The Essential Ellison Part 74

CAMERA BEGINS MOVING out of the eye as the phrase you don'tsmoke repeats over and over and over and the CAMERA PULLS BACKout through the eye, back, back to: LAP-DISSOLVE:.

103 SAME AS 101.

as CAMERA PULLS BACK out of the eye and the demon whisperssubside. Now (in a parallel structure with the scenes inFlint's eyes) the CAMERA MOVES IN on Calista's right eye: LAP-DISSOLVE:.

104 SAME AS 102.

the scene in her other eye is a repeat of Scene 93, in theGunsmiths' lab, with Flint standing between the two Blacksuits,talking to the Chairman via the grille...the demon whispersgrow more distinct as Flint says: FLINt.i.t is possible to stretch your magnanimity to includecigarettes and a pack of matches?

And CAMERA PULLS BACK out of the eye as we HEAR Calista's ghostwhisper saying you don't smoke over and over:

LAP-DISSOLVE:.

105 SAME AS 101.

as CAMERA PULLS BACK OUT of the right eye, to HOLD CALISTA inCLOSEUP. Suddenly she sits up in bed and her mouth opens toshout as the realization of what Flint is up to dawns on herand we SMASH-CUT TO:.

106 INT. CELL-WITH ACTION.

CLOSE ON FLINT as he sc.r.a.pes the cellulose off the cover of DonQuixote with his belt buckle.

FLINT(humming idly)Cellulose...mmm...mmm...

We notice sweat standing out prominently on his forehead andchest. He has sc.r.a.ped sufficient cellulose now, and he moves tothe door of the cell, wads the cellulose into the lock and,using the cellophane opening strip from the cigarette pack as afuse, lights it. He ducks back in the cell as we HARD CUT TO:.

107 Pa.s.sAGE OUTSIDE THE CELL.

a narrow pa.s.sage, where a 3rd BLACKSUIT stands guard with abren gun. Suddenly there is a tremendous explosion and the doorslams open, the concussion knocking the guard against the wallof the pa.s.sage. Even as he impacts, Flint comes hurtling outthrough the open door and catches the guard on the rebound withtwo sharp kung-fu slashes that send him a.s.soverteakettle. Hegrabs the bren gun just as two more guards, 4th & 5thBLACKSUITS, come around the corner. CAMERA WHIP-PANS withFlint's move in their direction and HOLDS PAST FLINT as twoshort, sharp bursts lift the guards off their feet and hurlthem out of sight into the cross-pa.s.sage.

108 CAMERA WITH FLINT--FOLLOW ACTION--ARRIFLEX.

Flint dashes to the cross-pa.s.sage, hurdles the bodies, andrushes forward.

109 AMMO DUMP.

a huge chamber stacked with explosives. Flint comes rushing infrom the pa.s.sage, sprays several more guards who run for cover.He sees a mountain of crates labeled PLASTIQUEand fires into them. They begin to explode as Flintdashes into the cover of a half-track truck parked atone side of the chamber. The explosions continue andFlint crawls onto the hood of the truck, onto its roof,and launches himself at the railing of the catwalkoverhead. He catches it, pulls himself up, spins andfires across the chamber at another Blacksuit trying tomachine gun him from the other side of the catwalk. TheBlacksuit is. .h.i.t and tumbles over the railing as moreexplosions. .h.i.t one after another like firecrackers. Theyare building in intensity. Flint sees a doorway on thecatwalk and rushes for it. It is locked. The explosionsget stronger.

CUT TO:.

110 FILE ROOM.

ON LOCKED DOOR between file cases, as the door suddenlyshatters with a savate kick and Flint throws himself throughthe smashed door just as a gigantic explosion destroys thearmaments cache in the ammo dump below. Without stopping hedashes across the room and flings himself out the door on theother side as flames rip through the file room.

111 thru 116 SERIES OF LAP-DISSOLVES-MAYHEM-STANDING SETS (STOCK)

SUPERIMPOSE FLINT IN MOTION over stock shots (MEASURE) of armscaches being blown, files being burned, computers beingwrecked, knocking guards senseless, and in general decimatingthe Gunsmiths' headquarters. And over all this we HEAR theVOICE of the CHAIRMAN, from speaker grilles throughout thecomplex.

CHAIRMANFlint is loose in the complex! He's in the centralcomputer banks! Set up a crossfire in pa.s.sages 7 Westand 11 North! He escaped; trap him in the laboratory!

But Flint continues his rampage. Shots of explosions can beseen UNDER SUPERIMPOSED LIMBO SHOTS of Flint on the move.Until, finally, the Chairman's voice is heard: CHAIRMANHe's trapped in the upper armory. Pin him down!

CUT TO:.

117 INT. UPPER ARMORY-FULL SHOT-ESTABLISHING.

A huge garage-like area, with crates of HIGH EXPLOSIVES stackedalmost to the ceiling along one side of the high-ceilingedarea. CAMERA BOOMS DOWN to pick up Calista, Barmeier, the 1st V.P. and a half dozen Blacksuits crouched down behind tanks,oil drums, packing crates, all of them bristling with heavyarmaments, ready to blow Flint to pieces. CAMERA PANS ACROSSthis scene of waiting violence, swiftly moving across the emptyno man's land of the central garage s.p.a.ce, to the crates ofhigh explosives, and Flint down behind them. Both sides areready. Suddenly, the VOICE of the CHAIRMAN booms out over thearmory.

CHAIRMANYou're trapped, Mr. Flint. Without hope of escape,trapped.

(beat)I offer you one last chance. The diamond, in tenseconds, or I advise my employees to vacate thewarehouse and fire into the cases of explosives.

118 INTERCUT.

Flint, listening.

119 ANOTHER ANGLE ON THE ENTIRE SCENE.

CHAIRMAN (CONT'D.)My patience has long-since run out with you, Mr. Flint. We arebusiness people, and you've already cost us a fortune indamages with your running amuck. I'm prepared to cut our lossesby getting rid of you.

(beat)Ten seconds: ten, nine, eight...

120 INTERCUT.

Flint, thinking.

CHAIRMAN (CONT'D.)Seven...six...five...four...

121 MED. SHOT-FAVORING CALISTA.

on the Gunsmiths, their weapons raised for the attack as weHEAR Flint's voice from behind the stacks.

FLINTYou win.

CHAIRMANPut an end to trickery, Mr. Flint, I warn you.

FLINTThe diamond is in the collar of the attack dog at myapartment.

(beat)Use the Latin phrase, Nemo me impune lacessit, to keephim from tearing out your throats.

CHAIRMANIf I translate the Latin correctly, "No one harms mewith impunity." Very good, Mr. Flint, but a trifleinappropriate, under the circ.u.mstances.

122 ON 1st V.P.

as he scuttles away from the cover of the oil drums.

1st V.P.

(loud)Mr. Chairman! I'll take two men. Keep him pinned down.I'll be back in half an hour.

CHAIRMANTake your time. Mr. Flint isn't going anywhere.

He goes, as we

DISSOLVE TO:.

123 INT. ARMORY-EXT. CLOSEUP-THE DIAMOND.

as CAMERA PULLS BACK we see it is in the hand of the 1st V.P.as he hands it to Calista.

CALISTAKeep him put where he is. I'll take this to theChairman. Just to be sure.

She goes, and they return to watchful waiting as we

DISSOLVE TO:.

124 LONG SHOT-FROM FLINT ACROSS ARMORY.

as Calista returns through the doorway behind the barricade.

CHAIRMa.n.a.ll right, Miss Griffen. This is the black diamond. Lethim go.

1st V.P.You heard him, Flint. Come on out.

There is the SOUND of gun hammers being clicked back.

CHAIRMANI said he could go. He's beaten, we have what we want.There's no profit in killing him. Mr. Flint's fangs havebeen pulled.