Lesson 13

[Robert Smith]

THRILLER DAY 13 MISDIRECTION

ROBERT R. SMITH MISDIRECTS WHEN APPROPRIATE

WHAT I LEARNED IS…?

JANUARY 21 2024

On Misdirection: What I learned is how it can point an audience away from a trail of action, clues, characters which would keep them on the edge of their seats and stun them when the real solution to a clue, or character is revealed.

Unfortunately, I have also learned that the script which I am developing is more a Gangster-Horror film rather than a thriller along the lines of a “Chinatown” or “Bourne Identity,” although there are thrills in it, car chase, threat of death, actual attempts to kill the Hero. There is a thrill to the supernatural mystery of actually creating an anthropoid creature (a golem) that will do one’s bidding.

In order to inject the Thriller genre in my developing project, I need to include red herrings

And misdirections to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.

As such, I have fallen behind, having taken three weeks to bring my project more into the Thriller genre. I decided to have the murderous result of the monster’s action be the opening scene and telling the story from the point of an unsolved murder. By the way, the unsolved murder of gangster Abe Reles on the eve of testifying against his former boss (who was later executed) is historical and the murder remains officially unsolved to this day.

ASSIGNMENT

LOOK THROUGH YOUR THRILLER MAP FOR A FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO OPPORTUNITY TO ADD IN MISDIRECTION:

A. Clue Misdirection

B. Character Misdirection.

C. Dialogue Misdirection.

A. CLUE MISDIRECTION.

NOTE: The story begins with an historical mystery: Who killed gangster rat Abe Reles by throwing him from his police-guarded 6^th floor hotel room on the eve of his trial testimony that could put his former boss Lepke Buchalter (chief of Murder, Inc.) in the electric chair.

CLUE MISDIRECTION: At first, Detective Michael Murtagh and Assistant DA Jack Saperstein feel that Reles showed no suicidal signs, moreover, he knew that escape would expose him to mob retaliation. Murtagh and Saperstein believe a logical conclusion is that the police guards were bribed by the mob to either let the killers into the room or kill Reles themselves. But they decide to interview other hotel residents to see if somebody saw or heard anything.

B. CHARACTER MISDIRECTION.

SAME OPENING: At first, Detective Michael Murtagh and Assistant DA Jack Saperstein feel that Reles showed no suicidal signs, moreover, he knew that escape would expose him to mob retaliation. Murtagh and Saperstein believe a logical conclusion is that the police guards were bribed by the mob to either let the killers into the room or kill Reles themselves. But they decide to interview other hotel residents to see if somebody saw or heard anything.

CHARACTER MISDIRECTION: A monstrous magically created anthropoid called in Hebrew a “golem” at first protects the Jewish people, when he attacks members of a Nazi Rally, but later, as he gains strength and height, he becomes a destructive force against his master and others. It is the Golem who kills Abe Reles.

C. DIALOGUE MISDIRECTION.

As stated the real killer is a supernatural magically created giant anthropoid called a golem. But when he overturns a gangster pursuit car who wanted to kill the hero and capture the golem, a surviving but dying gangster tells the police that a golem destroyed their car. The police misunderstand. They think the gangster meant to say “Golisch” the name of an uptown hood whom they then arrest only to find out that he has an alibi.

REVISED THRILLER MAP WITH NEW MISDIRECTION HIGHLIGHTED:

THRILLER MAP REWRITTEN 2124

GENRE: Gangster-Thriller.

TITLE: “The Golem in Gangland”

PITCH: A monster Golem wreaks havoc on the New York Crime Syndicate, while two time- traveling super-angels try to rescue one mobster from the mob and the Golem.

SYNOPSIS

NOTE: The mysterious death of Abe Reles is historical but this is how it is incorporated in my story.

OPENING

Card: Half-Moon Hotel, Brooklyn, New York. November 12, 1941.

Walter Winchell narrates (V.O.): This is Walter Winchell. On the eve of his trial testimony against his former boss, turncoat mobster Abe Reles lies dead five floors beneath his police protected room at the Half-Moon Hotel in Coney Island.

