Gold Page #6

WELLS:

A contract. Read it. Sign it.

Acosta looks over what Wells has written on the napkin. They

share a look -- a moment. WE DON’T SEE WHAT’S ON THE NAPKIN.

ACOSTA:

Fair enough.

28.

WELLS:

We got a deal?

Acosta signs and sticks his hand out to Wells. They shake.

ACOSTA:

Deal.

INT. DIMLY LIT ROOM - DAY

WELLS:

For the first time in my life, I was

selling something I believed in. I

could feel it in my bones.

Wells up, remembering the energy. Reveal more of the space: a

pastiche of several eras, kind of a luxury camp mixed with a

whorehouse.

WELLS (CONT’D)

Any real salesman will tell you...

VOICE (O.S.)

Mr. Wells, please sit down.

The voice belongs to PAUL JENNINGS, early 40s, buttoned-down

shirt, conservative suit, but a fun tie that was probably a

gift. A tape recorder is on the table. Two other men, BANKS

and LEVINE, both 30’s, skeptical, watch as Wells takes his

seat again.

WELLS:

...If you believe it, you can sure as

sh*t sell it.

INT. THE THREE GREENHORNS BAR - MORNING

BURNS:

(braying into the phone)

Hell yeah it’s risky...

Bobby Burns standing mid-pitch.

BURNS (CONT’D)

I’m being straight here. But hey, no

risk, no reward, right?

It’s the usual crowd, but the mood is electric. Everyone’s

working the phones, telling versions of the same story.

CONNIE:

Acosta! Largest copper strike in

history. Yeah, that guy. We got him -

29.

NEVINS:

Platinum resume. Pla-ti-num. Oxford.

MIT. That’s right: The Copper King -

BURNS:

Kin-sana. Indonesia. It literally

means River of Gold. No, I’m not

f***ing kidding.

Camera finding Wells AT THE BAR with his own phone, taking in

snippets of the phone pitches.

WELLS:

(into phone)

It’s a 20k minimum buy-in and shares

are flying off the shelf.

Kay, passing with a tray of drinks, as Kenny tries to pull her

over. She shrugs out of his grasp and continues on.

WELLS (CONT’D)

Babe, this is f***ing crazy -

BURNS:

Going like hotcakes. Hotcakes!!

Connie covering the mouthpiece, interrupts over -

CONNIE:

I’m batting 500. BabeFuckingRuth.

Every other call, Kenny.

WELLS:

Keep throwing the line.

(into phone)

The best. What’d I tell you? The best.

(calling to Kay)

Babe, shine those dancing shoes, get

‘em ready -

She flips him off. It’s not a forever anger, but she’s angry.

ACOSTA (O.S.)

We don’t even have the exploration

rights. What are they selling?

WELLS:

They’re selling the story, Mike. And

right now, the story is you. Hey,

speaking of which, what are you doing?

29A.

ACOSTA (O.S.)

I’m down in Kupang City, looking at

coring equipment.

30.

WELLS:

(yelling to the guys)

Acosta’s in Kupang City looking at

coring equipment.

The sales pitch shifts, Kupang City. Special coring equipment.

BURNS:

(into phone)

Coring rigs will come from Kupang

City. I’ll put you down for 20. Two

shares. You got it.

WELLS:

(into phone)

You’re magic.

And as WE LOOK over this makeshift trading floor in full

action, the SOUND OF KEYS BEING PUNCHED rises above the din of

sales chatter -- TAPE PRINTOUT SCROLLING, and WE ARE...

INT. THE THREE GREENHORNS BAR - NIGHT

Bobby Burns bangs figures into an ADDING MACHINE. Wells

circles. It’s been a long day, everyone’s exhausted. Burns

scrolls the tape, tears it off with a flourish. Passes it to

Wells, who reads, swallows hard, then delivers the number.

WELLS:

(into phone)

Two hundred sixty seven thousand, four

hundred and thirty-four dollars.

