The Playground Page #3

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It's not like it was before.

I came here to be alone.

- That's fine.

- Last thing I need

is for someone to see

a young boy and a priest out

in the middle of nowhere.

- I got my own place to stay.

I just need a place to eat.

I can clean up like last time,

replace the tiles,

fix what's broken

for some soup?

Looks like this place

needs a lot of work anyway.

- Soup huh?

- Yeah.

- Of course, my son.

Come inside.

- Um.

- Oh I forgot.

Still afraid of chapels?

- Sorry, sir.

- It's all right.

- Still can't shake

those bad memories.

- You can eat out on the patio.

I'll unlock the kitchen door.

- Thank you, father.

- Glory be to the father,

and to the son, and

to the holy spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be.

World without end.

- Can I help you?

- Is the confessional open?

- This isn't a church.

It's been years decommissioned.

- I need to speak to someone.

- I'm sure you can find someone.

- Someone of faith.

- We can speak

on the porch.

How long has it been since

your last confession?

- Three days.

- You are devout to the church.

Go on.

- I'm not here to

confess all my sins.

That would be too heavy

of a door to open.

- No sin is too heavy for

the mercy of our holy father.

Go on.

- I cursed god when

I lost my wife.

She was killed by a drunk driver

who wasn't brought to justice.

I sought the man out,

and I murdered him,

not believing in god's plan.

I had a life sentence,

I should be in jail.

- And through the mercy

of our holy father,

your case was dismissed?

- No.

- How is it that you are here?

- I don't know how he got in

my cell but he wasn't a dream.

He was as real as the guards.

Very calm.

Civilized.

At the time I didn't

care who he was.

I saw a chance to be

free and I took it.

It wasn't until

later that I realized

what I might have

gotten involved with.

I've remarried to a good woman

but I'm behind in my debt.

I made a deal with something

I don't fully understand.

- What kind of a deal?

- An agreement.

Sealed with a few

drops of my blood.

Consorting with vile

people is a sin,

but it can be forgiven

with prayers and...

- I'm not sure they're people.

- What do you mean?

- They're always two

steps ahead of me.

- What have you wagered?

Your soul belongs

to the holy father

so long as your

heart is with him.

There is no pact that cannot

be broken by repentance.

- I won't go back to prison.

- You must trust in the

lord wherever he keeps you.

- I'm not going

to the pen to die.

I came to you father, I thought

the church was the answer.

- I myself have newly

come to the cloth.

I am no expert on this matter

nor am I aware of what you've

become associated with.

You've caught me

at an awkward time.

The advice I'm going to give

you must stay between us

because it could put me at

jeopardy with the church.

But I'm going to offer

it because I believe that

god might see it differently.

Perhaps the church

isn't the answer.

Even though I'm a continual

student of our faith,

I'm not so naive to believe

that we have all the answers.

I have heard there is someone

who deals with the realm of

the unseen in more detail.

I have to tell you that

he's not of the cloth

or of our faith.

They say he's a wanderer

living out east in the

desert somewhere near

the Indian reservation.

I don't know if it will

help or you'll even find him

but it's all I can offer.

For my part, for

your confession,

you're forgiven.

- Thank you father.

You're the only one I

can trust right now.

- Be at peace.

Through the ministry

of the church

may god pardon you.

I absolve you of your

sins, on my part.

In the name of the father,

the son,

and the holy spirit.

Amen.

- Now listen carefully.

- How do I know these

scrolls will protect me?

- As long as you do your job,

they'll do theirs.

- Hey, father?

What's in that old RV?

- That's a good question.

I don't know exactly.

Seems like it's been used

for storage over the years.

- Is it filled with

bibles and such?

- I don't know.

Just seems like old

tables and furniture.

- I can clean it out for you.

- I thought you said

you had a place to stay.

- I do.

I just thought you might

want it cleaned up.

I took a peek inside.

No good keeping junk.

- She's gonna clean me out.

She's been working

on it for months.

I can't believe I didn't see it.

- You two have a

joint bank account?

- We're married.

Stupid question.

- It may not be as

stupid as you think.

- Argentina?

- You would withdraw everything,

minus the red herring

in your joint account,

which of course you're

going to have to sacrifice

and whatever you intend

to leave for her.

- I'm not leaving

her one red penny

more than I have to leave her!

She can rot in hell as

far as I'm concerned.

This is my money!

- Then you'd want to do

this as fast as possible,

as your wife and

her representation

may have already grabbed a

snapshot of your financials.

- Oh, they can't.

I never allowed her to co-sign

on my business accounts

or my personal accounts.

- Good man.

But the bank can

still give it to her.

Happens all the time.

You can't trust the bank.

- Really?

- Oh yeah. I've

learned that lesson.

- This isn't my first rodeo.

How soon do I make

the wire transfer?

- Who said anything

about a wire transfer?

- How did?

- I work fast.

I tried not to spare

things you can't use.

Took them out to the dumpster.

- By yourself?

- I didn't want to

bother you, father.

You've got important work to do.

- Is there anything I

can help you with now?

- Um.

No, I'm almost done.

That is, if you like it.

- You mean it has

to be cashed out?

And hand delivered to some

branch in south America?

I don't see why

this is necessary!

- You would open the account

under an alias via cash deposit

avoiding any checks or

bank to bank transfer.

It would make it

virtually impossible

to trace back to you legally.

Records can't indicate

you transferred the money,

you make a full withdrawal

and close the account.

Meanwhile, an account opens

up offshore by John Doe

with everything intact.

- You think she'll go

that far with this?

- You would know her better,

but she does have the head

start on you for a reason.

- I got to sleep on this.

- Well, I'd agree with you

under regular circumstances.

However, time is not

really on your side.

You have just about 4 hours

until the bank off

of national closes.

- Are you serious?

- Mr. Vaugn, you asked

for my financial advice

and I'm giving it

to you candidly.

You're not the first business

owner I've worked for

who needed to move funds

offshore in a hurry.

In fact, at this point

you might even consider me

an expert at this.

- You think they're going

to have that amount of cash

and on such short notice?

- The main branch handles

the heavy transactions.

One duffel bag size should do.

About the size of your gym bag.

- You're not kidding about

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