Nick of Time Page #22

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HUEY turns to see GENE and GUSTINO just looking at each other,

uncomfortable, to say the least.

HUEY:

C'mon, ladies. No time to be shy.

GENE kicks off his shoes, shucks his pants. He trades his

pants and jacket with GUSTINO, who has done the same.

GUSTINO's pants are too big for GENE. His pants are too small

for GUSTINO.

GUSTINO goes into a stall and closes the door.

HUEY comes back from the door.

HUEY:

Gustino! Drop 'em!

GUSTINO has taken a seat inside the stall, but with GENE's

pants still up. He drops them.

HUEY:

And cover up them socks. Man, who

dresses you?

HUEY leads GENE to another door. "Service Personnel Only".

He taps on it. It is opened by a Latino JANITOR. HUEY and

GENE slip through the door, shut it. The JANITOR begins

mopping the floor as MR. SMITH comes in.

His eyes come to rest on the stall. All he sees are GENE's

shoes and GENE's pants crumpled around the ankles.

MR. SMITH smirks and leaves.

The Janitor raps on GUSTINO's stall with the mop.

JANITOR:

Fue. (Gone.)

INT. SERVICE HALL - DAY - 1:17PM

HUEY and GENE move down a drab service corridor. Boxes stacked

on both sides, floor buffers at rest, shelves with cleaning

supplies. GENE notices for the first time that HUEY has a

pronounced limp.

They come upon IRENE the Cleaning Woman. She joins them moving

down the corridor.

HUEY:

Meet Irene.

GENE:

Hi.

HUEY:

Irene is going to help.

GENE:

Thank you.

IRENE takes GENE's hand and leads him along at a half-trot.

GENE:

Where am I going?

INT. BONAVENTURE - SERVICE ELEVATOR FOYER - DAY - 1:17PM

They come through a short corridor and onto the service

elevator.

HUEY:

You said there was only one person

you knew wasn't in on this thing.

GENE:

Yeah.

HUEY:

You're going to go see her.

GENE:

What!?

The elevator doors close.

INT. SERVICE ELEVATOR - DAT - 1:17PM

IRENE punches the button for the twenty-fifth floor.

HUEY:

You sure she's asleep?

IRENE:

I took up extra pillows. She take a

nap before her big speech.

GENE:

What am I supposed to say to her?

HUEY:

It'll come to you. See if you can

stop this thing 'fore it gets started.

Save us all considerable

embarrassment.

HUEY takes a pillow and a blanket from IRENE'S cart and puts

it into GENE's arms IRENE You don't have to save me. I got

nothin' to do with it. You ain't gettin' no key from me.

HUEY:

(shocked)

Irene...?

The service elevator stops. IRENE pushes her cart out into

the hall signalling them to stay put for a second. She starts

moving out into the hall, the card key falls on the floor.

INT. TWENTY-FIFTH FLOOR - HALLWAY - SECURITY TABLE - 1:17PM

At the other end of the hall the HALL OFFICER turns when he

hears her approach.

INT. SERVICE ELEVATOR - DAY -

GENE and HUEY hover in the door of the service elevator.

Gene reaches down and snags the card key at his feet.

INT. TWENTY-FIFTH FLOOR - HALLWAY - SECURITY TABLE - 1:17PM

The HALL OFFICER has to move his table aside so Irene can

pass with the cart. As he turns,

INT. TWENTY-FIFTH FLOOR - HALLWAY - DAY

HUEY pushes GENE across the hall to the door of the Governors

bedroom.

The Service Elevator door closes.

INT. TWENTY-FIFTH FLOOR - HALLWAY - SECURITY TABLE - 1:18PM

HALL OFFICER turns quickly at the noise.

INT. TWENTY-FIFTH FLOOR - HALLWAY - DAY

GENE holds totally still in the alcove outside her room.

INT. TWENTY-FIFTH FLOOR - HALLWAY - SECURITY TABLE - 1:18PM

HALL OFFICER looks suspiciously, and finally sits back down.

INT. TWENTY-FIFTH FLOOR - HALLWAY - DAY

GENE uses the key to let himself into

INT. ROOM 2510 - 1:18PM

Lit only by a bedside lamp. ELEANOR GRANT is laying on the

bed, dressed, towel across her eyes, bare feet elevated on a

pair of pillows. GENE edges over slowly to her. He stands

over her, not knowing how to begin.

GENE:

(softly)

Excuse me...

ELEANOR GRANT lifts a hand, moves the towel from her eyes.

ELEANOR GRANT:

Who the hell are you?

She sits upright, reaches for the phone! GENE moves, putting

his hand on top of hers on top of the phone.

GENE:

No, please.

They stare at each other for a beat.

She bolts for the door! Gene beats her to it! She backs up

to the bed.

Eleanor Grant is a strong, tough woman, but she's not

fearless.

GENE:

Mrs. Grant, Governor...I won't hurt

you.

ELEANOR GRANT:

My security people are right next

door.

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