Nick of Time Page #13

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WAITER M (O.S.)

Gentlemen...

The WAITER offers a tray of hors d'houvres.

MR. SMITH

Yeah, thanks. Have a cracker.

GENE shakes his head.

MR. SMITH

Have a cracker, Mr. Watson.

GENE woodenly takes one. The WAITER moves on.

MR. SMITH

There was this guy. Big guy. Irish-

Italian. Red-faced, black-haired,

jolly son-of-a-b*tch.

We see them from a distance - just a couple guys chatting.

MR. SMITH

Nobody could make me laugh like him.

We closed more bars together than I

can count. He was my pal. I loved

that crazy mick, I'm not ashamed to

say it. But he was f***-up. He had

this image of himself. Thought he

was con man. Always trying to shave

the edge. Nickel and dime. I'll always

miss him. Tell me why.

GENE:

What...?

MR. SMITH

Tell me why I miss him.

GENE:

He's dead?

MR. SMITH

That's right. He's dead. Tell me

why.

GENE:

How should I...?

MR. SMITH

Tell me why he's dead.

GENE stares at him for a beat.

GENE:

You killed him.

MR. SMITH

That's right, I killed him. He f***ed

up one too many times so I put a

bullet in his eye. Then I put two

more into him just to make sure. Now

that was somebody I loved.

He moves in on GENE, crowding him. He breathes hard, looks

like one insane piece of work.

MR. SMITH

I loved that motherf***er but I got

the call and I put him down like a

sick animal. So if you've got any

doubts about what's going to happen

if you don't deliver let me tell you

something. I'd make gravy out of

your little girl just to season that

black Irish cocksucker's meat.

A wave of applause catches their attention.

ANGLE ON ELEANOR GRANT

She and her entourage enter the Pool Deck and walk toward

the platform. ELEANOR GRANT gladhands people on the way.

ANGLE ON MR. SMITH - 12:45PM

He turns' back to GENE.

MR. SMITH

Do what you're supposed to do. Do it

now.

He grabs GENE and gives him a push. There is a general

movement in the crowd toward the platform. GENE is buffeted

along. MR. SMITH follows him, keeping him in sight, but then

a PACK OF PHOTOGRAPHERS move in, start snapping, lifting

their cameras high to shoot over the crowd. MR. SMITH

instinctively turns away, hiding his face. He moves around

the PHOTOGS and finds himself separated from GENE by the

mob. He searches, trying to spot him.

MR. SMITH

Sh*t!

ANGLE ON GENE - 12:4 6PM

In the crowd, GENE is bumped this way and that. His face

displays an inner devastation. His eyes focus desperately on

something ahead:

It is the back of ELEANOR GRANT'S head. She is turning this

way and that, greeting supporters.

GENE's hand slides into his pocket, grips the gun. He is at

the end of his rope. He is going to do it.

ANGLE ON ROSTRUM

A local POLITICO mounts the platform, taps the microphone.

LOCAL POLITICO Can I have your attention Please! Please

welcome a man who was for 19 years the distinguished Mayor

of Los Angeles. The honorable Tom Bradley.

The CROWD reacts loudly, yells and whistles. GENE-pushes his

way forward.

TOM BRADLEY:

It is my extreme pleasure this

afternoon to introduce to you...

ANGLE ON GENE - 12:4 6PM

He is now a few yards from ELEANOR GRANT. He comes up against

the SECURITY MAN who gave him the once-over with the metal

detector. The man's eyes slide over him, then he looks away.

He nonchalantly steps aside, moves off through the CROWD.

TOM BRADLEY:

...a woman who can only be

characterized as a one-of-a-kind.

GENE is close to ELEANOR GRANT. She is just a few bodies

away, visible between them. His hand moves in his pocket. He

swallows. The impulse sweeps over him and...

KRISTA (O.S.)

Feeling better?

KRISTA BROOKS, the young woman from the elevator is next to

him, smiling. He looks at her in confusion.

TOM BRADLEY:

An iconoclast with class...

KRISTA:

The elevator. You weren't feeling

well.

GENE looks at ELEANOR GRANT.

TOM BRADLEY:

A genuine lady who's not afraid to

get into the trenches...

KRISTA:

Are you better now?

GENE turns, scans the crowd - no sign of MR. SMITH.

TOM BRADLEY:

...and go to the mat with greedy

special interests...

GENE looks at KRISTA, studies her intensely. She's a bit

unnerved.

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