It's a New Day by Glen Marcus (epub e ink reader txt) 📕

CAST OF CHARACTERS

(In order of appearance)

ADAM ESTES

Bradley Cooper
 

 

SHELIA ESTES

Rachel McAdams
 
 

TOMMY ESTES

Ty Wood
 

 

DANNY ESTES

Zachary Gordon
 
 

CRAZY JACK

Randy Quaid
 
 

SKIP KEILTY

Fred Thompson
 

SARAH TALLEY

Marny Kennedy
 

JASPER DOUGLAS

Morgan Freeman
 
 

IRENE DOUGLAS

Cicely Tyson
 
 

PHARMACIST

Alessandro Juliani
 

MAYOR

Wayne Duvall 

 

BOBBY JOHNSON

William Fichtner
 
 

CHARLIE DOUGLAS

Lee Thompson Young
 

 

SLASH

Dwayne Johnson 

 

SHERIFF BROGAN

Woody Harrelson
 

JIMMY BASTROP

Red West
 
 

EXT. AERIAL SHOT OF THE EARTH FROM 100 MILES ABOVE - FRIDAY JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT


(SOUNDTRACK - Ry Cooder's 'All Shook Up' playing on a radio in the background as beginning titles roll)

SLOW ZOOM IN: On Southeastern U.S. At 50,000 Feet

TEEN GIRL

(off screen)
(giggling in background)

TEEN BOY

(off screen)

Come on what's taking so long?

ZOOM IN:South Georgia At 10,000 Feet

TEEN GIRL

(off screen)

Quit rocking the pirogue!

ZOOM IN: Okefenokee Swamp - 100 Feet Above A Lantern-Lit Pirogue Out In The Lake

CUT TO

EXT. PIROGUE - FEW MINUTES LATER

TEEN BOY

Yeah buddy, that's what I'm talking about.

Seductive look by the TEEN GIRL as she undresses.

TEEN GIRL

Well, what are you waiting for?

Love making begins.

TEEN GIRL

(moaning)

To the north, the sky lights up brightly and a muffled explosion gets the TEEN GIRL's attention.

TEEN GIRL (Cont.)

Hey, look at the fireworks.

TEEN BOY

Yep, they're cool. Kind of far away though. Now where were we?

Love making continues.


ZOOM IN: On Radio In Back of The Pirogue

(radio crackles, 'All Shook Up' stops abruptly and the illuminated dial goes dark)


FADE TO BLACK


FADE IN

INT. ESTES RESIDENCE BEDROOM - DAWN OF DAY ONE

Rooster crows outside window. ADAM and SHELIA are asleep in the spooning position. The rooster crows a second time. ADAM rolls to his side and pulls the pillow over his head. Then removing the pillow, he looks towards the digital clock on the nightstand.

ADAM

(to himself)

Oh great, the power is out again.

CUT TO

INT. ESTES BATHROOM - FEW MINUTES LATER

The shower is turned on.

ADAM

(to himself as he checks the temperature)

Damn! The water is getting cold.

ADAM’S POV IN MIRROR

Well-chiseled body and has a towel wrapped around his waist. ADAM rubs the stubble on his face.

ADAM

(to himself)

I am not shaving with lukewarm water.

SHELIA walks into bathroom, kisses ADAM on the cheek and sits down on toilet.

ADAM

What are you doing up so early on Saturday?

SHELIA

I didn't sleep well. Why is it warm in the house?

ADAM

The electricity is off again. I'm going to call the power company and tell them that I'm getting tired of this stuff.

SHELIA

I wish you would. It's been a problem now for months.

SHELIA is in silk pajamas. Blonde shoulder-length hair is mussed but still attractive. Standing, she begins to leave the bathroom.

SHELIA

I guess we'll have cereal for breakfast then.

CUT TO

INT. KITCHEN - FEW MINUTES LATER

ADAM joins SHELIA at breakfast table.

ADAM

I've got to run over to the jobsite in Dahlonega for a couple of hours but when I get back I'll cut the grass.

SHELIA

OK, I'm taking the boys to WalMart to pick up some school supplies and then run a few errands. We should be back by noon.

ADAM

I think Tommy is excited about starting high school.

SHELIA

(concerned)

Yeah, but Danny is not so happy about seventh grade though.

ADAM

He'll be fine. I'm hoping he gets involved with sports or something. That might help.

ADAM places his dishes in the sink and removes his truck keys from a peg on the wall. He kisses SHELIA on the forehead and then exits to the garage.

SHELIA goes to the sink and runs some water in her bowl.

ADAM

(returns from garage disgruntled)

My pickup won't start. I’ll have to take your Tahoe.

SHELIA

What's wrong with it?

ADAM

Don't know. I’m in a hurry, so I'll look at it when I get back. Probably the battery.

SHELIA walks into the LIVING ROOM

CUT TO

INT. LIVING ROOM - COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER

SHELIA tries to turn on television.

SHELIA

(to herself)

Crap! That's it. I'm going to call Georgia Power.

SHELIA picks up her cell phone from coffee table and presses the "on" button.

ADAM returns to LIVING ROOM.

ADAM

(puzzled)

Something is wrong. Your car is dead too.

Reaching into his pocket ADAM retrieves his cell phone. Pressing the buttons, he gets no results.

ADAM

Where’s your cell? I need to call the guys and tell them I’ll be late.

SHELIA

(glancing at her phone)

Mine won’t come on either.

A sense of urgency now grips the pair as they begin to scurry around the house in search of a working electronic device.

CUT TO


INT. TOMMY’S BEDROOM – A FEW MINTES LATER

TOMMY is in bed asleep. Posters of various sports stars line the walls and clothing is scattered around the floor. SHELIA begins rummaging through items on his small study desk in the corner and wakes her oldest son.

TOMMY

(groggily)

What are you looking for mom?

SHELIA

Where’s your Blackberry?

TOMMY

In my pants pocket, I think.

TOMMY is rubbing his eyes.

SHELIA reveals the phone only to find a blank screen.

CUT TO


INT. DANNY’S BEDROOM – SAME TIME

ADAM pushes the power button on DANNY’s laptop. Flipping open his son’s cell, he then places it back on the boy’s nightstand; as it doesn't come on.

SHELIA enters DANNY’S BEDROOM.

SHELIA

Well?

ADAM

Nothing.

SHELIA

Adam, this is not right.

ADAM

There has got to be a logical explanation for all this. Tell you what, I’m going to saddle up Old Blue and head to town. You and the boys stay close to the house and I’ll be back in a while.

CUT TO


EXT. TWO-LANED PAVED ROAD (TWO MILES FROM ESTES RESIDENCE)- MID MORNING

(SOUNDTRACK - Traveling Wilbury’s ‘End of the Line’ plays in the background as ADAM rides along)

ADAM is trotting along on horseback trying to make sense of the current events. ADAM passes the third empty vehicle he’s seen on the road.

ADAM

(to himself)

There’s another one. Nobody is inside of it either. Why would someone just leave their cars parked in the middle of the road?

ADAM scans the fields visually to his left and right. The scattered farms and houses show no activity. No vehicles have passed him since he rode out of the barn. The only movements are two fairly large plumes of smoke he sees rising in the distance to the north and northeast of his position. Rounding a corner ADAM sees the KOUNTRY PANTRY STORE and reins his horse in its direction.

(‘End of the Line’ finishes playing in the background)

CUT TO

EXT. KOUNTRY PANTRY STORE- FEW MINUTES LATER
The building is a brick structure with four covered gas pumps. As ADAM nears, he recognizes a solitary man sitting on the wooden bench outside the store's double glass entry doors.

CRAZY JACK is the only name that ADAM has ever heard him referred to as. ADAM frequents the small bait store on Lake Lanier that the older man owns. CRAZY JACK is a scruffy codger that is in his early sixties. He is wearing a pair of light blue coveralls and a dirty baseball hat that covers his greasy hair.

CUT TO

CRAZY JACK lights up a cigarette. ADAM dismounts and ties the horse to a rack that holds propane tanks around the corner.

ADAM

What are you doing over here Jack?

CRAZY JACK

Counting my flipping money. What’s it to you?

ADAM

(puzzled)

What?

CRAZY JACK

Nothing. I’m stranded here like a rat on a deserted island. You’re the first person that I’ve seen this morning.

ADAM

How’d you get here?

CRAZY JACK

My van’s just down the road a piece.

ADAM

You been here long?

CRAZY JACK

You’re just full of questions ain’t you son.

ADAM

Sorry, but I haven’t seen anyone else this morning either.

CRAZY JACK

And you won’t see many...at least riding around. It’s the end, my boy.

ADAM

End of what?

CRAZY JACK

Oh hell. End of everything. Look around you. The rapture’s done took place and we are all that’s left.

ADAM

How do you know that?

CRAZY JACK

I just do and I'll tell you another thing...I'm getting tired of just sitting here.

CUT TO

Unannounced, CRAZY JACK picks up a large metal trash can and swings it wildly against one of the store’s glass doors. Hitting the glass a second time, it shatters and hundreds of small pieces fall to the ground.

ADAM

Damn Jack, what’s come over you?

CRAZY JACK

I need some provisions before I start my hike home. You better get some too if you know what’s good for you.

CUT TO

CLOSE UP: Adam puts a hand on Jack's shoulder.

ADAM

Jack, tell me what's going on.

JACK tosses ADAM's hand off his arm.

CRAZY JACK

Don't you lay a hand on me peckerwood.

CUT TO

CRAZY JACK exposes a small handgun from his pocket.

ADAM

Ok man, settle down.

ADAM moves back a few steps.

CRAZY JACK

(gristly)

These are desperate times and you'd better get tough quick, boy. You blink from this day on and somebody's going to run you through.

CUT TO

ADAM retreats to the horse nearby.

ADAM

You ARE as crazy as people say, Jack.

CUT TO

CRAZY JACK is cleaning the remaining glass from the metal door frame.

CRAZY JACK

(loudly)

Crazy like a fox. Them sumbitches are going to be coming this way. It won't take'em long to burn Atlanta down. They did it before...

CRAZY JACK walks inside the store.

CUT TO

CLOSE UP: CRAZY JACK’S face

CRAZY JACK (Cont.)

(to himself)

And they'll do it again.

FADE OUT

CUT TO


EXT. CITY OF DAWSONVILLE - NOON

ADAM rides slowly through the mostly vacant streets. An occasional group of three or four people stroll by him. Adam sees the open front doors of KEILTY BUILDING SUPPLY and makes his way over to the business.

CUT TO

INT. KEILTY BUILDING SUPPLY - FEW MINUTES LATER

SKIP KEILTY is a respected townsperson and Chairman of the City Council. He and his wife, Jeanie, live in a nicely appointed home on Lake Lanier. Though well-worn, SKIP still has some fight left in him; most of it left over from his Marine days in Vietnam.

SKIP

Hey there Adam. How'd you get into town?

ADAM

Old Blue brought me.

SKIP leans over the counter just enough to peer out the door.

SKIP

Well, you said you wanted to get something more economical to drive. And that hay-burner mode has always been pretty reliable.

ADAM chuckles.

ADAM

What's going on around here?

SKIP

If I was a betting man and I am...I'd say we've been attacked.

ADAM

(puzzled)

Attacked...by who?

SKIP

Hard