The Limey Page #6

VALENTINE:

(into phone)

Not before. Not before. Think about it.

What does it mean? What -- no, I'm not.

Think. Yes. See? You figured it out

all by yourself. I know. Are we done?

Okay.

He hangs up, stands, still doesn't turn.

VALENTINE:

Adhara. I told your father, if you're

looking for a name, you can't go wrong

with a constellation.

ADHARA:

I used to hate it. Now I like it.

VALENTINE:

Could be worse, he could've named you

Reticulum.

He turns and we see him for the first time.

VALENTINE:

Polished. Handsome. Charismatic. Especially when he's

smiling like he is now. He leans over and kisses her.

VALENTINE:

Is there anything in the world that you

want or need?

ADHARA:

I want to know why you need that scary

guy in your house.

VALENTINE:

Gordon? He's been with me for years.

He's not as tough as he looks.

ADHARA:

Then what good is he?

VALENTINE:

Is it possible that you're too young to

be acquainted with the idea of loyalty?

ADHARA:

Is that a problem?

VALENTINE:

Not for you, clearly.

ADHARA:

I'm loyal to things that make me happy.

VALENTINE:

Am I a thing?

ADHARA:

Well, you're certainly not a person.

VALENTINE:

I'm not.

ADHARA:

No. You're not specific enough to be a

person. You're more like a vibe.

VALENTINE:

I'm so glad we're having this chat.

ADHARA:

It's not a knock.

VALENTINE:

It's not a compliment.

ADHARA:

It's an observation. Like: I'm hungry.

When are we eating?

VALENTINE:

As soon as you get dressed.

ADHARA:

What kind of food?

VALENTINE:

Anything but Japanese.

ADHARA:

Why?

VALENTINE:

I'm not into finger foods. Too fussy.

ADHARA:

Like you.

VALENTINE:

I don't like do-it-yourself cuisine.

Buffets. Salad bars.

ADHARA:

You demand to be served. A fork

fetishist.

VALENTINE:

It's just fuel to me. I'm not there for

distractions.

ADHARA:

For some, eating is a sensual experience.

The sensual experience.

VALENTINE:

That's what Gordon's always saying.

ADHARA:

Oh, god.

His cell phone rings.

VALENTINE:

(into phone)

Yes.

He listens, then looks up at his balcony, where a MAN (AVERY)

stands holding a phone, obviously talking to Valentine.

VALENTINE:

(into phone)

I'll be there as soon as I can.

He hangs up.

VALENTINE (cont'd)

We can leave as soon as you're ready.

ADHARA:

Okay.

EXT. BALCONY. EVENING.

Valentine approaches Avery.

VALENTINE:

What.

AVERY:

There's been some trouble downtown.

VALENTINE:

What kind?

AVERY:

What the papers used to call a "gangland

slaying."

VALENTINE:

Our black friends?

AVERY:

No, Terry. They don't work like that.

Jenny Wilson's father paid a little

visit, left a message.

VALENTINE:

I thought he was in prison, in England.

AVERY:

Well, either they have a very liberal

work-release program, or he's out,

because he's here in L.A., looking for

you.

Valentine is a little ruffled. Maybe Avery likes that.

VALENTINE:

What do we do?

Beat.

AVERY:

We wait, and we watch.

Valentine just looks at him.

EXT. VALENTINE'S HOUSE. POOLSIDE. EVENING.

Adhara approaches Valentine, who stands staring at the pool.

ADHARA:

Italian?

VALENTINE:

I'm sorry.

ADHARA:

Italian.

VALENTINE:

Who?

ADHARA:

Not who, food. Should we get Italian.

VALENTINE:

Sure.

Turns to her.

VALENTINE (cont'd)

Yes. Are you ready?

ADHARA:

As long as I don't have to pass Gordon

again. I'm never ready for that.

He smiles, rises, and offers her his hand.

VALENTINE:

No. I know another way out.

She takes it.

CUT.

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING. EVENING.

ELAINE on her way in. Handsome woman. Intelligent, capable-

looking. Passes Wilson who's leaning somewhere smoking.

ELAINE:

Aware as a wary woman will be of a strange man's presence

without necessarily having looked at him. Well aware too

that he stayed where he was -- so she unworriedly unlocks the

building's security gate and goes through to the inner --

COURTYARD:

-- and closes the gate behind her, now seeing him amble up,

arriving as it CLICKS shut between them. He's looking at her

a certain way. She looks back. And knows.

ELAINE:

You're Jenny's father.

And the recognition on his part:

WILSON:

Had a feeling it was you.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote