EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Weaving aimlessly among the clouds.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al is steering no particular course, Tenbrink beside him.
AL
Just seems like we ought to be
heading somewhere.
TENBRINK
Patience, Mister Findlay. Just
enjoy the scenery till we hear
from them.
INT. CABIN - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers lazing. Mac looks at his watch.
MAC
Eleven fifteen. He should be up
by now.
Bryna starts punching numbers on the cell phone, while
beckoning Curly over with a nod of her head:
BRYNA
You talk to 'em.
INT. TERMINAL BUILDING - DAY
While Henry hovers over her shoulder, Mary is making a "Gone
Fishing" sign with a marker.
HENRY
I've wrote a new song, Mary.
You're gonna like it.
Henry starts singing seductively, a cappella, his hands
roaming Mary's shoulders and arms, while Mary makes her sign.
The phone rings. As Mary starts to pick up the receiver:
HENRY (cont'd)
If that's the sheriff, I'm not
here.
MARY
Why? What have you done?
HENRY
It's what I ain't done. He'll
pitch a fit.
MARY
(into phone)
Hello.
(beat)
Who is this?
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Weaving among the clouds.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al and Tenbrink as before. They suddenly hear,
MARY'S VOICE
(on radio)
Cherokee Eight-Four-Five-Three-
Three, Perryville, over.
Al grabs up the mike.
AL
(into mike)
Cherokee Five-Three-Three. Go
ahead, Perryville.
MARY'S VOICE
(on radio)
Urgent telephone message, caller
unknown. Message is: Look under
instrument panel. Repeat: Look
under instrument panel. Over and
out.
Al and Tenbrink feel along the underside of the panel.
Tenbrink comes up with the taped piece of paper. He unfolds
it, looks intently at the written message.
AL
What does it say?
Tenbrink hands it to Al.
TENBRINK
I don't have my glasses. What does
it say?
AL
(reading)
"Track one nine five V.O.R. radial
to Jaspar. Drop on nine zero
radial of Lake City."
TENBRINK
Do you know what it means?
Al picks up an aeronautical chart and a plotter.
TENBRINK (cont'd)
Can you do it?
AL
I thought you were a pilot.
TENBRINK
My chauffeur is.
Al starts plotting something on the chart.
AL
V.O.R. is an air navigation system,
using radio signals.
TENBRINK
That much I know.
As Al draws two intersecting lines on the chart:
AL
What they're saying is, we fly
toward the Jaspar V.O.R. station.
When we come to this line - the
signal from the Lake City station -
we drop the suitcase.
Al taps the spot on the chart.
AL (cont'd)
Right where the signals intersect.
Al starts tuning his two V.O.R. radios.
TENBRINK
So what's at the drop site? Some
kind of antenna?
AL
No. There could be anything -
or nothing. It's just where the
signals happen to cross.
(starting turning the plane)
Don't worry. We can find it.
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al is turning the plane.
EXT. THE CABIN - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers get into the SUV. They head down
a little dirt road in the woods.
INT. BEDROOM - FINDLAY TRAILER - DAY
Henry and Mary are undressing - striptease style, to Henry's
a cappella singing.
EXT. AIRPORT ROAD - DAY
Lanny's patrol car turns from the highway.
INT. PATROL CAR - DAY
Lanny is driving with a determined look, Junior beside him.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Henry and Mary have just hit the bed.
They hear the arriving car, Mary looks out the window.
MARY
It's the sheriff.
As Henry bounds out of bed, grabbing clothes:
HENRY
Shit a brick.
As Mary grabs clothes:
MARY
Henry, what is it that you haven't
done?
HENRY
Screw you!
MARY
What?
HENRY
That's what I still haven't done!
EXT. TERMINAL BUILDING - DAY
Lanny, hustling toward the entrance, stops, Junior right
behind him, as he sees the "Gone Fishing" sign on the door.
LANNY
Gone fishing my ass.
Lanny turns, bumping into Junior, and heads for:
EXT. THE TRAILER - DAY
The door opens, Mary appears, just managing to look dressed,
as Lanny and Junior hustle over.
LANNY
Where's Henry? His plane's over
there. His truck's over here.
JUNIOR
And his sorry ass is in there.
Henry, stuffing in his shirttail, appears behind Mary in the
doorway.
LANNY
Henry, what the hell are you doing
in there?
HENRY
Just having a cup of coffee,
Sheriff.
LANNY
I don't give a damn what you're
doing in there, why aren't you
tailing Al's plane?
HENRY
I got here too late, Sheriff.
Weren't no use in trying.
LANNY
Mary, where was Al going?
MARY
Al didn't know. Tenbrink wouldn't
say.
JUNIOR
Tenbrink didn't know.
MARY
Al didn't either.
LANNY
Well somebody knew.
HENRY
Don't look at me.
MARY
(sudden thought)
I know who knew -
LANNY
Who?
MARY
- I took the message.
LANNY
Whose message?
MARY
I don't know!
EXT. THE DIRT ROAD IN WOODS - DAY
Thick forest. The SUV stops by the road, Chuckie and the
kidnappers get out.
Chuckie looks lost, but Mac knows right where they are. Mac
draws Chuckie's attention to a tree with a big "X" carved on
the trunk:
MAC
I left my signature.
CHUCKIE
A big X, eh?
BRYNA
That's Curly's signature. He just
let Mac use it.
Mac, heading into the forest, gestures for the others to
follow:
MAC
All right, let's go. Under the
trees, and spread out a bit.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers spread out through the trees from
the road.
Mac strolls to a halt, then Chuckie. They confidently scan
the patches of sky above the treetops.
Bryna and Curly, staying within sight, stop as well. Curly
keeps a suspicious eye on Mac and Chuckie, as the four stand
waiting.
EXT. AL'S PLANE - FLYING - DAY
Fairly low now over the treetops.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al draws Tenbrink's attention to the V.O.R. radios.
AL
These are the V.O.R. radios. You
got two of 'em.
TENBRINK
Right.
Al points to radio #1. The needle is pointing straight down.
AL
This means we're right on the beam,
heading straight for the Jaspar
station.
Al points to radio #2. The needle is at five o'clock.
AL (cont'd)
This means we're approaching the
other signal. When this needle's
down, we're there.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers waiting, listening for a plane.
CHUCKIE
I'm going to buy me a plane when
things settle down. I've got this
buddy, his dad owns a couple of
planes. They have a private strip
too. His dad wants to sell his
Cessna.
MAC
Didn't I tell you not to throw
things around? That includes
money. What will people think?
CHUCKIE
I'll tell 'em I hit it big in the
stock market. Who cares what they
think?
MAC
I do. So do the others. And we
don't work at the mill. So let's
get something straight. When this
is over, we don't care who you are.
But we do care what you do. Don't
try buying a plane.
CHUCKIE
You're going to keep tabs on me,
eh?
MAC
Call it self-preservation.
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Low over the treetops.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al doesn't notice but Tenbrink suddenly grimaces, clutching
his chest, in pain.
The pain seems to pass, Tenbrink takes a deep breath.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers hear the faint sound of an
airplane. They look off above the trees.
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Low over the trees.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al checks his chart, looks at radio #2. The needle at almost
six o'clock.
As Al puts away the chart:
AL
We're almost there.
He turns to reach for the suitcase.
AL (cont'd)
Help me get this -
Al sees with horror that Tenbrink is having a heart attack.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
The sound of the plane is louder. Chuckie and the kidnappers
can't see far for the trees, but they all look confident,
expectant.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al is desperately trying to make contact on his radio. He's
also turning the plane, Tenbrink unconscious beside him.
AL
(into mike)
Perryville, Cherokee Eight-Four-
Five-Three-Three! Mayday, over!
Al is paying no attention to radio #2. The needle is
pointing straight down.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
As Chuckie and the kidnappers watch, Al's plane, banking and
turning, flies by overhead. It disappears over the trees,
the sound starts dying away.
As they look anxiously around:
BRYNA
Did you hear something hit?
CURLY
No!
BRYNA
Where the hell's he going?!
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al still turning the plane, Tenbrink unconscious.
AL
Hang on, Mister Tenbrink.
MARY'S VOICE
(on radio)
Cherokee Five-Three-Three, this is
Perryville, over.
AL
(into mike)
Perryville, I think my passenger's
had a heart attack. Have an ambulance
ready.
MARY'S VOICE
(on radio)
Roger, Perryville out.
Al puts away the mike, concentrates on his turn, then suddenly
looks back at the suitcase.
AL
Oh shit - the money.
He keeps turning the plane, looks at Tenbrink.
AL (cont'd)
Don't worry, I'll make that drop.
It's on the way back, won't take
half a minute. Hang on.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are standing around in despair.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al levels off the plane, resets his V.O.R. radios, then
reaches back for the suitcase.
Radio #2's needle is at almost six o'clock.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers now hear the sound of the plane
again.
CURLY
He's coming back!
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Low again over the treetops.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al is struggling with the heavy suitcase, trying to get it
out of the back seat.
He is paying no attention now to radio #2. The needle is
pointing straight down.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers again watch Al's plane fly past
overhead.
The sound fades, they look anxiously around.
BRYNA
Did you hear something hit?
CURLY
No!
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al has gotten the suitcase out of the back seat. He now
struggles to get it over Tenbrink's limp body, to the plane's
only door.
Radio #2's needle is past six o'clock.
Opening the door with effort, Al drops out the suitcase.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
As Al's plane flies over, the falling suitcase disappears
into the treetops.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al closes the door, looks at unconscious Tenbrink.
AL
I did it, Mister Tenbrink.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers walk around in despair.
BRYNA
What did he do?!
EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - DAY
Al's plane lands. An ambulance rushes to meet it.
INT./EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al, looking worried and drained, waits in his seat as TWO
PARAMEDICS are removing unconscious Tenbrink from the plane.
EXT. THE CABIN - NIGHT
Dimly lit, the SUV parked nearby.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Chuckie and the kidnappers sit brooding.
On a TV SCREEN, an ANCHORMAN and ANCHORWOMAN - your usual
local-news happy faces - are reading the news.
ANCHORMAN
(on TV)
The mayor was noncommital as to
whether he would seek another term.
ANCHORWOMAN
(on TV)
Charles Tenbrink, owner of Tenbrink
Pulp and Paper, died today in
Perryville, Florida -
Chuckie and the kidnappers are suddenly paying attention.
ANCHORWOMAN (cont'd)
- after suffering a heart attack
while aboard a private plane.
ANCHORMAN
The pulp and paper magnate was on
a business trip at the time. No
other details were available.
The anchors turn smilingly to the WEATHERMAN.
ANCHORMAN (cont'd)
Well, Rollie, did we have any
weather today?
ANCHORWOMAN
What was it like?
ANCHORMAN
Was it hot or what?
Mac musingly turns off the TV. Chuckie is lost in solemn
thought. Bryna and Curly are mad.
BRYNA
Findlay kept it. The bastard kept
it! He saw Tenbrink was kicking
off, so he kept the dough.
MAC
Or else he got confused . . .
CURLY
. . . dropped it in the wrong
place.
BRYNA
We don't know that. You're
guessing.
CURLY
So are you. So what do we do?
CHUCKIE
I ought to be home with Mom.
BRYNA
We've got to figure out what
Findlay did.
CURLY
I've got a better idea. Let's
go ask him.
MAC
You guys aren't paying attention.
Chuckie said he ought to be home.
Chuckie's right. Charles Tenbrink
is dead. That could make our
friend Chuckie a very rich man.
Bryna and Curly get the idea.
BRYNA
Yeah. Even richer than Findlay is
now.
MAC
And one thing a rich man should
not ever do is forget his less
fortunate friends.
BRYNA
Come on, Mac. You think Chuckie
would forget who his friends are?
The kidnappers smile at Chuckie.
CURLY
No way. Right, Chuckie?
CHUCKIE
If my father rewrote his will
within the last few days, you could
be in for a big disappointment.
EXT. TENBRINK MANSION - DAY
A REPORTER is being taped by a TV MOBILE CREW, the mansion in
b.g.
REPORTER
The news was sudden, dramatic.
Charles Tenbrink, it was learned
last night, suffered his fatal
heart attack while delivering a two
million-dollar ransom for release
of his kidnapped son.
INT. FINDLAY TRAILER - NIGHT
On the TV SCREEN, Chuckie and Mrs. Tenbrink, surrounded by
REPORTERS, are being shown on tape.
REPORTER (V.O.)
Charles Tenbrink Junior was
released late last night, unharmed.
His unknown abductors remain at
large.
Al and the reporter now appear on the TV as taped at the
airport.
REPORTER (V.O.)
We spoke with Al Findlay, the
Perryville pilot who managed to
make the ransom drop even while
Tenbrink was dying.
Al and Mary are watching the TV at home, Al looking proud of
himself. They're having peanuts and beer.
REPORTER (cont'd)
Mister Findlay, can you describe
exactly what happened when you
realized Mister Tenbrink was
stricken?
AL
(on TV)
Well, I knew I had to make that
drop no matter what or, you know,
we could lose 'em both - father and
son. So I made that drop and
headed for home, hoping it wasn't
too late.
EXT. FINDLAY TRAILER - DAY
Al, on a ladder, has a new gutter almost in place on the
trailer, while Mary stands by.
MARY
Al, tell me one thing. Why didn't
you drop the money in the wrong
place?
Al stops what he's doing, looks down at Mary. As Al grabs
the loose gutter before it can fall:
AL
What?
MARY
Then you could go back and get it.
AL
(indignantly)
Drop the money in the wrong place?
MARY
Yeah. Can't you do anything right?
The gutter falls and hits Al on the head.
INT. LAWYER'S OFFICE - DAY
A LAWYER is reading a will to Mrs. Tenbrink and Chuckie.
LAWYER
(reading)
"I, Charles Tenbrink, being of sound
mind and body, do hereby make this
final will and testament . . . "
EXT. A HOLIDAY INN - DAY
Chuckie parks his car next to the kidnappers' SUV. He gets
out. He looks disgusted as he heads for:
INT. A ROOM - HOLIDAY INN - DAY
Bryna lets Chuckie in. Chuckie dejectedly sits down, Mac,
Bryna, and Curly waiting for the news.
CHUCKIE
I can't believe it. A trust fund.
It'll be five more years before I
get any money.
The kidnappers don't hide their exasperation.
CURLY
Wait a minute. How do we know he's
telling the truth?
BRYNA
If he's not, he's a dead man.
CURLY
I wanna see this will.
CHUCKIE
You'll see it.
MAC
All right, let's cut the shit.
Forget the damn will. We're
not waiting around five years.
We proceed with Plan B.
BRYNA
What's Plan B?
MAC
What else? Location and recovery
of - lost treasure.
CURLY
We go after Findlay.
MAC
Tsch. You think Findlay's got it?
He doesn't even know what he did.
CURLY
How do you know?
BRYNA
He doesn't. He's guessing. I say
Findlay's got it.
MAC
We'll know soon enough if he's got
it.
CHUCKIE
What do we do?
MAC
We buy him a drink. At The Wrong
Place.
EXT. "THE WRONG PLACE" - NIGHT
REESTABLISHING SHOT.
INT. "THE WRONG PLACE" - NIGHT
Henry and the Volts are performing on stage.
Henry's lovesick eyes are on Mary, who eyes Henry back, as
she and Al, both just arrived, exchange greetings with
FRIENDS.
Al and Mary head toward Chuckie, waiting for them alone at a
table with a drink.
Chuckie rises to greet Al and Mary.
CHUCKIE
Hello, Al.
AL
Mister Tenbrink.
CHUCKIE
Chuckie. Call me Chuckie.
(then)
Mrs. Findlay, would you mind very
much if I spoke with your husband
alone for a minute?
MARY
Why, no, uh - I'll be over there
with some friends.
CHUCKIE
Just for a minute, that's all.
Mary moves off to join friends as Al and Chuckie sit down at
the table.
CHUCKIE (cont'd)
Al, first I wanted to thank you for
the part you played in getting me
home safely.
AL
Well, I -
Chuckie cuts Al off as Phyllis the waitress appears with a
draft beer:
CHUCKIE
What'll you have, Al?
As Phyllis sets down the draft with a smile:
PHYLLIS
I'll bet he wants this.
AL
Phyllis can read my mind. It's
amazing. I keep telling her she's
working in the Wrong Place.
PHYLLIS
Al, you're so suave and debonaire.
(she pronounces it "suavy
and de-boner")
AL
You're the de-boner, Phyllis. I
mean that in the nicest possible
way.
Phyllis laughs as she's walking away.
Al laughs too. Chuckie smiles.
CHUCKIE
Anything going on there, Al?
AL
Nah, we just kid around.
CHUCKIE
Well, back to the subject, Al. My
mother thanks you too.
AL
Well, I -
CHUCKIE
(interrupting)
Secondly, Al, there's something
that . . .
Chuckie stops, seemingly very amused. He speaks confidentially:
CHUCKIE (cont'd)
I have to tell you this, Al. You
deserve to know. Nobody knows this
but me and the kidnappers. Keep
this under your hat, okay? If it
ever got out, they might come back
at me. It would be a reflection
on 'em, you know?
A beat. Chuckie acts like he can hardly keep from laughing.
CHUCKIE (cont'd)
You're going to laugh at this, Al.
You dropped the money in the wrong
place. They never got it. But
they were too embarrassed to have
it known, so they let me go. Isn't
that funny? Everybody thinks they
pulled a perfect crime. But you
ruined it.
Chuckie chortles.
AL
I dropped the money in the wrong
place?
CHUCKIE
Just like the name of this joint.
You flew right past. No suitcase.
God knows where you dropped it.
You could never go back and find it
now - all those miles, all those
woods.
The wheels can almost be seen turning in Al's head.
AL
That's right. I could never go
back and find it now. All those
miles.
CHUCKIE
Maybe some pulpwood cutter found
it, you know? Living high on the
hog now. Or maybe it fell in a
creek. Who cares? Isn't that a
laugh, Al? The wrong place.
AL
Boy, that's funny.
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Flying low over the treetops.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al is checking the chart, radios, forest below, trying to
figure out where he dropped it.
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Another single-engine plane is trailing Al's in the distance.
INT. THE OTHER PLANE - DAY
Chuckie is at the controls, Mac beside him, Bryna and Curly
in back. All their eyes are straight ahead on Al's plane.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al starts turning the plane.
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al's plane turning. The trailing plane is turning as well.
INT. THE OTHER PLANE - DAY
Chuckie is turning the plane, Mac calm, Bryna and Curly
looking anxious.
CURLY
What if he sees us?
BRYNA
What is he doing?
CHUCKIE
He's doubling back, like he did
for the drop.
As Chuckie is leveling off the plane:
CHUCKIE (cont'd)
He missed us the first time,
remember?
BRYNA
Hell I reckon. He missed us the
second time too.
Mac is watching Al's plane ahead.
MAC
(as if to Al)
Good boy. Where did you drop it?
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al is studying his chart. He looks at radio #2. The needle
is past six o'clock.
Al's thinking. He scans the forest below, as if for a
landmark.
INT. FINDLAY TRAILER - DAY
Al, in hunting clothes, sits checking over a shotgun, while
Mary stands over him.
MARY
What do you mean you're going
hunting? You don't give a damn
about hunting. What did you pay
for that gun? Al, what are you
up to?
AL
I told you. I'm going hunting.
MARY
Al, you've never fired a shotgun
before and -
Al fires the gun accidentally, blasting the glass out of the
window. After a moment,
MARY (cont'd)
. . . and wouldn't know how.
EXT. A DIRT ROAD IN WOODS - DAY
Al's truck comes bumping along the winding road.
INT. AL'S TRUCK - DAY
Al is looking at the forest, as if trying to decide where to
stop. He's in his hunting clothes.
EXT. THE ROAD - DAY
Tailing Al's truck, keeping just out of sight around the
bends, is the kidnappers' SUV.
INT. THE SUV - DAY
Curly is driving, Mac beside him, Bryna and Chuckie in back,
all looking off ahead.
They have shotguns, and are dressed for hunting. They also
have walkie-talkies and binoculars.
EXT. THE ROAD - DAY
Al has parked his truck by the road. He gets out with his
shotgun.
He looks around at the wilderness, sighs at the challenge.
He heads into the forest.
EXT. THE ROAD - DAY
The SUV stops by the road. Chuckie and the kidnappers quietly
get out.
Mac gestures for them to spread out as they head into the
forest.
EXT. AIRPORT ROAD - DAY
Lanny's patrol car turns from the highway.
INT. BEDROOM - THE TRAILER - DAY
Henry and Mary are on the bed, getting out of their clothes.
They hear the arriving car, Mary looks out the window.
MARY
Henry, it's the sheriff again.
As they grab clothes:
HENRY
I've heard of coitus interruptus, but
this is ridiculous.
EXT. TRAILER - DAY
Mary, hastily dressed, opens the front door. Outside stand
Lanny, with a walkie-talkie and a moon pie, and Jimmy Paul
(in his uniform now).
As Lanny is eating his pie:
LANNY
Where's Al?
MARY
He said he was going hunting.
LANNY
Henry in there?
HENRY (O.S.)
Just having a cup of coffee,
Sheriff.
Henry, stuffing in his shirttail, appears behind Mary in the
doorway.
LANNY
Henry, there's a convict loose from
out at the work camp. We've got
the dogs going in between the river
and Twenty-Nine. We'd like to hire
a plane too, try to spot him.
HENRY
Well I can't help you. Right now
my plane's tore half apart. I got
all kinds of trouble.
LANNY
Who's plane's that over there?
MARY
That's Wes Tilley's.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Al is prowling the forest, unaware that Mac is watching
through binoculars.
Curly pokes around in b.g. behind Mac.
EXT. A ROADSIDE BY WOODS - DAY
PRISON SECURITY OFFICERS have parked their vehicles, head
into the forest with weapons and BLOODHOUNDS.
Jimmy Paul drops by in the patrol car.
JIMMY PAUL
Good luck catchin' that convict!
OFFICER
Don't worry, we'll cover these
woods with a fine-toothed comb!
EXT. RAILROAD TRACKS - DAY
Along a roadbed through the forest. Al, on the prowl, emerges
from the trees, starts crossing the tracks.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Everyone seems to be watching everyone else through binoculars:
Bryna watching Al, then turning to watch Mac and Curly, who
are watching Al;
Chuckie watching Bryna watching Al;
Bryna turning, looking suspiciously off at Chuckie, Chuckie
looking straight back at Bryna.
EXT. WES TILLEY'S PLANE - DAY
A single-engine Cessna banks over the forest.
INT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
Good ol' boy WES TILLEY, 36, is at the controls, Lanny beside
him.
Something below catches Lanny's eye as they're banking. It's
a cabin secluded in the woods.
LANNY
Who lives down there?
Wes looks down.
WES
Oh, that old hermit.
LANNY
Oh yeah.
WES
What's-his-name.
Lanny looks amused.
LANNY
That convict better not mess with
him. That old man'll shoot him.
He's crazy.
EXT. HERMIT'S CABIN - DAY
Al has emerged from woods onto the premises.
CHICKENS roam in the yard, a HOG eats slop in a low-railed
pen.
Al walks rather tentatively toward the cabin door.
HERMIT (O.S.)
Hold it right there!
Al turns, sees the grizzled HERMIT, 60-ish, who apparently
has just returned from the woods, pointing a shotgun at him.
HERMIT (cont'd)
What are you up to?
AL
Nothing, I - I'm out here looking
for some, uh, lost personal
property. Have you seen any?
HERMIT
I'm out here in the middle of
nowhere, mister, 'cause I don't
like your civil-i-zation.
AL
I can't blame you for that.
HERMIT
And I don't like you civilized
people coming out here. So you
turn around and go back to your
civil-i-zation.
AL
Fair enough.
Al nods farewell, heads off on his way, casting cautious
glances back.
The hermit, his shotgun still at ready, is watching Al leave.
CAMERA ZOOMS IN on
A LARGE OAK TREE
near the edge of the yard. The suitcase is lodged in the
tree.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Mac and Curly have been watching the cabin encounter through
binoculars. They watch the hermit go into his cabin.
Mac lowers his binoculars, sighs boredly - but Curly sees
something through his.
CURLY
Mac . . . that oak tree - to the
right of the cabin . . .
Mac looks through his binoculars. He sees it too:
CURLY (cont'd)
It's the suitcase.
As Mac heads for the tree:
MAC
Call the others.
Curly grabs up his walkie-talkie.
EXT. BUSHES - DAY
THE PRISON ESCAPEE, 30-ish, physically imposing, lies in the
bushes, tired and sweaty, still in his prison blues.
He's been hiding from Mac and Curly, and is watching them.
Not knowing what they're up to, he gets to his feet and
sneaks off in another direction.
INT. HERMIT'S CABIN - DAY
The hermit has just leaned his shotgun against the wall, when
he hears someone running outside.
Through a window he sees Mac dash by outside. Now Bryna
comes running from the woods facing the window.
The hermit grabs his shotgun.
