camerone last days of howard hughes play 2 of 2

THE LAST DAYS OF HOWARD HUGHES

ACT 2

SCENE 5

When much of life is left to indecision,When little else is left to win or lose,What do we have but our own personal convictionThat what do is really what we choose?In the course of livinE out my lifetime,I’ve had to live a lie that seems so crude.And now it’s time to hope that the sublime,Can keep me safe from my sad solitude.

(HUGH~S looks up, notices the audience, and speaks directlyto them. )

This idiot Irving. What’s his plan? What is he lookinE for. money . fame . power? Is he ~ust a stooEe

or the P.R. man for those ~WA" flunkies? He dares to definemy imaEe as a man. What does it take to be understood by

3 ACTS BY A.D. CANERONE PG.109


this society? Didn’t I offer to give my life on severaloccasions for the good of this country? What more can a mando? This TWA case is too important to be screwed up by thisbiography fraud. Sure--action is the only way out. I’m~oin~ to have to take the offense.

(By this time, the room is set up and all the staEe handsexit the bedroom area and retreat to the wings. [IUGI~IESwanders back to the stage proper.)

I’ll show them what a man like Howard Hu~hes is made of.There isn’t a man alive who can stop me. Maybe a ~overnmentor two, but no individual, no organized ~roup ororganization. This is ~oin~ to be ~ust like the good olddays. . .flyin~ around the world, settin~ records, holdingimportant press conferences, building empires! (He makeshis way to the intercom.) Holmes, are you there?

(LIGHTS OP in ~he oon£erenoe room, "T~e Final Four" sit

HOLMES

Yes, sir. Holmes here.

Everything is ready?

HOLME_______.S

Everythin~ is ready, sir.

HUGH~S

Good, come in here.discuss with you.

I have a few details I’d like to

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG. II0


Yes sir.~ (He smiles, stioks his hand out and RICHARDSslapsa publio relation file into it.) Gentlemen, stand by andstay ready.

(HOL~S rises, immediately leaves the office, makes his wayto the bedroom suite. As soon he ~ets to the door, HUGHESbuzzes him in.)

END SCENE 5

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.

THE iAST DAYS OF HOWARD HUGHES

HUGHES

It’s about time, Holmes. What have you got for me?

HOLMES

Everything is arranged, sir. We have a direct telephonehookup via satellite to the United States. It’s at ourdisposal now. However, it can be interrupted at any timefor an indefinite time period.

HUGHES

Good, we can use that as an "out" when I want to end thequestioning. I’ll give you a signal. (He runs ~is fingereuross his neuk.) Then you interrupt and say the phone lineis no longer available. What else have you got for me?

HOLMES

Roy Neal is standing by in Florida. He’s arranged for threeother reporters to participate in the interview. Theyrepresent UPI, The New York Times, and Reuters. We haveprepared .

HUGHES

Good. Call Roy Neal, give him the green light and let’s getthis show on the road.

HOLMES

Before we do that, sir, we have prepared an extensivebackground report. I thought maybe you would like a shortbriefing session on strategy and factual particulars.

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.112

THE ~AST DAYS OF HOWARD HUGHES

HUGHES

Thinking again, Holmes. (HOLliES passes him the report.)What’s in here? The secret of life.

HOLI~;~

These reporters are tricky. You haven’t held a pressconference in over 12 years.

HUGHES

Once you know how, you never forget. Get Neal on the horn,now! Then sit back and relax while you watch the old pro inaction.

HOLMES

(HOI~F~ ~oes to the telephone; HllGt~_..sjts in his seat.)But sir, maybe we should include a l~galscreen the questions and answers. We can go on seven-seconddelay and .

HUGHES

Never mind all that just get Neal on the line.

HOLMES

Yes, sir. This is Howard Hughes’s office calling forMr. Roy Neal. John Holmes speaking . . yes, thank youI’ll hold. I have Neal’s office, sir. Hello, yeshello, Roy .

HUGHES

Put it on the intercom. Hello, Roy, Howard Hughes here.


THE LAS~ DAYS OF HOWARD HUGHES

Hello, Mr. Hughes.

HUGHES

Are you ready to go, Roy?

We are ready when you are, Mr. Hughes. All three reportersare here in my office and anxiously await speaking with you.We were ~ust discussing the questions for the conference and

Good, good. Stop discussing andthis interview Started.

start asking. Let’s get

Fine, Mr. Hughes. Of course you realize we will berecording this interview. Let me start by introducing mycolleagues: Tom Schwartz, UPl; Robert Hines, The New YorkTimes; and Jeffrey Smyth, Reuters, and I am Roy O’Nealrepresenting the NBC Television network.

HUGHES

Good day, gentlemen. I am at your service.

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG. 114


Mr. Hughes let me start with this query: How do we knowthat we are really talking to Howard Robard Hughes?

HUGHES

You know I am who I say I am because no one else would havethe authority to use the Hughes corporate apparatus to setup an interview such as this. Who else could I be?

Yes, but no one has seen you in over ten years. How do weknow

Hundreds of people have seen me. They have ~ust had theinclination to respect my privacy by not reporting suchmeetings to the press.

Yes, but Mr. Hughes, how do we know that you are the sameman who pioneered air travel in the 1930’s.

Of course, I’m the same man. Roy, you interviewed me in the’30’s; don’t you remember? If I recall, you drink yourscotch neat and you have a weakness for redheads. Now doyou believe me?



(I~norinE the personal comment.) The public believes youare an enigma. The rule seems to be that your people alwaysoffer’at least several different explanations for anythingthat deals with your private life. Why so much deception?

HUGHES

No deception, Roy. I am here today to answer all questions,to set the story straight on how it is, it was, and it willbe.

OK, Mr. Hughes. Our first question is from UPI’s TomSchwartz. Tom

SCHWARTZ

Thanks, Roy~ Mr. Hughes, the reports of your physicalappearance are filled with exaggeration and speculation. Isit true that you refuse to be seen in public because yourhair is long, your beard is long, and your nails are long?Do you cut your toenails, sir?

HUGHES

Of course, Tom. (He looks at HOLIEES and smiles. HUGHES ispresently iBpeooably Eroomed, but be KS sittin~ in the ohairwearinE notbinE but a pair of drawstrinE underwear. Hewiggles his toes and laughs.) I am looking at my nailsright this minute, Tom. Let me assure you they are shortand clean. I like to use a scissors when I cut them. Somepeople like a nail clipper, but not me. I like to use thescissors. As far as my hair is concerned, it’s gray andclose-cropped. My beard is a neatly groomed Van Dyke.

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAHERONE PG.116


Mr. Hughes, how are you medically?particular physical ailments?

No~ Tom, I feel fine.

Thanks, Tom. Now Mr.York Times.

NEAL

Hughes,

Do you have any

here’s Robert Hines of The New

Mr. Hughes-Tthe Washington Irving biography publishedMcGraw Hill--in it the image of Howard Hughes .

Let me say this. That book is a fraud. It’s a pack oflies. I never authorized that man to write my biography.

HINES

A fraud? Are you saying that the writing and publishing ofthe Irving biography was not personally authorized by you oranyone on your staff?

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.I17


HUGHES

I never met this guy Irving. No one on my staff has madeany agreements with McGraw Hill. It’s a pack of lies. Ifyou believe that chicanery, you’re a fool.

HINES

Mr. Hughes, McGraw Hil! has stated that several checks wereforwarded to you as payment for the biography.

HUGHES

It’s not true. Someone is defrauding these people; It’slike one of-~y former executives, Robert Maheau. He stoleme blind. There’s plenty of money that isn’t there anymore. It’s gone, and he’s got it. Why are some peopleconstantly stealing from and defrauding innocent parties?

HINES

I’m not sure, sir. But back to the biography, Mr. Hughes.Wh~ would someone publish an alleged authorized biography ona public fiEure, if in fact, it is a fraud? They would beimmediately exposed.

HUGHES

They must be a bunch of damn fools, that’s why. I, HowardRobard Hughes, am talkinE to you today. If you want thetruth, ask me now.

HINES

Sir, how can the public ultimately determine what the realtruth is about the life of Howard Hughes?



HUGHES

Two excellent biographies have already been written aboutme. As to what I’ve been doing since they’ve been written,I can tell you in two words: not much. I still workeveryday) my life is a quiet one. Right now I’m taking abrief vacation, and I plan to travel for a while here in theCaribbean.

Thanks, Robert. Mr. Hughes, here’s Jeffrey Smyth ofReuters. Jeffrey

Thanks, ROy. Hr. Hughes--on the TWA case’ w~a~,s it allabout? Is this a simple case of a hos~;i le corporatetakeover? And who is actually conduotin~ the takeover?You, the defendant) or TWA, the plaintiff?

HUGHES

Let me tell you, Jeff, this case has been through everylegal arena possible. The litigation fees are astronomical.I expect the Supreme Court to be the final battle ground.

SMYTH

Why is that, sir?

3 ACTS BY A.Do CAMERONE PG.11~


Because each party has invested so much time and money intothe appeal process, that whoever loses has to contest thedecision until all avenues are exhausted.

Who will win?

SMYTH

HUGHES

I can’t comment on the particulars. As you know, the caseis still in litigation~ but I will tell you this much, itwas Howard Hughes who built TWA. I pioneered cross-countryair travel. No legal brief can dispute that fact.

Thanks, Jeffrey. Mr. Hughes, we appreciate the fact thatyou were able to take the time to talk to us today. Werealize there is a time limit on our phone hookup, and weknow your schedule is tight, so we have just one other setof questions for you.

Take your time, Roy. I’m at your disposal. Ask as manyquestions as you like. If the phone company cuts us off,we’ll just throw another dime in the slot.

Let me take this opportunity to expand on something youmentioned before. Is Robert Meahau, your longtime chiefoperating officer, under any indictment for the money lossyou mentioned?


TH~ LAST DAYS OF HOWARD HUGHES

No, there are no civil or criminal charges against Maheau.I mentioned.him only as an example to show how the McGrawHill publishers could have, in a similar manner to myself,been duped because they trusted the wrong person.

Some parallels have been drawn between Irving’s book andother previously published investigative reports. Is itpossible that what’s being said about you is unauthorized,but none the less true?

HUGHES

Well, what in particular are you referring to, Roy?

Why all the secrecy surrounding your daily activities?

HUGHES

Trust me, Roy. There is no big secret. A lot of this talkis about trivialities. My daily workload is staggering.The immediate staff needed to maintain operations exceeds 20people. I spend $82,000 a year on room service andlodgings. Including salaries, it costs me $5,000 a day toopen m7 office. This is all a mundane matter. How itbecame news is beyond me. I live an ordinary but activelife.



That’s just it, Mr. Hughes. Most corporations conduct theirbusiness in office buildings located in major metropolitanareas. Why do you live and work in a hotel suite?

HUGHES

I’m not other corporations, Roy. I find it convenient towork and live in the same suite because my office is open2~ hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I neverstop working. My Las Vegas suite keeps me near the sevencasinos I own and operate.

It is true you never left your suite once in the four yearsyou lived at the Las VeEas Desert Inn?

HUGHES

Totally false! I left my suite reEularly.t~e aut siEnal.)

So you see nothinE unusual about your life style,Mr. Hughes?

HUGHES

Nothin~ at all, Roy. My eccentricitiesadaptations to a hectic life style.

are simply



HOLMES

Excuse me, Mr. Neal, this is John Holmes. I’m sorry but thetelephone company has ~ust informed me that the lines we areusing are no longer available. Unfortunately, we will haveto conclude the interview.

Thanks, Mr. Holmes° On behalf of my colleagues, I wouldlike to thank you for your time. Mr. Hughes, please feelfree to contact us again.

HUGHES

Thanks, Roy, I’-~l be talking to you soon. Have a good day,gentlemen. This is Hughes, out.

been mittin~patiently limtenin~ to the premm ~onferen~e.)

HUGHES

I’m exhausted, Holmes. I need to rest. Leave me alone fora while. Take care of all the particulars and make surethat everyone is comfortable (}{UC4~F~ rubm him head am HOLPJ~Smitm quietly re£1eotinE on what ham ~umt happened) Any portin the storm. . Well what are you waiting for? Get out ofhere.

HOLMES

(Rimir~g) Yes, sir. (He awkwardly leavem the room.)



HUGHES

Get working on the Somoza meeting. Find out when we canmeet.

HOLMES

(TryinE to switch gears, pulling out pencil and paper) Whatexactly should I say, sir.

HUGHES

You take care of the details, Holmes. I’ll ring you in aday or so. I-’need some rest. All this public relationsgarbage drives me nuts. (He rubs his head again and wavesHolmes out of the room.)

HOLMES

Yes, sir. (He exfts movfn~ backwards expeotfng moreinstructions) I understand, Mr. Hughes. (He’s finally outthe dOOr.)

HUGHES

Where does all this leave us now that the die is cast?I am back . I am back and I am almost beautifulI am ready to travel,Travel . . to where? To anywhere, anytime.The years that have passed . . The places I have seen.I do not believe I ever had a home.I never had a family. No mom or dad.No siblings . . Never knew a sister or a brother.Spent my time alone. No wonder . . . no wonder.God knows how much of my life is left.

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG..I24


It makes no difference to me . I know . .What can I do? All is not lost . . 0 I knowI can Island hop . . . I can wait forever.After a while I can build up resistance.After a time, I’ll adapt. All billionaires do.We adapt to the times, and exploit the possibilities.In the course of your life, you learn to make decisions.Some how things work out some how things workout.

(HUGHES has ~one to h~s bed, LIGHTS DOWN as he babbles on.)

END ACT 2



ACT 3

LIGHTS UP on the Hu~hes suite in the Britannia BeachHotel in Nassau. All three rooms of the suite are revealed.HUC~HES is sleeping in his bed. The phone room is active butquiet. The office is noisy. Attention is drawn to the~lamor that HOLN~S and ~ompany are makinG. Nore than twodays have passed since HuGhes’s radio interview which waswidely distributed by the ~ Radio Network. The NassauImmiGration authorities have heard the interview and are~onuermed with HuGhes’s ~laim that he employes 20 staffmembers. Working permits, visas, and other paperwork arerequired. Unfortunately, there is no paperwork because theentourage did not bother to enter the country throughcustoms. The "Final Four" are ar~uinE about who is at faultfor their p~dioamento WALDRON and RX~S start to push

W~ROW off the Ground. ~th ~en fall onto the table.

HOLMES

Gentlemen . . please . James, please let go of Chuck..Your brawling is not going to solve our problems. (Both menstbp and seem to be embarrassed.) Chuck, please be seated.Try to control yourself, James. (RICFa~J~DS apologizes bysmoothing out Waldron’s suit as he helps him back to hisseat). Thank you now gentlemen to the task athand

WALDRON

Listen, John, I’m not about to sit in some Nassau ~ailbecause I’m an illegal alien working without a residencypermit. I understand that we cannot even leave the hotel.This is incredulous. How long are we supposed to hide outin this hotel suite?



HOLMES

Thanks for reminding me, Chuck. Gentlemen, be advised thatyou are safest while in the sanctuary of this suite. Pleasefeel free to order whatever you need

RICHARDS

Don’t try to appease us with room service, John. We are atour wits’ end. It isn’t fair. No salary is worth thisaggravation. Just what does Mr. Hughes plan to do now thathe has legally incriminated himself and the entire staff?The Commonwealth of Nassau has long ~ail terms foroffenders. We can be

HOLMES

(Over his protests) This meeting is for the purpose ofdevising a suitable strategy to deal with these issues.Your concerns are on the agenda. If you will allow me toconduct an orderly meeting, we will get to every item onthis list. (A]] fall ha]f exhausted back into their seats.)Now although everything you say is of legitimateconcern . . . Please be advised that I expect some teamworkhere. I realise the last few months have been hectic. Butno one said things were going to be rosy. We are notwithout resources. We can

John, how can you continue this smoke screen?seen Mr. Hughes for two days.

You haven’t



After the phone interview with Roy Neal, he told me heneeded some sleep and he would contact me in two or threedays.

FRANCOM

John, wake up and smell the coffee. No one sleeps for threedays. How do you know he’s even alive? Has anyone seenMr. Hughes since you left him 60 hours ago?

HOLMES

You know itts not unusual for Mr. Hughes to spend a lot oftime by himself.

RI~HRRDS

Christ, John., you make him sound norma!.

(LIGHTS RISE TO FULL in Hu~hes’s bedroom. LIGHTS GO TOHALFWAY in the offioe. The audienoe oan see the aotiwity inthe offioe, but they oannot hear what is heine said.Attention is drawn to H~GHES who beEins to rise aftersleepinE for 2 I/2 days. He becomes sliEhtly disorientedafter he feels his head and his ahin. This stranHesensation prompts him to take a look in the mirror. He seeshis forHotten transformation and is surprised at the result.



HUGHES

The time between sleep and waking,Instills my mind with fears and doubts.I wish I knew what I was dreaming.I wish I knew what life is all about.The dreams I have keep me so disconnected.Their time and place remain unknown.Sleep helps me hide when I feel rejected.What do we really have to call our own?As life slips by, we glimpse a vague reflection.Strange wonders lie so deep inside of life.I know I need a plan; I need directionTo find a way to stop this awful strife.I think I know which way I have to goI have to get this show onto the road.

(~GH~S goes Jnto the bathroom. LIGHTS DIN in the bedroom.LIGHTS TO FULL in the o££~oe. T~e£our sen£or staff members

FRANCOH

John, the entire group agrees that something is wrong. Iobject to the fact that I haven’t been able to speak to mywife in the three weeks since we left Las Vegas. Why did wehave to leave without sayin~ ~ood-bye? I have no idea howmy wife is reacting to this. Now she has to read about usin the newspapers. It ~ust isn’t normal. How am I supposedto explain this fiasco to my family?

HOLMES

You know everything you are privy to here is completelyconfidential. I hope you’ll tell them absolutely nothing.

3 ACTS BY A,D. CAMERONE PG.129


John, you can’t expect us to live our lives this way.

HOLMES

(To the group) Gentlemen, I assure you as soon as Mr. Hughesre-emerges, I will inform him of the circumstances . . . I’msure appropriate action will be initiated. How hard couldit be for us to obtain visas?

WP~LDRON

It will be impossible to obtain visas, John. I’ve spoken tothe Embassy.-- Under no circumstances are the visas to begranted to our group. If this government wants a scapegoat,we fill the bill.

HOLMES

That’s no problem; we can bribe any official that gets inour way. If that doesn’t work, we can have the U.B. Embassywork out a deal. It is not that bad, guys.

RICHARDS

John, has all this stress gotten to you? Haven’t you beenlistening for the past two days? This present Nassauadministration is not friendly to "capitalist pigs". Itwould be a big feather in Magumbo’s political headdress ifhe tars and feathers our entire group. We could bedeported. Mr. Hughes would want to know if he was going tobe deported. You have to try to contact him



James, I have tried several times. He doesn’t answer. Hetold me explicitly he would contact me in two or three days(looks at his watGh). If I don’t hear from him in 12 hours,we will break into his bedroom. If we have to, we can wakehim. I’m sure everything will be all right. Now, gentlemenwhile we are waiting, let’s accomplish a few things. As youknow, we are still scheduled to meet with Somoza. The exacttime and place have not been determined at this time.However, there is much we can do. We can start by keepingour contacts with Somoza’s people active and cordial. Now(looking at his list) George, you’re in charge of this

project. What kind of progress report do you have for us?

FRANCOM

To hell with Somosa. I would like to call mypersonally explain ~ust what the hell is going on.

HOLMES

wife and

George, how many times do I have to tell you that ourfamilies have been and will be periodically oontaoted andtold what is going on. I’ve assured all ooncerned that weare well and all reports are greatly exaggerated as usual.Now please tell us what is the status on Somoza?

FRANCOM

When will you cable my wife again? Why not tell us, John?We can add a personal touch to the message.



No one can be informed about that information due tosecurity complications. Are there any main drawbacks to theSomoza visit?

FRANCOM

(Finally Eives us up) Besides the fact that we have nospecifics

HOLMES

Besides the specifics

FRANCOM

All is well . . . the dictator is enthusiastically awaitingthe meeting with Mr. Hughes. He was happy to hear Mr.Hughes was in the region and seemed most cooperative.(FRANCOM talks as the LIGHTS GO TO HALFWAY.)

(LIGHTS GO UP in the HuEhes bedroom as FRPu%qTOM drones onabout nothing in partioular.)

END SCENE



ACT 3

HUGHES

(Upon leaving the bathroom) I like the Van Dyke, but Iwonder what in tarnation is ~oin~ on? (He ~oes to theinteroom) This is HuGhes here . . . Holmes? What the hellis ~oin~ on here? (All atop in the uonferenGe room. Theyare slightly startled at hearinE HuEhes’s voioe.) Are youthere Holmes?

HOLMS

Yes, sir, I am here, sir.

What is ~oinE on? What time is it?

HOLMES

(Looking at his watuh) It’s I0:00 am., sir. I’m so sladyou called. There seems to be some difficulty

HUGHES

(Not really listening) What day is it?



HOLIES

It’s Tuesday, sir, February 9th.pressing matters here

Never mind all that.

Sir, there are several

HUGHES

Is there anyone with you?

HOLMES

The entire staff, sir . . what’s left of us . . . Francom,Waldron, and Richards. . . We were just meeting to try toiron out some of the difficulties that have arisen as aresult of ....

HUGHES

(Still not listening) Where is Gordon?

HOLMES

He’s within the suite, sir. Shall I call him?

HUGHES

No, now now.here at once.How long have

Make sure that he stays in the hotel. GetThere’s plenty I want to talk to you about.

I been asleep?

HOLMES

in

(He looks at his watoh.) About 60 hours, sir. I hope wedidn’t

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.13a


Jesus, it seems like forever. Get in here on the double,Holmes. Hughes out.

(HOLI~S leaves the o££ioe and the LIC-HTS GO TO DARK. HUC~HESbuzzes him in. HOI.B~S enters without ceremony.)

HOLLIES

You don’t know how glad I am you’ve decided to awaken, sir.You won’t believe what has happened

HUGHES

If it happened, I’ll believeit°~¥orget about that for now.I have mo~e pressing business to attend to. Have yod heardfrom Las Vegas recently?

HOLMES

No, sir. Your previous orders, as of our departure from theDesert Inn, were that, aside from the cables to familymembers of the staff, we were to have absolutely no contactwith anyone in California or Las Vegas. I imagine everyonein Las Vegas in wondering what is Eoing on since they heardyour radio interview.

HUGHES

Radio interview?



(AS he raises his eyes to the heavens) On Saturday,February the 6th, at 7:00 pm, sir. You conducted atelephone interview with Roy Neal and three other reporters.

It was broadcasted all across the region.

HUGHES

Right . . Roy Neal . . . the telephone interview . . . thehaircut. . . the biography fraud. (As if the question hadjust been asked) We are in the Bahamas at the Hote 1Britannia.

HOLMES

(He doesn’t realize that ~2U~ is just now re-orientin~himself) Of oourse, sir. Mr. Hughes, the bottom has fallenout. We have several ma~or problems at hand.

HUGHES

Never mind that now. What was it that I was ~ust talkingabout. (HOLI~IS sits perplexed; he iS about to burst.)Right. (IIIIGHES finally reoolleots.) From now on, I want abiweekly report on the Las Vegas casino cash flow. I alsowant weekly reports on all defense contracts. Also makesure legal keeps me abreast of the TWA Supreme Court brief.(A~IGHES has ambled away from Holmes and now has his baak tohim.) Bring me an update on Hughes Tool Company. (Hepivots and barks at HOLliES.) Are you getting all this down,Holmes?



HOLMES

(He jumps up and pulls a pen and pad out of his breastpocket as he writes £rantioally.) Yes, sir . cashflow ~ defense contracts TWA brief HughesTool

HUGHES

Fine. Now what kind of reaction did I get on blowing thewhistle on that Irving biography fraud?

HOLMES

(He aan’t believe Ft.) Thank God. Mr. Hughes, the entireentourage is in chaos. You can’t imagine what I’ve beengoing through. The entire staff is climbing up the wall.

Drop the dramatics, Holmes. What the hell is the matterwith you?

HOLMES

(Blurting out his reply) Your interview has enraged theNassau authorities. They are threatening to arrest theentire staff on immigration charses. If we don’t take

HUGHES

Immigration charges? Those ungrateful bastards! Who dothey think they are?



HOLMES

The duly authorized bureaucracy of this Island. As long aswe are here, we must adhere to their laws. If we don’ttake .

I don’t take this kind of trap from anyone. Certainly notfrom a bunch of Island monkeys. Get Jack Real in here, now.Inform the staff that the entire group is leaving.

HOLN]~S

Leaving, sir.

HUGHES

That’s right. We are bugging out.

HOLMES

(Wmiti~ all this down on his pad) . . bu~ging out

HU~HES

(Long pause as he waits for HOLI~S to leavehis task. HOZ4~S sits and waits for moreWell . what are you waiting for?

HOLMES

But sir you don’t seem to realize .

and a~omplishinstructions.)

3 ACTS BY A.D. CA_MERONE PG.138


HUGHES

Never mind about all that. Just do what I tell you. Goon, get out of here.

HOLMES

(Ae he rises to leave) But sir there are several otherpressing matters that I must discuss with you. Please sirif you would just take a few moments

HUGHES

We’ll have plenty of time to talk on the plane. (He waveshim away.) Go on, go on, get on with it man.

Yes, sir. (He exits.)

HOLMES

[HUMS Eoes off to the bathroom. HOLt~ES makes his wayto the offioe. His orders oause a Ereat bustle of aotivityas ,the suite is paoked up. As the entouraEe paoks, themarvels Of the soene ohange are revealed tO the audienoe.It should be fun to watoh the transformation. Inoluded inthe baggage to be moved is a hospital ambulanoe stretoher.This oot is oeremoniously laid open after all the otherobjeuts are paoka~ed and removed. Only the uhrome stretcherremains in the empty spaoe. On strolls ~JGAFIIS, EivinE lastminute orders to JACE R~ ~d HOL~S. After his briefoomments, he lies do~ on the stretoher. ~L andstrap him in and oarr~ h~m off st~e. ~e set uhan@es asthe ~et ~nterior appears from tbe w~nEs. All the staff Gomea~ard. The last one on board is ~. He is oarr~ed onthe pl~e wrapped in a white sheet ~d strapped into thestretGher. For a long pause, the stretoher sfts in thea~sle of the plane. As soon as ~t arrives, s~lenoe Er~psthe Eroup. Finally, out of nowhere, oomes ~ES’S



HUGHES

Gor . don . . Gordon

GORDON

(Already at his side) I’m right here, Mr. Hughes.

HUGHES

Prop this blasted thing up!

GORDON

Yes, sir. (He does so. As the back of the stretcher isplaced in a sit up position, HUGHES is still shrouded in thesheet. GORDON unoovers his head.)

HUGHES

Gentlemen, I realize these last few months have been unusualeven by "the Hughes standard". However, I don’t give adamn. I expect you all to do your ~obs. You can expect tobe compensated well for your trouble. Bonuses are beingplaced in all your paychecks. Special attention is beingpaid so as to financially help all your families in theStates. I hope this money will compensate you for yourinconvenience. Our present course is to the CentralAmerican Republic of Nicaragua. I’m sure you will find thegovernment there is a lot more friendly than these clowns inNassau. Well, that’s it for now. Gordon, get me out ofhere. (GORDON covers BIIGA~S in the sheet and pushes thestretcher down the aisle.)

(LIGHTS DOWN, LIGHTS UP in the Mana~Ja hotel suite.)

END SCE~ 2

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.Ia0

TH~ BAST DAYS OF HOWARD HUGHES

AGT 3

’The looation i8 Mana~ua, Nioarasua. The hotel is theInteroontinental. The "Final Four" are situated as usual intheir o££ive/oon£erenoe room. HOL~S is ohairing the dailymorning meeting.

HOLMES

Gentlemen, we are out of Nassau and hopefully ourImmigration problems are behind us. Either way, we stillhave plenty of work to do. George, you are in charge of thedetails for the Somoza meeting. What do you have for us?

FP£~.NCOM

(Inoredulous) My God, John, how van you sit there and makebelieve everything is all right? Things have spiralled outof control. What are we doing in Nivaragua?

HOLMES

I assure you gentlemen, Mr. Hughes is in full oontrol of thesituation. George, please stay on the subvert. It isobvious that we are in Nicaragua so Mr. Hughes can meet withGeneral Somoza.

FRANCOM

This is what we can expect to be doing for the rest’ of ourlives. Flying around the world and hiding out in hotelsuites. No way. (He rises and oolleots his hriefoa~e.)Forget it I quit!

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.lal

TH~ iAST DAYS OF HOWARD HUGHES

HOLMES

Relax, George, we are all working under adversecircumstances. Try to compose yourself and cool off a bit.If you quit now, you will not be eligible for your annualbonus. I understand it is 150 percent of our base salarythis year. I think you should think twice before you doanything drastic.

FRANCON

(Lookin~ sheepish) Oh, God, (He sits andin his hands.) Don’t try to bribe me, John.on? What are we going to do?

HOLLIES

buries his faceWhat is going

It’s business as usual, George. Let’s keep working; keepour minds focused and everything will be OK. Now, what’sthe plan for the Somoza visit?

FRANCOH

John, all the contingencies and previous plans for the visitare now inconsequential.

HOLHES

Not so, George. Mr. Hughes has already received his haircutand Somoza is already in the vicinity. What do you proposefor the new meeting site?

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.I~2


FR~NCOM

John, I’ve never been in Nicaragua before. I have no idea.(Long pause as the group stares at FRA~COM waiting for himto perform. FRANCO~ rises to the ooaasion and starts toproblem solve.) Well, safety is a priority. Since we areon his home turf, I’m sure Somoza will provide his ownsecurity. He probably has his own requirements for themeeting. I’ll get on the phone and set up the particularswith the Somoza staff.

HOLMES

That’s the spirit. Come up with a tentative schedule bythis afternoon.

FRANCOM

(Totally subdued) Yes, sir.

HOLMES

NoW, I have good news to report. Our legal department saysthat the TWA case is going to be heard by the Supreme Court.Up to now, I haven’t been able to share all the pertinentinformation concerning this matter with you. I can nowreport that a favorable decision will mean the infusion ofhundreds of millions of much needed cash flow dollars intothe Hughes empire. Let me also say that Mr. Hughes has seenfit not to be within the ~urisdiction of any United Statessubpoena during this time. Gentlemen, this is the veryreason why we are flying around the world and hiding out inhotel suites. Upon completion of the Supreme Courtactivity, I am sure we will all be allowed to return home toour families. Until then, let’s do our best. We allknow (the buzzer sounds)



HUGHES

(HUGHES on the intercom) Holmes arewhat you are doin~ and get in here.

Yes, sir. I’ll be right in.

(LIGHTS DOWN in ~on£eren~eHUGHES’S bedroom.)

HOLMES

room

END SCENE 3

you there? Holmes drop

as the LIGHTS GO UP in

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.1A~


ACT

SCENE

(HUGHES is sitting in the baroalounger. GORDON emerges fromthe bathroom with a liter bottle in hand.)

HUGHES

It’s amazing how little things change over the course oftime, eh, Gordo?

GORDON

Yes, sir. (He is slightly perplexed at what he is supposedto do with the bottle of urine be is holding°) Mr. HuEhes,are you sure you want me to put this urine in the uloset?Wouldn’t it be better to throw it down the drain?

Yo~ have your instructions, Gordon. Now, get on with it;then get out of here.

GORDON

(He goes to the closet and places the bottle in it.) Yes,sir. (The door buzzers sounds.)

HOLNES

(Over the intercom) It’s Holmes, sir.



HUGHES

Let him in on you way out, Gordo.

GORDON

Yes, sir. Good morning, Mr. Holmes. (He exits.)

HUGHES

What have you got for me, Holmes?

(HOL~ES enters. HUGHES has made himself comfortable. Therelationship" between P2~G~ES and HO~ is t~at of a

HUGHES

Well ¯ what have you got for me?

HOLMES

Everything seems stabilized, sir. The staff is settling in.The facilities seem adequate except for the telephonesystem. Sometimes making calls here is next to impossible.I’ve discussed the TWA issue with the senior staff.Everyone is a little bit confused, but I think we can expectloyal service from the entire group.

If anyone causes any problems, fire the son of a bitch!



Yes, sir.

HOLMES

HUGHES

Now, let me see ¯ . . I have several items I need attendedto. First, when is the Somoza meeting scheduled to takeplace?

HOLMES

We are attempting to establish the particulars thissir.

HUGHES

morning,

What’s the reason for the delay, Holmes7 Christ . . . do Ihave to do everything? Get Stansfield Turner on the phone.He’s the UoS. Ambassador here in Nicaragua. Tell him I wantto meet with Somoza.

HOLNES

HUGHES

II won’t accept any inefficiency from this staff, Holmes.want you to take care of the Somoza meeting ASAP.

Yes, sir. (He’s writinE away in his little pad.)

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.lh7


HUGHES

Okay, what’s next . . . The legal analysts seem to think weare going to win this TWA stock case. I don’t trust any ofthose bastards. If we lose, we’re going to need Cash fast.I’m putting Hughes Tool Company on the selling block.

HOLMES

(Shocked. Looking up from his pad.) Hughes Tool?! Sir,that’s been a stronghold in the empire since your father’stime. Are you sure .

HUGHES

Don’t worry Holmes. I’m only selling the name and the oildrill bit division. We’ll maintain control of all the otherdivisions. We may need cash . safe, unattached cash.If this TWA deal goes the wrong way, I’ll be personallybankrupted, and all for the sake of a couple of hundredmillion dollars. I won’t have that happen.

But, sir

HOLMES

HUGHES

Just shut up and listen. Contact the Lag Vegas office.Tell them "Operation Summa" is in effect

HOLMES

(Talking to himself as he writes down the partiaulars)"Operation Summa"?



That’s right. Quite anwaiting to use it foraround the Las Vegasbillions to be madethat information to Las

Exactly what am I

Get with theis in effeat.

HUGHES

ingenuous little tax shelter. Beenyears. Everything will be centeredCasino cash flow. There will be

all in un-traceable cash. GetVegas immediately.

HOLMES

suppose to say?

HUGHES

program, Holmes. Tell them "Operation Summa"

HOLHES

Yes, sir. I have it, sir. I’ll get Stansfield Turner onth@ line myself¯ I’ll contact Las Vegas personally. I’msure we have the resources

HUGHES

Holmes, do you have to make a comment on everything I

HOLMES

No, sir.

say?

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.la9


HUGHES

Good, then don’t. Get out of here and get Ambassador Turneron the phone, now.

HOLMES

Yes, sir. (He begins to exit.) RiEht away, sir.the door.)

(He "s out

HUGHES

(Alone)

This should be easy. If I lose the TWA case, it will costme about $20~ million. The HuEhes Tool Company sale shouldbrine in at least that much. Those two will balance out.

Thanks, dad, you finally did somethinE that helped me.don’t worry, I would never sell the entire company, ~USt thename and the tool bit division.

Somoza will be easy. A petty dictator with no cash flow.The smell of money will make him ~ump. This NicaraEua isthe perfect place to launder all the VeEas casino money.

Soon I’ll be self-sufficient. In a few years, a fe~ hundredmillion won’t mean anythinE. I’ll have billions and I won’tneed the United States. I can live as happy as a (thetelephone tines, and HUGHES answers it.)

Yes, what is it?

HOLMES

(HOLMES speaks throuEh the intercom.) It’s Holmes, sir. Ihave Stansfield Turner on the phone. He would like to speakto you.



HUGHES

OK, send him through.

(Through the speaker-phone)here. How the hell are you?

Hello, Howard

Turner, you son ofbugs down here?

If you mean the line,on the speaker-phone?

That’s a IO-A Turner.

HUGHES

a bitch, how the hell can

TURNER

it’s ~lear and olean.

HU~s

Where are your ears?

TURNER

Only on my head, Howard. Can we drop the oode?lot to tell you and this may get confusing.

HUGHES

Just let me do the talking, Turner.Somoza?

you stand the

Do you have me ~

have a

When can I meet with



TURNER

Jesus~ Howard, we’ve been waiting for you for months. Whydid you leave the States? What’s going on in Vegas?

HUGHES

Nothing important. Let’s not talk about that now. Istomorrow too soon to arrange the meeting with the General?

TURNER

I suppose not. He’s right here in downtown Managua.

Good. Set it up for S:O0 P.M. tomorrow at the airport in myprivate plane. Talk ~o Holmes and set up the details. Nioetalking to you Turner. Hughes out. (He puts TURNER on bo]dand flips a switch tO talk to HO~S.) Holmes are youthere?

HOLMES

(Through the interaom) Yes, sir.

HUGHES

Listen, I’ve still have Turner on line five. Set up theparticulars for the meeting with Somoza, then tell everyoneto pack. We’re leaving here for the airport tomorrow at3:00 P.M. Take care of everything.



Leaving here for where,

After I meet with SomozaCanada. Talk to Turner,Hughes out.

Holmes out, ~sir.

HOLMES

sir?

HUGHES

at thethen come

HOLMES

END SCENE

airport, we are going toin and talk to me.



ACT 3

SCENE 5

The interior o£ the private plane is baak £rom thewings. The soene change is not a secret. The audience isallowed to view the mechanics of the scene change. Oncecomplete, the LIGHTS ARE TAKEN DOWN TO DARKNESS. AS THELIGHTS COME UP, HOWARD HUGHES and LUIS SOMOZA are sittingalone in the jet’s executive lounge area. They are talkingcasually to each other.

