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Characters: Mason, Veronica, Lionel, Older Banker, and Younger Banker.
Premise: While preparing to spy on Mason's business meeting, Lionel sat up a little picnic
area including a bottle of wine in the supply room. When he hears voices from the next
room he opens up the secret port, he then sees Peter and Augusta in the suite talking very
friendly like. By the time Mason's meeting begins, Lionel is already drunk as he watches
and listens. Veronica is inside the presidential suite with Mason and the two bankers, taking
notes for the meeting.
Mason: (The scene cuts in while Mason is talking. Throughout the scene he alternates between
pacing the room and setting next to Veronica on the couch.) The sole purpose of this is the
disposing of the Lockridge property. So I want you gentlemen to understand the situation because I
need your help.
Older Banker: (Seated in a chair). As I told you on the phone, Mr. Capwell, we'll be happy to do
what we can.
Younger Banker: (Seated in a second chair). Is this Lockridge property or not?
Mason: Oh, it's not. I thought it was, you see, there was a time when most of that ocean frontage
was own by J.P. Cuzoni. Just before he died, he started to deed the property over to the Lockridges
but the deed was improperly drawn. So now the Cuzoni Foundation actually owns the property. Their
people are the ones, at my request, who have arranged this private auction. Lockridge will have a
chance to buy the property as well as I. The Cuzoni Foundation wants nothing more than to divest
themselves of the property as quickly as possible.
Older Banker: I see. You seem very pleased.
Mason: (Laughs). Well, there's nothing secret about my motive. I want nothing more than to outbid
the Lockridges and turn the property over to my father.
Lionel: (Inside the storage room talking to himself). I used to think you were only a rat, Mason, now
I know you're a full-fledged sleaze.
Mason: As I said, the Cuzoni Foundation wants to dispose of the property. You know all the
proceeds will go to charity.
Younger Banker: I'm sure the Cuzoni Foundation won't part with it cheaply.
Mason: No. I don't expect so, and I'm sure Lionel will probably try to outbid me on it. So I'm asking
your bank to provide me with enough capital that I'm able to outbid him at any level.
Lionel: (Still in the secret room, very drunk and agitated). You want to go head to head with me?
Show your daddy what a big boy you are. Well, you're going to be sorry.
Mason: The irony is that Lockridge could have prevented all of this if he'd simply been a better
businessman. (Laughs) Instead he's out gallivanting all over the world instead of staying home and
taking care of what belongs to him. (He walks up to the mirror and looks into it while straightening
his tie). He's getting what he deserves, gentlemen. Life tends to work out that way.
(Lionel on the other side raises the wine bottle as if to hit Mason's head with it.)
Lionel, gets up and excuses herself from the room saying that she'll be right back. Out in
the hallway she meets Lionel on his way to the suite with the wine bottle held threateningly
in one hand.
Veronica: (Blocking an extremely agitated Lionel from going into the suite.) Wait a minute. What do
you think you're doing?
Lionel: I'm going to kill him!
Veronica: In front of witnesses?
Lionel: Oh, hey! That son of a beachfront property thief doesn't deserve to live. You know that!
Veronica: Shh. Lionel, please lower your voice.
Lionel: Whoa, you think I'm just going to sit around idly while he robs me of everything I care about in
the world? No!
Veronica: (Whispering). Shh, you'll get revenge later. Now is not the time. It's just not going to work.
Lionel: (Has calmed down a little bit.) Oh, maybe you're right. (Allows Veronica to lead him back
into the closet.)
Veronica: Boy! This place smells like a winery.
Lionel: (Looking back through the two-way mirror at Mason inside the suite). Look at that smug brat
in there.
Veronica: You'll have plenty of time to figure out how to get back at him, later.
Lionel: I have two things to take care of.
Veronica: Two?
Lionel: First thing, is Mason Capwell. And the second is my wife. But I think I'll take care of the
second problem first.
Veronica: Oh, you're in no condition to drive.
Lionel: You're absolutely right, my dear. I have more respect for my fellow drivers and pedestrians
than that. I have ordered a car, and now I'm going home, to where the deer and the antelope, and my
wife play.
Veronica: I'll see you to the elevator.