The Night Manager Page #3

PINE stares at her. She is terrified. And he knows it.

Later:
mid-breakfast.

ROPER:

So I suggest three days in Cairo

for shopping and gambling and then

we’re off down the Nile to the

glorious temples of Luxor. Anyone

got a better idea?

CAROLINE:

You always have the best ideas

Dicky.

ROPER:

I’m glad you’ve learnt that

Caroline my love.

He smiles at her with an acid gleam. PINE watches.

ROPER (CONT’D)

Now ladies I have something to

discuss with my young business

associate. Why don’t you go

shopping? We shan’t be long.

JED:

I’ll see you later.

The Night Manager ep 6 final.

She says it to ROPER but she means PINE. CAROLINE stands. JED

stands also. They move away.

ROPER:

More coffee?

PINE:

Thanks.

ROPER pours.

ROPER:

I owe you an apology. Appears Corky

was the traitor.

PINE:

How do you know?

ROPER:

I make it my business to know.

Why do you think he did it?

PINE:

I don’t know. He was drinking,

making mistakes. Maybe he thought

his shelf life was coming to an

end.

ROPER:

Saw younger competition on the

scene. Didn’t he?

PINE:

Maybe.

ROPER:

Moving into his terrain. Wolf on

wolf.

Beat.

ROPER (CONT’D)

Unless of course. It wasn’t him at

all.

PINE says nothing. ROPER sips his coffee. Appears to relax.

ROPER (CONT’D)

You know what this reminds me of.

Winston Churchill and TE Lawrence

sitting in a Cairo Hotel and

dividing up The Middle East over a

glass of champagne and a cigar.

Drew a map on a napkin and shook

hands. Kings of Arabia.

He smiles at him.

The Night Manager ep 6 final.

PINE:

I’m guessing you’re Churchill.

ROPER:

Only thing is. Can’t stand cigars.

He laughs but PINE can sense the edge. Something not right.

Then ROPER leans in. Touches PINE’s hand. Speaks very

quietly.

ROPER (CONT’D)

So tell me one thing - as we enter

into our own special relationship.

Are you betraying me Andrew?

He looks at him. Almost needy. PINE stares at him.

PINE:

No Richard. I’m not.

ROPER:

Hand on heart?

And it MEANS something to ROPER here.

PINE:

Hand on heart? You’re the man I’ve

been looking for all my life.

Utterly believable. And possibly true. ROPER smiles.

ROPER:

Well then. Long live the Kings of

Arabia.

A WAITER comes over.

WAITER:

Your guest is here sir.

ROPER:

Ah splendid. Bring him over.

And PINE looks up to see FREDDIE HAMID approaching. More

mature, no longer the youthful fireball. Genuinely

threatening.

PINE’s face stiffens. It’s all on this moment. Will he

recognise him?

ROPER (CONT’D)

Freddie. May I introduce you to

Andrew Birch, our director.

Beat. HAMID seems to have for a moment, a flash of

recognition. But he can’t place it and PINE gives him no time

to do so.

The Night Manager ep 6 final.

PINE:

Pleasure to meet you Freddie.

Richard’s told me all about you.

His hand is out. HAMID shakes it.

FREDDIE HAMID:

Welcome to Cairo. It’s going to be

fun.

PINE:

I can’t wait.

They smile. PINE’s smile is like a lake in winter.

FREDDIE HAMID:

Well. Shall we go meet them?

15-16 OMITTED 15-16

17 EXT. CAIRO. STREETS. MORNING. 17

18 INT. CAIRO. ROPER’S CAR/LIMOUSINE. MORNING 18

PINE and ROPER are in the back of a limo. They are following

HAMID’S distinctive car. Another of Freddie’s favourite toys

and he is driving it himself. FRISKY is in the front seat

with him.

PINE stares out the window at the passing streets.

19 EXT. CAIRO. HAMID’S BACHELOR PAD. DAY. 19

The cars enter a strange and luxurious gated community. It is

called simply PARADISE.

HAMID stops the car, buzzes down his window and merely lifts

his sunglasses and the GUARDS hurriedly step back and open

the gates.

HAMID stops the car, gets out, throws the keys to a VALET and

ROPER, LANGBOURNE and PINE walk up the steps. FRISKY stays

outside. Guarding.

Now more cars are driving through the gates.

ARAB MEN, suited, sunglasses with the feel of real danger

about them, most of them armed, get out the cars.

They are met by a VALET/SERVANT who guides them up the steps.

The Night Manager ep 6 final.

20 INT. HAMID’S HOUSE. DAY. 20

BARGHATI:

Spec list not changed?

PINE:

It’s all there.

PINE, and ROPER stand side by side in Hamid’s huge and

gaudily dressed apartment. Modernist glass. Wealth and

luxury.

BARGHATI is at the side of the main man - ABDUL KHIYAMI: Arab

but secular. Smart suit. Impeccable collar and tie.

Surrounded by muscle. But quietly so. No glitz, not like

Freddie. And it’s terrifying.

ROPER:

Our consignment is in the military

zone of Alexandria harbour, ready

for pick-up.

BARGHATI:

And the payment structure?

PINE:

As discussed. Half now. Half on

exchange. We’ll meet in two days

time.

LANGBOURNE:

Then if all parties are satisfied I

suggest we sanction the first fifty

per cent of the money to be

transferred into the Tradepass

account.

KHIYAMI:

Wait.

Beat.

KHIYAMI (CONT’D)

My consortium in Damascus seeks

reassurance that the causes for the

delay in Turkey have now been

addressed. And all risks have been

removed. Can you give this

assurance?

Beat.

ROPER:

Mr Khiyami’s concern is

understandable. We had a minor

issue. Internal. It’s been fully

investigated and addressed.

(MORE)

The Night Manager ep 6 final.

ROPER (CONT'D)

There will be no further delay. You

have my word on it.

KHIYAMI smiles.

KHIYAMI:

Then let’s do our business.

The laptop is produced and, with high security clearances,

the transaction begins. Iris recognition. Passwords.

It is three hundred million dollars.

PINE stares as the transaction is completed.

A hushed silence in the room.

ROPER shakes KHIYAMI’s hand. PINE shakes BARGHATI’s hand.

HAMID’s hand. There is almost a thrill in the room. But

ROPER’s face is a study in controlled tension.

20a OMITTED 20a

24 INT. CAIRO. NEFERTITI HOTEL. BAR. NIGHT. 24

Late night bar. ROPER and JED are talking in one corner, she

is kissing him, playing the game as PINE asked. PINE is

watching. JED flicks the odd look over ROPER’s shoulder to

PINE but it’s dangerous. FRISKY and TABBY loiter in the

background. LANGBOURNE is chatting to CAROLINE. CAROLINE

avoids PINE’s gaze.

PINE sees JED walk towards the bar. ROPER is talking to

LANGBOURNE. PINE walks across to her, leans in. It’s

dangerous.

PINE:

Smile at me. Laugh.

She does so.

JED:

I can’t do this any more. I can’t

sleep with him another night.

PINE:

You have to. It will be over soon.

JED:

Why can’t we get out of here? Just

the two of us.

PINE:

Because this isn’t just about you

and me.

The Night Manager ep 6 final.

Beat. She knows he’s right. He takes her hand behind their

backs.

JED:

I know. I’m just scared.

PINE:

Me too. It’s OK. Just listen.

But now ROPER is turning. PINE frees his hand, smiles.

PINE (CONT’D)

Smile. (she does) Last night. An

envelope came for Roper by courier.

Did you see it?

JED:

Yeah.

PINE:

Where did he put it?

Rate this script:5.0 / 3 votes