HUGHES

Senor Somoza, I am sure we can help each other in numerousways.

Mr. Hu~hes, I am slightly confused. You did not meet withme in Las Vegas. I went to much trouble to makearrangements to visit your country. I do not like to playsa~es.

HUC~HES

Hi amigo, I am sorry, but there were certain things I had toattend to. Let’s forget about the past. Now we are hereand all will be arranged as we planned.

SOMOZA

Yes, the money . have you brought the money?

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.15~


HUGHES

Some of it. Listen my friend; I am going to make youwealthy beyond your wildest dreams.

SOMOZA

I need to be very wealthy.dictatorship, Senor.

It takes a lot of money to run a

HU~HES

Don’t I know it.lodging.

It COSTS me $5,000 a day ~ust

SOMOZA

for food and

Are you saying that you are a dictator too, Mr. Hughes?

HUGHES

I am saying that I own seven casinos in Las Vegas. M7 cashflow is considerable, consistent, and in US. greenbacks.Now, I am willing to place that money in your bank and all Iask in return is to receive a relatively low interest rateof five percent.

SOMOZA

A good point . an important point . . Let me be frank,Mr. Hughes . the interest rate you request, is too highfor the money laundering scheme you are proposing. Whydidn’t you meet with me in the United States? Are yourunning from the law?



Don’t be ridiculous. I am the eighth largest U.S. defensecontractor9 I own. Hughes Tool Company and TWA. I don*t runfrom the law~ I make it.

SOMOZA

Please, sir, do not insult my intelligence. Everyone knowsabout the TWA case and not five hours ago I received wordfrom my broker in New York City that Hughes Tool Company isfor sale.

HUGHES

That was fast. The whole company is not for sale. Just theoil drill bit division. I wonder if anyone has made anoffer yet.

Th4re are several interested parties.time is $160 million.

The high bid at this

HUGHES

Christ, that oil drill bit division is worth $200 million ifit is worth a penny.


SOHOZA

Let’s us not play games, Howard. Can I call you Howard?The lawyers from my Justice Department tell me that anunfavorable decision in the TWA case can cost you over$20D million. My broker tells me HuEhes Tool is for saleand the best that it can brine is $160 million. Looks likeyou need $~0 mil lion to cover your losses . . ¯Whatever. . . that is not my problem. My problem isrunninE Nicaragua. Here’s the deal. Take it or leave it.You bring the casino money here to Managua. We wi 11graciously store it in our national bank. There will be nointerest paid to you, and up to ~5 percent of the balancecan be used at our discretion for investment speculations.

HUGHES

What? You want to use my money interest free?speculate with my money?

SOMOZA

You want to

Mr. HuEhes, you need me a lot more than I need you. If youwant to funnel cash out of the United States you’re Eoing tohave to pay the price for it.

HUGHES

How can I be assured that I can have constant access to thecash in case of an emergency withdrawal?

SOMOZA

I will personally assure you that you can withdraw55 percent of the balance at any time. The remaininE45 percent will be yours in 90 days.



HUGHES

That’s no good. Look, General, you’ve made your point. Ineed you to store this money. Let’s cut through all thisbullshit. You take a 15 percent as a Surcharge for servicesrendered. Just make sure I am able to withdraw theremaining 85 percent of the money at any time . . . day ornight . . . at any time I deem appropriate and after 24hours notice.

SOMOZA

All you offer megambling dinero?

is a 15 percent surcharge

HUGHES

to clean up your

Yes, but we will be depositing hundreds of millions of US.dollars. It will mean millions for you. Do we have a deal?

SOMOZA

Hundreds of millions Why should I quibble? SenorHoward, come bring your money to Managua. 15 percent isgood enough, and you can withdraw as many funds as you likeon 24 hours notice. It is good. This way I don’t have tosteal from you. You just give it to me.

OK, Luis. May I call you Luis? Let’s get the show on theroad. I’m going to send two or three staff members from LasVegas to Managua. I’ll be back here in six months. By thenyou should have received several millions in cash. I thinkwe have made the right decision concerning this situation.



(LIGHTS GO DOWN leavin~ HUCdIES and SOMOZA talking in asilhouette. LIGHTS DOWN TO BLACK. The saene ahanges £romthe plane to the interior o£ the hotel suite.)

END SCENE 5



ACT 3

SCENE 6

The new loaation is the Bayshore Hotel in Canada.Everyone is settled in and happy to be in an Englishspeaking environment. LIGHTS COME UP on HUGHES sitting withHOLMES in the bedroom.)

HUGHES

This Bayshore Hotel is just great. It kind of reminds me ofthe Las Vegas suite. It’s really not that bad here inCanada. I have always liked Vancouver and I’m enjoying thiscool air. I hope there aren’t any major problems with thestaff? Any complaints?

HOLMES

No sir. They are all glad to be in an English speakinEcountry. Everything is running smoothly. Everyone isrelaxed and ~njoying themselves.

HUGHES

I wish I could relax but waiting for the Supreme Courtdecision is agonizing, Holmes. What’s the latest news fromthe Legal Department on that blasted TWA case?

HOLMES

I spoke to Chester Davis this morning. He is confident theappeal process is going to work. The oase should be won byour side in the Supreme Court. It is just a matter ofwaiting to be heard. The Court is busy, and you never knowwhen they will take action on a particular case.



HUGHES

Good ~grief! What the hell are those bastards at TWAcomplaining about? So I sold 75 percent Of the stock for$A~5 million. The company was mine. Didn’t I fly the testflights to establish those commercial airline routes? Wherethe hell were they when no one was flying except HowardHughes? Let those idiots fly from New York to Vegas ontheir own in experimental planes! Yeah, sure . . I soldthe stock for $~&5 million, but who earned it in the firstplace? I did, damn it and if I want to buy Casinos withthat money, I will! Ha! . . . I did! . . . Stupidbastards we can’t do better than them there casinos,Holmes.

HOLLIES

No, sir. You can’t do better. I’ve also talked to ourfinance department and they say the $200 million default cango either way. You might have to pay the TWA stockholders$200 million or, as we anticipate, the Court will find inyour favor and they will have to pay you for your remainingTWA stock. Finance pro~ects that your TWA stock is worth atleast $175 million.

There’s no problem either way.Tool Company sale is finalized?

How long until the Hushes

HOLMES

At least six months. Everything is working out well. Wefound a committed buyer who is going to take the oil drillbit division--lock, stock, and barrel. The last detail tobe ironed out is the final price. The highest offer wereceived is only $175 million.



HUGHES

That’s no problem. $175 million is ~ust fine. Finalize allthe particulars as soon as possible. Transfer the moneydirectly to the Summa Corporation. Our accountants and ourtax lawyers assure me we will able to shelter 95 percent ofthe capital gain. Bless their little hearts . . . I ~ustlove those boys. . . When it comes to tax dodges~ theynever leave a stone un-turned. With the formation of theSumma Corporation~ the government is going to have to dighard and deep to get their grubby paws on me. Are yougetting all this down, Holmes?

HOLMES

(Pullin~ out his pad and writin~ £uriouslM.)have it to Eet their Erubby paws

Yes, sir I

HUGHES

Never mind that, Holmes. Take oare of all the specifics andsend me a status report in 12 hours. Until then I’m not tobe disturbed for any reason. I have some important work tofinish, and I’m going to need some peace and quiet to doit so go on, get out of here.

HOLMES

Yes, sir. (He exits.)



HUGHES

(Alone writin~ on a pad) I, Howard Robard Hughes, being ofsound mind and body, leave all my worldly goods to the firstperson who finds this document! Ha! What a ~oke. (He ripsoff the paper, £old8 it neatly, puts it in an envelope,seals it, and places it on the Bide.)

Good, God, what a life! This hopping around the world isgetting a bit tiresome. These damn Supreme Court Justicestake forever to do anything! I had to leave the UnitedStates in order to avoid that damn TWA subpoena! There wasno way I was going to appear in a court of law! Boy, wouldthat have opened up a can of worms! Those damn renegade TWAattorneys would have had a field day! Well, the hell withthem all{ The money from the casinos has been flowing intoNicaragua nice and smoothly. I’ve sold Hughes Tool Company.Ah "Big Howard", my dad, the man who made "the lubricatedoil drill b~ with 166 cuttin~ edges". Quite a product,Pop. But don’t worry, Dad. The money will be well spent.Just don’t you worry, "Bi~ Howard", your little boy is doin~~ust fine. I always remembered what you told me, 5Never dobusiness with partners and keep your workshop clean". Idon’t have to worry about partners, dad. I have the SummaCorporation. It’s mine and mine alone and we can handletaxes in ways that your peons never would have dreamed of.(The phone intercom buzzes. AWGHES answers it.) The onlyreason I am answerins this phone is to fire the son of abitch on the other end~ I left strict orders I was not tobe disturbed! Who the hell is this?

HOLNES

(LIGHTS ~]P in the office) It’s Holmes, sir. We ~ustreceived word that the Supreme Court is hearing the TWA caseright now in Washington, D.C. We expect to have a decisionreturned within the next ~8 hours. I had to disturb you,sir. We have to leave Canada right away. .The financedepartment has ~ust informed me that if the case is awardedin your favor you could be considered a resident in Canadaand as such subject to their taxes. I know this soundsabsurd, sir, but it seems you will no longer be considered a



tourist in Canada because you have resided here for morethan three months. It seems we applied for whatever visasthe State Department could dig up and your visa foroes youto pay Canadian taxes on any capital gains that you receiveafter being here for 90 days. If we don’t leave Canada atonce, you may be liable for several million dollars intaxes.

HUGHES

(Into the intercom) No kidding? The Supreme Court isfinally going to decide the case. That is good news. OK,thank God finance is right on top of the situation. This isno problem. We’ll ~ust go visit our friendly dictator inManagua, Luis Somoza. We should be in Nicaragua when thishappens anyway. Tell the crew we are on the move. We’regoing back to Managua. We will leave Canada in 2~ hours.Take care of all the details. Until then, I’m going to getsome sleep.-Transport me in my sleep if I’m not awakeHughes out.

HOLN]~S

Excuse me, sir, but don’t hang up. Mr. Hughes, what do youmean transport you in your sleep? Aren’t you going to beawake for the flight? Exactly where are we going inManagua? I don’t have all the details available. Shouldn’tI know more of the

HU~HES

Just do what you’re told, Holmes. Jack Real knows theflight plans. When you arrive in Managua, you’ll be treatedroyally by Somoza’s lackies. Don’t bother me until we landin Nicaragua. Hughes out.

Yes, sir. Holmes out.

HOLNES

~LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK)

END SCENE 6



LIGHTS GO DOWN indrawn to the office where HOLI~IS is sittinE alone. HOLI~ISpresses a button and siEnals the phone room. LIGHTS ~ inthe phone room reveals the usual autivity. E~I~ is sittinEwith ~N eatinE

Hello, Eric, Holmes here.me, A S A P.

HOLHES

Find Gordon and have him come see

ERIC

(Looks at GORDON) Yes, sir, I’ll see if I can dig him up.

GORDON

Why do they always want me while I’m eating?

ERIC

Take your time.your lunch.

I’ll say I had trouble finding you. Finish

GORDON

Yeah, miEht as well. This northern air makes me hungry ashell. (He takes a bite of his sandwich.) Christ these lastfew months have been hectic.



What do you mean,

Since we

ERIC

"these last few months"?

GO~DO_~~

left the States.

Jeez, Gordo, you’re getting as bad as the old man.been gone more than a few months. We’ve beenaround for almost two bloody years.

GORDON

We’vefloating

Has it been that long? Boy I miss the States. I hope we gohome soon.

ERIC

Maybe sooner than we think. I was talking with ourBarber/Nurse the other day.

YOU mean Mel

GORDON

finally opened up to someone?

ERIC

a bird, after he drank three Irish coffees.He sang like



GORDON

Wait a minute, Mel is a Mormon~ he doesn’t

ERIC

drink booze,

Well. . . he didn’t realize I had spiked hisliquor. He kept saying the coffee tasted funny.all Canadian coffee tastes that way.

GORDON

No kidding? What did he have to say?

ERIC

Plenty . he has a good medical background.old man has ten different illnesses that could killanytime.

GORDON

Go on . . he doesn’t look that bad to

ERIC

coffee withI told him

He says thehim at

It’s true. His kidneys are failing~ his blood pressure isabnormally low~ his hemoglobin count is half of what itshould be) he’s emaciated shall I go on?

GORDON

No that’s enough Is it really that bad?



ERIC

Mel says he could fall into a coma at any moment.

GORDON

He could die at any moment?

ERIC

Die, or wind up like a vegetable in a coma for ten years.That’s why Mel was babbling to me. He told the doctors ofhis concern-and they told him to mind his own business. Melhas also figured out what’s in the old man’s box of ~oodies.

GORDON

Shh! That’ supposed to be a secret.

ERIC

Some secret. There are enough narcotics in that box hekeeps next to his bed to start a druEstore. Besides halfthe staff has seen Hughes in~ectinE himself with morphine.Mel’s scared, and I’ll tell you somethinE . . I’m scaredtoo. Tell me straight, Gordo, do you think the old man islosing i~?

GORDON

(GettinE up to throw his food away) Nay, he’s all riEht.He’s ~ust old and quirky. I’d better Eet to Mr. Holmes tosee what he wants. Maybe it’s important.

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONB PG.168


Hear no evil, see no evil,

Never say what youlistening. I’ll seephone room and makesalone in the office. He knocksMr. Holmes, you wanted to see me?

ERIC

speak no evil, Gordo?

GORDON

think, Eric. Someone is alwaysyou later, pal. (GORDON walks out ofhis way to the o£fioe. HOLMES sits

and enters.) Hello,

HOLMES

Yes, Gordon, come in and sit down. I would likesome questions . tell me something, have youof Mr. Hughes these past few months?

GORDON

Only in the course of my daily routine, sir.

Does Mr. Hughes seem lucid?

HOLMES

Lucid, sir?

GORDON

to ask youseen much



You know

HOLMES

clear, readily understood.

GORDON

Yes, sir, he does.

Have you ever seen Hr.

Incapacitated, sir?

Yes, you know

Has Mr.

Excuse me sir, but does Mr.questions?

HOLMES

Hughes incapacitated?

GORDON

HOLMES

disabled, incapable of normal activity.

sir, Hr. Hughes is as normal as he has always been.

HOLMES

Hughes ever passed out in front of you, Gordon?

Hughes know you ave asking these

S ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE PG.170


Why do you ask?

Wellhave strictlike this me about

Really

Well . . . I amthe situation.

Verbatim report7

Yes, you know

HOLMES

GORDON

I’m not sure I should tell you this, sir, but Iorders on what to do when anyone questions me

Hughes.

HOLMES

what are those orders?

GORDON

supposed to write up a verbatim report on

HOLMES

GORDON

word for word.

HOLMES

I don’t see any need for you to bother Mr.report about this conversation, Gordon¯

Hu~hes with a



I have to, sir.

Why is that?

GORDON

HOLMES

GORDON

Because you said the magic words.

HOLMES

Magic words?

GORDON

You have asked me about my private dealings with Mr.He prohibits anyone from knowing that information,

Hughes.sir.

HOLNES

The reason I’ve asked is because I am genuinely concernedabout Mr. Hughes’s physical and psychological well being.

GORDON

Then you won’t mind my reporting what we talked about tohim.



Tell Mr. Hughes? . . .gravity of the situation?dollars at risk.

Listen, don’t you understand theThere are hundreds of millions of

GORDON

(He rises) I appreciate your concern about the situation,Mr. Holmes, but I really think this matter is toocomplicated for me to comprehend. I let Mr. Hughes dealwith the big stuff. I ~ust handle my ~ob and do what I’mtold.

HOLMES

Yes, of course, and you are right to do such. Do whateveryou have to do, Gordon. I’m sorry I put you on the spot.

GORDON

Thank you, sir. I know you are doing what you feel isright.

HOLMES

Listen . . . you can go now. You had better get busy.There’s plenty to do. We’ll be leaving for Nicaragua in 2~hours. Tell Eric that the "bug-out" procedure is officiallyin operation have him contact Jack Realimmediately everyone knows what has to be done

(LIGHTS TO DARK)

END SCENE7 ¯



ACT ~

SCENE 8

LIGHTS GO UP on the Hu~hes suite in the HotelInteroontinental in Mana~ua, Nioara~ua LIGHTS UP in theo£fioe area revealing the "Final Four" sitting around tryingto oope with the problems of working in a floating offioethat moves around the world on the whim of their leader,Hughes. EverFone is disillusioned; and, as squad leader,HOLMES is trying to keep the troops together.

HOLNES

Gentlemen, I realize no one is happy that we’re back inManagua. I understand our stay here will be brief.

WALDRON

John, when are we going to return to the United States? Youpremised wewould be going home after the TWA case wasresolved. Why have things changed?

HOLMES

The TWA ~udgment was great victory for Mr. Hughes. That$200 million settlement is going to be a big boost for allof us. Everyone is scheduled to receive a large bonus. Iwouldn’t say exactly how much, Chuck, but I know it is inthe tens of thousands.

WALDRON

John, we are getting to the point where money no lon~ermatters. Are we going home or not?



We are not.

(Falling into his meat)

HOLMES

WALDRON

Oh God no, why not?

HOLMES

First of all, no one is entitled to any explanations.Anyone is free to resign whenever they choose. Remember, Ihave to work in the same environment as you do. Yourproblems are-~my problems. A lot of the information I sharewith you is restricted. Since we left the States, I’vetaken many risks in order to keep you all informed on whatis happening. Trust me; I wouldn’t let anythin~ happen toyou that I wouldn’t go through myself.

W~LDRON

John, why aren’t we going home? Did something go wrong withthe TWA stock sale?

HOLMES

The TWA case was won by Mr. Hughes. The TWA executives areEoins to have to come up with the $200 million for theremainder of the stock that Mr. Hushes holds.

WALDRON

OK fine, then lets So home.



HOLMES

There are other problems. How many of you want to go home?(All raise their hands) Listen. I’m not supposed toreveal this information, but Air West has ~umped on the bandwagon and has filedcriminal charges against Mr. Hughes. Wecan’t go back yet. If we step foot in the U.S., Mr. Hugheswill be arrested.

What else can go wrong?

HOLMES

Well, Bob Maheau is also suing Mr. Hughes for libel becauseof the remarks made during the radio interview. If youremember, Mr. Hughes called him a thief.

WALDRON

Will we continue to roam around the world until theselegalities are settled?

HOLMES

Well, sort of . Mr. Hughes intends to settle out ofcourt with Maheau. That case should be handled easilyenough. The Air West charges are all bull. But it’s goingto take time to have those charges dropped. The attorneyssay they’ll need at least six months for delays and countermotions, but I assure you that after this little matter iscleared up, we’ll fly directly to California. Plans arebeing made right now for new Summa offices. I’m proud toleak this news to you because every one Will receiverelocation money equal to one year’s salary. I’m sure youcan buy a nice piece of property for you and your familywith that money.



WALDRON

Is that the games John? Keep us in the dark, use us, thengive us money to make it all better.

HOLHES

It’s not a bad payoff. What do you say . . . six moremonths of travelling in exchange for full payment onproperty in Southern California. Are you with me? (Ali nodtheir agreement except WALDRON) OK, Chuck?

WALDRON

Whatever you._say, John. Sorry I complained. It sounds likea good deal. All you had to do was give us a littleinformation. Being left in the dark on this stuff is justtoo unnerving. I would just feel better if I know what’sgoing on.

Lets just keep our heads. Our job is to remain focused onthe tasks at hand. We have to trust Mr. Hughes’s judgement.There’s plenty of paperwork that has to be done on thisSumma business (HOLMES drones on as the LIC~4TS FADE TOSILHOUETTE.)

END SCENE 8



LIGHTS UP in the telephone room as all hell breaks.The phones are rinEing off the honk as the entire staffmoves frantinallM. News of an impending earthquake comes to

ERIC

(PlauinE a uall to HOL~S who is in the offiae) Hello,Mr. Holmes, this is Eric. I have urgent news for you, sir.The U.S. EeoloEical survey people have contacted us to tellus about an impendinE earthquake here in Mana~ua.

HOLMES

/LIGHTS UP in the offiael An earthquake (a11 look upstartled) What’s ~oin~ on, Eric? Are you sure this isn’t ahoax? Why would they contact us?

ERIC

The caller said they were informin~ us as per an aEreementwith Mr. Hu~hes. All natural disasters are to be reporteddirectly to Mr. HuEhes. This caller wants to speak directlyto Mr. HuEhes. I’m callinE for authorization. Do you wantto take the call, Mr. Holmes, or should I contact Mr. Hu~hesdirectly?

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONB PG.178


Hold on. (He goes to the intercom to call HUC44~S) Sir,it’s Holmes. There’s a call from the U.S. GeologicalSurvey. Do you want to talk to them? (Still no answer)They say there’s the possibility of an earthquake here inManagua

(LIGHTS UP in HUGHES’S bedroom.)

HUGHES

Yes! Of course put him through! Earthquake!!! We have toleave here immediately . . . Call Jack Real; he’s at theairport. Tell him to get here with the helicopter . . .don’t pack any office equipment_ __ . personal effectsonly .Tell Eric to put "Operation Burn Out" ineffecl burn everything in your office and everythingin my ~e~r~om. - You and your three stooges will comewith me, Gordon, and’Mel in the helicopter. Make sure Ericunderstands that he has to finish here before he leaves.;;Get the doctors and everyone else into the limos, and off tothe airport at once. The pilots and the planes should beready. They have been on emergency standby since wearrived . Do you hear me, Holmes?

HOLMES

(Who has been writing furiously sinae earthquake) Yes,sir . . . operation burn out. That’s where we burn all thepapers, right, sir? There are a lot of important papers inthe office. Are you sure I should burn them all?

HUGHES

Yes burn them . . . all of them. Now, put on thegeologist and get your butt in gear.



HOLMES

Yes, sir, Holmes out. (He calls ERIC and conveys theafore-mentioned strate@ies. The audience can see the officeand telephone room activity, hut cannot hear theconversations.)

HUGHES

(On the phone with the geologist) Jesus Christ, man, areyou sayins there’ s a 95 percent chance of a seriousearthquake? . . (He listens and hangs up. ) Christalmishty. . . I hope this buildins can withstand it. (Heruns around piling up papers. ) What a way to So¯ ¯ ¯ in aBanana Republic. . . I want to be in the air when Idie . (He ~alls to HOL2~S) Holmes, are you there?

HOLMES

(He im pilin~ papers on the table.) Yes, sir.

What are you doinE? Get Gordon and Mel in here risht away.Is Jack Real at the airport? Is he ready for us?

HOLMES

Yes, sir. Real is in place. The planes are ready to So.The doctors are on their way to the airport. Other limosare ready and waitins if necessary. We can So to the roofin 15 minutes; Real is personally flyins the helicopter thatwill pick us up. Mel and Gordon are on their way to you.



Shake a leg, Get me out of here Hughes out.

Yes, sir.

HUGHES

What else should I take . . . (He spots his @oody box anddarts toward it. AS he pi~ks it up, an earthquake tremorbits knookin@ A~J~HES to the floor. He has fallen on the boxand ham broken his hip. He lies un¢onsaious as ~L and~OP, DON entea~bis room. ~L attends to Hu~bes. ~ORDON ~oesto the phone.)

This is Gordon. I’m in Mr. Hu~hes’s bedroom; we found himunconscious on the floor. Mel is attendin~ to him. Whatshould I do?

HOLMES

Put me on the speaker phone, Gordon. Mel, can you hear me?What’s wrong with him?

The right side of his head is swollen, and I think his hipis broken. ~

ACTS BY A.D. CANERONE PG.~81


Mel, stay with Mr.paperwork you see.

Yes, sir.it in a pile.)

Theyouit?

HOLMES

Hughes. Gordon, gather up whatever

SORDON

(He goes about gathering everything up and putting

HOLMES

doctors are already on their way to the airport. Mel,are going to have to handle the transport. Can you do

he’s out cold and his hip bone seems to be dislocated.attention quick.

Well,He needs medical

Can we transportabout the entire stage.)

HOLMES

him? (Another tremor hits knooking objeots

I guess we have to. I

MEL

don’t think we should stay here.



HOLMES

There’s a helicopter on its way to the hotel roof. Rig upthe stretcher, Mel, and stay with Hughes for the transport.Gordon, stay with Mel and make sure Mr. Hughes gets on thathelicopter. Jack Real will be here in a few minutes. I’llsend Eric in to attend to burning the paperwork. The restof us will go to the airport in the limo. Got that boys?

Yes, sir.

~veryone hurries about trying to destroy everythingthat’s made of paper. URIC and M~L leave with HUC4~S.Finally allare off. A final earth shattering roar is heardas the quake shakes the building. LIGHTS TO D~tRE.

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMSRONE PG.183


The interior of the jet is in plaoe. ~J~L and GORDONare sitting alone. HUGHES is in a stretoher lying in theaisle. The entourage has been divided up and is separatedinto three groups on three planes. Aboard this plane areHUGHES_, JACK REAL, a CO-PILOT, lfl~L, and GORDON. The rest ofthe staff are on the other plames whioh have also departedfrom Nioara~ua.

JACK REAL

(CominE from the oookpit) How are you guys doing? Is hestill asleep~

He wakes up periodically; but for the most part, thesedative worked. Where are we ~oing?

JACK REAL

I ~ust spoke to Holmes. The plan is to hide out in theBahamas. It’s not too far away and our previous problemswith the government there have been resolved. The officialsin Freeport will welcome us with open arms.

MEL

Did the doctors make it out of ManaEua?Mr. Hu~hes as soon as we land.

They should examine



Yes. Don’t worryEveryone else is onNassau.

Thank God. Hisdoesn’t go into a coma.

JACK REAL

all the staff madethe other two ~ets.

it out safely.We’ll all meet in

MEL

blood pressure is very low.

He’ll make it. Call me if

When will we arrive at the

45 minutes. Hang tough guys

Is he OK, Mel?

JACK REAL

anything happens.

airport, Mr. Real?

JACK REAL

(He exi is. )

GORDON

MEL

should be in a hospital.admit him to one in Freeport?

Hell no. Hedoctors will

I hope he

Do you think the



No way. They’ll treat him in the hotel room like always.God, things have gotten crazy.

HUGHES

(Mumbling incoherently) Honest dad, I didn’t make amess No, I was just working. The workshop isn’tmessy . . . No, I need to use my workshop It’s clean.I didn’t do anything Please let me use my workshop.It’s clean

END SCENE 10


THB LAST DAYS OF HOWARD HUGHES

~L~GHTS UP in the HUGHES bedroom area. They are at theXanadu Princess in Freeport, Grand BahamaB. There are threedoctors standing about. H~GHES is sleeping on the bed. Thedoctors are discussing him

DR. ROSS

What makes you think he needs a hip replacement? Why can’twe just put him in a cast for a few months

DR. MYERS

The hip is easil7 replaoed; it’s not aprocedure.

DR. THOHPSON

compliuated

It is here in the Bahamas. The on17 suitable facilities Iknow of outside the U.S. are in Mexico.

DR. MYERS

Let’s go to Mexico.

DR. ROSS

I don’t know He’s been fadinE in and out of consciousfor 72 hours." ~h~t if he becomes comatose? We ~shouldn’t bemoving him about like this. The man should be alert so hecan tell us what he wants us to do. What if he dies intransport?



DR. THOMPSON

Look . . . there were really no harmful effects from thisearthquake fall except for the broken hip.- His skull x-raysshow no damage to the cranium or brain tissue,

He was always one to sleep for long periods. Let him sleep.If we take him to Mexico, we can replace his hip. He’ll beas good as new.

DR. ROSS

What about his general condition? We are treating him foreverything under the sun. He’s dehydrated, emaoiated,anemio with a low red blood oell count. His blood pressureis almost non-existent and his kidneys have been failingmiserably for a year.

DR. THOMPSON

I agree. His blood is in a toxic state from his kidneyfailure. He has been showing signs of mental disorientationfrom his metabolic condition. We can get him started ondialysis if we take him to a hospital in Mexico

DR.ROSS

We are going to have to explain who he is and why he is inthis condition if we take him to a hospital.



DR. MYERS

We don’t have to explain anything. Let’s get him toAcapulco. We’ll admit him under a phony name, do the hipreplacement ourselves~ then we fly back to the Caribbean.(LonH pause as no one knows what to do.) I’ll call Holmesand ask him what he thinks. (He Hoes to the phone andupdates HOL21~S.)

DR. ROSS

I don’t think the hip operation is going to help. This manis terminally ill. He’s dying before our eyes.

DR. THOMPSON

What do you suggest we do?

DR; ROSS

If we really want to save his life, we should take him toHouston for a kidney transplant.

DR. THOMPSON

I talked to Holmes about that yesterday. Apparently he andHughes discussed that option extensively. The answer is anunqualified no. We can’t go back to the States.

DR. ROSS

We can’t let him die. He doesn’t realize he’s killinEhimself. We should take him back to Texas for thetransplant. Besides, he’s unconscious half the time. He’llnever know the difference.



DR. THOMPSON

The argument is moo~ gentlemen. Holmes says we’re going toMexico. It seems Hughes approved the move during one of hislucid moments. Holmes wants to see us in the office. We’releaving immediately for Acapulco. (All exit)

HUGHES

So we’re off to Acapulco, MexicoWhat a bunch of assholes those three are.God I hate doctors. They know I’m dying.I know a lot more than they do.I’m going to die . blasted earthquake.I could have_lasted 5 or lO more years easy.All I needed was to get my blood sugar up.My body would have healed itself.What did that quack say, "kidney failure"?My kidneys are shot. My hip is shot.If they take me to Houston and put me onprobably become a vegetable.I ~an’t stay-awake much any more.If I do something, I had better do it soonThese blasted do, tots can’t be trusted.I’!l have to do something soon . real soon.

dialysis, I’ll

~LI~HTS TO DARK)

END SCENE 11

3 ACTS BY A.D. CANERONE PG.190


ACT 3

SCENE 12

~LIGHTS UP in a hotel in A~apulco, Mexico. LIGHTS UPin the office where the "Final Four" are bein~ briefed bythe three doctors.)

HOLMES

Doctors, we have been in Mexico for eight days. We havebeen thrown out of every hospital in the country. This is

a hospital that willhip?

not acceptable. Why can’t we findallow you personally to replace Mr. Hughes’s

DR. ROSS

We had no idea the medical society would be so strict. Wecan have the operation done by Mexican doctors, butUS oan~ work ~e~!ii~n !MeXiO0

DR. MYERS

It~will take at least 90 days before weEven if we bribe the commission, it will

can be certified.take three weeks.

If we let any other doctorspossibility of openins acatastrophes.

You have to understand.

DR. THOMPSON

examine Mr. Hughes, there’s thePandora’s Box of lesal and medical

DR. ROSS

Mr. Hushes is dyins.

3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE’PG~191


DR. HERS

He’s slowly becoming toxic from the poisonsnormally filter out of the blood.

The additional

DR. THOMPSON

stress put on his system bycould be the straw that breaks the camel’sthe services of life support equipmenttime.

DR. ROSS

that the kidneys

his broken hipback. With out

,he can expire at any

The only thing left for us to do is to fly to Hughes MedicalCenter in Houston. The best kidney men in the world arethere.

DR.]~fERS

We can fly to Texas and admit him under an assumed identity.Maybe we can get in and out of there without anyonenoticing.

DR. THONPSON

We could stabilize him in six months or so.

HOLMES

We can’t go back to the United States until ~he attorneystake care of the Air West criminal action. What can we dohere until then?



DR. ROSS

Not much. Keep him sedated to alleviate the chronicpain ~

Keep our fingers crossed

and wait.

DR. MYERS

DR. THOMPSON

(LIGHTS DOWN in the offioe. LIGHTS UP in the bedroom.

Gordon, bring me some water.

GORDON

Here you are, Howard. Are you sure I should call youHoward, sir?

That’s right,me, Howard.

HUGHES

son. We are going to become very olose.Gordon, what do the doctors have planned?

Call



Haven’t they told you, sir

Of course they have,

Well, everyone thinks

Damn, my hip hurts.~ip.) What do you think,

uh

HUGHES

but I want

GORDON

¯ Howard?

to hear what you know.

you have kidney failure.

HUGHES

(GO~I~ adjuBt~ a pillow on ~;he injuredboy?

GORDON

I’m not a doctor,the place to be.facilities here are atrocious.

but one thing is for sure;You should be in the States.

HUGHES

Did you know the doctors want tokidney transplant?

Mexico is notThe hospital

GORDON

take me to Houston for a



HUGHES

Do you know what will happen if I wind up in the HughesMedical Center? Those blasted doctors will hook me up to I0different machines. They will prolong the agony just tovalidate their competence. Gordon, do me a favor?

GORDON

Anything you want, Howard.

HUGHES

If something happens to me, and I can’t doyou make sure I’m dead before those bastardsa hospital in Houston?

What do you mean, sir?

HUGHES

Call me Howard, Gordon. We are going to

GORDON

Do you mean if you die, make sureclinically dead before they bury you?

it myself, willdrop me off in

become very close.



HUGHES

No, I want you to be my safety valve. I’m going to commitsuicide. If for some reason I don’t get the opportunity tokill myself or if I bungle the ~ob, I want you to be mybackup. I want you to finish the job if I can’t.

GORDON

I couldn’t do that, sir. It would be murder. Even if Ididn’t get caught, I couldn’t live with myself. You can’task me to do that.

Don’t worry, you wouldn’t have to do much. I’ll take careof all the gory stuff. All you have to do is make sure ~he

305 is done. Just make sure those vultures don’t Set tS~irhands on me. They’ll put me on some blasted life supportsystem. I’ll wind up lying in a coma for god knows howlong.

GORDON

(He rises) I’m sorry Mr. Hughes, I know I’ve always donewhat I was told to do, but I will not help you commitsuicide~ I won’t be a party to euthanasia. I think it’stime I resigned, sir. I’m leaving I quit, sir. (Heexits.)



HUGHES

(Alone.) When men walk the earth, their time is etched uponthe stone. Like footsteps in the sand, we make our mark andtravel on. Damned death, you have been knockins on my doorsince birth. Now it’s time to let you in. (He opens thebox of goodies that has always been within his reaoh andtakes out a bottle of olear fluid. ) Ah. . sweetmorphine. show me how to sleep . . . the sleep of a1,000 years. There’s enoush dope here to kill I0 men. Letit be enoush to keep my lesend alive and clear. (He injeotshimself and falls into a stupor. The door buzser sounds; itis Holmes ~alling. He flips the switch and talks into the

interoom for the last time.) What is it, Holmes?

HOLMES

Sir, are you OK? May I comeunlock the door. Gordon ~ustsuioide idea. Please let me inyou : i

in?told

(No response. ) Pleasethe doutors about your

I have Eood news for

HUGHES

Holmes what can a spider do but weave a web and what couldthe wind do but blow it asunder? Mind your own business,boy and tell those doctors to ~o to hell~ Let themexperiment on someone else! Leave me the hell alone!Hushes out.

HOLMES

Mr. Hushes . . Hello, sir . Good God, do you think hedid it already? . Break the door down.

(They break into the bedroom area.by GORDON and HOLMES rush in.)

DOCTORS followed



DR. ROSS

(Checkin~HUGHES’S pulse) He’s comatose. (He pi~ks up thevial of morphine.) He has taken enouEh to kill all of us.We have to get to the States right away.

DR. MYERS

(InjeotinE an antidote.) Thank God we kept an antidote onhand. We can keep him alive if we can get him to Houston intime.

DR. THOMPSON

You are absolutely risht. We have to take him to Texas.Once we are at the HuEhes Medioal Center we will have plentyof time to save him after we put him on a life supportsystem.

DR. ROSS

We can fly to Texas in two hours. When we ~et there we’llbe,able to dialysize his blood. We can Eive him massivetransfusion if needed.

DR. MYERS

We’ll cleanse his blood of the morphine and the toxicchemicals from his kidney in one shot. We can increase hishemoglobin count to normal. That should stabilize him for awhile.



DR. THOMPSON

That should give us plenty of time to replace his hip.Within a week we can find a donor and set up the kidneytransplant.

DRS. ROSS~ HYERS~ AND THOMPSON (TOGETHER)

He’ll be as good as new before we know it!

(Listens in astonishment, then goes to the phone to oallJACK R~AL.) We have to bug out, Jack. How fast can you getus to Houston? . . an hour and 55 minutes . OK,let’s get there as quick as we oan. (He bang~ up and barksorders to ~]ORDON.) Gordon, tell Eric we are bugging out toHouston. Jaok Real is bringing a helicopter to the roofnow. Only the dootore and myself will leave immediatelywith Mr. Hughes. You stay here and make sure everything isburnt . . . Make sure you get everything . . Everyone elsewill follow in the other two jets We’ll all meet inHouston .

(L~GHTS TO DARK)

END SCENE 12



EPILOGUE

(LIGHTS UP on the interior of the jet.)

DR. ROSS

(Over the stretcher. HUGHES ~it8He’s dyin~ . he’ll never make it.

Didn’t the antidote work?

DR. MYERS

DR. THOMPSON

covered up

The antidote worked; but he’s too weak. His otheroomplioations have taken their toll. We oan’t save him.

He’s dead.

DR. ROSS

DR. MYERS

He’s dead?

DR. THOMPSON

(At his heart with a stethoscope.) He’s dead. (Lights todark)

THE END


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