The Italian Job Page #4

Stella remembers him.

STELLA:

When I was little he would play poker at

the house and drop quarters under the

table for me to find.

CHARLIE:

He got word from an L.A. connection named

Skinny Pete that a gold dealer has been

buying bricks with the Balinese girl on

them, three or four at a time.

STELLA:

You ever heard the expression, cut to the

chase?

CHARLIE:

I tracked Steve down to an address in the

Hollywood Hills. He's changed his last

name to Frezelli. And get this: he had

a Worthington 1000 installed in the house

before he even moved in. We both know

that you don't install a Worthington 1000

unless you have something precious to

guard.

STELLA:

Precious or not, I don't deal with ill-

gotten goods.

CHARLIE:

We boosted that gold from a terrorist

group that was about to trade it for bioweapons.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
(2)

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

Now that doesn't exactly make us Robin

Hood, but maybe in our own little way we

were doing a good deed. Problem is, no

one in my crew can handle that safe. And

I need someone I can trust.

STELLA:

And you think that's me? Haven't you

heard that I work for the other side?

CHARLIE:

What I heard is that you have your

father's touch. And he was the only

safecracker I knew who could open a

Worthington 1000.

STELLA:

I'm not a safecracker. I'm a

professional safe and vault technician.

CHARLIE:

You're John Bridger's daughter. And this

is our chance to set things right.

That sets her off.

STELLA:

Out chance? Who do you think you are

coming in here? Stealing the gold isn't

going to bring my father back to life.

CHARLIE '

No, it won't.

STELLA:

Then get out.

EXT. STREET — DAY

Charlie comes out of her shop and starts down the sidewalk.

Suddenly, Handsome Rob appears out of the crowd and is

walking next to him.

HANDSOME ROB:

How'd it go with the chick?

CHARLIE:

I'm working on it.

HANDSOME ROB:

I don't want her on the crew, Charlie.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

CHARLIE '

Gotta have her. Important piece of the

puzzle.

HANDSOME ROB:

There has to be someone else. What about

Bill Huchins?

CHARLIE:

Doing ten long at Levinworth.

HANDSOME ROB:

Red O'Reilly?

CHARLIE:

Chemo.

HANDSOME ROB:

Martin Hernandez?

CHARLIE:

Found Jesus.

Handsome Rob stops Charlie.

HANDSOME ROB:

I don't want a civilian to screw this up.

CHARLIE:

She has the skill. And the motivation.

HANDSOME ROB:

Exactly. She's emotional. You know what

happens when emotion gets into it.

CHARLIE:

It's emotional for all of us at this

point. Don't kid yourself.

INT. EXPENSIVE RESTAURANT/BAR -NIGHT

RICHARD WORTH has his back to the bar. He's a blue blood

trial lawyer with an ego that has more horsepower than a

Ferrari.

RICHARD:

It's all in my patented sideways glance.

Like this...

He gives a sideways glance to Stella; it's their first date.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

RICHARD (CONT'D)

I hit each woman on the jury with one of

these. We make contact. And I know

exactly what they're doing. Undressing

me with their eyes.

STELLA:

I see...

What a nightmare. Someone bumps into Stella, a mumbled,

"Excuse me." Nightmare continues...

RICHARD:

The case is all but won. That's why in

jury selection I choose as many women as

possible. Except lesbians, of course. I

can tell in sixty seconds if they're a

lesbian. Want to know how I know?

STELLA:

If they don't undress you with their

eyes?

RICHARD:

Precisely. Like that waitress right

there. See? She's looking at me right

below my belt. Definitely not a lesbian.

A waitress is indeed looking below Richard's belt. But

Stella notices that she was only looking because Richard's

zipper is all the way down. She smiles.

STELLA:

Your fly.

RICHARD:

I am fly. And I'm da bomb. Just wait

until later tonight.

Suddenly a BUSBOY stumbles and a tray of drinks fall, soaking

Richard's suit in red wine.

BUSBOY:

Oh, man. I'm sorry.

RICHARD:

You should be. Moron. What the hell's

wrong with you?

BUSBOY:

It was an accident. I'm very sorry.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
(2)

RICHARD:

Where's the manager? Richard Worth is

not paying to have his suit cleaned.

Damn.

(to Stella)

I'm going to... I don't believe this.

He starts off to the bathroom and as soon as the space he was

occupying empties, Charlie fills it.

CHARLIE:

I think your date's going pretty well,

what do you think?

She shoots him a look that could reverse global warming.

STELLA:

What are you doing here?

CHARLIE:

What do you mean? I come here all the

time.

STELLA:

I don't think so.

CHARLIE:

Sure. Lawyers,. judges, my kind of crowd.

See that gentleman there, he sentenced me

to 90 days in county once. We need to

talk.

STELLA:

No, you need to listen. I want you to

leave. Got it? •

CHARLIE:

Hey, I paid valet parking prices to get

in here, not to mention a twenty spot to

the busboy to spill that drink on Mister

Zipper.

STELLA:

You — I don't believe this. You paid

someone to spill that drink?

CHARLIE:

Actually, you paid for it.

Charlie returns her wallet.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
(3ONTINUED: (3)

CHARLIE:

Didn't notice it was me who bumped into

you earlier, did you? Anyway, I was

hoping we could get to know each other a

little better before we leave for Los

Angeles. I already booked your flight.

STELLA:

You truly are a fatuous, odious man.

CHARLIE:

I have no idea what you just said, but I

like the sound of it.

STELLA:

Well maybe you'll understand this. Hit

the road, Jack —

CHARLIE:

Charlie -

STELLA:

Or you'll be sorry, Charlie, cause I'll

kick you in the nuts so hard that your

voice will be as high as my heels.

She means it, too.

CHARLIE:

I'm beginning to worry about this whole

relationship.

STELLA:

I'll let you in on a secret. You can't

have a relationship with a pickpocket,

gold robber, or any kind of thief.

Charlie looks away, lets her have her point. This whole

thing is getting pretty heated so when he turns back to her,

he uses a whole new approach. His emotions are genuine.

CHARLIE:

John wasn't just a man I crewed up with,

he was my friend, he was the closest

thing to a father I ever had. I wish to

God I could bring him back. But all I

can do is go after this guy, the guy that

killed him, and hit him where he lives.

She feels the honesty in his words but before she can reply,

they're interrupted by —

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
(4)

RICHARD:

Everything alright, Stella?

He's back, red wine splotched on his suit.

STELLA:

Fine. Richard. Charlie. Charlie was

just saying goodbye.

But for now, Charlie is just staring at Richard, boring into

to him...

RICHARD:

Can I help you with something?

CHARLIE:

Oh, sorry. I was just undressing you

with my eyes.

And with that, Charlie goes. Stella can't help but smile.

EXT. STELLA'S CONDO -NIGHT

She comes home, having shed her date.

INT. STELLA'S BEDROOM -NIGHT

She goes through a drawer and pulls out a package she hasn't

looked at for years. She opens it.

Inside is the beautiful necklace that her father bought her

in Italy. It brings tears to her eyes.

INT. CHARLIE'S BEDROOM -NIGHT

He lies in bed, can't sleep. His phone rings. He picks up.

CHARLIE:

Hello.

INT. STELLA'S BEDROOM -INTERCUT

She's on the other end of the line.

STELLA:

I'm in this for one thing, Charlie, and

one thing only. I want to see the look

on his face when his gold is gone. He

took my father from me, I'm taking this;

it's the best I can do.

CUT TO:

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