Twisted Minds

Kaiseki

HANNIBAL LECTER'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT-

Hannibal stands across the island from Jack Crawford, who studies him intently. Jack's mouth is moving, but we only hear Hannibal's RHYTHMIC BREATHING and HEARTBEAT against the

backdrop of his HUMMING CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. Hannibal takes a breath and exhales, and SOUND RETURNS TO NORMAL. A dawning concern is washing over Jack Crawford.Then something subtle changes in Hannibal's eyes, almost immeasurable. But Jack Crawford measures it. We hear his RHYTHMIC BREATHING and HEARTBEAT, which beats steadily over

the next action, but eerily does not accelerate. Jack's hand drifts toward his coat, brushing his thumb across the fasten of his sidearm holster. TIME SUDDENLY SLOWS AS HANNIBAL THROWING HIS KITCHEN KNIFE AT JACK. Jack Crawford dives out of the way as he draws his gun from his holster and SHLUCK... Hannibal's KNIFE MOVES THROUGH Jack's hand at the wrist, his gun clatters to the floor. Hannibal vaults over the kitchen counter as Jack pulls the

knife out of his wrist, swinging it immediately. The blade whisks through the air, narrowly missing Hannibal. He yanks another knife from the cutting board and swings it in a deadly arc. Jack jackknifes his torso to avoid the blade, slashing back at Hannibal with quick swipes.

Hannibal deflects Jack's knife with his own and they dodge, parry and block each other's blades.

Jack thrusts and slices into Hannibal's waist, who twists around the knife, knocking it from Jack's grip. Hannibal lunges his knife at Jack's belly, meaning to gut him. Jack blocks the knife with a cutting board and then smashes the cutting board into the side of Hannibal's head, knocking him off balance, but not quite down.

He grabs Hannibal and bodily swings him crashing into the cupboards. Hannibal throws his weight back at Jack, driving him across the kitchen, but not far. Jack is solid. Jack maneuvers his arms around Hannibal's throat and begins to squeeze a chokehold. Hannibal writhes and kicks, trying to throw Jack off balance, but to no avail. His eyelids flutter and pinch as he tries to focus and remain conscious. His body goes limp and he slumps in Jack's arms... just enough for his shoulder to drop and allow his hand to reach a SHARD OF GLASS on the floor.

Hannibal plunges the SHARD OF GLASS into Jack's neck. He recoils and stumbles back, clutching his neck. Hannibal acts quickly, picking up a butcher knife and turning on Jack. Still clutching his neck, Jack stumbles back into... THE PANTRY Jack falls inside, kicking the door closed on the advancing Hannibal. SLAM. SLAM. SLAM. Hannibal throws his shoulder

into the pantry door, Jack's foot braced against it.

Jack holds his neck wound with one hand as he fumbles for his phone with the other. SLAM. SLAM. SLAM. The door splinters.

TWELVE WEEKS EARLIER - HANNIBAL LECTER'S HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT-

Hannibal ENTERS carrying two tastefully-ornate Japanese serving trays displaying their arrangements of food."This course is called mukozuke. Seasonal sashimi. Sea urchin, water clams and squid." Hannibal places Jack's dish in front of him. "Beautiful."

"Kaiseki. A Japanese art form that honors the taste and aesthetic of what we eat." Hannibal smiles while explaining. "I feel guilty eating it."

"I never feel guilty eating anything." Jack tastes the sashimi, savoring it, then: "Can't quite place the fish."

"He was a flounder. I last prepared this meal for my Aunt Murasaki under similarly- unfortunate circumstances." Hannibal says as he reaches for his wine with an eloquent posterior. "What circumstances were those?" Jack ask politely, "A loss. This is a loss. Will is a loss. We're mourning a death."

"Will's "death" is on me." Jack says with guilt and sadness leaking from the very essence of him. "It's on both of us." Hannibal says noticing the guilt. "It's the last thing I think about going to sleep and the first thing I think about when I wake up. Will's gonna be convicted of five murders. I'll be convicted of one."