A Tricky Game

Except that there seems to be a little misunderstanding.

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

Which one, Monsieur MacBride?

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Apparently, the note you gave me wasn’t from her.

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

That’s right, Monsieur MacBride.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

But why did you say it was?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

How else do you think I’d persuade you to go to her flat?

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Is this some sort of freaking game?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

I think you can call it life, Monsieur MacBride.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Yeah, maybe, but what’s in this game for you, Monsieur Moreaux?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

The security of Mademoiselle Angela.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Well, then why haven’t you protected her?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

What makes you think I haven’t?

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

If you had, she wouldn’t have ended up in hospital.

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

Perhaps, she might have ended up in a much worse place than that.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

I see, though it doesn’t make sense to me.

INT. RESIDENTIAL BUILDING (MOSCOW) – NIGHT

Faded blue walls display patches of peeled off paint. The worn-out terracotta tiles of the floor bear traces of dark grey slush.

MacBride enters, adding a fresh trail of slushed foot prints.

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)

Monsieur MacBride, I would very much appreciate your further co-operation.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

My further co-operation in what?

MacBride shakes snow off his coat. The mobile slips out of his hand and HITS the floor.

The line goes QUIET.

MacBride picks his mobile up and walks into —

THE LIFT

He presses the third-floor button. As the lift goes up, the light flickers.

His mobile RINGS. MacBride hits ‘answer’.