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Subways and High Plains
New -- October 1, 2003 Multiple Choice Episode II
INT: ANCIENT SUBWAY TUNNEL David enters amidst a rush of water into a deserted, trashed subway tunnel via an old covert. The water ceases to flow just as he hits the ground, leaving him suddenly alone. Shakily, he begins to pick himself up. Then he glances around at the scene, one with all the ingredients of an environmental hell -- dirty, dark and dismal, chemical-laced water standing in occasional puddles, no other signs of life, and a deadly silence. David’s mouth drops open for a moment -- until he abruptly wrinkles his nose and frowns heavily. DAVID Ah, gee. A stench to make a maggot gag! With one hand over his nose and mouth, he peers into the darkness. Everything in sight is decidedly rotten, decayed, and/or dying. Leaks from the overhead are dripping onto the floor where they sizzle in the manner of acid being dropped into water. David’s eyes widen as he looks at the apparent chemical reaction, and then carefully moves away from the two or three, most reactive puddles. He walks hesitantly, constantly looking around and occasionally tripping over debris. Quietly, in a very low voice, he breaks the silence. DAVID Hello...? Anybody home? Anybody...? The only sounds are the dripping and David’s heavy breathing. As he cautiously looks around, he shudders. Then he begins walking down what appears to be a main tunnel -- taking great care to be quiet and not get caught in the scattered debris. Rounding a small bend, he suddenly detects a movement in a darkened corner. His first reaction is to freeze and step back. But then, peering closer, he manages to glimpse a flash of long hair. A bleak, hopeful smile of possible recognition crosses his face, as Cathy steps into the light. DAVID Oh, thank God! Maybe now we can make some sense of what the crap’s going on here! Glancing upward and throwing his head back, David breathes a heavy sigh of relief. Cathy seizes the opportunity of his not watching her to lunge at him, swinging a previously concealed, very large knife. At the same time, she trips on an unstable pile of rubble, losing her balance, and just missing slashing David’s midsection. David, out of the corner of his eye, sees her attack just enough for him to instinctively dodge the knife. She curses and readies herself for another attack, while David stares wide-eyed at his former lover. DAVID What the hell...!?
CATHY Time for some meat, big boy! David starts backing up. He stumbles back upon some rusted pipe, and in a quick reflex grabs a short piece to use as a club. He raises the rusted pipe as if to defend himself. DAVID I don’t know what’s going on, Cathy, but...
CATHY How’d you know my name?
DAVID Are you kidding? We’re lovers! Or were...
CATHY What!?
DAVID Jesus! Don’t you remember? Our cabin in the mountain, the... Cathy stops in her tracks, looking at him askance. Then she begins to smile again. CATHY You’re trying to confuse me. It won’t work. She starts toward David again, her confidence returning as she parries with her knife. A noise catches and divides her attention. Glancing furtively from David to the direction of the noise and back, she speaks in a low, suddenly nervous, suspicious voice: CATHY A confederate of yours, perhaps?
DAVID Trust me, Cathy. In this neighborhood, I don’t know anybody! Out of the darkness, emerges UGLY DUDE, a huge, stench-ridden man, with absolutely no socially redeeming value whatsoever. Cathy stiffens and switches to a defensive stance to fight off either attacker. Then she glances at David and quickly whispers to him. CATHY If we fight each other, the winner gets to tackle him. But if we team up... David’s expression quickly becomes a subversive smile. DAVID Gotcha! Make it look like we’re fighting. Then when I say, “Now!”... Go for his gut! Cathy smiles in agreement, and swings her knife at David, which he narrowly ducks, his expression one of surprise. Ugly Dude moves toward them casually. Cathy thrusts again toward David (slightly off angle) and he grabs her wrist. Bringing his pipe down toward her opposite shoulder, he allows her to grab his wrist as well. They begin to struggle: David holding her knife at bay, and Cathy avoiding his pipe. Watching the momentary standoff, Ugly Dude abruptly smiles and walks boldly up to the others, raising his arms, both hands clutching a huge, deadly-looking metal rod. David is glancing back and forth between Ugly Dude and Cathy, when suddenly he takes the initiative. DAVID Now! David turns to swing his pipe at Ugly Dude’s face, striking it across the mouth and nose. The surprise has the most effect, but the blow itself has minimal effect -- other than the rusty pipe partially shattering in an explosion of rusted dust. Cathy reacts to David’s attempt by going low and slashing Ugly Dude just below the waist line. The knife has considerably more effect, as the man’s expression quickly turns from surprise to one of acute, confused pain. David takes a second swing with his shortened pipe, this time going for Ugly Dude’s knee (and destroying the rusty pipe once and for all in the process). David takes a quick, disconcerting look at his shattered weapon, as his victim reacts to the knee hit by staggering to one side, favoring his wounded leg, and simultaneously bending over from the effects of the knife slash. In the process, with a disturbing look of anguish and pain on his ugly face, he slowly lowers his weapon. Cathy thrusts toward him, driving her knife directly into his ugly neck. Everything stops as blood spouts out, some getting on Cathy, but even more on David. As the Dynamic Duo step back, Ugly Dude gets this really surprised and terrified look on his face. Then he falls forward, landing between his assailants. David looks down at the dying hulk, and then back at Cathy. Both of them are breathing hard. Then David tries to smiles, gesturing to the body before him. DAVID If you’re looking for meat...
CATHY Are you kidding? Can’t you smell it? It’s chemo! Deadliest stuff in the universe!
DAVID Now what are you talking about?
CATHY I used to be a nurse. Trust me. You eat this dude and his cancer will eat you. Assuming the chemo doesn’t kill you first!
DAVID Oh, yeah. It’s like the two cannibals eating a clown. One turns to the other and asks, “Does this taste funny to you?” David laughs half-heartedly, while Cathy just looks at him. CATHY I certainly have no intention of eating this piece of garbage! But you, on the other hand, were a real possibility. Unless, of course, you’re as crazy as I’m beginning to think you are.
DAVID Actually, I wasn’t planning on eating anybody! Are you kidding me?
CATHY So how do you get your protein? You look healthy enough, plenty of meat on the bones.
DAVID I eat meat and cheese... I guess.
CATHY Right. Down at the corner supermarket! Yeah. That’s probably it. Dementia. You really are crazy. The Collapse and everything that followed was just too much for your limited mind set. Cathy begins to back away. David takes a step toward her. DAVID Wait...! Cathy quickly raises her knife in a defensive posture, continuing to back up. David stops in his tracks, his eyes focused on her knife. CATHY Let’s just you walk away, and I’ll walk away. It was great doing business with you, but that’s all done now. Okay? David holds his hands open in a non-threatening pose, as Cathy keeps backing away. DAVID But we’re a team!
CATHY With your rusted pipe? I don’t think so.
DAVID That’s part of my act. I look like an easy mark. Until you get close up...
CATHY And then they discover you really are easy!
DAVID But you could always finish them off.
CATHY No thanks. Abruptly, she vanishes into the darkness. DAVID Wait! Cathy! Don’t leave me! David looks suddenly mournful, and in a lowered, pathetic voice adds a deeper sentiment. DAVID Not again, anyway! Damn! David signs heavily and turns away. After a quick glance around, he begins exploring again. Walking somewhat aimlessly, he moves along the main tunnel, glancing into small, dark secondary tunnels, but hesitating to go into any of them. Until he finds a stairway leading upwards toward a flickering light. After a cursive examination of the light, he smiles slightly and starts up the steps. From the darkness, Cathy’s voice is heard. CATHY Where the hell are you going? David smiles as he sees his former lover slipping out of the darkness and into the light. DAVID Cathy! Couldn’t leave me after all, huh?
CATHY Don’t flatter yourself! Cathy stares at him, her knife still in her hand, but held in a less-threatening position. David glances at the knife, his momentary smile vanishing. With his head, he gestures. DAVID I was heading for the light up there.
CATHY But that’s topside, you idiot!
DAVID So?
CATHY It’s toxic! Jesus, you really are demented!
DAVID Look. I just want to go home. Preferably with you. I really don’t need all this crap.
CATHY Too late. There is no home. Not anymore.
DAVID What are you talking about?
CATHY The toxic wastes, you moron! The acid rain, the chemical poisons in the ground water, the radiation from terrorists’ attacks, the... Jesus! Where have you been?
DAVID Toxic wastes!? Hey, wait a minute! It’s not my stuff. I mean, like I recycled and all that.
CATHY Now, what are you babbling about? Abruptly, creaking noises are heard, followed by different shades of dust falling from the ceilings, and then the ground beginning to shake, rapidly increasing in intensity. CATHY and DAVID Shit! Cathy takes off running, with David following her, some twenty feet behind. She goes down the tunnel, dodging pieces of metal, concrete and rock as they fall into the underground world. David dodges his own falling debris, as he attempts to follow her path. Cathy suddenly veers from her course and heads for a small concrete inset in the tunnel wall. There she quickly disappears into the darkness. David runs after her without any hesitation or the slightest degree of slowing down. Just as he reaches the inset, however, he hears the sound of water cascading down a tunnel. DAVID Ohhhhh... Shit! Before he can react further, a roar of water hits him and he once again phases.
EXT: HIGH PLAINS OF NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA -- FUTURE David is sliding and then falling head-over-hills down a steep, snowy slope. He lands in a drift and after a frantic struggle, manages to get his head and shoulders out of the snow. He quickly takes a deep breath, only to put one hand on his throat as the intense cold air almost freezes his innards. At the same time, he collapses back into the snow bank, where he reacts to the suddenly cold, moist surroundings. Quickly, he grabs a nearby snowshoe and begins to use it as a crutch. After managing to stand up, he shakes off the snow from his more exposed parts, and begins to frantically brush off the rest. With the snow removal under control, he begins to inspect his clothing -- a ragged, heavy winter garb. Then he looks at the snowshoe he had used to help himself off the ground. He holds it up, visually examining it and the fact it’s tied with a long leather strap to his ankle. Looking down he sees a second strap on the other ankle. Pulling on the strap, he drags a second snowshoe, slightly damaged, out of the drift. He begins inspecting the second one, just as Aris arrives from a different direction, moving at a fast clip and using her snow shoes with considerable skill. She stops when she sees him casually turning to look in her direction. ARIS You okay?
DAVID Yeah. No problem. I think... Aris shrugs her shoulders and looks away. David frowns as he watches her. DAVID Disappointed?
ARIS No. I mean like you’re a good lay, but some real meat would have been nice. You understand: You’d just be part of me then.
DAVID I don’t fucking believe this!
ARIS It’s not like I’d have killed you for a meal, Hun. But if you were already dead...
DAVID If I were dead, what?
ARIS Well you know the drill. It’s survival. David shakes his head in disgust, drops the snowshoes down, and steps into them. ARIS Look... We’d better get moving. We’ve got to cover the perimeter in good time, or Jeremiah will have our heads.
DAVID For lunch, no fucking doubt. Aris watches him, as David begins to stomp his way in her direction.
EXT: WINDSWEPT PLAINS OF NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA David and Aris are moving at a good clip against a desolate, bleak, treeless, snow and ice covered backdrop. Their ability to move rapidly on snowshoes is demonstrably excellent. They are breathing steadily, but deeply, their out breaths quickly fogging in the icy cold. DAVID This is crazy. If I don’t figure out what the fuck’s going on, and who’s on whose side... Or better yet, what... or who’s for lunch...!
ARIS What’s the problem? Jeremiah on your case?
DAVID Jeremiah!? Who the hell...!?
ARIS Come on, David! We’ve talked about this before. We desperately need a strong leader. With Jeremiah, we’ve managed to survive for four years since Launch Day. This is when millions of others, even after surviving the war, have ended up dying from radiation, or starving, or freezing to death! Most of them didn’t last more than three months!
DAVID Survival? Look. There’s got to be more to this than just fucking surviving!
ARIS You’d prefer to freeze to death? David stops in his tracks. Aris stops as well, and then turns back toward him. As he stares straight ahead, she watches him, trying to gauge what’s on his mind. DAVID I don’t know what the fuck I’d prefer!
ARIS I’ll admit this constant struggle is hell, Hun. Living off the remnants of what we had before, never increasing our supplies, hanging on by our fingertips. It doesn’t encourage optimism. And it’d be a lot easier to do a Hawkins’ thing and just walk out into the blizzard and freeze your self to death. Frankly, my dear; I’m tired too! David turns to study Aris, looking at her intently. DAVID So tell me: What keeps you going?
ARIS You mean besides having sex with you?
DAVID Yeah. Besides that.
ARIS I don’t know. Maybe it’s like somehow I chose this state of affairs... Like I’ve got to somehow prove myself, if only just to me.
DAVID Well, I suppose things could be worse. And probably will be in the very near future.
ARIS What’d you mean?
DAVID This may sound strange, but I’m glad you... I’m glad somebody included me in their “state of affairs”.
ARIS That’s a strange statement. It’s not like we have a long history together.
DAVID Are you sure? Aris takes a long, puzzled look at David, who moves a few feet further along before turning to glance back at her. Then her eyes widen, as she looks just beyond him and a small ridge they had been climbing. Panic spreads over her face. ARIS Oh, my God! A Blowout!!! David turns to see a virtual tidal wave of snow being whipped by the winds and moving rapidly in their direction. For a moment he is frozen, staring wide-eyed at the sight. ARIS Run for it, David! David turns to find Aris already turning her snowshoes, end-over-end, and heading with a near-panic speed in an angled direction down from the ridge (and at an angle of some sixty degrees from their original path). David does the same end-over-end skiing trick and heads after her. They continue at the same frantic speed until they come over a second ridge and see before them -- some two hundred yards away -- their snowbound camp (with all manner of wind energy generators and mechanical artifacts). People at the camp are in the process of preparing for the coming hurricane winds, rapidly tying gear down and moving other items indoors. One turns toward David and Aris, and pointing in their direction, excitedly yells something which can’t be heard above the roar of the approaching blizzard. Aris looks back and momentarily stumbles, but manages to keep her feet. David stops to look back, his expression almost instantly transformed to awe and fear. The tidal wave of windblown snow is almost on top of him. He turns and attempts to dash after Aris, who is now going at her full speed, having shed her snowshoes and begun to run on the hard-packed ice near the camp. David sheds his snowshoes as well, and begins to run with everything he’s got. Ahead, everyone is dashing for the shelter of the camp’s interior. Jeremiah, standing like the Captain on a sinking ship, looks in their direction, as he massages the front part of his neck. Pursing his lips in dismay, he turns to Cathy who is standing beside him and who had been watching David and Aris as well. Cathy looks at Jeremiah, shakes her head slightly from side to side, turns, and heads for the shelter. Jeremiah frowns and follows her, and with one last glance at David and Aris, pulls the door closed behind him. Aris and David continue their dash for relative safety, but the snow flurries and wind-blown snow rapidly increasing in intensity are all around them. The visibility quickly fades to zero, and David staggers, turning slightly until the snow is blowing directly into his face. Simultaneously, the scene phases. Episode One -- A One Night Stand Forward to: Episode Three -- Five Sided Buildings |
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The Library of ialexandriah
2003© Copyright Dan Sewell Ward, All Rights Reserved
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