

## Pick and Roll

## Neil Hetzner

Copyright 2014 Neil Hetzner

Smashwords Edition

All Rights Reserved
FADE IN:

EXT. AFGHANISTAN MOUNTAIN VALLEY - AFTERNOON

POV from above: Two vultures are coasting on thermals. Far below the birds is a valley strewn with rocks, small patches of meadow and copses of trees. Further zoom shows a bombed out personnel carrier with a plume of smoke rising. As the camera continues its zoom, there is movement which resolves itself into a bloody GI dragging himself toward a small stand of trees using his elbows for leverage.

Close up of determined face.

Cut to small town high school gym with a sixteen year old YOUNG RAINY draining rainbow three pointers.

Cut to the arc of mortar shells and flares raining down.

Cut to Drill Instructor yelling at a three GI's holding bottles of beer.

DRILL INSTRUCTOR

Give me fifty.

GI ONE

Yes, Sir. Which arm, sir?

DRILL INSTRUCTOR

Right arm.

The three GI's drop to the ground and begin doing a rapid sequence of one armed push-ups while still holding the bottles of beer in their left hands.

Cut to gym interior and a basketball coach yelling at his players, including YOUNG RAINY, as they run stairs.

BASKETBALL COACH

Faster. You, Rainy, more. I want all you got.

Cut to high school basketball game scoreboard Home 70 Visitors 72 and the clock running down from 5,4,3,2. YOUNG RAINY catches a pass, steps behind the arc and launches a shot.

EXT. AFGHAN VILLAGE - MORNING

A small tumble down village nestled at the base of a mountain. A raggedy twelve year old MASOOD is walking along tossing a small rock and catching it. Coming the other way is a U.S Army Ranger Sgt. RAINY with his helmet tucked under his arm preparing to open a Snicker's bar. Their eyes meet. RAINY smiles and tosses the candy bar to MASOOD, then holds out his helmet.

RAINY

Game's on the line. Five four, three, two....

MASOOD feints left, then right and launches the rock. RAINY has to move the helmet to catch it.

RAINY (CONT'D)

He shoots. He scores.

MASOOD

LeBron.

RAINY flicks his helmet. The rock shoots skyward and he catches it behind his back. He starts to offer it to MASOOD, stops, studies the rock, tosses it back in the air and catches it in his side pants pocket.

RAINY

Nothing but net.

MASOOD laughs and trots off eating his candy.

MASOOD

He shoots. He scores.

RAINY

Hope so...if the shooter's on our side.

INT. HEADQUARTERS - MORNING

CAPT. WRANSON is slouched over a battered desk punching at a laptop. Despite WRANSOM keeping his head down, RAINY makes a crisp salute.

RAINY

Sir?

WRANSON

We've got a report Sheep One is missing. He's been feeding us good intel. I want him back.

RAINY

Maybe he took his herd further up the valley. Closer to ..... Better forage.

WRANSON

Doubt it. Too much free milk from Uncle Sam's tit if he sticks around here.

RAINY

His last spill cost us two G.Is.

WRANSOM looks up from the laptop.

WRANSON

What are you saying?

RAINY

Maybe he's not ours anymore. We killed his nephew last month when we hit .... Maybe he's missing because he wants us to come looking for him.

WRANSON

He's ours. Maybe not is his heart. But in his head. He knows who's going to win this game.

WRANSON turns in his chair and points to a map.

WRANSON (CONT'D)

I'm hearing he was kidnapped. Recon from ... up to ...L. Find him....or what's left.

RAINY

I think it could be a set-up.

WRANSON

I think. You do.

EXT. MOUNTAIN VALLEY - AFTERNOON

A personnel carrier moves along a barely discernible rutted road.

RAINY

Eyes and ears, soldier boys. We're not on parade.

MENTON

(aside to PARLETTE)

He's not his sweet self today.

PARLETTE

(waving his weapon toward the mountains rising above them)

He's heard some scut we've got towels in the rocks.

MENTON

Thought we pushed the jinglies north.

PARLETTE

Towels are like the tide. They flow back.

MENTON

Not if they're greased.

LISTAN

Wrong. Even more when they're greased. No one's got a higher birth rate than a dead Taliban. Martyr one, grow ten. Fucked up war.

The vehicle stops alongside a large a large outcropping. RAINY gets out and scans the trail and mountain ahead with his binoculars. He seems to see something up in the mountain, watches, and then decides its okay. He stares intently at the road before him before he motions for the vehicle to move forward.

MENTON

(sitting beside Listan)

Here comes the bride.

With RAINY walking in front LISTAN starts slowly driving along the path. RAINY sees something in the road and stops.

RAINY

Mine! Mine!

LISTAN's vehicle drifts forward and is blown to pieces. RAINY is somersaulted into the air.

CUT to TWELVE YEAR OLD RAINY and YOUNG GUY skateboarding down a the concrete side of a bridge abutment and doing a somersault at the end.

Enveloped in flames MENTON staggers out of the wreckage and falls to the ground screaming. RAINY tries to crawl toward MENTON but finds his legs don't work. MENTON's cries stop. RAINY raises his head and looks for cover.

EXT. MOUNTAIN VALLEY - AFTERNOON

Using his elbows, RAINY is dragging himself through a field of cobble and rough grass. He lifts his head toward a small copse of trees.

EXT. GYMNASIUM - EVENING

YOUNG RAINY and GUY, wet hair and cocky walks, slam through the gym doors and lope across the parking lot to GUY's car--a beater Ford Focus with an outre paint scheme and jacked suspension. GUY is holding a Bullworker exercise bar and doing reps as they approach the car. When the car starts, there's a deep rumble. Simultaneously, as GUY steps on the accelerator, he says.

GUY

Rainman. Tuned up and ready to go?

RAINY

(blowing on his fingertips)

Still too hot to touch.

GUY

The old rule, dude. The hot hand on the court gets the hot hand in Lori Arless' pants.

RAINY

He shoots. He scores.

GUY

Backwards, dude. He scores. He shoots.

(pounding out a rhythm on his steering wheel)

Til that special heaven happens, where to?

RAINY

Dunno.

GUY

(throwing the car in neutral and winding it out)

All revved up and nowhere to go.

RAINY

No. There is a place I've got to go. Home. Home and homework.

GUY

(smashing a fist on the wheel)

No way. School all day. Then practice. And then homework? NFW. We're seniors. We keep goin like this we're gonna lose our senior year with nothin to show.

RAINY

Nothin to show? Like what? We're eleven and two. We're gettin scouted. That's nothin?

GUY

Not we. You. You're getting scouted. You. The Shootist. The Rainmaker. Rain em and drain em Rene.

RAINY

(clipping GUY in the arm)

Can't have rain if you don't seed the clouds. My man's throwing the right seed at the right time. I just toss the egg in the air.

GUY

And the dubs come rainin down. And wins are nice, but not enough. I wanna do somethin that when we're old men comin back for our 25th reunion, we'll say, 'Hey, remember when?'

RAINY

Remember what?

GUY

I dunno. That's what we gotta figure out.

RAINY

Well, not tonight. I've gotta put some time in on calc. I'm drowning.

GUY

You never shoulda taken that shit.

RAINY

Coach insisted. Said it would help with the Bowdoins and Bates of the college basketball world.

GUY

You could be goin to Rhode Island College, playin twenty minutes from home.

RAINY

I want more. More for me and more for my mom.

GUY

And more for Big Petey?

RAINY

(shrugging)

BP doesn't need more than bad beer and worse memories.

GUY

Well my old man will take care of the bad beer part.

EXT. RAINY'S HOUSE-NIGHT

RAINY'S home is a small dilapidated mill house with a large detached shambly garage. GUY's car rolls to a stop. RAINY starts to get out.

GUY

Think about what we're gonna do.

RAINY

All revved up with somewhere to go.

GUY

They score.

INT. RAINY'S HOUSE. - EVENING

Small overstuffed rooms with panel walls and yellow lighting. Everything is shopworn. BIG PETEY is sitting in a high mileage lounger with a long neck beer alongside. He's reading a volume of Bruce Catton's The Coming Fury.

RAINY

Hey, BP. Hungry?

BIG PETEY

(tipping his book)

Yeah. For justice. This fuckin country. Why my old man moved here, I'll never know. Leave Canada, one of the world's most honorable countries, to come to this stewpit. Crazy fanuck Canuck.

Knowing a diatribe is coming, Rainy starts moving toward the kitchen.

RAINY

Coach worked us hard.

BIG PETEY

(mumbling)

Brown bar shithead.

EXT. MOUNTAIN VALLEY - AFTERNOON

A flock of skittish sheep are being rounded up by MASOOD and a mangy dog. MASOOD comes around a curve in the trail and sees smoke rising from the wreckage of RAINY's patrol.

RAINY

(mumbling as he crawls along on his elbows dragging his legs behind)

Brown bar shithead.

(moans)

Rain em. Drain em.

MASOOD points to a couple of stragglers and the dog herds them back. MASOOD moves his herd down toward the wreckage where he carefully approaches MENTON. He removes MENTON's watch from his burned arm. As he looks around at what else he might salvage, his dog starts barking. MASOOD goes to see what is riling the dog and discovers a blood trail. He pulls out a long, crude knife and follows the trail until he finds RAINY pulling himself along the ground. RAINY is too delirious to be aware of the boy.

MASOOD

LeBron.

MASOOD cautiously looks up and down the valley before he grabs RAINY's feet and hurriedly pulls him into a small copse of trees. MASOOD releases his dog, shows him where the blood trail goes into the woods. The dog licks up the blood and works back toward the site of the attack. MASOOD runs back to his flock which is beginning to scatter, grabs up a small lamb and hustles to where the APC has been blown up. He puts the lamb on the ground, takes out his knife, cuts a big gash in the animal's leg. And slaps it. The wounded lamb staggers down the valley.

MASOOD and his dog round up his sheep and start back toward his village.

EXT. MOUNTAIN VALLEY - AFTERNOON

A small band of TALIBAN carefully approach and inspect the damage the mine has done. They collect gear before moving off. One of the TALIBAN sees the blood trail and the TALIBAN get excited and hurry off to follow the trail.

EXT. MOUNTAIN VALLEY - EVENING

Helicopter flies in with MASOOD aboard. It circles. MASOOD points. The helicopter lands and MEDICS load RAINY aboard.

EXT. ARMY CAMP FIELD - MORNING

RAINY is among a group of RANGERS doing one handed push-ups to the cadence of a DRILL INSTRUCTOR

DRILL INSTRUCTOR

Twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five. Switch arms, ladies.

The RANGERS switch arms.

DRILL INSTRUCTOR (CONT'D)

One, two three.

INT. MILITARY HOSPITAL REHAB ROOM - MORNING

RAINY groans as he does pull-downs on a modified Nautilus machine while strapped to a wheel chair, which is locked in place.

NURSE CINDY

Flat on your back for almost four months, you're lucky your arms are strong enough to lift your toothbrush.

RAINY

Who gives a shit?

NURSE CINDY

I do...and you will. There isn't much of anything we can do with your legs, but I can guaranfukkintee you that happy or sad, snot-nosed whiny or gung-ho, you are getting your arms and back and neck and chest back. I've seen your file. You were quite the hunk of meat and we're getting every bit of that back. Nurse Cindy specializes in making Chick candy for her horny sisters.

RAINY drops his head back on the wheelchair and closes his eyes.

RAINY

I'm done.

NURSE CINDY

C'mon! More! Otherwise, you're gonna be arm wrestling a woman and that won't be something you want to have to tell to your grandkids.

RAINY slowly shakes his head. NURSE CINDY grabs his hands, wraps them around the handhold, keeps her hands on top of his and starts counting.

NURSE CINDY (CONT'D)

One, two three...

INT. RAINY'S ROOM AT VA HOSPITAL - EVENING

Rainy is sitting in a wheel chair looking out a window at a night that is brightly lighted by parking lot lights. His roommate DELRAY is in bed texting on a cell phone. DELRAY makes a final key tap and looks over at RAINY.

DELRAY

How's the world lookin'?

RAINY

Mostly cars.

DELRAY

Beats sheep.

RAINY

Doesn't make much difference to us.

DELRAY

Am I gonna hear some same old shit?

RAINY

You think you're gonna fit like a rubber on a dick when you get back out?

DELRAY

First off, Frenchy. Bein an all black man, ain't gonna find no rubber to fit my dick.

RAINY

That's right. I forgot that.

DELRAY

That somethin' white mens spend a lot of time tryin to forget. Second, before I put on green, I wasn't doin such a good job of fittin in anyway.

RAINY

Why's that?

(RAINY turns away from the window to look at DELRAY)

DELRAY

(his diction and pronunciation change)

Most of the people in my neighborhood were focused on being cool losers. I wanted to be an uncool winner. I sat in classrooms where everyone who happened to make it in was working hard to be the best clown in the room. I sat there with my hand behind my ear trying to hear what the teacher was saying even though that teacher wasn't smart enough to say much. When other kids were looking to nod, I was looking for a job. They wanted to drop out and school up on the street. I wanted to survive high school and get my ass into college.

RAINY

If that was the plan, then how'd you end up gettin your ass shot up halfway round the world?

DELRAY

The army was my pit stop on the way to college.

RAINY

GI Bill?

DELRAY

I didn't want to borrow a lot of money and then not be able to do anything because I was spending all of my time paying back the loans.

RAINY

What'd you want to be?

DEL

It's not past tense.

RAINY

What's that mean?

DEL

It means that when my rehab is done I'm going to college.

RAINY

(scoffing)

Blind?

DEL

Blind, black, or crippled, I'm going to college and I'm getting a degree.

RAINY

Can't leave that hero shit alone, huh?

DEL

No. I just don't like losing.

RAINY

Then, it must be extra tough living in this place.

DEL

(laughing sarcastically)

One night in a bad motel along the journey of life.

DELRAY swings his legs from the bed, grabs his cane and leaves the room. RAINY turns back to look out the window.

RAINY

Asshole.

INT. MILITARY HOSPITAL REHAB ROOM - AFTERNOON

RAINY is working out in a room with a half dozen other VETS. The room is a hubbub of machines moving and clanging and guys grunting as they push themselves. One of the VETS is a woman with a prosthetic arm. Half-way through a rep, RAINY abruptly lets go. The machine makes a loud clang. RAINY spins his wheelchair around and aims for the door. The PT guy who has been helping the female VET leaves her and walks to the doorway to block it.

PT

Where you going, Sgt. Beausoleil?

RAINY

I'm done.

PT

No, sir. You're not.

(theatrically looking at his watch)

You've got 28 more minutes of rehab.

RAINY

Not today.

PT

Why's that, sir?

RAINY

Because I'm done.

PT

Sir, your mind may be done. In fact, as far as I care, your mind can leave and go wherever it wants to go--highest mountain, blackest hole--but your body stays here and gives me twenty-eight more minutes.

RAINY

Or else?

PT

Sir, this is the army and the one thing we never have to wonder about is the or else. How bout you give me twenty reps on the Determinator.

INT. COUNSELING OFFICE VA HOSPITAL-AFTERNOON

RAINY is in seated in a wheelchair that is stopped about ten feet shy of a desk behind which is seated LT. QUIST who is preparing RAINY for release.

LT QUIST

Sgt Beausoleil, your body is ready to go home, but I have doubts about just how ready your mind or your spirit is for that. From what I see here, despite your own lack of effort, your body has made a remarkable recovery. It's fought off a severe wound and a very bad infection. It has decided it does not want to atrophy.

(sarcastically)

It seems to want the time that God in his infinite wisdom has allotted to it. It seems to have taken that old adage that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak and turned it on its head. You would not be the first warrior that this has happened to. We who provide your care don't welcome this kind of outcome but we don't deny that it occurs more often that we would like. Because the army cares for you, after you leave here you will be part of the Wounded Warrior Program of the Warrior Transition Unit. Aw2 of WTU will provide the resources you need to transition back to civilian life. Any questions?

RAINY

Do those Aw2 WTU resources include giving me back my legs or does the army keep those?

INT. RAINY'S HOUSE. - EVENING

RAINY's sitting in his wheelchair at the kitchen table. BIG PETEY is stone-faced angry and RAINY's MOTHER is teary.

MOTHER

I'll bet that's the first boudin you've had in a long time.

BIG PETEY

He probably saw a lot of blood. Just not in sausage.

RAINY

(looks up from his plate)

Some, BP.

BIG PETEY

(After a big swallow from a long neck)

Can't have a good war without a lot of blood. Just as long as it isn't officer or RE blood. Those boys' mothers want their sons home INTACT. Those RE boys, like your old numbnuts coach, know the TACTICS to stay INTACT.

MOTHER

(Half-reaching across the table)

Easy, Dad.

RAINY

It's okay, Mom. BP's not happy unless he's unhappy and workin hard to make the rest of the world feel that way, too.

BIG PETEY

You want a happy world, skip off to Disney. Last I checked, neither Woonsocket nor Upyourassistan make it.

RAINY

(rolling his chair back from the table)

Your war ever gonna end, BP?

BIG PETEY

(tipping his beer until it's drained)

No. It's not...and yours shouldn't either.

RAINY

(slapping his "legs")

I'll try to remember.

RAINY wheels himself out of the room so fast he bangs against the door frame.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Drive on.

MOTHER

(tears streaming)

I can't take this.

BIG PETEY

Take what?

MOTHER

Living with two cripples.

INT. VIC'S PLAISIR - EVENING

RAINY is in his wheelchair pushed up against a table that let's him look at the tv. HELENE is leaning over him putting down a plate of burgers and fries. GUY comes over to the table with a long neck beer. He spins the bottle on the table and it ends up right in front of RAINY.

GUY

(Laughing hesitantly)

Whatever you want. I'll rain em. You drain em.

RAINY

(nodding in gratitude)

Just like the good old days, heh?

In the game room four overweight loud talking guys are playing darts. As RAINY eats, they get louder.

DART1

(preparing to throw)

Like a laser, man.

DART2

You couldn't hit Oprah's ass if it was pinned on the wall.

DART1

Two bucks, man.

DART2

On.

The two slap hands. DART1 throws.

DART3

Bull's eye.

DART2

Bullshit.

DART2 reluctantly hands DART1 two dollars.

DART1

Ten bucks I can do it again.

DART2

Not in my lifetime. On.

When they slap hands, DART2 gives it a little extra. DART1 looks at DART2 trying to figure if he's trying to screw up his hand. Shakes it off and then throws.

DART3

Bull's eye, Little Man.

A grinning DART1 downs the rest of his beer, belches and arcs the bottle high and into a trash barrel.

DART1

The world's greatest barroom athlete continues to astound the crowd.

DART2

Again. Double or nothing.

DART1

Bro, you just don't like your money. I'm too hot to handle.

DART2

(insistent)

Double or nothing.

DART3

Shit, Little Man could double the distance and still nail a bull's eye.

DART4

Fifty says that is total bullshit.

DART1

(backing up)

Bullshit, huh?

DART1 backs out of the game room, bumps into RAINY's table, stumbles and sits down in RAINY's dinner. DART2, DART3 and DART4 laugh. DART1 is pissed at looking like a fool. He pushes off the table and swings around to RAINY.

DART1 (CONT'D)

(belligerent)

Hey, asshole. You're right in my way.

RAINY pushes back from the table. DART1 sees the wheelchair and waves his hand in dismissal.

DART1 (CONT'D)

Sorry, ace.

DART1 turns and throws.

DART1 (CONT'D)

Bull's eye.

DART4

Bullshit. It's outside.

DART1

NFW. Lemme see.

As DART1 gets close to the dartboard, the knife RAINY has been using to spread catsup on his burger flicks past DART1's head and sticks in the bull's eye.

DART1 (CONT'D)

What the fuck?

DART1 whips around. RAINY just stares at him for several long seconds before waving his hand in dismissal.

RAINY

Sorry, ace.

DART1 rooster walks back to RAINY and screams.

DART1

You fuckin asshole.

DART1 takes a swing. RAINY catches DART1's hand, twists, spins him around, and drives the wheelchair into the back of DART1's legs. DART1 drops to the floor. Rainy tips the wheelchair sideways and drops a tire down on DART1's neck. The three other DARTs advance, but are met by GUY swinging his Bullworker in his hand.

GUY

You cous are gone.

Staredown between the parties. DART4 finally nods. Rainy pops the wheelchair off DART1's neck. His buddies pick him up and start for the front door, but GUY shakes his head and points the Bullworker toward the rear emergency exit.

GUY (CONT'D)

Shit slides out the back.

DART1 leaves muttering. GUY looks for his waitress.

GUY (CONT'D)

Helene, get Rambo here another burger.

RAINY

Forget it. I'm not even hungry.

GUY

(feigning shock)

Rene Beausoleil, not hungry. Damn, you're even more fucked up than you look.

RAINY

Truth.

INT. RAINY'S HOUSE. - AFTERNOON

BIG PETEY is slouched in his chair reading with a long neck alongside. RAINY is in his wheelchair looking out the window. Phone rings. BIG PETEY doesn't even look up, shakes his head and waggles a finger toward RAINY. RAINY, exasperated, wheels over to the phone.

RAINY

Hello

BECCA (O.S.)

May I speak to Rene Beausoleil, please.

RAINY

Speaking.

BECCA (O.S.)

Sgt. Beausoleil, my name is Becca Mullins. I'm your VA counselor. We were scheduled to meet 2-23, fourteen thirty, 3-9 ten thirty, and 3-23, fifteen thirty. You were a no-show. Is there a problem?

RAINY

No. No problem. Just no reason for counseling.

BECCA (O.S.)

The army thinks otherwise.

RAINY

(looking at his legs)

Sometimes the army gets it wrong.

BECCA (O.S.)

Your rehab didn't end at Walter Reed.

RAINY

Says who?

BECCA (O.S.)

Me and a bucket of brass above me.

RAINY

I'm done taking orders. I'm out.

BECCA (O.S.)

Sergeant, do you know what a spanner wrench is?

RAINY

Is this a part of my rehab? Wheelchair mechanics.

BECCA (O.S.)

If you don't have your ass in my office on 4-6 at fourteen thirty, I'm going to throw the biggest fucking spanner wrench you've ever seen into the little machine that spits out your disability benefits. I can turn you into Amelia Earhart--never to be found.

Phone clicks.

BIG PETEY

(not looking up from his book)

They fuck you up and now they wanna be your friend for life.

RAINY

(slowing slapping the arms of his wheelchair)

Life.

EXT. VETERAN'S HOSPITAL - AFTERNOON

Bus pulls up. Doors open. RAINY screws around with the handicap lift, almost falls off and finally ends up on the sidewalk.

RAINY

Five star fuck-up.

RAINY wheels his way up the handicap ramp and punches the button on the door, but nothing happens. Punches again and again nothing. He looks through the glass window, then bangs his fist. A soldier on crutches comes and in a complicated ballet of feet and his sticks manages to get the door open for RAINY.

CRIPPLE1

Welcome to paradise. Your demand is our command.

RAINY

Virgins. Lots of slutty virgins.

CRIPPLE1

Sorry. Allah promised all the virgins to the jinglies.

RAINY

The staff operate any better than the doors?

CRIPPLE1

(pondering)

Yeah. Some. But mostly its wall to wall assholes.

RAINY

What's new?

(looks at a piece of paper)

E414?

CRIPPLE1

(twisting his body to look down the corridor before shaking his head)

Better send out recon for that one.

(Pushes his way out the door)

Good luck.

RAINY

Already lost that.

CRIPPLE1

(turning back)

Maybe not. You only lost your legs. Look around here, buddy, and you may think a lot of your luck never left.

RAINY pushes off down the hall and disappears around a corner.

INT. BECCA MULLINS'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON

RAINY rolls up to an open door and taps the frame. Inside there is a 30-ish woman behind a desk.

BECCA

Come in, Sergeant.

RAINY

(sarcastically)

That's an order, Ma'am?

BECCA

You'll be better off considering it so.

RAINY wheels in and parks ten feet back from BECCA's desk. Long pause and long stare by BECCA.

BECCA (CONT'D)

Who's the biggest asshole you've ever had the joy to meet?

RAINY shrugs.

BECCA (CONT'D)

Your commanding officer?

RAINY shrugs.

BECCA (CONT'D)

The towels who did this to you?

RAINY shrugs.

BECCA (CONT'D)

Me?

RAINY takes his time before shrugging.

BECCA (CONT'D)

You?

RAINY stays still

BECCA (CONT'D)

If not right now, maybe that's something you could grow into...maybe...maybe like Big Petey?

RAINY is stunned.

BECCA (CONT'D)

MacArthur paraphrase, 'Some soldiers never die. They just grow into bigger assholes.' Seem familiar? Could be you if you let it.

RAINY

It's a job.

BECCA

From what I read in your record, Sergeant, every job you did for this woman's army, you did well. Til now. But, I have a hard time seeing you being good at being an asshole unless you truly work at it.

RAINY

Some things take time.

BECCA

BP?

RAINY

Where do you get off? You don't know what he went through.

BECCA

No, Sergeant, you're right. I don't. But, you know what? You don't either.

RAINY

(looking around)

You sit here in your sterile, safe little office and tell people to do stuff you don't know shit about. Re-enter. Get well. Rehab. Put on a happy face.

BECCA

So, you're saying you can't teach combat skills unless you've been in combat?

RAINY

Something like that.

BECCA

So, the schooling. The degrees. The training. None of that counts? Don't mean dick?

RAINY nods.

BECCA (CONT'D)

And I can't help you rehab because I haven't been there?

RAINY

Right.

BECCA slams herself back from her desk until her chair smashes the wall behind her. She is a double amputee.

BECCA

This count for anything?

EXT. VETERAN'S HOSPITAL - LATER

RAINY is sitting curbside at the bus stop in front Of the VA with a new basketball cradled in his lap.

EXT. WOONSOCKET STREET- MORNING

Quiet early spring morning with azaleas and weeping cherries in bloom in the front and side yards of worn down single families and triple-deckers. No traffic. RAINY spins the wheels on his chair, coasts, spins again. He rides up to his old high school. It's early so only a couple of cars are in the parking lot. The door to the gym has a stick wedged in it to keep it open. RAINY can hear the thump of a ball being dribbled. He pulls alongside the door, reverses, get some leverage and shoves his way inside the poorly lighted gym with its scratched floor and canted wooden bleachers. A lanky kid is shooting jumpers. Not bad. Not spectacular. Kid ignores RAINY. RAINY leaves gym and it looks like his eyes might be teary.

EXT. PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURT. - MORNING

Basket stanchions have graffiti. Basket rims are bare. Court surface is broken. Some glass and trash on the court. RAINY rolls up with a ball trapped in his lap. He shoots from fifteen feet. Misses. Rolls over and scoops the rebound. Shoots from ten feet. Misses. Rebounds, shoots from ten, again, and makes it. He rebounds and tries dribbling alongside his chair, but it doesn't work because he tends to go in circles. He does a 360 and ends up about twenty feet from the basket. He shoots, the ball bounces high over the rim and then drops through.

EXT. PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURT. - MORNING

Misty rain is coming down. GUY is retrieving balls that RAINY is shooting. They have two balls going. GUY is smoking and slipping on the wet surface with his hard soled shoes. RAINY makes a couple. GUY chases down a ball and comes back huffing and puffing. He lobs a pass to RAINY and then makes a time-out gesture.

GUY

Shit, bro, feels like it's me gettin re-habbed. Can't believe I used to like doin this stuff.

RAINY

What? B-ball or community service?

GUY

The ball part. The community service gig would be fine if we were leaning on a bar tipping brew.

RAINY violently one arms the ball against the back-board.

RAINY

Shit.

GUY

What?

RAINY

I can't even do that.

GUY

Sure you can.

RAINY wheels off to retrieve the ball he's thrown. When he gets close, he stares at it and then tentatively tips his chair sideways, scoops the ball and precariously rolls the chair back upright.

INT. VIC'S PLAISIR - AFTERNOON

It's mid-afternoon and the bar is nearly empty. Front door opens. BIG PETEY holds the door and RAINY rolls in and heads toward a table. DOPE BUYER scuffs out. GUY motions BIG PETEY to the bar. They murmur while RAINY parks his chair. GUY draws two beers. BIG PETEY walks over to the table with just one glass.

RAINY

Where's mine?

BIG PETEY jerks his head toward the bar. RAINY shakes his head.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Bust my nuts.

BIG PETEY

(pointing a finger)

Hey, you didn't listen to anything I told you. You did what you did. Just because it didn't work out, doesn't make me have to be your nurse maid.

RAINY

(mumbling as he wheels over to the bar)

Lotta assholes in the world.

BIG PETEY

I've lost count.

When he gets close, RAINY sees that he can't reach his beer because the bar stools are in the way. As he angrily tries to shove one aside, BIG PETEY comes up on one side and GUY on the other. Before RAINY can react, they have him out of his wheel chair. RAINY struggles for a second then stops as they lift him onto a bar stool. GUY grins and pats RAINY on the back as RAINY grabs his beer.

INT. VIC'S PLAISIR - LATER

The bar is almost full.

RAINY

(drunk)

You think America will ever again fight somebody who wears a uniform? They knew who we were, but we didn't know who the fuck they were.

BIG PETEY

Iraq army had uniforms.

RAINY

For about two weeks. We've been fighting there for ten years. How fuckin long were we in Vietnam?

BIG PETEY

Too long...and not long enough.

RAINY

But no uniforms.

BIG PETEY

Just on the whores.

RAINY

What'd they wear?

BIG PETEY

Make up.

RAINY is so drunk that when he leans back to drain a long neck he goes over backward and crashes to the floor. BIG PETEY doesn't move. CROWD is horrified. Camera focuses on RAINY's thumb over the mouth of the bottle. Bottle moves to RAINY's mouth. Thumb is removed and the beer is drained.

RAINY

(puts on a bad British accent)

Pig piss, but ...quaffable.

(laughs and spins the bottle across the floor)

RAINY grabs the leg of the stool and tries to pull himself to a sitting position, but fails and falls back.

RAINY (CONT'D)

(laughing intermittently)

Ask not what your country can do for you, but...

(keeps laughing)

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here...or that we stay here....

(RAINY starts sobbing)

EXT. PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURT - MORNING

GUY is standing under the backboard. RAINY jukes his wheelchair left, then right then does a 360, back pedals three feet until he is behind the arc and shoots. Ball drops through and GUY catches it.

GUY

Return of the Rainman. When it rains, it puh, puh, puh, pours.

GUY passes back to RAINY who drives his chair and shoots a lay-up. GUY and RAINY knuckle kiss before GUY looks at his watch.

GUY (CONT'D)

Gotta wrap it up.

RAINY nods.

GUY (CONT'D)

Gotta meet the man.

RAINY

(sarcastically)

Who's the man?

GUY

Fuck I know. Man with a bag.

RAINY

Be careful. You might want to know if you don't wanna get fucked on your first date.

GUY

(pointing a finger gun)

Safe sex secret.

GUY struts off to his car. RAINY goes back to shooting.

EXT. PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURT - LATER

RAINY has finished shooting. He swallows the last of a water bottle and tosses it into a trash barrel and then wipes sweat from his face and arms with a towel stuffed in the side of the wheelchair. As he wheels away from the court, the door on a parked car opens and COACH, a tall, older man with a short haircut, good posture and pressed oxford shirt and khakis, gets out of the car.

COACH

Rene Beausoleil.

RAINY

(recognizes the coach but is leery as to what his appearance means)

Coach.

COACH

Ex coach. I retired. How long have you been back?

RAINY

In town, a couple of months. In the States, a lot longer.

COACH

I'm very sorry about that happened to you, but I'm very glad you made it back. Of all the players I coached, you're one of my favorites.

RAINY

(with that praise hard to hear, Rainy says tersely)

Thanks.

COACH

Good eye, good hands, not a hot dog and very tough....

RAINY

But a fuck-up.

COACH

Rene, you did something stupid. Once. If every teenage boy got caught for the stupid stuff they did, you wouldn't be able to hold a prom. If burning that barn led to the army and then here, then you've paid a helluva price for something a lot of kids in this town would have gotten a pass on.

RAINY

I got to pay BP's bill?

COACH

Your grandfather might have done better if he hadn't come back here.

RAINY

It was home.

COACH

I think you're wrong. It was what he knew. It wasn't home.

RAINY

Yeah, well....

COACH

Look around, Rene. Think about what can be. Here or, better, somewhere else. You're smart, disciplined, know about hard work. Why don't you take a look at Bryant? Get a degree. Move forward. There are a lot of things where your head is more important than your legs.

RAINY

(starting to move away as he's heard enough)

Retired from coaching, but not from cheerleading?

INT. BECCA MULLINS'S OFFICE - DAY

BECCA is behind her desk and RAINY is facing her in his wheelchair.

BECCA

Two appointments in a row. Gold star material.

RAINY

Anything to keep the brass shined.

BECCA

This is more for you than the brass.

RAINY

Finally my turn?

BECCA

Which means?

RAINY

At Saint Gabe's I served mass for God and Father Lucent. At Woonsocket High, I took charges, dived for loose balls and drained rainbows for the team. In the army I busted my butt for my squad, my platoon, my division, my country, and a bunch of two-faced sheep lovers who would have traded democracy for a Nike cap in a heartbeat. Now, that they all got theirs, it's my turn, Santa, and I get what?

(snaps his index finger down at his legs)

My new wheels?

BECCA

So, is that all you want? A different way to move?

RAINY

No.

(pushing back his chair)

I also want to be left alone.

BECCA

That's not going to happen, Sergeant. Not anytime soon.

RAINY

Then, when?

BECCA

When you're better.

RAINY

How do **you** know when **I'm** better?

BECCA

Same way we know with all you guys.

RAINY

Which is?

BECCA

When you get past wanting to beat your wife or kill yourself.

RAINY

Read the record. I don't even have a wife.

BECCA

Which doubles your odds for the other.

RAINY

(pointing his finger through the desk toward BECCA'S non-existent legs)

When was the last time you beat your wife?

BECCA

Did you check out the basketball?

RAINY

I'm not doing anything with groups.

BECCA

Yes, you are.

RAINY

No.

BECCA

A van will pick you up at

(she leans over to look at a piece of paper)

18:20 on Friday.

(she waves in dismissal)

You're done. I'm not going to sit here and stare at you.

RAINY starts to back up his chair.

BECCA (CONT'D)

Better wear your jock. That wanting to beat the wife energy has to go somewhere.

RAINY is halfway down the hall when he hears BECCA.

BECCA (CONT'D)

He shoots. He scores.

RAINY flips the bird over his shoulder and keeps rolling.

INT. RAINY'S DINING ROOM - NIGHT

BIG PETEY, MOTHER, and RAINY are sitting around the dining table eating bread and stew. Rain is pattering on the roof.

MOTHER

(looking at Rainy's bowl)

More?

RAINY

(looking at his bowl and surprised that it is empty)

Yeah.

MOTHER

Nice to see you hungry.

RAINY

Played some ball today. With Guy.

BIG PETEY

He ever learn to shoot?

RAINY

His game's always been more about passing.

BIG PETEY

(snorting in disgust)

Passing the buck. Yes. Looking for a free pass. Yes. Passed out. Yes. Passed over. Yes. If...when he gets busted, it'll probably be for dope passing rather than pushing.

MOTHER

Is he still doing that?

RAINY shrugs.

MOTHER (CONT'D)

Isn't running the bar enough?

BIG PETEY

Pushing beers and pickled eggs isn't as exciting. Lot cooler to be a drug dealer than a bartender.

MOTHER

His dad always worried about him. I guess he never trusted him.

BIG PETEY

(gesturing toward Rainy's legs)

Big stones hanging off a small brain can cause some problems. Those stones start talking. 'Let's steal a car.' 'Burn a barn.' A kid goes along cause that's what some guys do. Go along. One barn up in flames. One college scholarship up in flames. A half a world away, one APC up in flames. And, boom, boom, boom, one dream up in flames. And one lifetime left to roll around is a government issued wheelchair. Fuckin ashes.

While BIG PETEY has been talking, RAINY has been staring hard at his grandfather. He puts down his fork.

RAINY

Even without legs, I do a better job of moving than you do. Even without my legs I'm not as crippled as you are.

BIG PETEY

(nodding in agreement)

True. But give yourself a little more time, soldier. Some bloom off the rose time.

INT. RAINY'S LIVING ROOM - LATER

MOTHER

Can't you just leave him alone, BP? He may not be doing great, but he is doing better.

BIG PETEY

Better than what? Better than not shooting up a recruiting office or looping his belt from a light fixture? For him to get through this, he's got to be in a fury, pissing blood enraged. Rage for what happened, what didn't happen, and, mostly, what can't happen. Rage for his enemies and rage for his friends who've screwed him worse than his enemies. He's gotta have rage churning in his stomach and snapping him awake at night.

MOTHER

Like you?

BIG PETEY

(flinging his arms)

No, godammit, not like me. I've spent forty-five years being pissed, mad, angry, but I've always fell short of rage, white hot rage. And because of that, I've stayed, stopped, stuck. My lazy, mad ass stuck in this fuckin chair,

(he slams the arms of the chair)

my own wheelchair, with my heart, mind, soul...life...ghost walking in a jungle a half world away...I lost me over there. And you lost me here. And now, if we don't do what is needed, we're gonna lose whatever's left of him that isn't already lost.

MOTHER

BP.

BIG PETEY

'Rage...Goddess sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls, great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for the dogs and birds.' Same shit four thousand years later.

INT. YMCA GYM - NIGHT

Less than a scattering of people in the bleachers. Basketball bouncing along the floor, then, suddenly, the flash of tires and metal of a wheelchair, then a second, then metal on metal noise, harsh breathing sounds and the whir of tires.

SOCKET

(in chair)

Cut, LT. Shit.

SCURV cuts in and steals the ball

SOCKET (CONT'D)

Shit.

SCURV races toward the goal, fakes a pass, then lobs to FU with one hand and a claw. FU bobbles the ball. SCURV groans. Just as he rolls under the hoop, FU gets control, shoots and scores. FU's teammate STONER slaps FU's chair with his prosthetic arm.

STONER

Sweet, FU.

FU

Fuck you.

BECCA is in her chair in a corner with RAINY. They watch LT take an in-bounds pass and race to the other end of the court where his chair gets nailed by FO. Both wheelchairs roll over and roll right back up again. DOC, a bearded, Ted Kaczynski looking guy in a wheelchair throws up his hands.

DOC

Intentional. Shoot two.

FO

Fuck off.

DOC

(pointing finger)

One more, you're gone.

FO

Captain Queeg bullshit. Fuck off.

DOC

Gone.

FO

Fuck off.

FI

Way to go, FO. Power play time for the bad guys.

FO

Fuck off.

LT shoots two free throws and misses both. Playing four on five, FU brings the ball up. At the top of the lane, FU gets trapped and starts to panic. BECCA rams her chair into Rainy's from behind. RAINY ends up on the court in the corner and FU bobbles a pass to him.

SCURV

(screaming)

Ringer. Fuckin ringer.

(spins toward Rainy)

RAINY, who has been sitting with the ball in his lap, instinctively launches a rainbow. SCURV smashes his chair into RAINY.

SCURV (CONT'D)

Mortar round.

RAINY's shot drops through. BECCA wheels her chair around and pushes her way through the door. SCURV hooks his chair into Rainy's chair and flips him over. RAINY sprawls on the floor.

SCURV (CONT'D)

Hero down! Medic! Hero down! Send in the nightingales.

DOC comes over to RAINY.

DOC

You need help?

RAINY

(sprawled and flailing)

What's it look like?

DOC

Looks like no.

DOC wheels off.

DOC (CONT'D)

Let's go. Inbound it.

Wheel chairs whirl around RAINY as he works to scootch his body back into his wheelchair.

INT. RAINY'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

A sweat-soaked wet-haired RAINY is sitting in his wheelchair eating a snack.

MOTHER

How was it?

RAINY

With grunts everything's always combat. You could take normal guys and after playing with those jerks for three games they'd all be in wheelchairs. Buncha assholes.

MOTHER

(smiling)

But not you?

RAINY

Not me, meme. I was polite like how I was raised.

EXT. PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURT - AFTERNOON

GUY is doing some desultory shooting with a cigarette hanging from his lip and a cooler of beer by the side of the court. GUY shoots, smokes, huffs, rebounds, puffs, shoots and smokes RAINY comes riding up in a beat up motorized wheelchair.

GUY

You be late. Trouble with the Bat-mobile?

RAINY

BP wouldn't stop fuckin with this thing.

GUY

What's is it or what was it?

RAINY

My wheels as long as the VA keeps screwing me.

GUY

(slowly walking around the vehicle)

What's BP been smokin? Not my huff, for sure.

RAINY

I told him forget about looks, just get it runnin, I'm tired of pushin those wheels. But now he's talking about makin it faster and runnin longer on a charge.

GUY

Like what? Sounds like a fork lift.

RAINY

I could use that. Ram the forks up my counselor's ass.

GUY

(fake grabbing the controls)

Mad Max rides again. You could get your own movie.

RAINY reaches out for the ball. GUY takes a step back and takes a deep drag, teasing RAINY, before tossing him the ball. RAINY chugs to the top of the key and releases and misses. GUY schleps over to get the rebound.

GUY (CONT'D)

(in an announcer's voice)

The Rainman's gone dry.

RAINY shoot and misses.

GUY (CONT'D)

All air, ladies and gentlemen, all air. The drought continues.

RAINY shoots and misses.

GUY (CONT'D)

Man's on a streak. Crops are wiltin. Babies dyin.

Rainy shoots and makes one. Guy leaps into the air.

GUY (CONT'D)

He's back, ladies and gentleman. He's back! The Rainmaker is back. Get under the roof, it's gonna pour.

INT. VIC'S PLAISIR - AFTERNOON

GUY is standing behind the nearly empty bar. A cocky young guy pushes through the door and sits down at the bar.

GUY

What'll you have?

BUYER

A dog to go.

GUY

What to drink?

BUYER

Nothin. Just the dog.

GUY walks down to the end of the bar where there is a hotdog and bun steamer. He takes out a bun, squats down, slides a long skinny bag of dope in the bun, stands up and adds a hotdog on top and wraps the whole thing in a sheet of foil before walking back down the bar.

GUY

Here you go.

BUYER

(putting two ones on top of a fifty on the bar)

Keep the change.

Two Vietnamese guys who have been sitting at a table watching the scene drain their beers and get up to leave.

EXT. RAINY'S HOUSE. - AFTERNOON

GUY is trying to get RAINY into his car which is a black Cadillac SUV with a bronze-colored replaced front quarter panel. RAINY is trying to grab the car door as GUY tries to life him from the wheelchair and orient his body toward the opening.

GUY

Jesus fucking Christ. This is the most sex I've had in awhile.

RAINY

Aww fuck. I thought that hard thing I was pushing against was the door handle.

GUY

If I have your baby,

(switches to high voice in imitation of Meatloaf Dashboard Lights)

Will you love me forever?

RAINY

Baby, baby, let me sleep on it.

GUY

Someway this reminds me of getting a queen mattress up the stairs.

RAINY

Not how it used to be.

GUY

Nothing is, but I try.

EXT. DRIVING THROUGH SMALLTOWN SLUMWORLD IN GUY'S SUV

Most of what is seen on the street indicates a Hispanic neighborhood.

GUY

(taking his hands from the wheel and waving them)

Same old, same old.

RAINY

But older.

GUY

Maybe less black, more brown and more yellow. We kill em over there and the ones that are left we let move over here.

RAINY

(turning his head toward GUY and emphasizing the first word)

WE kill them?

GUY shakes off the correction and keeps driving. After twenty seconds he slows down and starts looking out the window at a row of dilapidated three family homes.

GUY

Shit the bed.

RAINY

What's the problem?

GUY

I'm low on huff and my guy didn't show when he was supposed to show. Now, I don't see his car.

RAINY

This is where your dealer lives? I thought they all lived in mansions.

GUY

This is where I followed him after you told me to know who I was dealing with.

RAINY

Maybe this is where he gets laid, not where he lives.

GUY

Chika, chika.

GUY drives around the corner and enters an alley filled with trash cans, and broken down metal fences. He cruises down the alley with his head twisting and gawking and makes two turns and ends up doubled parked in front of a triple decker. He puts the SUV in park, keeps the motor running, reaches under the seat and pulls out a pistol. He stares at it for a few seconds.

GUY (CONT'D)

I hate these things.

RAINY

Why take it?

GUY

I'm not supposed to know where this fuck camello lives. Keep your eyes open. I'm gonna see what is.

After Guy leaves the SUV, RAINY becomes hyper alert as he is in a place of danger again. There is a part of him feeling more alive than he has in a long time. When he sees two young Hispanic men dawdling along the sidewalk, he reaches onto the floor and gets his hand around Guy's Bullworker in preparation for a confrontation. When the men see Rainy they start to strut toward him, but before they get there, Guy comes hurrying out of the building. When Guy sees the Hispanics, he waggles a gun made out his hand at them and jumps in the Cadillac and peels out.

GUY (CONT'D)

Fuck is it with these guys. Don't they get I'm part of the community redevelopment?

RAINY

(intones)

Man is made for war.

GUY

I thought we were made for pussy.

RAINY

Your guy there?

GUY

Non, mon ami. When this happens you never know if the guy disappeared because somethin bad was gonna go down or if he disappeared because somethin bad did go down. He could be in Atlantic City turning up aces or doing the cinder block dance at the bottom of the reservoir.

RAINY

Good reason to drink bottled spring water. Now what?

GUY

(nervously laughing)

Well, I can't wait to see if he surfaces. Gotta find a new supply. Gotta keep my fans happy.

RAINY

Any of those fans cops?

GUY

A couple look out for me.

RAINY

Is that enough?

GUY

Hope so.

RAINY

Shit happens.

GUY

Bible told me so.

INT. BECCA MULLINS'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON

RAINY is having a session and, like the other times, he has his wheel chair rolled back ten feet from BECCA MULLINS' desk. BECCA is reviewing some paperwork.

RAINY

Typical BS.

BECCA

From what I see, it's not that typical, but it does happen. Mostly I see A lead to B. But, sometimes, it doesn't and, sometimes, it just takes awhile for B to show up. I think your new chair is going to show up.

RAINY

In the meantime, you're ordering me to do shit and then denying me the transportation to get it done.

BECCA

I can't order you.

RAINY

You told me before I ever even came in here that if I didn't do what you said that you would fuck me up. That sounds like an order.

BECCA

Sergeant, that's just tough love encouragement. No different than what you're getting from your basketball buddies. I hear you drained the winning shot two games in a row and paid a big price for it.

RAINY

(despite himself, he shows the slightest of grins)

It looked like an interstate pile-up and my chair got the worst of it.

BECCA

Looks fine now.

RAINY

Big Petey had to come get me. I spent a day on crutches while he undid the damage.

BECCA

I hate crutches.

RAINY

(surprised that BECCA has revealed something personal)

Why's that? Armpits?

BECCA

(hesitating before going on)

Not pain. Shame. Crutches make me feel more crippled. At least in a chair, I can go like a bat out of hell when I want to.

RAINY

(taking his time thinking about whether he wants to ask his question)

You race?

BECCA

A lot. Bob Hall's my hero.

RAINY

Who's Bob Hall? Sounds like a place that holds weddings.

BECCA

First sanctioned wheelchair racer in the Boston Marathon.

RAINY

I can't imagine being a freak rolling by a million normal people.

BECCA

I may be a freak to you, but to me I'm thinking about going three times faster than an elite runner.

RAINY

Well, at least, it'd be over faster.

BECCA

Almost twenty miles an hour.

RAINY

(gesturing toward Becca's wheelchair)

In that?

BECCA

(laughing in disbelief at RAINY's stupidity)

No way. I race in a rocket. Aluminum frame with an I-cage and a 6 inch axle, 14 degree camber and tubular tires.

RAINY

But still a wheel chair.

BECCA

Yeah, still a wheel chair, but, you know, Sergeant, I'd rather live with a chair than die from it.

RAINY

You like that happy, sappy horse shit, don't you?

BECCA

I lost me legs. I just don't see letting myself lose anything else.

RAINY

I don't see how you can let go of what happened. I think about how I was and then it was gone and who did that to me. I didn't see the jinglies who did it to me, but I have a picture in my head that won't go away and I want some justice. How can you just let all that go?

BECCA

First off, Beausoleil, the people that took my legs weren't the Taliban or some other kind of Afghan. My legs were removed by the U. S. Army.

RAINY

(shocked)

Friendlies? They did that to you and you still work for them?

BECCA

I don't think,'They did this to me.' I think 'This happened.' Second, from the investigation, I know who did this to me and I could track them down and go berserk, but I don't see how that would change anything. My life wouldn't be any better and their lives would be worse. That math doesn't work for me. The third thing is that the people who did this didn't set out to do it. In fact, they thought they were making me safer.

RAINY

I heard a lot of that turn the other cheek in church, but I didn't see a lot of it. My family doesn't turn the other cheek, it remembers which side got slapped and by who.

BECCA

If you're talking about Big Petey, how's that been working out?

RAINY

(pushing back toward the door)

Just get me my fucking chair.

INT. RAINY'S KITCHEN--AFTERNOON

RAINY and BP are at the kitchen table eating lunch. RAINY is screwing with his cell phone and BP is reading a history book while they push food in their mouths.

BP

(without looking up)

Your mother is having a hard time with this.

RAINY

Your daughter is having a hard time with this.

BP

She's used to my shit.

RAINY

That makes it easier?

BP

You're her kid. That makes it harder.

RAINY

I'm not drinking myself into paradise.

BP

(taking a long pull on the beer bottle next to his plate.)

Not yet. But whether that glorious journey starts tomorrow or a year from tomorrow, she can see it coming and that is something she doesn't want to look at.

RAINY

Which means?

BP

Get out of the house more or get out of the house.

RAINY

You're sayin get a job?

BP

Get a job. Go to college. Go for a walk, a roll, whatever, but do someplace and go somewhere other than drinkin' and hangin' out with your buddy.

RAINY

I play basketball.

BP

How often?

RAINY

More than you. Less than LeBron.

BP

I don't wanna play pity pot chess with an amateur.

(he pushes back from the table)

I wanna show you somethin.

RAINY

What?

BP

Can you stop asking questions and just say, 'Sure." Just once.

RAINY

(stares hard at BP)

Why?

BP

(grabbing Rainy's wheelchair and heading toward the backdoor ramp.)

Fuckin legless hard-on.

RAINY

Fucking...whatever.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE- CONTINUOUS

BP's over-sized garage is split into one bay filled with all kinds of crap--like a miniature junkyard. The other bay has a long work table, drill press, table saw, acetylene torch, winch set-up. RAINY'S motorized wheelchair sits up a couple of heavy duty saw horses.

BP

(dialed down so that it won't hurt if his efforts are rejected)

This could work until the VA in their infinite geologic era wisdom decide to come through. It looks like a piece of shit, but it doesn't have to act like that

RAINY

What are you doin?

BP

Putting in a bigger motor. Bigger motor, you go faster.

RAINY

(wheels himself around it)

It come with Triple A because it looks like it's gonna need it?

BP

It doesn't need Triple A because so far I can't get it running well enough that it could get somewhere where it could break down.

RAINY

If you get it running, what am I supposed to do with it?

BP

Your call, but maybe think about putting more miles on it than the guy who had it.

RAINY

At, what, ten miles an hour and with a half hour charge? Live life to the fullest?

BP

(brushing Rainy off)

Can you get back inside by yourself?

RAINY

Cake.

INT. VIC'S PLAISIR - NIGHT

It's just before closing time and RAINY is in the game room shooting darts. He's drunk and his aim is erratic. When a couple of darts hit the wall and drop to the floor, he wheels over, tips his wheelchair sideways and picks them up. Guy is wiping down the bar. When he shuts off the TV, it the signal for a couple of old guys to drain their beers and wander off. Finally, no one is left but a table with three Vietnamese smoking.

GUY

I'm done, so you're done. Wrap it up.

VIET1

I'm hungry.

GUY

Not my problem. Call Micky D.

VIET1

(shaking his head as he gestures toward the end of the bar)

Don't want a burger. Want a hot dog.

GUY

All out.

VIET1

I heard you were running short.

GUY

That wasn't in the paper.

VIET1

(touches his ear)

Heard. It can be bad for business when you run out of dogs.

GUY

Time to go.

VIET1

No. Time to talk business.

GUY

I don't need a partner.

VIET1

I wouldn't be your partner. I'd be your boss.

Guy picks up his Bullworker, bangs it against the steel sink and starts to come out from around the bar. RAINY slowly comes out of the dart room to see what is going on. He is behind the Vietnamese. The three Vietnamese stand up from the table getting ready for the confrontation.

GUY

(on the edge of going postal)

Get the fuck out. Now.

All three Vietnamese pull out guns which incenses GUY even more. As GUY starts to advance with the Bullworker, RAINY spins forward on his chair, crashes into the back of Viet1, gets him in a choke-hold and holds the tip of the dart against his eyeball.

RAINY

Who's the boss?

Despite the dart tip against his eye, VIET1 starts to twist so that he can get his gun turned around so that he can shoot RAINY. RAINY switches so that his dart hand is doing the choking and with his other hand grabs VIET1's wrist and because of RAINY's superior upper body strength brings the gun up under VIET1's chin.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Who's the boss?

When VIET1 still struggles, RAINY quickly releases the choke-hold, stabs VIET1 in the thigh with the dart and as VIET1 reacts to the pain, wrenches the gun loose and shoves VIET1 onto the floor and points the gun at the other two Vietnamese. As VIET2 starts to leap forward, GUY smashes his hand with the Bullworker and VIET2's gun spins across the floor. As GUY chases after it, VIET3 hesitates and RAINY throws the dart and hits him in the cheek. When VIET3 reaches for his cheek, RAINY snaps the wheelchair forward, bowls him over, and puts his gun to VIET3's ear.

GUY

(gun in one hand and Bullworker in the other, near hysterical with an adrenaline rush, screams)

He shoots. He scores.

GUY walks over to VIET3 to get his gun, starts to reach down to get it and then gratuitously smashes VIET3's wrist with the Bullworker. In reflex, VIET3 jerks the trigger, which causes the gun to fire. The bullet rips in to the jukebox. GUY kicks the gun out of VIET3's hand in imitation of some movie.

GUY (CONT'D)

Fucking asshole.

RAINY

(preternaturally calm)

Time to leave or time to die. Your call.

VIET1 slowly gets up off the floor. VIET2 and VIET3 follow. As they get close to the back door, VIET1 rips the dart that is still hanging from VIET3's cheek and throws it into the wall.

RAINY (CONT'D)

You may want to think about another sideline.

GUY

Fuckin nams. Little shits.

RAINY

Little shits with big guns.

GUY

Not any more, heh?

RAINY

Not right now.

GUY

You want a beer?

RAINY

Not right now.

GUY

Let me get the bank and we'll get out of here. Fuckin nams.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE. - AFTERNOON

BP is welding a steel frame to the back of the electric wheelchair. RAINY is breaking down an old rifle and cleaning it. BP finishes the weld, shuts off the torch and stands back to look at his work.

RAINY

(nodding toward the rifle)

This would not have passed inspection in the army I was in.

BP

It wouldn't have passed where I was either, but we didn't give a shit because if some bars and stars dipshit wanted to hassle us about it, we would have fragged his ass.

RAINY

You ever do that?

BP

(hesitates as if he wants to lie)

No, I never did. Should have, but didn't.

RAINY

You ever fire this piece of shit?

BP

Only when it worked...and in anger.

RAINY

I heard you couldn't trust them.

BP

Lotta guys died because they'd pull the trigger and nothing would happen except for stepping on their dicks.

RAINY

That happen to you?

BP

I could step on my dick whether it fired or not.

RAINY

Must a shrunk some since then.

BP

You been lookin?

RAINY goes back to his work while BP opens a small fridge, pulls out a long neck beer, opens it, and takes a long pull.

BP (CONT'D)

You want one?

RAINY

I got a game tonight.

BP

Wouldn't want to break training for that.

RAINY

Those games are like going to war. Want to be shipshape and sober.

BP

We felt the opposite.

RAINY

It that why we lost?

BP

Fuck-off. We. Who's we?

BP takes another drink, which empties the bottle, goes into a corner and lugs out a big battery.

BP (CONT'D)

(while trying to fit the battery into the frame he has just finished welding)

You gonna need that piece of shit?

RAINY

Why's that?

BP

(staring hard at RAINY)

Because I heard there's a new war with Viet Nam.

RAINY

Where'd you hear that?

BP

If that fuckhead friend of yours could pour drinks as fast as he talks, he'd be a helluva bartender. You know those slopes will be back. That's what they do. They just keep comin.

RAINY

We got their guns.

BP

That's a three minute setback.

RAINY

And Guy's just small potatoes.

BP

They'd die for two straw huts and a couple of ducks.

(gesturing to where RAINY is working)

You better be sure you get that thing working right.

RAINY

(gesturing to the motorized wheelchair)

So I can get on my horse and go play cowboys.

BP

Something to do when they're Indians around.

INT. RAINY'S KITCHEN - AFTERNOON

RAINY's in his wheelchair and GUY is standing by the kitchen table with a small back-pack open on the table with the three Vietnamese guns sitting on top.

GUY

C'mon, man. Just say yes. I can't have these at the bar and I don't want em at home.

RAINY

So what? That makes it my problem? It's fine here in my house? A bag of unregistered guns.

GUY

Aw, fuck, forgive me Baby Jesus, that's all my fault. I forgot to get a bill of sale from the nams when all that dancing was going on. Maybe I should track em down and ask em to do the paperwork.

RAINY

Just toss em.

GUY

C'mon, you know they're too good to toss. Just keep em here for a little while until I find a buyer.

RAINY

Why can't you just take em to your house?

GUY

Cause I hate em.

RAINY

You always say that, but you never say why.

GUY

(going into a pretty good imitation of a maniacal Joe Pesci/Goodfellas laugh)

'Fraid I'd whack myself.

RAINY

(starts to dismiss what Guy's just said, then, reconsiders)

Take em upstairs, put em in my room. Put em...shit...my mom's in there all the time. Let's go out to the garage.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE. - MOMENTS LATER

GUY is walking around the motorized wheelchair. RAINY is trying to thread his way through all the junk in the other bay looking for a hiding place. He reaches down to push stuff aside so he can advance and finally stops in front of an ancient moldy golf bag filled with a mismatch of rusted clubs. He slides a half dozen clubs out, drops in the bag of guns, replaces the clubs, and backs his way out being careful to put some trash back where he has gone.

RAINY

Okay.

GUY

BP been watching The Jetsons re-runs? Perry Mason meets Hans Solo? Just what the fuck is this thing supposed to be?

RAINY

Supposed to be my freedom. Let me get around.

GUY

Looks like something Timothy McVeigh might have dreamed up on a bad day. Can't you just see this thing tooling up, some evil towelhead up top, and Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise or some other Dynamic Duo goin ape-shit cause all the blondies are gonna die? BP's gotta layoff whatever he's smokin.

RAINY

He likes screwin around out here.

GUY

Every man's gotta find his band.

INT. GUY'S CAR - AFTERNOON

GUY is driving and RAINY is riding alongside. The neighborhood is Hispanic and every time GUY sees an attractive woman he slows down.

GUY

Lotta nice tang. I like they look tan all the time. You fuck a lot of Arabs? They're tan. Except they got blue yes, right?

RAINY

Some blue, yeh.

GUY

How do they do it? Veil on and pants off?

RAINY

Don't know. I was savin myself for Irene Poirer.

GUY

(laughing as he remembers)

She was a wet one, heh?

(nervously)

Your stuff still work? That leg doesn't need crutches, right?

RAINY

It works.

GUY

(relieved)

It needs a workout, let me know. I know this trick who'll...

RAINY

(interrupting)

Who's the buyer?

GUY

Just a guy.

RAINY

But he just wants one?

GUY

That's what he says.

RAINY

If he gets caught with it is going to trace back?

GUY

How can it? No prints and no paper.

RAINY

But he could stool you.

GUY

This brown don't know me from Adam Ant.

RAINY

Who's Adam Ant? Sounds like a cartoon character.

GUY

Hey, man, Adam Ant?

(sings)

'Stand and deliver your money or your life.' No? You definitely played too much b-ball as a boy.

RAINY

A lot it got me.

GUY

(softly, carefully as if he is going somewhere he doesn't want to go)

It could have.

RAINY

Maybe.

GUY

I fucked up. I've done stupider shit than burnin that barn, but nothing that's made me feel as bad. I felt bad then when it fucked up your college and I feel worse with you coming home the way you are.

RAINY

(starts to say something, then changes direction)

Forget it.

GUY

Wish I could. Make some nights easier.

RAINY looks around at all the Spanish signs.

RAINY

Do you ever deal with anybody that's native born?

GUY

(laughing)

America's future's in our illegals, man.

RAINY

You think our families had passports when they came south?

GUY

It's right here. Hold this thing while I go find the guy.

(hesitates)

Ah, fuck it, man. This story's a little different than I've been tellin ya. I'm not sellin a gun, I'm buying some huff...from a new guy. It's supposed to go down in there, but since I don't know this guy, I'm gonna leave the bank out here. He comes down. He gives me the huff. I give him the bank. Anything happens, you show him the steel.

(grins nervously)

We good?

GUY leaves the car running, exits the car and runs up the steps. RAINY sits for a few looking around the neighborhood and then at the gun in his lap. Finally, he turns on the CD player and Meatloaf's 'Keep Driving'. A couple of per-teen hardboys come by slowly and give RAINY The Stare. RAINY flashes onto a memory of shooting hoops with Masood. He picks up the gun and inspects it. The front door springs open and Guy is hurried up with a Hispanic tight on each shoulder and one on his back. RAINY'S face goes blank as he pulls the slide on his gun.

GUY (CONT'D)

(in his high adrenaline rushed voice)

Wind down. Wind down. The fuckin cheddar's in my ride. But, my man Rambo's sitting there and he's holdin metal, too Show em, Rainman.

RAINY slides the barrel of the gun into view. The two Hispanics by Guy's shoulders jump a couple of feet away. The Hispanic in back grabs hold of Guy's shirt and holds him close as a shield. Everybody freezes.

GUY (CONT'D)

Why can't this shit go down like Wal-Mart? You sell. I buy. We leave. Fuck. Fuck.

RAINY

(balancing the gun on the edge of the window frame)

Let's make a decision before we draw a circus. Dead or alive?

GUY

Under the seat. The cheddar's under the seat. Your side. Show it to 'em.

Without taking his eyes off the three Hispanics, RAINY reaches under and draws out a plastic bag. He shows the contents.

GUY (CONT'D)

Toss it out.

RAINY

You got your end?

GUY

(giggling)

A little sneaker's got it out back.

RAINY

You sure?

GUY

Yeah, yeah. I trust these guys. We just got off on the wrong foot.

