· · ·

14INT. RADIO ROOM. DAY.

The radio room on board the Cote d’Ivoire. There are computer terminals, short-wave radios, maps on the walls, and a crew of technicians in white uniforms. There is a mist outside the window, and an oil tanker in the distance.

The radio operator finishes typing a message into a keyboard and looks up to Richie.

RICHIE

Read it back to me so far, Pietro.

RADIO OPERATOR

Dear Eli, I’m in the middle of the

ocean. I haven’t left my room in four

days. I’ve never been more lonely in my

life, and I think I’m in love with

Margot.

The radio operator looks to Richie. Richie nods.

RICHIE

New paragraph.

Richie takes a sip of a Bloody Mary.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

Richie had retired from professional

tennis at twenty-six. His last match

had been widely discussed in the media.

INSERT:

A copy of the Sporting Press magazine. On the cover, there is a photograph of Richie standing at the baseline of a tennis court. He wears no shoes and only one sock, and there are tears all over his face. The stands behind him are filled with confused fans. A caption across the page says “Meltdown!” And, in smaller letters, “Tenenbaum suffers mid- match nervous collapse in the semis at Windswept Fields.”

CUT TO:

Richie dictating to the radio operator.

RICHIE

Your friend, Richie. End of letter.

Richie signs a slip of paper and hands it to the radio operator. He wraps a scarf around his neck and goes out the door.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

For the past year he had been traveling

alone on an ocean liner called the Cote