Gattaca Page #18

EXT. IN-VALID HOUSING PROJECT. NIGHT.

The music from the piano recital continues under the following

contrasting action. A huge, brooding housing project. PEOPLE

hang around on street corners. Menace in the air - a feeling of

impending violence.

Suddenly unmarked police cars appear from all directions,

blocking any escape route. Dozens of PLAINCLOTHES DETECTIVES

pour out of the cars and onto the street.

People scatter, many running straight into the arms of the

Detectives. OTHERS, spilling out of the housing project, are

also immediately apprehended.

The Detectives quickly weed out those suspects not fitting

Jerome's description - WOMEN, OLD MEN and TEENAGERS. They are

shepherded off the street. A line of IN-VALIDS is formed

several hundred yards long. Detectives begin to laboriously

move along the line, taking finger-prick blood samples from each

suspect - instantly confirming their identities with portable

analyzers worn on their hips.

As if having the idea at the same time, TWO SEPARATE MEN

suddenly bolt from the line, knowing that their blood will

incriminate them. Other Detectives, watching for such escape

attempts, esaily apprehend them and escort them to a waiting

police van.

With the raid under control, DETECTIVE HUGO indicates to the

INVESTIGATOR that it is safe to exit his car. The Investigator

appears irritated, only half-glancing at the TWO MEN already in

custody, apparently certain that neither one is his suspect.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(enthusiastic)

Not our fish, but sometihng stuck in the net.

The Investigator clearly does not share Hugo's enthusiasm. The

Detective offers the Investigator an age enhanced photograph,

computer-generated from the last existing photo of VINCENT as

a 20-year-old.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

This is the age enhancement we're working with.

The Investigator ignores the photo, preferring instead to trust

his own eye as he wanders along the line of suspects.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(referring to the line-up)

As you requested, we've kept the parameters

wider than usual.

The MEN they scrutinize are hardly mutants - the differences

between an IN-VALID and a DAN are subtle at best. Some shorter,

some wearing glasses, some with receding hairlines or bald, many

with no discernable physical difference at all. The

Investigator is only halfway down the line before he turns and

starts walking back to his car.

The mystified Detective Hugo follows his superior.

INVESTIGATOR:

We're in the wrong place. We're wasting time.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

This is the most likely location--

The Investigator wheels on Hugo, suddenly angry, clearly unused

to having his judgement questioned.

INVESTIGATOR:

--There's that word again. I have a feeling

This man doesn't play the odds, Detective. Not

exactly a slave to probability. Is it "likely"

that a man who has successfully eluded authorities for

fifteen years--a brutal killer--is going to come

to us now like a lamb?

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(taken aback by the outburst)

Is there something more we should know about this

suspect, Sir? I mean besides what's on his sheet.

INVESTIGATOR:

Since going underground, traces of this In-Valid

have shown up at the scene of four serious

felonies. Do you need any more than that?

DETECTIVE HUGO:

With respect, Sir, many perfectly innocent

citizens have left specimens at as many crime

scenes. Maybe he's just unlucky.

INVESTIGATOR:

I don't like anybody this unlucky.

(pause)

Widen the sweep. The West side. Draw a five mile

radius around Gattaca. Hoover some of the classier

establishments. Random car stops.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

We're already getting complaints about

frivolous search.

INVESTIGATOR:

This is a murder investigation. The public

should be happy to co-operate, to get this

disease off the streets.

INT. CONCERT HALL. NIGHT.

A standing ovation. The YOUNG PIANIST on the stage bows deeply,

soaking up the applause of the AUDIENCE. The pianist tosses one

of his white gloves into the front row where it is caught by an

adoring FAN. The second glove he tosses up to the box where

JEROME and IRENE are standing. Jerome snares the glove out of

the air and immediately hands it to Irene. She promptly slips

the glove on her own hand.

The glove fits snugly over her five fingers. However one finger

of the glove remains unfilled. Jerome is stunned to realize

that it is a six-fingered glove.

IRENE:

(catching his look of astonishment)

You didn't know?

JEROME:

(trying hard to convince)

Yes...yes...

IRENE:

(picking up a resentment, confused)

You're angry--

JEROME:

Why would I be angry? It was beautiful.

He quickly turns away to lead the applause. On stage, the

pianist raises his hands to acknowledge the crowd. Both his

hands contain a perfectly formed extra finger.

INT. IN-VALID HOUSING PROJECT - PROSTITUTE'S BOUDOIR. NIGHT.

From an upstairs window we observe the INVESTIGATOR's car

cruise slowly back into the squalid housing project. A MAN is

buckling his pants at the window.

JOHN:

Sh*t! One of those Hoovers is back.

A prostitute, VALERIE, a slender, sylphlike beauty, joins him at

the window.

VALERIE:

It's alright. He's here to see me.

Her client looks at her askance. Despite her assurances, he

hurries into his clothes anyway.

VALERIE:

(to an unseen woman in the next room)

Sonja, I can't see anyone else tonight.

INT. IN-VALID HOUSING PROJECT - PROSTITUTE'S BOUDOIR. NIGHT.

The INVESTIGATOR, sits up in the bed, glass in his hand.

VALERIE lies on the tangled sheets, naked, making no effort to

cover herself. She regards the Investigator curiously.

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