Badlands Page #5

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. BILLBOARD

Kit approaches Holly's father, who is hard at work, painting

a billboard along a deserted stretch of road. Kit is eating

a peach.

KIT:

Sure is pretty.

FATHER:

What'd you come out here for?

KIT:

I wasn't aware there was any law

against it.

Kit sees that this kind of talk will not do. He is silent

for a moment, then throws the peach away.

KIT:

You know Holly... well, she means a

lot to me, sir.

Holly's father goes solemnly about his business.

KIT:

You know, before I met her, nobody

could ask me how I was doing with my

girl. Matter of fact, I didn't really

have one.

FATHER:

Is that right?

KIT:

Yeah.

Kit walks off a few paces and leans against the father's

truck.

KIT:

It okay me leaning on your Willys

here?

Holly's father does not answer.

KIT:

Listen. I got a lot of respect for

her, sir.

(pause)

That's about as good a one as I know

to tell you.

FATHER:

Well, it's not good enough.

(pause)

Just what do you think would happen

to her if she stuck around with you,

Kit? Guy like you.

KIT:

She'd get along okay. And if she

didn't, well, she could take off,

just take off, I wouldn't mind...

I'd always tell people I deserved

it.

Holly's father comes to his feet and fixes Kit in the eye.

FATHER:

You get out of here. I don't want

you hanging around any more. You

understand?

He lets these words sink in, then returns to his seat.

FATHER:

(shaking his head)

You're something.

Kit waves goodbye.

KIT:

Takes all kinds, sir.

He walks to his car, looking back once.

SERIES OF ANGLES

LONG SHOT of father at work at billboard.

Kit approaches Holly's house, collects the evening newspaper

from the sidewalk, and knocks on the front door.

Holly's father picks her up from a park outside the music

school.

Kit, when he gets no answer, enters the house.

The jeep, with Holly and her father, rumbles down a

residential street.

INT. HOLLY'S HOUSE

Kit is going through Holly's dresser, throwing her things

into a suitcase. A pistol is visible in his back pocket.

Suddenly, Holly's father appears in the dresser mirror,

standing at the end of the hall outside the bedroom.

Kit walks forward to greet him. The CAMERA DOLLIES with him.

KIT:

Hi.

FATHER:

What're you doing?

KIT:

I've got a gun here, sir. It's always

a good idea to have one around.

Kit draws the pistol. He is shaken, though he must have seen

this coming.

FATHER:

What do you think you're doing? Go

on, get out of here.

KIT:

Well, I got it all planned... and

I'm taking Holly off with me.

He looks at Holly, who has appeared on the landing, uncertain

what her reaction to all this will be.

FATHER:

Okay, boy, I'm turning you over to

the authorities.

Kit steps forward as Holly's father starts down the stairs.

KIT:

What for?

FATHER:

For coming onto my property... With

a gun.

KIT:

No, you're not either.

FATHER (O.S.)

Yeah? Why not?

KIT:

Cause I can't allow it.

Holly's father stares at him for a moment, then continues

down the stairs. Kit starts forward.

KIT:

Hey... Hey, wait a minute.

His shout arrests Holly's father at the bottom of the stairs.

KIT:

Suppose I shot you. How'd that be?

Huh?

Holly's father does not move.

KIT:

You want to hear what it sounds like?

He fires a shot into the stairs. The report is deafening in

the enclosure of the stairwell. They exchange looks. Kit's

breathing is heavy.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Holly's father turns and walks into the living room. Kit

rushes down the stairs. Holly shouts his name.

KIT:

Hey, where you going?

He fires two shots into Holly's father, who slowly sinks to

the floor. Kit unlimbers his shoulder. Holly rushes down the

stairs to her father's side.

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