THE SENATOR’S WIFE
By Charles Deemer
FADE
IN:
INT.
SENATE BLDG - OFFICE - NIGHT
The
beam of a flashlight searches a dark office in the U.S. Senate building. It comes to rest on a filing cabinet.
A
gloved hand opens the cabinet. A file
is removed.
The
flashlight finds a desk. The file is
set on the desk and opened.
INSERT
DOCUMENT
Under
the letterhead "Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources", a
bold TOP SECRET is stamped across the document's title page.
BACK
TO SCENE
A
copy machine casts an eerie glow in the dark office. The silhouette of a person hovers nearby.
One
by one, the pages of the SECRET DOCUMENT are printed.
EXT.
WASHINGTON D.C. - SEN. JENNER'S HOUSE - DAY
A
limo is parked in a circular driveway in front of a large home in a high-end
neighborhood.
The
driver is JUAN, 40s, Hispanic. He waits
outside, cleaning the windshield.
Down
the street, with a view of the limo, a small sedan is parked. We hear radio news:
RADIO
ANNOUNCER
(on
radio)
In
other news, Jennifer Jenner, wife of the Republican Senator from Pennsylvania,
will be attending her fifteenth high school reunion tonight in Fieldsdale,
Maryland. The senator, who is in the
middle of committee hearings on a controversial plutonium import bill, will not
accompany her.
INT.
SEDAN - DAY
Behind
the wheel is CAMERON, 30s, an aide to Senator Russell Jenner, whose house he is
watching.
Cameron
is reading the newspaper and listening to the radio.
The
car phone rings. Cameron turns off the
radio and answers.
CAMERON
Hello?
INT.
SENATE BLDG - SEN. JENNER'S OFFICE - DAY
SENATOR
RUSSELL JENNER, 50s, is on the phone.
He's a handsome,
distinguished-looking man.
SENATOR
JENNER
Has
she left yet?
INTERCUT
PHONE CONVERSATION
CAMERON
Not
yet. Don't worry, senator, I'll be on
her like glue.
SENATOR
JENNER
I
want photographs.
CAMERON
You'll
have them.
He
hangs up. He goes back to reading the
paper.
EXT.
SEN. JENNER'S HOUSE - DAY
Coming
out of the house to the limo is JENNIFER JENNER, 30s, the senator's beautiful wife.
Juan
hurries around the limo to open the door for her. Then he gets in himself.
The
limo pulls out into the street.
The
sedan pulls in back of it.
INT.
SEDAN - DAY
Cameron
settles behind the wheel, as if for a long journey.
EXT.
WASHINGTON D.C. - STREET - DAY
The
sedan follows the limo through traffic.
INT.
SEDAN - DAY
Cameron
nervously taps his fingers on the steering wheel. He looks impatient.
He
dials a number on the car phone.
INT.
LIMO - DAY
Jennifer,
surprised, answers the phone in the back of the limo.
JENNIFER
Hello?
INTERCUT
PHONE CONVERSATION
CAMERON
Hi,
beautiful.
Jennifer
is amused to hear from him.
JENNIFER
And
what do you think you're doing?
CAMERON
I
was about to ask you the same thing. We
have a good drive ahead of us.
JENNIFER
We?
CAMERON
Look
behind you.
She
does - and sees the sedan following the limo.
JENNIFER
Are
you following me?
CAMERON
I
just do what I'm told.
JENNIFER
Russell
has you doing this? That sonofabitch.
CAMERON
Relax,
he doesn't have a clue. So what's
up? I thought you were in a hurry to
get there.
JENNIFER
I
have an errand to do first. Cameron,
must you do this?
CAMERON
Relax
and have a good time. Smile a lot. I'm taking photographs.
Cameron
is amused, but Jennifer isn't.
JENNIFER
Jesus
Christ.
She
hangs up.
INT.
SEDAN - DAY
Cameron
smiles and sets down the phone.
EXT.
SENATE BUILDING - DAY
The
limo approaches the U.S. Senate Building.
INT.
SEDAN - DAY
Again
Cameron dials a number on the car phone.
INT.
SEN. JENNER'S OFFICE - DAY
HELEN,
60s, the senator's secretary, answers the phone.
HELEN
Good
morning, Senator Jenner's office.
INTERCUT
PHONE CONVERSATION
CAMERON
Good
morning, Helen. Has the senator gone
into committee yet?
HELEN
Yes,
he has. Would you like to leave a
message?
CAMERON
No,
that's all right.
EXT.
SENATE BUILDING - DAY
The
limo double-parks in front of the building, and Jennifer gets out and
enters. She is carrying a large purse.
INT.
SENATE BUILDING - DAY
Jennifer
goes through a security check and walks to the elevator.
INT.
SENATE BUILDING - HALLWAY - DAY
The
elevator opens and Jennifer comes out.
She walks down the hallway to her husband's office.
INT.
SEN. JENNER'S OFFICE - DAY
Jennifer
enters.
JENNIFER
Good
morning, Helen.
HELEN
He's
already in committee.
JENNIFER
I
realize that. He forgot something this
morning that he'll need.
She
fetches several thick reports and sets them on Helen's desk. We see that there are two 9x12 envelopes in
the large purse.
HELEN
Thank
you.
Jennifer
starts away.
HELEN
Have
fun tonight!
INT.
HALLWAY - DAY
Jennifer
is walking along the hallway.
Suddenly
an office door opens and SHEILA rushes out, running into Jennifer. A pretty woman in her late twenties, SHEILA
is the senator's press secretary.
Sheila
is carrying a large purse stuffed with reports. She moves out so suddenly that
she and Jennifer collide.
When
they collide, their purses drop onto the floor, spilling some of their
contents.
A
passing GENTLEMAN rushes to their rescue.
GENTLEMAN
Are
you ladies all right?
Reports
and books are scattered everywhere - and so are three similar-looking manila
envelopes, two from Jennifer's purse and one from Sheila's.
The
gentleman is helping them put things into their purses.
Two
envelopes are put into Jennifer's purse, one into Sheila's - but the wrong envelope. No one catches this.
SHEILA
Jennifer,
I'm so sorry. Are you all right?
JENNIFER
I'm
fine.
SHEILA
I'm
running so late.
She
is already moving off again.
SHEILA
Have
a ball tonight!
And
she's gone.
Jennifer
composes herself.
GENTLEMAN
You're
sure you'll okay?
JENNIFER
I'm
fine. Thank you.
EXT.
FIELDSDALE - PROF. WELLWORTH'S HOUSE - DAY
A
downpour.
Parked
in the driveway of a small town residential neighborhood is a van with the
words DUANE'S PLUMBING SERVICES painted on the side. The van has seen better days.
The
front door opens and PROF. WELLWORTH, 60s, comes out, carrying an umbrella.
Wellworth
is a gray-haired retired high school shop teacher - "professor" is a
nickname. The elderly gentleman looks
more like an English professor than a man who works with his hands.
GENTLEMAN
Wellworth
chomps on an unlit pipe and heads down the steps.
He
hurries to the side of the house along the driveway, where he bends down to
shout into an opening that leads under the house.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Duane? Making any progress down there?
No
answer. He calls louder.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Duane?
EXT.
PROF. WELLWORTH'S HOUSE - UNDER HOUSE - DAY
Working
on a pipe under the house is DUANE HANSEN, 30s, a handsome clean cut plumber
who is Prof. Wellworth's former student.
Right now he is at the end of a bad day.
He
hears the professor calling for him.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Duane? You almost done?
DUANE
HANSEN
Pretty
quick now!
He
grimaces as he tightens a fixture, not looking like a man who's almost done.
INT.
PROF. WELLWORTH'S HOUSE - KITCHEN BAR - DAY
The
"professor" and Duane are drinking hot coffee.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
I
didn't expect this to take all afternoon.
DUANE
HANSEN
Neither
did I.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
You
don't have to finish today. You do have
plans, I know. A big night for you!
DUANE
HANSEN
I
hate to stop in midstream. It shouldn't
be much longer.
The
phone rings.
As
the professor gets up to answer it, Duane moves for the door.
DUANE
HANSEN
To
be honest, I'm not even sure I want to go.
The last class reunion I went to made me feel too damn old.
Duane
is out the door as Wellworth picks up the phone.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Hello?
INT.
LIMOUSINE - DAY
Making
the call is Jennifer Jenner.
She
sits in the back of the limo, a picture of wealth. The limo is on an Interstate highway.
JENNIFER
Professor
Wellworth?
INTERCUT
PHONE CONVERSATION
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Who
is this?
JENNIFER
This
is Jennifer. How are you?
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Jennifer?
JENNIFER
Jennifer
Jenner.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Who?
JENNIFER
Jennifer
Barrington. I'm Jenner now.
(sing-songy)
"Jennifer
Jenner, Jennifer Jenner." You get used to it.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Jennifer! Where are you?
JENNIFER
On
my way to Fieldsdale. I'm coming to the
reunion. Duane's answering machine said
he's working there. May I speak to him?
PROF.
WELLWORTH
You
want to speak to Duane? Well, he's
under the house. Just a minute.
He
sets down the phone.
JENNIFER
Under
the house?
INT.
LIMOUSINE - DAY
Jennifer
lets out a deep breath. This wasn't an
easy phone call to make.
EXT.
PROF. WELLWORTH'S HOUSE - DAY
Under
his umbrella, Wellworth bends down at the side of the house.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Duane? Jennifer is on the phone!
EXT.
UNDER THE HOUSE - DAY
Duane
is struggling with the same pipe as before.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Jennifer
Barrington is on the phone!
At
the sound of Jennifer's name, Duane stops.
He looks more than surprised - he's visibly stricken, as if the sound of
her name is the last thing he expected to hear, or wants to hear.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Duane?
DUANE
HANSEN
I
can't stop here! Take a message!
He
starts lugging at the pipe, working with new fury.
INT.
LIMOUSINE - DAY
Jennifer
is getting the news.
JENNIFER
Tell
him I'll see him at the reunion. Tell
him I look forward to it.
EXT.
HIGHWAY - DAY
The
limo moves down the highway.
Behind
it, the small sedan is following.
INT.
PROF. WELLWORTH'S HOUSE - COFFEE BAR - DAY
Duane
enters the house, soaked, finding the professor sipping coffee at the kitchen
bar.
