Miss Sloane Page #11

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ELIZABETH:

(to herself)

And that’s a wrap.

She turns on a sixpence to exit, but stops -she catches

Jane’s gaze from across the room. Her old prot.g., now an

adversary. Neither dwells on it - Elizabeth strides out; Jane

sips her drink casually.

BACK IN THE OFFICE, CLOSE-UP ON THE VOTE COUNT: Congressman

Wallace’s face gets a BIG GREEN TICK stuck over it.

INT. LUXURY HOTEL - ROOM 409 - NIGHT - PAST

Elizabeth rolls off Forde in bed, post-coital. They stare at

the ceiling. It takes a moment for her breathing to normalize,

but when it does:

ELIZABETH:

I could use this room tonight. I have

work to do.

She gets out of bed and dresses. Forde rolls onto his side.

FORDE:

Big case?

ELIZABETH:

Forde, human interaction is an

exchange. My money for your...

FORDE:

(sotto voce)

Dick?

ELIZABETH:

Let’s call it “skill set” - is the

only exchange I’m willing to make.

FORDE:

Now ya sound like a banker.

(beat)

I was hopin’ we could getta know each

other a li’l.

(MORE)

48.

FORDE (CONT'D)

If you ever need an excuse to get

outta the office, or wherever it is

you work, I’d be happy to meet

downtown for a cup of Joe. Just as

two normal people. Not, you know...

ELIZABETH:

(smiles)

While I admire your persistence,

that’s never going to happen.

FORDE:

Suit y’erself.

(rolls out of bed)

I got prep to do anyways.

ELIZABETH:

Prep for what?

FORDE:

(dressing)

‘Nother client, tomorrow night.

A flash of irrational disappointment registers on Elizabeth’s

face, upon being reminded that Forde sees other women.

ELIZABETH:

You do prep?

FORDE:

For functions. Believe it or not, not

everyone hires me for my “skill set”.

Half my clients only want me on their

arm. Some just wanna sit ‘n talk to

someone from a different neck’a the

woods, who ain’t gonna judge ‘em.

ELIZABETH:

Dear God, that’s pathetic.

FORDE:

Functions are different. I gotta be

in character.

(disdainful)

The agency gave me a list’a covers,

‘cause God forbid, I go as a country

boy who came to town as a PT.

Insurance exec, marketin’ guy.

Tomorrow, oil ’n gas.

We get a strong sense that Forde loathes this deceptive aspect

to his work.

He is dressed and ready to go; Elizabeth digs an envelope out

of her handbag, and offers it to him. His bitterness

evaporates and he’s back to his playful self.

ELIZABETH:

I’ll be seeing you.

FORDE:

I think you owe me somethin’ more.

ELIZABETH:

It’s all there. Count it.

49.

FORDE:

This covers my services. But I just

gave ya a whole lotta info ‘bout my

line’a work. On your principles of

exchange...

He motions for her to reciprocate.

ELIZABETH:

That was more of a voluntary donation

on your part.

FORDE:

You a real enigma, ya know that?

Nothin’ like the typical client.

ELIZABETH:

Old?

FORDE:

Strong. You ain’t here to live out

some bizarro fantasy ‘bout bein’ a

master or a slave. You’re here for

somethin’ else.

Elizabeth regards him, ambivalence subdued behind her

reflective gaze.

ELIZABETH:

You asked me once what brought me to

this room. I guess I’m playing a role

too. I pay you so I can imagine a

life I chose to forego in pursuit of

my career.

FORDE:

Why imagine it, when ya could just go

out‘n get it?

The question strikes a chord with Elizabeth. She hardens,

becomes defensive.

ELIZABETH:

No, it’s not for me. Not when I was

in my twenties, and sure as hell not

now.

FORDE:

So no house ya call home, no folks ya

call family sorta thing, huh? Ever

regret that choice?

ELIZABETH:

Not for a second.

Forde lets that settle. Peers into her unreadable expression.

FORDE:

Well, least now we’re peelin’ a

layer.

50.

ELIZABETH:

(beat)

And that is all my “principles of

exchange” will transact. Goodbye,

Forde.

FORDE:

Bye, Nothin’.

Forde smiles and takes his leave.

All business again, Elizabeth shuffles through some documents

she’s taken out of her Bottega Veneta briefcase. She stops,

sets down the file. She sits on the edge of the unkempt bed.

Now, still and silent. Mind distant.

EXT. PINEHURST GOLF COURSE (N. CAROLINA)- GREEN - DAY - PAST

Connors lines up a putt on the green as Bob Sandford and

CONGRESSMAN BURNS (50s, even-tempered businessman-turnedpolitico)

look on intently.

Connors steadies himself and sinks a fifteen yard putt,

nerveless. He pumps his fist, exhilarated by victory.

CONNORS:

F***ing A right!

His two rivals applaud ruefully. They all shake hands.

CONGRESSMAN BURNS

And there I thought lobbyist

etiquette forbids you from beating

your client, much less a Congressman.

You don’t get to our heart by

damaging our fragile egos.

BOB SANDFORD:

I’ll tell you, Frank, this one here

plays by his own rules.

EXT. PINEHURST GOLF COURSE (N. CAROLINA) - LODGE - DAY - PAST

The three now enjoy scotch and a breathtaking view.

CONGRESSMAN BURNS

I’m a little surprised you even made

it out here. The public swings well

in favor of gun control, and I’m an

the enviable position of financial

independence.

BOB SANDFORD:

We’re well aware, Frank.

CONGRESSMAN BURNS

I know it may be unusual for a

lobbyist to hear, but when I pledged

not to accept campaign finance from

the Gun Lobby, I meant front and back

door.

CONNORS:

We’re not offering finance. I know

your approval rating’s sky-high.

(MORE)

51.

CONNORS (CONT'D)

You could practically vote for Sharia

law and you’d still keep your seat. I

also know you’re an old school

patriot who cares about the future of

America. About what America stands

for.

CONGRESSMAN BURNS

There’s nothing wrong with exercising

vigilance over who gets their hands

on a firearm.

CONNORS:

Tell me, Congressman. When I say

‘America’, what’s the first word you

think of?

CONGRESSMAN BURNS

(knowing nod)

Freedom.

CONNORS:

Yeah. It’s in our DNA. And every time

this Big Brother, nanny-state makes a

new incursion into citizens’

freedoms, it dilutes what makes this

country great. Self-sufficiency is

celebrated here. You started with

nothing and made a fortune buying and

leasing aircraft; try doing that in

Europe. Everyone in this great nation

of ours has it in their power to

succeed by their own hand, and

everyone has the right to defend

what’s theirs.

CONGRESSMAN BURNS

Some incursions into freedom might be

necessary. Heaton-Harris isn’t the

end of gun rights.

CONNORS:

No, but it’s a continuation of a

culture of erosion. Slowly, they’re

taking more and more - slow enough so

we won’t really feel it over the

course of our lifetimes. But in a

hundred, two hundred years, what’ll

be left of the Second Amendment?

Connors’ passion is manifest and genuine. Sandford regards him

proudly, sipping his scotch and nodding to arguments he

doesn’t have the cogency to enunciate.

CONNORS (CONT’D)

I know you’re not a religious man, so

let me put it in evolutionary terms.

Fish became amphibians, then

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