EXT. THE OAK TREE - DAY
Mac, Bryna, and Curly quickly lay down their guns. Mac and
Curly boost Bryna up toward the suitcase in the tree.
HERMIT (O.S.)
Hold it right there!
Mac and Curly set Bryna down. The hermit is pointing his
shotgun at them.
HERMIT (cont'd)
What are you up to?
MAC
Just trying to get my suitcase.
HERMIT
What's it doing up there?
MAC
It fell out of an airplane.
HERMIT
(beat)
What are those walkie-talkies for?
MAC
They're for walking and talking.
AL (O.S.)
Hey!
Al comes running back. He sees the suitcase, and clearly
recognizes Bryna.
AL (cont'd)
(to Hermit)
Hey, I'm glad you caught these
guys. They've been trying to steal
my suitcase.
MAC
He's lying. It's my suitcase.
AL
It's mine. That's the personal
property I was looking for.
HERMIT
What's it doing up there?
AL
It fell out of an airplane.
HERMIT
How'd it do that?
AL
That's what I'd like to know.
Al lays down his gun and starts trying to climb the tree.
AL (cont'd)
(to Curly)
Don't just stand there. Help me
get up here.
Curly looks with aggravation at the hermit with the gun, then
grudgingly boosts Al up toward the suitcase.
AL (cont'd)
(to the hermit)
Now you keep these guys covered
while I get the suitcase and go get
the sheriff.
HERMIT
The sheriff?
Al wrestles the suitcase loose and drops it from the tree.
AL
Sure. Don't you know who these
guys are? The Suitcase Simmons
Gang.
Curly lets Al back down.
HERMIT
Suitcase Simmons?
Al picks up the suitcase.
AL
Sure. His picture's in the post
office. All three of 'em. Now
don't let 'em go, ya hear? There
could be a reward for this.
Al heads for the woods with the heavy suitcase. He stops to
look back at the hermit.
AL (cont'd)
You keep 'em covered till the
sheriff gets here. Okay?
Al hurries away, the kidnappers watching, the hermit keeping
them covered.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
The prison officers are on the hunt with their dogs.
EXT. RAILROAD TRACKS - DAY
Al lugs the suitcase across the roadbed.
EXT. HERMIT'S CABIN - DAY
Chuckie, clutching his shotgun, sneaks along a side of the
cabin to the front corner.
Chuckie watches as the hermit, unaware of Chuckie behind him,
sits down on a stump in the yard, gun at ready.
The kidnappers, looking toward the hermit from the tree, are
actually watching Chuckie begin sneaking up behind him.
HERMIT
(to Mac)
You really Suitcase Simmons?
MAC
You've heard of me, eh?
HERMIT
How come you steal suitcases?
MAC
I'm a bag man.
The hermit suddenly hears Chuckie behind him, starts to rise.
Chuckie quickly lays down his gun, wraps up the hermit, and
they tumble to the ground.
The hermit's gun fires at ground level. There's the cackle
of chickens and a swirl of bloody feathers.
The kidnappers grab their guns. Curly comes over, takes the
gun from the hermit while Chuckie holds him on the ground.
The hermit manages to punch Chuckie in the nose.
MAC (cont'd)
Let's go!
The kidnappers run off in pursuit of the suitcase.
Chuckie, holding a handkerchief to his bloody nose, picks up
his gun. The hermit sits on the ground, painfully holding
his back.
HERMIT
Dadblamed civilized varmints!
CHUCKIE
(sarcastically)
Sorry about the chicken, old man.
Looking back as he walks, Chuckie trips over the low rail of
the hog pen, and falls forward into the slop.
The hog snorts in Chuckie's slop-covered face.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Al, tiring, hurries along with the suitcase.
EXT. A FREIGHT TRAIN - DAY
The train's making about 60 mph along the tracks through the
forest.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
The kidnappers are running through the woods, Chuckie trying
to catch up.
EXT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
Banking over the forest.
AERIAL SHOT
The long freight train moving through the woods.
INT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
As Lanny gestures toward the train below:
LANNY
Let's follow that train a ways.
That convict may try to hop it.
Wes changes course, cuts back on the power.
EXT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
Slowing down to about 60 mph, the plane begins flying fairly
low over the train.
EXT. THE TRACKS - DAY
The kidnappers come running from the woods but can't beat the
train. They have to stand and wait, Chuckie finally catching
up, while the train is moving past.
INT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
Lanny looks at something in the forest through binoculars.
WES
You see that convict?
Through his binoculars Lanny sees Al hurrying through the
woods with the suitcase.
LANNY
No, I see Al Findlay - with a
suitcase.
Wes sees something off ahead.
WES
Who are those guys?
Lanny looks through the binoculars. It's Chuckie and the
kidnappers waiting by the train.
LANNY
I think that's Charles Tenbrink
Junior.
The plane engine suddenly sputters and quits.
WES
Aw, shit.
LANNY
What's wrong?
WES
Probably iced up the carburetor.
We were going too slow, I forgot
to turn on the heat.
LANNY
Where are we gonna land?
WES
The only place I see.
THEIR POV - THE MOVING TRAIN
Forest on either side. The plane is heading down toward an
empty flat car.
EXT. BY THE TRACKS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are amazed to see Wes's plane
gliding down over the train.
INT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
Wes is concentrating on the flat car, Lanny grimacing with
fear.
EXT. PLANE AND TRAIN - DAY
Wes's plane sets down perfectly on the flat car.
INT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
Lanny sighs with relief, Wes looks pleased with the landing -
then both look ahead with shock.
A railroad bridge with steel superstructure looms ahead.
Wes closes his eyes, Lanny bug-eyed and frozen.
EXT. THE BRIDGE - DAY
As the flat car comes through, the bridge's vertical beams
rip the wings off the plane, the plane jolted backward.
INT. THE PLANE - DAY
Wes and Lanny are shaken but unhurt, the flat car emerging
from the bridge.
Wes looks around in dismay at his wingless plane.
LANNY
See if I ever fly with you again.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
The officers are tracking with their hounds.
EXT. WOODS - AERIAL SHOT - DAY
Al is hurrying with the suitcase through the woods. Over this
way, the officers are tracking with their dogs. Over that way,
Chuckie and the kidnappers are in pursuit of Al.
EXT. THE TRAIN - DAY
Speeding along through woods as before.
INT. TRAIN ENGINE - DAY
The ENGINEER is going about his business, clearly unaware of:
EXT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
On the moving flat car, Wes and Lanny still inside.
INT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
Lanny is using his walkie-talkie, Wes sitting in idle dejection.
JUNIOR'S VOICE
(on walkie-talkie)
Which train is it, over?
LANNY
(into walkie-talkie)
I don't know which train it is,
dammit, I just know I'm on it!
WES
It's northbound, Sheriff.
LANNY
(into walkie-talkie)
It's a northbound train. It's the
only one, dammit, with an airplane
on it. Now get out and stop it!
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Al, huffing and puffing with the suitcase, is tripped by
someone in the bushes. He falls flat on his face.
Al sits up, and finds himself confronted by the mean-looking
escapee. Al sees the prison uniform, sees the man eye his
luggage.
ESCAPEE
Whatcha got in that suitcase?
AL
Nothing you need, fella. You're on
the run, right? You can't lug this
around.
(starts undressing)
You need clothes, right? Here,
take mine. I'll keep the suitcase.
In the distance now is the faint sound of the barking dogs.
The escapee starts undressing as quickly as Al.
ESCAPEE
Ain'tcha got no wheels, man?
AL
Hell no, I'm hitchhiking.
EXT. THE TRAIN - DAY
Speeding through woods.
INT. WES'S PLANE - DAY
Lanny's thinking, Wes looks bored, as the train speeds along.
LANNY
Wes, I've been putting two and two
together.
WES
What have you got? Three and a
half?
LANNY
Al Findlay's got that ransom money.
That's why Charles Tenbrink Junior
and those other guys are chasing
him. Charles Junior is in with
those kidnappers.
WES
Well if that's true, Al's heading
straight for his airplane, you can
bet on that.
LANNY
Then Chuckie'll head straight for
his mama's plane, to go after Al.
Whose plane am I gonna head for?
WES
Hell, Chuckie can't let his mama
know. He'll go borrow some other
plane.
LANNY
Good. Then I'll go borrow his
mama's plane.
WES
I'll fly it for you, Sheriff.
LANNY
Like hell you will. Her chauffeur's
gonna fly it. But first I've gotta
get off this train.
Go to Part 3Back to beginning of script
