Fargo Fan Fiction, Season One, Episode 8.5 – "I know a guy who'll print me up a license"

Sam Lapin
lapinsam63

Setting:
In episode 8 (The Heap) Malvo visits Mr. Wrench in the hospital. After an antagonizing talk, he tosses Mr. Wrench a key and walks out. From there, the episode focuses on Molly and her associates. It includes a one-year leap forward during which Molly marries Gus and becomes pregnant. We see nothing of Malvo until the last minute of the episode when Lester, in a Las Vegas bar, spots Malvo sitting with three friends.

Episode 9 (A Fox, A Rabbit, and A Cabbage) opens with Malvo in his new life in Kansas City as a dentist named Mick "Mick Mike" Michael where he has befriended fellow dentist Burt Canton and his wife Louise and has become engaged to dental assistant Jemma Stalone. And while the opening twelve minutes offer us tantalizing clues as to the last year of Malvo's life, we are left to imagine what happened.

So, I used my imagination to fill in that gap. (And, of course, this is a true story.)

We hear Rosemary Clooney's "Just One of Those Things" as the opening shot shows a wide one-story light grey building with a sign reading, "Breezy Acres Personal Care Center – Enid, Oklahoma." Cut to the center's dining area. A woman in her early 20s with short brunette hair is sitting across from a woman with an I.V. bag – her face looks worn, presumably from health issues.

Janis: "You shouldn't have to spend your life looking after me."

Gina: "Mom, you dedicated your whole life to giving Danny and me everything."

Janis: "But you just graduated. It's time to build your life."

Gina: "If building a career was a high priority, I wouldn't have majored in philosophy. And I like it at the bank. Plus, we both know Danny loves his new job. He loves Kansas City, and he may finally be making friends. He emailed me a photo of the staff. He's standing next to his assistant, a pretty young blonde. I asked about her. All he would say is her name is Jemma."

They are interrupted by Teddy. Wearing the required hair net and an apron over his red and white checkered uniform, Teddy's dimpled face is clean shaven and welcoming. We, the viewers, instantly recognize him as Malvo.

Teddy: (Looking at Janis) "Jennifer Aniston? I didn't know we had celebrities living here. "

Janis and Gina laugh. Gina clearly takes pleasure in Teddy flirting with her mom.

Teddy: "I had to bribe the chef to get you the last two puddings."

Teddy places a glass of vanilla pudding in front of each of them. He winks at Janis and walks away.

Gina: "I'm telling you mom, he wants to be your boyfriend."

Janis: "Oh, hush!"

Transition to Janis' room. She's tucked in bed.

Gina: "You need anything else?"

Janis: "No, dear. Go now. Have fun."

Gina kisses her mom on the forehead.

Gina: "I love you."

Janis: "I love you, too."

Cut to close-up of Gina in her bedroom. We hear Ray Charles singing "America the Beautiful." She is sweating profusely. Sitting on the edge of her bed, her hands shake as she struggles to open her flip phone. She tries to dial but only manages to press nine before falling limp to the floor. Foam oozes from her mouth. Her eyes remain open as she exhales for the last time. Fade out.

Fade in. Two days later, back at Breezy Acres, a nurse's aide is knocking on a door with the nameplate Ben Mercer, Director. The nurse's aide is about to speak but stops when Ben turns around and she sees the concerned look on his face.

Nurse's Aide: "What's wrong?"

Ben: "When's the last time you saw Teddy?"

Nurse's Aide: "Umm, Tuesday I think."

Ben: "That's two days ago. I've tried calling the number on his application but it just rings."

Nurse's Aide: "He just started a couple weeks ago. Maybe he misread the schedule."

Ben: "I hope so. The residents love him. Did you need something?"

Nurse's Aide: "Yeah. It's Janis. Her daughter comes every day. Never misses. But she hasn't been here the last couple days."

Ben: "I'll look into it. Thanks."

The nurse's aide leaves. Ben pulls Janis' file. He finds Gina's work number and calls.

Phone Voice: "Old West Bank. This is Brenda. May I help you?"

Ben: "Hi Brenda. This is Ben Mercer over at Breezy Acres. I'm trying to reach Gina."

Brenda: "She was off yesterday, but she didn't show up this morning. We were just talking about how unusual that is."

Ben: "She hasn't been here to see her mom for a couple days either."

Brenda: "That's not like her. She lives in my building. I'll check on her. (Brenda lowers the phone.) Stu, have you heard from Gina yet?"

Stu (bank manager): "Not yet."

Brenda: "Do you mind if I run and check on her?"

Stu: "Yeah, we can handle it. Go."

Cut to Brenda along with the building manager outside Gina's apartment door. Nervous music plays in the background.

Building Manager (as he unlocks the door): "She says hi to me every morning, but not the last couple days. Figured she was out of town."

They cautiously enter.

Brenda: "Gina? Gina, you in here?"

They hear the beeping of Gina's alarm clock. With trepidation, Brenda peeks in Gina's bedroom and sees Gina's lifeless body on the floor, her open flip phone a couple feet away.

Cut to Gina's front room, 15 minutes later, a police officer in a brown uniform at her side.

Officer Kent Jertz: "Did Gina have any family nearby?"

Brenda (speaking as she holds back tears): "Her mom is at Breezy Acres. Her brother moved to Kansas City after he finished school last year. He's a dentist."

Kent: "Okay. I'll take it from here."

Cut to Breezy Acres, 20 minutes later. Officer Kent Jertz enters.

Receptionist: "May I help you?"

Kent: "I'd like to speak to Ben."

Receptionist (picking up her phone and punching three numbers): "Ben, there's a police officer here to see you."

