Reindeer Games Page #22

Then the highway. Safety within sight.

But he can't run. Cursing himself, he grips the rifle tightly

and LEAPS into the ice-hole --

EXT. RIVER BENEATH THE ICE

-- plummeting underwater, the temperature hitting his body

like needles. He writhes, spinning around --

-- and sees Ashley ten yards away, desperately pounding at

the ice above her. Strength giving out.

Rudy struggles to her, wrapping an arm around her. She fights,

panicked, clawing at the ice, both of them pulled further

away from the opening.

With Ashley safely in hand, Rudy raises his rifle-arm,

pressing the barrel against the ice above them --

-- and FIRES. A HOLE blasts a shaft of light into the gray-

blue. Rudy FIRES again. Another HOLE caves in. Ashley reaches

for a sheath of ice, splashing --

TO THE SURFACE:

-- clutching frozen ground, treading water. Rudy surfaces

beside her, the both of them gasping, facing the bridge.

Instinctively, they spin around --

TO FIND GABRIEL, MERLIN, JUMPY AND PUG

-- standing right behind them. Guns trained.

GABRIEL:

(rubs his jaw)

At the rate you're going, Nick...

I'm gonna have a hard time ever

considering you family.

He extends his hand, a gesture of help. But menacing.

GABRIEL:

How lucky ya feeling now.

CUT TO:

INT. GABRIEL'S RIG - DAY

Pitch black. We can barely make out a huddled, fetal form,

quaking and trembling. It's Rudy. Dripping wet, on the verge

of hypothermia. Trying to stay conscious:

RUDY:

I-I-I-I have n-n-no g-g-gifts to br-

br-bring, pa rum-p-p-p-p-p

(struggling)

...pum-pum-pum. N-n-no treasures for

the k-k-k

(waits)

...king.

The trailer doors swing open, crashing harsh light upon him.

He squints into the light, shivering madly.

RUDY:

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum.

INT. KNIGHTS INN GAME ROOM - DAY

Gabriel is hurling darts again, focused, expressionless.

Bullseye.

Merlin and Jumpy haul Rudy in. He collapses at Gabriel's

feet, unable to stand. Still trembling.

A couple KIDS scamper into the doorway --

MERLIN:

Game room's closed.

-- and Merlin slams the door in their face. Gabriel hurls

another bullseye, then retrieves his darts from the board.

GABRIEL:

A for effort, Nick, honestly, A for

effort and an honorary degree. I'm

surprised you never escaped from the

Mountain.

RUDY:

(teeth chattering)

...never... tried...

GABRIEL:

Nick, here's what we're gonna do. In

the spirit of the season, I'm going

to give you a chance. I understand

you're unhappy. Right outta the

lockup, here against your will, it's

the holidays and there's reruns on

TV.

(beat)

So we're gonna have a contest.

Gabriel strides back to him, with two darts.

GABRIEL:

We're each going to get one of these.

Whichever one of us hits closer to

the bullseye... gets what he wants.

(beat)

You land closer, you get Ashley.

And you guys get to go free. I land

closer... and we start getting your

help.

He lifts Rudy's shaking hand, puts a dart in it. Rudy's

fingers are half-frozen, they don't bend. Gabriel has to

wedge it in.

GABRIEL:

May the best sportsman win.

Gabriel turns to the board, ten feet away, and tosses his

dart. It thunks in the "13" wedge of the outermost ring.

GABRIEL:

Damn.

He steps aside for Rudy. Rudy struggles to raise his hand,

trembling badly. He focuses on the board, teeth chattering,

tries to reposition his fingers, rears back and throws --

-- except the dart remains in his frozen grip. He brings his

icy hand back, tries to move his fingers. And the dart finally

tumbles out and hits the floor at his feet.

Gabriel smiles, steps close.

GABRIEL:

Got something to say to me, Nick?

RUDY:

...ttt..tt... two out of three?

Gabriel grabs his jacket and hurls him backward. Rudy CRASHES

into a chair, flanked by video games.

GABRIEL:

What'd you tell that casino manager?

RUDY:

Nnn... nothing...

GABRIEL:

You were talking to him! What'd you

tell him!?

RUDY:

Nothing... I promise-nothing...

GABRIEL:

MAYBE SOMETHING ABOUT A ROBBERY?

RUDY:

NO!

Gabriel spins to the dartboard, pulls out a fistful and

wheels. He whistles a dart at Rudy's head. it SMACKS the

wall beside his ear.

He whistles another. It TRUNKS right above his head. A third

HITS the wall by his chin.

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