EXT. A SATELLITE IN ORBIT LOOKING DOWN ON THE NORTHERN ROCKIES - DAY
The Satellite is far away, barely visible, coming toward us.
SUPER: “TEN YEARS HAVE COME AND GONE. IT'S 2029. THAT'S IDAHO BELOW US. BOUNDARY COUNTY, IDAHO. A PLACE MELEK RIK HAS NEVER VISITED. BUT WHEN HE WAS TEN, HIS PARENTS TOOK HIM TO COEUR D'ALENE JUST TO THE SOUTH ON A VACATION...”
The Satellite closes on us.
SATELLITE TRANSMISSION
........................... God is great. I bear witness to
........................... no god but God...
The Satellite zips past and vanishes. Distant sound of Maria bearing a baby.
EXT. A NARROW MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY
Sound of Maria having her baby. She’s closer now.
A battered school BUS parked on the shoulder in front of a weathered horseshoe-shaped twenty-unit MOTEL. What was once the swimming pool is now a garbage pit. Weeds have taken over most of the grounds. Ten CHILDREN, ages two to ten, play noisily in a grassy area. We see a swing, a sandbox, a tire hanging from a tree limb.
We hear the cry of a newborn.
INT. MARIA’S ROOM IN THE MOTEL - DAY
........................... no god but God...
The Satellite zips past and vanishes. Distant sound of Maria bearing a baby.
EXT. A NARROW MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY
Sound of Maria having her baby. She’s closer now.
A battered school BUS parked on the shoulder in front of a weathered horseshoe-shaped twenty-unit MOTEL. What was once the swimming pool is now a garbage pit. Weeds have taken over most of the grounds. Ten CHILDREN, ages two to ten, play noisily in a grassy area. We see a swing, a sandbox, a tire hanging from a tree limb.
We hear the cry of a newborn.
INT. MARIA’S ROOM IN THE MOTEL - DAY
TAMMY
........................... Just beautiful.
Little Maria curled up on a bit of cloth in a corner. She gets up. We see she’s missing a leg and has only part of her tail. Maria in bed holding her newborn. Standing next to the bed, looking down at her and smiling, TAMMY, 32, and WENDY, 31. Maddie stands by the door. She doesn’t smile.
Little Maria curled up on a bit of cloth in a corner. She gets up. We see she’s missing a leg and has only part of her tail. Maria in bed holding her newborn. Standing next to the bed, looking down at her and smiling, TAMMY, 32, and WENDY, 31. Maddie stands by the door. She doesn’t smile.
WENDY
........................... Came out so easy. You have a gift, Ria.
........................... Doesn’t she have a gift, Maddie?
........................... Doesn’t she have a gift, Maddie?
MADELINE
........................... Yes. Yes, she does.
Maddie turns and walks out.
EXT. THE MOTEL - DAY
The screen door opens. We see Maddie on the stoop.
Maddie turns and walks out.
EXT. THE MOTEL - DAY
The screen door opens. We see Maddie on the stoop.
MADELINE
........................... Jonah!
A ten-year-old BOY stops playing, looks up. Maddie at the top of her voice. It’s an always-in-a-bad-mood, don’t-piss-me-off-anymore-than-I-already-am voice
A ten-year-old BOY stops playing, looks up. Maddie at the top of her voice. It’s an always-in-a-bad-mood, don’t-piss-me-off-anymore-than-I-already-am voice
MADELINE
........................... Go tell your father Aunt Ria had a baby boy!
........................... Get going!
The Children cheer. The Girls start playing mommy games. Jonah dashes off down a path past a very large GARDEN and what looks like a STILL.
INT. A TAVERN - DAY
Kenny, the center of attention, sits at a table with seven MIDDLE-AGED MEN. PREACHER, carrying two beers, approaches.
........................... Get going!
The Children cheer. The Girls start playing mommy games. Jonah dashes off down a path past a very large GARDEN and what looks like a STILL.
INT. A TAVERN - DAY
Kenny, the center of attention, sits at a table with seven MIDDLE-AGED MEN. PREACHER, carrying two beers, approaches.
PREACHER
.............................Here, Kenny. On me. You earned it.
Grunts of approval all around.
Grunts of approval all around.
KENNY
.............................Thanks, Preacher. Think I’ll pass.
PREACHER
.............................C’mon, boy. Loosen up. Jesus himself was
.............................known to tip one now and then.
.............................known to tip one now and then.
BILLY
.............................I hear that, Preach. Jesus knew how
.............................to party.
.............................to party.
PREACHER
.............................Careful, Billy. Don’t go crossin’ no lines.
.............................Bottle’s here just in case you change
.............................your mind, Kenny.
.............................Bottle’s here just in case you change
.............................your mind, Kenny.
KENNY
.............................Gonna sit here and watch you all.
.............................Got myself a nice little streak going.
.............................When you got a streak, rule is
.............................don’t change things.
.............................Got myself a nice little streak going.
.............................When you got a streak, rule is
.............................don’t change things.
PREACHER
.............................Hear that, boys? Kenny says he’s
.............................got a streak.
.............................got a streak.
KENNY
.............................Not just saying. Proof’s in the pudding.
.............................Five live births in a row? Bang bang
.............................bang bang bang. Read ‘em and weep.
.............................Five live births in a row? Bang bang
.............................bang bang bang. Read ‘em and weep.
PREACHER
.............................I can attest to the count. I baptized
.............................‘em all.
.............................‘em all.
KENNY
.............................I attribute it to prayer. And no
.............................tobacco and no alcohol.
.............................tobacco and no alcohol.
SKI
(Points to MORRIS)
(Points to MORRIS)
.............................Careful on that last part, Kenny.
.............................Morris might grab you by the hair
.............................and throw you out for
.............................hurtin’ business.
Morris points to a photo on the wall of Kenny as a San Francisco Giant.
.............................Morris might grab you by the hair
.............................and throw you out for
.............................hurtin’ business.
Morris points to a photo on the wall of Kenny as a San Francisco Giant.
MORRIS
.............................I heard that, Ski. Kenny can say
.............................anything he wants in here.
Jimbo drains his cup. He’s visibly three sheets to the wind. Morris frowns, but refills him.
.............................anything he wants in here.
Jimbo drains his cup. He’s visibly three sheets to the wind. Morris frowns, but refills him.
JIMBO
.............................Thinkin’ on this streak of yours.
KENNY
(A slightly crude gesture)
(A slightly crude gesture)
.............................What’s to think?
Everyone laughs.
Everyone laughs.
JIMBO
.............................Just reachin’ out for a little clarification.
.............................Streak is where you run the table. Streak
.............................is where you hit the target every time, right?
.............................I’m wondering, are you counting Maddie
.............................in this streak of yours?
.............................Streak is where you run the table. Streak
.............................is where you hit the target every time, right?
.............................I’m wondering, are you counting Maddie
.............................in this streak of yours?
KENNY
.............................What’s your point, Jimbo?
JIMBO
(Belches)
(Belches)
.............................Well, Tammy’s producing. So’s Wendy.
.............................So’s Ria. No doubt on that. We seen the
.............................progeny. Can’t help but notice Maddie’s
.............................been on the quiet side.
.............................So’s Ria. No doubt on that. We seen the
.............................progeny. Can’t help but notice Maddie’s
.............................been on the quiet side.
IKE
.............................It’s a point for sure. She has - -
JIMBO
.............................So I got to be thinkin’ either you’re settin’
.............................her aside. Like with acreage that
.............................lies fallow? Or.
Ike laughs. Kenny stops him with a look.
.............................her aside. Like with acreage that
.............................lies fallow? Or.
Ike laughs. Kenny stops him with a look.
PREACHER
.............................Maybe it’s time to change the damn’
.............................subject, Jimbo. We’re here to be with
.............................Kenny on this day of - -
.............................subject, Jimbo. We’re here to be with
.............................Kenny on this day of - -
JIMBO
.............................Not tryin’ to start a fuss. Just wondering
.............................what the rules are. Either it’s a streak
.............................or it’s - -
Morris suddenly stands behind Jimbo’s chair. He grabs Jimbo by the hair. Jimbo yells in pain and surprise as Morris jerks him to the door and tosses him out.
.............................what the rules are. Either it’s a streak
.............................or it’s - -
Morris suddenly stands behind Jimbo’s chair. He grabs Jimbo by the hair. Jimbo yells in pain and surprise as Morris jerks him to the door and tosses him out.
MORRIS
.............................Gettin’ to be a full-time chore keepin’ the
.............................lice and cockroaches out.
Kenny reaches out for the bottle.
.............................lice and cockroaches out.
Kenny reaches out for the bottle.
KENNY
.............................Think I will.
PREACHER
.............................That’s my boy. Now how about let’s all
.............................just keep things peaceful and tranquil.
.............................Is that too much to ask?
The Preacher points to the mud on the knees of his jeans.
.............................just keep things peaceful and tranquil.
.............................Is that too much to ask?
The Preacher points to the mud on the knees of his jeans.
PREACHER
.............................Had a premonition about today. Doesn’t
.............................say anywhere God sleeps, says he rested
.............................once, but in the event He was asleep, I
.............................woke Him up. He knows about Ria, Kenny.
.............................Not ashamed to say I was on my knees
.............................in the corral muck pleadin’ her case.
.............................say anywhere God sleeps, says he rested
.............................once, but in the event He was asleep, I
.............................woke Him up. He knows about Ria, Kenny.
.............................Not ashamed to say I was on my knees
.............................in the corral muck pleadin’ her case.
KENNY
.............................I’m grateful.
PREACHER
.............................Just doing my job. Now drink up.
He draws close, whispers.
He draws close, whispers.
PREACHER
.............................And don’t fret about Sister Madeline. She’ll
.............................come around in her own time. Sara was
.............................barren into her eighties.
EXT. ON THE PATH SOMEWHERE - DAY
Jimbo staggers drunkenly along the path, mumbling and cussing to himself. Jonah waits behind a tree until he passes. Then he continues on his way.
INT. RUFUS’ OFFICE - DAY
A massive ornate office that literally screams governmental power. A large formal portrait of Bolivar up high in the most prominent spot. An inscription under the portrait.
INSERT: The Inscription
“IN THIS HOUSE, BOLIVAR IS BOSS”
BACK TO SCENE
Rufus and a SENIOR FBI OFFICIAL watch as a playback device runs a video of a convenience store robbery. We see five grainy figures with weapons drawn.
.............................come around in her own time. Sara was
.............................barren into her eighties.
EXT. ON THE PATH SOMEWHERE - DAY
Jimbo staggers drunkenly along the path, mumbling and cussing to himself. Jonah waits behind a tree until he passes. Then he continues on his way.
INT. RUFUS’ OFFICE - DAY
A massive ornate office that literally screams governmental power. A large formal portrait of Bolivar up high in the most prominent spot. An inscription under the portrait.
INSERT: The Inscription
“IN THIS HOUSE, BOLIVAR IS BOSS”
BACK TO SCENE
Rufus and a SENIOR FBI OFFICIAL watch as a playback device runs a video of a convenience store robbery. We see five grainy figures with weapons drawn.
RUFUS
.............................Stop it there.
The FBI Official freezes it.
The FBI Official freezes it.
RUFUS
.............................Blow it up.
He zooms in. Rufus walks up and studies a six-foot image of Maddie’s face. She has an expression of crazed anger. A long silence.
He zooms in. Rufus walks up and studies a six-foot image of Maddie’s face. She has an expression of crazed anger. A long silence.
RUFUS
.............................Where did you get this?
FBI OFFICIAL
.............................A bank in Nebraska foreclosed on a strip mall.
.............................This was on a hard drive.
.............................This was on a hard drive.
RUFUS
.............................Were these five ever caught?
FBI OFFICIAL
.............................There were a number of such unsolved
.............................robberies about then. It was a chaotic
.............................time, sir.
Rufus glances at a large photo on another wall.
INSERT: The Photo
Kevin and Rufus, in sartorial splendor, seated in an antique auto, tipping their hats to the camera.
BACK TO SCENE
.............................robberies about then. It was a chaotic
.............................time, sir.
Rufus glances at a large photo on another wall.
INSERT: The Photo
Kevin and Rufus, in sartorial splendor, seated in an antique auto, tipping their hats to the camera.
BACK TO SCENE
RUFUS
.............................Yes, it was.
The FBI Official zooms the video out, unfreezes it. We see Maddie swing her bat at a shelf of bottles, smashing them.
INT. THE TAVERN - DAY
The Preacher and Kenny sit. Kenny’s on his third beer. Morris stands at the bar.
The FBI Official zooms the video out, unfreezes it. We see Maddie swing her bat at a shelf of bottles, smashing them.
INT. THE TAVERN - DAY
The Preacher and Kenny sit. Kenny’s on his third beer. Morris stands at the bar.
KENNY
.............................There was me. And Ria. And Kid and Whit.
.............................Maddie was there, too. Poor Kid could hardly
.............................stand. We taped a wood splint under his pant
.............................leg, told him to prop himself against a wall
.............................and point the gun.
.............................Maddie was there, too. Poor Kid could hardly
.............................stand. We taped a wood splint under his pant
.............................leg, told him to prop himself against a wall
.............................and point the gun.
PREACHER
.............................I’m surprised. Kid and Whit in an outlaw gang.
.............................Never thought they had the balls.
.............................Never thought they had the balls.
KENNY
.............................They don’t. Maddie had their number.
The Preacher looks surprised.
The Preacher looks surprised.
PREACHER
.............................She was sleepin’ with ‘em?
Kenny laughs so hard he gets beer up his nose.
Kenny laughs so hard he gets beer up his nose.
KENNY
.............................Sleepin’ with them? Hell no! They were scared
.............................to death of her. Didn’t want her anywhere near
.............................them. Didn’t want her using that bat on them.
Kenny belches. He suddenly gets maudlin.
.............................to death of her. Didn’t want her anywhere near
.............................them. Didn’t want her using that bat on them.
Kenny belches. He suddenly gets maudlin.
KENNY
.............................Not proud of having been an outlaw. Wish
.............................I could give the money back.
.............................I could give the money back.
PREACHER
.............................You didn’t kill anyone?
KENNY
.............................No.
PREACHER
.............................Didn’t take advantage of the women?
KENNY
.............................No.
PREACHER
.............................Remember David was a bandit. He robbed
.............................and extorted and sold protection. And God
.............................loved him. Money and goods are the Devil’s
.............................gift. Life and the soul are the Father’s gift.
.............................The damage you do to those is the hardest
.............................thing to forgive. Everything else is
.............................negotiable.
The Preacher starts to whisper a prayer. Kenny stops him.
.............................and extorted and sold protection. And God
.............................loved him. Money and goods are the Devil’s
.............................gift. Life and the soul are the Father’s gift.
.............................The damage you do to those is the hardest
.............................thing to forgive. Everything else is
.............................negotiable.
The Preacher starts to whisper a prayer. Kenny stops him.
KENNY
.............................Wait. One more thing. I got a son.
PREACHER
.............................He got a name?
KENNY
.............................Alan.
EXT. A CORRAL - DAY
Alan, 20, in an army uniform, astride an Arabian horse. A single gold bar on his collar.
EXT. A CORRAL - DAY
Alan, 20, in an army uniform, astride an Arabian horse. A single gold bar on his collar.
KENNY (O.S.)
.............................Never claimed him as my own.
PREACHER (O.S.)
.............................Shame on you, Kenny Wetzel. Shame on you.
KENNY (O.S.)
.............................Yes, shame on me.
Galmiche and a GENERAL stand outside the corral fence, watching.
Galmiche and a GENERAL stand outside the corral fence, watching.
GENERAL
.............................His name, sir, is Wetzel.
GALMICHE
.............................Call him.
The General waves. Alan walks the horse to the corral fence.
The General waves. Alan walks the horse to the corral fence.
GALMICHE
.............................They tell me your name's Wetzel.
ALAN
(Salutes from horseback)
.............................Lieutenant Alan Wetzel. At your service, sir.(Salutes from horseback)
GALMICHE
.............................Are you indeed?
ALAN
.............................Prove me, sir.
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