Page 2
TONY'S RESTAURANT
Léon sits in front of Tony. From his position, he can see the window on the street.
TONY It's a long time, Léon. You missed two nice contracts, you know.
LÉON (badly lying) ...I was training.
He looks at the street: Mathilda is pirouetting in front of the restaurant.
TONY ...You moved too, didn't you?
LÉON Yeah.
TONY Huh!? Because of the slaughter at your same floor?
LÉON ...Not at all.
TONY It's better... You see, it's my turf, so I don't want contracts I'm not informed about, on my turf. I'm not opposing, but the least they can do is informing me, isn't it?
LÉON Yes.
Mathilda, outside, sends a "cuckoo" to Léon, who slightly leans down to reply. Tony didn't see anything.
TONY At a certain moment I thought: maybe Léon would like working on his own? So he makes some little extras?
LÉON Dirty work, and I kill no women and no kids.
TONY That's what I later told myself! No, Tony, forget Léon! It can't be him, he likes too much his job to make such a slaughter!
Léon can't avoid looking at Mathilda, who's looking up to breathe better. This little woman, only surviver of a massacre.
LÉON Tell me... The money I earn and you keep for me...
TONY Do you need money?
LÉON No... Just to know... Because it's a long time I work... And I never did anything with my money... I should do something.
Tony is a little surprised by Léon's naivety.
TONY It's true, you're right... Did you meet a woman?
Léon smiles.
LÉON No, no.
TONY Pay attention to women, Léon. They are dangerous, you know?
LÉON Yeah... Well... I don't know.. I don't know any.
TONY Listen, think about what you want to do, but don't worry, your money is there and it's safer than in a bank... Banks are robbed every five minutes!
Tony makes an effort to laugh.
TONY Anyway, you can't have a bank account, so the discussion is finished.
Léon nods.
LÉON Why can't I have a bank account?
TONY I'll explain you, Léon: they'll ask you to fill in a lot of forms and you can't write and they'll ask you your job, your employer's name and you can't tell them: "My job, I'm a hitman and my employer is Tony, his record is longer than his restaurant's menu". That's why you can't have a bank account!
Léon thinks. Outside, Mathilda lets a young man approach her. They start talking. Léon gets nervous.
TONY But your money is there, Léon. When you want, you ask me. Take...
He hands one thousand dollars to Léon.
TONY Take...
LÉON Well, I don't need them...
TONY Take them, you never know... If you want to have some fun. Take, it's a gift.
Tony puts the money in Léon's hand, who takes it.
LÉON Thanks.
TONY (smiling) Good. Let's talk business, now?
LÉON I've got a hit perfect for you. I kept it for you. To be made alone. That's what you like. Don't move, I get the file. Manolo! A glass of milk for Léon!
Tony stands up and disappears. Léon looks out. Mathilda accepts a cigarette from the young man. They laugh. Léon can't resist any more. He stands up and exits. He kindly pushes Mathilda aside. The quite nice young man waits.
LÉON (low voice) Pay attention, Mathilda. You can't let people approach you like that. People are kind and very fast, they offer you drugs or other things.
MATHILDA (smiling) Léon, don't worry. I'm on the street since I've born. I was just smoking a cigarette while waiting for you.
Léon pauses and looks at the young man, who smiles at him.
LÉON Keep away. He looks suspicious. A bad guy, OK?
MATHILDA (smiling) OK.
LÉON Five minutes. Keep in front of the window.
MATHILDA OK.
INSIDE THE RESTAURANT
Léon sits in front of his milk. Tony comes back and sits down.
TONY I have to put on my glasses... My sight is worse and worse... I'm getting old... Here it is.
Tony hands a photo to Léon, who observes it.
TONY Not easy. Armoured car, isolated home, bodyguards all time. I don't know what he trades, but it's a good hit because I've got three contracts on him... Three times eight thousand for Léon. Good deal, isn't it?
Outside, Mathilda has disappeared. Léon gets upset. Tony takes the photo back.
TONY I write client's data on the back. You have to be quick, he's going to quit the city at the end of the week. With the contracts on his head, I don't think we'll see him again.
Léon is too nervous. He takes the photo and stands up.
LÉON I come back later for details. I've got something to do and... I'm late.
He gets out, looks left and right. You've never seen anyone as nervous as him. Mathilda, crouched down behind the door, jumps on his back. He's relieved and slightly smiles. She hangs on him like a little monkey.
LÉON Come on, get down!
MATHILDA You were scared, weren't you?
LÉON I was nervous, that's all! Where is the guy?
MATHILDA I killed him... and cut him and ate all of him... I left nothing for you!
Lèon suddenly realizes Tony is behind the window. He shily smiles, slightly embarassed. Mathilda makes a big smile to him and heels Léon.
MATHILDA Let's go home!!!
* * * * * * * * * *
Lèon arrives to the hotel, Mathilda still on his back. The receptionist smiles at Léon, who doesn't return. Mathilda gets the key with a a big smile.
MATHILDA We'd a nice walk!
RECEPTIONIST (smiling) Good, Miss.
Mathilda cackles and leads her mount upstairs.
In the room, she jumps on the bed.
MATHILDA Léon? I think I'm falling in love with you.
Léon's milk goes the wrong way. She calmly said it, laying on the bed, spread arms.
Like a simple truth. Léon got milk everywhere.
MATHILDA ...Anyway, this impressed you!
He dries himself, but doesn't reply.
MATHILDA It's strange, being in love... It's the first time for me...
LÉON How do you know it's love, if you've never been in love before?... It may be palship... or the love you can have with a brother or a father... How can you know?
MATHILDA ...Because I feel it.
LÉON (upset) Huh? Where?
Mathilda puts a hand on her stomach.
MATHILDA Here... in my stomach... it's hot.
She turns, takes his hand and puts it on her stomach.
MATHILDA I always had a knot... No longer...
Léon pulls off his hand. He stands up and nervously walks.
LÉON Mathilda, I'm... I'm very happy you've got no more stomach ache, but... this doesn't mean anything. I'm late for work and I don't like being late for work.
Mathilda smiles. She's calm. She rolls herself into the blanket. Léon gets out of the room. He puts various weapons into his case and in his violin. He's nervous. This conversation upset him. He hears a noise, flowing water: Mathilda sings.
She's having a bath. He finished preparing his gear. He knocks bathroom's door.
LÉON Mathilda? May I get in?
MATHILDA Yes.
Léon opens the door. Mathilda is naked and is brushing her hair. Léon closes back the door without entering.
LÉON (embarassed) Sorry. I heard "yes", so I got in...
Mathilda opens the door. She's still combing her hair. She's still naked.
MATHILDA Yes... You can get in.
Léon is rigid. He takes a towel and deploys it in front of her.
LÉON Take it, please.
She rolls herself into the towel, without speaking. Léon's relieved.
LÉON I... I've got a contract... I've got to go now. It's urgent. ...So, you stay here. You don't move. About telephone, I let it ring once then I call you back, else you don't answer, OK?
Mathilda is sulky.
MATHILDA Why don't you take me with you?... I'm ready, now. You said I learn very quickly.
LÉON "Quick" doesn't mean "ready". And you can't discuss, we said. Right?
Mathilda has to surrender.
LÉON Go on learning like this... Then we'll see.
He gets in the living room and she follows him.
MATHILDA May I get to the cinema?
LÉON No.
MATHILDA For musicals? That's part of the job!
LÉON No, you can't get out.
MATHILDA (resigned) OK... you come back tonight, don't you?
He takes his violin and his case.
LÉON During my absence, you have to work on a very important thing you badly lack: patience.
He slightly smiles. She's sulky.
LÉON You see, five minutes ago you said you loved me and now you hate me... but I prefer this!
MATHILDA I hate you because you depart without kissing me. That's all.
She sweetly closes the door in face of him. For a moment, he's blocked behind the door. The receptionist is walking along the hall and notices Léon prostrated in front of the door.
RECEPTIONIST Did you lose your key, Mister?
Léon recovers from his shock.
LÉON No... I just thought if I'd lost anything...
RECEPTIONIST And did you forget anything?
LÉON Yeah... But "forgotten" doesn't mean "lost"
He passes in front of the perplexed receptionist, leaving the hotel.
* * * * * * * * * *
The receptionist is at his desk. The hall is empty.
Mathilda walks down the stairs, slowly, like a kid who's got nothing to do.
RECEPTIONIST How are you, Miss?
MATHILDA Fine...
She puts her elbows on the desk.
MATHILDA I'm sick with practising, that's it...
RECEPTIONIST I see. You're good, because I didn't hear anything.
MATHILDA Yeah. I put a rag on the strings, to lessen noise.
RECEPTIONIST Huh? That's smart!
MATHILDA I'm used to it. Not everyone likes music.
RECEPTIONIST Yeah, true. But what does your father exactly do for living?
MATHILDA ...Composer.
RECEPTIONIST Huh, that's good!
MATHILDA Yeah, but he's not exactly my father...
RECEPTIONIST Huh?
MATHILDA ...No... he's my lover...
RECEPTIONIST (pale) Huh?
Mathilda sighs and glances at the hall.
MATHILDA I'm going to have a walk... I'll come back.
Receptionist's tense smile.
* * * * * * * * * *
MATHILDA'S OLD BUILDING
Mathilda slowly gets to her floor. In front of the door, a thin yellow "no entry" police strip.
A cop is distractly guarding the hall; he's talking with a young black girl.
Mathilda gets in her apartment unnoticed.
She gets in her room, recovers her teddy bear and her polaroid.
Then, she gets in the devastated living room. There's dry blood almost everywhere.
In the corridor, she raises one of parquet's boards. A big roll of 100$ bills is hidden beneath. There is a small cheque-book too. She carelessly puts everything away.
Noise in the apartment. Mathilda crouches down.
Stansfield gets in together with two more guys.
Mathilda can see them without being seen. Stansfield is evidently not at ease, he's justifying his actions in front of upper-rank officers.
STANSFIELD So, the guy was there, he'd hidden a shotgun behind the tent, here. His woman was armed too.
MAN Where were the kids during first shots?
STANSFIELD I don't know... that was very fast. I didn't see him pulling out his weapon.
The man writes some notes. The second man observes the cracked entry door.
SECOND MAN Did you follow the procedure? Who got to the door?
STANSFIELD (getting nervous) What are you looking for, guys? This guy was shit, we found five kilos heroin in the apartment, and you bother me?
MAN The fact you're a public officer doesn't give you the right to do whatever you want! The narcotic had been following this guy for two years. They had a lot of informations about him. Your quick lonely action upset them. It's normal they asked for an inquiry.
STANSFIELD I give a shit about the narcotic department! And if you'll go on searching in this shit, you'll fall in it. You can find me at my office... 2702.
MAN It's routine, why are you doing this to us?
Stanfield didn't listen. He got out.
Mathilda slides behind him. She follows him downstairs.
* * * * * * * * * *
IN THE STREET
Stansfield gets on a car and departs.
Mathilda stops a cab and gets on board.
MATHILDA May you follow that blue car, please?
The driver smiles.
DRIVER Do you also want music and skids at every turn?
She hands him 100$.
MATHILDA No, I want you to drive smoothly, get your 100$ and tell me what the last question was.
The driver takes the bill and starts moving. He understood everything.
Stansfield's car stops in front of a building. Mathilda gets out of the cab and follows Stansfield.
She gets stopped at the first check-point in the large hall.
COP (amused) Where are you going, little girl?
MATHILDA What's that man's name?
COP Why do you want to know?
MATHILDA He forgot his money... My mother's got a pub, behind the corner, and he forgot his money, about 100$.
COP Huh? I see, but this is the FBI, little girl, and I can't let you in. But if you leave me his money, I'll give him it myself.
Mathilda thinks.
COP (smiiling) You don't trust me.
Mathilda shakes her head no. The cop laughs.
MATHILDA Give me his name, I will mail him.
COP OK. Mister Stansfield, Norman STANSFIELD.
MATHILDA ...Office 2702.
COP Yeah... How do you know it?
MATHILDA ...I heard he said... That's all... Thanks.
Mathilda gets away. The cop looks at her, smiling.
End of Page 2
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