The Libertine Page #4

NICK (CONT'D)

Discrediting these charges is a teameffort. That means all of you haveto work together.

MAURICE:

Jaqueline, you could come to thedinner.

JAQUELINEWhy would I have dinner with an insidetrader?

MAURICE:

Alleged.

(MORE)

MAURICE (CONT'D)

You never want to see just me. This

would take some pressure off.

EDITH:

Maurice. Focus.

MAURICE:

Don't you think it would be nice tohave company?

EDITH:

If I want company, I'll leave thebuilding.

MAURICE:

Show off.

JAQUELINENicolas, do you bill by the hour?

NICK:

Absolutely.

MAURICE:

Then he won't mind waiting. Edith,

go knock on their door.

JAQUELINEIt's not enough she stands by you,

you want her to run errands.

EDITH:

When you make a jab like that, leanforward. It will make you morethreatening. When you lean backthat way, it comes off as a defensivebark from a scared little girl.

MAURICE:

Nicolas, why don't you take a stabat the conversation?

NICK:

I want to update you on the statusof the trial. Things are going aboutas well as could be expected, and Iremain cautiously optimistic.

MAURICE:

Get to the content.

22.

23.

NICK:

We're working very hard to establishthat these charges are baselesscharacter assassination.

MAURICE:

To prove these charges are baselesscharacter assassination.

NICK:

(to Jaqueline)

Which is greatly hindered by yourmaligning your father in the publicforum.

JAQUELINEHe should just plead guilty.

MAURICE:

Ha.

JAQUELINEReally.

MAURICE:

You don't actually think I'm guilty.

JAQUELINEOf course I do! Why else would I besaying these things on TV?

MAURICE:

Because you're an attention hog.

JAQUELINEThe narcissist sees himself in

everyone.

MAURICE:

It's not polite to psychoanalyzeyour parent. I think there's a

commandment against it.

JAQUELINEWhat have I said to suggest I thinkyou're innocent?

MAURICE:

I'll tell you what happened.

NICK:

That's not necessary.

MAURICE:

She needs to hear me tell the story.

24.

NICK:

Then tell her while I'm not around.

MAURICE:

You're paid by the hour.

NICK:

Our strategy involves having youplead the fifth and avoid the stand.

We'll discredit the maid, and youwill never have to tell your side.

That means I don't need to hear yourstory. I don't want to hear yourstory.

MAURICE:

But it exonerates me.

NICK:

It's irrelevant.

MAURICE:

You think I'm a rapist.

NICK:

It's not my job to think one way orthe other.

MAURICE:

We've been friends for decades.

NICK:

The only thing that matters isdiscrediting this maid.

JAQUELINEShe has a name. It's Ama Parker.

EDITH:

Good for her.

JAQUELINEExcuse me?

EDITH:

I mean, most people get to have theirown name, but good for her that shehas one too.

MAURICE:

Edith, what are you doing?

25.

EDITH:

(to Jaqueline)

Do you want to be the daughter of asex offender?

JAQUELINEI didn't know I had a choice.

EDITH:

By some strange circumstance, it

appears you may. Do you choose tobe the child of a world leader and a

business mogul, both of whom willlovingly hand you a golden career asa graduation present? Or do youchoose to be the daughter of acriminal deviant and his disgracedwife? Neither of whom will be able

to make a single call on your behalf?

JAQUELINEI may have a blossoming career as aTV pundit.

Maurice and Edith chuckle.

EDITH:

I'm proud of your instinct for selfpromotion, but do you really thinkyou're going to get calls you afterthis trial?

JAQUELINE:

(to Maurice)

Your career is over. You just don'tsee it yet.

(to Edith)

And you can free yourself from himany time.

MAURICE:

You really think I'm guilty?

EDITH:

What are you even doing here?

JAQUELINEI wanted to hear him confess.

NICK:

Don't confess.

MAURICE:

How can I confess to something Ihaven't done?

26.

NICK:

That's good. Keep saying that.

MAURICE:

You all know me.

JAQUELINEYou're a swine.

EDITH:

Both of you, calm down.

MAURICE:

I'm your father.

EDITH:

Nick, what advice do you give whenyour clients become overly emotionalin court?

NICK:

I usually tell them to imagine they'rein a long line at the DMV. I find

that brings out the perfect balanceof indignant restraint.

MAURICE:

I'll make some phone calls for you.

I'll get you a plum executive jobout of school.

JAQUELINENo one wants your calls.

MAURICE:

For now.

EDITH:

Honey, I know you feel abandoned.

JAQUELINEDon't take an interest in psychology

now.

EDITH:

I love your passion for people.

JAQUELINEDon't humor me to control me. You

hated it when I minored in psychology.

You said it was soft.

27.

EDITH:

You see your father not doing hispart, and you think, "if he's goingto let the Lunel-Caspi ship sink,

why should I stay onboard?"

MAURICE:

I'm fighting this trial witheverything I have.

EDITH:

You see his creepy wall collage.

MAURICE:

That's my wall of vindication.

NICK:

She's right. It sends a messagethat you are not sympathetic withthe victim.

MAURICE:

Of course I'm not sympathetic withthe victim. She's trying to frameme! If you have a problem with it,

don't bring journalists into my living

room.

NICK:

It's not about the collage, it'sabout a pattern of behavior.

MAURICE:

My behavior is not the issue. The

issue is your competence as a lawyer.

JAQUELINEYour behavior is the only issue.

EDITH:

(to Jaqueline)

You don't care about self interest,

fine. Doesn't your father deserve afair trial?

JAQUELINEEveryone deserves a fair trial.

EDITH:

And can he get a fair trial if youturn public opinion against us?

JAQUELINEFine. I'll think about it.

28.

EDITH:

That's all we can ask.

MAURICE:

No, it's not all we can ask. We can

ask for some goddamn loyalty.

EDITH:

(to Maurice)

Recognize a win.

MAURICE:

(to Nick)

Come into the other room with me.

NICK:

What for?

MAURICE:

I need some legal counsel. Awayfrom their biased ears.

Maurice leads Nick toward the master bedroom.

EDITH:

Not that one.

Maurice nods and leads Nick into the second bedroom.

JAQUELINEIf you had any self-respect, you'dleave him.

EDITH:

Jaqueline, when you become married,

you will be perfectly free to leaveyour own husband. I'll support youwhen you do. In the meantime, don'ttell me to leave mine.

INT. SECOND BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Maurice pulls Nicolas over by the bed.

MAURICE:

You have to get me a girl up here.

NICK:

I thought you wanted to talk aboutthe case.

MAURICE:

Are there any major changes?

29.

NICK:

No.

MAURICE:

Then f*** the case. I'm going crazyup here. Edith's always watching

me.

NICK:

So are the police.

MAURICE:

That's why you need to help. Dress

her up like a lawyer. That will gether by.

NICK:

And implicate the firm?

MAURICE:

I did it before. The doorman was

completely fooled.

NICK:

That could come back to me!

MAURICE:

It was only Edith who caught on.

She's smarter than a cop.

NICK:

I don't want you telling me thingslike this.

MAURICE:

I'm climbing the walls. You're mylawyer and a friend. You're supposedto take care of me. Can't you seeI'm suffering?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes