Excess Baggage Page #16

COP:

Freeze!

Will turning in surprise -- not a good move, holding a gun--

WILL:

Not me --

-- dropping the gun as a cop squeezes the trigger --

EMILY:

Stop it --

Will slamming back into the wall, surprised, because hejust took another bullet in the shoulder --

EMILY:

Stop it! He didn't do anything!

And Thomas still falling, to land and bounce, land and bounce,land and lie still --

WILL:

I'm hit?

Cops grabbing Will, SIRENS Screaming b.g. --

Emily crawling to Thomas, crying --

EMILY:

Uncle Tom! God no no no --

Will looking back at her as she raises her tear streakedface and mouths "Please" --

Uniforms surrounding her, AD LIBBING are you hurt, are youall right, where does it hurt, blocking Will out --

Emily looks down at Perkins --

EMILY (CONT'D)

I finished it, Uncle Thomas. Oh, God, I am so sorry,I finished it, and I should never have listened to you --

And just closes her eyes, not wanting to see any more --as Will passes out.

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

Amadeus, Emily, and Father Douglas stand grave side.

FATHER DOUGLAS:

Would you like to say a few words, Mr. Hope?

Amadeus shakes his head no.

FATHER DOUGLAS (CONT'D)

Emily?

Emily removes that long ago birthday necklace, and placesit on the headstone, shakes her head.

FATHER DOUGLAS (CONT'D)

I'll leave you alone with him.

Father Douglas strides away, and there they are: Emily andAmadeus. Alone at last.

Seconds tick by.

Amadeus removes a sub-atomic speck of lint from his cuff.

AMADEUS:

Thomas was a good man.

EMILY:

Thomas was not a good man. Thomas was an assassin.But he was the only father I ever had.

AMADEUS:

That would explain why you shot him in the back.

She jerks, struck hard, studies him through hard, unshedtears.

EMILY:

All these years, I thought it was me. That therewas something ugly and wrong about me. And if I just tried hardenough, you'd care. But it's always been you. Ugly and broken.

AMADEUS:

He was my friend, God damn it.

EMILY:

I was your daughter.

AMADEUS:

As distasteful as you may find it, Emily, you'restill my daughter. And I'm still your father.

EMILY:

No. I just buried my father.

She turns and walks away, across that big expanse of death,towards waiting cars, and life.

Amadeus watches her retreating back, turns away, adjustshis cuff.

SUIT #1 (O.S.)

Amadeus Thadeus Hope?

Amadeus turns to face two stern faced, over-barbered, sunglasswearing SUITS -- i.e., federal agents.

AMADEUS:

Yes?

The suits flash badges.

SUIT #1

You're under arrest for conspiracy and withholdinginformation related to a federal crime.

SUIT #2

If you'll step over to the car, Mr. Hope?

AMADEUS:

What are the grounds for these charges, gentlemen?

SUIT #1

Were you aware, Mr. Hope, that Mr. Perkins kepta ledger of his activities?

Amadeus pales. The suit cracks a grim faced smile.

SUIT #1

It's quite comprehensive.

EXT. SIDEWALK BY CEMETERY - DAY

Sims and Barnaby lean against a limousine, much to the CHAUFFEUR'schagrin, watching Amadeus and the suits.

SIMS:

They got him.

BARNABY:

Yup.

SIMS:

Amazing.

Emily, ignoring the detectives, strides to the limo, wherethe chauffeur leaps to open her door.

CHAUFFEUR:

Will we be waiting for Mr. Hope, Miss?

Emily is pulling herself together, getting frosty.

EMILY:

No. Mr. Hope has provided his own transportation.

SIMS:

Miss Hope?

Emily frowns at the detective.

EMILY:

This is not the time or the place, Detective.

SIMS:

I'm running out of times and places, Miss Hope.And you're a little hard to reach.

Silence.

SIMS:

Look, we know about the car.

EMILY:

What about the car, Detective?

SIMS:

We found the car in William Pogue's warehouse.

EMILY:

I sold that car to Mr. Pogue.

SIMS:

While you were kidnapped, you sold the car?

EMILY:

No. Before my abduction, I sold the car.

SIMS:

This would be before Thomas Perkins abducted you,then?

EMILY:

Precisely.

SIMS:

Miss, do you know lying to a police officer is acrime?

EMILY:

Yes, I'm perfectly aware of that, Detective. I'malso aware you have no case.

Sims settles back on his heels to study her warily.

SIMS:

Actually, I have quite an interesting case, MissHope.

Emily smiles, winsome, charming -- the angel again.

EMILY:

Detective Sims, I owe you an apology. I'm sure myfather has put you through living hell -- and I'm largely responsiblefor that. Please accept my apology.

Sims blinks. Emily's face hardens.

EMILY (CONT'D)

However, Detective Sims, you should also be awareI'm a superb liar.

Sims opens his mouth -- Emily raises a hand to cut him off.

EMILY (CONT'D)

Superb, Detective Sims -- and stinking filthy rich.In other words, if you attempt to pursue this further, I will dragyour ass through the worst press campaign it has ever seen -- Iwill embarrass you to death, Detective Sims, and then I will obliterateyou in court. Is that clear?

SIMS:

Quite.

Emily smiles, steps into the limo, and the chauffeur slamsthe door.

INT. UNDERCOVER CAR - DAY

Sims and Barnaby sit watching the limo disappear down thestreet, its exhaust trail dissipating until there's nothing left but a thincloud.

SIMS:

What do you think, Barnaby?

BARNABY:

I believe her.

SIMS:

So do I.

Sims casts a sideways glance at Barnaby's profile.

SIMS (CONT'D)

You know, I'm beginning to like you, Barnaby.

Barnaby shrugs and starts the engine. Sims reaches for hisseat belt, stops, scrutinizes it. The damn thing works. He eyes Barnaby.

Barnaby doesn't bat an eye, just pulls away from the curb-- and Dan snaps his belt home.

INT. JOE'S AUTO PARTS - DAY

The bell JANGLES, and Emily Hope stalks in, puffing a cigarette.Uncle Joe squints at her from behind the counter. She extends her hand.

EMILY:

I'm Emily Hope.

Joe ignores the hand.

JOE:

I know who you are. And I don't allow smoking inmy shop.

EMILY:

You have Will's winning personality, I see.

JOE:

Yep.

She smiles.

EMILY:

Then we ought to get along just fine.

EXT. PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY (DUSK)

Will leans against his Porsche -- the window's fixed --watchinghis planes.

A cab approaches, its tires crunching gravel.

He glances over his shoulder at it. It stops and Emily climbsout. Will turns his back on her.

She crunches up to lean against the Porsche beside him,as the cab pulls away.

WILL:

Letting that driver go might have been a mistake.

EMILY:

Yep.

WILL:

I tried calling, you know.

EMILY:

I didn't get the messages.

WILL:

For a month.

EMILY:

You called twice.

WILL:

What do you want, Emily.

EMILY:

Thought you'd be in Tahiti by now. Catching fishyou won't eat.

Silence.

EMILY (CONT'D)

Decided to stick around and steal cars instead?

WILL:

I'm retired.

She lights a cigarette.

WILL (CONT'D)

You were never pregnant, were you?

EMILY:

Nope.

WILL:

You're a damn fine liar. I just think I've had enoughof liars for the time being.

EMILY:

I'm retired too.

Will rounds on her.

WILL:

Jesus God, Emily. I killed a man. Because of you.And I don't know how I can live with that. Let alone if I can livewith that.

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