Moments later Ben comes around the corner.

Ben: "Kent. Are you here about Gina?"

Kent: "Yes."

Ben: "Brenda just called me. I'm in disbelief. I don't know how to tell her mother."

Kent: "Brenda said she has a brother."

Ben: "Yeah. Danny. I'll get you his contact information."

Cut to police station.

Kent (to a coworker): "This is the part of the job I hate the most."

Kent dials his phone. We see Dr. Danny Shirp driving a blue Corolla on Highway 35 in Kansas City. He struggles to get his BlackBerry out of his pocket and presses the button.

Danny: "This is Danny."

Kent: "Danny, this is Kent Jertz of the Enid Police Department."

Danny's facial expression turns to despair as the scene fades.

Fade in. Danny is leaning on his Corolla. It has a U-Haul attached. He along with Burt, Louise, and Jemma are in front of a condo with a for sale sign in the yard.

Danny: "Burt, I hate to jump ship like this after just five months."

Burt: "Danny, your mom needs you. That's all that matters."

Danny: "Mrs. Krant needs a follow up to her abscess."

Burt: "Don't worry. Jemma and I are reviewing all your patients' charts and will take good care of them."

Louise: "We'll keep on your agent and make sure your place gets sold."

Jemma throws her arms around Danny and hugs him. Tears run down her face. She tries to speak but can't. Danny, a little surprised, smiles at her. She smiles back. Danny gets in his car. It struggles to pull the trailer as he drives off. Arm-in-arm, Burt, Louise, and Jemma wave. Fade out.

Fade in. Malvo is at a hotel check-in. His facial hair indicates the passage of a couple weeks, but there are no sideburns and the lighter color and new hair style make him look much less menacing.

Clerk: "I.D."

Malvo hands her a Missouri Driver's License with his picture.

Clerk: "Any pets?"

Malvo hesitates and smiles slightly, then nods no.

Clerk (handing Malvo a key.): "Two-Twenty. Take the elevator and turn left. Ice machine is at the end of the hall."

Cut to Malvo in his room. Sitting on a red and gold checkered couch, a briefcase sits on the coffee table in front of him. He opens it and removes a couple books, the top one entitled, "Clinician's Endodontic Handbook." Under it is a file folder. He pulls it out, opens it, and we see it as he reads.

Original Name: Douglas Canton

W.P. Name: Brain Miller

Last known location: Winnemucca, Nevada

Kin: Burt Canton. Kansas City, Missouri. Brother.

Bounty: $100,000

Bio: After turning state's evidence on Chicago mob boss Sam Lapinski, Canton entered Witness Protection and became Miller.

Malvo sets the folder aside and lifts the next item from the briefcase. It is a diploma from the University of Florida School of Dentistry emblazoned with the name "Mick Michael, DDS." Fade out.

Fade in. We see a plain brown, three-story office building with a sign listing the occupants, including "North Kansas City Family Dentistry." Cut to interior. Malvo (Mick "Mick Mike" Michael) is in the office of Dr. Burt Canton. Burt is at his desk with Mick Mike on the other side.

Burt (looking down at some papers): "What made you want to move from Miami to Kansas City?"

Mick Mike: "Wanted to get far away from the ex."

Burt: "I know about that. Okay, Dr. Michael…"

Mick Mike: "My friends call me Mick Mike."

Burt: "Okay, Mick Mike. As a dentist I have learned to read people. You got to. They can't talk with all that crap we put in their mouths."

Mick Mike (laughing): "Yeah, I know."

Burt: "And I know that you are the man we are looking for. The job is yours if you want it."

Mick Mike: "Aces!"

Burt smiles and they shake hands. There's a knock at the door and Jemma walks in.

Burt: "Jemma, this is your new boss."

Jemma (shaking Mick Mike's hand): "Nice to meet you doctor."

Mick Mike: "Call me Mick Mike."

Jemma (handing an envelope to Burt): "Here's Mr. O'Bannon's X-rays."

Burt: "Thanks."

Jemma leaves.

Burt: "She's single."

Mick Mike smiles.

Fade out.

Fade in. Mick Mike and Jemma are caring for a patient. Mick Mike removes his gloves.

Mick Mike (to Jemma): "Keep light pressure on that incisor with your thumb for a couple minutes."

Jemma: "Yes doctor."

Mick Mike (to the patient): "We don't know where that thumb's been."

He pats the patient on the shoulder. Jemma has a sly smile. Mick Mike walks to Burt's office.

Burt (on his phone): "You'll never change you crazy son-of-a-bitch."

Burt hangs up and looks at Mick Mike.

Burt: "You got any family?"

Mick Mike: "A sister in Maine. She and her husband have three kids all under ten. She complains I send them too many toys at Christmas. What about you Bertie Burt?"

Burt: "An older brother. Lives in the middle of nowhere Nevada. He's a wild hare. We were always close. As kids they called us The Canton Boys. But things are a bit complicated now."

Mick Mike: "Seems like it's always something."

Burt nods. Fade out.

Fade in. Burt, Mick Mike, Louise, and Jemma are leaving the office building, each carrying a suitcase. They toss the suitcases in the trunk of Burt's silver BMW and get it, Burt at the wheel. He starts the car. The Byrds' "My Back Pages" is on the radio.

Burt (to Louise): "Got the tickets?"

Louise: "You betcha."

Burt: (looking at Mick Mike and Jemma in the backseat): "Vegas, here we come."

Mick Mike (pointing both index fingers): "Aces!"

From here, the story picks up at the last minute of episode 8.

(Thanks to the Fargo Wiki page on )