Scene Seventeen – The Ambassador’s Residence

Ambassador Stewart’s wife, Simone, is going through a heap of dresses. Finally, she brings one over to where Renhart and Alicia are standing, dripping onto her carpets.

Simone: This one is good. I bought it ages ago, but I’ve hardly worn it.

Alicia: I’m sorry.

Simone: Nn-nn. It’ll suit you better, I’m certain of it. … The design is too tight for me.

Renhart: We’ve put you to a lot of trouble. I’d rather have visited under slightly more usual circumstances.

Simone: It’s fine! I’ve heard all about your job from my husband, so I’m not especially surprised. In any case, I’m glad neither of you was hurt.

Renhart: Yes.

Simone: But although I heard that you quit and was reassured, you’re still getting into trouble?

Renhart: No, we were just affected by chance, is all.

Simone: I see… If there’s anything that Stewart can do, ask him. I called him, so he should be home soon.

Renhart: Thank you.

Alicia sneezes.

Simone: Ah, I’m sorry.

Alicia: Oh no.

Simone: I’m just all- Ah, let’s go this way and get you changed.

There’s the sound of a car stopping and the door opening.

Simone: Ah, he’s home.

The ambassador enters.

Simone: Dear.

He seems preoccupied.

Ambassador: Yes….

Renhart: I’m very sorry for bursting in on you so suddenly.

Ambassador: No, it’s fine…

Simone: This is Alicia!

Ambassador: Ah, yes, nice to meet you. I’m Stewart Grenger.

Alicia: I’m Alicia Fiorentino. I’m sorry for the…

Ambassador: No, please take your time.

Simone: What’s happened? You look worried.

Ambassador: Well…

Renhart: …Is there something?

Ambassador: You’ve been indicted.

Renhart: Indicted?

Ambassador: By your former superior. It seems when he found evidence that you were involved in smuggling weapons with your partner, he sent an indictment against you to the Pentagon. I was only just told.

Renhart: ….

Simone tries to guide Alicia out of the room.

Simone: Now then, let’s go.

Alicia: Wait a moment, please.

Ambassador: It’s truly outrageous, completely.

Renhart: Ambassador.

Ambassador: Did you need money that badly, that you sold weapons on the black market?

Renhart: Listen to me, please, there’s a reason for this.

Ambassador: What kind of reason? What kind of reason is there to do such a thing?

Renhart: ….

Ambassador: You need to object now. You can’t stay silent like this. What kind of man is your superior, anyway?

Renhart: Then, you believe me?

Ambassador: Naturally. That you would do such a…. Did you really do it?

Renhart: I didn’t!

Ambassador: Of course! You wouldn’t.

Renhart: Thank you.

Simone: Now then, we can’t let you catch a cold.

Alicia: Yes, but…

Simone: It’s all right, don’t worry.

Renhart (voice-over): This is bad; he’s preempted me. There’s no doubt that he’s got sufficient evidence for his defense. Well then, what now? Having me shot at was a blunder, and he’s impatient. He intends to deal with me publicly this time. But he doesn’t know yet that he’s been uncovered as a murderer himself. That’s his weak point.

Ambassador: I see, so he intends to blame you for his crimes?

Renhart: That’s how it is.

Ambassador: It seems he’s come to Buenos Aires to introduce things into the market.

Renhart: Really?

Ambassador: To save face for the CIA over his former underling’s misconduct by personally tidying it up; that seems to be what he’s boasting.

Renhart: Proof that he’s impatient. There’s a lot that he doesn’t want talked about, right? At all costs, he intends to get rid of me himself.

Ambassador: What are you going to do about that?

Renhart: With things as they are, I can’t step out into public view without loosing, can I, so I need to think of something….

Simone and Alicia come back into the room, with Alicia now in dry clothing.

Simone: Hey now, look at this.

Ambassador: Hooo…

Simone: It really suits her, doesn’t it?

Ambassador: I liked it when you wore it too, but for every person who wears something, it shines in a different way.

Simone: That’s very true. But I think that speaking style of yours is cheating.

Ambassador: Hum. Well, I’m also going to go change.

Simone: Into some shining clothes?

Ambassador: Mm.

Simone: Now then, well, you’ll have to excuse me, I have to prepare dinner.

Renhart: No, we couldn’t-

Simone: It’s not like you to be so restrained! Listen now, there’s no rush; enjoy yourselves.

Renhart: … How about staying?

Alicia: Eh? But can you really afford to?

Renhart: Getting into a panic won’t help anything.

Alicia: What on earth are you going to do?

Renhart: I’m definitely going to win. I’ll think of what I need to do to win. That’s all.

Alicia: … Um, there’s a home office, isn’t there? What about contacting them? I’ll give testimony.

Renhart: No good. If it came to trial, for example, they’d be a step or two ahead of us. Your testimony alone wouldn’t do any good.

Alicia: Then how can you win?

Renhart: I believe that I can. Until the bitter end. I will definitely win.

Alicia: If you lose?

Renhart: I die, that’s all.

Alicia: …..

Renhart: You won’t go through that. I’ve asked the ambassador, and he’ll keep you hidden. Please, forget that you know anything about it.

Alicia: …….

Renhart: ….I’m a little unsure that Carlos and the others spoke frankly. But if I win, that will keep them safe.

Alicia: Then I can’t hide.

Renhart: …..

Alicia: You should win, right? There has to be something that I can do too. If I act as the go-between, then you can collaborate with Carlos and the others, can’t you?

Renhart: No, that’s-

Alicia: Please let me. It would be awful if I was the only one hidden and safe.

Renhart: …..

Alicia: Will I be a burden? But please understand. I can’t bear to be left behind again, like when they took my father. I want to go with you.

Renhart: Alicia….

Ambassador: Renhart, I’ve thought of a good one. How about this?

He spots them on the couch, obviously having a moment, and backs out of the room.

Ambassador: W-we’ll talk later.

Renhart (voice over): In the end she had her way, though if I could have, I wanted to keep her someplace out of harm’s way. But her words gave me a hint. It would be just as well if Hume came to us. For god’s sake, if things keep up this way I’ll have a complete brigade. Nothing for it but to take the risk. Isn’t that good, though? I’ll pick up Bruce’s enemy.

Scene Eighteen – A Street

Alicia and Johanne meet.

Johanne: And how is his injury?

Alicia: It doesn’t seem good.

Johanne: I see. Well, in any case, show me the way there. I’ll have one of my coworkers call a doctor.

Alicia: All right.

Renhart (voice-over): A mistake would be unforgivable. Not now that even Alicia is wrapped up in this mess. Whether things proceed as we expect… I must win? – Those words are more true now than they were the many times I was told them when I was a spy. I didn’t think coming to this town would get me stuck once more with a job that depended on those words.

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 881