Miss Sloane Page #7

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29.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING (CONT'D)

Upstanding, democratically elected

officials feared you, a lobbyist,

could destroy their careers with a

snap of your fingers, I...

He stops, looks down, shakes his head in disbelief.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING (CONT’D)

Folks whose careers took decades of

hard work, they... Is this reputation

something you actively cultivated,

Ms. Sloane?

ELIZABETH:

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.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

You see, it’s bad enough one person

having that much influence, but if

they’re out of control - if she has a

problem, an addiction... Which

precludes her from exerting her

influence even-handedly... It’d be

like the ship of American politics

being steered by a drunk. Do you, or

have you ever had, any problems with

substance abuse, Ms. Sloane?

Elizabeth’s eyes narrow. Unsure what he’s getting at.

ELIZABETH:

(sharply)

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.

The media pick up on her tone and WAKE from their slumber.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

I understand you have difficulty

sleeping? We subpoenaed medical

records, you’re a long-time sufferer

of chronic insomnia. You regularly

work over sixteen hours a day. So you

suffer from a lot of fatigue, but

can’t get off to sleep, is that

accurate?

Elizabeth is indignant, her privacy violated. Thrown by this

line of questioning, she stumbles over her wording:

ELIZABETH:

Upon the advice of counsel, I

respectfully - I must respectfully

decline to answer your question,

based on my rights under the Fifth

Amendment of the United States

Constitution. To the Constitution.

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30.

ELIZABETH (CONT'D)

(under breath)

Whatever.

The media STIR more, sensing the next chapter of the scandal.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

You were prescribed multiple courses

of benzodiazepines, but according to

the deposition of one of our

witnesses, you’ve been procuring, off-

prescription, and against the advice

of your medical practitioner, a

course of psycho-stimulants, with the

aim of keeping you awake and alert

for longer. Is this correct?

MURMURS in the public gallery and among the media. Elizabeth

aims a venomous stare at George Dupont, knowing him to be the

only one with that information. He sits up straight and puffs

out his chest, revelling in vengeance for her betrayal.

Her next death-stare falls on Posner. He can only endure it,

helpless. He has no grounds to object.

Flashbulbs POP in her face.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING (CONT’D)

Ms. Sloane?

ELIZABETH:

(reeling it off, fast)

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.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

OK... Returning to this business in

the African Republic of Kenya-

ELIZABETH:

(involuntary blurt)

I am not a drug addict and this line

of questioning has no relevance to

this case.

MEDIA FRENZY. A barrage of FLASHES. Her silence broken. Posner

bows his head. She’s blown it.

ELIZABETH (CONT’D)

(fast and angry)

My medication doesn’t affect my

judgment any more than a double

espresso, and speaking of

intoxication, I can recite from

memory a list of ‘upstanding,

democratically elected’ Congressmen

who have voted on legislation while

severely inebriated. And just so you

know, I think, by now, everyone in

this room is fully aware, and in no

danger of forgetting, that Kenya is a

republic which happens to be situated

on the continent of Africa.

31.

A long pause. All eyes, all cameras, on Elizabeth. She

deflates a little, the consequences of that outburst now

weighing on her mind.

Congressman Sperling smiles a cunning, near-imperceptible

smile. A huge victory. There’s a lot more to this guy than his

fuddy-duddy demeanor.

CONGRESSMAN SPERLING

Ms. Sloane. Welcome to the party.

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

Posner is furious. Elizabeth remains phlegmatic throughout.

POSNER:

Five years, was it really worth it?

Five years minimum-

ELIZABETH:

What’s five years-

POSNER:

All for some puerile quip about Kenya

being in Africa, can’t you see that

whole construct was designed to --

and it worked!

ELIZABETH:

You want to tell me what five years

is?

POSNER:

You fell for it! The smartest

operative on the hill just got played

by Grampa Simpson!

ELIZABETH:

Is it how long this recess will feel

like?

POSNER:

It’s the going rate for perjury

before Congress. Which, now that

you’ve thrown the Fifth out the

window, anyone who wants you in the

ground - and that’s a lot of people -

they’re hard at work, dedicating the

sum total of their creative and

intellectual efforts to catch you in

a lie.

ELIZABETH:

What if I stay silent?

POSNER:

Well, that’s a good idea! Sh*t, why

didn’t your lawyer think of that?!

ELIZABETH:

If I simply refuse to answer

32.

POSNER:

They’ll throw you in jail for

contempt of Congress. You’ve just

blown this thing wide open.

He paces, agitated. Elizabeth looks at him, smiles.

ELIZABETH:

Easy, Daniel. You’re starting to look

like you care.

POSNER:

I don’t care about you any further

than I can throw you. I work for the

one ethical lobbying practice on the

hill, and I wind up defending the

poster-child for the most morally

bankrupt profession since faith

healing. Rest up, Sloane. You’re

gonna need it.

Posner snatches his briefcase and storms out. Elizabeth

remains seated, alone in the large, empty room.

ECU:
she clamps her palms together, her trembling hands

struggling to settle.

INT. LUXURY HOTEL - LOBBY - NIGHT - PAST

SUPER:
6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS PRIOR

Elizabeth strides into the lobby, talking on her Blackberry.

She makes a beeline for the elevators without stopping to

admire the decor. She knows her way around this place.

ELIZABETH (INTO PHONE)

We need to get to it right away,

office space or not.

(beat)

I think you’ll find I started working

for you the night we met.

INT. WELL-APPOINTED HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT - PAST

Elizabeth opens the door, but stops dead in her Ann Taylors.

Her glare cuts into --

FORDE, sprawled out on the bed. It’s immediately obvious he’s

a different animal to the D.C. crowd we’ve met thus far. 30s,

rugged good-looks, easy smile and natural confidence. Bourbon

glass resting on his toned chest, above hard-earned abs.

Jeans’ top button unhooked. His Southern accent drawls like a

dulcet tune.

FORDE:

Evenin’, ma’am.

ELIZABETH:

What happened to the usual guy? Mark.

If that’s his real name.

FORDE:

Mark’s moved on. You can call me

Forde.

33.

ELIZABETH:

Is that your real name?

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