The Ghost Writer

The Ghost: [At a restaurant] But you realize I know nothing about politics? Rick Ricardelli: You voted for him, didn't you? The Ghost: Adam Lang? Of course I did. Rick Ricardelli: Everyone voted for him. He wasn't a politician, he was a craze. The Ghost: Well, there you go. Rick Ricardelli: Look, it's a new ghostwriter he needs, not another goddamn politico. He was paid $10 million for these memoirs, but rumor has it the manuscript's a crock of shit. Rhinehart's lending him his house at the ocean so they can fix it, and the pressure must have gotten to McAra. Pathologist said his blood was, like, three parts booze. The Ghost: You mean he drowned by accident? Rick Ricardelli: Accident, suicide, who cares? It was the book that killed him. The Ghost: Well, that's encouraging. [Rick dryly chuckles] Who is this McAra? Should I have heard of him? Rick Ricardelli: Yeah. He was some kind of aide to Lang when he was Prime Minister, so don't admit that you haven't. He was with him for years. The

The Ghost Writer, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Ghost: [Sees Roy at metal detectors at Rhinehart Inc. entrance] Roy. [Getting wanded and frisked]] Who're you expecting to bomb you, Random House? Roy Quigley: We're publishing Lang's memoirs. That's enough to make us a target, apparently. The Ghost: [Gets his effects back] Thank you. [In elevator] How many have you seen? Roy Quigley: Five. You're the last. I must be honest. I don't think you're the right man for this assignment. The Ghost: Then it's a good job it's not your decision, Roy. Roy Quigley: John Maddox, chief executive of Rhinehart, New York. The Ghost: [Shakes hand] Sir. Roy Quigley: Sidney Kroll, Mr. Lang's Washington attorney. The Ghost: [Shakes hand] Mr. Kroll. Roy Quigley: And Nick Ricardelli I believe you know. The Ghost: [Rick puts hand on The Ghost's back and guides him to couch] All right, Rick. John Maddox: All right, I gather from Rick you're aware of the situation? Perhaps you can enlighten us and tell us what exactly you're gonna bring to this project. The

The Ghost Writer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Roy Quigley: [To The Ghost out in street trying to flag down taxi] There's something not quite right about this project. The Ghost: What? Me, you mean? Roy Quigley: Obviously you. And McAra. Suicide? He didn't strike me as the suicidal type. The Ghost: Always nice to see you, Roy. Roy Quigley: Good luck.

The Ghost Writer, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Ghost: [Answers phone] Yeah? Rick Ricardelli: Congratulations! The Ghost: On what? Rick Ricardelli: On having me as your agent. The Ghost: Yeah, I can hardly believe my luck. Rick Ricardelli: Are you packed? The Ghost: I just got mugged. Rick Ricardelli: Shit! Are you okay? The Ghost: Yeah, all they took was the manuscript that Sidney Kroll gave me. Rick Ricardelli: What? Why? The Ghost: I don't know. You tell me. Rick Ricardelli: Are you hurt? The Ghost: No, I'm fine. I think they must have followed me from Rhinehart's. Rick Ricardelli: Why would they do that? The Ghost: Well, maybe they thought I had Lang's book. I knew this whole thing was a bad idea. Rick Ricardelli: You're still okay to fly tonight, right? The Ghost: For God's sake, Rick, I'm in shock. Rick Ricardelli: Well, here's another shock for you. For one month's work on a manuscript that's already written, Rhinehart Inc. Is willing to pay you $250,000, plus expenses. Window seat or aisle?

The Ghost Writer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sky News Newscaster: Islam has issued a statement claiming responsibility. We hope to bring you more on that later in the bulletin. Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Adam Lang is back in the news tonight. According to leaked documents, Mr. Lang authorized the illegal use of British special forces to seize four suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists in Pakistan and then hand them over for interrogation by the CIA. The men, Nasir Ashraf, Marwat Sayed, Salim Khan and Faruk Ahmed, all British citizens, were seized in the Pakistani city of Peshawar five years ago. All four were allegedly transferred out of the country to a secret location and tortured. Mr. Ashraf is reported to have died under interrogation. Such an operation would have been illegal under... Rick Ricardelli: [The Ghost calls him] Yeah? The Ghost: Where are you? Rick Ricardelli: Heathrow, like you. Waiting for my flight to New York. The Ghost: Can you see the news? Rick Ricardelli: The Lang story? Yeah, I'm watching it now. Th

The Ghost Writer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ruth Lang: Who are you? The Ghost: I'm your ghost. Adam Lang: Right... Ruth Lang: Don't worry, he isn't always such a jerk.

The Ghost Writer, CC BY-SA 4.0