Absolute Power Page #8

LAURA SIMON:

Looks like someone sat here --but

I couldn’t find any prints.

(lowering her voice -indicating

the one-way

mirror)

You think Sullivan holed up in the

chair and watched his wife

perform?

SETH:

I hope not -(

shakes his head)

--he’s such a great man.

He moves back into the bedroom.

138 INT. SULLIVAN MASTER BEDROOM -DAY 138

Another cop is working on the wall by the bed table where

a hole the size and shape of a bullet is visible.

SETH:

(as he moves past)

Careful digging that out.

The cop nods.

MEDICAL EXAMINER

Looks like he tried to strangle

her.

(CONTINUED)

39.

138 CONTINUED:
138

SETH:

So he tried to strangle her, then

went to the door and shot her from

behind?

MEDICAL EXAMINER

He also inspected her vagina.

Seth. Stunned.

SETH:

He did what? Why?

LAURA SIMON:

Maybe he couldn’t remember if he

f***ed her.

SETH:

(has to laugh)

A strong burglar with a weak mind

--obviously another open and shut

case...

As he stares around, baffled.

139 EXT. LUTHER’S SAFE HOUSE APT. BUILDING -DAY 139

A high rise. It’s in a different part of Washington than

we’ve seen thus far. Afternoon now.

An old salesman type is trudging into the building. He’s

slumped, carries heavy salesman type suitcases. He wears

a battered hat. As he goes inside -

140 INT. BUILDING -FOYER/MAIL AREA -DAY 140

The salesman is opening a mail slot with the name

"Hawthorne" on the outside. A good bit of mail, most of

it unsolicited. Hawthorne pockets it, unlocks the foyer,

heads toward the elevator.

141 INT. BUILDING -HALLWAY -DAY 141

The elevator and Hawthorne slowly getting out, heading

toward a corner apartment, taking out some keys -

--there are three locks on the door... he takes out

keys -

40.

142 INT. LUTHER’S SAFE HOUSE APARTMENT -DAY 142

Hawthorne walks in, puts the suitcases down, flings his

hat toward a long sofa -

--it’s Luther and this, we will come to learn, is what

he keeps as his safe house. It’s neatly furnished,

modern and clean.

Now he moves quickly -

--first he opens a suitcase --it contains his full

backpack from the robbery -

--then he opens a locked closet door, revealing a very

large and sophisticated safe. As he begins to work the

dial -

143 INT. LUTHER’S SAFE HOUSE APARTMENT -DAY (LATER) 143

--the TV ON in the living room as he slides the video

cassette Red gave him into his machine. Everything has

been put away.

The TV as Michael Jordan is introduced to the crowd -

Luther sits, nurses a beer, watches intently...

144 INT. MORGUE -DAY 144

An old man silently weeping.

This is WALTER SULLIVAN, one of the giants of the era. A

self-made billionaire. Remarkably, the man has few

enemies.

At 80, his body may be betraying him --he was once

handsome --but his mind is that of a young man.

We’ve seen him before --in the wedding picture on the

wall of his mansion. With his young bride Christy.

He is with her again now, at the morgue. A sheet covers

her body. The toe tag is visible. Walter, shattered and

desolate, stares at her once joyous face.

PULL BACK to reveal -

145 INT. MORGUE -OBSERVATION ROOM -DAY 145

Seth Frank, studying Walter THROUGH a two way mirror.

Seth is moved at depth of the old man’s grief. Anyone

would be. Walter slowly rises -

41.

146 INT. MORGUE -DAY 146

SANDY LORD waiting in an anteroom as Walter enters...

Sandy Lord is Walter Sullivan’s lawyer. He is 60,

abrasive, powerful.

Sandy moves to Walter, gestures toward the front door.

Seth appears through another door, intercepts them.

SETH:

Mr. Sullivan? --I’m Seth Frank,

senior homicide detective for

Middleton County -

SANDY LORD:

(protectively)

--my client is in no mood for

conversation, sir.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

It’s all right, Sandy -(

looks at Seth)

--you’re in charge of the case?

SETH:

(nods)

I have to ask some questions, but

it can be tomorrow.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

You want what, positive

identification? Yes, that was my

wife. Anything else?

SETH:

(notebook in hand)

You’d been in Barbados for two

days?

WALTER SULLIVAN:

(nods)

I took the entire staff down -always

do this time of year.

SETH:

But Mrs. Sullivan didn’t come.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

She was, had it all planned, but

you know women, they change their

minds.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

42.

146 CONTINUED:
146

WALTER SULLIVAN (CONT’D)

(to Seth, softly)

I’d been married to my Rebecca for

forty-seven years and when she

died, I decided I never wanted

that pain again. One thing I knew

about Christy:
she was going to

outlive me.

SANDY LORD:

I think that’s enough for today.

Takes Walter’s arm.

SETH:

(beat)

I have to ask about the vault.

And on that --Walter. Holds to Sandy for a moment, then

lets go.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

You mean the contents of the vault

of course -

(turns to Sandy)

--Sandy, you go on, I’m all

right.

(as Sandy looks at

him a moment)

Really. Go to the reception -obviously

I can’t make it, but I’m

sure everyone will understand.

Sandy nods, exits. Seth and Walter are alone.

Beat. Then -

WALTER SULLIVAN:

I know it’s not the contents -(

as Seth embarrassed,

stands there)

You mean the chair. You have to

ask about the chair.

SETH:

(soft)

Yessir, I do.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

But why? Are they connected?

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 43.

146 CONTINUED:
(2) 146

SETH:

I think someone sat in it --and I

think that someone may have been

involved in the murder.

(beat)

You were my father’s hero, Mr.

Sullivan, I promise you this won’t

make my highlight reel.

CLOSEUP -WALTER *

Humiliated.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

I’d hoped I could satisfy her...

but you know... she had needs and

she didn’t want to go behind my

back... she suggested the chair...

she hoped I might get to like

sitting there...

(beat)

... I didn’t...

(takes a breath)

I’ve tried for eighty years to

live a decent life. I’ve given a

billion dollars to charity. If

this comes to trial, none of that

will be remembered --I’ll just go

out as the joke of the world.

Seth. He closes his notebook.

SETH:

I understand, sir; I’ll do what I

can.

WALTER SULLIVAN:

(beat)

Will you listen to me whine?

Please forgive me, Mr. Frank.

Just do your job.

(beat)

And I’ll do mine.

Walter slowly moves to the door.

Sadly...

Seth watches him.

147 EXT. WHITE HOUSE -MAGIC HOUR 147

A gorgeous SHOT of a very famous place.

setting. It all looks magical.

The sun is

44.

148 INT. WHITE HOUSE -NORTH PORTICO -NIGHT 148

A room filled with well-dressed men and women. Formal

attire. The rich and the famous. But the only one we

recognize is Sandy Lord, deep in conversation with

several other men. Now, someone says his name.

MAN (O.S.)

Sandy.

(as Sandy turns)

Is there anything I can do?

SANDY LORD:

Mr. President.

And on those words --The 44th President of the United

States. He has all the natural charm in the world. He

is remarkably bright, with a phenomenal memory. He is,

also, at this moment, one of the most popular men in

American history, three years into a brilliant first

term, a shoo-in for re-election when that ritual comes.

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