American Psycho Page #13

Bateman is touching a knife in the drawer, feeling the edge

of the blade.

BATEMAN:

Do you have a boyfriend?

JEAN:

No, not really.

BATEMAN:

Interesting.

JEAN:

(Shyly)

Are you seeing anyone? I mean, seriously?

BATEMAN:

Maybe. I don't know Not really.

Bateman opens up a cupboard where there are a lot of very

Bateman opens a cupboard where there are a lot of neatly

ordered weapons - an ax, a rifle, a chain saw, duct tape,

twine and a nail gun.

BATEMAN:

Jean, do you feel...fulfilled? I mean, in your life?

JEAN:

Well, I guess I do. For a long time I was too focused

on my work, I think, but now I've really begun to think about

changing myself, you know, developing, and...growing.

BATEMAN:

Growing. I'm glad you said that.

Bateman picks up the duct tape.

BATEMAN:

Did you know that Ted Bundy's first dog, a collie,

was named Lassie? Had you heard this?

JEAN:

Who's Ted Bundy?

BATEMAN:

Forget it.

JEAN:

What's that?

BATEMAN:

Oh. Uh, tape. Duct tape. I...need it for...

taping something. Bateman goes back to the cupboard for the

nail gun.

JEAN:

Patrick, have you ever wanted to make someone happy?

Jean puts her spoon down on the table.

BATEMAN:

(Looking up from loading nails into the gun)

What...No! Put it in the carton.

JEAN:

Sorry.

(She puts the spoon in the carton)

BATEMAN:

Jean? What?

JEAN:

Make someone happy-have you ever wanted to?

From behind, we follow Bateman as he walks across the room and

stands behind the couch.

BATEMAN:

I'm looking for...I guess you could say I just

want to have a meaningful relationship with someone special.

JEAN:

Hmmmm.

He points the nail gun at the back of Jean's head.

The phone RINGS. Startled, Bateman hides the nail gun

behind his back. The answering machine picks up. As Bateman

listens he discreetly places the nail gun behind the couch.

He sits down opposite Jean, enjoying her discomfort as she

listens to the message.

EVELYN:

Patrick I know you're there. Pick up the phone, you bad boy.

What are you up to tonight? It's me. Don't try to hide. I hope

you're not out with some little number you picked up because

you're my Mr. Bateman. My boy next door. Anyway you never

called me and you said you would and I'll leave a message for

Jean about this too to remind you but we're having dinner with

Melania and Taylor-you know Melania, she went to Sweet Briar,

auld Taylor, he went to Cornell-and we're meeting at the Cornell

Club, so l'll call you tomorrow morning probably-bye, honey-oopps!

You hate that. Bye Mr. Big Time CEO Patrick. Bye. Bye.

Silence. Jean is obviously embarrassed and upset.

JEAN:

Was that...Evelyn?

Silence.

JEAN:

Are you still seeing her?

Silence.

JEAN:

I'm sorry, I have no right to ask that.

Silence.

JEAN:

Do you want me to go?

A long pause.

BATEMAN:

Yes. I don t think I can...control myself.

JEAN:

I know I should go. I know I have a tendency to get

involved with unavailable men, and...I mean, do you

want me to go?

Another long pause.

BATEMAN:

If you stay, I think something bad will happen. I

think I might hurt you.

(Almost hopefully)

You don't want to get hurt, do you?

JEAN:

No. No, I guess not. I don't want to get bruised.

You're right, I should go.

She gets up to leave.

JEAN:

And don't forget you have a breakfast meeting with

Frederick Bennet and Charles Rust at '21.

BATEMAN:

Thanks. It slipped my mind completely.

He sinks back on the sofa and shuts his eyes.

INT. BATEMAN'S OFFICE - DAY

Bateman enters P&P, walks up the corridor and pauses outside

the door to his office. He sees KIMBALL in conversation with

Jean, and Jean looking through her date book. He watches for

a moment, frozen with anxiety. He then bursts in, shutting

the door behind him.

BATEMAN:

Kimball-I've been wanting to talk with you, Come

into my office. Jean, great jacket. Matsuda?

Jean looks flustered.

Kimball follows Bateman into his office.

KIMBALL:

I actually came to see Timothy Price, but he's

taken a leave of absence.

BATEMAN:

Yeah, gone into rehab. Shame.

(Hopefully)

Is he a suspect?

KIMBALL:

Not really.

A pause.

KIMBALL:

Do you remember where you were on the night of

Paul's disappearance?

(He checks his notebook)

Which was on the twentieth of December?

BATEMAN:

God...I guess...I was probably returning

videotapes.

He opens his desk drawer and pretends to search through his

diary.

BATEMAN:

I had a date with a girl named Veronica.

KIMBALL:

Wait. That's not what I've got.

BATEMAN:

What?

KIMBALL:

That's not the information I've received.

BATEMAN:

Well...I...Wait...What information have

you received?

KIMBALL:

Let's see...

(He flips through his notebook)

That you were with-

BATEMAN:

Well, I could he wrong.

KIMBALL:

Well...When was the last time you were with Paul Owen?

BATEMAN:

(Clearly nervous and under pressure)

We had...gone to a new musical called...Oh Africa, Brave Africa. It

was...a laugh riot...and that's about it. I think we had dinner

at Orso's. No, Petaluma. No, Orso's. The...last time I

physically saw him was...at an automated teller. I can't

remember which...just one that was near, um, Nell's.

Kimball is clearly giving up on Bateman for now. He opens

his briefcase to put away his notebook.

KIMBALL:

Well, thank you, Mr. Bateman.

BATEMAN:

Patrick, please. I hope I've been informative. Long

day-a bit scattered.

KIMBALL:

Listen, I'm a little spent for now but how about lunch

in a week or so when I've sorted out all this information?

BATEMAN:

Great, yes, I'd like that.

KIMBALL:

And if you could try and pin down where you were

the night of Owen's disappearance, it would make my job a

lot easier.

BATEMAN:

Absolutely. I'm with you on that one.

Kimball is rifling through his briefcase. He pulls out a

new shrink wrapped CD and holds it up.

KIMBALL:

Huey Lewis and the News. Great stuff. Heard it? I

just bought it on my way here.

Bateman stares at the CD - stunned, terrified.

BATEMAN:

Never. I mean...I don't really like...

singers.

KIMBALL:

Not a big music fan, eh?

BATEMAN:

No, I like music. Just-they're-Huey's too...

black sounding. For me.

KIMBALL:

Well, to each his own. So-lunch, Thursday? I'll

call your secretary about reservations.

BATEMAN:

I'll be there.

EXT. MEAT PACKING DISTRICT/INT. LIMOUSINE - NIGHT

The same street corner where Bateman found Christie before.

The limo is kept idling as he talks to her through a

half-opened window.

CHRISTIE:

I'm not so sure about this. I had to go to Emergency after

last time...

BATEMAN:

Oh this won't be anything like last time, I promise.

CHRISTIE:

I don't think so.

He hands her a $500 bill.

BATEMAN:

Just come in the limo and talk to me for a minute.

The driver's here, you'll be safe.

Christie gets in hesitantly.

BATEMAN:

Nothing like last time, promise.

CHRISTIE:

Alright.

He pours her a shot of vodka and makes her drink it.

BATEMAN:

(Chatting as if they were at a cocktail party)

So, you're looking great, how have you been?

CHRISTIE:

(A little confused)

Well, I actually might need a little surgery after last time.

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