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THE BORDEAUX CROSS-UP

THE BORDEAUX CROSS-UP

A Robin Templar Caper (Part 6)

Story & Screenplay by:

Dennis F. Stevens

Inspired by an actual event

Draft date: July 31 2014 DENNIS F. STEVENS Underlying © copyright: 9 Oct. 2008 122 N. 4th East, Suite 4 By Dennis F. Stevens LLC Rexburg, ID 83440-5341 All rights reserved Phone: (208) 359-9966 Library of Congress Registration No.: Cellular: (208) 757-9966 PAu 3-479-494 [email protected]

001 EXT. CHATEAU LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD – NIGHT 001

In a CAMERA ANGLE from the road, one of Bordeaux’s first growth (Premier Cru) wineries seems eerily quiet on this moon bright, but rather chilly night. The residence château is on the right and the winery facilities on the left.

SUPERIMPOSE: CHATEAU LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD BORDEAUX, FRANCE

2ND SUPERIMPOSE: EARLY OCTOBER

002 TIGHTER ANGLE – ON WINERY FACILITIES – NIGHT 002

In the distance we can barely make out the seven persons hovering near one of the entrances to the chai. The seven are dressed in black, ninja type uniforms but packing none of the weaponry. Each is carrying a large, black backpack and their outfits contain numerous pockets for storage.

003 ANGLE ON ENTRANCE – NIGHT 003

Two of the seven ninjas are disarming the unsophisticated alarm system, while another pair works on the century old lock to the giant oak door.

The alarm disabled and lock picked, the ninjas enter the chai.

004 INT. LAFITE BARREL ROOM – NIGHT 004

Once inside the huge facility, the ninjas pull flashlights from their pockets and shine them across the stacked oak barrels. Getting their bearings, they quickly make their way towards a second, nearby iron gate.

005 ANGLE ON IRON GATE 005

One of the ninjas begins working on the lock and has the gate open in a matter of seconds. The seven enter a vaulted cel-lar; the château’s wine library, or memory cellar, with bot-tles of Lafite claret dating back to 1797.

006 LAFITE WINE LIBRARY CELLAR 006

A light switch is flipped and a bare bulb casts a dim light to reveal the vaulted ceiling and stone walls covered with dark mold and exposing the treasures lying on their sides in the sand-filled bins. The intruders take off the cloth head gear

masking their faces and stare at the rare old bottles with great reverence.

Page 002.

007 ANOTHER ANGLE 007

THE CAMERA EXPLORES the cellar. Each vintage of unlabeled bottles are partitioned from the next by a board standing on edge and each bin is marked with the year of the vintage. Some bins hold a single bottle; some contain two; some up to six or more. And there are gaps in the years, where the wine had died young. The bins start with a single bottle in a bin marked 1778 and continue up through the 1800s and 1900s; all the way to 2009. But our ninjas only concentrate upon the bins marked from 1900 through 1950.

Two of the seven intruders, DENNIS & JACK, seem to be in charge, or at least the other five, BEN, MARILYN, BEVERLY, PHILIP, & COLETTE look to them for guidance.

PHILIP (nervously)

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. It serves me right if I get caught and spent the rest of my life in the Bastille. I just know we’re all going to get caught!

JACK I hate to break this to you but due to that unpleasantness on the 14th of July, 1789, you will now find French prisons to be among the worlds very best. You’ll have your own high definition cable TV; computer with Internet access, conjugal visits with both your wife and mistress; two catered French gourmet meals per day; a library of books to read – Hell, it can’t be all that bad. ...You’ll probably regret the day you’re released.

PHILIP Very funny.

COLETTE Leave Philip alone…he’s doing his job.

JACK Listen closely, my dear. Just because you’re my wife doesn’t give you the right to mouth off or question my orders. ...You just do as I say. ...Comprende?

DENNIS (interrupting)

Alright, people. It’s time to go to work. Remember, don’t touch any bottle older than 90 years. ...The vibration could kill the wine. ...Now you know what to do, so let’s do it!

008 ANGLE ON THE BINS 008

Marilyn and Beverly move to the bins. Taking pieces of cloth and wiping the dust and cobwebs from the spot where the label usually goes, they begin painting the vintage year on each bottle as they hand them off to Dennis, Ben, Philip, Jack and Colette; who carefully place them into large tarp blankets with pockets of a size specifically designed to hold the various bottles.

009 EXT. MARINA BLVD. – S.F. GGNRA MARINA – DAY 009

On Marina Blvd., next to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Yacht Harbor, with the golden gate bridge in the back-ground, two San Francisco police vehicles have a 4-door sedan boxed in on the side of the boulevard. The sedan contains two Caucasian individuals, a MULE DRIVER and his Passenger.

SUPERIMPOSE: FIVE MONTHS EARLIER SAN FRANCISCO MARINA

010 TIGHTER ANGLE 010

OFFICER LUCAS and the 2ND OFFICER have the Mule Driver and his attractive Female Passenger handcuffed and face down on the ground as they search the 4-door vehicle; one officer taking the interior and the other the trunk.

011 INT./EXT MARINA BLVD. – S.F. GGNRA MARINA – DAY 011

The 34 year-old plain clothes driver of this unmarked, offi-cial S.F. police vehicle, Inspector DAVID MORGAN approaches the scene of the felony stop from the rear. He pulls in be-hind one of the marked vehicles; the one blocking the 4-door from the rear.

012 EXT. TWO-LANE BLACKTOP – SITE OF FELONY STOP – DAY 012

As Inspector David Morgan exits his vehicle, the two uniformed deputies all but snap to attention. The plane cloths inspec-

tor moves towards the 4-door vehicle taking note of the Mule Driver and the Young Woman on the ground.

Page 004


MORGAN What do we have here, officers?

DEPUTY LUCAS Well inspector. ...We got a tip from a reliable source that this vehicle was transporting Methamphetamine. ...We pulled it over for expired tags, informa-tion our informant also provided.

(beat) We caught the female passinger attempt-ing to ditch approximately five grams of cocaine and some marijuana cigareetes. ...Driver claims she’s merely a hitchhiker he picked up in Sausalito.

MORGAN Cocaine gave you probable cause for the search?

2ND DEPUTY Yes, sir.

MORGAN And what have you come up with?

2ND DEPUTY Looks like we’re going to have to wait for the sniffer dogs.

David turns his attention to the 1st Deputy.

MORGAN What do you say, Lucas? ...Do we need the sniffers?

Lucas, of Hispanic heritage, merely smiles. In a voice that is the perfect immitation of Alfonso Bedoya as Gold Hat in “The Treasure of Sierra Madre“ he answers:

DEPUTY LUCAS No, sir. ...We don’t need no stinkin sniffers...!

MORGAN That’s good enough for me.

Suddenly, Davis pulls out the Glock-19 from the shoulder Page 005

holster worn under his jacket and rapidly fires four shots; two slugs in the rear tire on the driver’s side of the perp vehicle, and two slugs into the front tire.

014 TIGHT ON THE FRONT TIRE 014

As the front tire explodes, a white chalk, ice-like powder is discharged.

015 BACK TO SCENE 015

David notes the white crystal glass on the road’s blacktop and, making sure that he has the attention of the Mule Driver, wets his finger and bends down to gather a sample of the chunky crystals from the front tire. Licking the white powder from his finger, he turns to the driver.

MORGAN (grinning)

My...my...

016 ANGLE ON DAVID AND OFFICER LUCAS 016

David climbs to his feet and faces the grinning 1st Officer.

MORGAN Tell the lieutenant I’ll turn in my paper-work later. ...I received a dispatch that my brother up at Domaine Chandon wants to see me soon as possible. ...Sounded urgent.

DEPUTY LUCAS No problem. Give your brother, Tore, my Best.

MORGAN Will do.

017 EXT. DOMAINE CHANDON – YOUNTVILLE CA. – DAY 017

David pulls his unmarked vehicle into the parking lot of the Chandon winery and heads towards the administration offices.

018 INT. DOMAINE CHANDON ADMINISTRATION OFFICES – DAY 018

As Morgan enters the lobby, he passes Domaine Chandon’s WINEMAKER.

CHANDON WINE MAKER David. ...I’m so sorry to hear the news about your uncle Frank.

MORGAN What news?

CHANDON WINE MAKER Sorry. ...I thought you knew?

MORGAN Knew what?

CHANDON WINE MAKER Apparently your uncle Frank was found dead at his winery in Bordeaux. ...Thought your brother had already informed you.

019 INT. ENTRANCE TO TORE’S OFFICE – DAY 019

The sign on the door indicates that inside is the office of the Director of Sales Communications, Tore Morgan. David Morgan enters without knocking.

020 INT. TORE’S DOMAINE CHANDON OFFICE – DAY 020

TORE MORGAN is on the phone but when his brother enters, he excuses himself.

TORE (into handset)

Look, I’ll call you back in an hour.

Tore hangs up the phone and stands to shake hands with his younger brother.

MORGAN Just heard the news.

TORE (indicating a chair closest to the desk)

Have a seat. ...I’ll fill you in on what I know.

David plants himself in the chair and waits for his big broth-er to continue.

TORE

Ten days ago, Uncle Frank’s body was dis-(MORE)

Page 007

TORE (Cont.) covered on the premises of his Bordeaux winery, a bullet to his right temporal lobe and the gun in his right hand. ...Suicide is suspected.

MORGAN Ten days ago?! ...Why are we only learn-ing about this now?

TORE The email came from Frank’s brother, Malcolm Sloan, who as you know has been acting as Frank’s winemaker since Frank purchased Château La Gironde back in the ‘70s, and renamed it La Gironde-Sloan.

MORGAN I repeat...why ten days?

TORE Instead of sending the email to my iPhone, Uncle Malcolm sent it to the Chandon Web Site. I was out of the county and only received it when I returned, from London, yesterday.

MORGAN You were in London at the time of the suicide?

TORE London, Italy, or Spain...I’d have to check my itinerary. Come on, let’s take a walk. I’m more comfortable discussing serious matters when I’m on my feet.

021 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – DOMAINE CHANDON – DAY 021

David and Tore walk through the huge fermentation room and its expensive, giant, jacketed stainless steel fermenting tanks lined up side by side. Ahead of them, an attractive, young female CHANDON GUIDE is conducting a private tour of the winery for about 14 tourists; who for the most part are impatiently waiting for the wine tasting portion of the tour.

The Chandon Guide stops the tour group to explain the wine-making process. She points out the cooling - heating jackets on the massive tanks.

Page 008

CHANDON GUIDE You see those dimpled jackets which are laser soldered to the tanks?

(beat) Yeast cells normally become active at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and die at about 100 degrees. Here at Chandon, we like to keep the temperatures between 70 and 86 degrees. We run heated or cooled glycol through those dimpled jackets to maintain the desired temperature within the tanks.

022 ANGLE ON DAVID & TORE 022

MORGAN I just don’t believe Uncle Frank committed suicide!

TORE There you go...always the detective. But maybe not for much longer.

(explaining) I’m told that in his will and last testament, Uncle Frank left the winery to you.

MORGAN (taken aback)

Me! Why me? What the hell am I supposed to do with it?

TORE You’re expected to run it.

023 INT. BARREL ROOM – DOMAINE CHANDON – DAY 023

The tour group, with David and Tore following, enter a huge room with casks of still chardonnay wine stacked on top of each other, running its length.

TORE Only reason I can think of for you inherit-ing the winery instead of me is that you’re the only one of mom’s children not in the wine business.

MORGAN

What’s mom got to do with it?

TORE That’s right. You probably don’t know.

Page 009

MORGAN Know what?

TORE Mom loaned Frank the money to purchase the winery. He repaid the loan years ago, but Nancy still owns fifteen percent, which probably gave her some say when it came to writing his will.

024 ANGLE ON TOUR GROUP 024

We pick up the SOUND in the middle of the guide’s lecture.

CHANDON GUIDE In making our still chardonnays, fining...or filtration is often necessary prior to bottling. Some wineries fine and some filter their wines. Some do both, depending upon the wine.

(beat) Fining is associated with egg whites...but here at Chandon, we use Bentonite. We seldom have to filter our wines but when we do, we use diatomaceous earth, the same thing used in pool filters.

(beat) Technically, diatomaceous earth is the micro-scopic organisms of fossilized diatoms.

(beat) However, my predecessor made the mistake of referring to it as billions and billions of tiny orgasms. May she live to experience the same.

After some hearty, knowing laughter, the tour group moves on.

025 ANGLE ON DAVID & TORE 025

Tore and his younger brother follow the tourists.

MORGAN How did mom ever get a teetotaler like dad to go along with loaning Uncle Frank money to buy a winery?

TORE It was her money.

Page 010

MORGAN Why me?! Why not you? You love the business. I’m a cop! I don’t know anything about running a winery...nor do I parti-cularly want to learn. Hell, I don’t even speak French!

026 EXT. MARINA DEL REY – CALIFORNIA – LATE AFTERNOON 026

Luxury apartment complex, adjacent to the water and harbor.

SUPERIMPOSE: MARINA DEL REY CALIFORNIA

027 INT. APARTMENT BEDROOM – MARINA DEL REY 027

Under the sheets, an attractive couple has just finished making love. As they roll over, exhausted, facing the CAMERA, we recognize 32 year old Dennis and 29 year old Beverly from the wine library SCENE at Château Lafite-Rothschild.

BEVERLY You know Dennis…you really are an old sod.

(beat) You’re screwing me...your wife and at least one other girlfriend that I’m aware of. I don’t understand how you manage to get away with it...or why you bother to spend so much time with me.

DENNIS I spend time with you because we’re so com-patible. We share many of the same interests.

(checking his watch) Which reminds me...we better get dressed if we’re going to make Balzer’s wine class.

BEVERLY (to herself)

What’s love got to do with it.

028 EXT. LOS ANGELES RIVER CENTER & GARDENS – NIGHT 028

To establish what was once Lawry’s California Center, located at 570 West Avenue 26, in Los Angeles.

029 INT. RIVER CENTER, MEETING ROOM – NIGHT 029

In a large meeting room located inside the giant facilities that was once a Lawry flagship, at the podium iconic food and

Page 011

wine critic ROBERT LAWRENCE BALZER is holding one of his wine tasting classes; which classes are limited to a mere 50 lucky students; most of which are now in attendance.

INTERCUT WITH:

030 ANGLE ON BALZER 030

Robert Lawrence, as his friends call him, is about to conduct a blind tasting. Behind him on the counter are approximately 40 bottles of wine, all wrapped in brown paper sacks with numbers 1 thru 9 inscribed on the sacks to indicate in which order they are to be poured.

AT THE TABLES. In front of each student, are six wine glasses waiting to receive the wines bagged in the brown paper bags.

BALZER Before we start the blind tasting, I want to remind you of our French wine tour, which will take place from Septem-ber 17th through October 7th, during the harvest period, a mere five months away.

At this point Dennis and Beverly enter the large meeting room, each carrying their 6 wine glasses in a container originally designed to hold 6 wine bottles.

BALZER (continuing)

Glad you could make it Miss Amphlett ...Mr. Stevens.

(to the class) The tour is limited to only 24 persons. ...If you want to be assured of a place, you’ll need to put down your deposit by the end of next week.

(beat) I understand that at least one of you is inviting both spouse and lover. If that trend continues, the tour will not only be exciting...but fill quickly.

This gets a big laugh from all the “students,” some of which are senior citizens.

BALZER (continuing)

This tour follows in the footsteps of a (MORE)

Page 012

BALZER (Cont.) similar trek Mr. Stevens and I made a few years ago while filming TV commercials for the Japanese market.

(indicating Stevens) And, of course, the usually prompt and de-pendable Mr. Stevens will be accompanying us on this tour.

WITH A WAVE of his hand, Dennis Stevens seats himself in the rear row and begins unpacking his wine glasses.

BALZER (continuing)

Now, if we can have some volunteers to pour the wines?

(to specific students) Philip... Ben... Marilyn... Jack...Colette!

We recognize Philip, Ben, Marilyn, Jack and Colette from the opening, wine library scene at Château Lafite-Rothschild.

031 EXT. SERIES OF SHOTS – BORDEAUX – DAY 031

SUPERIMPOSE: BORDEAUX

A. Beauty shots of Bordeaux including first growth wineries: Château Haut-Brion Graves); Château Margaux; Château Latour; Château Mouton-Rothschild; Château Lafite-Rothschild, and

B. The Bordeaux Airport, where an A-300 jetliner from Paris is settling onto the runway.

032 EXT. NATIONAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS – BORDEAUX – DAY 032

To establish the police nationale headquarters, which also houses the Police Judiciaire at 87 Rue Abbé de Pepée, 33000 Bordeaux.

SUPERIMPOSE: POLICE NATIONALE HEADQUARTERSBORDEAUX, FRANCE

033 INT. OFFICE OF CAPITAINE LEGRAND – DAY 033

Capitaine ADRIAN LEGRAND keys his intercom and speaks.

LEGRAND Faites venir l’Inspecteur Picard dans mon bureau dès que possible.

Page 013

034 INT. HALLWAY – NATIONAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS 034

The beautiful 30 year-old brunette detective, Lieutenant BRIDGET PICARD makes her way down the hallway towards the Capitaine’s office.

035 OFFICE OF CAPITAINE LEGRAND 035

Capitaine Legrand is signing some papers when Lieutenant Picard enters. She closes the door behind her and stands at attention.

BRIDGET You wanted to see me, Capitaine?

LEGRAND Your English is improving, Lieutenant. That will prove very good for your career. Now have a seat. I want to go over your report on the Frank Sloan case.

Bridget sits, pulls out her handheld device, the equivalent of the IPod or BlackBerry PDA, and taps on a few keys. Studying the screen, she begins giving her boss a verbal update.

BRIDGET Malcolm Sloan does the lab work for about 30 wineries in the Pauillac and Margaux area. Between that and being the winemaker for Château La Gironde-Sloan, he makes a very good living.

036 INTERCUT: ILLUSTRATIONS – MALCOLM’S LABORATORY 036

As Bridget relates the case to her boss, WE SEE what she is describing.

A. Malcolm Sloan’s well furnished laboratory. Malcolm enters and discovers his brother, Frank Sloan, lying on the floor, a large pool of blood next to his head.

BRIDGET (V.O.) The body was discovered by Malcolm Sloan around 11 p.m.

B. Gendarmes are going through the lab. Our illustration continues to VISUALLY show what Bridget is describing to her boss.

Page 014

BRIDGET (V.O) (continuing)

The police of Pauillac managed badly the investigation because they did not conduct a sodium rhodizonate test on the brother’s hands. They did a test on the victim’s hands and found no nitrites, diphenylamine, ethyl centralite or nitrodiphenylamine.

LEGRAND (V.O.) So it’s unlikely that the victim fired the fatal shot?

On the wall are diplomas from the University of California at Davis.

BRIDGET (V.0.) Both Frank and his brother Malcolm had keys. Apparently Frank also was a quail-fied chemist. They have oenology degrees from U.C. - Davis.

037 BACK TO SCENE – OFFICE OF CAPITAINE LEGRAND 037

LEGRAND But the lab, even though it’s on Frank’s property, has always belonged to Malcolm, not Frank?

BRIDGET That’s what I understand.

LEGRAND So who is this new owner of La Gironde-Sloan?

038 EXT. BORDEAUX AIRPORT EXIT – EARLY EVENING 038

David Morgan, wearing a sharp business suit and carrying two large suitcases, exits the Bordeaux airport and is met by his uncle, MALCOLM SLOAN.

David drops the bags on the sidewalk and the two shake hands warmly. Then Malcolm grabs one of the bags and David the other and the two head for the nearby parking lot.

039 EXT. BORDEAUX AIRPORT PARKING LOT EXIT – EARLY EVENING 039

Malcolm is driving a fully restored 1969 Mercedes 280 SL with a Tunis beige metallic paint job (furnish by Mercedes). With

Page 015

its two occupants, the classic vehicle turns onto the highway and heads towards the city of Bordeaux.

040 INT./EXT. MERCEDES – EARLY EVENING 040

Malcolm is driving David Morgan through the outskirts of Bordeaux.

MORGAN I’m still not sure what I’m doing here or why I took a leave of absence from the San Francisco Police Department.

MALCOLM You’re here to prove yourself.

(beat) My sister, Nancy – your mother – once told me that she believed the only reason you joined the police department was out of some frustration that your father was taken from you at such an early age by a driver under the influence of drugs.

MORGAN No matter the reason...I like the work. So what’s that got to do with my having to prove myself?

MALCOLM Nancy was disappointed that you chose law enforcement over the wine business. She sees your inheritance as a test. If you produce a successful harvest your first year, the rewards will be enormous for you.

MORGAN And if I fail?

MALCOLM Then the winery will likely go to your brother, Tore.

MORGAN Not if I sell it first.

MALCOLM

There’s a codicil in the will you may not be aware of.

Malcolm has David’s complete attention. Page 016

MALCOLM Long as she still owns her 15 percent, your mother has first right of refusal on any inherited stock you might wish to sell...at a designated price.

(beat) Your uncle Frank was no fool. He had no intention of turning the winery over to someone who couldn’t, or had no desire to make a go of it.

041 EXT. SERIES OF SHOTS – MORE BORDEAUX SIGHTS – DAY 041

A. The Harbor Area – where most of the wine négociants are located.

B. The downtown area.

042 INT/EXT. MERCEDES – EARLY EVENING 042

MALCOLM Regardless of what happens between you and Tore, my brother’s last will and testament gives me the château. That’s the term we use for maison, mansion...or whatever you wish to call the house...and, of course, the will leaves me my laboratory. Right now, everything else belongs to you.

(beat) However, to prove that I’m not your enemy, I’m giving you Frank’s suite. It includes an office and is the best room in the Château, having just been remodeled. ...You can stay as long as you want.

MORGAN (facetiously)

How thoughtful.

MALCOLM (sensing the sarcasm)

And, just to show you that my heart’s in the right place, I’ll buy you dinner at one of Bordeaux’s most popular restaurants.

043 EXT. RESTAURANT ST. JAMES – BORDEAUX – EARLY EVENING 043

Malcolm pulls his Mercedes into a parking slot in front of Le St. James Restaurant. The two exit and join up on the sidewalk.

Page 017

MALCOLM My lady friend owns this restaurant. Wait until you taste her food. ...Hell, wait until you meet her?! She’s a very im-presssive person...and beautiful as well.

The two enter the restaurant.

044 INT. PODIUM OF MAITRE D’– ST.JAMES LOBBY – EARLY EVENING 044

Once inside, David and Malcolm approach the female maitre d’ la restaurant.

MALCOLM (to female maitre d’)

Est-ce qu’il vous reste par hasard une bonne table… sans réservation ?

MAÎTRE D’ Nous gardons toujours une table réservée

pour vous, Monsieur Malcolm...surtout le vendredi soir.

The Maitre d’ leads the way to the dining room.

045 INT. DINING AREA – RESTAURANT ST. JAMES – NIGHT 045

The Maitre d’ ushers David and his uncle Malcolm to their table where they are seated facing one another.


No sooner have David and Malcolm been seated than Malcolm is approached by the glad-handing LAURENT CHEVILLOT. A bluster-ing, overweight 60 year-old, Chevillot plants himself in the chair between David and his Uncle.

CHEVILLOT Monsieur Sloan, so good to see you again.

MALCOLM Monsieur Laurent Chevillot..I’d like to introduce you to the new owner of Château La Gironde-Sloan. ...David Morgan.

(explaining to David) Monsieur Chevillot’s winery, Château La

Chevillot is adjacent to Château La Gironde-Sloan.

David shakes hands with Monsieur Chevillot. Page 018.

MORGAN I assume you knew my uncle Frank, well?

CHEVILLOT Very well, indeed. We were frequent dinner guests of one another. In fact, he was my guest just two evenings before, according to the police, he was murdered!

MORGAN You sound like you don’t believe it was murder?

CHEVILLOT Who would want to kill a great person like Frank? No. It will take more than the simple absence of gun powder residue on his hands to convince me.

MORGAN Then you believe it was suicide?

Chevillot suddenly loses his jocular mood and becomes serious.

CHEVILLOT Yes I do. First, he was depressed because of the sudden death of his wife...your aunt, Monique. Secondly, for the first time in his life, all his affairs were in order...in-cluding his last will and testament.

David nods thoughtfully, as Chevillot climbs to his feet.

CHEVILLOT (continuing)

Good to meet you Monsieur Morgan. As neigh-bors, I expect we will be seeing a lot of each other.

With that, Chevillot heads for the exit.


The Maitre d’ is leading LT. Picard to a table near that of David and Malcolm.

INTERCUT WITH:

Page 019.

048 TIGHT ON DAVID & MALCOLM 048

MALCOLM (spotting LT Picard)

Everyone comes to Rick’s.

MORGAN Pardon?

MALCOLM (indicating Bridget)

Just a line from a movie. …That’s the Judiciaire inspector investigating Frank’s murder.

David studies the attractive 30-year old woman seated at the adjacent table.

MORGAN That is a coincidence. ...Excuse me.

David rises from his seat and stands before the woman, who is dining alone.

049 ANGLE ON MORGAN AND BRIDGET 049

MORGAN Pardon me, Madame.

Lieutenant Picard looks up and smiles.

MORGAN My name is David Morgan. I’m the new owner of Château La Gironde-Sloan. ...I understand you’re the inspector in charge of investigating my uncle’s murder.

BRIDGET I’m with the French Police Judiciaire, indeed.

(indicating the adjacent chair)

Please sit down Inspector Morgan. (correcting herself)

...I mean former Inspector Morgan.

MORGAN (seating himself)

I see you’ve had me checked out.

Page 020.

BRIDGET (reciting from memory)

Inspector David Morgan. ...Unmarried. On leave of absence from the San Francisco Police...Homicide division.

Beat) You would have done the same. ...You know I cannot discuss an open investigation.

MORGAN I thought a little professional courtesy might be In order.

BRIDGET (wryly)

But, Monsieur Morgan, to me, being on leave means you are no longer a policeman.

David rises from his chair, preparing to return to the adjacent table. Her hands are clasped together in front of her. David checks her ring finger. No ring.

MORGAN I apologize for disturbing your meal, mademoiselle.

BRIDGET (mellowing)

I’ll tell you what I can do. I’m going to be in Pauillac around noon, tomorrow. During this time, I’ll consult my superior. If he agrees, I’ll meet you to explain what we know. Will you be at the château around noon?

MORGAN (smiling)

Count on it.

050 ANGLE FEATURING MALCOLM’S TABLE 050

David rejoins Malcolm at their table.

MALCOLM She is rather attractive for a Judiciaire Lieutenant. But take away the advantage of youth, and in a beauty contest, she

would be competetive with my lady friend, whom you’re about to meet.

Page 021.

MORGAN Just how did you meet this lady friend of yours?

MALCOLM My daughter introduced us. Ever since my wife died, Marianne has been introducing me to all kinds of women. She doesn’t like seeing me living alone.

MORGAN Marianne ... my cousin? How is she?

CUT TO:

051 INT. ILLUSTRATION – MARIANNE’S PARIS RESTAURANT – NIGHT 051

We see the stunningly beautiful, blonde cousin, MARIANNE, who could be anywhere between 24 and 27 years of age, welcoming diners at her luxurious Paris restaurant; with its sixth floor view of the Seine.

MALCOLM (V.O.) She lives in Paris, where she owns a Michelin two-star, about to be named a three-star, restaurant.

052 BACK TO SCENE 052 MALCOLM

(continuing) I emailed her that you were coming. She sounded anxious to see you.

053 WIDER ANGLE – DINING AREA 053

The restaurant owner and chef, 40-something-year-old JACQUE-LINE BUJOLD, comes out from her kitchen to enthusiastic ap-plause from the diners. She makes her way to the table of David and his uncle Malcolm.

054 ANGLE ON TABLE OF DAVID & MALCOLM 054

Jacqueline seats herself at a chair between the two. Morgan understands why his uncle wanted to show her off. Bujold is a class act. Although he is at least ten years younger, David

would date her in an instant were she not his uncle’s girl-friend. Malcolm opens the conversation in English.

Page 022.

MALCOLM Jacqueline Bujold, I want you to meet my nephew, David Morgan.

The two shake hands lightly, but warmly.


At the adjacent table, Lieutenant Bridget Picard signs and hands the credit card receipt to the waiter, then heads for the lobby.

056 INT. MAÎTRE D’ PODIUM – ST. JAMES LOBBY – EARLY EVENING 056

Picard stops at the podium where the female maitre d’ la restaurant inquires:

MAÎTRE D’ Est-ce que la table convenait ? Avez-vous établi le contact visuel ?

Bridget hands the Maitre d’ the equivalent of twenty U.S. dollars, in Euros.

BRIDGET Perfect...and yes...contact was made.

057 INT/EXT. MERCEDES – EXITING CITY OF PAUILLAC – NIGHT 057

On Highway D-2, Malcolm’s Mercedes, with David in the passen-ger seat, exits the city of Pauillac, in the `Haut Médoc, and continues northbound.

MORGAN I’m going to have to buy a car. Perhaps you can help me find a good, used one.

MALCOLM No need for that. You can drive this one. I normally drive one of the camions...that’s truck to you. I only drove the Mercedes to pick you up out of respect for the winery’s new owner. ...You can buy a new car after we get the crop in.

058 EXT. MERCEDES – NORTH OF PAUILLAC – NIGHT 058

Surrounded by vineyards, the Mercedes approaches a sign an-nouncing in French and English that you turn left in 500 feet to visit Château La Gironde-Sloan.

Page 023.

The Mercedes makes the turn onto highway D-205.

059 INT./EXT. MERCEDES – APPROACHING THE CHATEAU – NIGHT 059

Adjacent the highway, Château La Gironde-Sloan looms ahead with the huge chai nearby and other buildings beyond.

MALCOLM (to David)

My brother retained my services as wine-maker. The decision whether or not to continue that relationship is also yours.

MORGAN What’re you talking about?! Of course you’re the winemaker. Nothing changes.

(beat) And thanks for the loan of the Mercedes and for putting me up. I won’t forget your generosity.

MALCOLM Nor I your generosity. You’re certainly different from your brother,

(thinking he may have said too much, backs off)

At least from what I’ve heard.

060 EXT. PARKING LOT – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – NIGHT 060

The Mercedes pulls in and parks in a privately designated slot. As David and Uncle Malcolm climb out, Malcolm grabs both of David’s bags and the two head for the entrance to the large, three story château. Malcolm nods towards the strange rental car parked in the slot normally reserved for Marianne.

MALCOLM There’s a car parked in Marianne’s space. The sticker on the windshield indicates a rental.

061 INT. ENTRANCE – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – NIGHT 061

David and Malcolm enter the château and seeing the light on in the kitchen, head for the source.

062 INT. KITCHEN – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – NIGHT 062

David and Malcolm enter the large kitchen to find Marianne, Page 024

and the 50 year-old head housekeeper and cook, ODETTE GINE-STET, with her husband the château’s cellar master, PETER GINESTET, having a late snack. David is greeted warmly by all three, especially Marianne.

MARIANNE Hi David. ...I heard you were coming and wanted to (sic) welcome properly you here.

The gorgeous, 24 year-old Marianne jumps to her feet and rushes up to David. She throws her arms around his neck giving him a big kiss on the lips. David pulls her arms from around his neck and studies her face.

MORGAN Don’t tell me. You’re my cousin Marianne?

MARIANNE Herself.

Malcolm hastily takes the occasion to introduce David to Odette and Peter.

MALCOLM David, say hello to the château’s most im-portant people. The two who keep the place running.

(indicating Odette) Our cook and head housekeeper, Odette…

(indicating Peter) And her husband, Peter Ginestet, our cellar master.

As David shakes hands…he turns to Malcolm.

MORGAN Do they understand English?

ODETTE Monsieur Morgan. I not only read and write English, but I speak it too.

MORGAN Yes, and you do so, flawlessly. Please

forgive an American’s ill manners.

ODETTE (a smile)

Je vous pardonne, Monsieur Morgan.

Page 025.

Malcolm turns to Marianne.

MALCOLM Perhaps you will show your cousin to his quarters.

063 INT. STAIRCASE – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – NIGHT 063

David is carrying both of his large bags as Marianne leads him up the wide staircase to the second floor.

MARIANNE Your suite is in the east wing of the second floor. The third floor has been closed since Uncle Frank bought the château.

064 INT. MORGAN BEDROOM – WEST WING, 2ND FLOOR – NIGHT 064

David and Marianne enter the large suite that formally be-longed to Frank Sloan; which suite obviously has recently been remodeled. The adjacent bathroom has a modern shower and is laid out in the manner of a suite at the Ritz-Carlton. David drops his bags and looks around, approvingly.

MORGAN I think this will do just fine.

MARIANNE I’m happy that you like it. My room is just across the hall. I know you’re tired from your trip, so I’ll see you in the morning.

With that, Marianne withdraws from the suite, closing the door behind her.

TIME LAPSE:

065 ANGLE ON BED – MORGAN BEDROOM – NIGHT 065

David is sound asleep when the door to his suite opens and a mysterious figure enters. The figure moves surreptitiously towards the bed.

The covers of the giant bed are lifted...and the shadowy, nude figure slips beneath the sheets. Sensing the movement, David Morgan awakens with a start!

MORGAN What’s this all about?

Page 026.

MARIANNE (a mere whisper)

Shut up and enjoy.

066 EXT. CHATEAU LA GIRONDE- SLOAN – DAWN 066

To establish the new day.

067 INT. KITCHEN – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – DAWN 067

Odette is cooking sausages for Malcolm Sloan and Marianne, who are seated at the large kitchen, when David enters.

MORGAN Morning everyone.

MALCOLM Morning, David.

(indicating the food) Have some breakfast...after which Mari-anne can show you the chai and explain how we make our wine.

David and Marianne exchange looks. Marianne smiles at the ex-police inspector, but gets no response.

David moves to the nearby counter where waiting for him are baskets of croissants, copious amounts of butter, coffee, milk, orange juice, a cold potato salad, scrambled eggs, melon slices, bacon and a basket of French bread.

068 INT. BARREL ROOM – LA GIRONDE- SLOAN – DAY 068

Wine glasses in hand, David and Marianne are standing next to one of the 600 plus barrels stacked three high the length of the chai. Marianne removes the bung and lowers the glass pipette into the barrel. When the stem is filled with wine, Marianne places her thumb over the top and raises the “thief” from the bung hole. Then, over David’s glass, she releases her thumb and the red wine falls into the glass. Then she fills her own glass.

MORGAN Tell me. Why such a large breakfast. We

only ate a small portion of what was served. How much food is wasted?

MARIANNE The breakfast is for all the staff of the

(MORE) Page 027.

MARIANNE (Cont.) household, including the cellar master Peter and his wife Odette.

David knows how to taste the wine...or, at least go through the motions. He swirls the wine in the glass, checks the wine’s body by viewing the “legs” or wine falling from the side of the glass. He swirls again, and then holds the glass to his nose. Finally, he takes a sip, letting the cool liquid roll over his tongue.

MORGAN How many household staff is there?

MARIANNE Three, besides Odette. …They make the beds, do the laundry...keep the place clean...help Odette with the meals.

(beat) She was working in the fields and running the harvester when Uncle Frank sent her to the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. She is indeed a great cook. It’s too bad we have to let her go.

MORGAN What do you mean, ‘let her go?’

MARIANNE She was employed by Uncle Frank. My father only inherited the château, not the fields or the winery facilities.

(beat) Although breakfast for the staff is a...how you say...a longtime tradition...without the income from the winery, we will have to reduce the costs.

MORGAN Too bad. Maybe we can work something out.

(smiling) That is, as long as I’m still a guest of the château.

With a final swirl, David drinks the remainder of the wine in his glass.

Marianne takes a mouthful from her glass, expertly rolls it over her tongue, then spits it into a sawdust filled bucket sitting on the floor next to the cask. She then also dumps

Page 028.

the remainder of the wine in her glass into the bucket.

069 EXT. CABERNET SAUVIGNON VINEYARD – DAY 069

David and Marianne are walking through one of the vineyards.

MARIANNE The four grapes we grow in the Haut Médoc, are the cabernet sauvignon, merlot, caber-net franc, and petit verdot. The merlot usually harvests first and the petit verdot two weeks after the cabernets, depending upon the weather.

MORGAN You mentioned that Odette used to drive the harvester. Does that mean that we own a grape picking machine?

MARIANNE Frank bought one five years ago.

CUT TO:

070 ILLUSTRATION: SONOMA VINEYARD – NIGHT 070

With its fluorescent and steering lights blazing, a Korvan 3009 Grape Harvester proceeds down a row of grapes at a steady one and a-half miles per hour.

MARIANNE (V.O.) (continuing)

Before that, my father resisted buying a machine because all the harvesters he tested were just giant vacuum cleaners…sucking in everything, not only ripe grapes but green grapes, rotten grapes, weeds, stones. Hard to get a good wine out of a stone.

(beat) He often said, ’That may be fine for making ordinary wine, but not my wine.’

MORGAN (V.O.) What changed his mind?

MARIANNE (V.O.) The Americans finally made one that worked.

Page 029.


MORGAN Yeah. I’m familiar with the shaker-vibration model. It’s used where I come from.

MARIANNE We still need a few pickers to pick what the harvester misses. The biggest...what’s the word...competitor for pickers are the Roths-childs, who still do not use the harvester.

072 EXT. ENTRANCE TO THE CHATEAU – LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – DAY 072

David and Marianne are about to enter the château when Lieu-tenant Picard’s vehicle pulls into the parking area and stops next to Marianne’s rental.

Bridget exits the official vehicle and approaches David and Marianne.

MARIANNE I wonder what she wants.

Instead of answering, David checks his watch then calls to the inspector.

MORGAN You are right on time, Lieutenant.

073 INT. MALCOLM’S SLOAN’S LABORATORY – DAY 073

The laboratory is spotless. It is divided into two parts; one part for lab testing, where sugar content of the grapes and yeast cells on the skins, are constantly tested. The second part is for tasting; where the percentage of Cabernets and Merlot are determined by trial and error when blending the final cuvee.

Gathered at the cabinet used for testing, David and Marianne watch as Bridget lays out a series of photographs taken the night Frank Sloan’s body was discovered by his brother.

INTERCUT WITH:

074 INSERT – VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS (IN COLOR) 074

The photographs show Frank’s body lying on the floor, gun in his right hand. Other photos show several test tubes filled

Page 030.

with a red liquid. Also included are two wine glasses, each one-third filled with what looks like a red wine.

Picard is describing what the pictures appear to show. To the annoyance of Marianne, she makes a point of addressing her comments directly to David.

One would get the sense that Marianne does not particularly like this woman.

BRIDGET (V.O.) The gun Frank used was stolen a month before the shooting.

MORGAN (V.O.) Stolen from whom?

BRIDGET (V.O.) Jacqueline Bujold, owner of the restaurant where we all dined yesterday evening.

MORGAN (V.O.) And you believe Frank stole a gun from his brother’s girlfriend in order to commit suicide?

(beat) I assume only Frank’s fingerprints were found on the weapon?


BRIDGET That is correct but I discovered a clear, partial print on one of the bullet casings. But we cannot match to either Frank, Malcolm or the gun’s owner.

MORGAN Malcolm? Don’t tell me you consider him a suspect.

BRIDGET (slightly offended)

I could hardly consider myself a professional

if I did not.

MORGAN (controlling his anger)

I assume you ran tests on the wine found in the two glasses.

Page 031.

BRIDGET Of course! It was a cabernet aged in in-ferior oak barrels.

MORGAN How do you know that?

BRIDGET Tiny, almost microscopic oak particles were found suspended in the wine. That suggests new barrels, but either the insides of the barrels weren’t properly charred or they were of an inferior quality. It also suggests a small winery producing vin ordinaire.

MORGAN (smiling)

Now we’re getting somewhere. Did you test Frank’s hands for nitrites?

BRIDGET The police of Pauillac found no nitrites on either of Frank’s hands. But they made a mistake when they failed to run the same test on the hands of Frank’s brother, Malcolm.

076 EXT. CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – EARLY EVENING 076

To establish the approximate time of day.

077 INT. KITCHEN – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – EARLY EVENING 077

David and Marianne enter the château kitchen to discover Odette and her small staff cooking the evening’s meal.

MARIANNE Odette? Qu’y a-t-il au menu ce soir?

The cellar master’s wife answers without stopping what she is doing.

ODETTE Quail and pheasant stew with jumbo sea scallops. Thin asparagus, with my own

special sauce. Chipotle sweet potatoes. Fresh sand dabs and trout, flown in from California, courtesy of a friend.

(beat) And for the main course...Honey-orange

(MORE) Page 032.

ODETTE marinated duck breast, with thin strips of Kobe filet mignon.

(smiling) And for dessert, a cabernet pear tart and a chocolate caramel pecan cake, with an assortment of petits fours.

Marianne turns and explains to Jim:

MARIANNE (to David)

We just dine (sic) the Saturday nights in the château’s main dining room...sometimes with just the family sometimes with guests. Father rotates in inviting other winemakers and owners to join us and believe me, no-body, not even the Baroness Rothschild, would say no to an invitation for a meal cooked by Odette.

At a nearby cabinet, Odette’s husband, Peter, dressed in the traditional blue ceremonial uniform and beret of the farm worker, is preparing the wines to be served during the evening meal. Adjacent to the wines is a tub of ice used to chill the Champagne and white wines.

The wines about to be served with Odette’s gourmet meal are what triggers a true wine aficionado’s wet dreams.

078 ANGLE ON THE WINES 078

The wines are neatly stacked behind each other according to varietals. They include: Six bottles each of Laurent Perrier Champagne; Meursault; Le Montrachet; Chambertin; a Latour claret; and three bottles of Château d’Yquem.

079 ANGLE ON DAVID & MARIANNE 079

MORGAN I better go get changed.

MARIANNE So should I.

080 INT. MORGAN BEDROOM – WEST WING, 2ND FLOOR – EVENING 080

David is putting on his dress shirt when the unlocked door to his bedroom opens and in slides Marianne.

Page 033.

MORGAN (surprised)

Is there something I can help you with?

MARIANNE There is. Help me out of my clothes.

081 EXT. LOS ANGELES RIVER CENTER & GARDENS – NIGHT 081

To again establish what was once Lawry’s California Center.

082 INT. RIVER CENTER, MEETING ROOM – NIGHT 082

In the large meeting room, Robert Lawrence Balzer is holding another of his weekly evening wine tasting classes, consisting of the same 50 students as in the earlier scene. On the counter behind his podium are the usual wine bottles wrapped in brown paper bags and marked only with a number. Balzer is reading off a list of names. Those hearing their names smile.

INTERCUT WITH:

083 ANGLE ON THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE CALLED 083

BALZER ...Jack and Colette Hamilton.

SUPERIMPOSE: Owner of four L.A. car dealership and his trophy wife.

...Philip Shen

SUPERIMPOSE: Works for the County of Los Angeles

...Benton and Marilyn Lane.

SUPERIMPOSE: Owner of a chain of California liquor stores and his interior decorator wife

...Beverly Amphlett

SUPERIMPOSE: Los Angeles District school teacher ...our filmmaker...Dennis Stevens.

SUPERIMPOSE: World class philanderer and womanizer.

...And rounding out the list of the 24 participants ... Michael and Debra Landis.

Page 034.

084 ANGLE ON MICHAEL AND DEBRA 084

As the 26 remaining wine students applaud the lucky 24, DEBRA (a gorgeous and voluptuous woman in her mid 20s) places her hands on the handsome 30-year old MICHAEL’S cheeks and plants a big kiss on his lips.


BALZER The lucky 24 that I just named will be joining me on what I call ‘The Great French Wine Tasting Adventure,’ a three week tour that will include visits to the prominent wineries of Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Côtes du Rhône, Bordeaux, and the Loire....in that order.

(beat) Mr. Stevens will be making a documentary of the tour. to be available on high definition DVD. So, as previously agreed, you’ll need to sign proper releases.

(beat) Now let’s have some volunteers to pour The wine.

086 EXT. TAM O’SHANTER INN – LOS ANGELES, CA – NIGHT 086

To establish the famous restaurant located at 2980 Los Feliz Boulevard.

087 INT. BAR AREA – TAM O’SHANTER INN – NIGHT 087

Seated at one of the Tam’s large round tables are: Jack and Colette Hamilton, Ben and Marilyn Lane and Philip Shen.

Ben Lane spots Dennis and Beverly entering the restaurant and raises his hand, drawing Miss Beverly Amphlett’s attention.

088 ANGLE ON AMPHLETT & STEVENS 088

Beverly points out the group to Dennis.

BEVERLY

There’s our Bacchus Seven group.

Smiling, Stevens and Amphlett head for the round table.

Page 035.

089 ANGLE ON TAM O’SHANTER’S ROUND TABLE 089

They join the rest of the group, all in their late twenties or early thirties.

JACK Now the Bacchus Seven has a quorum.

BEN (to Dennis)

I was telling Jack that several years ago you filmed TV commercials for many of France’s best known wineries, including, arguably, the world’s greatest and most famous...Lafite Rothschild.

DENNIS That’s right. Commercials were for the Japanese market.

(indicating Beverly) Beverly was the script supervisor on the project and Robert Lawrence Balzer wrote many of the scripts. The commercials played on Japanese TV and were very suc-essful.

JACK Spare me the résumé, Stevens. I just have one question. At Lafite, did they ever show you the cave where they hid their priceless wines from the Germans, during WWII? And if so, could you find that cave on your own...should you have to?

090 INT. KITCHEN – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – MORNING 090

Davis Morgan enters the large kitchen to find Marianne, Malcolm, Odette and some of the Staff having breakfast. He nods and smiles at everybody then picks up a plate, helps himself to the traditional breakfast and seats himself between Odette and Marianne. Then he addresses the cook.

MORGAN Where’s your husband, this morning?

ODETTE Oh, Monsieur Morgan. Last night he couldn’t waste all that wonderful wine that the guests did not drink. He will wake up probably in time for dinner.

Page 036.

MORGAN Perhaps he should have opened a few less bottles.

(to Malcolm) I’m impressed. Last night was an extra-ordinary experience. I know what some of those wines are worth. Are all of the châteaux owners and winemakers so generous with the wines in their cellars?

Malcolm smiles and chuckles.

MALCOLM My dear nephew. Forgive me but I thought you had carefully read Frank’s last will and testament.

(beat) The cellar is part of the château and be-longs to me. But the contents...that is, the wine belongs to you. It is I who should be thanking you for last night.

This revelation even gets a smile from Marianne.

091 EXT. AERIAL VIEW RENTAL CAR – LA POUYALET – DAY 091

Marianne’s rental is seen driving through the city of Pouyalet, heading north.

092 INT./EXT. MARIANNE’S RENTAL CAR – THE HAUT MEDOC – DAY 092

Marianne is driving with David in the passenger seat.

MORGAN So where are you taking me?

MARIANNE I thought I’d introduce you to some of your fellow winemakers.

MORGAN Before I can be called a fellow winemaker, I’ll have to prove my right to own a winery under French law. But you knew this.

MARIANNE I know we have laws against foreign owner-ship of French wineries. When Uncle Frank purchased the winery, he formed a French

(MORE) Page 037.

MARIANNE (Cont.) company, with Aunt Monique and your mother, who were both French, as the winery’s directors.

(beat) That was before Uncle Frank became a citizen. At the time of his death, Uncle Frank and Aunt Nancy were listed as co-directors.

MORGAN If I decide to keep the winery, I’ll have to go to Paris and appeal to the agricultural commission for enough time to apply for a carte de séjour.

MARIANNE True. The Société d’Aménagement Foncier et d’Etablissement Rural. Better known as SAFER. ...As majority shareholder, with a carte de séjour, you can vote your-self sole director and run the winery as you wish. But if you fail to produce a successful first year harvest, or try to sell your stock in the meantime, then you run into the codicil in Frank’s will.

(beat) Did I pronounce that word...codicil...cor-rectly?

MORGAN (clearly agitated)

Perfectly.

MARIANNE Correct me if I’m wrong, but under the codicil, if you fail to have a successful harvest this year, could not your brother end up owning the winery?

093 INT/EXT. MONTAGE – HAUT MEDOC PREMIUM WINERIES – DAY 093

Marianne is seen introducing David Morgan to several of the movers and shakers of the Bordeaux wine industry; specifically

those from the Haut Médoc. Shots include Marianne and David shaking hands with the owners and winemakers and tasting barrel samples of their current vintage; which samples are pulled from the oak barrels using the glass pipette known as “the thief.”

Page 038.

094 INT/EXT. RENTAL CAR – LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD – DAY 094

As the rental car leaves, arguably, the world’s most famous winery, the driver turns to the passenger.

MARIANNE Yesterday, I saw you and that Lieutenant talking as you escorted her to her police vehicle. Would you care to share what you were discussing? Let me guess. She thinks my father murdered Uncle Frank?

MORGAN Malcolm isn’t the only person of interest.

MARIANNE So who else is on the suspect list?

MORGAN LT Picard ran a background check on our cellar master and found an arrest record for a Peter Ginestet, in Italy, for using grapes other than Sangiovese, the only ingredient allowed in a Tuscan wine. He did six months, after which he ended up here...working for Uncle Frank.

095 INT. AIR FRANCE – A-300 AIRCRAFT – DAY 095

David and Marianne are seated together in the first class section.

MARIANNE How fortunate your appointment with SAFER occurred at the time when I had to return to Paris. I would (sic) so much want you to see my restaurant.

MORGAN Long as it’s understood that there’s not to be any hanky panky.

MARIANNE Hanky panky. I don’t understand?

MORGAN I think you understand English far better than you pretend.

Page 039.

MARIANNE (coquettishly)

If that’s what you’re worried about, I promise to keep my hands off you.

MORGAN Good. You’re family. And I’m having a tough time looking your father in the eye.


MARIANNE Do you really think Frank’s murder is con-nected to the contents of the two wine glasses found in my father’s laboratory and that our cellar master, Peter Ginestet may be involved?

MORGAN I’m not sure about our cellar master’s in-volvement, if any, but yes. The contents of the wine glasses are a definite clue.

097 SERIES OF SHOTS – SECOND UNIT – DAY & NIGHT 097

To a solid MUSICAL BEAT, we witness a kaleidoscope of spectac-ular Paris landmarks, including both day & night settings

Using SECOND UNIT and STOCK FOOTAGE we SHOW Paris in all of its glory.

098 EXT. PASSENGER PICKUP LANE – ORLY AIRPORT – NEAR SUNDOWN 098

As David and Marianne exit the airport building, a new Mercedes pulls up and a young black man, SEAN POITIER, jumps out and begins loading the luggage.

MARIANNE (making the intros)

Sean...Voici mon cousin, David Morgan. David, meet Sean Poitier, from La Martin-ique. ...No relation to the actor.

Sean and David shake hands, warmly.

099 EXT. TOURNELLE BRIDGE – AFTER SUNDOWN 099

Marianne’s Mercedes IS SEEN starting to cross the Tournelle Bridge.

Page 040.

100 INT./EXT. MERCEDES ON TOURNELLE BRIDGE 100

Sean is driving with David and Marianne in the back seat. Suddenly, Marianne calls out to Sean.

MARIANNE Sean! ...Gare-toi ici!

101 EXT. TOURNELLE BRIDGE – AFTER SUNDOWN 101

Parked in the middle of the bridge, Marianne climbs out of the Mercedes, followed by David. Marianne turns to Sean.

MARIANNE Pourriez vous porter les bagages dans mon appartement ? Je veux montrer à David ma vue préférée de la ville.

SEAN Très bien.

The Mercedes continues across the bridge.

102 ANOTHER ANGLE – TOURNELLE BRIDGE – AFTER SUNDOWN 102

Marianne leads David to the edge of the bridge, overlooking the Seine, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Ile (island) de-la Cite.


MARIANNE This is my favorite Paris scene and my favorite time of day to view it.

INTERCUT WITH:

104 MARIANNE’S POV – SEINE & NOTRE DAME – AFTER SUNDOWN 104

A tourist boat serving a very good, if not gourmet, meal is seen on the Seine.

MORGAN I agree. It is beautiful. But then you haven’t seen San Francisco.

MARIANNE I get the feeling you’re not going to stay in France. ...Tomorrow I will show you

(MORE) Page 041.

MARIANNE (Cont.) sights of Paris that will make you forget all about San Francisco.

MORGAN

The first sight of Paris I want to see is this restaurant of yours. Just where the hell is it?


MARIANNE Over your left shoulder.

David turns his head in the direction indicated.

106 EXT. MORGAN’S POV – SIX STORY BUILDING 106

He spots the distinguished looking, six story building on the corner of quai de la Tournelle, at the southern end of the pont de la Tournelle.

MARIANNE (V.0.) Restaurant La Grand Gironde is on the top floor.

The restaurant is mostly windows...large windows, giving diners a magnificent view of the Seine and Notre Dame.

MORGAN I’m impressed. It’s a very distinctive building that you and your father own.


MARIANNE Sadly, it is mortgaged heavily.

MORGAN In reading Uncle Frank’s will and last testament, I saw the provision forgiving the mortgage that he held on the building, upon his death. That must have given the two of you some breathing room?

MARIANNE

Some.

Page 042.

MORGAN You have the ground floor leased out to boutique shop owners and of course I can see that the top floor is the restaurant. What’s on the other four floors?

MARIANNE Second to the fourth floors are what you call high-end apartments. I keep the fifth floor for myself.

MORGAN The entire floor?

108 INT. MARIANNE’S PARIS RESTAURANT – AFTER SUNDOWN 108

If not told otherwise, one would think that they were in one of the world’s best known eateries, Restaurant Tour ‘dArgent. Instead, we find ourselves in a Paris restaurant known as La Grand Gironde, with its view windows, overlooking the Seine and Notre Dame.

MARIANNE Uncle Frank made the down payment on the building and holds the second mortgage...which as you say, is now forgiven. My father invested the money necessary to take over the lease of the previous res-taurant operator.

(beat) We’re both paying still the first mortgage.

MORGAN Which I understand is substantial.

MARIANNE (angrily)

Vous vous êtes renseignés sur moi! Mais au juste, qu’espérez-vous découvrir...In-spector Morgan?

Both David and Marianne are struggling to keep their voices down.

MORGAN Calm down! I’m just trying to stay ahead

of LT Picard...who should not be under-estimated. She’s a worthy opponent.

Page 043.

MARIANNE Ou, peut-être une amante potentielle. ...I’ve seen how she looks at you...and you at her.

At this point, the waiter delivers the main course. It appears to be duck.

109 INT. PRIVATE ELEVATOR – AFTER SUNDOWN 109

MARIANNE I’m about to show you my restaurant’s biggest asset...where most of the purchase price went.

110 INT. WINE CELLAR – LA GRANDE GIRONDE – AFTER SUNDOWN 110

The elevator doors open and David and Marianne find themselves in a vast wine cellar, capable of properly storing 500,000 bottles in multiple racks reaching from floor to ceiling. Production Note: We are filming in the wine cellar of Res-taurant Tour ‘dArgent.


Walking through the cellar.

MORGAN What’s the oldest wine you have here?

MARIANNE We have four bottles of 1929 Bordeaux clarets and maybe 500 bottles of similar clarets produced in the 1930s and ‘40s.

(explaining) We don’t have a lot of old vintages. They’re just too expensive.

MORGAN How expensive?

MARIANNE Well. Two of our pre-war clarets are on our wine list each for 20,000 euros. To-day, the bottles that are worth real money are found only in the private cellars of

Bordeaux’s First Growth estates.

Page 044.

MORGAN Mouton-Rothschild, Lafite-Rothschild, Margaux, Latour, and Haut-Brion.

MARIANNE That’s right. At auction, the old vintages stored in the private cellars of those estates are worth millions. In some cases more than the wineries themselves.

Marianne stops and pulls a bottle from one of the racks.

MARIANNE I like almost any well made wine. But this is my favorite…

She places the bottle next to several wine glasses (including two flute champagne glasses) on a nearby, upended oak barrel.

112 ECU - TIGHT ON BOTTLE & LABEL 112

Marianne is holding a bottle of Dom Pérignon Rosé.

MORGAN A Dom Pérignon Rose?


Marianne hands the flute glasses to David and then begins opening the bottle.

MARIANNE (passionately)

Actually, the Benedictine monk, Dom Pierre Pérignon didn’t invent sparkling wines. But the legend says that when making a Wine for his colleagues he failed to com-plete the fermentation before the bottling and corking. During the cold winter months the fermentation remained dormant, but when spring arrived the contents of the sealed bottles began to warm and fermentation re-sumed producing carbon dioxide that was trapped in the bottle.

(beat) Later that spring the Dom noticed that the

bottles of wine in the cellar were explode-ing. He opened one that was still intact and drank, declaring ‘Come quickly! I’m

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MARIANNE (Cont.) drinking stars!’ Thus Champagne was born and named after the region where it was discovered.

The bottle now open, Marianne fills the two flutes, sets the bottle on the upended oak barrel and accepts one of the glas-ses from David. After touching glasses in the tradition of a toast, the two begin sampling the champagne.

114 INT. PRIVATE ELEVATOR – NIGHT 114

Marianne inserts one of her special elevator keys into the proper slot on the eight button control panel, and the private elevator begins its ascent.

MORGAN I’ll say this. With your passion for excellent food and wine...you’re cer-tainly in the right business.

MARIANNE So are you.

(explaining) You have a chance to own and operate a Bordeaux second growth winery.

MORGAN Second growth … Is that good?

MARIANNE Very good.

MORGAN And all I have to do is have a successful harvest?

MARIANNE It will not be easy... but you can do it.

MORGAN (facetiously)

I know...hard work and all of that.

MARIANNE It’s more than just hard work...it takes

a lot of luck, as well. Take last year, for instance. Thanks to Uncle Frank’s intuition and my father’s constant labo-

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MARIANNE (Cont.) ratory analysis of sugar content, by har-vesting early, Château La Gironde-Sloan managed to produce a full bodied wine.

(beat) The rains came and, except for the Roths-childs, who also harvested early, most of our neighbors produced less than a full bodied wine.

MORGAN (his mind working)

That’s very interesting.

115 INT. MARIANNE’S PARIS APARTMENT – NIGHT 115

David and Marianne step from the private elevator into the vestibule then into a very upscale Parisian apartment. They are greeted by Sean.

SEAN Mademoiselle Sloan… Je me suis permis de mettre les bagages de Monsieur Morgan dans la chambre d’amis principale.

MARIANNE Merci Sean… Pourriez-vous nous apporter du champagne? Peut-être un Louis Roederer Cristal?

(beat) Et rapportez un verre pour vous.

SEAN Tout de suite, mademoiselle.

The youth from Martinique retreats to fetch the champagne.


Marianne drags David to one of the apartment windows with its spectacular view.

MARIANNE You must forgive Sean. He just loves playing the role of the submissive house boy. In reality, he is the manager of

both the restaurant and building. And, how is it you put it…my right-hand man.

(MORE)

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MARIANNE (Cont.) I don’t know how I could manage without him.

MORGAN And I suppose that he would do anything for you?

MARIANNE I suppose.

MORGAN I made reservations for tonight at the Ritz.

MARIANNE I’ll have Sean cancel your reservation. You won’t be charged. Tonight, you are staying here.

MORGAN You cannot be serious.

MARIANNE Relax, dear cousin. You will sleep in the main guest room. The door has a lock.

117 INT. GUEST BEDROOM – MARIANNE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT 117

David Morgan is asleep in the king-sized bed in the main guest room of Marianne’s Paris apartment when WE HEAR the door being unlocked with a key. The door opens and a shadowy figure, obviously a young woman, enters and slowly approaches the bed, disposing of her nightgown on the way.


The covers of the giant bed are lifted…and the shadowy, now nude figure slips beneath the sheets.

