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

ADAM

I don't see as we have any choice. Besides, all those war stories we've heard from Skip are finally starting to become usful.

BOBBY

Good luck.

ADAM lays his rifle down behind the brushpile and stands up from behind the cover. Slowly he starts walking down the hill towards the KEILTY HOME.

CUT TO

EXT. KEILTY HOME - BACK DRIVEWAY

GANG MEMBER 10 POV

GANG MEMBER 10 sees someone walking at a slow pace towards him from the tree line. Racing back a few steps to the basement door, he opens it and yells inside to rouse the sleeping group.

CUT TO

GANG MEMBER 10 aims his pistol in the direction of the approaching stranger.

GANG MEMBER 10

Just keep walking this way and keep your hands in plain sight.

ADAM arrives behind the house as SLASH and GANG MEMEBERS(8) come quickly out the basement door.

SLASH

(scanning the surrounding area as he moves within ten feet of ADAM)

Well well, what do we have here?

ADAM seemingly ignores the statement.

SLASH

(walking a couple of steps closer to ADAM)

Hey! I'm talking to you, prick!.

ADAM

I am here representing the town council. You scared a lot of people in town with that scene at the church yesterday and we heard about what you did to the sheriff and his deputies. Now the council wants you men out of here as soon as possible. I am here to offer you whatever it takes for you to pack up and leave.

SLASH

(scans the area again from left to right)

Did you come alone?

ADAM

Yes. Now what is it going to take to get all of you in these vehicles and out of here?

SLASH

(pulling his pistol from his pants and aiming it at ADAM)

First off, I'm not making any deals. If I want something, I'll take it. And second, I'm not stupid enough to think you came out here alone.

SLASH (cont.)

(cocking the pistol with his thumb)

Now tell your men to show themselves or you get the first bullet.

ADAM

All we want is for you and your men to move on.

SLASH brings his finger to the trigger.

ADAM

Alright, alright.

ADAM turns around slowly and raises his arms above his head in a crossing fashion. BOBBY and four members of the GROUP nearby him expose their locations by standing. All GANG MEMBERS (8) raise their weapons to cover the new strangers.

SLASH

(shouting to the GROUP)

Drop your guns and walk down here.

SLASH takes two more steps towards ADAM and strikes him across the face with the back of his hand. ADAM takes the blow and stands unshaken.

SLASH

Lie to me will ya?

BOBBY and the GROUP MEMBERS (4) walk slowly down the road, stopping near the rear of the vehicles.

SLASH

(recognizing BOBBY)

Hey...don't I know you? Yeah, you're the one that was running like a scared jackrabbit up the road yesterday.

BOBBY continues to look SLASH in the eyes without blinking.

SLASH (cont.)

So, this is all the town could find to send out here?

ADAM

So what is it going to take to get you to leave?

SLASH hits ADAM again but harder this time with his fist. ADAM stumbles backwards a couple of steps and then regains his footing.

SLASH

Are you deaf? What I want...I take.

From the second floor deck, the sliding glass doors open and GANG MEMBER 6 walks outside armed with a rifle. ADAM peers upward and can clearly see that SKIP is now awake .

ADAM

(speaking loudly enough for SKIP to hear)

So you don't like deal number one then?

SLASH

I've got everything I need right here. You've got nothing else to offer me.

SKIP

(yelling from inside the home)

Forty-Two...this is no time to be airing it out. All this punk understands is the smash-mouth offense.

SLASH

What the hell is he talking about?

ADAM

Skip used to be my football coach. I guess the beating you gave him must have knocked him silly. But I do have a question for you.

SLASH

I think every man should have one last request before he dies.

ADAM

How about you lay that gun down, then you and I have a go at it. But if I win, Skip and Jeanie go free and y'all get the hell out of here.

CUT TO

CLOSE UP: SLASH and ADAM

SLASH

(moving closer to ADAM)

What's in it for me?

ADAM

I guess it won't really matter because I'll probably be dead by then.

CUT TO

SLASH smiles and backs up a few steps removing his tank-top undershirt. He then motions his men to move back and gives his pistol to GANG MEMBER 2. The massive, musclar upper torso of SLASH dwarfs, ADAM's average build.


ADAM removes his camo jacket, then turns towards BOBBY lying it on the ground. Raising his eyebrows, ADAM cuts his eyes towards the vintage trucks. BOBBY responds with a slight nod.

CUT TO

CLOSE UP: As ADAM Turns Back Around, SLASH'S Fist Connects With His Jaw.

CUT TO

ADAM fall backwards to the ground, dazed and disorientated. SLASH laughs boldly and makes a hand motion for him to get up. ADAM stands up and raises his fists in a defensive posture. The GANG MEMBERS start shouting and cheering their leader on in the background.

Moving towards each other, ADAM lands a punch to SLASH'S cheek. Unfazed, the Samoan swings a round-house shot, catching ADAM in his ear and putting him on the ground again.

SLASH

Is that all you've got?

