Excess Baggage Page #5

PERKINS:

You called the police.

AMADEUS:

No. They called the police.

PERKINS:

They.

AMADEUS:

Yes.

PERKINS:

Well she's got your attention now, hasn't she?

Amadeus shoots him a dour glance.

AMADEUS:

I fail to see the humor in the situation, Thomas.There's a precedent at stake here.

Thomas snorts again -- no way is he believing this.

AMADEUS (CONT'D)

The police informed me a man drove her car awayfrom the pick-up zone.

Thomas frowns -- less sure of himself.

PERKINS:

An accomplice? That doesn't sound like Emily.

A peremptory KNOCK and Dan Sims pushes into the study. Thomasturns, giving Sims a view of the back of his head and not much else.

SIMS:

Mr. Hope, I'd love to answer phones in your foyerall day, but this man --

Sims glowers at Thomas's back.

SIMS (CONT'D)

-- is not on my roster of household staff -- orguests.

AMADEUS:

Mr. Perkins is a private associate, Detective Sims.He'll be taking over.

SIMS:

Excuse me?

AMADEUS:

Your services are no longer necessary, DetectiveSims. If you WILL excuse us?

Amadeus drops another nothing into the waste basket -- amove not lost on Sims.

SIMS:

We are not a cleaning service, Mr. Hope. We arethe police.

Amadeus stares blankly, like "what's the difference?"

PERKINS:

I think what Detective Sims is trying to say, Amadeus,is you can't fire the police.

SIMS:

Exactly.

AMADEUS:

(to Perkins)

Are you sure about this?

Perkins nods solemnly.

AMADEUS (CONT'D)

Very well, Detective Sims may maintain surveillance.

Sims chokes.

SIMS:

I. May.

AMADEUS:

(to Sims)

That will be all, Detective Sims.

Sims stands his ground, mutely refusing dismissal.

AMADEUS (CONT'D)

Unless you'd like to discuss the money.

SIMS:

I'll be in the foyer.

Sims spins for the door -- the door handle fights him.

AMADEUS:

Turn to the right, Detective Sims.

Sims, crimson, turns to the right.

AMADEUS (CONT'D)

And Detective Sims? If you're going to remain afixture in this household, speak to my assistant -- he'll cut youa wardrobe check.

The door slams behind Sims.

AMADEUS (CONT'D)

Nobody holds me hostage.

Perkins stares into a glass case -- one of those pedestaljobs you find museum displays in, but this holds photographs:

Emily at three; Emily at the military academy; Emily atgraduation; Emily at a high powered reception beside her father -- ThomasPerkins loves that little girl.

PERKINS:

We'll make that clear.

INT. AMADEUS'S ANTEROOM/OFF THE STUDY - EVENING

Wires run from phones to phones to black boxes -- presumablythe latest in police tech surveillance -- monitored by bleary eyed COPS.

Amadeus's ASSISTANT attempts to work around the squad roomsqualor.

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