Miss Sloane

---

FADE IN:

INT. U.S. CONGRESS - WAITING ROOM - DAY

ELIZABETH SLOANE (48) stares at us contemptuously. Articulate,

quick-witted and direct:

ELIZABETH:

Lobbying is about foresight. About

anticipating your opponent’s moves

and devising countermeasures. The

winner plots one step ahead of the

opposition, and plays her trump card

just after they play theirs.

She’s actually speaking to her attorney, DANIEL POSNER (40s),

who stands, frustrated, as that wasn’t the answer he wanted.

POSNER:

Tell me you’re going to take this

seriously when you’re in there.

He motions to the DOOR. An atmospheric BUZZ of anticipation

emanates from behind it. Elizabeth is seated, unruffled.

ELIZABETH:

It’s about making sure you surprise

them, and they don’t surprise you.

POSNER:

You’re gonna say that? Come on,

again:

(interrogatory)

Could you please describe the nature

of your work?

ELIZABETH:

(petulant)

Upon the advice of counsel, I must

respectfully decline to answer your

question, based on my rights under

the Fifth Amendment to the United

States Constitution.

Posner claps sarcastically.

POSNER:

Those words - when you’re not taking

the oath or confirming details -

those words, in that order, are all

you’re gonna say.

(interrogatory)

Ms. Sloane, on average, would you say

you bribed public officials more or

less than once a month?

ELIZABETH:

Upon the advice of counsel - am I

allowed to deviate slightly? On the

advice of counsel? On the advice of

my attorney? I understand if that

last one’s too adventurous for you.

POSNER:

You do not

2.

ELIZABETH:

This would be a whole lot easier if I

could just shout ‘Fifth’.

POSNER:

No deviations.

ELIZABETH:

Can I use a silly voice?

(silly voice)

Upon the advice of counsel...

That’s the last straw. Posner deflates, shuts down. A pause.

The first time we hear the full extent of the RUCKUS outside

the waiting room. Softly:

POSNER:

This isn’t a joke. They want you

behind bars. You make one statement,

correct one nefarious allegation,

that’s it. You waive your right to

the Fifth and you’re compelled to

answer everything. You’re being taken

to the woodshed in front of the

national press, they’re gonna rile

you so bad they’d make Gandhi wanna

cut their tongues out.

ELIZABETH:

Daniel. When I take the stand, you’ll

see nothing but a granite wall.

POSNER:

Good.

Elizabeth stands up straight, shoulders back. She makes a

minor adjustment to her professional business attire. No one

but her would’ve noticed the near-imperceptible blemish.

Posner glances at his watch.

POSNER (CONT’D)

You’re on in five.

(extends hand)

Ms. Sloane. Good luck.

She does not shake.

ELIZABETH:

You’re on retainer, Mr. Posner, to

remove luck from the equation.

With a subtle shake of the head, Posner turns and trudges out.

The pervasive BUZZ ratchets up the second the door is opened,

and mutes once more as it closes.

Now alone, Elizabeth EXHALES deeply, a valve abruptly

unblocked. As if suddenly weak in the knees, she sits back

down. Stares into the middle distance; determination

extingiushed from her eyes.

She snatches her Fendi handbag and rummages in it. Her hands

now tremble, nerves taking hold. She finds what she’s looking

for - a small TRINKET BOX.

3.

She considers it for a moment, hands still fidgeting. Her eyes

snap shut. DEEP BREATHS to calm a racing heart.

Breathe. Breathe... Breathe.

Definitively, she closes her palm on the box as those

determined eyes blink back into existence.

Elizabeth steps to the desk and rockets the trinket box into

the trash can. She grabs her handbag and strides out, head

held high.

EXT. UNITED STATES CAPITOL - DAY

A REPORTER gives a live news update.

REPORTER:

Elizabeth Sloane is set to take the

stand for the first time any moment

now; the controversial lobbyist faces

charges of bribery and corruption-

INT. CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ROOM - DAY

SUPER:
September 14, 2015

The biggest hearing room available to Congress is packed to

the rafters. JOURNALISTS jostle for a better position. The

public gallery full of important-looking SUITS. TV cameras pan

the room. Every square inch taken. The knives are out.

CROSS-FADE NEWS REPORTS:

ANALYST (V.O.)

... Traditionally a free-market and

anti-tax advocate, Elizabeth Sloane

has more recently led a full-frontal

assault on the Second Amendment,

going up against the Gun Lobby in

support of the Heaton-Harris

Amendment on gun control; a veritable

David vs. Goliath battle for the

veteran strategist. Congress is set

to allege that Ms. Sloane has made a

career out of subverting American

democracy...

ANCHOR (V.O.)

Allegations abound of dirty tricks,

from giant inflatable rodents to

hiring movie extras to...

A BARRAGE OF FLASHBULBS greet Elizabeth and Posner as they

enter the arena, flanked by FOUR CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS.

The media go into overdrive.

ELIZABETH:

This is tight. You’d think they’d

choose a more appropriate venue.

4.

POSNER:

Turns out the Redskins had a home

game.

Elizabeth takes the stand to face SEVEN CONGRESSMEN. Three sit

on either side of the man leading the assault:

Congressman RON M. SPERLING (60s, D-Ohio), Chairman of the

House Committee on Ways and Means. A doddery old bumpkin,

harmlessly paternal, chummy and relatable. He speaks with the

solemn authority of someone doing the moral, wholesome bidding

of the people.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

Please raise your right hand. Do you

solemnly swear that you will tell the

truth, the whole truth, and nothing

but the truth, under pains and

penalties of perjury?

ELIZABETH:

I do.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

Please sit. Will the witness please

state her full name for the record?

ELIZABETH:

Madeline Elizabeth Sloane.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

And could the witness please confirm

these details are accurate, aaahhh...

(fumbles through notes)

Date of birth, September 18, 1966,

current address, 4 Heron Court, Chevy

Chase Section 5, Montgomery County,

Maryland?

ELIZABETH:

Correct.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

You won an academic scholarship to

study Law at Yale University, where

you graduated Summa Cum Laude?

ELIZABETH:

Yes.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

And you were employed by Cole,

Kravitz and Waterman LLP for a ten

year period between 2004 and 2014,

before moving earlier this year to-

ELIZABETH:

Eleven year period.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

Excuse me?

ELIZABETH:

There are eleven years between 2004

and 2014.

5.

That kills his momentum. He refers back to his notes, shakes

his head. One of his staffers will pay for that. Elizabeth

smiles very faintly. A small victory. Posner shakes his head.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

What was the nature of your work at

Cole, Kravitz and Waterman LLP?

ELIZABETH:

(deep breath)

Upon the advice of counsel, I must

respectfully decline to answer your

question, based on my rights under

the Fifth Amendment to the United

States Constitution.

A MUTED GROAN from the press as their expectations are met.

She’s true to her word. A wall of granite.

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