Gattaca Page #14

Having plugged his car into an overnight charger, JEROME pushes

EUGENE in his wheelchair to the elevator. Bottle in hand,

Eugene leans over and vomits on the ground. Jerome shakes his

head resignedly. Eugene looks drunkenly up at Jerome.

EUGENE:

(sarcastically referring to the pool of vomit)

I'm sorry. Did you want it?

Jerome meets Eugene's gaze. There is a trace of bitterness

in Eugene's drunken smile.

EUGENE:

Let me get it for you.

Eugene bends down to scoop up some vomit with his hand but the

elevator arrives and Jerome quickly wheels him away. Eugene's

head flops to the side as he passes out.

INT. EUGENE'S CONDOMINIUM. NIGHT.

JEROME unlocks EUGENE's condo and wheels his chair inside. We

see their reflection in a full-length mirror as Jerome pushes

Eugene to the bedroom. After removing Eugene's soiled clothing,

he heaves the tall man from the chair and onto the bed.

EUGENE:

(maudlin, sobbing like a child)

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

JEROME:

(attempting to comfort)

It's okay, Eugene.

EUGENE:

You know I wasn't drunk--I knew what I was

doing when I walked in front of that car--

JEROME:

--What car?--Go to sleep.

EUGENE:

--I walked right in front of it. I was never

more sober in my life.

Jerome looks at Eugene's lifeless legs, trying to cover his

shock at the revelation.

JEROME:

It's all right.

EUGENE:

(grabbing Jerome by the collar)

I'm proud of you, Vincent.

Eugene's head falls back onto the pillow.

JEROME:

(smiling to himself)

You must be drunk to call me Vincent.

But Eugene does not reply, drifting into sleep once again.

Jerome pulls a blanket over him.

On the verge of leaving, Jerome's attention is drawn to a wall

on the far side of the room. Approaching the wall, near

Eugene's mirrored closet, he detects a faint mechanical whir

coming from inside the adjacent condominium. Jerome

contemplates investigating but exits the condominium instead

- climbing the spiral staircase to his own condominium.

INT. JEROME'S CONDO - LIVING ROOM. NIGHT.

JEROME fastidiously vacuums with an upright cleaner. Using a

hose attachment he cleans around a picture frame that contains

Jerome's original computer keyboard handdrawn on the flap of a

cardboard box.

INT. GATTACA - COMPUTER COMPLEX. DAY.

In the vast room of COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS we pull-focus to

discover that we have been filming the complex through the

transparent specimen bag containing JEROME'S EYELASH.

On the mezzanine floor overlooking the scene of the crime,

the INVESTIGATOR holds the bag, transfixed by the lash. The

lead homicide detective, DETECTIVE HUGO, finishes interviewing

a GATTACA SECURITY GUARD and approaches the Investigator.

A large telescope in the background.

Although Hugo is deferential to his more youthful superior, his

body language betrays his displeasure. Hugo clearly does not

relish the Investigator's involvement in his case.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

I don't understand why you were dragged out

here, Sir. It's hardly worth wasting your

time--a no-nothing case like this.

INVESTIGATOR:

(gently rebuking his subordinate)

A man's dead, Detective.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

Of course, Sir. We're checking the entry log,

alibis, grudges...

INVESTIGATOR:

Grudges?

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(looking out over the balcony)

I look around, I see a lot of dry eyes.

The Director was not...

(searching for the words)

...universally loved. He was leading the

cut-backs in the program. You're looking at

a room full of motives.

INVESTIGATOR:

(shaking his head adamantly,

referring to the bag in his hand)

No, this is your man.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(not so convinced)

With respect, Sir--it may be the only

unaccountable specimen but the profile

suggests--

INVESTIGATOR:

--What about his profile?

Hugo refers to a print-out of 20-YEAR-OLD VINCENT's profile

including his Genetic Quotient. (The fifteen-year-old photo of

Vincent now bears little resemblance to his assumed identity.)

DETECTIVE HUGO:

According to this, he's a sick man. Congenital

heart condition. Who knows how long the specimen

has been here but there's an 80 percent chance

the owner of that eyelash has already died

himself from natural causes.

INVESTIGATOR:

(terse)

So there's a 20 percent chance he's not dead.

Detective Hugo goes to comment further, then revises his

remark in his head before speaking.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

Even if this Vincent Luca is alive, is it

likely he could bludgeon a man to death?

INVESTIGATOR:

No. Not likely.

The Investigator's tone suggests that the identity of the

culprit is no longer a matter for debate. There is an awkward

pause before the Detective falls into step with his superior.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

I take it you're thinking along the lines of a

robbery gone sour--a thief disturbed in the act?

The Investigator merely shrugs.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(skeptical)

Of course that doesn't jibe with what we

found. This was an angry killing.

INVESTIGATOR:

(glancing to the profile in Hugo's hand)

Who knows with these "deficients"? His profile

indicates a proclivity for violence.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(trying to appear co-operative)

I'll run a crossover on the eyelash for

any family or associate connections--

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