Online Read Free Novel
  • Home
  • Romance & Love
  • Fantasy
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery & Detective
  • Thrillers & Crime
  • Actions & Adventure
  • History & Fiction
  • Horror
  • Western
  • Humor

    counterpane

    Page 7
    Prev Next

    JEAN    

      (moving to Tommy)    

      I know it's not fun, Tommy, but you need    

      discipline and balance. You're older now.

          

      She sits down beside him and rubs his curly locks.

          

      TOMMY    

      Jeanny, what's balance?

          

      JEAN    

      You may be to young to understand this.     

      Balance means keeping things in perspective.    

      Life is series of opposing forces. ヘ   

      The more experience you have  

      the better able you are to deal with them.

          

      TOMMY    

      Oh, I see. Balance comes with experience     

      and experience comes with mileage.

          

      JEAN    

      (laughing)    

      Something like that.     

      (pats his head again)      

      Balance is something we all could use     

      a little more of.

      TOMMY    

      (looking up to her eyes)    

      You know Jeanny, you're the only person    

      who ever explains anything to me.

          

      A LONG SHOT FROM THE TOP OF THE WATER, OF DAVID'S RAFT, IN ヘ  

      MOONLIGHT, LONELY AND DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENTS.

          

      The storm has let up, not another raft is in sight. David, worn from the storm, pulls the raftless rope in and -

          

      EXAMINES THE WAY THE ROPE HAS BEEN CLEANLY CUT, -

          

      and then gives a predetermined code whistle, but there is no answer. Joe is impassive.

          

      DAVID    

      I knew it. I felt it in my bones.

          

      THE SUBJECTIVE CAMERA UNDERWATER (AS AN ENEMY FROGMAN) -

          

      looms up towards the dark bottom of the raft with it's two paddles breaking the water in rapid strokes. A knife blade flashes in the f.g. corner SCREEN.

          

      JOE    

      They could of gotten lost     

      in the storm.

          

      DAVID    

      I don't think so.

          

      The raft slowly deflates. The HISS of escaping air grows louder.

          

      THE SUBJECTIVE CAMERA IS HALF IN AND HALF OUT OF THE WATER -

          

      as Joe trying to keep his balance on the rapidly sinking raft, fires rapidly at THE CAMERA. David stays low and removes his shoes and clothes.

          

      JOE    

      They're all around us, Bubba.

          

      A BULLET SPLASHES DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE SUBJECTIVE CAMERA.    

      and there is a GROAN.

          

      JOE    

      Ya-hoo. I got one.

          

      A DIVER FIRES A SPEAR GUN BEHIND JOE, -

          

      and he bends forward, hit in the back and slumps into David's arms in the sinking raft.

      JOE    

      David, you'll --

          

      DAVID    

      Don't talk, save your --

          

      JOE    

      (sweetly)    

      Take care of Maria.     

      and my kid.    

      Remember your prom.

          

      David nods as Joe dies in his arms. David silently slips off the remains of the raft into the water.

          

      DAVID DIVES TOWARD THE SINKING BODY OF THE DIVER, THAT JOE SHOT.

          

      THE OTHER DIVER, - sees that David is now under water and goes after him as -

          

      DAVID, -

         

      now quickly swims as fast as he can to the body of the dead diver as -

          

      THE OTHER DIVER -

          

      closes in on him and fires his spear, which grazes by David's ear as -

        

      DAVID -

       

      reaches the body of the dead diver and uses it as a shield for another spear gun barrage. David's face is dark from lack of oxygen and -

          

      THE OTHER SPEAR GUN RESTS FAR BELOW, ON THE BOTTOM.   

          

      DAVID -

        

      takes a quick breath from the dead diver's regulator and then moves toward the bottom and the spear gun as -

          

      THE OTHER DIVER -

          

      takes his last shot, misses and moves forward knife in hand. ヘ

         

      DAVID AT THE BOTTOM - picks up the spear gun, and as -

      THE OTHER DIVER, LUNGES, -

          

      he receives David's shot in the chest.

          

      DAVID'S HOUSE, TOMMY'S ROOM.

          

      The partially completed "bomb" has now been moved to a corner as Tommy scrapes -

          

      THE RADIUM FROM VARIOUS WATCH DIALS -

          

      and there is a knock on the door.

      JEAN    

      Tommy, Manny and Rosy are here.

          

      TOMMY 

           (moving to the door, rapidly)    

      Oh great!

          

      Tommy "secretly" opens and closes the door, then runs towards Rosy, but Manny, now completely healed, intercepts and tosses him high in the air, then drops him gingerly.

          

      MANNY    

      Tomasito.

          

      TOMMY    

      I'm glad you guys are here.     

      There's no one around to play with.

          

      MANNY    

      Hey Tomasito, Rosy cooked your favorite.

