Cliffhanger Page #9

EXT. CABIN - DAY - THE BACK DOOR

has come open and swings in the wind. Gabe steps outside and

pulls it shut. Gabe looks down and sees tracks that lead to a

small but sturdy shed a few yards away. Gabe heads over to it.

INT. SHED - DAY

Not a storage shed at all -- it's a small workspace that

offers solid protection from the elements, is well-lit, and

whistle-clean. Maggie, in front of a table, pulls a cover off.

A LARGE PLASTIC CAGE

-- inside is a bald eagle. One of maybe 2,000 left in the

country. Its uneven feathering and small, gawky size tells us

it isn't nearly full grown. A bandage on its side tells us

it's been injured. Maggie's smile tells us it's healing.

MAGGIE:

Hey there --

The door to the shed opens -- Gabe steps in, and shuts the

door behind him. Maggie looks surprised to see him. Gabe just

looks awkward.

GABE:

Hi.

(beat)

Could you introduce us?

MAGGIE:

Sure. Gabe Walker -- this is A27.

A27 -- Gabe.

GABE:

Not the tag -- what do you call

him?

MAGGIE:

Her. I call her Lucky.

GABE:

(bends down, eyes wound)

Poachers?

(Maggie nods)

Bastards...

MAGGIE:

They got the mother -- and left this

one behind. Too small to make a decent

trophy, I guess.

GABE:

About four months, right?

(Maggie nods)

Christ -- it must have been just about

his -- I mean her -- first flight --

MAGGIE:

Time to change the dressing.

Maggie pulls on a pair of pair of cowhide gloves.

GABE:

You can't do that alone --

MAGGIE:

I've had to learn. She trust me --

Maggie reaches into the cage, but the eagle starts thrashing.

GABE:

I'm making her nervous --

(beat)

You hold her, I'll do the dressing.

Gabe finds another pair of gloves, sterile cotton pads and

alcohol in a drawer -- Maggie reaches in and grabs the eagle's

beak and talons quickly but gently, and takes it out of the

cage, holding it firm. This is clearly something they've done

many times before. They move together, tight -- Gabe and

Maggie both react to this bit of close contact as they bandage

the eagle. It's getting warmer in here. Gabe reaches down and

yanks off the patch. The eagle thrashes as Gabe cleans the

wound.

GABE:

Got some fight in her -- that's good.

(beat)

What happened to Dave?

MAGGIE:

The usual. Flew off -- never calls,

never writes --

Gabe winces at this one as he carefully tapes the small patch

and sticks it on the eagle's side. Maggie puts the eagle back

in the cage and closes the top door. Gabe and Maggie don't

move any further apart as they pull their gloves off. Gabe

tentatively reaches for Maggie's face -- but she pushes him

hand away.

MAGGIE:

I'm glad to see you, Gabe. But I kind

of wish you hadn't come. I was almost

used to you being gone.

(beat, quiet)

Why are you here?

GABE:

(pauses)

I thought I came back to see if I'd

learned to live with it. Well, big

surprise. Coming back just tore me

open all over again, like it all

happened yesterday instead of a year

ago. Nothing's changed. Including the

way I feel about you.

(beat)

I didn't realize it till I saw you at

the airport. But I came back for you,

Maggie.

MAGGIE:

Does that mean you're going to stay?

GABE:

No. Not here.

(beat)

I want you come with me. Start over,

somewhere else.

MAGGIE:

(incredulous)

You come back after being gone a year,

and you expect me to --

(beat)

You don't live here any more, Gabe.

Your choice, remember? But this is

my home. I'm not leaving. You can

stay with me, or you can go alone.

It's still your choice.

HAL (O.S.)

Now there's an easy call.

Standing in the shed's doorway is Hal. Stone faced. Grim.

OUTSIDE SHED:

Furious, Gabe heads out after Hal.

GABE:

What the hell do you want?

HAL:

(beat)

I need your help. A plane's gone down

on Comb Bluff. This storm would blow

a copter all over the place -- but we

can climb up to it.

GABE:

"We"?

(beat)

Talk to somebody who's still on the

payroll. You've got a half dozen new

guys --

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