Read The Last Train Out of Paris: A Screenplay :: Scenes XIV - XXVI

14. INT. DINING CAR - SAME TIME

The few patrons of the dining car sway suddenly.

15. INT. SLEEPING CAR COMPARTMENT - SAME TIME

Jasper and Michael sway as the train begins to move. They’re unpacking their smaller things from their luggage before storing them in the racks above the beds.

16. INT. PARIS GARE DE LYON - SAME TIME

The trains stops with a loud SQUEAK a second later.

17. INT. SLEEPING CAR COMPARTMENT - SAME TIME

Susan and Abigale sway with the train. Susan stumbles, dropping an ornate perfume vial, and landing in the seat besides her daughter.

Abigale sighs slightly, as if it inconvenienced her, and puts her open book to the side.

ABIGALE: Mother, stand up.

Susan stands and retrieve the vial, unbroken, from the floor.

Abigale watches her silently before returning to reading.

Susan glances out the window. She checks her thin watch and notes the time - 10:21.

18. INT. SLEEPING CAR CORRIDOR - SAME TIME

Wilbur and David open their respective doors to their compartments to see the train’s stopped moving.

19. INT. SLEEPING CAR COMPARTMENT - SAME TIME

Abigale watches her silently before returning to reading. Susan stands and smooths out the creases in her dress.

SUSAN: I still think that you should come and eat something in the dining car.

Abigale looks up from her book. She returns to reading.

SUSAN: Abigale.

ABIGALE: I heard you. I’m not hungry. I had a very late luncheon with Jasper, remember?

Susan sighs, and opens the door.

SUSAN: Do you want me to bring y -

ABIGALE: No.

Susan leaves, closing the door behind her.

20. INT. PARIS GARE DE LYON - SAME TIME

Passengers in the sleeping cars poke their heads out of the carriage windows; some return to the platform. Quiet French and English is passed around under the sound of locomotive CHUFFING and WHISTLING.

Bellanger hangs from one of the car doors railing, eyeing the clock nervously.

BELLANGER: Qu'est-ce qui se passe?

CONDUCTOR: Je ne sais pas. Je n'ai reçu aucun mot.

PAN: UP THROUGH THE TRANSLUCENT WINDOWS AND INTO THE OFFICES OF THE COMPAGNIE INTERNATIONALE DES WAGONS-LITS

21. INT. COMPAGNIE INTERNATIONALE DES WAGONS-LITS OFFICES - SAME TIME

Telephones RING incessantly. The MANAGER - a short man - looks out the windows overlooking the train and turn.

MANAGER (Angry): Pourquoi le train est-il toujours là?

An OFFICE WORKER - a bland, uninteresting-looking man - stands at attention.

OFFICE WORKER: Nous ne savons pas; nous n’avons pas encore appris que la piste était libre.

The Manager sighs. He goes to the phone in the corner.

22. INT. PARIS GARE DE LYON - SAME TIME

A phone by the gates begins CHIMING. The Conductor goes over to the phone.

CONDUCTOR: Oui?

The other end of the call is inaudible. People continue passing him towards the train. The Conductor writes the message on a small notepad withdrawn from his pocket. He sighs and nods.

CONDUCTOR: Oui, monsieur.

He hangs up the phone.

The conductor walks to the front of the train and hands the note to the DRIVER, a soot-covered man.

DRIVER: Qu'est-ce qui se passe? Pourquoi on n'y va pas encore?

CONDUCTOR: On m'a dit de vous donner ça. Des bureaux à l'étage.

The Driver reads the note, looks up to the office’s windows over the train.

DRIVER: Et ils sont absolument sûrs?

The conductor nods.

CONDUCTOR: Absolument. Je viens de leur parler au téléphone et...ils ont dit "oui".

The conductor nods in understanding.

DRIVER (Calling): Jacques.

The FIREMAN - a dirty, even sootier man - appears behind the driver.