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

up the hill and five to circle down around the lake to get firing positions.

CUT TO

CLOSE UP SHOT AT HALF-SPEED: Sheriff Brogan And Bobby Walking Down The Road.
CUT TO

(resume full speed)

When his men are in position, SHERIFF BROGAN and BOBBY continue walking down the narrow paved-driveway to the residence. The two stop, when at about fifty-yards from the home, SLASH and GANG MEMBERS (4) walk out the basement door towards them.

CUT TO

OVERHEAD SHOT: With fity-feet separating the outlaws and the two lawmen, SHERIFF BROGAN and BOBBY stop.

('Troubled Land' ends in background)

CUT TO

SHERIFF BROGAN

 

I hear you caused quite a commotion in town this morning.

 

SLASH

 

Are you sure your jurisdiction reaches out here to the lake, sheriff?

SHERIFF BROGAN

(ignoring the question and unslinging the rifle from his shoulder)

You boys are surrounded. Now the killing is going to end right here.

 

SLASH

 

You got that all wrong. If you don't pack up and get out, the killing is just about to get started.

SLASH raises his arm and drops it quickly.

A shot in the wood adjacent to the home rings out.

SLASH (cont.)

 

You see, you're the ones surrounded. That was one of your deputies going down right there.

The SHERIFF looks to the left and right.

SLASH let's out a loud whistle and in various locations around the SHERIFF'S perimeter, he begins to see armed GANG MEMBERS appearing from different locations.

BOBBY

(whispering faintly)

What are we going to do?

 

SLASH

 

Now sheriff...in ten seconds I mean to start killing you. You got two, no...three options.

 

SHERIFF BROGAN

(calmly)

I'm listening.

SLASH

 

You can fight, you can run or you can just save us a lot of bullets and shoot yourself.

(scattered laughter from GANG)

SHERIFF BROGAN

 

I may need more time to decide.

ZOOM IN: Close Up Of SLASH'S Face.

SLASH

 

TEN!

 

NINE!

 

EIGHT!

CUT TO

BOBBY frantically turns to run. Seeing this the SHERIFF drops to a knee and shoulders the rifle. Firing at the group, BROGAN catches GANG MEMBER 7 in the leg and he goes down.

CUT TO VARIOUS SCENES OF:

The woods erupting with gunfire in all directions.

CUT TO

SLASH and the other GANG MEMBERS (3) run nearby for cover.

CUT TO

Deputies are falling all around as they are no match for the once-hidden GANG MEMBERS in the woods and by the lake.


CUT TO

BOBBY is running haphazardly up the driveway with bullets ricocheting off the asphalt, narrowly missing him.

CUT TO

SHERIFF takes a round to the arm and loses the grip on his rifle. From a prone-position, he removes his pistol with his one good hand and keeps firing until his clip is emptied. Struggling to remove another clip, he hears approaching footsteps and look up to see he is surrounded by SLASH and the GANG MEMBERS (3).

GANG MEMBER 1 kicks the SHERIFF'S pistol from his hand.

SLASH

 

You chose unwisely.

CUT TO

(shot of SHERIFF on the ground)

SHERIFF BROGAN

(wincing from his injury but grinning slightly)

Well, I won't make a good hostage.

CUT TO

SLASH raises his pistol.

SLASH

 

I don't need any more hostages.

SLASH fires the pistol three times into the SHERIFF.


CUT TO

BOBBY runs until he reaches one of the patrol trucks. He cranks it and spins around.

CUT TO

BOBBY speeds down the road back towards town.

FADE OUT

CUT TO

INT. ESTES RESIDENCE - AN HOUR AFTER SUNDOWN

Supper is interrupted by the sound of a vehicle pulling up the driveway. ADAM walks to the front door and picks up the shotgun leaning against the wall.

Quick footsteps on the front porch can be heard, followed by a heavy knocking on the metal door.

ADAM

 

Who's out there?

 

BOBBY

 

It's Bobby. Can I come in?

ADAM unlocks the deadbolt and opens the door a few inches. After seeing BOBBY is alone, he opens it fully.

ADAM

 

Come on in.

SHELIA joins the pair in the LIVING ROOM. They all sit down and BOBBY fills them in on the afternoon's events.

SHELIA

 

So all of them are dead?

 

BOBBY

(bows his head with his face in his hands)

Seems that way. I went back to town to try and get some help but most everybody is frightened.

 

ADAM

 

I knew going out there like that was a bad idea.

 

BOBBY

(raising his head up and looking at ADAM)

I thought about what you said earlier on the way back from Skip's place. My father would be ashamed of me. When the shooting started, I ran like a coward and left Brogan there by himself.

 

ADAM

 

Well Bobby, if I know your daddy, he's say, "Son...whatcha gonna do about it?"

 

BOBBY

(cracking a small smile)

Yeah, he would at that.

CUT TO

Standing up, ADAM comes to a stark realization. He places a hand on BOBBY'S shoulder.

ADAM

 

Can you give us a minute?
Shelia, I need to talk to you.

While the two resign to their bedroom. TOMMY and DANNY come from the kitchen to sit with BOBBY.


CUT TO

INT. MASTER BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

ADAM

 

Honey, there's something I have to do. It's not an easy decision and if you say no...

SHELIA moves closer and places her extended index finger on ADAM'S lips.

SHELIA

 

Skip has been like your second father since your dad passed away. I know what your thinking. The boys and I will be fine here.

 

ADAM

 

If there was any other way...

CLOSE UP: SHELIA'S Face

SHELIA

(a small tear rolls down her cheek)

But there isn't. You told us there were going to be hard times ahead. Well, I guess this is one of those times now.

 

ADAM

(wipes the tear away and pulls SHELIA in close)

Everything's is going to be fine.

 

SHELIA

(resting her head on ADAM'S shoulder, trying to hold back her emotions)

Keep saying that and I'll try and believe it.

CUT TO

The two kiss passionately and hold each other for a moment.

CUT TO

INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

ADAM and SHELIA return as BOBBY stands.

ADAM

 

What was Brogan using for an assembly alarm in town?

 

BOBBY

 

He had someone ring the big bells over at the First Baptist Church.

 

ADAM

 

Well then, I've got another question for you Mr. Johnson...You remember what Skip used to tell us before every football game?

 

BOBBY

(smiling)

I believe it was, "A challenge is not a challenge unless we meet it head on."

 

ADAM

 

It's time for a some "head on." You up to it?

BOBBY extends his hand to ADAM. With a firm grip, the two solidify the partnership.

ADAM

 

Let me grab some gear and we'll head to town.

CUT TO

TOMMY is the first to the gun case and begins to remove his deer rifle.

ADAM

 

Whoa son, where do you think you're going?

 

TOMMY

(bluntly)

This is my fight too. Did you forget Sarah?

 

ADAM

 

No I didn't but you're needed here with your mom and brother.

 

TOMMY

 

You'll need all the guns you can get. I can outshoot you...remember last deer season.

 

ADAM

(firmly)

I hope there won't be any shooting. I don't have time to argue, your place is here and that's final.

CUT TO

Dejected, TOMMY slowly places his Remmington back in its place and leaves quietly down the hallway.

CUT TO

EXT. DRIVEWAY - A FEW MINUTES LATER

BOBBY cranks the old flatbed, while ADAM and SHELIA embrace illuminated by the faint glow of it's headlights. With only a look between them and a kiss, ADAM releases his grip and jumps into the vehicle.

CUT TO

The single red tail light grows dim as the truck bounces down the driveway. SHELIA turns and walks back towards the garage.

ZOOM IN: TOMMY'S Bedroom Window

TOMMY'S solemn face is clearly seen. The mini-blinds close slowly.

FADE TO BLACK

(CHURCH BELLS RINGING LOUDLY)

CUT TO

EXT. DAWSONVILLE CITY HALL - ABOUT AN HOUR LATER

ADAM has set up several rudimentry torches outside the building. Within fifteen minutes of the alarm, two-dozen men have assembled on the town square.

BOBBY

(shouting to the GROUP)

Let me have your attention.

The GROUP quiets their talking.

BOBBY (cont.)

 

Now most of you have heard about what happend out at Skip's house this afternoon. There's a real threat to our town and at the moment, one of our own needs help.

(Quiet murmuring amongst the individuals.)

ADAM

 

We need some volunteers to help us go get Skip and Jeanie back.

 

GROUP PERSON 1

 

What about our families here? Who's gonna protect them?

 

BOBBY

(confidently)

I know you all have responsibilities here. Adam has as much to lose as anyone, yet here he is. We're only a week into this tragedy. Let me tell you men, if we don't make a stand now, it won't be long until our entire community falls to gangs like this one. Skip has given a lot to our town without ever asking for anything in return. It's time we step up and do the right thing for him.

The GROUP mulls over the words.

GROUP PERSON 1

 

You got a plan?

 

BOBBY

 

Meet us at the sheriff's office in an hour and we'll fill you in.

CUT TO

The GROUP disperses towards their homes. ADAM and BOBBY stand alone in the flickering light of the torches.

BOBBY

 

Let's go see what Brogan has locked up in the weapons room.

FADE OUT


CUT TO

EXT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - ONE HOUR LATER

Sixteen men return as volunteers, dressed in various patterns of camoflage clothing. With the headlamps of the flatbed truck for illumination, BOBBY and ADAM distribute fully-automatic assault rifles and ammunition comandeered from the weapons room to the GROUP.

CUT TO

EXT. FLATBED TRUCK - LATER IN THE NIGHT

Faint patches of moonlight reveal the GROUP sitting in the back of the vehicle as it bounces along the road towards the lake.

CUT TO

EXT. WOODS ADJACENT TO KEILTY RESIDENCE - A FEW HOURS BEFORE DAYBREAK

The men fan out through the woods to take positions surrounding the home. ADAM and BOBBY take cover on a steep hill about one-hundred yards from the basement door.

BOBBY

 

Can you see anything through the binoculars?

 

ADAM

 

No, the moon is throwing too many shadows.

FADE OUT


CUT TO

INT. KEILTY HOME BASEMENT - DAY TEN AT DAWN

GANG MEMBER 10 stirs from his sleep. Standing and stretching, he picks up a pistol from a nearby table and walks out the basement door.

CUT TO

EXT. WOODS ADJACENT TO KEILTY HOME - MOMENTS LATER

BOBBY

 

We've got movement down there.

ADAM takes the binoculars and scans the area. The GANG MEMBER 10 walks over behind one of the old trucks and begins to urinate on the ground.

ADAM

 

They're starting to stir.

ADAM pans the binoculars up to the main floor.

(shot of Skip through a window, tied to a chair)

ADAM (cont.)

 

I see Skip through the glass sliding doors in the kitchen. He's unconscious and tied to a chair.

 

BOBBY

 

How do you know he's not asleep.

 

ADAM

 

Because I know Skip...Well I guess it's time.

 

BOBBY

 

Are you sure about this Adam...still seems pretty