One Way Passage Page #2

---

Dan looks thoughtful and puzzled but takes it in stride. He turns and heads

for the swinging doors. Joan turns and stares, watching him walk away. One of

Joan's friends notices her interest and watches, too.

JOAN'S FRIEND

Known him long?

JOAN:

Ever so long.

JOAN'S FRIEND

Where?

JOAN:

I - I can't quite remember.

JOAN'S FRIEND

(wryly)

Better skip a few cocktails, darling.

Joan watches sadly as Dan exits out the saloon's swinging doors. He pauses

just outside and turns back to look over the tops of the doors at Joan. After

a moment, he raises a hand in farewell.

At the bar, Joan forces a smile and waves at Dan, just as the pianist strikes

up a happier tune and her friends crowd around her.

JOAN'S FRIEND

Come on, everybody. How about a

little drink to Joan?

ANOTHER FRIEND:

(hands Joan a drink)

Joan, we're drinking to you.

JOAN'S FRIEND

To Joan, dear.

Joan, distracted by her friends, turns her back on Dan -- and fails to see any

of the following:

At the swinging doors, Dan - his hand still raised - suddenly freezes with

fear. His face clouds over, his eyes lower -- and he slowly, cautiously,

raises his other hand. It looks as if he's surrendering.

And he is.

We PAN DOWN as one of the doors swing open briefly to reveal an automatic

pistol pointed into Dan's side.

We PAN UP to show the guy holding the pistol: a tough-looking, square-jawed

man named STEVE BURKE.

BURKE:

It's been a long chase, Dan.

DAN:

(never losing his cool)

Yes. What detained you?

Burke leans in to pat down his captive.

BURKE:

Never mind the wisecracks.

Dan catches a whiff of Burke's breath.

DAN:

Still on the garlic, huh?

Burke, insulted, backs off a little.

BURKE:

Well, nevertheless, it looks like

you're out of luck this time.

DAN:

(nods)

Apparently.

Dan desperately knocks the gun out of Burke's hand.

FLASH CUT:

of the gun hitting the pavement outside the saloon.

DAN AND BURKE:

struggle momentarily but Burke is the bigger man and Dan is no match for him

-- one punch in the jaw from Burke knocks him silly and drives him backwards.

EXT. SALOON AND STREET - CONTINUOUS

Burke easily pushes a stunned Dan into a nearby wall like a rag doll. Burke

handcuffs himself to Dan, then shakes his captive violently to wake him up.

BURKE:

Come on! Come out of it!

Dan regains consciousness, blinks at Burke, looks down at the cuffs unhappily,

and nods, reluctantly accepting the situation.

DAN:

Okay, you win.

BURKE:

I always win. If you try to pull

another break like that on me, I'll

deliver you in a basket. Let's go.

The two men pull their sleeves over the cuffs in a vain effort to look

inconspicuous as they start walking away from the saloon. While Dan casts a

brief, backward glance at the swinging doors, Burke stoops and retrieves his

pistol, pocketing it. As they walk leisurely down the street, various

passersby gawk and point at the two handcuffed men.

DAN:

Well, now what?

BURKE:

The boat. And then, uh, San Quentin.

DAN:

Can I get my clothes?

BURKE:

Oh, they're on the boat.

DAN:

Considerate.

BURKE:

Yeah.

DAN:

(rubs his sore jaw)

You know, I thought I ditched you

way back in Berlin.

BURKE:

When I left 'Frisco, the chief said

to me, "Steve, don't come back alone."

And he knew I wouldn't.

Burke abruptly stops and stares at something off screen. Dan, still walking

forward, is jerked back.

BURKE:

I'll be a son of a sea cow.

Dan and Burke watch as SKIPPY, a tipsy little American man in a straw boater

and bow tie, waits for a Chinese shop owner to turn his back. Skippy instantly

snatches an alarm clock from a display and smoothly hides it in his jacket.

But, just as instantly, the alarm clock goes off, ringing loudly. The Chinese

shop owner turns to look at Skippy who rolls his eyes in disgust, sighs, and

returns the clock to its proper place, giving it a light tap. It stops ringing

as Skippy staggers drunkenly out of the shop and encounters Dan and Burke.

BURKE:

Well, if it ain't the light-fingered

Skippy.

SKIPPY:

(a happy drunk)

Hello, Dan!

DAN:

Hello, Skippy.

BURKE:

(to Skippy)

So this is your hide-out. Hong Kong

must be pretty soft.

SKIPPY:

(nods)

I like it fine.

BURKE:

Yeah, well, ya better walk around

that U.S.A. of America like it was a

swamp.

SKIPPY:

(to Dan)

It's gettin' so a guy can't go

nowheres nowadays without bumpin'

into all sorts of people.

BURKE:

Duluth wants you, Detroit wants you,

Sacramento wants you.

SKIPPY:

I'm wanted everywhere and welcome

nowhere. I'm just a vagabond.

(spots the hand-

cuffs, to Dan)

Ohhh, that's too bad.

DAN:

You can't win all the time.

BURKE:

(to Dan, leading him away)

Come on.

SKIPPY:

Anything I can do for you here, Dan?

DAN:

(off Burke)

You might poison him.

Dan and Burke walk off down the street. Skippy calls after them.

SKIPPY:

Hey, flatfoot!

Burke looks back at Skippy with annoyance.

SKIPPY:

Tell those bulls I'm an alien! Ha ha

ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Skippy's laugh is even more irritating than he is. The handcuffed men walk on

-- Burke peeved, Dan understandably glum.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. OCEAN LINER - THAT AFTERNOON

A loud boat whistle blows. A sign reads:

SAILING TODAY:

3 P.M.

S. S. MALOA

TO:

SAN FRANCISCO:

"STOPOVER IN HONOLULU"

We DISSOLVE TO a brief glimpse of the railing on the liner's DECK, then

DISSOLVE TO Dan and Burke, still cuffed, as they approach the railing and lean

against it.

DAN:

Stateroom is like a Turkish bath.

Thanks for the outing.

They mop their faces with handkerchiefs.

BURKE:

Oh, I couldn't stand it myself.

DAN:

Thanks anyhow.

(off the handcuffs)

Say, how long? The cuffs?

BURKE:

I'm takin' no chances. They broke

five of my pals when you escaped.

DAN:

Well, that wasn't right. They did

all they could. They were shooting

at me for three blocks.

BURKE:

Yeah, well, it's lucky for you I

wasn't among 'em.

DAN:

Yes ...

Dan's attention is caught by something: a sailor on the opposite side of the

deck, locking the railing into place.

DAN:

... undoubtedly.

Dan glances around and finds that his hand rests near the locking mechanism of

the railing they are leaning against. He looks thoughtful, then glances at

Burke.

DAN:

I may as well tell you now, I'm not

such a good sailor.

BURKE:

Hmph! Get seasick, huh?

DAN:

Mm.

BURKE:

Well, ya better enjoy everything

while ya can, good or bad.

DAN:

I suppose that includes being

harnessed to you, garlic and all.

Stung again, Burke is about to say something, then changes his mind.

BURKE:

Well, anyway, you better stand it

and like it.

DAN:

'Fraid I can't agree to like it.

Suppose this ship were to sink.

Imagine my embarrassment to be found

dead anchored to you.

BURKE:

This ship ain't goin' to sink.

DAN:

Oh? They've been known to.

BURKE:

Well, listen, sucker, when it does,

I'll make you a little present of

this.

Burke pulls the handcuff key out of his vest pocket, shows it to Dan, then

pockets it again.

DAN:

When I was a kid, I used to swim

around a pier like that. Remember

your kid swimming days?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes