Lesson 14

[Deb Johnson]

LOGLINE: Nancy and Squire have volunteered to manage their bosses’ late aunts garage sale, but they’re both hiding something.

Essence: two wrongs make everything worse

Scene:

EXT. OPEN GARAGE/YARD – DAY

A sweltering summer day. A garage, driveway and yard are strewn with tables: a huge garage sale, festive with a popcorn maker, balloons and almost a century of junk. Customers mill about.

NANCY, 25, crisp and efficient, wears a single wireless earbud and moves about.

She secures a balloon and gives it to a LITTLE BOY.

NANCY
Mr. Tomkins! I wanted to assure you that all is going as planned.

She reaches into a cooler and hands an OLD WOMAN a water.

MR. TOMKINS (V.O.)
(in the earbud)
Find anything valuable, besides Aunt Margaret's China collection?

She moves into the garage and peaks behind some boxes. Her eyes go wide and dart about frantically. Something's missing.

NANCY
The Royal Copenhagen is on display. I'll get the best price for it.

MR. TOMKINS (V.O.)
Nancy, you're the best. I can't thank you and Squire enough for handling this for my aunt's estate.

Nancy glares at SQUIRE, 25, a modern hippie. He wears an old woman's tea-party hat and sips water. He lounges in the only shady corner, in a big comfy chair (for sale) in front of an electric fan (for sale.)

Squire glances at his phone; a worried look. He looks around and is distracted by an attractive woman. He knocks off the silly hat and checks his hair in a vintage mirror.

NANCY
You're welcome, Mr. Tomkins! I'll see you Monday.

Nancy clicks off her earbud and beelines to Squire.

Squire moves towards the woman then notices the balloon boy next to her and veers the other way… and almost runs into a HOT SHOPPER… twice as pretty as the other woman.

SQUIRE
Well, hello.

He has a charming smile. She looks at corning ware.

SQUIRE
This cornflower is lovely, but have you seen the Blue Fluted China?

HOT SHOPPER
Really? Where?

SQUIRE
Right this way, milady!

He gently touches her shoulder and leads her. Nancy watches from the garage. The Hot Shopper tears up.

HOT SHOPPER
Oh my god, this is just like the set my grandmother had.

He casually leans on the shelving unit and gazes at her with interest. Hot Shopper looks at the price.

HOT SHOPPER
But, way too expensive.

SQUIRE
What if I told you it was half off?

HOT SHOPPER
You would do that for me?

SQUIRE
Darling, I'd…

Balloon boy walks up and blows into a harmonica.

BALLOON BOY
Mommy! Look what I found!

Hot Shopper is horrified. She snatches it away and throws it to the floor. Squire is wide-eyed at his own mistake.

HOT SHOPPER
Honey! That's disgusting!

The boy cries. She tries to console him.

HOT SHOPPER
Yes, I'll take it. If you could just box it…

Squire smiles, assents and walks away. He gets another PHONE ALERT and looks concerned. Nancy walks up.

SQUIRE
Oh, good! I've been…

NANCY
Come here.

Nancy grabs his shirt and ushers him away from the people.

SQUIRE
Easy, that's polyester, Listen…

NANCY
Why in the world would you discount that China?

SQUIRE
Hey, at least we made a sale. We've gotta move the merchandise!

NANCY
Not the Royal Copenhagen you idiot!

SQUIRE
Easy there, tiger, life's too short to sweat the small stuff.

Nancy stares at him with a tight jaw and hands on her hips.

NANCY
You've been sitting on your ass all day! The only reason you volunteered was to get in good with Mr. Tomkins.

SQUIRE
Nancy, you know you're just as ambitious as I am. It's one of the things I admire about you.

NANCY
Shush. I'm not done. What did you do with the painting I put behind those boxes.

SQUIRE
Painting?

NANCY
Don't play dumb with me. It could be worth a lot of money.

SQUIRE
I've been moving all those heavy boxes from the basement and attic, trying to keep up. Sorry I'm not working as hard as you. But I'll help you find the painting, no worries.

NANCY
What do you know?

Squire casually looks over at his car parked nearby.