RAINY

Get in the car.

The third Hispanic keeps hold of GUY. RAINY tosses the bag away from the Hispanics.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Let him go or start the show. Don't move toward the bag til he's in the car.

The THIRD HISPANIC looks at RAINY and gives the smallest of nods. GUY starts to cockwalk to the car but his knees are pretty shaky. GUY jumps in and starts to throw the car in gear. RAINY holds up his hand.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Wait. Let em look.

The THIRD HISPANIC pulls back so that HISPANIC TWO is between him and RAINY. HISPANIC ONE crouches over the bag, flips through the contents, nods and backs up.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Go.

GUY peels out.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Slow.

GUY drives around the corner and down an alley. A twelve year old kid pops out between two buildings, tosses a thick brick inside the car and immediately takes off. GUY exits the alley and takes a deep breath.

GUY

(still giggling from nerves)

Good job, dude.

RAINY

Don't do that to me again.

GUY

Hey, man. I knew you'd come through. I didn't want to tell you cause...

RAINY

That's all.

INT. GUY'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER

GUY is driving up RT 295 back toward Woonsocket. RAINY sees the road sign for Bryant University.

RAINY

Swing off here. I want to see somethin'.

GUY

(starting to protest then thinking better of it)

Hey, we got...yeah, sure.

INT. GUY'S CAR - LATER

GUY is driving slowly around the Bryant campus. As he passes clutches of coeds, he preens, gawks and leers. RAINY eyes are focused as if he is looking for something.

GUY

Hey, look at this stuff. Toys in Babeland. Whaddya think the brain to bod ratio is? Think I can get one of these to ride the pony and teach me all the shit I didn't learn in high school?

RAINY

(exasperated)

What makes you think you'd be a better student nowø

GUY

(missing RAINY's anger)

I'd could be an honors student in the pony part.

As they come to the edge of the campus RAINY twists his head.

RAINY

Go back around.

GUY

(now he starts to get angry)

Hey, we got some shit in the car. What the fuck did you miss? Kim Cartyourassian?

(he swings the car around)

I want to get home, man.

RAINY

Slow down.

GUY tries to figure out what RAINY is looking for and finally realizes that her seems to be paying attention to curb cuts, ramps and handicapped parking places.

GUY

I got ya.

RAINY

What's that?

GUY

You checkin the accommodations.

RAINY

You're right, let's get the fuck out of here.

INT. VIC'S PLAISIR - NIGHT

It's the end of the night. The bar is empty except for GUY who is cleaning up. GUY takes a final look, then turns all the lights out except for the beer signs over the bar and goes out the back door with the day's deposit bag in his hand. Immediately, he is thrown back inside. THREE VIETNAMESE in latex gloves follow GUY back inside.

VIET1

(grabbing the deposit bag)

You think we'd go away? Where's your bank?

GUY

In some gook's hand.

VIET1

The other bank. The hot dog bank.

GUY shakes his head.

VIET1 (CONT'D)

Foot.

The other two VIETNAMESE wrestle GUY face down onto the pool table and hold his leg steady. VIET1 slips a knife behind GUY's Achilles tendon and slashes it. GUY bellows and thrashes.

VIET1 (CONT'D)

Try again.

GUY

Jesus. Fuck. In the cooler. I'll show you.

VIET2 and VIET3 pick GUY up by the shoulders and drag him to the cooler. Guy leans against a metal shelf, reaches into an open case of gallon mayonnaise jars and pulls out a gun. Before he can fire, VIET2 grabs GUY's gun hand and jerks it over GUY's head. As VIET3 struggles to wedge GUY against the metal shelving, the cooler contents start falling from the shelves. VIET2 and VIET1 finally get control of GUY's wrist and bring it back down so that the gun barrel is pushed into GUY's eye socket.

VIET1

Where's the bank?

Guy spits on VIET2. VIET1 puts his hands over GUY's hands and squeezes the trigger. Guy hands fly up in the air for a moment before slumping to the floor.

VIET1 (CONT'D)

Hands.

VIET2 and VIET3 start hacking off GUY's hands while VIET1 ransacks the cooler.

INT. FONTAINE'S MORTUARY - NIGHT

Worn flowered rugs, dim yellow lighting, Bach organ music. Rows of red velour straight-backed chairs that are mostly empty. RAINY wheels up to the closed casket and stays for a few seconds with his head tipped toward the ceiling before tapping the cover of the casket and wheeling over to GUY's tiny, birdlike mother who looks not to have shed a tear in a very long time.

RAINY

Mrs. Bourret, I'm sorry.

MRS. BOURRET

(interrupting)

You're sorry? For yourself? You just lost a friend. For me? I just lost a son. Think of all the mecs who lost their dope dealer. Think of the drunks, the poor drunks, especially the ones who've run through their welfare and SSDI checks, what are they gonna to do? Who are they gonna put the touch on?

(swinging her hands out violently)

Look at these crowds. Friends everyone.

RAINY

What do you think....

MRS. BOURRET

(interrupting)

...happened? Someone killed him. Why? Why? Maybe he short-poured someone. Maybe he sold a bad beer. Or, maybe, he didn't pay someone. Or, maybe, someone didn't pay him.

(pointing a finger in RAINY's face and whispering conspiratorially)

You think maybe it had something to do with dope?

(she mumbles swears in French, looks down at RAINY in his wheel chair before gently touching one of RAINY's knees)

Don't have children. Don't.

EXT. VIC'S PLAISIR - NIGHT

The bar is closed. RAINY is sitting in his motorized wheelchair just hanging out on the sidewalk when a bright blue Matrix, jacked up and tricked out rolls slowly by. When RAINY gives the car a hard stare, a rear window scrolls down and a finger gun gets pointed at RAINY. Although the car is spotless the license plates are dirty as the car passes by.

EXT. PROVIDENCE STREETS WEST OF FEDERAL HILL - NIGHT

BIG PETEY and RAINY are driving around the Asian sections of Providence in BIG PETEY's ancient Ford 250 pick-up trolling for the car RAINY saw. After awhile RAINY spots a car that looks like the one he saw parked outside a bar with Vietnamese characters spilling across a garish sign. Lots of Asian guys are on the street outside the bar giving the look. RAINY waves BIG PETEY to keep driving. They go down a couple of blocks and then circle back so that RAINY is on the side of the street where the bar is. BIG PETEY rolls up slow and stops. An Asian guy sidles up.

RAINY

(holding a fifty between his fingers)

Got a smoke?

RUNNER

(bending down and taking a look at RAINY and then acts theatrically surprised at the age of BIG PETEY)

That's some old dog you got driving.

BIG PETEY

(grinning with anger)

You scared I'll bite?

RUNNER

Fuck man, what are you gonna use for teeth?

BIG PETEY starts to say something, but RAINY touches his leg to shut his down. RAINY waggles the fifty at RUNNER.

RUNNER (CONT'D)

Regular or menthol?

RAINY

Regular.

RUNNER

(reaching out for the fifty)

Ka-ching. Pick up around back.

RAINY lets RUNNER tug the fifty from his fingers.

BIG PETEY

Ka-Chink.

BIG PETEY drives around the corner and turns into a narrow littered alley. A young Asian kid, maybe 13, darts out of a doorway and tosses a baggie into the car before veering off.

BIG PETEY (CONT'D)

Little gook's faster than FedEx. America's own Ho Chi Minh trail. Keep those supply lines open.

RAINY

Makes sense. Efficient and the kid won't pay a hard price if he gets put on a hook.

BIG PETEY

You're out a fifty. We're drivin around with dope in the car and what have we learned except that just in time inventory control works in a lot of businesses?

RAINY

That Matrix is the flashiest ride on the street. Owner's gotta be the guy running this. We can park and wait until we see who comes out and takes it for a ride.

BIG PETEY

I'm not fourteen. I've gotta probation hanging over my head. I don't like holding dope on the street.

RAINY opens his window and makes a twenty foot toss of the dope into a ragged trash can.

RAINY

Feel better?

BIG PETEY

(stunned)

Fuck's sake. I wasn't that worried. I was just boilin water. You and your goddamn throw-away culture.

EXT. PROVIDENCE STREET DOWN FROM THE VIETNAMESE BAR - LATER

RAINY and BIG PETEY are sitting in the truck watching the Vietnamese bar. Fewer lights, less traffic and quieter than before. Suddenly a half dozen burst out of the bar and start running toward BP's truck.

RAINY

Here comes the posse. Crank it.

RAINY looks over and sees BIG PETEY is sleeping. He shoves BIG PETEY, turns the key, and slams the gear shift down.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Stomp it.

BIG PETEY comes to.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Drive.

BIG PETEY grabs the wheel and peels out just as a rock hits the hood and then a bullet cracks the windshield.

BIG PETEY

We shoulda nuked every one of those monkey fuckers when we had the chance.

RAINY

You always fall asleep on watch? You're lucky you got home with enough left of you to complain about.

BIG PETEY

It's supposed to be fuckin Rhode Island, not Khe San.

RAINY

Don't be too sure.

BIG PETEY squeals around a corner.

BIG PETEY

Well, what I am sure about is some of those little spidey hole rice munchers are gonna pay big time for fuckin up my truck.

EXT. PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURT - AFTERNOON

RAINY is playing ball with a gangly TEEN. TEEN dribbles hard to the basket. RAINY wheels alongside in his unmotorized wheelchair playing the TEEN tight and forces him away from the basket. Kid feints away and then cuts back hard. RAINY doesn't take the fake and is in place when the TEEN cuts back. TEEN launches a prayer as he runs into the wheelchair. TEEN and RAINY both fall to the ground. The ball drops through the hoop. The TEEN is horrified that he has knocked RAINY over. RAINY, strapped into his chair but on his side, is laughing.

RAINY

Charge.

The TEEN tentatively holds out his hand to help RAINY get himself upright. RAINY waves him off, snaps his shoulders and is back upright. As he rolls over to retrieve the ball, VIET1's car rolls by and a burst of bullets rip asphalt out of the court. RAINY spins toward the TEEN.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Down. Down. Drop. Roll. Roll. Roll!

More gunshots. RAINY snaps his head back and the wheel chair flips over backwards. Wheels spin. No sounds except for VIET1's car driving away. TEEN raises his head.

RAINY (CONT'D)

(barking)

Not yet.

Car noise fades and RAINY flips himself over and rolls to the TEEN.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Sorry. I'm not a good guy to hang out with. You gotta way to get home staying off the street?

TEEN nods.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Use it.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE. - DAY

RAINY is out of his wheel chair and perched up on a work bench. BIG PETEY is working welding a piece of steel to the back of the motorized wheelchair.

BIG PETEY

Fuckin chicken shit whack a moles. This'll fix em.

RAINY

I never asked. Where'd you get the chair?

BIG PETEY

Not from the V fuckin A. That chair they first promised you? It's probably back-ordered past Yogurtlandistan. Too busy making sure all the stars and bars get their spit and polish wheels to drive to and from the O Club and PX to get a wheelchair for a real vet.

RAINY

So?

BIG PETEY

So what?

RAINY

The chair.

BIG PETEY

Remember Jean Beauvais, the bakery Beauvais? His kid, mauvais Marc Beauvais?

RAINY shakes his head

BIG PETEY (CONT'D)

Getting a bj on his honeymoon? On his way to the Cape? Crossed over the line? Lost his wife, legs and dick...not in that order. Rolled around here for four or five years and decided he'd had enough of Earth. It'd been sitting in JJ's garage since then.

RAINY

Now what are you doin to it?

BIG PETEY

Just goosing it a little. Maybe make it a little safer for the street since you seem to have brought some enemies home.

RAINY

(pointing at a couple of things))

Looks like it might need more than a license.

BIG PETEY

Probably right in an f-ed up country where you need some government douche bag stamping a piece of paper and taking your money before you can drag a hook through a stream looking for a hungry fish. That same f-ed up country that was bringing freedom to a bunch of gooks who could fish wherever whenever they wanted. We get to vote. They get to fish. You tell me, who's freer?

RAINY

Fishing never was my thing.

BIG PETEY

We're different.

RAINY

Maybe not so much.

BIG PETEY looks up stunned at what might be a compliment from RAINY.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Catch you later.

BIG PETEY

Leave Edison to his work. See if I can get this bulb to light.

INT. YMCA GYM - AFTERNOON

RAINY is playing basketball with seven other guys in wheelchairs. There is no ref and the play is pretty violent with chairs crashing and guys doing rollovers. After three chairs crash together and all topple over, FO calls a halt.

FO

Breather! Breather!

SCURV

(who is disentangling himself and getting himself upright)

Platoon, halt. Pussy Man wants a break.

RAINY

(wheeling back up the court while dribbling)

Not that we need him, but where's Doc?

LT

He got banged on a DUI so he's gotta spend some time in the greybar.

RAINY

Jail on a DUI?

LT

Yeah, well he was driving on a suspended and was on parole.

RAINY

Jail in a chair has got to be fucked up.

LT

Jail squared.

RAINY

(considering)

What happened to his car?

LT

Who knows? Impounded maybe. Maybe sitting at his house. Why?

RAINY

I could use a ride.

LT

You want Doc's ride you'd have to steal it. Doc wouldn't loan you a scab sore even if he was a leper. Where you need to go?

RAINY

You see about the guy who had his hands chopped off? That was my friend and I think I know who did it.

LT

Stop there. That's a story I don't need to hear.

FO

Gentlemen, start your engines.

FI

Wrong sport, sport. Round Two.

FO

Fuck off.

INT. YMCA GYM - LATER

Guys are bantering as they wipe sweat off their faces and arms and gather their gear. RAINY starts to head to the door to get on the mini-van when BECCA rolls into his path.

BECCA

Sergeant, got a minute?

RAINY

(slows but keeps rolling)

Don't want to miss my ride.

BECCA

That won't be an issue.

RAINY

How's that?

Becca holds up a ring of keys.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Where we goin?

BECCA

That's on a need to know basis.

RAINY

(letting his chair drift away from her)

It hasn't worked out too well goin where the Army told me.

BECCA

Just R&R, Sergeant.

RAINY

Like the last nine months?

BECCA

C'mon. Don't lose a nut over it.

EXT. YMCA GYM - MOMENTS LATER

BECCA rolls up to a van, clicks the remote and waits for the door to open and the lift to drop down. She rides up into the front of the van, hikes a transfer into the driver's seat and locks her chair into place.

BECCA

Your turn.

BECCA watches as RAINY makes his way into the van and locks himself in place. BECCA starts the van and drives off.

INT. BECCA'S VAN - MOMENTS LATER

RAINY

This yours or the government's?

BECCA

All mine, including the repair bills, insurance, tags and taxes.

RAINY

You're a good driver. That take long?

BECCA

(pleased at the compliment)

Saying something positive. That's out of character, Sergeant.

RAINY

It take long?

BECCA

It seemed long, because I was scared, but it really wasn't.

RAINY

What'd this cost?

BECCA

(laughing)

For a vehicle, it seemed pretty goddamn expensive, but as my freedom, it seemed pretty cheap. I've put a lot of miles on this when I might have been in my room sucking brew.

RAINY sits quietly thinking as BECCA drives into .... park and pulls into a handicapped parking place.

RAINY

What's this?

BECCA

I want to show you something. Go on.

BECCA slides the door open and RAINY descends the ramp. BECCA reaches up and grasps a handhold bolted to the roof. She swings onto three more, gets to the back of the van, uncovers her racing chair, mounts it and exits the van.

EXT. PARK - CONTINUOUS

RAINY

(impressed)

That's your racer?

BECCA

(taking off across the parking lot toward a macadam bike path)

Chase me.

RAINY

(surprising himself, races after her)

What the hell?

BECCA plays cat and mouse with RAINY as they race along the bike path. She slows and he gets close before she accelerates away. Scenery, joggers and bicyclists flash by. Finally, BECCA slows and drifts to a stop in a turnout alongside a pond. RAINY comes alongside.

