Léon: The Professional Page #9

TONY:

A lookout above, one below, two fishers

and a captain. A lot of people, for such

a small boat like that. They depart to

the sea, sometimes for days, never sure

they'll get something.

Rinaldi listens. Tony speaks and writes at the same time.

TONY (con't)

Sometimes, it's a lot of work for

nothing. ...And then you must know that,

the bigger the fish is, the older it is,

the more expert it is... ...Therefore,

the more difficult he is to get. You

understand what I mean, son?

Rinaldi nods his head yes. Tony writes 12000 on the

blackboard.

RINALDI:

I think I will get back in Messina this

summer... It's too long I haven't been

there.

TONY:

You're right, son. You must care the

links with your family, always. It's the

only important thing in the world.

RINALDI:

...Yeah.

He says "yes" to the phrase and to the deal. Emilio delivers

two grappas. Tony gives him the photo and the blackboard. The

two drink.

TONY:

Salute.

RINALDI:

Salute.

* * * * * * * * * *

NEW APARTMENT - DECREPIT

Leon prepares his tools. Mathilda sits on the windowsill.

Leon wears his overcoat.

MATHILDA (sulky)

...I preferred the hotel.

LEON:

Mathilda, hadn't you told that bullshit

to the receptionist, we'd still be in the

hotel, I make you notice.

MATHILDA:

That wasn't bullshit, I said we love

each other.

LEON:

Yeah!... Anyway, I don't like hotels.

Too much people, everyone's got the

key... I don't like it.

Mathilda gets even sulkier.

LEON:

...I prefer apartments... Furthermore,

there are always kids in a building.

What about getting some friends?

MATHILDA:

Friends? You're crazy! In my building,

before, they just cared drugs all day and

you couldn't get one, or they just cared

video games and you couldn't get one, no

more.

LEON:

You're darkening the picture, aren't

you?

MATHILDA:

A little...

LEON:

Is there a normal 13 or 14 year old boy?

MATHILDA:

Yeah... There's a lot on TV.

Leon is slightly annoyed by Mathilda's lack of cooperation.

LEON:

Well, then watch television!

He switches on.

LEON:

...I won't be long, Mathilda, OK?

MATHILDA (kind)

Why don't you take me with you?

LEON:

It's too big.

MATHILDA:

Yeah... I'm just good for left-overs!

LEON(kind)

Let me alone for a while, Mathilda, OK?

My life changed since I met you, you

know? ...I have to find back myself a

little... And, last time, you really

didn't pass... And I wouldn't enjoy

seeing you explode against a wall...

MATHILDA:

Risky business, isn't it?

LEON:

...You're young, Mathilda... You still

have a chance to get out. You can't give

up this chance. You have to protect it.

There's a lot of things to do in life, a

lot of other jobs...

MATHILDA:

There are just two things I'm interested

in:
love and death. For the moment, I

have none of the two!

Leon tries to reply, vainly.

LEON:

Mathilda... There's equally a lot of

other things!

MATHILDA:

Huh, really? What? Come on, I'm waiting!

Leon searches.

LEON:

...Nothing, I tell you! Everything else

reminds me a big yogurt: warm and rancid.

Leon laughs, she doesn't.

LEON:

No, excuse me... It's the yogurt that

made me laugh.

MATHILDA:

You've just to love me and I'll be the

happiest woman around.

LEON:

Yeah, I know! But for the moment you're

not yet a woman. So, be patient... I need

time... And you too. You have to grow up.

MATHILDA:

I don't grow up any more. I just get

older.

Leon sighs. He takes his case and gets out.

LEON:

I won't be long. Two days at most,

promised.

He closes the door. Mathilda remains sad, at her window.

* * * * * * * * * *

RAIN ON THE CITY -

MATHILDA'S BORED

SERIES OF SHORT SEQUENCES

- She's on the windowsill and looks at the flowing water that

will temporarily clean the city.

She smokes a cigarette.

She opens the double bass.

She assembles and disassembles a Uzi, last model.

She watches television, falls on her head, embedded in her

soft chair. She eventually switches off, at this extent the

program bored her.

She finishes her syrup peaches, while listening to music.

She shoots some self-portraits by her Polaroid, mandatory

grimace.

* * * * * * * * * *

NO MORE RAIN - SUN RAYS OVER THE CITY

Mathilda is at a public phone.

MATHILDA:

...Good day, Madam, may I talk with

Jenny, please?

JENNY:

Yes?

MATHILDA (smiling)

...It's Mathilda.

JENNY:

HEY!! But what did you do?! What

happened?? It's months you've

disappeared. Everyone thinks you got

killed, at school, above all since some

FBI guys got to school and asked a lot of

questions about you!

MATHILDA (surprised and proud)

Huh?... Did they ask you any questions?

JENNY:

Yeah, pal! And I didn't say anything, I

said I don't know you. But do you know

what did she say, that stupid Raphaella?

MATHILDA:

No?

JENNY:

She told them you wanted her things and

that she wasn't surprised police looked

for you! Can you believe it?!

MATHILDA:

A**hole. But she won't miss anything,

that. You'll see.

JENNY:

Good, what are you going to do? Do you

come back?

Rate this script:4.0 / 2 votes