Simone Page #19

IE. ELAINE'S MANSION - DAY

LAINEY has turned her back on the TV screen, preferring to

look through a book.

SIMONE:

(from TV)

Because, you have to understand,

Frank, these interviews -- none of

this is real. Who I am on screen

and who I really am are two totally

different people.

FRANK BRAND:

Who are you really?

SIMONE:

That's a good question.

(beat)

As Nietzsche said, "Whenever a man

strives long and hard to appear

someone else..."

LAINEY:

(reading from a bookmarked

page, along with Simone)

"... he ends up finding it is

difficult to be himself again."

FRANK BRAND:

Well put.

Lainey regards the name written on the inside page -- "Viktor

Taransky".

INT. MAX SAYER'S OFFICE - THE ECHO - DAY

TV playing in the background, MAX and MILTON are hurriedly

leafing through travel books and scrutinizing maps.

MAX:

(focusing on the desert

background behind Simone)

I know where that is... I know...

INT. FRANK BRAND TV STUDIO - NIGHT

FRANK BRAND:

Change of topic. Simone, you've

been romantically linked to dozens

of men in the press -- Mick Jagger,

Stephen Hawking, Fidel Castro...

and most recently Viktor Taransky.

Is there a Mr. Right in there

somewhere?

SIMONE:

I'd rather not discuss my private

life.

(gently)

But Viktor and I are inseparable.

INT. ELAINE'S MANSION - DAY

ELAINE's face drops, slightly hurt.

KENT:

You dog, Viktor!

SIMONE:

(from TV)

I literally wouldn't be here today

without him.

INT. VIKTOR'S SOUNDSTAGE - DAY

VIKTOR accidentally taps his finger on the keyboard in his

excitement -- the cursor aimed at "TEARS" command. SIMONE'S

EYES start to well with tears -- a tear spills from her eye.

FRANK BRAND:

Would you like a moment, Simone?

Viktor notices, quickly withdrawing his finger -- his

startled expression instantly imitated by Simone.

SIMONE:

No, I'm okay.

INT. FRANK BRAND TV STUDIO - NIGHT

FRANK BRAND:

Let's talk about the work that you

care so much about.

SIMONE:

Sure. Where would you like to

start?

FRANK BRAND:

How about the nudity?

SIMONE:

Nudity has just never been an issue

for me, Frank. For me, clothes are

just an option.

FRANK BRAND:

What exactly was it that attracted

you to your first two projects?

SIMONE:

(unable to resist a smile)

I suppose the thing I like most

about the movies I'm in is that

they're not about special effects.

Frank nods sagely.

FRANK BRAND:

They're better for it if I may say.

INT. VIKTOR'S SOUNDSTAGE - DAY

The smile is suddenly wiped off VIKTOR's face by a blinking

alert:

!!INSUFFICIENT MEMORY TO COMPLETE THIS TASK!!

The pixels that form SIMONE start to break up. Curiously, it

is only Simone and not the background that is disintegrating.

INT. FRANK BRAND TV STUDIO - NIGHT

FRANK BRAND:

(regarding the screen)

Well, we appear to be experiencing

satellite difficulties. In case we

lose you, Simone, I want to thank

you --

INT. VIKTOR'S SOUNDSTAGE - DAY

VIKTOR speaks again, his voice suddenly deeper.

SIMONE / VIKTOR

Thank... YOU, FRANK.

In horror Viktor hurriedly pulls the plug. The feed goes

blank on Frank Brand's screen.

VIKTOR slumps over his computer in exhaustion. Since SIMONE

is still synced to his movements, the partially de-pixelated

Simone also slumps.

Viktor's cell phone rings. Viktor picks up.

VIKTOR / SIMONE

Hel--

He remembers at the last second to switch off his voice

synthesizer.

VIKTOR:

(into phone)

Hello.

INT. ELAINE'S MANSION - DAY

We cut between the two sides of the conversation -- ELAINE on

the phone, KENT still watching post-interview analysis on the

TV.

ELAINE:

-- Viktor, are you with her? Is

she there?

VIKTOR:

No.

An anxious beat.

ELAINE:

Are you and Simone...

(blurting it out)

... getting married?

VIKTOR:

(taken aback by the

suggestion)

No, of course not!

(realizing the

significance of the

question)

Why? Would you care if we were?

ELAINE:

(covering, realizing she

has given herself away)

Well, yes. From a studio point of

view, it would be better if Simone

stayed single.

(quick change of topic)

Anyhow, I thought she came across

great tonight. Intelligent, well

informed, a natural. And touching.

She was spectacular.

VIKTOR:

Thank you.

A pause.

ELAINE:

Viktor, do you realize you always

do that?

VIKTOR:

Do what?

ELAINE:

Whenever I compliment Simone, you

take the credit.

VIKTOR:

I do?

ELAINE:

Yes, you do...

(shrug)

Anyway, tonight was a good start.

VIKTOR:

Excuse me? Start?

ELAINE:

It's a crowded summer. We need

every photo-opp, sound-byte and

column inch we can get. Good

night, Viktor.

Elaine hangs up. Lainey approaches.

LAINEY:

(carefully broaching the

subject)

Mom, do you miss Dad?

ELAINE:

(she thinks)

Sometimes. But, just when I think

your father's changing for the

better, I realize he's as self

absorbed as ever. He took the

credit for Simone tonight.

Lainey, coming to her father's defense, glancing at the

Nietzsche book in her hand.

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