Lesson 15

[Firdaus Bilimoria]

Firdaus F Bilimoria Lesson 15 Nancy and Squire Scene Rewrite:

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 rear view of Nancy as 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.

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 paces. She seems nervous.

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

SQUIRE
Us meaning the AML 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.

NANCY
You always resented that I was promoted over you. You were my mentor after all.

Squire chuckles, genuinely amused. Nancy is surprised. She expected more of a reaction to her offensiveness.

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
(apprehensive)
What are you saying?

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

NANCY
(now steely)
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. We both knew that, that’s how you played me.
(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, under the circumstances. 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. My position can’t be traced back to me.

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.

NANCY
(coy)
What makes you think… your position can’t be traced back to you?

Squire is uneasy but recovers.

SQUIRE
Even if that were the case, all you do is go from a win-win to a lose-lose.

Nancy smiles at Squire. She seems to know something that Squire doesn’t. He can’t figure it out and is nervous.

NANCY
Well, this isn’t over and I am not going anywhere. My Dad’s in hospice and I won’t abandon him.

They stare at each other. Squire doesn’t know what to say.

NANCY
(business like)
Well Squire, have the file ready for the Risk Group by tomorrow. Please.

Nancy turns away and goes to the window and stares out, implicitly dismissing Squire.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by  Firdaus Bilimoria. Reason: Formatting issues

[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
(haunted) 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: Realtors, Nancy and Squire, arrive in two separate cars and park on the circle
drive in front of a large gothic mansion. Squire, taking long strides, reaches the large
front door first and rings the doorbell. Nancy, trailing behind, is having trouble navigating
the gravel driveway in her three inch heels. When she reaches him she pushes him
aside.
Nancy:
What are you doing here, Squire?
Squire: (smug)
Mss Worthington called me.
Nancy:
Oh no you don’t, you’re not worming your way into my deal, Squire.
Squire:
It might surprise you, Nancy, to know that I have a listing appointment with Miss
Worthington at six.
Nancy:
No. . . Wrong, my appointment is with her at six! You are obviously mistaken about the
time.
He examines her face.
Squire:
I can tell you’re lying. You called her, didn’t you?
She avoids eye contact.
Nancy:
All’s fair in war and whatever. Right?
She looks up at the home’s three stories and shutters.
Nancy:
Wow! What a creepy place. And so isolated.
Squire lowers his voice.
Squire:
I’ve heard the old Worthington mansion is haunted. The original owner was murdered
here around the turn of the century. You can leave now if you’re scared, Nancy.
He watches for her reaction and is disappointed.
Nancy:
In your dreams, buster. I don’t frighten that easily.
She scans the property with a critical eye.
Nancy:
Hmm, the outside needs a lot of updating.
Squire:
Looks like a tear down to me, but this much forrest covered acreage is probably worth a
few mill.
Nancy:
Not a problem for me. I have a good handyman and stager I can call.
Squire:
Ha! This will require more than lipstick.
Finally the massive front door opens silently to reveal a sour looking Butler who ushers
them into the main hall.
Butler:
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.
Nancy and Squire give each other puzzled looks.
Nancy
What! Good God, nobody mentioned that!
Squire winks at Nancy in a playful gesture.
Squire
Well, this should be fun!
She gives him a dirty look.
Butler:
Just so it’s clear. You must remain here all night. The listing will go only to the agent
that is still here in the morning.
Before they can ask any more questions, he exits the room and they are left on their
own.
Nancy looks around and cringes.
Nancy:
Damn. I’m not prepared to spend the night here.
Squire:
I’ve got this. Why don’t you toddle on home.
Nancy:
You’d like that wouldn’t you?
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 think I’ll check out the bed in the bedroom. (big smile) Want to
join me?
Nancy:
Cool your jets. I have other things on my mind besides cavorting with you.
She tilts her head as if weighing her options.
Nancy:
I’m fair, how about, If we’re both still here in the morning, we share the listing?
Squire:
I’ll think about it. Miss Worthington is my client, besides ghosts don’t scare me. . .how
about you?

LATER:
Squire and Nancy are exploring the main rooms downstairs. They hear what sounds
like a piece of furniture falling over. Nancy jumps. Squire looks around nervously and
laughs.
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
and they are left in the dark. Nancy bumps into a table.
Nancy:
Ouch!
He jumps when something brushes his arm.
Squire:
Cut it out Nancy.
Nancy:
What are you talking about?
They both turn their cell phone lights on only to reveal they are each on opposite sides
of the room. A moaning sound emanates from upstairs.
Nancy:
On second thought I think I’ll stay down here.
She quickly moves towards him.
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.

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 and looks back at the painting.
Nancy:
Squire! Look, I think her eyes are following us.
Squire:
It’s just a painting. You’re not going to scare me.
She stops and inspects 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.
She downs another shot and softens.
Nancy:
You know, you’re not so bad. Like I said, if you mind your manners, I’ll share the listing
with you.
Squire:
That’s big of you since it was my contact to begin with.
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.
Squire:
She came from the Library. There’s got to be a reasonable explanation. Let’s check it
out.
Nancy:
Maybe we should leave.
Squire heads for the Library and Nancy reluctantly follows.

LIBRARY
Squire raises the lite candle to illuminate the room. They spot the Butler laying on the
floor with a large knife sticking out of his back.
Nancy and Squire knock into each other trying to exit the Library. They run full tilt down
the hall to reach the front door and exit. Their cars can be heard roaring down the
driveway.

FRONT DOOR OF MANSION
Miss Worthington, dressed in a white gown, and her brother, dressed as a Butler, stand
in the doorway laughing.
Miss Worthington:
This is so much fun! Let’s do it again next week, only we won’t let the next Realtors get
away so fast.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by  Yvonne Arnett.