SQUIRE
Nothing.

Nancy follows his gaze and can see the painting in the back seat of the car. She walks over and he follows.

NANCY
What's that?

SQUIRE
Oh, that painting. Yeah. I thought it’d look good in my man cave.

Squire opens the car door and takes the painting out.

SQUIRE
My bad. No muss no fuss.

Squire carries the painting back to the garage. She follows. They stop near the shelf full of China. Nancy tries to take the painting, but Squire hangs on.

NANCY
We've got a real dilemma here.

SQUIRE
Finders’ keepers?

NANCY
Either Mr. Tomkins gives one of us the promotion, or there's a risk that, if this sale is a success, he'll team us up on another project.

SQUIRE
Would that be so bad?

NANCY
It's like always being paired with the stupid kid on the science fair project. Give me the painting, Squire.

SQUIRE
C'mon, Nancy. Admit it. You were going to steal this painting too. It's no big deal.

NANCY
I was trying to keep it safe!

They both have a firm grip on the painting and tug back and forth. Nancy steps back, slips on the harmonica, and falls back into the shelving of China. It crashes to the floor. All the customer’s gape.

SQUIRE
Well, now it's free.

There's a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder.

NANCY
Oh, no!

SQUIRE
That's what I've been trying to tell you. I've been getting Storm Warning alerts on my phone.

Rain falls; a heavy downpour. Customers run to their cars.

SQUIRE
Probably should bring the stuff in.

NANCY
Forget it. Too late.

SQUIRE
Look at the bright side… we probably won't ever have to work together again.

[Blair Marino]

LOGLINE: Officer Nancy and Officer Squire’s lucky day.
ESSENCE: Patience sometimes is better than action.
SCENE:
INT. POLICE HEADQUARTERS BRIEFING ROOM – MORNING

The briefing room is stuffy and filled with way too many florescent lights. POLICE CHIEF RYAN displays his large physique and salt-n-pepper hair during the briefing to the first shift officers.

POLICE CHIEF RYAN
And lastly, OFFICERS NANCY and SQUIRE are assigned to mobile patrol on the Northeast beat.

Thirty-something Officer Nancy glances across the room at the handsome Officer Squire, who catches her gaze.

POLICE CHIEF RYAN
Thank you and stay safe out there.

The twenty-plus officers stand up and shuffle out of the room. Officer Squire makes his way over to Officer Nancy.

OFFICER NANCY
Did you have something to do with this assignment, Squire?

OFFICER SQUIRE
Me? Now why would you ask that? Today is just your lucky day.

OFFICER NANCY
We'll see how lucky this day will be.

OFFICER SQUIRE
(smirking)
Is that a promise?

Officer Nancy sneers and storms out of the briefing room. Officer Squire's eyes follow her and he gives a sly smile.

EXT. POLICE PARKING LOT – LATER

Officer Nancy makes a bee-line to the driver's side of the squad car. She opens the door. Officer Squire balks.

OFFICER SQUIRE
Why do you assume that you will be in the driver's seat?

Officer Nancy looks over the car roof at Officer Squire.

OFFICER NANCY
Because I'm always the driver.

OFFICER SQUIRE
Seriously?

OFFICER NANCY
Yep.

Officer Nancy enters the car. Officer Squire scoffs. He opens the passenger door and sits.

INT. POLICE PATROL CAR – CONTINUOUS

OFFICER SQUIRE
So, what if I want to drive?

OFFICER NANCY
Not gonna happen.

Officer Nancy starts the car and backs up. Officer Squire shakes his head.

INT. POLICE PATROL CAR – LATER

Officer Nancy grins as she and Officer Squire continue with their light banter.

OFFICER NANCY
So, I have a confession to make. I asked the Chief if we could be assigned together.

OFFICER SQUIRE
You couldn't resist me any longer, could you?

Officer Nancy lets out a snort.

OFFICER NANCY
You are one of the best officers at the station. I just wanted to work with you and size you up.

OFFICER SQUIRE
I guess I should be flattered?

OFFICER NANCY
(smirking)
Yes, you should.

Officer Squire smiles.

OFFICER SQUIRE
Listen, do you mind if we make a short stop by my bank before we go to lunch? It's right down the street.

OFFICER NANCY
Yeah, sure.

EXT. BANK PARKING LOT – LATER

Officer Nancy parks and Officer Squire get out of the patrol car.

OFFICER SQUIRE
I just need to use the ATM. I won't be long.

He walks to the front bank entrance and goes inside.

INT. BANK LOBBY – MOMENTS LATER

Officer Squire waits in line at the ATM.

EXT. BANK PARKING LOT – MOMENTS LATER

Three armed people with masks over their faces enter the bank from a side entrance.

INT. BANK LOBBY – CONTINUOUS

The three masked people walk into the lobby. MASKED WOMAN raises her gun in the air. There are audible gasps.

MASKED WOMAN
Okay everyone, listen to me very carefully. I want you all to put your cell phones into the box that my friend here has.

Masked Woman points to the MASKED MAN #1, who then directs everyone to put their phones into the box they're holding.

MASKED WOMAN
Once you put your phone into the box, you are to lay face down on the floor.

Masked Man #1 continues around the room collecting phones. MASKED MAN #2 directs the people to lay down. Masked man #1 notices Officer Squire.

MASKED MAN #1
Oh shit! We have a boy in blue over here!

Masked woman walks over and points her gun at Officer Squire.

MASKED WOMAN
You're not going to create problems for us, are you Mr. Boy in Blue?

OFFICER SQUIRE
I won't if you won't.

INT. POLICE PATROL CAR – MOMENTS LATER

Officer Nancy is waiting in the car.

DISPATCHER
Attention all units, we have a 10-30 at 3659 Main Street. Silent alarm was triggered and suspects are possibly armed. Please proceed with caution.

Officer Nancy looks at the numbers on the building and picks up the radio microphone.

OFFICER NANCY
10-4 Dispatch. I'm at 3659 Main Street. We also have a 10-13.

DISPATCHER
Please wait for back up. ETA five minutes.

OFFICER NANCY
(to herself)
We probably don't have five minutes.

Officer Nancy gets out of the car with gun in hand. She walks to the side of the bank and finds another entrance.

INT. BANK LOBBY – LATER

Officer Squire is disarmed and laying on the ground. Masked Woman stands guard in the lobby.

MASKED WOMAN
We'll be out of your hair in a minute folks.

Officer Squire sees Officer Nancy enter through the side door to hide.

OFFICER SQUIRE
(to Masked Woman)
Your voice sounds very familiar. Do I know you?

Masked Woman turns towards Officer Squire.

MASKED WOMAN
I assure you that you do not.

Masked Man #1 and #2 walk into the lobby with bags of money in hand. Officer Nancy sizes up the bank robbers. She steps out from hiding and points her gun at Masked Man #1 and #2.

OFFICER NANCY
Freeze!

The two Masked Men turn around and the Masked Woman draws her gun on Officer Nancy.

MASKED WOMAN
Not so fast.

Officer Squire jumps up and runs towards the Masked Woman. The Masked Woman hears Officer Squire and shoots him in the leg.

OFFICER SQUIRE
AHHHH!

Officer Squire lands on the floor. Officer Nancy shoots and misses the Masked Woman. Masked Man #2 grabs a line divider pole and knocks down Officer Nancy.

MASKED MAN #2
We gotta get out of here!

The three Masked Robbers escape out the side door. Officer Nancy struggles to stand up and radios for an ambulance. She makes her way over to Office Squire.

OFFICER NANCY
Are you okay?

Officer Squire's hand covers his wound.

OFFICER SQUIRE
I don't know.

Police sirens are heard. Bank customers orient themselves.

OFFICER SQUIRE
Thanks for covering for me.

OFFICER NANCY
I couldn't just sit and wait for backup.

Officer Nancy looks around the lobby.

OFFICER NANCY
But perhaps I should have.

[Christopher Fallon]

LESSON 14 ASSIGNMENT:
Chris writes the Nancy and Squire scene.
NANCY
– Confrontational
– Stubborn
– Scheming
– Caring
Subtext: Nancy is a scheming lady who is covertly competitive with peers.
SQUIRE
– Evasive
– Selfish
– Happy-go-lucky
– Seductive
Subtext: Squire is a seductive guy who uses uses his charm to control others.
LOGLINE: FBI sting goes badly wrong.
ESSENCE: A team is only as strong as its weakest link.

INT. CATSKILLS HOTEL RESTAURANT – NIGHT
Three serious MOBSTER men in their 60s sit at a table talking quietly, intensely.
AIDAN KELLY, 50, apparently the Maitre D, stands at the door to the kitchen area and he watches the men across
the restaurant. NANCY, 40, a smart waitress, comes past him carrying used dishes.
NANCY
(whispering)
Where the hell is he?
AIDAN
Relax. He’ll be here.
NANCY
If he fucks this up…
AIDAN
He’ll be here.
She pushes the swing doors into the kitchen —

INT. RESTAURANT KITCHEN – NIGHT
The usual mayhem of a busy restaurant kitchen, except:
Two heavily armed FBI AGENTS sit on counter tops.
Waitress – LUCY, 25 – looks tense and agitated as she
grabs a bottle of wine and an ice bucket. Nancy helps
Lucy through the door.
LUCY
A frigging shit show.
NANCY
Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.

Now SQUIRE enters from a back door, hastily straightening his waiter’s collar and bow tie. Squire is 30 but looks
about 21. He goes straight up to Nancy.

SQUIRE
Hiya Cap’n. I’m Squire.

He holds out his hand to shake. She ignores it.

NANCY
You’re late.
SQUIRE
Yeah, my bad. Apologies.
NANCY
Fine. Your jacket’s over there.

She nods to a hook on the wall. Squire puts on the jacket
and likes the look of it on him.

SQUIRE
Good to meet you by the way.
What do you think? Cary Grant or what?

NANCY
Jesus Christ…

Squire knows he’s got off on the wrong foot, tries to correct.
SQUIRE
I’ve heard a lot about you. That Philly sting… that was quite a score.

NANCY
We don’t mention Philly unless someone orders steak.

SQUIRE
Got it.

Aidan enters from the dining area.

AIDAN
Ah good, I see you’ve met.
(to Squire)
You’ve got the kit?

Squire nods and takes a small microphone/bug from his pocket.

AIDAN
Good, okay get to it.

Nancy takes Aidan aside.

NANCY
Who is this joker?

AIDAN
Relax, he’s good.

NANCY
He looks about fifteen.

AIDAN
I’m not asking you to sleep with him, just work with him for a night.

Squire starts attaching the small microphone to the underside of a silver tray.
Aidan goes back into the dining area. Nancy starts loading a trolley with plates, cutlery etc

NANCY
You done this before?
SQUIRE
What? Surveillance?
NANCY
No, silver service.
SQUIRE
Sure.
NANCY
You haven’t have you?
SQUIRE
Sure…a little.
NANCY
Where?
When he doesn’t answer she looks to the heavens “give me
strength”.
SQUIRE
I’ll pick it up.
NANCY
You don’t have time to pick it up. I’ll serve the fish, okay. I’ll do the tricky stuff. You just takes
care of the plates, serve the bread that kind of thing, okay.

SQUIRE
Whatever you say Cap’n.
Lucy comes back in. Squire likes the look of her.
SQUIRE
(to Lucy)
Hi we haven’t met. I’m Squire.

Lucy looks towards Nancy for guidance.
NANCY
Jesus Christ. Squire, this isn’t date night.

It’s now time for them to take food out the restaurant on
a trolley- and of course the platter with a hidden
microphone.
They cross the restaurant floor under the watchful eye of
Aidan until they get to the mobster table.
Squire puts the platter/microphone in the center of the
table. Nancy watches, alert to any possibility of danger.
Aidan watches from across the room.
Lucy watches as she pours wine from another table.
Nancy begins skilfully serving the fish – lifting it from
a platter between a fork and spoon and gently placing it
on the mobsters’ plates. They enjoy her physical
proximity as she leans close to them. Until —
MOBSTER 3
(to Nancy)
No, not you. I want the boy to do it.
He nods towards Squire.
MOBSTER 3
It’s just a thing I have, no offence.
(to his mobster pals)
A superstition, it makes no sense.
I want the kid to do it.
(to Nancy)
Is that a problem?
NANCY
No, of course not sir.
Nancy hands the cutlery utensils to Squire, who is
suddenly full of nerves.
NANCY
(to Squire)
Please…serve the gentleman.
All eyes on Squire as he tries to lift the $100 fish
between fork and spoon, and the fish splits in half.
Nancy glowers at Squire.
The Mobsters are not impressed.
Aidan whispers into his mobile phone –
AIDAN
Stand by, we may have a problem.
Squire tries to pick up one half of the fish with his
spoon and fork — this now falls apart before it reaches
the mobster’s plate.
MOBSTERS
OH!
Nancy is frozen.
Squire starts to scoop up the scraps of fish.
MOBSTER 3
Okay, that’s enough, that’s
enough!
Squire doesn’t stop fast enough.
Mobster 3 sweeps the dishes and the platter off the
table, leaps to his feet and whips out a gun from his
shoulder holster.
MOBSTER 3
Okay asshole, who are you?
Smash — Lucy whacks Mobster 3 over the head with a
bottle of wine, and he goes down. As the other Mobsters
leap to their feet they are stopped by the sudden
appearance of the armed FBI agents, guns trained on them.
Nancy whips out her FBI badge from her back pocket.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Christopher Fallon.

[Yvonne Arnett]

LESSON 14 – YVONNE
ARC: FROM: being forced together TO: making a total mess of the situation.
LOGLINE: Two Realtors, Nancy and Squire, must spend an entire night in a gothic
mansion in order to get an exclusive listing with the owner, an eccentric old woman. The
one still there in the morning gets the listing.
ESSENCE: Winner takes all, or so we thought.
SCENE: Nancy and Squire arrive in two separate cars and park on the circle drive in
front of a large gothic mansion. Squire arrives at the large front door first and rings the
doorbell with Nancy trailing behind.
Nancy: What are you doing here, Squire? I’ve got a listing appointment with Miss
Worthington at ten.
Squire: It might surprise you to know that I also have an appointment at the same time.
Nancy: There must be some mistake. We’ll soon get this cleared up with Miss
Worthington.
She looks up at the home’s three stories and shutters.
Nancy: Wow! What a creepy place. And so isolated.
Squire: I’ve heard the old Worthington mansion is haunted. The original owner was
murdered here around the turn of the century.
He watches her reaction.
You can leave now if you’re scared, Nancy.
Nancy: In your dreams, buster. I don’t frighten that easily.
She scans the property with a critical eye.
Nancy: The outside needs a lot of updating.
Squire: Looks like a tear down to me, but this much acreage is worth a few mill.
Nancy: Not a problem for me. I have a good handyman and stager I can call.
Squire: Always the optimist.
Finally the massive front door opens silently to reveal a sour looking man servant who
ushers them into the main hall.
Servant: Madame is not here but she said to let you both roam about and get a feel for
the place. She expects you both to spend the night in her home. Your bedrooms are
located at the top of the stairs. The listing will go to whomever is still here in the
morning.
He exits the room and they are left on their own. Nancy cringes
Nancy: Damn. I’m not prepared to spend the night.
Squire walks around the main hall peeking into the adjoining rooms while Nancy
watches him.
Squire: Holy shit! The antiques in this place must be worth a fortune.
Nancy: Quit drooling. You haven’t got the listing yet.
Squire: It’s as good as done. I’ll be checking out the bedroom. (big smile) Want to join
me?
Nancy: Cool your jets. I have other things on my mind besides cavorting with you.
He tilts his head as if weighing his options.
Squire: How about a wager? If you’re still here in the morning, we share the listing. If
not, I take it and If I’m not here, it’s yours.
Nancy: No way Jose, I’m not sharing! Ghosts don’t scare me. What about you?
LATER:
Squire and Nancy are exploring the main rooms down stairs. Nancy stays close to
Squire. They hear what sounds like a piece of furniture falling over. Nancy jumps.
Squire nervously looks around.
Squire: These old houses make settling noises.
Nancy: Yeah, well I’m through exploring. I think I’ll go to bed.
Squire: The house getting to you? The offer is still open. You can bunk in with me.
She flips him the finger and heads for the stairs. Just then the lights flicker and go off.
They are left in the dark. Squire bumps into a table.
Squire: Ouch!
She jumps when something brushes her leg.
Nancy: Cut it out Squire.
Squire: What are you talking about?
They both turn their cell phone lights on only to reveal Squire on the opposite side of the
room. She quickly moves towards him. A moaning sound emanates from upstairs.
Nancy: On second thought I think I’ll stay down here.
Squire: I think we should light a couple of candles on the sideboard. I don’t want to run
my battery down.
He lights two candles and hands her one before they both enter the library. It is packed
with eerie looking stuffed animals, books and miscellaneous stuff.
She holds her candle up to a large painting of a strange looking woman in white.
Nancy: I wonder if she’s the owner?
He peeks over her shoulder.
Squire: Nah, it was painted in 1897. The dates right there on the bottom.
Nancy: Well, she gives me the creeps.
She moves around the room and stops in front of a large stuffed Tiger. Squire sneaks
up behind her.
Squire: Boo!
She jumps, then slaps him.
Nancy: That’s not going to work. I’ll still be here in the morning.
The candle reflecting off Squire’s face reveals a wickedly charming smile.
Squire: We’ll see. Meanwhile, how about a drink. I spotted some liquor in the dinning
room.
DINING ROOM
The sideboard is well stocked with bottles of booze and tumblers. Squire selects a
bottle, pours them each a generous amount, then hands one to Nancy. He raises his
glass.
Squire: Here’s to tomorrow. May the best man win! Which of course is me.
Nancy takes a big gulp and coughs.
Nancy: You’re not short on ego are you? I hate to dash your hopes, but the best woman
will win.
They both jump when they hear the door to the Library open and slam shut. They watch
in terror as a misty figure in white floats down the hall past the dinning room and
disappears.
Nancy and Squire knock into each other trying to enter the hall. They run full tilt to
reach the front door and exit. Their cars can be heard roaring down the driveway.
An elderly woman in white stands in the doorway laughing.

[Firdaus Bilimoria]

Firdaus F Bilimoria Lesson 14 QE Cycle#3 Scene

LOGLINE: Nancy and Squire find out they have both broken securities regulations and are at risk of being exposed, and figure a way out.

ESSENCE: Nancy and Squire, in spite of their apparent difference in status in the corporate chain of command, are at risk of being exposed as financial criminals. They try to outwit each other, but also have a common ground and co-dependency in their respective exit strategies.

SCENE:
INT. BANK BACK OFFICE, DAY
It is a large hall of shared space open office concept workstations surrounded with executive offices and meeting rooms at the periphery. Less than half of the desks in the main hall are occupied. NANCY, 30s, in suit and heels, walks purposefully holding her laptop and an oversized coffee thermos mug. She stops by SQUIRE, 50s, dressed in polo shirt that emphasize his large biceps, khakis and Birkenstock sandals. Squire is eating an apple as he stares at one of the computer screens on his desk. The screen that Squire is watching reads “Top 50 experiences in Barcelona.”

NANCY
If you can take a break from planning your next vacation, we need to talk.

SQUIRE
(broad grin)
Now?

NANCY
Now.

Squire follows Nancy into her office. He seems to admire the view of Nancy and she leads him into the office.

INT. NANCY’S OFFICE, DAY
Nancy’s office is small but has a window overlooking the downtown core. Her desk is clutter with stacked files and working papers. There is a picture of a Labrador retriever on her desk. Nancy puts her laptop on the desk and takes a long gulp from her coffee mug. Squire sits down facing her, and smiles broadly.
SQUIRE
What’s up?
NANCY
I was in the Directors’ weekly meeting. Can you guess what came up?
SQUIRE
I don’t know, but commodities are up, rates are inverting again, the Euro’s weak, and…
NANCY
(exasperated)
Squire!
SQUIRE
My point is, it’s a great time for a European vacation. Maybe Barcelona, maybe Paris, maybe Venice, maybe all three!

Squire smiles at Nancy, knowing she doesn’t like to travel much.

NANCY
Fascinating, but…

SQUIRE
(interrupts her)
But I’m also looking at Venezuela, never been there. And there other advantages besides the right-wing dimwit who rules the land!

NANCY
Charming.

SQUIRE
Well you know me…

NANCY
Said the 50-something Peter Pan wannabe.

Squire laughs. Nancy is not smiling.

NANCY
Seriously…

SQUIRE
(interrupts her again)
There was a time when I wanted to be just like you, and climb the ladder. But the rungs were so slippery and I never got anywhere.

NANCY
Good thing you are good at what you do. Why are we having this conversation now?

SQUIRE
Because I’m in the mood, are you ever in the mood Nancy?

Nancy ignores the double entendre.

NANCY
The risk and audit teams blew up the meeting today. They seem to think we have had an AML breakdown.

Nancy watches Squire carefully. Squire nods thoughtfully.

SQUIRE
You know what’s funny, AML could mean “All Mighty Lord” as much as “Anti Money Laundering”.

NANCY
They are going to audit us. The big boss wants us to do an in-depth review.

SQUIRE
Us meaning the Anti Money Laundering office.

Nancy stares at him. Squire leans back and smiles at her. He crosses his arms, flexing his muscles. Nancy follow his movements with her eyes. She stares into his eyes.

NANCY
You remember the Crypto Kings fund that we cleared.

SQUIRE
(overly casual)
Three months back. I remember my recommendation on that. We should have escalated that matter. But…

NANCY
You were right.

SQUIRE
You overruled me…

They stare at each other. Nancy is suppressing her concern. Squire underneath his carefree demeanor is gauging her.

SQUIRE
No hard feelings. I’m at a stage in life when this is just a job. Which I’m very good at. And so are you…

Nancy doesn’t reply. She watches him.

SQUIRE
Which is why I wondered why you took such a strong position, so unlike you.

NANCY
I made a judgement call.

SQUIRE
You took a pretty big risk though. Why?

Nancy shrugs and walks to the window and looks down. Squire stares at her, admiring her form.

SQUIRE Venezuela.

NANCY What?

SQUIRE
The best thing about the place is they do not extradite to the USA.

Nancy almost loses composure. She stares at Squire.

NANCY
What are you saying?

SQUIRE
Like I said, I’m good at my job. And I have my methods. And sources.

NANCY
Enlighten me.

SQUIRE
I have a good idea about the bitcoin payback the Crypto fund gave you.

NANCY
(furious, afraid)
What in God’s name are you saying?!

SQUIRE
I am a friend really. Okay, more an admirer. To be technical, I got the hots for you.
(beat)
Okay that was unprofessional but permissible under the circumstances. Besides this conversation never happened.

Nancy controls her anxiety and breathing and stares at Squire.

NANCY
I always liked you Squire.

SQUIRE
(doesn’t buy it)
I know.
(beat)
See Switzerland has no extradition but is risky. Venezuela, is the best bet to start with. I will create a massive file for the Risk folks which will take them at least a couple of weeks to sort through. By then you have a family emergency and take off…

NANCY
What’s in it for you? Besides my incredible hotness?

They laugh.

SQUIRE
I don’t know. Maybe I’m just a nice guy.

Nancy has a moment of realization.

NANCY
My goodness, you have a position in the Crypto Fund!

Squire is taken aback, but then he laughs.

SQUIRE
Hypothetically, maybe I piggybacked on your trade. But difference is I got the goods on you.

NANCY
You bastard! When I run, you are in the clear.

Squire’s smiles dazzlingly. They understand each other.

SQUIRE
For the record, I do find you incredibly hot.

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Firdaus Bilimoria. Reason: Formatting issues
• This reply was modified 12 months ago by  Firdaus Bilimoria.