOOD STATE MENTAL FACILITY. Someone has made the "O's" in WOOD into crossed eyes. The facility is visible down the intersecting road but of no real interest to these men.

Nuni smiles appreciatively as a flock of ducks launch into flight from the nearby lake.

NUNI

What a beautiful piece of Americana. No wonder Spivey decided to locate out here.

PASSENGER GOON

Reminiscent of Ansel Adam's early prairie series.

DRIVER GOON

Oh, I don't believe so at all.

Vesta grabs himself, fidgets.

VESTA

We ain't seen a bathroom in an hour. I'm about to piss all over this beautiful piece of America.

DRIVER GOON

We're almost there, Mr. Vesta. It's right around this next corner.

Vesta tries to see around the goon. Can't. PUNCHES him in the head to make him move.

Vesta can now see a group of buildings up ahead. The lights just blink on as the sun goes down behind the mountain -- a cheery island of light in the oncoming night.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SPIVEY RESEARCH--NIGHT

The sign at the beginning of the driveway says so.

EXT. SPIVEY RESEARCH PARKING LOT--NIGHT

The car parks. Parking lot is deserted.

The men get out and look around.

The EAGLE CRIES again. Vesta looks up.

VESTA

What is that? A fucking bat?

He pulls a gun from one of the goon's vests and shoots up.

KACHUNK!

A moment and --

THUMP! An eagle FALLS dead nearby.

Nuni winces as he sees it.

NUNI

Bald eagle. Endangered species.

VESTA

And no fucking wonder. If it's gonna sound like a bat it's gonna get itself kilt cause no one really likes bats.

(to Goons)

Am I right? Who likes fucking bats? No one.

Vesta gives the gun back to the goon.

The men head to the front door. One of the goons tries to enter but can't. Doors are locked. The goon RATTLES it but it won't budge. One of them POUNDS on the door. Nothing.