PERMANENT INTERESTS - EPISODE 17

Getting deeper…

INT. ANNE'S SUITE - CARLETON HOTEL ROOM - LATER

Anne and David walk in. They come to an abrupt halt when they see Vic rise from the chair.

David eyes the Arab, who's accompanied Vic, and the GUNMAN, who makes no attempt to hide the Uzi beneath his raincoat.

Anne angrily advances on Vic.

The Gunman restrains her and dares David to interfere. Vic signals him to release her.

ANNE

What happened to George?

VIC

I assume you saw the same message I did on your notepad.

DAVID

Somebody's grabbed him...Paul too.

ANNE

(holds out the gold chain)

George at least got that far.

VIC

We're here about two dead men in the hills.

DAVID

You took them?

VIC

(nods)

We thought it best that the police remain uninvolved.

They start when the PHONE RINGS. Anne moves to answer it, but Vic motions her to wait until he can listen against the receiver. She picks it up...

ANNE

Hello.

MAN (from phone)

Mademoiselle Hamilton?

ANNE

Yes.

MAN (from phone)

You are interested in the health of Monsieur Fremont?

ANNE

Who is this?

MAN (from phone)

The Café Dominique. Nine tonight. Come alone. Bring the information you have been gathering.

ANNE

Wait! Let me speak to him.

The phone BUZZES. She hangs up. David glares at Vic.

DAVID

One of yours?

VIC

Hardly.

(to Anne)

What exactly have you found out Ms. Hamilton?

ANNE

I had proof Charlie really was here, but I lost it.

VIC

Not exactly valuable currency.

DAVID

We know about Helmut Lang.

VIC

Who is that?

Anne goes to her purse for the hawk-talon rings and hands them to Vic.

ANNE

There's these. Those two men you disposed of wore them.

Vic looks at the rings, runs his fingertip over the design on one, then returns them to Anne.

VIC

New to me...

ANNE

Then, that's it. I've got nothing to trade for George's life.

VIC

They don't know that. And you won't be entirely alone.

DAVID

Why should we cooperate with you?

VIC

Because you've done so well on your own.

(smiles, palms up, shrugs)

Who else ya gonna call? Hang loose 'til I'm back.

The Gunman closes the door behind the three of them.

DAVID

He's lying.

ANNE

But he's right. What choice do we have?

David nods, then opens the door, looks in the hall and meets the stern gaze of the Gunman, who lounges against the wall.

David closes the door, walks over to the mini-bar and pulls out a bag of peanuts and a beer. Anne rummages through her purse for a fresh pack of Gauloise.

INT. VIC'S CAR - LATER THAT NIGHT

Anne, in back with Vic, looks out and sees the neon sign for the "Café Dominique" in the next block.

ANNE

There it is.

David, in front with the DRIVER, turns and watches Vic make last-minute adjustments to the transmitting antenna wrapped around her waist under a loose-fitting blouse and jacket.

EXT. VIC'S CAR - STREET - NIGHT

Anne opens the door and gets out, gives herself a last-minute check. Then takes a zippered portfolio from Vic.

ANNE

How do I look?

VIC

Like the innocent you'd better

convince them you are. Listen to what they say, then tell them you have to consult with corporate management. Set up a second meeting.

ANNE

(to David)

Wish me luck.

David gets out of the car. He holds her tight. They kiss.

DAVID

Be careful. For me.

ANNE

I will. For us.

She turns away and walks down the block toward the cafe.

INT. CAFE DOMINIQUE - NIGHT

Dim, few CUSTOMERS. Anne identifies herself to the OWNER, who shows her to a rear table. She takes out her Zippo and nervously rubs its emblem.

A moment. TWO MEN enter and take a table three feet away. They ignore her as she tries to suss them out.

INT. VIC'S CAR - NIGHT

David, Vic and Driver wait in the car.

ANNE (from radio)

They're late.

DAVID

(laughs)

She got pissed when Schwartzkopf was ten minutes late for an interview 'cause Desert Storm had started.

Vic laughs. He notices a passing cab stop in front of the Café Dominique.

A KID climbs out and goes inside.

INT. CAFÉ DOMINIQUE - NIGHT

The Kid enters and goes to the Owner, who points out Anne's table. The kid hurries over to her, drops a small envelope on the table and heads back out the door.

Anne looks inside the envelope.

INT. VIC'S CAR - NIGHT

Everybody's on the alert.

ANNE (from radio)

New instructions: I'm to take the cab waiting outside.

A moment, then they see Anne come out, carrying the portfolio, and get in the cab's open rear door.

VIC (on radio)

The concert's about to begin.

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