Gattaca Page #26

EUGENE:

(reassuring to Irene, referring to

the blood flowing into the syringe)

It's okay. Maybe they can find out what I've got.

Under the Investigator's watchful eye, Detective Hugo withdraws

the syringe and immediately inserts a small amount of the blood

into the portable analyzer he wears. Naturally, it confirms

that Eugene is Jerome.

Irene does her best to conceal her shock. Hiding his

frustration, the Investigator distractedly tours the room while

Hugo packs up his gear. The Investigator idly toys with

the telescope pointed out of the window.

Next he wanders towards the closet and reaches for the doorknob.

INVESTIGATOR:

Mind if I take a leak?

EUGENE:

As long as you don't do it in my closet.

(nodding to the other side of the room)

Over there.

INT. JEROME'S CONDOMINIUM - BATHROOM. DAY.

The INVESTIGATOR immediately pulls a specimen bag from his

jacket pocket and closely inspects the stainless steel toilet

and sink. They are both spotless. The shower stall is also

scrupulously clean. He flushes the toilet and exits.

Lost in thought, the INVESTIGATOR approaches the closet again

and wheels out Jerome's upright vacuum cleaner. He is

disappointed a second time to find no vacuum bag inside. The

Investigator returns the vacuum cleaner to the closet and

produces a mini-vac from Detective Hugo's crime bag.

INVESTIGATOR:

(to Eugene, referring to ther mini-vac)

May I?

EUGENE:

Clean the whole house if you want.

IRENE:

(taking Eugene's lead)

Actually, the kitchen needs doing.

The Investigator switches on the mini-vac to take a specimen

from the floor, then promptly kills the machine. Looking down,

the Investigator notices the trail of Eugene's perspiration

on the highly polished floor leading to the spiral staircase.

Eugene, reading the Investigator's mind, goes to call out but

the words remain frozen on his tongue. Hugo follows his

superior as they start to descend the stairs. Irene and Eugene

are left staring at one another.

INT. CONDO - STAIRCASE. DAY.

JEROME catches the merest glimpse of the INVESTIGATOR and

DETECTIVE HUGO before he slips behind a doorway in Eugene's

condominium.

Jerome anxiously regards Eugene's empty wheelchair sitting

there. On the stairs, Hugo's phone rings.

DETECTIVE HUGO (OC)

(into phone, increasingly encouraged)

Yes?...Yes...yes...

The Investigator is already at the foot of the stairs in

Eugene's condo when the Detective calls to him.

DETECTIVE:

(urgent, to Investigator)

Come quickly. We have him.

The Investigator's eyes light up. He retraces his steps

up the staircase after Detective Hugo.

INT. JEROME'S CONDOMINIUM. DAY.

JEROME, white as a ghost, climbs the stairs, emerging into his

own condominium. He embraces the beaming EUGENE, still sitting

on the sofa.

JEROME:

(numb)

How are you, Jerome?

EUGENE:

Not bad, Jerome.

JEROME:

How the hell did you get here.

EUGENE:

(deadpan)

I could always walk. I've been faking it.

Jerome almost laughs, despite the situation. Only now does he

notice Irene on the other side of the room, her mind racing.

She looks at Jerome and Eugene together and runs from the

apartment.

JEROME:

(calling after her)

Irene.

Jerome goes to follow but Eugene stops him.

INT. CRIME LABORATORY. DAY.

An EXTREME CLOSE UP of dried blood - brittle and cracking - on

a pair of soiled latex gloves. A latex head mask, suit of

clothes and shoe covers are similarly caked. The INVESTIGATOR

and DETECTIVE HUGO watch as a white-coated FORENSIC TECHNICIAN

feeds a minute sample of the dried blood into an analyzer.

The INVESTIGATOR wanders over to a one-way glass window through

which he can observe DIRECTOR JOSEF, sitting numb but strangely

serene in an interrogation room. The Investigator, in a state

of shock himself, cannot yet bring himself to believe what is

plainly obvious.

INVESTIGATOR:

(gazing at the Director, struggling

to come to grips with the turn of events)

This can't be him.

The Detective regards his superior incredulously, intrigued that

he could still cling so stubbornly to his theory in the face of

such overwhelming evidence.

DETECTIVE HUGO:

(intrigued)

We found his spit in the dead director's eye.

He's signed a confession--supplied us with the

suit he wore on the night. What more do you

want?

INVESTIGATOR:

(a trace of desperation, grasping at straws)

Luca could still be an accomplice.

The Investigator turns away, unwilling or unable to accept the

explanation. Hugo regards the Investigator with a trace of

sympathy. He furtively retrieves the Investigator's tissue

from the trash.

INT. GATTACA. DAY.

JEROME sits in a formal briefing room with the other CREW

MEMBERS of his mission, receiving their final pre-flight

instructions. LAMAR looks on approvingly.

MISSION COMMANDER

--Finally, I'd like to welcome Navigator Morrow

on his debut mission--if we get lost out there,

nobody has a map of the heavens in his head like

Jerome.

Jerome looks up bashfully.

MISSION COMMANDER

(adopting a more serious tone)

I'm gratified that there is no longer a cloud

hanging over tomorrow's launch. Now we can put

this unpleasantness behind us and concentrate

on the task at hand. I don't have to tell you how

important this mission is--the Belt could hold

the key to the origin of life - why we are what

we are.

(injecting a note of levity)

I know many of you have been asking that

question about me for long enough.

(referring to a projected photograph

of a misshapen asteroid behind his head)

Gaspra--how could something so ugly hold so

many beautiful secrets?

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