BECCA

(breathing hard)

You pushed me, Sergeant. You're in a lot better shape than I would have guessed.

RAINY

(also breathing hard)

Not good enough.

BECCA

That's not me. That's the chair.

(she pats the chair as if it were a horse)

Good girl, Flicka, good girl. You like going fast?

RAINY

I don't know. When I'm pushing it on the court, I'm goin fast, but it isn't the goal. Just goin fast, by itself, I'd have to think about that.

BECCA

You didn't run track?

RAINY

Runnin' in circles. No. I never got that.

BECCA

(abruptly changing directions and becoming very serious)

Are you doing that now?

RAINY

(puzzled)

How?

BECCA

With Guy.

RAINY

(instantly angry and defensive)

What gives you the right to get in my life?

BECCA

(angry and finger pointing)

You know the answer to that. My question is what gives you the right or, better, demands that you get in Guy's life, or death? Let me ask you something, Sergeant. If Guy got drunk and was driving home and decided that he needed to take a leak, pulls over, gets out of the car and instead of walking to the edge of the road, staggers out into the middle of 2956, pulls out his dick and gets hit by a semi, do you, and I mean you, go after the semi driver? He did something stupid, he got killed. Where and why are you in all that?

RAINY

They cut off his hands.

BECCA

He was dead. It didn't hurt.

RAINY

You are one cold bitch.

BECCA

You told me you don't have much of a hook in to your own life. But, now your friend, who as far as I can learn, jammed you up more than once and for which you paid a big price, a guy who had his hooks deep in you probably because he didn't have much going on for him, gets jacked up and now you can't leave it alone. This guy fucked up your life while he was living and now you're making sure that he fucks it up when he's dead. Sergeant, doesn't that seem just a little fucked? Did you good buddy Guy lock and load and head to Afghanistan when he heard they wrecked your legs? Did your good friend Guy ever drive you to the VA? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember him coming blasting into my office and busting my chops because I can't get you a motor chair as fast as you want. Did I miss him in the gym? Was he there and rooting for you or at least ragging on you and I just missed it? Sergeant, I know you're a romantic, just like BP, but as far as this girl can see and this girl has had her share of shit-ons, this is a one way love affair you're having with Guy. Forget it. Don't be loyal and don't get righteous. Just get on with your life.

RAINY

Did you cut and run in the Army anytime someone fell short?

BECCA

No, but I tried not to hang out with people who needed long-shots to stay alive.

RAINY

So, as an officer, rather than change the man, you tried to change jobs. I saw a lot of officers like that. 'This is a shit hole, I gotta get outta here.' I thought the whole thing about leading was teaching guys how to be better.

BECCA

(shrugging)

Some people just don't know how to learn better.

RAINY

Maybe they just had bad teachers.

BECCA

Could be. But...

(she hesitates before deciding to go forward)

You record shows you were good at what you did, but how many of your men died the day you lost your legs?

RAINY immediately stars wheeling away at top speed. BECCA lets him get ahead figuring it will give him time to cool down; however when BECCA gets back to the van she is surprised that RAINY isn't there waiting. BECCA uses the lift to get into the van, locks down the racer and gets on the road. She drives back the way they came, then turns around and drives back the other way, but there is no sight of RAINY. She gets out her phone, starts to dial, then puts it away.

BECCA (CONT'D)

What an asshole.

EXT. HIGHWAY OVERPASS - LATER

RAINY is seen pumping hard trying to make his way up a long rise. He's covered in sweat and breathing hard. As he crests the overpass, he pulls his chair along side the railing and stops. After a few seconds, he hoists himself out of the chair and onto the railing. He sits on the railing with his feet dangling over the edge and studies the traffic passing beneath him. His breathing gets more ragged and he begins to see the faces of the troops he lost in Afghanistan projected onto the roofs of the cars passing beneath him. He sees the face with clarity for just a split second and then the face rapidly disappears as the car speeds away. RAINY leans forward so that he is right on the verge of losing his balance and falling onto the highway below. RAINY snaps back when his phone rings. He fumbles for it.

RAINY

Rainy.

BP (O.S.)

Did you fuck that counselor?

RAINY

What are you talkin about?

BP

Mullins. Is that her name? She acts like you been bangin her. Called me and wanted to know where you are and what you're doin--just like she's got a pussy grip on you I know you're dumb but you're not that dumb, are you?

RAINY

(making himself hard)

What's to fuck, BP? Half of her isn't even there.

BP

So why'd she call?

RAINY

Probably tryin to pad her job.

BP

You want her number?

RAINY

That I don't need.

BP

Where are you?

RAINY

Out spinning my wheels.

BP

When you gettin home?

RAINY

(looking down at the road again before reluctantly swinging off the railing and dropping into the wheelchair)

When I get there.

RAINY running his wheelchair along a long stretch of empty road.

INT. RAINY'S KITCHEN - EVENING

RAINY, BP and MOTHER are eating dinner. RAINY doesn't seem as somber.

MOTHER

Did you get out today?

RAINY

Yeah, I played some ball.

MOTHER

You see anyone?

RAINY

No, just kids.

BP

When are you gonna do more than play around? His jaw?

MOTHER

(reaching a tentative hand out to BP)

BP, don't, please.

(she pulls his hand closer and stares)

What's this?

BP

(staring at his arm)

Who knows? Rash, maybe?

MOTHER

That doesn't look like a rash. It's going right up that vein. It looks like blood poisoning.

BP

Where would I get blood poisoning?

RAINY

(sarcastically)

Maybe workin. You get a cut when you were workin on the Batmobile? Maybe it's like lockjaw.

BP

It's nothin. Gimme some bread.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE. - AFTERNOON

The Batmobile is up on the long work bench that runs the length of the bay. BP is half squatting as he uses his acetylene torch to weld some kind of brace to the underside of the wheelchair arm. RAINY is hiked up on the other end of the work bench watching. Suddenly, BP stands up, rips the goggles from his face and falls forward, bangs his head on the bench and slides to the floor. The torch is still burning and it starts to crawl across the floor toward a cart filled with cans of lubricants and paint. RAINY looks over to where his wheelchair has been out of the way before scootching down the work bench until he is closer to the moving torch.

RAINY

Godammit.

(he pushes himself off the work bench, tumbles to the floor and starts to elbow crawl toward the torch. Just before the torch flames reach the cart of inflammables, RAINY heaves himself forward and catches hold of the torch.)

Shit.

(as he burns himself when he goes to shut off the torch)

RAINY swivels his head from where BP is on the ground to his wheelchair. Finally, he opts for the wheelchair and begins to pull himself across the floor to the chair. He manages to get himself into the chair and then wheels over to BP. He checks BP's pulse.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Goddammit.

RAINY pulls out his phone and starts dialing before reaching back down and using his hand to smooth BP's hair.

INT. VA HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT

MOTHER is sitting on a bench and RAINY is sitting in his wheelchair. STAFF and VISITORS are moving up and down the hallway.

RAINY

Do you want to stay?

MOTHER

I want to, but I don't see what good it would do.

RAINY

Not much is going to happen until the antibiotics start to work.

MOTHER

If they do work.

RAINY

Mom, they don't think it's MERSA. They just think it's regular staph.

MOTHER

Remember when Aimee Tetrault lost her baby from staph? The knew what it was, but they couldn't stop it because it was too far along.

RAINY

(reaching out to touch his mother's hand but stopping short)

They'll get it knocked down and when they do, then, you can bust him that you were right, it was blood poisoning. He was stupid and you were smart.

MOTHER

When it comes to medical stuff, most men act stupid, like a germ cares how tough you think you are. Women are smart enough that when they need help, they know it and they take it.

(she gets up from the bench)

RAINY

Does that mean that I'm supposed to let you push me?

MOTHER

(grabbing the chair's handles)

It gives me something to do.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE. - AFTERNOON

RAINY is trying to attach a large portable spotlight onto one of the clamps BP has welded to the Batmobile's arms. It is not going well and RAINY is getting frustrated. MOTHER walks in with a cup of cover.

MOTHER

I thought you might want some coffee.

RAINY

(bitterly)

Yeah, a little caffeine would help the cause.

MOTHER

(coming over and setting the cup next to RAINY)

What are you doing?

RAINY

Just some lights so maybe I can go out at night be myself.

MOTHER watches as RAINY fails to get the clamp to work.

MOTHER

BP called. He wouldn't say it outright, but he wants you to visit.

RAINY

(avoiding the suggestion)

When's he get out?

MOTHER

A day, maybe two. His fever's way down, but they have to keep after the infection.

RAINY

Good luck. I'll bet the kill rate in VA hospitals is higher than on the battlefield.

MOTHER

Then, shouldn't you go before they kill him?

RAINY

I'm not too interested in what he has to say.

MOTHER

Helping you is the reason he's there.

RAINY

Goddammit!

(takes the spotlight and uses it to smash the cup of coffee before shoving his wheelchair backward until it smashes into the end of the garage.)

It's always me! No one else. Just me.

INT. VETERAN'S HOSPITAL BP'S ROOM - MORNING

RAINY slowly wheels down the hallway, looking at room numbers but also dawdling. He rolls to BP's room and carefully reconnoiters it. BP is reading Eisenhower's Crusade in Europe. RAINY studies him for awhile before starting to back away.

BIG PETEY

Discretion the better part of valor or you just a chickenshit?

RAINY

(rolling halfway into the room)

How you doin?

BIG PETEY

The food sucks, but the morphine's pretty good.

RAINY

Lotta sex with the night shift nurse?

BIG PETEY

He asked. I considered, but decided I was kinda old to be jumping that fence.

RAINY

It's why they call it this man's army.

BIG PETEY

You kill any gooks, yet?

RAINY

Is that what you think we should do?

BP waves the hand holding the book noncommittally.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Armor up?

BIG PETEY

The only place right and wrong is easy to figure is Disney World.

RAINY

And Rome.

BIG PETEY

Right, I forgot that. We can turn the other cheek and let those slant fucks come and kill me, you and your mother. Or, we can kill some of them and then wait to see if they come back and try to kill me, you and your mother.

RAINY

(getting angry)

When you say we, you mean me on the cheek turning and gook killing part, right? Why don't YOU tell ME what I should do?

BIG PETEY

(thinking it over)

Because you might do it.

RAINY

Meaning?

BP

Jesus Christ, Rene, I don't know what I'm mean. I'm just some old fuck drunk trying to keep the shadows at bay. I read a lot of history, but that doesn't mean that I learn much. I read it mostly so I don't have to think about my own.

RAINY

What history is that?

BP

Right.

(he puts the book down on his lap)

Jesus Christ, what do I think you should do? Should you call the cops? You said the dickhead had some cop friends. Should you go in blazing? Audie Murphy in a fire-fight. One against many. Should you sneak around and try to cut off the head in hopes the body dies? Should you buy three bus tickets for Des Moines?

(looks around the room)

Make it two. Should you buy the guy a dozen roses and ask to suck his hog? Or, should you stay drunk and hope God hits re-run?

RAINY

Could do a combo and be drunk in Des Moines.

BP

(laughing)

That beats a hail of bullets and the big goodbye?

(seriously, angrily)

Your dickhead friend dies and goes to hell and still isn't busy enough with his own life that he can't find time to come back and fuck up yours.

RAINY

How far will the Batmobile run with the big motor and a full charge?

BP

(shrugging)

Vehicle range is a product of terrain, speed and resistance.

RAINY

(backing his way out of the room)

Got it.

EXT. OUTSIDE RAINY'S HOUSE - NIGHT

A beater car cruises to a stop and three VIETS quietly get out of the car and carefully close the car door. With guns down along their sides, they run up to the back door of RAINY'S house. VIET-A boosts VIET-B onto the roof which over-hangs the back door. VIET-B hunches down next to a second floor window and waits for the signal. VIET-A tries the door knob, and when it doesn't turn, VIET-C grunts, VIET-B hears the signal and starts smashing out the window with his pistol butt. VIET-A uses the butt of his gun to break the glass of the back door and reach inside to unlock it.

INT. RAINY'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

VIET-A and VIET-C rush inside while VIET-B is still trying to get the window and mullions smashed out. VIET-C pushes VIET-A through the kitchen. As VIET-A is forced into the living room, he trips over a wire strung across the doorway. As he stumbles and falls forward, he inadvertently pulls the trigger on his gun and a splat of bullets drives into the floor. When he hits the floor the gun goes flying. VIET-C carefully avoids the wire as he eases into the room. RAINY smashes VIET-C's arm with GUY's Bullworker before crashing into him with the wheelchair. AS VIET-C loses his balance, RAINY jerks him toward him, slips a plastic tie over his head and jerks it tight around VIET-C's neck. As VIET-C tries to get his fingers under the plastic garotte, VIET-A is crawling forward toward his gun. RAINY comes alongside and does a sideways roll of himself in the wheelchair onto VIET-A and flattens him. RAINY rolls back upright, pops a wheel onto VIET-A, drops a black bag over VIET-A's head and zips it tight. Despite the fact that he is choking VIET-C stumbles across the room to get his gun. Just as VIET-C reaches the gun, RAINY throws a knife that pins his hand to the floor. RAINY rolls forward and grabs the gun and spins back against the wall by the doorway as VIET-B comes thundering down the stairs. Just as VIET-C pulls the knife from his hand, VIET-B bursts through the doorway, processes the upraised knife but not who is holding it and sprays VIET-C with bullets. From his position at the side of the doorway, RAINY kidney punches VIET-B, then gets his hand under the elbow of VIET-B's gun arm, upthrusts, and drives the gun into VIET-B's face, which causes him to drop to the floor. RAINY removes the gun and plastic ties VIET-B's wrists before wheeling over to where VIET-A is tentatively feeling around with the bag on his head. RAINY chops VIET-A's carotid and straps his wrists, too. Suddenly, RAINY wheels to the bottom of the stairs.

RAINY

Mom?

(he flips himself out of the chair and starts to hunch his way upstairs)

Mom? You okay?

A door creaks.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Mom? It's okay.

There is more creaking and then MOTHER appears at the top of the stairs holding a section of vacuum sweeper wand.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Except it's a mess.

MOTHER tentatively starts walking down the stairs.

MOTHER

Is this going to involve cops because you know how I feel about cops.

INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT

RAINY is sitting at a table with two DETECTIVES.

RAINY

(holding in his anger)

I'll say it again. This isn't about me.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

Three guys invade your house and try to kill you and it's not about you? That doesn't compute. This looks like a dope deal gone south to me. Either they were trying to rip you off, or you ripped them off.

RAINY

You're wrong.

DETECTIVE BARGET

We don't like to be told we're wrong.

RAINY

One of those guys, the one with the smashed face, I saw before at the Plaisir before Guy Bourret got killed. There were three of them. They tried to rob Guy at the end of the night. He fought back and I helped and they left. Those other two, the one who got shot and the one I bagged are new to me. I don't buy or sell dope so there's no reason to come after me so the only thing I can think of is that it has something to do with losing face.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

These guys shoot up your home because of losing face?

RAINY

You know that shit happens all the time. Diss me and die.

DETECTIVE BARGET

So you think these are the guys that killed Bourret?

RAINY

(shrugs)

Them or somebody like them. The guy that got his face smashed, he wasn't the one giving the orders that night at Vic's.

DETECTIVE BARGET

How long was that before Bourret got killed?

RAINY

Three weeks, maybe a little more.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

And you didn't think that was worth sharing?

RAINY

My family and cops don't get along.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

Your whole family, or just Big Petey?

DETECTIVE BARGET

(whistling in appreciation)

Big Petey? Who won that match? BP must have tagged just about everybody on the force over forty. I probably took four punches from that hoser for every one I gave.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

Lucky for BP there were a lot of vets on the force otherwise that shit would have ended in Round One.

RAINY

When he'd get out, it always looked like he took more than he tagged.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

But then you never saw the other faces. He could be totally stivered and still throw something that crunched. Where was he tonight?

