Mexico City Confidential (3) PACO Sorry I don’t have time to argue now. At least I’ll try to get your lights back on before your food spoils. RENATA (coy) PACO… could you maybe spare… PACO NO! No Ma as it is I’m gonna have to waste who knows how much time at the bank to make another withdrawal from my pension account to pay a bill I already paid last week! Jesus! Sometimes I think you all wanna kill me. RENATA stares at the floor as PACO gives her a quick peck on the cheek and heads for the door. PACO (leaving) I love ya Ma but you’re still a pain in the ass! EXT/DAY, NATIONAL BANK OF EGYPT, MEXICO CITY STREET 33 PACO waves to the MANAGER on his way out. He pauses to light a cigarette then starts walking down the street. Suddenly he stops and looks up; he is in front of the same jewelry store from 31. He is thoughtful for a moment then tosses away his cigarette and enters. A few meters away the two GOONS exchange looks. A few minutes later PACO emerges from the store with a triumphant look on his face. He tucks a small velvet box in his pocket and heads for the mini-bike. INT/AFTENOON, MEN’S COFFEE HOUSE PACO enters the smoke filled café in a very “bohemian” area of the city. Through the haze he squints trying to locate someone among the various men of indeterminate ages puffing on cigars, playing dominos or sleeping in chairs. He finally singles out his man and approaches the table. The man in question puffs away more or less oblivious to his surroundings. PACO sits. PACO How ya doing Dad? The man regards him with a dull expression. It is impossible to determine if there is any flicker of recognition. PACO extracts the velvet box and holds it up proudly. PACO See this? I’m finally gonna do it… I’m gonna ask Carmela to marry me. There is no immediate response only a slight twitching. The twitching gradually becomes more convulsive until finally his face contorts and he bursts out in paroxysms of laughter coughing and sputtering. PACO fails to see the humor in the situation. PACO Dad, I’m serious. This causes the older man to double over nearly toppling out of his chair. PACO puts the little box back in his pocket. Resigning himself to the fact that his father has probably lost it completely he stands places a few bills on the table and walks towards the door. As he is about to exit a familiar voice catches his attention. ANGEL What the hell did you say to the old fart? 34 Relieved to see his friend PACO slumps into a chair across from him. PACO I only told him I’m getting married… ANGEL You’re getting married? I’m the last of the Mohicans, all my tribe waits by the great campfire but one. But when? PACO Hell, I don’t know I’ve got to ask her first… ANGEL Took you long enough. PACO Too long, Carmela is gorgeous; I wait much longer someone is gonna grab her. At least this way she’ll know she has a choice. ANGEL Well… hell! If she says yes can I play best man? PACO laughs and throws an arm around his buddy’s shoulder. ANGEL signals the slow motion waiter to bring two glasses of jet fuel. INT/EVE, CARMELA’S HOUSE ANITA sits on the edge of CARMELA’S bed in the midst of her makeover her hair in hot rollers. CARMELA sits on her vanity stool carefully applying eyeliner to her subject. Her concentration is interrupted by giggles coming from the door. She turns to see several curious little heads peeking in and goes to shoo them away and close the door. ANITA Can I peek? CARMELA No way! I’m almost done and I want you to get the full effect. She touches up the shadow then applies the mascara and finally lipstick. With a satisfied smile she begins removing the rollers. CARMELA I’m telling you their eyes are going to pop right out of their heads! 35 She loosens the curls with her fingers then lifts ANITA’S hair up off her face. She shakes her head and lets it fall again fluffing it then pulling a few wisps across her forehead with her fingertips. Pleased with the results she grabs a huge can of hairspray. CARMELA Hold your breath this stuff has to be carcinogenic. After thoroughly blasting ANITA and waving away the fumes she stands back and replaces her vanity stool in front of the mirror. CARMELA Now I want you to close your eyes and don’t look until I tell you ok? ANITA (laughs) Whatever you say boss! CARMELA guides her to the vanity table and helps her sit. CARMELA Now you can look! ANITA opens her eyes slowly at first but then they pop open in amazement. She really is beautiful. She turns her head slowly from side to side in wonder. ANITA I don’t know what to say… I wouldn’t even recognize me… How can I thank you? CARMELA Don’t be silly I love doing this! ANITA takes her glasses out of her purse as CARMELA opens her closet. ANITA What are you going to wear? CARMELA Good question… I can never make up my mind. As CARMELA rifles through her wardrobe ANITA puts on her glasses to see how they go with her new look. Suddenly something catches her eye. 36 POV ANITA we see the photo of CARMELA and PACO. In the mirror we see that ANITA has gone pale. She stares in disbelief from the photo to CARMELA who removes various dresses from the closet. She accidentally drops her purse and CARMELA turns around. CARMELA Anita are you OK? ANITA I… yes… I just completely forgot I was supposed to pick up something for my mother at the pharmacy. She stands on wobbly legs and CARMELA is concerned. CARMELA Are you sure you are all right? You look pale. ANITA I just stood up too quickly. Sorry I have to run I’ll see you tonight OK? She is already heading for the door and CARMELA looks after her bewildered. CARMELA Sure… ANITA practically runs out of the house CARMELA staring after her. CARMELA I didn’t think it would be such a shock… She shakes her head and returns to her own preparations. INT/EVE, PACO’S APT. PACO enters loaded down with his bag as usual his good suit fresh from the cleaners and a corsage for CARMELA. He digs the velvet box out of his pocket setting it gently next to her picture then begins to get ready whistling happily. EXT/NIGHT, HANNIBAL’S YACHT The party is to take place on HANNIBAL’S luxurious 80m cruiser. The vessel is already teeming with HANNIBAL’S peons as PACO and CARMELA arrive. CARMELA is looking glamorous and PACO cuts a 37 pretty sharp figure himself in his black Italian suit. The eyes of all fall on them as they pass and PACO relishes in his colleagues’ envy. ANITA gets her fair share of attention as well with her new look and her slinky dress but her mind is elsewhere. She brushes off compliments left and right, her eyes constantly following PACO and CARMELA. HANNIBAL and his entourage finally arrive and the cruise gets underway. EXT/NIGHT, HANNIBAL’S YACHT The party is in full swing and the merriment keeps tempo with the lively music. ANITA is already pretty tipsy but when she sees PACO and CARMELA twirling happily on the dance floor she moves to the nearest champagne fountain and proceeds to down 3 or 4 glasses in quick succession. The steward looks her up and down with a sly smile but she is not flattered. ANITA Don’t even dream about it… She moves off and spots HANNIBAL in the crowd. A wicked smile spreads over her face and she heads towards him with predatory determination. HANNIBAL is surrounded by his “court”. When ANITA saunters up to him it takes him a moment to recognize her. HANNIBAL Anita you are looking uncharacteristically lovely this evening. ANITA (bitter laugh) I accept your compliment HANNIBAL, ironic though it may be. Will you do me the honor? Seeing as you are unescorted… She gestures to the dance floor and her subtle inference to his wife’s absence makes him wary. He deems it wise to accept. ANITA leads him to a strategic position and as they dance he sees CARMELA. He tries to maneuver ANITA in her direction but the floor is just too crowded. He cranes his neck and his jaw drops as he sees her dancing with PACO reaction HANNIBAL 38 HANNIBAL Anita, dear, do you happen to know that woman? She turns in the direction he indicates and returns her eyes to HANNIBAL. A smile spreads across her face: she has seen that look before, her plan is working. ANITA But of course HANNIBAL she works for you. I hired her myself just a few days ago. HANNIBAL (wicked grin) May the Madonna of Guadelupe’s blessings be upon you… PACO notices HANNIBAL looking their direction and stealthily leads CARMELA off the dance floor to seek out a more remote area of the vessel. HANNIBAL signals for GOMEZ to approach. HANNIBAL Would you please be so good as to finish this dance? I just remembered an urgent call I must make. GOMEZ Of course sir… As HANNIBAL slips away ANITA enjoys GOMEZ’S discomfort. ANITA You really needn’t be so put out aren’t I masculine enough for you? GOMEZ I suggest you slow down on the champagne, your inebriation is most unbecoming. INT/NIGHT, STATEROOM HANNIBAL enters his private chamber locking the door behind him. He switches on the closed circuit surveillance system lights a cigar and begins zapping from camera to camera. EXT/NIGHT, FLYING BRIDGE 39 PACO and CARMELA are up on the flying bridge the warm wind surrounding them. The view of the river in the moonlight is breathtaking. PACO extracts the tiny velvet box from his pocket and takes CARMELA’S hand tenderly. She is caught off guard. PACO Baby there is something I want to ask you… I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time but my pride kept getting in the way. (he opens the box and places the dainty ring on her finger) I wanted this to be a 20-carat diamond, and I promise one day it will be… if you marry me. CARMELA throws her arms around him nearly knocking them both into the Nile. INT/NIGHT, STATEROOM HANNIBAL snubs out his cigar as we see PACO and CARMELA on the monitor ala “Titanic”. PACO I am the king of the world! INT/AM, HANNIBAL’S PRIVATE OFFICE, 10th FLOOR “ELECTRIC CITY” On the large television screen we see the reception area of the ground floor showroom. In the foreground we can see HANNIBAL’S fingers rhythmically tapping his desktop the diamond in his pinky ring sparkles. ANITA dutifully goes about her business as CARMELA enters the frame. The fingers stop tapping and pick up the remote control. The closed circuit camera zooms in for a tighter shot. Suddenly CARMELA moves out of the frame and the camera zooms out again. ANITA has sent her to fetch something. HANNIBAL’S hands pick up the phone and dial an inside line. On the screen we see ANITA pick up. HANNIBAL Good morning Anita I trust you enjoyed yourself at the party… ANITA (VO) (glances at the camera) As always... What can I do for you this morning Mr. Huerta? 40 HANNIBAL Would you be so kind as to place an order at the florist’s… You know, from her humble admirer… ANITA (VO) To be delivered here or to her home address? HANNIBAL Here. And I want them delivered just shortly before she leaves. ANITA VO Consider it done sir. She and HANNIBAL hang up almost simultaneously. HANNIBAL switches off the television. He picks up the phone and dials a smug expression spreading over his face. HANNIBAL The Concierge please… Good day my friend!… Oh but it is and there is a strong possibility it will also be an exceptional night… Ah it seems you know me too well . I want that little corner table by the windows for six p.m. and the usual suite with the usual accoutrements for the entire night… May Allah keep you. He hangs up the phone with a satisfied smile. INT/AM, RECEPTION AREA ANITA dials an outside line gazing around her. ANITA Good day Julio… Yes it has been a while but I have an order from the boss… The usual… to be delivered here ten minutes to five. As she hangs up CARMELA returns loaded down with various packages. CARMELA I found everything except the stickers… ANITA No problem I’ll place an order. 41 ANITA disappears into her office with a sly smile. CARMELA looks after her a moment then starts putting away the gift wrapping supplies. INT/AM, CONFERENCE ROOM, 10th FLOOR The last of the collection agents have left the room and PACO prepares to do the same but GOMEZ stops him. GOMEZ Mr. Huerta would like a word with you… in his office. PACO is suddenly wary. THE OFFICE… no man’s land, none have emerged with their job and their self-respect. With a heavy sigh he follows GOMEZ to the interior door. INT/AM, HANNIBAL’S OFFICE As the two men enter HANNIBAL stands with a broad smile, PACO’S hair stands on end. HANNIBAL Thank you Gomez that will be all for now. (to PACO) Please sit down, would you care for a coffee? PACO is now terrified, in all his years with the company he has never seen HANNIBAL like this. PACO Sure… black… thanks… (he sits) HANNIBAL buzzes his secretary and orders two coffees then lights his cigar. He pushes the ashtray towards PACO. HANNIBAL Now that it is just the two of us you may smoke if you like… PACO’S eyes grow wide. He gazes around him furtively then down at the floor under his chair. HANNIBAL Are you looking for something? PACO Yeah, the trapdoor to the cellar. 42 HANNIBAL laughs and PACO smiles nervously as the secretary enters with the coffees and quickly slips away. PACO takes out a cigarette and HANNIBAL lights it. HANNIBAL I know that I am hard on you… over the years you have endured pressure that would have broken any lesser man. You never buckled on the contrary you have become my most effective agent. Despite how it may appear I do appreciate that. You are an intelligent fellow I am sure you can appreciate how important it is to the operation as a whole that the less experienced agents are kept on a tight rein. PACO I can see the logic in that… HANNIBAL Unfortunately you are one of a kind. No one else has endured to share the burden. You must know that does not mean I do not respect you. (PACO regards him suspiciously) To be perfectly honest you are worth any five of the others put together but as I said you are an intelligent man so I am sure you are aware of your value in business terms. You are an average guy, non-threatening, so the customers trust you even if they lose a fortune… that is a gift! I would be a fool not to trust you myself. PACO So what is it you want me to do for you? HANNIBAL You are a clever fellow… The books have become loaded down with defunct players, clients who for one reason or another have “kicked” the habit. You know the field better than anyone, walking the “beat” every day, what we need to do is streamline the books, separate the bankruptcies from the active accounts so it will be easier and less time consuming for Gomez to keep the records up to date. You have been working hard for so long I thought it might be a pleasant change to work in an air-conditioned 43 office for a week or two. Not to mention the economic benefits… especially now that your car is on the blink. PACO is stunned. He was expecting anything but this turn of events. The added “sure” cash would be a God send and it seems on the level, there is no denying that no one knows the players better than he does. PACO Can I smoke? HANNIBAL (chuckles) You will be set up in a separate office so I doubt Gomez will have any objections. Of course you realize that this will have to take place evening hours after the regular accounting staff is out. It wouldn’t do for them to learn the more intricate details of our operation. However your hours with Gomez will be treated as overtime and compensated accordingly. PACO quickly does the math in his head and whistles. HANNIBAL regards him with a satisfied smile; the fish is on the hook. PACO When do I start? HANNIBAL This evening, immediately following your rounds. PACO is somewhat surprised, he glances at his watch then stands. PACO I had better get moving then. He shoulders his bag and moves to leave then turns back to HANNIBAL. PACO Thanks, for the opportunity… HANNIBAL (smiles) It is I who should thank you. You are the only man for the job after all. PACO walks out with a sense of purpose and HANNIBAL rubs his hands together greedily before summoning GOMEZ. 44 INT/EVE, ELECTRIC CITY CARMELA along with her other personal effects struggles to carry three dozen white roses. ANITA It must be nice to be loved… CARMELA Yes of course but I think he might have overdone it just a tad! See you tomorrow… ANITA Oh goodness I almost forgot PACO left a message for you. CARMELA gazes at her burden helplessly her hands are totally full. CARMELA Could you read it to me? ANITA It might be… personal. CARMELA (smiles) PACO is too discreet to write down anything “incriminating”. ANITA If you say so… (she tries to hide her discomfort) Darling, won’t be able to meet you tonight the boss has offered me overtime, just the boost we needed! Will call you at home later. Love… PACO… The two women exchange looks, each with her own interpretation of the message. ANITA/CARMELA Overtime? They both laugh. A sly smile spreads over ANITA’S face. ANITA Have a nice evening… CARMELA You too! 45 She exits. EXT/EVE, ELECTRIC CITY SIDEWALK CARMELA tries in vain to hail a cab, the bundle of flowers obscuring her face. Suddenly we see the big Mercedes pull up to the curb in front of her. The door opens from the inside and HANNIBAL’S voice startles her. HANNIBAL I am pleased to see you received my humble gesture… might I be so bold as to offer you a drink and a ride home as well? CARMELA peeks around from behind the flowers. CARMELA How did you know where I work? HANNIBAL I was a naughty boy, but you were too lovely to just let slip away… I had my driver follow you. When you didn’t call I assumed you must still be angry with me, please consider this a simple peace offering. CARMELA (awkward) I am embarrassed to admit I must have misplaced your card… This really wasn’t necessary… HANNIBAL If it were a necessity it wouldn’t be a pleasure… He gestures to the empty seat next to him and she relents climbing into the spacious vehicle. As the door closes and the Mercedes pulls away we see ANITA looking on from the main entrance with a spiteful look; she turns and disappears inside. EXT/EVE, FIVE STAR HOTEL As the Mercedes pulls up outside CARMELA is wary. HANNIBAL Is anything wrong? CARMELA This… this is a hotel… 46 HANNIBAL (benevolent smile) It also hosts a bar restaurant with probably the most spectacular view of the city… I assure you my intentions are noble. CARMELA looks him in the eye then relaxes. CARMELA I take your word then… As MUNGO opens the door she starts to gather up all of her belongings including the flowers. HANNIBAL takes her arm gently. HANNIBAL Do you live alone? CARMELA (alarmed) Why do you ask? HANNIBAL If someone were home we could send the flowers with Mungo so you would not be forced to carry them. It was a gesture of goodwill I did not intend them to be a burden. CARMELA (laughs self-conscious) Oh… that would be helpful I suppose. She scribbles her address on MUNGO’S note pad and allows HANNIBAL to guide her up the steps. HANNIBAL glances back at MUNGO and the driver gestures to indicate that he will wait for HANNIBAL to summon him on the cellular. HANNIBAL nods in approval. INT/EVE, ACCOUNTING OFFICES, ELECTRIC CITY, 10th FLOOR
Copyright © 2000 Victoria King |