Excess Baggage Page #7

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. MILITARY SCHOOL - DAY (FLASHBACK)

Impeccable grounds, impeccable buildings -- except for one,the corner of which has been reduced to rubble by an explosion, if the burnmarks are any indication.

Thomas Perkins, hands clasped behind his back, rolls forwardand backward on the balls of his feet, studying the rubble.

Emily (young) stands beside him, dressed "academy," suitcaseby her feet, and grins, proud.

PERKINS:

You're lucky no one was in there.

Emily's offended.

YOUNG EMILY:

That wasn't luck. I called.

PERKINS:

Voice I.D.

Emily grimaces chagrin.

YOUNG EMILY:

That won't happen again.

Thomas lifts her suitcase and strides across impeccablelawn, towards a faraway and expensive automobile with tinted windows.

PERKINS:

You won't call? Awful messy, when bodies blow.

She stumps along at his side.

YOUNG EMILY:

I won't use a cold phone.

PERKINS:

Emily, if we could keep you in school long enoughto get an education, you'd have a real future in Secret Service.

They're at the car. He opens the passenger door for her.She pulls out a cigarette and lights up.

YOUNG EMILY:

I don't need a future. I'm rich.

Thomas plucks the cigarette from her mouth, grinds it underhis heel, and extends his open palm, waiting.

She glares, sighs, and hands over the pack.

INT. PERKINS' DISCREET AUTOMOBILE - DAY (FLASHBACK CONT'D)

Thomas drives. Young Emily broods in injured silence.

YOUNG EMILY:

He could have come. Probably playing with thosedamn trees.

PERKINS:

Maybe he doesn't appreciate paying for a new wing.

Injured silence.

PERKINS (CONT'D)

You know what this means.

YOUNG EMILY:

Uh oh.

PERKINS:

Back to Catholic school.

YOUNG EMILY:

Nuns? Again?

PERKINS:

It's going to take a while for me to get you inanywhere else.

YOUNG EMILY:

Nuns are the worst.

PERKINS:

Look in the glove box.

Emily brightens and digs, coming up with a gift wrappedbox.

PERKINS (CONT'D)

Happy Birthday, Emily.

Emily shoots him a grateful smile, reads the card, grimaces.

YOUNG EMILY:

Thank you, Uncle Thomas.

PERKINS:

It's from your father.

YOUNG EMILY:

It's a nice lie. Thanks for remembering.

She tears wrapping.

PERKINS:

You're locked in a room. What do you do?

YOUNG EMILY:

Check windows.

PERKINS:

The windows are barred.

YOUNG EMILY:

Check doors.

PERKINS:

The doors are locked.

YOUNG EMILY:

Check the ceiling.

This is a very old routine, almost sing song.

PERKINS:

Ceiling's clean.

Emily lifts a delicate necklace from the wrapping.

YOUNG EMILY:

This is beautiful, Uncle Thomas.

She leans over, kisses his cheek.

YOUNG EMILY (CONT'D)

Thank you.

PERKINS:

Ceiling.

YOUNG EMILY:

I don't want to play today.

Silence.

YOUNG EMILY (CONT'D)

Why don't you take me out to dinner, Uncle Thomas?

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