Int. County courthouse - day

 

A crowd of angry men and women throng the central hallway,

their voices a babble of confusion. Many of them are gathered

around a roughly lettered notice that has been posted on the

town's official bulletin board. It reads.

 

"A $3000 BOUNTY TO THE MAN OR MEN WHO CATCH AND KILL THE

SHARK THAT KILLED ALEX M. KINTNER ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, ON THE

AMITY TOWN BEACH."

 

Vaughn and Brody are on the outskirts of the crowd, which

includes Meadows, some selectmen, and others.

 

BRODY

Look, I've got to talk to her. This

isn't a contest we want the whole

country entering.

 

MEADOWS

I agree. If she's going to advertise,

I wouldn't recommend out-of-town

papers. Amity people could take care

of this.

 

BRODY

I'm responsible for public safety

around here...

 

VAUGHN

Then go out tomorrow and make sure

no one gets hurt.

(addressing the crowd)

Everybody, could I have your

attention? Since this affects all of

us, I suggest we move into council

chambers, where there's more room...

 

There is a flurry and a bustle as everyone rearranges

themselves and makes their way into the Amity Selectmen's

Council Chambers.

 

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY

 

The crowd is thronging into the large room. Already in the

room is a solitary figure, standing all the way in the rear,

watching everyone as they enter. Against the back wall is a

large blackboard used for town business during meetings.

 

VAUGHN

Well, here we all are; anyone have

any special questions?

 

DENHERDER

Is that $3000 bounty on the shark in

cash or check?

(laughter from all)

 

VAUGHN

That's private business between you

brave fishermen and Mrs. Kintner.

(to Brody)

-- Chief --

 

BRODY

(stepping in)

I'd like to tell you what we're doing

so far. These are some of the steps

I've taken as Chief of Police...

 

MEADOWS

(leading the direction

of the discussion)

What's going on with the beaches,

Chief?

 

All react.

 

BRODY

I'll get to that in a minute. First,

I plan to start our seasonal summer

help early, and to use shark spotters

on beaches open to the sea. I'd like

cooperation from local fishermen,

and I've also contacted the

Oceanographic Institute over on the

mainland.

 

VAUGHN

(Interrupting -- sotto

voice to Brody)

No need to involve outsiders in our

business, Martin.

 

WOMAN

Are you going to close the beaches?

 

BRODY

Larry and I have also decided to

close the beaches for a short time.

 

Pandemonium. A collective nerve has been touched.

 

VAUGHN

Only 24 hours!

 

BRODY

I didn't agree to that!

 

MRS. TAFT

That official business could take

all summer!

 

MR. KEISEL

Maybe it's better to close.

 

Two opinions have been expressed, and the crowd takes sides

vociferously, ad libbing assent or dissent depending on the

point of view held forth.

 

THOSE IN FAVOR

 

MR. WISEMAN

We should make sure

there is no danger.

 

MR. HASSETT

I didn't raise my kids to be some

fish's lunch!

 

THOSE OPPOSED

 

MRS. TAFT

The motel is all I own --

you pull the plug on this

town and I go down the

drain with it.

 

MR. POSNER

Nobody's seen a shark.

 

MR. POLK

We'll lose business, we

lose taxes, we lose our

shirts!

 

ANGLE ON QUINT, THE MAN IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM

 

He has just run his large, coarse fingernails over the

blackboard. He is a large, rough man, a professional fisherman

marked by daily physical toil, About 45 or 50, it's hard to

tell where the scars leave off and the wrinkles begin. There

is a bit of the showman in him, as well as a bit of killer-

whale.

 

QUINT

(after taking a deep

breath)

You all know me. You know what I do

for a living. I'll go out and get

this bird for you. He's a bad one

and it's not like goin' down the

pond chasing blue-gills and tommy-

cods. This is a fish that can swallow

a man whole. A little shakin', a

little tenderizing and down ya' go.

(a look to Vaughn)

You gotta get this fellow and get

him quick. If you do, it'll bring a

lot of tourist business just to see

him and you've got your business

back on a paying basis.

(beat)

A shark of that size is no pleasure

and I value my neck at a hell of a

lot more'n 3,000 bucks.

(a deadly look)

I'll find him for three. But I'll

kill him for ten.

 

Crowd reaction.

 

QUINT

(he rises up)

The bastard is costing you more'n

that every day. Do you wanna stay

alive and annee up the ten or play

it cheap and be on welfare next

winter.

(a final moment)

I'm gonna kill this thing... just a

matter of whether I do it now -- or

at the end of summer.

 

VAUGHN

Thank you very much, Mr. Quint, the

Selectmen will take your offer under

advisement