Paladin, Chapter 10

EXT. STREET - DAY

PALADIN walks across the street and enters the hotel.

INT. HOTEL - DAY

PALADIN walks up to reception desk.

PALADIN: I'll take my room now.  

Unseen by PALADIN, GRACE had been waiting for him to come back to the hotel.  She approaches him from behind.

GRACE: Mr. PALADIN?

PALADIN: You can call me PALADIN.  How can I be of service to you, GRACE?

GRACE: May we talk in private?

PALADIN: Of course.

In the corner of the lobby is a sofa.

PALADIN: How about over there?

GRACE: Okay.

The two walk over and sit on the sofa.

GRACE: I know POLLYANNA hired you to come here.  She's plotting something to try to steal away my husband and I can't let her do that.  Are you going to help her?

PALADIN: POLLYANNA hired me under false pretenses.  She claimed that CHARLES was her boyfriend.  Is he?

GRACE: (silence)

PALADIN: Madam, he could be both your husband and her boyfriend.  Is he her boyfriend?  Do they have some kind of illicit relationship?

GRACE: To my knowledge, no.  Not yet, anyway.  My marriage isn't perfect, but I believe CHARLES has been faithful to me.  POLLYANNA is an unprincipled hussy, a woman who's capable of doing anything to get any man she wants.  And she wants CHARLES.  If necessary, I will fight her for him, but I need to know what you will do for her.

PALADIN: I'm not here to break up your marriage, or hers.  What's with her and BIG DAN?

GRACE: I don't know.  Maybe she's bored with the brawny type and is more attracted to a more cerebral man.  I don't care.  I want to keep my man.  I love him.  I love CHARLES.

PALADIN: I believe you, but does CHARLES love you?

GRACE: (hesitating) I think so.  We don't say those words out loud...at least not very often.   But, I think he does.

PALADIN: I accepted $1,000 from POLLYANNA and I don't give refunds.  But, I don't believe I should get involved in all this marital business.  I owe her something, but I'm not sure what.  Let me make one thing clear, GRACE, I am not your enemy.

GRACE: Thank you for saying that.  I had better be returning to the store.  CHARLES doesn't know I went to talk to you.  Please don't tell him.

PALADIN: I won't.  It was a pleasure talking to you, GRACE.

GRACE nods to PALADIN and leaves hotel.  PALADIN walks up stairs to his room.