(back to pp 90-95)
[scrippet]INT. ERICKSON COMPUTERS — DAY
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, several cabs DRIVE PAST and out of sight. Then Joy and Elizabeth WALK IN through the front door, into the lobby (past the entry to a SECURITY ROOM) and up to the RECEPTION DESK. As they talk to the guards there, Joy NOTES that one has a large set of keys sitting in front of him.
JOY
Hi, we’re from City Temps, we’re for the data manager’s office on the fourth floor.
GUY AT THE DESK
What name, please?
JOY
Erickson.
GUY AT THE DESK
I mean, who called you?
JOY
Sorry, it was just someone on the fourth floor.
GUY AT THE DESK
I’ll check for you.
JOY
Thanks. Is there a ladies’ room down here?
GUY AT THE DESK
Over there, right-hand door.
He picks up the phone as Joy and Elizabeth head that way.[/scrippet]
[scrippet]Elizabeth slips around a corner, VANISHES THROUGH a wall. Joy waits near the elevators, looking twitchy. She pushes one button for each elevator, impatient. The watching guard rolls his eyes, looks away.
Elizabeth meanwhile PASSES INTO a room behind. It’s a MAIL ROOM with sorting bins, xerox machines, etc. Elizabeth WALKS THROUGH cabinets, shelves, etc., looking over the people working there. Some of these SCREAM or FAINT as she walks through things near them. Elizabeth goes to one woman and UNCLIPS her ID badge, then makes for the door, ignoring the hysteria in her wake. In passing she PULLS OFF another woman’s badge, then OPENS THE DOOR NORMALLY and walks out.
Joy FIDGETS by the elevators. The Security Guard, on the phone, looks at her suspiciously. Joy smiles nervously. DING! The first elevator arrives and its DOOR OPENS.
In the security office near the front door, a JACOBEAN DEAD PERSON in flowing wig and lace-cuffed coat leans THROUGH THE WALL at the two SECURITY PEOPLE working there, one male, one female. The guy’s HOLDING HIS BLEEDING HEAD in the crook of one arm.
JACOBEAN DEAD GUY
Excuse me…
They STARE.
JACOBEAN DEAD GUY
Do either of you good people know where I might find a barber?
The female security guard FREEZES. The male one opens his mouth and lets out a really impressive SCREAM.
JACOBEAN DEAD GUY
(mild reproach)
Well, really. I only need a little off the top.
In the lobby, the desk security guard REACTS to the scream, runs out from behind the desk to help — but only after DROPPING THE KEYS in a drawer and SLAMMING it shut and locked.
Joy hits the first elevator’s button again to keep it there, then RUNS to the desk. DING! The second elevator arrives. Elizabeth joins Joy, hands her one of the ID badges. Joy yanks WITHOUT RESULT at the locked desk drawer.
JOY
Shit!
ELIZABETH I
Indeed.
Elizabeth PUTS HER HAND THROUGH the front of the drawer, FIDDLES with it. The drawer OPENS. Joy snatches the keys out, points at the switchboard, then RUNS for the elevators. Elizabeth THRUSTS A HAND INTO the mini-switchboard there, gives the innards a pull. The switchboard lights GO DEAD.
Joy dives into one elevator. Elizabeth heads into the other, reaches through its instrument panel and KILLS ITS CONTROLS as well. Joy leans out the door of the first elevator.
JOY
(whispering fiercely)
Your Majesty! Get a move on!
(beat)
Elizabeth?
(beat)
Yo! Liz!!
The Queen dives into Joy’s elevator: its doors close.
INT. ELEVATOR — DAY
Joy’s PANTING with excitement. Elizabeth is calmer.
ELIZABETH I
Your manners are odd. The rulers of your land — what do you call them?
JOY
Presidents.
ELIZABETH I
And they let you call them by their names?
JOY
They’re lucky if that’s all we call them. Come on!
The door opens. With the keys Joy LOCKS the elevator in place. She and Elizabeth EXIT.
INT. ERICKSON BUILDING, EMPLOYEES’ ENTRANCE — DAY
An EDWARDIAN DEAD GUY and a VERY ROTTEN DEAD LADY walk in THROUGH THE WALL. Reacting to how they enter and how the Dead Lady looks, ND EMPLOYEES flee SCREAMING in various directions.
ROTTEN DEAD LADY
What a bleedin’ racket.
EDWARDIAN DEAD GUY
Well, look at how you’ve let yourself go!
Coarse East-London laughter from both of them as the Rotten Dead Lady tidies herself up and the two of them HEAD THROUGH the area, SABOTAGING PHONES AND CIRCUITS as they go. Behind them comes Doris, looking determined.
EXT. ERICKSON DRIVEWAY — DAY
Several vans are lined up in the “driveway” entrance to the downstairs loading area. Inside one the two TECHS are sitting in the front, chatting inconsequential ND DIALOGUE. Behind them, Pario STEPS THROUGH the van’s side, PICKS UP a wrench from one of their tool kits and turns his attention to the guys in the front seat. In the rear view mirror they NOTICE HIM. One opens his mouth —
From outside the van GRUNTS and ARGHS uar audible. The van ahead of Pario’s DRIVES AHEAD. Slowly, the one he got into ROLLS FORWARD. The unconscious driver is slumped in the seat: Pario’s hands (pushed right through his chest) are on the wheel, guiding the van into the loading area.
INT. ERICKSON LOADING AREA — DAY
Various vans UNLOAD. Pario’s van STOPS beside the others.
Inside, Pario moves back to the portable pentagram, produces a smaller steel TOOL from the tool kit, removes the pentagram’s protective cover, DROPS the steel tool on it. Brief bright FIZZ OF SPARKS and a small EXPLOSION of light.
The van’s back door of the van OPENS. Other (unloading) van drivers aren’t surprised to see Pario get out, but do react on seeing another ND DEAD PERSON EXIT the van, and ANOTHER, and ANOTHER, etc. — the old “how many people can fit in that car?” ~joke. Some of the Dead People exit EXIT THROUGH THE VAN’S SIDES: other van drivers, seeing this, FREAK. While one of the ND DEAD FIDDLES with the insides of the security slot-card reader at the inner “garage door” (so that other vans are STUCK outside), one SCARED DRIVER GRABS A PHONE as the roll-down door starts CLOSING.
SCARED DRIVER
Hello? Hello!
EXT. ERICKSON BLDG. MAIN ENTRANCE — DAY
Outside the entrance, Harry hurls himself from a cab, throws money at the cabbie, runs in the front door.
INT. ERICKSON BLDG. MAIN ENTRANCE — CONTINUOUS
Security is in chaos. Harry spots the stuck elevators, guesses what’s happening, heads for the STAIRS and VANISHES down them.
INT. ERICKSON BLDG. CLEAN ROOM — DAY
The main group of dead people now MEETS in the clean room. Some run to the TECHNICIANS handling the machinery and (by their clothes, which they can touch) drag them away: the dead have force of numbers (and shock) on their side. Others pull away any people who’re near the pentagram. Any dead person who gets too near the pentagram is SUCKED TOWARD IT and must struggle to stay clear. Those who’re armed MOVE IN, ready to do something about it.
INT. ERICKSON BUILDING HALLWAY — DAY
Elizabeth and Joy hurry down it from the elevator.
JOY
Which way now?
Gunter SLIDES out of a wall ahead of them, GESTURES at it.
GUNTER
This way, ladies.
JOY
Oh, yeah, sure.
Gunter INDICATES a spot just past where he’s standing.
GUNTER
And for the ectoplasmically challenged among us, a door.
But another door SLAMS down the hallway. All three REACT nervously… and then see it’s Harry.
HARRY
Joy! Gunter.
GUNTER
Gruss Gott, Harry! So far, so good.
HARRY
This is good? Let’s try real hard for better.
(to Joy)
You all right?
JOY
I’m fine.
HARRY
We need iron or steel to short it out.
GUNTER
We know. Come on.
Elizabeth goes through the wall. The nearby door OPENS for the live members of the party.
JOY
Gunter, one question.
GUNTER
Ja?
JOY
How do we get out?
Gunter considers, but plainly hasn’t reached that point in his planning yet.
GUNTER / JOY
…We will / Yeah, yeah, we’ll
(both)
Burn that bridge when we come to it.
HARRY
I’ve done a fair amount of that already. If they catch me here…
Joy hugs him. Gunter nods, understanding.
GUNTER
Not all the heroes are dead, mein freund.
HARRY
Let’s keep it that way.
[/scrippet]
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