counterpane

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.