The Libertine Page #13

Edith goes to her room. Maurice walks into the

SECOND BEDROOM:

And opens his closet. Naomi gets up from behind the bed.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

You can go now.

92.

Maurice lifts HANGERS and starts putting on a SUIT.

NAOMI:

Is your wife gone?

MAURICE:

It doesn't matter any more. You can

just walk through the living room.

NAOMI:

This extra time will cost something.

Maurice hands her his WATCH. Naomi exits. Maurice finishes

putting on the suit.

INT. FRONT HALL - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice takes a deep breath then opens the front door.

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Justin sees Maurice standing in the doorway.

JUSTIN:

(re:
suit)

Special occasion?

Maurice pushes past him and starts sprinting down the hall.

Justin pursues.

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - STAIRWELL - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice slams through a door and starts running down the

stairs.

Justin comes after him.

JUSTIN:

(into walkie)

Runner in Stairwell B.

A door opens below Maurice, and Dave starts running up thestairs. Dave tackles Maurice.

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Dave and Justin drag Maurice back into the apartment.

MAURICE:

I want to go to Rikers! I want to

go to Rikers!

INT. LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Nicolas sits opposite a sloppily dressed Maurice.

93.

NICK:

You sure you won't let me fight it?

MAURICE:

I want to go to Rikers.

NICK:

Even though you broke your housearrest, you didn't go outside. The

judge is willing to let you stay ifEdith will vouch for you.

MAURICE:

I don't want Edith to vouch for me.

NICK:

At least put on something nice forthe cameras.

MAURICE:

That was last night. This is what

they get today.

Nick nods.

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice and Nick walk past Justin.

MAURICE:

See you, Justin.

Justin glares at Maurice.

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - ELEVATOR - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice and Nick watch the elevator doors open and step into

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

As Maurice and Nick walk towards the door, a HUGE BODYGUARDsteps in front of them. Then ANOTHER HUGE BODYGUARD. Then

Edith.

MAURICE:

What's going on.

The bodyguards pick up Maurice and carry him back to theelevator.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

Hey!

94.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

The bodyguards throw Maurice onto the couch. Edith and Nick

stand by.

MAURICE:

You can't do this to me.

EDITH:

I wouldn't bet on that.

MAURICE:

Nick, you're not going to stand forthis.

NICK:

As your lawyer, if Edith can get youto maintain house arrest until trial,

it is my legal advice that she do

so.

MAURICE:

This is imprisonment!

NICK:

What do you think house arrest is?

EDITH:

You guys can leave.

Nick and the bodyguards exit.

MAURICE:

You do not get to win on this.

EDITH:

You're not thinking long term.

MAURICE:

I have a right to my own demise.

EDITH:

If you won't think of our well being,

think of Jaqueline.

MAURICE:

She'd enjoy watching me go to prison.

EDITH:

If you make this easy, I'll give youa divorce.

MAURICE:

I wasn't asking for one.

95.

EDITH:

Then I am. We can't stay in thismarriage.

MAURICE:

I think I could.

EDITH:

It's toxic.

MAURICE:

For now, maybe.

EDITH:

For ever.

MAURICE:

I'm sorry I ran. It was a tantrum.

EDITH:

Tell me what happened.

MAURICE:

You get older. You drift apart.

EDITH:

No that, you dolt. In the hotel.

With Ama Parker.

MAURICE:

You know the story.

EDITH:

I know the public version. I want

the full version.

MAURICE:

I don't want to tell you.

EDITH:

Why?

MAURICE:

I'm afraid you won't find meattractive again.

EDITH:

Maurice, I could not find you lessattractive if you were covered inshit and beetles.

MAURICE:

I'm not even sure I know what

happened. I mean, I know what Idid.

96.

EDITH:

Start there.

MAURICE:

I made a pass at her. She took it

wrong.

EDITH:

How did you make a pass at her?

MAURICE:

I saw her looking at me, and I thoughtshe was checking me out. I still

think she was checking me out. I'm

a handsome man, don't you think?

EDITH:

I used to.

MAURICE:

I pegged her for a shy one, so Ithought she would appreciate my beingforceful. I thought she would wantto be taken.

EDITH:

Maurice.

MAURICE:

So, I walked up behind her, and Igrabbed her around the waist.

EDITH:

You didn't.

MAURICE:

I know it was a bad idea, but it wasearly, and I was in a good mood.

She pulled away, but I thought shewas playing hard to get. I thought,

I'll give her one more chance toloosen up. So, I grabbed her onemore time, and she broke away. Now,

I could tell she wasn't interested,

so I tried to explain. But before I

got a chance, she was out the door.

EDITH:

Maurice, you assaulted that woman.

MAURICE:

I didn't. I made a pass at her.

But, from her point of view, she wasassaulted.

(MORE)

97.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

And she will always have a memory ofmy face, my face trying to rape her.

And, even if that's not what happened,

that's how she'll carry it. For the

rest of her life.

EDITH:

We won't get divorced during thisnews cycle. It would look like an

admission of guilt. Six months after

the trial:
that's when we'll file.

Maurice seems to accept this.

EDITH (CONT'D)

I'm going back to my room. In about

an hour, I'm going to have dinner.

You should be out of the living roomand kitchen by then.

Edith exits. Maurice goes to his collage and starts pullingdown press clippings.

INT. SECOND BEDROOM - DAY

Maurice, unshaven and unkempt, lies in bed in the afternoon

sun. His phone RINGS. He is slow to answer it.

MAURICE:

Hello?

EXT. COURTROOM STEPS - DAY

Nicolas radiates pride as he talks on the phone.

NICK:

They dropped the charges.

INTERCUT PHONE CALL

MAURICE:

Oh.

NICK:

We were able to get her husband toadmit that she paid him to marry herso she could immigrate from Panama.

MAURICE:

How did you do that?

NICK:

Does it matter?

(MORE)

98.

NICK (CONT'D)

She can't bring a civil suit if she

gets deported, which was the whole

point. And she's decided her

citizenship is more important than

revenge, so she's not going to testify

against you.

MAURICE:

Is she still getting deported?

NICK:

Not if she keeps her trap shut. I

told you we would lick this. Go

celebrate.

Maurice puts down the phone.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice knocks on Edith's door. No response. He keeps

knocking. Edith opens the door and stands furious.

MAURICE:

This is the last time. We won.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

-- Maurice shaves

-- Edith puts on make-up

-- Maurice puts on his suit

-- Edith puts on jewelry

INT. FRONT HALL - LATER

Maurice and Edith, dressed sharp, stand in front of the front

door.

MAURICE:

You ready?

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice and Edith walk past Justin.

JUSTIN:

Congratulations.

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - ELEVATOR - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice and Edith ride the elevator, neither talking norlooking at each other.

99.

EDITH:

Six months.

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER

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