10. INT. MILL LAB - DAY
Lassiter pauses for a contemplative moment, then, looking around he finds someone in the back of the group.
LASSITER
Would you mind closing the door, please?
The door is closed. He surveys the group, looking each man in the eye.
LASSITER
(continuing)
I want you all to hear this. (pause) What you’ve seen and heard here today is proprietary information. It is not to leave this room. You are to speak to no one about it. Is that clear? No one. Not your wife, your best friend. No one.
The group falls still. Acknowledgement all around.
LASSITER
(continuing, to Matt)
What do you need to bring this to production?
Matt considers for a moment.
MATT
Well, the first thing I’ll need is a real working lab. A testing lab with...
He's interrupted by a loud knock on the door. An anxious young woman looks in.
YOUNG WOMAN
(to Lassiter) Excuse me Mr. Lassiter, sir. There's an urgent phone call for you. Line one.
LASSITER
(to Matt) Can I take it here?
Doug jumps to and pulls a phone to the center of the table. Lassiter picks up the phone.
LASSITER
(on phone) This is Jim.
He listens for a moment. Outwardly shocked by what he hears, he turns his back to the room as he takes in the rest of the news. The room is still. Uneasy. Sideways glances.
LASSITER
(on phone) OK. I’ll be right there. Thanks.
He slowly places the phone back in it’s cradle and pauses for a thoughtful moment before turning and facing everyone. He’s visibly upset. He takes a deep breath.
LASSITER
There’s been an accident at the Alachua saw mill. One confirmed death and several serious injuries. A lot of damage.
The room is alarmed.
LASSITER
(continuing) It seems to be deliberate. A spiked tree.
At first they’re all silent, then the men start to grumble. He raises his hand for silence.
LASSITER
Calm down. Calm down.
The room falls silent.
LASSITER
(continuing) I appreciate your concern, but we don’t know yet who’s responsible, if anyone. It could’ve been a topper’s spike from years ago. But I promise you this, we’ll get to the bottom of it and if it was deliberate, we will use every means at our disposal to bring them to justice. (to Doug) We’d better go. Tell them to get the plane ready.
He turns his attention to Matt.
LASSITER
(continuing) Good job son. (to Alvarez) Juan, see that he gets what he needs.
Alvarez nods. Then, Lassiter turns to face the others.
LASSITER
(continuing) Gentlemen, thank you for your hospitality. Don’t forget what I said about keeping this thing close to the vest.
The room mumbles acknowledgment. Lassiter turns for the door, everyone makes room. He makes a quick exit, followed by Alvarez and Doug, who’s on his cell phone making arrangements for the plane.
As soon as they are gone, the room erupts in exclamations of anger. Everyone talking at once.
Matt stands silently. He looks up and catches a glimpse of the injured protester (Annie) as she and her escort, attracted by the commotion, pause on their way by to look in. Their eyes meet. Then she’s gone.
Still grumbling, the men file out of the room. Womack comes over to Matt.
WOMACK
Take my advise and git yurself a good lawyer buddy. This thing’s wurth a lot a money an you can bet yur ass they'll try to screw you out of every bit of it before it’s over with.
Matt nods, appreciative of the advise. They all straggle out of the room leaving him alone. He watches through the window as Lassiter and Alvarez get into the limo and drive off. It’s followed by Annie, being escorted down the drive to the gate.
11. LATER - EXT. PALACE SALOON - DAY (Fernandina Beach, FL)
A completely restored, British Racing Green, Triumph TR3, Matt at the wheel, pulls into a parking space in front of the Palace Saloon, a local favorite housed in an old red brick building. A sign over the door proclaims: “The Oldest Saloon in Florida.” Leaded glass windows with shutters. Saloon style swinging front doors.
Matt gets out of the car and goes inside.
12. INT. SALOON - DAY
Inside, Matt pauses, taking a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The bar patrons are chatting, laughing, watching one of several televisions stationed around the room.
He spots Doug at the bar, who simultaneously sees him and waves him over. Matt takes a stool next to him. The bartender, (BONNIE) a shapely, 50ish, dishwater blonde interrupts a conversation with a customer and calls out to Matt.
BONNIE
What’ll it be sweetie? Your regular?
Matt nods and she pops him a Corona, stuffs a wedge of lime into it, and sets it front of him.
MATT
Thanks Bonnie.
She gives him a wink and moves back down the bar to continue her conversation. Doug shakes his head.
DOUG
(eyeing Bonnie's behind) Ummm, ummm, ummm
MATT
(interrupting) Don’t even think about it. Katie’ll skin you alive.
DOUG
I heard that. (Nods towards Matt’s beer.) Can’t understand why you keep drinkin that crap when there’s good American beer made right down the road.
MATT
Don’t get started. Not today.
Matt turns on his stool and leans back against the bar surveying the room. Doug joins him.
DOUG
Well hot shot, looks like you’ve got yourself into the big time with this bug of yours.
Matt shrugs. “Whatever”
DOUG
(continuing)
You know, you can bet they’ll try to screw you before it’s over with.
MATT
(laughs) Yeah, that’s the same thing Womack said. (pause) Well, technically, everything I do does belong to the company. They still give me a paycheck you know.
DOUG
Yeah, I know. But they better at least give you one hell of a raise.
Over their shoulder, on a wall-mounted television, a news flash comes on. The bar falls silent as everyone pauses to catch the news.
13. ON TV SCREEN:
NEWS ANCHOR
One man was killed and several badly injured this morning at E&B International’s Alachua saw mill plant. (film footage of the site damage) (VO) It’s been determined that a spiked tree was the cause of the accident. In a letter to the Associated Press, Guardians of Diversity, a Christian environmental organization, claimed responsibility for the spiking. The report goes on to say that the Guardians regret any injury and loss of life but that the incident highlights mankind’s wonton destruction of God’s creation. Eyewitness News’ John Thompson is on the scene.
CUT TO REPORTER ON SCENE
REPORTER
That’s right, Jim. Company officials have confirmed one death and twelve injuries, two serious, at the plant when a spiked tree shattered the huge saw blade used to cut the logs. With me is plant manager, Greg Baker.
Shot of both men.
REPORTER
(continuing)
Mr. Baker, what exactly is a spiked tree?
BAKER
These terrorists drive a big iron spike into the tree. If the chain saw don’t hit it when we cut down the tree, it’s hard to tell it’s there. When the log comes through the mill an the saw hits it, all hell breaks loose...
14. INT. SALOON – DAY - CUT TO ROUGHNECKS AT THE BAR.
The television report continues in the background. Three mill roughnecks sitting at the bar begin to grumble among themselves.
ROUGHNECK 1
Ain’t that some shit.
The others shake their heads in agreement.
Matt turns away from the TV and idly surveys the room. His eyes fall upon a group of four people seated in the corner. They’re absorbed in animated conversation. He notices that one of them is the woman who was injured at the plant. He elbows Doug.
MATT
Hey. Isn’t that the girl that got hit by the car this morning?
Doug turns to look.
DOUG
Yeah. I think it is.
MATT
She’s pretty.
DOUG
She wasn’t hurt. Just shook up a little.
A roughneck sitting next to Doug overhears the conversation.
ROUGHNECK 2
(to Doug) Did I hear yew say that’s them protesters who wuz at the plant this mornin?
DOUG
I don’t know about the others, but that’s the girl that was hit by the car.
Doug returns his attention to the television. Roughneck 2 elbows the guy next to him.
ROUGHNECK 2
That’s them protesters that wuz at the plant this mornin… over there in the corner.
ROUGHNECK 3
No shit? (He turns to look.) Hey, ain’t that Jimmy Parker?
ROUGHNECK 2
Yeah, and Willie Washington too.
ROUGHNECK 3
(Begins to get up) Let’s go over there an kick some ass for them boys in Alachua. Whatta ya say?
ROUGHNECK 2
I think that’s a damn good idea.
The three of them slide off of their stools and move towards the group.
The protestor’s table is comprised of three young men Jimmy, JOE, WILLIAM and the woman, Annie. Jimmy, a scrappy looking fellow, the group's leader, sees the men coming and stands to confront the approaching antagonists.
ROUGHNECK 3
Well looks who’s here. If it ain’t the tree-huggers.
JIMMY
We’ve got a right to our opinions just as much as you.
ROUGHNECK 3
Yeah! Well you ain’t got no right to do things that git people killed.
JIMMY
What are you talkin about?
ROUGHNECK 3
An you sure as hell ain’t got no right to fuck with my job. A lot of people in this town work at that mill, an there ain’t nobody working at Alachua right now and one of em ain’t never gonna work again.
JIMMY
We didn’t have nothing to do with that and you know it. Besides, this ain’t about Alachua. It’s about that friggin mill right here that’s been poisoning this town for years! It’s time for it to stop.
Doug shouts down the bar at Bonnie.
DOUG
Bonnie! You better get over here.
The rest of the patrons fall silent as the words at the table grow louder. Disgusted, Bonnie shakes her head and moves towards the commotion. Doug and Matt follow.
When they get there, Roughneck 3 (MAX) looms over the smaller, but not giving an inch, Jimmy. He jabs Jimmy in the chest with his finger.
ROUGHNECK 3
You little twerp. You been a pain in the ass since high school. That mill's how I feed my family and that’s how yore old man fed his, including the rest of you jerk-offs.
William, a large black man, gets to his feet and into Max’s face.
WILLIAM
Who you callin jerk-off mutha fucker!
MAX
I ain’t got no beef with you Willie.
WILLIAM
You do now.
They glare at each other.
MAX
You part of this group Willie?
WILLIAM
Maybe. What’s it to ya?
MAX
You know these tree-huggers killed a good man at the Alachua plant.
WILLIAM
What tha hell. This plant right here killed my old man.
JIMMY
(to Max) It looks like you’re still the same dumbass jock you’ve always been Max. Well I tell you what, your mill stinks! Can't you smell it?
MAX
Fuckin-A, Tweetie. Smells like money to me.
He shoves Jimmy backwards against the table which overturns, knocking Annie to the floor, a pitcher of beer spilling on her. Jimmy lunges at Max but Doug quickly gets between them and grabs him in a bear hug. He struggles but is no match for the larger Doug who holds him tight. Bonnie steps in, yelling at the Max.
BONNIE
Max, you cut this crap out right now or I'm gonna kick yore ass outta here for good.
Max hesitates.
BONNIE
(continuing)
I mean it! Back off. NOW!
DOUG
You boys heard her. Now back off. I don’t want to have to come git your asses out of jail in the mornin.
Everybody backs down. Doug lets go of Jimmy who shakes free belligerently. Bonnie takes over.
BONNIE
Now git outta here. All of you. You gonna act like school kids you can take it to the street.
Backed by Doug, she stares them down. The Roughnecks back off and leave. Max turns and points his finger at Jimmy.
MAX
Next time you ain't gonna have no skirt to hide behind dickhead.
Jimmy gives him the finger. The two glare at each other but the Roughnecks leave as Bonnie continues to stare them down. Then she turns her attention to the protestors.
BONNIE
(continuing)
And that goes for you too Jimmy. All of you. (Jerks her thumb in the direction of the door.) Out.
Jimmy, still pissed, isn't about to be told what to do but William takes him by the arm.
WILLIAM
She's right. Let's go.
Matt goes to help Annie to her feet.
MATT
You OK?
ANNIE
(Fussing with her wet clothes.) Yes, I guess so. Thank you.
The group begins gathering their things to leave. Bonnie goes back to work, speaks to an old black man who’s come out of the kitchen to see what's going on.
BONNIE
(to black man) Better git the mop bucket.
He nods and returns to the kitchen. Matt picks up Annie’s purse, wipes the beer off with his shirt sleeve and hands it to her.
ANNIE
Thank you.
The others brush past them on the way to the door.
JIMMY
Common Annie. Let's get the hell out of here.
MATT
(to Annie) Are you sure you’re OK? I mean, from this morning and all.
She nods.
ANNIE
Yeah, I’m fine.
MATT
Do you need a ride or something…
ANNIE
(still upset) No. No thanks. I’ve got a ride. Thank you.
CUT TO JIMMY who pauses at the door and looks back.
JIMMY
Annie, you coming!
CUT TO ANNIE as she touches Matt’s arm and smiles.
ANNIE
Thank you. I’m fine. Really.
She turns and follows Jimmy out the door.
Brother against brother.
ReplyDeleteMatt and Annie sitting in a tree,
ReplyDeletek.i.s.s.i.n.g.
What? You knew someone was going to say that.
Definitely captured my interest!
ReplyDelete