Lookin For A Soul To Steal

                                                        PAGE 1
1. Johnny is rocking the fiddle on stage of a seedy mid-60’s Georgian bar. He is just really wailing on his fiddle. He looks like Sam Rockwell, kinda like he is in The Green Mile, but cleaned up a little bit, but still with that devil in his eyes. He is playing with bow in left hand and fiddle in right.
      Caption: I’m a fiddler. Always have been.
      Caption: Sometimes I feel like I was born with a fiddle in my hands; so that’s
                    exactly what I tell people.
      Caption: I also tell people that the saying fit as a fiddle comes from me. Heck,
                     maybe it does.
      Caption: I’ve played this place what feels like a million times. The Wooley
                    Swamp Roadhouse, it’s been good to me.
      Caption: I play here because of Virginia. Not the state up there, no we’re in
                    Georgia, I’m talking about the girl who’s behind the bar. Well, is
                    normally behind the bar.
      Caption: She’s having a night off so I’ve decided to lay out a bit tonight.

2. Johnny is bowing to the crowd, he has finished his song. He is sweating and smiling, his head is up facing them. His fiddle is at one side and his bow at the other.
      Johnny: Thanks folks! We’ll be back right after a short break.
      Caption: Normally I get shy as a button on account of the lady bartender. Even
                    though I could sell snow to any Alaskan I came across and feathers to
                    an Injun, Virginia’s a different matter completely.

3. Johnny is stepping down from his stage, the band behind him is putting their instruments down. Johnny takes his fiddle with him to the bar, he’s the guy who sits it on the bar next to him like it’s his date, and no one would ever dare knock it or spill on it.
      Johnny: Homer, get me a beer, goddamn if a set like that don’t stir up a hunger!

                                                        PAGE 2
1. Johnny is standing at the bar.
      Johnny: Hot damn if this isn’t one barn storming night.

2. Johnny’s hand can be seen at his right putting the fiddle down on the bar to his right.
      Homer: Long as you don’t think you’re done yet, crowd is lovin’ it tonight.
      Johnny: Of course they are, of course they are!
      Caption: Any good musician can feel when he’s on.

3. Johnny turns around at the bar and looks at his surrounds, beer in hand. We see the bar around him. There is a large hickory stump in the middle of the room, the bar was built around the stump of the cut down tree, two men are arm wrestling on it. People are up and dancing, it’s a real roadhouse feel, with people all having a good time.
      Caption: And I am most certainly on.

4. Johnny is smiling at what he has created.
      Caption: I swear my music could solve the world’s problems. No more war in
                    Vietnam, no more missiles aimed around the globe, no more dead
                    presidents.
      Caption: My music could fix it all, one set of ears at a time.

5. Johnny is knocking his beer back, quick.
       Caption: But tonight? It’s just about enjoying what’s here right in front of us.

                                                        PAGE 3
1. There is a truck stop street walker on the side of the road, she looks tarty, but not a complete whore like the chicks these days.
      Caption: 13 miles from The Wooley Creek Roadhouse.

2. A man, he looks like David Morse, as he would look in the mid-60’s, is walking a bit away down the road. He is the devil. She is looking in his direction.

3. The devil is smiling at her, he looks like he is just lost and trying to find his way, not alarming at all.
      Devil: Hi, could you give me a hand with something? I’m in a bit of a bind.

4. The lady looks at the devil, she is curious, but mildly apprehensive.
Lady: Uh…
       Devil: I’m looking to get into town, but I’m way behind in the distance I need
                 to be making to get there.

5. The lady starts looking over the devil’s shoulder, there’s a car coming from afar.
      Lady: Well, the next town’s only about eleven miles up the road, I don’t think I
                can help you get there.
      Devil: It’s thirteen miles, and you could help me out more than you realise.

6. The lady is walking past the devil to the car which has swung onto the side of the road. The devil knows exactly what she is doing, but he has to resign himself to it.
      Lady: Sorry, mister, but I’m just not the one for you. Not tonight.
      Devil: Of course.

7. The devil is continuing to walk, and the lady is bent over and chatting into the parked car.
      Devil: This is the way the world ends.

                                                        PAGE 4
1. Johnny is back on stage, he’s slowly playing the fiddle and singing into a microphone. It’s a rocking love song.
      Caption: You have to see the best in everyone else, but you have to see it in
                    yourself first.
      Caption: Mothers are great for all sorts of wisdom.

2. Johnny is still kicking it out, we see the dance floor has a few people on it all dancing with their ladies.
      Caption: On a night like tonight I could play a tornado like a giant bass.

3. Lucius Clay, a dusty old fella, is sitting at a table with a large shot glass of whiskey. He is talking to Homer, who is taking a break to enjoy a beer.
      Lucius: This is exactly why I come here on Friday’s, Homer. This boy got the
                  music in him.

4. Homer is looking at Lucius, in the background we can see the devil walking in the door.
      Homer: You know, Lucius, it sure is nice to see Johnny cutting out like this.
                   Usually he’s so busy staring at Gin that he can’t string enough words
                   together, he’s just gotta play.

5. Lucius is sipping his shot of whiskey. The devil is taking a seat towards the back, watching Johnny play.
      Lucius: I wouldn’t think he would need to talk, not with a sound like this.
      Homer: He’s so blind around her he don’t see her staring right back at him.
                  Th’ain’t nothin’ I can do, though.


                                                        PAGE 5
1. Johnny is jumping off the little stage in the bar.
      Caption: Surely he’s not that blind to the girl.
      Caption: I don’t think it’s blindness, I think it’s fear. He’s worried about it being
                     the real thing.

2. Johnny is fiddling in front of a couple on the dance floor. The couple look happy and Johnny seems like he is killing the song.
      Caption: And why would that scare him?
      Caption: Why did it scare you, Lucius? I’m not saying I’m some sort of expert
                     around here, but I know this sort of thing when I see it again and
                     again.

3. Johnny has a girl dancing in front of him, and some people around are clapping in time with the music (not that you can actually show that in picture, can you? Ha).
      Caption: Johnny’s the best boy in this town. He’s got the talent of the devil and
                    twice as better looks.
      Caption: True as that is, it’s always a different story when you got the girl
                    standing in front of you. Just look at him tonight if you need proof.

4. Johnny is up on a chair letting someone else hold his bow while he moves the fiddle while he takes a drink from a glass.
      Caption: He’s not normally like this, I’ll say.
      Caption: Well, Gin’s not normally off this night. He’s not all reserved and trying
                     to prove he’d be a good husband. Tonight he’s just laying it all out.

5. Johnny has the bow in his teeth and is picking at the strings like the fiddle is a small guitar. A guy, part of a group on a table, is smiling and getting into the music, a drink is falling off the table as he elbows back and about to splash the devil.
      Caption: Can’t he do both at the same time?

6. The devil is standing up from his seat, he has caught the drink in the air.
      Caption: I reckon tonight he could just about get her in the sack. Were he not
                    such a gentleman.


                                                        PAGE 6
1. The devil taps on the shoulder of the man who dropped the glass. The man is smiling and not really thinking about it.
      Devil: Excuse me, sir.

2. The man turns around to get a face full of devil fists, still holding the glass. The glass breaks.
      Man: Wha-
      Devil: You accidentally knocked this over.

3. The entire table is up, looking back at the devil. Johnny has stopped playing in the background. The man standing next to the punched man, who is holding his face while blood drips out, is pointing a finger. His name is Michael.
      Michael: Listen stranger, that’s not a real nice thing to do, and seeing as this is
                   our bar we’ll be nice and let you walk out of here. But I am only going
                   to offer you that once.

4. The devil is shaking the broken glass down onto the table.
      Devil: That’s a relief, then I’ll only have to deny it once.

5. Michael is stepping forward from the group, he is a relatively large man, works in some form of hard labour. The devil is still getting the last of the glass out of his hand.
      Michael: I’m kinda glad you said that.
      Devil: Of course you are, which is why I am especially not here for you.

6. Michael grits his teeth.
      Michael: I don’t care why you think you’re here. I’m going to show you why
                    you’re going to leave.

7. Johnny steps forward from the group. His fiddle still in hand, but at his side.
      Johnny: Michael! Don’t waste it on him, he’s nothing. I doubt the sheriff would
                   appreciate you breaking your conditions on a nothing like this. Let’s
                   deal with him our way.


                                                         PAGE 7
1. Johnny is pointing his bow at the devil.
      Johnny: Sir, it’s time you left here.
      Devil: But it’s not time yet, sorry.
      Johnny: So am I, because if you don’t we’ll have to make you leave.

2. Devil smiles at Johnny.
      Devil: If you really want me to leave, perhaps you’ll entertain me talking for just
                one moment of your time.

3. Michael comes through and punches the devil in the side of the face. The devil goes back with the blow.
      Michael: I don’t want to hear a word you have to say. You have to leave now.

4. The devil clicks his fingers.
      Devil: I think that might be a little hard.

5. The bar’s doors shut and bolt themselves, we see some old school bolt slide through on the back of the door.
      FX: Slam!
      Devil: Seeing as we’re all stuck in here for now.

6. Devil sits back down in his chair and smiles amiably around the room.
      Devil: I guess you’ll have to listen now. Or should I make more than the doors
                slam to get your full and undivided attention?
      Devil: Very well then.

                                                         PAGE 8
1. The devil puts his feet up on the table.
      Devil: I don’t want to alarm you folk, but I’m the devil. True to word and swear
                to God. Believe it or not, I don’t care, just do what I say and maybe no
                one will die.
      Devil: I’ve come down here to Georgia to get me a soul. I won’t go into the
                intricacies of it all, but I need it. And I’m going to leave here with a soul.

2. Lucius Clay sits forward at his table, next to Homer.
      Lucius: How you going to take that soul? You kill us our souls will go straight
                  up, and I assume you get enough other kind your way so I assume you
                  only want our pure souls.
      Devil: How correct, old man. You mortals surprise me in your wisdom, at times.
      Lucius: So I guess we can just sit back safe and ignore you’re sorry ass.

3. Lucius is sitting back.
      Devil: I guess you could, but you’re forgetting one thing, old man.

4. The devil smiles and takes a sip of his drink.
      Devil: Just ‘cos I don’t get your souls don’t stop you all from being dead right
                here. Is it worth that price, all these dead souls just for one discussion?
                One wager?

5. Johnny steps forward from the crowd more.
      Johnny: What sort of wager you talking about?
      Lucius: Sit down, Johnny, we don’t need you doing anything rash.
      Johnny: I’m just talking, Lucius.

6. The devil is looking across again, that babe in the woods look on his face.
      Devil: Yeah, Lucius, relax and let me and Johnny here talk. Unless you think
                you’re the one to solve all this.
      Lucius: I might be. I’m sure there’s a quicker resolution to this than bothering
                  all these young folk.

7. Johnny turns to Lucius, upset about his words, but the devil is still smiling in the background.
      Johnny: No!
      Devil: Relax, I’m sure deep down Lucius knows I can’t use his soul. Don’t you
                Lucius?
      Lucius: Damn you.
      Devil: And you.

                                                         PAGE 9
1. Johnny turns to the devil.
      Johnny: You don’t want to kill us, you can’t take a soul from us but you have to
                   skin someone of one. How do you propose to do this?

2. The devil is standing up from his chair, still smiling, but also putting forward a proposition. This form of corporate engagement is what got him to convince some of the other angels back in the day to stage a revolt.
      Devil: I’ll get one of you to give me you soul. Your bright and shining soul, and
                you’ll just hand it over. And I know someone will because if you don’t
                you’ll all die and I’ll continue to walk down the road.

3. Johnny looks perplexed/annoyed. The devil is walking through the crowd towards the hickory stump.
      Johnny: That sounds really fair.
      Devil: I never said I was fair, no one did. But I’ll open this up a bit, just to show
               you what a guy I can be.

4. The devil is standing on the hickory stump.
      Devil: Johnny, I’ll tell you something I’m sure you didn’t know. I can play the
                fiddle. Hell, I’ve bedded more ladies with my bow than anything else,
                except for this barbed tongue, of course.
      Devil: I’ll stake my ability against yours, and I don’t think you will find fairer
                from any other demon in this here area.
      Devil: We can play and see how it goes, if you want, and win or lose I will not
                kill a person in this building tonight. You have my spoken word on that
                right here and now.
      Johnny: You wanna go against my fiddle?

5. The devil is smirking down at Johnny.
      Devil: Now I know you play a pretty good fiddle, Johnny, but give the devil his
               due.

6. The devil produces a golden fiddle from inside his jacket.
      Devil: I bet a fiddle of gold, against your soul, ‘cos I think I’m better than you.

