FADE IN:




               EXT. BASEBALL DIAMOND - SIX YEARS AGO


               The camera pans down to a baseball field. Men and women of
               all ages are out playing. A younger NASH is stepping to the
               plate. A younger DUNCAN is behind home plate, catching.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.)
                         My brother has always wanted to be
                         better than me.


               The pitch comes in and NASH sends a line drive into the right
               center field gap. The ball rolls all the way to the fence.
               NASH is rounding second.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.) (cont'd)
                         Like at the annual Gold Family Slow
                         Pitch Softball Game...


               NASH rounds third and heads home. The shortstop throws the
               ball to DUNCAN and he blocks the plate. Just as he catches
               the ball, NASH comes flying into him sending him to the dirt.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.) (cont'd)
                         I broke my jaw, dislocated my
                         shoulder, and lost two teeth that
                         day.


               The umpire checks DUNCAN's glove. The ball is still in it.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.) (cont'd)
                         But I also won.


                                                                CUT TO:




               INT. THE GOLD MINE RECORD STORE - PRESENT DAY


               DUNCAN is in more casual clothes than usual. He is organizing
               the CD section. NASH walks in looking rougher than usual.


                                   DUNCAN
                         Morning sunshine.


               NASH looks at his watch.


                                   NASH
                         It's eight o'clock isn't it? I'm
                         not late.


                                   DUNCAN
                         No, I've been here since six
                         getting familiar with everything.
                         It's called preparation.


                                   NASH
                         I call that sad.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.)
                         He was probably right.


               There is a knock on the door. DUNCAN looks and notices a tall
               man with thinning hair, and very flamboyant clothes standing
               outside.


                                   DUNCAN (cont'd)
                         I'm sorry. We're not open until
                         nine.


                                   MAN
                         I'm Gerry Franchila. I own the
                         antique shop next door.


                                   DUNCAN
                         A fellow business owner. Come in.


               DUNCAN opens the door for MR. FRANCHILA. He extends his hand.


                                   DUNCAN (cont'd)
                         I'm Duncan Gold, my brother Nash is
                         in the back. We're the new owners
                         of this store.


                                   MR. FRANCHILA
                         I heard the news. It's wonderful.
                         I'm actually here to congratulate
                         and warn you.


                                   DUNCAN
                         Warn me?


               NASH steps into the conversation.


                                   NASH
                         Of what?


               MR.FRANCHILA leans in closer.


                                   MR. FRANCHILA
                         This store was built on a pet
                         cemetery.


                                   NASH
                         Really?


                                   MR. FRANCHILA
                         Yeah.


                                   DUNCAN
                         No, it isn't.


                                   MR. FRANCHILA
                         Fair enough, Mr. Gold. You can
                         choose to leave, or you can choose
                         to die.


               MR. FRANCHILA attempts backing out of the store without
               losing eye contact on the brothers, but instead he backs into
               the door labeled "Pull". Embarrassed, he simply leaves.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.)
                         I didn't know what Mr. Franchila
                         was up to, but I didn't like the
                         smell of it. 
               "The Beast and Dragon, Adored" by Spoon can be heard playing
               in the store.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.) (cont'd)
                         I had other things to worry
                         about...like meeting my new
                         employees.




               INT. THE GOLD MINE RECORD STORE - LATER THAT DAY


               DUNCAN and NASH have lined up their four employees. FRIZZO,
               is a tall, tattooed, hard rock looking guy. ASHLEY, is a dark
               haired girl, with very dark makeup, but very tan skin.
               ANDREW, is a thin young man with glasses and a shy demeanor.


               DUNCAN walks up and down the line looking each of up and
               down. 


                                   NASH
                             (Whispering to DUNCAN)
                         She totally digs me. 


                                   DUNCAN
                         Who, Ciara?


               CIARA is seen looking over a John Tesh CD suspiciously.


                                   NASH
                         Look, she's checking me out.


               DUNCAN turns and looks.


                                   NASH (cont'd)
                         No! Don't look!


                                   DUNCAN
                         You just said--


                                   NASH
                         Look!


                                   DUNCAN
                             (Annoyed)
                         Leave me alone.


               NASH walks to ANDREW and smacks him on the chest.


                                   NASH 
                         Cigarette?


                                   ANDREW
                             (Anxiously)
                         I don't smoke...


               NASH angrily takes a 'Post-It' pad out of his pocket and
               writes something down. He shakes his head disappointed and
               walks away from ANDREW.


                                   DUNCAN
                             (To FRIZZO)
                         We've received several complaints
                         about loud music from businesses
                         around us.


                                   FRIZZO
                             (Loudly)
                         What?


               NASH walks to FRIZZO and begins to make random gestures with
               his hands. FRIZZO motions back with in a equally unconvincing
               way.


                                   DUNCAN
                         He's deaf?


