Nick of Time

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FADE IN:

INT. UNION STATION - DAY - 12:06PM

Union Station, that gorgeous fifty-year-old monument to Art

Deco/California Mission architecture. Still beautiful. Still

grand.

A sign at one of the departure/arrival gates in the main

concourse-says the "San Diegan", number 2 64, is due at 12:00.

Set above the gates, a big clock - six feet in diameter.

THE TIME -

12:
06.

We see the big hand slam into "7".

A loudspeaker - you can just about understand this guy.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

Amtrack 2 64, the San Diegan, from

San Diego, Del Mar...

EXT. UNION STATION PLATFORM - DAY - 12:06PM

The "San Diegan" pulls into the terminal and comes to a slow,

grinding stop.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

...San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano,

and Irvine is now arriving at Gate

Nine.

Doors are opened. Steps set down. Passengers pour out.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

Amtrack 264 will be departing in

fifteen minutes from Gate Nine for

Oxnard, Ventura...

INT. UNION STATION - DAY - 12:07PM

A MAN and A WOMAN stand with a view of the arrival doors.

He's a blue-collar tough guy, dressed for church. She's his

beefy counterpart.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

...Santa Barbara, Lompoc...

THE GUY (MR. SMITH) checks his watch.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

...Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo...

Then he looks up to the big clock.

12:
07.

The minute hand slams into the "8".

ANNOUNCER:

...and points north.

He resets his watch as DISEMBARKING PASSENGERS pour out of

the gate. PEOPLE run forward with kisses and hugs.

MR. SMITH

Look sharp.

They stand like a couple of rocks, their eyes scanning the

crowd.

MS. JONES

That one.

MR. SMITH

Nah. Hates his wife.

They're talking about a couple in their forties. She

motormouths her way across the terminal and the husband

follows with the suitcases.

WHOOSH! A couple of TEENAGE BOYS on rollerblades zip by.

MS. JONES

I hate rollerblades.

EXT. UNION STATION - PLATFORM - DAY - 12:08PM

The train.. A PRETTY SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL (LYNN) , who is holding

a stuffed animal almost as large as she is, climbs down the

steps. She reaches the platform, looks around. From within

the train:

GENE:

Lynn! Lynn!!

GENE WATSON, thirtyish, a regular Joe in appearance and

inclination, appears above, carrying a couple small suitcases.

He takes a relieved breath when he sees her.

GENE:

Lynn, don't walk ahead of me, OK?

As he comes down the steps:

GENE:

I'm serious, honey. Don't get out of

my sight, all right? I want you to

stay right by me. Will you do that

for me?

LYNN:

Nods solemnly. GENE reaches the

platform and gives out an exaggerated

sigh.

GENE:

We made it.

LYNN nods back.

LYNN:

We made it.

INT. UNION STATION - DAY - 12:08PM

WHOOSH! A SECURITY GUARD approaches the two ROLLERBLADING

TEENS. They circle him, toss off a few taunts and roll away,

laughing.

MR. SMITH and MS. JONES continue trolling the PASSENGERS as

they come through the gate.

MS. JONES

Skate-boarders I don't mind, even

though they dress like f***in' idiots,

but when I see some pin-head on

rollerblades, I get the definite

urge to grease the grill of my car

with 'em.

MR. SMITH

Keep your eyes peeled.

MS. JONES

What about them?

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