Total Recall Page #9

As Quail nears the first solar-powered taxi in line, he is approached

by an amiable-looking CALYPSO GUY wearing a West Indian shirt and

bright straw hat.

CALYPSO GUY (BENNIE) Need a cab, boss mon?

Quail hesitates, unsure of the protocol.

BENNIE (continuing) Mine's right around the corner.

QUAIL (indicating first cab in line) That one's closer.

BENNIE But I out-hustle him, right?

QUAIL (smiling) Right.

TWO CABBIES exchange curses as Quail, wary, follows the Calypso Guy

around a corner, climbs into the small solar car.

62EXT. CITY DOME - AIR LOCK - SUNSET

An AIR LOCK whooshes open underneath a Checker Cab sign. Bennie and

Quail emerge in the solar-powered car -- set off into the desert.

63EXT. DESERT - SUNSET

The taxi traverses the same type desert that Quail crossed a few hours

ago. Only now is looks completely different. The late light tints

everything in pastel shades, Quail is awed by the grandeur of the

Lawrence-of-Arabia-like setting.

68EXT. DESERT TRUCK STOP - NIGHT

Quail and Bennie's taxi approaches a brightly-lit oasis in the middle

of the desert. There's a cafe, repair facilities and a huge parking

lot -- all under a garish neon sign: "LAST CHANCE AIR STATION AND

ASLOON - EAT HERE AND GET GAS".

Quail and Bennie's taxi pulls in and parks. In the lot is a collection

of strange and colorful vehicles: huge ore trucks that pull eight

trailers, mountain

prospecting jeeps, Grapes-of-Wrath jalopies. Quail and Bennie

disembark, wear- ing breathing masks, and enter the main building.

69INT. LAST CHANCE AIR STATION - NIGHT The joint is a combination

saloon/cathouse/casino. There are slot machines, HOOKERS, MINERS and

HOMESTEADERS; it is like a Nevada brothel -- packed with wild and

woolly indi- vidualists, the equivalent of Old West trappers,

prospectors and cowboys -- but with a space-age look.

Quail and Bennie elbow their way to the bar. Fragments of conversation

are overheard.

MINER #1 ...if that intergalactic little Napoleon thinks I'm sellin'

and clearin' outta here, he can think again!

MINER #2 (with a laugh) ...watcha gonna do when he cuts off the air,

Luke?

MINER #3 ...you'll be breathin' red dust and shittin' bricks.

Bennie and Quail pass another group.

MINER #4 ...my wife ain't goin' on one of those space shuttles... she

hates flyin'...

MINER #5 ...aw, come on... flyin's safer'n crossin' the road...

MINER #6 ...yeah, there ain't been a real disaster since that collision

off Phobos, nigh on twenty years ago...

MINER #4 (alarmed) ...well, that killed twelve thousand...

QUAIL What is this, Bennie... Tombstone?

BENNIE Sorta. Bunch of miners out here got their own claims, from way

back. Cohaagen's buyin' em all up, says he's gonna cut off the air an'

water if they won't sell...

Quail attracts the attention of the BARTENDER.

QUAIL I'm looking for Melina Noel.

BARTENDER You've found her.

His nod indicates an area behind Quail. He turns to see an attractive

waitress placing drinks on tables. She doesn't notice Quail. He walks

toward her through the crowd. Bennie watches, then tactfully slips

away.

MELINA turns to return to the bar and runs straight into Quail. She

stops, obviously astonished to see him.

MELINA You bastard!

Almost in tears, she pushes her way through the crowd to a billiard

room, which is separated from the main bar by swinging doors.

There are no occupants and it is almost in darkness. Quail, bewildered,

follows her. Inside the billiard room he turns on the lights which

illuminates the area of the table.

(NOTE:
As Quail and Melina speak, the activity in the outside bar can

be seen above the swinging doors.)

Melina is still fighting back tears. Quail stops in front of her,

unsure about what to do. He has no recollection of how well he might

have known this woman.

Suddenly, she slaps him hard across the face.

MELINA (quietly) You bastard...

He rubs his painful cheek.

MELINA (continuing) That's new -- the innocent look. (bitter sarcasm)

You didn't have that one before. (beat) Well?

Quail is speechless.

QUAIL Well, uh... I...

MELINA All right, I'll say it for you.

He looks relieved (but tries to cover).

MELINA (continuing) Don't worry. I got the note. You discharged your

obligation.

QUAIL What note?

MELINA Oh, the usual one. "Must return immediately to Earth... the wife

needs me..."

QUAIL I don't have a wife. Well, I do - but not a real wife. (getting

desperate) Hell... look... someone else sent that note. Someone who --

MELINA What are you here for?!

QUAIL For you! I don't even know why --

Melina bursts into tears. Quail rather tentatively puts his arms around

her. She welcomes this at first, but then pushes him away.

QUAIL (continuing) Whoever I was, I must have been a helluva guy.

MELINA "Whoever you were"???

QUAIL Listen. I've for to tell you something. I beg you to believe

me... help me --

All Melina's suspicions come rushing back.

QUAIL (continuing) Something happened to my mind. Memory suppression,

false implant, I don't know what --

Melina backs off. Quail grows more desperate.

QUAIL (continuing) What I'm saying is... I don't remember you. I don't

remember us. I don't remember me --

Melina's expression grows dead hard.

MELINA [And I thought...]

QUAIL Who is us?

MELINA (ignoring the question) Memory erasure is what they use on

agents. Go away.

QUAIL Wait... I was an agent -- I'm not now -- just tell me who I am!

How did we know each other? Why are they trying to kill me?!

He takes a step toward her, nearly frantic.

MELINA I'm not trusting you again.

QUAIL You loved me once, you must have --

MELINA That you was a liar. Who you are now I don't even know.

QUAIL Please, Melina --

MELINA (tears starting) Get out!

QUAIL I need your help --

MELINA (crying quietly) Get out! Get the hell away from me!

Quail gives up; goes through the doors and leaves. Melina slumps her

shoulder against the table and cries.

77INT. LAST CHANCE AIR STATION GARAGE - NIGHT

Quail enters from the cafe. Bennie is kneeling beside his taxi,

repairing a tire. He look up, sees Quail approach.

On his right hand, Bennie has a mechanical device capable of spinning

360

degrees. He uses it to twirl a lug nut tight on his tire. As Quail

approaches, Bennie removes the TOOL ATTACHMENT from his HAND, tosses it

into a kit beside the taxi.

BENNIE You don't look so good, boss. All over the Universe, women is an

awful curse.

He opens the door for Quail, beams.

80INT. SOLAR-POWERED CAR - NIGHT - MOVING - DESERT BACKGROUND

Quail still broods, Bennie tries to cheer him up.

BENNIE It's a tough planet, boss.

QUAIL Yeah, right.

BENNIE Some guy really screwed her - screwed her up real good. Some

Earthman. Just hopped on a space shuttle.

Bennie bright tone isn't improving Quail's mood.

QUAIL Listen, Bennie. You're pretty well informed?

BENNIE If that means I know it all, you're right, boss.

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