Uncut Gems Page #20

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127.

HOWARD:

(quietly)

Will you answer that for me.

JULIA engages the speakerphone.

JULIA:

Hello.

KG’S MANAGER (O.S.)

Hi, my name is Liz Mazur, I work withKevin-

HOWARD’s entire body jerks to life.

HOWARD:

(alive again)

This is Howard.

KG’S MANAGER (O.S.)

Yes, hi, I got your message fromDemany regarding the gem-

HOWARD:

Does he still want it?

KG’S MANAGER (O.S.)

Yes, he’s still interested. We’re

actually at the bank right now. We canbe by you within the hour-

KEVIN can be heard yelling incoherently in the background ofthe call. HOWARD looks concerned.

HOWARD:

It’s still like we discussed, 175...

In cash?

KG’S MANAGER (O.S.)

Yes, uh...

(changing tone quickly)

Sorry I need to go. See you soon.

HOWARD pumps his fist, victoriously. JULIA grabs HOWARD androlls her tongue over his face.

EXT. 47TH STREET BETWEEN 6TH AND 5TH - JUST AFTER

HOWARD walks while on the phone, now wearing the Versacetracksuit and sunglasses (to help hide his bruises).

128.

HOWARD:

(into phone)

Arno, listen, no bullshit. Garnett’s

on his way to my office right now with175 thousand in cash...

HOWARD turns into a 66 West 47th....

INT. 66 WEST 47TH STREET JEWELRY BIZARRE - CONTINUOUS

HOWARD:

(into phone)

...You said I have till Monday? Todayis still Monday. So... I don’t know ifyou’re hearing this, but this is real,

Kevin was just at the bank, he’sbringing me the cash right now... Comeget your money, buddy.

HOWARD hangs up as he approaches RODNEY BRONSTEIN, who iseating a sandwich of matzoh, butter and salt.

HOWARD (CONT’D)

I need the Celtic ring back.

RODNEY:

What happened to Friday? It’s Monday,

Howie.

HOWARD:

I know, I know. It was a short week,

Pesach screwed it all up in my head-

RODNEY:

What happened to your face?

HOWARD:

Car accident.

RODNEY shakes his head incredulously. HOWARD pulls his Tom

Riker NY KNICKS 1973 championship ring off his finger andplaces it onto the showcase.

HOWARD (CONT’D)

I need the Celtic ring. I’m gonna giveyou the Knicks ring. Swamp em out,

please.

RODNEY holds up the Knicks ring. Looks up at HOWARD.

RODNEY:

You’ve had this ring forever.

129.

HOWARD:

I just need the Celtics ring, alright?

RODNEY removes Garnett’s ring from a shelf in the showcasebeneath him and places it in front of him.

RODNEY:

I own this ring right now.

HOWARD:

I know-

RODNEY:

I’ll swap the rings, but I’m gonna puta 15% vig on this one. And I’ll tell

you right now, if you’re not here byFriday it’s gonna be the same thingall over again, except you’re notgonna have a third ring to give me.

HOWARD:

I appreciate it. And I’m sorry forjerking you around. Let’s make it 16%,

ok?

RODNEY:

Howard, bubbie, what’s going on, youalright?

HOWARD:

Very good. Everything is going good. Ipromise you.

EXT. 41 WEST 47TH STREET - 3PM

HOWARD, walks towards his building, mind racing. He notices apristine black SUV with tinted windows pull up in front of 41West 47th street. A BODYGUARD hurries out and opens a backdoor for KG and KG’S MANAGER.

HOWARD:

(smiling from ear to ear)

THERE HE IS! KG, DON’T YOU HAVE A GAME

TONIGHT!?

KG and his MANAGER turn around.

HOWARD (CONT’D)

I got your chip right here.

HOWARD extends the ring to KG who takes it and puts it on.

130.

HOWARD (CONT’D)

(to KG’S MANAGER)

You must be Liz.

KG’S MANAGER

Yes. How are you?

HOWARD:

Thank you guys for coming. I know thisis annoying, but exciting at least,

no?

KG’S MANAGER

No.

INT. KMH GEMS AND JEWELRY OFFICE - SHOWROOM - AFTER

BUZZ! JULIA buzzes them into the showroom collectively.

HOWARD:

Julia! Lets get these guys somePowerades-

JULIA:

Powerades? Water anyone?

KG:

I’m good. Howard, I wanna have a wordwith you alone.

HOWARD:

Of course. Let’s step in my office.

KG’S MANAGER

Kevin, we need to go.

KG:

Two seconds.

KG’S MANAGER

We gotta be in Boston in an hour, weneed to GO.

KG:

I know... I know...

KG takes a Adidas tote bag from his BODYGUARD and follows

HOWARD to the backroom.

INT. KMH GEMS AND JEWELRY OFFICE - BACKROOM - CONTINUOUS

The two enter the backroom. As soon as the door is closed...

131.

KG:

(enraged)

What the f*** is going on!??!

HOWARD:

(taking a seat)

What do you mean?

KG:

I feel like you’re f***ing with myemotions, playing with me. I mean, youhaven’t been straight since the secondI walked in here.

HOWARD:

(feigning hurt)

Why are you saying this?

KG:

I mean, I came in here and offered youa very fair price and you rejected me.

And that was on a game day, Howard!

GAME DAY! Then, I brought it back! Ididn’t have to bring it back, but Idid. I brought it back Howard. Then Ishow up at an auction and you havesomeone bid against me!? You didn’tthink I’d find out about that!??!

HOWARD:

Look, its complicated, KG. I told you,

I had it at auction- Look...

HOWARD removes his sunglasses for a brief second.

HOWARD (CONT’D)

You see this face? You-

KG:

I don’t care about none of that.

KG tosses the Nike tote bag over to HOWARD.

KG (CONT’D)

That’s 165 thousand right there. Cash.

Six percent goes to Demany. I’vealready taken that out. Now gimme theopal so I can get the f*** out ofhere.

HOWARD picks up the Adley’s box containing the opal.

132.

HOWARD:

This opal is very valuable to you...

Remember, I did that.

HOWARD hands it over. KG opens the box and inspects the opal.

KG:

And I thought you were a f***ing fan.

HOWARD:

What!?! I’m a f***ing HUGE fan. Irespect the passion. Always have.

KG:

How much did you pay for this? Realtalk.

HOWARD:

Awww, Kev that’s not a fair question.

You’re talking about months and monthsof my time.

BUZZZZ! HOWARD looks up at the monitor and sees ARNO, PHIL,

NICO and BUDDY getting buzzed into the space.

KG:

Look, I gave you the cash. I’m notgonna take it back. It’s done. I wouldjust like to know for myself how muchyou spent on it. Real talk. Man to

man.

HOWARD:

The thing is, if I tell you the numberit would be misleading.

KG:

(digging)

Why’s that?

HOWARD:

Ok, fine, I paid a hundred grand, ok?

KG:

So you doubled your money.

HOWARD:

Not even. I made pennies on my labor.

I’m the f***ing joke here, alright? Amillion dollars is what I was supposedto get!

133.

KG:

Let me get this straight. You gavesome guys in Ethiopia 100 thousanddollars for something you believed wasworth a million and you don’t seeanything wrong with that?

HOWARD:

Do you know how much Ethiopian minersmake? A hundred thousand dollars is

more money than these guys would makein fifty lifetimes-

KG:

Well a million is a lot more!

HOWARD:

Do you like to win by 1 point or by 30points, KG? I see you out there whenthe stadium’s booing you, you’re 30 upand you’re still going full tilt!....

I see you! Let’s see what Vegas hastonight’s game at!

HOWARD turns to his computer, tilts the monitor towards KG andbrings up a betting site.

KG:

You serious? In front of me, you’regonna pull this up right here?

HOWARD:

Look! See... Not only do they have theSixers favored to win tonight by 1 anda half points, away! They think you’regoing to have a shitty game.

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