The Libertine Page #10

MAURICE:

Edith, it's you.

Edith turns and sees herself talking on TV under the words,

"Previously Recorded."

EDITH (on TV)

I'm not here to talk about my husband.

(MORE)

69.

EDITH (on TV) (CONT'D)

I just want to answer investorconcerns about my acquisition of TheEuro Post and say that everything ismoving smoothly.

MAURICE:

The deal's in trouble?

EDITH:

No.

MAURICE:

When did you do that interview?

EDITH:

An hour ago.

MAURICE:

While I was sitting right here? And

you were in the bedroom?

EDITH:

You know, they have cameras oncomputers now.

MAURICE:

Amazing. From your laptop to CNN to

my TV. What a long journey to travelfrom the bedroom to the living room.

EDITH:

Don't marvel at technology. It makes

you look like an old man.

Edith turns to go.

MAURICE:

I should do something nice forJaqueline.

EDITH:

I know she'd enjoy a confession.

MAURICE:

I could try to get her a job. Make

some calls.

EDITH:

Do you have any sway right now?

MAURICE:

The worst I will get is a no.

70.

EDITH:

Okay. Just be careful on the phone.

Police could be listening. The last

thing we need now is charges ofnepotism and bribery.

Edith leaves. Maurice gets his CELL PHONE and makes a call.

INT. MAHOGANY OFFICE - DAY

SENATOR MARK KALEY, 55, hangs up his PHONE RECEIVER andpresses speaker phone.

SENATOR KALEY:

Maurice. Good to hear from you.

INTERCUT PHONE CALL

MAURICE:

Senator. I'm in your state.

SENATOR KALEY:

So I hear. You'll forgive me if Ihaven't been to visit.

MAURICE:

Maybe you'll innocently touch astaffer's shoulder and it will land

you in the apartment next to mine.

SENATOR KALEY:

I wouldn't be surprised. Maurice, Idon't want to waste your time. I

can't do a thing to help the case.

MAURICE:

I'll beat these charges on my own.

And I would never solicit politicalfavors.

This last sentence seems more directed at a third party: thepossible wiretap Maurice is dancing around.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

I have someone for you to hire.

SENATOR KALEY:

But that's not a favor?

MAURICE:

I'm doing you a favor. This woman

is the best you will find.

Maurice's intonation becomes very wink, wink, listen to whatI'm really saying.

71.

SENATOR KALEY:

And why do you think I would likethis woman?

MAURICE:

She's smart. She's eager.

SENATOR KALEY:

A hard worker?

MAURICE:

The hardest.

SENATOR KALEY:

I don't think I need anyone.

MAURICE:

I would hire her in Paris, but shelives in New York. She'll be a greataddition on your staff.

SENATOR KALEY:

Send her by my New York officetomorrow at seven. PM.

MAURICE:

You won't regret it.

SENATOR KALEY:

I expect not to.

Maurice hangs up. He looks proud.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Nicolas sits opposite Maurice.

NICK:

Can't we just get started?

MAURICE:

Don't be impatient. It's almost

one.

NICK:

Why don't you just knock on the door?

MAURICE:

Because I want to respect herschedule. Why don't you read amagazine?

Nick opens a MAGAZINE and starts reading.

Edith comes out her door. She sees Nick.

72.

EDITH:

Nicolas? What are you doing here?

MAURICE:

He came to update me on the case,

but I told him to wait. I wanted to

include you in it.

EDITH:

I want to get some food and clear myhead.

MAURICE:

He brought Zabars.

Nick puts out FOOD. Edith sighs and sits.

NICK:

So, we hit a little bit of a speedbump yesterday.

MAURICE:

What's going on?

NICK:

We'd been able to establish that Ms.

Parker was farming out housekeepingjobs to an undocumented worker.

EDITH:

What does that have to do with

anything?

NICK:

It establishes a pattern of deceit.

The problem is that the worker seemsto be her mother, so we think itwould backfire and make her look

sympathetic.

MAURICE:

What else do you have?

NICK:

We think we can prove that she cheatedon her last year's taxes.

EDITH:

Which means what?

NICK:

It shows she needs money.

(MORE)

73.

NICK (CONT'D)

We're going to argue that this wholecase is just to lay groundwork for acivil suit which would set her upfor life. But here's the capper.

Six months ago, she got breastimplants.

MAURICE:

That makes sense.

EDITH:

I'm sorry to keep asking the samequestion, but what do breast implantshave to do with anything?

NICK:

Can't pay her taxes, but she canafford breast implants? Plus, itsuggests that she may have come onto Maurice a little bit.

EDITH:

Why don't you poke holes in her story?

NICK:

It's a he-said, she-said. These are

things we can prove.

MAURICE:

What else is there?

NICK:

That's it.

MAURICE:

You made me wait a half hour for

that?

NICK:

I didn't choose to wait.

MAURICE:

You could have said all that over

the phone.

NICK:

I wanted Zabars.

Nick exits.

MAURICE:

I think things are looking good. Is

something wrong?

74.

EDITH:

I don't think you should include mein these lawyer meetings any more.

MAURICE:

I thought you'd appreciate thethought.

EDITH:

I do appreciate the thought. It's

the action I'm not thrilled about.

MAURICE:

I'm sorry.

Edith throws out her food and heads to her door.

EDITH:

I'll be in my room.

Edith goes into her bedroom. Maurice starts to clean up.

Edith sticks her head back out.

EDITH (CONT'D)

Actually, you can come in.

INT. MASTER BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice follows Edith inside and grabs her waist.

EDITH:

Wrong idea.

MAURICE:

Tease.

EDITH:

Have a seat.

Maurice takes a seat and Edith goes to her desk.

EDITH (CONT'D)

I'm going to let you help me on myacquisition. Here are The Euro Post

financials. You can look at them if

you want. But, this is what I reallywant from you.

Edith hands Maurice two PACKETS.

EDITH (CONT'D)

The first one is people I'm thinkingof hiring. The second is current

staff:
reporters, editors, managers.

(MORE)

75.

EDITH (CONT'D)

I want to cut thirty to forty percent.

I'd love your advice on whom to sack.

Maurice starts to read through the packets.

INT. MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT

Maurice is sitting on the floor with both packets and a

HIGHLIGHTER, annotating the lists to death. Edith stands

up.

EDITH:

I'll see you later.

MAURICE:

Where are you going?

EDITH:

I have a meeting.

MAURICE:

You could hold your meeting here.

EDITH:

It's nice to see you working onsomething. You can continue after

I'm gone or in the morning.

Maurice gets up and tries to kiss her. She brushes him off.

INT. FRONT HALL - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice watches Edith go out the front door.

MAURICE:

Bye.

INT. SECOND BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice tosses his laptop onto the bed and opens it. He

signs into a SEX CHAT WINDOW. He sees the same woman in

lingerie from his first chat.

WOMAN IN LINGERIE (V.O.)

I recognize you.

MAURICE:

I felt like a familiar face.

WOMAN IN LINGERIE (V.O.)

That's sweet.

76.

MAURICE:

Press your breasts up against the

camera.

Maurice starts to unbutton his pants.

LATER:

Maurice, looking bored, sits on the floor next to his openlaptop. He dispassionately watches the woman in lingeriedance.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes