Gold Page #20

104.

ACOSTA:

Wells --!

Wells reaches out and touches the tiger’s head, right between

the eyes. The huge cat STILLS. Wells stills. A tableau --

Kenny Wells’ hand touching a Sumatran tiger between the eyes.

Wells scratches with his knuckles.

WELLS:

I’m touching a tiger! I’m touching a

goddamn tiger!!

CUT TO:

INT. BROWN, THOMAS - CORRIDOR - DAY

Big views over Manhattan on a stormy Monday morning. The

office seems dead. Woolf walks down a long hallway.

INT. BROWN, THOMAS - OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Woolf steps into his office where he finds Dresher waiting.

WOOLF:

Hollis. What’s going on?

DRESHER:

You haven’t heard? Wells cut a deal.

WOOLF:

A deal? What are you talking about?

Who’d cut a deal with him?

DRESHER:

Suharto... The Indonesian government.

WOOLF:

What?

DRESHER:

Washoe retains fifteen percent of

the find, the other eighty-five

goes to the company of Suharto’s

choosing, which just so happens to

be owned by his son. Wells cut us

off at the knees.

Woolf is stunned.

WOOLF:

What about Hancock?

105.

DRESHER:

He’s gone. Can’t compete at that

number. Deal’s over, Frank. Wells and

Acosta are now the only outside

partners in the biggest gold strike in

history. We represent exactly none of

it.

WOOLF:

Fifteen percent is a terrible deal.

DRESHER:

Is it? What’s fifteen percent of

thirty billion dollars?

Woolf knows now he’s looking at the executioner.

WOOLF:

I can explain -- you met him --

DRESHER:

You are going to be fine, Bryan;

you’ll land on your feet.

We stay on Woolf, in shock. The SOUND of a CHORUS of VOICES

rises, and WE GO...

INT. THE THREE GREENHORNS BAR - DAY

Bobby Burns and the boys singing along drunkenly to some song.

As Wells enters carrying a heavy, taped-up roll of fabric, and

a small, wrapped gift. Booze and music and cigarettes as they

turn and cheer him. But he’s looking for Kay.

WELLS:

Hey, Roy. Seen Kay around?

ROY:

You didn’t hear?

WELLS:

Hear what, Roy?

ROY:

She quit. Got the promotion out at the

American Home --Assistant Manager.

Proud of her.

CNBC REPORTER (ON TV)

...In our top money news, a story that

is being compared to David and

Goliath, or maybe that’s Kenny and

Goliath -- Kenny Wells that is...

106.

As someone TURNS UP THE VOLUME on THE TV above the bar -

CNBC REPORTER (ON TV) (CONT’D)

Washoe Mining has secured a deal with

the Suharto government of Indonesia to

retain control of their massive gold

strike there, fending off a takeover

by Newport Holdings.

CONNIE:

Kicking Hancock’s ass -

More CHEERS. WELLS is the center of attention.

CNN REPORTER/WELLS SIMUL

Washoe shares are soaring on the news.

As CLIVE Coleman spots Wells. Wells sees Clive as he

approaches. Whatever he’s here for, it looks serious.

CLIVE:

Got a minute?

Wells steps out with Clive.

EXT. THE THREE GREENHORNS BAR - LATE AFTERNOON

Strip plazas, dollar stores, pawn shops. And the first star in

the sky, the Northern Star. Or a planet. One of them.

CLIVE:

I just got a call.

Wells freezes. Clive enjoys the moment. Giving away nothing.

CLIVE (CONT’D)

The National Association of

Prospectors is gonna honor you with

the Golden Pickaxe.

WELLS:

Are you shitting me?

CLIVE:

You are officially the best miner in

the world. And somewhere I’m sure your

dad is smiling.

There, outside The Three Greenhorns Bar, Kenny Wells has

finally been accepted on terms he cares about.

WELLS:

Well if he’s not smiling, I’ll smile

for the both of us.

107.

He can’t speak any more. Too overcome by the moment. And then

he realizes where he’s gotta go -

INT./EXT. AMERICAN HOME - LATE AFTERNOON

The Caddy pulls up. Wells gets out. Opens the trunk. Gets that

big roll of gift fabric he bought in Indo.

He’s happy. A peace offering in hand. Starts forward, then

stops. He stares, his face falling. He sees -

KAY,

Wearing her own clothes, a manager now, smiling at something

her boss is saying. She rests a hand on his arm -

OMIT:

EXT. KAY’S HOUSE - DUSK (MINUTES LATER)

THE ROLL OF FABRIC HITS THE FRONT DOOR and drops to the stoop.

Then the wrapped gift hits the door and drops.

Wells back in his car. Door SLAMS. Car CAREENS AWAY, barely

breaking around a distant turn.

CUT TO:

EXT./INT. HARRAH’S HOTEL AND CASINO - RENO, NEVADA - DUSK

The Caddy rolls up under the awning at Harrah’s. An unctuous

MANAGER welcomes Wells personally.

MANAGER:

Welcome to Harrah’s Reno, Mr. Wells.

WELLS:

Thank you very much... Carissa.

MANAGER:

We have you in the Prospector Suite,

which has a wonderful view of the

mountains. Will you need help with

your bags?

WELLS:

Oh, yeah.

He looks back at the Caddy as the luggage trolley passes.

108.

DESK MANAGER:

The Prospector Suite has a lovely view

of the mountains, Sir.

WELLS:

I’ll take it.

DESK MANAGER:

Will you need help with your bags?

WELLS:

Oh, yeah.

INT. PROSPECTOR SUITE - MASTER BEDROOM - DAY

The boxes he took from Kay’s. Rodeo clown ashtray. A few

childhood pictures. Young Kenny holding a string of bass.

Grandfather on a side of a mountain. His father standing next

to a new Caddy, looking for all the world like Wells.

There’s a KNOCK at the door of the suite. Wells opens it to

find MIKE ACOSTA standing there.

WELLS:

I didn’t think you could make it.

ACOSTA:

(pure Wells)

Who you talking to, Wells?

(beat)

Besides, you’ll definitely need help

with your tie.

INT. PROSPECTOR SUITE - MASTER BATHROOM - EVENING

Gold fixtures everywhere. Acosta sitting on a counter watches

Wells wrestle with the bow tie.

WELLS:

I’m nervous.

And the bow tie does present a mystery.

WELLS (CONT’D)

A thousand monkeys, a thousand

years... Okay, hotshot...

Acosta quickly ties the tie. Adjusts it. And now we see a

changed Wells. He looks good. Catches himself in the mirror.

Acosta catches the same reflection.

Wells pulls cards from his jacket. Looks at Acosta. A true

friend is the one you feel comfortable practicing this kind of

speech in front of.

109.

WELLS (CONT’D)

My great granddad came out here on a

wagon. He had a horse and two mules...

(to Acosta)

Too much?

ACOSTA:

No, man. It’s good.

EXT. RENO SKYLINE - SUNSET

Mountains in the distance.

INT. HARRAH’S HOTEL AND CASINO - BALLROOM - NIGHT

Wells at his table with Acosta, Bobby Burns, Stanton, Clive,

Connie, Nevins. He’s quiet. This means a lot him.

BOBBY BURNS:

Kenny, you’re a star, boy. Don’t sweat

it. I mean really, don’t sweat.

He’s sweating. Someone passes him a napkin.

MC (O.S.)

It’s been a long night and I’m sure

you will soon hit the tables here at

Harrah’s Reno and make it a lot longer

night. And hit those tables people...

it’s why Verna makes the rooms so

reasonable.

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