PERMANENT INTERESTS - EPISODE 16

The shit, as they say, gets deeper…

INT. ANNE'S SUITE - CARLETON HOTEL - SAME

The PHONE RINGS. George answers it.

PAUL (from phone)

Monsieur Field?

GEORGE

David Field isn't --

PAUL (from phone)

George? Ici Paul Reynaud.

GEORGE

The man of the hour! What the hell is going on here?

PAUL (from phone)

C'est trés compliqué. I've got something David needs, but I cannot leave just now.

GEORGE

Your office is still over on Boulevard Madelaine?

PAUL (from phone)

I'm at home. Fifteen Avenue Liberation. Number 3.

GEORGE

I'm on my way.

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY

David examines the two bodies.

ANNE

You don't think Howard Lewis would have arranged this?

Anne kneels beside him as he goes through their pockets and gear - finds that each wears a hawk-talon ring.

DAVID

No. This is proof we don't know all the players.

He stands, steps up on the road, looks down the hill toward Cannes, back to where Anne marks the two corpses, invisible from the road. She hasn't taken her eyes from them.

ANNE

I've seen this ring before...

She steels herself, then pulls the hawk-talon ring off the Spotter's finger. She holds it up to David.

ANNE

I can't remember where, but I've seen one of these on someone else.

David looks at her, then he leans over and pulls the hawk-talon ring off the other assassin.

DAVID

If LeFevre connects us to this, we're gonna be stuck so far in his calaboose they're gonna have to pump in air.

ANNE

(re: the smoldering car)

I don't want to be the one to tell Avis.

DAVID

(smiles)

C'mon.

They trudge up the road. Behind them, a small truck labors up the hill, and they flag it down.

The ARAB DRIVER smiles rotted teeth and motions them inside.

EXT. HOTEL CARLETON - DAY

The Doorman hails a cab for George.

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - GATE - LATER

The Driver waves as the truck drives away, leaving Anne and David at the wrought iron gate. A video camera focuses on them as David rings the bell.

EXT. AVENUE LIBERATION - CANNES - DAY

The taxi pulls up in front of an elegant apartment building. George steps out.

INT. PAUL'S APARTMENT BUILDING - THIRD FLOOR

The elevator stops with a SIGHING CRASH of gears and George slides the door open.

He goes to the third door from the elevator and KNOCKS. No answer. The door swings open on his SECOND KNOCK.

INT. PAUL'S FLAT

George enters the dark apartment.

GEORGE

Paul?

As he goes to open the drawn shades...

BEHIND HIM, a closet door opens. An ASSAILANT in dark clothes and ski mask soundlessly steps out, raises a leather sap...and swings it down viciously...

GEORGE crumples from the blow to his head! The Assailant grabs George's feet and drags him down the hall.

George's THIN GOLD NECK CHAIN breaks and falls off, unnoticed.

EXT. VILLA PATIO - LATER

ED WILSON, a shark masquerading as a human being, sits apart from Anne and David as they sip demitasse.

ANNE

... and Charlie's involvement led to his murder.

Wilson looks at them like they're the reporters from Mars.

WILSON

This is all bullshit. I know Charles Sims well enough to state categorically that he would not be involved in the transfer of a bucket of cow manure to that goddamned Assad.

DAVID

Then why has there been no announcement about him from Washington?

WILSON

(smiles)

Maybe there's nothing to announce.

(pauses for effect)

Or maybe the situation is such that exposure would compromise a delicate operation. Even reporters understand the concept of national security?

Anne frowns at David. They say nothing.

WILSON

(coldly expressionless)

Am I right?

ANNE

Yes.

DAVID

Harry Long said something about...

WILSON

Harry Long is delusional.

Wilson's ASSISTANT appears and catches his eye. Wilson nods, checks his watch, turns back to them.

ANNE

Have you ever seen anything like this, sir?

She holds a hawk-talon ring in her palm. He glances at it.

WILSON

No, never. I'm sorry, but my time is limited. It's been a pleasure meeting you. Please give my regards to George.

(He stands.)

My Chauffeur will drive you back.

EXT. HILLSIDE ROAD - SHOOTOUT SITE - LATER

Anne and David sit in the back of a Rolls Royce Corniche.

THEIR POV OUT THE WINDOW - The site of the gunfight - the burned-out Mercedes is gone.

ANNE

(whispers in David's ear)

The police...?

David glances at the driver, shakes his head, whispers.

DAVID

They'd still be here checking the scene. This was a clean-up...like it never happened.

INT. WILSON'S VILLA - STUDY - DAY

Wilson enters from the patio.

HELMUT LANG turns from the book-lined wall. 80ish, he has a crisp, Teutonic military bearing.

LANG

So...?

WILSON

They can prove nothing, but they know far too much.

Lang plucks a book from the library shelf.

Sunlight through the window momentarily glints on the sign of the hawk - etched in diamonds - on his ring finger.

LANG

Our agreement, Herr Wilson, is that you will handle all difficulties that arise with this matter.

WILSON

(frowns)

I'm aware of that, Mr. Lang. I'm already on it.

LANG

Sehr gut.

INT. ANNE'S SUITE - CARLETON HOTEL - LATER

They enter.

ANNE

George?

No answer.

DAVID

Try his room.

Anne goes to the phone, then sees the notepad as she lifts the receiver. She reads the message.

ANNE

He went over to Paul Reynaud's flat to get the rest of the stuff for you.

DAVID

There wasn't anything for him to get.

It hits them both at the same time.

ANNE

Oh-my-god...

David's already out the door.

INT. PAUL'S APARTMENT BUILDING - LATER

The Concierge is at her station this time.

David and Anne head for the elevator.

CONCIERGE

Un instant, s'il vous plaît, monsieur, madame. Vous cherchez quelquien?

DAVID

Monsieur Paul Reynaud. Il reste dans l'apartement sept.

CONCIERGE

Americaines?

ANNE

Of course we are.

CONCIERGE

Doucement, doucement.

Anne notices the elevator's gone. She takes the stairs two at a time. David follows. The Concierge shakes her head.

INT. HALLWAY

David pounds on the door - no answer. He tries the knob - locked. He takes out his credit card and jimmies the lock.

INT. PAUL'S APARTMENT

As before, only darker. David heads down the hall, turns on the lights. Anne spots a glittering something, kneels.

David turns to see Anne hold up George's gold neck chain.

ANNE

His wife gave him this.

(looks around, angry)

Bastards! Murderers!

David puts his arm around her.

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