Hard Rain Page #3

CHARLIE:

Goddammit!

TOM:

It's a little dip in the road or

something. You can see the reflectors

come up the other side.

CHARLIE:

(curses to himself)

I knew this would happen.

(grabs radio mike)

TOM:

I'll see if there's anyone coming.

Maybe we can get pulled out.

Tom opens the door. Charlie adjusts the radio frequency

selection button; clicks on.

CHARLIE:

Dispatch, this is 31. 31 calling

dispatch.

DISPATCHER (V.O.)

(over radio)

31, this is dispatch.

CHARLIE:

(into radio)

Dispatch, we're stuck outside of

Huntingburg. Truck's dead.

DISPATCHER (V.O.)

Where are you?

CHARLIE:

We're on 231, headed for the

Interstate. Right by a sign saying

"Welcome to Huntingburg."

Tom climbs out and up on top of the truck.

OUTSIDE THE TRUCK

Tom stands on top of the truck. In one direction, nothing

but blackness. The other way he can see the lights of the

town. But there are no cars coming.

IN THE TRUCK:

Charlie looks over as Tom appears, upside-down, in the

doorway.

TOM:

The town's been evacuated. We won't

get any help from there.

CHARLIE:

Dispatch can't get anyone out.

TOM:

They are aware we're carrying a

shitload of money...?

CHARLIE:

They called the National Guard.

They're gonna be here in about ninety

minutes.

TOM:

Ninety minutes? Jesus.

CHARLIE:

(nods; into radio)

Dispatch, we're gonna need help a

little sooner than --

There's a sudden sparking sound and the radio cuts out and

interior lights and the headlights go out.

TOM:

Oh, sh*t.

INT. HOUSE - DUSK POV THROUGH WINDOW

Looking out as the Sheriff's car rolls past on the water-

covered street. A HAND lets go of a curtain and it swings

across the window.

EXT. STREET - DUSK IN THE SHERIFF'S CAR

The Sheriff motions Wayne to stop the car, then he grabs the

radio mike and clicks it on as a megaphone.

SHERIFF:

(into mike)

Henry, I saw you. Come on out.

No one comes out of the house.

SHERIFF:

Henry, I'm not leaving until you

come out.

A few moments pass and then...

HENRY AND DOREEN SWERZKY

Late 70s, step out onto their porch.

DOREEN:

Jesus H. Christ, Henry, I told you

to stay away from the damn window.

THE SHERIFF:

Gets out of the car.

SHERIFF:

What are you still doing here?

HENRY:

We're just --

DOREEN:

We're setting traps.

SHERIFF:

That's illegal, Doreen.

DOREEN:

You gonna arrest us, Sheriff? Hell,

are you even sheriff anymore, Sheriff?

Didn't you lose an election? I sure

as hell know I didn't vote for you,

and neither did Henry.

HENRY:

Doreen...

SHERIFF:

You don't need to set traps.

DOREEN:

That's what they said in '73. When

we got back, anything the bastards

didn't steal they broke, just for

the hell of it.

SHERIFF:

That's not happening this time.

DOREEN:

Damn right it's not.

SHERIFF:

You can't stay, you know that.

HENRY:

We're going to my sister's.

SHERIFF:

Good.

DOREEN:

Soon as we finish setting the traps.

The Sheriff wants to say something more, but he's not about

to argue with Doreen. He just nods and gets back into the

car.

IN THE CAR:

The Sheriff climbs back in. He and Wayne watch Henry and

Doreen go back into the house, Doreen still nagging at Henry.

SHERIFF:

God'll understand if you have to

drown her in the basement, Henry.

The Sheriff sighs, nods to Wayne. Wayne puts the car in gear.

EXT. ARMORED TRUCK - NIGHT

The water is creeping up the sloping hood of the truck.

CHARLIE:

We gotta get out of here.

TOM:

What about the money?

CHARLIE:

The money's safe; we're not. Water

rose about a foot in the last twenty

minutes. The National Guard isn't

going to be here for another hour.

You do the math.

Tom shrugs -- Charlie's right. They're about to get out when

light washes up on them. They look out to see...

THE HEADLIGHTS OF A GMC SUBURBAN

Approaching on the other side of the dip, a quarter-mile

away.

CHARLIE AND TOM:

Look at each other then get out of the truck.

THE SUBURBAN:

Stops on the far side of the dip -- a hundred yards away.

The headlights shine across the water. Doors open and MEN

get out.

TOM AND CHARLIE:

Come around the front of the truck. They can't see through

the glare of the Suburban's bright headlights.

CHARLIE:

Hello!

MAN'S VOICE

You okay? You stuck?

CHARLIE:

Yes!

MAN'S VOICE

We'll see if we can get you out!

We'll be right over!

Charlie looks at Tom, relieved.

CHARLIE:

Looks like we might just --

THE SUBURBAN:

Headlights go on high beam.

CHARLIE AND TOM:

Squint, blinded by the high beams.

TOM:

Why'd they do that?

CHARLIE:

Probably so they can see better.

TOM:

Or so we can't see at all.

Charlie looks at him -- what does he mean? Tom puts his hand

on his pistol.

IN THE WATER:

Assembled by the Suburban are...

JIM AND HIS MEN:

All holding guns. He speaks to them quietly.

JIM:

This is my retirement fund, boys,

and if any one of you screws up, I

swear to God I'll kill you. Let's

go.

They start wading down into the dip in the road. Kenny carries

a rifle.

TOM AND CHARLIE:

Tom squints through the bright light.

CHARLIE:

Company dispatch and the National

Guard are the only ones who know

we're here.

TOM:

Anyone with a scanner from Radio

Shack could've intercepted your call,

Charlie.

CHARLIE:

(realizes)

Jesus.

TOM:

(to Jim and men)

Could you turn down your lights?!

JIM:

We're bringing a rope!

TOM:

Turn down your lights!

JIM:

We'll be right there!

Tom starts to pull his gun.

KENNY:

is fired up on adrenalin. He has his rifle up and is aiming

it.

HIS POV:

Tom with his hand on his pistol, starting to pull it out.

TOM AND CHARLIE:

Charlie sees Tom going for his gun. He moves close to Tom,

half in front of him, putting his hand on Tom's.

CHARLIE:

Take it easy, Tom.

KENNY:

Stiffens.

KENNY'S FINGER

Squeezes the trigger of his rifle.

TOM:

Jumps at the sound of the rifle crack.

CHARLIE:

Is knocked back.

TOM:

Yanks out his gun and starts shooting back.

JIM AND HIS MEN:

Duck down in the water.

TOM:

Shooting blindly, looks over and sees...

CHARLIE:

A horrible look on his face, blood coming out of his neck.

He sinks into the water.

KENNY:

Shoots off another few quick rounds.

TOM:

Drops into the water, bullets plugging in around him. Just

his hand and pistol are visible, shooting blindly back toward

Jim and his men. THE SUBURBAN

Is hit by Tom's fire.

TOM:

Runs out of bullets. A beat later we see Charlie start moving

through the water -- Tom is pulling him.

JIM:

STOP SHOOTING!

KENNY:

Doesn't hear Jim and keeps firing.

JIM:

Aims his pistol at Kenny's head.

JIM:

Stop.

Kenny stops.

BEHIND THE ARMORED TRUCK

Tom comes up in the water behind the truck, gasping, holding

Charlie. Tom rests his gun on the truck bumper.

CHARLIE:

I'm sorry, Tom.

Charlie's gone.

JIM AND HIS MEN:

Jim glares at Kenny, his eyes on fire.

KENNY:

He was going for his gun!

JIM:

He wasn't gonna shoot, Kenny.

Goddamnit!

(shakes head, calls

to Tom)

We just want the money! Get away and

we won't have to kill you!

TOM:

Shuts his eyes, thinking, scared.

JIM (O.S.)

Now!

Tom opens his eyes. He looks down at...

CHARLIE:

Floating in the water.

TOM:

What the hell is he going to do?

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