Absolute Power Page #13

69.

178 EXT. MIDDLETON COUNTY COURTHOUSE -DAY 178

The press corps. Subdued, saddened.

Richmond and Walter. They turn, face the cameras. The

president’s arm is still around the old man; they both

blink back tears and now -

--here it comes ! -

179 INT. AIRPORT LOUNGE -EXTREME CLOSEUP -LUTHER -DAY 179

Tears of rage in his eyes. A rage so deep it shocks

him -

LUTHER:

You --heartless --prick -(

building)

--you --f***ing --bastard -

The Bartender, surprised, turning toward Luther. He

starts to say something, stops; something tells him to

shut up and he does.

180 EXT. MIDDLETON COUNTY COURTHOUSE -DAY 180

Richmond, wiping away tears, alone on camera.

181 INT. AIRPORT LOUNGE -DAY 181

Luther, wiping away tears, in the bar.

A SHOT of the two of them, Luther and Richmond, one on

CNN, one in reality, because Luther has moved so close to

the TV he and Richmond could almost be staring at each

other.

LUTHER:

(whispered now)

I’m not running --not from you.

(beat)

I’m going to bring you down...

HOLD ON the two men.

182 INT. WHITE HOUSE -NORTH PORTICO -DAY 182

Seventy very excited people we’ve never seen before.

They stare around at their surroundings --they are in

the White House. On a guided tour.

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 70.

182 CONTINUED:
182

A bright late morning of what’s going to be a beautiful

day. A guide leads the people through a doorway. They

troop happily along.

Luther is with them; he seems happy too.

183 INT. WHITE HOUSE -NORTH PORTICO AREA -DAY 183

The guide leads the people through. They look around,

chat with their friends, follow the guide out.

Luther follows the guide out too.

HOLD ON the room.

All is as it was.

Except a large envelope has been dropped on a side table.

MOVE IN ON the envelope ---

it’s addressed to Gloria Russell.

184 INT. WHITE HOUSE -GLORIA RUSSELL’S OFFICE -DAY 184

Gloria Russell. Terrified.

Her doors are closed, Russell is at her desk. Burton

stands alongside. Collin, silent, sits in a corner.

And on her desk, half out of the envelope, is a photograph

of the letter opener.

RUSSELL:

He was in the building --he took

a guided tour.

Burton pulls the picture all the way out, studies it.

RUSSELL:

I’ve never dealt with blackmail -BURTON

(trying for calm)

--he doesn’t want money -RUSSELL

(exploding)

--you a mind reader too? *

(CONTINUED)

71.

184 CONTINUED:
184

BURTON:

(under control)

No, I just looked on the back -(

shows her )

--see? -

Luther has written something.

RUSSELL:

(reading)

’I don’t want money.’

Russell is more upset. Burton almost smiles.

LUTHER:

(admiringly)

This guy sure has the guts of a

burglar. Wish we had him.

Collin laughs.

RUSSELL:

You finished your recruiting

speech? Because I’d like to know

how I handle this.

BURTON:

Like you handled the letter

opener?

Russell. She studies Burton. Then -

RUSSELL:

Gee, Bill, that could be construed

as criticism. Do you really want

me as an enemy?

Burton stands there, massively powerful. His voice, when

he speaks, is his usual voice: polite, considerate.

BURTON:

Miss Russell, I should have called

the police that night. But I was

weak. You convinced me to stay

silent. I regret that.

(another pause)

Know this:
every time I see your

face I want to rip your throat

out.

Russell. Silence.

(CONTINUED)

72.

184 CONTINUED:
(2) 184

RUSSELL:

Fine --you win the pissing

contest -

(then suddenly

almost like a

little girl)

--what should I do?

BURTON:

Nothing --because he’s making a

terrible mistake, he thinks he has

time --he doesn’t --Seth Frank’s

too good. He’ll bring him in.

RUSSELL:

Then what?

COLLIN:

(his first words)

Then I kill him.

Now, from them -

185 INT. KATE’S OFFICE -DAY 185

She is, we will find, a top prosecutor for the Commonwealth

of Virginia. Her office is a zoo.

On her desk, a baby picture of Kate and her mom smiling

--but there is something a little different about it.

Seth enters and they shake. He glances around -

--sees the photograph, glances away.

Kate has risen now --and in the silence it’s clear that

even though they are both standing still, they are both

circling.

SETH:

(trying for a smile)

For a tough prosecutor, you don’t

resemble your reputation, Miss

Whitney.

KATE:

(the same)

Is that good or bad?

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

73.

185 CONTINUED:
185

KATE (CONT’D)

(before Seth can

reply)

Look, Lieutenant --I told you on

the phone, I’m simply not involved

with my father, so this may not be

a waste of time for you, but it

sure is for me.

SETH:

What would you do if I just turned

around and left?

KATE:

Report you as an incompetent.

SETH:

(a real smile now)

You’re exactly like your

reputation, Miss Whitney -As

they head out -186

INT. LOUNGE OUTSIDE KATE’S OFFICE -DAY 186

They enter. It’s empty.

SETH:

(the instant

they’re alone)

I’m assuming your father’s a big

part of you ---

what? -KATE

SETH:

--You think it’s all coincidence?

He’s a thief and you just happen

to be the toughest prosecutor in

the area?

KATE:

(just amazed)

Wow --that never crossed my mind

--you think there might be some

connection? --Like maybe I’m

somehow compensating? --I better

write that down.

SETH:

--Luther disappeared.

(CONTINUED)

74.

186 CONTINUED:
186

No reaction.

A banged-up couch. Kate sits, shrugs.

SETH:

I think you can help me.

KATE:

Lieutenant --I don’t know the man

--he was in jail when I was a

kid, when he got out my mother and

I went off to live by ourselves.

We don’t make contact. He doesn’t

care about me. I’ve seen him all

of once this past year.

SETH:

When?

KATE:

Couple days ago. He said he might

be going away. There. I just

helped you. Can I go back to work

now?

SETH:

(shakes his head)

Any idea where he might have gone?

Seth and Kate realize something: In a different world,

under different circumstances, they’d probably be

starting an affair.

KATE:

(snappishly)

Quit wasting my time --if he

doesn’t want you to find him,

you’re not going to find him.

SETH:

You saying he’s left town, skipped

the country, what?

KATE:

I’m saying you won’t recognize

him. I’m saying he could be just

around the corner --he always

kept a safe house -

SETH:

(cutting in)

--where? -

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 75.

186 CONTINUED:
(2) 186

KATE:

He never said -SETH

--Then where’d you hear this?

CLOSEUP -KATE *

KATE:

--my mother loved him, all right?

--Even after she left him --even

when she was dying she always

talked about him --’If only he

hadn’t this,’’if only he could

have that’-She

stops.

Seth, watching her.

And?

SETH:

KATE:

I meet a lot of a**hole cops like

you --guys who O.D.’don

Columbo -SETH

--Lady, I may be an a**hole cop

but you don’t know me well enough

to call me one -KATE

--There’s something else, isn’t

there? Something you want me to

do? --But you won’t say --Seth.

There is. But he won’t say.

Kate. For the first time now, apprehension. Now -187

EXT. LUTHER’S HOUSE -DAY 187

The row of small, neat houses --where Luther lived.

Kate and Seth get out of his car, go to the front door.

KATE:

How long did he live here?

(CONTINUED)

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