Face\Off Page #14

EXT. TRANSAMERICA-TWO BUILDING -- DAY

CASTOR'S eating up the attention of the REPORTERS.

REPORTER:

Commander Archer -- who

do you think planted it?

CASTOR:

That's classified. But

if he's listening I have

a message for him: Nice

try. Now you know who's

really in charge.

BACK TO ARCHER:
Totally enraged. And totally powerless.

Then his eyes focus ... he watches closely as --

A GUARD uses his "Thumbprint ID" to get through the SECURITY

DOORS. Archer's eyes fall on the THUMBPRINT SCAN-PAD.

EXT. NSA COMPOUND -- CHECKPOINT -- DAY

As Castor presses his thumb into the scanner.

CASTOR:

How's the wife -- Ed?

ED:

(signals "gate up")

Fine, Commander.

INT. NSA -- BULLPEN -- DAY

Castor enters. Some workers nod, some give a "thumbs up,"

some smile -- but no one stops working. They know better

than to react, much less applaud.

CASTOR:

Don't you guys watch TV?

Where's the parade?

They look at each other -- afraid. But proud rookie LOOMIS

starts clapping, so everyone else joins in rousing applause.

CASTOR (cont'd)

-- Buzz, uh -- Wanda, Loomis

... all of you, thanks from

the bottom of my black heart.

WANDA:

Stop the presses -- Jon Archer

found a personality ...

He grins and heads for his office.

INT. ARCHER'S RECEPTION AREA -- DAY

CASTOR enters to find MISS BREWSTER bent over the filing

cabinet. He watches her butt until she notices.

KIMBERLY:

Oh -- Commander. I

didn't see you ...

CASTOR:

Well, I saw you -- Kim.

KIMBERLY:

Kim?

CASTOR:

That's your name, isn't it?

KIMBERLY:

You always call me Miss Brewster.

CASTOR:

Let's try to be a little less

formal from now on, shall we?

He gives her a playful slap on her rump. She's stunned.

KIMBERLY:

You've got someone in

your office.

CASTOR:

Get rid of them.

KIMBERLY:

The Admiral?

INT. ARCHER'S OFFICE -- DAY

CASTOR enters to find LAZARRO ensconced on the sofa. She's

fixated by the repeat TV coverage of the bomb being diffused.

LAZARRO:

Look at you, Jon -- at your

age -- an American hero!

(a beat)

I'd buy you a drink but I

know you'd just turn me down.

CASTOR:

Normally, I would. But today ...

Castor opens a drawer and pulls out a bottle of Jamesons and

two high-ball glasses. He expertly pours two healthy shots.

CASTOR (cont'd)

To the future, Admiral.

Yours -- and mine.

LAZARRO:

(picks up a legal pad)

Practicing our executive

signature, are we?

CASTOR takes away the pad on which he has, indeed, been

practicing Archer's handwriting.

LAZARRO (cont'd)

If I didn't know any better,

I'd say you were finally

kissing my butt ... and I

bet I know why.

CASTOR:

You're the only person in

this place who can see

right through me.

LAZARRO:

You've made us look pretty

good in the past week. And

the way you handled the press --

CASTOR:

Just following your example.

LAZARRO:

D.C.'s very high on giving

you the promotion. There's

just one problem.

CASTOR:

What's that?

LAZARRO:

Me.

(a beat)

I have doubts about your

ability to stick with what

is essentially a desk job.

CASTOR:

I had doubts too. I always

looked at a desk as though

it were a ball-and-chain.

But something happened ...

She nods -- waiting for the confession. He leans in.

CASTOR (cont'd)

I came back from a mission

and found strangers in my house.

Only they weren't strangers,

they were my wife and child.

(misty-eyed)

Five years my life was on hold.

While I chased the elusive, but

brilliant, Castor Troy. I've

earned the right to start living

again. So when I look at this --

(taps desk)

I don't see a ball-and-chain.

I see an anchor -- for me and

my family.

Castor waits as Lazarro lets the speech sink in. Then ...

LAZARRO:

You'd have to start

immediately.

CASTOR:

Done. In fact, I was

already plotting about

the best way to meet the

foreign bureau chiefs.

LAZARRO:

Jon, you're starting to

remind me -- of me.

(warm smile)

Congratulations.

LAZARRO exits. Castor eases himself into Archer's leather

chair -- he picks up a framed photo of Archer & family and

grins wide -- trying to ape Archer's dumb photo smile.

CASTOR:

Jon -- you'd be so proud ...

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