Nick of Time
Jones (on radio) What gives?
Smith Just put her on.
Lynn Daddy?
Gene Yeah, Honey, it’s me.
Lynn I’m tired. I want to go now.
Gene I know you do, Honey. So do I.
Lynn (on radio) Can we go now?
Gene Not just yet, Baby.
Gene (on radio) Daddy has to do something, first.
Lynn To be a hero?
Gene No, no, not to be a hero, Honey. I want you to remember something for me, okay?
Lynn All right.
Gene (on radio) Daddy’s doing it for you, no matter what anybody tells you, he’s doing it for you, because he loves you, all right?
Lynn All right.
Gene Promise me that.
Lynn I promise.
Gene All right, kisses to you.
Lynn No. Kisses to you.
Gene Kisses to you, Sweet-Pea.
Smith You done yet?
Huey Two dollars, if it pleases ya.
Smith It does not. I remember when it was two bits. Twenty-seven minutes.
Huey Thanks for the tip. Mister, what are you dragging me in to?
Gene I’m dragging you in to. . .
Huey Cover your mouth!
Gene What?
Huey That screwball’s watching, is that right?
Gene Yeah.
Huey Then don’t let him see you being talking to me.
Gene All right.
Huey That’s your kid on the walkie-talkie?
Gene Yeah. They got her in a van across the street. They said they’re gonna kill her if I don’t do something for them.
Huey Twenty-seven minutes in the California Ballroom?
Gene Yeah, that’s right.
Huey What are you supposed to do?
Gene Kill the governor.
Huey I knew I should have packed up and gone home, as soon as I got that twenty. What am I supposed to do about this situation?
Gene What am I supposed to do? These people have my baby. I make one wrong move and she’s dead. I don’t know who to trust. Everybody’s involved in this, I mean everybody. Except. . .
Huey Who?
Gene The governor.
Huey Oh, Jesus Christ!
Gene I gotta somehow do right by my little girl. I don’t care what happens to me, as long as she’s okay.
Huey Look, I can’t keep. . . er, can’t keep playing with these shoes. Er. . . it’ll look funny. Look, er, you go out and get yourself a drink. Make sure Godzilla there follows you.
Gene What are you gonna do?
Huey I don’t have the faintest idea. Just go on over there and I’ll get word to you.
Gene Stay out of it. Keep the change.
Huey Yeah. Well, don’t think I won’t.
Gene I’m gonna get a drink. Can I get a Jack and Coke, please?
Barman Jack & Coke.
Man 2 Yeah, I thought she was gonna get out the violins.
Man 1 Oh shit, if I hear that ‘stop the violence’ routine one more time, I swear to God, I’m gonna shoot somebody.
Man 2 Politicians. All the same.
Smith God can’t help her, Mr Watson. Say it with me. At one-thirty my little girl is dead. Say it! . . .gravy out of your little girl. . . the guy who’s gonna kill your daughter if you don’t get moving. Get moving mister.
Waitress Sir? Sir, here’s your Jack and Coke.
Gene Thank you.
Man 1 . . .bullshit because there is no such animal. You know what we are? We are a nation of two-hundred and forty special interest groups and that is it.
Barman Er, sir, you haven’t paid for that.
Gene It’s on that special interest right there, at the end of the bar.
Barman Sir, sir. Don’t make me call a cop.
White Where is he? Did you lose him?
Smith Shut up.
Gene Let’s hope so.
Huey Hey, quick, quick. Off with the shoes and pants. Trade with Gustino. Hurry up, come on, just do like I tell you.
Gene What are you talking about?
Huey Don’t worry about it. No time to be shy, ladies. Come on, do as I tell you! Hurry up! Godzilla’s coming. Come on, come on, hurry up. Okay. Come on, shut the door.
Cleaner It’s all right, he’s gone.
Huey This is Irene.
Gene Hi.
Irene Hello.
Huey Irene’s going to help.
Gene Oh, thank you.
Irene Yes, follow me.
Gene Where am I going?
Huey You said there was only one person you knew wasn’t in this.
Gene Right.
Huey Well, you’re going to see her.
Gene What?
Huey You sure she’s asleep?
Irene I took some extra pillows. She take a nap before her big speech.
Gene What am I going to say to her?
Huey It’ll come to you. See if you can stop this thing before it gets started. Save us all considerable embarrassment.
Irene You don’t have to save me. I’ve got nothing to do with it.
Huey Irene.
Irene I’m not going to give you no key.
Huey Irene, come on.
Irene No, I’m not going to do it.
Huey Come on now, Irene.
Irene I’m sorry. Hi, Albert.
Albert Hi, how’re you?
Irene How you doing? Pretty good. Thought I’d come by and clean up a little bit for you. You mind?