                                                         PAGE 10
1. Johnny is eyeing off the fiddle. He is drunk enough, and that much in love with fiddling that he wants that fiddle.

2. Lucius grabs Johnny by the arm and pulls him around to face away from the devil. The devil waits patiently, he can afford to, he’s eternal.
      Lucius: Johnny, you’re a little drunk. Don’t go making claims you can’t live up to.
                  This is the devil, don’t forget.
      Johnny: I know who he said he was.
      Lucius: But do you really know who he is?

3. Johnny looks at Lucius.
      Johnny: I can do this, Lucius. We both know I can.

4. The devil is picking something from his nail, not really concentrating.
      Devil: If this is too much you can always let someone else step up. I won’t mind.

5. Johnny looks more determined now.
      Johnny: I can do this.
      Lucius: And if you can’t…is it worth the chance? He will take your soul. Forever.
      Johnny: Or he’ll kill us all, right now. What else can we do?

6. Lucius looks back at the devil.
      Devil: Don’t infect him with your brand of yellow, Lucius. That ain’t fair.

7. The devil is laughing, Johnny looks pissed.
      Devil: You’re not yellow are you Johnny? Surely your old man took enough of
                that to thin out the rest of the blood line.

                                                        PAGE 11
1. Johnny is pointing his finger up at the devil and yelling something.
      Caption: Lord help me, I knew it was a sin.
      Caption: I should have been smarted, smoother, soberer. But that old sumbitch
                     really got into my head.

2. Johnny is walking towards the devil, still yelling, and the devil is standing there still, smiling.
      Caption: I’m not sure, I probably would have done it sober after what he said,
                    but it still wasn’t the smartest thing to do.

3. Johnny is right below the devil now, looking right up.
      Caption: Maybe I just didn’t believe that he was the real devil. I didn’t
                    understand the full gravity of the situation.
      Caption: Maybe I was young and stupid. Maybe I’m just a loud mouth who was
                    full of bravado and couldn’t help himself.
      Caption: Also, that golden fiddle sure did look sweet.

4. Johnny is talking right into the devil’s face. The devil is crouched down on the hickory stump, right at eye level for Johnny.
      Caption: Either way, I took his bet.
      Johnny: - and you’re gonna regret ‘cos I’m the best that’s ever been.

                                                        PAGE 12
1. The devil is falling backwards off the stump, and we can see, just below his legs that are still up that there is a fiddle case now lying on the table, one that we know was not there before.
      Devil: Well, I guess I’ll start this show.

2. The devil is opening up his case, there has to be some sort of kick ass fiddle inside there. Not one with flames and shit on it, lame, but one that only the devil could play.
      Devil: Brought my lucky fiddle and everything.

3. The devil produces a resin cake from his jacket pocket.
      Devil: Allow me to rosin up and we’ll begin. I’ll be quick because hell just broke
                loose in Georgia.

4. The devil is calmly rosin up his bow and all the windows are now aflame. Everyone looks a little worried as they gaze around. Johnny is still looking firmly at the devil.
      Devil: And I think you all know who reigns in hell.
      Johnny: That might be so but I guess you don’t know who reigns the fiddle in
                    this here swamp in Georgia.
      Devil: I guess we’ll find out in quick good time.

                                                        PAGE 13
1. The devil pulls his strings across his fiddle, he is holding his ear close, really listening to it.
      Devil: I’ll make up a little tune, I hope you don’t mind. I’m always trying new
               stuff out. Gotta keep the hands busy, you know.

2. The devil is looking at the fiddle. Almost looking confused, but he’s just playing with them all.
      Devil: That’s not the sound I want, let me try again.

3. The devil pulls the strings across again and this time smiles. There is a hiss and some dark and thin smoke coming from the fiddle.
      FX: Hthssssss
      Devil: Now we’re cooking with gas.

4. A band of demons is coming out of the fiddle’s smoke. They are all out with instruments, but kinda have them still smoky in parts, they should remain ethereal. The one on the guitar has a cigarette in the strings on the end. I’m not sure how many should be in the band, I don’t really care.
      Devil: Boys, let’s put on a show to bring the house down.

5. Johnny is watching the band, Lucius is right behind him.
      Johnny: My good god damn.
      Lucius: Try not to listen, boy. Just wait your turn.

