Absolute Power Page #11

Tastefully appointed, as one would expect.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

This is a new arena for me, but

from what I’m told, you have a

flawless reputation, Mister

McCarty --which is why I need to

employ you.

McCARTY

Understood.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

I have no idea who I’m after.

Until I do, you will have to wait

in Washington for instructions.

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 57.

162 CONTINUED:
162

McCARTY

Out of the question, I’m afraid.

(explaining as they

walk)

Mine isn’t particularly creative

work --I only do it because I

enjoy living beyond my means. I

can’t afford to just sit around.

A sofa. Walter gestures for them to sit.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

When I was 10 my father died --he

was a miner and lung disease

killed him. I became rich at 25

and the first thing I did was

purchase that mine, close it, and

give every miner there fifty

thousand dollars to retire on.

(beat; staring at

McCarty now)

You will come to Washington, Mr.

McCarty. You will put one million

dollars expenses into the Swiss

bank account of your choosing.

(beat)

And, when the time comes, two

million dollars a bullet.

*

McCARTY

(smiles, nods)

You are a salesman, sir.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

Selling sin is easy...

Now, sharply...

CUT TO:

163 INT. SETH’S OFFICE -CLOSEUP -OLD MUG SHOT OF LUTHER DAY

163

PULL BACK to reveal...

... Seth and Laura, in his office.

his desk, along with some folders.

The mug shot is on

Seth beckons to her.

LAURA:

(studying photo)

Who is he?

(CONTINUED)

58.

163 CONTINUED:
163

SETH:

Luther Whitney -

(beat)

--one of the great thieves of the

world.

Seth. The words pour out.

SETH:

Been going nuts with this thing,

up all night and I remembered your

notion how it might be two

burglars, and around dawn I

thought, wait, what if it wasn’t

two burglars but what if it was

one guy trying to throw us off by

making it look like two?

(faster)

Called a buddy at the Bureau -

they keep track of this stuff

internationally --he says maybe

only a half a dozen guys alive

could have pulled off the Sullivan

job --I’m tracing all six -

(beat)

--but Whitney’s the only one

lives in Washington.

Laura. Looking at Seth now. Starting to get excited,

too.

LAURA:

Why haven’t I ever heard of him?

SETH:

Because he hasn’t been arrested in

thirty years.

LAURA:

(indicating mug shot)

This his graduation picture from

Harvard?

SETH:

(waving her off)

Ancient history --he wasn’ta

jewel thief back then. Just a

kid, just part of a gang, a three-

time loser. But since he got out

the last time, he’s only worked

alone -

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 59.

163 CONTINUED:
(2) 163

SETH (CONT’D)

(beat)

--and no one’s touched him.

(shakes his head)

He gets questioned whenever

anything big comes up. But

nothing sticks.

LAURA:

(really excited now)

Seth --we can make this stick -I’ll

bet you anything this is our

guy --a local? --can’t ask for

more -SETH

(makes a face)

We’ve got a problem.

*

*

*

--what? -LAURA

*

SETH:

Whitney hasn’t killed anyone in 45

years.

Laura doesn’t get it.

Korea.

SETH:

LAURA:

Big deal, so he’s a veteran.

SETH:

Not just a veteran --a wounded

veteran.

(indicating folder)

Got his combat record here.

Battles, commendations,

decorations up the kazoo.

Lives alone on his disability.

Says he does anyway.

(glum)

And I don’t do war heroes...

*

*

*

*

*

*

CUT TO:

164 EXT. WASHINGTON MUSEUM -DAY 164

Luther --it’s a beautiful morning now and he’s walking

up the steps to the art museum. He seems in a terrific

mood as he goes inside -(

CONTINUED)

)B(

ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 59A.

164

CONTINUED:
164

--HOLD.

Seth has been on the steps of the museum, watching him.

Now quickly -

165

INT. WASHINGTON MUSEUM -DAY 165

Luther, inside, peering back out at Seth. And he doesn’t

seem in as terrific a mood now. He hesitates, keeps on

going.

60.

166 EXT. WASHINGTON MUSEUM -DAY 166

Seth. Outside --and he knows Luther was watching.

167 INT. WASHINGTON MUSEUM -DAY 167

El Greco. The usual group has gathered, sketching away.

Luther is deeply engrossed in his labors.

Seth enters the room, casually taking it all in. He

approaches the group, ends up behind Luther who is intent

on getting the hands right.

LUTHER:

(not looking)

Boy, you must be smart.

SETH:

(really taken aback)

Sorry?

LUTHER:

Usually takes a week for you guys

to get to me.

(turns, smiles)

You look just like your picture,

Seth. I’m Luther Whitney.

He reaches out to shake a surprised Seth’s hand -

168 INT. MUSEUM -COFFEE SHOP -DAY 168

They walk in, go to the food line. There is, throughout,

a bantering tone. Not that it matters, but these two, in

a different world, would like each other --they’re both,

in their own ways, deeply moral men.

LUTHER:

So, do you want my confession now

or after coffee?

As Luther draws some coffee from an urn -

SETH:

(doing the same)

Before I send you away for life, I

should probably check out your

alibi.

(CONTINUED)

61.

168 CONTINUED:
168

LUTHER:

Watched the Bullets game with Red

Bransford. Prison buddy of mine

--runs a bar --want to question

me about the game? I’m probably

lying.

They each give the cashier some money and we see a quiet

table in the corner as they head for it.

SETH:

You been following the case?

LUTHER:

(nods vigorously)

I love true crime -

SETH:

--F.B.I. feels only a few guys

could have handled something as

hard as the Sullivan job.

(touches his notebook)

I’ve got a list here; you’re on

it.

LUTHER:

(nothing shows)

I wish it was true.

(shakes his head)

Your robber actually went in the

front door but came out down a

rope in the dark in the middle of

the night?

(as Seth nods;

Luther sighs)

If only I could do stuff like that

--I’d be the star of my A.A.R.P.

meetings.

Luther and Seth as they sit. Seth smiles, looks at

Luther.

SETH:

(beat)

Luther? Why was this so hard?

Luther. Now he’s surprised. He kind of smiles.

LUTHER:

You want me to help solve your

case?

(CONTINUED)

62.

168 CONTINUED:
(2) 168

SETH:

Just looking for insight. How

would you --scratch that --how

would one go about it? What kind

of person do you think I should be

looking for?

LUTHER:

(like a shot)

Older fella. Like me.

SETH:

(now he smiles)

Because?

LUTHER:

Need patience. The secret is just

research, research, research -from

everything I’ve read.

Seth. This hasn’t gone at all the way he thought --and

he’s starting to get fascinated.

SETH:

Research for what?

LUTHER:

Well, from what I can tell on the

tube, it’s not a small house.

(as Seth nods)

There had to be an architect,

right? You’d be able to tell

which one from public records in

the library. And once you know

the office, you could break in and

find the plans and Xerox them, get

them back before morning.

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