Nick of Time Page #14

---

TOM BRADLEY:

The finest Governor our state has

ever had...

Again GENE looks at ELEANOR GRANT. She's turning around,

facing the crowd, facing him.

TOM BRADLEY:

My friend and yours, Governor Eleanor

Grant!

ELEANOR GRANT raises her arms. A perfect target. The CROWD

roars as GENE turns back to KRISTA. He leans into her, speaks.

GENE:

My wife always said I had a problem

trusting people.

KRISTA:

Well, you can trust Eleanor Samara

Grant.

GENE:

You don't understand. I'm going to

trust you. And you have to trust me.

Krista looks at Gene.

KRISTA:

Yes, you're right, I don't understand.

GENE:

Look...my daughter ... she's going

to die...unless you can help me.

Krista assesses Gene, his desperate tone of voice. Obviously

a nut case. A well-dressed nut case, but a nut case

nevertheless. Krista, nervous, looks around for help.

KRISTA:

Sure, sure, I'll help you. Let me

get Mr. White. I'm sure he can assist

you, he's our...

Gene pulls the gun, holding it in Krista's sight only,

unnoticed by anyone else.

GENE:

(sotto voce)

No! You have to listen to me.

Krista stares wide-eyed at the gun, at Gene.

KRISTA:

I'm listening, I'm listening.

ANGLE ON THE ROSTRUM

ELEANOR GRANT takes over the microphone from the beaming

LOCAL POLITICO.

ELEANOR GRANT:

My friends, my good friends...

ANGLE ON THE CROWD

Gene and Krista are gone.

EXT. BEHIND THE PLATFORM - DAY - 12:47PM

Hidden by potted plants and campaign posters at the fringe

of the CROWD, GENE confronts KRISTA, covering her with the

pocketed gun. In the background, ELEANOR GRANT delivers a

ringing speech, accented with applause.

GENE:

Please...please...you have to believe

me... They have my daughter. They

want me to kill Eleanor Grant — or

they'll kill my daughter.

KRISTA tries to edge away.

KRISTA:

All right, let's just...let's get

security in on this.

GENE:

No! You can't! They're in on it.

KRISTA:

I don't see how they could be in on

it. They're the best. They're hand-

picked.

GENE:

I don't know. One of them is following

me. If he knew what I'd just told

you they'd...

GENE pulls the gun from his pocket. She recoils, thinking

he's going to shoot her.

GENE:

Look, how did I get in here with

this!?

KRISTA stares at the gun. She can't deny the fact.

KRISTA:

I don't know.

GENE:

You've got to trust me. I'm putting

my daughter's life in your hands.

She's only six. She's just a little

girl. Please, please, trust me.

KRISTA:

It's a little hard to trust you under

the circumstances.

GENE looks at her intently.

GENE:

You're right, it is.

(beat)

Here.

GENE offers KRISTA the gun. She is surprised, to say the

least. She takes it gingerly, with only the tips of her

fingers.

GENE:

Will you trust me now?

She stares at the gun, at the strange man.

KRISTA:

I guess I'll have to. Come on, there's

one person we can go to.

GENE:

The man following me has a walkie-

talkie. If he sees I'm not here he'll

call his partner. I do anything out

of line and he'll send the word to

kill my daughter.

KRISTA:

He'll think you're in the crowd until

the end of the speech. Wait a minute.

She steps closer to the platform/ listens. ELEANOR GRANT'S

voice is heard.

ELEANOR GRANT (O.S.)

...I remember that horrible night as

if it were yesterday. A phone call

pulling me out of sleep, the terrible

news...

KRISTA checks her watch.

12:
48.

ELEANOR GRANT (O.S.)

My husband and child senselessly

killed by a drunk driver.

KRISTA:

We've got about ten minutes.

GENE:

Are you sure?

KRISTA:

I've heard this speech a lot. Come

on. We'll take care of him. We will.

GENE:

But...

KRISTA:

Trust me. You asked me for help. Let

me help. Trust me.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes