DeputyDirector
The Chamber
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Script pages for episode 17: "The Frame".
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
DOLLY OUT OF BLACKNESS to find Vaughn and Lauren alone at a
table for four. Throughout the following he sits
uncomfortably, barely able to look Lauren in the eye.
LAUREN
Mom called. She and Dad are running a
few minutes late.
VAUGHN
(flagging a WAITER)
Want something to drink?
LAUREN
I'm fine, thanks.
VAUGHN
Beer, please.
The waiter moves off. Beat. The interested wife:
LAUREN
How was your trip?
VAUGHN
It was good.
LAUREN
-- well, what happened?
Asked with an easy smile. Real casual.
VAUGHN
You know, it was... we got what we were
looking for and now we're waiting to see
if it pans out.
He opens the MENU, buries himself in it.
LAUREN
-- Michael.
VAUGHN
-- yeah --
Lauren pulls down the menu, forcing him to look up. A black
VELVET BOX sits on the table.
LAUREN
I got you something while you were gone.
VAUGHN
You didn't have to do that.
LAUREN
I know. I wanted to. Open it.
The waiter brings his beer. He takes a sip, opens the box.
It's a WATCH.
LAUREN (CONT'D)
I realized I forgot the anniversary of
your father's death. I felt terribly and
wanted to do something special to make up
for it.
(off the WATCH)
It's the watch he gave you. I had it
fixed.
PUSH IN on Vaughn, holding the watch -- the one that stopped
when he met Sydney. Lauren has literally destroyed the
singular moment in his life. His eyes suddenly find
Lauren's, holding them steadily for the first time.
VAUGHN
This isn't working.
LAUREN
(thinks he means the watch)
-- it's not? Let me take a look --
VAUGHN
Not the watch. Us. We're not working.
(beat)
-- at least... what I mean is... this
isn't working for me.
(beat)
I'm not happy.
---------------------------------------------------------------
INT. HOTEL - PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - SITTING AREA - NIGHT
Senator Reed sits at a DESK on which we can see the FOLDER
Jack gave him, a bottle of SCOTCH and a half-empty glass.
He finishes the glass. Waits to feel the sting, then pours
out another shot. This is a troubled man. He raises his
glass, spots a dark figure standing in the doorway.
SENATOR REED
Lauren?
LAUREN
(formal, distant)
Hello, father.
ANGLE AROUND Lauren as she steps into the light, allowing her
father a long, steady look.
SENATOR REED
You surprised me. I didn't hear you come
in.
LAUREN
I've been here a little while. Talking
to Mom.
We're BEHIND Lauren now -- seeing what the Senator cannot:
The SILENCED PISTOL she is holding behind her back.
SENATOR REED
She's a great woman, your mom. Put up
with a lot, me being away in Congress all
these years. It's a burden, don't think
I don't know it. On you, too. I haven't
been there like I should. I realize that
now.
A liquor-soaked emotional truth. One that catches Lauren off
guard. A father-daughter talk was the last thing she
anticipated.
SENATOR REED (CONT'D)
Shut the door. There's something we need
to discuss that I don't want your mom to
hear.
Without turning her back on the Senator, Lauren obliges...
then takes a seat across the desk so she can keep the murder
weapon concealed.
SENATOR REED (CONT'D)
It would break her heart if she ever
found out about this.
He slides the FOLDER across the desk.
SENATOR REED (CONT'D)
I know because it broke mine.
Lauren opens the FOLDER, sees all the files Jack has pulled
on her. Even if she wanted to, there could be no denying the
evidence.
LAUREN
If it's any consolation, I believe the
cause I am working for is just.
SENATOR REED
You betrayed me... your country...
(impossible to believe)
... you're a traitor.
(anguished)
-- when I saw it I just... I feel like
I've let you down -- like somehow this,
what's happened to you, that it's my
fault and that if I help you get out of
it we could, I don't know, start over
somehow.
LAUREN
-- get out of it --
SENATOR REED
(lucid, like he's really
thought this through)
I could tell the Agency I learned there
was a mole in the Rotunda six months ago
and that I've been conducting my own
investigation.
(warming to the plan)
We could say you removed classified
files, gave me computer access codes and
took unauthorized trips at my request, as
a test of their security. I'm a Senator
on the Intelligence Committee -- no one
would say a word.
LAUREN
You'd do all that for me?
SENATOR REED
Of course I would. I love you.
Lauren's life has been defined by the absence of her father's
affections. And here, at the most bizarre moment possible,
she gets it.
LAUREN
It's a clever plan. And I'll definitely
use it. Unfortunately, it only solves
one of my problems.
She stands, extends the SILENCED PISTOL.
SENATOR REED
Lauren, what are you doing?
LAUREN
Put your hands on your head.
SENATOR REED
... you can't do this ...
LAUREN
DO AS I SAY.
Lauren watches her dad, trembling, raise up his hands. She
circles behind him, places the gun to the side of his head.
SENATOR REED
... please ...
Long beat. She can't bring herself to fire. And suddenly
the door opens and Mrs. Reed comes in.
MRS. REED
My God, what are you doing?
SENATOR REED
-- Olivia, get out of here --
MRS. REED
(moving forward)
Give me the gun.
SENATOR REED
-- Olivia --
MRS. REED
Lauren, give it to me.
Script pages for episode 17: "The Frame".
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
DOLLY OUT OF BLACKNESS to find Vaughn and Lauren alone at a
table for four. Throughout the following he sits
uncomfortably, barely able to look Lauren in the eye.
LAUREN
Mom called. She and Dad are running a
few minutes late.
VAUGHN
(flagging a WAITER)
Want something to drink?
LAUREN
I'm fine, thanks.
VAUGHN
Beer, please.
The waiter moves off. Beat. The interested wife:
LAUREN
How was your trip?
VAUGHN
It was good.
LAUREN
-- well, what happened?
Asked with an easy smile. Real casual.
VAUGHN
You know, it was... we got what we were
looking for and now we're waiting to see
if it pans out.
He opens the MENU, buries himself in it.
LAUREN
-- Michael.
VAUGHN
-- yeah --
Lauren pulls down the menu, forcing him to look up. A black
VELVET BOX sits on the table.
LAUREN
I got you something while you were gone.
VAUGHN
You didn't have to do that.
LAUREN
I know. I wanted to. Open it.
The waiter brings his beer. He takes a sip, opens the box.
It's a WATCH.
LAUREN (CONT'D)
I realized I forgot the anniversary of
your father's death. I felt terribly and
wanted to do something special to make up
for it.
(off the WATCH)
It's the watch he gave you. I had it
fixed.
PUSH IN on Vaughn, holding the watch -- the one that stopped
when he met Sydney. Lauren has literally destroyed the
singular moment in his life. His eyes suddenly find
Lauren's, holding them steadily for the first time.
VAUGHN
This isn't working.
LAUREN
(thinks he means the watch)
-- it's not? Let me take a look --
VAUGHN
Not the watch. Us. We're not working.
(beat)
-- at least... what I mean is... this
isn't working for me.
(beat)
I'm not happy.
---------------------------------------------------------------
INT. HOTEL - PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - SITTING AREA - NIGHT
Senator Reed sits at a DESK on which we can see the FOLDER
Jack gave him, a bottle of SCOTCH and a half-empty glass.
He finishes the glass. Waits to feel the sting, then pours
out another shot. This is a troubled man. He raises his
glass, spots a dark figure standing in the doorway.
SENATOR REED
Lauren?
LAUREN
(formal, distant)
Hello, father.
ANGLE AROUND Lauren as she steps into the light, allowing her
father a long, steady look.
SENATOR REED
You surprised me. I didn't hear you come
in.
LAUREN
I've been here a little while. Talking
to Mom.
We're BEHIND Lauren now -- seeing what the Senator cannot:
The SILENCED PISTOL she is holding behind her back.
SENATOR REED
She's a great woman, your mom. Put up
with a lot, me being away in Congress all
these years. It's a burden, don't think
I don't know it. On you, too. I haven't
been there like I should. I realize that
now.
A liquor-soaked emotional truth. One that catches Lauren off
guard. A father-daughter talk was the last thing she
anticipated.
SENATOR REED (CONT'D)
Shut the door. There's something we need
to discuss that I don't want your mom to
hear.
Without turning her back on the Senator, Lauren obliges...
then takes a seat across the desk so she can keep the murder
weapon concealed.
SENATOR REED (CONT'D)
It would break her heart if she ever
found out about this.
He slides the FOLDER across the desk.
SENATOR REED (CONT'D)
I know because it broke mine.
Lauren opens the FOLDER, sees all the files Jack has pulled
on her. Even if she wanted to, there could be no denying the
evidence.
LAUREN
If it's any consolation, I believe the
cause I am working for is just.
SENATOR REED
You betrayed me... your country...
(impossible to believe)
... you're a traitor.
(anguished)
-- when I saw it I just... I feel like
I've let you down -- like somehow this,
what's happened to you, that it's my
fault and that if I help you get out of
it we could, I don't know, start over
somehow.
LAUREN
-- get out of it --
SENATOR REED
(lucid, like he's really
thought this through)
I could tell the Agency I learned there
was a mole in the Rotunda six months ago
and that I've been conducting my own
investigation.
(warming to the plan)
We could say you removed classified
files, gave me computer access codes and
took unauthorized trips at my request, as
a test of their security. I'm a Senator
on the Intelligence Committee -- no one
would say a word.
LAUREN
You'd do all that for me?
SENATOR REED
Of course I would. I love you.
Lauren's life has been defined by the absence of her father's
affections. And here, at the most bizarre moment possible,
she gets it.
LAUREN
It's a clever plan. And I'll definitely
use it. Unfortunately, it only solves
one of my problems.
She stands, extends the SILENCED PISTOL.
SENATOR REED
Lauren, what are you doing?
LAUREN
Put your hands on your head.
SENATOR REED
... you can't do this ...
LAUREN
DO AS I SAY.
Lauren watches her dad, trembling, raise up his hands. She
circles behind him, places the gun to the side of his head.
SENATOR REED
... please ...
Long beat. She can't bring herself to fire. And suddenly
the door opens and Mrs. Reed comes in.
MRS. REED
My God, what are you doing?
SENATOR REED
-- Olivia, get out of here --
MRS. REED
(moving forward)
Give me the gun.
SENATOR REED
-- Olivia --
MRS. REED
Lauren, give it to me.
