Gattaca Page #17

JEROME:

--You don't understand, they'll make the

connection, they'll hoover again. We should

cut our losses.

EUGENE:

(angrily grabbing a tray from Jerome's hands)

Where is your head, Jerome? You're acting

like a guilty man. They won't marry the eyelash

to you. They won't believe that one of their

elite navigators could have suckered them for the

last five years.

JEROME:

They'll recognize me.

EUGENE:

(scoffing)

How could they recognize you?

(referring to the torn photo of

20-year-old Vincent on the wall)

I don't recognize you. Anyway, you don't have a

choice. You run, you may as well sign a confession,

turn us both in right now. No, we stick this out--

find out what we can but change nothing. This is

a minor inconvenience is all it is. We've taken

worse heat than this.

(angry now)

Jesus, if I'd known you were going to go

belly up on me at the last f***ing gasp, I

wouldn't have bothered. You can't quit on me

now. I've put too much into this.

(returning the samples to the fridge)

Besides, this stuff is mine. I had other offers,

you know. I could have rented myself out to

somebody with a spine. You want me to wheel in

there and finish the job myself?

(meeting Jerome's gaze)

We'll take off all right, from pad 18 just like

we planned.

Jerome slumps down in a chair, Eugene's tirade starting to get

to him.

EUGENE:

And keep your lashes on your lids where

they belong. How could you be so careless?

JEROME:

I'm sorry.

(reluctant admission)

I think I was crying.

Eugene is uncomfortable at the notion.

EUGENE:

Well save those tears.

Jerome shrugs awkwardly and pours them both a drink.

JEROME:

You really had other offers?

EUGENE:

(shrugs)

I'm sure I could have.

INT. CONDOMINIUM - INCINERATOR. NIGHT.

The naked JEROME scrapes away at his skin with even greater

ferocity than usual. After exiting the incinerator, he deposits

all the incriminating trash he has collected during the day into

the furnace and ignites the gas.

INT. EUGENE'S CONDOMINIUM. NIGHT.

From outside, a car horn sounds. JEROME, in a formal suit and

spectacles, abruptly enters the condominium. He goes to a

closet and starts searching through Eugene's clothes.

JEROME:

Mind if I borrow a tie?

EUGENE is more interested in the car parked outside the

condominium. IRENE sits in a convertible Citroen DS, dressed in

a classic but provocative black suit. Unaware that she is being

observed she touches up her lipstick in the rearview mirror.

EUGENE:

So it's not just the Hoovers who've got

you rattled.

JEROME:

You're the one who said not to change anything.

She's my ear to the investigation.

EUGENE:

(skeptical)

Is that all?

JEROME:

I've got enough on my mind without that.

EUGENE:

If you say so.

(referring to the ties in Jerome's hand)

The stripe.

JEROME:

(agreeing with the selection)

Good choice.

Jerome fumbles with the knot. From his chair, Eugene knots

Jerome's tie for him. Jerome is intrigued that for once Eugene

is abstaining - he has not touched his drink.

JEROME:

Not thirsty?

(referring to the fridge)

We've got enough virgin samples to last us the week.

EUGENE:

I don't feel too good. I think I'm still

drunk from last night.

JEROME:

Never stopped you before.

(regarding Eugene's head)

And for God's sake stop plucking your hair.

Someone went to a lot of trouble to make sure

you wouldn't go bald.

EUGENE:

If I were you I'd worry about myself.

(nodding to Jerome's spectacles)

Haven't you forgotten something?

Jerome pockets the spectacles and enters the bathroom for his

contact lenses. The horn sounds outside the window a second

time and Jerome hastily exits. We stay with Eugene. Irene

catches a glimpse of him before he moves away from the window.

Jerome emerges from the building.

As the couple drive away, Eugene wheels himself to the full

length mirror. He regards his own reflection for a moment and

opens the mirror - a disguised door opening into the adjacent

apartment. A cloud of condensed water vapor billows out.

GERMAN, the DNA Broker, emerges with an ENGINEER.

He sends the engineer on his way and joins Eugene at his desk.

Eugene hands German a credit card that he wipes through his

computer.

GERMAN:

We still need to overhaul the back-up generator.

(fixing Eugene with a penetrating stare)

What's going on, Eugene, I thought he was going

away, not you--you going on vacation?

EUGENE:

(looking away)

You got it, German.

GERMAN:

(nodding thoughtfully)

You deserve it.

INT. CONCERT HALL - AUDITORIUM. NIGHT.

JEROME and IRENE step over feet, apologizing as they go,

eventually finding their seats in a box in a sold-out concert

hall.

On the stage below, a YOUNG PIANIST - a teenage prodigy - has

already taken his place at the keys of a grand piano. The

pianist removes his white gloves and begins to play - an

extremely complex and beautiful piece we have never heard

before. IRENE looks to JEROME. He is clearly caught up in the

music.

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