Nick of Time Page #26

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Polite laughter.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY - 1:27PM

GENE is pushed up to the doorway where he is met by our

friend, the SECURITY MAN with the metal detector. He gives

MR. SMITH a nod over GENE's shoulder and sends GENE to join

the crowd beyond.

INT. CALIFORNIA BALLROOM - DAY - 1:28PM

VIEW THROUGH CAMERA

The Video Camera clumsily tracks past the CROWD, and comes

tosettle on GENE who is walking into the room, not quite

sure where he is going.

UP ON THE PODIUM:

BRENDAN GRANT:

We have with us today the first woman

Governor of our great state...

GENE is pushing forward into the crowd. He looks back, seems

surprised, begins turning, searching for someone as:

BRENDAN GRANT:

Governor Eleanor Samara Grant. What

can I say about her....that won't

get me in trouble when I get home

tonight.

Laughter.

Lose the video camera effect.

ANGLE ON GENE - 1:28PM

GENE, in the midst of the crowd, can't locate MR. SMITH.

Confusion clouds his face.

He finds himself near the T.V.TECHNICIAN from the bar. The

TECHNICIAN is talking into a walkie-talkie.

T.V. NEWS TECHNICIAN

Charlie. Charlie. Charlie, are you

reading me?

He gets nothing but static. GENE's eyes move to the back of

the room.

BRENDAN GRANT:

She's a woman who loves our great

state.

T.V. NEWS TECHNICIAN

Charlie...

(gives it up)

I can't get sh*t on this stupid radio.

GENE looks up to a spotlight booth set up in the back.

BRENDAN GRANT:

A brilliant legislator.

GENE sees the GLINT of something. A gun? His eyes widen. Is

that MR SMITH there? He looks from the spotlight booth to

the stage.

BRENDAN GRANT:

...who will soon win her second term

as the greatest Governor California

has ever seen!

T.V. NEWS TECHNICIAN

Somebody's going to ave to run down

to the truck. Tell them this radio's

f***ed.

GENE looks away from the stage and locks eyes with OFFICER

TRUST. He's at the front of the ballroom to one side of the

speaker's platform.

OFFICER TRUST stares at GENE like a hungry wolf, clutching

his gun in his pocket. They both hear:

T.V. NEWS TECHNICIAN

I can't get through. Walkie-Talkies

don't work from here. There's too

much concrete and stuff.

Realization floods GENE'S eyes. He looks back at Mr. Smith

in he booth.

ANGLE ON MR. SMITH - EXTREME CLOSEUP

The camera pans along the barrel of the weapon until it comes

to Mr. Smith who is settling into firing position.

ANGLE ON CROWD:

BRENDAN GRANT:

Ladies and gentlemen...

T.V. NEWS TECHNICIAN

Nothin's getting out.

OFFICER TRUST, presses forward, hand in pocket. Gene is his

target.

ANGLE ON PODIUM - 1:29PM

BRENDAN GRANT:

I am honored to present to you our

esteemed Governor and my beloved

wife, Eleanor Samara Grant!

ANGLE ON ELEANOR GRANT

The crowd erupts in .applause and cheering as ELEANOR GRANT

comes from the rear of the auditorium and begins to work her

way down the center aisle. She waves and nods to all the

lyal supporters who surround her.

ELEANOR GRANT:

Thank you! Thank you all!

Ballons are released above her onto the center of the floor.

ANGLE ON WAITER-GUSTINO

He is pushing a large high cart filled with hundreds of

finished plates back towards the kitchen area.

ANGLE ON GENE - 1:30PM

GENE looks at Mr. Smith and Officer Trust and the impending

disaster. He has to do something...anything...NOW!

GENE begins frantically clawing his way toward the podium.

GENE:

Look out! Look out!

But it is lost in the uproar.

Fighting to be heard above the noise:

GENE clawing forward, screaming hopelessly. He pulls the gun

out.

ANGLE ON ELEANOR GRANT

She spots Gene in the crowd, pushing toward her, gun drawn.

Her eyes widen in fear.

BRENDAN GRANT follows her gaze. His eyes widen in something

other than fear.

GENE aims his gun at the ceiling and fires.

BAM! BAM!

GENE:

Look out!

Pandemonium. Total chaos. People scattering.

The Gun in the booth swings from Gene to ELEANOR GRANT.

Mr. Smith fires, but his target is blocked by a panicked

guest who is hit.

From behind her, FRANCO runs to protect ELEANOR GRANT as

more gunfire erupts.

Mr. Smith's aim is clear and he pulls...BAM! BAM!

FRANCO is hit in the center of the back and in the shoulder.

He falls onto ELEANOR GRANT and they both fall down hard on

the steps. Blood is everywhere.

ANGLE ON GENE:

He looks over and sees ELEANOR GRANT, beneath FRANCO, looking

very dead.

He careens toward a door.

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