David Morgan turns toward the nude intruder.

MORGAN I see that you’re not a person of your word.

MARIANNE

You found me out.

Beneath the sheets, her hand reaches down towards his sensi-tive manhood.

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MARIANNE (continuing)

Oh, my god. …You were waiting for me.

MORGAN Shut up and enjoy.

119 EXT. SERIES OF SHOTS – VERSAILLES PALACE – DAY 119

To a strong MUSICAL THEME, David and Marianne are briefly seen having fun and goofing-off in the following locations:

A. The Arc de Triomphe and Les Champs-Elysées (Elysian Fields).

B. The Eiffel Tower.

C. David and Marianne arriving in Versailles in the limou-sine driven by Sean;

D. Main entrance to the Versailles castle and gardens.

E. The Versailles Gardens and garden of the Orangerie.

F. The Temple of Love and Hameau de la Reine, or Queen’s Hamlet in the Trianon.

120 EXT. ENTRANCE – SIX STORY, GIRONDE BUILDING – DAY 120

Sean is driving the Mercedes as it pulls into a parking spot near the front of the Gironde building, located at the corner of quai de la Tournelle and the southern end of the pont de la Tournelle. David and Marianne climb out from the back seat and start walking towards the building’s entrance.

121 JIM’S POV 121

Ahead, David spots Laurent Chevillot entering the building.

INTERCUT WITH:


David tries to signal this Pauillac neighbor, but without see-ing him Monsieur Chevillot enters the building and disappears.

123 INT. MARIANNE’S PARIS APARTMENT – AFTER SUNDOWN 123

In Marianne’s apartment, sipping Dom Pérignon Rosé Champagne, David and Marianne are seated at a dinning table at the corner

Page 049.

window, five floors directly above the ground floor entrance to the Sloan building, taking in a most magnificent view of the city on the Seine, at sundown.

MORGAN Tomorrow I meet with the Ministry of Agri-culture.

MARIANNE Take my counsel and fight to keep the winery. Become a citizen...whatever it takes.


At this point, Sean enters pushing a cart with two meals and two bottles of wine. He begins serving the meal.

SEAN Le plat du jour : Bœuf Wellington accomp-agné de foie gras et d‘une sauce aux truffes. Quant au vin, un Lafite Roths-child 1990 and et avec le dessert, un Château d’ Yquem 1989.

MORGAN Tell me, Sean, how are things going up-stairs?

SEAN Crowded, as usual, Monsieur Morgan.

(pouring the wine) The diners will be disappointed if you don’t make an apparence.

MARIANNE Pas ce soir, Sean.

SEAN I understand. Now...if you’ll excuse me. I should go back to my restaurant duties.

As Sean retreats, David turns to Marianne.

MORGAN I thought I saw Laurent Chevillot enter the building.

MARIANNE You probably did. His apartment takes up

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MARIANNE (Cont.) the entire fourth floor, just below us. He has a girlfriend living there and visits on weekends.

MORGAN Sounds quite cozy. What’s she like?

CUT TO:

125 INT. CHEVILLOT’S PARIS APARTMENT – AFTER SUNDOWN 125

MARIANNE (V.O.) The girlfriend? She’s in her twenties, quite good looking...but, if you ask me... how you say...a real gold-digger. She’s barely old enough to be his granddaughter.

The 60 year-old Chevillot embraces his 20 something-year-old girlfriend, MARIE PIERRE, who is seductively dressed in prac-tically nothing. Breaking the embrace, he removes a packet from his jacket pocket and hands it to his lover. Marie Pierre opens it with glee, anticipating its contents.

126 EXTREME CLOSE UP 126

Inside is a jeweled necklace, with a diamond studded pendant worth the average Frenchman’s annual salary.


Practically screaming with joy, Marie-Pierre allows Chevillot to pin the necklace around her lovely neck.

MARIE PIERRE Oh, my dear Laurent. You are so good to me. I don’t deserve it.

CHEVILLOT And you, my dear Marie-Pierre, are the love of my life.

During their embrace, the flimsy garment Marie Pierre is wear-ing gets pulled out of shape, fully exposing one of her lovely breasts.

128 INT. MARIANNE’S PARIS APARTMENT 128

MARIANNE Her name is Marie Pierre. When Monsieur

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MARIANNE (Cont.) Chevillot is in Bordeaux, the restaurant caters her meals at a twenty percent dis-count. The bill, of course is charged to Monsieur Chevillot.

MORGAN Do all your apartments have catering pri-vileges?

MARIANNE The restaurant is large, but still it has limited seating capacity. If customers in the building (sic) rather would have the meals served in their own apartments, it’s a win-win situation. We can accommodate more customers and they get a Michelin three-star meal, gratuity included, at a 25 percent discount.

MORGAN You’re a very savvy business woman. Where do you suppose that comes from, your father?

MARIANNE My father...Uncle Frank...your mother. The entire Sloan family has had always a good business sense.

MORGAN But your father fully extended himself when he bought out the restaurant lease for the sixth floor.

MARIANNE What’s that supposed to mean?!!

MORGAN As a trained investigator, I cannot get past the notion that he greatly benefited from Uncle Frank’s forgiveness of the build-ing’s second mortgage.

Marianne explodes. She springs uncontrollably from her seat and launches a verbal attack on her “cousin.”

MARIANNE Of course he benefited...we both did. But that doesn’t mean that we killed him! I

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MARIANNE (Cont) wasn’t even aware of the forgiveness pro-vision until the will was read, after his death!”

MORGAN That doesn’t mean your father wasn’t aware!

MARIANNE Sortez d’ici ! Je ne veux plus jamais vous revoir ! Sortez !

She picks up a knife from the table for emphasis.

David cautiously climbs to his feet and backs his way towards the door. Marianne follows, waving the knife at him.

MORGAN (alarmed)

Calm down! I’m only trying to find out what happened!

MARIANNE (hysterical)

Je vais vous dire ce qui s’est passé ! Quelqu’un a tué Oncle Frank...mais ce n’était pas moi et ce n’était pas mon père. Mon père aimait et admirait son frère. Et je n’accepte pas que vous insinuiez le contraire ! Maintenant sortez d’ici!

(beat) Get out !!

David reaches behind him and opens the apartment door leading to the elevator vestibule.

MORGAN (wistfully)

Have my luggage sent to the Ritz.

With that, David steps through and closes the apartment door behind him. Marianne crosses her wrists, leaning them against the closed door. Then she touches her forehead to her crossed wrists and begins crying softly.

129 EXT. BORDEAUX AIRPORT EXIT – DAY 129

Carrying his own bag, David Morgan exits the Bordeaux airport where he is confronted by the attractive police lieutenant,

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Bridget Picard. Picard falls in step as Morgan continues towards the parking lot.

MORGAN How did you know I’d be arriving today?

BRIDGET To borrow a line from our most infamous Inspector, Jacques Clouseau...It’s my duty to know.’

130 SIDEWALK TO PARKING AREA – BORDEAUX AIRPORT 130

BRIDGET Tell, me. Have you met the manager of, as you Americans say...your kissing cousin’s Paris restaurant?

David stops walking, forcing Bridget to also stop. Facing each other, David looks the police lieutenant in the eye.

MORGAN Before you start a scandal...where none exists, Marianne is not my cousin. She was adopted by my Uncle Frank and aunt Monique when she was a year old.

BRIDGET (coyly)

Whatever you say.

MORGAN It’s the truth. Now, you asked if I’d ever met Sean Poitier...no relation to the actor. What about him?

BRIDGET Apparently, he was in Bordeaux the night your uncle was murdered.

131 EXT. BORDEAUX AIRPORT PARKING LOT – DAY 131

David and Bridget reach the Mercedes 280 and David unlocks the door tossing his bag into the passenger seat.

BRIDGET

Great car. Nice of your Uncle Malcolm to let you use it until after the harvest, when hopefully you will be able to afford one of your own.

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MORGAN (amazed)

Now how did you know that?! ...Yes, I Know. ‘It’s your duty to know.’

BRIDGET Perhaps you’ll take me for a ride, some time?

MORGAN Not a bad idea.

With that, David flips on the ignition, fires up the engine and drives away.

132 EXT. FLETCHER ESTATE – CARMEL HIGHLANDS – LATE EVENING 132

Sundown over the Pacific is spectacular from the large home with its four car garage and adjacent helicopter hanger. The estate is located on an isolated bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the western end of Highlands Dr., just north of Carmel Highlands. PRODUCTION NOTE: House and hangar actually exist.

SUPERIMPOSE: FLETCHER ESTATE CARMEL HIGHLANDS, CALIFORNIA

We HEAR the SOUND of a phone RINGING.

133 INT. HOME OFFICE - FLETCHER ESTATE – LATE EVENING 133

With the sundown over the Pacific FRAMED in the office window, HARRY FLETCHER, who often goes by the name Robin Templar, but never at home, answers the phone.

TEMPLAR (announcing himself)

Fletcher.

Fletcher is probably in his mid thirties but because he is physically fit with a thick head of hair, it is difficult to tell precisely.

134 EXT. CEDAR SINAI HOSPITAL – LOS ANGELES – EARLY EVENING 134

To establish the famed hospital on the outskirts of Beverly Hills.

BALZER (V.O.) This is Robert Lawrence.

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FLETCHER (V.O.) Mr. Balzer. ...What a pleasant surprise. ...What can I do for you?

135 INT. BALZER HOSPITAL ROOM, CEDAR SINAI – EARLY AFTERNOON 135

Balzer is speaking from a hospital bed.

BALZER I’m about to offer you an opportunity of a lifetime.

INTERCUT WITH:

136 INT. HOME OFFICE - FLETCHER ESTATE – LATE EVENING 136

FLETCHER Coming from almost anyone else, I’d be sus-picious and have my guard up. But coming from you, I’m all ears. ...What’s on your mind?

BALZER I was scheduled to depart for France with 24 wine students for a 21 day tour of the wine country.

FLETCHER Was?

BALZER I’m here at Cedar Sinai with a bout of Pneumonia.

FLETCHER (deeply concerned)

Robert! ...I’m sorry to hear that. Any-thing I can do?

BALZER Yes, there is.

FLETCHER Anything. ...Just name it!

BALZER I need someone to replace me.

FLETCHER Who could possibly do that?

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BALZER Although you’re not known as a food and wine critic, I know of no one better suited to lead this tour.

FLETCHER (thoughtfully)

I must admit, the idea interests me.

BALZER Then you’ll do it?

FLETCHER Twenty-one days, you say. Twenty-one days in the French wine country.

BALZER Enjoying gourmet meals and drinking the finest wines in the world. ...And it doesn’t cost you a cent.

137 EXT. NATIONAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS – BORDEAUX – MORNING 137

Bridget, outfitted in her usual civilian pantsuit, is patient-ly waiting as the Mercedes finally pulls to the curb at 87, Rue Abbé de Pepée.

138 INT/EXT. MORGAN’S MERCEDES – POLICE HEADQUARTERS 138

Tossing her designer bag in the rear, Bridget climbs into the classic Mercedes.

MORGAN On the phone, you said we were going to Cognac.

(indicating map) It’s a three-hour round trip. Hardly a day trip. Especially if one only wants to relax and take in the sights.

BRIDGET I made reservation at the Hotel Mercure. We’ll make it a two day trip.

MORGAN If you say so.

139 EXT. NATIONAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS – BORDEAUX – MORNING 139

The Mercedes pulls away from the curb and disappears from the Page 057

FRAME.

140 EXT. AERIAL VIEW OF MERCEDES HEADING NORTH ON A10 – DAY 140

To establish.

141 INT/EXT. MORGAN’S MERCEDES – HIGHWAY A10 – DAY 141

BRIDGET What did the Société d’Aménagement Foncier et d’Etablissement Rural have to say about your ownership of the winery?

MORGAN With your sources, you should be telling me.

BRIDGET I heard there was...how do you say? Family issues.

MORGAN I won’t ask how you know this. But yes, my mother, who is a 15 percent owner in the winery, and who somehow still manages to hold a French passport, has partitioned SAFER to prohibit me from selling my stock. At least until after the harvest; at which time a second codicil to the will kicks in.

(beat) If I fail to produce a profitable crop this year, then my mother has the right to pur-chase my shares at 50 percent of market value. I have little doubt of what she’ll do with the stock.

BRIDGET She’ll turn it over to your brother.

142 EXT. MORGAN’S MERCEDES, APPROACHING CITY OF SAINTES – DAY 142

The Mercedes is heading north through the picturesque country-side. Road signs indicate exits for the city of Saintes, on the left, and for Cognac, on the right.

BRIDGET (V.O.) That’s Saintes up ahead. Take N-141 east.

The Mercedes makes the turn and heads east, towards the city of Cognac.

Page 058.

143 INT/EXT. MORGAN’S MERCEDES – HIGHWAY N141 – DAY 143

MORGAN So, who’s your favorite suspect for my uncle’s murder?

BRIDGET I’m sorry, but kissing cousin’s father is still at the top of the list. He’s the only one who gained financially, and he has no alibi.

The look on his face indicates that David is getting a little tired of the constant jabs about Marianne. Bridget reads his expression and acquiesces.

BRIDGET Alright...so she’s NOT your cousin, at least not in the biblical sense.

MORGAN You checked.

Her eyes drop, giving away the fact that David’s suspicion is correct.

BRIDGET (defensively)

Okay...so I checked. We were talking about the usual suspects! Are you interested or do you want to waste time discussing your non cousin’s family history?

MORGAN You’re wrong about Malcolm. You yourself pointed out that his fingerprints don’t match the partial found on the bullet casing...and Jacqueline Bujold insists that Malcolm could not possibly be the one who stole her gun. He had no reason...she would have lent it to him, had he asked.

(beat) What about that guy from Martinique? You said he was in Bordeaux the night of the murder?

CUT TO:

144 EXT. SIDEWALK ABOVE CATHEDRAL CAVE – ST. EMILION – DAY 144

STOCK FOOTAGE showing the Jurade of St. Emilion celebration

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where the players in medieval costumes enter the vast under-ground cathedral.

BRIDGET (V.O. Sean Poitier. If he did it, he planned

and timed It perfectly. He was in Bordeaux to attend the Saint Emilion Féte des Fleurs, better known as the spring Jurade. The fes-tival celebrates the flowering of the vines.

(beat) That evening, he was at Château’s Ausone, Petrus, and Magdelaine, buying wine for the restaurant.

(beat) No less than Christian Moueix himself guar-antees that he was at Petrus at the time we think the murder happened. Unfortunately, his prints are not in our database.

145 BACK TO SCENE – MORGAN’S MERCEDES – HIGHWAY N141 145

BRIDGET Don’t tell me you still think the murder is connected to the two half-filled wine-glasses found at the scene?

MORGAN You don’t see any connection?

BRIDGET ` No I do not. But if you want someone

with a connection, and a motive, take a look at your own brother.

MORGAN Tore? ...That’s ludicrous!

BRIDGET Passport Control shows that he landed in Paris two days before the murder.

MORGAN That doesn’t mean anything. After all, he works for Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy and travels to France often. Although it’s strange he didn’t mention that France was on his itinerary.

Road signs indicate that the ancient city of Cognac is only a few kilometers ahead.

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146 EXT. SERIES OF BEAUTY SHOTS – COGNAC – DAY 146

A montage of beauty shots establishes the ancient city of Cognac.

147 EXT. MORGAN’S MERCEDES – CROSSING CHARENTE RIVER – Day 147

David’s vintage Mercedes crosses the Charente River and enters the city.

148 INT. LOBBY – HOTEL MERCURE, CITY OF COGNAC – DAY 148

David and Bridget enter and approach the registration counter, where they are greeted with a warm smile by the HOTEL MANAGER, who notices that Bridget wears no wedding ring.

HOTEL MANAGER Monsieur...Mademoiselle?

BRIDGET Bridget Picard...J’ai réservé deux chambres.

Bridget hands the manager her credit card and he goes to work on the computer keyboard then again looks up and flashes his smile.

HOTEL MANAGER Oui, Mademoiselle Picard. Vos chambres sont au premier étage.

The manager hands David and Bridget their separate key cards.

149 EXT. VIEUX COGNAC – THE OLD TOWN – DAY 149

David and Bridget are touring the Old Town. They take in the old buildings, gargoyles, cobbled streets, the Saint-Léger church, among other attractions.

150 INT. COGNAC NIGHT CLUB – NIGHT 150

In her Donna Karan outfit Bridget seems to be attracting con-siderable attention among the club patrons. It’s as of David takes notice of her as a sexual object for the first time.

151 SERIES OF SHOTS – COGNAC NIGHT CLUB 151

Bridget and David are seen dancing; first in a hot, fast paced number, then a slower, more romantic beat, which ends with the

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two in a kiss that starts off warm but then turns passionate. After the kiss that breaks the ice between them, they continue dancing away the night.

152 INT. HALLWAY – HOTEL MERCURE – COGNAC – NIGHT 152

David and Bridget are walking down the second floor corridor towards their rooms. Bridget pulls her key card from her purse. Reaching her room, she inserts the card in the lock, and draws it back quickly, getting a green light.

MORGAN I’ll see you in the morning.

With that David starts to continue on to the next, adjacent room. But, to his surprise, Bridget grabs him, spinning him around to face her.

BRIDGET Where do you think you’re going?

MORGAN To my room?

BRIDGET Don’t play naïve with me. That room is just a precaution in case somebody in the department tries to make a fuss because we spent the night in the same hotel.

MORGAN (to himself)

Déja vu.

153 INT. BRIDGET’S HOTEL MERCURE ROOM – NIGHT 153

The door opens and David and Bridget practically fall into the room, kissing passionately. Naturally, clothing begins falling to the floor as fast as buttons, zippers and belts can be unfastened.

154 EXT. BEAUTY SHOTS OF ANCIENT CITY OF COGNAC – DAWN 154

To establish the new day.

155 INT. BRIDGET’S HOTEL MERCURE ROOM – DAWN 155

David and Bridget are in bed obviously having had a very enjoyable night.

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BRIDGET I envy you, Inspector David Morgan.

MORGAN And how is that, Lieutenant Picard?

Bridget smiles at the comeuppance.

BRIDGET My goal in life has always been to become a capitaine with the National Police be-fore age forty. However, I cannot help myself from both envying and despising you

MORGAN Despising?

BRIDGET I’ve always wanted to be a part of what has been given to you. And I fear that you don’t appreciate the opportunity that your uncle Frank has offered you. You would prefer being a policeman to running a winery.

MORGAN Are you saying that if you inherited a winery or had the means to purchase one, that you’d not hesitate to give up your future as a capitaine with the French Police Judiciaire?

BRIDGET (tearing up)

To run a winery? ...I’d give it all up In...how do you say? ...A heartbeat.

MORGAN (reflectively)

A heartbeat...you say?

Bridget’s statement has sobered up the former San Francisco inspector. He doesn’t know what to make of it.

156 ANOTHER ANGLE – BRIDGET’S HOTEL MERCURE ROOM 156

In a semi nude flash, where we only see her backside, Bridget suddenly jumps from the bed, grabs and tosses David’s pants towards him as she heads for the bathroom.

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BRIDGET Get dressed. I’ve arranged for a private tour of the Hennessy cellars...including a free tasting and lunch.

MORGAN How did you arrange that?

From behind the bathroom door, Bridget calls out.

BRIDGET (O.S.) I merely pointed out that your brother was the director of sales communications for Domaine Chandon.

157 INT. LE CHAI DU FONDATEUR – HENNESSY – DAY 157

The HENNESSY CELLAR MASTER is explaining the contents of the many wooden casks to David and Bridget.

CELLAR MASTER We are in the cellar of the founder, or le chai du fondateur, named after Richard Hen-nessy. It is also known as the Paradis Cellar. Here our oldest wines are aged, most of which are blended into our Paradis or Richard Hennessy cognacs.

MORGAN Is it true that no blend less than one hun-dred years old is used in the Paradis or Richard Hennessy bottling?

CELLAR MASTER With few exceptions, that is true.

158 EXT. LAWN OVERLOOKING RIVER CHARENTE – HENNESSY – DAY 158

With table, chairs and umbrellas provided for the occasion, David and Bridget are enjoying a luxurious picnic on Hennes-sy’s beautifully manicured lawn overlooking the Charente.

MORGAN I’m curious why all the warehouses seem to have a sort of black fungus growing on the roofs.

BRIDGET You’re right...it is a fungus produced by

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BRIDGET (Cont.) evaporating cognac, or the ‘angels share’ as distillers poetically call it. It’s caused by a combination of summer heat and...how do you call that...not air tight barrels.

MORGAN My brother calls it, ‘Porosity of the oak wood barrels.’

(reflecting) An ATF revenuer’s dream.

BRIDGET Pardon?

MORGAN Nothing. Are you ready to try the Paradis?

BRIDGET Oh, yes. Let’s!

Morgan pours the cognac into snifters. The couple swirls the brandy in their glasses then take a sip. The expression on their faces says it all. ...Paradise.

159 EXT. WINE TOUR BUS – REIMS CATHEDRAL – FRANCE – DAY 159

SUPERIMPOSE: CHAMPAGNE REIMS, FRANCE

The Balzer wine tour bus, with Harry Fletcher having replaced Robert Lawrence, passes the Reims cathedral and the CAMERA holds briefly on the landmark with its life-size statue of Joan of Arc on her horse, located to the left.

160 EXT. ENTRANCE – TAITTINGER CELLARS – REIMS – DAY 160

The bus pulls in front of the Taittinger Cellars and Harry Fletcher his 24 tour group members depart.

Among those specifically SEEN getting off the bus and heading into the winery are: Jack and Colette Hamilton; Benton and Marilyn Lane; Philip Shen; Dennis Stevens; Beverly Amphlett; and Michael and Debra Landis; and the tour guide.

161 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – TAITTINGER – DAY 161

While her husband and the filmmaker, Stevens, are overtly ogling the ample breasts and aggressively flirting with the

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attractive, young TAITTINGER GUIDE, Colette slips up next to Philip, who is busy photographing everything in sight.

COLETTE Ben and Marilyn say that when it comes to wine, you have the best palate of anyone they’ve ever known. That in blind tastings you’ve not only named the predominant grape but the region where the grapes were grown, and in seven-out-of ten times, actually named the winery.

PHILIP (enjoying the compliment)

Comes from not smoking, tasting a lot of wines and having a good memory.

(beat) Your husband has a pretty good palate himself.

COLETTE (half seductively)

True. If instead of merely matching wine and food pairings, they extended the sen-sory evaluation award to sniffing, swirl-ing across the tongue, and remembering that part of the female anatomy with which those of the male persuasion tend to ob-sess, then my husband would hands down be awarded the title of sommelier of the year.

(a sadness in her eyes) You never forget a wine. Jack never for-gets a female conquest. No wonder he and Stevens get along so well. They’re of the same stripe.

162 EXT. ENTRANCE – TAITTINGER CELLARS – REIMS – DAY 162

Marilyn comes out of the winery’s main entrance, walks to the bus and enters.

163 INT. TOUR BUS 163

The bus is empty except for Beverly, who seems upset over something. Marilyn sits next to her.

MARILYN After all that champagne, I think I need a nap.

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MARILYN (Cont.) (beat)

So what’s your excuse for leaving the fes-tivities?

BEVERLY Nothing, really. It’s just that sometimes Dennis can be so inconsiderate. I’m think-ing of leaving the tour and going home.

MARILYN You saw him with the guide? I don’t under-stand you. Why stay with that philanderer?

Unable or unwilling to answer, an embarrassed Beverly merely drops her eyes.

Marilyn studies her friend carefully and slowly gets the picture.

MARILYN Oh, my God. You’re in love with the old sod.

Beverly’s eyes are tearing as Marilyn studies her.

MARILYN (continuing)

This cannot end well.

164 EXT. SERIES OF SHOTS – CHAMPAGNE – DAY 164

To an appropriate MUSICAL THEME, WE SEE brief SHOTS of the 24 tourists getting on and off the bus and touring the following wineries and landmarks of Champagne.

A. Champagne Krug;

B. Roederer;

C. Veuve Clicquot; and Dom Ruinart;

D. Champagne Laurent Perrier; and

E. The Abbey at Hautvillers where Dom Perignon is buried.

F. Mumm’s; and

G. Moët et Chandon

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165 EXT. L’ORANGERIE – MOET ET CHANDON – EPERNAY – SUNDOWN 165

To establish the beautiful premises adjacent the Moët et Chandon winery.

166 INT. L’ORANGERIE – SUNDOWN 166

Harry Fletcher and Balzer’s students are enjoying a catered dinner in Moet’s eloquent L’orangerie guest dining room, across the street from the Moet et Chandon winery, in Epernay. Moët and Dom Perignon champagnes are being generously poured by the traditionally dressed staff.

Seated relatively close together are: Jack and Colette Ham-ilton; Philip Shen; Benton and Marilyn Lane; and Michael and Debra Landis. Dennis, Beverly and Fletcher are seated with an executive of LVMH.

167 ANGLE ON MICHAEL & DEBRA 167

Michael smiles at his beautiful wife.

MICHAEL I’m afraid I need to go to the facilities. Would you excuse me?

DEBRA Of course, sweetheart.

Michael gets up and heads toward the restrooms.

168 ANGLE ON BEN & MARILYN 168

As Michael passes her, Marilyn glances over at Debra.

INTERCUT WITH:

169 ANGLE ON DEBRA 169

From her purse Debra takes a small packet about the size of a sugar substitute. She tears open the packet and pours the contents into her husband’s wine glass. With a spoon she stirs the champagne until the contents are dissolved.


Puzzled, if not alarmed by what she has just witnessed, Mari-lyn turns to Ben for advice. But Ben is busy talking to Phil-lip. Instead of interrupting, she says nothing, and although alarmed, does nothing.

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David is consulting with Malcolm, who is busy working with some test tubes full of red wine and some very sophisticated equipment.

MORGAN How’s it look?

MALCOLM The merlot is late this year...which means that it will probably be harvested along-side the cabernet sauvignon...in about two weeks.

172 EXT. MALCOLM’S SLOAN’S LABORATORY – DAY 172

David exits the lab and bumps into Laurent Chevillot. David has a hard time warming up to this man, and it’s noticeable.

CHEVILLOT I’m glad to find you, young man. They told me you were in the lab.

Chevillot joins Morgan as David starts walking towards the château.

CHEVILLOT Saturday, I’m having some guests for din-ner. Just local growers. I wanted to in-vite you and Malcolm to join me? I prom-ise some good wines.

MORGAN That’s very kind of you Monsieur Chevillot. I’ll ask Malcolm, but you can certainly count on me.

173 INT. DINING ROOM – CHATEAU LA CHEVILLOT – NIGHT 173

Malcolm, David and Laurent Chevillot are seated at the huge dining table, capable of seating twelve. Joining them are Chevillot’s other guests; four owners (or top executives) of leading, nearby Haut Médoc wineries and their Wives. Until these actual guests are confirmed, they shell be known herein

as: The FIRST GUEST; SECOND GUEST; THIRD GUEST; and the FOURTH GUEST.

Having finished the meal, Chevillot is making sure that the guests do not lack wine in their glasses. Some of the clarets

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he is pouring are produced by his distinguished guests.

MORGAN (To the guests)

I understand that during WWII the Germans occupied many of the châteaux. I’m curi-ous as to what shape they left the cellars, when the war was finally over?

The four distinguished guests exchange glances to see who will answer.

FIRST GUEST They were trashed!

(beat) But knowing what was coming, some of the owners hid all their valuable wines in caves dug especially for the purpose; which were carefully hidden.

SECOND GUEST Best kept secret of the war.

FLASHBACK TO:

174 INT. LAFITE WINE LIBRARY CELLAR – B&W FOOTAGE 174

Wearing the traditional blue uniform and white gloves, trusted winery workers are virtually performing the same maneuver as members of the Bacchus Seven were performing in the opening scene...marking and moving the wine.

THIRD GUEST (V.O.) If they hadn’t done so, all the great pre-war vintages in our cellars, include-ing the library cellars, would no longer exist.

MORGAN (V.O.) Library cellars?

FIRST GUEST (V.O.) All of the premier cru and most of the se-cond growth Bordeaux wineries contribute annually a number of their current vintage

bottles to a special cellar where the bot-tles are not disturbed as long as they are presumed drinkable. This cellar is called the wine library, or sometimes the memory library.

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MORGAN I’m told that Château La Gironde-Sloan is a second growth winery. But I’m not aware of a wine library.

SECOND GUEST Then you should start one.

David turns to Laurent Chevillot.

MORGAN Do you have a wine library?

CHEVILLOT Château Chevillot is a fourth growth winery. There is little motivation to preserve my wines for the next hundred years, or so.

MORGAN How much is the wine in these libraries worth?

Chevillot and the four distinguished guests exchange shrugs.

FOURTH GUEST It’s hard to evaluate. But with what rare premiums are bringing today, I’d estimate that if auctioned...the libraries of the first growth wineries, including d’Yquem together would be worth at least 20 to 25 million euros; the Rothschild cellars being worth the most, by far.

FIRST GUEST Like owning gold, you have to look upon those wine’s as a hedge against inflation.

David shakes his head at the euro figure then turns to Laurent Chevillot.

MORGAN I wonder if I could impose upon you to

give me a barrel sample of your previous harvest. I’d like to compare with our own vintage.

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CHEVILLOT Of course! You are welcome to sample my wines any time. I welcome the comparison.

176 INT. BARREL ROOM – CHATEAU LA CHEVILLOT – NIGHT 176

Dipping the “thief” into the oak barrel, the ceremonially dressed Cellar Master fills the glasses of Morgan and Malcolm. Malcolm and David take a sip, swirl it around their tongues, then swallow. They look at each other in surprise.

MALCOLM This appears to be as good, if not better, than our own vintage.

MORGAN Congratulations! Having harvested during the rain, how did you manage to make such a good wine?

CHEVILLOT (smiling)

I couldn’t afford not to.

177 EXT. WINE TOUR BUS – MEDIEVAL CITY OF RIQUEWIHR – DAY 177

The Balzer wine tour bus, with Harry Fletcher at the helm, pulls into the Alsace parking lot and the 24 tourists depart.

SUPERIMPOSE: RIQUEWIHR, ALSACE

178 EXT. SERIES OF SHOTS – RIQUEWIHR – ALSACE – DAY 178

A. WE SEE brief SHOTS of the 24 wine students touring the colorful, medieval city and specifically entering, inside, and departing the wineries of:

B. Chez Dopff & Irion.

C. Maison Hugel.

179 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – MAISON HUGEL – DAY 179

Beverly Amphlett pulls Dennis Stevens aside and discreetly shows him the strip displaying the results of her home preg-nancy test.

180 INSERT – PREGNANCY TEST RESULT 180

The PLUS symbol appears on the strip. Page 072


DENNIS Is that what I think it is?

BEVERLY It’s the results of my HPT test.

DENNIS And I suppose that word positive indicates that you’re pregnant?

BEVERLY It would appear so.

182 EXT. WINE TOUR BUS – CITY OF BEAUNE – BURGUNDY – DAY 182

The Fletcher wine tour bus enters Beaune.

SUPERIMPOSE: BEAUNE, BURGUNDY

183 EXT. WINE TOUR BUS – HOSPICE DE BEAUNE – DAY 183

The bus parks in the lot designed for the same, next to the Hospice de Beaune.


Among those getting off the bus and heading into the Hospice de Beaune are the Bacchus Seven, together with Michael & Debra Landis, and Harry Fletcher.

185 SERIES OF SHOTS – BEAUNE – BURGUNDY – DAY 185

The vine students are seen at various Beaune and Burgundy locations, including:

A. Hospice de Beaune;

B. Clos de Vougeot;

C. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti;

D. Domaine Leroy; and

E. Maison Louis Jadot.

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186 EXT. GAZEBO CATERING AREA – MAISON JOSEPH DROUHIN – DAY 186

Up a hill, about three football field lengths from the cel-lars, is a large area set aside for catered meals and other entertainment. Fletcher and his 24 wine students are gathered in this area sampling Joseph Drouhin wines, prior to the much anticipated gourmet catered lunch.

187 ANGLE ON DENNIS & BEVERLY – DAY 187

BEVERLY I know you’re not going to leave your wife, and I would never ask. On the other hand, I’ve decided against an abortion.

DENNIS You’re not serious. As an unmarried mid-le school teacher in one of Los Angeles’s most conservative districts, your job could be at stake.

BEVERLY That’s a chance I’m willing to take.

188 ANGLE ON MICHAEL & DEBRA 188

Debra and Michael are seated inside the partially enclosed gazebo which is large enough to comfortably seat about 30 people.

Michael doesn’t look well and he and Debra seem to be arguing. Finally, Michael climbs to his feet and, leaving his wife behind, walks out onto the patio

189 PATIO 189

On the patio, Michael runs into Fletcher, who is chatting with Ben and Marilyn. The tour leader takes one look at Michael and becomes alarmed.

FLETCHER Michael? You don’t look so good. Are you alright?

MICHAEL I’m fine, Mr. Fletcher. I think I’ve had a little too much Of that outstanding wine, that’s all.

With that, Michael turns around and walks back into the Page 074

gazebo.

190 FLETCHER’S POV 190

Fletcher watches as Michael joins his wife and gives her a big hug.

191 ANGLE ON FLETCHER, BEN & MARILYN 191

MARILYN There’s something wrong with that relation-ship. At Moët & Chandon, I saw Debra mix a powder into Michael’s champagne. I don’t trust her. If he’s sick, she knows why.


To establish the Service regional de la Police Judiciaire headquarters, located at 87, Rue Abbé de Pepée, 33000.


David and Malcolm are explaining to Capitaine Adrian Legrand.

MALCOLM Chevillot invited Frank to dinner two days

before he was murdered. Chevillot must have bragged about his current vintage and poured Frank a sample, as he did with us.

Beat) Frank would instantly have known that a wine harvested during the rains could not possibly be bigger and fuller than that of his own. ...His suspicion likely got him killed.

(beat) But David here suspected this all along. That’s why he asked Chevillot for the barrel tasting.

LEGRAND Now that you’ve given us a possible suspect and motive, we’re attempting to match Chev-illot’s prints to the partial found on the casing. Too bad you didn’t get a sample of

the wine.


At this point, Lieutenant Bridget Picard enters with some bad news.

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BRIDGET Sorry Capitaine, but we could not find any prints for Laurent Chevillot in any of our databases.

LEGRAND I see. Now a sample of that wine becomes more important than ever. It would have given us probable cause to obtain Chev-illot’s prints.

195 EXT. WINE TOUR BUS – ON THE ROAD TO LYON – DAY 195

To establish the wine tour bus heading south, through wine country.

196 INT. WINE TOUR BUS 196

The Bacchus Seven (Jack & Colette Hamilton, Ben & Marilyn Lane, Dennis Stevens, Beverly Amphlett and Philip Shen) are seated at the rear of the bus; as is Michael Landis.

Up front, in the seats directly behind the driver, permanently reserved for the tour guide, Debra is being questioned by Harry Fletcher.

197 ANGLE ON FLETCHER & DEBRA 197

FLETCHER (to Debra)

I’m concerned about your husband. He doesn’t appear to be in good health.

(beat) In addition to looking out for his own well being, as the tour guide, it’s my responsibility to make sure any illness he might have doesn’t affect the rest of the tour members.

(beat) Am I making myself clear?

DEBRA (stoically)

Perfectly.

FLETCHER You have been observed mixing a suspicious powder into your husband’s wine. Is this a matter for the police or do you have an explanation?

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Debra attempts to maintain her stoic expression even as tears begin flowing from her eyes.

FLETCHER (continuing)

You might as well tell me all about it.

Suddenly, there seems to be a disturbance from the rear of the bus.

198 EXT. ANGLE ON REAR OF WINE TOUR BUS – DAY 198

The bus is being followed by a convertible with two French youths in their early twenties whose hormones are in over-drive. The youths are flirting with some of the women gath-ered in the back of the bus, which young ladies are shame-lessly waving to the youths and blowing them kisses.

199 INT. ANGLE IN BACK OF THE BUS 199

The bench style seat in the back runs the width of the bus. Seated there are three women in their mid twenties to early thirties who are teasing the hell out of the youths following in the convertible. Seated in the row ahead, opposite the toilet, are Jack and Colette Hamilton.

200 EXT. ANGLE ON REAR OF WINE TOUR BUS – SUNDOWN 200

The flirting continues with the French youths getting more and more suggestive in their gestures.

INTERCUT WITH:

201 ANGLE IN BACK OF THE BUS 201

Seated opposite Jack and Collette Hamilton, Dennis and Beverly witness Jack turn to his beautiful and voluptuous trophy wife.

JACK Look, sweetheart...why don’t you go back there and show the amateurs how it’s done?

Colette frowns at her husband but then reluctantly joins the three flirtatious women on the rear, bench seat, taking center

spot in front of the rear window. Giving the youths in the convertible a good view, she unbuttons her blouse.

The eyes of the youths are definitely focused on what is transpiring in the window before them.

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Blouse unbuttoned, Colette takes her two hands, pulls up her flimsy brassiere, and exposes her ample breasts. She then presses them against the window.

The driver of the convertible, losing control, veers off, ending up in a ditch alongside the highway.

202 EXT. CHATEAU LA CHEVILLOT – NIGHT 202

There are no lights on, as David and Bridget, having discreet-ly parked their vehicle, approach Château La Chevillot on foot.

BRIDGET I’ve confirmed that monsieur Chevillot is in Paris. But that doesn’t mean that there are not employees guarding the Château. ...We must be careful.

An alarm slowly starts to go off in Morgan’s sub conscious-ness.

MORGAN Do you have a warrant for this search?

BRIDGET (sheepishly)

Not really.

The alarm is now right out there in the open.

BRIDGET (continuing)

All you have to do is testify that Chev-illot gave you permission...and with witnesses.

FLASHBACK TO:

203 INT. DINING ROOM – CHATEAU LA CHEVILLOT – NIGHT 203

MORGAN I wonder if I could impose upon you to give me a barrel sample of your previous harvest. I’d like to compare with our

own vintage.

CHEVILLOT But of course! You are welcome to sample

(MORE) Page 078

CHEVILLOT (Cont.) my wines any time. I welcome the com-parison.


David and Bridget carefully make their way towards the barrel room.

205 INT. BARREL ROOM – CHATEAU LA CHEVILLOT – NIGHT 205

David and Bridget enter the barrel room and David leads the lieutenant to the oak barrel with which the previous tasting samples were extracted.

206 ANGLE ON BRIDGET & MORGAN 206

David removes the bung and plunges a glass pipette into the barrel. When the stem is filled, he removes it and releases the wine into the vials held by Bridget, who carefully re-places the cork on the open-end and labels each vial with the time, date, barrel number, and location where the samples were taken.

207 INT/EXT. BRIDGET’S OFFICIAL VEHICLE – NIGHT 207

David and Bridget are making their egress from Château Chev-illot. Bridget is driving while David holds the precious vials.

BRIDGET Some fraud is inevitable wherever wine is grown. But here in France...thanks to the vigilance of the Fraud Bureau, with its highly trained agents, French wines remain among the safest of all.

(beat) The most common fraud is adding oak chips, hardly up to the level of fraud that exists in other countries. It is now legal in vin ordinaire, but illegal in anything above a table wine.

(beat) Don’t doubt it...Monsieur Chevillot will be doing some serious jail time for his fraud.


Just as David enters the recently remolded bedroom, his cellular PHONE RINGS.

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INTERCUT WITH:

209 INT. TORE’S DOMAINE CHANDON OFFICE – DAY 209

TORE How does your yield look?

MORGAN Little above normal...but the sugar con-tent is low.

TORE Why is that?

MORGAN The weather is near freezing at night.

TORE Clarets don’t make very good ice wines. So what do you intend to do?

MORGAN Wait until it warms and the sugar is right.

TORE Wait too long and get a lot of rain, you could virtually lose the entire crop.

MORGAN Don’t you think I know that!

