Logan's Run Page #17

301X22ACLOSEUP - A CAT SQUALLING OUT INTO CAMERA

301X23CLOSEUP - LOGAN AND JESSICA

React, then they enter Senate and stop and look.

301X24INT. - SENATE - OVER LOGAN AND JESSICA'S BACK - A WHITE

HAIRED MAN OF S SIXTY-PLUS

There are HUNDREDS OF CATS...and THOUSANDS OF BOOKS all over the

place.

JESSICA (frowning;

whispering)

Look at his face...and his hair...

(grimacing)

Is that what it is to grow old?

LOGAN (still stunned)

It could be...

There are a COUPLE OF CATS on the man's lap as he turns and faces

Logan and Jessica...when he HEARS them move closer.

The man is stroking the cats calmly...unperturbed by the appearance

of Logan and Jessica.

LOGAN:

How old are you?

MAN:

As old as I am I suppose...who

knows ?

LOGAN:

Your hair is white.

MAN:

It wasn't always. I remember when

it wasn't. But it wasn't your

color either.

(looking at Jessica)

...or yours. I have my color somewhere.

JESSICA:

Those cracks in your face...do they hurt?

MAN:

Oh, no...

JESSICA:

Could I touch them?

MAN:

Oh, my...please try.

Jessica walks up to the man and touches his face.

JESSICA:

What's your name?

MAN:

I've forgotten. It's been so

long since I've used it.

Logan and Jessica exchange a quick glance...feeling they have come

upon a nutsy, fruitsy cupcake.

MAN:

But all of my cats have names.

LOGAN:

Is that what they're called--

cats?

OLD MAN:

Yes, cats, of course. What else

could they be? Cats. Of course

each one has his own name too.

JESSICA:

But there are so many of them.

Do you know each one separately.

OLD MAN:

Yes indeed, everyone. Actually,

they all have three.

(reciting)

"The naming of cats is a difficult

matter. It isn't just one of your

holiday games. You may think at

first I'm mad as a hatter when I

tell you a cat must have THREE

DIFFERENT NAMES."

(a beat)

An ordinary name and a fancy name.

That's two. Do you want to guess

what the third one is?

Logan and Jessica are silent.

OLD MAN (reciting again)

"But above and beyond there's

still one name left over,

And that is the name that you

never will guess;

The name that no human research

can discover -- -

But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and

will never confess."

(reaching down and

stroking another cat)

Will you, my pet?

One of the cats jumps off his lap.

OLD MAN (reciting)

"Why did you go little fourpaws?

You forgot to shut your big eyes."

(the man closes his

eyes for a moment; then:)

"I have a Gumble Cat in mind!"

As the man opens his eyes:

LOGAN:

How long have you been living

here?

OLD MAN:

For as long as I can remember.

LOGAN:

What kind of place is this?

OLD MAN:

Just a place, I suppose...who

knows?

The man looks puzzled.

LOGAN:

How did you get here?

OLD MAN:

I have always been here...

LOGAN:

Are there any other humans?

OLD MAN:

Gracious...no.

LOGAN:

Have any other people ever passed

through?

The man shakes his head...then:

OLD MAN:

But there may be a few around somewhere.

LOGAN:

What makes you think so?

OLD MAN:

My parents thought so. Mother and

Father. You know?

LOGAN (astonished)

Mother and -- ? You knew your mother

and father?

The man nods.

JESSICA:

And...and how were you grown? Inside

your mother?

OLD MAN:

Yes...

JESSICA:

Are you sure?

OLD MAN:

Mother and Father said so... you know?

LOGAN:

Where are they?

OLD MAN:

Dead...they're dead...and buried.

JESSICA (not knowing

what it is)

Buried???

Logan wheels...as he HEARS THE NOISE OF A DOOR SQUEAKING

SLIGHTLY...as it opens a bit wider:

302CLOSE ON A CAT

Coming through the opening - did he push it?

303CLOSE ON THE MAN

OLD MAN (pleased;

reciting)

"Gus is the cat at the theatre door.

His name, as I ought to have told

you before, Is really Asparagus.

That's such a fuss To pronounce,

that we usually call him just Gus."

306WIDER ANGLE - INCLUDING LOGAN AND JESSICA

OLD MAN:

May I see your hand again?

Logan and Jessica extend their left hands. The Old Man takes them,

looks from one to another with delight.

OLD MAN:

They're beautiful. May I have

one too please?

LOGAN:

No--I'm sorry. It's not possible.

OLD MAN (offended)

It isn't fair. I'll give you one

of my favorite cats...a Jellicle

cat.

(reciting)

"Jellicle cats have cheerful faces,

Jellicle cats have bright black eyes;

They like to practice their airs and graces

And wait for the Jellicle Moon to rise."

LOGAN:

I'm sorry but I don't have anything to

give you.

As the man continues to look petulant:

JESSICA (simply;

sincerely)

That's the truth.

Jessica takes off a ring and hands it to the man.

JESSICA:

Here you can have this.

The man seems pleased.

OLD MAN:

What kind of jewel is this?

JESSICA:

I don't know.

OLD MAN:

You're both full of secrets like

Macavity.

(looking at the ring)

Did you steal this?

JESSICA:

No.

OLD MAN:

(reciting)

"Macavity, Macavity, there's no

one like Macavity,

There never was a cat of such

deceitfulness and suavity."

LOGAN:

What's beyond this place - do you

know?

OLD MAN:

No, no, no

LOGAN:

Did your Mother or Father ever

mention another place?

OLD MAN:

Never, never, ever. Nothing.

After a pause:

LOGAN:

May we stay here for a while?

We'd like to rest.

OLD MAN:

Of course you can stay. This

belongs to the people.

JESSICA:

What belongs to the people?

OLD MAN:

All this. All of it.

JESSICA:

What people?

OLD MAN:

I don't know...but it does.

The man stands...and starts walking toward a door to an adjoining

room.

OLD MAN:

I'll be right back.

(stopping)

Oh, yes...about the cats...

one rule is true:

(reciting)

"Don't speak till you are spoken to."

The man smiles and leaves.

305LOGAN AND JESSICA

Logan clears two chairs of cats and they sit down.

Jessica picks up a book and starts leafing through it.

Logan is deep in thought.

Jessica looks up from the book.

JESSICA (quietly)

How curious people used to be --

All these books...

Silence...until:

LOGAN:

That sweet madman -- how could he

Come to exist?

JESSICA:

He had a mother and father --

and he knew them.

LOGAN:

One in a million, I suppose

LOGAN AND JESSICA (together;

smiling)

...Who knows?

JESSICA (after a beat)

We're going on, aren't we?

LOGAN:

(shaking his head)

There's nothing to go on to, Jessica.

Logan continues to shake his head through Jessica's following line:

JESSICA:

There's a Sanctuary...there is!

LOGAN:

You want there to be one...that

Doesn't...

JESSICA (interrupting;

urgent tone)

There has to be! I know it exists! It

has to!!

LOGAN (gently)

No, there doesn't. Not really --just so

many want it to exist...so many who

don't want to die...want it so much

that a place called Sanctuary becomes

"real". But it doesn't exist. It never

existed. Just the hope.

JESSICA (becoming

hysterical)

You're wrong!! It has to be!!

It Just has to be!!

As Logan takes her in his arms...comforting her:

306FULL ANGLE - INCLUDING THE MAN

The man returns with a portrait in hand.

OLD MAN:

Oh, my don't cry.

The man proudly shows them the portrait....which is a portrait of

himself in his twenties. He sort of brushes the hair...which is rich

auburn.

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