Black screen. Title credits roll throughout as a radio gives the morning news.
ANNOUNCER:
On Wall Street today, analysts are calling this quarter a “godsend” of free money. Where the bull market has been sluggish in the past, the Dow Industrial has risen over 1800 points in the past two days. Fed chairman Allen Densler cautions that lowered interest rates and a fresh housing boom are only sustainable in the short term.
DENSLER:
I would definitely not place too much faith in the market as it is now. Despite the impressive gains of recent weeks, we are, I believe, on the cusp of a recession to equal Reagan’s early years.
ANNOUNCER:
But Victor Hume, the president’s top financial advisor, offered a rejoinder to Mr. Densler’s dire prediction:
HUME:
The president is, of course, pleased with the resiliency this economy is showing. You have to take into account the factors of the so-called “Reagan recession”: the steep oil prices due to OPEC embargoes, as well as having just come off a, you know, a Democratic presidency that raised taxes on the middle class. Supply-side economics does work when the middle class feels they too can own a piece of the pie. If you give them a good share, they will invest and we can roll back the reliance on Social Security in the future.
ANNOUNCER:
Turning to politics, Senator Evan Long made further gains in winning his Democratic party’s nomination, strengthening his strong second showing at the Iowa caucuses. This time he has won first in the New Hampshire primary, which took place just five days after the Democratic presidential candidates debated in New Haven. Meanwhile, the president continues to show strong support from his party as well as with many moderate Democrats. His approval ratings have dipped four points, to 52%, still giving him a favorable rating with more than half of the voters polled. The president spoke from a fundraiser in California’s posh Sherman Oaks, citing the strong economy, a clear and accomplished legislative agenda, and unexpected peace at home during his administration.
PRESIDENT HAYES:
And we will continue to fight for what is right with our country and with our system of government. We are friends to all those who actively seek liberty and equality. Tyranny has been put on watch. Tyranny will not stand in the 21st century.
ANNOUNCER:
In international news, the growing danger in the central African republic of Cameroon escalated, generating new worries in the United Nations. The armed militias of warlord Zbiew Bayelevsa, a Matakam native, are again sweeping through the western region and are now claimed to occupy the populous city of Tibati, moving closer to the capital city of Yaounde. The president, Bisye White, has mobilized the army and promised to crush the rebellion.
WHITE:
We call on all members of the world body to lend aid in support of our democracy here. These rebels have killed women and children and are opposed to freedom and government as we know it.
ANNOUNCER:
Thousands of protestors took to the streets throughout Europe in an effort to bring attention to the developing situation in Cameroon. Protestors held signs reading, “UN OK for Africa”, signaling a clear message that the United Nations must intervene. Said one protest organizer: “We can not let genocide take root. A threat to liberty anywhere is a provocation to freedom everywhere.”
Back home, in Montana, people are watching the skies after an unexplained light show that lasted nearly fifteen minutes last night. Residents of Jasper, a small town some 180 miles northwest of Helena, reported four balls of light at a distance of ten miles swirling and blinking before disappearing. Residents are used to trusting their neighbor’s word so even those that did not witness the phenomena are discussing it seriously. The government, as with all other UFO reports, has no official response to the incident.
Your weather today in the northeast is clear and cool with lows in the upper 30s and a high near 52.
Int. RANDALL SWAIN’S room at the Padley-Biden Prep dorm Morning
RANDALL dresses as the radio broadcasts the news and then heads out of the dorm. Outside the dorm, there is a cleaning crew scrubbing graffiti off the building and a stone statue. Several windows are broken. RANDALL walks right past this. There are establishing shots of RANDALL walking through the stately grounds. Students are dressed in khaki pants and dark blue blazers with the school’s seal over the left pocket, red ties. One group of four wear their uniform loosely, haphazardly, consciously irreverent in their appearance. Two of these smoke. They have an attitude of being masters of the world, and highly inconvenienced by having to attend school.
Int. Lecture Hall of the prep school Later that morning
The students sit vacantly as the dean, JAMES HORNER, gives a speech.
HORNER:
This country’s elite have sent their sons to Padley-Biden for 269 years. Our classes predate the Constitution and four of that document’s signatories are alumni. Simply put, we offer the best education in the world to those who will one day steer the world. Former students have been Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, they have been accepted to the Ivy League, they have won the Fields Medal and the Pulitzer and the PEN/Faulkner and, in two cases, the Nobel Prize. Our students have sat on the board of directors of nearly every major Fortune 500 company, they have sat in the Oval Office and, two times, behind that desk. Your predecessors have been ambassadors and statesmen and Supreme Court justices. Our selection process is so exclusive that we have turned away members of the royal family. And (stamps his hand on the podium in time with these words) we have our honor.