TORE Mother might think waiting is a fool-hearted gamble. Better a vin ordinaire than no vin at all.

MORGAN Frankly, you can tell mother –

David flips his cellular OFF and hurtles it across the room.

210 EXT. WINE TOUR BUS – PAUL BOCUSE RESTAURANT – NIGHT 210

The restaurant sign reads Paul Bocuse. The wine tour bus is parked at the famous restaurant located in Collonges au Mont d’Or, just south of Lyon.

211 INT. PAUL BOCUSE RESTAURANT – SECOND FLOOR – NIGHT 211

On the second floor, the 24 vine students are divided into Page 080

three standard rectangular tables (seating four each), and two circular tables designed to comfortably seat six, but in a pinch can seat as many as eight.

212 ANGLE ON FLETCHER’S TABLE 212

Fletcher is at one of the foursome tables with Dennis and Beverly; explaining the situation he is faced with.

FLETCHER After some prodding, Debra Landis has con-fided her situation.

(to Stevens) I want you to check her out. Find out What she would have to gain by killing her husband.

(to Beverly) If you could gain her confidence and re-port anything that might help.

(to both) I’ve asked her to tell you what she told me.

(looking up) Here she comes now.


Debra approaches the Fletcher table, settles into the vacant seat, looks around furtively, then looks Harry in the eye.


DEBRA If my husband sees me with you for more than a minute or two, he might become suspicions.

FLETCHER You agreed to allow me to confide what you told me to Dennis and Beverly. I want you to tell them directly.

215 ANGLE ON ONE OF THE CIRCULAR TABLES 215

The usual suspects, Ben, Marilyn, Jack, Collette, and Philip Shen are huddled together at the circular table.

JACK I’m telling you that with Stevens’ help,

(MORE) Page 081

JACK (Cont.) we can pull off a heist that will be the envy of Hollywood producers and make us legends in the wine community. Only prob-lem is that we can never take credit.

BEN I’m listening.

JACK What about the rest of you?

Looks are exchanged. Then the ever cautious Philip hesi-tantly volunteers his thoughts.

PHILIP If Stevens is aboard, then I’m...maybe aboard.

Everyone looks at Philip as if to ask...What does that mean?

216 ANGLE ON FLETCHER’S TABLE 216

Debra is confessing to Fletcher, Stevens and Amphlett.

DEBRA The powder I’m giving David in his drinks is to prolong his life...not to end it.

Dennis and Beverly exchange looks.


Odette Ginestet is serving breakfast to her idol, David, when Malcolm Sloan enters and unloads his frustrations on Morgan.

MALCOLM Brace yourself. Our grape harvester has been sabotaged. It’s useless.

MORGAN (alarmed)

How long to get it repaired?

MALCOLM Three to four weeks at a minimum.

MORGAN Can we purchase a new one?

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218 ANGLE ON ODETTE 218

Odette Ginestet seems particularly disturbed by the news.

MALCOLM (V.O.) Yes. But with a five to six week delivery.


MORGAN What about a used harvester, or a rental?

MALCOLM Plenty will be available, after the harvest.

(beat) Whoever did it was no stranger to harvesters. He knew exactly what he was doing.

220 EXT. HOTEL SOFITEL, LYON BELLECOUR – LYON – DAY 220

The tour bus pulls up in front of the Lyon Sofitel hotel, located at 20 Quai Gailleton, on the banks of the Rhone river.

SUPERIMPOSE: HOTEL SOFITEL BELLECOUR LYON. FRANCE

221 INT. TOUR BUS – HOTEL SOFITEL – LYON – DAY 221

Harry Fletcher, occupying the two seats behind the bus driver, clicks on the microphone that allows him to speak over the buss’s audio system.

FLETCHER Tomorrow morning we’re going to catch a flight from Lyon to Bordeaux. You can leave your luggage on the bus, taking only what you need for a free day in Bordeaux.

(beat) Our intrepid driver will be maneuvering our vehicle through the intervening mountains in time to join us sometime late, tomorrow afternoon...in plenty of time to take us to dinner at one of Bordeaux’s most popular restaurants.

(beat) In the meantime you have a free night.

Page 083

222 EXT. RHONE RIVERBANK – LYON – DAY 222

Walking along the sidewalk next to the Rhone River, Jack is conducting a meeting of the Bacchus Seven. This time Beverly Amphlett and filmmaker Dennis Stevens are present; the latter with his ever-present digital HDV camera.

BEN (to Jack)

Marilyn and I are willing to hear you out.

Philip I’ll end up with a heart attack, for sure, but I’m aboard if Stevens is aboard.

DENNIS I’m always willing to hear a good story, so why don’t you just go ahead and tell us yours?

JACK With your help, I intend to rob the wine library of the world’s greatest and most famous winery, Lafite Rothschild, and do it while we’re touring Bordeaux.

Dennis and Beverly exchange stunned looks.

223 INT. BARREL ROOM – LA GIRONDE- SLOAN – DAY 223

David approaches Peter Ginestet; the latter of which is busy topping barrels.

MORGAN We’re in deep trouble, Peter. Our grape harvester is out of commission and we cannot get a replacement until it’s too late. We’re going to need pickers...lots of pickers. ...Where can we get them?

Stopping what he is doing, Peter gives David his full atten-tion.

PETER

It’s true that Pauillac has pickers, but unfortunately they are...what’s the word? ...committed to the Rothschilds, who have resisted the use of the harvester. These pickers would be only available after the Rothschild crops are in.

Page 084

MORGAN Would offering more money help?

PETER They are loyal to the Rothschilds.

MORGAN We must be able to get pickers from some-place?

PETER Gypsies...Spanish....Basque. I can try, but we won’t have enough to replace the harvester.


Once again, David enters his 2nd floor bedroom as his cellular phone RINGS.

INTERCUT WITH:

225 EXT. ĖTOILE RESTAURANT – DOMAINE CHANDON – NOON 225

Tore Morgan is on the other end of the cellular call. He is having lunch at Chandon’s restaurant with what can only be described as a “Babe.”

TORE Heard you lost your harvester?

MORGAN How the hell did you find out?

TORE Bad news travels fast in the wine community.

MORGAN Could it be that you had advance notice?

TORE What’s that supposed to mean?

MORGAN

It means that I’m curious as to who else among my inner circle wishes me harm. If you had anything to do with this, I’ll hold you to account.

Page 085

TORE You know something Inspector Morgan? ...I don’t doubt that at all.

226 BACK TO SCENE – WEST WING, 2ND FLOOR 226

Suddenly we HEAR the dreadful SOUND OF RAIN and THUNDER. David springs from his room into the hallway.

227 INT. HALLWAY – WEST WING, 2ND FLOOR – NIGHT 227

Morgan runs down the hallway and quickly descends the stair-case.

228 INT. MAIN ENTRANCE TO CHATEAU – NEAR KITCHEN – NIGHT 228

Morgan rushes to the main door of the Château. When he passes the kitchen he happens to glance inside. He stops, turns back, and enters.

229 INT. KITCHEN – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – NIGHT 229

Inside the kitchen Malcolm Sloan is calmly enjoying a cup of strong coffee.

MORGAN Are you aware that it’s raining!!

MALCOLM That it is.

MORGAN Won’t that screw up the sugar content?

MALCOLM Nothing a few warm, sunny days won’t cure. Fortunately, it’s not a heavy rain and shouldn’t harm the grapes.

Calming down, David pours himself some coffee and sits at the large table.

MALCOLM The grapes are ripe. To bring the sugar

content up to optimum, I’m only concerned about sunlight and temperature. We need dry weather...and sunlight on the vines.

The look Morgan shoots Malcolm is best described as one of exasperation.

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230 EXT. LYON – SAINT EXUPĖRY AIRPORT – MORNING 230

SUPERIMPOSE: LYON AIRPORT

The wine tour bus pulls into the Lyon International Airport and parks.


Fletcher and his 24 vine students (including the Bacchus Seven) exit the bus and, packing only light, carryon bags, head for the airport entrance.


At the Bordeaux National Police (Judiciaire) headquarters, Capitaine Adrian Legrand and Lieutenant Bridget Picard are updating David Morgan.

LEGRAND The wine samples from Château La Chevillot were a match for the samples found in Mal-colm’s laboratory. We now have probable cause to arrest Laurent Chevillot...who is a regular diner at Restaurant St. James and frequent visitor to the office of Jacqueline Bujold, where the stolen gun was kept.

BRIDGET We’ll arrest Chevillot once he returns from Paris but the judge will (sic) reject certainly the case because I did not have a search warrant. But, for the moment, we arrest Monsieur Chevillot...and take his prints.

David smiles as he sees what Capitaine Legrand and Bridget have in mind.

MORGAN ...And see if his prints match the partial found on the bullet from the gun that mur-dered Frank!

(thinking it over) But as I see it, there’s still one problem.

(beat) If the judge throws out the case for lack of a search warrant, then won’t he also throw out the fingerprints?

Page 087

LEGRAND You’re referring to ‘the fruit of the poi-sonous tree.’ French don’t have such a law.

(beat) It’s a wonder you Americans ever get a con-viction with all your laws created to protect the criminals and none to protect the victims.

233 EXT. SMALL, COMMERCIAL AIRLINER – AT ALTITUDE – DAY 233

At altitude, the airliner is heading west from Lyon, towards Bordeaux.

234 INT. CABIN – SMALL COMMERCIAL AIRLINER – DAY 234

The aircraft has two seats on each side of the isle. Benton and Marilyn are seated together. Keeping her voice down so that others cannot hear, Marilyn turns to her husband.

MARILYN Beverly just confided to me that’s she pregnant.

BEN (his voice low)

I hope she’s realistic about her options and not waiting around for Stevens to marry her.

MARILYN How do you know he won’t? I think he really loves her.

BEN Because I know Dennis and I know his wife, Margaret.

MARILYN What does that mean?

BEN Before they were married, Margaret confided in me that late one night she decided to pay a surprise visit to Stevens at his Griffith

Park home.

235 INT. MASTER BEDROOM – GRIFFITH PARK HOME – NIGHT 235

Dennis Stevens and his ASIAN NEWSCASTER date, for the evening, are sound asleep in the king-size bed as the strikingly beau-

Page 088

tiful MARGARET enters.

BEN (V.O.) Entering the bedroom intent on surprising her boyfriend, it was Margaret who is sur-prised...finding him asleep with a popular Los Angeles TV newscaster, of Asian descent.

Looking around, Margaret spots the attractive female news-caster’s expensive, designer jacket, and picks it up.

BEN (V.0.) (continuing)

Although angry, all Margaret did was hide the newscasters designer jacket where it would not easily be found.

236 BACK TO SCENE – AIRCRAFT 236

BEN (continuing)

The next morning, lucky to be alive, the newscaster and Stevens got into a bit of a quibble over how she might have misplaced her expensive jacket.

(beat) After Stevens promised he would find and return the jacket, the newscaster finally left for work.

237 INT. OFFICE / STUDY – WOKING WAY HOME – DAY 237

The phone RINGS and Stevens picks up after the second ring.

BEN (V.O.) (continuing)

About mid morning he gets a call from Margaret.

MARGARET (V.O.) (Phone filter)

If your lady friend is looking for her jacket, it’s behind the white, leather chair, in the living room.

238 BACK TO SCENE – AIRCRAFT 238

BEN At the wedding, I confronted him with the

(MORE) Page 089

BEN (Cont.) story, suggesting that I might have heard it from the newscaster herself. But he admitted it...and stated that it was at that point in his promiscuous career when he determined that Margaret was definitely marriage material.

(beat) There is no way he will ever divorce her.

MARILYN You’re probably right. So tell me...who was this newscaster?

Ben leans over and whispers into Marilyn’s ear. Marilyn’s eyes go wide as she learns the name.


Harry Fletcher and his 24 wine students (including the Bacchus Seven plus Debra and Michael Landis) exit the Bordeaux Airport Terminal and head for the waiting, substitute bus; which will transport them to their Accor Group hotel.

Although it’s no longer raining, the sky is cloudy and the temperature unusually cold.


Malcolm is busy testing vials of grape juice as David laments the weather.

MORGAN Perhaps we should just gather as many pickers as possible, and begin the harvest first thing in the morning. Since no one else is picking, we should have little trouble getting at least temporary pickers. As my brother says, ‘a vin ordinaire is better than no vin at all.’

MALCOLM Tore would love for you to do that. Proof to Nancy that you failed. It would be

handing him the winery, at fifty percent of its value.

241 EXT. HOTEL SOFITEL (PULLMAN) AQUITANIA – BORDEAUX – DAY 241

The substitute tour bus pulls up in front of the Hotel Pullman Page 090

Aquitania, formally called the Sofitel Aquitania.

242 INT. SUBSTITUTE TOUR BUS – SOFITEL AQUITANIA – DAY 242

Before the students can depart, Harry makes an announcement.

FLETCHER We meet in the lobby at 7:30 at which time our bus should be here from Lyon to transport us to the Restaurant Le St. James for dinner.

243 EXT. HOTEL SOFITEL AQUITANIA – BORDEAUX – DAY 243

Dennis is the first to exit the bus and wearing his ubiquitous navy ball cap and with his ever present HDV camera he records Harry Fletcher and the other 23 students departing the bus and heading for the hotel entrance.

244 INT. DENNIS & BEVERLY’S SOFITEL HOTEL ROOM – DAY 244

Unpacking, Dennis and Beverly try to work out a solution to their current problem.

BEVERLY As much as I love you, I don’t think you have what it takes to be a good father, absentee or otherwise. Therefore after this tour is over, we will go our separate ways, with no further contact.

DENNIS You propose raising our child without him or her knowing anything about me? That’s unbelievable.

BEVERLY Because my biological clock is ticking five minutes to midnight, I’m actually welcoming this blessed event. The only problem is that I don’t see you as a father. And don’t worry, I won’t be seeking child support.

DENNIS

That’s noble of you, but hardly practical, or in the best interests of our child. Eventually, the child’s going to ask quest-ions. Your decision to exclude me will backfire when you’re finally forced to

(MORE) Page 091

DENNIS (Cont.) explain that you were the one who cut the ties...and deprived him or her of the bonding that naturally takes place be-tween a father and his son or daughter.

245 INT. JACK’S SOFITEL ROOM – BORDEAUX – DAY 245

The Bacchus Seven are gathered in Jack’s hotel room.

JACK Since you’re all here, I gather that I’ve gotten your attention and that you’re interested in hearing further details about my planned caper.

There are numerous glances among those gathered.

DENNIS As I said before, as a film maker and storyteller, I’m always willing to hear a good plot.

JACK Glad you feel that way, Dennis. Without you, the plot, as you call it, would not be possible.

DENNIS I’m listening.

JACK I need you to show us the camouflaged Lafite cave where the Rothschild’s hid their precious wines during World War II.

DENNIS (cautiously)

That might be doable.

BEN While I like the idea, I say it’s logis-tically impossible.

DENNIS (realization)

Not the way Jack intends to go about it.

All eyes are now on the filmmaker. Jack allows himself a sly smile.

Page 092

JACK Go ahead and explain it, Dennis.

DENNIS Jack doesn’t intend to actually steal the wine but merely misplace it – then hope that the owners think the bottles were actually removed from the property.

JACK Precisely.

MARILYN I get it. We then send a ransom note tel-ling the wineries that if they wish to see the return of their priceless wines, they’ll have to make a certain deposit to a Swiss numbered account.

JACK Not exactly.

(to Dennis) Dennis, since you know where I’m coming from. ...Why don’t you explain it to Marilyn?

DENNIS If I know Jack, we’ll send a ransom note but will have no intention of collecting on it. The point of the whole caper is simply to jerk the chain of the wine industry and make the unknown perpetrators, in this case us, even more famous in wine folklore than Stephen Spurrier.

PHILIP Except that we can never openly claim credit.

Minds are working. Everyone is quiet, trying to absorb what has just been said. Then, out of the blue...a familiar voice is heard.

COLETTE Who is Steven Spurrier?

246 INT. BEN & MARILYN’S SOFITEL HOTEL ROOM –DAY 246

MARILYN (confronting Ben)

Except for Philip, you know more about (MORE)

Page 093

MARILYN (Cont.) wine than the rest of our so-called Bac-chus Seven oenologists put together. So why aren’t you out front in heading off this impending disaster Jack is putting together?

BEN Because the concept boggles my mind. It’s so Simple. Truth is, for me the memory of having merely touched these priceless bottles is worth the risk.

247 INT. RESTAURANT ST. JAMES – DINING ROOM – NIGHT 247

David and Bridget are having dinner at the Bordeaux restaurant owned by Malcolm’s girlfriend, the 40-something-year-old Jacqueline Bujold. Also seated are Fletcher’s 24 wine tour students. At a common table is the Bacchus Seven.

The restaurant is full and since David Morgan and Harry Fletcher are not seated close, they do not notice one another; even though WE do.

248 ANGLE ON DAVID AND BRIDGET 248

BRIDGET Laurent Chevillot has a reservation on a flight from Paris to Bordeaux, arriving noon tomorrow. ...I’ll be there to arrest him on behalf of the Fraud Brigade.

249 ANGLE ON THE TABLE OF THE BACCHUS SEVEN 249

The Bacchus Seven attempt to keep their voices low.

DENNIS My participation comes with conditions.

JACK And what might those be?

DENNIS We don’t touch any bottle older than 90 years. The risk of killing the wine by

moving it is too great for the older vintages.

Jack looks at the remaining group for consensus. Getting it, he turns back to the filmmaker.

Page 094

JACK Agreed.

DENNIS The bottles we do move will be carefully marked as to vintage and handled with the greatest of care.

JACK Also agreed.

DENNIS Good. Now how do you propose we proceed?

PHILIP (fearfully)

Carefully. ...Very carefully.

250 INT. ADULT BEVERAGE LOUNGE – SOFITEL AQUITANIA – NIGHT 250

Fletcher, Dennis and Beverly are at the bar. Fletcher orders from the Bartender.

FLETCHER We’ll have a bottle of Moët Imperial cham-pagne. And flute glasses for four.

BEVERLY For three. I’ll be going on an adult beverage Hiatus…for a number of months.

The beverage order taken, Harry Fletcher turns his attention to Dennis and Beverly.

FLETCHER Debra should be joining us any minute. What have you found out?

DENNIS Beverly and I called in a lot of favors to get this information. I hope it’s what you were looking for.

FLETCHER I just want to know whether or not she’s

trying to kill her husband?

DENNIS She’s not.

Page 095

At this point, Beverly chimes in with the details.

BEVERLY Michael Landis has an incurable form of Leukemia. The powder his wife is pouring into his drinks is a prescription medicine designed to prolong his life. But sadly, it will not cure the disease.

DENNIS When the Leukemia was first diagnosed, he was told that with the right medication, he had maybe five years...without it, two at the most. A religious man, he chose to get it over with and refused the medication.

(beat) Near as I can tell, he did not want to place a long-term burden on his wife, whom he apparently loves very much.

251 INT. RESTAURANT ST. JAMES – ANGLE ON DAVID AND BRIDGET 251

David hands the attractive waitress his American Express card and she scurries away to get a printout of the charges.

BRIDGET Since you insist on paying the check, I’ll buy you a drink, in the bar.

MORGAN Sounds like a plan.

252 INT. ADULT BEVERAGE LOUNGE 252

At this point, Debra Landis enters the lounge and intuitively seats herself beside Fletcher, in front of the empty flute champagne glass, into which the Bartender pours the champagne.

FLETCHER Thank you for joining us. ...It would appear that your story checks out. What I don’t understand is what good does this deception accomplish?

DEBRA

First, it gives me more time with him, and secondly, it gives me the chance to make his final days a dream come true, at least for him.

Page 096

FLETCHER How so?

DEBRA He’s always wanted to travel, but never thought he could afford it. When we started dating, I was afraid to confide my background and thus we were married with him thinking that I was a struggling college student from a middle class background.

FLETCHER And you’re not?

DENNIS (to Fletcher)

If he had bothered to check, Michael would have discovered that while in college his wife inherited about 3 million U.S. dollars.

(looking Debra in the eye but talking to Harry)

After all of the trust funds have kicked in Debra here will be worth five times that amount.

DEBRA (smiling)

Michael was diagnosed nearly five years ago. He’s having the time of his life.

(beat) From here we go to Jerusalem.

(eyes tearing) He is not expected to leave Israel.


David and Bridget enter the attractive lounge and head for the bar where Fletcher, Dennis, Beverly, and Debra are seated. As it happens, two stools are available next to Harry Fletcher.

Concerned about Debra, Fletcher’s back is turned away from David as he and Bridget settle on the two vacant bar stools.

Sensing movement behind him, Harry turns around and comes face-to-face with the San Francisco Police Inspector.

254 TIGHTER ANGLE – FLETCHER & MORGAN 254

The expression on both faces is one of complete surprise.

Page 097

FLASHBACK TO:

PRODUCTION NOTE: To better separate the flashback from cur-rent action, the flashback will have less color saturation.

INSERT: Scenes 311-314 of THE GOLDEN GATE CROSS-UP” (STOCK)

255/311 INT. PRESIDIO WAREHOUSE – VARIOUS ANGLES - NIGHT 255/311

From the direction of Rudy, Pit Boss and Suez, bullets begin whizzing past Chardonnay’s head as she calmly takes aim at the three distinct flashes. She squeezes off two quick shots before HEARING a YELL coming from Suez.

SUEZ I give up. ...Don’t shoot!

Chardonnay holds her third shot. Since there are no other gunshots, Templar shouts out:

TEMPLAR Turn on the lights!

We recognize Robin Templar as Harry Fletcher.

256/312 BACK TO SCENE – WAREHOUSE - MAIN INTERIOR 256/312

The lights come on revealing the dead, all killed by Chardon-nay’s deadly skill and accuracy. They include: Sergei, the two security guards, Rudy-the-thug, and Pit Boss. Templar, Jonathan, Rayana, Aidana, Miriam, Tina, and the scrubber Suez remain unharmed.

Inspector David Morgan approaches Chardonnay and asks for her weapon, which she reluctantly turns over. Still wearing his funeral parlor gloves, Morgan takes Chardon-nay’s Glock-19 to Sergei’s body and picking up Sokolow’s identical Glock-19, he goes to work.

257/313 TIGHTER ANGLE 257/313

Inspector Morgan quickly disassembles, switches, and reassemb-les the barrels of the two Glock-19s, returning Sergei’s weap-on with its replaced barrel to his right hand.

258/314 BACK TO SCENE – WAREHOUSE - MAIN INTERIOR 258/314

TEMPLAR Listen up, people! ...It’s time to get out

(MORE) Page 098

TEMPLAR (Cont.) of Dodge.

(to Jonathan) Call Jason. ...Give him the all clear and tell him to pick us up.

The flashback scenes give a hint as to how David Morgan’s face might be familiar to Harry Fletcher, AKA Robin Templar.

259 BACK TO SCENE - BEVERAGE LOUNGE, RESTAURANTST. ST. JAMES 259

In front of Bridget, Beverly, Dennis and Debra, David Morgan is naturally cautious as to how he reacts to Fletcher/Templar.

MORGAN Your face looks familiar. ...Have we met?

FLETCHER Possibly. ...Aren’t you Inspector Morgan of the San Francisco Police Department?

MORGAN Formally of the Department.

(explaining) I recently inherited a Bordeaux winery. ...Meet the new owner of Chateau La Gironde-Sloan.

Something clicks in Fletcher’s mind and he digs in his suit pocket for a brochure of the wine tour. Momentarily studying the brochure, Harry smiles and then looks at David.

FLETCHER I thought so. ...We’re scheduled to visit La Gironde-Sloan three days from now.

(beat) Let me introduce myself. I’m Harry Fletcher. I took over Robert Lawrence Balzer’s wine tour when he suddenly contracted pneumonia.

As a hushed aside, David whispers to Fletcher.

MORGAN Fletcher your real name?

With a sly wink, Harry answers.

FLETCHER (whispering back)

It’ll do for now. Page 099

260 INT. HALLWAY – SOFITEL AQUITANIA – NIGHT 260

Dennis and Beverly are walking down the hallway when Stevens notices that his mistress is all teary-eyed.

DENNIS What’s the matter with you?

BEVERLY Just thinking of Michael and Debra.

DENNIS And this has you crying?

BEVERLY It’s just...so romantic...and at the same time so sad.

DENNIS (flatly)

If you ask me...it’s just so Erich Segal.

261 INT. JACK’S SOFITEL ROOM – BORDEAUX – NIGHT 261

The Bacchus Seven are again gathered in Jack’s room.

BEN When exactly do we carry out this caper?

JACK Tomorrow night. According to the itiner-ary, we have the night free. In the morn-ing I’ll feign illness and stay behind. This will give me a chance to rent a car and purchase the equipment necessary for us to execute our plan.

PHILIP Are you sure you’ve thought this through? If we get caught, I lose my job and pension, let alone the possibility of doing some serious jail time.

JACK It’s natural for you have doubts about your

participation in something that could land you in jail and, in the case of Philip, cost him his pension. ...I, myself, have three Southern California auto dealerships

(MORE) Page 100

JACK (Cont.) at risk.

(beat) Now might be a good time to once again share your reasons for wanting to participate.

BEN I think I can answer that. For most of us, the knowledge that we pulled it off will be as thrilling as tasting the wines them-selves.

(beat) It’s possible that one or two are doing it as a gift to their husbands or lovers. An attempt to reignite something that has cooled in their relationship.

(indicating Stevens) And at least one is doing it because a day will come, when the dust has settled, the statute of limitation has run...and he will produce a hit movie of the event.

(beat) The bottom line is that we all want to par-ticipate, including Philip.

Ben’s speech gets a round of applause from everyone present, including Philip.

JACK One thing, Stevens. ...Leave that damn camera in the hotel room. I’d hate to see ourselves on an episode of the World’s Dumbest Criminals.

Everyone gets a knowing laugh from Jack’s ribbing of the filmmaker.

262 EXT. CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – DAWN 262

To establish the new day; which is sunny but cold.

263 INT. MALCOLM’S SLOAN’S LABORATORY – MORNING 263

David Morgan is bundled in a heavy coat when he enters Malcolm Sloan’s lab.

MORGAN What the hell is going on with the weather? ...Sun’s out but it’s still cold! Whatever happened to global warming?

Page 101

MALCOLM (indicating test tubes)

All we need are two more days of dry, and reasonably warm weather.

MORGAN We better pray that it doesn’t freeze!


Chevillot exits the airport and is confronted by Bridget and two gendarmes.

BRIDGET Monsieur Chevillot ? Je vous arrête pour fabrication et trafic de vin dénaturé.

CHEVILLOT I suppose you have some sort of proof for such an outrageous allegation.

BRIDGET (sadly)

I’m afraid we do, Monsieur Chevillot.

Chevillot voluntarily places his hands behind him so that Bridget can cuff him.

CHEVILLOT I see. I don’t suppose you would under-stand what it’s like for a man to outlive his pecker and then find a young woman so beautiful and charming as to cure that aberration, and cause an otherwise rational person to risk his reputation in order to hold on to her.

BRIDGET I’m sorry, Monsieur, but not if it involves betraying the French wine industry.

265 INT. JACK’S SOFITEL ROOM – BORDEAUX – NIGHT 265

The Bacchus Seven are again in conference.

DENNIS Remember...ignore all bottles older than 90 years and all bottles newer than 1960. Jack has some white marking pens. Labels

(MORE) Page 102

DENNIS (Cont.) for most of these bottles have disinter-grated long ago. So going by the date marked on each bin …carefully mark every bottle with that date.

(beat) It would not serve our purpose to have any of these bottles get mixed up or not be identifiable, at a later date.


Jack opens up the large bags on his bed from which he extracts black, ninja type outfits and large baby blanket sized canvas sheets with pockets built in.

JACK We’ll wear these. If we should happen to run into a guard, these outfits will scare them more than pointing a gun. Which re-minds me. No one is to carry any weapons! None whatsoever. Understood?

This statement gets nods from everyone present.

PHILIP (looking at the uniforms)

A Chinese ninja. How quaint. My Japanese friends will choke on their blowfish should they ever get wind of this aberration.

DENNIS (to Jack)

Now might be a good time to show everyone how we will transport the wine.

Jack holds up one of the large baby blanket sized canvas sheets and demonstrates its use by placing a wine bottle in one of the pockets.

CUT TO:

267 INT. LAFITE WINE LIBRARY CELLAR – NIGHT 267

TO ILLUSTRATE what Jack is saying, Marilyn and Beverly are SEEN painting the vintage year on each bottle as they hand them off

to Dennis, Ben, Philip, Jack and Colette; who care-fully place them into the specially made pockets of canvas sheets.

Page 103

JACK (V.O.) After a bottle is marked with the white ink, it will be stowed in one of these pockets. Once all pockets are filled, you fold the canvas sheet over twice to reduce its size and then transport it to the camouflaged cave...where the bottles will be carefully unpacked and gently laid to rest on the ground.


DENNIS One more thing. The entrances to the camouflaged cave must be left in the same condition as we find it. All it would take to alert the winery as to where their stolen wine is located is an indication that their secret cave has recently been compromised.

269 INT. MALCOLM’S SLOAN’S LABORATORY – NIGHT 269

Malcolm is in his lab testing the sugar content of the red grape juice in one of his vials when his CELL PHONE RINGS. He answers the call.

MALCOLM (into cell phone)

Oui?

INTERCUT WITH:

270 INT. MARIANNE’S PARIS APARTMENT – NIGHT 270

Marianne is on the other end of the call. With her cellular phone to her ear, she is sitting at her dining table, looking out over the Seine River.

MARIANNE Papa? Tout va bien ici...Je m’inquiète pour toi. Il paraît que le temps dans le Médoc n’a pas l’air terrible.

MALCOLM I just tested the cabernet. If we can get one more day of sunshine with a temperature

above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, we should be alright. At the moment, the sugar content is a little low.

Page 104

MARIANNE Et le Merlot et le cabernet franc?

MALCOLM David is in the field gathering samples for testing.

MARIANNE You’re in the lab?

MALCOLM Been here all day. Likely to be here all night. Some 30 wineries have sent samples for testing.

MARIANNE I heard about the harvester.

MALCOLM That’s the bad news, but there is good news.

MARIANNE And what is the good news, Papa?

MALCOLM The police matched one of Laurent Chev-illot’s finger prints to the partial print found on a bullet from the gun that killed Frank.

MARIANNE Oh, Papa. That is good news. But are mere prints on a bullet enough to convict him?

MALCOLM David thinks so...claims Frank suspected Chevillot of having added oak chips to last years vintage and confronted him here, in my lab.

CUT TO:

271 INT. MALCOLM’S SLOAN’S LABORATORY – NIGHT 271

Laurent confronts Frank, pulling the stolen gun from his pocket.

CHEVILLOT Sorry, Frank. But I want those vials,

(MORE) Page 105

CHEVILLOY (Cont.) your notes, and your solemn word that you’ll forget all about this unfortunate incident.

FRANK You can have the vials and notes, but I cannot let you get away with jeopardizing the reputation of the French wine industry.


Frank makes a sudden lunge for the gun. As both men struggle for control the weapon hovers dangerously close to Frank’s head. Suddenly, there is a LOUD SHOT as the revolver goes off and Frank slowly collapses to the floor. A stunned and re-morseful Chevillot drops to his knees over the body.

CHEVILLOT Frank. Forgive me. I didn’t mean for this to happen.

But then he quickly realizes the enormity of what has occur-red, and goes into survival mode. He pulls out a handker-chief, wipes the gun, and places it in Frank’s hand.

273 BACK TO SCENE – ON PHONE 273

MALCOLM David figures that while the shooting was likely an accident, Chevillot staged it to look like a suicide by wiping the gun, which Laurent previously stole from Jacqu-eline Bujold, and placing it in Frank’s hand. Trouble was, he didn’t wipe the bullets.

MARIANNE In any event, our nightmare is finally over. Although I’ll never forgive David for putting us through it.

274 INT. LAFITE WINE LIBRARY CELLAR – NIGHT 274

VARIOUS SHOTS: With their ninja cloth head gear masking their faces now removed, the Bacchus Seven are seen carrying out one

of the most inventive robberies in history; as previously described herein.

Page 106


To establish the following day.


Lieutenant Picard steps into Capitaine Legrand’s office and closes the door.

BRIDGET Vous m’avez demandé, Monsieur?

LEGRAND Eric de Rothschild reported that someone broke into the Lafite wine library last night and stole several hundred bottles of rare vintages.

(beat) I want this theft solved…and solved im-mediately! Find who could possibly have managed this!


David and Malcolm are conferring with one another.

MALCOLM As I predicted, the sugar content of the merlot and franc grapes, which normally harvest a couple weeks earlier than the sauvignon, are the same. All we need is dry weather and sunshine for another day or two, then either we get that damn har-vester fixed or get ourselves some pickers.

MORGAN Sun is shinning now.

MALCOLM (smiling)

It is, isn’t it.

Suddenly there’s a KNOCK at the door.


David moves to open the door and is greeted by the somber face of Lieutenant Bridget Picard of the Police Judiciaire. At first David is delighted to see her...then he studies the expression on her face.

Page 107

MORGAN What is it...what’s wrong? You look like you’ve been given orders to arrest your own mother.

BRIDGET Last night, Lafite was robbed of millions of euros worth of wine from their library cellar. Other vintners with extensive li-brary cellars are concerned. The Baroness Rothschild is particularly upset with the thought that le vinotéque of Mouton might be next.

MORGAN How many bottles were stolen?

BRIDGET Perhaps as many as five or six hundred. The problem is that they included the most valu-able of the cellar wines.

MORGAN (incredulously)

How is that possible?

BRIDGET That’s what I want to discover, with your help.

279 INT/EXT. WINE TOUR BUS – ST. EMILION – DAY 279

As it arrives in the medieval city of St. Emilion, inside the tour bus, Harry Fletcher switches on the microphone and ad-dresses Robert Lawrence Balzer’s 24 wine students.

FLETCHER (into microphone)

We’re going to have lunch at the Hotel de Plaisance, here in the medieval city of St. Emilion. Then we will visit and have a tasting at Châteaux’s Petrus, Ausone, and Cheval Blanc.

(beat) After that, we will cross the river to the Haut Médoc where we will tour Château La

Gironde-Sloan and have a catered dinner in their barrel room.

Page 108

280 ANGLE ON DENNIS & BEVERLY – WINE TOUR BUS 280

DENNIS I’ve set up a trust account that will take care of our child, at least for the next two decades.

BEVERLY Your money means nothing and is not wel-come. I don’t recall asking you to insert yourself into my baby’s future.

DENNIS Perhaps you should. You’re making a ter-rible mistake by eliminating me from the child’s life.

281 INT. KITCHEN – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – DAY 281

Odette is serving lunch to David Morgan when Malcolm enters, all smiles, and announces:

MALCOLM We harvest in the morning.

MORGAN And the sugar content?

MALCOLM (smiling)

By sundown, it will be perfect.

282 INT. BARREL ROOM – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – NIGHT 282

In the heated Chai, the caterers have set up the tables in a “T” shape. At the center of the top of the “T” is seated Davis Morgan, with Harry Fletcher on his right and Colette on his left. The remaining 23 wine students fill the remainder of the crossed “T” and the several tables which are pushed together make up the lower stem of the “T.”

Everyone is enjoying the catered meal and especially the wines being served from Morgan’s cellar.

283 ANGLE ON FLETCHER, DAVID & COLETTE – NIGHT 283

FLETCHER (to David)

They were harvesting today in Pomerol.

Page 109

MORGAN We plan to start first thing in the morning, if we can get pickers.

FLETCHER

Don’t you have a mechanical harvester?

MORGAN It’s in the shop. Won’t be ready for another week. Unfortunately, we can’t wait that long.

COLETTE (indicating her wine glass)

These are excellent wines, Mister Morgan. It is very generous of you to serve such rare vintages. Are they from your private cellar? Or does your winery have a library cellar as well?

MORGAN I’m glad you appreciate them. Sadly, we have no library cellar. …These are from my private cellar.

COLETTE What I don’t understand is why a library cellar, like Lafite, doesn’t have any white wines?

MORGAN Some do, Haut Brion, for instance. But here in the Haut Médoc, we only produce red wines, which can last far longer than the whites. In many cases a hundred years, or more, depending upon the vintage.


At this point, Malcolm Sloan enters the barrel room and rushes up to David.

MALCOLM David! It’s hailing!

MORGAN What do you mean, hailing?

Page 110

MALCOLM Some of the hailstones are the size of golf balls.

Fletcher understands what’s happening, even if David doesn’t yet comprehend.

FLETCHER Is it actually raining, as well?

MALCOLM Not yet. Right now all we’re getting is the hailstorm.

FLETCHER You’ve got to pick immediately! Hail that size will knock most of your grapes to the ground and bruise what’s left on the clusters. ...And if your grapes as ready for picking and it rains, the entire crop could be lost.

MALCOLM Mr. Fletcher is right.

(indicating his cell phone) I checked with Peter and although it’s not nearly Enough, he’s on his way with maybe 45 pickers.

FLETCHER And I’m confident that I can deliver another 25, including myself.


Fletcher, the substitute guide for Balzer stands up and taps his wine glass with his knife to get everyone’s attention.

FLETCHER Attention, Balzer students. We’ve had our dinner. ...Now it’s time to chop the wood.

286 EXT. VINEYARD – CABERNET SAUVIGNON – HARVEST – NIGHT 286

The hail stops as suddenly as it started. With automobile, truck and tractors moved in to supply illumination, David, Harry Fletcher and Malcolm survey the damage.

The vineyard has been devastated. There is very little left to pick on the vines. Individual grapes are scattered among the hailstones on the ground.

Page 111

MALCOLM We’ve got to hurry. You’ll notice that the hailstones are not melting.

287 ANGLE ON FLETCHER & WINE STUDENTS 287

Armed with clippers, baskets and hottes (baskets carried on one’s back) Fletcher and his wine students are ready to work.

MALCOLM We must do the Cabernet first. We’ll divide ourselves into two groups, pickers and porters.

288 ILLUSTRATION – FLETCHER’S STUDENT’S PERFORMING TASKS 288

The wine students are seen performing the tasks described.

MALCOLM (V.O.) (continuing)

When a basket is filled it is dumped into the hotte of a single porter, and when full, the porter moves it to the cart pulled behind the tractor, where he climbs the ladder, and dumps the grapes and stalks over his shoulder…into the cart.

(beat) We’ll need six strong porters. The rest of us are pickers.

289 INT. AIR FRANCE – A-300 AIRCRAFT – NIGHT 289

Seated in first class on the Air France flight is Marianne Sloan. The ubiquitous announcements filter through the overhead speakers.

ANNOUNCEMENT Dans quelques minutes, nous allons atterrir à Bordeaux. Veuillez redresser vos sièges et ranger vos tablettes sous l’accoudoir droit.

(beat) In a few minutes we will be landing in Bordeaux. ...Please put your seats up and stow your trays under your right arm rest.

290 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE- SLOAN 290

David and Malcolm are working the grapes through the destemmer after which they are pumped up through the hoses into the

Page 112

giant stainless steel vats.

To the delight of David and Malcolm, Peter Ginestet enters with his 45 pickers.

MALCOLM (smiling)

Peter !!... Dieu merci …Allez chercher l’équipement des cueilleurs et emmenez-les dans les champs!


Odette and her meager staff have set up a table at the end of the rows in which the crews are currently picking, and are serving sandwiches, hot coffee and a variety of juices. Vin ordinaire is also available, but Harry Fletcher and his wine students prefer the strong coffee.

292 EXT. ANOTHER ANGLE 292

In the field, Peter’s 45 member crew are greeted with a hearty welcome and CHEERS from Fletcher and the wine students.

293 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE- SLOAN 293

The huge fermentation room holds 14 vats, each 14 feet high.

MALCOLM (to David)

We’ve got to send Peter out to survey the other fields, determine the full extent of the damage; see what grapes are left, if any.

(beat) These hailstorms often cut swaths through some vineyards while sparing others for no reason. If some of our fields are intact, and it doesn’t rain, then we’re far from defeated.

294 INT/EXT. MARIANNE’S 2ND RENTAL – HIGHWAY D-2 – NIGHT 294

Marianne’s 2nd rental car, from the Bordeaux Airport, exits Pauillac, northbound towards Château La Gironde-Sloan.


The picking is moving along. Baskets of grapes are dumped into the hottes, and carried to the cart.

Page 113

296 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE- SLOAN – NIGHT 296

Peter Ginestet enters from his survey of the fields.

PETER If the weather holds, and it doesn’t rain, we’ll only lose about 20 percent of the merlot and franc, and 35 to 40 percent of the sauvignon. If it rains, with their ripeness, the grapes will rot on the vines before our very eyes.

From behind them, they hear a VOICE.

MARIANNE (O.S.) We cannot let that happen, can we?

Malcolm and Peter turn and verbally welcome Marianne Sloan with enthusiasm. Only David is reserved in his response.

297 INT/EXT. INSPECTOR PICARD’S OFFICIAL VEHICLE – NIGHT 297

Bridget’s official vehicle exits the city of Pauillac, heading north.

298 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – NIGHT 298

Malcolm and Peter watch mesmerized as Marianne works on David

MARIANNE (flirtatiously)

Now, cousin Davey. As you Americans say. ...why don’t we let bygones be bygones? I’m grateful you did the job of clearing Papa. Perhaps you’ll let me show you how grateful.

MORGAN Not a chance.

Marianne approaches David, placing her hands behind his neck.

MARIANNE You’re such a prude.

Letting go of his neck, she steps back, accepting her fate; melodramatically imitating Humphrey Bogart from “Casablanca:”

MARIANNE At least we had Paris.

Page 114


At this point, Peter calls out from his perch atop one of the towering vats.

PETER The first four vats are full...but it’s too cold in here. The pressed juice and skins going into the vats are nearly frozen, and the wild yeast needs warmth to start fer-mentation.

MALCOLM We’ve got to get some heated glycol moving through those jackets...and fast. Make sure the furnace is set high as it will go.

PRODUCTION NOTE: This is literary license. In reality, fermentation does not necessarily need to start immediately.

PETER Oui Monsieur.

Peter rushes off to take care of the matter.

MORGAN (to Malcolm)

Furnace is useless with this huge door wide open.

MALCOLM Can’t help it. We need it open to accom-modate the carts and the de-stemmer.

Malcolm turns to his daughter.

MALCOLM My dear, we can use all the pickers we can get.

MARIANNE That’s why I’m here, Papa.

(beat) I’ll change my clothes.

She leaves while David and Malcolm get back to work.

300 EXT. PARKING LOT – LA GIRONDE- SLOAN – NIGHT 300

No sooner has Marianne entered the château than Inspector Page 115

Picard’s official vehicle pulls into the parking lot and parks. She climbs out and heads for the fermentation room.

301 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE- SLOAN – NIGHT 301

David and Malcolm are working the de-stemmer with their rakes when Bridget joins them. Malcolm is the first to spot her.

MALCOLM Salut, Lieutenant. Vous ne devriez pas être au lit á cette heure-là?

Bridget begins helping with the de-stemmer.

BRIDGET Not on a night like this. Every mechan-ical harvester in Aquitaine is burning fuel. And every picker available is being paid overtime. I came to see how you were handling it.

MALCOLM How bad is the damage to the surrounding areas?

BRIDGET Except Pauillac, little damage at all to the Médoc. Lafite and Mouton escaped damage. You, La Chevillot, Bellegrave, Pontet-Canet, and a few others were the hardest hit.

(beat) Now, if you’ll show me where I can change my Clothes I’d like to help.


With only truck and tractor headlights for illumination, Marianne and Bridget are picking side by side, across the row from one another.

MARIANNE You’re in love with David. Don’t lie to me. I can tell.

BRIDGET

Et alors? Ce ne sont pas vos affaires.

MARIANNE It is very much my business. Since he is

(MORE) Page 116

MARIANNE (Cont.) family, I have a right to know and approve who becomes a director of the Château.

BRIDGET What has that got to do with me?

(sudden realization) I see. You’re afraid I want to marry him to be the director of his winery stock, as a French citizen?

MARIANNE Oh, no Bridget. I approve of you. I was only worried that while you were thinking about how you felt about him, he may find someone else. In my opinion, that would be a tragedy.

BRIDGET We should hope that he sees things your way.

MARIANNE He will, or I’ll make his life hell!

303 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – NIGHT 303

Peter is on a ladder atop one of the fermentation vats.

PETER (calling out)

I can now predict that fermentation is guaranteed to begin in a day or so. We might have a decent harvest yet. Not nearly the volume we expected. But the makings for a great, full bodied wine.


SUPERIMPOSE: 4:20 A.M.

David approaches Fletcher, who is picking alongside Debra and Michael Landis. Michael is the first to spot him. He approaches.

305 ANGLE ON DAVID & MICHAEL 305

MICHAEL Oh, Mister Morgan. This is definitely the highlight of our tour. We’ve all seen

(MORE) Page 117

MICHAEL (Cont.) enough vinification and barrel rooms. For the first time we’re actually experiencing what it’s like to struggle against nature. I envy you, Mr. Morgan. To produce something this wonderful from the soil. You must be so proud.

MORGAN (a look at the sky)

We’ve got a long way to go before we can celebrate.

MICHAEL (sheepishly)

Then I’d better get back to work.

As Michael breaks off his contact, David confronts his old acquaintance, Harry Fletcher AKA Robin Templar.

306 ANGLE ON MORGAN & FLETCHER 306

David Morgan takes Harry Fletcher aside.

MORGAN I understand that Mr. Balzer makes this tour often. I’m curious. How many of your students have been to Bordeaux before?

FLETCHER That’s a simple enough question. I’ll ask around. ...But I know for a fact Stevens has been here before.

MORGAN How so?

FLETCHER At least, according to him, he directed and photographed TV commercials for the top Bordeaux wineries for the Far East and Australasian markets. ...Balzer wrote the scripts. That was about five years ago. ...So why do you ask?

MORGAN Let’s just say...a gut feeling.

FLETCHER Your gut is seldom wrong.

Page 118

307 EXT. ANGLE ON MARIANNE & BRIDGET – CAB. VINEYARD – NIGHT 307

David approaches Marianne and Bridget, who are still picking together.

MORGAN I see you’re all getting along?

MARIANNE (smiling)

Like family.

MORGAN You don’t say.

(to Bridget) At a decent hour, I want you to phone the marketing director of Lafite and ask him if, when filming television commercials five years ago, they remember the director, Dennis Stevens.

(beat) And if so, was he ever shown the hidden, camouflaged cave where their precious wines were hidden from the Germans during WWII?

BRIDGET What makes you ask this?

MORGAN Just a hunch I have. Could be nothing.

308 EXT. VINEYARD – MERLOT – HARVEST – MORNING 308

SUPERIMPOSE: MERLOT VINEYARD LA GIRONDE-SLOAN

The sun is up, revealing a heavily overcast day, as pickers in the field, including Fletcher and his wine students, are now working on a Merlot field.

309 INT/EXT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – MORNING 309

David is working the de-stemmer as the tractor pulling a cart full of grapes pulls up, ready to unload. Malcolm jumps down

from the driver’s seat and approaches his nephew, indicating the latest cart.

MALCOLM David! This is merlot. It goes into a

(MORE) Page 119

MALCOLM (Cont.) separate vat. When you’re finished de-stemming the cabernet, have Peter switch the hoses.

David gestures his understanding with a wave.

310 EXT. MERLOT VINEYARD – MORNING 310

Dennis and Beverly are busy picking grapes when Stevens sud-denly stops, turns and stares at his pregnant lover.

BEVERLY What is it?

DENNIS It’s time I grew up and faced the music.

BEVERLY I’m listening.

DENNIS Eventually my wife will find out that she’s married to a hopeless womanizer and will have the good sense to dump me and move on with her life.

BEVERLY Would you care?

DENNIS (thinking it over)

...Now that I think about it --

BEVERLY (realization)

You’re still in love with her?

Dennis lowers his eyes and looks at the ground.

BEVERLY Do you think you could remain faithful to her?

Dennis raises his eyes and looks Beverly in the eye.

DENNIS ...Yes.

(beat) And our relationship?

Page 120

BEVERLY If you mean what you say about staying faithful to your wife, it means a lot. ...It means I’ve decided that you’re right about our child asking questions at some point, and blaming me for depriving him or her of what I think might just turn out to be a reasonably decent father figure.

She places her arms around her former lover’s neck and gives him a loving kiss, only this kiss is more like that of a sister kissing her brother. His return kiss indicates that he accepts the new status of their relationship.


Seated at the large table, Lieutenant Bridget Picard is using the kitchen phone.

BRIDGET (into phone)

You say that you remember him well. This is important. Did anyone at Lafite ever show to monsieur Stevens the camouflaged caves where your precious wines were hidden from the Germans, during WWII?

312 EXT. MERLOT VINEYARD – DAY 312

SUPERIMPOSE: 1:45 O’CLOCK, P.M.

Pickers continue to pick and porters are continuing to do what they do, when suddenly a CLAP of THUNDER draws their atten-tion to the overcast sky.

313 ANGLE ON DEBRA AND DAVID 313

They glance up at the blackened sky, then at each other.

DEBRA Darling...you should rest now.

MICHAEL No, my dear. If there is an afterlife,

this is a memory I plan to carry into that existence, while I wait for you.

DEBRA But do we have to be in such a hurry to enter that existence?

Page 121

MICHAEL (grinning)

No...I suppose not.

The two put down their buckets and come together in an embrace that only reaffirms their love for one another.

314 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE- SLOAN – DAY 314

David Morgan continues working the de-stemmer as Bridget enters the fermentation room and approaches the former San Francisco police Inspector. .

BRIDGET (clicking off cell)

Word is that rain is headed our way.

David looks up at the 14 huge stainless steel, jacketed vats.

315 ANGLE ON THE 14 STAINLESS STEEL VATS 315

The hose from the stemmer goes directly to the tenth vat.

MORGAN (V.O.) Six and a-half vats of cabernet and nearly four vats of merlot. I hope that’s enough because with grapes this ripe, rain means the end of the harvest. The remaining clusters will rot on the vines.

316 EXT. VINEYARD – MERLOT – HARVEST – DAY 316

Malcolm approaches Harry Fletcher.

MALCOLM That’s enough of the merlot. Rain is on the way. We’ve got to make an effort to get in some cabernet franc, which is the next field over.

FLETCHER Uderstood! ...How much time before the rain hits?

MALCOLM I’ve no idea. But any moisture clinging to the grapes will make for a watery wine. ...But my biggest fear is rot. That could start to occur within an hour or so of the rain.

Page 122

317 INT. FERMENTATION ROOM – LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – DAY 317

David is still working the de-stemmer as Malcolm steps up alongside him.

MALCOLM That’s it, Davey. The rain has hit. All we’ll get now is a watery wine and rot, and this isn’t the noble rot of wine lore.

318 DINING ROOM – CHATEAU LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – DAY 318

SUPERIMPOSE: 4:15 O’CLOCK, P.M.

A scrumptious buffet, together with an assortment of bever-ages, including some super expensive wines, is laid out on the large dining room table. Fletcher and his exhausted wine students begin filing in from the vineyards to partake of the well deserved fruition of their extraordinary efforts.

Joining the wine students are David, Malcolm, Marianne, Bridget and Peter Ginestet. Peter’s wife, Odette, and her staff are constantly replenishing the buffet. ...Morgan pulls Malcolm aside.

319 ANGLE ON DAVID AND MALCOLM 319

MORGAN Six and a half vats of cabernet sauvignon, four vats of merlot...and almost a full vat of cabernet franc. Eleven and a half vats out of fourteen filled. And I understand the petit verdot should be ready to harvest in another two or three weeks. I owe you and Peter big time. I know that you’ve always wanted to own your own winery.

MALCOLM True.

MORGAN On good authority, having failed to get a crop harvested this fall...and lacking any-one to run the place, I’m told that Château

La Chevillot will likely be on the market. (beat)

Provided you agree to maintain your lab and act as my consulting winemaker, in exchange for the maison...if you can call anything

(MORE) Page 123

MORGAN (Cont.) this large a house, I might be persuaded to finance La Chevillot for you. You can re-name it La Chevillot-Sloan.

MALCOLM Where are you going to get that kind of money?

MORGAN I have a considerable amount saved up from Previous...er, enterprises. Now that we have a successful crop, I’ll put up my stock in La Gironde-Sloan as security. ...What do you say?

Sticking out his hand for Malcolm to shake.

MALCOLM I say...hell yes!

Malcolm accepts the outstretched hand and pumps it warmly.

320 ANGLE ON JACK AND BRIDGET 320

Lieutenant Picard is seen pulling Jack Hamilton aside.

BRIDGET Do you know who I am?

JACK (slightly alarmed)

No.

BRIDGET (flashing her badge)

I am Lieutenant Picard of the police Judiciaire.

JACK (fully alarmed)

What can I do for you lieutenant?

BRIDGET

Aside from your wife and Stevens, I don’t know how many of you are involved, but by respect for what you have done in saving this harvest, I’m going to give you...how do you say...a break.

Page 124

JACK (scared shitless)

I’m listening.

BRIDGET I’ll give up the opportunity to gain the rank of capitaine before age thirty by ar-resting you...and in exchange you’ll save Harry Fletcher and Robert Lawrence Balzer the embarrassment of having to acknowledge publicly that you and your gang of thieves were a part of their tour.

JACK The word ‘thieves’ sounds a bit strong.

BRIDGET What would you call it?

JACK Providing a service. These vintners need to get with the times and beef up their security. After all, they have a valuable commodity to protect.

BRIDGET And it’s my job to protect that commodity. I look at it as a career move to arrest you.

JACK (submissively)

Okay. What do you want me to do?

BRIDGET Phone Lafite–Rothschild and tell them where they can find their rare wines. In their own hidden caves.

JACK I doubt you’ll believe me, lieutenant, but that was our intention all along.

Bridget studies Jack’s eyes and comes to a conclusion.

BRIDGET I can see that. But we have to be clear on one thing.

JACK Anything you say.

Page 125

BRIDGET Lafite will not want publicity about a robbery. Is that understood?

JACK (greatly relieved)

Perfectly.

321 ANGLE ON DAVID MORGAN 321

David’s cell RINGS and he flips it on and puts it to his ear.

MORGAN Hello?

INTERCUT WITH:

322 INT. TORE’S DOMAINE CHANDON OFFICE – NIGHT 322

It is nighttime in California, where the call was initiated.

TORE (into handset)

How goes the struggle, little brother?

MORGAN As if you didn’t know.

TORE Well, I did warn you that a vin ordinaire is better than no vin at all.

MORGAN Then you’ll be surprised to learn that, despite the weather, we managed to harvest enough high-quality grapes to make for a successful year.

TORE Sorry to hear that.

MORGAN I know who your informant is. I can’t blame her for banking her future on you

rather than me. ...She was merely playing the odds. And she’s one hell of a cook.

TORE I agree. I was the one who suggested Uncle

(MORE) Page 126

TORE (Cont.) Frank send her to the Cordon Bleu cooking school. ...For what it’s worth, her hus-band knew nothing about her crippling the harvester. She did it out of loyalty to me.

(beat) I suppose you’ll fire her.

MORGAN A cook like Odette? Not a chance. In the future at least I’ll have a loyal and re-pentant employee; something I could not be sure of with a new hire.

(beat) By the way, I’m billing you for the har-vester repairs, plus a little extra for the inconvenience.

TORE I’ll see that you get a check. Doubt I would be as forgiving if the shoe were on the other foot.

MORGAN Just tell mom that she backed the wrong sibling.

TORE You’re wrong about Nancy. She was root-ing for you all along! And, as a matter of fact, try as I did to reverse the out-come, I’m not all that disappointed in the results.

(beat) You came through nicely. Surprised every-body. ...Take care little brother.

323 DINING ROOM – LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – DAY 323

Ending the call, David looks around the room. He spots Mari-anne selectively placing samples from Odette’s buffet on her plate. He steps up to her.

324 ANGLE ON DAVID & MARIANNE 324

MORGAN May I speak with you?

MARIANNE What about?

Page 127

MORGAN Your future!

325 ANGLE ON JACK & COLETTE 325

COLETTE When we get back to L.A., I’m filing for a divorce.

JACK (taken aback)

Why would you want to do a crazy thing like that?

COLETTE I’m tired of being the trophy wife. I want to find someone who will love and respect me for whom I am. Not just because I have what misogynists like you consider to be a decent face, slim body, and ample tits.

JACK “Misogynists?” ...Where did you ever come up with a word like that?

COLETTE I’m not as illiterate as you think. For instance, I’m very familiar with the phrase, community property. Try ordering me to bare my breasts after the settlement, when I own and operate half of your dealerships.

The look on Jack’s face can only be compared to that of a dead man walking.

326 EXT. PARKING LOT – LA GIRONDE-SLOAN – LATE AFTERNOON 326

A pre-occupied Marianne exits the Château and walks towards her rental car,

327 ANGLE AT CAR 327

She opens the door and climbs in behind the wheel. Suddenly, Bridget appears at the driver’s window.

BRIDGET Where are you going in such a hurry?

MARIANNE Have to get back to Paris.

Page 128

BRIDGET Without saying goodbye?

MARIANNE David just told me that I have to get on with my life. That I need to find the right man, before it’s too late. He’s opened my eyes.

BRIDGET Je ne comprends pas.

MARIANNE He made me realize that there really is a right person out there, but that if I’m ever going to find him, I’m going to have to be far more discreet in my approach.

BRIDGET I wish you luck and truly hope that you and I will eventually become close.

MARIANNE You and me becoming close?

(breaking into a smiling)

Of that ... I have no doubt.

The two exchange warm smiles after which Marianne fires up the engine of her rental car and heads for the Bordeaux Airport.


Bridget watches as Malcolm, Peter, Odette, David, Fletcher and his 24 wine students exit the château and gather in the park-ing lot, where they are about to board their tour bus.

329 ANGLE ON DAVID AND FLETCHER 329

Morgan and Harry have a brief moment to themselves.

FLETCHER Doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing you in San Francisco anytime soon. ...Shall we take your name off the list of Robin’s

merry band of honorable thieves?

MORGAN No, leave it there.

(smiling) Just don’t call during harvest.

Page 129

FLETCHER (returning smile)

Agreed.

The two shake hands, warmly.

330 ANGLE ON BUS ENTRANCE 330

The students are now boarding the bus. The CAMERA catches the last to board: Philip Shen, Marilyn & Ben Lane, Beverly Amphlett, Colette & Jack Hamilton, Michael and Debra Landis, Harry Fletcher and finally, with his ever present digital, HD video camera recording the event, Dennis Stevens.

331 WIDER ANGLE 331

The door closes and the bus quickly departs while those left behind wave.


Finally David and Bridget come together and begin walking back to the château, followed by Malcolm, Peter and Odette.

333 ANGLE ON DAVID AND BRIDGET 333

David takes Bridget’s hand and clasps it gently.

MORGAN (to Bridget)

I think I’m finally getting the hang of this wine business.

BRIDGET Does that mean that you’re thinking of staying, rather than returning to the San Francisci Police Department?

MORGAN Only if I can find a woman willing to give up an exciting, prestigious career for the hard life of running a winery.

BRIDGET

I should think you’d be able to find that woman in a ... in a heartbeat.

MORGAN A heartbeat, you say.

Page 130

BRIDGET (smiling)

Oui, Chéri. ...A heartbeat.

334 REVERSE ANGLE 334

With the château FRAMED in the FOREGROUND, in an ANGLE from BEHIND, we SEE Bridget slip her arm around that of the former police inspector and with him responding in kind, the two continue towards their future.

A DENNIS F. STEVENS / GEORGE N. GILLETT, JR. PRESENTATION

END

____XXXX

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