by bob chartain
A SAN FRANCISCO EVENING AT CHRISTMAS TIME -
DAVID'S HOUSE -
Rosy rearranges ornaments on the Christmas tree, as Manny silently enters, moves behind her noiselessly and kisses her on the neck and puts his arms around her.
ROSY
(startled, taking his hands )
Manuelito.
MANNY
I thought you'd be here.
ROSY
(turning)
Feliz Navidad, Manuel.
(wiping away a tear)
Tomas has no one.
(beat)
And now you're leaving. . .
MANNY
(a rough but tender hug)
Wish me luck, novia.
ROSY
Buen suerte, mi amor.
And gives him a hug and Manny moves to the door.
ROSY (cont'd)
Aren't you going to say goodbye to the boy?
MANNY
(shaking his head)
It's better if he knows nothing.
Manny leaves through the kitchen door. After a beat.
ROSY
(to other room)
Tommy. You can put the star on top.
Tommy - mechanically - moves into the room, climbs the ladder and places the shining star on top of the tree without enthusiasm.
INSIDE THE OLD SPANISH FORT, -
David sits next to the Comandante in the banquet hall at a large baronial table. Two GUARDS stand rigidly by the door, under tall banners. A waiter sets a heaping plate in front of the silent and emaciated Carson and then pours wine.
COMANDANTE UNO
Enjoy your supper, Mr. Carson.
(beat,lifting wineglass)
A good vintage.
DAVID
(cutting, sarcastic)
Comandante Uno. You're one of the
freedom fighters the people at home
read about --
COMANDANTE UNO
(drily)
As they say --
DAVID
Why are you holding me here?
COMANDANTE UNO
Holding? Let's say it's a little
friendly detention.
David stares without expression.
COMANDANTE UNO (cont'd)
You have some papers that
we need very badly.
DAVID
What kind of papers?
(pulls out empty envelope)
I have nothing left.
COMANDANTE UNO
Then I trust that you have a very
good memory.
DAVID
What are you talking about?
COMANDANTE UNO
The nuclear device, my dear David.
DAVID
You have it?
COMMANDANTE UNO bows slightly, studies David over his wineglass. After a beat,
COMANDANTE UNO
I also have a problem. We have
inadvertently triggered the timing
mechanism. It goes off in five hours.
David rises involuntarily, staggered. The guards move his direction threateningly. Comandante Uno mimics a toast with his wineglass.
A DUNGEON UNDER THE FORT -
where David tests the length of his leg shackles. He shakes visibly. Crudely made Christmas decoration hangs from the ceiling and against the wall sits the -
NUCLEAR DEVICE -
armed and counting down minutes and seconds on a green digital clock. Only four hours and forty minutes to go.
COMANDANTE UNO .V.O.
You will disarm the device for us,
David.
DAVID
(to cell door)
Guard. guard.
The guard pokes his head above the door opening.
GUARD
Si senor.
DAVID
Tell Uno to call his buddy,
Benson at Langley.
The guard looks uncomprehendingly and slams the window. David takes a long hard look at the small hand tools lying near the device.
