Genre: Thriller/Erotic
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Writer: Roy Horne & Chad Taylor
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Warren Beatty, Jared Leto, Anna Camp, Billy Crudup, Ty Burrell, James Van Der Beek, Kristin Chenoweth
Plot: Billionaire George Porter (Warren Beatty) quietly sits down in an examination room at his doctor's office. A nurse enters and gives him a questionnaire to fill out. Dr. Bernard (Ty Burrell) quickly enters the room and pats George on the back. Bernard looks over the questionnaire before setting it aside and reminding George that he hates paper work. Bernard asks George if he's been keeping up with the exercises they went over last time. George shakes his head no. Bernard jokes that it is probably difficult for George to find the time to exercise while running his multi-billion dollar publishing empire. George asks Bernard if he's trying to sell him a book or something. Bernard is embarrassed and grabs the questionnaire again to look over more questions. Bernard asks if George has been sexually active since his wife passed away. George shakes his head no. Bernard then suggests they just do all the standard tests so the stockholders can rest easy knowing the big boss is healthy as can be.
In his office, George is looking over some sales figures. He then turns to his son Julian (Jared Leto) and asks why the latest book they've published isn't selling better. Julian shrugs and says that maybe it just wasn't very good. George reminds his son that a book's quality never affects sales - good or bad - it just matters how they sell it. George's secretary Yvette (Kristin Chenoweth) interrupts the meeting and says that there is an urgent call from Dr. Bernard's office. George gets on the phone and his face suddenly goes cold and lifeless. George hangs up the phone. Julian asks his father what's wrong, and George tells him that there may be a problem with his test results.
On the weekend, George attends a grand gala in the Hamptons that is hosted by a philanthropic organization who are honoring George with their Lifetime Achievement Award. He seems a bit on-edge after his recent doctor visit but he tries to hide that by turning up the charm as he chats with the various guests. Julian takes the stage and gives an introductory speech honoring his father, finishing it off with a toast. George proceeds to take the stage and hug his son before approaching the podium himself. As he begins to thank his friends and family, George becomes tripped up on his words. Julian, looking on from the side of the stage, becomes worrisome in the eyes about his dad's condition. But we soon see that something has caught George's eye that is causing him to stall in his speech. In the back of the ballroom sits a woman (Angelina Jolie) in a sultry red dress at the bar, her eyes intensely fixated on George at the front and center of the room.
After his speech, George tries to make his way through the crowd to meet the woman but, by the time he reaches the bar, she is not there. Julian asks his father if he's feeling alright and George insists that he is. He makes his way outside and finds the woman in the red dress smoking by herself. George introduces himself and she says she knows who he is, motioning over to the big party in his honor. He asks for her name and she says just "Carmen". He asks if they have met before and she says she doesn't believe they have. She takes a drag from the cigarette and lets the smoke slowly roll out of her lips and into the vicinity of George. He cracks a smile and she offers him a smoke. Cut to a nearby closet where the two of them are kissing. Carmen begins undressing while George happily looks on. He begins to unbutton his shirt and looks down to find his hand trembling slightly. Carmen stops him in the process and instructs him to take a seat as she will take the lead.
The sounds of crashing waves can be heard as George and Carmen passionately roll around in the sheets at George's beachfront mansion in The Hamptons. Sweaty and out of breath, the two smile at each other. George confesses to Carmen that he may not have a ton of time left in life, but he would like to spend as much time as he can with her because she makes him feel so alive. Carmen kisses George and thanks him for the kind words. She gets out of bed and wraps a sheet around her naked form. Carmen asks George if he needs anything while she's up. He tells her to check the nightstand drawer. Inside, she finds a large diamond engagement ring. She turns around to find George sitting at the edge of the bed, waiting for a response. Carmen puts the ring on her finger and playfully jumps on top of George. He laughs, joking that her answer must be a yes.
Julian and wife Sarah (Anna Camp) arrive at his George's mansion for the engagement party. Julian has reservations about his father getting married again. Sarah asks if it is because he doesn't want his father marrying anyone who isn't his mother or if he doesn't want his father marrying a much younger woman who is probably only interested in the family money. Julian says it's a little bit of both as they get out of the car and a valet comes to park it for them. Inside, the guests are a veritable who's who of New York royalty. Julian puts on a smile to congratulate his father on the upcoming nuptials. George thanks him before getting pulled away to talk to some business associates, leaving Julian and Carmen alone. Julian tries to subtly grill her on why she's marrying his father given his advanced age and less than perfect health. Carmen looks Julian over as she sips a glass of champagne. George then calls her over to meet some people. Carmen shakes Julian's hand and walks away. Sarah comes over to Julian and asks what he thinks of her. He admits that he didn't get a good read on her other than that she is rather enigmatic. George asks Julian to say some words and give a toast. Julian stands up and says that while he doesn't know Carmen very well, she is making his father happy and that's what is important in life.
