Real Genius Page #17

INT. BOMB BAY

Chris and Mitch sweat it out.

INT. HOPSFIELD'S LAIR

Hopsfield is scanning the screens.

HOPSFIELD:

I think I've found it. May I have the coordinates, please.

ICK:

(reading from paper)

Thirty-four degrees, ten minutes, fifteen seconds North; one hundred eighteen degrees, nine minutes, three seconds West.

Hopsfield enters the data into his computer.

JORDAN:

(into phone)

We're sending.

INT. BOMB BAY

CHRIS:

(into phone)

We're taking.

Mitch suddenly panics as he looks out.

MITCH'S POV

Atherton and his group come around the corner of a building and head for the plane.

ANGLE ON MITCH AND CHRIS

MITCH:

They're coming this way.

CHRIS:

(into phone, overly calm)

You may be interested in knowing that Mitch reports that Herr Professor is approaching and I'm not even sweating. Isn't that remarkable?

INT. HOPSFIELD'S LAIR

JORDAN:

Please hurry. Atherton's coming.

HOPSFIELD:

(typing furiously)

Please, I don't work well under pressure.

He finishes.

HOPSFIELD (cont'd)

There. I hope that does it.

JORDAN:

(into phone)

Okay, Chris ... I mean Abbott. Hello ... hello ... hello ...

EXT. BOMBER

Atherton and his group approach and enter the bomb bay.

INT. BOMB BAY

As they enter, there is no sign of Chris and Mitch. Atherton checks out the laser and the computer. The others examine various gauges and switches and the flight deck.

CARMICHAEL:

Everything all right?

ATHERTON:

Of course.

EXT. BOMBER

As the group exits the plane, Chris and Mitch drop out of the forward landing gear well in the background.

ATHERTON:

(turning back)

Oh, I forgot ...

ATHERTON'S POV

A glimpse of Chris and Mitch as they disappear around the corner of the building.

CLOSE ON ATHERTON

Uncertain of what he has just seen.

CARMICHAEL (O.S.)

What is it?

ATHERTON:

Nothing.

INT. DORM LIBRARY - PRE-DAWN

Kent looks the worse for wear as he sits surrounded by psychology books dealing with schizophrenia.

MITCH (V.O.)

Hi, Kent.

KENT:

(surprised)

Oh, I thought you were gone.

MITCH (V.O.)

Not yet. Have you been touching yourself?

KENT:

Yes. I mean, no.

INT. CHRIS AND MITCH'S ROOM - SAME TIME

MITCH:

(into mike)

Good, Kent. Dad, my father, you know, God, wants to show you something.

KENT (V.O./FILTER)

Why? I mean, what?

MITCH:

I've learned not to ask.

INT. DORM LIBRARY

MITCH (V.O.)

He wants you to wait on the sidewalk at six thirty nine Ivy Crest Drive at precisely six-oh-eight this morning.

KENT:

Ivy Crest?

MITCH (V.O.)

Just wait there and you shall receive a sign. Do not despair and do not go inside.

KENT:

Why not? Hello? Hello, Jesus?

A student walks in and looks at him strangely.

INT. COMMAND CENTER - DAWN

Atherton and company watch the bank of monitors as the flight controller clears the bomber for take off.

EXT. CAMPUS - DAWN

Chris and Mitch jump into the van and drive off.

INT. COMMAND CENTER

Some monitors show the bomber climbing while others show the desert target area. It is a mock up of a Presidential motorcade. The open cars are filled with test dummies, and are linked together and are being towed slowly across the desert by a tractor.

CONTROLLER:

(into mike)

Crossbow One, radar contact. Climb and maintain flight level six five oh.

EXT. ATHERTON'S HOUSE

The van pulls up and parks across the street. Chris and Mitch get out. Just then, a Volvo pulls up and Jordan, Ick and Dr. Meredith get out. Dr. Meredith is wearing a bathrobe, pajamas and slippers.

MEREDITH:

Ah, Mr. Kinsley. Why am I not surprised to see you here? Perhaps you have the explanation for this so-called event I'm suppose to witness.

CHRIS:

Yes, sir, I do, but first may I take this opportunity to compliment you on your fashion sense.

INT. CONTROL CENTER

CONTROLLER:

(into mike)

Crossbow One, turn left to two eight zero.

PILOT (V.O./FILTER)

Two eight zero, roger.

A technician hits a switch and a monitor pops on. Crosshairs dominate the center of the screen. The desert floor rushes by. Atherton turns to a specialist standing by.

ATHERTON:

Norman, if you'd be so kind. This cockpit mock-up duplicates the shuttle flight deck and we've placed it here to demonstrate the firing technique.

The specialist takes his place inside the command module.

PILOT (V.O./FILTER)

We are thirty one DME from the target.

CONTROLLER:

(mike)

Roger, Crossbow. Open the doors.

INT. BOMB BAY

The doors open to reveal clouds rushing past and the ground far below.

EXT. ATHERTON'S HOUSE

MEREDITH:

These are rather strong accusations, Chris.

CHRIS:

Yes, sir, I know.

MEREDITH:

If they're true, I'm going to need some proof.

CHRIS:

I think we're going to be able to accommodate you in just a minute, sir.

Looking past Meredith, Chris sees Kent approaching.

ANGLE ON KENT as he arrives at the house and stars up at it. He glances at his watch and waits impatiently.

INT. COMMAND CENTER

Inside the firing module, the specialist pulls down the target sighting device and puts his hands on the joysticks.

SPECIALIST:

Power on.

CONTROLLER:

T minus fifty and counting.

INT. BOMB BAY

The large mirror lowers into its firing position and the laser powers up.

EXT. ATHERTON'S HOUSE - MORNING

The group watch Kent, who is nervously pacing back and forth, talking to himself.

CHRIS:

(to Mitch)

Boy, if this works, he's going to start a new religion.

MITCH:

If it doesn't work ...?

Chris shoots him a censoring look.

INT. COMMAND CENTER

This countdown continues. Monitors display the target sight, the pilot's sighting screen of the ground and a camera's view of the bomber.

TECHNICIAN:

Trajectory command relay, locked.

ATHERTON:

Now, Norm here has firing control.

ANGLE ON TARGETING MONITOR

The target motorcade is sighted.

INT. BOMB BAY

The laser mirror and sighting lens move in unison as they line up on target.

INT. COMMAND CENTER

The crosshairs line up on the sighting monitor.

EXT. ATHERTON'S HOUSE

JORDAN:

What's he doing?

THEIR POV:

Kent has now started toward the front door.

MITCH:

I told him not to go in!

CLOSER ANGLE ON KENT

KENT:

(muttering to Jesus)

Look, this is Jerry's house, we're very close, so if you're not going to answer me, then I'm going in ...

He reaches for the front door.

KENT (CONT'D)

... here I come.

ANGLE ON CHRIS AND MITCH

CHRIS:

(shouting)

Kent! Stop!

ANGLE ON KENT:

who turns and sees them.

INT. COMMAND CENTER

Everyone is riveted to the sighting monitor.

SPECIALIST:

Target locked. In ten, nine, eight ...

As the countdown continues.

INT. BOMB BAY

The computer comes to life and electronically unlocks the laser optics from the sighting camera. The mirror turns to the left.

INT. COMMAND CENTER

The aerial view of the motorcade remains centered on the sighting monitor.

INT. ATHERTON'S HOUSE

Kent opens the front door and enters.

KENT:

(to himself)

That looked like Dr. Meredith in a bathrobe. First I'm hearing things, now I'm seeing things.

He closes the door.

KENT (CONT'D)

Okay, God. Let me have it.

The room is dark, lit only by morning light coming through a large stained glass window at the top of the stairs. In the middle of the room is what looks like a large above-ground swimming pool, covered in aluminum foil. Kent is amazed.

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