8mm Page #4

MRS CHRISTIAN:

Yes, how theatrical. So you've gone

on the record, and now perhaps you

should just be gone.

Longdale's irritated, but has no choice. He walks away.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

Have a pleasant evening.

(to Welles)

Will you have tea, Mister Welles?

WELLES:

Thank you.

Mrs. Christian begins pouring tea from the service on a

table. Welles watches Longdale exit.

WELLES:

He's odd.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

He's a lawyer.

(offers tea)

Please, sit, here...

Welles accepts a dainty tea cup and saucer, taking a seat.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

I've spoken to friends of mine and

my husband's, in Harrisburg, in

Lancaster and Hershey. Asking about

you. I must say you have friends in

influential places.

WELLES:

I've been privileged to provide

services for people I admire.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

You are highly recommended. Praised

for your discretion... your strict

adherence to confidentiality.

Welles nods, sipping tea.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

As you know, my husband passed away

recently. Two weeks ago now.

WELLES:

My condolences.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

His passing has left me with...

something of a dilemma. A terrible,

terrible dilemma.

WELLES:

I'll do whatever I can to help.

Mrs. Christian studies Welles.

INT. CHRISTIAN HOUSE, MR CHRISTIAN'S OFFICE -- NIGHT

Mrs. Christian and Welles enter. This office has been lived

in for a lifetime. Giant DESK. AMERICAN FLAG. Walls

covered in old b+w PHOTOGRAPHS and ACHIEVEMENTS. A large,

baked enamel sign nailed up, "CHRISTIAN STEEL."

MRS CHRISTIAN:

His inner sanctum.

Welles looks up at the OIL PAINTING over the fireplace: MR.

CHRISTIAN, a powerful, old man, posed with a dark, teeming,

industrial landscape behind him.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

Not many people have been inside

this room.

Welles examines PHOTOS of Mr. Christian visiting various

STEEL PLANTS, COAL MINES and ground-breaking ceremonies,

shaking hands with WORKMEN, with POLITICIANS.

WELLES:

Pittsburgh?

MRS CHRISTIAN:

Mostly. That's where he started his

empire building.

(looks up at portrait)

He was a good man. Notorious as an

eccentric, but that was something he

cultivated. He wanted to be

legendary.

WELLES:

He succeeded.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

We were married forty-five years.

Hard even for me to imagine. We had

our troubles. There were plenty of

places for him to be other than

here, but he was always loyal to me,

and I to him. I loved him deeply.

Welles waits.

MRS CHRISTIAN:

Do you carry a gun, Mr. Welles?

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