DUANE
HANSEN
Done.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Did
you know Jennifer was coming to the reunion?
DUANE
HANSEN
No,
I didn't.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
She
married a senator. Which one was it?
DUANE
HANSEN
The
distinguished Republican from Pennsylvania.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
She
told me she's looking forward to seeing you.
This
lights a fire under Duane.
DUANE
HANSEN
Listen,
I've got a couple other stops. I'll
send you a bill.
He
heads for the door.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
I
was going to pay you in cash.
DUANE
HANSEN
There's
no rush.
And
Duane is gone.
Wellworth
looks concerned, as if he knows exactly what Duane's problem is.
EXT.
PROF. WELLWORTH'S HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - DAY
Duane
rushes in the rain to the van, where he puts away his tools.
Then
he gets in.
INT.
DUANE'S VAN - DAY
He
slips behind the wheel and inserts the key into the ignition. But he doesn't start the engine.
He
is deep in thought.
Suddenly
he hits the steering wheel.
EXT.
HIGHWAY - DAY
The
limo is still being followed by the sedan.
INT.
SEDAN - DAY
Cameron
is lost in his own thoughts.
INT.
LIMO - DAY
Jennifer
opens her purse to take out a manila envelope - and finds a surprise. One of
the envelopes looks wrong.
She
pulls out the "wrong" manila envelope, which is stuffed with
something. Curiously, she opens it.
INSERT
DOCUMENT
The
document in the envelope is the photocopy of the same SECRET DOCUMENT from the
Energy and Natural Resources Committee that we saw before.
BACK
TO SCENE
She
starts reading, then skimming. The
contents of the document shock her.
Jennifer
returns the document to the envelope.
She stuffs it back into her purse.
She
looks troubled and confused.
How
did a top secret senate document end up in her purse?
INT.
SENATE BLDG - HALLWAY - DAY
Senator
Jenner is walking with his press secretary, Sheila.
SENATOR
JENNER
I've
been brainstorming with Cameron, and I think I'm going to announce soon. What do you think?
Sheila
is someplace else.
SENATOR
JENNER
Sheila? Hello?
SHEILA
I'm
sorry. Yes, I've always thought the
sooner the better.
SENATOR
JENNER
Good. Are you all right?
SHEILA
Of
course.
She
smiles, trying to cover the fact that something else is on her mind.
The
senator takes her arm and stops her.
SENATOR
JENNER
I'm
worried about you.
SHEILA
I
couldn't sleep last night. I'm just a
little tired.
SENATOR
JENNER
Sheila,
if you find yourself being tempted, even if you relapse, you'll come to me
first, okay? Sometimes it takes a
couple tries to kick the habit. You're
important to me.
SHEILA
I'm
okay, Russell.
They
continue walking down the hallway.
EXT.
SENATE BUILDING - DAY
Workers
stream out of the building at the end of the day.
Sheila
comes out. She is in a hurry.
INT.
COCKTAIL LOUNGE - DAY
Sheila
enters a cocktail lounge. The bartender
recognizes her.
BARTENDER
Your
usual, Sheila?
SHEILA
Yes,
thanks.
She
heads for the women's room.
INT.
WOMEN'S ROOM - DAY
Sheila
enters. Only one other woman is there,
at the mirror.
Sheila
goes into a stall.
She
takes a deep breath and opens her large purse.
She takes out the 9x12 manila envelope.
Something
is wrong. Concern darkens her face.
She
quickly opens the envelope and pulls out a photograph.
INSERT
PHOTOGRAPH
of
a teenage boy wearing earrings. He
looks like he carries a grudge against the world.
INT.
COCKTAIL LOUNGE - DAY
Sheila
rushes by the bar on her way out.
BARTENDER
Sheila,
don't you want your drink?
EXT.
COCKTAIL LOUNGE - DAY
Sheila
comes out in a panic, moving quickly down the street.
INT.
COCKTAIL LOUNGE - DAY
TWO
MEN, 40s, enter from the restaurant side.
They approach the bar.
Both
men wear suits that don't quite fit.
They speak in thick Slavic-accented English.
MAN
#1
We
have appointment with Sheila.
BARTENDER
She
just left. Didn't even touch her drink.
The
men exchange a look. They dart outside.
EXT.
COCKTAIL LOUNGE - DAY
The
men look up and down the street.
She's
nowhere to be found.
EXT.
FIELDSDALE - STREET - NIGHT
It
is raining.
The
limo enters the small town of Fieldsdale.
As
before, the sedan follows.
EXT.
FIELDSDALE HIGH SCHOOL - GYMNASIUM - NIGHT
A
TV van is parked outside the school gym.
PEGGY
SOMMERS, 30s, a reporter, and JIM, 20s, a camera man, are huddled together
under one huge umbrella, waiting for Jennifer to arrive in her limo.
A
crowd of former students and teachers also waits.
Suddenly
the limo is spotted by someone, who yells, "She's here!"
PEGGY
SOMMERS
Crunch
time.
Jim
moves out from under the umbrella, getting his camera ready.
Peggy
maneuvers through the crowd to get close to the curb for the limo's arrival.
INT.
LIMO - NIGHT
Jennifer
sees the crowd waiting for her. She
manages to smile.
EXT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Duane's
van is parked in the driveway, glistening under the downpour.
INT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - BATHROOM - NIGHT
Duane
has just finished shaving. He is way
behind schedule for getting to the reunion on time.
He
towels himself off and moves into the living room.
INT.
LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
The
TV is on, showing the arrival of Jennifer in her limo. She is being interviewed by Peggy.
EXT.
HIGH SCHOOL GYM - NIGHT
JENNIFER
This
is so heart-warming! I can't believe
how many people are here.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
Will
Senator Jenner be making an appearance tonight?
JENNIFER
No,
he couldn't fit it in.
Down
the street, the sedan is parked.
INT.
SEDAN - NIGHT
Cameron
is snapping photographs of the interview.
INT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Duane
is still watching the interview on TV.
JENNIFER
(on
TV)
This
is what America is all about, isn't it?
I'm so thrilled to be here.
Duane
frowns at hearing this. He shuts off the TV.
The
phone starts ringing.
Duane
stares at it, as if trying to will it into silence.
It
still rings.
And
rings.
Finally
it stops.
Duane
lets out a long, deep breath.
DUANE
HANSEN
Christ.
INT.
HIGH SCHOOL GYM - NIGHT
A
mediocre band is on stage, trying to recapture the music of a bygone era.
Dancers
crowd a makeshift dance floor, oblivious to how bad the band is.
A
swarm of former classmates hovers around Jennifer. She corners MARY, 30s, an old girlfriend.
JENNIFER
Have
you seen Duane?
MARY
Not
yet. Has anybody seen Duane?
No
one has. A few eyebrows raise, as if in
recognition of some special meaning to the question.
INT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Duane
stands at a mirror, putting on his tie.
The
phone starts ringing again. And once
again, Duane tries to stare it down.
INT.
GYM - PAY PHONE - NIGHT
Jennifer
is making the call.
The
phone rings and rings.
INT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The
phone rings. Rings. And stops.
Instant
relief crosses Duane's face.
He
looks at himself in the mirror. He
shakes his head and suddenly rips off his tie.
DUANE
HANSEN
Fuck
it.
No
high school reunion for him.
INT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Later
Duane is watching a movie on TV when the phone starts ringing again.
DUANE
HANSEN
(to
the phone)
Get
the goddamn message, Jennifer!
(to
himself)
There's
no point. No point.
INT.
GYM - PAY PHONE - NIGHT
Jennifer
gives up more easily this time. She
hangs up.
Moving
away from the phone, she starts looking for someone she knows well enough to
ask a favor of.
FINALLY:
JENNIFER
Jerry! Jerry McIntire!
EXT.
GYM - BACK ENTRANCE - NIGHT
Jennifer
leads JERRY, 30s, out the back entrance of the gym. He thinks he is going to get to smooch with a senator's wife and
makes his move.
But
Jennifer holds him off.
JENNIFER
Hey! That's not what we're doing.
JERRY
We're
not?
JENNIFER
Do
you have a car?
Jerry
smiles, thinking it's going to be even better than he thought.
JERRY
This
way.
JENNIFER
You
drive it here. I want you to take me to
Duane Hansen's.
JERRY
Duane?
JENNIFER
Can
you do that for me?
She
is giving him her warmest, sexiest smile.
JERRY
Why
do I have to bring the car back here?
JENNIFER
Because
I don't want my chauffeur to know where I'm going.
She
kisses him on the cheek.
JENNIFER
It's
important.
INT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Duane
is dozing in front of the TV when the doorbell rings. He awakes with a start.
The
doorbell rings again.
He
goes to the door and opens it.
Jennifer
has moved inside, closing the door behind her, before Duane fully realizes what
has just happened.
Suddenly
he looks self-conscious in slacks and a T-shirt, wearing socks with a hole in
one toe.
JENNIFER
Hello,
Duane.
DUANE
HANSEN
Jennifer
. . .
JENNIFER
You
weren't going to come, were you?
He
just looks at her.
JENNIFER
Is
it because I was there?
He
doesn't answer.
JENNIFER
I
was told you've been to every reunion up to now.
DUANE
HANSEN
I
just had a bad day, is all. So can I
fix you a drink or something?
JENNIFER
Do
you have any white wine?
DUANE
HANSEN
Just
beer, bourbon, vodka.
JENNIFER
A
beer.
DUANE
HANSEN
Make
yourself at home. Let me turn this off.
He
clicks off the TV and heads for the kitchen.
Jennifer
moves around the living room. She
carefully inspects everything, as if trying to piece together the kind of life
that would be lived within these walls.
Then
she stops.
She
takes the "wrong" manila envelope out of her purse and looks around
the room, looking for a place to hide it.
But
she hears Duane coming and stuffs the envelope away.
Duane
returns with two beers, one in a glass.
This he hands to Jennifer.
JENNIFER
No
photographs.
DUANE
HANSEN
You're
right.
JENNIFER
No
wife and kids. I learned that, too.
DUANE
HANSEN
No
complaints. In fact, I'm doing really
great, Jennifer. I know you are. You made it to the big time, just like you
always wanted.
JENNIFER
Is
that what I wanted? It seems so long
ago.
Another
silence.
JENNIFER
I
have an ulterior reason for being here.
Duane
just looks at her.
JENNIFER
Don't
you want to know what it is?
DUANE
HANSEN
I'm
not sure.
JENNIFER
I
debated whether I should tell you or not.
I even debated whether I should let myself get involved or not. The situation is more complicated, let us
say, because my husband would not approve of what I'm doing.
Jennifer
reaches into her purse and takes out a manila envelope (the "right"
one), handing it to Duane.
Duane
stares at the envelope, then finally opens it.
He takes out a photograph.
INSERT:
PHOTOGRAPH
It's
another print of the same photograph Sheila found: a small color photograph of
TOMMY WALLER, age 15, a boy who is looking at the camera as if daring it to
take his picture.
BACK
TO SCENE
Duane
swallows.
DUANE
HANSEN
He's
a nice looking boy. Who is he?
JENNIFER
I
had him after graduation. Do you hate
me for not telling you?
DUANE
HANSEN
He's
yours? Ours?
She
nods.
DUANE
HANSEN
I
don't understand.
JENNIFER
It's
why I broke up with you, Duane. I
wasn't ready to be a mother. And I knew
you'd want to get married.
DUANE
HANSEN
Of
course, I would. I don't believe
this. What's his name?
JENNIFER
Tommy
Waller. He lives in Alexandria.
DUANE
HANSEN
Have
you seen him?
JENNIFER
No. I didn't even know where he was until last
week. You thought I went away to
college, but I lived with my aunt for almost a year. I gave him up for adoption and assumed that would be the end of
it. He tracked me down. He wants to see me.
DUANE
HANSEN
He
looks a little like you.
JENNIFER
I
thought the same thing about you. I
want to see him, of course, but I can't let Russell know. He'd never accept this.
DUANE
HANSEN
Why
not?
JENNIFER
Any
number of reasons. The political ones
matter most.
Duane
waits for more.
JENNIFER
Tommy
is evidence that his wife slept with someone in high school. Oh, he doesn't care about such things, but
some of his constituents do. And his enemies.
They'd turn me into a slut if they found out.
DUANE
HANSEN
But
he wants to meet you.
JENNIFER
Duane,
there's just no way I can risk meeting him right now. I was hoping you'd go in my place.
DUANE
HANSEN
And
share the details, something like that?
Boy, the life on Capitol Hill has taken its toll, hasn't it? Don't get me wrong. Of course I'll see him. I want to see him. He's my son, for Christ's sake.
But no, I'm not going to see him in your place, as some favor to
you. I'm going to see him because I
want to see him, because I have an obligation to see him. Especially since he made the first
move. So maybe you can tell me how I
can do that.
JENNIFER
Don't
be angry.
Duane
stares her down.
JENNIFER
There's
a phone number in the envelope. Duane,
I'm not as insensitive as you imagine.
DUANE
HANSEN
You
won't see the son who wants to see you.
So what do you call that, Jennifer?
JENNIFER
I'm
scared. You don't know Russell.
DUANE
HANSEN
Make
I ask you something really basic? If
you're so scared, why are you still married to him?
JENNIFER
We're
practically divorced. He's up for
reelection, and I promised I'd stay with him until after the campaign
DUANE
HANSEN
How
thoughtful of you.
She
finishes her beer.
JENNIFER
Then
you'll see Tommy?
DUANE
HANSEN
How
could I not see him?
JENNIFER
You
haven't changed. You always do the
right thing. I'm glad. Will you come back to the reunion with me?
Duane
looks at her and starts to refuse. But
he can't bring himself to say it.
JENNIFER
Please?
She
still has his number.
EXT.
GYM - PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Duane's
van pulls into the parking lot and swings into a space. Duane, dressed in a suit, and Jennifer get
out and head for the gym.
Jennifer
turns, looking for Cameron's sedan, but doesn't see it.
Cameron,
in fact, has parked out of sight and now hides behind a car, peering up to snap
photographs as the couple moves to the gym.
INT.
GYM - DANCE FLOOR - NIGHT
Duane
and Jennifer are dancing.
There
is a visible physical energy that is drawing them together, an old chemistry
that is being recalled in the nostalgia of the place and the music.
Finally
Jennifer can't resist any longer and rests her head against his shoulder.
JENNIFER
I
was such a stupid, silly girl in high school.
I didn't know what I wanted.
DUANE
HANSEN
I
didn't win any prizes myself. Comes
with being a teenager.
JENNIFER
Did
you ever wish you could start all over again?
Maybe get it right for a change?
Duane
looks away. It's a question he's often
thought about - but not with Jennifer in his arms.
INT.
GYM - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Duane
and Jennifer are in an embrace, kissing.
Duane is the one who breaks it.
DUANE
HANSEN
Jennifer
. . .
JENNIFER
I
know.
DUANE
HANSEN
You're
married.
JENNIFER
Legally. No other way, Duane. Not for over a year now.
She
looks at him with eyes that he can't resist, and they embrace and kiss again.
EXT.
GYM - NIGHT
The
party is over, and people are leaving the gymnasium.
Duane
and Jerry stand together.
JERRY
You've
got testicles the size of bowling balls.
DUANE
HANSEN
They're
practically divorced.
