“THE REPLACEMENT”

SCREENPLAY

THRILLER

Ross, an experienced intelligence agent, trains his 6th

recruit in the Middle East, to help uncover an

assassination plot on a powerful prince, while tracking

down Ross’s missing wife.

Ross’s frustration is heightened when his 5th trainee is

killed. Ross and his next trainee, Crawford, are assigned

the task of protecting Prince Bashir, a man who had tried

to kill Ross years ago. Crawford learns from Ross and

homes his skills in an effort to survive, and to help

discover the assassin. Ross goes missing and Crawford is

left to pick up the pieces. A dangerous game of cat and

mouse unwinds as Ross and Crawford get closer to the

assassin, while discovering the whereabouts of Ross’s

missing wife.

This screenplay is intended for all audiences over the age

of 13. Certain parts of this screenplay have been redacted

to ensure viewing is appropriate for the public.

The following 25 pages are a sample of the screenplay. A

synopsis and a complete 90 page screenplay will be

available at www.inktip.com in September 2015.

James Patrick is my “pen” name. I, Patrick Garbart, am the

author of this screenplay.

THE REPLACEMENT

by Patrick Garbart

INT. SMALL ROOM – NIGHT

ROSS, a middle-aged man, sits quietly with a young MAN,

while grenades EXPLODE outside. The young man tenses up.

ROSS (V.O.)

I tried telling them. They never

listen. They never do. The last

thing that goes on in their head is

thinking that they might have made

a wiser choice by listening to me.

Then everything goes black. They’re

dead. I’m the asshole who has to

write a report on why their

stupidity got them killed. How

could I tell their relatives they

gave their lives fighting for our

cause, our country. I didn’t. I

let an asshole in a suit do

that. It was best that way. You

can never get attached to your

partner because sometime, you don’t

know when, you’ll need to get a new

one. Just like right now.

Ross raises his hand to the man. More EXPLOSIONS go off.

ROSS

Don’t think about it. Don’t. Not

one word.

MAN

We got to run for it!

ROSS

I said no.

MAN

What if they come inside?

ROSS

They won’t. They want us outside.

You will die if you move.

The man sweats. He squints with each new EXPLOSION. Arabic

VOICES can be heard outside.

2

ROSS

Think of something pleasant.

Something you used to do back home.

Just imagine yourself there now.

More EXPLOSIONS and loud VOICES can be heard. The man gets

excited and runs out a door. He’s SHOT and killed.

ROSS (V.O.)

I warned him. The difference between

living and dying is listening to me.

That fuck jeopardized the mission.

He wasted a lot of man hours. Who

knows what will happen to his body.

It might be taken to a celebration

for killing Americans. There was

nothing I could do, except join him.

No. I wasn’t going to do that. I

don’t have time to be stupid. I can

tell you this, someday, someday soon,

they’re going to find me someone

who will listen to me. It’s not as

if I’m trying to ask for Superman.

All I want is someone who can listen.

INT. LARGE BUILDING - DAY

Ross goes inside a building. Near the entrance, is a large

security screening area. He places his briefcase and

personal items on the conveyor belt. He proceeds down a

long corridor. He gets into the elevator, looks at his

watch, and is not caring about greeting anyone. He gets out

of the elevator and walks toward an office at the end of

the hallway. A title on the door reads “Deputy Director.”

Ross storms through the door and proceeds to the main

office, without greeting the secretary. DAVENPORT is

sitting at the desk.

DAVENPORT

Before you say anything, I want to

say I’m sorry. The kid should have

listened to you.

3

ROSS

Your damn right he should have. Why

the hell do you keep sending me

these boy scouts? Do you know what

the number five represents? Do you?

Davenport waits without answering.

ROSS

Five is the number of inexperienced

recruits I got who died within the

first week of their assignment! Five

represents the number of times I

specifically requested someone with

field experience. Five is the number

of times within the past year I’ve

been screwed. How many deaths is it

going to take to get a solid recruit?

DAVENPORT

Ross, you know how the organization

is doing. There are just not enough

field agents around. We are spread

very thin. We’re doing all we can.

ROSS

Don’t tell me it’s budget cuts. Don’t

tell me it’s the fucking economy.

Don’t tell me it’s because Congress

plays games with each other, instead

of approving a budget. Don’t tell me

your waiting for another fucking

election to see who the next suit is

who is going to prance around in the

dark, not knowing what the hell we do.

