211A West 57th Street

2. INT. THE HARBOR MASTER’S OFFICE – DAY In a small office, strewn with papers, A CLERK sits behind his desk, playing solitaire. His ASSISTANT comes in and speaks to him in Arabic (with English subtitles). ASSISTANT She’s here again. CLERK (Without taking his eyes off the cards) Tell her to go away. ASSISTANT She won’t go away. CLERK You told her the lists aren’t public? ASSISTANT Four or five times. CLERK She needs an official police request in writing. ASSISTANT She says she has one. CLERK You saw it? ASSISTANT She’s very pretty. CLERK You never told me. ASSISTANT It wasn’t relevant … CLERK Idiot. Show her in immediately. The assistant backs out and turns to call the woman but she is right behind him. He waves her in with a smile. MARIGNY CHENIER is 19 or 20, with a small, slight figure, which she carries with dignity and seriousness. She wears a dark, floor-length Moroccan kaftan, and her head is covered Moslem-style with a chador. The clerk barely has time to cover his cards with a document and gesture her to the chair in front of his desk. CLERK (Cont.) (He first speaks to her in Arabic but when she doesn’t understand, switches to French, with English subtitles) Your passport, Mademoiselle. She places her passport on his desk. He looks at it with surprise. CLERK (Cont.) You’re American? MARIGNY Yes. He opens the passport and stops at the name. CLERK Marigny Chenier. That’s not an American name. MARIGNY It is in New Orleans. The clerk nods and flips through the visas. CLERK Mexico, El Salvador, Peru, Tahiti, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Egypt … You’ve done quite a bit of traveling for a woman your age. Marigny shrugs. CLERK (Cont.) The police request. MARIGNY I don’t have it. The clerk raises an eyebrow. He looks her over, clearly contemplating some kind of sexual sport. CLERK It seems we have a problem here. MARIGNY It is written, “Woe unto he who would be seen at worship yet refuse small kindnesses.” CLERK Excuse me? MARIGNY Surah 107, revealed to Mohammed at Mecca. CLERK Come again? MARIGNY It is also written, “Whoever doeth an ill-deed, he will be repaid the like thereof, while whoso doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, such will enter the Garden.” Surah 40, verse 40, also revealed at Mecca. CLERK You are a believer? MARIGNY As you are. Bothered by the suspicion that he may be dealing with a madwoman, the clerk decides it would be easier to capitulate. CLERK Alright, alright, what are you looking for? MARIGNY The crew list of the freighter, Agnes May, which leaves tomorrow. CLERK We have them computerized now. I’ll set it up for you. He pecks at the keyboard with one-finger, muttering to himself, as she watches him intently. CLERK Here we are. Are you looking for someone in particular? MARIGNY Juan Covarrubius. The clerk scans the list with his finger, not wanting to admit he doesn’t know how to spell the man’s name. Impatiently, Marigny leaves her chair and goes behind the clerk’s desk to see for herself. MARIGNY Let me look. She scans the list and scrolls down to see more names, edging out the clerk. MARIGNY (Cont.) He may be using a different name. How do I get the crews of the other ships leaving this week? Oh, I see. As she manipulates the computer with considerable expertise, the clerk feels left out and begins to hum to himself. MARIGNY (Cont.) Quiet. She switches from one list to another with ever increasing ferocity. CLERK Hope you find him soon. MARIGNY In sha’Allah. Is this all? What about fishing boats, pleasure yachts? CLERK We don’t keep records of those. She takes a manila envelope out of her bag and hands him a poster with a man’s picture on it, along with his name, aliases, description and contract information. MARIGNY Have you seen this man? CLERK No. She places it on his desk. MARIGNY Post this on your wall outside. If you have any information at all, I’ll be at the Hotel de Fez until tomorrow midday. She stands up, preparing to leave. You’ve been most helpful. Allah rewards the generous. CUT TO: 3. INT. THE CENTRAL ROOM OUTSIDE THE CLERK’S OFFICE Marigny passes by the Assistant’s desk on her way out. They speak in French (with English subtitles). ASSISTANT Did you get what you wanted? MARIGNY Yes, thank you. ASSISTANT How did you convince him? MARIGNY I can be very persuasive. (Muttering to herself, in English, as she leaves) Usually, I have to give them blow jobs.