House-of-Cards-Pilot-Script

29.A cab pulls up. Zoe emerges. She’s in a strapless black dressthat hugs every curve. It isn’t very fancy, but it sure getsthe job done.It’s cold. She’s not dressed for the weather. Herheadlights are FULLY ON. She turns to her date, BRIAN, early30s - a typical Capitol Hill climber. He’s getting out ofthe cab behind her.ZOEGimme your jacket.He pulls off his jacket and hands it to her. She drapes itover the front of her dress and starts hurrying to maindoors. She’s not going to be late for this.As she climbs the steps Francis notices her - more out ofinstinct than interest. He glances at her ass ever sobriefly as she passes. And it’s an exceptional ass. We cantell from the form-fitting fabric that she’s wearing a thong.Once Zoe has passed, Francis turns to his attention back tothe blackberry.INT. KENNEDY CENTER - OPERA - NIGHT.Francis slips into the booth and takes his seat next toClaire. She doesn’t even look at him, but she reaches out andtakes his hand.The SOUND of an orchestra tuning. The LIGHTS begin to fade.PUSH INTO Francis’ face as the first subtle strands of MUSICbegin to play and we CUT TO:INT. UNDERWOOD RESIDENCE - BASEMENT - NIGHT.Still TIGHT on Francis’ face, the MUSIC carrying us into thescene, we PULL BACK to reveal that he’s wearing a headsetwith a microphone. It’s dim. Blue light flickers in his eyes.As we PULL BACK MORE we see that he’s slumped in a chair,still in his tuxedo (sans tie) with an Xbox controller in hishands. His thumbs and fingers deftly fly back and forth, butthe rest of his body is totally motionless - the calm andfocus of a true gamer.A silhouette enters the frame. It’s Claire. She places herhand gently on Francis’s shoulder. He pulls the headset off.The MUSIC cuts out abruptly. From the headphones, we HEAR thedistant, tinny SOUND of other online gamers.