ADAM jumps to his feet and hits SLASH at his waistline with his shoulder. SLASH stumbles backwards and loses his footing with both falling in front of the GANG MEMBERS (8). ADAM begins landing blows to SLASH'S face, when GANG MEMBER 3 kicks ADAM off his downed leader. All GANG MEMBERS (8) begin yelling louder.

CUT TO

BOBBY covertly motions to the GROUP (4) to move closer to the vehicles for cover.

CUT TO

ADAM lands on his back hard and struggles to get up. SLASH dives on ADAM, pinning the smaller man's arms to the ground. Multiple punches to ADAM'S face bring him to the brink of unconsciousness. SLASH then stands to his feet, overshadowing his bloody prey.

SLASH

Just think what I'd have done to you if I had breakfast first...You lose little man.

CLOSE UP: SLASH Motions To GANG MEMBER 2 And He Throws Him The Pistol.

CUT TO

SLOW MOTION SHOT: SLASH brings the pistol in line with ADAM'S head. SLASH'S finger goes for the trigger. Suddenly a bullet pierces SLASH'S chest and he stumbles back two steps. With the gun still trained in ADAM'S direction, SLASH again regains aim and reaches for the trigger. A second shot penetrates SLASH'S forehead, picking him up off the ground slightly and he falls backwards into the now scrambling GANG MEMBERS (8).

CUT TO

REAL TIME

EXT. TREE LINE - SAME MOMENT

Almost two-hundred yards away, TOMMY looks through the scope on the Remington 7mm Magnum's rifle scope.

TOMMY

That's for Sarah you son of a bitch.

CUT TO

EXT. KEILTY HOME BACK DRIVEWAY - MOMENT LATER

BOBBBY and GROUP (4) take cover under the old trucks. Automatic weapon fire erupts from the remaining hidden GROUP (12), scattered in various locations around home. GANG MEMBERS (8) come under heavy fire and are dispatched quickly.

CUT TO

EXT. KEILTY HOME DECK ON SECOND FLOOR - SAME TIME

GANG MEMEBER 6 takes a five round blast from an automatic rifle to the chest. He falls forward and drops off the deck to the asphalt below.

CUT TO

EXT. KEILTY HOME FRONT YARD - SAME TIME

Remaining GANG MEMBERS flee out the front door of the HOME, only to find the GROUP awaiting their exit. Though some drop their weapons and raise their hands, the GROUP takes no quarter and fires until they are all dead.

CUT TO

EXT. KEILTY HOME BACK DRIVEWAY - FEW MOMENTS LATER

BOBBY helps a battered ADAM get to his feet as TOMMY runs down the hill to meet them. With both resting one of ADAM's arms on their shoulders, they help him into the KEILTY HOME.


(SOUNDTRACK - Explosions In The Sky 'Remember Me As a Time of Day' starts playing softly in the background)


CUT TO

ZOOM OUT FROM ABOVE: The scene of GANG MEMBERS' bodies scattered in the front and back yards of the KEILTY HOME.

FADE OUT


CUT TO
EXT. SUNRISE IN AN EASTERN SKY - DAY FIFTEEN

ADAM

(voice in background)

That wasn't the last group of locusts our town would have to battle. But with each passing challenge...

CUT TO

EXT. DAWSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY FIFTEEN

(shot of BOBBY in a sheriff's uniform standing outside watching the passing pedestrians.

ADAM

(voice in background)

...our new sheriff met each one head on.

CUT TO

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE

CHARLIE and IRENE DOUGLAS are standing at a snow covered grave that has an exquisitely-built wooden cross.

ADAM

(voice in background)

We lost Jasper just before Christmas. He was like so many that succumbed to the lack of medications and adequate medical care in the days to follow.

CUT TO

EXT. ESTES RESIDENCE BACK YARD - DAY TWO HUNDRED FORTY-ONE

ADAM and SHELIA are hoeing the ground as DANNY is planting seeds behind them in a new garden spot. TOMMY and SARAH can be seen in the distance sitting together on the rails of the horse pen.

ADAM

(voice in background)

Though winter is over, there's still a slight chill in the air. Skip was told that it was the Chinese government who sent the high-altitude nukes over most of the continential U.S. He figured the Chinese didn't want to wait around for repayment on all of that debt we owed them. What ever the case, they probably didn't get a chance to see the results, as our government sent several hundred ICBM's their way at the same time.

('Remember Me As a Time of Day' is abruptly replaced by the sound of a fighter jet)

(shot of a jet fighter at one-thousand feet, zooming over their heads)

ADAM (cont.)

(voice in background)

The Army has moved in now to stabilize the area.

ADAM stops the gardening work and SHELIA comes to his side. They smile while watching TOMMY and SARAH walk back from the horse barn hand-in-hand.

ADAM (cont.)

(voice in background)

Our family ties are what have held us together. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

(SOUNDTRACK - Fleetwood Mac's 'Don't Stop' starts playing in background)

ADAM (cont.)

(voice in background)

What ever it is, we'll be here to take it on...together.

FADE TO BLACK

(ending credits roll)