          

      TOMMY    

      (mouth watering)    

      Tamales and empaner-diters.

          

      MANNY   

      Empanaditas? Si, practica, Tomasito.

          

      ROSY    

      Oh Manny, we only see the boy once     

      a week. That's not often enough    

      for him to learn Spanish.    

      (beat)    

      Come Tommy, help me get these ready.     

      (to Jean)    

      Is that all right wi
    th you Jean?

          

      JEAN    

      All right? It's a pleasure.

          

      They move toward the kitchen but Tommy lingers and grabs Manny by the hand and pulls him towards his bedroom.

          

      TOMMY    

      Excuse me. Excuse me.

           (getting attention)    

      I have to ask Manny some questions.    

      We'll be back in a minute.

          

      MANNY    

      Why so serious, little one?

          

      Tommy opens the door to his room and closes it secretively, whispering:

          

      TOMMY    

      You and my dad work for the same company    

      don't you?

          

      Manny acknowledges Tommy with a nod.

          

      TOMMY    

      Do you know where I can get    

      some uranium?

          

      MANNY    

      (astounded)    

      What do you need uranium for?

          

      TOMMY    

      I'm building a present for my dad.     

      I tried scraping radium off of watch dials,    

      but I can't get enough. so I went to the     

      library and found out that I need uranium.

          

      MANNY    

      What are you building?

          

      Tommy proudly points to the corner of the room. The nuclear device, almost completed, pulsates between two mountains on the train layout.

          

      TOMMY    

      Isn't it neat?    

      It's a nuclear device. Dad     

      needs it in his work.

          

      Tommy hands the Top Secret Document from the briefcase to Manny, who almost faints at the sight of it.

          

      MANNY    

      A WHAT?.     

      Where did you get this paper?

      TOMMY    

      From my dad's briefcase.

          

      MANNY    

      You opened your dad's briefcase?

          

      TOMMY    

      (sheepishly)    

      I was trying to do something nice    

      for him, so that he would -- would love me.    

      (Tommy's head drops)    

          

      Manny moves closer to the boy, puts his arm around him and looks at the secret papers, shaking his head.

          

      MANNY    

      You've put your father in    

      danger, son. I know you didn't    

      mean to, but --

          

      Tommy breaks into tears and Manny hugs him.   

          

      MANNY (cont'd)    

      Your daddy loves you and you know     

      that Rosy and I do too.

          

      Manny looks at the papers and shakes his head. ヘ

          

      THE EARLY MORNING - DAVID SWIMMING QUICKLY.

          

      He discards the borrowed air tank. In the distance -

          

      THE SUBMARINE -

          

      waits patiently for the commandos to return.

          

      DAVID -

        

      striving for speed, discards his remaining clothing and the spear gun. The sub's engines start and as he nears the sub, it slowly moves.

          

      THE CONNING TOWER OF THE U.S. SUBMARINE, -

          

      where a lone SEAMAN keeps watch.

          

      SUB COMMANDER V.O.    

      (on loud speaker)    

      Anything yet?

      SEAMAN     

      (into speaking tube)    

      No more rafts in sight, Sir.

      COMMANDER V.O.    

      All right, prepare to dive.

          

      The diving klaxon SHATTERS the waterscape. David, swims like mad and AD LIBS pleas "to wait" as the sub dives under the surface just in front of him. David traces the sun's path with his finger and then slowly and methodically starts a slow swim pace in the opposite direction. In the far b.g., a shark's fin breaks the surface.

          

      LATER IN TIME,-

          

      David swims at an even slower pace. The hot afternoon sun beats ヘon his brow. Flying fish whizz past his head and -

          

      SOMETHING BUMPS HIM -

          

      from underneath, almost throwing him out of the water.

          

      A SHARK FIN BREAKS THE SURFACE -

          

      and moves around David, curious. David grabs his knife, puts it in his teeth and pushes his swimming to the limit. To his rear and unseen by David a -

          

      MILITARY HELICOPTER - ヘ

         

      crosses his trail, hesitates, then flies on. ヘ  

     

          

      DAVID'S HOUSE

          

      The kitchen phone rings and Jean, Manny and Rosy are finishing supper in the dining room. Tommy, red eyed from crying, races past them as Jean rises from the table.

          

      TOMMY    

      I'll get it, I'll get it

          

      MANNY    

      (catching Tommy as he passes)    

      Wait, Tommy. Did you take that     

      thing apart?.

          

      TOMMY    

      It's in the trash.

          

      Tommy reaches the phone on the third ring, fumbles and then picks up the receiver as Jean moves into the room.

      TOMMY    

      Hello. No, but this is Thomas Carson.    

      Mr. Benson?     

      (pause for unheard dialogue)    

      Miss Morrow is here, sir.     

      Yes Mr. Benson.

          

      The boy hands Jean the phone.

          

      TOMMY    

      It's Mr. Benson from Washington.     

      He wants to talk to a grownup.

          

      JEAN    


      Jean Morrow here.     

      (long beat)    

      I see. Yes.    

      (beat)    

      No. I'll take care of it.

          

      Jean hangs up slowly, looks at everyone, then at Tommy.

          

      JEAN    

      It's your father, Tommy. He's missing.

          

      Tommy sobs uncontrollably as Jean moves to his side.

          

      TOMMY    

      My Daddy's missing and it's all my fault.

          

      Jean bends and gathers Tommy in her arms.

          

      JEAN    

      Don't say that, Tommy. Of course it    

      isn't your fault.

          

      TOMMY    

      It is too! I took his papers.

          

      IN THE DINING ROOM -

          

      where Manny and Rosy are finishing dinner and discussing Tommy.

     

          

      ROSY    

      I think Jean could use my    

      help. It would give her more     

      time to - -     

     

               Tommy runs into the dining room sobbing.

          

      TOMMY    

      Manny, my daddy - he's missing!

          

      DAVID IN THE WATER AT DUSK –

      as the shark has now left and a group of friendly porpoises play around David's painfully slow swim. A sailboat sails against the sunset far in the distance and David uses his last  

      energies to try and hail it.

              

      BENSON'S OFFICE AT LANGLEY -

          

      where Manny sits across the desk and they discuss David's disappearance.     

     

      MANNY    

      You know damn well those guys may still be    

      alive. What happens next?

          

      Benson shrugs delicately, examines his fingernails.

          

      BENSON    

      Nothing, Ramirez.     

      (beat)    

      We're doing what we can.     

      Given the circumstances.

          

      MANNY    

      (sarcastically mimicking)    

      "Given the circumstances", I'm    

      going down there.

          

      BENSON    

      (smoothly)    

      No you're not. You're going to Berlin.    

      (eyes down at papers)    

      Seven-Three-Oh twelve hundred.

          

      Manny flushes in anger, rises, stands over Benson's desk, and sweeps the papers off the desk.     

          

      MANNY    

      Don't "Oh twelve hundred" me ,    

      you little suck - up. I know where so     

      many bones are buried I'll make you    

      a graveyard. You'd hire the devil    

      if he'd suit your purposes.

      Benson taps his pencil in a staccato. ヘ

         

      MANNY (cont'd)     

      Your Capitan friend we wasted down there.    

      the big anti - Communist - does the Chief    

      know that he snatched those hostages?    

      The press - not to mention your buddies on    

      the Hill would love that.and what about     

      the drugs.

      BENSON    

         (trying to bluff it out)    

      You're speculating, Ramirez.

          

      MANNY    

      Try me, tiger.    

         (as though remembering)    

      The Sherry Lynn thing out on the Coast.

                You terminated her career.

      If Carson's really gone,     

      and that got out --

     

           BENSON    

      Carson's Oh Dee'd, .He's a madman,     

      Ramirez. You know that.    

        (beat, then shrugging)    

      If you want to have a look, go ahead.    

      But you damm well are on your own.

          

      MANNY    

      Where did the raid originate?

          

      Benson points at the wall map.

          

      INSERT: A MAP OF THE CARIBBEAN

      THE CAMERA MOVES TO A TINY SPOT; THE ISLAND OF DRY TORTUGA.

          

      EARLY MORNING, -

          

      where David lies at the edge of the surf in front of an old Spanish colonial, brick fort that covers the whole island.

          

      DAVID MOVES -

      his head, then falls back as COMMANDANTE UNO, a tall, imposing     

      man wearing riding boots and an SS style cap moves toward him, flicking a riding crop and holding a large Doberman on a leash. He is followed by two SOLDIERS.

          

      DAVID struggles up as far as the -

          

      RIDING BOOTS AND THE GROWLING DOBERMAN -

          

      COMANDANTE UNO    

      Ah, Mr. Carson. We've been     

      expecting you.

          

      DAVID    

      (then mutters weakly)    

      Some water --

          

      The Comandante easily rolls him over with his boot, then pulls  the waterproof envelope from Carson's clothing. He tosses  David's pill box into the sea as David watches in anguish.

      COMANDANTE UNO    

      You won't need those, Mr. Carson.    

      Take him away and get some life    

      back into him. After all we can't     

      mistreat our guests.

          

      The soldiers pick up David and move toward the Fort as -

          

      THE DOBERMAN GROWLS -

          

      and then nuzzles up to the Comandante’ who twists and lights a Russian cigarette, then walks slowly toward the fort, where a lone SEAMAN keeps watch.

     


    Prev Next
Online Read Free Novel Copyright 2016 - 2025