Militia Page #15

---

He'll let Keating be insane, as long as the others believe

him too. But then sees it...

Beckmann. Looking over at him. He knows.

KEATING (CONT'D)

The reasoning for my assault, for my

raid, on these people, is justified

and warranted by those attacked, who

forced me to be the champion of this

cause because, because they chose to

ignore me. They chose to not listen

to me. They chose to not include me.

So, so I, so I, so I included them.

Gannon and Beckmann. Both knowing Keating's insane...

KEATING (CONT'D)

Their inadequacies, their their their

inefficiency, their ineptitude, their

mediocrity, their blatant inferiority

is what delivered this reckoning.

But both keep theirs hands on Keating. Letting him lie...

KEATING (CONT'D)

And I acted as the pitchfork. As the

staff. As the...as the...

Keating soaks up the moment. Soaks up the significance.

KEATING (CONT'D)

And that's...that's why I did what I

did. I will be waiting on the corner

of Mound and Middlebelt road. Unarmed.

He takes his hand off the control unit. Silence. Gannon stares

at Keating. No words. Both Gannon and Beckmann sacrificing

the truth to save the group...

Beckmann takes his hand off Keating...

Stops the video camera.

But then:

COP ON RADIO #1 (V.O.)

Another false confession.

83.

The militia members look at one another...

COP ON RADIO #2 (V.O.)

Third one in the last hour. Might

want to think about changing channels

to cut down on the nut factor here.

COP ON RADIO #3 (V.O.)

They'll just keep comin'. Don't pay

attention to him.

Gannon closes his eyes as the cops call out the lie. Gannon

watches each member realize Keating is lying.

Gannon watches each member, one by one, take their hands off

Keating's shoulder...

Gannon has no choice. His hand, the last one left on

Keating...

He takes his hand off Keating.

We see Gannon's eyes as he remembers...

FLASHCUT-

The notebook. The plan of attack. The code above it...

'Wilcox'.

BACK TO:

INT. LUMBER WAREHOUSE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE - NIGHT

Gannon looks down at Keating, like a teacher catching a

student cheating.

GANNON:

'Wilcox.'

(beat)

Wilcox High.

(beat)

You were gonna attack the goddamn

high school.

Olsen looks to Gannon. Nods 'outside.' Gannon stands.

Gannon follows him out.

INT. LUMBER WAREHOUSE SECOND LEVEL CATWALK - NIGHT

Olsen stands. Gannon exits the communications office.

84.

OLSEN:

It's Noah.

(beat)

We're hanging him.

Gannon stares at the window across the way on the other side

of the warehouse wall. He sees the forest through it.

Knowing full well who's tied to the bottom of one of those

trees. Olsen walks to the door of the communications room...

OLSEN (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Beckmann, write me up a confession.

Olsen looks back. Gannon is gone.

INT. LUMBER WAREHOUSE ARMORY - NIGHT

Morris sits. Locking and loading two AR-15's.

Putting on body armor.

Grenades.

His eyes tearing...

EXT. LUMBER WAREHOUSE BACK ENTRANCE - NIGHT

Noah sits still in the darkness. When he hears the back

entrance open. Close shut.

He listens to the footsteps approaching...

Gannon rounds the tree.

Standing there. Looking down at the tree's base.

At Noah.

Shrouded in the darkness.

Gannon kneels in front of Noah.

GANNON:

Morris didn't do it.

Noah looks up at Gannon. His eyes glinting in the dark.

Gannon holds a GUN.

GANNON (CONT'D)

Keating didn't do it.

85.

With every silent second, Gannon's heart drops lower at the

possibility...

GANNON (CONT'D)

If you did this Noah, you are a

monster. A monster.

Noah looks up at him.

GANNON (CONT'D)

But you're still my brother. So

please, Noah.

(beat)

Please tell me you didn't do this.

Noah's eyes tear...

GANNON (CONT'D)

Tell me...you didn't do this, Noah.

He fights through the emotion to get it out...

NOAH:

My whole life, all I ever wanted,

was to be as good as you.

FLASHCUT-

Noah and Gannon as cops, Noah watches Gannon get a BADGE of

honor. From the back of the room. Out of the way...

BACK TO:

NOAH (CONT'D)

Just one time. To not be an

embarrassment to you. Just once.

Gannon's heart drops. He peers into Noah...

GANNON:

Why would you come back? Why wouldn't

you just run?

Silence.

NOAH:

You don't understa-

The back entrance door opens. Olsen and Hubbel walk out.

Gannon stands. Olsen gets to the tree and looks at Noah.

Then motions to Hubbel...

OLSEN:

Untie him.

86.

Hubbel goes around back of Noah. Starts untying his hands.

GANNON:

What are you doing?

Hubbel finishes. Stands Noah up and starts taking him inside.

Noah is almost catatonic. Not putting up any defense.

GANNON (CONT'D)

Olsen...

Olsen keeps walking Noah inside.

GANNON (CONT'D)

Olsen, he didn't do it.

Hubbel and Olsen protecting him like bodyguards.

Gannon lies.

GANNON (CONT'D)

Olsen, let him go! He didn't do it!

Nothing. No response. Gannon screams in desperation.

GANNON (CONT'D)

Are you listening to me? HE DIDN'T

F***ING DO IT!

Olsen steps inside...

GANNON (CONT'D)

Olsen, he's my brother.

Olsen stops. Looks back at Gannon.

Emptiness behind the eyes.

OLSEN:

I don't care.

Olsen walks into the warehouse. Noah with him. Hubbel by his

side.

Gannon follows into the warehouse...

INT. LUMBER WAREHOUSE BACK ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS

Gannon stops a moment at the door. His heart pounding.

Then his eye catches something...

One of the massive piles of SAWDUST...

87.

He reaches into his pocket.

INT. LUMBER WAREHOUSE MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Hubbel brings Noah to the center of the room.

Olsen lowers the forklift. The noose still hanging from it.

Noah watches the noose drop. His eyes widen, he tries to

run. Hubbel restrains him. Gannon gets there right as...

Olsen takes the noose. Puts it over Noah's head.

Noah continues struggling when Olsen sees the only answer...

He points a gun at Gannon. Then looks at Noah...

OLSEN:

Stay still.

Noah stiffens.

They drop the noose around Noah's neck. Tightening it. The

militia men surround Noah...

Keating. Gannon. Olsen. Hubbel. Beckmann.

Noah looks at Gannon from the noose. Tears roll down his

face as he waits for some sign from his brother that it'll

be okay...

Gannon's heart thudding through his shirt...

Frozen at gunpoint by Olsen. Then, he looks at Olsen:

GANNON:

How do we know it wasn't you?

Olsen stops. Stares back at him.

GANNON (CONT'D)

You called us. You bring us here.

How do we know you didn't do it?

The other members look at Olsen. Waiting for an explanation.

OLSEN:

You don't.

Olsen nods to Hubbel at the forklifts controls. Hubbel presses

the lever.

The forklift begins to rise.

88.

The loose rope tightens...

We come in close on Noah's feet on the ground...

They lift.

All the men stand watching Noah rise up.

Gannon watches, gun to his head, paralyzed...

The forklift stops at its maximum height.

High enough that Noah's toes touch the ground, but his heels

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes