INT.  PARIS - BOUCHON'S OFFICE - DAY

               BOUCHON, 50's, is a Nazi in pinstripes.  Ivan sits across a
               vast polished desk from him.

                                   IVAN
                         It is a very emotional time for
                         me... I am devastated - as I'm
                         sure you can understand.  So tell
                         me...  How much did he leave me? 

               Bouchon slides an envelope across the desk.  Delicately.

               Ivan opens it.  A videocassette slips out.

                                   IVAN
                         He left me a video? 

               Lawyer goes to the video machine and puts the tape in.



               TV SCREEN        

               White-haired, twinkly-eyed, PRALINE sits at an austere desk
               in an affluent study.  Behind him is a huge video screen.

                                   PRALINE
                         Well... It's been some time since
                         we last saw each other.  Can I
                         just say - it's been a good time,
                         not a long time.  Not a day goes
                         by I am not thankful we have not
                         been in contact. 



               BOUCHON'S OFFICE

               All Ivan's attention is on the screen.



               TV SCREEN     

               Beside Praline, seen only from the neck down, a busty NURSE
               holds a glass of champagne and a cigar.

                                   PRALINE
                         But now, I would assume from the
                         fact that you are here, I am
                         dead.  So we have the dubious
                         pleasure of being in each other's
                         company again.  And with that
                         thought alone, I need a drink.

               Praline drinks champagne.  He leans back in his chair while
               the Nurse lights his cigar.   He grins up at her.

               As she turns away, his hands grab her buttocks.  She
               giggles.  Praline remembers the camera, frowns out at Ivan.

                                   PRALINE
                         You never listened to me.   Until
                         now.  Now you have no option but
                         to listen to me.



               BOUCHON'S OFFICE

                                   IVAN
                             (under his breath)
                         Oh, crap.

               Ivan glances at Bouchon.

                                   IVAN
                         I'm just so upset that he's gone.



               TV SCREEN  

               On the video screen behind Praline, a MONTAGE of images
               flash - fast cars, chateau's, women, yachts, you name it,
               it's there.

                                   PRALINE
                         When I look back over my life, I
                         see happiness and joy.  Why would
                         I not?  I have been blessed with
                         more riches than I could spend in
                         two lifetimes.  And now I am in
                         the happiest of places where I
                         can bestow this lovely legacy...

               Praline smiles, takes a sip from his glass of champagne.

                                   PRALINE
                         And then I look you... Ivan. 
                         Ivan the cretin.  Ivan the
                         croutte!

               Praline leans forward in his chair.



               BOUCHON'S OFFICE

               Ivan leans back, intimidated by Praline's stare.

                                   PRALINE (O.S.)
                         Don't think for one second I am
                         not aware of what you are.



               TV SCREEN       

                                   PRALINE
                         A pathetic, empty husk of a human
                         being. 
                         Utterly vacuous, utterly empty. 
                         And you know how I know this?

               Praline leans back in her chair, an evil smile.

                                   PRALINE
                         I had you followed.

               Praline clicks his fingers.

               A series of PHOTOS on the video screen show Ivan drunk,
               drunker, shit-faced.  Each face shot closer, uglier, more
               distorted.



               BOUCHON'S OFFICE

               Ivan covers his face with his hands.



               TV SCREEN - AFFLUENT STUDY

               Praline looks very smug indeed.

                                   PRALINE
                         So, what are we to do?  On the
                         one hand I have a pautang for a
                         son - and on the other, my legacy
                         is nothing. All of this life,
                         these trials, this work, has been
                         for nothing...

               Praline shakes his head and breathes harshly. 

               The Nurse gives him oxygen.

                                   PRALINE
                         Okay, maybe not nothing - but it
                         galls me to think of you living
                         off my wealth... And so, for you
                         to have riches beyond your
                         wildest, most fucked-up dreams -
                         you must do something. And only
                         once you do this thing - complete
                         it in all its entirely - only
                         then will you be given my
                         fortune.

               Praline leers.

               His look changes to horror.  He grips his chest.  Painful
               look. Collapses back in his chair. 

               The screen goes all fuzzy - then clicks to black.



               BOUCHON'S OFFICE

               Ivan looks at the screen, very worried.

                                   IVAN
                         He died making the video?

                                   BOUCHON
                         It appears so.

                                   IVAN
                         But I don't even know what the
                         task is - how can I complete it?

               Bouchon smiles, smugly.