Mission: Impossible Page #23

PHELPS (O/S)

(assembling gun in sleeping

compartment)

Iíll be there.

MAX hangs up and hands the phone to MATTHIAS who slots it

into the briefcase next to the computer. He dials a number

on the keyboard and pushes send. The computer emits a DIAL

TONE. Her computer flashes a message.

MODEM DENIED:

MAX:

Whatís the problem.

MATTHIAS:

Connection denied.

MAX:

Try it again.

MATTHIAS:

Itís not working.

MAX:

Is something wrong with the phone?

(Pause as he tries the phone)

Well is something wrong with the

batteries?

MATTHIAS:

I always check the batteries.

MAX:

Run it through from the top.

INT. REAR CAR (SLEEPING COMPARTMENT) - MOVING - DAY

The MAN assembling the gun CLICKS the last piece, the

silencer, into place.

INT. CAR (NEXT TO MAXíS CAR) - MOVING - DAY

KITTRIDGE and BARNES looking - stop in doorway.

BARNES:

Nothing but civilians, Gene.

KITTRIDGE:

This is bullshit - we donít even know

what Max looks like.

BARNES:

Maybe we donít have to know what he looks

like. If heís got that list, heís going

to want to check it. We should be

looking for laptops.

KITTRIDGE:

Good idea.

INT. BUSINESS CAR - (LUTHER) - MOVING - DAY

LUTHER sees them coming. He smacks the laptop shut and

positions his jamming phone on the table to point at Maxís

computer. He gets up, taking his computer with him, headed

for the rear of the car. A WAITER sees the phone and goes

after LUTHER with it.

WAITER:

Excuse me, Sir, your telephone...

OTHER PASSENGERSí phones nearby go haywire. LUTHER looks to

MAX. Exits car.

INT. BUSINESS CAR - MOVING - (MAX) - DAY

Her dial tone finally hits the static of a computer

connection and the message on her screen changes:

TRANSFER IN PROGRESS

MATTHIAS:

Itís working.

MAX:

Phew! Weíve got five minutes...

INT. BUSINESS CAR - MOVING - DAY

LUTHER shuts himself in the bathroom. The OTHER MAN follows

him, tries the door and waits his moment. The OTHER MAN

bangs against the door. LUTHER braces himself against the

door.

INT. ANOTHER CAR - MOVING - DAY

CLAIRE walking through. She pauses to listen in her

earpiece.

ETHAN (O/S)

Iíve got the money. Meet me in the

baggage car.

She walks on.

INT. BUSINESS CAR - MOVING - DAY

KITTRIDGE and BARNES are looking at the people in the

Business Car behind MAX. CLAIRE passes them by heading for

the last executive coach to get to Club and Baggage Car. She

passes the OTHER MAN at the bathroom door. He follows her.

KITTRIDGE:

Get this door open.

KITTRIDGE and BARNES have seen CLAIRE go through MAXíS

Business Car and past the OTHER MAN at the bathroom door.

They follow, but suspect the locked bathroom door and stop

there to listen.

INT. LAST EXECUTIVE CAR - MOVING - DAY

CLAIRE moves swiftly through the last car (after MAXíS car).

up into the Club Car and opens the door leading to the

BAGGAGE CAR. Goes in. The door slams shut.

KITTRIDGE:

Hello, Luther. Whereís Hunt?

LUTHER:

Mr. Kittridge, the NOC list is being

modemed off the train.

KITTRIDGE:

Where?

INT. REAR CAR - MOVING - DAY

CLAIRE enters a little breathless. Spotting PHELPíS profile

in the darkened car.

CLAIRE:

Ethanís right behind me. Listen to me

Jim. Is it such a good idea to kill him?

We take the money. Ethan takes the

blame. No-one else has seen you alive.

No-one will believe him.

ETHAN:

Of course - Iím sorry to hear you say

that Claire.

CLAIRE:

Ethan?

PHELPS:

Yes. Ethan Hunt, darling. Remember him?

Here PHELPS pulls out his assembled pistol.

CLAIRE:

You knew about Jim?

PHELPS:

Course he did. Just exactly when he knew

is something of a question. Before or

after I showed in London, mind telling

me, Ethan?

ETHAN:

Before London. But after you took the

Bible out of the Drake Hotel in Chicago.

PHELPS:

They stamped it, didnít they? Those damn

Gideons.

PHELPíS watch alarm goes off.

PHELPS:

Two minutes til Krieger shows. Thisíll

have to be quicker than Iíd like.

Certainly quicker than youíd like.

CLAIRE:

Ethan, if you knew about Jim?..Why..

PHELPS:

Why the masquerade? Why take the risk?

Well, Claire, youíve asked the question

and you are the answer.

ETHAN:

I knew about Jim.

PHELPS:

But, he didnít know about you. In all

fairness, Ethan, Claire was never

convinced her charms would work with you.

But I was supremely confident - having

tastes the goods. "Thou shall not covet

thy Neighbourís wife", Ethan. Oh, Ethan

is in love with you, Claire, make no

mistake about it. And like all the

worldís lovers, heís tortured by the

same, one pathetic question - "does she

feel the same way I do?"

JIM turns to CLAIRE.

PHELPS:

Well Claire do you? Have you been

exploiting his feelings or returning

them?

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