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white crosses installment one
By The Host
Here's my latest fic, based on the novel of the same name by author Larry Watson. I therefore claim no copyright over this work. It is written in admiration of one of my favorite books, and should not be construed as an original work of fiction.
Enjoy! It's admittedly a little slow-moving at first, and probably very different from what you're used to at Dan's site. Still, I hope you like it. Please comment to let me know.
w h i t e
c r o s s e s
by
MATT BOUDREAU
based on the novel by
LARRY WATSON
SUPER OPENING TITLES ON BLACK SCREEN
THIS INTERCUT WITH:
MOVING - INT./EXT. 1956 CHEVROLET STATION WAGON - NIGHT
The vehicle speeds along a narrow Montana road at night, headlights peeling aside the darkness. Inside is an unlikely couple: he a tall, middle-aged, balding man; she a smoldering dark-haired teenage beauty queen. The two passionately kiss, hands reaching touching groping, as the man tries to drive. The song ‘Frenzy’ by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins drifts across the couple from the staticy radio.
The young girl starts to unbutton the man’s shirt, moving her hands across his chest. He looks down for a second, helps her unbutton, and looks back up just as the headlights play across the sharp turn in the road and sheer drop on the other side.
The car drives over the bank and sails through the air before crashing down in a field at the base of the bank, near an oak tree. It bursts into flame.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. ROAD -- LATER THAT NIGHT
SUPER:
Bentrock, Montana
May 28, 1957
A Montana State Highway Patrol car and a Mercer County Sheriff’s Office vehicle, their lights flashing, are parked on the shoulder of the road. Below lies the smoking wreckage of the ‘56 Chevy; a tow truck waits a few yards further down the road. Three men stand around quietly speaking in the glare of a pair of bright flares placed on the side of the road as a pair of headlights appears at the crest of the hill. The men fall silent and turn towards the approaching vehicle, which descends the hill and parks behind the Sheriff’s Office car. It is a large truck emblazoned with the sign of Mercer County’s Sheriff.
SHERIFF JACK NEVELSEN opens the door and jumps down to the ground from his truck as two of the men walk towards him.
NEW ANGLE as Jack takes in the scene: the tow truck and two cars parked on the side of the road; the steep embankment leading to the field where Jack knows the wreck -- and maybe two bodies -- lies in a twisted heap; the two truck operator, GORDON, sidestepping down that very bank; and finally the two men approaching Jack, their faces lit demonically by the dying flares and flashing lights of his own truck. One of the men is Deputy Sheriff WAYNE SCHIRMER, the other is highway patrolman MILT PLAUGH.
They reach Jack, and he speaks to his deputy.
JACK
Kids?
Wayne cups his hand to his ear.
WAYNE
Beg pardon?
JACK
(Louder, slightly annoyed)
Kids. Teenagers. You know, graduation today.
WAYNE
Oh.
(Looks over his shoulder)
One. June Moss.
Jack nods. Wayne begins walking with Jack, speaking softly. They leave Milt behind.
WAYNE (CONT’D)
She was laying against the tree. Probably flew out of the car and rolled down the hill and landed there. But it looked like she had just curled up and gone to sleep. Her shoulder was leaning against the trunk, and when the ambulance attendant pulled her away, some of her skin just sorta peeled off, like it was glued or something.
Wayne looks quietly towards the ground, as though he’s trying to shove the memory form his consciousness.
JACK
Wait a minute -- ambulance attendant?
WAYNE
Yeah. Vern Werde, I think--
JACK
The ambulance has already been here?
Wayne looks up, speaks defensively.
WAYNE
Yeah, about fifteen minutes ago.
JACK
So you called the ambulance first?
WAYNE
Well, yeah, shouldn’t I? I mean, I didn’t know how bad--
JACK
Fine, Wayne. That’s fine. But who was the other fatality?
At that moment, the last flare burns out, plunging them in near-total darkness. Jack quickly turns and makes towards his truck.
JACK (CONT’D)
Shit. I’ll have to get a flashlight, turn on my lights or something.
Wayne grabs Jacks arm, halting him. He speaks in an insistent whisper.
WAYNE
Jack.
JACK
What?
WAYNE
It was Leo Bauer.
JACK
Leo?
WAYNE
The other fatality. Leo Bauer and Junie Moss.
There is a momentary silence. Wayne tries to discern Jack’s expression through the darkness, with great difficulty.
JACK
But there’s only one car, right?
WAYNE
Leo’s Chevy.
Jack stands stock still. Wayne seems about to say something when a searching flashlight shines toward Jack and Wayne. Milt Plaugh’s voice splits the still night air.
MILT
Sheriff! We found something!
NEW ANGLE as Wayne and Jack run over to where Milt is standing, bathed in the light from his car’s headlamps.
MILT (CONT’D)
Gordon found a couple of suitcases in the trunk. He’s bringing ‘em up now.
Jack silently nods.
MILT (CONT’D)
You know the victims?
JACK
Yeah.
MILT
Sorry. This fellow have a family?
JACK
Wife and a son.
The words hang in the cold air for a few moments.
MILT
So what was he doing with this Moss girl? Were they friends or something?
JACK
Yeah. I think so.
Milt nods. Jack continues to stare towards the field where the destroyed car lays.
WAYNE
He might’ve been her teacher.
(To Milt)
Leo’s the principal of Bentrock Elementary.
MILT
Upstanding citizen?
WAYNE
You could say that.
Jack shoots Wayne a fleeting icy look. Wayne immediately shuts up. It’s too dark to see him blush. Jack, meanwhile, turns his gaze back to the field. A deep silence descends upon them, soon broken by Milt. Wayne takes this opportunity to scramble down the bank and help Gordon with the suitcases.
MILT
Well, I think I’m about finished here. I don’t suppose there’ll be nothing but clothes in those suitcases. If anything turns up, let me know, okay?
JACK
Sure.
MILT
Anything you want me to include -- or leave out -- when I write up my report?
JACK
No.
Milt turns to Jack, extends his hand. Jack finally tears his eyes away from the field and shakes Milt’s hand.
MILT
Hell of a mess you’ve gotta clean up here, Jack.
JACK
Yeah.
MILT
Give me a call if you need anything.
Jack nods, and Milt moves away towards his patrol car. Meanwhile, Wayne toils up the bank with the tow truck operator. Once they reach the top, they lay the two suitcases they carried with them on the shoulder of the road.
WAYNE
One of them’s Leo’s, the other’s June’s.
Jack sighs.
GORDON
It’s too dark for me to do anything here, Jack. Can I come back tomorrow?
JACK
Fine, Gordon. Have a good night.
Gordon nods and begins to leave just as Milt puts his patrol car into gear and drives away.
JACK
Gordon?
Gordon halts.
GORDON
Yeah?
JACK
How about keeping this kind of quiet for now, okay?
GORDON
All right. Good night, Jack.
JACK
Good night.
Gordon climbs into his truck and starts his engine, pulling away. Jack and Wayne are left in silence. It is soon broken.
WAYNE
People pack suitcases when they travel, Jack.
JACK
Yes.
WAYNE
Where do you think they were going?
JACK
West.
WAYNE
They were running off together, weren’t they?
Jack doesn’t answer, just stares up at the stars in silence.
WAYNE (CONT’D)
What’ll people say when they find out?
JACK
They’ll say what they say. Nothin’ we can do about it.
WAYNE
When you think of what it’ll do to the families--
JACK
Why should we? They didn’t.
Jack pulls a cigarette out of his coat pocket and lights it. Meanwhile, Wayne examines the suitcases more closely.
WAYNE
Uh, Jack?
JACK
Yeah?
WAYNE
This ain’t Leo’s suitcase.
JACK
What?
Jack crouches down beside Wayne. He sees that the tag is clearly marked ‘Richard Bauer, 611 Fourth Street, Bentrock, Montana.’
The two men stand.
WAYNE
I’m thinkin’ that things here might not ‘a been what they look like.
JACK
(Slowly)
What do you mean?
WAYNE
I don’t think it’s really my place to say. . .
JACK
No, Wayne, go ahead. It’s only you and me here.
WAYNE
Well, I mean, Leo -- He can’t do something like this.
JACK
You’re right. I mean, he was old enough to be her father, if she was Rick’s age.
WAYNE
Rick. Now that’d make some sense. And this suitcase. . .
Jack suddenly throws his cigarette onto the ground and walks away.
WAYNE (CONT’D)
Where are you going?
JACK
Throw those suitcases into the back of my truck, will you? I’ll take care of them.
WAYNE
But where are you going?
JACK
To talk to Rick Bauer.
Please comment! Next section to be posted in a week or so.
-H
11/3/2003 3:06:28 PM
Comment on this fan fiction!
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