At a luxurious resort in Bermuda, George walks towards the beach with two drinks in his hand. He approaches a bikini-clad Carmen and gives her a drink while she thanks him with a kiss. In the distance, they watch as a family plays in the water. Carmen asks George if he has ever thought about having more kids. Before he can answer, he is interrupted by his ringing phone. It is Dr. Bernard. Carmen looks on worriedly as George listens to what his doctor has to say. He hangs up and a big smile widens on his face. She asks what the news is and he says that the previous test results were a false alarm - his health is actually in great shape for his age. Carmen exhales as George begins laughing. She gives him a hug but, behind his back, her smile mutates to a look of annoyance.
Moans are heard in a dark room. A sweaty Julian lays in bed with his head tilted back in a place of pure pleasure. When he looks up, he is discombobulated to see a nude Carmen on top of him. He snaps out of this and, in reality, he is having boring sex with a dissatisfied Sarah. After they finish, Julian seems frustrated. Sarah asks him what is wrong and he says it is dad’s new wife. He still hasn’t figured it out yet but there is something about her that does not sit right with him. Afterwards, he begins doing research into her background but can’t find much info on her out there. He then begins to use some of his high-powered connections and is eventually led to the address of one Dan Callahan.
Julian arrives at the humble apartment in Manhattan and gives the door a knock. Callahan (Billy Crudup) answers and asks “how can I help you?”. Julian says that it’s funny Dan asked that and he was wondering what he could tell him about Carmen and shows him a picture. Dan becomes upset and tells Julian to have a nice day. As he shuts the door, Julian interjects and says that his father just married her and he is wanting to know more about his new step-mother. This causes Dan to hesitate and then open the door and invite Julian in. They share a drink as Dan tells his story. At one time, he was living the dream. Successful Wall Street gig, idyllic home, a beautiful wife. And then an investment went wrong. And as soon as the money was gone….so was the wife. He laments himself for ever having feelings for her and believing something real was there. And that is his Carmen story. Julian is sorry to hear that and thanks him for his time. As Julian is walking out, Dan says one last thing: "Caveat emptor”. Julian doesn't understand. Dan gets closer and whispers "let the buyer beware".
Julian and Sarah are dining at Manhattan's latest five-star hotspot. Ford (James Van Der Beek) excitedly comes over to the table and gives Julian a bear-hug. Julian introduces Van as an pal from prep school. Julian invites Ford to sit down for a minute. Ford pulls a chair away from another table and brings it over. It's been many years since they've seen each other. While catching up, Ford tells them that he opened up a nightclub down in Miami and it's been such a hit he's opening up a second location in Manhattan. Julian says he'll have to swing by once it's open. Ford says he has a better idea - how about Julian come on as a partner in the club? They can make a fortune together. Sarah tries to dismiss the idea, insisting she and Julian aren't really the nightclub sort. Julian seems interested though and tells Ford to send him the financial information for him to look over.
Julian gets into his car. As he settles into the driver's seat, the passenger door opens and Carmen enters. She tells him it turns out George is not sick after all. Julian says he knows. Carmen puts her hand on Julian's leg and says that means Julian won't be taking over his father's legacy any time soon. Julian, trying to act like he doesn't notice the hand slowly sliding toward his crotch, tells Carmen he knows that she is only interested in her father for his money. Carmen smiles and tells Julian that if he helps her get to his father's money, she will make it more than worth his while. Julian grabs Carmen's hand and pushes it away. He then angrily demands that she get out of his car. Carmen gives Julian a kiss on the cheek and suggests he think about it since her offer is the only way Julian will take over George's empire. She then gets out of the car and slinks away.
George is in his office when Julian enters with a large portfolio. George looks at his schedule and asks if they had a meeting booked. Julian says no, but that he wanted to share an idea with him. George tells his son he is all ears. Julian opens the portfolio, revealing all of the financial information on Ford's new club. George looks at the folder and asks Julian to cut to the chase. Julian asks his father for $5 million to invest in the new club. George laughs at the idea. Julian glares at his father. George asks if paying for Julian's schooling, house, even giving him a job with the company wasn't enough already. Julian says that if George won't just give him the money then he can take it out of his eventual inheritance. George looks at Julian and informs him that an inheritance is no guarantee. Seeing that he has upset Julian, George softens his tone and reminds him that his parents never gave him anything. He built his entire company from the ground up. George says that he was probably too soft on Julian as he was growing up to appease his mother. George tells Julian that there will always be a spot for him in the "family business" but that he is not going to go along with hare-brained nightclub scheme.
BANG! Smoke exits the barrel of a revolver as the camera pulls out to reveal Carmen pointing it at us. She is shooting targets in the personal gun range within George’s mansion. She removes her ear protectors to hear her phone ringing. When she answers, it is Julian letting her know that he is in her driveway. She smiles.
