money world

J. Paul Getty: It's a good day.

Fletcher Chace: I'm glad to hear that, Mr. Getty. It'll make this much easier. We need to pay the ransom.

J. Paul Getty: I thought you said this was a hoax.

Fletcher Chace: Your grandson was kidnapped by members of the Calabrese' Ndrangheta. Two of the original kidnappers are dead, and one is missing.

J. Paul Getty: That sounds like progress to me.

Fletcher Chace: I'm afraid not, all right? They got nervous waiting for the ransom. They sold the boy to an investor.

J. Paul Getty: "An investor"? Who invests in kidnapped children?

Fletcher Chace: You'd be surprised. There's nothing people can't find a way to turn into money.

J. Paul Getty: You told me that Paul and his mother had cooked this up to soak me.

Fletcher Chace: And I was wrong, all right? Paul may have talked about being kidnapped with his friends. He put it out there. He's not behind this.

J. Paul Getty: How do I know that you're not wrong now?

Fletcher Chace: These people are not the old-world Malavita anymore. Their only code is profit and loss. They will do things to Paul that cannot be undone for any amount of money. We have to pay

J. Paul Getty: Well, this simply isn't possible. My financial position has changed.

Fletcher Chace: Really? I mean, 30 seconds ago,you said it was a good day. I mean, I'm not all that bright, but I can multiply as well as you. With oil up as much as it was this morning, you have amassed another fortune.

J. Paul Getty: Well, what if the embargo is lifted and oil were to crash? I'd be exposed. I have never been more vulnerable financially than I am right now.

Fletcher Chace: Mr. Getty, with all due respect, nobody has ever been richer than you are at this moment.

J. Paul Getty: I have no money to spare.

Fletcher Chace: What would it take? I mean, what would it take for you to feel secure?

J. Paul Getty: More

Corvo: Forgive me, Ms. Getty. Just one last question, regarding your testimony earlier. Why did you think the kidnapping was a joke?

Gail Harris: It's a *figure of speech*. The whole situation was unbelievable. It still is.

Corvo: Well, tragic, yes, but not unbelievable.

Fletcher Chace: It's not tragic *yet*. Maybe you ought to work on keeping it that way.

[later]

Fletcher Chace: Did Paul ever talk to you about having himself kidnapped?

Gail Harris: You've got to remember who the Gettys are. Every time someone stays in the bathroom for too long, someone makes a joke about being held for ransom. Paul might have cracked a joke once or twice among friends...

Fletcher Chace: [points] There's that word again.

Gail Harris: What word?

Fletcher Chace: A "joke". You said you thought it was a joke when it first happened.

Gail Harris: Now you sound like that policeman. Whose side are you on, Mr. Chace?

Fletcher Chace: I'm on my own side. Always. And if this is a joke, I'd like to make sure that I'm in on it.