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

BOBBY

Now you hold on....

ADAM

(pointing his finger at BOBBY)

You shut up and listen. You're standing on our property here. Property we worked long and hard to buy. I offered you work before because I felt sorry for you when Mr. Johnson passed away. But let's just face it, you're too damn sorry and lazy...

SHELIA

Adam...

ADAM

It's got to be said Shelia. Your daddy was a fine man Bobby. He's probably rolling in his grave right now with the way you turned out...

SHERIFF BROGAN

Mr. Estes...

ADAM

I'm not finished Sheriff. As far as me and my family goes, we'll help in any way we can, but you and your "deputy" can forget taking ANY of my property..."martial law" or not.

ADAM turns away and walks toward the house as SHELIA stands with the two men.

SHERIFF BROGAN

Mrs. Estes, we are handicapped on giving the help we need to provide the community without transportation. Your horses will go a long way in filling that need.

BOBBY

Shelia, you've got to reason with him. By putting all we have together everyone benefits. It's just the way it's going to be.

Before SHELIA can respond, ADAM walks out of the open garage door, pump-shotgun in hand.

BOBBY immediately retreats to the back of the flatbed truck, while the sheriff stands his ground.

SHERIFF BROGAN

There's no need for that Mr. Estes.

SHELIA

(Turning around and seeing ADAM approaching)

ADAM!

ADAM

Sheriff, I want you and that 'two-bit' deputy off my property.

(cycling a shell into the chamber)

ADAM (cont.)

Unlike yours Sheriff, THIS is not a voluntary request.

SHERIFF BROGAN

(calmly turns around and climbs into the driver's seat)

You're making a big mistake Adam.

Bobby opens the passenger door of the truck and quickly hops inside.

ADAM

(loud enough for the Sheriff to hear)

It's my mistake to make.

As the flatbed truck backs up and turns around in the driveway, SHELIA is struck by how ADAM has changed his demeanor. From the calm, collected husband into a fierce warrior, ready to fight for what he thought was right.

CUT TO

SHELIA puts her arms around ADAM and squeezes him tightly.

ZOOM IN: Tight Shot Of The ESTES(2)

ADAM

Everything's going to be alright.

SHELIA

I know baby.

FADE OUT


(SOUNDTRACK - Kelly Willis' 'River of Love' starts playing in the background)

CUT TO

EXT. LAKE LANIER - EARLY AFTERNOON

TOMMY and SARAH, clad in bathing suits splashing around in the water and swimming.

CUT TO

TOMMY and SARAH, jumping off a floating platform into the LAKE.

CUT TO

TOMMY and SARAH, walking out of the water onto the beach, where a blanket is spread out.

('River of Love' ends in the background as the pair collapse on the blanket.)

TOMMY

You having fun?

SARAH

Yeah, a picnic was a great idea...glad I had it.

TOMMY

I thought it was my idea?

SARAH

What...ever

They both roll over and open the backpack. TOMMY takes out some dried fruit and a quart jar of water to share.

SARAH (cont.)

Tommy, what do you think is going to happen around here?

TOMMY

I don't know. My dad says it will take a while for things to get back to normal.

SARAH

Some say it won't ever be like it used to be.

(Scooting in closer to SARAH)

TOMMY

(looking deeply into SARAH'S eyes)

Well, we're still here.

The two embrace and kiss gently.

FADE OUT

CUT TO

INT. DAWSONVILLE MAYOR'S OFFICE - SAME TIME

SHERIFF BROGAN enters the MAYOR'S office and removes his hat.

MAYOR

So, how did you do?

SHERIFF BROGAN

Not worth a damn. Most folks aren't buying into this "one for all and all for one" bit. Hell, Adam Estes ran me off his place with a shotgun.

MAYOR

We'll just have to do it without all of them then. Starting tonight, we bottle up the downtown area. No one in or out after dusk. Take your deputies and station them far enough apart to cover all the main roads.

SHERIFF BROGAN

You sure you want to do that Mayor?

MAYOR

I'm getting reports from surrounding areas that things are getting pretty tense everywhere. I can't take any chances of those locusts swooping in and taking all we have.

SHERIFF BROGAN

(turning to leave)

10-4.

CUT TO

EXT. LAKE LANIER TREE LINE OFF BEACH - SHORT TIME LATER

TOMMY

We better start heading back.

The pair of smiling teens mount up on the two horses, then pick up the trail towards the main road.

CUT TO

EXT. CROSSROADS AT GA 400 - HALF HOUR LATER

Easing the horses across the four-laned expressway, TOMMY and SARAH pull up on their reins as they cross over the highway. An uncommon sight of several vintage vehicles coming towards them on the road spurs their curosity.

TOMMY

Now there is something I haven't seen lately.

SARAH

I thought cars were dead after the EMP thing?

TOMMY

Mr. Keilty said old cars that didn't have electronic ignition would still run.

The caravan slows as they see the horses and the riders. The vehicles turn at the CROSSROADS and stop just short of the teens.

CUT TO

SLASH and some of the GANG MEMBERS(4)exit and walk over to the shoulder.

SLASH

What are you kids up to?

Wary of the strangers, both back their horses up a few steps to get more distance between them and the men.

TOMMY

We're just out for a ride.

SLASH

Are you kin or is this a little romantice journey?

GANG MEMBER 2

In these parts it maybe both.

(SLASH and GANG MEMBERS (4) laugh outloud)

TOMMY

We don't want any trouble...we're just headed home.

SLASH

We don't want any trouble either. Why don't you both just step down off those horses and let's talk a minute.

CUT TO

TOMMY turns his head from side-to-side. His horse spooks and jumps forward a bit as GANG MEMBER 3 approaches from the rear.

Leaning forward and snatching the reins, TOMMY'S horse let's out a buck-kick and connects with GANG MEMBER 3, squarely in his chest. This sends the suprised man rolling into the ditch, winded from the contact.

SLASH

(removing the handgun from his pants)

Now that will be enough of that.

TOMMY looks toward SARAH with a defeated look and they both dismount. GANG MEMBERS (2) grab TOMMY from behind and hold him. Struggling with the men to no avail, he watches as SLASH picks SARAH up over his shoulder and begins to carry her towards the Plymouth. Kicking and screaming, she is no match for the hulk of a man that has her firmly in his grasp.

TOMMY

(yelling)

SARAH!

GANG MEMBER 4 gives TOMMY a sharp shot to the stomach, doubling him over as he gasps for breath.

SARAH'S cries and screams continue as she is shoved into the large back seat of the four-door car.

CUT TO

CLOSE UP: TOMMY'S Face

A tear begins to trickle down TOMMY'S cheek as he no longer hears the cries of help from the car. TOMMY closes his eyes and bows his head.

CUT TO

After several minutes, TOMMY hears footsteps approaching. He lifts his head and sees the large, tattoed man walking in his direction. The GANG MEMBERS(2) lift TOMMY to his feet.

SLASH

(now standing at arm's-length from TOMMY)

She was good, son. I think she was a virgin too. Must have been your sister after all.

TOMMY

You bastard...

SLASH

No, I had a father...he used to beat the shit out of me when he got drunk...which was most of the time. Guess that's why I had to eventually kill him. Have you got any other women in this town a little more experienced?

TOMMY

(spitefully)

You just let me go and I'LL KILL YOU!

SLASH

Oh, I highly doubt that, junior. Anyway, I don't have time to waste on you anymore. Say good night.

SLASH rears back and catches TOMMY under the chin with a savage uppercut. The hard, swift blow renders him unconscious. The GANG MEMBERS (2) release their grip and the teen falls helplessly to the ground.

SLASH

C'mon. I think we can have some fun in this town tonight.

The men turn and leave the benumbed young man on the edge of the roadway.

GANG MEMEBER 1 pulls the barely conscious SARAH from the back seat of the Plymouth and tosses her on the pavement beside the car.

As the vehicles pull away, SARAH tries to pull her half-clothed body up but collapses again whimpering.

SARAH

(lifting her head off the hot pavement of the roadway and looking toward the ditch)

Tommy....

FADE TO BLACK


(SOUNDTRACK - Gary Allan's 'Life Ain't Always Beautiful' playing in back ground)

FADE IN

EXT. GA. 400 CROSSROADS - TEN MINUTES LATER

TOMMY awakes from the beating. He slowly sits up trying to remember what took place just moments ago.

PAN TO

SARAH lying on the pavement fifteen yards from him.

CUT TO

TOMMY rises to his feet quickly and runs to SARAH, stopping short as she slowly lifts her head. He kneels down and extends his hand to her.

ZOOM IN: SARAH Taking TOMMY's Hand.

CUT TO

SARAH rises slowy leaning on TOMMY for balance. She pauses to adjust her torn clothes. The two walk slowly back to the horses grazing in the ditch.

TOMMY

Are you OK to ride?

SARAH nods.

TOMMY helps lift her into the saddle. He takes the reins of both animals and begins to walk them down the road towards home.

ZOOM OUT: Overhead Shot Of The Teens.

The late afternoon sun is starting to set in the tops of the tree line. The pair continue on, fading into the distance.

('Life Ain't Always Beautiful' ends)

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

EXT. BASTROP FARM -JUST AFTER NIGHTFALL

Small cabin is visible only by the glimmer of an oil-lamp flickering in the main room's window.

(crickets are chirping loudly outside)

CUT TO

Vehicles can be heard approaching down a crooked, tree lined dirt road. As the Plymouth and the trucks near the cabin, they fan out and come to a stop, side-by-side. The headlights of all the vehicles brighty illuminate the rustic log structure.

(Car doors open and then close)

CUT TO

INT. BASTROP CABIN - SAME TIME

JIMMY BASTROP is a chain-smoker in his mid-sixties that lives alone. He is a mechanic by trade but makes moonshine to supplement his sparse income.

JIMMY

(runs to the closed window and yells)

Who the hell is out there?

JIMMY grabs a nearby shotgun, breeches the double-barrel to make sure it's loaded and then returns to the window.

JIMMY

(yelling through the closed window)

Is that you Brogan?

CUT TO

EXT. BASTROP CABIN - SAME TIME

SLASH

Calm down you old coot. We're here for some liquor.

CUT TO

(shot of front porch)

JIMMY opens the front door cautiously and steps onto the rickety porch, elevated two steps off ground-level, still holding the shotgun.

JIMMY

(loudly)

Where's you get them trucks?

CUT TO

(SLASH walks towards the porch slowly, ignoring the question)

SLASH

I hear in town you got the best corn liquor in these parts. Me and my men have come for a sample.

JIMMY

(coming down off porch