Shillelagh (4) Scott! Are you alright? SCOTT Fine, but I lost the stick. NANCY Doesn't matter. There are plenty more where we're going. SCOTT (grins, imitates John Wayne) Let's head on out, Pilgrim. Just be careful on the inclines. SHILLELAGH WIPE TO fading sunlight through leaves overhead as they reach a small clearing. Nancy checks her watch for the time and its face reveals a minitature walkie-talkie microphone and speaker. NANCY Almost five-thirty. Think we oughta make camp? SCOTT (thrilled with the setting) Sounds like a plan. NANCY (turns on her walkie-talkie) Better make sure these work as well. SCOTT (switching his own walkie-talkie on) Yeah, remember what the old guy said about details. She moves off, checking the underbrush. NANCY (into the watch) He was weird. SCOTT (speaks into the watch) Seemed pretty normal to me. Then again, ... you seem normal to me, too. DIFF. ANGLE on Scott as he listens to her progress. NANCY Very funny. Thought about bringing any "good" jokes with you? ANOTHER ANGLE as a crackling sound is heard over the small speaker. SCOTT I think you'd better head back now. NANCY (over speaker) I'm fine. There's some markers tied on the trees over here. Somebody's been through ... CLOSE UP of Scott as he listens intently. NANCY (whispers) Scott ... we gotta get out of here. There's two guys coming up the trail. SCOTT (calmly) Nancy, get back here. This isn't fun. NANCY I can't get back there in time. Hide in the bushes. Quick! They've got ... they've got guns. SCOTT (freezing in fear) What do I do? I can't hide in the wheelchair. ANOTHER ANGLE as the two men pass Nancy's hiding place. She waits until both have moved farther down the trail before responding. NANCY Scott ... can you hear me? DIFF. ANGLE as Scott struggles to crawl into the underbrush. SCOTT I made it. They can't see me. NANCY Stay put. I'll be there in a second. CLOSE SHOT of Scott's face. SCOTT No, they found the wheelchair. ANOTHER ANGLE as they toss it into the ravine. NICK C'mon out. We know you're here. (sternly) And you can't crawl away now. BRETT Nick, not so loud! She's not out here by herself. Chair proves that. NICK What's the deal? You think some kid in a wheelchair is gonna stop us? BRETT The deal's for her. Not him. DIFF. ANGLE as Scott locks the walkie-talkie's switch on "send". SCOTT (whispering) Don't come back here. Nick whirls around and drags Scott from his hiding place. NICK Well, whaddya know? One down ... one to go. SCOTT (struggling vainly) Lemme go ... BRETT You're our ticket to the big league, buddy. You ain't going nowhere. SCOTT Who are you? What do you want? NICK (dangles Scott over the ravine) How'd you like to join your wheels at the bottom? SCOTT (smugly) You wouldn't dare! You need me to get her. BRETT Not bad enough to put up with your smart mouth! Go on, Nick. Throw him over. NICK (grimly) One chance. Where is she? DIFF. ANGLE as Nancy steps up behind them. NANCY I'm right here. Now leave him alone. Nick motions for Brett to grab her. At the same moment, he drops Scott over the side of the ravine. Scott yells as Nancy screams. NICK Now we can get down to business. NANCY (yells as they draw her away) Scott! ... Can you hear me? SHILLELAGH WIPE to INT. Nancy's house as Greta enters. Her first response is to punch the answering machine and brightens as she hears Nancy's voice. NANCY (on tape) Mom, sorry I couldn't catch ya at work. But I tried. Scott and I are just going for a nature hike. Out back in the woods. See you at supper. Bye! Machine beeps, then begins rewinding. Greta checks a small bundle of mail, then clicks on her computer to retrieve e-mail. The familiar moniker "You've Got Mail" is heard. Then, as she clicks on an unidentified piece, her eyes freeze on the print that appears. CLOSE UP of the screen. SCREEN Your daughter's life is in our hands. To see her safely home again, bring $20,000 in small bills to the place shown on the map before 9 p.m. No police! DIFF. ANGLE as Greta grabs the map being printed off the computer. Turning to watch the screen, she sees the message deleting itself. She struggles with her inner anger as she realizes the message sender's name vanished before she made note of it. GRETA Who could have sent this? What sick ... depraved mind has gotten hold of Nancy? She slams her fist into the computer tabletop. GRETA (thinking aloud) The money's no problem. I can get that. But how do I know they'll release her if they get the money? She glances at the map. GRETA This isn't far through the woods. An old lime kiln set back up in there. (picks up the phone) No police? By the time I get through with you ... you'll wish you had police protection. SHILLELAGH WIPE TO: EXT. Bottom of ravine where Scott lies groggily shaking off the effects of his fall. It's dark and he hears a far off howl of dogs in the distance. His shirt's front pocket is torn. SCOTT (glancing around in the gloom) Not too far from my wheels. Good! Now I gotta get over there. (drags himself to the wheelchair and manages to right it) How am I gonna get this back up on the path? CLOSE UP of a squirrel nibbling at the knapsack. A piece of rope is visible at one edge. SCOTT The rope! I forgot all about it (pulls it out and ties one end around himself and the other around the wheelchair). All I gotta do is get from point A here ... (looks up at the path) to point B up there and it's a piece of cake. ANOTHER ANGLE as the squirrel cocks its head to listen, first one way then the other. Scott recognizes the gesture and looks down at his walkie talkie still on "send" mode. SCOTT A small detail ... but important (switches to "receive" mode and begins hearing Nancy's walkie talkie) Wait! That's what the old guy said. Focus on the details. ANOTHER ANGLE as squirrel watches Scott claw his way up the hill. He slides back several times before managing to gain a foothold on the ascent. SCOTT It's not that far ... I gotta get to Nancy. BRETT (over walkie talkie) Put her in the last one on the left. Nobody's gonna find her there. SCOTT (getting angrier by the minute) Wrong, buzz brain. Just keep the channel open, Nancy. Please, God, let her be all right. NICK (over walkie talkie) Did you hear something? DIFF. ANGLE as Scott checks his walkie talkie. It's still securely locked in "receive" mode. BRETT Coupla guys down by the stream. Snooping around. NICK Time we threw them off the track. (laughs gently) Just like the kid in the chair. C'mon get your gear and let's go. BRETT What about her? NICK She won't be going anywhere. Especially with the dogs watching. ANOTHER ANGLE as Scott reaches the path at the top of the ravine. SCOTT (begins pulling the wheelchair up) Once I get these wheels up... no dogs are gonna keep me from rescuing her. CLOSE UP of squirrel as it scampers off behind a tree. SPECIAL EFX as it morphs into St. Patrick. He smiles. FADE TO: EXT. Forest edge as several groups of parents are gathered, preparing to head into the woods. Greta is handing maps to everyone. FIRST WOMAN Are you sure all this is necessary? GRETA Definitely. If anybody gets lost ... rendezvous at the base of the lime kiln. SECOND WOMAN Greta, how far could they have gone? GRETA I'll admit ... the boy's in a wheelchair. But my daughter has enough sense to stay on the path. DIFF. ANGLE as a young, handsome man is seen behind her. He's dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, but has the look of a successful businessman. He's been listening to the exchange with keen interest. JESSE And my son doesn't? GRETA (turns to confront him) Look ... I didn't mean anything by that, Mr. Rainey. JESSE (matter-of-factly) Jesse will do. GRETA (not unmoved) I don't have time for sarcasm, Jesse. My daughter's lost in the woods. JESSE (quickly) With my son... GRETA (calmly) Yes, with your son...but I've got a presentation in the morning, and I don't need ... or want some local yokel giving me instructions on how to proceed. JESSE Seems to me you need some. You brought all these people in to scour the woods after dark. (pauses) Or is there another reason you haven't bothered to tell anyone? GRETA (shocked by his tact) What do you mean? Your son talked my daughter into going on a nature hike when he didn't have any business being near the woods. JESSE And that's how you see it? Handicapped people don't have the right to explore things? Challenge themselves and others to look at life from a(gestures for quotations) "different" point of view. Lady, if that's your attitude going in to save your daughter and my son from kidnappers ... we don't stand a snowball's chance. FIRST WOMAN Kidnappers? SECOND WOMAN Wait a minute! You didn't say anything about kidnappers. GRETA (angrily) I said we needed to rescue the children. FIRST WOMAN Forest animals are one thing... SECOND WOMAN (agreeing) As long as they're about this high (indicates height) FIRST WOMAN And stay that way. Greta watches as the crowd disperses. GRETA (to Jesse) Any other words of wisdom? JESSE (grabs a flashlight) Yeah...save our kids. SHILLELAGH WIPE to EXT. stream flowing gently at the base of the lime kiln area. Brett and Nick stop as they come up on the two game wardens. WARDEN STEVE (noticing their gear) Doing a little night fishing? NICK Not much luck this afternoon. Figured we might give it a try. WARDEN GREG (stooping to examine the water) Course now these parts probably don't attract a lot of meal fish. BRETT Just here to get away from it all ... for the most part. WARDEN STEVE And the other part? NICK (interrupting) Fishing. (points to the stream) CLOSE UP of the rushing water as trout speed swiftly along. BRETT (chiming in) And we're missing the best ones. WARDEN GREG Don't let us hold you up then. WARDEN STEVE Yeah, we've still got a ways go before that sun sets. DIFF. ANGLE as a dog howls in the distance. Steve looks toward the general direction as Greg watches Brett and Nick exchange glances. WARDEN STEVE You haven't seen any wolves in the area, have you? NICK Not yet. And with any luck, we won't. WARDEN GREG Well, have a good evening. BRETT Thanks. Same to ya. The wardens move off into the forest. Brett looks at Nick and gets no response. Nick is intent on ensuring the wardens are gone before opening up any conversation. CAMERA FOLLOWS the wardens down the path. WARDEN GREG Wanna run a check? WARDEN STEVE (taps his badge) Already in progress. WARDEN GREG That remote camera sure comes in handy. WARDEN STEVE (draws a small screen receiver from his pocket) Should have the lowdown on these two before they make their first cast. SHILLELAGH WIPE to EXT. cave located high on the lime kiln cliff face. A small rock hewn path leads into a dark opening where two large dogs guard the entrance. They are chained but nervously pace, awaiting Brett and Nick's return. CUT TO: INT. Nancy manages to wriggle free from the ropes that previously bound her. But she makes no sudden movements to infuriate the dogs. Slowly she activates her watch from its locked "send" mode. NANCY (whispers) Scott, are you there? Can you hear me? Moments of silence pass before she tries again. She does not take her eyes off the dogs who glare back menacingly. NANCY If you're there, Scott ... let me know it. SCOTT (over speaker) Still here. DIFF. ANGLE as the dogs hear the second voice and get agitated. One bays loudly, the sound heard by the warden, and stands rigidly at attention poised to strike at Nancy if the chain didn't restrain him. NANCY (swiftly) Scott, lower your voice. SCOTT (more quietly) Why? NANCY Because I'm looking at the biggest, meanest dogs I've ever seen. Both are chained, but they're getting really mad at the sound of another voice. SCOTT Where are you ? NANCY In a cave at the lime kiln. The two guys have gone someplace. I couldn't see where. SCOTT Don't worry. I'm on my way. NANCY No! Scott, you've got to go back. Warn my mother. SCOTT So they can take you farther away? I don't think so. NANCY Please, Scott ... listen to me. DIFF. ANGLE as a shadow falls across the watch. Brett and Nick have returned from another entrance farther back in the cave. NICK (grabs the watch) No, I think it's time you listened to us. NANCY How'd you get back in here? BRETT Never mind. Who you talking to? NICK Gotta be the boy. Knew we should have finished him off. SCOTT (over speaker) Fat chance, you goons. You'd better not hurt her or you'll answer to me. Nick motions to Brett and he moves to wave a piece of Scott's shirt in front of the dog's noses. Then he unchains them. They swiftly race off down the path, growling fiercely. NICK This isn't your call, boy. But it might be your last. (holds watch toward cave opening) Listen to the sound that will tear you apart when they find you. NANCY (screams as Nick smashes the watch under his foot) Scott, get out of the woods! BRETT (sneers in her face) Yell all you want! If your mother doesn't pay the ransom ...you won't be leaving the woods alive either. NANCY What? Why are you doing this? NICK (warns him) That's enough, Brett. BRETT She wants to know. NICK She doesn't need to know. NANCY I have the right ... NICK (quickly) Not here you don't. But if the money's not turned over... NANCY This isn't about money. BRETT She's smart, too. NICK That's enough. Tie her up. We need to check on the dogs...and what's left of the boy. WIPE TO: EXT. The two wardens freeze as the dogs bay on their approach. WARDEN STEVE Don't like the sound of that. (taps his badge) H.Q., You got that on tape? VOICE ON SPEAKER RADIO We copy. WARDEN GREG (whispers) Moving fast. This way. WARDEN STEVE (motions) Get to cover. Can't be out in the open when they ... CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as the dogs bound into the clearing. Warden Steve ducks and rolls as the first dog bounds past him into the forest beyond. He manages to draw his gun and shoot a tranquilizer dart at the second dog as it attacks Warden Greg. Greg wrestles with the dog until the drug takes effect. As he rises, Greg holds his arm where the dog managed to get a bite in before succumbing to the dart. WARDEN STEVE Greg, let me see it. WARDEN GREG (inspects his arm) Just some superficial stuff. SPEAKER ON TWO WAY RADIO Backup's dispatched! WARDEN STEVE (cuffing the dog's collar to a tree) The owners are probably those two we just left. WARDEN GREG (sitting down) Better check it out. SPEAKER ON TWO WAY RADIO Attention! We've got a report on two children in the woods. WARDEN STEVE (answering) Any more details? SPEAKER Neighbor phoned it in. The parents are searching in the vicinity. WARDEN STEVE We copy. WARDEN GREG I'll check on the parents. WARDEN STEVE Sure you're up to it? WARDEN GREG I'm fine. SOUND EFX as dog bays in distance. WARDEN STEVE (listens for a moment) Sounds like the other dog's circling. I'll head up to the kilns. Send backup that way. WARDEN GREG Check. I'll join you soon as I locate the parents. WIPE TO: EXT. A cliff facing the entrance to the cave where Nancy is held. CLOSE UP of a map as it's carefully folded. PULL BACK to see Scott in his wheelchair rolling out of shallow water along the river's edge. SCOTT This oughta throw the dogs off the scent. Now if the map holds true, there's another path to a clearing directly across from the caves. I gotta make that before the dogs get back to Nancy. FADE TO: EXT. Greta and Jesse are examining the clearing and broken brush where Scott was sent over the embankment. GRETA (calls down to him) Can you see anything? JESSE Not much. Lot of foodstuffs. Nothing major (pauses)...Wait a minute. He clears the cell phone away from some small branches. Picking up a larger stick, he waves back up the hill to Greta. JESSE Found their phone. (wields the stick to help him climb back up the bank) And there's no sign of the wheelchair. Scott's probably still in it then. GRETA I hope so. JESSE Do you mean that? GRETA Yes ... I do. As long as I know they're together, there's a chance. JESSE (somewhat sarcastically) That's a vote of confidence for both of them. GRETA (struggling not to give in to her emotions) I mean that, Jesse. They need each other to get through this. She sinks into his hug momentarily. JESSE They'll be alright, Greta. I know it. I only wish we had more help finding them. The shillelagh glows for a moment. Greta's eyes widen as she sees the glow, unnoticed by Jesse. GRETA Jesse, that stick .... JESSE What? He releases her and looks at the shillelagh. GRETA It glowed. JESSE Probably came from the sunset over there. GRETA No, Jesse, it was green. JESSE Maybe it's radioactive or something. DIFFERENT ANGLE as he tosses it aside and