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

SKIP removes some walnuts from a bag and places them on the counter.

SKIP (Cont.)

When I was in the service many moons ago, they had nuclear weapons that would knock out any unprotected electronics.

ADAM

(realization)

I've heard of that. It's called an Electro...Magnet...something.

SKIP

Actually an EMP or Electro Magnetic Pulse device is a small-scale weapon. For an operation this size it would need to be a High-Altitude E.M.P.

SKIP cracks a walnut with a hammer.

SKIP (Cont.)

They'd have to blow up a nuke or a lot of nukes in the upper atmosphere. Once it goes off, the circuitry of anything on the downhill side of it is fried. And once it's broke...

SKIP brings the hammer down breaking another nut.

SKIP (Cont.)

It's broke.

ADAM

Anyone heard about Atlanta?

SKIP

Naw, it's too early. I’m just glad we had that rain a few days back. As big as those smoke clouds up north are, I’d say a couple of commercial jets took a plunge into the mountain side. If it were any drier, we’d all be battling some pretty big forest fires about now. But I'll tell you buddy...If I was you, I'd get myself prepared for what's coming.

ADAM

(inquisitive look)

Like what?

SKIP

We're in better shape up here than most in Atlanta. It won't be long before the city folk start migrating up here...And when they come, it'll be in droves. Everything from food and water...those horses you got at your place, they're going to be like gold.

ADAM

Guess you're right.

SKIP

How are you set for ammo?

ADAM

I've got some shotgun shells for dove hunting and a couple of boxes of 7 Mag for my deer rifle.

SKIP reaches under the counter and places several boxes of ammunition on the counter.

SKIP

You better stock up on something a little stronger than birdshot.

ADAM

How much do I owe you?

SKIP

With all the business you've given me over the years, your money is no good here.

SKIP bags up the shells.

SKIP (Cont.)

But let me tell you this...if you need any building materials to fortify your place, you better get them soon. You still got that old wagon you pull around in the parades?

ADAM

Yeah, it's behind the barn.

SKIP

Bring it into town tomorrow and we'll fix you up. If I guess right, by the end of the week there won't be anything of value left here in town.

Slighty shaken by the statement, ADAM turns to leave the store. Urgency overtakes his thoughts again as he realizes he needs to get home.

ADAM

Thanks for the ammo Skip.

SKIP

(loudly)

Don't mention it bud...

(softly)

Godspeed.

CUT TO

EXT. ESTES' HORSE BARN - LATE AFTERNOON

HORSE BARN is a modest gambrel-style structure with eight stalls and a tack room. The tin roof is in need of a few repairs but it is freshly painted red with white trim accents.

ADAM arrives back from town. He is unsaddling Old Blue when SHELIA hears him outside.

SHELIA

I missed you. How did it go?

Kissing him softly.

ADAM

I didn't see too many people. That old man that runs the bait shop was at the Kountry Pantry.

SHELIA

Crazy Jack?

ADAM carries the saddle into the tack room and returns outside.

ADAM

The old fool tried to pull a gun on me.

SHELIA

(worried look)

Oh my God!

ADAM

I'm afraid things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better. Let's go to the house and have supper. After we eat, I want us all to sit down and have a talk.

SHELIA puts her arm around ADAM and the two walk the hundred yards back to their home.


FADE OUT

CUT TO

INT. KITCHEN - DUSK

ESTES(4) are gathered around the kitchen table. A few flickering candles are placed in various locations around the room to provide adaquate lighting. After eating their meal prepared on the propane grill outside, SHELIA stands to take away the dishes.

SHELIA

Now that supper is over, we want to discuss something with you both.

DANNY

Dad, when is the power going to come back on?

ADAM

I don't know son. If what I hear is true, it could be a long time.

TOMMY

Who do you think did this?

ADAM

I don't know that either. Could have been terrorist or it could have been another country. Instead of me telling you what I don't know, let me give you the facts.

ADAM stands up and walks to the center of the room.

ADAM (cont.)

Our area was most likely hit with a nuclear bomb that was exploded in the atmosphere.

TOMMY

An EMP? I saw that on an episode of 24 last year.

ADAM

Yes. Now let me just talk, Tommy.

TOMMY

Yes sir.

ADAM

Everything in our day-to-day lives is going to be haywire for a while. How long I don't know. Anything with electronic circuitry is only good for a boat anchor now.

TOMMY and DANNY grin.

ADAM (cont.)

Our lives are going to have to change but the thing you need to remember is we're still a family.

SHELIA smiles lovingly and returns from the sink to take ADAM's hand.

ADAM (cont.)

There are going to be big obstacles to overcome and we've got a lot of work that needs to be done.

DANNY

What about starting school?

SHELIA

We'll just have to wing it as far as school is concerned.

DANNY grins brightly.

ADAM

Starting tomorrow, it's a new day. Our goal for now is going to be surviving the attack.

ADAM holds up a finger to squelch TOMMY's pending question.

ADAM (cont.)

We've got to have a fresh water supply. The pressure is almost gone from the county's water tanks and our creek isn't clean enough to drink from without filtration. Our food supply in the pantry and the freezer will last for a while but after it's gone, we'll have to hunt game and fish. And lastly, we need to fortify the house.

SHELIA turns toward ADAM with a concerned look.

SHELIA

Fortify the house?

ADAM

(looking into her eyes)

Baby, I'm not going to sugar coat this to you or the kids. There are hard times ahead of us. We have it better than some since there are a good stock of the necessities on hand. We've got plenty of firewood for heat and some cooking. We've got the horses for transportation and this roof over our heads. Before long, those very things may make us a target. The people that don't have or use up what they had are the ones we need to secure the house from.

DANNY

You mean we're not going to share with our neighbors? What about Mr. and Mrs. Douglas. They're old and are going to need some help.

ADAM

Danny, we're going to help everyone we can but if this goes on for a long time, people may come in here from other areas that want what we have. And if they do, we have to be ready to protect what's ours.

TOMMY

(with a large grin)

Survival of the fittest, huh?

ADAM

No son. It's our family's survival. I don't know what's coming but we have to be ready for anything.

FADE TO BLACK


(SOUNDTRACK - Merle Haggard's'Working Man Blues' in background)

CUT TO

(short scenes during music in background)

INT. TOMMY'S BEDROOM - DAY TWO EARLY MORNING

ADAM wakes up TOMMY.
CUT TO

INT. DANNY'S BEDROOM - A FEW MINUTES LATER

ADAM wakes up DANNY.
CUT TO

INT. KITCHEN - MINUTES LATER

SHELIA handing everyone orange juice and toast made from the grill. ADAM rushing his sons out the door as they both are still dressing.
CUT TO

EXT. HORSE BARN - FEW MINUTES LATER

ADAM, TOMMY and DANNY hitch up two horses to the flatbed wagon.
CUT TO

EXT. KEILTY BUILDING SUPPLY - MID MORNING

ADAM and TOMMY load the wagon with various wood and supplies. DANNY helps SKIP load the parts to a small-scale windmill kit onto the wagon.
CUT TO

EXT. ESTES RESIDENCE - LATER THAT DAY

ESTES(4) unload the material.


CUT TO

EXT. BACKYARD - LATER THAT AFTERNOON

(shot of shovel breaking the first ground)

ADAM starts to dig the well. BOYS(2) start installing operating wood shutters on windows.
CUT TO

EXT. ESTES RESIDENCE - DAY THREE

(shot of ADAM standing in a three-foot deep by four-foot wide hole)

ADAM stops to wipe the sweat from his face with a red bandana. BOYS(2) install the remaining shutters on the doors.
CUT TO

INT. VARIOUS ROOMS IN RESIDENCE - SAME TIME

SHELIA is going from room to room placing various electronic items and small appliances in garbage bags and trash cans.
CUT TO

EXT. ESTES RESIDENCE - DAY FOUR

(shot of hole and dirt pile nearby. ADAM is not visible. Only glimpses of a shovel are seen periodically when dirt is tossed out of hole.)

CUT TO

BOYS(2) push SHELIA'S s.u.v. and ADAM'S pickup out of the garage and down a small incline away from house.


CUT TO
INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME

SHELIA is bringing in firewood and boiling water on the wood-burning stove top.
CUT TO
EXT. ESTES RESIDENCE - DAY FIVE

ADAM emerges on a ladder from the well with fresh mud on him. SHELIA is there to hug him and they kiss deeply. Her clothes are stained with the mud as they break their embrace.
CUT TO

ADAM, TOMMY and DANNY begin putting together the pieces of the small-scale windmill.
CUT TO


EXT. ESTES RESIDENCE FRONT YARD - SAME DAY

(Shot of the sun beginning to set)

FAMILY MEMBERS(4) stand arm-in-arm admiring the work that has been accomplished.

('Working Man Blues' finishes playing in the background)

FADE TO BLACK

CUT TO


EXT. HORSE BARN - AFTERNOON DAY SIX

SARAH TALLEY is exercising her horse in the round ring beside the barn. She boards the a animal at the ESTES' farm. TOMMY arrives as she is cooling the horse down.

TOMMY

Hey Talley, have a good ride?

SARAH

Yeah, Midnight is almost back to normal.

TOMMY

That was a bad wreck you two had over at the forest last month.

CUT TO

The pair walk the large black Quarter Horse into the barn. TOMMY picks up a brush and helps SARAH with the grooming.

SARAH

Well, his leg has healed nicely and a couple more weeks he should be one-hundred percent.

SARAH steps out of the stall and closes the gate behind her.

CUT TO

Walking towards the house, they both stop at the water barrel next to the windmill. TOMMY dips a cup of water and hands it to SARAH.

SARAH

Thanks. How's your family adjusting?

TOMMY

We're doing fine. How are you and your mom getting along?

SARAH

It's been a little bit of a struggle for us. She doesn't cope too well with change. Our food is holding out for now and our subdivision has a community water tank, so we're good.

TOMMY

Sort of cool not having to start school this week.

SARAH

Oh, I don't know...I kind of miss it. I was looking forward to being a freshman this year. I made the volleyball team, you know.

TOMMY

(Grinning with a sly smile)

I bet you look good in those little shorts.

SARAH

Guess I'll have to wear them when I come over next time.

CUT TO

EXT.