The Eiger Sanction Page #5

(PANTING)

Any of 'em walk with a limp?

Now, who in the hell could climb

with a limp? Now, wait a minute.

The German was limping. Said

he hurt himself in a fall.

Freytag, he's a funny guy.

Makes noise like a leader.

Family makes bug spray.

Got a lot of money, but he

doesn't like to talk about it.

Anyway, he's got the look.

What look?

The look of a guy you couldn't

count on in a clutch.

I wouldn't want to count

on him on that hill.

- What about the Frenchman, Montaigne?

- Oh, Montaigne's all right.

I think he's a little too old for

the Eiger. He's about your age.

- Screw off, will you?

- I'd rather screw Montaigne's wife.

She's a real brick sh*t-house.

Wait'll you catch her act.

She's a regular mantrap.

I feel sorry for the poor bastard,

trying to keep his eyes on her.

Yeah? And what about the Austrian?

Oh, you're gonna love him, Jon.

Meyer doesn't give a rat's ass

about anything except climbing.

All the people I talk to say

he's the kind of climber like...

Well, like you used to be.

You mean, before I got

decrepit and weak?

You didn't look so decrepit and weak

yesterday, punching out that wrestler.

Anyway, this Meyer's really

something. He killed a guy once.

Oh?

BEN:
Yeah. A porter on a climb they

were making was stealing some food.

He killed him with a knife.

Isn't that something?

Sounds like a real charmer.

Listen, Jon, if you got to rope

yourself to anybody on that hill,

you make damn sure it's Meyer.

HEMLOCK:
This is a big man. You're

the only one who's climbed it.

BEN:
Uh-huh.

How'd you do it?

Guts, skill, determination,

all that sort of stuff.

Hey, why don't we just call it a climb the

way it is and take the escalator down?

Okay, give me some slack.

BEN:
You gonna stand up there

all day admiring yourself?

Or are you gonna bring me up?

All right.

(GRUNTING)

Congratulations, old buddy.

You got her cherry.

What do you mean?

You're the first one

ever to climb up here.

Well, you climbed it

yourself, you told me.

You ain't gonna get very far in

life listening to a liar like me.

You were hoping

I'd quit, weren't you?

Hoping I'd give up

on the Eiger climb.

Let me tell you something, Ben.

There's a damn good chance I might

not have to make the climb.

I may be able to conclude my

business before the climb starts.

No.

Once you get over there, you're gonna

want to climb. That's the way you are.

Want a beer?

You gonna call room service?

We got beer.

If you hauled beer up

this rock, you're insane.

I may be insane,

but I'm not stupid.

I didn't carry it, you did.

It's in your pack.

Jesus Christ! I ought to

throw you off this pillar.

Besides, it's warm.

Well, I'm sorry.

I'd thought you'd draw

the line at hauling ice.

(DOOR OPENING)

Oh.

Well, good evening, George.

"Good evening, Dr. Hemlock."

And how are you this fine evening?

"Oh, I'm just fine, Doctor."

Did you watch that magnificent

climb Ben and I made today?

"Yes, I did, Dr. Hemlock.

"It sure was good."

You know, George, I'm gonna

be leaving here soon,

and I'm gonna kind of

miss you, in my way.

(WHISPERING)

"I'll miss you, too, Doctor."

Um, one thing I'll

have to say, George,

is you've never cluttered

up our relationship

with any sticky sentiment.

Maybe we should just

cut the chitchat

and you just jump in

here and we'll get lucky.

Ow!

Desk! Desk!

(SCREAMS)

HEMLOCK:
(SIGHS) No.

All right, now, take it easy.

Take it easy, old buddy.

Ow.

Doc says you're gonna be all right,

but you just got to take it slow.

Where is she?

I got her down in my room.

My men are watching her.

Want me to call the sheriff?

No, not yet.

- What happened to me.

- Miles Mellough. I knew you'd be wondering.

He's still here. The desk'll

call me if he makes a move.

So it was Miles.

That's what she said.

Why'd she do it?

Oldest reason in the world.

Love?

Money.

What the hell did she

shoot into me, anyway?

The doc says it was a relative of

morphine, but not enough to be fatal.

You know, morphine sounds right.

Miles is in the drug business.

Why the hell didn't

he polish you off?

He told her it was

gonna be nothing serious.

He just wanted to scare you.

After George put me

under, my guess is,

Miles was gonna come in and off

me in some spectacular fashion.

Probably give me an O.D.

That sounds like his style.

What are you gonna do about him?

Something massive.

Something massive!

(SIGHING)

HEMLOCK:
Good morning, Dewayne.

Well, good morning, Jonathan.

My, aren't we

looking chipper today?

Sleep well?

Very well, thank you.

You know, Miles, I think I'll forget

about you for the time being.

Difficult task. Just like that?

Well, you see, I'm gonna be

training here for a few more weeks,

and I'm gonna need all my concentration

without having you in mind.

Well, I do sympathize with you.

Truly, I do, Jonathan.

But if this means you're going to

cross me off your list for good...

I might just do that.

(DOG BARKING)

I'll tell you something. Why don't we

have dinner tonight and talk about it?

Only if I can choose the wine.

Look forward to it.

(DOG BARKING)

Bastard!

He hit his brakes.

No, he didn't.

He turned the switch

on his headlights.

Oh, Jonathan,

what a cheap, dirty trick.

After him, Dewayne. After him!

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(LAUGHS TRIUMPHANTLY)

We've got him now. Look!

We've got him trapped. He can't

turn around on this road.

Where the hell is he?

Dewayne, there he is!

(GUN FIRING)

(SCREAMS)

(DOG BARKING)

(MILES WHIMPERING)

Oh, Jonathan, you are an animal.

Look at that dear gentleman.

You tried to kill me.

Get in the car.

Uh-uh.

Get in the car.

(DOG WHIMPERING)

Get out.

What the hell are we

gonna do out here?

Get out.

(DOG BARKING)

Jonathan, you're

not going to shoot...

Jonathan, you're not

going leave me out here!

Jon...

Oh, Jonathan, for Christ's sakes,

kill me, but don't leave me here!

You can't...

(DOG BARKING)

(JEEP ENGINE STARTING)

Pretty quiet now, aren't

you, you little prick?

Jonathan!

Goddamn my ass,

what the hell do you mean,

you ain't got any rooms for me?

My dear Herr Bowman...

My dear Herr's ass.

You just stick your nose in that book

and you come up with my reservation.

Hiya, buddy. You're looking good.

What's the problem here?

Oh, this rinky-dink has screwed up my

reservation. Says he can't find my telegram.

From the looks of him, he

couldn't find his tallywhacker

with a six-man search party.

I did not know this person was a

friend of yours, Dr. Hemlock.

Yeah, well, he's

in charge of the climb.

In charge of the climb? Oh, yes.

Just one minute, please.

All the Eiger birds are coming in.

Maybe you should have

given him a tip.

Yeah. Did you meet

the other climbers yet?

They're supposed to be here

in the hotel. How's George?

She's fine.

Listen, about Miles...

Look, later on that.

CONCIERGE:
Everything is in order.

You will be with the other members

of the party on the 2nd floor.

Room 216. I'll have

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