House of Cards Page #5

FRANCIS:

He must’ve had his reasons.

HOLBURN:

This is bad for business. We

needed a strong-man in the State

Department, not a straw man.

FRANCIS:

We’ll make do.

26.

HOLBURN:

You’re a bigger man than me. I’d

be pissed as hell.

Francis and Claire catch each other’s eyes. They appreciate

the sympathy of the Holburns, but they abhor sympathy as a

concept. It feels humiliating.

INT. RUSSO’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

A cluttered high-rise apartment. Russo and his secretary

Christina are having wild, wall-pounding sex.

As soon as Russo climaxes with a primal yawp, he rolls over

and pours himself a drink from the night stand. Takes a sip.

He hands her the glass. Grabs the bottle for himself. Takes

a swig. Regards the bottle.

RUSSO:

This is nice, where’d you get it?

CHRISTINA:

The Speaker’s holiday party. I

snuck into the V.I.P. room and

stole it.

RUSSO:

‘92. Wow. Twenty years old.

CHRISTINA:

Seems about right for you.

RUSSO:

Funny.

CHRISTINA:

(starts to dress)

I’m almost thirty. That’s ancient

in your book.

RUSSO:

I don’t discriminate when it comes

to age.

CHRISTINA:

When’s the last time you hired a

forty year old assistant?

RUSSO:

That doesn’t mean I haven’t, or

that I wouldn’t.

27.

CHRISTINA:

As long as they’re good in bed.

RUSSO:

Oh come on.

CHRISTINA:

You do have a reputation, Peter.

RUSSO:

For being a good lover?

CHRISTINA:

For f***ing the help.

RUSSO:

Where’s this coming from?

CHRISTINA:

You’re not just gonna get your

kicks, then toss me aside for some

slut straight out of college?

RUSSO:

I can’t. You’d sue me for sexual

harassment.

CHRISTINA:

I’m serious.

RUSSO:

So we’re having that conversation

now?

CHRISTINA:

It’s been six months. This isn’t

just a little office fling anymore.

RUSSO:

You want me to say the three magic

words, don’t you? One of which

starts with an L. Okay, I’ll say

them.

Christina turns to him longingly. He takes her hand.

RUSSO (CONT’D)

Lick my balls.

She slaps him playfully. He wrestles her to the bed.

They’re both laughing. Now he’s sincere.

28.

RUSSO (CONT’D)

I love you. I do. I love you

Christina.

She smiles, rolls on top, kisses him.

CHRISTINA:

I love you too.

A beat.

RUSSO:

So will you lick my balls now?

She pushes him down for round two.

INT. KENNEDY CENTER - LOBBY - NIGHT

A full lobby. OPERA-GOERS dressed to the hilt. A decidedly

middle-aged crowd. Gray haired men, matronly women.

We ZERO in on Francis and Claire. People seem to be parting

subtly around them - a wide berth. Francis got snubbed for

the nomination and everyone knows it.

And OLDER MAN and his wife pass by. The Older Man gives

Francis a little double-pat on the shoulder - a consolation.

As Francis turns the Older Man and his wife have already

moved on. The Older Man gives Francis a slight piteous nod.

From Francis’ POV we see the Older Man whisper into his

wife’s ear. She looks back at Francis and Claire. Francis’

gaze shifts to small GROUPING of couples, all stealing

glances his way and speaking in hushed tones to one another.

The gossip is palpable.

FRANCIS:

I need some air.

Claire picks up immediately on his discomfort.

CLAIRE:

I’ll see you at the seats.

She disappears through the doors to the auditorium as we

follow Francis toward the door.

EXT. KENNEDY CENTER - NIGHT.

Franics stands outside, scrolling through his blackberry,

more to look like he’s busy than because he is.

29.

A cab pulls up. Zoe emerges. She’s in a strapless black dress

that hugs every curve. It isn’t very fancy, but it sure gets

the job done.

It’s cold. She’s not dressed for the weather. Her

headlights are FULLY ON. She turns to her date, BRIAN, early

30s - a typical Capitol Hill climber. He’s getting out of

the cab behind her.

ZOE:

Gimme your jacket.

He pulls off his jacket and hands it to her. She drapes it

over the front of her dress and starts hurrying to main

doors. She’s not going to be late for this.

As she climbs the steps Francis notices her - more out of

instinct than interest. He glances at her ass ever so

briefly as she passes. And it’s an exceptional ass. We can

tell from the form-fitting fabric that she’s wearing a thong.

Once Zoe has passed, Francis turns to his attention back to

the blackberry.

INT. KENNEDY CENTER - OPERA - NIGHT.

Francis slips into the booth and takes his seat next to

Claire. She doesn’t even look at him, but she reaches out and

takes his hand.

The SOUND of an orchestra tuning. The LIGHTS begin to fade.

PUSH INTO Francis’ face as the first subtle strands of MUSIC

begin to play and we CUT TO:

INT. UNDERWOOD RESIDENCE - BASEMENT - NIGHT.

Still TIGHT on Francis’ face, the MUSIC carrying us into the

scene, we PULL BACK to reveal that he’s wearing a headset

with a microphone. It’s dim. Blue light flickers in his eyes.

As we PULL BACK MORE we see that he’s slumped in a chair,

still in his tuxedo (sans tie) with an Xbox controller in his

hands. His thumbs and fingers deftly fly back and forth, but

the rest of his body is totally motionless - the calm and

focus of a true gamer.

A silhouette enters the frame. It’s Claire. She places her

hand gently on Francis’s shoulder. He pulls the headset off.

The MUSIC cuts out abruptly. From the headphones, we HEAR the

distant, tinny SOUND of other online gamers.

30.

Things like a 12 year-old kid taunting: “Imma cap your ass

muthafucka” and some redneck retorting: “Suck it dickless”

The lowest of low culture, if you can even call it culture.

FRANCIS:

Going to bed?

CLAIRE:

Are you coming?

FRANCIS:

I’ll be there in a bit.

CLAIRE:

Don’t stay up all night.

Claire leans down and kisses him on the forehead. Leaves.

Francis puts his headset back on. The online TAUNTS and

EXCLAMATIONS resume, full-force.

CUT TO the flat-screen TV. It’s Grand Theft Auto - a

complete bloodbath. Francis’ avatar starts blowing people

away. Death. Carnage. Glorious vulgarity.

INT. CAB - NIGHT.

The cab pulls up in front of Zoe’s apartment. Zoe and Brian

are in the back seat. Zoe’s got Brian’s jacket draped over

her. She hands it to Brian.

ZOE:

Thanks so much. I’ll call you.

She gives him a platonic peck on the cheek. Opens the door.

BRIAN:

Wait...

She turns back.

BRIAN (CONT’D)

I thought you had a good time.

ZOE:

I did. I’ve never been to the

opera before. I loved it.

BRIAN:

So...can I come up?

She just looks at him patiently.

31.

BRIAN (CONT’D)

I guess that’s a no.

ZOE:

You’re really sweet, Brian. I’m

sorry if I gave you the wrong idea.

He looks dejected. She’s not going to let this turn into a

conversation.

ZOE (CONT’D)

Thanks again for inviting me. It

was wonderful.

(squeezes his hand)

Have a good night.

And she’s out of the cab. She throws one last glance back at

Brian, a pity glance. Then she’s off. Quick, clean,

relatively painless.

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