Jericho Page #5

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22.

47 INT. BAILEY’S TAVERN - NIGHT 47

The juke box blasts as the people in the tavern enjoy their

last blissful moment of ignorance. Mimi Clark, IRS employee,

leaves the ATM machine and approaches the SEXY BARMAID.

MIMI CLARK:

Excuse me, miss. I’m going back to

DC tomorrow, and I need money for

the cab. Where can I find an ATM?

48 INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER 48

Mayor Green and Peter burst through the door where the EMT,

Fire, and Police Crews have gathered. The Mayor points to

the flashing lights on the cars through the window.

MAYOR GREEN:

Could we turn off the Christmas

Tree out there before the whole

world starts asking questions?

The SHERIFF, 57, all business, nods to one of his younger

deputies. The deputy charges outside.

Sheriff.

MAYOR GREEN (CONT’D)

Chief.

The FIRE CHIEF, 48, a real cowboy, nods to the Mayor.

Mayor lays his emergency plan on the sheriff’s desk.

The

MAYOR GREEN (CONT’D)

Any damage? Fires? Buildings?

SHERIFF:

Nothing, Mr. Mayor. Town’s fine.

MAYOR GREEN:

Let’s hope you’re right.

SHERIFF:

What do you mean?

MAYOR GREEN:

Do we have any Geiger counters?

49 EXT. BAILEY’S TAVERN - MOMENTS LATER 49

As Mimi Clark exits the tavern, she sees it. Something’s

strange. People are gathering outside. Some are crying.

MIMI CLARK:

Excuse me, sir. What’s going on?

23.

FRIGHTENED PASSERBY

Nuclear explosion. Near Denver, I

think.

MIMI CLARK:

But... what... did they get D.C.?

50 INT. ALVIE CLEMONS' BEDROOM - EVENING 50

Alvie is too focused on his SAT book and blasting stereo to

hear the knock. His mother, TERESA CLEMONS, 45, shouts up.

TERESA CLEMONS (O.S.)

Alvie, your friend Stephanie’s here!

Alvie bounds up, checks his hopeless hair, and leaves.

51 INT. ALVIE CLEMONS’ HOUSE - EVENING 51

Alvie walks down the stairs to find Stephanie Lancaster, who

is in a complete daze.

STEPHANIE:

I can’t get my mom on the phone.

52 EXT. TAVERN - NIGHT 52

We see a cell phone that reads... Call Was Lost.

to the shattered face of Mimi Clark.

We move up

MIMI CLARK:

Mom, please pick up the phone.

She tries again. No service. Panicked, she begins to run,

past a poster of the smiling face of GRAY ANDERSON.

53 EXT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - EVENING 53

GRAY ANDERSON, 44, is slick, savvy, and politically astute.

He passes a lady cop, speaking into her radio.

LADY COP:

Bill? What’s the ETA on those

Geiger counters?

54 INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - EVENING 54

Gray Anderson enters the room as the impact of the news

spreads across the group’s faces. The leaders are holding

their composure. The younger cops and firemen are shaky.

Some cry. Most are silent. Men. Women. Black. White.

It’s the one human moment before...

24.

MAYOR GREEN:

I know. We’re all scared. We’re

all thinking of our families. But

in about 2 minutes, people are

going to pour through those doors,

looking for answers. So, we better

get some quick. If we’re calm,

they’re calm. Understood?

They all nod. The sheriff gestures to the emergency plan.

SHERIFF:

What does the emergency plan say?

PETER GREEN:

Contact the governor. National

Guard. State troopers.

They all look at the RADIO OPERATOR in the corner. Static.

He turns to them. Shakes his head. Nothing.

SHERIFF:

Anything else?

MAYOR GREEN:

A whole lot about tornadoes.

The group sighs. One young cop panics.

PANICKED COP:

Are we under attack? We’re under-

MAYOR GREEN:

Son. Until we hear otherwise, I

don’t want to hear that word again.

One explosion is not an attack.

Gray Anderson makes his way into the center near the Mayor,

Peter, the Sheriff, and Fire Chief. The Mayor and Peter

politely nod to him although we can feel the chill.

MAYOR GREEN (CONT'D)

I’m glad you’re here, Gray. We

could use the help.

GRAY ANDERSON:

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Peter.

Anything I can do.

BILL:

Mayor Green! Sheriff!

They turn to see Bill set down a box of Geiger counters.

25.

55 INT. STANLEY PETERSON’S PICK-UP TRUCK - EVENING 55

The pick-up truck flies down the road. Bonnie is shell-

shocked. Stanley puts a hand on her shoulder.

STANLEY:

Hang in there, Bonnie. We need to

make sure the Mayor knows.

56 INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - EVENING 56

The Mayor holds the Geiger counter. He looks at the

assembled group. Silence. Prayers. The Mayor switches the

power on. Pins and needles as they wait. Nothing. Until

the Mayor lowers the Geiger counter and it starts CLIK-CLIKCLIK’ing.

People gasp. Cry. Terrified until...

MAYOR GREEN:

Wait a minute.

The Mayor lifts the Geiger counter up.

away. Puts it back down. CLIK-CLIK.

Mayor a quizzical look until...

The CLIK-CLIK goes

The Sheriff gives the

MAYOR GREEN (CONT’D)

I didn’t turn off my cell phone.

The group sighs in relief. Almost laughing.

enters the Sheriff’s office. Shaken.

A YOUNG COUPLE:

YOUNG HUSBAND:

Mr. Mayor?

MAYOR GREEN:

Folks, no need to panic. So far,

it looks like there’s no radiation

fallout. We’ll keep checking

around town, but in the meantim-YOUNG

WIFE:

Actually, sir. We... uh... we

spoke to Principal McVey. The

school bus isn’t back from the

field trip... with our son.

57 INT. ALVIE CLEMONS’ HOUSE - NIGHT 57

Alvie is speechless. His mother now has tears running down

her face. We might think she’s reacting to the news, but...

TERESA CLEMONS:

Alvie, call Principal McVey to find

out where your little sister is.

26.

58 INT. GREEN FAMILY HOUSE - EVENING 58

Gail is now surrounded by a group of concerned parents.

are worried. Some are crying. Some are irate.

Some

CONCERNED PARENTS

“It should have been back an hour

ago.” “Where is your husband!?”

GAIL:

Everyone, please calm down. I’m

sure my husband and the sheriff are

doing everything they can to find

the school bus.

IRATE MOTHER:

That’s easy for you to say. You

don’t have a child out there!

This hits Gail. Ann puts her hand on Gail’s shoulder.

kills herself not to cry. One tough lady.

Gail

59 EXT. RURAL ROAD - NIGHT 59

Beeeeee. In the freezing January night, we see Jake's

Mustang, crumpled in the ditch. After a beat, Jake opens his

eyes. He blinks a couple of times and slowly moves his head

off the steering wheel. The beeeeeeeee is replaced by the

sound of silence. He touches his forehead. Blood. He looks

at his leg. More blood. He moves his pants back.

A surface cut runs down his leg.

Jake tries to start the car, but the engine block seems

cracked. Vrrrr. Vrrr. Nothing. Jake reaches over with his

left hand to open the car door. The second he pushes on the

door, he screams out in pain. His left arm is severely

sprained. Jake opens the door with his right arm. Then, he

limps toward the station wagon he collided with.

He peers into the wagon and sees... AN OLD COUPLE. Not

moving. Jake grimaces. He opens the door. Feels the lady’s

pulse through her neck. Dead. He reaches over and feels the

old man’s pulse through his wrist. Same. He stands, and in

a reflex from childhood, he crosses himself. Then, the

shivers take over his body. It’s freezing.

60 EXT. RURAL ROAD - SECONDS LATER 60

Jake opens the station wagon’s back. Looks for anything that

can help him. Mixed in with all the junk, souvenirs, and

luggage, he sees a golf bag, a belt, and an overcoat. He

wraps the belt around his leg to try and stop the bleeding.

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