(Beat)
Now, there are members of this class that do not respect the honor and tradition of Padley-Biden. There was an incident here over the weekend. While many of you were away for the holiday, a group of students defaced a new monument to one of this institution’s historic legacies. It was vandalism and since that is a crime I can call the perpetrators criminals, which they are. And as these criminals worked under the cover of darkness, and as they did not leave any identification to go along with their vandalism, I can also rightfully label them as cowards not fit to attend this institution. Since we are all on our honor here, I ask now that those students stand and take responsibility for your actions.
There is a hushed stillness as the students look back and forth between each other. No one stands.
HORNER:
If anyone has any knowledge about the vandalism that took place and can help me in singling out these criminals, please stand. And I remind you again: We are all on our honor here.
Again, the students look around at each other. No one stands.
HORNER:
Mr. Swain. Please stand up.
RANDALL stands, nervous.
HORNER:
Mr. Swain, you are here on scholarship and you are unable to return home for the weekend. Were you here this last?
RANDALL:
I was…
HORNER:
This crime occurred right outside your window over the weekend. It was discovered at Sunday lunch and was not present Saturday afternoon. Were you in your room that night?
RANDALL:
I didn’t-
HORNER:
Answer the question, Mr. Swain.
RANDALL:
Yes, I was. But I didn’t-
HORNER:
Will you say that you saw or heard anything unusual that night?
RANDALL:
Unusual, no, sir. I went to bed early that night and-
HORNER:
Mr. Swain, several windows were broken very near your room. On your honor, did you not hear this?
RANDALL:
(He looks to the group of four before answering)
No, sir. I took a sedative and must have slept through it.
HORNER:
And why did you not report the damage when you awoke Sunday morning?
RANDALL:
I’m sorry, sir?
HORNER:
The damage was not discovered until Sunday lunch. Why did you not report it before then?
RANDALL is at a loss for words, unsure what he should do.
HORNER:
It stands to reason that the damage, which was fairly extensive, would have been identified the moment you stepped outside for breakfast. Why did you not report it?
RANDALL is silent.
HORNER:
I can only reach the conclusion that you are covering for these criminals or you have committed this crime yourself. If I can not motivate you to reveal the truth, perhaps your parents can. I will request a conference next week and we may review your scholarship eligibility together. Do you understand me?
RANDALL:
Dean Horner, sir, I slept through-
HORNER:
Well perhaps you will find yourself awakening by the end of the week. Sit down, Mr. Swain, you are excused.
Ext. Prep school commons Right after the dean’s speech
RANDALL is walking in a daze. TED and BRYCE break off from their group and approach him.
BRYCE:
That was good in there, Randy.
TED:
You’re stonewalling, just like you should.
BRYCE:
Nobody really knows who did this; we were all skiing in Canada. It should stay that way.
RANDALL:
I was just sleeping, that’s all.
TED:
You can stay out of a lot of trouble sleeping.
BRYCE:
Randy, you’re looking glum. You trust us, don’t you?
TED:
You should come down to Aruba with us for Spring Break. We’ve got three condos reserved, right on the beach.
RANDALL:
Yeah, that would be wonderful. But, uh, how much…how much does three condos in Aruba cost someone?
TED:
(Laughs)
About $800 to get there, another $2700 for the condo. We’re going to have a six course meal on the first and last night, fend for yourself the rest of the time. So maybe another $500 for that. You’re awfully pale, do you need to build a base tan first?
RANDALL:
I’d like to go but I can’t afford that. It’s a bit steep for one week.
TED:
(Laughing again)
Yes, it is steep. And we can be loud when we party, but if you’re a heavy sleeper, you’ll never miss it. But it is steep, I’ll give you that. I have to ask my dad for the money every year and he usually gives me extra. If I could meet you halfway, how about that?
RANDALL:
Well, even halfway, I’d still need to earn the money in the next couple months.
BRYCE:
Linus’ dad set up a job for him as a friend’s personal assistant in the city. Now, Linus doesn’t necessarily need that money, if you see what I’m saying.
RANDALL:
I should probably buckle down and pay attention to my classes. I mean, if my grades don’t stay up then-
BRYCE:
Oh, fuck your grades, Randy. We’re talking about Aruba here. Aruba. Spring Break.
TED:
Look, we know you work on the landscaping crew for money.
BRYCE:
No money, probably.
TED:
See, this is something that pays well. You work, you come to Aruba with us. Right?
BRYCE:
Of course, we’d need to know that you kept sleeping heavily all night last weekend. That’s a promise you can make us, isn’t it?
TED:
Because I can only meet you halfway if you meet me halfway.
RANDALL just walks away.
BRYCE:
He’ll crack.
TED:
No he won’t. He wants to be one of us.
Ext. Manhattan Afternoon
Camera looks over RANDALL’S shoulder, his outstretched arm holding a slip of paper that says:
FRANKLIN TOWNSEND
42 Houston Street
RANDALL guides his way through the crowd until the number on the paper matches an address on the building. The building is an imposing concrete and glass skyscraper, easily forty stories tall. The doorman gives a slight bow to RANDALL and then opens the door.
Int. FRANKLIN TOWNSEND’S personal residence Moments later
The entire building belongs to TOWNSEND. The lobby is accoutered with marble floor and walls, an enormous diamond chandelier, and rich wooden reception area. TOWNSEND’S personal security detail for this building includes several personnel in the lobby. RANDALL cautiously approaches the reception desk and is directed to one of the guards who calls down JOE BYERS on his radio. The elevator opens with a small ding, nothing impressive compared to the lavish surroundings. BYERS steps out of the elevator with a smile.
BYERS:
You’re the one from Padley-Biden?
RANDALL:
Yes, sir, I-
BYERS:
(extending his hand)
Joe Byers, son, good to meet you. Follow me.
RANDALL:
I’m not sure exactly what I’m here to do. I was told-
They are stepping onto the elevator. BYERS produces a magnetic keycard and holds it to a scanner before pushing the button for the roof.
RANDALL:
We’re going to the roof?
BYERS:
You become privy to the fact that your boss and his wife are not happy with each other. You become infatuated with his wife. She dazzles you, is the strongest and most intelligent woman you have ever met and you respect her. You also happen to be privy to the knowledge that your boss has been unfaithful to her while on business trips. As you are ripped apart by the moral quandary all this knowledge has placed you in, she confides in you one night that she is planning to be unfaithful to her husband. She quite likes you and swears you to secrecy on the subject. She confesses that she is attracted to you and would sleep with you if you were amenable to the idea. Immediately prior to this revelation, your boss hints that you are the front-runner for a lofty promotion on the condition you keep an eye on the wife and protect the boss’ infidelity. With whom do your loyalties lie?
RANDALL considers this.
BYERS:
A sort of Kobayashi Maru, huh?
RANDALL:
I’m sorry?
BYERS:
The no-win scenario that Captain Kirk beat while at Starfleet Academy in Star Trek. The only way to win is to cheat. What would you do, kid?
RANDALL:
I would take the option that isn’t being offered. I would decline the promotion, keep the boss’ secret, and gently reject his wife.
BYERS laughs to himself. The elevator stops and the door opens. They step out. The roof has a commanding view of the area, peaking well above most of the other buildings. There is a large hot tub bubbling away on the far end of the roof, as well as a rubber jogging path circling the perimeter. In the distance, Central Park is visible.
RANDALL:
Why are we on the roof?
BYERS:
He may ask you what you can do perfectly. He’s a sincere believer that everyone can do one thing perfectly. What would you say you can do perfectly?
RANDALL:
I guess…thinking around corners. Applying philosophical concepts to real world situations. Doing the crossword in pen.
BYERS:
Christ, kid, don’t tell him all that. I said one perfect skill, not three.
RANDALL:
I’m sorry, I-
BYERS:
You’ve passed the pre-screen. Mr. Townsend is uptown today. You’ll meet him with his spare chopper. Don’t mind the mittens and, for god’s sake, do NOT try to shake his hand or touch him in any way.
RANDALL:
I’m going on a helicopter?
BYERS:
Be careful of Philipp, he’s-
At this point, the helicopter engine revs up and drowns out BYERS. BYERS ushers RANDALL toward the helicopter, pushes him into the back of it and then bangs the window of the pilot. The helicopter rises into the air, turning to head uptown.
Int. FRANKLIN’S office, uptown Manhattan Evening
The setting is as luxurious as TOWNSEND’S personal residence. The outer office is symmetrical, obviously so. Each half of the room is a mirror image of the other. There are two secretaries on each side of the room, dutifully working the phones. What sticks out most is the retinue of Asian bodyguards milling around. RANDALL approaches one of the secretaries and she motions him to take a seat on one of the leather reclining sofas that flank the double-doors. From inside the room, we hear loud yelling, but the words are mostly indistinct. Time draws out and RANDALL becomes more and more anxious. Eventually, the door opens and the Emperor of Japan walks out, a voice shouting after him:
I want that national ID program started now!
The Emperor is shaking his head and wiping tears from his eyes. RANDALL looks at him, shocked. He suddenly jumps from his seat and races for the hallway. He quickly finds a bathroom and dives into the stall and begins vomiting. A voice from outside says:
Hey, kid.
RANDALL ignores it. He stares into the bowl before his face, sweating, saliva dripping. The voice repeats:
Hey, kid.
RANDALL looks up to find BYERS staring over the partition at him.
BYERS:
What’s wrong? You got a stomach thing?
RANDALL:
I thought you were back at-
BYERS:
I flew up for the introduction. Figured I might as well give you some moral support. Looks like you really need it. What’s wrong with you?
RANDALL:
I, uh, well… I get sort of nervous around powerful people. Rich people.
BYERS:
Money doesn’t make the man, you know that. Hey, don’t you go to that wealthy prep school?
RANDALL:
It’s amazing how much Pepto Bismal I go through. And I’m on a steady diet of Saltines and anti-anxiety medications.
BYERS:
Christ, kid, you should have told me. If you can’t handle this right now, how you’ll cope later? Was it the office? I know that set up is all wrong, but-
RANDALL:
I saw the Emperor of Japan come out of his office in tears.
BYERS laughs a bit.
BYERS:
You’re going to find out real quick just how little power kings and presidents and emperors have.
The door of the men’s room opens. It is one of the secretaries. She says to BYERS:
You know, some people don’t like that.
BYERS:
We’re in a ferchrissake men’s room! What are you doing in here?
SECRETARY:
Mr. Townsend is ready to see him. Please send him in.
She closes the door and BYERS turns back.
BYERS:
This is it, kid. Time to put up or shut up.
RANDALL:
I can’t do it. I can’t.
BYERS:
It’s too late now, kid. Wipe your face and get in there.
Int. The outer office again A couple minutes later
RANDALL walks with great trepidation towards the door. He opens it and steps inside.
Int. TOWNSEND’S office, uptown Manhattan
TOWNSEND is bundled up, unusually so. The office is blazing with intense heat and he is bundled up. He wears a parka over a sweater, mittens, and a scarf around his neck. The sight of TOWNSEND is a bit jarring due to his presentation. He is introverted, fragile, unglamorous. The office itself is as unusual as the outer office, with the mirror image happening again. There are even dual copies of the same leather chairs behind the desk. The window behind the desk gives an impressive, and very expensive, view of Central Park from the upper west side.
FRANKLIN:
You’re from Padley-Biden?
RANDALL:
Uh, yes, sir.
FRANKLIN:
You look like you’ve just vomited. Are you sick? Don’t come near me if you’re sick. If you’re sick, go home.
RANDALL:
It’s just nerves, sir.
FRANKLIN:
I’ve seen nerves eat men twice your age, three times. Have a seat.
RANDALL crosses to the chairs in front of the desk and begins to sit in the left one. FRANKLIN gives a slight negative shake of the head. RANDALL freezes in the middle of the maneuver and switches to the other seat. He is sweating profusely.
FRANKLIN:
And now how long will you go before you ask it?
RANDALL:
I’m sorry?
FRANKLIN:
It’s what’s on your mind. Yet you are not asking because of nerves. You think it would be rude.
RANDALL:
I am a bit nervous, sir.
FRANKLIN:
I don’t care for b.s. I don’t care to hear it, don’t care to speak it. So just ask.
RANDALL ponders for a second.
FRANKLIN:
Don’t think. Thinking is bad for your complexion. Just ask the first thing that comes to your mind.
RANDALL:
Could I have a glass of water?
FRANKLIN crosses to the right of the window and opens a small refrigerator that is built into the wood. He makes a point of showing Randall what is inside. He withdraws first a small glass that is filled with ice. Then he extracts an unopened bottle of water. There is nothing remaining inside the fridge.
FRANKLIN:
You see? I knew you were going to ask for water before you even stepped in here. I had a bottle waiting for you. But you thought you were asking of your own free will, didn’t you? That’s how we run the world, son.
RANDALL:
Who runs the world?
FRANKLIN:
If I were to give you something that doesn’t exist and demand you pay me for it, what would you say to me?
RANDALL does not respond immediately.
FRANKLIN:
What, you can’t speculate about a hypothesis? What do you know about usury?
RANDALL:
It’s interest on loans.
FRANKLIN:
Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. Before there was money, there was gold. And when you deposited your gold, you were given a receipt. These receipts started being used as payment for debts and we gave up the gold to make our own fancy receipts that are backed by gold. Are you with me so far?
RANDALL nods.
FRANKLIN:
Okay. So what if you have a lot of gold and silver in your vault but people are only withdrawing a little at a time, what do you do? You start letting other people withdraw on that gold and charge them interest for doing it. That is the roots of modern finance. We charge people to borrow money that isn’t ours and sometimes doesn‘t even exist. Now what do you know about world history?
RANDALL:
My main area of study is English literature, so-
FRANKLIN:
Well I doth heartily beseech thee to study something useful from now on. Get some real bang out of your dad’s buck. I’ve got a busy day planned, so-
RANDALL:
Well, it was nice meeting you, sir, and-
FRANKLIN:
Wait a second, wait a second. Why are you saying goodbye already?
RANDALL:
I thought the interview was over.
FRANKLIN:
Interview? Interview? No, no, you interviewed with Byers. You’re working for me now.
RANDALL:
I have the job?
FRANKLIN:
You’re sharp as a bowling ball sometimes, aren’t you? Yeah, you have the job. You never would have made it up here if you weren’t my employee.
FRANKLIN is leading them through the outer office now, talking along the way.
FRANKLIN:
I want you to do something for me, okay? Write this down. 078-05-1120. You got that?
RANDALL:
Yes.
FRANKLIN:
That is a social security number. I want you to destroy the person it belongs to.
RANDALL:
Excuse me?
FRANKLIN:
Wreck his credit. Give him some outstanding arrest warrants. Delete his school transcripts. I want you to get creative with it. Impress me with your ingenuity.
RANDALL:
I don’t think I can-
FRANKLIN:
Don’t keep me updated though. Don’t even tell me what you’ve done after it’s finished. It would probably be best from a legal standpoint if I don’t know what you do with it.
JUDY:
Mr. Townsend, the rebels are shelling the capital in Cameroon.
FRANKLIN:
It’s about damn time! Cancel all my appointments.
JODI:
You’ve got the vice president at 6:30 on conference call with the British and Canadian prime ministers.
FRANKLIN:
Canadian? Christ, they don‘t even have an army. They sent a quarter of their forces for the Gulf War and that amounted to three hot air balloons and a battalion of Mounties. Come on, kid, I need to see how this plays out.
They walk back into TOWNSEND’S office. He produces a remote control and one of the wooden walls folds up on itself to produce a wall made of Tvs, a dozen or so screens in all. Many of them show the same footage, a city of brown and white buildings set amongst hills and lush greenery. There is smoke rising from several points in the city. Computer graphics label this: Rebels shell capital Yaounde. FRANKLIN begins fixing himself a drink at the bar. JUDY enters and begins rubbing down the exposed wood of the chair RANDALL sat in with sanitizing wipes. After this, she moves to the desk and begins to sanitize that as well.
RANDALL:
Sir, can I just ask about-
FRANKLIN:
Whatever you want, I don’t care. Give you a thousand a week, how’s that sound?
RANDALL is speechless.
FRANKLIN:
Fine, make it two. And I’ll cover all medical and travel expenses.
RANDALL:
Sir, I can’t travel. I’m in school, I-
FRANKLIN:
Who’s dean over there at Padley-Biden now? It’s that Horner, isn’t it?
RANDALL:
Uh, yes, sir, Dean Horner, sir.
FRANKLIN:
I’ll call him. Get you in on a work study program. He’s only dean but he knows how to play ball. What’s he driving? Lexus?
RANDALL:
I think it’s a Lincoln Towncar.
FRANKLIN:
Holy batshit fuck! I’ll get him a fucking Infiniti, see if I don’t.
(Rapidly motions at the screen)
Look at this! Capitalism in action!
RANDALL:
That’s not capitalism, it’s civil war.
FRANKLIN:
Not even that yet, it’s guerilla war. You got a girl?
RANDALL:
Could we not talk about my private life?
FRANKLIN:
You can tell me on the plane.
RANDALL:
Plane?
FRANKLIN:
To Belgium. Bilderberg Group is meeting tomorrow. I own my own Concorde, we’ll get there by 10 PM our time.
RANDALL:
I can’t go on a plane, I have stuff to- Did you say you own your own Concorde?!
FRANKLIN:
It’s being disinfected now. I also built the largest private runway in the world to launch from. Almost three miles long. Upstate a bit, Middletown area.
The phone begins to ring. FRANKLIN removes one of his mittens. He reaches for the phone and meets JUDY’S hand. They freeze. She withdraws her hand and quickly exits the room. The phone stops ringing. Oblivious to what has just happened, RANDALL says:
I have classes tomorrow. I can’t go to Belgium, I don’t even have a passport.
FRANKLIN collapses into his chair. He has a frightened look in his eyes.
FRANKLIN:
Don’t need a passport when you travel with me. Listen. I want you to fire Judy. No, don’t fire her. Move her to…
He suddenly bolts up and grabs the phone. He punches a single button and waits a couple seconds.
FRANKLIN:
Byers. I want you to get Dr. Dresner up here. I need a good Jewish doctor. And if you can’t get one of those, a good American lawyer. Have him give Judy from the secretary pool a full physical, including blood work. I need the results right away.
He sets the phone back in its cradle and then quickly swabs at his ear with one of the sanitizing wipes. He suddenly realizes that RANDALL is still in the room with him.
FRANKLIN:
You can stay here tonight. I doubt I’ll need you over there. See Byers for your pager. You need to carry it with you always. It does text messages so use that if you need to get in touch. But you come to where I am anytime I page you. You got that? Any. Time. Any. Where. If you are paged, you are on the clock again, I don’t care what you’re doing. You work for me now.
RANDALL:
I can’t take that much money. My last job only paid $200 a week, that’s ten times more.
FRANKLIN:
And I’ll work you twenty times as hard. I got you for half price. I’ll call from Belgium if I need anything. Why don’t you take the chopper back to the residence? I’ve got six floors of guest rooms to pick from. I really recommend the Geisha Room. Has a karate (ka-rah-tay) feel to it.
Int. Outer office Minutes later
BYERS is giving RANDALL a pager.
RANDALL:
I need to go back to my dorm to pick up things. I didn‘t know I would be staying.
BYERS:
Christ, kid, you miss more than four hours in a dorm and they plunder the whole lot. Do you have a roommate to guard it?
RANDALL:
No, I’m in a single.
BYERS:
Christamighty, they‘re divvying up the spoils right now.
RANDALL:
You want to hear something funny?
BYERS:
Sure, kid, sure.
RANDALL:
This is my first visit to New York City.
Int. The Geisha Room Late evening
RANDALL stands by a small table, talking on the phone. His shirt and tie are now gone, he stands in his slacks and an undershirt.
RANDALL:
Ted, it’s Randall. Who is this guy that you’ve got me working for? He said he owns his own Concorde.
(Pause)
Well, yeah, I got the job. But this guy…he doesn’t seem right.
(Pause)
No, I haven’t talked to Dean Horner.
(Pause)
How long do I work for this guy? I didn’t really get a chance to ask any questions.
(Pause)
I’m not sure it is up to me. You wouldn’t believe the first assignment he gave me. No, I can’t tell you. I had to sign a confidentiality agreement. But about Aruba-
RANDALL’S pager begins beeping. He picks it up and looks at it.
RANDALL:
I have to go. Yes, I was still asleep all night. Who is yelling there? Hello? Ted? Hello?
RANDALL pushes the disconnect button and then dials the number from his pager. FRANKLIN answers it immediately.
RANDALL:
Yes, I was paged? Yes, sir. Hold on, I’ll write this down. 67th and Madison Avenue…Godiva Chocolate…wait. It’s like midnight, the store won’t be open.
(Pause)
Oh. What am I supposed to buy?
(Pause)
I don’t have that much money.
(Pause)
$400 worth of chocolate on your account. Okay. Should I keep it here at the residence or take it back to your office?
(Pause)
What?
Ext. Private airfield in upstate New York Just after midnight
RANDALL, now dressed professionally again, exits the helicopter and walks toward a private jet that is on the tarmac. He carries with him a large Godiva’s bag. BYERS is standing at the foot of the plane’s steps, urging him on with his hands.
RANDALL:
Why is he making me fly to Belgium at midnight?
BYERS:
This is what he does. You ever hear that saying ‘in for a pence, in for a pound’?
RANDALL begins climbing the steps.
BYERS:
(Calling up the stairs after him)
I also like: Biting off more than you can chew.
Int. The private jet Somewhere over the Atlantic
The jet is rather large with about twenty seats and two sleeping berths. RANDALL attempts to sleep in one of these but he can’t manage it. The red phone’s indicator light comes on and there is a buzzing sound. The pilot announces a call for RANDALL has come in. RANDALL answers the red phone.
RANDALL:
Yes, Mr. Townsend, sir, I’m in the air now. Are you going to meet me when I land?
Cuts to FRANKLIN on his own jet.
FRANKLIN:
I can’t, I’m not in Belgium anymore.
RANDALL:
Where are you?
FRANKLIN:
I’m on my way back to New York.
RANDALL:
What? Why am I flying to Belgium if you’re not-
FRANKLIN:
Philipp will meet you at the airport and he’ll take you into Brussels. Jasmin is waiting for me but you’re going with chocolates and my apologies. Tell her I’ll be there in the afternoon.
RANDALL:
Mr. Townsend, this is ridiculous. There is no reason for you to have me fly to Belgium to deliver chocolates if you’re going to be there tomorrow. Why didn’t you call me and have me get the chocolates so you could take them back with you?
FRANKLIN:
This wasn’t an emergency, I didn’t want to risk the overseas lines. Have you got your notebook?
RANDALL pulls it out and prepares to write in it.
FRANKLIN:
“Jasmin, love of my first life, I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I regret we will not spend the night together. It eats at me like a parasite, just as I hope you will eat these chocolates I offer by way of apology.” You got that?
RANDALL:
You really want me to say that to her?
FRANKLIN:
No, of course not. That would sound stupid. Have Philipp write it down on a card to give to her. She thinks his handwriting is mine anyway, that’s why I had him fly in for this.
Ext. Small airport in Belgium Early morning
PHILIPP sits in a limo watching the plane land. When RANDALL walks down the stairs PHILIPP exits the limo and stands fussing with his parka, which apparently has a faulty zipper.
RANDALL:
Are you Philipp?
PHILIPP:
Get in.
Int. Limo Early morning
RANDALL:
I’ve never been to Europe.
PHILIPP sits impassive, ignoring him. He continues fussing with the zipper.
RANDALL:
You probably got a bit of the fabric stuck in there.
PHILIPP:
How would you know that?
RANDALL:
I don’t. I’m just guessing.
PHILIPP:
This is a Dijon parka. Are you a Dijon?
RANDALL:
No.
PHILIPP:
If I find out your last name is Dijon, I‘ll stick your head so far up your ass that you‘ll need a window in your stomach.
They continue the rest of the ride in silence. RANDALL marvels at the sights they pass. Although Belgium is not particularly historic, not in the way that France or England are, there is much beautiful architecture and that distinct feeling of being in Europe. PHILIPP seems perturbed that RANDALL is making the best of this situation.
RANDALL:
Mr. Townsend wants you to write a card for Jasmin. Let me read it to you.
PHILIPP produces a small card and prepares to write it down.
RANDALL:
“Jasmin, love of my first life, I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I regret we will not spend the night together. It eats at me like a parasite, just as I hope you will eat these chocolates I offer by way of apology.” You got that?
PHILIPP nods.
Int. The Amigo Hotel in Brussels Morning
The hotel is opulent and the rooms resemble a well-appointed apartment. RANDALL knocks on a the door of room 304. JASMIN opens the door excitedly and then her face falls when she sees RANDALL rather than FRANKLIN. She reaches out and takes the Godiva’s bag from his hand and then slaps him. She shuts the door.
RANDALL:
(through the door)
He sent a card too!
RANDALL lifts the card to read it: “Nice tits, you French whore--FRANKLIN” As the door is being flung open again, RANDALL quickly swings his arm behind his back to hide the card. JASMIN looks him up and down.
JASMIN:
Where is the card?
RANDALL:
It was, uh, it’s a telegram, really.
JASMIN:
Let me have it.
RANDALL:
A singing telegram.
JASMIN:
Then sing it.
RANDALL:
(Considers and then begins singing)
I know your eyes in the morning sun…
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain…
And the moment that you wander far from me…
I wanna feel you in my arms again…
And you come to me on a summer breeze…
Keep me warm in your love and then softly leave…
And it’s me you need to show…
How deep is your love?
How deep is your love?
I really need to learn…
‘Cause we’re living in a world of fools…
JASMIN slaps him again and then shuts the door. There is laughter from the end of the hall. RANDALL turns to find PHILIPP enjoying what has transpired.
Int. Private jet Afternoon
RANDALL is sleeping in one of the berths. He awakens slowly to find PHILIPP standing inches away, just staring at him. RANDALL reacts, jumping with fright.
PHILIPP:
Hey, buddy.
RANDALL:
What are you doing?
PHILIPP continues staring at him with a devious smirk. RANDALL swings himself out of the berth and marches toward the front of the plane.
PHILIPP:
Hey, come on, buddy. I was just playing. Why don’t you sing a verse of Don’t Fear the Reaper and we can be friends again? The Pina Colada Song? Rocketman?
**Montage segment*
Shots of private airplanes taking off and landing.
RANDALL:
(v.o.)
Mr. Townsend had me circling the globe with him. Thailand’s sex districts for fun, Switzerland’s financial district for business.
(With a shot of RANDALL eating a chocolate bar while staring at the Alps), RANDALL’S v.o. says:
They make great chocolate there.
Counseling the president of Egypt on strategies for dealing with Israel. Tokyo for another meeting with the Emperor. Instructing the premier of Russia to mobilize the army as soon as possible. I heard the words “death squads” and “ethnic cleansing”.
Shots of these locations.
RANDALL:
(v.o.)
I got my own suite in the priciest hotels. It was like waking up to find that you owned the world. Townsend had so many meetings. Bilderberg, Trilateral Commission, Council on Foreign Relations, dozens of these think tanks and private clubs for the wealthy.
Snapshots of smoke-filled conference rooms, old white men in very expensive suits, Townsend among them in his parka and mittens.
RANDALL:
(v.o.)
I didn’t know how it all fit together. He would leave me cryptic messages telling me to dump stocks and I didn’t even know how. I turned a lot of this work over to Byers and he took care of it. I felt like an outsider that had become a middleman. None of it made sense but I didn’t care. I started to feed off his power. I thought of myself manipulating world politics someday.
Shots of RANDALL being fitted for suits. Inside the scene, the tailor asks how long he wants the cuffs. RANDALL responds:
As long as I have the pants.
Shots of RANDALL picking out expensive gadgets in an upscale store. In the scene:
COUNTER GIRL:
I should warn you that you can’t take lighters on planes anymore. I’d hate to see you have to surrender it after paying so much for it.
RANDALL:
I fly by private plane, it’s not a problem.
COUNTER GIRL:
Let me give you my card in case you need anything else.
RANDALL:
Why don’t you just say what you really want?
COUNTER GIRL gives RANDALL a coy smile.
RANDALL:
(v.o.)
Personal time should have been valuable because I didn’t have any. But it didn’t mean anything. It felt like wasted time. I wanted to be in the meetings, I wanted to be near the power. Fast track? Try: third rail.
Shot of RANDALL standing on a rooftop, staring out at a glittering city full of skyscrapers. His pager begins beeping.
Int. Private jet somewhere over America Afternoon
BYERS and FRANKLIN are watching a movie projected onto a screen in the plane. RANDALL walks towards the back of the plane to make a phone call.
FRANKLIN:
Oh, she’s really pretty.
BYERS:
Yeah, she’s gonna be naked in a minute.
RANDALL reaches the back of the plane to find PHILIPP using one of the phones. PHILIPP turns to see who has entered the corridor.
PHILIPP:
What?
RANDALL:
Nothing, I just wanted to-
PHILIPP:
What, you gonna stab me in the back? What am I, Polonius?
RANDALL:
No, the phone. I wanted to-
PHILIPP:
Do I have to ask your permission to use the phone?
RANDALL:
I’m sorry?
PHILIPP hangs up the phone.
PHILIPP:
That was a really important call. I was thinking, you know, that maybe I could take five minutes out of my day to actually do something productive for myself. But now you’ve ruined it.
RANDALL:
I didn’t-
The plane’s flight attendant appears at the end of the corridor, behind RANDALL.
ATTENDANT:
Can I get you guys anything?
PHILIPP slides past RANDALL and puts an arm around her shoulders and they begin to walk away.
PHILIPP:
Let me fill you in about this guy.
RANDALL picks up the phone and makes a call.
PHILIPP walks down the aisle, still talking to the flight attendant (improv dialogue including bits of, “Thinks nothing of others’ needs and wants. You should have seen what he did to my zipper”) and BYERS leans over to FRANKLIN and says:
How’s the kid working out?
FRANKLIN:
Hasn’t ruined me yet.
BYERS:
He’s a smart kid. Rough around the edges still, but I see something in him. I don’t think Philipp’s taking it well but-
FRANKLIN:
Well just because you have to eat doesn’t mean you have to cook.
