Notorious Page #6

DEVLIN:

Are you sure that's him?

ALICIA:

Yes.

DEVLIN:

We'll go by him easy, let him spot you.

Come on.

ALEXANDER SEBASTIAN, a short, fiftyish businessman, more distinguished-lookingthan handsome, rides alongside a woman his age, SENORA ORTIZ. Sebastian

glances at Alicia as she and Devlin ride past, but the brim of Alicia's hatobscures her eyes, and he fails to recognize her. Once past Sebastian,

Devlin and Alicia confer quietly.

ALICIA:

I guess I'm the girl nobody remembers.

DEVLIN:

Was it Sebastian?

ALICIA:

Yes.

DEVLIN:

We'll stick around. Give him another chance.

Devlin gets an idea and furtively kicks Alicia's horse in its side, causingit to run wild down the path -- Alicia stays in the saddle but is unable tohalt the horse. Sebastian, seeing the runaway, gives chase and reins it in.

From a distance, Devlin observes the couple. He sees Sebastian recognizeAlicia and shake hands with her. Devlin's face registers mixed emotions atthe success of his ploy.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SIDEWALK CAFE - NIGHT

Devlin unhappily sitting at a table in the SIDEWALK CAFE opposite an emptychair, a few nights later. He smokes a cigarette to the accompaniment ofugly traffic NOISE.

FADE OUT:

INT. FANCIER RESTAURANT - NIGHT

FADE IN on Alicia unhappily sitting at a table inside a much FANCIERRESTAURANT opposite an empty chair, that same night. She nurses a drink to

the accompaniment of beautiful orchestral MUSIC. An apprehensive Sebastianenters and joins her at the table, kissing her hand.

SEBASTIAN:

My dear, Alicia. Will you forgive me for

being late?

(sits)

Last minute conference at the office. You

got my message?

ALICIA:

Yes. It's all right, Alex.

SEBASTIAN:

Sweet of you to wait. I was afraid you

might run off.

ALICIA:

Oh, I'm not that easily put off. I was too

anxious to meet you again.

SEBASTIAN:

You know, I'm tired. The worst thing aboutbusiness is it makes you feel old and look old.

ALICIA:

You seem to have escaped all of that.

SEBASTIAN:

Four years of dullness and disintegration.

Awful.

ALICIA:

Alex, you look younger than you did in Washington.

SEBASTIAN:

Well, it's a temporary improvement, entirelydue to your presence, my dear. You alwaysaffected me like a tonic. Perhaps now withyou here in Rio -- unless you insist on runningaway from me again --

The waiter arrives.

SEBASTIAN:

(to Alicia)

Oh, uh, would you like another drink?

ALICIA:

Yes.

Sebastian orders the drink as Alicia catches sight of Captain Prescott inanother part of the restaurant, sitting down to dinner with a lady friend.

Sebastian follows her gaze.

SEBASTIAN:

(to Alicia)

You know him?

ALICIA:

Hm? No, I don't think so. But he seems

familiar.

SEBASTIAN:

(matter-of-fact)

Captain Prescott, intelligence man. He's

down here as part of the Washington espionage.

The American embassy is loaded with them.

ALICIA:

Really?

Sebastian looks back at Prescott.

SEBASTIAN:

Hey, he's rather handsome, isn't he?

ALICIA:

I'm allergic to American agents. Their finepoints don't particularly appeal to me.

SEBASTIAN:

They've bothered you since you came down?

ALICIA:

No. No, not yet.

SEBASTIAN:

They were troublesome in Miami?

ALICIA:

Yes, that's why I left right after the trial,

to get away from their snooping.

SEBASTIAN:

I wondered why you left your father.

ALICIA:

He insisted. He was so unselfish. He keptworrying about me, begging me to leave. I

had no idea he was going to die.

SEBASTIAN:

Many things have died for all of us. Wemustn't let our spirit die with them.

Perhaps I can help you to forget. I'd liketo.

ALICIA:

It's odd, but I feel at home with you.

SEBASTIAN:

You know my dear, I knew this was goingto happen. I knew when we met the otherday that if I saw you again, I'd feelwhat I used to for you. The same hunger.

You're so lovely, my dear. Oh, now I'mgoing to make a fool of myself again.

There's someone else, of course. Who is

it this time? That Mister Devlin youwere with?

ALICIA:

There is no one.

SEBASTIAN:

He seemed attentive.

ALICIA:

Mister Devlin has pestered me with hisattentiveness ever since I arrived. I met

him on the plane from Miami.

SEBASTIAN:

You made a pretty couple.

ALICIA:

Alex, Mister Devlin doesn't interest me.

I was so lonely that day I could have gone

riding with Peter Rabbit.

SEBASTIAN:

You'll let me help your loneliness?

ALICIA:

You are very sweet to forget what a

brat I was... once.

SEBASTIAN:

My dear, I shall test out your repentance

at once. Will you have dinner with me

again tomorrow night?

ALICIA:

Thank you, very much.

SEBASTIAN:

My house?

ALICIA:

Yes, how nice.

SEBASTIAN:

My mother is giving a dinner party.

ALICIA:

She won't mind an extra guest?

SEBASTIAN:

An old friend is never an extra guest. Well,

shall we order now?

ALICIA:

Yes. Yes, I'm starved.

SEBASTIAN:

(to the waiter)

Garcon?

(to Alicia)

Now, let's see, what shall we -- what shall we

have for our first dinner together?

Alicia's face registers mixed emotions at her success in gaining access toSebastian's house.

FADE OUT:

INT. ALICIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

FADE IN on a gift card and flowers in ALICIA'S APARTMENT, the next evening.

On the card, the printed "Alexander Sebastian" is crossed out and replacedby a handwritten "Alex". Devlin gives this a dirty look while pretending toread a magazine. Prescott is watching Devlin curiously when Alicia entersthe living room from her bedroom, looking rather stunning in a white fur.

Devlin averts his gaze.

ALICIA:

(to both men)

Good evening.

PRESCOTT:

(off her clothes)

Very good.

ALICIA:

Yes. Yes, isn't it?

PRESCOTT:

Oh, I'd like you to wear these. They're

rented for the occasion.

Prescott produces an expensive necklace.

ALICIA:

Oh. All right.

She needs help fastening the clasp and is about to ask Devlin, but thinksbetter of it.

ALICIA:

(to Prescott)

Would you help me, please? I --

PRESCOTT:

(surprised)

Wh-- Why, yes, certainly.

ALICIA:

Thank you.

PRESCOTT:

(while fastening the necklace)

So, the old boy knew me, eh?

ALICIA:

Yes, he thought you were very handsome.

PRESCOTT:

Oh, you don't say? Sorry I'm not going with

you.

(off the jewelry)

Oh, Dev'll pick those up later. Now, try to

memorize the names of all the people you see

there tonight. The men, I mean. And get

their nationalities. That's very important.

ALICIA:

You mean the Germans? That won't be

difficult for me.

PRESCOTT:

And I suggest that you, uh, don't ask any

questions. Just use your eyes and ears.

They're a pretty keen and desperate bunch.

Don't underestimate them.

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