Over the phone, there’s SILENCE.

EXT. MINING SUPPLY - KUPANG CITY, INDONESIA - DAY

Acosta checks out new equipment while on a portable phone --

ACOSTA:

(into phone)

Not exactly the number I had in mind.

Realize Acosta is now looking at the USED EQUIPMENT YARD.

EXT. USED EQUIPMENT YARD - KUPANG CITY - DAY

Acosta stands looking up at rusting industrial dinosaurs

against the endless blue sky.

WELLS (O.S.)

I might be able to borrow a little bit

against it.

(beat)

(MORE)

31.

WELLS (O.S.) (CONT'D)

No. Truth. That’s it for now. Can you

make it work?

ACOSTA:

That’ll get us the permit, a few

holes. If we work fast and get lucky,

who knows...

WELLS:

Get us a little good news and we’ll

raise more money.

Suddenly hear some DUDES AT A FOOSBALL TABLE loudly ARGUING

over PAC-10 football, drowning out Wells.

ACOSTA:

You work out of a bar, Wells?

WELLS:

Keeping a lid on expenses, Mike.

Makin’ the dollar holler.

Acosta hanging up, wondering just what he’s gotten himself

into. He examines a well-used drill, speaks Bahasa with the

mining equipment salesman, haggling.

INT. KAY’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

A suitcase on the bed. Wells sorta packing, a haphazard

undertaking under the best of circumstances. He takes a drink.

Surveys the possibilities.

WELLS:

Which tie? This one or this one?

Reveal Kay behind him, drink in hand.

KAY:

I want my watch back.

WELLS:

First off, it’s your mother’s and

second you’re gonna get it back.

KAY:

It was my mother’s until she gave it

to me.

32-32A.

WELLS:

I gotta bring my good shoes, where are

my good shoes?

KAY:

Look under the bed. I don’t like to

see my stuff up in pawns, Kenny. You

know I’m sensitive to it.

He gets down to look under the bed. See his ass sticking out.

WELLS:

We always talk about our dreams, about

the ranch, clean air, big views, our

place above it all. That’s what I’m

doin’, getting us out of this shitbox.

KAY:

I don’t mind this shitbox.

He’s back up with the shoes.

WELLS:

See, right there, that’s what I love -you’re

like one of those booster

rockets that helps us get up to the

stars.

Stands back with the shoes. He wiggles the shoes.

WELLS (CONT’D)

Too much?

KAY:

What the f***, Kenny?

KAY (CONT’D)

We figure sh*t out together, Kenny.

Through thick and f***in’ thin. If you

needed my watch, I’d give it to you.

WELLS:

I know, babe. I’ll be back soon, I

promise.

He starts off... Then pauses like he remembers one last thing.

WELLS (CONT’D)

Oh, here -- why don’t you time me?

He dangles her mother’s watch. Turns, smiling. She smiles,

too. Love rushes in, overflows.

32-32AA.

KAY:

Wear the blue tie. It brings out your

eyes.

33.

As we PRE-LAP a CALL TO PRAYER -

EXT. JAKARTA, INDONESIA - DAWN

Crossing river traffic reveals a luxury hotel amid minarets.

Super:
JAKARTA, INDONESIA

INT. JAKARTA PALACE HOTEL SUITE - DAY

Acosta goes over paperwork, shaved, hair groomed, transformed.

Wells, adjusting his blue tie, comes out of the bathroom.

ACOSTA:

What’s that smell?

WELLS:

I dropped a goose.

33A.

ACOSTA:

And are you wearing cologne?

WELLS:

Yeah, why? You getting turned on?

34.

ACOSTA:

Listen to me:
we have one shot at

this. He’s the Minister of The

Interior of Indonesia. If he doesn't

like us for any reason, we’re done.

Never put your hands on your hips.

Crossing your arms is considered

aggressive. And cologne, here, is an

insult.

WELLS:

You get a whiff of some of the folks

around here? I might suggest changing

the national cologne policy.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote