Reindeer Games Page #23

RUDY:

He thought I was some gambler... he

didn't know me... he didn't recognize

me!

GABRIEL:

I been driving rigs a long time,

Nick. Four, five million miles of

road. Worked for people who wouldn't

keep me on less I was driving fifteen

hours a day. Tell 'em I needed sleep,

I needed rest, sh*t, they'll hire

someone else...

Gabriel flings another dart. Just misses Rudy's other ear.

GABRIEL:

...Dispatcher's screaming for me to

haul ass, he's got a load on the

runback for me. Shipper's making me

wait for the pickup, receiver's

bitching 'bout the count...

Another dart NAILS the wall, right through Rudy's hair.

GABRIEL:

...Got the cops at the bottom of

every mountain, got the DOT at the

top. And every day, every day, I see

all those faces in their little airbag

Hot Wheels, moms and pops and jam-

faced kiddies, giving me that look

to go to hell and get off their happy

goddamn highway. Hey. They don't

gotta get two thousand miles by

sundown, or the gang don't eat come

sunrise.

Gabriel strides to Rudy, sitting stock-still, his head ringed

by darts. Stares him down.

GABRIEL:

It's time for me... to be working

for me. I want mine, Nick. And I

need you.

(frightening calm)

Did you tell your manager there's

gonna be a robbery?

RUDY:

No, Gabriel... no...

Gabriel pulls the darts free. Backs away again.

RUDY:

...he... he asked me... how I'd heard

about his place... he didn't know it

was me...

GABRIEL RAISES A DART TO THROW

RUDY:

I PROMISE YOU HE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS

ME!

-- and then lowers it. Believing he's gotten a reprieve,

Rudy relaxes, his shivering coming under control.

RUDY:

Man, Monster... just... just don't

start trying to hit me...

GABRIEL:

Nick. I been trying to hit you.

Gabriel rears back and WHISTLES another dart. It plugs into

Rudy's chest. Rudy screams. Gabriel FIRES another, skewering

him in the ribs. Then a third, fourth and fifth.

Rudy howls in pain, his body too numb to defend itself. Five

darts protrude from his chest, colorful plastic feathering

and spreading rivulets of blood.

GABRIEL:

Maybe that'll help sharpen your

memory.

Gabriel stalks close.

GABRIEL:

Tonight we're gonna take another

look at that map. And this time you're

gonna tell me what I need to know.

INT. RUDY'S ROOM - DAY

Rudy gets hurled inside by Merlin and Jumpy. He hits the

floor beside the bed, where Ashley sits prisoner. Pug sits

guard, watching "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" on TV.

ASHLEY:

Nick! Jesus, Nick --

She falls to his side. Merlin cuffs Rudy's ankle again to

the bedframe. He and Jumpy head out --

MERLIN:

Pug.

Pug's engrossed in the cartoon. They're singing in Whoville.

MERLIN:

PUG!

Pug snaps to. Shuts off the TV, spits some chaw on the floor

and gone. Rudy and Ashley are left alone.

ASHLEY:

Nick, oh my God, what'd he do to

you? What'd he do?

She touches his bloodied chest. Rudy winces badly.

RUDY:

He had some points to make...

Ashley helps pull his shirt off, sees the wounds:

ASHLEY:

Jesus Christ, stay here, don't move,

stay right here --

RUDY:

(near-delirium)

All I wanted... was to make it home...

for a little of Dad's turkey, and

Mom's stuffing... Aunt Lisbeth's

acorn gravy... Aunt Mary's cranberry

buns...

Ashley has leapt to the bathroom. She brings wet washcloths

back to clean and dress --

ASHLEY:

We'll get there, baby... we'll get

there...

RUDY:

...Haven't had cranberry buns... in

five whole years...

ASHLEY:

Shh, now. Rest now. Two years, Nick.

You haven't had cranberry buns in

two years.

She kisses him softly. Rudy meets her eyes. Staring to get

his bearings back...

ASHLEY:

You saved my life.

(beat)

You could have run, but you didn't.

You saved me.

RUDY:

You saved me.

ASHLEY:

I saved you because I love you, Nick.

(smiles)

Why'd you save me?

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