Crimes of Passion

- I spent 3 days being eaten by mosquitoes to get those shots.

No, the model stinks. Well,

next time tell your client not to use his niece.

No, I get that.

Believe me, I understand but I have a full schedule. I can't just drop...

Nice tie. - What? You don't like it?

- You look like a Christmas tree.

I understand all that and I have no problem reshooting

the pictures, my problem is reshooting them for free.

Okay.

All right.

Well, let me know what you decide. Bye.

I might have to reshoot the Beach Croft campaign.

- So, you're going back to Mexico? - If they pay me.

The client's niece wants to be a model so he insists I use her.

In every sexy shot, she looks like she's constipated.

What time will you be home? - Probably not until late.

There's a conference at the Hyatt and then drinks.

- You want me to meet you at the bar?

- Not a good idea. I'll be working.

See you later.

Bye.

- Morning! - Morning.

- How was it, Polly? - Very good, thank you.

- Good. Oh, Harry, Harry, hang on.

- So, any word on when McBradden is going

to announce the promotion? - Not yet.

- Well, in the meantime, you have a 9 o'clock with Peter Kurtzman,

lunch with Dan Adler and then over to the Hyatt

for an exciting seminar on cutting edge communications.

Ooh.

- Is there something else?

- You're not really going to wear that tie, are you?

- Is there any way to get out of this thing?

You could quit.

Well, McBradden rented out the bar for after the seminar.

He won't be too pleased if his frontrunner doesn't show up.

- Whoa, a frontrunner?

- And you my friend, have the best performance record.

- How many other VPs have you said that same speech to?

Hmm,3, or is it 4?

I've taught you too well.

Hold the door! Thanks.

- Who's that? - That is Rebecca Walker.

She transferred out from the Chicago office a few days ago.

- So, Rebecca, what did you think of the seminar?

- I think we should record it and sell it as a sleeping aid.

- You know, Jerry's up for the national VP position as well.

- How cozy. - Well, I hope this doesn't mean we're adversaries.

- No, it just means that when I get the promotion, you'll be under me.

- Ooh. I think that's a position I could learn to like.

Would you please excuse me?

- I told you to go easy on the booze, Jerry.

- Damn it! I'm so stupid. I can't believe I said that.

All right, look,

I've got to go apologize.

Ms. Walker.

- Thanks. - Have fun.

: Who is it?

It's Jerry Dennings.

- : Go away, Mr. Dennings.

- I... I just wanted to apologize.

Can I come in and apologize or...

do I have to do it in the hall?

You're up early.

You're home late.

- Well, Donald and I had a bit too much to drink,

so we decided to play it safe and get a room.

Look, I'm sorry I didn't call.

It was pretty late, I didn't want to wake you.

- I thought maybe we'd go out to dinner tonight.

- No, I can't. I have to take some clients out to dinner.

- I don't even know why I even bother

trying to make plans with you anymore.

- Shannon, I am working, trying to make a life.

- And does this life include me?

- We're not going to go into this now, are we?

- When do we ever go into it? Every time I try to talk to you, you're running out

the door to some meeting or you're too tired.

- I can't have this conversation now.

I've got to be in the office in a half-hour.

We will talk tonight, I promise.

- Oh, Mr. McBradden called down. He wants to see you.

- Okay. - No, he said right away.

- Mr. McBradden's expecting me.

- Please, you know James Corbin from legal? - Yeah, how are you?

- I'll get straight to the point.

Rebecca Walker told us what happened last night.

- Oh. This is a little embarrassing.

We were all in the bar after the seminar, I had a few drinks too many.

I didn't mean for it to happen. It just did.

- So what she says is true? - Yeah.

But I had the impression when we left that we understood each other.

I don't see why she had to come to you guys with this.

People say stupid things sometimes. I apologized...

- Jerry, this isn't about something you said.

- She claims you sexually assaulted her in her room last night.

- She says you came on to her.

When she asked you to leave, you became aggressive,

throwing her down on the bed, ripping her blouse.

It wasn't until she began to scream that you left.

That never happened.

We spoke to Donald.

He said he saw you go into her room, and then he heard the screams.

When he got there, her blouse was torn and she was crying hysterically.

I went into her room, yes.

We had a drink, I apologized for what I said in the bar, and then I left.

Malcolm, you've known me for 10 years! I wouldn't do this.

- Can we look at your shoulder? - What for?

- She says that while she was fighting you off, she hit you with a lamp.

I imagine it would leave a mark.

- I have a bruise on my shoulder. I tripped

on my way out to my car the other night.

- Jerry, Mr. McBradden is prepared

to offer you what I feel is a very generous opportunity under the circumstances.

- Opportunity? - The morals clause

of your contract specifically states

that any indiscrete behaviour that reflects badly

on the company name can result in dismissal

and forfeiture of all bonuses and stock options.

- You are firing me? - We're giving you a chance to resign and seek

counselling. Your bonus for the year will be prorated

and you'll receive 50% of your stock options.

- But I didn't do anything! - Take the offer, Jerry.

And if I don't?

- You'll be dismissed, publicly embarrassed

and you'll forfeit everything you've worked for.

- I expected more from you, Malcolm.

- I started this company selling transistor radios out of the back of a truck.

I'm not going to let you drag its image into the gutter

because you can't keep your pants zipped up!

It never happened.

- Why would she make up a story like this?

I don't know.

- You did flirt with her.

A little, yes.

In front of everyone?

- I drank too much. - Bull!

Don't blame it on the alcohol.

- All right, all right, I flirted with her, Shannon.

Yes, I mean we haven't had sex in 4 months, okay.

- And that's my fault? - Well, you are half this marriage.

- I'm not the half that had the affair!

- I knew you would bring this into it.

- You cheated on me and now you are asking me to believe that nothing happened?

- I thought it was behind us. - What world do you live in?

You think it's behind us because you

apologized and sent me some flowers.

I trusted you

and you betrayed that trust.

- Shannon! I made a mistake. - Maybe you made another one.

I need you to believe me.

- I don't know if I can do that right now.

- Shannon, they want me to resign.

If I did, we would lose half of everything I've worked for.

- If you don't, we lose everything.

I think you should resign.

- How can you say that? - Because I'm your wife

and I don't know if I believe you.

They're giving you a chance to go quietly.

- This is business. There is no such thing as quietly.

I mean, you don't think this will follow me?

You think there are other companies that will be lining up to hire me?

I put 10 years of my life into that company,

10 gruelling years. McBradden throws me out like a bag of garbage?

- I'd like you to not be here when I get back from Mexico.

We need some time apart.

I won't resign.

- You don't have a choice.

- If Miss Walker is telling the truth, then she can file

criminal charges against me and we will settle it in court.

But I will not be judged by you.

- I tried to give you a way out and do what's right for the company.

- Oh, that is crap, Malcolm! You're doing what's best for you.

- Get out! - If you try to push me out,

I will sue.

You're fired.

- I wish you would have waited for me.

- I gave him the opportunity to resign.

- You pressured him to resign.

- This is my company and I can fire anyone I damn well please.

- No, you can't. You're his employer, you're supposed to be impartial.

You formed an opinion and took a position.

That's not going to help us when he fights this.

- You mean, "if" he fights this?

- His attorney's already contacted me. They're suing, Malcolm.

You better hope this woman's telling the truth.

You wanted to see me?

- Jerry Dennings is filing a lawsuit.

- Oh, and that surprises you? - Frankly, yes.

- Well, if he took whatever you offered him, that's as good as saying

he's guilty. Of course, he has to fight this.

- Mr. McBradden has taken a

strong position in your behalf.

- Oh, I see, and now you're wondering if you're backing the right person.

Yes.

- I must say the incident doesn't seem to have affected you.

- I'm tough, Mr. Corbin.

I mean, do you think I got where I am today by letting my emotions show?

Men see tears as weakness, so I've learned to shut them off.