Being There Page #5

Allenby administers the injection, Chance reacts from

the pain.

CHANCE:

You were wrong, it did hurt.

ALLENBY:

(a chuckle)

But not for long...

As Allenby puts a band-aid on Chance's ass, Chance spots

a remote control for the TV on the bedside table. He

reaches out, picks it up.

ALLENBY:

It's good that there was no

apparent damage to the bone.

CHANCE:

Yes. I think so, too.

ALLENBY:

There could be minor hemorr-

haging, which really isn't

too serious at the time, but

can cause secondary problems

if not looked after.

CHANCE:

(turns on TV)

I see.

ALLENBY:

(a look to the TV,

then to Chance)

You can pull your trousers up,

now.

CHANCE:

Oh, fine.

ALLENBY:

Just to take the proper pre-

cautions, Mr. Gardiner, I'd

recommend we take you down-

stairs and X-Ray your leg.

There is no reaction from Chance, Allenby takes a long

look at him.

ALLENBY:

...By the way, Mr. Gardiner, I

would like to ask you something

straight out.

CHANCE:

(doesn't understand)

...Straight out?

ALLENBY:

Yes. Are you planning on making

any sort of claim against the

Rand's?

CHANCE:

(after a beat)

Claim...? ...Oh, claim, that's

what Thomas asked me.

ALLENBY:

Thomas? Who's Thomas?

CHANCE:

Thomas Franklin, an attorney.

ALLENBY:

An attorney?

CHANCE:

(turns to TV)

Yes.

ALLENBY:

(suddenly very cold)

Then you wish to handle this

matter through your attorneys?

CHANCE:

There's no need for a claim,

the garden is a healthy one.

ALLENBY:

(gives Chance a look)

Oh, I see...

(laughs)

...Well, then... You caught me

off guard, I must admit...

CHANCE:

(changes channels,

sits on bed)

Thank you.

ALLENBY:

Good, keep your weight off

that leg, Mr. Gardiner. In

fact, it would be best if

you could stay here for a

day or two, if that would be

possible. I can promise you

the finest in care.

CHANCE:

Yes, I could stay here. Does

this house have a garden?

ALLENBY:

...Why, yes - many

Allenby picks up his bag, heads for the door.

ALLENBY:

I'll send Wilson up to take you

for X-Rays, Mr. Gardiner. Feel

free to use the telphone, and

please let me know if you have

any discomfort.

CHANCE:

(clicking changer)

Yes, I will.

Allenby gives him a look, then leaves. Chance watches an

old movie of a man lighting a cigar. The man enjoys the

cigar, blows out smoke. The scene seems to 'sink into'

Chance's mind.

41INT. EVE'S BEDROOM/SITTING ROOM - NIGHT

Allenby enters to reveal Eve standing in front of large

double windows that are wide open. She is wearing different

clothes, different hair.

ALLENBY:

Good God, Eve - you'll freeze.

EVE:

I wanted some fresh air.

How is Mr. Gardiner?

ALLENBY:

A rather large contusion, but

there isn't any...

EVE:

(interrupts)

That's not what I meant, Robert.

ALLENBY:

(a beat)

Okay...Well - he seemed to be

a most reasonable man, I don't

think he'll cause any trouble.

EVE:

Thank God for that.

ALLENBY:

I'd like to keep an eye on him,

though - I suggested that he

stay here for a couple of days.

EVE:

Stay here? Is that necessary?

ALLENBY:

Not necessary, but preferable.

Don't worry, Eve - he might be a

breath of fresh air...

EVE:

(a beat)

...Yes, he is different... He's

very intense, and internal, don't

you think?

ALLENBY:

Perhaps... Actually, I found him

to have quite a sense of humor.

EVE:

Good. It might be pleasant for

a couple of days....

Eve is silent for a moment, looks out to the darkness.

EVE:

I guess I should go see Ben now.

(turns)

I'll see you at dinner.

Eve leaves the room.

44INT. RAND'S CONVERTED BEDROOM - NIGHT

Eve enters through heavy glass doors. BENJAMIN RAND,

wearing a silk bathrobe, lies on a king-sized bed to one

side of the room. Rand perks up as sees Eve crossing

to him. He is in his sixties, maintains an inner

strength and dignity despite the sapping effects of his

illness.

RAND:

(with wekness)

...Eve...

Eve kisses him, holds his hand.

EVE:

(with conviction)

Oh, Ben - I do miss you when

I'm out... How are you feeling?

RAND:

Tired... And I'm getting tired

of being tired. Other than

that, I'm doing very well.

EVE:

I'm so glad... No headaches?

RAND:

No, it's been a good day - better

that yours, from what I've been

told.

EVE:

You heard?

RAND:

I may be a shut-in, but I do not

lack for news. I'm sorry you had

to go through all that.

EVE:

Oh, it wasn't all that bad darling.

We were fortunate that Mr. Gardiner

turned out to be so reasonable.

RAND:

Reasonable? Good, I'd like to meet

a reasonable man. Why don't you

ask this Gardiner to join us for

dinner?

EVE:

For dinner? Are you well enough

for that?

RAND:

(smiles)

Hah!... Tell me the truth, Eve -

if I wait until I feel better,

will I ever meet the man?

(Eve is silent)

Constance!

CONSTANCE, in a nurse's uniform, appears in a side doorway.

RAND:

Constance! I want new blood

tonight, I'm getting up for

dinner.

CONTANCE:

But, Mr. Rand...

RAND:

Don't argue, tell Robert I

want new blood!

(turns to Eve)

...Ask him to dinner.

Rand pulls Eve's hand close, kisses it.

EVE:

(after a beat)

... I ran into Senator Jansen at

lunch today and he all but ignored

me... And it's starting to happen

a lot lately... since you've been

sick.

RAND:

Dammit, there's no excuse for that.

I'll call him tomorrow.

EVE:

Thank you, darling.

43INT. RAND MANSION - FIRST FLOOR HALLWAY - NIGHT

The elevator door opens to reveal Wilson with Chance in

the wheelchair.

CHANCE:

(as Wilson wheels

him out)

...Thats is a very small room.

WILSON:

(laughs)

Yes sir, I guess that's true -

smallest room in the house.

CHANCE:

(glancing around)

Yes. It seems to be.

Wilson takes this as another joke, chuckles as he wheels

Chance toward Rand's hospital room.

44INT. RAND'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

A glass-enclosed room, next to Rand's bedroom, filled with

the very latest in hospital emergency equipment. CONSTANCE

and another nurse, TERESA, stand by as Rand is being given

a transfusion. Rand lifts his head as Wilson wheels Chance

into the room.

RAND:

Welcome to Rand Memorial

Hospital, Mr. Gardiner.

CHANCE:

(looks around room)

...I see.

Wilson pushes Chance to the X-Ray machine, where BILLINGS, a

Black technician helps him onto the table.

CHANCE:

(inhales deeply)

I feel very good in here.

RAND:

That's the oxygen! When I first

got sick I had it all glassed in

so I could have a little extra

oxygen pumped in, keeps my

spirits up.

Chance is now flat on his back as Billings lines up the

X-Ray camera.

CHANCE:

You must be very sick.

RAND:

Aplastic anemia, Mr. Gardiner -

aplastic anemia. Failure of the

bone marrow to produce red blood

cells... Not a damn thing they

can do about it. Oh, they can

make me comfortable, prolong my

life with steroid therapy and

transfusions... But what makes

my blood boil, what little I

have left, that is, Mr. Gardiner

- is that it's generally a young

person's disease... Here I am,

getting on in years and about to

die of a young person's disease...

CHANCE:

(smiles at Rand)

I've never seen anything like this

on television.

BILLINGS:

Please, hold still, Mr. Gardiner.

CONSTANCE:

You too, Mr. Rand, you must stay

quiet.

RAND:

(lays his head

back)

..You will join us for dinner,

won't you, Mr. Gardiner?

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