The Face of an Angel

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

ON BUCKY

lying with his head on his paws, staring out of shot.

ANGLE ON FIELDS

to SHOW Bennu toiling with a shovel, his shirt off, sweat glistening as he digs a ditch. Bucky is close by. It's the next day.

Darlene comes up through the barren-looking field, carrying a pitcher.

DARLENE
Thought you might be thirsty.

BENNU
(smiles)
I am.

He puts the shovel down, moves across towards her. As Darlene comes closer Bucky stirs and growls at her.

DARLENE
(disgusted)
He's known me all his life, still growls at me.
(at dog)
Stupid tyke!

She hands Bennu the pitcher.

BENNU
He's your father's animal. He sense the tension between you.
(drinks)
Thank you.

He hands the pitcher back with a smile. She takes it, hovering, obviously not wanting to leave.

BENNU
(beat)
Being a stewardess seems glamorous, but it's hard work - sometime harder than what you do here.

DARLENE
(flaring)
At least I'd get to see places! You know how many times I've been to Fort Worth? Once - when I was twelve. The little dump of a hotel had flush toilets. I thought it was the Ritz-Carlton!

BENNU
He wants you here because he loves you, not to chain you down.

DARLENE
He misses Mom . . . I understand that, so do I. But I'm a person too. I've got things to see and experience . . . unless I'm going to end up like her, all withered away by the time I'm thirty.
(suddenly)
Did he talk to you about me?

BENNU
Only what you heard at the table last night.

DARLENE
How come you know about the airlines then?

BENNU
(grins)
Bucky told me.

She takes it as a joke, moves away carrying the jug. He watches her compassionately for a beat, then picks up the shovel.

CUT TO:

EXT. JUNCTION - HIGHWAY AND ROAD - DAY

A sheriff's CAR comes SCREECHING up, SIREN GOING ful blast. It stops where an OLD MAN (SAM) stands by an ancient clunker on the shoulder. The SHERIFF is a burly, balding man in his late thirties. The deputy is about thirty, lean and wiry. As they reach the Old Man:

SHERIFF
Where is it, Sam?

SAM
Down there.

He points into the ditch.

ANGLE ON BODY

Where Unger and Woods dumped it last night.

RESUME SCENE

The Sheriff begins to slide down the side of the ditch towards the corpse.

CUT TO:

EXT. FIELDS NEAR FARMHOUSE - DAY

Hal comes to where Bennu is working in the ditch, sees what he has achieved and reacts.

HAL
Reckon that's enough for one night's board and lodging!

Bennu hurls another shovelful, climbs up.

BENNU
The soil's very poor here.

HAL
Tell me something I don't know! When I got out the Army I had a yen for the simple life. Bought this hunk of land before I knew it was tapped out.

They walk towards the farmhouse together, Bucky following.

HAL
That's why I'm trying to grow peaches.
(Indicates a greenouse nearby)
Not doing much better with them than I was with the sorghum!

Bennu stops by the greenhouse, looking in.

ANGLE ON FRUIT

withered, seemingly sickly.

RESUME SCENE

Bennu turns to Hal:

BENNU
(serious)
They need blue.

HAL
(not understanding)
I'm sorry . . . ?

BENNU
If you isolate the colors in the sun's rays, it helps stimulate growth. They're starved for blue.

HAL
Had a lot of fellas in suits down here grubbing around. All they ever said was - buy more fertilizer, at God-knows how much a hundredweight!

BENNU
Put in one pane of blue glass for every seven white. They'll respond to that, and it'll keep the destructive insects away too.

HAL
(cocks an eye)
You wouldn't be pulling an old feller's leg?

BENNU
(serious)
Where I come from we prefer to use natural resources for everything. There's more power in the sun than people seem to know.

ON DARLENE

watching them from inside the farmhouse. She moves towards the door.

OUTSIDE FARMHOUSE

Hal and Bennu come up.

HAL
You ever want to settle down, I'd be glad to work out a partnership agreement.

BENNU
(touched)
I can think of worse places to be.

HAL
But!

BENNU
I'm afraid there is a 'but.'

HAL
(shrugs)
Know someone'll be broken up about that - 'sides me. She's been starved of company, since . . . my wife died . . .

