The Distinguished Gentleman Page #20

147 INT. TOMMY'S OFFICE 147

Loretta wears a beaded sling, which adds to her look.

She is at Tommy's desk, watching his phone as it RINGS.

Tommy comes in.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 102.

147 CONTINUED:
147

TOMMY:

The Administrator.

Loretta picks up the phone.

LORETTA:

Office of the Adminstrator.

(listens)

Thank you, I'll put you rightthrough.

She hands the phone to Tommy, who mimics the GeorgePlimpton voice.

TOMMY:

Warbuton here.

(listens)

Thank you.

(waits)

Mr. Chairman! I do hope there'ssomething I can help you with today.

148 INT. DODGE'S OFFICE - DAY 148

DODGE:

I need a straight answer from you,

Skeeter. Is the White House on

your ass about power lines?

TOMMY:

Off the record?

Of course.

DODGE:

TOMMY:

I was looking forward to someserious sailing this week -- Tishand I have a lovely spot right byKennebunkport. Instead, here I am

at three in the morning, writingtestimony to your committee aboutcancer clusters.

DODGE:

Thanks for your candor, Warburton.

TOMMY:

Not at all. You must come sailingwith us. Cheers. Bye-bye.

Tommy passes the phone back to Loretta.

Next.

TOMMY:

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 102A.

149 INT. ANDERSEN'S OFFICE - DAY 149

ANDERSEN:

Yes?

SECRETARY (V.O.)

Zeke Bridges on line two.

Andersen punches the button to connect the call.

150 INT. TOMMY'S OFFICE - DAY 150

LORETTA:

I'll just put you through to him.

She passes the phone to Tommy.

TOMMY:

Olaf?

(coughs)

Olaf, Zeke Bridges. Listen, you

sum' b*tch, I'm so mad, I can't

sit down to sh*t. Have you heard

what I heard?

(wheezes)

INTERCUT with Andersen.

ANDERSEN:

What's that.

TOMMY:

The EPA's fixing to make a big

stink about power lines and

cancer. They're going to serve

us up for breakfast.

ANDERSEN:

Wait a minute. There's no

scientific proof -

TOMMY:

Proof don't mean sh*t. We're

talking politics. They make a

federal case out of power lines,

I'm screwed. Whole insurance

business is screwed. You know how

much cash I'd have to pay out in

settlements? Even if I stiffed

everybody on claims, the legal

fees'd be enough to kill me.

ANDERSEN:

I can't believe it.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 103.

150 CONTINUED:
150

TOMMY:

You better believe it. You're

screwed, too. Every hot dog triallawyer in America soon be lining upto sue both our asses. We got tomove on this, Olaf. If I wasn't

tied up here, I'd go to Washingtonmyself. Shouldn't you be gettingon a plane? Just between us -- youfind a way to stop this, I'll finda million bucks if I have to.

151

INT. CORPORATE JET - DAY 151

A very worried Andersen.

152

INT. HILL CORRIDOR - DAY 152

Tommy and Dodge walking along a Capitol hallway.

DODGE:

Olaf will be at my office at five o'clock.

TOMMY:

How do we play it?

DODGE:

Cool. Real cool. You just followmy lead.

153

INT. DODGE'S OFFICE - DAY - DODGE, TOMMY, ANDERSEN, 153

O'CONNOR

DODGE:

I don't know how I can help you onthis one, Olaf. This is the EPA.

This is the President.

ANDERSEN:

This is my lifeblood!

DODGE:

I see that, Olaf, I see that. But

in this town, you pick your fights.

ANDERSEN:

This could mean six figures, Dick.

Dodge says nothing, but makes his eyebrows fly.

ANDERSEN:

High six figures.

Dodge flicks his eyebrows again: More.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 104.

153 CONTINUED:
153

ANDERSEN:

Seven figures?

TOMMY:

Between us. It's not that much -what

can you get for half amillion these days?

ANDERSEN:

How the hell can I funnel that

kind of money to you?

O'CONNOR

If that's what you want, we canalways find a loophole. No one

will see your fingerprints.

ANDERSEN:

No one will know?

DODGE:

No one will know.

O'CONNOR

You're only in trouble if someonecan prove a connection.

DODGE:

Of course there's no connection.

Olaf's just making a contributionas a patriotic citizen. And in

return for it, he's getting -

TOMMY:

Good government.

DODGE:

Exactly. A little access, that's

all.

154 INT. ORNATE CAPITOL HALLWAY - DAY 154

Dodge, Andersen, Tommy, and O'Connor walking along. Upahead, a cocktail reception. On an easel by the door:

HAZARDOUS WASTE ASSOCIATION MEET YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NIGHT.

DODGE:

I've got to do a drop-by. You

gentlemen like to join me for a drink?

155 INT. ORNATE FUNCTION ROOM - DAY 155

Dodge and Tommy work the room genially. Tommy spotsCelia talking to some Guests and goes over to her.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 105.

155 CONTINUED:
155

TOMMY:

Hi.

CELIA:

(to Guests, smiling)

Excuse me.

She turns, starts to walk away. Tommy stops her.

TOMMY:

Look. Whatever you think of me,

just promise me one thing.

She glares at him angrily. But then she's surprised tohear:

TOMMY:

Come to the Clean Air hearing

tomorrow.

CELIA:

(baffled)

What?

TOMMY:

Power and Enterprise. Noon.

CELIA:

But why?

He gives her an enigmatic smile and slips away.

As he rejoins Dodge, Tommy SEES WARBURTON enter the room.

Alarmed, TOmmy moves in on Dodge, steering him to avoid

the EPA Administrator.

TOMMY:

Shouldn't we be heading off, Dick?

DODGE:

Let's work the room just a bit more.

REINHARDT (O.S.)

Congressman! Mr. Chairman!

As Dodge turns to see him -DODGE

Evening, Reinhardt.

-- he SEES Warburton.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 106.

155 CONTINUED:
(2) 155

REINHARDT (O.S.)

Good to see you, sir. By the way,

I thought your opening statement incommittee yesterday was brilliant.

Dodge points out Warburton to Tommy.

DODGE:

Well. Look who's over there -Skeeter

Warburton from the EPA.

The very man we want to see.

TOMMY:

(trying to turn him)

Have you tried the oysters, Dick?

DODGE:

At a hazardous waste event?

(shakes head)

I think we'll go talk to him.

TOMMY:

No, he's the wrong man -

DODGE:

(bemused by Tommy)

You don't understand -- he's the

perfect man.

TOMMY:

But -- but you don't want to botherhim with this. Talk to one of his

underlings -

Dodge looks at Tommy with curiosity, not understanding hisreluctance.

DODGE:

Nothing beats man-to-man.

TOMMY:

Here? Not here!

DODGE:

A public place. What could be better?

TOMMY:

But it's the wrong time!

DODGE:

While the iron is hot, son.

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 107.

155 CONTINUED:
(3) 155

REINHARDT:

(chiming in

helpfully)

No time like the present.

TOMMY:

Shut up, Reinhardt, I'm talking tothe Chairman. Beat it, okay?

REINHARDT:

(smiling to Dodge)

I'll go get him.

Reinhardt heads for Warburton.

TOMMY:

(puts hand on abdomen)

You heard about this stomach thinggoing around?

DODGE:

Come on, son, we've got thepeople's business to do.

He leads Tommy off to one side. Reinhardt bringsWarburton to them.

WARBURTON:

Mr. Chairman. Congressman.

DODGE:

I've got a big problem, Skeeter.

WARBURTON:

What's that?

DODGE:

Your power lines investigation.

WARBURTON:

What power lines investigation?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes