Gattaca Page #11

EMPLOYEE 1

(staring at the Director's body)

Awful.

EMPLOYEE 2

Yeah, awful it didn't happen sooner.

Nervous smirks from nearby employees. We focus on JEROME.

Standing slightly apart from the others, he does not appear to

share the joke, or perhaps even hear it. Jerome watches, wide-

eyed, as a DETECTIVE approaches his work station with a mini-

vac. A chill goes through Jerome as the detective's cleaner

passes over his desk.

Jerome is distracted by a smear on the window, obstructing his

view. Without thinking, he breathes on the glass and rubs the

smear away with his elbow. Nearby, elderly janitor, CAESAR

notices Jerome's fastidious act and reads the panic in Jerome's

eyes. DIRECTOR JOSEF suddenly appears at Jerome's shoulder.

Standing a pace behind the Director, computer notepad in hand,

is IRENE.

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

You're lucky to be getting out of this.

JEROME:

We're still going ahead as planned?

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

The launch window is only open until week's

end. Tragic though this event may be, it

hasn't stopped the planets turning.

He glances towards a group of Detectives headed by HUGO.

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

You'll have to excuse me, Jerome. I have to

meet with the authorities--naturally, we're

co-operating in any way, although I won't

tolerate a major disruption.

(as he departs)

I wish I was going with you, Jerome.

As the pair depart, Jerome and Irene exchange a glance. Irene

is also aware of Jerome's unease.

INT. GATTACA - CORRIDOR. DAY.

We focus on JEROME's eyelash, still lying on the floor.

A huge crescent-shaped hair that fills the screen. Suddenly

there is a roar of a mini-vac and the eyelash is sucked up. We

follow the eyelash's journey, down the throat of the cleaner

into the specimen bag where it is sucked against the bag's

clear, plastic wall.

INT. GATTACA - COMPUTER COMPLEX. DAY.

The DIRECTOR's corpse is sealed in a plastic bodybag and wheeled

away on a gurney. The blood and other body matter from the

murder scene is sucked up by a portable wet-vac and the sample

bag appropriately labeled.

EXT. GATTACA - COURTYARD CAFETERIA. DAY

A chime sounds over the P.A. follwed by an announcement.

ANNOUNCER (OC)

Thank you for your co-operation. Please

return to your work stations immediately.

The PROGRAMMERS get to their feet en masse and begin filing into

the work room.

EMPLOYEE 3

(sarcastic aside)

What, no counselling?

INT. GATTACA COMPUTER COMPLEX - DIRECTOR'S OFFICE. DAY.

A WOMAN ASSISTANT whose keyboard was used in the attack has to

pause as a MAINTENANCE WORKER gives her work station a final

spray to return it to its former pristine condition. A new

keyboard is plugged into her monitor to replace the one taken as

evidence.

INT. GATTACA COMPUTER COMPLEX. DAY.

JEROME opens his desk drawer to check his comb, now plucked

completely clean. He carefully places two of Eugene's hairs to

the comb and scatters another bag of fraudulent matter around

his work station.

INT. GATTACA - SIMULATOR ROOM. DAY.

In a large, bare room a simulator does a slow dance back and

forth on its hydralic legs, miming the path of the space

craft Jerome will soon be aboard. The simulation ends and

JEROME exits the simulator through a small door. IRENE

hesitantly approaches, carrying a slim electronic tablet.

IRENE:

Excuse me, Jerome. I'm sorry to bother you.

Jerome turns, not displeased by the interruption.

JEROME:

No bother.

IRENE:

(referring to her notepad)

I've been asked to compile a log for the

investigators--they want to know everyone's

whereabouts last night.

JEROME:

Last night? I was at home.

Irene makes a note with her stylus.

IRENE:

Can that be, er, verified? Were you alone?

JEROME:

No it can't be verified. Yes I was alone.

Irene makes another note.

JEROME:

(wry smile)

Looks bad, doesn't it, Irene? What about

you? Where were you last night?

IRENE:

I was at home.

JEROME:

Were you alone?

IRENE:

(hesitant)

Yes.

JEROME:

(teasing)

So we don't know for sure about you, either.

IRENE:

(wary, wondering where the

conversation is headed)

No.

JEROME:

Why don't we say we were together?

IRENE:

(confused)

Why would we do that?

JEROME:

I have better things to do this week than

answer the foolish questions of some flatfoot.

Don't you?

Irene contemplates the question.

JEROME:

(gently pressing)

Well, shall we say we spent the evening together?

Irene is still unsure whether or not Jerome is serious.

IRENE:

To be convincing, Jerome, I would have to know

what that was like.

Irene turns and departs. Jerome watches her go.

INT. EUGENE'S CONDOMINIUM. NIGHT.

The paraplegic EUGENE, seated by the window, meticulously cuts

a long fingernail into numerous clippings. He places the

clippings in small plastic bags and seals them. He then begins

to fill tiny sachets with blood. He turns as he hears JEROME

enter down the spiral staircase with the groceries.

EUGENE:

You didn't forget the truffles?

JEROME places the items in the refrigerator in the bathroom and

retrieves a bottle of vodka - the vodka incongruous-looking

beside the blood and urine specimens. Joining Eugene at his

workbench, he pours them both a drink.

EUGENE:

(sensing something amiss, trying

to keep his humor)

Who died?

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