Julian drives Carmen down a narrow road. He tells her that he has been thinking about her offer and he has come to decision. She lets out a sudden gasp as Julian firmly grabs her right thigh. She looks to him for an answer and he nods his head yes before leaning in for a kiss. They pull over to the side of the road to have sex. Afterwards, they begin plotting George’s demise. Julian feels that news of his father’s recent health issues (real or not) will make for easy headlines and take any suspicion away from them. Carmen says that she could mix up his pills and he would go in his sleep, nice and easy. They’re interrupted by Sarah calling him and he lets Carmen know that he needs to get going. Julian kisses her once more and says he thinks they will make great “partners”.
Carmen stares at herself in the mirror for a moment before tampering with George’s pills. She gets in closer and doesn’t blink. Hours later, they are both getting ready for bed and she closely observes him as he goes to the bathroom to take his pills. When he is in there, he gets close to taking them but then notices that they have been mixed up. He angrily murmurs to himself that he must’ve done it without thinking. He then takes the correct pills. He joins Carmen in bed and she asks him about his day. As they talk, she asks him if he remembered to take his nighttime pills and he confirms that he did. She turns out the lights and George stares straight up at the ceiling. Some sort of revelation comes across his face and he looks over to a sleeping Carmen suspiciously. The camera pans to discover that Carmen is also having trouble sleeping, for obviously different reasons.
In the morning, Carmen slowly opens her eyes - clearly a bit nervous about what she is about to roll over and “discover”. However, she is blindsided when she hears “coffee?” and sees George getting dressed, alive and well.
Carmen and Julian meet in a secluded, wooded area where she informs him that changing George's pills didn't work. Julian is confused and angrily asks if the pills didn't work or his father just didn't take them. Carmen admits that she isn't sure. Julian says that he's thinking they should just call the whole thing off. As a storm begins pouring rain down on them, Carmen pulls Julian closer and begins passionately kissing him. As she takes a breath, she says she can get it done that night. Julian brings her mouth back for another kiss, then agrees to let her try again. She tells him not to worry - she has another plan. It will require his assistance though. Julian isn't sure though. Carmen slowly lowers to her knees and opens Julian's pants. Carmen begins fellating him. She looks up at Julian and asks if he is sure yet. Julian pulls Carmen up. He says he's getting there as he bends her over a fallen tree and has sex with her from behind.
As night reaches The Hamptons, Carmen enters the house soaking wet from the rain. George notices her dripping wet, but doesn't say a word. He simply grabs a towel from a cabinet and begins wiping up the water. Carmen walks through the house toward the bedroom, slowly undressing along the way until she is completely naked by the time she reaches the bed. She sprawls out on top of the silk sheets and waits for George to come to her. Sure enough, it doesn't take long. George sits down beside her. He comments that he made an appointment to see his doctor as he thinks there might be an issue with his prescriptions. Carmen pulls George down so he is lying down beside her. She tells him she thinks that is a good idea. Carmen rolls over so that she is straddling George. She begins kissing his neck. George closes his eyes. Carmen then wraps her hands around George's neck and begins squeezing. George grabs Carmen and throws her off of him. Carmen's naked body hits the hardwood floors. George gets up onto his feet and puts his shoes on. He tells Carmen that he's going for a walk on the beach and she should make herself scarce before he returns. Carmen watches from the floor as George leaves the house.
George is walking down the deserted beach. He can see the lights of his mansion from the water. He reaches for his phone and selects Julian's number. As he hears the ring on the phone, he also hears a phone ringing coming from the darkness of the beach nearby. Both rings continue as Julian emerges from the shadows and hits his father over the head with a piece of driftwood. George collapses to the sand as blood begins to stream down his face. George, in complete confusion, asks Julian what's going on. George tries getting up, but stumbles into the waters of the ocean. With tears in his eyes, Julian raises the wood to hit his father again. Julian swings again, bringing the weight down directing on top of George's head. George falls into the water. Carmen then appears and holds George under the surface of the water. George, in survival mode, begins thrashing about. Julian continues crying as he watches Carmen hold George under the water until the thrashing ceases.
Carmen comes to shore and embraces Julian. In the background, sirens can start to be heard as she thanks him for his help. She then takes his piece of driftwood and hits herself in the face with it. He asks what the hell she is doing and she asks if he really thought they could get away with this without someone taking the fall. The sirens get louder as he angrily asks if he set him up. She points out how foolish it would be to go to all these lengths just to share George's money with a spoiled buffoon and begins yelling for help as the sirens grow closer. In a fit of fury, Julian lunges towards her and begins choking her while straddling on top of her. She puts up a fight but eventually succumbs. He maintains his grip, even after she is clearly dead, as police arrive at the beach. He slowly raises his hands in the air as the camera drifts out.
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