The Distinguished Gentleman Page #17

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Dodge indicates his bloodhound nose.

DODGE:

He'll listen to you, Tommy. I want

you to go make peace between us.

Tell him we'll work something outon his amendments -- not a vote, I

won't go that far, but at leasthe'll get to say his piece on thefloor. Just get him off my back.

Can you do that for me?

TOMMY:

That's not a question, is it?

DODGE:

That's right. Is there a problem?

TOMMY:

No, no -- I've still got my rightnut, I can work with that.

122 INT. CRAB HOUSE - NIGHT 122

A WAITER removes an empty pitcher of beer.

WAITER:

Another?

TOMMY:

Sure, why not.

Marshall takes a boiled crab from the platter between them,

places it on the butcher paper in front of him, christensit -

MARSHALL:

The honorable Dick Dodge.

-- raises a big wooden mallet, and SMASHES it on the crab,

smiling.

TOMMY:

You know, Eli, sometimes people dothings they regret. Everyone makesmistakes. Fact is, Dick's been

under a lot of pressure lately -

MARSHALL:

That man's a walking quid quo pro-- prid quo -- quid pro quo, andyou know it. He put you up tothis, didn't he?

(CONTINUED)

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TOMMY:

What do you mean?

MARSHALL:

Don't sh*t me, Tommy. You're Dick

Dodge's yes-man. I know what

you're up to. This is damagecontrol.

TOMMY:

I'm not a yes-man. When Dick saysno, I say no.

Marshall SMASHES down again with the mallet. Crab carnage.

MARSHALL:

You know why no one on the Hilldrops a dime on anyone else? Mutual

assured destruction. Our little

gentleman's agreement. Everybodyhas something on somebody, so nobodyhas anything on anybody, becauseeverybody wants to save his own ass.

TOMMY:

(interested)

Oh, yeah? What do they have on you?

MARSHALL:

They think I'm a pompous ass.

TOMMY:

Sh*t, that ain't no secret.

123 EXT. CRAB HOUSE - NIGHT 123

Reinhardt and Loretta about to go in.

LORETTA:

You sure they don't want to bealone, Reinhardt?

REINHARDT:

No, no -- I bet they've been talkingabout the ethics bill all night.

Come on, Loretta, you'll know how toget Marshall's mind off business.

124 INT. CRAB HOUSE - NIGHT - ON MARSHALL AND TOMMY 124

MARSHALL:

Sh*t, this place isn't about passinglaws any more. It isn't about doinggood any more. All it's about is...

being here.

(CONTINUED)

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Loretta and Reinhardt approach their table.

LORETTA:

Well, as I live and breathe. Tommy!

Tommy is surprised to see them. She flashes a smile at

Marshall.

TOMMY:

Eli, this is Loretta Hicks, from mystaff. Loretta, Congressman Marshall.

LORETTA:

Pleasure to meet you.

MARSHALL:

Entirely mine.

TOMMY:

You know Reinhardt, my AA?

Marshall nods. Reinhardt turns to Tommy.

REINHARDT:

Excuse me, congressman, could I justdo a couple of quick calendar thingswith you?

MARSHALL:

(to Loretta)

Would you care for a drink?

LORETTA:

Tell you the truth, nothing for me.

MARSHALL:

Well, when a pretty lady shoots himdown, an old man knows it's time to

go home.

Marshall rises, pulling out his car keys.

MARSHALL:

You kids have a good time.

REINHARDT:

(indicating pitcher)

Listen, you gentlemen look likeyou've had a few -- Loretta, whydon't you be a designated driver?

Loretta stands and takes Marshall's keys from him.

(CONTINUED)

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LORETTA:

Excellent idea.

MARSHALL:

Ah. The good Samaritan.

LORETTA:

Good night, y'all.

They leave.

REINHARDT:

Now we've already got the Bankruptcy

Institute breakfast tomorrow, but if

you don't mind we could wedge in the

Prune Board -

This isn't what Tommy wants to be doing now. He gets up.

TOMMY:

I'm packing it in.

REINHARDT:

(also rising)

Can we talk while I drive you?

TOMMY:

Thanks, I'll walk. I could use

the air.

125 INT. MARSHALL'S CAR - MOVING - NIGHT 125

Marshall and Loretta are singing.

MARSHALL and LORETTA

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,

that saved a wretch like me -- "

126 EXT. CAPITOL HILL STREET - NIGHT 126

Tommy is on foot. Marshall's car, with its Marylandcongressional plates, pulls over.

LORETTA:

Come on, honey, no use you getting

mugged.

127 INT. MARSHALL'S CAR - MOVING - NIGHT 127

MARSHALL and LORETTA

"I once was lost, but now am found;

was blind, but now I see... "

Tommy, in the back, cradles his head. As Loretta heads

into a traffic circle, she SEES

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128 EXT. TRAFFIC CIRCLE - NIGHT - A HOOKER 128

in high sling-back heels.

129 INT. MARSHALL'S CAR - NIGHT 129

LORETTA:

(turning to look)

Check out the f***-me pumps on that.

Mm-mm. I gotta get me some shoes

like that.

TOMMY:

Loretta! Please! Your mouth!

130 EXT. TRAFFIC CIRCLE - NIGHT 130

With a SCREECH of brakes and a CRUNCH of metal, a TAXI

rear-ends them, SLAMMING Marshall's car into a lamppost.

131 INT. TAXI - NIGHT 131

The Taxi Driver looks at the wreck for a moment. Then

he lays rubber and SQUEALS away.

132 INT./EXT. MARSHALL'S CAR - NIGHT 132

On the back floor, Tommy stirs. Seems to be okay.

Lifts himself to see up front. The windshield is

smashed. Loretta and Marshall are both unconscious.

Tommy climbs into the front but can't get the door open.

He kicks out a broken window and climbs through.

He runs to a phone on the corner and dials 911.

TOMMY:

I need an ambulance right away.

IN THE CAR no motion from Loretta or Marshall.

AT THE PHONE he dials another number.

TOMMY:

Evening, Mrs. Dodge, Tommy Johnson

here, sorry to call at this hour,

is Dick back from the Gridiron

dinner yet? Could I speak with him

for just a moment?

133 INT. DODGE BEDROOM - NIGHT 133

MRS. DODGE is in bed. She hands the phone to Dodge,

who's in white tie and tails, looking more sinisterthan splendid.

MRS. DODGE

Tommy Johnson.

(CONTINUED)

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DODGE:

(into phone)

What's wrong?

INTERCUT Tommy and Dodge.

TOMMY:

How did you know?

DODGE:

Good news doesn't come at this hour.

TOMMY:

I went out with Marshall. We got intoan accident. He's out cold. I'm okay.

Dodge looks off balance.

DODGE:

Were you driving?

No.

TOMMY:

Someone else. Loretta.

Dodge recovers his equilibrium.

DODGE:

The girl from your office?

TOMMY:

Yeah. She's out, too. I don't

like the way it looks. For anybody.

Look. You said you wanted to getback into Marshall's good graces.

Well, here's an opportunity.

DODGE:

Listen carefully. Tell the

ambulance to take you to WalterReed. It's a privilege they give

congressmen. It's also the onlyhospital without a bunch of goddamreporters shtupping the nurses inexchange for leaks. They'll keepit quiet. I'll handle the police.

You go home and keep your mouth shut.

134 INT. PARKING GARAGE - NIGHT 134

Two figures approach one another in the shadows:

Reinhardt, and the Taxi Driver who rear-ended Marshall's

car. The cabbie nods. Reinhardt hands him an envelope.

The Driver inspects the cash.

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