[MYSTERY] Did Reles commit suicide or die trying to escape? Or was he pushed out of the window in a mob reprisal for revealing secrets that could put his former boss in the electric chair? The homicide detectives are completely baffled.

INCITING INCIDENT

CLUE MISDIRECTION: At first, Detective Michael Murtagh and Assistant DA Jack Saperstein feel that Reles showed no suicidal signs, moreover, he knew that escape would expose him to mob retaliation. Murtagh and Saperstein believe a logical conclusion is that the police guards were bribed by the mob to either let the killers into the room or kill Reles themselves. But they decide to interview other hotel residents to see if somebody saw or heard anything.

MISDIRECTION: RED HERRINGS: Murtagh and Saperstein consider what gangster boss could have given the order to kill Reles, Lepke himself (now on trial has the most to gain by Reles’ death), or Charles “Lucky” Luciano (from Sing Sing prison), or Albert Anastasia already known as the Lord High Executioner.

The occupants of a second floor room are a family, a mother (Lina), a father (Irv) and their 12 year old son (Jimmy). Jimmy says that in the early morning, about 6:45 (when Reles died), Jimmy was already awake, while his parents were still sleeping. Jimmy heard a noise at their window. He looked out and up and “saw Frankenstein only he was made of clay.” Lina scolds her son for his “ridiculous” story and scolds Irv for taking Jimmy to see “’Son of Frankenstein’ – giving him bad dreams.” However, the Asst. DA Saperstein and Det. Murtagh are intrigued.

[CLUE:] Murtagh asks Jimmy to show them the window, which they inspect. On the outside window ledge Murtagh finds a small chip of reddish clay.

Jimmy sneers to his parents: “See I told you so!”

Murtagh places the clay chip into an evidence envelope to take to the lab, but asks, “What did you see when you looked up, Jimmy? He answers, “A giant Frankenstein made of clay climbing up the wall. I mean, it was like his hands and feet had suction cups.”

Murtagh further asks, “Did you see Frankenstein go into any window up above?” Jimmy replies, “Oh, I ducked back inside. I was scared he’d see me.”

[MISDIRECTION]: Lina tells Murtagh, that her son Jimmy, “just had a bad dream.” Murtagh tells her, “Well, let’s see what the lab says about this clay chip.”

[CLUE] At the lab, the technician tells Murtagh and Saperstein that the clay is terra rossa soil, rare in the USA but found all over Palestine.

[TWIST- MYSTERY-INTRIGUE-SUSPENSE-CLUE] HOW COULD SOIL FROM PALESTINE END UP ON A WINDOW LEDGE OF THE HALF-MOON HOTEL IN BROOKLYN and WHAT IS THE CONNECTION WITH RELES’ DEATH, IF ANY?

CARD: TWO YEARS EARLIER

MAX AND THE GOLEM

Max Levitsky is a gangster in Murder Incorporated. He lives in a Brooklyn apartment built into the warehouse in which he keeps his Golem in a crate when he is dormant.

A golem being a creature of Jewish legend formed of mud or clay. Like the Frankenstein creature, the golem is brought to life, not by mad science but magic.

Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, boss of Murder Incorporated and Abe “Kid Twist” Reles (his

lieutenant) are visiting Max in his apartment. “My butler will bring you your drinks.”

[REVEAL] The butler is the 7 foor Golem, made of reddish clay who brings drinks for the three

men on a tray. Lepke and Reles are scared

Max: There’s nothing to fear. The butler is a golem I brought back from the Holy Land. It was

a rabbis gift. He obeys my commands. He’s my personal servant. I call him “Friday” as in “my

man Friday.” I commanded him to bring us our drinks, told him what your favorites are

and here he is.”

Lepke: “I heard golem stories when I was a kid in Hebrew School. Weren’t

golems supposed to protect the ghetto from antisemites?”

Max: “That’s right.”

Lepke: “Well, Mister Lansky is calling all Jewish members of the Syndicate to Madison

Square Garden, next Monday. Would you believe it! The Nazi Party is having a rally. Bring your golem, Max. Mister Lansky says it’s okay to beat up Nazis as long as we don’t kill them.

Max: Right! Jews are not going to be pushed around anymore. So, Friday and I will be at the Monday Night Fight at the Garden. He won’t wear gloves and I’ll bring my baseball bat.

[SUSPENSE] Lepke and Reles leave, but as they enter their car, Lepke tells Reles that their

outfit could use a golem to carry out their contract killings and to “get a driver and some of the

boys to kill Max and take the golem first chance you get.”

[TWIST INTRIGUE]: In Heaven, the souls of Rabbi Solomon Levitsky and his partner-soul, (a redeemed gangster) Lou Tasca are called on a time-travel mission back to 1939 to save the life and soul of Rabbi Solomon’s gangster uncle Max Levitsky who is in trouble. Lou says, “Time-travel? This sounds like The Twilight Zone. Rabbi Solomon retorts, “Well, to your credit you wanted to work as a “Better Angel.” Here’s your chance to write your own episode.”

NOTE: The Nazi Party rally at Madison Square Garden, like Reles’ murder, is historical and is found in archival film footage.

CARD: AMERICAN NAZI PARTY RALLY AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN – FEBRUARY 20, 1939.

Nazi Party Leader (Fuhrer) Fritz Kuhn addresses the assemblage and is attacked from behind.

After the rally, in front of the Garden, Jewish gangsters attack (but not kill) Nazis as they leave the Garden.

REVEAL: The Golem, now grown to 9 feet prevails in the melee against Nazis and police and is impervious to their bullets.

TURNING POINT: After the Golem prevails in the melee on 8^th Avenue and 50^th, and is safely in a crate in the back of a Ford COE flatbed truck driven by Max. Reles grabs his men and a car and follows Max’ truck with the Golem.

Reles fires at Max and hits his truck near the driver’s side door.

Max realizes he’s being followed and fired upon, and voices his anger: “Reles, I thought you were a friend!”

[SUSPENSE] A harrowing auto chase by Reles in pursuit of Max through the street canyons of Manhattan happens with Reles firing his gun at Max. The chase ends in a crash as follows.

REVEAL: At the end of Abe Reles’ car chase after the truck driven by Max. Max shouts to the Golem through the window in back of the cab: “Friday, get out onto the road and stop that car and destroy ir!” The Golem (now 11 feet tall) hears the command and jumps out the back of the truck in front of Reles’ car that spins to avoid him and careens into a newsstand, killing the owner. The Golem grabs and lifts the car and smashes it upside down. Although Reles escapes and flees, the driver and other passengers are dead, except one.

As Max get out of the truck’s cab to guide the Golem back onto the flatbed by holding open the canvas curtain attached to the awning, Rabbi Solomon and Lou Tasca climb into the cab. Max is startled to find them but when Rabbi Solomon makes the introductions, Max is not only relieved but overjoyed. “Oh, I have been expecting you.”

SUSPENSE: Police sirens.

Max drives off.

[SUSPENSE] The police car stops at the crash site.

Officer 1: I thought I saw Abe Reles run down the street. Radio call an ambulance.

Officer 2 picks up the radio and calls Car 22 to headquarters,”

COVER-UP: After the Golem destroys the car commandeered by Reles to chase Max’ truck to kill Max and steal the Golem, Reles has escaped and the only survivor is dying and in the last exchange with an officer covers up Reles role in the deadly car chase.

One passenger is still alive.

Officer 2: I know you. Mel Goldman. Don’t worry an ambulance is on its way. But Mel, what happened here?

Mel: “Golem, golem.”

Officer 1: Golem? He must mean Karl Golisch, that hood from uptown. Mel, was Abe Reles with you?

Mel: I don’t remember. (Dies)

DIALOGUE MISDIRECTION.

As stated the real killer is a supernatural magically created giant anthropoid called a golem. But when the Golem overturns the gangster pursuit car whose gangster occupants wanted to kill the hero and capture the golem as their leader as Abe Reles, directed them. A surviving but dying gangster tells the police that a golem destroyed their car. The police misunderstand. They think the gangster must have meant “Golisch” the name of an uptown hood whom they then arrest only to find out that he has an alibi.

CHARACTER MISDIRECTION: Police jump to the conclusion that Golisch must be arrested.

[REVEAL] Max explains to Rabbi Solomon and Lou Tasca: “I knew you two were coming. In Palestine, it was prophesied to me that two angels will come to help and protect me.” Rabbi Solomon asks, “Palestine?” Max affirms, “Yes.” “Who prophesied us to you?” Max answers the he had met Rabbi Nahoum Gabbai and he told me that two angels would help and protect me.”

Rabbi Solomon says he had heard about Nahoum Gabbai from other rabbis when he was in Jerusalem. He’s a crook and a charlatan known for making defective mezuzahs. He also made a fortune selling his amulets to the superstitious.”

Max: “He gave me an amulet and that’s not all, he gave me Friday as a gift. Friday’s a golem.” He runs errands for me and did you see what he did to those Nazi bastards at the Garden?”

(TWIST “We did,” Soloman answers. “AND he could someday turn on you and do the same thing. He is now your servant and you are his master. He can someday make himself your master.”

[TRUST/DISTRUST]Solomon: Didn’t Nahoum Gabbai warn you of this when he gave you the golem?

Max: No. He gave it to me as a gift and I trusted him.

Solomon: After Reles and Lepke, Gabbai is just the guy not to trust. Well, Lou, we arrived none too soon to get Max out of trouble.

Rabbi Solomon conceals the fact that he is Max’s nephew visiting from decades in the future.

BACK IN MAX’ WAREHOUSE.

Max puts the Golem back in the crate into a dormant state.

Max, Rabbi Solomon, and Lou enter Max’s apartment.

Rabbi Solomon conceals the fact that he is Max’s nephew visiting from decades in the future.

[TWIST] Rabbi Solomon wants to know the full extent of Max’ dealing with Rabbi Nahoum but reminds Max that according to legend and history a golem is supposed to protect the Jewish people. Max replies that he’ll get to that but first he tells the Rabbi about how he acquired the golem.

CARD: SIX MONTHS EARLIER. Mandatory Palestine under British rule.

Max was running guns to the Haganah, but he also met with Arab terrorists who sell antiquities to finance their terrorism. (Solomon: “You play both sides.” Max: “And they both pay me very well. I run guns to the Haganah, from the Arabs I get antiquities.”) ”From the Arab terrorists, Max buys coins, pieces of statuary and a large reddish clay statue to sell on the antiquities black market. Rabbi Nahoum who comes with the Arabs explains the clay state, as follows:

REVEAL: that clay statue is a genuine Golem, a Frankenstein-like mass of clay that can be brought to life and is capable of horrible destruction when activated by ancient magic spells.

REVEAL: THE GOLEM, a reddish clay statue but it’s actually a monster that resembles an 8 foot sasquatch only of clay rather than muscle and hair.

Although at first, Max doesn’t trust the corrupt Rabbi Nahoum Gabbai, the cleric’s solicitous manner puts Max at ease. Gabbai activates the Golem into a dormant-state, using mystical Hebrew letters from the ancient Sefer Yetzirah, a mystical text said to have been written by Abraham the Patriarch. AND

1. (REVEAL:)While Rabbi Nahoum Gabbai reads the magic spells to animate the Golem, MYSTERY; Need to know what the Golem is and what animates it.

Rabbi Gabbai animates the Golem and explains how it is animated but not what the destructive potential of the Golem may be.

2. MYSTERY: a ghostly nude man with wings appears and seems to descend into the Golem, whom Gabbai identifies as the Archdemon Astaroth, who animates the Golem.

CLUE TRAIL – DIALOGUE:

MAX: (To Rabbi Gabbai.) Are you leading me into something satanic?

GABBAI: You are a gangster and you are worried that I may lead you into the satanic? I cannot lead you anywhere you don’t want to be led.

Max resolves to keep the Golem for his own servant purposes. Even gives him a name “Friday” as in “his man Friday.” But Max feels that gangsters would try to kill him and steal the Golem.

Additionally, (REVEAL:) Gabbai says he has the solution to Max’ fears. He presents to Max the Aramaic text, translation, and transliteration of the “Pulsa di-Nurah” (Lashes of Flame) curse prayer for anytime you want some man to die.” With profound thanks Max remarks to Gabbai, “A prayer is not as fast as a tommy gun but they die just as dead, huh?” Gabbai replies, “Yes, and it leaves no fingerprints.”

Scene resumes in Max’ warehouse apartment.

RABBI SOLOMON: Destroy the Pulsa di-Nurah. You cannot pray for the death of another without it damaging your own soul, and feeding the archdemon.

[Rabbi Solomon says that the Golem is supposed to be a protector of the Jewish people. Max says, “He has already been a protector of the Jewish people. Remember the Nazi Rally in Madison Square Garden?”

[MISDIRECTION] Nazi Party leader Fritz Kuhn visits Det. Mike Murtagh in Police HQ to complain about police incompetency in providing security for the Nazi Party rally at Madison Square Garden and protection from the Jewish gangs and their golem. Kuhn explains the golem to Murtagh . Kuhn brings with him the license plate number of Max’ truck in which he drove away with the Golem. Murtagh tells him they knew of that license plate and the plate was stolen. Kuhn’s explains the Golem – a word Murtagh remembers from the dying gangster after the car chase which was misunderstood as Golisch – is that it is a man in a specially designed costume and machinery probably designed by a special effects expert from what he calls “Jew-controlled Hollywood.” And that they should investigate RKO Jewish President (George Schaefer) and look at whoever designed the special effects of King Kong. Murtagh derides Kuhn’s crazy theory. To begin with, Murtagh tells Kuhn that King Kong was just a doll recorded in stop action photography. Kuhn says there must be some evidence of a costume in the photographs of the golem taken at the riot by your police and reporters.

COVER-UP: Murtagh explains for unknown reasons the Golem is invisible in any police or newspaper photographs although we all know that he was visible and physical in reality and caused real-time injuries and couldn’t be brought down with bullets..

Murtagh then dismisses Kuhn, ridicules his conspiracy theory, and states his own revulsion at Kuhn’s disgusting Nazi doctrines and antisemitism and dismisses him.

Murtagh now realizes that the dying gangster meant golem and not Golisch (the hood).

Max settles down for lunch with Rabbi Solomon and Lou at his friend’s (Manny Levine) kosher luncheonette (which he believes is a safe haven because he no longer has connections with Lepke.) Yet, in walks Bernie Moskowitz and shoots Manny for a debt Manny owes Lepke. Bernie spots Max but has to run because Reles just pulled up with the getaway car. Bernie tells Reles that Max was in the luncheonette. But Reles, the getaway driver realizes there is no time to go in for a second shooting. Chewing out Bernie, Reles drives off.

Max swears revenge on Reles.

ABOVE CITED DIALOGUE HERE:

CLUE TRAIL – LATER DIALOGUE:

LATER DIALOGUE:

MAX: Why is this thing (the Golem) becoming so super-human? If he gets any larger he will be King Kong.

RABBI SOLOMON: Worse. He grows larger because a demon indwells him.

MAX: Astaroth? Right?

RABBI SOLOMON: Right, The demon also feeds off your own desire for vengeance against Reles That is why the Golem grows with each command to do violence that you give him. Right now you are its master. But with each command you turn the Golem into more of an uncontrollable monster that will become your master.

TWIST: Reles’s deadly car chase and attack on the Kosher Restaurant compels Crime-busting Assistant DA Jack Saperstein to more urgently hunt down both Lepke and Reles.

TWIST: (It just got more dangerous with higher stakes.) In retaliation, Reles plans to assassinate Murtagh and Saperstein.

The Commission of the Syndicate (Albert Anastasia, Lepke, and Meyer Lansky) take out a contract on Reles with the intent to kill him before he can assassinate Murtagh and Saperstein, as killing law enforcement is against the rules of the Syndicate.

TWIST: To escape murder from the Syndicate, Reles seeks police protection so he surrenders to Murtagh and Saperstein with the promise that he will “turn canary and sing,” meaning, turn rat on Lepke and Murder Incorporated and the wider Syndicate and testify.

Reles begins to assist the DA in building a case against Lepke with Saperstein’s promise of police protection.

TWIST: (The worst thing happens to Reles.)

TWIST: (A new problem occurs.) What really happens in my story: Max, who wants revenge against Reles. recites the Pulsa di-Nurah (Lashes of Flames) death-prayer against Reles which the Golem overhears and misunderstands as Max’s (his master) order to kill Reles.

THE MURDER OF RELES: Dawn, November 12, 1941, the now 12 foot Golem scales the wall of the hotel. Jimmy at the 2^nd floor window looks up and sees the giant Golem climbing up the wall, not window to window but on the wall itself as if its hands and feet had suction cups. Jimmy ducks back inside and shuts the window. The Golem climbs into Reles’ 6^th floor room.

Reles says to the Golem, “Hello, Friday. Are you going to get me out of here?”

The Golem nods yes and grabs Reles and covers his mouth so he will not make a sound and hurls Reles out the window to his death, without any noise that would alert the police guards outside the room. The Golem climbs back down the hotel wall and escapes, unnoticed.

Murtagh and Saperstein’s conclusion: “The canary could sing but he couldn’t fly.”

TWIST: Max learns that a contract has also been taken out against him by the commission for his insubordination to Lepke.

TWIST: Encouraged by Rabbi Solomon, Max also surrenders to the police and overcomes his initial gangster’s distrust of Murtagh and Saperstein with his own promise to do as did Reles, namely, flip and also testify against Lepke and the Syndicate with the hope of a shorter sentence and witness protection to follow.

CLUE TRAIL – LATER DIALOGUE:

RABBI SOLOMON: No, destroy the Pulsa di-Nurah. You cannot pray for the death of another without it damaging your own soul and feeding the demon.

MISDIRECTION CORRECTED: Saperstein and Murtagh admit that they thought the order to kill Reles came from the commission (Lepke, Luciano (from prison), or Anastasia. It was none of the above, it was Max’ prayer-curse.

Rabbi Solomon convinces Max to do as Reles as had, turn states evidence. And to call Murtagh and Saperstein to come to the warehouse and learn everything about the Golem.

TWIST/CLIMAX: In the presence of Murtagh and Saperstein, Rabbi Solomon deactivates the Golem by removing the scroll with the sacred name from the Golem’s mouth and erasing a key sacred letter written on the Golem’s forehead. The Golem crumbles into a pile of clay, after which, Rabbi Solomon destroys the evil “Pulsa di-Nurah” curse-prayer and explains.

Murtagh and Saperstein conclude, there is no way charges could be placed against a golem for Reles’ murder, as a golem is not a human being and Max can’t be charged for praying for Reles’ death. “There are people who wish somebody dead every day. You can’t arrest somebody for what’s in their head.” Rabbi Solomon adds: “In Jewish law a golem cannot be charged because he’s not a human being and is capable of only carrying out orders.”

RESOLUTION: Rabbi Solomon explains to Max that by his ritual deactivation of the Golem he has spared Max from any of the growing danger to him by the increasingly destructive Golem and leaves a very thankful Max safely in police custody, ready to flip and testify against Lepke and the Syndicate and return to a devout Jewish life. Rabbi Solomon and Lou Tasca return to Heaven now that their Mission has been accomplished with Max totally unaware that Rabbi Solomon is his future nephew.