Nick of Time Page #21

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HUEY:

Don't think I won't.

GENE just stands there. HUEY has to give him a little push.

INT. BONAVENTURE HOTEL - THIRD FLOOR - DAY - 1:09PM

GENE turns and walks across the lobby toward the bar. His

mind is racing. As he passes MR. SMITH...

GENE:

I need a drink.

MR. SMITH rises immediately, looks back at HUEY. HUEY gives

him a symbolic tip of the hat. MR. SMITH follows GENE.

INT. HOTEL BAR - DAY - 1:11PM

GENE finds a stool at the empty part of the bar. The place

is half-full, noisy. The television is showing a game show.

The BARTENDER comes over.

GAME SHOW HOST (O.S.)

(over television)

...and time is running out...

GENE:

Give me a ...a gingerale?

MR. SMITH sits -at the other end of the bar. The BARTENDER

gets him a beer. GENE and MR. SMITH lock eyes in the mirror.

Between them, a couple of T.V. NEWS TECHNICIANS are grabbing

a quick beer. A video camera resides on the bar by them.

GENE notices OFFICER TRUST, walking by on a level above,

watching him.

T.V. NEWS TECHNICIAN 1

Man, I thought she was going to get

out the violins.

TV REPORTER:

No sh*t. If I hear that stop the

violence routine one more time I'm

going to shoot somebody.

A WAITRESS appears suddenly at GENE's elbow, surprising him.

She puts a basket of pretzels next to him and a coaster next

to his drink.

WAITRESS:

Here's your Ginger Ale, sir.

DOWN THE BAR:

T.V. NEWS TECHNICIAN 1 Politicians.

TV REPORTER:

They're all the same.

The WAITRESS is tapping a long fingernail against the bar.

GENE looks down and sees it. A note on the coaster. "Men's

Room - Huey."

The WAITRESS turns the coaster over, and leaves. GENE looks

down the bar at MR. SMITH, drinking, unaware.

TV REPORTER:

You know what bothers me?

GENE looks at his watch.

1:
12.

TV REPORTER:

When they get all weepy eyed about

the "ordinary citizen", the "regular

Joe", the "normal American". Gimme a

break. There ain't no such animal.

We're a nation of two hundred forty

million special interest groups.

GENE stands.

GENE:

Well, I'm just a regular guy.

The T.V. NEWS TECHNICIANS stare at him.

TV REPORTER:

Is that right?

GENE:

Yeah, that's right. But I've built a

good solid business out of nothing.

Don't underestimate the regular guy.

He heads for the open lobby.

BARTENDER:

Sir, you haven't paid.

GENE:

It's on the Special Interest at the

end of the bar.

GENE jerks a thumb at MR. SMITH and is gone. MR. SMITH starts

to follow him. The BARTENDER is right with him.

BARTENDER:

Hey, Sir, don't make me call a cop.

MR. SMITH slaps some money on the bar and leaves.

T.V. NEWS TECHNICIAN 1

Left field bleachers heard from.

T.V. REPORTER

Laughs.

INT. BONAVENTURE HOTEL - LOBBY - DAY - 1:13PM

MR. SMITH scans the lobby trying to spot Gene. OFFICER TRUST

comes up behind him.

OFFICER TRUST:

Where is he? Did you lose him?

MR. SMITH

Shut up.

INT. BONAVENTURE HOTEL - SHOP ARCADE - DAY - 1:13PM

Elsewhere, GENE circles around the lobby. There seem to be

clocks everywhere.

A. set of four clocks over the registration desk with the

time for Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, and Paris.

The souvenir shop has a dozen clocks on display, with the

logos of various LA sports teams.

INT. BONAVENTURE HOTEL - RESTAURANT AREA - DAY - 1:14PM

The restaurant, the travel agency, the newsstand, all have

clocks.

1:
14 .

Everywhere he turns. GENE has to look at his watch.

1:
15! GENE's watch and all the clocks tick over at once.

GENE winces as if he could hear all those minute hands tick

over one number in a thunderous chorus.

INT. BONAVENTURE HOTEL - SHOESHINE STAND - DAY - 1:16PM

He's near the Men's Room. HUEY's stand has a sign on the

chair - "Gone to Lunch" and there is a clock face with

moveable hands. "We'll be back at 1:30."

GENE:

(sotto voice)

Let's all hope so.

And he enters the Men's Room.

Across the lobby MR. SMITH spots him, heads that way.

INT. MEN'S ROOM - DAY - 1:16PM

GENE enters to find HUEY and GUSTINO the Bellboy. HUEY runs

to the door, keeping a lookout.

HUEY:

Quick, off with the shoes and pants.

Trade with Gustino. The big guy's

coming.

INT. BONAVENTURE HOTEL - THIRD FLOOR - DAY - 1:16PM

MR. SMITH marching towards the Men's Room.

INT. MEN'S ROOM - DAY - 1:16PM

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