The Game Page #9

NICHOLAS:

How do you know that's the way?

She just keeps walking.

A distant "DING" is HEARD. Far away, an ELEVATOR OPENS with

a light inside. Christine stops.

Christine changes direction, heading for the elevator.

Nicholas hurries to follow. The match burns out. A moment,

then Christine strikes another, lighting the way, barely.

As they squeeze between parked cars, Christine searches...

CHRISTINE:

Where'd you all go? Motherfucking

frat boys. You better hide.

(to Nicholas)

Is your life so pathetic that this is

something you're willing to pay for?

NICHOLAS:

It was a gift... from my brother.

CHRISTINE:

How thoughtful. The gift of

inconvenience.

NIcholas stumbles. A beer BOTTLE is HEAR SKITTERING away.

INT. ELEVATOR -- NIGHT

They reach the elevator. Nicholas pushes a button.

NICHOLAS:

Ground floor.

He and Christine step back and wait, looking up. And

wait... and wait, looking unhappily to each other.

Nicholas pushes all the buttons. Nothing happens.

Christine opens the EMERGENCY PHONE door: NO PHONE.

Nicholas touches his finger to a KEY HOLE below the buttons.

He takes out keys, finds the C.R.S. KEY, tries it...

it fits. He turns it. DOORS CLOSE and the ELEVATOR MOVES.

Nicholas is pleased, sees Christine wondering.

NICHOLAS:

(of the key)

Long story.

(off her stare)

I found this key in the mouth of a

wooden Harlequin.

CHRISTINE:

Never mind.

The ELEVATOR LURCHES, DROPS, then HALTS. LIGHTS OUT,

replaced by RED EMERGENCY LIGHT. A MOTOR is HEARD DYING.

CHRISTINE:

I don't like that.

(pushing buttons)

We're stuck.

Nicholas takes out his phone, puts it to his ear. STATIC.

NICHOLAS:

(pockets phone)

No signal.

Christine pounds on the buttons and doors, frustrated. She

tries to pry the doors open. Can't.

CHRISTINE:

What's the going rate for the

"trapped-in-elevator-adventure" these

days?

Nicholas hits BUTTONS hard. Christine studies the ceiling,

moving under the square seam of the TRAP DOOR, pointing.

NICHOLAS:

Don't even think about it.

CHRISTINE:

Why not?

NICHOLAS:

Read what it says: "Warning, do not

attempt to open. If elevator stops,

use emergency... "

CHRISTINE:

If there was one.

NICHOLAS:

"... wait for help." Wait for help.

I'm not opening a door that

specifically warns me not to.

CHRISTINE:

Are you suggesting we wait till

someone finds us?

Nicholas considers this, looks around.

INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT -- NIGHT

The trap door CREAKS open. Nicholas looks up from the

elevator, standing on hand rails. He gets down.

IN THE ELEVATOR:

NICHOLAS:

I'll give you a boost.

CHRISTINE:

You first.

NICHOLAS:

This isn't an attempt to be gallant.

If I don't lift you, how are you

going to get there?

CHRISTINE:

You pull me up.

NICHOLAS:

It's much easier this way. Come on,

step up...

CHRISTINE:

No.

NICHOLAS:

Please...

CHRISTINE:

I'm not wearing underwear. Okay?

There, I said it. Satisfied.

NICHOLAS:

(looks at her skirt)

Oh. FIne.

Nicholas starts climbing...

IN THE ELEVATOR SHAFT

Nicholas comes up, batting cobwebs, tentative. He grips a

handful of grease, disgusted. He climbs thru, catching his

jacket on a jutting screw, FABRIC RIPPPPPPPPING...

CHRISTINE (o.s.)

Oops.

Nicholas stands in the shaft, pissed. He looks for a place

to wipe his hand, wipes it on his jacket, looking up.

NICHOLAS:

There's a ladder here.

IN THE ELEVATOR:

CHRISTINE:

My hero. Let's go.

Nicholas offers his grease covered hand from above.

NICHOLAS:

I don't think so.

Nicholas withdraws that hand, offers the clean one.

CUT TO:

INT. BUILDING LOBBY -- NIGHT

Elevator doors shift, forced from inside. Nicholas climbs

out, then pulls Christine out behind him. They're

head-to-toe filthy, clothing ruined.

NICHOLAS:

Damn. My briefcase.

He looks back down the shaft.

CHRISTINE:

I'll wait.

NICHOLAS:

(resigned sigh)

It's not like anyone could actually

open it.

They walk, looking at the vast lobby and sky-lit ATRIUM.

NICHOLAS:

This is C.R.S.

CHRISTINE:

What's C.R.S.?

NICHOLAS:

Consumer Recreation Services. It's

their building. They...

A BEEP is HEARD. Nicholas looks above...

Sees a MOTION SENSOR with a green light blinking.

NICHOLAS:

Oh...

An ALARM SOUNDS; a loud RINGING BELL. Nicholas backs away.

NICHOLAS:

Don't panic. When security gets

here, we simply explain what

happened...

CHRISTINE:

They'll love that.

NICHOLAS:

Yes... well...

FOOTFALLS. Nicholas turns to see Christine running away.

CHRISTINE:

(over her shoulder)

Explain for both of us!

Nicholas looks around, unsure. He follows...

EXT. ALLEYWAY, BEHIND C.R.S. BUILDING -- NIGHT

Christine bursts thru "EMERGENCY EXIT" doors. Nicholas

arrives. He grips her arm and they walk, out of breath.

NICHOLAS:

Walk, slowly. Don't draw attention.

Out for a stroll...

TIRES SCREECH. A SPOTLIGHT HITS them from behind.

ANGRY VOICE (o.s.)

You! Stay where you are!

It's a SECURITY CAR on the other side of a fence.

CHRISTINE:

Run!

They run, down the alley.

ANGRY VOICE:

Stop!

EXT. NARROW ALLEYWAY -- NIGHT

SIRENS HEARD. Christine and Nicholas sprint round a corner,

all out... thru puddles, glancing back. Ahead, a SECURITY

CAR skids, starting for them. Christine and Nicholas double

back. She takes the lead.

Christine spots something, makes a chouse, moving

into a very NARROW ALLEY space.

NICHOLAS:

Where are you going?

(looks in, worried)

You can't fit there.

She's making fine progress regardless.

NICHOLAS:

I can't!

Nicholas sees the SECURITY CAR bearing down. He must turn

sideways to fit in the narrow alley, shuffling after.

BEHIND, the car stops and SECURITY GUARD gets out, club in

hand. In the car, a GERMAN SHEPHERD barks.

Security Guard tries to fit down the space, but can't. His

belly's too big, his utility belt catching. He runs back to

the car, opens the door...

The German Shepherd shoots down the alley, a projectile...

DOWN THE TIGHT ALLEYWAY

Christine comes out into OPEN AREA, running on, looking up.

Ruined buildings on all sides, CHAIN LINK FENCES everywhere.

Nicholas arrives, pissed, trying to catch up...

NICHOLAS:

You deserted me.

CHRISTINE:

You're a grown man. I'm not

responsible for you.

NICHOLAS:

You're the one who started running.

CHRISTINE:

Me? You're the one who... !

(sees something)

Sh*t!

Christine runs faster. Nicholas looks back...

The German Shepherd's on its way...

Nicholas faces front, runs, arms pumping, terrified...

The German Shepherd's closing, growling...

Christine and Nicholas reach the CHAIN LINK FENCE ahead...

NICHOLAS:

Climb!

Christine makes the leap first, scrambling up the fence.

Nicholas climbs beside her, pulling himself up...

The German Shepherd leaps... bites Nicholas' leg...

Nicholas YELLS -- PANTS RIPPING. The dog falls with a

mouthful of cloth.

Christine and Nicholas reach the top of the fence, clinging,

balanced on their elbows, looking back. The German Shepherd

barks and leaps.

Christine and Nicholas start over the fence, beginning their

climb down the other side...

ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE: three OTHER DOGS run from the shadows,

Pit-Bulls and a Doberman, jumping and biting...

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