All the Money in the World Page #13

---

67.

SECRETARY:

The New York open, Mr. Getty.

CHACE:

I think it's time to reassess our

strategy -

GETTY:

Shh.

Getty reads the tape and gazes into the distance.

CHACE:

What are you doing, sir?

GETTY:

Multiplication.

Then he's done. The number seems to surprise even him.

GETTY (CONT'D)

A good day.

CHACE:

I'm glad to hear that, Mr Getty.

It'll make this much easier.

(a beat)

We need to pay the ransom.

GETTY:

You said it was a hoax.

CHACE:

Your grandson was kidnapped by membersof the Calabrian N'dragheta, theoldest of all Italian Mafias. Two

of the original kidnappers are deadand one is missing.

GETTY:

That sounds like progress to me.

CHACE:

I'm afraid not. They got nervouswaiting for the ransom and sold theboy to an investor.

GETTY:

You told me Paul and his mother cooked

this up to soak me.

CHACE:

I was wrong. Paul may have talkedabout being kidnapped with his friends.

He may have put it out there but Idon't believe he's behind this.

68.

GETTY:

How do I know you're not wrong now?

CHACE:

Look, these people aren't the old-

world malavita anymore. They'rebusinessmen. Their only code isprofit and loss. They'll do thingsto Paul that can't be undone for anyamount of money.

GETTY:

Paul got himself into this. The

boy's going to have to live with theconsequences of his actions.

CHACE:

Don't let him die just for being achild. We have to pay.

GETTY:

I can't.

CHACE:

I'm sorry?

GETTY:

It simply isn't possible right now.

My financial position has changed.

CHACE:

I'm not all that bright but I canmultiply as well as you. With oil

up 7% this morning you made a fortune.

GETTY:

Precisely. I'm highly leveraged to

the price of oil right now.

CHACE:

In the middle of an oil embargo I'dsay that's a good place to be.

GETTY:

When the oil price is rising, it is.

But what if the price of oil weresuddenly to fall? What if the embargois lifted? What then? I would be

exposed. Do you know how JesseLivermore died?

CHACE:

I don't know who he was.

69.

GETTY:

He was the greatest speculator instocks ever to work on Wall Street.

He blew his brains out in a coat

check room after he lost every pennyhe had. That's how fast a man's

fortune can turn. Don't you see?

I've never been more vulnerable

financially than I am right now.

CHACE:

No one has ever been richer than youare at this moment.

GETTY:

I don't have the money to spare.

CHACE:

What would it take? How much would

it take for you to feel secure?

GETTY:

More.

Chace is struck silent. Getty turns on him:

GETTY (CONT'D)

I didn't need to hire an ex-CIA

officer just to pay people off. I

can do that myself. I hired you todo things other people can't, orwon't. That means rescuing the boy.

CHACE:

I can't do it without money.

GETTY:

There is no money. You'll have to

get the boy on your own.

INT. GAIL'S APARTMENT -- KITCHEN -- NIGHT

The wall-mounted phone RINGS. Gail answers it.

CINQUANTA (O.S.)

Signora.

GAIL:

Where is my son?

CINQUANTA (O.S.)

He is still in good health. I am

with him, don't worry.

In the BG, Chace turns the reel-to-reel tape recorder on.

70.

GAIL:

It's because of you I worry. I want

to talk to him.

INT. PHONE BOOTH, REGGIO, CALABRIA -- DAY

CINQUANTAI'm afraid this I cannot do. I am

not in charge anymore.

INT. GAIL'S APARTMENT -- KITCHEN -- DAY

Chace appears at Gail's shoulder. Gail hands him the phone.

CHACE:

This is Fletcher Chace. Mr. Gettyhas authorized me to negotiate onhis behalf. We will cover all yourexpenses up to $200,000. Anythingunder this figure is not consideredextortion under Italian law so youcan walk away free and clear.

CINQUANTA (O.S.)

The boy is worth much more. They'renot stupid.

CHACE:

The boy is worth nothing to anyone.

We're just trying to settle thiswithout causing any more embarrassmentto the family.

GAIL (O.S.)

My God --

CHACE:

He's a juvenile delinquent. His

grandfather's disowned him. It's a

tough break you took the wrong kid,

but you're getting off easy.

CINQUANTA:

You arrogant bastard.

CHACE:

Your uncle Piccolino died in custodylast night, by the way. You oughtto take this deal before the same

happens to you.

Chace calmly hangs up the receiver. A hand reaches into

frame, picks up the receiver, and HITS him with it.

71.

CHACE (CONT'D)

(laughs)

Whoa there -- !

But the next one connects. Gail hits him again, pushing himback over the stove. Dishes come out of the cupboard andrain down in shatters.

Everything collapses to the kitchen floor. Chace grabs atGail's wrists as they grapple atop broken plates. Somewhere

Gail's children are crying.

Then she's off him. Chace is lying on his back looking upat the ceiling, bleeding from a split lip.

She disappears, taking her crying children with her. Chace

is left lying on the kitchen floor. Gail re-enters.

CHACE (CONT'D)

I need some ice or I'll bleed all

over your floor.

Gail reaches into the freezer, pulls out a tray of ice, anddrops it onto the floor. Chace rubs ice cubes on his face.

CHACE (CONT'D)

I lied. I said I was authorized to

pay them $200,000. You know how

much I'm really authorized to pay?

Nothing. If they accept I won't beable to deliver but I had to buysome time. You wanted to know what

I used to do? This is what I used

to do. What I still do, for Getty.

GAIL:

You "make deals." You "buy people."

CHACE:

That's right. Whether it's a pit ofgrease in the desert or a human lifeit's all the same. We have to show

we're willing to walk away.

GAIL:

I can't walk away. You can walk

away, because you have nothing tolose, because there's no one in yourworld but yourself.

CHACE:

Fair enough.

Chace goes to the door. As he leaves:

72.

CHACE (CONT'D)

Seventeen million dollars and zero

dollars. That's how far apart we

are. Those numbers have got to move.

INT. GAIL'S APARTMENT -- NIGHT

Gail lies in bed in the fetal position. The phone rings.

She goes to the kitchen and picks it up.

CINQUANTA (O.S.)

Seven million dollars.

DIAL TONE. Gail is left holding the receiver. The numbers

have just moved.

INT. ST. PETER'S BASILICA -- DAY

GREAT SHAFTS OF LIGHT penetrate the darkness of the Basilica'svaulted dome. In a pew toward the rear Gail and Chace siteight feet apart, like a couple waiting to get a divorce.

GAIL:

When a man like you resorts to prayerI start to worry we're running outof options.

CHACE:

We're not here to pray. We're here

to speak to the Archbishop Marcinckus.

The six-foot-six ARCHBISHOP MARCINCKUS approaches.

CHACE (CONT'D)

Otherwise known as the Pope's Gorilla.

CUT TO:

Marcinkus and Gail with their heads bowed in prayer.

MARCINKUS/GAIL

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro

nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora

mortis nostrae.

Chace sits watching a few rows back, like a man waiting in abus station. As their prayers are finished, he joins them.

MARCINKUS:

Ms Getty, the Holy Pontiff himselfis praying today for the safe returnof your beautiful boy.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes