The Distinguished Gentleman Page #21

Tommy is sweating bullets.

DODGE:

We're off the record, Skeeter.

This witch-hunt for cancer clusters

is bad news for everyone.

WARBURTON:

I don't know what you're talkingabout, Dick.

(CONTINUED)

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DODGE:

Alright, I know you're being agood soldier -

WARBURTON:

No, I'm being straight with you -

DODGE:

Then let me be straight with you. You

announce this study -- I'm not talkingabout the results down the road, mind you,

I'm just talking about the announcement-- and there's broken crockery everywhere.

Real estate. Utilities. Insurance.

Schools. Local governments.

It'll cost jobs. Uproot families.

WARBURTON:

I agree with you completely. There

isn't going to be an investigation,

old chap, I promise you.

DODGE:

(beat)

I'm glad we understand each other.

WARBURTON:

(beat)

Yes, I think we do.

Tommy silently rejoices in his good fortune.

DODGE:

And we'll just forget about thatphone call this morning?

WARBURTON:

We didn't speak on the phone.

DODGE:

(vastly impressed)

Excellent.

Dodge claps him on the shoulder, then heads off with Tommy,

who is delighted to have dodged a bullet.

TOMMY:

(imitating Warburton)

"There isn't going to be an

investigation, old chap."

DODGE:

(chuckling)

You're bad.

(CONTINUED)

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They join up with Andersen and O'Connor.

DODGE:

(sotto voce)

Worked like a charm. We scared him

shitless. The investigation's dead.

ANDERSEN:

Waiter! Champagne!

(to Dodge)

See you at the Clear Air hearings.

156 INT. TOMMY'S RECEPTION AREA/CORRIDOR - DAY 156

As Reinhardt comes into the office, Tommy intercepts him.

TOMMY:

Morning, Reinhardt! Got a minute?

I need your advice on something.

REINHARDT:

Sure.

Tommy leads him back into the corridor.

157 INT. TOMMY'S BOILER ROOM - DAY 157

Van Dyke, Armando, and Loretta work the phones.

VAN DYKE:

Is this the assignment desk? Yes,

I'm calling from Chairman Dodge's

office, on the Hill. We wanted

to be sure CNN was sending a crew

to the Clean Air hearing today.

ARMANDO (OVERLAPPING)

No, not the new emission standards.

We're breaking news. This is the

biggest thing since Watergate.

LORETTA (OVERLAPPING)

This is Cynthia Leeson in the White

House Press Office. My boss wanted

me to let you folks know -- we're

making a major announcement at the

Clean Air hearings today.

(listens)

No, I can't tell you, but it's hot.

(listens)

Well, if the New York Times wants

to be the only paper in town to

miss the story of the year, that's

up to y'all.

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 109A.

158 INT. TOMMY'S CAGE/CORRIDOR - DAY 158

Tommy has drawn Reinhardt into the cage.

TOMMY:

I want to do a little somethingnice for Dodge. That EPA thing -he's

been good to me, Reinhardt. Is

there some way I can, like, throw abouquet to him at the hearing todaywithout having to sit throughthat boring testimony sh*t?

REINHARDT:

Why don't you ask him to give youthe floor at the start?

TOMMY:

He's do that?

REINHARDT:

For some flattery? In a New York

minute. Just tip him ahead of time.

TOMMY:

Good thinking.

They return to the corridor. Tommy looks at his watch.

TOMMY:

Say, Reinhardt, my Grandma's planecomes in at ten. You wouldn't mind

picking her up and driving MissDaisy around, would you?

REINHARDT:

Can't one of the others do it?

TOMMY:

No, I don't trust them the way I

trust you.

TOMMY pats him on the back and sends him on his way.

159 INT. TOMMY'S OFFICE - DAY 159

Tommy, joined by his cronies and the Jubas.

TOMMY:

This is it, people. Game time. Let's

get it right.

ARMANDO:

Tell me one thing, jefe. How do

you know Andersen is going to bite?

TOMMY:

I don't. You run a con, you run a risk.

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 110.

160 INT. POWER AND ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE - DAY 160

A hundred or so members of the public -- trade groups,

Hill staffers, lawyers, tourists -- settle into their

seats.

VAN DYKE escorts Hattie Rifkin and a busload of Silver

Foxes.

Loretta comes in with Ellen and Mickey Juba.

GRANDMA comes in, on Reinhardt's arm. She is dressed upas a biddy, down to a hat with fruit on it.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS head for their seats at the dais.

OLAF ANDERSEN is at the witness table, along with a coupleof other businessmen. In a seat behind Andersen, TommyO'Connor.

THE PRESS. A good turnout, with several camera crews.

WASHINGTON REPORTER #1

You know what this is?

WASHINGTON REPORTER #2

(confidential)

It's very hot. Electric cars.

CELIA is seated with Ira, her Pro Bono associate.

CELIA:

I'm cutting out early.

IRA:

(indicating TJ)

Don't want to run into him?

CELIA:

You got that right.

AT THE DAIS Tommy has a private word with Dodge.

TOMMY:

Dick, I thought it might be a niceway to open if I congratulated youon the fine work you been doin'on this committee. Really expressour appreciation. Especially onbehalf of the minority community.

DODGE:

Why, thank you, son.

(CONTINUED)

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TOMMY:

(indicating cameras)

Wouldn't hurt to have tape like thatin the bank, would it, Mr. Speaker?

HOMER slips in next to Reinhardt, who is surprised to seehim.

REINHARDT:

Mr. Yancey? Arthur Reinhardt. Are

you testifying for the agency?

GRANDMA:

(leaning over)

Hello, Homer, dear.

REINHARDT:

No, Mrs. Johnson, you must bemistaken -- let me introduce you.

This is Mr. Yancey of the EPA.

GRANDMA:

(to Reinhardt)

Don't be silly, child.

HOMER:

Homer Norton. Homer's Pit Stop,

Axahatchee, Florida.

GRANDMA:

Homer's known Tommy since they werein diapers.

REINHARDT:

(getting up)

What the -- ?

From the row behind Reinhardt, Armando clamps Reinhardtdown.

ARMANDO:

Move and you're history.

DODGE GAVELS the meeting to order.

DODGE:

This meeting of the Power andEnterprise Committee to considerthe reauthorization of the Clean

Air Act is now in session. Today'sfirst business is a panel ofnational leaders in the field of

utilities.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

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DODGE (CONT'D)

Before I welcome them, Chair would

like to yield to the gentleman fromFlorida for a word. If there is

no objection from the Committee -- ?

The gentleman may proceed.

TOMMY:

Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the

other members of this committee,

and on behalf of myself, I have avery personal statement to make.

From the bottom of my heart, I wantto thank you -- thank you for yourleadership, for your insight, foryour boldness...

Dodge preens for the cameras, until:

TOMMY:

... and for your courage.

Especially your courage.

DODGE:

(surprised)

My courage?

TOMMY:

Your courage in exposing thecorruption that eats away at thisinstitution. Your courage intaking on the special interests.

Your courage in taking a major new

step -

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