Reindeer Games Page #9

-- and this time Rudy slips by. Merlin's bat SHATTERS a

dresser.

Rudy grabs him by the neck, kicks out his knees and wrests

him to the ground. Grabs the bat --

-- and gets DECKED from behind by another shadow, PUG, a

little white guy with a snarl. They go CRASHING onto the

bed, grappling for leverage, and then to the floor --

-- where Rudy grabs a champagne bottle from the groceries

and BASHES it backwards, shattering it over Pug's head!

Pug lets go, as Rudy scrambles up, and Merlin's got him again

in a bear hug. Rudy's struggling, whirling with him, crashing

into one wall, then another, YELLING for help --

RUDY:

HEYYY!!! IN HERE!!! HEYYY!!!

-- until he hears the PUMP-LOAD SNAP of a shotgun.

Rudy stops still. A lamp clicks on.

Standing in silhouette, a figure in a leather duster holds a

sawed-off on him.

GABRIEL:

Welcome home, Nick.

Another lamp comes on. Rudy, still in Merlin's choke-hold,

gets a look at the gunman, GABRIEL. Weathered face, stringy

hair, early 30's. Handsome in a scuzzy way. He's seen a lot

of road.

Rudy stares, totally thrown. Pug, the little guy, bad teeth,

bad hair, bad skin, gets up spitting blood and champagne.

PUG:

I owe ya a drink, ya f*** --

-- and slugs Rudy in the gut. Merlin yanks him back up.

Merlin's a black widebody, wears a goatee and brass knuckles.

Behind Merlin stands a fourth intruder, a stone-faced Indian

in a Grateful Dead longsleeve. JUMPY. Guarding the door.

Gabriel's studying Rudy, up and down. Nods. Merlin relaxes

his choke-hold so Rudy can breathe.

RUDY:

You... you don't know me --

GABRIEL:

Oh, I know you, Nick. I know you

real well.

RUDY:

No, you can't --

GABRIEL:

The hell I can't.

As the room's door gets kicked open --

ASHLEY:

Watch out, baby! I'm bringing in the

f***ing tree!

and the silver fake evergreen fills the doorway, getting

forced through with Ashley's grunts and groans --

RUDY:

ASHLEY!

Merlin traps his jaw shut. The tree comes squeezing through,

followed by Ashley, face in branches --

ASHLEY:

I'm telling you, we got the best one

in the store... I don't know why

people want their houses smelling

like the stupid woods...

She's GRABBED from behind by Jumpy. Ashley screams, but he

slams her against the wall. The tree hits the ground.

RUDY:

NO!

ASHLEY:

NICK!

Rudy fights to help her, but Merlin's got him. Pug locks

Ashley's arms. She fights, muffled cries, but Jumpy and Pug

have her held firmly. Her face to the wall --

GABRIEL:

(re:
the silver tree)

Hope her taste in men's better than

her taste in Christmas.

Ashley's turned to face him. Her eyes widen. Gabriel nods.

GABRIEL:

Hey, sis. Happy holidays.

Rudy's jaw drops. He looks to Ashley. Then to Gabriel.

Ashley YELLS, enraged, kicking and clawing. Jumpy slams her

back against the wall for her trouble --

GABRIEL:

Jumpy, don't hurt her, now.

Gabriel steps to Rudy. Studies him.

GABRIEL:

So. This is the guy you been waiting

for. Man of your dreams.

ASHLEY:

Gabriel -- !

GABRIEL:

(unimpressed)

Must have a way with stationery.

ASHLEY:

Gabriel, what are you doing!

Gabriel raises the sawed-off to Rudy's chest. Rudy flinches,

but Merlin's got him.

ASHLEY:

GABRIEL!!!

Gabriel fixes her with a stare. She shuts up. To Rudy:

GABRIEL:

You better be here to be good to

her, loverboy. 'Cause she's been

good to you.

ASHLEY:

Gabriel, let him go --

GABRIEL:

Read a lot about you, Nick.

ASHLEY:

What are you doing here?!

GABRIEL:

Read you're a man of some knowledge.

ASHLEY:

Gabriel!

GABRIEL:

A man of some travels.

ASHLEY:

GABRIEL, I LOVE HIM!

Rudy's trying to speak, voice CHOKED. Gabriel nods to Merlin,

who again eases his hold. Rudy coughs.

RUDY:

I'm... not... Nick...

Gabriel frowns. Rudy turns to Ashley.

RUDY:

I'm not him. I...

(then to Gabriel)

You want something from Nick, you

got the wrong guy.

ASHLEY:

(hurt)

Nick...

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