The Insider Page #7

INT. THE BROWN & WILLIAMSON BUILDING, MAIN LOBBY,

LOUISVILLE - DAY

Meanwhile, it's static. Still, frozen. Jeffrey sits in the

RECEPTION AREA of The Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company

headquarters. Complimentary cigarettes are arranged on

tables. A dark quiet. The hush of big business. Standing

in the background by a wall next to the banks of elevators,

is an ever-present Man, another one, with an earphone and

lapel microphone...

UNIFORMED SECURITY

(to Wigand)

Mr. Wigand, you can go up now...

He gets up, crossing to an elevator.

INT. THOMAS SANDEFUR'S OFFICE, BROWN & WILLIAMSON - DAY

THOMAS SANDEFUR:

(re:
his distraction)

Sorry. I'm accepting an award from the

Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation. It's

going to kill the rest of my day.

THOMAS SANDEFUR is absorbed in spreadsheets of regional sales

figures. Dark pouches are under his eyes. He doesn't look

up. He doesn't look healthy. We're in a luxurious office

with a view of Louisville. Jeffrey is waiting in a chair.

Sandefur is Brown & Williamson's CEO. Two LAWYERS, their

briefcases, like weapons, close at hand, sit on a couch.

Their jackets are off. They wear expensive shirts.

THOMAS SANDEFUR (cont'd)

(finishing; looking up at

Jeffrey)

So. You had a chance to play golf?

Surprisingly affable, Sandefur prides himself on his

salesman's sunny manners. He has a mellifluous Georgia

accent...

THOMAS SANDEFUR (CONT'D)

(to the Lawyers)

Jeff's a premiere golfer... What are

you, a two handicap?

WIGAND:

(precise)

Seven...

THOMAS SANDEFUR:

(to lawyer)

And, he gets out there and he has five

strokes on us. He has more concentration

than anybody I've ever met. It's spooky

how he can concentrate.

WIGAND:

I'd rather play than talk about it.

(beat)

What did you want to see me about? I

don't like being back here.

Sandefur smiles, used to him.

THOMAS SANDEFUR:

Jeffrey says exactly what's on his mind.

Most people consider what they're

saying...social skills... Jeffrey just

charges right ahead.

(smiles, after a beat)

Now, I know you understood the nature of

the confidentiality portion of your

severance agreement with Brown &

Williamson, Jeff...

WIGAND:

Chapter and verse.

THOMAS SANDEFUR:

(nods)

Yeah, I know you do...

(beat)

You know, I came up through sales. One

of the reasons I was a great salesman,

was I never made a promise I couldn't

keep.

(beat)

I knew that if I ever broke my promise

I'd suffer the consequence...

And there's a warning behind it...

WIGAND:

(contained)

Is that a threat?

THOMAS SANDEFUR:

...we worked together for, what was it,

three years...?

Now, the work we did here is

confidential, not for public

scrutiny...any more than are one's family

matters...

WIGAND:

(quietly)

You threatening my family, now, too?

THOMAS SANDEFUR:

Now, don't be paranoid, Jeff.

(a beat)

About the direction of research here, we

may have had our differences of

opinion...

WIGAND:

"Research..."

(smile + scorn)

You declare, as a badge of honor, you

don't even know what makes water boil...

THOMAS SANDEFUR:

That's why we hire scientists...

WIGAND:

(interrupts, direct)

Okay.

(a beat, honest)

I don't believe you can maintain

corporate integrity without

confidentiality agreements. I was paid

well for my work. The health and welfare

benefits are good. The severance package

is fair. I have no intention of

violating my confidentiality agreement

and disclosing that which I said I

wouldn't.

THOMAS SANDEFUR:

I appreciate all that, Jeff. But, upon

reflection...we've decided to expand our

zone of comfort with you.

And there's a seriousness that weighs heavily on the room...

THOMAS SANDEFUR (CONT'D)

So we've drafted a supplement to your

agreement...it broadly defines and

expands in more detail what is

"confidential." Nobody will be able to

say, "Well, hell's bells, Margaret, I

didn't know that was a secret..."

(beat)

We're very serious about protecting our

interests.

(a beat)

We'd like you to sign it.

And he's acutely aware of the threat behind it...

WIGAND:

(a beat)

And if I don't?

A LAWYER:

(speaking for Sandefur)

If we "arrive" at the conclusion you're

acting in bad faith? We would terminate,

right now, payouts under your severance

package. You and your family's medical

benefits. And initiate litigation

against you, Mr. Wigand.

WIGAND:

Dr. Wigand.

A LAWYER:

(a beat)

Dr. Wigand...after you've examined the

document, you will see it is in your own

best interest and you'll sign it.

Jeffrey slowly turns to face the attorney. And we see on his

face the true nature of this man.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes