PERMANENT INTERESTS - EPISODE 20

Things get white hot…

EXT. DACHA OUTSIDE ODESSA - SUNSET

One of Vic's men stands guard with an AK-47.

INT. LARGE ROOM - DACHA - SUNSET

Ahsan stands in front of a huge stone fireplace with David. Victims of hunts over the centuries stare down at them.

AHSAN

David, my friend, you are right. The line must be drawn somewhere. When Wilson approached me, I felt compelled to seem to cooperate, to ensure certain responsible parties would be informed.

ANNE (O.S.)

The deal's dead now, right?

Ahsan and David turn as Anne and Vic enter.

AHSAN

Alas, no.

VIC

The merchandise is already en route. Fortunately, they have never actually met Ed Wilson.

ANNE

Who's going to be his stand-in?

Both Vic and Ahsan look at David.

ANNE

(realizes)

Wait a minute. Goddamnit, it's too dangerous!

VIC

Do you really want to see these weapons in those hands, Anne?

Anne's expression says "no." David holds her gaze, then he turns to Vic.

DAVID

Let's talk.

INT. ANNE'S AND DAVID'S ROOM - LATER

David comes in. He looks older, with the grey in his newly-cut hair and the different clothes. Anne looks up at him from the chair she slumps in.

ANNE

Why you, David? I don't understand.

DAVID

The fewer people involved, the better.

(regards her a moment)

When my grandfather came through Ellis Island, he told them his name was Field instead of Feldstein.

(laughs)

I never considered myself more than a gastronomical Jew.

(deadly serious)

But there was an aunt, an uncle and three cousins I never got to know because of those Nazi bastards. I can't not do this.

She looks at him and understands.

EXT. DACHA GROUNDS - DAWN

Chill air, birds sing, Russian picture-postcard perfect. Vic watches the sky.

He turns as Anne comes up to him.

ANNE

What exactly is it you want?

VIC

I don't understand.

She hands him the bugging device.

ANNE

Option three, remember? The one you didn't take. What do you want from me?

VIC

Only what you want.

ANNE

Who killed Charlie?

VIC

(pockets the bug)

The other side, of course.

ANNE

How many sides are there to this?

(Vic says nothing)

Charlie Sims was too much of a straight shooter to be involved in something like this.

VIC

And what happens when the governments of the civilized states fail to stop today's monsters? Remember Neville Chamberlain at Munich.

His look is cold, lethal, but she's gone too far to stop.

ANNE

Harry Long was one of the good guys. You killed him after I told him to call...on my bugged telephone.

Vic's adamantine visage melts into a smile.

VIC

You should write novels, Anne.

EXT. DACHA - LATER

A Mil-17 helicopter with Ukrainian markings lifts off.

INT. HELICOPTER - FLYING

VERY NOISY inside the big cabin. Anne and David huddle together, eying the SPECIAL OPS TROOPS and Vic.

EXT. ROAD - CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS - LATE AFTERNOON

A truck convoy wends its way along the narrow mountain road.

EXT. HIDDEN AIRFIELD - CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS - LATER

The Mil-17 sets down. Vic's out first, then Anne and David.

Vic signals The Special Ops Troops who hustle from the helicopter.

EXT. ROAD - CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS - SUNSET

The truck convoy continues forward...

INT. LEAD TRUCK CAB - SUNSET

TWO UNIFORMED RUSSIAN SOLDIERS are the Driver and "Shotgun."

THEIR POV - AHEAD

A FIGURE steps out of the trees into the center of the road and holds his hand up in the universal sign to halt.

EXT. ROAD - SUNSET

Vic stands his ground as the trucks approach. Finally BRAKES SQUEAL and the lead truck halts ten feet away.

IN THE WOODS

David and Anne look out at the convoy. Both of them and the OTHERS are in camouflage fatigues.

Anne rubs her father's Zippo lighter.

THEIR POV

Vic approaches the lead truck. He CONVERSES IN RUSSIAN with VASSILY, the shotgun.

EXT. TRUCK - SUNSET

Vassily climbs out and accompanies Vic over to where David steps out of the trees.

Vassily notices the Special Ops Troops standing ready.

VIC

Vassily Freidin, this is our good friend, Edwin Wilson.

David and Vassily shake hands.

VASSILY

Come with me, sir.

The three of them go to the third truck. There is only one occupant, DRIVER #3, and he's in a "moon suit."

DAVID

There was to be no contamination.

VASSILY

Nyet, nyet. Everything is under control. We merely decided to lower our risks.

David looks at Vic as if considering whether to proceed.

DAVID

Very well.

Vassily nods, takes a Geiger Counter from his shoulder pack and aims it at the truck. It registers slightly. David turns to Vassily.

DAVID

(motions at the trucks)

Have them get out.

Vassily hesitates. David sweats. Vassily finally nods and SHOUTS A COMMAND IN RUSSIAN.

EXT. THE CONVOY - SUNSET

The drivers and guards, all RUSSIAN SOLDIERS, climb out, all except the driver in the moon suit.

