The Game Page #21

MRS FISHER (v.o.)

(from phone)

Oh, this will break his heart...

NICHOLAS:

Is there any way we can get in

touch with him?

MRS FISHER (v.o.)

His beeper's here on the table. He

took the kids to the zoo.

NICHOLAS:

The zoo. How sweet. Which zoo?

CUT TO:

EXT. ZOO -- DAY

ANIMALS lounge in their cages. TOURISTS wander, mostly

families. Here comes Nicholas, running, searching...

Ahead:
Feingold's in casual clothes, eating ice cream, doing

his best to supervise THREE OBNOXIOUS CHILDREN. Nicholas

moves in, slows when he's close.

NICHOLAS:

Bill Fisher, I love your work...

Feingold turns, smiling... till he sees Nicholas and

recognition sets in. He goes pale, sheepish.

FEINGOLD:

Okay, please.. I got my kids...

Nicholas casually shows him the gun.

NICHOLAS:

Get rid of them.

FEINGOLD:

Hey, everyone -- snack time! Here...

here you go...

Feingold takes out cash and dispenses it. KIDS CHEER and

run to a nearby SNACK CART.

FEINGOLD:

Look, it was just a job. Nothing

personal, ya know? I play my part,

improvise a little. That's what I'm

good at.

NICHOLAS:

I'm tired of dealing with peons. I

need to get to whoever's in charge.

FEINGOLD:

Nobody knows, pal. Nobody gets the

big picture...

(looking away)

Jason, Tommy, cut it out!

His BOYS are THROWING ROCKS at the MONKEYS. They look to

their father, drop the rocks and saunter away.

FEINGOLD:

Goddamnit, why do they do that?

NICHOLAS:

(grips Feingold's shirt)

How do I find them? Their offices are empty.

FEINGOLD:

They own the whole building. They

just move from floor to floor.

Nicholas releases him.

NICHOLAS:

They know you... you worked for them.

You can get me in.

FEINGOLD:

No, I can't. I'm sorry and all,

but...

NICHOLAS:

Tell them the cops are after you...

tell them you've got to talk to

someone, I'm threatening to blow the

whistle.

FEINGOLD:

What whistle? There's no f***ing

whistle. This is f***ing dangerous.

Nicholas gets in Feingold's face, furious.

NICHOLAS:

You don't seem to understand. Right

now -- I'm dangerous.

Feingold gets the message.

CUT TO:

EXT. C.R.S. BUILDING -- EARLY EVENING

Dusk. LIGHTS OFF in the towering building. A battered

STATION WAGON rounds a corner, PAUSES at the GARAGE RAMP.

IN THE STATION WAGON

Cluttered car. Feingold at the wheel, tense, appears alone.

FEINGOLD:

We're here.

BEHIND THE SEAT, Nicholas peeks from under a blanket.

NICHOLAS:

Drive in.

FEINGOLD:

What are you gonna do anyway? You

won't get your money back.

NICHOLAS:

(muffled, under blanket)

I don't want money. I'm pulling back

the curtain. I'm here to meet the

wizard.

INT. C.R.S. UNDERGROUND GARAGE -- NIGHT

The station wagon comes down the ramp to a closed GATE. A

BEEFY GUARD looks from his booth. Feingold waves timidly.

The GATE RISES and the station wagon moves on...

IN THE STATION WAGON

IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR: Beefy Guard watches, suspicious.

FEINGOLD:

(under his breath)

He's eyeing us like Tiffany Towers.

NICHOLAS (o.s.)

Just go. Park where he can't see.

IN THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE

ACROSS THE GARAGE, near elevators, the station wagon parks.

Feingold gets out, scared. Nicholas climbs out, crouched,

gun in hand, points for Feingold to go first.

Feingold goes to push the elevator button, sweating.

Nicholas remains hidden between cars.

A few elevators down, ELEVATOR DOORS open and a fierce

C.R.S. SECURITY GUARD gets off, spots Feingold, murmurs into

a WALKIE-TALKIE while taking out a gun.

C.R.S. GUARD

You're not allowed to be here.

FEINGOLD:

No, they called me back... I have a

fitting...

Behind, Nicholas puts his gun to the guard's neck.

NICHOLAS:

Give me the gun.

Security Guard gives it up, an automatic, which Nicholas

throws across the garage. Nicholas forces the guard to the

open elevator, takes the WALKIE-TALKIE and pockets it, pulls

Feingold along...

IN THE ELEVATOR:

Nicholas frisks the Guard... pulls out HANDCUFFS.

FEINGOLD:

You don't need me...

NICHOLAS:

Shut up. Cuff him to the rail.

Feingold takes the handcuffs and obeys. Nicholas jams the

gun against the guard's neck.

NICHOLAS:

What floor?

C.R.S. GUARD

Fourteen. But this elevator ain't

gonna get you there, college boy.

Nicholas pulls off the guard's KEYCHAIN, sorts keys...

He uses a GOLD C.R.S. KEY on the control pad, turns it and

hits 14. DOORS CLOSE. The elevator sets IN MOTION.

C.R.S. GUARD

You'll never get away with this.

These people will f*** you up.

Nicholas ignores. Feingold whimpers.

INT. C.R.S. BUILDING, 14TH FLOOR HALLWAY -- NIGHT

ELEVATOR OPENS. Nicholas peers out. No one in the hall.

He pushes Feingold ahead, pushes ALL THE FLOOR BUTTONS.

C.R.S. GUARD

You're f***ed. You're both...

ELEVATOR SHUTS. Nicholas and Feingold move on.

NICHOLAS:

Where?

FEINGOLD:

I told you, they hired me over the

phone. I never met anyone.

NICHOLAS:

Where'd you pick up your checks?

FEINGOLD:

It was a different floor then...

NICHOLAS:

Guess!

FEINGOLD:

Like, this way... sort of...

Nicholas nudges Feingold ahead with the gun.

INT. COMMISSARY -- NIGHT

Door swings open. Nicholas and Feingold enter...

A BUSTLING, NOISY COMMISSARY. A cafeteria counter along one

wall. People CHATTING and LAUGHING at rows of long tables.

Nicholas keeps a grip on Feingold, walks forward, stunned...

EVERYONE FROM THE GAME IS HERE: the PARAMEDICS eat with the

HEAVY MAN who faked the heart attack. CHRISTINE'S FATHER is

seated near the airport HOMELESS BUM, BIKINI GIRL and the

MEXICAN MOTHER with her THREE CHILDREN from the bus.

PLUMP GUY, the P.I. who followed Nicholas and had his gun

taken, comes off the cafe line with a soda, spotting

Nicholas... spotting the gun, quaking. He flees...

Nicholas and Feingold continue. BUSINESSMAN 1 and 2 from

Nicholas' club sit near AMBULANCE ATTENDANTS. The TAXI

DRIVER and the FEMALE DETECTIVE chat.

There's the HOTEL MANAGER from the Claremont... the

BELLHOP... the CHINESE WOMAN from Tung Hoy... the DESK CLERK

from the Four Seasons and TEEN THUG. Every incidental

character from Nicholas' recent life.

Nicholas inches into the room. A few of the players begin

to notice him, some trying to place him, others pointing him

out to their dining partners. Nicholas halts, sees...

CHRISTINE rising, picking up her dirty tray, in

mid-conversation till she turns and sees...

Nicholas, who raises his gun.

CHRISTINE:

Oh, f***...

People notice the gun. SOME SCREAM. Everyone goes HUSHED.

CHRISTINE:

What are you doing here?

NICHOLAS:

I'm back from the dead.

CHRISTINE:

Nicholas, okay... you're not about to

shoot anyone...

Nicholas moves to grab Christine. She drops her tray...

NICHOLAS:

You're coming with me!

MALE VOICE (o.s.)

Everybody down!

Nicholas spins. At a far entrance, TWO SECURITY GUARDS aim

guns. PEOPLE SCREAM. Some run. Many dive for cover.

PANIC. Nicholas gets behind Christine...

He uses Christine as a shield, arm around her throat, pulling

her backwards. Feingold's frozen, hands held high...

SECURITY GUARD 1

Don't move!

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