HOUSE OF CARDS HOC 201 Written by Beau Willimon Directed by Carl Franklin Knight Takes King Productions, LLC WHITE DRAFT (4.15.13) Knight Takes King Productions, LLC BLUE REV. DRAFT (4.22.13) c/o MRC Studios PINK REV. DRAFT(4.25.13) 1800 Century Park East, 10th Floor YELLOW REV. DRAFT (6.06.13) Los Angeles, CA 90067 AS BROADCAST (1.30.14) This material is the property of Knight Takes King Productions, LLC and is intended solely for use by its personnel and other authorized persons. Distribution or sale to any unauthorized persons or duplication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. 1 EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT 67 1 We begin where we ended - the Underwoods’ neighborhood. Francis and Claire appear in the distance, running side by side through the shadows. As they reach the end of a path, they pause. Look around. With a nod to each other, they start off again. 2 EXT. UNDERWOOD RESIDENCE - NIGHT 67 2 Stamper waits by the front steps - stoic, but agitation in his eyes. Meechum waits with him. A long pause. Stamper glances at his watch. MEECHUM We could jump in the car, if... STAMPER We’ll wait. Another pause. To fill up the silence... MEECHUM Did you get the Congressman anything for his birthday? STAMPER No. MEECHUM I got him cuff links. Silver, with his - STAMPER We don’t talk about birthdays. And we don’t do gifts. MEECHUM Why not? STAMPER You should return the cuff links. Francis and Claire appear behind Stamper. FRANCIS Doug. STAMPER I tried calling you. (CONTINUED) 201 As Broadcast (01/30/2014) 2. 2 CONTINUED: 2 FRANCIS I left my phone in-- STAMPER We need to talk. Francis walks up beside Stamper. In hushed tones -- FRANCIS What’s going on? STAMPER Christina. I just spoke to her. FRANCIS Did Zoe...? STAMPER Yeah. And that’s not all. They tracked down Rachel too. CLAIRE (O.S.) Francis? 3 INT. UNDERWOOD RESIDENCE - 1ST FLR - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 673 Francis stretching, using the couch arm for support. He still has his running attire on. Stamper stands beside him. Claire is in the kitchen during the beginning of the scene getting two glasses of water. We can hear the clinking of glasses and the running of the faucet in the background. FRANCIS Tell me about Rachel. Where is she? STAMPER I have her under control. FRANCIS That’s not what I asked. STAMPER I drove her home. We don’t have to worry about her. FRANCIS You said the same about Ms. Skorsky. (beat) Anyone else involved? (CONTINUED) 201 As Broadcast (01/30/2014) 3. 3 CONTINUED: 3 STAMPER Just Janine and Zoe. They asked about Russo’s arrest. And they know he went to see Kapeniak. I assume that’s as far as they’ve gotten. FRANCIS Assume nothing. STAMPER I’ll alert Barney Hull. What do you want me to do about Zoe? FRANCIS I’ll handle Zoe. Get to work. STAMPER Yes sir. Stamper nods and exits. Francis heads to the smoking window. Opens the cigarette box. There’s nothing inside. Claire enters with the two waters and hands one of them to Francis. CLAIRE I emptied it. You’re another year older on Tuesday. And we can’t have a Vice President who smokes. 4 OMIT 4 5 INT. ZOE’S APARTMENT - DAY 68 5 Lucas and Zoe in a tangle - sweat, moans, muscles flexing, backs arching. Zoe on her stomach, Lucas on top of her. TIGHT on Zoe’s face. The more vigorous he becomes, the more distant she does. He quickens his pace, lost in the moment. He has given himself over to pure physicality. But Zoe is complete disconnection, the residue of past experiences vaulting her out of the moment into numbness. ZOE Can you finish? (CONTINUED) 201 As Broadcast (01/30/2014) 4. 5 CONTINUED: 5 LUCAS What? ZOE I’m good. Lucas drops down beside her. LUCAS What’s wrong? ZOE Nothing. I just said finish. LUCAS I don’t want to just...if you’re not... ZOE Okay, fine. Whatever. She gets up, heads toward the bathroom. LUCAS Zoe? Did I do something that made you...? ZOE No. LUCAS Zoe, you can’t say something like “just finish” and shut down. We hear the shower go on. Lucas gets up and heads into the bathroom. Zoe is facing the stream. LUCAS (CONT’D) This is safe, Zoe. I’m not him. A coldness comes over Zoe. She pulls back the curtain. Stares at him. 6 INT. FRANCIS’S INNER OFFICE - DAY 68 6 JACQUELINE SHARP (mid 30s), seated in an armchair, one of her legs casually draped over the other. She’s sexy, but her demeanor is business-like. She’s self-possessed, with sharp, observant eyes. She’s looking at the encased whip on the wall. Her gaze shifts to the left. (CONTINUED) 201 As Broadcast (01/30/2014) 5. 6 CONTINUED: 6 She turns to see Francis enter. FRANCIS Good morning, Jackie. SHARP Good morning. They shake hands. She points to a pair of photos on the wall showing LBJ intimidating one of his colleagues. SHARP (CONT’D) Richard Russell? FRANCIS Civil Rights Act. 1963. SHARP Not everyone can be on the right side of history. FRANCIS Not even Lyndon for a time, but he would’ve never become Majority Leader without him. SHARP Well there’s no Johnson Senate building. FRANCIS No, he had to settle for a Presidential library. (changing course) So it’s been some time since you and I have had a chance to catch up. You’ve been an outstanding Deputy, Jackie. Far more effective than your more seasoned colleagues. You’re a coalition builder. Fighter when you have to be. Tell me, where do you see yourself headed? SHARP I’d like to aim for the Chair of Armed Services. Or Homeland Security. FRANCIS Have you ever considered serving in the Leadership? (CONTINUED) 201 As Broadcast (01/30/2014) 6. 6 CONTINUED: 6 SHARP I figure that might be possible eight, ten years from now. FRANCIS What if I suggested you could be in the Leadership this term. To replace me - as Whip. This is the very last thing Sharp was expecting. She thinks for a moment, then puts it together -- SHARP You’re being tapped for V.P. FRANCIS Let’s assume that’s true. SHARP Well that makes sense, but me as Whip... FRANCIS Yes. SHARP A third-term Congresswoman? FRANCIS A universally admired incumbent. Who also happens to be a war veteran. SHARP Webb is next in line. Or Buchwalter. FRANCIS Mmhmm. So just consider that for a moment. SHARP They’ll draw votes from one another. FRANCIS Oh, I’m not saying you wouldn’t have to fight for it. As Francis gets up and heads over to his computer -- (CONTINUED) 201 As Broadcast (01/30/2014) 7. 6 CONTINUED: 6 FRANCIS (CONT’D) But I’d be willing to give you the ammunition. Come over here. He types a few strokes on the keyboard. She gets up, joins him. They look at the screen. SHARP What is this? FRANCIS My files on Webb and Buchwalter. She glances at him, alarmed. FRANCIS (CONT’D) Why don’t you take a look. We’ll speak in a few days. She sits as Francis heads for the door. FRANCIS (CONT’D) Oh and there’s one on you. You might want to begin by reading that one first. And he’s out. TIGHT on the computer screen. We see Jackie move the cursor to the file that says “Sharp.” She clicks. As she looks over the file, we CUT TO -- A7 INT. LUCAS’ CAR - DAY 68 A7 Lucas driving, Zoe in the passenger seat, texting Janine. LUCAS What’d Janine say? ZOE The strip club’s not open yet. You’ll look into Kapeniak? LUCAS If he’s on the grid I’ll find him. ZOE Drop me at Metro Center. LUCAS Not the office? ZOE I’m gonna talk to Rachel. (CONTINUED) 201 As Broadcast (01/30/2014) 8. A7 CONTINUED: A7 LUCAS She’ll deny everything, like she did last night. ZOE She can’t deny getting into Stamper’s car. You saw her. LUCAS Maybe you send a version of the story - about her Dad... ZOE No one would print it. LUCAS Rachel doesn’t know that. ZOE She said “Go to town, bitch.” It won’t work. I have to get in her face. 7 OMIT 7 8 INT. WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE - DAY 68 8 Francis walks through the ante-room. As he enters the Oval Office, he sees WALKER behind his desk and BIRCH, WOMACK and VASQUEZ seated on the couches. They all stand (except for Walker) as he enters, greet, shake hands. WOMACK (to Francis, genuinely) Congratulations. BIRCH (anything but) We’re thrilled for you. FRANCIS Thank you. As they all sit. WALKER (to Francis) I wanted to fill in Bob and Terry personally. Now let’s get to it. He looks to Vasquez. (CONTINUED) 201 As Broadcast (01/30/2014) 9. 8 CONTINUED: 8 WALKER (CONT’D) I have to leave for Pittsburgh in - what? VASQUEZ Twenty minutes. WALKER (to Francis) Home stretch with Jim. Whistle-stop tour. FRANCIS Looking good out there. WALKER Very good. But we don’t want to take any chances. Now, your replacement as Whip, Frank. Bob has already shared some thoughts. BIRCH I like Howard Webb. FRANCIS Webb is a solid choice. Have you thought about Wes Buchwalter? BIRCH (to Walker) Buchwalter’s a hot-head.