Nick of Time Page #4

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GENE:

You wouldn't...

MS. JONES

Try us.

He looks back. She is caressing LYNN's hair.

GENE:

Get your hands off her.

He makes a move. MR. SMITH whacks his knee again, harder.

MR. SMITH

Mr. Watson, you're not paying

attention. Your daughter's life

depends on you. Do you understand

that?

GENE looks from MR. SMITH to MS. JONES and back. He's having

a hard time focussing.

She slips the NameTag into a manila envelope beside her MR.

SMITH Do you understand?

GENE:

Yes, yes, I understand.

MR. SMITH

Good.

He takes the manila envelope from MS JONES, tosses it in

GENE'S lap.

MR. SMITH

This is for you. In it there is a

picture of a woman and an itinerary.

It is her itinerary. She is presently -

are you listening, Mr. Watson?

GENE:

Yes, I'm listening.

MR. SMITH

She is presently at the Bonaventure

Hotel. That's right near here.

He gestures. GENE looks. The glassy Bonaventure Hotel is

glimpsed surrounded by taller, newer high-rises.

MR. SMITH

When you leave this van you will get

yourself a cab and take it to the

Bonaventure Hotel. Then you will

take this.

MR. SMITH holds up his hand, snaps his fingers. From the

back, MS. JONES hands him a cloth-wrapped bundle. He puts it

in GENE's hand, shows him what it is: a gun.

MR. SMITH

...and you will kill the woman whose

picture is in there. Not just shoot

her, mind,! kill her. I'd recommend

you empty the gun into her. Close

up. Got all that?

It takes a moment for it all to sink into GENE'S brain.

GENE:

You're out of your mind.

MR. SMITH

What's your point?

GENE:

I will do no such thing.

MR. SMITH

Yes, you will, Mr. Watson.

A "snap!" from the back seat. GENE looks. MS. JONES has broken

a carrot stick. She breaks another.

MS. JONES

Don't worry. We'll take good care of

the kid.

She gives half the carrot stick to LYNN, pops the other half

in her mouth and grinds it to pulp. MR. SMITH is checking

his watch.

MR. SMITH

It is now 12:
16. If the woman in the

picture is alive at 1:30...

(holds up a walkie-

talkie)

...I call my partner, your daughter

is dead.

He looks in the rear-view mirror to MS. JONES.

MR. SMITH

And what happens if I don't call

you?

MS. JONES

I kill her anyway.

MR. SMITH

Did you hear that, Mr. Watson? Do

you understand?

He taps the manila envelope.

MR. SMITH

The woman in the picture...

He indicates the back seat with his head.

MR. SMITH

...or your daughter.

GENE looks at his daughter.

GENE:

Oh, my God...

MR. SMITH reaches over, puts the gun and manila envelope

into GENE'S pockets.

MR. SMITH

God can't help her, Mr. Watson. Only

you can help her.

MS. JONES

Only you.

MR. SMITH

You're wasting time.

He reaches across GENE, opens the door and pushes him out,

then follows him. LYNN takes off the ear-phones, tries to

undo her seatbelt.

LYNN:

Where is my daddy going?

MS. JONES wraps a big arm around her.

MS. JONES

He's going to help the police. Your

daddy is going to be a hero.

LYNN:

My daddy is going to be a hero? Like

Power Rangers?

MS. JONES

Just like Power Rangers.

EXT. UNION STATION PARKING'LOT - DAY - 12:18PM

MR. SMITH activates the walkie-talkie, speaks into it.

MR. SMITH

Let's test this thing. You on?

He holds it up for GENE to hear.

MS. JONES (O.S.)

(filtered)

Reading you.

MR. SMITH still has GENE'S wallet. He opens it, pulls out

some cash, puts it in GENE's breast pocket.

MR. SMITH

You'11 need some cash.

(re:
the wallet)

I'll hang onto this for the time

being. Oh, and...

He grabs one of GENE's hands.

MR. SMITH

You'll need these.

He dumps six bullet's into GENE's palm from a cloth Chivas

Regal bag.

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