The American Page #13

They reach a Cypress tree and FATHER BENEDETTO bows his head

in prayer.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 69. page 69.

He gives a small sideways glance at JACK.

JACK:

All men are sinners.

FATHER BENEDETTO

Some are greater sinners than

others. And those who seek peace

have much sinning in their history.

JACK:

I don’t seek peace.

FATHER BENEDETTO

Until now.

JACK:

Maybe.

FATHER BENEDETTO

Forgive me. This is the priest in

me speaking. But you have done much

sinning, Signor Clarke. You still

do.

JACK:

Well you know, I see a whore. She’s

young enough to be my daughter.

FATHER BENEDETTO

I do not refer to the sins of

carnality. But to the deadly

sins...

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 70. page 70.

JACK:

Aren’t all sins equal?

FATHER BENEDETTO

We are not discussing theology, my

friend, but you.

JACK is silent.

FATHER BENEDETTO

What job do you do, Signor? Are you

on the run, as they say?

JACK:

Everyone’s on the run from

something.

FATHER BENEDETTO

Some men watch some of the shadows.

You watch them all.

JACK:

Everything I’ve done, I’ve had good

cause to do.

FATHER BENEDETTO

Do you wish to tell me?

JACK:

Confess?

FATHER BENEDETTO

Yes.

JACK:

For what reason?

FATHER BENEDETTO

For your own sake. Perhaps I can

pray for you?

A YOUNG COUPLE kissing on a nearby bench are part hidden by

the shade of the trees.

FATHER BENEDETTO

I wonder how many bastards have

been made here?

A change of pace.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 71. page 71.

FATHER BENEDETTO

You work in metal. You are given

some steel by Fabio, the car

doctor.

They stare at one another. JACK wants to confess. He does not

know why. But he doesn’t.

The couple catches JACK’s eye and he does something we’re not

expecting:

JACK:

Was he conceived here father?

Fabio. The ‘car doctor’?

FATHER BENEDETTO is motionless.

FATHER BENEDETTO

Why do you ask me that?

JACK:

You have each other’s photos, you

have each other’s eyes. Where was

he conceived, Father? Under one of

these trees? At night? Like all the

other bastards?

There is a very, very long pause. FATHER BENEDETTO stares up

at JACK with extraordinary intensity.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 72. page 72.

FATHER BENEDETTO

I do not remember, Signore. It was

many years ago.

FATHER BENEDETTO walks. JACK follows. A gust of wind makes

dust swirl from the gravel path. The two men do not speak

again until they reach the next set of Cyprus trees.

FATHER BENEDETTO

In the end it is I who confesses to

you.

JACK:

And you want me to do the same?

FATHER BENEDETTO

Perhaps. For your own good. You

cannot doubt the existence of Hell.

You live in it. It is a place

without love. As for me, I go about

my daily duties because the town

requires it of me. Some know what

you know. Perhaps I have no right

to wear these robes. But I do have

a heart full of a father’s love.

Something close to His heart! And

for that I am both grateful and

happy.

On JACK.

FATHER BENEDETTO

What do you have, my friend?

Another gust of wind. The priest looks up into JACK's face.

The assassin’s eyes are red and stinging. Perhaps its from

the dust.

107 INT. JACK'S ROOM- EVENING 107

JACK dresses very carefully for dinner. He checks himself in

the mirror.

It is clear he wishes to make a favourable impression upon

CLARA.

108 INT. LOCANDA GRAPELLI- EVENING 108

Of the thirty or so candle-lit tables that dot the

restaurant, more than half are occupied by romantic couples.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 73. page 73.

JACK scans the tables and checks his watch. It’s shortly

after seven pm and there’s no sign of CLARA.

He waits. Then turns to leave.

CLARA (O.S.)

Ciao.

She kisses him once on the lips. She’s hot and flustered.

She’s been rushing.

CLARA:

I did not think you would come.

JACK:

I wasn’t sure you meant me to.

CLARA looks doubtful. It’s the same look she gave him at the

cafe. She is breaking the golden rule of prostitution.

Getting involved. Her heart is pulling one way and her head

another.

CLARA:

Certo.

A WAITER approaches.

WAITER:

Per due?

Judging by his disapproving tone, the WAITER seems to know

what CLARA does for a living. CLARA senses this immediately.

CLARA:

Si.

109 INT. LOCANDA GRAPPELLI- NIGHT 109

CLARA and JACK sit at their table, the WAITER lights their

candle and deposits two menus peremptorily.

CLARA:

Una bottiglia di acqua minerale non

gassata e... una Parasini, per

favore.

Completely ignoring her, the WAITER addresses JACK with a

wink.

WAITER:

Menu in Inglese?

A beat.

JACK:

No, grazie.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 74. page 74.

WAITER:

Tedesco? Olandese?

CLARA CLARA:

(to the WAITER, in Parla italiano. Come me.

ITALIAN) Quindi ripeto:

He speaks Italian. So do I.

Listen:

She repeats her order, articulating each word emphatically,

like a teacher to a slow school child:

CLARA:

Una bottiglia di acqua minerale e

una Parasini, per favore.

She isn’t upset. It’s just her way of letting both men know

that she’s in charge.

The WAITER turns to her, deferring to her strength of

character.

WAITER:

Gassata?

CLARA:

Non gassata.

He nods with some genuine deference and leaves.

CLARA sighs.

CLARA:

(mostly to herself)

Gente di paese.

JACK:

Small towns.

JACK smiles. CLARA smiles back. They have this contempt in

common.

The WAITER reappears and pours a thumbful of wine. It is pale

red in colour and frizzante. At CLARA’s insistence, JACK

tastes it. It is dry and has a tar-like aftertaste.

CLARA:

Parasini. From Calabria. It is

good, you will agree?

JACK:

It is. Very good.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 74A. page 74A.

He looks at her and- for a brief moment- he undergoes what is

a unique experience for him: a positive longing to repeat

this brief moment many times in the future.

"The American" June 21st, 2010 page 75. page 75.

CLARA catches the glow of his warmth and blossoms.

CLARA:

Can I ask you something, Eduardo?

JACK:

Sure.

CLARA:

You are married?

JACK:

No.

A beat.

JACK:

I doubt any of the couples here

are. With the exception of the

Germans at table seven. She’s

wearing a wedding ring and they

haven’t spoken a word to each other

for eight and half minutes.

CLARA:

I was sure this was your secret.

JACK:

What makes you think I have a

secret?

There’s something desolate about this that JACK can’t hide.

CLARA:

I do not think you are ordinary

man. I think you are good man. But

you have secret.

A GYPSY approaches, offering CLARA a ROSE. She refuses

firmly.

CLARA:

He thinks we are couple.

JACK signals to the GYPSY and buys CLARA a ROSE.

JACK:

Why spoil the illusion?

She looks at him and smiles.

CLARA CLARA:

As long as we know it is an Gi., basta saperlo.

illusion.

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