                                   NASH
                             (To DUNCAN)
                         I can't believe you'd pick on a
                         cripple.


               DUNCAN smiles and waves to FRIZZO, who is now acting like a
               child, playing with a CD. NASH gives FRIZZO a cookie and pats
               him on the head.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.)
                         Apparently I was tricked. I would
                         later be notified of the hate that
                         Frizzo and Franchila shared for
                         each other. Their showdowns were
                         legendary.


                                                                CUT TO:




               INT. THE GOLD MINE RECORD STORE - A FEW WEEKS EARLIER


               FRIZZO stands behind the counter staring straight in to the
               eyes of MR. FRANCHILA. Neither man hesitates or so much as
               blinks. FRIZZO suddenly sticks his finger up his nose and
               begins to pick like a child with ADD. He pulls out a rather
               large booger. He brings it an inch from FRANCHILA'S face.  


               FRIZZO'S eyes light up with glee. FRANCHILA'S face turns from
               determined to anxious. FRIZZO winds up and puts his finger in
               his mouth, sucking all the booger down. FRANCHILA steps back,
               gagging.


                                   MR. FRANCHILA
                             (Coughing)
                         Oh! You! You!
                             (Gags)
                         You sick son of a bitch!


               FRANCHILA sprints out of the store.


                                                                CUT TO:




               INT. THE GOLD MINE RECORD STORE


               Still lined up, the employees wait for DUNCAN to speak again.


                                   DUNCAN
                         I think that'll do.


               FRIZZO makes some more crazy hand gestures and skips away
               with a goofy smile on his face. CIARA approaches DUNCAN,
               confused.


                                   CIARA
                         What about me?


                                   DUNCAN
                             (Smiles)
                         You look great.


               DUNCAN walks away.


                                   CIARA
                         Pussy.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.)
                         The real reason we did not attempt
                         to use intimidation tactics was
                         Nash's history of being beat up by
                         women, starting with little Betsy
                         Adams at the age of 4. And I had
                         gotten the impression he had been
                         sneaking some whiskey in to the
                         store.


               NASH can be seen taking inventory in the jazz section. A
               beautiful woman walks by him.


                                   NASH
                             (Slurred)
                         Break me off a piece of that!
                         Meowwwww!


               The WOMAN turns around and slaps NASH.


                                                                CUT TO:




               EXT. OUTSIDE THE RECORD STORE - NIGHT


               DUNCAN closes the door behind him as he follows CIARA out of
               the store. As he locks the door CIARA begins to walk away.


                                   DUNCAN
                         Wait!


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.) (cont'd)
                         Nash had left earlier unannounced.
                         Truth be told nobody claimed to see
                         him leave the store. I decided I
                         was going to work my magic on
                         Ciara. Let's see... she appears to
                         take great pride in her work.


               CIARA stops. DUNCAN catches up to her.


                                   CIARA
                             (Annoyed)
                         Yeah?


                                   DUNCAN
                         I just wanted to... thank you.


                                   CIARA
                         For?


                                   DUNCAN
                             (Smiles)
                         A job well done.


               CIARA rolls her eyes and turns away from DUNCAN.


                                                                CUT TO:




               INT. BOXING RING - FANTASY


               All dressed up in boxing attire DUNCAN starts at a corner and
               runs towards a very large boxer across the ring.
               The other boxer winds up and punches DUNCAN with a force so
               strong is sends him in to the stands.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.)
                         So that's what a first round KO
                         feels like.


               SOUNDTRACK: THE HELIO SEQUENCE - EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE


                                                                CUT TO:




               EXT. CITY STREET - CONTINUOUS


               DUNCAN walks alone down the empty street, looking distraught
               over the end result of the day.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.)
                         Maybe it's time I buckle down and
                         try to make this situation work.
                         There are moments when I see the
                         potential of the place.


               A car pulls up beside DUNCAN. It's tented windows roll down,
               revealing a businessman.


                                   BUSINESSMAN
                         Mr. Gold?


                                   DUNCAN
                         Yeah?


                                   BUSINESSMAN
                         Can you spare a few minutes to talk
                         about the possibility of The Gold
                         Mine becoming a part of Newson
                         Incorporated?


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.)
                         Or maybe it's time I cut my losses.


               DUNCAN nods and enters the car.


                                    ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF GOLD MINE GUTTED:


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.) (cont'd)
                         Nash celebrates St. Patrick's Day.


               Nash is shown sleeping in a utility closet inside the record
               store.


                                   DUNCAN (V.O.) (cont'd)
                         And Mr. Franchila ups the ante.


               MR. FRANCHILA is shown face to face with FRIZZO yet again. He
               takes a slice of cheese out of his shirt pocket and stuffs it
               in his mouth. FRIZZO watches him eat it, confused. MR.
               FRANCHILA raises his fists in the air and does a victory
               dance. He then begins to gag.