The Distinguished Gentleman Page #3

BRUNO:

Now get back to work!

As Tommy heads back to the function room, Bruno picks upa house phone, dials, listens. He dials again, listens.

No answer. He dials the operator.

BRUNO:

This is Bruno in Security. Put me

through to 502 -- there must besomething wrong with the line, I can'tget an answer... What do you mean,

there's no one in 502? I just spoke tothem!... No one's registered in 502? Are

you sure?... Well, check again!... Sh*t!

He hangs up, looks at the ring, and realizes he's beentaken. His face twisting with rage, he hurries afterTommy.

17

ON TOMMY MOVING swiftly through the function room toward 17an exit. Zeke Bridges grabs him.

ZEKE:

Hey! Where the hell are our drinks.

Surprised, Tommy opts for an EAST INDIAN ACCENT.

TOMMY:

I remember... you were the sloe ginfizz and the mango daquiri? With

perhaps a small umbrella for the lady?

ZEKE:

Bourbon neat and a Perrier, dammit!

TOMMY:

And would you still be wanting theumbrella then?

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 13.

17 CONTINUED:
17

As Zeke's face flushes in anger, Tommy SEES Bruno comeinto the room, blood in his eye. Tommy turns sharply andheads out the terrace doors to the -

18 EXT. COURTYARD - DAY 18

Tommy conceals himself behind a pillar, across the courtyard,

away from the Guests. But from another direction,

Johnson and Andersen approach, arm in arm, and sit on abench by the pillar.

JOHNSON:

Olaf, there's something I wanted tosound you out on. As a specialfriend.

ANDERSEN:

Shoot.

Tommy moves away from the pillar, sees Bruno roaming theterrace, and retreats.

JOHNSON:

I'm thinking of retiring fromCongress.

Andersen's eyes widen in astonishment.

ANDERSEN:

You're what?

JOHNSON:

I'm thinking maybe I won't run.

Maybe I should listen more

(indicating his heart)

to this. Really appreciate these

years. Sail around the world.

Climb mountains. Enjoy the finerthings of life.

ANDERSEN:

Jeff. Listen to me. You can't

retire. Florida needs you. I need

you. I need you on rates. I need

you on regulations. I need you onthose environmental nutcases -

JOHNSON:

Olaf, if I retire this year, I get to keepall the money left over in my campaign

treasury. Comes to a very tidy nest-egg.

ANDERSEN:

How tidy?

(CONTINUED)

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 14.

18 CONTINUED:
18

JOHNSON:

One-point-three million.

(chuckles)

It's called the grandfather loophole.

Bruno has gone. But Tommy stays. His eyes light up atthe money.

ANDERSEN:

Come on, Jeff. Look at what you'd begiving up. Going to the best resortsin the world and calling it "officialbusiness." Golfing and skiing andfishing, and never picking up a tab.

And, Jeff -- there's no aphrodisiaclike power. You can have some of the

most intelligent, attractive womenin the country. You've got it made!

JOHNSON:

Oh, I suppose that one-point-threemay seem like spare change to thehead of Gulf Coast Power, but to a

country boy like me -

ANDERSEN:

Okay, Jeff. I get it. Look. There's

a little software company that'sabout to go through the roof.

Johnson smiles at the direction the conversation is

taking.

ON Tommy also smiling, in admiration at the transactiongoing down.

ANDERSEN:

A few thousand worth of stock optionswould stand to make you quite a pile.

As long as your blind trust buys them,

you're clean -- the SEC can't shake astick at you. Half a million, easy -and

that's just a start.

JOHNSON:

Well, if you put it like that... Inow see I have a duty to continuemy career in public service.

Johnson stands, puts his arm on Andersen.

Tommy emerges, shakes his head, and laughs.

TOMMY:

I'm in the wrong business.

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 14A.

19 EXT. BAIT SHACK - DAY 19

A ramshackle bait shack, paint peeling, on the inland

waterway. At the rear of the shack, Armando shoots hoopsinto a tattered net. Loretta, back in jeans, looks ather watch.

A bondo-patched Econoline van pulls up. Tommy jumps out,

big smile. He gives Loretta an energetic round ofAPPLAUSE.

TOMMY:

The best li'l roper in America!

But she doesn't want the charm.

LORETTA:

You took your time.

ARMANDO:

Cops bust you, Tommy?

TOMMY:

Busted? Moi? F*** no.

He pulls out the wad of bills. Their faces brightenconsiderably.

TOMMY:

That look like busted?

20 EXT. CAPITOL - NIGHT 20

Washington, D.C. The illuminated dome of the Capitol.

21 INT. CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE - NIGHT 21

CAMERA ROAMS the well-hung walls. From the photos andmemorabilia, we realize that we are in the office of Rep.

Jeff Johnson.

In the reflections on the frames, we GLIMPSE some

MOVEMENT on the desk explaining the considerableBREATHING and MOANING (O.S.).

JOHNSON (O.S.)

Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my...

But then a strange GURGLING sound (O.S.) escapes fromJohnson.

JOHNSON (O.S.)

... God.

A silent beat. Then a horrified CRY. Jennifer rises

INTO FRAME.

JENNIFER:

Oh my god!

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN - Rev. 4/3/92 14B.

22 INT. CHURCH - FLORIDA - DAY 22

The congregation is SINGING. We SEE the widow Johnson.

At her side, in the aisle seat, a powerful man with bushyeyebrows, about 60, in a three-piece suit and watchchain: congressman DICK DODGE. The HYMN ends. Dodgesteps up to the pulpit.

DODGE:

It was my honor to serve in Congress with

Jeff Johnson for a generation. No one

could have been a better legislator. No

one could have been a finer husband and

father. And now -

He presses the tips of his fingers together and looksskyward, as if communing with his memory of the deceased.

DODGE:

And now God has called his servant home.

ANGLE ON Jennifer, in black.

DODGE (O.S.)

We will miss him. But we are grateful

that his passing was so peaceful -- and

so like him -- working late into the

night at his desk, the consummate

public servant.

(CONTINUED)

15.

22 CONTINUED:
22

Vera sneaks a look at Jennifer, who is poker-faced.

23 EXT./INT. VERANDA/JOHNSON HOME - DAY 23

On the veranda of the gracious home, mourners payrespects to the family. Dodge puts a gentle hand onthe widow's shoulder and draws her aside. He throws

a look at Jennifer, who joins them.

DODGE:

Vera, I know you're still in shockfrom Jeff's... passing. But we have

to talk about his seat.

Vera stares at Jennifer. She knows the score.

JENNIFER:

Mrs. Johnson, if you'd like todiscuss this in private -

VERA:

You can stay -- what's thedifference?

DODGE:

Vera, I'd like you to announce thatyou're going to run for Congress.

Let a few days pass to show proper

respect. But next week, I want to

stand next to you at a pressconference where you declare forJeff's seat in the House.

VERA JOHNSON:

No, Dick -- no.

DODGE:

There's nothing to be afraid of,

Vera. With your name, you can'tlose. People around these partsare so used to voting for JeffJohnson -- why, Mrs. Jeff Johnsonwould win in a walk.

VERA JOHNSON:

Dick, I was a Washington wife for

twenty years. Twenty years ofPotomac bullshit is plenty for onelifetime.

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