Gattaca Page #22

INT. GATTACA. DAY.

JEROME exits the testing lab with the gauze held to his arm.

IRENE is standing outside the door.

IRENE:

So you didn't do it after all.

JEROME:

(joking darkly)

I guess somebody beat me to it.

INT. GATTACA - MEZZANINE FLOOR. LATER IN THE DAY.

From above, the INVESTIGATOR and HUGO observe the final EMPLOYEE

exit the testing lab.

LAMAR, following the employee out of the lab, throws a look of

vindication to the two cops.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

That's the last.

INVESTIGATOR:

Something's not right.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(losing his patience)

He's not here. It's a blind alley.

INVESTIGATOR:

(resolute)

No, we've missed something. We Hoover again.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

We don't have the manpower.

INVESTIGATOR:

Get it. From outside, if you have to.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

From what budget?

INVESTIGATOR:

(angered by Hugo's excuses)

I'll take it out of your damn pension if

you question my authority one more time!

The INVESTIGATOR turns his back on his subordinate and idly

contemplates the nearby telescope. Hugo resignedly relays the

news to Director Josef who is standing some distance away.

Josef's immediate reaction is to march towards the Investigator,

Hugo trailing behind. DIRECTOR JOSEF collects himself as he

notices the Investigator's hand on the telescope.

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

Would you care to look--in the telescope?

INVESTIGATOR:

Thank you, no.

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

(still referring to the telescope)

One look through there and you would know why

I can't possibly allow you to disrupt operations

any further.

INVESTIGATOR:

(unfazed)

You're so unconcerned that you have a killer

in your midst.

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

Right now, your presence is creating more of

a threat. I don't think you have any concept

of what we do here--how meticulous our

preparations must be. We are about to send

twelve people through 140 million miles of

blackness to rendezvous with an object the size

of a house and the color of coal. So it's rather

critical to point them in the right direction.

And we certainly don't need you looking over our

shoulders. Besides, I don't believe there is

any evidence that the killer is amongst us. I

don't see too many other dead bodies littering

the place.

INVESTIGATOR:

(surveying the mostly empty facility)

No, but since there aren't too many live ones

tonight either, you won't mind us conducting one

further sweep. If he does not work here, then

there should be no other trace of him.

(to Hugo)

I think you'd better get some people out of bed,

Detective.

(a thought occurs)

In the meantime we can re-check his favorite

haunt.

Director Josef quietly seethes.

INVESTIGATOR:

(to Josef, referring to the telescope)

You see, Director, I prefer my microscope.

INT. EUGENE'S CONDOMINIUM. DAY.

JEROME readies himself for an evening out - a bandage around his

arm from the needle puncture. EUGENE wheels himself in.

EUGENE:

Where are we going?

JEROME:

(slightly guilty)

I'm sorry. I've got plans.

EUGENE:

(feigning hurt)

Again?

JEROME:

(referring to his bandage)

She's already got her doubts. I have to act

like nothing's wrong.

EUGENE:

I'm sure you'll be very convincing.

Jerome ignores the remark.

EUGENE:

Where are you taking her?

JEROME:

Michael's.

Eugene looks at him askance.

JEROME:

Everybody goes there.

EUGENE:

(incredulous, glancing around the room)

You may as well invite her here.

JEROME:

(afterthought as he picks up his jacket)

Will you be okay?

EUGENE:

Don't worry about your little pin cushion.

To be honest, I'm looking forward to having

the place to myself.

JEROME:

(seeing through the bravado)

We'll still be able to talk when I'm away.

The conversation will just keep getting longer.

EUGENE:

How long?

JEROME:

By the time I'm at the Belt, you phone and

say, "How are you?" Forty-five minutes

later I reply, "Not bad. How are you?"

EUGENE:

I guess I'd better have something important

to say if it takes that long to get an answer.

INT. MICHAEL'S CLUB. NIGHT.

IRENE and JEROME step off the dance floor of the smoky, decadent

dinner club and take a seat at their table. Irene is agog at

the strange assortment of PATRONS, the cigars, the laden dessert

trolleys. It is all slightly off from the pristine world she is

accustomed to.

IRENE:

What is this place?

JEROME:

(wry smile, enjoying her fascination)

You've never been here?

(a dessert trolley is wheeled up)

Let me order for you.

Jerome selects a chocolate torte from the trolley. Jerome

savors a spoonful. Irene is tempted but then remembers herself.

IRENE:

I'd better not.

She reaches for her elegant pill box. Jerome takes another

spoonful.

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