DAVENPORT

Ross, all I can do for now is get

you involved in the selection

process. It is a different strategy.

ROSS

So I get to pick my own recruit? No

meddling involved?

DAVENPORT

I think you’ve earned that.

4

Ross gives Davenport a satisfied look, and nods.

ROSS

We’re not getting any younger.

Davenport gets up. Both proceed down a long corridor toward

an office that says “Training.” Both go inside and are

greeted by an INSTRUCTOR.

INSTRUCTOR

Good morning. What can I do for you?

ROSS

Where are the recruits?

The instructor looks at Davenport. Davenport nods. The

instructor points to the direction where the recruits are.

INSTRUCTOR

They’re in there.

Ross slams the door open. Fifteen recruits are now looking

at him. Ross looks around at some training materials on a

desk. Ross picks up a ball and throws it at RECRUIT #1.

RECRUIT #1 catches the ball.

ROSS

That was a grenade! What are you

going to do?

The recruit throws the ball in a corner.

ROSS

You just threw a grenade beside

innocent bystanders. And you killed

your contact. Someone saw you throw

the grenade and now you got shot.

You’re bleeding, and dead!

Ross retrieves the ball and throws it at RECRUIT #2.

ROSS

What are you going to do?

RECRUIT #2

Run away.

5

ROSS

You just walked into a trap. Your

enemies knew you were going to move

and shot you. Your dead!

Ross looks at Davenport.

ROSS

That’s two more that got killed

while working with me.

Ross picks up the ball. He looks around and notices RECRUIT

#3, a confident, steady young gentleman. Ross throws the

ball at him. RECRUIT #3 catches the ball.

ROSS

What are you going to do?

With confidence, RECRUIT #3 looks up and throws the ball

hard up toward the ceiling. The ball penetrates one of the

ceiling tiles and disappears. RECRUIT #3 yells in Arabic.

RECRUIT #3

I just warned everyone of a grenade.

They scattered, causing several

moving targets to appear for snipers.

In the meantime, I am running beside

the bystanders, looking for cover.

ROSS

There might be hope for you. I can’t

believe it! Finally, someone made a

sensible move.

Ross looks at the instructor.

ROSS

Is that in your training manual?

The instructor is embarrassed.

ROSS

What the hell is going on in this

place? We’re training mercenaries

and spies, not idiots!

Ross looks at the entire group of recruits.

6

ROSS

This little exercise demonstrates

something you can’t learn in books.

Your Arabic won’t teach you this.

Your parents didn’t teach you this.

It’s called instinct. If you don’t

have this then learn it. If you

can’t learn it you will die. You

don’t get a second chance in this

job. If you make a bad decision you

earn of coffin, that’s if your body

parts can be collected. Your goal

is to get better and smarter every

day. It is how you will survive.

You can’t accomplish your mission

if you’re dead. Am I clear?

The recruits are still surprised by Ross’s surly demeanor.

Davenport walks out of the room with Ross.

DAVENPORT

Well that was an eye opener.

ROSS

Where’s that third recruit’s file?

Davenport hands Ross a file with pictures.

ROSS

What are his language scores?

DAVENPORT

They’re almost perfect.

ROSS

What about his dialect.

DAVENPORT

He almost sounds convincing.

ROSS

Almost eh? Almost gets a bullet to

your head. I’m going to stick

around for a few days and see what

these recruits can do.

7

DAVENPORT

Absolutely. Ross, I know you are

going to ask. The answer is still

no. No news.

ROSS

Are you all still checking? Really?

DAVENPORT

We have agents checking almost every

day. I can introduce you to the lead

agent that has been trying to track

down your wife.

Ross looks away, through a window, remembering his wife.

EXT. CAFE - DAY

Ross sits with JANE, his wife, at a table.

JANE

Well, how was your day?

ROSS

You mean a day at the office?

Ross and Jane both smile at each other.

JANE

You know, we are due for a little R

and R. Where would you like to go?

ROSS

Somewhere with a beach and a hammock.

No music. No people. Just the relaxing

sound of waves.

Jane smiles.

JANE

No rockets or machine gun fire?

ROSS

Yes, I might have to rethink the

vacation thing. All the silence

might kill me.

8

JANE

Will your boss let you go?

ROSS

No. Will your boss let you go?

JANE

No.

Jane holds Ross’s hand and they both laugh. A BOMB explodes

fifty yards from where Ross and Jane are sitting. They are

both knocked out of their chairs. Several masked men

approach the table and carry Jane away from the area. Ross

is too shaken up to follow. Ross passes out.

INT. DAVENPORT’S OFFICE - LATER

DAVENPORT

Ross. Have a seat.

Ross slowly approaches a chair.

ROSS

You have a new assignment for me.

DAVENPORT

Something big has come up. I know

you can handle it, but it will test

your skills, and your patience with

your new recruit.

Ross leans back anticipating the new assignment. Davenport

hands him a folder. Ross goes through the folder and

reviews a cover sheet and pictures of a man.

ROSS

This asshole tried to have me killed!

DAVENPORT

That asshole is your next assignment.

Ross looks up at the ceiling.

ROSS

Don’t tell me.

9

DAVENPORT

Prince Bashir is under death threats.

An attempt on his life has been made.

ROSS

You’ve got to be kidding me! You

want me to protect an asshole who

tried to kill me?

DAVENPORT

You’ve got to understand the bigger

picture. You know how unstable the

region is. Prince Bashir is the

only person standing between regional

instability and a new commitment of

billions of dollars of US military

resources. We don’t want involvement

in another conflict.

Ross looks down, accepting the truth.

ROSS

I already know the answer, but I’m

going to ask. What am I going to get?

DAVENPORT

Your contact and your new recruit.

ROSS

What a surprise! You know, I keep

telling myself I wasn’t such a fool

all these years for giving up a

career in marine biology. I could

have studied sharks and been laid

out on some beach.

DAVENPORT

Ross, I wish our agency got more

credit for the things we do. But we

can’t. It would be a national

security issue. You’re cocky,

arrogant, and tend to mouth off at

authority figures. But you are the

best I have.

ROSS

What’s the time frame?

10

DAVENPORT

You’ve got one month to discover

the assassin. All I have is a small

lead. Something big is going to

happen soon. Your contact might

have a little more intel to provide.

ROSS

My new recruit has got to be a whole

lot better than the other five. And

that’s why you are allowing me to

interfere with training.

Davenport smiles in agreement.

DAVENPORT

You have control of this assignment.

But you will have limited support.

ROSS

Limited means there’s no support

for life-threatening situations.

Davenport looks away.

INT. TRAINING ROOMS - DAY

The new recruits are each sitting alone in small rooms,

with a desk and chair. Ross enters one of the rooms and

approaches SAM.

ROSS

Sam. Your name is Sam correct?

SAM

Correct.

ROSS

You’re dead. You’ve revealed too

much information to the enemy.

Ross leaves and enters another room. Ross looks at SMITH.

ROSS

Smith, it says here that you have

three brothers and two sisters. Is

that correct?

11

SMITH

Where did you get that information?

ROSS

I know because I’m holding your

file. I know everything about you.

Now stop wasting my time. Next

question. Why do you have a degree

in mathematics?

SMITH

Well, it’s something I’ve always

wanted to do.

ROSS

You’re dead. You don’t know me from

Adam. I have a file on you, but you

don’t know what’s in it. You have

no idea about my credentials and you

just exposed a little piece of

yourself to me. I’m asking easy

questions. You just failed a big

test. A good spy hides the truth.

A great spy convinces the enemy a

lie is the truth.

Ross walks out of the room irritated. Ross enters the room

with CRAWFORD, the third recruit. He pauses before asking

his first question. The conversation is in Arabic.

CRAWFORD

What is the meaning of this? I need

to know why I am not allowed to grow

my beard. I have been pressured to

shave every day.

Ross smiles.

ROSS

You are an American. Tell me why

you volunteered for this program.

12

CRAWFORD

You want a straight answer! And that

answer will work in your favor. But

that is not my way. I want to start

by saying, praise Allah. For many

years I have been praying…

ROSS

Shut the fuck up. I want a straight

answer. Why did you volunteer for

this program?

CRAWFORD

Why do you keep up this way? Please

allow me to speak and stop these

interruptions. Volunteer for what?

I volunteer my religion. It will

guide me wherever I go.

ROSS

Alright you passed, for now.

