The Hoax Page #9

We could change the world

with this, Harold.

I want this chapter in the book.

Cliff, we will be sued for libel

by the President.

- You'll win. You will win. I promise you.

- Excuse me. Yes?

To put this out unsubstantiated

is at best unwise,

and at worst unethical.

Wait, wait.

Could you give me

a moment, Cliff, please?

- Yeah, sure.

- Thank you.

Ralph, if the President took

cash bribes, then we have every...

Harold, I'm sorry to interrupt,

but the Zurich District Attorney's office

is on the line.

Hang on, Ralph. I'll take it.

Yes, this is Harold McGraw.

Something to do with

a Swiss bank account.

Who told you that?

Where did you hear that?

This latest puzzle in the

case involves a Swiss bank in Zurich

where the checks were cashed

by H.R. Hughes.

That H.R. Hughes was

a mysterious lady

named Helga R. Hughes.

The police are looking for her,

and the normally silent Swiss bankers

are talking about the case.

Mr. Irving, who cashed the checks, sir?

Who opened up

the Swiss bank account?

The account holder in Switzerland

is a woman named Helga Hughes.

They suspect

she forged the endorsements.

This has become sleazy

and demeaning.

- I'm a publisher, Shelton.

- You're an employee, Harold.

I don't care what your name is.

We paid for a book

and we're going to publish it.

Just roll the goddamn presses.

Why are you calling us about this?

I'm doing this, sir, because I felt

the President deserved a warning.

- Anybody else have this information?

- No, of course not.

- Absolutely nobody?

- Absolutely no one.

Where's the book now?

You should receive it by messenger

this afternoon.

I'D LIKE TO TEACH

THE WORLD TO SING PLAYING

Thank God.

Honey, you okay? Are you all right?

- Let me help you with this...

- I am not staying!

What's in the book?

Everything.

Hughes' loans to the President.

The real amounts of the loans.

The sh*t about Bebe in Florida.

And you're saying

the President thinks this is authentic?

- How else could they know?

- We've got to talk to this guy, Fisher.

He's gotta kill the book.

Hughes is just using it

to get to the chief.

In fact, the President hit the roof

this morning.

He's terrified the book's been leaked

to the Democratic National Committee.

Sh*t.

He thinks they're sipping tea at the

Watergate Hotel reading it, right now.

All right, I'll call Hunt

and have him send his guys in

to see if the DNC has a copy yet.

And prepare something

for the President, if this breaks early,

if he has to address the nation.

To say what?

Checkers had puppies.

How the f*** should I know?

I was on the plane

and I was thinking for a long time.

I was thinking about all of your lies

from before.

I guess, maybe, I am not beautiful

- or very sexual enough for you...

- No, honey, no. It's not true.

You have made me feel that.

So, I'm leaving.

And I'm giving back all of the money,

all of the book money.

Look, you've worked so hard on us,

on the book...

Punish me, but don't punish yourself.

You're always so careful when you talk,

always so

soft like a cushion for what you want.

But I am leaving.

But before I go, I give you something.

You are exhausted from your lies.

So tell the truth.

Tell me the truth about

what you did with her this time.

It is your moment to be clean.

I saw her.

When?

Last month.

It was in town, down in the Village.

We were talking about the past, and I...

I was tempted.

I was tempted enough that I...

I went with her,

back to her apartment,

and I kissed her.

And...

And something happened. I...

Something physically...

I just recoiled and...

I couldn't go through with it.

I couldn't do it.

I just left her standing there

and I ran down the stairs.

I know you're making

a really big decision.

I know. I understand that.

I...

I just want you to know, that's the truth.

That's the truth.

I hate you.

And I love you.

I hate you.

I think I'm coming down

with something.

Human relationships are impossible.

Especially with females, Clifford.

We try, of course, to police ourselves,

so that they might be happy,

believing that their happiness

might become our own.

We're intertwined now, son,

and I'm glad.

It's for the best.

Hi.

You're broke?

Why don't you ask your friend

for another birthday present?

Twelve years.

Twelve years I have been doing

free research for you.

I cover up all your sleazy affairs. Why?

Because I thought

it was an investment,

I thought there was someone in there.

Jesus Christ!

You paid her. You paid that hooker.

I could lose my wife, Cliff.

Always the Cassandra,

always bad news.

Cliff, I'm not like you. I confessed.

- You need your freedom, Dick.

- What's that? Your opinion?

You ruin my life

because of your f***ing opinion?

I wanted this for you more than for me.

The whole thing. I always did.

And we did it, Dick.

Damn it, we did it. Look at this.

And look at that.

- I don't care about that.

- It's yours. Take it.

- I don't care about that.

- It's all yours. Take it. It's yours.

- I don't care about that.

- It's all yours. Take it. It's yours.

What's going on here?

Intertel.

Intertel, sons of b*tches.

Motherfuck. They came in.

They broke into my house last night.

They were here. They abducted me.

They took me in a car,

and they flew me to Nassau.

And there, they threatened me.

They beat me up

and they chucked me out of a window.

I said, "No, this book goes...

Our book goes forward.

"Nothing is gonna stop it."

I was firm. Assurances were made.

"This Howard Hughes will not

be interfered with."

- This Howard Hughes?

- This Howard Hughes...

Cliff, Clifford Irving.

Intertel kidnapped you

and flew you to Nassau?

Yes! CIA, ex-CIA henchmen!

Martial arts! You were absolutely right.

I was here last night, Cliff.

I came here for lessons on

how to lie to my wife,

you being an expert in that field.

Jesus Christ, I was outside

that f***ing window.

I saw you in here.

You were sitting on the floor,

drunk out of your head.

You don't believe me.

You, of all people.

Take your f***ing money.

Take your money.

- Take your money!

- Oh, f*** you!

Take your f***ing money,

all the f***ing percentage you got!

F*** you!

- F*** you!

- Get out, go!

Take your f***ing money

and get out of here!

Don't throw money at me.

You stay away from me,

you son of a f***ing... Stay away!

No one flew you to Nassau, Cliff.

You're not that important.

One moment, please.

- Sir?

- MAN:
Yes.

Chester Davis,

Howard Hughes' attorney on Line 1.

Okay. You're sure?

What time will it be on?

I can't thank you enough, Chester.

The President owes you one.

Of course, I have massive files

of photographs

and other recorded material

tracing my life from an early age.

I have volumes and volumes

and rooms full of...

Mr. Hughes, did you cooperate,

or do you know...

Congratulations, again.

Thank you.

- Wonderful evening.

- Thank you. Thank you very much.

I want to know why the hell

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes