Walking Tall

Synopsis: After eight years serving the U.S. Army Special Forces, Sergeant Chris Vaughn returns to his hometown seeking for a job in the local mill. He is informed by Sheriff Stan Watkins that the mill was closed three years ago and now the Wild Cherry Casino, owned by his former high school friend Jay Hamilton, is the major source of jobs and income to the town. Chris goes home, and meets his best-friend Ray Templeton, who organized a football game with their friends. After the game, Jay invites Chris and his friends to spend the night in his casino on him, but when Chris finds that the casino crabs dealer is cheating with loaded dice, he fights against the security men and is almost killed by them. When his nephew Pete overdosed on crystal meth sold by the security men at the casino, Chris realizes that the town is dominated by the mobsters and the corrupt sheriff and with a huge piece of wood, he breaks the casino and the criminals. He is prosecuted and in the trial, he promises to the jury a
Genre: Action, Crime
Director(s): Kevin Bray
Production: MGM
  2 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.2
Metacritic:
44
Rotten Tomatoes:
26%
PG-13
Year:
2004
86 min
$45,860,039
Website
536 Views


INTRO:

Inspired by a true story.

We home in on a boat coming in to shore. Off walks a man, he

is carrying a backpack and wearing shades.

EXT. TOWN

He walks through a town, passing various stores and the general

bustle of the people there. He notices a baby in a pram left

out on the sidewalk, then sees the mother is in an alleyway doing

what looks like a drug deal.

EXT. LUMBER YARD

Chris reads a closure notice on the door. A police car rolls

up.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

How ya doin'?

CHRIS:

Ok. When'd the mill close?

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Ahh 3 years this August. If ya lookin

for work you might wanna try Aberdeen,

that's the closest mill work you're

gonna find around here.

CHRIS:

That's too bad.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Nah just simple economics. Y'know we

have a really nice casino here, the

wild cherry. You wanna make some money

maybe you wanna go on down there and

try your luck at the blackjack tables.

CHRIS:

Nah I don't think so. Thanks.

Chris turns around and the sheriff notices his name on a bag.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

You're Chris Vaughn?

The sheriff chuckles and steps out of the car.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Well hell, I know all about you Chris.

I know your folks, I'm sheriff Stan

Watkins.

They shake hands.

CHRIS:

How ya doin.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Ralston get outta the car, you're lookin

at a real soldier here pay some respect.

RALSTON:

Welcome home soldier.

CHRIS:

Thanks.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Here Chris, (opens the back door) We'll

give ya a ride up to your folks.

CHRIS:

Nah I'm fine thank you.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

I insist.

CHRIS:

I'll walk.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Hey it's my pleasure.

CHRIS:

It's ok.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

I won't take no for an answer (jokingly

reaches for his gun). HEY! Get in the

car.

Chris raises his hands and the sheriff chuckles.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Did I scare ya with that one?

CHRIS:

Lil bit.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Ya. Let's go.

INT. POLICE CAR

SHERIFF WATKINS:

You were gone a while huh?

CHRIS:

8 years. Harstad was sheriff back then.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

Harstad, yeah. Sad story. About 5 months

back he fell asleep at the wheel and

uhhh... hit a tree. Good man, good man

and a good sheriff.

EXT. THE FAMILY HOME

CHRIS:

Thanks for the ride.

SHERIFF WATKINS:

No problem, and uh Chris (hands him

a piece of paper). It's election month...

I'm your man.

Chris takes the paper and smiles. He walks up the lane toward

the house, a simple white building clad in wood. A lady dressed

in a police uniform comes out.

MICHELLE:

Can I help you?

Chris laughs.

MICHELLE:

Lil' brother.. You come over here and

gimme a hug.

They laugh together.

MICHELLE:

You look great.

CHRIS:

What is this?

MICHELLE:

Hey, I couldn't let you be the only

one looking good in uniform. Hey ma!

Chris is here!

CHRIS:

What's with the tent? (points to a tent

set up on the lawn).

MICHELLE:

Oh, that's for Pete.

CONNIE:

Look at you!

CHRIS:

How ya doin!

Chris hugs his mother, Connie. A man slowly emerges from the

front door.

CONNIE:

How long do we have ya for?

CHRIS:

For good. I'm home.

CONNIE:

Really? You're not kiddin.

CHRIS:

No.

They hug again.

CHRIS:

Hey dad.

DAD:

Welcome back.

INT. KITCHEN

The family are eating takeaway.

CONNIE:

I wish you would have told me you were

coming I would've cooked.

CHRIS:

This is great.

MICHELLE:

So what are you gonna do now that you're

home?

CHRIS:

Well I was planning on working at the

mill, your letters never mentioned that

it was closed.

CONNIE:

We didn't wanna bother you with our

problems when your father got laid off.

DAD:

I got my business, you saw the furniture

outside.

CONNIE:

I substitute at the elementary school,

Michelle pitches in. We try to keep

things simple.

A kid walks in.

MICHELLE:

Pete! This is your Uncle Chris.

CHRIS:

Hey Pete.

MICHELLE:

Sit down, say hello. Last time he saw

you you were barely walking.

PETE:

And now I'm camping.

MICHELLE:

I said you could sleep on the couch.

It was Chris' room first.

CHRIS:

Your tent's gonna take on water. I could

show ya how to rig it.

PETE:

Doesn't look like it's gonna rain to

me Colonel.

MICHELLE:

Pete, cmon sit down, have somethin to

eat.

CHRIS:

First of all I was a sergeant. I worked

for a living.

PETE:

Did you ever smoke anybody?

CONNIE:

Pete!

MICHELLE:

Pete!

PETE:

Y'know, Papa's still got your gun locked

up in the garage. Think you could teach

me how to shoot?

CHRIS:

I figured that'd be scrap metal by now

dad.

DAD:

No, I'm still hoping that you'll melt

that thing down on your own.

CHRIS:

Sorry Pete.

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David Klass

David Klass is an American screenwriter and novelist. He has written more than 40 screenplays for Hollywood studios and published 14 young adult novels. His screenplays are primarily character-based thrillers for adults, while his novels often tell the stories of teenagers in crisis. more…

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