JERRY
This
isn't some motel hanky-panky you're getting involved in, man. The guy's a senator. They play for keeps.
DUANE
HANSEN
You've
been watching too many movies.
INT.
LADIES ROOM - NIGHT
Jennifer
and Mary are freshening up.
MARY
Do
you still love him?
JENNIFER
My
husband?
MARY
Duane! I mean, this is a lot to go through if you
don't, isn't it?
JENNIFER
I
don't know, Mary. Maybe it's just an
adventure.
EXT.
GYM - NIGHT
Peggy
and Jim are finishing up their story on the reunion, Peggy talking on camera.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
It's
been an exciting night, a 15th class reunion with an added twist of glamor by
the appearance of the former Jennifer Barrington, who is now married to
Republican Senator Russell Jenner. This is Peggy Sommers reporting.
A
pause.
JIM
That
it?
PEGGY
SOMMERS
That's
it.
She
sees Duane and Jerry across the way.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
I'll
meet you in the van.
She
walks across the lawn to join Duane.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
How's
it going, Duane?
DUANE
HANSEN
All
right.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
That's
it? No nostalgic heart throb? You two used to be quite an item.
DUANE
HANSEN
That
was a very long time ago, Peggy.
Duane
moves off to enter the gym.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
Touchy.
INT.
GYM - NIGHT
Duane
comes inside the gym, looking for Jennifer.
He sees her and Mary coming down the hallway.
DUANE
HANSEN
What's
going on?
JENNIFER
I'll
tell Juan I'm spending the night with Mary.
DUANE
HANSEN
What
if he doesn't believe you?
JENNIFER
He'll
love not having to drive back tonight.
Especially when I tip him.
INT.
SEDAN - NIGHT
Cameron
yawns. He's watching the hordes of
people leave the gym, looking for Jennifer.
And
finally he sees her. He grabs his
camera and gets out.
EXT.
GYM - NIGHT
Duane,
Jennifer, and Mary come out, joining Jerry.
Jennifer moves away from the others.
She
goes to the limo and talks to the chauffeur a minute. Then she rejoins the group.
JENNIFER
It's
all set.
JERRY
You
guys.
MARY
I
think it's so romantic.
JERRY
Where
to?
Mary
elbows him.
INT.
SEDAN - NIGHT
Cameron
is getting all of this on film.
EXT.
GYM - NIGHT
MARY
Will
I see you before you go?
JENNIFER
Probably
not. But I'll call you, I promise.
(to
Duane)
Pick
me up behind the gym.
Jennifer
turns and heads up the steps to go back inside.
JERRY
I
thought we were all going somewhere.
Mary
gives him a "they don't want company, you idiot" look.
INT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Duane
and Jennifer are making love.
They
let their passion run free, making love with an energy that hasn't found
release for a very long time.
EXT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The
van is in the driveway.
The
sedan slowly cruises by.
INT.
SEDAN - NIGHT
Cameron
stares out at the light in the bedroom window.
He looks very upset.
INT.
WASHINGTON D.C. - SHEILA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
There's
loud pounding on the door.
Sheila
enters in her robe.
MAN
#1
(O.S.)
Hey,
open up! You want me to wake whole
building up, I will!
Sheila
unlocks the door and cracks it open.
It's still locked by the chain.
SHEILA
I'm
sorry, something came up. I couldn't
make it today.
The
two Slavic men crash through the door, ripping out the chain lock. Sheila is terrified.
SHEILA
I
can get it to you next week!
Man
#1 slaps her hard, sending her sprawling across the room.
EXT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
All
the lights in the house are out.
The
sedan is still parked down the street.
INT.
SEDAN - NIGHT
Cameron
is in a trance, staring out at the house.
INT.
BEDROOM - LATER - NIGHT
Duane
wakes up - and discovers he's in an empty bed.
He gets up and puts on a robe.
INT.
LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Jennifer,
fully dressed, is hiding the "wrong" manila envelope in the seat
cover of a chair cushion.
She
hears something and finishes quickly.
Duane
enters the living room to find Jennifer looking out the window.
JENNIFER
I
called a cab. I told Juan to get me a room at the hotel.
She
moves to him.
JENNIFER
I
didn't expect this to happen.
DUANE
HANSEN
Neither
did I.
JENNIFER
A
part of me felt so young tonight.
DUANE
HANSEN
Can
I see you again?
JENNIFER
That
could be difficult.
DUANE
HANSEN
I'd
like us to see Tommy together.
JENNIFER
That
would be impossible to arrange right now.
DUANE
HANSEN
This
sucks, Jennifer.
JENNIFER
It's
not a perfect world, is it?
DUANE
HANSEN
Why
don't you live the life you want to live?
What do you want out of life, Jennifer?
JENNIFER
What
do I want? All the money I'd ever need,
and a little house in a villa north of Paris.
I fell in love with it and go back as often as I can. But vacations aren't reality, are they?
Duane
starts to speak but she stops him with an index finger on her lips - and
Jennifer blows him a kiss.
JENNIFER
Be
sure to call me. I want to hear
everything you can tell me about him.
She
turns and leaves.
Duane
watches her go.
EXT.
FIELDSDALE - HOTEL - NIGHT
The
cab pulls in front of the local hotel and Jennifer gets out.
The
sedan pulls up. Cameron gets out and
hurries after Jennifer.
CAMERON
Jennifer!
Jennifer
turns at the hotel entrance. She is
surprised to see Cameron.
JENNIFER
This
is not the time nor place to talk. I'm going to bed.
CAMERON
What
about us?
Jennifer
doesn't reply.
CAMERON
Did
you sleep with him?
JENNIFER
Did
you take any pictures of Duane and I together?
Cameron
doesn't answer. Jennifer goes to him
and slaps his face.
JENNIFER
You
sonofabitch.
She
goes into the hotel, leaving Cameron to rub his cheek.
EXT.
PROF. WELLWORTH'S HOUSE - DAY
Duane's
van pulls into the professor's driveway.
Duane gets out and goes to the side door.
INT.
PROF. WELLWORTH'S HOUSE - KITCHEN BAR - DAY
Wellworth
is pouring coffee.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Either
you came to collect your bill or something's on your mind. Did you see Jennifer last night?
DUANE
HANSEN
Yes,
I did.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
And
that has something to do with the visit, am I right?
Duane
nods.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Oh,
my.
DUANE
HANSEN
She
was pregnant when she left town. She
had my baby.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
She
kept it?
DUANE
HANSEN
No. He's 15 now and looked her up. He wants to see her.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
I
see. And she's the wife of a very
conservative senator.
DUANE
HANSEN
Exactly.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
She's
also unhappily married?
DUANE
HANSEN
Yes.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
Which
means, you want to get together with her again.
DUANE
HANSEN
It
can't happen. She made a deal with the
senator to help him get reelected or something.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
You
want my advice?
DUANE
HANSEN
That's
why I'm here.
PROF.
WELLWORTH
I
suggest one step at a time. Do you want
to see the boy?
DUANE
HANSEN
Of
course. He's my son.
The
professor smiles. Duane just answered
his own question.
INT.
SEN. JENNER'S HOUSE - HOME OFFICE - DAY
Cameron
is showing the senator the photographs he took.
INSERT
PHOTOGRAPHS
various
pictures of Jennifer and Duane outside the gym at the reunion.
BACK
TO SCENE
SENATOR
JENNER
Who
is he?
CAMERON
I
don't know.
Jenner
looks up from the photographs.
SENATOR
JENNER
Well,
find out.
EXT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - DAY
The
van is in the driveway.
INT.
DUANE'S HOUSE - DAY
Duane
is on the phone, waiting for someone to answer. The photo of Tommy is on the table next to the phone.
DUANE
HANSEN
Yes,
I'm trying to reach Tommy Waller. . . . Thank you.
INT.
ALEXANDRIA - APARTMENT - DAY
MURIEL
WALLER, 40s, is an unkempt alcoholic woman on welfare.
MURIEL
Tommy! You got a phone call! You gonna pick it up in there?
INT.
TOMMY'S BEDROOM - DAY
TOMMY
WALLER, 15, is a street-wise kid with cockiness oozing out of every tattooed
and pierced pore of his skin.
He
picks up the phone.
TOMMY
Yeah?
INTERCUT
PHONE CONVERSATION
DUANE
HANSEN
Tommy?
TOMMY
Yeah? Who is this?
DUANE
HANSEN
I'm
Duane Hansen, Tommy. You don't know me.
TOMMY
So
why're you calling me?
DUANE
HANSEN
Your
phone number was given to me by Jennifer Barri-- . . . I mean, Jennifer
Jenner. The First Lady.
There
is a silence.
DUANE
HANSEN
Tommy?
TOMMY
Why
the hell you calling me anyways?
DUANE
HANSEN
I
understand you want to meet your birth mother.
TOMMY
Shit,
is that what this is about? I thought
she was going to call me herself. Who
the fuck did you say you were?
DUANE
HANSEN
I'm
your . . . well, I'm your father.
TOMMY
What
the fuck you talking about, man? My
dad's a strung-out asshole, a total loser. I'm not talking to you no more.
He
hangs up.
Duane
holds the phone, stunned.
INT.
FIELDSDALE - SMALL TV STATION - DAY
Duane
enters the local TV station, which is so small that a receptionist isn't even
on duty.
He
looks around the small interior, quickly finding who he is looking for.
Peggy
Sommers is at her desk and sees him approach.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
And
to what do I owe this honor?
DUANE
HANSEN
Have
you had lunch yet?
PEGGY
SOMMERS
It's
your lucky day, I haven't.
INT.
RESTAURANT - DAY
Duane
and Peggy sit in a booth.
DUANE
HANSEN
She
didn't go away to college at all. She
stayed with a relative and had the kid.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
Who
is foul-mouthed and rude.
DUANE
HANSEN
Sounded
like it to me.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
So
am I a shoulder to cry on? Which is
fine. Or do you have something else in
mind?
DUANE
HANSEN
You
know about doing research. I want to
know as much about him as you can find out.
Who his parents are, what they do, how he's been raised.
Peggy
smiles - but there is sadness in it.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
May
I ask you a personal question? Retract
that. I'm asking it anyway. Are you still in love with her?
Duane
avoids the question.
DUANE
HANSEN
It
would mean a lot to me if you could do this, Peggy.