BENNU
She's more steady-minded than you think, Hal.

HAL
Maybe you're right. Maybe I do see her as ten years old still.

BENNU
I think she'd surprise you, if you eased up a little.

HAL
Maybe -

He falls silent. Bennu shows him the map given him by Frazier, marked with an X.

BENNU
Do you know where that is?

HAL
(taking it)
Lookout Peak! A coupla miles down the road. It's just a hunk o' rock No work there.

Bennu smiles non-commitally, taking the map back. Darlene comes up to them.

HAL
(to Darlene)
Couldn't talk him out of it. Sorry.

Darlene throws Bennu an almost desperate look.

DARLENE
Won't you even stay one more night?

BENNU
I'd like to. You've both been very kind. But I can't.

DARLENE
(disappointed)
I'm going into town. Give you a ride if you like.

BENNU
Thank you.

HAL
(to Darlene)
Drop in on Ted Slocum, will you. Order me a dozen panes of blue glass, ten-by-ten.

DARLENE
Okay.

Bennu extends his hand to Hal.

HAL
Don't forget. If you change your mind . . .?

BENNU
I won't.

He climbs aboard. Darlene starts the pickup and they pull out. Hal squints up at the sun quizzically.

HAL
(to himself)
Blue, huh . . . ?

CUT TO:

BACK TO JUNCTION

Another Sheriff's car has joined the group. The Land Rover comes up, driven by Unger. Getting out he goes to the edge of the ditch around which a small crowd has gathered.

ANGLE ON DITCH

The Sheriff and two deputies are clustered around the body.

UNGER
What is it, Burt?

Recognizing his voice the Sheriff looks up.

SHERIFF
Murder.

He scrambles back up the slope towards Unger.

UNGER
Who is he?

The Sheriff opens a wallet taken from the body.

SHERIFF
Name of Harrison. From Dallas.

UNGER
Better get onto the police there.

SHERIFF
Yeah.

They walk across to the Sheriff's car.

UNGER
How was he killed?

SHERIFF
Shot. A .38 by the look of it.

Unger looks at the nearby highway.

UNGER
Think he could've been killed someplace else, just dumped here?

SHERIFF
I sure hope so, Mister Mayor, don't you? Hate to think it was anyone from Tullner.

He reaches in and gets his mike to make the call.

CUT TO:

INT. MOVING PICKUP - DAY

Bennu leaning back, looking at the passing terrain. Darlene driving, shoting glances at him as if making up her mind what to say. Then:

DARLENE
(subdued)
Who are you?

BENNU
(smiles)
I've told you.

DARLENE
You got me in a turmoil since the minute you walked in. Half of me wants to grab a-hold of you. The other half wants to kneel down and pray at your feet.

BENNU
(gently)
I'm just a man, Darlene.

DARLENE
How did you know about me wanting to be a stewardess?

BENNU
Maybe your father mentioned it . . .

DARLENE
He didn't. I asked him.

He doesn't respond.

DARLENE
If you can read minds, what am I thinking?

He looks at her.

BENNU
Running away won't help anything.

DARLENE
Haaven't I a right to something more'n that dustbowl!

BENNU
You have rights, but you also have obligations.

DARLENE
An aobligation to marry some clod-hopper from around here and end up like my mother!

She thrusts a photo on him.

BENNU
(looking at it)
She was beautiful.

DARLENE
Yeah - twenty years ago! When she died she was forty-two. Looked ninety. Is that what my obligation is?

BENNU
There are dangers for young women in the cities.

DARLENE
You mean men? What d'you think they're like areound here? All got the same thing on their minds. Only, in a city it might be more fun.

BENNU
You're eighteen. Maybe when you're twenty-one your father'd feel easier about it.

DARLENE
Or maybe he'd say - wait till you're twenty-five. And then thirty. And then I'd be trapped.
(desperately)
Let me come with you!

BENNU
You know nothing about me.

DARLENE
I know what I feel. Things with you got to be better than my life right now.

He doesn't answer. She turns the wheel, down a side road.

BENNU
Where're we going?

DARLENE
Lookout Peak.

He reacts in surprise.

