Gattaca Page #25

Irene considers the idea. She enters Gattaca alone.

INT. GATTACA AEROSPACE CORPORATION - COMPUTER COMPLEX. DAY.

IRENE prepares a stack of ID photos of CREW MEMBERS for the

INVESTIGATOR. She closely inspects the doctored photo of

JEROME, hesitating before adding it to the file.

The camera dwells on JEROME's vacant work station. The

INVESTIGATOR curiously regards the empty chair. He is

accompanied by DETECTIVE HUGO, DIRECTOR JOSEF and IRENE.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

He's the only absentee.

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

A little nausea. Quite common.

INVESTIGATOR:

At least it's nothing contagious.

DIRECTOR JOSEF:

(unduly agitated)

I will not permit any further testing on the

eve of a mission. We're already counting

backwards.

The INVESTIGATOR ignores Josef and takes a pocket knife from his

jacket. He prises out the "ESC" key from Jerome's keyboard,

places the key in a specimen bag and deposits it in his jacket.

IRENE:

(picking up a phone)

I'll call and let him know.

The Investigator gently but firmly removes the phone from

Irene's hand and replaces the receiver in the cradle.

INVESTIGATOR:

Let's not spoil the surprise.

(to Irene)

I understand you can show us the way.

The anxious Director Josef calls out to protest one further

time but the Investigator is on his way out of the door.

EXT. STREET OUTSIDE GATTACA. DAY.

Outside the entrance to Gattaca, trying to hail a taxi, JEROME

is startled to see a car carrying the INVESTIGATOR, DETECTIVE

HUGO and IRENE roar out of the driveway. JEROME calls on his

portable wristphone.

INT. EUGENE'S CONDOMINIUM. DAY.

EUGENE, at his window, filling sachets as usual, hesitates

before answering the phone.

EUGENE:

Hello?

JEROME (OC)

How would you like to be yourself for the day?

EUGENE:

(nonchalant)

I was never very good at it, remember?

INT. EUGENE'S CONDOMINIUM / HALLWAY. DAY.

With a look of resolve, EUGENE hangs up the phone.

He wheels his chair up to the sweeping staircase and regards the

first of many dozen steps. The daunting staircase spirals away

above him.

INT. INVESTIGATOR'S CAR. DAY.

HUGO drives. The INVESTIGATOR looks to IRENE in the rear seat.

INVESTIGATOR:

(taunting)

You don't know who he is, do you, Irene?

He hands her the pill box found in Michael's.

INVESTIGATOR:

You think you have problems?

INT. EUGENE'S CONDO/JEROME'S CONDO. DAY.

Having wheeled his chair out of sight, EUGENE eases himself out

of his wheelchair and onto the floor. Using his elbows,

commando-style, dragging his lifeless legs behind him, he

proceeds to crawl across the floor and up the first step of the

long spiral staircase. We observe his agonizingly slow progress

up a staircase that, from Eugene's point of view, appears to

have doubled in length.

EXT. CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX. DAY.

The INVESTIGATOR and DETECTIVE HUGO emerge from their car with

IRENE in tow. They take in the impressive complex - the

Investigator gets a glimpse of the empty pool. They approach

the intercom at the entrance.

INT. JEROME'S CONDOMINIUM. DAY.

EUGENE, bathed in sweat, finally crests the landing of the

staircase. No respite. As he drags himself across the floor

the internal phone rings. He frantically stretches up and

knocks the phone off its hook so he can talk from his prone

position on the floor.

INT. CONDOMINIUM - LOBBY. DAY.

IRENE is on the phone, closely watched by the INVESTIGATOR and

DETECTIVE HUGO.

EUGENE (OC)

(through intercom, no trace of his distress)

Hello.

IRENE:

(a moment's hesitation)

Jerome--?

EUGENE:

Hello, sweatheart. Come on up.

INT. JEROME'S CONDOMINIUM. DAY.

With no mean effort, EUGENE finally manages to replace the phone

on its cradle. He desperately crawls up onto the sofa.

However, spying the upright vacuum cleaner in the open closet,

he is forced to crawl there and remove the vacuum bag. He

frantically crawls back towards the sofa and stuffs the bag

behind a cushion.

INT. JEROME'S CONDOMINIUM. DAY.

IRENE enters the door deliberately left ajar, closely followed

by the INVESTIGATOR and DETECTIVE HUGO. EUGENE is propped up on

the sofa, TV remote control placed in his useless hand to cover

his paralysis. He has a stainless steel bowl next to him and

has crossed his lifeless legs for a more natural effect. Eugene

calmy motions the confused Irene towards him.

EUGENE:

Where's my kiss?

The Investigator scrutinizes Irene's reaction. With only the

merest hesitation she takes her cue from Eugene and kisses

him affectionately on the forehead. She perches herself on the

arm of the sofa. Eugene takes the opportunity to rest his

arm on her leg.

IRENE:

Good to see you're feeling better.

EUGENE:

Now you're here. Who are your "friends"?

IRENE:

It's about the Director.

EUGENE:

(feigning boredom)

Again?

The Investigator slowly circles Eugene, regarding him with the

utmost scrutiny. He compares his face to the doctored Gattaca

ID photo - a passable likeness. Eugene bends towards the bowl

and dry retches.

EUGENE:

Forgive me for not getting up.

Irene puts a comforting hand on Eugene's shoulder.

IRENE:

(to the Investigator)

Couldn't we do this another time?

INVESTIGATOR:

I don't believe so.

Detective Hugo takes a seat in the chair beside the sofa and

unpacks a syringe from the kit he carries.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

This won't take a moment.

Detective Hugo swabs Eugene's inner arm. All eyes are trained

on the tip of the needle as it punctures the vein.

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