Ross leaves the room and approaches Davenport’s office.

Davenport comes out to meet Ross.

ROSS

Alright. I’ll take Crawford for now.

DAVENPORT

You don’t want any extra time to

make sure?

ROSS

I’m sure, alright? I’ve got to get

back to straighten out some things.

Send Crawford in a few days.

DAVENPORT

He’ll be ready.

ROSS

We’ll see if he’s ready to take the

next step, survive that is.

INT. AIRPORT - DAY

13

Ross arrives at the foreign airport. He is looking at his

watch and fidgeting. Crawford approaches with his luggage.

ROSS

Alright Crawford, let’s go. There

is so much to do. I’ll brief you

in the car.

Ross and Crawford go to a car and sit in the back. The

driver’s badge reads “NASIR.” Ross looks to Crawford.

ROSS

This is Nasir, our contact here.

NASIR

Hello. I’ve worked with Ross for

many years. We shared lots of

struggles, him and I.

Ross smiles and nods.

NASIR

(to Crawford)

Young man, you need to understand

that we here are not all that bad.

Every country has bad people. We

have good people, just like you

Yanks. The problem is that it’s

hard to tell sometimes.

ROSS

Most definitely. Greet everyone,

but trust nobody.

Nasir scratches his beard and points back to Crawford.

ROSS

His beard is okay. A good way to

blend in. Crawford, don’t shave

while you are here. I noticed a

slight twitch in your mouth when

you answered one of my questions

back in the states. The beard will

conceal that twitching.

Nasir laughs. He accelerates suddenly.

14

ROSS

What’s wrong?

NASIR

I think someone is interested in you.

Ross looks behind him and sees a black sedan.

ROSS

Okay. Let’s get the hell out of here.

Nasir maneuvers through tight alleys. The black sedan

continues behind.

ROSS

You still have that gas can?

NASIR

I’ll have to stop to get it out.

ROSS

Don’t. Crawford, dig into the back

seat and get to the trunk.

NASIR

Try not to damage anything.

CRAWFORD

Shit!

Crawford hurries and takes apart the back seat covering and

squirms his way to the trunk. Ross looks at the contents.

ROSS

Get that can! Stay in the trunk.

Ross grabs the gasoline can and tosses it out of the

sunroof. It lands on the front windshield of the black

sedan. Ross gets his gun and SHOOTS the can, causing the

can to EXPLODE. The car HITS A CORNER of the building. The

car EXPLODES. Nasir keeps his pace. He turns into a dark

alley and slows down.

NASIR

We’ll be safe for now.

15

They wait. Another sedan approaches and slows down. Nasir

exits the area in the opposite direction.

ROSS

Wait! Turn around. We need to follow.

NASIR

You are crazy Ross. They probably

have guns!

ROSS

Just do it!

NASIR

I don’t get enough of your money

for this.

Crawford sticks his head out.

CRAWFORD

You mean you don’t get paid enough

for this.

NASIR

That too!

Nasir catches up with the other sedan.

ROSS

Now ram it!

NASIR

You are crazy.

ROSS

Do it!

Nasir presses the accelerator and BUMPS the sedan. The

sedan swipes the side of a building. The car stops.

Crawford jumps out of the trunk and points his gun at the

sedan. Ross and Nasir follow. Ross pulls the driver out and

hits him in the face. A PASSENGER raises his hands.

PASSENGER

Wait! We work for Prince Bashir.

The passenger gets his ID out and shows Ross.

16

ROSS

Alright. The show’s over.

Ross lowers his weapon. Crawford and Nasir follow.

ROSS

You could have gotten killed.

PASSENGER

We were ordered to make sure nothing

happened to you.

ROSS

We got to the other car first. Who

are they?

PASSENGER

We don’t know yet. It might have

been a decoy.

ROSS

Yes. That fits the description.

Suspicious neighbors peek out their windows.

PASSENGER

Let’s get out of here. We’ll follow.

Everyone gets back into the vehicles.

NASIR

Damn Ross. I almost shit in my pants.

You hit one of Prince Bashir’s men.

Ross smiles.

NASIR

(looking at Crawford)

You will learn a lot from Ross.

Ross stops smiling.

17

ROSS

Now on with the mission brief. We

have been assigned to protect Prince

Bashir. Apparently, he has some

enemies who are trying to assassinate

him. Nasir, I’m not sure where to

start. I know there’s a lot of people

who hate him for being a prick all

these years.