PEGGY
SOMMERS
I'll
see what I can do.
INT.
SEN. JENNER'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Jennifer
is reading in bed when the senator appears in the doorway.
SENATOR
JENNER
You
haven't said much about your reunion.
JENNIFER
It
was a lot of fun. You should try it
sometime.
SENATOR
JENNER
More
your style than mine, dear. Goodnight.
JENNIFER
Goodnight.
He
leaves. Jennifer goes back to reading.
INT.
SENATE BLDG - SEN. JENNER'S OFFICE - NIGHT
A
flashlight finds the filing cabinet in the dark office.
A
gloved hand opens it and looks for a file.
The file is lifted out and put on a desktop.
Sheila
opens it - but the file is filled with blank paper. The original document is missing.
She
panics and goes back to the cabinet.
She starts rummaging through the rest of the files.
Several
other folders are filled with blank paper.
She
opens another cabinet drawer and does the same thing.
No
luck. She SLAMS the cabinet drawer
shut.
The
sound echoes like a gunshot in the still office.
INT.
JENNIFER'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The
bedside phone rings. Jennifer picks it
up.
JENNIFER
Hello?
INTERCUT
PHONE CONVERSATION
Duane
is on the other end, calling from home.
DUANE
HANSEN
It's
Duane.
JENNIFER
I
asked you not to call me here at night.
DUANE
HANSEN
We
need to talk. I'm taking tomorrow off
and coming to D.C. Where can I meet
you?
Panic
floods Jennifer's face. Her tone lowers
and becomes harsher.
JENNIFER
You
can't come here!
DUANE
HANSEN
Too
late, I already rearranged my schedule.
I can show up on your doorstep if you like.
JENNIFER
No,
not here.
DUANE
HANSEN
Where? I'll arrive tomorrow evening.
EXT.
SEN. JENNER'S HOUSE - DAY
Jennifer
comes out and gets into a BMW that is parked in the circular driveway.
Cameron
gets out of a sedan parked on the street and trots to the car, standing in
front of it so Jennifer can't drive out.
Then
he moves to the window to talk to her.
CAMERON
I
need to see you alone.
JENNIFER
It's
over, Cameron.
CAMERON
You're
dumping me for this high school flame, is that it?
JENNIFER
I'm
not seeing anyone.
She
pulls away.
Cameron
regains his composure and heads for the house.
INT.
SEN. JENNER'S HOUSE - HOME OFFICE - DAY
The
senator is meeting with Cameron and Sheila.
SENATOR
JENNER
If
this gets out, I'm dead before I get off the ground.
SHEILA
May
I make a suggestion?
All
eyes are on her.
SHEILA
It
takes two to tango, so to speak. He
might be the more easily dissuaded.
SENATOR
JENNER
Dissuaded. I like that word. Cameron?
CAMERON
How
far can I go?
SENATOR
JENNER
As
far as it takes.
EXT.
SENATE BUILDING - DAY
Employees
come out at the end of the day.
The
two Slavic men are waiting outside the building. They see Sheila and move quickly to her, one on each side.
They
speak in quick urgent tones as they move down the street.
SHEILA
It
wasn't there. It must have been entered
into the hearing and stored with the testimony.
MAN
#1
That's
not good.
MAN
#2
What
about other copy?
SHEILA
There
was an accident, and some envelopes got exchanged. I think maybe the First Lady ended up with it.
MAN
#2
The
First Lady!
SHEILA
Don't
worry, I'm sure I can salvage the situation. But you have to give me some
breathing room. You have to trust
me. It's my life on the line here.
MAN
#1
I'm
glad you understand that.
EXT.
WASHINGTON D.C. - CAFE - NIGHT
A
cab lets Duane off and he enters a small cafe.
INT.
CAFE - NIGHT
Duane
looks around for Jennifer but can't find her.
A WAITER arrives.
WAITER
Table
for one, sir?
DUANE
HANSEN
For
two.
WAITER
Very
good. This way.
EXT.
WASHINGTON D.C. - STREET - NIGHT
The
limo is in traffic.
INT.
LIMO - NIGHT
Jennifer
is looking out the rear-view window.
Then she turns to speak to the driver.
JENNIFER
Juan,
I think we're being followed
JUAN
It's
Cameron, Mrs. Jenner.
JENNIFER
Can
you lose him?
The
driver smiles.
INT.
CAFE - NIGHT
Duane
looks at his watch.
EXT.
WASHINGTON D.C. - STREET - NIGHT
The
limo is continuing down a street.
Suddenly,
the limo darts across traffic, takes a sharp turn and speeds up.
INT.
SEDAN - NIGHT
Cameron
can't make the turn and watches the limo disappear. He pounds the steering wheel, then turns sharply himself, trying
to regroup and pick up the trail.
INT.
CAFE - NIGHT
Jennifer
arrives at Duane's table.
JENNIFER
I
can't stay long. I'm being followed.
She
sits down.
DUANE
HANSEN
Tommy
won't see me. He says his father is a
strung-out asshole.
JENNIFER
He
told you that?
DUANE
HANSEN
No,
Jennifer, I'm making it up.
JENNIFER
He
hurt you. I'm so sorry.
DUANE
HANSEN