                                                       PAGE 14
1. The devil is smiling and playing his music, really clashing it out.
      Caption: He was good, there was no doubt about it. But I cast my mind on
                    other things.

2. Someone in the crowd sits down in their chair, holding their forehead and grimacing like they have a headache.
      Caption: I thought of these people counting on me.

3. A lady in the crowd cuddles up to her man, burying her head in his chest and arms.
      Caption: I thought that my night had been so much fun, and if I got rid of the
                    devil I was going to drink straight through to the next night.

4. A man is vomiting behind his table, we can only half see it.
      Caption: My mind was all over the place. I was just doing my best not to think
                    of my nerves.

5. One man sitting on his own breaks his glass in his hand.
      Caption: Not to think of what was at stake. What could happen.
      Caption: Not to listen to his song.

6. Johnny is sitting back on a table top, almost smiling but not quite.
      Caption: Then it came to me. I don’t care if you call it a cliché. The devil comes
                     in wanting your soul perhaps all you got left are the clichés. The most
                    obvious lines of defence.

                                                        PAGE 15
1. Johnny is pouring a beer down his throat.
      Caption: He was finishing up, I was listening just enough to hear that.

2. Johnny is clapping his hands together, show mock appreciation for the devil’s tune.
      Caption: Now it was my turn.
      Johnny: Well, your pretty good ol’ son.

3. The devil stands, now alone, and doesn’t look worried, but he is no longer cocky.
      Johnny: But before I entertain you I want to see proof of my winnings.
      Johnny: Let’s see this golden fiddle.

4. The devil is back at his original case but this time is pulling out a golden fiddle. Not all sparkly and new, but impressive nonetheless.
      Devil: I am a man of my word.
      Johnny: Well, you’ll have to be.

5. Johnny waves him into a chair.
      Johnny: And once you sit down in that chair right there I’ll show you how it’s
                   done.

6. Johnny looks down at his fiddle and bow.
      Caption: I didn’t just think of her; I saw her face.
      Caption: I played for her.

                                                        PAGE 16
1. Johnny is pulling the bow down against the strings, Lucius is smiling at him.
      Caption: I knew I could do it.
      Caption: I was just worried that I wouldn’t, for whatever reason.

2. Johnny has his eyes closed.
      Caption: I could feel the music in me, as I always did.
      Caption: I had no idea what to play.

3. Johnny bites his lip.
      Caption: So I let the music just play through me. I played the notes that I saw
                    on her face. I formed a chorus in her eyes.
      Caption: Damn, I sound like a sap, but I guess this was what saved my life,
                    why not be a little sentimental about it.

4. The devil is hanging his head.
      Caption: I saw him bow his head and I knew he knew it.
      Caption: He’d been beat.

5. Johnny is looking up, people are dancing everywhere.
      Caption: I looked up, they were all dancing.
      Caption: It really was simply beautiful.
      Caption: I never got to see them dance like that again. Damn shame.

                                                        PAGE 17
1. Johnny is smiling at the devil’s bowed head.
      Johnny: Boy, you didn’t know you was in the house of the rising sun, did you?

2. The devil walks forward with the golden fiddle. He is laying it at Johnny’s feet.
      Caption: I should have seen it in his manner. In his walk. In his way.

3. The devil is looking in Johnny’s eyes, but not saying anything.
      Caption: I should have but I didn’t.

4. The devil is walking away. Johnny is picking up the golden fiddle.
      Caption: This was a crushed man.

5. Johnny is at the bar with his new fiddle, pouring himself a shot of whiskey. Facing away from the devil. We can see the devil walking away in the mirror over the bar.
      Johnny: Devil, just come on back if you ever want to try again.

6. Johnny is throwing the shot down. Still facing away. The devil is further away.
      Johnny: But I done told you once you son of a bitch-

7. Johnny is throwing the shot glass over his shoulder, kind of in the devil’s direction, Johnny is looking in the mirror over the bar at the devil walk away.
      Johnny: I am the best that’s ever been.
      Caption: And a crushed man don’t have anything else to lose.
      Caption: I don’t know how I didn’t get us all killed right then.

                                                        PAGE 18
1. The shot glass smashes on the ground right behind the devil’s feet.
      Caption: There’s always a line to cross, and lord knows I was drunk and stupid
                    enough to do it.