RAINY

VA.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

They do dry-outs?

(when RAINY says nothing he continues)

What?

RAINY

He got blood poisoning.

DETECTIVE BARGET

(abrupt shift)

What're those guns gonna tell us?

RAINY

You tell me? Smashed face shot the dead guy. The other two I knocked their guns free and didn't touch them.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

(waggling his head back and forth)

You didn't touch 'em and they wore gloves so just how many prints are we going to find? Those two are going to tell me that they came to your house for tea and fucking eggrolls and you went postal and shot their friend. And by the way, you better hope that it was bullets that killed that guy because if it was the collar around his neck that is going to present a problem. And if one of those guns is the gun that killed Bourret and they say it's yours, then that's another problem. You think about things. We'll go talk to your house guests and then we'll come back and talk again.

DETECTIVE BARGET

And while you're thinkin' remember while we don't mind being right, we hate being wrong.

DETECTIVE SARNAULT

One other thing. If what you say is true that these three guys broke into your house and tried to kill you and maybe your mom because they lost face after you and Bourret beat them up in a fight, then think what is going to happen now after one guy in a wheelchair takes out three.

(he stares at RAINY, then says begrudgingly)

You must have been one helluva soldier...

The cops leave and RAINY slumps in his chair and stairs at his legs.

INT. VETERAN'S HOSPITAL BP'S ROOM - MORNING

RAINY and MOTHER are by BP's bedside. BP is sitting up in bed with a thick history book opened on his lap.

RAINY

It's not safe. The guy with the Matrix he's still around and you know he's not done. You told me that yourself. They come and then they keep coming.

BP

I'm not getting out of here and going into hiding. What? We're going to share a double at a Motel6? Not me. Fuck 'em, let 'em come.

MOTHER

I already told him that, BP. He doesn't want to hear it.

BP

Should I yell?

RAINY

So what? We go home and wait for them to come back?

BP

No. We fuck with them before they fuck with us.

RAINY

(disgustedly)

Now you sound like the gung-ho officers you told me to avoid.

BP

Stand your ground.

Shaking his head, RAINY wheels himself out of the hospital room.

INT. YMCA GYM - NIGHT

MOTHER and BP are sitting on the end of the bleachers. The game is in full swing with swearing, crashes and a long two handed set shot rainbow by RAINY.

MOTHER

After everything that's happened, it's good to see this. To see him like this.

BP

It's just a game. In a hour he's back to his life.

MOTHER

He's back to his life feelin' good, feelin' better. So, maybe, he can take some of that energy and use it to move on.

BP

I'm tellin ya, Helene, feelin good doesn't work. He's gotta be pissed. He's gotta go almost nuts if he isn't gonna go nuts.

MOTHER

I think you're wrong, BP.

BP

(pushing himself off the bleacher)

I'm goin out for a smoke...remember when you could smoke in here? 'Nother freedom gone.

MOTHER

You lose one. I gain one.

BP

(as he heads to the door)

Great.

As soon as he steps outside, BP lights up a cigarette, takes a deep breath and leans up against the side of the gym. He starts to cough as he takes a deep breath of air. After he finishes coughing, he takes another drag on his cigarette. Two guys come out of the parking lot and walk up the sidewalk toward the gym door. BP slides a little to one side to give them more room, but when they get close, they split to both sides of BP, pull pistols and each grabs one of BP's arms.

VIET1A

C'mon.

(he tries to push BP toward the parking lot, but when BP tries to tug free, VIET1A puts his gun to BP's head.)

Now.

BP allows his legs to go lump and his weight pulls down on VIET1A and VIET2A.

VIET1A (CONT'D)

(as he smashes his gun against BP' head)

Asshole.

BP continues to let his dead-weight slow his assailants' efforts. VIET2A jams BP hard in the stomach with the barrel of his gun. BP slumps forward. As the VIETS are working to get their hands under BP's armpits so they can drag him to their car, the gym door slams open from FO hitting the door with his feet elevated. FO barrels out and is followed closely by FU.

FO

Ah, motherfuckin nature. What the fuck?

(he pulls up when he sees the guns)

Double what the fuck.

FU

(reaching out to get a hand on FO's wheel)

Chill.

The two VIETS drop BP and point their guns at FO and FU as they back down the sidewalk toward their car. After they're gone, FO and FU wheel over to BP.

FU (CONT'D)

You okay, man? Aw, fuck, look at the blood. Aw, fuck me, now I'm gonna puke.

(he wheels a few feet away, leans over the side of his chair and begins to retch.)

FO starts laughing as he wheels over to the gym door and begins to pound on it.

FO

Man down. Man down. Another on his way.

INT. RAINY'S KITCHEN - LATER

RAINY and BP sitting at the kitchen table drinking beer and MOTHER is at the sink washing dishes. BP has a big piece of gauze attached to his head.

MOTHER

(not even turning around to look)

You should be in bed. You could have a concussion.

BP

If I fall over, put a pillow under me.

RAINY

You said they'd keep comin.

BP

So, that makes me a strategic genius?

RAINY

Yeah, I guess. Finally, all that reading paid off. Now, what?

BP

(shrugs)

I don't know. Finish my beer and do what your mother says and go to bed?

RAINY

I don' think that's gonna do it.

BP

What, then? The cops?

MOTHER

Can't you talk to them? We don't have anything they want.

RAINY

They think we do.

MOTHER

What? What do we have?

RAINY

Their honor.

MOTHER

(slamming down a dish she has been drying)

Honor? Junkies, drunks, and cowards. Honor?

(she storms out of the room)

BP

Was she talking about more than them?

RAINY

I don't know. But if anyone hurts her....

BP

(getting up from the table slowly)

You mean anyone other than me and you.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE. - MORNING

BP is working on the motorized wheelchair with the acetylene torch. RAINY is cleaning one of the VIETS guns.

BP

You think this is gonna work?

RAINY

You know the drill. You can plan plans but you can't plan results. I think if we come at them hard enough they might get the idea that it's easier just to let it go.

BP

We're gonna have to figure out a ramp for the truck. Somethin that can get you off and on fast.

RAINY

That's gotta be easier than riggin up what you're doin now.

(growing attentive)

Shit.

(starts snapping the gun back together)

BP

What?

RAINY

Car.

BP hurries toward the door to see what is going one.

BP

Cop.

RAINY slides the gun under his legs as BP walks back toward the workbench. YOUNG COP looks in the garage door window taps on the door. BP waves him in.

COP

Mr. Gaulette?

BP

Heh?

COP

Are you okay? We had a report that you were attacked last night at the gym.

BP

(going into yokel mode)

I wouldn't say attacked. Robbed is more like it. Just a couple of kids wanting a couple of bucks.

(laughs sheepishly)

Musta been pretty raw if they picked me to rob.

COP

(gesturing at BP's bandage)

How'd that happen?

BP

This? I smacked it when I was trying to pull away.

COP

(starting to doubt what he is hearing)

What did they look like?

BP

Kids. Just kids. Like all kids look like now. Sloppy jeans, sloppy shirts, sloppy patches of hair on their chins. Nothing special.

COP

We heard Oriental.

BP

(taking his time as if he is thinking real hard)

Yeah. I guess. Maybe. Pretty dark.

COP

And guns.

BP

(his yokel shtick sliding into anger)

Could be. Like I said, it was dark. And I'd had a few pops. Could be guns. Could be soup spoons or spatulas.

RAINY

(interrupting before BP goes postal)

One of the guys who helped said he saw a gun.

COP

Seems a weird place to rob someone.

BP

(sniggering)

Just what I thought when it was happening. More likely for me coming out of a packie. Whoever they were they must not know what CYO means.

COP

Nothing else going on here?

BP

(reaching out for his torch)

Just America at work and play.

COP leaves.

EXT. PROVIDENCE ALLEY - NIGHT

BP's truck is stopped in an alleyway. BP's in the truck bed sitting in the Batmobile, which is in hyper-electric mode. He drives the wheel chair down a makeshift ramp and around to where RAINY is turned sideways in his seat with the door open. It takes some acrobatics to get RAINY in the seat of the wheelchair.

BP

You sure this make any sense?

RAINY

Two against twenty, you want a frontal assault? This, at least, has a good shot. I'll see you back here in twenty minutes...do me a favor, don't fall asleep.

RAINY drives off and BP gets back in the truck. He reaches under the seat and pulls out one of the VIET pistols. He moves the gun back and forth before closing his eyes.

EXT. TENT IN VIETNAM - NIGHT

YOUNG BP is alternating sucking on a beer and a joint. When he finishes the joint, he rolls another. When he finishes the beer, he hides four more into his fatigues. After sloppily checking himself, he grabs his rifle and leaves the tent.

EXT. SENTRY POST VIET NAM - MOMENTS LATER

YOUNG BP comes up to the sentry post and switches places. As soon as the other GI is gone, BP opens beer and gets comfortable.

EXT. PROVIDENCE STREET DOWN FROM THE VIETNAMESE BAR - NIGHT

RAINY is driving the Batmobile down the street by the Vietnamese bar. The hot Matrix is parked in front. RAINY pulls out a pistol from under his seat and starts shooting the grill, windshield and side windows as he passes by at a slow speed. VIET GUYS come rushing out of the bar, guns in hand, as RAINY turns the corner. As RAINY tears down the side street, the roar of an engine can be heard. RAINY ducks into an alleyway, drives a couple of hundred feet and spins the chair around so that he is facing forward. Seconds later a car goes screaming past. After a minute RAINY starts to crawl quietly forward, but stops when he hears footsteps. He backs up and angles behind a dumpster. Two shadows appear silhouetted in the alleyway entrance. RAINY tenses when he hears a commotion right in front of him. A shadow looms over him. Vietnamese bullets blast. The drunk rising from the dumpster is shot and pitches forward out of the dumpster and onto the alley. TWO VIETNAMESE come running. RAINY eases back against the building wall and waits with his gun ready. A car brodies up, voices yell and, before they get to the dumpster, the TWO VIETNAMESE run back to the car and jump in. When RAINY checks out the drunk, he is wearing worn out army fatigues.

EXT. SENTRY POST VIET NAM - NIGHT

YOUNG BP is passed out. A half dozen shadows slide past his post and approach the small camp.

EXT. PROVIDENCE ALLEYWAY - NIGHT

RAINY slowly drives the Batmobile to the opposite end of the alley-way and turns onto the street.

EXT. ALLEY BEHIND THE VIETNAMESE BAR - MOMENTS LATER

RAINY is silently driving the Batmobile as tight to the wall as the garbage allows. As he gets close to the back door of the bar, he pulls out a lighter and lights the wick of a Molotov cocktail. He approaches the door, pulls out his K-bar which is magnetized to the bottom of his seat and uses it to snap the lock. He eases the door open and tosses the Molotov cocktail inside. Immediately, he throws the Batmobile into hyper-drive and takes off.

EXT. SENTRY POST VIET NAM - NIGHT

YOUNG BP snaps awake as if something had startled him. He fires into the bush, then slowly turns around and sees a fire raging behind him at the site of the camp. Because he is so drunk, it takes him a minute to understand that the camp has been attacked. When he does, he runs off into the bush, away from the fire.

EXT. PROVIDENCE ALLEYWAYS - NIGHT

RAINY has the Batmobile flying down a series of alleyways. The terrain is rough enough that the wheelchair is flying up on two wheels and careening from side to side. As RAINY comes out of one alley and turns into a poorly lighted street, the wheelchair tilts so far over that Rainy has to slam his body in the opposite way to stay upright. When he does, he loses control of the wheelchair, which clips a telephone pole, slides sideways and smacks into a car head-on and stops. RAINY is shot from the wheelchair onto the hood of the car. His head smacks the windshield, then he slips back. He lies there for a long moment before he pushes off the car hood and works his way back into the wheelchair. When he tries to start up the wheelchair, the big motor won't start and he is forced to use the small motor.

INT. BP'S TRUCK - MOMENTS LATER

BP is staring hard as the gun in his hand as if he is trying to make a decision to use it on himself. He abruptly twists his hand as if he has made that decision, but it is only to look at his watch. Seeing the time, and realizing RAINY is late, he gets agitated.

EXT. PROVIDENCE STREETS WEST OF FEDERAL HILL - MOMENTS LATER

RAINY is tooling along the sidewalks at 5 mph, when a car comes squealing around the corner from behind him. RAINY pulls in tight against the building and stops and tries to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. The car hurtles by and RAINY starts to pull away. Suddenly, the car brakes and starts reversing at a high speed. RAINY pulls the wheelchair close to a parked car. The VIET car keeps backing up, the windows on RAINY's side of the car are down, and the barrel of a pistol appears from the rear window. RAINY pulls a gun from under his seat, braces his hand on the parked car, and begins shooting. One tire on the VIET car blows. The car starts to swerve, sideswipes a car on RAINY's side of the street, swerves and sideswipes a car on the other side, straightens and a SHOOTER in the back seat begins firing wildly. A very calm RAINY holds his fire and waits until the car is just along side before firing into the front of the car and killing the DRIVER. The car keeps moving backward and RAINY shoots the SHOTGUN PASSENGER. The VIET car crashes into another car. RAINY waits to see if anyone emerges, but the SHOOTER decides to stay put. RAINY pulls away.

EXT. PROVIDENCE ALLEYWAY - MOMENTS LATER

As soon as RAINY pulls the wheelchair into the alley, BP jumps out of the truck. BP hurries around the side of the truck and opens the passenger door for RAINY. RAINY drives up and pulls the gun from under the seat and drops it down the front of his shirt.

BP

What the hell happened?

RAINY

Not now. Get us loaded and get us out of here.

BP struggles to get RAINY into the truck cab. When BP drives the Batmobile up the ramp he is so agitated he almost slides a wheel off the ramp. He climbs out of the seat and starts to get down from the truck. RAINY, who has been watching him in the mirror, reaches back and taps the window.

RAINY (CONT'D)

Bungies.

BP

(becoming unhinged from the adrenaline)

Shit. Right. Jesus.

INT. BP'S TRUCK - MOMENTS LATER

BP is driving and RAINY is watching him closely to be sure that he is staying legal.

RAINY

Take is easy.

BP

I am. I am.

RAINY

We'll swing by the reservoir. I want to get rid of the gun.

BP

Get some use?

RAINY

(nodding slowly)

Two. Maybe three. Plus a civilian.

BP

(shakily but trying to be tough)

This is starting to get pretty real.

RAINY

Their choice.

BP

Did you get the big guy/ The Matrix guy?

RAINY

I don't think so.

BP

So there'll be more to come.

RAINY

Could be.

BP

What now?

RAINY

The big motor went. I felt like I was back in your Army. Tryin to shoot shit with a bad gun.

BP

That motor was perfect. I checked it and re-checked it.

RAINY

Yeah? Well, all I know is it fucked up when I needed it most.

BP

(getting angry because he doesn't want to hear any more.)

That's bullshit. You probably fucked it up some way. You barely know your way around a toaster.

RAINY

(touching BP's arm, then laughing)

You're right. It was my fault. I got going too fast and headon-ed into a car.

BP

America's Funniest Videos.

RAINY

(seriously)

If I hadn't done that, a couple of more guys might still be alive.

BP

C'est la guerre.

INT. BP'S TRUCK - MOMENTS LATER

BP drives the truck onto a small turn-off by the side of a body of water.

BP

Give it to me. I'll do it.

RAINY

(wiping the gun clean)

Don't touch it. Probably more important to toss it to the side than straight out.

BP

(sarcastically)

Yes, sergeant.

BP gets out, walks toward the reservoir, considers the gun for a long moment before hurling it out into the water. He walks back and gets into the truck.

BP (CONT'D)

There goes a third of our armory.

RAINY

Maybe, but we don't want that gun anywhere near us.

BP

How's this gonna end?

RAINY

I don't know, BP. Sometimes you just have to play your hand to see how it comes out.

