Asylum Page #17

DOUG:

He got that one right.

CHRIS:

Honza says they'll print an open letter

to President Havel in next weeks edition

even if they have to threaten a walk-out.

Doug goes back to his bed.

DOUG:

They're good guys.....

Have you seen Holly?

CHRIS:

No, but I ran into Jahn, seems him and

his friends are in big trouble with the

University, they might even be expelled.

DOUG:

Damn!

CHRIS:

Did you see a lawyer and go before a judge?

DOUG:

Yeah. I tell you, they're one big happy

family over there.

CHRIS:

What happened?

DOUG:

I don't know, I'm waiting for the transcript.

CHRIS:

You're kidding.

DOUG:

Well, the trial's in two weeks, but I

think they've already sentenced me. They

just need to check if Siberia can slot me in.

CHRIS:

WE gotta think of something.

DOUG:

Now you're using that word.

CHRIS:

I could try and get a Western lawyer.

Momentary silence.

DOUG:

You know, there is one thing I can't

figure out. All along they've been

bugging me about those files and when

I told them I'd burned all that stuff,

they went nuts - they told the Consul

guy they were medical records?

CHRIS:

So?

DOUG:

Well, it seems they've dropped any

charge relating to the files.

CHRIS:

Lucky break!

DOUG:

Maybe, but I've started to wonder what

those files were all about. Suppose it

was old KGB stuff and had the dirt on

big people or maybe the personnel records

of the secret police, that might explain

all the hassle and the cover-up.

CHRIS:

Did you see anything in the files?

DOUG:

It was all in Czech wasn't it.

DOUG:

What happened to those disks I gave

you, have you still got them?

CHRIS:

Yeah, somewhere?

DOUG:

Suppose those contained all the file

info too? You could have a third or so

of it there.

CHRIS:

Do you want me to see what's on them?

DOUG:

No point, it'll be in Czech and God

knows what format. But if I'm right,

they could be my ticket out of here.

CHRIS:

And if you're wrong.

DOUG:

Siberia.

CHRIS:

What do you want me to do?

DOUG:

Get me one of the disks. Ask a Czech

girl to smuggle it in to me this evening.

Put the others in a locker and write the

details in a note to Reuters and be ready

to send it, if this doesn't work. You'd

better keep clear of your apartment too.

Do you know someone with a phone?

CHRIS:

Yeah, Dave Walters.

DOUG:

Good, what's his number?

Chris gets out little address book and flicks through it.

CHRIS:

It's...42 56 76 .

DOUG:

42 56 76.........

Okay, you wait at Dave's for my call

tomorrow, if you don't hear from me by

three o'clock, send that note and get

out of the country fast.

CHRIS:

Doug, I can't just leave you!

DOUG:

You're in the clear, keep it that way,

I'll be okay.

Chris looks at cell and Doug's cell-mate.

DOUG:

If I cut a deal, I'm not staying in this

country and I want Holly to come with me.

So, if she doesn't come here today, you're

going to have to get her to me tomorrow;

after I call, promise?

CHRIS:

Sure....Anything else I can do for you?

DOUG:

You could give me your baseball, so I

can drive this bastard nuts.....He's

been playing chequers for eight hours

and still hasn't won a game.

ANGLE Cell-mate struggling with next chequers move. Chris reaches

into his jacket pocket and gets out the baseball and hands it through

bars.

DOUG:

Thanks, now get lost. Go on!

Chris turns and goes off along corridor, the baseball is heard

bouncing off the cell wall over and over again.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT - POLICE CELLBLOCK - KATKA - NIGHT

Katka is in the receiving area of the cellblock and a police

OFFICER(1) is searching her while another OFFICER(2) sits nearby going

through her handbag. Officer(1) lifts her skirt to show his partner

her bottom.

OFFICER(1)

(Subtitles)

Not much in that!

The Officers laugh and Katka smooths down her skirt and takes back her

handbag. Officer(1) then opens the door into the cellblock for her

and she passes through hurriedly.

INT - POLICE CELLBLOCK - DOUG/KATKA - NIGHT

Katka walks along the cellblock corridor checking the cells before

arriving at Doug's. He is looking better physically and is reading a

newspaper, his cell-mate is resting and the baseball is on the table

along with the chequers board and pieces.

DOUG:

Kat, what are you doing here?

Doug gets off bed and comes over to the bars.

KATKA:

Chris came to see me, I did not know

this had happened to you. He asked me

to give you something.

Katka looks around to see if anyone is watching, then reaches under

her skirt and pulls out a floppy disk.

KATKA:

I thought for sure they would catch me.

DOUG:

Thanks.

Doug puts disk in his trouser pocket.

KATKA:

Will it help to get you out?

DOUG:

I hope so!

Momentary silence.

KATKA:

If you get out can we be together again.

DOUG:

I'm no good for you Katka, besides I

won't be able to stay in Prague.

KATKA:

But we could go to London and live in

England.

DOUG:

No Kat, I lied to you, I hate England

and I don't ever want to live there

again.

KATKA:

I don't understand, it's your home?

DOUG:

There's nothing there for me.

KATKA:

I'm sorry about what I said, really I am.

Just take me with you, I don't care where.

Doug walks away from bars.

DOUG:

Forget about me Kat.

KATKA:

But I love you!

Doug comes back to the bars.

DOUG:

It was a mistake, I never wanted to

hurt you, but it had to end sooner or

later and now, well now I love someone

else.

KATKA:

No, it's not true, you're lying.

DOUG:

Not this time, Kat.

Katka's hands are on the bars and Doug comes back and holds them, they

kiss through the bars. The cellblock door opens and there is a clink

of keys as the OFFICER comes through.

OFFICER:

(Subtitles)

Time up, come on, get out.

Doug breaks and Katka looks at the Officer.

DOUG:

Bye!

Katka gives Doug a last tearful look before running off down the

corridor and exiting.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT - POLICE OFFICE - DOUG/PAVEL - DAY

Pavel is on the phone when there is a knock on his door and Doug is

led in by a Officer and sits down opposite Pavel at his desk. Pavel

signals Officer to leave and finishes his phone conversation. Doug is

looking okay physically, a few facial marks only now.

PAVEL:

Enjoying our hospitality?

DOUG:

No!

PAVEL:

We'll have to see what more we can do for

you, while you are still our guest.

DOUG:

Thanks, but I don't intend to stay.

PAVEL:

Really!

DOUG:

I lied to you, I didn't destroy the

floppy disks.

Pavel smiles.

DOUG:

They're going to be on their way to

Reuters this afternoon if I'm not

released by two o'clock.

Pavel laughs softly.

PAVEL:

Good try Mr. Greenwell but a little late.

We have analyzed the contents of that

drum, the remains of the disks are there,

just as you said.

DOUG:

Not all of them!

Doug gets a disk out of his pants and tosses it on the table, Pavel

picks up the disk and inspects it.

DOUG:

It's original and I've got seven others.

Now, do we talk or do we let Reuters figure

it out?

Pavel lays disk on the table and gets up from his chair and looks out

of window, before turning back to Doug. Wall clock says ten o'clock.

PAVEL:

You are playing a very dangerous game,

I suggest you make it easy on yourself

and tell me where they are.

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