2. The devil is in mid-turn around, fire and brimstone in his eyes, this is where we finally see him as that angry devil that he really is.
      Caption: It was just a problem that I didn’t care. Winning the contest was
                    enough to make me fly on the power of my own self-importance.
      Caption: C’mon, I beat the devil. Let me enjoy it.

3. The devil’s face is burning a hole through Johnny.
      Devil: What do you dare-

4. Johnny is laughing and pouring another shot, Lucius looks petrified next to him.
      Johnny: You heard me, fallen teen angel, I am the absolute best there ever
                   was and ever will be.

5. Johnny throws down the shot.
      Johnny: You’re welcome to come on back and give it another shot if you like,
                   but you know I’ll just be here waiting for you. Waiting with my new
                   golden fiddle, ready to teach you another lesson.

6. Johnny looks over his shot glass in the mirror and sees the devil is a different person now. Red, wings, angry and scary.
      Johnny: And I think you know…that…
      Caption: Surely it wouldn’t have been that hard for Lucius to just poke me in
                     the ribs, or something. Damn.

                                                        PAGE 19
1. The devil is pushing a chair aside as he walks up to Johnny, who is still looking at him in the bar mirror.
      Devil: I am a man of my word, for which you, and your friends, will have to be
                eternally grateful. But, I am not going to take this display lightly.

2. The devil is right behind Johnny, Johnny still hasn’t turned around.
      Devil: Your soul will be mine. There is nothing more that I am certain of. You
                cannot disrespect me and expect me to walk away with my tail between
                my legs.

3. Johnny turns around, another full shot in his hands.
      Johnny: You know what? Maybe I can expect that. I just beat you fair and
                   square. The deal was I’d get the fiddle of gold and you would leave.
                   So, if you don’t mind I’d like to celebrate with my friends.
      Caption: I guess if I was in for a penny I was in for the full American dollar.

4. Johnny drinks his shot and holds the bottle up.
      Johnny: Drinks are on me, gang!

5. The devil walks out the door.
      Johnny: I’ll see you next time.

6. The door is closing and Johnny is pouring another drink.
      Devil(op): Yes, you will.

                                                        PAGE 20
1. Johnny is stumbling out of the pub, bottle in hand, golden fiddle in the other, the bow tucked in his back pocket.
      Johnny: God damn, I beat the devil. How about that!

2. Johnny is on the road, looking to his right, lights are approaching.
      Johnny: I’m the best that’s ever been!

3. A car is pulling up in front of him.
      Johnny: The best!
      Johnny: Why, hello.

4. Johnny is opening the door.
      Johnny: Care to give a wayward sailor a lift back to his boat?

                                                        PAGE 21
1. The devil is holding verse with a chorus of archdemons. Among them is one that looks like Bruce Campbell, one like Denis Leary, and one like David Wenham. They are somewhere in hell.
      Devil: You all have a job. You know who he is, and I’m sure you all have ways
               of getting this done. I don’t care how you do it, and I don’t care what it
               takes. What I care is that it is done right.
      Devil: I want his blood and I want his soul.
      Denis Leary: Lemme guess, you want ‘em both right now?

2. Devil turns to Leary, Devil looks pissed. Bruce Campbell is kinda stepping forward.
      Devil: SILENCE!
      Bruce Campbell: Uh, boss.

3. Bruce is talking.
      Bruce: I don’t want to knock anyone else down, but I can guarantee that I can
                do this for you. Give me a week.

4. Devil smiles.
      Devil: There you go boys, there’s a challenge if I ever smelled one.
      Devil: Go forth and wreak havoc.

                                                        PAGE 22
1. Johnny is sitting in the car, slumped in the chair.
      Johnny: Thanks so much for the lift.

2. Virginia looks back at him. She is about 19, hot as hell. Ashy blonde hair. Cute country girl.
      Virginia: I couldn’t leave you out on your own, you’d be roadkill before dawn
                    the way you walk in your wobbly boots.

3. Johnny turns and smiles at Virginia.
      Johnny: You’re the best Virginia, the absolute best.
      Johnny: Just like me.

4. Virginia pats Johnny’s thigh.
      Virginia: I know, baby, I know.
      Caption: It didn’t even occur to me that I was being tested. I felt the warmth
                     from her hand and added to it.
      Caption: Lord help me, I could have failed at the first step.