Reindeer Games Page #10

Gabriel looks from her to him, then lowers his sawed-off,

and SWINGS it into Rudy's stomach. Rudy buckles. Panicked.

GABRIEL:

Who are you now.

RUDY:

You got the wrong guy! She thinks

I'm Nick, I'm not!

GABRIEL:

(to Merlin)

Put him in the truck.

RUDY:

I was in the joint with him! I knew

about him and her, okay!? I took his

place!

GABRIEL:

You what...

RUDY:

I got out, Nick didn't! I pretended

I was him! I knew about her letters!

Jesus Christ, whatever you want from

him -- I'm not Nick!

(to Ashley)

I -- I just wanted to be --

A glance of regret amidst his desperation. Ashley stares

back, confused, searching his eyes.

GABRIEL:

You're not Nick Mason...

RUDY:

I shared his cell!

GABRIEL:

But you were saying you were...

RUDY:

Yes!

GABRIEL:

So you could get with my sister.

RUDY:

Yes!

GABRIEL:

So you could get down her chimney.

RUDY:

Yes!

GABRIEL:

And you think telling me that's gonna

help your cause.

Gabriel RATCHETS him across the chin with the gun butt. Rudy

hits the floor. Gabriel spins on Ashley, enraged:

GABRIEL:

Is this him!?

ASHLEY:

(reaches for Rudy)

Don't hurt him...

GABRIEL:

Is this the f***er you been writing

all year!?

ASHLEY:

(reaches for Rudy)

Please, Gabriel, don't...

Gabriel puts the gun to Rudy's head.

GABRIEL:

IS THIS NICK MASON!!??

ASHLEY:

YES!!!

Gabriel doesn't shoot. Studies Rudy.

GABRIEL:

Well, he's gonna have to learn to

give you some respect.

Gabriel KICKS Rudy in the jaw. Ashley screams. Gabriel motions

to his boys:
Jumpy and Pug drag her outside. Gabriel KICKS

Rudy again. Rudy lies there and takes it.

Merlin lights a cig, examines Rudy and Ashley's grocery bags:

MERLIN:

Hey. They got a shitload of cookies.

GABRIEL:

Take 'em.

MERLIN:

How 'bout the tree? You want the

tree?

GABRIEL:

Leave the tree.

Merlin nods, tucks the bags under his arms, leaves the room.

Gabriel drops beside Rudy, with a sick smile:

GABRIEL:

I've read your letters, motherf***er.

Don't play no reindeer games with

me.

EXT. INTERSTATE - NIGHT

As we SWOOP DOWN onto a four-lane stretch of winter highway,

arcing into the blackness.

CLOSING ON an 18-wheel tractor trailer, RUMBLING onward,

emblazoned with "Great Lakes Trucking." There's an airbrush

painting on the door to the cab, of a skeleton looking thru

a flaming radial tire, and the legend "Motor City Monster."

INT. GABRIEL'S RIG - CAB - NIGHT

Gabriel at the wheel, Merlin smoking, Jumpy eating cookies.

A TRUCK passes; Gabriel waves. A moment later, the CB

crackles:

PASSING DRIVER (OVER CB)

Hey there, Monster! What're you

hauling this far north?

GABRIEL:

Hell, Bugeye. How you doin'? Ain't

hauling, man, I'm up for the holidays.

Gonna have myself a holiday... for a

goddamn change...

INT. GABRIEL'S RIG - TRAILER - NIGHT

CLOSE ON RUDY:

eyes closed, dried blood, head rocking side to side. He

winces, waking, with the headache to end all headaches.

ASHLEY (O.S.)

Shh, Nick, shh. They won't hurt you

now. You're okay...

Her hand strokes his face. Rudy's eyes struggle open.

ON FULL SCENE:

They're in the back of the truck. There's some packing mats,

rope, two tall storage lockers, and Ashley's Chevy Nova.

Rudy's head is in her lap. He struggles to sit up, finds his

wrists tied with cord. He looks at Ashley, follows her gaze.

In a corner, Pug sits guard in a beanbag chair. He's dipping

chewing tobacco, reading Road & Track, headphones on. Gives

Rudy a bored glance, then back to his magazine.

ASHLEY:

I won't let 'em, Nick. They won't

hurt you anymore.

RUDY:

Your brother...

Ashley nods. Rudy looks around, remembering.

RUDY:

...the truck driver...

ASHLEY:

He's not a bad person, Nick... he's

not...

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