Arctic Blue Page #19

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ERIC:

We're moving. Let's go.

As they exit, Corbett's sardonic look makes Anne Marie

shiver.

168 INT. RENTAL CABIN

The ten-by-ten cabin is furnished with two sagging cots, a

beat-up color TV set, a cookstove and a half-drum heat

stove. Built into the rear wall is a rustic dumb waiter

that once lowered perishables into the icy waters of a

now-dry stream.

Eric checks his watch. 6:15 AM. He bolts the door and

blocks the windows, opening one enough to let sound in from

outside. He extinguishes the Benman lantern and douses the

fire in the heat stove so no smoke will emit from the

chimney. Anne Marie slumps into the corner next to the dumb

waiter.

ERIC:

You'll catch a chill by that dumb

waiter shaft. Sit on the cot.

(hands her the .44)

Keep this pointed at him if I get

preoccupied.

(CONTINUED)

168 CONTINUED:

Anne Marie reluctantly takes the huge gun. Trying to allay

her fears, Eric sits and brushes the hair from her face.

Corbett intently watches them. Before he can say anything,

Eric shoots him a cold look. Corbett stays quiet.

169 EXT. / INT. DEVIL'S CAULDRON - VARIOUS ANGLES - DAY

A pall hangs over the town. People know to stay inside.

Time crawls by.

In his house, Neff, for once, has his TV turned off. He

tries to read and listens for sounds outside.

In the spa, water DRIPS somewhere. All the stalls are

empty.

In his sod house, Kenai looks out his one tiny window at the

curtain of snow. Dixie comes up behind him and puts her

hands on his shoulders. He looks up at her, glum.

In Wilder's empty cabin, his belongings are scattered about

as if expecting his imminent return.

In the rental cabin, Eric checks his watch. 10:45 AM.

170 EXT. DEVIL'S CAULDRON - NEAR WILDER'S CABIN - DAY

The sound of a MOTOR grows in volume, then abruptly ceases.

The trappers' jeep APPEARS in the snowfall on the road into

town. It coasts quietly in and stops behind the cover of a

woodpile across from Wilder's cabin.

The trappers get out of the jeep. LeMalle has Eric's

Remington, Mitchell has his Peacemaker, and Viking Bob

carries LeMalle's old carbine. Mitchell spits. It's so

cold outside that the spittle freezes and CRACKS before it

hits the ground.

They fan out and approach Wilder's cabin.

ANGLE WITH TRAPPERS

The cabin comes more clearly into view as the trappers move

closer. There is no sign of life. Viking Bob gestures for

the others, now positioned on either side of the cabin, to

crouch down for cover.

VIKING BOB:

(calls out)

Ben? Ben Corbett?

No response. Carbine held at his hip, Viking Bob walks up

to the door and, with a mighty kick, BREAKS it in.

(CONTINUED)

170 CONTINUED:

REVERSE ANGLE - THROUGH WILDER'S CABIN DOOR

Viking Bob points the carbine at an empty room. He notices,

however, Corbett's duffel bag on the floor of the cell.

171 EXT. DEVIL'S CAULDRON

The trappers march through town like an advancing army,

looking for some sign of Corbett. LeMalle stops to dig

through his pockets for some food. All he comes up with is

the stump of a candy bar. Viking Bob looks at him

impatiently.

VIKING BOB:

Look, we pull Ben's ass out of

the fire, I'll get you a whole

damn crate of Snickers bars.

LEMALLE:

(insulted)

I'm right f***in' here with you.

To prove his point, LeMalle trots from dwelling to dwelling,

looking through windows and letting himself in through any

unlocked door. This proves fruitless, so he lets out a

frustrated YELL. Pointing the Remington skyward, he lets

off a couple thunderous SHOTS that ECHO back off the

foothills.

172 INT. RENTAL CABIN

Hearing the shots, Eric pushes Anne Marie against the floor.

Cautioning her to stay put, he crawls to the window and

tries to see through the snowfall. After a moment of

silence, from outside, not too far away:

LEMALLE (OS)

Ben! Speak out before I torch

every dump in town!

Eric points the magnum at Corbett.

ERIC:

Answer and I'll shoot!

CORBETT:

You kill me, you sign your death

warrant.

(re Anne Marie)

And hers.

173 EXT. DEVIL'S CAULDRON - NEAR MAQI

Viking Bob and Mitchell come running over to LeMalle.

LeMalle fires another couple SHOTS for emphasis.

LEMALLE:

(calls out)

You hear me? Ben?

VIKING BOB:

(to LeMalle)

Ease off. We do this my way.

He and the others strain their ears for a clue.

VIKING BOB:

(continuing; calls out)

Whoever's holding Ben Corbett,

listen to me:
we just want to

know he's okay. He is, nobody

gets hurt.

174 INT. RENTAL CABIN

His mind racing, Eric stares at Corbett. Despite the

freezing temperature of the room, he's sweating.

CORBETT:

They know I'm here. I don't say

something, they'll plow this town

under. You willing to accept

that responsibility?

Setting his resolve, Eric drags Corbett to the window. He

pushes the barrel of the magnum against Corbett's cheek.

ERIC:

Say you're okay. Tell them I'll

kill you if they rush us.

Anne Marie bites her lip and tries to maintain a brave

front. Despite the gun in his face, Corbett remains calm.

CORBETT:

(shouts through window)

Bob?

175 EXT. DEVIL'S CAULDRON - NEAR MAQI

Hearing Corbett's voice, the trappers spin around, trying to

ascertain its direction.

CORBETT (OS)

Relax. I got a nervous man here

with a magnum up my nose.

(CONTINUED)

175 CONTINUED:

The trappers follow his VOICE toward the rental cabins.

VIKING BOB:

You in one piece?

CORBETT (OS)

I'm fine. Look forward to seeing

you...

VIKING BOB:

Count on it.

176 INT. RENTAL CABIN

Eric pulls Corbett away from the window. He shoots a look

at Anne Marie. They're in a bind and she knows it.

177 EXT. DEVIL'S CAULDRON - NEAR MAQI

LeMalle grabs Viking Bob's arm.

LEMALLE:

(to Viking Bob)

Sweet-talk won't get sh*t.

(calls out)

Choose it, asswipe -- cut Corbett

loose, or soon as you come

outside, I put a f***in' bullet

through your eye!

178 INT. RENTAL CABIN

Eric glances at Corbett, whose grim look certifies LeMalle's

boast.

CORBETT:

Snow's to their advantage, kid.

You can't see them, but soon as

that plane comes, they'll sure as

hell know where we're going.

Wise up. Take me to the Yukon.

I'll give you that money and

guarantee you'll walk away.

ERIC:

Why offer a buyoff with your

gunmen waiting outside?

CORBETT:

The time has passed for men like

them and me. I know it. But

they're still fighting for

survival, like cornered animals.

That's why they'll kill you.

-more-

(CONTINUED)

178 CONTINUED:

CORBETT (Cont'd)

(smiles)

Be rude to let that happen after

you kept me from freezing back

there.

Anne Marie tries to hide how tempted she is by Corbett's

offer.

ANNE MARIE:

(to Eric)

He's right about the snow. We're

blind.

Eric sighs -- is she against him, too? From outside:

VIKING BOB (OS)

Ben?

The trappers are obviously much closer. Eric signals to

Corbett not to answer.

NEW ANGLE:

Eric and Corbett face the window. They don't notice as Anne

Marie quietly shimmies outside through the narrow dumb

waiter shaft to the back of the rental cabin. Eric turns,

gasping as he realizes she's gone. Corbett smiles

sardonically.

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