Simone Page #2

Elaine finally speaks up.

ELAINE:

Of course she is. No other name is

going to sign on now and risk

offending her.

VIKTOR:

We don't need a name. We'll cast

an unknown.

HAL:

I won't play opposite an unknown.

ELAINE:

We can't sell an unknown. Nicola's

soured on the project and we have

to accept that. If we ever want to

be in the Nicola Anders business

again, we have to cut our losses

and shelve the picture.

The executives, leading man and director nod sagely.

VIKTOR:

(aghast)

No! You will not give in to that

blackmailing b*tch!

ELAINE:

(a wince, addressing

everyone but Viktor)

Excuse us.

Elaine ushers Viktor out of the screening room.

EXT. STUDIO LOT - DAY

ELAINE and VIKTOR talk in the shadow of an enormous

soundstage. They speak more freely in each other's company.

ELAINE:

God, Viktor. Why do you always

have to make things so difficult

for yourself?

VIKTOR:

Difficult. I'm difficult.

He produces a handful of candy from his pocket.

VIKTOR:

(referring to the candy)

-- Do you know what these are,

Elaine?

ELAINE:

(talking a piece of candy

and eating it)

Hmm... Mike and Ike's.

VIKTOR:

Not just any Mike & Ike's -- cherry

Mike & Ike's. Do you know why I,

Viktor Taransky, two-time Academy

Award nominated director --

ELAINE:

-- Viktor, that was Short Subject.

VIKTOR:

-- overseeing the most cherished

movie project of my career, am

walking around with a pocketful of

cherry Mike & Ike's?

Elaine takes a seat in a nearby studio cart as Viktor paces.

ELAINE:

-- I have a feeling you're going to

tell me.

VIKTOR:

-- I'll tell you why. It is

because Miss Nicola Anders,

supermodel with a SAG card God's

gift to cinema, has it written into

her contract that all cherry Mike &

Ike's be removed from her candy

dish along with strict instructions

that any room she walks into should

have seven packs of cigarettes

waiting for her three of them

opened, that there be a personal

jacuzzi within eighty paces of her

dressing room, and that any time

she travels, her nanny must fly

with her first class.

ELAINE:

-- What's wrong with that?

VIKTOR:

Elaine, she doesn't have any

children!

(grabbing her arm)

Don't you see? We're being held

hostage by 12 men and 5 women who

someone somewhere has decreed are

the A-list.

ELAINE:

The public decides who's on that

list.

VIKTOR:

Please.

ELAINE:

It's the truth. Those 17

superstars are our insurance

policy. We can't open -- can't

make a profit without them.

VIKTOR:

We can hardly make a profit with

them. Up-front salary, back-end

deal, perks, per diem, percentages

-- They're mocking us, Elaine.

We're at their mercy.

(staring wistful, into

space)

We always had movie stars but they

used to be our stars. We used to

decide who would play what role.

We told them what to wear, what to

say, who to date. When they were

under contract, we could change

their names if we wanted to -- more

than once!

ELAINE:

(regarding him as if he's

insane)

You realize you're nostalgic for an

era you weren't even born in?

VIKTOR:

(irritated at her

infuriating logic)

Well, I do remember why I started

out in this business -- you seem to

have forgotten -- working in New

York with Cassevetes -- we were

trying to do something important,

shine a light in that darkened

cinema --

ELAINE:

(rolling her eyes)

-- It's called a projector.

VIKTOR:

(ignoring her)

-- Illuminate hearts and minds with

a ray of truth.

ELAINE:

Listen, Viktor, I have good

memories of those days too -- but

this isn't about that or you or me

or some high-minded ideal. This is

business.

VIKTOR:

Spare me.

ELAINE:

(gesturing at the studio

lot)

-- Christ, Viktor, look around.

What do you think pays for all

this? This is about investment and

return. Those days in New York...

that's... it's over.

A pause. Viktor reads Elaine's face.

VIKTOR:

You're not renewing my contract.

ELAINE:

How can I? Your last three

pictures tanked. The board is

giving me hell. No bankable star

will work with you after this. If

you just compromised... a little.

Viktor eats some of the candy in his hand as he takes in the

news.

VIKTOR:

(rueful smile)

-- Well, it's not every day you're

fired by the mother of your own

child.

Elaine also eats some more candy -- a curiously intimate

moment between them.

ELAINE:

(softening, a heart-to

heart)

I'm not taking away your daughter,

just your deal. You and I both

know, after the divorce I kept you

on for old time's sake, so you

could still hold your head up in

front of Lainey. I called what's

his name at Warner's. He said he'd

take a meeting -- in July. I've

fought for you Viktor...

(voice trails off)

You want to talk severance?

VIKTOR:

(staring off into the

distance, face hardening)

You can have everything -- office,

car, assistants -- all I want is

the picture.

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