NASIR

We are on our way to meet one of our

leads right now. His name is Ali.

ROSS

Good. Crawford, any questions?

CRAWFORD

No. Not now.

Crawford wipes the sweat off his forehead.

ROSS

Good. Keep it that way. Do not say

a word at our meeting with Prince

Bashir. Not a word. Not a question.

This is your first big test of

following instructions. The assignment

isn’t that easy. You will be tempted

to say something, or ask a question.

Remember not to. If you do I’m going

to cut your balls off. That’s after

Prince Bashir has you beheaded for

speaking a word. The prince will seem

like a mild-mannered person, but he

is a trained killer and has made many

people disappear. Not a word.

CRAWFORD

Not a word then.

The car pulls into an unoccupied alley. Ross motions

Crawford to stay in the vehicle. Nasir gets out of the car,

looks around, and enters a door. He comes out immediately

and motions for the other two to come in. Ross and Crawford

enter. Three rifles touch the neck of Ross. A few knives

touch the throat of Crawford. They both raise their hands.

18

NASIR

(in Arabic)

These men are with me!

A MAN motions the guards to lower their weapons. Ross and

Crawford slowly lower their hands. Ross and Crawford are

checked for weapons. The man comes forward.

MAN

My name is Ali.

Other men motion Nasir, Ross, and Crawford to move to a

dark corner of the building. Ali takes out some files and

spreads them across a table.

ALI

There are two main factions in the

area. The Walat who control the

West area, and the Namir who control

everything else. Our sources tell us

the traitor is with the Walat clan.

I don’t have a face, or a name.

However, we do have a few drop points.

Ali points to his maps.

ALI

These are the only two areas that

have deliveries. Your man should

be at one of those locations.

ROSS

Deliveries of what?

ALI

Weapons.

Ross steps back, agitated, and looks at Nasir. Nasir shrugs

his shoulders.

ROSS

Alright, give me the drop times.

Ali hands Ross more paperwork, then leaves with his men.

19

ROSS

Let’s get to it. Crawford, get

comfortable. We need to come up

with a plan to brief headquarters.

CRAWFORD

What are we looking for?

ROSS

Anything consistent. A man. A

device. Money exchanged. Time of

day. Anything.

CRAWFORD

You mean this man?

Crawford points to a man that appears in the background of

all the pictures. Nasir laughs.

ROSS

Good. This might be another lead.

All three sift through the remaining files.

INT. CRAWFORD’S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Crawford is just getting out of bed.

ROSS

Did you get some rest?

CRAWFORD

I suppose. It is hot in these rooms.

ROSS

Get used to it. Your sweat glands

can give you away. Make it hotter

in the room. Start sleeping with

your windows closed.

CRAWFORD

Will do.

Crawford gets up. Ross places a suit on Crawford’s bed.

CRAWFORD

Not the typical dress today?

20

ROSS

No. Today is a lot more formal.

Drink some coffee, but not too much.

You must be at your best today.

Looking your best that is.

CRAWFORD

Are we going to the prince’s palace?

ROSS

That’s the place. All you need to

do today is look very sharp and act

professionally. Not a word. It is

imperative that all you do is exist.

When I walk you walk. When I sit

down, you sit down. Just the basics

today, got it?

CRAWFORD

Understood.

ROSS

If you are asked anything, I want

you to place your hand on your throat

and act as if you lost your voice.

Crawford goes to the bathroom to take a shower. Ross looks

out the window.

CRAWFORD

Anything else?

ROSS

Yes. Always be mindful of your

surroundings. You should study

everything that is outside your

window, several times a day. Make

it a footprint in your mind.

EXT. HOTEL - DAY

Ross and Crawford exit the hotel and get into a car.

Crawford remains silent. The driver is expressionless and

direct with his instructions. The car arrives to an

elaborate palace. Ross and Crawford are asked to exit the

vehicle. An armed escort pats each of them down. ARAM

approaches Ross and Crawford.

21

ARAM

Welcome to Prince Bashir’s palace.

I am Aram, your host. I am also the

prince’s secretary.

ROSS

Good morning.

ARAM

Please, follow me.

Aram leads Ross and Crawford to the main building. More

armed security guards pat down Ross and Crawford.

