Hannibal Page #6

Unfortunately, you've caught me|at an awkward moment.

Please forgive me.

See you around.

An old friend.

OK, hold on.

Here we go.

I'll go around back.

Cut him !|Kill him if you have to!

What's it to be--|bowels in or bowels out?

Like Judas.

Are you confused?

Then I'll decide for you,|if you'll permit me.

Good evening.

To you...

does that look like|a wave good-bye?

Or hello?

What do you think?

Does Lecter want to f*** her|or kill her or eat her or what?

Probably all three--

though I wouldn't want|to predict in what order.

Here's what I think.

No matter how Barney|might want to romanticize it...

or make it|"Beauty and the Beast"...

Lecter's object, as I know|from personal experience...

has always been degradation...

and suffering.

Cordell,|get this damn thing off me.

I can't...breathe|in this thing.

He comes in the guise|of a mentor...

as he did with me and her...

but it's distress|that excites him.

To draw him...

she needs to be distressed.

To make her attractive to him...

Let him see her distressed.

Let the damage he sees...

suggest the damage he could do.

When the fox|hears the rabbit scream...

he comes a-runnin'...

But not to help.

I don't understand.

There's nothing|to understand, Paul.

All you have to understand|is what it's worth to you.

No. I don't understand|why she didn't turn this over.

She's such a straight arrow.

She didn't turn it over|because she didn't receive it.

She didn't receive it|because it was never sent.

It was never sent because|Lecter didn't write it.

He didn't write it|because I did.

What do you think?

You'd have been better off...

if you never got her out|of trouble in the first place.

Woulda, shoulda, coulda.

I meant what do you think|about the money?

Five.

Let's just toss it off,|like, "Five."

Let's say it with the respect|it deserves.

$500,000.

That's better, but not much.

-Will it work?|-It'll work.

It won't be pretty.

What ever is?

Cocksucker.

I've never seen this before|in my life.

Then how do you account for|its being found in your office?

Your basement?

How do you want me|to answer that?

What possible reason|might I have to withhold it?

Perhaps because of the nature|of its content.

It reads to me like a...|Like a love letter.

Has it been tested for prints?

No prints on it.|None on the last one.

Handwriting analysis?

"Did you ever think, Clarice...

"why the Philistines|don't understand you?

"It's because you're the answer|to Samson's riddle.

"You are the honey in the lion."

It sounds like him to me.

Do you mean, Mr. Krendler,|like a homosexual?

Like a nut with a crush.

Excuse me, Director Noonan--

I am placing you|on administrative leave...

till document analysis|tells me...

unequivocally|a mistake's been made.

You remain eligible for|insurance and medical benefits.

Surrender your weapons|and your I.D. to Agent Pearsall.

I want to say something.|I think I'm entitled.

Go ahead.

I think Mr. Mason Verger is|trying to capture Dr. Lecter...

for the purposes|of personal revenge.

I think Mr. Krendler|is in collusion with him...

and wants the FBI's efforts|against Dr. Lecter...

to work for Mr. Verger.

I think Mr. Krendler|is being paid to do this.

You're lucky you're not sworn|here today, Starling.

Swear me! You swear, too!

Clarice,|if the evidence is lacking...

you'll be entitled|to full reinstatement...

without prejudice--

if you don't do or say anything|in the meantime...

that would make that impossible.

Relieved of field duty pending|an internal investigation...

into the charges...

Special Agent Clarice Starling,|a ten-year Bureau veteran...

began her career|with an assignment...

to interview lethal madman|Hannibal Lecter.

Earlier today,|we heard comments...

from Justice Department|spokesman Paul Krendler.

There he is.

Can you comment on the|Justice Department's decision?

The FBI|and the Justice Department...

are looking very carefully|into the charges...

and, yes,|they're extremely serious.

I'd like to add|a personal note, though.

Starling is one of the best|agents that we have.

Having known her|for a number of years...

I'd be surprised if these|accusations turn out to be true.

Is the Justice Department|and FBI united in this decision?

It's much too soon|to condemn her.

Good boy.

Ah, and this.

I think she's nice.

She's always been nice to me--|polite.

Don't you think?

Do you know|what a roller pigeon is, Barney?

Well, roller pigeons|climb high and fast...

then roll over and fall|just as fast towards the earth.

There are shallow rollers,|and there are deep rollers.

But you can't breed|two deep rollers...

or their young, their offspring,|will roll all the way down...

hit and die.

Agent Starling is a deep roller.

Let's hope|one of her parents was not.

The power on that battery|is low, Clarice.

I would have changed it,|but I didn't want to wake you.

You'll have to use|the other one in the charger.

Hopefully, the light on it|is green by now.

Because this'll be a long call,|and I can't let you off...

because even though you've been|stripped of your duties...

I know you wouldn't|abandon them.

You'll try to put on a trace.

So, we'll disconnect|long enough...

for you to exchange the battery|in the phone...

for the one in the charger.

Shall we say three seconds?|Are you ready?

Go.

Very good.

Thank you.

If caught with a concealed,|unlicensed firearm...

in the District of Columbia,|the penalty is pretty stiff.

But bring the guns|if you have to.

Now get in your car.

The reason|we're doing it like this...

is because I like|to watch you as we speak...

with your eyes open.

No, it does not excite me.|It pleases me.

You have very shapely feet.

Where are we now?|Call it out.

Massachusetts Avenue.

Take it.

I thought, to begin with...

you might tell me|how you're feeling.

About what?

The masters you serve|and how they've treated you.

Your career, such as it is.

Your life, Clarice.

I thought we might|talk about yours.

What's the next cross-street?

Capitol Street.

In two blocks,|make a left into Union Station.

Park.

My life?|What is there to say about mine?

I have been in a state of|hibernation for some time.

A little inactive,|but now I'm back home...

I'm very happy and very healthy.

You, though...|it's you I'm worried about.

I'm fine.

No, you're certainly not fine,|Clarice.

You fell in love with|the Bureau, the institution...

only to discover, after giving|it everything you've got...

that it does not love you back.

That, in fact, it resents you.|Resents you more...

than the husband and children|you gave up to it.

Why is that, do you think?

-Why are you so resented?|-Tell me.

Tell you? God bless you.

Well, isn't it clear?

You serve the idea of order,|Clarice. They don't.

You believe in the oath|that you took. They don't.

You feel it is your duty to|protect the sheep. They don't.

They don't like you because|you're not like them.

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