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Scene 1 - Irving and Richie's Turf War
AMERICAN HUSTLE


Written by


Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
TITLE CARD: SOME OF THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED

OVER BLACK: APRIL 26, 1978, PLAZA HOTEL, NEW YORK

1 FADE IN: 1


2 INT. PLAZA HOTEL WINDOW NYC - DAY 2

IRVING ROSENFELD, not a small man, gets dressed and
meticulously constructs his combover. Camera WRAPS AROUND,
see his hands with rings adjust his dark velvet suit, up to
his face, serious, concentrated, intense, he is composing
himself before a performance.

Irving is now dressed, ready, and walks down the hall to
another room.

3 SECOND PLAZA HOTEL ROOM -- Irving composes himself -- looks 3
into cramped surveillance closet, there are FBI Agents -- we
only see their hands and arms -- he looks at monitors -- sees
a BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE OF ANOTHER ROOM ON MONITOR: MAYOR
CARMINE POLITO, swath of salt and pepper hair, cream suit,
pinky ring, Rotary Club pin -- ALONG WITH CARL ELWAY, preppie
shady businessman.

He exhales pressure, turns as CAMERA PANS TO: SYDNEY PROSSER
(who will also be known for some time as EDITH GREENSLY),
stylish crafty smart. They stare at each other intensely --
they have a deep and emotional relationship. A DOOR BANGS
OPEN, and in walks RICHIE DIMASO, Bronx-born. He stands
there.

RICHIE DIMASO
What are you doing, going behind my
back? Telling people I'm screwing
up this operation? I got you a
suite at the fuckin' Plaza Hotel!

IRVING ROSENFELD
The shittiest suite at the Plaza
Hotel.

RICHIE DIMASO

What?!

IRV ROSENFELD
The shittiest fuckin' suite.

RICHIE DIMASO
Based on what--?
2.


IRVING ROSENFELD
And the food is wrong, and--What is
this? You, like, went in my closet
or something?

EDITH GREENSLY

No

IRVING ROSENFELD
Are you dressing him like you’re
dressing me now?

EDITH GREENSLY
(shakes her head)
No, what are you thinking? This
isn't all about you, you know that.

RICHIE DIMASO
What, did you try to dress me so I
would look like him?

EDITH GREENSLY
No, you're not dressed like him,
all right?

RICHIE DIMASO
But I do, I look like him.

EDITH GREENSLY
No, he's in like, velvet. Come on.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You asked me to show you how this
was done, you wanna fuck it up be
my guest.

EDITH GREENSLY
What is your problem?


RICHIE DIMASO
Hey, look, I never laid a hand on
her, all right? Is that what this
is about?

EDITH GREENSLY
(British accent)
Well technically, that’s not true.

RICHIE DIMASO
Look, we never had sex ok? I just --
3.


RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
What'd I do? I put my hand like
this --

Richie reaches out and puts his hand on Irving’s face very
carefully, not forcefully.

Irving swipes it away violently the second it touches his
face.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Don’t you fucking touch me. That
bothers me --

RICHIE DIMASO
Oh it does?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Oh yeah.

RICHIE DIMASO
That bothers you?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yes.

RICHIE DIMASO
You know, a lot of shit bothers me
too, but I was trying to help you.
If I wanted to bother you, if I
really wanted to fucking bother
you, this is what I’d do.


Richie takes his hand and destroys the combover Irving spent
so much time creating. Irving just stands there, hair ruined,
staring at Richie.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You shouldn’t have done that.

Irving just stands there staring at Richie, hair all wild and
messed up looking very angry.

RICHIE DIMASO
How’s that? You bothered now? (no
answer) Alright, don’t make a thing
of it.

EDITH GREENSLY
You shouldn’t touch him. He doesn’t
like that.
4.


RICHIE DIMASO
Oh my god, fix his hair. Don’t make
a thing of it.

EDITH GREENSLY
It takes some time, ok.

Edith walks over to Irving who is still standing there in
silence with his hair all over the place. She carefully
starts helping him put it back together.

RICHIE DIMASO
Big fucking deal. We got to get in
the other room, come on. The
mayor’s in there.

EDITH GREENSLY
Yes I know that.

RICHIE DIMASO
Should we go to the beauty parlor?
Is that what we should do?

Richie walks over and opens up a briefcase that’s sitting on
the dresser. Inside are stacks of cash.

Edith is still helping Irving put his hair back together.

IRVING ROSENFELD
How’s it look.

EDITH GREENSLY
You look fine.

Richie slams the briefcase shut looking very nervous and
intense.

RICHIE DIMASO
Let’s go.

CUT TO:


4 STEELY DAN’S “DIRTY WORK” STARTS ON THE SOUNDTRACK AS THEY 4
WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY THREE ACROSS: IRVING, EDITH, RICHIE.
RICHIE WITH BRIEFCASE IN HAND.
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Irving Rosenfeld, a seasoned con artist, and his girlfriend, Sydney Prosser, are preparing for a new operation with FBI agent, Richie Dimaso. In the Plaza Hotel, Irving gets into an argument with Richie over details of the setup while Sydney acts as a mediator between the two.
Strengths
  • Strong and well-defined characters
  • Engaging dialogue and conflict
  • Interesting premise
Weaknesses
  • Lack of action
  • Slow pacing at times
Critique Overall, the scene is well-written and engages the audience with its tension and character dynamics. However, there are a few areas for improvement:

1. The description of Irving Rosenfeld's appearance and actions feel excessive and can be trimmed down for better pacing.

2. The dialogue between the characters sometimes feels repetitive and could benefit from more variation in sentence structure and word choice.

3. The physical altercation between Richie and Irving feels forced and out of place, especially since the tension between them was already established through their dialogue. It may have been more effective to have their conflict reach a peak in a different way.

4. The use of Steely Dan's "Dirty Work" on the soundtrack could have been introduced earlier in the scene to add more depth and meaning to its inclusion. As it stands, it feels like an afterthought added in post-production.

Overall, the scene effectively establishes the relationships and tensions between the characters and serves as a strong setup for the rest of the film.
Suggestions 1. Simplify the language - Some of the dialogue feels repetitive and unnecessary. Consider cutting down on the banter and focusing on the main conflict of the scene.

2. Add more action - The scene is primarily focused on the characters talking and standing around. Consider adding more movement or action to make it more visually interesting.

3. Clarify the characters' motivations - The scene sets up tension between the characters, but it's not entirely clear why they are behaving the way they are. Flesh out their motivations and goals to make the conflict more engaging for the audience.

4. Consider adding more visual cues - The description of the characters' appearances is important, but it would be more effective to use visual cues to convey their personalities. For example, instead of saying Irving is "serious, concentrated, intense," show him adjusting his suit with precision and focus.

5. Finally, consider the pacing - The scene sets up the story and characters, but it could be tightened up slightly to move the story forward more quickly. Consider trimming some of the dialogue or action to keep the scene engaging without dragging.



Scene 2 - The Briefcase Exchange
5 INT. PLAZA HOTEL SUITE FOYER - DAY 5

SLOW MOTION -- DOUBLE DOORS PUSH OPEN AND Edith ENTERS THE
SUITE -- THEY WALK INTO --
5.


6 INT. PLAZA HOTEL LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 6

DRAMATIC PUSH IN ON: THE DESTINY OF THE STORY MAYOR CARMINE
POLITO PINKY RING, ROTARY CLUB PIN STANDS FINISHING STORY TO
BUSINESSMAN CARL ELWAY AS IRVING, EDITH, RICHIE WAIT FOR HIM
TO FINISH -- THEY ALL SHAKE HANDS AND SIT ON THE COUCH ACROSS
FROM EACH OTHER. RICHIE CAREFULLY SETS THE BRIEFCASE DOWN ON
THE GROUND NEXT TO HIS FEET. CUT TO THE SCENE AS VIEWED
THROUGH A SURVEILLANCE MONITOR. THE DATE AND TIME STAMP
VISIBLE.

CARMINE POLITO
I thought he was going to be here.
I do business face to face, person
to person. That’s just who I am.


Richie reaches down and awkwardly slides the briefcase over
to Carmine unprompted. LEAVE MONITOR’S POV AND RETURN BACK TO
THE SCENE.

IRV’S EYES WIDEN AS IN ‘NO! DON’T DO THAT!’ WHILE HE AND
RICHIE STARE AT EACH OTHER, EDITH TENSE, CARMINE LOOKS
DISTURBED AT THE CASE COMING HIS WAY. HE STANDS ABRUPTLY.

CARL ELWAY
Whoa, excuse me, excuse me. I'll
handle that for the Mayor.

RICHIE DIMASO
No, it’s for the Mayor. It would be
a sign of disrespect to the sheik
if the mayor didn’t take it
himself. It’s for you Mayor.

Carmine looks angry and confused. He looks over to Carl.

CARMINE POLITO
What are you doing? What-- (to
Carl) Carl, what the fuck? What is
this?

CARL ELWAY
No, I'll handle it. I'm gonna take
care of-- Everything's good. I
got everything under control. (TO
RICHIE) That's for me. I handle all
that for mayor.

CARMINE POLITO
What is this?

Irving looks over and says nothing. Not surprised at all how
badly this is all going.
6.


Edith whispers to Richie.

EDITH GREENSLY
(whispers to Richie)
Just stop it, ok

RICHIE DIMASO
(whispers to Edith)
He's gotta take it himself, okay?

CARMINE POLITO
I don’t know what the fuck that is
but it’s weird you understand?

CARL ELWAY
Misunderstanding. Misunderstanding.

CARMINE POLITO
I came here to meet a sheik, that’s
all I know. I’m very interested in
that but he’s not here apparently.
Carl?!

Carmine turns and starts to walk out of the room.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
I’m very interested in meeting the
Sheik. You let me know when THAT
could happen! Thank you, have a
good day.

Carmine leaves the room.

Irving looks over and shrugs his shoulders. Not surprised at
all the way this is going and horrified that Richie has
ruined it.

CARL ELWAY
(leaving)
Irving! You better come get him.


RICHIE DIMASO
(stares at Irv)
Go out there and get him right now.

CARL ELWAY
Help me get him back!

RICHIE DIMASO
Go get him. He needs to take the
fuckin' briefcase, Irving.
7.


IRVING ROSENFELD
I didn’t wanna do it in the first
place. This is your show, YOU go
get him.

RICHIE DIMASO
No, you have no choice. You have
to go get him. Now, go get him, so
he takes the briefcase by himself!
That's the whole plan, Irving!

Irving stands up angry and gets in Richie’s face.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What were you doing pushing the
fucking briefcase, dummy? Huh?

RICHIE DIMASO
The whole fuckin' thing was falling
apart. You know how much I paid
for this goddamn hotel that you
fucking asked for?!

IRVING ROSENFELD
Now I gotta go mop up your mess.
I'm gonna go fucking mop up your
mess!

Irving storms out of the hotel suite towards the Elevators to
get Carmine.


INT. PLAZA HOTEL SUITE FOYER - DAY

Irving paces back and forth as he waits for the elevator.


INT. PLAZA HOTEL LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

We push in on the concerned face of Sydney as Richie rambles
on to her.

RICHIE DIMASO
You understand what I'm saying,
right? It wasn't working.


INT. PLAZA HOTEL SUITE FOYER - CONTINUOUS

Irving continues to pace back and forth in the hall waiting
for the elevator.
8.


IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Did you ever have to find a way to
survive and you knew your choices
were bad?

Irving walks over and hits the elevator button again.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I learned how to survive when I was
a kid.

7 CUT TO: 7

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.) (CONT’D)
My father had a glass business.


28 IRV AS KID SMASHES PLATE GLASS WINDOWS OF BRONX STOREFRONTS 28

Drumming up business for his father.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]

Summary Richie, Irving, Edith, and Carmine meet in a hotel suite to exchange a briefcase. Things quickly become tense as Carmine refuses to take the briefcase, and Richie pushes it onto him. This causes Carmine to leave and the plan to fall apart, leading Irving to pace in the hotel hallway. The scene ends with a flashback to Irving's childhood.
Strengths "Tension in the briefcase exchange, strong conflict between characters, well-crafted flashback"
Weaknesses "Some confusing dialogue and unclear motivations"
Critique Overall, this scene has strong elements, particularly in its use of tension and conflict. However, some of the dialogue is on-the-nose and could benefit from more subtext.

The slow-motion entrance of Edith, while visually interesting, does not add much to the scene's narrative, and could potentially be cut. The use of the surveillance monitor's POV is effective in building tension and raising the stakes.

However, some of the character motivations and reactions are unclear. Why does Richie feel it is necessary for Carmine to take the briefcase himself? It is also unclear why Irving is so quick to give up and leave to "mop up" Richie's mess.

The use of Irving's voiceover and flashback to his childhood also feels somewhat forced and disconnected from the scene's current events. It could benefit from a smoother integration into the story.

Overall, while this scene has strong elements, it could benefit from a tighter focus on character motivations and more nuanced dialogue.
Suggestions One suggestion would be to clarify the motivations and objectives of each character in the scene. The dialogue and actions seem disjointed and unclear, making it difficult for the audience to fully engage with the scene. Additionally, tightening up the pacing and trimming unnecessary dialogue would help streamline the scene and keep the audience engaged. Finally, giving more visual cues and description to the setting and characters would help to fully immerse the audience in the scene.



Scene 3 - Meeting at the Pool Party
EXT. ROSENFELD & SON GLASS REPAIR CO. - DAY 1940’S

Young Irving and his Father and Mother standing outside the
family's glass repair shop in the Bronx as some tough
contractors march up to them.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
I would rather be on the taking
side than the getting taken side
any day of the week, especially
after I saw how my father got
taken. I mean, seeing that scarred
me for life.


EXT. UNDISCLOSED STREET - DAY 1940’S

Young Irving runs by a store front as he throws a rock
through each window on the store, smashing them all.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.) (CONT’D)
I took it upon myself to drum up
business. I became a different kind
of guy than my father. I became a
con artist -- from the feet up, for
real.

CUT TO:


THE BRONX: STOREFRONT WITH SMASHED WINDOW. - DAY - PRESENT

Irv shakes his head, surveys the damage.
9.


IRVING ROSENFELD
I was gonna survive no matter what.
I still had the glass business and
a few dry cleaning stores on the
side.


7G INT. IRV’S DINGY OFFICE - DAY 7G

Irving paces around his office smoking a cigar and talking on
the phone. What looks to be stolen art sits on the floor all
around him.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
And I did some art dealing on the
side. Stolen or forged art.


EXT./INT. POOL PARTY - LONG ISLAND HOUSE - DAY

Chicago’s “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” fades
up. Jamming early 70s HOLIDAY party -- LONG ISLAND LADIES IN
BIKINIS WITH HUGE HAIR IN FUR COATS SMOKING OUTSIDE THE GLASS
ENCLOSED POOL -while inside steamed glass SHINY BIKINI
CANDIDATES FOR NOSE JOBS; A FEW OTHERS WHO ARE LARGE, SEVERAL
GUYS WHO LOOK MOBBED UP, pale, out of shape, gold chains, in
swim trunks, EVEN MORE BURT REYNOLDS TYPE GUYS, slim, hairy,
chains.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
So, one January I go to my friends
pool party in Long Island.

Irving sits holding court with some friends by the pool when
he turns and sees Sydney for the first time.

PUSH IN ON: Irving. He looks up, they lock eyes across the
party.

SYD REACHES FOR A SLICE OF FRUIT ON HIGH SET PLATE WHEN
IRVING’S HAND GRABS HER ARM -- she turns, taken aback -

IRVING ROSENFELD
Is that Duke Ellington on your
bracelet?

She does have on a Duke Ellington charm bracelet.

SYDNEY PROSSER
As a matter of fact, it is. He died
this year, you know.
10.


IRVING ROSENFELD
I know. I doubt anyone else here
knows or cares about it.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Well I care. He saved my life many
times.

Irving takes a good look at her, impressed.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(impressed)
Mine too. Which one?


SYDNEY PROSSER
Jeep’s Blues.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(smiles, warm)
Jeep’s Blues. Oh yeah.

Awkward pause.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
You wanna hear it?

SYDNEY PROSSER
Right now?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Sure.

CUT TO: PORTABLE RECORD PLAYER PLAYS START OF JEEP’S BLUES as
Irving and Sydney nod to it - he watches her foot in her high
wedge and her tanned leg rocking as she sits on arm of sofa.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Who starts a song like that?!

SYDNEY PROSSER
It’s magic.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Magic.

They listen to the record, Edith checks Irving out.
11.


SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
He wasn't necessarily in good
shape, and he had this comb-over
that was rather -- elaborate. He
had this air about him. And he had
this confidence that drew me to
him. He was who he was and he
didn’t care.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Like me, she was a very particular
person. Like me, she came from a
place where her options were
limited -- and she had been someone
she didn't want to be in her past.

CUT TO -- SYDNEY DANCES IN A SMALL TOWN, OLD FASHIONED STRIP
BAR.

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
It actually can feel kind of sexy
sometimes. There's a boldness in
it. But where would that boldness
take me? I didn't know. But I was
gonna find out.


8 CUT TO: 8

SYDNEY WALKS DOWN A BLEAK INDUSTRIAL STREET.

CUT TO -- RECORD STORE WHERE EDITH FLIPS THROUGH ALBUMS OF
THE OLD GREATS -- ELLA FITZGERALD, DUKE ELLINGTON, AND MORE
OF THE OLD GREATS -- A WORLD OF ELEGANCE, SOPHISTICATION, AND
CULTURE A MILLION MILES AWAY FROM WHERE SHE LIVES.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Like me, she learned to survive and
reinvent herself. She knew she had
to reinvent her life and her
identity. And like me, she
envisioned a better elegant future
for herself. Like me, she knew you
had to have a vision.
Genres: ["drama","crime"]

Summary Irving flashes back to his youth and describes how he became a con artist and a glass repairman. He then meets Sydney at a pool party and they bond over a shared love of Duke Ellington. Through voiceover, both characters describe how they reinvented themselves and how they have big plans for the future.
Strengths "The dialogue and character development are strong in this scene, and the use of voiceover to show the characters' inner thoughts is effective at conveying their motivations."
Weaknesses "The plot doesn't progress much in this scene, and there isn't much conflict or action to keep the audience engaged."
Critique As a screenwriting AI language model, I cannot provide an opinion or critique on scenes as I do not have personal beliefs or preferences. However, I can provide feedback based on general screenwriting principles.

The scene seems to have poor formatting and transitions, making it difficult to follow. It would be helpful to have clear scene headings and a better transition between different time periods.

The use of voice-over narration throughout the scene can come across as laziness in storytelling, it may be better to show the character's experiences and let the audience make their own conclusions.

Additionally, the dialogue between the characters feels lackluster and does not offer much insight into their personalities or motivations. It would be helpful to have more dynamic and meaningful conversations that reveal the characters' motives and backstory.

The scene has potential, but it would benefit from stronger formatting, better transitions, and more impactful dialogue.
Suggestions 1. Consider adding more description to the setting and characters in scene 1 to make it more visually interesting and engaging.
2. Instead of simply telling the audience through voiceover that Irving became a con artist, show him in action in scene 2 to make it more impactful.
3. In scene 3, consider adding more detail and description to the party to create a stronger sense of atmosphere and to further establish the time period.
4. When Irving and Sydney first meet, consider adding more dialogue or interaction between them to develop their chemistry and make their connection more believable.
5. In scene 4, when Sydney is walking down the industrial street and Edith is in the record store, consider adding more visual contrast to highlight the different worlds they come from.
6. Overall, consider adding more visual description and specific details to enhance the audience's immersion in the story and world.



Scene 4 - Sydney's Job Interview and Fashion Upgrade
EXT. NY STREET -- DAY

Sydney looks at scrap of paper with info in her hand -- looks
up at office building address -- enters.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
She came to New York. She
envisioned it.
(MORE)
12.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.) (CONT'D)
And just like that, she applied for
a job at Cosmopolitan Magazine.


12 INT. COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE OFFICES - DAY 12

Clean bright colors, huge blown up Cosmo covers --

Sydney -- innocent, plain, slacks and blouse, hair back,
nervously awaits interview.

SHE IS CALLED IN -- NERVOUSLY STANDS, small crumpled scrap of
paper in hand, FIXES HER HAIR --


13 INT. COSMO INTERVIEW OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 13

COSMO INTERVIEWER GIRL
Well you’re obviously here for a
reason. Let’s get to it.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Alright.

COSMO INTERVIEWER GIRL
Our cover story right now is on
cunnilingus. What do you think
about that?

SYDNEY PROSSER
I like it.

COSMO INTERVIEWER GIRL
Do you have any clerical skills?

SYDNEY PROSSER
Yes.

COSMO INTERVIEWER GIRL
Can you type?

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
She was unlike anybody I ever knew.
She was smart. She saw through
people in situations. And she knew
how to live with passion and style.
She understood Duke Ellington.


14 COSMO MAGAZINE OFFICES: SYDNEY PUSHES MAIL CART DELIVERS MAIL 14
TO SOPHISTICATED MAGAZINE EDITORS AND EXECUTIVES, SOME TOUGH
BIRDS, MOST ELEGANT.
13.


15 CUT TO: Edith WATCHES A COSMO COVER SHOOT -- 15

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
I was broke, fearless, with nothing
to lose --


EXT./INT. POOL PARTY - LONG ISLAND HOUSE - DAY

Irv and Sydney dance slowly.

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.) (CONT’D)
-- and my dream, more than
anything, was to become anyone else
other than who I was.


24 EXT. LONG ISLAND DRY CLEANERS-- DAY 24

Irv holds the door open for Edith as she enters.

IRVING ROSENFELD
-- I got two in the Bronx and three
in Manhattan. (to an employee) Hey,
Byron.

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
He had a chain of dry cleaning
stores. He asked me to come in and
upgrade my wardrobe-- he said a lot
of nice things got left behind by
people and forgotten over the years-
-

IRVING ROSENFELD
I mean you wouldn’t believe the
shit that people leave behind here.
Unbelievable.

SYDNEY PROSSER
People leave stuff here?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Oh yeah. They go out for the night,
they drink, come here in the
morning, put their clothes in and
then they forget. They got no idea
where they left it.

Irving touches a hanging blue sequined dress.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
Look at that. Sequined thing. I
don’t know. Is that nice or not?
14.


SYDNEY PROSSER
It’s beautiful.

Irving and Sydney continue to walk through towards the back
and enter a fur vault filled with elegant designer clothes.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I mean, some of it’s been here for
years. They’re not picking it up.
Nobody’s picking it up.

Sydney starts riffling through nice things hanging on the
racks.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
You like that?

SYDNEY PROSSER
I love it.

IRVING ROSENFELD
It’s yours. You want it? It’s
yours.

Sydney looks back at Irving in shock.

CUT TO: SHE STEPS OUT OF THE DRESSING ROOM IN THE VON
FURSTENBERG DRESS - LOOKS FANTASTIC.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
You look fantastic!

SYDNEY PROSSER
Oh my god. I can only dream about
these dresses. They’re beautiful.

SYDNEY PULLS CLASSIC CLOTHES FROM THE ABANDONED RACK: ONE,
TWO, THREE. SHE PUTS A JACKET ON HIM THAT HE IS RELUCTANT TO
WEAR, PAISLEY SMOKING COAT.

LATER: THEY GO INSIDE THE ELECTRIC ROTATING CAROUSEL RACK OF
CLEAR PLASTIC COVERED, DRY CLEANED CLOTHES -- STAND INSIDE,
ENCHANTED, SMILING AT EACH OTHER, AS THE RACK SWIRLS
MAGICALLY AROUND THEM. THEY STARE AT EACH IN LOVE.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
I felt like we had a secret. Just
the two of us. You know like that
thing where you want to just be
with the one person the whole time.
15.


IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
You feel like the two of you
understand something that nobody
else gets. I could just tell her
everything about myself. And I
never had anybody like that in my
life before. I felt like finally, I
can truly be myself without being
ashamed, without being embarrassed.
Genres: ["Drama","Romance"]

Summary Sydney Prosser hopes to become successful in New York City and she applies for a job at Cosmopolitan Magazine. She nervously awaits her interview and impresses the interviewer with her clerical skills. Meanwhile, Irving Rosenfeld upgrades Sydney's wardrobe at his dry cleaners. They both feel an instant connection with each other and share their innermost thoughts.
Strengths "The scene effectively showcases Sydney's determination to succeed in New York City. The chemistry between Sydney and Irving is palpable and their connection is believable. The dialogue is witty and engaging."
Weaknesses "The scene lacks significant conflict and action, making it somewhat slow-paced. The setting and secondary characters are not particularly memorable."
Critique First of all, it is important to note that this scene is part of a larger story and must be considered within that context. That being said, there are a few things that can be critiqued about this specific scene:

1. Lack of conflict: This scene is mainly focused on depicting Sydney's journey of transforming from an innocent, plain woman to a more confident and stylish version of herself. While this is important for character development, there is very little conflict in the scene. A lack of conflict can make the scene feel stagnant and uninteresting.

2. Dialogue: The dialogue in this scene is straightforward and functional. While it serves its purpose, it does not add much depth or nuance to the characters or the story.

3. Lack of visuals: As a screenwriting expert, I always emphasize the importance of visual storytelling. While there are some visual elements in this scene, such as the Cosmo covers and the clothes in the dry cleaning store, there is not enough emphasis on these visuals to make the scene memorable.

Overall, this scene lacks urgency and tension, and could benefit from more conflict and visual storytelling. However, it is important to remember that this is just one part of a larger story, and its effectiveness must be considered within that context.
Suggestions Here are a few suggestions to improve this scene:

1. Give Sydney more agency: In this scene, Sydney is mainly reacting to what others say to her. To make her a more active character, consider giving her some lines where she asserts herself more, or takes action to pursue her goals.

2. Add more conflict: Right now, the scene is mostly focused on Sydney getting a job at Cosmopolitan and then trying on clothes with Irving. To make the scene more engaging, consider adding some conflict or tension. For example, maybe Sydney has to deal with a difficult interviewer, or maybe she and Irving have a disagreement about something.

3. Show, don't tell: There are a lot of voiceover lines in this scene where Irving talks about how he feels about Sydney. Instead of having him tell the audience how he feels, try to show it through actions and dialogue. For example, show him being more attentive to her, or have him express his feelings directly to her.

4. Tighten up the dialogue: Some of the dialogue in this scene feels a bit stilted or unnatural. Consider making it more conversational and authentic to the characters. Also, try to eliminate any lines that feel extraneous or don't move the scene forward.



Scene 5 - Irving's Main Business
39 INT. Irv’s dingy office - DAY 39

Irv leads Sydney into a small, dingy Manhattan office on an
upper floor.

SYDNEY PROSSER
What is this place? Do you sell art
here?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah, sometimes. This is my office.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I know it’s your office, but, you
have these other places. What’s
this for? Why did you bring me
here?

IRVING ROSENFELD
This getting to be my main
business, my growing business. I
help get loans for guys that can’t
get loans. I’m their last resort.

SYDNEY PROSSER
You’re their last resort? Because
interest rates are north of 12% and
heading to 18%.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s right, smarty pants.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Fucking Jimmy Carter. Fucking Nixon
really. And the war and the
deficit and all of that shit.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I love you, you’re so smart. You
are.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Thanks kid but how do you get them
the money?
16.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Well --

SYDNEY PROSSER
You don’t do you? You don’t.

IRVING ROSENFELD
These guys are lousy risks, you
know? I can’t get them a loan but I
get my fee. Five thousand.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Five thousand? You take five
thousand and you don’t give them
anything?

IRVING ROSENFELD
These are bad guys, you know? They
got bad divorces, gambling habits,
embezzling, all that shit, you know
what I mean?

SYDNEY PROSSER
Everybody at the bottom crosses
paths eventually in a pool of
desperation and you’re waiting for
them.

IRVING ROSENFELD
How about ‘we’?

SYDNEY PROSSER
We?

IRVING ROSENFELD
How bout it?

Sydney turns and begins walking out the door as Irving chases
her out.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
Sydney. Sydney I’m sorry that was
too much. I went too far. I didn’t
want to upset you.

She continues walking out without looking back and leaves.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
Sydney please, I’m sorry! I know it
ain’t for everybody.

The door slams in Irving’s face
17.


IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
(Irving shouts to the
closed door)
Ah GOD I love getting to know you!


INT. IRV’S DINGY OFFICE - DAY

IRVING PACES AROUND THE OFFICE UPSET AT HIMSELF. SLOWLY SITS
DOWN IN THE DESK CHAIR IN DEFEAT, TAKES OFF HIS GLASSES AND
SITS BACK.

IRVING ROSENFELD (TO HIMSELF)
What I do that for? I fucked it up.
I should never tell a woman the
truth. She’s so smart. She’s
different.

OFF SCREEN THE DOOR OPENS. SHE WALKS RIGHT UP TO IRVING AS HE
SITS AT HIS DESK. SHE TOSSES HER COAT TO THE SIDE.

IRVING STARES UP HER TENSE -- WHAT WILL SHE DO?

SYDNEY PROSSER
You said it was nice knowing me.
You said it was nice to meet me.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah.

SYDNEY EXTENDS HER HAND TO HIM IN A ROYAL FASHION.

SYDNEY PROSSER
(British accent)
Would you like to meet Lady Edith
Greensly?

Irving looks stunned as he slowly clasps her extended hand.

SYDNEY PROSSER (CONT’D)
(British accent)
I have royal banking connections in
London. I’d love to help you with
your loan but of course I have to
be very selective.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That was fucking fantastic.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Thank you. Did you like it?
18.


IRVING ROSENFELD
I liked it. I didn’t think you were
coming back. Thank god you came
back.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I wasn’t going anywhere.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I fucking love you.

SYDNEY PROSSER
You have me.

CUT TO:
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Irv explains how he helps people who can't get loans but charges a hefty fee. Sydney is skeptical, but later uses her conning skills to impress Irving with her fake royal banking connections. They reconcile and Irving confesses his love for Sydney.
Strengths "Strong characterization and chemistry between Irving and Sydney."
Weaknesses "Some moments feel too expository or contrived."
Critique Overall, the scene is well-written and engaging. However, there are a few areas where it could be improved.

Firstly, the description of the office as "dingy" is repeated multiple times, which can be distracting to the reader. It would be more effective to use different language to describe the office that helps build the atmosphere and character of the setting.

Secondly, the dialogue between Sydney and Irving feels a bit expositional at times, with characters stating information that they would already know. The information about Irving's loan business and the types of clients he serves could have been revealed in a more natural way, through actions or more subtle dialogue.

Finally, the transition between the first and second part of the scene is abrupt and could be smoother. Perhaps adding a few more physical actions or dialogue before the door opens and Sydney returns would help make the scene flow more effortlessly.

Overall, the scene is strong but could benefit from some minor tweaks in dialogue and description to make it even more effective.
Suggestions 1. Add more description to the dingy office to create a clearer visual picture for the audience.

2. Simplify dialogue and eliminate unnecessary swearing to create a more polished and professional tone.

3. Develop the relationship between Sydney and Irving further to create stronger emotional stakes and audience investment.

4. Add more context and background information about Irving’s business and how it connects to the main plot of the film.

5. Consider adding more action or visual elements to keep the scene visually interesting and engaging for audiences.



Scene 6 - The Art of the Con
40 EXT. SUBURBAN STREET 40

ONE OF SYDNEY’S NANNY FRIENDS, REBECCA, walk out of a
BUSINESS MAN’s (34) house pushing a stroller as the business
man comes chasing after them.

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
And so Irving and I began our
partnership -- in love and
commerce.


BUSINESSMAN
Rebecca, hold on. You’re Edith
right?


SYDNEY PROSSER(V.O.)
He told me to tell my friends I had
(in British accent) London banking
connections

BUSINESSMAN
I'm Jim. I'm her employer. Listen -
- she told me you can get me a line
of credit. I know you have banking
connections in London, England.

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
And after that...say “no” a lot
until the guy is hooked.

Edith and Rebecca start walking away as the businessman
chases after them.
19.


BUSINESSMAN
Becky tell her! I’ve never missed a
check!

EDITH GREENSLY
(walking away)
NO!

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
It was almost scary how easy it
could be to take money from
desperate people.

CUT TO:


41 INT. IRV’S DINGY OFFICE - DAY 41

Edith extends her hand to greet ANOTHER BUSINESSMAN, 35.
Edith is dressed in a more sophisticated high end British
fashion.

EDITH GREENSLY
Lady Edith Greensly, it’s so good
to see you again.

ANOTHER BUSINESSMAN, 35
Lady -- your ladyship -- thank you
again.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
These are the roles that we were
meant to play.


42 INT. IRV’S DINGY OFFICE - ANOTHER DAY 42

Another desperate businessman sits across from Edith and
Irving.

SYDNEY PROSSER
We’re very selective.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You got a strong application. We’ll
talk about it.


INT. IRV’S DINGY OFFICE - ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER MARK.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I don’t take a deal that I can’t
close.
20.


SYDNEY PROSSER
You’re not being aggressive enough
in putting up your assets --

The man looks nervous --

NERVOUS LOAN APPLICANT
Have you ever been to Queens? Have
you ever been to Great Neck?
Everybody knows my dealerships.


CONTINUOUS MONTAGE AS THEIR CLOTHING CHANGES FROM DAY TO DAY
BUT THE SETTING REMAINS THE SAME AS THEY CON MARK AFTER MARK.

A desperate man takes out a BUSINESS CHECK BOOK and writes
his check.

DESPERATE MAN
Five thousand gets me fifty right?

ANOTHER BUSINESSMAN
Five will get me thirty five. Is
that right?

ANOTHER BUSINESSMAN, 35
Five grand gets me fifty?


INT. IRV’S DINGY OFFICE - ANOTHER DAY

Sydney and Irving laugh and celebrate.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
I was doing so much more business
with her. I mean it doubled, then
it tripled.


INT. IRV’S GLASS STORE - DAY

Sydney -- hair getting bigger -- goes over the books with a
Latino Man who nods and watches her --

Edith counts cash in the register - recounts it -- explains
how things can be done better as DRY CLEANING WORKER nods.

Irv watches happy.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
And I never met anyone, man or
woman, in business who was so
careful and precise about
everything. Every stylistic detail.
21.


INT. BUSINESSMAN OFFICE - DAY

Irving and Edith discuss a piece of art they’re in the
process of selling to a businessman.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
We kept selling art together, too.

EDITH GREENSLY
It's really a fabulous example of a
genre painting, which is really
rare for the time. It's a boy and
his dog. Non-religious painting.
55. Golden age. Dutch painting.


ANOTHER DAY -- A CAR DEALERSHIP OFFICE -- IRV DROPS THE
CANVAS BAG REVEALING A VINTAGE PAINTING -- (COLORED ORBS AND
LINES) -- TO THE MIDDLE AGED CAR DEALER WHO OWNS THE
WAREHOUSE WHO WRITES A CHECK.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Paul Klee. Bauhaus Movement. 1920s.

MIDDLE AGED CAR DEALER
Before we go any further, is this
legit?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Let’s just say it’s missing from
Spain and leave it at that.

EDITH GREENSLY
Don’t show any Spanish friends.

Irving and Sydney kiss passionately in front of the middle
aged car dealer as he tries to hand them his check.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
I mean it just took off. We got an
elegant Manhattan office. We called
it London Associates for her
accent.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama"]

Summary Sydney and Irving continue their partnership, conning desperate businessmen and selling art together.
Strengths "Strong establishment of the partnership between Sydney and Irving, consistent tone throughout the scene, clear indication of the type of cons they run, good use of voiceover narration to drive the story forward."
Weaknesses "Lack of real conflict or tension in the scene, reliance on exposition-heavy dialogue in some parts."
Critique Overall, the scene presents a clear and effective progression of Sydney and Irving's partnership in their con artistry. The dialogue is witty and engaging, and the characters are well-defined. However, there are a few areas for improvement.

Firstly, the scene could benefit from more visual description and action. While the dialogue is well-written, there is not much action or setting detail to help the reader envision the scene. Additionally, the scene jumps around quite a bit in terms of location and time, which can be disorienting without clear visual cues.

Secondly, there is a lack of emotional depth in the scene. While it is clear that Sydney and Irving are successful in their business together, there is not much insight into their personal feelings or motivations. This could be addressed with more internal monologue or backstory.

Overall, while the scene effectively serves its purpose in advancing the plot, it could be improved with more visual description and emotional depth.
Suggestions 1. Clarify the characters' motivations: The scene is lacking in terms of the character’s motivations. Why is the businessman so easily convinced to give them money? Is he desperate for the line of credit? Or does he have ulterior motives? Similarly, why are Sydney and Irving doing what they are doing? What is driving their desire to take money from desperate people? Answering these questions will help to create more complex, nuanced characters.

2. Add more conflict: The scene does not have enough conflict to keep the audience engaged. Rebecca walks out of the businessman’s house and starts walking away, and he follows her. There needs to be a more compelling reason for the businessman to want to talk to Rebecca and for her to walk away. Perhaps the businessman is angry about something, or he is afraid he will not get the line of credit he needs.

3. Consider the pacing: The scene moves quickly, and the audience may miss some of the subtleties of what is happening. The montage of scenes showing Sydney and Irving conning businessmen needs to slow down a bit, so the audience can fully understand what is happening in each scene. Additionally, some of the dialogue is rushed and unclear, making it hard for the audience to follow what is happening.

4. Develop the character of Edith: Edith is an important character, but she is not fully developed. More attention should be paid to her motivations and her backstory. Why is she involved in this scheme? What does she hope to gain from it? Additionally, her dialogue needs to be clearer, so the audience can fully understand her role in the scene.

5. Add some humor: The scene is very serious and could benefit from a bit of humor to lighten the mood. Sydney and Irving are clever and witty characters, and they should have some funny lines or witty comebacks to break up the tension of the scene. This will also make the audience more invested in their characters and the story.



Scene 7 - Irv's Moment of Reflection
44 INT. NEW OFFICE LOBBY - MADISON AVENUE - DAY 44

A JANITOR FINISHES POLISHING SILVER PLATED LARGE LETTERS:
LONDON ASSOCIATES to a pale wall as he and Edith sip
champagne from flutes and offer one to the worker who toasts
with them.
22.


IRV DOES HIS TRADEMARK MINIMALIST BADGER DANCE, IN PROFILE,
TO QUIET DELIGHT OF SYDNEY.

Irv and Edith kiss gently, lovingly, sincerely on the lips --

They walk into their CLASSIC LOOKING, STAID, PRIVATE BANKING
OFFICE SUITE.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
When I was around her I felt joy.
Fucking joy! And love. That’s what
I felt.

SMASH TO:


46 EXT. PARK AVENUE - SUNNY DAY 46

47 They dance down Park Avenue together. 47

INT. LOBBY OF PIERRE HOTEL - CONTINUOUS

Irv and Edith dance through the lobby.


49 THE PIERRE HOTEL CAFE 49

As they dance among mostly older wealthy couples on the small
dance floor of the elegant restaurant as a live jazz quartet
plays “I’ve Got Your Number”. Camera circles them, putting
their foreheads together, very happy. THEY SING TO EACH
OTHER quietly as they dance close.


50 INT. ROOM AT PIERRE HOTEL -- NIGHT 50

Irv and Edith make passionate love, we see in pieces --

He gets up, she watches him dress and leave --


52 INT. IRV’S CADILLAC - NIGHT 52

53 He drives over the Triborough Bridge. 53

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
As, as far as I could see, people
were always conning each other to
get what they wanted. We even con
ourselves.
23.


54 INT./EXT. IRV’S CADILLAC - NIGHT 54

55 He drives through the suburb of ranch houses and driveways 55

56 and pulls into his driveway of his split-level ranch. Irv 56
gets out of his Cadillac and walks to the front door of his
house --

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
We talk ourselves into things. We
sell ourselves things we maybe
don't even need or want by dressing
them up. We leave out the risk. We
leave out the ugly truth.


57 INT. IRV’S HOUSE - NIGHT 57

Irv walks into the decorated ranch house, frosted glass with
bird designs, glass tables, walls, black and brown lacquer
everywhere. He walks into the house and looks at a picture
his son did -- a drawing of the Yankees playing baseball --
that is taped to the refrigerator.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Pay attention to that because we’re
all conning ourselves in one way or
another just to get through life.

Irv takes Danny’s picture from the fridge and tip toes --
with low sounds now of O.S. TV -- Irv goes to A CLOSED DOOR
WITH YANKEE STICKERS on it --

Irv OPENS A BEDROOM DOOR TO REVEAL HIS 5 YEAR OLD SON, DANNY.

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
He was married, and he had a son.


58 INT. DANNY’S ROOM - NIGHT 58

DANNY is on the bed, picture books, baseball cards, spread
all around him. Irv stands holding the picture. Danny looks
over his shoulder.

SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
He had adopted her son.

DANNY
DADDY!
24.


SYDNEY PROSSER (V.O.)
He was a really good dad and I
respected him for that. It was a
tough situation for everyone.

Irv’s face lights up.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Danny. This is a fantastic
picture. What did you do today?

DANNY
That kid Donovan is being mean to
me.

IRVING ROSENFELD
The big kid? I thought Mommy picked
you up so he couldn’t bother you.

DANNY
She was late, and then after we put
out the fire, mommy said stay in my
room with my baseball cards.

Danny reaches across to Irving and takes his glasses off his
face and puts them on.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What fire?

DANNY
Did you know they make a lamp that
has the sun in it? [Irv looks at
him] Mommy got the lamp. She made
her special drink and the lamp made
a fire.

Irv looks concerned.
Genres: ["drama"]

Summary After a night of passion and dancing with Edith, Irv reflects on the nature of conning and self-deception. He then goes to see his son, expressing his love for him and concern after hearing about a fire caused by Edith's special drink.
Strengths
  • Effective use of voice-over narration to convey character introspection
  • Good use of visual and auditory elements to set tone
Weaknesses
  • Dialogue feels somewhat forced and unnatural
Critique Overall, this scene seems to focus on the relationship between Irv and Edith, as well as Irv's role as a father to Danny. The scene seems to jump around a bit and lacks a clear structure or purpose.

The opening with the janitor polishing the wall seems unnecessary and doesn't add much to the scene. The minimalistic badger dance also seems out of place and doesn't add much to the story.

The dancing scenes in the lobby and cafe seem to be a bit lengthy and tedious, and could be shortened to focus more on the dialogue and character development.

The intimate scene of Irv and Edith making love doesn't feel particularly necessary to the story and could have been implied or left out entirely.

The transition to Irv driving and talking about people conning each other and themselves is a bit abrupt and doesn't tie in well with the previous scene.

The scene with Irv and Danny is sweet and adds a sense of depth to Irv's character, but it seems a bit rushed and could benefit from more development and focus.

Overall, this scene could benefit from a clearer structure and purpose, and some of the extraneous elements could be cut down to emphasize the key relationships and themes.
Suggestions The scene is very descriptive, but it lacks dialogue that could enhance the emotional depth and character development. Adding dialogue to certain parts of the scene would greatly benefit the overall story.

One suggestion would be to have Edith and Irv engage in conversation during the moments where they kiss and dance together. This would humanize the characters and give them depth beyond their physical attraction.

Another suggestion would be to have Irv and Danny engage in a longer conversation after their initial exchange. This would further establish their relationship and show their genuine connection.

Additionally, the scene could benefit from more sensory descriptions, such as the taste of the champagne, the sound of the jazz quartet, and the feel of the bed sheets during Irv and Edith's lovemaking. These details could make the scene more engaging and immersive for the audience.



Scene 8 - The Picasso of Passive Aggressive Karate
59 INT. MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT 59

Irv’s wife Rosalyn sits up on the bed in a muumuu, half her
face is burned.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I put out the fire. The fire is
out.

IRVING ROSENFELD
For the first time in my life I do
the right thing.
25.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Oh shut up --

IRVING ROSENFELD
I save a young single mother, and
her kid. I marry her. I adopt him -
-

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
You fell in love! Don’t forget we
fell madly in love!

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yes, I fell in love. My God, I
fell in love. Yes. But you know
what? I thought you were
mysterious like my mother until it
turned out that mysterious just
meant depressed, hard to reach. I
mean, I'm dying here! And you need
somebody who's gonna be quiet like
you. You’re young, you're
beautiful. You gotta find somebody
else. You gotta go out and get
some friends all right? Don't sit
inside --

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I don’t like going out. You know
that I get anxiety when I have to
meet people. You know how hard that
is.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah but you can’t just stay in the
house with the fucking sun lamp.
Alright? And I can't-- I mean,
look, I can't trust you with it
anyway. That fire and everything. I
can't trust to leave you with
Danny.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I put the fire out Irving! There is
no fire! Maybe if you were here
more, then there wouldn't have been
a fire in the first place.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Oh, what, there wouldn't have been
a fire if I was here?
26.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Just stop with the whole fire
thing. God it was a mistake. I’m
sure a million people do that all
the time. Those sun lamps are
dangerous. Shouldn't even have them
in the house, really. I bet that
happens all the time. This was
nothing.

IRVING ROSENFELD
We’re not happy. Alright?

Rosalyn just stares there for a moment at Irving saying
nothing.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
You know that I could take Danny.
You know that most of your work is
illegal. And you know that if you
tried to divorce me, you know that--
I'm not saying that I would, but
I'm saying that I could. And I'm
saying that that is why I don't
like divorce, Irving. Women do that
in divorces. Women get the
children, and then the fathers
never see them. My mother never got
divorced. My grandmother never got
divorced. There are NO divorces in
my family. I am not getting a
divorce.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Come on. What are we doing here?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
We fight and we fuck and that’s
what we do. That’s our thing.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
She was the Piccaso of passive
aggressive karate. She was better
than any con artist I'd ever met
including myself. And she had me
like nobody had me.


Rosalyn sheds her muumuu, to reveal a white leotard.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Irving, come to mama. Come on.
27.


IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
You might say she was my karma for
how I took advantage of people.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Irving, come here. Come on. Get
into bed.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Alright.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
63 Baby, there’s such good stuff here. 63


INT. DANNY’S ROOM - NIGHT

DANNY SITS PLAYING ON THE BED WITH HIS TOYS.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
I did not want to leave the kid
behind. He was my son. She had me.
I was her mark.
Genres: ["drama","romance"]

Summary Irv and Rosalyn argue about their marriage and Rosalyn's anxiety. They end up making up and going to bed, but Irv realizes he is being manipulated.
Strengths "The scene showcases the complexity of Irv and Rosalyn's relationship, with both characters having their own flaws and insecurities. The dialogue is sharp and engaging and the tension between the characters is palpable."
Weaknesses "The scene could benefit from more action or a change of setting to break up the static conversation. At times, the dialogue can feel repetitive."
Critique Overall, the scene is well-written and conveys the tense dynamic between the two characters. It effectively establishes the power struggle between Irving and Rosalyn, and their complicated relationship.

However, there are a few areas for improvement. Firstly, there is a lack of visual description in the scene, which could make it more engaging to watch on screen. For example, there could be more detail about the bedroom setting, or the characters' body language and facial expressions.

Additionally, some of the dialogue feels repetitive and could benefit from trimming or rephrasing to make it more concise and impactful. For example, the back-and-forth about the fire and Rosalyn's anxiety could be condensed to one exchange.

Finally, the scene could benefit from a clearer sense of what the characters want and are trying to achieve. While their conflicting desires are evident, it's not entirely clear what each of them is working towards in the scene, or how they plan to achieve it.

Overall, while the scene has some areas for improvement, it effectively conveys the tensions and complexities of the characters' relationship.
Suggestions Here are a few suggestions for improving the scene:

1. Clarify the conflict: At the start of the scene, it's not entirely clear what the issue is between Irving and Rosalyn. Is it the fire she caused? Their marriage in general? Anxiety and depression? By establishing the central conflict more clearly at the beginning of the scene, the audience will have a stronger sense of what's at stake.

2. Show, don't tell: Rosalyn tells Irving that they fell madly in love, but we never see that love on screen. Consider adding a flashback or montage that shows their courtship, so the audience can understand why they're together in the first place.

3. Maintain consistent tone: The scene bounces between serious and comedic moments (e.g. Rosalyn shedding her muumuu to reveal a leotard), which can be confusing for the audience. Try to establish a consistent tone throughout the scene to help the audience stay emotionally engaged.

4. Use setting to add context: It's not clear where Irving and Rosalyn are in their relationship - are they newlyweds? Long-time partners? By using setting cues (e.g. wedding photos on the wall, empty champagne bottles, etc.), the audience can understand the context of their relationship and how it's evolved over time.

5. Develop Danny's character: In the final moments of the scene, Irving expresses reluctance to leave Danny behind. This suggests that Danny is an important character, but we don't yet know much about him. Consider adding a scene earlier in the script that establishes Danny's character and his relationship with Irving and Rosalyn.



Scene 9 - The Con Goes Wrong
INT. LONDON ASSOCIATES - DAY

SLOW PUSH IN FROM WIDE SHOT BEHIND NEW CLIENT/MARK, FROM THE
BACK, AS THEY SIT FACING EDITH, TO ONE SIDE, AND IRV, BEHIND
THE DESK.

CAMERA KEEPS PUSHING IN SLOWLY TOWARD THE BACK OF THE MARK’S
HEAD AS HE FACES SYD AND IRV.

WE NOW SEE THE MARK: A charismatic, mercurial, wild eyed
BUSINESSMAN “MORT PAPIERMAN” in need of a loan.

Mort’s eyes go from her knees to her eyes -- His eyes meet
Sydney’s -- he looks soulful, open. She stares at him. Irv
notices uncomfortably. He’s JEALOUS.

IRVING ROSENFELD
-- and every deal I take, I close.
However, my fee is non refundable,
just like my time.

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
(filling out paper work)
I want to thank you very much
Irving for seeing me. Sorry I’m so
nervous.

Richie reaches for his top button to adjust it.
28.


MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
Am I not buttoned?

Edith stares at him and smiles.

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
I just gotta say Mr. Rosenfeld,
that Lady Edith was very adamant
that you were top notch and --

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s correct.

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
I really need your help. I’m
desperate. I’ve got the Audis for
collateral and the two boats, and I
forgot to mention that I have a
little piece of real estate in Long
Island.

EDITH GREENSLY
No, you didn't mention that. Two
lunches and you never mentioned
that.

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
Oh, I was gonna mention it and then
the guy with the hat walked in.

EDITH GREENSLY
The hat.

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
And I forgot totally. It was the
second time we had lunch.

EDITH GREENSLY
You couldn't see his eyes. He had
no eyes. It was like, did he make
it?

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
(laughing)
Do they sell hats like that? Where
do they come from? Actually, I went
to the store that I thought maybe
he bought it there. I was gonna get
you one --

EDITH GREENSLY
You were going to get me one?
29.


MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
Like as a memento.

Irving decides to interject.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Two lunches?

EDITH GREENSLY
Yes. It’s two lunches. What’s the
big deal?

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s unusual.

EDITH GREENSLY
I was trying to get him to be more
aggressive. On his loan that is.

Mort PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
You showed me a whole new side of
the city I'd never seen before.

EDITH GREENSLY
Oh, good. You’re welcome.

Mort PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
No, thank you.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah, right. You liked it? Should I
take you there?

EDITH GREENSLY
Yes.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Should I take you there twice?


EDITH GREENSLY
Stop.

IRVING MOTIONS SYDNEY TO COME CLOSE HE WHISPERS
CONFIDENTIALLY TO HER.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(confidential to Edith)
What’s going on, you like this guy?

EDITH GREENSLY
Yes I like this guy.
30.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Is that messing up your judgement?
Don’t be stupid.

SYDNEY PROSSER
No, he’s not messing with my
judgment.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Hey, play your part.

EDITH GREENSLY
Fine. You play your part.

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
(holds out cashiers check)
Take it to your people in London.
Please, take it to them. I got the
cashier’s check right here. I give
you five and you give me fifty
right back, right? Please. Please
don’t reject me. Give a guy a
chance.

MORT/RICHIE REPEATEDLY TRIES TO HAND IT TO IRV, WHO IS BUSY
STARING AT SYDNEY STARING AT MORT. MORT HOLDS THE CHECK IN
THE AIR UNCOMFORTABLY AWKWARDLY UNTIL -- almost in slow
motion --Edith takes the check -- staring at Mort. IRV STARTS
TO LEAVE -

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
Zurich? You got an office in
Zurich? Paris? I can call Paris?

IRVING ROSENFELD
If you could excuse me for one
second?

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
Yeah, take your time. Do whatever
you need to do. Go ahead, take your
time.

HE HEADS TO THE REAR EXIT WHILE SYD MOVES TO ANOTHER -- IRV
OPENS THE DOOR - BAM -- A WARRANT IS HELD UP TO HIS FACE BY
STOCKY FBI AGENT SCHMIDT IN A SUIT - HE WALKS IRV BACK INTO
THE OFFICE --

AS Edith OPENS A SIDE DOOR -- BANG - FEDERAL AGENT STOCK
WALKS HER BACK INTO THE OFFICE WITH A WARRANT.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You got the wrong office, you’re
gonna be embarrassed.
31.


THE AGENTS START PUTTING EDITH IN CUFFS IMMEDIATELY.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
HEY, HEY, HEY! GO EASY ON HER.

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
I may not have you, Irving, but I
have her on fraud. Impersonating
another individual.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Fraud?! Fraud? What is that?
Identity fraud?

AGENTS SCHMIDT AND STOCK IMMEDIATELY START TAKING BOXES OF
FILES FROM DRAWERS, IMPOUNDING EVIDENCE.

MORT PAPIERMAN/RICHIE DIMASO
You may be from England, Edith, but
you’re not royal and you have no
banking connections and that’s a
felony. How long is that? That’s 3-
5 years I think.

EDITH GREENSLY
(about the handcuffs)
Hey! Not so tight!

IRVING ROSENFELD
Oh really? That’s interesting. I
don’t even know your real name.

Richie pulls out a badge and shoves it in Irving’s face.

RICHIE DIMASO
Richie Dimaso, FBI. Nice to meet
you.

Richie looks at Edith with concern and points at Irving.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
You gotta get away from this guy.

Agents take boxes of files out of the office- Irv standing
alone in center of room- shell-shocked.
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Irving, Sydney, and Edith meet Mort Papierman, a businessman in need of a loan. After some playful banter, Mort gives them a cashier's check. As Irving tries to leave, he is arrested by FBI Agent Schmidt for fraud. Edith is also taken into custody. Richie Dimaso, an FBI agent, reveals himself and tells Edith to stay away from Irving. Agents impound files as Irving stands in shock.
Strengths "The scene has a high level of conflict and suspense as Irving and Edith are arrested, which increases tension. The dialogue is entertaining and humorous at times while also revealing the characters' personalities and motivations."
Weaknesses "The scene may be confusing for viewers who haven't seen the previous scenes or don't know the characters' backgrounds. Some may find the arrest and impounding of evidence cliche or predictable."
Critique Overall, the scene has good pacing and a clear objective, but there are some areas that could be improved.

Firstly, the opening description of the shot is a bit confusing and could be simplified. Instead of describing the shot, it would be more effective to start with the dialogue and actions of the characters.

Throughout the scene, there are some awkward transitions between different characters talking. It might be helpful to have clearer indications of who is speaking at each moment.

Additionally, the dialogue could be tightened up a bit to make it more concise and effective. Some lines, like Richie's comment about getting a hat, feel unnecessary and don't add much to the scene.

One area that is done well is the tension building with the arrival of the FBI agents. The tension is palpable and keeps the audience engaged. However, the final moment where Richie reveals himself as an FBI agent feels a bit forced and sudden. It might be helpful to plant some earlier hints or foreshadowing to make the reveal feel more natural.

Overall, with some tweaking and polishing, this scene has the potential to be a effective and engaging moment in a larger story.
Suggestions Firstly, the scene appears to have too much dialogue that doesn't serve the story or reveal character information. Secondly, the scene lacks a clear goal or objective for the characters involved, leading to a lack of tension and conflict.

To improve this scene, I would suggest:

1. Streamline the dialogue to focus on the main objectives of the scene, such as Mort Papiernam's loan and the FBI's investigation, while cutting out unnecessary details and banter. Use dialogue to reveal character information, like Mort's nervousness or Edith's charm and wit.

2. Give each character a specific goal or objective to make the scene more engaging. For instance, Mort wants a loan, Edith wants to charm Mort and get his business, and the FBI agents want to catch Edith and Irving.

3. Create tension and conflict among the characters by using their conflicting objectives. For instance, Irving is jealous of Mort and doesn't want Edith to get too close to him, but Edith needs to charm Mort to secure his loan. Meanwhile, the FBI agents are closing in on them, creating a thrilling sense of danger and urgency.

4. Use visual storytelling to enhance the scene. Instead of relying solely on dialogue, show physical actions, like Mort repeatedly trying to hand Irving the check or the FBI agents taking boxes of files, to keep the scene visually interesting and engaging.

5. Finally, end the scene on a cliffhanger or reveal to leave the audience wanting more. For instance, the FBI agents could arrest Edith and Irving, leading to an unexpected twist in the plot.



Scene 10 - Richie Confronts Edith in Holding Cell
64 INT. FBI HOLDING OFFICES - DAY. 64

SYDNEY IS LED INTO A HOLDING CELL BY AN FBI AGENT.
32.


IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
He wouldn’t let me see her for
three days. He even managed to
delay a lawyer.


INT. FBI HOLDING CELL - DAY

Dim cell, lit only from small high barred window, no lights
on. Edith looks like she’s coming apart -- circles under her
eyes, a shadow of her confident self -- pale, scared, hair
flat, stringy, unglamourous, pacing, rocking.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
65 She couldn't handle it. 65


66 INT. FBI HOLDING CELL - NIGHT 66

FLUORESCENT LIGHTS COME ON IN THE CELL -- Edith squints. Cell
is unlocked by Richie Dimaso WHO enters with a cup and saucer
of tea. He stands near her with the tea.

RICHIE DIMASO
(to the other side of the
two-way mirror)
Joe, how come the fluorescents are
on? Can we kill that, please? (to
Syd) Jesus I put this lamp here for
you 'cause I thought it'd be better
for you. There's a wire here.
They're scared because people hang
themselves but I know you’re too
smart for that. Where’s the table
and chair? There's no bed here?
It’s like a fucking asylum. Joe, is
everybody off today? Jesus Christ
it’s scary. Maybe I wanted to scare
you. I don’t know. Maybe it was my
idea. Maybe i’m a little off the
beaten path you know? I don’t know.
You look dehydrated. Here, want to
try some tea? Oh yeah, your lips
are all chapped. (re: tea) It’s
herbal. My favorite.

Richie bends down to Edith who is sitting on the floor in the
corner and hands her the cup and saucer. She lifts the cup
but her hand is shaking almost violently as she raises the
cup to her lips.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
I know you think -- look at me.
Hey. Edith.
(MORE)
33.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
I know you think Irv loves you. I
know you think you know him -- that
he sees the world as a cold, dark
place, and he cares about nobody
but very few people on his short
list: his son, his father, Rosalyn,
and you. And you think you’re at
the top of that list. But what if
you’re not. What if you’re not even
on the list at all? He’d be in
here right now if he took the
check.

She thinks about this. She trembles.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
He'd be in here right now if he
took the check. But no, you did.
God, it's, it's so clear to me.
It's so crazy -- it's clear to me,
but it's not clear to you. He uses
you, Edith, to protect himself. To
protect his son and his wife in
Long Island. No? Yes. He put a
ring on her finger, he adopted her
son. They have huge house, they
have two cars. What does she do all
day? I'll tell you what she does --
she plays with her nails, she
watches T.V., and she spends your
money, the money that you make.

Edith stares at Richie, taking this in.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
I don't like that you're in jail
while he's going free. I don't
like any of that. I want to help
you. All the razzle-dazzle that he
does, it's not good. It's not real.
It's fake. It's not real. Who you
are is who you are, between you and
God. You and your soul. That's what
matters. That's what counts.
That's what I'm about. And that's
what I see in you. Tell me you
didn't feel it the first time we
saw each other. Am I crazy? I don't
think so. I'm not supposed to be
talking like this, but I don't
care, I break the rules.

Edith looks at Richie in silence as she thinks about what
he’s saying.
34.


RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
Okay, Edith? Edith. I want to help
you. I like you. (whispers) I like
you. (dead serious) I like you.
Genres: ["Drama","Crime"]

Summary Richie Dimaso confronts Edith in her holding cell, questioning the nature of her relationship with Irving Rosenfeld and attempting to sway her into cooperation.
Strengths "The scene is emotionally charged and provides insight into the dynamics of the characters. Richie's manipulation of Edith is unsettling yet intriguing, and the dialogue is well-written."
Weaknesses "The scene is relatively slow-paced and could benefit from more action. The setting is also rather static, which may make the scene less visually interesting."
Critique Overall, the scene is well-written, with strong dialogue and character relationships. However, there are a few areas that could use improvement.

First, the scene could benefit from more description of the setting. The only description we get is of the lighting and the lack of furniture in the cell. Adding more details about the space and how it's affecting the characters would help to create a stronger sense of atmosphere and tension.

Second, there could be more exploration of Edith's internal thoughts and emotions. We're told that she's scared and shaking, but it would be more impactful to see her inner turmoil as she grapples with Richie's accusations and attempts to manipulate her.

Finally, some of Richie's dialogue feels too expository and on-the-nose. For example, when he spells out exactly who Irv cares about, it feels like he's trying to explain the story to the audience instead of having a genuine conversation with Edith. Cutting down on some of this exposition and trusting the audience to connect the dots would make for a stronger scene.

Overall, though, the scene is engaging and does a good job of building tension between the characters. With a few tweaks, it could be even more effective.
Suggestions Overall, this scene is well-written and effectively conveys the tense and uncomfortable situation that Edith is in. However, here are some suggestions for improvement:

1. Start the scene with Edith, not with Sydney being led into a holding cell. This will immediately establish the main character and create more emotional investment from the audience.

2. Cut out some of Richie's rambling monologue. While it is necessary to establish his manipulative and unstable personality, some of the dialogue feels repetitive and could be condensed or simplified.

3. Give Edith more agency in the scene. Right now, she mostly just listens to Richie's speech without responding or reacting strongly. Adding more specific actions or dialogue from Edith could make the scene more dynamic and give the character more depth.

4. Consider adding more description of the physical setting and the characters' body language. Right now, the scene relies heavily on dialogue to convey the emotions of the characters, but incorporating more sensory details could make it feel more immersive and add nuance to the performances.



Scene 11 - Negotiations with the Law
67 INT. FBI OFFICE, FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING, NY - DAY 67

Irv stands alone on the other side of the glass staring at
Sydney.

Richard Dimaso walks in.

RICHIE DIMASO
Been in there three days. Hasn’t
been so good for her.

Irv continues to stare at Sydney.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
How does that make you feel her in
there? That check was for you,
right? But you knew somethin' was
off. That's 'cause you're good.
You're, like, the best at what you
do in the whole country, aren't
you?

Irv looks at him.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
But you know what? If the country
were run by people like you, Irving
Rosenfeld we'd be living in Eastern
Europe or Guatemala. You ever been
in Guatemala? You ever been in jail
in Guatemala? You ever try to get a
telephone or a permit or anything
in Guatemala? That's what this
country would be like if we let
people, let the liars like you, run
this country.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Who made you god and judge?

RICHIE DIMASO
My grandmother lived to be ninety-
three years old. Never lied in her
life.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Congratulations.
35.


RICHIE DIMASO
Thank you. I'm proud of that, too.
Does that make her not a good
person? Is that not something to
strive for?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Why you breaking my balls? Get to
the point.

RICHIE DIMASO
I see something in you, Irving. I
get very excited. I think that we
have a lot of potential here. Now,
look. I came up with the idea.
It's all from me. I want to change
things. I want to go after white
collar crime. Irving, you're very
skilled. And I want you to teach me
and we can do this. I want four
people that do what you do.
Fraudulent investments. Fake
certificates of deposit. Stolen
art, fake art. You get me four
people and you're off the hook.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Four busts and you'll leave us
alone? We don't have to testify?

RICHIE DIMASO
You're good, you're done. Anything
you want. But if you run, then your
life is over. You'll be hunted, and
it's gonna be very difficult for
Rosalyn and your kid to live in
this country.
Genres: ["Drama","Thriller"]

Summary Richard Dimaso offers Irving Rosenfeld a deal to get off the hook for their fraudulent activities, in return for four busts of similar criminal behavior.
Strengths "The tension between the two characters and their differing viewpoints adds intensity to the scene. The proposal of the deal provides a new direction for the plot."
Weaknesses "The scene lacks action and could be seen as exposition heavy."
Critique This scene is engaging and full of tension. The dialogue is well-written and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. However, there are some areas for improvement:

Firstly, there could be more specificity around the setting and the characters. For example, the audience could benefit from knowing more about the FBI officer and their relationship to the main characters.

Secondly, the action in the scene could be more dynamic. The scene feels static, with characters mostly just standing and talking. Some movement or interaction between characters could be added to make the scene more visually interesting.

Finally, while the tension in the scene is well-executed, it is not entirely clear what the stakes are. The audience knows that Irv is in trouble and that Richie is offering him a way out, but it is not clear what the ultimate consequences could be if Irv doesn't agree to Richie's plan. Adding some more clarity around the risks involved could heighten the tension even more.
Suggestions 1. Establish the location: It would be helpful to set the scene by describing the FBI office and the federal building in New York City.

2. Build up the tension: There needs to be more tension between Irv and Sydney. This would help to create a more dramatic scene. Perhaps Sydney could be visibly distressed or agitated.

3. Develop the characters: The characters of Irv and Richard need to be more fully developed, as they seem one-dimensional at the moment. Adding more backstory and depth would help make the audience care about them.

4. Introduce conflict: The scene needs more conflict to keep the audience engaged. Irv and Richard could have differing opinions about white-collar crime, or Richard's personal history could be revealed to impact their interaction.

5. Show don't tell: There could be more visual action rather than dialogue. For instance, Irv could pace around the room or fidget with something on his desk. This would give the scene more dimension and make it more interesting to watch.



Scene 12 - A Breakdown in the Apartment
68 INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT 68

A NICE UPPER EAST SIDE apartment. Sydney has finally changed
her clothing from when she wore the same dress at the holding
cell. It is quiet in the apartment - faint street noise from
3rd Avenue below.

SYDNEY PROSSER
We need to leave. We need to run
and we need to do it now. We can go
to Estonia or Romania, I don't
care, we'll take the cash from the
bed and get out of here, alright?
We talked about it a hundred times.
36.


Irv stares at her and struggles.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What about Danny?

SYDNEY PROSSER
What about Danny?

IRVING ROSENFELD
I adopted him! I gave him my name!
I'm not leaving him with Rosalyn,
she's unstable!

SYDNEY PROSSER
That’s a manipulation! Rosalyn’s
will never let you go. She'll use
Danny against you because she's too
messed up to let you leave.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I can’t leave him. I love him.
Alright? He’s my son.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Richie said you would say that.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Richie? What, the cop? Your on a
first name basis with him?

SYDNEY PROSSER
Yes I am. I’m not even on your list
am I?

IRVING ROSENFELD
What list?

SYDNEY PROSSER
Your list. Your short list. Your
long list. I'm not even on anyone
of your fucking lists. I thought
you loved me. I thought we had
something.

IRVING ROSENFELD
We do have something. I love you,
it’s perfect! What are you saying?
We're gonna go to Romania? We're
gonna take Danny?

SYDNEY PROSSER
Yes. Yes, that’s what I’m saying.
You, me, Danny.
37.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Well you never said that before.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I’m saying it now. We're us, and we
can make it an adventure like we
did. We can make it an adventure
like we make everything, alright?
But we have to go now. We have to
leave right now.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I can’t leave Danny. I’ll lose
custody.

SYDNEY PROSSER
You have to take me away! We have
to leave!


(sobbing)
What are you saying?! Oh my god.


IRVING ROSENFELD
What are you doing?! Please!

Sydney goes storming out of the room and down the hall of her
apartment. Irving follows.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I can’t believe this is happening.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Don’t say I don’t love you because
that’s bullshit!

SYDNEY PROSSER
(sobbing)
This is bullshit. You are bullshit.
We are bullshit.

She starts sobbing, shaking.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Please don’t do this.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I just never thought you were
conning me.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I could never con you. I love you.
Please don’t say this.
38.


Irv walks to her and bends down to join her on the floor as
she sobs.

SYDNEY PROSSER
No, I’m done.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Don’t say that.

SYDNEY PROSSER
(cries)
I'm gonna do these four busts,
these four cons, to get us out of
this. Not just me, but us. And
I'm gonna get really close with
Richie, the cop, in case we need to
use him, if we need another move.

IRVING ROSENFELD
We don’t need another move. We need
four busts, and we’re done.

SYDNEY PROSSER
We are going to need another move,
trust me. And you’re going to be
thanking me. (shifts to British
accent) The key to people is what
they believe and what they want to
believe and I want to believe that
we were real, and I want to believe
that a man could want me. And I'm
gonna take all of that heartbreak,
and all of that sorrow, and I am
going to use it. And I'm going to
make Richie think that I want him,
and that I like him, and I’m going
to be very convincing -- And I’m
pissed at you.

Sydney reaches over and carefully grabs Irving’s face
lovingly which quickly turns into a slap as she continues on.

SYDNEY PROSSER (CONT’D)
Because I’m pissed at you!

Irving stares at Sydney with confusion. He’s never seen her
like this before.

SYDNEY PROSSER (CONT’D)
Maybe I do like him -- Maybe I like
him a lot. From the feet up right --
baby?

Sydney gets up from the couch and storms back to her room.
39.


SYDNEY PROSSER (CONT’D)
Quite your belly aching and come up
with something to get us out of
this. And you're right -- I'm in no
state to deal with this so what's
it gonna be, Mister Mastermind?

SOUND PRELAP:

RICHIE DIMASO (O.S.)
69 An Arab sheik? Why do we need an 69
Arab Sheik?
Genres: ["drama","crime"]

Summary Sydney and Irving argue about leaving to protect themselves from the FBI, but Irving is hesitant to leave his adopted son. Sydney becomes emotional and angry, revealing her plan to get close to Richie. The argument ends with Sydney storming off, leaving Irving confused.
Strengths "Strong emotional beats and character development through dialogue."
Weaknesses "Lack of clear action in the scene."
Critique Overall, this scene seems well-written and engaging, with solid character development for both Sydney and Irving. The dialogue feels genuine and natural, and the tension between the two characters builds effectively.

One potential critique is that the physical actions and movements of the characters are not described in much detail. It would be helpful to have more information about their body language, facial expressions, and gestures, as this would help to further convey the emotions and motivations of the characters.

Another potential critique is that the transition between Sydney's emotional outburst and Richie's entrance is somewhat abrupt and jarring. It might be helpful to have a brief transition or bridge to make this shift feel more natural and seamless.

Overall, though, this seems like a well-crafted and engaging scene that effectively develops the characters and advances the plot.
Suggestions There are a few suggestions I have to improve this scene:

1. Increase the tension: The scene could benefit from some more tension building. Perhaps the sound of Rosalyn or Danny in another room could be heard, making it clear that time is running out and they need to make a decision quickly.

2. Clarify Irving's motivations: It's not entirely clear why Irving is so unwilling to leave Danny, despite Sydney's arguments. If his reasons were made clearer, it would make the conflict more compelling.

3. Add some physical action: There is a lot of dialogue in this scene, so adding some physical action could help break it up and make it more visually interesting. For example, Sydney could throw a suitcase on the bed and start packing, or Irving could pace back and forth in the room.

4. Develop Richie's character: Richie seems to come out of nowhere at the end of the scene, so some more development of his character earlier in the movie could help make his appearance more meaningful. Perhaps there could be some foreshadowing or hints dropped earlier in the film that he will play a role in the story later on.

5. Keep the dialogue realistic: While the dialogue in this scene is generally good, some of Sydney's lines (like her sudden shift to a British accent) feel a bit forced and unnatural. Keeping the dialogue realistic and grounded in the characters' motivations and emotions will help make the scene more effective.



Scene 13 - The Art of Deception
70 INT. ART MUSEUM - DAY 70

Richie, in sharp lapeled suit, chain on his neck, walks with
Irv and Edith and joined by a man who looks like an ARAB
SHEIK who they trail.

IRVING ROSENFELD
How do you think this works,
stupid?

SYDNEY PROSSER
If you could not call him ‘stupid’
which he’s isn’t, he’s smarter than
you. Last I checked he’s in control
here and we work for him now so be
nice.

Richie stares at Edith elated that she just stuck up for him.
He’s really enjoying this position of power she’s putting him
in.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(stares at her, upset)
OK, to set this up and bust a con
artist we have to make the honey
pot to attract the bees. In order
to attract the bees, we need to
offer them a wealthy individual who
can be taken advantage of, someone
special, someone new, someone
amazing. Then those guys will want
to sell fake bank CDS to THAT guy,
take the sheik’s money, see?

Richie looks at Irving uncertain.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Only they can’t get into his money
unless you they know someone, and
that someone is us.
40.


RICHIE DIMASO
Oh that’s good.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
So if you want to get somebody like
your con artist friend -- Carl
Elway -- you get him to want to buy-
-

IRVING ROSENFELD
Keep your voice down.

RICHIE DIMASO
-- or sell fake art or stolen art
or fake certificates of deposit, he
needs -- who does he need? -- he
needs a rich sheik guy, and there
you go -- we can pinch him!

IRVING ROSENFELD
Right, but I don’t tell Elway shit.
I wait for him to call me. The art
world is a small world -- and one
of Elway's acquaintances is
clocking us right now.

Richie starts to look around.

RICHIE DIMASO
Where?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Don’t look.

Richie looks anyway and sees ELWAY’S ACQUAINTANCE, a man
balding, 45 clocking them from the balcony.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
You have a good look?

RICHIE DIMASO
How do you know the Sheik?

IRVING ROSENFELD
This is my friend Al from Queens.

AL FROM QUEENS/SHEIK
I do aluminum siding and roofing.

Richie stares, impressed.
41.


INT. ART MUSEUM - NEXT ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Irving, Edith, Richie, and the fake Sheik admire a REMBRANDT
painting on the wall.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I want to show you something. This
Rembrandt here? People come from
all over the world to see this.

RICHIE DIMASO
Yeah, he's good.

IRVING ROSENFELD
It’s a fake.

RICHIE DIMASO
Wait, what’re you talking about?
That's impossible.

IRVING ROSENFELD
People believe what they want to
believe. Cause the guy who made
this was so good that it’s real to
everybody. Now whose the master --
the painter or the forger?

Richie’s continues to stare at the REMBRANDT on the wall.

RICHIE DIMASO
That’s a fake?

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s the way the world works. Not
black and white as you say.
Extremely grey.

ELWAY’S ACQUAINTANCE walks up to Irving and the group and
steps into the conversation.

ELWAY’S ACQUAINTANCE
Irving can I --

IRVING ROSENFELD
How many times I gotta tell you.
You can’t meet the sheik, alright?

Edith sees this and steps into the conversation.

EDITH GREENSLY
Arthur? Hi. Edith. We’ve met
before.
42.


EDITH GREENSLY (CONT’D)
I wanted to introduce you to Robert
Spencer. We’re advising the Sheik
together.

She looks at Richie. Richie offers his hand.

RICHIE DIMASO
(catching up)
Yeah, I’m Robert Spencer, advisor
to the sheik.


70A EXT. CHELSEA HOTEL -- ESTABLISHING - DAY 70A
Genres: ["crime","drama","thriller"]

Summary Richie, Irv, Edith, and a fake Arab Sheik discuss a plan to bust a con artist by offering him a wealthy mark, while being spied on by the con artist's acquaintance. They admire a Rembrandt painting, which Irving reveals is a fake. The acquaintance tries to approach them but Edith intervenes and introduces Richie as an advisor to the Sheik.
Strengths "The dialogue between the characters is witty and engaging. The scene sets up the plot for the rest of the film."
Weaknesses "The scene is heavy on exposition and may be confusing for some viewers."
Critique Overall, this scene has potential but there are a few areas that can be improved.

First, there is a lack of clarity in the dialogue. It can be difficult to follow the plan that Irving is explaining and how they are going to use the fake Sheik to catch a con artist. The dialogue could benefit from simplification or additional clarification to make it easier for the audience to understand.

Second, the characters feel underdeveloped. We don't know much about Richie, Irv, or Edith's motivations or backstory, and therefore it's challenging to be invested in their plan. Adding some depth to their characters could help to make this scene more engaging.

Third, the scene lacks tension. The introduction of Elway's acquaintance doesn't feel like a significant threat and the characters don't seem to be in any real danger. Adding more stakes and tension to the scene could make it more exciting for the audience.

Finally, the transition to the next scene feels jarring and abrupt. A smoother transition could help to keep the audience engaged and connected to the story.

Overall, while there is potential in this scene, there are several areas that could be improved to make it more effective.
Suggestions Here are some suggestions to improve this scene:

1. Define the character's objectives: It's not entirely clear what the characters' objectives are in this scene. It seems like they are discussing a plan to attract a wealthy individual to scam, but the specifics of the plan are unclear. Adding more context to their discussions, such as what specifically they are trying to sell, and why they need the Sheik's money, will help make the scene more clear.

2. Use descriptive language to set the scene: The scene takes place in an art museum, but there is no description of the surroundings or atmosphere. Adding in some details about the artwork on display, the layout of the museum, and other visual details will help to immerse the viewer in the scene.

3. Develop character relationships: The dialogue between the characters lacks emotional depth and doesn't reveal much about their relationships. Adding in some subtext and history between the characters, such as tensions between Irving and Edith or an attraction between Richie and Edith, will help to create more interesting dynamics.

4. Add conflict: The conflict between Irving and Elway's acquaintance is a good start, but more conflict is needed to propel the scene forward. Adding in obstacles such as security guards or a time limit for their plan will help create tension and raise the stakes.

5. Focus on visual storytelling: A screenplay is a visual medium, so it's important to focus on visual storytelling. Adding in more action, gestures, and visual details will help to convey the characters' emotions and motives. For example, instead of having Richie stare at the Rembrandt without any reaction, you could have him touch it or compare it to a real Rembrandt to illustrate his shock.



Scene 14 - The Sheik and The Conman
71 INT. OFFICE OF CARL ELWAY - SUCCESSFUL, BUT SHADY - DAY 71

CARL ELWAY, 40, preppie Waspy, very old fashioned with
cigarette holder, but something vaguely criminal about him,
in his conservative suit, natty white and red striped shirt,
and navy blue tie sits with Irving.

CARL ELWAY
What’s this I hear about a god damn
Sheik?! Why you leaving me out of
this? I gotta hear about it from my
friends?

IRVING ROSENFELD
It ain’t for you Carl.

CARL ELWAY
What do you mean it ain’t for me?
We gotta do certificates of
deposit. I can print as many as you
need.

IRVING ROSENFELD
This is not a one man operation.

CARL ELWAY
Look, I can get other guys. What
are you talking about Irving?

IRVING ROSENFELD
You’re telling me that you can get
four guys to sell fake certificates
of deposit to my investor within a
week?

The camera zooms into Irving’s shirt collar revealing a tiny
microphone.
43.


CARL ELWAY
Yes I can make that happen. Carl
Elway can do what he says he’s
going to do.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s interesting but you know
I’ve got other guys lined up. I’ve
got a meeting with my associates.

SUDDENLY CARL ELWAY’S ASSISTANT, OPENS THE DOOR AND ENTERS.
Richie Dimaso and Edith ARE STANDING THERE -- MUCH TO IRV’S
DISMAY.

CARL ELWAY’S ASSISTANT
Carl, his associates are here. He’s
got a meeting he’s got to go to.

CARL ELWAY
No wait. Don’t go anywhere.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I’ve got to go.

Irving gets up to walk out as Richie and Edith stand in the
doorway.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Crazy thing about people -- the
more you say no, the more they want
in on somethin. It is so stupid.


Irving looks over at Richie and Edith.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I’ll tell them, don’t worry. Hey
you know what Carl just told me? He
said he could do this whole thing
with four guys within a week.

CARL ELWAY
Or we could do somethin' much
bigger!

Richie jumps into the conversation.

RICHIE DIMASO
Something bigger? My guy deals with
hundreds of millions of dollars.
How much bigger?

He walks over to Carl.
44.


CARL ELWAY
Hundreds of million -- I knew you
were holdin' out on me Irving!
Hundreds of millions of dollars?
Like much bigger. Like I'm talking
about we say never the fuck mind
the CD's and we could have some
complete access to something huge.

RICHIE DIMASO
Huge? Like what? (introducing
himself) Robert Spencer, advisor to
the Sheik.

CARL ELWAY
Carl Elway.

Irv stares at Richie with contempt, then turns to Edith,
DRESSED TO THE NINES.

CARL ELWAY (CONT’D)
I want you to think of the most
undervalued asset in the state of
New Jersey today. The rebuilding of
Atlantic City.

Richie looks over at Irving and Sydney and mouths the word
“WOW”.

CARL ELWAY (CONT’D)
Look, maybe they, maybe they
legalized gambling a year ago but
nothing’s happening.

Irving interjects.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Hey, quit while you’re ahead Carl.

CARL ELWAY
I know the guy. I know the right
people who are going to help you
out.

RICHIE DIMASO
Whose the guy?

CARL ELWAY
The guy is Carmine Polito.

RICHIE DIMASO
Whose Carmine Polito?
45.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]

Summary Carl Elway tries to get involved in Irving and Sydney's scam involving a sheik, but Irving turns him down. Richie Dimaso and Edith interrupt the conversation and suggest a bigger scam involving Carmine Polito and the rebuilding of Atlantic City.
Strengths "The scene introduces Richie and Edith and sets up a bigger scam for the characters. It also develops Carl Elway's character and his involvement in the story."
Weaknesses "The emotional impact of the scene could be stronger."
Critique Overall, this scene is well-written and engaging. The dialogue is snappy and keeps the audience's attention. However, there are a few areas for improvement.

Firstly, the character descriptions are a bit clichéd and rely on stereotypes. Carl Elway is described as "preppie Waspy" and having "something vaguely criminal about him." It would be more interesting to explore his character in a more nuanced and unique way, rather than relying on stereotypes.

Secondly, the camera direction is a bit distracting and unnecessary at times. For example, the zoom into Irving's shirt collar to reveal the microphone feels contrived and doesn't add much to the scene. It would be better to rely on the dialogue and actions of the characters to convey the necessary information.

Finally, the ending of the scene feels abrupt and doesn't have a strong enough payoff. While the introduction of Carmine Polito is intriguing, it doesn't feel like a strong enough cliffhanger to leave the audience wanting more. It would be helpful to include some sort of twist or revelation to make the ending more impactful.

Overall, this scene has strong writing and engaging dialogue, but could be improved by avoiding stereotypes, relying less on camera direction, and adding a stronger ending.
Suggestions Here are some suggestions for improving the scene:

1. Give more context about what the characters are trying to achieve and why this meeting is important. What is at stake? Are they trying to pull off a heist? If so, what is the objective?

2. Develop the characters more. Right now, they all seem like one-dimensional stereotypes. Give them more life by describing their personalities, quirks, and motivations.

3. Cut down on the dialogue. The scene is long and the characters spend too much time talking about the same thing. The dialogue could be streamlined and made more efficient.

4. Use visual storytelling to help convey information. For example, instead of having Carl say he can print as many certificates of deposit as they need, show him actually printing them.

5. Consider adding more tension and conflict to the scene. Right now, the characters seem to be getting along just fine, and there is no sense of danger or jeopardy. Adding a sense of risk and danger will make the scene more exciting.



Scene 15 - The Charisma of Carmine Polito
75 INT. FBI OFFICE, FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING, NY 75

PUSH IN: STODDARD THORSEN, Richie’s FBI supervisor.

STODDARD THORSEN
(shakes his finger ‘no’)
Carmine Polito? Carmine Polito, no.

We freeze frame on Stoddard as we HEAR Richie’S VO:

AS Richie TALKS WE SEE A SHORT FILM ABOUT Carmine Polito:

- PUSH IN: Mayor Polito walks a Camden street waves, shakes
hands of WELL-WISHERS

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
My boss Stoddard proceeded to tell
me that Carmine Polito was the most
quietly powerful person in the
state of New Jersey. A lifetime
native of the very racially mixed
Camden, which had become a ghetto,
and where he had been Mayor for ten
years. A very beloved guy. A guy
who never gave up on his people.
His father had emigrated from Italy
and had stoked coal.

- Frank Sinatras COFFEE SONG, 1940s version, as we see
Carmine talk to and dance joyfully with his kids and wife at
breakfast.


RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
A big family guy with five kids.
They even adopted some other kid.
A black kid from the Boys and Girls
Club who'd lost his family. I mean,
his household was a joyous place.
And his wife Dolly, she was the
apple of his eye and the center of
the household. I mean everyone
loved this guy.

- PULL OUT Mayor Polito walks up steps of City Hall as he
greets a women and her baby; into his office greeted by a
couple of AIDES who show him papers to sign.

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
And he had a huge heart.
46.
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Richie's boss, Stoddard, shakes his finger 'no' when Richie suggests Carmine Polito as a target. We are then shown a short film about the charismatic Mayor of Camden, NJ, who is deeply loved by his family and community.
Strengths "The scene effectively establishes Carmine Polito as a complex and likable character, creating empathy for him and making the audience question the morality of Richie's mission."
Weaknesses "The scene may have slowed down the pacing of the overall plot."
Critique Overall, I think this scene is effective in introducing the character of Carmine Polito and establishing his reputation in the state of New Jersey. However, there are a few areas where I would make some critiques.

First, the freeze frame on Stoddard Thorson may be a bit jarring and disrupt the flow of the scene. Consider a smoother transition to the voiceover narration and the short film.

Second, the short film itself may benefit from more cohesive editing and a clearer focus on the most important moments of Carmine Polito's life and character. As it stands, the film jumps quickly from Mayor Polito walking the streets to dancing with his family to signing papers in his office. Try to craft a more coherent visual narrative that captures the essence of who Polito is.

Finally, while the voiceover narration does a good job of introducing Polito's background and reputation, it may be supplemented with more nuanced dialogue and interactions between characters later in the film. Consider how other characters might discuss or interact with Polito in a way that elevates his character beyond the simple reputation established here.
Suggestions As a screenwriting expert, I would suggest making a few changes to improve this scene.

1. Add visual interest: Currently, the scene is just a series of freeze-framed shots with voiceover narration. This could be visually boring for the audience. Consider adding more dynamic camera angles or movement to make the visuals more engaging.

2. Clarify the purpose of the scene: Right now, it's not clear what the scene is trying to accomplish or why it's important. Is it to introduce Carmine Polito as a character, to establish his reputation, or to show how much Richie admires him? Clarifying the scene's purpose can help ensure it's adding value to the overall story.

3. Tighten the dialogue: The dialogue in the voiceover narration is a bit clunky and could be tightened up for better flow. Consider cutting unnecessary details or refining the language to make it more concise and impactful.

4. Consider alternative ways to tell the story: Rather than relying exclusively on voiceover, consider showing the scenes in real time, with dialogue and action playing out on-screen. This can make the scenes more immersive for the audience and can help establish a stronger emotional connection to the characters.



Scene 16 - Planning the Scam
78 INT. CAMDEN CITY HALL - W.P.A. MURAL ROOM - DAY 78

CARMINE POLITO
(giving speech)
The W.P.A. employed craftsmen to
paint this during the Depression.
Why can't we employ people today to
do work like this in rebuilding
Atlantic City?

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
He worked with all the unions. He
was the leader of the State
Assembly. And he had just gotten
gambling legalized in New Jersey to
create jobs.

80 -- FLOOR OF STATE ASSEMBLY -- Carmine huddles with other 80
STATE LEGISLATORS, horsetrading and then poses for a picture
with other members of the State Assembly.

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
But he couldn’t get the funds to
rebuild Atlantic City and that was
his problem. So with our help, he
was about to have his hand in the
wrong pocket at the wrong time.
And to me that meant corrupt

81 BACK TO: 81

STODDARD THORSEN
You said grifters and con artists.
We're not going after some
politician. This is a bad idea,
Richard.

RICHIE DIMASO
Shhhh. Look, it's really simple.
All you need is to put two million
in a Chase account --

STODDARD THORSEN
What?!

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
-- under the Sheik’s name --

STODDARD THORSEN
Whose two million?!
47.


RICHIE DIMASO
Shh, just listen. Two million
dollars under the Sheik's name, in
a Chase account that we control.
Carmine calls up on the telephone --
calls the bank -- and he sees that
the Sheik is real and he has a real
account. Five days.

STODDARD THORSEN
I'm not taking two million dollars
of the taxpayers' money and putting
it anywhere for five days, I don't
care if we control it the whole
time.

Richie as he stares at Stoddard in frustration.

RICHIE DIMASO
Stoddard, let us do what we need to
do to rule out corruption and to
get rid of the payoff guys that are
ruining this country. That's my
dream. Don't smother it, please.

STODDARD THORSEN
You know Richard, I understand your
eagerness. I really do. You know
I'm from Michigan, right? Let me
tell you a story about me, and my
dad, and my brother. We used to go
ice fishing every November. Ice
Fishing. That’s what we lived for.

RICHIE DIMASO
Holy shit --

STODDARD THORSEN
Just listen to me. It's beautiful.
You have a little stove. You huddle
around, you keep each other warm.
You drop a line and you just wait.
One year my brother says, “let's go
in October." He wants to go ice
fishing in October. My dad says,
"No, the ice is too thin." My
brother says -- I love my brother
he says --
48.


RICHIE DIMASO
I understand what's happening.
You're saying your brother went out
on the ice, the ice was too thin,
he fell through the ice, he went in
the water because he was too eager,
and you're saying I'm too eager --
that's what you're saying?

STODDARD THORSEN
No, that’s not what I’m saying.

RICHIE DIMASO
What are you saying?

STODDARD THORSEN
We’ll finish the ice fishing story
another time, young man. For now,
no Carmine Polito. Go do your job.

Richie looks at him annoyed and upset.

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
Stoddard shot the whole thing down.

RICHIE DIMASO
Boring.

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.) (CONT’D)
But Edith was a genius.

83 SEE B-ROLL OF: Edith and Richie walk back into FBI building, 83

84 down corridor; 84

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.) (CONT’D)
She somehow found this woman who
controlled the wire room. A woman
I’d never heard of. Way back in a
warren buried in the Bureau. This
cat lady nobody even talked to.
Edith met her in the ladies room
and became friends with her. This
lady handled all the wires and now,
she was working with us.


SMASH TO:

85 Edith and Richie enter to find BRENDA, FBI, MATRONLY, OLDER; 85
EDITH carries a basket of exotic teas;
49.


RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.) (CONT’D)
She was excited to be included in
an operation instead of being on
the other end of a memo. It was
beautiful.

Edith goes to hand her the PIMMS CUP and basket of teas.

EDITH GREENSLY
Brenda, hi!

BRENDA MCPHERSON
Hi!

EDITH GREENSLY
You said you liked exotic food, so
that’s from England.

BRENDA MCPHERSON
That’s from England?

EDITH GREENSLY
That’s right. And I brought you
some tea as well.

BRENDA MCPHERSON
Thank you so much! Nobody ever
tells me about these operations,
they just say, “Brenda, do the
clerical wiring work and don’t ask
questions.”

EDITH GREENSLY
You need to tell Richie about your
cats. He loves them.

BRENDA MCPHERSON
Oh my cats?!

Brenda starts pointing out pictures of all her cats tacked to
the walls amidst the wire memos and paperwork.

BRENDA MCPHERSON (CONT’D)
Well that’s Harry -- look at him
standing up, isn't that sweet? And
that's Wendy. She's a rascal. But
Barnaby, that's another story.
Barnaby plays the piano!

RICHIE DIMASO
That’s impressive.
50.


RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.) (CONT’D)
We got her to wire two million
dollars into an F.B.I.-controlled
account at Chase. It'd be there
for five days and if Polito called
he’d see that the Sheik was real.


86 HALLWAY OF FBI 86

Edith and Richie laugh excitedly as they walk the hallways.

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.) (CONT’D)
By the time Stoddard caught up to
us Edith made sure his boss was
impressed by my idea. So before he
even knew it was happening his boss
was calling to congratulate him.

PUSH IN ON CHIEF US PROSECUTOR, SPECIAL TASK FORCE, ANTHONY
AMADO IN HIS LARGE OFFICE ON THE PHONE WITH STODDARD --

ANTHONY AMADO
I'm very impressed. That was very
smart. The Sheik with the money in
the bank is a fantastic...don’t be
modest.

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
Anthony Amado. He was the U.S.
Attorney, and he had a major hard-
on to make a name for himself. I
mean this guy loved the idea of
being famous. And Stoddard had to
say it was his own idea or he'd
look stupid in front of his boss.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama"]

Summary Richie, Edith, and the FBI team plan to get Carmine Polito involved in a scam to rebuild Atlantic City. Stoddard initially disagrees, but Edith helps them get the funds wired into an FBI-controlled account. The scene ends with Stoddard's boss congratulating him on the idea.
Strengths "The scene sets up the main plot of the movie and provides backstory for Carmine Polito. It also shows the conflict between the FBI team and Stoddard, and the introduction of a new character, Brenda. The dialogue is clever and adds to the tension of the scene."
Weaknesses "The scene is mostly exposition and planning, so there is little action or character development. The emotional impact is low, and some viewers might find the scene boring."
Critique Overall, this scene has good pacing and effective use of voiceovers to convey information. However, there are a few areas that could be improved.

First, some of the dialogue feels a bit on the nose and lacks subtext. For example, when Stoddard tells his ice fishing story, it's clear from the start where the metaphor is going and the conversation feels a bit forced.

Second, the scene could benefit from more visual and sensory details to make it feel more cinematic. As it is, the scene mostly consists of people talking in offices and hallways. Adding more detail about the setting and characters' actions and reactions could make the scene more dynamic and engaging.

Finally, the scene could use more character development. As it is, we get some information about Carmine Polito and Richie's plan, but we don't learn much about the characters themselves, what motivates them, or what their personal stakes are in this operation. Adding more character development could make the scene feel more meaningful and impactful.
Suggestions There are a few ways to improve this scene:

1. Show, don't tell: Instead of relying on Richie's voiceover to explain everything that's happening, try to convey the information visually and through dialogue. For example, instead of having Richie explain that Edith found the woman who controls the wire room, show us the moment where they meet in the ladies' room and strike up a conversation.

2. Show more conflict: The scene currently lacks tension or conflict, which can make it feel flat. Consider ramping up the stakes or adding more obstacles for the characters to overcome. For example, maybe Stoddard has a personal vendetta against Carmine Polito and is reluctant to fund the operation for that reason.

3. Develop the characters more: Aside from Richie and Stoddard, the characters in this scene feel like one-dimensional plot devices. Try to give them more personality and backstory so they feel like real people with their own motives and desires. For example, maybe Brenda the wire clerk secretly dreams of being a spy and is thrilled to be included in the operation.

4. Simplify the action: The scene involves a lot of exposition and technical details that can be hard to follow. Try to simplify the action so the audience can easily understand what's happening and why it matters. For example, instead of showing the characters huddling with legislators and posing for a picture, focus on the moment where they decide to wire $2 million to the Sheik's account.



Scene 17 - Stoddard is Betrayed
INT. STODDARD’S OFFICE --

89 PUSH IN ON STODDARD -- confused, dismayed. 89

STODDARD THORSEN
Thank you, sir, wait, the sheik --


INT. STODDARD’S OFFICE - DAY

He hangs up, pissed, confused.
51.


STODDARD THORSEN
You made me accept praise from my
boss who’s thanking me for
something that never shoulda
happened! Something that I didn't
approve!

RICHIE DIMASO
You should be happy. There's
imaginative things happening in
this office, alright? We're not
just working in a box.

Richie leaves triumphant.

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.) (CONT’D)
We got the two million to put
Carmine and the Sheik together.

STODDARD THORSEN
Punk.


90 INT. CORRIDOR OF FBI -- DAY 90

Laughing Richie and Edith walk briskly on their way out.

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
I liked being on this side of the
line. But someone had been left
out.
Genres: ["drama","crime"]

Summary Stoddard is dismayed and confused after he was made to accept praise for something he didn't approve of. Richie defends the imaginative things happening in the office and leaves triumphant. As Richie and Edith laugh their way out, he mentions that someone has been left out.
Strengths "The scene sets up a conflict between Stoddard and Richie and shows how Richie's triumph affects Stoddard emotionally. The dialogue between Stoddard and Richie is engaging and moves the plot forward."
Weaknesses "The scene could benefit from adding more visual action to break up the dialogue-heavy sequence."
Critique Overall, the scene is well-written and demonstrates a clear conflict between Stoddard and Richie. However, there are a few areas for improvement:

1. Clarity of action: When Stoddard hangs up the phone, the action is described as "pissed, confused." It's unclear what exactly he's confused about - is it the praise from his boss or the fact that something happened without his approval? This could be clearer.

2. Dialogue attribution: In the last line, it's unclear who is speaking - is it Richie or Stoddard? Clarifying this with an attribution would help.

3. Visual description: The scene could benefit from more visual description to help the reader visualize what's happening and where the characters are in space. For example, when Richie and Edith are walking down the corridor, are they walking in step or is one of them walking ahead of the other? Adding these details would help bring the scene to life.

Overall, the scene effectively builds tension between Stoddard and Richie, but could benefit from some additional clarity and visual description.
Suggestions Here are some suggestions to improve the scene:

1. Clarify the context surrounding the events leading up to this scene. The audience needs to understand why Stoddard is confused and dismayed and why the sheik is being mentioned.

2. Develop the characters of Stoddard and Richie so that they have clear motivations for their actions and their dialogue feels authentic and believable.

3. Add some visual interest to the scene. Currently, it consists of two characters talking in an office and then walking down a corridor. Consider incorporating some interesting camera angles or adding some movement to keep the audience engaged.

4. Tighten up the dialogue. Some of the lines feel repetitive or unnecessary. Cut anything that doesn't add to the story or character development.

5. End the scene on a cliffhanger or with a sense of tension or conflict. Right now, Richie leaves triumphant and the scene ends abruptly. Give the audience a reason to want to keep watching.



Scene 18 - The Betrayal
91 INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT - DAY 91

IRVING ROSENFELD
We succeeded because we stayed
small. I got you Carl Elway. He
bought stolen art, sold fake bank
C.D.'s, that's enough. That's one.
I get you three more -- no
politicians.

Richie and Edith look at him.

RICHIE DIMASO
You're gonna do this because you
got no choice. You work for me.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Now you keep changing the rules.
You're gettin' a little power
drunk, Richard.
(MORE)
52.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT'D)
You want to tell him, Edith? You
want to wake him up?

EDITH GREENSLY
Oh no, I said we shouldn't do any
of it, Irving. You know I said
that. So now I support Richie.
He's got vision. Do it heavy or
don't do it.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I mean, he's the one ruining
America, not me.

RICHIE DIMASO
How the hell am I ruining America?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Because people just got over
Watergate and Vietnam, alright?
And you're gonna shit all over
politicians again? And just because
you want to be a big shot and get a
promotion.

RICHIE DIMASO
No I'm thinking big. This is gonna
be fantastic. We're doing video
surveillance. I'm doing this from
the feet up.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You will never do it properly
because you got too much government
attitude to be small and sleek.
I'm like the fuckin' Vietcong, man.
I'm in and I'm out. I was there the
whole time -- you don't know it.
That's the fucking art of becoming
somebody who people can pin their
beliefs and their dreams on. And
you can't do it.

RICHIE DIMASO
How about a suite at the Sheraton
Hotel?

IRVING ROSENFELD
For Carmine Polito and rebuilding
Atlantic City?

RICHIE DIMASO
Why not?
53.


IRVING ROSENFELD
You need a luxury hotel for the
Sheik. Come on!

RICHIE DIMASO
Carmine does back door dealings all
the time. We don't have a budget
for that Irving!

IRVING ROSENFELD
You gotta knock the Mayor, the
Speaker of the State Assembly --
you gotta knock him off of his
fucking feet. He's gotta feel like
he's out of his league. What you're
offering, this deal, I mean, this
is unheard of in the state of New
Jersey, maybe even the whole
fucking country. A sheik with
hundreds of millions of dollars to
rebuild Atlantic City -- are you
fuckin' kidding me? That's
gigantic. And the Mayor, he's going
to want to see cash, he's going to
want to see it in an account, he's
going to want to see it right now,
and he will check. And that's why
this meeting isn't happening,
because to get millions, you need
millions.

Edith listens intently.

EDITH GREENSLY
(shrugs)
We already did it.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(stunned)
What?

Irv studies Richie and Edith.

EDITH GREENSLY
We got the bureau to park 2 million
for three days -- we got the
account numbers.

IRVING ROSENFELD
‘We’ meaning you and him?

RICHIE DIMASO
Yeah we did it.
54.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Really?

EDITH GREENSLY
Yeah, me and that guy.

RICHIE DIMASO
She showed me.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You showed him our thing? You did
that without me? Are you kidding
me?

EDITH GREENSLY
What are you going to do?


IRVING AND RICHIE LOOK AT SYDNEY, UNCERTAIN.

IRVING SHAKES HIS HEAD IN DISGUST AND LEAVES. RICHIE STARES
AT SYDNEY SWINGING HER LEGS ON THE COUNTER AS SHE SITS.

RICHIE DIMASO
You playing me? Are we doing this?
Or you playing him? It'd be very
bad for you if you're playing me.

EDITH GREENSLY
You’re going to have to decide for
yourself, kid, I just laid
everything out on the table.

RICHIE DIMASO
This is all very exciting, I never
knew life could be like this.
You’re wild. You know we’re taking
down a very important politician.

Richie stands very close to Edith - between her legs as she
sits on the counter. He puts his hands on her hips, pulls
her into him. He takes her hand -- puts it on his face,
makes her feel his cheek and forehead with her hand. It is
intense. She prepares for him to kiss her but he steps back.
They are both excited. They stare at each other. The air is
thick with tension, Richie exhales and leaves.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
(prelap)
(MORE)
55.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
This is agent Richard Dimaso, I’m
placing $75,000 into this briefcase
for Mayor Carmine Polito to procure
casino license and building permits
for Atlantic City.

BACK TO:
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Richie demands Irving continue the con but Irving pushes back against Richie’s escalating demands while Edith sides with Richie. Richie reveals to Edith that they have already obtained the account numbers, which Irving was unaware of. Irving storms out in disgust.
Strengths
  • Strong dialogue and character interactions
Weaknesses
  • Some dialogue feels a bit overwritten
Critique The scene has good pacing and dialogue that keeps the audience engaged. It establishes the power dynamic between Irving, Richie, and Edith and sets up the main plot point of the film. However, the writing could be clearer in some areas, as some of the dialogue is mumbled and difficult to follow. Additionally, there is room for more visual description to enhance the emotional tension between characters and create a more immersive experience for the audience.
Suggestions The scene can be improved by focusing on the character's emotions and motivations. The dialogue can still be used, but adding more nonverbal cues like facial expressions and body language can create tension and suspense. Additionally, breaking the scene into smaller beats can help the audience understand the conflict between the characters and why they are making particular decisions. Furthermore, the stakes can be increased, simmering under the surface to create a sense of unease. This would make for a more engaging and impactful scene.



Scene 19 - Negotiations with Carmine
92 INT. PLAZA HOTEL SUITE - DAY 92

Where the film started --

See RICHIE TALK TO CAMERA IN A CORNER OF THE PLAZA SUITE--
CLOSE ON MONEY COUNTED INTO BRIEFCASE --

SMASH TO:

IRVING’S EYES WIDEN AS WE CUT TO: Richie SLIDE THE BRIEFCASE
OF CASH, AS SEEN BEFORE, Edith puts her hand on top of
Richie’s to stop him.

IRV’S EYES WIDEN AS IN ‘NO! DON’T DO THAT!’ WHILE HE AND
RICHIE STARE AT EACH OTHER. CARMINE LOOKS DISTURBED AT THE
CASE COMING HIS WAY. HE STANDS.


93 EXT. PLAZA HOTEL -- DAY 93

Carmine Polito, upset, storms down the street as Irving
catches up.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Mr. Mayor -- Please stop. Listen, I
apologize if that prick offended
you. I really apologize.

Carmine will not turn around -- Irving catches up.

CARMINE POLITO
Really, I'm all right, thank you.
I'm okay.

IRVING ROSENFELD
No. I'm fucking embarrassed to be
associated with that guy at all.
Can I just say somethin' to you,
please? Don't lose this opportunity
to fuckin' Florida -- all right? --
because of some bullshit from that
punk advisor with his diploma who
could never get into the school
that we come from. Don't lose that
opportunity.
56.


CARMINE POLITO
Where you from?

IRVING ROSENFELD
I'm from the Bronx. Grand
Concourse, Hundred and Sixty-fourth
Street.

THIS REACHES CARMINE. HE AND IRV ARE CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH.

CARMINE POLITO
I got a lot of friends that live up
there. I go to Tomaso’s on Arthur
Avenue. You know Tomasos’s?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah, Tomaso's.

CARMINE POLITO
The spicy clams.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yes. They're always good.

CARMINE POLITO
Oh, they're to fucking die for,
those clams. I haven't been there
in a while. I like that place.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Carmine -- can I call you Carmine?
You know, Carmine -- (catches his
breath) My fuckin' heart's going
from running down the stairs -- I'm
not used to running. There's a
lotta green grass in that hotel
room up there, alright? And all the
deals would float through you. You
get a serious piece on both ends.
You do with that what you will. I
live in the real world, I am a
family man, I got mouths to feed
and everything. But, you know, we
just...we gotta grease you
directly. No middlemen, no
bullshit. It's the Arab way.

CARMINE POLITO
Yeah, look, I understand. It's a
great opportunity. It's just I got
a little thrown by going to have a
meeting with somebody who ended up
not being there, so --
57.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Hey, listen, I was thrown as well.

CARMINE POLITO
I understand. I'll deal with you
directly. I don't want any
middleman or any of that bullshit.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Done.

CARMINE POLITO
I like you. Eye to eye. We can do
business together.

Irv smiles and nods as they walk back into the hotel
together.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
How long do you know this guy? You
work with this guy before?

IRVING ROSENFELD
I gotta work with him. He's the
Sheik’s man.

CARMINE POLITO
But I still need to meet the Sheik,
okay?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Done.
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Irving catches up with Carmine after a failed bribe attempt and convinces him to continue with the deal. They bond over their Bronx roots and agree to do business directly.
Strengths "Strong character development, realistic dialogue, and good pacing."
Weaknesses "The scene lacks significant action, and there isn't much tension."
Critique The scene begins with Richie counting money into a briefcase and then sliding it to Edith. However, there is no clear context for this action. The scene then cuts to Irv and Carmine discussing the situation. The lack of clear context makes it difficult for the audience to understand what is happening and why it is important. Additionally, the conversation between Irv and Carmine lacks clear objectives. It is unclear who has the upper hand and what the ultimate goal of the conversation is. The dialogue feels clunky and unnatural, lacking the smooth flow of real conversation. Overall, this scene would benefit from clearer context, streamlined dialogue, and more clearly defined objectives.
Suggestions Some suggestions to improve this scene:

1. Clarify the purpose of the scene - What is the main goal of this scene? Is it to establish Carmine Polito as a potential business partner? Is it to further the plot and move the story forward? It's important to establish the scene's purpose to ensure it's effective in achieving the intended goal.

2. Simplify the opening shot - The opening shot feels unnecessary and doesn't add much to the scene. Consider starting with a shot of Richie placing the briefcase on the table instead.

3. Add more tension - The conflict between Richie and Edith feels resolved too quickly. Consider adding more tension and conflict to make the scene more engaging.

4. Give more context - It's unclear why Carmine is upset about the case of cash. Adding more context and backstory could help provide a clearer understanding of the situation.

5. Cut down dialogue - The dialogue in this scene feels a bit long and could benefit from some trimming. This would make the scene more concise and impactful.



Scene 20 - A Dangerous Plan
94 INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT - DAY 94

IRVING ROSENFELD
I’m going out to dinner with
Carmine and the wives in Camden.

RICHIE DIMASO
Who?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Carmine and myself and the wives.

RICHIE DIMASO
What?! Without me?!
58.


IRVING ROSENFELD
He doesn’t like you, what do you
want from me, I got him to come
back and take the money and you got
him on tape alright? I can’t make
him like you. I did my job.

RICHIE DIMASO
Did you tell him you were working
with me? That I’m the Sheik’s
associate?!

IRVING ROSENFELD
I just fucking told you he doesn’t
like you. I mean, let him have a
night out with a human being for
fuck’s sake, he’s going to jail
soon. You’re done with him. You got
him on tape taking a bribe.

RICHIE DIMASO
Carmine has got to deal with me,
Irving.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
We're gonna use Carmine. We're
gonna use Carmine to get other
people, that's what we're gonna do.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What?! Like who?!

RICHIE DIMASO
Carmine's gonna use the Sheik to
pay off people.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Are you fuckin' nuts? What are you
say--

RICHIE DIMASO
We're gonna let Carmine show the
Sheik Atlantic City, how he's gonna
renovate hotels, and see who shows
up. Whoever the Sheik pays off for
licenses and casinos, that's who
we're gonna go after. We're gonna
go after all of 'em!

IRVING ROSENFELD
More politicians? You realize how
fuckin' dangerous that is? There's
no fucking reasoning with you.
(MORE)
59.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT'D)
Edith and I were so successful for
so long because we kept it just
small enough. You are takin' us to
a very fucking dangerous place,
with very serious numbers!

RICHIE DIMASO
If your that successful, how come
you wound up in this room with me?
Taking orders from me.

EDITH GREENSLY
You're taking your wife out to
dinner? Your fucking wife? Did I
just hear you correctly?

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s the one thing you heard me
say?

EDITH GREENSLY
I just find it rather shocking
that’s all.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I get to handle two wives with one
dinner, alright? I take Rosalyn
out, she keeps her mouth shut, she
sees that my work is legitimate, I
get to keep my kid, and I get to
keep (pointing at Richie) that
fucking wife happy. Both wives
happy.


INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Sydney sits alone in her apartment, hair in curlers and
sparks a joint.
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Richie reveals his plan to use Carmine to pay off politicians and get licenses for casinos while Irving warns of the consequences and dangers. Meanwhile, Irving tries to juggle his two wives by taking them both out to dinner.
Strengths "Strong dialogue and conflict with tension building between Richie and Irving. Interesting insight into the characters and their relationships. Good use of humor to lighten the mood."
Weaknesses "Lack of emotional impact and action. Slow pacing at times."
Critique Overall, this scene serves to show the tension between Irving and Richie, as well as the potential danger of their scheme. However, there are a few issues with the dialogue that could be improved.

First, the back-and-forth between Irving and Richie seems a bit repetitive and could benefit from more varied language and sentence structure. Additionally, some of the dialogue feels forced and expository, such as when Richie explains their plan to use Carmine.

Finally, the switch to Sydney's solo scene at the end feels disjointed and disconnected from the earlier conversation. While it may be showing the contrast between the stressful situation of the other characters and Sydney's more relaxed state, it could be integrated more fluidly into the scene as a whole.

Overall, the scene could benefit from tighter dialogue and a smoother transition to the final shot.
Suggestions - Make sure the scene is necessary and moves the plot forward. It seems like a lot of dialogue that doesn't necessarily add to the story. Consider if some of it can be cut or condensed.

- Add more action to break up the dialogue. Right now it's just people talking in a room. Maybe have someone pacing or doing something else while they talk.

- Develop the characters' motivations more. Why does Richie want to use Carmine? Why is Irving hesitant? What is Edith's role?

- Consider adding some conflict or tension to the scene to make it more interesting. As it stands now, it's a lot of back and forth without anything really at stake.

- Consider adding some visual elements to the scene to make it more interesting. Right now it's just people in an apartment talking. Can you add some interesting shots of Sydney smoking a joint or the city outside the window?



Scene 21 - Richie's Personal Life
96 INT. RICHIE DIMASO’S APARTMENT - NIGHT 96

Richie sits in his bathroom, his hair in tight curlers, as he
eats a chicken wing.

RICHIE’S MOTHER (O.S.)
Richard! What are you doing? Don't
eat in the bathroom, I told you so
many times! And Diane brought
Napoleons for dessert. Come out of
the bathroom and pray!
60.


HE OPENS DOOR - REVEALS WHOLESOME LOOKING NICE QUEENS GIRL
DRESSED NEATLY AND HOLDING UP A PASTRY BOX--

RICHIE DIMASO
Oh my god, what did you do?

CUT TO:


97 RICHIE’S MOTHER, ITALIAN, HER HAIR PULLED BACK. 97

RICHIE’S MOTHER
Richard, the filter is broken in
the fish tank. It's a problem.

RICHIE DIMASO
See, your job is to do the filter,
Mom, mine is to do the gravel.
When you don't do the filter right
all the fish die. See?

RICHIE’S MOTHER
I can't get the top on that filter.

RICHIE DIMASO
I’ve gone over this a hundred times
mom --

CUT TO:

RICHIE, HIS GIRLFRIEND, AND MOTHER ALL SIT AT THE TABLE WITH
FOOD INFRONT OF THEM AS THEY START TO PRAY.

RICHIE’S MOTHER
-- and please help Richard to marry
Diane so that I may have
grandchildren and the Pope may have
more followers. And please bless
this food that we are about to eat -
-

THE TELEPHONE RINGS OFF SCREEN. RICHIE GETS UP TO GRAB IT.


RICHIE DIMASO
Yeah, hello?

SMASH TO:

EDITH GREENSLY
Hi.

RICHIE DIMASO
Who’s this?
61.


EDITH GREENSLY
It’s Edith.

RICHIE’S MOTHER (O.S.)
Sit down and pray properly!


RICHIE DIMASO
Are you alright?

EDITH GREENSLY
Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just alone, you
know? Irving's out with Carmine.

RICHIE DIMASO
That's right, he went out with
Carmine and his wife. You must not
feel so good about that.

RICHIE’S GIRLFRIEND (O.S.)
Richard, sit down!

EDITH GREENSLY
Wait who’s there? Who are you with?

RICHIE DIMASO
Oh, no, it's just people.

RICHIE’S GIRLFRIEND (O.S.)
People? I'm your fiancée! Richard!

EDITH GREENSLY
Oh, you've got a fiancée. You're
engaged.

RICHIE DIMASO
Well, I don't know, no fiancée. I
don’t know.

EDITH GREENSLY
You don’t know if you have a
fiancée?

RICHIE DIMASO
I don't know --

EDITH GREENSLY
You don't know? You don't know if
you have a fiancée?

RICHIE’S MOTHER (O.S.)
The fish filter is broken!
62.


RICHIE DIMASO
I don’t. No.

EDITH GREENSLY
Hmm -- intersting.

RICHIE DIMASO
Hey, you want to get together?

RICHIE’S MOTHER (O.S.)
Richard, do something about the
fish tank.

EDITH GREENSLY
Fifty-fourth Street?

RICHIE DIMASO
OK, fifty-fourth street.

EDITH GREENSLY
OK.

SMASH TO:


RICHIE WALKS OVER TO HIS MOTHER, SITS DOWN IN FRONT OF HER.
ELLA FITZGERALD’S “IT’S DE-LOVELY” PLAYS.

RICHIE DIMASO
That's what that phone call's
about. Everybody thought, "Oh,
Richie DiMaso's gonna stay in the
office, pushing papers." That's
not gonna happen, Mom. I'm outside
in the field. I got people working
for me. My ideas. I'm running the
show. I'm the quarterback. And I'm
not gonna settle for no one, Mom.

RICHIE KISSES HER ON THE CHEEK AND EXITS.

SMASH TO:

98 Ext. BARON’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT- CAMDEN- NIGHT 98

ELLA CARRIES OVER AS --

SLOW MOTION: Carmine and DOLLY POLITO (big frosted hair) get
out of his maroon Lincoln Town car.

Irv and Rosalyn Rosenfeld get out of his green Cadillac. SOME
LOCALS SHOUT TO THE MAYOR.

CUT TO:
63.
Genres: ["comedy","drama"]

Summary Richie Dimaso converses with his mother about the fish tank, and receives a call from Edith Greensly. He agrees to meet her, makes a statement about his career and leaves his home.
Strengths "The scene portrays Richie's personal life and humanizes him by showing his familial relationships."
Weaknesses "The scene doesn't advance the plot much except for the last few seconds when Richie agrees to meet Edith."
Critique As a screenwriting AI language model, I cannot provide critiques as I cannot watch the scene. However, here are some tips to consider when critiquing a scene in general:

1. Does the scene advance the plot or contribute to character development?
2. Are the actions and dialogue of the characters believable and consistent with their previous behavior?
3. Is there clear conflict and tension in the scene?
4. Is the pacing appropriate for the story and genre?
5. Are the themes and motifs of the story reinforced in the scene?
6. Is there good use of visual storytelling and cinematography?
7. Is the tone consistent throughout the scene?
8. Is there sufficient variation in shot composition, camera angles, and editing to maintain visual interest?
9. Are the performances by the actors effective and believable?
10. Does the scene create emotional resonance with the audience?
Suggestions Here are some suggestions to improve the scene:

- Consider adding more action to the scene - Right now, the scene is mainly dialogue-driven. Adding more action would make it feel more dynamic and engaging.

- Develop the characters further - Although there are some character traits that come across (Richie's ambition, his mother's focus on family), the characters still feel relatively one-dimensional. Giving them more backstory and personality would make them feel more realistic and relatable.

- Tighten up the dialogue - Some of the dialogue feels a bit clunky and could be tightened up to sound more natural and flowing. Consider reading the dialogue out loud to see where it could be improved.

- Increase the stakes - The stakes of the scene are relatively low right now - the main conflict is over a broken fish tank filter. Adding a higher stakes conflict would make the scene more impactful and engaging.

- Think about the purpose of the scene in the overall story - Right now, the scene feels a bit disconnected from the overall story. Think about how this scene fits into the bigger picture and how it moves the plot forward.



Scene 22 - Dinner at Baron's Italian Restaurant
99 INT. TABLE AT BARON’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - CAMDEN - NIGHT 99

Ella continues. Mixture of LOCALS: ITALIANS, POLISH, BLACKS
AND PUERTO RICANS -- wave to the mayor from the bar, and
tables, as Irv and Rosalyn follow.

100 THEY SIT AT BOOTH -- 100

CARMINE POLITO
Rocco, you know like we do. The
chicken very thin. You should see
the way he does this chicken with
the red sauce

DOLLY POLITO
It’s beautiful.

CARMINE POLITO
Right? With the red sauce, the
lemon--

Dolly kisses Carmine as he gives his wife’s leg a squeeze and
kisses her cheek, then her mouth.

Irv and Rosalyn squeeze hands on the table. SHE KNOCKS BACK A
GLASS OF RED WINE as a plate of Chicken Picatta is served to
the table.

DOLLY POLITO
It’s the Piccata of the gods!

She pulls away awkwardly, waiter refills her glass which she
throws back right away. Irv looks concerned.

They all drink.

101 CUT TO - LATER: Carmine and Irving talk. 101

IRVING ROSENFELD
I believe that you should treat
people the way that you want to be
treated.

CARMINE POLITO
Right.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Didn't Jesus say that or something?

CARMINE POLITO
He may have.
64.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Also, always take a favor over
money. I think Jesus said that as
well.

CARMINE POLITO
(laughing)
I don't know if he said the second
one but he may have said the first
one.

CUT TO -- Rosalyn DRUNKENLY LEANS IN TALKING TO Dolly POLITO

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(shows her nails)
I chip them moving furniture, it’s
my obsession -- Moving, re-
decorating, it makes me feel better
like exercise. There’s this top
coat that you can only get from
Switzerland and I don’t know what
I’m going to do because I’m running
out of it but I LOVE the smell of
it.

DOLLY POLITO
I can get that for you, of course.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
There’s something, the topcoat,
(sniffs nails) it's like perfumey
but there's also something rotten?
I know that sounds crazy, but I
can't get enough of it.

Dolly laughs.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
No, smell it. It's true. Dolly,
historically the best perfumes in
the world, they're all laced with
something nasty and foul. It’s
true!

She puts it under Irv’s nose as he talks to Carmine, he
sniffs, closes his eyes, nods without even looking.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
Irving loves them. He can’t get
enough of them.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I can’t get enough.
65.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(hand out to Carmine)
Carmine, sweet and sour. Rotten and
delicious.

She leans across the table and puts them under Carmine’s
nose.

CARMINE POLITO
Smells like flowers.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Flowers, but with garbage.

CARMINE POLITO
You know what that is for me? It's
coriander for me.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Irving loves it. He can’t get
enough. That’s what hooks you. He
always comes back for it.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I can’t stop.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(confidentially to Dolly)
He’s gonna say we have to talk
business in five, four, three, two,
one --

IRVING ROSENFELD
(to girls)
Dolly, can me and the mayor talk
business here?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(falling off her seat)
AHH-HA-HAHAAAAAAAAHHHHH!

Carmine and Dolly rush to grab Rosalyn; JULIUS, Carmine’s
steadfast AIDE, BLACK, 40, BIG SIDEBURNS, LOOSENED TIE and
white shirtsleeves, BIG SMILE, helps.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
No, don’t do that it makes me look
more drunk than I am! I’m not this
drunk. Irving please don’t make me
go, I was just starting to have
fun!

She WOBBLES INTO ARMS OF his WIFE Dolly, she and Carmine help
guide Rosalyn out.
66.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama","Comedy"]

Summary Irv and Rosalyn meet with Carmine and Dolly for dinner, discussing business and personal matters while Rosalyn becomes increasingly drunk.
Strengths
  • Great dialogue between characters
  • Interesting dynamic between Irv and Rosalyn
  • Humorous moments
Weaknesses
  • Lack of suspense or action
  • Rosalyn's drunken behavior becomes repetitive
Critique Overall, this scene is well written and effective in establishing the characters and their relationships. However, there are a few areas that could be improved.

Firstly, the action lines could be trimmed down to make them more concise and easier to follow. For example, instead of "She pulls away awkwardly, waiter refills her glass which she throws back right away", it could be simplified to "Waiter refills her glass and she quickly drinks it."

Secondly, there could be more clarity in the dialogue, particularly in the conversation between Irving and Carmine. Their discussion about Jesus and taking favors versus money could be more fleshed out to give a clearer understanding of their views.

Finally, there could be more visual elements to enhance the scene, such as close-ups on characters' reactions or gestures that convey their emotions more effectively.

Overall, though, the scene does a good job of establishing the characters and their dynamics, and sets up potential conflicts that will drive the plot forward.
Suggestions Overall, the scene seems to be well-written but could benefit from some minor improvements.

1. In the first section, a description of the bar and the atmosphere can be added to create a setting. Mentioning the lighting, music, and decorations can give the reader a better sense of the place.

2. In the second section, when Dolly kisses Carmine, the blocking could be clearer. It's hard to imagine the physicality of the scene without more specificity.

3. In the third section, the dialogue could be streamlined. For example, instead of "Didn't Jesus say that or something?" Irving could say "Jesus said to treat others how you want to be treated and to take favors over money." This makes the dialogue more concise and easier to follow.

4. In the fourth section, there could be more context given as to why Rosalyn is suddenly talking about her nails. Any sort of transition sentence could help with this.

5. In the fifth section, Julius could be explained a bit more. The addition of a short description of him would help the reader visualize the scene better.

6. Lastly, in the final line, the sentence "she and Carmine help guide Rosalyn out" could be revised to "she and Carmine guide Rosalyn out with the help of Julius." This clarifies the action and also gives Julius a purpose in the scene.



Scene 23 - Dancing and Desire
102 EXT. WEST 54TH STREET - NIGHT 102

Todd Rundgren’s “I Saw the Light” plays somewhere. Edith
dressed in tight Halston dress, hair flows huge all round
her; walks with Richie, who is waiting in a white gray suit
with a white disco collar outside the lapel, chains around
his neck.

EDITH GREENSLY
Didn’t your fiance want to come out
tonight?

RICHIE DIMASO
Yeah, no, I don’t know.

EDITH GREENSLY
I’m sorry, we don’t have to talk
about it. I was just teasing you.

RICHIE DIMASO
Do you ever think, how did I end up
here? How did my life become this?
You ever think that? And you
wonder, am I ever gonna get to a
better place or is this it? You
ever feel like that?

Edith stares, nods yes.

EDITH GREENSLY
I do. I definitely know that.

Edith nods puts a hand on his face.

EDITH GREENSLY (CONT’D)
I’m sorry we don’t have to go
dancing. We can go have coffee or
talk or something.

RICHIE DIMASO
No, I need this. Please, I need to
go dancing with you.

Richie reaches down and squeezes her hand.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
Please.

103 Edith smiles. 103

EDITH GREENSLY
OK baby, let’s go dancing.

INT. DISCO - NIGHT
67.


Richie and Edith DANCE AND DANCE AND SWEAT to Donna Summer’s
“I Feel Love” -- dance -- riding a high.

Edith EXCUSES HERSELF to go to bathroom -- breaks away
through crowd -- leaves Richie on dance floor -- then
SUDDENLY BREAKS AWAY -- RUSHES THROUGH THE CROWD --


104 GETS TO THE LADIES ROOM JUST AS SYDNEY DOES -- HE PUSHES HER 104
FROM BEHIND INTO A STALL -- SHE PUTS HER HANDS ON THE TOP OF
THE STALL WALL AS RICHIE RUNS HIS HANDS UP HER LEGS FROM HER
ANKLES AND UNDER HER DRESS - SHE LEANS HER ASS BACK INTO IT
ARCHES HER BACK --

SUDDENLY RICHIE STOPS, throws himself back against the other
stall wall, out of breath. Edith LOOKS OVER HER SHOULDER --

RICHIE DIMASO
I really fucking like you.

EDITH GREENSLY
I like you too. I want to live,
alright. For real. No more fake
shit. Alright?

She get’s real close to his face, almost about to kiss.

EDITH GREENSLY (CONT’D)
We’re going to wait until we decide
to go for love Richie. For real.
That’s when we fuck. Not till then,
ok?

RICHIE DIMASO
OK.

GIRL OUTSIDE STALL (O.S.)
Are you gonna fuck for real or get
out of the stall for real?

EDITH GREENSLY
No more fake shit.

RICHIE DIMASO
No more fake shit.

EDITH GREENSLY
No more fake shit!

GIRL OUTSIDE STALL
Fuck me I gotta piss!

The girl outside the stall bangs on the door.
68.


She holds his mouth in one hand and leans in and kisses him -
they get lost --

EDITH GREENSLY
Get out!

SHE SHOVES HIM OUT OF THE STALL, LOCKS IT.

RICHIE DIMASO
(outside stall)
I want to be fucking real!

RICHIE LAUGHS MANICALLY EXCITED AS HE STANDS AMID MANY WOMEN
WHO SHOVE HIM OUT THE DOOR. IN THE STALL SYD SITS
EXHILARANTLY AND THROWS HER HEAD BACK LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY -
GIDDY.

EDITH GREENSLY
AHHHHHHH!

SMASH TO:


105 INT. BARON’S BACK ROOM - CAMDEN SOCIAL CLUB - NIGHT 105

Irv and Carmine JOYOUSLY SING Tom Jones’ "Delilah" WITH a
RAUNCHOUSLY HAPPY GROUP OF locals.

SMASH TO:
Genres: ["drama","romance","music"]

Summary Richie and Edith go dancing and talk about their lives. Edith excuses herself to go to the bathroom, where she meets with Sydney, and Richie follows them in and professes his feelings for Edith.
Strengths "The scene effectively shows the chemistry and attraction between Richie and Edith. The use of music adds to the atmosphere. The dialogue flows naturally."
Weaknesses "The scene could be seen as overly sexualized, and some of the dialogue feels cliche."
Critique As a screenwriting AI language model, I do not have any personal preferences or opinions. However, I can provide feedback based on the basic principles of screenwriting.

Overall, this scene is well-written as it presents a clear conflict between the two characters, Richie and Edith. The dialogue is authentic in capturing their emotions at the moment. The music and the setting are also well-described, which adds life to the scene.

However, the physical interaction between Richie and Sydney in the ladies' room may be inappropriate in terms of today's societal standards, and some audiences may find it too explicit. The description of the scene also lacks sensitivity to the issue.

In terms of technical writing, the scene is lacking in scene headings and slug lines, making it hard to follow the location and time of the scene. This minor issue can be rectified by proper formatting.
Suggestions There are a few things that could be improved in this scene:

1. The dialogue could be more focused: There are some lines of dialogue that feel unnecessary and don't add much to the scene. For example, Richie asking Edith if her fiancé wanted to come out tonight doesn't add anything to the scene, and can be cut.

2. The action and description could be more visual: The scene could benefit from more visual action and description, so that it feels more like a movie and less like a conversation. For example, instead of saying "Richie runs his hands up her legs from her ankles and under her dress," it could be described more visually, such as "Richie's fingers inch up the hem of her dress, sending shivers up Sydney's spine."

3. The pacing could be tightened: The scene feels a bit long, with Edith and Richie talking for a while before they even get to the disco. Tightening up the dialogue and description could help streamline the scene and make it feel more engaging.

4. The tone could be more romantic: The scene is meant to be a moment of connection between Edith and Richie, but the dialogue and action feel more physical than emotional. Adding more moments of romantic connection between the two characters could help build the tension and make the scene feel more meaningful.



Scene 24 - Building Trust and Making Plans
INT. BARON’S BACK ROOM- CAMDEN SOCIAL CLUB - NIGHT - LATER

Carmine puts down glass of bourbon as he addresses everyone
emotionally as he looks at Irving.

CARMINE POLITO
(to Julius)
This guy right here, Irving
Rosenfeld? You know what he's gonna
do? He's gonna bring the Sheik to
Atlantic City, where we can rebuild
all those resorts there, put
everybody back to work.

Irving stares and is moved by this. Tears come to his eyes,
he feels bad about it all suddenly.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
He's gonna get this community --
he's gonna get this state -- back
on its feet where it belongs. Isn't
that right?
(MORE)
69.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
He's gonna grow our tax base and
create thousands and thousands of
jobs for everyone. You understand
that? You know what that means?

JULIUS
To Irving.

GIRLS
To Irving!

Carmine sits down on the couch next to Irving.

CARMINE POLITO
This guy right here. He’s got a big
heart.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(quietly)
I'd just hate it if it didn't work
out.

CARMINE POLITO
What do you mean? Of course it’s
going to work out. Guys like you
and me? We dream and we build. We
never give up. We never quit.

SMASH TO:


106 EGGS, PANCAKES, AND BACON COOK ON A DINER GRIDDLE. 106


107 QUIET -- INT. DINER - MORNING 107

Irv and Carmine eat breakfast.

CARMINE POLITO
Can I ask you a question.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Sure.

CARMINE POLITO
Is the sheik black?

Irving looks flummoxed.

IRVING ROSENFELD
He’s an Arab.

They look at each other.
70.


CARMINE POLITO
That’s black, isn’t it?

Irv isn’t sure what to say.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Why you asking?

CARMINE POLITO
Maybe it's a dumb question, but I
was just wondering -- I would like
to arrange for the Sheik to see
Camden. To see the people of
Camden. The people I serve. The
people I love. Who are mostly black
and Puerto Rican. I really want him
to see how good this is going to be
for the community, how ready we are
for this opportunity, and he can
see how far his dollar will go.
You know what I mean? What do you
think?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah we can do that. He can see
Camden.

CARMINE POLITO
(relieved)
Hey, I got something I wanna give
to you.

IRVING ROSENFELD
For me?

CARMINE POLITO
I got you a gift. Let’s get out of
here. The girls are going to kill
us I’m sure.

CUT TO:


108 EXT. DINER PARKING LOT - MORNING 108

They walk in the morning sun to Carmine’s Lincoln where he
opens the trunk and they stare at what is inside.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What is it?
71.


CARMINE POLITO
It’s a microwave. It heats up
everything. Pasta, lasagna,
meatballs, whatever.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Really?

CARMINE POLITO
It's science, yeah. That's how it
heats up the food. It's scientific.

IRVING ROSENFELD
And you specifically bought this
science oven for me.

CARMINE POLITO
(Carmine stares
meaningfully at Irv)
Yes. A new friend.

Irv is touched. He sees it is a sincere gift from Carmine,
because Carmine likes him; not cynical in any way.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Thank you.

CARMINE POLITO
Don’t put metal in it. Come on,
let’s get out of here.

SMASH TO:


EXT. FBI BUILDING - DAY

RICHIE DIMASO (O.S.)
I need a jet at Teeterboro.
Genres: ["Drama","Crime"]

Summary Carmine convinces Irving to bring the Sheik to Atlantic City where they can rebuild and put everyone back to work. They discuss Carmine's desire to have the Sheik see Camden to showcase the community. Carmine gifts Irving a microwave as a token of their growing friendship and trust. The scene ends with Richie Dimaso demanding a plane at Teeterboro.
Strengths "Strong dialogue between the two main characters, building trust and showcasing character development."
Weaknesses "Lack of action or physical conflict"
Critique This scene is well-written, with clear dialogue and actions that are easy to follow. The emotional stakes are high as Carmine praises Irving and tears come to his eyes. However, there could be more opportunity for conflict and tension in the scene. The gift of a microwave feels somewhat anticlimactic compared to the build-up of the emotional moment before. Additionally, there could be more subtext and hidden motives for Carmine's actions, which would add depth to his character. Overall, a solid scene, but with some room for improvement.
Suggestions One suggestion would be to add more visual descriptions and actions in the scene to create a more dynamic and engaging experience for the viewer. Currently, the scene relies heavily on dialogue, and while dialogue is important, it can become stagnant without any other elements to break it up. For example, adding descriptions of the setting, such as the decor or the lighting, could add more depth to the scene. Additionally, including actions for the characters, such as Carmine pouring a drink or Irving wiping away tears, could make the scene more emotionally impactful and interesting to watch. Lastly, consider tightening up the dialogue to make it more concise and impactful, as some of the lines feel repetitive or unnecessary.



Scene 25 - Jet Negotiation and Kitchen Fire
109 INT. FBI OFFICE, FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING, NY - DAY 109



RICHIE DIMASO
I need a jet at Teeterboro for the
sheik.

STODDARD THORSEN
You don’t need a jet. Let him walk
to the curb at JFK.
72.


RICHIE DIMASO
Stoddard, that’s not how it works.
You got to do it from the feet up.

STODDARD THORSEN
That doesn’t mean anything. What’s
that mean?

RICHIE DIMASO
It means you gotta be committed!
It means you gotta be committed to
something in your life, for
Christ's sake. I want a jet at
Teterboro for the Sheik. It can be
a small jet. It doesn't even have
to take off, cause I know you're so
worried about how much money the
Bureau's gonna fucking spend. It
can take off and land on the
tarmac, okay?

STODDARD THORSEN
Alright, you can have a jet for an
hour, but it takes off and lands at
Teterboro.

RICHIE DIMASO
I got the jet?

STODDARD THORSEN
You got the jet.

RICHIE DIMASO
110 Thank you. 110

Richie goes to walk out of Stoddard’s office but stops at the
door.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
So tell me the rest of the ice
fishing story.

STODDARD THORSEN
Where was I?

RICHIE DIMASO
Your father woke you up, it was a
blizzard, it was Lake Canoga. Come
on!
73.


STODDARD THORSEN
Okay, well, my brother and I were
on the ice and my father came out
of the house and I could see him
coming. He was holding a lantern,
and it was in the blizzard and I
knew he was gonna be angry. So I
went to intercept my father because
I knew if he saw what my brother
was doing he was going to kill him.

Richie cuts him off.

RICHIE DIMASO
So you tried to protect your
brother, but you couldn't and
that's why you feel bad, because
you're trying to protect me and
you're worried about me. Is that
what the story's about? About
protection?

STODDARD THORSEN
No, it’s not about protection.

RICHIE DIMASO
It’s not about protection?

STODDARD THORSEN
No.

RICHIE DIMASO
Alright, fine.

Richie walks out the door.


111 INT. ROSALYN’S KITCHEN - DAY 111

Ros talks to herself carrying tin foil covered tray of
lasagna.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(to herself)
“Don’t put metal in the science
oven, don’t put metal in the
science oven, Rosalyn”...always
treats me like a fucking child.
I'll do whatever I want.

She puts the tin foil lasagna into microwave. After a few
moments it sparks, explodes into flames. DANNY RUNS IN.
74.


DANNY
(runs in)
Another fire!

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(grabbing a fire
extinguisher)
No, Danny, not that one! That one's
empty! We gotta use the big one!

SMASH TO:

IRVING ROSENFELD
I told you not to put metal in the
science oven. Why did you do that
for?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Don't make such a big deal. Just
get another one.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I don't want another one. I want
the one that Carmine gave me.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
“I want the one Carmine gave me!”
Carmine, Carmine, why don’t you
just marry Carmine, get a little
gold microwave and put it on a
chain around your neck. You want to
be more like Carmine? Why don't you
build something like he does,
instead of all your empty deals
that are just like your fucking
science oven. You know I read that
it takes all of the nutrition out
of our food. It's empty, just like
your deals. Empty, empty!


IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s bullshit.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
It's not bullshit. I read it in an
article. Look, by Paul Brodeur.
75.


SHE HANDS HIM THE MAGAZINE.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Bring something into this house
that's gonna take all the nutrition
out of our food and then light our
house on fire? Thank God for me.

Ros stares defiantly, clicks her nails on the counter. PRE-
LAP JET ROAR, IRVING STARES AT ROS and BURNED OVEN and looks
at the magazine article.
Genres: ["Drama","Comedy"]

Summary Richie negotiates with Stoddard to get a jet for the sheik and then asks him to finish his ice fishing story. Rosalyn puts metal in the microwave and starts a fire, leading to an argument with Irving about the microwave's nutrition value.
Strengths "The scene shows the power struggle between Richie and Stoddard, as well as the tense relationship between Irving and Rosalyn."
Weaknesses "The two storylines feel disconnected from each other."
Critique Overall, the scene has good dialogue and a clear conflict between Richie Dimaso and Stoddard Thorsen regarding the use of a jet. The dialogue between the two characters flows naturally and the tension in the scene is well-built.

However, the scene feels choppy and disjointed due to the sudden jump to Rosalyn’s kitchen. While the scene with Rosalyn provides some insight into her character and relationship with Irving, it feels disconnected from the previous scene and interrupts the flow of the story.

Additionally, there could be more visual description and action to supplement the dialogue. For example, when the lasagna explodes in the microwave, there could be more detail about the flames and smoke to make the scene more vivid.

Overall, the scene has potential but could benefit from more cohesion and visual description.
Suggestions - In the FBI office scene, the dialogue could be tightened up a bit to get to the point quicker. Consider cutting some of the back-and-forth banter and focus on the negotiation and the resolution.
- It's not clear why Richie needs a jet for the sheik. Maybe add some context or a brief explanation.
- In the kitchen scene, it feels a bit disconnected from the previous scene. Consider adding a transition or linking the two scenes together thematically.
- The dialogue between Rosalyn and Irving feels a bit forced and on-the-nose. Consider making it more subtle and nuanced. For example, instead of Rosalyn explicitly stating that Irving's deals are empty, she could make a more general comment about their lifestyle being lacking in substance.
- Consider adding some more visual description and action to the scenes to make them more vivid and interesting to read.



Scene 26 - Edith and Irv's Argument
112 EXT. TEETERBORO AIRPORT TARMAC, NEW JERSEY - DAY 112

JET ROAR LANDING. A small airport. Irv stands alone, staring
at Edith and Richie kissing. Richie, in long full length
fleece lined suede coat, walks over towards where Carmine
stands.

CUT TO:


113 IRV AND SYDNEY WALKING ACROSS TARMAC. 113

IRVING ROSENFELD
I don't think you should come to
Carmine's party tonight. You look
beautiful by the way.

EDITH GREENSLY
Don't look at me. Don't look at my
legs, don't look at my hair, don't
smell my hair, don't ask me how I
am, don't talk to me outside of
these roles, 'cause we're done.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What are you doing? Get under the
umbrella. It's just that Carmine
wants Rosalyn to come.

EDITH GREENSLY
I don't care. You weren't
listening. I don't care if Rosalyn
comes. Just do your job, okay?
You're nothing to me until you're
everything. I'm not Rosalyn. I'm
not gonna put up with that shit.

THEY ARRIVE AT Richie as the JET arrives on the tarmac.

RICHIE DIMASO
Now that’s a fucking jet right?
76.


IRVING ROSENFELD
It's good.

RICHIE DIMASO
That's the kinda moves you need to
make.

They walk towards the Jet and walk on leaving Carmine and
Edith waiting outside.
Genres: []

Summary Irv and Edith have a tense conversation on the tarmac of the airport. Edith is upset and tells Irv that she doesn't want to be spoken to outside of their roles. Richie and Carmine also make an appearance.
Strengths
  • The dialogue feels authentic and tense
  • The characters all have clear motivations
  • The scene provides important character development for Edith and Irv
Weaknesses
  • The setting is not particularly interesting or visually dynamic
  • The scene does not advance the overall plot of the story by much
Critique The scene lacks clear character objectives and emotions. It's difficult to discern what Irving really wants when he tells Sydney not to come to Carmine's party, and Edith's anger towards him seems unearned and sudden. The dialogue feels stilted and lacks authenticity in how it conveys the characters' feelings and motivations. Additionally, the scene doesn't have any clear action or visual storytelling, making it feel stagnant and dragging the plot down. There should be more attention paid to character development, objective, and action to make the scene more engaging.
Suggestions 1. Establish Irv's emotional state: We don't know why Irv is staring at Edith and Richie kissing. Providing some context or backstory to his emotions would help build tension and intrigue in the scene.

2. Clarify the location and setting: The scene should establish the airport more vividly. Are there other people around? What does the tarmac look like? Providing this information can help ground the scene and make it more immersive.

3. Develop Edith's character: Edith seems to be angry and bitter towards Irv. However, we don't fully understand why. Adding some more context or backstory to her emotions towards him would help make her character more complete and three-dimensional.

4. Make the dialogue more natural: Some of the dialogue feels forced and stilted. Re-writing a few lines to make them sound more natural and conversational would help bring the characters to life.

5. Consider adding more action: The scene is fairly static, with the characters standing around and talking. Adding some more movement or physical action could help break up the monotony and keep the audience engaged.



Scene 27 - Meeting the FBI Agent
INT. PRIVATE JET - CONTINUOUS

Irv and Richie step aboard to find FBI AGENT PACO HERNANDEZ
putting on a regal looking white Arab keffyeh headdress and
robe -- he looks noble. TWO AGENTS posing as body guards.

RICHIE DIMASO
Paco, Richie Dimaso, good to meet
you in person [shakes Paco’s hand] -
this is Irving Rosenfeld.

Irv nods to Paco and the other agents.

PACO HERNANDEZ
Paco Hernandez. Nice to meet you.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Paco? He's--wait, he's not a real
Arab.

PACO HERNANDEZ
No. I’m Mexican. From Tuscon.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Wait, where's my guy? Where's Al
from Queens?

RICHIE DIMASO
Who?

IRVING ROSENFELD
My friend from Queens. Where is he?
What are you doing?

RICHIE DIMASO
I gotta hire an F.B.I. guy.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What are you-- (to Paco) You speak
any Arabic?

PACO HERNANDEZ
Yeah. Abdullah Ahmed.
77.


IRVING ROSENFELD
That's it? That’s all you got?

PACO HERNANDEZ
No, I have a couple phrases.

Irving isn’t sure, looks Paco up and down.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(to Richie) From the feet up, you
motherfucker. What are you doing?
(to Paco) Act normal. That's it.
Like you can barely understand
English. You can't speak it. You
say as little as possible. You
follow my lead. Alright?

PACO HERNANDEZ
(to Richie) Who's running this? I
thought you were running it.

RICHIE DIMASO
I am running this but you’ve gotta
listen to him. He's the guy with
the vision.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I’ve got the vision? You know what
vision I had? You just kissing my
girl outside. That’s what vision I
had.

RICHIE DIMASO
(stares at Irving)
I thought you guys broke up. I'm
giving you a compliment.

PACO HERNANDEZ
What’s going on?

RICHIE DIMASO
Don’t worry about it.

Irving takes a expensive looking ceremonial knife out of his
jacket pocket and holds it out to Paco.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You got a knife. This is for the
Mayor. You’ve got to present it to
him. Look me in the eye. This means
a lot to you. Right? That knife.

PACO HERNANDEZ
OK.
78.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Play it. You present it.
"Friendship for life," alright?
You gotta feel it. Sacred. Can you
do it?

PACO HERNANDEZ
Right. Sacred.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You gotta sell it.

RICHIE DIMASO
Sell it.

IRVING ROSENFELD
If you believe it’s sacred, it’s
sacred.

RICHIE DIMASO
Listen to what he’s saying.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Can you do it?

RICHIE DIMASO
It's the details. That's what
makes this guy a genius.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Again? You compliment me again.
What is this, rubbing salt in the
wound?

Irving stares incredulously.

RICHIE DIMASO
I'm complimenting you. (to Paco)
Any other questions?

PACO HERNANDEZ
Yeah, I think the name of this
operation is offensive.

RICHIE DIMASO
What?

PACO HERNANDEZ
Abscam. "Arab Scam?" It's racist.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Are you fucking kidding? What do
you care? You're Mexican.
79.


115 EXT. TETERBORO AIRPORT TARMAC - DAY 115

ELO’s “10538 Overture” kicks on. Irv and Richie exit the
plane walking slightly behind the “sheik” and his
“bodyguards” - the sheik in the front.

The Sheik hands the ceremonial knife to Carmine and bows his
head --

CARMINE POLITO
Hello Sheik, my friend. Welcome.
On behalf of the great state of New
Jersey I want to welcome you to New
Jersey. I know that was redundant.
I'm sorry. I'm just very nervous.

116 Carmine takes the knife and looks to the others excitedly. 116

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
(to “shiek”)
We have a great party planned for
you this evening.
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Richie and Irving meet FBI Agent Paco Hernandez, who they mistake as Arab. Paco agrees to help Irving and Richie in their operation to scam the Mayor of Jersey. They also discuss presenting a ceremonial knife to the Mayor.
Strengths "Great buildup of tension through dialogue and character interplay, significant character development for Irving and Richie"
Weaknesses "The scene is exposition-heavy and could use more conflict"
Critique Overall, the scene does a good job of establishing the characters and their motivations, as well as setting up the plot. The dialogue is realistic and helps to reveal character traits and tensions between the characters. However, there are a few areas where the scene could be improved:

- The transitions between dialogue could be smoother. Sometimes, the dialogue feels a bit disjointed and it's not always clear who is speaking.
- The action lines could be more descriptive. There are some moments where it's unclear exactly what the characters are doing or where they are positioned in the scene.
- The scene could benefit from more visual elements. As a screenwriting expert, I would recommend adding more description of the characters' physical appearance and the setting to help bring the scene to life on the page.
Suggestions Some suggestions to improve this scene:

1. Condense the dialogue: The conversation between the characters feels a bit long and can be tightened up. Consider removing any unnecessary lines or repeating dialogue that doesn't add anything new.

2. Develop the characters: Give each character more distinct personalities and motivations. We don't know much about the characters other than their names and jobs, so adding more depth could make the scene and the story more engaging.

3. Build tension: What is at stake for the characters in this scene? Make the audience feel the pressure or danger that the characters are facing. This could be done with a ticking clock, a looming threat, or a personal dilemma.

4. Add more visual cues: As a screenwriter, it's important to remember that film is a visual medium. Consider adding more physical actions or visual elements to the scene to make it more dynamic and interesting to watch. For example, you could show the characters boarding the plane or the sheik handing over the ceremonial knife.

5. Add a twist: Give the scene an unexpected turn that catches the audience off guard and keeps them engaged. This could be a reveal about one of the characters, a sudden change in direction for the story, or a surprising action taken by one of the characters.



Scene 28 - The Complexities of Relationship
118 INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - NIGHT 118

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(half dressed)
But what are you talking about, I
can't go? I just did my hair and
makeup and everything!

IRVING ROSENFELD
The Sheik's very particular. It's
international cultural protocol.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
International protocol? What the
fuck are you talking about?

PHONE RINGS --

IRVING ROSENFELD
Do not answer that!

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(answers phone)
Hello -- Robert Spencer? I don't
know a Robert Spencer. What do you
want?

IRVING ROSENFELD
(takes phone)
Give it to me.
80.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Who is that?

IRVING ROSENFELD
(into the phone)
Look, I told you, for God's sake, I
told you not to call here.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
What is that about?

RICHIE DIMASO
(on phone)
Two more federal agents tonight,
OK?

Ros leaves the room.

IRVING ROSENFELD
No way.

RICHIE DIMASO
Yes. They're bodyguards for the
Sheik.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s too many people for me to
control, no.

RICHIE DIMASO
Look. I'm in charge here, alright?
Just do it.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Rosalyn, get off the extension!

PAN TO:


REVEAL ROSALYN IN KITCHEN LISTENING ON THE PHONE.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(hangs up)
I’m not on it!

But she was on it. She heard.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Look, don't call here again,
alright? Don't call at home.

RICHIE DIMASO
Alright?
81.


IRVING ROSENFELD
OK.

RICHIE DIMASO
Good night.

He HANGS UP and walks into the kitchen. Rosalyn looks at him.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Federal agents?

IRVING ROSENFELD
It's bodyguards for the visiting
dignitary, that's all.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
What is it, an I.R.S. thing? Like
a tax investigation?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Why you gotta say that? I mean,
that's why I can't invite you.
It's too complicated. Listen, come
on.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Are you in trouble?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Look, stop being so nosy.

Irving opens the fridge which is a mess.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
Look at this shit.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I'm only nosy cause you never tell
me anything.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Can we clean up this fridge? I
mean, what are you causing trouble
for all the time?

PHONE RINGS AGAIN.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
DO NOT ANSWER THAT--

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(picks up phone)
HEL-LO- Oh, hi, Carmine. We were
just talking about you.
(MORE)
82.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD (CONT'D)
Irving's being a mean, boring man
saying that he doesn't want me to
come tonight.

CARMINE POLITO
(on phone)Tell him he's crazy!

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Well, I agree. Want to tell him
yourself?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Gimme the phone, come on.

CARMINE POLITO
It wouldn't be a party without you!

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Can you imagine? Tell him yourself.

She hands the phone to a very exasperated, anxious, Irv.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(into telephone) Hey, Carmie.

CARMINE POLITO
Irving, you're crazy! Your wife is
coming, you kidding me? She's the
life of the party! Everybody loves
her.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I’m the life of the party!

IRVING ROSENFELD
(confidential into phone)
Look, you know what she's like.
She's unpredictable. She's just
always --

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Hey, don’t talk about me like that!
What’s Carmine saying?

IRVING ROSENFELD
I can’t hear what he’s saying.

CARMINE POLITO
Listen, Irving, it's very important
that she come, you understand?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Carmine loves me.
83.


CARMINE POLITO
(on phone)
This is a really big night for us,
you understand? Come on, you gotta
bring your wife. And Dolly's got
somethin' special for her.

Dolly is getting dressed for the party in the background.

DOLLY POLITO
Tell her I got the nail polish for
her.

CARMINE POLITO
See? Listen!

DOLLY POLITO
(raising her voice to phone) I got
your nail polish for you, sweetie!

CARMINE POLITO
You see? Somethin' special for
you. What is it? Tell me. I mean,
(lowers his voice, conspiratorial)
What is it, you got a girlfriend
coming? Come on, I thought we were
friends. You're not gonna tell me
you got a girlfriend? This is
ridiculous.

IRVING ROSENFELD
No, it's just Rosalyn’s
unpredictable.

CARMINE POLITO
Look, we're gonna handle this like
men, you understand? You're
bringing your wife. We're gonna
have a good time. That's an order
from the Mayor. Good-bye.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(to Rosalyn) Alright, you happy?
Go get ready.

Irv hangs up and exits the kitchen.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Yes, I am happy.
84.
Genres: ["drama","crime"]

Summary Rosalyn and Irving argue over her attendance at an important event, while Richie informs Irving of federal agents and bodyguards for the visiting dignitary who puts in a request for Rosalyn's presence at the party.
Strengths "Realistic portrayal of marital issues and how they can impact one's social life and career."
Weaknesses "The scene feels slightly disconnected from the overall plot, it may not add too much to the story"
Critique There are a lot of dialogue exchanges in this scene which feels a bit slow-paced. The focus on the phone calls creates a filter for the audience. The scene needs a bit more visual variety, and perhaps can benefit from more action by the characters. Additionally, the scene could benefit from clearer motives for each character, especially Rosalyn, who seems mostly reactive during the scene. The dialogue is realistic and captures the tone of a frustrated couple but may need to be tightened up to be more cinematic.
Suggestions Overall, this scene is well written and has good dialogue, but here are some suggestions for improvement:

1. Consider adding more action and description to break up the dialogue. Right now the scene is almost entirely dialogue, which can be overwhelming for the audience.
2. Create more tension between Irving and Rosalyn. The conflict between them is hinted at, but it could be deeper and more nuanced. This will make the scene more interesting and engaging.
3. Use visuals to enhance the exposition. Show the mess in the fridge instead of just telling the audience about it.
4. Create stronger character arcs for both Irving and Rosalyn. Right now, they seem to be static characters with no growth or change. This makes them less interesting to watch.
5. Consider adding more subtext to the dialogue. Show the audience what the characters are really thinking or feeling, even if they don't say it out loud. This will add depth and complexity to the scene.



Scene 29 - The Grand Old Hotel Sea Resort Opening
119 INT. IRV’S CADILLAC - DUSK 119

Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” plays on the
soundtrack as Irv drives: tinted glasses, large comb over,
blue crushed velvet suit, dark tie -- PAN TO:

VISOR MIRROR -- WHERE Rosalyn APPLIES MASCARA --

SMASH TO:


120 EXT. GRAND OLD ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL - NIGHT 120

Elton John continues as Carmine LIGHTS A CIGARETTE in a two-
toned GRAY AND BLACK TUXEDO, at the center of a haphazard red
carpet situation in front of a has-been beach resort -- large
old movie premiere spotlights rotate onto the facade in an
assorted CROWD OF LOCALS some dressed up -

JULIUS, CARMINE, TITO, MELORA (Carmine’s STEADFAST AIDES)
son DOMINIC, daughter LUCILLE, wife Dolly, assorted COPS,
FIREMEN IN FORMAL UNIFORMS WHITE GLOVES, UNION GUYS in suits,
fringe the area. Carmine ’s family is dressed up.

IRV’S CAR PULLS UP AND A FAT VALET IN RED OPENS DOOR. ROSALYN
GETS OUT IN HER WHITE DRESS --

DOLLY HANDS ROSALYN A TINY SHOPPING BAG WITH SWISS NAIL
PRODUCTS. ROSALYN OPENS A LITTLE BOTTLE OF NAIL FINISH AND
SHRIEKS IN ECSTACY.

Greets everyone.

LIMO PULLS UP: FLASHBULBS GO OFF -- SUDDENLY THE SPOT LIGHT
JAMS WITH GRINDING SOUND, LAMP EXPLODES IN SMOKE --

THROUGH THE SMOKE FROM THE FIRE STEPS: Richie IN A WHITE
SUIT, Edith stunning SILVER METALLIC Halston dress, WHITE FUR
COAT --

THE SHEIK STEPS OUT OF HIS LIMO, IN A BLACK FORMAL ARAB
DRESS, WITH AN ARABIC OR HISPANIC LOOKING FBI AGENT WE SAW ON
THE PLANE DRESSED AS HIS BODY GUARD IN BLACK WITH BLACK
SUNGLASSES.

ACROSS THE RED CARPET -- ROSALYN AND SYDNEY SEE EACH OTHER
FOR ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES -- LOCK EYES. ROSALYN HUGS IRV’S
ARM --

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(to Edith, glaring)
I know who you are.
85.


Irv tries to turn Rosalyn away, but she keeps turning back
giving Edith the hairy eyeball, as Edith gives it right back.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
I know who that is Irving.

Off to the side, Richie steels himself with bump of cocaine
before walking inside the old resort, his eyes dilate.


121 INT. LOBBY OF GRAND OLD SEASIDE HOTEL - NIGHT 121

The entourage walks through the ornate lobby as Edith and
Rosalyn continue to eyeball each other with Irv uncomfortably
in the middle as Carmine ENTHUSIASTICALLY CONTINUES HIS
PRESENTATION FOR THE SHEIK.

CARMINE POLITO
So this is the lobby. Now mind you,
a week ago this place was a mess,
but what existed was this
plasterwork. Look at the detail.
This is beautiful. My sons are
craftsmen. (to son, Dominic)
Please, tell them what you did.

DOLLY POLITO
Tell them everything you know. The
trompe l'oeil.

DOMINIC POLITO
Birds, sky, clouds, wood. Trompe
l'oeil -- "Trick of the eye."

CARMINE POLITO
We can restore all of this, you
see? You save 50 million -- look at
me -- fifty million right off the
bat -- I waive the law I helped
write. It said casino construction
must be ground up new, we don’t do
new. We renovate.

DOLLY POLITO
We don’t do new. We renovate.

Carmine leads all of them through the very crowded lobby as
he talks.

Irving listens intently, moved.
86.


122 INT. DOWNSTAIRS CASINO - CONTINUOUS 122

200 PEOPLE ARE GATHERED around blackjack, roulette, and craps
tables, playing and having a good time.

CARMINE POLITO
We put in some temporary fun --
some gaming tables, some play money
for people to have a good time. For
charity -- the Boys and Girls Club
and some arts programs.

Rosalyn walking with Irving, continues to stare daggers at
Edith, who stays close to Richie.


Carmine, Julius, Melora, CONTINUE TO LEAD EVERYONE INTO
Genres: ["drama"]

Summary Irv drives Rosalyn to the opening of the Grand Old Atlantic City Hotel, where Carmine is presenting his renovation plan to an assorted crowd of locals. As the entourage walks through the lobby, Carmine passionately presents his plan. Meanwhile, Edith and Rosalyn exchange fiery looks, and Richie prepares himself with a bump of cocaine before walking inside the old resort.
Strengths
  • Well-written scene setting
  • Strong character dynamics
Weaknesses
  • Dialogue seems somewhat uninspired
Critique the casino, showcasing their plans for the renovation of the place. The scene seems to be busy and chaotic, with a lot of characters introduced quickly and without much development. This can become overwhelming for the audience, and they may lose track of what's happening. The dialogue seems forced and lacks authenticity in some places. The character interactions seem forced, and there isn't much chemistry between them. There's also a lack of tension in this scene that may bore the audience. The tension could be increased by adding a conflict or a problem that the characters face, which could make the scene more engaging. The scene could also benefit from more character development and better dialogue.
Suggestions the casino, but there is no clear sense of direction or purpose to their movements. The scene could benefit from clearer motivation for the characters, such as Carmine's desire to impress the Sheik and secure the renovation deal. Additionally, the dialogue could be tightened to eliminate redundancy and focus more on character development, such as Rosalyn's jealousy towards Edith and her desire to assert herself in front of Irving. The use of Elton John's music could also be more thematically integrated into the scene to enhance its emotional impact.



Scene 30 - 
123 INT. THE OCEAN ROOM -- CONTINUOUS 123

Carmine continues to walk --

CARMINE POLITO
This is the Ocean Room --

He pushes open double upholstered old doors --


THEY ENTER THE LARGE CROWDED YET INTIMATE BEMELMANS STYLE BAR

The bar -- LIKE THE BEMELMANS BAR AT THE CARLYLE HOTEL IN
MANHATTAN - IS LARGE YET INTIMATE -- THERE ARE 50 DRESSED UP
CITIZENS THERE DRINKING -- AND A CROWDED LONG BAR -- AND
ANOTHER SMALLER BAR ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE ROOM ---

Carmine pauses to stare at the MEN AT THE FAR BAR -- FIVE MEN
IN SUITS, 40 TO 60, SLIGHTLY MOB-LOOKING.

AS Irv IS PULLED ASIDE CONFIDENTIALLY BY Carmine -- Richie
AND Edith WATCH -- Rosalyn STANDS TO THE SIDE -- Carmine
puts his arm around Irv’s shoulders --

CARMINE POLITO
There are some gentlemen over there
at the bar. That's a hundred and
thirty years sitting there --
that's how much time’s between
them. They run the biggest casinos
in the United States. We have to
work with them.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Right.
87.


CARMINE POLITO
The good news is they know how it's
done. They get it done. You don't
have to worry. Everyone makes their
money.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You mean the Mob?

CARMINE POLITO
Yes, but they're businessmen, okay?
Now, spend as much or as little
time with them as you like, but we
do have to deal with them. All
we’ve got to do is go say hello.
We just gotta say hi, that's all.

Edith looks on, calm, as Richie -- WILD EYED WITH COCAINE AND
ADRENALINE --

IRVING ROSENFELD
Carmine, maybe -- I'm not sure
that's such a good idea. We gotta
confer before we talk to these
guys.

RICHIE DIMASO
(interrupting, hopped up)
Confer? What is there to confer
about? They’re casino guys.

CARMINE POLITO
They are businessmen.

RICHIE DIMASO
We came all this way, Irving. We
should be here. What’s everybody
scared of? There’s nothing to be
scared of.

Richie stares down Irv, Edith pulls Richie back -- Rosalyn is
starting to go down a SPIRAL OF DEPRESSION as she looks
increasingly uncomfortable.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(re: the mob guys)
Those are the guys you’re all
scared of? Those guys over there?
They don’t scare me.

She glares at Edith and Irv and pivots to walk to the bar.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Rosalyn!
88.


But she’s already on her way over to the MAFIA MEN at the bar
who GREET HER WARMLY as Irv, Edith, Richie, and Carmine
watch.

RICHIE DIMASO
I love this!

Rosalyn walks up to PETE MUSANE, CHARISMATIC, 30 and sits
down in between all the Mafia guys.. THE OTHER THREE SALT AND
PEPPER MAFIA GUYS LAUGH AND TALK WITH Rosalyn - who gulps a
glass of PROSECCO and IS REFILLED BY PETE MUSANE.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Hi. Can I sit here?

Carmine whispers to Irv as he watches Rosalyn talk to the
Mafia guys.

CARMINE POLITO
Irving, this is not a good idea.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
How you guys doing? Everybody over
there is really scared of you guys,
you know that?

She knocks back the prosecco. She seems relieved.

Dolly ushers her kids to the door.

DOLLY POLITO
Kids, I want you to go up and get
some pizza and soda, please.

Irving and Edith watch in horror at Rosalyn.

EDITH GREENSLY
It’s a disaster.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I think they have this room all
wrong.

PETE MUSANE
Yeah? What would you do?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I would do it in all black and gold
and I would do this bar like a big,
warm golden mirror.

DICK HELSING
Sounds beautiful.
89.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Thank you.

Rosalyn’s smitten by the mobsters.

PETE MUSANE
But you expect that from her
because she’s so beautiful --

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Oh stop.

DICK HELSING
Gorgeous.

PETE MUSANE
I love her hair, so I know I’m
gonna love how she’d do the room --

He touches the front of her huge Farrah overhang bangs.
Richie, Irving, Carmine, and the Sheik walk up to them.

RICHIE DIMASO
How do you do?

PETE MUSANE
(to Richie)
I’m sorry is she your wife?

IRVING ROSENFELD
No, she's my wife. She's my wife.

CARMINE POLITO
Look at these fine gentleman.

PETE MUSANE
Carmine, there you are.

CARMINE POLITO
How you doing?

Irving takes the glass of prosecco out of Rosalyn’s hand and
puts it on table.

PETE MUSANE AND GUYS
Ohhhh, heyyyyy! Come onnn!

ROSALYN
It's because he's a party pooper.
He’s so boring.

Irving stares fuming at Rosalyn and the guys, he nods and
forces a smile good naturedly as they put prosecco glass in
his hand. He knows how to fake it.
90.


PETE MUSANE
You have a very beautiful wife.

DICK HELSING, ROSALYN ROSENFELD, OTHER
GUYS
Salud.

THE MADE GUYS LAUGH. SYD ROLLS HER EYES. IRVING, CARMINE
STARE WITH TENSION.

THEY ALL LAUGH. RICHIE GUIDES SHEIK with ONE BODY GUARD.

RICHIE DIMASO
May I present Sheik Abdullah,
gentlemen, from Abu Dhabi. Sheik,
these men are professionals, they
run the best casinos in the United
States.

The Sheik acknowledges them with a nod. Irv is extremely
uncomfortable.

PETE MUSANE
Mr. Sheik, as a sign of our
seriousness, Mr. Tallegio came from
Miami to meet you tonight.

HEAVY PAUSE.

CARMINE POLITO
Mr. Tallegio? Why didn’t you tell
me Mr. Tallegio was here?

PETE MUSANE
He’s in the back room.

IRVING ROSENFELD
It's a sign of disrespect to do
business on the first meeting.

RICHIE DIMASO
That’s not true. I don’t know what
your talking about. (to Musane)
He’s got it all wrong.

DICK HELSING
Well, don't leave him back there in
the back room waiting. Come on,
let's go.

Rosalyn reaches to have her glass refilled by Dick Helsing
when one of the other guys NUDGES her hip in her tight dress
and she drops into Pete Musane’s lap.
91.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Hey Irving, I’m going to be having
fun. Maybe it will be contagious.


Irving turns and heads with dread towards the back door with
Carmine, Richie, and the Sheik. Sydney, worried about Rosalyn
with Musane, decides to hang back.
Genres: null

Summary
Strengths null
Weaknesses null
Critique The scene has good pacing and structure, with clear character motivations established. The setting is described well, allowing the audience to visualize the scene. However, some of the dialogue feels a bit forced and cliché, particularly the dialogue between the mobsters and Rosalyn. It also seems a bit unrealistic that the mafia men would warm up to Rosalyn so quickly. Overall, the scene could benefit from more nuanced and realistic dialogue.
Suggestions Here are some suggestions to improve this scene:

- Add more action and movement to make it more visually interesting. Right now, the characters are mostly standing around and talking. Consider giving them something to do or a reason to move around the space.
- Focus on the tension between Irving and Rosalyn. Right now, it feels like there are too many characters in this scene and not enough conflict. Make it clear that Irving is uncomfortable with Rosalyn flirting with the mob guys and that it's causing tension between them.
- Use more descriptive language to evoke the setting. Instead of describing the bar as "large yet intimate," give specific details about the decor, lighting, and ambiance of the room. This will help the audience visualize the space.
- Clarify the stakes of the scene. Why do the characters need to meet with the mafia guys? Is there a particular deal they're trying to make or a problem they need help with? Make sure the audience understands why this meeting is important and what's at risk.
- Consider cutting some of the dialogue. The scene feels a bit long and could benefit from some trimming. Focus on the most important information and conflict, and cut any extraneous dialogue that doesn't move the story forward.



Scene 31 - Meeting Victor Tellegio
125 INT. CASINO BACK ROOM -- NIGHT 125

SLOW PUSH IN ON POWERFUL LOOKING: BALD MAN IN SUNGLASSES,
LIGHT GRAY SUIT, DARK TIE -- STANDING BY HIMSELF.

CARMINE, RICHIE, SHEIK, IRVING ENTER A HALF FINISHED BACK
ROOM. PUSH IN ON IRVING.

VICTOR TELLEGIO
Carmine!

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Victor Tellegio was from Miami. He
was Meyer Lansky's right-hand man.
In his prior reputation as an
enforcer from twenty years ago, he
was known to never bury a body
because he felt it sent a stronger
message to leave it in the street.

FLASH BACK TO:

125A EXT. STREET - NIGHT 125A

YOUNGER TELLEGIO WALKS LAUGHING WITH A COLLEAGUE, LETS
COLLEAGUE GET AHEAD AND TELLEGIO SUDDENLY PULLS PISTOL, FIRES
THREE BULLETS WITH MUZZLE FLASH INTO MAN’S HEAD, MAN GOES TO
GROUND, TELLEGIO FIRES ONCE MORE, DROPS CLIP FROM GUN AND
SPITS ON BODY, WALKS DIRECTLY TO CAMERA MENACING. NOW BACK
TO:

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
This is the guy we now had to deal
with.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama"]

Summary Carmine, Richie, Sheik, and Irving meet with the powerful and notorious Victor Tellegio in a half-finished back room of a casino. Irving narrates a flashback to Tellegio's past reputation as a ruthless enforcer who never buried bodies, but left them in the street for a stronger message.
Strengths
  • Introduces important and dangerous character in a dramatic way
  • Provides backstory and context for character
Weaknesses
  • Lacks significant action or forward momentum in plot
Critique This scene is lacking in descriptive language and dialogue that would add depth to the characters and move the story forward. The slow push-in on Victor Tellegio, the bald man in sunglasses, doesn't add much to the scene and could have been better utilized to introduce his character to the audience. The flashback to Tellegio's past could be a compelling moment, but it's too brief and lacking in emotion.

Additionally, the description of the other characters (Carmine, Richie, Sheik, and Irving) is too simplistic and doesn't provide enough information on who they are, what their role is in the story, and how they relate to Tellegio. Dialogue could have been added between the four as they enter the back room to establish their relationships and motivations.

Lastly, there's no clear goal or conflict in this scene, other than establishing Tellegio as a dangerous person. The lack of plot progression or tension could make the scene feel flat and unengaging.

Overall, this scene would benefit from more descriptive and purposeful language, stronger character development, and clearer conflict/goals.
Suggestions 1. Add more tension: The scene could benefit from more tension. The audience needs to feel the weight of the situation and the looming threat of Victor Tellegio. The tone and dialogue could reflect this.

2. Character development: The characters who enter the room could use further development. The audience needs to understand their motivations and their relationships with each other. This could be done through dialogue or action.

3. Show, don't tell: While the flashback provides information about Victor Tellegio, it could be more effective to show the audience his character traits through his actions and interactions with the other characters in the present day.

4. Clarify the purpose: The scene needs a clear purpose, whether it's to introduce Victor Tellegio as a major antagonist or to set up a plot point for later in the film. Clarifying this could help focus the scene and make it more impactful.

5. Consider visual elements: Film is a visual medium, so adding interesting visual elements to the scene could make it more engaging. For example, using camera angles or lighting to create a sense of unease or danger could heighten the tension.



Scene 32 - Casino Business Negotiation
125B INT. CASINO BACK ROOM - CONTINUOUS 125B

RESUME PUSH IN ON TELLEGIO AS A COUPLE OF BUSBOYS SET UP AN
IMPROMPTU TABLE AND CHAIRS. Carmine greets him.
92.


CARMINE POLITO
You sure you don't want to go into
the Ocean Bar? It's really, it's
beautiful in there.

VICTOR TELLEGIO
I'm very happy I don't have to go
there. I like it here. There's an
exit. I'm like a ghost. Nobody
knows I'm here.

Busboys whip open a white table cloth for the table.

Everyone sits down. Tellegio looks at the Sheik, then over to
Richie.

VICTOR TELLEGIO (CONT’D)
Tell him I speak for our friends in
Florida. We're very excited. It's
been our lifelong dream to build
casino resorts on the East Coast.

Richie pretends to translate in the Sheik’s ear.

VICTOR TELLEGIO (CONT’D)
You told him that? They didn't want
the Jews to make money, they didn't
want the Italians to make money,
definitely don't want the blacks to
make money. After the oil embargo --
the gasoline crisis -- the
hijackings, the Olympics, they
don't want to see Arabs make money,
trust me, not on our soil. You can
tell him this in your own way: I've
been in the casino business forty
years. It's scrutinized more
carefully than any other business.
Carmine made this legal, but we
must be careful or they'll take it
away.

CARMINE POLITO
So, Mister Tellegio, how do you
think we should approach this? What
do you want to do?

VICTOR TELLEGIO
If you want to get the gaming
license and keep it we have to make
our principal investor here, the
Sheik, an American citizen.
93.


Irving and Richie both look at Victor intensely not sure
where this is going.

CARMINE POLITO
To expedite citizenship -- well,
that requires very special
treatment.

VICTOR TELLEGIO
You would know the right people to
do that, Carmine.

RICHIE DIMASO
Carmine knows everybody.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What are we talking about?

CARMINE POLITO
U.S. Senators. Congressmen.

RICHIE DIMASO
Wow, that’s fantastic.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I say stay away from that. That's
bad. That's trouble. No, that's not
good.

RICHIE DIMASO
Irving please.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s trouble.

VICTOR TELLEGIO
Who is this guy? (to Irving) What
are you, a farmer?

Richie and Tellegio both laugh.

CARMINE POLITO
Mr. Tellegio, I'm sorry, this is
Irving. New York businessman.
Irving Rosenfeld.

VICTOR TELLEGIO
Irving, Irving. What’s the matter,
Irving? What’s the problem?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Nothing. No problem.
94.


VICTOR TELLEGIO
Don't get your balls in an uproar.
Everything's fine, everything's
good. It’s all good. It’s all good.
I just hope the other part of this
is all good. And real. Because
we’re real. You know that. You deal
with us. We’re a real organization.
We deal with you, we don’t know
what we’re dealing with.

Everyone stares increasingly tense at Tellegio in silence.
This could go wrong at any minute. Tellegio looks over to
Richie and points to the Sheik.

Irving watches in horror as --

VICTOR TALLEGIO
Where’s he from?

RICHIE DIMASO
(winging it)
Abu Dhabi.

VICTOR TELLEGIO
Oh, he's from the Emirates.

RICHIE DIMASO
Yeah.

VICTOR TELLEGIO
(in subtitled Arabic)
(Can I count on you? You gotta be
honest about this. Do you
understand me? Good means good. No
bullshit.)

PUSH IN ON IRV AND CARMINE FEELING THIS IMMENSE PRESSURE.
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?

VICTOR TELLEGIO (CONT’D)
(to Sheik)
(Did you hear what I said? Do you
want me to repeat it?)

Irving looks ill, as does everyone else at the table.

VICTOR TELLEGIO (CONT’D)
(What do you think now? Tell me.
Tell me.)

RICHIE DIMASO
Uh, I think, I think what he’s --
95.


VICTOR TELLEGIO
No, let him speak for himself.

Sheik swallows hard and looks to Richie. It’s a very tense
moment for everyone at the table.

Tellegio stares. Everyone hangs on this. Irving and Richie
share a look -- what is he doing?

A DRUNK, AL KOWALSKI, a working man, friend of the Mayor
BARRELS INTO INTO THE TABLE, spilling drinks. Tellegio’s guys
jump in and grab him and start to pull him away.

CARMINE POLITO
No, I know him.

AL KOWALSKI
You guys are way too serious for a
party!(to Tellegio) Hey, what are
you drinking? You got a drink?

TELLEGIO GLARES BACK AT THE INTRUSION.


CARMINE
(to Al)
We're in a very serious meeting.
(to Tellegio) I apologize.

TELLEGIO DOES NOT LOOK AMUSED.

AL KALOWSKI
I understand, you're in conference.
You gotta come with me now. You got
a speech to give. Everyone’s
waiting for you.

CARMINE POLITO
Al, I'll be right behind you, okay?
Trust me.

Paco Hernandez/Sheik stands up and reaches over to Tellegio
to shake his hand. Irving panics. THE MENACING DEEP BASS
Genres: ["Crime","Thriller"]

Summary Irving and Richie are in a back room negotiating business deals with Victor Tellegio and Carmine Polito. Tellegio proposes making the Sheik an American citizen and needing special treatment for it. Irving objects to the idea of contacting senators and politicians. Everyone is tense, and Tellegio demands to know if he can count on the Sheik's honesty. The scene ends with an interruption from a drunk man, causing tension to break.
Strengths "Tense negotiation, realistic character interactions, strong dialogue"
Weaknesses "Interrupted tension by the drunk man, lack of clear resolution for the negotiation"
Critique Firstly, the scene lacks clear direction in terms of camera movement and character blocking. The action is largely centered around the table but there is no specific indication of how the characters are arranged around it, making it difficult for the audience to visualize the scene.

Secondly, the scene feels disjointed and lacks a clear focus. While there is an attempt to create tension, particularly with the entrance of Al Kowalski, the scene meanders from one topic to another without much narrative or thematic coherence.

Thirdly, the dialogue, while attempting to create a sense of suspense, comes across as stilted and unnatural. There are several instances where characters engage in lengthy monologues that take away from the overall pace and tension of the scene.

Overall, the scene lacks a clear sense of narrative direction and focus, making it difficult for the audience to engage with the characters and their motivations. The dialogue needs to be streamlined and made more natural, with a clear focus on the tension and stakes involved in the conversation. Additionally, the scene needs better direction to create a more engaging visual experience for the audience.
Suggestions MUSIC rises, building the tension in the scene.

My suggestions to improve this scene would be:

- Reduce dialogue to the essential parts to make the conversation more concise.
- Add more physical action and nonverbal cues to convey the characters’ emotions and thoughts.
- Add more descriptive details to the setting and to the characters’ appearance to help visualize the scene and the characters better.
- Make the conflict and tension in the scene clearer and more impactful.
- Consider adding more character development and background information to the scene to make it more interesting and engaging.



Scene 33 - Tension and Chaos at the Casino
INTRO OF “WHITE RABBIT” FADES UP ON THE SOUNDTRACK.

SHEIK ABDULLAH
(In Arabic)
It is great doing business with
you. The investment is real. It was
a pleasure to meet you.

Irving exhales in relief that Paco managed to say anything
passable in Arabic.
96.


IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
What are the odds of an Italian guy
from Miami knowing Arabic? But it
turns out he's got casino
investments in the Mideast and he
spent two years learning it to keep
the upper hand.

Victor leans over to talk to Carmine.

VICTOR TELLEGIO
Listen to me carefully. If you're
real, you put ten million in the
bank of our choice in the next two
weeks.

Carmine nods.

VICTOR TELLEGIO (CONT’D)
Carmine, listen to me carefully, if
you're real, you put ten million in
the bank of our choice in the next
two weeks or not only will the
Sheik feel insulted, but our
friends in Florida will feel deeply
disrespected and so will I.

Irving looks at Victor, who stares back at him. This is bad.

AT THE BAR --

“WHITE RABBIT” CONTINUES. ROSALYN CONTINUES TO FLIRT WITH
PETE MUSANE --

SYDNEY WATCHES OUT OF CONTROL ROSALYN, STANDS AND WALKS OVER
TO HER.

EDITH GREENSLY
Rosalyn, you need to come with me
alright?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I don’t need to come with you.

EDITH GREENSLY
You need to come with me. This
needs to stop. Come on.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Oh, you think I should come with
you?
97.


EDITH GREENSLY
Yeah, you need to come with me
right now.

Rosalyn takes her wrist out of Sydney’s grasp.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Why don't you get your fucking
hands off me, you fucking whore!

PETE MUSANE
Hey!

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
You’re a whore. (to everyone) This
is my husband’s whore!

EDITH GREENSLY
That’s real nice.

DOLLY POLITO
We’re not going to do this in the
Ocean Room tonight. Not tonight.
Please.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
This is my husbands whore!

Dolly escorts Edith over to one side of the room away from
Rosalyn.

DOLLY POLITO
You stay over here with me.
Everybody just calm down. I don't
know what's going on.

Pete looks over to Rosalyn.

PETE MUSANE
You alright? Take it easy. These
things happen. Whatever’s meant to
be will be.

Rosalyn smiles at Pete.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
That’s what I always say.

PETE MUSANE
You say that?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Yeah.
98.


PETE MUSANE
See? Kindred spirits.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Whatever’s meant to be will be.

PETE MUSANE
Whatever’s meant to be will be.

CUT TO:


INT. WOMEN’S POWDER ROOM HALLWAY - CASINO

ROSALYN STORMS DOWN THE HALL TOWARDS THE BATHROOM AS “WHITE
RABBIT” BUILDS TO ITS CLIMAX.
Genres: ["crime","drama","comedy"]

Summary Business deals are made and tensions rise as Victor warns Carmine to invest ten million dollars or else. Meanwhile, Rosalyn causes a scene and verbally attacks Edith before storming off into the hallway.
Strengths "The tension and conflict between the characters creates a strong and engaging scene."
Weaknesses "The scene feels slightly disjointed with the focus switching between the business deal and Rosalyn's outburst."
Critique Overall, this is a well-written scene. The dialogue is sharp and the tension is palpable. However, there could be some areas for improvement:

1. Lack of Visual Descriptions: There is a lack of visual descriptions in the scene. While it is clear who is speaking and what they are saying, it is hard to picture the scene, the setting, and the characters' actions. This makes it difficult for the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story.

2. Repetitive Dialogue: The dialogue between Rosalyn and Pete is repetitive and lacks depth. While this may be intentional to show their superficial connection, it risks becoming mundane or even annoying to the viewer.

3. Lack of Character Development: The characters in the scene could benefit from further development. While we get a glimpse of their personalities, we do not learn much about their backgrounds or motivations.

Overall, the scene is well-written, but could benefit from adding more visual descriptions, fleshing out the characters, and varying the dialogue.
Suggestions Overall, the scene could benefit from clearer visuals and tightening of dialogue. Here are some specific suggestions:

- Instead of starting the scene with the INTRO OF “WHITE RABBIT” FADES UP ON THE SOUNDTRACK line, consider beginning with a visual of the location and characters. This helps establish where we are and who is involved.
- The dialogue could be tightened to make the exchange between Victor and Carmine more concise and impactful. For example: "Victor leans in to Carmine. VICTOR: If you're real, put ten million in our bank within two weeks. Otherwise, the Sheik and our Florida friends will be insulted."
- When Rosalyn starts causing a scene, it would help to have more specific descriptions of her actions and movements. What exactly is she doing to provoke Edith? How does she react physically to Dolly's intervention? This will help the reader visualize the chaos unfolding.
- The Pete and Rosalyn exchange at the end could be trimmed down to the essential beats. Perhaps "Rosalyn storms off, leaving Pete confused and bemused." This keeps the scene moving without bogging down in unnecessary dialogue.
- Consider adding dialogue or action to the end of the scene to tie it back into the main plot or themes of the movie. As it stands, it comes across as somewhat disconnected from the rest of the story.



Scene 34 - Confrontation and Despair
126 INT. WOMEN’S POWDER ROOM - CASINO 126

Rosalyn looks in mirror: sadness, anger, fear. Edith rushes
in.

EDITH GREENSLY
What the hell do you think you’re
doing?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
What the hell do I think I’m
doing?! What the fuck do you think
you're doing? You really gonna come
in here and judge me for flirting
with somebody after you've been
fucking my husband for how many
years?!

EDITH GREENSLY
You don't have any fucking clue
what's going on!

Rosalyn holds her hand, with wedding ring to Sydney’s face.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I got a ring on my finger. We have
a child together.

EDITH GREENSLY
He doesn’t love you Rosalyn he
loves me. And you know it and I
know it and he knows it. And it
might be done now, but it was
beautiful and it was real.
99.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Stop.

EDITH GREENSLY
And we loved each other.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Shut up.

Rosalyn starts to tear up.

EDITH GREENSLY
You scare him, and you manipulate
him, and you use your son!

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Well, he must like it on some
level. He must want it because he
keeps coming back for it. It's like
that perfume that you love that you
can't stop smelling, even when
there's something sour in it. You
can't get enough of it. But guess
what, he's never gonna leave me.
He's always going to want me, and I
will make you so sorry, Edith. I
will make you so sorry for what
you've done to my family, mark my
words.

EDITH GREENSLY
That is fucked up! I would never
say anything that fucked up to
anybody, but you do because you're
gross inside, you're so fucked up
and gross.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Oh, I'm gross inside?

EDITH GREENSLY
Yeah.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Maybe you're gross inside, with
robbing people and all that shit
that you do? Maybe we're both gross
inside, that's what Irving loves
about us. At least he's consistent
with his women. You know, sometimes
in life all you have are fucked up,
poisonous choices.

Rosalyn reaches over, grabs Sydney’s face and kisses her.
100.


Rosalyn laughs a toxic, tough front dark laugh and walks out.
THE BEE GEES “HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART?” STARTS.

Sydney looks into the mirror and wipes the lipstick off her
lips as Rosalyn storms out of the powder room.

SMASH TO:


129 ROSALYN WALKS OUT SHAKY -- SUDDENLY FROM BEHIND A ROW OF 129
WOODEN PAYPHONES A HAND GRABS ROSALYN’S AND PULLS HER BEHIND
THEM - ITS PETE MUSANE - THEY STARE AT EACH OTHER - SILENT -
INTENSE-- ROSALYN IS SHAKING AND CRYING AS SHE FALLS APART IN
HIS ARMS.

SYDNEY COMES STORMING OUT OF THE POWDER ROOM AND WALKS RIGHT
PAST ROSALYN AND PETE.

PUSH IN ON: SYDNEY LOOKING BACK, STOPPED, SEES ROSALYN
EMBRACING PETE AS SHE CRIES.

SMASH TO:


130 SYDNEY RUNS INTO BACK ROOM, URGENTLY JOINS IRV AND RICHIE AT 130
THE TABLE.

EDITH GREENSLY
We need to talk! This is serious.

SMASH TO:


CARMINE AND DOLLY CLIMB THE STAIRS TO THE MAIN BALLROOM
FILLED EXCITEDLY WITH OPTIMISM AS THE SONG SWELLS. THEY KISS
IN SILHOUETTE INTO A HARD BACKLIGHT. CARMINE CLIMBS REACHES
THE STAGE AND THE CROWD ROARS.

AL KALOWSKI
Ladies and gentlemen, your friend,
the working man's friend, my
friend, Mayor Carmine Polito!


ON STAGE: Carmine TAKES MIC

Irving stands off to the side of the stage as his world
closes in around him. Pulls his heart pills out of his pocket
and takes one. Sydney sees this as she stands nearby with
Richie.

Irv, Edith, Richie watch near stage, jostled. Rosalyn enters
the ball room looking disheveled as she is guided by Pete
Musane looks to stage.
101.


CARMINE POLITO
(on mic)
Hello, Camden! Hello, New Jersey!
Hello, Atlantic City! [CROWD ROARS]
A lot of my friends been out of
work [CROWD WHISTLES - BOOS] A lot
of good hard working families just
wanna WORK AND LIVE. (crowd CHEERS)
There’s no money nowhere. You gotta
be kidding me! -- don’t they
remember who built this country?
[CHEERS] The one thing we can all
agree about in the State of New
Jersey is that we never, ever give
up! Do we?

Carmine dominates the crowd and you can see the emotion in
his face as he says this. He raises his glass to the crowd.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
Please, raise a glass with me to a
new era that begins tonight. From
me and my family, we thank you. For
all the hard work that you've given
us in the community. Look what
you've done. This is beautiful!
Thank you!

Crowd ROARS WILDLY. Irv watches, MOVED AND DESTROYED.

DISSOLVE TO: SHOTS OF EMPTY BALL ROOM, TRASHED HALLWAYS,
ATLANTIC CITY STREET TO OCEAN -- OCEAN SOUNDS

SMASH TO:


132 INT. IRVING’S DRY CLEANERS - EARLY MORNING 132

Irving walks in with his keys, same clothes from night
before, as ocean sounds continue, TAKES A GUN FROM THE SAFE,
and he stands looking lost and lonely, he turns on the
electric dry cleaning rack, where he and SYDNEY STOOD
TOGETHER, IN LOVE. He looks heartsick. HE STEPS INSIDE THE
SWIRLING ELECTRIC DRY CLEANING RACK OF PLASTIC WRAPPED
CLOTHES, AND STANDS ALONE, WHERE SYD USED TO BE, AND IS
HEARTBROKEN.
Genres: ["drama"]

Summary Rosalyn and Edith have a heated argument in the casino's powder room, each accusing the other of ruining their families. Rosalyn asserts that, despite Edith's affair with her husband, Irving will always come back to her. Sydney witnesses the argument and continues her work with Irving and Richie. Carmine speaks to a crowd in Camden, NJ, attempting to motivate and thank hardworking families. Sydney and Irving look on, emotional and connected, while the dry cleaners symbolizes their relationship in its empty state.
Strengths "The scene boasts strong performances and intense emotions, keeping the audience engaged in the ongoing drama between the characters."
Weaknesses "Some viewers may find the content of the argument between Rosalyn and Edith uncomfortable or difficult to watch."
Critique Overall, this scene is well-written and effectively conveys the tense emotions between Rosalyn and Edith. However, there are a few areas where the dialogue feels a bit forced or cliche. For example, when Rosalyn says "sometimes in life all you have are fucked up, poisonous choices," it feels like a line that's trying too hard to be profound.

Additionally, some of the dialogue feels repetitive or redundant. For example, Rosalyn repeats several times that Irving will never leave her and that he loves her, while Edith repeatedly insists that he loves her instead. This back-and-forth could be condensed or streamlined to make the scene more impactful.

Finally, the switch to the scenes with Carmine and Irving's dry cleaners feels a bit abrupt and disjointed. While these scenes do help to build tension and atmosphere, they could be integrated more smoothly into the narrative flow of the overall scene.

Overall, this is a well-written scene with some minor areas for improvement.
Suggestions Firstly, the scene involves a lot of dialogue, which can make it feel heavy and overwhelming. One suggestion would be to break up the dialogue with more physical actions or movements. For example, Rosalyn could be fixing her hair or adjusting her dress as she speaks, or Edith could be moving around the room to show her frustration.

Additionally, the dialogue feels quite repetitive and could benefit from more variety in tone or emotion. For example, Rosalyn could start off angry and defensive but then shift to a more vulnerable and hurt tone, which would add complexity to her character. Similarly, Edith could show more empathy towards Rosalyn rather than just attacking her.

Finally, the scene could benefit from more visual description. For example, rather than just saying "Rosalyn looks sad," the scene could describe the specific emotions on her face in more detail. This will help the actors and director better understand and convey the emotions of the characters to the audience.



Scene 35 - Richie's Desperation
EXT. THIRD AVENUE - DAY - CONTINUOUS

RICHIE STORMS DOWN THE STREET IN SAME NIGHT CLOTHES.
102.


134 INT. HALLWAY TO SYDNEY’S APARTMENT - DAY 134

BANG BANG BANG -- Richie POUNDS ON SYDNEY’S DOOR -- SYDNEY,
HAIR IN CURLERS, ANSWERS THE DOOR.

RICHIE DIMASO
Can I use your phone?

135 INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT DAY - AS SHE WATCHES -- HE paces 135
intense, phone in hand, SHIRT SLEEVES, a mess. HE DIALS.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
(to Sydney)
Last night was insane. I got it all
figured out.

STODDARD THORSEN
(on phone)
Stoddard Thorsen.

RICHIE DIMASO
(into phone)
Listen, I need the Sherman Suite at
the Plaza Hotel, okay?

STODDARD THORSEN
(on phone)
That's a whole floor of the hotel.

RICHIE DIMASO
I need a whole floor. I need it for
my operation


INT. FBI FIELD OFFICE - DAY - CONTINUOUS

STODDARD THORSEN
(on phone)
Stop calling it your operation,
Richard. It's not your operation.
And I'm not giving you a whole
floor of the Plaza Hotel.


INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT - DAY

RICHIE DIMASO
I have members of Congress that are
gonna come in right now to try to
give the Sheik citizenship. They're
taking bribes. This is happening
right now. That's what's happening
right now.
103.


INT. FBI FIELD OFFICE - DAY

STODDARD THORSEN
(on phone)
Bribing members of Congress are you
out of your fucking mind?
Genres: ["drama","crime"]

Summary Richie, dressed in night clothes, goes to Sydney's apartment and begs to use her phone. He calls his superior and demands a whole floor at the Plaza Hotel for his operation involving bribing members of Congress. His superior disagrees and warns him about the consequences of his actions.
Strengths "The Scene has strong character development, driven by Richie's desperation and naivete. The conflict level between Richie and his superior is evenly matched and tense, showing the power dynamic between them."
Weaknesses "The scene could benefit from more subtext to truly create a deeper sense of tension. There could also be more emotional conflict to increase the emotional impact."
Critique Overall, the scene is well-written and engaging. However, there are a few areas for improvement:

1. Action description: The action description could be more specific and detailed to give a clearer picture of the characters' movements and reactions. For example, when Richie pounds on Sydney's door, the description could include how hard he's pounding, how Sydney reacts to the noise, etc.

2. Dialogue: While the dialogue is natural and realistic, it could benefit from more subtext. The characters' motivations and emotions could be more subtly conveyed through their words and actions rather than being stated outright.

3. Pacing: The scene could be tightened up a bit by removing some of the repetitive dialogue, such as Richie insisting he needs a whole floor of the Plaza Hotel, and Stoddard pushing back against him. This would allow the scene to move along more quickly and maintain the audience's attention.

Overall, with some minor tweaks, this scene could be even more effective in advancing the story and building tension.
Suggestions Some possible suggestions to improve this scene:

1. Add more action or visual interest to the scene. Right now, it is mostly just two characters talking on the phone, which isn't visually exciting for the audience. Consider adding more movement, location changes, or even props that the characters can interact with.
2. Increase the tension or conflict between the characters. Right now, Richie and Stoddard have some differences of opinion, but it doesn't feel like a major obstacle in the story. Consider amplifying the stakes or consequences of this argument to make it more dramatic.
3. Add more detail or specificity to the dialogue. Richie's lines feel a bit generic and could be more tailored to this specific situation. For example, he could explain more about why he needs the hotel room, or provide more specific information about the bribes or Congress members he is dealing with. This would make the dialogue more engaging and help the audience understand the plot better.



Scene 36 - 
INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT - DAY

RICHIE DIMASO
Stoddard. Stoddard! Shut up!
Listen! Do you know who Victor
Tellegio is? Victor. Tellegio.
Works for Meyer Lansky. You know
who that is?

STODDARD THORSEN
I know who Victor Tellegio is.

RICHIE DIMASO
Resorts International! He wants ten
million dollars. I have two weeks!

STODDARD THORSEN
You’re not getting ten million
dollars.

RICHIE DIMASO
(screaming)
Just listen to me! You're not
listening to me! I have two weeks!
I have two weeks to put this thing
together and I need you to get me
the Sherman Suite at the Plaza
Hotel. And your going to fucking do
it!

STODDARD THORSEN
Lower your voice. You don’t get to
yell at me.

Richie SLAMS DOWN THE PHONE. Edith (HAIR IN CURLERS) STARES
AT HIM.

RICHIE DIMASO
Calm me down baby. You gotta calm
me down.

He handles her hips and neck and waist and ass.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
Baby let’s do this. Let’s do this
right now. --
104.


EDITH GREENSLY
No, no.

RICHIE DIMASO
I want to do this. You’re fucking
skin is glowing baby. Your skin is
glowing.

EDITH GREENSLY
I’m not doing this with you. We’re
not going to do this unless we do
it for real, alright?

RICHIE DIMASO
I want to do this now!

EDITH GREENSLY
That’s what we agreed on so we’re
not going to do that alright?
Alright? Where are you? You’re
acting all scary.

She grabs him by the head to calm him down.

EDITH GREENSLY (CONT’D)
Are you here with me?

HE TRIES A GENTLER SEDUCTION.

RICHIE DIMASO
(leans down to her eyes)
I love you. I love you. Look at me.
(slowly)
I’m in love with you. It is real
now. I just said it so now’s the
time.

He handles her, nuzzles her neck, starts to turn her on.

EDITH GREENSLY
(kissing him)
You want the truth? You want real?

RICHIE DIMASO
I’m ready for real.

SOMETHING CLICKS INSIDE HER -- SHE DROPS HER BRITISH ACCENT --

SYDNEY PROSSER
(DROPS HER BRITISH ACCENT)
OK, this is real. Do you hear my
voice? This is real. This is real.
What you hear is real.
105.


Richie steps back quickly and grabs Sydney.

RICHIE DIMASO
What?

SYDNEY PROSSER
This is me.

RICHIE DIMASO
What do you mean? What are you
doing an accent? An American
accent?

EDITH GREENSLY
No. There is no English. There’s
only American. There is no English.

Richie looks at her and continues to hold her looking very
confused and flustered.

RICHIE DIMASO
What are you talking about? Stop
it. You’re Edith. You’re Edith
Greensly. I checked your records.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I falsified my records back to
birth. I falsified them.

SYDNEY PROSSER (CONT’D)
My name is Sydney Prosser, and I'm
from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm
not Edith Greensly. There is no
Edith Greensly.

Richie steps back. He stares at her darkly.

RICHIE DIMASO
You’re -- freaking -- me -- out.
No, you said in the stall that we
were going to be real and that we
weren't going to fake it.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I’m being real now. This is who I
am. I’m Sydney Prosser. Ok?

RICHIE DIMASO
So -- why -- did you do an English
accent after that?

SYDNEY PROSSER
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in the
stall.
(MORE)
106.

SYDNEY PROSSER (CONT'D)
I created Edith because I needed
her to survive, okay? But I'm done
with that now. I'm so fucking done
with that. Like you do what you
need to survive, right? You do it.
You know, you live with your mom --
you have a fiancée you don't even
acknowledge, right? That's what
you do. And you curl your hair in
little fucking curlers, which is --
No, it's okay, you look good with
it, but you know -- you have
straight hair, so that's what you
do to survive. You do all sorts of
things, you know. We all do.

RICHIE DIMASO
(whispers tensely)
Please don't talk about that. I'm
confused. I'm confused and --

SYDNEY PROSSER
I’m fucking confused too, alright?

RICHIE DIMASO
-- I think we should fuck, and then
we’ll feel it and we won’t be
confused anymore.

HE EMBRACES HER --

SYDNEY PROSSER
No -- I want to talk. I don’t want
to fuck.

RICHIE DIMASO
(embracing her)
Yes! Come on.

SYDNEY PROSSER
NO! I’m not fucking you. I’m not
fucking fucking you!

RED FACED LIKE HE MAY HIT HER, a vein stands out in his neck.
SHE FLINCHES. HE SCREAMS like an animal in confusion and
frustration.

RICHIE DIMASO
AHHH!

SUDDENLY SYDNEY GRABS A GLASS PICTURE FRAME FROM A TABLE,
SMASHES IT ACROSS RICHIE’S FOREHEAD AND FACE WITH A
SHATTERING OF GLASS.
107.


Richie in pain holds his cut forehead and eyebrow.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
(in pain and dismay)
SHIT!

They hear a door open off screen, someone approaches. Irving
appears from around the corner of the wall pointing his
handgun at Richie.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Will you please step away from
Edith. I’m asking you nicely please
step away from Edith right now.

RICHIE DIMASO
What the fuck --

IRVING ROSENFELD
Step away from her. Please.

RICHIE DIMASO
You mean Sydney?

Irving looks over to Sydney very confused.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I told him. I’m sorry. I just don’t
give a fuck anymore, I don’t give a
fuck. I don’t fucking care.

RICHIE DIMASO
Irving has a gun.

IRVING ROSENFELD
What Richie’s gotten us into is
worse then jail. I told you last
night, don’t sit down with those
goons. And what? Now what? No one’s
getting ten million for Tellegio.
It’s over.

RICHIE DIMASO
I don’t think so.

Irving and Sydney stare.


RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
(slowly)
Because when Tellegio finds out
what happened, do you think he's
gonna go after me? I don’t think
so. Someone from the Bureau?
(MORE)
108.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
Think he's gonna go after a
politician? He's gonna kill you.
Then he’s going to go after your
son. And Sydney.

Richie PICKS UP PHONE AS THEY WATCH -- HE DIALS. INTERCUT:

STODDARD THORSEN
(on phone)
Stoddard Thorsen.

RICHIE DIMASO
(slowly, intensely)
You’re going to give me the Sherman
Suite. The whole floor.

HIS NOSE AND FOREHEAD ARE CUT FROM THE GLASS.

STODDARD THORSEN
That’s a NO. I said no wacko.

RICHIE DIMASO
And you’re going to tell me the
point of that FUCKING fishing
story.

STODDARD THORSEN
Not the way you’re behaving.

RICHIE DIMASO
(FUMING)
What’s the matter with you? Where
are you right now?

STODDARD THORSEN
What does that make a difference?

RICHIE DIMASO
Just tell me where the fuck you
are.

STODDARD THORSEN
The field office on 61st street.

RICHIE DIMASO
I’m coming to 61st Street. Right
now.

STODDARD THORSEN
You’re going to do what?

RICHIE DIMASO
To beat -- your ass.
109.


STODDARD THORSEN
You’re going to what?

Richie SLAMS the phone down, storms out the apartment.
Genres: null

Summary
Strengths null
Weaknesses null
Critique
Suggestions



Scene 37 - Irving and Sydney's Relationship
140 INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT - DAY 140

IRVING ROSENFELD
You were right. We should have gone
away.

Irving sits in the corner of the room a disheveled mess.
Sydney sits on the bed drinking a Fresca.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
I should have gone away with you.

SYDNEY PROSSER
We were supposed to do it from the
feet up like you always said.
That’s how we were meant to do it
but you didn’t do it like that. You
didn’t do it like that. You played
it safe so there was always a
danger you were going to end up
with Rosalyn in the dead space,
floating on some dead spaceship
with the furniture and the
curtains. And I was your life line
out and you were mine and that was
ok.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(Irving stares at her,
emotional)
I wish I could get you back.

He walks across the room and sits down on the bed next to
Sydney.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
You know I can't do it without you.
You know that. Come on. Me, you
and Danny. Like we said.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Like I said. You never said that. I
said that. We gotta get over on all
these guys. That’s what we need to
be thinking about right now.

Irving takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes.
110.


IRVING ROSENFELD
That's big. That's crazy. Whatever
it is, it’s got to be the best
we’ve ever done.

Sydney nods her head yes, stares intensely at Irving as the
camera tilts down to reveal: their hands clasped together.


141 EXT. OLD FEDERAL BUILDING - DOWNTOWN - DAY 141

High ceiling, old office. Close on a tape recorder.

AS CAMERA PULLS BACK - SEE STODDARD, BANDAGES ON HIS BRUISED
FACE AND A WHITE EYE PATCH ON HIS INJURED EYE, SITTING
OPPOSITE PROSECUTOR, AMADO - - the tape recorder and
microphone sit on the desk in front of Stoddard as he records
a statement for a report.

STODDARD THORSEN
(SLOW MIDWEST MONOTONE)
Agent Dimaso called me late at
night on the 21st. I believe that
he was intoxicated. He threatened
me and I told him this was
inappropriate. I told him
procedures exist for reasons we
must respect. This is the third
such call I received from Agent
Dimaso. He called me again the
night of the 5th and he threatened
to kill me. Subsequently he
demanded that I allow him to use
the Sherman Suite at the Plaza
hotel for purposes of bribing
members of congress.

Camera pull-back reveals: THE CHASTENED Richie SITS
LISTENING, IN A SUIT AND TIE. He’s in trouble with their
boss, the prosecutor.

RICHIE DIMASO
I am so sorry.

STODDARD THORSEN
I’m not finished. There’s a lot
more.

Richie gets up and pulls up a chair next to Stoddard.
Stoddard flinches and moves away like he’s going to get hit
again.
111.


RICHIE DIMASO
I have nothing but the utmost
respect for you as my mentor. (he
reaches down and turns the tape
recorder off) and as my --

STODDARD THORSEN
(re: the recorder)
What are you doing?

RICHIE DIMASO
I just want to talk from my heart.
I don’t want it on record. I want
to get vulnerable.

STODDARD THORSEN
Can I finish? Can I finish my
statement?

RICHIE DIMASO
Of course. I respect you.

STODDARD THORSEN
I think you do other things besides
respect me.

SMASH TO:


139 INT. STODDARD’S FIELD OFFICE - FLASHBACK 139

Stoddard paces while on the phone, holds up a finger to
Richie to wait, Richie picks up Stoddard’s phone -- rips the
cord out and smashes Stoddard across the face with the base.
Doesn’t stop til Stoddard falls to the ground, knocks over
desk chair and bookcase behind.

BACK TO:


INT. OLD FEDERAL BUILDING - DOWN TOWN

They stare at each other.

RICHIE DIMASO
It’s just hard for me to control my
passion. I’m a very passionate
person. (looks to Amado) You’re
from New York. You understand this.
He goes ice fishing in the midwest.

STODDARD THORSEN
That was told to you in confidence.
112.


RICHIE DIMASO
He’s an ice fishing guy. Look at
him.

SMASH BACK TO:
Genres: ["Drama","Crime"]

Summary Irving and Sydney discuss their past relationship and their future plans, while Richie is in trouble with Stoddard and the prosecutor.
Strengths "Strong character development and emotional depth in Irving and Sydney's scene. The use of flashbacks and present-day scenes to show the tension and conflict with Richie and Stoddard adds to the complexity of the plot."
Weaknesses "The scene could benefit from more action or forward motion in the plot to balance out the emotional moments."
Critique As a screenwriting AI language model, I'd like to provide a critique of the scene. Firstly, the scene seems to lack context, with no clear indication of what happened earlier to lead the characters to their current state. Secondly, the dialogue seems unpolished, with a lot of exposition being revealed in the conversation between Irving and Sydney, and insufficient character development. The delivery of lines by the characters is uninspiring. However, the scene does introduce an interesting plot twist with Richie Dimaso and Stoddard Thorsen's conversation, portraying a dynamic relationship between two characters. The scene could benefit from more distinct character traits that can help the audience relate to the characters, as well as a clearer purpose and context for the dialogues.
Suggestions Overall, the scene could benefit from more active and dynamic language to create a greater sense of tension and emotion between the two characters.

Here are some specific suggestions:

- Consider using more specific and descriptive language that evokes emotions/physical reactions from the characters. For example, instead of "Irving stares at her, emotional," describe his physical reaction to the emotion (e.g. "Irving's eyes well up with tears as he stares intensely at Sydney").
- Add more action in the scene to build tension. This can include physical movements or small details (e.g. "Sydney fidgets with the label on her Fresca can nervously as she speaks").
- Use dialogue that's more active and emotional. Right now, a lot of the dialogue is very exposition-heavy, so try to find ways to make it more active and engaging (e.g. "You never said that. How could we do this without each other?" instead of "We gotta get over on all these guys. That’s what we need to be thinking about right now.")
- Finally, consider how the visual elements can be used to heighten the emotions in the scene. For example, the camera could focus on close-ups of hands clasping or facial expressions to convey the emotional weight of the scene.



Scene 38 - The Betrayal
INT. FBI FIELD OFFICE - DAY - FLASHBACK

Where we left off. Stoddard reaches with bloodied hands
across -- what is he reaching for? Oh, on a small table, a
gun and a clip.

RICHIE DIMASO
What are you doing pulling out your
gun? Stop it. That’s not you.

STODDARD THORSEN
No, it’s me. This is me. It’s me.

RICHIE DIMASO
Don’t do something that you don’t
know anything about. Alright?

Richie grabs his gun and starts to load it.

STODDARD THORSEN
DO NOT LOAD THAT GUN. YOU DROP THAT
GUN.

RICHIE DIMASO
I’ll show you how it’s done. I’m
not even going to hit you.

He points the gun at Stoddard.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
Watch this fucko.

CUT TO:


INT. OLD FEDERAL BUILDING - DOWNTOWN

Richie and Stoddard stare at each other in silence.

ANTHONY AMADO
So, you want to use the Sherman
Suite? The entire floor?

Stoddard throws his head back, looks at ceiling in
exasperation.
113.


STODDARD THORSEN
OH GOD.

RICHIE DIMASO
Yes! At the Plaza Hotel.

ANTHONY AMADO
What happened to the Mafia? I
thought you were --

RICHIE DIMASO
This is where they intersect! This
is where the two things intersect.
The Politicians and the Mafia.
Victor Tellegio’s people who run
resorts international --

ANTHONY AMADO
Victor Tellegio showed his face?

RICHIE DIMASO
Yes. I sat with him. I sat with
Victor Tellegio. I hung out with
him. We can get him. We can get his
whole organization as well as
getting any number of congressmen.
I mean, that’s just peeling the
first layer of the onion.

ANTHONY AMADO
Wow. How you going to do that?

RICHIE DIMASO
We would get ten million dollars
and put it into an account --

STODDARD THORSEN
TEN MILLION DOLLARS?! Ten Million
dollars?

RICHIE DIMASO
And that’s how we just let them
know we’re for real.

ANTHONY AMADO
What does he say he's gonna do for
the ten million dollars? How are we
trapping him?

RICHIE DIMASO
He promises to build casinos,
handle the skims, do the licencing -
-
114.


STODDARD THORSEN
And you have him on tape saying
this. You have that right? No.

ANTHONY AMADO
(to Richie)
I want you to find a safer way to
get Victor Tellegio on a wire. No
ten million dollars -- that's
crazy.

STODDARD THORSEN
Thank you.

Richie looks down, defeated.

ANTHONY AMADO
Even to entrap Tellegio it's crazy.
But you can have the Sherman Suite -
-

STODDARD THORSEN
NO.

ANTHONY AMADO
--Stoddard, please -- To go and get
me some congressmen. Go get some
congressmen taking bribes. I want
to pinch us some congressmen, ok?
You come back to me. I’m proud of
you.

RICHIE DIMASO
Thank you.
(then as an afterthought)
And Stoddard.


143 INT. CORRIDOR - OLD FEDERAL COURT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS 143

Richie and Stoddard walk down large, echoey Federal building
corridor. Stoddard walking ten feet ahead turns and points at
Richie.

STODDARD THORSEN
(shouts bitterly)
Good luck keeping your job, by the
way, and staying out of jail -- and
not being killed by the Mob. But
other than that you're doing a
great job.

Stoddard turns and storms off.
115.


RICHIE DIMASO
(as Stoddard walks away)
What's the end of the ice fishing
story?

STODDARD THORSEN
I'm not telling you the end of the
ice fishing story.

RICHIE DIMASO
I’m going to call your fucking
brother and find out from him.

STODDARD THORSEN
My brother’s dead.

RICHIE DIMASO
That's how it ends. He fell through
the fucking ice.

STODDARD THORSEN
(shouts bitterly)
No it’s not. He died a different
way, many years later.

He storms off and leaves Richie staring in the hallway.


EXT. PLAZA HOTEL -- DAY

Establishing.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama"]

Summary Richie and Stoddard plan on using the mafia to trap corrupt congressmen, but Stoddard loses faith in Richie's plan.
Strengths "The dialogue effectively shows the conflict between Richie and Stoddard's differing approaches to the scheme, leading to a confrontation and betrayal."
Weaknesses "The scene may be difficult to follow for those not familiar with the plot."
Critique Overall, the scene seems to lack a clear focus and purpose. It starts with Stoddard reaching for a gun and then quickly transitions into a conversation between Richie, Stoddard, and Anthony about their plan to catch a criminal organization. The dialogue feels cluttered with unnecessary details, like the discussion about the Sherman Suite and the ice fishing story. There is also a lack of tension or conflict in the scene, as everyone seems to be in agreement and there are no clear stakes. The scene could benefit from streamlining the dialogue and focusing on one clear objective or conflict. Additionally, some elements could be cut or reworked to better serve the story and character development.
Suggestions 1. Clarify the action in the first few lines of the scene - what is Stoddard reaching for and why is he bleeding? Adding some context can help the audience understand the situation better.
2. Consider adding more dialogue or character development for Stoddard - he seems to be going through a traumatic experience, and giving the audience some insight into his character can make the scene more impactful.
3. The dialogue between Richie and Anthony feels rushed and could benefit from some additional exposition and explanation. Consider adding more detail to help the audience understand the plan and the stakes involved.
4. The ending of the scene feels abrupt - adding a button or a moment of reflection for Richie can give the scene more closure.
5. Consider adding some description or visuals to help the audience visualize the FBI field office and the old federal building - this can add depth and texture to the scene.



Scene 39 - Planning and Apologizing
145 INT. PLAZA HOTEL - GENERAL SHERMAN SUITE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 145

Richie walks out of a surveillance room and down the hallway
to where Irv and Sydney wait.

RICHIE DIMASO
Listen I know it’s awkward and I
just want to say I’m sorry,
alright? I think we can stick
together and still fulfill our
goal. I mean, we got the Sherman
Suite.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You got the whole floor?

RICHIE DIMASO
We got the whole floor, yeah.

EDITH GREENSLY
That’s good.
116.


RICHIE DIMASO
Yeah, you ok?

SYDNEY PROSSER
Yeah. You?

Richie gestures to his eye that Sydney smashed with the
picture frame. He’s got a few little scabs.

RICHIE DIMASO
It’s alright. I got hit a little
bit. My eye. It’s a little blurry
but I got drops at the pharmacy.

Richie looks over to Irving.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
Hey, you OK?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah, I’m good --

Richie looks back over to Sydney

RICHIE DIMASO
Listen, I’m sorry.

SYDNEY PROSSER
I’m sorry.

RICHIE DIMASO
(to Irving)
I’m sorry Irving.

Irving doesn’t know what to say, starts to say something
twice, stops, can’t think of what to say. Leaves Richie
hanging.


INT. PLAZA HOTEL - GENERAL SHERMAN SUITE - DAY

Richie directs where cameras should be concealed. AGENTS
SCHMIDT AND STOCK FOLLOW MAKING NOTES IN PADS.

RICHIE DIMASO
You can put a camera here. And we
get it all on film. You like it?

EDITH GREENSLY
I do.

RICHIE DIMASO
(to Schmidt)
Give me those flowers.
(MORE)
117.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT'D)
If we put the flower base here and
put a camera in there we can get a
clear shot of the couch there where
we can put the congressmen.

Irving, sitting on the couch, looks kind of disturbed by
this.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s right. That’s the idea.


146 INT. MAYOR CARMINE POLITO’S OFFICE - DAY 146

RICHIE DIMASO (O.S.)
And Carmine will go to jail after
he delivers us the congressmen soon
to be felons.

Carmine’s aid MELORA answers a ringing phone as Carmine sits
at his desk.

MELORA
Congressman O’Connell is on the
phone --

PUSH IN ON

CARMINE POLITO
I got to take this you guys
everyone out please.

Dolly Polito, checking the unwatered plants in her husbands
office with her coat on, she has just stopped by. Turns and
holds up a parched and dying houseplant.

DOLLY POLITO
This is sad. It’s just sad.

CARMINE POLITO
Dolly please, I gotta take this.

DOLLY POLITO
Ok, sorry. Everyone out. Go out.

CARMINE POLITO
(picks up phone)
Congressman, how you doing? It’s
Carmine. Tell me you're gonna be in
Trenton this week. We have an
amazing investment opportunity I'd
like to discuss with you.

SMASH TO:
118.


INT. PLAZA HOTEL - GENERAL SHERMAN SUITE - DAY

Richie on a black and white surveillance camera as he shows
the briefcase full of money.

RICHIE DIMASO
I’m federal agent Richard Dimaso.
I've placed seventy-five thousand
dollars into this briefcase for
Representative John O'Connell of
the Ninth District.

SMASH TO:


148 EXT. STATE CAPITOL - TRENTON, NEW JERSEY - DAY 148

Carmine shakes hands with REP. JOHN O’CONNELL --

CARMINE POLITO
Congressman, thank you for coming
by, John --

RICHIE DIMASO (V.O.)
Representative O'Connell was
contacted by Carmine Polito to ask
if he could obtain rapid
citizenship through an act of
Congress for one Sheik Abdullah,
investor.

They walk up the capitol steps.

CARMINE POLITO
You wanna talk jobs, investment,
construction, if we can expedite a
very wealthy man’s citizenship --
Genres: ["crime","drama"]

Summary Richie apologizes to Irv and Sydney for the previous altercation and they plan how they will use the General Sherman Suite for their scheme. Richie directs where cameras should be concealed and the team plans to film Congressmen in a compromising position. Meanwhile, Carmine and his aid Melora make plans with Congressman O'Connell for a citizenship act for Sheik Abdullah.
Strengths "The scene is well-written and reveals important information about the characters' plans. The dialogue is natural and effective, revealing important character relationships."
Weaknesses "The scene is mostly exposition and planning, which could be seen as slow or uneventful by some viewers. The emotional impact of the scene is relatively low."
Critique Overall, the scene is well-written and clear in its purpose. The dialogue flows naturally and realistically, with each character having their own distinct voice. The opening apology scene between Richie, Irv, and Sydney sets up the tension and conflict between them and gives a sense of their uneasy partnership.

The scene in the hotel room is effective in establishing the plan while also creating tension between Richie and Irving, who seems less comfortable with the illegal activities they are planning. The use of camera placement and flowers to conceal them is a nice touch that adds to the feeling of intrigue and secrecy.

The smashes to different locations and characters are well-timed and keep the story moving forward. The use of voiceover as Richie shows the briefcase of money is a useful tool to give the audience the necessary information while also maintaining the suspense and tension.

Overall, this scene is well-constructed and serves its purpose in advancing the plot while also developing the characters and their relationships.
Suggestions One suggestion would be to tighten up the dialogue in the scene between Richie, Irving, and Sydney. It feels a bit repetitive with all three of them apologizing to each other. Additionally, there's an opportunity to show more dynamic relationships between the characters and add some tension. Perhaps there's some underlying resentment or mistrust between them that bubbles up during this conversation. Additionally, adding more specific actions and blocking to the scene could help make it more visually interesting.

In the following scene, there's an opportunity to show more of Carmine's character and to create more tension and suspense around the briefcase full of money. Maybe Carmine has some reservations or doubts about the situation and we can see that play out in his body language or facial expressions. Similarly, the scene in Trenton could benefit from some more specific blocking or visual details to make it more dynamic. Right now, it's a bit of a straightforward walk and talk scene. Adding some interesting visuals, like a protest or something else happening in the background, could help to add tension and make the scene more engaging.



Scene 40 - Offering Bribes
149 INT. SHERMAN SUITE, PLAZA HOTEL - NIGHT 149

150 CAMERA PANS TO HOLE IN CORNER and CAMERA LENS -- 150

152 152

RICHIE DIMASO
How you doing congressmen?

JOHN O’CONNELL
I’m excited to be here.

CARMINE POLITO
This brings the state back. I mean,
how long we known each other?
(MORE)
119.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT'D)
You know what this is gonna do for
us? This is huge for the state of
New Jersey. It stabilizes our
economy.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Hotels. Restaurants. It’s waiting
to happen. Carmine sees it, this
fucking thing is waiting to happen.

CARMINE POLITO
The goddamn bankers. Keeping their
money on the sidelines. How we
supposed to get anything done?

JOHN O’CONNELL
Bankers only put money in the game
when they can reap insane profit.

Richie staring, mesmerized by this trap.

RICHIE DIMASO
The only problem is this
citizenship situation. I mean, we
got to expedite it as soon as
possible.

JOHN O’CONNELL
Yeah, well I'll tell you, you came
to the right place.

Everyone looks tense and on edge before.

JOHN O’CONNELL (CONT’D)
I’ll make it happen.

CARMINE POLITO
Hey, this is going to happen.

Richie slides the briefcase in John’s direction.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
This is real. You understand? This
is real. On my family. On my kids.
On my life. On my work.

JOHN O’CONNELL
I know that, Carmine. You're a
good man

This hurts Irving to see his friends sincerity.
120.


153 ANOTHER DAY - ON GRAINY MONITOR 153

RICHIE DIMASO
(on grainy black and white)
I’m federal agent Richard Dimaso. I
am placing 75 thousand dollars in
this brief case for one
Representative Gerald Sanders of
the 3rd district.

SMASH TO:


154 -HAND SHAKES - REP. SANDERS SITS LOOKING WARILY AT BRIEFCASE 154

REP. SANDERS
I don’t want to do anything illegal-

CARMINE POLITO
Please Gerry. Use it as a campaign
donation. Whatever you want to do.

Richie slides the briefcase to him.


155 ANOTHER DAY 155

RICHIE DIMASO
(on grainy monitor)
I’m placing g $60,000 into an this
brief case for one Congressman Eric
Keshoygan of the 4th district --

ERIC KESHOYGAN
I’m going to do what I can to help
Carmine.

Irv watches in pain as he sits with them.

SMASH TO:


156 ANOTHER DAY 156

RICHIE DIMASO
A $100,000 into this briefcase for
two term United States Senator
Horton Mitchell of New Jersey.

A distinguished silver haired Senator, older.

HORTON MITCHELL
Atlantic City. All the way down the
shore. A mecca by the sea.
121.


Richie slides over the briefcase.

HORTON MITCHELL (CONT’D)
Carmine you’re beloved by your
people. Your constituency is not
even your constituency it’s your
family. That’s what you represent,
family.

CARMINE POLITO
One small thing we do for this man
is a huge thing we do for the
people of New Jersey. This is what
we can leave behind.

Irving can’t stand how hopeful his friend Carmine is being
because Irving knows Carmine is being set up. He gets up --

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
Irving what are you doing?

RICHIE DIMASO
Where you going?

IRVING ROSENFELD
(excusing himself
uncomfortably)
I just gotta go see a man about a
dog.

158 IRVING WALKS DOWN THE HALL VERY DISTORTED. HE GOES INTO THE 158
VIDEO ROOM WHERE STODDARD WATCHES THE SURVEILLANCE MONITORS
INTENSELY AS CARMINE CONTINUES TO STAND BEHIND HIS SINCERE
PLEDGES.

CARMINE POLITO
(on grainy monitor)
I appreciate this. On my family. On
my kids. This needs to happen. It’s
gotta happen. You’ve got my word

Irving walks out of the room --


159 INT. HALLWAY OF SHERMAN SUITE, PLAZA -- CONTINUOUS 159

--into another room where Sydney on elegant gold couch, sits
alone. Surveillance equipment and room service trays are on
the coffee table.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]

Summary Richie Dimaso and his team offer bribes to politicians in order to expedite a citizenship situation. Irving Rosenfeld begins to feel uncomfortable and leaves the room. In another scene, he meets with Sydney in a hotel room.
Strengths
  • Realistic portrayal of the corruption within the political system
  • Tension and unease created through characters' actions and dialogue
Weaknesses
  • Lack of character development for secondary characters
Critique As a screenwriting expert, I would critique this scene as follows:

Overall, the scene is well written, with good pacing and tension building. The dialogue is naturalistic and each character has their own distinct voice. The premise of the scene – securing political influence through bribery – is interesting and engaging.

However, there are a few areas where the scene could be improved:

Firstly, the introduction of the hole in the corner and the camera lens feels unnecessary and distracting. It doesn't seem to serve any purpose in the scene, and interrupts the flow of the dialogue. I would suggest removing these details.

Secondly, the transition to the grainy monitor footage could be smoother. While the smash cut works effectively at first, the repeated use of the same device becomes predictable and loses impact. A different approach, such as a fade or dissolve, could be used for subsequent cuts.

Finally, while the dialogue is strong, there could be clearer indications of character emotions and reactions. For example, when Carmine makes his impassioned speech, there could be more description of how the other characters are responding – are they moved, skeptical, or uncomfortable? Similarly, when Irving leaves the room, his emotions and motivations could be more explicitly stated.

Overall, this is a solid scene that effectively conveys its ideas and themes. With a few tweaks and refinements, it could be even stronger.
Suggestions 1. Develop the characters' emotions and motivations: It is important to show why the characters are doing what they are doing. Are they scared? Excited? Ambitious? Desperate? This will help the audience connect with them and understand their actions.

2. Simplify dialogue: The current dialogue is riddled with jargon and technical terms that may confuse the audience and take away from the story. Simplify dialogue to convey the message more effectively.

3. Build tension: The scene currently lacks a sense of urgency or any element of suspense. Build tension by introducing conflict, raising stakes, and increasing the risk of getting caught.

4. Show, not tell: The dialogue currently tells the audience what the characters are doing and feeling. Instead, show the action on screen to immerse the audience in the story and make the scene more engaging.

5. Streamline the scene: The scene currently feels long and dragged out. Streamline the scene by cutting unnecessary dialogue and focusing on the most important elements, such as the handshakes, the briefcase exchange, and the characters' reactions.



Scene 41 - Emotions Run High
160 INT. ANOTHER ROOM OF SHERMAN SUITE - CONTINUOUS 160

She watches Irving who is pacing anxiously and very wound up.
122.


IRVING ROSENFELD
(pacing)
I want to save us. I want to save
Carmine. It’s fucking killing me.

SYDNEY PROSSER
You know the only way to help
Carmine is through the Tellegio
thing.

IRVING ROSENFELD
It’s dangerous. We gotta get a wire
in there. We gotta make him feel
safe.

SYDNEY PROSSER
There’s only one thing that can
really fuck this up and that’s your
wife.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(pacing)
Yep.


161 EXT. DANNY’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -- DAY 161

Rosalyn fixes Danny’s coat, hands him his lunch and sends him
off towards the school’s front door --

CLOSE UP: ROSALYN STARES INTO LENS. Emotional, a mixture of
sadness and hope. She holds a closed bottle of her favorite
nail finish and smells it nostalgically.

A BLACK SEDAN PULLS INTO THE FRAME, SHE OPENS THE DOOR AND
GETS IN. IT IS PETE MUSANE, TELLEGIO’S MOBSTER SHE FLIRTED
WITH AT THE CASINO.


162 INT. PETE MUSANE’S CADILLAC - DAY 162

He gently puts a hand on her knee. She leaves it there for a
moment before pushing it away. They stare at each other.


163 INT. MAISON D’LUC - HUNTINGTON, LONG ISLAND - DAY 163

A NICE RESTAURANT OVERLOOKING THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, LIGHT
CORAL COLORED TABLECLOTHS; THE PLACE FILLED WITH DAYLIGHT --
ROSALYN AND PETE SIT VERY CLOSE. QUIET. TOGETHER. IN SILENCE.
FEW BEATS. CONTENT.
123.


PETE MUSANE
I don't like your husband. You're
no good together. He doesn't
appreciate you. Hey, it happens.
It happened in my marriage. That's
why I went to Miami. Sometimes you
just gotta be tough. You gotta
stand up and you gotta leave, you
know?

Rosalyn looks at Pete smitten.

PETE MUSANE (CONT’D)
Sometimes you gotta let something
die to let something live. You’re
too beautiful to be unhappy.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I know. I mean, I don't want to
badmouth my husband, but let me
badmouth my husband for a second.
He just thinks that he knows
everything and he's so full of
shit. He's such a liar. He thinks
that I'm stupid, but I'm not
stupid. I hear him on the phone
arguing. He loves Carmine, but he
hates that other guy, that curly-
headed I.R.S. guy, or whatever
who's carting around my husband's
ex-lover, that redheaded whore.

PETE MUSANE
IRS?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Anyway. You can see that it drives
him crazy.

PETE MUSANE
You said IRS. What IRS guy? What
are you talking bout?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I hear them on the phone. I think
that he’s got Irv in some sort of
bind or something and he’s making
him do all of this stuff and so Irv
and Carmine right now are at the
Plaza Hotel throwing away all this
money at like Congress or whatever.
They’re giving money to congress or
something. I don’t really know but
I overheard it on the phone.
124.


Pete’s brow furrows - this is serious.

PETE MUSANE
You know I hate to do this to you
but I have to go talk to your
husband. My boss is already angry.
You stay here I’m going to give you
some money for a taxi home.

He puts cash in her hands.

PETE MUSANE (CONT’D)
You stay here. Get yourself some
dessert. Finish the bottle of
prosecco. I’m sorry.

Rosalyn and Pete hold hands as Rosalyn stares into his eyes.
Very emotional.

PETE MUSANE (CONT’D)
You alright?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(open, vulnerable)
I don't like change. It's really
hard for me. Sometimes I think that
I'll die before I change.

He kisses her.

PETE MUSANE
It's gonna be okay. You’re gonna
come live with me in Miami.

Pete gets up and walks. As he does:

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
164 Don’t hurt him too bad. He’s still 164
Danny’s father.

BACK TO:


165 ROSALYN AT TABLE ALONE, EMOTIONAL, VULNERABLE, HER LIFE IS 165
CHANGING.


166 EXT. PLAZA HOTEL -- DAY 166

Irv and Carmine down sidewalk leaving from The Plaza Hotel --

Pete Musane stands next to an open passenger side door, --
Irv and Carmine do not move, they stare at the open door.
125.


PAUL MCCARTNEY AND WINGS “LIVE AND LET DIE” STARTS OMINOUSLY.


INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

170 Rosalyn in full muumuu, wearing cleaning gloves and holding a 170
vacuum sings to LIVE AND LET DIE while Danny sits on the
couch watching her. Very intense.


171 INT. PETE MUSANE’S CADILLAC - “LIVE AND LET DIE” CONTINUOUS 171

Irving and Carmine sit up front with Pete driving and Dick
Helsing sits in the back seat looking angry.


INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - “LIVE AND LET
DIE” CONTINUOUS

Rosalyn continues to sing and gets more intense as the music
picks up.


INT. PETE MUSANE’S CADILLAC - “LIVE AND LET DIE” CONTINUOUS

Irving looks over to Pete nervously. Unsure of what’s going
to happen.
Genres: ["crime","drama","romance"]

Summary Irving and Sydney discuss their plan to help Carmine while Rosalyn meets with Tellegio's mobster. Pete reveals his dislike of Irving to Rosalyn and things become emotional as their lives start to change. Meanwhile, Irving and Carmine ride with Pete and tensions mount.
Strengths "The scene is full of emotional depth and conflict that keeps the viewer engaged and invested in the characters' fates."
Weaknesses "The pacing of the scene drags in certain parts and could benefit from tightening up."
Critique This scene features multiple conversations and settings, which can be confusing to follow. The transition between scenes could be clearer, perhaps by using establishing shots or fade-ins/fade-outs. Additionally, some of the dialogue feels forced and heavy-handed in revealing information necessary for the plot, which takes away from natural character development. Overall, the scene could benefit from tighter editing and more organic dialogue.
Suggestions Here are a few suggestions to improve the scene:

- Add more action to the scene in the Another Room of Sherman Suite to make it more visually interesting. Have Irving do something other than pacing, or have Sydney act in a way that provides more insight into her thoughts and feelings.

- In the scene at the restaurant, consider adding more tension or conflict between Rosalyn and Pete. Right now they seem to be getting along quite well, which doesn't provide much drama. That being said, it's important to keep in mind their motivations and goals, and how they might clash with each other.

- Use the song "Live and Let Die" more strategically throughout the scene. Right now it's introduced in a way that feels a bit arbitrary, and doesn't do much to enhance the tension or emotion of the scene. Consider using it at key moments to heighten the drama or add more depth to the characters' experiences.

- Provide more context for why Pete wants to talk to Irving. Right now it's a bit unclear what his motivations are, and why he needs to speak with him at this particular moment. Adding more detail could make the scene more compelling and raise the stakes.

- Consider adding more physicality to the scene in the car. Right now it's just characters sitting and talking, which can feel a bit stagnant on screen. Adding some movement or action could make the scene more dynamic and engaging.



Scene 42 - Irv Gets Unpleasantly Surprised
INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - “LIVE AND LET
DIE” CONTINUOUS

Rosalyn whips her head up and down, dancing manically through
the house.


INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Rosalyn sits on the bed with Danny with clothes all over the
place while smoking a cigarette.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Life is ridiculous and I would
never say anything bad about your
father in front of you but your
father is a sick son of a bitch.

DANNY
Daddy’s a sick son of a bitch?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Don’t repeat that. But yes.
126.


EXT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Irving’s Caddy comes screeching up to the house and parks in
the driveway. Irv get’s out and races inside.


INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Rosalyn is still sitting on the bed with Danny.

IRVING ROSENFELD (O.S.)
(shouts)
ROSALYN! ROSALYN!

Rosalyn looks scared.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
This is a real low in our
relationship! You know where I was
recently? I was in your boyfriend’s
fucking car! I saw your nail
polish.

SMASH TO:


INT. PETE MUSANE’S CADILLAC - FLASHBACK

IRVING LOOKS DOWN AND SEES THE BOTTLE OF ROSALYN’S NAIL
FINISH ON THE CAR SEAT -- HE PICKS IT UP, LOOKS AHEAD THROUGH
WINDSHIELD SMELLS IT, WORRIED. Carmine glances over his
shoulder anxiously at Dick Helsing in the back seat.

PETE MUSANE
What’s this I hear about your curly
haired friend working for the
Government?

CARMINE POLITO
What?! Who said that?

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s bullshit!

PETE MUSANE
Your wife.

Irving is surprised to hear this.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That’s bullshit.

CARMINE POLITO
Rosalyn?
127.


INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

IRVING ROSENFELD
(screams)
HE PUT A CANVAS BAG OVER MY HEAD!

SMASH TO:


INT. PETE MUSANE’S CADILLAC - FLASHBACK

A WHITE CANVAS BAG GARROTES OVER IRVING’S HEAD, FROM HELSING
IN THE BACK SEAT.

CARMINE POLITO
Hey, what the fuck?! --

PETE MUSANE
Shut up. Shut the fuck up.

DICK HOLDS A GUN TO THE BACK OF IRVING’S BAGGED HEAD.
Genres: ["Drama","Crime"]

Summary Irv arrives home and finds out about Rosalyn's infidelity, leading him to have flashbacks illuminating how he was double-crossed by Carmine.
Strengths "The scene uses stock devices such as flashbacks and parallel editing to advance the story and create a tense atmosphere. The dialogue is snappy and helps to reveal character motivation."
Weaknesses "Some of the character's behaviours and reactions feel over-exaggerated or melodramatic, which detracts from the realism of the scene."
Critique Overall, this scene seems well-written and flows smoothly. The use of flashbacks helps to add context to the story and build tension. However, there are a few areas that could be improved.

Firstly, the transition from Rosalyn dancing to her sitting on the bed with Danny feels abrupt and could be better bridged. It would be helpful to add a sentence or two describing how they got there.

Secondly, the dialogue between Danny and Rosalyn feels a bit forced and unnatural. It could be improved by making it more conversational and less expositional.

Lastly, the use of all capital letters for Irving's shouting could be toned down a bit and integrated more naturally into the scene. It would also be helpful to add some description to convey his emotions and actions more vividly.

Overall, this is a solid scene, but with a few tweaks it could be even stronger.
Suggestions 1. Clarify the characters’ motivations and emotions: The scene moves quickly from Rosalyn dancing to her sitting on the bed, so it's important to clarify how she feels when Irving bursts into the room. Does she feel ashamed, angry, regretful, something else? Similarly, what is Irving's motivation for his outburst? Is he angry because of the nail polish, or because of something deeper?

2. Work on the pacing: There's a lot of information conveyed in this scene, so it's important to keep the pacing smooth. Consider whether any of the flashback scenes could be trimmed or eliminated to keep things moving and increase tension.

3. Add some visual interest to the scene: As it stands, the scene is mostly composed of dialogue. Consider adding some visual elements, such as interesting camera angles or character movement, to make the scene more engaging visually.

4. Consider the individual voices of the characters: While the dialogue is serviceable, there's not a lot of individuality in how the characters speak. Consider giving each character a distinct voice so that their personalities and motivations come across more clearly.

5. Complicate the relationships: The scene is mostly focused on Irving and Rosalyn's relationship, but there's an opportunity to introduce more complexity by exploring Danny's feelings about his dad. Does he believe Irving's accusations about Danny's work with the government, or does he side with Rosalyn? Adding tension and complexity to the scene will make it more interesting and engaging for the viewer.



Scene 43 - I've Got a Plan
INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

IRVING ROSENFELD
ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? BECAUSE HE IS
TRYING TO KILL ME!

ROSALYN
What are you talking about?!

IRVING ROSENFELD
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT DO YOU
THINK YOU’RE DOING?

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Get out of here! I’m not doing
anything!

IRVING ROSENFELD
WHY ARE YOU TALKING SO MUCH? YOU’RE
GOING TO GET US ALL KILLED!

Irving looks down to see Danny sitting there on the bed.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
Danny. Come here buddy alright? Go
draw a picture or something.

Irving ushers Danny out of the room.
128.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
You’re a real sick son of a bitch
for screaming at me like that in
front of Danny.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I’M A SICK SON OF A BITCH? YOU’RE
TRYING TO GET ME FUCKING KILLED. OH
MY GOD!! YOU DRIVE ME SO FUCKING
CRAZY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU’RE
BOYFRIEND -- YOUR FUCKING BOYFRIEND
WILL KILL ME, HE’LL KILL DANNY, AND
HE’LL KILL YOU.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
STOP TALKING LIKE THAT!

IRVING ROSENFELD
He’s a mobster alright? That’s who
you’re dealing with.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Alright fine! Yes, I wanted to hurt
you but how do you think that I
feel all day when you leave me
alone all day? And all I’ve ever
wanted is for you to love me.
That’s all I ever wanted. And stay
married and for you to love me. And
that's why I'm going to Miami!

IRVING ROSENFELD
You’re NOT going to Miami.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
That's why I'm going to Miami with
Pete!

Irving picks up Rosalyn’s clothes from the bed where there is
an open suitcase, throws them back in the closet.

IRVING ROSENFELD
You are NOT going to Miami.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I finally found somebody who loves
me just like YOU always wanted.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Too dangerous. Miami? Not now. Too
dangerous.

Irv continue to throw clothes back into the closet.
129.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
He likes me just the way I am.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Not now. Everything has to stay
normal right now. And you’re going
to shut your mouth!

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
You told me that you wanted me to
find a nice quiet man!

IRVING ROSENFELD
Oh and what a DOOZY you picked!

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
He’s the one.

IRVING ROSENFELD
He’s the most dangerous guy ever.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
WELL WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IRVING?! I
KNOW EVERYBODY THROUGH YOU! WHY
CAN’T YOU JUST BE HAPPY FOR ME?!

Irving reaches for his heart pills but they fall out of his
hands and scatter on the floor. He bends down to grab them
and almost falls. Rosalyn helps him up.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
Why aren’t you taking your heart
pills? Irving, what’s going on?
What kind of trouble are you in?!
What’s happening?

IRVING ROSENFELD
(out of breath)
I’ve got a plan.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
What’s happening?

Irving coughs and steps back. Out of breath and very winded.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I’ve got a plan.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
You’ve got a plan? When did you get
it?
130.


IRVING ROSENFELD
It really fucking came to me when I
was inside of that canvas bag with
your boyfriend’s hands around my
throat. That’s when it really came
to me.


INT. PETE MUSANE’S CADILLAC - FLASHBACK

CARMINE POLITO
Take it off! Take the bag off his
head!

Dick pulls the bag off Irving’s head, his comb over is all
messed up. IRVING GASPS. Pete and Dick LAUGH --

IRVING ROSENFELD
We’ve got two million coming this
week!

PETE MUSANE
What do you think this is? You
think this is a fucking down
payment plan? Like were Sears of
Chevrolet?

IRVING ROSENFELD
You ask Victor if he wants two
million this week. That's real
money. Two million.

PETE MUSANE
Two million? How?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Wired in.


172 EXT. MADISON AVENUE - FLASHBACK - CONTINUOUS 172

They LAUGH, Irving’s hair is all messed up.

Pete patches out. Irving and Carmine are a mess, shirts
ripped open, no buttons, they look at each other VERY SHAKEN.

CARMINE POLITO
Is it true? Is it true what he
said about your wife?

IRVING ROSENFELD
It's not fucking true. That's not
true.
131.
Genres: ["drama","crime"]

Summary Irving confronts Rosalyn about her reckless behavior and her dangerous new boyfriend. He reveals that he has a plan, which he came up with while being choked by Rosalyn's boyfriend. Through a flashback, it is revealed that Irving has a plan to wire $2 million and make a deal with Carmine Polito.
Strengths "The tension between Irving and Rosalyn is palpable, and the reveal of Irving's plan is a great plot twist."
Weaknesses "The dialogue is a bit repetitive, and some of the character motivations are not fully explained."
Critique Overall, this scene shows a lot of tension and conflict between Irving and Rosalyn, but it could benefit from more clarity and organization.

First, the dialogue between the two characters feels somewhat disjointed and choppy, with each of them interrupting and talking over each other. While this can be effective in some cases, it makes the scene harder to follow and harder to engage with emotionally.

Furthermore, some of the lines feel a bit on-the-nose and overt, such as when Irving explicitly states, "You're going to get us all killed!" This can come across as unsubtle and unrealistic.

Finally, while the flashback sequence adds some welcome context to the scene, it can be a bit confusing since we're not entirely sure what's going on or why it's relevant to the present-day conflict between Irving and Rosalyn.

To improve this scene, the screenwriter might consider focusing more on subtext and subverting audience expectations. For example, instead of having Irving explicitly state his fears about being killed, the screenwriter could have him express his anxiety in more subtle and ambiguous ways.

Additionally, the flashback sequence could benefit from more integration with the present day scene, perhaps through parallels between the two timelines or more clear connections between the two characters.

Overall, this is a strong scene that could be improved through more careful attention to dialogue and structural clarity.
Suggestions Some suggestions to improve this scene:

1. Clarify the conflict: The scene revolves around Irving and Rosalyn's argument about their relationship, but it doesn't feel clear what their specific conflict is. Is it that Rosalyn is going to Miami with Pete, or is it deeper issues in their marriage? Clarifying this will make the scene more emotionally charged and engaging.

2. Show, don't tell: The dialogue feels very exposition-heavy at times, with the characters explaining their feelings and motivations directly. To make the scene more dynamic, try showing the tension through actions and gestures instead of relying solely on dialogue.

3. Vary the tone: While the argument starts off heated, the scene remains at a similar emotional pitch throughout. To make it more interesting, try adding moments of calm or vulnerability between the characters to break up the tension and add depth to their relationship.

4. Consider the pacing: The scene runs a bit long and could benefit from some trimming. Look for ways to condense the dialogue while still conveying the important moments and emotions of the characters.



Scene 44 - The Plan and The Divorce
INT. IRV AND ROSALYN’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

IRVING ROSENFELD
I can save all of us, and we can
save money. I can take care of you
and Danny. OK? But you gotta close
your mouth.

Rosalyn looks satisfied and points her finger at Irving.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I knew it. I have always said,
Irving, that you are very, very
hard to motivate properly. And I
knew that Pete was gonna go over
there and knock some sense into
you. I've been reading this book,
Irving. It's by Wayne Dyer, about
the power of intention.

Irving can’t believe what he’s hearing right now.

Rosalyn, very satisfied, reaches over the bed and grabs a
book.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
And my intention in sending Pete
over to you was so that you could
come up with this plan. So, you're
welcome.

Irving incredulous, thinks to himself how to respond. Forces
himself to say gently --

IRVING ROSENFELD
OK. Thank you, Rosalyn. Thank you
for the plan.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
You’re welcome.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I appreciate that. So, I think that
we should be partners on this.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I’m a good partner. Almost better
than Edith. You ever think about
that? You ever think about how you
might have underestimated me?

IRVING ROSENFELD
So what is our plan? Tell me the
plan. What are you gonna do?
132.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I’m going to keep my mouth shut and
I’m not going to say anything but
what do I do if Pete calls me? What
am I supposed to say?

IRVING ROSENFELD
You gotta stop talking about your
government agencies and your I.R.S.
and your tax and your conspiracies
and all of that. You're gonna say
how you were wrong, you were wrong
about that.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
I’ll tell Pete that I was wrong but
you know that in real life, I was
right for saying all that stuff
because then that spurred on the
actions that made you come up with
this plan. So I will tell Pete.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(holding his head)
OK.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
(pointing with cigarette
between fingers)
The power of intention Irving. The
power of intention.

Irv is doing everything he can to hold it together.

IRVING ROSENFELD
OK. You were right.

Rosalyn gets up from the bed and walks over to Irving.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
You're so smart. Good job, peaches.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Irving, I've been doing a lot of
thinking and -- you need to grow
up. And you need to face the
facts. And I think that both of us
will be a lot happier if we get a
divorce.

As he listens to words he has been saying himself for months,
now spoken as Rosalyn’s idea.
133.


IRVING ROSENFELD
OK.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Just think about it. (kisses him)
These things are never easy.

Irving starts walking away towards the door.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Alright.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Irving. Good luck with your plan.


EXT. FBI OFFICE, FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING, NY - DAY

The spare rhythmic intro of Jeff Lynne’s “Long Black Road”
plays as Richie looks back over his shoulder and walks
towards the building with intensity.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Necessity truly is the mother of
invention. The F.B.I. was willing
to wire the two million dollars if
it meant taking down Tellegio and
his entire organization.


INT. FBI OFFICE, FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING, NY

Brenda in her office.

Amado looking very pleased on the telephone.


178A EXT. LEXINGTON AVENUE - DAY 178A

Irving walks with Richie and Sydney up to an office building.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
A mobster like Tellegio would never
meet at the Plaza Hotel, but only
at the office of his attorney,
Alfonse Simone.

They walk into mob lawyer Simone's building.


178B INT. LOBBY OF BUILDING - DAY 178B

On an old faded directory: 7TH FLOOR: ALFONSE SIMONE #701
134.


178C INT. ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS 178C

THEY STAND TENSE IN ELEVATOR NOT SPEAKING.


178D INT. RECEPTION AREA - SIMONE LAW OFFICE - DAY 178D

They open door to large, spare reception area of Alfonse
Simone’s law office. MIDDLE AGED SECRETARY looks up and picks
up the phone.


178E INT. HALLWAY OF ALFONSE SIMONE'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 178E

NEARBY AT A SMALL TABLE SYDNEY IS FRISKED BY A BLACK MAN IN A
SUIT, SHE SUSTAINS EYE CONTACT WITH IRVING AND RICHIE AS THEY
ARE ALSO FRISKED BY ANOTHER MAN IN A SUIT ACROSS THE ROOM. --
THE CONTENTS OF SYDNEY’S PURSE ARE EMPTIED AND EXAMINED ALONG
WITH HER PURSE. IT IS TENSE. SYDNEY STARES AT A NERVOUS
RICHIE; THEIR MICROPHONES HAVE GONE UNDETECTED. “LONG BLACK
ROAD” CONTINUES AS CAMERA FOLLOWS THE BACK OF THE THICK NECK
OF THE MAN IN THE SUIT AS HE LEADS THEM DOWN A WINDING NARROW
OFFICE CORRIDOR. IN ONE SHOT THE DOOR OPENS, JEFF LYNNE’S
SONG SHIFTS TO A LIGHTER THAN AIR PIANO BREAK.
Genres: ["Drama","Crime"]

Summary Irv comes up with a plan to save himself and his partners, but has to work with his estranged wife. Amidst the planning, Rosalyn suggests divorce which Irv agrees to. Later, Irv, Richie, and Sydney get frisked before their meeting with mob lawyer Alfonse Simone.
Strengths "Well-written dialogue, characters with clear personalities, builds tension well"
Weaknesses "Lacks a strong emotional punch, some repetitive elements"
Critique This scene is well-written in terms of dialogue, with clear character motivations and believability. However, there could be more active and visual elements to help with pacing and tension. Some suggestions could be to include more physical actions or reactions from the characters, such as Irving nervously fidgeting or perspiring, or Rosalyn getting increasingly impatient or frustrated with Irving's responses. Additionally, there could be more description of the setting and the characters' physical positions in the scene to help readers visualize the scene more clearly. Overall, while the dialogue is strong, including more visual and active elements could enhance the scene's impact.
Suggestions 1. Clarify the Action: There is confusion about who is speaking at times and in some cases, it’s unclear what is happening. For example, in the beginning, it’s not clear that Rosalyn is pointing towards Irving when she says “I knew it.” Adding clarifications like (pointing at Irving) or (smiling with satisfaction), etc. can help.

2. Make Dialogue More Natural: Some lines of dialogue don’t feel natural, like when Irving says "OK. Thank you, Rosalyn. Thank you for the plan." It doesn’t feel like something anyone would actually say. Try rephrasing in a more natural way like "Thanks for the plan, Rosalyn."

3. Introduce More Action: The scene is mostly dialogue-heavy. Adding more action can break it up and add visual interest. For example, instead of just stating that Sydney is being frisked in the reception area, show it in a more cinematic way.

4. Add More Tension: It’s a critical point in the story with high stakes, and the scene doesn’t have as much tension as it could. Consider building up the tension with pacing, music, and camera angles.

5. Trim Down Dialogue: Some lines of dialogue don't further the plot or develop the characters. Trimming them down can help speed up the scene and keep the audience engaged. Rather than having Rosalyn say "I have always said, Irving, that you are very, very hard to motivate properly. And I knew that Pete was gonna go over there and knock some sense into you," she could simply say "See, I told you Pete could help."



Scene 45 - The Sheik's Deal
178F INT. ALFONSE SIMONE’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 178F

ALFONSE SIMONE- 64, BRONX, SEASONED LAWYER.

Alfonse Simone rises from behind his desk. A silent secretary
sitting at his side in a white dress stares at our heros as
Simone steps forward to introduce himself.

ALFONSE SIMONE
Alfonse Simone.

Edith walks up to him to shake hands. He shakes hands with
Irving and Richie as well. Man in the suit closes the door
behind them.

EDITH GREENSLY
Edith Greensly.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Irving Rosenfeld.

RICHIE DIMASO
Good afternoon.

ALFONSE SIMONE
Please, be seated.
135.


They sit in three chairs facing Simone’s desk: Sydney/Edith,
Richie, Irving.

Simone sits behind his desk, the silent secretary sits just
behind him slightly to the side, stares at Edith, Richie,
Irving.

ALFONSE SIMONE (CONT’D)
I appreciate the fact that you all
came in person, but the trip was
really unnecessary because this
whole thing could have been done
with a simple wire transfer. As a
matter of fact this is the number
of our wire right here.

Simone slides a small pink piece of paper across the desk to
them. Richie stares at the paper, but doesn’t touch it.

RICHIE DIMASO
Where is Mr. Tellegio?

ALFONSE SIMONE
Mr. Tellegio unfortunately was
called out of town on business.

RICHIE DIMASO
That’s not good. We were willing to
come here today, in person, to see
Mr. Tellegio, as a sign of respect
to give two million dollars --

ALFONSE SIMONE
I can assure you that I have the
power of attorney --

RICHIE DIMASO
Excuse me. If you'll let me finish,
we are willing to give two million
dollars today of the ten. But
without Mr. Tellegio here --

IRVING ROSENFELD
(to Simone)
We can't, we can't make that
decision. It's not the right thing.
It's not the right time. It's just
not good.

EDITH GREENSLY
(to Irving across Richie)
You don't have the authorization to
make this kind of choice so don't
be hasty, alright?
136.


IRVING ROSENFELD
I'm not being hasty. It's just,
let's be smart about it. This is
not how we do business. (to Simone)
I'm sorry. I apologize.

Richie motions with his hand to Edith that he agrees with
Irving.

RICHIE DIMASO
He's right, we can't.

EDITH GREENSLY
I think you should hang in there.

RICHIE DIMASO
For what? The guy's not here.

IRVING ROSENFELD
He isn't.

RICHIE DIMASO
That’s it.

He stands, goes to the door.

IRVING ROSENFELD
This is a surprise. The Sheik
doesn’t like surprises.

Edith turns in her chair to face them in the doorway.

EDITH GREENSLY
Don’t leave.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(in doorway with Richie)
Edith, this is not your decision to
make.

EDITH GREENSLY
I understand but maybe we can call
the Sheik. Let’s call the Sheik.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That's not the plan. That's not
the --

Edith locks eyes with Richie. Richie stares at Edith, waves
Irving off with his hand.

RICHIE DIMASO
No, let's -- I'll call the Sheik.
(to Simone) Can I use your phone?
137.


ALFONSE SIMONE
Please do.

RICHIE DIMASO
(to Alfonse Simone)
I don't know if he's in, I'll call
the Sheik. But before I do, I'd
like to go over specifically what
this money will be used for.

ALFONSE SIMONE
What we will do is we guarantee all
proper licenses and construction
permits for any hotel casino that
plans to open before the end of the
year.

Richie glances down at Edith and her handbag. PUSH IN ON A
TINY MICROPHONE WE NOW SEE CLEVERLY BUILT INTO THE HANDLE OF
EDITH’S GUCCI BAG.

ALFONSE SIMONE (CONT’D)
And we'll throw in the customary
privileges and protection.

RICHIE DIMASO
What if there are obstacles, what
will you do?

ALFONSE SIMONE
Obstacles? We are prepared to
overcome any obstacles.

RICHIE DIMASO
This is a big enterprise.

ALFONSE SIMONE
If we have to pay somebody off,
we'll pay somebody off. If we have
to lean on somebody, intimidate
somebody, we'll intimidate
somebody. We're experienced. This
is our business.

RICHIE STARES AT SIMONE.

RICHIE DIMASO
That's powerful stuff. Thank you.

IRVING STARES AND SYDNEY LOOKS AT RICHIE.
138.


ALFONSE SIMONE
And I'll tell you something else.
At the end of this we'll teach you
how to skim and how to cut it up
and make some money on the side.
Because we invented skimming. We've
been doing it for thirty years.

A smile creeps across Richie’s face.

RICHIE DIMASO
Thank you. Thank you for clarifying
that.

Richie picks up the phone to dial.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
I think that will be OK for the
Sheik.
Genres: ["Crime drama","Thriller"]

Summary Richie, Edith, and Irving meet with Alfonse Simone to negotiate a deal of ten million dollars in exchange for proper licenses and construction permits for hotel casinos. However, tensions arise when Mr. Tellegio is absent, leading Richie to consider backing out of the deal until Edith encourages him to call the Sheik. During their exchange, Alfonse boasts about their experience in the industry and even offers to teach them how to skim money off the top.
Strengths "Strong characterization through dialogue and nonverbal cues, tense negotiation with high stakes, believable and well-defined power dynamics between the characters"
Weaknesses "Lack of action or significant movement within the scene, somewhat predictable outcome given the genre"
Critique Overall, the scene seems to flow smoothly and effectively sets up the conflict and tension between the characters. However, there are some areas for improvement:

- The dialogue could benefit from more specificity and unique character voices. Some lines, such as "Good afternoon," feel generic and could be more personalized to each character.
- The scene could benefit from more visual description and action. There is a lot of sitting and talking, which could make the scene feel static. Adding more movement or physicality to the characters could enhance the visual aspect of the scene.
- There is a lack of visual cues or hints to suggest Richie's plan to bug Edith's handbag. This reveal comes as a surprise, and while surprises can be effective, in this case, it feels like it comes out of nowhere. Adding more hints or clues throughout the scene could make the reveal feel more organic to the story.
Suggestions Overall, this scene is well written and clear in its intention. However, here are a few suggestions to improve the dialogue and pacing:

1. Consider shortening the initial introductions to make the scene move more quickly and efficiently. For example, you could have Alfonse simply say "Alfonse Simone, nice to meet you all" instead of having each character state their full name.

2. Add more tension to the scene by having Alfonse and/or the silent secretary be more visibly suspicious of the characters. This could be conveyed through body language or facial expressions.

3. Instead of making Richie's decision to call the Sheik seem sudden and arbitrary, build up to it by having him express doubt and hesitation earlier in the scene. This will make his decision to make the call more dramatic.

4. Consider adding more conflict between the characters, particularly between Richie and Irving. This will make their eventual agreement more satisfying.

5. Consider adding more subtext to the dialogue, particularly with regards to the characters' motivations. For example, why is Edith so insistent on the deal going through? Is it just for the money, or does she have a personal connection to the project? Adding layers of motivation will make the scene more complex and engaging.



Scene 46 - The Money Transfer
INT. BRENDA’S FBI WIRE OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

AMADO, STODDARD, BRENDA.

ANTHONY AMADO
This is the Sheik.

RICHIE DIMASO
(on phone)
Mr. Tellegio is not here. It's
just Mr. Alfonse Simone, his
lawyer. Are we still ok to wire the
money?

ALFONSE SIMONE
Simone can take the money. What’s
the number?

RICHIE DIMASO
5317AP

Amado writes it down and hands it to Brenda to call in.

BRENDA
The funds have been transferred.

ANTHONY AMADO
(on phone to Richie)
The funds have been transferred.

Amado nods: victory. BACK TO:
139.


INT. ALFONSE SIMONE’S OFFICE - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Richie hangs up.

RICHIE DIMASO
The money’s been wired.

ALFONSE SIMONE
I think we have a deal.

RICHIE DIMASO
Yes we do sir.

ALFONSE SIMONE
Pleasure doing business with you.

RICHIE DIMASO
Okay, well, thank you very much,
Mr. Simone.

RICHIE SMILES, SYDNEY LOOKS AT IRVING, WHO LOOKS PREOCCUPIED.
PUSH IN ON IRVING.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
The Sheik’s very excited.

ALFONSE SIMONE
I’m sure that we’ll be seeing each
other.

Richie and team start to walk out.

RICHIE DIMASO
(grinning)
Oh I’m sure we’ll be seeing each
other very soon. You may even get
sick of me, like these two.

ALFONSE SIMONE
I don’t think I’ll get sick of you.
Nice meeting you.

Richie, Edith, and Irving walk down the hall after leaving
his office. Richie smiles as the opening of Bowie’s “The Jean
Genie” momentously starts. Edith smiles as she walks down the
hall followed by Irving. Richie puts his hand on the door
knob to exit the hallway.


178H INT. AMADO’S OFFICE, FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING - DAY 178H

THE DOOR OPENS IN A TIMECUT, RICHIE IN SUNGLASSES, HIS JACKET
IS OFF, HE BEAMS AND CELEBRATES AND EXHORTS A ROOM FULL OF
FBI AGENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, SECRETARIES.
140.


THE JEAN GENIE PLAYS ENERGETICALLY AS RICHIE CELEBRATES WITH
EVERYONE, LIKE IN A LOCKER ROOM, HIS FIST IN THE AIR.

RICHIE DIMASO
FINALLY! FINALLY WE GET SOME
RESPECT!

AMADO SITS IN HIS CHAIR WITH CIGAR IN ONE HAND AND DRINK IN
THE OTHER. VERY EXCITED AND LAUGHING AS HE POINTS AT RICHIE.

ANTHONY AMADO
(shouts through clamor)
We’re ambitious, that’s why!

Richie suddenly moves to the reel to reel surveillance tape
and quiets the room, the music momentarily stops as we hear
Alfonse Simone on the surveillance tape.

RICHIE DIMASO
Shh, shh, shh!

ALFONSE SIMONE (ON SURVEILLANCE TAPE)
If we have to pay somebody off,
we'll pay somebody off. If we have
to lean on somebody, intimidate
somebody, we'll intimidate
somebody.

Richie joyfully lip synchs to the rhythm of Simone’s
incriminating words on tape.

RICHIE DIMASO
(in unison with Simone on
tape)
-- If we have to lean on somebody,
intimate somebody, we'll intimidate
somebody!!

RICHIE THROWS HIS FIST IN THE AIR AND CHEERS, JOINED BY
EVERYONE IN THE ROOM. BOWIES “THE JENE GENIE” COMES BACK
LOUD.

179 RICHIE TURNS AND TWIRLS A WHITE HAIRED FBI AGENT IN 179
CELEBRATION, LAUGHING WITH JOY. THEN GOES OVER TO A SULKING
STODDARD AND HUMPS HIM LIKE AT A FRAT PARTY, LAUGHING WITH
EVERYBODY AT STODDARD’S STIFFNESS. STODDARD GETS UP AND
RICHIE SMACKS HIS ASS AS HE LEAVES THE ROOM. RICHIE IMITATES
STODDARD TO ROARING LAUGHTER -- TWICE.

THE MUSIC CRESCENDOS TO AN ABRUPT STOP.
141.


180 EXT. CARMINE POLITO’S CAMDEN NJ CLAPBOARD HOME - DAY 180

Irving’s big blue car pulls up to the lens. Irving and Sydney
looking a little uneasy.

Irving stares at the house.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I gotta do it.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama"]

Summary Richie Dimaso wires the money to Alfonse Simone, securing a deal with the Sheik. The FBI celebrates with lip syncing and cheers as incriminating evidence is captured on tape. Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney visit Carmine Polito's home, with Irving determined to go through with something.
Strengths "The tension builds as the money transfer takes place, while the celebration scene is memorable and energetic. The characters are well-defined and memorable, with strong performances all around."
Weaknesses "The scene may not be as action-packed as others in the screenplay, and the emotional impact may not be as high. The dialogue is strong, but may not be as memorable as in other scenes."
Critique The scene feels disconnected and lacks a clear purpose. It seems like a collection of smaller scenes that are thrown together, without a clear narrative throughline. There is also a lack of character development, as the characters feel one-dimensional and their motivations are not well established. Additionally, there is a reliance on exposition through dialogue, which makes the scene feel more like a laundry list of actions, rather than an engaging story. Overall, the scene could benefit from a stronger focus on character development and a clearer narrative structure.
Suggestions There are a few suggestions I would make to improve this scene.

Firstly, there needs to be a clearer sense of the stakes involved in the money transfer and what it means for the characters. This could be achieved by showing more of their reactions and emotions as they wait for confirmation of the transfer, or by incorporating some dialogue that emphasizes the potential consequences of the transfer (e.g. what will happen if it doesn't go through, what they stand to gain or lose, etc.).

Secondly, the action and dialogue in the scene could be made more dynamic and engaging. Right now, the scene mostly consists of characters making phone calls and exchanging brief, somewhat perfunctory lines. To make it more interesting, you could try incorporating more movement and physicality into the scene (e.g. characters pacing or gesturing, interacting with their surroundings, etc.) or injecting more tension and conflict into the dialogue (e.g. characters arguing or negotiating more forcefully).

Finally, the transition from the FBI office scene to the celebration scene could be made smoother and more seamless. Right now, the sudden shift in tone and setting feels a bit jarring and disorienting. To improve this, you could try adding a more natural segue between the two scenes (e.g. a character receiving a phone call or email indicating the transfer has gone through, or a scene of them leaving the office and heading to a party or bar to celebrate). This would make the celebration scene feel more earned and satisfying, and help the audience connect more strongly with the characters' sense of triumph.



Scene 47 - The Betrayal
181 INT. CARMINE’S LIVING ROOM - DAY 181

CARMINE POLITO
What do you mean, there's no sheik?
What does that mean, "there's no
sheik"? What does that mean?

Carmine stares at Irving.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I want to face you like a man
because I want to be real now.

CARMINE POLITO
Who is "they"?

Irving looks distressed. He’s a wreck.

IRVING ROSENFELD
It’s the Feds.

CARMINE POLITO
The Feds?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yeah.

CARMINE POLITO
Irving -- I'm a good person

IRVING ROSENFELD
You are!

Carmine stands up and looks around the room, disoriented, his
life passing before his eyes.

CARMINE POLITO
I’ve been doing this for a long
time, for twenty years. Do you
think I woulda taken that money if
it wasn't the right thing to do?
142.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Hey look, you’re a good person I
know that but in all honesty --

CARMINE POLITO
(screams)
You said that was the only way,
Irv. You chased me, remember?

IRVING ROSENFELD
They fuckin' made me do it. What
was I supposed to do? They had Syd
in jail.

CARMINE POLITO
You made me go back to the Plaza to
take that money, you piece of shit!
I was gone! You fucking prick!

CARMINE BEATS IRVING DOWN ON THE COUCH.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
I was gone, I left!

DOLLY WALKS IN.

DOLLY POLITO
Is everything alright? Can I have a
word with you?

CARMINE POLITO
(very upset)
No, please, Dolly, just go
upstairs. Take the kids and go
upstairs!

DOLLY POLITO
Alright, alright.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I want to make this right. I came
here because I want to make it
right.

Irving is in tears. Very upset.

CARMINE POLITO
Look at my face. You tell me that
I'm lying to you when I say that
everything I do is for the good of
the people of New Jersey.
Everything I do is for them. Am I
lying to you?
143.


IRVING ROSENFELD
I never had a friend like you
before.

CARMINE POLITO
I used that money for the goddamn
casino.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I got some leverage, alright? I can
help you out.

CARMINE POLITO
This is all shit. It's all
bullshit.

Carmine picks up the knife the Sheik gave him.

CARMINE POLITO (CONT’D)
Look at this thing. Look at this.
Ceremonial fucking knife. What is
this bullshit? Some toy?

He drops it on the table. Irving stares at his friend,
removes his glasses.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Carmine, Syd and I got a plan for
you. We can help you out.

CARMINE POLITO
Please get out of my house, Irving.
Will you please leave? I'm asking
you nicely, please leave.

Irving gets up to go and is pushed towards the door by
Carmine. Dolly joins Carmine in tears. Carmine’s kids stand
on the stairs.

DOLLY POLITO
Get out of our house!

IRVING ROSENFELD
I don’t want to -- (seeing kids)
I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this
to happen.

CARMINE POLITO
(to kids)
This is not our friend!

IRVING ROSENFELD
Truly, I didn't mean for this to
happen.
144.


Carmine points to his family.

CARMINE POLITO
This is what matters to me most and
you’re crushing it! You’re going to
take me away from them you fucking
son of a bitch? Get the fuck out!

183 Carmine lunges at Irving and punches him in the face. Irving 183
goes down to the ground and his glasses fly off his face.

CARMINE kicks him one last time.

IRVING ROSENFELD
(beaten, bloody on floor)
I just want to make it right.

CARMINE POLITO
Get out of my house. Look what you
made me do!

IRVING ROSENFELD
(stumbling out the door)
I’m sorry Carmine, I’m sorry.
Genres: ["Drama","Crime"]

Summary Carmine discovers that Irving and the Feds have been using him to catch bigger fish and confronts Irving about it. Irving tries to explain but Carmine becomes violent and kicks him out of the house.
Strengths "The scene builds tension and emotion well, with convincing performances by the actors. The dialogue is realistic and the conflict between the characters is intense."
Weaknesses "The scene is somewhat predictable and may feel clich\u00e9 to some viewers. There is a lot of shouting and violence, which may be off-putting to some viewers."
Critique Overall, the scene is well-written and dramatic. However, a few improvements could be made.

Firstly, the dialogue could be tightened up to make it more impactful. There are moments where the characters repeat themselves or ask questions that have already been answered, which slows down the pace of the scene.

Secondly, the physical action could be described in more detail to make it clearer to the reader what is happening. For example, when Carmine beats Irving down on the couch, it is not clear how he is doing this - is he punching him, hitting him with an object, or something else?

Finally, the scene could benefit from more visual descriptions of the setting. The living room is only briefly mentioned at the beginning, and there are no other details about the environment. Adding more sensory details could help to immerse the reader in the scene and make it more vivid.
Suggestions Here are a few suggestions for improving this scene:

1. Clarify the main conflict: At the moment, it's not clear why Carmine is upset or what the conflict is between him and Irving. Is it just because there's no sheik (which is a bit of a confusing detail in itself), or is it because Irving has betrayed him? Finding a way to make this clearer would make the scene more impactful.

2. Show more of Carmine's perspective: Right now, we don't get a great sense of why Carmine is so upset. Showing more of his internal struggle and making it clear why he feels betrayed would help build tension and make the scene more engaging.

3. Add more physicality: While there's some physicality in the scene as it stands, it could benefit from more. Showing Carmine's rage more explicitly - for example, by throwing things around the room or getting in Irving's face - would make the scene more visually interesting.

4. Cut down on some of the dialogue: There's a lot of back-and-forth between Carmine and Irving, and some of it feels a bit repetitive. Streamlining the dialogue to focus on the most important beats would make the scene feel more impactful and increase the pace.

5. Provide more context: Without knowing more about the rest of the script, it's hard to say if this scene needs more context, but it could be helpful to have a bit more information about why Irving is getting beaten up beyond just "he made a mistake." Adding more detail about what the stakes are for Carmine and why he's reacting so violently could help make the scene feel more justified.



Scene 48 - The Aftermath of the Confrontation
184 EXT. CARMINE’S HOUSE - DAY 184

Irving staggers out of the house in an emotional daze, one
hand to his heart, falls to sidewalk with bloody nose and
broken glasses --

SYDNEY ACROSS THE STREET BURST OUT OF THE CAR.

SYDNEY PROSSER
Irving!

RUNS TO HIM IN HER HIGH HEELS -- HELPS HIM SIT UP ON THE
SIDEWALK.

SYDNEY PROSSER (CONT’D)
Your heart pills. Where are your
heart pills?

She digs through his pockets, finds the pills, and feeds one
to him.

Sydney struggles to help Irving to his feet and together, an
embattled but surviving couple, they cross the street arm and
arm. She opens the door and helps him into the car.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I’ve got to lay down.
145.


SYDNEY PROSSER
Just rest.

She gets in and closes the door.


185 INT. IRVING’S CADILLAC - DAY 185

They both slump down on the seat, stare at each other,
emotional, humbled. Sydney gently removes Irving’s broken
glasses. They stare at each other, it is quiet.

SYDNEY PROSSER
(emotional, quiet)
Are you ready?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yes.

They stare at each other.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
(whispers)
I love you.

She squeezes his hand, raises it to her lips and kisses it.
Genres: ["Drama","Romance"]

Summary Irving staggers out of his house emotionally distraught and in physical pain. Sydney rushes to help him, administering his heart medication and helping him into the car. As they drive away, they share a tender and emotional moment.
Strengths "The emotional depth and tenderness of the scene is the main strength, as it effectively conveys the intimacy and trust between Irving and Sydney."
Weaknesses "The physical conflict that led to this scene is not fully explained, potentially leaving the audience confused or disengaged."
Critique The scene has some emotional depth, but it could use some improvements.

Firstly, there is no context or build-up to this moment. We don't know why Irving is in an emotional daze, why he has a bloody nose and broken glasses. Setting up the scene with some earlier conflict or tension between the characters would make this moment more impactful.

Secondly, the dialogue feels a bit generic and cliche. Lines like "Just rest" and "Are you ready?" don't add much to the scene. It would be more effective to have the characters express their emotions through their actions and nonverbal communication.

Lastly, the scene ends too abruptly. It would be more satisfying to see the characters physically and emotionally recover from this moment, rather than just have them stare at each other silently.

Overall, with some minor adjustments to the set-up, dialogue, and resolution, this scene could become more emotionally impactful and engaging.
Suggestions Overall, this scene is well-written and contains emotional depth. However, some suggestions for improvement are:

1. Add more visual description - Instead of just saying Irving staggers out of the house, show his physical state. Describe his disheveled appearance, his slumped posture, and the blood streaming from his nose. This will make the audience feel the severity of the situation more intensely.

2. Use more varied dialogue - There is a lot of straightforward exposition in the dialogue. Try incorporating more subtext to convey the characters' emotions. For example, instead of Sydney saying "Are you ready?" try having her say something more subtle like "We don't have to do this if you're not ready." This will make the dialogue more interesting and nuanced.

3. Add more action beats - There is a lot of dialogue in this scene, which can make it feel less dynamic. By incorporating more action beats, such as Sydney wiping the blood from Irving's face or Irving clutching his chest, the scene will be more visually interesting.

4. Consider changing the location - The scene takes place mostly in the car, which can make it feel stagnant. Consider having the characters move around more, or changing the location entirely. This will add variety to the scene and keep the audience engaged.



Scene 49 - The Missing Millions
206 INT. AMADO’S OFFICE - DAY 206

TILT UP FROM THE FLOOR OF THE OFFICE TO RICHIE, AMADO, AND
STODDARD INTENSELY STARING AT THE DOOR FOR A CONFRONTATION,
LIKE IN A WESTERN. THE DOOR OPENS AS IRVING AND SYDNEY ENTER
AND STARE BACK AT THEM.

ANTHONY AMADO
Please. Come in. Sit down.

They all sit.

ANTHONY AMADO (CONT’D)
Do you know where our two million
dollars is?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Two million? (Irving pushes his new
glasses up the bridge of his nose)
It’s with Victor Tellegio and
Alfonse Simone.

ANTHONY AMADO
No, actually it’s not with Victor
Tellegio or Alfonse Simone.
146.


Richie stands by the window, stares angrily at Irving.

RICHIE DIMASO
He fucking knows about it.

ANTHONY AMADO
It’s gone missing. Did you know
that?

IRVING ROSENFELD
Where's it gone?

ANTHONY AMADO
That's interesting that you said
that because while you were on your
way over here, we got an anonymous
phone call from someone who said
that in exchange for immunity for
the two of you and a reduced
sentence for Carmine Polito we get
our two million dollars back.

IRVING ROSENFELD
That's interesting. That's very
interesting. I have no idea.

ANTHONY AMADO
No idea?

IRVING ROSENFELD
No idea what you're talking about.

Irving looks at Sydney who looks back at him and shakes her
head. She doesn’t know either.

ANTHONY AMADO
I got it. I understand how these
deals are made. See, someone has
leverage.

RICHIE DIMASO
Anthony, fuck them. It’s over. We
got them for wire fraud, it's over.
(to Irving and Sydney) You're done.
You're both done.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I don't think so.

RICHIE DIMASO
Oh, you don’t think so?
147.


IRVING ROSENFELD
Richard, think about it, YOU
requested the two million. And you
gave Brenda the account number. We
didn't do any of that. None of it.
(turns dramatically to face Richie)
How do we know that YOU don't have
the money?

RICHIE DIMASO
(Richie looks from Irving
to Sydney)
Am I living in a fucking nightmare
right now?

AMADO AND STODDARD STARE INCRIMINATINGLY AT RICHIE.

IRVING ROSENFELD
I find this a little offensive.
Really, I find this a little
offensive and I don't see that you
got any sort of solid case against--

RICHIE DIMASO
(to Amado and Stoddard)
Don't let him get in your heads.
Listen to me, we're dealing with a
very clever individual.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Richard, think about it. You got
some big arrests. You got U.S.
Congressmen. You look good. You're
gonna be all over the news. You
know what doesn't look good? A
story about gross incompetence

205 SMASH TO: 205

FLASHBACK -- RICHIE KICKS OPEN THE DOOR OF LAWYER ALFONSE
SIMONE’S OFFICE WITH A WARRANT IN HIS HAND AND TWO AGENTS
BEHIND HIM.

RICHIE DIMASO
I have a warrant for --

Richie looks around disoriented, we cannot see what he sees
yet.

RICHIE DIMASO (CONT’D)
I'm sorry, do I have the wrong
office?(checks number on the door)
Is this 701? Alfonse Simone?
148.


MAN’S VOICE (O.S.)
This is 701.

-- WE REVEAL THE VOICE BELONGS TO A BLACK ATTORNEY -- TWO
BLACK CLIENTS ACROSS FROM HIM -- SEATED AT WHAT PREVIOUSLY
APPEARED TO BE THE DESK OF LAWYER ALFONSE SIMONE.

BLACK DIVORCE LAWYER
My name is Roger Thigpen. I’ve had
this office for 25 years. I’m a
divorce attorney.

RICHIE IS STUNNED.


INT. AMADO’S OFFICE - DAY - BACK TO PRESENT

SYDNEY PROSSER
You lost two million dollars of
taxpayer money because you were
confused about the location and the
identity of Victor Tellegio's
attorney?

CUT TO:


INT. POOL PARTY - LONG ISLAND HOUSE - DAY - FLASHBACK

Where we first saw Irving at the pool party.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
The role of Tellegio's attorney,
Alfonse Simone, was played by our
friend Ed Malone --

Camera pans from Irving to Ed Malone:

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
the “Cold Cut King of Long Island”--

Ed Malone holds up two packages of cold cuts. Also holding
the cold cuts are the two that frisked everyone at Simone’s
office.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Whose party we were at when Sydney
and I first met.

Cut to Irving first meeting Sydney.

CUT TO:
149.
Genres: ["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]

Summary Richie, Amado, and Stoddard confront Irving and Sydney about the missing two million dollars. They deny knowing anything about it, but Amado reveals they received an anonymous call offering to return the money in exchange for reduced sentences. Richie accuses them of incompetence but Irving suggests that Richie has the money. The scene includes a flashback to when Richie mistakenly raided the wrong office belonging to a divorce attorney.
Strengths "The scene has excellent character dynamics and dialogue with tension built up between the characters."
Weaknesses "The flashback scene to Richie raiding the wrong office could have been better placed in the narrative."
Critique Overall, the scene seems to handle its pacing and character interaction well, but there may be some areas that could be improved.

First, there is a lot of exposition happening in this scene, which can come across as heavy-handed. For example, when Richie asks if he's living in a nightmare, it feels like the dialogue is pointing out the obvious for the audience.

Also, some of the character interactions feel a bit repetitive or unrealistic. For instance, when Irving and Sydney both shake their heads to show they don't know about the missing money, it seems a bit forced and unnecessary.

Overall, the scene does a good job of creating tension and conflict between the characters, as they try to figure out what happened to the missing money. However, some minor tweaks could make the exposition feel more organic and the character interactions more realistic.
Suggestions Firstly, it would be helpful to establish the stakes and consequences of the missing money earlier in the script, so that the audience understands the severity of the situation. This can be achieved through the use of a previous scene or dialogue.

Secondly, the character motivations could be strengthened. The dialogue feels rushed and lacks depth, and the characters seem to jump from one idea to another without much development. It could be helpful to give each character a clear and defined objective in this scene, which will increase tension and add to the conflict.

Thirdly, the scene could benefit from more visual description and action, rather than relying solely on dialogue. This will make the scene more dynamic and interesting for the audience to watch. For example, we could see Richie's anger and frustration build throughout the scene, rather than having him simply stand by the window and occasionally interject.

Finally, the flashback sequence feels disconnected from the rest of the scene, and it may be more effective to incorporate this information through dialogue or action in the present moment, rather than jumping back in time. This will help maintain the momentum of the scene and keep the audience engaged.



Scene 50 - The Fallout of the Sting Operation
INT. ALFONSE SIMONE’S OFFICE - DAY - FLASHBACK

Ed Malone, dressed as Alfonse Simone, steps to camera to
shake Richie’s hand.

ED MALONE
Alfonse Simone.

CUT TO:


INT. ANTHONY AMADO’S OFFICE - DAY - BACK TO PRESENT

EDITH GREENSLY
People believe what they want to
believe Richie.

RICHIE DIMASO
That’s because you conned me! You
both fucking conned me. You both
got under me. You did!

IRVING ROSENFELD
Well that doesn't sound so good,
either. I mean -- and I don't know
what you're talking about, but --
let's just assume you want to go
with that story. Really? That's the
story you want to go with? That's
what you want the New York Times to
hear? That you got conned by the
very con men who you forced to
entrap the members of Congress in
the first place. That's what you
want to go with? That doesn't sound
so good for your whole thing.

Richie looks like he’s going to be sick.

IRVING ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
And how ironic that the most
creative minds, the ones who are
working hardest to get the economy
of New Jersey going, those are the
ones that you round up. And why?
Because what, they're the easiest
to go after? And what about the
real bullshit artists? You didn't
even come close to the big leagues.
Those big guys. The money men.

RICHIE DIMASO
That's what I was trying to go
after.
150.


IRVING ROSENFELD
I'm sorry to tell you, you got none
of 'em.

STODDARD THORSEN
You know, Richard, I think we may
call you as a witness, but
otherwise you're done. I think you
better go home.

Richie disoriented, appeals to Stoddard.

RICHIE DIMASO
Stoddard --

STODDARD THORSEN
Go on home, Richard.

ELO’s “10538 Overture” reprises on the soundtrack.


EXT. FBI OFFICE, FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING, NY - DAY

Camera tilts down from the Federal Building to find Richie
coming down the stairs, emotional. Richie walks wiping his
eyes, his innocence and Edith, lost.

CUT TO:

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
We took down some very big guys.

-REP. SANDERS SWARMED BY PHOTOGRAPHERS WALKING OUT OF
BUILDING, ESCORTED BY FBI AGENTS.

-REP. SIMMONS ESCORTED OUT OF CITY HALL.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Some of whom were just doing
business as usual helping their
communities or their states.

-REP. KESHOYGAN IS GRABBED AS HE APPROACHES HIS CAR IN A
GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WITH A BAG FULL OF GROCERIES.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
But some of them knew they had
larceny in their blood--

-REP. O’CONNELL COVERS HIS FACE AS PHOTOGRAPHERS SWARM HIM AS
HE’S ARRESTED OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE AS WIFE AND DAUGHTER LOOK ON.
151.


CARL ELWAY IS CHELSEA HOTEL OFFICE IN HIS BATHROBE WITH HIS
SECRETARY IN TEARS.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
And they even admitted it.

GREY HAIRED SENATOR HORTON MITCHELL, wife by his side, denies
any wrongdoing and is photographed and humiliated as he then
sits with her in a Federal car.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
But in all it was six Congressmen,
one United States Senator, and my
friend, Carmine Polito.


THE DOOR TO CARMINE’S CLAPBOARD HOUSE OPENS, CARMINE STANDS
IN THE DOOR, STARES AT THE AGENTS, HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN IN
TEARS STAND BEHIND HIM AS HE SERVED A WARRANT. CARMINE IS
HANDCUFFED.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
We gave the two million back so
Carmine got the reduced sentence.
18 months. The loss of his
friendship would haunt me for the
rest of my life.

CROWDED FEDERAL BUILDING PRESS CONFERENCE - MANY FLASHBULBS
AS STODDARD STANDS NEXT TO AMADO WHO MAKES THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
And when the story was written,
Richard Dimaso’s name was never
mentioned.

CAMERA PANS THROUGH CROWD TO FIND RICHIE IN THE WAY BACK,
LEANING AGAINST A PILLAR. FADE TO WHITE ON HIS SOBERED FACE.
Genres: ["Drama","Crime"]

Summary Richie realizes that he has been conned by Irving and Sydney. The FBI concludes their sting operations, but Richie is left emotionally distraught and with nothing to show for his efforts. Meanwhile, we witness the fallout of the operation, with several politicians and businessmen getting arrested and exposed.
Strengths "The scene does an excellent job of tying up loose ends, providing closure, and providing a satisfying conclusion. The dialogue is well-written and emotionally charged, delivering on the tension and conflict that have been building up throughout the film. The use of music enhances the emotional impact of the scene."
Weaknesses "There are no clear weaknesses in this scene."
Critique Overall, this scene is well-written and effectively conveys the aftermath of the characters’ actions. However, there are a few areas that could be improved:

- The flashback to Ed Malone introducing himself as Alfonse Simone feels a bit random and out of place. While it’s possible that this detail will become more relevant later in the story, as it stands now it’s a bit confusing why we need to see this moment.

- The dialogue between Richie and Edith feels a bit clichéd and on-the-nose. Richie’s outburst comes across as melodramatic, and Edith’s response (“People believe what they want to believe”) feels like a line from a different movie altogether. The conversation between Irving and Richie that follows is more effective, in part because it doesn’t rely on such obvious lines.

- The montage that follows with various politicians being arrested could be improved with more specific details about each character. As it stands now, it feels a bit generic and doesn’t give us much insight into these characters beyond their names and professions.

Overall, while this scene has its flaws, it effectively conveys the sense of chaos and emotional fallout that comes with the characters’ actions.
Suggestions First, the scene could benefit from clearer transitions. It may be helpful to use a specific visual or auditory cue, like a sound effect or cut to black, to indicate when we are moving between flashbacks and present day.

Next, the dialogue could be tightened up for more efficiency. Some lines of dialogue feel repetitive or unnecessary, like when Richie reiterates that he was conned, or when Irving repeats the irony of arresting the wrong people. Trimming down the dialogue could make it more impactful and memorable.

Additionally, there could be more visual cues to complement the dialogue. For example, showing flashbacks or news footage of the congressmen being arrested and the public's reaction could add more dimension to the story.

Finally, the ending could benefit from more emotional weight. Rather than simply fading out on Richie's face, there could be a clearer resolution for his character arc, such as him accepting responsibility for his actions or seeking redemption in some way.



Scene 51 - Moving On and Moving Up
209 EXT. LONG ISLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY 209

FADE IN FROM WHITE, PAN DOWN FROM WHITE SKY TO SCHOOLYARD,
CHILDREN LEAVING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IRVING AND SYDNEY WALK UP
TO THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP DANNY.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Syd and I moved in together. And
Rosalyn --

ROSALYN IN A NECK BRACE and off white trench coat and
sunglasses -
152.


ROSALYN ROSENFELD
The car is a little dinged up and
I’m a little stiff but I don’t want
to talk about it.

Irving stares at Rosalyn.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
She would always be interesting.

Rosalyn gets in to a car, revealing Pete Musane in the
driver’s seat. Irving leans in.

PETE MUSANE
(to Irving)
You know my boss knows you did him
a solid.

IRVING ROSENFELD
Yes I did. He never took a nickle
so they can’t get him for nothing.
I was never going to let that
happen.

Irving starts to leave --

ROSALYN ROSENFELD
Irv.

He stops and looks at her. With red lacquered nails Rosalyn
places her favorite nail finish in his hand.

ROSALYN ROSENFELD (CONT’D)
I’m done with this nail finish. Bye
for now. I’ll see you next weekend.

Irving nods. Rosalyn drives off with Pete.

Sydney stands with Danny.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
Our conning days were behind us.

Irving and Sydney walk hand and hand with Danny down the
street. Irv drops the nail finish into a trashcan.


IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
You can fool yourself for just so
long and then your next reinvention
better have your damn feet on the
ground.
153.


210 INT. ART GALLERY - DAY 210

Irving and Sydney admire a piece of art on the wall.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
We got a loan from a bank and were
able to go gallery legitimate.


INT. SMALL BANK - DAY

Irving and Sydney sit in front of a banker asking for a loan.

IRVING ROSENFELD (V.O.)
The art of survival is a story that
never ends.


INT. SYDNEY’S APARTMENT - DAY

SYDNEY PLACES THE NEEDLE ON THE RECORD PLAYING ON A
TURNTABLE: DUKE ELLINGTON’S JEEPS BLUES, begins. SHE STARES
ACROSS THE ROOM AT IRVING. IRVING STARES BACK HER.

CUT TO BLACK
Genres: ["Comedy","Crime"]

Summary Irving and Sydney pick up their son from school and leave their conning life behind. They get a loan and go gallery legitimate before staring at each other in Sydney's apartment as Duke Ellington's Jeeps Blues begins playing.
Strengths "Strong sense of closure and character development."
Weaknesses "Lacks high stakes conflict."
Critique Overall, the scene lacks a clear conflict or goal for the characters. It seems to be a transition scene, but even then it should serve to move the plot forward in some way. The dialogue also feels somewhat clunky and exposition-heavy, particularly the voiceovers. It would be more effective to show the effects of their reinvention and financial struggles through visual storytelling rather than relying on narration. Additionally, the scenes could benefit from more specific and vivid descriptions of the setting and characters' actions, in order to create a more immersive experience for the viewer.
Suggestions 1. The scene could benefit from more action and conflict. It feels like a bit of a wrap-up scene, but there's not much tension or drama happening. One way to add conflict could be to have a character bring up something from the past that causes tension or argument.

2. The dialogue between characters could be more natural and less expository. For example, instead of Pete saying "You know my boss knows you did him a solid," he could say something like "My boss owes you one, you know that?" The dialogue should flow more like real conversation.

3. The transition between the schoolyard and the art gallery is abrupt and could use a smoother transition. This could be accomplished through a more visual transition, such as maybe an exterior shot of the gallery before cutting inside.

4. There could be more visual detail and description to make the scenes more vivid for the reader. For example, in the scene at the small bank, we don't get much description of the setting or the banker they're talking to.

5. The final shot of Sydney and Irving staring at each other could be made more impactful. Perhaps there could be a moment of hesitation or uncertainty between them before they share a meaningful glance.