Warden Greg appears, stepping through the underbrush. GRETA Who are you? WARDEN GREG Game warden, ma'am. Greg Walker. Ran into some trouble up the trail. Need to get some backup in here. Should be arriving any minute. JESSE Have you seen our children? A little girl and a boy in a wheelchair? WARDEN GREG Haven't seen them. But my partner's checking a lead up by the lime kilns. GRETA We've got to go. WARDEN GREG Now, ma'am, I don't think that's such a good idea. Warden Greg absently reaches to stop her from leaving and reveals the dog bite mark. JESSE Something bit you. WARDEN GREG Nothing to be alarmed about. As soon as backup arrives, we can go back down the trail. GRETA We're going now. With or without you, warden! JESSE She's right. We can't help the children standing here. WARDEN GREG (giving in) All right. But let me lead. I know the general direction they followed. They turn to head out and face Gary Perkins holding a gun directly at them. GARY Nobody moves from here, till I get confirmation from you, Greta. GRETA Gary, what is this? GARY This, my dear partner, is where I leave you in the dust. WARDEN GREG Take it easy, mister. Nobody needs to get hurt here. GARY My point exactly. All we have to do is stay right here until the close of business tomorrow. GRETA You'd kidnap my child for a delay in product launch? GARY Not just a delay. More like an end to competition. GRETA (angrily) You switched sides…you sorry excuse for … GARY Money, plain pure and simple. He fires one shot in the air as a signal. Immediately, Scott and Brett step into view. SCOTT Here, boss. BRETT Girl's secure. CUT TO: DIFFERENT ANGLE as backup force materializes behind them. LEAD BACKUP OFFICER And I'd hasten to add the same for yourselves. SECOND BACKUP (to another officer) How'd we get here? We were just talking to the old guy. THIRD BACKUP (aside to the second officer) He pointed that walking stick at us, and we were like here. LEAD BACKUP OFFICER (motioning to Gary, Brett and Scott) You three get over there. (motions for the other backups to cuff them) Read their rights. And get them out of here. Kidnapping children's at the top of my list for swift justice in court. WARDEN GREG Thanks for the help, officers. JESSE Let's get moving. Scott and Nancy are still out there. And it's getting dark. LEAD BACKUP OFFICER I’m with you on that. WARDEN GREG Steve's probably reached them by now. NICK (smirking) If the dogs haven't torn them apart yet. GRETA (whispers to herself) God, please keep them safe! CUT TO: EXT. ALTERNATE LEDGE. Scott is seen watching the entrance to the cave where Nancy peers out. The single remaining dog is pacing nervously only a few feet away. Scott has tied himself into the wheelchair and cut loose one end of a hanging vine. Testing its strength, he pulls himself and the wheelchair slightly off the ground. As the chair's wheels slightly lift, it rolls toward the edge of the rocky path. Scott quickly releases his grip and returns to earth. Straining backward, he rolls the chair to its greatest tension point directly in line with the slightly higher ledge where Nancy is stranded. NANCY What are you doing, Scott? You can't make it over here. SCOTT Says who? (grins tightly back) You? NANCY You're too low. SCOTT Can you make it to the edge of the path? She takes one step from the mouth of the cave. The dog inches closer, circling viciously. NANCY Don't think the dog likes that. SCOTT (grins back) Then we won't invite him on the ride. NANCY What's the plan? SCOTT I'm gonna swing as close as I can to the edge and then you jump. NANCY You're kidding! SCOTT Never more serious in my life. CUT TO: CLOSE UP of the dog as it runs toward Nancy. Forcing her back into the cave. Then turns as it hears footsteps heading up the path. Warden Steve can be heard faintly at first, then growing louder. WARDEN STEVE Hang on, kids. It's Warden Steve. I'm almost there. NANCY (yells) Don't come any closer. There's a killer dog loose. WARDEN STEVE I've got it covered. CUT TO: As if responding to the strange voice, the dog bounds off and surprises Steve. His tranquilizer gun gets knocked to one side as he fends off the vicious attack. DIFF ANGLE as Scott begs Nancy to run for the edge. SCOTT Nancy, you gotta do it! NANCY Ok, hurry… CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Scott releases the brake on the wheelchair and he careens off the side of the ledge. He swings out directly under Nancy as she starts to run. The dog is caught in the middle of either continuing its attack on the warden or stopping her from escape. Remembering its training, the dog heads for her. She screams, but manages to leap off the side into Scott's waiting arms. The vine continues its forward motion and then swings back to its point of origin. Depositing both children safely on the opposite ledge. The dog, angry at its escaped prey, turns its fury back on the warden. Steve recovers his tranquilizer gun and fires, stopping the animal in mid-attack. CUT TO: OPPOSITE LEDGE. Nancy hugs Scott tightly. Grateful for her rescue from certain harm. NANCY You saved me. SCOTT (covering his fear) Had to. Owed you from the playground. NANCY (matter-of-factly) That's the only reason? SCOTT That …and this (he kisses her). NANCY (surprised but pleased) Rescued and rewarded. SCOTT Sorry, didn't mean to take advantage… NANCY (grins) Sometimes, it's nice. (kisses him back) SCOTT Guess we both got our wish then. NANCY (thinking) It did take standing on your own two feet to save me. CUT TO: DIFFERENT ANGLE of the warden watching the two children. WARDEN STEVE They sure grow up too fast these days. SHILLELAGH WIPE TO: INT. OFFICE BUILDING. MID-MORNING. Greta walks toward the board room door. Then veers away abruptly as her cell phone rings. Pulling it out to answer, she smiles as Jesse's voice is heard on the other end. GRETA (flirtatiously) I told you never to call me at the office. JESSE It's important. GRETA Enough to keep me from a board meeting? JESSE I'll let you be the judge of that. GRETA Time is money. JESSE Oh, it's much more than that. We could discuss it over lunch. Say about twelve-thirty? GRETA I really can't. Nancy's got a soccer match then. JESSE I know. Scott's calling plays with the coach. GRETA (thinking) A working lunch? Sounds like a plan. JESSE See you on the bleacher then. GRETA Nothing heavy. JESSE Salad, soda and a choice of dessert. GRETA Twelve-thirty, then. CUT TO: DIFFERENT ANGLE as she rises to head back toward the board room. Her eye catches on a walking stick being used by an older man making his way down the hall. She catches up to him before he reaches for the elevator button. GRETA Sir, I couldn't help noticing your cane. ST PATRICK This? (waves the shillelagh lightly in the air) I'd be a sorry sight trying to walk without it. GRETA It really looks familiar. ST PATRICK Many times familiar things become commonplace. People forget the gifts life has to offer. GRETA Believe me, I've learned how valuable a life can become. ST PATRICK (smiles warmly) That's the greatest wish of all. CUT TO: DIFFERENT ANGLE as a secretary calls to Greta. Diverted momentarily from St. Patrick, she turns to respond. SECRETARY Miss Hawks, they're looking for you in the board room. GRETA I'll be right there. After I finish talking to this gentleman. SECRETARY Who? CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Greta turns back and St. Patrick is nowhere to be seen. A look of amazement freezes in place on her face. CUT TO: EXT. SOCCER FIELD. Nancy and Scott are seen conversing right before the beginning of their match. He is outlining plays and she is hurriedly trying to remember them. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as St. Patrick walks past the field and down the sidewalk toward a small neighborhood several blocks ahead. ST PATRICK (taps the shillelagh gingerly against the sidewalk) Little one, we've a great deal ahead of us today. EFX as the shillelagh begins glowing. ST PATRICK And a wee bit of Irish luck to turn the tide! MUSIC UP as he vanishes into a cloud of green smoke leaving the shillelagh resting against a car parked in front of a fire hydrant. A fire truck is seen pulling to a stop behind it. FADE OUT CREDITS BEGIN ROLLING THE END
Copyright © 1985 Emmett O Saunders Iii |