The Saint Page #21

...TEMPLAR comes through the crowd to Jillian. The F.B.I. AGENTS grab him.

JILLIAN:

Stop it! I know him!

The Agents release Templar. Jillian looks at him. Templar's panting, out of breath.

JILLIAN:

Simon? What is it?

TEMPLAR:

Are you all right?

JILLIAN:

Yes.

(smiles)

Go get a seat.

Jillian moves up the stairs into the Smithsonian. ACROSS THE MALL.. .ILYA is gone, melting into the sea of umbrellas.

INT. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE - MAIN HALL - DAY

The room is packed with scientists and reporters. Jillian mounts a podium in front of the room.

JILLIAN:

Good afternoon. In 1989, two physicists claimed to have perfected...

(her eyelids flutter)

.. .cold nuclear fusion. Their results couldn't be duplicated. ...

Jillian is perspiring. She has cotton mouth. She picks up her ice water. Her hand shakes. TEMPLAR, seated in the back, watches her.

JILLIAN:

It is my pleasure to announce that I . . . .

(her eyes roll back)

...have...

She opens her eyes. They're glassy. And the world is swirling... Jillian falls, her ice water SMASHING on the floor. TEMPLAR runs to her, shoving people aside.

TEMPLAR:

JILLIAN!! !

(kneels to her)

No. No. No... AMBULANCE, GET AN AMBULANCE!

One of the F.B.I. agents races off.

JILLIAN:

Simon...

(she's fading fast)

I love you...

(gasps for breath)

My Saint. . . . .

TEMPLAR:

No. . . No. . . God please no... But God won't help you, Simon Templar... ...God will take her anyway.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

The next images collide and merge upon one another:

A REPORTER:

REPORTER:

Nuclear physicist Jillian St. Thomas suffered a cerebral aneurism...

A CORONER:

CORONER:

Death occurred at two-fifty one p.m. …

THE INQUEST JUDGE

JUDGE It is the ruling of this court that death was due to natural...

A REPORTER:

REPORTER:

.. ..and foul play was ruled out. In international news, the situation in St. Petersburg worsened...

CUT TO:

EXT. ST. PETERSBURG - DVORTSOVAYA PLOSHCHAD - DAY

The square is filled with thousands of MICHAEL ROMANOV SUPPORTERS. They're camped out now. A C.N.N. NEWS TEAM transmits from the square.

WOLF BLITZER:

The scene is reminiscent of the Tiananmen Square crisis, Bernard. The death toll stands at forty-eight civilians and at least twenty-one armed forces personnel. Rumors escalated today that...

EXT. ST. PETERSBURG - ADMIRALTY - ESTABLISHING

A LIMOUSINE pulls through a 'crowd of ROMANOV SUPPORTERS outside the heavily guarded gates of the Admiralty, Russia's Naval headquarters, akin to Annapolis.

WOLF BLITZER:

.. . General Nicolai Radischev...

(we see a photo of Radischev)

...has promised Michael Romanov his support, pending the outcome of today's meeting between Romanov and President Karpov.

ROMANOV, in the back of the limousine, waves to his supporters. They go wild, clapping and cheering. The limo continues into the Admiralty compound.

EXT. ADMIRALTY - DAY

The limousine rolls through a guarded checkpoint, stopping before --

THE ADMIRALTY'S NUCLEAR SITUATION FACILITY: in a more dangerous time, this is the place from which Russian military leaders would conduct nuclear war. It's an acre-sized field of concrete, recessed 30 feet into the earth. It looks like a very large, very deep swimming pool emptied of water. In the middle is a concave-shaped entrance hatch (visualize an enormous bowl turned upside down). The two halves of the concave hatch open down the middle, each side retracting into the facility. On the concrete floor next to the hatch is a SMALL DETECTION UNIT. We'll find about the unit shortly...

Romanov and four bodyguards exit the limousine. Two RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICEMEN escort Romanov to the entrance hatch. They descend down stairs to --

INT. ADMIRALTY - NUCLEAR OPERATIONS - DAY

- - a large room dominated by an ELECTRONIC MAP OF THE WORLD. Rows of computer stations run the length of the room. It looks like a N.A.S.A. control room. The Secret Servicemen lead Romanov across the room to --

INT. ADMIRALTY - NUCLEAR OPERATIONS OFFICE - DAY

An office, relatively comfortable, with a computer, a television and v.c.r., and a small satellite link. VICTOR KARPOV, the popularly elected President of Russia, rises. Karpov is 55, intelligent, with a calm, professional demeanor.

ROMANOV:

A nuclear bunker, Mr. President? You must worry for your safety.

KARPOV:

I have reason to.

ROMANOV:

Yes. You do.

They glare at each other.

KARPOV:

You understand my policy on taping meetings.

Romanov consents with a wave of his hand. Karpov motions to his ATTACHE, who flips the switch on a VIDEO CAMERA mounted in the wall.

KARPOV:

I'll get to the point. Your remarks are irresponsible; they've caused civil unrest. Unless you appeal to your supporters to stop rioting, I will institute martial law.

(beat)

Tell me what you want.

ROMANOV:

A public debate, then new elections. We'll let the people decide.

KARPOV:

(considers this)

Agreed.

They shake hands. Romanov rises and exits.

CUT TO:

A HAND reaching for a SHOTGLASS. The hand shakes so badly.. .it has to set the glass down. WIDEN TO --

INT. MANHATTAN - LOWER EAST SIDE BAR - DAY

-- TEMPLAR, drunk at noon in a wretched little dive on Avenue A. His face is drawn and pale. Haunted. Hasn't slept or shaved for days. His fingernails are dirty.

TWO DARK-SUITED MEN enter. One pauses by the entrance, the other goes to the bar. He sets a FOLDER on the bartop and slides it to Templar. The two men exit. Templar opens the folder. Inside is a plane ticket. A plane ticket to St. Petersburg...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. TRETIAK'S OFFICE - DAY

Tretiak sits behind his desk. The room is dark.

TRETIAK:

The woman's death was unfortunate. You lost. I lost. To think what we could have done with her formula. But life goes on, no?

TEMPLAR sits opposite Tretiak, staring at him. He is shaved and rested, his eyes utterly alert.

TRETIAK:

When Romanov gains the presidency Russia will be ours. The possibilities are, you would agree, endless.

(beat)

You have talent. Unique talent. I need that talent to break into an impregnable facility. Be part of this, Templar.

TEMPLAR:

(considers this)

Fifteen million, plus the fifteen you owe me.

TRETIAK:

I owe you nothing. You were hired to steal something and you failed.

TEMPLAR:

Thirty million, and I use my own men.

TRETIAK:

Twenty million, and one of my men goes with you.

Templar nods in agreement. Rises. Goes to the door.

TRETIAK:

Templar. A question.

(Templar turns)

You had feelings for the woman, didn't you?

TEMPLAR:

I don't have feelings, Tretiak.

Templar, his face hard, cold, expressionless, exits.

Tretiak watches him.

CUT TO:

INT. ST. PETERSBURG - HOTEL SUITE - OFFICE - DAY

A hotel in the heart of the city. We hear sounds of demonstrations and rioting in the street below. Templar sits at a table with Harry Winston, Remy Samarkand, and Frankie. ARCHITECTURAL PLANS and PHOTOGRAPHS of the Admiralty's Nuclear Situation Facility are spread amongst room service trays. ILYA, and the massive ZERO sit on the couch, listening. Ilya eyes Templar. Templar periodically meets Ilya's eyes. These exchanged glances are rife with hostility. They've been at this a while and everyone's frustrated.

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