Notorious Page #7

ALICIA:

Thank you for your instructions. Good

evening.

PRESCOTT:

(to both Devlin and Alicia)

Oh, by the way, unless you have something

very urgent to report, I suggest that you

two keep shy of each other for the next

few days. That's in case Sebastian's people

want to check on you after you visit.

ALICIA:

Yes, I understand.

PRESCOTT:

That's all. Good luck.

ALICIA:

Good evening.

DEVLIN:

Good night.

Prescott closes the door behind Alicia as she leaves.

FADE OUT:

EXT. SEBASTIAN'S FRONT STEPS - NIGHT

FADE IN on Alicia's taxi arriving at the FRONT STEPS of the Sebastian mansionthat night.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. THE FRONT DOOR - NIGHT

Alicia stands at the FRONT DOOR moments later as JOSEPH, the butler, lets herin.

ALICIA:

Good evening. I'm Miss Huberman. Would

you tell Mister Sebastian that I'm here?

INT. THE ENTRY HALL - NIGHT

Joseph leads Alicia through the mansion's large ENTRY HALL, past the closeddoor of the study from which she hears the muffled voices of the otherguests, and into the LIBRARY. She watches nervously as Sebastian'simperious mother, MADAME SEBASTIAN, walks down the entry hall's curvinggrand staircase to greet her.

MME. SEBASTIAN

Miss Huberman?

ALICIA:

Yes.

MME. SEBASTIAN

Please, forgive me for keeping you waiting.

ALICIA:

Not at all.

MME. SEBASTIAN

You resemble your father very much. I'm

Alex's mother.

ALICIA:

I knew when I saw you.

MME. SEBASTIAN

Alex has always admired you. Now at last

I know why.

ALICIA:

You're very kind.

MME. SEBASTIAN

You did not testify at your father's trial.

We thought that unusual.

ALICIA:

He didn't want me to. He refused to let his

lawyers call me on the stand.

MME. SEBASTIAN

I wonder why.

Sebastian arrives.

SEBASTIAN:

Hello.

Sebastian kisses Alicia's hand.

SEBASTIAN:

Alicia. I'm so glad. You met my mother?

ALICIA:

Yes, we just met.

SEBASTIAN:

You didn't meet Alicia when we were in

Washington four years ago, did you, mother?

I don't know where you were at the time.

MME. SEBASTIAN

Alex, I think we should join our other guests.

All three head for the study.

SEBASTIAN:

(to Alicia, en route)

May I take your wrap?

Sebastian takes the fur and he and his mother enter the STUDY. Alicia pausesin the doorway, aware that she's about to enter a lion's den.

INT. THE STUDY - NIGHT

Once inside, Sebastian introduces Alicia to the male guests, the "keen anddesperate bunch" Prescott had warned her about. One by one, the men approachand kiss her outstretched hand.

SEBASTIAN:

Miss Huberman, may I present Eric Mathis?

ERIC:

(intense but polished)

How do you do?

ALICIA:

How do you do?

SEBASTIAN:

William Rossner.

ALICIA:

How do you do?

ROSSNER:

Very honored.

SEBASTIAN:

Emil Hupka.

ALICIA:

How do you do?

EMIL:

(all smiles)

Delighted.

SEBASTIAN:

And Mister Knerr. And Doctor Anderson.

ALICIA:

Doctor Anderson.

DR. ANDERSON

(genuinely)

It gives me great pleasure.

SEBASTIAN:

(to Alicia)

Doctor Anderson is our guest of honor

tonight...

MME. SEBASTIAN

(interrupting)

You mustn't bore Miss Huberman, Alex, with

discourses on science, not before dinner

anyway.

JOSEPH:

Dinner is served, Madame.

Everyone heads for the dining room.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THE DINING ROOM - NIGHT

The guests file into the DINING ROOM, moments later. Mme. Sebastian is

clearly in charge.

MME. SEBASTIAN

Doctor Anderson, you will sit beside me,

over there. Eric, you will sit next to

Miss Huberman.

Sebastian seats Alicia. While Doctor Anderson makes small talk with one of

the female guests, Alicia notices Emil Hupka agitatedly whisper to Sebastianand point to a WINE BOTTLE on a nearby table. Sebastian calms Emil down,

whispers some reassurance ("You're mistaken"), and leads him to his seat.

Emil sits, somewhat ashamed.

DR. ANDERSON

You have just come from Spain, Senora?

SENORA:

A few weeks ago. It seems ages. Travel

does not mean anything anymore, it goes

so swift. One has the feeling of not going

anywhere. I suppose we can expect rocket

ships to be carrying us across the ocean

very soon.

DR. ANDERSON

You can expect many strange things.

SEBASTIAN:

(to Eric Mathis)

See a good movie this afternoon, Eric?

ERIC:

No. I was disappointed.

SEBASTIAN:

Hm, must've been a comedy.

(to Alicia)

You know, Eric loves to go to the movies

to cry. He's very sentimental.

Alicia sees Sebastian scowl at the others, apparently with regard to Emil.

SENORA:

(rambles on)

[?] It takes nearly as long to go from thecity to the airport as it does to cross the [?]...

Alicia eyes the WINE BOTTLES with concern.

FADE OUT:

INT. THE ENTRY HALL - NIGHT

FADE IN on Emil Hupka pacing outside the closed doors of the STUDY, shortlyafter dinner.

CUT TO:

INT. THE STUDY - NIGHT

The other men, seated around a table, enjoy brandy and cigars.

ERIC:

I'm afraid, gentlemen, that something must

be done about Emil.

DR. ANDERSON

I don't know. It was an understandable slip.

Man was tired.

ROSSNER:

Bah. It is a very dangerous slip.

KNERR:

It's not the first one. There have been

several other lapses before. There'll be

more, if we permit them.

DR. ANDERSON

That's bad. That's very bad.

ERIC:

I think, gentlemen, you can leave it to meto find some way. When you drive up toPetropolis the road winds quite a bit. It

is very high. There are some very awkwardturns. I'm sure I'll not have any difficultyin getting Emil to give me a lift in his car.

It's quite a trick to jump clear. I'll justhave to be careful, that is all. Turned myankle the last time.

Eric turns to see Emil Hupka enter and approach the table.

EMIL:

(to Alex)

Madame says, will you join the others or willyou take your coffee in here?

SEBASTIAN:

Oh, I think we'll take coffee in here, Emil.

EMIL:

(to all)

I'm very sorry, gentlemen, to make such anexhibition.

DR. ANDERSON

Nonsense. We all have nerves.

ERIC:

(to Emil)

You have been overworking.

(to Rossner)

Don't you think so, Rossner?

(to Emil)

You need a rest. Your health is very important to us.

EMIL:

That's very considerate. I am very tired.

So, now I think perhaps if-if you'll makemy pardon to the ladies, Alex, for my leavingso early then I will go now.

ERIC:

(rises)

Maybe, Emil, it would be better if I camewith you. I think that perhaps if youdrive all the way up to Petropolis, itmight be too much for you. I shall drive

you.

EMIL:

(apprehensive)

No. That would be too much for you. All

that way. That's too much to ask.

ERIC:

Nonsense. I'd love to go.

Eric leads Emil to the door.

ERIC:

(to Emil)

Come on, Emil.

(to all)

Good night, gentlemen.

EMIL:

Good night, Alex.

ROSSNER:

I hope you feel better in the morning, Emil.

Rate this script:3.6 / 5 votes