DAVID

Him too.

Vassily's not sure about this.

VIC

We are in charge.

Vassily nods and motions to Driver in the moon suit, who opens his cab door and...

THE SPECIAL OPS TROOPS

appear from the trees on both sides of the road, weapons aimed. The convoy is surrounded.

VASSILY

What are you....

ZFFT! There's no emotion on Vic's face as he fires.

David is sickened as Vassily crumples to the ground, face bloody from the bullet between his eyes.

ANNE - steps out of the trees and heads toward David as...

THE DRIVERS AND GUARDS - are quickly overpowered and made prisoners.

Anne looks at Vassily's body, then at Vic.

Vic turns and signals his Troops to load the prisoners and mount up.

EXT. GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT

A communications satellite hovers over the Earth.

EXT. CREST OF MOUNTAIN ROAD - NIGHT

The truck convoy is stopped at the crest.

Vic watches two of his men set up a satellite dish. He removes a laptop computer from his case, they attach it and check that the antenna is aligned with the satellite above.

Anne and David stand together near the second truck.

ANNE

One thing still bothers me.

DAVID

Only one?

ANNE

How do the "clients" check that the merchandise is real? It's not like you can just climb in there and open it up.

VIC (O.S.)

I'll show you.

They're startled he came up behind them so quietly.

VIC

Here.

He opens the back of the truck they're standing by and climbs in.

David climbs in and helps Anne up.

INT. TRUCK - NIGHT

Vic turns on the dome light to reveal an electronics workshop. He goes over to a computer, opens the keyboard and inputs commands.

THEIR POV - A TV screen comes on.

Its light plays on their faces as they peer close. The screen shows the interior of the weapons truck.

VIC

I know you don't read Russian, but I can assure you the next person who sees this will.

ZOOM IN ON - each of the two cones inside truck #3. There's cyrillic writing...

VIC (O.S.)

Official seals of the Strategic Rocket Forces of the former Soviet Union.

VIC turns to other black boxes, their dials showing various kinds of activity.

VIC

Their specialist will be able to ascertain from this that both warheads are stable, well within operational parameters.

(turns to them)

Not even these fools are crazy enough to climb in there and check them first-hand.

A SHOUT (O.S.) Vic goes to the door, leans out. A FIGURE IN THE DARKNESS murmurs to him. He turns back to them.

VIC

It's showtime, folks.

EXT. CREST OF MOUNTAIN ROAD - NIGHT

Headlights approach up the pass from the other direction. Three all-terrain vehicles come to a halt. The door of the first one opens and a MAN IN BLACK, THE LEADER, climbs out.

David steps forward to greet Leader. A MURMUR OF CONVERSATION. The Leader turns, motions.

OTHER MEN IN BLACK climb out of the all-terrain vehicles and approach.

DAVID AND VIC - take the Leader and two Men in Black to the command truck. They climb up and disappear inside.

ANNE - stands with the Special Ops troops and watches, working hard at being inconspicuous.

EXT. THE HILLS ABOVE THE PASS

SHADOWY FIGURES move into position overlooking the convoy.

EXT. CREST OF MOUNTAIN ROAD

David, Vic, the Leader, and the others climb out of the truck and go over to the satellite dish. David and the Leader watch as Vic keys in the information on the computer.

ON-SCREEN - rows and rows of numbers.

DAVID - watches Vic study them. He nods, turns to David.

VIC

It's as he says, Mr. Wilson

David nods. VIC shouts orders and the truck crews climb down and move away from their vehicles as others replace them. ENGINES ROAR.

DAVID'S POV

Two of the all-terrain vehicles turn around and lead the convoy down the pass. The third all-terrain vehicle stops and...

ANNE - does a double take when HELMUT LANG climbs out!

LANG - approaches David, then stops, surprised and concerned.

LANG

Who are you?

Before David can respond, Vic shoots Lang.

Two of his troopers leap into the open all-terrain vehicle.

There's a BURST OF FIRE from inside, then the troopers exit.

DAVID - kneels by Lang's body, pulls the diamond-studded hawk-talon ring from Lang's finger, and slips it in his pocket.

ANNE - comes up to David. They watch the convoy head off.

UPHILL - Shadowy Figures rise from their cover and head downhill.

THE CONVOY - continues away, its lights receding...

ANNE AND DAVID - turn as the Shadowy Figures (the rest of the Special Ops Troops) arrive at the road.

VIC - jumps down from the truck, a small black box in-hand.

He stares after the convoy...

VIC

Heil Hitler.

...then he pushes the button.

THE EXPLOSION DOWNHILL TEARS THE NIGHT APART!

ANNE - looks up from where she instinctively dropped to see...

THE ENORMOUS FIREBALL slowly burns itself out to pitch darkness.

Stand by for tonight’s exciting conclusion.

You can support That’s Another Fine Mess with a paid subscription for only $7/month or $70/year, saving $14.

Comments are for paid subscribers.