Nick of Time Page #16

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KRISTA:

He got onto the pool deck with a

gun. How did he get past her Security

carrying a

MYSTERY MAN:

I see. Where is this gun?

KRISTA I:

Have it.

MYSTERY MAN:

Well, is it real? Do we know anything

about it?

KRISTA:

It looks real. I don't know anything

about guns.

MYSTERY MAN:

Could I see it?

KRISTA gets out the gun, wrapped in the handkerchief, hands

it to him. It lays in the palm of his hand. He unwraps it

awkwardly, examines it.

MYSTERY MAN:

My goodness. It certainly looks real.

He looks beyond them, towards the entrance to the suite.

MYSTERY MAN:

What's your opinion? You're the expert

in these matters, supposedly.

GENE turns, to see who he is talking to.

ANGLE ON DOORWAY - 12:.53PM

MR. SMITH stands by the open door. Before GENE can speak,

MR. SMITH moves. It is fluid and cohtroled and fast. He

marches across the room, detouring to grab a pillow from the

couch. He takes the gun, shoves" it- into the pillow and

goes face to face with KRISTA. She just has time to wonder

what is going on There is a double muffled gunshot. Shock

fills her eyes, she slides to the floor. GENE can only stand

there, unbelieving, freaked to the gills.

BRENDAN GRANT:

Jesus Christ!

MR. SMITH

(calmly, staring at

GENE)

Yeah, I'd say it's real.

MYSTERY MAN:

Are you out of your f***ing mind!?

The door opens. OFFICER TRUST slides in quickly.

OFFICER TRUST:

Somebody mind telling me...

(sees KRISTA's body))

What the hell happened!?

MR. SMITH

Help me get her off the rug.

OFFICER TRUST checks the hall, shuts the door. They begin to

drag her body to the bathroom. The MYSTERY MAN watches.

BRENDAN GRANT:

What have you done to me!? Christ

almighty!

GENE's eyes follow them. As if rousing from a sleep he comes

to life.

GENE:

No!

He tries to rush to the bathroom but MR. SMITH is right there,

gripping him. GENE struggles frantically, uselessly, watching

the bathroom door close. MR. SMITH is beyond anger. He grabs

GENE'S throat, muscles down. GENE grips the iron hand that's

cutting off his air.

MR. SMITH

You f***ed up.

MYSTERY MAN (O.S.)

That's enough.

The MYSTERY MAN grabs MR. SMITH'S arm, tries to pry him loose.

MR. SMITH is beyond reason.

MR. SMITH

You want me to kill your kid!? You

want me to kill you!?

GENE's eyes begin to roll back in his head. Everything begins

fading to black.

The blackness retreats in a rush and GENE finds himself

staring at the butt of MR. SMITH'S gun, visible under his

coat. He reaches for it, yanks it out, fires point-blank

into

MR. SMITH, again, again. MR. SMITH'S shocked face falls away.

GENE heads for the door.

MYSTERY MAN:

Don't let him go!

OFFICER TRUST steps between GENE and the door. GENE shoots

him down and is out the door.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

GENE stumbles out in the hall, gun in hand. He hurries down

the hall, looking back to see the MYSTERY MAN and a wounded

OFFICER TRUST spill out of Room 2503. The HALL OFFICER pulls

his weapon MYSTERY MAN Get him!

GENE fires at the HALL OFFICER who goes down. GENE rushes

down the hall. One of the guest room door's opens and a MAN

staggers out. It is a bloody, wounded MR. SMITH! GENE stops

in shock.

GENE:

I killed you.

MR. SMITH

You f***ed up.

And MR. SMITH grabs him by the collar and throws him over a

railing.

INT. THE LOBBY - MID-AIR - DAY

GENE is falling, falling. He passes the ascending elevator

and gets a glimpse of MS. JONES and LYNN, pressed against

the glass, her face a mask of terror. The floor rushes up to

meet GENE and...

INT. ROOM 2503 - DAY - 12:5 6PM

...he hits the floor, thrown there by MR. SMITH. His escape

has been a dream. A wrist-watch fills the frame.

12:
56.

It is GENE's. We are seeing his P.O.V. He's laying on the

floor, his watch-hand in front of his face.

MYSTERY MAN (O.S.)

You nearly killed him, too, you idiot!

MR. SMITH (O.S.)

Nearly doesn't count.

Lose the P.O.V.

BRENDAN GRANT:

I'm on record. I never wanted this.

I wanted simplicity; a telescopic

sight, a powerful rifle, but no.

What was good enough for Oswald wasn't

good enough for you two. You had to

get fancy. Drag some shmuck in off

the street, stick a gun in his hand.

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