The Eiger Sanction Page #4

I know about that

international climb.

Lawrence Scott heads the U.S. team.

He had an accident.

How old are you, Jon? Thirty-five?

- Give or take.

- Uh-huh.

I know what you're thinking,

Ben, but I have to go.

You've been to the Eiger before.

- Twice.

- And you know what it's like.

Ben, I'm going, God damn it.

All right. All right. I did what a

good friend's supposed to do.

I tried to talk you

out of it, right?

Now I'm gonna tell you the truth.

Horseshit! I'm going with you!

You, going to the Eiger?

I'm the ground man for that climb.

Ain't that enough

to singe your ass!

I'm gonna nursemaid you again

after all of these years.

You nursemaid me?

I not only could out-climb

you on your best day,

I can out-drink you right now.

Well, you just enjoy that one,

'cause you're off the sauce until

you're in shape for the climb.

Meanwhile, I'll have another.

Well, this is where I turn back.

- Thank God.

- Not you. You need the work.

BEN:

George there will take you on up.

She's a girl.

A lot of people notice that.

All right, George. Give him a workout,

then bring him back for a meal.

I'll see you, old buddy.

You don't have to do

everything he says.

After all, this is a chance to

strike back at the white man.

(PANTING)

(PANTING)

Hi. I'd like some

French Onion Soup,

crabmeat cocktail,

broiled lobster tails,

and Wild Turkey

on the rocks, please.

Very good, sir.

Well, that was quick.

Well,

what do you think of George?

Very warm, humane person.

Gives great conversation, too.

But she's a climbing fool,

ain't she?

Boy, that she is.

Wore me down, but

I'll do better tomorrow.

(CHUCKLING)

Tomorrow? Today, me bucko.

You go back out again

right after lunch.

(PHONE RINGING)

You'd be well-advised to have a

good reason for making this call.

BEN:
Rise and shine, old buddy.

(SIGHING) Oh. Go piss up a rope.

Just scalp me.

God damn it! I wish

Custer would have won.

(PHONE RINGING)

BEN:
Time to rise and shine...

Screw Marlon Brando.

Dirty, rotten...

Dirty, evil, scheming,

devious b*tch.

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTS)

- (DOG BARKING)

- Leave Dr. Hemlock alone, F*ggot.

Forgive him, Jonathan,

but I'm afraid F*ggot

has not learned to

recognize you straights.

Miles.

My, my, aren't we

looking splendid, Jonathan?

How long has it been?

Indochina,

you and me and Henri Baq.

And I haven't made

a verbal blunder.

Actually, it's about Henri

that I wish to chat.

Miles, the only thing

you and I have to chat about

is you having an incurable disease

and lack the guts to kill yourself.

Very good, Jonathan. Very good.

You've grown a great deal.

But wrong!

Should we be sensible

and have a drink?

Waiter!

We'd like to order

some drinks, please.

A Wild Turkey on the rocks for

my good friend, the doctor.

And I would like...

I would like a frozen daiquiri.

(DOG GROWLING)

Well... Miss?

Oh, Miss. May I know

your name, please?

Buns.

Yes, of course it is.

Miss Buns, I wonder if

you'd be a gentleperson

and take my roomie for a stroll?

Sure, anything.

I'm sure. Off you go.

His name is F*ggot.

That's cute.

Be careful he doesn't

rape you. Charming.

Ah, here we are.

Well, you're a very

handsome young man.

I would say he's made,

wouldn't you, Jonathan?

I assume you're covered.

Uh-huh. Your assumption is correct.

At the bar.

That's your cover?

Uh-huh. Dewayne is very strong.

He was a world's champion.

Weren't they all?

Must seem odd to you

that I've looked you up

after all these years.

But you see, Jonathan, I'm...

I've grown very tired

of waiting for you

to step up behind me one day

and relieve me of existing.

Stepping up behind is

your method, Miles.

I wanna look right into your face.

Yes, I'm sure you would.

However, that does not

enhance my cool.

It'll all be over soon.

Funnily enough, I find myself

in a very strong

bargaining position.

Forget it.

Not even curious?

You betrayed the both of us in Asia

and we lived, no thanks to you.

Now you people have

killed Henri in Zurich.

I didn't actually

kill him, you know.

Well, I probably

won't actually kill you.

That's very little comfort.

Henri was a worthless alcoholic,

and I abhor sloppy drunks.

I'll allow you that.

It's the price I must pay

to get you to listen.

I did not, I repeat, I did not

participate in that killing.

Because unlike you,

I am not an animal.

But I do know who did the killing.

You got one, and now

you're after the other.

Dragon has promised you

the identity of this person.

Maybe. Maybe not.

The point, I know

who this person is.

And until you get that information,

you're in great, great danger.

How?

Suppose I were to tell this person

who and what you are?

He would hunt you.

You'd sell this man out for me?

For what I want in this life,

I would even sell my dear mother.

How true.

What I need from you is your

promise to leave me alone.

What do you say?

All right. I'll give you

my answer in a minute.

Whichever way it goes,

we were friends once.

(SIGHS) As you can see,

Miles and I have made up.

Can I buy you a drink?

Get him whatever he's having.

I'm sure glad, too.

I'd hate to tangle

with a guy your size.

Just want you to know.

Now I'm gonna tell you something.

And listen, 'cause I'm

gonna ask questions later.

I don't like you on my

flank 'cause it scares me.

I don't like being scared.

If you ever come near me

again, I'm gonna kill you.

Understand? Understand?

Yes.

Good boy.

Hope you told your cook

we'd be back for lunch.

You're full of

piss and vinegar today.

You promise to have mercy

on an old man like me?

You wanna lead? You've

been up this before.

No, I'll just tag along.

This the right way?

It's one way, I guess.

You're a big help.

I wanna know why you busted

that guy's head at the pool.

Rock.

All right, it's none

of my f***ing business.

You know what?

Way down deep, you got the

makings of a real bad ass.

I don't know that I'd like to be

alone on a desert island with you

if there was a shortage of food.

Don't worry. You're a friend.

You ever had any enemies?

A few.

Any of them still around?

The guy by the pool.

Miles Mellough. What do

you know about him?

BEN:
He checked in today.

He looks like he could change

a nine dollar bill in threes.

Want me to throw him out?

HEMLOCK:
No, I want him right here.

BEN:
What about the other guy?

The big guy? You want him, too?

Him, too.

You set him up kind of neat for

an elderly college professor.

You got me in shape.

It's not that.

You set him up like you were

used to setting people up.

You're climbing fine, Jon.

Better than I've ever seen you.

Well, I wish I was on the Eiger

right now, I'll tell you.

Why go at all, Jon? Isn't

this enough of a climb?

No way.

I've gotta make it.

Hey, have you ever met any of

these guys we're climbing with?

BEN:
Yeah, about a month ago.

And?

They're a good enough bunch.

They've got a lot of

hills behind them.

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