Working Session

Yet another adjustment to The Formula

[The Oval Office. TRUMP in what appears to be his usual costume — but looking puffy and waxen — is on a sofa. RONNY JACKSON, his former Dr. Feelgood and GOP Representative from Florida, is at the Resolute Desk, which is covered with a tarp and on which are bowls of powder, lab spatulas and offset spoons, a digital scale, and a disassembled inhaler — the makings of The Formula. JACKSON, wearing a white lab coat, is working with these. Kneeling at TRUMP’s feet, fiddling with the cuffs of his pants, is PIERRE DUFRESNE, the young weasel from “Fresh Out of Friends,” still dressed like Jean-Louis Trintignant in The Conformist but with a less obvious haircut than before. EDWARD “BIG BALLS” CORISTINE stands off to the side; he wears a taupe Brimble & Clark suit like this with Adidas Handball Spezials and a pink and blue Ralph Lauren rugby shirt, and plays with a Legion Go console.]

DUFRESNE: OK, sir, it’s all set. [He stands up] As Dr. Jackson explained, sir, there are tiny mirrors in the weave of these pants at the bottom, and they —

TRUMP: Not gonna stick me.

DUFRESNE: Sir?

TRUMP: Mirrors. They’re made of glass, right? I don’t wanna bump into a chair, cut up my ankles.

DUFRESNE: No, sir, they’re tiny so they can’t possibly cut you. All they do is make your ankles look slimmer.

TRUMP: [To JACKSON] It’s your ass I get cut.

JACKSON: [Still working] Not to worry, sir.

TRUMP: Mr. President.

[JACKSON looks up. Smiles.]

JACKSON: Yes, sir, Mr. President!

TRUMP: Been a while somebody said it.

[He brings his hand to his face; the bruise is visible. DUFRESNE notices, steps to JACKSON.]

DUFRESNE: Dr. Jackson? You can see the bruise.