The Night Manager Page #5

our country where we want it,

amongst the elites, punching above

our weight. It’s a state of being.

An ontology if you like. That has

to be maintained. We need Richard

Roper, America needs Richard Roper.

Whether you like it or not. For

your own safety. Don’t get in the

way.

Beat. BURR stares at DROMGOOLE’s head.

BURR:

It’s funny. I don’t see it.

DROMGOOLE:

See what?

BURR:

The halo.

Beat.

BURR (CONT’D)

Good night Geoffrey.

DROMGOOLE:

Don’t close the door.

She closes the door. Watches DROMGOOLE get in his car and

drive off.

Breathes deep.

A voice in the house.

MR BURR (O.S.)

Angela? Who was that?

BURR:

It’s all right love. Go back to

sleep.

The Night Manager ep 5

29

I/E. HILL FORT. PINE’S ROOM. NIGHT. 29

Night. PINE is in his room. He looks out across the compound

at the Chief’s private accommodation. Secluded and set back.

There are lights on in the windows.

30

I/E. HILL FORT. NIGHT. 30

PINE walks out. Smokes. Walks into the shadows.

Then throws the cigarette. And walks through the shadows

round the bottom of the compound.

31

I/E. HILL FORT. GENERATOR. NIGHT. 31

To the main generator.

He stares at the generator.

And pulls a connection, tears it, damages it badly.

The generator splutters to a halt. And the compound falls

into almost total darkness.

The distant figures of SOLDIERS make their way to sort the

generator. PINE moves fast in the other direction, using the

darkness, walking up the hill. He approaches the Chief’s

House from the other side.

He is a hundred yards away. PINE keeps low, using the extreme

darkness.

He approaches the ROPER cabin.

32

I/E. HILL FORT. ROPER’S ACCOMMODATION. NIGHT. 32

He remains in the deep shadows, and stares through a small

window. JED is inside. She is preparing for bed.

JED:

What happened to all the lights?

ROPER:

They’ll fix it. It happens all the

time.

JED:

Why did you bring me here Roper.

ROPER:

I thought you wanted to come.

The Night Manager ep 5

JED:

Not to an army base. I’m the only

woman here. You seen the way they

look at me?

ROPER:

I thought you might enjoy the

attention.

He enters with a lamp. There’s a frostiness in his voice.

JED:

Don’t be stupid. Why am I here?

ROPER:

I missed you.

JED:

Don’t try that on me. You never

bring me anywhere near your work.

And all of a sudden I’m right in

the middle of the whole thing. I

don’t get it.

ROPER:

Oh I think you do.

He stares at her. Utter menace in his eyes.

JED:

What are you talking about?

ROPER:

Someone has been prying into my

affairs. I thought you might help

me work out who.

JED:

I don’t know what you’re talking

about.

SLAP. He slaps her hard across the face. With a strange

calmness.

JED sits on the bed, afraid.

JED (CONT’D)

What the hell was that for?

ROPER:

Is it you?

She tenses, thinking he is about to hit her again, but also

thinking about Pine, protecting Pine. Then speaks very

quietly.

The Night Manager ep 5

JED:

You were lying to me about what you

did. I wanted to know what the man

I was sleeping with did for a

living. So I broke into your

office.

ROPER:

Good. That’s a start.

(beat)

Now listen to me. I would much

rather we sorted this out

ourselves. Just you and me. No-one

else. There’s a whole lot of

mountain between you and the

comfortable world you love so much.

So it would be much better if you

tell me everything you know my

sweet. And I don’t need to get

anyone else involved. OK?

She nods.

ROPER (CONT’D)

What did you do with the list?

JED:

What list?

Is he about to slap her again? She expects it, it might yet

come.

ROPER:

Who did you give it to?

JED:

I didn’t. I swear.

SLAP. PINE flinches, but does not move.

ROPER:

My dear that list has got into the

hands of the wrong people as a

result of which I have British

enforcement agents crawling all

over me like flies. Who did you

give it to?

Sudden footsteps! PINE dives into the shadows. Just in time.

FRISKY and TABBY are at the door.

FRISKY:

Chief.

ROPER:

What is it?!

Irritated.

The Night Manager ep 5

FRISKY:

Someone’s buggered up the jenny.

Looks deliberate.

ROPER’s face hardens. He has instantly seen the connection.

ROPER:

All right. I’m coming.

He turns to her. Kisses her gently.

ROPER (CONT’D)

Get into bed. I won’t be long.

He walks out.

PINE watches the three men walk across the darkness. He waits

and then walks to the door.

He enters. JED stares at him. Her lip is very slightly

bruised.

He is checking the windows. No one is coming. The sheer

professionalism of his actions strikes her.

JED:

I think it’s time you told me

exactly who you are.

PINE:

I was sent in by British

Intelligence to track Roper’s arms

operation.

He stares at her. Silence. As she takes this in.

JED:

That doesn’t make any sense.

PINE:

Well it’s true.

JED:

But you saved Danny’s life.

PINE:

A set-up.

JED:

You were injured. You almost died.

PINE:

Part of the plan.

JED:

And me? Was I part of the plan too?

The Night Manager ep 5

PINE:

Sit down and listen to me.

JED:

No. You don’t get to tell me what

to do. Either you get me out of

here or I tell Roper everything.

PINE:

I wouldn’t advise that.

JED:

Try me. I’m very believable when I

need to be.

PINE stares at her.

PINE:

And then what? I disappear, and

what happens to you? You think

he’ll let you go? Back to your old

life, to your beautiful son, with

Roper’s blessings echoing in your

ears? Or do you think he’ll keep

you, in his gilded cage, put a few

more eyes on you, give you a little

less air to breathe, for as long he

finds you fun. And then one day

when you no longer dazzle the way

you used to...

Beat. Maybe a crack of a finger. He stares at her.

JED:

What do you want me to do?

PINE:

You stay here, you lie to him, you

please him, you do everything just

the way he wants it.

JED:

How can you ask me to do that?

He stares at her, an echo of Sophie in his mind.

PINE:

I want you to tell him something.

When the two of you are alone. Tell

him Corkoran borrowed your phone a

few days after you went into the

office. Tell him you didn’t say

anything because you didn’t want to

get Corky in trouble. OK?

Beat. She nods.

The Night Manager ep 5

PINE (CONT’D)

I’m going to need some money. As

much as you have. Notes. Doesn’t

matter what currency, dollars are

best.

JED suddenly reaches for her bag, gives him all the money

from her purse.

JED:

That’s all I have.

PINE:

Thanks.

He takes it.

He stares at her. She has not a friend in the world except

him.

PINE (CONT’D)

I’ll get you out. OK?

Voices in the distance. People returning. ROPER returning.

One last look, then he is out of the cabin and into the

night.

And ROPER enters. Contained fury.

ROPER:

You need to help me understand. I

have British enforcement agents

crawling all over me like flies. So

I am asking you again, who did you

give the list to?

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