Ace Wonder: Message from a Dead Man Page #4

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My point is, he had a problem.

All right, we need to find

the missing wood pieces.

Oh, Derek, wait... take this.

Could come in handy.

If you find anything,

let me know.

GATOR (ON RADIO):

Hello! Can you hear me?

Yes, I can hear you!

You have to answer me

over the radio.

Yes, I can hear you.

Please limit the radio

usage to emergencies.

( ENGINE STARTS)

It's getting dark. I think

we're gonna head back, too.

Don't stay out here too late.

Yeah, thanks.

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

Isn't that DeWhitt's car?

What's he doing here?

Oh, there you are! You need to

get packed. We're leaving first thing in the morning.

What?! Where?

We're going home!

Who's going to take care

of the bed 'n breakfast?

Marcus made an offer on the

property...

and he said we can leave

everything as it is until we get back.

Anyway, we're leaving at 8:00.

What about the Moores? Are we

just gonna leave them here?

Bobby John's already got the rig

fixed. We can get an early start in the morning.

Now if you see anything

in there that you'd like to have changed...

we can have it revised

right away.

No, no, this looks fine.

Wait! Don't sign that!

What?

I said don't sign that.

Don't don't sign anything.

You mind giving us

some kind of explanation?

Look, I'm too close to figuring

this out. We can not leave yet.

Well, you better get to figuring

it out, because you don't have much time--

Dad!

You're not listening to me.

Hey!

( RUSTLING)

( RUSTLING CONTINUES)

Hello?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Agh!

What is your problem?

Dad, we deciphered

the gibberish clue...

and one of Grandpa's friends

called The Pen, betrayed him.

The Pen?

It's a code name.

The Pen was part

of Grandpa's secret project.

Derek, can you hear

yourself right now?

You are completely obsessed

with this thing, and that's a problem!

And you're not...

and that's a problem!

Look! Look, I care

more than you think...

but I got responsibilities...

and they're not here.

Dad, you can't sign

these--

It's not your call, Derek!

Now go get packed and get

some sleep. You need it.

Jim, if you'd like to take some

more time to think this over--

No, I'm doing this now.

Thank you, Jim,

It's been a pleasure.

I've got a message

for you, boy.

Now you listen to me,

and you listen well...

you-- you little detective

person, you!

Just call me Ace.

Ace? Well then, Ace...

I've come to warn you.

You stay away from James

Morton's treasure!

Yeah, you've been poking your

little nose too deep...

into places where your little

nose is most unwelcome!

You see, this treasure has

a purpose far beyond your ability to understand.

I mean, do you understand?

I think so.

Excellent. Excellent.

So do you want me to deliver

this message to Derek as well?

No! No, no, no! No one must

know that we-- we have spoken!

This--this is supposed

to be our little secret!

You see, if... if... if my

identity were revealed, it would, well, it could...

it might...

ruin everything, and--

Why am I having this

conversation, with--

I mean, how old are you? Nine?

Ten, actually.

Mm, yeah.

Now you be careful now you

don't blunder around, yes?

And make things any more

difficult for me than they already are? Hey? Yes..

GATOR (ON RADIO):

Derek, you awake? Derek?

Yeah, I'm here.

Ah ha! I knew these would come

in handy. Look! I know the secret identity of The Pen!

Yeah, I know. I tried to stop

it, but I was too late.

Yeah. wait, what?

DeWhitt, he bought the house.

We're leaving in the morning.

This whole thing is over.

Oh, this is great!

Look, Logan stopped me in the

woods to warn me to keep away from the treasure.

what if he's the Pen?!

Logan?

So, DeWhitt's The Pocket.

No, it could be either

of them.

we can't afford

to rule anyone out.

If I could get online,

I could dig up some information on the both of them.

Can't sleep?

Something like that.

You okay?

Yeah, it's just this

thing with Derek.

It seems like he's on

a self-destruct mission.

He's heading down a bad road.

Have you talked to him

about it?

He won't listen.

It's worth a try.

Derek?

Hey, um, I just want to talk

with you. I know it's been a little tough on you this week...

and, well,

I just want to talk.

Derek?

(OMINOUS MUSIC FADES UP)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(GLASS BULB SMASHES)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC FADES UP)

( POLICE SIRENS APPROACHING)

Hey, hey, hey!

I said stop!

I have permission

from the owner.

Right, that's why you broke

through the window and ran when I said stop.

Come on, let's go.

You don't understand.

(CELL DOOR SLAMS)

(STEPS APPROACHING)

Your dad'll be here in a few

minutes to pick you up.

Said he'll cover the damages.

Michelle tells me you stopped by

the house earlier today.

Said you seem like a good kid.

I used to know your dad

pretty well.

Haven't talked to him

in... years.

You remind me of him.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Log:
The question still remains,

what is James Morton's secret?

What is the treasure? What

is he afraid of The Pen finding?

You gonna stay awake all night?

This is my first real case.

I don't really want to launch

my career as a failure.

You Jim Morton?

Yeah.

Deputy Billings.

Uh, it's Sheriff now.

Good to see you, Jim.

I'm sorry about this.

Uh, it looks like he's

a chip off the old block.

Get in the car.

Good night, Sheriff.

Jim... just don't forget

about those nights that you spent here.

It's all I can think about.

Good night.

( ENGINE STARTS)

Long night?

Yeah, you could say that.

What time is your flight

in the morning?

Check in is 9:
00, but we need

to roll out of here about 8:00.

Okay, we can be out

of your hair by 6:30.

Na, there's no rush. You guys

take all the time you need.

Marcus is pretty relaxed,

he won't mind.

You know, I don't even feel like

I sold the place, with Marcus taking care of it.

I just don't see why Derek

is so opposed to it.

Dad was like that.

Latch on to an idea like

a pit bull and never let go.

Maybe Derek's afraid he's losing

his connection to the past.

You know, first his grandfather,

and then this home.

There's a lot of history

in these walls.

You know, I'm a good dad...

I am.

It's just... you know, when I

look in Derek's eyes, I-- I--

I--I don't see hate there,

I just don't see love.

What does he see when

he looks in your eyes?

He never looks.

Well, goodnight, Jim.

I'll see you in the morning.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Jim, thanks for your

hospitality.

You guys have a safe flight.

We will.

Um, sorry you never got

to finish your story.

That's okay, nowadays, I

wouldn't have a realistic chance of getting it published anyways.

Come on, Gator,

let's go, honey.

I haven't given up. If I find

anything, I'll let you know.

( ENGINE STARTS)

Mary, you and Audrey finish up

breakfast.

Derek and I will grab the bags,

and be right back.

(SOFT MUSIC FADES UP)

You ready?

Not really.

Yeah.

Derek, we need to talk.

I know the last couple days

have been pretty hard on you.

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