concrete hair. Betty crosses to her husband and hands him a
fresh martini. She kisses him on the cheek.
BETTY
How was your day?
GEORGE
Oh, swell. You know, Mr. Connel said
that if things keep going the way they
are, I might be seeing that promotion
sooner than I thought.
BETTY
Oh darling thats wonderful!
(an adoring gaze)
I always knew you could do it.
WAGNER LIVING ROOM. NIGHT.
1996 -- (LIVING C
CHARADE
FADE IN (BEFORE TITLES)
1. EXT. FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE -- DUSK
Silence -- complete silence for the urbanite, though the
oncoming darkness is punctuated by the sounds of farm
country -- a few birds, a distant rumble of thunder from
some heavy clouds on the horizon, a dogs barking.
CAMERA PANS the green, squared-off flatland, lit only by
a fine sunset in its final throes. Then, gradually,
start
concrete and THATCHWORK
BUILDINGS, a secret command post disguised as a COASTAL
FISHING VILLAGE.
The post in a flurry of activity, AMERICAN ADVISORS
shouting directions to dozens of LATIN AMERICAN SOLDIERS
who stand by to assist the landing helicopter and to
load EQUIPMENT into the other choppers.
Inside the chopper, one man remains, stretched out against *
the bulkhead, as if asleep. He stirs, s
concrete. The rush hour
crowds burned down in their tracks.
4 WE DISSOLVE TO a playground... where intense heat has half-melted
the 4 jungle gym, the blast has warped the swing set, the
merry-go-round has sagged in the firestorm. Small skulls look
accusingly from the ash-drifts. WE HEAR the distant echo of
childrens voices... playing and laughing in the sun. A silly,
sing-songy rhyme as WE TRACK
fine.
Thank you. lm honoured by this warm and gracious welcome.
Being here, at the end of a journey, lm reminded of Descartes words:
Whether l am awake or asleep, two and three will always make five.
lt does not seem possible that such a truth can be questioned.
This book has taken me over years to write.
lt is with sadness l say goodbye to it consuming my days and nights.
And nights ...
And as l
fine lady,
she has it easy...
because the state says
we have to let her go.
Okay, now...
you think you can handle this?
Are you sure?
Okay, go ahead.
Put him in the tank.
Good!
-Higher, higher!
-Higher!
Ill swing you higher.
-Is that high enough?
-Yep.
-Ruth hates these.
-What?
-I got the wrong kind of buns.
-Maybe we could borrow hers.
What I would give
to have back my youth.
Well, Willis,
you n
sidewalk; others in the rainbow
spray from the fishmongers hose.
The building across from the fish market with the metal door
above concrete steps. It opens.
STARLING
Heads up.
A large white man in a luau shirt and sandals comes out
with a satchel across his chest, other hand behind the case.
A wiry black man comes out the door behind him, carrying a
raincoat, and behind him, Evelda Drumgo.
S
FINE, BUT YOULL
HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT
TO MR. SMITH.
HE WONT MIND,
SEEING HOW TONIGHTS
CORNED BEEF NIGHT.
IS IT ALL RIGHT?
YES, BUT I HAD
TO TELL LIES.
WELL, THEYRE
ONLY WHITE LIES.
DRESSING THEM IN WHITE
DONT HELP.
IF ITS NOT
ASKING TOO--
WHY WAS I LYING
THIS TIME?
WHY MUST WE
HAVE DINNER EARLY?
BECAUSE ROSE
IS EXPECTING--
DONT BLAME
YOUR SISTER.
BLAME HER? WERE
DOING THIS FOR HER.
YOU KNOW
ROSES PR
concrete and THATCHWORK
BUILDINGS, a secret command post disguised as a COASTAL
FISHING VILLAGE.
The post in a flurry of activity, AMERICAN ADVISORS
shouting directions to dozens of LATIN AMERICAN SOLDIERS
who stand by to assist the landing helicopter and to
load EQUIPMENT into the other choppers.
Inside the chopper, one man remains, stretched out against *
the bulkhead, as if asleep. He stirs, s
fine attorney.
GALVIN
Its a shame about your husband,
Mrs. Dee.
The Widow nods.
GALVIN
I knew him vaguely through the
Lodge. He was a wonderful man.
(shakes head in sympathy) It was
a crime what happened to him. A
crime. If theres anything that I
could do to help ...
GALVIN removes a business card from his jacket pocket and hands
it to her as if he were giving her money. (i.e., "Take it.
Really.