ELIZABETH
Lobbying is about foresight. About anticipating your opponent’s moves and devising countermeasures. The winner plots one step ahead of the opposition, and plays her trump card just after they play theirs. It’s about making sure you surprise them, and they don’t surprise you.
Posner’s eyes narrow. He’s heard this spiel before, right at the start of the hearings.
ELIZABETH (CONT’D)
I anticipated that if I got sufficiently close with HeatonHarris, there may be an assault against me personally to stall our momentum and tarnish our credibility.
Jane turns to Dupont again.
JANE
Actually, it is.
She hands him an envelope.
JANE (CONT’D)
My resignation. (she stands) Academia’s more my scene.
Jane pivots and exits. Dupont regards the envelope like it contains test results for Anthrax poisoning.
CONGRESSMAN SPERLING
Ms. Sloane, I think it’s about time
ELIZABETH
Before I left Cole, Kravitz, and Waterman, I retained an operative of mine in their ranks.
This sends the media into a FRENZY. Dupont’s eyes WIDEN. He looks back after Jane. His ass is on fire.