Nick of Time
Gene And if I was gonna hurt you, I would have done it already.
Eleanor At least that’s a little comfort.
Gene I have a problem.
Eleanor I can see that.
Gene I’m sorry to say, ma’am, that my problem is also your problem.
Eleanor Wait a minute, I know you. You’re. . . from the elevator.
Gene That’s right.
Eleanor You were very nervous.
Gene Guns tend to make me very nervous.
Eleanor Yeah, me too.
Gene We don’t have much time. I need you to listen to me carefully. Three lives depend on you listening very carefully to what I have to say. Do you understand?
Eleanor Yes, I do, I do. And I wanna hear you, I mean. . .
Gene Okay.
Eleanor Maybe, just let me call my assistant, her name’s Krista Brooks and she’s in charge of. . .
Gene She’s dead.
Eleanor She’s dead? How do you know that?
Gene I saw her die.
Eleanor Did you kill her?
Gene No.
Eleanor Well, who did?
Gene A very dangerous man, that. . . works for your husband. Your husband works for someone else and, er, they want you killed.
Eleanor I said I would listen. I didn’t say I would necessarily believe. I mean, you’re. . . you’re trying to tell me that my people are in some kind of plot against me, that my husband is trying to kill me, what do you expect?
Gene I know. I know. I don’t blame you. I don’t have any proof. But there is one way to find out for sure. Try to cancel the last speech.
Eleanor I wish you wouldn’t refer to it as my last speech.
Gene It’s the last chance that I have to kill you. Try to get out of it. They won’t let you. They can’t. Try to change the schedule. You’ll know I’m right. Governor, don’t make that speech. Trust me.
Eleanor You know, I love it when pistoleros talk about trust.
Gene Ma’am, I have never in my life fired one of these things before, but. . . I will if I have to.
Eleanor Indeed.
Gene Nine minutes, Governor.
Eleanor Franco! Franco!
Franco What is it, Governor? What’s wrong?
Eleanor I. . . er. . . I, I had a really bad dream. I had a, really bad dream.
Huey Well?
Gene I don’t know.
Huey What are you gonna do?
Gene I don’t know. I gotta get back.
Huey Yeah, but what are you gonna do?
Gene I’m gonna do whatever I have to.
Man 2 Oh, man, we gotta go. Come on, hurry, come on.
White Where is he?
Smith He’s in the toilet.
White It’s time. It’s time now.
Smith You wanna learn to relax. I told you I got it under control.
Lynn Where are we going?
Jones Not very far, Honey-Pie, not very far at all.
Smith Outta there! Mr Watson, time’s up! Let’s go! Outta there! Now you forgot!
Gene What?
Smith Wash your hands.
Gene Why are you doing this to me?
Smith I saw you, with your kid. I knew you’d do anything for her. I got faith in you, Mr Watson. You’re not just a regular guy. I know that. You don’t know it yourself. Maybe that’s why. Come here. I chose you.
Gene I know what I have to do. I’ll do it. Let’s do it.
Brendan Hey you, ready to head downstairs?
Old Man Good afternoon, Eleanor.
Eleanor I, er, I’ve got a killer headache, and, siesta hair. I’m, er, thinking of canceling the speech.
Brendan Well, it’s, it’s an important speech.
Old Man I’d say critical. Course, it’s no business of mine.
Eleanor Just another speech in a Tower of Babel so high, even Nimrod would be put to shame. Cancel and make my apologies.
Brendan Erm, won’t you excuse us?
Old Man Er, yes, I’ll. . . Nice to see you, Eleanor.
Brendan Honey, during a campaign, every speech is important. I mean, this is free, prime-time news coverage. We couldn’t buy it.
Eleanor What’s he doing here?
Brendan Who, him?
Eleanor Yes, him.
Brendan I asked him here. I needed his input on several issues.
Eleanor Things have changed, Brendan. I thought you understood that.
Brendan Christ, Eleanor, don’t start with that, I understand things have changed better than you do. I’m the one downstairs dealing with the repercussions. I’m the one taking the heat for all the broken promises you made to people like him. People who helped get you elected, by the way!
Eleanor Don’t remind me!
Brendan Listen to me. This speech, or a half dozen rubber chicken fundraisers. What do you say?
Eleanor The truth. . . Well, the truth is, I’ve got this lower intestinal havoc, Brendan, I feel sick. I wanna, I wanna cancel the speech.