ARAM

I hear you have worked with Prince

Bashir before.

ROSS

Yes. You could say that.

ARAM

We are now going through quarters

that have some of Prince Bashir’s

collections from around the world.

The three walk past various items on display. They go

outside to a courtyard. Well-dressed men surround Ross and

Crawford and pat them down.

ARAM

I apologize for the security measures.

You must understand the prince is

very important to this region. He is

guarded at all times.

ROSS

I understand.

Aram leads Ross and Crawford inside a large administrative

building and to a conference room. She points to a few

chairs at a large table.

ARAM

Please wait here. His Excellency

will arrive shortly.

22

Price Bashir arrives with some staff members. They surround

him as he sits at the main chair.

PRINCE BASHIR

It is nice to see you again Ross.

ROSS

Your Excellency.

PRINCE BASHIR

What brings you here?

ROSS

Sir, my government believes there is

a plot to end your life.

Prince Bashir looks at his staff and LAUGHS.

PRINCE BASHIR

There are always threats. Tell me

something I don’t know.

ROSS

The threat comes from within.

Prince Bashir stops smiling and motions for his staff to

leave the room, including the armed escort.

PRINCE BASHIR

Your government is very deep in my

region to uncover such a plot. I

have my personal beliefs about

people working under me, but not

enough facts to take action.

ROSS

That’s where I come in.

PRINCE BASHIR

(looking at Crawford)

Say, I haven’t met you before. Is

this man trusted?

Crawford says nothing and does not move.

ROSS

He is sir. He is a follower.

23

Prince Bashir looks back at Ross.

PRINCE BASHIR

So, I assume your government is

trying to save me. What is your

personal position?

ROSS

The same. To keep you alive.

PRINCE BASHIR

What do you need?

ROSS

I need access your Excellency. Not

hoods. Not pat downs every five

minutes. I need a clearance to move

about within your palace.

PRINCE BASHIR

That is a tall order as you Americans

say. Considering the circumstances,

we can arrange something.

ROSS

I need to meet with your chief of

security. Will I give you or your

staff a daily update of my findings?

PRINCE BASHIR

I will make sure you meet him. I

will tell him that you will provide

him updates. You will give me the

same updates, but in private.

Crawford looks a little towards Ross.

PRINCE BASHIR

(to Crawford)

It is hard to trust anyone.

Prince Bashir stands up. Everyone comes back in the

quarters. Ross and Crawford stand up.

PRINCE BASHIR

So we will see each other soon.

24

ROSS

Your Excellency.

Ross and Crawford are back in the car driving down the same

road. Crawford maintains his silence. The car stops and

lets Ross and Crawford out. They walk toward a café.

CRAWFORD

Well?

ROSS

You did alright. You see how the

prince noticed your nonverbal cues?

CRAWFORD

Yes.

ROSS

Try working on that. You’ve got to

act as if things being said are not

important. Always try to maintain

a straight face.

CRAWFORD

Work in progress. The prince seemed

very hospitable.

Ross LAUGHS.

ROSS

That man tried to have me killed.

CRAWFORD

Then why are we helping him?

ROSS

It is a complicated world. It’s

always been that way.

EXT. CAFÉ - DAY

The two sit down to drink coffee. Ross looks away.

ROSS

It was painful.

25

CRAWFORD

What?

ROSS

The torture. Not to mention sitting

beside him today.

CRAWFORD

He tortured you?

ROSS

No, not him. His aides. I had killed

one of his aides, more like defending

my life. But that didn’t matter. He

was a lot more forceful years ago.

He didn’t mind having people tortured.

They started with waterboarding.

INT. DARK ROOM - NIGHT

Ross is lying naked on a rack. A cloth covers his entire

head. Two men pour water on his face. Ross CHOKES, trying

to spit out the water. The two men stop.

PRINCE BASHIR

Now tell me why.

ROSS

(choking)

I told you. I was defending myself.

Prince Bashir motions to continue. The two men pour a large

bucket of water on Ross’s face. Ross is GYRATING. A MAN

stops the torture and grabs Ross’s hair.

MAN

Prince Bashir wanted an answer.

The right one. We will continue

this treatment until you provide

us with the truth.

ROSS

I told you…

The man takes the bucket and slowly pours water into Ross’s

mouth. He stops.