24fanfiction.com

Reviews

FADE IN:

INT. FILOMENA RESTAURANT - GEORGETOWN

Audrey is twirling her linguini and staring into space. Jack notices and looks concerned.

JACK

You okay?

She snaps back into attention, slightly startled.

AUDREY

Yeah, yeah, I’m fineƒsorry.

JACK

You seem distant.

AUDREY

No, no…I just got distracted for a minute. I’m fine.

JACK

Does this have anything to do with that guy who was bothering you earlier?

AUDREY

Look, it’s nothing, okay?

JACK

It doesn’t seem like nothingƒit’s obviously bothering you.
Look, if he’s an ex-boyfriend or something it’s okay…I won’t get jealous or possessive, I promise.

AUDREY

No, he’s not an ex-boyfriend.

JACK

Who is he?

Silence. He reaches across the table and strokes her cheek gently, giving her a look that says “it’s okay, you can tell me,” which reassures her.

She takes a deep breath and starts to explain.

AUDREY

He’s just someone I know from when I was a lobbyist for Ballard. He works for Senator Helmstrom.

She pauses.

JACK

So what’s the problem? You said before that Helmstrom was an old political enemy of your father’s, right?

AUDREY

Yeah.

JACK

So there’s no reason he would tell your father about us.

AUDREY

That’s not the problem. This may be hard for you to understand, since you’ve never had any experience with politics. But the Hill is a brutal place, and a lot of women, especially lobbyists, get ahead in their careers or accomplish their legislative objectives by doing…favors for members of Congress and their staff.

JACK

I take it when you say favors you don’t mean grabbing them a snack or a newspaper.

AUDREY

No. And I know what you must be thinking, so I’ll go ahead and answer. No, I never did that…even before I was married. That’s…that’s not me.

JACK

Relax, Audrey. I know it’s not. But I’m guessing that creep we met earlier didn’t understand that.

AUDREY

No. I mean, he didn’t…you know. He eventually stopped after I said it enough times. But he kept pressuring me verbally, and he said all these demeaning things. I’ve bumped into him a few other times since and he’s given me a hassle every time. He just couldn’t believe that I would have the audacity to refuse to just jump in bed with him to get his boss to vote for missile defenseƒtoday he saw us together and he started making snide comments and acting like I was doing something dirty by being with you…

JACK

Do you think you’re doing anything dirty by being with me?

AUDREY

No, of course not.

JACK

So what does it matter what some creep thinks?

AUDREY

It doesn’t…it’s just that I’m technically still married and Helmstrom could use this against my father.

JACK

(looking nervous)

So…what does this mean? Do you want to take a break until you figure out where you stand with Paul?

She senses his nervousness and reaches across the table and takes his hand.

AUDREY

No. It means I need to stop stalling and file for divorce so that I can be with you without having to worry. I’m going to call the lawyer tomorrow and make an appointment as soon as we get back from LA.

JACK

(relieved)

Okay.

AUDREY

Look, I’ve never told anyone about what happened with Tad,
and I don’t want to tell anyone else, so please don’t pressure me to take action or anything…it’s not worth it… She is looking down, feeling ashamed.
Jack reaches across the table again and takes her hand.

JACK

Hey. Look at me. I’m not going to pressure you to do anything, okay? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to beat the crap out of this guy for the way he treated you, but it’s your decision and your decision alone how to handle it.

AUDREY

Look, I don’t want you to think it’s because I’m weak or that I let people walk all over me…it’s just that if I were to go public about this it would do a lot more damage to my reputation than to his…that’s the way it works around here, unfortunately.

He puts his finger to her lips to silence her.

JACK

Shh…I don’t think you’re weak or easy or anything. I think you’re amazing, okay?

She nods slowly.

JACK

Has anyone ever told you that you worry way too much…

AUDREY

(finishing his sentence)

About what other people think?

JACK

I’ll take that as a yes.

AUDREY

Yeah, it’s a major weakness I’ve struggled with since I was little. And it’s not because of low self confidence. I ran my father’s Congressional campaign when I was 22 years old…I had to learn how to give orders to people who were not only twice my age but twice as qualified to be running his campaign as I was. It’s just a biproduct of being a politician’s daughter, I guess. I’ve always had the mindset that everything I do reflects on my father, and that’s made me really self-conscious. I know that’s probably hard for you to understand…sometimes I really wish I could be more like you and not care what people think, but I can’t.

JACK

To be honest, sometimes I wish I could be a little less like me in that way. I guess I have the opposite problem…I speak and act without thinking about who I’m going to offend or whether or not what I’m saying is politically correct or whether it’s appropriate for me to interject my opinion.

AUDREY

Like yesterday, when you told the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence in front of the joint chiefs and all of the other undersecretaries that he didn’t know how to do his job?

Jack gets embarassed and looks down.

AUDREY

What, you thought I wouldn’t find out?

JACK

Wishful thinking, huh?

AUDREY

Yeah. I’m the one who got to deal with Secretary Heller right after it happened.

JACK

Lucky you. So how mad was he?

AUDREY

Eh, it’s hard to tell. He was pretty mad, but I think deep down he has a grudging respect for your ability to call it like you see it.

JACK

That’s a relief…to be honest, I’m surprised I still have a job.

He leans in and whispers to her, a coy look on his face.

JACK

(whispering)

Of course, if Secretary Heller knew I was sleeping with his daughter that grudging respect would probably become just plain grudging.

Audrey giggles.

AUDREY

That’s why his daughter is holding off on telling him for as long as possible…at least until I finalize things with Paul.

JACK

So after you finalize things with Paul, then what? You’re going to tell your dad we just started seeing each other?

AUDREY

I don’t knowƒI hadn’t gotten that far. Right now my plan is to just go to your place so…

JACK

So you won’t have to make me hide in a closet again?

AUDREY

I’m sorryƒyou know how bad I felt about that. It’s not because I’m ashamed or anythingƒyou know that, right?

JACK

I know. Don’t worryƒI’m just messing with you. Believe me,
that’s not how I wanted your father to find out about us either.

AUDREY

Yeah. Seriously, though, you’ve got to be careful at work…people around here don’t take being insulted very well.

JACK

I know. It’s just hard to accept that political considerations should outweigh operational considerations, especially when there are lives at stake.

AUDREY

I know…I can’t say I disagree with you on the merits…I don’t mean to lecture…I know my dad did plenty of that yesterday.

JACK

Yes, he did.

AUDREY

I’m just looking out for you.

JACK

I know you are, sweetheart. So did you convince your father not to fire me?

AUDREY

No, he had already talked to you when he told me about it. He almost pulled you off the trip though…luckily Scott has to testify before Senate Intel Monday…I convinced him that you were more likely to get in trouble there than if you came with us.

JACK

(chuckling)

That’s probably true.

AUDREY

Oh! I can’t believe I forgot to tell you this. He said he was putting me in charge of keeping you in line on the trip…when I asked why, he said he thinks you have the hots for me.

JACK

He said that?

AUDREY

Yeah.

JACK

You must have had a hard time keeping a straight face.

AUDREY

It wasn’t easy, but I think I did a good job…I don’t think he suspects anything.

JACK

He’s right, you know. I do have the hots for you.

AUDREY

I know. And I intend to take him up on his suggestion that I use that to my advantage to carry out my mission.

JACK

So you’re going to exploit the fact that I can’t keep my hands off you to try to make me behave?

AUDREY

Whatever it takes to make sure you keep your job. And I would like to remind you that I still have my own hotel room, and I will not hesitate to use it should it become necessary.

The waiter approaches.

WAITER

Would you care for any desert or coffee?

JACK

What do you think, sweetheart? Do you have room for dessert?

AUDREY

Nah, I’m pretty full.

JACK

We’ll take a check when you get a chance.

The waiter nods and walks away.

JACK

Only one problem with your plan.

AUDREY

What’s that?

JACK

Your father didn’t account for the fact that you can’t keep your hands off me either.

AUDREY

I’ll manage.

JACK

I’ll believe that when I see it.

AUDREY

Try me.

JACK

Okay, I will. Tonight, I’m going to take you back to your place and then I’m going to go home.

AUDREY

Okay.

JACK

Okay.

AUDREY

Except then how are you going to help me prepare for the change in time zones?

Jack grins smugly.

JACK

Is that your covert way of saying you have the hots for me too?

AUDREY

(coyly)

Maybe a little.

JACK

Only a little?

AUDREY

Maybe more than a little.

She blushes as she says this. Jack smiles at her and strokes her cheek affectionately as the waiter approaches with the check. Audrey reaches across the table to grab it but Jack quickly takes it and holds it out of her reach as he takes out his wallet and sticks his credit card in the slot,
handing it to the waiter before Audrey can do anything.

AUDREY

Jack, you paid last time.

JACK

And you’ve cooked me dinner almost every night this week.

AUDREY

Yeah, but you bought the groceries.

JACK

Which would go to waste if you weren’t there because I’d have no idea what to do with them. Besides, you said you were going to get something to eat on your way home last night.

AUDREY

What’s that have to do with anything?

JACK

Because if you pay for dinner tonight then you’ll break your resolution to limit yourself to one restaurant meal a week on account of me being an asshole last night.

AUDREY

Alright, fine. You can pay for dinner…but can I get the tickets?

JACK

I have free passes.

AUDREY

How’d you get those?

JACK

My daughter has a friend who works in the industry.

AUDREY

Well, will you let me pay for dinner on Sunday?

JACK

Probably not, but if we get to go out Monday I’ll let you pay.

AUDREY

We can bill whatever we eat on Monday to DOD.

JACK

Exactly.

AUDREY

Jack!

JACK

You’ve cooked dinner almost every night this week, which I know you’d rather not have to do…if I ever follow my New Year’s resolution and learn how to make something other than frozen dinners, and you find a new tenant to replace Xiang maybe I’ll consider letting you pay when we go out,
okay?

The waiter brings back the check.

Jack signs it and puts his credit card away, and they get their coats and start walking toward the door.

AUDREY

Fine. But just so you know, I don’t mind cooking…you misinterpreted what I said last week. Being expected to have dinner on the table at six when I rarely finished work before 6:30 was one of many examples of how Paul had this attitude that my career came second to his.

JACK

No, I understand.

CUT TO:

EXT. WISCONSIN AVE. - NIGHT

Jack and Audrey exit the restaurant and start walking toward the movie theater hand-in-hand.

JACK

Listen, Audrey, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop last night but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with Xiang. And I don’t want to be presumptuous or anything…but I found out today that I have to either move out or renew my lease for another year when it expires next month…I don’t have the option to go month to-month like I had hoped…and I know you’re probably not ready to live together and I understand that, but I thought that before you say no to the people who may want to rent your place and before I renew my lease we should at least talk about it.

AUDREY

Yeah, you’re probably right. I’m just…I just need a little more time to figure everything out. When we get the divorce proceedings underway, we’ll have to decide what to do about the house…we’ll most likely either agree to sell it or I’ll sell my part to him and find someplace to live that isn’t way too big and way too expensive for me to keep up with on a government salary. When do you have to let the landlord know by?

JACK

The end of next week.

AUDREY

Alright. I’ll talk to Paul over the weekend and see if we can come to some sort of resolution about the house…in the meantime, can you see if any two-bedroom or large one bedroom units are coming available in your complex?

JACK

(seeming surprised)

Yeah, sure.

AUDREY

What’s wrong? You don’t sound too sure…

JACK

No, I’m sorry…I just didn’t expect you to be so receptive.

AUDREY

Jack, I practically live at your place anyway. I just need a little time to get through the divorce proceedings before I can make it official.

JACK

I understand. In that case, I’m going to look into moving to a bigger unit next month. To be honest, I was thinking about moving anyway,
especially if there’s another unit available in my building. I took this apartment because it was the only one available when I moved here and I couldn’t pass up the location, but I’m too old to live in a studio. We can pick a place together and I’ll move there when my lease is up and when you’re ready you can officially move in. How’s that sound?

AUDREY

It sounds good…are you sure you…

Jack knows what she is going to ask, so he silences her by kissing her.

JACK

Yes, I’m sure.

AUDREY

Good. Then I’m sure too.

JACK

Good. Because I’m only sure if you’re sure.

AUDREY

Well, I’m sure…as long as you are, that is.

JACK

Come here.

He pulls her toward him and kisses her passionately.

JACK

Does that answer your question?

Audrey tilts her head coyly and pretends to be pondering.

AUDREY

I think so…I may need a little reassurance.

JACK

C’mere.

He leads her away from the crowded sidewalk, then gently presses her against the side of a building and kisses her again.

She quickly glances at the sidewalk to make sure nobody is staring, then wraps her arms around his neck and runs her fingers through his hair as they continue to kiss.

FADE OUT.

Previous Chapter | Back to Top | — agentrez @ 11:17 pm