by Joe Haldeman
TIGHT on HAZLIK, who is talking animatedly, but his voice is lost in SOUND.
NARRATOR
You have never heard of Theophilus Hazlik. His anonymity costs him over ten million credits per year. He owns an interstellar shipping agency, seven industrial combines, and two countries on two planets. One of them is on Earth.
He is the host.
CUT TO: MEDIUM TWO SHOT of HAZLIK and CELIA OBRAVILLA. FEEL dopestick in CELIA’S left hand, HOLD glass FEEL in right. FEEL cool airco breeze on exposed breasts, silk cape over shoulders, silk trousers, and no underclothing. Mix TASTE good dope and wine. SOMATIC: Dope 0.30, female sexual tension 0.10. (CELIA is about forty but looks half that. See if Special Effects can get across a somatic subliminal of cosmetic surgery; face and body).
NARRATOR
Celia Obravilla. Born into big money, married bigger. Husband died and she invested wisely. She would be the most sought-after woman at the party…except there were certain questions about her husband’s death…of course, it would be gauche to suggest…and dangerous…
SOUND UNDER and TIGHT ON CELIA.
CELIA
GESTURING WITH DOPESTICK
…tiresome, tiresome. I told him, Professor, if I can’t buy it, nobody can; and if it can’t be bought, I don’t want it.
SOUND UP and CUT to SAUL MORENO. He is a small dark man, sitting alone in a corner. FEEL tight formal clothes that don’t quite fit, heat from coffee mug in right hand. TASTE aftertaste of bitter coffee. SOMATIC NULL.
TIGHT ON MORENO.
NARRATOR
You might have heard of this man, if your profession involves prostitution or wholesale distribution of smuggled interstellar goods. He is Saul Moreno…
MORENO sips coffee. TASTE real coffee flavored with honey and cardamom.
NARRATOR
…and he is not the only criminal here. For instance—
CUT to FREDRIKA OBLIMOV, talking seriously to someone off-camera. She is very old, but beautiful in a cool, elegant way. SOMATIC: generalized aches and twinges of old age. Strong TASTE of gin, though she isn’t holding a glass. SUBLIMINALS: feel of spiderwebs and smell of mildew.
NARRATOR
This is Fredrika Oblimov, who is the oldest person at the party and probably the most dangerous. She owns an army, but it is not a conventional one. She has made a moderately large fortune by arranging to have very important people murdered. These by verbal contracts, paid in advance, books juggled in advance to hide her fee, hypnotic wipe of memory of agreement. No money-back guarantee, but she claims never to have failed. She has a contract on one of the people at this party.
Watch now: she is telling a joke.
SOUND OUT and explosive laughter. CAMERA CUTS from person to person, six people standing around FREDRIKA, all laughing desperately. FEEL, SMELL, TASTE, SOMATIC: NULL. HOLD SUBLIMINALS and ADD ADRENALINE: 0.10.
CAMERA HOLDS on seventh man, who is not laughing, but has a small innocent smile.
NARRATOR
Do you see this man?
HOLD NULL and SUBLIMINAL DISSOLVE to SUBLIMINAL: Feel of cold marble and ADD ADRENALINE: 0.12. DOLLY to BIG CLOSE-UP on face: no movement whatsoever except eyes, slowly scanning from left to right.
NARRATOR
He works for Fredrika. Or, if you prefer, he is her husband. This week.
CAMERA PANS down arm to left hand. BIG CLOSE-UP on hand, thumb rubbing across fingertips.
NARRATOR
This is not a hand. It’s a prosthetic device: the fingernails are harder than steel and keener than razors. Underneath the fingernails, a fast-acting nerve poison.
ADD ADRENALINE: 0.15 and ADD somatic SUBLIMINAL: Nausea. SOUND UP as laughing dies.
NARRATOR
He is careful whom he touches.
CUT TO: MEDIUM SHOT of FREDRIKA and the people surrounding her.
FREDRIKA
You are all so kind.
CUT TO: MEDIUM SHOT of HAZLIK. FEEL, TASTE as before, ADRENALINE and SUBLIMINALS OUT.
HAZLIK
LOUDLY, WELL OVER SOUND
All right, everybody. Let the feast begin!
FADE TO COMMERCIAL.
COMMERCIAL. (One minute Stiffener © spot)
FADE IN ESTABLISHING SHOT II: Same scene as first establishing shot, but buffet table is now a confusion of empty serving dishes, picked bones, empty bottles, etc. SMELL and TASTE: Good food and drink, tang of dope and tobacco smoke. SOMATIC: Pleasantly full, satisfied feeling. SOUND of slightly more animated conversation over subdued clatter of dishes and servants clean off table.
CUT TO: MEDIUM SHOT of HAZLIK standing, talking to an attractive woman seated on a cushion. FREDRIKA and her companion approach.
FREDRIKA
Pardon me, Theo…
CUT TO: MEDIUM CLOSE-UP of HAZLIK as he turns, carefully does not react, smiles warmly. SOMATIC: Small shiver and ADRENALINE: 0.05.
HAZLIK
Ah, Fredrika.
CUT TO: MEDIUM GROUP SHOT of HAZLIK, FREDRIKA, and COMPANION.
FREDRIKA
Theo, I don’t think you’ve met my husband, George.
HAZLIK knows exactly what GEORGE is. As they shake hands: ADRENALINE: 0.10, SUBLIMINAL: Feel and smell of clotted blood. FEEL of rough skin against rough skin.
HAZLIK
URBANE: HONEST OPEN SMILE, CRINKLED EYES.
My pleasure.
GEORGE
COLD SMILE
Yes.
MEDIUM TWO SHOT from George’s point of view: HAZLIK and FREDRIKA silently regard each other just a moment longer than politeness would allow. ADRENALINE, SUBLIMINAL OUT. SOMATIC: Nerve in neck begins throbbing.
HAZLIK
QUESTIONING
Business has been good.
FREDRIKA
No worse than usual.
PAUSE AND IRONIC SMILE
Men still pay for my services. Fatal attraction.
HAZLIK does not smile. ADRENALINE: 0.12, SOMATIC: Nausea of fear. HAZLIK drinks large gulp, TASTE and SMELL of warm brandy going down. NAUSEA UP and ADD SOMATIC: gagging reflex.
HAZLIK
COUGHS
Pardon me. (COUGHS AGAIN) Have to cut down on my dope.
FREDRIKA
I can recommend a good hypnotist.
HAZLIK
CATCHING REFERENCE TO F’S BUSINESS METHODS
I’ve tried that. Several times, I think.
FREDRIKA
MERRILY, GLIDING AWAY
You’re right, you’re right.
SUBLIMINAL: Feel of cobwebs and sound of batwings.
HAZLIK turns back to young lady. ADRENALINE HOLD and SUBLIMINAL OUT. SOMATIC: Male sexual tension 0.10.
INTERCUT CLOSE-UPS, HAZLIK and GIRL.
HAZLIK
You were saying?
Girl is wearing gossamer chemise. FEEL of silk against nipples and thighs. SOMATIC: Female sexual tension 0.20. SMELL of vaginal musk and perfume. GIRL runs tongue between lips rapidly. TASTE and FEEL of warm flesh.
GIRL
Not what I was saying. What I was thinking…
HAZLIK
BACK IN CONTROL
Do you think often?
GIRL
IGNORES JIBE
I was wondering what it would be like to make love to a billionaire.
HAZLIK
SOMATIC: Male sexual tension 0.30.
Seven times over.
GIRL
CONFUSED
Seven times?
HAZLIK
CHUCKLES. SOMATIC: Male sexual tension 0.40.
No, no—seven billion.
GIRL
GIGGLES
I thought…
HAZLIK
SOMATIC: Male sexual tension 0.50, SMELL: Male musk, FEEL: erection fighting clothes.
LAUGHS
Anything’s possible.
LAP DISSOLVE to HAZLIK and girl making love on lawn.
(Avoid stock intercourse stimulus/response package. The important thing to get across is the idea that H
azlik is sexually potent yet emotionally empty.)
(Consider the following sequence merely as a guide to the director. Much, of course, depends on the individual actors’ feeling for one another—Stiffener © or no!)
STROBE ALTERNATION
GIRL: FEEL: soles of feet, buttocks, shoulder blades, back of head all on grass—going back and forth a couple of centimeters with each thrust; HAZLIK’S chest hair rubbing against breasts, hairy legs gently abrading inside thighs; slightly painful bumping contact between pubic bones, faces not in contact, his hands pressed against small of back. SMELL: Male musk under dope and wine. SOMATIC: Penis rigid inside vagina, active but controlled, very long thrusts alternating with short quick ones; her sexual response during minute of ALTERNATION before orgasm equals 0.50 + .006667t(sin{t/7.78), t in seconds. Then four orgasms, decreasing in intensity as they increase in painfulness, separated by 8, 6, and 4 seconds…then SMELL: Female musk UP and add perspiration. FEEL: Pain from pubic bone contact UP on last two orgasms. SUBLIMINAL: Taste of blood HAZLIK: FEEL: Elbows to forearms on grass, sharing weight with knees. Fingertips move from buttock cleavage to lumbar dimples. Vagina is almost excessively moist; penis slipping forward and back with almost no resistance. Breasts moving regularly, deforming under his chest. Toenails digging into dirt. SMELL: Vaginal musk and perspiration, grass. TASTE: Aftertaste of good dope and brandy. SOMATIC: Constant male sexual tension 0.75 throughout preorgasm minute (distracted, enjoying stiffness of penis more than he is the loving). Slightly painful rhythmic contact between testicles and GIRL’S buttocks. Simultaneously with GIRL’S last orgasm, HAZLIK ejaculates without joy. SUBLIMINAL: Carrying heavy weight. BOTH: Stock SOUND of intercourse.
HAZLIK and GIRL remain joined for about thirty seconds, panting wordlessly after last orgasm. FADE OUT HAZLIK: FEEL, SMELL, SOMATIC. GIRL: FEEL: HAZLIK slipping out of her, she clasps legs over his body.
GIRL
You were very good.
HAZLIK
PATS SHOULDER AWKWARDLY AND SLIPS OUT OF HER
So were you, child.
GIRL
LITTLE VOICE
Don’t you want to talk? Sit here a minute and…maybe…
HAZLIK
DRESSING, CHUCKLES
Not right now, no…I’m host of this thing, remember? Have to get back and mix.
GIRL stretches out on her side, watching HAZLIK dress. FEEL: Grass prickling arm, head on arm, puddle of sweat trickles out of navel, stock postcoital stickiness and languor but SOMATIC: Female sexual tension 0.20 (vaguely unsatisfied). SUBLIMINAL: Female orgasm 0.05, feel of feathers stroking places that can’t be reached.
GIRL
I…of course.
LONG TWO SHOT as HAZLIK stretches and yawns hugely, smiles at GIRL and says good-bye with casual wave. CAMERA FOLLOWS as he returns to party. He passes several other couples making love, but of course pays no attention, except to exchange spoken greeting with one man.
CUT TO: LONG SHOT, party interior. SMELL: Dope and tobacco smoke, incense, crowd odor very slight, alcohol and coffee. There are about sixty people standing and sitting around in small groups. HAZLIK enters through inconspicuous automatic door, walks toward bar. SOMATIC: Thirst, nervous energy. SUBLIMINAL: Male sexual tension 0.05.
HAZLIK
TO BARTENDER
Double wine punch, ice.
MEDIUM TWO SHOT as CELIA approaches HAZLIK’S back. ADRENALINE: 0.10, SUBLIMINAL: Feel of hands squeezing HAZLIK’S throat.
CELIA
Having a good time, Darling?
HAZLIK
TURNS
Ah, Celia. Darling. Yes, a wonderful time.
CELIA
TO BARTENDER (OFF)
Cold bhang, please…Thank you.
CELIA moves in very close to HAZLIK, smiles.
CELIA
OVER GLASS, VENOMOUS WHISPER
You old goat…that…child!
HAZLIK
ARTIFICIAL SMILE. SUBLIMINAL: Buggery, violent rape.
I didn’t know you’d had experience with goats, too, darling.
CELIA
Only you, my dear.
Tense silence for several seconds. TASTE: Cold bhang, spiced wine. SOMATIC: Dope 0.05. ADRENALINE down and OUT.
HAZLIK
SOFTENING SLIGHTLY
She was something special to you?
CELIA gulps half of her drink and looks away from HAZLIK, abstracted. SOMATIC: Dope 0.10.
CELIA
Once.
SUBLIMINAL: Fear spectrum slowly UP to SOMATIC: Stomach tightens, ADRENALINE: 0.20 as HAZLIK remembers CELIA’S reputation.
HAZLIK
SLOWLY
I’m sorry. I really am…there was no way I could have known.
CELIA
LOOKING AT HIM STRANGELY.
No.
CELIA walks away as HAZLIK studies his drink. SOMATIC: Fear spectrum fade DOWN and slowly OUT. HAZLIK walks off in other direction. CAMERA FOLLOWS for a short distance. HAZLIK idly stops to watch a dice game in progress on a table which is a large block of natural crystal. The three dice clatter down and come to a rest: fifteen. Mixed murmurs of approval and unhappiness. Money changes hands. SUBLIMINAL: Feel, smell of money. SOUND of money crinkling.
PLAYER
High up sans thirteen.
OTHER PLAYERS
Cover high.
Low middle.
High middle.
Low field.
PLAYER
Thirteen, somebody.
HAZLIK
How much?
PLAYER
One thou…oh, Hazlik. Good party. Why don’t you wait for a field?
HAZLIK
Ah…luck is luck.
While HAZLIK takes wallet from cape pocket, MORENO approaches, comes up very close.
TIGHT TWO SHOT as MORENO speaks softly to HAZLIK. SMELL: Strong coffee on breath.
MORENO
WHISPERS
Hazlik. I have to talk to you.
HAZLIK hands single bill to PLAYER, turns back to MORENO.
HAZLIK
A LITTLE ANNOYED
Can’t it wait?
MORENO
No. Not at all.
HAZLIK turns back on game as dice clatter. CAMERA FOLLOWS as he walks off with MORENO.
PLAYER (OFF)
Fifteen again!
HAZLIK
AS THEY WALK
Well?
MORENO
LOOKING AROUND
One of your guests, um…(WHISPERS) have you met Fredrika’s escort?
HAZLIK
EXPRESSIONLESS
Yes. Pleasant fellow.
MORENO
Can we go somewhere in private?
HAZLIK
SHRUGS
The outside balcony. Here.
They both step into a lift zone and float to the second floor.
SOMATIC: Stomach dropping reinforced by ADRENALINE: 0.10. HAZLIK opens manual door and steps outside. MORENO follows.
LONG SHOT past HAZLIK as he goes to edge of balcony and looks out over grounds. The full moon is up; acres of neat grass, landscaping, formal gardens. SMELL: Flowers, grass. SOUND: Crickets, far-off jungle noises, MORENO’S footsteps as he comes to join HAZLIK.
TIGHT TWO SHOT on MORENO and HAZLIK.
MORENO
You keep the jungle away quite well.
HAZLIK
Yes. I wish I could pattern my life so. (SMILES) Fredrika?
INTERCUT CLOSE-UPS MORENO and HAZLIK.
MORENO
Her “George.” He worked for me once. I had to discharge him.
HAZLIK
STILL GAZING OVER GROUNDS
For good reason, I’m sure.
MORENO
He killed a man.
HAZLIK laughs, a short bark, and looks at MORENO, wryly.
HAZLIK
You’ve never killed a man.
MORENO snorts and walks a short distance away. He talks into the night.
MORENO
I’m not talking about business. He killed this man for pleasure…
PAUSE. SUBLIMINAL: Spiders crawling through filth.
after making love to him. I later found…(PAUSE) that he had done it before. Also to women.
HAZLIK
LIGHTLY
He seems a man well suited to his profession.
HAZLIK turns his back to the railing and studies the party below, through the glass doors. SOUND: Faint party noises.
HAZLIK
What has this to do with me?
MORENO
Everything and nothing. (TURNS) There will be murder here tonight. She wouldn’t have brought…him…as a social ornament.
HAZLIK takes out a dopestick and has trouble waving it alight. TIGHT on HAZLIK as he blows the tip into flame and sucks. SOMATIC: Dope 0.40 then UNDER to 0.10.
HAZLIK
This is the most private of private property, on Earth. She will play her games and there will be no trouble, unless somebody wants to make trouble. With her, not many would.
MORENO
Don’t you care who is going to die in your own house?
HAZLIK
I don’t care to know. Not ahead of time.
MORENO
Not even if it’s a friend, or someone you love? Not even if it is yourself?
HAZLIK turns around again, slowly, and throws dopestick over balcony edge. He watches the spark fall and die.