PERMANENT INTERESTS - EPISODE 5

Your evening jolt.

EXT. THE GRANDE CORNICHE - LATER THAT AFTERNOON

The same road where Grace Kelly drove Cary Grant as her passenger in "To Catch A Thief." A red Mercedes 500SL roars around a curve overlooking the Cote d'Azur. Anne drives.

ANNE (V.O.)

A ponytail again, David?

INT. RED MERCEDES

DAVID FIELD, age hidden behind a haircut too young and too hip, looks at her. His well-traveled leather camera case dangles from his headrest as he drives.

DAVID

I wanted to be sure I could still grow hair someplace.

ANNE

It's what you get, hanging out with headbangers!

DAVID

The Vines haven't banged a head since I've known them.

ANNE

The who?

DAVID

(laughs)

This, from a Grateful Dead fan!

She downshifts into a turn, then back up.

ANNE

I could've used your ass while you were busy ducking U-V rays and hairspray grenades in La-la land, I was --

DAVID

Busy winning two Emmies and a Pulitzer. I saw. Sorry, Anne, but I could sure as hell have used your ass these last three years.

She touches his face.

ANNE

You're right, David. I'm sorry. I've forgotten how to do feminine flirtatious banter.

He runs his finger over her knee, up toward the hem. His grin is infectious.

DAVID

Thirty days in the South of France should get you back in practice.

She smiles suggestively at him as she takes the next turn.

EXT. BEACHFRONT CAFE - ST. TROPEZ - SUNSET

The view is postcard perfect. The harbor is dominated by a large luxury yacht - more a small ocean liner.

Anne and David sit apart from the other CUSTOMERS. He sips a Pernod. She places her hand over his other hand.

ANNE

What I'd really like to do is live a normal life...with you.

DAVID

A normal life? I know you better than you know yourself.

He stares at her, wants her to protest, but she doesn't. He turns first and looks out at the yacht as it ups anchor.

DAVID

Ahsan Al-Akhbar sure knows how to do it in style.

ANNE

You know him?

DAVID

His daughter's into rock'n 'roll.

ANNE

What I wouldn't give to be a fly on his wall.

David stands and motions to the WAITER for the bill.

DAVID

You can't keep your nose out of it for five minutes, can you?

She comes around the table and pulls him close.

ANNE

What did they say in the Sixties about love and war...?

Their hands are all over each other as she kisses him so passionately that others nearby sit up and take notice.

INT. ANNE'S SUITE - CARLETON HOTEL - LATER

Anne and David lie in the bed together, yet apart, watching the paint age on the ceiling.

ANNE

Maybe I should have gotten implants.

DAVID

(kisses her shoulder)

You look great and you know it. It's been a long time. We were just trying too hard.

He reaches for her, but she gets out of bed and heads for the bathroom.

ANNE

I have to get ready if we're going to be at Henri's by --

He jumps out of the bed and follows her.

DAVID

This is important!

She turns. Etched by the window light, they face each other like a pair of Greek gods.

DAVID

This doesn't have anything to do with me making music videos!

(catches what she said)

Why are we going to Henri's?

ANNE

Charlie Sims invited us.

DAVID

Why bring him up now?

ANNE

Because I didn't tell you before.

He doesn't say anything, so she enters the bathroom and closes the door.

INT. CHARLES SIMS' SUITE - SAME

Sims finishes packing, then closes his suitcases on the bed. The MAID, a young Arabic-looking woman with dark hair, goes about her work. He reaches for the phone, but there's a KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

SIMS

Who's there?

MAN (O.S.)

Hall Porter, monsieur.

Sims opens the door and admits the HALL PORTER.

Simms gestures toward the luggage, then goes in the bathroom.

A moment.

The Maid reaches into her cleaning cart. As she does so, the overhead light glitters on her hawk-talon ring.

INT. BATHROOM

Sims wets his hands, runs his fingers through his hair and doesn't see the maid appear BEHIND HIM IN THE MIRROR.

She raises a silenced Beretta, and...

WFFT-WFFT-WFFT! HIS BLOOD SPRAYS THE MIRROR AS HE DROPS!

THE MAID

turns to the Hall Porter as he finishes rifling Sims' bags. As he takes the pistol, we see his hawk-talon ring.

The Maid pulls off her wig, shakes out her long blond hair, and crams the wig in the cleaning cart. She strips off the uniform to reveal she’s an athletic-looking European in tank-top and shorts, tosses the uniform after the wig.

She opens the door for the Hall Porter, who pushes the cleaning cart into the hall.

SIMS' SIGHTLESS EYES

stare at the hall door as it closes behind them.

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