It's a New Day by Glen Marcus (the beginning after the end read novel TXT) 📖
- Author: Glen Marcus
Book online «It's a New Day by Glen Marcus (the beginning after the end read novel TXT) 📖». Author Glen Marcus
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(In order of appearance)
ADAM ESTES
Bradley Cooper
SHELIA ESTES
Rachel McAdams
TOMMY ESTES
Ty Wood
DANNY ESTES
Zachary Gordon
CRAZY JACK
Randy Quaid
SKIP KEILTY
Fred Thompson
SARAH TALLEY
Marny Kennedy
JASPER DOUGLAS
Morgan Freeman
IRENE DOUGLAS
Cicely Tyson
PHARMACIST
Alessandro Juliani
MAYOR
Wayne Duvall
BOBBY JOHNSON
William Fichtner
CHARLIE DOUGLAS
Lee Thompson Young
SLASH
Dwayne Johnson
SHERIFF BROGAN
Woody Harrelson
JIMMY BASTROP
Red West
EXT. AERIAL SHOT OF THE EARTH FROM 100 MILES ABOVE - FRIDAY JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT
(SOUNDTRACK - Ry Cooder's 'All Shook Up' playing on a radio in the background as beginning titles roll)
SLOW ZOOM IN: On Southeastern U.S. At 50,000 Feet
TEEN GIRL
(off screen)
(giggling in background)
TEEN BOY
(off screen)
Come on what's taking so long?
ZOOM IN:South Georgia At 10,000 Feet
TEEN GIRL
(off screen)
Quit rocking the pirogue!
ZOOM IN: Okefenokee Swamp - 100 Feet Above A Lantern-Lit Pirogue Out In The Lake
CUT TO
EXT. PIROGUE - FEW MINUTES LATER
TEEN BOY
Yeah buddy, that's what I'm talking about.
Seductive look by the TEEN GIRL as she undresses.
TEEN GIRL
Well, what are you waiting for?
Love making begins.
TEEN GIRL
(moaning)
To the north, the sky lights up brightly and a muffled explosion gets the TEEN GIRL's attention.
TEEN GIRL (Cont.)
Hey, look at the fireworks.
TEEN BOY
Yep, they're cool. Kind of far away though. Now where were we?
Love making continues.
ZOOM IN: On Radio In Back of The Pirogue
(radio crackles, 'All Shook Up' stops abruptly and the illuminated dial goes dark)
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN
INT. ESTES RESIDENCE BEDROOM - DAWN OF DAY ONE
Rooster crows outside window. ADAM and SHELIA are asleep in the spooning position. The rooster crows a second time. ADAM rolls to his side and pulls the pillow over his head. Then removing the pillow, he looks towards the digital clock on the nightstand.
ADAM
(to himself)
Oh great, the power is out again.
CUT TO
INT. ESTES BATHROOM - FEW MINUTES LATER
The shower is turned on.
ADAM
(to himself as he checks the temperature)
Damn! The water is getting cold.
ADAM’S POV IN MIRROR
Well-chiseled body and has a towel wrapped around his waist. ADAM rubs the stubble on his face.
ADAM
(to himself)
I am not shaving with lukewarm water.
SHELIA walks into bathroom, kisses ADAM on the cheek and sits down on toilet.
ADAM
What are you doing up so early on Saturday?
SHELIA
I didn't sleep well. Why is it warm in the house?
ADAM
The electricity is off again. I'm going to call the power company and tell them that I'm getting tired of this stuff.
SHELIA
I wish you would. It's been a problem now for months.
SHELIA is in silk pajamas. Blonde shoulder-length hair is mussed but still attractive. Standing, she begins to leave the bathroom.
SHELIA
I guess we'll have cereal for breakfast then.
CUT TO
INT. KITCHEN - FEW MINUTES LATER
ADAM joins SHELIA at breakfast table.
ADAM
I've got to run over to the jobsite in Dahlonega for a couple of hours but when I get back I'll cut the grass.
SHELIA
OK, I'm taking the boys to WalMart to pick up some school supplies and then run a few errands. We should be back by noon.
ADAM
I think Tommy is excited about starting high school.
SHELIA
(concerned)
Yeah, but Danny is not so happy about seventh grade though.
ADAM
He'll be fine. I'm hoping he gets involved with sports or something. That might help.
ADAM places his dishes in the sink and removes his truck keys from a peg on the wall. He kisses SHELIA on the forehead and then exits to the garage.
SHELIA goes to the sink and runs some water in her bowl.
ADAM
(returns from garage disgruntled)
My pickup won't start. I’ll have to take your Tahoe.
SHELIA
What's wrong with it?
ADAM
Don't know. I’m in a hurry, so I'll look at it when I get back. Probably the battery.
SHELIA walks into the LIVING ROOM
CUT TO
INT. LIVING ROOM - COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER
SHELIA tries to turn on television.
SHELIA
(to herself)
Crap! That's it. I'm going to call Georgia Power.
SHELIA picks up her cell phone from coffee table and presses the "on" button.
ADAM returns to LIVING ROOM.
ADAM
(puzzled)
Something is wrong. Your car is dead too.
Reaching into his pocket ADAM retrieves his cell phone. Pressing the buttons, he gets no results.
ADAM
Where’s your cell? I need to call the guys and tell them I’ll be late.
SHELIA
(glancing at her phone)
Mine won’t come on either.
A sense of urgency now grips the pair as they begin to scurry around the house in search of a working electronic device.
CUT TO
INT. TOMMY’S BEDROOM – A FEW MINTES LATER
TOMMY is in bed asleep. Posters of various sports stars line the walls and clothing is scattered around the floor. SHELIA begins rummaging through items on his small study desk in the corner and wakes her oldest son.
TOMMY
(groggily)
What are you looking for mom?
SHELIA
Where’s your Blackberry?
TOMMY
In my pants pocket, I think.
TOMMY is rubbing his eyes.
SHELIA reveals the phone only to find a blank screen.
CUT TO
INT. DANNY’S BEDROOM – SAME TIME
ADAM pushes the power button on DANNY’s laptop. Flipping open his son’s cell, he then places it back on the boy’s nightstand; as it doesn't come on.
SHELIA enters DANNY’S BEDROOM.
SHELIA
Well?
ADAM
Nothing.
SHELIA
Adam, this is not right.
ADAM
There has got to be a logical explanation for all this. Tell you what, I’m going to saddle up Old Blue and head to town. You and the boys stay close to the house and I’ll be back in a while.
CUT TO
EXT. TWO-LANED PAVED ROAD (TWO MILES FROM ESTES RESIDENCE)- MID MORNING
(SOUNDTRACK - Traveling Wilbury’s ‘End of the Line’ plays in the background as ADAM rides along)
ADAM is trotting along on horseback trying to make sense of the current events. ADAM passes the third empty vehicle he’s seen on the road.
ADAM
(to himself)
There’s another one. Nobody is inside of it either. Why would someone just leave their cars parked in the middle of the road?
ADAM scans the fields visually to his left and right. The scattered farms and houses show no activity. No vehicles have passed him since he rode out of the barn. The only movements are two fairly large plumes of smoke he sees rising in the distance to the north and northeast of his position. Rounding a corner ADAM sees the KOUNTRY PANTRY STORE and reins his horse in its direction.
(‘End of the Line’ finishes playing in the background)
CUT TO
EXT. KOUNTRY PANTRY STORE- FEW MINUTES LATER
The building is a brick structure with four covered gas pumps. As ADAM nears, he recognizes a solitary man sitting on the wooden bench outside the store's double glass entry doors.
CRAZY JACK is the only name that ADAM has ever heard him referred to as. ADAM frequents the small bait store on Lake Lanier that the older man owns. CRAZY JACK is a scruffy codger that is in his early sixties. He is wearing a pair of light blue coveralls and a dirty baseball hat that covers his greasy hair.
CUT TO
CRAZY JACK lights up a cigarette. ADAM dismounts and ties the horse to a rack that holds propane tanks around the corner.
ADAM
What are you doing over here Jack?
CRAZY JACK
Counting my flipping money. What’s it to you?
ADAM
(puzzled)
What?
CRAZY JACK
Nothing. I’m stranded here like a rat on a deserted island. You’re the first person that I’ve seen this morning.
ADAM
How’d you get here?
CRAZY JACK
My van’s just down the road a piece.
ADAM
You been here long?
CRAZY JACK
You’re just full of questions ain’t you son.
ADAM
Sorry, but I haven’t seen anyone else this morning either.
CRAZY JACK
And you won’t see many...at least riding around. It’s the end, my boy.
ADAM
End of what?
CRAZY JACK
Oh hell. End of everything. Look around you. The rapture’s done took place and we are all that’s left.
ADAM
How do you know that?
CRAZY JACK
I just do and I'll tell you another thing...I'm getting tired of just sitting here.
CUT TO
Unannounced, CRAZY JACK picks up a large metal trash can and swings it wildly against one of the store’s glass doors. Hitting the glass a second time, it shatters and hundreds of small pieces fall to the ground.
ADAM
Damn Jack, what’s come over you?
CRAZY JACK
I need some provisions before I start my hike home. You better get some too if you know what’s good for you.
CUT TO
CLOSE UP: Adam puts a hand on Jack's shoulder.
ADAM
Jack, tell me what's going on.
JACK tosses ADAM's hand off his arm.
CRAZY JACK
Don't you lay a hand on me peckerwood.
CUT TO
CRAZY JACK exposes a small handgun from his pocket.
ADAM
Ok man, settle down.
ADAM moves back a few steps.
CRAZY JACK
(gristly)
These are desperate times and you'd better get tough quick, boy. You blink from this day on and somebody's going to run you through.
CUT TO
ADAM retreats to the horse nearby.
ADAM
You ARE as crazy as people say, Jack.
CUT TO
CRAZY JACK is cleaning the remaining glass from the metal door frame.
CRAZY JACK
(loudly)
Crazy like a fox. Them sumbitches are going to be coming this way. It won't take'em long to burn Atlanta down. They did it before...
CRAZY JACK walks inside the store.
CUT TO
CLOSE UP: CRAZY JACK’S face
CRAZY JACK (Cont.)
(to himself)
And they'll do it again.
FADE OUT
CUT TO
EXT. CITY OF DAWSONVILLE - NOON
ADAM rides slowly through the mostly vacant streets. An occasional group of three or four people stroll by him. Adam sees the open front doors of KEILTY BUILDING SUPPLY and makes his way over to the business.
CUT TO
INT. KEILTY BUILDING SUPPLY - FEW MINUTES LATER
SKIP KEILTY is a respected townsperson and Chairman of the City Council. He and his wife, Jeanie, live in a nicely appointed home on Lake Lanier. Though well-worn, SKIP still has some fight left in him; most of it left over from his Marine days in Vietnam.
SKIP
Hey there Adam. How'd you get into town?
ADAM
Old Blue brought me.
SKIP leans over the counter just enough to peer out the door.
SKIP
Well, you said you wanted to get something more economical to drive. And that hay-burner mode has always been pretty reliable.
ADAM chuckles.
ADAM
What's going on around here?
SKIP
If I was a betting man and I am...I'd say we've been attacked.
ADAM
(puzzled)
Attacked...by who?
SKIP
Hard
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