DARLENE
You're not the only one can read minds!
(she grins)
I heard you with Dad.

He laughs, liking her.

CUT TO:

BACK TO THE JUNCTION

The Sheriff comes back from his car to where Unger stands with the second deputy.

SHERIFF
Got a tip. Hal Crawford picked up a difter last night, long-haired hippie type.

UNGER
You think he could've done this?

He gestures to the body in ditch.

SHERIFF
I've lived in this town as long as you have, Jack. Ever had a murder here before?

Unger shakes his head.

SHERIFF
Got to be a stranger.

He heads back to his vehicle, the second deputy following.

SHERIFF
(to third deputy)
Stay here till the Coroner comes.

UNGER
(to Sheriff)
Mind if I come with you?

SHERIFF
You're the boss.

He climbs into his car followed by the second deputy. Unger gets into the Land Rover.

CUT TO:

EXT. LOOKOUT PEAK - DAY

A craggy, looming mass of rock towering ABOVE CAMERA.

IN THE PICKUP

at the foot of the hill Bennu and Darlene sit staring up at it.

DARLENE
We used to come out here in winter. Tobaggan' down that slope on trays and bits of board.

Bennu is staring up at the rock with a strange, remote expression.

BENNU
I'm going to climb up there.

He gets out of the pickup. She follows quickly. Seeing her purpose:

BENNU
I won't be long.

DARLENE
If you think you're shaking me that easy, think again.

They begin to trudge up the slope.

CUT TO:

EXT FIELDS FARMHOUSE AREA - DAY

Hal is hoeing the ground. There's the SOUND of AUTOMOBILE ENGINES HOWLING and the SKIDDING of TIRES. He look sup, startled.

ANGLE ON DRIVEWAY

as the Sheriff's car boils down in a cloud of dust, closely followed by the Land Rover.

BACK TO HAL

concerned, putting down the hoe, moving forward. As the cars screech to a stop, the Sheriff climbs out.

HAL
What's this about, Burt?

SHERIFF
You pick up a long-haired crazy last night?

HAL
Not crazy. Nice young fella . . .

SHERIFF
Your nice young fella is a murderer!

Hal reacts, blanching, in shock.

SHERIF
Killed a man, left the body near Interstate 35. Where is he?

HAL
(shaken)
Darlene took him to Lookout Peak . . .

The Sheriff swivels on his heel and climbs back in his car. The little convoy blasts off, Unger leading. Hal watches them, stunned.

CUT TO:

ON LOOKOUT PEAK

Bennu and Darlene struggling up the quite steep slope. He is trying to concentrate on the terrain. She is still absorbed in her dream of running away with him.

DARLENE
(almost humbly)
If you've got someone else - I wouldn't get in the way . . . I'm not much of a catch I know, but I can cook up a storm and I'm great at mending clothes . . .

Stung by the desperate plea in her voice and her total lack of self-esteem he pauses, realizing his own concerns have made him indifferent to hers.

BENNU
There isn't any one else. I just have - something on my mind.

DARLENE
(almost pleading)
Dad says you don't have any money. I could get jobs wherever we go. It's easier for a girl sometimes.

He takes her face in his hands.

BENNU
You love your father don't you? Despite everything.

She nods reluctantly.

BENNU
Why break his heart? He's just scared he's going to lose you like he lost your mother. Find a way of reassuring him that you'll be safe. He's a kind man. He'll change his mind.

She looks at him solemnly.

DARLENE
(dull)
You don't want me then?

BENNU
I don't want to wreck your life. And coming with me would do that.

Realizing he means it, she pulls away, tears coming.

BENNU
Will you do something for me?

She nods, choked by tears.

BENNU
Get the map. I left it in the pickup.

She forces a little grin, turns to go down the slope. Then she stops, turns around.

DARLENE
I know you're right about Dad. But you're wrong about you. I could've made you happy . . .

She turns and runs down the hill. Bennu watches her for a beat then turns eagerly to the entrance of a cave he had noticed earlier.

ON THE CAVE

its entrance blocked by amassive rock. Bennu comes up, inspects the rock and sees it's impossible to get around. He looks back to see Darlene still moving down the hill, then takes the amulet and holds it in front of him, aiming it at the rock.

ON BENNU

closing his eyes, concentrating.

ON THE AMULET

beginning to glow as its energy is aroused.

ON THE ROCK - (PROCESS)

hit by the refracted rays of the sun through the amulet, beginning to roll aside.

BACK TO BENNU

feeling the strain draining his energy, just as Frazier predicted. Then:

THE SCENE

Bennu looks up and sees the rock has been pushed aside. Beyond is the depth of the cave. Bennu touches his head, swaying a little, then moves into the cave.

INT. CAVE

A sarcophagus we recognize as Mira's stands at the back of the hollowed rock. Bennu comes up, full of hope and expectation, then reacts in shock and disappointment when he sees that it's empty.

Looking around helplessly, he notices a peculiarly shaped piece of black onyx shaped like a crescent on the ground.

As he bends to pick it up we HEAR with him the eerie and menacing MUSIC that jammed his meditation. He reacts as if he has receved an electric shock, hurling the onyx away from him furiously.

BY THE PICKUP

Darlene reaches in and lifts the map Bennu left on the seat. She becomes aware of the SOUND of CARS RACING up, looks over curiously to see Unger's Land Rover some distance ahead of the Sheriff's car, racing towards her.

BY THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE

Deeply disappointed that Mira has gone, his energy depleted by the use of the amulet for such an onerous task, Bennu comes listlessly out of the cave.

Hearing the CAR'S ENGINES from below, he looks down.

HIS POV - THE LAND ROVER

has stopped by the pickup. Unger leaps out and moves across to the startled Darlene. The CAMERA ZOOMS in on his face.

BACK TO BENNU

recognizing him as the killer! He realizes he may be in danger now. Not wanting his powers to be discovered he swings around to roll the rock back in the cave mouth. He raises the amulet and "aims" it at the rock again.

ON THE AMULET

glowing, more slowly this time.

ON BENNU

exerting effort; it's exhausting him.

ON THE ROCK - (PROCESS)

hit by weak rays - not moving.

HIGH ANGLE - LONGSHOT - THE PICKUP

The Sheriff's CAR SKIDS to a stop. The Sheriff and the Deputy pile out. Unger points up the hill. The two officers separate, begin to approach the slope from different angles, converging on the cave.

BACK TO CAVE MOUTH

Bennu, visibly weakening now, urging the amulet to work through force of will.

ON THE ROCK - (PROCESS)

ponderously beginning to move, under the influence of the rays.

BACK TO BENNU

sweating, exhausted.

ON THE HILLSIDE

The Sheriff and Deputy, coming up fast, guns drawn.

BACK TO CAVE

At last the rock rolls into place. White and weakened, Bennu looks back down the slope, sees the officers clambering up to him; and beyond them - Unger standing with the terrified Darlene.

ON BENNU

turning to run, fearing these men are in league with Unger and out to harm him.

ON THE SHERIFF

Seeing him move out of the cave, he waves at the Deputy, indicating to him to try and cut Bennu off.

BACK TO BENNU

staggering over the rocks, scrambling, falling, clearly exhausted. He hears the Deputy coming up, looks back frantically. The Deputy extends his gun at him.

DEPUTY
Freeze, freak!

Bennu, desperate, drags out his Paralyzer - "aims" it at the man and depresses the button

ON THE DEPUTY

untouched, moving fowards.

BACK TO BENNU

Realiziing his energy is too depleted even to arm the Paralyzer he turns and tries to run on, but misses his footing and falls, crashing down the side of the hill.

ON DARLENE

seeing this, reacting in horror.

BACK TO HILLSIDE

The Sheriff and Deputy - both with guns drawn - clamber down to where Bennu lies unconscious.

ON DARLENE

racing towards the slope.

FULL SHOT - SCENE

as the Sheriff and Deputy begin to carry Bennu's unconscious body down the slope. Darlene races headlong up towards them, screaming hysterically.

ON UNGER

Observing this, suppressing a small satisfied smile, he climbs back into his Land Rover, drives off.

ON BENNU

his unconscious head hanging down as the men carry him, Darlene coming up frantic, weeping, trying to comfort him.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR