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    A Crime of Influence a screenplay
    A Crime of Influence a screenplay
    A Crime of Influence a screenplay
    Ebook231 pages1 hour

    A Crime of Influence a screenplay

    By Andre Jute

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    About this ebook

    In 1952,
    in the last titanic struggle for the soul of America,
    one man has the vision and the power
    to do what has to be done.

    Harry Luce can do his patriotic duty
    — and destroy his friend.

    Or Harry can be loyal to his friend
    — and betray his country.

    Which would you choose?
    • "AN ELECTION OF PATRIOTS a true novel in their own words", "A CRIME OF INFLUENCE a screenplay" and "PIVOT a 90-minute play for radio" are all included in the omnibus volume "THE TIME-LIFE CONSPIRACY" at a saving over buying the three volumes separately.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAndre Jute
    Release dateDec 2, 2012
    ISBN9781908369147
    A Crime of Influence a screenplay
    Author

    Andre Jute

    André Jute is a novelist and, through his non-fiction books, a teacher of creative writing, graphic design and engineering. There are about three hundred editions of his books in English and a dozen other languages.He was educated in Australia, South Africa and the United States. He has been an intelligence officer, racing driver, advertising executive, management consultant, performing arts critic and professional gambler. His hobbies include old Bentleys, classical music (on which for fifteen years he wrote a syndicated weekly column), cycling, hill walking, cooking and wine. He designs and builds his own tube (valve) audio amplifiers.He is married to Rosalind Pain-Hayman and they have a son. They live on a hill over a salmon river in County Cork, Eire.

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      Book preview

      A Crime of Influence a screenplay - Andre Jute

      A CRIME OF INFLUENCE

      a screenplay

      adapted by

      André Jute

      from his novel

      AN ELECTION OF PATRIOTS

      In 1952

      In the last titanic struggle for the soul of America

      One man has the vision and the power

      To do what has to be done

      Harry Luce can do his patriotic duty

      — and destroy his friend

      Or Harry can be loyal to his friend

      — and betray his country

      Which would you choose?

      A CRIME OF INFLUENCE

      a screenplay

      *

      adapted by

      André Jute

      from his novel

      AN ELECTION OF PATRIOTS

      *

      CoolMain Press

      Copyright © 2012 André Jute

      The author has asserted his moral right

      First published by

      CoolMain Press 2012

      http://www.coolmainpress.com

      at Smashwords

      Editor: Lisa Penington

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

      Contents

      A CRIME OF INFLUENCE screenplay

      Extras:

      The Author, and More Books

      FADE IN

      1. EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF ROCKEFELLER CENTER. EARLY MORNING.

      IN THE EARLY MORNING STREETS, BEFORE THE OFFICE WORKERS ARRIVE. YESTERDAY’S DETRITUS, INCLUDING SHEETS OF NEWSPRINT, BLOWS IN THE CHILL WIND; ONLY PEOPLE MAKE NEW YORK EVEN MARGINALLY BEARABLE AND NOW, WITHOUT PEOPLE, IT IS NAKED AND HARD-EDGED.

      AT THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER, THE NIGHT WATCHMAN COMES TO THE GLASS DOORS AND, WITHOUT OPENING THEM, PEERS OUT TOWARDS THE GROWING LIGHT AT THE END OF THE CONCRETE AND GLASS CANYON.

      DOWN THE STREET A CLEANING TRUCK SPRAYS WATER AND ITS WHIRLING BRUSHES SWEEP THE GUTTER AS IT APPROACHES SLOWLY ALONG THE KERB.

      MAIN TITLES OVER:

      CAMERA FOLLOWS BRUSHES TO:

      A TELEVISION TEAM SETS UP IN FRONT OF THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER. THEY ARE BUNDLED UP AGAINST THE FALL CHILL AS MUCH AS AGAINST THE EARLY MORNING. THEIR EQUIPMENT IS CLUMSY, PAINFULLY HEAVY AND AWKWARD. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TRAILER-GENERATOR TO PROVIDE POWER FOR THE BIG CAMERAS ON MOBILE TRIPODS AND THE HEAVY LIGHTS ON STANDS THEY MAN-HANDLEINTO POSITION. THE YEAR IS 1951 AND ONE OF THE WOODY STATION WAGONS IN WHICH THEY CAME IS PARKED HALF INTO THE STREET SO THAT THE HOOKED-UP GENERATOR-TRAILER CAN BE HANDY TO THE CAMERAS AND LIGHTS; CABLES SNAKE EVERYWHERE

      AT LAST THEY FINISH AND LIGHT CIGARETTES. THEY LOUNGE IN THE MANNER OF MEN USED TO WAITING BUT NOT LIKE SOLDIERS, NOT RESIGNEDLY; THERE IS CERTAIN ARROGANCE EVEN IN THEIR RELAXATION.

      2. INT. HARRY LUCE’S BATHROOM. MORNING.

      HARRY SHAVES WITH AN ELECTRIC RAZOR, GLANCING OFTEN AT HIS WATCH, WHICH LIES FACE UP ON THE BASIN BESIDE HIM, CHAIN NEATLY FOLDED BESIDE THE WATCH. HARRY LUCE IS A MAN IN HIS EARLY FIFTIES, HIS FIGURE AND BEARING GOOD — HE IS UNINTERESTED IN FOOD — BUT NOT OVERTLY ATHLETIC. HE WEARS A CRIMSON WOOLLEN DRESSING GOWN OVER HIS SUIT PANTS, WHITE SHIRT AND A TIE ALREADY KNOTTED AND PULLED UP TIGHT TO HIS COLLAR, BUT HE IS STILL BAREFOOT.

      THE BATHROOM IS AUSTERE, CAST-IRON WITH WHITE ENAMEL, A GLASS SHELF, SPOTLESS WHITE WALLS, EVERYTHING SQUEAKY CLEAN.

      IN AN ASHTRAY NEXT TO THE WATCH A CIGARETTE SMOULDERS.

      DIRECTOR, DESIGNER, ACTOR, PROPS AND DRESSER PLEASE NOTE:

      HARRY LUCE IS A CHAIN-SMOKER AND IT HAS GIVEN HIM A PERSISTENT COUGH (WHICH HE BEATS WHEN HE SPEAKS THE SAME WAY HE BEAT HIS CHILDHOOD STAMMER, BY PURE WILL-POWER). I WILL NOT GO ON TIRESOMELY ABOUT THE CIGARETTE IN HIS HAND OR THE COUGH, LEAVING IT TO YOUR GOOD SENSE TO INSERT AS BUSINESS WHERE APPLICABLE.

      ON A SHOE-SHINE STAND IN THE CORNER BRUSHES AND TINS OF POLISH ARE NEATLY SQUARED UP; HARRY OBVIOUSLY CLEANS HIS OWN SHOES, WHICH WAIT ALREADY SHINED ON TOP OF THE STAND, TOGETHER WITH A PAIR OF SOX TURNED INSIDE OUT READY TO PUT ON.

      HARRY PUTS THE RAZOR DOWN AND SWITCHES ON THE RADIO ON THE GLASS SHELF BESIDE HIM. WHILE THE RADIO WARMS UP—

      SFX: CRACKLES AS RADIO WARMS UP.

      —HARRY CLEANS HIS ELECTRIC RAZOR OVER THE TRASH BASKET WITH A BRUSH. HE CLIPS THE RAZOR CLOSED, PUTS IT IN ITS BOX, CLOSES THE BOX AND PLACES IT SQUARELY ON THE SHELF JUST AS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIBLE SOUNDS COME FROM THE RADIO.

      END MAIN TITLES.

      RADIO ANNOUNCER’S VOICE

      (on radio, filter)

      —with the seven o’clock news.

      HARRY SHAKES HIS WATCH BESIDE HIS EAR, THEN PUTS IT INTO HIS WAISTCOAT POCKET, CLIPS ON THE CHAIN, AND RETIES HIS DRESSING GOWN.

      RADIO ANNOUNCER’S VOICE

      (on radio, filter)

      Good morning. Today we start with the Presidential hopefuls who aim to put themselves forward for their party’s nomination. With me is America’s best-loved radio voice, Ed Murrow. Ed, is it true that running for the Presidency has now become a four-year job?

      MURROW’S VOICE

      (on radio, filter)

      If not four, then at least two years.

      HARRY

      (impatiently)

      Come on, get to it, Ed.

      MURROW’S VOICE

      (on radio, filter)

      But as always, the men with a real chance are holding their hand, waiting to be asked, as surely they will be. Senator Kefauver is considered a maverick by the Democratic Party managers and needs to use the radio and the newspapers to go over their heads to the people. He’s trying to turn the primaries into a power base, to lock up his own delegates and so force himself upon the men in smoke-filled rooms.

      HARRY, STANDING STRAIGHT BEFORE THE RADIO, HIS WHOLE ATTENTION ON IT, NODS HIS HEAD SLOWLY.

      RADIO ANNOUNCER’S VOICE

      (on radio, filter)

      Will the Democratic machine bring forward their own candidate?

      HARRY

      (explosively)

      Don’t interrupt. Don’t interrupt!

      MURROW’S VOICE

      (on radio, filter)

      They’ll have to. The Democratic Party’s organization men will unite behind Adlai Stevenson.

      HARRY PRESSES HIS THUMB THOUGHTFULLY AGAINST THE GLASS SHELF, THEN LOOKS AT THE IMPRESSION IN HIS FLESH, THEN FINGERS HIS CHIN WITH THE SAME HAND, THOUGH NOT TO FEEL IF HE IS CLEAN-SHAVEN.

      RADIO ANNOUNCER’S VOICE

      (on radio, filter)

      Daley’s man and from Chicago too. What about the Republicans, Ed?

      MURROW’S VOICE

      (on radio, filter)

      Don’t expect any surprises from the GOP. The Republican nominating convention will reward Senator Taft for his magnanimity in 1948 and his manifold other services to the Party by giving him the nomination if only he asks for it.

      3. INT. CLARE BOOTHE-LUCE’S BEDROOM. MORNING.

      A LARGE AND EXTREMELY ELEGANT ROOM, DECORATED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO EXPENSE. A TABLE, LAID FOR BREAKFAST FOR TWO, STANDS AT THE FOOT OF THE FOUR-POSTER BED. THROUGH AN OPEN DOOR HER OWN LUXURIOUS BATHROOM MAY BE SEEN BEYOND THE LINKING DRESSING ROOM. NEAR THE CLOSED DOORS TO THE TERRACE, AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF CENTRAL PARK, COCO THE PET COCKATIEL PREENS HIMSELF IN HIS CAGE.

      CLAREBOOTHE-LUCE, FULLY DRESSED AND COIFFED, SITS AT THE TABLE, EATING A CROISSANT QUICKLY BUT WITHOUT MAKING ANY MESS. SHE IS IN HER FORTIES AND VERY BEAUTIFUL. SHE IS ELEGANT RATHER THAN MERELY SMART, HER SELF-POSSESSION ENOUGH TO MAKE MANY MEN FEEL INFERIOR.

      CLARE

      Anything on the radio that will require remaking your cover?

      HARRY, STILL BAREFOOT IN HIS DRESSING GOWN OVER THE REST OF HIS CLOTHES, READS THE PAPERS WHILE HE EATS A PROPER BREAKFAST OF PORRIDGE, BACON AND EGGS WITH GRILLED TOMATO, AND TOAST. IT IS A HABIT: HE SHOVELS IN THE FOOD WITHOUT TASTING IT.

      HARRY

      (through his food)

      Nothing. But they led with Ed Murrow saying the Democrats will nominate Adlai Stevenson.

      CLARE

      Stevenson’s a regular party man. He only appears to be as much a maverick as Estes Kefauver.

      HARRY

      (impatiently)

      Democratic politics have been about appearances ever since Franklin Roosevelt, damn the man.

      (lowering paper)

      The Daley machine created Stevenson. His seeming distance from them is an appearance the Democrats will trade on. The party professionals will use Adlai to smash Kefauver. But that’s not the point.

      CLARE

      No. With Stevenson, they can win.

      HARRY

      (savagely)

      The point is, with Stevenson they will win.

      (pauses to recover himself)

      Ed then goes on to say the Republican convention will anoint Bob Taft. All he has to do is turn up.

      CLARE

      You’ve always been for Bob. He’s a good man.

      HARRY

      But can he win?

      SHE LOOKS SILENTLY AT HIM, WAITING. HE OPENS HIS MOUTH, THEN CLOSES IT WITHOUT SPEAKING. WHEN HE RAISES THE PAPER, SHE PUTS HER FINGER GENTLY ON IT IN THE FOLD.

      CLARE

      I’m a Republican too.

      HARRY

      (savagely)

      And you can hardly remember when we were last in power.

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