Gattaca Page #16

He casually wipes off drops of sweat from the machine with a

towel, briefly glances to Irene with the Investigators and exits

to the locker room.

The Director idly regards the image of VINCENT on Hugo's

handheld screen. He does not recognize the face.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

An age enhancement is being prepared as

we speak.

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

(referring to his assistant)

Irene will make it available to security.

INT. GATTACA - LOCKER ROOM. DAY.

JEROME wears his assured smile all the way along the corridor

and into the now empty locker room. He exchanges a cheery

greeting with an exiting COLLEAGUE, enters a shower stall,

closes the door behind him and promptly collapses on the shower

stall floor.

The effects of the gruelling work-out are only now apparent. No

longer sucking up the pain, he gulps air into his oxygen-starved

lungs, his heart looking for a way through his tightened chest.

He writhes in agony on the white-tiled floor - a brutal reminder

of the physical frailty he seeks to disguise.

EXT. GATTACA - GARDEN. LUNCHTIME.

In Gattaca's perfectly landscaped gardens JEROME, dressed and

recovered from his ordeal, joins his COLLEAGUES for lunch at one

of the umbrella-covered tables. While most of the others pick

at unappetizing salads and take their individualized medication,

Jerome carries a steak sandwich on his tray.

The sight of the juicy steak is greeted with envious looks from

his colleagues. Jerome pretends not to notice and rubs it in by

liberally sprinkling salt onto the meat.

However when Jerome looks over towards IRENE, she avoids eye

contact. When she abruptly gets up and leaves, Jerome follows -

thinking twice before depositing the napkin in the nearby

trashcan. A janitor reaches for the napkin. It is the Old

Janitor, CAESAR, from Jerome's former life.

CAESAR:

I'll take care of that for you, Mr Morrow.

The two men exchange a conspiratorial smile.

EXT. GATTACA - WIND FARM. AFTERNOON.

A forest of wind turbines, supplying energy to the aerospace

complex. However the blades of the turbines are motionless in

the still afternoon. JEROME finally catches up with IRENE. She

turns, unsurprised by his appearance. Standing beside her, he

looks out over the complex as if he too has come for the view.

JEROME:

(eyes fixed on the view)

We were looking at each other. You stopped.

Irene, also keeps her gaze ahead.

IRENE:

I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything.

JEROME:

(shrugging as if it makes

no difference to him)

We were just looking.

IRENE:

I know about you.

Jerome turns to her, startled, trying to read her face. Irene

takes a deep breath and abruptly plucks a long, dark hair from

her head.

IRENE:

(offering the hair to Jerome)

Here, take it.

Jerome, confused, takes the hair - more in reflex than intent.

IRENE:

(a challenge)

If you're still interested, let me know.

Jerome contemplates the hair in his fingers for a moment, then

deliberately lets it fall to the grounf.

JEROME:

(never taking his eyes from her)

Sorry, the wind caught it.

Irene meets his gaze. There is not a breath of wind. The

hair lies, plainly visible on the ground.

EXT. GATTACA AEROSPACE COMPLEX. AFTERNOON.

As JEROME and IRENE walk between the wind turbines, Jerome

pretends not to notice that Irene keeps furtively checking the

pulse on her wrist. They pause in the shade.

JEROME:

(as if making conversation)

Have they found our friend?

IRENE:

Friend?

JEROME:

(shrugs)

It was a mercy-killing after all.

IRENE:

They found an eyelash.

JEROME:

Where?

IRENE:

In the South Wing.

JEROME:

Does it have a name?

IRENE:

Just some In-Valid. Vincent--

(trying to come up with the last name)

--somebody.

Jerome turns away to disguise his alarm. He quickly recovers.

JEROME:

Perhaps we ought to celebrate, Irene.

IRENE:

(a smile playing around her lips)

You celebrate, Jerome?

INT. EUGENE'S CONDO. NIGHT.

EUGENE talks irritably on the phone, examining a container from

a newly opened case of hair bleach.

EUGENE:

(into phone)

--I know what I ordered. I ordered "Honey

Dawn" and you sent me "Summer Wheat".

JEROME descends the staircase, taking the steps two at a time.

He immediately goes to the refrigerator, removing trays of

samples. Eugene abruptly hangs up the phone.

JEROME (OC)

Call German.

EUGENE:

Any particular reason?

JEROME:

(collecting up sample bags from

the work bench)

We can't stay here.

EUGENE:

What are you talking about?

JEROME:

They think I offed the Director.

Eugene wheels himself over to Jerome, unconcerned.

EUGENE:

What makes them think that?

JEROME:

They found my eyelash.

EUGENE:

(a flicker of anxiety)

Where?

JEROME:

In a corridor.

EUGENE:

(blasÈ once again)

Could be worse. They could have found

it in your eye.

Jerome half-smiles despite the situation.

JEROME:

(resuming his collection of samples)

Come on--we're taking off.

EUGENE:

I'm not going anywhere. Less than a week to go.

Not on your life--

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