INT. TRUMP TOWER – NIGHT – PRIVATE PENTHOUSE SUITE
Donald Trump lounges on a white leather couch beneath a massive oil painting of himself riding an American bald eagle. Patrick Bateman stands by the window in a razor-sharp Armani suit, sipping an overpriced, ethically questionable scotch.
TRUMP
So I saw Zelensky on TV again today… the guy’s what, 5’2”? Maybe? Looks like he escaped from The Shire.
BATEMAN
(Flicks invisible lint off his sleeve)
He has Hobbit energy. All pathos, no presence. Like Frodo—but without the charisma or sword skills. Just trembling speeches and too-tight olive drab t-shirts.
TRUMP
Right! He’s always wearing that army green shirt like he’s leading the Battle of Helm’s Deep. Guy needs a tailor. Maybe a stepstool.
BATEMAN
(Laughing coldly)
He’s a walking Tumblr meme. A wartime influencer. You could toss him into Mount Doom and I’m not sure the Ring would notice.
TRUMP
He wanted jets. He wanted tanks. He wanted billions. You know what I would’ve given him?
BATEMAN
Let me guess—*
TRUMP
A nice chair. Something to stand on during press conferences.
BATEMAN
(Grinning)
You’re generous. I was thinking a ring light and a copy of The Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition.
TRUMP
We had real men in the old days. Patton. MacArthur. Me. Now we’ve got Frodo cosplayers asking NATO for dragons.
BATEMAN
At least Frodo had Sam. Zelensky just has Justin Trudeau and Bono tweeting in his defense.
TRUMP
Exactly. No army. Just hashtags. Sad!
BATEMAN
History won’t remember the speeches. It’ll remember who had better hair and real estate portfolios.
TRUMP
And I’ve got both. Frodo can keep the ring. I’m building condos in Mordor.
FADE OUT as they both laugh, a little too hard, sipping their drinks while the city burns softly below.