[meeting up with Mayor Vaughn at the town hall]
Larry. Larry, wait a minute.
Mayor Vaughn [entering the town hall accompanied by Brody]
I'm showing summer rentals. I think we have a hell of a good season going for us.
That's swell, Larry, but I have to talk to you alone.
Mayor Vaughn We're alone.
[turns around to face Mayor Vaughn]
I think we may have another shark problem.
Mayor Vaughn [slightly alarmed]
Are you serious?
You bet I'm serious. I've got a half-eaten whale on the beach. I've got two persons missing. This whale has got a bite out of it about this big.
Mayor Vaughn Martin, no one has seen a shark. Be realistic.
I think the selectmen should know about it. I know it's just a feeling, but you've got to understand. [they enter the office] Larry, for Christ sakes, I not only have this attack, but I've got, I've got two water-skiers--
Mayor Vaughn A tragedy, but a boating accident. No fin, no shark. Nothing but a boating accident.
But they're both still missing.
Mayor Vaughn We have a lot of deaths in these waters that never turn up. Are they all shark victims?
Mayor Vaughn Oh, bullshit.
Bullshit? Is it bullshit, I got a whale on the beach with a bite in it this big?
Mayor Vaughn What am I, an ass? When you called me, I called Elkins and her bosses. Nothing she saw is proof of anything.
So that means we're not gonna do anything, huh?
Mayor Vaughn Martin, don't press it this time. Well, I've... got to get back to work.
Okay. Okay, Larry, but you just remember this conversation. You just remember it! [leaves the office]
[showing an underwater photo]
What are you talking about? Look at this. That's a shark. Look at the outline. Look at the mouth, the eyes.
LP Len Peterson
Is that what it is? Sorry, I just don't see it.
T Mrs. Taft
Neither do I. It's nothing.
Mayor Vaughn Martin, it could be anything.
Wait a minute. Are you people telling me I don't know what a shark looks like?
LP Len Peterson
Brody, this is nothing. Seaweed, mud, something in the lens.
LP Len Peterson
You're damn right it's your ass!
Mayor Vaughn Now be reasonable, please.
Reasonable, what, with him?
LP Len Peterson
Goddamn it, will you listen to the man? Will you just listen to him? "Be reasonable." Look, Brody, you started a panic on a public beach. You shot up the damn place. God knows who you could've injured. What if somebody decides to sue us? Did you ever stop to think about that? It could ruin us.
You don't have to worry about being sued or being ruined. If this turns out to be what I think it is, because there won't be anybody here.
Mayor Vaughn Now, Martin, let's not--
Let's not what, Larry? What?
LP Len Peterson
Oh, Jesus, Larry, come on. Let's just forget it. He won't listen. It's obvious the man has made up his mind.
You bet your life I've made up my mind. But I'm telling you and I'm telling everybody at this table that that's a shark. And I know what a shark looks like, because I've seen one up close. And you better do something about this one, because I don't intend to go through that hell again!
Mayor Vaughn [Len scowls at Brody before shamefully looking at his notes]
Martin, could you wait here for a minute?
Mayor Vaughn [calmly]
Please, just have a seat... While we look at the picture and make up our own minds.
[slightly calm]
All right. I'll have a seat, for what it's worth.
Mayor Vaughn Thank you. Gentlemen, please. [Harry Wiseman, Mr. Posner, and Mrs. Taft pick up their notes and adjourn to the mayor's office. Len Peterson scowls at Brody again for a few seconds before getting up and going into the mayor's office as well; Mayor Vaughn follows him inside and closes the door.]