Brendan This isn’t like you. You’re a trooper. Right, I’m gonna get some Pepto. You go downstairs and make one of your patented tributes to the common person, and we’re back to Sacramento. We can’t afford to lay down on the job now, I don’t care what the polls say. You want to blow off the Sacramento speech, that’s fine. But do this one, and let’s get out of the smog.
Eleanor Okay. I’ll do it.
Brendan That’s my girl.
Eleanor Er, I want to make some, last minute changes in that speech. Would you send Krista in right away, please?
Brendan Oh, jeez, I sent her on an errand.
Eleanor You sent my assistant on an errand?
Brendan Yeah.
Lynn Why do you keep looking at me?
Jones It’s my job. I’m your baby-sitter.
Lynn I’m not a baby.
Jones Oh, you’re a big girl, huh?
Lynn I’m not a big girl, but I’m not a baby.
Brendan Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press, campaign volunteers, and those of you who were looking for any excuse to take off from work this afternoon. Let me be the first to welcome you to this afternoon’s campaign banquet. Governor Eleanor Samara Grant. Well, what can I say about her, that won’t get me in trouble when I go home tonight?
Brendan (on TV) Seriously, she is a woman who loves our great state.
Brendan I know you recognise her as a charitable and enlightened leader. She actually united Republicans and Democrats in the assembly to pass new laws to improve the lives of all Californians.
Cameraman Charlie. Yo, Charlie. Charlie, you reading me? Charlie? Charlie, Charlie are you reading me? Cha. . . Shit, stupid radio. Hey, Terr, Terry, the walkie-talkies don’t work from here ‘cos there’s too much concrete and stuff.
Brendan . . .California has veer seen! I am honoured to present to you, our esteemed governor, and my beloved wife, Eleanor Samara Grant.
Franco Gun! Get down, Governor!
Brendan Get a doctor! The governor’s been shot! They did it. A bleeding heart makes a very big target, Governor.
Eleanor My God! Franco! Oh my God. Are you all right?
Franco I’d be better if they’d put sleeves on these damn bullet-proof vests.
Jones It’s time. You read me? I don’t hear you. I’m gonna go ahead now.
Man 1 Hey!
Man 2 Hey!
Smith Fuck with me, huh?
Jones Close your eyes.
Lynn Why?
Jones I have something for you.
Lynn A surprise?
Jones You ask too many questions. You want the surprise or not? Huh? Close your eyes.
Huey Afternoon, ma’am. Hello there, little girl.
Jones Hey, what, what, what are you doing?
Huey I’m just giving you the gift of a clean windshield.
Jones No, no, no. I don’t want my windshield cleaned. So just get outta here.
Huey Oh, you just think you don’t want your windshield cleaned.
Jones No, I know that I don’t want my windshield cleaned. So get outta here.
Huey Oh, come on. Don’t be like that. Just think of me as the Moses of dirty windshields, leading you through the desert of dead bugs.
Jones This is the last time I’m telling you. I don’t want my windshield cleaned, so get the hell outta here.
Huey I’ve already done it, I’ve already done it. You have to pay me now.
Jones I ain’t paying you nothing.
Huey Oh, come on. You would deny me a lousy dollar, after I’ve sweated like a pig, giving you the gift of a clean windshield.
Jones Fucking A!
Huey I don’t think so!
Jones What you doing?
Huey I think this is worth a dollar.
Jones Give it to me!
Huey I’m gonna do better than that.
Jones No, you better. . .
Huey Oh, you ungrateful honkey! . . .whip your ass!
Jones Give it to me!
Huey Get off me!
Smith Daddy blew it.
Lynn No!
Smith Very good, Mr Watson. I told ’em, I could make a killer out of you.
Lynn Daddy!
Gene You okay, Honey? Yeah? Thank God! Thank God.
Huey Nothing like a good wing-tip.
Gene You okay? You okay? You’re okay. You’re okay.
Lynn I’m okay.
Gene Baby.
Newscaster I’m standing in the Bonaventure lobby with this breaking news story. Just minutes ago, shots were fired at Governor Grant. The police are just beginning to arrive on the scene. The details of the attempted assassination continue to pour in. This is going to prove to be one of the most bizarre stories of the year. Our sources are now pinpointing a conspiracy which could point as high as Brendan Grant, Governor Grant’s husband. This is a bizarre case and we will give over to you, any details, late breaking events, as we get them. Stephen Schuster, JBN.
