Excess Baggage Page #15

EMILY (CONT'D)

Same to you, buddy.

But she picks up and angrily dials, glaring at the crucifixthe whole time.

EMILY (CONT'D)

This is not a good idea. You know that.

The phone RINGS on the other end, and is picked up by ThomasPerkins.

PERKINS (V.O.)

Joe's Auto Parts.

Emily freezes.

PERKINS (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Hello?

She hangs up gently, backs slowly from the phone, turns,and bolts for the door.

INT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS - DAY

Joe is definitely looking the worse for wear. Thomas hangsup the phone, smiles.

PERKINS:

We should be expecting company soon now.

JOE:

Coulda been anybody.

PERKINS:

I doubt it.

Perkins gives Joe a good whack -- enough to put him out,which is a damn hard whack.

PERKINS (CONT'D)

Nothing personal.

INT. RECTORY - DAY

The rectory priest huffs into the study to ogle Father Douglas.

RECTORY PRIEST:

Are you aware a young woman just drove off in theChurch sedan?

FATHER DOUGLAS:

Yes. I gave her the keys.

The rectory priest pauses, reassessing.

RECTORY PRIEST:

She appeared rather distraught.

FATHER DOUGLAS:

I believe she was, yes.

RECTORY PRIEST:

Should we. . . ?

FATHER DOUGLAS:

No, Michael. We should not.

Father Douglas drapes an arm around the rectory priest'sshoulders, walks him gently towards the door.

FATHER DOUGLAS (CONT'D)

Michael, police are only men. Around here, we relyon God to sort things out.

RECTORY PRIEST:

Yes, Douglas, but --

Father Douglas raises a finger to hush him.

FATHER DOUGLAS:

No buts, Michael. I learned a long time ago, hisway is the best way.

EXT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS - DAY

Will saunters up the street, just a casual guy in a baseballcap and sunglasses, just ambling along to pick up some parts for his car-- and pushes through the front door of Joe's Auto Parts.

INT. SECOND UNDERCOVER CAR - DAY

The cop in the under cover car glances at him, at the picture,but hey, nobody actually looks like their high school yearbook picture.Not really. And the cop goes back to his long wait for nothing.

INT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS - DAY

Will slouches in. No one around.

WILL:

Joe?

Silence. Will glances at Veronica's corner -- empty.

WILL:

Joe? Veronica?

Silence. He strides to the cash register --

WILL (CONT'D)

'Bout time you walked that dog.

-- bangs the cash drawer open -- too much cash in there.

WILL (CONT'D)

God damn it, Joe, I keep telling you, don't leavethis stuff around.

He opens the safe in the cupboard below the register, takesa passport out, stashes it in his front pocket, grabs cash from the registerdrawer and stows it in the safe --

PERKINS (O.S.)

Are you robbing the place?

Will spins to see Perkins in the doorway to the back.

WILL:

Uncle Tom.

PERKINS:

Very good. Do you know what Uncle Tom wants?

WILL:

I didn't make her suck my penis, if that's the nextquestion.

PERKINS:

Her father will be relieved to hear that.

Perkins motions.

PERKINS (CONT'D)

In back, please.

WILL:

I don't think so.

PERKINS:

It's not a request.

WILL:

Sorry.

Perkins shoots Will in the leg -- the gun's silenced, natch.

PERKINS:

Now. Shall we try again?

EXT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS - DAY

The church sedan, if the logo is any indication, screamsinto the parking lot -- which actually does get the undercover detective'sattention -- and a very recognizable Emily falls out of the car in her hurryto get to the door.

INT. SECOND UNDERCOVER CAR - DAY

The undercover detective scrabbles for his radio.

UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE

Jesus Christ, I've got Emily Hope here -- I needback up, now!

INT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS - DAY

Emily slams in the door, knocking the jangling bells cleanoff their hook, glances around -- no one there -- sees the door to the backand keeps going --

To stop dead in the doorway.

LIVING QUARTERS:

Joe's still out cold. Will, however, is very much awake,not to mention in pain, leaning against a table, his leg bleeding. Perkinsholds his gun at a nonchalant angle, addressing Will.

PERKINS:

A medical team could --

EMILY:

Thomas.

Perkins turns to study Emily.

PERKINS:

You did do it.

EMILY:

Yes. Let them go.

PERKINS:

It would be best if you waited in the car, Emily.

EMILY:

It's just a game, Thomas.

PERKINS:

Sometimes, the game becomes real. That's somethingI forgot to teach you, evidently.

EMILY:

There's a cop outside, Thomas, and his friends areon their way.

WILL:

Emily --

EMILY:

Shut up, Will.

Emily fingers the necklace at her throat -- Thomas's giftof long ago.

PERKINS:

In sixty seconds, that won't be a problem. Neverstart something you can't finish, Emily.

Will is reaching under the table -- cautious, so cautiousnot to attract Perkins' attention with his movement -- because the thingWill is stretching fingers for is a good old fashioned revolver strappedto the bottom of the table --

Perkins turns and draws down on Will --

EMILY:

Uncle Tom!

And she's bringing a gun up to bear on Thomas -- staringat his face --

DISSOLVE TO:

SERIES OF SHOTS:

A) Emily, a little girl, crying at her mother's funeral-- Amadeus, too distracted to notice a three year old child -- Thomastaking her hand, leading her away --

B) Emily, a little girl, running down the steps ofthat big, empty, Hope house --

YOUNG EMILY:

Uncle Tom!

And Thomas lifting her up in the air to swing her aroundwhile she laughs --

C) Amadeus, studying a young Emily --

AMADEUS:

Emily, you're growing too attached to Thomas. It'simportant you understand what Thomas does for this family

D) Emily, teenaged, crying in a car, as Thomas slidesinto the driver's seat

EMILY:

But you hurt people!

PERKINS:

Emily, that's my job.

EMILY:

Why do you hurt people --

INT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS/LIVING QUARTERS - DAY

Everything is slowing down as Thomas goes combat, eyes flat,instinct taking over, turning and drawing on Emily --

Her finger isn't moving on the trigger, isn't responding,because she is not going to be able to shoot this man --

But he is able, is going, to shoot her, his fingertightening -- and then he meets her eyes --

Combat mode switches off, and he's human again, staringat her, knowing her, Emily, not the enemy --

EMILY:

I love you, Uncle Thomas.

PERKINS:

I love you too, Emily.

All those shared years, all those lessons, and in that look,he's saying good-bye, because they both know what the last lesson is --Thomas spins away, drawing down on Will --

EMILY:

NO!

Will draws that old revolver, firing -- missing --

Thomas pulls the trigger, hitting Will in the shoulder,spinning him back against the wall --

EMILY (CONT'D)

NO!

And Emily raises her gun and fires ---

EXT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS - DAY

Cop cars screaming into the lot, cops coming out guns drawnand heading inside, as GUNSHOTS blast O.S. --

INT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS/LIVING QUARTERS - DAY

Thomas takes a solid hit -- Emily's -- as he fires at Willagain, the hit throwing his aim off -- the bullet slugging into the wallas Emily ducks, hands over her ears, screaming --

EMILY (CONT'D)

No no no no no --

Will firing and this time he isn't missing --

Thomas falling, falling, as Cops come in the door, weaponsdrawn --

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