The Dead Zone Page #4

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my son's tutor, John Smith.

- John, this is Greg Stillson.

- How are you, John?

- Gentleman, this is...

- Sonny Elliman.

Sonny Elliman, right here.

Well, Greg, you got some good ideas.

You got to let me think about them.

Now, listen. Roger, we got

a good thing going and it's going strong

and I want you to be a part of it.

I need your support,

I need your expertise,

I need your input.

And most importantly,

I need your money.

- God bless, Roger. I'll be seeing.

- Thanks for dropping by, Greg.

- I'll see you. Bye-bye.

- Good to see you, Sonny.

My God! What a glorious day!

Amen.

Sorry about that.

- Well, let's go see Chris, huh, John?

- Sure.

Chris? This is Johnny.

Remember, I told you

he was coming this morning?

I'll leave you two alone

to get acquainted.

Your father says

there's something wrong with you.

He wants me to bring you

out of your shell.

I don't know what to do.

You don't have to do anything.

It's my dad that lives in a shell, not me.

Chris has really taken to you, John.

I'm impressed.

- Made lot of progress for one day.

- We just had a talk.

Well, with Chris

that's a real achievement.

You want a drink?

- No.

- Don't want a beer?

- Okay.

- Brian, get him a beer.

Here. Just listen to this.

Ninety-nine.

One hundred!

How you doing?

I'm Greg Stillson.

Just thought I'd stop by here

on my way to the U.S. Senate.

Greg Stillson. Remember,

you met him in the hall this morning?

- Yeah.

- ...coming out all of you.

Boy, you gotta be in good shape

to go the full distance with

those big boys down in Washington.

- Right.

- You got to stay in shape all the time

with those boys,

can't turn you back on them.

You got to stay in better shape

in this country.

What the hell is happening

to this country?

Can anybody tell me

what the hell is going on?

Look here.

I'm reading one of your local papers,

right here on the front page...

Do you believe this guy?

He's just getting warmed up.

Will you vote for him, John?

Shame on America!

I'm not even registered.

- Not registered?

- No.

Well, get registered, pal,

and vote against this turkey.

He's dangerous.

...and I see all around me,

so many unemployed.

What are you people here

in the middle of the day?

Middle of a work day!

You're standing out in the cold.

Look around. Look at each other!

How do you feel about each other?

Are you proud of your communities?

Would you send the guy next to you

to the U.S. Senate?

A real man of the people.

You don't feel good about yourselves.

Jesus, what an act.

Can't they see through this guy?

I'm mixed up. You both acted like

you were friends this morning.

Well, guys like Stillson,

you got to walk a thin line.

You can't get too close 'cause if they

lose, they'll drag you down with them.

On the other hand, if he wins,

and this turkey just might,

you got to make sure you're thought of

as a good friend.

Know what I mean, John?

They're not working.

There's unemployment everywhere.

Well, I've come down here today

with a job for every one of you.

I've come here today with a challenge

for all of you!

I'm challenging you right here now

to join me,

to join a growing army

of volunteer workers on my campaign.

Let's send Greg Stillson

to the United States Senate

and mediocrity to hell!

What can I do for you boys?

You work late, Mr. Brenner.

That's very admirable.

I'm Greg Stillson.

I know who you are, Mr. Stillson.

Now, take your paid gorilla

and get out of my office.

My friend, Sonny, doesn't want to see

anybody get hurt,

but we got a little problem here.

Get to the point, Mr. Stillson.

Well, as you know,

I'm damned near even in the polls.

See, I'm catching on.

The people got a need for me.

I'm gonna win, and I'm gonna win big.

And I'll tell you something else.

I've had a vision

that I am going to be President

of the United States someday

and I have accepted that responsibility,

and nobody, I mean nobody

is gonna stop me.

Now, you can just imagine how I felt

when one of my loyal staff people

brought me your editorial

which is gonna hit the streets tomorrow.

You don't seem to like me, Brenner.

But that's okay.

Because I don't like you, either.

How did you get that?

Well, like you, Brenner,

I'm not at liberty to reveal my sources.

Well, it doesn't make any difference.

Because you're right.

That editorial is gonna hit the streets

tomorrow morning.

Not if we can make a deal.

What the hell are you talking about?

I'm talking about you staying

out of the campaign business,

and me staying out

of the publishing business.

Show him what we've got to publish,

Sonny.

That's your best shot.

I got lots of loyal people on my side,

Brenner.

That young lady in the photographs

with you is one of them.

Now, I've never met Mrs. Brenner,

but I'm damn near sure that ain't her.

What do you think, Sonny?

Is this Mrs. Brenner?

- Doesn't look like her.

- You son of a b*tch! You set me up.

- Who you calling a son of a b*tch?

- No, it's all right, Sonny.

Let's give Mr. Brenner a chance

to think about his wife and kids

and his position in the community.

What if I don't make a deal, Stillson?

Oh, you'll make a deal.

Otherwise I'll have my friend, Sonny,

take your goddamn head off.

Good idea.

You see, Sonny,

I told you he is a reasonable man.

He's a nice man. I like him.

I like your wife, too.

"Prophet!" said I, thing of evil...

prophet still, if bird or devil!

"By that Heaven that bends above us,

by that God we both adore,

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if,

within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden

whom the angels name Lenore;"

Chris, skip to the part

where he talks about,

"Will I ever see her again?"

"Eagerly I wished the morrow...

vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow...

sorrow for the lost Lenore,

For the rare and radiant maiden

whom the angels name Lenore;

Nameless here for evermore."

Stop. I'll be right back.

Good afternoon, sir.

We're out in your neighborhood today

talking to people about Greg Stillson.

You're familiar with our candidate,

aren't you?

What do you think?

Yeah, right.

But are you aware

of what Greg Stillson stands for?

Greg Stillson is mounting the

most successful third party movement

this state has ever seen.

Stillson represents

both the poor and the well-off,

the young and the old...

Could you come back? I have a student.

Sure. I know you're busy. Can I

leave you some literature, though?

Sure.

Honey, could you bring

some of those brochures?

Hello, Johnny.

Hi.

Is this where you're living now?

Yeah. I'm back to teaching.

This is my husband, Walt.

Nice to meet you finally, John.

I've heard Sarah talk about you so often.

Hey. Come on back, Johnny.

It's no fun reading by yourself.

Chris, this is Walt and Sarah.

Hi.

We'll let you get back to work.

We've got a lot of ground to cover

ourselves. Don't we, honey?

- Nice to meet you.

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