The Distinguished Gentleman Page #12

TOMMY:

Six-fifty? Highway robbery! A chopshop wouldn't give you more than ahundred forty for a junker like that.

(beat)

Or so I've heard.

(beat)

But I'm flying blind here, I needdepth. Could Miss Kirby put togethera briefing? Maybe schedule aSaturday or two to really dig intothe issues?

IRA:

(surprised and pleased)

Oh... we'd be delighted. We've gotsome figures that will amaze you.

TOMMY:

I'm sure you do.

CELIA:

(rising)

Well, we won't take up any more...

TOMMY:

Whoa, whoa, hold on, what about

child safety?

CELIA:

Well, we're sponsoring a billimposing safety standards onimported toys...

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 59.

89 CONTINUED:
(2) 89

TOMMY:

Great! About time! I hate imported

toys. What about food additives?

How about we block out a few

evenings, you can take me throughthe details.

IRA:

Celia, if that's what the

Congressman wants... any problem?

CELIA:

(to him)

You want to do this in the evening?

IRA:

I'm away for the next two weeks.

She gives him a look. Ira turns to Tommy.

IRA:

So, when can Celia start yourbriefings?

TOMMY:

Saturday night?

IRA:

Saturday night sounds fine.

CELIA:

Fine. Wednesday morning. Nine-

fifteen.

90 INT. CATACOMBS - NIGHT - CLOSE ANGLE - A SIGN 90

On a door in the House sub-basement: MEMBERS ONLY.

91 INT. HOUSE GYM - NIGHT 91

The regular evening pickup basketball game. Even amongthese ruthless players, Tommy's street moves are outstandingly

down and dirty. His principal accomplice: ElijahMarshall.

92 INT. LOCKER ROOM - HOUSE GYM - NIGHT 92

A standing poker game among the towel- and robe-cladMembers.

It's Tommy's shuffle and deal. He is convincingly awkward.

A BULLDOG of a man examines his hand, tosses two cards in.

He assembles his new hand. Four fives and an ace.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 60.

92 CONTINUED:
92

ON Tommy's hand. A pair of threes.

The betting starts, at a couple of chips, and comes roundto Tommy. He pushes a stack of chips to the center.

TOMMY:

Let's get serious, fellas.

93 INT. CATACOMBS (OR CORRIDOR) - NIGHT 93

Tommy, Marshall, and the Bulldog, back in suits, exit theMEMBERS ONLY door and move through the catacombs.

MARSHALL:

I need your help on the ethicsbill, Leon. I want you to cosponsor

my amendments.

BULLDOG:

You make a persuasive case, Eli.

MARSHALL:

That wasn't a yes.

BULLDOG:

(courteously

ambiguous)

I promise to give it the attentionit deserves.

The Bulldog gives Tommy a friendly squeeze -

BULLDOG:

Better luck next time, son.

-- and leaves them. Tommy and Marshall continue on.

MARSHALL:

He took six hundred dollars off

you that last hand, didn't he?

TOMMY:

Yeah, he's taking a real shine to

me.

MARSHALL:

If I didn't know better, I'd sayyou lost to him on purpose.

TOMMY:

Nothing wrong with letting thechairman of the ethics committee

roll you once in a while.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 60A.

93 CONTINUED:
93

MARSHALL:

(shaking his head)

You fit in real well up here. Too

well.

TOMMY:

So Eli, how come you haven't askedfor my help with your amendments?

MARSHALL:

Give it a rest, Tommy. You've gota great jump shot. But everyoneknows you're Dick Dodge's boy.

TOMMY:

(bristling)

I'm nobody's boy, mister.

MARSHALL:

(weary)

Don't waste your outrage on me.

I know what you are.

TOMMY:

I'm no different from anyone else.

MARSHALL:

That's not true. Some people hereactually try to do somethingbesides save their own ass.

TOMMY:

You know, Eli, I like you, I reallydo. You remind me of my father.

MARSHALL:

Oh, really? How so?

TOMMY:

He thought I was scum, too.

BELLS begin RINGING and LIGHTS FLASHING on all the clocksand sconces down the corridor. Three RINGS, pause,

three RINGS, pause... Marshall does a U-turn. Tommydoesn't follow suit.

MARSHALL:

Aren't you going to vote?

TOMMY:

(indicating clocks)

Vote? Is that what that is? We

got a pool going in the office onwhen it'll go off next.

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 60B.

93A INT. LOBBY OUTSIDE HOUSE CHAMBER - DAY 93A

It's called "Gucci Gulch." The lobby just outside thedoors to the House chamber is pandemonium -- a sea oflobbyists, lawyers, PACmen, Members, and staffersurgently trying to find their masters and signal themthumbs-up or-down. Tommy enters, sweeps the room withhis eyes, looking for Reinhardt, shrugs, then goesthrough the doors onto the floor.

93B INT. HOUSE CHAMBER - DAY 93B

Tommy goes to a console on the rear of a seat.

A blue light says OPEN. Tommy inserts a card (it lookslike an electronic hotel key). Red, green, and amberlights at buttons labeled NAY, YEA, and PRES. Tommyshrugs, pushes NAY.

93C INT. LOBBY OUTSIDE HOUSE CHAMBER - DAY 93C

As Tommy heads away, he passes a class trip -- a dozenfifth-graders and their TEACHER, who hails him.

TEACHER:

Excuse me -- Congressman? Do you

have a moment? We're from the

Hawthorne Avenue School, in Union,

New Jersey? I'm Mrs. Kozlowski.

Social Studies. We were just

learning how a bill becomes a law.

(indicating theBELLS)

Was that a vote?

TOMMY:

Yes, it was.

TEACHER:

And what did you vote?

TOMMY:

I voted "Nay." It's a terrible

bill. It'd destroy the fabric of

American life.

TEACHER:

And what was the vote on?

Tommy hasn't a clue. He calls out to Rafe, who is amongthose leaving the chamber.

TOMMY:

Hey, Rafe! Tell these kids what

that vote was about.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 61.

93C CONTINUED:
93C

TOMMY (CONT'D)

(to kids)

Guy's got a real knack forexplaining things.

RAFE:

Well, it was a motion to reconsider

the motion to reconsider.

Bo, passing by, intervenes.

BO:

No, it was the rule on amending thereauthorization.

Which means?

TOMMY:

Clean Air.

BO:

RAFE:

(overlapping)

School lunches.

TOMMY:

You're in excellent hands, kids.

94 INT. RESTAURANT - DAY 94

A NOISY restaurant popular with lobbyists. Power photoson the wall. Table hopping. People SHOUTING greetingsacross the room. Waiters in long aprons. Tommy ishaving lunch with Tommy O'Connor.

O'CONNOR

You're a gentleman, Tommy. We can

always do bid'ness -- I like thatin a Member.

TOMMY:

Thank you, Tommy. I love you too.

O'CONNOR

Listen, I'd like to do more moneyfor you -- I just need to knowyour positions on a few issues.

O'Connor takes out a pen and leather notecard case.

O'CONNOR

For instance, where are you onsugar price supports?

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 62.

94 CONTINUED:
94

Tommy has no idea, but he's certainly open tosuggestions.

TOMMY:

Sugar price supports. Where do

you think I should be, Tommy?

O'CONNOR

Sh*t -- makes no difference to me.

If you're for 'em, I got money for

you from my sugar producers in

Louisiana and Hawaii. If you're

against 'em, I got money for you

from the candy manufacturers.

TOMMY:

You pick.

O'CONNOR

(writing)

Let's put you down as for. Now

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes