PERMANENT INTERESTS - EPISODE 3

In answer to all the banging on the tables here, I’ve decided in favor of keeping some momentum to a quick-moving story, so I am going to post two episodes a day from here on - one in the morning and one in the evening.

Here we go…

ANNE'S POV

Through the feet of her captors, she SEES the armored car BEYOND. The feet move aside to reveal...

THE GUY

is amazing: Early 20s, a black L.A. LAKERS team jacket, jeans, python cowboy boots, a brace of pistols on his hips.

He strides over with an air of authority and stares down at Anne. The Burly Leader defers to higher authority.

ANNE

If you're in charge here, your men are about to make an awful mistake(Pause)

You speak English?

(he nods)

This is Dan Cochran...

(Dan opens his eyes on hearing his name)

... I'm Anne Hamilton. Cable News Service. We're on an emergency trip to the airport for supplies to keep helping you.

He doesn't respond. She changes tactics and stands.

ANNE

(a winning smile)

I'm really sorry we didn't get our passes dated. They were right to stop us, but if we can't get going, there's going to be a terrible tragedy. Could you please bend the rules for us?

(moves close to him)

Just this once?

GUY

(American English)

You can kill the helpless female act, Ms. Hamilton. I know who you are.

(proffers his hand)

I'm Gary Doumanian. From L.A., actually Glendale.

Gary is amused by her reaction of surprise. Dan stands unsteadily. He doesn't believe any of this.

GARY

Sorry I let it go so far, but I was on the radio.

Gary talks a moment with the Burly Leader. The interpreter hands him the pass. Gary scribbles on it, hands it to Anne.

GARY

Now, it's properly dated.

ANNE

Thanks, but what are you doing here --

GARY

I am fighting the battle my grandfather began.

ANNE

This is great. Write down your name and address back home for me? That way I can let your family know you're safe.

GARY

Really?

ANNE

I won't do the story if it'll be dangerous for you.

GARY

(looks at her a moment)

I believe you, Anne Hamilton. Go ahead. It might even help.

She goes to the jeep, gets a canvas bag, pulls out her notebook. He scribbles the info for her.

ANNE

No pictures though.

He glances down at the wreckage of the camera.

GARY

Everything has its price.

Gary nods the Militiamen to clear the road. He watches Anne and Dan get into the jeep and drive off.

INT. 4-RUNNER - DAY

Dan turns in his seat and looks back.

DAN

Yeah, it'd of been a terrible tragedy if I'd ended up face down in that fucking ditch.

(they laugh)

I swear, boss, when you get to hell, the Devil's gonna give you the ice-cube concession, and you'll make ten million!

EXT. RUINED AIRFIELD - LATER

ARTILLERY BOOMS. A civilian C-130 Hercules transport starts up as the 4-Runner careens to a stop across the way.

ANNE AND DAN

climb out. She grabs a gym bag - her "luggage" - turns to Dan and gives him a big kiss.

ANNE

(grins)

Bet your last boss didn't do that.

(serious)

You keep your head down, idiot, and don't volunteer for diddly. Let the dumbfucks die getting bang-bang. You hear?

THE C-130

turns away out on the Tarmac.

ANNE sees that, hefts her bag on her shoulder and runs...

ANNE

Wait! Wait for me!

As the plane trundles toward the taxiway, artillery fire falls near the perimeter.

Dan ducks against the Jeep for cover.

ANNE RUNS ACROSS THE GRASS to intercept the plane as it arrives at the end of the runway.

ANNE

Wait for me! Wait!

INT. COCKPIT - C-130

The PILOT pauses the plane before its takeoff run...

PILOT'S POV

Anne jumps up and down, trying to yell over the ENGINE NOISE...

INT. COCKPIT - C-130

PILOT

(nudges Co-pilot)

Go back and pop the hatch.

An ARTILLERY SHELL EXPLODES near enough to shower the windscreen with debris!

CO-PILOT

Fuck that! There's no time!

PILOT

(glares)

We don't leave our people behind.

EXT. C-130

The side hatch ahead of the wing opens, and the Co-pilot gestures at her...

CO-PILOT

Come on! Hurry!

Anne ducks past the spinning propellers and runs over. The Co-pilot and a CREWMAN pull her inside.

DAN'S POV - An ARTILLERY EXPLOSION right where the plane had been an instant before as the C-130 starts to pick up speed down the runway.

The plane trundles through big puddles on the runway, throwing sheets of water through the propellers. It moves faster and faster as it gathers takeoff speed...

PILOT'S COCKPIT POV

The C-130 lifts off, barely clearing the skeletal, burned-out remains of a plane that wasn't so lucky.

INT. CARGO BAY - C-130

Anne, in a web seat, busily scribbles some notes. The plane bounces in turbulence, she looks up and finally SEES...

The cavernous plane is FILLED WITH WOUNDED CHILDREN and THREE NURSES to tend them. A seven-year-old BOY with bloody bandaged stumps instead of hands stares at her solemnly.

Anne looks down at her own hands and shudders. She rummages through her bag for a Hershey Bar to feed him. She chokes up at his return smile.

THE PLANE

Becomes small in the stormy skies.

FADE OUT…

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