The Libertine Page #3

EDITH:

She was supposed to be here, and ifyou'd asked her for an ID, she wouldhave had one, but you are supposedto confirm everyone before they comein.

DAVE:

I don't understand what the problemis.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Edith shuts the door and walks back to Maurice.

EDITH:

I'm going to have to start workingfrom here.

MAURICE:

Now, let's not over-react.

EDITH:

You think I want to? You can't be

left alone.

15.

MAURICE:

I've learned my lesson. I'll work

on my book.

EDITH:

I will not be married to a sex

offender.

MAURICE:

The good news is you aren't.

EDITH:

I know, she misinterpreted the wholething. Here's something you may notrealize. Upstanding world leadersdon't make passes at hotel maids.

Even if they think the maid mightenjoy their wrinkled body.

MAURICE:

Why don't you go back to France?

EDITH:

So they can pull your bail?

MAURICE:

I didn't ask the judge to make itcontingent on your presence.

EDITH:

F***ing sicko. No, the head of theNational Assembly is not going tospend three weeks in Rikers jail.

It's bad enough that you let themphotograph you in that ridiculousperp walk.

MAURICE:

It's a grand New York tradition.

EDITH:

It's barbaric. How is a personinnocent until proven guilty whenthey splash photos everywhere withhandcuffs?

MAURICE:

Finally, something we agree on.

EDITH:

I'll be in my bedroom working. You

can reach me on email.

Edith goes into her bedroom and slams the door.

16.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Maurice sits on the couch in front of his computer. He is

wearing actual pants and an actual shirt. He stares at the

screen. He taps the top of the computer. He looks at his

NOTE CARDS on the table.

One note card reads, "collectivist necessity." Another reads,

"adapting automation."

Maurice types for a second then leans back. He stands and

walks to the master bedroom. He knocks.

EDITH (O.S.)

Send me an email.

MAURICE:

I did.

Maurice hears typing.

EDITH:

I've replied.

Maurice returns to the computer.

Maurice looks at his email and sees a NEW MESSAGE from Edith.

He opens it. His original email reads, "Come into the living

room." Her reply reads, "eat sh*t and die." There's an

ATTACHMENT labeled, "Maurice." Maurice opens the file.

It's a picture of a MONKEY EATING SH*T.

Maurice returns to the bedroom and knocks again.

EDITH (CONT'D)

Email.

Maurice keeps knocking. Edith burst out into the living

room. She looks as though she's been crying.

EDITH (CONT'D)

What?

MAURICE:

Have you been crying?

EDITH:

F*** you.

Maurice gestures for Edith to sit. She does.

MAURICE:

I want to help with your acquisitionof Euro Post.

(MORE)

17.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

I know Pierre pretty well. I think

we can get their editorial staff toendorse you.

EDITH:

I don't need your help.

MAURICE:

Then help me with my book.

Edith hesitates.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

I can spam you all day.

EDITH:

What's the last thing you wrote?

MAURICE:

Chapter two.

EDITH:

So, you're on chapter three?

MAURICE:

No, I mean I wrote the chapterheading. "Chapter two."

EDITH:

Where are you stuck?

MAURICE:

Let me read you some of what I haveso far.

(reading)

"The collective spirit is anunavoidable pre-condition for theexpansion of the spirit of freedom-"

EDITH:

(interrupting)

It's clunky.

MAURICE:

What is?

EDITH:

The sentence.

MAURICE:

Don't worry about the sentence.

Just let me keep going.

(MORE)

18.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

"The social safety nets created, inand of their own activities, are ofsecondary value, their primarilyvalue is in the knowledge of theirexistence-"

EDITH:

-It's awful.

MAURICE:

Let me read the whole paragraph.

EDITH:

It's a terrible sentence.

MAURICE:

It gets better. "It is in that

knowledge that the spirit of thegroup liberates the spirit of theindividual, beyond the essentials ofliving into the essence of living-"

EDITH:

-I can't listen to this sh*t.

Edith goes back into her bedroom.

Maurice stares at his laptop, deflated. He closes the

computer and carries it into the

SECOND BEDROOM:

Where he opens it on the bed.

Maurice opens a LIVE SEX CHAT WINDOW on the computer. There's

a WOMAN IN LINGERIE looking bored.

WOMAN IN LINGERIE (V.O.)

Hi there handsome.

MAURICE:

Don't talk until I say so.

WOMAN IN LINGERIE (V.O.)

Oh, you're a kinky one.

Maurice takes off his shirt.

MAURICE:

Stand up and turn around.

Maurice hears the front door and muffled hellos.

Maurice shuts the laptop.

19.

MAURICE (CONT'D)

Merde.

There's a KNOCK on his door.

EDITH (O.S.)

Maurice, Jaqueline and Nick are here.

MAURICE:

Hold on.

Maurice starts to put his shirt on.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Maurice steps out to see Edith, Jaqueline, and NICOLAS DENMAR,

55, Maurice's slick lawyer.

MAURICE:

(to Jaqueline)

Nice to see you somewhere other thanmy television.

JAQUELINE:

No it isn't.

EDITH:

(to Jaqueline)

Don't sit like that.

Jaqueline recrosses her legs.

NICK:

Shall we begin?

EDITH:

What kind of question is that? Just

start so we can finish.

MAURICE:

I don't know. Are we sure Jaquelineisn't recording us?

JAQUELINE:

Have you even listened to my

interviews?

MAURICE:

They warm my heart on mute. MaybeDave should frisk her for devices.

JAQUELINEFunny. Freud said nasty humor comesfrom guilt.

20.

EDITH:

Dave has been swapped out for anotherfellow.

MAURICE:

What? Have we vetted this one?

EDITH:

(sarcastic)

He went through twelve rounds ofinterviews and a Rorschach test.

Sit.

Edith gestures for Nick to begin. Maurice marches away fromthe conversation.

INT. BRANDILL TOWERS - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice opens the door and sees JUSTIN WYATT, 42, a differentpolice officer in Dave's chair.

MAURICE:

Who are you?

Justin folds his MAGAZINE and looks up defiantly.

JUSTIN:

Officer Justin Wyatt.

MAURICE:

You don't stand for a world leader.

JUSTIN:

Not all of them.

MAURICE:

Where's Dave?

JUSTIN:

Downstairs. We traded posts.

MAURICE:

You mean I have two men guarding me?

JUSTIN:

Don't flatter yourself. Mr. Birke

on the seventh floor is awaitingtrial for insider trading.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice bursts in on his impatient family and lawyer.

21.

MAURICE:

We're not the only people under housearrest in the building.

EDITH:

Yes, Kenneth Birke on the seventhfloor.

MAURICE:

You knew about this?

JAQUELINEThere's no "we" under house arrest.

MAURICE:

We should invite him to dinner.

EDITH:

Nicolas, control your client.

JAQUELINEWouldn't the whole house arrest

situation make that a little

impossible?

MAURICE:

He's only in for insider trading,

not attempted rape. I wouldn't be

surprised if he has buildingprivileges.

Edith gives Nick a "hurry up" tap on the shoulder.

NICK:

Maurice, we're here for Jaqueline.

Nick puts a BAG OF BAGELS on the table. Maurice sits and

starts in on them.

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