Smokin' Aces Page #39

CUT TO:

INT. PENTHOUSE APARTMENT -- SAME

Director Locke waits. Messner and The Swede appear in the

doorway. The Swede nods to all concerned and starts toward

Israel. Doc Gill acknowledges the Swede.

DR. GILL

Dr. Ingstrom, he's had a mild cardiac

episode and recurring arrhythmia,

I've given him 60cc's of Nobuneatol...

The Swede kneels down next to Israel, dropping his black

valise, cracking it open. Messner, dazed, dumbfounded, sees

Locke.

MESSNER:

...Deputy Director Locke?

Locke approaches, lays a comforting arm on Messner, guiding

him to a chair.

LOCKE:

Here. Sit. Please.

MESSNER:

(pointing to Swede)

This is him? The hitman hired to

kill Israel? He's a doctor?

LOCKE:

Difficult to explain everything now...

(beat, toward Israel)

And much larger issues loom.

(beat)

I'm sorry about Carruthers... Damndest

thing to have to die for.

The Swede, working on Israel, shaking his head, something's

wrong. He stands, crosses to Locke, silently confers.

LOCKE:

(to The Swede)

Very well.

(to other Agents)

Take Mr. Israel to the roof, he'll

be traveling with us.

Suddenly, Soot breaks from his captors, sprinting for the

shattered Penthouse windows, launching himself -- a swan

dive out into the open air -- He hangs there for a moment,

an aesthetically striking form; like Lazarus cast against a

cobalt blue sky, backlit by the sun from the lake below --

-- till gravity grabs, pulls -- plummeting him toward earth,

sending him headlong into the vast expanse of concrete below.

This startlingly event is dismissed by mutual shrugs and a

collective lack of concern.

Messner is absolutely agog.

MESSNER:

(to Locke, forceful)

What the hell -- What is this!? People

died. Agent Carruthers is dead!

LOCKE:

We have to transport Mr. Israel to

Las Vegas, time is of the essence.

The gulfstream is standing by on the

jetway at Tahoe International. I'm

sorry, I'm restricted from disclosing

anymore information. Return to

Washington. You'll be debriefed in

the coming days.

Locke says no more -- starts out of the Penthouse with the

Swede, Dr. Gill and Buddy Israel in tow. A Bureau forensics

team arrives to quietly tag and bag the dead... Messner stands

there, absolutely agog.

CUT TO:

INT. NOMAD HOTEL -- LOBBY -- DAY

Hives of activity. Cordons and crime scene lockdowns like

onion layers, multiple law enforcement agencies, confounded,

confused -- too many cooks, too many kitchens. Nobody knows

who the hells in charge. Local paramedics and EMT's cart out

the wounded. Coroners and M.E.'s cart out the dead.

Reporters and national news outlets crowd police barricades

outside, competing for coverage, as --

THE CAMERA PANS OVER TO REVEAL:

Acosta is wheeled through the lobby, hooked up to IV and

oxygen, looking ghastly, like something exhumed. He catches

the eye of the pimply casino employee and manages a wink.

He's flex-cuffed to the gurney and pushed against the wall

for the moment as the Agents move off to deal with the recent

appearance of Lazlo Soot -- whose body has been

unceremoniously splattered over the parking lot.

As the Agents depart, Acosta peers down at his shackles;

simple plastic binding rods -- he smiles... a moment later

the stiletto blade fires from his sleeve as --

THE CAMERA PANS OVER TO REVEAL:

Darwin Tremor staggering out of an open elevator, blood-

sodden, head down -- FBI badge held aloft for all its worth.

Playing it up, free pass, Agents rush in, hold him upright,

help him toward a line of awaiting ambulances outside as --

THE CAMERA PANS OVER TO REVEAL:

Ivy and Sykes, being released from the stairwell, cut chains

sliding off -- Ivy holds up pilfered FBI creds. Rampant

confusion makes the moment possible. He's waved through,

carrying Sykes, looking every bit the good Samaritan.

Sykes, a mess of mascara, adorned in her unmentionables,

looking every bit the prostitute she appears to be -- she

spots the woman at the counter from earlier. The woman gazes

back, jaw agape. Sykes can only shrug... if you can't beat

'em -- join 'em. She and Ivy cross the lobby as --

THE CAMERA PANS OVER TO REVEAL:

Messner... morose, exiting another elevator with the sheet-

draped body of Carruthers on a gurney. Gandersen, the Nomad

owner, spots him, starts over, looks to unleash, gets close

enough to catch Messner's expression. Sees it in his eyes...

enough dead bodies for one day. Messner continues moving

through the lobby, hears the chopper taking off as --

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