PERMANENT INTERESTS - EPISODE 2

EXT. ROADBLOCK - DAY

None of the SEVEN MILITIAMEN is over sixteen. As the tallest comes over to the Jeep, Anne, smiles, leans out and points at the sign in the windshield.

ANNE

Amerikanski televidine.

Understand America? Tee Vee?

The Tall Militiaman nods. He asks his question in heavily-accented English.

TALL MILITIAMAN

Where is your pass?

ANNE

looks over at Dan, who shuffles a deck of passes and hands her one in blue ink. Hopeful, she hands it to the kid.

The MILITIAMAN looks at it and shakes his head.

TALL MILITIAMAN

No good.

THE OTHERS

gather in a semi-circle in front of the Jeep. Two chamber rounds - CLICK! CLICK!

Tense, Anne turns to Dan. He shuffles again and pulls out a pass in green ink. She hands it to the kid. He studies it, looks at her.

TALL MILITIAMAN

Out of date.

ANNE

(to Dan)

I hope you shoot that motherfucking Andrezh when you see him.

DAN

If I live to see him, I will.

TALL MILITIAMAN

You must get out.

EXT. ROADBLOCK - DAY

The Kids surround them as they get out, careful to keep their hands in sight at all times.

DAN

I hope this isn't Angola all over again.

ANNE

Me, too.

The Tall Militiaman turns to the Burly One, the leader of this pack. Dan watches as they SPEAK QUICKLY IN ARMENIAN.

ANNE

(to Dan)

What'd they say?

Before he can reply...

TALL MILITIAMAN

You are spies for the Hazaris!

DAN

No! We're with Cable News Service! C-N-S.

Dan reaches into the back of the jeep for his camera - BANG!

The CAMERA EXPLODES from a bullet's impact!

Dan falls as, simultaneously, he jumps, and Anne yanks him back.

ANNE

(hands up)

It's okay. No guns.

She smiles, but they respond with stony stares, gesturing them away from the jeep. Dan slowly stands.

ANNE

How much money have you got?

DAN

Ten thousand dinars. About fifty bucks in real money.

ANNE

Give it to them.

(to the Tall One)

We can give you money. My friend has it.

Dan makes an elaborate show of his empty hands and very slowly reaches for his billfold. Two Kids step closer with their raised AK-47s as Dan holds out his open wallet.

DAN

See? Ten thousand dinars.

The Burly Leader nods, gives orders to the two kids.

One takes Dan's billfold from him and gives it to the Leader. Anne's heart goes to her throat when the other Kid searches the Jeep.

The Burly Leader takes the money and drops the wallet in the mud just as...

A SHRIEK of victory - The Kid holds up the Beretta.

The Militiamen force Anne and Dan to their knees, and the Leader walks around behind them, unholsters his Tokarev.

The Kids retreat a step at that.

DAN

(realizes)

He's gonna shoot us!

Dan starts to turn, but Anne grabs his hand.

ANNE

Don't look back. Don't give him the satisfaction.

DAN

Wait! Keep the Jeep. Ransom. More dinars. CNS will pay for us. Understand?

(to Tall Militiaman)

Tell him!

The Burly Leader cocks the ancient Tokarev...

Dan clenches his eyes...

Resigned, with sadness, rather than terror, Anne regards the leaden sky, the mud...

A CAR DOOR SLAMS (O.S.).

MALE VOICE (O.S.)

That's enough!

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