Gold Page #22

WELLS:

(into phone)

Acosta? Mike Acosta? No. Yes, I do

mind waiting -- Did he or did he not

come to the Kalimantan?

Bobby Burns approaches Wells. Burns looks gut-punched.

BURNS:

The New York Stock Exchange just

suspended trading. They’re taking

Washoe off the board.

Washoe is done, finished. Wells sinks back in his chair. And

slowly hangs up the phone. The news seems to take whatever air

he’s got left out of him.

A long silent moment. There’s nothing more to say, but Burns

just stands there. He looks in shock, like he’s had his soul

ripped out. Wells looks up at him...

115.

WELLS:

You sold some, right? Put something

away?

Burns hesitates before answering...

BURNS:

Yeah... Of course. You?

Wells nods halfheartedly. It’s clear neither sold a damn

thing.

WELLS:

Bobby?...

Burns can’t meet Wells's eyes.

WELLS (CONT’D)

Goddammit, Bobby! I told you to sell

some.

BURNS:

I thought...I thought... it was just

going to keep going up.

Wells is genuinely distressed. And then Burns looks up -- his

eyes are damp, on the verge of crying. He can barely speak...

BURNS (CONT’D)

Kenny, did you know, Did you know,

Kenny?

It’s like a blow to the heart.

WELLS:

What? Did I know? I can’t believe you

would ask me that.

Burns looks absolutely crushed.

WELLS (CONT’D)

I’ll take care of you, Bobby.

Connie rushes in carrying a sheath of PAPERS.

CONNIE:

Kenny...

Burns’ expression hardens -- fists clenched like he’s gonna

punch Wells.

BURNS:

I don’t want you to take care of me!

I want you to leave me the hell alone!

116.

Burns walks away, a busted man. Wells turns to Connie. One

look and he knows this is big.

WELLS:

What?

CONNIE:

I don’t even know how to say this -

He dumps the papers on Wells's desk.

CONNIE (CONT’D)

Look.

Wells reads. It doesn’t take him long to understand. He throws

a glass at the wall. It shatters.

WELLS:

WHAT!!!???

Connie answers Stanton’s questioning look.

CONNIE:

Acosta was dumping stock. Shell

companies. Banks in the Philippines,

the Azores. Multiple layers. All offshore.

STANTON:

How much?

CONNIE:

Get ready for it... 164 million.

WELLS:

I don’t believe it.

STANTON:

Son of a b*tch! What do we do? Kenny?

WELLS:

There’s gotta be an explanation. We

gotta find Mike!

AT THAT MOMENT, they hear TIRES SCREECHING, CAR DOORS

SLAMMING. And look outside. DOZENS OF AGENTS rolling up, the

familiar blue jackets with the white lettering -- FBI. Hear

them entering. Then, a BULLHORN:

FBI:

This is the FBI! Step away from your

desks! Take two big steps away from

your desks. Do not touch anything!

117.

MONTAGE of FBI raid. Floor by floor. They arrive at Wells's

office. Connie and Stanton in the middle of the room, frozen.

Wells at the window. Below, he sees the SPECIAL AGENT IN

CHARGE step out of a car, already giving quiet orders --

It’s JENNINGS.

Who looks up. Sees Wells at the window. Wells looks at him.

INT. NBC NEWS STUDIO - NIGHT

Sitting with ROGER MUDD is MARK HANCOCK, chairman of Newport

Holdings. Hancock as clean as snow as he rewrites history.

HANCOCK:

We suspected there were problems early

on, which is why we decided not to

pursue the joint venture Washoe

offered us. We got as many of our

investors out of Washoe as fast as

possible.

An insert PHOTO of Kenny Wells and Mike Acosta appears.

ROGER MUDD:

You made a lot of money. I mean before

the walls came tumbling down.

Hancock doesn't want to talk about that.

ROGER MUDD (CONT’D)

And how much money was lost in the

fraud? That we know of.

HANCOCK:

Billions. Large institutional

investors lost billions of dollars.

ROGER MUDD:

So one, or maybe both of them, two

outsiders took everybody on Wall

Street for a ride.

HANCOCK:

Yes, it really looks like they did.

ROGER MUDD:

And Acosta has vanished.

HANCOCK:

With hundreds of millions of dollars.

118.

ROGER MUDD:

Kenny Wells has consistently

maintained his innocence, that he was

duped along with everyone else. Given

that, what do you make of this?

He picks up a copy of NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE --Kenny Wells on the

cover. Mudd reads the caption out loud:

ROGER MUDD (CONT’D)

“Kenny Wells -Fool or Mastermind?”

...Care to comment?

Off Hancock, maybe for the first time, he’s at a loss...

HANCOCK:

That is a very good question, Roger.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT./EXT. PROSPECTOR SUITE & WASHOE HEADQUARTERS - DAY

A MONTAGE of time passing. Wells in the suite on the phone.

Wells at an increasingly empty Washoe headquarters. Wells is

increasingly desperate, then finally hopeless.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. WASHOE HEADQUARTERS - DAY

Wells stands on the steps in front of the building, a hundred

MICROPHONES and CAMERAS in his face. NEWS VANS jam the

sidewalk. A mob of ANGRY PROTESTORS held at bay by POLICE.

WELLS:

Mike Acosta was my friend and partner

and he betrayed me. I had no knowledge

of the deception he perpetrated. As

CEO of this company, it was my job to

know. I take full responsibility for

my failure in this regard and I

apologize sincerely to those who have

lost their investments. Wherever you

are, Mike, it’s time to come in. Tell

what happened... Mike --?

He can’t go on. Finally, he chokes out -

WELLS (CONT’D)

That’s all I have to say at this time.

The assembled reporters shout out a flurry of questions at

Wells's back as he leaves. They pursue him. Surrounding his

car. Trying to stop him from pulling out.

119.

EXT. HARRAH’S HOTEL AND CASINO - RENO - DAY

Wells pulls in. Crowds out front waiting for him.

INT. HARRAH’S HOTEL AND CASINO - RENO - DAY

Angry FRONT DESK GUY trying to talk about the bill.

FRONT DESK GUY:

Mr. Wells, when exactly will you be

departing?

People hearing his name. Crowds turning. Pouring in.

INT. ELEVATOR - DAY

The doors closing out the faces of angry, shouting people.

Wells just shuts his eyes and rides in blessed silence.

DING.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Wells checks the hallway both directions.

AT THE “PROSPECTOR SUITE”

Checks hall again. Uses his key to open the door.

INT. PROSPECTOR SUITE - DAY

Wells entering, motoring toward the bar, freezes. Finds:

JENNINGS, BANKS, AND LEVINE

Waiting for him like executioners on execution day.

A beat.

WELLS:

Do I need a lawyer?

JENNINGS:

Do you need a lawyer?

A moment between poker players. Then Wells shakes his head.

JENNINGS (CONT’D)

Right answer.

Jennings posts two guards outside the door. Sets the tape

recorder on the table. Wells at the bar searching, finding the

stashed bottle.

120.

WELLS:

...Sure I can’t pour you one?

JENNINGS:

No, thanks. I’m working.

WELLS:

All the more reason.

JENNINGS:

Wells, sit down. We’ve got a lot to

cover...

The same exchange that started the film. Time has caught up

with Kenny Wells’ storytelling.

FADE TO BLACK:

SLOW FADE IN:

The Golden Pickaxe STATUE catching morning sun...

INT. PROSPECTOR SUITE - MORNING

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