BP

Yeah, well it looks like we've got the shit cards.

RAINY

If you were in the same army I was, you saw a lot of shitty hands win big pots.

BP

(nodding)

Some of my fondest memories.

RAINY

(interested)

You played a lot

BP

Nah, just when I was sober.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE. - MORNING

BP has the Batmobile apart. RAINY is playing solitaire.

BP

You crapped this up pretty good. How fast were you goin?

RAINY

(smiling)

Get-away fast.

BP

The feds will probably want me to put air bags in this thing.

RAINY

So you can fix it?

BP

Fuck fix it. I'm gonna transform it.

RAINY

Into what?

BP

MAPWC.

RAINY

MAP WC?

BP

(wandering off into the depths of the junkyard side of the garage)

Motorized Armored Personnel Wheel Chair.

RAINY

I don't think I want to watch this. I'm gonna go shoot hoops.

BP

Watch your back.

RAINY

Back, sides and front.

INT. RAINY'S DINING ROOM - EVENING

MOTHER

Where's your grandfather?

RAINY

Maybe still in the shop. Been out there all day.

MOTHER

(setting down food)

He better watch himself or he'll be back in the VA. What's he doin?

RAINY

More work on the Batmobile.

MOTHER

Like what?

RAINY

He thinks he's turning a wheelchair into a hotrod.

MOTHER

I'll go get him.

RAINY starts picking at the food while it's still in the serving bowls. Door open and MOTHER returns.

MOTHER (CONT'D)

He's coming.

MOTHER serves RAINY. Tire squeals. Engine noise. Gunfire. Glass shatters. Engine noise diminishes. Mother rushes to the kitchen door.

INT. RAINY'S LIVING ROOM - LATER

The living room is very dark. Plywood covers two windows.

MOTHER

I'm going up.

RAINY

Leave the lights off.

MOTHER

I'm not living like this.

RAINY

Mom, half the world goes to bed afraid.

MOTHER

Not this half. Hungry, maybe. Afraid, never.

MOTHER leaves. RAINY sits in the dark until his mother's footsteps fade before he gets a gun, one of the three he and Guy took from the Vietnamese, out from under his butt and puts it in his lap.

INT. RAINY'S LIVING ROOM - LATER

RAINY is asleep in his wheelchair. He snaps awake with the sound of tires racing around the corner. An engine revs as it passes by the house before driving off.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE. - DAY

RAINY is sitting in his unmotorized chair working on the Batmobile, which now sports a cage with a big propane tank attached to it. He is trying, not very successfully, to attach a metal plate to the back of the wheel chair seat. Finally, his patience gone, he hurls the plate away.

RAINY

This is such bullshit.

He starts to wheel himself to the door, then pauses, turns back and drives over to where the steel plate is on the floor. He picks it up and goes back to the Batmobile. He takes a knife, slices open the upholstery at the top of the seat and pushes the plate inside. After a few seconds, he removes the gun under his butt, drops it into the Batmobile seat and switches wheelchairs. He flips the electric switch on the motorized chair which gives its normal sound and regular start. RAINY tools around the garage looking at all of BIG PETEY's stuff. RAINY looks down at the wheelchair arm at the new controls BIG PETEY has added. He flips a switch and the propane fired motor roars. Nervous, RAINY puts it back in electric mode and tools over the garage door. He pushes the opener and the door rolls up. RAINY flips back to propane, shoves it into gear and tears down the drive-way and goes up on two wheels trying to make the turn onto the street. The chair straightens up and RAINY lets it rip.

INT. VETERAN'S HOSPITAL BP'S ROOM - EVENING

BP is in a hospital room and has an IV as well as a couple of monitors. MOTHER and RAINY are sitting along side. MOTHER is leaning forward over the bed and holding onto BP's hands.

MOTHER

BP, they want you to have the surgery.

BP

Forget it. No knives.

MOTHER

C'mon. You've got to do what you've got to do to get better.

BP

Better isn't anything I've had in my future for a long time.

MOTHER

That's not true.

BP

What? I'm gonna hang around and watch you get old and him get drunk?

RAINY

I'm not gettin drunk.

BP

What's gonna stop you?

RAINY

Maybe memories of you. Quittin early and often.

BP

Fuck off, sergeant.

RAINY

(turning his wheelchair toward the doorway)

Whatever you say, private.

MOTHER

Why are you doin this, dad?

BP

(considers)

A bunch of reasons, maybe fucked up reasons, but my reasons. If I die, maybe the slopes will be satisfied and leave you two alone. Or, if I do this right maybe I can leave Rainy pissed enough to keep fighting. But, mostly, I'm tired. Just tired. I've been tired since 1971. This seems like an easier way to go to sleep than getting cirrhosis or pancreatic cancer or just getting stupid.

MOTHER

(looking at BP hard, wanting to keep her mouth shut, but not able to)

I understand about bein tired.

BP

(eyes welling, but not crying)

I'm sorry, Jeanine.

MOTHER

Me, too, ...Dad.

INT. BECCA MULLINS'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON

Both RAINY and BECCA are staring at one another without talking. Finally, BECCA speaks.

BECCA

Did you forget you've been discharged? From what I'm hearing, and my intel tends to be pretty good because dickheads love to talk about other dickheads if only to make themselves feel better, you've been in more combat in the last two months than most grunts see in a battlefield tour.

RAINY just stares at her.

BECCA (CONT'D)

You know I could go to the cops with this?

RAINY

You must know better cops than I do.

BECCA

So, what are you planning? How's this going to end?

RAINY

BP's dyin. Me next? I don't know. I just want my mom left out.

BECCA

How's that gonna happen?

RAINY

(shrugs)

I can't figure that out.

INT. YMCA GYM - NIGHT

The game is over. A dozen PLAYERS in wheelchairs are drinking water and toweling off. RAINY is off to one side with DOC.

RAINY

When did you get out?

DOC

Wednesday.

RAINY

You squared up?

DOC

I haven't been squared up since Iraq.

RAINY

But you're drivin. I saw your van when we drove up.

DOC

Still suspended, but, yeah, still drivin.

RAINY

Any chance I could get a ride sometime if I needed it?

DOC

To the A&W for some dogs and fries?

RAINY

Somethin like that.

DOC

Let me know. Misadventure is my middle name.

INT. VETERAN'S HOSPITAL BP'S ROOM - AFTERNOON

RAINY is sitting close to BP's bed. BP is near the end. RAINY stares, tentatively reaches out to adjust BP's covers and then slowly moves his hand onto BP's hand. BP's fingers twitch.

RAINY

Heh.

BP

(raspily)

Am I dead?

RAINY

Heh.

BP

Some fruit's got my fingers. Is that heaven or hell?

RAINY

Just me, BP.

BP

Don't hang on. Hang up.

RAINY

It's okay.

BP

Not likely. Hell-bound.

RAINY

Heh.

BP

Do or die. Didn't do. They died.

(tears start leaking from his eyes)

RAINY

It's okay.

BP

Comin. Goin. Asshole.

(drifts off)

RAINY stares at BP as he tries to figure out what BP meant before letting go of his hand and wheeling out of the room.

EXT. DOC'S VAN - NIGHT

DOC is driving and RAINY is locked into the place where the front seat has been removed. DOC cruises by where the Vietnamese bar is boarded up from the fire RAINY caused. They keep driving the commercial area past Oriental and Hispanic restaurants and bars until they come to a Vietnamese bar that has the black Toyota Tundra that RAINY noticed going by his house parked in front.

INT. BIG PETEY'S GARAGE - MORNING

RAINY is working on the Batmobile. BP had a three-sided plate steel cage protecting the propane tank. RAINY is using a reciprocating saw to cut through the welds at the corners of the steel. It is slow going.

INT. GUN SHOP - AFTERNOON

RAINY exits the gun shop with boxes of ammunition and rolls toward DOC's van.

INT. BECCA MULLINS'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON

DOC is in his chair drawn up close to BECCA'S office. They are talking animatedly.

INT. DOC'S VAN - NIGHT

DOC is pulled into a dark parking lot. RAINY is checking his gear before unlocking his chair and exiting the van.

EXT. PROVIDENCE STREETS WEST OF FEDERAL HILL - MOMENTS LATER

RAINY is a block away from the bar where the Tundra is parked. He turns the corner and carefully approaches the entrance to the alleyway. He pulls a gun out from under his seat, then speeds up. As the Batmobile goes faster, it makes more noise and suddenly a young RUNNER jumps out of the shadows and races to the back door of the bar, rips it open and disappears. When RAINY increases his speed, the Batmobile starts juddering around on the rough surface of the alleyway. As RAINY is almost to the door, it is flung open and those inside start firing. RAINY fires back and the door slams shut. As he passes by, RAINY sprays bullets at the door, then races to the end of the alleyway and turns onto the street. Yelling is heard and then the noise of the TUNDRA and another car starts up. The two vehicles rip around the corner and head toward RAINY who is flying down the street. The Tundra approaches RAINY and shots are fired. RAINY veers into a driveway cut and races down the sidewalk keeping parked cars between him and the Tundra. More firing. The Tundra speeds ahead, slams on its brakes and turns into a driveway. VIET1 pushes his gun out of the window and takes aim. RAINY slams the Batmobile sideways into a yard and races along the side of the house. Tundra backs out.

INT. TUNDRA - CONTINUOUS

VIET1 is yelling at his SHOTGUN who is yelling into a phone to coordinate the chase with the other car. VIET1 is driving with one hand and has his gun in the other.

EXT. PROVIDENCE YARDS - CONTINUOUS

RAINY is driving wildly through yards and along the sides of buildings and down alleyways. RAINY smashes into trash cans and bangs off the side of a metal outbuilding. RAINY swings out of a drive-way and into a street and gets about a half block before the VIET car comes sweeping around the corner. Shots are fired as RAINY leans back to lift the front wheels of the Batmobile, then guns it to leap the curb. He tears across a small front yard, down along the side of the house, then suddenly is caught up in the bean poles and tomato stakes of a vegetable garden. RAINY races across yard tossing aside debris, shoots across another yard, across a street and into a run-down park. The park is pitch back so RAINY switches on the portable spotlight. The beam lets him see where he is going but provides a beacon for the VIETS. The VIET TUNDRA, jumps the curb and starts plowing its way across the park lawn. RAINY loses his lead as he zigzags through the sand surrounding a section of playground equipment. SHOTGUN fires shots, which hit the back of the Batmobile, but are stopped by the steel plate RAINY had added. RAINY bends forward to keep his head down, but at the speed he is going, the weight shift causes the Batmobile to start to flip forward. RAINY snaps his body back to restore balance. The Tundra is almost on top of the Batmobile when RAINY veers off, jumps a low curb and hurtles down the half-pipe of a skateboard park. He fires up the opposite side, goes airborne, and keeps going. The TUNDRA loses time skirting the skateboard park, but soon catches up. RAINY reaches under his seat, grabs the pistol, and fires off a half-dozen shots over his shoulder. The Tundra peels off. RAINY spies a narrow pedestrian bridge across a small stream. He veers off toward that and races across the bridge. VIET1 tries to leap the stream, but slams the front end of the TUNDRA into the opposite bank its front bank. As RAINY escapes, VIET throws the TUNDRA into reverse and starts trying to grind his way out of the stream bed. SHOTGUN is yelling into the phone.

EXT. PARK - CONTINUOUS

A bare shadow of a van with lights out backing out of the park.

EXT. PROVIDENCE HIGHWAY - LATER

RAINY is speeding along the break-down lane of the on-ramp to an overpass. It's late, so there isn't much traffic, but one or two cars pass him by. Each time one does, he tenses as he looks in his rear-view mirror to see what is coming his way. He is nearly onto the highway when he hears the roar of the SECOND CAR speeding up the ramp. Bullets explode past the chair as RAINY starts zigzagging. When the SECOND CAR gets close, RAINY spins the chair around and shoots out the windshield. The SECOND CAR goes into a skid which is headed toward RAINY. RAINY speeds to the side of the bridge railing, throws his body forward and his head down, and topples over the railing. The Batmobile starts sliding down the embankment with RAINY upside down toward a four lane highway that has semis speeding down it. RAINY throws his body sideways and the chair flips onto its side. The chair is nearly to the highway and RAINY lurches again and the Batmobile rights itself. Rainy regains control and swerves the chair just before it is hit by a truck, which blares its horn.

EXT. BRIDGE - MOMENTS LATER

RAINY is speeding along the middle of a long overpass when the Tundra comes tearing down the highway that approaches the overpass. RAINY tries to go faster to see if he can get to the far end of the span, but it's obvious that it won't work. He can't escape the overpass like he did before because he is high over the highway below. RAINY spins the chair around and waits for the Tundra to attack. SHOTGUN starts firing early and the bullets fly by wildly. The truck keeps coming. RAINY spins the chair around to take advantage of the steel plate. RAINY's body jerks forward when two bullets hits the steel. He spins around just as the truck is going by and shoots SHOTGUN, but as he does SHOTGUN manages to shoot RAINY in the leg. It doesn't hurt because of the paralysis, but it is bleeding profusely. As the Tundra slams on its brakes to turn around RAINY hoots out one of the rear tires. VIET1 gets the truck coming back toward RAINY. RAINY blows out the windshield, but VIET1, his face bleeding from being cut by shards of glass, slides down in his seat and keeps coming. The Tundra is coming right at the Batmobile, but it swerves off when RAINY shoots out another tire. The truck skids along the wall of the overpass throwing a trail of sparks. The truck finally stops with its nose against the concrete side. RAINY reaches behind him and releases the catch that holds the steel plate protecting the propane tank. The plate drops down. The Tundra starts up and its wheels spin wildly as VIET1 slams it into reverse. RAINY locks down the controls on the Batmobile and aims it at the Tundra as VIET gets the truck straightened up and headed toward RAINY. The two vehicles are less than fifty feet away from one another, when RAINY pushes himself to the side of the chair.

RAINY

Drop! Roll! Roll!

RAINY throws himself from the speeding wheelchair, rolls and rolls and comes up with his gun pointed to where the wheelchair and truck are a split second from crashing into one another. RAINY pulls the trigger, shoots the propane and the wheelchair and Tundra turn into a ball of fire. RAINY rolls backward from the heat of the fire and as he does, blood starts spurting from the wound don his leg. As he puts his hand over it to staunch the flow a van comes hurtling down the highway, swerves to avoid the debris, slams on the brakes. DOC is in the doorway in his wheelchair when the side door slides open.

DOC

C'mon, man. War's over.

As DOC rolls out of the van, RAINY tries to pull himself forward.

DOC (CONT'D)

Hold my pads, man.

RAINY reaches out and grabs DOC's foot rests and DOC starts wheeling himself backward into the van. As soon as most of RAINY'S body in on the lift, DOC screams

DOC (CONT'D)

Go, go, go.

BECCA peels out as the lift retracts and the side door slides close.

INT. BECCA'S VAN - CONTINUOUS

DOC slides himself out of his wheelchair onto the floor, opens his kit and starts to work on RAINY's leg.

BECCA

He gonna make it?

DOC

Doc don't lose his patients.

INT. BECCA'S VAN - LATER

BECCA'S van is parked in a Park & Ride lot next to DOC's van.

BECCA

Anything else I need to do?

DOC

(as he rolls his wheelchair onto BECCA's ramp)

He'll wake up in awhile. Wait a couple of hours and then get him a pot-combat beer. I'll check the dressings tomorrow. It should be okay, but paralyzed limbs don't always respond like regular ones.

BECCA

Thanks for the heads up and the help.

DOC

(rolling away)

Band of brothers, mothers, fuckers and thieves.

INT. BECCA'S VAN - MOMENTS LATER

BECCA is driving down the empty highway. RAINY's laying on the floor with his head near the front of the van. BECCA looks down at her passenger.

BECCA

Looks like I going to have to push your paperwork...or teach you how to drive...

(she slaps the steering wheel)

...this girl.

FADE OUT

END
