INT. SMALL BARE OFFICE - DAY
Ann and Peter are looking around at the space. A man has shown them in.
MAN 1
Take a look around. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.
Man 1 leaves.
ANN
It’s half the size of the last one and twice the price.
PETER
The address is much better.
ANN
Does the address really matter?
Peter shrugs and the two of them continue looking around at things.
There’s a copy of THE BANNER on one of the desks. Ann sees a photo of the Enright building site and starts reading it - she starts laughing and then starts reading it aloud.
ANN
(in mock-serious tone)While so many are in need of shelter, effort is being wasted to erect a structural monstrosity known as the Enright House. It is designed by one Howard Roark, an ... incompetent amateur?
Ann ceases to find it funny and her tone changes to one of anger. She looks over at Peter who doesn’t really care.
ANN
An incompetent amateur who has the arrogance to hold his own ideas above all rules. Readers, those of you who are architects or want to be, should realize that a man like Howard Roark is a threat to all of you. The conflict of forms is too great. Can your buildings stand by the side of his? I believe you understand me, gentlemen. Send us your letters of protest against the Enright House and The Banner will be glad to publish them and we shall win because there are thousands of us, thousands against one.
Ann looks again at Peter who just shrugs.
ANN
Know who wrote this hateful tirade?
PETER
Ellsworth Toohey?
ANN
Well - - Yes. - How can you call that man a friend? And how can he call himself an architectural columnist when he evidently knows nothing about architecture.
PETER
Oh Ann, don’t be so naive. It’s all just the huff n’ puff of ... well, modern life I suppose.
ANN
You never take anything seriously.
PETER
Don’t you see? The Enright House is a very exclusive development. Its intended occupants are not likely to be swayed by the opinions of Toohey, much less by his audience. The more the masses scream it’s ugly, it’s a horror, the more the so-called right people will say it’s beautiful, it’s everything that is noble in man... It’s all just huff n’ puff. They say it about everything new. It may be something that really is an ugly horror, or it may be the very best that man can produce, or not much of either - but the huff n’ puff is always the same.
ANN
Well... - I still don’t see why you’re friends with Toohey...
PETER
Oh Toohey’s not a bad sort. He’s got me plenty of work over the years and hopefully will be useful again.
ANN
But Peter do you really want someone who is such a poor critic of architecture to be championing your designs?
PETER
Work is work. Ann, Toohey is alright. Read that back carefully. He clearly esteems Roark’s work. I suspect he’s really just eager for Roark to notice him.
ANN
If that is the case, he’s going about it all wrong.
PETER
He generally does.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE ENRIGHT HOUSE - DAY
Howard is standing looking at the building. It’s a very tall building with a functional design.
MR. ROGER ENRIGHT walks over to Howard with hand extended to congratulate him.
MR ENRIGHT
Roark.
HOWARD
Mr. Enright. Thanks.
MR ENRIGHT
Don’t pay attention to that public howling.
HOWARD
I don’t.
MR ENRIGHT
I’ve been denounced so much, it doesn’t bother me anymore. I started out in life as a coal miner. Got where I am by acting on my own honest judgment whether others liked it or not. When you grow older, you’ll see that’s the only way to succeed.
HOWARD
I know it.
MR ENRIGHT
They’re tough. They’re gonna get tougher, don’t worry. You’ll win.
HOWARD
I have.
Howard looks proudly at the building.
MR ENRIGHT
That’s the only defense you need.
HOWARD
I’ll rest on the evidence.
MR ENRIGHT
That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’ll be the first tenant to move in. I’m giving a party to celebrate the opening of Enright House. I’ll invite them: The press, the architects, the critics. Let them see. Everybody who is anybody will be there. They think we’re gonna apologize. We’ll celebrate instead.
