Anne Rice's Talamasca: The Secret Order

Father, forgive me.

Hey, Paul. Good morning.

There's something you gotta see.

From London.

Jasper. Who else?

Do you think it's real

or just a grotesque attempt to play clever?

Both.

Soledad signalled a drop, but never made it.

Freckle in the right eye.

We'll need to replace her. Now.

She's dead.

A woman we put in harm's way.

We have to drop this. This was a warning.

A warning means we're close.

We need to be closer.

Mr. Anatole? They're ready for you.

Well, that was all very enlightening.

You're, uh, near the top of your class.

Law review, Moot Court, and Mock Trial champion.

Very impressive, Guy.

It's pretty easy to see why you've made it this far with us.

Your parents must be very proud.

Yeah.

I do have one question.

You never applied for an internship

at this firm or others during your summer breaks.

I kind of wanted to take a break when we had our break.

You know, summers.

I didn't see you in South Hampton.

No, I've never been there.

South Hampton. Any Hampton.

So, I mean, what did you do on your breaks?

I worked at the library.

The Law library. NYU.

Didn't you spend enough time there

when school was in session?

Uh... working at this school

was a part of my scholarship requirement.

How much schooling did your scholarship pay for?

All. All of it.

Our internship pays pretty well.

I'm sure arrangements could have been made.

It's quiet.

At the Library.

I probably should have interned.

Huh.

It's always been a dream of mine to work here at Cavitt.

Your reputation is... is amazing.

But you already know that.

Well, we appreciate your time, Guy.

You're a quality candidate.

Any firm would be lucky to have you.

Well...

Can I ask you something else?

Yes.

What are you looking for?

Not at social events, uh...

not at the Hamptons, but here in this office.

The work you do.

What are you looking for?

The finest legal minds money can buy.

Then don't let this opportunity pass

without knowing who I am.

Who I really am.

You asked me if my parents are proud of me.

My dad skipped town before I was born, and my mom was a junkie

who overdosed on heroin when I was 9.

Worst day of my life.

And look, I've never been to the Hamptons.

But then again, my grandfather didn't own a mansion there.

I won't be joining your social clubs, your committees,

because, well, let's face it,

I wouldn't be admitted to any of those anyway.

So weekends, nights, we won't be hanging out.

You probably won't be seeing me because I'll be here.

I'll be working.

I'll be making money for you and you and you,

and you'll say, "That is every young associate,

son," but it's not.

I'm different. Me.

And maybe, yeah, just maybe,

right now, I am the finest legal mind money can buy.

We have the strength.

...to go beyond the boundaries of what I'm comfortable with.

It's a gift. Not a curse, sweetie.

Are you alright there? Yeah.

Hey, look. I'm sorry. Back there, I was out of line.

Out of line? You-- You fucking killed it!

You threw it right back in our faces.

That's good? Yeah. Good. Very good.

We don't-- We don't hire people who take shit.

Look, I got you. Alright?

You-- You're-- You're in.

Welcome to Cavitt.

Really? Yeah.

That's great.

That's great. Oh, God.

Sorry. Oh, the look on Bennett's face.

And what you said before you left the room.

I was screaming in my head for you to stand up for yourself.

And then at that exact moment, you did.

It's almost like you heard me or something.

Strange.

Well, great minds...

Great minds.

Something I can help you with?

A moment of your time.

You can learn a lot by following somebody.

How they walk, how their eyes dance in the street,

how they interact with the world.

What's this? Our organization.

We want to hire you.

Oh, I already have a job, so...

At Cavitt and Associates.

How do you know that I have a job at Cavitt?

We watch.

And you're always there.

Okay, but, uh, I'm pretty happy with my career path, so...

Don't you want to know what we do?

It pretty much says it right here on the card.

Guy.

We've done our due diligence,

and we believe your life's true purpose lies with us.

And how much does "true purpose" go for these days?

Do you have any idea what Cavitt's starting salary is? No. A lot?

We can match it, if money's so very important to you.

I'll compensate you to hear me out.

Say 5,000?

Oh, okay.

What is this? An offer.

To hear you out?

Five grand?

Mm-hmm.

No strings? No.

Well, I'm all ears. There's an address on the card.

Meet me there at quarter past 4:00.

It's time, Guy.

Woman 2: What about the kids? Woman 3: You do. You're a grandma.

Who is it?

Larry.

Open the damn door.

Hey, look, Larry. I'm sorry.

Three months, Guy.

If it was one, it'd be different.

Two, maybe. But three?

My rent is covered because I collect everyone else's, man.

I know, look...

I got a job. I got a great job.

Excellent news. Pay me.

It hasn't quite started yet.

You got until Friday.

Yes?

Through that door.

How much does it cost you to clear this place out?

No need. It's private. Oh. It's private?

What, so nobody gets to come up here?

Not often.

And you work here? Live here.

You live... here?

There are a few apartments on the top floor.

Small, but functional.

Well, I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this.

Our organisations have a shared interest.

We like books.

Oh, "we"? Mm.

And, uh, "we" have the money you promised?

You don't trust me?

Should I?

Perhaps not.

Okay, look.

I just came here because I'm currently dead-ass broke,

and I am absolutely, 100%,

not taking whatever job you're offering here.

So all this... is not fair to you.

So you believe in fairness?

Of course. And that people should treat one another fairly?

Sure. Even if they're different?

Even if their traits and lifestyle's unlike yours? Yeah.

Unless we're talking about cannibals

or Manson or something.

The definition of fairness is the quality of making judgments

that are free from discrimination.

And I'm going to guess that is

the literal definition of fairness.

Look it up.

Deal is a deal.

Okay.

Shoot your shot.

We're a private organization

that has been around a long time.

A very long time.

We don't operate for profit, but we're extremely well funded.

We have offices, which we call Mother Houses, in New York,

London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and New Orleans.

And what do you do in all these "Mother Houses"?

Primarily endeavours of academia and discovery.

You're a think tank. In a way, yes. In another, no.

We chronicle historical notes and keep tabs on certain groups.

You're a spy? No. Well, not exactly.