Norman Page #8

A man who isn't strong enough

to say no to gifts

...too weak to resist

the temptations of power

...has taken us hostage

...in his megalomaniacal peace adventure.

He'll drive me crazy.

He'll call every 3 minutes.

Easier to just answer.

Alright, but keep it short.

Don't let him get involved.

Before you say "no",

just listen to what I have to say,

because they're really

going to want to hear this.

I have a meeting with the woman

who is in charge of

this investigation that's going on right now.

Her name is Alex Green.

She agreed to have a meeting with me today.

At 4 o'clock.

And I'm going to try to get

all the information I can out of her,

but I was thinking maybe

Duby would want to give me

a briefing before the meeting...

Norman, I don't think it's such a good idea

for you to meet this woman.

Please, they can use me any way they want.

I'm... I'm like a puppet in their hands.

I'm just here to help.

And... Look, this is off the record,

a friendly conversation,

I have known Alex Green for years.

- She is a wonderful person.

- Norman...

My wife used to babysit her.

Hold on, just wait on the line.

(RON SPEAKING HEBREW)

We must vote against this dangerous agreement

...masquerading as a peace treaty.

- Norman...

- Duby!

Shut up, Norman.

Shut up and listen to what I'm saying to you.

I don't want you

meeting anybody on our behalf.

Creating the impression that in some way

you are connected to our office

is a severe, punishable crime.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Stop using the Prime Minister's name.

Don't do it anymore. He's not your friend.

And you don't have any relationship with him.

I forbid you to meet with this woman.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Answer me!

- Yes.

- Good.

(HANNA AND DUBY SPEAKING IN HEBREW)

HANNA:
I'm not sure if it was a good idea

to insult Norman.

DUBY:
That's the problem with these

Normans. They're a double-edged sword.

If you keep them in the loop,

you're more and more dependent on them

until they own you.

If you cut them off,

they blackmail you forever.

He's just trying to help.

No more Norman.

Find out who this businessman is.

I need a name!

In a day, every newspaper will want to know

who this man is.

We must be ready.

"WHO IS HE?"

I don't know.

RON:
Giving in to our enemy's

every demand is not peace.

It's DEFEAT.

(ALL CLAMORING)

(GAVEL POUNDING)

- HANNA:
Norman.

- Hanna.

I'm calling for Duby.

He shouldn't have spoken to you like that

and he asked me to apologize.

- He did?

- Yes.

He specifically asked me

to call you and apologize.

Okay.

And don't worry. The whole thing

with this unnamed businessman

is going to disappear

as soon as people find out who this guy is.

Thank God we're strong.

Nothing like this can really affect us.

Well, do you know who he is,

this businessman?

All I can say is

it is someone the Prime Minister

doesn't even know personally,

and someone he would never get close to.

The man's a clown,

someone who makes up stories

'cause he's got nothing better to do.

Just between you and me,

this man is a known crook.

I can't tell you how relieved I am

to hear you say this, Hanna.

Thank you.

And please tell Duby that

I understand his situation completely.

And if there's

anything that he needs me to do,

I'm there for him and for the Prime Minister.

- I will, Norman.

- Yeah. Thank you.

(HANNA AND DUBY SPEAKING IN HEBREW)

HANNA:
You're assuming he'll repeat it all

to the investigator?

DUBY:
He'll want to prove

he's got the inside scoop.

And not only to her.

He'll spread it all over.

...exaggerating so that it sounds even worse.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Hey. Hey, you. You. Wait a minute.

Hey. You.

- Who, me?

- Yeah, you. What are you doing?

Why are you following me?

First of all, it's a pleasure to meet you.

I'm Srul Katz.

No, don't do that.

Excuse me, don't give it to me.

I don't want it. Just stop following me.

Why are you angry? I'm not following you.

It's sheer coincidence

I'm going the same way you're going.

You want me to apologize? I'm very sorry.

I'm truly sorry. I apologize. Huh?

But since...

Since we're already talking together,

if I could take

one more minute of your valuable time,

it's such a pleasure to meet you in person.

You're the Eshel guy, right? Oppenheimer.

Yeah? Maybe Zvi Fink, he mentioned me to you.

How do you know Zvi?

We're very close, me and Zvi.

My wife, she practically

grew up in his parents' house.

I'm gonna see him tonight, actually.

You know, you should come by and say hello.

He'd be...

Oi, he would be delighted to see you.

Are you all right?

You look a little shaken up. Huh?

How can I help you? Let me help you.

What do you need?

Tell me what you need.

- What do I need?

- Yes, please.

Could you give me the honor of helping you?

You're a choshuve' man.

Please, a very important guy.

Which... We're going to walk together.

Which way... Are you okay?

- I...

- Which way are you going?

- The Israeli consulate on Second Ave.

- I'm going that way. Come on.

- What, you just get bad news?

- Yeah, I ate something.

- You ate something?

- I have to have a Benadryl.

Sometimes, I get a little thing in my body...

You get allergies?

You know who it is, this...

The New York businessman?

If I knew, would I tell you?

Well, no. 'Cause I heard a rumor but,

you know, they swore me to secrecy.

Yeah, yeah, don't believe the rumors.

Well look, obviously you know more than I do,

but whoever this guy is,

one thing is for certain,

it's a conspiracy. Yeah?

They found a way to assassinate Eshel,

without actually killing him.

Don't bury Eshel yet. Trust me.

He's not going anywhere.

Why? What do you know?

You know something.

Eh, I can't go into details,

but let's just say

that this unnamed businessman...

(SCOFFS)

He's a nobody. He's a parasite.

He's trying to

extort money from the Prime Minister.

He is the lowest of the low, this guy.

He made up a story, you know.

The whole thing is just a made-up thing.

You know? It's... It's...

Eshel doesn't even know the man.

I think I'm okay from here on.

So, thank you. I... I appreciate it.

Are you sure?

Because I'm happy to go in with you.

No. I'm okay. I'm okay.

You want I should wait out here?

No, I... I'm good from here, I...

But, thank you very much, I really...

I appreciate it.

Norman, are you going to do me a favor?

You're gonna call me

if you need anything at all.

You don't understand,

it's going to be my pleasure to help you.

NORMAN:
My name is Norman Oppenheimer.

I have an appointment with Alex Green.

(DOOR BUZZES)

(DRAWER CLANGS)

Hey, you know what?

I... I forgot something. I...

I'm gonna be canceling this meeting, so...

Look, I don't see my phone in there.

Can you give me my phone?

Can you give me my phone? Hello?

Hello?

Hello! Could you give me...

- I don't see my phone!

- (DOOR BUZZES)

Could you... I'm not going in!

So you might as well

give me my phone back right now, please!

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote